A/N: This is the final installment in the "A House Divided" series. It begins where "Stoker's Scandal" ended. As always, no copyright enfringement is intended. All recognizable characters belong to Mark VII and Universal Studios. Original characters belong to the author.
Johnny's Journey
Chapter 1
Iris sat on the stool in her workroom at Bloomers, staring at the letter she had received from an old friend. The news was both shocking and frightening. She reread the words, noting how the neat handwriting became sloppier as the letter progressed, and she knew that her friend was becoming more anxious as she wrote down the details of the worrisome tale.
Iris had believed this particular threat had vanished four years earlier, a victim of his own heinous thoughts and deeds. Now, she realized that her fears were being resurrected along with the man who had created them, even if he had returned with a bit of a disguise. 'Ironic, isn't it, Thorn?' She thought. 'Now HE'S the one hiding his true identity.' She had no choice but to warn the man she feared would be the recipient of William Waite's wrath.
The bell jingled on the door handle, prompting her to hastily fold up the letter, shoving it haphazardly back into the envelope. She took a cleansing breath, patted her damp cheeks with the backs of her hands, and stepped out from the workroom wearing a pasted smile to greet her customer.
"Mornin'," he said with a crooked grin.
"Thorn, thank God it's you," she said, rushing to him and enveloping him in her embrace, forgetting to call him by his preferred name.
Johnny was stunned by her reaction. He could tell that she was upset about something. He assumed that only Lily could cause such a tearful reaction. "Ohmygod, wha… What happened? What's wrong?" He questioned as he pulled away from her, gripping her upper arms with his hands. His dark eyes darted back and forth, crossing her face in search of answers to his questions. "Is it Lily?"
Iris, unable to voice her fears, merely shook her head. She felt herself crumbling into his firm chest, collapsing against the young man she loved like a son. "No," she finally managed to say.
"What then? Talk to me, please?"
Iris sniffled, sucking in one breath after another. "He's… He's, um… I gotta let-letter to-day."
"Letter? From who? What did it say?" Johnny's eyes were wide with fear, worried for Iris. He felt her pull away from him, and he followed her as she walked into the work room.
Iris reached the work table, and turned to face him, handing him the letter.
With shaky hands, Johnny flipped the envelope over. His heart nearly stopped beating when he saw the return address. "Aww, no," he mumbled, forcing his quivering fingers to open the flap and remove the letter. His wide eyes scanned the cursive writing, seeing the smears and smudges of the pencil marks. He moved his hand to cover his mouth, needing to provide at least a semblance of a barrier to prevent the vomit he felt rising from his stomach. "Ohmygod… Damn it," he muttered from behind his hand. His anxious hand ran up his face and through his mussed up dark hair. "DAMN IT ALL TO HELL," he cursed, his voice rising louder than he intended, slamming the letter down on the work table. He saw Iris lean against the table, squeezing her eyes shut, and her image broke his heart.
"I'm sorry…," he struggled to say. "I… I didn't mean to yell like that," he said, reaching out to her. "He… Maybe he doesn't know where I am. Maybe he won't come looking for me."
"He said he would, Thorn. We both heard him," Iris stated, matter-of-factly.
"But… But I did what he told me to do. I still have them, all the originals. I never sold them or… or even gave them away," he said, remembering the thinly veiled threats of violence from Waite and his cronies. His face paled as the shock took hold, and he fumbled around for the closest stool to sit on. "Wha… What am I s'posed to do now?"
E!
At Rampart, a worried group gathered in the crowded waiting area, concerned about Bri and their missing comrade.
"Now I see why Gage gets dumped all the time," Chet snickered, casting his blue eyes around the group. "He's too slow, or never shows up. I mean, we went to TWO stores and still got here before Johnny."
Roy spoke up in defense of his partner. "Knock it off, Chet. I'm really getting worried. It shouldn't be taking this long to pick up a small bouquet of flowers." Roy stood up, wandering from the waiting room to the emergency entrance, hoping to see the familiar white Rover wheeling into the parking lot. Not seeing the object he sought, he returned to the waiting area. "I need to call and check in with Joanne. She thinks we're still at the hearing," he said, fishing in his pocket for a couple of dimes. He was more worried about Johnny than he wanted to let on, and talking to Joanne always helped calm his anxieties where his rambunctious partner was concerned.
