Father of Mine
Part 1
Roy could hardly believe how many years had passed since he and John became Captains in ’77. The day itself was full of excitement and reminiscing for the two ex-paramedics. It was also a day of realization that Gage and DeSoto would no longer be working together at station 51 anymore. Both John and Roy were thrilled to become Captains but they hated the fact that they wouldn’t be a team anymore. It scared Roy the most. When he became a paramedic he’d lost touch with his old partner he’d had as a rescueman. The fear that he and John would lose touch was quickly wiped out when John called Roy the next day and took him fishing.
At first it was hard adjusting to being a Captain since Roy was relatively young. John must have been having an even harder time since he was a few years younger than Roy was. But Roy’s crew was understanding and helped him as much as they could. It wasn’t long before Roy was bragging about how his crew acted like a well-oiled machine when there were times of crisis. John came over often for dinner and also had his share of stories about his crew. The two Captains, after a while, turned the story telling into a contest as to who had the better crew (though all in fun). Joanne was beginning to tire of the stories and constant male ego that was spilling out of each story just to impress the other. Just when she was about to burst, Joanne DeSoto had an epiphany.
"If you two are so adamant about showing each other up, why don’t you have your crews compete against each other?" she suggested.
Both Roy and John gave Joanne a suspicious gaze.
"How?" John asked.
"There are plenty of contests in the Department. There are basketball games, baseball, and the Fireman’s Olympics," Joanne mentioned. Both Roy and John began giving the idea serious consideration. A light seemed to turn on over John Gage’s head. He snapped his finger and looked to Roy with an enormous grin on his face.
"It could work, Roy! We could – set up a pool of money! And – and …" John lost his train of thought. Luckily, Roy was there to keep him on track.
"And the station that wins will get the money, right?" Roy put in.
"No! We give the money to a charity!" John declared.
"Then what about our crews?" Roy asked.
"I don’t know. That’s a tough one," John said.
"Give them a trophy," came a voice. The three adults turned around and looked into the living room. Christopher DeSoto sat on the couch doing his homework. He’d been listening to the conversation for a while and decided it was time to give them his input.
"What did you say, Chris?" asked Roy.
"Give them a trophy. Ya know, something that the station gets if they win," Chris said.
"Like what?"
"I don’t know. Give ‘em a golden hydrant or an ax – "
"That’s it!" cried both Roy and John at the same time.
"What?" asked Joanne.
"A golden ax. We give the Golden Ax to the better of the two stations," John said. The two friends spent the rest of the night planning out their station competitions and the prize and pool money. The next shift the idea was presented to the various crews and they all went along with it. The first year of the Fireman’s Olympics was indeed a sold out event as many off-duty firemen came with friends and family to watch the competing crews. The Golden Ax ended up at John’s station and the year after it was with Roy’s crew. Throughout the years the Ax never stayed in the same station two years in a row, which was cause for rumors and gossip. John and Roy simply ignored it and continued their friendly competition.
Indeed times were changing for the two ex-partners. Their lives were growing up and apart but the friendship was always there. As Roy reflected back on the years that had led up to the millenium he couldn’t help but wonder at how they’d made it this far.
* * *
Captain John Gage kicked the apartment door open. Smoke filled the hallway of the building from the fire. Inside the room there was a young woman lying on her bed. She was unconscious from smoke inhalation. John quickly picked her up in the fireman’s lift and carried her out to triage.
The lady started to wake up just as John set her down with the paramedics from 45’s. Her ocean blue eyes stared into John’s and begged for an explanation as to why she was outside of her apartment.
"You’re gonna be fine, ma’am. There was a fire in your building and you passed out from inhaling smoke," John explained.
"Is my apartment going to be all right?" she asked. She had a soft, sweet voice that stuck in John’s mind.
"I’m sure it’ll be fine, ma’am," John said. The paramedic placed an oxygen mask on the woman. John started to stand up and head back to the fire but the young woman grabbed his hand.
"Please don’t go," she begged.
"Ma’am, I have to go back and do my job," John informed her.
