CS12
As Roy drove home he was concerned about his motionless partner, who always seemed to be in motion. At a stoplight, DeSoto quickly took Johnny's carotid, pulse and respiration, sighing he knew it was going to be a long haul with a very angry partner.
Carrying his exhausted partner into his house he looked at the two fallen faces of his children, he had no idea he would find John in such a state and his children thought Uncle Johnny would be there to play. Joanne quickly held her children tightly in her arms and moved them away.
"But we want to play with Uncle Johnny," his daughter protested.
"Yeah, Uncle Johnny always plays catch with me Dad!" his son stomped his foot.
"Children, Uncle Johnny is very sick and can't play with you, k. What I need from you is not to bother him in the guest room. When he's up and seeing visitors I promise I'll let you see him?" Roy looked down at his confused children.
"Promise Daddy," his daughter smiled.
"Yeah Dad promise," his son looked up.
"Yeah I promise," Roy smiled. Johnny may have other plans like punching me in the mouth. His children cleared the way and he headed towards the guest room. Undressing Johnny he heard mumbling but wasn't sure what he was saying, after settling him in bed, the sandy haired man leaned closer to his partner's mouth.
"10-4 Rampart."
Shaking his head, Roy went to get his emergency kit to check on his house guest. Taking his BP, pulse and respirations, he could see the ashen face of his partner and friend, whom he had failed. How many times had Gage been there when he needed an ear? Yet, Johnny had faced a huge loss but had said nothing.
After taking his friends vitals, he went into their bedroom for some privacy and dialed a memorized number.
"Nurse's station," Dixie answered.
"Hey Dixie, Merry Christmas," Roy tried to keep his tone light.
"Merry Christmas Roy. Do what honor do I owe this phone call?" Dixie smiled at her favorite paramedic.
"Um Dix is there a doctor around?" Roy pressed his fingers around his face.
"Okay Roy whose sick? Joanne or the kids?" Dix used her finger and signaled Kell over.
"Um, neither but I really need to talk so doc, k," Roy insisted, keeping Johnny's identity a secret.
"All right Roy. Dr. Brackett is right here," Dixie handed off the phone to Kell.
"Hello?" Kell answered.
"Hey Doc," Roy smiled. "Um, I got some vitals I'd like your opinion on."
"Vitals, can you identify the patient Roy."
"Um, yah sure. Patient is twenty something, in relatively good health, suffered an episode of gastroesophageal reflux, pulse is 60, respiration 12 and BP is 70 over 100." Roy breathed.
"Roy, is there any reason you're not telling me the name of the patient. If it's Johnny you have nothing to be worried about," Brackett sighed. "I'm going to change phones."
"Sure Doc," Roy rubbed his hand over his face. The silence seemed like an eternity until he heard Brackett's voice.
"Roy I was afraid something like this would happen," Brackett's tone non judgmental. "Um, I've been able to put the puzzle pieces together about Johnny the only part I'm missing is why."
"Well Doc I think I know the why, but its real personal and prefer my partner to tell you. What are you talking about?" Roy was sure only a few people knew of Johnny's overtime.
Kell picked up a pen and started doodling on a pad. "Every year there's a mixer for base station hospital in the greater LA area. Usually Roy there boring as hell but this year I have some interesting table mates. We exchanged names of the teams of paramedics we work with and well…Johnny's name came up. But Roy, the hospitals were way out of the normal areas. San Dimas, Valencia and Cerritos. I was happy they knew his name; Johnny made a very good impression on them."
"Johnny always makes an impression on them," Roy recalled the countless patients he calmed.
"And I put together why Capt. Stanley wanted me to examine Johnny. So his numbers aren't bad, but should be watched. You know I do make house calls occasionally. You really have to worry about Johnny getting dehydrated. A couple of IV's would do the trick. I mean if you don't mind a visitor on Christmas Day," Brackett put down his pen and waited.
"Uh a house call. Well the DeSoto house is always open at Christmas doc, but I can't be sure Gage would remember you being here. He keeps on mumbling even in his sleep," Roy looked at the vital signs again.
"Um, I hate to ask this but Johnny wouldn't be on any drugs would he?" Brackett hated to ask.
"Hell no Doc. Why he gets upset if you even mention that, but I know he was drinking coffee like water, though," Roy related his observation.
"Oh, well give it a few days to work its way through and I think Johnny will sleep much better. I'll see you tomorrow, k?" Brackett stood up and stretched.
"Yeah, doc see you tomorrow," Roy stood up, feeling the weight lifted from his shoulders.