Johnny sat on the exam table, waiting for the orthopedist. His regular doctor had taken one look at the x-rays she'd ordered and immediately referred him. Now it was a matter of the orthopedist confirming the other doctor's suspicions.

The door opened and Doctor Robinson entered, extending a hand to Johnny. "John, long time, no see."

"Was really hoping not to see you again." Johnny told him as he did the same, gripping the other man's hand.

"I don't like having repeat patients, that's for sure." Doctor Robinson nodded. "Let's have a look at these x-rays, shall we?"

The orthopedist turned on the light box and put up each x-ray, examining them closely. "Well, it does appear you have some hip displacement. That would be consistent with the symptoms you're experiencing. Says here you had a recent injury?"

"Not that recent." Johnny answered. "Probably been about three or four months ago now. We were working a rescue after a mudslide and I lost traction. Went sliding right down the hill."

"And that's when you started experiencing symptoms?"

"Not right away." Johnny told him. "At least, it doesn't seem like I did. I was kinda sore afterward, but it wasn't really bothering me. That's been more recent."

Doctor Robinson nodded. "Cumulative damage. It's possible you displaced something then and it took a while for it to catch up to you. Why don't you lay down and we'll check you over?"

Johnny did as he was directed, laying down on the table as Doctor Robinson started working on him. "You tell me if you feel any pain, okay?"

"Okay." Johnny closed his eyes, wincing when Doctor Robinson moved him in a particular position.

"Does that hurt, John?"

Johnny huffed. "Yeah."

Doctor Robinson moved him again, causing him to catch his breath. "And this?"

"Yes." Johnny snapped. "Christ."

"I'm not hurting you on purpose." Doctor Robinson told him. "Just trying to nail down the source of the pain."

"I think you found it." Johnny replied.

Doctor Robinson laughed a little. "Nice to know you haven't lost your sense of humor. Go ahead and sit up for me."

Johnny sat up as Doctor Robinson was making notes. Once he was done, he picked up a model of a hip joint and rolled over to Johnny on his stool. "See, a normal hip joint should track smoothly in the socket. Yours doesn't do that. It's getting caught on some of the cartilage around the joint. That's the labrum. Sometimes when there's an injury, that cartilage gets damaged."

That got Johnny thinking. "Figured all that metal you put in me would hold everything together."

"Oh, it is." Doctor Robinson assured him. "That's holding up just fine. This torn labrum probably stems from when you went down that hill. Did you ever get it looked at?"

Johnny thought back to that night, when Adam had tried to push him to get it checked out. He had waved Adam off, insisting that he was fine. And he was, or had been until recently. "Didn't bother. Figured it wasn't a big deal. I've gone through worse."

Doctor Robinson gave him a meaningful look. "This isn't the sort of thing that's going to heal on its own. There are some non-surgical options, but I suspect you might be past that point now."

"Great." Johnny muttered. "So, now what?"

"Well, now we consider surgical options." Doctor Robinson told him. "We can get in there and clear out the torn cartilage. It doesn't solve the displacement problem, but it would ease the pain. You'd be looking at about six to eight weeks of recovery."

Johnny didn't care for that idea. It would mean, at the very least, lost time from work and time spent recovering, with no guarantee he would be able to return to work in his current capacity. "And if I don't get surgery?"

"You're going to continue to do further damage." Doctor Robinson told him bluntly. "Had you come in a little sooner, non-surgical treatment might have been an option."

Johnny continued to consider his limited options. "Okay, let's say I have the less extreme surgery, and it doesn't work. Then what?"

"Then we would consider a full hip replacement." Doctor Robinson replied. "However, with that, it's possible you'd have to find a different line of work."

"Might have to anyway." Johnny pointed out.

Doctor Robinson nodded. "You may be right. But you've faced down that possibility before. With surgery and physical therapy, you might not have to."

Johnny knew the orthopedist was right, but he hated the idea of going through surgery again. "I'll have to talk it over with the wife. You know, consider the options."

"Of course." Doctor Robinson answered. "It's major surgery, no doubt about it. You consult with your wife and get back to me, okay?"

"Okay, thanks." Johnny slid down carefully from the exam table, wincing a little as he landed.

He drove home, considering his options. Doing nothing was an option, he supposed. He could live with this until he finished taking those training classes or until his body gave out on him, whichever came first. Or he could opt for the less invasive surgery, although he failed to see why he should opt for that over a full replacement.

A full hip replacement. Christ, he really was getting old.