"Ask her if we need to come pick up ladybug," Chet called out after the retreating paramedic, feeling guilty about his snide remark about Johnny.
"And Ant," Marco called out, hoping the little tykes hadn't worn out their sitter.
Samford Bennett, who had been sitting quietly in a mustard colored chair, snickered. His worry for Bri becoming temporarily broken by what he had just heard. "Ladybug and Ant? Is Joanne a babysitter, or an entomologist?"
Caroline's face erupted with laughter, quickly joined by the rest of the group.
Hank was the first to speak up. "Yea," he said, standing to stretch his long legs. "I guess it does sound more like an insect farm than a daycare, doesn't it?" Seeing Beverly rise to her feet with her green eyes widening as she looked around Hank's shoulder, he turned around in the direction she was looking. "Dr. Brackett, how is she?"
"Beverly, I'd like to speak to you privately if I may," the physician requested, panning the group with his blue eyes before he continued. "She's going to be fine. We're really busy today, so it took a little longer than usual to get to her. It took eight stitches, more than I first thought, and she'll have a scar, I'm afraid. But if the blade had caught her just a couple of inches lower, she might not be with us." He nodded his head at Beverly, who promptly stepped in his direction.
"Um, Doc?" Sam spoke up. "When can we see her?"
"In just a few minutes… If she wants visitors," Dr. Brackett added, his sideburn moving slightly as his lip twitched worriedly. "Alexia's with her now, so she's not alone," he commented, unnecessarily.
Inside exam room 4, Alexia held onto her friend's limp hand. "I'm so sorry, Bri. I just can't say it enough."
"Hey… 's, okay," the injured woman said softly, seeing the hurt in her best friend's eyes. "I jus' didn't wanna tell you, or tell an'body."
Alexia straightened up on the stool she was perched upon. "How's the cheek feeling?"
"Better… No' stingin'… But I wanna get this thing out," she complained, lifting her right arm bearing an IV. "It was jus' a cut. Don't need this stuff."
"Dr. Brackett and Nurse McCall said you did. They know what they're doing. I was here for a while too, remember? They took good care of me," Alexia reassured.
"Lex?" Bri asked, closing her eyes.
"Hmm?"
"Don' leave me in 'ere," Bri slurred, unable to completely form her words due to the stitches. "Don' let 'em keep me, please?" Bri had heard Dr. Brackett's stern warning, and knew that he was trying to have her admitted. She also knew that she had the right to walk out of the hospital at any time. She had done it before, and if necessary, she would do it again. She assumed that was why the IV had been established, as a means of tethering her to her exam bed and Rampart General Hospital.
"Dr. Brackett said you needed fluids," Alexia responded, brushing Bri's dark hair out of her face. "Just let the fluid do its job, and then we'll talk about you leaving, but I'm not going to leave you alone here, if that's what you're thinking."
Bri opened her eyes briefly, then allowed them to sink closed once more, feeling her body becoming heavier. She hadn't rested in so long that even the uncomfortable exam table felt relaxing to her.
Down the hallway in room 127, Dr. Brackett closed his office door behind Beverly Marsh. He had grown to respect the counselor over the previous weeks, and he hoped the experienced woman would be able to help him with his dilemma. "Have a seat, Ms. Marsh," he said, gesturing to the green chair opposite his desk.
"Thank you, but it's Beverly, remember?"
The serious physician blushed slightly, dipping his head in acknowledgement as he sat behind his desk. "Yes, sorry about that. I need to ask for your help with Brianna."
"Brittany," Beverly corrected. "Her name is Brittany Mendoza. I've had to do a little research to find out her true identity. At least she gave me Brittany when she first arrived at The Wellhouse, so I had a little something to go on."
"Then who is Brianna Olivier?" the physician asked, drawing his eyebrows together.
"A little girl who died in New Orleans years ago, AND a girl in Los Angeles that I hope no longer exists. She's an alias, a street name. Brittany got it the same way Lexi got hers."
