THE TICKET
by Pat, Irene, Sheryl, Kathy, KC, Alice, Robin, Robin W, Jo, Tina, & Katy
Chapter Four:
Johnny was vaguely conscious of the activity occurring around him. He thought he heard concerned voices and a great deal of activity, but he had his own problems. He was starting to feel funny. His heart was racing; he felt flushed and warm. He tried to swallow and couldn't. It was starting to get hard to breathe. He tried to get the attention of one of the people in the room, but he couldn't move. He was losing the battle to stay conscious. He couldn't breathe.
Chet watched the flurry of activity around Roy's bed. He glanced over at Johnny. Odd that John was so quiet. Something caught his eye and he approached Johnny.
"Doc," Chet said.
"Not now," said Dixie.
"I think Johnny stopped breathing." Brackett turned to check on Johnny.
"He's in anaphylactic shock!" Brackett turned to Dixie. "I need an airway and epinephrine, stat!" As she left the room, he swung around to Chet. "Go find Dr. Early or Dr. Morton and get them up here, now." Roy struggled to sit up; knowing the situation with Johnny was critical. Brackett caught the movement. "Roy, stay in that bed!" he yelled as he quickly dropped the head of Johnny's bed and threw the pillows to the floor.
"But -" Roy started only to be cut off.
"No buts, Roy. I can't worry about you falling right now," he looked at Naomi who was standing in near shock against the opposite wall. "You, stay with Roy and make sure he doesn't try to get up again."
Relatively sure DeSoto was under control Brackett turned his full attention to Johnny, tilting his head back in an attempted to open up his airway. A blue tinge had already begun to tint the younger man's lips and nails when Dixie returned with the needed equipment. Brackett grabbed the airway from her hand and attempted to intubate Gage as Dixie injected the epinephrine. After several moments, the doctor gave up in frustration. "It's no good Dix. There's too much swelling. We're gonna have to do a tracheotomy. Get a-" he stopped as Dixie, having had the foresight to prepare, placed the equipment for an emergency tracheotomy in front of him. He allowed a slight smile. "Thanks." As they began the procedure the door swung open. Chet hurried in followed quickly by Dr. Mike Morton.
"Kel, what the-"
"Mike, I need you to take care of Roy. I think he may have a hairline fracture of the skull." Somewhat stunned by the entire scene Morton stepped over to Roy's bedside.
"Let's take a look at you." Roy pushed his hand away.
"How's Johnny?" Morton glanced over to where Brackett and Nurse McCall worked feverishly.
"I really don't know. I'm sure Dr. Brackett will let you know as soon as he can. In the mean time, you can't do him any good by making yourself worse." Roy reluctantly relented to the examination, his eyes frequently darting to the activity around his friend's bed.
After several tense minutes Brackett stepped back from Johnny's bed, sighing in relief. The ventilator steadily pumped oxygen up the line and through the tube now placed in the paramedic's throat. He and Dixie both watched the rise and fall of Gage's chest noted the return of normal color to his lips and nails.
"Did we get it in time?" Dixie questioned. Brackett shrugged.
"We won't know that until he wakes up. Right now I want to find out what caused this in the first place." Glancing around for anything unusual, the doctor's eyes fell on the bag of IV antibiotic. Something about it... He looked closer realizing why it caught his attention. "Penicillin! Who the hell gave him this! Johnny's chart clearly states he's allergic to penicillin!" Dixie looked oddly at Dr. Brackett, her face stricken,
"Kel, I gave him the penicillin. You ordered it for the pneumonia." They looked at each other in stunned silence, as it sunk in that is what he ordered.
"Damn. I was so concerned about the head injury and the pneumonia, I forgot. Get rid of the penicillin, and start him on Biaxin. Keep an eye on him, Dix." Dr. Brackett stepped over to Roy, as Dr. Morton finished stitching Roy’s scalp. Roy looked at Dr. Brackett.
