AN: Thank you for all the great reviews. This story has taken on a life of its own and becoming much longer than I anticipated. Hopefully, I will be able to wrap it up soon. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy.

E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!

Chapter 6

After being assured by both Nurse McCall and Dr. Brackett that John was going to be okay, Hank Stanley ordered the rest of the crew back to the station. Before climbing in the squad, Chet asked, "What's up with Johnny, Cap? He wasn't hurt too, was he?"

"No, Chet. The excitement, lack of food and this crazy shift just knocked the wind out of him for a few minutes. Doc said something about low blood sugar and dehydration. They'll send him home in an hour or two. Now, let's get these rigs back so B shift can take over and we can all go home for some rest."

Hank didn't pay much attention as Stoker drove the engine back to the barn. His mind was back at the hospital, replaying the events of the morning. Gratefulness couldn't fully express what he was feeling. Roy DeSoto was alive. Hank was remembering how he had braced himself for the opposite outcome when that heap of a station wagon was finally pulled far enough away for him to see the two prone firemen. In those brief seconds when neither one moved, Hank felt the lump in the pit of his stomach that began when he found out Roy was under the car grow even larger. He could feel his heartbeat pulsing in his head threatening to deafen him, when Gage finally did speak. Through the noise he heard Gage's words, "Roy's not breathing" and fought to stay in control. Calm control. It all happened in a few brief seconds that felt like an eternity.

"Cap? You coming?"

Hank turned to see Stoker leaning in the open driver's seat door. They were back in the station, parked. How did that happen? "Yeah, sure thing," Stanley mumbled and exited the engine. He hurried into the Captain's office to turn things over to B Shift, shutting the office door behind him.

Marco and Chet joined Mike as he stood watching the Captain's departure. "What's up with Cap, Mikey?" asked Chet. Nothing," Mike said before turning and heading into the day room. The B shift crew greeted them with offers of coffee and questions about the accident. Accepting the coffee, the three men drew up chairs to the table.

"So, we heard Roy was almost killed. Is that true?" asked Dwyer.

"Yeah, is he gonna be okay?" Johnson asked.

Marco and Chet related the story as best they could. Mike was his usual quiet self and only interjected if asked. He stole a couple of glances towards the Captain's office. The talk was broken off, when the door opened and the two Captains appeared. "All right, B shift. Past time for roll call." Scraping chairs and coffee cups being rinsed filled the room as the crew responded to the command. Soon the A shift members were left alone. The engineer and two linemen looked at their now off-duty commander.

"I just talked to Dr. Early and he gave me the run down on Roy's injuries. Nothing major. Looks like he'll be off for a few weeks with broken ribs but he's gonna be okay."

"That's terrific, Cap."

"Oh, thank heaven!"

The little outburst of gratitude fell into silence. "Guess, I'll go take a shower," said Chet finally. The others muttered agreement but no one moved towards the dorm. They all wanted to say something but weren't sure where to begin.

"How about some breakfast, guys?" said Hank. "On me." Agreeing to meet up at their favorite diner after quick showers, Marco and Chet headed to the locker room.

"Let me just call my wife to let her know," said Mike.

Hank Stanley returned to the office to call his wife too. He wanted to fill her in on Roy so she might check in with Joann later to see if she needed anything. He knew his wife would understand that he needed some time just to decompress with his men. At least the horror of the morning's chaos might not be so fresh in his mind when he got home and he would be able to avoid passing on his nightmares to his family.

E!E!E!E!E!E!E!

Johnny pushed open the door to the exam room part way to see if Roy was asleep. He couldn't really tell from that vantage point so he went on in, telling himself he would turn around and leave if his partner was resting. He found himself tiptoeing up to the bedside, trying desperately to heed the head nurse's warning. He looked down at his partner and out of habit or just plain reassurance started counting the up and down movements of Roy's chest. Resisting the impulse to start a full set of vitals, Johnny managed a silent chuckle at himself and turned to go.

"Hey. Wondered where you wandered off to."

Roy's voice was barely above a whisper.

"Darn it, Roy. You're supposed to be asleep. If Dixie finds out that I…"

Roy winced as he moved to get comfortable. "It's alright. I'm just dozing on and off. The stuff they gave me isn't very strong."

Johnny looked around and laid his gear on a counter, being careful to hide Roy's helmet under his turnout. He wasn't quite sure what he was going to do with it but for some reason wasn't ready to show it to Roy. He then pulled up a stool next to the bed. By the time he got settled, Roy's eyes were closed again. Just as he was beginning to wonder if he should go, Roy started getting restless. His breathing had picked up and he seemed to be struggling to get out of bed. He was mumbling. "Get out of the way. Look out!"

Immediately, Johnny was at Roy's side, taking hold of Roy's right hand and speaking in soft tones. "Roy, it's okay. You're all right. Just look at me. Open your eyes and look at me. You're safe."

