A/N: Thank you to everyone who has been reading and sharing your thoughts with me. Your suggestions and support are much appreciated.

Chapter 8

Johnny breathed a sigh of relief when Roy stopped banging on his door. The younger man's entire body ached after the violent, albeit brief altercation with Roy. It took him several minutes to regain his composure enough to navigate his way from his living room into his small kitchen. Gingerly, he walked over to his sink and splashed his reddened face with cold water. He pulled a paper towel off the roll, using it to pat his face dry. He cleared his throat, satisfied that his voice would not betray him, then headed for his telephone. He needed to talk to his captain.

Across town, Hank was pushing his lawn mower along a perfectly straight line giving his front yard the appearance of a miniature football field. He saw Rebecca standing in the doorway, waving her arms at him, then mimicking the motion of talking on the telephone. He understood her signal and turned off the mower, wiping the sweat from his brow as he headed inside the house.

He rubbed his sweaty hands along his jeans before picking up the receiver. "Hello, Hank here."

"Hey, Cap. It's Johnny."

"Well, pal, how're you feeling?"

Johnny pinched the bridge of his nose. He wished he could tell him the truth, but felt it was best not to do so. "I'm okay, just a little sore. I was wondering… Can I use some of my vacation time next week?"

Hank frowned for a moment. "John, you were injured on the job. You don't have to use your paid time off for that."

"I know, but Dr. Brackett's gonna release me on Thursday… and, uh, I just need a little more time off to take care of some personal business." There, at least that wasn't a lie.

"Sure, how many shifts do you need a replacement for?"

Johnny thought for a moment. He had nearly three weeks of leave that he had saved up. He didn't want to alarm his superior and make him suspicious. "How 'bout three shifts. That should be enough time."

"You got it. Let me know if you need anything, and uh, take care of your back, John."

"I will. Thanks, Cap. I… I really appreciate everything you've done for me since you came to 51's. I've always had a lot o' respect for ya. I jus' wanted to let ya know that. Um… I'll see ya later."

"John? Johnny?" Hank felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, but his calls to his paramedic came too late. The younger man had already hung up the phone. The seasoned fire captain did not like the tone in Johnny's voice, nor did he like the finality of his words. It was out of character for the goofy, sometimes arrogant John Gage that he knew. His instincts told him that something was wrong.

He stared at the telephone for a few moments, trying to decide what to do. Should he call Johnny back? Yes, he finally decided, and dialed the younger man's number. The endless ringing on the other end of the line fueled the flames of foreboding even more.

Hank hung up the telephone, wondering if he should make the trip over to Johnny's apartment. Then, deciding that he didn't want to embarrass the younger man, Hank decided to call Roy. He knew that his paramedics were closer than most brothers, and if anyone knew what was going on with Johnny, it would be his partner.

As quickly as the rotary phone would allow, Hank dialed the DeSoto residence.

"Hello?" Answered the perky female voice Hank recognized.

"Joanne, this is Hank. May I speak to Roy, please?"

"He's over at Johnny's place. May I take a message?"

"Um, yes, just ask him to call me when he gets back, please. It's nothing urgent." Hank cringed a little, hoping that his words were true and the situation with his younger medic wasn't critical.

"I'll tell him," she cheerfully agreed, assuming that her husband was being asked to work an extra shift. With two small children, the extra income would be greatly appreciated. Even though she was babysitting Corrie, the money wasn't as much as she had been making when she worked at Bloomers.

"Thanks. I'll talk to you later."

"Goodbye, Hank."

Joanne hung up the telephone just as she heard the front door opening. She looked across the room at her husband, stunned by the bruising and swelling she saw on his face.

"Ohmygod, Roy? What happened to you?"

Joanne rushed to his side, then stood staring at her shame-faced husband. "Roy?" She questioned again, reaching out to touch the bruise on his left cheek. "Talk to me, or else I'm going to call the police." It was obvious that Roy had been assaulted, but she had no idea who would do such a thing.

"No, Jo… It's nothing like that… I, uh… Let's just say that I got what I deserved from my partner," he explained, walking over to the refrigerator to retrieve an ice pack.

