Cantesica! I made a mistake…and BT caught it. It was actually a mis-spell that became a mis-ID! The beginning of the last chapter it should have read Marco and CAP set up the gurney, not CHET. Thanks for all the feedback. And thanks to you loyal ones who are still hanging with me on this …monster. It's getting closer to the end…but I have to admit, I've bowed to pressure and added two chapters…and the Kents will be back.

Bentley entered the room, seeing that Dixie already had removed the bandages and had Roy's hand lying on the exam tray. Ken pulled the light closer, turning the hand carefully this way and that, pressing in different areas and asking Roy, "Can you feel this? Does this hurt? Where do you feel it? Can you move this?"

Finally he sat back. "Well I'll know more after the x-ray but I think it healing well. How does it feel?"

Roy shrugged as he looked at his hand, seeing Johnny's badly infected hand in its place. "I don't really feel it. It's kinda just there . . , aches a little."

Bentley's kind eyes watched him then his hand rested on Roy's elbow in a show of sympathy. "well, you've had a lot on your mind the last few days."

Roy gave a snort at that. Bentley turned to Dixie. "He's ready for x-ray." She nodded, and headed out the door as Dr. Bentley scribbled in his chart. Soon the door opened and a candy-striper entered pushing a wheelchair. Bentley slapped a hand on Roy's shoulder and said, "See you in a few, Batman." then left.

Roy got carefully off the table and moved to the wheelchair in time to hear a sharp gasp. "Mr. De . .. I mean, Roy?" Roy's head jerked up and faced the wide brown eyes of Kyleigh Stanley. She glanced back at the closed door. "What are you . . .? I thought I saw my Dad earlier . . ." She looked back at Roy, "You're off today. I mean, you're off, your hand."

Roy waved the unbandaged hand at her. "Yes. I need to get it x-rayed. So we can see how it's healing."

The teen blushed as she helped him into the wheelchair. "I'm sorry Roy. I'll get you right upstairs."

Roy sighed, knowing he had to tell the girl what happened. She'd hear it anyhow, both from the hospital grapevine and from her parents at home. Once they got into the elevator he reached back and grabbed her hand, tugging on it into she moved beside him.

"Kyleigh, I wanted you to hear this from me first. Johnny is . . . well, he's back in the hospital. They had to do more surgery on his hand; he's very sick. The . . . the hand got infected."

Her eyes went wider and he quickly told her the facts, how Johnny had been staying with him, how he was healing and how suddenly his fever had spiked. When he was done, she laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I'll say a prayer for him, Roy. And don't worry; I'm sure he'll be fine." She looked up as the elevator dinged. As she began pushing the wheelchair back out, she said, "I think I'll see if they'll let me see him. You know, once he's in a room and all."

Roy smiled, "I'm sure he'd like that, Kyleigh."

Soon the x-rays were finished and Roy chatted with Wayne until they were developed. Suddenly the tech looked up at Roy, saying, "Uh, Roy? I saw Johnny's x-rays a little bit ago. They looked pretty good but they told me to deliver them to surgery. What's going on?"

Roy sighed and for the second time in less than a hour, he explained what had happened to his partner. Wayne shook his head sadly, "Man that's tough." Then Wayne took him back down to ER and left with, "Enough with the two of you now. And Roy, give my best to John."

Before long, Bentley was back, followed by a nurse with a tray full of supplies. "Well everything looks good, Batman. I'm gonna put you back into a half cast and then I'll need to see you again in about three weeks for more x-rays. Alright?"

Roy nodded. Soon the new cast was done and he thanked the nurse and left the room. As he left the treatment room, Roy looked both ways but didn't see anyone he knew. He bit his lip in indecision. 'Brackett told me he'd tell the nurses at SICU I could be up there.' He looked up at the clock, seeing that over two hours had passed since the two doctors had told them the news.

With a deep breath, he straightened his shoulders and headed for the elevator. 'Permission or not, I've got to see him.' As the elevator doors closed, he looked up to the ceiling, 'Hang on partner, I'm coming.'

Gretchen clucked her tongue in sympathy for the silent still figure laying before her. "Ahhh, liebchen, what have you done to yourself. I knew you leaving the hospital wasn't a good idea." She took the dried cloth from Johnny's head, rinsed it in the water basin by the bedside, wrung it out then placed it back on his forehead. She checked the cooling blanket he lay on, then checked all the tubes running in and out of him, making sure each was functioning as it should. Finally, that done and his chart updated, she returned to his head.

