THE TICKET
CHAPTER THREE
by Pat, Irene, Sheryl, Kathy, KC, Alice, Robin, Robin W, Jo, Tina,& Katy
Dr.’s Brackett and Early, were discussing the results of Johnny’s CTscan, while Roy
spoke quietly to Johnny, in an attempt to keep him calm. The doctorswalked over to the bed.
"Roy, I’ going need your help. I’m going examine his eyes with a fluoroscope.It will let me see what is behind his eyes and highlight the tissue backthere with dye drops. It won't hurt him, but it will be uncomfortable."He turned to the tray that Dixie had brought in and picked up a small bottleof dye. "Johnny, open your eyes for me."
"I can't, it hurts. Leave me alone and let me sleep."
"I know it hurts Johnny. I need to take a close look at the musclesand the tissue behind your eyes. I need to put some eye drops in first.Open your eyes." Johnny refused to open his eyes. Dixie leaned up to Johnny’sear and spoke softly,
"Johnny, if you don't open your eyes, we will have to hold them open,and that’s going to be worse." Johnny opened his eyes slightly. Roy heldhis head, while Dixie held one eye open. Johnny began to wiggle, tryingto get away. When Joe put the dye in, Johnny started screaming!
"NO! STOP! IT BURNS! GO AWAY! ROY HELP ME, PLEASE!" They kept a goodgrip on him, and Dr. Early managed to get the dye into his eyes. He pickedup the fluoroscope. The whole time Johnny screamed to be let go. When theexam was over, Early looked at the trio around the bed.
"Well, from what I can see, there is a small tear, about 1/2 cm. long,in the tissue behind his left eye. There looks to be a small blood clotthat has formed behind his right eye. It’s about pea-sized. I think theonly way that tear is going heal is if we keep his eyes covered for severaldays, and keep him sedated. I’d like to reduce that blood clot with Heparin.What do you think, Kel?" Before Kel could reply, Johnny grabbed his headwith both hands, screaming in pain. Roy held him down.
"Johnny, what is it? Tell me!" Dr. Early asked.
"M-my eyes! Hurt! Help me! Please! Somebody help me!"
"Well," replied Kel, "Heparin sounds like a good idea." He twitchedhis mouth as he tiredly rubbed the back of his head. "It's a risk, especiallysince he just had major surgery. He could bleed out and either have a headbleed, or bleed more internally. But, if we give it in a low dose, andkeep his protein only slightly elevated, it may do the trick." Johnny moanedsoftly in the bed and twisted his head from side to side. Dixie put a comfortinghand on Johnny's forehead. "Nurse," Brackett said, "let's start a Heparindrip at 300 units per hour. No bolus. Check a blood count and pTT everysix hours. If there are any signs of bleeding, we'll have to stop the heparin.I want frequent neuro checks."
"Doc?" asked Roy softly, "could he go...blind?"
Kel shrugged. "Anything's possible Roy. Let's just hope for the best."Roy stepped out into the hall, rubbing his face tiredly. Joanne took hisarm and questioned him with her eyes.
"He's not doing so good, Jo," Roy said softly. "He's got a small bloodclot behind his eye, and a tear in the muscle of the other eye. They'regoing to treat him with medicine, sedate him...monitor him..." His voicecracked with emotion. Joanne hugged her husband, fighting back tears ofher own. Dr. Early stepped out of the room.
"Roy, there's nothing you two can do here, and he’s asleep for now.Why don't you two go home and relax?" Roy stubbornly shook his head, butJoanne placed her arm on his shoulder.
"Please, Roy, I think he's right."
Early promised, "We'll call you if anything changes."
Out-voted, Roy allowed Joanne to lead him to the elevator.
~*~
In Johnny's room, Dixie placed another cool cloth on his forehead. Theone good thing was that his fever seemed to have broken. He was still warm,but not dangerously so.Johnny was looking around vacantly, the medicinestaking effect.
"Dix." he whispered.
"Yes," she said softly.
"Am I going to die?" Dixie frowned down at the handsome young man.
