Stunned by the anger in his partner's face, Johnny stammered, "Sh . . .she's h . .. here. In her room—asleep." He followed the anxious parents down the hallway and paused at the door as they checked over the sleeping girl. After several long moments complete with a vitals check and visual exam, Roy kissed the child gently on the forehead and rose. As he walked toward Johnny, the younger man unconsciously backed away. Roy brushed past him none too gently. Johnny watched him then glanced briefly back at JoAnne still seated on her daughter's bed. Their eyes met for several soul-encountering seconds then he dropped his head and with a great sigh, followed his partner.
Jo looked back down at the sleeping girl. Nothing looked any different from the day they'd left, except for the bandaged hand. Alarmed over her husband's actions and concerned over the extreme sorrow she'd seen in Johnny's eyes, she stood, gave her daughter a kiss, then went to find the men.
She found them in the living room; Roy stood a mere foot in front of Johnny, his posture threatening as he leaned toward the slighter man, his hands fisted by his side. Johnny had backed as far as the coffee table behind his knees would let him go; his body bent slightly backward, his hands up-- palms outward.
"Roy!" she hissed his name and instantly he settled, allowing Johnny to straighten before he fell. Roy turned to his wife, anger still on his face. "I was just asking him what happened." Jo crossed the room and sat on the couch, "Well, you can ask him without breaking him in half." She grumbled. Roy glared and Johnny shot her a weak half smile. She motioned to Roy who reluctantly joined her, but perched just on the arm of the couch, his eyes never leaving the other man. "Sit Johnny." She ordered. Johnny allowed himself to sit on the edge of the coffee table.
She glared again at her glowering husband then turned a friendly smile on their more than friend. "What happened, Johnny?"
Johnny looked at these two people who meant the world to him, two people who had taken him into their home, into their family, replacing that which he hadn't had in a long time and wondered if he'd now lost that. He dropped his gaze onto his hands resting on his knees. "Chris was at Stoker's' it was just Jen and me." He saw the nod out of his peripheral vision. He took a deep breath and went on. "There was this dog, a pup really. It had been hanging around here for the last two days. Jenny wanted to keep it and finally I said yes." He heard the deep sound coming from Roy's throat; saw Jo place a hand over her husband's still fisted one. Johnny plunged onward, "I figured you guys probably wouldn't want it, Roy said often enough at the station that one animal to trip over was enough and since I got the ranch I've got lots of room and its kinda lonely out there sometimes, especially at night and I'd been thinking about getting a dog cause it would be nice sometimes to come home to something even if it's an animal and a dog could go with me when I camp or ride or . . ."
"Get to the damn point, Gage! I don't give a damn about you; I want to know what you did to my daughter!" Roy's sharp voice broke through Johnny's rambling.
Johnny froze.
His head spun and he couldn't take a breath even though he desperately needed one. Gage. He called me Gage. He hasn't called me Gage since we first met. Not seriously at least. Gage. Not Johnny. Not Junior. Not even John. I . . . I've lost them. The only family I have and I've lost them.
"Stop it, Roy. Johnny, go on." Jo encouraged. Johnny couldn't. Roaring in his ears drowned out any other noises and his eyesight had narrowed to a mere tube. Suddenly a hand on his head shoved it forward between his knees and a gentle voice encouraged him, "Breathe Johnny. That's it: just relax. Take a deep breath, now another." He did as requested then looked up at his benefactor, grateful for the help but heart-sickened that it wasn't the one he'd come to rely on. With nearly overwhelming sorrow, he gave internal acknowledgement to his new status.
Jo listened to the words spewing from Johnny's mouth with faint fascination. How can he say all that in one breath? She mused. Her husband's sudden harsh words caused her to jump and she watched as Johnny did the same. He looked at Roy, his eyes wide, the color draining from his face. His mouth moved as if trying to continue but nothing came out. Jo sat further forward, concerned as she noticed him sway. He isn't breathing. He's gonna pass out! Johnny's eyes had taken on a glassy appearance as she jumped up. She noticed them beginning to roll back as she grabbed his head and shoved it between his knees, her other arm bracing his suddenly lax body against her own. "Breathe Johnny." She encouraged him and felt him take a breath at last. "That's it; just relax. Take a deep breath, now another." She felt him do as she asked, felt the firmness return to his posture and he raised his head. He looked up at her and gave a faint smile of gratitude.
