OK, here's a bit more. Midterms are going good but Johnny's been talking so I decided to get this out now. Enjoy!

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Johnny slept late into the evening and this time when he woke, Jo was sitting with him reading a magazine. She looked up and saw brown eyes blinking at her and smiled. Johnny smiled back, sitting up. Jo placed more pillows behind him and he sat back asking, "How long?"

"You've had a good nap. It's now almost 9. Are you hungry again?'

He made a face, "Thirsty." She immediately handed over a glass of ice tea. Johnny caught the straw in his mouth and drank until the straw slurped noisily. Jo raised her eyebrows, "Boy! You weren't kidding! You really were thirsty."

Johnny nodded. Jo stood, the glass in her hand. "Since you sucked that down so fast, it obviously wasn't enough. Hold on and I'll get you more." She left the room before Johnny could say anything. Johnny sighed and rubbed his eyes with the knuckles of his two fingers on his left hand. When he blinked his vision free again, another glass was in front of him. He looked up from it into Roy's smiling face.

"Jo's fixing you something to eat Johnny. I brought you some juice and your meds." He helped the younger man swallow the pills and again Johnny nearly drained the glass. When he was done, he leaned back into the pillows once more. "Johnny, I need to do a vitals check."

Johnny frowned, "Just drank." He told him.

Roy nodded, "I know. I'll take your temp axillary." At that he took out the thermometer, wiped it down and placed it under Johnny's arm. Then he placed his fingers on Johnny's throat to read his pulse. At the same time he took a respiration. He recorded the levels then checked the thermometer. He frowned as he recorded it's reading.

"Still up?" Johnny asked, but he was sure he knew the answer.

"Yeah, just about 101 still." Roy wrapped the BP cuff around Johnny's left arm and then recorded that reading as well. He has just rolled the instrument back up and placed it back into the bag near the bed when Jo came in carrying a plate and a glass. The smells coming from the plate made the saliva in Johnny's mouth run and he sat up straighter. Roy stuffed more pillows behind him as Jo maneuvered the tray into position. She smiled at her husband, stroked Johnny's cheek with her hand then left.

"Smells good, huh." Roy said. "Jo decided to make ham and scalloped potatoes for supper." Without saying anything he handed Johnny the spoon then sat back, talking to his friend while he ate. After awhile, he noticed Johnny's hand began to shake and his arm droop. When Johnny laid the spoon down and reached instead for the buttered roll, Roy picked it up. After Johnny placed the half-eaten roll back on the plate, Roy scooped up more potatoes and ham and fed his friend. The whole time, he never broke his conversation nor did he miss the look of gratitude Johnny gave him.

The plate was soon empty as well as most of the glass and Johnny sat back, contented until the building pressure in his bladder caused him to shift uncomfortably.

"Uhhh, Roy?"

Roy looked over at Johnny, saw the slight frown and that Johnny was moving his legs toward the edge of the bed. Without a word, he stood and reached for his friend. "Here you go Johnny. Just like before." The routine when faster than before, both men quietly pleased with their accomplishment.

Once Roy had Johnny back in bed, he pulled the sheet over his friend, noticing his eyes again drooping. He smiled. "You got everything you need now, Johnny?"

Johnny nodded and yawned widely. Roy smiled again. "Ok. I'm leaving the monitor right here. You need anything, anything at all, give a shout and I'm be right here."

"Kay." Johnny replied his eyes more closed then open. He was glad Roy was leaving him with only the monitor. That told him just how much he'd recovered if Roy was planning on sleeping upstairs. And Johnny was happy for that.

Roy set the monitor and looked back once more on his partner. The younger man's eyes were closed, his face relaxed in sleep. He laid a gentle hand on top of that tousled dark hair and murmured softly, "Sleep well, my friend." The he went off to join his wife.