With a heavy sigh, she smoothed down his dark hair, telling him in a soft voice, "Don't you worry about a thing, Johnny, you just rest and heal and let old Gretch take care of you. And I'm sure Dixie will be in here soon to see you as well." She stared at him for several long moments, saying a silent prayer for his well-being in her heart.

The door to the room creaked open and she turned, at once the hard-as-nails- WAVES nurse. "Yes? Who are you?" She barked out at the hesitant figure of a light haired, blue eyed man standing there. From the moment he had entered, those blue eyes had fixed on the still figure of her patient. In a protective gesture, she moved to block that view.

Now those same blue eyes blinked up at her and he gave a hesitant grin, "Sorry Ma'am. I'm Roy. Uhhh, Roy DeSoto? Uhhh, Doctor Brackett said he cleared me to be here . . . for Johnny, there." He made a vague motion toward the bed. And his eyes fixed back on her patient.

Gretchen frowned. She, of course, had read the chart and knew about the order Brackett had left. She crossed her arms and moved closer to the man, again blocking his view of her patient. "I read the order, but I'll tell you, Mr. DeSoto, this is my floor and what I say goes here. Even the doctors know that and respect it because I only have concern for my patients in mind. The sooner I can get them off my floor means the sooner they are better. I won't put up with any shenanigans or inappropriate behaviors, Am I clear?" She raised an eyebrow, her face stern.

He blinked at her as he gave a slow nod and she noticed his face looked sad,. "Yes, Ma'am, believe me that's all I want too, . . . for Johnny to get better, I mean." He shrugged, "I . . I just want to sit with him, let him know I'm here for him."

"He's been sedated." She curtly told him as she studied this man before her. 'Another baby, just like this one behind me. Another firefighter? Possibly, but not one of the ones in here before. . .' Out loud she finished with. "He won't know you're here."

Now the blue eyed man before her gave a sardonic smile, "Yes. Yes he will. Just like he knew before that I wasn't here. See, that's why I have to be here now." He moved a little closer. "So he'll know I didn't leave him." The 'this time' was unspoken but definitely heard.

Now Gretchen was even more curious about this man but moved slightly out of his way. That was all he needed. He immediately made his way over to the bedside and laid his hand gently on the still man's upper right arm, carefully avoiding the contraption staking out his lower arm and holding it immobile. "Johnny. I'm here. And I'll stay here. Brackett gave Jo or I permission to stay with you."

He pulled the chair closer, his hand never leaving contact with his friend, "I'm here, partner. I'm here."

Hearing that, Gretchen's eyebrow shot up. 'Partner! That explains some.' She knew that the paramedics were partnered, some teams had supposedly formed fast friendships. She remembered Hilda talking about one pair that she'd had to finally room together when both were injured because neither would stay in his room. Each kept getting up to check on his partner.

Over the next several hours, every time she entered the room to do her duties, the one called Roy hadn't moved from his position next to the unconscious man. He had taken over sponging off the fevered face and neck, always talking soothingly as he did. Once, Gretchen stood in the doorway just watching them, frowning. It was clear that this blue eyed man cared deeply for the one called Johnny. Where had he been before when Johnny was here? She reviewed his words, 'So he'll know I didn't leave him' and she thought about the paramedic team Hilda had talked about. The more she thought about it, the more she suspected this was that same team. She decided she'd talk to Dix; she was sure that one would have all the proper skinny.

A check of her watch revealed it was once more time for a vitals check and a possible swap out of his IV fluids. Roy looked up when she came into the room, giving her a hesitant smile. She nodded to him, checked the IV solution bag and quickly switched it out. Next she pulled out a thermometer and after placing it carefully under the dark haired man's tongue, she held his slack mouth shut. While she did that, she counted respirations. After three minutes, she pulled it out and read the thermometer. Roy leaned forward expectantly. She looked up and shook her head, seeing him sink back into his seat, giving a heavy sigh. "Still 103.8." There was no disguising the worry on the other man's face and she felt sorry for him. "Give it time, Mr. DeSoto. He's only been on these antibiotics for a few hours."

"I know. I'm . . I'm just worried. He's been too sick, running a fever too long." Roy smoothed the dark hair from his friend's closed eyes. Gretchen recorded the findings and pulled loose the BP cuff from it's holder. As she started to wrap it around Johnny's left arm, Roy said, "I think the sedation is wearing off. There's been more eye movement."

