Thanks so much for all the feedback. Remember, feedback is the fuel for fingers. I must reiterate that the main characters from the TV show Emergency aren't mine. Neither are the brand names, Jello, Tupperware or those wonderfully delightful shakes from Arby's (Sigh, I wish I could still have them). I look carefully for errors but they still sneak in. I've corrected so many from the story previously posted I probably should redo it all. Some of you catch them for me as well. Most make me giggle (Thanks. picture vr pitcher had me ROFL.) Here's more Kent to hate! Enjoy!

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Roy looked up from the gurney in the back of the ambulance and glared at Brice. "I told you we didn't need to tie up an ambulance, you could've taken me in the squad."

"Rampart ordered an IV. You nearly lost consciousness on scene." Brice stated in his matter-of-fact tone. "The fire department never meant for squads to transport patients. If they had, they would be built more like an ambulance." He pinned his reluctant patient with a steely disproving gaze and shook his head. "Seriously, DeSoto. This injury and your actions are what I would expect from your oft juvenile partner, not an experienced rescueman like you."

Nothing else Brice could've said could've quieted Roy more than to remind him of Johnny. He still hadn't been able to reach his errant partner and was really beginning to worry. He had decided to ask Cap once they were done at the apartments if he could drive over to John's ranch to check on him. He had chilly visions of Johnny lying helpless out in his corral or unconscious at the base of his stairs or in his barn. He knew Cap would've probably agreed as long as they stayed available. However, he also knew Brice would protest the "misuse" of time and resources.

That thought was moot now, he was flat on his back on a gurney, in an ambulance and on his way to Rampart. He sighed heavily. Brice looked at him, frowned and opened his mouth to speak. However, whatever bit of wisdom he was about to impart was forever lost as both felt the ambulance stop and then begin to back up.

The back of the ambulance opened and his gurney was hauled out. He grinned weakly up at Mike Morton who merely frowned down at him while listening to Brice rattle off his vitals. He was quickly and efficiently moved from the gurney onto the exam table, then the two attendants grinned at him.

"Later DeSoto."

"Yeah, Roy, try ta not make this a habit." The dark skinned man winked at him. Roy grinned back, "I'll take you up on that advice." He raised his other hand in a weak wave, "Bye Tim, Rodge, Thanks."

The nurse who was trying to capture that arm to get a bp glared at him and sheepishly he let it fall by his side. She wrapped the cuff quickly around and pumped it up. While she was occupied, Roy looked around the room and realized that other than Morton, he didn't know anyone.

As if he could read Roy's mind, Mike grinned, "Nope. You get just me. Joe's off today and Kel's been busy with meetings."

Roy gave the intern a small smile and opened his mouth but with another grin, Mike added, "Dixie's probably headed home by now, her shift just ended." Then his attention focused on the hand. "Want to tell me how this happened?"

Roy groaned and wiped his right hand down his face. "I feel rather foolish about it." He admitted after he explained to the resident about the accident. "The cop didn't even need to come in but I did."

Morton grinned again, "Well, DeSoto, I have to say I'm a bit surprised to hear this. It sounds more like something I'd expect to happen to Gage." He shook a good natured finger at the downed paramedic, "Just because Gage is laid up right now, doesn't mean you need to take his place! You guys bring us enough business off the streets to occupy our time." Mike didn't see the wince his patient gave at the mention of Johnny's name as he glanced toward the door and then leaned forward to whisper conspiratorially, "Or did you do this to get out of working with Brice while Johnny is out?"

Roy felt himself grin at that, "Well, the thought did cross my mind." Then he hastily added, "But not until after I was hurt."

Morton chuckled again as he gently examined the injured hand. "Well Roy, I think it's a safe bet that you'll get a few shifts off over this. I've asked Dr. Bent . . .Ah! Here he is now!"

Both turned to watch as the door was shoved open and Ken Bentley strode in. He took one look at the figure reclining on the exam table and put his hands on his hips and sighed loudly. "Well now Batman, just because Robin injured his hands and was under my expert care doesn't mean you should copy him."