He pulled into his driveway and carefully made his way inside, and was immediately greeted by a pair of arms wrapped around his legs. "Daddy!"

"Hi, Katie-bug." Johnny picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, much to her delight.

"Daddy!" She giggled. "Put me dowwwwn."

He set her down on her feet, and she immediately raced off toward the back door, pushing it open and letting it slam behind her.

"Katie, what did I tell you about the door?" Diane reminded her.

"I'll fix it." Johnny told her as he followed behind Katie, bending down to kiss Diane on top of her head. "How's your garden project going?"

Diane sighed as she shifted back to her knees, wiping the back of her hand across her forehead. "Almost have everything planted."

"And I helped." Katie interjected.

"I'm sure you did." Johnny laughed.

"Sort of." Diane shrugged. "Mostly dug holes."

"That's important work." Johnny told her.

Diane rose to her feet and took off her gardening gloves. "So, what did Doctor Robinson have to say?"

Johnny huffed and shoved his hands in his pockets. "It's either surgery or…surgery."

"You're going to have to be more specific." Diane replied as they went inside.

Johnny sat down at the kitchen table, and Katie climbed into his lap. "You remember that hillside rescue a few months back?"

"Yes." Diane nodded. "And you were hurting back then."

Johnny remembered it differently, but let it pass. "So anyway, the doc thinks I have a bunch of torn cartilage around the hip joint from some kind of displacement."

Diane nodded again. "That makes sense."

Johnny took in a breath and exhaled. "So, one surgery would take out all that torn cartilage, but it wouldn't fix the displacement. Other option is a full hip replacement."

Diane didn't reply at first, so Johnny ventured further. "Or, you know, I could just not bother with either one."

"Not an option."

"Thought you'd say that." Johnny huffed irritably. "Suppose I'd better hit those books. I might be making a change sooner than I thought."

Diane brought two cups of coffee to the table, setting one in front of Johnny before sitting down herself. "It would keep you busy during recovery."

"And the doc's talking about maybe six to eight weeks of recovery." Johnny pointed out. "Not six months."

"That would be a lot easier on all of us." Diane told him with a little smile.

"You're a funny lady." Johnny shook his head, playing with his coffee cup. "Fine, I guess I'll talk to him again, get a surgery date set."

Diane rose to stand behind him, draping her arms over his shoulders and kissing the top of his head. "You'll be better off, even if you can't go back to your regular job."

"Be in a lot less pain, anyway." Johnny concurred. "Suppose that's worth something."

"Mm-hmm." Diane agreed.

Johnny finished off his coffee and gently nudged Katie. "Gotta get up."

Katie slid off his lap with a sigh, and Johnny slowly rose to his feet. If getting surgery meant that every move didn't hurt, he supposed it would probably be worth it.

He just hoped it didn't mean having to give up his current job.

# # #

Adam changed into uniform the next day, barely listening as Chet made yet more excuses for why he hadn't proposed to Sam yet. Normally this served as his distraction from his home life, but today it wasn't working.

Isaac was dying while Chet was screwing around. It was infuriating.

"Chet, quit fucking around and ask her already." He finally snapped. "You already know you want to marry her. Just fucking do it."

Three sets of eyes bore into him, and Adam let out a heavy sigh. "Sorry. Forget it."

There was a long silence until Chet clapped him on the shoulder. "No, you're right. I know you're right. I just want it to be special, you know?"

"Could propose to her right here at the station." Mike suggested.

Johnny scoffed. "Oh, yeah, that's real romantic, Mike."

"And where did you propose to Diane?" Chet challenged him.

Johnny smirked at that. "Well, she actually proposed to me, and…I'd rather not say where."

Chet groaned while Mike laughed quietly. "You guys are useless." Chet complained.

Adam turned to see Sam coming in from the dorm. "Hey Sam." He called to her. "Chet has something to ask you."

Sam regarded him with a curious expression. "Does he, now?"

Chet was rendered absolutely speechless, his face turning a shade of red Adam hadn't seen in years. "I…do?"

"He does." Johnny chimed in.

"Oh yes." Mike nodded.

Chet's eyes shifted from one man to another until his eyes landed on Sam, the color fading from his face. "Not here in front of everybody."

He stepped over the bench, taking Sam's hand and leading her to the dorm. After a few moments, Adam motioned for the other two men to follow him.

They took up a position just outside the entryway, out of sight of both Chet and Sam, waiting and listening.

"Guys, what the hell are you doing?" Cap asked in an exasperated tone. "It's roll call."

