Father of Mine
Part 2
As much as John claimed he was ready to date, in reality he wasn’t even close to being ready to even consider dating. Still, he called Laura a few days after Joanne and Alexandra were settled in at home. Surprisingly he talked with Laura for three hours and when he hung up the phone he just couldn’t get her voice out of his head. They set up a date for Friday, which had John panicking up until the last minute when he drove up to Laura’s apartment to pick her up.
Laura, during the entire course of the date, continued to surprise John. She picked Rocky for the movie they saw and then insisted that they go to Burger King afterwards because she hated fancy restaurants. Her dinner conversation was just as surprising. The first subject brought up was the Paramedic Program, which her younger brother was enrolled in at the moment. John mentioned that he’d been in the second graduating class of paramedics in ’72. Laura began to throw questions at him he only expected to come from a journalist.
"You’ve obviously done your homework on the paramedics," John said as he took a sip of his Coke.
"I think the profession is fascinating. I wanted to become one when the Bill passed but I thought the nursing profession had a little more appeal," Laura said. "Sometimes I regret it, but other times I’m glad I became a nurse."
"Well, if it helps, I think you’re a wonderful nurse," John said. Laura smiled. It was a smile forever imprinted into his mind.
John pulled the Land Rover up to Laura’s apartment. They’d continued talking even as they walked up to her door. John had casually mentioned his family in Montana, remembering to keep Madeline out of the conversation. Laura had tons of stories to tell about her parents in Pasadena and her two brothers and sister. She’d just finished a story about her brother Paul and how he’d managed to break his arm falling out of tree in their backyard when he was seven when they reached her apartment.
"I really had a nice time tonight, John," she said.
"It was more than a nice time, Laura. I thought it was wonderful," John said.
"Would you like to do it again some time?" she asked. John was so caught up in her beauty and her energy that he was hardly aware of anything else but her. He nodded his head.
"I’d love to," John said. Then, there was an awkward moment. It’d been four years since John had been on a date and he was a bit rusty on how to end it. Laura had no idea what came over her but she leaned closer to John and kissed him on the lips, passionately. John returned the kiss with as much passion and hunger as she did. He’d craved to kiss someone like this for such a long time. The kiss finally ended and both John and Laura felt almost peaceful in a sense. They gazed longingly at each other.
"I-I’ll call you," John said.
"Okay," Laura practically whispered. John grinned like a schoolboy. He backed up and almost tripped over his own feet. He chuckled and walked over to his car, never taking his eyes off of Laura. Laura was as equally unaware of her surroundings. She tried to get into her apartment but the door wouldn’t open. It took her a minute to realize that she hadn’t even unlocked the door yet. She blushed and giggled before finally opening the door.
"I’ll see ya," John said.
"Yeah," she answered. John drove away in the Land Rover wondering what had just come over him.
* * *
The first date with Laura was also the last time they kissed that passionately. John decided that if he were going to start dating again, then he’d have to take it slow and easy. Whenever he kissed Laura after a date it was a friendly peck on the cheek or lips, but he never lingered.
For Alexandra’s first birthday, Uncle Johnny went all out for his niece. Joanne and Roy hardly spent anything on party decorations or presents since Lexie, as John called her, had enough friends of her father’s to supply her with enough clothing and toys to last her throughout a good portion of her childhood. John brought Laura along for the party, which surprised Roy a bit. However, Laura was a very out-going person and everyone instantly liked her. About halfway through the party, Lexie was tired out and Joanne put her to bed. The adults, since Chris and Jennifer had left for friend’s houses for the night, decided to have a little party of their own. Chet brought a tape player and put on some music. Out on the patio in the backyard a few people were dancing including Dixie and Kel.
Joanne sat on Roy’s lap and watched as John and Laura danced out on the patio.
"He looks so happy," she observed. Roy smiled and pat his wife’s hand.
"Don’t let it deceive you, Joanne, he’s still hurting inside," Roy said. Joanne frowned.
"Madeline?"
"Yep. He loved her so much, honey, and I don’t know what’s going to save him from that," Roy said. Joanne watched how John danced with Laura. His touch was so light upon her and yet she could tell that there was something in his eyes as he looked at Laura.
"Maybe Laura will," she said.