"WHAT? Johnny did this to you?"

Roy nodded somberly as he rummaged around for the frozen bag of peas they kept for minor injuries.

"Well… What did you do to him?"

Roy sat down at the kitchen table, resting his chin in the palm of his hand. He lightly pressed the swollen skin around his left orbital socket.

Even though he hadn't answered her question, Joanne knew that if Johnny and Roy had gotten into a physical altercation, then the situation was bad.

"How much do you know about Iris?" Roy mumbled, grimacing as the bag of frozen peas touched his tender skin.

Joanne rolled her eyes at her uncooperative husband. "Nu-uh, you answer my question first? Besides, this isn't about Iris, it's about you and Johnny," she retorted, crossing her arms to reinforce her stance. "Now what did you do to him?"

Roy sighed, wishing he didn't have to confess to her what he had done. However, he loved her and respected her; she deserved an honest answer to her question.

"Jo… I think Iris and Johnny are seeing each other."

Joanne couldn't stop the chortle that began deep in her throat and erupted from her ruby-red lips. "Exactly how hard did you get hit? Iris didn't even know Johnny until I introduced them a couple of months ago. Besides, she's old enough to be his mother." Understanding dawned on her face, widening her eyes like saucers. "Is that why you asked me about a May/December romance when you first got home from the station?"

Roy knew his words sounded ridiculous. Had he not seen it with his own eyes, he would have had the same reaction. "I know how it sounds. I really do, but I know what I saw at his apartment this morning... And yes that's why I was asking."

Joanne's chuckling faded. Roy merely glared at her, feeling like a scolded child. "Laugh at me all you want to, Jo. I really do think they're seeing each other."

"Wait a minute… Is… Is that why Dixie wanted Iris' phone number?" Finally all the pieces were falling into place for Joanne, just as they had for Roy, earlier. She shook her head in disbelief, taking a seat beside her husband. "No…. No, it can't… Nu-uh, not Iris and Johnny. They're… They're just so… Different."

Roy nodded, shifting the ice pack.

"So then… Oh, Roy… You didn't, did you?" She asked, suspecting she understood why her husband had received the bruises.

"Yea," he replied. "I'm afraid I did."

She tilted her head slightly, aware of how her husband was feeling. "And I take it that Johnny denied your, um, accusations?"

"Emphatically," Roy groaned.

"Then why don't you believe him?" She asked, getting up and walking into the kitchen and opening the refrigerator door.

Roy followed her with his eyes. His stomach rumbled when he saw her removing the homemade chicken salad.

"Well… Because it just looked suspicious, that's all."

Joanne used her hip to close the refrigerator door, then glared at Roy. "He's your partner, your best friend. You should believe him." She set the bowl and condiments on the counter. "Besides, you came in looking like you'd been mugged. You said Johnny did it and I believed you."

Roy grimaced, knowing that she was right. The two of them continued their debate while sandwiches and iced tea were prepared. She added chips, and pickle spears before setting the plates on the table, returning to the kitchen to retrieve their drinks.

"Roy," she said, walking back to the table with a glass in each hand. She took a seat before finishing her thought. "I don't mean to bring up old memories from our past, but… Normally you're very solid in your decision-making, weighing out all the details before making a determination about something. But this reminds me of how you thought I was having an affair with the plumber."

Roy set the bag of peas on the table, picking up his sandwich while looking at his wife around his swollen cheek. He took a tentative bite of his sandwich, chewing slowly and swallowing hard. He opened his mouth to disagree with her, but then closed it back without saying a word. Hanging his head in shame, he stared at his partially eaten sandwich. She was right, and he had to tamp down his anger. She had made her point in the gentlest way possible.

When Joanne saw that he was really listening to her, she continued with her observation. "I admit that the evidence you had to go on back then was pretty compelling, but you didn't get my side of the story before you jumped to conclusions. You decided I was guilty before I even knew what was going on. You never even asked me."

"I DID ask HIM," he argued, "and he jumped me."