As if hearing him, Johnny gave a low moan and Roy immediately placed his hand in the middle of Johnny's chest. "Easy Johnny. Easy. You're out of surgery. Easy partner."

Under his hand, Roy felt the muscles tighten and knew what was coming next. Wide-eyed, he grabbed his friend's opposite shoulder as he told the nurse, "He's going to vomit!"

Immediately, Gretchen dropped the BP cuff, grabbed the emesis basin and ran around the bed to Roy's side as she helped roll her patient. "That's right liebchen, you're a ralpher. Careful of that arm!" She cautioned as Roy braced Johnny and she held the basin under his chin. Johnny's eyes fluttered as he moaned again then the contractions started and he began to dry heave. Since he was empty, only saliva dripped into the basin but they kept him turned so he didn't choke anyway. In between the contractions, Johnny made pain-filled whimpering sounds that tore at both caregiver's hearts. Roy used his unbandaged hand to gently smooth Johnny's hair back as he crooned to him. "Easy Johnny, easy. I've got you, partner. Just relax, don't fight. Just relax, that's right."

Finally the contractions stopped and Johnny, panting from the exertions, leaned limply against his friend. Gretchen wiped his face, then they carefully rolled him back. Gretchen checked to be sure nothing had been pulled loose and his hand was still immobilized. Then she looked at the two.

Johnny's brown eyes were barely open but fixed on the man next to him. Roy, likewise was watching him, still wiping off his face as he reassured his friend. She noticed that, even though glassy from the fever and medication, Johnny's eyes were . . . alive. And he had a faint smile on his face.

"I'm going to get his meds, Roy." She told them as she quickly left. Johnny's mouth moved but it was several tries before words formed. "h .. here." He swallowed thickly. "You . . . here"

Roy nodded and smiled gently, "yes, I'm here and I'll stay here, just like I promised." He took an ice chip from the cup on the bedside and fed it to Johnny.

Johnny sighed in appreciation of the coolness but frowned as it disappeared too quickly. He opened his mouth in a silent appeal for more.

With a chuckle, Roy fed him another. "Not too much now or you'll just get sick again."

"Hot," Johnny moaned. He tried to wet his lips with his dry tongue. Even though just a few seconds ago moisture had poured from his mouth, it now felt as dry as a desert.

Gretchen slipped past them and pulled up the IV port, quickly pushing the medication into it. Almost immediately Johnny's eyes rolled. It was clear he was fighting it, trying to say something more but Roy shook his head, his hand smoothing Johnny's bangs back. "Sleep Johnny. There's nothing you need to say right now that you can't say later. Just sleep now."

Johnny faintly shook his head, his mouth still trying to form words even as his eyelids closed and his body relaxed. Gretchen pulled the BP cuff off, having taken a new reading. She wrote briefly in his chart, then turned to Roy. "Roy. Why don't you take a break. Go to the head, get some coffee, stretch your legs. He'll sleep now and I'll stay here for a moment."

He looked at her, his expression clearly hesitant. She put her hands on her hips and gave him a stern look. "I've been taking care of patients long before you were born, child." Then her stance relaxed slightly, "Besides, he's the only patient up here right now. The other two were just sent to regular rooms and there's two more in recovery that will be coming up in about an hour. So now's the perfect time."

Roy looked steadily at the nurse, a smile growing on his face, "ok. Alright." He patted the dark head under his hand and took two steps from the bedside. Then he turned back around and said, "What did you call him before? A ralph?"

She smiled, "A ralpher. He reacts to the anesthesia by vomiting."

He shook his head, "A ralpher. I haven't heard that term since my days as a medic. That's what the Marines say."

She nodded, "That's a Navy term. The Marines just . . .borrowed it."

Now Roy laughed. "Do you, by any chance, know a certain nurse down in ER?"

This time she smirked, "If you mean Miss Dixie McCall, she and I have an . . . understanding."

Rot knew that there was quite a 'friendly' rivalry between the Army and the Navy so he just nodded his head in agreement, the smile on his face wider. Then he looked back into the fever reddened face of his unconscious friend and the humor melted away.

Gretchen's stance relaxed even more, "Go Roy. He's fine right now."

With one last glance, Roy left the room.

