Title: Rememories – Pt. 15
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.
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They were half way up the trail and the Ranger began to point out scars on surrounding trees and fence posts caused by gunfire. "This looks like a .22" He remarked as he dug a bullet fragment from a tree and put it in an evidence bag. Roy was a few feet ahead and gave a resolute sigh.
"We'd make better time if you didn't stop every 10 minutes." Roy said the Ranger. The Ranger gave him a sideways glance and asked.
"Look, if this were a suspected arsonist and this tree had burn damage, wouldn't you do the same thing? I just want to find out who's doing all this damage. I am sure your friend and daughter are fine. You said he's a Paramedic, right? If anything happened, he'd know what to do." The Ranger reasoned. But, Roy was beyond reasoning.
"What if something has happened TO Johnny? Then, that means my daughter is out there alone. If there is even a chance of that, I have got to get to them as quickly as I can." Roy countered. Now it was the Ranger's turn to sigh. He nodded his assent and they continued up the trail.
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Waking with a start, Johnny did not know what time it was right away or how long they had been asleep. Jenny was awake and staring at Johnny. Not realizing that help was just minutes away, Johnny put Jenny to work. He sent her to collect some water from the creek. She found the kettle he had taken the night before to fill. She saw the path were he had pulled himself to the campsite. She was looking down as she walked back with the water and noticed other tracks next to her footprints and Johnny's drag markings. She knelt down for a moment and put her hand next to the markings.
Her Uncle had shown her and Chris all types of animal prints and helped them learn to identify them. These markings, if she was right, were the prints of a wolf. And, a rather large one at that when she compared the print to her own hand. She wondered briefly if it was a fresh print or had been there for days. She shrugged her shoulders and continued back to camp. She helped Johnny get a few sips of water so he would not dehydrate. She took a few sips for herself and then put the kettle next to the fire.
She went to collect a couple more logs to keep the fire burning and laid those along with the others Johnny had collected the day before. Once she was done, she went into tent and got her own sleeping bag. She put it over her Uncle since she noticed he was still shivering and she lay down next to him and starting singing a song Johnny used as a lullaby when she was a baby and toddler. It was a song he remembered his Father singing to his Mother. Jenny knew all the words by heart.
"Have I told you lately that I love you
Could I tell you once again somehow
Have I told, with all my heart and soul how I adore you
Well darlin' I'm tellin' you now.
This heart would break in two if you refuse me
I'm no good without you anyhow
Dear have I told you lately that I love you
Well darlin' I'm tellin' you now.
Have I told you lately that I miss you
When the stars are shinin' in the sky
Have I told you why the nights are long when you're not with me
Well darlin' I'm tellin' you now
This heart would break in two if you refuse me
I'm no good without you anyhow
Dear have I told you lately that I love you
Well darlin' I'm tellin' you now.
Have I told you lately when I'm sleepin'
Every dream I dream is you somehow
Have I told you who I'd like to share my love forever
Well darlin' I'm telling you now
This heart would break in two if you refuse me
I'm no good without you anyhow
Dear have I told you lately that I love you
Well darlin' I'm tellin' you now. *
Johnny felt warmth from the fire, from the sleeping bag covering him, and from the little girl who loved him enough to help him make some new rememories and recover from a terrible tragedy. As her singing faded into a gentle hum, he thought, "Yes, I will be alright…in time…we will all be okay."
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Roy stopped on the trail. He did it so quickly that the Ranger ran right into him. "What the hell?" The Ranger exclaimed. Roy put his hand up.
"Shhhhh! Listen!" He hissed loudly. They all craned their necks to hear what Roy was listening for. And, it became quite clear moments later when they heard the music riding on the breeze…
This heart would break in two if you refuse me
I'm no good without you anyhow
Dear have I told you lately that I love you
Well darlin' I'm tellin' you now.