"How is he, Doc?" Dr. Brackett grimaced as he explained to Roy.
"I was so concerned over his head and stomach problems, I completely forgot he was allergic to penicillin. He had an allergic reaction to it and I had to perform a trach. I will understand if you want me off the case." Roy grimaced as Dr. Morton finished.
"No, Doc. Accidents happen."
"I know, Roy, but the mistake shouldn't have happened. We’ll see what happens when he wakes up. How are you feeling?"
"Not so good. My head really hurts, my stomach is queasy, and I ache all over."
Dr. Brackett nodded, "Dixie, lets start an IV, and a shot for pain." He looked up and saw Naomi still standing in the corner in shock. Dr. Brackett starts to leave, when Joanne comes hurrying through the door!
"Oh my gosh! Roy! What happened?"
"It's okay honey, really," Roy told her soothingly, "Come on, calm down. Someone stole my wallet and hit me in the head...but everything’s okay now!" he explained, not wanting to give his wife all of the details.
"Oh Roy!" she sobbed. Roy pulled her close, hugging her tightly, trying to comfort her as well as show her he was all right.
"Hon, don't cry," he said softly, "everything's going to be okay." She pulled away from him, looking into his face.
"Oh Roy," she said, wiping the tears from her face, "I don't know how much more I can take!" Then she turned around to look at Johnny. "Oh, Lord," Joanne said as her heart leapt into her throat. "What happened to Johnny?" She looked closely at the still paramedic. "He's full of hives."
"He had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic I gave him," replied Doctor Brackett. "His airway swelled shut, so we had to do a tracheotomy." He twitched his mouth. "Don't worry, Joanne. We'll give him some steroids and diphenhydramine on top of the epinephrine." He turned his attention to Dixie. "Dix, lets give 100 milligrams of hydrocortisone, and 25 milligrams of diphenhydramine, both IV."
"Right, Kel," Dixie replied. She smiled at Joanne and squeezed her arm as she left.
Joanne noticed Chet and Naomi in the room. "Hi Chet." She looked curiously at Naomi, a hint of recognition in her eyes. "You look familiar. Have we ever met?"
"No, I don't believe we have. My name's Naomi, Naomi Gage." She held her hand out to Joanne. "I'm John's cousin. You must be Roy's wife Joanne."
"Yes, I am." Joanne answered slowly. Did this woman know she was responsible for Johnny being here in the first place?
"Johnny talks about you and Roy all the time when I call. I feel like I already know you, even if we've never met." She looked over at her cousin and sighed. "I just wish it was under better circumstances. My mother used to say John was always at one end of trouble, going in or coming out. I see he hasn't changed since he grew up." Joanne smiled sadly.
"I'm afraid I have to take credit for landing him the hospital this time."
Naomi gasped. Dixie protested before anyone else could open their mouths.
"Now Joanne! You know that is not true. Besides, none of us have done right by Johnny today, except maybe Roy." As the others voiced their agreement, Naomi smiled at Joanne.
"I'm sure it was an accident. Chet was telling me about it."
"I'm afraid I have to interrupt," Mike Morton stood up. "Kel, I need to start treatment on Roy." Brackett knew exactly what he meant.
"He's right folks. I'm afraid we're going to have to ask you to leave. Joanne, if you wait in the hall, we can discuss Roy's injuries." The others grumbled, but a general exodus began.
After determining that Roy could be left alone for a few minutes with no danger, Morton joined Brackett and Dixie in the hall with a quick warning to his patient.
"I'll be back. Be sure and alert us if anything else happens." Roy sighed as the doctor left. He was still trying to get over the past two days. They had been unbelievable. But, these things happened, at least to Johnny. Roy carefully got up and went to check on his friend.
~*~
"Well," Chet said to Naomi, "can I buy you a cup of bad hospital coffee?"
