Sorry this was so long coming...midterms. I promise the next installment will be up faster. Hope you like this, it's all Johnny and things are heating up again. Thanks for all the wonderful feedback. Now I just have to live up to all your high expectations!
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Slowly the meaning became clear and Brackett's face darkened, "You can't be serious."
Johnny gave him a slow measured nod. "I am. I'm signing myself out."
Brackett thumped the chart as he tried to control his initial anger and place his thoughts into calm coherent words. While part of him wanted to scream at the paramedic he was being downright asinine, he knew that wouldn't help his cause. For once, Brackett knew that being composed and rational would be the only way he could ever hope to change Johnny's mind. He took a deep breath and began, "Johnny, you are doing well, as I have said, but you are in no way healed enough to leave here. Your body underwent a great deal of stress both from the explosion and the surgery. You lost over a third of your blood volume and you're still markedly anemic. You've lost over twenty pounds since your last physical and are now at least fifteen pounds under weight. That too can, and will, have an affect on your healing. You need to get plenty of rest and have regular meals in order to heal properly."
"I can rest and eat at home." Johnny stated.
"What about your meds?" Brackett tried again, his brain scrabbling for that right combination of words that would keep the young paramedic safely in his hospital. "You just had major surgery not even 48 hours ago. You need to keep your pain under control. And you can't move around much or you'll tear out your stitches. And then there's infection. The debris you were hit with made the chance for infection very high."
Johnny shrugged as he pushed back the covers and began pulling on his sweat pants. "I can take the meds in pill form. The nausea is gone and I've kept down my meals. If not, you can just leave the IV. It's not like I've never handled one before or never started one on myself. As for the stitches, I don't plan on going to work, just back to my own bed. I am trained; I know how to care for my injuries."
Brackett sighed, reluctantly admitting everything he'd said was true., "I know you can. Listen, I think once you get moved off the SICU floor you'll feel better. I understand how intense it is here but you have to understand it was all for your own good." he tapped the chart again. "With the blood loss and the danger of concussion injuries, we've needed to monitor your vitals pretty closely. Now once you're off this floor we can relaxed somewhat in that area but they still need to be monitored. You know the dangers. If something were to happen, someone here could react in mere minutes. If it were to happen at home, well, bluntly put Johnny, by the time you realized it — if you even realized it — and called for help and help reached you, you'd be dead."
Johnny's eyes met his but the look on his face remained impassive. "I'm very aware of that. It doesn't change my mind. I'm leaving. Period."
Anger now flooded the doctor, turning his face red as his mouth twitched, "Damn it Gage! You are your own worse enemy! Your stubbornness . . ." Brackett caught himself as he saw Johnny flinch, then shift his body so his back faced the doctor but not before Kel saw the blood rise in his still pale cheeks and his lips thin while his jaw muscles tightened.
Brackett sighed heavily and smacked the chart. He knew that short of knocking the man out and tying him to his bed, he couldn't stop Johnny from leaving. And if he made him angry enough, the paramedic wouldn't return for help, even if his life depended on it. That in itself was more than enough to immediately chill Brackett's anger. "All right." he breathed in defeat.
Johnny glanced up, his dark eyes doubt-filled then he slowly nodded and began pulling on his socks. Brackett watched him sadly then an idea came. It was a thin hope but all he had. He reached out and laid a hand on the paramedic's bare shoulder, "Johnny, wait. At least give me this."
With trepidation, Johnny looked up at the doctor, his stance wary. But the look of genuine concern on the doctor's face held his tongue still.
Brackett saw he had Johnny's attention and plunged ahead. "You need to have those wounds redressed and the IV removed. I'll send in a nurse and order supplies for you to care for them at home. I'll also call down to the pharmacy and get your meds ordered. Will you at least wait until they come?"
Johnny's eyes searched the doctor's face and his eyes, looking for any signs of possible deception. Apparently he found none since he gave a reluctant nod, "I'll wait."
Brackett smiled faintly and gave him a nod back. He watched as the younger man swung his legs back up onto the bed and leaned back into the pillows. Kel's mouth twitched again as he took in the still pale complexion and the lines of fatigue around those dark eyes. Holding back the desperate angry words he wanted so to shout, Brackett took a step toward the door before he turned again. In a calm voice which belied the frustration he really felt he told his paramedic. "You know I think you're wrong doing this. I really believe this is a bad idea."