"I hope so, Joanne. I truly hope so."
* * *
John and Laura were sitting on Laura’s couch watching a movie, a bowl of popcorn between them. Laura looked at the clock next to the television. The movie was almost over, which meant that John would be leaving soon. She was dreading the moment he’d have to go. They’d been dating for about two years and John still acted like the relationship was just beginning. There hadn’t been any passionate kissing or even any talk of making love. Even when she hinted at the idea John got this distant, empty look in his eyes. Laura loved John, she could admit that, but for some time she’d been wondering whether John was even remotely interested in her. The fact that the relationship wasn’t going anywhere was frustrating her more than she’d expected. She needed to now what was going on between her and John.
"Well, I’d better get going," John said. Laura was brought out of her reverie. The movie was over and John was already getting ready to leave. Laura watched him put on his jacket. He bent down and kissed her on the forehead like he would a sister. That only made Laura more disappointed and angry. As he turned away Laura knew that this was her chance. She reached out and grabbed John’s hand. John was startled a moment but relaxed when he realized it was Laura.
"Johnny, can’t you stay? Please?" she asked. The empty look came into John’s eyes.
"Laura, I don’t think tonight is a good night," John said. Laura had now reached the boiling point. She stood up and got in front of John, blocking his way out of her apartment.
"Oh, I’m sorry, Mr. Gage. Please, tell me when you can fit me into your busy schedule!" she yelled.
"That isn’t funny, Laura!" John said.
"It wasn’t meant to be. Johnny, where are we? For two years we’ve been together and I feel like you’re a stranger. You hardly say anything to me except if it concerns the Fire Department or the paramedics or your family in Montana. I hardly know anything about you!" Laura shouted. "Why won’t you tell me? Why don’t you trust me?"
"Laura, I – "
"No, John, I have one more thing to say to you. I love you, John Gage. I’ve loved you for a long time and I can’t go on like this. I’ve been waiting my whole life for you, but I can’t wait forever," she said. Laura was now noticeable crying. John’s heart broke when he saw her this way. He’d thought that Madeline was the only woman he could ever love, but he was wrong. Laura was everything to him, but he didn’t want her to know about Madeline or everything that had happened with her. In trying to, in a sense, "protect" Laura, John never realized that he was hurting her more by not telling her. He could see it in her eyes. Suddenly the walls that John had built up came crashing down. He didn’t want to screw this up. Laura was worth it to reveal his past. The sturdy fireman’s shoulders sagged and he sat on the couch. Laura sat down next to him.
"Her name was Madeline…"
* * *
John spent two hours telling Laura all about his marriage to Madeline and the aftermath of the situation. He revealed all of the deep inner emotions of self-hatred, anger, hope, fear, anxiety, and hate he’d gone through. Laura was very quiet the whole time, letting John get everything out. When he was done, John felt like a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Laura needed to ask him a vital question.
"Do you still love her, John?" she asked.
"I…will always have feelings for Madeline. But she’s gone, Laura, and you’re here," John said. He sat closer to her and took her hands. He was tearing up as he looked into her eyes. "I love you, Laura. I need you. I’d be the biggest idiot in the world if I let go of you."
"You will never lose me, John Gage," Laura said. John kissed Laura with a fierceness he’d felt inside for so long. She was everything to him and he was going to prove that to her. He picked Laura up as if she were a new bride and carried her into the bedroom.
* * *
John stood in front of the mirror adjusting his bow tie. The door to the little room opened and Roy walked in. He looked more nervous than John should have been.
"How’re you feeling?" Roy asked.
"Never better. Why?"
"Just thought you might be a little nervous," Roy said.
"Roy, this could not feel more right. There is no way I could be nervous when I’m this happy," John said. "How does it look out there?"
"Everything’s perfect. Joanne’s a little upset about the floral arrangements but I didn’t see anything wrong with them," Roy explained.
"Roy, women just see things differently then we do. That’s why we’re men and they’re women," John said.
"Since when did you become such an expert?"
"I’ve just had more time to observe," John joked. They both laughed. The door to the room opened again. Joanne, carrying three-year-old Lexie, Chris, and Jennifer walked inside. "Hey, you guys look like you’re going to a funeral." Both Joanne and Jennifer were crying.
