Mystery At Station 51

By

Barbara

Mike Stoker was raising the flag as he did every morning, when A-shift was on. But, unbeknownst to him, alone figure stood in the shadows across the street. The eyes of a mad man piercing into the soul of the man hanging the flag. Evil showed as a wayward smile crept up on the face, a voice whispering to no one. “You all will pay for what you did to me! Pay with lives! Just like as you took my life from me!!!”

After, Mike was done with the flag hanging, he joined the other members of station 51 for role call. Captain Stanley then handed out the list of jobs for the day on top of their regular assignments, such as air bottles and so on. Making sure all the equipment was working.

John and Roy were given the dorms, Chet got the latrine, Marco was assign to the bay, while Mike got the kitchen and the dayroom.

After all that was done. Mike, Chet, and Marco went to hang hose out back, while John and Roy had a few fire inspections to do that morning.

If they had only known!

"Hey John?" Caps voice could be heard form his office.

"Ya Cap?" John rushed to see what his cap wanted him for.

"Listen Pal, will you run this report down to the mailbox on the corner, the mailman come around 2 times a day to pick it up and the Chief wants this report ASAP!"

"Sure Cap." John take the envelope from the Cap and headed down toward the mailbox.

It was a nice warm day and John let his mind wonder as he walked down the street, not paying much attention to what went on around him.

Back in front of the station the dark stranger walk up to the curb in front of the bay, a rock in his hand and an evil smile on his face. As he watch, with a rock in his hand, he waited for the right car to come along. It wasn't long until a station wagon came along, the prefect target and with all the might the figure could muster, the rock sailed through the air. Smashing the windshield and surprising the driver, caught off guard the driver jerked the wheel in a fright, as it headed straight for the mailbox and with a very unexpected John Gage.

As John place the letter in the mailbox, he heard the squeal of the tires. He turned to see the car speeding right at him. At first it seemed that his feet would not work, then at the last moment he regained the use of his feet and dove out of the way of the on coming car.

Only seconds later the car slamming into the mailbox sending letters all over the street.

Back inside the station.

Roy was looking for his missing partner. "Cap have you seen Johnny anywhere?"

"I sent him to the mailbox."

"Well that's why I can't find him in the station?"

Roy started to leave the office, when he and the Captain heard the loud crash from outside.

Cap jumped to his feet, as he follow Roy and the rest of the men outside of the station to see what had happened.

From the driveway, the men could see the wreck car and smash mailbox, a few feet away lay Johnny not moving. "As fast as they could Captain Stanley and Roy took off on the dead run." Mike pull the engine out and call it in.

"Chet bring the squad!" Cap shouted orders as he ran to the scene, Cap ran up to the car, while Roy went to his fallen partner.

Cap reached the car first. Inside there were 2 females, both were shaken up, but seem unhurt

"Are you lady's alright?"

"I think so?" the driver answer.

"Did you hit your head and does anything else hurt?"

"No not hurt at all, Gail are you alright?"

"I'm alright Pattie, but I did hit my head and it sure does hurt!" With that Cap told the ladies to stay put and not to move around, they would have them out in a few minutes.

Roy had gotten to Johnny, as the engine and the squad pulled up. Roy was at Johnny's side in a flash.

"JOHNNY!" "Johnny can you hear me?"

"Yes, Roy I hear you!"

"Where do you hurt?"

"I'm alright, gonna be soar for a while," "I didn't see the car until it was almost to late, I barely got out of the way. It had to be in the parking lot huh?"

Johnny started to sit up when, Roy put a hand on his partners chest "Not so fast I want to check you out!"

"Roy I'm alright really, just a little skinned up."

"Johnny stay put! You were out cold when I got here!"

"Was not, I was just resting here for a minute, I did have the wind knocked out of me for a minute.” “I was almost road kill here!"

Once again he try to sit up.

At this moment the Captain ran over to Roy.

"How is he Roy?"

"Cap, I was just telling Roy here that I'm fine!"

"Cap, I think he should go and be checked out, but as always he doesn't want to go!"

"John, pal listen to Roy, lets have you checked out, alright?"

"But Cap!"

"John, we can do this the hard way, I can order you to lay down and let Roy have his way with you, IV, back board the works!" Cap said with an evil smile on his face.

"Uh, right Cap. Mother may I sit up please?"

"Not till I check you over first."

After the Captain was certain that Johnny was going corporate with Roy, he then return to help with the ladies in the car.