Kel smirked, thinking back to the episode with Alexia being brought in as Alexandra LeRoux. "Yea, I kind of forgot about that." He cleared his throat then looked back up at Beverly with his piercing blue eyes. "She needs to be admitted, Beverly. She's dehydrated, malnourished, and probably needs some strong antibiotics. I'd like to do a full work-up on her, including a pelvic exam and tests for venereal diseases."
"And she won't agree to it, am I right?" Beverly quizzed, having been in the same position as Bri not so long ago.
"No, she won't. We got the IV started before we stitched her up, so we've got about another half hour or so before it runs out. I was hoping you might convince her to stay, eat some nutritious meals, and let us treat her if any of the tests come back positive," Kel stated, his face hopeful.
"It would be best for her, but just like old habits are hard to break, old fears are hard to overcome," Beverly said, leaning back in her chair. "Girls like Bri, they don't like feeling helpless, confined. They have so little control over their environment that to give up even what little bit of control they have is… It's almost impossible."
Kel heard the hint in her voice, and he latched onto whatever glimmer of hope he could find. "Almost?"
Beverly gave a wistful smile. "Almost. Let me talk to her. She's agreed to go back to The Wellhouse when she's released from here, so maybe I can convince her that she'll be safe in Rampart for a day or so."
"Ahh," Kel commented, wanting to smack his own forehead for missing the obvious. He had been informed by Lieutenant Crockett about the circumstances that had brought both Bri and Hunley into Rampart's Emergency Department. "She knows he's here, right?"
"Hunley? I don't know, but if she does, then that would account for a lot of her fears," the counselor commented. "Can he get to her?"
Kel leaned back in his brown leather chair. "Not a chance. He's handcuffed to the rails of his bed, and he'll be heading up to surgery soon. The only place he's going when he's discharged is to jail. He'll be guarded by a police officer the whole time he's here. If I tell her that, do you think she might agree to stay?"
"Why don't we tell her together? I really think she trusts me."
The dark-haired physician nodded his agreement. "I concur. And, if she's willing to stay, I'll be glad to allow anyone she wants to stay with her, just for her own reassurance."
"I'll offer my services," Beverly said, standing. "I've spent many nights in hospitals with frightened young women in pain. I'm happy to do it again. Besides," she continued, turning her head back to face the physician as she started for the door, "Lexi needs to go home. Nothing should interrupt her first night home in over five years, don't you agree?"
The handsome doctor gave Beverly a knowing grin. "I certainly do."
E!
Johnny wheeled the Rover into the parking lot of the Emergency entrance to Rampart, the vase of flowers precariously poised between his legs. He parked the dingy white vehicle, glad to see familiar cars in the parking lot. He had been afraid that his delayed arrival might have made the opportunity to give the flowers to Bri impossible. He got out, slamming the door behind him, then loped through the automatic glass doors, heading to the waiting area.
"Hey, how is she?" He asked, hoping his earlier scare wasn't showing on his long face.
"It's 'bout time you got here, Gage," Chet fussed.
"Shove it, Kelly. It just took longer than expected," Johnny shot back, not wanting to argue with his coworker.
"Those are really nice," Sam said, appreciating the beauty of the floral arrangement. "I think she'll love them."
"Wow, you folks really know how to get the most for your money!" Barney said with a grin, admiring the gifts purchased for Bri.
"So, is anybody gonna answer my question?" Johnny asked looking around at the assembled group.
"Lexi's been with her since they got here, John," Maria stated. "Dr. Brackett and Beverly went to talk to her a few minutes ago. We haven't been allowed to see her, yet."
"Your patient is heading up to surgery," Hank spoke up. "Guess his nose needed just a little more tweaking than what you gave it," Hank grinned, knowing his junior medic had inflicted pain on Hunley, intentionally.
"Hey," Johnny offered his lop-sided grin that didn't light up his normally expressive eyes, "I did my best."
"So did I," Mike said, joining in the conversation. "I tried to bash his head in. I've never hated anybody in my life, Cap. But, I've got to admit, I hate Hunley."
"Try working for him," Sam scoffed. "I knew he was rotten to the core, but I just couldn't prove it. We all owe Bri a big round of thanks, don't we?"