"Will I ever see you again?" she asked. John leaned down next to her and smiled to ease the anxious look on her face.
"The paramedics are gonna take you to Rampart Hospital. If I can I’ll call the hospital tonight and check up on you. Then, I’ll come visit you tomorrow," John promised. The young woman smiled.
"What’s your name?" she asked.
"John Gage."
"I’m Madeline Bishop," she said.
"All right, Madeline, I hope to see you soon," John said.
"I’ll be waiting," she said. John walked away from triage towards the fire. He couldn’t help but turn back and take another look at Madeline. Still making promises, Gage. Only he intended to keep this promise.
* * *
John couldn’t get enough of Madeline. She was absolutely the most wonderful woman he’d ever met in his life. Madeline was a 25 year-old aspiring actress from Boston who’d moved to New York to pursue her career as an actress. She’d moved to Los Angeles two years ago when New York didn’t seem to be working out. Madeline had long dirty blonde hair and those beautiful ocean blue eyes that John always lost himself in. She was almost as tall as John was with milky white skin and soft lips that John loved to kiss. She had a fairly good personality; a little self centered, but it was hardly important to John.
John brought Madeline over to Roy’s house for dinner practically all of the time. She seemed to be a very friendly, out-going person who always had an interesting story to tell about her time in New York. But Roy noticed that Madeline seemed to be more involved with her career as an actress then with any other commitments. John was oblivious to the fact but Roy wasn’t about to bring it up to his friend. If Madeline loved John as much as she claimed to then there wouldn’t be any problems if they could work it out.
John Gage and Madeline Bishop were married six months after John had carried Madeline out of her apartment building. It was a beautiful day when the two lovers tied the knot on May 16, 1977. By Madeline’s request it was a small ceremony with only a few close family and friends. It was the first argument John and Madeline had because John wanted a large ceremony with his entire family and as many firemen and hospital staff they could stuff into the church. Madeline was less than thrilled about so many people being present for her wedding. She didn’t even want her own parents to come. As much as John wanted a big wedding, he wanted his soon-to-be wife happy and consented to having a small ceremony. When John told Roy he saw it as an omen but didn’t mention it. It was John’s life and there were certain decisions he would make and certain things he would have to sacrifice when he married.
Nevertheless, the wedding went off without a hitch and the couple looked like the picture of happiness when they got into the limo John rented. Although most things seem perfect in the beginning, appearances are only skin deep.
* * *
"That was Captain Lee from station 10. He’s gotta miss his shift because his wife is really sick. I’m gonna take his shift tomorrow," John explained.
"What about our plans for tomorrow? You said we’d have dinner and a movie," Madeline complained.
"We can go the day after. I owe Jim a favor," John said. Madeline stood up and gave John a hard glare.
"Of course, the Department would come before your wife," she said. John tried to argue but Madeline stormed off to their bedroom. John followed after her. His footsteps echoed through the ranch house. At first he’d been against buying the ranch outside of the city. It was more of a place where one might raise a family and John had had no intentions of being married any time soon back in ’74. When he and Madeline married almost three years ago he thought they’d have at least one child by now, but Madeline wasn’t very enthusiastic about having a baby. Their lovemaking was very infrequent. When John made it to the bedroom the door was closed. He pushed it open and stood in the doorway. Madeline was sitting on the bed, holding a pillow; her back turned to John.
"Madeline, please – "
"You’re never home anymore, John! If it isn’t working overtime then it’s your excursions to the mountains or your frequent visits to Roy’s house. You’re never here for me!" she shouted. Madeline hurled the pillow at her husband. John caught it and set it down on the floor. In most cases John would be right out there yelling his own side of the story, but Madeline had an even worse temper than John and it could sometimes turn violent. So John had to keep the peace by not overreacting and keeping his temper under control. But Madeline was going too far and the record had to be set straight.
"I’m not home? What about you?" John started. "How many times do I get home after a shift and you’ve left a note about some gig your agent got you. What about all of the times I stay up late at night helping you practice your lines for a part you never get?"
"Charlie is a good agent. He’s been working his ass off trying to find a part for me!" she argued. "This could be my big break if I get this next part."
