CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The decision was made to wait out the storm at the cabin. There was no way a helicopter could reach them in the swirling winds and lightning. On top of that, the officer in charge had lost contact with the base camp. They were too far in the bottom of the valley for the hand held radio to work. He sent one of his men to go to the top of the ridge. If he still couldn't reach base camp, he was to keep going. The officer figured they were better off staying here with the wounded than trying to haul them through the trees and over the hills.

"What's going on?" Roy asked when he finally came around. Mike was still sitting beside him, Roy's right hand held tightly in his hand. Johnny was hovering over Connors, doing what he could for the badly beaten man. The policemen had moved Johnson's body. None of them wanted to have to look at it any longer than necessary.

"We're waiting for the storm to pass by," Mike responded. Without saying a word, he held a glass to Roy's lips and helped the senior paramedic drink. "One of the sheriffs has gone to contact base camp. There's no reception down here and the phone lines were cut."

"How's Connors doing?" Roy asked once he drained the glass. Now that he wasn't fighting for his life, Roy realized just how badly he smelled. It had been a long couple of days. He really needed a shower.

"He has a broken arm, some cracked ribs, bruising and superficial scrapes. Johnny figures he'll be okay," Mike said. He tried to help Roy get comfortable. He could see on the paramedic's face that he was in pain. "How are you?"

"Ribs hurt," Roy admitted. Roy had found very quickly that shifting around to get into a more comfortable position only made things worse. At least the shaking had stopped, which helped.

"Well, the police officers are hoping to get an ambulance in here to move both of you out. For now all you have to worry about is getting some more sleep," Mike said. He turned long enough to put another couple of logs on the fire. Then he settled down beside Roy again.

"There were more of them," Roy said between clenched teeth. The ribs were really starting to ache.

"We know. There are searchers out all through this area looking for them. Don't worry, they'll be caught soon enough," Mike tried to reassure him. Outside the dogs had started baying again. They were unhappy at being confined to one of the sheds.

"Hey Roy," Johnny said as he joined the two firefighters. He'd finished working on Connors.

"How's Joanne?" Roy asked. His wife and kids were going to be beside themselves with worry. That was the thing he hated most about the whole escapade.

"She's pretty worried," Johnny admitted. He was sitting on his butt on the opposite side of Roy. In the fire light, the senior paramedic could see his face very plainly. "When they get hold of base camp, they'll let her know that we've found you and you're okay."

"Good," Roy said. His eyes kept sliding shut on him. He was having trouble staying awake. Then he realized he didn't have to fight it any longer. He was safe.

OOOOO

Shortly after the storm broke, the sun came peeking over the eastern horizon. The officer in charge was just getting ready to send the dogs and their handlers out again when an ambulance came skidding into the lane. The police officer had gotten through to headquarters.

Right behind the ambulance were two police cars and a van. The attendants jumped out of the ambulance and sprinted up the stairs. The gurney clattered between them as it thumped up the steps. Right behind them came Captain Stanley, Marco and Chet. They'd hitched a ride in the back of the squad cars.

"Johnny?" Hank called as soon as he stepped into the dark confines of the cabin. The fire did little to help him see after being in the bright sunlight.

"Yeah, Cap. We're over here," Johnny answered. Quickly, he and Mike moved out of the way to let the attendants reach Roy.

"How is he?" Hank demanded as he watched the two men carefully lift a groggy Roy onto the gurney.

"He has some broken ribs, a head injury and cuts and bruises. I think he avoided the worst of it," Johnny replied. Now that Roy was found and on his way to the hospital, Johnny was aware of just how tired he really was. And his cold was back.

"Good. Let's follow him in. The police officers have a pretty good line on the rest of the convicts. They don't need us anymore," Hank said as he followed the attendants and the gurney. Silently, the rest of A shift shuffled along behind him.

It took a few more minutes to load Connors up in the ambulance as well. Then they were splashing down the muddy roads. Johnny had climbed in with his partner. The ambulance attendants weren't trained as paramedics and he wanted to make sure that Roy got everything he needed during the trip in. Very early on Johnny realized just how much pain the trip was causing Roy but with the head injury he didn't dare ask to give him morphine. Silently, Roy bore it. He was going to Rampart, his second home away from home. With any luck Joanne would be there waiting for him. The nightmare was over. He'd woken up to find a beautiful morning and good friends waiting for him. Nothing else really mattered.

