First Date
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.
"Everyone is afraid of something. That's how you know you are loved; when someone is afraid of losing you."
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Chapter 22
He grasped onto Kanda's hand with a sense of desperation, afraid to let go. This had been too close for him, much too close. He carefully assessed her breathing and color knowing that there was little he could do here to help her. Even he could see the mild pallor underneath her natural skin tone and her breaths were strained, mildly labored. But all he cared about right this very minute was that she was breathing on her own.
A little voice distracted him, "Daddy?"
Looking up he saw Jenny walking to him cautiously like she was afraid to interrupt what he was doing. Jumping up and running to her he opened his arms which was the only signal she needed as she leapt into them, "Jenny!" Her arms locked around him vowing to never let go again. "Shh, it's okay sweetie. You're safe now." Her sobs broke his heart and he still didn't know what she had been through which scared him even more.
Looking back to Johnny and Kanda he could see him leaning over her, talking softly to her and that her eyes were now open. Scooting closer Roy ran his fingers through her hair, "Welcome back" She gave him a little smile but it was just as much for seeing Jenny in his arms.
"Jenny?" She whispered.
He nodded, "She's okay, don't worry." She returned with a nod but closed her eyes again.
The little beach was now swarming with police and Roy found himself watching them around Adler, dragging him to his feet, handcuffing him, and reading him his rights. With a little internal sigh of relieve Roy was just thankful that he was able to get up. As they pulled him down the beach to the path he never even looked at them.
"Johnny?"
The sound of her voice made him look more than hearing his friend's name called. Johnny had started coughing again, coughing hard and he was leaning on his hands. With the sun now coming up Roy could see him better and was distressed at his color as much as his breathing. "Johnny?" He gently put Jenny down beside Kanda and moved to her other side. Johnny tried to wave him off but this time his hand revealed the blood that he was now coughing up. Quickly Roy took him by the shoulders and helped him to lay back. He was now in full paramedic mode.
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The head wound was ugly looking but not bleeding although it was at least a good concussion. Opening up his shirt he almost gasped at the trauma to his side, "God Johnny what have you doing?"
"Saving…us…"
Roy turned at Kanda's voice to see a weak smile from her. "Shh, you need to rest." He gently rubbed her arm wanting her to remain quiet. Being able to hear her breathing was still concerning to him.
"Ribs cracked... shot." Her voice was very hoarse now but all he heard at that moment was one word.
"Shot??" He quickly turned back to finish his assessment and found the bandage on his side. Taking it off he watched the continued seeping but it was minimal and it wasn't deep. Roy estimated some stitches was all that would be involved. It was the coughing and blood from his lungs that concerned him first and foremost. Johnny's color was becoming ashen, his breaths labored. The familiar sounds of engine and squad sirens were a blessing to his ears knowing that there was nothing he could do for his friend out here on the beach.
Carter approached him and just shook his head, "I'm afraid to even ask how you found them before us." He knelt down beside them, "They okay?"
He didn't know how to answer the detective since he still held a lot of fear about their medical conditions, "They need help."
"It's on the way," Carter said knowing how much these two meant to the man. "Well, we have him at least." Hoping that would offer some degree of comfort.
Roy nodded, "Thank God." He looked up to see an engine crew running towards him, including two medics with equipment and stokes.
"They are taking him by another ambulance and squad up top. I'll catch up with you at the hospital," Carter said as he stepped out of the way and watched the emergency crews begin working on the two victims. They were all three alive. It was a damn miracle but they were alive. He was sure there was an amazing story attached as to how they managed to get all the way out here but Roy was the story he wanted to hear. He didn't have a single clue when he left the ranch but somehow managed to wind up finding them first. The right place at the right time.
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Marinson and Dwyer had no idea to expect Johnny and Roy as the victims on this early morning run. Kneeling down beside Kanda he looked at Roy, "What happened?"
Roy stayed right beside Johnny but began rattling off information to him, "They were kidnapped last night, held hostage but got away. She was… strangled," he had to pause; it brought back all the feelings of almost losing her. "She was in full arrest. We gave her CPR and got her back."
