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

 

Continued from "Order Up: Tall, Dark and Handsome"

 

 

ORDER TO GO: STEADY AND SANDY BLOND

By LaJuan

 

 

Ralph watched from his van as Roy came out of Rampart's Emergency Room exit, looked around, found his convertible and started walking toward it.  Approaching his car in the back of the parking lot, Roy fumbled for his keys in his khaki trousers, sighing deeply as he wished the hospital would install lights in this section of parking.  As he paused to pull open the driver's side door, he felt the hairs rise on the back of his neck and a cold chill came over his body.  A deep raspy voice snarled out at the same time as the cold, steel gun barrel was shoved into the lower part of his back.

 

"Drop the keys and back up slowly."

 

"No problem.  Take what you want.  My wallet is in my back right pocket," calmly stated Roy as he dropped his keys in the convertible front seat.

 

With an evil chuckle, the strange man replied,  "That's not a bad idea.  Let's make sure I have the right man."

 

Roy could feel the tug on the back of his pants, but the pressure of the gun barrel never left his back.  Moments later, Roy could hear the man muttering and watched as his wallet sailed over his shoulder to land by his keys in the driver's seat.

 

"Okay, paramedic.  Start sliding those feet backward a couple of yards, real slow."

 

As Roy made the required shift in position, Ralph grabbed his shoulder and spun him around, slamming him into the passenger door of the white panel van parked on the left. "Keep your face turned to your right, firefighter.  I still have this gun on you."

 

Ralph quickly opened the van's sliding side door and shook out the cloth from a plastic bag. Ralph pulled the gun up to Roy's neck, held it tightly against his skin and put the chloroform soaked cloth over Roy's mouth. Roy's struggles ceased and his knees began to buckle as he slipped into unconsciousness.  Ralph hurriedly bundled Roy into the back of the van, tied his hands behind his back and covered him with a blanket.

 

Less than 5 minutes after Roy had left the ER exit doors; he was traveling down the road in the back of the panel van.

  

******************** 

 

The house was quiet. Both Chris and Jennifer had been put to bed earlier and Joanne was waiting for Roy to come back home from visiting Johnny at Rampart Hospital.  Johnny had been injured at a fire recently and was due to come out of the hospital tomorrow.  His leg was in a cast and he was going to stay with Roy and Joanne for a couple of weeks. It was approaching 11:30 p.m. and Joanne was getting worried.  It was not like Roy to be out this late when he was going to start a new shift the next morning.  She didn't want to worry Johnny, but she needed to know if Roy was still at the hospital, so she put in a call to Johnny's room.  It took three to four rings before Johnny answered his phone.  Joanne could tell that he was groggy when he began talking.

 

"Yeah?"

 

"Johnny, its Joanne.  Is Roy there?"

 

"No, ah, what time is it?"

 

"Eleven thirty."

 

"He left about three hours ago when the nurse kicked him out.  What's going on?"

 

"He hasn't come home yet, and I'm getting worried."

 

"Stay where you are.  I'll catch a cab and be there soon."

 

"Johnny, you can't leave the hospital tonight.  They haven't discharged you yet."

 

"Watch me!  I'll be there soon."  Johnny hung up the phone, swung his long legs off the bed, grabbed his crutches and traveled to the room locker.  He made short order of getting dressed.  Luckily, his shoes were slip-on penny loafers and he didn't have to bend.  He opened the drawer of the table by his bed, scooped out the contents and dumped them into his pockets.  Picking up the telephone book, he dialed the cheapest cab service and requested they meet him downstairs at the emergency room entrance.

 

Going to his door, he glanced both ways down the hallway and spotted his nurse going into the farthest room.  He quickly swung his body to the elevator, punched the down button and was pleased to find the elevator two floors up and coming down.  When the door opened he hurried in and jabbed the button for the ER floor.  Again, when the door opened, he glanced on both sides and did not find any familiar doctors or nurses manning the area.  He walked across the floor, exited the hospital and found the cab waiting.  He gave the driver Roy's address and got in the back seat, wedging his leg sideways.  The cab traveled through the parking lot and headed for the exit near the main street.  As the driver made his turn through the lot, his lights bathed a bright yellow glow over a red convertible parked in the corner.  Johnny did a double take and yelled at the driver.

 

"Stop! Stop now!"

 

"Don't twist your shorts. I'm stopping."

 

"Do you have a flashlight?"

 

"Well, yeah."

 

"It's okay.  I'm a firefighter/paramedic and that's my partner's car.  It should not be here.  I just want to see inside for a minute."

 

"Okay.  As long as I get paid."  The driver fished under his seat and handed him a long, heavy flashlight.

 

It was awkward to get his injured leg out of the cab, but Johnny managed.  He swung over to the red car, turned on the flashlight and gasped.  There in the driver's seat were Roy's keys and wallet and no Roy in sight.  Knowing something was definitely wrong, Johnny went back to the driver and said, "I'll give you the fare and an extra twenty five dollars if you can get your dispatcher to call the police to this location."

 

"Why?"

 

"My partner went home three hours ago.  He never arrived and his car is still here.  The police need to be in on this."

 

"What about where you were going?"

 

"I'm staying here until the police get here.  I'll catch a ride with them."

 

"It's your bread, man."  After hearing back from the dispatcher that the police were on their way, Johnny paid and released the driver.

 

Minutes later, Johnny was relieved to see a patrol car pull up and Vince Howard sliding out of the seat.

 

"Johnny, what happened to you?"

 

"Vince, I broke my leg at that warehouse fire last week.  That's not why I wanted you here."

 

"What's wrong?"

 

"Joanne called me tonight.  Roy never returned home from the hospital after he left at eight thirty."

 

"He's not the first husband who has strayed on his way home."

 

"How about without his keys, car or wallet?"

 

"What do you mean?"

 

"Bring your flashlight and look in this car, Vince.  It's Roy's car and his keys and wallet are in the seat."

 

Vince did as told and pointed his flashlight into the car.  A returned flash hit his eyes as the light reflected off Roy's badge in his opened wallet.  He moved his light over the rest of the car and the ground nearby.

 

"I looked around while I waited for you and didn't find anything else or Roy."

 

Vince glanced over at Johnny and thought a moment.  Normally a person had to be missing twenty-four hours before the police went on a search, but he knew Roy too well from previous encounters. He considered Roy a good friend. Roy was the meticulous, steady one of the paramedic duo.  Tossing his keys and wallet into a car and walking away was not what Roy would do.  Vince went over to his squad car, called dispatch and reported Roy missing.  He gave a description of Roy complete with his new look of sun streaked reddish blond hair and asked for a forensic team to come to the site.  Looking back and forth, his eyes settled on the gaunt Johnny Gage.

 

"Johnny, how did you get here?  I don't see your Land Rover and I thought I had heard you were still in the hospital."

 

"Well, my Land Rover is at the ranch and as you can see, I'm out of the hospital."

 

"Yeah and I bet you're AWOL, too."

 

"Now Vince.  I'm fine."

 

"Uh huh, why don't you swing over here and sit in the squad car while I check on something."

 

As Johnny used his crutches to approach the police car, Vince got back on his radio and asked dispatch to patch him into Rampart Hospital ER desk.  Johnny gave Vince a scowl, but before he could open his mouth, the sound of Dixie's voice came across the radio. "Yes, Vince.  What can I do for you?"

 

"Are you currently looking for a missing paramedic?"

 

"Yes, my nurses are searching for John Gage.  Why?"

 

"I found him and I'll bring him back once we have wrapped up our current investigation in the hospital parking lot."

 

"What's going on?"

 

"We'll talk about it when I get there.  Is Dr. Brackett on duty?"

 

"Yes, he's filling in for Joe Early for the night."

 

"If he's free, I'll need to see him, too.  I'll see you soon."

 

It took a half-hour before the forensic team arrived and dusted the car for fingerprints.  Johnny and Roy's prints were on file with the police as their homes had previously been broken into and the police took their prints to be ruled out.  The team told Vince they would contact him when results came in on the fingerprints they had found.  Returning to his car and Johnny, Vince got in and started the engine.

 

"Okay, Johnny.  Let's take you back to your keeper."

 

"Yeah, right Vince.  I'm fine."

 

"I'll believe that when the Doc says it.  You've escaped from the hospital too many times."

 

"At least let me call Joanne and let her know I'm running late.  She's worried enough over Roy."

 

"Was that where you were going when this happened?"

 

"Yeah. I told her to stay there and I would come over."

 

"Well, let's see what the Doc says."

 

It was a sulking Gage who hobbled back into the ER with Vince.  He knew he was in for a lecture from Brackett and probably Dixie.  He would rather face Brackett any day then to be dressed down by Dixie.  His luck didn't hold out.  Dixie got to him first.

 

"John Gage! What do you think you were doing leaving this hospital and making my nurses and security personnel look for you for the last hour?  You haven't been discharged yet!"

 

"I'm sorry Dix.  I had to."

 

Kelly Brackett walked up on the scene, and knowing the temper of his head nurse when she was upset with one of his best paramedics, he intruded into the conversation.  "I also want to know why you had to, so let's take this to my office, now."

 

Brackett watched Johnny carefully as he swung his body using the crutches.  Johnny didn't falter and seemed fine, except for the tension in his jaw line.  Going into his office, Brackett went around his desk and motioned the others to sit down as well.  "Okay, John.  Spill it."

