"Mommy!" whined four-year-old Jennifer DeSoto from the back seat of the DeSoto's station wagon; "Chris touched me!"

"Did not, squirt!" replied seven year old Chris, who was seated next to his sister.  "Bobby said that girls have cooties.  I don't want cooties!  Cooties are bad!"

"Bobby's a goon!" replied Jennifer.

"Kids," warned Joanne as she looked in the rear-view mirror at her squabbling children.  "If you don't stop fighting, we won't stop at Boffo Burger on the way home."  She looked in the mirror, saw the flashing lights, and the motorcycle officer waving her to the side of the road.  "Shit," Joanne muttered.

"Mommy said a bad word," whispered Jennifer to Chris.  Joanne pulled the car to the shoulder of the 405 and rolled her window down.  She watched the two officers dismount from their bikes and walk towards the car.  "Oh, great," she muttered as the officers removed their sunglasses.

"Joanne?" asked the first officer as he peered in the window.

"Uncle Ponch!" cried Jennifer.  "You made mommy say a bad word!"

"Hi, Sweetie!" said Ponch as pulled out his ticket book.  "Hey, Chris!"  He winked at Joanne.  "I did?"

"Uh-huh!"  Jennifer nodded briskly.

"Hi Uncle Ponch.  Where's Uncle Jon?" asked Chris.

"Uncle John's not here," shouted Jennifer, shaking her Raggedy Anne doll.  "He and daddy work together."

"I don't mean that Uncle John, stupid," said her brother.  "I mean, the other one, the guy who helped me break the piñata at the Halloween party."

"Well, I don't know!"

"I'm right here, Chris," replied Baker.  "Hi Joanne.  I thought I recognized the plate, but I ran it anyway."  The children proceeded to get louder in the back seat.

"Chris!  Jennifer!  Be quiet," cried Joanne, who opened her purse to fumble for her driver's license and registration.  "Chris!  Do not call your sister stupid."

"Okay.  Then, Jennifer's dumb!"

"MOMMY!"

"That's enough!"  Joanne handed her driver's license and registration to Ponch, who scratched the information down on his notepad.  She then said, "Oh, sorry, Ponch.  My kids are getting cranky.  They’re a little out of sorts -"

"I want a BIG Boffo Burger before we get home," wailed Chris.

"And some fries," added his sister.

"Sorry Joanne, but you were going 45 in a 30 mile per hour zone," Ponch began, "and it looks like you had another ticket a few weeks ago."

"Oh yeah, uh... are you sure I was going that fast?" she asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, sorry... but I'm gonna have to write you up."  Ponch said regretfully.

"WOW!"  Chris exclaimed, "mom's getting ANOTHER ticket...boy, dad's not gonna be very happy!"

"Are you gonna put mommy in jail?"  Jennifer asked, panic tingeing her voice.

"No honey," Jon assured her, "we'd never do that!"

"Could you please sign here?"  Ponch asked handing her the ticket.  "Sorry, again...about this."

"I understand, you’re just doing your job," she sighed.  "I still can't believe I was going that fast."

"Are we still going to Boffo Burger?"  Chris suddenly asked, "I'm starving to death!"

Joanne, trying to remain calm, turned to the children and in a low, but firm voice told them,  "Please, sit still, and be quiet, or we will NEVER, EVER, go to Boffo Burger again!"   Ponch tore off her copy of the ticket and handed it to her.

"Sorry, again... you really should try to slow it down a little," he grinned.

"I will, I promise.  Ponch, Jon, could you guys do me a little favor?" she asked, with an uncertain look.

"Sure, anything," Jon replied with a smile.

"Could you please not mention this to Roy?  If he finds out I’ve gotten another ticket, it’ll be the death of me," she smiled, guiltily.

"Oh, sure Joanne."  Jon agreed, looking at Ponch.

"Yeah, don't worry about it."  Ponch agreed.  Everyone said their good-byes, and waved.  Before Joanne started the car, she turned to the kids.

"Okay, here's the deal...we'll still go to Boffo Burger on one condition..."

"You want us to lie to dad, right?"  Chris interrupted.

"It wouldn't really be a lie," she tried to explain.

"Oh, you don't want us to mention to daddy that you got arrested," Jennifer said knowingly, nodding her head.

"I didn't get arrested," she cried out.