Morton chuckled as Roy rolled his eyes. Ken stepped forward and begin his exam. "You know, I don't give family discounts." He drolly stated as he turned the hand this way and that.

This earned the good doctor another eye roll and a sigh. Then the surgeon went all serious as he careful tested various finger function and pushed here and poked there. Finally he placed the hand gently down and looked from the resident to his patient. "Well, I certainly want to see x-rays but I don't think it'll need surgery. From the looks of it you suffered from a mild crush injury. The skin is split from the pressure put onto the hand from the tire but I don't think it rolled all the way over it, did it?" He waited to see Roy shake his head before he nodded, "Yes, I suspect it got trapped on the edge. There seems to be some damage to the ligaments and the muscle and while that is painful it should heal alright. You might have cracked the fifth meta carpel, the x-ray will tell for sure. I'll clean out those splits, put a few stitches in those deeper ones then put the whole hand in a semi ridged cast. Are you right of left handed?"

Roy lifted his right hand as he answered, "Right, Doc."

Ken nodded, "Good, well the cast will mostly be a reminder not to try to move those fingers too much so they get a chance to heal."

"How long?"

"Well some of that I'll wait to see after the x-ray but I'd say in the cast about a month to six weeks. Then some physical therapy to get the strength back and you'll be back paramedicing once more."

The sound of a wheelchair entering the room caught everyone's attention. Dr. Bentley scribbled notes quickly on the x-ray request sheet then handed it to the candy striper standing by the chair. He turned to the nurse and said, "Let me know when he gets back from x-ray and we'll see about numbing that up and getting it debried." She nodded. Ken smiled once more at his patient then chuckled, "Well, this is certainly becoming a family affair, first your daughter, then your partner, now you. Don't take this wrong when I say I'd rather not meet anymore of your family this way."

Roy gave a half-hearted grin. "No offense taken, Doc, I agree with you 100%." Ken laughed, slapped his leg and left with Morton. Roy got into the wheelchair and sighed heavily. His hand throbbed and he had the beginnings of a headache. He stared at his swollen hand as he was wheeled through the corridors, his thoughts on Johnny. 'Oh Junior, my hand hurts so bad and all I can think of is how did you stand it when it wasn't only your hands that were so badly damaged.' He sighed again and wiped his face with his right hand. 'And did I help at all? No. There you were lying on that table and all I could do was yell at you.' He straightened his shoulders as they approached the elevator, 'Well buddy this will give me time off and I plan on using that time off to help you. I owe it to you.'

The candy striper turned the wheelchair around and began pulling it into the open elevator as Roy looked up. His attention caught on a group of people coming out of one of the other treatment rooms. He saw an orderly pushing another wheelchair with a slender dark haired man in it followed by two women. He moved forward, straining to see, 'That looked like . . . was that Johnny?! And the women, one looked like . . .Jo?' but before he could do anything further, the doors slide shut, cutting off his view.

As the elevator rose, he sat lost in his thoughts, 'Was that Johnny? It looked like him. Why would he be in the ER? Was he hurt or sick? And that woman, she looked like my wife from the angle I could see. What would Jo be doing in the ER? Did she bring Johnny in? Did something happen and he called her for help?' He sighed, 'Would he call her for help after all I've done to him? I wish I could've gotten a better look.' All his wonderings were for naught as he knew the group would be long gone by the time he returned. He'd just have to wait until later when he could see his wife. Then, maybe, he'd get the answers. He leaned back in the wheelchair and sighed again. 'If that was Johnny, I'm glad he had Jo to help him.' His concentration was broken as the elevator doors opened and the candy striper quickly pushed him on into x-ray.

The x-ray tech looked up at him and smiled in recognition, "well now DeSoto! I think this is a first! Usually I see you hanging around outside the treatment rooms-- waiting."

He took the sheet the candy striper gave him as Roy answered, "Well Wayne, it was a boring shift soooo . . . ."

