The characters of Emergency! are owned by Universal and Mark VII. No copyright infringement is intended. Becky Moren and Karan Jasper have ownership of their own names. I thank both ladies for allowing me to take them into the past. LaJuan
This story follows Crossroads although it also can stand alone.
ORDER IN: CUTE AND CUDDLY
By LaJuan
Becky Moren's life, up until her mother's death, had been the ideal life. She thought that things were getting better when she met Terry in high school. They were compatible the moment their eyes locked across the cafeteria. He was several inches taller than her and was a stocky blond with green eyes and a deep chest. Ten days after graduation, they had the storybook wedding with the cooperation of both sides of their family.
Unlike some of her friends from high school, when she married, Becky's goal wasn't to become "barefoot, fat and pregnant". She wanted love, but she also wanted a partnership in marriage. Terry was a talker and could find a friend in everyone. Becky had a rare marriage based upon honesty, love and communication. Becky and Terry wanted children, but not yet. They had all the time in the world to make that happen.
Unfortunately, they were wrong. Becky's Uncle Bill died of a stroke and her dad, Jim, and brother, Jack, moved to Brownsville, Texas. Two months later, Terry died in a construction accident. She had only her Aunt Anne left and within a year, her aunt had a massive heart attack. Then she found Roy DeSoto with amnesia and was in a car wreck with his partner, Johnny Gage.
********************
Becky was frustrated and angry at the same time. She twisted her key in her cabin's front door lock, shoved open the door, threw her purse on the floor and re-locked the door. Slinging off her high heels toward the front closet brought a small measure of satisfaction. Padding toward the kitchen in her stocking feet, Becky's mind was on a steaming cup of herbal tea. In five minutes, she took her cup out to the deck while the tea steeped. Looking up into the night sky, she decided a talk with God might help to lessen her anger.
"Lord, I know you don't give any person more than they can handle. You must think that I can handle a lot based on the past two years. But Lord, I don't understand why you gave me John Gage. The man is impossible and why did he have to be Roy's best friend? I thank you Lord for bringing me friends like Roy and Joanne when I so desperately needed friends who cared. But Lord, did John Gage have to be part of the package? He's always underfoot with those puppy dog eyes. He's like a kid, a Peter Pan who refuses to grow up. Lord, I'm just not ready to have another man in my life. It's too soon since losing Terry. Oh Lord, what is it going to take to get this man out of my hair?"
Sighing with weariness, she turned to go back inside just as a shooting star flashed overhead in the darken sky. Looking up, Becky murmured, "Thank you Lord for
listening. I know whatever happens in my life will be your will." She went back into the mountain cabin that she had inherited from her aunt. At one time she was going to sell it. She believed John when he said he was interested in buying the cabin. Only after the wreck she found out that he only said that to get information from her. He was trying to locate his missing partner, Roy.
That was the beginning of her distrust of John. It was obvious that he was interested in her. She just wasn't sure if she wanted to return the favor.
It was cool at night in the mountains, so she pulled wood from the firebox and arranged it in the fireplace. Going to the bedroom she gathered up some blankets and a pillow and threw them on the sofa. She lit the wood and watched as the flame crept higher from the shredded paper and caught the kindling ablaze. Wrapping the blankets around her, she stretched out on the sofa and watched the flames dance around the dried logs.
Her thoughts returned to her love, Terry, and the short life they had together. Tears welled up in her eyes and began to cascade down her cheeks as her anger washed away only to be replaced by grief. She gave into the blanket of grief and great gasping sobs tore from her throat as she asked over and over why did he have to leave her. Her sobs slowly reduced to whimpers and sniffles. With her grief spent, her eyelids grew heavy and her body drifted off to sleep.
As the fire crackled and the embers dropped down into the ashes a stillness came over the cabin. As Becky slept, she sensed the presence of her husband kneeling down beside her. He was dressed in white and was softly grinning at her. She felt his gentle touch to her cheek.
"My love. I had to go away because it was my time. Oh, if you could only see what I have found. I'm happy Becky and I want you happy too. It won't be your time for a long while and you need to be strong again and go on with your life. There is a purpose to you being without me and you will touch many lives in the future. I must go Becky my love, but I will be watching over you and your children." As he slowly faded away, Becky's hand reached out toward him and fell back to her chest as she whimpered in her sleep.
The next morning she woke up cold but oddly refreshed and calm. She quickly showered, got a bite to eat and then put on her jacket and hiking shoes. Grabbing her backpack stored in the "high heel" damaged front closet; she opened the front door and stepped out onto the deck. Taking a deep breath of the pine scented air, she took off to travel the deer trail she knew from when she had found Roy.
For the rest of the week she fell into the habit of daily walks. The vegetation had healed from when the van, carrying a kidnapped Roy, had rolled down the mountainside. Coming back from her daily jaunt, she spied a red convertible in the gravel drive. Sitting in the swing on the front deck was Roy DeSoto. Immediately Becky was concerned. No one knew she was up at the cabin. Heck, she didn't even know she was coming up here after her blowup at John.
"Roy, it's so good to see you, but why are you here?"
"I came to talk to you about Johnny."
"I'm not interested in talking about him. But, I'm still glad to see you."
"Becky, Joanne and I've been worried about you. You just disappeared on us."
"I had to get away, Roy. I've had it up to here with John." Her hand came up to indicate her neck. "I didn't even know I was coming here until I drove in. How did you find me?"
"I knew something must have happen between you and Johnny. I kept thinking where would you go and I remembered this cabin. Johnny's been too quiet and distant. I can't get him to talk and he's losing weight again. He's in Rampart Hospital."
"From the weight loss?"
"No. We went on a water rescue and we got the woman and the child out of their car. But Johnny ran into some trouble and swallowed too much creek water. He started spiking a fever that night at the fire station. He has pneumonia. He's lucky we were still on shift and caught it early. Ever since he lost his spleen in that hit and run accident, his immune system has been impaired."