His first stop was the latrine, then a phone where he updated Jo on his hand and Johnny. She hung up after assuring him she'd pass the messages on to the others and told him, "I know you won't give Johnny a kiss for me so I'll do it myself when I come up. But please tell him I send my love and will see him soon?"

He'd assured her he would, then hung up. That task completed, he headed down to the cafeteria and some food. Afterwards, he couldn't have told you what he ate, he just picked, paid and ate. Then he sat and sipped a cup of coffee, lost in thought. Those needs taken care of, he checked the time, realized he'd been gone for an hour and headed back up to his partner's room.

The sight that greeted him as he pushed open the door caused him to shove the door open faster as he rushed to Johnny's bedside to assist Gretchen. "Oh Johnny," he commiserated as he once more supported the dark haired man's limp body while his treacherous stomach contracted. Once the episode finished, the two carefully rolled the unconscious paramedic back, Gretchen again repositioning him and checking all his attached hardware while Roy bathed his face.

"Can you stay with him awhile, Roy? This is the third bout he's had and the doctor has yet to answer my page." Gretchen stated darkly.

"You don't even have to ask," Roy commented as he rinsed the cloth and again wiped down his fevered friend. Gretchen gave him a firm nod and marched off. Roy watched her, grinning. "Well, my friend, it looks like you have yet another advocate. I'd hate to be in whatever doc's on duty right now's shoes when she does get ahold of him." He chuckled. "You do seem to have that effect on some of the nurses around here." He laughed. "Too bad it doesn't seem to be the ones you want to date that succumb to the Gage charm."

Through the entire episode, Johnny remained limp and unresponsive but that didn't stop Roy from talking to his friend. Before long Gretchen returned with a syringe in her hand and a smile on her face. She quickly administered the medication, saying, "There now. That should help you liebchen. I finally got ahold of Dix and she found Dr. Brackett."

Roy grinned as he continued to bath his friend's face, upper arms, neck and exposed chest. Gretchen set about taking vitals once again, frowning when she read the thermometer. She shook her head at Roy, whose grin faded, "Still?"

She nodded as she shook the piece of glass, "Down a little, but not much. 103.4" She charted the information, checked him once more than rested a weathered hand on the dark head. "He's hanging in there."

Roy nodded but his eyes stayed sad. She patted him on the shoulder as she left to check her other charges.

And so the day passed. Jo came and relieved him that afternoon, insisting he find some sleep or he wouldn't be any help to Johnny that night. So he did, but his sleep was anything but restful. When he returned that evening, the look on his wife's face was just as sad. He wrapped his arms around her as she buried her face into his chest. "He just lays there. He doesn't move, he doesn't talk."

"The doctor's sedated him honey, remember? So he don't move his hand."

She nodded, "I know." She cast a glance back over her shoulder, "I don't like it Roy. I told you before I didn't like a still quiet Johnny. This . . .this is ten times worse." She gave a bitter laugh, "I keep seeing him lying like that in his dress . . ." Her words broke off in a sob and Roy's arms tightened around her. He knew what she was thinking, he'd seen it too and it made his blood run cold.

"He's alive Jo. We have to focus on that. He's still alive and while he's alive, there is a chance." Roy's voice was firmer than what he felt. He too, kept seeing his friend, not on a hospital bed, but in a polished casket. And the very thought chilled him terribly. But as he'd promised Father Ross he hadn't given up on Johnny, and he had placed the outcome firmly in another set of very capable Hands.

Unknowing her husband's thoughts, Jo yet echoed them, "Whatever happens, he's in God's hands and we . . .we just have to trust that God isn't done with him here with us yet." She whispered as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

She walked back over to the still man, stroking his cheek gently, "Rest Johnny and get better. You hear me young man? You get better."

To her surprise, Johnny's eyes moved under his blued eyelids and his lips parted slightly. His head moved fractionally and her hand on his hot cheek froze. "Roy?"

Roy was beside her, his fingers pressing the pulse point on Johnny's neck. "It must be near time for his next shot. As each starts to wear off, he's been fighting to come too." He laid his hand now on his partner's chest and bent close to his ear, "Stay still Johnny. You're in the hospital. You're alright, but don't move."

Johnny's eyelids fluttered as they tried to open. He had turned his head in their direction, his tongue flicked across his dry lips. Roy took a ice chip from the nearby cup and smoothed it over those chapped lips. Johnny's tongue flicked out, trying to catch the moisture. Roy slipped another piece into his opened mouth and Johnny sighed.

