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With the marriage formally pronounced Hank, Emily, Dixie and the three doctors were called forward to sign the documents. Hank thought it looked lopsided with only two signatures for John and four for Elise but he was sure it had something to do with the legal stuff that had taken place prior to the wedding and hoped in the days ahead John would let him in a little more and give him more details about what all he'd gotten himself into.
While Johnny and Elise waited for some of the official documents to be copied and properly notarized, Hank and his wife stepped out in to the hall. While they loitered around they overheard the grumbling of the even less happy In-laws and it was clear that they intended to follow John and Elise and attempt to talk some sense into Elise.
"Do you know where John is parked?" Hank asked Dixie hoping she did.
"Yes, he's parked in the parking structure right next to the second floor just in case we needed to hurry Elise to the hospital." Dixie informed the fire Captain. "He's parked in the handicap parking right next to the door; He has a handicap parking permit now for Elise."
"Will you wait here till they come out and tell John I'll meet him at his car?" Hank asked waiting only until Dixie gave a nod to the affirmative before he took his wife by the hand and hurried out of the building.
When John and Elise were led to John's Rover by a bailiff who wanted to keep the couple from being cornered by the unhappy crowd, they found Hank's wife's car parked behind the Rover with Hank Stanley leaning on the hood of his car.
The two men made quick work of moving the luggage in John's Rover over to the trunk of Emily Stanley's car and John was directed to a seldom used parking exit while Hank drove the Rover out the regular exit. Sure enough he soon had a couple of car's following him. Hank drove around for as long as he thought it would take John to get to Rampart then after several turns and attempts to lose them Hank decided to stop and get some Chinese take out to take back to his family for dinner.
As Hank helped his wife out of the Rover he was able to hear some rather vulgar cussing but when he returned after getting dinner the two cars that had been following him were gone.
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At Rampart General, Elise was fitted with a portable heart monitor that was equipped with an alarm if Elise's heart rhythm left the programmed parameters. The newlyweds were then told that they would be given their privacy unless there was an alarm or if they summoned help by pulling the call cord.
As they were led down the hall to their room for the night John nervously fiddled with his wife's fingers as the door was opened for them they caught Dixie at work making the bed up and throwing in some nice little extras to help make their wedding night more romantic. She had called in every favor she could to get the couple into the best room for a wedding night, the only one that had a double bed instead of a bunch of bunk beds. The flowers that were taken from Elise when she entered the hospital were now in a vase and prominently placed on a bedside table. Instead of starched white sheets there were red satin ones and extra pillows around. It wasn't a fancy motel room but it looked a lot better than the hospital room that it really was.
John dutifully swept his bride off her feet and carried her across the threshold before they were given a quick tour of their room and shown where the oxygen accessories were stored as well as where the call cord was if they needed help. There was also a little cup with a sedative in it if they felt Elise needed it before they um, yeah.
The first order of business was to settle Elise in for a nap, it had been a long stressful day and she really needed some rest. After she was tucked in to bed John lay down next to her on top of the covers. She reached out and took his hand and then succumbed to the exhaustion she had been fighting for hours.
John lay there watching her for the next three hours. Her sleep was fitful but from what he had learned in the last four days it was no wonder. Not only had she had to escape from a nursing facility in a drugged state she had to make the choice to separate herself from her family. It was more than the issues of the medical treatment, it was her sister's troubled marriage, her other sister's broken heart, the brother-in-law's sneaky attempts to develop land she had set aside for a wild life sanctuary, and Johnny was sure there was a whole lot more. Add to that the emergency response program that she alone had spearheaded and pushed every step of the way now had no leader. But Johnny knew she understood that that part of her life was over for her. It was time for someone else to step up to the plate and if they didn't things would go right back right where they were before she jumped in with both feet.
John understood her anguish but just like Elise he knew that work was beyond her abilities now, it was someone else's turn, just as some day he would have to turn his helmet and squad over to another.
They had been told that dinner would be delivered at 6 o'clock, and at precisely 6 p.m. there was a knock at the door.
As Elise worked on waking up John opened the door and to his surprise both Dr. Brackett and Dr. Early pushed a rolling cart through the door loaded with an exquisite meal. Both doctors were dressed in tuxedos and carried on a perfect waiter like conversation as John was presented a bottle of non alcoholic champagne, Alcohol and Elise's meds would not mix, it would later be learned that the two doctors ordered take out from four of their favorite restaurants to put together a meal fit for a wedding night that included a wedding cake just big enough for two complete with the bride and groom figures on the top.
When the doctors made a speedy exit, John propped Elise up with pillows before carrying the tray over to the bed where the two of them fed each other until neither of them could eat another bite. They never made it to the cake but when the cart was moved to the hall John attached a note to have the cake frozen for their first wedding anniversary. Dixie was more than happy to comply.
After dinner the two watched a movie on TV then John slipped out of his clothes. Elise chose not to be sedated for her wedding night and John, though frightened, chose to honor her wishes. Gently and slowly John proceeded and yes Elise's heart raced but she pleaded for him not to stop. When John was spent the two held each other until Elise drifted off to sleep. John just held her close in relief that no harm had been done and basked in the joy and happiness that he felt holding his wife close as they melted together.