 

"Okay.  But let me call Joanne first."

 

A puzzled look came over Dixie and Brackett's faces, but Vince just nodded his head in agreement.

 

Johnny grabbed the desk phone and quickly dialed Roy's number.  Joanne answered on the second ring.  "Joanne, its Johnny.  No, I'm okay.  Just a little late.  Yes, I'm still coming.  You just sit tight.  Yes, we'll find him.  I've got Vince with me now.  I know you're worried.  Hon, don't cry.  I'll be there as soon as I can.  Okay.  Bye."

 

Brackett exchanged glances with Dixie and then looked at Johnny.  "What's going on?"

 

"I got a call from Joanne at eleven thirty tonight.  Roy never made it home.  I got a cab to go to Roy's house when I discovered his car, keys and wallet in the hospital parking lot.  I had the cab driver call his dispatch for the police and Vince showed up.  He guessed I was AWOL and brought me back."

 

"Well, now that he's brought you back, let me check you over."

 

"Ah, Doc.  I'm fine.  I just want to get to Roy's place."

 

"Let me check you over first and we'll see about it."

 

Johnny nodded his head and Brackett took off his stethoscope and had Dixie leave the room to get a blood pressure cuff.  A few minutes later, Brackett finished his exam and sat down in his chair again.  "Johnny, were you planning to go to Roy's anyway before this happened?"

 

"Yeah.  Roy insisted I stay a few weeks until I was back on my feet."

 

"Your blood pressure is a little high, but under the circumstances, I can expect that.  I'm going to go ahead and release you now instead of waiting until morning, that is if you make a good effort to put some weight on."

 

"Dixie, I want you to go get his discharge papers ready and get his meds filled.  Also, get this prescription for Mrs. DeSoto filled.  She might need this mild sedative.  Johnny can take it with him."

 

Turning back to Johnny, Brackett continued.  "Johnny, if there's any change in your condition or if Joanne needs anything, be sure to call us at anytime.  We want Roy found also."

 

"Thanks, Doc."

 

The three men continued talking about Roy's disappearance until Dixie returned and the paperwork was signed.  Vince helped Johnny out of the chair, walked with him to the police car and they left to go to Roy's home.

 

********************

 

Slowly the foggy feeling in his head started to lift for Roy.  He reached to wipe his face and found his hands tied behind his back.  It was dark and Roy could feel the roughness of the wool blanket covering his face.  He was in a moving vehicle.  His body swayed when a turn was negotiated. The laboring of the engine and the slowing of their speed told him they were climbing.  Knowing that the driver was occupied with his vehicle, Roy proceeded to dislodge the blanket from his face.  The van topped the crest of the mountain and increased its speed coming down.  Roy's efforts to see what was going on made enough noise to distract the driver.

 

Ralph turned his head and snarled, "Stop that.  It won't be pretty if I'm forced to pull over and take care of you."

 

"Why are you doing this?"

 

"Because you killed my Captain Sawyer in Vietnam, medic."  Ralph spit out in a clipped fashion.  "I swore then I would find you and make you pay."

 

With confusion in his voice, Roy voiced his thoughts.  "I don't know you or your Captain."

 

"It doesn't matter whether you remember or not, because I do and that picture of you and your partner at that Fireman's Ball told me where I needed to find you.  Now I have you."

 

"What are you going to do to me?"

 

"I'll let you know when we get there. I found a nice sweet abandoned shack up here."

 

Roy gave a kick to pull the blanket off, which caused Ralph to give another glance back.  "Man, stop that now or I'll …Ahh!"  Upon looking back to the road, Ralph caught the deer's movement in his peripheral vision just before the van hit it.  Instincts had taken over and Ralph had been turning the wheel in an effort to miss the buck.  The collision caused the van to swerve to the right, off the road and out of control.  The van hit a large rock and was propelled into side rolls down the mountainside.  A piercing scream came from the back of the van, "Johhhhhhnny!"  The van came to rest against a tree and as the dust settled, silence drifted down as well.

 

********************

 

Vince took Johnny to Roy's house and was met at the door by an anxious Joanne.  She guided Johnny to the sofa and brought a pillow to him to prop his leg onto the coffee table.  As she set down by Johnny, she turned to Vince.  "Have you found Roy?"

 

"No, Mrs. DeSoto.  We found his car, keys and wallet and we have put out a missing person report.  I realize this is upsetting to you, but I need to ask a few questions."

 

"Okay."

 

"When was the last time you saw Roy?"

 

"About five thirty this afternoon.  He was going by the hardware store just up the street to get some parts for a project he's working on in the garage.  Then he was going to the hospital to see Johnny."

 

"When was the last time you spoke to him?"

 

"Around eight o'clock tonight from Johnny's room at the hospital.  He wanted to check with me on Johnny staying with us until he was back on his feet."

 

"Do you know if Roy has had any difficulties with anyone lately?"

 

"Well, we thought he had, but it was someone interested in me," chuckled Johnny.

 

Joanne quickly glanced at Johnny with an inquisitive look on her face.  "Roy never said anything."

 

"When we were out on runs, we felt we were being watched and when the end story came out, it was a casting agent looking for a man, tall, dark and handsome, as she said.  My injured leg made me less appealing for the part."

 

"What was her name?  Maybe, she saw something that may help us find Roy."

 

"Hold on Vince, I have her card in my wallet.  She gave it to me in case, in the future, I became free and interested.  Let's see, here it is.  Her name is Karan Jasper and her private number is on the back."  Johnny gave the card to Vince as he reached out to give Joanne a comforting hug.  She gave him a slight grin and laid her head back on his shoulder.

 

"What can we do to help?"

 

"Mrs. DeSoto, stay near the phone.  If he was kidnapped and got free, he would call.  I'm going to have the detective track down Ms. Jasper and talk to her.  You can be assured we will do everything in our power to find Roy."

 

"Thanks, Vince.  I'm glad Johnny will be staying with us for a while.  I'm not sure what I am going to tell the children."

 

"I'm sure you will say the right words when the time comes.  Let's hope it won't get to that point.  I need to be on my way.  I'll see myself out."

 

As Vince started to open the outside door, he looked back and saw Johnny's arm around Joanne's shoulder and her tearing face burying itself into his chest.  

 

Johnny gently lifted her chin up off his chest with his fingers.  "Come on Joanne.  We'll find Roy.  We just have to keep our optimism going.  He's out there, alive.  I would know it if he weren't.  We've been through too much and our bond is too tight for me not to know."

 

"I know, Johnny.  It's just I'm so worried.  What if someone took him?"

 

"Hon, that's what I'm thinking, but who would do it?  I'm racking my brain trying to think of somebody, but I can't come up with anyone.  Roy doesn't have any enemies.  He's well liked by everyone he meets."

 

Johnny and Joanne continued to talk in subdued tones further into the night until their bodies wore out and their minds became foggy from lack of sleep.  Gradually they drifted off sitting together with her head nestled on his shoulder.

 

He felt claustrophobic in the dark and he couldn't move.  He was pinned down and suddenly his body was violently tossed around and he was rolled over and over again.  All he could think of was that he needed help and he was frightened.  His fear came out in the long drawn out scream for his partner, "Johhhhhnny!"

 

Johnny woke up with a start, drenched in sweat and realizing he had tossed Joanne away from him during his thrashing.  He struggled to calm his breathing as he gulped large amounts of air.

 

"Johnny, Johnny.  It's okay.  You were having a nightmare."

 

"Yeah, a very violent one."

 

"Why don't you stay here and I'll put a pot of coffee on.  It'll give you time to come to terms with the dream.  Maybe, we can discuss it later."

 

"No.  I don't think so Joanne.  The details are fading fast.  I just want to wash up.  I welcome the coffee, however."

 

Johnny got up and grabbed his crutches and swung his way to the bathroom where he ducked his head into the sink.  Turning on the cold water faucet, he splashed water over his head and face.  He grabbed a towel, dried his face, hands and hair and stared into the bathroom mirror.  He couldn't get that scream out of his mind.  He knew that Roy was injured and in trouble out there and it was frustrating to Johnny to not know where he was.  When he heard Joanne's low call, he made his way back for his coffee.

 

"Joanne, when the shift ends this morning, I'm going to ask Chet if he would come by and take me out to the ranch to get some things so I can stay here with you awhile.  It shouldn't take long.  That way, until Brackett releases me, one of us will be near the telephone."

 

"Who's going to watch out for your place and take care of your animals?"

 

"My neighbor does when I go on shift.  I'll just ask him to continue while I'm here."

 

"Oh, Johnny.  I wish this had never happened."

 

"I know Joanne, but it did and we will have to deal with it as best we can.  I'll be keeping close tabs with the police."  At that moment two hungry children came pounding down the stairs and further opportunity for adult conversation was gone.

 

********************

 

Roy woke up suddenly and immediately felt the pain of the gash in his right arm.  Blood was dripping off his forehead and into his right eye.  Once again, he reached up to wipe his face and found his hands tied behind his back.  He was lying on his left side tangled in a wool blanket and buried under debris within a vehicle.  His head ached and it was hard to concentrate.  His hands were numb and he knew he had to get them free.  Slowly he looked around and found nothing that could help him. 

