PS17

John sighed as he pulled into the station parking lot. It had been a difficult two days off; somehow he felt he had been intruding on his friends. Every time he went into a room Roy and Joanne would quickly separate. Living there made their intimacy difficult and troublesome. Of course Roy never admitted to it, saying he could stay as long as he wanted. Knowing his friend, Roy had some misplaced guilt along with friendship. Much as he hated the idea, he would have to move soon and leave the comfort and safety of his friend's house.

Gage had no illusions on how many bets had been placed on him staying, but so far he hadn't screwed up and felt he could continue somehow. Changing quickly he headed to the bay to check supplies and the radio. He could tell it was going to be a bad day; he could hear arguing in the day room. Not that it was any different than any other day, but the intensity had been ramped up a few notches.

Weaver and George were at it again, only louder this time. Seeking refuge in the bay, Gage did a quick assessment of the drug box and did a radio check. A large clap of thunder signaled how his shift was going to be, shitty and shittier. Rain just did something to their patients, mostly bad. Sighing heavily, he walked over to the engine and waited for roll call and assignments to be over.

It wasn't until lunch was over and the rain came down harder when the squad and engine were both called out. The apartment building was fully involved and they were they second station to respond. The rain didn't help as steam rose from the fire creating an eerie mist of smoke and steam.

A large woman, her clothes covered in soot ran to their captain. Her vacant eyes seemed to peer into his very soul.

"Sir, there are two tenants who aren't here. They're on the second floor, apartment 20A." Tears were running down her face. Her eyes were red and she breathed heavily.

Gage and Manny did a sweep of the apartment to find two code F's and they drug out the bodies as the captain called for the coroner. So far Johnny felt they were batting a thousand. Their next four runs were no better. A young female with a botched abortion died of hemorrhaging on the way to hospital, and two more fatalities at a car accident rounded out the day.

Johnny pushed his food around as Weaver and George got into it again. Disgusted with his shift mate's behavior, Gage got up from the table, washed his plates and utensils and headed out to the yard. For some reason he missed the roar of the traffic on the 405 freeway. The only thing he heard was yelling, screaming and screeching tires. Shrugging, he decided to turn in early, anything to block out the lousy shift so far. The light mist signaling the storm had passed and the new day would be better, hopefully.

The three am run did nothing to help the depressed paramedic's mood. Possible drug overdose times two, ambulance called and no doubt their friendly neighborhood police escort.

Manny savagely put the squad in park slammed the door of the squad and the compartments. He wasn't having a good day either, apparently. The cops pulled up and they followed them up into the rat infested, urine smelling hell hole of an apartment. All the apartments were beginning to meld together, one trash filled lawn after another. Pushing down the bile in their throat, the first cop turned off the pounding stereo and they looked at their two overdosed victims. Both men couldn't be over the age of nineteen.

Manny took one as a cop stood by and Johnny grabbed the other before the second cop shadowed him. One second he was checking out his victim, the next he left arm screamed in pain as he saw his blood drip onto the filthy carpet. He almost blacked out before he fell on his knees. Besides him sat his scissors from his holster, bloody and bent.

Manny's angry voice filtered through the darkness and then he felt the circulation being cut off on his arm.

"Yeah you can take him in the squad car," Manny said as his attacker was lead away.

"Gage you just know how to end a perfect shift don't ya?" Rodriguez shook his head as the attendants arrived. The other OD was placed on the gurney while Manny guided him down the stairs.

"Hey could you have somebody drive our squad in?" Manny's voice was calmer. Apparently getting an answer, he helped Gage into the back of the ambulance.

Johnny took a seat on the other side of the ambulance as his partner worked on the other OD. He closed his eyes and felt every single, pothole and bump in the road to the hospital.

Partner? Manny was never a partner, could never be a partner. Well pally, you had your one mistake. God, why did it have to be so damn hard? Oh well, I got a lot of money saved up. Don't know what the hell I'm going to do. Roy, Roy was and is a partner. We watched each others backs, a brother I never had. Gawd I'm going to miss the DeSoto's.

The sudden stop of the ambulance told him they were at the hospital for his final visit as a paramedic. He opened his eyes to the bright lights and blindly followed the gurney, their victim and his partner into the ER. He and Manny were directed to a treatment room, not that his condition could ever be diagnosed and treated, but hey they tried. Bright lights and the ice cold room did nothing to enhance his mood.

Johnny found his shirt taken off, and bandages. The nurse mumbled something about Fishburn coming to check him course it was going to be Fishburn, why spoil a perfect record, Brackett had been there for his death knell. The nurse, with a permanent frown on her face, did her job efficiently without one kind word.

It wasn't long before the treatment room opened to show the doctor arriving. Of course it would be the head of the ER; right know he would have given his eye tooth for Morton.

"So what happened," Fishburn delicately looked at his wound. The doctor's hands seem ice cold and Gage held his breath as he inspected the wound.

Well it was in Manny's court, might as well let him get the glory.

"Well you know how it is doc, those OD's-you never know what their going to do," Manny crossed his arms and waited.

Fishburn looked at the paramedic and his injured partner. Johnny was still in shock and just nodded, not sure if it wasn't the injury causing him to hear things.

"Well why don't you relax John, lets get an x-ray to make sure nothing major was damaged before we suture you up." The doc's voice was kind and concerned, throwing Gage off as well.

"Um sure, you're the boss," Gage felt himself being lowered onto the bed as it was adjusted up, and then his left arm was placed against his chest. He was too damn tired to talk or even argue with Manny.

"I'm going to get some coffee and tell the Cap," Manny said quietly exiting the treatment room.

Gage didn't open his eyes hearing the x-ray tech come in and take photos for the good doctor. Fact was he considered this a blessing, he would be gone from 118 forever, no more not talking about it and seeing Roy dying to know what was going on.

Yeah pally, just be glad I got out of your lives. I'm nothing but trouble. Man I must be dreaming. Manny didn't rat me out. Must be hurt worse than I thought.

The doctor came in with x-rays and made Gage sit up.

"Well I do admire you guys in the field," Fishburn injected the latacane into his wound. The cold stinging drug quickly took effect, making it difficult for John to keep his eyes open.

"Yeah doc those OD's never know which way they'll turn, right Gage?" Manny's voice was calm and collected.

Again he just nodded realizing it hadn't been a dream, Rodriguez was defending him, in some small way. Johnny continued to sit in silence as he was sutured up, wrapped and then given a sheet of instructions on wound care. Fishburn exited to be replaced with the frowning nurse who stuffed his prescriptions in his uniform shirt pocket. Then they were off, back to the station.