Life Goes On–Part 7
By Nancy F. Thysell (The Nifty Lady)
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * E! * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Chris stayed with the DeSoto’s until Johnny was released from the hospital. During that time Johnny made arrangements with a man who was looking for a place to board a couple of horses. In exchange for the boarding, he would take care of the animals whenever Johnny wasn’t available. All he had to do was supply his own feed. The man, one Mason David, was thrilled with the deal. He had two horses, one of which was a grey spotted mare. The mare, Lucy, was a much smaller horse and very gentle. They made an agreement that they could ride each other’s horses. And that solved another problem for Johnny. Lucy was gentle enough for Chris to handle on her own.
A couple of days before Johnny’s release, while Chris was still staying at the DeSoto’s, Christopher and Jennifer came running into the house. Chris and Roy were enjoying a cup of coffee at the kitchen table.
"Mom! Dad!" they chorused. "Come quick!" Their voices high with excitement.
"Whoa! Mom’s not here. Where’s the fire?" Roy quipped seeing their happy faces.
"Dad! The Anderson’s are giving Lady’s puppies away! Can we have one? Please!" Jennifer begged.
"Yeah, Dad! Can we?" Christopher pleaded.
"Guys, we already have one dog. I don’t think we need another," Roy tried to reason with his kids.
"Oh, Daddy. Come on," Jennifer pulled on his arm. "Just come take a look!"
"Yeah, Roy. Don’t be such a Grinch!" Chris chided. She thought she’d like to see the puppies. Maybe she get one for Johnny for Christmas. Roy threw his free hand up in defeat.
"Okay. I’ll look but I’m not promising anything!"
The two adults were dragged by the youngsters to the neighbor’s garage. There was a penned area in one corner and they could hear the pups crying. Lady, a yellow Labrador--the mama dog, lay on her side, letting the puppies nurse. The puppies were a mix of brown, black and yellow Labs. The neighbor, Mrs. Susan Anderson and her daughter Penny greeted the visitors.
"Hi Roy. Jennifer, Chris. Come to pick out a puppy?" she asked hopefully.
"Hi Susan. No. I’m just admiring. Oh, Susan. This is Chris Gage, my partner’s wife."
"Hello. It’s nice to meet you," Susan extended her hand. Chris took it and graciously responded.
"It’s nice to meet you too. These puppies are beautiful. May I pick one up?"
"Sure! Help yourself but I warn you...they’ll steal your heart!" she said with a chuckle.
Christopher picked up a brown, squirming puppy and handed it to Chris. She held it, admiring his rich brown fur and liquid brown eyes.
"Oh! Look at those eyes," she cooed and showed him to Roy.
"Hey! Don’t sucker me in!" he objected.
"Daddy!" Jennifer admonished. Christopher handed another puppy to an unwilling Roy. Chris put down the brown pup and picked up a yellow one.
"Hello sweetheart," she cooed to this one and it started licking her face, making Chris giggle.
"She likes you ‘Aunt’ Chris!" Jennifer proclaimed.
"Oh Roy! Do you think Johnny would like her for Christmas?" Chris asked as she rubbed the puppy’s ears and fended off her wet tongue, laughing.
"Yes! Aunt Chris! Get her for Uncle Johnny!" Jennifer cried gleefully with Christopher’s approval, too.
Roy petted the pooch on the head. "Yeah. I think Johnny would love her."
Chris turned to Susan.
"Can I pick her up here Christmas morning some time? I know we’ll be over at the DeSoto’s that morning," she inquired hopefully.
"That would be fine. We’ll save her for you," Susan promised with a laugh.
"What are you going to name her, Aunt Chris," Jennifer asked as they headed home.
"Oh! I’m not going to name her. It’s your Uncle Johnny’s dog. He gets to name her," Chris explained.
"Oh." Jennifer was clearly disappointed.
"Okay, you two. Go play now," Roy directed his children. The two kids took off for the back yard as Roy and Chris walked to the front of the house.
"You’ve got great kids, Roy," Chris observed.
"Yeah. I do. Thanks. Of course, JoAnne gets most of the credit," he grinned.
"I just hope Johnny and I are as lucky with our kids, when they come along," Chris remarked.
"You’ll do great. Don’t worry. When the time comes, you’ll adapt. Besides, you have me and JoAnne to advise you!" Roy promised with a chuckle.
"Thanks ‘Uncle’ Roy," Chris retorted.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * E! * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Just before Christmas, Johnny was finally being released from the hospital. Chris had given her two week notice and the day Johnny was released was her last day on the job. They had agreed that Johnny was going to need tending to until the cast was off. And since Chris’ boss had been promoted and would be moving to New York City after New Year’s anyway, they figured it was the right time to see if they could manage on one paycheck.
