"Johnny, I'm going to start an IV on you. We don't want you getting dehydrated. Open your mouth, I've got some Tylenol for your fever." Dixie told her patient. Both men were surprised; they hadn't even seen her leave but there she was with an IV setup and medication. Johnny opened his mouth and she plopped the pills in then placed the straw to his lips. He drank, swallowing harshly to get them down. Then he pulled back and laid into his pillows again.

"I've sent a message to Dr. Brackett. He's waiting on your last blood results before he changes your medications." She told him. "He did order a cooling blanket. They're bringing it up now." She patted his arm as he blinked at her. "Don't worry Johnny. We'll get you through this." She stayed with him a few minutes more, monitoring his vitals as Roy continued sponging off his body. Soon the door opened again and an orderly came in with the cooling blanket.

Gently, Dixie stripped the sheet and blanket from Johnny's shivering body. Roy looked up at the nurse, "Head and shoulders first? Or side to side?"

Dixie frowned, "I think head and shoulders first." Roy nodded and, placing his hands carefully on his partner's shoulder's, he lifted Johnny away from the bed. The orderly rolled half of the cooling blanket then placed it behind the ill paramedic as Dixie directed. "Careful of his arms now. Ok Roy, lean him back."

Roy did so, glancing down into his friend's face as he did. He tried a slight smile of reassurance at the brown eyes intently watching him. Johnny blinked slowly as emotions flashed over his face: pleading, fear, weariness. Roy gave a silent nod as he read each of John's requests and answered them in like manner; a promise, reassurance, comfort. Dixie's voice interrupted the silent communication and Roy faced her.

Dixie had seen the visual conversation, recognized most of it and gave both of them a gentle smile as well as a faint nod as she too promised to uphold her part. "Roy, can you lift him yourself or do you need me to help?"

"I can get him," Roy answered as he placed his hands under Johnny's lower back and knees. He bent his knees and looked up at the waiting nurse and orderly as well as his partner, "Ready?" At their nod, he raised Johnny up off the bed. Dixie and the orderly unrolled the blanket and began smoothing it out over the bed. As the orderly worked his side, the blanket caught on something on the corner and stopped. Johnny's body jerked in Roy's arms and he gave a choked off groan, his legs squeezing together in a reflexive action. "Hold it!" Roy called. He carefully placed Johnny back into the bed on top of the mostly unrolled blanket then reached down to the end to pull the cooling blanket loose. As he discovered what it had caught on, he froze, his eyebrows first going up then crashing down in a deep frown. "Uhh, Dix? You might what to look at this."

Dixie looked up from where she'd been pulling the cloth blanket back over Johnny's shivering form while the orderly attached the cooling blanket to its unit and turned it on. She looked over at Roy's serious expression and walked around the bed.

As she bent to see what he was pointing at, Roy continued, "I think I found out what's causing the fever."

Dixie frowned as she saw what he had seen. The edge of the cooling blanket had hung up on part of the tubing of the foley catheter anchored in John. As Roy had released it, his attention caught on the tube filled with amber fluid …and streaks of crimson. Dixie's frown deepened as she now examine the bag. More crimson streaks swirled in the citrine solution. "Damn. We were worried about that."

She turned back to Roy. "Can you finish here? I want to get a sample and let Kel know so we can test it, but . . ." she glanced back at the fever-bright eyes watching them, "I think you are right."

Roy nodded to her as she quickly left. Johnny's gaze never left his partner's face as Roy once more began bathing him. "foley's been in too long." Johnny breathed. Roy gave a nod. "Looks like it. With the pain medication you're on, you woulda never felt it."

Johnny gave a soft groan as he closed his eyes. Dixie returned with a syringe and quickly removed the foley then took her sample. As she straightened up, Dix looked into the weary dark eyes of her patient as Johnny lay there shivering. "I'll be back in to check on you, Johnny. Roy will be here. You'll be alright." She knew that what she was saying was unnecessary but she just felt she had to say something to ease the two worried friends.

Roy had settled into a routine; bathing Johnny's face, neck and chest and occasionally offering him water for his dry throat and mouth, feeding him ice chips. Johnny remained silent, his fever-bright gaze firmly fixed on Roy as the senior paramedic softly soothed his friend.

As she left, Dixie glanced back at the two. Roy- carefully caring for his incapacitated partner, and Johnny- with his attention firmly locked on his friend. With a sad shake of her head, she went back to her other duties.

As the rest of the evening progressed, Dixie checked on Johnny every chance she could. Unfortunately, even with the cooling blanket, the Tylenol and Roy's continuous efforts, Johnny's fever raged ever upward.

It was with great trepidation Dixie greeted her replacement at 10:30. Shelly looked at the older nurse and frowned at the clear worry on her face. "We got one going sour, Dixie?" She asked softly.

Dixie sighed heavily, "God, I hope not." She muttered mournfully. Then pulling herself together, she turned to the other woman. "John Gage has spiked a fever. Last check was fifteen minutes ago and it was 104. He's on Tylenol and we've got him on a cooling blanket. He's getting wiped down but he's still chilling."

Shelly's eyes showed her sympathy. "Oh no. I thought he was doing better." Dixie sighed, "He was. Earlier he ate a good meal and enjoyed ice cream with Roy's family. Now . . ." She spread her hands in a helpless gesture. She suppressed her own emotions and continued as the experienced nurse she was.