"No Johnny, we’re not going to let you die." He nodded and drifted downinto a black void. He felt like he was entering that cave again. Feelinga little like Alice falling into the rabbit hole; an endless tumble downward.
~*~
Meanwhile, Joanne and Roy were walking back to their car. To their surprise,they ran into the A-shift of station 51. "Guys? What are you doing here?"Roy asked.
"Well, we came to see the wounded pigeon!" Chet grinned.
"Well Roy, how's he doing?" asked Stanley. "You've got connections.No one will tell us anything." Roy chewed his lip. Joanne saw Roy’s struggleand answered for him.
"Johnny’s doing fine," She lied. She quickly changed the subject. "I wish that they would have revoked my license, instead of giving me thatstupid ticket. I must be the most rotten driver in all of LA." Jon Bakerand Frank Poncherello stepped up behind the small gathering.
"Now, Joanne, you know better than that!" exclaimed Ponch. "We've seenat lot worse than you!" Jon shook his head.
"So, do you want to fill in the ‘lowly’ CHP?" Baker grinned.
~*~
"Ponch, Jon! What are you guys doing here?" Johnny called out, happyto see the two highway patrolmen.
"Oh hello there Johnny, we're here on business," Ponch told him.
"You haven't seen Joanne DeSoto, have you?" Jon asked him, unsmiling.
"Joanne?" He asked, surprised. "Why are you looking for Joanne?"
"You don't remember?" Ponch asked, glancing over to his partner.
"Remember what?" Johnny asked, eyeing both men, uncertainly.
"John... man, she ran you over in her car!" Ponch answered, disdainin his voice.
"Well, now Ponch...she didn't exactly run him over," Jon responded.
"Close enough, partner!" Ponch shot back. "As soon as we find her, she'sgoing to the Big House!"
"WHAT?" cried Johnny. "Joanne? You can't do that to her! She won’t survivein prison. Roy and the kids won’t survive without her. I'm sure if shedid hit me; it was an accident! She didn’t mean it. Besides, it was probablymy fault, anyway! I know her. She'd never hurt a fly! Come on guys, youcan't be serious!" Man, Roy’s gonna kill me if Joanne ends up in prison!
Without warning, they were in a huge courtroom. A judge with a longwhite wig sat behind a towering bench, pounding an enormous gavel.
"Order in the court!"
~*~
In response to Jon's question Roy quickly explained to everyone whatwas going on. He relayed all the information Dr. Early had told him andthe fact that there really wasn't anything any one could do now but gohome and wait.
They all, reluctantly, agreed to go home, and come back at another time.Chet was beginning to feel guilty about all those pranks he played on John.
"God, I know I have no right to ask, but I swear if you make John better,I'll never so much as loosen the top of the salt shaker again." He didn’tknow if his prayer was being heard or not, but it made him feel better.
~*~
Meanwhile, the phantom continued to haunt Johnny even in Wonderland.As Johnny took a closer look at the judge in the white powdered wig, hecouldn't believe his eyes. There was no mistaking it. Even in the whitewig, it was clear. The phantom was passing judgment. Johnny stared in shockat Chet, hiding under a large white wig.
"Order in the court," the mustachioed Irishman yelled.
"I'll have a bowl of chili!" Marco stood up in the jury box. He wasdressed like Chico Marx. He even sounded like him. John shook his head.No one else even blinked. What the hell kind of court was this?
"This isn't real," Johnny whispered under his breath.
"Oh, it's real alright!" John whipped his head around at the familiarvoice. Oh God, no. The court bailiff was Craig Brice. John knewthis had to be a nightmare, but why couldn't he wake up. Suddenly Ponchand Jon appeared in the seats next to him.
"I'm dreaming, right?" he asked Ponch.
"Afraid not," said Ponch. Jon nodded, adding,
"This is how we handle justice in these parts."
"But it was an accident." Their attention was drawn to the front ofthe courtroom.