"Uh huh, yank the other one, DeSoto." He grinned, then turning to the girl told her. "You can leave; I'll take him back." The candy striper just nodded and left. The next several minutes Roy endured having his hand twisted in unnatural positions as Wayne snapped the films. "It'll take me about 10 minutes to get these developed. Ya wanna hang here or do ya wanna go back and wait." He asked as he grabbed the plates and placed them into the machine.

Roy shrugged. His hand hurt more and the headache had become full blown. "Either or, doesn't make any difference."

Wayne looked the man over, noticing the lines around his thinned lips and the creases in his brow. "As much as I would enjoy the stimulating conversation we would have, I believe you, my friend, need some MS about now." He picked up a phone, spoke briefly into it then turned back to Roy who grinned weakly at him. "Yeah Wayne, you're probably right. Sorry."

Wayne slapped him softly on the right shoulder, "Not a problem, I completely understand." He looked up at the figure coming through the doorway and said, "Take him back to treatment room 2 and tell the Doc there I'll bring these by as soon as they finish." He grinned again at the seated paramedic, "Later guy. Tell Johnny I said Hi."

At that Roy heard the volunteer in front of him inhale sharply and he looked up into her face. He closed his eyes briefly, trying to stifle a groan as he recognized her. Without a word, she stepped behind him, released the brake and turned the wheelchair around.

Roy took a deep breath and began, "Kyleigh, listen, I want to apologize to you. I'm sorry."

Silence.

He tried to look behind him, only catching a glimpse of dark hair and a firmly set chin. He tried again, "I . . .uh . . . talked with your father and he told me about . . . I mean . . . what you . . .uh . . ."

"You don't need to say anything, Mr. DeSoto." her voice was polite and cold.

Roy sighed again. "Yes, yes Kyleigh I do. I need to apologize to you."

"You just did." Again no warmth in her voice and she looked rigidly ahead as she pushed the button for the elevator. When the door opened, she turned the chair and pulled it in. Roy tried to look behind him, trying to catch her eye. "Kyleigh, I'm really sorry over what you heard."

He heard the scoffing noise she made deep in her throat and tried again, "What you heard, what I said to Johnny that day, I didn't mean it." The doors opened and she began to push the wheelchair forward but he reached down and caught the wheel in his right hand. She reached down and tried to pull his hand off saying, "Mr. DeSoto, you need to put your hand back up, you'll compromise your IV."

Roy felt a flash of anger as he ground out, "Damn my IV." He grasped her hand and used his greater strength to pull her around so that she stood in front of him. The elevator doors slide shut and he quickly pushed the button for the highest floor. "Now Kyleigh, listen to me. I didn't mean what you heard."

The teen raised her head and looked at him through eyes hauntingly like her father's. "I know what I heard and saw."

Roy sighed again. "So do I . But I really didn't mean them." He spread his hand in a helpless gesture.

"How could you say those things to him?" Her voice trembled with emotion but her eyes remained clear. "I thought you were such great friends."

Roy met her gaze, "We are."

Kyleigh snorted at that, "Friends don't talk to each other like that, especially when one is hurt."

Roy nodded slowly, "You're right. I wasn't acting very much like his friend that day." He made another gesture, "Or for the last few weeks, to be truthful. But I know what I did and I want to fix it."

She tilted her head and as she looked deeply into the paramedic's eyes, he continued, "When I burst in there, I was angry at him. I didn't even see he was hurt until later. I spoke from that anger and said things I didn't really mean. I was wrong and when I see him, I plan on making it up to him." He took a hold of her hand and squeezed it. "I'm sorry you had to see that. I'm sorry it upset you. More than anything, I'm sorry I upset Johnny. And you're right, I wasn't acting very much like a friend that day but that will change."

The door opened then shut again as the two faced each other. Kyleigh finally broke her stare to turn and push the button for the ER. "I can forgive you, Mr. DeSoto. And I hope you are serious about what you say about Johnny."

Roy smiled faintly, "I am, Kyleigh. And it's Roy."

