PS28
AS the MS took effect, Johnny had a hard time keeping his eyes open. He knew he couldn't relax completely until he was out of Rampart. Everything about this hospital set him on edge. God knows what Brackett, et al had told to the rest of the emergency room staff. Donaldson was a carbon copy of Brackett, stiff and uncaring. His jaws were clenched partly by pain, partly by memories.
Try as he might he couldn't forget word for word Brackett's damning testimony in both his hearing and court battle. Brackett's voice was bereft of emotion, clinical and uncaring. Wrapping his arms around his chest, Nurse McCall's testimony was halting and convicting at the same time. He had once thought they were friends but once again found out he was mistaken. He hoped he would get out of Rampart soon, the place gave him the creeps and his pulse still raced despite the MS.
The door opened and then the lights darkened in the treatment room. He could feel his pulse race and his respirations increase, a small trickle of sweat slid down his bare back.
"Roy," Johnny said tentatively, thinking it was one of the staff wanted to finish the job Brackett started.
"I'm here, Junior. Ride's on its way," Roy said with confidence.
Johnny felt Roy pick up his hand.
"Damnnitt," Roy hissed, "I'll be right back partner." He looked at the dried blood on Johnny's hands. John's own blood since no doubt he was the one to put pressure on it until the paramedics arrived.
Johnny nodded wondering what had upset his friend further.
"Just close your eyes and relax Johnny. You'll be at St. Francis in no time," Roy said and then he felt something warm on his hand.
"Huh," Johnny said and turned towards his friend.
"I'm wiping the blood from your hands. You think someone would get a freaking clue," Roy hissed and continued to take care of the other hand.
"Wonder why my hands felt so weird. Thanks Roy. Man do I owe you again," Johnny said quietly.
"You don't owe me anything Johnny. Not one damn thing okay," Roy dried his hands and put them under the blanket. "Still cold?" Roy asked.
"Yeah, real cold, but I'll be okay really," Johnny shrived and tried to convince himself he was warm.
"Be right back," Roy said and disappeared.
The next thing he knew he was cocooned in a warm blanket, forcing himself to stay awake but finally giving into his exhaustion.
Johnny woke up again to Roy's worried eyes and looked at the illuminated clock. 4 a.m.
"Hey Roy," Johnny croaked. "I'm damn sorry about this. I mean shift starts in a few hours and you're stuck here. Man, just go home when my ride gets here."
"Hey partner are you calling me old?" Roy asked, his blue eyes twinkling and a hint of smile on his lips.
"Um, no Roy it's just..." Johnny got flustered, his brain muddled from the drugs and loss of blood.
"Well how many all-nighters did we pull together huh? Do you think this one is going to bother me?" Roy asked again seeing the contrite face of his friend.
"Well no, but Roy, man…"
"Excuse me," Dixie's voice cut through the conversation.
"Be right back," Roy winked and walked to Dixie.
"Um, Roy the ambulance is here, but Donaldson wants another bag of Plasmate and MS for the ride to St. Francis," Dix explained as she handed him a syringe filled with MS along with Johnny's medical file.
"No problem I'll do it. Send the guys in, will ya," Roy nodded and then turned back to his friend. He went quickly to work, hanging up another bottle of plasmate and putting in the shot of MS into the IV port. "See what did I tell you?"
The ambulance techs came in with the gurney and started to load Johnny on it.
"You take good care of my friend here, huh," Roy explained, happy to finally be on their way. The MS worked quickly and Johnny was falling asleep again.
Roy followed his friend and gurney out to the emergency entrance and watched as they loaded his injured friend into the ambulance.
"I'll see you at the hospital," Roy squeezed Johnny's shoulder, closed the door and watched as the ambulance pulled away.
"Hey Roy," Dixie walked up to Roy.
"Hey, Dixie," Roy started to walk to his car.
"Roy, um, keep me posted on Johnny huh," Dix asked.
"I got to go now. Um, see you later," Roy waved and then headed to his car.
On the drive to St. Francis, Roy thought of the pain Johnny had suffered so far. Biting his lower lip, Johnny hadn't been the only one having secrets. In the pre dawn drive to the hospital Roy couldn't get the crushed face of his friend out of his mind.
