Mike eyed Chet suspiciously as he walked out of the dorm. Chet was well known for eavesdropping and he was sure this was one such moment. The shift carried on pretty much as usual except Roy remained in a bad mood with a tendency to brood. Cap spent the shift watching his paramedics and wondering if the turmoil would ever end. He was glad Johnny was not being subjected to the moodiness of the station.
Johnny drove to the mountains and for the first time in months went for a jog along one of his favourite tracks. It felt good to be in the fresh air and to be amongst the healing powers of Mother Nature. He made some important decisions, and no matter what, he was going to stick by them.
Johnny no longer pondered on leaving station 51, it was his home and he intended to stay there. He also decided if Roy no longer wanted to be friends that that was ok, he could live with that. He knew Roy was professional enough to work with him, they just wouldn't have that rapport they had before the accident. He felt so much better for making the decisions. He didn't realise that he had run the whole track without stopping. His fitness was finally getting back to where it was before the accident which meant he probably had nothing to worry about when he went for his endurance test on Friday.
The next morning as expected Chet was standing in the hallway of Johnny's apartment building. Johnny sighed and reluctantly let him into his apartment. Chet had never been there before so Johnny put him on the spot.
"Where did you get my address Chet?" sounding more than annoyed.
"Such hostility Gage" Chet replied avoiding Johnny's question.
"Like I said, where did you get my address Chet?" Johnny stuck to his guns; he wasn't going to let Chet get the upper hand.
"Well I have my sources. I just thought I'd call in and see how you were going. Pretty small apartment" he commented.
"It's enough for me and it's a good location to the station" Johnny said in his defence.
"What about when your folks come to visit or any other relatives. Where do they stay?" asked Chet trying to sound very innocent, but coming off nosey.
Johnny huffed at Chet's question "I don't have any relatives Chet so I don't have that problem" he stated. "Why are you really here Chet?" asked Johnny wanting to get this conversation over with.
"Like I said I just wanted to see how you were. Don't you have any family at all?" he asked as if seeing Johnny for the first time.
"No blood family Chet, just Dixie, Cap and the station" said Johnny shrugging feeling a little inadequate.
Chet's whole persona changed instantly and he decided not to pursue the transferring option Joanne had hinted at on the phone. "Would you like to go out for breakfast? My shout" he asked Johnny.
Johnny was taken by surprise and said yes before thinking about his answer. Chet said he'd drive him to a great diner he knew and would drop him back afterwards. Johnny didn't know what to make of Chet's change in attitude but welcomed the company and free meal.
Johnny quickly learned that when Chet was away from the station he was a nice person. He had the same interest as Johnny, chicks, and even wanted to set Johnny up with a date. Johnny declined and said wait till I get back to work and on full pay. Chet understood having been out for a couple of months with a dislocated shoulder.
When Johnny got back to his apartment he immediately called Mike and told him what happened with Chet. Mike was as bewilder as Johnny but quickly told him to just accept Chet's friendship and hope that it was genuine.
Roy's mood over the next few shifts lightened up as he got used to the idea that he would be trapped in a living hell between his wife and his partner. A day didn't go by that Joanne didn't mention how lonely she was going to be once Adam moved on. He tried to ignore her comments and found himself going for self imposed drives just to get away from the complaining. He often found himself outside Johnny's apartment but was too much of a coward to visit him. He knew Johnny was going for the test on Friday and wanted to wish him luck but thought he would not be welcome so refrained from contacting Johnny. Instead he asked Mike to tell that he wished him luck for Friday. Mike promptly told him to tell him yourself.
Adam didn't say much at all. Roy wasn't sure if his silence was good or bad. He just wanted the whole thing over with. As Friday approached Roy noticed Adam became more distant with him and with Mike, Cap and Chet recently, all ignoring him socially he felt somewhat isolated in his own station. He could only hope that things would change once Johnny started back. The idea of asking Johnny to transfer was scrubbed; he knew he would never hear the end of it from the crew.
Friday came around quickly and Johnny was a little nervous when he approached the academy. He had some bad memories from his training days and hoped that one particular instructor was not around. Everything went fine and Johnny was given the all clear to return to work. Not wanting to just phone he decided to call into the station on the way home and give Cap the good news. He did suspect that headquarters had probably already let him know but he still wanted to see him.
Johnny walked into the station. Only the engine was there, the squad was out on a run. Johnny knocked on Cap's door frame.
"John, good to see you pal" Cap offered his hand and shook Johnny's. "Well?"
"I passed, I start next shift" Johnny said smiling broadly. It felt so good to be finally coming back to work.
Cap slapped him on the back and led him into the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee. As they entered the kitchen Cap called out "Guess who's back next shift?" Mike, Chet and Marco all looked up at once and smiled. They quickly congratulated Johnny.
The squad could be heard backing in. Johnny's smile faltered, he knew Adam would be sad to leave, but it was his job, so he tried to keep that in mind when Roy and Adam entered the kitchen. Cap took control straight away "Roy, Adam Johnny passed his test so he starts back next shift."
There were two completely different expressions being reflected towards Johnny. Roy was genuinely happy for Johnny but Adam was disappointed. Johnny surmised that it wasn't aimed at him because he had passed the test but because he would be leaving the station.
"Well it's been a great five months; I guess that amounts to nothing in this department." Adam sat down on a chair around the table scowling.
"Come on pal, you knew this was only temporary" stated Cap not sure if Adam was mad at the department or Johnny. Mike picked up on Cap's feelings and flanked Johnny. Roy walked up to Johnny and offered him his hand. Johnny shook it and smiled at Roy but felt the wall that had been built over the last few months between them.
"Well I should be going. I'll see you guys' next shift" Johnny said and quickly exited out of the station. 'One step at a time Gage' he told himself.
Just as he was about to get into his car Roy called out to him. He turned around and saw a very apprehensive partner looking at him.
"Johnny I'm glad you're coming back. If you do decide to transfer no hard feelings" Roy offered his hand to Johnny.
Johnny looked at Roy and said with as much self confidence as he could muster "I'm not transferring anywhere Roy. I'm staying right here. This is where I belong. Why would you think I'm going to transfer?"
"I don't know. I just thought after what Joanne said to you that you wouldn't want to work with me" Roy told Johnny awkwardly.
"I'm not working with Joanne I'm working with you."
"Ok...ok I'll see you next shift" Roy said with trepidation. He could only imagine what Joanne would have to say. He needed to talk to Adam and get some reassurances from him. Life shouldn't be this hard he said to himself as he made his way back into the station.