Kyleigh's lips turned up slightly as she gave a nod then stepped back behind the wheelchair. "Ok, Roy. I think it's time we got you back to the treatment rooms." The door opened and she wheeled him quickly and skillfully back into his room then assisted him back up on the table. "I'll let the nurse know you're back." She said as she hung his IV back up on the pole. He smiled at her, "Thanks Kyleigh."

She smiled back and disappeared out the door. He leaned back with a sigh and closed his eyes, trying to push away the pounding behind them. The sound of the door opening again caught his attention. The nurse who had been there before was back and in her hand she held a syringe. "I need to get some vitals again, Mr. DeSoto then Dr. Bentley ordered something to help you relax while we see about that hand." He nodded and closed his eyes again as she finished and he felt the cold sensation of something entering his veins from the IV. Soon he could feel himself drift and went with the feeling.

He had no idea how long it was before Dr. Bentley entered again. "Well Batman, it looks like I was right on the money. You bruised the joint compartments but I think the damage will heal. There is an incomplete fracture of the fifth meta carpel. We won't know about any nerve damage until the swelling goes down and the healing has begun but I think any you'll experience will be minimal. Now," He took a large syringe from the tray the nurse had prepared and then grinned at the worried blue eyes watching him. "You just relax. I'm going to inject this and then we'll wait awhile until you're numbed up really well before we begin." That said, he injected the fluid in several places in Roy's sore hand.

Roy closed his eyes and clenched his other hand around the bunched up sheet on the table until the stinging in his hand eased. Soon he couldn't feel the other injection sites. At the sound of the syringe hitting the tray, he opened his eyes again. Ken Bentley grinned at him and slapped his knee as he stood. "You just chill and let that work and I'll be back."

Roy made a face, "I can't wait." He remarked drolly. His doctor laughed and left the room.

The lack of sleep from the last few nights added to the medication he'd been given, led Roy into a sleep. He barely opened his eyes when the nurse and Dr. Bentley returned and began the arduous process of cleaning the bits of stone and gravel out of his hand. That done, and the stitches in place, his hand was carefully wrapped then placed into the half cast and wrapped more. Once Dr. Bentley was assured the hand was immobilized but still had good circulation he stood back up with a smile. "Well Mr. DeSoto, I think we're done here. I'll need to see you back in three days to check on how the swelling is going and to redo the wrappings."

Roy nodded and allowed the nurse to aid him in sitting up. He shook the hand the doctor offered. "Thanks, Doc. For everything."

Ken's grin broadened, "Just remember what I said. No more business from your family." He started to walk to the door then turned suddenly. "Oh, I just remembered. Your partner didn't schedule a return appointment before he checked himself out. If you can, would you remind him I need to see him sometime this week? I need to redo the casts and do x-rays to see how the healing is going. If you want, you can both come in together." Roy nodded and Dr. Bentley left.

Once the nurse was sure he was steady on his feet, she went over his home care. "Dr. Bentley wrote an order for pain relief and he wants you on some antibiotics. You'll need to go up to the pharmacy and get these filled." She handed the paperwork to him and he placed them into his breast pocket. She then turned the chart toward him, "If you'll sign here and here, you're released." He did so then looked around. As if guessing she answered, "Your partner called your Captain and they sent a relief. They're waiting for you in the lounge unless they got a call."

"Thanks," He told her and made his way to the lounge. He checked in with Brice and his replacement, Jason Schlemmer. He told them he was heading up to the pharmacy and they nodded. "As long as we don't get a call, we'll be right here."

Brice frowned and Jason chuckled, "Aww, lighten up Brice. You can study that manual just as well here as you can at the station. And besides, you got to talk to the Doc about that whatchamacallit technique you were wondering about."

Brice glared at the other man and pushed his glasses up higher on his nose. "It's a not a whatchamacallit technique, it happens to be a cutting edge procedure on . . ." And while Brice went off in a lengthily explanation of said technique, Roy quickly slipped back out.