********************************

While everyone was out of the station, the lone figure was hiding out in the bushes near by. The figure ducked into the station, then it moved toward the kitchen once again, wearing an evil smile......

********************************

Pattie and Gail, both seemed to be alright.

Office Vince Howard had arrived on the scene and had taken the ladies off to one side to find out what had happened.

"I really don't know, we we're on our way to the mall talking and having a good time. When all of a sudden something came crashing through my windshield." "I think I hit the gas by mistake, then I stomped on the brakes, then the next thing I knew I was smashing into the mail box."

Vince wrote down all that Pattie had told him.

Gail agreed with her friend and then added, "We didn't see him." as she pointed toward Johnny, "Until we stopped, is he gonna be alright?"

"We think he's gonna be alright its a good thing he moved when he did." Vince remarked as he continue to write in his note book.

************************************

Soon the shadow of a person walked out the back door of station 51, unseen by everyone. Once cross the street the figure fell into the shadow unseen. To watch once more what was going on......

***********************************

"Hank can I see you for a minute?" Vince called out to him.

"Sure Vince what's up?" The cap was hoping to find out what had happened.

"What was Johnny doing out here, instead of being in the station?"

Hank smiled "Oh I sent him out here to mail some reports for me…" A look of fear came over his face. "Gage where are the reports?'

Johnny look at the mailbox and pointed. "They we're in there!"

Cap's face lost all color, as he watch Marco hose down the gas and the mail that was laying all over the place. "OH, NO!"

Roy could see that most of the men were trying not to laugh at the their poor Captain.

Soon Gail, Pattie, and Johnny were loaded into the ambulance and Roy rode along with the 3 of them, to keep an eye on the one who would cause the most trouble.

Chet drove the squad, he was also followed by the engine so they can give Chet a lift back to the station.

Once the ambulance arrived at Rampart, the 3 victims were all taken to separate rooms to be check out. Doctor Morton and Doctor Early took the 2 ladies. Pattie was indeed alright, but Gail had a concussion and would have to spend the night at the hospital.

That left Doctor Brackett and Dixie to take the worse one of all Johnny Gage.

"Okay Johnny lets get this done and over without any problems alright?" and then Dix put her hands on her hips and gave him the look.

"Yes mama." was all John said

Brackett began to check out Johnny "Did you lose conscious at all?"

"No Doc." John was gonna get this over with as fast as he could.

"Ummm, Doc he was out cold when I got to him."

"Roy, I done told you that I was not out, I was only trying to catch my breath, I had the wind knocked out of me! See if you don't jump out of the path of a speeding car in the middle of a concrete parking lot, and see if you don't take a break for a moment?"

"Well Roy, he checks out all right, John your gonna be soar for a while, so take it easy alright?"

"You got it doc and thanks!" with that said John jumped down off the table and was gone out the door before anyone could say another word. Dixie shake her head as she follow him out of the room.

"Hey Roy?"

"Yes Doc?" Roy was almost out the door too and stopped.

"I tend to believe you first, so keep an eye on him will ya?"

"Don't I always Doc thanks!" with that Roy hurried to catch his partner. Roy found John already in the squad waiting on him.

"What's the hurry Johnny?"

"Don't want to give Doc a chance to change his mind on me, so let's go."

Roy laughed as he put the squad in drive and headed for their first fire inspection. They hope with a little luck they would be back at the station in time for lunch, and as they had hope the inspection went off without any problems.

After the 3rd inspection was done the 2 men headed back to the station for lunch. They knew by the time that they would have be back in time to help fix lunch.

Roy backed the squad in to the station, as he listened to John complain, "Man Roy I'm starving."

"Is that suppose to surprise me, your always hungry."

"Roy I'm ..." John was cut off by a loud explosion coming from the day room. Both me jumped from the squad as John grabbed the fire extinguisher as he ran to the day room and kitchen area.

John put the fire out in what once was the oven at one time, the rest of the men stood over Marco who was sitting on the floor by the back door.

Roy went to check on Marco. "What happened, Marco are you alright?"

"Ya, I'm just a little stun that's all."

"Cap, What happened"

"Well Roy, Marco here turned on the oven and he got as far as the sink, when the whole thing blew up. Next thing I knew Marco was laying by the door, he must of been blown by the blast. We were all watching tv when it happened. I'm just thankful that no one was in front of the oven when it blew, that blast could of killed someone."

"You all were lucky in that since Cap."