Joanne looked at her husband, again trying to make her point without further upsetting him. "Be honest with me, Roy. Did you ask him, or accuse him?"

Roy returned the frozen peas to his aching cheek, as much to avoid eye contact with his wife as to reduce the swelling. He used his free hand to pick up his pickle spear, the vinegar tasting as sour as his mood was becoming.

"Well, I didn't exactly ask the question."

"Mmm hmm," Joanne voiced with her mouth full.

Roy grimaced, knowing that he had made a mistake in how he approached the issue with Johnny. He looked over at his wife, remorse clouding his blue eyes. "He's injured and I… I upset him so badly that he threw me to the floor and started punching me."

"I'm so sorry, honey."

Roy cut his eyes down at the table for a moment. "I choked him, Jo. Damn it, I just… I may have hurt him even worse. What if… What if he misses even more shifts because of me?"

Joanne gently pulled his hand away from his cheek, removing the thawing bag of peas. She leaned in closer to him, placing a feather-light kiss on his cold skin.

"Roy, I love you… And so does Johnny. You two are as close as brothers, and sometimes brothers have disagreements. You'll apologize, and he'll accept it, and everything will be right as rain."

"You sound just like Johnny." Roy reached for her hand, lifting it to his lips to kiss her soft knuckles. "I'll call him later, or… Maybe I should go back over there and check him out. You know how he is about hiding his injuries."

A soft smile was her only response.

"I love you, Joanne DeSoto."

"And I love you, too. Oh, and Hank called while you were gone. He wants you to call him back."

"Uh-oh," Roy grumbled, taking another bite of his sandwich.

"He said it wasn't urgent," Joanne added.

"Well, what happened between Johnny and me was while we were off duty. At least I can't be reprimanded for it."

E!

Inside his apartment, Johnny stretched through another back spasm. He knew he had to avoid the pain medication with the two hour drive ahead of him. His head was beginning to ache from the ringing of his telephone, but he didn't want to talk to whomever was calling him. He pulled his packed duffel bag across his chest, turned out the light in his living room then picked up his keys. He took one long look around his apartment, unsure of when he might return. His entire future depended on what happened in the next few days.

The sun was low on the horizon by the time Johnny drove his Rover to the base of the Tehachapi Mountains. As he made his way through the winding roads, he thought about Mike's accident and how close they had come to losing their engineer. Now these same mountains might be a way for him to escape from the dangers of William Waite and the shame he would face if his coworkers ever found out that he had failed to intervene when another person's life was in danger. The hypocrisy of his life nauseated him.

He looked around at the solitude of the scenery, fully understanding why people enjoyed spending time in the area. Up ahead, a wooden privacy fence stood tall, connected to a locked iron gate. On the high arch crossing the narrow lane there was a sign that read HOLISTIC UNITY GARDENS. He pulled the nose of the Rover up to the edge, disappointed that the lane rose upwards over a gentle slope that kept everything behind it hidden from view. Unable to open the gate, he looked around for some type of buzzer to allow the occupants to know that they had a visitor. Overhead he saw a large bell with a rope hanging down, coiling around the finial of the closest iron bar.

Johnny pried himself from inside his Rover, his back aching from the long drive. Walking stiffly to the gate, he freed the rope, tugging until he heard the bell clanging. He felt like a mid-nineteenth century fireman alerting the town of a raging blaze. He allowed it to ring a few more times before securing the rope back around the iron finial. He stood around waiting, unsure if there would be a response to the clanging bell.

He was about to leave in search of a place to camp for the night, when he saw an image come over the crest of the pathway; the sight tugging a crooked grin from the left corner of his mouth. A bearded young man was riding in a golf cart that appeared to be a cross between a miniature surfer's woodie wagon and a three-wheeled vespa. The scooter cruised silently up to the gate.

"Hello… May I help you?"

Johnny propped one hand on his hip, trying his best not to laugh at the other man. The paramedic took a step closer to the place where the man had stopped his tiny vehicle, running a hand across his chiseled chin as he took in the sight on the other side of the iron gate.