"Dr. Brackett ordered tests done earlier this afternoon. He was concerned over the continuing fever and was hoping to find the cause. I imagine as soon as he gets the results, he'll adjust Johnny's medications." She made more notes on the chart in front of her. Then she pulled out the other charts for the current patients on the floor and reviewed their progress with Shelly. After she was done, she looked at the other woman. "I'm surprised to see you here. I thought today was your day off."

Shelly nodded, "It was. At least, it was until Tina called me and told me she'd just gotten back from St. Francis. Seems she went surfing today and broke her arm."

Dixie rolled her eyes at that bit of news. "So, I guess she's off the roster for awhile."

Shelly nodded again as she filled her cup with coffee, "At least until she's not on the pain relievers. I guess Lily will be my LPN?"

Dixie nodded, "Yes. But you only have one NA tonight. Instead of Mitzie Jenkins, there will be a student nurse named . . ." She shuffled through some papers then read, "Ummm, Sybil Davis. She's working rotation and SICU is hers tonight."

Shelly nodded. "OK. Lily and I can handle Johnny;" She smiled softly at the other nurse, "you can leave anytime, Dixie." She tilted her head and gave the older nurse at sideways look, "Unless, perhaps, there's someplace you want to be for awhile." The smile returned as she waved her hand over the desk. "I got things here."

Dixie smiled at her, "Thanks. I ummm," she gave her own sideways glance back at the younger nurse, "I think I'll just check on that stubborn patient in room 3."

Shelly laughed, "Maybe you should. He's a lot of trouble, that one."

Dixie agreed with a chuckle, then her face took on a worried look again, "Maybe," She murmured, "But he grows on you."

Shelly gave her a gentle smile, "Yes. He does." She laid a supportive hand on Dixie's arm, "We'll get him through this. The doctors will know what to do."

Dixie nodded, then remembered, "Oh. Roy DeSoto is still in there with him."

Shelly smiled broadly, "He is? That's great!" Then she rolled her eyes and gave a huge sigh, saying in a put on voice, "I mean, oh. great. I suppose I'll be tripping over him every time I try to do a vitals check." She continued to grumble but her eyes twinkled as she went on, "I bet he's in there, washing Gage down, monitoring his fever, feeding him ice chips, worrying his heart out . . ."

Dixie smiled as she nodded, "As a matter of fact, he is."

Shelly laughed. Before she could say anything else the phone rang. Dixie was closest so she answered it. "SICU. Nurse McCall speaking. Oh. Hello Captain Stanley."

"Hello Ms. McCall. I hope it's not too late. I just wanted to know how John Gage was doing." Came the voice of station 51's A-shifts' captain.

Dixie sighed as she dropped back into her chair. "Not too good tonight, I'm sorry to say."

"Oh?" She could hear the trepidation in the man's voice.

"Yes. Johnny's fever spiked about 9:00 this evening. We've started cooling measures and the doctors have done more tests."

Captain Stanley sighed as he muttered, "What more . . ." Then louder he stated, "I don't imagine that's too good for him. I was going to ask if we could swing by and see him tomorrow once we got off but I guess that's out of the question now."

"I don't know if Dr. Brackett will restrict his visitors or not. I would suggest you call again in the morning and see how Johnny is then." She truthfully told the firefighter. "Roy's with him now." She grinned to herself. "And I doubt anyone will be able to pry him loose from Johnny's side until this fever is back under control."

She could hear the brighter tone in the fire captain's voice. "Roy's there? With him?"

"Yes. He was feeding Johnny ice chips and wiping down Johnny's face last time I saw."

Again came a sigh, but this time it had a happier sound. "So he's back with him. Together they'll get John through this. Alright Ms. McCall, I will take your advice and call again tomorrow. In the mean time . . .."

"I'll leave a note for the night nurse to keep you informed of any changes." She finished for the fire captain. But before the grateful man could reply, tones sounded over the phone. Again she beat him to speaking, "Go. We've got things handled here. And be careful."

A terse "Thanks." And the receiver went dead. Dixie looked up at Shelly who nodded her understanding. "I've got it, Dix. Just leave me the station's number."

Dixie quickly pulled out Johnny's chart and looked in it. She gave a nod and pointed it out to the other nurse. "It's listed right here among contacts. Thanks, Shel."

She stood and drained her cup of the last dredges of cold coffee before placing it back on the desk and headed back into room #3. As she slowly pushed open the door, she listened to the murmured sound of soft voices coming from within.

"I h h h hate th th th thissss, R r r r ooyy." Came Johnny's chattering voice.

"I know, junior." Roy soothed as he wrung out the washcloth and wiped off Johnny's forehead.

Johnny blinked at his friend. "H h how isss it I'mm sssoo hot b b but I f feel l sssooo cold." He grumbled then made a disgusted face. "Aannnd d don't t t tell me it t ts j just th th th the way a b body w w works, I knnnow th th that."

Roy grinned at him, "So, in other words, that was just a Gage grumble and you aren't expecting an answer?" Johnny gave a wan grin and Roy chuckled softly. Johnny shifted his body, trying vainly to stretch out his legs and back. Roy watched the movement sympathetically. "Getting sore?"

Johnny nodded. Roy knew the way Johnny's body was shivering, his muscles would begin to ache from the abnormal use. He placed the cloth into the basin and swung the apparatus holding Johnny's left arm over the bed. "Here," he told the younger man, "let's put you on your side for awhile." He helped Johnny shift carefully onto his side. After Johnny faced the wall—and had his back to Roy—Dixie came forward. She smiled briefly at the surprised paramedic as she began massaging Johnny's shoulders and spasming back. Johnny gave a grunt as she hit one particularly knotted area of his lower back. She worked the muscle out and Johnny gave a sigh of appreciation when it eased. Then she moved lower and Johnny tensed up. "Uhhhh, Roy . . ."

