For Roy, the next three days past by almost too quickly, while at the same time, seemed to crawl past. So many questions were racing through his mind, though he didn't voice them out loud in fear of causing Jo more worry. What he didn't realize was that Joanne was thinking so many of the same thoughts. Johnny was such a huge part of their family for both them and their children. Despite Dr. Early telling him to rest, no matter how willing his body was, his mind was far from cooperative.

All Roy could do was think of the same questions, over and over: What if Johnny didn't recover? What if something happened and the worse came to worse, how would they all deal with it? What would happen if he did wake up? What if Johnny was stuck in his past forever? Where would he go? How would the kids react? How would Johnny react if he did recover, but only partly? What if Johnny couldn't be part of the paramedics anymore and realized it? How? If? kept spinning around inside his head.

Roy made sure Captain Stanley was updated, but considering nothing much was changing and all anyone could do was wait, he didn't feel like he was doing much at all. He tried helping Joanne with the household chores, but half the time, ended up staring off into space or wandering about aimlessly. It was easier when the kids were home as they demanded their dad's attention. They sensed something was happening and wanted the reassurance that at least things were normal at home.

Joanne had much the same issues as Roy did. She too had many of the same questions Roy had and her mind kept wandering back to the first days when she met him. Even though Johnny had avoided coming home with Roy for quite a while, after finding out that Roy had chosen him for a partner, she had insisted on meeting him. According to Roy, it was a tough sell because he didn't want to bother her considering the fact Jennifer had just been born.

Remembering back to their first meeting, Joanne still wished she could have done it over. At first, she thought that was kind of him to think of her and the kids before he entered her home. Roy had never told her how old Johnny was and the fact that he had finished near the top of his paramedic class didn't factor into her opinion. Jo had actually asked him how old he was and was surprised that he was just four years younger than Roy at 21 years of age. Unlike Roy, he had entered into the fire service at 18 whereas Roy had spent 2 years in the military before joining*.

However, despite her somewhat snobbish attitude towards him, he was unfailing polite. Johnny did seem uncomfortable with the kids and Chris wasn't too sure what to make of him either. When Roy placed Jenny in his arms, claiming he needed 'field practice', she almost scolded the both of them, but was too stunned that her daughter didn't start yelling. Instead, she simply stared at him, almost daring him to move. She watched as he just stared back and something inside of him seemed to unlock a bit as he smiled at Jenny.

If he and Jenny had a bonding moment, that would have surely been it since she grabbed his finger as best as she could and didn't want to let go, Joanne smiled at the remembered mental picture. Even Chris seemed to sense the change. It still was a while until Johnny felt comfortable around us, but if anything, he came to their house for the kids.

In the end, the memories of the last decade of their lives with Johnny had both Roy and Joanne coming to the same conclusion: Some way, somehow, they would do their best to help Johnny live the best possible life. Neither one could foresee a life where Johnny wasn't in it in some way.

On the fourth day of Johnny's hospital stay, Roy was trying to eat breakfast with his family. Chris and Jenny had been wondering why he was home when he should be going to work and knowing the time had come, he tried to explain the situation.

Although, how on earth am I to explain something I don't even understand?! Roy questioned himself.

"You both know Uncle Johnny got hurt at work the last shift," Roy saw their nods and continued on. "Well, he had to have brain surgery to remove some blood from his brain to help him heal. Although the doctors say that the surgery work, there is another problem. Johnny had bruises on his brain too, causing him to think he was younger, a lot younger, than he really is and the doctors have medicated him constantly, so he can hopefully heal."

"He will be okay, right dad?" Jenny asked, afraid and feeling younger than her age for the first time in a while.

"They aren't sure sweetie. They hope so, but until the docs see how Johnny is when he wakes up, they won't know if he is back to how he usually is. If he isn't, they aren't sure how long it might take for his brain to heal."

"But it will heal," Chris tried to sound confident, but was less than successful.

"Unfortunately, the doctors aren't sure yet. It depends on how fast the bruises heal. If it takes too long, it might mean that there is permanent damage," Roy honestly answered, figuring if his children were old enough to ask, they were old enough to hear an honest answer.

"But what does that mean," Chris asked impatiently, poking at his cereal.

"It could mean a lot of things, Chris. It could mean that Johnny thinks he is still young, it could mean speech problems, or it could mean other things. I honestly am not sure. I didn't ask many questions about what could happen. I was just told that where ever there is a bruise, there is a possibility that the issues he had when he was brought into the hospital could be permanent."

"So, Uncle Johnny thought he was young? Did he remember you at least dad?" Jenny was worried that he would forget about them. She didn't remember a time in her life without him and to even think about him not remembering those memories hurt.

"No, honey, he didn't. We, the doctors and I," he corrected. "Think that Johnny believed he was around seven years old or so based on some things he said. We weren't sure however. I was able to at least talk to him and I helped him be less afraid of what was taking place, so that is why I am going to the hospital right after lunch. That way, if he still doesn't remember, he will at least have one familiar face around."

Nodding her head, Jenny went and gave her dad a hug before giving her mom one. She just prayed Uncle Johnny was back to normal when he woke up.

AN:

1. The Wedworth-Townsend Paramedic Act of the California State Legislature was passed by Governor Reagan on July 14, 1970. There is also the fact that Johnny and Roy were working with Nurses during his birthday which is reported as August 28th. I am just assuming based on how slow I know government can work that ten months for a bill to pass is not too long. Therefore, I put the two of them meeting at the recruiting time as April and training May through July of 1969.

2. Based on what I could find through the internet, the average enlistment period was 2 to 6 years. I am putting Roy down as having served for two years. Technically, he could have been called back into duty for a period of time after he came back. However, the fact that he than joined the fire department would mean that if he did get recalled into active duty (which is possible, at least today), he could get a deferment based on the fact he was serving his country as a firefighter.