The sound of voices in animated conversation steadily pulled Roy from the fuzzy dream world he'd been in. As he slowly woke up, he could hear them clearer. One was young, higher pitched and prone to giggles. The other deeper, slower in words. Bewildered, he listened, a little more alert. Bedroom. He was in his bedroom. Who else was in his bedroom?

Then another giggle followed by a deeper laugh, followed by, "Uncle Johnny! Now just look at you, young man. You're a mess!"

Roy's eyes popped open and he sat up quickly. "I think our daughter is trying to nursemaid your partner again." Jo's amused voice came out of the mounded blankets.

Roy sighed. "I'd better go see what kind of mess the children are into now." He grumbled and his wife now giggled. She'd told him earlier about Jenny trying to feed Johnny the bread pudding.

Quickly throwing on a pair of jeans, Roy hurried downstairs and into the sunroom. As he entered, he stopped at the sight of two sets of large eyes, one blue the other brown, looking in his direction.

Johnny sat up in his bed, his legs pulled up loosely in a modified cross legged position. Jenny sat on the bed facing him, a plate in one hand and a napkin in another. She was trying to wipe Johnny's face but her actions were only serving to smear the peanut butter there more. "Moornigg Woy!" Johnny garbled happily.

Roy blinked at him. Jenny smiled big. "Hi Daddy! Guess what? I fixed Uncle Johnny breakfast!"

Johnny nodded and tried unsuccessfully to swallow whatever was in his mouth. "Peyetbuderrr doass" He inarticulateted.

Roy rolled his eyes, grabbed up the glass near the bed and placed it against his partner's lips. "Here, drink before you choke to death. I'd hate to try to explain that to Brackett." Johnny drank the offered milk greedily, trying—between swallows—to loosen the peanut mass in his mouth and force it down his throat.

"Uncle Johnny ate two whole pieces of peanut butter toast Daddy!" Jenny bounced on the bed before Roy had a chance to pull the glass away. Sure enough, the glass sloshed, Johnny choked and began to sputter as milk invaded his nose. With a muted curse, Roy set the glass on the table, grabbed the sheet and began wiping off his partner's face while Johnny coughed and choked.

Jenny watched wide eyed as Roy tried to help his choking, gasping and now milk drenched patient. "Uncle Johnny . . .?" She whispered, her voice and lower lip both quivering.

"I. . I'm f . . .fine, Jenny." Johnny managed to choke out.

"Roy, why don't you get him into the bathroom and help him get cleaned up." Jo's voice proceeded her as she stepped up to the bed.

Jenny looked up at her mother, tears swimming in her blue eyes. "I was only trying to help, Mommy." She whined. Jo nodded. "I know. Now you can help me. We'll need to clean this up while Daddy is helping Uncle Johnny."

Roy helped Johnny to his feet and aided him toward the bathroom. Johnny was now sneezing, trying to get the last of the milk from his sinuses. "Roy, wait. Here." Both men stopped and Roy turned around at his wife's call. A bundle came his way and he instinctively caught it, seeing it was another pair of sweats and another t-shirt. He smiled and took Johnny out of the room.

Jenny stood by the bed, sniffling. Jo looked at the rumbled mess before her. Crumbs, milk and peanut butter speckled the sheets. "I'm sorry Mommy!" Jenny finally wailed.

"That's enough of that young lady." Jo's voice was firm. "We need to get this cleaned up before Uncle Johnny comes back. Get the extra sheets out of the closet while I strip these off. Mousie! Stop drinking that milk!" The cat ignored her as she lapped eagerly at the treat her tail slowly switching.

Roy chuckled at the sounds coming from the bedroom, then turned his attention back to the dark haired men in front of him. Johnny had finished blowing his nose and rinsing his mouth. When he turned to look up at Roy, Roy took the warmed cloth he'd had ready and began washing his face. That done, he stripped the soggy t-shirt off and washed the other man's chest and arms. "Stay right here, Johnny, while I have you stripped, I'm gonna change your bandages."

