Johnny ran down the hall towards the elevators. He literally slid to a halt in front of the doors. He pushed the down button with such force that he almost smashed the little bulb inside it. Pacing in front of the door, Johnny grew impatient.
"Someone could die waiting for this damn thing!" He pounded on the still closed elevator door to emphasize his frustration. Then Johnny ran for the stairwell.
Johnny was so excited that he nearly flew down the seven flights of steps. When he reached the first floor, he was dripping with sweat and out of breath. He ran towards the ER where he believed Joanne was still waiting for news on Chris.
But as Johnny reached the lounge, he was greeted by empty chairs. He ran to the duty nurse. In a total state of excitement, he yelled at the unsuspecting nurse, "Where’s Joanne DeSoto?"
"Who?" The startled nurse replied.
Johnny shook his head. "Joanne DeSoto! Came in here about half hour ago with her son. He was hit by a car." Johnny explained.
The nurse now nodded her head. "Oh, yes. Mrs. DeSoto is in treatment 4 with Dr. Morton."
Johnny spun around and headed toward treatment room 4.
"You can’t go in there!" The nurse screamed after him. She obviously didn’t know who Johnny was.
"It’s OK, I’m family!" Johnny screamed back to her. Then he flew through the treatment room door.
The hell and fury which entered with the urgent paramedic scared the unsuspecting occupants of the treatment room. Joanne jumped nearly 2 feet almost landing on top of her daughter, Jennifer. Seeing Uncle Johnny, Chris merely looked up from watching Dr. Morton bandaging his ankle.
"What’s he doing here?" Chris asked angrily.
Joanne took one look at the flustered Johnny and immediately knew that something was amiss. She looked to her son then to Johnny. "Chris, not now. Johnny? What’s the matter? What’s wrong?"
Johnny was bubbling over so much that he could hardly think coherently.
"ROY! It’s Roy! You gotta come quick!"
"Oh no, oh my God, Johnny. What happened? Has he gotten worse?" Joanne cried out.
Johnny shook his head violently from side to side. "No, Joanne... just the opposite! Roy’s awake! You gotta come quick!"
Joanne could not believe what she just heard. "My God, it’s a miracle!" She picked Jenn up and started to run for the door.
"Wait for me!" Chris yelled from the table and started to swing his legs over the side.
"Oh no you don’t, mister." Dr. Morton interjected. "Your not walking on that ankle. Wait right here and I will go get you a wheelchair."
"Chris, stay with Dr. Morton," Joanne yelled as she and Jenn followed Johnny out the door.
***************
The elevator ride that usually took three minutes seemed as though it was taking three years. Finally the doors parted open and the occupants darted out. As they pushed through Roy’s hospital room doors they were greeted by Dr. Brackett.
Dr. Brackett turned to look behind him. He smiled when he saw Joanne.
"Roy, there’s someone here who’s been waiting a long time to talk to you."
Joanne peeked out from beside Dr. Brackett. She was absolutely bubbling over.
Dr. Brackett stepped aside. "C’mon, Johnny, let’s give their family reunion a little privacy." Johnny nodded and stepped out into the hall. As they were leaving, Dr. Morton was just rounding the hall wheeling Chris DeSoto.
Dr. Morton deposited his charge into the room and stepped back out into the hall with Kel and Johnny.
"How’s he look, Kel?" Morton asked.
Dr. Brackett jammed his hands into his lab coat pockets. "Well, Dr. Early just ran to the lab to get some test results. Someone who’s been in a coma as long as Roy definitely faces a very serious chance of permanent damage. But judging by some preliminary tests, I’d like to remain optimistic. His motor responses are a little sluggish but I expect them to become stronger after his body regains some of it’s natural energy. Tomorrow, we’ll remove the respirator and see if his respiratory system is functioning properly. We’ll know more tomorrow, Mike."
Johnny breathed a sigh of relief. "I can’t believe it, Doc. I was beginning to think he’d never wake up. I mean it’s been so long..." Johnny trailed off.
"The body is a strange organism, Johnny. It is almost impossible to predict all the time." Dr. Brackett paused as he tried to think of how he wanted to phrase what he had to say next. "Unfortunately, I think Roy’s biggest battle is what lays ahead of him. With the body being at rest for so long, I think there’s going to be extensive physical therapy required."