Roy swallowed his smile and tried to keep his voice level. "Yes junior?"

Silence. Then . . . "Uhhh Roy, not th th that I d d d don't appre . . ciate all you've been d d d doing for me, I I I do. R r really, I do."

"Yes?" Roy egged him on, exchanging a smile with the head nurse. She could feel that even though his obvious discomfort showed in his voice, Johnny's overtaxed body was untensing under her skilled hands. Johnny shifted slightly away from her but Dixie didn't let up. She found another knotted area and began work on it. Johnny let out a long sigh and from his angle Roy could see his friend's eyelids drooping. "Roy?" Johnny's voice was a mere whisper now.

"Yes Johnny?"

"Ummmm, I . .. ah. It's just . . . uuuuhhhh,"

Roy ducked his head in silent laughter over the other paramedic's inability to complete his thought. "Uhhhh, Roy, that's nice and all . . ." Johnny paused again as he sighed deeply, "That's rrrrealllly niiiicccee but . . ." Now his voice was starting to slur and Roy began working the muscles across Johnny's upper back while Dixie moved to the backs of his thighs. Roy could see Johnny's eyes were unfocused and nearly closed. Then abruptly they flew open and he jerked. "Roy!" Johnny squeaked as he suddenly realized he felt four hands on him. Roy placed a hand on Johnny's shoulder, leaned over his ill partner's body and spoke softly into Johnny's ear, his other hand still working the knot he'd found over Johnny's right scapula. "Relax junior. It's just Dixie and I. Try and get some sleep. I know you must be exhausted."

Johnny lifted his head, awkwardly looking over his back at the one kneading away the cramps in his legs. He smiled gratefully at Dixie when she looked up. Dixie returned the smile, "Hey handsome. Listen to your partner and relax." She kept her voice low and soothing as her hands worked. Johnny blinked lazily at her then his head settled back on his pillow. Soon Roy whispered, "He's asleep." Dixie nodded as she finished Johnny's legs and smoothed out the blanket across him.

"This the first time he's slept?" She whispered. Roy nodded, "yeah. He hasn't closed his eyes since he woke up after the kids left." Dixie nodded, she had a feeling the ill paramedic had been fighting to stay alert. It was one of the reasons why she'd taken the opportunity to do what she did when Roy had gotten Johnny on his side. She knew that if they had merely suggested it to Johnny, and even if she had ordered him, the younger paramedic would have refused to sleep. This way there was no argument; Johnny's own body had pulled him under.

They both stood there for several moments, just watching him. A crimson blush from the fever stained his cheeks, contrasting with his pale face and dark hair. His breathing was still quick but not the near panting it had been. His body wasn't shaking like it had been either and the hair across the back of his neck looked damp. Dixie reached forward, laying an experienced hand gently against Johnny's cheek. "Hand me that thermometer." She requested. Roy did so, hope in his eyes as she took it and after wiping it down, carefully placed it in Johnny's mouth. "His fever going down?" He asked quietly.

Johnny reacted to the bitter taste of the alcohol by drawing his head back and making a face. Dixie didn't release her hold but her other hand gently stroked the side of his cheek and his forehead as she made gentle 'shhhshing' noises. Johnny quickly settled back down without even opening his eyes. She waited the prescribe time and then pulled it out, turning it in the light to read that thin silver line. Roy leaned over her shoulder, trying to see as well. Dixie smiled up at him as she gave a firm nod then shook it down. "103.2. Finally going in the right direction."

Roy closed his eyes as his shoulders slumped and he whispered a heartfelt, "Thank God."

Dixie added her own silent, 'Amen' then looked at the older paramedic. "Roy, you're near exhaustion yourself. He's asleep now and will hopefully stay that way for a while. Why don't you take a break; go eat something, put your feet up and relax awhile." She knew she should suggest he go home and get a proper meal and rest but also knew that idea would be nixed in a hurry. Roy hesitated, looking at his sleeping partner, then back at the nurse. She smiled gently at him. "I'll stay here with him." She shrugged. "I've got nowhere I need to be and tomorrow is my day off."

She gave the sandy haired paramedic a gentle but firm shove. "Go Roy. Get a break while you can. He may need you later and you can't help him if you're asleep on your feet."

Finally Roy nodded. As much as he hated to leave his friend, he knew Dixie was right. "Ok. But I'll be back soon."

Dixie glared at him. "You will not. You leave here right now, Roy DeSoto, and I don't want to see hide nor hair of you for at least the next hour."

Roy gave her a weak grin. "Yes ma'am." He reached out and laid a hand on Johnny's shoulder, carefully speaking softly into his partner's ear. "You sleep junior. I'm gonna go get a coffee and I'll be back. You just stay asleep."

Johnny's head turned marginally toward his partner at the sound of his voice but his features stayed slack and his eyes stayed closed. Roy gave the sweaty shoulder a pat, relieved that the heat coming from Johnny's body was a lot less than it had been. With a last look at Dixie, he left, closing the door quietly behind him.

Dixie watched him leave, then painstakingly moved the chair around to the opposite side of the bed. This way, Johnny was facing her and she was facing the door. She picked up the basin, replaced the cool water with more tepid and settled back. She began wiping the sweat off Johnny's face, neck and upper chest. He didn't move under her gentle touch. "That's it, my little Phoenix. You just keep sleeping. Rest is the best thing for you right now." She crooned softly.

