Part II

Tony and the unidentified man walked toward the other three…they saw Johnny's head lowered and knew that he was once again unconscious. The leader saw that Steve looked a little bit nervous and that Kent looked as if he had something that he couldn't wait to tell him…but he decided to worry about that later, at the moment, he just wanted to take care of Gage.

Stepping up and quickly speaking, Kent said, “Well boss, here he is, just like you wanted.”

The unidentified man looked at Johnny and pulled him again by the hair, lifting his head up…he saw the blood coming from his nose and lip and the bruises that had already formed on his face.

As the man looked over at Rollins, Kent could tell that he wasn't very happy.

Angrily, the man said, “You did it…didn't you…you just had to beat up on him.”

Kent only shrugged his shoulders, as he replied, “He tried ta' get away boss…honest. Plus, I just don't like the guy.”

Turning to look at Williams, the boss asked, “Is that what happened…did he try ta' get away?”

Steve knew that Johnny had really only tried to shift around in the chair, but seeing the look that Kent gave him, he knew that he had better not cross him…so he went along with Rollins, as he looked at Johnny, knowing that his answer might get the paramedic hurt even more.

“Ah, yeah…yeah, that's what happened…Gage tried ta'…ta' get away from us as we…we were bringin' ‘im in here.”

The fourth man wasn't convinced by what Steve said, and replied, “Blindfolded…his hands tied behind his back…and he tried to get run and get away…well, I don't believe it. You're both actin' weird…what's wrong with you guys?”

“Nothin'…nothin' at all.” Steve softly replied, looking back at Kent.

Wanting to get on with the business at hand, Kent excitedly asked, “When are we gonna kill this guy?” .

“What's the rush? And * we * aren't gonna kill ‘im…* I'm * gonna do it. But I want him awake when I put him to sleep…permanently…I wanna see his face when he finds out it's me…I wanna hear ‘im beg for his life…and tell me that I can't kill him because we're friends.”

“How long do you think it'll be before he wakes up?” Tony asked.

Looking at his watch, the man answered, and said, “Well, since the drug should be wearin' off about now and gettin' outta his system…probably about another ten minutes or so. So, while we wait, let's eat somethin'.”

Ten minutes later, as predicted, Johnny started regaining consciousness. Even though his mind was fuzzy, he could hear the men talking in the background and could tell they were standing off away from him…then he heard that voice.

“Let me tell you guys somethin', Gage has always bugged me, from the day I first meet ‘im, even though I was friendly towards ‘im, I thought he was too damn cocky. And it always irritates me about the way he just goes on and on and on about things, he just doesn't know when to shut up. Then after what he did, I want him gone…out of the way.”

Struggling to get free, Johnny whispered to himself, and said, “I was hopin' that…I was wrong…that it wasn't him…and now I know…what he really thinks of me…but what have I done…why does he hate me…why…why is he doin' this?”

Hearing Johnny struggle, the four men started walking over to him.

** Oh no…I'm dead **

Reaching Gage, Tony grabbed his neck from behind and squeezed, as he asked, “Hey Johnny, what are you tryin' ta' to…get away?”

“Now, we can't be havin' that Gage ‘ol boy.” Kent replied.

Being tense, Johnny answered, “Please…please don't…don't hurt me…let me go…”

The man motioned for Tony to let go, and as he did, Kent walked over and slapped Johnny across the face…the unidentified man softly chuckled in amusement and Steve just stood there, wishing that there was something he could do for Johnny.

After a moment, Johnny turned his head back, and softly spoke.

“Please…please let me go…I think I know…who you are…but I don't know…what it is that…that I've done…but I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…just don't hurt me.”

The unidentified man walked over and stood in front of Johnny and motioned for Steve to remove the blindfold, which he did. With Johnny's eyes being covered for as long as they had been, he squinted against the light, as it took them a few minutes to adjust. Even before they did, Johnny knew who it was…he couldn't believe that this man, who he would have given his life for if necessary, without even having to think about it, and who he thought was his friend, could have done this to him. For a moment, all he could do was sit there, starring at the man that stood before him.

Finally being able to speak, Johnny said, “Oh god no…I was right…it * is * you…but why…why are you doin' this…what I have I ever done…ta' you…I thought we were friends.”