"Roy’s a fighter, Doc. He just proved that tonight. He’ll get through it," Johnny said confidently.
Brackett smiled and then looked at his watch. "Well, I hate to break up their little reunion, but Roy needs to take it easy." Brackett turned to step back into the room but stopped as Johnny tugged on his shoulder.
"I’ll get them, Doc. I’d like to say goodnight to Roy too." Johnny said.
Brackett smiled. "Make it quick, OK, Johnny?"
Johnny nodded and walked past Kel.
***********
As Johnny entered the room, he was greeted with a spectacular sight. Joanne, Chris and Jennifer all crowded around Roy. Roy for his part was not too active in the conversation but the fact that he WAS in the conversation was more than enough for Johnny.
Johnny cleared his throat.
At the interruption, Joanne turned her head. "Johnny!"
"Hey guys. Listen, Brackett says Roy needs his rest. I know you don’t want to pry yourselves away but I think it’s best we come back tomorrow."
Joanne reluctantly agreed. After her and her kids finished with their farewells to Roy, they slowly made their way to the exit.
"I’ll be there in one minute," Johnny said after them.
Joanne nodded and ushered the kids out the door, leaving Johnny and Roy alone. Johnny stared at his partner and friend. Roy’s gaze was intent on Johnny and for the first time in their friendship, Johnny could NOT read what was on his partner’s mind.
How much had Roy heard Johnny confess? Did Roy hate Johnny for what he had done? Would there ever be a time Roy would forgive him for his indiscretion?
Johnny walked slowly to his partner’s bedside.
"Roy..."
Roy, for his part, shook his head. There was so much he wanted to say to Johnny -that much was evident. But with the respirator still obstructing his speech, that was going to be next to impossible.
Roy settled for patting Johnny’s hand briefly and then lolled his head back onto the pillow. Johnny read his partner’s signs of weariness and agreed to let the conversation wait.
"Take care, Roy. I’ll see you shortly."
Roy ever so slightly nodded his head and was quickly asleep.
**********
Nurse Pinket glided through Roy’s room practically riding the wheelchair she pushed. Kathleen Pinket was a young vibrant nurse all of about thirty. Her demeanor, however , presented the carefree attitude of a teenager. She was type of woman who raised spirits just by her utter presence. Her smile was enough to turn any sourpuss into putty.
"Ready for therapy, Mr. DeSoto?" Kathleen beamed.
"Not nearly as much as you! Goodness, Kathleen, I am RECUPERATING after all." Roy drolled playfully. He liked Kathleen. If one had to endure labored physical therapy, one would be so lucky to get a physical therapist like Kathleen to help them through it.
It had been one long month since Roy had woken up. The first few days were filled with test after test. So many in fact, that even though Joanne and Johnny came by the hospital for the duration of visiting hours, Roy hadn’t been able to see either of them.
The good news was that after all the results were in, it had been decided that Roy had miraculously suffered no permanent damage. The bad news was the road ahead was not going to be easy.
Dr. Brackett had seen Nurse Pinket in action before and was very impressed with her attitude and her way of motivating her patients into recovery. Brackett knew that she was exactly what Roy needed - and he was right. Roy was progressing nearly twice the pace as originally expected.
"C’mon, slowpoke!" Kathleen teased. "I’ll race ya!"
"I don’t think I’m quite ready for that... but soon!" Roy promised.
Kathleen gave a mock frown and then pushed the wheelchair up to Roy’s bed. Roy hopped in and off to therapy they went. As was the usual, Kathleen and Roy made polite conversation and they made their way through the hospital.
"Joanne was here to see you this morning. But you were asleep so she said she’ll be back around two." She said.
Roy nodded. "And Johnny? Has he stopped by today?"
Kathleen paused a moment. She knew this was going to upset Roy even if he pretended it didn’t. He asked this question every day for the last three weeks. Each time it was the same answer and each time Roy died a little. She could tell.