With a loud crash, the door flew open as the student nurse pushed a cart through. Dixie shot to her feet, startled at the intrusion but not as badly as Johnny. His eyes flew open and his whole body jerked then he gave a groan at the pain the sudden motion caused. The nurse who had caused the ruckus froze at the sight of Dixie's glare. "I'm . . . . I'm sorry." She stammered. "I have the treatment for Mrs. Denton." She looked at the back of the figure in the bed, frowning. Instead of the obese grey haired elderly woman she expected, she saw dark hair cut short and a slender form under the blankets. She gulped as her face paled. "That isn't Mrs. Denton is it." She stated.

"No." Dixie's voice was firm. "Mrs. Denton is in Room 2, this is Room 3."

The girl turned paler. She didn't know who 'Gage, John' was in Room 3 but she knew that only the LPN and the floor nurse were to be responding to any calls from that room. And here was the woman she knew was the head of the ER sitting beside the patient with a basin of water near her and a cloth in her hand. She wasn't sure if she had interrupted a bath or cooling procedure. However, she had seen the patient jump, had heard him groan and there was no denying 'the look' she was receiving from the headnurse. With a rattle and more bumping, she backed the cart up, profusely apologizing all the way.

Dixie continued to glare until the shutting door blocked the errant nurse from sight. Johnny shifted again, pulling Dixie's attention back to her patient. 'Damn' was her first thought, 'He's wide awake.' She glanced at her watch and sighed, 'And he only sleep 15 minutes.' Wide brown eyes looked up at her. "What was that?" He questioned.

"Someone who's going to be very proficient at cleaning bedpans." Dixie growled. The edges of Johnny's lips curled slightly. "New nurse or aid?" He guessed. She nodded, "Student nurse on rotation." She told him. His grin widened a little, "Don't be so hard on her, Dix. We've all been there."

She nodded, instantly taken back to the serious, slightly nervous dark haired young man in a white doctor's coat attending Rampart's first paramedic class. She smiled softly at him, "Close those big brown eyes and go back to sleep, Phoenix."

He sighed as he stared up at the ceiling. "I don't think I can, Dix. I'm wide awake now."

Her shoulders sagged as she knew he was probably right. Johnny's eyes shifted around, searching the room as far as he could. She answered the question in them before he could even voice it. "I sent Roy for some coffee and food."

Johnny nodded, "Good. He was beginning to look about as ragged as I feel." Dixie gave a soft smile, warmed again by his concern of others over himself. Johnny sighed. "I'm getting really tired of all this, Dix." He moaned softly. She echoed his sigh and patted his arm, "I know you are, sweetheart. I know."

She rinsed off the cloth and wiped down his face again. He closed his eyes in appreciation and Dix kept up her ministrations, hoping the soothing sweeps would loll him back to sleep. But his quick respirations never changed so she knew that hadn't happened.

Johnny opened his eyes again shifting his legs in the bed. "Dix? My hip is getting sore . . ." She nodded and helped move him back onto his back. She elevated the head and the feet of his bed until he nodded. "There. Can you try to sleep again, Johnny?"

He sadly shook his head. So she sat down, resuming her wiping. "Don't worry, Phoenix, you know Kel is probably pouring over those test results and will soon order a change in your meds. I'm sure he'll hit the right combination."

"You mean he's still here?" Johnny blinked.

Dix smiled, "He has the graveyard shift but he came in early because it seemed a very stubborn patient was giving him trouble." To her chagrin her gentle teasing caused Johnny to color and duck his head. "I don't mean it."

She rested a hand on his neck, her fingers gently tracing his jaw like she had that small child so long ago. "Oh he knows that, Johnny. And believe me, no one can force Kel to do something he doesn't want to. He's worried about you; we all are." She patted his jaw, "We all want you to get out of that bed and back in your blues where you belong."

His eyes came up to look into hers, "I want that too. But I don't want Doc to wear himself out over me." He shrugged slightly, "I'm just one patient. He has so many, a whole department to take care of."

"And I will take care of them, hose jockey." Came a deep voice from the doorway. Kel Brackett entered the room, his eyes narrowed as he visually examined the figure in the bed. "I am quite capable of handling my duties, Fireman Gage. You," He smiled slightly to soften the deer-in-the-headlights look his downed paramedic was giving him. "You just concentrate on getting out of that bed and on your feet, like the good nurse told you." He read the chart in his hand, then looked at Dixie, "Fever's come down some?"

She nodded. "He's about due for another vitals check." She said as she stood and began doing just that. Johnny laid complacently as she checked his pulse, BP, respirations and temp, noting as she did it had increased 2 tenths of a degree, then reported the numbers to the doctor. Kel placed the stethoscope to his ears and listened to Johnny's lungs, having him move so he could listen front, back and sides. "Well," he said as he placed the stethoscope back into his pocket, "Your lungs still sound clear."

"That's good." Johnny acknowledged but he was still down over the low vital signs he'd heard.

"Johnny, just give it time. The infection is in your bladder like we suspected. I'm starting you on a new cocktail of antibiotics that I think will knock that right out. Then Dr. Bentley wants to see you sometime tomorrow to check your hands and probably remove the stitches. He might even be rebandaging your left hand."

That good news perked him up, "You mean I might finally be getting out of this torture device?" He pointed his chin to his trapped limbs. Kel nodded.

Johnny grinned widely, "You hear that partner? I might get freed tomorrow!" Kel and Dixie exchanged bewildered looks; neither seeing Roy in the room. But a voice just beyond the door startled them by replying, "I heard, junior. That's great news."

