PS12

Roy had a hard time working the rest of his shift; the thought of his best friend working at 118 gnawed and ate at him. Damn it, Johnny had been vindicated and he was still paying for it. Brice wasn't a picnic either, a sure reminder of the department's power.

"Uh, Roy," Cap looked at him. "Done eating there pal?" Stanley's eyebrows were bunched together and he looked like he ate a lemon.

"Huh?" Roy realized the whole crew was looking at him. The table had been cleared and dishes washed—all except his. "Sorry Cap. I'll take care of it." He started to take his plate to the sink.

"No Roy. Chet, take care of it and Roy come to my office please," Stanley said gently and DeSoto meekly followed him into his office and noted the closed door.

"Roy, what is going on?" Hank was concerned and could tell his senior paramedic was distracted. His fingers were steepled together and he had a worried expression.

Chewing his lower lip, Roy looked at his superior and wondered how much he knew. After Johnny had left Stanley had seemed on edge until after the hearing and even then he couldn't tell.

"Well Cap, I'm sure you heard, Johnny's back. He passed all his exams and now has a station," Roy watched Stanley react. He unconsciously crossed his arms in front of him, waiting for what, he really didn't know.

Hank nodded and then his eyebrows went up along with his hands. "And?"

"Cap, well I heard a rumor on where there going to place Gage and I wondered if it was true or not," Roy uncrossed and crossed his arms, waiting for Hank's next move, leaning back against one of the desks.

"Roy," Stanley placed a hand against his chest. "You don't really think they'd tell me, do you?"

"Cap, you know a lot of people and…"

"Roy I'm glad John is back, really and it's up to him to tell you where they put him. But let me caution you," Cap leaned towards. "It's John's battle and if you don't want to get hurt just stay out of it."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Roy's nose flared wondering who this man was. He had left his best friend out to dry the first time and he'd be damned if he'd do it again.

"I'm just saying let John worry about his back and you worry about yours," Stanley stated hoping to get through the thick headed man. "John knew what would happen when he came back. I'm sure he'll tell you the same thing."

"Is that all sir?" Roy was furious at this man's lack of compassion for a man who had saved Hank's ass a few times.

"Yes Roy that's all," Hank sighed and he felt a headache coming on.

DeSoto stormed out of Cap's office and headed to the yard as far away as possible from his shift mates. What had gotten into Stanley he wondered? No doubt pressure from headquarters. But this time he had his friend's back and he would make sure Gage knew it.

Out in the yard, Roy looked at the cars on the freeway and knew the bad run wasn't the start of his friend's troubles. His friend cared about the people they cared for and John had violated rule number one too many times to count. But there it was, shooting off letters for a doctor in dispatch, anything to make the system better, then it happened. Johnny found his voice.

They had just treated their favorite hypochondriac and headed quickly to their next call. It was a heart attack patient, one that almost didn't make it. It was at an accident and for some reason a camera crew had shown up. Roy knew Johnny was too upset to accompany the patient to hospital so he did, much to his dismay.

They both found out later when they were eating dinner and watching the six o'clock news. Gage was in rare form, spouting about the Los Angeles County citizens and their lack of concern for people who really needed the paramedics. Everything they had talked about Johnny ranted on and on. It was painful to watch and even Stanley called John in his office. But he knew Johnny and once something was under his skin he wouldn't let go.

God, he had tried to warn him. He knew Johnny had been firing letters to the editor as a concerned paramedic but everyone knew it was him. John Gage became a one man crusade on the inadequacies of the paramedic and Los Angeles Paramedic program.

So when the bad call happened, brass was just looking for a reason to get rid of Johnny. If he had learned one thing in the service he had learned large bureaucracies don't like to be told of what they are doing wrong and change is a slow, awkward process.