Johnny had been working on putting out the fire in the oven. "Cap, the fire is out and I called dispatch their gonna send someone over from the gas company to check out the oven to see if it was a leak."

"Hey, John seems this is not gonna be our day huh?"

"Looks that way Marco."

After making sure that Marco was indeed alright the men from station51, started the task of cleaning up one big mess. While they working, the man from the gas company showed up and determine that the fire and explosion was caused by a small leak in one of the pipes.

Outside across the street a figure stood and waited in the shadows. HATE wrote upon his face...

After the kitchen was clean up and a fast trip for some burgers, the men sat down to finally eat, as they sat eating Johnny started to feel the soreness that the Doctor had spoke of.

Roy noticed that John was being real quiet and after they were done eating Johnny moved to the couch, very slowly at that.

After seeing this Roy asked the captain to take the squad out of service long enough for Johnny to take a shower, hoping that it would make his soar stiff partner feel a little better.

Soon Johnny was standing under the hot water letting it run over his soar body. The hot water seemed to be working the soreness out, it felt good letting the water run over him. The only problem was that he didn't want to get out of the shower. He wish he could stay there all day.

After about 15 minutes, Roy decided that he would have to run his partner out of the shower.

"Hey, Johnny don't you think it's about time to come out of the shower, so we can put the squad back in service today?" Roy could tell by the moan from the shower that Johnny didn't really want to get out, but he knew they couldn't stay out of service for so long before the chief would be calling asking for the reason.

Johnny turned off the water and stepped back to grab a towel, as he did he felt a pain in his foot

"OUCH!" he cry.

Roy rushed to the shower door. "Johnny you alright?"

"Man I cut my foot"

Roy opened the shower door to find John in a towel. (sorry girls) holding his foot, which had blood running from it.

Roy help John to the bench in front of the lockers. After John was sitting down, Roy ran to the bay doors and called for the first aid kit on the double.

Chet was running in to the locker room with the kit, with the rest of the station's men right behind him.

"What happen Roy?" Cap asked as he was looking over Roy's shoulder?

"Johnny cut his foot in the shower."

"How in the world did you manage that?" Cap was not surprise to see John give him a dirty look.

"I went to get my towel and I cut it, How bad is it Roy?" John had turned back to the man tending to his foot.

"Well looks like your gonna need stitches." "Hey Cap, can you see if you can find out what he cut it on?"

"Right on it Roy."

After a moment or two, Cap step out of the shower with a puzzled look on his face.

"Cap you alright?"

"Uh, Roy can I talk to you for a second." "Chet stay with Gage for a minute pal."

Once in the bay, Roy could tell his captain looked a little nervous.

"Cap what is it?"

"Look what I found in the shower!" the captain held out his hand in which was a razor blade. "I found it wedged in by the back drain." Roy, this is all starting to get a little weird here for me!"

"Me too cap, the first car, now this, do you think someone could be out to get Johnny?" "I mean other then the car all the other stuff has to be aim at Johnny." "Marco may have been in the wrong place?"

"Roy run Johnny over to Rampart in the squad, I think I'm gonna put a call in to Vince and see what he thinks of all this."

"Hey Cap better give Lt. Crockett a call instead, he would know more then Vince on this one?"

"Your right Roy I'll call him instead!"

While Roy return to his partner to help get him back into his uniform and then off to the hospital. Cap had made it an order. Johnny would need a tetanus shot at least.

As soon as the 2 paramedics left for the Rampart. Captain Stanley headed for his office to make a phone call to Lt. Crockett.

The figure in hiding across the street slipped away still unnoticed by anyone.

Roy wheel a protesting John Gage into the emergency room of Rampart.

As soon as Doctor Brackett saw Johnny in the wheelchair, he flew to Roy side,

"ROY!" "What happened?" "I knew I should of kept him here this morning!" The doctor grabbed his pen light from his pocket and began to check John's eye out,

"Doc, hold on." "Quit it will ya!" John was fighting the doctor, pushing his hands a way.

Roy had to laugh a little, he loved to watch Johnny fight when it came to being looked at by a doctor. However Roy knew it was time to step in. "Umm doc, this time its the other end. See there was this razor blade in the shower on the floor and guess who's foot found it?" Brackett stop what he was doing then moving his eyes down to Johnny's foot, all the doctor could think to do was shake his head and open the door for Roy.

"Treatment 2."

As Roy pushed John into the room.