Johnny nodded and Roy was relieved to see he also held himself well on the closed toilet. Roy was quick and soon returned. Johnny watched as Roy removed each bandage, checked the wounds underneath then applied a fresh covering over them.

"Hey, Roy? Don't blame Jenny." Johnny's voice was quiet but Roy noticed it had more vibrancy to it then the weak version of yesterday.

"She's not in trouble Johnny." Roy assured him as he helped remove the sweatpants and likewise changed those bandages as well. "Jo's in there with her having her help change your bedding." He smiled into the frowning face, "We know she only wants to help you get better. It's all any of us want."

Johnny sighed heavily as he looked at his bandaged hands, "Me too." His words were soft but Roy heard. He assisted Johnny in the remainder of his morning routine, then excused himself, saying, "Let me see if the girls are done."

As he opened the door, Jo passed with the dirty sheets bundled up in her hands, "All set guys. I'm off to make coffee. Johnny? Would you like some?"

"Please." Johnny answered as Roy helped him back to his feet. Once he was resettled, Jenny sitting on his bed, curled close to his chest, Jo entered with the cup. Roy took it, saying, "Jenny, get off the bed so we don't have a repeat performance. Here, Johnny, slowly…"

As he had the previous morning, he held the weight and let Johnny guide the cup as he drank. When he pulled back, Roy sat the cup on table. "Roy, Jenny, breakfast!"

Roy turned to see a rueful smile on the younger man's face. "Go eat yours, I've already had mine."

With a smile, Roy scooped up his daughter and, throwing the giggling child over his shoulder, left the room.

So the morning passed, Jenny spent some time with her Uncle reading to him from her favorite books and showing him all the new doll items she'd gotten over the last month. Like any good uncle, he 'ooohed' and 'ahhhhed' over each while his partner and wife secretly listened from the hallway, their hearts happy. By the time lunch was over, Johnny was clearly exhausted.

"Jenny." Jo said as she entered the sunroom. "Melissa's mom just called. She's taking Melissa and Cindy to the mall to watch a movie and they wanted to know if you'd like to go."

Jenny's eyes widened and she jumped up happily. "Yes! I . .. oh." She looked back over at her Uncle. "I can't. I have to help take care of Uncle Johnny."

"You go." Johnny said with a weary smile. "Tell me about it later." He wasn't about to say anything, but he was really getting tired and his right arms was aching something fierce.

She hesitated. "Are you sure?" He only nodded. Again she danced with excitement.

"Hurry and change your clothes then I'll give you some money." Her mother told her. As she raced excitedly from the room, the two adults shared a smile. Jo patted Johnny's shoulder, seeing that he could barely keep his eyes open. "Now you can sleep Johnny. Roy's working outside but I'll only be a shout away."

Johnny nodded his head and let his tired body relax as sleep quickly overpowered him. Jo pulled the door halfway shut as she left the room.

And so the afternoon passed. Jo checked Johnny periodically but he slept on unawares. She had just finished prepping supper and cleaning up the kitchen when a knock sounded at the front door. She opened it to see Marco standing there. She smiled brightly at the man and motioned him in.

"Hi Jo." He held out a bag as he stepped in. "Momma sent some things over for Johnny."

She reached to take the bag, but he pulled it back. "It's pretty heavy. Just tell me where you want it."

"Oh, I guess the kitchen."

Marco nodded and headed that way, Jo on his heels. "Momma made chicken and rice soup. Johnny loves it. Whenever he was sick when he was little it was the only thing he'd eat." He told her. 'When he was little . . .' puzzled, ' How does Marco know what Johnny ate when he was little?' She filed that away to ask Roy later as Marco went on. "She also made some frybread and some tamales." He pulled all the items out and placed them in the fridge then folded up the sack and faced her.

"There's fresh coffee if you want it." She waved toward the pot. "Johnny's asleep. He had kind of a busy morning."

"Oh?" came a new deeper voice. "What happened?"

Jo turned around and faced her husband as well as Mike Stoker and Hank Stanley. She looked at her husband who shrugged, "I went out to put something in the mail and they were driving up."

