DISCLAIMER: All characters belong to Mark VII, et al. I have borrowed them for my own amusement. I do own Julianna.

Mike bypassed the door to the house and headed to the deck where his brother-in-law was standing.

"Hey, Mike," Johnny said, handing him a beer.

"Thanks," Mike said. The two of them stood on the deck, talking about various department business and Mike asked what he could do to help get the nursery ready.

"I finished painting, but I want to do the floors. I figured the next day I have off and Juli's working, I can do it. That way she won't be around the fumes for a few hours," Johnny said.
"I'll come over and give you hand," Mike said.

Johnny thanked him and they turned toward the driveway. They heard a car coming and Mike turned back to Johnny.
"Did you invite Sally for dinner," Mike asked before Sally even got out of her car.

"Yeah, but how did you know," Johnny asked.
"Sally and I have met for coffee after shift a few times. She's Juli's best friend, next to you, of course. She's been a great friend to me in the last few months," Mike said.

"Oh, I guess Juli's more perceptive than I thought," Johnny said.
Julianna brought a plate out to the guys. "Hey, bro," she said.
"Hi, Juju," he said, giving her a hug.
She went back inside and sat down at the table with Sally.
"So you want to tell me the true nature of your relationship with Mike," Julianna asked, drinking her lemonade.
"We've met for coffee a few mornings. That's all," Sally said, blushing slightly.

"Uh-huh," Julianna said, looking at her friend across the table. "Look, I don't care what you and Mike do. I just want him to be happy. I know you like him. I'm glad your willing to be patient with him," Julianna said.
"Thanks. You're brother is a great guy," Sally said.
"I know. Despite his overprotective nature and the fact that he thinks he's always right," Julianna said.

Sally laughed just as the guys opened the door and came inside.

Conversation between the four flowed easily and, before they realized, it was nearly midnight.

"I'll follow you home, Sally," Mike said as he got off the couch and offered her a hand.
"Thanks. Juli, thanks for the invite. Johnny, it was a pleasure. Not like the last time we had dinner. Bye," Sally said, heading out the door.
"I'll call you later, Juli," Mike said, hugging his sister and heading out the door behind Sally.
Julianna looked at her husband and put her hands on her hips.

"Leelee, I can explain..." he started.
"I THOUGHT it was an exaggeration, but, really, Johnny, every nurse at Rampart," she said, smiling slightly.

Johnny couldn't offer an explanation that wouldn't get him in trouble so he just smiled and went to his wife.
"I was just waiting for Ms. Right. And that was you," he said.
Julianna looked up at her husband. "Just place holders until we got married, is that it," she said.
"Well, I wouldn't say that, but my heart is yours," Johnny said.
"I could kick your ass," she said.
"But you love me too much," he said.

Julianna turned around and headed upstairs. She stopped and said, "No, because I'm pregnant and my center of gravity is off. I don't want to end up on my ass in the middle of the living room."

She finished climbing the stairs, Johnny right behind her. "You do realize you're going to pay for that comment, Mrs. Gage," he called after her.
"Possibly and it's DR. Gage, Mister," she said, poking her head out of the bathroom.

Johnny shook his head. If ever there was a woman that was created just for him, it was Julianna.

Johnny spent a good part of the week trying to find someone to cover for him, but he was unable to find someone. He hated having to tell Julianna that he couldn't go.

She'd taken it well and finished packing her bags. She wasn't sure why she was still going, but she knew Brackett was counting on her.

She arrived at the hospital to meet Dixie and was surprised to find Dr. Young, the new chief of the medical staff standing at the nurses station.
"Dr. Gage, just who I was looking for. You can't go on this little trip to Sacramento," he said.
Julianna looked at him. "Why not? Kelly said I was on the agenda and they were expecting me," Julianna said.
"I know, but Dr. Brackett called Dr. Moore and he doesn't think you should be flying," he said.
"Why not? He didn't say anything to me about it," Julianna said.

"I know, but when we asked because of the hospital insurance if it was OK for you to go, he remembered you had mentioned having a blood clot in your leg a few years ago. You know how susceptible pregnant women are to blood clots, especially if they fly," Dr. Young said.
"I forgot all about that because it was such a while ago. Well, if I'm not going, then who is," she asked.
"I am. I'm going to take your place. About time I met those on the committee. I'll make sure you're on the agenda for the next meeting. Take some time off to rest. You'll need it in a few months," he said.
"Thanks for your concern," Julianna said. She was a bit shocked at his concern, but she wasn't going to Sacramento and she wasn't that upset about it.

"I'd better go if I'm going to make that flight. Have a good weekend," he said, taking his overnight bag and heading toward the exits.

Julianna sat on the stool. She couldn't believe what happened, but she was excited that she'd get to see Johnny for a long weekend.

Julianna started to head out to her car and was startled to see Dixie coming out of the lounge.
"Dix! I thought you were heading to Sacramento," she asked.
"I thought you were, too. I have a mandatory nursing orientation I have to attend as the head of nursing for emergency. Why aren't you heading out," Dixie asked.
"Dr. Young said I shouldn't go because my doctor forgot about the blood clot I had a few years ago. Thought it might be bad for me to fly while pregnant. So I'm grounded. I'm heading to the station to see Johnny and let him know I'll be home when he gets off shift," she said.
She waved to Dixie and headed out to her car and drove to the station.

She parked in the back and headed to the door. She was let in by Chet. "Juli! What are you doing here," he asked, clearly shocked by her appearance at the Station.
"I came to tell Johnny that I wasn't going to Sacramento," she said.

She walked into the day room and saw Roy looking at her. "Jules! I thought you'd be at the airport," Roy said.
"Nope. Can't go. My doctor won't let me fly," she said. She looked around the room. "Where's Johnny," she asked.
"LAX," Roy said.
"Why is he at LAX," Julianna asked. "I thought he was supposed to be working today."

"He was, but he felt awful that you were going there all alone and he couldn't be there, so he got Brice to work his shift," Roy said.
"I thought Brice couldn't switch with him," Julianna said.
"Well, apparently, he found out that you and Johnny have tickets to a baseball game next weekend and Brice wanted to take this girl he's seeing because she's a big fan, but he couldn't get tickets. Johnny gave Brice his two tickets," Roy said.
Julianna sat on the couch. "He really wanted to go to that game," she said.

"Yeah, but he wanted to be with you more. The question now is, what can you do about him not being here," Roy asked.
"Can you call the airport and see if his flight has left. Maybe we can pull him off of it," Julianna asked.
Roy headed to the phone and called information. He got the number for LAX and asked if Johnny's flight had left.

Roy hung up the phone after his conversation with the airport and shook his head.
"He's already boarded. They said they can put him on another plane back as soon as they land. They'll leave a message at the gate for him. They can turn him around. He'd get back tonight, unless there's a problem when they get to Sacramento," Roy said.
"Thanks, Roy. I just wish he'd spoken with me. I'm going to the restroom. You guys stay here," she said.
Mike and Chet helped her off the couch and she headed into the bathroom.

When she was washing her hands, she saw something on the shelf above the sinks that worried her. There was Johnny's wedding ring.

She picked it up and went back to the day room.

"Roy, why isn't this with Johnny," she asked her friend.

"What is it," he asked.
"Johnny's wedding ring," she said.

The guys looked at each other. "Are you sure, Juli," Marco asked.
"Positive. I picked it out myself and had it inscribed. It's definitely Johnny's ring. The question is why isn't he wearing it right now," she asked.