Title: Rememories – Pt. 13

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. Emergency! is owned by Universal and Mark VII Productions. I make no profit from my imagination—only a personal joy and peace.

E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!

Roy and Chris were nearly to Johnny's and Chris was like a kid at Christmas. He was moving in the seat like he had ants in his pants. "What has gotten into you, Son?" Roy asked as they turned down the road toward Johnny ranch.

"I'm just excited to get to help Uncle Johnny is all, Dad." Chris remarked. He barely waited for the car to stop before he opened his door and jumped out.

"Hey, Christopher," there was his full name again, "Settle down. We've got plenty of time before they get back." Roy said as he got out of the car, too. "You go check on Abby and the horses and I will go in the house to see what needs to be done there." His words fell on deaf ears as Chris had already begun running to the barn. Roy smiled and made his way to the house.

Before he got to the door, he heard another vehicle approach. He turned to find Mr. Bailey, Johnny's neighbor, driving up in his truck. Roy turned on his heel to meet Mr. Bailey.

"Hey, there." Bailey greeted Roy as he got out from his vehicle. "Good ta see ya, Roy. Is John around anywhere's?" Bailey asked.

"Hello, Mr. Bailey. No, Johnny's not here. My son and I are doing the chores while we wait for Johnny and my daughter, Jenny, to return from camping." Roy updated the man who was Johnny's nearest neighbor. Bailey's eyes fell and he seemed distracted. "Is there something I can help you with, Bailey?" Roy offered.

Bailey took off his hat and scratched his head. The man was not really that much older than Roy, but his life had been one of grueling hard work and the labor showed in his graying hair and rough skin. "No, it's just…" Bailey began. "Well, I don't want to cause no alarm, but I heard some shootin' in the woods the past coupla nights and last night 'specially. I was gonna ask John if he heard it, too. Been a few incidents of vandalism and such up here. I just wanted to check with John is all."

Roy bristled. He was a worrier at heart and, with his daughter in those woods; he was now on high alert. "You sure they were gunshots, Bailey? Maybe you just heard some firecrackers or something?" Roy suggested as he hoped the man would agree.

Bailey shook his head back and forth. "Nope. I know gunshots when I hear 'em. And, those was gunshots I heard. I called the Sheriff and he said he'd get out here with a coupla rangers to check things out. They should be here soon." Both Roy and Bailey turned as they heard the sound of tires crushing gravel. As if on cue, Bailey waved to the approaching county vehicles…a sheriff cruiser and a ranger pick-up. After some quick introductions, Bailey began to tell the law enforcement officers where he heard the gunshots.

"Up 'round where my property butts up against Johns…'bout four or five miles walk from here." Bailey explained. Roy's face went white and his knees became weak.

"That's where Johnny takes the kids camping…he and Jenny are probly there right now. We've got to get up there." Roy considered calling JoAnne, but thought better of it since they were yet unsure if Jenny and Johnny were even at that campsite or hurt by any of the shots.

"Hold on, now, Mr. DeStoto." The Sheriff began.

"Please, call me Roy." He interrupted.

"Okay, Roy. We can't be sure your friend and daughter are even up there where the shots were fired…or, if the shots were even fired in the vicinity that Mr. Bailey reports. In woods this thick, sound travels differently…it bounces off different trees and rocks and you can't really pinpoint the exact area of a sound." The Sheriff reasoned.

Bailey huffed and mumbled, "I been out here for mosta my life…you think I don't know what I hear and where I hear it?" under his breath. The men ignored him.

"Look, Sheriff, I am a Captain for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. I am also still certified as a Paramedic. I can get Johnny's kit from the house and go with you. Just in case anyone is hurt, I can treat them until help arrives. You have two-way radios, right?" Roy announced and asked.

"Yes." The Ranger reported. "If it's only four or five miles, we can make that in 30 or 40 minutes, depending on the pace we keep with our packs on." Bailey drew a crude map for the Ranger and Sheriff. Roy knew where they were going as he was certain Johnny would take Jenny where they had always camped before. Roy informed Chris of what was going on, and told him to stay with Bailey and continue the chores.

"Don't call Mom, yet!" He ordered his Son. "They are probly just fine and I don't want her to worry." Chris hugged his Father and waved as he left with the Ranger and Sheriff.

"Mr. Bailey?" Chris sighed.

"Yeah, Son."

"Jenny wanted to help Uncle Johnny make some new memories…she calls 'em rememories…cuz' of what happened last week. Two linemen from his Station were killed in a building explosion. He's been really sad ever since. Jenny and I wanted to help him be happy again. That's why I wanted to come here early today to do the chores and tend the horses. So, he could rest and be happy." Chris felt hot tears forming in his eyes. "If somethin's happened to Jenny or Uncle Johnny…well, it would ruin everything."

Bailey took a step and nudged Chris. "Hey, we don't know that anything bad happened. If somethin' happened to your sister, don't you think John would have brought her home by now?" Chris nodded his head affirmatively. "Alright, then, let's get back to those chores. What you got done so far?" Bailey diverted Chris from his gloomy thoughts. As they walked toward the barn, Chris gave Bailey a full report on all that he had accomplished so far.

E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!

Jenny yawned herself awake. She lay sleepily in her bag, relishing the warmth inside. She never liked getting up in the morning when they camped. The cool of the morning would always be a shock to her system. She turned over to see if her Uncle was still asleep. She had not heard him come in last night, but that was not uncommon. She was a hard sleeper and it took a lot to wake her up.

She peered out from her sleeping bag and noticed that Johnny's bedroll did not look like it had been slept in at all. His backpack and the flashlight still lie on top of his sleeping bag; exactly where they had been the night before. She smiled at the thought that Johnny probably fell asleep next to the fire. She knew he would rather sleep under the stars than in a tent, but he acquiesced since Jenny did not favor sleeping outside. She yawned once more and stretched her arms and got out of her sleeping bag.

She unzipped the tent and stepped out into the sunlight. As she zipped the closure, she realized she had to go to the restroom. She stepped behind some bushes and trees where Johnny had made a place for just that purpose and relieved herself. Feeling much more comfortable, she took a deep breath of the morning air and called out for "Uncle Johnny!"

TBC