She laughed, "That would be great." She followed Chet to the cafeteria and grabbed a table while he got the coffee. He was kind of cute, she thought. She smiled as he placed the cups, creamers, and sugar on the table.
"What a way to meet," Chet said. Naomi agreed,
"The circumstances could have been better! Poor Johnny." The two continued to make small talk, laughing at the other's jokes. Coffee led to a dinner invitation and they wandered off to find a decent nearby restaurant.
Naomi was enchanted with Chet. Secretly she was glad Johnny didn't have the chance to stop this budding romance. Yes, she knew she had a possessive problem with men in her past, but that was over now. Therapy had helped her to let go of that part of herself, didn't it? She learned her lesson when Roger had had that restraining order sworn out on her. She had stuck to her promise, no more obsessing. She was learning how to take things slowly. Her eyes narrowed as she thought of Joanne DeSoto. She was sure Joanne had recognized her. Luckily, Mrs. DeSoto seemed distracted enough not to be a problem. She smiled back at Chet, who was launching into a story about the Phantom and her cousin.
Yes, I'll take this one more slowly... but in some part of her brain, she couldn't help trying out the words... Mrs. Chet Kelley... it had a nice ring to it! Chet knew of a little diner, a few blocks away from the hospital. It was nothing fancy, but still the food was better than the hospital's.
This beauty fascinated him. She can't take her eyes off of me, and she hangs on my every word, he thought to himself. Kelly - you are a chick magnet! But still, there was something about her that made him feel a little uneasy. Was it the way she looked at him? Was it something in her eyes? Kelly, he told himself, you must be outta your mind! You have this gorgeous babe, who can't keep her hands off you, right here for the taking! He decided to shake off the weird feeling; this opportunity was far too good to pass up!
He smiled at Naomi over his coffee. This was working great! Who knew that one of Gage's injuries could bring about such great results for Chet Kelly? They had spent the last hour talking about him.
"So," Chet said. He leaned over the table towards the beautiful woman. "Enough about me. Let's talk about you. What do you think of me?" It was an old joke, but it had the desired effect. Naomi laughed as though it was the funniest thing she'd ever heard.
"Don't encourage him," a voice said out of nowhere. "He says that to all the girls." The blood drained out of Chet's face as he recognized Allyson, the nurse he had gone out with last Saturday.
"Uh, hi there. What are you doing here?" he managed to ask.
"I could ask you the same question," Allyson said. "But I can see what is going on."
Naomi had an odd look in her eye.
"Who is she?"
"I'm the woman he bored to death last weekend," Allyson replied caustically. "One of many, I'm sure. But don't worry, I'm sure you'll get your turn." With that, Allyson walked away. Chet smiled weakly.
"I can explain." he squeaked.
Naomi smiled, "There's no need to explain, Chet. I recognize jealousy when I see it. Besides, what happened before us is none of my business." Chet smiled. This was great. Wait, a small warning bell went off in his mind, before US...what us? He ignored it.
~*~
At Rampart, Joanne walked back into the room to find Roy standing next to Johnny's bed.
"Come on," she said. "You need your rest, too. The Doctors' said you got off lucky. No hairline fracture, but a bad concussion. And they are very concerned about the bruise on your side. They want to monitor that."
"I'm okay," said Roy. "But I am tired… what a long two days." He settled in his bed, struggling to keep his eyes open. Joanne sat next to him until his even breathing told her he succumbed to sleep. Johnny's vent alarm went off. Dr. Brackett came running in.
"He's waking up, and fighting the tube." Brackett shut off the alarm, then leaned over the hapless paramedic, "Johnny? It's okay. You are on a ventilator. We had to do an emergency tracheotomy on you, but you're going to be fine. Calm down. Johnny's hands started gesturing wildly, and in a panic, he began to claw at the eye bandages. Dr. Brackett called for the nurse, and held Johnny’s hands, talking to him in an effort to calm him down.