"So how soon does he get out?"
"Dr. Brackett originally said in three or four days but he's changed his mind."
"Why?"
"Because of Johnny's changed attitude. He's not eating and he's not fighting the doctors."
"But I thought you're not suppose to go against the doctors."
"You don't understand. Johnny can come in unconscious and when he wakes up, the first thing he demands is how soon can he go home. Becky, I came up here to ask you to come back and talk to him."
"Roy, I don't know if that would do any good. John and I would just rub each other the wrong way, like we always do."
"Why is that?"
"He wants more than I can give. Roy, I'm not ready for a boyfriend. It's too soon. I've had too much death and loss in my life. I need a break. Besides, the dang fool won't sit still!"
Roy broke out in a large grin before replying. "Even when he's asleep he's on the move." His grin turned into a frown. "He's still now. I don't like it when he gets still. Becky, if anybody can understand losing family, it's Johnny. I don't know the details, but I do know his parents and uncle died tragically. His aunt is in a nursing home and I don't think he has any family left."
"I still don't think I should go to see him."
Looking at her sharply, Roy realized that there was something unspoken. "Becky, what is it that is really bothering you?"
Getting up from the swing by Roy, Becky began to pace the length of the deck. He waited for her, tracking her with his blue eyes. Finally she stopped and leaned on the rail fence surrounding the deck. "Roy, you remember when you were with me up here and I took you back to LA?"
"Yeah."
"During that time, John was
looking for you. He came to my home as a buyer for this cabin. I believed him
and I still believed him two days later when I picked him up to take him to see
the cabin. Then we had the wreck and I woke up in the hospital. You were
holding my hand and telling me you had regained your memories. I heard John say
that he wanted to get to know me better. But Roy, he doesn't know me. He
doesn't know anything about me and he's always underfoot. I feel suffocated
around him. I don't get a moment of peace. Roy, he lied to me and he was good
at lying. I have never been able to trust people who lie to me."
"Becky, Johnny's my best friend as well as my partner. I recruited and helped train him for the paramedic program. We have worked together so long that we know what the other is doing without asking. We have saved each other's life countless times. We have a tight bond. Yes, he probably went to the extreme to find me. But Becky, if the situation had been reversed and I was hunting for Johnny, I would have done the same. I would have lied to find him. You are the first good thing in his life in a long time. He's a good man, loyal, funny, smart, and searching for lifetime love. Give him a chance; give yourself a chance, Becky. Just talk to him. That's all I ask of you. Come on back and talk."
Quietly Becky stared at Roy. She went over in her brain all that had been said. She finally said the only thing she could, "Okay. I'll go see him, but I give no promises for what happens afterwards."
The next morning Becky arrived at Rampart Hospital to see Johnny. She had traveled down from the mountain cabin the night before. It would be a surprise visit for Johnny, as no one but Roy knew she was coming and he wouldn't tell. She got his room number, went up the elevator and went into his room.
She found him asleep in a bed tilted up. He was pale and his face was accented by the oxygen tubing draped from ear to ear. His left arm thrown up to shade his eyes held down his unruly black hair. The planes of his face were sharp showing his Indian heritage. His breathing was wheezy.
She stood at the doorway for a long time allowing her thoughts to drift. "What was it about this man that both attracts and repels me at the same time. Roy told me to give him a chance, to give me a chance. Oh Lord, help me."
She went over to his bed and sat down in the chair beside it. Reaching over she grabbed his fevered hand. He woke up slowly, looked over at her and said, "Oh my little Cesse. Are you okay?"
"Yes John I'm fine. We need to talk."
Dixie was on a break from the Emergency Room and had come up to see one of her favorite paramedics. As she came up to his door, she heard his voice. Cracking the door, she saw Becky by his bed and realized they were talking. Quietly closing the door she went to the nurse's station and called Dr. Kel Brackett.
"Kel, I just came from Johnny's room. She's in there with him and he's talking."
"Get a tray ready and in there as soon as possible."
"I'm already on it."
She pulled his tray out of the meal cart and popped it into the warming oven. Within minutes she was back at Johnny's door with his breakfast. She marched in, put his tray on the cart and pushed it up to his bed. Looking sternly at him she ordered, "Eat."
"I'm not hungry, Dixie."
Remembering Roy's words, Becky backed Dixie with her own order, "John, eat. I'm not going anywhere. I need to talk to you and be honest with you. You eat and I will talk."
As he reached for the food, Dixie quietly left the room with a satisfied look on her face. Going to the nearest phone, she dialed the number she had dialed so many times when Johnny stayed at the hospital. "Joanne, it's Dixie. Can I talk to Roy? Roy, she's in with Johnny. Yes, he's talking. Uh huh. Eating too. Thanks. Tell Joanne I'm glad too!"
********************
It took several months, lots of honesty, walks and talks before Johnny and Becky graduated from antagonistic foes to friends and then a couple. The day came when the announcement was made.
Johnny caught Roy out on a run when he asked the question. "Roy, I've been thinking."
"Watch it. I've told you before. That gets you into trouble."
"Very funny. I want you to be the best man."
"Of what?"
"Of my wedding. Becky said yes last night."
"Well. It's about time."
"Huh?"
"Johnny, I've known she was the one for you from the day you both started fighting with each other."
"Well. What about it?"
"What about what?"
"Roy. Will you be my best man?"
"Yeah, Junior. It will be my pleasure."
When they got back to the station it wasn't long until Roy got a phone call. Johnny shamelessly listened in to Roy's conversation.
"Hi, Jo. Yes. Oh. Really. When did she call? Uh huh. He told me this afternoon. He asked. Of course I said yes. Okay. I'll tell him. I love you too."
Turning back to Johnny he gave a grin and related his wife's side of the conversation. "Well Johnny. It looks like your wedding is going to be a family affair. Joanne will be matron of honor, Jennifer is flower girl, along with Charlotte from Becky's church and Chris will be ring bearer."