So, it was on December 23rd when Johnny got permission to go home and since Chris would working out her last day, JoAnne and Roy were enlisted to pick him up from Rampart.
"Roy!" Johnny whispered in a low voice, "We’ve got to go by the mall and pick up those gifts!"
"I know but JoAnne has to drive us!" Roy hissed back. His shoulder was still bandaged so JoAnne wouldn’t let him drive.
"What are you two whispering about?" JoAnne asked suspiciously. The guys exchanged guilty glances before Johnny spoke up.
"I have to go to the mall to pick up Chris’ Christmas present and we were wondering..."
"If I would drive you? Right?"
"Right!"
"Of course, I will. Honestly Roy! You didn’t have to be so secretive about it!" JoAnne chided her husband. Roy looked properly chastised.
"Yes dear."
JoAnne crossed her arms over her chest and gave each paramedic a stern look.
"If you think you two can behave yourselves, I can drop you off at the mall while I go do my grocery shopping. Fair enough?"
"Yes!" Johnny exclaimed excitedly. JoAnne raised a suspicious eyebrow.
"Hmm. Or perhaps I should come with you?" she suggested, half-seriously.
"Oh now, honey, you don’t need to do that," Roy assured her.
"Well, okay. Let’s go then."
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * E! * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Johnny was having to use a wheelchair because his shoulder wasn’t healed enough to handle crutches. They had to rely on JoAnne to pull the chair out of the back of the station wagon when they reached the mall as Roy’s shoulder was also still healing. After setting up the chair, JoAnne cheerfully abandoned them at the mall entrance, promising to return in an hour and a half. It was chilly, even for Los Angeles, so they appreciated the warmth of the mall’s interior.
As they headed for the jewelry store, they passed a pet store and Johnny wanted to stop. He felt drawn to the display window.
"Awe, come on Johnny! Let’s go!" Roy urged, sounding annoyed. He hoped Johnny wasn’t thinking of getting a dog for Chris and he didn’t want to tell him why he couldn’t. That would spoil her surprise.
"Aren’t they cute!" Johnny insisted on getting a closer look. It was then that Roy realized that he was looking at kittens.
"Chris loves cats. She hasn’t had one since we met. I bet she’d love one of these!" Johnny commented.
"Yeah, but consider the price, Junior! I bet you could find one just as nice at the animal shelter. And you know what happens to them if no one adopts them," Roy tried to reason with his partner. Johnny nodded his head in agreement.
"You’re right. Think we can talk JoAnne into a trip to the pound?"
"Uh...I dunno. Maybe we can get Marco or Chet to take us. You know how Chris and JoAnne like to talk. She might give it away."
"Great idea! Thanks Pally!" Johnny grinned happily.
"No problem, Junior. Now let’s go pick up our wives’ jewelry."
"Push on!" Johnny cheered. They made quite a sight with Roy pushing the wheelchair with his good arm while Johnny turned the wheel with his. It was remarkable that they made any forward progress at all.
The jewelry store was busy with a number of last minute shoppers but the saleswoman that had waited on Johnny recognized him and dropped everything to assist him.
It didn’t take long for Johnny and Roy to pay off their balances and soon they were headed out the door with their gift-wrapped presents. Johnny held both packages on his lap.
"Chris is going to be so surprised," he commented.
"I think JoAnne will too!" Roy agreed heartily. "Say, we’ve got forty minutes before JoAnne gets back. You want to hit the food court and get something to eat?"
"Yeah! That sounds terrific! I’m starved!"
"When aren’t you?" Roy quipped. Johnny scowled at his partner. Fifteen minutes later they were seated at one of the food court tables. Johnny had two double cheese burgers, french fries and two milks. Roy had gotten a slice of pizza and a soda since he wasn’t as starved for non-hospital food as Johnny was.
Roy was just clearing their trash when the heard a woman scream, "He’s got a gun!"
POP! POP! POP!
The sound of the gun was like a fire cracker going off. Roy ducked to the floor and sought shelter under a table. Johnny slid off the wheelchair and under his table as well. People were screaming and running in panic. The gunman fired again.
POP! POP! POP!
More screams. More pandemonium. Roy tried to peer above the table and see what was happening. Then he tried to see what Johnny was doing. He could barely see his partner cowering under the table. At least Johnny wasn’t hurt and thankfully, neither was he. But from the moans he could hear in the food court area, someone or more were injured.
Suddenly security guards converged on the food court. From his position under the table, Roy really couldn’t tell what was happening. There was shouting between the guards and the gunman. More screams. People running. The clatter of chairs being overturned and the angry rantings of a madman, cursing a blue streak. All Roy and Johnny could do was wait. Roy looked at his watch. It was time to meet JoAnne at the entrance. He prayed she wouldn’t be allowed inside the mall.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * E! * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
JoAnne tried to pull into the parking on the side of the mall where she was to pick up Roy and Johnny but the police had the entrance blocked. She felt her heart tighten in her chest as fear took over. She reached a shaky hand to tune in the all news station on the radio. She had to find out what had happened and fast!