"Johnny, calm down and listen to me." Johnny began to relax as the nurse entered. "Let me explain something to you Johnny. You had an allergic reaction to penicillin, and you stopped breathing. We had to do a tracheotomy, but you are okay. Now, I want you to nod or shake your head to answer my questions, okay?" Johnny nodded in reply. "Good, now Johnny, are your eyes hurting you?" Johnny nods his head and scratches his hand. "Your eyes are itching?" Johnny nods "Okay, how about your head? Does it still hurt?" Johnny nods and squeezes his hands together. "Like your brain is being squished?" Johnny nods again. "Okay. I am going examine your back and hip to see if there is any change. Nurse, help me roll him a little bit." The nurse helped Dr. Brackett roll the dark haired paramedic. "Okay, it looks the same as it did. Johnny I am going to unwrap your eyes so I can put some drops in them, okay?" Johnny nods, and then pats Dr. Brackett’s arm and points to the other bed. "Roy is doing fine. Don't worry about him."
Roy spoke up from the other bed. "Johnny, I’m fine. Don’t you worry about me, you get better."
Dr. Brackett began unwrapping Johnny’s eyes. They were very red and swollen. Kel examined his eyes again, and smiled slightly. "Well, some of the swelling has gone down. Johnny I’m going put some eye drops in your eyes. It may numb your eyes a bit, but hopefully the itching will stop." He began to put the drops in, but Johnny stopped him, and motioning for a pen and paper. Joanne stepped over with pen and paper in hand. Johnny wrote on it and Dr. Brackett read it aloud: "Where did Naomi go?"
Joanne replied, "Chet took her to eat."
Johnny shook his head, and wrote again, with Dr. Brackett reading aloud: "You have got to go get Chet. Naomi is a recovering stalker and I don't trust her with anybody, much less Chet."
Dr. Brackett looked out the window. "Well, I wouldn't worry too much. I see them walking back over here now. I want to remove the tube but I want to check it first. Are you feeling better?"
Johnny smiled and wrote, "I am alive, so I must feel better. Please, take the tube out. It’s bad enough that I can't see, but its worse that I can't talk. Shut up, Roy." Roy laughed and then groaned in pain.
Dr. Brackett glanced at Roy and then turned back to Johnny. "Okay, let’s see about getting this tube out. Here is what I am going to do..." he explained what was going to happen, and how he wanted Johnny to help.
Roy lay in his hospital bed, listening to the doctor’s explanation, on the verge of falling asleep. The meds must be starting to work. So many thoughts flooded his mind. On a good day, he'd probably pay to have his partner lose his voice, but now he found himself wanting to hear him ranting. He knew that Johnny wouldn’t be coming around anytime soon, so he wouldn't be missing out on anything by falling asleep; but he couldn’t do that, because there were other things on his mind...Joanne, the kids, getting mugged… and, what was that about Johnny's cousin?
~*~
Meanwhile: Chet and Naomi entered the doors of Rampart General, Naomi clinging to Chet's arm. They were on their way up to check on the guys, when they ran into Dwyer and Charlie on their way out.
"Hey Chet!" Charlie asked. "How's Gage?"
"We’re on our way up to check on him," Chet replied.
"Aren't ya going to introduce us to your new girlfriend?" asked Dwyer, with a big grin, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Uh… well... this is Naomi, she's not really…" Chet was interrupted by the tones from Dwyer’s H.T.
"Squad 51, unknown type rescue. 1390 West Alameda. 1-3-9-0 West Alameda. Time out 20:16."
"Oh, oh gotta run," Charlie said, as both men hurried for the exit. "Tell Gage, hi for us," he called back to Chet.
"Sure guys," Chet's voice trailed off realizing they were out of earshot. He turned to look at Naomi, who was already staring intently at him. She had a weird smile on her face and her eyes were glazed over. Man, if Gage is anything like his cousin, no wonder he never has a second date! No, Chet decided, not even Gage was as strange as this chick was turning out to be. First chance he got it would be bye-bye. All he had to do was get her to let go of his arm...
