The phone for the station rang, and Roy answered it while sitting at his desk. "Station Thirty-Six, this is Captain DeSoto."

"Roy?" A voice Roy didn't immediately recognize replied. "Roy DeSoto?"

"Yes, you've reached him." Roy answered patiently. "How can I help you?"

"Man, it sure took some work to track you down." The man on the other end chuckled. "You probably don't remember me. It's Julius Clark. You helped out my friend when he had that heart attack."

Roy remembered that call as clear as day. Mister Jefferson, he'd found out later. A man with a million stories, not easily forgotten. "Yes, sir, Julius. I certainly remember you and your friend. How's he doing?"

"Well, I'm afraid I've got some bad news." Julius replied carefully. "See, his old heart just up and gave out again. Wasn't no bringing him back this time. Lost him just about a week ago now."

"I'm very sorry to hear that." Roy's heart sunk a little at that.

"Thank you, I appreciate that." Julius responded. "I'd like to invite you and your friend to his memorial. We've booked a club for the occasion. Going to have live music, drinking, all kinds of carrying on. Just what he would've wanted."

"I'd be honored." Roy told him. "And don't worry about getting hold of Johnny. I'll get hold of him and let him know."

"That was his name." Julius let out a short huff. "I could not remember that man's name. Yeah, let him know. If you can make it, we'd love to see you."

"Thanks, I'll do my best."

Roy wrote down the information Julius gave him and chatted briefly before hanging up and making another call.

"Station One-Sixteen, this is Captain Gage."

"Johnny, it's Roy."

"Hey, how you doing?" Johnny responded.

"Good, good." Roy answered. "Listen, do you remember that heart attack case we worked a few years ago? The one guy who had all the stories."

"Sure do." Johnny let out a short laugh. "Pretty memorable guy."

"Well, his friend got a hold of me." Roy continued. "He passed away a week or so ago. Another heart attack. They're holding a memorial for him at a club and want us to come."

"Aw, that's a damn shame." Johnny replied. "Yeah, I'll go with you. When and where?"

Roy gave Johnny the information, and they chatted for a few minutes before hanging up.

He looked at the phone for a long moment before picking up the notepad. It was strange that Julius would want them there. Then again, if he remembered correctly, Mister Jefferson didn't have a lot of family, if any. Julius was the closest thing he had.

Well, it wouldn't hurt, he supposed, to pay his respects. He was a memorable patient, and if it helped Julius to have them there, then that's what they would do.

# # #

Roy parked the car, and he and Johnny made their way to the club where Mister Jefferson's memorial was being held. It was the very definition of a hole in the wall, the surrounding area obviously suffering from the same urban decay that plagued other areas of the city.

Still, it seemed a fitting way to say goodbye to the man.

They made their way inside and through the crowd in an attempt to find Julius. Roy wasn't entirely sure he'd recognize him after all this time, but it only seemed right to try to find him.

He felt Johnny's hand land on his shoulder. "Man, look at all these people. He sure knew a lot of folks."

Roy laughed, turning slightly to look over his shoulder. "Well, you remember all those stories he told. I'll bet at least half these people are here."

"Roy!" He heard Julius before he could see him, and he followed the sound, finally meeting up with him.

"Julius." Roy extended a hand. "Good to see you. Wish it was under better circumstances."

Julius waved a hand dismissively before extending it to Roy and grasping it firmly. "The man died doing what he loved. Can't ask for a better way to go than that. This your partner?"

"He was." Roy answered, stepping back a little so that Johnny could step forward. "Johnny, you remember Julius."

"Sure do." Johnny nodded, extending a hand. "Nice seeing you again."

"Same to you." Julius smiled widely as he shook Johnny's hand before clapping him on the shoulder. "Glad you boys could make it. He always talked about you two, especially you, Roy. Always told me how good you were to him in the ambulance."

"He sure could tell a story." Roy responded.

Julius laughed heartily. "Especially when he had a captive audience. Go on and get yourself some drinks. Bar's open and the music's about to get started."

They left Julius and managed to make their way to the bar, ordering their drinks and scanning around the room. "Looks like it's standing room only." Roy commented.

"That's all right." Johnny answered before seeming to study something off in the distance. "Check out the guy at the piano. Doesn't that look like Early?"

"Yeah, sure does." Roy could just make out the silver-haired man sitting at the piano.

