PS18

Somehow Johnny remembered being stitched and bandaged up with medications stuck in his uniform pocket. He was told to take a couple of shifts off and come back to take his stitches out. After that, things got real hazy. Sliding in the cab, he had almost dozed off when a large snapping noise woke him up.

"GAGE!" Manny looked pissed.

"Huh," Gage's eyes got wide, and then he had to squint. The morning light was hurting his eyes.

"Just to let you know this is a one time, and one time only get out of jail free card. You screw up again and everyone's going to know about it. And I mean everyone," Manny emphasized. His brown eyes bore into his.

Johnny nodded, still in shock from his partner's change of demeanor. He thought he was done; stick a fork in him, and he'd try to be a paramedic someplace else. The ride was quiet; he laid his head against the cold glass of the window and was asleep.

Opening his eyes, Gage was back at the station, looking at the clock it was 5 a.m. as he climbed out of the cab. Every muscle protested, and then he saw Cap.

"Hey, cap," Johnny waved with his good arm.

"Gage, go lie down," the man ordered.

Johnny didn't push his luck. Although 5 am, he felt it was noon, and he was tired. A good hour would do him some good.

"So tell me what happened," Cap asked Manny.

The paramedic lingered in the dorm room door and waited.

Yep, Manny repeated the same story; his ass was saved for the present moment. Walking quietly to his bunk, he took off his boots and shirt, leaving his bunkers on and not caring what happened to his turnout or his helmet. Thinking he wouldn't be able to sleep, he was gone before he hit the pillow.

Opening his eyes, Johnny glanced up at the clock in the dorm. 11 a.m. Shit! He got up quickly throwing on his shirt, stripped off his bunkers and shoved his shoes back on. Each movement made his arm throb but he kept pushing. Roy probably wore a hole in the floor by now. It was going to have to stop; it was time to move out. Gage knew he liked having his safety net, but this was the right time.

It wasn't until he got to the bay he heard it—the steady, pounding beat of rain. Hard sheets of rain, wind whipped icy Alaskan rain, and it chilled him as a draft came through the open bay doors.

"Hey Gage," Cap asked as Johnny quickly buttoned up his leather jacket and tucked his helmet under his arm.

"You going to be okay riding home on that crotch rocket?" He seemed genuinely concerned.

"Yeah, of course, not a problem. Besides I have a few days off," Johnny grinned.

"Well Gage you take it easy," Cap waved and then headed back into the office.

Putting his helmet on before heading out to the yard, his surreal shift had come to an end. There was no way in hell was he going on the freeway, his reactions were slow and he really didn't want to be a sig alert. Surface streets it was though twice as long, no phone call to the DeSoto's either. He wiped the rain off of the seat, kicked started the engine, released the brake and was ready for his long arduous journey home.

By the time he got home it was past one, he was chilled to the bone and soaking wet. Pulling into the open garage, Gage could feel the piercing stare of his friend through the drapes. His injured arm ached and he tried not to show it, making sure to cradle his helmet in the injured arm.

Grimacing Johnny made his way to the kitchen opening the door from the garage. He could smell something wonderful on the stove, but his stomach did somersaults.

"Johnny," Roy reached for his injured arm and squeezed. "Where the hell have you been?"

Unable to stop it, the helmet fell from his arm. "ARGGHH"

"Johnny," Joanne rushed to him. "What did you do to him?" She tenderly held up his injured arm.

"He didn't do anything Joanne," Gage felt some feeling come back to his arm. "I had an accident at work is all."

He downplayed it but could see Roy wasn't buying it.

"An accident huh?" Roy crossed his arms. "What kind of accident?" Those blue eyes made him shiver.

"An accident. Sheesh Roy, like you never have accidents. Look I'm tired and cold I just want to take a nap before dinner is that all right?" Johnny stood his ground, knowing it was time to move out.

"No, go right ahead," Roy shooed him away, giving him a 'we'll talk later' look.

Going into this room, he shrived as he changed out of his soaking clothes into warm underwear and sweats, lying on his back he was quickly asleep.

#######

It wasn't until later that a soft knock at his door woke him up. Automatically stretching, his injured arm protested, and then he stood up and shuffled out the door. Once in the dining room, the kids were in front of the TV in the living room. Joanne and Roy were waiting for him in the kitchen.

"Sleep well?" Joanne smiled. "Go sit; I'll bring you dinner." Johnny looked up to see it was 7:30 well past dinner time.

Johnny walked to the dining room and sat down as Joanne made him a plate and then joined the children. Roy sat down next to him and nursed his coffee.

Forcing himself the injured man ate as a pretext to talk to his friend. Roy didn't really know how close he came to buying it this morning. Instead of his arm, the over dosed man could have easily stabbed him in the heart. Gage counted himself lucky and knew it was time to cut the ties. Granted, he would miss the home cooked meals, the worried looks but he was given a second chance and he had no intention of dragging his friend through the muck with him.

"Great as usual Joanne" Johnny stood up knowing Roy wouldn't stop him, thankful for his friend's good manners. He picked up the plate only to be stopped.

"I'll take care of it," Roy grabbed the plate and Johnny made his exit.

Gage almost made until he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Johnny," Roy almost whispered. "Are you okay?"

Turning around, Johnny felt like he was reliving the past of 18 months ago. "Yeah Roy I'm good. Just tired. I'll see you day after tomorrow after you get off shift, 'kay?"

"Sure, okay," Roy reluctantly agreed. "We're going to have a nice long talk."

Johnny gave a half grin, but not before saying goodnight to everyone. Thankfully Joanne had left a glass of water for him in his room. He took the medication, knowing he would be needing it for tomorrow.

#######

The next day he felt like he was sneaking out as he said good bye to Joanne. He purposely missed seeing Roy or the kids. Waving goodbye to Joanne he got on his bike, thankful the storm had passed. Finding a restaurant, he parked his bike, took off his helmet, got a paper and headed into the place. A cute waitress made eyes at him and sat him down at a booth, pouring him coffee and offering him a menu.

After ordering his breakfast, he got down to business looking at apartment want ads. He had one day to find a suitable place, figuring the quicker the better. He wasn't the only one to stew in his own juices. Circling ten places with his lucky green pen, he quickly ate, checking the weather section for the next three days. It was 9 a.m. and he had a busy day ahead of him.

By noon he had his own apartment, thankful for the thrift store a block away. He was able to outfit his apartment, quickly and added a little red wagon to his inventory. Granted it wasn't much, but it was his. He needed to pack up his things from the DeSoto's. On the way there he made a second key and he reminded himself to call the phone company to get a new phone.

Walking through the door of the DeSoto house Joanne looked at him, no, through him and she knew what he had done.