Mike handed Jo more covered dishes. "I hope you don't mind. I made some fried chicken. Uhhhh, Johnny really likes it so I ….uh…" He looked nervously from one DeSoto to the other, remembering the fight his spaghetti had caused. However Jo smiled and took the dish. "Don't worry Mike. That's all behind us. Besides…" She looked slyly at him, "If I find out it's better than mine I'll only force you to give me the recipe."

Mike sighed in relief, "Done. Oh and this is some sort of jello cake. It's from Becky. She said you'd asked her for the recipe so I figured it was safe."

She swung playfully at the other man and he cowed backwards while the other three laughed. Then she made an exaggerated show of looking around. The four men exchanged glances before Roy asked, "Uhh, honey? What are you doing?"

"I'm looking for Chet. He's the only one from your shift not here."

"And he'd better keep it that way," Hank's voice was firm. Roy and Jo looked surprised until Marco explained. "Chet called in yesterday. Seems he's come down with that bug Brackett told you about. Cap absolutely forbade him from even thinking about coming over here until he's totally cleared by the docs."

"That's right." Hank nodded. "The last thing John needs is to be exposed by that twit."

Jo nodded her head in agreement as she placed the items from Mike in the fridge. Hank cleared his throat. "Umm, there's more Jo. Maggie really got into a spree and well, if you guys would help me out later, we can bring it in. It's in my cooler in the back of my truck."

Jo's eyes widened, "That much!"

Hank nodded then grinned with a shrug, "I guess we all know how much Johnny can eat."

Jo shook her head in amazement, "So do I. Well, I guess I should be grateful! It looks like I won't have to cook all week!" The four men laughed.

Roy poured each a cup of coffee and soon they were all settled at the table. "So how is he doing?"

Roy smiled. "Much better. He's been stronger this morning and he's been eating." He sipped his brew before he continued, "While it's no where near the amount he can put away, it's a lot better than he has been."

"Good." Hank stated.

Roy smiled at him, "By the way. Tell Maggie she was dead on with that pumpkin bread."

Hank raised his eyebrows. "Oh?"

Roy nodded and proceeded to tell his shiftmates about how Johnny had acted the previous morning when Roy'd told him Maggie had sent pumpkin bread for him and how they shared breakfast. Relieved smiles broke out on each man's face.

Mike turned to Jo. "When we came in, you said Johnny was asleep and that he'd had a busy morning. What happened?"

Roy chuckled as Jo rolled her eyes. "My daughter's what happened. She nearly killed Johnny, with peanut butter of all things."

This got all their attention, so Roy told them the story. "Poor Johnny." Marco chuckled, "Nearly done in by the love of a little girl."

"Yeah, but there's no doubt she loves him and he loves her right back." Hank confirmed as he looked pointedly at his senior paramedic. Roy gave a slight nod as he gave a duel answer, "A fact I'm very aware of . . . and grateful for."

Hank gave a firm nod as he drank from his cup. He glanced at his watch. "I should be going. Maggie is expecting me back to help her move some furniture." He looked at his men and rubbed his hands together. "If I can get some help with that cooler?"

Jo laughed. The others finished their coffee and followed him out.

Johnny looked around him, absently tugging on his turnout coat. He was hot, sweat trickling down his sides, chest and back as he stared at the fire blazing around him, devouring the walls and crawling across the ceiling. His eyes searched through the rolling smoke, trying to see anyone else but he couldn't make out anything other than shadowed forms in the combination of blinding smoke and brilliant flames. Pain caught his attention and he looked down at his hands, surprised to see his gloves were charred. His hands and arms throbbed with every beat of his racing heart.

"Hey! Anybody?" He yelled through his mask. "Roy? Cap? Anyone?"

Nothing.