Epilogue:

A week in the hospital just about drove Roy crazy. He figured Dr. Bracket had prescribed it mostly to keep an eye on his emotional health more so than his physical health. The first two nights he'd woken in the night following harrowing dreams. Most of the time he got away from Johnson but not all the time. It was after the ones where he didn't get away that Roy woke up soaked in sweat, trembling like a leaf. His voice was usually raw from screaming. At least he figured that was what he was doing because he always woke up to find a nurse or a doctor hovering over him, a look of concern printed on their faces.

Joanne and the kids came to visit as often as they could. Dr. Bracket kept the visits short to give Roy as much time to sleep as possible. For the first two days that worked out fine for him but after that Roy started to find the time long. Even Johnny was only allowed in for short visits. That drove both of them nuts.

It was on the last day that Roy got a different visitor. The jeweller knocked on the door before quietly padding inside.

"Hello Mr. DeSoto," he said, a shy smile gracing his lips. "I heard on the television about your troubles. I was hoping that by giving you this may help." The little man held out a beautiful velvet box.

Tentatively, Roy accepted the box and carefully opened it up. Inside was the most beautiful pendant he'd ever seen. Looking up at the man, Roy found it hard to express his appreciation. "Thank you," was the only thing that would come out.

"I hope your wife likes it, you certainly went through enough to get it," the jeweller said. Then he turned and headed toward the door.

"I'm sorry, I don't have any money with me. I'll have to come by and pay for it after I'm released," Roy said. The necklace seemed surreal after all that had transpired. He looked at it again just to make sure it was really there.

"Don't worry about it. I hadn't planned on charging you in the first place. You and your co workers do this city a service that can't be repaid in money. This is my small way of showing my appreciation. Be well, Mr. DeSoto." With that, the jeweller left the room.

At that moment, Joanne walked in. She'd left the kids with the sitter. She had some very good news that she wanted to share with Roy alone. Well, almost alone. Right behind her came Johnny.

"Good afternoon," Joanne said as she sat down on the edge of Roy's bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better," Roy responded. He didn't even think about hiding the box in his hand. "I have something for you. It's a little early but I can't wait until your birthday to give it to you."

"I have something for you too, honey. Dr. Bracket said I can take you home today. Johnny's here to make sure everything goes smoothly," Joanne said as she accepted the closed box. With a curious glance at her husband, she carefully opened the box. Immediately upon seeing the perfectly sculpted necklace, tears sprang to her eyes. "Is this the reason? Is this why you were out there that day?"

The whole thing was spirally out of control. This wasn't the memory Roy wanted attached to his wife's necklace. Maybe he should have waited until her birthday. He was just never very good at keeping secrets from his wife. He couldn't find the words to make this all right.

"Yes. That's where he was that day," Johnny said. He'd tried to hide in the corner. This was a private moment between a man and his wife. But he could see that Roy was struggling. "That's why I couldn't tell you. I didn't want to ruin the surprise."

"This looks just like the one I got from my Grandmother," Joanne breathed. She kept looking between the pendant and her husband. The man she'd nearly lost so he could get this made for her. Love and awe burned through her heart.

"I gave the jeweller a picture so he could make you another one," Roy said. He held Joanne's free hand. The other one was tightly grasping the box like she was afraid it was going to get away on her, to disappear just like its original.

"Oh, Roy, this is the best birthday present I've ever gotten. Thank you so much!" Joanne said as she threw her arms around Roy, giving him as tight a hug as she dared.

"You're welcome," Roy replied, a little embarrassed that his partner was witnessing this show of affection. Then he looked over at Johnny and the huge grin plastered on his face. Well, maybe it wasn't so bad.

"Let's get you home. The kids are waiting," Johnny said as he pulled a wheel chair into the room. As expected, he got a glare from his partner. Roy really hated those things. "But maybe we should get you into something other than your pyjamas first though."

"There's something else I have to do first." Taking the box from his wife's hand, Roy pulled the necklace out and placed it around her neck. Ignoring the residual stiffness of his fingers, Roy closed the clasp. It looked beautiful on her. "Now we can go."

The End.