To his surprise a faint smile curled Johnny's lips as he faced him. "That's why it's called AMA, Doc. Against Medical Advice."
Brackett chuckled quietly at that then became serious once more, "Please Johnny. Promise me this. If anything, anything changes. If you develop a fever or the vomiting comes back, or the headaches get worse or you get dizzy—anything at all."
Again that faint smile and this time a nod, "I'll come in, Doc." Brackett sighed again as he walked out the door.
Johnny watched the door swing shut. He was surprised that Brackett hadn't given him more of an argument. However, he also knew nothing the good doctor could have said would have changed his mind. Johnny also knew that waiting for the meds would probably take a few hours, and he knew that Brackett knew that as well. Johnny fully expected to use that as a test on whether or not Brackett treated him fairly. If the meds didn't come in a reasonable time, he'd leave anyway. And Johnny knew that Brackett knew that also.
Johnny sighed heavily and let himself relax into the pillows. He was tired; the mind battle with Brackett had taken more out of him then he wanted to admit. Before he could close his eyes, the door opened again and another nurse came in, smiling brightly.
"Mr. Gage, I'm here to dress those wounds." She immediately set about covering the stitched areas. Then she removed the nasal cannula from his face and shut off the oxygen. She pulled something else off the tray she'd carried in and reached for the IV. Alarmed, Johnny pulled away. Had Brackett tricked him? Was she here to sedate him?
As if reading his mind, the nurse lowered her hand to show him she only held a 2x2 and a bandage. "The doctor ordered your IV be pulled, Mr. Gage. This won't take but a second." Quickly she completed the task as Johnny sat slightly stunned. 'Brackett listened to me? Brackett is really gonna let me go?'
He was brought back out of those thoughts by the nurse's gentle bump of his left hand. She held out a small paper cup. Carefully he took it, seeing two pills inside.
"Your pain meds and the antibiotic were changed to oral." The nurse supplied. She looked quizzically at him, "The doctor was just in here. Didn't he discuss these changes with you Mr. Gage?"
Numbly Johnny nodded and tossed them into his mouth then gratefully accepted the straw to the glass of water she provided. Once he was done, the nurse pulled the blanket over him and with another smile and a friendly pat on his cast, she left.
It wasn't long after that Johnny's tired eyes closed and he slept.
Gretchen finished reading the new entries to the chart in her hand then walked soundlessly into the room. As her trained eyes slipped critically over the sleeping figure lying before her, she sighed softly. He looked so young, and while asleep, peaceful. It broke her heart that that same peace didn't show in his dull eyes when he was awake. 'I've seen many kinds of wounds, both physical and not physical, and I've seen wounds like yours before also, lieberchen. Someone has hurt you badly. As my grossmuter used to say, you've nearly been soul-killed.' She shook her head as she walked closer to the bed, 'Those type of wounds don't heal easily. I hope you know what you are doing.'
She laid a gentle hand on his shoulder and pressed slightly while calling softly, "John, Johnny. Wake up."
He moved his head slightly and his brow creased however his lids remained closed. She leaned closer as she rocked his shoulder. "Come on, lieberchen. Time to awaken."
This time his eyes opened and he blinked slowly at her, confused at first then he looked around in awareness. "Gretchen?"
She smiled as he sat up, running his uncovered fingers through his hair. She handed him his shirt and aided him as he pulled it on, watching as he caught his bottom lip between his teeth at the pain that movement caused. Once that was done he turned back toward her and looked at the bag she now held out to him with a bewildered expression.
"Supplies for your wound care and your meds."
He took the bag and looked inside. She walked back toward the door and wheeled in the chair she'd had the orderly bring up. He looked at the chair, then at the bag, back to the chair and then up at her. "He's really gonna let me go?"
She smiled gently at him, "Dr. Brackett is not a jail keeper, Johnny. He really does have only your best interests at heart."
A faint blush stained his cheeks at her gentle chastisement. "I know." He watched as she looked in the various drawers and closets, making sure he had all his possessions. When she joined him back at the bed, she helped steady him as he switched from the bed to the chair. She stopped in front of him and slowly he looked up, dark brown eyes meeting blue ones. "Johnny, I would be remiss as a good nurse if I didn't tell you I think this is a mistake."