Roy walked into the room giving his friend a smile before he turned and shrugged at Dixie. "I, ummm, had some coffee and a Danish then came back up here in time to see Doc coming in here."

Kel looked at Dix, his brows raised, "How did he know . . .?" Dix shrugged. But truthfully, she wasn't surprised the bedridden man had sensed his partner nearby. Kel shrugged back and turned as Lily came in the door. She paused looking over the scene in front of her. 'Well, not only the head nurse but the HEAD of the ER is here. Interesting.' She lifted the IV bags she had, "I have the new medications you ordered doctor." At his nod, she quickly attached it and checked to make sure it was flowing well, then left.

Kel put his hands in his pocket as he cleared his throat, "Well, I'd better get back downstairs. We're shorthanded tonight but I'll be back up later to check on you."

Johnny ducked his head as he mumbled, "You don't have to."

Kel nodded, "You're right; I don't have to. I know the nurses are more than capable of caring for you, as is your partner here." He nodded to Roy, then surprised his younger paramedic by laying a hand on his shoulder and patting him, "But. I want to, Johnny."

Johnny looked up and his mouth stretched into a genuine smile but before any more could be said the PA blared, "Dr. Bracket to Treatment room 3 STAT. Dr. Bracket, Treatment Room 3 STAT."

He turned to hurry off when Dix called, "Wait Kel. Could you use a hand?"

"If you're volunteering, yes." Then he was gone.

Dixie dropped a kiss on Johnny's cheek noting fleetingly that it felt warmer, "I'll see you later, sweetheart." She caught Roy's eyes, glanced first at the thermometer then back at Johnny. She saw the acknowledgment in his blue eyes as he nodded with a sigh then she, too, left. Johnny shifted uncomfortably, stifling a faint groan.

Roy rinsed the cloth and swiped it down Johnny's face, feeling the rising heat."I think you're just about due for some more Tylenol, junior."

"You are absolutely right," Shelly said as she advanced on the bed, a paper med cup in her hand. "And I have them right here, Johnny." She poured water into his cup, gave him a drink to wet his mouth then waited for him to open his mouth again before she plopped the pills inside. She gave him the straw once more, letting him drink his fill. She smiled at him as she fluffed his pillows. "Do you need anything else, Johnny?"

"A pass outta here?" He looked hopefully at her as she chuckled. "I wish I could get you that but not yet. Maybe soon." She smiled a little sadly at Roy and left.

Johnny sighed, and sat back. Roy had just opened his mouth to say something when he watched his partner's eyes suddenly fill with tears. "I just told Chris and Jen . . . I was doing fine, that I'd soon be outta here."

"And you will, Johnny. This is just a slight step back." Roy insisted. He laid a hand on the younger man's arm.

Johnny shook his head sadly. "Seems my whole life is . . . a series of slight steps back, Roy." He lamented.

Roy frowned, knowing how true that seemed. He, too, had often wondered why it appeared that if it could happen, it did happen to his friend. He said a silent prayer and patted Johnny's arm. He knew at this point there wasn't really much he could say, except, "I'm here for you, partner. I'm not giving up on you so don't you dare give up either."

Johnny gave Roy a weak smile and a faint nod. Roy gave him a firm nod back. "I'm gonna go change out this water then I'll be right back." He picked up the bowl and disappeared into the bathroom, dumping the used water down the sink. Then he placed it under the faucet and turned it on. As it slowly filled he looked up and caught sight of himself in the mirror. The sunken eyes outlined in dark circles in a pale face staring back surprised him. He touched his cheek, watching as the image did the same as if making sure it was really him. "I look about as bad as Johnny," He murmured. No wonder Dixie had insisted he leave for awhile. He knew he needed a few good night's sleep and a couple full meals but was loathe to leave his friend after just returning to his side.

The basin overflowed into the sink, bringing his attention back to the present. He poured off some water until he was sure he could carry it without sloshing. He grabbed a fresh washcloth and returned to Johnny's side.

"Roy?" Johnny turned his head from side to side and swallowed harshly.

"I'm right here, Johnny." Roy soothed his friend as he rinsed the new cloth. He rewet the old cloth, folded it and placed it on Johnny's forehead. Then he took the new cloth and wiped down his fevered friend's face once more.

Johnny's head continued to turn as his gaze swept the room. "Hot. It's hot." He murmured.

"I know you are." Roy agreed as he wiped the sweat trickling down Johnny's neck.

"What . . .? Why . . .?" Johnny stuttered, his gaze never resting in one place long as he panted. His face twisted up in confusion. "Why are we . . . in a fire . . . without gear?"

Roy sighed, he knew with his fever so high it was only a matter of time before the younger man would begin to hallucinate. "We're not in a fire, Johnny."

Brown eyes settled on his partner. "We're not?"

Roy smiled gently. "No, Johnny. We're not. We're at Rampart."

Johnny's gaze swept around the room again. "Rampart?"

"Yes, Johnny. Rampart."

"Why . . . we here? There a . . . fire here?"

Roy sighed, "No Johnny. There's no fire." 'Except the one burning inside you' he thought to himself.

Johnny frowned, trying to make sense of what his muzzy senses were telling him coupled with Roy's words. He tried to move and his eyes widened as he pulled at his arms. "Uhhhh," He arched his back, trying to pull himself free of whatever had him trapped. He kicked his legs; they at least responded. He pushed himself harder and was surprised when Roy reached over him, bracing him flat. "Hey. Hey. Hey. Just what do you think you're doing?" He smiled gently down at the confused brown eyes looking up at him. "Where do you think you're going, junior?"