He felt Johnny smack him on the shoulder. "And the one coming up to the microphone. Looks like Dixie. But it can't be though, right?"

"Well, she did say she could sing a little, remember?"

Johnny scoffed. "Nah, can't be them."

Julius took the stage, nodding to the woman at the microphone. "Welcome, and thank you all for coming out to celebrate Mister Jefferson's life. If he could see you all right now, he'd be right in the middle of it, believe that."

He glanced around before continuing. "Now, if you don't mind, I invited a couple of folks who helped take care of him that first time he needed it. We've got Doctor Joe Early on the piano and Miss Dixie McCall on vocals. Give them a hand."

"I'll be damned." Johnny murmured.

Roy couldn't believe it either. He took a drink as Early started playing the piano. A few measures in, Dixie started singing.

" It begins to tell…'Round midnight, midnight. I do pretty well, till after sundown…Suppertime I'm feelin' sad…But it really gets bad…'Round midnight."

"Damn, she's good." Johnny whispered again, clearly impressed.

Roy was impressed, too. Who knew Dixie had a set of pipes like that?

The crowd clearly agreed, clapping and cheering loudly after she finished. Dixie smiled and nodded before Early started in again.

" Now you say you're lonely…You cry the whole night through…Well, you can cry me a river, cry me a river…I cried a river over you."

She finished the song to cheering and applause before leaving the stage, and Early was soon joined by a couple of horn players and a drummer. The newly formed band started in on a jazz instrumental, one that was deeply familiar to Roy.

He spotted Julius just off stage, talking to people as they approached him, surreptitiously wiping at his eyes. Roy could only imagine how deeply Julius felt the loss. They had been friends for nearly thirty years at the time Roy and Johnny had treated Mister Jefferson. It must be almost like losing a brother.

He glanced at Johnny out of the corner of his eye. Johnny seemed to be getting into the music, drumming his fingers against his leg and nodding his head to the beat of the music.

How long had he and Johnny been friends now? Roy had to guess almost ten years now. They had gone their separate ways once they became captains, and it had been difficult to stay in touch.

It was odd, how they had worked shoulder to shoulder for so many years, only for them to drift apart. If something happened to Johnny, how long would it be until he heard about it?

Roy shook his head at the unexpectedly dark thought. He just had to make a more concrete effort to stay in touch with Johnny, that's all. Them being at different stations wasn't an excuse, he knew that.

After a few more songs and the occasional round of polite conversation, Roy sought out Julius one more time before they left. Julius greeted them with a strong handshake and a clap on the shoulder. "Glad you boys could make it."

"Hey, yeah." Johnny responded with a nod. "I know it's tough to lose a good friend. You take care, okay?"

"I will, thanks." Julius nodded, the tears clearly shining in his eyes.

"I'm really sorry for your loss." Roy added. "I'm sure he appreciated you."

"I hope so." Julius answered. "You boys take care."

With that, they made their way out of the club and started back to the car. It was a silent walk until Roy broke it. "When you were talking about losing a good friend back there—"

"Drew, yeah." Johnny immediately answered. "I lost touch with him, and then the last time I saw him was when he was dying."

He fell silent again until they got to the car and climbed in. "I don't want that to be us, Roy."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean…when we took our captain's posts. How we swore things weren't gonna change. They did. Because of course they were gonna change. And just like with Drew, I've kinda lost touch with you."

Roy stared straight ahead as he drove. "It hasn't been all you. I've done a pretty bad job of keeping in touch with you, too."

Johnny stared out the window with a thoughtful expression. "I don't want the last time I see you to be at your funeral."

"I don't either." Roy answered. "I mean…well, you know what I mean."

"Yeah." Johnny replied. After a beat he spoke again. "You ever think about your own funeral?"

"I try not to."

"I mean, I don't think about it much now." Johnny told him. "But back when I was getting knocked around all the damn time, I thought about it a lot. Suppose I should write it down somewhere just in case."

"If you do, I'll hold on to it for you." Roy offered. "In case you go first. That way we'll know what to do for you."

Johnny regarded him with an arched eyebrow. "This is getting kinda morbid."

Roy couldn't help laughing. "You started it."

Johnny laughed quietly in response. "Yeah, suppose I did."

Roy pulled into Johnny's driveway and parked. "Thanks for coming with me."

"Hey, yeah." Johnny nodded. "See you soon?"

Roy nodded in response. "Yeah, see you soon."

It was a promise Roy swore he'd keep this time.