Jo laid her hand on his cheek once more, saying, "We're here Johnny. We're here."

"Time for your next shot, Mr. Gage." A voice interrupted. The nurse quickly cleaned off the port and injected the shot. Almost immediately all movement stopped as Johnny sank once more under the powerful influence of the drug. The nurse smiled brightly at the couple and left.

Jo looked at her husband, feeling somehow disappointed in this and saw the same wistful look in his eyes. "He tries so hard to fight the medication." Roy whispered, then he looked at his wife, "That's why I have to stay here. If he knows for just those few seconds that we're here . . .." He looked back down at his still friend.

Jo laid a gentle hand on her husband's chest. "I understand. And . . . I hope he does know too." Then she kissed her husband, gathered her things and said, "I'll be back tomorrow. Jenny has a playdate with Missy again so I'll come up while they're gone." With one last look at the silent pair, she left.

Roy sat with his partner, grateful that somewhere, somehow, someone had found a more comfortable chair for him. This one was more like the kind you'd find in the maternity ward, for father's visit's with the baby. His back liked the soft cushions better than the hard plastic of the usual ones. He had nodded off to sleep, one hand still on Johnny's upper arm so he could feel any movement, the other clutching the blanket he'd been given.

Another day passed with the same routine. Johnny had now been in SICU for 24 hours. Roy and Jo spelled each other over the day and a few times, the crew from the engine came up between runs, giving their best to the watching couple as well as reassuring pats to the their unconscious shiftmate. Another night found Roy curled, once more, in the chair by his partner's bedside.

And that was how Dixie found him when she opened the door early Wednesday morning. She stood for several silent moments, just watching the two, a slight smile on her face. 'He's still here; Gretchen says he's stayed with him since the surgery. I'm glad. This time Johnny isn't alone.' Her thoughts went back to the heartbreaking conversation she'd had with the younger man just a week ago when he lay in this same SICU after his initial surgery. She was very glad things seemed to have changed in her two friends, and for the better. She thought about the long talk she and her friend Gretchen had had after Johnny had come out of surgery and Gretchen's shift had ended.

The ole WAVES had come down to the ER, caught her getting ready for her break and offered to buy her dinner.

Dixie looked at Gretchen suspiciously, "You're offering me dinner? Alright, Navy, what's up?"

Gretchen grinned, "You're too suspicious, Army. Can't two old friends just share a cup of joe and shoot the breeze."

Dixie eyed her warily, "I suppose two old friends could, but we're talking about you and me here."

Gretchen laughed hardily and hooked her arm through Dixie's. The other woman didn't protest as she was pulled down the hall. "Ok, I concede." The two moved through the line, made and paid for their choices and found a seat. They just chit-chatted as they ate but while she sipped her coffee and Gretchen toyed with her last few bites of cake, Dixie finally broached the subject.

"Alright Gretch, what's on your mind?" Worry made he sit up straighter.

"Johnny. Does it have to do with Johnny? What's the matter with him?"

Gretch held up a hand, "At ease, Army. The child was fine when I left. The sedation the docs have him on is pretty heavy. He came too a bit, poor thing, and ralphed but we got that straightened out, didn't we." She smiled at her friend and Dixie smiled back, remembering the phone call she'd gotten straight from her on duty friend. She'd immediately informed Kel about what was happening, and he had quickly seen to it that the proper medications were prescribed.

Gretchen took a long drink from her coffee then looked Dixie dead in the eye. "I do want the straight scoop though from you. This DeSoto and Johnny. He's the one who caused those beautiful brown eyes to be so dead before, right?"

Dixie nodded, "You could say that. How'd you know?"

Gretchen snorted, "It's my business to know how to best care for any of my charges." She sat forward, her stance serious, " And if this DeSoto is gonna hinder that child's well-being, he's gonna have to go through me first, doctor's permission or not."

Dixie's mouth hardened, "Has Roy done or said anything to Johnny . ."

Gretchen cut her off with a shake of her head, "No. In fact he's been very attentive and concerned." Gretchen smiled at the memory then grinned at Dixie's still battle-ready stance. Softly she told her friend, "Johnny came too, when he vomited. He saw Roy. He spoke to him. And his eyes, Dix, his eyes were alive again. Even in that brief time, even with all the meds in him, I could see it."

Dixie sat back, relieved. Gretchen watched her and gave a nod, "They're the ones Hilda talks about, aren't they."