A chorus of agreements were voiced, just as Beverly and Dr. Brackett returned to the waiting area. Johnny spoke up, being the newest arrival.
"Hey, Doc. Sorry I'm late. How's the girl?"
"She's stitched up and getting some fluids. She's agreed to a thorough exam, and she's going to stay with us for a day or two," Dr. Brackett said smiling. "Beverly worked her magic again, and she'll be staying with Bri until she's ready to leave us."
Marco placed a proud arm around Beverly's shoulders, pulling her into a light sideways hug. "Good job."
"We've got some things to give her. May we see her?" Caroline asked.
Dr. Brackett looked at the group, knowing how close knit the men and families of Station 51 were. Against hospital policy, and his own better judgment because of the size of the group, he made a decision, a decision he hoped would be in his patient's best interest. "She could really use some company right now. She's tired, and I gave her something for her anxiety level, so you'll need to keep the visit brief, but I'll allow you – all of you," he said, panning his face around the small circle, "to go in together. I think it'll do her good to see all the support."
A uniformed sigh was exhaled, as smiles began to peek out from behind the previously somber faces. Dr. Brackett, feeling that the mood of the group had lightened, decided to poke a little fun at the younger half of his favorite paramedic duo. "So, Johnny," he began, turning to lead the group down the hallway. "I hear you're considering changing careers?"
"What?"
"Yea, I hear you're considering becoming an ENT instead of an EMT," the older man joked. "Personally, I think you're better at being a paramedic than you are at straightening broken noses," Kel laughed, grinning at the round of laughter echoing down the corridor as they headed to exam room 4.
Inside the exam room, Bri remained on the edge of sleep. She was more exhausted than she had ever been in her entire life, yet she felt a sense of peace like none she had ever known. She was safe, and could rest in comfort tonight, even if the peacefulness only lasted for a day or two. She thought of the beautiful dress that had been folded up and placed in a plastic hospital bag, handed off to Lieutenant Crockett as evidence because it was stained with her blood. The thought of the ruined garment made her eyes burn. She had only been able to wear it for a short time, but during those few hours, she had felt like a real lady, a somebody, for once in her life. She remembered the way a couple of men had looked at her as she walked down the sidewalk. Their looks were ones of admiration and respect, not lust, or disdain. The women she had walked passed didn't give her judgmental glares, or disgusted grunts. The way they had all looked upon her made her feel normal, and she liked it. She heard the swish of the exam room door opening and the deep voice of Dr. Brackett.
"Bri, you have quite the entourage waiting to see you. Are you up for a few visitors?"
Her heavy lidded eyes opened, drawing her eyebrows together in confusion. She didn't have an entourage. Then she remembered that Alexia's family had followed them to the hospital, and she had already spoken to Beverly. She wondered for a moment if Sam had stayed after carrying her into the Emergency Department. Her features softened as she nodded her approval.
"How are you feeling?" Caroline asked, being the first to enter, carrying a couple of boxes wrapped in white paper with pink ribbons.
"Ca-Caroline?" Bri asked, trying to sit up.
Roy saw her struggling and quickly stepped over to raise the head of her bed. "Glad you're feeling better," he said with a smile.
Bri looked around the room, amazed at the number of people who were present. "What're you all doin' here?"
"We came to visit you, Bri. You were amazing, and I had to come offer my thanks," Mike said, grinning at her. "You did it. I got a complete pardon, and Hunley's going to jail."
"As soon as he gets outta surgery, thanks to Sluggo, here," Johnny piped up, wrapping his arm loosely around Mike's shoulders. He arched an eyebrow at the arson investigator who suddenly snatched the vase of flowers out of his hand.
"These are for you, Bri," Sam said, setting the vase on the bedside table. He looked around at the glares he was getting, then added, "from all of us."
"For… me?" She questioned, not believing that such a beautiful arrangement had been purchased with her in mind.
"That's not all," Chet said, pressing lightly on Caroline's lower back to encourage her to move forward.