"It’s always your big break, Madeline, but you never get it. And when you don’t get the part you become depressed and I’m supposed to be there to pick up the pieces. Well I can’t always be here. Roy is my friend and he invites both of us over for dinner, but you’re never here for me to ask if you wanna go!" John yelled. "And you know as well as I do that I rarely go to the mountains anymore. My life is entirely devoted to you and my job."
"Well if that’s true then your devotion is spent mostly on your job," Madeline accused.
"What do you want from me, Madeline? Do you want me to admit that I love my job more than you?" John asked.
"Do you?"
"No, I don’t. I married you because I loved you more than anything in the world, including my job. But I can’t keep doing this. There has to be a middle ground somewhere," John said.
"Does this mean you want a divorce?" Madeline asked. John was surprised and completely panicked at the same time. He rushed to his wife’s side and held her. She was sobbing uncontrollably now. John stroked her hair and kissed her head to try and comfort her.
"No, Maddie, I don’t want a divorce. I love you. Don’t you understand that?" he said.
"Oh, Johnny, I love you too!" Madeline cried.
"We will work this out, Madeline. Everything is gonna be okay," John assured her. Madeline clung tightly to John’s shirt. She didn’t say anything but nodded. John brought her face up to him and kissed her with all of the love he had in him. When the kiss was over he got off of the bed. "I’m gonna go sleep on the couch tonight. You’re still a little mad. I can see it. Good night, Madeline."
"Good night, Johnny," Madeline said. John left the room and gently closed the door behind him. Madeline placed her hand on her stomach and rubbed it. It will never work between us, John, but there’s no way you’ll take this from me. "Good night and good-bye."
* * *
"Madeline, where are you!" John yelled at the phone as he slammed the receiver down. John’s temper was holding on by a string. All he wanted to do was go home, but his Land Rover had all of a sudden decided not to start this morning. Add that to the long shift he’d just worked and John was just about down to his last good nerve. Now his wife wasn’t home and he needed a ride.
"Hey, Cap," said a rather young voice. John turned around and saw his trainee paramedic, Lane Corbin. Lane was just out of his paramedic class and had a self-assured attitude about himself. He was young, brash, and cocky; John automatically liked him, but had to keep the "hard-nosed Captain" appearance on his face every time Corbin pulled one of his antics around the station. It seemed like he had a younger version of Chet Kelly working under him, "I thought you already left."
"My car didn’t start and my wife isn’t home so I’m kinda stuck here," John said. Corbin clicked his tongue and tossed his car keys up in the air and caught them.
"Don’t worry, Cap, I can drive you home," Corbin said. John wasn’t exactly thrilled about taking a ride from one of his men, but he was tired and wanted to get home so he could at least relax for a little while.
"What d’ya drive?" John asked.
"El camino."
"Fine. Let’s go," John said.
* * *
"Maddie? You home?" John called as he entered the ranch house. His voice only echoed back to him and there was no response from his wife. Must be at a callback or something, John thought. John fell on to the couch and stretched out to try and get the kinks out of his back and neck. He was only twenty-nine but he felt much older after such a long, grueling shift. He thought of just falling asleep on the couch but he had to call a tow truck about the car so it’d be ready in time for his next shift. Against his body’s wishes, John got off the couch and walked into the kitchen to find something to eat before he took a shower. Eggs sounded good so John reached out to the refrigerator. He stopped short when he noticed a note taped to the fridge. The writing on the note was Madeline’s. He tore the note from the fridge and read it. It said:
Dear Johnny,
By now you may have noticed that I’m not here. I’ve come to the realization that neither one of us is happy in this marriage. I know that deep down you knew it would come to this. I’ve decided to leave you. I didn’t stay around to tell you because it would just be too hard for me to face you. I do love you, Johnny, with all of my heart, but this is a failing marriage and it has been from the start. Please try to accept this. I’m leaving and you won’t be able to find me and please don’t try.