"Um, yea… My name is John Gage. I'm a…," Johnny hesitated. Should he ask for Lily? He had been reading about cults and how family members will often hire men to kidnap loved ones to get them out of the grips of the false religions. Fearing that he would be thought of as just such a kidnapper, he changed his tactic. His hesitation did not go unnoticed by the stranger.

The wind blew open Johnny shirt, revealing the bruising around his neck and collarbone.

"Are you in some sort of trouble, Mr. Gage?"

Johnny exhaled loudly, unsure how to answer the question. Was he in trouble? He wasn't sure. "I don't really know, man. I've got some problems that… Well, James and I had a long talk a few weeks ago. He was easy to talk to, and… I was kinda hopin' I could talk to him again." When Johnny looked back up, he thought he saw the stranger relax a bit. Feeling encouraged, he continued. "Is he here?" Johnny asked, remembering the long truck ride back to Los Angeles when James had given Mike and Johnny a ride on one of his delivery runs. "He said I could call on him if I had any questions. Maybe he can help me."

The bearded stranger offered a hint of a smile. Believing that Johnny was a potential convert, he decided to introduce himself. "My name is Ian. Wait here while I go get James. If he agrees, then we'll allow you to come inside."

Johnny dipped his head in appreciation. "Thank you. I really appreciate that."

As he waited for James to return, Johnny sat on the front bumper of his vehicle. It was obvious that he was going to have to take a different approach to get to Lily. He recalled his conversation with James weeks earlier. The young man had offered to enlighten Johnny, to teach him how to reach self-actualization under the teachings of Father Hiram. James had explained that the Unity Family was a place where everyone was treated as equals, accepted for who they really were.

Soon the small vespa-looking vehicle topped over the crest, but this time a different young man was in control of the tiny vehicle. He immediately recognized him as James. Johnny stood up, smiling as he closed the distance between himself and the locked gate.

"James, it's me, Johnny Gage. You may not remember me, but you-"

"John," James said, stepping off the silent vehicle and walking towards the gate. "Of course, I remember you. How is your friend, Mike?"

"Completely healed and back at work," Johnny said, quickly adding, "just like Father Hiram predicted."

James smiled widely, running his fingers along his scruffy beard. "So what brings you back to Holistic Unity Gardens?" He questioned, holding the key to the lock securely in the palm of his hand.

"A couple o' things actually, um… Do you mind if we talk somewhere else? I have this thing about looking through metal bars, if ya know what I mean."

"You are welcome to come inside, but your vehicle must stay outside the compound," he said, waiting for Johnny to voice his understanding before he unlocked the gate.

"Kinda dangerous, isn't it? I mean, somebody might break in and steal my stuff."

James smiled knowingly. He had almost forgotten what it was like to own things and be very possessive of one's own wealth. At Holistic Unity Gardens, the family owned everything, collectively. No one owned anything of their own except their clothing and personal hygiene items. Remembering what others had done in similar circumstances, he made an offer to Johnny.

"Well, many people don't understand us, John. They think we hold people here against their will, which we do not. We've lost a few members of the family because their relatives hire deprogrammers to kidnap them." He picked up the lock that was attached to a chain binding the two sides of the gate together. "That's why we've had to add this, but I'll unlock it for you, if you'll give me your keys and let me move your vehicle inside. That's the rules."

Johnny pondered his options, and realized he really had none if he wanted to get inside the compound.

"A'right, as long as it'll be behind this big ol' locked gate."

"That it will," James said, holding out his hand. When Johnny dropped the Rover keys into the open palm, he slipped them inside his pants pocket, then unlocked the large padlock on the gate. James pointed at the small electric cart. "John, if you'll move my car out of the way, then I'll park yours over beside that fence," he said, pointing at the corner where the tall wooden privacy fence butted against the iron gate.

"Will do," Johnny said, walking through the opening created when James removed the lock and chain. He took a seat on the cart and pressed the accelerator. He made a quick circle, parking the slow-moving vehicle on the grass beside the narrow lane. He waited while James cranked up the Rover, slowly driving it through the gate and positioning the vehicle in the corner near the privacy fence.