Over the last month, she and Roy would engage in a lot of idle chit chat. Lots of times, Roy would talk of his family. But there were just as many occasions where Roy would be reminded of some weird situation or rescue that he and his partner, Johnny, had gotten into. He also laughed while telling Kathleen some of the harebrained schemes Johnny always seemed to get them both involved in. Kathleen knew that Johnny was just as much a part of Roy’s world as his family was.
"I’m sorry, Roy, he hasn’t dropped by today either."
This time, however, Roy did not try to hide the hurt. He slammed his fist onto the arm of his wheel chair. "Kathleen, I just don’t get it. He’s my best friend. I’m sure he visited me every day I was unconscious. Now that I can actually have a conversation with him, he won’t come see me? What have I done to scare him away? Do you think he liked it better when I was in a coma?"
Kathleen shook her head.
"Roy, I know this sounds weird since out of everyone, you should be the one with the hardest time readjusting... but, sometimes the people left in your wake are the ones who have the most emotional trauma. I know it doesn’t make sense. But maybe your friend is dealing with some kind of guilt about what happened to you and maybe he can’t bring himself to face you. He was with you the day of your accident, right?"
Roy thought for a moment. "Yeah, but it wasn’t like that.... Johnny wouldn’t ..." Roy couldn’t finish his sentence because he really didn’t know how to finish it. It had been three months since his accident and people can change a lot in that time. Maybe it was possible that Roy didn’t know Johnny anymore after all.
"No, damn it! That’s not it. I KNOW my partner. Something is bothering him. I just wish he’d come around and discuss it with me." Roy concluded.
Kathleen thought a moment. "Would you like me to camp out down in Emergency and the next time he walks in from a run, hog tie him and drag him up here for you?"
Roy thought a moment. "Yes... yes, I would," he said.
**********
Three days. Three days was how long it took for Johnny to lose his nerve to talk to Roy.
When Roy first awoke from his coma, Johnny couldn’t wait to start right in and pick up where they left off. However, Rampart had other plans. For almost entirely three days after Roy woke up, he had been shuffled through every door imaginable getting scans, probes, and whatever other diagnostic there was to have. And when he wasn’t getting poked and prodded, he was resting.
Both Johnny and Joanne showed up faithfully but neither was granted access to Roy.
And during those hours of waiting, Johnny was left alone with his thoughts. Now that Roy was awake, he could finally talk TO him instead of AT him. There was the problem. What would Roy say to him after he found out all the things Johnny had done in his wake.
The more time Johnny had to think about what he needed to discuss with Roy, the less enthused he became about getting to it. Bottom line was, he was ashamed of his actions with Joanne and how it affected Chris. He was afraid of what Roy was going to think of him. Nothing would bother him more than his best friend thinking less of him.
So, somewhere around the third day of being denied a visit with Roy, Johnny decided to stop trying. At least for now. Johnny always considered himself an on his feet thinker. He simply would deal with the situation when he was forced to.
*********
Johnny and Craig Brice sailed into the Emergency room of Rampart General. Brice was riding the gurney of their victim while performing CPR. Johnny followed at a quick pace assisting the patient’s breathing via an ambu bag.
Dixie was at the door waiting their arrival and pointed them to treatment room three where a crash team awaited. After the paramedics released their patient to that of the doctors, they tiredly made their way to the nurse’s station.
Johnny grabbed a cup from the coffee station behind the counter. He sighed heavily as he poured the dark liquid into the mug and then just as heavily sank into a nearby chair.
"I think for the first time you’ve actually read my mind, Gage." Brice said as he too slumped over the counter and put his head in his hands.
Nurse Kathleen Pinket just happened to be delivering some files to the ER clerk and witnessed the whole exchange. She walked up to the counter where the two paramedics commiserated.
"Rough one, huh guys?" She asked.
"You don’t know the half of..." Johnny started to explain but stopped short when he raised his head and saw the beautiful young nurse before him.
"...it," he finished with a smile.
Kathleen briefly glanced at the white name tag on the paramedics shirt. She smiled back. That smile of his must be part of the Gage charm Roy was telling me about.
"I don’t think we’ve had the pleasure." Johnny continued. "My name is John Gage. And you are..." Johnny held out his hand suddenly exhilarated as if that last exhausting run hadn’t existed.
Kathleen took his hand and gave it one pump. "Kathleen Pinket." This is going to be easy, she thought to herself.