Dixie nodded. Gretchen made a sound then asked pointedly. "Before. When Johnny first came out of surgery, he wasn't there. What happened?"

Dixie gave a brief synopsis of what had happened. Gretchen listened intently and when the sad tale was finished, she shook her head and sighed, "Well. At least he realized it and now he's got another chance."

Dixie nodded in agreement as both nurses thought about those who never got that second chance. Gretchen sighed again as she gathered her dishes. "Well, I need to get. I'll keep an eye on both of them." She smiled at her friend once more and left.

A soft snore brought Dixie's thought back to the here and now and she pushed full into the room. Her fingers rested on Johnny's slender neck, feeling the heat of his skin and the beat of his pulse. Her hand then moved to brush the damp hair from his forehead.

Dixie glanced back at Roy smiled as Roy looked sleepily up at her. 'He needs a break,' she mused, 'he looks nearly as bad as Johnny.' But she hid her thoughts as she laid a hand on Johnny's arm. "How's our patient?" She asked in a soft but chipper tone.

Roy sighed and scrubbed at his bewhiskered face with a weary hand. "He's . . . he's the same, I guess. Between the doses he acts like he's trying to wake up but can't." He sighed again, his hand dropping into his lap as he stared at his friend. "He's so still, Dixie. It's just not natural to see Johnny so still. Even . . . even when he was in the coma with that virus, he made some movement, but this . . . this . . ." His voice faded off.

Dixie nodded, knowing just what he meant. "Roy, Kel wants to see you down in his office. I'm on my break; I'll stay with Johnny."

Roy's head jerked around toward the nurse, his eyes first wide then narrowing, "Why? What's wrong?"

Dixie shrugged and gave him an innocent look, "I don't know. Why don't you go down and find out then come back and tell me."

Roy searched her eyes but could see no evidence of beguilement in their blue depths. Finally he gave a nod and stood. He leaned over, his hand on Johnny's shoulder as he spoke into his friend's ear. "I'll be right back, Johnny. Dixie's gonna sit with you awhile so behave yourself." He patted the unresponsive man, glanced once more at Dixie then left the room.

Dixie watched him go, sadness now in her eyes, then she turned back to her young friend. She smoothed the hair back from his face again, feeling the heat of his fevered skin. "Oh Johnny," she murmured. "You've got to try harder. Come on; where's some of that stubbornness I know's within you." She stroked his cheek as her eyes teared, "Come on phoenix, fight harder. There's an awful lot of people who are counting on you."

Roy knocked on the office door and waited for the "Come in" before he pushed it open, saying "Doc? Dixie said you wanted to . . . ." He stopped, his heart freezing in his chest as he saw the two doctors inside look up at him. "What's going on?" The words were almost whispered.

Kel Brackett came forward, his hand resting on Roy's arm as he gently tugged his paramedic on into the room and shut the door. "Come in, Roy. Have a seat."

Roy perched on the edge of the seat and looked up, his face blanched, "You . . . you're scaring me here, Doc. What's going on?" He asked again.

Kel looked at him, seeing the dark circles around his eyes from lack of sleep, the gaunt face from lack of good regular meals and frowned. Roy's eyes widened more.

"Mr. DeSoto, I understand you hold Mr. Gage's power of medical attorney." Dr. Bentley began.

Roy felt the room do a slow spin and he grabbed the arms of the chair to stop it, "Now you're really scaring me." he tried to joke with a weak grin. It didn't hold so he nodded, "Yeah. Yeah I do. His . . . his only relative, his aunt . . . she . .. uh …. she travels a lot. Out of the country." He swallowed the huge ball in his throat, "Why?"

"Roy, now, don't worry. We just need to discuss some things with you." Brackett smoothed over. Roy eyed him with suspicion. "Discuss is what we do in the hall outside of Johnny's room." he bit out. "And then I'm Roy and he's Johnny." He looked from one man to the other, "what's with this Mr. DeSoto and Mr. Gage crap." His voice got sharper as he spoke.

The two doctors exchanged another glance and Kel perched on the edge of his desk, crossing his arms, his face twitching-- a position Roy was well familiar with. Roy's heart suddenly started to beat faster. He slumped back in his chair.

"Johnny's worse." He whispered. He saw both nod.

"His vital signs have been steadily dropping, not much but enough that we're getting concerned. He's getting weaker, not better." Brackett confirmed with a curt nod.