She pulled down the side street and pulled up to the officer directing traffic and rolled down her window.
"Excuse me, Officer?"
"You need to keep moving ma’am," he instructed her.
"My husband and his partner are in there," she tried to explain. The cop stopped and looked at her briefly. He pointed down the way toward another officer.
"That’s Officer Benson down at the next intersection. Talk to him," the officer directed and then motioned to JoAnne to keep moving. She left the window down so when she reached the other officer she was ready to call out to him.
"Officer Benson!" she called. The man turned at his name and looked at the woman calling to him.
"Yes ma’am?" he asked as he approached her car.
"Yes! My name is JoAnne DeSoto. My husband..."
"Roy? Is Roy DeSoto your husband?"
"Uh...yes. Do you know him?" she responded, surprised.
"Yes, I do. How is Roy?" Benson had a broad smile on his face.
"Well, he has an injured shoulder and is inside that mall. What happened?"
The officer’s face fell.
"There’s a gunman shooting at anything that moves," he told her regrettably. JoAnne practically felt her heart stop.
"Oh no! His partner is with him," she whispered.
"John Gage? Well, that’s good. They’re probably helping the injured," he said confidently.
"I doubt it. I just picked Johnny up from the hospital this morning. He has a broken leg and cracked ribs," JoAnne informed him. He turned and looked at the mall and sighed.
"Mrs. DeSoto, pull your car over into that spot in that second row there. I’d like you to sit tight until I can find out if our men know where your husband and John are. Okay?"
"Okay. But don’t forget me!" she admonished as she moved the station wagon into the designated spot. She left the key turned in the ignition to accessories so she could monitor the news and pray.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * E! * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
The room beneath the food court table was feeling cramped but Johnny had no choice but to stay there. He couldn’t tell where Roy had gotten to and he was beginning to worry.
"Roy!" he finally whispered sharply.
"Here!" came Roy’s equally quiet response. "You okay?"
"Yeah. What do you think’s happening?"
"I dunno. I haven’t heard anything for a while. Do you think it’s safe?"
"Maybe we’d better wait for the police to give the all clear," Johnny recommended. "Besides, I don’t think you could lift me with that bum shoulder of yours."
Roy chuckled. He thought back on his reaction when he had seen the spectacle they made in the store window reflections. Then he sobered. "I hope JoAnne isn’t worried."
"Yeah, if this keeps up she’s never gonna let us play together again," Johnny joked.
Roy could only shake his head in amusement at his partner. No wonder JoAnne referred to the two of them as her biggest kids.
The standoff between the gunman and the police lasted another hour. Both Johnny and Roy were becoming stiff from their crouched positions. Finally the negotiators were able to get the man to surrender and he was taken into custody. The instant the all clear was given, several teams of paramedics rushed onto the scene and began searching for the wounded or injured.
Roy crawled out and tried to stand up. The sudden rush of blood and the stiffness in his legs almost caused Roy to topple but Tom Dwyer was at his side in an instant.
"Roy?" he asked in a startled voice.
"Hey Tom," Roy responded wearily.
"Hey man! Are you injured?" the paramedic asked in concern. Roy shook his head.
"Just stiff from being down there so long. Johnny’s over there somewhere. He’s gonna need help getting up," he responded as he waved his good hand in the general area he had left his partner. He stretched trying to get the kinks out.
"I’m over here," Johnny announced. Dwyer was by his side in an instant. A moment later Van Kessler appeared and between the two of them, they had Johnny reseated in the wheelchair.
"You’re sure you’re not hurt?" Van asked him once again.
"I’m fine. Really!" Johnny insisted. Finally convinced the two paramedics went on to assist other shoppers. Three people had been shot in the melee but their wounds weren’t life threatening. The majority of the people had been like Roy and Johnny, just scared and hiding.
As Roy and Johnny began making their way to the exit, Roy recognized the policeman approaching them.
"Burt! Burt Benson? I haven’t seen you in ages!" he exclaimed. The officer’s face formed a huge smile.
"Roy! It’s good to see you and to know you weren’t injured in this mess. I met your wife outside."
"You met JoAnne? Is she here?" Roy craned his head to see if she was there.
"No, she’s outside waiting in the parking lot. Well, hey Johnny. I must say you’re looking a little worse for wear. I understand you got married recently."
"Yeah," Johnny responded with a happy grin.
"Well, congratulations old man!" Benson pumped Johnny’s good hand.
"Thanks...I think." Benson moved around and took Roy’s place behind the wheelchair.
