The Secret

Roy Desoto sat quietly at his kitchen table sipping coffee while he wife scrambled eggs on the stove.

"Do you want bacon or sausage with your eggs?" she asked.

"Uh, either is fine."

"Great, bacon it is," she smiled. "Why are you so quiet this morning? You're not having regrets about last night are you?"

"No, of course not. We decided it was something we'd do together and we did it. I'd just rather we keep it our secret," he replied.

"Wow, so you're not even going to tell Johnny?"

"I'm especially not going to tell him. You know I'd never hear the end of it."

Joanne giggled. "Okay, but I think it's the most spontaneous and romantic thing we've ever done and I don't care what anyone thinks."

Roy finished breakfast and headed to the station. He was well-rested and ready to work. He quickly changed clothes and met his partner in the dayroom.

"Hey, how was your day off?" Johnny was grinning and very anxious to share news with his friend.

"Pretty good actually. My mother-in-law took the kids so Joanne and I could have some alone time."

"Oh yeah, the anniversary. I almost forgot."

"Yeah. So what did you do while you were off?" Roy could see that Johnny about to burst.

"You wouldn't believe it if I told you."

"Sure, I would. Try me." Roy smiled.

"Well, remember that girl we met last week up at the hospital?"

"Which one? We met a lot of girls last week at the hospital," He replied.

"Yeah, yeah. But this was THE girl. The blonde bombshell."

"Oh, the one that wouldn't even look at you when you tried to talk to her?"

"Yeah, that one."

"Let me guess, you went out with her."

"No. I didn't go out with her."

"So what's not believable about that?" Roy smirked.

"Oh, ha, ha. Very funny. Now will you listen to me for a minute?"

"Go on."

"Well, Chet and I went to this party at our friend Dave's house."

"And she was there."

"Roy, would you let me tell you my story!"

"Okay, okay. Go on."

"Anyway, in comes this girl. She looked familiar. Her name is Kimberly. We hung out all night long. We decided to double date the next night and she said she'd fix Chet up with her sister."

"I thought you and Chet swore to never double date again?" Roy asked.

"Yeah, well, we did but this time was an exception. You'll never guess who her sister is."

"The blonde bombshell?"

"Well, yeah. But turns out she's as dumb as a doorknob. Chet was so bored. I got lucky. Kimberly apparently got the brains in her family."

"I didn't think you dated for brains."

"Hey, I'm not that shallow you know."

"So, are you going out again? Did you get a second date?"

"Yep, that's what I'm so excited about. I mean. . .second dates haven't come along often."

"Well, good for you. Maybe I'll get to meet this one."

Roy wasn't paying attention that Johnny was now staring at him. "Roy, what's different about you?"

"What do ya mean?"

Johnny looked perplexed. "I don't know. I just sense that there is something different about you."

"Nope, nothing different." Roy wondered how in the world Johnny could know.

"Okay, if you say so but something just seems. . .not right about you."

Roy smiled. "Guess I just had a great anniversary."

The day was quiet and the guys only had a few runs that dealt with minor injuries. Roy was the first to settle down and try to get some sleep. Johnny followed him a few minutes later.

"Roy, when did you switch to boxers?"

"Huh? Since when do you pay attention to what I wear?"

"What do you mean? I don't PAY attention. I just see. Is this something new Joanne wanted you to try?"

"No, it's nothing new," Roy insisted.

"Okay, okay. Touchy, touchy," Johnny replied. "Night."

"Good night."

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

About an hour later the station was called out to a brush fire.

"Man, I hate these night brush fires. You know it has to be someone careless with a cigarette. You'd think people would learn to be more careful." Johnny complained.

Roy just shook his head and followed the captain's orders to move to the right of the fire. The winds were picking up as well as the smoke.

"Guys, be careful out here. There has been an excavation crew working out here and there are a lot of holes that you might not see until you're right up on them." The captain ordered.