"I’m just so happy for you Uncle Johnny," Jennifer said. John hugged his older niece. Jennifer was certainly coming into her own now that she was fourteen. Jennifer DeSoto looked like a cross between her mother and father. She had her mother’s black hair and small nose, but had her father’s blue eyes and full lips. She was showing a very intense interest in drawing and she was very good at it. She’d shown John several sketches she’d drawn, mostly of clothing.
"Thank you, Jenny. You know, the offer still stands for you to come live with me if your parents get too boring," John said. Jennifer laughed.
"It’s enticing, Uncle Johnny, but they’re still a little exciting now and then," Jennifer said.
"I should hope so," Roy said. John turned to Chris. His little nephew was now a young man who was almost as tall as his uncle. John didn’t have to lean over to talk to Chris now. He was sixteen and looked exactly like Joanne with his black hair and brown eyes. He was active in high school and was on the football team during the fall, basketball in the winter and baseball in the spring. Roy’d told John that Chris was seeing a girl named Erica Tate and Roy hinted that it was becoming very serious. John just wanted Chris to be happy.
"Congratulations, John," Chris said. John laughed.
"Too mature for Uncle Johnny are we?"
"How about just Uncle John?" Chris said.
"I suppose I can live with that," John said. He shook Chris’s hand and gave him a hug. His attention then turned to little Lexie. She looked so much like Roy with her sandy hair and big blue eyes. Tiny freckles ran across her pug nose, which made her look impish and extremely adorable. John pretended to sneak up on her and then tickled the little girl. She giggled in delight as John picked her up and raised her high into the air.
"Up, Johnny, Up!" she squealed.
"I think that’s enough you two," Joanne scolded. She smiled, but remained stern with her daughter and the young man she’d always thought of as an "adopted son." John held Lexie in the crook of his arm and rolled his eyes at Joanne.
"You’re always mothering me, Joanne," John said with a fake sigh. They both laughed and he gave Joanne a kiss on the cheek.
"I wish you all the best, John," Joanne said. Against Lexie’s wishes John handed her back to her mother. John glanced at his watch and practically fainted.
"Oh God! It’s almost time! How do I look? Is my tie straight?" John fussed. Leave it to John to wait till the last minute! Roy thought.
"You look fine, Johnny," Roy said. "Now get out there before everyone thinks you called the whole thing off."
"Thanks Roy. Joanne, kids, you guys have been great putting up with me for all these years," John said.
"Johnny, we never put up with you," Joanne said. "We all love you very much and now we can safely pass you along to Laura."
"Thanks, Jo," John said. John gave Joanne another kiss and walked out of the room with the DeSoto family following behind him. The church was intricately decorated with beautiful white roses and crepe paper strung along the pews. Everyone was there. In the first row were John’s two brothers with their wives and children. John just wished his parents could be here for this. They would’ve loved to see their middle son on the happiest day of his life. In the second pew Joanne and the kids found their places. Chet’s wife, who was obviously pregnant and his first son were seated next to Roy’s family. Behind them were Marco and his girlfriend, Mike Stokers two daughters, and Hank Stanley’s wife, son, and daughter. In the fourth pew were Dixie McCall, Dr. Brackett, Mike Morton, and Joe Early. John’s crew from his station was seated behind everybody else along with several other firemen and nurses and doctors who’d all come to see the biggest event in history.
John stood in his place, facing Father Patrick Cassidy, a priest from the reservation in Montana who John had formed a friendship with when he was a little boy. The music began to play. Laura’s niece, Brenda, walked down the aisle with her basket of flowers and spread them along the path. Then, her little nephew, Cole, came along with the tiny velvet pillow holding the rings. The music changed slightly as Roy and Nora, Chet and Stephanie, Marco and Alice, Mike and Sophie, and Hank and Helen walked down the aisle. The ushers took their places behind John while the bridesmaids waited. The organ music went fully into "Here Comes the Bride" as a woman in white turned down the aisle and made her way to the front of the church. Through the veil, John saw Laura’s beautiful face. Her father stood right beside her, holding her arm as he walked her up. They stopped in front of John. Mr. Keaton lifted the veil and gave Laura a kiss. He passed her hand along to John and nodded with approval.
"You’re a good man, John. Take care of my little girl," he said.