Once in the room John hopped up on the table, so the doctor could get a better look at his foot. Doctor Brackett agree that John would have to have the tetanus shot, but would not need to have the cut stitched up, a good cleaning and to take it easy on the foot for a few days.

Once again Doctor Brackett try to get John to go home and rest but, once again John refused,

"I told Roy it was just a cut!" After sticking his tongue out at Roy. John headed for the squad again.

Once again Brackett requested that Roy keep an eye on John once again.

Mean while back at the station Lt. Crockett had arrived along with with Lt. Maura. Cap show them what he had found in the shower and they figured that someone was out to get Gage. Lt. Maura was the one to ask why they thought this person was out to get Gage? Cap went on to explain about the car and Gage mishap, and the fact that Gage was kind of a playboy, he didn't have the best rep with the female or their men friends. Lt. Crockett told Cap not to worry, he didn't think it was anything to panic over but he would look into it just to be on the safe side.

Lt. Crockett and Lt. Maura were just pulling a way from the station, when Roy back the squad into the bay.

Cap rushed out his door to the squad as soon as it stop "John how the foot Pal?"

"Fine cap no stitches. Hey what's up with Lt. Crockett?"

Cap move toward his office, "Come on in and I will feel you guys in."

Once the 3 were sitting and John foot was up on a chair, the captain began filling the men in.

"John do you know anyone who might want to see you hurt?" No one knew of anyone who would want to hurt Johnny. After a while of talking Cap could tell that this was all starting to bug Gage a little.

"Hey John, its time for Mike to start dinner, so why don't you go sit on the couch for a little while?" Roy took the clue from his captain. "Remember, Doc want you to keep the foot up as much as possible between calls." Without so much as a word of protest, John walked tenderly to the dayroom and sat down on the couch as soon as he did, Marco pulled over a chair, placed a pillow on it and help raised John's foot for him and placed it on the pillow very softly.

As he sat listening and watching the others, all John could think of was how much he hurt and how this day was for the birds. All he wanted do at this moment was wish for it to be 10 o'clock, so he could go climb in his bed and go to sleep. He knew he should go home but, hey the day had been so quiet so he was hope that the rest of the day and the night would be quiet too. John decided to lay back and rest a little while as he did, he could tell that Mike was making chicken there would be nothing baked for a while that was for sure.

Cap and Roy slipped in to the dayroom. Both men sat at the table and watched John as his eye lids slowly closed, and soon they could hear his breathing as he fell fast a sleep.

NO one wanted to wake John, so all the men were as quiet as they could be. They all knew that the day had taken a lot out of the young man, and all of them knew the rest would do him some good.

Dinner was done and Roy decided that Johnny did need to eat, so he set about to wake up the younger paramedic for dinner.

"Johnny wake up dinners ready."

Chet watched as Roy try to wake John up, "Man Gage must be dead..." Cap bopped Chet on the back of the head.

"Hey Cap he didn't even move at the mention of food."

"Chet set the table!" Cap ordered along with a look that told Chet to do it and no back talk.

"UH right cap!"

Cap had been watching Roy and Johnny who still had not moved

"Hey Roy?"

"Its all right Cap he's just really out of it." After a few more minutes John started to stir.

"What.... Roy?"

"Time to eat sleepy head." Roy smiled at his friend.

"Oh, sorry Roy I didn't mean to fall asleep."

Roy noticed that everyone was waiting on them before starting to eat. "Cap you and the guys can go a head and start eating. It may take a few minutes before he awake enough to eat."

Cap nodded and him and the other men started to fill their plates and eat dinner.

"Hey Roy." John seemed to be whispering to him

"Johnny what's wrong?" Roy let the concern show on his face and in his voice.

Have I been a sleep long?"

"About an hour long enough for Mike to fix dinner, why?" Roy could tell that Johnny's face was turning a little red.

"Roy I can't move everything as gotten stiff on me and I can't move!" "Your kidding?" Roy hadn't thought about this happening or he would of not let him sleep.

"Nope!"

From somewhere across the room, you could hear someone start to laugh follow by an,

"OUCH! sorry Cap."

Cap had move from the table and went to Roy.

"Everything all right pal?"

"Cap he has stiffened up, help me get him to the shower?"

"No Roy, just help me get up, I'll have to work it out that's all."

Roy shook his head, it had been one hell of a day, and it was only 7 O'clock and they still had a full night to go.