"Roy?" Johnny panted, twisting his head back and forth, trying again to fight against what he felt restraining him. "Out . . .gotta get out. Fire." He arched his back again, kicking his legs and jerking at his arms. Roy tried to keep him safely pinned but he could feel the muscles straining in the too warm body beneath him, heard a joint pop loudly and winced at the thought his partner was hurting himself. "Johnny, Johnny, calm down. Stop, stop. You're only going to hurt yourself."

Johnny looked up at him as if just noticing he was there, "Roy?"

Roy smiled at him, "Yes Johnny. I'm here. I'm not going to leave you."

That was apparently the wrong thing to say. Immediately Johnny begin fighting again but two weeks of illness had taken their toll and his strength quickly drained away. He lay exhausted, panting heavily as he looked up into the worried blue eyes above him. "Roy, I'm trapped."

Roy shook his head, "No Johnny, you're not trapped. You've been hurt and they had to strap . . ."

"I'm trapped, Roy." Johnny interrupted and Roy could see Johnny's chest muscles and upper arm muscles straining. "Fire. Gonna burn."

Tears came to Roy's eyes at that, knowing that was most firefighter's greatest nightmare. He shook his head as he smoothed the sweat-soaked hair from his friend's face. "No Johnny. There's no fire. You aren't going to burn. You're in the hosp . . ."

"Get out Roy." Johnny arched his back again, his head tipping backward as he

strained to pull himself free. He collapsed, panting in exhaustion. "Leave me Roy." His eyes searched the area again then returned to Roy's face. "You . . .get out. Leave me." Roy had a strong suspicion that the liquid now dripping from Johnny's face wasn't only sweat. He could see tears swimming in the brown eyes. He shook his head, his hands gently cupping both sides of Johnny's face. "Oh Johnny. There's no fire. You're safe. You're in Rampart. You're running a fever." He wiped the sweat from Johnny's face with the cooled cloth.

"No fire?" Johnny panted as his eyes once more searched the room.

Roy shook his head, rinsed the cloth and wiped it across his friend's neck and upper chest. "That's right Johnny." He soothed, "There's no fire."

"No fire." Johnny murmured, his eyes blinking slowly as he finally began to relax. He swallowed thickly and Roy placed the straw to his lips. He drank, closing his eyes in pleasure as the cool liquid ran down his parched throat. Then he pulled back and blinked up at Roy. "Am I sick again?"

Roy gave a faint grin, "Yes junior. You're sick again."

"Oh." Johnny seemed to be thinking that over. Roy bathed his face again and with a sigh, the younger medic closed his eyes.

"That's right junior." Roy encouraged, "Why don't you get some rest."

"I'm tired Roy," he mumbled, "Really tired."

"I know you are, Johnny." Roy softly told him as he cleaned off the thermometer and placed it under his tongue. Johnny kept his eyes closed until he felt Roy remove it.

As Roy rolled the glass tube to see the red line within, Johnny asked, "How high?"

Roy frowned, "Not too bad."

Johnny's brows came down in a scowl, "How high?" he asked again. Roy sighed, "104.2"

Now it was Johnny's turn to sigh. Roy continued bathing his friend and Johnny remained silent, blinking with glazed eyes up at the ceiling. They remained like that for a long time then Johnny perked up, staring intently at a corner of the room with such avid interest Roy found himself scrutinizing the same corner. He could make out nothing but shadows caused by the streetlights shining in from the window.

However, Johnny had raised his head, his gaze intent as he tracked something coming toward him. Soon he stared just past Roy's left shoulder.

"Ate?(aahtay) Is . . .is that you?" Johnny questioned in Dahkota.

The figure smiled gently. "Yes, Chaska. It's me."

Johnny took a gasping breath as he blinked slowly. "Have . .. have you come to . . .. Is it my time?" One tear broke loose and rolled slowly down his cheek into his sweat damp hair.

Roy's eyes widened as suddenly Johnny's eyes focused on something just to the left of his shoulder. A quick glance beside him revealed nothing and as Roy faced the younger man again, Johnny spoke. But his words were broken up and in Dakhota. His expression, however, was first awestruck then very sad. "Johnny?" Roy questioned as he watched his friend slowly blink and a tear break free from his lashes to travel across his face.

Joe Gage moved closer, laying a hand on Johnny's fevered brow. "I've always been here, Chaska. You've never been separated from me. You know that."

Johnny gave a nod, he did know that. He could often feel his father's and his grandfather's presence near him. "I'm afraid to die." He admitted.

Hearing the word "kte" and knowing what it meant Roy became more panicked. "Johnny, look at me. Johnny! You're not dying!" Fearing Johnny was having another hallucination, one in which he was talking to his dead father, Roy tried to break him out of it as he had before. But unlike before, Johnny was looking both at him and at whomever only he could see, his expressions lucid and his eyes focused.

Joe smiled indulgently at his grown son. "Who said anything about dying, Tanagila?" he chided.

Joe looked at Roy who sat next to Johnny's bed, his focus firmly on his friend's face. "Your friend seems very anxious."

Johnny gave a faint smile, "That's Roy, my partner. He worries."

Joe Gage smiled at that. "And I'm sure you give him much cause for worry, Tokalu Chikala." He used Johnny's given tribe name instead of the more familiar family nickname of Tanagila.

Johnny gave a bashful smile. He glanced at his friend. "Yes." He admitted. "I try not to make him worry but. . .."