"I will, Dad," John said. During the second year that John and Laura had been dating, her parents insisted that he call them Mom and Dad. Mr. Keaton sat down in the front pew with Laura’s mother, brothers, and sister. John squeezed Laura’s hand.
"Ready?" he said.
"I’ve been ready since the day you proposed," she said. John and Laura faced Father Cassidy. All eyes were glued to the scene before them because on this day, June 15, 1985, John Gage and Laura Keaton were going to end an era.
* * *
The guys at the station were getting worried. Usually Captain Gage was on time. It was well past eight o’ clock and their fearless leader hadn’t shown up yet or called to say that he’d be staying home. Lane Corbin, now a permanent paramedic at station 10 after Grant became an engineer, was the most worried. Captain Gage had become almost a father figure to him and he’d never felt that way about anyone before in his life.
"Maybe he’s in traffic. He does live outside of the city," said Porter, one of the firemen.
"You know he always leaves his house early even when there isn’t traffic," Hill, the engineer, pointed out.
"Has anyone tried calling his house?" asked Corbin. The firemen all stared blankly at each other. Corbin sighed in annoyance and picked up the phone. Just as he did, he heard the familiar whistle of Captain Gage. The Captain strolled into the station with a box under his arm. A big, bright smile was plastered on his face.
"Good morning, gentlemen!" he exclaimed.
"Cap, where were you? We’ve been worried sick!" said Corbin. John held up his hand to stop Corbin from going any farther.
"Just hold up a sec, Corbin. I apologize for being late, but I had to pick up these," John said. He set the box out on the kitchen table. It was a box of cigars. "Cigars, gentlemen."
"What’s the occasion, Cap?" asked Porter.
"Gentlemen, I’d like to report that Mrs. Gage is pregnant and I’m going to be a father!" John shouted to the world.
"Cap, that’s great!" shouted Porter.
"Congratulations, Cap!"
"You’ll be a great father!"
"Okay, boys, let’s have a smoke and then get to work," John said. Just as they reached for the cigars, the tones went off.
* * *
John ran up to the front desk of Rampart Hospital. The nurse in charge was busy on the phone and didn’t bother to look at him.
"Where is she?" he asked. The nurse annoyingly looked at him but held her tongue when she saw the look of extreme fear in his eyes.
"Who, sir?"
"Laura Gage." The nurse checked her various charts and then turned back to John.
"She’s on the third floor, room 215," she said. John didn’t bother to thank her. He was too worried. He was so unaware of everything else he practically rammed into the elevator door. Easy, Gage, you don’t wanna admit yourself to this place, do ya? John pressed the UP button and waited for the elevator. Once it opened, John rushed inside. There was a pretty, young nurse inside with a supply cart. She smiled and John half returned the gesture. He was too focused on his wife to bother with anything else. Why did this have to happen? He should’ve been here with her and not away in San Francisco. This was unforgivable! One of the greatest moments in his life and he missed it!
The elevator stopped on the third floor. John got off and started searching the halls for his wife’s room. 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, and finally 215. John read the name on the door; LAURA GAGE. Slowly, John opened the door and entered the room. Laura was propped up in her bed, resting. She looked tired and in pain. Her auburn hair was stuck to her forehead and face from perspiring and she looked pale and worn out, but she was still beautiful. John just stood there for a moment, watching her. Laura seemed to sense him and turned to look at him. She smiled. John slid a chair next to her bed, held her hand, and began to kiss her over and over again.
"I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry," John said.
"For what, John?" Laura asked.
"I should’ve been here. I could’ve passed up the trip to Frisco. I knew you were due," John said. Laura shook her head.
"No, Johnny, don’t be sorry. It was a great opportunity. You and Roy have been working so hard for the Paramedic Committee. You told me yourself that great advancements were being made to help the paramedics and you can’t blame yourself for this," Laura said in her sternest voice. "Besides, he was early."
"He?"
"We have a son, Johnny. A beautiful little boy," Laura said. John could hardly contain his excitement. He jumped up and down like a little kid and hooted and hollered at the top of his lungs. Laura laughed at the site of her overjoyed husband. John came back to her and kissed her.
"Can I see him?" John asked.
