For disclaimers see Chapter One.

Thanks so much for the e-mails. These might be slow for awhile,

school has gotten really heavy but the boys just keep demanding to have their story told!

And the angst continues...

Johnny walked into the kitchen and with a smile plastered on his face greeted C shift with, "Gooood morning!"

"Morning Johnny."

"Hey Gage."

"Hi John." Came the various replies. He looked around, noticing the missing paramedics. He went to the stove and poured

himself a cup ofcoffee as he asked, "Busy night?"

"Naw," replied Steve Ingles, the engineer, "We had a house fire about midnight but it wasn't bad." He motioned toward the

bay with a grin. "On the other hand, they haven't been back hardly long enough to turn off the squad between runs." The

other two crew members snickered.

John only gave a grunt in reply. The squad pulled in and he wandered out to greet the weary paramedics. "Heard you had

some night." he said as he opened the driver's side. Thomas Dwyer looked up and blinked tiredly at his fellow paramedic. "Hey

Johnny. Yeah. Mostly nuisance calls. Couple serious, one asthma, one cardiac- he was gone before we got there though."

Johnny nodded knowingly. Dwyer's partner, Tom Wheeler, came around the back and joined them as they walked toward the

kitchen. Johnny looked at him, "Hey Tom. You finally get tired of the life near water and joined us?"

Tom shook his finger at Johnny as he took the cup of coffee Dwyer handed him. "Nice try Gage but no. I like the nice nitch I

havecarved out there at 110's. Besides, I have Mueller trained just the way I want him. This yahoo," he kicked at Dwyer's

feet, "actually expects me to work!"

Dwyer made a gesture to his partner for the shift and Johnny snorted. Dwyer slapped Johnny on the back as he asked, "Hey

John, you haven't forgotten about Monday have you?"

Johnny screwed up his face and tapped a long finger against his chin. "Monday, Monday, Hmmmm. I need to get more feed for

my horse Monday."

Dwyer feinted a swing toward Johnny. "Alright wise ass."

Johnny grinned at Dwyer, "Sure we're on. Do I meet you here?"

Dwyer nodded, "Yeah, headquarters will tell us our station that morning. I hope this year's parade goes off better than last

year's. There was almost a riot between the vets and those hippies, remember?" Tom nodded, "Boy do I. I worked an extra

shift with 36's that one. We got egged and the squad had its tires slashed."

Johnny listened to the two reminisce as he silently sipped his coffee, once more quiet and withdrawn. He'd done his part, he'd

teased and made small talk. The sound of more cars arriving in the parking lot announced the rest of A shift and C shift drifted

towards the lockers. Cap came out of the office with C shift's Captain Bob Seigars where they'd been going over shift change

items. He looked up, seeing his youngest shift member already dressed and in the kitchen sipping coffee and grinned. "John,

when you get a minute."

Johnny nodded toward his captain. Dwyer slapped him on the back,saying, "See ya later. Have a good one."

"Yeah. Careful out there. Kids are out now." Tom added then yawned widely, "I hear my bed calling. Bye"

Johnny acknowledged the two paramedics and walked over to his captain. "You wanted me, Cap?" He asked.

Captain Stanley looked his paramedic over carefully while keeping hishead down as if he still read the clipboard in his hands.

Dark circles rimmed Johnny's eyes and he shifted aimlessly from one foot to the other but without the bounce of excess

energy he'd always had before. His shoulders were slumped and his eyes . . . Cap gave a deep internal sigh, his younger

paramedic's eyes were dead, not one emotion in their dark amber depths. Finally, Cap raised his own eyes and looked into

Johnny's. "John. How are you? Really."

Johnny cocked his head to one side but his eyes never changed. "Cap. I'm fine." His voice was soft and flat.

"uh huh." Cap commented, his tone as enthusiastic as Johnny's had been. Johnny made no further comment, merely stared

back. After the silence became uncomfortable, Cap sighed. "Well. Just remember if you need to talk, my door is always open."

He knew the words sounded lame but he put as much feeling and sympathy into both them and the look he gave the dark

haired paramedic.

Johnny gave a faint nod and turned from his captain as the other members of A shift filed into the kitchen. Greetings were

called out and answered by all but the two paramedics. Johnny refilled his cup and took his spot by the sink like he had last

shift. He listened to the banter from the others, giving a faint smile when it was called for but abstaining from any further

involvement.