Then Bentley spoke up, "We think it's because of the sedation. I had originally ordered that since I was leaving the wound open and exposed in order to monitor it better. And I didn't what any movement in that hand. I admit that in Mr. Ga . . ." his lips twitched at Roy's look and he corrected, "Johnny's case, that might have been a mistake. Keeping him out has caused more problems than any added benefit. By keeping him out, he's isolated and he's failing." He gave a rueful chuckle as he spread his own hands, "It was working in one aspect; the hand was healing better but that won't make any difference if Johnny's overall health fails."

Roy nodded as the expression, 'The operation was a success however the patient died' came to mind. He didn't know he'd said it out loud until he heard both doctors sigh then nod in agreement.

"Roy, even with the tube feeding Johnny is still dropping weight. He can't afford to lose anymore, not as weak as he already is. Also, we're starting to hear some slight congestion in his lungs. You know he can't afford to get pneumonia on top of everything else." Brackett added.

Roy nodded, he'd been reading Johnny's chart when the nurses left it in the room; he'd seen the failing vitals and was worried himself.

He spread his hand in a helpless gesture, "So, what do we do?

"Bring him out of the sedation. Get him to sit up and breath deeper. Maybe because of the sedation or the fever or perhaps a combination of both, Johnny isn't taking deep breaths. Also with the weight loss we need to see if we can get him to eat again. I'm even authorizing you to bring in outside food. I don't care at this point what it is, get him to eat. Get him to talk with you, he's got to fight for himself, Roy, or . . ."

Roy ducked his head, his eyes blinking rapidly "We're losing him." The words were barely whispered. Again the two doctors exchanged looks. "Yes, at this point. But he's not so far gone that he can't turn around. That's why we want to do this." Bentley encouraged.

Roy took a deep breath then gave a firm nod, "Ok. Do it."

Both doctors grinned. "We'll put in the order right away." Bentley said and after clapping Roy once on the back, he left. Brackett, however, restrained his paramedic from leaving. When he turned to face his 'boss' Kel gave him a faint grin. "Go home Roy. Take a shower, eat a good meal, kiss your wife and get some sleep." he patted Roy's back. "You look nearly as bad as your partner." He could feel the muscles tense in the other man's back as he spoke.

Roy immediately began shaking his head, "No. no way Doc. If you're gonna wake Johnny up I have to be there."

"Roy, Johnny won't be waking up for a while yet. We'll begin cutting back on the sedation starting with his next dose but there's no guarantee he'll wake up right away. As weak as he is, he'll probably stay asleep for awhile."

Roy continued shaking his head, "No. Each time it starts to wear off, Johnny's been trying to wake. I know he has; I've seen it. No Doc, I'm staying right here."

Now the twitch was back and Brackett crossed his arms. "Roy I don't want to but you're giving me no choice. Now, if you don't start taking care of yourself, how do you expect to help your partner?" He glared openly at the younger man before continuing, "Therefore I'm putting in a order that you not be allowed back into Johnny's room until tomorrow and if you resist me, I'll not only extend the ban but have you sedated yourself."

Roy's eyes and mouth dropped open in surprise. "You . . . you wouldn't . ..?"

Brackett nodded, his eyes narrowed, "I would. You know I'm right. The only way you can help Johnny is if you're 100 percent yourself." He motioned toward Roy's still casted hand, "And your body won't heal if you don't get the rest and nutrition you need."

Roy looked down, knowing he was right, but hating the thought of Johnny waking up alone. As if reading his thoughts Brackett added. "Johnny won't be alone. Your captain is coming in any time and Dixie has already informed me she's got the night shift." He squeezed Roy's shoulder, his face and voice now gentle, "Go home, Roy. We'll take care of Johnny and you'll be back soon."

As they left the office, Roy looked up and saw his wife coming toward him, a determined look on her face. Roy whirled back toward Brackett his eyes accusing him but the doctor stepped back, hands raised and shook his head. "Not me,"

"Dixie called me." Jo informed him as she wrapped her arm possessively around her husband's waist, "She told me I needed to come get you, feed you and put you to bed—in that order." She reached up and kissed his cheek then tugged at him, "So come on. You can complain to me all the way home."

With a grumble under his breath, Roy allowed his wife to drag him away. And he did complain under his breath and the two did discuss what had transpired in Brackett's office while Roy ate. Afterward, he took a long hot shower, and fell into bed, quickly succumbing to an exhausted sleep.