"Yes, Johnny," Laura said. She reached over and pressed the call button for the nurse on call. A minute later the door opened and a young nurse walked in.
"Yes, Mrs. Gage?"
"My husband would like to see our son, please," Laura said.
"I’ll have him brought up right away," said the nurse. John sat beside the bed again and held Laura’s hand.
"I heard Chet did a pretty good job coaching you," John said.
"I practically broke his hand," Laura laughed. "But he was a good sport about it."
"Yeah, you can always count on Chester B. Kelly," John said, reflecting on his days back at 51’s. He was pulled out of his reverie when the door opened and the nurse walked in holding his son in a blue blanket. John stood up and was practically in awe of the tiny person presented to him.
"Take him, John," Laura insisted. Never had John felt more fearful in his life as the nurse placed the baby in his arms. He’s so tiny, John thought. After what seemed like hundreds of babies he’d delivered as a paramedic, John had never felt so helpless and insubstantial. Nothing else mattered except his son. He was experiencing a new love, a love so special no one could ever replace it. The baby relaxed in his father’s strong hands and slept soundly. John sat down next to Laura.
"He’s beautiful, Laura," John said. "He looks like you."
"Oh, I see some of you in there, John."
"So I guess this is Nicholas Morgan Gage?" John said. They’d decided to name their first son after Laura’s grandfather. Laura placed her hand on his arm.
"No. This is Andrew Henry Gage," she corrected. John stared at her.
"I thought you didn’t like that name?"
"I changed my mind. I think it fits him better and I know how much Drew meant to you. I’m sure he would’ve loved it if he knew you named your son after him," Laura explained. John looked fondly at his wife and kissed her again.
"Have I told you how much I love you?" he said.
"You don’t have to, John, because I know you do," Laura said. They kissed.
"Do you think 36 is too old to be a father?" John asked.
"No. Andy will need someone around him who can act his age," Laura joked. John glared at his wife but couldn’t keep a straight face.
"You’re getting as bad as Joanne and Roy."
"I learned from the best." The door opened again and the nurse walked in. She smiled and walked up to the bed.
"I think it’s about time for the baby to go back to Maternity," she said. John wasn’t ready to let the baby go. He wanted to hold Andy forever. He now knew how Roy’d felt when all of his children were born. There was an unspoken bond between a father and his child just as there was between a mother and her child. Reluctantly, John handed Andy over to the nurse. It took everything in him not to go chasing after her to get his son back. Instead he stayed with Laura for another hour and a half before heading home.
John put a dime in the payphone near the nurse station and dialed the number.
"Operator, I’d like to place a collect call to station 12 in San Francisco," John said. He waited for a moment before he heard the phone pick up.
"Station 12, Captain Booker speaking."
"Dan, this is John. Is Roy there?"
"Yeah, he’s right here." There was a moment of silence.
"Johnny, is everything all right?" asked Roy.
"Everything’s fine, Roy. It’s just fine. Laura and the baby look great!"
"So, who do I have the pleasure of being the godfather of?" Roy inquired.
"A boy, Roy. Andrew Henry Gage!" John exclaimed. He didn’t care who heard. "I’m a father, Roy, I’m a father!"
"Welcome to my world, John."
* * *
The distinct sound of a baby crying could be heard throughout the ranch house. John looked over at the alarm clock next to his side of the bed. He’d always been a light sleeper, not like Laura. Her well-rested body lay right next to his, sleeping comfortably unaware of the loud wails of their son. The alarm read 2:16 a.m. John grumbled as he got out of bed. The nursery was on the first floor of the two-story house. John trotted into Andy’s room and picked up the crying infant.
"What’s wrong, Andy?" John asked. He almost expected an answer but the baby continued to cry. John held him against his chest and started walking him around the house. He felt to make sure that his son wasn’t wet and was thankful that he wasn’t. Their little excursion led into the kitchen. John opened the fridge and took out a readied bottle. He placed it in the microwave and warmed it up.
"You want a bottle?" John held the bottle up to Andy but he wouldn’t take it. John put the bottle back into the fridge and continued to walk his son around the house as the baby cried his eyes out.
"What’s wrong, Andy?" John finally sat down on the couch in the living room and kept Andy close. John tried to remember how his mother handled babies. She practically babysat for the entire reservation. Softly, John began to hum. Andy was still crying but not as loudly. He wanted to hear what his father was doing. John began to form words to the song.
