December 1975

Johnny wandered around the photo exhibit, taking in each one, admiring the way the photographer captured the light, the shadows, the way he had captured the creature in motion.

Someday he'd be able to take those kinds of pictures. He wondered what the photographer's secret was.

"Like what you see?" A voice behind him made him jump.

He turned to find himself face to face with the man behind the voice. The man looked as if he had stepped right out of one of those photographs in the exhibit, a little rough and rugged, with dark red hair and a matching beard, clearly amused that he had startled Johnny.

"Uh…yeah, yeah." Johnny managed to recover. "Pretty amazing stuff, you know? Like the guy who took these got up close and personal with some of those animals. Can you imagine getting that close?"

The man stuck out a hand. "You're talking to him. Steven Kellerman."

Now Johnny really felt like an idiot as he grasped the other man's hand and shook it. "John Gage. Oh, wow. Man, this is amazing. I've seen your stuff in magazines. You know, National Geographic, that kind of thing."

Steven smiled and let out a short chuckle. "Appreciate it. So, are you a photographer yourself?"

"Well, sort of." Johnny was reluctant to admit what a rookie he really was. "I just picked up a camera a month or so ago."

Steven merely nodded at that. "Everyone has to start somewhere."

"Yeah, but you were probably practically born with a camera in your hand." Johnny told him.

Steven moved in a little closer, a little closer than Johnny was comfortable with. "I'd be happy to talk more about it. I think you'll find that's not quite the case."

Johnny backed up a little. His nerves were starting to get the better of him. "Oh, uh. I mean, you probably have other folks you need to talk to, right?"

"No." Steven shoved his hands into his pockets and took a look around the exhibit space. "Kind of enjoy staying in the background, watching other people's reactions to my work."

Johnny tried to look anywhere but right at Steven, but it was proving difficult. The guy just had a presence, something Johnny couldn't define, but something that definitely drew his attention.

He took a quick breath and exhaled, nodding at Steven. "Okay, sure. If you wanna talk about this stuff, I'm up for it. There's a couple places nearby where we can just, you know, hang out."

"I take it you're from around here." Steven commented.

"Sort of." Johnny answered in what he hoped was a casual tone. "It's a long story."

Steven looked him up and down, that smile never leaving his face. "I've got time. Lead the way."

Something about Steven's voice made Johnny's heart beat a little quicker, but he dismissed it. Probably just nerves on his part. It wasn't because he found the guy attractive or anything.

Well, maybe a little, but Johnny was going to keep that to himself. No sense making things weirder than they already were.

Steven fell into step beside Johnny as they made their way out of the exhibit and outside. "There's a coffee shop down the street that I usually stop by after I'm done here. Good place to talk, you know? And they don't mind if I take up a table for a couple hours."

"You must take dates here regularly." Steven commented.

"Oh, sure." Johnny replied casually. "But I come here by myself sometimes, too. Sometimes like it better that way. No telling who you might meet here."

"That's very true." Steven nodded. "After all, I met you, one of my biggest fans."

Johnny wasn't entirely sure if Steven was teasing him or not. Eventually he decided that he probably was, and he responded with a nervous laugh. "Don't know about that. I just like your work, you know? The pictures that went with that Alaska piece in the last issue of…ah, hell, I don't remember. Doesn't matter, I guess. Really beautiful, though. Kinda makes me want to go."

Johnny swung open the door and let Steven through first before following close behind, and he waved at the old man behind the counter. "Hey, Al."

"Johnny." The man nodded as he rounded the end of the counter to meet them. "Been a while. See you brought a friend."

"Yeah." Johnny answered as he slid into a booth. Steven slid in across from him. "This is Steven Kellerman. He's a nature photographer. There's an exhibit with his work on display right now. You should see his stuff."

Al nodded to Steven. "Pleasure. Now, don't mind this one. He'll talk your ear off, but he's a good kid."

Steven merely looked amused as he turned over the coffee cup in front of him. "Yes, he does like to talk."

Johnny could feel his face heat up, and he hoped it didn't show. He turned over his own cup and watched as Al filled them both.

"I'll let you boys look over the menu." Al told them. "You just give me a holler if you want to order something."

"Thanks, Al." Johnny answered, turning his attention back to Steven. "Suppose you're right. Been told I talk a lot."

"It's okay." Steven replied mildly. "I like your enthusiasm."

That definitely made Johnny's heart beat a little more quickly. He took a deep breath and exhaled quietly to calm himself before he responded. "I mean, I don't really know all that much about photography. I checked out a bunch of books from the library, and I've started taking some pictures. Sure is a lot harder than it looks."