Surprisingly he was finished at the pharmacy in record time and back in the lounge. Brice and Jason looked up as he came in, announcing he was finished. Without further words, the trio headed for the squad.

Roy stepped out of the squad and turned back to thank the two paramedics. "Thanks guys, and Thanks Jason for coming in early to cover my shift." Jason laughed, his round boyish face alit with good humor. "No problem, Roy." Then he looked thoughtful, "Yah know, you came in early for Dwyer when he got hurt, I came in early for you when you got hurt, if I were superstitious I'd be scared."

Roy chuckled, "You think that's bad, think at how screwed up the next pay schedule will be the way we've all been swappin' shifts."

Jason laughed heartily, "That I don't mind, anything to bug the pencil pushers." The squad begin moving forward and Jason rolled his eyes, "Guess that's my reminder that we're still on County time." He waved out the window as the squad pulled away. "Take care Roy and say "yello" to Johnny when you see him."

Roy smiled and waved although that last comment brought back all his earlier anxiety. He looked down at his hand. It didn't hurt so badly now, he knew part of that was the lidocaine the Doc had used to numb it and partly from the pain meds he'd been given. He knew once those wore off, it would make it's displeasure known. He walked slowly up to the drive and seeing the garage door up and the station wagon inside, he headed that direction. As he approached the door leading into the house he heard raised voices. He paused, the door open just enough that he could hear his wife clearly say, "What makes you think you have the right to tell me what I can and can not do in my own house!

"Now Jo just calm down and think about this reasonably. I'm sure if you do, you'll understand I only have the best interest for you and your little girl in mind." Roy recognized the high slightly irritating tones of Tammy Kent and couldn't help the eyeroll.

He could hear the anger in his wife's voice and pictured her crossing her arms as she answered, "Alright. I'm calm. And I'm listening." He chuckled, thinking, 'Oh boy, anyone who knows Jo would know that that just means she's waiting for you to dig the grave a little deeper before she pushes you in.' He decided he would stay where he was for now and listen to the coming explosion.

Jo crossed her arms as she nodded curtly to the other woman. "I'm waiting." The words were clipped.

Tammy smiled at her, a sickly sweet patronizing smile. "Jo dear, think. How well do you really know the man? And I might add he is a man, a single one as well."

She waved toward the wooden cabinet in the dining room. "You have liquor here. All it would take is for him to come out here in the middle of the night, get drunk then . . then while you are asleep . . ."

Jo's eyes widened, "Johnny, " she stressed the name, "is a dear friend. And he's hurt and needs help." She waved back down the hall. "He can barely sit up, let alone walk." She, too, then waved toward the cabinet, "And as far as getting drunk, I've known Johnny for over three years. In that time, I've never seen him drunk or even drink more than a couple beers." She didn't think Tammy needed to know how drunk both Roy and Johnny had gotten one night after the funeral of a friend. She had come out after there were no more sounds and carefully covered both men, placing a basin within easy reach. She'd noted the tear-tracks across both their faces as well. She was truthful for all that, she'd not seen him drunk; both men had already passed out when she cared for them.

Tammy made a scornful sound, while she wrinkled up her face as if she smelled something disgusting. "Of course he drinks. They all drink. And they get drunk. Why at this very house I saw him . . ."

"You saw Johnny drink half a beer before he left." Jo interrupted.

"That's what he had here," Tammy's voice held a triumphant note. "You have no idea what he did after that."

Now it was Jo's turn to get smug. "As a matter of fact I do. He was so upset after your daughter's little performance, he went home and rode his horse until after dark. Then he had dinner with the rest of the crew and fell asleep on the couch."

Tammy rolled her eyes, "So he told you."

"No," Jo corrected her. "So Becky Stoker told me. Right after they left here, Mike and Marco headed over there because they were worried about their friend."
Tammy frowned, "Jo, you can't trust him. You can never trust those kind, no matter how long you know them. No one can really know how they think because they don't think like you and I and other good people think. There's something that is wrong in their brains because they're . . .they're . . ."