A few weeks later; Roy looked up at the bright blue sky as he opened his front door.  A good day to be off, he thought as he retrieved the mail.  He closed the door with his foot as he perused the day's delivery.  He stopped, frowning, as he noticed the return address on one letter.

"Hey, Jo", he said as he went to seek out his wife.  He found her assisting Chris with his homework at the dining room table.  Jen sat near them, filling in her new Barbie coloring book.

"Jo, there's a letter for you here from the District Traffic Court," he said, holding out the envelope.  "You paid that speeding fine, didn't you?  I remember writing the check."

Joanne felt her cheeks redden.  She had paid the first ticket, but the second one, the one hidden from Roy, had slipped her mind.  Briefly, she considered lying, but that was not how she and Roy interacted, plus it would set a bad example for the kids.  She took a deep breath.

"I paid that ticket, but this was another one I forgot about."

"For speeding?"  Roy asked loudly.  Joanne cringed and nodded.  "Oh, Jo..."

"See Mommy," piped up Jen.  "We didn't even tell!"

"The kids knew about this?" asked Roy.  Thanks Jen thought Jo as Jen nodded eagerly.

"Yeah Daddy, but Mom said we couldn't say anything or we wouldn't get Boffo Burgers anymore."  Roy slowly counted to ten.

"Kids, why don't you go to your rooms for a minute.  Mommy and Daddy need to talk."

"You're gonna fight," said Chris.  Roy sighed.

"No, we're going to have a grown-up discussion.  Now go."  He watched the children retreat then turned to his wife.  "Damn it, Jo..."

"I know, I know, I'm sorry," she began.

"The ticket's one thing, but to ask the kids to lie."

She spoke up quickly, "Not lie...Just not mention it."

"Oh come on," said Roy, "that's a technicality and you know it."

"I'm sorry," she said, feeling about 2 inches tall.  "I was embarrassed."
 

Roy sighed, "Jo, it's for better or worse, right?  Just no deceptions okay?  And as for the tickets, you have got to slow down.  That lead foot of yours is going to kill someone."

"Okay, I will; I promise," she said quickly.

"I pull a lot of people out of mangled cars, Joanne.  I don't want to pull you or the kids out of any."

Joanne stood up. "Roy, you're right.  I'm so sorry.  I'll slow down and no more hiding things.  Am I forgiven?"

Roy kissed her softly. "Maybe."

"They made up," yelled Jen, the future reporter.  Roy and Joanne laughed and kissed again.

Two weeks later:

"If I hear one more ‘Mom, he touched me’, or ‘Mom she looked at me’, you two will be grounded to your rooms," Joanne said sternly.  She was driving home with the kids after spending the last 2 hours running errands and refereeing their fights.  Both kids were edgy today and she had a headache the size of New York.  The fellas were assembling a new grill, and she had taken the kids to give them some peace.  Now she was the one desperate for five minutes of peace!  Her foot pressed down on the gas as she dreamed of a cool shower.  Only a few more minutes, she thought as she turned onto their street.

"Roy, I have a tool that would work great for this," said Johnny, wiping sweat off his brow.  This grill was tough to assemble, but they were close to the end.  "I'll run out to the car and get it.  Be right back."  He trotted out to the street where his car was parked.

Finally, thought Joanne, as she reached their block, accelerating a bit more.  Jen chose that moment to cry out.

"Mom, Chris pulled my hair!"

Joanne lost it.  She turned around to glare at Chris.

"I told you not to touch her," she began, when she heard a loud THUMP at the front of her car.  She swung her head back to face the front, slamming her foot on the break.  The car screeched to a slow halt.  Stunned, she undid her seat belt, and stepped out of the car.

"Oh, God," she moaned.  There in the street lay the crumpled and still body of John Gage.  "Oh God," she moaned again, completely stunned by the sight before her.  She didn’t even noticing Roy running from the back of the house.  A haze filled her brain, and she thought she heard Chris yell from far away.

"Dad, come quick, Mom killed Uncle Johnny!" and everything went black.

Joanne woke to the sound of sirens, and a child sobbing.  Slowly she opened her eyes and looked up into the tearful faces of her children.  What had happened?  Why were they crying?  Slowly the memory returned making her wish she could return to the black oblivion.  I've killed Johnny!  She thought nearly hysterical.  I should have slowed down.  I should have been watching where I was going.  But all of the ‘should haves’ in the universe would not change anything.  Pushing herself up on her elbows she surveyed the scene in mute horror, unable even to comfort her children, who clung to each other, all disagreements forgotten.