In the wee hours of the morning John was abruptly awaken by an elbow to the face followed by an alarm; Elise had gone into a seizure. It was all he could do to get out of bed and pull a robe over his naked body before the medical team crashed through the door to handle the medical emergency.
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When Roy wandered into the station the next morning he was whistling a happy tune. He had been surprised to see Johnny's Rover in the parking lot; he usually slid in to work just in time for roll call or even late after a four day break because he always seemed to get in late on his last night of the break. He found Marco and Chet talking about their days off in the locker room and added a few comments about his trip to the national redwood forest with his kids.
When Roy was dressed he wandered into the kitchen with a book in search of his partner and an explanation as to why he was so early. When Johnny couldn't be found in the kitchen Roy made a quick search of the dorm only to find it in need of clean sheets, but no Johnny.
On his way back to the kitchen Roy noticed the door to the captain's office closed, unusually, so he figured John was in there and continued on to the kitchen and a fresh cup of coffee wondering what John was talking to the captain about.
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Hank had been preparing for this morning's roll call, out of his usual he and the previous captain were talking over a particularly bad run and they had chosen to do so behind closed doors. When he stepped out into the bay with his clip board in hand Hank was very aware that he somehow had to make sure they were all sitting down before he turned some time over to Johnny to make his announcement.
When the Crew responded to his shout of "Roll Call," Hank was surprised to see McGuire standing in the line up next to Roy.
"Did John call in sick?" Cap asked feeling the man had every right to do so but if he did what was Hank going to do with the news that he knew about.
"Not exactly sir, He called and said that he was signing a bunch of legal documents and it was taking longer than he had expected, he said that he'd be here in about half an hour and I agreed to cover for him until he arrived. That was about 15, 20 minutes ago."
'More legal documents,' Hank thought silently to himself, 'just what has Johnny gotten himself into?'
But his thoughts were interrupted by the questions from the other crew members.
"But his Rover is in the lot," Roy.
"What kind of legal documents could Johnny possibly be signing?" Marco.
"The reason he's late is because he had to have someone read them to him," Chet.
"Did he say what kind of Legal documents?" Mike.
"Alright then, thank you for helping out, maybe Johnny'll be here before we're finished with roll call and he can answer all those questions himself," Cap.
Roll call proceeded as usual when assignments were being handed out they heard the back door open and close and Johnny came jogging into the bay already in uniform and ready to go. "Sorry I'm late Cap but I had an appointment this morning and things took longer than planned."
"That's alright McGuire explained," Hank responded but he was taking a good look at the black eye his newly arrived paramedic was sporting and the rest of the crew was moving in for closer looks and an explanation."
"What happened to you?" Roy was first to speak as he took a hold of Johnny's chin and turned his head to better display the black eye.
"I know," Chet chimed in, "He got in a fight with his girl friend over the break and the reason he's late this morning is because he had to sign a restraining order."
"No a shiner that big had to be caused by her other boyfriend," Mike expressed his opinion. Blessedly the tones sounded right then calling the squad out to an unknown type rescue on a boat in the harbor in place of the squad for 110.
"Saved by the bell," Johnny sighed and slipped into the squad as Roy ran around and climbed behind the wheel.
"Are you alright Junior?" Roy asked as he waited for the call slip to be handed over.
"It's just a black eye Roy, stop being such a mother hen."
When they arrived on the scene they found two people, a man and a woman, had had a little too much to drink before going below deck and managed to fall down the stairs and land in an injured heap at the bottom. Neither of them was seriously injured but they both had broken bones and possible spinal injuries. It took an extra long time to untangle and splint the bodies in such close quarters but it was also difficult to get them on back boards and back up the stairs. What would have taken them twenty minutes under normal circumstances now took them over an hour.
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Meanwhile back at the station the crew received a surprise visit from Nurse McCall and a very attractive guest. As the men eagerly gathered to guide their guests to the kitchen for coffee when they met up with Captain Stanley.
Hank instantly recognized Elise and though she looked more rested than she had the day before she also appeared to be under the influence of more medications.
"Well, Hello there is there something I can do for you?" Hank asked with his usual smile.
"Captain Stanley Sir, I was hoping I could have a privet word with you," Elise requested very respectfully.
"Of course Elise," Hank responded and notice everyone of his men turning to him in surprise that he knew her name, "But you don't need to be so formal, you're part of our extended family now, you can either call me Cap like the rest of this bunch or you have permission to call me Hank."
"Thank you Cap," Elise did a little almost curtsy this time."
Cap smiled and held his hand out toward his office as Elise started in that direction Dixie began to follow.
"A, Dix you can go ahead and enjoy a cup of coffee, I'm sure that Cap here can holler if he needs your help."
Dixie took her cue and followed the rest of the men into the kitchen and appreciatively accepted her cup of coffee.
"So Dix, who's your friend?" Chet started milking for information.
"Sorry Guys she's not available," Dixie played along but was determined not to give them any information.
"That figures, someone with that figure is sure to get scooped up early in life." Marco leaned forward showing his disappointment. "So what's she talking to Cap about?"
"That's not one of the things I'm authorized to discus," Dixie responded with a huge smile that just tormented the men all that much more.
"Maybe I better go see what I can find out." Chet replied with a cheesy grin as he quietly stepped toward the bay and the captain's office.
"I wouldn't if I were you," Mike took hold of Chet's arm and stopped him. "She did say she wanted a private word with the captain. It's none of our business."