~*~
Roy struggled to open his eyes, but he was tired. Right before Joanne left for the night, the nurse had given him something to help him rest, and now he was fighting the medicine. Roy was drifting off to sleep when the door opened. They were bringing Johnny back into the room. There were now bandages around his throat to match the ones around his eyes. Roy felt sympathy pangs. This entire thing hadn’t been a pleasant experience. It was impossible to tell if Johnny was awake or asleep, and Roy didn't want to ask, knowing that his partner would try to answer. It wouldn’t be a good idea under the present circumstances.
Johnny didn't move when the door opened, so it was a good bet that he was still knocked out. Roy tried to think. What was he supposed to tell Chet? He watched as Chet and Naomi entered, trying to remember what he had heard about the woman. It had seemed important. Chet looked at both of his friends. He looked at Naomi.
"Looks like they're both sleeping," he whispered, turning towards the door. She nodded and followed him. They walked together to the parking lot. Chet was anxious now to say goodbye. What am I worried about? After all, she's going home tomorrow. I'll just walk her to her car and kiss her off! Figuratively speaking, of course.
"My rental car is right here," said Naomi. "Can I give you a lift...or offer you a nightcap?" Chet smiled nervously,
"Gee, I'd really like that, but I have my car and I'm scheduled to work tomorrow. So, thanks for going to dinner with me. It was really nice meeting you."
"You know," said Naomi, "I may extend my stay. We could get together again. I'd like that."
"Oh...well… ah sorry," Chet stammered. "I’m… working a lot of overtime this week. Maybe next time you're in town." Naomi's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Now Chet," she said lightly, "you aren't trying to blow me off are you? I must tell you I don't take kindly to rejection!"
~*~
Joanne plopped down on the couch; satisfied the children were tucked into bed. This had been the longest two days of her life and she was exhausted. She closed her eyes and thought about the events that had brought her to this point. A mental image of Naomi flew into her mind. I know her from somewhere, she thought. But for the life of me, I can’t remember where. Oh well, it’ll come to me sooner or later, and she drifted off to sleep. Perched on the edge of blissful sleep, it came to her.
"Oh my God," she gasped aloud. "I know who she is now." She ran over to the phone. She’s that weirdo that tried to run her boyfriend over, she picked up the phone and began to dial Rampart.
~*~
"A guy would have to be crazy to try to blow off a beautiful chi...I mean woman, like you, Naomi," Chet smiled, nervously, "but I really do have to work early in the morning."
"That's okay, I understand," she said, with tears welling up in her eyes and her bottom lip quivering.
Oh great. Chet was suddenly overcome with guilt, I can't stand to see a girl cry!
"Okay, we can go get a cup of coffee or something," he said looking at his watch, "but I have to go home right afterwards!" She quickly recovered from the tears, wrapped her arms around him, and laid her head on his shoulder.
"Oh honey, you're so wonderful," she said, "I knew we were meant to be!"
~*~
Joanne was trying get through to Roy on the phone, but instead came up against a very stubborn nurse.
"Mrs. DeSoto, your husband is asleep and I have strict orders NOT to disturb him!"
"I am his wife, and I demand to speak with my husband," Joanne stated.
"But…"
"Look, I don’t care if he is asleep, I want to speak with him, NOW!" There was a long pause.
"This can’t wait until morning?" The nurse asked. Joanne sighed loudly.
"I'm not sure it can wait. Is there anybody else up there?"
"I wouldn't know, Mrs. DeSoto, now if you don't mind, I have a lot of work to do...please call back in the morning, good night." The nurse tersely hung up the phone.
~*~
Johnny woke up shivering. He could never remember being this miserable. There was hardly a spot on him that didn't hurt. He couldn't see, couldn't stand, and couldn't talk. He moved his hands looking for the call button, and promptly heard something being knocked to the ground. Here we go again.