James exited the Rover, then hurriedly made his way back to the gate to secure it with the padlock. Johnny relinquished his position at the steering wheel of the tiny electric cart, taking the larger seat over the rear axle of the vehicle. James noticed how slowly Johnny moved, and decided to question the paramedic.

"Are you alright, John?"

"Jus' a little sore. I fell out of a tree yesterday during a rescue. I'll be a'right."

"Very well… We have a couple of options of where we can talk. If you'd like to eat dinner, then we can share a meal in the feeding area. Or, if you'd rather have a more private conversation, then we can go to the meditation garden near the creek." He waited for Johnny to make the call, unsure if the conversation needed to be a private one. James was curious about how much Johnny really knew about the Unity Family.

"Well, I ate a burger on the way up here, so… How 'bout the meditation garden. That sounds nice and private."

"Then so shall it be," James replied, maneuvering the cart back over the crest of the hill, then taking a side trail to the left.

Johnny was amazed at the immaculate grounds and walking trails that wound around the low-lying area. There was even a small koi pool with a rippling fountain. When the cart stopped, Johnny stepped out propping his hands on his hips as he surveyed the area. There was no sign of others anywhere near this small sanctuary, and Johnny couldn't help wondering where the 'family' might be.

"Find a comfortable spot and have a seat, John."

Johnny looked back at the place where James stood. Seeing no benches or logs around, Johnny found a boulder and leaned his hips on it, mimicking the stance he often saw Dixie take behind the nurse's station.

James walked over closer to him, purposefully taking a seat on the ground so that Johnny would have to look down at him. He had been taught that by allowing a guest to feel powerful, they were more likely to feel empowered.

"So, John, what brings you to our family compound?"

Johnny thought for a moment, propping the heel of one boot on a lower section of the boulder, leaning his forearms across his uplifted knee. He could feel the twilight breeze blowing tufts of hair up all over his head as he continued to ponder his situation. He needed to appeal to James' sense of altruism if he was going to be allowed to speak to Lily.

James, sensing Johnny's hesitation, skillfully used the silence to reassure his guest.

"Take your time, John."

"Ahem," Johnny looked at the other man, appreciating the calm manner of his host. "Two things, actually." His eyes scanned the horizon, confirming that they were totally alone with only the sounds of nature to interrupt them.

"Go on."

"I'm… I'm facing a big decision, and I don't know what to do," Johnny said, unsure of how much to divulge about his own past.

"Then I will join you in your quest to find the inner peace needed to make the choice that is best for you." James crossed his legs, assuming the lotus position and inhaled deeply. "The tranquility of nature is whispering to you, John, telling you that the answer you seek is already inside of you. You merely need to free yourself to follow where your soul is leading."

Johnny arched an eyebrow in his direction, amazed that such calming and serene words were being spoken to him by a man he barely knew. How could an army medic who had seen the worst side of humanity during the Vietnam War be sitting calmly before him speaking of peace and tranquility? Johnny was keenly aware of their similarities and their differences. Both men were medics and both had seen the horrors that humans are capable of inflicting on other humans. Both had basically run away from those who cared about them and ended up in the Tehachapi Mountains. But the differences between them were astounding. While Johnny was anxious, stressed, and fearful; James was calm, relaxed, and seemed content with his life.

"And what of your second reason for coming here?"

James' words brought Johnny out of his musings. His chocolate eyes looked down at the bearded man. He swallowed hard then licked his dry lips. This was it. This was his chance to reconnect with Lily.

"When my friends and I were at the accident scene, the one where Mike was trapped in his vehicle… There was a group of, uh, family members who stopped by to pray, or something."

James nodded, remembering the prayer circle that had been used to surround Father Hiram during the impromptu healing service. "Yes… And you are wondering how Father Hiram was able to heal your friend?"

"Ah, well no, not exactly. See there was this woman I saw, and I think I know who she is." He straightened his back, pushing off the boulder and standing up tall. "I believe she is a friend of mine that I lost contact with when we were just kids."

"What is her name?"