"Kathleen Pinket." Johnny repeated the words and savored them as if he were enjoying a taste of a fine wine. "Tell me, nurse Pinket, are you a new emergency nurse around here?"
"No, Mr. Gage." Kathleen started.
"Johnny," he corrected with a ‘Gage Grin’. "Please, call me, Johnny."
Kathleen smiled, Putty in my hands! "Johnny," she purred.
During the exchange, Brice remained hunched over the counter resting his eyes while his head rested on top of his folded arms. For once, he actually welcomed the aimless banter, Just a minute while I recompose myself. I need to be alert should we get called out, he thought.
"So what part of Rampart do you grace, Nurse Pinket?" Johnny inquired.
"Kathleen," she smiled back returning the flirt.
Catching Johnny’s smile, she continued. "Upstairs. I’m just here delivering a few files." She hesitated for a moment being careful how she was about to drop her next lure. "Actually, Johnny, I know we just met and all but I was wondering if you might be able to help me."
Johnny was definitely interested. "Sure, anything."
"I could use a little help with a patient of mine. He’s kind of a unique case. And I’m figuring in your line of work, you’ve probably seen just about everything or close to it. Maybe you could talk to him and get a handle on him for me and give me an opinion on how I should be dealing with him."
Johnny briefly considered the swing in mood the conversation went. Were they still flirting or was this all business now? However, he did know enough to realize him saying yes to whatever the request was going to be the only way to get to first base with the pretty nurse.
"Well, I.... Sure, I guess it couldn’t hurt for me to talk to him... being as well rounded in my job as I am, " Johnny boasted.
"Good, follow me, then," she instructed.
At that, Brice raised his head. "Now wait a minute, Gage. A few minutes of you two flirting while I recuperate from the last run is one thing. But we ARE on duty, don’t forget. Running off half cocked to further your social life can not be tolerated on department time."
Johnny was obviously annoyed. "Can it, Brice!" he snarled. "This is a professional courtesy. Why don’t you grab cup of coffee. I’ll take the HT and the second it crackles, I’ll come and get you."
Craig had heard that tone from Johnny before - back when Roy was first hospitalized and every time they reached Rampart, Johnny would insist on seeing him. He couldn’t stop him then and he knew he wasn’t going to have much luck in this situation either.
Resigned, Craig replied, "Keep it short, Gage. I’ll be with the squad checking the oil."
********
Johnny and Kathleen rode the elevator to the third floor. Kathleen strode out without hesitation. Johnny, however, lagged behind. What if I bump into him up here? Johnny thought to himself.
"You coming or are you having second thoughts?" Kathleen asked pointedly.
Johnny smiled. "Coming," he said as he strode off the elevator.
They stopped in front of room 723. It only took a second for Johnny to realize who’s room he was outside of.
"Wait a minute... I um...." Johnny stammered.
But before Johnny could voice any excuse, Kathleen pushed the door ajar. Roy immediately looked up at the interruption and his eyes locked with Johnny’s. No turning back now, Johnny resigned to himself.
Kathleen, feeling her job done, gracefully stepped back and walked down the hall allowing Johnny to enter the room.
Johnny cautiously walked closer to Roy and dragged the chair sitting in the corner up to Roy’s bed. Roy set aside the newspaper he was reading and stared at Johnny. For a few long minutes, neither of them spoke. Johnny sat with his hands folded across his knees and his head bowed down. Roy waited.
Finally, as if on cue, both spoke the other’s name.
That elicited a chuckle from them both.
"Well, not exactly the ice breaker I was hoping for but I guess it’ll do," Roy said.
"Roy... I know I’ve been such a jerk lately. I really don’t know where to begin." Johnny’s eyes looked shamefully up at Roy.
"Admitting you’ve been a jerk is a good start." Roy said dryly.
Johnny admonished, "Roy, this is serious..."
"Who’s joking?" Roy said flatly.
"Touchet," Johnny sighed. This is not going to be easy, he hates me already... Johnny thought to himself.
Interrupting Johnny’s thoughts, Roy asked, "Johnny, what did I do to drive you away? Was me waking up not what you wanted?"