Chet came in and caught the last of the conversation. "What? Johnny's getting married? Don't tell me that Becky finally popped the question?"
"Alright, Chet. I won't."
"Won't what?"
"I won't tell you who popped the question."
"Gage!" A look of glee came over Chet's face. "I've got to go tell the rest of the gang." He about-faced and went through the door in search of the rest of A shift.
The day came for the wedding at the church that Becky had attended for so long. She had managed to get Johnny and Roy into a tux for the occasion. Becky's long dress was a soft blue with puffed sleeves. Joanne, Jennifer and Charlotte were in matching lime green long dresses. Johnny's co-workers wore their dress blue uniforms. The ceremony was simple and short with the exchange of vows and rings. Before the minister had them say their vows Johnny read the poem "Our Love" that had been read at his parent's wedding.
I am the fox with sly cunning
I am the eagle with sharpen sight
I am the bear who is your strength
Our love will last until the earth is blight.
You are the raccoon with agility
You are the mouse who knows it all
You are the cat giving quiet companionship
Our love will last until the Great Spirit's last call.
We are the deer beautiful in the snow
We are the wolves fiercely proud
We are the horses faster than the wind
Our love will last until the owl stops hooting loud.
You are my maiden
And I am your warrior
Children will be the fruit of our land
Our love will last until the morning star's failure.
"I love you my Cesse."
"I love you too, John."
They spent a week in the mountains at her cabin discovering each other. He was delighted in her hiking abilities and she was joyous that he enjoyed camping and rock climbing.
********************
Six months after their marriage it happened. The change took place gradually over two weeks when Roy and Johnny had a series of bad runs. Becky had not taken notice of it. She had been busy working with her church and attending community college courses. She had a flair for interior designing and was considering having a career in the field. When she brought the topic up, Johnny was supportive, but didn't have much to say. He had been quiet for a while.
At the beginning of Johnny's next shift the klaxon went off. "Squad 51, man down, 14351 Sahara Road, 14351 Sahara Road, cross street Evan Drive. Time out 8:15."
Roy and Johnny raced to their squad while Captain Stanley wrote down the address and handed it to Roy. As he jumped into the driver's seat Roy handed it to Johnny. With sirens howling and lights flashing the squad pulled out of the apparatus bay. With Johnny's navigation abilities, they pulled up to the curb of the house within minutes. They jumped out of the squad, went to get their equipment and were met by a heavyset elderly woman.
"My husband is in the front room in the recliner. I think he's dead."
"What happened?" inquired Roy.
"He wanted a cup of coffee. I went into the kitchen to make a pot and when I came back, I found him stretched out in the recliner, not moving." She finished her statement as they were going through the front door. "I waited for a few minutes to be sure and then I called the police."
Roy flashed a look at Johnny who nodded as he took his penlight and looked into the man's eyes. Roy checked for respiration and a heart rate. He noticed the blueness of the man's lips and fingernails. Vince Howard, the local policeman in the area, walked in. Roy looked up and noticed Vince. He looked over at Johnny and got a nod. He got up and motioned the policeman to go outside with him. "Vince, the man's dead. He's been too long without oxygen. I suspect he had a heart attack. Could you call the coroner?"
"Sure Roy. I'll have my partner go in and talk to the widow."
"I'll call dispatch, cancel this call and make us available again."
Within minutes the paramedics were returning to quarters. They never made it. They were called out again in route. Each of their runs turned out to be progressively taxing on their energy and their spirits. The runs cumulated at 1:30 the next morning when Station 51 was called to a structure fire with victims.
It was a bad fire. Captain Stanley upgraded it to three alarms and additional engines and squads were called in. All the paramedics were sent into the third story apartment building. The men divided up the floors to search for tenants. Roy and Johnny took the second floor. They went up the stairs sidestepping the trash littering the landings. When they hit the hallway, Roy signaled Johnny to take the right side as he went to the left. They went down the hall checking apartments and marking the doors with chalked X's when they found the apartments empty.
Roy's handy talkie squawked. "HT 51-Engine 51. We have a report that there are five children in Apartment 225."
"10-4. We're on it Cap." Roy's voice was muffled by his airmask.
"Johnny! Children in 225."
"Okay. Almost there." Johnny raced down to 225 and went to open the door. As he reached for the knob he noticed smoke rolling out from under the door. He felt Roy grabbing his shoulder. "Roy, it's hot."
"Engine 51-HT 51. Cap, we need hose backup in here. 225 is hot."
"10-4. They're on their way." Captain Stanley went over to Chet and Marco and sent them in with an inch and a half hose.
Arriving at the apartment, Chet and Marco aimed the hose at the door as Roy and Johnny opened it. The smoke was thick as the two paramedics went in. They moved out of the living room and went toward the bedrooms. Johnny headed for the bed and checked under it. He didn't find anything. He reached up to the bed and searched the bed covers. Nothing was there. He went to check the closet. Feeling around, his hand locked on a small leg. "Roy! I found them."
"Where are you?"
"First door on the right, at the closet."
Roy rapidly found Johnny and they started pulling the children out of the bottom of the closet from under clothing. While Johnny gathered the three youngest children in his arms, Roy threw the two older children over his shoulders.
They headed for the front door of the apartment, blinded by the smoke. Johnny rammed his shoulder into the corner of a dresser as he exited the bedroom and gave out a grunt of pain. As his arm went numb, he started to drop the little girl he had carried on that side. He pressed his body against the dresser wedging the girl between him and the wood.
"Chet! Johnny needs help," Roy yelled as he saw through the swirling smoke Chet manning the hose.
Tapping Marco's shoulder and receiving a nod, Chet hurried over to where Roy was pointing. Chet found Johnny and took the child away from him. With a push, he got Johnny going again for the exit.