"We all chipped in," Barney said, giving the others a stare, daring them to challenge his statement. It was true that he had contributed the most, but everyone had donated a little money to the cause. "We wanted you to know how much you mean to all of us. We wanted to give you something in honor of what you did back at the hearing."
Caroline presented the boxes to Bri, who sat staring at the flowers and the packages tied up in pretty bows.
"I… I don't know what to say," she offered, still stunned, but much more awake in spite of the antianxiety medication she had been given.
"You don't have to say anything, just open them up. Let us know if you like them."
Bri looked at Caroline, seeing the beaming face of the woman she had met just a few hours earlier. Carefully, she began to untie the ribbons, not wanting to damage anything on the packages. When she finally opened the first box, she gasped as her eyes widened. Inside, she saw the most beautiful purple dress with an embroidered bodice and flowing skirt. The cap sleeves gave it an extra feminine touch. As she pulled it out, she found a matching jacket tucked in the box beneath the dress. "Oh…," she began, then was silenced by another garment. Beneath the jacket, she found a pair of jeans and a blouse. "Ohmygod… These are…," she couldn't continue, the lump in her throat growing too large as she saw the tags dangling from the newly purchased garments, even though the prices had been meticulously removed. They were new, and they were for her.
"And there's another one there, too," Mrs. Lopez spoke up, gently pushing the remaining box towards Bri.
"An-another? There's more?"
"Yes, dear. There's more… All for you," Mrs. Lopez answered, feeling her maternal instincts growing for her daughter's best friend.
Slowly and methodically, Bri opened the remaining package. Inside, she found a beautiful pair of thong sandals that matched both the dress and the jeans outfit. The exquisite beading nearly took her breath away. "Ohhh," she whimpered, running her IV-laden hand across the new shoes. "Bea-beautiful," she stammered, looking up through watery eyes. "Th-thank you… Thank you all so much."
Beverly stepped forward, sensing that it was time to make a statement for Bri's benefit, but also for the others to hear. "Bri… These are gifts to you from people who care a lot about you. These are not loans, and there will be no request for repayment."
"We won't take any," Marco emphasized, knowing where Beverly was going with her statement. "We expect nothing in return except that you rest, get well, and stay at The Wellhouse until you are able to make it on your own."
"I want something from her," Alexia said, looking around the room for the man in the white coat. When she saw Dr. Brackett, she used her dark eyes to plead with him. "I want her to come to my cookout tomorrow night. Will you let her?"
Dr. Brackett pocketed his hands into his lab coat. He had to choose his words carefully. "Well, if we get enough fluids back into her, and she's able to eat a couple of good meals-,"
"Ahua, ahua-hua," Johnny coughed in response to Dr. Brackett's comment.
"Did I say something funny, Johnny?"
"Ah, no… No, just a cough, that's all," Johnny replied, giving the others a slight devious smile. He had had many opportunities to sample Rampart's cuisine, and the food wasn't among his favorites.
Kel eyed the paramedic for a moment, then returned his attention to the group. "As I was saying, if she's feeling well enough by tomorrow night, I'll release her into Beverly's care so that she can go to The Wellhouse. If the two of them decide to swing by the cookout, then I'm okay with that, but," he grew even more serious, looking directly at Bri. "But you've got to eat, both here and at the cookout, deal?"
Bri swiped her fingers beneath her eyes. The flow of tears would not be thwarted, no matter how hard she tried to stop it. She nodded her agreement, feeling Alexia immediately pull her into a sisterly embrace.
"Good," Alexia cried. "I'm so happy." She pulled back pushing Bri's dark hair out of her face. "I'm so proud of you, Bri."
"Alright, let's postpone this gathering until tomorrow night so we can get this young lady into a room," Kel announced, looking towards the door as his head nurse walked in. "Dix, is there a room ready, yet?"
Dixie made her way over to the exam table, pushing a wheelchair. "Ready, and her taxi has arrived," she said in her smoky motherly voice. "I bet with all these strong firemen around, we can find a couple of guys who can help this young lady into the chair," she said, batting her eyes flirtatiously at the group of men.
Immediately, Samford Bennett stepped forward. "I've got 'er," he said, cradling Bri into his arms while Roy removed the IV bag from the pole. "Just like we did a little while ago," Sam said with a smile, easing her into the awaiting wheelchair.