Soon Cap announced roll call and the men headed into the bay. Cap came out of his office with another man. Cap looked up

and addressed his men. "First order of business today is introductions. Roy, John. This is Marcus Kent. He's a transfer from San

Diego and will be riding with you for the next few weeks or so. Show him the squad and get him familiar with your routines.

Marc? This here is Roy DeSoto."

Roy stepped forward and eagerly shook the younger man's hand.

"Pleasure to meet you Marc. Although I know we do things a little different up here, I'm sure you'll soon fit right in."

The new man smiled, "Thanks, I'm sure I will."

Cap pointed to the next man and said, "This is Mike Stoker, our engineer."

Johnny watched the new guy as Cap introduced each of the crew. He wasn't as tall as Cap, not even as tall as him. He had a

husky build with large muscular arms. His reddish hair was military short and he had grey eyes with laugh lines around them.

He noticed this as he heard Cap say, "And my other paramedic, John Gage."

Johnny extended his hand and felt it clasped in a warm firm but not crushing grasp."

"Pleasure to meet you." Johnny heard his voice say and Marc smiled, "Thanks." Then he walked over to stand next to Roy at

the other end of the line while Cap completed the morning routine. As he dismissed them, Roy turned to Kent and began to

chatter, "So, where in San Diego are you from? My wife has family there so we visit a lot."

The two continued conversing as Roy pulled the boxes and showed Kent each item and where it was stored. Johnny leaned

against the back of the squad; his hands in his pockets, his shoulders slumped. Mike paused by him, waiting into the dark

haired medic raised his head and looked at him.

Mike cocked his head in a questioning manner and Johnny merely shrugged and returned his gaze to where the two

animatedly talked.

'Like newly discovered best friends." The thought pushed through Mike's head as he watched. He glanced at Johnny,

wondering if the same thought was going through the younger paramedic's mind. He patted Johnny on the shoulder, felt Gage

tense under his touch and withdrew his hand with a sigh. He walked on past toward his engine and his own checklist.

Johnny listened while Roy gushed over the new man, asking about his marriage, exchanging pictures of their kids and setting

up a time to introduce the two families on their coming days off. Roy showed Kent how to do the morning calibrations, count

the supplies in the trauma box and the drug box and make a list for needed replacements, all the things that he used to do

with Johnny. Johnny was pulled back to the here and now when he felt the squad's engine start up. He realized he was alone

in the bay, both men were already in the squad. He hadn't heard the tones so figured it must be a supply run.

"Ya coming Gage or are you gonna stand back there all day?" Roy shouted.

Johnny moved forward and squeezed himself into the seat, closing the door behind him. Roy looked at Kent and smiled, "Good

thing Gage there is so skinny. There's a few I've worked with here in LA County that makes sitting three in the cab kinda

cramped." Kent laughed and Johnny allowed his lips to give a proper upward turn.

Then Roy nodded as he pulled out onto the street and headed toward Rampart. "Yeap. There are some advantages with

having a skinny partner. I can use him to get into tight spots for a rescue, kinda like one of those specially trained dogs."

Kent laughed harder, "Really?"

Roy chuckled, "Yeah. Only he does a better job of setting a IV." He glanced at Johnny as he added, "Mind you only marginally

better. After all, he does have the advantage of having opposable thumbs."

Kent laughed again not seeming to notice that the object of their talk had turned his gaze out the side window. When they

pulled into their usual spot in Rampart, he opened the door and stepped out, letting Kent out before shutting the door again.

He watched as Roy came quickly around the front and placed his hand on Kent's shoulder in a friendly gesture, "Come on. I'll

introduce you to the staff here. We work pretty close with the Doctors and most of the nurses here." He glanced back to

where Johnny followed them and pitched his voice a little louder, "It'll be kinda nice working with a married partner; I doubt

you'll get distracted by any pretty face and forget your job."

The barb hit as deeply as intended. Johnny caught his breath in a gasp but gave no other sign that Roy's jab had hurt him. He

knew that Roy knew that Johnny would never allow his romancing to interfere with the job. At least, he thought Roy did.

Dixie looked up as she noticed two men in firefighters uniform and smiled, "Hello Roy, Joh . . ." she paused. It wasn't Johnny

walking in chatting animatedly with Roy. In fact, she'd never seen this man before. Roy looked at the nurse and grinned, "Hey

Dix. Let me introduce you to my newest partner. This is Marcus Kent. He just transferred up from San Diego and I'm showing

him the ropes, so to speak."

