It was like he was moving through a fog, trying to find a path that would lead him to his friends. He could hear them but couldn't determine what they were saying or where they were. He finally came to the conclusion that he would have to force his eyes to open. As hard as that task seemed he was resolute in achieving it so he drew all his strength to opening his eyes.
Roy stood next to his partner's bed and talked softly to him encouraging him to wake up and open his eyes. He saw Johnny's eyes move under his tightly closed eyelids and offered more words of encouragement. Finally his efforts were rewarded when two brown eyes opened and remained opened rather than drooping closed like previous times.
"Hey there Johnny...it's good to see you with your eyes open Junior." Roy smiled at his partner hoping that his voice didn't give away how worried he was.
Johnny looked up at his smiling partner and tried to understand what he was saying. His mind was still foggy and the words seemed muffled and echoed in his ears. He looked past Roy expecting to see Ellen since he remembered hearing her earlier whispering in his ear; at least he thought he heard her.
"Roy?" Johnny croaked out. The effort it took to say his partners name was enormous. Johnny's lips felt dry and his tongue felt swollen. He tried to swallow but his mouth was so dry it hurt. A whimper escaped his mouth as the action of swallowing when completed sent sharp pains down his neck. Johnny tried to look around for Ellen by moving his eyes but his limited vision stopped him from seeing more than a little past his partner.
Roy lent in and completely blocked his partner's vision. "Johnny you've been unconscious for some time. You have a fractured skull. That's why your head hurts so much. Stay still and quiet and you'll be ok. I promise Junior." All the time Roy spoke to his partner he prayed that he didn't ask for Ellen.
Roy stepped aside and Dixie lent in. "How are you doing Johnny? Are you in pain?" She saw Johnny's eyes fill with tears as she spoke. Not wanting to upset him she grabbed Roy and pulled him into Johnny's line of vision.
As soon as Dixie spoke Johnny realised that she was the voice he had heard earlier, not Ellen's. His eyes started burning and he felt the tears start to form. He had no strength to stop them from falling. He wanted to ask for Ellen but only his lips moved. Speaking became impossible as his mouth felt like it was stuck closed; his tongue not allowing any movement.
"Hey what's this? It's alright Johnny...You're going to be ok...It's just going to take a while before you can talk but I'll be here for you Johnny and so will Dixie...Mike and Barbara and the rest of the guys. You just take it slow and easy...everything is going to be alright." Roy could see the pleading in Johnny's eyes but he tried to smile and look happy whereas inside he was crying for his partner. Johnny wanted Ellen and he couldn't tell him that Ellen was missing. "Just rest Johnny."
Dr Brackett stepped forward and smiled at Johnny. He checked the bandages and flashed his pen light into Johnny's eyes. Ignoring the tears that were rolling down Johnny's cheeks, "Johnny blink twice if you are in pain?"
Johnny heard Dr Brackett speak but couldn't understand why he wanted him to blink. He looked at him and moved his eyes to the side trying to see past him. 'Ellen?' he said in his mind. Dr Brackett watched him closely waiting for some kind of reaction.
"Johnny blink twice if you understand me?" Dr Brackett asked him.
Johnny couldn't understand why Dr Brackett wanted him to blink. Whatever else he was saying was too muffled for him to work out. He stared at him with watery eyes.
"Johnny blink twice." Dr Brackett gave the simpler command. Johnny still didn't respond.
Dr Brackett blinked his eyes twice deliberately. He repeated it and waited for Johnny to respond. Johnny slowly blinked his eyes twice and looked back at him.
Dr Brackett smiled at Johnny and kept a calm face. "Sleep Johnny." He patted Johnny's shoulder and watched him close his eyes and drift off. When he straightened up and turned around Roy looked at the Doctor anxiously.
"I'm not sure but I think he can't quite hear us. Sometimes with a brain injury the messages that tell us what we are hearing get mixed up. We just have to wait and hope that with time it clears up...but Roy we also have to be prepared...Johnny might not fully recover from this injury."
Roy walked back to his car in a daze. Mike was walking with him watching him and guiding him. They were all stunned with the news that Johnny may never be the same. They stopped at Roy's car. Roy turned and with glazed eyes he said, "How could this happen to Johnny?...He's never hurt anyone...Oh God Mike...What if Ellen's dead?" Roy wept on Mikes shoulder. Mike himself found it hard not to cry but he remained strong for his friend.
"I don't know Roy but we'll get through this and we'll get Johnny through this somehow." His words sounded hollow to him but it was all he could offer. He couldn't understand why this had happened to one of the kindest souls he had met. Johnny was always someone who helped out and even though he could be annoying sometimes, he was also a very forgiving and gentle person.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cry like a baby." Roy looked embarrassingly at Mike.
Mike smiled at his friend. "I hope you feel better. I think that's been building up for some time and don't worry. This shoulder has been cried on pretty much every night by my wife." Mike told his friend sadly.
"Oh Barbara must be distraught. Johnny told me that Ellen was her best friend." Roy said despairingly.
"Yes, they've known each other for many years." Mike sighed and shook his head. "This wasn't just some random act...It was deliberate Roy...But why? I keep asking myself, why?"
"Me too." Roy bowed his head and sighed also as he leaned on his car.
"I better get going. Barbara is waiting for me in the car." Mike shook Roy's hand and left.