"First Witness...I call Roy DeSoto!" Roy stood up and headed to thewitness box. Captain Stanley stood up, adjusting his suspendered pants.He stepped up to the witness box and waited as Roy took the stand. He wasthe Prosecuting attorney?
"Wait," yelled the judge, "Swear on the book." Roy placed his hand ona book; 1001 Practical Jokes to Play on Pigeons by Chet Kelly.
"Roy," Cap began, "tell us how guilty your wife is."
"She's very guilty."
"The Station rests, your honor."
What?" said Johnny. "You can't rest. What the hell kind of lawyer areyou?"
"I'm not a lawyer pal...I’m the captain of Station 51," said Cap, ashe sat down with his feet on the desk. "The nuttiest station in the county."He leaned back putting his hands behind his head.
"BIG HOUSE, BIG HOUSE," the courtroom chanted. Johnny looked totallyshocked.
"Defense calls Joanne DeSoto," yelled Dr. Early. Joanne entered thecourtroom, covered with tar and feathers.
"Joanne," he cried. "Who did this to you?"
"Why, Roy did John."
"We all helped," said Chet proudly.
"I shouldn't have been speeding."
"But it was an accident!" yelled John. "It was only an accident. Look,I'm okay."
"Guilty," yelled Chet.
"But she didn't testify," a frustrated Johnny screamed.
"No time!" cried Chet, "I gotta go plant a water bomb in your locker.I'm a very busy man. Guilty."
"BIG HOUSE!" the crowd yelled. They swarmed forward and grabbed Joanne,who went along like she knew she deserved whatever punishment was dealther.
"NO," yelled Johnny. "No...." Then mercifully, everything went blackagain.
~*~
Chet had decided that he was going to check on Johnny anyway. He washeaded towards Johnny’s room when the overhead intercom interrupted histhoughts.
"Code blue in ICU 2. Code blue in ICU 2," Oh God, please not John,he pleaded.
He hurried down the hallway to the ICU unit, and sighed in relief;a flurry of activity was going on in the room next to Johnny's. He tookthe opportunity to sneak into his room unnoticed. Johnny appeared restless.Chet wasn't sure what he was babbling about but he clearly heard him scream,"She's not guilty, it was just an accident!" Grabbing his hand Chet whispered,
"Right John, it was an accident, you gotta relax man". John slowly settleddown, opened his eyes, and looked at Chet.
"So...she's...not guilty?" mumbled Johnny.
"No," said a perplexed Chet. "She's not guilty, calm down, Johnny. Itwas an accident. You saved a couple of kids who were playing in the street.Joanne slid on an oil spill, and there was no way she could have stopped."Chet watched Johnny relax into the pillow. Johnny looked down at his hand,which Chet was still holding.
"Gee Chet, " he grinned, "I didn't know you cared!"
"Oh, umm..." Chet quickly pulled his hand away, he could feel his cheeksgrowing warm, "I don't Gage, why don't you go back to sleep!"
"It's okay Chet, I'll never tell," Johnny said, still smiling. He layhis head back on the pillow, closing his eyes.
"That must have been some dream you were having!" Chet commented. "Howare you feeling now?"
"My head doesn't hurt as badly as it did," John answered, "and you wouldn'teven want to know what I was dreaming!" he yawned.
"Well, I'm not supposed to be in here, so I’ll get going. I only wantedto see how you were doing for myself." Chet told him.
"Okay Chester B.," Johnny agreed, yawning.
"See ya later," said Chet, walking to the door.
"Okay...see ya. Oh Chet..."
"What John?"
"Thanks." Chet smiled and quietly walked out of the room. Doctor Earlywas coming back to check on Johnny’s condition when he saw Chet leavingthe room. Chet didn’t see him as he went towards the elevator. Joe shookhis head, smiling. He entered the room, pleased to find Johnny asleep ashe checked the latest vitals on the chart.
"You certainly know how to make a hospital stay an event," he commentedsoftly.
"What'd I do this time?" Johnny mumbled sleepily, opening his eyes tolook at the doctor.
"Johnny?"
Gage frowned slightly.
