By Mychand

(Angela Daniel)

 

 

Paramedic John Gage strolled into the dayroom of station 51.   “Man, I can’t wait!  Roy, we have only five more minutes until we’re on vacation!”

 

“Yeah, I have to admit I’m a bit excited,” replied Roy DeSoto.  “I’ve never been to Florida before.”

 

Overhearing the conversation, Chet Kelly couldn’t help but remark, “I still can’t believe Joanne is letting you go on vacation for a week without her, Roy.”

 

“Oh, she doesn’t mind.  She’s taking the kids to Colorado with her mother.”

 

“You’re just jealous that you’re not going with us,” chided Gage.

 

“Hey, I’ve got better plans. Flying all the way to Florida isn’t my idea of fun. Besides, are you sure you should be going?”

 

Johnny shot Chet a dirty look.  “It’s my vacation, of course I’m going.”

 

 “Well, we’d better get going now if we don’t want to miss our flight,” remarked Roy.  “I don’t know why you don’t like to fly, Chet.  It sure is a lot safer than being on the ground.”

 

“Oh, I think I’ll take my chances down here,” replied Chet.  “At least on land I can control the situation.”

 

Roy smiled.  “Well, alright.  We’ll see ya when we get back next week.”

 

As Roy and Johnny headed out of the station, Chet had to get in one last jab at Gage.

 

“Hey, Gage…I took the liberty to stuff some Dramamine in your carry on bag. Figured you’d need it when you get on the boat!”

 

Desoto grabbed his partner’s arm to keep him from going back into the station after Chet Kelly.  “Come on.  Let it go.  This is going to be a great vacation.  And hey…maybe this time you won’t get sea sick.”

 

“Oh very funny, Roy.  Very funny,” Johnny replied sarcastically.

           

 

 

 

The flight was long and John Gage was getting fidgety and bored.  “Man, is it just me or are all the stewardesses getting kind of old?”

 

Roy laughed.  “Well, looks like we just happen to have two that are tenured.  I think that’s a good thing.”

 

“Yeah, you would.  Still, it would be nice to have someone to talk to.”

 

“Someone to talk to?  Johnny, I can’t imagine what it would be like if you didn’t talk,” replied Roy.

 

“Who me?  I don’t talk a lot.” Johnny grinned.  “Hey, say what you want but we both know you wouldn’t know what to do without me.”

 

Roy admitted Johnny was right.  He was very fond of his partner and even though he wished at times he would be a little less talkative, he really wouldn’t know what to do without him.

 

 

 

 

The partners couldn’t wait to get to Florida.  After landing they quickly gathered their luggage and took a taxi to the local pier. 

 

“Man, Roy, I think it’s so cool that your cousin is letting us use his houseboat while he’s away.  We’re going to get to fish like we never have before.”

 

“Yeah, he said he’d set us up with some good salt water gear,” replied Roy.  “Come on, he told me he’d be docked at the end of the pier.  He wants to give us a quick over view of all of the safety features before he leaves.”

 

The boat was easy to spot and Johnny was impressed with its size.  “Wow, that’s even nicer than I imagined it would be.   Are you sure this one belongs to your cousin?”

 

“Yes, I’m sure.  Look at the name on the back.  It’s called the Alexandra.  It’s named after his daughter.”

 

“Well, what are we waiting for then?  Let’s get on board and get things started,” replied Gage.

Roy’s cousin was very helpful and filled the partners in on all of the local fishing rules and regulations as well as the safety features of his boat.  John and Roy would dock for the night and begin their trip down the coast of Florida the next day.

 

 

 

 

Morning came too quickly for Roy who awoke to find his partner rummaging around on the deck of the boat.  “What are you doing up there?”

 

“Oh great, your up,” replied Johnny.  “Come on, let’s get this boat out of the intra-coastal water way. I want to see the sun RISE on the ocean for once.”

 

Roy hesitantly agreed and dragged himself out of bed and up onto the deck. “What about breakfast?  Aren’t you even hungry?”

 

“Oh don’t worry about breakfast Roy, I’ve got that covered.”  Johnny smiled.  “Let’s get going and we’ll eat while watching the sun rise.”

 

Roy untied the ropes that secured the Alexandra and with Johnny’s help, he pushed the boat away from the dock.  Johnny kept the motor at a slow pace until they were far enough out to speed up and head towards the ocean.

 

Once they reached the Atlantic and started their journey south along the coast, Johnny turned the wheel over to Roy.  “Here, your turn.  I’m going down to finish breakfast.  Let me know when the sun starts coming up.”

