All things “Emergency” belong to Mark VII Productions and Universal Studios. Don’t own any of the characters, but wish I did…especially one in particular…

 

 

                 AA  SSEERRIIOOUUSS          MMIISSUUNNDDEERRSSTTAANNDDIINNGG

 

                                         by Ocean

 

 

Roy DeSoto was in a bad mood. The weekend had been a disaster, and Monday wasn’t looking any better. He scowled at the rainy weather, knowing it would create havoc for any rescues they might be called out to. He maneuvered his little Porsche into the heavy traffic of the morning, trying to get to work on time.

            The weekend had been anything but relaxing. Despite the fact that it was only October, the weather had become prematurely cold, and his furnace had decided to break down. When the temperature of the house had dipped below 60 degrees, Roy finally broke down and called in someone to repair the furnace. That someone not only charged time and a half to pay a visit on Sunday, but also informed the DeSotos that they would be in need of a new furnace. The heat exchanger had cracked, causing the possibility of deadly carbon monoxide to leak into their home. The motor had also died. It was going to cost nearly as much for repairs as it would to replace it, so the decision was made to install a new furnace in the DeSoto household. Roy almost went into cardiac arrest when he was quoted the price, but conceded to it anyway. What choice did he have?

Unfortunately for the cold and grouchy DeSoto family, the new furnace was on backorder and wouldn’t arrive and be installed for another 2 days, leaving his family at the mercy of the elements.  The way his luck was running, by the time they had it installed it would miraculously warm up and hit record highs for the remainder of the season. 

Then the rain had started, and sometime during the middle of the night as he huddled under his blankets in his 55 degree house, he was awakened by a drop of water splashing his face, then another, then another. A click of the light switch revealed a wet spot on the ceiling, where the water was slowly soaking through the drywall.

            Not only had the furnace conked out, but the roof was on its last legs. His partner, Johnny Gage, had helped him to repair the beaten roof when it first began to leak several months ago; at the time, Johnny stated he thought it would only be a matter of time before the roof would need to be replaced, as the shingles were wearing out and becoming loose. Johnny had offered to help with the replacement work when the time came, as he often did for Roy and Joanne DeSoto with projects around their house. He himself had become a family fixture at the DeSotos over the last five years. He felt it was the least he could do to help them out, considering how much this family had opened up their home to him. He was a regular guest at dinners, birthdays, holidays, or sometimes just for breakfast after a long shift with Roy. Roy’s young children loved their ‘Uncle Johnny’, as they had dubbed him early on.

           

Roy’s problems had all started that Saturday, two days ago, when he had returned home that morning after a particularly difficult and harrying shift. He was greeted with a cold house, fighting kids, and a grouchy and unhappy wife.

            The school year had recently started, and Chris and Jennifer, the DeSoto children, were already wanting to get involved in all kinds of after school activities. Jennifer wanted to take gymnastics lessons and join the Girl Scouts, and Chris wanted to learn to play street hockey, and needed a new bike, since his had recently been stolen at school. Those things cost money, and money was very tight at the moment. With the broken furnace, it was about to get tighter.

Then on Sunday, Joanne had dropped the bomb on Roy that she wanted to get a job. Just part-time she said.  Her doctor’s receptionist had quit recently, and they were looking for someone to replace her. Joanne reasoned that they really needed the extra money what with all the things the kids needed: new skates and a hockey stick, a new bike, and money for the gymnastics lessons they had promised Jennifer.  Now, with the furnace needing to be replaced, she told Roy there was no other way. Roy still felt guilty for turning down the engineer’s position he had tested for and passed recently. He knew that Joanne had been very disappointed at the time, but had always told Roy that it was his decision. She would have preferred that he take the safer position of engineer, which paid significantly more money than a paramedic. But Roy loved being a paramedic too much, and he just hadn’t been able to bring himself to give it up.

Roy was dead set against Joanne taking a job. In that respect, he was a little old fashioned. He felt the man should be the provider for the family, and he worked hard to do that, sometimes even picking up extra shifts to make ends meet. He thought it was important for Joanne to stay home and care for their children. How would they get to school and home from school if she worked? Someone needed to be there for the kids after school. How would things around the house get done?  Who would take the kids their lunch or homework if they forgot it? He also had some selfish reasons for not wanting Joanne to work. He would miss coming home in the morning and finding her there to greet him and fix him breakfast. He would miss their quiet afternoons together.  Plus a small part of his ego felt a little uncomfortable with the realization that he wasn’t able to provide enough for his family.  Now he felt guilty telling Joanne he didn’t want her to work, when he could have provided more money himself. I guess I should have taken that engineer position; I’m not gettin’ any younger. With chagrin he reminded himself that he would be turning 30 in just a few short weeks, yet another thing on his growing list of dreads.

Joanne had agreed to an interview at her doctor’s office on Monday, and didn’t tell Roy about it until late Sunday. She figured that now that they needed a new furnace, Roy would have to agree to it, given that they just didn’t have the money. That had led to an argument. Roy was angry that she hadn’t even discussed it with him. She had said, “It’s only an interview, I can turn the job down if I want. I just want to see what happens.” They had gone round and round with it, until they tired of arguing. They had both gone to bed mad that night, something they rarely ever did. Having the roof leak on them in the middle of the night had been the icing on the cake. It gave Joanne even more justification for wanting to start a job.

 

Roy maneuvered his Porsche onto the entrance ramp of the freeway. He regretted doing so as soon as he had turned, but it was too late. He saw the orange construction cones and pounded his fist on the steering wheel.

“Damn!” he cursed. He had forgotten that this stretch of the freeway was going to have lanes closed down starting today. He slowed to a stop behind a massive line of cars before he even entered the freeway. His mind had been so clouded with problems that he hadn’t been paying enough attention. Had he remembered, he would have taken another route. He didn’t have very far to go on the freeway, but it always seemed faster than taking the back streets. Not today. He had allowed barely enough time to get to work, and now he was going to be late.

Slowly, Roy crept toward the highway. No one would let him in. Someone honked at him, shooting him the finger as he forced his way in behind a car. Traffic stopped and Roy’s mind began to wander as he sat motionless in the long queue of cars.

He thought again about this morning. Roy had left the house that morning without even kissing Joanne good-bye. He left her with the responsibility of figuring out who was going to fix the roof. Normally it wouldn’t have been too much of a worry, because Johnny had offered to help Roy replace the roof when the time came. But Johnny wasn’t in any shape right now to be climbing up on rooftops. Roy’s partner had been absent from work for over four weeks now, after a terrible accident where he had been the victim of a hit and run driver.

Johnny had been home now for a couple of weeks recuperating after a two week stay in the hospital, but it was going to be about three more weeks before he would be able to return to work. Roy wasn’t going to be able to wait three weeks to put a roof on his house. He wouldn’t have asked Johnny to do it anyway, even if he could wait three weeks, not after just being laid up in the hospital.

Cars started inching forward again, and Roy moved up about three car lengths before stopping. He sighed, and looked at his watch. As his gaze returned to the windshield, his mind drifted back to the night of the accident.

He would never forget that night a short month ago as long as he lived. The shrill noise of tires screeching just before his partner was run down echoed in his mind, and he remembered with sickening clarity the sound of the thud that was made when Johnny’s body collided with the car. The expression of disbelief and fear on Johnny’s face when he realized what was going to happen to him was also etched in Roy’s memory. He had been standing just on the other side of the squad talking to Johnny when the car had come careening around the corner. He swallowed as he recalled what had gone through his shocked mind at the time…..

Running toward his downed partner, Roy’s gut was already tight with fear and dread – the dual hands of experience and medical training twisting his insides into hard knots. Fear almost overcame him as he considered the possible injuries that Johnny may have incurred – head trauma, spinal injury, and internal bleeding, to name a few.  He’d seen his fair share of MVAs and knew first hand the likely outcome of automobile versus human.  Roy desperately tried to ignore the litany of likely injuries running through his mind in time with his running feet.  He skidded to a stop next to his fallen partner, simultaneously grateful and dismayed to see him roll to one side.  Johnny’s movement indicated that at least he was alive, though it brought with it concerns about both his levels of awareness and pain, and the potential for exacerbating existing injuries. As he kneeled down, Roy was immediately overcome with an odor hanging in the air, thick with rotting garbage and exhaust fumes, and a heavy feeling of foreboding swirled around him. Roy could tell Johnny was hurting. Hurting so badly that he was unable to answer Roy when asked if he was okay. He swallowed convulsively against his rebellious stomach and reached out a gloved hand to his writhing partner, hoping the contact would halt the spasmodic movements and comfort him.  Only when he’d made the contact did he notice how badly his own hands shook and realized the touch was comfort for them both. 

A minute or so later, Johnny had finally been able to vocalize that his hip, back and leg hurt. Shortly thereafter, Johnny’s consciousness had waned briefly, and Roy suspected Johnny’s blood pressure was dropping, and that he was bleeding internally. Upon cutting away Johnny’s t-shirt, Roy discovered massive bruising on the lower left quadrant of Johnny’s abdomen, confirming Roy’s suspicion of a possible internal injury. Roy had been somewhat relieved to discover that Johnny had no apparent head injury, but now he was plagued with worries about internal injuries, very real threats to Johnny’s life.

Roy had cursed the fact that Johnny had been holding onto the drug box when he was hit, and now the contents of that box were strewn all over the pavement, making them useless. So, with the help of the other guys, they had gotten Johnny’s leg splinted, and had loaded him onto the gurney that the ambulance had provided. That was all they could do.

“How’re you doin’?” Roy had asked him lightly as they were wheeling him toward the ambulance.” It was a stupid question, Roy knew, but it was too hard to be a friend and think like a paramedic, and his overwhelming need to comfort had latched onto the cliché before he even realized he’d spoken. 

“I’m…tryin’ to think of somethin’ funny….but I hurt too much,” was Johnny’s response.

A lump suddenly formed in Roy’s throat at that comment and he had to pause before he could speak past it.  He couldn’t focus on the words he managed to choke out, his paramedic self managed to operate on rote while the part of him that was a friend was now struggling with the additional emotion that Johnny’s simple comment had churned up.  He was surprised by his own reaction, but the words had touched him in a totally unexpected way.  In Johnny’s painful effort, Roy could read his partner’s attempt to comfort HIM and then, when that failed, the naked vulnerability of his honesty.

Roy forgot what he said after that, something inadequate like, “Well, hang in there.” Then he had climbed into the ambulance with Johnny.

Once in the ambulance, Roy was at least able to get Johnny’s blood pressure. It was hard to hear with the sirens wailing in the background, and Roy’s head was bent in concentration.

“Whaz my BP?” Johnny slurred, as he felt the cuff deflate around his arm.

Roy looked into Johnny’s pain-filled eyes. “95 over 65,” he responded, trying to paste a reassuring smile on his face. “Not too bad.”

 Johnny held the eye contact a moment before his eyes slid shut briefly, grimacing as a wave of pain swept over him.  He knew better.

“R-roy?”

“Yeah, Johnny?” Roy leaned down toward John’s head to hear him.

“I’m….pretty….messed up.”