"Help," he rasped. Oh God, that hurt. He hoped Roy had heard him because he didn't think he should try looking for the button again. Nothing, he felt so isolated. For all he knew, they released Roy and he was alone. He began to shiver uncontrollably. If they had released Roy, he wished they had given him Roy's blankets.
He lay there suffering in silence. He tried to think of something else, but it was so hard to think with a pounding head! If this was one of the Phantoms practical jokes, it wasn’t making him laugh. Speaking of the Phantom, what was it they had told him about Chet. Oh, he went out with Naomi. He remembered the nickname his brother had given her. Crazy Glue, she would attach herself to a man, and nothing would get her off. He chastised himself for being amused. Naomi had problems, heck everyone did. He had heard things. Things kept hush-hush. Things that those outside of the family wouldn’t understand. She was his cousin, and it was up to him to watch out for her.
Finally, he heard the door open, and someone entered the room. Was it a nurse? Damn these eye bandages. Whoever it was stopped at the other bed. Roy must still be here. He waited. Finally, he heard footsteps approach his bed and then someone gently lifted his wrist to take his pulse. He grabbed her arm with his other hand. The nurse startled, pulling away.
"Oh Mr. Gage, I didn't know you were awake," she whispered. She stepped closer to the bed, placing the back of her hand against his cheek. "My, you sure are warm. Let me get your temperature." Johnny frantically motioned for paper, which went unnoticed by his nurse, as she finished getting the information for his chart. "You're temp is really up there. I'm going to call your doctor," she said. "I'll be back." He heard her shoes squeak out of the room, and the door silently close behind her. It made a shushing noise as it went closed. He’d never heard it before. Johnny grimaced. Something popped into his head, "You can’t save the world, Junior." It sounded like something Roy would tell him. "But I have to save Chet." He felt around for the phone, accidentally knocking something to the floor.
"Oops," he muttered. Remembering that even if he did find the phone, it would be difficult to dial it. A few moments later he heard footsteps entering the room.
"Hi there Johnny," spoke Dr. Early. "This pretty nurse here, says you're running a temp," he said, kindly. He decided to try a little game of charades with the doctor, gesturing with his hands, trying to imitate writing.
"I think he wants to write something," Roy's voice floated across the room. Good ol' Roy!
"We thought you were asleep Roy," Early commented.
"How can anyone sleep with Junior over there making so much racket?"
"Johnny, can't this wait until morning?" Dr. Early asked. John vehemently shook his head, no. Dr. Early pulled out a small notepad and pen from his pocket, placing them in John's hand. John immediately began scribbling on the notepad and then handed it to the doctor. "Well John, I guess you should have been a doctor, because I can't read a word of this. Would you care to try, Roy?" Roy took the notepad, studying it for a moment.
"It says something about Chet...and your cousin?" Roy questioned, looking over at Johnny who was nodding his head in agreement. "Your cousin is a stalker?"
Johnny nodded vigorously, then stopped putting his hands up to his head, "Owe," he commented.
"Johnny... Chet's a big boy, he can take care of himself," Roy assured him.
"I agree with Roy," Dr. Early said. "John, you really need to save your energy for getting better!" Johnny sunk back into his pillow, in defeat. He tried to warn them!
~*~
Joanne sat and stared at the phone for several minutes. She had to let someone know about Naomi before it was too late! A thought suddenly occurred to her. She picked up the phone and dialed.
"Rampart General, how may I direct your call?" The woman at the switchboard yawned. At this hour of the night, there weren't enough calls to keep her awake. "I'm sorry," she told the woman on the phone.
"Dr. Brackett has already left for the evening... Yes, Dr. Early is still here but he's with a patient..." She frowned at the caller's persistence. "Yes, I can have him paged. Hold one moment please." The woman switched from switchboard to intercom. "Call for Dr. Early... Call for Dr. Early."