Roy had been working his shift and was bringing their first patient of the day. He noticed something different at the hospital. The usual suspects weren't there. Brackett, Early, Morton and McCall were missing. Then he heard the nurses talking about the hearing and knew exactly what they were talking about.
After dinner he phoned Johnny only to hear the phone ring. He continued until lights out and realized he'd have to see his friend in the morning.
He had knocked four times on the door before Johnny opened up. John's eyes were bloodshot, his was in his T-shirt, slacks and socks. His jacket and tie threatened to slide off the chair. Beer bottles littered John's apartment floor.
Sitting down, John looked at his best friend.
"It's over man," Johnny said, "The fucking fat lady has sung." He sighed, put his head to his chest and sat quietly.
"Johnny," Roy tried comforting him.
"NO, man," Johnny shook his head. "You know what hurt the worst. I mean all along they string you along and you start to believe 'em. Then when it comes down to it, they," Johnny pantomimed an arrow going to his heart and gave him a mock slap on the head.
"I trusted those bastards and look what they did."
Roy sighed heavily.
"Oh man I'm sorry Roy. You still have to work with them. Man," Johnny shook his head.
"It's all right Johnny," Roy assured him. "I understand. Now is there anything I can do for you?"
"No, man - you've been here the whole time. Shit, Roy, you should go home. I got some stuff to do, kay," Johnny stood up and turned a shade green. "Don't worry pally I don't plan on doing this anytime soon."
"Promise," Roy grinned.
"Promise," Johnny grinned back.
What Roy hadn't told Johnny was after he left, he had slowly removed the friendliness and casualness he once had with the staff of Rampart. Taking a page from his rule book partner he had become more professional, because he never knew when it might save his ass someday.
Roy pulled his car into an open parking spot near the emergency entrance of St. Francis; he watched Johnny's ambulance back up. One day he would tell his friend about his change of heart regarding Rampart and the knowledge he knew they would never work together again.
Getting out of his car, Roy stretched and headed towards the emergency room doors. Again he tailed the gurney and followed it into a treatment room, he clutched John's medical chart in his hand.
A doctor waited who seemed to know Johnny well.
"Hey, I'm Roy DeSoto," Roy offered his hand before the doctor started his examination, "And this is for you."
The doctor took his hand and the file.
"So you're Roy DeSoto," the doctor looked him over. "I'm Doc Fishburn. I've heard about you."
Roy didn't know whether to act offended or delighted.
"Don't worry; I'm on John's side. Although I don't think he knows it. Having paramedic John Gage here has elevated our standards somewhat. Give me a few minutes to check out your friend and then well talk," Fishburn pointed to a place in the treatment room.
"Hey, John," Fishburn woke him up.
"Huh?" Johnny shook the cobwebs out of his mind and opened his eyes. "Hey, Doc. So I finally made it."
"Yes back at St. Francis. You don't mind if I check my colleagues' work do you?" the ER doctor asked.
"Nope, wouldn't mind a bit. Don't trust 'em you know," Johnny mumbled.
Fishburn looked at Roy.
"Oh, it's okay. I won't say a word, but I need your help though. I need to cut this bandage off to check his sutures. Then we'll wrap and start a round of antibiotics. Don't want to chance peritonitis."
Fishburn was quick, efficient and gentle. Before long, John was wrapped again, undressed and given some scrubs. He still had IV's but looked at his tired friend.
"Well, Doc, will you reassure Roy here I'm in good hands so he can get home to see his family before shift?" Johnny asked.
"You heard, Roy. His room is all ready. Don't worry we'll take good care of him," Fishburn winked as the orderlies came in.
"And Roy don't come back after shift, you need your sleep. I don't need you having an accident on my account. Okay Pally?" Johnny grinned and waved as he headed up to his room.
"Thanks Doc," Roy offered his hand again to Fishburn.
"My pleasure. I'd say John was right. Take care of yourself," Fishburn followed the gurney to the elevator and Roy headed out of the ER.