I love you,
Madeline
John’s hands shook as he finished reading the letter. He suddenly realized how empty the house looked. Pictures and wall decorations were missing that had always been there. John rushed into the bedroom and searched through the dresser drawers. Madeline’s clothes were gone, all of them. There was no sign that she’d ever even lived in the house. John was so stunned he could hardly comprehend what was happening. He dropped to his knees in the middle of the bedroom floor. In anger, he tore up the note and then cried into the tiny pieces of shredded paper. Softly he cried out Madeline’s name.
November 25, 1980 was the end of John’s life.
* * *
There was very little that Roy knew of Madeline’s disappearance and he doubted he’d ever learn anymore than what John told him. All he knew was that his friend was hardly the same person anymore. There was a vacancy in his eyes; he was lost with no one to guide him. His visits were reduced to once every couple weeks. Roy learned that John was working more than his share of overtime at several stations. He was throwing himself into his work to keep from thinking about Madeline. But John was still hopeful that Madeline was coming back. It wasn’t until the divorce papers arrived from Madeline’s lawyer that John’s hope was completely crushed. The divorce favored John. There was no alimony to pay since they hadn’t had a prenuptial agreement and Madeline didn’t ask for anything. John was able to continue his life, but he felt that there was no life without Madeline.
That’s when John never came over for dinner anymore. He was always working; he didn’t want to go back to his empty house where all of those memories of Madeline were still lingering. John’s crew was starting to worry about their Captain. He seemed to have no desire to live anymore and was constantly risking his life.
"It’s scary, Cap," said Sam Grant, John’s senior paramedic. He and one of the other firemen from John's crew, Brett Williams, had come down to talk to Roy after their shift got off. He could see the concern in their eyes, "I’ve had to treat him five times for smoke inhalation in the past two shifts. He just doesn’t care anymore."
"We know you’re his best friend, Cap," Williams began, "and I think he’d listen more to his best friend then he would to his crew."
Roy leaned back in his chair and let out a sigh of frustration. He hadn’t seen John in weeks and it was beginning to worry not only him but also Joanne and the kids. Jennifer missed her "Uncle Johnny." But John was not his partner anymore and Roy wasn’t always there to be a friendly ear for John to talk to. John was also a very stubborn man and only talked unless he was goaded into it. He dealt with problems in his own way and style. If he needed help, he’d make it known.
"Gentlemen, I know you’re concerned for Captain Gage. But trust me, I’ve known him for years, and he will come around," Roy explained.
"I think you’re wrong, Cap," Grant said. Brett nudged him but the paramedic was too concerned about his Captain to stop now. "Captain Gage isn’t going to come around unless some life-altering situation happens. And the only situation I can see……is his death."
Roy wanted nothing more than to punch Grant in the face, but he couldn’t because he knew that the young paramedic was right. He faced the two firemen with softened eyes.
"All right, I’ll talk to him when I get a chance."
* * *
Roy was almost in an euphoric state as he drove up the dirt road to John’s ranch. He could hardly wait to tell John the news. This was sure to bring some light into his friend’s eyes. John was now getting used to living at home on his own. He was still working too many shifts, but he at least got home every once and a while. This was the first time Roy’d been able to visit John in two weeks, but it was well worth the wait.
He practically jumped out of the car before it stopped when he pulled up to the ranch house. John pushed open the screen door and walked out to the porch to greet his friend. He’d never seen a happier man than Roy DeSoto this evening.
"Evenin’!" Roy exclaimed.
"You’re in a happy mood tonight," John pointed out. "What’s the occasion?"
"I’ll tell ya in a minute. How’re you doing?" Roy asked. He followed John into the house. John pulled two beers out of the fridge and handed one to Roy.
"It’s getting easier," John said. Roy and John walked out to the back porch and sat down at the table. "I’m trying to fill up the some of the empty spaces; not just in the house."
"Yeah, it must be rough," Roy said. It was then that Roy noticed just how much John had loved, and still loved, Madeline. John shrugged it off and smiled.
"Oh, don’t worry about me, Roy, I’ll be fine. Now what about you? What’s made you look like you just won a million bucks?" John asked. Roy beamed as he set his beer down on the table.