Not thinking, Kent slapped the man on the shoulder, and said, “You were right boss, that's exactly what you said he'd say. He knows you too well Gage.”

The man pulled out his gun and pointed it at Kent, pulling the hammer back.

“Do * not * touch me!”

Rollins became frightened and quickly put his hands up in front of him and spoke.

“Whoa boss, now wait a minute…sorry, I didn't mean ta' touch ya…but you can't kill me, I'm loyal ta' you…and I've * always * done everything you've asked, no matter what's it's been I've done tha' job, no questions asked. But now…Steve here…he promised Gage that he'd help ‘im get away…even told him that all of us were crazy…I swear, I heard the two of ‘em talkin'.”

Steve started backing away, frightened, knowing what was coming next. The boss turned the gun on Williams, and he knew that he and Johnny were both about to die.

As he struggled to get free and hopefully stop Steve from dying, Johnny yelled, “No…you can't kill ‘im!”

The man turned and looked at Johnny, as he slapped him across the face.

“Watch me.” the man coldly replied.

Hoping to buy himself and Johnny some time. Steve said, “No boss…don't kill me…I didn't…I didn't do anything…he was on tha' phone…he didn't hear anything…he‘s lyin‘.”

Johnny turned his head back and was about to say something else, but his voice was drowned out by the two gunshots. He watched in horror, as Steve fell to the floor, bleeding from his chest, as he slowly closed his eyes. After the man laid the gun down and reached into the pocket of his coat, Gage sat back in the chair when he suddenly saw a gun being pointed at him.

The man spoke and said, “You wanna know why I'm doin' this Johnny…because you irritate me. But mostly because of what you did ta' me...the total hell you've put me through."

Johnny didn't have a clue what the man before him was talking about. He just kept struggling to free his hands

“What I…what I did ta' you…I wish you'd tell me what it was…I…I didn't do anything…I swear I didn't…”

The man again slapped Johnny across the face, before he spoke to him again.

“Don't play dumb Gage, you know exactly what you did…you killed them, you murdered my family…my wife that I loved more than my own life…my kids that I would die for…and kill for. And now, I'm going to, you get to join them.”

Again turning his head back, Johnny saw the gun that was being held closer to him.

“I brought this gun to take care of you Gage…it belonged to my great grandfather and he killed many people with it. Before he died, he gave it to me…it's my…special gun…the one I save for…special occasions …and I consider taking care of you…a * very * special occasion. Good-bye Johnny.”

Johnny saw and felt as the gun was placed to the side of his head…closing his eyes, the last thing the paramedic heard was the hammer falling and himself screaming.