That statement from Johnny scared the hell out of Roy. One disadvantage of being a paramedic was that you were able to assess your own injuries. Even in his semi-conscious state, Johnny knew what was going on. Trying hard to disguise his ominous feelings, Roy laid his hand on Johnny’s shoulder, patting it a couple of times. “You’re gonna be okay. We’ll be at Rampart in just a few minutes.”

“Roy?”

“Johnny, quit tryin’ to talk. Just try to relax, okay?”

“Roy….it’s juz like…. like Drew….”

Roy was caught off guard for a moment with that comment.  Johnny was referring to his friend Drew, who had died a few years ago after being hit by a car on his motorcycle. These few words made Roy realize that Johnny knew he was hurt very badly, and that this time, he may not make it.  His blue eyes locked with Johnny’s brown ones, and he saw fear there; or perhaps it was his own fear he saw reflected in them.

“No, it’s not like Drew,” Roy said firmly, not sure who he was trying to convince more, himself or Johnny. His grip tightened on Johnny’s shoulder. “That’s not gonna happen, you understand? You’re gonna be okay.”

Johnny stared up at Roy with eyes glazed with pain for a long moment. Realizing that he may not have another chance later, he decided to say the words that needed to be said, despite knowing what it would do to his partner. “R-roy….I got…I got…a will. It’s in….my bedroom closet…”

“Johnny, stop it. You don’t need to be thinkin’ about that right now,” Roy’s voice broke; he was close to losing it.

“Roy….please….just….” Johnny seemed to be getting a little agitated, and his face contorted in pain once again.

“Okay, okay, Johnny. It’s in your closet. I’ll remember. You can show it to me when you’re better, all right?” Lines of worry and desperation marred Roy’s face.

Johnny’s eyes closed again. “Everythin’ I got…is….yours….”

Roy swiped a tired hand over his eyes and tried to control his emotions. When he looked back at Johnny, he realized that Johnny was unconscious. Alarmed, he shook Johnny’s shoulder lightly. “Johnny? Come on, partner. Stay with me,” his voice trembled with urgency. Roy was suddenly shaking with fear, the memories and details of Drew’s death forming clearly in his mind.

Johnny mumbled something unintelligible and opened his eyes halfway. He was fading.

Unexpectedly, Roy felt a breeze as the ambulance doors were flung open. They were at Rampart.

 

A horn blared and Roy nearly hit the convertible roof of his Porsche. He had been so caught up in his memories that he hadn’t realized that traffic was moving again.

It looked to Roy like things might be moving along now, but no, he saw red tail-lights up ahead. Soon he was stopped again. He looked at his watch again. It was 8:00. He was late. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. Oh well, Cap’ll get over it, eventually. Besides, it means that I’ll have about 15 minutes less time that I have to spend with Brice.

Brice. Just thinking about him brought acid up from Roy’s stomach. God, another day with Brice; I don’t think I can take that human rulebook one more day. He’d been working with the man now for about a month and it was all he could do to be civil to the guy.  Brice’s rules and nitpickiness maddened Roy.  He never thought he would miss his real partner this much. But he did. It made him suddenly realize how important Johnny’s friendship had become to him, like the brother he never had.

Johnny drove Roy crazy sometimes, but he was a lot easier to get along with than Brice. Not only was he was a hell of a firefighter and paramedic, but also a hell of a friend. Over the years, they had developed a kind of rhythm with each other as they worked side by side. It was almost as if they could read each others minds, barely needing to speak to one another as they went about their jobs. Each sensed what the other was going to do and when, and they worked together efficiently, like a well-oiled machine. The two of them, unwittingly, had developed a reputation known through the department and Rampart. They were two of the best, maybe THE best, and two from one of the original paramedic teams. Others tried to emulate them, and some came close, but none were quite able to match the reputation that they had achieved. Roy DeSoto and John Gage had become almost a household name in the EMT business.

Besides having a partner that he meshed with so perfectly, Roy and Johnny had developed a close friendship both at work and away. Part of this friendship was born out of the mutual respect they held for one another. They didn’t really have that much in common, except their jobs, but they found they really enjoyed doing things together. Roy’s family became a big bonus for Johnny, who had no family of his own, except an aunt. There, at the DeSoto house, Johnny felt included and wanted, always welcome at every occasion. It had taken time, however, for Johnny to feel the level of comfort that he had attained with Roy’s family. Over the years, Roy suspected that for all of Johnny’s outer bravado, he was indeed very insecure when it came to his place in the lives of others.  Maybe that was why Johnny seemed to be so devastated when it came to any perceived rejection of him by others. Since Johnny never talked about his past, Roy could only speculate that circumstances in his childhood caused Johnny to try to camouflage his real feelings. Roy only knew how much he had come to value Johnny’s to a fault loyalty, which is maybe why he often had these feelings of overprotectiveness toward his partner.

 For Johnny, Roy’s family took the place of the family that he had lost so long ago. Roy was only glad he and his family could provide some comfort and a sense of belonging to Johnny. Despite the fact that outwardly Johnny seemed more than content to be alone and a bachelor, Roy sensed sometimes that he was a very lonely man, though Johnny would never admit it. There were times when he would catch Johnny looking longingly at him and Joanne together, and he detected a sadness behind those deep dark eyes. Roy secretly hoped that some day Johnny would find his own “Joanne”.

Roy knew one thing, and that was that he had been extremely relieved when he found out the night of the hit and run accident that Johnny was going to be okay. Waiting through the surgery had been torture, wondering if his friend would die on the operating table, as Johnny’s friend Drew had. He’d grown more and more frightened in the treatment room as he watched Johnny get progressively worse. What really worried him was when Johnny’s breathing had become labored, and he started complaining of a terrible pain in his belly. Roy had watched as Johnny’s eyelids had finally slid shut, and he lost consciousness just before they wheeled him up to surgery. Roy had stood there feeling totally helpless, not only not being able to find the words he could possibly say to comfort his friend, but also not knowing how to tell his friend how important he was to him, maybe for the last time.

Now, sitting here in traffic he thought, Thank God. Thank God he was okay. He shook his head slowly. What would I have done without him?

Roy neared the exit ramp and breathed a sigh of relief. He was finally able to exit the freeway.

Approaching the station, he mused, Brice is probably bitching up a storm right now that I’m not there.

 

Roy hurriedly buttoned his uniform shirt as Captain Stanley poked his head in the dorm.

“Glad you could make it, DeSoto,” he said with upraised eyebrows, waiting for an explanation.

“Sorry, Cap,” Roy said apologetically. “I forgot about the construction on the freeway.”

“No problem, Roy. I’ve already done assignments; you can start on the latrine any time,” he said with a smile. No further words were needed. It was a rare day when Roy DeSoto was late for work.

Before Roy could utter, “yes, sir,” the tones went off. Engine 51, dumpster fire at 341 Sycamore. 341 Sycamore. Time out 9:20. The Captain disappeared, leaving Roy alone.

He finished dressing, and got the supplies ready to clean the bathroom. Craig Brice chose that moment to enter the room, a look of disapproval smug on his face. “I’ve completed the morning calibrations myself, DeSoto. There’s some things I’d like to go over with you when you’re finished.”
            Roy cringed inwardly. “Sure Cr…Brice,” he answered without looking up. Roy heard the door swing open and closed.

Roy was startled five minutes later when he heard someone rummaging through one of the  lockers. He hadn’t heard anyone enter. He looked up to see Matt Hamilton pulling his coat on. Matt was one of the paramedics on the last shift.

“Hey, Matt,” Roy called. “What are you still doin’ here?”

Matt looked over at Roy. Roy thought he looked tired. “Oh, I told the Cap I would hang around until you got here. Where were ya?”

“Stuck in road construction on the 405.”

“Oh, yeah; I forgot they were starting to close down lanes today.” He sat down heavily on the bench in front of his locker. “How’s Johnny doing?”
            “Good. He’s doing real good; should be back at work in about three weeks. Has to finish physical therapy, but he’s comin’ along. He’ll be getting his cast off soon.”

Matt looked around to make sure they were alone. “Bet you’re countin’ down the minutes, huh?”

Roy smiled knowingly. “Yeah.”

“You should have heard Brice bitching about you being late,” Matt said in a soft tone.

“I can imagine,” Roy responded with a disgusted look on his face.

“So, what’re you gonna do on your days off, Matt?”

Matt looked solemn. It took a minute for him to answer. “See a lawyer.”

“What for?” Roy questioned, his face becoming serious.

“About a divorce.”

Roy was taken aback. “A divorce? You mean you and Leslie are…”

“Yup. Caught her cheatin’ on me, Roy - with her lawyer boss. Guess bein’ a fireman wasn’t good enough for her. She had to find someone who made more money.”

Roy looked stunned.

“I caught ‘em in bed together, Roy. In bed! She wasn’t expecting me home so early one day last week, and there they were. I guess me being gone at nights made it real convenient for them,” he said sarcastically.  Matt put his head in his hands.

Roy didn’t know what to say. He felt terrible for Matt. He couldn’t imagine how he would feel if Joanne…. “I’m real sorry, Matt. Real sorry. If there’s anything I can do – “

“Yeah, right. Thanks. Listen, if you want to take a shift off or something, let me know. I’m going to need the extra money. Probaby have to pay alimony and child support.”

Roy slowly shook his head. “What about your kids?”

“I don’t know, Roy. I just don’t know.” Matt looked like he was about to cry when he stood up abruptly. “I gotta go. See ya, man.” He waved and made his way toward the door.

“Yeah, see ya. Take care, Matt.”

 

Monday went by slowly, and Roy and Craig Brice didn’t get a run until the middle of the afternoon. They were called out to the scene of a traffic accident, and it had been necessary to transport one victim to the hospital. Brice had ridden in the ambulance with the patient, while Roy drove the squad in. He was glad for the small amount of alone time he had away from Brice during those few minutes.

Brice was coming out of the treatment room as Roy made his way to the base station. As Brice busied himself with refilling the supplies, Roy suddenly got the urge to visit Johnny. After the accident, Roy tried to stop by to see Johnny in his room at Rampart at least once a shift.  Roy enjoyed taking breaks to see his “real” partner; seeing Johnny gave Roy an excuse to get away from Craig Brice and also gave him a much needed chance to vent his anger. Roy was just ready to excuse himself for a few minutes, when he remembered that Johnny was no longer at the hospital.

Damn! He cursed to himself. I keep forgetting Johnny’s not here any more. It seems like he was here for so long. Maybe I’ll call him when I get back to the station and see how he’s doing.

Roy had visited Johnny almost every time one of their runs took them to Rampart, which had irritated Brice to no end. Roy got a charge out of annoying the man, and continued to visit Johnny as much as he could. Johnny appreciated this too, as he got constant updates on the rescues he was missing out on, not to mention the fact that he actually enjoyed hearing Roy complain about Brice. Besides, he was going crazy with boredom lying in bed all day, watching stupid soap operas.