"Shhh." Johnny waved a hand at him. Cap merely looked more confused than ever.

Mike leaned over and said something to him, and Cap's face suddenly registered understanding. He shoved his hands in his pockets, turning and walking away while shaking his head.

"Sam…I've been trying to ask this for ages." Chet started. "Guess I'm just going to come out and ask. Samantha Winters…would you do me the honor of being my wife?"

Adam felt Johnny smack his shoulder. "Pay up."

"She hasn't said yes yet." Adam answered.

"I thought you'd never ask." Sam replied with a laugh. "How long have you been carrying that ring around, anyway?"

"Ooh, shit." Adam managed to hold back a laugh. "She knew."

"'Course she did." Johnny replied. "Smart girl, remember?"

"Yes, Chet. Of course, I'll marry you." Sam finally told him.

"Guys, she said yes!" Chet called out over the dorm wall.

"We heard." Mike called back. "Congratulations."

"Now you owe me." Johnny told Adam. "Pay up."

Adam huffed while he reached for his wallet, pulling out a five-dollar bill and slapping it in Johnny's hand. "That's a bet I don't mind losing."

An exasperated sigh behind them drew their attention. Cap was standing there, his hands in his pockets. "Are we done here? We do have station business to attend to."

The three of them mumbled as Chet and Sam exited the dorm, and Chet's eyes went wide at the sight of Cap. "Cap, I can explain. Babe, show him."

Sam held up her left hand. "He finally got up the nerve to ask me."

Cap's face broke out into a slight smile. "About time. He's been practicing for weeks."

"I…" Chet started to turn red again. "Wait, how did you know that?"

Johnny snorted while Mike snickered, and Adam clapped Chet hard on the shoulder. "Babycakes, you know that no one can keep a secret around here."

Cap motioned toward the day room. "Guys, roll call?"

Everyone made their way to the day room, where Cap conducted the daily briefing before letting them all go. Adam and Johnny both headed toward the coffee maker, and Johnny pulled down a pair of mugs from the cabinet. "Any change?" Johnny asked.

"No." Adam replied quietly. "I should have just stayed home today. I hate not knowing if…well, you know."

Johnny's hand landed on Adam's shoulder, squeezing lightly. "Look, if you have to go, go."

"I will, don't worry." Adam assured him.

The tones sounded, and the two of them were off on their first call of the day. Cap handed them the address slip and they were on their way.

They arrived at the call, pulling up to an apartment house, grabbing their equipment and trotting up to the second floor. Johnny knocked on the door. "Fire-Rescue!"

"It's open!" A voice called out on the other side.

Adam was baffled, and Johnny appeared equally so. Finally, Johnny shrugged and opened the door. "Hello?"

"In here!" A voice answered.

"Kitchen." Adam told Johnny, and they made their way through the small apartment to the kitchen, where a man was sprawled out on the floor.

Johnny was rendered momentarily speechless, tilting his head, his eyebrows knitting together in a thoroughly baffled expression. "Sir, can you tell us what happened?"

"I fell on it." The man replied, looking mildly panicked.

"You…fell on it." Johnny repeated.

"Yes."

Johnny looked back at Adam. Adam, for his part, could barely contain himself as he set up the bio-phone. "I'll call it in while you get vitals."

Johnny glared at him. "Thanks. Thanks a lot."

"Remember, be professional." Adam reminded Johnny quietly. "Rampart, this is County Fifty-One, how do you read?"

"Go ahead, Fifty-One." Dixie answered crisply.

Adam took a deep breath and exhaled before continuing. "Rampart, we have a male, approximately twenty-five years of age, with an object stuck in his rectum."

There was a brief pause before Dixie replied. "County Fifty-One, could you repeat that?"

"Rampart, exactly what I said. Male, approximately twenty-five years of age, object stuck in rectum. Vitals to follow."

Another long pause. "Copy, Fifty-One."

"Adam, BP one-twenty over eighty, pulse seventy-five, respirations forty. No apparent injury except, well, you know."

Adam relayed the information to Rampart, and Morton responded. "County Fifty-One, start an IV of D-five-W and prepare to transport. Try not to dislodge the…object."

"Copy, Rampart." Adam set down the receiver and grabbed an IV set up, kneeling down next to the man. "Okay, there's an ambulance coming. We're just going to start an IV as a precaution. Johnny, I'll ride in with him."

Johnny nodded as he packed up the blood pressure cuff and the stethoscope. The ambulance attendants soon arrived, and Adam wrapped the man carefully in a blanket before he helped the attendants move him on to the stretcher.