Dixie extended her hand as Roy faced the red-haired man. "This is Dixie McCall. She holds everything –and I do mean

everything—together here at Rampart's emergency room from the nurses to the paramedics and the Doctors."

Kent took the hand and smiled warmly, "It's a pleasure to meet such a capable woman, Ms. McCall."

"Please call me Dixie. Everyone does—from the doctors to the paramedics." She grinned at Roy and continued, "Speaking of

paramedics, Roy, aren't you missing s . . ."

"Hey Dix we need some supplies." Roy cut her off, handing her the list while grabbing a requisition form. "C Shift musta been

pretty busy, we're low on almost everything." He moved toward the coffee pot, poured himself a cup and asked, "Marc?"

Marc shook his head, "None for me, sorry. I never could learn to like the taste."

Roy laughed, "Well, that's a break. You can't begin to guess the amount of times I had to put up with a partner whining about

not getting enough coffee."

Dixie looked up at that remark, her gaze going from where Roy grinned at Kent to Kent laughing as if that was the funniest

thing he'd ever heard. She placed some of the items in a box on the counter, then her attention caught on something in the

hall. Without another word, she moved past the two chatting men and walked down the hall. She paused by the door to the

men's room, to the dejected looking figure standing there, just a few yards from her desk—head down, hands in the pockets.

Hesitantly she reached to touch the man's arm and before contact was made heard a soft familiar voice, "Hey Dix."

"Johnny?" She made his name a question as she laid a well-manicured hand on his bare arm. "Are you OK? Are you sick?" She

was confused by his actions. Where was the bouncing chatty firefighter she'd know for nearly six years? Why wasn't he

leaning across her desk, coffee cup in hand like he had so many times in the past. Something was wrong, very wrong, every

instinct that made her a good nurse was screaming at her.

Johnny didn't lift his head as he told her in the same soft voice. "I'm fine. Really. You'd better get the supplies. We really are

low and we could be toned out any time." Reluctantly, knowing he was right, she patted his arm and left him. She finished

filling the box and couldn't help glaring a little at Roy.

Oblivious, Roy smiled brightly at the nurse, "Thanks Dix. As always you're a jewel. Come on Junior, the needy citizen's of LA

await." He said as he clapped Kent on the back.

"Junior!" Kent chuckled, "I like that!" They walked past the figure still leaning against the wall. Slowly Johnny pushed himself

away and turned to follow.

"Johnny," she called out. He lifted his head and looked back at her. The emotionless look on his face caused her to falter.

"Johnny, what . . ."

He just shrugged then Roy reappeared around the corner waving the HT. "Move it Gage. We've got a call." He shouted angrily.

Immediately Johnny turned and trotted off.

Dixie watched him disappear, her mouth a thin line. "This isn't over yet, boys." She vowed.

As the day progressed, Dixie noticed Roy and Marc brought in the patients and Johnny followed in the squad. Roy was never

without Kent by his side so she never could question him. She never got a chance to ask Johnny either; as soon as Johnny

appeared in the hallway, Roy would call them available and leave. Dixie sighed in frustration. Something's happening,

something bad, I can feel it. The experienced nurse thought as she checked out at shift's end. She had the next three days off

and knew she wouldn't see Roy or Johnny on duty until after the holiday weekend. "Maybe by then what ever this is will have

all blown over." She mused but gave a sardonic grin as something else within her replied, Fat chance. As she walked to her

car, she found herself saying a silent prayer for her friends still on duty at 51's.

The rest of the shift followed in much the same manner at the station house. On site, Roy worked mostly with Kent assisting

him, John merely supporting as Roy kept up the tiny barbs and commanding attitude. However, on the third shift, he did let

Johnny treat and work with patients, even though he checked that work whenever he could.

Johnny merely nodded or made some other comment acknowledging each barb as if they were given with concern instead of

maliciousness.

Each member of the engine crew had sores on their tongues from repeated bitings as they witnessed the actions. Cap had

taken to grinding his teeth when the engine was called out with the squad. When the paramedics weren't needed in their

capacity as healers and instead manned a hose, Cap broke the team up, pairing Chet with Johnny and Marco with Roy but

even Marco's easy going nature was hard put not to haul off and lay into Roy as his 'helpful'

comments continued.