Roy got into his car slowly and sat staring at nothing in particular. He saw Johnny's pleading eyes and felt his own eyes burning again. He blinked rapidly and wiped his sleeve over his eyes. 'No more tears. I have to be strong for Johnny.' Roy told himself and started up his car and drove home.
After spending the day with Chet, Alana stormed into her house and called out her brother's names. They approached her cautiously knowing that her temper could make her do anything and she could hit hard.
"You hit him so hard that he's never going to be the same. Never be able to put on that uniform. Never be able to make love to me!" Alana yelled at her brothers.
"Can't you just find someone else?" Peter asked lamely.
"I wanted him!" Alana exclaimed. A knock on the door startled her. "Hide! Quickly!" Alana turned on the TV and put it on the crime channel. There was another knock on the door.
She walked over to the door and took a deep calming breath. She opened the door cautiously and was surprised to see Lt Crockett and another detective standing on the other side of the door. Scuffles could be heard coming from the back and soon two uniformed police officers led her brothers into the living room. Alana tried to look puzzled but Lt Crockett just smiled at the lady while the other detective read her her rights.
Johnny opened his eyes and felt surprisingly a little better. The last couple of times that he had woken found him able to understand the nurses and doctors. He could talk but very slowly. He tired quickly but each time he was able to swallow water and broth. His mouth was no longer dry, his ears, although still feeling strange didn't seem to echo. He looked into the eyes of his partner. Roy smiled at him but Johnny could see that the smile didn't reach his eyes.
"Hey there partner. Have a nice nap? You look better." Roy moved and Dixie leant over and smiled at him.
"I'm just going to take your vitals." Johnny was able to move his head slightly, the pain was tolerable. Dr Brackett and Lt Crockett were standing next to Roy. Everyone had smiles but they were false. Johnny's stomach was knotting and he felt his heart rate increase. Something was very wrong with this whole scene and he started to panic.
Roy stepped forward. "Calm down Johnny or we'll have to leave." Roy was secretly hoping that Johnny didn't calm down so that this meeting could be delayed.
Johnny's breathing slowed along with his heart rate. Dr Brackett nodded to Lt Crockett. He stepped forward and smiled sorrowfully. "Johnny I'm very sorry but I'm here to inform you that Ellen is dead. She was also attacked but unfortunately died from her injuries."
Johnny looked at the Lieutenant, not believing what he was saying. "No...no...no." Johnny's breathing increased and he looked desperately around the room for Ellen. His eyes locked onto Roys and instantly he knew it was true. "Ellen!" Johnny squeezed his eyes shut but the tears flowed and deep guttural sounds escaped his lips. The room suddenly shrunk and he felt like the walls were squeezing the life out of his body.
Johnny's arm reached out and Roy took hold of it and he held on to Johnny's hand till the administered diazepam took effect. Soon Johnny was blinking and eventually closed his eyes dreaming of the beautiful face of Ellen smiling at him. She blew him a kiss and said, "I love you Johnny Gage." Ellen, as if floating, backed away from him and disappeared.
"Ellen!" Johnny cried out and reached for her but she was gone. He felt a hand grab hold of his and opened his eyes. Dixie was holding his hand. She wiped the tears from his face gently. Johnny stared at her as she hummed softly to him. He felt his heart calm and he numbly listened to his friend. Over the next few days Johnny obediently took his meds and ate. He listened to Dr Brackett explain his injury and what he would need to do to recover.
"Johnny!" Roy sat down next to his partner, who had finally been moved to a normal room.
Johnny turned his head, "Why Roy? Why?"
Roy took Johnny in his arms and held his distraught partner. When Johnny was finally all cried out Roy explained the whole sordid tale.
"Ellen was enticed to Alana's house and when she refused to listen to Alana's lies Alana pushed her and she fell. She hit her head on a table and broke her neck. She didn't suffer Johnny. Her brothers were the ones who hit and stabbed you. They were supposed to just warn you off Ellen but they like many others went too far."
"Many others?"
"Yes. Alana and her brothers are wanted in three states. They are digging up her back yard as we speak. So far they have four bodies. Apart from Ellen's there all males. Uniformed males. Apparently she was going to kill Chet, after she finished with him, but when she saw you she changed her mind...I'm so sorry Johnny...You didn't deserve this and neither did Ellen."
Johnny looked at his partner, Roy's heart was breaking for him. "Why?"
"She was insane Johnny. She apparently had killed soldiers, security officers and even police officers. Seven men and Ellen. Ellen was an accident according to Alana; she never meant to kill her. Lt Crockett matched the brother's finger prints on Ellen's car and after a sighting of her car near Alana's and some digging into her past, he put it all together."
Roy watched his partner sleep. Dixie entered the room and joined him. They both sat silently watching Johnny's chest rise and fall, a feeling of protection enveloping both people.
Four months later Johnny stood in front of his beloved Ellen's grave. Her smiling face floated in front of his. He could smell her lavender fragrance and a soft breeze caressed his face. "I miss you and I love you so much it hurts to breathe." He sighed and bowed his head. "Good bye my Ellen." A single tear rolled down his face as Johnny dropped to his knees. He was joined by two people. Roy knelt down one side and Dixie knelt down the other side. They placed their arms over his shoulders giving him the support that the grieving Johnny needed. A breeze suddenly swirled around them and warmed their hearts, Johnny would feel that breeze many times when visiting the grave over the years and would always leave feeling connected with his beautiful Ellen.