 

In its rollovers, the van had settled on the passenger side and a portion of the van had retained major damage to its structure.  Roy's sight was blurry as he spied a bloody hand and arm peeking out from behind the front seats.  He rolled over, knocking debris off him and struggled until he could get his knees under his chest.  As he leveraged himself up, he swayed with dizziness.   Walking on his knees, he slowly moved his way to the front of the van to check on the driver.  His head was hurting and he had to be careful to keep his motion slow.  Fast movement brought on nausea and vertigo.  He leaned over the seat and gasped.  From the angle of the neck and the amount of blood, he knew the man was dead.

 

Slumping down against the back of the seat, Roy allowed his body a break as he took inventory of the situation.  One half of the back doors had flown open during the wreck; so he knew he wasn't trapped.  He had a headache, was bleeding from a cut above his eye, had numb hands and he hurt from a gash in the upper arm.  He was thirsty, but what bothered him most was he had no idea where he was, why he was tied up in the back of a wrecked van and why he couldn't remember. His entire life was a blank and when he tried to remember, a shooting pain traveled through his brain.

 

Somewhere in the back of his mind a stray thought came.  The bleeding had to stop or he would become too weak.  He had to get out of the van and find help.  Putting his resolve into action, he pushed with his legs until his back and hands were firmly pressed against the seat.  Using his leg muscles, he moved his body up until he was standing bent over.  He slowly moved to the back door and eased himself out of the van.

 

Looking around, he saw a deer trail going back up the mountain.  Seeing the damage to the landscape the van had created in its rolling descent, he knew there had to be a road above.  He set out walking the trail in hopes of finding help.

 

********************

 

Becky Moren stood up from packing, wiped her brow with the back of her sleeve, and surveyed the room.  She had made good progress in her quest to close up her aunt's home.  The will had been read and Becky had inherited this mountain cabin overlooking the lake.  Until she could determine what she wanted to do with her life, Becky felt the best action would be to close it up.  Then she would either sell or move into it.

 

She had been there several days and was ready to take a break.  She pulled out her hiking supplies, filled her canteen with water, put on her boots, and slipped the backpack over her shoulders.  Walking out onto the covered porch, she breathed in the pine scented air and pushed off to walk down the lower road.  Since she had driven over the top of the pass from the other side of the mountain, she was interested in exploring this side.

 

Becky was an experienced hiker and had no qualms about leaving the road to follow an animal trail through the woods.  Further down the path a blinding light hit her eyes.  Shielding her face with her hand, she glanced around to see what the sun's rays were reflecting off of.  Wedged up against a stand of pine trees, a white van was lying on its passenger side.  The driver's door was smashed in and the outside mirror was shoved in at an angle to catch the early morning sunlight.  She walked over to the van and went to look through the front windshield, but couldn't see anything through the plate of spider web cracks.  Shrugging out of her backpack, she climbed the undercarriage of the van and peered into the cab through the driver's smashed out window.  The sight of the driver's head twisted awkwardly convinced her that he was dead. 

 

As she climbed down, she thought she had better check the back of the van.  She hurried her steps as she rounded the van to the back doors.  The passenger side had been jarred loose by the crash, but the driver's side was still shut.  She got down on her knees to look in.  Watching carefully where she put her hands, Becky crawled into the van and it was empty.  Looking around, she found a trail of blood drops leading away from the site.  She went outside, gathered up her backpack and begun following the trail. 

 

The drops were mixed with the tracks of deer and the scuffling of shoe prints.   She hurried her pace, stopping only to take a sip of water.  Rounding a bend in the trail she saw a sandy blond headed man curled on his side with his hands and arms trapped behind his back. He was unconscious, bleeding and she could see bruises on the side of his face and across his hands and arms.  His hands were swollen from the rope around his wrists.  She hesitated a moment, not sure why he was tied.  Was he a bad guy or just a victim? 

 

Either way, in the shape he was in, he couldn't harm her.  Slipping her backpack off, she tried to untie the rope but the knots were too tight.  Wondering if he carried a pocketknife, she looked over his clothes.  She spied a leather carrying case attached to his belt and found a pair of bandage scissors within it.  Swiftly, Becky went to work trying to cut the rope.  It was difficult, but the rope finally parted and she pulled the rest from his wrists. She felt him shift his weight and he begun to groan as circulation started to return to his hands.  He turned his head from side to side and she saw the dried blood and the large knot that had formed on the side of his head.  She checked visually for additional injuries, but found none.

 

She grabbed the kit from her backpack and proceeded to render first aid.  He probably needed stitches, but all he was going to get was antiseptic wipes, butterfly Band-Aids and gauze. 

 

He had not been still or quiet during these procedures.  At one time he admonished her in a quiet voice to not wrap the gauze so tight, that it would cut off his circulation and then he muttered, "You should know that, Johnny."

 

She checked his forehead for a fever and discovered he was hot to the touch.  She knew she had to get him back to the cabin.  His added height and weight would be too heavy for her slender build to carry. 

 

"Mr. Mr. I need you to wake up.  You can't stay here," she said as she gently shook his shoulder.  She continued until he started blinking his blue eyes at her. "Can you move your legs?"

 

His reply was the movement of both legs and the flexing of his ankles.

 

"Okay.  I need to get you up.  Can you help me?" 

 

He nodded his head slightly and reached for her with his left arm.  She got herself braced and pulled him into a sitting position. Retrieving the canteen of water from her backpack, she gave it to him.  His hands were too swollen to open it, let along hold it.  She took it back, opened it and held it to his mouth until he took a few swallows.  "I'll give you more as we go along."

 

She helped him to his feet and they started off on the trail with him leaning on her as she wrapped her arm around his waist and kept his left arm over her shoulder. He had to rest often and his fever was causing him to alternately shiver and sweat. It took all morning for them to get to the cabin. He was pale and weaving by the time she lowered him into the guest bed.

 

********************

 

His fever induced nightmares hovered over him continually.  He dreamed of the raging fire surrounding him while he was trapped under debris of the fallen ceiling.  His air was running out and he could feel the breath of the hot air washing over him in waves.  His eyes saw the flickering glow of the orange fire close by.  Roy rolled from side to side and groaned each time his bandaged arm made contact with the bed.  Becky knew she had to bring his fever down.  It had been climbing for two days.

 

She had earlier stripped his shirt off of him and spotted the chest and shoulder bruises for the first time.  She started bathing him in alcohol.  With the bath and the ceiling fan, she thought she had a chance to bring it down enough to get some pain and fever medicine within him.  Hours later the fever broke and Roy woke up to view a brown headed woman sitting by his bed, dozing.  He gazed at her, noticing her slender and pretty body before he fell back asleep.

 

Becky woke up and saw that the man was sleeping peacefully. She allowed her mind to wander and it led to her thinking of her uncle's trunk in the attic.  He had died a year before her aunt and she had come across it in her packing but didn't have the strength to bring in down.  This man and her uncle were about the same size.  She wondered if there were some clothes in it that would fit this man.  Putting her thoughts into action, she picked up his shirt to use as measurement, and went up into the attic to search the trunk.  Minutes later she came down with an armload of men's clothes complete with underclothing, socks and pajamas.  She put them in the washer and started the machine.  Later that evening, she heated up a couple cans of chicken soup and found the crackers.  With a bed tray in hand, she took the meal back to the guestroom and found him awake and tracking her with his blue puzzled eyes.

 

"Hi.  I'm glad to see you awake.  I hope you can eat a little soup with me."   He kept quiet but nodded his head yes and then struggled to sit up.  She put the tray down and went to put extra pillows behind his back.  His back was just as bruised as his chest.  Judicially, she had brought aspirin with her and urged him to take the tablets before he begun to eat.  She took her bowl and quietly worked on her meal.  When she saw he was done, she took his tray and put it on the dresser.  Turning, she gazed at him and nodding her head she reached into the drawer and brought out a change of underclothing and pajamas. 

 

"Will you need help going to the bathroom?  It's just across the hall.  When you are done, I'll change out your bandages."  He shook his head no and carefully stood up from the bed, noticing he wore pants and socks but was shirtless.

 

He came back thirty minutes later, changed with his face washed and exhausted.  She had changed out the bed clothing and was ready for him to lie down.  She worked quickly with the bandages and was pleased that her butterfly Band-Aids was closing the wound on his arm.  He would have a scar, but it was starting to heal.  His head wound was closing but still needed covering.  His hands had regain circulation and feeling, but he seemed hesitant to use them.  He still had some puffiness around the wrists.  Looking at his wrists, she had to ask the question, "Why were your hands tied?"

 

He had a searching look on his face, paused and winced.  "I don't know.  I can't remember."

 

"What's the last thing you remember?"

 

"Nothing.  It's a blank. Everything is a blank.  I don't know what happen, where I am and,"  he paused for a long time, "who I am."  Looking up at her, he asked, "Do you know me and how I got here?"

 

"No.  I found you on a deer trail down the road and brought you back here.  You had been in the back of a van that wrecked down the mountain.  The driver was dead.  I would have called the police, but there's no phone here and you were too sick for me to leave."

 

He nodded his head, laid back, and drifted off to sleep.  Becky went out onto the porch to think and pray.  An hour later, with answers fresh in her mind, she went in to work on packing the house.