At one fire, Cap sent the two paramedics in reluctantly after a reported person still on the second floor. As the two pulled on

their gear, Roy turned to Kent. "Go ahead and get the equipment set up, you know what we might need. I'll call if I need more

help." With that, he turned and left, Johnny his ever present silent shadow right behind him.

When they got to the top of the stairs on the second floor, Johnny motioned he would take the left side while Roy took the

right and was surprised when Roy jerked him so hard backwards he nearly fell. He looked into Roy's facemask. Roy was

shaking his head at him, his face angry, "No. You stay with me." For the sake of passing time, he consented as Roy turned

quickly on his heel and began the search.

They had only finished half the rooms on the right side when the HT in Roy's pocket beeped.

"Engine 51 to HT 51." Taking a deep breath of processed air, Roy lifted his mask and spoke into the HT. "HT 51 go ahead."

"HT 51, the missing person was found unconscious in the alley. Apparently they made it out the backdoor. Abandon search.

Thestructure is becoming unstable." Cap's voice came faintly.

"10-4, Engine 51. Abandoning search. HT 51 out." Roy shoved the HT back into his pocket and moved back toward the

stairway, grabbing Johnny's arm as he did. Johnny followed him.

As he made his way down the first two steps Johnny paused. Something had changed, Johnny wasn't sure what it was but

the hair on the back of his neck stood up and he froze, his eyes searching the burning walls around him. Then he saw it, his

eyes widened.

A section of ceiling was pulling free, dripping melting plastics. Instinctively, Johnny reached out, grabbed the shoulders of

Roy's turnout and wrenched him up the stairs behind Johnny. As he did, the younger man twisted his own body, hoping he

would be out of harms way as well.

With a wet sound, the section broke loose and fell, right where Roy would have been. The melted material splashed outward,

some of it landing on Johnny's left leg. With a yelp, he reached down and tried to brush the burning mass from his pants. That

made it worse as the glob smeared and some now stuck onto his hand. Fortunately, he still wore his gloves. Suddenly he felt

himself being pulled upwards, back toward the landing.

A second's relief filled him. Roy. Roy was pulling him up; Roy would help him. He turned his head, looking into partner's

facemask. His eyes widened in surprise at the anger he saw there as Roy held him close by his turnout coat. "What the hell

you trying to pull, Gage!?" He shouted.

"The . . .I saw the ceiling start to go." He stammered, pointing behind him. Roy looked around at the melting mass sliding

down the stairs back up to the ceiling and back into Johnny's wide eyes. "Well, we can't get out that way now." He growled,

scowling at Johnny as if it was his fault. He shoved Johnny in front of him as he ordered, "There's another stairwell at the end

of that hall."

Silently Johnny led the way, Roy right behind him. Soon they were outside. Roy pushed past him, heading for the squad and

Kent who held an oxygen mask on the victim.

Johnny pulled his mask off and released the strap on his helmet as soon as they hit open air. He paused near a puddle and

dipped his coated hand in it. As he'd hoped, the mess became more solid and he could peel it off. Next he scooped water up

and drenched his leg.

Again, the mess could be carefully peeled away. Johnny hissed in pain as the sticky mess pulled on his burned skin.

"What happened there, John?" A voice near him said and he jumped, startled. Bent over like he was, his balance was off and

he tittered.

A hand reached out to steady him but couldn't prevent his fall to his backside. He looked up into the frowning face of his

captain. Cap knelt quickly, pushing the pant's leg gently away and revealing the blistering burn. "It's nothing, Cap." Johnny

tried to push his pants back down and rise to his feet only to be gently pushed back. "I just got alittle splashed by some

melted plastics, it's not bad."

"I disagree." Cap straightened and called, "DeSoto. Come here."

Obediently Roy trotted over, his gaze curious until he noticed Johnny sitting on the ground. His face took on a marked

disgusted look and he said, "Great Gage. What have you done now?"

Cap titled his head slightly and said in his best captain's voice, "It seems a firefighter has been injured and I think you, as

senior paramedic, should see to it."

Roy got the hint and turned to his partner. "Can you walk over to the squad?"

Johnny knew better than to argue with his Captain so, head down, he nodded. Roy assisted him to his feet and he carefully

walked to the squad, refusing any aid. Once there, he sat on the running board, took his helmet and his air tank off and

leaned back against the cool surface, letting it soothe the heat from his body.

