PS21
Johnny was happy to see his friend go, but he knew Roy didn't like his new apartment or his furnishings. His once partner was way too quiet and way too accommodating. Noting his friend's mood he dismissed it and headed out. A large L.A. County museum of art was calling his name.
#######
Roy was fuming and surprised smoke wasn't coming out of his ears. In his mind, Johnny was still being punished. He was surprised since his name had been cleared that he hadn't demanded the money that was taken from him so unjustly, first his salary for the whole year and then the settlement from the lying sonofabitch who took Johnny to court. They all owed his friend more than money could ever repay.
Roy chewed on his lower lip, thinking he would have to find a way to convince his friend of his self worth and get Johnny's confidence back along with the money that was owed to him.
#######
Pulling his motorcycle into the parking lot Johnny locked his bike, took his helmet and started walking to the large structure. He was stupid, dumb or ignorant, just maybe wasn't as cultured as he could be. He couldn't ever recall Roy not reading some heavy book at the station, from art to philosophy. Gage had decided he would change his attitude; he had balked at going to the opera and only went after his good old friend Roy guilted him into going. The fat lady singing had changed his perception of opera after that.
#######
His white knuckles on the steering wheel made his hands ached as Roy got out of the car. He slammed the car door and headed into the house. Finding Joanne in the kitchen, he gave her a hard, long kiss to relieve his tension.
She offered him a cup of coffee and noted the sadness in his eyes.
"I take it the visit to Johnny didn't go so well?" She crossed her arms and waited patiently. Her husband took his time speaking and trying to identify his feelings.
"Yeah, you could say that," Roy took a sip of the coffee and set the cup on the kitchen counter. "Joanne he's living like some refugee," he looked down at the floor. "I swear his apartment isn't much bigger than the damn trailer I found him in New Mexico. Not to mention he's buying all his stuff from the thrift store."
Joanne laughed and then looked at her worried husband.
"Roy you know Johnny always danced to a different drummer," she smiled trying to ease her husband's mind. "Besides it his decision to go after the money or not."
"Yeah, I know," Roy bit his lower lip. "But there's got to be a way to help him out without him knowing were helping him out."
Joanne walked over and kissed her husband. "I know you'll find a way Roy. Just let me know what you need me to do."
#######
Johnny had wandered all over the museum, looking at the all the pieces and trying to absorb the meanings from the painters. Crossing his arms in front of kinetic sculpture reminding him of the time he had lost Drew and the discovery of the artist with his awesome sculpture. He wondered whatever happened to the merry go round sculpture the man gave to the station. His feet were getting tired and his stomach grumbled in protest.
Finding the small restaurant he counted out his money, happy with a sandwich and coffee. His thoughts turned to Roy and knew his best friend wasn't happy about his living conditions. Truth be told he was scared and had hoarded all his money. When and if he was let go this time he would have something more to fall on then his abilities. Glad he never told Roy how he ended up in Paradise. He had run out of money and gas, a very simple story. Shaking his head, he finished his meal and he decided to take on the bigger galleries at the museum.
#######
Out in the backyard, Roy tackled mowing the grass; the mind numbing job helped him to get over his anger over Johnny. It always seemed he was the perennial sad sack, through no fault of his own. But this time Roy would have something to say and do about it. But it didn't clear his mind completely.
Tired, Johnny noticed the huge canvas when he walked into the room. It was a large as the room or at least the wall, the painting was called Happiness by Munoe. From what he could see it was a multitude of colors. He spotted a padded bench and gratefully sat down.
Upon further inspection, Happiness turned into a bunch of muted browns, golds, greens and black. Not his idea of happiness, he thought. Happiness was yellows, blues, oranges and reds, not this darkness. Yawning he contemplated the painting and its meaning.
He was still staring at the painting when he felt someone sit next to him on the bench.
"Perplexing isn't it?" A female voice inquired.
"Yeah, yeah it is," Johnny replied.
"Me, I think of happiness as reds and yellows," the female voice answered.
"Well me personally," Johnny placed his hand on his chest, "I think of yellows, blues and greens. You know happy colors of nature, like when you see a wildflower hiking up a mountain, you know."
"Wildflowers?" the female voice giggled.
"Yes, wildflowers. Once you seen them in the wild, in crags and places they shouldn't be growing, gives you hope and I guess happiness," he answered.
A bell sounded, and an announcement was made. The museum will be closing in Fifteen minutes. The museum will be closing in Fifteen minutes.
Johnny stood up and stretched and looked at his seat companion. She was a tall blonde with green eyes and he was in shock from her beauty.
"Hello," the woman giggled. "I'm Veronica Hage." She offered her hand.
"Um, John Gage," he wiped his hand on his jeans and she took it.
"Hungry?" Veronica asked as his stomach grumbled.
"Um, yes," Gage found himself tongue tied in front of the beauty in front of him.
"Well I know this great place about a block from here. Game?" Her smile was infectious.