"Yeah, last time I checked anyhow. Who else would I be?"
Early smiled.
"Well, in the last few hours you've been Chet, Roy, Roy's son, and thestation house dog, Henry."
Johnny stared at him shaking his head slowly.
"You're kidding me, aren't you?"
"No Johnny. You were very disoriented when you first woke up."
"Aw man. Why Chet? Does he know? I'll never hear the end of this, ifhe knows." Dr. Early laughed.
"No, he doesn’t know. Now, how are you feeling?"
"My head hurts, but not like it did earlier." He thought for a momenttaking a mental inventory of his body. "Everything's still a little blurryand my gut hurts if I move wrong. Oh, and my nose itches and I can't scratchit." He tried to lift his hands. Early looked at the restraints that hadbeen placed on his wrists during his earlier struggles.
"I think it'll be safe to take those off now," the doctor said, as heremoved the straps. "You kept getting out of bed. We had to restrain youto keep you form hurting yourself further." Johnny nodded. That made asmuch sense as anything did he could remember of this entire incident. Theminute his hand was free he began itching his nose, vigorously.
"Uh Doc, just exactly what happened to me? I mean, I remember aboutJoanne and the car, sort of, but everything else is pretty much a blank."Doctor Early began ‘Johnny’s Saga’. For one of the few times inhis life Johnny had no comments. It all seemed so unbelievable. You couldn'teven write something that strange.
"Wow," he whispered when Early finished.
"You seem to be doing a lot better, John, but I'm still concerned aboutthat muscle tear behind your eye. I want you to rest both eyes to see ifit clears up, and since I know that's almost impossible to do voluntarily,I'm going to wrap them for a couple days. I know it's inconvenient butit's necessary." Johnny sighed. He wasn't happy about it but he didn'twant to risk his vision either.
"Do what you have to," Johnny sighed.
Early buzzed for a nurse.
"I guess if I won't be able to see anyway, so you don't have to sendme the pretty nurses."
Joe Early laughed. Johnny was definitely feeling better.
"How about a compromise? I'll send a beautiful nurse in to wrap youreyes, but only if you promise not to chase her around the room."
"All right."
Joe Early left the room. Dixie entered shortly afterwards with all ofthe bandages for Johnny’s eyes.
"I heard someone in this room wanted a nurse." Johnny grinned at her.
"I knew Dr. Early would come through for me. So, what took you so long?"
"None of your sweet talk, mister," Dixie said, as she undid packagingfor the wrap. Despite her stern words, the head nurse smiled from ear toear. Joe Early reentered the hospital room.
"I told you I would send the best looking nurse at Rampart. Now, takeone last look, and we'll get those eyes bandaged." Dixie blushed, handingEarly a small vial of eye drops. "We’ll put this in to help with lubricationwhile your eyes are wrapped. It also has an antibiotic in it to help withthe healing of your eye." He explained, as he dropped some in each eye,then began wrapping Johnny’s eyes. When he was finished, he carefully checkedhis work.
"Can you see anything?" asked the doctor.
"So this is what the back of my eyelids look like." He joked, the doctorand nurse smiling along with him.
"That’s a good attitude to have. Remember, it's for your own good."Early walked towards the door. "Now, if you and the pretty nurse will excuseme, I do have other patients in this hospital. Dix, will you be sure tocontact his Aunt and Roy to let them know how he’s doing?"
"No!" Johnny's sudden exclamation startled them.
"Johnny, why shouldn't we call them?" Dixie asked.
"Well, you see," Johnny shifted uncomfortably in bed. "It's just thatafter what you told me, I'm kind of embarrassed."
"Embarrassed?" Dixie smiled.
"Yeah, the guys will all be laughing at me, especially Chet," whinedJohnny.
"Well I'm sure the guys all know that you had no control over what yousaid. Besides, they would be honored that you thought you were them," Dixiechuckled.
"It doesn't matter. Chet always makes me look like a fool. God, I thoughtI was Henry. I can see it now, he'll be bringing me dog biscuits for months."Early was standing at the door.
