Johnny turned up half an hour early for shift. His sleep had been broken, but despite that he was looking forward to starting work. C Shift greeted him with handshakes and back slaps. One of their paramedics told Johnny how worried they were when they heard Engine 110 calling for an ambulance. Johnny nodded in understanding. Cap walked in and smiled when he saw Johnny standing by the coffee pot talking to C Shift paramedics.
"Hey Cap" Johnny greeted him as he walked up to shake Johnny's hand.
"Welcome back pal" Cap smiled and acknowledged the paramedics standing next to Johnny.
Cap rubbed his hands together while Johnny grabbed him a mug and poured the coffee in it. Johnny handed it to him like he had never been away. "Thank you John". Johnny nodded and made his way over to the table. Cap watched him mingle with C Shift. Chet and Marco walked in and both gave Johnny a slap on the back. Johnny acknowledged both of them and then made his way into the bay area to check supplies and do the morning calibration. He was hoping Dixie would be waiting at the other end. He looked around for Mike but he was nowhere to be seen. Normally Mike would be checking the gauges on the engine and polishing any smudges.
"Rampart this is Squad 51, how do you read?"
'Read you loud and clear 51' Dr Morton's voice came over the receiver. Johnny was disappointed that it wasn't Dixie.
"Sending you a strip Rampart" said Johnny.
'Clear this end Squad 51'
"10-4" Rampart" Johnny put the biophone away and pulled out the drug box. He rearranged it and took inventory at the same time. It was as if he had never been away and it felt good to get back into the routine.
"Hey Johnny. Welcome back" Roy said holding out his hand.
"Roy" greeted Johnny as he shook Roy's hand.
"How do the supplies look?" Roy asked as he watched Johnny close up the box and put it back into the squad.
"They're fine, we don't need to do a run" he stated and looked over at the engine again. "Excuse me Roy?"
"Yeah sure" Roy sighed and rubbed his hands on his trousers and slowly made his way into the kitchen.
Johnny was getting a little worried about Mike. He knew he had a dinner date with Dixie last night. Dixie wasn't at the base station and Mike wasn't checking and polishing his beloved engine. As he entered the locker room Mike was standing in front of his locker hurriedly putting on his uniform.
"Oh hey, Johnny. Welcome back" Mike said a little distracted with his lateness. Johnny couldn't help but smirk.
"A little late there Mike. Couldn't by any chance have anything to do with a certain nurse being late also?" Johnny leaned against the door trying not to laugh at the flustered Mike, so out of character.
"I told you Johnny I don't kiss and tell" Mike claimed as he started doing up his boots.
"Roll call in two gentlemen. Oh Mike, nice of you to join us pal" Cap said also smirking at Mike's lateness.
"Sorry Cap, the morning kind of got away from us" replied Mike grimacing at his error as soon as he said it.
"Us" said both Cap and Johnny, both with their eyebrow raised questioning Mike's admission.
Mike straightened "I just got through telling Johnny here, I don't kiss and tell" said Mike as he walked past them into the bay area.
Johnny and Cap looked at each other "Kiss huh" said Cap.
"Yep kiss and..." Johnny wiggled his eyebrows. Both of them broke into a chuckle and entered the bay area looking like two school boys sharing a secret.
Mike shook his head and couldn't help but smile. It had been a wonderful morning and it would be some time before the smile would escape his face.
Roll call was over quickly and everyone made their way into the kitchen for coffee and, of course, cake. Mrs Stanley loved baking especially for someone who appreciated her cooking, that being Johnny. Johnny took a big piece and savoured every mouthful. Chet and Marco snickered but were feeling very happy that they were all back together again.
"So Johnny, you doing anything tomorrow night?" asked Chet as he took another bite of his cake.
With his mouth full "No Chet what do you have in mind?" Johnny answered almost choking on his cake.
"Arrh, gross Gage" exclaimed Chet. "Me and a couple of the guys are going bowling. Winner gets free drinks after the game. Wanna come?"