He had to get out, he'd burn if he stayed any longer. He looked for anything that looked familiar but he had no idea where he was, why he was there, or worse—why he was alone. Despite the heat, terror froze his blood. 'They left me?' He tried to slow his racing pulse, calm his breathing, knowing he was quickly gulping up his O2 supply. His tank beeped suddenly as he spun first one way, then the other but couldn't see any exit.

'What happened to me? Why am I here? Where's everyone else?' Questions crowded his mind.

He knew he had to search for an exit and fast. The heat was sapping his strength, his body hurt all over, smoke choked him and his breath came in ragged pants. With tears streaming from his eyes, and his mind nearly numb with fear, he crawled, searching for a way out of this deathtrap.

Mike looked at the wrapped dishes and the large cooler and shook his head, "Gee Cap. Maggie does know that this isn't the company picnic right?"

Roy chuckled slightly at Mike's words, picked up several wrapped loaves of something and looked toward the house. "I'd better let Jo know we're gonna need more space in the fridge." They had just reached the front porch when a loud "thump" echoed through the house. Roy paused, listening to see if there was anything else then entered, dropping off the bundles on the entry table.

"Jo?" he called and paused again for her answer. When none came he called out again, "JoAnne? Are you alright?"

"Roy! Come quick!" His wife's voice, filled with panic, added speed and agility to his feet as he raced into the living room, looked toward the kitchen then up the stairs. "Where are you?" He called.

"The Sunroom! Oh, Roy!"

He raced down the hall and stopped short as he saw her in the doorway, her face white, her hands near her mouth as she stared wide-eyed at something within. His eyes quickly looked her up and down for any sides of blood or other trauma. Then she turned, faced him and he saw the tears. Roy's mouth suddenly went dry and his breath caught in his chest. He moved forward carefully, "Jo?"

She just shook her head and looked back into the room. By now he was next to her and could see into the brightly lit room himself. The fear of what he'd see made him tremble but what he did see made his heart nearly stop.

Johnny was on the floor, low and on his knees and elbows. He swept his hands one after another hesitantly and in wide arcs in front of him then advanced a few inches before he started over again. And he was mumbling, his words clear to those who listened.

"fire . . .trapped . . . in fire . . .hafta get out. Left me . . .they all left me. Gonna . . . gonna die here. Gonna burn . . . all alone."

"Oh Roy," Jo's voice held her anguish and Roy pushed past her then stopped, saying, "He thinks he's in a fire. He's doing a sweep, looking for …" he paused unable to finish the words they both well knew, 'looking for a way out. He thinks he's been abandoned.'

Then with a shuddering sigh, Johnny's limited strength gave out and he slowly sank to the floor, still mumbling as his eyes closed in resignation to his fate.

In the space of two heartbeats, Roy saw flashes of his dreams and each of Johnny's deaths in them. He pushed on past his wife, barely aware that others had joined them in that hallway as he dropped in front of his partner.

Johnny could feel the fire as it flowed over him, heating his skin until it began to burn and blister. He waited for the final darkness to claim him, eyes closed, his breath coming in gasps,. Then suddenly a voice was calling to him. Hands were shoving his body upright so his buttocks rested on his heels, forcing him to sit up as another's hands supported his shoulders. Part of him wanted to listen to the voice, but most of all he just didn't care.

Roy shook Johnny's shoulders a little as he repeated, "You're not alone, Johnny. Listen to me, please! You're safe; you're not in a fire." No response. Johnny's head hung down on his chest, breath still coming in slight gasps, eyes closed, his body limp. Roy could feel the extreme heat from the dark haired man's skin radiating outward.

Desperate to get through to him, Roy braced Johnny's shoulders, and thus his weight, on his elbows while his hands slipped to either side of his partner's head, fingers buried deep in the thick hair. His thumbs rested under Johnny's jaw and gently he pushed upward, forcing Johnny to be face to face to him.