"Now, if I'm not mistaken, I saw Chet sneaking around here a littlewhile ago."
"Is that so," Dixie said.
"So?" John asked.
"So?" Dixie and Joe said at once. They really couldn't believe how naiveJohn could be at times.
"So," Dixie continued, "if we know Chet, as well as we think we knowChet, he won't want the other fellas knowing he stayed behind to checkup on you. Chet Kelly has a reputation to live up to. And showing concernfor one of his co-workers is not part of that reputation."
"I'll just tell everyone about our little conversation a while ago."Johnny grinned. They weren't sure what the conversation was about but itappeared that Johnny was able to relax now that he had ammunition of hisown.
"Now that that's settled, I expect you to be asleep when I return tocheck on you," Dixie firmly said to John. John yawned and nodded placinghis arm over his head. As Joe and Dixie exited, John quickly fell asleep.
~*~
Johnny woke up in the dark. Then, he remembered his eyes were wrapped.He tried to sit up, but that was a mistake. His head pounded, his sideached, and his broken leg screamed. I didn't notice that pain before.Obviously, his meds had worn off. He lay back on the pillow, fighting thedizziness. He reached his hands out trying to feel for the call button,or the phone. His hands didn’t contact anything familiar. He sighed, noteven sure if it was day or night.
Lying back, he waited five minutes, hoping someone would come in. Frustrated,he debated his options. Moving again was out! So, it was either wait, andhope someone checked on him, or remove the eye bandages, and find the callbutton. He waited another few minutes, his head pounding. That was enough.He felt the bandages around his head, finding the end, he slowly beganthe process of unwrapping them.
He looked around. Great, the call button was just out of his reach.He really wanted those pain meds now. Maybe if he stretched a little bitmore... That's when it happened. The side of his bed was down, and he stretcheda little too much. His incision flared with pain, startling him. The suddenpain made him jump, and he lost his balance and slid half way out of thebed.
His side flared in agony. He had fallen out of bed at an awkward angle,his leg with the cast, propped up on the edge of the bed. He could feelthe blood rushing to his head. He lifted the heavy cast off of the bed,lying it on the floor. The cacophony of pain screaming though his bodywas enough to make him cry. He curled up on the floor, praying his mindwould shut down all mental process.
He lay on the floor, trying to catch his breath. The tears of pain werecreating a puddle under his head.
"John?" asked the attractive red-haired ICU nurse as she entered theroom. "I'm Madeline, and I'll be taking..." as she poked her head in thedoor. "What are you doing?" She walked quickly to Johnny's side and kneltdown.
"I tried to reach the call bell..." replied John sheepishly, wipinghis eyes. "Rail was down, and I fell out." He shook his head. "Man, I hurt...alot." He looked pathetically at Madeline.
"Sorry about that," replied Madeline. "I'll get some help and we'llget you into bed. Then I'll get your eyes wrapped and get you some medication."
"Sounds good," replied John. Madeline left and returned quickly withanother nurse and a syringe. Madeline grabbed Johnny by the arms, whilethe second nurse held John's legs. John gasped and bit his lip as theylifted him into bed.
"Can you do me a favor?" John asked Madeline as she injected the painmedication into John's IV.
"What?"
"Can we just forget this whole thing happened?" asked John. "I mean,Brackett and Early don't have to know about it, right? I wasn't tryingto get out, just get the call bell."
"We have to tell them," replied Madeline. "We have to be sure you haven'thurt yourself. You could have re-broken your leg, or damaged your incisionline." Madeline started to re-bandage John's eyes.
A half an hour later Dr. Brackett walked into Johnny's room and pickedup his chart.
"Can't you just rest in a bed and recuperate like normal patients do?"John turned red.
"I was just trying to get the call button."
"Next time, yell if you have to," answered Brackett. "Let me take alook at you, then I'm going to have them take another x-ray of that leg."Roy walked in as Brackett was beginning his exam. Johnny shook his head.Ifonly Chet were here too, then my humiliation would be complete.