"But you can't stop being you," Joe laughed. He nodded toward Roy. "Then he is a good friend."

Johnny nodded again. "Roy is a very good friend." He frowned as he recalled their recent history.

Joe tapped his finger on Johnny's forehead and Johnny focused on him again, "All make mistakes; a good man learns from them." He looked at Roy again, "A good friend admits it and tries to make amends." Johnny gave a faint grin at that.

Roy was getting more worried. There was something about Johnny's current actions that made the hairs raise on the back of his neck. When he saw Johnny turn and smile to him then look back at whatever only he could see and mentioned his name, Roy felt a chill race down his back. On some primal scale, this really frightened him. Then he heard Johnny say "Roy le mita koda." He leaned closer, "Yes, Johnny, I am your friend."

Johnny looked him in the eye and grinned slightly, then turned his gaze back over Roy's shoulder. "I'm tired, father." Johnny whispered.

"I know you are, Chaska. But your fight isn't finished yet."

Roy heard Johnny say "Watuka, Ate," and knew what Johnny was saying. The chill spread throughout his body as he feared whatever or whoever Johnny was talking to was encouraging his friend's spirit away. Desperate, he grabbed ahold of his friend's upper arms and shook him as he begged, "No, Johnny. Don't listen to him. You can't go. Johnny, don't!"

"I want to sleep." Johnny moaned. Joe smoothed the hair on his son's forehead. "You can sleep now, Chaska. Go ahead. Sleep. It'll be alright now." As he watched his son's body relax, he leaned over and kissed his forehead, saying, "Toksha ake wacinyuanktin ktelo - I shall see you again."

Roy watched as Johnny's eyes blinked twice, lost focus, then slid shut and remained that way. His face went slack and his respirations eased off.

Terrified, Roy leapt to his feet, his hands still on Johnny's arms as he shook him a little harder. "Johnny! Johnny!" But Johnny was totally unresponsive. Roy placed a trembling hand to Johnny's throat, counting the slowing pulse now there. "Johnny, Johnny open your eyes." Roy demanded. No response. Roy twisted a small piece of flesh on Johnny's upper inner arm. Johnny's brows twitched slightly but nothing else. Now totally panicked, Roy grabbed the call button with one hand and pushed it repeatedly even as he continued to shake the ill man. "Johnny, open your eyes! Dammit you can't give in now! Don't give up now! Johnny!" Lily came to the door, saw and heard his obvious panic and rushed forward.

Roy turned to her, "He . . he was talking and he just stopped. He's not responding to anything now." He told her.

She did a vitals check and frowned. "I'm notifying the doctor." And she left. Roy sank back into the chair, his grip still firm on his friend's arm as if by just his grasp, he could anchor the younger man to him. "Johnny, don't leave," he whispered, "Fight, you have to fight. You can beat this. You've already come so far. Don't give in now."

It felt to Roy like he'd sat there forever beside his now still friend. Then suddenly the door burst open and there was a flurry of activity. Kel Brackett came in first and went straight to Johnny's side. "What was his latest temp?" He barked as he flicked a light into the unconscious man's eyes.

"104.8" came the answer.

Brackett's face twitched. He leaned over into his patient's face. "Johnny! John Gage! Open your eyes." As before, no response. He pinched Johnny's ear and Johnny shifted his head slightly away but nothing more. Brackett's frown deepened. He pulled the little rubber hammer from his pocket and flipped back the sheet covering Johnny. He tested both knees and feet. A dark scowl now marked his handsome features. He looked up and pinned the waiting nurse with his glare. "Start alcohol baths now. We need to get that temp lowered."

The nurse nodded, "Yes doctor." And then hurried out of the room to get the needed items.

"Doc, some of his wounds. They're still open." Roy started. Brackett's head jerked around and he focused on him as if just noticing him there. He motioned to Roy and stepped slightly away from the bed. Roy followed, his every move sluggish showing both his fatigue and his worry.

"I think he's healed enough that the alcohol shouldn't affect them." He gave a rueful look at his vertical paramedic. "Besides a little alcohol in an open wound just might get his attention." Then his face became serious once more. "We have to get that fever down. You know that, Roy."

Roy's shoulders slumped as he nodded and sighed.

"You know we found the infection, Roy." His mouth twitched, "You were right. It's in his bladder. That damn foley." He shook his head. "He's been on the new cocktail of antibiotics now about four hours so it should be pretty well through his system. The good news is his hands look much better."

Roy gave a faint nod. "And the bad news."

Brackett sighed as he ran a hand down the back of his neck. "The bad news is this damn fever. He was weak already from the other infection. I don't have to tell you what that is doing to him or could do to him."

Roy nodded as he closed his eyes. "So. He's comatose?"

Brackett reluctantly nodded, "For now. We'll keep up with the antibiotics and the cooling measures. This latest could just be his body's way of coping with all that has happened to it." He put his hand on his paramedic's shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze. "Don't give up on him, Roy. I sure haven't. "

Roy looked up, his blue eyes ablaze, "Never Doc."

"That's the spirit," Kel smiled. Brackett looked at the young man lying on the bed. "You just have to make things difficult, don't you." He muttered. "But if this is a contest on who's more stubborn, I accept." He gave a predatory grin, "You'll find I don't give up easily, my friend."

Roy watched as the nurse returned with another basin and cloths and began wiping his friend down with the alcohol. He wanted to move back over to his friend, wanted to take over from the nurse but his feet refused to move. His mind felt bleary and his head hurt.

Brackett was watching him closely, one arm on the man swaying slightly on his feet. He could feel too much heat coming from the arm he grasped. "Roy? Are you all right?"