"You like being Uncle Johnny to Jenny and Chris, right?" Roy asked.
"Of course I do. I love them like I was really their uncle!" John exclaimed.
"Well, how would you like to be Uncle Johnny to one more child?"
John practically spit out the sip of beer in his mouth. His shocked expression turned into a wide grin. Roy began to see the old Johnny coming back into his friend’s eyes.
"Roy, are you saying what I think you’re saying?" John asked.
"That’s right! Joanne’s pregnant. We’re gonna have another baby!" Roy shouted.
"Roy, that’s wonderful!" The two partners shook hands and hugged. "Man, I can’t believe it! How far along is she?"
"We went to the doctor yesterday. Joanne’s one month along," Roy said.
"Man, that’s great," John said. The two friends calmed down a bit from all of the excitement.
"Johnny, Joanne and I want you to be the baby’s godfather," Roy said. "Would you?"
"Are you kidding! Roy, I’d be honored," John said. John shook Roy’s hand again. "I promise you I’m gonna put all of my time into helping you and Joanne out with this baby. Any time you guys need me, you just call me up, okay?"
"You gotta deal, partner," Roy said. Johnny’s back! Roy thought with extreme happiness.
* * *
John was true to his word and spent every spare minute he had helping Roy and Joanne with arrangements for the baby. John was there to pick up Chris and Jennifer, now 13 and 11, from school and help them with their homework when Roy and Joanne had to go to the hospital. He helped Joanne with the housework when Roy was on duty and he took some of Roy’s shifts for him when Joanne suspected something was wrong. Roy and Joanne hardly had to worry about anything with the soon-to-be uncle always there when they needed him.
"Where was he when Chris and Jennifer were born?" Joanne asked Roy once.
On the night of May 28, 1982, John was driving Joanne to Jennifer’s school for their performance of the "Princess and the Pea." Roy was working and had promised Jennifer he’d see the play tomorrow since the play would be going for three nights. Roy’d disapproved of Joanne going anywhere; the baby was due at any time. But Joanne was determined to see her daughter in her play, baby or no baby.
John stopped the Land Rover at an intersection about half a mile from the DeSoto house. Patiently they waited for the light to turn green. Then, Joanne felt wet underneath her dress. John was focusing on the lights, but when he faced Joanne he saw all of the color drain from her.
"Jo? What’s wrong?" John asked.
"Johnny, I think my water broke," Joanne said.
"What?" John said. All of a sudden the once levelheaded John Gage was reduced to bewilderment. He was at a loss as to what to do. Joanne was already beginning to breathe like her Lamaze teacher had taught her to do. She waited for John to do something, but found no help coming from him.
"Johnny!" she shouted. John was jolted back into reality. All of his training began to flood back into his mind and Paramedic John Gage took over.
"All right, Joanne, I want you to keep breathing. I’m gonna get you to the hospital as fast as possible," John said. He reached out for the clutch, but Joanne grasped his hand. She grabbed him so hard he thought she’d crush his hand.
"No, Johnny, the baby is coming now!" she cried as another contraction came over her.
"Okay, Joanne, okay. Just hold on a second," John said. John ran the red light and drove the Land Rover down the street of residential houses, looking for a sign that someone was home. He finally stopped the car in front of a small rambler at the end of 4th and Carson. He made sure Joanne would be all right and ran up to the front door of the house. He banged on the door over and over again.
"Is there anybody there!" he shouted. The door finally opened. A young man in his twenties stood in front of John in his robe. A confused look on his face.
"Can I help you?" he asked.
"Yeah. My best friend’s wife just went into labor and we’re not gonna make it to the hospital…"
"Then get her in here, Man!" the young man insisted.
"Thanks, a lot – "
"Alexander Taylor."
"John Gage. Just hold the door open while I go get the mother-to-be," John said.
* * *
Roy raced down the corridor of the Rampart emergency ward. He’d gotten the call from Dixie ten minutes ago and it was the first time he’d ever used the siren of the engine for a non-emergency, at least it wasn’t in the Department’s eyes. He saw Dr. Brackett walk out of treatment room 4. Most likely it was where Joanne was. The doctor smiled when he saw Roy.