Johnny’s head shot up. "Roy don’t be ridiculous-that’s a crazy thing to say! You waking up was the answer to every prayer I’ve uttered during those two months!"
"Then why the silent treatment?" Roy questioned.
Johnny stood up from the chair and began to pace. "Roy.... some things happened while you were out. And now that your back among the living I need to own up to what I’ve done to you. I guess I was too chicken to face you."
Roy blinked in confusion. "John, What could you have possibly done to me? What, were you slipping mickies in my IV when no one was around?" Roy cracked.
"Worse," John said soberly.
In the midst of Roy’s confusion, the HT crackled. Squad 51, Unknown type rescue. Corner 8th and South. Time out, 13:40.
"Damn!" Johnny bellowed. "Roy, I’m sorry. I have to go. I’m off tomorrow. I’ll be back, I promise." With that, Johnny fled the room.
I guess we’ll have to wait and see about that. Roy thought.
Saved by the bell! Johnny thought as he flew downstairs and outside to meet up with Brice- who of course by now was impatiently drumming his fingers on the steering wheel.
"Let’s roll!" Johnny said before he even had both feet in the door. Brice was already in gear and did not need to be told twice.
*********
Johnny hung outside of Roy’s room mustering up the courage to go inside. Today was the day he was going to face his partner like it or not. Johnny had started to push the door in when he heard a female voice speaking from within the room.
Doesn’t sound like Joanne...
Roy and Kathleen both looked up at the Johnny’s entrance.
"Hello, Mr. Gage," Kathleen smiled. "Roy and I were just on our way for a walk around the grounds."
Johnny grinned at that. "Walking, huh? I take it the therapy is going well then."
Roy nodded. "Well, I don’t go far to tell you the truth. But I’m getting stronger." Roy paused and then looked at Kathleen, "Kath, would you mind if we went out in a little bit?"
But before Kathleen could respond, Johnny interjected. "I have a better idea. How about I escort Roy around the hospital?"
Kathleen tapped her finger on her cheek as she always did when considering what to do. "I don’t know, Mr. Gage. If something happens..."
"A trained medical person will be right there. Or have you forgotten I do have a little medical knowledge?" The smiling Johnny added, "Besides, how much trouble can we get into so close to a hospital anyway?"
Kathleen smiled too. "From the stories I’ve heard about you, Mr. Gage, you can get in trouble in a convent!"
Johnny snapped around to face Roy who already had his hands up in defense. "Don’t look at me," He said.
"Your exploits are very well documented around here, Mr. Gage." Kathleen finished.
Quickly changing the subject, Johnny asked, "So, how ‘bout it? Can I take Roy out for a spin?"
"What do you think, Roy?" Kathleen asked her charge.
"I guess it’s OK. I’ll holler if he starts acting up." Roy played in on the joke.
Kathleen breathed deeply and made a waving motion with her hand. "He’s all yours, Johnny."
For a moment, Johnny was taken aback at the sudden casualness of her using his first name but quickly recovered. "Good deal!" He said as he held one arm under Roy for support and ushered him out the door.
*******
Johnny and Roy walked silently out to the back grounds of the hospital. There was a garden and a short path for them to follow through the trees.
Finally Roy spoke. "Look John, I’ve already wasted two months of my life in a coma. How much more time do I have to waste before you to tell me what’s on your mind?"
"I just don’t know where to begin," Johnny admitted. "I mean, I didn’t mean for any of it to happen, and then before I could make it better, it got worse, and it wasn’t like I could just go to you, then Chris..."
Roy stood still at the mention of his son. "What about Chris? Did he do something I should know about?"
Johnny shook his head. "No, no, no, Roy. His ankle. I feel terrible."
"He told me he fell out of a tree," Roy said.
Johnny spotted a bench a few yards down. "Hey Roy, why don’t we grab a seat over there. It’s a long story. I’ll start form the beginning."
They made their way over and sat down.
Roy looked at John expectantly.
"OK, it’s like this," Johnny began. "Do you remember much about your accident?"
"Some. The details are a little foggy, I guess."
"Well, you went in a burning structure with no back up. I didn’t even notice you were gone. When I did notice, I ran in after you but it was too late. You’d already been trapped under the stairs. Anyway, on the way in to the hospital, you asked me to do something for you? Do you remember what it was?"