"An Indian? You can say it, Tammy, I'm well aware of Johnny's parentage and it's not some sort of disease."

Tammy now gave a firm nod, "All right. If you want it that way. He's an Indian. An outsider, one who is barely civilized. And you have him here, in your house, where you are alone." She leaned closer, her voice harsher. "Think about it! A male savage here at night, with your husband gone. What about your little girl? Think about her safety if you don't care about yourself."

Jo's whole body was stiff with rage, "John Gage would never do anything to harm me or my children, especially Jenny. He loves that little girl like she was his own flesh and blood."

Tammy snorted again, "And we all know how they treat their own flesh, don't we." She made a beseeching gesture to her friend. "Please Jo, I'm worried about you. Please be reasonable. I know you and Roy are kind-hearted people and of course you think the best of others. But I know. I have seen and so has Marc."

She wagged her finger at the other woman, "Remember, my husband has been working with Roy and that . . . Gage person as well. He's told me how Gage has messed up repeatedly and your husband has covered up for him." At Jo's shocked look, she nodded and went on. "He's told me about how Roy doesn't trust him to drive the squad or trust him enough with the drugs to do inventory with them or even to dispense the drugs to their victims. Roy, himself, likened Gage to a dog who was somewhat trained but one you had to keep an eye on."

Jo shook her head faintly, her head spinning. 'No, oh Roy! Please, you didn't really say anything like that about Johnny, did you? Oh please it can't be true!' She could imagine the hurt those words must have inflicted on her friend if he'd heard them and considering her husband's behavior over the last week, she suspected that was exactly what happened.

Tammy saw the conflicting emotions in the other woman's eyes and smiled smugly, "See? Your husband doesn't trust him. And I'm sure he'd never want that savage alone in his house with his wife and his children, especially at night while he's on duty."

She moved closer to where Jo had dropped onto the couch and put her arm around her. "Now. Let me call somebody and we'll get him to a hospital. They have people there who are trained to take care of people like him. And others trained to handle him if he gets . . . violent."

Jo's voice was soft as she responded to the words with, "He doesn't want to be in the hospital. That's why I brought him here. He's too sick to be by himself and he refused to stay there. Dr. Brackett was afraid he'd have to sedate him before he hurt himself."

Tammy nodded and patted her hand, "See? Even Dr. Brackett knows. A good man, that Doctor; maybe a little blinded in the political interreges of the paramedic program but he obviously understands how to treat these people." She frowned slightly, "I'll have to make sure I tell Marc this." Then she smiled again at Jo. "Well, then I know someone who will see that he gets taken back to his own house. He'll be fine there. These people have a way of taking care of themselves. Don't you worry, I'll handle everything." She reached for the phone as Jo shook herself from her own thoughts.

"No." She ground out. "I said I would take care of him." She stood again, her back straight and her eyes flashing fire. "John Gage is my friend. He has been in this house many times, both ill and well. He has babysat my children while my husband and I have been away. He has helped us repeatedly and asked for nothing in return." She glanced down the hallway, not seeing the closed door was now open. "He needs help right now. He's badly injured and he's running a high fever." She looked back at Tammy. "He's not going anywhere; he's staying right where he is."

Tammy had been dialing while Jo was talking and now she turned to her friend, fire in her own eyes. "I'm doing this for your own good, JoAnne. Roy won't want him here with you. I'll have Marc come and take him . . ."

"Johnny's not going anywhere." Roy's voice sounded from the kitchen and both women turned wide-eyed as he stepped into the living room. He took the phone from Tammy's unresisting hand and hung it up. She stood transfixed in front of him, her gaze caught on the fire she saw in his blue eyes.

"My wife is right. Johnny need our help and he's going to get it, right here, in this house." Roy stood unyielding, his posture rigid, his lips firm lines.

Tammy gave a weak smile as she began, "Now Roy, I know what a good hearted person you are. Marc has told me all about how . . ."