He gave her a careful nod. He could see the sincerity in her face and a touch of sadness. "You are still a very sick man. You really need to remain here in the hospital."
He titled his head as a faint smile pulled up the corners of his mouth. "I know. And I know you think so. But I can't stay here. I am leaving."
She nodded and sighed heavily, looking back into his face when she felt his fingers laid on her hand. "Thank you for caring."
She nodded and squeezed his fingers, "More people care about you then you seem to realize." She moved around to the back of the chair, letting him ponder her words. "Who's taking you home?"
"A friend." Was his only answer.
She wheeled him down the halls and out to the drop off/pickup area. He pointed toward a line of taxi's and she frowned as she wheeled him over. She helped him into the cab, placing his belongings with him as he told the driver his address. Before she closed the door, she took his hand again. "John, if you get worse . . ."
He nodded gravely, "I'll come back." Then he tugged at the door and she shut it firmly for him, watching until it pulled out of sight.
Frowning, the driver looked at his charge through the mirror. His fare had leaned back into the seat the moment the cab had started moving and now slumped bonelessly against the door. Worried over the lack of movement he called loudly. "Hey! Hey you back there. You all right?"
Johnny started out of the doze he'd drifted into and blinked at the hail. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine."
The cabby snorted, "Yeah buddy you look fine. You look like you should be headed for the hospital not away from it."
Johnny didn't answer as he looked out his window. The cabby stole glances in his mirror as he headed away from the city into the surrounding foothill communities. His natural curiosity about this young fellow made him break the silence again. "You a cop or sometin'?"
Confusion crossed Johnny's face as he returned his gaze toward the front. The cabby nodded, "Your shirt. It's got some kinda badge on it."
Johnny looked down at his shirt, noticing for the first time he was wearing his PT clothes marked with the Maltese cross and the initials L.. F.D. "Oh, um, no. I'm a firefighter."
"Ohhh," the cabby exclaimed. "I got family who're firemen."
Johnny just nodded.
The cabby continued, "You get hurt in a fire?"
Johnny nodded then winced as the movement pulled some of the still burned and tender skin.
The cabby also nodded, "Well, hope ya get better. That's a real importen' job you guys do."
Johnny gave a faint nod as he turned his attention back out the window. The sight of his own home brought a sigh from the dark haired man as the taxi pulled in the driveway. He pulled the handle of the door and got out, leaning back in as he told the driver, "Hold on a sec while I get the fare."
"Make it fast buddy, the meter's still tickin'" Was the cabby's only comment. Johnny made his way as quickly as he could across his front lawn and up onto his porch. He grappled momentarily with the door and keys, finding it awkward to handle both with only the use of two fingers and a thumb. Once inside, he dropped the keys on the side table and pulled open the drawer there. He pulled out an envelope from the far back, removed the required bills and shuffled again out the door. He was just in time to see the cabby pulling away. He stood in shock as the driver saluted him with a faint grin and accelerated away. Where the cab had sat now only held the sack of his belongings. Confused, Johnny made his way over and picked them up, noting as he did a scribbled note on the paper bag's side.
"You've already paid enough. Thanks from a grateful John Q. Public" was all it said.
A faint smile crinkled his lips as he looked toward where the cab had disappeared.
Johnny looked toward his house, then toward his barn, debating his next moves. He was bone-weary and knew he should go straight to his bed, but he hadn't seen his animals since he'd left Monday morning. As if summoned by his very thought, excited barking echoed through the barnyard, drawing closer.
Just as he turned toward the noise and started to rise from his crouched position, Johnny was hit by a solid 30 lbs of excited puppy. Tezi whined his pleasure at seeing his friends in constant Husky dialog, adding small yips and deep guttural sounds as he danced around and around the fallen figure, his tongue giving every accessible area of John's body a thorough tongue bath.
A gasp of pain escaped Johnny as his bruised back first made contact with the gravel but was quickly replaced by joyful laughter at the puppy's antics. "Yes, yes. I'm glad to see you too. Now would you please let me up?" he told the pup, knowing his words made little sense to the happy animal. He grabbed ahold of the ruff on either side of the pup's neck and tussled it back and forth, laughing even harder as the pup got even more excited, his yips becoming so high pitched they were nearly inaudible.