"Lily, and I really believe that if I could talk to her for just a few minutes, then she might be able to help me make my decision." He stepped forward, kneeling down in front of the place where James was sitting. He picked up a small stone, rubbing it between his thumb and index finger. "She knows what happened to me a long time ago, and… And I really could use her help now."

James, being very perceptive, focused on the minute details that Johnny had provided. "So, something horrible happened to you when you were just a kid?"

Johnny pressed his lips together, not really wanting to relive the sordid details of the month-long adventure during that long ago spring, but for reasons he didn't fully understand, he spent the next half hour talking to James about everything he had experienced. When he was finished, he hung his head feeling completely emotionally exhausted.

James saw the fatigue in the slumping shoulders of his companion, heard the pain in his raspy voice as he fought to hide his emotions. He placed a comforting hand on Johnny's shoulder. No words were spoken between them, but he knew that John was feeling overwhelmed with shame and emotional pain for all that had happened.

"We're brothers in our pain, John. I, too, have witnessed similar horrors and was powerless to stop them. That's why I'm here, and I believe it's why you're here, too."

"I… I dunno," Johnny commented.

"You don't have to decide now. Why don't you come with me, spend a little time with us and see what you think? If nothing else, perhaps we can give you a reprieve from your current stress, and help you decide whether or not to testify."

"I brought my camping gear… Got a week off from work, so I thought I'd spend some time in solitude…" He looked up at the caring eyes of James, feeling an acceptance he was not used to feeling from people he barely knew, especially not from someone who now knew his darkest secret. "I guess I could stay a few days."

James patted Johnny's back, noting the hissing sound the action elicited.

"I'm sorry, John. I didn't mean to cause you pain," James said worriedly.

Johnny stretched his limbs as he slowly straightened his aching back. "Ahh, not your fault," he replied, turning to look at the other man.

"Is your injury serious?"

"Nah, I jus' keep gettin' these spasms," the paramedic groused. "Um, will you take me back to my vehicle?"

"Of course, but you'll have to leave it parked there while you're with us," James replied with a knowing grin, anticipating Johnny's question. "Only our delivery trucks are allowed here."

Johnny carefully sat in the second seat of the electric cart while James assumed the position of driver. As they were meandering back along the pathway, lighted by only the full moon, James glanced back at his passenger.

"Father Hiram will be happy to heal your back if you will allow it."

Johnny fought the urge to smile at the comment. The last thing he wanted to do was to offend the man who might be able to help him reconnect with Lily.

"I'll, ah…," Johnny began, hesitating to commit to something he didn't believe in. "I'll think about it, a'right?"

"Of course," James agreed, trying to find the smoothest route back to the campus entrance, not wanting to hurt his passenger. He felt like he was on the verge of securing a new addition to the Unity Family, and he didn't want to do anything to impede the conversion.

E!

Back in Los Angeles, Hank had tried to contact his younger paramedic twice. He wanted to calm his own concerns about the statements Johnny had made during their telephone conversation earlier in the afternoon. The subsequent conversation with Roy had concerned him even more. None of his men were prone to violence, certainly not Johnny and Roy. While his anxiety had risen with each unanswered ring, his wife had managed to calm him down with her soft words and tender touch.

"Hank," Rebecca said, running a hand along his back as she walked behind him. "Why don't you just quit trying to reach him. You know how Johnny likes solitude; maybe he's gone camping or something."

Hank returned the receiver to the cradle with a sigh. "I know, but I can't shake the feeling that something is really wrong."

She pulled him into an embrace, planting a kiss on his lips. Hank responded likewise, enjoying the intimate moment. When their lips parted, he stared into her pretty face. "Thank you, Becca. Thank you for not leaving me when you had every reason to take the girls and file for a divorce. Thank you for allowing me to continue pursuing a career that I love, in spite of the dangers." He pulled her close again, pressing his lips lightly against her head as she snuggled into his chest. "And thank you for keeping me grounded. John IS a grown man, and I need to treat him like one."