Dixie smiled at Sam's chivalry, taking the bag from Roy and placing it onto the wheelchair IV pole. "She'll be in room 419," she announced, pushing Bri towards the exit. "Beverly, will you bring her things?"
"I'm right behind you," the counselor said, packing up the boxes and the flowers.
"I'll help you, Bev," Marco offered, picking up the boxes for her. "Mama, you and Lexi wait here. I'll be right back."
"Rest well, Bri. We'll see you tomorrow," Maria said, kissing the young woman on her uninjured cheek.
"Bye," Alexia waved. "You're safe now, really safe," she assured her friend.
"I'll check on you later, if that's okay?" Sam asked.
Bri looked at Samford Bennett, still unsure of whether she could trust him, or not. "Yea… That's fine. Thanks," she responded weakly.
As the door closed behind Bri and Dixie, Maria's eyes lit up and she clasped her hands together beneath her chin. "Oh, I have a wonderful idea," she said to those who remained in the room. "Let's make the cookout tomorrow night a double celebration."
"A double celebration?" Marco asked, turning back around as he reached for the door handle.
"Yes, we're celebrating Lexi's return home, AND Mike's exoneration!" She exclaimed, her eyes glistening. "It's perfect!"
Mike blushed, hugging Mrs. Lopez. Agreements were voiced as the group exited the small exam room. Standing in the back of the group, Johnny was lost in his thoughts. He had watched as Bri had been wheeled away, and he realized that her dark hair reminded him of how Lily had looked sitting in a similar wheelchair many years ago. That thought brought a sad look to his face, something that didn't go unnoticed by his partner and his captain. Roy and Hank shared a quick glance, and Roy nodded his silent understanding. He needed to talk to Johnny, push the younger man to find out exactly what was going on with him.
Johnny felt a familiar hand clench him along the back of his neck.
"How about some coffee, Junior?" Roy asked, squeezing the back of his friend's neck. He saw Johnny try to smile, but the effort seemed to be too much for the younger man.
"I dunno. I really gotta lot to do today," Johnny lied.
"Come on. I'm buying," Roy said, as the two walked out of the exam room. He pulled lightly on his partner, guiding him to the cafeteria. Roy tossed his captain a quick glance, seeing the older man give a slight nod of approval.
Hank was glad to see Roy taking the lead in dealing with John. It was obvious that something was very wrong with the younger medic and Hank wanted nothing more than to get his shift back in order. There had been discord around the station for months, including his own contribution to the strife, and he wanted to see all six of them working together in harmony, like they had done since the station opened. Now, he feared that his youngest man was going through his own set of challenges, and Johnny was the least likely of all of them to accept help, even if he needed it most. Feeling a hand on his shoulder, the captain turned around to see his engineer smiling at him.
"Cap? How about some lunch? My treat."
Hank returned Mike's relaxed grin. "You know, that sounds great to me, but I really don't want cafeteria food," he said, not wanting to intrude on the impending conversation between his paramedics.
"Well, since our lives are returning to normal, why don't we go to our usual spot?"
Hank rocked back on his heels, rubbing his grumbling belly. "I believe I could use some good food from The Pourhouse. Let's go," he said, heading down the corridor and making the left turn through the glass doors, waving goodbye to the others as they all parted ways.
E!
Roy watched as his partner used his finger to push his French fries around on his plate. He had been hopeful when Johnny had agreed to eat lunch instead of just getting a cup of coffee. However, his friend had only eaten a few bites of his hamburger, lined up his French fries like they were railcars around his plate, and drank half a glass of milk. He also hadn't spoken, except for a few grunts of acknowledgement while Roy was talking. Roy finished the last bite of his burger then leaned back in his chair. He had to find out what was bothering his best friend, because if he couldn't get Johnny to talk, then no one could.
"What's wrong with your burger?"
"Hmm?" Johnny asked, having heard only part of the question.
His brooding eyes held a mixture of sadness and anxiety, something Roy had only seen one other time. Back then, it was the death of Johnny's close friend, Drew, that had caused the younger medic to become solemn. This time, Roy had no idea what was going on inside the dark shaggy-haired head of his best friend.