"Johnny, if this is about you not giving me the MS, I understand. You would have gotten thrown out of the paramedic program. I understood that. It was wrong of me to put you in that situation." Roy said sincerely.
Johnny hesitated for a moment. "Well... there’s that. I do feel guilty about not giving you the MS. Deciding between my career and you - there really is no contest. I should have given it to you... but that’s not where I’m going with this, Roy."
Roy waited while Johnny took a few more moments to collect his thoughts. "In the ambulance, I think you were pretty sure you weren’t going to make it. Actually, you had us all pretty convinced of that one," Johnny half laughed.
"Johnny, I..." Roy interrupted.
"No Roy, let me finish," Johnny silenced him. "You asked me to look after Joanne and the kids for you..."
Roy’s face changed to embarrassment. "If I was out of..." he tried to butt in but was silenced once again with a wave of Johnny’s hand.
"You were not out of line, Roy. You didn’t even have to ask me that. I would have done it anyway. And I want you to know before I go any further, that I love you and your family like my own flesh and blood and would never want to do anything that would hurt any of you guys - be it physical or emotional."
"I know that John. Why do you think I asked you that favor that day. There’s no one else in the world I’d trust with my family." Roy confirmed.
"Look, Roy, would you let me tell you what happened before you continue with your admiration for me."
Roy shifted on the bench and folded his hands. Johnny took a deep breath and continued.
"After your accident, I began spending a lot of time at your house. Doing all kinds of things. Fixing appliances, helping the kids with their homework..."
"Great. So my kids are now failing in school, right?" Roy joked.
"Roy, this is serious. I’m trying to tell you something." Johnny responded.
"I’m sorry. Go ahead."
"Well, I don’t know if you can imagine this, but Joanne had it pretty rough after your accident. There were bills to pay, kids to raise and most of all, she thought she had lost her husband. She was a bit overwhelmed. She really missed you, Roy."
"Yeah, I know. Unfortunately, it comes with the territory of being a fireman’s wife." Roy lamented. "But I know Joanne. She’s strong."
"Even strong people can crack, Roy." Johnny said.
Roy looked at Johnny suspiciously. "What are you trying to say about my Joanne, partner?"
"More like what I’m going to tell you about ME and Joanne...." Johnny looked Roy in the eye. "You see, Roy, Joanne is a very strong woman but there were times she needed a shoulder to cry on just like any other normal human being would have needed. I was usually closest around plus she knew I understood what she was going through. I missed you just as much. Believe me, Roy, it’s true!"
"Where are you going with this?"
"Roy.....we kissed."
"Huh?"
"We kissed."
"You and Joanne kissed?"
"That’s when Chris walked in."
"You kissed my wife?"
"And Chris was already feeling that I was trying to take your place as head of the household, so naturally, he stormed out in a blinding rage."
"What kind of kiss was it?"
"ROY!" Johnny screamed as he got up off the bench and started pacing. "Are you listening to me? Yes, we kissed. No tongue, if it makes you feel better... But the next part is what I feel most guilty about."
"What could be worse than you kissing MY wife?"
"Well, like I said, Chris saw us and ran out of the house not really paying attention to anything other than his hate towards me... and he ran into the street... and I saw it coming... but I was too late...!" Johnny explained.
"Too late for what?" Roy prodded.
Johnny sat back down on the bench. "Roy, Chris didn’t hurt his ankle falling out of a tree. He hurt his ankle cause he was hit by a car. And it’s all my fault." Johnny added somberly. "If he wasn’t so mad at me...."
"Let me get all this straight," Roy started.
"Roy, it’s simple. You trusted me with that which you treasure the most- your family- and what do I do? I covet your wife and nearly get your son killed. You have every reason to hate me. Hell, if you want to take a swing at me, I won’t stop you." Johnny held out his chin as if to give Roy a target.
Roy jumped up off the bench waving his hands. "Hold on, Johnny, we don’t need to go that far. Just let me think for a minute." Roy said as he took up where Johnny left off in the pacing department.
Finally he said, "Why didn’t Joanne tell me? She’s never kept anything from me before."