Joanne saw Roy kneeling beside his fallen partner.  Johnny had not moved from when she had first seen his crumpled form lying in the street.  Two paramedics had arrived.  I know them, what are their names?  She could hear her husband talking to them, giving them what information he had.  It wouldn’t register.  Her mind was a total blank.  Even with her limited medical knowledge, she could tell by Roy's tone and expression it was serious.  Tears of grief and fear burned in her eyes but did not fall.  She didn't deserve the relief tears would bring.  This was all her fault, all her fault.  If Johnny didn't make it...

"Joanne..." Roy’s voice broke through and she looked up at her husband.  When had he moved closer?  she wondered.  Looking past him, she saw the ambulance attendants loading Johnny on to the stretcher and putting him into the back of the ambulance.  She turned back to Roy.

"Is he…?"

"They’re taking him to Rampart.  It looks like his left leg is broken and…" Roy sighed.

"And?"  Joanne demanded anxiously.  DeSoto studied his wife, trying to assess the effect of all this on her.

"And," he continued, "Johnny hit his head on something.  I'm not sure what...  He has a real nasty lump on his head.  He isn't responding to pain or any other stimuli now.  It could be temporary..." But it could be permanent, she finished for him.  And it’s all my fault!

Roy helped Joanne to her feet.  He looked at her dazed expression with concern. "Come on, honey," he said, as she sagged against him.  "I think we need to get you to Rampart, too."

Joanne said quietly, "I didn't mean to hit him," she wept softly, as Roy helped her get into his car.  Chris and Jennifer climbed into the back seat.

"Don't worry, Mommy," said Jennifer as she watched the ambulance and squad drive away from the scene.  "Uncle Johnny will be okay."

"Yeah, Mom," said Chris.  "Dad says he's like Grandma's cat.  He gets into a mess, but comes out with all of his nine lives still there."  Joanne sniffed and wiped her eyes.

"I hope you're right, honey."

"Where's Daddy?" asked Jennifer.

Chris looked out of the back window.  "Here he comes.  He was talking to the cop over there."

Roy opened the car door and solemnly entered the vehicle.  He backed out of their driveway and then glanced over at Joanne.  One part of him wanted to yell and scream about her driving habits, but when he saw her defeated expression, his heart went out to her.  He couldn't say anything more to her than she was saying to herself.  He reached over and held her hand.

"Come on, Jo," he said softly.  "Johnny will be fine."  He wished he felt as confident as he sounded.  Joanne looked out the window, tears falling from her face.  Even if Johnny was fine, this was all her fault.  He was suffering because of her.  She couldn't say anything.  Roy sighed.  The kids were unusually subdued as well.  "Jo," he said.  "I'm afraid the CHP officer at the scene had to site you.  It was obvious from the skid marks that you were going over the speed limit."

"I deserve it," Joanne spoke so softly that Roy had to strain to hear her.  "I should never drive again."  She looked down at her lap, tears spilling from her eyes.  At the stoplight, Roy looked over at his wife.  Please be okay Johnny, he thought, for both our sakes.

He pulled into Rampart's parking lot and they hurried into the ER.

"Dix," called Roy, noticing the nurse leaving the treatment room.  "How's Johnny?"

Dixie turned to Roy. "Not so good," she said, as she gently put her arm through Roy's arm, steering him a few steps away from Joanne and the children.  "He hasn't regained consciousness, isn’t responding well, to anything, and they’re doing x-rays as we speak," she said in a very hushed tone.  "When they get done, you can go in for a few minutes.  How’s Joanne holding up?"

"Not so well.  I'm worried about her."  Roy whispered.  "I can't believe this has happened!"  He ran his hand through his hair.  The treatment room door opened and the x-ray technicians wheeled out their equipment.

"Why don't you go look in on Johnny and I'll take Joanne and the kids into the lounge.  I’ll get them some pop, and try to get Joanne to calm down," Dixie said reassuringly.

"Thanks Dix," he said, turning to Joanne.  "Honey, Dixie's going to take you and the kids into the lounge, I'll go check on Johnny and be right back to let you know how he is, okay?"  He gently lifted her chin to look into her eyes.  "Try not to worry.  I'll be right back, I promise."  She bit her lip and nodded her head, unable to find her voice.  She took the children by the hand and Dixie led them into the lounge.  Roy watched them walk into the lounge and then proceeded into the treatment room.  He made his way slowly over to the gurney where his partner lay, hooked up to various machines and IV’s.  The nurse who was there looked up at Roy, giving him a reassuring smile as she adjusted the drip on the IV.  She was new but she looked vaguely familiar.  Hadn't Johnny dated her a couple times last month?

