"Hey there stranger" greeted Dixie, as Kirk walked into the ER. "I haven't seen you around for a few weeks" she said smiling at the young paramedic.
"I've been home; my sister got married to my best friend. I was best man" said Kirk as he approached Dixie's desk. "I came to have my name added to the list of helpers for Johnny. How is he?" asked Kirk innocently.
"He's coming along slowly. He gets his casts off tomorrow...As far as the list goes...there's no list, just a few of us help out but I'm sure Johnny would love to have you assist him" said Dixie, brightly but with a little sharpness in her voice.
Kirk's face grew serious picking up on the change in Dixie's persona. "How many are helping?" he asked with an edge in his voice.
"Well, me, Dr Brackett, Dr Early and Captain Stanley" she stated casually, trying to sound calm about the lack of help. She wasn't sure if Kirk would want to help knowing it was just the doctors, Dixie and Cap helping.
"That's all...not even Roy or the rest of the guys from 51s?" asked Kirk with a stunned look on his face. He could only guess how Johnny felt, but knew he would never let his friends know how hurt he must be feeling by their lack of assistance in his recovery. He sighed and tried to smile at Dixie "Well, how can I help? I'm off for the next three days so I can give a hand anytime" he straightened up and looked at Dixie ready to relieve some of the pressure the four friends must be feeling.
"Why don't you go and see him now" she looked at her watch "He's due some PT and he could always use some help and words of encouragement" she told him. "He's in room 615 in the rehab ward" she informed him.
"Ok, bye Dix" Kirk waved and sauntered off to the ward. Dixie watched him leave and couldn't help but wonder how long it would take for Kirk to come up with excuses for not helping out. She reprimanded herself for being pessimistic but it was hard to be optimistic after seeing close friends withdraw from Johnny. She saw the deep hurt in Johnny daily, especially when he asked if any of his friends had enquired about him.
Kirk will brighten Johnny's day she thought. He could use a new face and a change in conversation and picked up the phone to let Cap know that Kirk was at the hospital to help with Johnny today.
Kirk made his way to Johnny's room and thought about the lack of aid being given from friends. He was shocked that Roy was amongst those not helping but then thought about his own circumstances. Maybe family commitments had interfered he thought. He approached the door and with a little unease knocked. His unease disappeared when he heard Johnny's familiar voice.
"Kirk, great to see you man" Johnny was smiling broadly, sitting in a wheel chair. He offered Kirk his hand.
"You're looking good Johnny. The wheelchair, moving your arm, that's great" he said assessing his friend's mobility.
"Yeah, I can get around in this and I can feed myself" he said mockingly. "How was the trip and the wedding?" he asked with enthusiasm. Johnny was so cut off from the outside world that he craved any information that didn't involve the hospital. It was easy for him to get caught up in the cycle of recovering and lose connection with life beyond his room.
Kirk immediately picked up on Johnny's need for company and felt for his friend. He had got to know Johnny when Johnny was helping him study for the paramedic's exam. He knew from the little snippets of information Johnny imparted that he valued his friends. He thought, it was a pity his friends hadn't realised just how much they were letting Johnny down by staying away.
Roy knocked on Cap's door frame and waited for Cap to look up before entering his office. He was nervous, the informal friendliness between he and the Cap had dissolved over the last few weeks. It hadn't gone unnoticed that the Cap was not as sociable with his crew.
"Roy what's up pal?" asked Cap looking surprised.
"Um...I was just wondering how Johnny was?" Roy rubbed his hands on his trousers, clearly uncomfortable with the question. "I know you saw him yesterday...so...I thought I'd ask" he said trying to smile but not quite achieving the desired effect.
"Well...you do know you can find out for yourself Roy, by using the phone. He does have a phone in his room" said Cap tersely.
Roy knew he deserved the admonishment but couldn't help but feel annoyed that Cap wasn't a bit more understanding. His family came first and with their kind of working conditions anything outside of that had to take a back seat. Roy stood and waited for Cap to answer his question but Cap didn't offer any further information. Roy took the hint and rubbed his hands on his trousers again and nodded.
"Listen pal, I have a family too, but somehow you have to find time for those who are important to you. Marco and Chet saw him yesterday, ask them?" Cap turned and focused on the paperwork piled on his desk. He had no time outside of work for Roy; his disappointment in the man came through loud and clear. Roy left the office feeling chastised and for a fleeting minute felt guilty but then his wife's face came to mind and he defended himself once more with his family commitments.
Johnny enjoyed Kirk's company; it was a nice change to hear about his holiday. When Kirk left, Dixie checked up on Johnny. She worried about his state of mind, knowing how easy it was for a patient to fall into depression, but Kirk had done his job well and Johnny was in a happy mood. She took him down to the cafeteria and had dinner with him and Dr Brackett joined them. Dr Brackett and Dixie made a point of not mentioning anything to do with Johnny's recovery. Instead they talked about tastes in music and books read recently.
The casts were coming off tomorrow and Dixie and Dr Brackett didn't want Johnny obsessing over it. They kept the mood light and cheerful. Dr Brackett took Johnny back to his room; he wanted to assess his mood before leaving for home. He wanted to make sure Johnny would sleep well before his big day tomorrow. It was Johnny who brought up the subject.
"Once they take the casts off, how long before I attempt to walk?" asked Johnny.
"It depends...we'll need to strengthen your leg first and then you'll need to learn to walk again" he informed Johnny. "You're probably looking at another month Johnny" he said smiling.
"Ok sounds good" Johnny nodded and churned dates over in his mind.
"Why?" asked Dr Brackett picking up on the calculating going on in Johnny's mind.
"I've got some organising to do Doc and I was wondering how close I'm cutting it" he said.
"Ok well just concentrate on this first and then worry about the other later" said Dr Brackett trying not to pry into Johnny's personal affairs. He knew if he wanted him to know he would offer the information.
"Yep you got it, cast off, strength exercises next and walking after that" he itemised.
Dr Brackett smiled "That's pretty much it. I'll see you tomorrow my friend, sleep well".
"I will and thanks Doc" Johnny turned on the TV and watched the news; it was at that moment that the phone next to his bed rang.
"Hello" Johnny tried to juggle the phone and TV control. "Just a sec" he said and dropped the receiver and switched off the TV. "Sorry about that" he said waiting for the person on the other end to reply.
"Hi Johnny its Roy"
"Hey pally good to hear from you" Johnny smiled down the phone line.
"I just thought I'd find out how you're going. Hopefully we won't get toned out. How's the physio going?"
Johnny could hear the nervousness and tension in Roy's voice. He sounded like a stranger so he decided to keep the conversation light. "It's going good. I can get around in a wheel chair and I can feed myself" he hastily added the last bit remembering that Roy had stopped visiting around the same time Kirk went on leave.
"That's good Johnny..."
There was strained silence and Johnny's heart flipped as he realised their close connection was gone. Johnny wanted to end the conversation, it hurt too much and Roy was offering nothing to ease that hurt. "Listen Roy it was nice talking to you but I have to go. Thanks for calling. Bye" Johnny didn't wait for Roy to reply before putting down the receiver. His chest felt tight and his eyes burned. Alone in his room he allowed the tears to fall grieving for the treasured friendship of his partner.