"Sure, um, I'll meet you," Johnny put his hand on the Veronica's back.
"Sure. Sure." They both walked out of the museum together.
#######
Roy's two days off had done nothing to abate his anger over his friend's living conditions. Knowing Johnny, he might seem a penny pincher, even giving his wife a run for her money, but Gage's heart was big and generous. Driving to the station he recalled how he had purchased a bassinet instead of a barbecue for the station when they had delivered a baby in the back seat of an old clunker. Yet, he managed to prevent the guys from declaring mutiny by showing them the little girl they had delivered.
Pulling into his normal spot he still looked for John's Rover, but knew in his heart it wasn't going to be there. Leave it to his best friend to set him straight on departmental politics and his fate. He would be stuck with Brice forever, or until he took a promotion. Hearing the chatter in the locker room, Roy quickly changed and headed to the bay, he found Brice closing the squad bay doors.
"All done?" Roy asked but knowing the answer even before he asked
"You can…" Brice started.
"Never be too prepared," Roy waved him off, suddenly desiring a strong cup of coffee.
#######
Johnny whistled as he cleaned his apartment. He had another date with Veronica. She was taking him to an art gallery opening. She was a clothes designer and seemed to know a lot about the art world. Roy would be proud of him. He sighed, knowing it would be awhile before he could let Veronica see his apartment. He scratched his nose wondering if she knew who he was.
Unfortunately with the scandal, he truly found out who his true friends were. Roy had joke Johnny had a millions of friends, but they turned out to be fair-weather ones when it came to it. No, after the scandal, hearing and his basic washout of a being a paramedic it was just down to the guys at 51 and not all of them. Sure he could count on Marco, Mike, and Chet, and of course Roy, Hank was different being a captain and all. He didn't begrudge him that, Stanley was representing the department and he respected that. Anyone at Rampart was suspect, which hurt him badly. Recalling all the picnics and other sundry functions where the staff of Rampart would be there. As to nurses, he had sworn them off since they had treated him like the devil incarnate after the bad run.
"You're thinking too much Gage," Johnny berated himself; "It's another beautiful day. You got a job, a roof over your head, food to eat and now another friend. Get your head out of your ass!"
####
Roy's bad mood spilled over to the rest of the shift.
"So Roy did you see Johnny's place?" Chet asked innocently enough. The paramedics had been busy all shift and this was their first time to eat a mean.
"Did I see Johnny's place?" Roy snorted. "Of course I saw Johnny's place."
Marco looked at Chet and shook his head.
"So?" Chet looked at Marco. "How is it?" He still hadn't gotten the information he wanted.
"How is it? Well let me tell you it's no Taj Majal and Johnny deserves better. You know he's still fighting for everything," Roy stood up. "Johnny doesn't deserve to live like he does, he still paying for something he didn't do.'
"Hey pal I was only asking," Chet cringed, never having seen the paramedic this angry.
"So you asked," Roy threw his paper napkin on the table and stormed out.
Marco, Mike and Brice looked at Chet.
"Hey I was only askin, didn't think it was so damn personal," Chet dived into his food.
Stanley got up and found Roy out in the yard, staring at the rushing traffic on the freeway.
"Roy," Hank said gently and put his hand on his shoulder. "Want to tell me what this is all about, pal?"
DeSoto bit his lip, wondering if he should tell his superior anything. Roy had once told Johnny he felt Stanley was the enemy and Johnny corrected him. This was before he was suspended and Stanley had been particularly harsh on his friend.
"Cap doesn't have a clue what we do Johnny," Roy shook his head. "I mean yeah they help us once in awhile but it's not the same thing."
Johnny gave him a serious look.
"Roy, man I'm seriously disappointed in you. Cap's been there for us a lot of times, watching our back. Besides he's just doing his job, the best way he can," Johnny lamented.
"But what about…hell Johnny he's been riding you ever since," Roy glared at his friend.
"Roy you got to understand, Stanley's in the middle. Don't you think he's getting stuff from headquarters plus he has to keep us together? I wouldn't want to be in his position." Johnny grinned. "Besides it will work out in the end. Just cut Cap some slack, okay?"
"Yeah I will but only for you," Roy grinned. "And I still got your back."
"So Roy want to tell me the problem?" Stanley asked again.
Roy turned around and looked into the older and wiser man's eyes.
"Johnny's place is the smallest apartment I've ever seen anyone live in. He was bragging about getting his furniture from the thrift store down the block, not to mention he doesn't have a TV or stereo and is sleeping on some damn air mattress he uses for camping. He won but how comes it still looks like he lost?" Roy turned around looking at the freeway traffic.
"Cap, look I understand you can't get involved and John understands that. It's just I have to get my head wrapped around his new situation and…"
"Well I think we can change John's living situation for the time being. Are you in?" Stanley had a big grin on his face.
"OF course I'm in, but you won't get into trouble will you?" Roy knew Johnny wouldn't want this.
"Roy, I have my ways. C'mon, let's go talk to the guys."