Captain Stanley was watching the entrance to the apartments for his crew when he saw three of them burst from the doors. Reaching behind him into the squad storage doors, he grabbed two blankets and draped them on the ground. Roy came up and laid down both of his children. Chet and Johnny followed him with the rest of the children.
The mother ran over yelling, "My children! My children!" The Captain intercepted her and said his men were doing the best they could, but she needed to allow them to work. She yelled at the paramedics as the Captain led her over to a police officer standing nearby. "I only stepped out for a few minutes. They were doing okay. What did you do to them? Why aren't they awake?"
"Cap, can you get one of the other squads over to help? Johnny injured his arm."
"I'm fine, Roy."
"Yeah, tell that to your dangling left arm. Cap, can you get the biophone ready?"
"I can do both, Roy."
The paramedics went to work on the children checking for breathing, getting vitals, and contacting Rampart Hospital. Squad 14 came over to help and took over the care of two of the children.
Johnny was having difficulties with the little girl he had given to Chet to carry. She was going sour fast and nothing Johnny did seem to help. The mother noticed the frantic activity, eluded the police officer and ran over to Johnny. She started hitting on his back while yelling, "You're killing her. Get away from my baby. Leave her alone!" While the mother pounded on him, the little girl's heart stopped. With Chet stepping in to do CPR on the child and the police officer peeling the mother off Johnny's back, Johnny was hard pressed to keep his concentration on the child. He was getting feeling back into his arm and could grasp with his hand now. Following Rampart's orders, he grabbed the defibrillator, charged it and shocked the child. This brought further verbal abuse from the frantic mother in the arms of the police officer. As the mother was dragged away by the cop, Johnny received further treatment orders from Dr. Early at Rampart Base. Their efforts were in vain and the child slipped away.
By now Roy had his two children stabilized and the other two children were on their way to the hospital with Squad 14's paramedics. Roy would ride with the children in the next ambulance. Captain Stanley told Chet to take Johnny in the Squad and follow the ambulance. He had orders to make sure a doctor saw Johnny.
Rampart Hospital Emergency Room was busy from injuries from the apartment fire and a freeway multiple vehicle accident. Johnny was waiting when he heard a scream coming from the doctor's lounge. He stood up and started to go to see what was going on when the mother of the five children rushed out of the lounge. She bounced off of Johnny and looked up at him. "You! First you kill my youngest and now my twins are dead. What did you do to them in there? What did you do to my children?"
"I didn't kill your children. I tried to save them."
"Murderer!" She clenched her fists and hit repeatedly his chest. His turncoat protected his body from most of her punches, but nothing was protecting him from her screams of accusations.
The commotion brought the doctors, nurses and Roy into the hallway. Dixie was able to pull the mother away and back into the lounge, while Roy and Dr. Early took Johnny into a treatment room. After inspecting Johnny's arm and looking at x-rays of his shoulder and arm, Dr. Early wrapped an ice bag on his arm using an ace bandage. He instructed Johnny on how to take care of the deep bruise he had sustained and released him for work.
As the two paramedics went out into the hallway, Roy's handy talkie queried, "Squad 51, what is your status?"
"Squad 51 available."
"Squad 51 return to scene with Engine 51."
"10-4. Squad 51 returning to scene."
Roy and Johnny were assigned to help their co-workers in the apartment building. The fire was out and the crew was in clean up mode when faint cries were heard from the basement. Johnny and Roy were called over. Finding a hole in the flooring above the basement, the two men were lowered by their crewmates. Using flashlights, they discovered the cries for help were coming from the laundry room under a table covered with debris. Steadily they pulled the sheetrock and rebar away. They gazed upon two fingers of a hand waving in the air. Shining the light into the opened area, they found a young woman curled on her side with a small boy cradled in her arms.
"Are you okay?" Roy asked softly.
"I'm okay, just trapped. But my son Johnny hasn't moved. He has asthma and had trouble breathing after the fire started. I…I think he has stopped breathing."
Roy looked over at Johnny and caught the look of despair and determination on Johnny's face. Both men bent down to clear the debris away from the side of the table nearest the child. Reaching in, Johnny touched the boy's neck checking for a pulse. Finding none, he hurriedly pulled the boy out of his mother's arms and stretched little Johnny out in the cleared area. He started CPR while alternating with heart compression. Roy helped the mother from the tomb. Roy left her to set up the biophone to Rampart Hospital.
"Rampart Base, Squad 51. Do you copy?"
"Squad 51, go ahead," replied Dr. Brackett.
"Rampart we have a young boy age…" turning to the mother Roy raised his eyebrows in question.
"Six," she replied.
"Rampart we have a young boy age six who has been trapped in the basement of an apartment building fire. His mother reports he has a history of asthma and has stopped breathing for an undetermined amount of time. CPR and heart compression is currently being administered."
"Can you give me a lead?"
"Working on that now." Roy dropped the biophone to help work on the boy with Johnny.
Five minutes later Roy reported to Rampart that the boy had a faint pulse but was still in respiratory distress. He was instructed to set up an IV, insert an airway and transport immediately. After loading the boy into a stokes, the duo's co-workers pulled all four out of the basement. The boy and his mother were loaded into the ambulance. It was Johnny's turn to bring in the squad, so Roy rode in the ambulance with the patient.
With sirens going, Johnny followed the ambulance toward Rampart. Halfway there Johnny felt the right front tire blow as the steering wheel wobbled. He fought to slow his speed down by taking his foot off the pedal and steering toward the right shoulder.
The car behind him didn't slow as the young driver was brushing her hair and swaying to the loud music blaring from her speakers. Looking up she saw the back of the red truck growing larger just before she plowed into the back left side. As both vehicles came to a stop, she looked around finding no one in sight. She jumped out and ran. She knew she would be grounded for life if she were linked to her friend's car at this late hour.