"Awright! Awright, I hear ya." He laughed as he ruffled his fingers through the thick fur. Then he commanded, "Tezi. Settle." After only a heartbeat's hesitation, the pup backed off and sat down but he kept up the Husky talk, telling his friend just how worried he'd been over Johnny's absence. Johnny struggled to right himself, finding it nearly impossible with his injures coupled with his not being able to brace himself with either arm. Just as he was debating crawling to the porch to use it as an aid, he heard a voice call, "Mr. G? Is that you?"
He looked up just as Lisa burst through the barn door. She froze for two heartbeats, her eyes going wide at the sight of him on the ground and scanning over the wounds on his face and arms, then she raced quickly toward him, crying, "God! Mr. G.! Are you alright?" She skidded to a halt and dropped to her knees by his side.
He gave her a half-hearted smile, "I'm awright, Lisa. Tezi just got a little excited and knocked me off balance." He tried again to sit up, but his damaged abdominal muscles flared in pain and with a uncontrollable groan, he fell back again.
"Don't move, Mr. G. Don't move!" Her voice rose with each word as Lisa frantically looked him over. She reached out, her hands moving forward, stopping then pulling back only to reach out again, trying to find an area to grasp him without touching his many evident wounds. Finally she slid one hand behind his neck and the other behind his shoulders, then lifted. This gave him the boost he needed while taking the strain off his own abdominals. Once Johnny could sit up, he could regain his feet and did so. Sudden dizziness blurred his sight though and he stumbled. Instantly Lisa wrapped her arm around his waist, supporting him.
"Let's get you into the house, Mr. G." Her voice held her worry.
He resisted her gentle tugging and she turned her face so she could look him in the eye. He smiled softly and patted her hand where it grasped his waist, "It's awright, Lisa, I'm ok, really." She pulled back slightly, the frown on her face showing what she thought of his words. He motioned toward the exercise yard by the barn as he turned, "I want to see Tate." He took a step forward and stumbled again as an unexpected weight twisted around his feet. He looked down at the cat looking up at him.
Lisa had tightened her hold on him as he stumbled and now she glared at the cat. "PQ, don't you dare! You'll knock him down . . .again." she ended with a sigh as the cat ignored her and leapt up to her favored position on Johnny's shoulder, rubbing his cheek and nipping gently on his ear. She sniffed delicately at his stitches, growled, then gave his forehead two swift licks.
"Ow, no nipping! Yes, PQ, I know they smell funny. Yes, you nutcase, I missed you too. " He returned his attention to Lisa, "Lisa, chill out. I'm awright, really." That said he pulled away from her and shuffled toward the corral, PQ perched like a four legged parrot on his shoulder while Tezi ran dizzying circles around his feet. Lisa held her breath, fearful with each shaky step he took, sure he'd fall again and this time hurt himself more than he obviously already was. But he made it to the fence where Tate waited, snorting and bobbing his head. The pony had heard his friend's voice and had been pacing at the fence, stamping and snorting impatiently for his chance to greet Johnny.
"Hau, Tate. Waste tasunka." Johnny murmured as he nuzzled the soft muzzle thrust into his face. Like the calico, Tate too sniffed Johnny's face, then blew. Johnny laughed, "Well, I don't much like stitches either but I didn't really have much to say about it at the time." He let the pony sniff his casted hands and was relieved when after a short inspection, Tate lipped his exposed fingers. Johnny wasn't sure how the hospital smells he knew clung to him would affect his friends but they seemed more interested in him then his bandages.
The paramedic finally relaxed, enjoying the peace that always came when he was with his animal friends when suddenly Tate bumped his head into Johnny's hands and sent white hot pain through Johnny's arms. He gasped, his vision going grey and his ears roaring as his knees went weak. Not realizing he'd been the cause of Johnny's pain, Tate lipped Johnny's hair and nickered softly, clearly concerned over the emotions now radiating from his friend. At Johnny's feet, Tezi whined and pawed his knee while PQ looked at the dog and hissed, sure it must have been his fault. Johnny remained as he was, slumped over the top fence rail, trying to catch his breath, slow his racing heart and regain his posture.
Lisa watched as Johnny greeted his horse. "He really got banged up, didn't he, Sasa." A deep voice said beside her. She looked up into her father's tanned face and nodded. "He looks awful. He's so pale. He doesn't look like himself, Daddy." Lisa softly answered, her eyes back on the reunion scene. Buddy Spenser nodded as he looked toward his friend.
