Part X

As they headed into the office with Drs. Brackett and Early, Johnny was a little puzzled by Roy's rather pensive outloook. Something was definately still eating at his partner and he wasn't sure what that something was.

One at a time, they each relayed what Poole had said to them personally about the paramedic program as well as the newer rules the had been added about only one of them being allowed inside the hospital at a time and the part about their responsibilities ending after the patient came through the door.

After listening carefully to everything, Dr. Brackett looked over at Roy. The two of them had worked closely enough together that he could generally read the senior member of his top team pretty well. He just quirked a half-smile.

"You see the same problem I do, don't you, Roy?"

"I think we're on the same page, yes."

Head turning to look from one to the other, Johnny frowned.

"I don't even think I have a copy of the same book you guys have."

Dr. Early chuckled from where he was standing and reached over to give Johnny's shoulder a pat.

"Don't feel bad. I didn't get a copy either, John. How about a fill-in, Kel?"

"Thing is? This Captain Poole hasn't said things in front of more than one of you at a time on the items that could be considered - inflammatory."

The groan coming from Johnny's chair showed he was seeing what they were now.

"Our word against his and no witness that heard the same thing we did."

Roy added to that.

"Same thing goes for what happened with Chet. We didn't hear the Captain's instructions to him with the clean-up, so he could deny it or even say that Chet just misunderstood what he actually meant."

Johnny raised his hands and just let them flop down into his lap.

"So we're stuck."

Dr. Early crossed his arms, thinking.

"Partially? Yes. I think Kel could stop the restrictions regarding the two of you here at Rampart. After all, as paramedics, you report to him as well. That's not much, granted, but now that we all know what's going on, we can keep a closer eye on things. You two and the other three feel solid together again?"

Johnny looked over to Roy and they both nodded to that.

"Maybe this Poole guy is one of those that feels he has to push to find out what his peoples' limits are. Could be that once he sees you all have one another's backs that he'll be satisfied and back off."

None of the other three really bought into that line of thinking, but Roy just nodded.

"Well, we can always hope for the best, right?"

Dr. Brackett leaned forward over his desk.

"I'll call and have a talk with your Captain when your shift comes back on. Talk to him about making sure about precautions are being observed with cleaning materials and about hospital access for the two of you. I won't mention we've talked. Dixie had already mentioned that only one of you was coming in at a time to me so I'll approach it from that angle."

Dr. Brackett might have known Roy in some ways, but Johnny knew his partner even better. And he knew that smile that Roy was currently sporting was as fake as the 'leather' on the chair he was sitting in. But fake or not, Roy's tone sounded cheerful enough when he spoke.

"Thanks. Dr. Early? Is Chet clear to go now? Joanne wants to feed him and she hates to keep dinner waiting too long."

"Sure. He just needs to take it easy and not try swallowing anything too spicy or rough for the next few days while his throat finishes healing."

As they left Brackett's office to go back to Chet's room, Johnny cast a glance over to his partner and spoke softly.

"Dr. Early's being a bit over-optomistic, isn't he?"

"Well, that's the way he is. Have you have seen him get angry, Johnny? Irritated and annoyed, yes. But not angry. The man is a Pollyanna."

"A Polly-who?"

"Pollyanna. Book about a little orphaned girl who makes in a habit to try and see the best in everything and everyone. Ask Kim nicely and she might loan you her copy."

"Huh. Well, I might just do that, Smarty."

"Hey, I've read it. It's not a bad way to spend an afternoon."

Johnny chuckled at that, then went quiet for a minute before sighing.

"Roy? You think Brackett calling is going to make things worse, don't you?"

"Like tossing a bucket of ice water on a cat that's already mad, Junior. Man, look at the time. Let's stop and give Jo a call to let her know we're on our way."

"Well, at least the condemned will get a good meal first."