A few minutes later Johnny woke up in a haze. Without thought to possible injuries or his actions, he opened the driver's door and walked around to the passenger side. He opened the door, took off his turnout jacket and his uniform jacket. He folded them neatly and placed them squarely in the middle of the seat. He removed his badge and nametag from his shirt. The pin from his nametag dug deeply in his finger as he handled it. Putting both badge and nametag in the middle of the clothes, blood from the wound dripped down on the badge and his uniform jacket. With a dazed look still on his face, he turned and walked off going further down the canyon road in the dark.
********************
By the time the ambulance backed into the ER entrance Roy had stabilized the boy. He hopped out and went in with the gurney. Looking around for his partner, he was surprised to not see the squad. He knew Johnny had been directly behind the ambulance as they drove off. After he gave the attending doctor the vitals report, Dixie shooed him out to the nurse's desk to get coffee and wait for his partner to come pick him up.
Roy was uneasy and couldn't put his finger on what had been bothering him over the past few days. While sitting in the waiting room drinking his coffee, he allowed his mind to wander and it came to him. Johnny was too quiet. Since around ten o'clock the previous evening he didn't recall Johnny saying anything to the crew, even Chet, who normally could get a rise out of Johnny. After he finished his coffee, Roy got up and went to look out the ER entrance for his partner. Johnny and the squad were not in sight. His handy talkie squawked.
"Squad 51. What is your status?"
Roy listened quietly for Johnny's response and his apprehension grew as the silence continued. Sam, the dispatcher, repeated his request. Without an answer, Sam went down to the next squad on his list and dispatched Squad 14 and Engine 51 to a multiple vehicle accident.
"HT 51, Engine 51. Roy have you heard from Johnny?"
"Engine 51. No, Cap. He was right behind us as the ambulance left, but he never made it here."
"HT 51, stay where you are. Engine 51 will swing by to pick you up after we finish with this MVA."
"10-4. HT 51 out."
Roy went to get another cup of coffee from the waiting room. As he sat down to wait, his mind turned to Johnny and he began to worry again. His thoughts were interrupted by a message to LA from Squad 14. Squad 14 was canceling their call due to lack of victims.
Roy knew from experience that after hosing down the wrecks for spilling gasoline, Engine 51 would be released to return to quarters. He wondered what happened to the drivers of the vehicles.
Within fifteen minutes Roy saw Chet walking through the doors. "Come on Roy. Cap is waiting." Chet had a grim look as he stomped back out to the engine. Climbing in, Roy found the atmosphere thick with tension. Each of his co-workers was quiet, tense and self-contained. Mike made double time returning the rig to the station. As they climbed down at the station Cap spoke for the first time.
"Roy, come into the kitchen. We all need to talk."
Puzzled, Roy followed Captain Stanley, as he looked side to side at his crewmates searching for answers. Chet's grim look was duplicated on Marco and Mike's faces.
"Sit down Roy," commanded his Cap.
"We've got some bad news for you, Pal."
Roy realized then that it was about his partner. "Johnny?"
"That MVA we were called out on was a car and Squad 51."
Roy went to stand up and Mike's gentle hands pressed him back down into the chair. "There's more Roy," Mike conveyed softly.
The Captain took back over the narration. "When we got there we found the squad on the shoulder of the road. The passenger front tire was blown and the back had a green sedan shoved up under the left bumper. No one was in sight. But we found something that has us spooked."
"What's that Cap?"
"Johnny's turnout, jacket, badge and nametag were on the passenger seat neatly folded. There was blood on the badge and jacket. The police think he was kidnapped."
Roy was watched closely by his crewmates as his face blanched of color and he zoned out with memories of his recent kidnapping ordeal. In a space of a minute he relived the emotions and fright of being forced to bow to another's will and the feel of the gun against his neck.
Chet disappeared and came back with a glass of water. He earned the grateful smile of his Captain as Captain Stanley took the water and urged Roy to drink it. Coming back to the present with the pain of his memories fresh on his face, Roy looked up at his Captain.
"We've got to find him Cap! He can't go through what I experienced."
"Roy, the police are looking for him and the driver of the car. In the meantime, I'm going to stand you down. Charlie's going to have to bring us a replacement squad. The police have impounded the squad for their investigation. The shift will be over in an hour. Why don't you get a cup of coffee until we hear something else?"
"Cap I don't want coffee. I want to find Johnny."
"That wasn't a suggestion Roy. Go get the coffee."
"Yes Sir."
********************
The college girls were getting an early jump on their discovery trip. They were into nature, flowers and the joys of life and were traveling to Arizona to commune with the Indians. Who else but the Indians would know how to live close to nature? As Violet drove the Volkswagen bus, Faith and Crystal were enjoying looking out the windows and singing. The vehicle slowed as it climbed the canyon road and passed the dark headed walker on the shoulder. Swirling her head to watch the man, Crystal cried out. "Violet, pull over. I think we just passed our Indian guide."
Violet slammed on the brakes and backed up the flower painted van until she was level with the walking man. Crystal leaned out the window and asked, "Hey man. You need a ride?" Johnny continued to walk, keeping his glazed expression unchanged. Crystal tried again to get his attention. "We're on our way to Arizona. How would you like to go with us?" Again she got no answer.
Faith was watching the man and noticed how robotic he moved. "Hey Crystal. I don't think he's all there. Maybe we need to stop and check him out." Violet had been listening and pulled the van over and waited for the man to catch up to the VW. His walking was so automatic that he walked into the right front fender of the van and went stumbling off into the direction of the drop off into the ravine below.
"Grab him!" yelled Violet. Her two companions jumped out of the van and ran to catch Johnny. Grabbing his arms, they stopped him and led him back to the van. They pushed him into the inside back of the van and onto the mattress on the floor. He laid his head down, gave out a sigh and closed his eyes. Faith and Crystal tried to talk to him but he stayed quiet and still. The three girls conferred and decided to take him with them to Arizona. Maybe they could take him back to his home. They covered him with a blanket, got back into the van and went on their way.