Roy and Johnny helped their crew on the hoses until another station arrived and the captain asked them to pull back and wait to see if they were needed for medical assistance. As they walked back to the squad, Roy stumbled and fell into a four by four hole in the ground that was partially hidden by brush.

"Ow!” Roy hollered.

"Roy!" Johnny yelled. "Roy, are you okay?"

Gage began to panic when his partner didn't answer him.

"Roy! Roy, can you hear me? Answer me!"

Still, no answer.

Johnny called for help and shot a flashlight down into the hole. Roy was lying on one side with one leg extended out and the other curled up close to him.

"Whoa, not in the eyes, Junior," Roy complained.

"Sorry, you scared the hell out of me. Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm feeling a bit stupid right now. I think I did something to my leg."

"Hang on, help is on the way and I'll be right down to get you out."

"I'm not going anywhere."

Chet and Marco assisted in lowering Johnny down to Roy and bringing them both back up to the surface.

Gage quickly began to access his partner's condition. "Let me take a look at that leg."

"No!" Roy protested.

"Easy, Roy, I'm not gonna hurt ya."

"It's just that..just that." He wanted to come up with a good excuse to keep Johnny from helping him but he couldn't.

Johnny kept Roy on the backboard and rushed to get the medical equipment from the squad.

"Cap!" Roy called out. "Could you please have Jenkins take care of me and send Johnny to help the others?"

"Why, Roy? What's the matter with your partner?"

Roy whispered his concerns to his captain.

The captain smirked. "Oh, alright. I guess I can help you out. . .this time."

"Thanks, Cap," Roy smiled weakly.

As Johnny trotted back over to his partner; the captain quickly waived him off.

"But, Cap," Johnny started. "Is something wrong?"

"Johnny, you're needed on the lines. Jenkins will take good care of Roy and I'll keep you posted on his condition."

Gage looked over at his partner who was now being cared for by another paramedic. He reluctantly turned and joined the rest of the crew fighting the fire.

"I wonder what's going on?" he thought. "Doesn’t Roy want my help?"

The crew worked for hours into the night trying to get a handle on the fire. The smoke was thick and at times Johnny couldn't tell up from down. He worked hard to keep his mind from wandering to Roy and tried to focus on the task at hand.

"What's going on with Roy?" he thought. "Something just isn't right. The captain never splits us up."

Several hours later, with the fire under control, the squad was pulled and sent back to the station. Johnny got permission to check on Roy at the hospital.

As he walked towards the nurse's station he was greeted by Dixie.

"Hey, Johnny. Ya here to check on that partner of yours?"

"Yeah, how is he?"

"He's doing better. Dr. Morton says he just bruised his hip pretty badly when he landed on it."

"Hip? I thought he said he hurt his leg?" Johnny shot Dixie a confused look.

"Nope, just his hip. He's lucky he didn't break anything. I'm surprised you weren't the one to bring him in."

Johnny frowned. "Yeah, me too. The captain wanted me to work the fire."

Dixie smiled. "A lot of odd things seem to be going on with Roy tonight. He actually requested Dr. Morton."

"What?" Johnny looked surprised.

"Yeah, and Morton had a smile on his face when he left the room. But you know him, you couldn't pry a secret out of him."

"Great. Well, can I see Roy now?"

"Sure you can. Joanne got here about an hour ago. She said she couldn't stay long. She had a neighbor watching the kids. I'm sure she'll be glad to see you."

Johnny slowly opened the door to his partner's hospital room.

"Roy?"

"Oh, hi, Johnny. Roy's asleep. They gave him something for the pain and it knocked him out pretty quick."

Johnny smiled. "Hey, Joanne. Do you mind if I still stay awhile."

"No, of course I don't mind. I'm getting ready to leave in a minute. I need to pick up the kids. Are you doing okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why?" asked Johnny.

"I don't know. You look a little pale," she answered.

"I'm just a little tired I guess."

Joanne smiled and gave Johnny a light kiss on the cheek. "Goodnight. If Roy wakes up while you're here will you tell him I'll be back in the morning?"