"You're a great husband, father, and captain, Hank. It's normal to worry about all of us, including your men at the station. Beneath all that macho mumbo jumbo, you love them, too." She snuggled in a little tighter. "And that's something that you can't just turn off when you're away from those you care about."

E!

Alone in her house in a Los Angeles suburb, Iris Campbell sat staring at the photo album she had created to chronicle the journey she and her daughter had made a decade ago. She felt her face grow damp as her tears flowed freely. The aftermath of that trip had changed the course of three lives forever. She had lost her daughter a few years afterwards when Lily chose life with a cult over the life she had always known. A bright young man had exchanged his family life on a reservation for the life of a firefighter and paramedic on the west coast. And Iris had spent the last few years more alone than she had ever felt in her life, even more alone than she had felt the day her parents had disowned her.

Iris had always wanted to be a wife and mother, as well as a florist. She had been a wife only for a few short years. She had lost her husband in an industrial accident when Lily was very young, too young to remember her father. That time had been the darkest of the young widow's life because no one from her family attended the small funeral. Then Iris had lost her only child to the cult. Finally, while that fateful journey had given her a chance to be a part of history and fight for something she believed in, it ultimately left her sitting alone in her living room with only some photographs and memories to comfort her. While she continued to be successful as a florist, her flowers offered her very little happiness compared to all that she had lost since moving to California, twenty-seven years ago.

She stared at the telephone on the end table, silently cursing the instrument that had proven to be useless all afternoon. She had been trying for hours to check on Johnny, but there was no answer to her persistent calls. He had told her of his plan to go to Tehachapi in search of Lily, but she had hoped he would wait until he had recovered from his injuries before he made the long drive. She couldn't stop the worry that was clawing at her heart. She stared at the carpet in her living room, hoping to think of a way to help him make the right choice about testifying at William Waite's trial. She knew Johnny needed his friends now, especially his partner, Roy. But she had promised Johnny that she would never divulge his past to anyone, not even his best friend. Now, she was beginning to wonder if perhaps she should break that promise in order to save Johnny from himself. John Gage had become like a son to her over the years, and she couldn't begin to think about losing him, too.

E!

At the DeSoto home, Roy ran his hand through his thinning red hair as he walked back in the front door. Having been unable to reach his partner on the phone, he had decided to drive over to Johnny's apartment. The first thing he noticed was that the Rover was not in the parking lot, confirming that the younger man was not at home.

"Roy? How'd it go?"

Roy looked across the living room to the place where his wife sat reading a magazine.

"He isn't home," he answered, dejectedly.

"Let it go, sweetheart."

"Knowing that partner of mine, he's probably-"

"Probably recuperating somewhere where he has someone to help him," Joanne interrupted. She knew what her husband was thinking and she was trying to convince herself that it wasn't true. Yet, Roy had been convincing with the evidence he had provided her. Was it possible that Johnny and Iris were involved in a romantic relationship after just a few weeks of knowing each other?

"Exactly!" Roy responded, pointing his finger in her direction. "And I'm pretty sure I know who it is."

Even though Joanne had to admit that she wasn't happy about the possibility, she had to try to settle Roy down, or else neither of them would be able to sleep tonight. "Honey… What if it's true?"

"So you believe me?"

Joanne closed the magazine, wanting to give her husband her full attention. "Of course I believe that you saw what you say you saw; I'm just not 100% convinced that your interpretation of what you saw is accurate, but what if it is?"

Roy slumped back in his chair. "What do you mean?"

"I mean… They're both adults, so there's nothing wrong with it, is there?" Joanne asked, having pondered the thought for most of the afternoon.

"She's twice his age. I mean, I know he's good for her ego, but… What's he getting out of it, huh?"

Joanne lifted her eyebrows, giving Roy a knowing smirk.

He dismissed her with a wave of his hand. "Not that! I mean…"

Roy's hesitation only served to raise Joanne's frustration level. She really had no idea why Roy was so upset about the as yet unconfirmed romantic relationship between Iris and Johnny. "What, Roy? What DO you mean?"

Roy felt a twinge of embarrassment color his face as he looked over at the woman he had loved since fourth grade. "I'm just afraid that… That he's settling."

