PS30

Johnny was getting tired of his flimsy hospital gown. Sure, he had a thin bathrobe and his socks but little else. Part of him was torn on calling Roy or someone else, but he couldn't get the tired look of his friend out of his mind. Roy had gone above and beyond what a friend should do.

Breakfast again was unappetizing but he forced himself to eat it or face the consequences. Finished, he sighed again, wondering when the doctors would make their rounds and hopefully release him. He could still see the woman's face, scared out of her mind as her ex boyfriend yanked her away. Everything happened so fast and then she was gone.

The door opened to his room, revealing Roy. Roy grinned and made his way to his bed.

"Hey Johnny," Roy waved. He came in with a paper sack.

"I sure hope you have some clothes in there pally," Johnny pointed to the sack "and my ticket out of here."

"Yeah I sure do," Roy came over and sat the sack on the foot of the bed. He stuck his hands in his pockets and had a pensive look.

"So does that mean what I think it means?" Johnny was grinning, thankful to get out of the hospital. Although he thought something was off on his friend's actions.

"Well about that Johnny," Roy hesitated as the door opened up again.

"What the hell!" Johnny's jaw dropped open. "What are you doing here?" He stared at Barney Olsen, Esq.

"Roy I guess you didn't get a chance…" Barney started and looked surprised.

"You—You talked to this bastard!" Johnny was livid. Olsen refused to even listen to him when he got sued.

"Will you just calm down Johnny," Roy said trying to calm his friend.

"How can I calm down? That…that bastard…do you know what he called me Roy? Do you huh? Wouldn't even listen to me. GET THE HELL OUT!" Johnny pointed his arm out, it stretched his belly but he didn't care.

"Johnny, please," Roy begged, lowering his arm. "Just listen to him okay?"

Johnny looked into his friend's pleading blue eyes and then at Olsen. "Two minutes."

"That's not much time," Olsen begged.

"One minute, forty five seconds," Johnny crossed his arms across his chest.

"All right, I called Roy here. I heard about the settlement along with year of back pay." Barry explained.

Johnny still looked at the traitor.

"So I talked to Roy, hoping to offer my services to get your back pay." Barney offered looking contritely.

"I can't afford you," Johnny stated succinctly and didn't even care if the lawyer offered anything.

"I owe you Johnny." Barney surmised, "Please."

"You owe me? Hell you didn't even believe me. Why should I trust you?" Johnny asked. He looked at the smug lawyer knowing how much it cost him to apologize. Not that he couldn't use the money and it was stupid to cut his nose off.

"You can't. I understand. I'll do it pro bono and I'll get it to you within six weeks," Barney promised.

Johnny looked at Roy. Roy barely nodded.

"All right," Johnny grudgingly offered his hand, wondering why he let Roy talk him into it.

Barney made a hasty retreat, humming as he left.

Johnny glared at Roy.

"You have some explaining to do partner."

"Yeah, well," Roy's hands went up.

"Ah I see you're here," Doctor Fishburn made an appearance.

"Yes just like you requested," Roy grinned.

"Hey what about me? Am I getting out of here doc?" Johnny asked anxiously. He looked at Fishburn and his friend. Roy had a conspirator smile and so did the doctor.

"Yes, John you are getting out of the hospital," Fishburn took his chart. "You'll be leaving with Roy and staying at his house."

"Now wait one damn minute Doc," Johnny tried to contain his anger. He had gotten himself in this mess and didn't want his best friend dealing with it anymore than he had too.

"Johnny, look you live in a second story apartment," Roy said. "You can't climb up those stairs. Believe me I had a hernia operation and slept downstairs for a good solid two weeks."

"A hernia operation?" Johnny asked. "When was this?" Suddenly realizing how much of his best friend's life he had missed hiding out in Paradise.

"It doesn't matter, Johnny. The important thing is your room's ready and as long as you follow the doc's instructions you'll be back to work in no time," Roy explained.

Defeated Johnny agreed, knowing both his best friend and superior once again had it over him. "All right but only until I get on my feet Roy. I don't want to be a burden."

As he was changing in his room, he remembered Sandra's card. He pulled it out of the bedside table and grinned, quickly stuffing it in his sweat pants pocket.

"So what have you got there partner?" Roy asked seeing a happier face on his friend.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Johnny said, happy to be out of the dreaded hospital.

%%%%%

Johnny was ready to head for home, glad it was just Roy and him. They were sitting at the dining room table. Joanne was a teacher's assistant for Chris's class. Breakfast was done and both men were enjoying a cup of coffee. Truth be told, Johnny was sorry to leave the DeSoto's, but he might be able to change his circumstance.

"Hey Roy," Johnny cleared his throat. "Could I run something by you?" His eyes were questioning as Roy's blue eye's met his.