"Sure thing."

Johnny tried to get comfortable in the chair beside Roy's bed. He began to feel lightheaded and slowly started into a coughing fit that he could hardly stop.

"What's wrong with me?"

He slowly lifted up from the chair and met the floor face first.

When he woke up he was lying in a bed with an oxygen mask on. Dixie was standing over him with a concerned look on her face.

"Dix..." his voice was hoarse.

"Shhhh, no talking. You just take it easy and get some rest," She replied.

"Wha. . .what happened?"

"Smoke inhalation. You took in too much from the fire. Didn't you realize it?"

"Sort of..thought I'd be okay." He was groggy and his eyes were heavy.

"Well, just take it easy. You're gonna be just fine."

Johnny drifted off to sleep.

The next morning Joanne DeSoto greeted her husband with a kiss.

"How do you feel?"

"I'm okay." Roy looked depressed.

"What's the matter? The doctors say you can come home today."

"It's Johnny."

"Johnny? What's the matter with Johnny? He came by here last night to see you. Did you get to talk to him?"

"No, that's just it. He passed out in here. They said he took in too much smoke at the fire last night."

Joanne's face turned to a look of concern. "Is he going to be okay?"

"Yeah, but it's all my fault, Joanne."

"Your fault? How can it be your fault?"

"If I had let Johnny take care of me instead of worrying about our damn secret he would've been here at the hospital instead of out there taking in all that smoke."

"Oh, Roy. Johnny was just doing his job. It's not your fault."

"Yes, it is. I know he's going to be alright but I still can't help but wish that I wouldn't have been so embarrassed to let him help me."

Joanne leaned over and kissed her husband on the forehead. "Then tell him the truth. I really think he'll understand. Otherwise I have a feeling that he will think he did something wrong."

"Yeah." Roy grabbed his wife's hand and gave it a squeeze. "Thanks, Jo."

DeSoto waited until after he was released from the hospital to go and visit his partner. He used crutches and maneuvered his was into Johnny's room.

"Hey, partner, how ya feeling?"

Johnny stared up Roy. "I'm doing better. Are you out of here?"

"Yeah, they just released me. I'm a little sore but I'll be okay in a few days. What about you?"

"They want to keep me another day for observation. Hopefully they'll let me out in the morning." Johnny looked down at his sheet. "Roy, I need to ask you something."

Roy moved and sat down in the chair beside the bed. "Sure, what is it?"

"Well, out there. . .last night. Did you ask to have someone else take care of
you?"

Roy was hesitant to reply. "Well. . .yeah but."

"Then just go."

"Johnny let me finish before you get all upset."

"It's too late. If you don't trust me to help you how can..."

DeSoto interrupted his partner before he could go on further. "It had nothing to do with your ability to help me. I was just embarrassed about something and I wasn't sure how you would react. I didn't want you riding me for days so I asked the Captain to get Jenkins to help me and then I had Dixie get Morton here at the hospital. The two of them are so ridiculously by the book that I knew they wouldn't say anything."

Roy blurted it all out in one breath and then looked over at Johnny who was now just staring at him.

"Breathe, Roy!"

Roy let out his breath. "Maybe if I just go ahead and show you, you'll understand."

He stood up, turned sideways towards his partner and slowly dropped his pants.

Johnny let out a loud laugh. "Oh, wow! I get it."

On Roy's side was a small Betty Boop with the inscription Joanne Forever written underneath.

Gage couldn't control his laughter but had to tone it down when the coughing fits came back as a result.

"Are you okay?" asked Roy. "I didn't mean for you to have a setback on my account."

"Oh, I'm okay. But. . .Betty Boop?"

"Yeah, it was an anniversary thing. Joanne got a tattoo too."

"She did? What does her tattoo look like?"

Roy smiled. "Now that's one secret I will never tell."

*Click above to send Mychand feedback

Stories by Mychand Guest Dispatchers