Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
By
Wednesday morning arrived, marking the start of another shift. Roy sat on the bench in the locker room anxiously awaiting the arrival of his partner. He was deep in thought when Johnny walked in.
“Hey, Roy .” Johnny was humming a tune and smiling brightly.
“Uh…hi, Johnny. How are you doing today?”
“Never better. I was helping a friend of mine on his ranch yesterday. It felt good to be out there….the fresh clean air and the horses. I slept like a rock last night.”
Roy was relieved that his partner was in such a good mood. Johnny on the other hand, sensed something was off about Roy 's behavior.
“I'm fine, Roy . How about you? You okay?”
“Fine.”
Not wanting to spoil his good mood, Johnny continued to smile and quickly changed into his uniform. When he turned, Roy was watching him. He chose to ignore it.
“Come on, Pally. We better get to roll call.”
After roll call, they grab a quick cup of coffee, and head to the squad to check their supplies.
Unable to contain his curiosity, Johnny decides to ask Roy why he's acting so strangely. “Uh… Roy , why are you…is..is something wrong?”
Roy decides to come clean. “I gotta ask you a big favor.”
Johnny laughs. “Is this why you're acting so strangely? Because you have to ask me for a favor?” Johnny was incredulous. “You know I'd do anything for you, Pally. Well…just about anything.” He gives Roy one of his patented crooked grins.
Roy thought to himself “Yeah, keep smiling partner.”
Just then the klaxons sound. Squad 51 child down, 4192 West Tremont .
Roy responded into the mike. “Squad 51 responding, KMG-365.”
Roy and John got into their squad and sped off to the scene. Child down calls were the worst. They could be as simple as a kid falling off a bicycle or as serious as a life and death illness. They always hated these calls, because they never knew what to expect.
Arriving on scene, they pull up to a well maintained green and white ranch house. They were met by a woman who appeared to be quite excited.
“Come quick. It's my son Casey. He fell out of a tree.”
Hearing that, the two paramedics quickly got out their equipment and followed the woman to the back yard. When they arrived, they saw a little boy sprawled out under a tree. Johnny looked up at the tree. He guessed the distance of the fall to be about 20 feet.
The little boy was conscious, but appeared to be in severe pain.
Johnny started the dialogue. “Casey, how ya doing buddy?”
“It hurts.” The pain was very evident in his voice.
“I know it does. My name is Johnny and this is my partner Roy. We're going to check you out, now. You just stay still.”
Roy starts to take the boy's vitals.
“How old are you, Casey?,” John asked the boy.
“Nine.”
While Roy establishes contact with Rampart on the bio-phone, Johnny keeps a running dialogue with the boy to keep him calm. “So, what happened Casey?”
“My brother Sam said he didn't think I could climb the tree. I wanted to show him I could. So I did. My foot slipped and I fell.”
“Did you hit your head?”
“No.”
“ Roy , possible fracture of the right hip, wrist, elbow and shoulder.”
Roy tells Rampart about the boy's injuries. He receives the orders and he and Johnny prepare to carry them out.
Johnny asks the boy questions like what's his favorite ice cream flavor and what his hobbies are. While doing so, he and Roy splint him and start an IV.
“Casey, there's one more thing we have to do. We have to put this collar on you and put you on a backboard. So, lie still, okay?”
“Yes, Johnny.”
“You ever been in the hospital before?”
“No, have you?”
Forgetting he was only talking to a kid, Johnny responded. “Lots of times. I was bitten by a rattle snake…and there was the time I was…..uh, yeah. Being a firefighter and paramedic, I've gotten a little banged up. You'll be fine. And the nurses are very pretty.” With that last statement, Johnny gave Casey a big grin.
“Yuck…girls.”
Noticeably quiet through this whole episode, Casey's 16 year old brother Sam decides to say something. “Can I come to the hospital? I like girls.”
Roy looks over at John and shakes his head. John just smiles and shrugs.