"If you're done with your fainting spell, you wanna continue?" Roy heard the words leave his mouth and cringed inwardly as he saw Johnny flinch as if physically struck. He'd watched the reactions on Johnny's face previously and knew the inevitable outcome. Though his heart wanted to go to his friend, his mind refused to make his body move. He was angry and felt he had every justifiable right to be. To see Johnny suffer eased some of that feeling; although deep inside he was horrified at himself. This is your partner, that side of him railed, the man you've worked beside for nearly four years, the one the whole family has claimed as an unquestionable member, the one whose life you've saved and had your own saved by countless times, the one you depend on to help you in life threatening events and now here you are treating him worse then a stranger.
But, the other side argued, you trusted him with your children and he blew it. Your daughter, your precious baby girl was laying in an emergency room last night and where was your so called partner??
"That's what I'm trying to find out." Roy growled. Both his wife and his partner looked at him. Again he growled, "What happened, Gage?"
Johnny gently pushed Jo away from him and took another deep breath. Jo crossed back over to her seat, glaring again at her husband who ignored her. Johnny started again but this time Jo noticed a change in him. Gone were the sorrowful looks and the pleading eyes. His voice was soft but firm and calm, his face devoid of any emotion. "I decided to keep the dog and told this to Jenny. She decided it was hungry and wanted to feed it. She tried to give it the hotdogs but I told her those were our supper. I suggested she give the pup one of Mousie's cans. I was at the stove fixing the hotdogs. I heard Jenny using the can opener then heard her cry out. She'd cut her hand on the lid. I grabbed her hand, wrapped it in a cloth and called dispatch. They told me nobody was available so I decided to take her in myself. As I got her packaged, Stoker came so I had him drive us to Rampart. Dr. Brackett and Dr. Bentley handled her care and after she was released I brought her home." He finished the tale and quietly watched them.
"She cut her hand on the lid and you just stood there!" Roy jumped back to his feet. Johnny also stood but made no other motion. Jo jumped between them.
"As soon as I was aware of the injury, I applied immediate measures." Came Johnny's clinical answer. Not satisfied with that unemotional response, Roy continued to goad his partner. "As soon as you were aware! Why? Where were you really? In watching TV? Outside? Sleeping?? Or maybe on the phone chatting up some date?"
He grabbed Johnny's shirt and roughly pulled him forward until they were chest to chest then he continually shook the slighter man. "Tell me what you were really doing while my daughter was bleeding to death!"
Jo pushed against her husband sharply, "Roy! Let him go! What's gotten into you! Let Johnny go!"
"Dad! Mom! What's going on?" Chris's confused voice echoed behind them just as Mike Stoker stepped forward and forced Roy to release a still unresisting Johnny.
"What the hell is going on here?" The normally quiet engineer exclaimed as he looked from one paramedic to the other.
"Gage is a menace." Roy motioned toward the stoic figure. "I left my supposed trusted partner in charge of my children so my wife and I can enjoy a little vacation only to have a Sheriff come up to me during breakfast and inform me that my little girl had been taken to the emergency room with severe injuries." He growled again at Johnny. "I never should have trusted them with him. He's a menace at work to himself and others and now he's proved a menace here, in my home."
Jo gasped, knowing Roy's words had to have hurt their friend but Johnny maintained his emotionless demeanor.
Mike glanced over at Johnny at these cutting words, surprised to see no reaction at all in the chiseled features. Instead, Johnny faced Jo and said, "Jo. Dr. Bentley wants you to call him and set up appointments. One in one week to check the progress, one in two weeks to remove the stitches". He handed her a card with the doctor's office number on it as he continued, "He also said you can change the bandages and don't let her get it wet. You'll need to watch for the usual signs of any problems, like extreme swelling, or signs of infection or . . . "
"I know what to do." Roy interrupted him, "I taught you, remember?"