They drove through the day, into the night, and into the next day. Johnny slept and healed through their journey. Later that evening they stopped at a gas station café just outside the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest in the Blue Primitive Range. All three girls got out to go to the bathroom and get some tea.
With the van still, Johnny slowly began to wake up. Gazing around he was puzzled as to where he was. Putting his hand up to his aching head, he was glad it was dark outside. Bright sunlight would be too hard to bear at the moment. Rolling over and pulling his knees up to his chest, he pushed himself up to a kneeling position. Looking around, he knew he was in a van. Feeling the pressure of a full bladder, he opened the side door and got out. Feeling the cold of night, he reached back in and grabbed the wool blanket that had covered him. He made his way into the pine forest, took care of his needs and wandered further into the forest. When the three girls came back, they found the side door open and their Indian guide gone.
*******************
Roy got off shift and went over to Johnny's ranch to see Becky. He had already called Joanne and told her of Johnny's missing status. Joanne was going to ask a neighbor to watch their two children and would be following him out to the ranch to be with Becky. Roy pulled into the gravel driveway and was followed by a police car. As two men got out of the vehicle, Roy recognized Vince Howard and Jeff Thompson, the detective who had investigated Roy's kidnapping.
"Roy, I'm glad to see you're here. I was just going in to break the news to Mrs. Gage," said Vince.
"Guys, I wish I could have seen you under better circumstances."
"Same with us, Roy." The men walked up to the house and knocked on the front door.
Becky came and opened the door. "Roy. What are you doing here?"
"Becky. This is Police Officer Vince Howard and Detective Jeff Thompson. May we come in?"
"Sure. Come on in. Detective Thompson. Weren't you the one who was on Roy's kidnapping case?"
"Yes Mrs. Gage."
Turning to Roy, realization came upon her face. "Roy? Oh no. John? Is he dead?"
"Becky, let's go in and I'll tell you what I know."
Johnny and Becky had talked before about the dangers and the possibility he could get killed or injured on the job. The possibility of him missing had never been discussed. As calmly as she could, she listened to Roy and answered the questions of Vince and Detective Thompson. All she wanted was for all of them to leave so she could give into the grief of losing her second husband.
"I can't believe he's gone. I was planning on sharing some surprising news with him when he got off shift. Now he may never know," she said as tears flowed down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Gage. We will do anything in our power to find him for you. Roy, we are going to leave now. We'll see ourselves out."
"I'll get back with you, Jeff," said Roy. Turning back to Becky, he gently wiped her tears with his handkerchief and grabbed her in a bear hug. That was her undoing and she cried into his chest.
Vince looked back as the detective and he were going out the door and saw a very familiar scene. Only the last time he saw a woman crying onto a man's chest, it was Joanne crying into Johnny's.
********************
Johnny was confused. He was lost and cold. He knew he was in a forest, but where? He was thirsty, hungry and his head ached. His survival skills that his uncle had taught him when he was young kicked in. Cocking his head, he heard a spring nearby. Stumbling forward in his haste, he found water bubbling out of a nearby rocky area. Scooping the water up with his hands, he slacked his thirst with small sips. His paramedic training told him to not drink much as it would come back up. Looking around by moonlight, he saw a fallen tree draped over an area of large rocks. A blanket of pine needles provided a roof to the natural shelter. Pushing a carpet of pine needles ahead of him with one hand and dragging the blanket behind him, Johnny crawled into the shelter. Laying the blanket over the raised needles Johnny laid down, wrapped himself in the blanket and went back to sleep.
The next morning a noisy, but happy bird landed on the fallen tree and sung his song to the world. Johnny woke up puzzled. Wrapped in his warm blanket, he let his thoughts drift and realized that for the first time in some time, his head was pain free and clear. But his heart wasn't. Thinking back, he felt the despair and pain again of so many bad runs and the deaths of the man, the children and little Johnny, who he was sure had died on the run to the hospital. He couldn't deal with the thought that no matter what he had done, those people died under his care. His mind retreated into a dark recess of his brain and his body automatically took over.
Later that night, he woke up to find he was sitting in front of a fire at the opening of a cave, watching the flickering blaze. Above the fire was a branch covered by strung fish held up by forked branches on either side. Draped over a rock before the fire was his steaming uniform pants. Beside him were two smoked fish, one was partially consumed. He must have used his knife to cut up the blanket. Half of it covered his legs. The other part was cut into pieces. He was in the process of sewing them together using a needle like fish bone and the thread that had been around the edge of the blanket. It was almost finish as a jacket. His left hand was hurting. Looking down, he could see the fish bone needle sticking into the palm of his hand.
Gently taking out the needle, he wiped his hand on the end of the blanket on his legs. Using his right hand, he put pressure on his left palm to stop the bleeding. He returned to sewing the blanket jacket until it was finished. Putting it on, he felt the warmth it provided. Reaching over, he checked his pants and found them dry. Pulling them on, he walked around the cave and explored its contours. Knowing that the opening with the fire was the only way out, he settled back down and ate the fish.
Over the next few days, he discovered that if he didn't think of his past life, he didn't blank out. His uncle's training was deep in his subconscious and he was very good at finding food and water. Any food he didn't eat, he set it to drying for future use.
He wasn't feeling good. The fish bone needle wound on his hand was red and streaks of redness were running up to his elbow. It was sore and puffy. He knew it was infected. Walking down to the creek, he plunged his hand into the icy water. Feeling the numbness and the relief of pain, he lay for a while on the bank and let the water work its magic.
Rolling over onto his back, he stopped on his side when he heard the low growl. He stayed still until he heard the soft padding walking away from him. Getting up, he made his way back to the cave. He sensed he was being followed. Pulling logs closer; he built the fire back up and laid down. He was feeling chilled, so he gathered his half-sized blanket tightly around him and went to sleep.