"Looks like Captain Jenson wasn't exaggerating when he said he'd nearly been killed." Lisa murmured as she felt her father drop a comforting arm around her sturdy shoulders.
He nodded, "I guess for once your mother's cousin's penchant for paranoia over animals paid off."
Lisa chuckled softly, "Yeah. When he called mom and told her he couldn't watch the house anymore because he was sure he'd gotten bubonic plague when that squirrel ran over his foot, I was mad at our vacation being cut short but now . . ." She watched as Johnny nuzzled his horse then said, "Yippee for Cousin George's over active imagination. Thanks to it, we came home. Mr. G needs us."
Lisa wasn't sure if the sound from her father was a grunt of agreement or the softly breathed "amen" she thought she'd heard. In the next instant it didn't matter. She took in her breath in one gasp, her body automatically starting forward as she saw Tate unwittingly push Johnny's cast hands and saw the affect the resulting pain had on the paramedic. She and her father both reached him in seconds, pulling his limp body from the rail fence where he'd collapsed.
Johnny's eyes were opened but unfocused and his face held no color to it. Sweat covered his brow and his mouth hung open. Bud looped a strong arm under Johnny's arm and across his back, supporting his weight as he commanded, "Relax boy, I got ya. Sasa take care of the animals."
"No, wait. I'm . . .I'm okay." Johnny finally managed to stutter, his eyes blinking furiously at the tears of pain that had filled them.
"I think you're far from okay, boy. You just got out of the hospital, you don't need to be out here in this yard in this heat. It'll send you right back." The former firefight scoffed. "Let's get you inside before you collapse completely."
He supported the paramedic's weight for a few more heartbeats, letting Johnny get control over his pain, then began moving him slowly toward the house. Bud felt Johnny try to pull away from him and tightened his hold.
"Relax, boot, I got ya." He grinned into the brown eyes blinking at him. Then he frowned as his arm tightened his hold more. "For God's sake, Boot, you're nothin' but skin and bones!"
"I'm not a boot," Johnny snorted, but allowed himself to be manhandled.
"You'll always be a boot to me, Boot." Bud replied as he winked at his daughter. Lisa chuckled over the familiar argument as she scooped up the paper bag, then rushed forward to make sure the door stayed open as her father lead Johnny up the steps. After they entered the house, Johnny turned toward his living room but Bud pulled him toward the back of the house saying, "Uh uh, you're for your rack, boy. I think you've had enough excitement for today." He turned again to his daughter. "And I bet you've got meds due too. Sasa, check in there for his pain meds."
Johnny groaned and rolled his eyes but didn't protest what he knew would be pointless to argue. He was hot and tired, his body starting to tremble with fatigue and he knew he wasn't the only one who noticed. Bud helped him into his bedroom and Johnny sat on the edge of his bed with a heavy sigh. Lisa appeared a heartbeat later, holding his pill bottle in one hand and a large glass of milk in the other. He took both gratefully, then placed the bottle on his nightstand. Before he could reach for them, Bud had slipped Johnny's shoes off his feet and had swung Johnny's long legs up onto the bed.
Johnny's eyes widened as his whole body shifted sideways with his legs. He grabbed at the bed then winced as his hands made contact. "Whoa! Careful there, Bud! I break easily."
Bud laughed heartily as he threw the quilt Lisa handed him over Johnny's head. "Truer words have never been spoken, boy." Johnny pulled the quilt from his head and grinned faintly at his friend. Bud crossed his arms as he smiled at him, then became serious. "You just rest, Johnny. Don't worry none about any of the animals, the girls and I will handle everything with the house and the animals."
Johnny frowned slightly as a thought occurred to him. "What are you doing home? I thought you'd be gone for at least another week?"
Lisa giggled as Bud made a scoffing noise. "We would have been but Cousin George got the Bubonic Plague." She said between giggles then laughed harder as the paramedic's eyes went wide.
"No, not really, Johnny. That idiot apparently fell asleep in the lawn chair in the backyard and woke up when a squirrel ran over his bare foot. Now he's sure he has some obscure illness and has checked himself into the hospital for a whole barrage of tests." Bud told his friend.