"I asked if something was wrong with your burger. You've barely touched it."
Johnny shook his head slowly, staring at the uneaten food on his plate. He picked up a French fry, dipped it in ketchup, and put the entire piece in his mouth. "Nope, my eyes were just hungrier than my stomach," he said, chewing as he spoke.
Roy exhaled, reaching for his cup of coffee. "Johnny, ah, you seem distracted. Is something wrong?"
"Nope," the younger man responded, washing down the French fry with a gulp of milk. "Everything's right as rain. I've just been doin' a lot o' thinkin' lately. That's all."
"But this," Roy waved his hand at the uneaten food, "isn't like you. Not eating, being so quiet, and thinking all the time. One minute you're joking around like your usual self, and the next you look like somebody close to you died," Roy's blue eyes held the deepest sincerity. "I want to help, but I don't know how."
Johnny narrowed his dark eyes at his partner as he wadded up his napkin, dropping it onto his plate. "I'm not allowed to be quiet? I'm not allowed to think?" Something deep inside his soul wanted to cry out, to latch onto his best friend like a drowning man reaches for his rescuer. He flared his nostrils, inhaling deeply. He knew that he couldn't allow Roy to discover the truth. He loved the entire DeSoto family so much that he did the only thing he could do. He had to protect them from his past, no matter what the cost. Using a defensive technique he had honed over his adolescence, he decided to go on the offensive, attacking the man he loved like a brother. Johnny stood up, retrieving a few bills from his wallet and dropping them on the table. "I guess you're assumin' I don't have enough brains to think with?" He shot back, uncharacteristically.
"What?" Roy asked with raised eyebrows, shocked by his partner's behavior. "Johnny, no. I'm not saying that at all, and here," he said, handing the money back. "I said lunch was on me."
Johnny glared at the man he had called his best friend for years. "No… John Gage can take care of himself. I always have, an' I always will," he said through gritted teeth. "I sure as hell don't need YOU to do it for me." He turned, stomping off towards the exit, leaving Roy standing at the table with the money still in his hands.
"I'm not so sure about that, Junior," Roy mumbled to himself.
E!
"Well, if it ain't two of my favorite firemen," Amy called out, looking up at the sound of the jingling doorbell at The Pourhouse. "You fellas know what you want, or do you need menus?" She asked, pulling two menus from beneath the counter without waiting for their response. The question was the same one she asked everyone; it was more of a greeting than an actual question for which she expected a response. She tucked the menus beneath her arm, picked up a pot of coffee, and snagged two white coffee cups with her index finger as she followed the firemen to a corner booth.
"Good afternoon, Amy," Hank said with a smile as he sat down.
"Thanks," Mike responded when Amy began filling his cup with the dark liquid. "What's the special today?"
"Hamburger steak with onions and gravy, two sides, and a piece of pie," the older waitress rattled off. "And you know you fellas' drinks are on the house, right?" She waited for the two smiles she knew her comment would elicit. "Gotta keep our firemen hydrated," she said, retrieving her order pad from her apron and her pencil from behind her ear. "Now, what'll it be?"
Both men ordered the special, then settled into their conversation while they waited on their food.
"Stoker, it'll be nice to have you back on shift," Hank said, letting his engineer know how much he had been missed.
Mike blushed at the compliment, his own guilt still weighing heavily on him. "Thanks, Cap. I, uh, I still feel really bad about what I said at my apartment that day," he mumbled, hanging his head. Rarely did his behavior ever result in the need for an apology, but wishing his commanding officer a speedy trip to Hades certainly qualified as one such event.
Hank waved off the apology with a simple uplift of his hand. "Let it go, Mike. I never gave it a second thought. You've had a really rough couple of weeks. It's understandable."
"You had every right to reprimand me, but-"
"Reprimand?" Hank asked, puzzled. "I was at your apartment." He wagged his index finger in front of him. "Now, if you do it at the station, that'll be another story."
Mike grinned, feeling much more confident as he reached for his cup. "And what will you do if it happens there?"