Dwyer grimaced at the red markings around her throat but smiled at her. "Well, let's get some vitals and see what we can do for you."
She looked over to Roy and smiled at him, "I'll be okay, stay with Johnny."
Marinson came down beside Johnny, "Geeze Gage, you look like you've been through war."
Johnny tried to smile, "Pretty much." But even those two words brought on more coughing and seeing the blood on his hands as he tried to cover his mouth led Marinson to move quicker.
Roy was on his other side, "Concussion, suspect broken ribs and he was shot here." Pointing to each wound he filled in the medic to help things move quicker. Marinson could see that Roy was about to fall apart over all this and decided to keep him busy.
He passed him the cuff and stethoscope, "Can you get me some vitals?"
Dwyer opened up the link to Rampart, "Rampart this is Squad 86, do you read?"
"Go ahead 86." Roy recognized Brackett's voice.
"Rampart we have two victims. First victim is female, age 30. Earlier asphyxiation that responded to CPR. She is now conscious although she is somewhat groggy. There is redness and evolving bruising around her neck. Vitals are pulse 100, BP 120/70, respirations 20 and mildly labored with stridor. Pupils are equal and reactive."
Brackett knew that she had experienced significant trauma to her neck and was still at risk for complications. "86, begin IV of LR KVO and transport. Also begin oxygen at 10 liters."
"10-4 Rampart, IV, LR KVO, oxygen at 10 liters and transport. Victim two is male, age 27 with multiple trauma. Severe laceration to the right side of his head, suspect concussion. Pupils are equal and reactive. There is bruising and abrasions to his chest with possible rib fractures. Breath sounds are diminished with rhonchi. Patient is coughing up blood at this time. Color is ashen and pale. There is also a gunshot wound to the right flank with minimal bleeding. Abdomen is soft and nondistended. Vitals are pulse 130, blood pressure 70 over 40, respirations are 24 and labored."
Brackett frowned at Dixie, this one was very unstable. "86, begin two IVs of LR, wide open." He was shocky and Brackett had to get his pressure up fast. "Put him on 15 liters of oxygen and transport as soon as possible."
"IV LR x2, wide open, oxygen at 15 liters. 10-4 Rampart."
"Roy?"
"Yea Junior?"
"How's Kanda?"
"She's going to be fine. Let's get you taken care of alright?"
"I'm good," he whispered with a crooked smile.
Roy chuckled, "If you say so partner."
But Johnny was good in his heart and soul. They were safe. Roy was here and would make sure they were taken care of. Kanda was alive which was more than he could have ever asked for after all they had been through. Closing his eyes he peacefully let the darkness take him.
"Johnny?" Alarm swept through Roy.
"He's okay Roy, his vitals are stable. I think he's just sleeping," Marinson reassured him.
Next both were loaded into the stokes, secured and the engine crew worked on getting them topside. Roy picked up Jenny and followed them up. For some reason he just couldn't hold her tight enough. He sat in the jump seat near the cab of the ambulance with Jenny in his arms, the woman he loved in front of him and his best friend and brother beside him on the bench. He could only smile with a little more peace in his heart.
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Sitting back in the seat Roy watched Dwyer working quietly, monitoring vital signs and keeping in contact with Rampart. They both were lying very still in front of him from what he could only assume was complete exhaustion after their all night ordeal. Jenny had fallen asleep in his arms and he gently kissed her cheek. Mentally he ran down a list of who he needed to call right away upon reaching Rampart. A part of him still couldn't believe that this nightmare was over. They were both traumatized both emotionally and physically, their conditions tenuous as the ambulance tore down the streets in the early morning hour, but they were found.
Dwyer's pace increased and Roy watched him repeating vital signs, worry was etched on his face. He watched with fear creeping back into his heart. The breathing worsened, the oxygen was increased but it was no longer working. Rampart was yelling for an esophageal airway stat.
Roy's heart was in his throat, God, please no. After all this he couldn't lose one of them. Not now.