Fear filled Roy as he quickly scanned the man in front of him. Johnny's damp t-shirt cling to his thin body, his chest heaving with his quickened respirations. The heat coming from the younger man nearly made contact with his skin uncomfortable. 'He's burning up! His fever has to be as high as when . . .' no. He refused to think about that, and about the other fireman who had died. He would fight for his partner's life. Johnny would survive this has he had that virus.

"Johnny, Johnny." he called. "Listen to me, please. Open your eyes and look at me. Johnny, please, look at me!" Slowly Johnny's eyes opened but remained dull and unfocused. Roy kept his own gaze locked on those brown eyes as he pleaded, "Johnny, you're safe. You're not alone and you're not going to die. Do you hear me? You're-Not-Going-To-Die!" He shook him a little to emphasize each word and felt a faint nod under his hands.

"You're not alone; you've never been alone. Cap and Mike and Marco and Chet have always been there for you." Roy finished and watched as Johnny's eyes searched his face, a little more focused now and with some recognition in their dark depths.

"Not you." he whispered.

Those two words cut Roy deeper that any sword ever could. In that instant, Roy knew what the dream Brice had meant about soul wounds. The fact that Johnny's words were true only made them hurt worse. 'He's right, I haven't been there for him.' Roy inwardly acknowledged. His chest constricted as he also realized that if just those two words hurt that much, how badly Roy's repeated blows must have hurt his friend. Over the last two days, while Johnny had been conscious and talking, Roy had refrained from speaking about the last few weeks. Now it all came back and Roy knew he had to tell Johnny face to face, while looking straight into those brown eyes he could remember seeing the pain of his rejection in that day in the squad.

As he looked deep into his friend's now aware eyes, Roy felt his heart break even more. "Oh Johnny." he murmured as he sadly nodded. He took a deep breath, knowing that now was finally the time. "You're right. I haven't been there for you and Johnny, you can't know how sorry I am for that."

Tears filled his blue eyes as they stayed locked on his friend. "I'm sorry, God am I sorry! I'm sorry I was such an ass to you at work. I'm sorry for the things I said and the things I should have said and didn't. I'm sorry for being angry with you when all you did was love my family. God, Johnny! I can't think of anyone better qualified to take care of Jenny when she was hurt and we were gone. I was a stupid, stupid man and I took my own feelings of inadequacy out on you. I won't ask you to forgive me; I don't deserve that but please, please believe I will do anything and everything to try and make it up to you."

Roy stopped, no more words came forth as he cradled his partner's head in his hands, his voice now gentle and soft, "I'm the screw-up. It was me, Junior, not you. It was never your fault."

Hope sparked in Roy's chest as for the first time in nearly 30 days he saw an answering light in Johnny's eyes. Slowly those brown eyes blinked and Johnny's voice came, barely above a whisper. "Watuka, Roy. Watuka, waksu'weya."

Another shaft shot through Roy's heart and his voice choked on a sob as he answered, "I know you're tired, Johnny and I know you hurt. But I beg you, just keep fighting. Take your strength from me; I promise I will not let you down this time. But please, please, you have to hold on. Not for me, I won't ask you for myself, I . . .I've lost that right. But for my kids, for Jenny and Chris and Marco and Mama Lopez and Dixie and all the others who care so much for you. You have to believe that; you must . . ." He emphasized the word with a little shake, "believe that." Again he felt the slight nod.

"I'll . . .I'll try."

Roy took in a huge breath as he pulled his partner's thin body forward close to his own and held on as if their very lives depended on it. 'Maybe they do,' the thought came to him. Roy felt Johnny relax against his chest, Johnny's breath started to ease out and then Roy felt Johnny's arms come up his back.

It seemed like both seconds and hours that they stayed that way then Roy felt hands on his shoulders and looked up, not relinquishing his hold on his now once more limp partner. Cap and Mike looked kindly down on them. "Come on Roy." Cap told him. "We'll help you get him back into bed. Sitting on that cold tile can't be good for him." Roy nodded and allowed them to support Johnny while he stood. Johnny looked up with the shifting of his weight and opened his eyes, seemingly surprised to see his shiftmate's faces surrounding him. "Cap? Mike? Marco? You're . . .here?"

