Johnny sat down on the bench and opened his locker, stretching to reach the door. It all looked familiar and he wished he was opening it to start work but he knew he still had a ways to go before that day.

"Johnny?"

The voice of his partner made him jerk out of his daydreaming. Johnny looked over his shoulder and saw his apprehensive partner standing rubbing his hands on his trousers. Johnny knew he should make this hard for Roy but that was not in his nature.

"Hey Roy, I'm just grabbing my uniforms. They've been sitting here for so long I thought I'd get them dry cleaned to freshen them up" Johnny said trying to sound calm. He was anything but calm; Roy's voice had the ability to stir his deepest emotions.

"I'm glad you're coming back. I've missed you" he let out a breath "Everyone's missed you...but...I'm sorry Johnny for not being there for you and for not being the friend I should have been...I'm sorry." Johnny continued to sit hunched over his bag with his eyes squeezed shut. He couldn't have said anything to Roy even if he tried. His eyes were burning and the lump in his throat was almost choking him. He slowly looked up to check if Roy was gone and he was.

He felt someone sit down beside him and an arm move round his shoulders. He stayed completely still knowing if he tried to move or speak he would lose it. He finally took a deep breath and felt his senses calm. "I knew it was going to be hard but I didn't know it was going to be this hard" he said quietly.

Cap sighed "Just take it slow John. It will get better but don't expect it to get back to the way it was."

"I know that Cap" Johnny nodded "I have a lot of good friends and you know what?"

"What?"

"Talking to them away from work, I really got to know them."

"And they got to know you" Cap said as he pointed to Johnny's chest.

"Yeah I guess they did." Johnny looked at his Cap "Thanks!"

Cap slapped Johnny on the back and at the same time the klaxons went off. Johnny almost jumped off the bench with Cap before stopping himself. He heard the squad called out and walked into the bay area to watch the squad drive out onto the road.

"Before you know it that will be you sitting in the passenger seat" stated Mike. He put his hand on Johnny's shoulder and squeezed it. Johnny looked up and nodded at Mike agreeing with him. It felt good to be at the station. He gathered up his bag and said goodbye to everyone and made his way out to the parking lot. He looked up at the freeway all the familiar sounds aroused his senses. If he had any doubts, they had disappeared, because he knew this was where he wanted to be. He just hoped that he would be able to work alongside Roy.

Roy was waiting for Adam to come out of the treatment room. Dixie was working on some charts. She rarely carried on any small talk with Roy showing her disapproval with his treatment of Johnny.

Roy cleared his throat "Johnny dropped by the station today." She looked up at him "The chief presented him with a commendation for performing above and beyond his duty, for when he saved me from falling."

Dixie smiled but it was forced "Well that says it all. Don't you think Roy?" Before Roy could answer she put her head back down and continued to work on her charts. Roy took the hint and left to stand outside the treatment room. When Adam came out they left the hospital in silence.

"I have to admit I was a little surprised how young John Gage was" stated Adam. "You know he gave me an invite to that barbeque/picnic right?"

"Yeah I know, that's Johnny and don't be fooled by how young he looks. He came first in his paramedic class, the first one out of Rampart." Roy smiled remembering his first meeting with Johnny as he drove the squad back to the station.

"Yeah well I'm not going. Hardly feels right...he's taking my job away from me...nah we're not coming" said Adam despondently.

Roy understood how Adam felt. "Maybe something will come up close by. Hey and there's no reason we can't still get together, we're friends, right?"

"Depends on what shift I get, getting together could be hard" said Adam sounding even more despondent.

Roy felt a pang of guilt, he had become good friends with Adam and his family, but he missed Johnny. The station had become too quiet and he missed Johnny's crazy ideas and way of thinking. He liked talking things over with Johnny, but who was he kidding. That would never happen again. Johnny had new friends, friends that truly cared about him. It was Roy's turn to think about how much things had changed since that fateful day when Johnny saved his life.

Johnny worked hard at getting his fitness back and preparing for the barbeque/picnic. As usual Cap, Kirk and Mike helped with transporting food and other items to the park. It was a beautiful sunny day and Johnny was pleased that just about everyone who was invited turned up at one time or another. The ponies were a huge success with the kids. Roy's daughter dragged Johnny over to watch her ride.

"Look Uncle Johnny I'm riding, just like you" she joyfully exclaimed. Johnny smiled and felt his heart strings pulled as he watched her loving eyes. He had missed spending time with Chris and his sister. It was Chris's turn to pull at his Uncle's arm.

"I want to make a bow, you promised Uncle Johnny" he said as he tried to drag Johnny over to the bow making tent.

"Chris wait for your sister to finish, then we'll go over" Johnny said trying to keep his eyes on Roy's daughter dutifully.

Roy watched his kids compete for their Uncle's attention. Adam approached him and slapped him on the back. "You came!"

"Yeah well...free feed...lovely day to be outdoors. The kids wanted to come; it's all your kids have been talking about. Uncle Johnny this, Uncle Johnny that...so we thought we better come for their sake" he said reluctantly.

Roy could understand Adam's feelings. He had become good friends with Roy and they did work well together but he didn't understand coming to the barbeque just for a free feed. He shrugged it off and continued to watch his kids.

"Grab the kids Roy, we're going to take them to the movies" called out Joanne. She was packing up their blanket.

"Huh, hang on Joanne the kids are spending some time with Johnny. What do you want to go to the movies for? It's a beautiful day, let's just stay here" he said frowning at the sudden change in plans.

"See what I mean? As soon as Johnny's around everything revolves around him" Joanne told Adam's wife scowling.

"What are you talking about? Johnny invited us here and here is where we are staying" Roy said sternly. He didn't like how Joanne was making decisions without even asking him let alone rudely leaving the barbeque.

"We'll all end up sunburnt and tired. Can't we just leave?" Joanne asked pursing her lips.

"No. Chris is busy making a bow and arrow with Johnny. You know how long he's been waiting to do that" stated Roy turning to watch his son sit next to Johnny and start making his bow.

Joanne sighed, nothing was working. She wanted to keep Adam and his family as friends but knew as soon as he was transferred that they would probably drift apart and then she would be back to feeding Johnny whenever he came over. She decided to take the direct approach.