 

********************

 

As promised, Johnny had returned from the ranch with his clothing and the men from A Shift had parked his Land Rover out front. Roy's car was still at the police impound yard, but would be released later that week.  With Johnny's help, Joanne had found the words to tell her children that their father was missing.  It was a subdued household with everyone's thoughts on Roy.  Johnny kept to his promise and was in contact with the police.  They had gotten a good print off of Roy's badge and were waiting for the results to return.  They had interviewed hospital employees who usually parked where Roy's car was found, but were without results.  Karan Jasper had been contacted and was coming that afternoon into the police station to talk to the detective.  Johnny wanted to be there for the interview, but had been ordered by Joanne to stay home and take care of himself.  Johnny didn't let many people give him orders, but Joanne was one of them.  He backed down when the detective told him he would be called if any leads came out of the interview. 

 

With nothing else to do except to worry and to heal, Johnny went into Chris' room to lay down on the extra twin bed he usually used when staying at Roy's.  Minutes later Roy's youngest child, Jennifer, found him. "Uncle Johnny, don't be sad.  Daddy will come home.  You just have to have faith."

 

"And you have faith, Jenny Bean?"

 

"Mommy says that if you pray to God, he will answer your prayer and I asked him to bring Daddy home."  He grabbed the little girl to his chest and gave her a hug.  His faith was of the Great Spirit, but maybe he would grant the prayer that Johnny sent drifting in the air.  He too wanted to believe Roy would be found.

 

"Thanks, Jenny Bean.  I'll keep that in mind."

 

"Uncle Johnny, would you play a game with me?"

 

"Which one, sweetheart?"

 

"Candyland."  With a nod from him, she went skipping off to get her game from her room.  They played until Joanne called them to dinner and then she sent the children off to bathe and to bed.  As Joanne and Johnny relaxed on the sofa, the doorbell rang.  Joanne motioned for Johnny to stay sitting and answered the door.

 

"Mrs. DeSoto?"

 

"Yes."

 

"I'm Detective Thompson.  I'm working on your husband's case.  May I come in?"

 

"Come in.  This is my husband's partner, John Gage."

 

The two men shook hands and sat back down to talk.  "Would you like a cup of coffee?"

 

"I think we all can use coffee, Joanne.  How do you take yours, Detective?"

 

"Black.  Thanks, Mrs. DeSoto."

 

The men waited until Joanne returned and settled down by Johnny.  "Detective?"

 

"Ms. Jasper came in this afternoon and the fingerprint results came back.  She identified Ralph Anderson from mug shots.  She had seen him many times at the same places that she was at while watching you, Mr. Gage.  She said he drove a white Chevy panel van and had written down the tag number in her notepad.  When we ran the tag, it matched his name as well as the fingerprint results.  Have you ever heard of him?"

 

Both Johnny and Joanne denied knowing the man.

 

"We don't know the connection to your husband but Anderson has been in and out of trouble ever since Vietnam and we have an APB out on him and his van.  It will be only a matter of time until we find him."

 

Johnny's voice was filled with sarcasm, "I hope you're in time to save Roy."

 

"Believe me, we hope so too.  We're doing the best we can, Mr. Gage."

 

"Johnny?"

 

"I know, Joanne. It's been three days and I'm frustrated that we haven't heard anything yet.  If he was kidnapped for ransom, we should have heard something by now."

 

"That's why we think he was kidnapped for revenge.  We're checking both Roy's and Ralph Anderson's background to see if there is a connection."

 

"Roy was a medic in Vietnam.  You said Anderson was in Vietnam.  Maybe they were in the same unit," said Joanne.

 

"I will be sure to have that checked out.  In the meantime, I need to get back to the station.  I'll see myself out and be back in touch if something comes up."

 

"Good night, Detective Thompson," said Joanne as she stood up and gathered the empty coffee cups.

 

"Let me help you with those, Joanne."

 

"No Johnny.  You go on to bed.  I need to be alone for a while to think.  I'll see you in the morning."

 

Understanding the need to be alone with her emotions and loneliness for Roy, Johnny got up, grabbed his crutches, and went over and gave her a hug.  He turned and hobbled to bed.

 

********************

 

He had slept a lot in the last three weeks.  Most times he had nightmares, this time it was a healing sleep, but one with gentle dreams.  He was standing by a tall desk in front of a glass room having a cup of coffee.  He heard a noise and saw a tall, lanky, dark haired man in a blue uniform come out of a door down the hall carrying two boxes.  The man approached him, put the boxes down and accepted the coffee offered.  Looking at him with a lop-sided grin, the man said, "You're the best partner a man could ever want.  He heard himself reply, "You're right, Johnny, now let's get back to work."  His dream was interrupted by the noise of a food tray being put on the dresser.

 

Becky looked over at him and noticed he was awake.  "That's the second time I've heard you say the name Johnny.  Could that be your name?"

 

"No.  All I know is he's my partner."

 

"Partner in what?"

 

"Something dealing with work."

 

Looking down at the ring on his left hand, she said, "I'm glad it's not something else."

 

Following her glance, he said, "But it does look like there's another partner out there for me, only I don't remember her."

 

"You've remembered him, in time you will remember her.  Would you like to have breakfast before we leave today?"

 

"Leave?"

 

"Yes, I've finished the rest of the house.  That leaves putting the breakfast dishes away and packing away this room.  We should be ready to go by mid morning."

 

"But, why and where?"

 

"I inherited this cabin.  I'm here only to pack it up until I determine what to do with it.  I need to go back to LA where I live.  You can't stay here.  You're still healing and until you get back up on your feet you need someone around to help you.  I would like to have you seen by a doctor."

 

"No hospital!"

 

"Okay, there's a clinic in my neighborhood.  We'll go there.  Also, I need to call the police about that wrecked van."

 

"Don't mention me to them."

 

"Why?"

 

"I don't know why I was in the back of that van.  I could have been in trouble with the law or the criminal elements and that's why I was tied up.  Maybe you need to just drop me off somewhere, so you won't be in danger from me.  Until I know who I am, I want to stay clear of any police."

 

"I think you're making a mistake.  They could take your fingerprints and find out who you are."

 

"That's what I'm afraid of, they have my prints on file."

 

"Okay, we'll do it your way.  Now will you eat and get dressed for traveling?  I have clean clothes for you in the dresser and in the closet."

 

"Where did they come from?"

 

"They were my uncle's clothes but they'll fit you.  Oh, I'm not dropping you off.  You're no danger to me."  She left the room, not giving him time to answer her.  She had to get the car ready for traveling.

 

At mid morning, they left for Los Angeles.  Halfway down the mountain, Becky found a pay phone and called the local police station to report the wrecked van's location.  She explained she saw it while hiking.  She left her name and address with them, but didn't mention that Roy was with her.  They stopped for lunch and by mid afternoon they pulled into her home's driveway.  Becky didn't lie, but knew she had to protect the man until he was able to be on his own.  She named him Joe Brown during their drive and agreed, if asked, to introduce him as a visiting friend.

 

She still felt he should take it easy, so she pushed him into the guestroom and got him unpacking his clothes, while she quickly unloaded the car. Going back into the house, she dropped everything at the door, went to the phone and ordered a super large pizza with everything on it. He looked like a man with a good appetite.

 

********************

 

It had been four weeks since Roy had disappeared and Johnny was going up the walls.  It would be another three weeks before he could go back to work.  He still had to get his cast off and he would be walking with a cane for at least a week.  He was staying at Roy's but knew when he went back home, he would have resistance from Joanne.  It was becoming clear that he needed to move back to the ranch.  In her grief over Roy's absence, Joanne was relying heavily on Johnny, emotionally.  Johnny could not get out of her sight without her worrying about him.  Even the children were clinging to Johnny.  As much as he loved them, he couldn't grieve.  Roy was still alive; he had never felt Roy's death.

 

He was frustrated that he wasn't able to go out hunting for Roy and that his often calls to the police were yielding no results.  Last night, their different ways of handling the situation had resulted in a blow up between Johnny and Joanne.  Both were reacting from the stress, worry and frustration.  Johnny promised to stay out of Joanne's way, which was the wrong thing to say to a woman who yearn for the comfort of a friend's hug.  She had burst into tears, ran to her bedroom and cried herself to sleep.  Instead of going to Chris's room, he stayed in the great room on the sofa and tried to drown his thoughts with the murmuring of a low volume television set.   He ran several different scenarios through his brain.  He couldn't settle on one.  He needed to check with the police again.  As he made a decision, he relaxed his body and drifted off to sleep.

 

Hours later he awoke to hear the doorbell ringing.  Someone had put a blanket over him during the night and he was tangled up in it.  Joanne came out of the kitchen, placed a cup of coffee down on the table before him and left to answer the door.  She found Detective Thompson waiting for her.

 

"Detective, please come in.  Would you like a cup of coffee?  Johnny's just waking up."

 

"Thanks, I would love to have one."

 

By this time, Johnny had made it to a sitting position and was folding the blanket.  "Detective, I hope you have some good news for us."

 

"Maybe."

 

"What do you mean?" said Joanne as she brought more coffee into the room. 

 

"They found the van."

 

"Where?"

 

"In the San Gabriel Mountains.  There was a wreck and the van rolled several times and crashed into a stand of pines."