Roy returned his attention to his partner, his friend.  If not for the pallor of Johnny's skin, and the wide array of medical equipment surrounding the table, he could almost make himself believe Johnny was only sleeping.  A slight abrasion to his left temple was the only mark on Johnny's face.  The brunt of impact had been to the side of his head.

"Come on, Johnny.  Wake up and put an end to this nightmare."  Roy placed his hand on Johnny's arm, but received no response to his voice or his touch.  "Please, Johnny.  You've got to get better, for your sake, and for Joanne's.  If you don't, she’ll fall apart."

The door opened and Dr. Early entered with a somber expression.  Roy looked up when the door opened.  He had worked with Dr. Early long enough, that he could tell by his expression, that it wasn’t going to be good news.  Roy slowly sat down and began to prepare himself for what Dr. Early had to tell him.  The white haired Doctor stepped over to the senior paramedic, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly.

"Not good Roy.  His brain has suffered a tremendous blow and was sloshed around, so there is some swelling around the brain.  We may have to put a shunt in to drain it, but we will watch him closely.  I’m also concerned about his right eye.  The swelling in his brain may be causing impaired vision.  When I examined the eye, it was fixed."  Roy looked down at the floor to control his voice before he asked the next question.  The question that he knew would kill Joanne.

‘Will he make it, Doc?" asked Roy, tentatively.  Dr. Early shrugged. "It's hard to say right now.  The fractures of his leg will heal in time; he may need surgery on the leg.  Orthopedics will be coming down to look at him shortly.  More importantly, we have to keep monitoring the swelling of the brain, and see if there's bleeding.  If he has bleeding, we'll have to operate quickly.  In things like this, we have no way of knowing."  He paused.  "Roy, there's no good way of saying this, but I feel I need to prepare you.  Even if Johnny survives, there may be permanent neurological damage."

"Permanent...damage?" asked Roy.  Joe nodded.

"The dilated pupil may be from the eye injury, but, it may also mean that the swelling in the brain has displaced some of the brain tissue either downward, or across the mid-line.  We won't know for sure until we get a CT scan.  If he has herniated, there may be paralysis of one side of his body, blindness, speech, and swallowing difficulties, or...he may never regain consciousness and be in a vegetative state.  Then, there will be some hard decisions to make.  Does he have any family in the area?"

"An Aunt," said Roy.  "She's called the station once or twice.

"See if you can get in touch with her," Dr. Early said as he looked at Johnny's chart.
Roy paused outside the door to the lounge, gathering strength.  This was not going to be easy.  He opened the door.  The kids were sleeping on the couch.  Dixie was speaking softly to Joanne, who looked more defeated than when the accident happened.  Both ladies looked anxiously to the opening door.  Joanne took in Roy's stricken look and dropped her head back into her hands.  Dixie got up, patted Joanne's shoulder, and walked up to Roy.

"I got her to call her sister," she said softly.  "She's coming to pick up the kids.  I'm going to have Dr. Morton come look at Joanne.  She's pretty shaken.  She may need a mild sedative."  Roy nodded.

"Thanks, Dix."

Dixie looked at Roy. "How are you?"  she asked.  His face told her all she needed to know.  She squeezed his arm and walked out of the room.  He approached Joanne.

"Honey?" he said softly.

"It's bad, isn't it, Roy?  Tell me."

"I need to call Cap.  He has Johnny’s aunts’ number," Roy took a deep breath.  "They're afraid he may have permanent damage."

"Oh God, no," the sorrow began to pour out of her like a flood.  "Johnny, I’m so sorry."  She stood and fell into Roy’s open arms.  Roy held her, murmuring comforting words.  Tears filled his eyes, and he blinked them back.

Dr. Morton opened the door on this emotional tableau.  He paused for a moment, then said quietly, "Roy, Dixie sent me down to check on you two."

"Hi Mike," Roy said, after taking a deep breath to gain control of himself.  He looked down at his wife, "Jo, honey, look Dr. Morton is here."  Mike nodded at the distraught woman.

"Joanne, I'm having a prescription filled for you at the pharmacy.  It’s only a mild sedative.  It should help you get some rest," he told her.