Joanne waited until Joe's familiar voice answered from the other end of the line.
"This is Dr. Early."
"Dr. Early, this is Joanne DeSoto. I'm sorry to bother you so late."
"It's no bother Joanne. Calling to check up on your husband and his partner?"
"Not actually," She replied. "Although, I would appreciate an update."
"Well, I was just in their room and both are resting peacefully for a change. Johnny got a bit upset, something about his cousin and Chet Kelly. I think we got him to let it go for now."
"No!" Joanne insisted. "You can't let it go. I remembered why Johnny's cousin seemed so familiar to me." There was a pause, while Joanne phrased the statement correctly. "She's been arrested before! I remember the whole thing. It was in all the papers. I watched her do it. She tried to run over an old boyfriend and his date." Joanne wound the phone cord around her fingers, hoping Joe would believe her. Dr. Early sounded incredulous over the phone.
"Are you sure it was Johnny's cousin that you saw?"
"Well, at the time I didn't know she was his cousin." Joanne sighed remembering the strange incident. "I had to give a statement, but it never went to court. I don't know why she wasn't arrested - Naomi was like a crazy person. She was screaming something about him being her boyfriend and if she couldn’t be with him, no one would."
~*~
At the little diner, Chet had finished his third cup of coffee. With all the caffeine in my system, I'll never sleep again. I’ve got to do something, he thought. Naomi was really beginning to freak him out. He had to get to work in the morning, but every time he tried to call it a night she would look at him with tear filled eyes. Enough was enough! He looked at her. "Naomi..." this time her lip pouted out, and he melted, again. "I’ve got to use the restroom." She smiled understanding as he stood to excuse himself from the table. The walk to the men’s room seemed like an eternity.
He looked at his watch as the door went closed behind him. Half past one, and he had to be to work at seven. He looked up at the window, trying to determine if his stocky little body would fit through the opening. There wasn’t anything to lift him up that high anyway. Dismissing the great window escape, Chet decided to be a man. He was going home, and there was nothing she could do to stop him. With newfound resolve, he turned and exited the men's room. Naomi was sitting at the table fidgeting. She smiled at Chet as he approached her. He returned her smile.
"I paid the bill," he said. She stood up and they made their way to her car.
"Well," he said. "This is your stop. I really have to be going now. I start work at seven..."
Naomi's lip quivered, "Please don't say goodbye to me... everyone says goodbye to me..."
The Kelly resolve was starting to crumble. Stop, he told himself. He wondered if John could have set this up as a practical joke. She keeps him out until seven and all the guys have a good laugh tomorrow. Hey, that’s it. Good one, Gage, he thought, but not good enough.
"Look, I'm on to you, sister," he said. "I’ll bet you're Gage's 'cousin'. Well, it'll take more than that pigeon can come up with to get Chester B. This date from hell is over."
Naomi's eyes flared. "Date from hell… Date from hell..." All of her anger at men was now directed at Chet. "You'll wish this was a joke. How dare you?" Chet hesitated for a second, now unsure of his judgment. It was a joke right? No one could be this needy.
"Look," he said, "I gotta go." He started to walk away when he heard a clicking sound. He turned to see Naomi pointing a small caliber pistol at him. "Or, I guess I could stay," he said nervously.
~*~
"Joanne, I'm sure Chet can take care of himself. Besides, I really wouldn't know where he could be or how to get a hold of him. Did you try calling him at home?"
"No, I didn’t think of that," Joanne responded.
"He's probable safe and sound in his bed. After all, it is after midnight." Early stated.
"I guess I really should have started there. A-shift is on tomorrow morning, and he's probably sleeping. Thanks."
"No problem Joanne, its not like I was getting any sleep around here, anyway." Early smiled to himself as he thought of how busy his patients were keeping him tonight. "I wouldn't worry about getting a hold of Chet tonight. It’s late and he's probably sound asleep. You've had a rough day and you need your rest, too."