The ambulance attendants come to the back yard. They gently transfer Casey to the stretcher and into the ambulance. Johnny hops in the back.
“Meet you at Rampart, Johnny.”
Roy closes the back doors and gives two taps. The ambulance departs to the hospital.
Roy notices Sam looking a bit upset. “Your brother's going to be okay. He'll be laid up for awhile, but…”
“I should never had said anything. I didn't mean for anything to happen to him.”
Roy took a few minutes to play psychologist. “I know that. But, your brother didn't have to take you up on the dare.”
“I should know better. He looks up to me.”
“Don't be so hard on yourself, Sam. It will take some time, but your brother WILL be as good as new.”
“Thanks.”
The two boys' mother comes over to where Roy and Sam were talking. “I called your father. He'll be meeting us at the hospital.” She then turned to Roy . “Thank you for helping Casey.”
“That's what we're here for.”
Roy goes to meet his partner at the hospital. A nagging thought enters his mind. “I know Johnny seems to be in a good mood, but what was that song he was humming this morning?” He recalls the song and starts humming it. “Down dooby dooby down….breaking up is hard to do…” “Breaking up is hard to do. I hope his good mood isn't covering up something bad. I really need to ask him this favor.”
After finding his partner and a quick visit with Dixie , the two paramedics head back to the squad.
“Johnny, what was that song you were humming this morning?”
John thought for a moment. “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do. You know, that old Neil Sedaka song. It was playing on the radio on the way in to work this morning. Why do you ask?” Just then a grin breaks out on Johnny's face. “Oh, you thought I broke up with someone?” He pauses and adds, “Unfortunately, right now there's no one to break up with.”
After settling back into the squad, Johnny looks over at Roy curiously. “Alright, so what do you want to ask me?” He senses that Roy is dragging his feet. “ Roy .”
“Alright. My cousin Sandy is new in town. She just moved here from New York City . I'd like it very much if you would take her out on Friday night.”
Johnny was mildly irked. “ Roy , you DO remember the last set up. Joanne's cousin. We didn't exactly hit it off. Uh..uh…no way.”
“Junior,…it would really mean a lot to me. She's a sweet girl and very smart. She was a librarian in New York .”
“A librarian?” Johnny was dumbstruck.
“Johnny, you like to read. You'll at least have books in common.”
“Let me ask you a question, partner. Have you seen her since she moved here?”
“No, but I've talked to her. She seems real excited to be here.”
Johnny responds in a sarcastic tone. “I'm sure. When exactly WAS the last time you saw her?”
“A few years ago. She came out here after her college graduation.”
Johnny groans and rolls his eyes. “I'll let you know tonight. I've got to think about it.”
“Fair enough, Junior.”
“ Roy ….don't hassle me until then, okay?”
“Alright.”
Johnny grabs the mike. “ L.A. , Squad 51 available.”
They ride back to the station in comfortable silence, each man in deep thought.
After doing chores and going on several runs, it is now supper time. The crew sits down to a meal of meatloaf, mashed potatoes,and broccoli.
“Cap, this is really good.”
“Thanks, John. I'm glad you like it. It's one of Suzanne's recipes.”
“Hey,Gage. I hear there's a new nurse in the E.R. Did you meet her yet?”
John smiles. “I certainly did, Chet. Last shift. Her name is Holly. She's got green eyes and a great smile.”
After dinner Roy and John are washing the dishes. The rest of the guys are out back shooting some hoops.”
“So?”
John saw the hopeful look in his partner's eyes and realized he had no choice. “Alright, I'll do it. What's the worst that could happen? We don't hit it off?”
“Thanks, Johnny. It really means a lot to me. I want Sandy to feel comfortable in L.A. I'll even pay for dinner.”
Johnny grins. “I guess, if we do hit it off…..maybe you and me will end up being related.”
“There's a scary thought.”