"I don't deserve any help getting rest," she sobbed.  "I deserve to feel this way for the rest of my life!"

"Joanne, what happened was an accident," Morton said, attempting to be supportive.  "It isn't going to do anyone, any good, for you to fall apart this way."

"Mike's right, honey," Roy said, "Johnny wouldn't want you beating yourself up like this.  Besides, he's come through worse things than this.  When your sister gets here, I want you to go home with her.  I'll stay here to see if there's any change.  I'll call you as soon as I hear anything," he promised.

"I'd rather stay here, honey," replied Joanne.  "I'll be okay, I promise...I have to know how Johnny's doing."  The tissue in her hand was being twisted into knots.  "It's all my fault.  The kids were fighting.  I wanted to get them home.  I didn't see him."  She began pacing. "What the hell was he doing running out into the middle of the road, anyway," she said angrily.  She shook her head and started to cry again.  "God, why am I mad at Johnny?  I'm the one that hit him."  Doctor Morton put his arm around Joanne's shoulders.

"It's normal for you to feel like this.  It's okay."

"No it's not okay," said Joanne.  "I'm supposed to know better...I'm not supposed to run my husband's partner over with the family car."

"Joanne," said Dr. Morton.  "This was an accident.  Everybody has them.  You're not invincible."  Dixie walked to the waiting room carrying a small bag.  She smiled at Joanne and handed it to her.

"Has there been any news?"  Joanne asked Dixie as she accepted the package.  Dixie shook her head.

"No.  So far, Johnny's the same.  They took him for his CT scan, so we should have some information in a little while."  The door to the lounge opened.  A woman bearing a definite resemblance to Joanne entered; her expression a mixture of sorrow and concern.

"Jo, Roy."  Joanne turned to her sister, hugging her fiercely.  Roy nodded.  "Janet.  Thanks for coming."

"How is John?"  Janet asked.  She had met Roy's partner at several DeSoto family gatherings and really liked the young man.

"Not good." answered Joanne, her voice trembling.  "There might be permanent damage."  Janet looked to Roy for confirmation.  He nodded his head, confirming what Joanne had told her.

"He's got swelling in his brain and possibly bleeding.  They've taken him upstairs for a CT scan.  We should know more once they're done."  Janet merely shook her head.  This was all so unbelievable.  She knew her sister had a bit of a lead foot, had warned her about it on several occasions.  Never had she believed it would result in something like this.  But, now was not the time for 'I told you so's'.  It was obvious Joanne was torn up about this enough on her own.  She glanced over at the children, Chris now awake and silently watching the adults as he held his sleeping sister.

"Why don't I get these scamps home," Janet suggested.  "Jo, are you coming with us?"

"No." her sister responded.  "I'm going to stay with Roy until we hear something more."

"Janet, could you hang around a minute?"  Roy asked.  "I need to call my Captain and have him contact Johnny’s aunt.  Would you stay with Jo, while I do that?"

"Sure."

"I’ll help you with the kids when I get back."  He went to a small waiting room with a phone.  Sitting on the chair he took a deep breath and called the Stanley house.  One of Hank’s daughters answered the phone.  Explaining to the Captain how his wife hit Johnny was the worse thing he had to do.

"I’ll call Johnny’s aunt for you, why don’t you go back and be with Joanne."  Hank offered.

"I will, thanks Cap," Roy hung up the phone, assured that both were on their way to Rampart.  Returning to the lounge Roy met Dixie in the hallway.  She had been with Johnny, checking on his progress.  He knew from the look that she gave him the news was not good.

"The CT scan showed bleeding," she explained.  "They took Johnny into surgery."
Roy paled.

"How soon before we know anything definite?" he managed to croak.

"When he’s in the recovery room," Dixie hadn't missed Roy's stricken expression.  "I think someone in here needs you right now," she pointed out, trying to get him to think of someone other than himself.  Roy responded the way she knew he would.  He squared his shoulders and went to his wife.  She was quietly sobbing in Janet's arms.

"Joanne..." Roy started.  He was interrupted by Chet's sudden entrance.

"What's going on?"  Chet demanded.  "I got here as quick as I could!  Ponch wouldn't tell me anything over the..." Chet stopped abruptly when he saw the DeSoto’s demeanor.

"Now Chet," Dixie reprimanded.  "If you settle down, we'll tell you everything."  Mike and Marco entered the lounge.