#######

Feeling anxious, Johnny decided he needed to take a ride. Waving to Joanne and the kids he headed to his new station. As he was on the freeway, he could see the neighborhoods changing. There was more graffiti, trash and empty lots as he took his off ramp. Stopping at the light, he reflected that the rumors seemed to be true. He stared at the abandoned gas station until someone honked their horn at him.

Turning left and then a quick right, he noticed his new stations surroundings. Houses with metal bars, burnt out shells of houses, abused lawns and rusted old cars sat in front yards. Strong smells assaulted his nose: garlic, urine, alcohol and vomit almost made him gag. But what amazed him was the station, it looked like a fortress. Now he knew why he needed a key code, he did a u-turn and headed back to the freeway.

On the ride back he was glad Roy had to work another shift and he wouldn't have to face his uncertainty. He had gone this far; Johnny just wondered if he could go all the way. Pulling up into the driveway, he slapped a smile on his face and decided to order pizza tonight since he would be getting a paycheck eventually.

#######

As Roy drove home his thoughts constantly turned to his best friend and his supposed station. Brice didn't gossip much but when he did, he was spot on. He would just have to ask John straight out and hope for an answer.

He was tired as he pulled in the drive; he had worked 96 hours straight, the maximum allowed for the department for overtime and straight shifts. He was glad he had three days off to really talk to Johnny.

Unfortunately Roy found out his friend was out running. Running from what or whom he wasn't sure, but he would have to wait. Taking a shower, he kissed Joanne and decided to take a long overdue nap. All three shifts had been busy.

#######

Johnny came quietly into the house knowing Roy was probably asleep and needed overtime to pay for him. He would get out as soon as he was able, but tonight they would celebrate coming back to the department, and if his best friend asked about his new station he would be honest and not let Roy have another useless guilt trip. Promising Joanne to talk to Roy and talking to Roy were two different things.

Groaning inwardly he knew he would have to tell Roy the truth, not that he didn't warn him in the first place. But he was tired too and decided to take a nap and maybe review the handbook again.

#######

The celebration dinner was quiet. It was a nice Italian restaurant where the kids happily dug into spaghetti and meatballs, Johnny had lasagna, and Joanne and Roy shared a veal parmigiana. Gage had tried to pay for dinner but Roy insisted since they were celebrating his return to the department and being a paramedic again.

Chris and Missy were eating spumoni ice cream while the adults were enjoying tiramisu and coffee.

Roy cleared his throat, "Here Johnny," he thrust something at him.

Johnny took the small wrapped cylinder with confusion. "It's not going to blow up is it?" He smiled and started to unwrap the gift. Much to his surprise it was a Smokey the Bear poster, exactly like the one which hung up in his locker eons ago it seemed.

"Um, thanks Roy," Johnny had a hard time finding his voice. He remembered when he had put it up on his locker at 51.

"What is that?" Roy asked incredulously.

"That is my good luck charm, pally," Johnny grinned and he knocked on it three times.

"Well the only good luck charm I need is my partner watching my back," Roy stared intently at Gage.

"Um, well. Hey it's been my good luck ever since the academy. I got it as a graduation present, you know," Johnny sat down on the bench thinking of his aunt.

"Sorry Johnny it's just," Roy shrugged.

"Hey, it's okay pally," Johnny grinned, "better get dressed, huh."

"If you'll excuse me," Gage quickly left his seat and headed towards the men's room.

"Man," Gage whispered and shook his head. He had almost lost it. Running water over his face, he took a paper towel, dried his face, threw the towel away and plastered a grin on his face.

"Well are we ready to go?" Roy asked as he looked at his quiet children.

"Yeah," Johnny took the cylinder and held tightly onto it. Sooner or later he would have to talk to Roy. He knew he was lucky to be working the same shift as his best friend, but the station was another matter.

In the rearview mirror, DeSoto saw his children cuddle up, and fall asleep in his best friend's arms. Did it really matter what station Johnny was at? The most important thing is he was back and he wouldn't have to fight things alone.