"That's Jenny. That's my daughter!" Roy exclaimed as he began to run on the path toward the camping site. He was relieved that everything was okay. He envisioned Johnny berating him for being such a worry wart as he often did. But, when the three men entered the campsite, he knew he had every reason to worry.
"Daddy!" Jenny screamed and ran to Roy who scooped her up in his arms. "Daddy!" The noise jostled Johnny awake as he had fallen asleep with Jenny's serenade. The Ranger and the Sheriff went to Johnny's side as Roy calmed Jenny.
Seeing Johnny's pale features, the Ranger looked at Roy, summoning him with a glance.
"Daddy, Uncle Johnny got hurt last night and I've been takin' care of 'im till you got here. You sure got here fast. Uncle Johnny said it would be a long time till you came." Jenny began explaining between sobs.
"You did a good job, Jen. Now you stay here a minute and let me go check on Johnny, okay?" Roy motioned for the Sheriff to come stand by Jenny. Roy didn't want her to be alone, even if she was only a few feet from him. He put Jenny down and made his way over to Johnny. He could tell Johnny was hurt or ill immediately from the pallor of his face. He put the emergency pack at Johnny's head and began his assessment.
"Okay, Junior, what have you gotten into this time?" Roy joked and forced a smile. Johnny looked at him through fever-filled eyes and continued the violent shivering.
"I…just…can't…get…warm..." Johnny tried to explain. "I think someone shot me, Roy?" He said, still questioning his own assessment. Roy swiveled his head toward the Ranger.
"When, Johnny? When did this happen?" Roy found the bump on Johnny's head and it made his Friend wince in pain. "Sorry, Junior." He breathed out as he continued his examination.
"Last night…maybe…don't know what time…after…after…Jen…went to…bed." Johnny's breathing was becoming labored and he was in danger of hyperventilating. Roy tried to calm him as much as he could.
"We're here now, Johnny. You're gonna be fine." Roy reassured. "'Where do you think you were shot?"
"My back…felt like…like a big…big bee sting." Johnny breathed between his chattering teeth.
"You're awful hot. You have a fever. Probly infection. Let's turn you over and check this out." Roy motioned to the Ranger to help him. "Johnny don't do anything. The Ranger and I will do all the work."
"Oh…forgot ta tell ya…can't move my legs…Roy…" Roy tried to hide his shock, but Johnny could read his expression. Johnny tried to offer his Friend a grin, but it just wasn't in him. Once they turned him and pulled back the covers, they saw a small bullet hole.
"It's about 3 centimeters to the right of the L3 vertebra. It's not that deep, Johnny, but maybe it is causing some swelling around the spine. That's probly the cause of the paralysis." He was trying to keep upbeat for Johnny and Jenny's sakes, but he was very worried about his Friend. "Sheriff, you wanna get on that radio and let them know we are gonna need a full company out here…stretcher…men to carry 'im out…and, a Squad." The Sheriff made the call. "Be right back, Junior." Roy said.
"Not…going…anywhere…" Johnny teased despite his condition.
Roy walked back to where his daughter was standing. "So, Pumpkin, are you really okay?" Roy said as he started looking her over for injuries again.
Jenny nodded her head sorrowfully. "Yes, Daddy. I'm fine." He smiled at her word usage since that is how Johnny often described his condition—whether it was true or not. "I'm just sad that Uncle Johnny got hurt…when we were s'posed to be making good rememories so he'd be happy again." Roy scooped her into his arms again. He hugged her hard, desperately, as if letting her go he would lose her. He wished he could hold her like that forever.
"Jenny, I'm sure Uncle Johnny will look back on this day and smile because you took such good care of him when he got hurt. That is a good memory, and I am so proud of you, too." Roy tried to cheer his daughter, but she remained heartbroken.
TBC
*words/music of Have I Told You Lately That I Love You by Scott Wiseman (released in 1945); check out .com/watch?v=KApEO_vQez8 for Roy Rogers and Dale Evans' rendition!