"What happened?"  Marco demanded tersely.  Roy stood up.  There would be no easy way to explain it.

"Johnny got hit by a car..."

"Again?"  Mike exclaimed, then fell quiet.  The others waited for him to continue.  Roy began, again.

"It doesn't look good.  There might be permanent damage."

"How did it happen?" asked Marco.  Joanne spoke next.

"It wasn't his fault..." Chet broke in, remembering the last nut that did damage to his friend.

"Yeah.  I know whose fault it is.  The idiot that was driving that car!"

"Chet!"  Roy yelled.

"It's okay honey, he's right, it was the idiot behind the wheel."

"What's going on?"  Chet asked looking between the couple.

"I hit Johnny with my car.  I wasn't paying attention and I was speeding."  She ran out of the room.  Roy moved to go after her and Dixie put her hand on his arm.  She left behind the distraught woman.  Roy sat heavily down at the table.  Joanne's sister quickly rose to follow behind the other women.  Chet, Marco, and Mike sat down at the table across from Roy.

"What happened, Roy?"  Marco asked.  Roy lay his head down on the table.  He didn't know whom he was more upset with, himself for letting it happen, Johnny for running into the street, or Joanne for speeding and not paying attention.

Dixie followed Joanne into the ladies room.

"Joanne, this was an accident.  Yes, there were contributing factors, including Johnny's own actions.  But you cannot keep blaming yourself."  Joanne sighed, struggling to gain control of herself.  She turned to Dixie.

"I keep hearing the noise he made when he hit the car.  I keep seeing him bleeding in the street, so still."  She shuddered, "I don't care what anyone says, I don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive myself....  Or get behind the wheel of a car again!"  She pushed past Dixie and fled the ladies room.  Dixie tried to follow her but an arriving trauma forced her to abandon Joanne and enter the nearby treatment area.

A few hours later; Dr. Early, still in scrubs, entered the surgical waiting area.  Roy and the others, which now included Cap, and John's Aunt Dory looked expectantly at the doctor.

Joe said, "He's out of surgery."  A collective sigh of relief rose from the group, all of whom had been holding their breath.  Joe continued, "His pressure dropped once and that was worrisome, but we stopped the bleeding.  Luckily, he's suffered no herniation of the brain.  The swelling seems to be receding a bit, but that is normal for head trauma.  The good news is, as it recedes, we're seeing response in his pupil again."

"Thank God," Roy said.

"Well, he's not out of the woods yet," Joe cautioned.  "He's in recovery.  We'll be moving him to ICU.  Now, we wait until he regains consciousness.  Then we can make further assessments."  Dixie walked in as Joe finishing telling of John’s surgery. Roy felt the weight of the world lift a little from his shoulders.

"I have to tell Joanne," he said.  "Dixie, where is she?"  Dixie looked surprised,

"I had to go assist in the ER.  I thought she'd be here with you, or with Janet."

"Oh, God," said Roy.  "She never came back here and Janet left alone with the kids."

"Don't worry, Roy," said Cap. "We'll find her."

"Where could she be?"  Roy moaned as he sank into a chair, hands holding his head.

Joanne sat in the diner, all alone at a booth in the back.  She sat looking at her now cold coffee, reliving the day's events repeatedly in her mind.  It was amazing - this morning everything had been fine, and now her world was crumbling around her.

She glanced out the window at Rampart Hospital across the street.  She couldn't go back there.  She was dying for news about Johnny, but she felt like such a hypocrite, sitting there with the others, when it was her fault he was in there.  She quickly looked at the table again, so no one would see her crying.  Joanne didn't notice the figure standing beside her booth.  She looked up into the eyes of Jon Baker.

"I thought I recognized that face.  This seat taken?" he smiled at her, indicating the bench.  She shook her head no. "How's it going?" he asked her sympathetically, as he sat down.

"I guess you know about..." Joanne couldn't finish.
          "Yeah.  I heard about it at work.  I was just headed over there myself," Jon waved off an approaching waitress.  Joanne sighed, trying to regain control.

"Are you here to arrest me?" she asked with a trembling voice.

"No, Joanne.  I only came in for a cup of coffee.  But I am glad I found you, because there is something you need to know."  Jon waited until Joanne's eyes met his across the table.  He leaned towards her.

"I want you to know that, none of this is your fault - or Johnny's."