Roy looked at his friend. "Sure." Curious as to what Johnny had to ask since he'd been back at the DeSoto's for a week. Roy sat hunched forward, his fingers interlaced and waited.

"Well, um, I got to thinking what's the difference between 51s and where I'm at now, you know," Johnny half smiled.

"Yeah." Roy waited. Yeah you're in a fricken hell hole.

"Well other than the guys trying to kill each other, we don't do intramural sports. You know softball, bowling and basketball. Do you think if maybe, now I mean maybe if the guys did it, we'd be a better team?" Johnny asked unsure of what he could do.

"I dunno Johnny, it depends on the guys," Roy licked his lips. "I mean you got to get the Cap behind it otherwise it's goin to crash and burn, you know."

Johnny exhaled and then looked at his friend. "Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of. Bowling's coming up."

"Yeah, bowling's coming up," Roy grinned, not having the heart to tell him, 51s A shift had long abandoned intramural sports since he had left.

"Hey all he can do is say 'no', right?" Johnny's suddenly found the back of his hand interesting.

"Yeah, Johnny, all he can do is say no." Roy said, hoping his friend's plan went through to make his tenure at 118 bearable.

Before heading home Johnny had a stop to make. Now or never he figured. He pulled his car in front of the station, maybe to make a quick retreat if needed.

Knocking on the door, he found his cap in the office, doing paperwork.

"Gage, what in the hell are you doing here? You're not back for another week right?" Martinez looked at him, annoyed and frustrated. Paperwork was strewn all over the desk and the sour expression on his superior's face made him regret his decision.

"Yeah, about that, Cap," Johnny walked to the door and closed it.

Martinez became quiet and confused.

"Well, Cap I have to ask you something," Johnny stammered, not like his whole career rested on this simple request.

"I'm waiting Gage. I don't have all day," Martinez said with anger.

"Uh…well Cap I've been thinking and at my old station we were really into intramural sports and I think we made a pretty good team. Not saying you, or I mean like we don't have one too, but I think…well it might make us a hell of a lot better," Johnny said, feeling like he had run up ten flights of stairs geared up.

"So you think intramural sports will make us better?" Martinez steepled his fingers together, making Johnny squirm in his chair.

"Yeah I don't think it could hurt. Could it?" Johnny surmised, and grinned hopefully sweet reason would come into play.

What seemed like forever Martinez sighed. Shifting in his chair it creaked along with the ticking of the large clock in the office. He held his pen in his hand and looked at he paramedic.

"All right. I know bowling is coming up. Now if you can get everyone onboard, now I'm saying if. You have to be in charge, because I don't have time for this shit," Martinez stated.

"But Cap, you can be on the team at least. I mean it would make it so much better if you could…."

"Fine, I'll be on the team but don't expect me to go to practice. I have a family that's more important. If you don't have anything else, get the hell out of my office. I have work to do," the cap ordered.

Standing up, John offered his superior his hand. "Thanks Cap. I really do appreciate this." Martinez swatted his hand out of the way.

"Get out of my office Gage. I don't want to see you again until you're cleared for duty," Martinez pointed at the door.

"Sure Cap and thanks again." Johnny grinned, open and shut the door. He couldn't quite remember how he made it home.

%%%%%%

Johnny sat across the table and looked at Sandra. Sandra had mentioned a coffee shop by her apartment to meet for coffee. For the first time in his life he felt no pressure to impress her. They were friends and nothing else. Platonic friends who would share horror stories and help support each other. Besides like he had told Roy he had sworn off women and any romantic entanglements.

"Um, thanks for agreeing to coffee," Sandra smiled. "Most of the time no one wants to talk about work you know," she giggled.

Filtered sunlight hit their back booth; the coffee shop was past the breakfast and lunch rush. A few other patrons were enjoying a late lunch. Sandra and he had gotten pie and coffee and the hours seem to disappear.

"Hey I liking talking shop, especially with someone who cares, you know," Johnny said back, glad to have a friend.

"Well let me tell you. You've made a world of difference. The children you bring in are manageable. Half the time I spend half the night just calming the poor kids down. I mean sometimes the foster homes are good but frankly I hate them," Sandra sipped at her coffee.

"I think I understand," Johnny looked into his coffee cup.

"Really? How? I told you I was in the system. You turn 18 and then nothing. Thankfully I had a caring foster family I was able to get scholarships and stuff. Three fourths of the kids in the system aren't that lucky," Sandra sighed and wiped at her eyes.

Johnny reached over and squeezed her free hand.

"Hey you made it out alive and are making a difference. That's what's its all about right?" Johnny grinned.

"Yeah, that's what's its all about," Sandra looked at her watch. "Well I have to go. Big date tonight."

"Sure and I enjoyed talking. I've been back a week and it feels like a month, you know," Johnny sighed; "besides I have to go too. Our first big practice. Hopefully you won't get a call from me to bail me out."