___________
Friday evening arrives and Johnny is getting ready for his date with Sandy . He made reservations at a nice restaurant and made sure he picked up flowers to give to her. He finishes tying his necktie, takes a last look in the mirror and heads out the door. Johnny had some reservations about going on this date, but he didn't want to let Roy down.
He arrives at Sandy 's apartment, promptly at 6PM . Knocking on her door, Johnny nervously waits for Sandy to answer it. What he saw when she answered, was something he wasn't expecting. Sandy came to the door dressed like a streetwalker. She was wearing a short tight black dress and high heels. Her face was overly made up and she had on bright red polish on her nails. The only conservative thing about her was her blonde hair that was pulled up into a bun.
Johnny's jaw dropped open as he took in her appearance. She wasn't a bad looking girl, it's just that he thought she looked cheap.
He tried to hide his surprise at her appearance. “Uh, hi. You must be Sandy .”
“I sure am. You must be Roy 's friend John. I am so glad to meet you.”
Sandy leans in and kisses Johnny on the lips before he had a chance to move his head. Johnny was taken completely by surprise.
“Come in, John. Roy didn't tell me that you were so handsome.”
Johnny was reluctant to follow her into the apartment, but didn't want to hurt her feelings or get on Roy 's bad side. He entered cautiously through the door.
Johnny could feel his cheeks burning with embarrassment …..for him…and for her. He couldn't help but stammer his way through the awkwardness of the situation. “Uh..here….uh..this is for you.” He gives her the bouquet of flowers.
“Thank you. Please, sit down.”
Johnny sits down on the couch. Sandy puts the flowers in a vase and comes back carrying two glasses of white wine.
“Her ya go, sweetie. This will loosen ya up.”
“I….uh..no thanks. I….I don't drink when I'm driving. Talking of which, we…we better get going. We have 7 O'Clock dinner reservations.”
“Johnny…Johnny…Johnny. You are a very tense man. I can help you with that.”
Before Johnny knew what hit him, Sandy was all over him. He was shocked to say the least. All he could do was to push her off of him.
Johnny stood up. “ Sandy , I don't think that's a good idea. Why….why don't we just go to dinner.” He was very nervous and didn't like it at all where this date was headed.
Sandy was very annoyed. “I was under the impression that you were fun, at least that's what Roy told me.” She paused for a couple seconds. “Oh, alright…let's go.” She got her purse and the two of them went outside to Johnny's car.
Sandy continued to be annoyed when she saw Johnny's Land Rover. “A Land Rover?”
Johnny was not going to make any apologies for his choice of transportation. After all, it was a part of who he was. “Sorry, Sandy. This is what I drive. It gets me exactly where I want to go.” He helps her into the vehicle and closes the door.
They drive in silence to the restaurant. As soon as they get to their destination, Sandy excuses herself to the ladies' room. John waits patiently for her to return. Thirty minutes later, Sandy comes out.
In Johnny's mind, he could only imagine what she had been doing in there. When they get seated, she orders a bottle of wine and proceeds to play footsies with Johnny. He looks at her pleadingly and she stops. Before too long, he realizes that she is stoned. Sandy starts to laugh. In a voice just above a whisper, she tells him that she snorted some coke. “Want some, Johnny Boy?”
Johnny was very uncomfortable. He somehow was able to keep his composure through dinner. Conversation was minimal. Johnny tried to make a last ditch effort to salvage some normalcy in the date. “I hear you were a librarian. Sounds interesting.”
“Yeah…I was. But, THAT was my OLD life.”
“Oh. Well, I like to read. I don't have a lot of spare time to do it, but I do when I can.”
Sandy continued to be annoyed. “You would be the type to be in to books.” She studied her red finger nails for a moment. “Can we go, now? I'm bored.”
Johnny was starting to get angry, but kept his temper at bay. Who did this girl think she was? And what the hell was Roy thinking? Those were only two of a thousand things that were on his mind.