Roy remembered one time a few weeks ago when he had gone to visit Johnny, and had heard a young female voice coming from the room.  He smiled to himself. He’s probably hitting on one of the nurses again. His partner always made the best of it when he was laid up in the hospital, taking advantage of the opportunity to try to get to know some pretty new faces.

As Roy approached the door, he heard Johnny say, “Well, it wasn’t easy starting an IV on myself, that’s for sure. So then – “

Roy had knocked then and entered the room. “Hey, Johnny,” he said amicably.

“Hey, Roy,” Johnny said with a big smile. A pretty blond nurse stood next to him, her hand resting on the bed near his shoulder.

“Relaying another one of your near death experiences?”

The woman he had been talking with raised her eyebrows. “Another near death experience?” she asked.

Johnny cleared his throat. “I was just telling her about the time I was bit by the snake. Roy, this is Mary Lynne Smith, my physical therapist. Mary Lynne, this is Roy DeSoto, my partner,” Johnny introduced.

Roy reached out to shake her hand. “Hi, Mary Lynne.”

“Pleased to meet you,” she responded. Then she looked down at her watch. “Oh, I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go. It was nice to meet you Roy,” she said smiling. “Johnny, I’ll see you tomorrow.” She turned to leave.

“Okay, see you then.”

After she was gone, Roy commented, “Pretty girl. You ask her out yet?”

Johnny snorted and looked down. “Nah, she made it pretty clear she wasn’t interested when I first met her.”

“When did that ever stop you?”

Johnny considered this. “Huh. Maybe you’re right. Maybe I shouldn’t give up yet.” His face brightened. “Actually, she’s warmed up a lot since we met; maybe that’s a good sign.”

“Maybe.”

Talk turned to shop at that point. Roy could only stay a few minutes; the rulebook was waiting on him.

 

Mary Lynne did continue to warm up to Johnny. With each physical therapy session she got to know Johnny a little better, and came to find out that she really did like the man. He was charming, and quite good-looking, she thought.

She recalled the first time she had ever heard Johnny’s name mentioned. It was four weeks ago, and she had gone into the staff lounge for a cup of coffee during a break. At the time, it was being occupied by two nurses, Sonya Evans and Trisha Thomas. Unbeknownst to her, Sonya had a reputation for being the most gossipy employee at Rampart. She prided herself on always knowing everything that was going on with everyone, and then informing everyone else about it, the juicier and more scandalous the information, the better. The two women were absorbed in a conversation with each other at one of the tables in the room. As Mary Lynne began to pour herself a cup of coffee, two more nurses entered, Pamela Worthington and Jeanette Duveau. The girls all greeted each other, and Pamela and Jeanette sat down with their lunches in hand.

“What’s new, girls?” Pamela inquired as she pulled a sandwich out of her bag.

“Not much,” Trisha offered, “but we were swamped last night in the ER after that huge pile-up on the 405.”

“Yeah, I heard about that,” Jeanette added, “must have been a real nightmare.”

“It was,” Sonya replied, “ but I’ve got more interesting news.”

The other three girls perked up their ears at this; Mary Lynne added cream to her coffee and listened quietly to the conversation.

“What kind of news?” Trisha asked.

“Guess who was brought in Friday night to the ER?”

“Was it someone we know?” Pamela asked.

“Yup. A certain tall, dark-haired paramedic,” Sonya said in a rather sarcastic tone.

“Not Johnny Gage again?” Trisha said in disbelief.

Sonya nodded and Jeanette looked upset.

“What happened?” Jeanette asked, her face becoming a mask of concern.

“Well, I guess he was on a run with 51’s and some drunk ran him over with his 280Z outside of the bar they were called to.”

“Oh, no,” Jeanette said in a barely audible tone.

Sonya noticed the worry in Jeanette’s voice and said rather mockingly, “Don’t worry, dear. He’s going to be okay. Broke both his right tibia and fibula, and Dr. Early had to operate to remove his spleen, since he was bleeding internally. I guess it was rather touch and go for awhile.”

“You say he’s okay?” Jeanette asked again, a little relieved.

“He’s on the mend, as they say. He – ”

            Mary Lynne approached the table at that point and interrupted. “Excuse me, but did you say his name was John Gage?”

            “The one and only,” Sonya answered. “Why? You dating him?”

            Mary Lynne smiled. “No, but he’s to be one of my new physical therapy patients.”

            Sonya and Trisha smiled at each other knowingly. “Well, then consider yourself forewarned,” Trisha advised her.

            “Forewarned?” Mary Lynne questioned. “What do I need to be forewarned about?”

            “Just that he’s probably hit on every nurse in Rampart,” Trisha explained.

“He’s a wolf,” Sonya replied.

            “He is not. He’s just friendly,” Pamela interjected. Jeanette remained quiet. “You’re just jealous because he hasn’t asked you out,” Pamela said to Sonya, smiling.

             “I’m not jealous at all. I just have no desire to be another notch on his bedpost.” Sonya said defensively. Truth be told, Sonya was miffed that Johnny had never seemed to be interested in her. She would have gone out with the handsome paramedic in a heartbeat if he would have asked her. She had tried to be flirtatious with him the first time they met each other, but Johnny had ignored her advances. He had been dating someone else at that time, and simply wasn’t interested. In addition, Sonya’s rather blunt personality turned Johnny off; besides he didn’t think she was all that attractive anyway.

            “Well, I do,” Trisha said with an evil smile on her face. “I’d be a notch on that man’s bedpost any time. I think he’s hot.”

            Sonya rolled her eyes. “You’re married to Tom, remember?”

            “I may be married, but I’m not dead. I think he’s got a cute ass. Haven’t you ever seen him come in here in those blue jeans? Whew! I’d like to get my hands down those – “

            “Trisha!” Pamela scolded. She looked over at Jeanette, who looked like she wanted to melt into her chair. Everyone looked at Jeanette.

            “Hey, Jeanette. You dated Johnny, didn’t you?” Sonya asked.

            Jeanette hesitated. “Yes, and he’s not like you say he is,” she said defending Johnny. “He’s a very nice man.”

            “Oh? So why did you break up? You were together for quite a while if I remember. Why’d he dump you?”
            “He didn’t dump me. I…we…just decided that it wasn’t working out.” Jeanette didn’t want to tell the real reason why she broke up with Johnny. It wasn’t any of their business. She had dated Johnny for nearly nine months, when she decided that she didn’t want to be a fireman’s wife. Things had become increasingly serious between the two of them, and she found herself falling in love with Johnny. Though marriage was never mentioned, Jeanette had thought at the time that he felt the same about her.

            As they had spent more and more time together, Jeanette began to realize just how dangerous Johnny’s job was. He would talk to her about some of the rescues he went on, and she became increasingly anxious as he described the precarious situations he was involved in; the high places he had to climb, and the water rescues, not to mention the terrible fires they had to deal with day in and day out.  Johnny thought it was exciting, and never realized how upsetting it was to Jeanette to hear these things. It seemed like he was always injuring himself one way or another. Most the time it was just a cut, a minor burn, or a pulled muscle, but Jeanette found herself constantly worrying about him. Then came the day that he ended up in the hospital after being infected with a virus he had contracted from a patient’s monkey. After passing out from fever while up high on some scaffolding, he had come close to falling nearly 100 feet off the side of a building. Only his safety belt had saved him. Seeing him lying delirious with fever in Rampart’s treatment room had been too much for Jeanette to bear. Then Tim Duntley died, another fireman who had contracted the same disease, and Jeanette thought she would die of despair if something happened to Johnny. After he recovered, Jeanette had decided she didn’t want to put herself through that ever again. Shortly thereafter, she broke things off with Johnny. She would never forget the wounded look on his face the day she told him. He had actually offered to change careers rather than lose her, but Jeanette knew she could never let him to that. She realized how much he loved his job, and it was something she could never ask him to stop doing for her sake. Taking that away from him would be like taking his oxygen away, and so she had insisted things were over between them. Deep inside, Johnny had been devastated, but he had never let on how he felt to anyone, even Roy. Chet had teased him mercilessly when he found out about the break-up, not realizing how deep their feelings had been for one other. Eventually the pain and hurt had faded, and both went on with their lives and to date others.

            Now, here was Johnny again, on the injured list, and Jeanette was glad she had made the decision she had. She was now involved with a wonderful man named Michael, and they were thinking of getting married. Still, the old pangs she felt for Johnny had surfaced, and she couldn’t help but be concerned for him.

            Sonya gave Jeanette a skeptical look. “Um hmm,” she replied.

            At this point Trisha leaned forward and asked Jeanette, “Was he good in bed?”

            “Trisha! Would you stop?” scolded Pamela. She cast a sideways glance at Jeanette and saw that her friend was very uncomfortable. “That’s kind of a personal question, you know.”

            Trisha shrugged. “Well, I was just curious,” she smiled, “I heard he was.”

            “From whom?” Pamela inquired a little defensively.

            “Mmm, different people.”

            Jeanette scooted her chair back abruptly and got up to get a cup of coffee. Mary Lynne stepped aside to make room for her at the coffee pot, as she continued to listen to the conversation quietly.

            “Like?” Pamela continued, challenging Trisha.

            “Well, I’m sure he’s screwed lots of women in this hospital.”

            “That’s not true,” Jeanette finally spoke up in defense of Johnny. “You make him sound like some fort of gigolo.”

            “If the shoe fits…” Sonya added.

            Jeanette set her coffee down untouched and gathered up her things off the table. “I have to go. I’m not going to listen to this gossip any more. You know,” she looked at both Sonya and Trisha, “you shouldn’t go spreading rumors about someone that you don’t know are true. You may end up hurting them – or yourself.” With that she turned and walked out. Pamela got up and followed Jeanette out of the room.

            Sonya and Trisha looked indignantly at one another.

            “I know for a fact that he slept with Lisa Collins. She dated him last year and you’ll never believe the things she told me,” Sonya continued.

            Mary Lynne had heard enough. She put her coffee down and started out the door. On her way out, Sonya and Trisha called, “See ya!” and “Don’t say we didn’t warn ya!”

            Mary Lynne had smiled minutely and left, feeling a bit uncertain as to what this John Gage character was really going to be like.

 

As predicted, Johnny did try to make a pass at Mary Lynne the first time he met her, but Mary Lynne shut down his attempts at being charming immediately. After that, Johnny hadn’t tried to make any more passes at Mary Lynne since their initial meeting, and was nothing but polite and cordial to her at each physical therapy session. Mary Lynne began to consider that maybe the rumors she had heard about him weren’t true.

One day, about a week after she had begun working with Johnny’s rehabilitation, she had decided to apologize to him about her initial misjudgment of him, and to tell him she saw no reason why they couldn’t be friends. When she arrived at his room, however, he was engrossed in a special news report on the television, and paid little attention to her. Apparently some firefighters were trapped in a building and the outcome of their rescue was uncertain. She had observed Johnny as he nervously ran his hand through his hair, concern and fear for his partner and comrades evident on his face. That day, she saw another side to her patient, someone who had deep feelings for and loyalty to his fellow firefighters, his brothers.  She also realized how dangerous his job really was, and what brave and special people it took to be firefighters - those who would selflessly risk their own lives to save others. Johnny’s friend, Roy, had mentioned all of Johnny’s ‘near death experiences’ and now she realized he wasn’t kidding. She decided she would try to get to know this man a little better.