Roy did as he was ask, he help John get to his feet and then help him walk around the dayroom and then kitchen for a few minutes.

John was starting to feel bad knowing that everyone food was getting cold, due to him, so he moved over to the table and sat down at the table and started to eat with the rest of the guys. After all the men were full and it was time for clean up. John decided he would help Mike with the clean up he didn't want to sit to long for fear he wouldn't be able to move again.

Around 9 o'clock John decided that it was his bed time.

He was sitting on his bed and started to remove his shoes, when the tones dropped!

"Station 51 unknown type rescue 1600 Vine lane 1600 Vine lane time out 1700 hours"

"STATION 51 KMG-365!" Reply the Captain before running to the engine.

John and Roy were pulling out as the captain climbed into his seat.

The men of station 51 raced into the night as the figure in the shadows moved forward once again...

On the way to the scene, the Captain couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead for them, or worse yet what could be going on back at the station with no one there to watch over it.

Soon the engine and the squad arrived at the scene it was a 15 minute drive to the scene.

As the engine pulled up Cap shook his head. "I knew it Mike I just knew it!" The address was once double check with LA was nothing more then a empty lot.

Cap radio LA and ask that a police officer check out the station just to be on the safe side.

"LA 10-4"

It was a long quiet ride back to the station. As they pulled up they saw that Officer Vince Howard was waiting on them. He walked up to the Captain. "Hank the place looks fine, What's up?"

"Had a few accidents to many today and this last call was far out there only to be a false alarm you know?"

"Right Hank, I got here a few minutes ago and the place looks fine. However, do you want me to go in with you and let you check it out?"

"Sure Vince." Mike and Roy back the engine and squad up into the bay and all the men waited inside the vehicles, until Cap and Vince said it was alright to get out.

"Well cap the place checks out alright. You guys look beat why don't you all get some rest? Oh, we have been assigned to keep an eye on the station tonight."

Cap smiled. "Your right Vince, we are all tired it's been a long day. One thing for sure, we all will sleep better knowing that you all are keeping an eye on us."

This time everyone follow John to the dorm and once everyone was in bed, the Captain recheck all the doors one last time before calling it a night too. As he climbed into bed he saw Chet looking at him "Just to be on the safe side is all Chet!" He added before Chet could say a word. It did however take the men a while to get to sleep, but by midnight the men were all finally a sleep.

By 1 am Johnny awoke. He was starting to get soar again and figure a quick hot shower would help. So he quietly went into the locker room. He only turn on the shower light, he didn't want to wake the others, and he knew Roy would stay up with him.

He shut the door and turned the hot water on, slipping under the steady stream of hot water did seem to loosen him up.

He wanted once again to remain in the shower, it help but he decided that he had been in the shower long enough, when he turn off the water and slipped out. He look at the clock he couldn't believe that he had been in the shower for over an hour. After he checked for hidden objects on the floor. he dry off and slipped back in to his turnout pants. Once this was done, John was once again look forward to his own bed.

Across the street a smile widened!!!!!!

John was not at all prepared for what hit him, when he opened the door to go back into the dorm!!!!

When John opened the door he was hit with a very strong smell of natural gas, it was like a fist hitting in his lungs it was so strong.

John went straight for his captain he was the closest to him.

"CAP, CAP! Wake up! Cap!" John knew this was not good he couldn't wake up his Captain, so he started to open the window above the cap's bed. Then he went to Roy's bed and open the window.

Then he try to wake Roy up, but he too wouldn't wake up.

John knew he had to get some help, so he picked up the phone and called LA dispatch. He didn't know if the radio would set the gas off or not. He reported the gas leak and requested an engine company and a squad.

By this time John could feel the gas starting to take its toll on him.

He knew he needed to get to the engine and get an air tanks on if he was gonna get the rest of the men out of the station. As he started for the bay. He could hear the sirens coming.

"Better get the bay doors open!" he said out loud to himself.

As he headed for the door, he started to feel very weak so he held on to the squad until he got to the radio and hit the button to open the main bay door.

At this point he was starting to feel like he was gonna black out so he let himself slid down the wall to the bay floor.

Captain Lanny was the first man through the bay door, he and his men were in full turn out gear. Gage was the first one they found so he was carried out to the waiting paramedic from station110.

Soon Cap, Roy, Chet, Mike and Marco were all laying beside of Johnny, on the grass outside of station 51, all were sporting O2 mask. The paramedic from station 110 were starting get their vitals, when Johnny opened his eyes.