Johnny's response to her request was simple and direct. “Gladly.” He took care of the bill and they left.
Arriving back to Sandy 's apartment complex, Johnny tried to be a gentleman. He walked her back to her apartment. Knowing the answer already, she asks him a question. “You wanna roll in the hay, fire boy?”
___________
Johnny tries to keep his composure. “No thanks. I better get going.” He turns around and walks back to his Rover. He vows to himself to erase this night from his memory, as though it never happened. He spent the rest of the weekend trying to forget about this horrible experience.
As Sunday night turned into Monday morning, Johnny became increasingly uneasy. He knew Roy would expect a report on how the date went, unless of course Sandy had already told him. He dreaded the thought of facing his partner.
Pulling into his spot in the parking lot, he cringed when he saw that Roy 's car was already there. Johnny grabbed his duffle bag and slowly made his way into the station. Walking into the locker room, he was met by Roy 's blue eyes looking at him expectantly.
“So, how'd it go, partner? I thought you'd call me and let me know.”
In a tone dripping with sarcasm, Johnny answered. “Dandy.”
Roy picked up on Johnny's sarcastic tone. “What happened?”
“I don't want to talk about it, Roy .”
“Didn't you have a good time, Johnny?”
John was unable to hold back his agitation. “No, I didn't. Your cousin….she's…she's……” Johnny struggled to find the right word.
“Boring?”
“Boring?” Johnny answered in disbelief. No….she's….she's…hardcore.”
“What?” Roy was stunned.
“You heard me, Roy. Hardcore----drugs, booze, sex. From the time she saw me she tried to get me in bed. She kept insisting that a little snort of coke and a few drinks would loosen me right up.”
“I don't believe you.”
Johnny was equally stunned at his partner's response. “Are you calling me a liar?”
“Hey, all I know is that Sandy is a good girl. She probably dumped you and you're ticked off.”
Johnny's temper started to bubble to the surface. “I NEVER wanted to go out with her in the first place, Roy .” He finishes getting changed into his uniform and slams his locker door shut. “It seems you have some loyalty issues. Do me a favor, unless we're on a run…..don't bother talking to me!”
Roy was getting equally upset. “No problem. Maybe you want a new partner, too.” As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he regretted saying them.
Johnny storms out of the locker room. During roll call, everyone notices the tension between the two paramedics, but they don't say anything.
Roy and John check the squad and their supplies without their usual banter.
In the kitchen, Marco and Chet were enjoying a cup of coffee before embarking on their chores.
“I wonder what that's all about?”
“It's gotta be serious, Chet. They've never been this upset with each other before. Maybe it will die down on its own.”
Chet lets out a nervous laugh. “They'll probably kiss and make up by the end of the day.”
The klaxons sound. Squad 51, possible heart attack. 1118 Magnolia Lane .
Roy picks up the mike. “Squad 51 responding, KMG-365.”
Roy and John go on their first run of the day. Arriving on scene, they are met by a woman. “My husband Chris is having trouble breathing.” The two paramedics leap into action. After getting led to their victim, they begin to assess his condition. Johnny takes the vitals, while Roy contacts Rampart on the bio-phone. After sending the strip and starting the IV, they get him ready for the ambulance. Johnny rides with the victim.
While Roy and John are getting their supplies from Dixie , she immediately picks up on the tension between them. These two paramedics held a warm spot in her heart and she was concerned that there was something seriously wrong. Her voice took on a concerned tone. “What's wrong fellas? You both look …..upset.”
Before they could answer, not that they really wanted to…their radio went off and they were called away on another run.
The rest of their shift passes and the two paramedics are still not on good terms with one another.
___________
The next shift finds the two of them still at odds with one another. While on runs, they are nothing less than professional.
As Roy is putting on his blue uniform shirt, Johnny comes into the locker room waving a piece of paper at Roy . “You know what this is?” Johnny asked his partner in a very smug tone.
“I thought we weren't talking,” answered Roy in an equally smug tone.