Cap smiled softly, his own heart pained at all he'd just heard and seen as he nodded. "Yes, John. As Roy told you, we are here. We always have been and with God's grace, always will be."

Marco came forward as well and together the four men easily lifted Johnny's body up and placed him gently back on the bed. Then they backed off as Roy immediately began checking his friend over for any further injuries. Cap stood at the head of the bed, his hand on the top of Johnny's head as if loathe to totally remove his touch from his downed man. Roy grabbed the thermometer first and placed it into Johnny's mouth.

"I think your fever's gone up again, Johnny." Roy told him as he gently held his mouth closed. Johnny blinked slowly at him and gave a faint nod.

After the prescribed time, he removed it, read it and gave a great sigh. "What is it?" Cap asked. "104.6. Something's not right; the antibiotics should've taken care of the infection. Brackett was here yesterday and said his ear looked good." Roy's voice was apprehensive as he shook the piece of glass.

Suddenly he frowned, his nose twitching. There was that smell again, the same one he'd smelled this morning when he'd helped change Johnny. Suddenly memory connected smell to cause and Roy felt instantaneous panic as he began to search his partner's body. He knew the bandaged areas were alright, he'd checked them when he'd changed them. That left the casted hands. Roy reached out and took ahold of Johnny's left hand, looking at the fingers then moved to the right hand. "What the . . ." All the men leaned forward, seeing as Roy did that the tips of the fingers were swollen and discolored. Roy inspected the cast, finding several soft areas and Johnny's forearm was also swollen. As Roy gently pushed on the cast, Johnny gave a groan and they all could see liquid running down his fingers. Roy began cursing, Jo's pale face went whiter and Cap tightened his jaw.

"You want a squad?" Marco asked at the same time Roy said, "We've got to get him to Rampart." Marco turned and left, Jo leading the way saying, "Use the line here in the laundry room, it's closer."

Johnny blinked up at his friends then his gaze fixed on Roy. "R rrrooyy?" He whispered.

Roy looked into his friend's brown eyes, saw the worry as well as something else, something that had been missing in his friend's gaze. He tried to smile reassuringly.

"It's alright, Johnny you just relax. We'll take good care of you."

Johnny shook his head but his gaze stayed fixed. Roy sighed and his shoulders slumped. "We have to take you to Rampart." His voice was soft and he kept his hand on Johnny's shoulder. "It looks like your hand is infected under the cast."

Johnny blinked slowly then gave a faint nod, "'Kay." He whispered.

"Johnny I'm gonna get some vitals on you here." Even as Roy said it, he placed his fingers on his partner's throat. He counted the too fast pulse and then laid a hand on Johnny's abdomen to get respirations. Next he wrapped the BP cuff around his arm and quickly took a reading, frowning at what he read. He noted the levels down on the paper then looked up as Marco entered the room.

A scowl darkened the other man's face as he reported, "The nearest squad is nearly 45 minutes out. The ambulance will be here in 10 minutes."

Roy cursed silently then told Marco. "Get back on the phone and call Rampart. Tell the doc what's going on and that I'll be bringing Johnny in with the ambulance." Marco nodded and left. Roy pulled the box of medical supplies around to himself and pulled out the IV setup there.

"Roy?" Cap's worried voice sounded.

"It's alright Cap. Brackett left me standing orders and brought these supplies. He can't wait an hour to get into Rampart. He needs help now." He turned toward the doorway, "Jo?' he called for his wife and saw her reenter the room, the laundry basket again in her hands.

"I've got them filled. Mike helped me." The engineer grinned as he entered carrying the newly filled basin and wash clothes.

"What do we need to do first.?" Cap asked.

Roy nodded to where Johnny watched them, his eyes fever bright and glassy. "Strip him. We've got to start fighting that fever."