Johnny looked at Roy and gave a nod. In a quiet voice he said, "I think I should go now."
Roy instantly agreed, "Yes, I think so. The sooner the better." He followed Johnny as the younger man acquired his duffle, remaining between Johnny and his still shocked family until the other man exited the house. He closed the door firmly, nearly before Johnny's foot had cleared the doorstop. Jo finally shook herself back into action. She grabbed her son in a quick hug and told him, "Chris, take your stuff upstairs and wash up, it's nearly time for lunch." Chris started to protest but after a nervous glance at his still glowering father, scooted away. She then turned to Mike with a bright smile, "Thanks for taking care of Chris and for driving Jenny last night, Mike. Would you like to stay and join us for dinner?"
Roy turned to his shiftmate, suddenly all smiles, "Yeah, Thanks Mike! It's lucky you were here last night. I really appreciate what you did." He reached for and shook the still stunned man's hand. Mike regained his composure and answered, "It isn't me you should thank. Johnny is the one who did everything."
"He certainly did." Roy growled and Mike knew Roy's comment wasn't the complement he'd meant. Roy picked up the abandoned luggage and told his wife. "Jo, I'm gonna get these upstairs before someone trips over them. We wouldn't want any more accidents." With that, he left. Jo sighed heavily.
Mike looked after the senior paramedic, an unreadable expression on his face. Then he turned back to Jo. "Jo, I'm sorry I need to go. I'll take you up on that offer of dinner another time."
She nodded and then grabbed his hand as she quietly said, "I meant it, Mike, and I do appreciate what you did last night. I want to hear the whole story." He smiled knowingly at her and with a quick nod, left the DeSoto house.
As he had hoped, he caught up with Johnny's truck just at the main intersection. "Johnny! Wait up." From his position behind the steering wheel, Johnny looked out the passenger window at the engineer, then same neutral look on his face as he'd had in the DeSoto's living room. A pup with sad eyes looked at him from the back window.
Now presented with the paramedic, Mike hesitated then said, "It was an accident, Johnny, and he's just upset. Give him time to think about it and . .and." He paused, "It's just when your kids are hurt, you sometimes . . ."
Johnny gave a short nod, "I know. Believe me; I know more than you can guess." Then the light changed and Mike could only watch as Johnny roared off. With a heavy sigh, the engineer turned toward his own home, sending up a fervent prayer that things would work out.
A day later A shift began their scheduled duty. When Roy entered the lot he noticed Johnny's Land Rover already in its usual spot. He hesitated as conflicting emotions raced through him. Again he was divided, half of him chagrined at his actions toward his self acclaimed friend, and the other half still feeling justified. With a sigh, he exited his truck. He paused at the door to the locker room, seeing his partner in front of his locker. He waited until Johnny closed the locker door and exited toward the dorm before he entered the room. He quickly changed into his uniform then headed to the dayroom in search of coffee. Unlike usual, Jo hadn't made him breakfast or coffee this morning. Her disappointment in her husband's actions had left a distinct chilliness in the DeSoto household. Now he found himself perturbed and hungry. He poured a cup while acknowledging greetings from his captain and Marco Lopez. He grabbed a danish from the plate on the table and sat down.
"How was the vacation, pal?" Captain Stanley asked looking up from the paper at his senior paramedic. Roy swallowed the large bite of danish before he answered. "Real nice. The cabin was very comfortable and the scenery around it couldn't have been prettier." He took another bite as Johnny breezed into the room with a smile and a cheerful, "Good Morning all!" The others acknowledged him but Roy concentrated on his breakfast, starting in on his second danish. Johnny poured himself a cup of coffee then turned, leaning against the cabinet instead of sitting at the table.