"Here, let me help you two out. Roy you lead and I’ll push. Head for the West entrance," Benson directed and they headed for the exit. Both paramedics were relieved that they didn’t have to help out this time. Johnny was getting anxious to get home and see Chris. He was curious as to how her last day on the job went.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * E! * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Chris paced anxiously as she waited for JoAnne and the guys to get home. She couldn’t imagine what could be keeping them. The DeSoto house felt so empty with them all gone. And she’d been listening to the news and had heard about the shooting. Something just told her that Johnny was there. Why? she didn’t know but if there was trouble, Johnny was likely to be in the middle of it. She heaved a heavy sigh of relief when she heard the station wagon pulling into the drive. She ran out of the house to greet them at the car.
"Johnny!" she cried out as she pulled the passenger’s door open. "I was so worried!"
"We’re fine. Nobody’s hurt," he assured her. Roy opened the rear door and helped Jennifer out his side while Christopher jumped out the other. JoAnne opened the rear and was pulling out the chair.
"Hi Aunt Chris!" Jennifer greeted. Christopher made a run for the house before his mother could enlist him to help but Roy called him back.
"Chris DeSoto get back here! You know your mother needs help with the groceries!"
Christopher stopped and begrudgingly returned to the vehicle. He helped his mother set up the wheelchair and then grabbed a couple of loaded grocery bags. Jennifer ran to the back of the car and waited for her mother to hand her something to carry in. Chris and Roy helped Johnny into the chair. The steps to Roy’s house would prove to be another challenge but they managed. While Chris got Johnny settled in Roy’s recliner, Roy slipped off to the master bedroom to call Chet to see if he could take them to the pound in the morning.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * E! * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
The next morning, Roy explained to JoAnne that Chet would be coming by to take Johnny Christmas shopping and suggested that she find something to keep Chris busy with. JoAnne smiled and agreed. She figured that she could take the kids and Chris out to look at some of the holiday decorations. Roy kissed her in appreciation. Soon after breakfast, it was decided instead that Chris and JoAnne would take the kids for a morning of ice skating. Almost as the station wagon had disappeared down the drive, Chet pulled up in his battered car. He helped Johnny maneuver the steps and soon they were on their way to the animal shelter. Roy had called to be sure they’d be open and found they were shutting down at noon so they had to hurry.
The shelter was reasonably quiet as the three men made their way inside. The County employee greeted them with a joyful "Merry Christmas!" as they entered.
"How may I help you? You here to adopt a dog or a cat?" she asked, smiling at the men. Maybe each of them would take one of her charges home, she hoped. Johnny raised his hand.
"I’m looking for a kitten to give my wife," he informed her.
"Oh! Well, then, you’ve come to the right place! Come with me!" she bubbled and led the way to the cages. As they entered the room a chorus of meows greeted them. The guys peered in cage after cage, checking out the variety of cats and kittens available.
"Oh, wow! There’s so many!" Johnny was astounded. He peered in one cage and the black and white tom rubbed up against the wire to brush against Johnny’s fingers. Johnny smiled. He could tell the animal was very friendly. He liked that. The information on the cage stated that he had been neutered and was a stray of about nine months old. Then he came across another cage that had a beautiful calico. She was only six months old but she absolutely stole Johnny’s heart. Before he knew it he was paying for two cats, not one. The shelter gave them cardboard carriers to transport the animals back to Roy’s. They locked them in Roy’s workshop while they made a mad dash to the store to get food, bowls, litter and sand boxes.
It was almost comical in that JoAnne and Chris had just left the store themselves with supplies for the puppy. If the guys had arrived two minutes earlier or they had taken longer deciding on what kind of a chew toy to get the puppy, they would have run into each other. As it was, they got home before the men and Chris ran off to wrap up the dog gifts. Johnny, of course, when they got back, got Chet to set up the litter box and give the kittens some food and water. His only hope was that Jennifer and Christopher didn’t discover the kittens and tell Chris.
The rest of the day was a family affair after Chet took off. The two couples and the two kids enjoyed hot cocoa around the DeSoto Christmas tree. They sang Christmas carols and the adults took turns reading different Christmas stories. Later they played board games and cards while they munched on popcorn. Soon Roy announced that Christopher and Jennifer needed to get to bed if they wanted Santa to come. Even though both kids were old enough to know who Santa was, they agreed and skipped off to bed. Johnny was really feeling tired from all his activity that day so with Chris and JoAnne’s help, he made it up the stairs to the guest room. Then, once alone, Chris helped Johnny get ready for bed. He barely had the energy to kiss her goodnight. She tucked him into bed and then got ready for bed herself. She was looking forward to going home. She was also excited about giving Johnny the puppy and couldn’t wait for the morning to see Johnny’s expression. She crawled into bed and carefully wrapped her arm around Johnny and fell asleep, content that her world was returning to normal.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * E! * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
END PART 7--TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 8
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.