Johnny was wondering how he'd gotten to this underground cave, and why?  Was this a rescue?  What am I looking for?  All he knew is that he was wandering around, trying to find his way out of this darkness.  He thought he heard the soft whispers of different voices, but he couldn't make out the words.  They seemed so far away.  And to top it all off, he had a killer headache.

"Johnny, Johnny, Johnny...  "

"Cap?"  Johnny called.  "Is that you?"  John looked towards the sound.  There was Cap leaning against a wall in the cave.

"Can't stay out of trouble, can you, pal?"

"What?" said John, confused.  "Can you get me out of here?"

"Sorry, pal, no can do," said Cap.  "You're on your own...isn't he Mike?"  Johnny stared wide-eyed at Mike, who suddenly appeared next to Cap.  Mike was shaking his head.

"He's one sorry sight, Cap!"  Mike said.  "Hardly worth helping out of this mess; he'll find another."  Cap agreed,

"Yep, well, we gotta go John."

"NO...." John shouted.  "Don't leave..." But they disappeared before his eyes.  Johnny was beginning to feel panicky.  This is too weird, he thought.  Gotta find my way outta here...

"It ain't that easy, junior."

"Roy," John yelped, relieved.  Roy would help him.  Roy shook his head.

"Sorry, partner, you're on your own.  I can't help you."

"Why?" yelled John.

"It's against the rules," said Marco.

"Rules...what rules?"  Johnny was now totally confused and frustrated.  Where did Marco come from?

"You can't help a guy who isn't worth saving," said Roy.  "Didn't you read the new paramedic guidebook?"

"What book?"  John said.  "I didn't get a book."

"Nope, sorry junior," Roy said.  "You didn't study..."

"Is there a test?"  John asked.

"Don't you get it?" said Marco.  "You didn't pass.  That's why you're here."

"Roy help me."  John screamed, but Roy and Marco just laughed and turned away.  "NO."

"Oh John...."  Johnny looked up towards the sound of ‘that’ voice, and 100 water balloons began to pelt him on every side.  Laughter bounced off the walls of the dark cave.

"You can't fight the Phantom...."

"No...." said Johnny, and he fell completely into the darkness...

"He's agitated," said Dixie.  "I really thought he was going to wake up."

Dr. Brackett pulled the thermometer from Johnny's mouth.  He frowned as he read the glass.

"102," he said to Dixie.  "Let's get another antibiotic started, see if we can break this post-op temperature."  Dixie nodded and headed off to fill the order.  Brackett sighed and looked at Johnny.

"Come on, Johnny...I know you were almost here.  Don't slip away now.  Fight your way back."

"What do you mean it wasn't my fault?"  Joanne asked the officer, with a puzzled look on her face.

"Well," he began explaining, "after you all left for the hospital, we found a big puddle of oil at the scene.  Someone may have dumped it out there, or maybe they changed their oil..."

"Please Jon," she cried, "tell me, how is it NOT my fault!"

"Oh, sorry," he grinned, sheepishly, "well, you happened to brake right in that puddle of oil and instead of stopping, you just slid right into Johnny...you couldn't have stopped, there was no way."

"But Jon, I still hit him,"

"Joanne, there was no way that you could have avoided that spill, and no way that you could stop."

"But…" He reached a hand over and touched hers.

"Joanne, it’s not your fault.  The Reconstructionist at the scene said that if you hadn’t hit the oil you would have been able to stop."  She looked into Jon Baker’s blue eyes.  A horrible weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

"Are you sure?" she asked.  Tears of relief rolled down her cheeks.

"Yeah, Joanne...it's really not your fault" he assured her.  "You still need to keep a handle on that lead foot of yours though," he added, kindly.  "What do you say we head over there," he gestured out the window toward the hospital, "let Roy in on the good news."
Her relief was short lived, however.  Looking at the hospital, she was quickly reminded of the condition Johnny had been in when she'd left.

After she had paid for her coffee, she walked with Jon back to the hospital.  Something Jon had said earlier flooded into her head.

"Wait a minute.  It wasn't Johnny's fault?  Then what was he doing out in the middle of the street?"  She asked him as they came to the crosswalk.

"It seems some kids from the neighborhood saw the "shiny stuff" and decided it would be great to play in," Jon said.  He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.  "Johnny saw your car coming..."

"And chased them out of the street.  That sounds like him," Joanne shook her head. "Couldn't he have just yelled?"