 

"And Roy?" asked Johnny.

 

"He wasn't there.  There's been rain up there and all tracks are gone, that is if he got free."

 

"What do you mean?" sharply said Joanne.  Looking at Johnny with a pleading look, the detective slowly answered her. "They found Ralph Anderson's body in the woods.  It had been dragged away from the wreck."

 

"So?"

 

Looking intently at Joanne, Johnny spoke up.  "Joanne, there are bears and cougars up there."

 

"No. No! That's not what happen to Roy!"

 

"I tend to agree with her, Detective.  I don't believe Roy is dead.  He got away.  Are you going up there?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Take me with you."

 

"No."

 

"I know how Roy thinks.  I could track him."

 

"With you in a cast?"

 

"So I walk slow and carefully.  We can take the Land Rover."

 

"Detective, please let Johnny go with you.  I have to know."

 

"I can't be responsible for any accident."

 

"I know that, Detective.  I'll be careful," said Johnny.

 

Taking time to think, the Detective stared at Johnny.  "Call me Jeff."

 

At this point, the Detective was willing to try anything.  It was as if Roy had dropped off the face of the Earth.  There were no more clues, nothing to go on.  So he made arrangements with Johnny to go early the next morning.  It was the Detective's day off and he was willing to drive the Land Rover. He would take it up with his supervisor if they found anything.

 

After Detective Thompson left, Joanne reached over to Johnny, grabbed his hand and gave him a hug.  "I'm sorry, Johnny.  I didn't mean to go off the deep end last night.  I don't know what got into me."

 

"It's okay.  It's forgotten.  Let's just concentrate on finding Roy."  His stomach rumbled.

 

Joanne jumped up and hurried into the kitchen.  "Breakfast will be ready in thirty minutes. Will that be enough time for you?"

 

"Sure."

 

 

 

The next morning the two men were on their way to the mountains.  Jeff had got directions from the local police and knew the Land Rover would be handy.  By the time they arrived, Jeff knew a lot more about Roy and about Johnny's life with him.

 

They parked on the road above the wreck.  Nature was healing the damage to the vegetation rapidly and the van was disappearing from sight. "If you don't mind, I think I can get you closer by driving the Land Rover down there."

 

"Let's go," said Johnny.

 

The drive was slow and bumpy, but Johnny fared well.  He had to see the van, to see the last place Roy had been.  By now the driver's door in the back had been left propped up and Johnny was able to walk directly in.  Looking around, he could see the damage to the van's interior.  He shook his head over anyone surviving the accident. There was a brown stain up against the wall.  Knowing the sight of dried blood, Johnny knew that Roy had been injured.  Coming out of the van, Johnny looked around, stopped and closed his eyes.

 

He had boasted that he knew how Roy thought.  Here was his chance to put his faith into action.  He allowed his body and mind to grow still and calm.  Slowly he opened his eyes and gazed around him in a 180-degree turn. Glimpsing the deer trail, Johnny's gut told him that was the path Roy would have taken. He pointed it out to the detective and was told to wait in the Land Rover.

 

It was good to be out in the fresh air again.  Johnny had been feeling cooped up and needed to unstress.  The noise of locusts buzzing, birds chirping, and frogs croaking was nature's music and Johnny found it soothing.  He laid his head back in the seat and relaxed.  Thirty minutes later, the detective returned.

 

"John, I found signs of where he was on the trail and I found this."  He held up a length of rope that had been cut.  It had brown stains on it.

 

"How close to the road did you find this?"

 

"Just over the ridge."

 

"Can I get to it from the road?"

 

"Think so. At least, let's try."  With that, the Land Rover was started and moved.

 

Looking from the road, Johnny saw the deer trail wandering off into the woods.  Carefully moving through the woods, he followed Jeff down until the man stopped. "I found the rope over here."

 

Gazing around, Johnny saw a glint of metal peeking out from the grass.  Pointing toward it, Jeff picked it up and handed a pair of bandage scissors to Johnny. "They're Roy's.  As a joke, I had his initials engraved on them.  I wonder if there are any shelters or cabins nearby that he could have gotten to.  He was injured.  He would have stayed on the road."

 

They went looking and it was Jeff who saw the cabin hiding under the mountain cliff up off the road.  Upon closer examination, they found the cabin locked up tight.  Johnny went looking around and saw through the mudroom window a green and yellow plaid shirt and khaki-colored pants lying on the top of the dryer.  It was the shirt he had given Roy for his birthday.

 

Going back around front, Johnny quietly told Jeff, "Let's go."

 

They took the road going over the top of the mountain.  Coming down halfway, they came across a café gas station with a pay phone out front.  Johnny wanted to stop to call Joanne.  He didn't have enough change on him, so he went in.  While talking to the clerk, he asked if she knew who own the cabin.

 

"Oh yes.  Anne Moren owned it.  It's such a shame she had that heart attack.  We sure will miss her.  You know she died only a year after her husband, Bill, passed away. Now he was a character, always had a story to tell and a joke to crack.  Don't know much about their niece.  She came in with her husband a month ago. She never introduced him, but he sure was a looker, kind of quiet.  Too bad he had a wedding ring on.  How about you, handsome?  Don't have a girlfriend now?"

 

Ignoring her questions, Johnny asked one himself.  "What did he look like?"

 

"Who?"

 

"The husband."

 

"Oh, the looker.  Sandy hair with streaks of blond, blue eyes, high cheekbones, nice smile, on the stocky side and tall, but that doesn't bother me.  He had some bruises and a large bandage on his face.  Must have gotten into a fight.  But I sure did like the smile.  You sure have a nice one yourself.  Now I…"

 

Johnny interrupted her; "I need to get going. Thanks for the change.  Oh, I may be interested in buying the cabin.  Do you know the niece's name and where she lives?"

 

"You know she said she may be putting it up for sale.  Now where did I put that card?"  She looked around under the counter without results, turned around and looked at the bulletin board filled with cards, notices and auction announcements.  "Here it is.  Her name is Becky Moren and here's the number.  She lives in LA."  She pushed a paper she had written on across to Johnny.

 

"Thanks, got to go.  My buddy is getting tired waiting for me out there."

 

"Sure hope you buy the cabin.  I'd love to see you around here a lot, handsome."

 

Johnny hurried as fast as the crutches would allow him.  He didn't mind beautiful ladies hitting on him, but aggressive, old ladies downright scared him.  He was so distracted, he forgot to make his phone call.

 

Jeff quizzed him when he got back into the Rover, but Johnny said he thought he should talk to Joanne in person.  Johnny was quiet the rest of the way back to Roy's.  Jeff glanced over and found Johnny asleep with his head leaning on the window.

 

********************

 

It had been a hot Saturday and was becoming a cooler evening when Becky and Roy stepped out into the back yard to drink their coffee.  Roy's memory was still foggy.  The trip to the doctor after they had arrived had confirmed that his wounds were almost healed and there was no infection.  It was now four weeks since the accident.  Roy looked different.  His hair was longer and he had allowed his beard and mustache to grow out.  The beard was darker than the hair on his head.  Becky liked it.

 

Roy still dreamed of the dark haired Johnny, but now his dreams showed a long blonde haired little girl in Johnny's arms.  Roy didn't know who the girl was, but knew she was important to him.  Becky could sense his growing frustration.  "It'll come back to you, Joe.  It just takes time."

 

"That's something I don't know if I have any more.  I need to do something.  I can't continue staying here mooching off of you.  I need to work, but I don't know what my skills are.  Without a social security card, driver's license, and identification, what can I do?"

 

"Before he died, my husband was in construction.  He told me that they hired day workers all the time.  The foreman would pay them in cash.  Of course, most of the workers were illegal immigrants.  Maybe you can get started that way.  I've seen some of the repairs you've done around here.  You're pretty handy with a hammer and a wrench."

 

"That's a good idea.  I'll look into it Monday."  Just then Roy heard a high pitch whine followed by a loud boom and explosive lights.  Throwing his coffee cup down, he yelled, "Incoming!" as he dove down flat and threw his arms protectively over his head.

 

Becky's slight smile gave way to giggles that she tried to hide by holding her breath and covering her mouth.  She failed miserably.  Amidst her laughter, Roy rolled over onto his back and glared at her.  This served to cause her laughter to get louder and her eyes to smile.  "Let me guess.  Fireworks," said Roy.

 

"Two blocks over at the high school stadium.  At least we know you are a vet. Must have served in Vietnam, judging by your apparent age."

 

He got himself up as she went to get him another cup of coffee.  When she came back, they settled down on the patio chairs to watch the celebration in the sky. Later as the entertainment died down they begun talking again.

 

"What are your plans for tomorrow, Joe?"

 

"Probably do some more repairs around here.  Keep busy."

 

"Go to church with me."

 

"Huh?"

 

"Would you go to church with me?"

 

"I don't know if I was a church going man."

 

"Well, then be one tomorrow."  Her continued polite requests wore him down and he finally agreed.

 

The next morning she drove him to the little church she had been going to even before her husband had died.  She had found peace of heart there and wanted Joe to find some peace also.  She knew he still had nightmares and would not talk of them.