Johnny nodded. He gave his former shiftmate a faint smile as he settled his back against his headrest. "Sorry to hear that," Johnny said, "About George and your vacation."
Bud shrugged, "When Mary asked him to watch the house, I warned her so we were kinda expecting something like this to happen." He looked closer at the other figure and frowned, "You don't look to good to me. You sure the docs knew what they were doin' when they let you go?" Then he laughed and said, "Or did you sneak outta the hospital?"
Johnny blushed and rearranged the quilt over his legs. "I was released." He protested, but kept his eyes downward. He felt a little guilty as he said it, knowing that these people only had his best interests at heart. 'But then I can say the same about Brackett and Gretchen and all the rest there at Rampart. I just needed to get out of there.'
Johnny gave a sigh and the engineer noticed the younger man's eyes were getting glassy and his lids droopy. Bud knew the combination of excitement of the day and the pain meds were starting to affect the paramedic. He tapped Johnny's shoulder gently and said, "I'm gonna go finish what I was doing. You need anything, you call, Boot. Understood?"
Johnny nodded. Father and daughter exchanged wordless communications then Bud left. Lisa looked at her friend. Sweat had dampened his hair along his neck and forehead but his face held a little more color then it had in the yard. "Mr. G, I put the rest of your stuff in the laundry room and your medicines are on the kitchen table. I'll rinse out your glass and fill it with water and leave it here." That said, she did just that, returning to the room to find the paramedic nearly asleep. She placed the glass on the tray on the nightstand and turned to go when a soft voice stopped her.
"Mr. G?"
She turned and smiled at the bleary eyes looking at her. She shrugged, "I know you said to call you Johnny." He nodded and she continued, "But I just couldn't. I guess all that talk of giving people respect by my professors really got to me. I struggled half the way to Mexico with that and finally decided on 'Mr. G.'" She shuffled her feet and looked hesitantly. "It . . .it's alright, isn't it?"
Johnny felt a warm glow in his chest at her words about respect and he gave her a genuine smile, the first he'd smiled in nearly two weeks. "Yes, honey, it's awright with me. Thank you." Her smile lit the room. She practically skipped over to the window and pulled the shade. "You take a nap now and don't worry about anything. Dad and I will be back this evening to check on you and put up the animals." She turned back around in time to see the weary paramedic's head roll to the side, his eyes closed. She watched for a few moments, making sure he was just sleeping soundly, then walked out the door.
A noise echoed through the still house and penetrated Johnny's consciousness. He opened heavy lids and looked around, trying to orientate himself. Light streamed through the cracked shades onto his bed. PQ was curled up tight against him and meowed her protest at his movement before sounding her purr. He was home, in his own bed, and he was stiff. Carefully, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and slowly pulled himself to his feet. Once he was sure he wouldn't fall, he made his way to his bathroom to take care of business then shuffled toward the main part of the house.
He had just reached the kitchen when a figure rounded the corner and stopped in front of him with a startled, "OH!"
Johnny looked at the petite brown eyed girl before him and smiled, "Hi June. Did you come looking for you sister and father?"
June Spenser frowned, "My father? Here? Now?" She questioned.
Johnny nodded, "Yeah. He and Lisa are here."
June's frown deepened. She opened her mouth to say something but at that moment, another figure entered from the side door. Lisa looked at the dark haired man then glared at her sister. "June! I told you to be careful and not wake Mr. G."
June's eyes immediately filled with tears but before she could protest her innocence, Johnny answered. "She didn't wake me, uh, another more urgent reason did." Both girls blushed and Johnny continued, "I thought you guys were going home? What happened? Something with the horses?"
Lisa looked confused, "Horses? No, Mr. G. They're fine. I just finished giving them their breakfast and letting them out into the pasture."
Now it was Johnny's turn to be confused, "Breakfast? This late?"
Lisa's eyebrows drew downward then shot up into her hair line. "No, Mr. G. This is Thursday. You've been asleep all night. Dad checked on you a couple of times yesterday but he said each time you were 'out like a light'"
Johnny glanced at the clock on his kitchen wall, saw it read 8:00 and gave a soft, "Oh." as he realized he'd been sleep for nearly eighteen hours. Lisa became all business as she gently took the man's elbow and lead him into the living room. She guided him to the couch and told him. "I bet you're hungry. Mom sent over some things for you. Wait right here and June and I will get them."