"Hi Roy," said Kel. "Johnny, does anything hurt now?" Johnny shook hishead no. "Any shooting pains?"
"No," Johnny replied.
"How about your head?"
"Um, no, I don't think so," said John. "And since I've gotten the painmedicine, I'm okay."
"What happened?" asked Roy concerned.
"Nothing," Johnny answered quickly.
"He took a spill out of the bed," Brackett explained. Roy gasped,
"You what? How did you manage that?"
"Only Johnny," whispered Brackett, as he examined John's incision.
"I'm really tired," a sudden coughing spell overcame him, and the painin his side flared.
"Take it easy," said Brackett, handing him some water. He listened toJohnny's lungs and frowned. "Has the respiratory therapist been here yet?"
"No," said Johnny.
"Well, I'll make sure someone comes up. You just had two surgeries.You need to exercise your lungs after anesthesia. The last thing we needis for you to come down with pneumonia."
"Please," said Roy, "we need to get you out of this hospital. It'llmake my wife feel a lot better."
"Believe me, Roy, she isn't the only one to feel that way," said Johnny.
"Well, as far as I can see, the only damage from that fall is to yourego! You're very lucky John; you could have seriously injured yourself!Your pain is what we would expect in the first couple of days post-op.Your incision looks fine. We'll be monitoring you for any signs of bleedingfor a little while yet," Brackett told him, scribbling something down onthe chart. "I'll be back in a little while, no more accidents, you hear?"He tucked the chart under his arm. "Relax, and let yourself heal," thedoctor said as he walked out.
"Thanks, Doc," said John.
" See you later, Doc," Roy sighed in relief and turned to his partner."Boy, Johnny, you really had us worried there. What are you trying to doJunior, give us all gray hair and ulcers?" Roy asked, pulling a chair up,next to the bed.
"It was an accident Roy, I was trying to reach the call button!" Johnnyexplained, and then asked, "by the way...how's Joanne?" asked Johnny. "Betteryet, where's Joanne? I'd like to see her. I have something I want to sayto her."
"Joanne will be fine. She’s at home with the kids," Roy told him.
"I had the weirdest dream..." Johnny yawned. "We were in this big courtroom"… yawn… "Ponch and Baker were there. Chet was the judge, Cap was the..."yawn... His voice trailed off and his breathing became deep and even. Roysat listening to Johnny, smiling, and thankful that he seemed to be doinga little better. He stayed for awhile afraid that if he left somethingelse would happen to the young man. He moved over to the other side ofthe bed, making sure that the railing was secure. Roy stood looking downat his partner. Look at you! Your leg is in a cast, your eyes are bandaged,you've had two surgeries, you've fallen out of bed, you are a mess, Junior!He debated whether he should leave the room. He finally decided that hewould go call Joanne, to let her know Johnny was doing better, then comeback to sit with him for awhile, just for his own peace of mind.
Not long after Roy left the room another figured entered and approachedthe bed. Johnny started coughing again, rousing slightly from his slumber.As he started to drift back to sleep a noise from the foot of the bed startledhim.
"Roy?" he asked groggily but received no answer. "Roy? Dr. Brackett?"He could hear soft footsteps approaching the head of the bed, the rustleof clothing, but still nothing was said. Johnny found himself getting abit nervous. He couldn't see with his eyes in bandages, and couldn't movewith the cast. Whoever it was better have a good reason for doing this?"Chet,is that you?" he demanded angrily. "You better speak up man."
The footsteps stopped and all was quiet. That's it, Johnny reachedfor the call button. His fingers touched it when he felt it being pulledaway. A hand reached out to firmly grasp his wrist.
"John," the voice said quietly. Johnny caught his breath as he recognizedthe voice.
"You! What are you doing here?"
"I’ve only come to see how you are doing Johnny. I heard about youraccident from the guys at the station." Johnny felt a pair of soft moistlips brush against his. "So, how are you feeling?"
"Better now that you are here. I wish I could see you. When did youget into LA?"