He woke later to his hand throbbing and a dying fire. He heard again the low growl. Reaching to his dried food, he scooped up a piece of dried meat and threw it toward the sound. As he laid and heard the dog chew on the meat, Johnny started talking to the animal. He kept his voice low and soothing. He could see the gleam of the animal's eyes and the cock of the head as the dog listened. Abruptly, the dog got up and walked out into the night.
The next morning Johnny woke up feverish. He yearned for the coolness of the creek water. Grabbing a stick outside of the cave, he wavered dizzily as he made his way down to the bank. This time he plunged his entire body into the water. It felt good, but he soon was shivering and crawled out. It took a while but he made his way back to the cave. Feeding the fire, he stripped off his wet clothes, set them to dry and wrapped himself in his small wool blanket.
He was too tired and weak to eat, but he still threw a piece of dried meat out to the dog that had followed him. The dog growled as he snatched the food from the air. Settling down to eat, the animal kept his head cocked and listened as the man softly talked. The voice droned and then dwindled until Johnny slept. The dog crept into the cave past the fire and went up to the man. Sniffing over the man's body, the dog laid down beside the man and rested his head on Johnny's chest.
********************
Roy was frustrated. He had been on the phone with Jeff Thompson, but there had been no word on Johnny's location. He decided to go over to Becky's to see how she was holding up. Driving up the driveway to the ranch house, he could tell it was already missing Johnny's touch. He made a mental note to ask the guys at the firehouse to help him do some chores at the ranch on their next shift break.
Not getting an answer at the door, he went around back and found Becky on the deck crying. "Becky, what's wrong?"
"I guess I'm feeling sorry for myself. I held back from getting involved with John because I didn't want to get hurt again."
"He didn't intentionally do this."
"My mind says he didn't, but my heart still hurts, especially now."
"Why especially now?"
Becky looked up at Roy, chewed on her lower lip and decided to give him the news she had been saving for her husband. "Roy, I'm pregnant, about two months along."
Roy was surprised, but more determined to find Johnny. He reached out and gathered his partner's wife into his arms, allowing her to finish her cry. "Becky, we will find him. I promise you that."
"It's going to take money. I've arranged to sell my former home in LA. One of my church friends is buying it now."
"I'm sure the guys at work will help out."
"Roy, can you find a private investigator?"
"Yeah, I can. I'll get a meeting set up."
A day later they came out of the meeting with some hope. They knew there wasn't much to go on. Roy went back on shift the next day to answer questions from his co-workers.
"Hey Roy. On the last shift why did we have Brice instead of you?"
"Becky and I had an appointment with a private investigator to try to find Johnny."
"It would probably be cheaper to just plaster his ugly face on a couple of billboards."
"Ah, Chet. What good would that do?"
As Mike turned a page on the book he was reading, he joined in, "Not a bad idea, Roy."
"Yeah. I think I got some money to donate to that."
Glancing over with an astonished look, Roy said, "Thanks, Marco."
Walking in on the conversation, Captain Stanley added his thoughts, "Roy. I think I have the right picture for that in Johnny's files. Why don't we go to the office and look, Pal?"
Roy stood up surprised, but proud of his teammates. After Captain Stanley handed over the picture of Johnny in his blue uniform shirt, he took his wallet out and handed over to Roy a sizeable sum of money. "Let's just get him back, okay Pal."
********************
The three college girls had a fabulous trip. Knowing that their classes would start the next morning, they were eager to return to Los Angeles. As before, Crystal and Faith were singing as they gazed out the windows. The song faltered and faded out as both girls spotted the billboard at the same time. Grinning back at them was their Indian Guide. The billboard read, "Have you seen me? Please contact the Los Angeles County Fire Department at this number." Crystal popped open the glove box and wrote the phone number down on the inside of the gum wrapper she found on top.
When they got back to the
dorm, they crowded together at the hall phone and dialed the number. The girls
were asked to meet a fire department representative in the dorm lobby
in 20 minutes. Police Detective Jeff Thompson was contacted and agreed to meet
the Fire Department Battalion Chief at the campus. After 30 minutes of talking
to the girls Jeff knew that Johnny was not kidnapped, but was truly missing with
a possible head injury.
********************
The phone rang at Station 51. "Hey Roy. It's for you."
"Firefighter/Paramedic Roy DeSoto. Yeah, good to hear from you Jeff. What? Where? Okay. Yeah. I'll have to get Cap to find a substitute. Sure. Come get me." Roy got off the phone and went to find Captain Stanley. "Cap, the police think they have located Johnny."
"Where?"
"In Arizona. Jeff's making arrangements for us to go get him."
"I'll call in a replacement."
The klaxon went off. "Squad 51, woman down. 12436 Canyon Creek Road. 12436 Canyon Creek Road. Cross-street Topango Road. Time out 10:05."
"That's Johnny's ranch! It's Becky."
Captain Stanley gave Roy a look as he acknowledged the call and gave Roy the address slip. "Let us know Roy."
"I will Captain." Roy gave the slip to his temporary partner, Steve and sent the squad on its way.
Two hours later Captain Stanley received the call from Roy. "Cap, Becky will be okay. She will have to stay in the hospital several days. Uh, Cap. She was pregnant and had a miscarriage."
"I'm glad she will be okay. I'm sorry about the baby. Does she have someone with her?"
"Joanne is on her way now, Cap. And it was babies. Becky was pregnant with twins."
There was a long silence and Captain Stanley talked again.
"Uh, Roy. Jeff Thompson is here and your replacement has arrived."
"Good. Both Becky and Joanne want me to go with Jeff. I'm on my way back now."
"We'll be waiting."
********************
The report had come into the ranger's station that a feral wolf dog had been spotted just outside the national forest slinking along the trail. This was not the first sighting and this was one animal they wanted to capture and relocate. The local veterinarian was contacted and the search was on.