Their first “date” had been for a cup of coffee in the Rampart cafeteria, after one of Johnny’s physical therapy sessions. She had found him to be funny and easy to be with. Unbeknownst to the two of them, the queen of gossip, Sonya Evans, had noticed them laughing together, with raised eyebrows. “Look who Johnny’s Gage’s newest catch is,” she had whispered to her lunch companion.

Johnny had been released from the hospital shortly after that, but was glad that he needed to continue to go back for physical therapy sessions for a couple of weeks, so he could see Mary Lynne. It was after one of those sessions that Johnny had finally gotten up enough nerve to ask her out. After things went well on their first real date, they continued to spend time together. Things seemed to be going smoothly for them as Johnny continued to recuperate over the next couple of weeks.

 

 

After returning from Rampart with Brice that afternoon, Roy’s and his temporary partner’s shift wore on uneventfully. The two paramedics remained at the station for the afternoon, and were called out only one time. Roy continued to stew about the argument he’d had with Joanne the previous day and again that morning before he’d left for work. He was torn – on the one hand, he knew Joanne was right. She needed to help supplement their income. There was just no other way to pay for all the things that were on their plate right now. On the other hand, he just plain felt uncomfortable and though he hated to admit it, he was feeling a little inadequate over the issue of her starting a job. He cursed the decision he had made to forego the engineer position and the extra money that went with it, although, he knew in his heart that if he had to make that same decision today, knowing what he knew now, he would still make the same decision.

The conversation he’d had with Matt Hamilton gnawed at him all day. Some part of him knew he was being ridiculous, but he had this niggling in the back of his mind about Joanne working for her doctor. What if what happened to Matt and his wife happened to me? Roy didn’t even know the doctor; he’d never met him. Whenever Roy had needed medical attention, he had always gotten it at Rampart. Was this doctor young, old, good looking, or unattractive? The image he conjured up in his mind was of Jo working for a handsome “Joe Gannon” type, like the guy on the TV show, “Medical Center”.

Suddenly realizing how silly his thoughts were, he smiled to himself. Get a grip, DeSoto. He probably looks more like Marcus Welby.

 

Brice was in the kitchen cooking the evening meal, and the engine crew was out on a run. Roy sat on the bench in front of his locker quietly thinking to himself about a solution to his problems. He thought about how disappointed he had been that day upon realizing that Johnny had gone home from Rampart and he hadn’t been able to visit with him. His gaze wandered over to his best friend’s locker, and something possessed Roy to go over and open it. Carefully opening the door, he smiled when he eyed the Smokey the Bear poster that Johnny always tapped twice for good luck every morning. The locker was empty except for one uniform shirt, which was dangling precariously on one edge of its hanger, and a pair of socks left crumpled up in the bottom. Roy reached out and readjusted the shirt on the hanger, his hand lingering on the soft fabric of his friend’s clothing. He looked over again at the Smokey picture, and with a smile examined some of the photos around it. He got a warm feeling in his stomach as he looked at them. There was one of himself and Johnny together, Johnny resting his elbow on Roy’s shoulder while Roy leaned up against the antique fire engine they had restored together. They both had a big smile on their face. Then there was another of all the guys at the station, and beside that, one of Roy’s wife, Joanne, and his two children, Chris and Jennifer. Below that was one Roy had taken of Johnny and his two kids. Roy then noticed a black and white picture tucked behind the Smokey poster. It was of a girl named Valerie that his partner had almost married, until he found out that she had three children. For some reason, Johnny had never gotten around to taking that picture down. Roy smiled, and shaking his head, closed the locker. It was then that Roy decided to call his best friend.

He could always count on Johnny to liven up his day when he was down. He wasn’t sure he wanted to mention the problems he was having to Johnny, since sometimes Johnny tended to offer a little too much advice. Besides, he wasn’t sure he even wanted to talk about it.  No, he just wanted to talk to Johnny, and hear his friendly voice, and knew that he was lucky to be able to pick up the phone and call him. Johnny could have just as easily been six feet under the ground right now, after what happened several weeks ago.

Roy walked into the dorm and dialed the familiar number. He let it ring, knowing that it sometimes took Johnny a while to get to the telephone with the cast on his leg.

He heard the familiar “hello?” after the eighth ring, and for some reason, he felt relieved.

“Hey, partner,” Roy said. Just hearing Johnny’s voice started to relax Roy.

“Hey, pally!” Johnny answered enthusiastically. “How’re ya doin’?”

Just the fact that Johnny sounded so happy to hear Roy’s voice brightened Roy’s day, and he smiled. “I was just about to ask you the same question.”

“Well, I’m doin’ great! Doin’ great! What’s up? You at work?”

“Yeah. Been kind of a slow day. Engine’s out on a run, Brice is cooking. Just wondered what you were up to?”

“Oh, not a whole lot. Gonna watch the game on TV tonight. Can’t do too much with this damn plaster wrapped around my leg. But, hey, I get it off next week.”

“That’s great! I guess Joanne’s been getting you to physical therapy okay?”

“Yep. Three times a week. She’s a gem, Roy. You’re a lucky man to have her.”

Roy smiled and looked down. “Don’t I know it.”

“I need to find a woman like her,” Johnny commented.

“Ah, you will, some day. Hey, speaking of Joanne, how about comin’over for dinner Friday? Joanne’s been wanting me to ask you.”

“Thanks, Roy, but I can’t. Got a date that night.”

Roy felt disappointed. “Oh. I didn’t know you were dating anyone.”

“Well, I am now. You remember Mary Lynne, my physical therapist?”

“Yeah, I thought you said she wasn’t interested.”

“That’s what I thought, until you advised me that I was giving up a little too quickly. It took a little time, but she finally came around. Just took a little longer for the old ‘Gage charm’ to work on her.”

Roy laughed at his friend’s comments. It was the first time he had laughed in a while. He could just envision Johnny’s mischievous grin through the phone. Then Roy’s disappointment at Johnny’s Friday night commitment settled in on him again, and he grew quiet.

“Roy? You still there?”

“Uh, yeah. Listen, I’ve got an idea. How about I swing by in the morning and we go out to breakfast?”

“That sounds great!” Johnny then heard the tones going off through the receiver.

“Uh, I gotta go,” Roy said, “I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”

“Good deal. Bye, Roy.”

Roy hung up the phone and ran for the squad, feeling a little better than he had before he called.

 

 

Roy showed up at Johnny’s house about 8:30 the next morning, and drove Johnny and himself out to the local pancake house.

After leaning his crutches against the wall, Johnny slid into one side of the booth. Unconsciously, he grimaced as he slowly lowered himself down to a sitting position. Roy caught the look with concern.

“You all right?” Roy asked.

Johnny looked up at him. “Huh? Oh, yeah, I’m okay.” He smiled, and looking down, rubbed his mid section lightly. “Still just a little tender, you know?”

“Yeah, I imagine so,” Roy responded.

Both men took the menus the waitress offered and began to search for something to order.

Roy looked up at Johnny over the top of his menu, and swallowed. His thoughts were invaded for a moment with the uninvited vision of a sports car slamming into his best friend, watching Johnny’s body being propelled into the air, to be dumped unceremoniously onto the cold pavement from the hood of the car.  The memory of Johnny lying semi-conscious in the street, his face screwed up in pain as he rolled to one side, made Roy shiver.

Johnny scratched the side of his nose while he studied the menu, then slowly looked up as he felt Roy’s eyes upon him. “Something wrong?”

Roy looked back down at his menu. “No, no, just, ah, trying to think about what I want.”

Johnny looked skeptically at Roy, and his eyes tried to read Roy’s face. “Oh.” He looked back down at his menu, not quite believing Roy.

The waitress came and the two paramedics ordered their breakfast. Roy remained quiet, then Johnny spoke. “Roy, you’re a million miles away. What’s bothering you?”

Roy looked at Johnny. “Nothin’, Johnny. I’m just…a little tired, you know? Long shift.”

“I thought you said it was a slow day yesterday.”

“Uh, it was. Just, you know, workin’ with Brice makes any shift seem long.”

Johnny smiled. He was secretly pleased to no end that Roy missed him so much. Soon, the waitress brought their breakfasts and they made small talk throughout the meal. Johnny kept the conversation going and talked about Mary Lynne a bit, and physical therapy. They talked about the police investigation into Johnny’s hit and run accident, and then about work.

Roy grew silent after awhile. Johnny had been carrying on most of the conversation, and couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong with Roy. Johnny observed him for a moment, then decided to try to get Roy to open up a little bit.

“Okay, Roy, spill it. What’s bugging you?”

Roy looked a little like a dear caught in headlights. “Nothin’, Johnny. What makes you think something’s bothering me?”

Johnny’s eyes narrowed. “I know that look on your face. Something’s wrong. Why don’t you just tell me about it?”

Roy looked away.

“Is it Brice? Did he do something?”

Roy shook his head. “Nah, there’s nothin’…”

“Something with Joanne?”

Roy met Johnny’s eyes for a second, then he looked away.

“That’s it, isn’t it? You and Joanne have a fight?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Johnny kept chipping away. “Look, Roy, I don’t mean to be nosy, but, you’re my best friend. If you can’t tell me about it,” his hand was splayed across his chest, “who can you tell? Maybe I can help.”

Roy considered Johnny’s comment for a moment, then said dejectedly, “I don’t need to burden you with my problems.”

“Yeah, you do,” Johnny said smiling. “What are friends for? C’mon, Roy…”

Finally Johnny broke through the barrier and Roy told him about everything that had been happening; the leaky roof, the broken furnace, the money problems, and Joanne wanting to get a job.

“Johnny sagged back against the booth seat, pushing his hand through his hair and said, “Wow, Roy.  Man . . .I mean, I had no idea.  I’m really sorry.” He thought a moment, then added, “I wish you’d have at least told me about the roof, Roy. I told you I’d help you replace it.”

“Yeah, I know, and I appreciate that, Johnny. But it needs to be done now, and you’re not in any condition to help me with it.”

“I’m getting’ my cast off next week. Can it wait ‘till then?”

“It’s already started, Johnny. Joanne’s got someone out there replacing it right now. Besides, there’s no way I’d let you up on my roof after you just got out of the hospital.”

Johnny started to argue and Roy held up his hand. “No. All I want is for you to heal up and come back to work. I’m gonna end up in the hospital with a stroke from Brice raisin’ my blood pressure if you don’t get back soon. I don’t want to take any chances of you hurting yourself in the mean time.”

Johnny looked down, touched and also slightly embarrassed at Roy’s comment about Roy not wanting him to get hurt again. Johnny raised his eyes and smiled his crooked grin. “Okay, you win. What about the furnace? I installed my own; I bet I could do yours.”

“It’s already done. When it was cold last week, we couldn’t wait.” Roy sighed. “Now, I’ve got all these bills to pay, and Joanne wants to get a job to help pay them.”

“What’s wrong with her getting a job, Roy?”