"Actually, I'm only in for a short business trip. So, you can imaginemy surprise when I call your station and find out about my favorite cousin!"John laughed. Naomi was his father's brother’s daughter. They had visitedeach other every summer as kids, but lately it seemed they only saw eachother at weddings and funerals. She was a beautiful girl with a great job,but she lacked luck in her love life. The last guy she dated had neglectedto tell her he was married, and she had come to visit Johnny needing ashoulder. She sounded better. So, he dared to ask,
"How are ...things?" She laughed,
"Things… are good. And no, there is no one in my life right now, butmy job is good, and I have nice friends. The rest will happen."
"Sure it will," John said, as the door opened.
"Hey, John, I was in the neighborhood," said Chet, breaking off as hespotted Naomi. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you had company." Wow, is shehot. That Gage gets all the good ones.
"Chester B. this is my cousin, Naomi," Johnny said.
"Nice to meet you," she said, extending her hand. Cousin thoughtChet, relative, yes! He grabbed her extended hand and bowed to kissit, thank God Gage's eyes were covered.
"The pleasure is all mine. I can't believe a girl as lovely as you isactually related to Gage here."
"Hey, back off, Chet" laughed Johnny. "Naomi is a cousin I like." Naomilaughed, but inside she felt a flutter. There was something about thisChet... She found herself very drawn to him. Naomi smiled at Chet,and squeezes Johnny’s hand.
"Well, if you will excuse me, I am meeting some friends for dinner beforea meeting. I will try to get back tomorrow before I leave, Johnny. Bye."She leaned over to give him a kiss, at the very same moment Johnny raisedup and reached up with his arm to hug her, forgetting of course about hisstitches and groans in pain.
"Oh, man. Chet, go get a nurse, quick!" Johnny started coughing, whichcauses the pain to intensify.
"Hold your horses, Gage. I’ll send your nurse in as I walk Naomi out.See you later, Pal!"
Chet and Naomi smiled at each other as they walk out. Johnny collapsedback in bed, in very extreme pain. He laid in the bed moaning in pain,when he heard the door open. "Nurse?" Roy came over to the bed.
"Johnny, its Roy. What's wrong?"
"No! Get a nurse. I hurt so bad," He started coughing again, collapsingback against the pillow. Roy ran to the hallway grabbing Dixie, and Dr.Brackett.
"Roy, what happened?" Dr. Brackett asked, as they stepped over to Johnny’sbed.
"I just got here Doc."
"Oh great! He has pulled the incision apart a little bit." He listenedto his lungs and frowned. "I think he has the beginnings of pneumonia.Dix, go get a suture tray and give him 1000 cc’s penicillin, IM. Johnny,what happened?"
"My cousin was here," he began. "She had to leave and I went to hugher and pulled the stitches. Chet was here."
Dr. Brackett looked at Roy.
"Next time I see Chet I’m going to have a serious talk with him," Brackettsaid. Dixie came in with the suture tray and the penicillin. She pulledout the alcohol swab.
"Okay. Roy, can you roll Johnny’s hip toward you a little bit?" WhenDixie raises the hospital gown, she looked up at Kel. "Kel, did you noticethe bruise on his lower back and his hip?" She quickly injected the shot.
"Owe, Dix!" Johnny started to roll back over, but Dr. Brackett stoppedhim.
"Wait a minute, Johnny. Let me look at your back and hip. I have beenso concerned over your head, I forgot about your back." He palpated hisback and checked for injuries very carefully, trying not to cause him anymorepain. "I think it’s a big bruise from hitting the ground or the car bumperor something. Nurse, keep an eye on it for any swelling. Okay, Johnny,I need you to lie very still so I can re-stitch this incision."
"Is it gonna hurt, Doc?" Johnny asked with fear in his voice. Roy pattedhis arm. Johnny lay in the bed wishing he were still unconscious. Rightnow, awareness seemed very overrated. Brackett was nearly done re-suturinghis incision. His side was killing him, his head was pounding, again, andhe was trying his damnedest not to cough. He felt hot and cold, which couldonly mean that his fever was back. Add the temporary blindness, causedby these bandages and he was nearing insanity. The only thing keeping himgoing was imagining all the ways he was going to torture Chet. When Brackettfinally finished, he told John to get some rest.
