Roy DeSoto rang the doorbell to John Gage's apartment. From inside, the wail of an infant could be plainly heard.
"Just a minute!" John called, Roy could detect a hint of desperation in his voice.
A few minutes later, a harassed-looking John Gage opened the door. The source of all the noise was draped over his shoulder, still crying blue murder.
"Hi, Roy," John said, flatly. "Come on in, if you can stand the noise." He glared meaningfully at the squalling child.
Roy laughed.
"What's so funny?" John demanded.
"You are," Roy replied.
"You have him then" John motioned to give the baby to his partner.
"Oh no, he's your baby" Roy said, backing off.
"Coward," John commented, "Have a seat."
Roy looked around, the living room was covered in baby paraphernalia.
"Ah, sorry," Johnny looked suitably embarrassed, "Just throw it on the floor," he advised.
Roy moved some bits out of the way and sat down. John continued to pace the floor, trying to comfort the crying child.
"Aw, come on Mikey, calm down, okay, just calm down," John said.
Roy smiled. He remembered John using those very words on hundreds of rescues that they had attended together whilst paramedics at Station 51.
"So, how's it going?" Roy asked.
"Man, I never realised it would be this hard!" John exclaimed, "If only he'd sleep through the night and diapers, don't talk to me about diapers!"
"John, I was meaning how are you, " Roy laughed.
"Oh," John grinned, sheepishly.
"But if you are on the subject of diapers, I think Michael's could do with a little attention" Roy observed.
"Oh man!" John exclaimed, as he felt the wet patch.
"Look, I'll make some coffee, while you deal with Michael," Roy said.
"Thanks," John said, as he laid Michael down on the changing mat.
Roy looked on amused as John assembled all he would need to change the baby.
"Kinda takes me back," he said, wistfully.
"Wanna re-live the memory?" John offered.
"Ah-ah," Roy shook his head.
"Oh, Mikey, man did you have to!" John exclaimed, as he undid the baby's diaper.
"What goes in, must come out," Roy said.
"I realise that. Does it have to smell this bad?!" John exclaimed.
Roy chuckled to himself as he brewed the coffee; Johnny Gage changing diapers, who'd have believed it. Certainly not Chet Kelly, that was for sure.
###
"Roy, he won't stop crying," John said mournfully, "I've changed him and everything."
"Perhaps he's hungry?" Roy suggested, "Have you got milk made up or are you feeding him yourself?" he added, a mischievous grin on his face.
"Ha, ha, very funny" John said, pulling a face." Formula's in the refrigerator, I made some up this morning."
"Oh you are so organised Papa." Roy teased.
###
"I don't know how you got yourself into this, Junior," Roy said, as he watched his partner feeding the baby.
John gave him an exasperated look. "It wasn't planned," he said defensively, "I mean, do you think this is what I wanted. What Jen wanted?"
"Then why go through with it?" Roy enquired.
"I didn't really have a choice," John said mournfully, "It would have broken Jen's heart if I'd said no."
Roy sighed, it never ceased to amaze him how Johnny got himself into these situations.
"What happens when you go back to work?" Roy enquired.
John shrugged. "I don't know, we haven't really discussed that. At the moment I'm just glad I'm here for the little fella." John looked down at the now sleeping baby and gently prised the teat from Mikey's mouth. He smiled fondly and wiped a stray wisp of hair from Mikey's forehead.
"So, how are you feeling?" Roy asked.
"Better, much better." John said. "My leg is pretty well healed up and my back is responding well to physio." He got up and put the sleeping baby into the Moses basket by the side of the sofa.
"When will you be coming back?" Roy enquired.
"Why, are you missing me?" John replied.
"No, it's just.." Roy began.
"Oh, I get it!" John interrupted, a triumphant look on his face. "You've been rostered with Mr Perfect!"
Roy squirmed, had he really been that transparent?
"Man, aren't you the lucky one?" John continued, "Craig Brice, the worlds Number One Paramedic. Tell me something, Roy, has he organised the drug box yet?" a wicked grin spread across his face.
"Don't even mention the drug box," Roy warned, "Junior, when are you gonna rescue me?" he pleaded.
John ran a hand through his hair. "Well...the Doc says that I need to stay off work for at least another week and then I thought I'd take some R&R and then I'm sure I've got some vacation due..." he said thoughtfully.
"Johnny, be serious," Roy warned.
"Two weeks tops," John declared.
"Thanks," Roy said, gratefully. He thought he might just be able to prevent himself from strangling Craig Brice within that timescale. It would be a close run thing though.
They were interrupted by the apartment door banging open.
"Hi, honey I'm home!" called the tall, blond woman who stood in the doorway.
"Sssh Jen!!" John warned, looking with alarm at the Moses basket. "I've just got him to sleep."
"Oops, sorry," the woman crossed over to where John was sitting. "And how's my best boy today?" she enquired, kissing John on the cheek.
"Well, I'm doing pretty good, considering" John replied with a lopsided grin.
" Not you dummy, I meant Mikey," Jen replied.
"Fine, he's changed and fed and all ready to go" John replied. "How's Alex?" he asked.
"Great, the good news is that he'll be out of hospital next week. So then you can go back to being a full-time bachelor."
John laughed "You mean I can have a full nights sleep!" he joked.
Jen looked uncomfortable, "John, if it's a problem.." she started.
"Hell no," John assured her, "I'm used to being woken up in the middle of the night, it's no problem."
"Well, I'd better be going. If this little devil is asleep perhaps I can grab an hour or two." Jen said, picking up the Moses basket, "See you tonight!"
When they were gone, Roy turned to his partner.
"John Gage, you never cease to amaze me," he said, shaking his head.
"Sometimes, Roy, I even amaze myself." John replied.
"Left Holding The Baby" ©1999 Karen Hobbs "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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