“This is my ‘get out of jail free card'. I put in for a transfer. At the end of this shift on Monday morning, you and I will be no more…….and we can both move on with our lives. You call me a liar and claim that I took advantage of Sandy . If you don't believe me, you don't trust me…..and without trust……”
Johnny finishes getting into his uniform and walks out of the locker room, leaving his soon to be former partner stunned.
The two of them didn't know that the other three men on the crew were in the locker room. After hearing the exchange, they look at each other confused.
“Transfer?” questioned Chet in a whisper to the other two.
At roll call the tension remained very thick.
Captain Stanley sensed the uneasiness in the room. “Does anyone have anything to say?”
Johnny took on a matter of fact tone as he responded. “I just wanted to let you guys know that this is my last shift at 51's. I put in for a transfer and affective next shift, I'll be at 46's.
The guys were all in shock. No one said anything right away. “What happened, John?”
“Let's just say that it's time for me to move on, Mike and leave it at that.”
Captain Stanley looks around the room. “Anyone else?”
Everyone but Johnny looked at Roy . Roy sat there stonefaced and didn't say a word.
Roy and John were kept very busy through the day. While on calls they were professional, but outside of that, they never spoke.
Now 6:30PM , the two paramedics are out on a call. The other crewmembers try to pump Captain Stanley for information.
Mike starts the conversation. “Cap, what's this all about? Why is Johnny leaving?”
“Well, I don't know the specifics but I DO know they had a major falling out. Johnny put in for a transfer and it was granted. End of story.”
“Can't we get them to talk to each other? They're the best team in the county.”
“Don't you think I suggested that, Chet. I hate to lose Johnny, but there's nothing I can do about it.”
Just then the two paramedics arrive back to the station.
“You guys hungry? I made my special tacos.”
“Starving, Marco. I'll be right there.”
“How about you, John?”
“No thanks. I'm not hungry. Cap, if it's okay with you, I'd like to lie down for awhile.”
“You feeling, okay?”
“Just tired. We've been going non-stop today.”
“Sure, pal.”
John goes to the dorm to lie down and Roy goes to eat supper.
The next day, the tension is still very much evident.
At 2PM the station gets called to a major warehouse fire. After being told that by the foreman that there was a man trapped, Roy and John don their equipment and go to find the missing worker.
Upon finding the man, Roy carries him out and Johnny follows behind him. As Roy starts out with the victim, there is an explosion. He looks behind him and realizes that Johnny's not there. Instant fear grips him.
“Where's Johnny, Roy ?”
“He was right behind me, Cap.” Roy starts to panic as a feeling of dread overtakes him.
Kyle and Travis, the two paramedics from 110's were sent to find Johnny. After a tense 15 minutes, they located him. The men of 51 looked up to see Travis carrying Johnny's still form out of the building.
The two paramedics start to work on Johnny, while Roy does the same for his victim.
“Marco, how is he?”
“I'll go check, Roy .” Marco goes over to where the fallen paramedic was being examined. He asks the dreaded question. “How is he doing, Kyle?”
“He's unconscious. Possible head injury and his vitals are a little weak. We'll take good care of him.” He smiles assuredly at Marco.
Johnny and the trapped worker both arrived at Rampart. After helping with his victim, Roy waits nervously for word on Johnny.
Two hours and several cups of coffee later, a tired Dr. Brackett comes to the lounge to talk to Roy .
“ Roy .”
Startled, Roy jumps up. “How is he, doc?”
“Lucky. He has a moderate concussion, a couple broken ribs and some cuts and bruises. The old Gage luck has held up, once again. He should be fine.”
“Is he awake?”
“Yes, and he's asking for you.”
“He is?” Roy asked in a tone made up of surprise and relief.
“Why are you so surprised, Roy ?”
Roy ignored the question. “Can I see him?”