Roy's eyes flew open and all the color in his face drained away as he fought to swallow and breathe. "Gonna be sick," he managed and Johnny grabbed for the emesis basin. Holding it in place, he reached for the call button behind the bed. By the time, Roy was done getting what little bile there was on his stomach into the basin, Dixie had quietly rushed into the room and was now standing on the other side of the bed.

She took the basin from Johnny and then gently wiped a wet cloth over Roy's mouth, being careful to avoid a cut just under his left cheek. Johnny poured a cup of water from the nearby sink and ducked his head as he brought it back to the bed. "John Gage, what did I tell you?"

"Dixie, I swear. Roy was awake…"

"I was awake, Johnny didn't…"

"Hush you two, I was only teasing."

Dixie smiled at the two grown men who managed to look like two sheepish little boys at her scolding. She fussed with Roy's bedding and then started a new set of vitals while Johnny plopped back down on the stool. Roy looked over at his partner.

"Didn't mean to scare ya," he said.

Johnny squinted at his partner. "You think seeing you have a bad dream is gonna scare me?"

Roy looked up at the ceiling. "I didn't mean just now."

Dixie watched as the emotions flickered over Johnny's face. She knew Roy was going to be fighting nightmares for a few days and had seen the aftermath of the trauma play out on Johnny. It was clearly possible he would be having nightmares of his own. She was also pretty sure she would be replaying the image of Kel Brackett being shoved to the floor, a hair's breadth away from being hit by the runaway car.

Johnny, having gained control of his emotions, looked up at Dixie with a smirk. "Guess that knock on his noggin didn't mess up any of his memory, did it Dix?"

"I kinda wish it had, to be honest."

Both Johnny and Dixie detected a note of frustration in Roy's statement. Moving to try and get comfortable, Roy cried out in pain. Both of his friends moved to help. Johnny reached down to raise up the bed a little more while Dixie tried different arrangements with the pillows. Roy was holding his left arm against his chest and he was having trouble catching his breath.

"Roy, I'm going to have a look at your bruise, okay?" Dixie asked before lifting the hospital gown. As the bruise came into view, Johnny took a step back and then stared at the deep purple oval on his partner's body. "Oh man," he whispered.

Roy looked down too, finally able to see what everyone had been talking about. Feeling like he could breathe halfway normal again, he looked up at Johnny and asked, "My helmet?"

"Yeah." Johnny was a little skeptical about showing his partner what had been done to the helmet. He wasn't sure if it would send him off on another panic attack. He looked at Dixie, who was thinking the same thing. Finally, she gave a little shrug and reached out with a hand settling on Roy's shoulder. "How about we put a pillow against you there and you can brace it with your arm when the pain bothers you?"

"Do you wanna see the helmet?" Johnny asked. As Roy settled back into the pillows, he thought about it. He was curious to know how his "shield" had held up in his jousting with the sedan. "Yeah, I want to see it."

Johnny went over to the counter to retrieve the flattened helmet. He was careful not to touch the sharp edge that had caught his hand previously. He held it up for Roy to see, cautiously ready to put it away again at the slightest indication of it upsetting his partner.

Instead, Roy's eyes seemed to brighten with curiosity at the sight of the helmet. He reached out to take it from Johnny.

"Careful, Roy. There's a real sharp point there…"

"Is that how you cut your hand?"

Johnny's faced formed a lop-sided grin as he handed to helmet to Roy and self-consciously put his bandaged hand in his pocket. He didn't want Roy expending any of his energy on concern for him. Dixie watched the exchange, marveling at the easy comradery between her two favorite paramedics. Probably the best medicine for both of them.

"May I come in?"

None of them had heard the exam room door open and three heads turned to see Joann DeSoto standing in the doorway. Dixie walked over to her, while Johnny quickly took the helmet and put it back in its hiding place. As the two women talked softly, with Dixie leading Joann over to her husband's bedside, Roy whispered to Johnny, "I don't want her seeing that." Johnny nodded his head in agreement before stepping back to give room for Joann to be close to her husband. He had noticed the tears and the slight tremor in Joann's voice and knew the husband and wife needed some time alone.

"I'll talk to you later, Roy." Johnny picked up the gear and headed towards the door with Dixie. Out in the hallway, Dixie gave Johnny the room number they were moving Roy to and told him to check in with her before her shift ended. Then she added, "You need to go home and get some rest. I can take my break and drive you home, if you'd like."

"Sure, Dix. If you could give me a lift to the station, I can get myself home from there."

"Give me a few minutes to make sure things are covered."

Johnny wandered down the hallway and stood by the yellow tape, looking at the scene of the crime. Because it was a crime scene. For all he knew the couple in the car were facing charges. He didn't really care. He just couldn't believe it happened. But it had. Bits of glass, concrete and the remains of the water fountain were amongst the clutter. Gas and oil stains covered the floor. There were two long black tread marks from tires that tried to find traction on a newly waxed floor. The humid, hot air of the California July morning wafting in through the gap in the wall made his uniform shirt stick to his skin. He shifted the turnout to his other arm and once again found himself staring at the metal emblem bearing Station 51 on an unrecognizable helmet. "God, Roy. I thought I'd lost you."