Roy swallowed harshly as his stomach rolled unexpectedly. "Yeah. Yeah. Johnny . . ."

Brackett's face hardened as he motioned at Lily who had just come in the door. "Get me a wheelchair and some vitals." She nodded and swiftly left to comply.

Roy felt himself being moved further away from his friend. "No, no, I promised. I hafta stay with him." He protested.

"BP 106/68 pulse 120, respirations 16."

He blinked as he heard the sound of vitals and turned his attention back to Brackett. His eyes widened in surprise as he realized he was sitting in a wheelchair and Lily was kneeling before him, removing a BP cuff from his arm. She smiled at him and placed a thermometer into his mouth. He allowed her to do so, still too unsteady to really protest.

"Temp is 102, Doctor."

Roy blinked at Brackett who frowned at him. "I think you just earned yourself an IV and a bed, hose jockey." He told the seated man as he crossed his arms.

"But Johnny! I promised him I wouldn't leave!" Roy exclaimed.

Brackett's brows nearly crossed, "What is it with you hose jockeys thinking you're supermen!" He muttered then sighed, "Look Roy. This could just be a simple case of exhaustion. I know you've not been eating or sleeping like you should since Johnny came back here. Or …"

Roy felt the blood drain from his face as he echoed, "Or?"

"Or you could be coming down with that bug that's been going around. And if that's the case, do you really want to stay near John?"

Roy shook his head, knowing that yet another complication might be more than his partner's badly taxed body could handle. "Ok doc." He sighed as his gaze went back to his unconscious friend. Brackett patted him on the shoulder, then looked up at Lily. "See about getting him admitted and that IV started." He looked back down at the slumped figure in the wheelchair. When he patted his shoulder, Roy turned his head to look up at him. "After that's done, Roy, and you've had some sleep, we'll see."

Brackett left and Lily did as ordered. She even escorted Roy down to the next floor and saw him placed into a bed. "I should call Jo." Roy muttered, then winced as the IV needle pierced his skin.

"It's only 4:30 in the morning, Roy. Tell you what, I'll call her before I get off, OK?" Lily smiled at him. He smiled back then quickly switched to a frown and opened his mouth. But before he could say anything, she added, "And I promise to keep you informed on Johnny as well." She patted his arm as he took and swallowed the Tylenol the nurse handed him then settled back with a heavy sigh. Soon his room was empty and he was alone, thinking on all that had happened this evening. Tears came to his eyes as he thought about Johnny. "Please partner, don't leave. You promised my kids you'd get better. You promised Chris you'd take him camping again. You've never broken a promise to him before. Please, please God, don't let him break this one."

Morning's light was chasing the darkness away when a figure snuck up into SICU. It paused in the stairwell and listened as the nurse on duty briefed her just arriving replacement. "And on a sad note, John Gage took a downturn last night. His fever has been spiking and he's currently comatose. We've been giving him alcohol baths and his fever has come down some. He was started on new antibiotics last shift but so far . . ."

The older nurse sighed as she read over the chart. "Roy still with him, Shelly?" The younger nurse shook her head. "Dr. Brackett had him admitted early this morning. He's running an elevated temp as well. Could be exhaustion, could be that virus. Brackett has him scheduled for some tests this morning to find out." She smiled as she added, "Lily promised him we'd keep him informed on Johnny, Gretchen."

The older nurse nodded and picked up the next chart.

The listening figure pulled slightly back; the news heard was disturbing. John Gage was in a coma? 'But when I talked to his friend last night he said he was doing better.' She told herself. Now she was more desperate than ever to see him. When the two nurses moved into the side room were the drug cabinet was kept, she quickly crossed the area near the nurse's desk and slid silently into room #3.

There on the bed she could see a dark haired motionless figure. She moved forward, her eyes on that slack face. "Oh Johnny. My Johnny." She murmured. She sat slowly down in the chair at his bedside, her hand going up to smooth his sweat stiff hair. As she stroked his face, she began softly singing a tune. "Schlef, schlaf, schlaf, Mein liabes Kindlein, schlaf! Die Engel tuan scho musizieren Bei dem Kindlein jubilieren,"

She stared in Johnny's face as she sang, worried over the lack of reaction in his immobile form. Tears filled her eyes as she stroked his face. 'He's never this still; he's always moving. Even asleep he moves. That's why Joe's mother nicknamed him Tanagila—hummingbird.' Suddenly she paused, her back stiffening as she pulled slightly away from Johnny. She looked around the room aware that it felt like shadows were gathering together. She turned in the chair, focusing on a grouping of shadows near the window. "I knew you'd be here, Joseph."

An acknowledgement, then indignation.

She bristled. "I have a right to be here just as much as you do. I love him; I never stopped loving him."

A feeling of reproach hit her.

Her lips drew into a thin line, "I didn't leave him on purpose; it wasn't my fault I left." She shifted her shoulders, "Besides, I heard that he did well enough for himself. He had you, and your father and that whole 'tribe'" she said the word with distain, "helping you."

Guilt, sadness, a flash of anger.

She stopped. "What happened to him? Joe, I thought he was taken care of!" Now she began feeling alarmed. "I didn't know what happened until . . ." The strange conversation ended as voices neared the room from the hall. Her minds teeming with unsettling questions, she leaned over the limp figure and kissed his cheek and his forehead. She laid a hand on his chest, feeling the beating of his heart under her hand. "Get well, cinks." She looked around, "And you, I know you both are here; protect him." Then she was gone.