"Go easy on her, Roy. She was really dealing with a lot. And then after you woke up, I think she was more concerned about you getting well rather than telling you all the bad stuff that happened while you were out. I’m sure she would have told you eventually." Johnny rationalized.
"I know," Roy sighed as he plopped back down on the bench.
They sat there silently for several minutes before Johnny spoke up.
"What are you thinking, Pally?"
Roy thought a few more moments before replying.
"Look, John. Loneliness is a powerful thing. Mix that in with dispair and stress and I can see how Joanne could seek comfort in someone else... though I question her taste..." Roy added with a dry smile.
"Look, Roy. I..." But this time Johnny was silenced by a wave of Roy’s hand.
"Anyway, it’s not hard to understand what brought the two of you together. I’m not sure why Chris chose that moment to walk in on you two but I’m sure it has something to do with fate. It’s also quite understandable that he reacted like he did. He was just a confused boy looking out for his dad."
"Chris probably hates me." Johnny said flatly.
"No, the fact that he didn’t tell me the truth about his accident tells me he doesn’t hate you." Roy said reassuringly.
"Anyway, John... I guess what I’m trying to say is I am by no means happy about what happened but I can’t really say for sure if any of it was your or Joanne’s fault. The circumstances are just too ‘iffy’. Have you two discussed it?"
Johnny face blushed slightly. "Well, actually, Roy. That all happened the day you woke up. I was in your hospital room confessing... and there you were... Since then, I’ve lost my nerve to talk to anybody. I’ve kinda been hiding from your family. Pretty childish, huh?"
"Coward."
Johnny silently agreed.
Roy continued, "I can’t believe you were too scared to come talk to me sooner. It took the sneakiness of a nurse to get you to talk to me."
"I didn’t think I could take you being disappointed with me." Johnny took a breath then added, "And you gotta admit, Roy, she’s a rather attractive, sneaky nurse."
Breaking the tension slightly, Johnny laughed and Roy just shook his head in that "whatever, Junior" sort of way which usually tells Johnny he’s off the hook.
"With your one track mind, it’s no wonder you put the moves on my wife." Roy said sarcastically. Johnny returned with his mock hurt look on his face.
"Seriously though, Roy, I am glad you can forgive me."
Roy looked up at Johnny. "I said I understood you. I didn’t say anything about forgive!" The corners of Roy’s mouth turned slightly upwards.
After a few minutes of letting Johnny figure out if he was serious, Roy got up from the bench and reached out is hand towards Johnny. "C’mon, partner, let’s head back. I’m still a little too weak to deal with you for long periods of time."
Johnny let Roy pull him from the bench and they started back towards the hospital.
They walked silently for several moments. But as they were nearing the door back into the hospital, Johnny asked, "Are you going to ask Joanne about it?"
"She’ll tell me when she’s ready," Roy replied.
Johnny nodded his head.
"How do you think things are going to be between all of us from now on?" Johnny asked.
"I guess we’ll just have to see." Roy said.
The rest of the way back to Roy’s room was in silence. After making sure Roy was settled back in, Johnny said a quick good bye and headed for the door.
"John!" Roy called out after him.
Johnny poked his head back into the room, "Yeah, Roy?"
Roy shifted slightly in his bed. "For the record, God forbid I’m ever in the same situation again, you are still my first choice to look after Joanne and the kids."
Johnny nodded his head.
"I mean it, John." Roy said sincerly.
"Thanks, Roy. That helps a lot." Johnny said.
After a few moments, Kathleen squeezed between Johnny and the door and entered Roy’s room.
"Well, no one here is sporting a black eye. Can I assume everything is OK between you two boys?" She asked innocently.
"Yes," they both replied in unison. Then chuckled at their own timing.
"By the way, Kathleen, if Roy ever needs anything and you need me to help out again..."
"Johnny!" Roy warned.
"I’m in the book!" He said as he quickly retreated from the room.
After Johnny’s exit, Kathleen went over to Roy and propped up his pillows.
"He sure is exactly how you described him, Roy." Kathleen mused.
Roy paused a moment than said, "Yes he is," Roy agreed. "And if we’re lucky, he’ll never change."
THE END--- FINALLY!
Thanks to everyone who has emailed me asking for part 3. Without your interest, I could have never finished it!
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.