 

He didn't know what to expect when he walked through the doors.  It could have been just another building, except for the people within.  They ranged from babies in the arms of their parents to elderly seniors in wheelchairs.  The atmosphere was warm and friendly.  It was dignified but, at the same time, down to earth and loud from all the conversations floating through the church.  It astonished him to see so many teenagers and young couples in the pews.  He stayed quiet as he allowed his ears and eyes to capture all the nuances of the scene before him.  The members greeted Becky as they made their way through the pews.  He was favored with smiles and nods of heads.

 

As he sat, drinking in the peace, he felt the warmth of a small hand stealing it's way into his. Looking down to the side, he saw a red headed, freckled face little girl looking up at him with a grin on her face.  "Welcome to the Lord's house. Are you a friend of Miss Becky's? Mommy and Daddy have been praying that God would give her a friend. I sure hope you are.  I like you. You look like a nice man."

 

Her flaming red headed mother blushed and leaned down from the other side of her daughter and said, "Hush, Charlotte.  You are embarrassing the poor man." Roy chuckled, squeezed the little girl's hand a little tighter, and winked at the mother. Somehow, he felt at ease with this inquisitive child.

 

Soon the services started with them standing and singing.  He opened the hymnal to the page posted on the church announcement board.  He wasn't sure if he could sing well, so he stayed quiet and followed along with the choir by reading the text. Their first choice was "Jesus Never Fails."  The hymn talked of earthly friends being untrue and you having doubts and fears.  But there was one who loves and cares for you and will not fail.  Roy's thoughts drifted off to thinking of the man he was dreaming of so much of the time.  He wondered if he had a close bond to him and if the man was a friend who would not fail.  Becky's elbow in his ribcage brought Roy back to the services and earned him a quiet giggle from his new little friend.  The choir's second choice was "Let There be Peace on Earth" followed by "Echoes from the Burning Bush."  The images evoked by the song of the burning bush by the roadside caused Roy a memory of a hillside in flames and a helicopter dropping water on the inferno.  His mind was lost in the imagery. It was so real; he could hear the roar of the fire and feel the hot wind across his body. 

 

Becky once again saw the far away look come across his face.  She gently grabbed his arm and bore him down as the song ended.  He blinked his eyes and rubbed the back of his neck with his hand.  He resolved to pay better attention throughout the rest of the services and did. After church ended, Charlotte's parents, Bob and Nancy, attempted to apologize for their daughter's behavior.  Roy waved it off and said it was flattering to capture the attention of such a lovely young lady. Becky and Roy were soon invited to come over to their house the next weekend for a barbecue. Becky accepted the invitation, even though Roy was hesitant.

 

The next morning Roy went to the nearest bus stop so he could visit some of the construction sites that he had found in the newspaper employment ads.  He would have to persuade them to hire him without a resume or background.  Becky had pointed out the ones she remembered her husband had said weren't particular over paperwork.  He knew he would be gone most of the day, so they made arrangements to meet at a restaurant at six that night.

 

He came into the restaurant with a grin on his face.  Spotting Becky waiting, he came up to her, kissed her on her cheek and escorted her to a table.  "I got a job thanks to you and your leads.  I'm going to have to move closer to the job."

 

"Why?"

 

"The bus commute will take too long and I need to be there by the crack of dawn."

 

"Where will you live?"

 

"Don't know yet.  I'll look tomorrow and see what's available and what I could afford.  It's not as if I have much to move.  The clothes you gave me is all I have, that and some nightmares."

 

"They haven't eased up?"

 

"No, I still dream of Johnny, but now he's trapped in a fire and I can't get to him.  It's so vivid.  I can smell the smoke, feel the heat, and hear his cries for help.  I wake up coughing and wringing wet.  I'm not sure where to start, but I've got to find him.  I'm convinced he's the key to who I am."

 

"You will find him. Just don't push hard at it right now."

 

"I know.  Every time I concentrate on my memories, I get so sick my head hurts and I'm dizzy.  It's like a gray curtain with a brick wall hiding behind it.  I start to part the curtain, only to hit the wall."

 

"Do you have a headache now?"

 

"No."

 

"Then let's concentrate on something to eat and then we'll go home and I'll help you find a place to live."

 

"Sounds good.  I start the job on Wednesday.  That gives me a day to find something."

 

"Don't worry, you will."

 

********************

 

Johnny woke up as Jeff drove into the driveway.  Joanne came to the door and beckoned the two men into the house.  She hurried into the kitchen and brought back two cups of coffee.  Sitting down beside Johnny, she looked at one man and then the other, "Well? What did you find?"

 

"Mrs. DeSoto, we confirmed that Roy had been in the van and had been injured.  We couldn't pick up his trail afterwards.  I know the local police up there still have men out looking for Roy.  I'm sure they will find him."

 

"Johnny?"

 

"We didn't find him, Joanne.  Okay?"

 

Joanne sharply turned her head and looked hard at her husband's partner.  There was a tone in his voice that she had heard before…when he lied.  She knew he was hiding something.  "Johnny, look at me."

 

His brown eyes looked up from staring at his hands.  There was nervousness to them.

 

"Johnny, what are you hiding?"

 

At her words, the detective looked at Johnny.  "At the cabin.  What did you see?"

 

Johnny put his head into his hands.  "I saw Roy's blood stained clothes. I recognized the shirt I had given him for his birthday."

 

"You were a long time in that café and you changed your mind about calling Joanne. Why?"

 

"Sorry, Joanne.  I had to think it out before seeing you."

 

"Johnny, you're scaring me.  Is Roy dead?"

 

"No. No.  Nothing like that.  I know who Roy is with and she's passing him off as her husband.  He's going along with it."

 

"Why would he do that?"

 

"He probably wasn't himself.  At the café, they said he didn't talk and he had bruises and cuts on his face.  I think he had a concussion."

 

"Who's the woman he's with, John?"

 

"Jeff, she's our link to Roy.  I don't want her spooked by having the police showing up on her doorstep.  Something had to be wrong with Roy or he would have contacted us by now.  I just don't want to lose our chance to find him."

 

"Who's the woman, John?"

 

"Her name is Becky Moren.  She owns that cabin you found."

 

"Hold on a moment."  Pulling out a notebook from his pocket, Jeff fanned the pages until he found the one he wanted.  "She was the hiker who found the van.  She left her number and address with the local police up there.  I could approach her as needing to interview her as a possibly witness."

 

"Jeff, think.  She found the van.  She found Roy.  She brought him back to LA with her.  Did she tell the police Roy was with her?"

 

"No."

 

"We don't know why she hasn't come forward with him and what she plans to do with him.  Going in like gangbusters will insure she clams up.  I need to be the one to go in to talk to her."

 

"Why?"

 

"I've already set myself up as a potential buyer for her cabin with that café owner.  I'm sure Miss Moren has been told by now of my interest."

 

"I don't like this, John.  You could be putting your life on the line."

 

"Jeff, I do that everyday as part of my job, just like you.  The key is to be careful and keep my eyes and ears open.  He's my partner, Jeff.  They put us in pairs to take care of each other.  I'm going in tomorrow.  I'll call her tonight and set it up."

 

"Let me talk to my Captain before you do that.  We need some backup."

 

"Okay.  Don't take too long."

 

Arrangements were made and Johnny made an appointment to see Becky the next afternoon.  Becky asked for a description of Johnny.  It matched what she had been told by the café owner, so she gave him directions to her address.

 

When Johnny showed up in a taxi, he looked around and was able to spot Jeff and a few other men in the neighborhood.  Jeff was in a telephone repair truck parked several houses down from Becky's.  Johnny was wearing a wire under his shirt and Jeff would be monitoring the conversation.  With both anticipation and anxiety, Johnny swung his way up the walk and pressed the doorbell.

 

********************

 

Roy was pleased and eager to return to tell Becky the news.  She had an appointment with a buyer for the cabin, so Roy had rode a bus to find a place to live.  It wasn't one of the ones from the newspapers.  He had stumbled across it, just a small For Rent sign in a window, but close to the construction site.  He was watching out the window as the bus passed Becky's street on it's way to the stop.  Both ends of the two-block street had police cars blocking traffic.  Roy's instincts told him to stay on the bus.  He felt sure that they were looking for him.  Luckily, Becky wasn't aware of his new home or exactly where he would begin working tomorrow.  He would stay on the bus and return to his place.

 

The next morning he reported to work as Joe Brown and was assigned to digging a ditch for laying water lines to tie into the city lines.  It was a job and it kept him busy.  He had a nightmare the previous night about Johnny.  He was still trapped in the fire and Roy couldn't save him.  Roy mulled over the dream and knew he needed to find this man, but how?  Shouts pulled him from his thoughts.  Looking around, he saw a crowd gathering. In front of the building was a crane dangling a steel beam.  A chain had broken and the steel was hanging by the other chain.  He saw a man lying very still on the ground with others grouped around him.  Someone yelled.  "Call the Fire Department.  He's bleeding."

 

Instinctively, Roy dropped his shovel and ran to the crowd.  Looking down at the injured man, he begun accessing the injuries.  Noting that the man was bleeding from the chest, Roy dropped to his knees and reached out to the man.  Before he could touch him, two men grabbed Roy's arms from behind and dragged him away.

 

"Wait.  I was trying to put pressure on him to stop the bleeding."