“Nooooo!”

~~~~~~

“Nooooo…don't please…don't do it…nooooo…!”¨

“Johnny…Johnny, calm down and relax…come on now, you've had surgery so you need to lay still, to give yourself a chance to heal and get well.”

Johnny could hear Roy's voice but it sounded muffled and distant, but when he opened his eyes and saw Roy and Hank standing over him, he panicked, as he started to fight his partner as he tried to get away.

“No…no don't…let ‘im…hurt me…please I…I didn't…didn't do it…I…I swear…they're …they're okay…please don't…”

It scared Roy and Hank to see the way their friend was acting…they all knew that Johnny always had trouble whenever he'd had surgery and was coming out of the anesthesia, but he had never acted afraid. Roy placed his hands on Johnny's arms to try to calm him down, as Hank stepped over to the other side of the bed…DeSoto immediately saw Johnny look at their Captain and tense up

“Johnny…relax, it's me, it's Roy…and Cap…you're just wakin' up from bein' put to sleep…you're in Rampart so just relax, you're okay. Stay calm so you don't pull that IV out.”

Rampart…put to sleep…IV…those words finally sank into his foggy brain and blinking his eyes a few times to clear his vision and feeling some pain and discomfort in his lower right side, and seeing that he was in a bed, Johnny finally realized where he was and slowly relaxed.

Taking a few shallow breaths, and wincing due to the pain, Johnny softly said, “Put…ta' sleep…surgery …what…what happened…ta' me…did I get…get hurt…?”

“No Junior, you didn't get hurt, but Brackett and Early * did * have to perform emergency surgery on ya. We were at the Station, in the locker room…you had been actin' a little …off…I guess is the best way ta' put it…all day, like you weren't feelin' very good, and then all of a sudden you bent over and fell in the floor and was layin' there in terrible pain. Brackett said that your appendix came pretty close to rupturing partner, and if it had, we could'a lost'cha. You've had an infection and been runnin' a pretty high fever as well so you've been out of it for a while. You should'a told me…or any of the guys that you weren't feeling good.”

Sleepily, Johnny replied, “Appendix…oh man I…remember…been hurtin all…all day …hurtin' some now…but I know I should'a …said somethin'…sorry…but how long…have I been out of it…?”

“Oh, a little over a week. Like Roy said, you've been pretty sick.”

Being surprised, Johnny said, “Over a…a week…I wanna go home…but I had a…a weird dream Pally…”

“Yeah, from your screamin' me and Cap could tell. And, I figured you'd say that but you're gonna be here for a little while longer so you can't go home just yet, but I can call Brackett, if you need somethin' for the pain Junior."

Roy stood and started to reach for the call button, but seeing Johnny shaking his head no, made him stop and sit back down in the chair that was beside his friend's bed. The older paramedic could tell that his best friend was sleepy, and he knew that any pain medication would put his friend to sleep within a matter of minutes. Johnny slowly turned his head to look at his left arm, seeing the IV that was inserted into it and taped down, and then he lifted his right hand and rubbed it over his face.

“What kind of dream did you have Johnny?” Hank asked.

Quietly and tiredly, Johnny spoke and said, “My dream…there were…three guys and…and you Cap…you had me…kidnapped from my…apartment…they drugged me…you were so…so mad at me…kept sayin' that…I had killed Carrie an'…the kids…never said how…even saw ya…kill somebody…but you were real…mad at me… pointed the gun…at m' head and… pulled…the trigger…but I tried ta'…tell ya that I didn't …didn't do it…but you…you wouldn't…lis…listen ta' me…you…you killed me…side…hurts…”

Roy and Hank saw as their friend was getting upset and that it was causing Johnny more pain. Hank tried to calm his young paramedic down.

“Johnny, it's alright, just calm down. It was just a dream…I'm not mad at'cha, I didn't kill anybody and I'm certainly not gonna kill you Pal and Carrie and the kids are fine…so just take it easy. I guess now instead of bein' sick as a dog after surgery, you're gonna start havin' weird dreams huh.”

As he relaxed, Johnny slightly smiled, as he replied, “Yeah…I guess so…but I don't…want either…and I hate…ta' say this…but Cap…Pally...”

Looking at Johnny's face, Roy and Hank figured they knew what was coming next.

“Yeah?”

“I think…I'm gonna be…be…”

Quickly jumping backwards, Roy said, “Oh Junior.”

The End

** P ** O** S ** S ** I ** B ** L ** E ** O ** T ** H ** E ** R ** E ** N ** D ** I ** N ** G **

“Nooooo…don't please…don't do it…nooooo…!”

“Randy…Randy, calm down and relax…come on now, you've had surgery so you need to stay still, to give yourself a chance ta' heal and get well.”

Randy could hear Kevin's voice but it sounded muffled and distant. When he finally opened his eyes, but still not fully aware of where he was or what was going on, and saw Kevin and Michael standing over him, he panicked, as he started to fight his friends, trying to get away.

"No…no don't…let ‘im…hurt me…please I…I didn't…didn't do it…I…I swear…they're…they're okay…please don't…"