Hank leaned forward, stifling his laughter. "Just try it, Stoker. Tell me to go to hell on department time and you'll see," he laughed.
"Well, I see you fellas are in a good mood," Amy said, serving the men their lunches. "Melinda will bring your glasses of tea right over."
"Melinda?" Mike asked. "Is Gretchen off, today?"
Amy huffed out her breath, blowing a stray tuft of graying hair away from her face. "Gretchen's gone. Left here to go to some hippie commune, or something."
Hank nearly spat out his coffee. "Ahua," he coughed. "Did you say, ahem, hippie commune? I thought those were long gone."
"Guess not. It's more of a religious group, I guess. Really, I think it's a cult, but it ain't my business, ya know?" She said, smiling when the new waitress walked over with a couple of glasses of iced tea. "Fellas, meet Melinda. Mel, this is Captain Hank Stanley and Engineer Mike Stoker, two of our regulars."
"Nice to meet you both," Melinda said, then turned to walk away.
"She's learning," Amy said with a shrug. "She just moved here, a college student. So, can I get you anything else?"
"Um, I think we're good," Hank commented, looking at Mike who was nodding in agreement.
"Alright then. You fellas enjoy your lunch," she said, turning and walking over to a nearby table of customers.
"Wow," Hank said, scraping the onions off of his hamburger steak. "The whole world's going nuts." He took a bite, listening to Mike's grunt of agreement as the younger man chewed his food. "I mean, look at what happened to you with that bastard Hunley, Hunley attacking Bri at the hearing, now Gretchen's gone and joined some hippie cult. What's going on?"
"I don't know, Cap. I thought I saw her selling flowers at one of those road-side tents across town the other day. Now, I'm thinking maybe it really was her."
Hank thought about Mike's comment and snorted. "Maybe that's what took John so long to get those flowers. Maybe the twit went clear across town."
"Mmm…," Mike swallowed some tea to clear his throat before continuing. "I was going to ask you about him. He was acting sorta strange at the hospital, don't you think?"
Hank looked down at the food on his plate, realizing that he and Roy weren't the only ones who noticed Johnny's odd behavior. "Yea… I thought Roy and I were the only ones who saw it."
"No… I saw it, too. One minute he was joking and the next he was just sullen, or something," Mike stated. "Did something happen while I was gone?"
"He's been acting either depressed or angry for a couple of shifts. I asked him what was going on, but you know John. He just kind of blew me off. Roy doesn't know what's going on either, and if he doesn't know, then Johnny hasn't shared it with anyone. Roy's talking to him now. Maybe he'll call me later."
"You know, Cap… Johnny was there for me after the accident. We spent a lot of time together. Maybe he'll talk to me," Mike offered.
Hank continued eating in silence for a few moments, his mind working on a possible solution. "Did he mention anything to you, Mike? Anything at all?"
"No, nothing that stood out."
Hank shook his head. "I just don't get it. Out of all of you men, Johnny is the most outspoken, yet we know the least about him."
"He talks a lot, but doesn't really say anything," Mike agreed. "We know he's part American Indian, grew up on a reservation, lived with his aunt, likes to rope cattle and ride horses. He strikes out with women, even though he got engaged twice," Mike snickered, remembering Betty and Valerie. "He hates anthropologists and loves fishing, camping, and photography."
"That pretty much sums up what we know, doesn't it?" Hank acknowledged with a smile. "But you left off one thing, Mike."
The perplexed engineer knitted his eyebrows together. "What's that?" He asked, unable to think of what he had forgotten.
"He's one of the best firemen/paramedics in the whole county," Hank stated, holding respect and admiration for all his men. "Even if he is a bit of a mystery. Now you, on the other hand, are very observant," the captain said, pointing his fork at his engineer.
"I always heard that still waters run deep. I guess I'm proof of that," Mike said with a smile, "but Johnny isn't still water. He's more of an iceberg, only showing the world a tiny bit of who he really is."
"Stoker," Hank began, using his napkin to wipe his mouth. "You have great insight into people. You'll make one helluva captain one day."
"Maybe one day," Mike said, raising his glass. "But right now, I just want to be one hell of an engineer for the A-shift at Station 51."