 

"Man, we don't know who you are, but you aren't a paramedic.  They should be arriving now.  You need to get back to work."

 

Angrily, Roy shook free of their hands and stomped off to watch what was happening.  A red squad truck and fire engine pulled up and all the men jumped out.  Two paramedics ran to the downed man while the rest of the firemen gathered around their Captain for orders.  Within a short time, the man's wounds were accessed and while one paramedic applied pressure to the chest, the other set up the biophone and read off vitals to Rampart Hospital.  Soon they had the man ready for transportation by ambulance.  The other firemen secured the swinging beam and prepared to return to their station.  As Roy watched the two vehicles pull away, his mind could see the outside of a fire station with 51 on it.  He tried to remember more but for his efforts he received a sharp pain behind his eyes.

 

The foreman noted his wince of pain.  Roy wasn't aware his actions were fostering doubt as to whether he would work out.  To put it to the test, he called Roy over and gave him the job of the fallen man.  If he couldn't perform better in the new job, he would be fired.

 

Roy worked the rest of the day in his new position and was ready for the whistle signaling the end of the workday.  He was tired and a hot shower was calling.  After he got paid, he stopped by a department store to buy a change of clothes and then hurried on to his new apartment.

 

That night, he dreamed again.  He could see the flames around him and feel the heat.  There was a roaring in the air.  He looked back over his shoulder and saw a fireman with an air mask over his face and a helmet with 51 on his head.  They were leaving the building when the monster inhaled.  He knew the fire was going to flash and yelled "Johnny, let's get out now!"  In slow motion, he felt his body being picked up and flung against the wall.  Johnny was shoved down and he watched as the ceiling crashed down over both of them.  The fire raged around them as he tried to reach Johnny and dig him out from the debris.  But it wasn't meant to be.  Roy felt the darkness gathering around as consciousness left him and Johnny's cries for help grew dim.

 

Roy woke up with his heart pounding and gasping for air.  He had adrenaline coursing through his veins as he thrilled with the knowledge of how to find Johnny and reclaim his past.  He resolved to set out on his quest after work.  Knowing sleep would elude him, he got up, made coffee and stared out of his window at the moon.

 

********************

 

As Roy was experiencing elation, Johnny was discovering depression.  His appointment with Becky had been a bust.  He was able to trick her into talking about Roy.  She confessed that she was worried about her friend Joe.  She didn't know where he was or how long he would be gone.  She hoped he could take care of himself.  Johnny had left with a promise to go with her in a few days to look over the cabin, but downhearted that the leads to Roy had dried out.  When he met with Jeff later, Jeff assured Johnny he would continue to look for Roy.  He at least had a name to look for. Joe Brown.  Johnny knew it was time to return to Joanne and to let her know the latest about Roy.  He didn't relish the job as Jeff took him back.

 

He was right.  Joanne was very upset.  She really thought they would find Roy and to know that he was here in LA without her was painful.  However, her pain changed to anger when Johnny told her he had arranged with Chet to take him back to the ranch.  She saw it as Johnny giving up on finding Roy.  He saw it as escaping from smothering.  He assured her that he would still look for Roy and he would be available when she needed him, but he needed to go back to his own home.  He left her crying.

 

A few days later Becky pulled up in Johnny's driveway.  He had gone back to Rampart and got the cast removed and was using a cane to walk.  She greeted him as he walked up to the car.  "John Gage, it's good to see you have graduated to a cane. It will make it a lot easier to get around in the cabin."

 

Johnny gave her a crooked grin and got into her car.  As they drove away, he started talking to her about her friend Joe.  She was quiet and would change the subject.  Joe seemed to be a taboo topic.  Johnny decided it was time to talk about Roy.

 

"I'll be going back to work soon."

 

"Oh, what do you do?"

 

"I'm a firefighter/paramedic."

 

"How soon before you go back?"

 

"A couple of weeks.  I've got to work hard on physical therapy and pass a physical exam.  It's not going to be the same without Roy."

 

"Who's Roy?"

 

"He's my partner.  He disappeared almost two months ago out of Rampart Hospital's parking lot.  No one's seen or heard from him since."

 

"I'm sorry."

 

"We traced him into the mountains and we know he was injured from an automobile wreck.  There was a hiker who called in the location of the wrecked van.  My friend and I went up there and tracked Roy to your cabin.  Becky, I looked into your mudroom.  I saw Roy's clothes on your dryer.  How long were you going to hide him?"

 

"It's not what you think, John.  Joe asked me to keep quiet.  He doesn't remember and is fearful of what he was in his past life.  He's scared of what he may find.  The only memory that has returned was someone named Johnny."

 

"I'm Johnny!" He shouted, waving his hand in the air.  His movements and shout momentarily distracted her from her driving.  It was just enough to keep her from realizing how fast the racing cars were bearing down on her.  She tried to slow and move to the shoulder in order to miss the vehicles, but one of the teens was trying to pass his buddy's car and space ran out quickly.  She heard the screech of metal on metal as he sideswiped her on the driver's side.  It sent her car into a roll and they headed for a ravine at the base of the hill. As things turned black around her and she felt her senses fade, she thought she heard John call out for Roy.

 

********************

 

The bus system didn't run too close to Fire Station 51. To come close to the building, Roy found himself walking through the industrial area.  He wanted to see the firemen as they came and went.  If Johnny were there, Roy would approach him; otherwise, he was going to stay hidden.  He watched as the klaxon sounded and the firemen ran to the engine in the open bay.  The squad was gone.  None of the firemen he saw was the man in his dreams.  After they left he wandered into the bay, but nothing seemed familiar. He went back around the building to find a parking lot in back.  Again, nothing was familiar.  Hoping that the squad would be returning soon, he went across the road to a shady area and set down to wait.  He laid back on the grass and was soon asleep.

 

The noise of tires crunching against asphalt woke him up.  Seeing the squad turning to back into the bay, he watched carefully at the two men within.  They jumped out of the truck and trotted into the station.  He felt the heaviness of disappointment when he saw they were blond and red headed.  Johnny wasn't there.  Feeling depressed, Roy turned his back on the station and begun to trudge down the road back to the bus stop.

 

The engine returned and swung to back into the bay.  Chet was on the jump seat and was looking around.  He saw the sandy blond headed man walking away.  He looked over at Mike who was backing the engine and suddenly decided to do a double look at the walking man.  Something was familiar about the gait of the man's walk. When the engine stopped, he jumped out, ran to the street and yelled, "Roy!"

The man continued walking.  Chet yelled, "Hey!"  The man turned to look and started walking away again.  Chet was confused.  From the back, he looked like Roy.  But the facial hair and longer hair style wasn't Roy.  The puzzled look was not what he had expected.  Chet was frowning and munching on his mustache when Marco walked up and touched his shoulder.  "What's up?"

 

"I thought I saw Roy but it was my mistake.  What are you cooking tonight?"

 

"What else, chili.  Come on in.  You can get the salad ready."  Both turned and entered the bay.

 

Roy needed to talk and took the bus back to Becky's.  He looked carefully to make sure the police were not around and walked down to her place.  The driveway was empty, but thinking she had put her car in the garage, he pressed the doorbell and waited. Finally deciding she wasn't home, he left to go back to his apartment.  Spying a payphone not far from his place, he called her phone number.   With no answer, he resolved to try later that night.  He tried twice more and finally gave up to go to bed.

 

The next morning he tried calling her again, but the phone rang with no end.  Glancing at his watch, he thought she might have gone to Sunday school.  On a whim, he caught a bus and headed for the church he had attended before.  When he got there he didn't spot her car, but went in anyway to check.  As church services had already started, he slipped into the back pew and found his sitting companion was little Charlotte.  She reached over and grabbed his hand with all the innocence of a child.  "Welcome back," she whispered.

 

He looked down and back up suddenly when the preacher started the prayers with the hope of the speedy recovery of Becky from her car wreck.  That prayer was followed with a prayer for the staff of Rampart Hospital where Becky had been taken.  After the prayers, Roy motioned for Charlotte's mother to join him in the foyer.  Roy went out the door and waited with a frown on his face.  Nancy soon came out with an inquisitive look toward him.

 

"What happen to Becky?"

 

"Oh.  You weren't notified?"

 

"I haven't seen her for several days and she hasn't been home when I went by or called."

 

"I'm sorry, Joe.  Becky was in a car accident and she was taken to Rampart.  She's been unconscious for several days.  Bob and I are going to go see her after church.  The pastor and his wife will be taking Charlotte to their house.  Why don't you come with us to the hospital?"

 

Knowing his finances were low, Roy agreed and they went back into the church to return to the services.

 

********************

 

As usual when Johnny was admitted to Rampart, Roy's home was called.  After receiving the news, Joanne made arrangements for the children and went to the hospital.  She went to Dixie in the Emergency Room and was assured that Johnny was in stable condition.  His bad leg had come through okay.  He had received bruises, cuts and a mild concussion.  X-rays were being taken of his left side due to the large bruise found over his rib cage.  When the films came back, Brackett went looking for Joanne.  He found her in the waiting area.

 

"Joanne, first let me tell you how sorry I am that they haven't found Roy yet."

 

"Thanks.  They will.  He's somewhere here in LA.  Johnny and I will be waiting for him when they do."