Kent looked up, curious. "What's going on? What happened?"

"Gage got hurt. Again." Roy muttered. "You'll find out while you're here that Gage will spend as much time on the injured list

as he does on duty."

Johnny closed his eyes, hiding the tears which had filled them. He remained silent and unresisting as his pant's leg was cut up

to the knee. A not to gentle probing of the area caused him pain but he refused to wince.

"Well, it's not bad. Nothing a little silver cream and a bandage can't fix." Roy said. Soon the burn was covered and the stinging

lessened. "That was hardly worth the trouble." Roy sounded disgusted. Johnny remained unmoved.

"Well?" Cap's voice came suddenly and Johnny startled again.

"It's just a slight burn, nothing to worry about. I don't even need to call Rampart on him. For once." Roy replied. Cap frowned

at Roy and placed a hand on Johnny's shoulder. Slowly he opened his eyes and looked at his captain.

"John?"

"I told you I was fine." Johnny's voice remained flat and soft. He pushed himself away from the squad and stood. He picked up

his tank and placed it into the bay. Cap stood back, watching him move.

"Well, we have the fire under control now. Since you don't have any victims to take care off, you two can help."

Johnny nodded, picked up his helmet and stepped toward the building. Cap's hand on his chest stopped him and he looked

up. Cap gave him a slight smile. "Not you John. Just DeSoto and Kent." His stare brooked no argument and the two hastily

retreated.

"Cap, I'm fine. I can help." Johnny protested. Cap merely shook his head. "No John. Not this time. That burn might not be bad

enough for a trip to the hospital but I don't want to take any chances on infection so you're staying right out here, in the

squad.

Johnny nodded, knowing what a dirty messy job clean up was and he already felt exhausted. Then something else came to

mind and he said, "Cap, you said no victims, what happened to the guy we were sent in for? The one who was unconscious?"

Cap smiled. Trust his youngest paramedic to worry over a patient's care. "He's already on his way to the doctor's. He refused

any other treatment and had his wife who had just come on site drive him to his doctor's. Now you get into that cab and stay

there."

Johnny didn't say a word as he wearily climbed into the cab. He leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes.

Cap watched him for several minutes, hoping he was sleeping. He knew his younger paramedic wasn't sleeping well at the

station and from the dark circles that had become normal on his face, suspected the same went for off duty as well. He shook

his head, his gaze going now to where Roy and Kent pulled apart walls, making sure all the fire was out.

Roy's attitude concerned Hank. The best paramedic team LA County had ever known was falling apart and he didn't know how

to stop it. Roy seemed upset—no, that wasn't right, not upset. Hank searched for the emotion he saw in his senior

paramedic's eyes when he was ordered to care for Gage. Disgust and anger. That was it, and his comments to Kent. Oh, Roy

may have thought his captain was too far away to hear, but he'd heard. Cap shook his head. What had happened with these

two? If this injury had happened two weeks ago, Roy would have known Johnny was hurt almost instantly and would have

been dragging his partner to the squad. Instead, he, the captain, had been the one to see Johnny trying to pull something off

his pants, had seen the winces, and knew he was hurt. He'd practically had to order Roy to treat him! Hank sighed deeply; he

just didn't know what to do!

With the clean up done, the crew headed back to the station. Cap turned to Johnny as he carefully stepped from the cab.

"After you shower, I want . . ."

"Cap, I can do it myself. Don't order Roy to do it." Johnny interrupted. "I promise, I'll re-bandage it. Please?" For the first

time in nearly a week, Hank saw some sort of emotion in those brown eyes but it made him cringe. Johnny was practically

begging him not to have Roy, his partner, his best friend, treat him. Reluctantly, he nodded and cringed again to hear Gage's

sigh of relief. Hiding his own feelings, Hank headed for a shower.

The rest of the evening went slow and others in the crew began to notice changes that told the tension had started to show

physically on Johnny. After everyone had showered and was relaxing in the dayroom, Marco notice Johnny hadn't come out yet

and went to make sure he was alright. He found the paramedic sitting in his locker, eyes closed, his face suspiciously wet and

his shoulders shaking. The Hispanic quickly backed out of the area, then guarded the door, not allowing anyone to enter until

he saw Johnny wash his face and leave first.