"Yeah, you’re right. I’m so sorry to have bothered you." She hung up the phone, but something kept gnawing at her. She picked up the phone and dialed Chet's number.
After 10 rings, she hung up the phone. It’s well after 1 AM. Where could he be? Something didn't feel right here. But what should she do?
~*~
"You men, you're all alike!" she accused, her voice filled with hate.
"N-no, c-come on N-Naomi, that's n-not entirely true," he stammered. Of all the dames in LA how'd I get stuck with this one? Oh, yeah...Gage, he remembered. I always thought Gage would be the death of me, I never imagined it would happen like this!
"Get back into the car!" she ordered, through clenched teeth.
"Oh come on now!" Chet was tired and growing a little irritated. He’d had it with this woman; there was no way he was getting into her car! "You must be outta your mind!"
"What?" she shrieked, "how dare you!" He turned away from her and walked toward his car. She wouldn't actually shoot me, would she? He wondered. Well, if she does, at least I'm at a hospital! He kept walking, feeling himself shaking a little. Suddenly, he heard a loud noise....
The window of the car next to Chet shattered, causing him to flinch away from the noise. Oh my God, he thought, She’s shooting at me! Quickly, he dove behind the car as another window shattered and he tried crawling away.
"You can’t leave me!" Naomi screamed wildly. "The others tried to leave me, too, but I wouldn’t let them!" Chet continued crawling. This chick was a total loon! There were bushes lining the edge of the parking lot. If only he could get to them maybe, he could hide. Reaching the end of the row of cars, Chet sprinted for the bushes, keeping low in an attempt to not be seen.
"You can’t get away from me!" The deranged woman yelled, as another shot rang out, striking a tree near Chet's head. Great, where were Jon and Ponch when you REALLY needed them?
~*~
Johnny was having a bad night. I shouldn't complain, thought Roy, I honestly feel bad for my partner. Roy was very tired, the meds were working, and his head continued to throb. However, since Early had been in, Johnny had had to endure a new IV for antibiotics, a nasal cannula to help his labored breathing, a cooling blanket for the fever, under which he now lay miserably shivering. And, every time he fell asleep, he startled, calling for Chet or Naomi. He'd gasp, holding his throat. Roy thought the constant parade of medical personnel was bad, but watching his partner suffer, was worse.
Roy sighed, and got out of his bed. He sat next to Johnny, who was tossing and moaning again. Better to wake him, then wait until he cries out, Roy reasoned.
"Johnny," he said softly, shaking his shoulder. "It's a dream. Go back to sleep."
"Roy?" John rasped softly.
"Yeah, don't try to talk." Roy sighed, holding a water cup with a straw to his lips. "Look, I'm gonna call the nurse. I think you need something to help you sleep." Johnny shook his head...no more meds. Roy frowned. Before he could argue, one of the ICU nurses rushed into the room and headed for the window. She jumped when she noticed the men awake.
"Sorry," she said. "But we heard a report of a gunfire incident happening in the diner parking lot. I just wanted to see if I could see anything." Roy went to join her at the window. The sounds of police sirens could now be heard in the distance. I'm getting as bad as Johnny is, he thought as the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He couldn't shake the bad feeling in his stomach.
~*~
In the parking lot, Chet cowered behind the tree, next to the bushes. Hail Mary's ran through his head. He couldn't believe this situation. Finally, all was quiet. He waited and heard nothing. Maybe she had left when she heard the sirens... or, please God, maybe the gun was empty. If so, he had to make his move before she reloaded. Cautiously, he crept out from behind the tree. Then he felt the muzzle of the gun at his temple.
"Hi, lover boy," Naomi said. "What do you say we go for that ride now?" Chet swallowed hard, frantically glancing around. Hope flared in his chest as he saw Jon and Ponch pulling into the lot.
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