 

"Well, they might have to find Johnny here.  I'm going to keep him for a couple of days.  He has partial fractures to two of his ribs, a wound on his head and a concussion.  But he should heal nicely if he takes care of himself when he goes home."

 

"Can I see him?"

 

"As soon as they have him settled in his room, I'll have Dixie come get you."

 

"Thanks, Dr. Brackett."

 

Later Joanne walked into Johnny's room to find him restless and agitated.

 

"Joanne, how is she?"

 

 

"Who, Johnny?"

 

"Becky, Becky Moren.  She was in the car with me.  No one has told me how she's doing."

 

"She's the one who was with Roy?"

 

"Yes, we were on our way up to her cabin for me to look over.  I had convinced her that her Joe was Roy when the accident happened."

 

"Okay.  If you calm down, I'll go see what I can find out."

 

"Thanks, Joanne."

 

Joanne went back down to ER to talk to Dixie.

 

"Joanne, let me buy you a cup of coffee," said Dixie as she led Joanne to the staff lounge.  The room was empty and Dixie went over to the coffeepot, poured two cups and brought them back to the table where Joanne was sitting.

 

"Dixie, I promised Johnny that I would get some information on how Becky Moren was doing."

 

"She's the woman they brought in with Johnny?"

 

"Yes.  She's the key to finding Roy.  She's the last one to see him."

 

"Joanne, what I can tell you is she hasn't woken up yet.  She has a goose egg lump on the back of her head and a concussion.  She's in serious condition."

 

"Can I see her?  I promise I'll keep it quiet."

 

"Let me talk to Kel first.  Why don't you wait here and I'll be right back."

 

Dixie kept her promise and shortly returned with Dr. Brackett's permission.  Joanne was told to keep it short and to go to room 210.  Joanne walked into Becky's room, saw a pretty brown headed woman laying very still and wondered what kind of relationship she had with Joanne's husband.  She sent a silent prayer upward that Becky would wake up soon so questions could be answered.  Roy needed to return home.  Then she left to report back to Johnny.

 

*********************

 

Roy was on his way to the hospital with Bob and Nancy after church to see Becky.  As they neared Rampart, in his mind, he was seeing the route before they reached it in reality.  This deja vu feeling was causing Roy some anxiety.  It wasn't relieved when they pulled into the parking lot and entered through the emergency room doors.  Everywhere he looked, he knew what was there before he saw it.  As they passed the nurses' station, the pretty blonde nurse looked up at his retreating back and said, "He's in room 315, Roy."

 

For the second time in two days he had been called Roy.  He wondered why.  They got on the elevator and found a gaggle of nurses gossiping.  "I thought he only chased nurses."

 

"Who's this lady that he came in with?  His latest conquest?"

 

"No.  I heard she's a real religious person."

 

"Fancy Johnny Gage going out with someone like that."

 

"I hear he's going home today, with Roy DeSoto's wife."

 

The elevator opened to spill out the nurses in a sea of white, leaving behind the trio.  Roy looked at Bob and Nancy. "You go on.  There's something I have to do.  I'll be down to see Becky shortly."  As they left the elevator, he punched three and went further up.  That voice kept whispering in his mind, "He's in Room 315, Roy."

 

He hesitantly approached 315, cracked open the door, and saw the dark headed man in his dreams being hugged by a shapely brunette woman.  He listened intently as they started to talk.  "Joanne, I don't know how to explain it.  I've only known her a short time, but I can't stop thinking of her.  She's not my type, but there's something about her.  She has such quiet strength and positive faith in her God.  She doesn't say much, but she speaks volumes when she does.  I wish she would wake up."

 

Joanne reached up and caressed his cheek. "She sounds a lot like Roy.  Maybe, that's why you feel the way you do.  You miss him.  She will wake up when she's meant to.  Would you like to see her when we leave?"

 

"Yes."

 

Roy felt an arm encircle his waist and pull him into the room.  Dixie let go of him and addressed Johnny.  "Here's your discharge papers, handsome.  Ready for your wheelchair chariot?"

 

Johnny turned around and stopped with a shock and then dawning look on his face.  "Roy?"

Joanne also turned and with a thrill in her voice and her arms out, said, "Roy, you're back!"

 

Roy stood staring at them.  Memories of Johnny, Joanne, Chris, Jennifer, Kelly Brackett, Dixie McCall, Joe Early, the station crew, and even his mother-in-law came flooding into his brain.  He couldn't slow them down. It was a freight train picking up speed, running wild and tossing memories here and there.  It was too much.  With a groan, he grabbed his head and turned to leave on jelly legs.

 

Johnny caught him on his way down as Dixie hit the nurses' call button. "Page Doctor Brackett, stat."

 

When Brackett arrived, he found two orderlies leaving the room and Roy occupying Johnny's bed.  "So he's back with us.   Who found him?"

 

"It's more like he found us," said Dixie. "I saw him from the back earlier and directed him to Johnny's room.  I didn't realize he had changed this much."

 

"What happened to him?"

 

"He looked at Johnny and Joanne and passed out."

 

"Oh, please don't say that to Chet.  I will never hear the last of it," said Johnny.

 

"Well, while we have him down, let's have a look at him.  Dix, can you get some vitals?"

 

As Brackett and Dixie worked around him, Roy's eyes fluttered and he came to.  "So, you're with us again.  How do you feel?"

 

Roy's eyes took on a glaze as he did an internal audit.  "I feel okay, just a little overwhelmed.  Ten minutes ago, Doc, I didn't know any of you.  But seeing Johnny and Joanne together opened the gates and all my memories hit me at once."

 

"Let me look you over."

 

"I'm fine, Doc."

 

"Are you sure you're not Johnny?" teased Dixie.  Her comment earned her a frown and the retort, "Wrong hair color."

 

Brackett looked up from his examination of Roy.  "Other than low blood pressure, my preliminary exam doesn't show anything wrong.  But, you've been missing for two months and we know you were injured in a wreck."

 

"Yeah, that van rolling down the mountain."

 

"Yes.  I want to keep you a few days and run some tests."

 

"I'm okay."

 

"Humor me.  Let me be the judge of that."

 

Glancing over at Joanne, Roy noted her head nod as the tears ran down her cheeks.  Johnny also nodded his head.  "Okay, Doc, but I need to see another patient."

 

"Who?"

 

Looking carefully at Joanne and not knowing how she would take his next comment, Roy plowed ahead.  "The woman who helped me when I was wounded, Becky Moren.  I heard she was here."

 

"She is and she's still out of it," Johnny softly said.

 

"Can I see her, Doc?"

 

"For a few minutes, while we make arrangements to admit you.  Dix, get a wheelchair."

 

"Doc, I can walk."

 

"May I remind you, you came close to kissing the floor rather than your wife.  Doctor's orders or you don't go."  He received a glare followed by a smile and a nod.  "Your partner can take you down there, room 210."

 

As they entered the room, Joanne stood back, fearful yet curious.  Roy went up to sit beside the bed.  He gently picked up Becky's hand and begun talking.  "Becky, its Joe.  You need to wake up.  You told me to give it some time and my memories would return.  They have! My name is Roy DeSoto.  I have a lovely wife, Joanne that I've been in love with since the fourth grade.  I have a son and a daughter, Chris and Jennifer.  Johnny is my partner.  We're firefighter/paramedics.  Becky, you've got to wake up.  I want you to get to know my family and Johnny."

 

Johnny walked up to her other side and pushed her hair back off her forehead.  "Come on Becky, its John. Open your eyes and give me a chance to know you better."

 

Her hand squeezed Roy's and her eyes fluttered.  Johnny yelped and punched the call button.  The nurse arrived and immediately urged everyone out of the room while Becky was checked over.  They found Bob and Nancy coming up from the cafeteria and Roy shared with them both the news about Becky and the news of his memories.  Dixie came into the waiting room and told Roy she had his room ready.  After excusing themselves, Roy and Joanne left with Dixie while Johnny got acquainted with Bob and Nancy.  Everyone was happy that Becky was awake.  Johnny was already making plans on how to get Becky's attention romantically when she was released.

 

Two days later, Roy was waiting for Joanne and Johnny to pick him up.  Test had been run and Brackett was discharging him.  He was going home for the first time in over two months.  He had met Detective Jeff Thompson, gave his statement and his kidnapping case was now officially closed.  The guys from the station had come by to visit.  Captain Stanley was hopeful of getting his paramedics back soon.   Both of them had their own special tests to pass, therapy for Johnny and memory tests for Roy.  It didn't matter what he had to do; Roy was ready to go back to work.  Johnny had come into Roy's room the previous night ranting over Chet teasing Johnny about being so ugly that Roy passed out.  Even Johnny's complaining was nice to hear. 

 

As Roy looked out the window, he thought over the past two months and all that had taken place.  There were new people in his life.  He thought Becky was the one for Johnny, and if so, Roy would be pleased for his partner.  Yes, his life was returning to normal.

 

"Hey, handsome.  Are you ready to go home?"

 

Turning to look at Dixie as Johnny and Joanne stood smiling in the background, Roy grinned and said, "I thought I would never get that offer."

 

She gestured at the wheelchair and Roy sat down for the required ride downstairs.  As they rolled by, he reached over, grabbed his wife's hand, looked up at her and said, "I love you Joanne.   Let's go home."

 

 

 

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