"Hey Johnny, just stay put alright?"

John gave a nod of okay, all the paramedics knew one another and for once John was just to tired to argue with anyone.

"Rampart, this is squad 110 do you copy?"

Doctor Brackett was at the base station when the call came in. "This is Rampart go ahead 110."

"Rampart we have 6 victims, 5 of which are unconscious due to prolong exposure to natural gas, from a broken gas pipe. We have all victims O2 at this time."

110 can you transport at this time?"

"10-4 Rampart we have 3 Ambulances on the scene at this time."

"Go a head and transport. We will start IVs there if needed.

What is your ETA?"

"10-4 ETA is 5 minutes rampart."

As fast as 110 could all the men from station 51 were loaded into Ambulances.

Cap and Marco were loaded in first one.

John and Roy were loaded into the second Ambulance.

110 knew that John would start to fight soon and they let Brackett deal with him.

Mike and Chet were loaded into the last Ambulance.

When the 3 Ambulances arrived at Rampart the 3 doctors and Dixie were ready to receive them however they were not ready for who was in those ambulances. Once Doctor Brackett saw that Johnny was the one who was awake and was giving a fit over having the O2 on, he decided to take Roy and John. Early took Cap and Mike while Morton took Marco and Chet. The paramedics from 110 fill the Doctors in on what they knew about the gas leak at the station.

The only thing they didn't know is why was Gage not affected like the others and how they had found him in the bay not the dorm with the other guys.

John had lay there listening to the guys talk and decided to explain to them, when he reached for the O2 mask, he heard Dixie's voice from beside him.

"If you so much as look like your gonna remove that, I'll slap the restrains on you so fast it'll make your head spin! Got it?"

John nodded a quick yes.

"Good!"

Doctor Brackett and Dixie went to work on Roy first.

They drew blood, checked vitals, checked his eyes for response. After about 15 minutes the men were all starting to show signs of coming around.

Brackett was given regular up dates on the rest of the men and after he was done giving Roy the once over he turned his attention to Johnny. "How you feeling Johnny?"

Johnny started to reach for the O2 mask but stopped looking at Dixie first. She nodded her head that it was alright to remove the mask.

"Tired Doc." "how are the guys doing?"

"Their doing all right, they are holding their own at the moment.

Now how about you tell me how you ended up getting the least of the gas?" Doc was a little confused, John was always the first in line for a trip to the ER but not this time.

John went on to explain to the Doc and Dixie, how he had waken up stiff and sore and had decided to take a shower, He also told them how he had lost track of time and was in the shower for an hour.

Doc explained to John had if he had not taken the shower or if he had stay in the dorm for another 10 to 15 minutes the men would of not made it, and there would be no a shift at station 51 right now.

"John are you still soar and stiff?"

"Yeah, Doc but I think in this case it was a good thing huh?"

Dixie laughed at her young friend. She then replaced the O2 mask back on Johnny's face.

"Dix, lets see if we can get some MS for our young friend here?"

"John right now I want you to get some sleep, you may have gotten the less of the gas." But, right now your body needs the rest, your poor body has taken a beating today."

All the men from station 51 had IVs going and Doc knew that the MS would knock John out.

While John was waiting for the shot to kick in. He lay and watch Roy. He knew that Roy needed to wake up all the way before he would be out of the woods. The other men like Roy, had all started to wake up but none of them were all the way awake.

Finally the shot was given and it wasn't much longer after that, that the shot started to kick in John try to fight it. He wanted to stay awake.

He was almost a sleep when the door to his and Roy's Er room open. He open his eyes a little bit that's all he could manage to do. A small smile came a cross his face. Joanne DeSoto walk in with Dixie beside her.

Dixie headed for Johnny while, Joanne took Roy by the hand. Johnny knew that the dispatcher had called all the family's who were married to let them know where their husbands were.

Joanne saw that Johnny was looking at her, "Johnny I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake you, I just wanted to see Roy for a minute." she then let a smile come cross her face, "I also want to thank you for being a clean freak." she once again smile at her young friend.

John lifted his head and nodded a welcome. He wanted to talk to her and comfort her, but Dixie had other plans. She pushed his head back down on the pillow and in a strong voice she said. "SLEEP!"

Johnny hated to admit it, but he was wore out, he also knew that the pain killer was helping on that part too. With Dixie standing over him he finally letting the medication do its job and in no time he was sound a sleep.