Even though the two men knew that Randy had never had surgery before, it scared them to see the way their friend was acting...they never knew that he would have this type of reaction from being put to sleep. Kevin placed his hands on Randy's arms to try to calm him down, as Michael stepped over to the other side of the bed…as he moved, Kevin saw as Randy's eyes followed him and he felt his friend shake and tense up.

Hoping to calm him down, Kevin said, "Randy…relax, it's me…it's Kevin…and Michael…the rest of the guys and Julie are outside waitin' to see you, you really scared us. You're at UCLA Medical Center so just relax, you're okay. Stay calm so you don't pull that IV out, or your stitches…I think that would kinda hurt."

UCLA Medical Center…put to sleep…IV…those words finally sank into his foggy brain and blinking his eyes a few times to clear his vision and feeling some pain and discomfort in his side, and seeing that he was in a bed, Randy finally realized where he was and slowly relaxed.

Taking a few shallow breaths, and wincing due to the pain, Randy softly said, "Put ta' sleep…surgery… what…what happened to me…did I get…get hurt somehow…?"

Slightly laughing, Kevin replied, "No, you didn't get hurt, it wasn't an episode of the show, but Doctor Miles * did * have to perform emergency surgery on ya. Don't you remember what happened?"

Shaking his head, Randy softly replied, "Uh...no. What?"

"We were on the set, havin' a dress rehearsal, and you had been actin' a little…off…I guess is the best word for it…all day, like you weren't feelin' very good, and then all of a sudden…you bent over and fell in the floor and was layin' there in terrible pain. Doctor Miles said that your appendix came pretty close to rupturing and if it had, you could'a been in a lot of trouble. You've had an infection and been runnin' a pretty high fever as well…and been out for quite a while, you've been pretty sick. You should'a told me…or any of us that you weren't feeling good."

Sleepily, Randy replied, "Appendix…oh man I…remember…been hurtin all…all day …hurtin' some now…and I know I should'a …said somethin' …sorry…but how long…have I…I been here…?"

"Oh, about a week and a half. Like Kevin said, you've been pretty sick."

Being surprised and a little upset, Randy said, "A week…week an' a half…but…but what about…tha' show…what's gonna…?"

Hoping to calm the young man down, Michael laid his hand on Randy's shoulder, and said, "It alright, relax. They said that they would shot around'cha while you're outta commission, then when you're better and can get back to work, they'll shot your parts and edit them in."

Taking a shallow breath and relaxing, Randy said, "That's good…ta' hear… but I had a…a weird dream…"

"Yeah, from your screamin' we could tell. I can call Doctor Miles, if you need somethin' for the pain."

Kevin reached for the call button, but seeing Randy shaking his head no, made him stop…he could see that his friend was already sleepy and figured that any pain medication would probably knock his friend out within a matter of minutes.

Randy slowly turned his head to look at his left arm, he saw the IV that had been inserted and taped down. As he rubbed his right hand over his face, he heard Michael speak.

"What kind of dream did you have? It must have been a wild one."

Quietly and tiredly, Randy spoke and said, "My dream…it was weird…there were three guys and…and you Mike…I was in my uniform…you had me…kidnapped from outside of…an apartment building…they drugged me…you were so…so mad at me…kept sayin' that…I had killed your wife…an' kids… you never said how…even saw ya…kill somebody…but you were real…mad at me…pointed the gun…at m' head and…pulled…the trigger…but I tried ta'…tell ya that I didn't …didn't do it…but you…you wouldn't… lis…listen ta' me…you killed me…"

The two men saw that with Randy becoming upset that it was causing him more pain. Michael tried to calm his friend down.

Laying a hand on his friend's shoulder, Michael said, "Randy, it's alright, just calm down. It was just a dream…I'm not mad at'cha, I didn't kill anybody and I'm certainly not gonna kill you. Amy and the kids are fine…so just take it easy."

"That's good...ta' hear..."

Kevin spoke up, and said, "You know, that would make a good show...your dream that is."

"Yeah, it would, we could have you kidnapped and let the whole show be just a dream. Then at the end, show you in the hospital after being hurt on tha' job…I think I could write somethin' like that."

Both men thought it was a good idea, but they saw Randy shaking his head no.

Quietly speaking, Randy said, "No…no it wouldn't...and don't even think…of writin' that…it was too real...so sleepy but...I hate ta'…say this but…Mike...Pally..."

Seeing the look on Randy's face, the men knew what was about to happen.

"Yeah?" Kevin asked.

"I think I'm...gonna...gonna be..."

Quickly jumping backwards, Kevin said, "Oh Junior."

The End

For an alternate ending to this story....please go here

Additional author's note: I don't know for sure if Amy is the name of Michael Norell's wife or not…I asked but the person wasn't really sure. If it isn't, then the mistake is mine.