“I just…don’t want her to. I think she needs to be home to take care of the house and the kids. I’ve never had a problem providing for my family before. It’s just temporary, you know? It just seems like everything is being piled on top of us at once.”

Johnny thought a moment. He stroked his chin with his hand. He hesitated a second before he spoke, unsure of how his next comment would be taken. Determination to help his friend in some way prompted him to say what was on his mind. Quietly, he said, “Roy, I’ve got some money I could loan you. How much do you need?”

Roy was floored. He looked up at his anomaly of a partner in wonder. Here, sitting before him, was one of the biggest penny-pinchers he’d ever known. Here was a guy who once took a date out to dinner and only spent $8.42, a guy who you practically had to pry the money out of his pocket to get him to pay for anything. That same guy who once spent the money the crew had saved to buy a brand new barbecue grill for the station, and instead went out and bought a new baby bed for a little baby girl he had helped deliver, a little girl whose parents had no money. Here was a man who didn’t have that much money himself, and here he was offering his best friend what little he had. It never ceased to amaze Roy what a big heart his partner had sometimes.

Johnny fidgeted in his seat, his anxiety building in the pit of his stomach, waiting for Roy to respond to his offer. He became worried that maybe he’d overstepped his bounds, and that maybe he’d insulted Roy by offering him money.

Roy was touched by Johnny’s offer, but didn’t feel right asking him for money. He smiled a soft smile at Johnny and said, “Thanks, partner, but we’ll manage. I think I’m just gonna have to let Joanne go ahead and get that job she wants.”

Johnny relaxed a little; Roy didn’t seem to be annoyed by his offer after all. He brightened, adding, “Well, all the women I date have jobs. It’s no big deal. Lots of women who have kids are getting’ jobs now, Roy. It’s the 70’s, you know? Times are changing.”

“Yeah, well ‘all the women you date’ don’t have your kids at home that need to be taken care of.”

“That’s true, but Roy, your kids are in school all day now. Joanne probably gets bored sittin’ around the house all day.”

“She doesn’t ‘sit around the house all day’ Johnny. She’s got a lot to do. How’s she gonna get the kids to school and home from school and get everything done for the household if she’s workin’?”

“I thought you said it was only a part-time job.”

“You sound like Joanne,” Roy chagrinned.

Johnny smiled. “Look, maybe it’ll be good for you both. Give you something interesting to talk about with each other.”

“Yeah, I know, it’s just…” Roy stopped, not sure of how to defend his position any more.

Johnny regarded Roy for a moment then laced his fingers together and rested his chin on them. “Roy…are you sure this doesn’t have more to do with your ego being deflated a little bit?”

Roy looked defensive. Johnny had hit the nail on the head, and he knew it.

“What do you mean, ‘deflating my ego’?”

“Well, all I mean is…maybe Joanne getting a job bothers you because you feel like since you’re the man, you should have been able to provide enough income for your family.” Johnny looked up, thinking. “Now maybe you’re feeling, uh, inadequate, because you can’t right now.”

Even though he was perturbed at Johnny’s statement, Roy couldn’t believe how perceptive his partner actually was. Johnny had pointed out exactly how Roy was feeling, but didn’t want to admit.

“Thank you for that analysis, Dr Freud.”

“You’re welcome. Look, Roy. You don’t have anything to feel inadequate about.”

“I don’t feel inade – “

“C’mon, man, we’re firemen!” Johnny made a fist and waved it in the air. “We’re strong, and brave, and we save people’s lives. You can’t get any more macho than that.”

“I told ya, I don’t feel inad – !”

“Hey! Hold on – let me think - I got an idea! Maybe the two of us could figure out a way to earn more money – together!”

“I can’t pick up any more shifts, Johnny.”

“No, man, I don’t mean that. Hmmm,” he thought a moment. He looked at Roy with an excited look in his eyes. “Let’s sell the old engine! I mean, really sell it this time, now that we’ve finished restoring it for good. We’ll put an ad in the paper and sell it!”

Roy seemed to be considering this. “You really want to sell her?”

“Why not? Then, we’ll buy another old engine, and fix it up! Then we’ll sell it! Then buy another, and another! Man, we’ll be rollin’ in dough! We could maybe do two or three a year – “

Roy’s eyes popped out of his head. “Two or three?”

“Well, maybe one or two; but still – we could supplement our income pretty well with even that, ya know?” Johnny was deep in thought. He looked up and raised his hand up as if to spell it in the air, “We would have our own business! We could call it, ‘Gage and DeSoto Restorations, Inc.’.

Roy considered this. “Uh, what about ‘DeSoto and Gage Restorations, Inc.’?”

Johnny frowned. “Well, I kinda like it better the other way. But anyway – after awhile we’ll have enough so that Joanne won’t have to work!”

Roy perked up a little at that. “Hmm, you know, maybe it could work.”

“Of course it can! I know I’m right, Roy. You’ll see. Don’t worry, things’ll work out. And my offer still stands if you get in a jam.”

Roy smiled his toothy smile. “Thanks, Johnny. You’re a good friend.”

Johnny grinned and looked down, once again humbled by Roy’s compliment, and began to pull his wallet out of his pants. He looked up and shrugged, “That’s what friends are for.” Johnny’s eyebrows knit together and he looked over at Roy. “Hey, Roy? You got any change for the tip?”

 

Roy went home that morning with a little extra bounce in his step. Talking with Johnny had improved his mood, and he decided he would speak to Joanne about the job as soon as he got home. He would agree to her trying it out for awhile, with the understanding that if he was able to make some more money, then she would be able to quit.

Joanne was pleased after they had talked, and told Roy that the doctor had said that she could start immediately. Like tomorrow. Roy was a little taken aback at that news, but swallowed his temptation to argue with her. She had it all worked out. She would see to it that the kids would get to school in the morning, and had arranged for a neighbor to pick them up and stay with her until Joanne got home from work a little after 3:00. She thought Roy would be pleased to know that she would even be able to continue to take Johnny to physical therapy for the next week or so since his appointments were always at 4:00.

Joanne started the job the next day, and things seemed to be working out well for the time being. The only exception being that she was sorely missed by Roy on those mornings when he  returned from a shift and returned home to an empty house.

Roy was still missing Johnny, and had decided to call him a few days later to invite him over for dinner again.  Johnny, never wanting to miss an opportunity to sample Joanne’s cooking,  accepted Roy and Joanne’s invitation gratefully.

 

The week had been a long one for Roy, and Johnny sensed the tension in Roy’s mood as soon as he had gotten in the car with Roy. Roy had picked him up and driven him over, since Johnny was unable to drive yet.

Joanne had been so excited about her job that she talked non-stop about it all through dinner. She was pleased to find a willing audience in Johnny as Roy had seemed alternately disinterested or even irritated whenever she’d tried to talk to him about her new job.

Once, when Johnny had encouraged her by laughing at her remarks about something funny at work, Roy had scowled at him. Then Roy had tried to change the topic of conversation to his work, hoping he and Johnny could do some reminiscing together about the station.

Joanne had sensed that everyone was feeling uneasy, and tried to change the subject herself by mentioning the opening of a new grand hotel called “La Grande Maison”. When she described how swanky it was supposed to be, and how glamorous all the décor was, Roy only commented that it sounded like it cost an arm and a leg to stay there. That pretty much doused the conversation that Joanne had tried to start.

Shortly after dinner, Chris DeSoto had reminded his parents that he had a Cub Scout meeting and that he needed a ride. Acting a little disgruntled, Roy got up and volunteered to take him. He told Johnny to go ahead and have dessert and to just stay at the house until he got back. Then he would take him home later.

The minute Roy left, Joanne let out a sigh and rolled her eyes. The gesture was not lost on Johnny, and he decided to try to find out if everything was okay between his two close friends. He had noticed that Roy had been withdrawn and rather surly for most of the evening. He imagined that if Roy had been that way for awhile, Joanne was probably getting tired of it.

He asked her how things had really been going since she started the job, and advised her to just give Roy a little more time to adjust. After all, Roy had had some major changes at work too, and working with Brice for the last several weeks was enough to put anyone in a bad mood.

Joanne countered that she didn’t think it was just Brice that was making her husband so crabby.  It was a lot of things, mostly her having to work, and the money situation. In addition, Roy had been picking up some extra shifts to make ends meet, and was tired a lot. Joanne also reminded Johnny that Roy was going to be turning 30 in a short time, and she had a feeling it was bothering him.

Johnny felt bad for his friend and the fact that he was going through a rough time. He wracked his brain for a way to lift Roy’s spirits and improve things between him and Joanne, so when Joanne had mentioned Roy’s birthday, an idea began forming in Johnny’s mind.

Joanne noticed that Johnny was no longer paying attention to what she was saying. “Johnny?” Johnny had a spaced out look on his face; she could tell he was thinking about something, and then a soft smile began to form across his face. “What is it?” she asked.

He turned to her, smiling. “I’ve got an idea. Oh, man – this is incredible!”

“What? What’s incredible, Johnny?”

“I thought of a great idea to get Roy out of the dumps.”

Joanne could see the excitement building on Johnny’s face. He looked up at her out of the corner of his eyes, a crooked grin spreading across his face. At that moment, Joanne could understand how that look melted the hearts of so many women; it was undeniably appealing. A wicked thought entered her mind, and she silently envied the women he had been with. As quickly as that thought occurred, however, it disintegrated when she thought of how much she loved her husband. She smiled back at Johnny. “Tell me,” she said with an equally scheming look on her face.

The two of them sat at the kitchen table and leaned in toward one another, Joanne resting on her elbows and listening with baited breath, as Johnny revealed his plan. He would have a surprise party for Roy’s birthday. At first, Joanne was reluctant, because Roy was not happy about turning 30. Johnny insisted that this was just what Roy needed. What better way to turn 30 than to have all his friends and family around him for a big party? How could that not cheer him up?

As the plan unfolded, Johnny came up with the idea to have the party at that swanky new hotel that Joanne mentioned earlier that evening, “La Grande Maison”, and – “here’s the best part”, Johnny had said, he would book a fancy hotel room for the two of them to enjoy after the party. It would be Johnny’s gift to Roy. As excited as she was, and as wonderful as it all sounded, Joanne declined, stating that it was too much, that she didn’t want Johnny spending that kind of money. Johnny held up his hands, unwilling to accept her refusal. He insisted until Joanne acquiesced, that this was something he wanted to do, and nothing was going to stop him. He assured her that he could afford the room for one night, and that he would round up all the guys to pitch in and pay for the rest of the party.

“This is gonna be a night you’re never gonna forget!” he exclaimed.

Joanne was beside herself with excitement, and standing up, stepped over to where Johnny was sitting, and embraced him in a hug. “Oh, Johnny,” she said, “we are both so lucky to have you for a friend.”

He returned the hug, and smiled, thinking how happy it was going to make his two friends.