                                                                                       

Roy smiled.  “Okay, but hurry.  All this salt air is making me kind of hungry.”

 

Roy sat back and relaxed.  The lull of the ocean and the low hum of the motor nearly put him to sleep.  Just as he started to close his eyes he was startled by his partner’s yell.

 

“Roy!  What are ya doing?  You’re supposed to let me know when the sun is coming up.”

 

Desoto looked up and out at the ocean.  “Okay, it’s coming up.”

 

“Thanks a lot,” replied Johnny.  “I can see that now.”

 

“Well, we’re going to be out here a week.  You’ll get to see more than one sunrise, I promise.” 

 

Johnny couldn’t hide his enthusiasm. “I know that but this is our first morning out and I was just…well, kind of excited.  I’ve never been on the east coast before.” 

 

“Okay, okay.  I’m sorry,” said Roy.  “Come on, let’s eat breakfast.  What’d you make?”

 

“Ah, eggs, sunny side up, of course!”  Johnny grinned.

 

Roy couldn’t help but laugh.     

 

 

 

 

The friends couldn’t have asked for a better first day of vacation.  The sky was clear and the ocean breeze kept the temperature at a comfortable range. 

 

Johnny dragged out the fishing gear and the two of them rigged up several poles that they attached to the back of the boat. 

 

“This is great,” said Gage.  “All we have to do now is sit back and relax while waiting for the fish to come to us!”

 

“I don’t know, Johnny,” replied Roy.  “Somehow I don’t think it’s quite that easy.”

 

“Oh, just wait, partner, you’ll see!”

 

“Well, while we’re waiting, how about a beer?  Want to go and get us a couple while you’re up?”

 

Johnny scanned the lines the extended from his fishing poles.  “Okay, I’ll get them.  Keep an eye on my rods for me.”

 

“Sure,” replied Roy.  “Grab some pretzels while you’re down there too.”

 

“What do I look like? Your waiter?” asked Johnny.

 

Roy laughed.  “Hey, you established that role this morning.”

 

 

 

 

The day raced by as the partners managed to catch a dozen fish between the two of them.  The sun was going down and they had traveled quite a bit of distance down the coast of Florida.  Their final destination would be the Florida Keys.

 

“You ready to drop anchor and call it a day, Roy?” asked Johnny.

 

“Yeah, sounds like a good idea.  How about I start dinner and you reel in the lines?”

 

Johnny teased, “Ah, so you want to cook now?  I thought I was cook and waiter.”

 

“Yeah well I can only take so much of your cooking in one day.  Besides, I cook a mean fish meal and you know it.”

 

Gage did love the way his partner cooked fish so he went along with the plan and started reeling in the lines.

 

Roy went down into the small kitchen, turned on the radio and began cleaning and preparing the fish that they caught.  A few minutes went by when he heard the scream of his partner, followed by a loud splash in the water.

 

He raced to the deck of the boat to find that Johnny was no were in site.  His heart pounding, Roy scanned the area and began calling out his partner’s name.  “Johnny!  Johnny! Where are you?”

 

There was no response.  Trying not to panic, Roy grabbed a flashlight and began searching sections of the water.  Moments later he saw his partners motionless body floating towards the front of the boat.  Without hesitation, he pushed the ladder over the side and dove into the ocean.  In what seemed like an eternity, he reached his partner and grabbed him by the waist, being careful to keep his head above water.  Johnny was unconscious and Roy noticed he had a cut above his right eye. 

 

It took all of the energy he had for Roy to pull himself along with Johnny over the side of the boat.  Johnny wasn’t breathing and although short of breath himself, Roy began CPR.   Johnny responded quickly and began coughing uncontrollably.  A few minutes later he relaxed and tried to sit up.  Roy gently pushed Gage back down. “Whoa, hold on, partner.  You need to take it easy.”

 

Gage fought back and sat up.  “I’m fine, Roy.  Just help me inside so I can dry off and change.”

 

“If you tell me what the hell happened first.  How did you manage to fall in the water?”

 

“It was an accident, Roy. I just slipped and fell,” replied Johnny.

 

“Well, you look pretty beat up.  You’re head’s bleeding.  You must have hit it on the side of the boat. I’ll help you up if you tell me if you’re hurt anywhere else.”

 

Johnny wanted to complain about Roy’s persistence, but he knew it wouldn’t do any good.  “I think I banged my knee up a bit.”

 

“Okay, let’s get you inside and clean you up.”

 

Roy stood up behind his friend and helped to lift him up and off of the deck.  Putting Johnny’s arm around his neck and grabbing him around the waist, the two made their way down the steps and inside of the boat. 