"Marc is wrong." Roy said firmly. "John Gage is my partner, my friend. I helped train him and asked him to be my partner when he graduated. We started at 51's together and were a team when the bill passed allowing us to practice. We have been a team, and have trained many others in the nearly four years we have been together." He moved closer and Tammy took a step back, "But Marc said, . . ."

"Your husband is wrong. What he thought he saw or heard is not true. Johnny has been my partner and will be my partner again as soon as he is healed." His voice got hard as he thought of all the things he'd heard about Marc's treatment of Johnny in the field. "Your husband can only wish he becomes as good as Johnny is in the field. John Gage is one of the best paramedics ever to come out of the paramedic program. I trust him. I trust him with my life." He stressed the word. "I trust him in everything."

He caught Jo's surprised look beginning to turn into a smile. He motioned for the door. "Now, I think you have over stayed your welcome in this house. You should leave."

Tammy glanced from him back to Jo and then back to him. "Well! Well! You try to help people and this! This is the thanks!" She grabbed up her purse then turned back to Roy who had followed her, herding her surely to the front door. "Well, I never!"

"Obviously." Roy commented, "But someone should have long before now." He opened the door and placed a firm guiding hand on Tammy's elbow. "Good-bye Mrs. Kent." As soon as she cleared the doorframe, he firmly shut the door. He stood still, staring at it for several heartbeats, his mind unconsciously going over all the poisonous things the woman had spouted. 'Poisonous, that's it. Just like a snake. She and her husband. Aand I let him do it, even joined him.' He sighed heavily and hung his head. He couldn't deny some of the things Tammy had told Jo about and knew he'd have to come clean to his wife.

Behind him, he heard her soft voice, "Roy?" He turned. He watched the emotions race over her face; pleasure, anger, pride, and finally determination. She crossed her arms and shifted her weight onto one foot, "Roy William DeSoto, I think you owe me an explanation."

Roy nodded and opened his mouth to begin. But before he could utter a single syllable, a loud thump came from the hall, followed quickly by a grunt of pain. They both headed that direction, hearts racing over what they would find.

At the end of the hallway, just outside the door to the bathroom, was Johnny. His legs were slightly curled and he rested on his left hip and his left elbow. As they approached him, they could see he was trying to push himself up but between the cast hands and his still healing abdominal muscles, he couldn't do it.

"Johnny! What are you doing out here?" Jo dropped by his side, her eyes searching him for any further damage, her heart racing as she feared he'd heard the rather loud argument with Tammy Kent.

He looked up at her, "Latrine." He mumbled. Jo closed her eyes and sighed to herself. 'Well of course. I've been filing him full of fluids. Of course he'd need to go. Why didn't I think of that!'

"Alright, are you finished? Or do you still need to go in there?" She asked.

"Done." He muttered and pushed upward again but gave a grunt at the pain it caused and dropped his head, panting through it. Jo reached out and rubbed circles of comfort on his back. Soon he lifted his head again and looked at her.

Roy stood above them, noticing his partner had never once looked his way. 'Can't say I blame him for ignoring me.' He shook his head, 'God! He looks awful! He looks paler than when I saw him in the hospital. What's happened to him now?'

Roy reached forward, hesitated and pulled his hands back, reached out again in a different angle only to pull back again and exclaim in frustration, "God! Junior! Where can I touch you that won't hurt you!"

At the sound of his voice, Johnny gradually turned his head toward his partner. He blinked slowly, his brow puckering in a frown as if he didn't believe what his eyes saw. Roy meet his steady gaze, disturbed by the lack of emotion in those dark, dilated eyes. He sighed again then finally reached a hand under Johnny's left arm and around his shoulder saying, "I know you hit the squad with your right shoulder so I'll be careful."

He felt the muscles tense under his arm and tried to soothe the younger man. "Just relax, Junior. Let us do the work. I'll try hard not to hurt you." He lifted and Johnny scrambled his legs, trying to pull them up under him again but they wouldn't support his weight. Jo had moved to the other side, and now grabbed the waist band of the scrub pants and pulled upward along with her husband. Finally, together, they managed to get him on his feet and propped slightly against the wall.