She disappeared into the kitchen as June made her way toward him, a cup of fresh coffee in her hand. "Mom sent over a thermos full." she explained. "We didn't know when you'd get up but she was afraid you'd have trouble making coffee with your hands all . . ." Her gaze fixed on the casted appendages then shied away as she carefully put the steaming cup on the tray she'd placed beside him. "Anyway, Mom says firemen don't have blood in their veins but coffee and Dad told her if that was the case you looked about a gallon low, so here."
"Thanks. And your mom is right." Johnny acknowledged as he reached with equal care for the cup. He sipped the brew and smiled faintly. Mary Spenser knew how to make coffee.
"Here's some scones. Mom baked them this morning and she sent over some of her raspberry jam too." Lisa put the plate down on the tray and stepped back. Johnny took one of the scones, feeling the softness of it and noticed it had already been slathered in butter and jam. He ate with great appreciation.
The two girls had left, going back to their own chores and letting the healing man have his breakfast in peace. Before long, Johnny had finished the delightful repast and sat sipping the final swallows of coffee.
Lisa reappeared with the thermos and refilled his cup while June took his plate with a smile. "Good, huh." She said, her eyes twinkling. "Mom makes the best scones."
Johnny nodded his head in agreement, "And her jams aren't too shabby either." June disappeared into the kitchen and Johnny heard water running. He turned to Lisa. "Lisa could you get me . . . "
"Right here, Mr. G." she interrupted as she moved the bag with his meds and his bandage supplies closer to him. He pulled out the meds first and took what he needed then laid the supplies out on the cleaned tray. Lisa looked at him, then the supplies laid out then back into his face. "Mr. G. I can help you." She said softly. Johnny sighed, wanting to protest that he was more than capable of changing dressings but knew that he was hampered by his lack of working hands. He consented and talked the girl through the process. Once they were done he praised her, watching a blush start at her neck and creep upward until her whole face reddened.
"No, really Lisa. You have a very gentle touch. That's very important whether the patient is human or animal." He told her. "I know you'll make a great vet someday."
The blushing girl cleaned the area again then she and her sister told the paramedic good-bye, promising to be by later on to check on him.
Once they were gone, Johnny settled back on his couch and soon was once more sound asleep. The girls woke him around noon with a meal sent over by their mother but left as Johnny began to eat. He finished the soup and sandwiches and settled once more on the couch. He shivered and pulled the quilt on the back over him thinking 'Must be a storm coming. I'm feeling a little chilled.'
Johnny spent the remainder of the day dozing, alternating between feeling chilled only to toss all the covers off himself in his sleep while he sweated. When he next was aware, the house was as dark as the night beyond the windows. Johnny woke with the side of his face sore. 'Must have slept wrong' he thought as he tugged on his ear, yelping in surprise at the pain that action caused. Again he felt chilled and wrapped the quilt tighter around his shaking body. He drained the glass of juice someone had left for him, but it didn't seem to do anything for his parched throat. He stood up to get more, swaying briefly on his feet then shuffled to the refrigerator. He poured more juice and sipped at it.
As he made his way back toward the couch, he realized his eyes were stinging. He sat back down with a sigh, pulling another quilt around himself. Suddenly Johnny's eyes opened wide as the bits and pieces came together in his foggy brain. 'Ahhh no. no, no," he groaned as he made his way as quickly as he could toward his bathroom.
'Eyes hurt, chills followed by sweats, parched throat.' he thought as he pulled out the thermometer and placed it under his tongue. In three short minutes he had his confirmation and gave a heavy sigh. 'Yeap. About 101.4' He made his way back to his bed with a heavy heart. 'Well, I promised. Guess I'll call in the morning if it's still elevated.' He tried to kid himself then shook his head with a rueful chuckle 'Who you trying to fool, Gage. You know damn well it will still be up in the morning, AND you'll have to go in AND Brackett will give you the 'I warned you, Johnny' lecture'
He groaned loudly as he flopped back on his bed. "Not to mention what Dixie will say. God, I didn't even see her before I left." He rolled over, pulling more covers over his shaking body. "Maybe I'll die in my sleep before Dixie kills me." he muttered mournfully as he closed his eyes and let sleep pull him under.