“For a little while. He's weak and a little groggy. He's going to be fine….everything checked out okay.” Dr. Brackett smiled at Roy and patted him on the back. “Room 310. I'll see you later.” Dr. Brackett leaves.
Before he goes to see John, he calls Captain Stanley on the radio to let him know about his partner's condition.
He walks to Johnny's room and slowly opens the door. He wasn't entirely sure of what to expect. His partner was lying in bed, pale and his eyes were half closed. He also had several bandages covering up his cuts.
“Hi, Junior.”
“Hey, Pally” Johnny responded softly. He was obviously tired and hurting from his injuries.
“Look, I know you're tired, but I….I need to tell you how sorry I am. I've been a jerk…I should never have doubted you.”
Johnny weakly smiles. “Apology accepted. I'm sorry, too. I over reacted.”
“Partners?” Roy asked hopefully.
Johnny nods his head in the affirmative. “What about my transfer?”
“I'll take care of that, Junior. You just rest and get better.”
“Yeah.” Johnny closes his eyes.
“Johnny….” Roy stops when he realized John had fallen asleep. “Best friends always----I'll never let you down again, partner…I promise.”
He heads back to the station. The guys had just returned from the warehouse fire.
Johnny's replacement, Charlie Dwyer was already there. “How is he doing, Roy ?”
“He'll be fine, Charlie. Brackett says he'll miss a few shifts, but he'll be good as new. Cap…..about Johnny's transfer…”
Captain Stanley simply smiles. “I'll call HQ in the morning.”
“So, you guys patched things up?”
“Yes, Chet. This whole thing should never have happened. It was all on me. I was out of line….I was wrong.”
“What was it all about, anyway?”
“That's classified information, Chet. If I told ya, I'd have to kill ya.”
___________
At the end of the shift, Roy heads to Rampart to see Johnny. As he walks into John's room, his partner looks up.
“You're awake, Junior. I thought you'd still be asleep.”
Johnny was slightly annoyed. “Who can sleep around here? They come in constantly to check on your breathing, ask you your name, you know THAT kind of stuff.”
Roy tries not to laugh. “How are you feeling?”
“I'm okay. I guess I'll be sore for awhile, though.”
Roy gets serious. “Listen…do you remember our short conversation last night?”
Johnny chuckles. “Not much of it…but I do remember we exchanged apologies.” Johnny laughs again. “I was a bit out of it. They had me doped up on medication.”
“Well, in that case----I'd like to clear the air, again. I am so sorry for everything. For doubting you, for calling you a liar, for hurting you like I did.”
“Yeah, well---I wasn't exactly innocent. I said some pretty harsh things to you. The crack about loyalty and trust…”
“You were justified.”
“I was more hurt than anything. From the beginning of our partnership, Roy , our friendship was built on honesty…and the trust came so naturally.”
“Johnny, I know we don't talk about it, but I want you to know how much our friendship means to me…how much YOU mean to me. When you told me you put in for a transfer…and when you weren't behind me, coming out of the warehouse, I thought I lost you. You have NO idea how scared I was.”
Johnny smiles. He knew it was hard for Roy to express his feelings this way. “I think I do. YOU mean a lot to me, too….you're my family. When I put in for that transfer, I was upset….I didn't know what I was doing.” Johnny suddenly remembers the transfer and panics. “The transfer….what am I going to do?”
“Relax, Junior. Captain Stanley took care of that this morning. You're not going anywhere. You're stuck with me and I'm stuck with you.”
Johnny smiles in relief. “Sounds good to me. Hey, do me a favor….no more set ups, especially with family members.”
“It's a deal, Junior. I'll never let you down, again…..I promise.”
“You didn't let me down, Roy . How could you have known about Sandy ?”
“I guess….but, I should have known you'd never lie to me. Best friends?”
Johnny smiles his trademark crooked grin. “Always, Pally. After all, breaking up is hard to do.”
The end
*This story is dedicated to Sherry, for her continued inspiration.