"Baby mine don’t you cry.
Rest your head close to my heart
Baby of mine."
Andy stopped crying as he listened to his father sing to him. I have to remember to thank Jennifer for making watch Dumbo so many times, John thought. John tried to remember all of the other Disney movies he’d taken Jennifer to see and the songs that stood out the most.
Laura woke up around six. She noticed that John wasn’t in bed. After pulling on her robe she walked out to search for her husband. She stopped her search when she entered the living room. There on the couch lay John with Andy sleeping on his chest.
* * *
"Hey, Cap, how was the vacation?" asked Lane Corbin as John entered the kitchen of the station. John grinned and poured himself a cup of coffee.
"Perfect, except Laura was kinda edgy the whole time," John said. He thought about it for a second and then shrugged. "Who was my replacement?"
Lane’s face showed his animosity towards the recent Captain that had come traipsing through the station. "Captain Brice, sir."
John nearly spit out his coffee. He choked as he laughed. "Brice? I’m afraid to ask how it went."
"Cap, do you know how many times he made me check the drug box? And he kept rearranging everything and saying that it was ‘more practical.’ I swear, Cap, if you’d been gone one more week I would’ve gone insane. So would the others," Corbin reported. John chuckled at the thought of Brice pissing off another generation of fire fighters.
"Yeah, you’d think that after 11 years since he was a paramedic he’d learn to get rid of that bug up his ass," John joked. Mick Pierce, Lane’s partner, walked into the kitchen and sat at the table. His eyes brightened when he saw Captain Gage.
"Cap, if you’re here, does this mean Mrs. Gage is back on duty?" he asked eagerly. John eyed him and set down his coffee on the counter.
"Watch it, Pierce. If I find out any of you hotshot paramedics are hitting on my wife, you’ll have latrine duty until the day you die, which won’t be long if I get a crack at ya first," John threatened.
"Cap, the last thing we’d do is tell you we were hitting on her," Pierce said. The three firemen started laughing. The tones sounded.
"Station 44, station 10, battalion 5, engine 68, truck 127, engine 18, squad 36, structure fire. 2467 Southwest 5th street. 2-4-6-7 Southwest 5th street. Cross street Orange. Time out, 8:23."
John ran up to the radio. "Station 10, KMG 365."
* * *
The engine and squad of station 10 arrived at the fire in record time. John saw Roy’s crew already setting up hoses to tackle the fire that was consuming the warehouse building. John ran up to Roy.
"Where do you want my crew?" he asked.
"Have ‘em come in on the north exposure with a couple inch and a halves. My medics are inside looking for an unaccounted for guard. Why don’t you send Pierce and Corbin inside to help them out," Roy said. The HT suddenly came alive.
"Engine 18, this is HT 18."
"Go ahead, HT 18."
"Cap, Hunter has been buried under some debris. We’re gonna need a rescue team," Abbot, the other paramedic of 18’s, reported.
"I’m on it," John said.
"Johnny!" Roy called. John turned around to face his best friend. "Be careful, all right?"
"I always am!" John called back.
* * *
"On three! One, two, three!" shouted John. Corbin, Pierce, Abbot, and Gage all lifted the beam that had fallen on Hunter’s leg. He cried out in pain as they lifted the beam and set it aside. Abbot and Pierce picked him up.
"Come on, Cap!" shouted Corbin.
"No. We’ve gotta look for that guard," John said. Corbin watched as Pierce and Abbot carried Hunter away and then joined his Captain in the search. John turned to Lane. "We’ll have to split up if we want to find him faster. Check with me in a couple minutes, okay?"
"Right, Cap," Lane agreed. The two men split up. John walked through a room filled with boxes upon boxes. Little fires were starting up all over the place; the heat was intense. As John made his way to the end of the hall of boxes he felt that he should turn around. Before he could react, the wall of boxes fell and covered the captain with a THUD that no one else heard.
"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.
NOTICE: The layout and graphics on this page are the property of Two Chickies Fan Fiction. They may NOT be used on any other fan fiction site and any such use consitutes HTML theft. We urge you not to support any site that engages in such tactics, and to report any such usage to Marcia or Tangee.