Easier said then done, Johnny thought. He wished they would justknock him out for about a month. Roy watched John's pale, drawn face andlabored breathing. He frowned.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Okay," John said tersely. It was obvious he was not. Roy said,
"Maybe I ought to go and let you rest." John nodded, a sure sign ofhow bad he felt. "I'll be back later," said Roy and he walked out the door.He stopped for a minute to talk to Dixie.
"You might want to take the stairs, Roy," she told him. "They’re doingsome repair work and it’ll take a while to get one."
"Thanks, Dix." Waving, he headed for the stairs. He had gone about twoflights when he was jumped from behind. A hooded figure pushed him intothe wall of the stairwell, and he felt the cold steel of a gun againsthis neck.
"Give me your wallet, man," said a desperate and threatening voice."And don't try anything." Images of his wife and kids flashed through hismind.
"Okay," he said, reaching slowly for his wallet, "just take it easyokay. I don’t want any trouble." The man shoved him against the wall ashe grabbed the wallet. Then, Roy felt the hard butt of the gun connectwith his head. After that, everything went black.
When he finally came to, he had no idea of how long he'd been lyingthere. All he knew was that his head was pounding. It felt like it wasgoing to explode. Slowly the memory of the hooded figure came back to himand he realized what had happened. He cautiously pushed himself up, sothat he was sitting and leaned against the wall.
A wave of dizziness overcame him and he had to close his eyes. He thoughthe heard voices and heavy footsteps coming up the stairs, then laughter.Jonand Ponch? Oh sure, now they show up!
~*~
Meanwhile, Chet and Naomi were standing at the bottom of the stairwelltalking. As Chet was getting the nerve up to move a little closer to Johnny'scousin, someone pushed them apart.
"Hey, watch it!" Chet screamed as a blur ran right between them. Man,this isn’t my day. He looked over at Naomi pushed against the wall,"are you okay?"
"Yeah, wonder what the big hurry is?" Neither of them said anythingas they looked at each other in awkward silence.
"Do you hear that?" Chet asked.
"Hear what?"
"That," Chet said as they both heard the unmistakable sound of someonemoaning coming from above them.
"I hear it now." Chet started up the stairs.
"Naomi, run and get a security guard." Naomi opened the door. Bakerand Poncherello held tightly to the man who had pushed her into the wall.
"Chet! Come here!" She called up the stairs. Chet hurried down to thedoorway.
"Chet, this is Roy’s wallet."
"Jon, there is someone moaning a few flights up," Chet informed them.Several uniformed officers headed toward them. The two officers turnedthe man over to them and ran up the stairs with Chet, to find Roy lyingthere on the landing half dazed, blood oozing from a wound in his scalp.Jon looked at Chet.
"Go get Dr. Brackett." Chet hurried off. "You okay, Roy?" He placedhis hand on Roy’s shoulder.
"Yeah", replied Roy with a groan. "Did you catch the guy?"
"Yeah, and we've got your wallet. He’s in custody." They heard footstepshurrying up the stairs. Dr. Brackett and Dixie followed Chet. Dr. Brackettshook his head as he examined Roy.
"Dix, call x-ray. I need a full skull series." She nodded, leaving themen to help Roy to Johnny’s room. The medication had worked and Johnnywas finally asleep. Dixie entered the room behind them, as the men werehelping Roy remove his shirt and trousers.
"I want a CBC. Dix, lets start an IV D5W. I don’t think he’ll need tomany stitches."
Dr. Brackett started for the door. "I need to check on one of my otherpatients, so I’ll be back shortly to stitch you up, okay, Roy?" Roy noddedand then flinched at the movement. Brackett opened the door and exitedthe room. Dixie began her prep for the IV, when she noticed a large bruiseon his side.