This time Johnny made sure he swallowed before answering, he glanced at Mike before answering "Yeah sure Chet."
Roy watched the interchange wondering when Chet had become friendly enough with Johnny to go bowling with him. There was probably a lot of things he didn't know about Johnny's life, he thought sadly. He felt a little jealous of the guys, no longer having Adam as his ally he was alone and he didn't like the feeling.
The klaxons sounded for the station, everyone jumped to their feet and as Johnny made his way to the squad he quickly checked the route on the map. He jumped into the passenger seat of the squad and felt the adrenalin rush through his body as the bay doors rose and the lights and sirens were switched on. "I love this job" he said quietly.
Roy smiled knowing exactly how he felt. Having Johnny sit next to him in the squad after having Adam sit there for so long Roy thought and realised how much he had really missed Johnny. He wondered if things would ever be the same between them. Things at home certainly would never be the same. Joanne had made it quite clear that she wanted nothing to do with Johnny. He just couldn't understand Joanne and only hoped that time would also change her attitude.
The MVA involved three cars; one was on its roof. Johnny and Roy jumped out of the squad and put on their turnout coats and grabbed equipment. "I'll take the pickup, you want to take the overturned sedan?" asked Roy.
"Yeah sure" replied Johnny as he assessed the scene. He ran over to the overturned car and got down on his hands and knees and peered into the car. The woman driver was lying on the roof amongst glass from the broken windshield. Her face was a mess and her right arm was lying at an odd angle. She was unconscious but alive. Johnny and Chet had her on a backboard and out of the car in minutes. Roy was still working on the driver in the pickup. He was pinned in; Marco and Mike were busy pulling the dash off his legs using the K12. Chet stayed and helped Johnny by manning the biophone. When Johnny's victim was taken care of Johnny asked Chet to go over and see if Roy had any vitals on his victim.
Roy and Johnny worked on the victims simultaneously. Roy asked Johnny if he wanted to go in the ambulance. Johnny looked back at the squad remembering that fateful day. "I'll follow in the squad" Johnny said with determination.
"You sure?" asked Roy knowing how hard this must be for Johnny.
"I'm sure Roy" Johnny said as he started to pick up the debris. Roy jumped into the back of the ambulance and watched his partner straighten up and take a deep breath.
Johnny climbed into the squad and watched the ambulance drive away. He decided to not drive close to the ambulance but to stay a block away. He also decided not to put his sirens on but to just drive at normal speed. 'One step at a time' he told himself. Mike and Cap watched Johnny drive away thinking the same thing, 'He'll be fine'.
When Johnny arrived at the hospital he took a deep breath in relief. It was as if he had finally finished a journey that started five months ago. He strolled into ER and looked around for Roy. He was nowhere to be seen. Dixie was sitting in her usual spot. Johnny couldn't resist.
"Well well well, who was late this morning? Hmmm. The station's engineer was a little late this morning too" teased Johnny as he lent on her counter grinning, Dixie hit him on the head with her pen. "Ow!"
He yelped and quickly backed away.
Dixie chuckled as she said "Sorry I missed your call in" she ignored his raised eyebrow. "How does it feel to be back in the squad?" she asked changing the subject.
Johnny just smiled at the change, "It's good to be back Dixie, feels like I never left and driving the squad here was like completing an unfinished journey" he said in all seriousness.
"I guess in a way it was" she said thoughtfully.
"Johnny welcome back" Dr Brackett shook Johnny's hand. "How does it feel?"
"Feels good Doc, feels good" Johnny replied and saw Roy exiting the treatment room over his shoulder. Dr Brackett looked between his paramedics and then caught Dixie's eye. They both were thinking the same thing 'How could such a close partnership break down the way it did' and 'Will it ever get back to the way it was?'
Dixie got their supplies together and the paramedics made their way out to the squad. Everything was feeling the same except for the silence that swallowed up the inside of the squad.