Goodbye and Hello

These good fellows don't belong to me but I promise when I'm done to pick um up, dust um off and with a kiss on the cheek return them safely home.

"We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise, we harden." Goethe.

Chapter 31

Roy pulled up the long driveway remembering the first time he drove down it more than five weeks ago. Johnny had stayed with her and Roy kept in close contact over the weeks but remained busy himself with Jenny and Chris. As he parked in front of the house Jenny jumped out of the car and ran straight for the swing on the big tree that had become her favorite spot on the whole ranch. Chris was going to the barn where he knew Smokey was waiting on him. Smokey was the big black horse that Kanda was teaching him to ride.

"Roy!"

He looked up to see Johnny riding up on horseback, something he was spending a lot of time doing recently. And Roy could see that he loved every minute of it.

"I hope you know that horse won't fit in your apartment," Roy said smartly.

He laughed, "Hey, I have a back porch." He looked over to see Jenny waving at him and her yelling his name at the top of her lungs. She was so glad to see him but the giant swing always came first. He slid down with a hop and a bounce. "Hey Will!" He called out to the ranch hand by the corral.

The man looked up and waved as he ran over to get the horse.

"Cool him down. I worked him hard today," Johnny said as the man led the horse away. He looked back to his friend, "Come on, we can go in the house to get something to drink."

Roy followed him in. Each time he found something else to love about this place. He never considered himself a 'ranch' type of person but every visit Johnny taught him something new.

"Well partner, tomorrows the big day. You ready?" Roy asked almost a little afraid to hear the answer. Johnny had been really happy out here and had shown no interest in returning back to the city.

"Well actually," he paused. "I've been thinking Roy."

Roy's heart went into his throat.

Johnny laughed, "If you could see the look on your face right now."

Kanda came in from the kitchen and slapped him on the back of his shoulder, "I can't believe you would do that to him." She handed Roy a glass of lemonade and sat down beside him. "That's just mean!"

Roy took a deep breath, "I ought a…"

She nudged him, "Go ahead, I won't tell."

They all laughed.

Chris came running in the house, "Dad! Aunt Kanda, Jenny's hurt." Everyone was on their feet and out the door. Roy's heart skipped a beat when he saw her lying on her back underneath the swing. When they got closer she started crying.

Roy reached down to pick her up but felt Kanda's hand on his arm stopping him. Johnny turned to run back into the house to call for help.

"Hold on Johnny, let me check her," she said as Jenny tried to sit up. Roy was right beside her and she leaned against him as he held her sobbing, shaking little body. Kanda stood close to him and ran her fingers over Jenny's head and neck as she whispered reassurances gently in her ear.

Roy reached up and dried her tears.

Next she raised her shirt up and examined the scratches up her back which looked superficial. "Jenny does anything hurt?"

"I hit my head," she said as she was calming down under the soothing touch of her aunt.

Kanda looked at Roy and saw the panic in his eyes for his daughter, "I think she's okay Roy. Some scratches and some bruises by morning but only a small bump on her head. We'll keep a close eye on her for a couple of hours."

Roy only nodded as he held her but by then she was struggling to get back out of his arms. He helped her to her feet. "No more swing today okay?" She nodded as she ran off to the kitchen.

"Once again you remind us that it's nice to have a pediatrician in the family," Johnny said with a big smile on his face.

"Thanks Kanda," Roy said. "I guess the dad in me comes out, not the paramedic."

She looked into his caring blue eyes, "That's how it should be. You're a great father Roy and you're doing all the right things for your kids. Don't ever doubt that."

How did she do that? How did she always know what was nagging at him? Roy thought.

She turned around, "Now back to you evil little brother."

Johnny tried to play innocent, "What did I do?"

"You tell that partner of yours how you have driven me nuts over the last two weeks about how excited you are to go back to work."

Roy smirked, "I see." He loved watching Johnny squirm under his big sisters torment.

"Squad 51………….man down……………..time out 0814."

Johnny jumped into the passenger side of the squad and grabbed his hat, sliding it onto his head as he turned to see Roy take the slip of paper from Hank.

Hank leaned into the open window, "Welcome back Gage." He said with a grin.

They pulled out onto the street and headed to the scene. Roy pulled up to the run down sandwich shop and parked. They jumped out and grabbed boxes then headed into the little shop.

"Did someone call for help?" Johnny asked as he quickly scanned the interior. Seeing no customers he tried to surmise where the one needing help might be.

Roy stepped behind the counter while calling out again, "Hello? Is anyone here?"

Once they pushed the kitchen door open they saw a man unconscious on the floor but strangely no one else was around. Roy immediately knelt down to him, pushed the broken pieces of glass away from him and felt for a pulse, "He's alive."

Roy looked up to see Johnny standing perfectly still, "Johnny?"

Johnny spoke softly, "Pick him up Roy; we gotta get out of here fast."

Roy didn't question the look in his partner's eyes. He immediately pulled the man onto his shoulder in a fireman's hold while Johnny grabbed the boxes. They ran out of the door as fast as they could when the massive blast of the gas explosion hit them in the backs, knocking them all to the ground.

Roy pushed himself up on his elbows and turned the unconscious man over to make sure he was still alive. He then looked at Johnny who was also crawling up to his knees and into the cab of the Squad.

After he radioed for assistance he looked down, "Are you okay?" He asked anxiously.

Roy nodded, "How did you know? I didn't smell any gas."

"It was the broken coffee pot," he said cryptically.

"What?" Roy talked as they began assessing their patient.

"Last night I was talking to Kanda on the phone and it was weird. She asked if you drank coffee. When I told her no she told me that you should be careful of the broken coffee pot because she saw a bright flash."

"You're kidding me," Roy said astonished at her gut instinct.

"Welcome to the family partner. Welcome to the family."

AN: Thanks to everyone for all the great reviews. This story was fun. Just let me know if you're interested in hearing more about Johnny and Kanda in the future.