Roy returned from taking Chris to his Cub Scout meeting, and quietly entered the house. Looking around for Johnny and Joanne, he thought he heard voices coming from the direction of the kitchen, and decided they must be eating dessert. Upon entering the kitchen, he was a little startled to see Joanne and Johnny with their arms around each other. Not that he hadn’t seen them hug before; they had, many times, as friends do, but walking in on this scene gave him pause. He cleared his throat, and lightly said, “Hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

Joanne nearly jumped a foot, worried that Roy had overheard their conversation. “Honey! I didn’t hear you come in,” she stammered.

Roy stood there staring at them, both looking uncomfortable.

Johnny broke in, “Ah, I was just thanking Joanne for the wonderful dinner, Roy. Hope you don’t mind me giving your wife a hug once in a while.”

The smile on Johnny’s face conveyed nothing but innocence and Roy relaxed. Blowing off what he had seen, he asked, “Uh, of course not. Um, how about some dessert?”

“Now that sounds like a great idea!” Johnny replied, and Joanne busied herself with serving the cake she had made.

 

The day finally came for Johnny to get his cast taken off his leg. Joanne gave Johnny a ride to Rampart that day, and together they plotted and planned the big surprise party for Roy.

It was a big relief to be rid of the horrid cast; now Johnny could scratch all the itches he had acquired for the past several weeks. He used a cane to walk with as he left the hospital, and would for several days until his leg got a little stronger. Mary Lynne had assured him at physical therapy that day that it wouldn’t be long before Johnny would walk without help.

Johnny had thanked Joanne for all the trips she had made taking him to Rampart, and informed her that from now on, he’d be able to drive himself. They would have to finish making the party plans surreptitiously by telephone from then on.

 

Time trudged by slowly for Roy. He still felt depressed and unhappy for reasons he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Making things worse, his birthday was only days away.

Lying in bed that night at the station, he had trouble sleeping. Everyone else had nodded off a while ago, except him. Feeling exhausted, he rolled onto his side so that he was facing his partner’s bunk.

Roy just couldn’t get used to seeing Craig Brice sleeping in Johnny’s bed. There he lay, on his stomach, quietly snoring. Craig’s glasses lay on the window ledge behind him, his turnouts perfectly arranged on the floor next to the bed. Roy sighed, wishing he were looking at Johnny lying in that same bed, where he probably would have been situated on his back, his left arm draped over his eyes. At least Johnny didn’t snore.

Roy finally gave up the fight and climbed out of bed. He wandered into the kitchen and flicked on the light, making him squint at its sudden brightness. It was totally quiet. Opening the refrigerator, he pulled out a carton of milk and poured himself a glass. He turned on the television and settled down on the sofa. Sighing again, he glanced up at the clock, it was only a little after midnight. A scream coming from the television drew his attention, and he had to chuckle when he realized the movie playing was “Terror at the Library”. It was a favorite of Chet’s because he always liked to scare Johnny during one particular scene. He smiled to himself. I wonder what Johnny’s doin’ right now? Probably in bed.

 

 

She sat on his lap facing him, her arms wrapped about him, her head resting on his shoulder. Her heart was still beating rapidly, but her breathing had slowed. She felt his fingers intertwining themselves through her wet hair, then making a soft trail down her neck, shoulder blades, and back. She shivered despite the warm water bubbling around them.

            She sighed deeply as he caressed her. She felt him kiss her head, then her temple, in a surprisingly loving gesture.

            “Feel good?” he murmured in her ear.

            “Mmmm. Mmm hmm,” she replied. “That was very…very…nice.” She lifted her head to gaze at him and sighed contentedly. “How did you learn to do all that?”

            He smiled at her, then she quickly added, “No, wait. I don’t want to know.” She laid her head back down on his shoulder. “You know, for a guy recovering from surgery and a broken leg, you do quite well.”

            He smiled again and said, “You’re pretty incredible yourself, you know?”

            She smiled softly.

            “I knew you were a good physical therapist,” he said seductively. “I could tell by your beautiful eyes.”

            She almost rolled her eyes at the second time he used this corny line, but didn’t. Instead she said coyly, “Thank you.”

            She began to nibble on his ear. “You know, I think I’ve been the one having all the fun. I think it’s time you had some too.”

            His hands went to either side of her face, and he leaned in and kissed her softly. The hands went back to her hair. “Oh, but I am having a good time, in case you haven’t noticed.” He shifted slightly underneath her.

            “Mmm, yeah. I did notice,” she murmured.

            “But now that you mention it,” he added, “I think I could use a little more ‘therapy’.”

            “I thought so.” She lifted slightly, then lowered herself back down.

            He breathed in quickly, then pulled her willing mouth to his, closing his eyes. They lost all track of time as the water churned around them.

 

            Johnny had been surprised by Mary Lynne. They had been on several dates since he was released from the hospital, and Johnny was always on his best behavior on those dates, trying to squelch any type of “reputation” she thought he might have. At the end of each date, Johnny had merely kissed her good-night, and left. He hadn’t realized how much he was driving her crazy.

            They were surprisingly compatible, and enjoyed each other’s company. They had been out together five times now. On this day, at the spur of the moment, Mary Lynne decided to invite Johnny over for dinner after the session, since he was her last appointment of the day. 

She was a wonderful cook, and Johnny enjoyed the dinner she prepared immensely, especially after two weeks of hospital food, and then his own cooking at home. Roy’s wife Joanne had made several casseroles for Johnny, and others had brought food by to help him, but that was long gone.

            They had eaten the dinner and were enjoying a glass of wine, but Johnny’s leg had started to ache, and he had stated that he should leave for the night. Instead, Mary Lynn had suggested he take a soak in her hot tub, which was outside on her back patio. She assured him it would do the trick.

            At first he had tried to beg off, saying that he had no bathing suit, until she produced one, claiming it was her brother’s. He had given in then, thinking it might feel good, and decided to give it a try. He had been soaking for about ten minutes, when Mary Lynne appeared with two fresh glasses of wine in her hands, and was wearing her bathing suit. She had climbed in then, and offered him the wine.

            She had asked if his leg was feeling better, then suggested some exercises in the water. Having completed those, she had begun to massage Johnny’s feet. Enjoying the massage, Johnny lay totally relaxed with his head back and his eyes closed. Her hands had slowly moved up his legs, and when she received no protest from him, they moved up farther to massage other parts.

            His eyes had popped open then, and he said playfully, “What are you doing?”

            With a sly grin, she replied, “Physical therapy.”

            “Oh,” he’d answered, barely able to concentrate on what she was saying. Before long, their bathing suits lay in a wet heap on the ground outside the tub, and the water inside the tub began to slosh furiously.

            Sweet little Mary Lynne had fooled him with her stoic and professional front. She had surprised him, and later he teased her about how she was the one who should have a reputation.

 

 

            The big day finally came - Roy’s 30th birthday. All the plans had been made. Only some last minute preparations needed to be made, and Johnny and Joanne had planned to touch base with each other that morning.

            Joanne was supposed to be working that day, but unbeknownst to Roy, had arranged to have the day off. Roy would be returning from work in the morning, and Joanne had planned to be gone by then. She felt bad about leaving and not even seeing Roy on his birthday, but knew that their plans later in the day would make up for Roy’s probable disappointment. She had a million things she had to do that morning before the party.

            Johnny was also busy putting the finishing touches on his plan. He was sure that Roy had absolutely no suspicions about what was happening. It had almost killed him to see the expression on Roy’s face the day before when he had visited the station for the first time since his accident. When Johnny had left the station and not even mentioned the momentous event, Roy’s face had fallen like a ton of bricks. He thought his best friend had forgotten his birthday.

            That previous day, the squad and engine crew were just returning from a grueling fire. The men of 51, sooty and tired, lumbered into the day room and found one Johnny Gage sitting at the table, cup of coffee in hand, waiting for them. He looked relaxed and rested, in contrast to their haggard expressions.

            Roy brightened the minute he saw Johnny, and everyone was happy to see him. All were curious to know when their colleague would return to work, even Chet. After Craig Brice had been the first one to leave the room to shower, Chet whined to all that Brice was no fun to play jokes on.

            “What’s the matter, Chet?” Johnny laughed. “Did he not like the water bombs you put in his locker?”

            “How’d you know?” Chet asked.

            Johnny’s mouth dropped open. “You mean you actually put a water bomb in the walking rulebook’s locker?!”

            “That he did,” Roy said with a smirk.

            “What happened?” Johnny inquired.

            Chet looked at Roy, daggers in his eyes. “Let’s just say he wasn’t a very good sport about it,” Chet answered.

            Johnny looked at Roy. Roy interjected, “Brice insisted to the Cap that Chet be written up for it. Then the Cap made Chet clean it all up.”

            Johnny burst out laughing. “Oh, man! I guess the Phantom got what was comin’ to him, huh Chet?”

            “The guy’s a nuisance,” Chet grumbled.

            Talk turned to other things and Chet inquired to Johnny about his latest girlfriend. The two sat at the table together while Roy began to prepare dinner. “So, I hear you bribed your physical therapist to go out with you.”

            “I didn’t bribe her at all, Chet. In fact, she asked me,” Johnny said smugly.

            “In your dreams, Gage. How much did you have to pay her?”

            Johnny looked disgustedly at Chet. “I didn’t pay her. All she had to do is get to know what a great guy I am, and she was putty in my hands,” he said, his fingers splayed across his chest.           

Chet smiled. He loved getting a rise out of Johnny.

Johnny continued, “As a matter of fact, she cooked dinner for me the other night.”

“Okay, Gage,” he leaned forward on the table, his fingers interlaced together, and said in a low voice, “so…you get lucky yet?”

Roy was getting plates out of the kitchen cupboard, and tried to pretend he had not heard the conversation that was obviously not intended for him to hear.

“Chet, that’s none of your business, man,” Johnny answered.

“Uh huh, I guess that means you haven’t,” Chet baited him.

Johnny leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands behind his head. Smiling, he said, “Chet, I don’t kiss and tell. And as usual, you don’t know what you’re talking about.” He said the second sentence more softly.

Chet looked surprised. He had met Mary Lynne once when he had been visiting Johnny in the hospital, and figured that kind of girl would never go for Johnny. “So, you did get lucky?”

Johnny’s face reddened as he caught Roy glancing at him, and he smiled sheepishly. “Chet, I told ya, it’s none of your business.”

Chet was relentless. “C’mon, Johnny, spill it.”

Johnny looked around. It seemed that no one was paying attention. Returning his attention to Chet, he murmured, “Well, she’s got this hot tub…”

Chet leaned back, folding his arms across his chest, jealous. “Oh, man. Gage, you get all the luck.”

Johnny smiled a smug smile, “Eat your heart out, Chet.”

Roy shook his head to himself. That partner of mine. I think he’s got an addiction to women.

 

A short while later, Johnny got up to leave. Roy followed him out to his Rover, sorry to see him go. Johnny hadn’t said a word about Roy’s birthday coming up the following day. As Johnny slid into his car, Roy casually asked, “So, what’re you doing tomorrow?”

Playing dumb, Johnny answered, “Well, my house is a mess, since I haven’t been able to do much cleaning lately. I guess I’ll try to clean it up some, do some laundry, you know, that kind of stuff. Then, I think I’ll call Mary Lynne and see if she wants to go out.”