 

Johnny managed to change his clothes by himself while Roy pulled open the hide a way bed.

 

“Come on, lie down so I can check out that knee,” demanded Roy.

 

“Okay, okay, I think you worry way too much, though.  I’m just too tired to argue with you now.”

 

‘That was an understatement,’ thought Roy as he bandaged his partner’s leg. Already falling asleep,  Johnny didn’t even notice when Desoto placed two butterfly bandages on his forehead and shined his penlight in his eyes. 

 

“Johnny, can you hear me?” asked Roy 

 

His voice at a whisper, Johnny replied,  “Huh?  I’m fine Roy.  Just tired.”

 

“Okay, you get some rest.  I’ll check on you later.”

 

“Sure…don’t worry ‘bout me.  I’m fine.” Johnny drifted back to sleep.

 

Roy knew his partner would be fine but he couldn’t help but worry.  He pulled out a blanket that was stowed under the bed and covered Johnny up before heading over to the stove and cooking the fish he had cleaned earlier.

 

After finishing up the fish, he placed them in the portable refrigerator and decided to call it a night.  He checked Johnny’s vitals and pulled out the other hide away bed.   

 

 

 

Sleep didn’t come easy for Roy.  He tossed and turned and couldn’t help but lie there and keep an eye on his partner.  He didn’t even realize he had finally fallen asleep until he heard the motor roar and felt the motion of the boat pushing against the waves.  He looked over and saw that Johnny had gotten up and his bed was put away.  Too tired to get up, he rolled over and went back to sleep.

 

About an hour later Roy felt a cool hand on his forehead. “Hey are you feeling okay?  Do you plan to sleep all day?”

 

Desoto opened his eyes and stared up at his friend.  “Me? You’re the one who looks like hell.  I’m just tired.  I stayed up all night keeping an eye on you.”

 

“I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to worry you. I have a slight headache but I’m fine.”

 

Roy sat up and checked the bandage on his friend’s head.  “Well, looks like you won’t need stitches.  Care to finally tell me now how you managed to slip and fall out of the boat?”

 

“Can’t we discuss this later?” argued Johnny.  “I’m fine. It was an accident.”

 

“Well, if it was an accident then why do we need to discuss it later?”

 

“Okay, I’ll tell you what happened.  I was pulling in the last line and I felt a little dizzy.  I went to grab the rail of the boat and I slipped and fell overboard.”

 

Roy frowned.  “Any idea what made you dizzy?”

 

Johnny looked down at the floor.  Why do I feel like a school kid who just got caught doing something wrong?  “Remember when I was out for that inner ear infection last week? My guess is that it hasn’t totally cleared up like I thought.”

 

“Was that so hard to admit?” asked Roy as he stood up and grabbed a prescription bottle out of the overhead cabinet.  “Here, Brackett gave me this in case you needed it.”

 

Johnny was dumbstruck.  “You mean you knew?  Why didn’t you say anything?”

 

“Yes, I found out the day before we left when Brackett asked me to look out for you.  He said you were worried about it reoccurring. Did you think he wouldn’t mention it?”

 

“What ever happened to doctor, patient confidentiality?” griped Johnny.

 

“Johnny, he thought I already knew.  I don’t know why you felt you had to keep it some big secret.”

 

“I just didn’t want you to cancel out on the trip, Roy.  I’ve been looking forward to this for weeks.”

 

Roy shook his head.  “This is why I was so worried about you last night.  I figured if you kept that from me you might keep your injuries from me, too.”

 

Johnny helped Roy remove the sheets from his bed and stow it away.  “I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to worry you.  That’s another reason I didn’t tell you in the first place.  I’m feeling fine.  I promise you that I’ll tell you if anything changes.”

 

“Alright, I plan to make sure you keep that promise.  I’m going to keep a closer eye on you.  Right now though, I’m starved.”

 

Opening the refrigerator, Roy yelled out, “Johnny, what happened the fish?”

 

“Oh, I meant to tell you, that was some awesome fish, Roy!”

 

“Was?  Did you eat it all?” asked Roy.

 

“Well, yeah, I was hungry.  I thought they were leftovers. I missed dinner last night, you know?”

 

Roy just shook his head and sighed.  “Come on, let’s go catch some more.”

 

“Now you’re talking, partner. Now you’re talking!  Wait till I tell Chet about all the great fish we’ve caught…”

 

“I guess you really are feeling better,” whispered Roy as he followed behind his partner.

 

“Did you say something Roy?”

 

Roy smiled. “Oh, I said we’d better hurry and get our lines in the water.”

 

 

 

The End

 

 

Title graphic by Angela Daniel

 

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