Johnny, for his part, had never broken his steady gaze on Roy's face. Roy could feel the heat coming off the body he supported as well as the trembling in the weakened limbs. He had thought to then walk Johnny back to the sunroom but after feeling him tremble, Roy seriously doubted the man had the strength. With a sudden decision, he pushed his cast hand all the way across Johnny's back to under his right arm and bending slightly, put his right arm behind Johnny's knees. He tipped the man, swinging him up in his arms as he did. Instinctively, Johnny placed his left arm around Roy's neck and leaned his weight into his partner's body.

Roy hefted him once, adjusting to the weight. Over the years he'd unfortunately had several occasion to carry his partner, just as for various reasons Johnny had carried him. During that time, he'd become familiar with the dark haired medic's weight. He frowned as a thought crossed his mind. 'He's too light—way too light. And he feels like he's just skin and bones.'

Unaware of his thoughts but seeing the frown and misinterpreting it, Jo hurried forward and opened the door. "Here Roy, I have the room set up for him in here."

Roy quickly carried Johnny, like he would one of his young children, into the room. He sat Johnny up on the bed and then carefully turned his upper body and laid him back onto the pillows while Jo lifted his long legs and swung them up onto the bed.

Johnny's gaze never broke from his partner while all this was going on, his brow still furrowed as if unsure. Jo offered him a drink from the cup by the bedside and finally Johnny blinked and looked at her. He accepted the straw, drinking nearly the entire amount before he pulled away. Jo glanced at her watch. "Johnny, it's time for your pain meds. Are you hungry?"

Johnny shook his head and Jo sighed, "Johnny, you need to eat. If you don't, the pills could upset your stomach. Now how about I fix you a nice sandwich, ok?"

He shook his head again, "No . . . trouble for you."

Jo reached out and stroked his face tenderly, "It's no trouble, Johnny. Roy and I have to eat as well."

Johnny frowned again and looked around, "Roy?"

Roy stepped forward. "I'm here, Johnny, I'm right here." Johnny's gaze again locked on him and the frowning look was back.

Jo touched the younger man's arm and he faced her, "I'm going to go make those sandwiches. Roy's going to stay here with you. If you need anything, he'll get it for you." She smiled at him and his lips turned faintly upward in answer. He watched her leave.

Roy stared at the younger man; his gaze sweeping up and down the thin body lying before him. Johnny was definitely thinner then when he'd seen him in the hospital nearly four days ago now. He swallowed hard and cleared his throat. That got Johnny's attention and he turned back toward him. "John . . . Johnny, I'm sorry." He began softly. Johnny merely blinked at him, his eyes blank. "I . . . I was wrong, very wrong. I'm sorry."

No reaction from the other man. Roy inhaled and tried again, "I know what I did was wrong and I can only promise that it will never happen again."

Silence.

Roy shuffled his feet, "I . . . I know it's asking a lot, but I hope someday you'll be able to forgive me." Johnny merely blinked at him, that still slightly mystified look on his face. Finally Roy couldn't stand it any longer and left. He met Jo in the hall carrying a tray with the refilled cup and a sandwich cut into quarters. She titled her head at Roy as he stopped in front of her. He opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again before closing it once more and looking at his feet with a sigh.

"Roy." He looked up into his wife's face, her emotions masked from him. "Your dinner is in the kitchen. I'm going to try and get Johnny to eat and then I'll come in and join you." Her eyes looked him over briefly, taking in the uniform he was still dressed in, spotted in various places with blood, and the wrapped left hand. "And after we eat, we are going to talk." Her mannerism brooked no argument but he didn't have any to give her anyway. He just nodded then murmured, "I love you."

She nodded once, "I love you too. Now go eat." Then she continued on into the sunroom. Roy turned and made his way back down the hall and into the kitchen where he saw two glasses of tea and a plate filled with sandwiches along with a bowl full of potato chips.