"Doc?"
"Joanne and your daughter are just fine. Johnny’s inside there with them. Congratulations, Roy," Brackett said. My daughter! Roy walked into the treatment room. The first thing he saw was the beautiful face of his gorgeous wife. Joanne was propped up on the gurney, sweat on her forehead but she was still the most beautiful woman in the world to him. In her arms was a tiny bundle. John was standing next to the gurney but backed away a bit when Roy entered the room. He didn’t want to get in the way of such a wonderful moment in his best friend’s life. Roy peered into the little bundle and saw his daughter for the first time. He was practically in tears as he looked at the little pink, healthy baby resting in her mother’s arms.
"Roy, I’d like you to meet your daughter," Joanne said.
"Can I hold her?" Roy asked.
"Of course you can, hon," Joanne said. She’d gone through this with Roy back when Christopher and Jennifer were born. Roy completely forgot that they were his children too and always asked permission to hold them. Their third child was no different. Gently, Roy cradled the baby in his arms. She was so beautiful. Roy wanted her to stay this way forever. He’d forgotten what it was like to hold a baby, especially his own.
"What about Chris and Jenny?" Roy asked.
"Dixie already called and made arrangements. Chris will be spending the night at Tommy’s house and Anne is going to pick up Jennifer from the school and have her spend the night with her," John informed. Roy looked over at his best friend and smiled with tears in his eyes.
"Thank you, Johnny. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done," Roy said. John blushed.
"It’s nothing, Roy. Consider it my first duty as little Alexandra’s uncle," John said. Roy looked to Joanne.
"Alexandra? That’s not the name we decided on," Roy said.
"I thought it was the least we could do for the young man that allowed me to give birth in his house," Joanne explained. "Unless you’d like to argue about it?"
"Oh no. I learned my lesson after Chris was born," Roy said. "Besides, I like the name. Alexandra DeSoto. It has a ring to it."
"Roy, why don’t you let John hold her for a moment," Joanne said. Roy nodded and handed his daughter over to her Uncle Johnny. The proud parents sat in a moment of complete bliss as they looked at their daughter. She was definitely a blessing not only for the DeSoto family but for John as well. Little Alexandra had already accomplished something on this day; she’d saved John.
The door of the treatment room opened. A young nurse walked in and looked almost panicked when she saw the two men in the room. One was sitting with the mother while the other held the baby.
"Which one of you is the father?" she asked.
"I am," said Roy. He showed her the wedding ring that adorned his finger. The nurse turned to John and practically gasped at how handsome the man was. She was thankful he wasn’t the father of the baby.
"And who are you, Sir?" she asked rather forwardly.
"I’m John Gage, the baby’s uncle," John said.
"Well, I think that it’s time the baby went to the maternity ward. You’ll be moved very soon too, Mrs. DeSoto," the nurse said. John handed Alexandra over to the nurse. Roy noticed how John’s eyes lingered on her. He had to admit she was very beautiful. She had auburn hair that was pinned up, dazzling hazel eyes, a rounded nose that looked almost boyish, full lips, and creamy colored skin. She was a few inches shorter than John was but she stood tall and erect to make herself look taller. Alexandra squirmed a bit in her arms but quickly settled.
"I guess she’s a little tired of being passed around," Joanne said.
"Well, I’d better go," said the nurse. John rushed to the door and held it open for her.
"It was nice meeting you, miss," John said.
"My name is Laura Keaton, Mr. Gage," she said.
"Johnny," John said.
"Johnny," she repeated. They stared at each other a bit longer before Laura left the room with the baby. John couldn’t help but watch a little longer before shutting the door. He couldn’t stop smiling.
"I thought your nurse chasing days were over, Junior?" Roy said. John grinned even wider and bobbed his eyebrows.
"Oh, I’m always in the mood for a little chase."
"Father of Mine" ©2000 Samantha Cross. "Emergency!" and its characters © Mark VII Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. No infringement of any copyrights or trademarks is intended or should be inferred. This is a work of fiction, and any similarity to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.
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