"He did, but one of the kids was deaf.  So Johnny was making sure she got out of the way."  Jon answered, as they stepped out into the crosswalk.  Joanne was barely through the doors of Rampart's Emergency Room when she was pulled into a hug that threatened to crack ribs.

"Joanne, honey, where have you been?"  Roy's voice cracked with all the emotion that had built up in him since the beginning of this mess.  He held his wife at arms length for a moment then pulled her back into the embrace.  "We've been all over this hospital looking for you."  Joanne looked at her husband, his eyes rimmed with tears, but shining with relief.  Her own eyes began to burn with moisture as she realized how much her actions had scared him.

"I'm sorry Roy.  I didn't mean to upset you I needed some time to get my head on straight.  Jon here helped a lot with that."  Roy eased his grip on his wife as he turned to the CHP officer.

"Thank you for bringing her back." he stated sincerely.

"She did that on her own," Baker assured him.  "I came by to check on Johnny and to give Joanne the good news."

"Good news?"  Roy looked from his wife to Jon and back again.  "I don't understand."

"The accident," Baker explained.  "It wasn't Joanne's or Johnny's fault."  He explained the oil slick to Roy who listened with disbelief at the twist of fates.  "So, how is Gage?"  Roy started to respond that he had heard nothing recently when he spotted Dixie and Dr. Brackett enter the corridor from the other end.  He knew Dr. Early had asked Brackett to check in on the paramedic when he got tied up on another case.

"Why don't we ask them?"  Roy suggested.  Roy, Joanne, and Jon began walking towards the doctor and nurse.

"He started coming around a bit.  The swelling is not getting any worse.  In fact, it looks like it might be subsiding slightly.  We're getting more response from his right pupil and there is reaction to pain stimuli."  Joanne and Jon breathed a sigh of relief, smiling at the apparent good news.  Roy, while happy there was progress, could tell there was something more.

"But?" he asked.  Brackett sighed.  Leave it to DeSoto to dig for more information.

"But…" he began slowly,  "his temperature has stated climbing.  We're worried he might be developing a post-op infection.  We've started him on antibiotics that, hopefully, will stop it before it develops into something more serious."

"What if it does become more serious?" questioned Joanne, hesitantly.

"In his weakened state, I'm not sure Johnny could fight off any type of infection," Brackett informed them.  Roy glanced quickly at the others, his gaze finally resting on his wife.  Her eyes conveyed the same anxious concern he himself felt.  A page called Dr. Brackett and Dixie to the ICU.  When they reached the Unit, the charge nurse informed them John was coming around.  Both entered the room.

"Johnny...Johnny," said Dr. Brackett.  "Can you hear me?"  Slowly, the voice broke through the fog in his brain.  Johnny peeled open his eyes and stared at Dixie and Dr. Brackett.  "Can you tell me where you are?" asked Kel.  Johnny continued to stare, not responding.  Dr. Brackett and Dixie exchanged worried glances.  Kel repeated the question.

Finally, Johnny responded, "Hospital."

"That's right.  What is your name?"  Brackett asked as Dixie checked John's vitals. Johnny looked very confused.  Again, worried glances were exchanged and the question was repeated.  The first neuro check was not going as hoped.  Johnny seemed to be fighting to formulate an answer.  A third time, Brackett asked Johnny, "What is your name?"

"Kelly," responded Johnny.  "I'm Chet Kelly."  Dr. Brackett and Dixie look at each other, both trying very hard not to laugh.  Johnny was staring at them, looking scared, and confused.

Dixie leaned in close to Johnny and whispered, "Okay, Johnny.  This isn’t funny."

Johnny looked up at her, totally confused.  Dr. Brackett checked his eyes, and shook his head.

"There is some swelling behind that eye.  Johnny, do you remembered what happened to you?"  Johnny looked over at Dixie, and back to Dr. Brackett,

"No"

"Can you see out of both eyes?"

"It’s blurry, and it hurts.  I know that you can help me."  Dr. Brackett checked his eyes again, and looked closer.  Johnny started to get upset and tried to move his head away.

"Dixie, go get Joe.  I need a thorough eye exam.  Take it easy Johnny.  I will give you something for the pain."  Dr. Brackett gave Johnny a pain injection.  Dr. Early entered the recovery area.

"What’s going on, Kel?"  Dr. Early asked.

"It doesn't look good, Joe.  He thinks he is Chet Kelly!"