Soon they were in the ambulance and on their way to Rampart. "God, I feel so stupid." The man told him.

Adam glanced around for a moment before leaning over him. "Listen, they make things that are designed to…fit up there. Don't do that again. It's dangerous."

"Oh, no way." The man shook his head. "No way."

They arrived at Rampart, and Adam trotted alongside the gurney into the treatment room Dixie directed him toward. He could have sworn he spotted the slightest smirk on her face.

He ended up face to face with Morton, who did a double take at the man on the table after they moved him, then shook his head. "You can go, Adam. Thanks."

Adam nodded and returned to the base station, where Johnny was waiting for him. "How is he?"

"Seems like he's going to be okay." Adam replied, taking a drink from the coffee cup Johnny had set on the desk. "I don't think he's going to try that again. Not with household objects, anyway."

"God, I hope not." Johnny muttered, his face turning red as he unclipped the walkie-talkie from his hip and hit the button. "County Fifty-One available."

"We'd better get back, Johnny." Adam told him. Now that the call was over, his mind was once again on Isaac.

"Right, yeah." Johnny nodded, finishing his coffee and tossing the Styrofoam cup in the trash. "See ya later, Dix."

"See you later." Dixie responded as the two men started back toward the squad.

They climbed in and Johnny started it up, that puzzled expression taking over his face again. "I don't get it. What the hell was that guy thinking?"

"Johnny, are you sure you want an answer?" Adam asked carefully.

Johnny looked thoughtful for a moment before shaking his head. "Nah, I think I'll be okay never knowing the answer to that one."

Adam couldn't help needling Johnny just a little. "Are you sure? It could make things very interesting at home."

Johnny started to turn red again. "Home's plenty interesting, thanks."

The radio crackled to life. "County Fifty-One, return to station immediately."

Dread washed over Adam as Johnny flipped on the lights and sirens. Adam knew better than to hope for the best. Isaac had been in bad shape when he'd left for the station this morning, bad enough that he'd wanted to stay behind. Carlos, who had stepped in to assist with Isaac after Mario had died, had all but pushed him out the door. Now Adam deeply regretted ever leaving.

"Goddammit, I knew I should have just stayed home today."

Johnny let out a short huff as he flew down the street, watching for traffic. "Look, it's not like you knew today was gonna be the day. Don't worry about it."

"I should be there." Adam replied.

"And you will be." Johnny told him firmly as he backed the squad into the bay. "Get out of here. Go be with him now."

"Right." Adam didn't bother changing out of uniform, hopping down from the squad and straight out to his car, driving home as quickly as possible. He was probably breaking a few speed limits along the way, but that was Adam's last concern.

He whipped his car into a parking spot and let himself in, making a beeline for the bedroom. Carlos lifted his head from where he'd been praying over Isaac. "He has been waiting for you."

"Christ, he's as big a pain in the ass dying as he was living." Adam took a chair next to the hospital bed they had set up in the bedroom. "Isaac? I'm here. It's okay."

There was no response, but Adam didn't expect one. It was enough just to be here in his final moments. He took hold of Isaac's wrist, feeling his slowing pulse. Likely it wouldn't be long now.

Carlos rose from where he sat, squeezing Adam's shoulder as he passed. "I will make phone calls."

"Thank you." Adam replied quietly.

Slowly, the bedroom started to fill with people, all of them surrounding Isaac's bed. Barely a word was spoken, but Adam was grateful for their presence anyway. There were worse ways to die than to be surrounded by loved ones. Adam and his circle of friends had formed their own family, and those bonds had grown stronger as they leaned on each other through this ongoing crisis.

And now that crisis had taken another of their own. Adam had slowly come to accept that this moment would come, and as Isaac's pulse slowed further, he felt oddly at peace. They'd had a good life together. It wasn't nearly long enough, but then again, no time would have been long enough. Adam was grateful now for the time they did have.

Finally, Adam heard that all too familiar rattle in Isaac's chest, and his pulse stopped completely. He took in a deep breath and exhaled. "He's gone."

Adam found himself surrounded in embraces and murmured condolences, and he didn't have it in him to reject any of them. He was exhausted, relieved, and deeply heartbroken.

But he had been here to say goodbye, and in the end that's all that had really mattered. He would get through the days to come, and he would remember Isaac fondly, celebrating his life the best way he knew how.

For today, however, he would take the comfort, knowing the pain was shared, knowing that any one of them could be next. They would all face it together.