Roy looked crestfallen. “Oh. Well…sounds good.”

Johnny slammed the door and rolled down the window. Smiling widely at Roy, he said “Got to go. See ya, Roy! Don’t work too hard.” With that he backed up and pulled out of the parking lot, his hand stuck out the window in a wave.  Seeing Roy standing there like a lost puppy in his rearview mirror made him feel like a heel.

 

Roy had finally gone to bed that night after “Terror in the Library” was over, and fell into a restless sleep. Along with everyone else, the tones woke him in the morning, and with them came the realization of what day it was.

Thankful the shift was almost over, Roy pulled on his turnouts and headed back into the kitchen for coffee. A short while later, Matt Hamilton entered, already dressed in his uniform, surprising Roy.

“Hey, Matt,” Roy looked at his watch. It was only 7:30. “You’re here kind of early.”

Matt sighed. “Yeah. Haven’t been sleepin’ too well lately, so I just decided to come on in. Got nothin’ else to do anyway.”

Roy looked at the man somberly. It sobered him a bit to think that others had worse problems than he did. “Uh, how’re things going?”

Matt poured himself a cup of coffee and plopped down in the chair. “Well, it looks like Leslie’s gonna get the kids. How do ya like that? She cheats on me, and she gets the kids!” he put his head in his hands. “We’re gonna have to sell the house…” his voice trailed off. 

Roy looked earnestly at Matt. “Hey, I’m really sorry. That’s tough. If there’s anything I can do…”

Matt looked up. “Yeah, sure, Roy. Thanks. Look, why don’t you go ahead and leave early. I’m ready to go. I’ll cover for you.”

Roy brightened. “You sure?”

Matt motioned him out. “Yeah. Take off. Have a nice day, okay?”

Roy stood up to leave. “Thanks, Matt. You take it easy.”

Matt nodded and Roy left the room. Looking at his watch, Roy realized that he might make it home in time before Joanne left for work, if he hurried. He quickened his step, and was changed and unlocking his Porsche in under five minutes. He sped towards home, anxious to see his wife.

 

Roy made it home before 8:00, and entered the house to hear the phone ringing. It stopped after two rings, and Roy heard Joanne’s voice coming from the bedroom.

“Hi, Johnny!” he heard her say, which brought a smile to his face. So, Johnny had remembered. Johnny was probably calling to ask him what he wanted to do for his birthday. As he approached the bedroom, he listened, then stopped, startled by what he was hearing.

“Roy’s not home yet. He should be here in about twenty minutes….. right….. I plan on being gone by then…..yes….it was no problem getting the day off work. It’s a good thing I got this job, it provides a perfect excuse for me to be gone today……I’ve got so much to do…..I’m getting my hair done this morning….” Roy could hear her laughing, “oh, Johnny, you’re a devil.…..no, Roy doesn’t suspect a thing…..I know, I can’t believe we’ve kept this from him…..Johnny, what time do you want to meet at the hotel?…..okay……really?……oh, Johnny…..you got the honeymoon suite?” Roy’s eyes widened and he heard her gasping. The conversation continued. “….oh, that sounds so romantic……you are such a sweet man…..oh, this is going to be so wonderful……Roy’s been so grouchy lately…..yeah…….I know……I need this too……I can’t wait for you to show it to me….I am so excited….” Roy heard her laugh again, “…..you know I feel just like a schoolgirl……Johnny, I can’t thank you enough…..this is going to be a day we’ll never forget…..I should get going; Roy will be here soon……okay…..2:00?…..okay, I’ll meet you at La Grande Maison at 2:00….”

Roy had heard enough. Quickly he backed away from the bedroom doorway and silently made his way back toward the door he had entered the house from. His mind was reeling from the implications of the conversation he had just heard. No! Joanne, it can’t be! Not with…Johnny! Oh, no! Oh, God, NO!

Not knowing what to do, he headed for his car and climbed in. He sat motionless, his hands trembling as they rested on the steering wheel, his forehead leaning against his hands. No, it has to be a mistake.

 He played the conversation he had heard back in his mind again. Her one-sided dialogue with his partner seemed to leave no doubt as to what was going on. I can’t believe we’ve kept this from him….you got the honeymoon suite….Roy’s been so grouchy lately…I need this too…I’ll meet you at La Grande Maison…

La Grande Mason! That was where Johnny was taking her? Cheapskate Johnny is taking my wife to the swankiest new hotel in town? Roy’s blood began to boil. He had no idea how long he had been sitting there in his car, when he saw Joanne exit the house. She stopped abruptly as she saw his car in the driveway with him sitting in it.

Roy’s heart beat wildly as she approached him, smiling. What would he say to her? He had to play dumb for the moment; had to figure this all out.

“Roy! Honey, you’re home early today. Did you just get here?”

“Uh, yeah,” he said. How could she be smiling at me like that, when she’s on her way to… “Well, aren’t you going to get out of your car?” she inquired.

Roy looked around uncertainly, “Uh, sure,” he said and stepped out of the car.

“I’ve got some waffles made for you; they’re warming in the oven whenever you’re ready for breakfast. I’ve got to run!” She leaned in to kiss him, and he just stood there woodenly. She kissed him quickly on the lips; Roy did not kiss her back.

Joanne knew her husband and could sense something was wrong. Poor Roy. He thinks I’ve forgotten his birthday! She hated the forlorn look on his face. Well, everything later will make up for it. She smiled at him and said good-bye, then climbed into her car and departed.

 

 

The morning went by swiftly. Joanne got her hair done, then ran around town picking up last minute items for the party. She stopped for lunch, and the 2:00 hour drew near. She headed for the hotel.

 

Roy DeSoto stood in the lobby of La Grande Maison. It was twenty minutes until two. Nervously, he paced back and forth near the glass doorway, while continuously glancing out into the parking lot.

He had been stunned when he had first walked in to see how elegant the hotel was. Huge crystal chandeliers hung from eighteen-foot ceilings and illuminated gigantic paintings on the walls. The marble floors were adorned with intricate oriental rugs, on top of which rested the finest of furniture. A small fountain was in the center of the massive lobby, and behind it held the solid mahogany front desk. He’d never seen any place like it, and felt out of place.

Five minutes went by. This is ridiculous, he thought. I feel like a fool. They’re not gonna show up. I must have misunderstood what I heard. I can’t believe –

His thoughts ended abruptly when out the front windows he saw Johnny’s white Land Rover pull into the parking lot. Suddenly his heart started pounding. He swallowed. Johnny was getting something out of his car, then turned and started toward the entry.

Quickly, Roy grabbed a newspaper off one of the tables in the lobby and took a seat as far away from the doorway as he could, but still be able to see. He opened the paper in front of his face as Johnny came through the door. Peeking over the newspaper, Roy saw Johnny approach the front desk and set his things down on the marble floor. Roy’s palms were sweating, and he was terrified that Johnny would see him. He heard Johnny speaking to the desk clerk.

“Can I help you, sir?” the desk clerk asked Johnny.

“Uh, yes. Ah, I have a reservation for Mr. And Mrs. Roy DeSoto?”

Roy pulled the paper down and stared at Johnny, whose back was to him. Mr. and Mrs. Roy DeSoto?! Oh, my God, he’s even using my name!

Roy watched as Johnny signed some papers and then took out his credit card to pay for the room. The desk clerk smiled, thanked him, and handed him his key. Roy could hear him explaining to Johnny where the room was as he pointed to the elevator.

Then it got worse. Joanne DeSoto walked through the door carrying her overnight bag. Johnny spotted her and walked toward her, smiling. For a moment, Roy was almost sure that they would see him, and hurriedly pulled the paper back up in front of his face.

Peeking around the side of the paper, Roy saw his wife greet Johnny. Her expression was one of excitement and anticipation. “Hi, Johnny!” she said.

Johnny smiled. “Hey, Jo. Everything’s taken care of. C’mon, let’s go see the room.” And with that, he put his arm around her shoulder and walked her to the elevator. He punched the button, and a moment later, the two stepped into the elevator, then disappeared from view as the doors gradually slid shut.

Roy slowly lowered the paper and shakily stood up. His stomach was flip-flopping and he felt like he was going to throw up. At a loss of what to do next, he looked around, and seeing the bar, stumbled toward it.

He flopped down into a chair in the dark smoky room and rested his head in his hands.

“Can I get you something to drink, sir?” The voice startled Roy.

“Uh, yeah, I guess.”

“What would you like?”

“I don’t care. Anything.”

The waiter raised his eyebrows. He’d seen this mood before. This guy was in need of something strong. “Yes, sir. I’ll be back in a moment.”

A few minutes later, Roy had a small glass filled with an amber liquid placed in front of him. Wordlessly, the waiter left him alone.

Roy sat alone, unmoving, his mind reeling. How could she do this? How could she do this to our marriage? I never would have believed it in a million years! And Johnny! That son of a bitch! My own partner – my so-called best friend! How could he do this to me? And on my birthday, no less!

Roy picked up the glass in front of him and took a sip. It burned going down. He stared at the glass in his trembling hand, then swallowed down the rest of it.

A moment later the waiter appeared. “Would you like another, sir?”

Roy just nodded. He wanted to be numb. The waiter brought the second drink, and later another. All the while, Roy DeSoto sat trying to understand how this all could have come about, and what would ensue now that it had happened?

He didn’t know how long he was in the bar as he sat thinking of all the scenarios that could now take place. Would he lose his kids like Matt Hamilton had? The thought of being without Joanne and the kids created a wretched ache in his heart. What would she say when he confronted her? Would their marriage survive this? Or would Joanne want to break up their marriage to be with Johnny? That thought made him nauseous.

 

 

Johnny unlocked the door to the room, and the two of them walked in to behold a huge room with a massive four-poster bed in the center. There were sliding glass doors on one wall, revealing a large balcony on the other side of it. Johnny glanced into the bathroom as he set his bags down and noticed the heart-shaped bathtub with mirrors all around it. Man! I should have reserved this room for myself! I bet Mary Lynne and I could have some fun in there! He smiled to himself.

Joanne gasped, taking in everything. “Oh, it’s stunning, Johnny.” She had never been in such a luxurious room. She walked around, touching everything, as if it would break if she pushed too hard.

Johnny busied himself with pulling things out of his bag, while Joanne watched. He had flowers in one bag, which he set on the dresser. He then pulled out a champagne bucket, along with a bottle of champagne, and set the champagne in the bucket. “I’ll get some ice for this in a minute,” he said. Joanne stared in wonder at his actions, then went to her bag to retrieve something. Opening it, she retrieved several candles, and set them around the room.

“Be careful you don’t start a fire with those,” Johnny joked.

“Oh, I think there’s going to be a fire in this room, but it won’t be from the candles,” Joanne countered, then let out an embarrassed giggle.

Johnny snickered at her, then pulled one last thing from his bags. It was a gift wrapped in brightly colored paper. He handed it to Joanne.

“What’s this?” she inquired.

“It’s from Dixie,” Johnny answered. “She told me to give it to you and have you open it before tonight.”

Joanne was perplexed. “It’s Roy’s birthday….why is she giving something to me?”