Chet tried to lighten the mood that had settled over everyone by setting his favorite pigeon up for a water bombing. The plan

backfired and a livid Chet swore off any more phantom visits after Roy laughed extra hard at his wet and bedraggled partner,

then commented loudly, "Gee Gage, this just proves my point. You really are totally oblivious of everything. Why, even a raw

boot coulda seen that one coming a mile away!"

The Irishman seethed in impotent anger at how badly his plan had backfired when Johnny slowly wiped the water off his face

and replied. "Yeah, you're right. I guess even a boot is smarter then me." With slumped shoulders and hung head, the man

left the room to change while Roy hooted and laughed, slapping Chet's shoulder in delight as he congratulated him on

another 'good one.'

Later that night, Cap noticed Johnny seemed to again have trouble sleeping. And he over heard both Marco and Mike

discussing how Johnny had barely eaten when they would get the chance for the last two shifts.

There were no runs for the squad or the engine that night so the men, except Johnny, were well rested as they gathered in

the kitchen after the wake up tones went off. Marc and Roy sat side by side, laughing over how quickly their two families had

become friends. Marc had three kids, a boy and girl near both Jen and Chris's age and a toddler. Johnny stood at his now

usual spot in front of the sink.

Mike stood at the stove, cooking a breakfast of eggs and sausages. He placed a plate in front of Johnny who merely shook his

head. "You have to eat Johnny. You know you can't afford to loose any weight." He whispered fiercely. He'd once overheard

Roy admonishing the junior paramedic over that same issue, warning him he was too close to the minimum healthy weight for

his height. "Brackett can pull you off duty just as fast for being underweight as he can Animal for being over, you know that."

He'd heard Roy caution his partner.

As Mike watched Johnny, he couldn't help but notice those high cheekbones seemed a little sharper. He glanced downward,

noting Johnny's shirt appeared to have more material gathered at his waist then before and the belt pulled into a new notch.

He continued holding the plate, looking into Johnny's face until with a quiet sigh, Johnny took the plate and offered fork. Mike

served the other men and sat down to his own breakfast.

"Hey everybody! Don't forget about the barbeque on Memorial Day at my house!" Roy commented. Marco smiled, "I'll be there.

Momma has made a bunch of tamales for me to bring since she can't come herself."

"Why isn't she coming again?" Chet asked.

"She's got some sort of church bazaar going on that weekend and she'll be there the whole time." Marco replied as he wiped

his toast across his plate.

"Lyn and I will be there about noon. We'll have the girls and Rich with us, Dave will be by after work." Cap added. Mike

grinned at the older man, "Dave's really enjoying having his 'independence' isn't he?"

Cap sighed, "You know, Lyn and I still aren't used to having another driver in the family. And we definitely were leery on Dave

getting a car so soon after getting his license. But so far, he's been very responsible."

Mike chuckled, knowing how worried Cap and his wife really had been over their oldest driving. Cap had insisted on borrowing

a MVA training film from the department and making Dave watch it before he even went for his first ride. Mike had nearly been

'decorated' as the young man had raced to the latrine. "Well, Becky is bringing the kids over about noon also. I'll come by as

soon as I finish up at the parade."

Marco nodded, "That's right. I forgot you were asked to be honor guard for the flag and department colors."

Chet looked up, "Hey Roy? You need me to come early to help with anything?"

"Naw, Marc and Tammy are coming over in the morning. We've got everything covered." Roy replied as he dug into his food.

Marco elbowed Chet and the startled Irishman looked up at his glaring friend. Confusion covered his face, then he looked to

where Marco jerked his head and noticed Johnny. Chet closed his eyes as he realized.

Normally Johnny would be the one who went to Roy's early and helped set up. Chet had made the offer remembering that

Gage had volunteered to work the parade so would be late. But instead, his offer had become one more jab Roy could throw

at his partner.

As Chet and Marco watched, Johnny walked over to the trash can and scrapped off his plate. He placed the dish into the sink,

cleaned it off, then left the room, nodding to his replacement as they passed.

Mike watched him go and leaned over toward Marco. "Did it look like he ate anything?" Marco shook his head as he frowned.

Mike attacked his sausage angrily. Marco sighed. "Something's gotta give and soon." He heard Chet mutter and faced his

friend who was glaring at Roy and Marc.

TBC-

Notes--

I'm gauging Johnny's weight loss on a Marine friend of mine who has the same heighth and physical build. He too eats everything in sight but stays thin. If he's sick or hurt and can't eat, he's been known to drop as much as 15 pounds over three days.