Mike Stoker walked in from the engine bay where he'd been talking with C shifts engineer and refilled his cup. The reticent man rested his hand briefly on the paramedic's shoulder and their eyes met. Johnny gave a faint smile and nod to Mike's unspoken question and Mike moved to an empty chair near Cap. Cap looked up where his youngest crewmember stood, slightly puzzled as to why he was standing when he usually sat by his partner. A faint alarm went off inside his intuition and he asked, "So Johnny, Roy said he enjoyed his vacation." Johnny merely nodded and drank from his cup. Cap tried a smile, "Soooo, how did your vacation go?"
"It went." The younger paramedic answered.
Cap frowned but before he could say anymore Chet Kelly waltzed up, his mustache twitching and his eyes gleaming with mischief. "So. Gage. I heard you tried to kill one of DeSoto's kids while he was gone. They even had to be rushed to Rampart."
The temperature in the room dropped and everything froze. Johnny forced the swallow of coffee he'd just taken down his constricted throat, his eyes looking over his cup toward where Roy had stopped mid-bite.
Chet seemed oblivious of everybody's reactions as he focused in on his target. He moved closer. "What'd ya do, Gage huh? Nearly drown one of them in the tub? Trip and send one of them down the steps? No. Let me guess. You caught the kitchen on fire trying to cook." He chuckled at his own cleverness as he poured his cup. He turned and faced the taller man, then paused in the very act of inhaling to continue as he caught the frozen look on Johnny's face.
Johnny stared fixedly at his partner who sat at the table, the forgotten danish oozing out from his clenched fist, his face red with barely suppressed rage as he glared menacingly at his partner. Johnny dropped his head, slowly poured out his remaining coffee, rinsed his cup, placed it in the sink and straightened his body away from the cabinet. "I'll be at the squad doing the morning calibrations." His voice was soft but coming clearly as he walked from the room, his steps even but his back rigid. Chet watched him go, his mouth open then turned back to Roy.
"God Roy! What did he do??"
"Chet!" Marco exclaimed.
"Kelly! Enough!" Cap barked but Stoker moved toward the little Irish man even as Roy muttered something about cleaning up and left toward the lockers. Stoker grasped Chet's arm and pushed him back into the cabinet--hard. "You just had to do it, didn't you." He snarled into Chet's startled face. "You heard some juicy bit of gossip somewhere and just had to try it out without any thought about what you were doing, didn't you!"
"No! I didn't . . .I . . .I" Chet stammered as Cap grabbed his engineer's arm. "Stoker! Let him go!" Mike did as commanded but continued glaring as he moved away. Cap looked around the room at his engine crew, "Now I want everyone to calm down." After several moments, he turned back to Chet. "Now Kelly, what do you know about all this?"
Chet thought about protesting his innocence then caught the daggers Mike still sent his way. God, Stoker! Who knew you had it in you, man! He changed his mind and his shoulders slumped. "Mike's right. I subbed a half shift over at 36s yesterday and was talking to their paramedic. He'd said he was in Rampart the other night and saw Gage in the lounge. He heard Gage'd brought in a kid and since I knew he was watching DeSoto's kids while they were gone I just figured . . .I mean, he didn't say it was anything serious! I didn't think . . . " His voice trailed off.
Cap sighed then turned toward his engineer. Mike continued his evil looks as he filled in the story, telling his part in the night and ending with the disturbing scene he'd walked into the next day. "I don't know all that happened before I got there and I kinda figured it isn't my business to know. That's John's and Roy's business and I'd stay out of it unless asked, unlike some others."
Chet hung his head at that comment, feeling lower then a snakeskin's belly. Cap sighed again and rubbed his forehead as the beginnings of a headache pained him. "Alright. No more about this unless they want to talk. Now. Go line up. We have a shift to start."