They found the tracks of the dog near one of the forest trails and followed them into the woods. One of them spotted a flickering fire back into the woods near a rock outcropping. Creeping close, they heard a low growl from within the cave. Knowing that they had found the dog, but not sure of what else was in the cave, they were cautious as they went in. They found a man unconscious and covered with a blanket. The dog straddled the man, bared its teeth and gave out a guttural growl. They were afraid that the dog was planning on attacking the man.
The dog continued growling as he looked from the vet to the ranger. The veterinarian loaded up a tranquilizer dart gun. It would be an easy shot. He took aim at the dog and was going to squeeze the trigger when Johnny groaned and attempted to move to his side. He threw his arm over and hit the dog on the back leg. The dog looked down and licked Johnny's face. Looking up at the man with the gun, the dog's eyes flashed with loneliness. Suddenly jumping, the dog streaked past the vet and ran into the forest.
The rangers and the vet checked over Johnny. They surmised that the infected hand and his fever were the cause of his unconscious state. They called for medical help on their radio and Johnny was soon on his way to the nearest hospital.
The head ranger looked around the cave and saw Johnny's preparations for survival. He had noticed Johnny's wool jacket, blanket, and the stash of fish bone needles. Johnny had dried meat hanging near the fire and berries lying nearby. "Hey Doc. Look around. This guy is a survivalist. I wonder how he is with horses? I've been looking for someone who could set up trails and be a trail guide."
"Well, before you start dreaming Frank, let's make sure the guy makes it out of the hospital."
Ranger Frank Parks was able to talk to Johnny at the hospital several days later. Deciding he liked the man, Frank offered him a job mapping and establishing new trails. Within a couple of days, Johnny got out of the hospital, met with Frank Parks and disappeared again into the forest.
********************
Joanne pushed open the hospital room door and went over to the bed where Becky lay sleeping. She carefully sat down in the vinyl chair that was positioned by the bed. The room was dark with only the patient's light on. Watching her friend's face, she could trace the tear tracks down Becky's face. Trying to get more comfortable in the chair, her movements caused the chair to squeak. Becky's eyes opened and she gazed at Joanne. "Sorry Becky."
For a long time Becky made no reply. Then Becky started talking, "There were two, did you know? They told me last night. The doctors ordered testing to determine what went wrong. They finished up with the babies this morning. They didn't find anything. They couldn't tell if my babies were male or female. The pregnancy wasn't far enough along. Now they want to start testing John and I."
"Becky, you don't have to tell me this now. You need your rest."
"That's what everyone is saying, but if I don't talk, I'll become another silent John. You know I had become so wrapped up in church work and college, I didn't see it coming. John was drawing away and I didn't even know I was pregnant until the day before he left. A woman is supposed to put God first and then her husband. I was ignoring my husband and his needs and I lost him and our babies. Oh Joanne, what am I going to do?"
"Becky, you can't take all the blame on this one. I've known Johnny a lot longer than you have. He can be motor mouth at times, but other times he withdraws. Years ago, we started inviting Johnny over for meals to help him relax and to get him talking. He would eat, play with the kids and wind up out back on the deck with Roy. Many times I would go to bed listening to the sounds of them talking. It wasn't long and Roy would let it slip that Johnny was driving him crazy with non-stop talking. Johnny is a complicated man."
"Don't I know it, Joanne. He's not like Terry at all. I knew what to expect with Terry. We had great conversations."
"Becky, do you love Johnny?"
"Of course."
"Then forgive me for being blunt. Don't compare him to Terry, consciously or subconsciously. Johnny loves you with every part of him, body, soul, and mind. I've never seen Johnny fall for someone as fast and as deep as he had for you. If it's communication you need from Johnny, then guide him to talk to you. But be aware that you have to be willing to take the bad with the good. Our men live dangerous lives. They're dedicated to helping others, sometimes at the cost of their bodies and minds.
I always know when Roy needs a long talk. After every bad run, he calls to check on the kids and me. You need to look for those types of signals from Johnny. After Roy's call, I make arrangements for our children to stay with friends and I go to work on Roy when he drives in. I make sure he talks it out, sometimes with tears, sometimes with guilt. No matter what he says, my duty is to be there, listen to him, and console him with my love."
"Joanne, how do you handle what he tells you?"
"When he's talking, it's hard. I remind myself that this is what he needs and by listening I fulfill that need. Afterwards he's always so exhausted mentally and physically that he sleeps. I go out on the deck and I give it up to God. It's what keeps our marriage going, that conversation with God and the love and forgiveness between Roy and me."
The door opened to a nurse coming in. She took vitals on Becky and reminded Joanne that visiting hours would be over in five minutes. "I read in your chart you are being discharged tomorrow morning, Mrs. Gage. Is there anything special you would like to have for breakfast before you leave?"
"No. The standard breakfast will be fine."
"Okay. Good night." The nurse left the two ladies to say good night to each other.
"Joanne, can you give me a ride out to the ranch tomorrow? We need to finish this conversation."
"Yes Becky. I'll be here."
"And Joanne. Bring the kids."
"I will Becky."
********************
Johnny was tired, but pleased. He had been up since the crack of dawn finishing up marking his last trail. The food drops were established. The camping sites were located near fishing holes. The sightseeing hiking trails were laid out.
Somewhere along the way, he had acquired a shadow. He vaguely recalled, before going to the hospital, the dog had been with him in the cave. Johnny had been tossing some of his beef jerky to the dog. The dog stayed within sight of Johnny and had been named Smoke by Johnny. The dog's coloring and his abilities to quietly appear and disappear had made Johnny think of smoke.
Johnny had agreed to check in periodically. It was time to report back to Ranger Parks. So, Johnny kicked dirt over the fire and poured out his remaining coffee over the campfire. He packed his personal items in the saddlebags, broke camp and cleaned up the site. He stored all his gear on the packhorse and saddled up his horse. He whistled for Smoke and rode out following his latest trail.
********************