Cap and Mike quickly pulled off Johnny's soaked t-shirt and sweat pants even though he moaned and murmured, "no. no, cold."

"You're chilling Johnny. It's the fever." Roy soothed as he searched for a vein. Finding a likely area, he swabbed it down and pushed the needle under Johnny's heated skin. Johnny caught his breath up and tried to pull his arm away from this new hurt but Roy held firm. He saw the flash in the chamber and quickly finished.

Mike and Cap had placed the ice filled water bottles on the sheet over Johnny's now nude body as close to the major pulse points as they could. Cap had taken over sponging Johnny off. Marco appeared in the doorway, the phone pressed against his head. "Roy? I've got Brackett. He wants to know Johnny's vitals." Roy grabbed up the paper and with two quick strides, was next to Marco. "I'll go watch for the ambulance." The Hispanic man told him as he left.

"Doc? I've got cooling measures started and an IV going. His pulse is 120, BP is 90 over 56, respirations are 22. His temp orally is 104.6."

He heard Brackett mutter darkly. Roy's eyes went back to his ill partner. Johnny was tossing his head back and forth, squirming in discomfort from the ice bottles. He moaned as he tried to get away from the cold, his body shaking with chills.

"Easy John, easy. We're taking care of you." Cap soothed as he bathed the fevered man. "The ambulance will be here soon. You just relax."

"What the hell happened? I thought when you called this morning you said he was doing better?" Brackett sounded angry but Roy knew it was probably more frustration.

Roy shook his head, his chest tight with worry. "He was. Doc? I think it's his right hand. I didn't notice it until just now but the tips of his fingers and the area above the cast are red, hot and swollen. There is fluid coming from under it, there are soft spots in the cast and . . and . ..Doc? It smells."

Brackett sighed. "Great. The antibiotics for his ear could have masked another infection until now. Get him in here now, Roy. I'm calling Bentley now."

"I will." He raised his head as he heard the sirens out front. "Ambulance is on scene Rampart. We are transporting."

"I'll be waiting." Brackett said then disconnected.

As he turned around after hanging up the phone, he found he had an audience. Dixie and Joe Early stood there, concern on their faces. Joe held the paper where Brackett had jotted down Johnny's vitals in his hand.

"Kel? Who is this? Who's coming in? These don't look good."

Kelly Brackett sighed as his mouth twitched and he rubbed a tired hand over his chin. "That was Roy. Johnny's taken a turn for the worse. He's bringing him in now."

Dixie and Joe exchanged worried glances as Brackett continued. "Roy's bringing him in via ambulance. The closest squad was 45 minutes out. He's already started cooling measures."

"No squad. So no IV?" Joe frowned.

Dix gave a faint smile, "I bet Roy's already started one on him. Kel, I'll call Ken Bentley." She turned to the nurse just approaching the station. "Missy, get treatment 3 set up. We have a possible severe infection coming in. Make sure there's a cast saw in the room and items for a high fever."

The middle aged nurse nodded, "Right away." Dix turned to the phone, looking through her rolodex for the numbers.

Joe looked at Kel. "How could Roy start an IV?"

Kel gave his co-worker a chagrined look. "When Dix and I went over the other day, I took a set up of D5W with me and wrote out standing orders for Roy. Just in case."

Joe chuckled softly, "Then I'm sure Roy has him started." He looked around. "They should be here soon. Kel, I'll assist you unless we get busy. I have a feeling we're gonna need an OR. Should I go ahead and set up a team?"

Brackett's face twitched, "Might not be a bad idea. I have a feeling Ken's gonna need to go in. If not, we can always stand them down again."

Dixie hung up the phone and looked at the two doctors. "I'm way ahead of you. Bentley's on his way in. He should get here just about the same time Roy brings in Johnny. I have a team all ready and setting up in OR4." With that she hurried off to check on other preparation.

Before long the reverberation of a siren getting closer sounded. The two doctors immediately headed toward the doors just as an ambulance could be seen backing up.