The three men left, Chet making sure to keep Marco between him and Mike. Cap went to his office and reemerged with his clipboard. As he faced the lineup, he noticed his paramedics on the opposite ends of the line. "Alright, listen up. Memorial Day is coming up so headquarters is looking for volunteers for the parade. There will be a sign-up sheet on the billboard. Also a lot of schools will be ending this week and we all know what that means. C shift had a busy night so there's lots of hose to clean and hang. Marco you have kitchen duty today, Roy dorm and engine bay, Mike you and John hang and clean hose, Chet latrine and I want it to sparkle, clear?" He glared at the man who swallowed visibly and replied, "As crystal sir."
Cap nodded then completed it with, "Gage, DeSoto my office. Dismissed." No one missed the look Roy shot Johnny before he headed off or the way Johnny's head dropped and his shoulders slumped before he took a deep breath, raised his head back up and walked after his partner.
Marco turned to Mike, "He's really mad at Johnny, isn't he." Mike gave a single nod, his face stern. Marco shook his head and clucked his tongue, "Why? From what you said, I would think he would be grateful Johnny was there! It could have been so much worse if someone else was there. Someone who didn't have Johnny's training."
Mike shrugged, "So one would think. But somehow Roy seems to have it in his head it was all Johnny's fault."
Marco sighed, "It was an accident and accidents happen, especially to kids. Ay Carumba! I can't begin to count the number of times my nieces and nephews have been hurt, mostly with another adult right there." They watched the younger paramedic disappear into the Cap's office, the door closing firmly behind him. Marco looked back up at Mike, "Do you think they'll be able to work . . ." He left the remainder of his sentence unspoken. He knew both men were professionals above all else. Neither man would let personal differences jeopardize a patient. However, most of their efficiency as a team stemmed from their closeness on and off duty. Can they continue to work together if they can't get past this? ¡Pobre Juanito! Suddenly, inspiration hit the Hispanic man and he dashed off to make a phone call.
Chet had overheard the entire conversation between his shiftmates and discreetly followed but to his disappointment, Marco carried on the entire phone conversation in Spanish. He caught several times 'pobre Juanito' and 'comer' which he knew was "eat" but nothing else. In frustration, he left, heading for the latrines.
Marco watched him go with a slight smile then turned back to the phone. "Yes Momma I'm still here. Yes I'm worried too. You do? You will? Momma! No, I think that's great. No Momma, I won't ever say a word, you know that. Si Momma. Te quiero, Momma. Bye." Marco's eyes sparkled as he hung up the phone. Now, hopefully the squad won't be tuned out for dinner.
Cap waited until Johnny entered the office and closed the door behind him. Roy already sat in the chair closest to the desk and Cap waved toward the other. "John, sit."
Johnny shook his head, "I'm fine right here." He replied but did move closer, away from the door. Cap watched Roy shift from the side of the chair near Johnny to the opposite side. He looked carefully at each man, catching and holding their gaze. He smiled inwardly when Roy first met his gaze with impudence then slowly dropped it. Good, at least he has the decency to look guilty. Johnny, however, met his gaze straight on, but there was no emotion in his normally expressive eyes. Uh oh, I don't like this. I don't like this one bit. He took a deep breath and began, "First off I want to reiterate that my door is always open if either of you need anything. That goes for on shift or off, got it?" He watched as they both nodded. He steepled his fingers and plunged ahead, "Now, I am aware of some troubles between you that happened a few days ago." He raised his hand when he saw Roy open his mouth to forestall any protest. "I don't know all the details and I don't need to know unless you wish to tell me. What I do need is assurance that you both can work with each other and with the other men of this shift. Can you give me that?"
Roy glared at Johnny but Johnny kept his gaze on his boss, his head slightly tilted as he listened. Once Cap finished, Roy stated, "You've got no problems with me, Cap. I can work with anybody. I've proved that many times before. It's not me you need worry about. I've proved I can work with all sorts of partners." He let his protests die as Cap continued staring at Johnny. Finally Johnny nodded and softly replied, "I'm good."
"Well then," Cap rubbed his hands together, "Let's . . ."
"STATION 51 MVA Avalon Blvd and E. Lincoln Street. Avalon Blvd and E. Lincoln Street. Time out 8:52"