Johnny shrugged. “I dunno. Why don’t you open it?”

“Okay,” she sounded excited, and tore off the paper. Joanne opened the box, and parting the tissue paper, held up a sexy lacy black negligee. Embarrassed, she gasped and quickly put it back in the box.

Johnny whistled, then smiled devilishly. Roy was gonna like that. “One thing I always say about Dixie….she’s got good taste.”

Joanne turned red, and set the box aside. “Well…that certainly was….nice…of her.” Abruptly, she turned and said, “Well, I’ve got some things to do downstairs, so I better get going.”

“All right. I’ll get this stuff set up and meet you later,” Johnny said.

 

 

Down in the bar, Roy started to relax a bit. The alcohol gave him a sense of courage, and leaving some money on the table, he decided it was time to face the music.

He inquired at the front desk as to which room the DeSoto’s were in, and with that information, headed for the elevator.

Roy exited the elevator and ambled down the dark hallway toward the hotel room. He was filled with dread. What would he find? Before he could process that thought too much more, a door opened, and he heard his wife’s voice. Quickly, he ducked into the little alcove that held the ice machine, which was out of their view. He listened, his adrenalin suddenly pumping.

“Well, I’ll be back in a little while. Johnny, the room is just lovely! You’ve thought of everything! I still think you spent too much.”

“It’ll be worth it, Joanne, trust me.”

“Okay,” she said smiling. Then, putting her hand on his cheek, she leaned in and planted a kiss on his other cheek. “I don’t know how I’m ever going to be able thank you for all this.”

“Jo, you know you don’t need to pay me back, it’s all been my pleasure. But now that you mention it, maybe a plate of your chocolate chip cookies would be nice – if you have time sometime.”

Roy frowned. Chocolate chip cookies?!

“Anything for you, Johnny. See you later,” she turned to leave.

“Okay,” Johnny answered back.

 

Roy heard the door click closed, and peeking around the corner, saw Joanne head toward the elevator that he had just stepped out of. He waited until she was gone, then made his way to the room.

 

Roy stood in front of the doorway that Joanne had come through only a matter of one or two minutes before. He hesitated for what seemed like an eternity. He was about to confront his best friend with something so terrible, so unbelievable, it made him feel nauseous.

            With trembling hand, Roy knocked on the hotel room door three times. After only a few seconds, the door was flung open, and Johnny appeared, a smile on his face.

            “What didja forge—“his sentence stopped abruptly as he realized who stood before him. He stared at Roy, his mouth dropping open, and his smile fell away. For one millisecond, he considered slamming the door shut. But it was too late.

            “R-Roy! Uh, wh-what’re you doin’ here?” he stammered.

            “I think I should be the one asking that, don’t you Johnny?” His blue eyes bore into Johnny’s, making him uncomfortable.

            Johnny stammered more. “Uh, wh-what do you mean? I - ”      

“You can’t lie your way out of this one, Johnny. I know exactly what’s going on.” Roy pushed his way past Johnny and entered the room, closing the door behind him.

            “You-you do?” Johnny squinted up at Roy out of the corner of his eye.

            “I just saw Joanne leave your room.”

            Johnny’s mouth turned down into a frown. “Oh, man. She told you?”

            “She didn’t have to tell me, Johnny. I figured it out for myself.”

            “Damn!” Johnny said disappointedly. He looked back at Roy. “We tried so hard to keep this from you. Now everything’s ruined.”

            “Well, I’m so sorry to break up your little party,” Roy said sarcastically.

            Johnny looked at him with an odd expression on his face.  “Well, I’m sorry too,” he said defensively. “I mean, I went to a lot of trouble to set all this up,” he waved his arms out into the room.

            Roy’s eyes followed his gesture and slowly did a 360-degree view around the room. “I can see that,” he said with contempt. He eyed the flowers, the champagne, and the candles. “You thought of everything, didn’t you?”

            Johnny smiled a wry smile. “Well, the candles were Joanne’s idea, but I thought the champagne would be a nice touch.”

            “How thoughtful of you. Is this how you seduce all your women?” Roy’s eyes were cold.

            Johnny was confused at Roy’s reaction. “Huh?” He stared at Roy. What is the matter with him? “Uh, Roy. Is something wrong?”

            Roy didn’t answer. His eyes were on Joanne’s overnight bag, and the sexy black negligee lying beside it. He slowly picked it up, examining the sheer satin fabric and lace. He felt his blood pressure rising and he started to shake. He turned toward Johnny, rage in his eyes.

            Johnny didn’t see Roy’s expression as he looked away with a sheepish smile. “Uh, that wasn’t my idea, you see, uh…Dix…”

            Roy’s pent up anger suddenly unleashed itself and he drew his arm back. Like a tightly wound spring that suddenly snapped, he drove his fist into Johnny’s face. “You son of a BITCH!” He yelled.

            Totally caught off guard, Johnny’s head snapped back and he fell backward onto the bed. For a moment he lay stunned, then the pain hit him, and with squinted eyes, he drew his hand up to cradle his face. Pulling his hand away, he looked down at it, and saw his fingers were covered with blood. Roy had split Johnny’s lip open, and he felt blood pooling in his mouth from a cut inside his cheek.

            Still holding his face, Johnny looked up at Roy with an expression of utter astonishment, now realizing that something had gone terribly wrong. Roy stood in front of him, his chest heaving, his hands clenched into fists. Before Johnny could say a word, Roy spat out at him, “How long have you been screwing my wife, Johnny? Weeks? Months? Years?” His voice got increasingly louder. “Or is this little rendezvous your first time?”

            Johnny forgot about the pain in his face for a moment and his jaw dropped open. “What?!” he uttered in disbelief. Then his eyes grew wide as comprehension took hold. He stared at Roy, and saw he was shaking. He had never seen Roy so angry, and he was unnerved by it. Oh my God, he thinks I’m – that we – that Joanne and I are –

            Johnny pushed himself into a sitting position on the edge of the bed. “Now wait a minute, Roy. You’re making a big mistake – “

            “No,” Roy interrupted, “the only mistake I ever made was calling you a friend,” he pointed at Johnny. “All the times I’ve included you in our family, had you over dinners, for Christmas, holidays, birthdays. All that time you were trying to seduce my wife. And right in front of my kids! Oh, don’t think I didn’t see it, Johnny; the way you looked at her, the two of you laughing together behind my back, hiding your dirty little secret. All that time I just thought it was innocent friendship. I can’t believe I was so naïve! I guess your stupidity must have rubbed off on me.”

            Johnny was standing now, angered by Roy’s insult.  He thought he smelled alcohol on Roy’s breath. Man, he’s been drinking! Roy never drinks! At least not in the middle of the day! What is wrong with him? I’ve got to get him straightened out!

            Roy continued, his jaw clenched. “If I’d have only known what a snake you were, I never would have trusted you. I should have paid attention to what everyone said about you – you and your reputation with women.”

            Johnny looked stunned. “My reputat –“

            “Don’t look so indignant, Johnny. Surely you’re aware of the reputation you’ve acquired. Everyone knows how many women you’ve slept with.”

            At this, Johnny’s mouth dropped open, but no words would come out. Everyone knows…his mouth went dry. For some reason, fear clenched at him, his stomach was in knots. In the back of his mind, he was cognizant of the fact that Roy’s words were slowly destroying their friendship, like fire engulfing a piece of paper. He felt he could barely breathe.

            Roy continued, his words were like acid now, dripping over Johnny. “I guess you got bored screwing all the nurses at Rampart, and wanted a bigger challenge, huh? So you decided to make it with someone else’s wife – your partner’s wife! I just hope you didn’t give her some disease.”

            Johnny’s eyes narrowed now, and he tried to control his temper. He tried to tell himself, Roy’s drunk, he doesn’t know what he’s saying.

            “Roy, I think you’d better stop, or you’ll regret it,” he said through clenched teeth.

            “What I regret is ever talking you into joining the paramedic program! All these years I’ve had to put up with your crap, your moods, your childish behavior. It’s a miracle I haven’t been killed by your impulsiveness. I risked my life for you more than once, and this is how you repay me! You should have just stayed on the reservation, Johnny, where you belong!”

            Johnny was seething now, desperately trying to control himself. Roy’s words had cut into him like a knife, the wounds in his heart gaping open. He was so hurt, so shaken by Roy’s words, he could barely speak. With forced control he uttered in a low voice, “If you’re quite done, then I think you’d better listen to what I have to say.”

            “I’m done listening to you, Johnny. That’s all I ever do, because you never shut up!”

            Johnny gritted his teeth, his patience nearly out. I don’t have to take this shit, he thought. “Would you just listen – ”

            “No, you listen to this – ” Again, without warning, Roy drew his fist back and buried it deep into Johnny’s gut. Johnny was unprepared for Roy’s attack, and with a choked “ungh” he lost his balance and landed on the bed again. As he clutched at his stomach, he heard Roy threaten, “If you ever touch my wife again, I’ll…I’ll…kill you!”

            Johnny couldn’t speak; Roy’s fist had connected right on the very tender spot where Dr. Early had performed surgery on Johnny a few short weeks ago. He started to curl inward instinctively, protecting his middle, and he sensed Roy standing over him, panting.

            Roy stared down at Johnny, watching him as he held his stomach, trying to get his breath. For a moment, he felt repulsed by what he had done, and hesitated, a little voice inside him telling him to stop. Unsure of what to do, he looked around the room, and his eyes once more fell upon the black negligee. An unwanted vision flooded him at that moment, and his mind conjured up a scene that sickened him……

Joanne lying on the bed, wearing the negligee. Johnny, naked, over top of her, her legs wrapped about him. His hands were on her, her back arching in ecstasy, her head back as he moved over her, sweating, their mouths together, tongues exploring….   

The emotions that seized him were so strong that he felt out of control. Surprising even himself, he pulled his leg back and landed a swift kick to Johnny’s groin. 

Johnny’s body exploded in pain, and with a strangled cry, he fell to the floor, curling onto his side, his eyes tightly closed as involuntary tears leaked out of them.

Roy was really shaking now. He licked his lower lip. Maybe that’ll teach you to keep your pants zipped, he thought. Slowly, he turned, and left the room, letting the door softly click shut.

 

Roy made his way down the hall as if in a trance. He was still shaking from what had transpired between him and Johnny. He headed toward the elevator and hit the down button. He felt dizzy.

Now what? He knew what he had to do next. Face Joanne. Face the awful truth – that she was cheating on him. The elevator door opened, and with resignation, Roy exited. He stopped almost immediately in his tracks when he saw Joanne walking right toward him.

She hadn’t noticed him. She was walking next to one of the hotel employees and was writing something down on a pad of paper. What is she doing?

He stood there watching, frozen. He looked from side to side for one desperate moment, considering escape.

Joanne tore off the paper she was writing on and handed it to the man, smiling. “I’ll take care of it right away,” Roy heard the man say.

“Thank you,” she replied. Then she looked up. When she did, her eyes met Roy’s. Her face was blank with incomprehension for a moment, then her jaw dropped and her hands flew to cover her mouth.

 

Part 2