"Most things are." Steven laughed a little at that. "I wasn't exactly born with a camera in my hand, but I started out when I was pretty young. My mom always had a camera with her, and she'd always take pictures whenever we went hiking. I kept bugging her to let me try, and one day she finally did. I was hooked."

"Oh, I love hiking." Johnny jumped in. "I climb and do a lot of camping, too. Good way to unwind after a tough shift."

Steven tilted his head, appearing curious. "What do you do when you're not taking pictures?"

"I'm a firefighter-paramedic with Los Angeles County." Johnny explained. "Been a rescue man since I started in '68, and then signed up to train as a paramedic when the program was just getting started. Roy, that's my partner, he's the one who talked me into it. So I've been doing that the last three years or so in addition to the rescue work."

"So you don't get to ride on the engine?"

"Wouldn't want to." Johnny shook his head. "Rescue's what I know. That's what I trained in at the academy. I run a hose occasionally, but mostly we do rescue and paramedic work."

"Sounds pretty tough." Steven told him. "I think I'd rather take pictures."

Johnny couldn't help laughing at that. "Yeah, but you're getting up close and personal with wild animals. I don't have to deal with that much."

Steven looked surprised. "Much?"

"There have been, uh, a couple of incidents." Johnny answered casually. "One time this tiger got loose in a grocery store and we had to call out animal control."

Steven took a drink of his coffee. "I don't get that close. Telephoto lens helps a lot."

"Oh, yeah. I guess that makes sense." Johnny felt a little silly for not considering that. "I haven't gotten that far yet. Those things are pretty expensive."

"I look at it as a tool." Steven responded. "You have your tools of the trade, I'm sure. I have mine. Tools make the job easier, don't you agree?"

"Yeah, guess you have a point there." Johnny nodded. "Maybe one of these days, once I get enough money saved up. In the meantime, I suppose what I've got will do."

Steven shifted, leaning forward a little. "What are you working with?"

"Uh, not entirely sure." Johnny answered carefully. "Just went to the camera store and kind of went with what they recommended."

"Well, I'm going to be here for a few days." Steven told him. "I'm here on assignment, as it happens. I could give you some pointers if you want."

Johnny was caught completely off-guard. "Oh, I mean, you don't have to. You're probably pretty busy and I don't want to keep you from your work, you know?"

Steven smiled at that. "I don't mind. Besides, you probably know this area better than I do. Maybe you could give me some pointers, too."

"I doubt that." Johnny murmured in response, suddenly self-conscious. The idea that he could be of any help to this guy was ludicrous.

The feeling of someone touching his arm made him look up, and there was Steven, a hand on Johnny's arm, an expression Johnny could only describe as kindly crossing his face. "I like you, John."

"You don't even know me." Johnny replied quietly, feeling the heat rush to his face, as well as other parts of him.

"I'd like to." Steven responded with equal softness. "I could use the company."

Johnny was still trying to wrap his brain around the whole thing. He could hardly believe that this man wanted him to tag along on this assignment.

On the other hand, he had the next couple of days off. There were worse ways to spend them than with someone who shared some of his interests.

"Okay." He found himself agreeing. "If you want me to tag along, I'll tag along."

"Great." Steven smiled more fully, lightly patting Johnny's arm before pulling back and leaning against the back of the booth. "Be sure to bring your camera."

That smile did something to Johnny, but he quickly tamped down the feeling. This was his chance to learn something from someone he admired, and he wasn't going to screw it up by being weird about it.

Instead, he simply smiled back in response. "For sure, I will."

They fell into more casual conversation after that, and after a few more cups of coffee, they finally agreed to call it a day. Johnny left cash on the counter to cover the coffee and tip, waving to Al on their way out. "See ya around, Al."

"You bet, Johnny." Al nodded in response.

Once outside, Steven pulled a memo pad and a pen out of his pocket, writing something down before ripping off the paper and handing it to Johnny. "That's where I'm staying. Since you know the area better than I do, why don't you come pick me up?"

Johnny stared at the piece of paper in his hand before looking up at Steven with a nod. "Sure, yeah. And I've got a Rover, so you know, there'll be plenty of room for your equipment and stuff."

"Sounds great." Steven responded, sticking out a hand. "It was great to meet you, John."

"Yeah, great to meet you too, Steven." Johnny gripped the other man's hand and shook it. "See you tomorrow, I guess."

"See you then."

And with that Steven was gone, leaving Johnny to stare once again at the piece of paper in his hand.

This could go very well or very badly. Johnny wasn't sure if he was excited or scared to death.

He folded the paper and tucked it in his shirt pocket before heading off to the Rover. Either way, he would have one hell of a story to tell afterwards.