"Settling?"

"Settling for less than he deserves," Roy tried to explain. "I've got nothing against Iris, I really don't. But you know that Johnny can't seem to succeed in a long term relationship. He either gets dumped, or," he snorted slightly, "or engaged to a nut like Valerie."

Joanne watched as Roy's shoulders slumped. "And you think he sees Iris as someone he could be with long-term, who's stable and… sane?"

Roy didn't like the way it sounded when Joanne repeated his words to him. They sounded derogatory to his own ears, making him think long and hard about his stance. "Yea… I guess."

"And if that's what Johnny wants and Iris makes him happy then I have to ask you again, Roy. What's wrong with it?"

Roy softened his voice, realizing that Joanne was helping him process things. "That's just it, Jo. Johnny isn't happy. He hasn't been for a while, and I think it's getting worse."

"Well, that certainly doesn't sound like our Johnny. And it really doesn't sound like someone in a new romantic relationship, does it?"

Roy pressed his lips together tightly. Joanne had identified the very issue that had been plaguing him. If Johnny and Iris weren't romantically involved, then what was the real nature of their relationship? Roy closed his eyes, leaning his head against the back of the chair. He wanted answers to his questions about his partner's recent somber mood. And, if Johnny wouldn't talk to him, then he had no choice but to confront the only person who might have the answer.

E!

Lieutenant Ronald Crockett swirled the amber liquid in the bottom of the glass he held in his ebony hand. He couldn't stop the maniacal grin that spread across his dark features as he listened to Dr. Brackett on the telephone.

"Thanks, Doc. I'll be there to pick him up first thing in the morning."

He lowered the receiver to the cradle, running his gold ring-clad hand across his chin. Leonard Hunley had been hospitalized since the day of Mike Stoker's personnel hearing. The assistant chief's nose had been broken by Mike, then deliberately straightened by Johnny, resulting in a surgery that was fraught with complications. After several rounds of IV antibiotics, the man who had caused harm to an unknown number of people, primarily women, was ready to be discharged. Crockett considered his options for which jail cell Hunley might occupy. He snickered to himself, knowing exactly who Leonard Hunley's new roommate would be.

"Yes sir, karma's a bitch, Hunley."

His smile faded as he returned the glass to his lips, sipping the burning liquid just as the telephone rang, again. He threw the remains of his drink into the back of his throat before answering the call.

"Yea."

"Hey, Crockett? Summerlin here."

The lieutenant relaxed, grateful that it wasn't a call from his precinct that was interrupting his relaxing Sunday night.

"Slim, how are you?"

"Oh, fine, fine. I'm sorry to bother you at home, but-"

"No problem, man. That's why I gave you my personal number."

On the other end of the line, Summerlin chuckled in appreciation. "I appreciate that. I was just wonderin'… Have ya talked to Mr. Gage, yet? I'm really tryin' to help out the DA, and you know we can't do it without that young man's assistance."

Crockett exhaled hard into the phone. "I talked to him, Slim, and he's thinking about it. I just hope he'll do the right thing."

"Well, I have another bit of information for you to pass along to him, if ya don't mind. It might jus' make him feel a little more comfortable 'bout comin' back here."

Crockett leaned forward in his recliner, lowering his feet to the floor. "Oh yea? What's that?"

Ron Crockett listened intently to what his cross country colleague had to tell him. After all, Summerlin was the man who had taken the death bed confession of the former crooked police chief. Now Summerlin was the police chief of that same small town, and he was determined to do all he could to find justice for the wrong-doings of his predecessor.

Crockett couldn't believe what he was hearing. He felt a certain connection to the victim in this case, and he couldn't stop the smile that lit up his face. Karma might be slow sometimes, but it had a way of getting back at people, eventually, even men like William Waite.

"Slim… Are you jivin' me?"

"O' course not," came the disembodied voice on the other end of the line. "If you'll let Mr. Gage know, and tell him that all his expenses will be paid for, then I'd be much obliged."

"It'll be my pleasure," the relieved Lieutenant responded. "My pleasure, indeed."