Title: Rememories – Pt. 17

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 entered Treatment Room four and found no one there. He went back into the hall and looked to the left and right to see if he could find where everyone was. A flash of white caught his eye and he looked up to see Brackett. "Doc?" Roy asked, begged.

Brackett put a hand on Roy's shoulder and pushed him alongside as he continued his journey. "We took 'im upstairs, Roy. We've got to get that fever down. We are going to put some cooling blankets on 'im and see if that works. We are prepping and ice bath just in case." Bracket updated.

"He said he couldn't move his legs." Roy reminded Brackett.

"We already got x-rays. Joe is going to look at them once they are in and then we will know more about what's going on. Do you know what the hell happened? How did Johnny get shot?" Brackett wondered.

"I don't know details...only that there has been some random gunfire and vandalism up around his ranch. The Ranger and Sheriff told me that they had a few leads and thought it was some teenagers out for some kicks." Roy railed.

Brackett huffed. "Some kicks!" He turned to face his Friend. "I'm worried, Roy." The Doctor admitted. "With the toll his body has taken the last week or so…the weight loss and physical fatigue…"

"What are you saying, Doc?" Roy worried.

"Let's wait and see what Joe finds and if we can get the fever down." Both men worried for their Friend as they made their way to his side.

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!

In the Critical Care Unit, Johnny lay on a gurney with cooling blankets surrounding him. He was unresponsive, but was breathing a bit better. Dr. Early was off in a corner reading x-rays when Roy and Brackett arrived. "What's the verdict, Joe?" Brackett asked.

Early startled at the intrusion. "Oh, Kel, Roy. Doesn't look too bad from here. There was very little blood loss and the bullet is fragmented. Looks small…maybe a .22 caliber." Roy remembered the bullet the Ranger pulled from the tree. "It probably was a ricochet…if it was a direct hit, there would be a lot more damage." Early deduced. Brackett looked on as Roy walked to Johnny's side.

Roy thought for a moment that his Friend looked better than he had the last time he saw him. After all, Johnny wasn't even breathing on his own the last time he saw him. But, his pale complexion and constant shivering told Roy that he was not doing well at all. Roy took Johnny's hand his and thought that it felt like a hot coal. "Jeez, Johnny…" He muttered.

Hearing a familiar voice, Johnny tried to respond by opening his eyes. He tried desperately to focus and finally found the source of the voice. "Roy…" He whispered harshly through chattering teeth and the oxygen mask.

"Just rest, Junior. You're at Rampart and Early and Brackett are gonna fix you up like new." Roy encouraged. He held fast to Johnny's hand as if it were salvation for them both. Johnny affirmed Roy with a barely-perceptible nod and closed his eyes again.

A few minutes later, Roy was ushered out of the room so they could run more tests on Johnny. He glumly walked toward the elevator and pushed the button. When the doors opened, he saw a familiar face. Mr. Daniels, Greg's father, was standing in the elevator. Roy greeted the man as he stepped out. "Mr. Daniels, my name is Roy DeSoto." The man greeted Roy as if he knew him.

"I have heard a lot about you from my Son, Greg. You and Captain Gage are all he talked about for the five months he took those Paramedic classes." He explained. "I heard that Captain Gage was injured and I wondered how he was doing…"

Roy told the man what he knew about Johnny's condition and then remembered what Johnny had told him about Greg. "Uh…how's your son doing, Mr. Daniels?"

"We talked with Dr. Early yesterday and decided to turn off the life support…the respirator." Roy was crestfallen. He hated that he made the man relive the death of his son. But, he didn't seem to be grieving. In fact, Roy thought he looked…cheerful. "When we did, Greg started breathing on his own. This morning, he opened his eyes and was able to whisper a few words. We are so grateful and I couldn't wait to share the news with Captain Gage…but, now this has happened. I do hope he is going to be alright. Greg would like to see him." Roy smiled despite his fears regarding Johnny.

"That is great news Mr. Daniels. I know Johnny will be thrilled to hear that Greg is improving. Right now, I need to go see my family and make sure my daughter is doing alright."

"Oh, was she injured, too?" Mr. Daniels asked.

"No, she was with Johnny on a camping trip when he got hurt. She had to take care of him for a while before we got there, though. She will want to know how he's doing."

"Certainly, Captain DeSoto, please see to your family. And, I will join my wife in the cafeteria. I hope that we both get good news soon." He shook Roy's hand and was gone. Roy went to see if Jo and Chris had arrived and relieve Dixie, who was caring for Jenny.

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!

Greg Daniels' condition was upgraded to stable and he was making marked improvement by the hour. He was talking and remembered most of the ordeal that landed him in the ICU of Rampart. Though he was doing better, his parents and doctors agreed that he should not be told of his Captain's condition until more was known. His remaining crewmates, Marc and Doug, visited him and answered questions he had about the funerals for Jameson and Baker.

"Where's Cap?" Greg asked to those around him, and no one knew what to say.

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!

"We've got to operate, Roy." Early updated. "I'd like to get his temp down more, but we need to clear out that wound or the antibiotics will be of no use."

"When?" Roy asked.

"Now. We are prepping him. We just need your signature on these forms." Early had Roy sign as next-of-kin. "Okay, I will update you as soon as we're done."

"We? Is Brackett operating with you?" Roy queried.

"No. I asked a friend of mine to operate and I will be assisting. He specializes in spinal injury. He was here to consult on the Daniel's case. And, now, he's Johnny's best chance for a full recovery." Early nodded once the papers were signed. Roy put the pen down.

"Can I see 'im first?" Roy asked. Early shook his head.

"'M sorry, Roy, but time is not on our side here. We've got to get in there now." Early patted Roy on the back and walked away.

Roy sat down on the sofa and hoped that he would see Johnny again. "Greg made it, Johnny…you have to make it, too." He muttered aloud, to no one.

TBC