Joanne sat with Roy for a few more minutes. Then Dixie made her leave she could wait outside, until Roy and the others were admitted then she could stay with him.

All the guys were on O2 and on IVs they would all be there for a while. They had to all wake up and they had to wait for all their blood gases levels to return to normal. They also had to be sure that no effects came from the gas either, like memory loss and headaches.

Doctor Brackett wanted to keep Johnny around so he could get some rest. He knew that if he released him he wouldn't go home and rest he would stay at the hospital worrying about his friends.

Joanne sat in the hallway waiting on some news about the men and her husband. She was not surprise to see Nancy Stanley walking down the hall toward her. She had just come from Captain and Mikes room.

"Nancy how is Hank and Mike doing?"

"Joanne!" she was not surprised to see her there either.

"Well Hank is almost all the way awake. Doc says that by the time they get him to his room he'll be more a wake and more alert. Mike is still out of it. It looks like it going be a while before they know anything on him. How's Roy, John and the others doing?"

"Well Roy is still out of it too, he stirred a few times.

Johnny is alright doc has him drugged, he wanted him to get some rest. As for Chet and Marco they haven't told me anything."

Nancy sat beside Joanne before speaking again.

"Jo I can't believe this happening at the station. At a fire yes, but not at the station. What in the world happened?" Joanne wished that she knew all that had happened but she didn't. "All I know is, there was a gas leak at the station.

"I was also told that for some reason in the middle of the night Johnny thought he was dirty. From what I can figure out he decided to take a shower in the middle of the night. If he hadn't they would of all died at the station. All I can think of is to thank God that Johnny is a clean freak."

No one had saw Dixie approach. When she let out a little laugh at Joanne's statement about clean freak. Dixie decided to fill in the 2 women in on why Gage was in the shower at that hour.

"Wow, that poor boy has been though a lot today no wonder. Joanne said they had Johnny drugged." Dix smiled once again, "Doc, knew that he didn't get the worse of the gas, but he also knows that John would not leave here and get some rest until the guy were all alright. That way he sleeping like a baby and not acting like one!"

This time the 2 women laughed. Joanne asked, "How are Chet and Marco doing?"

"Chet is a wake and Marco is almost there. It seems they sleep farthest from the kitchen I guess."

The 3 ladies sat and talked until they brought the men out to take them up stairs. Nancy was glad to see that Doctor Early was right Hank was a wake but was still a little fuzzy on what had happen to them. One thing all the men who were awake were sharing one massive headache.

Roy and Mike were the only 2 that were still out of it, Roy stirred every so often but, Mike didn't even do that.

Nancy followed Hank to his room with doctor Early. He knew that Hank was gonna want to be filled in on what had happened and how his men were all doing.

After they filled Hank in. He want to fight them all he wanted to go check on his men him self. Nancy and Joe assured him that his men were in good hands. "Can't believe that Johnny wasn't the main victim here this time, talk about a shocker."

After the Cap settled down, he too was feeling tired. Joe left the 2 of them alone, Cap seemed to be sleeping. Caps eyes suddenly flew open. "Doc!" he yelled after the doctor. Nancy almost felt as she flew out of her chair

Dr Early came running back in Hank's room.

"Hanks, What's wrong?"

"Doc I need to see Lt. Crockett and Lt. Maura as soon as you can get them here!"

"Hank calm down and tell me what's wrong?"

"Doc, after the stove blew up to day the gas company came and shut the main gas line down to the station. Someone had to turned it back on for it to leak again."

"Okay, Hank I'll go call them now if you promise me you will calm down and rest until they get here?"

"Okay doc if you do me one more favor?"

"What's that Hank?"

" Have a guard put on all my men's room please?"

"Sure if that's what it takes to get you to calm down, and get some rest."

Doctor Early did as Hank had asked him too. He didn't want to upset the captain anymore then he had too. He called security as soon as he had left the captain's room. He had them place a guard on the doors of all 3 rooms and then called Lt. Crockett like he was asked too.

Meanwhile.

Joanne sat in the next room with John and Roy. Wondering how much longer before Roy would wake up, all them were up, but Roy and Mike? Johnny was in the next bed sleeping like a log. Doctor Brackett had really knocked him out good. she couldn't help but laugh, while she watch John sleep, he had that arm over his eyes.

"I'm down here." A quite voice said. These words caused Joanne to jump as she lowered her eyes to see Roy's eyes look up at her with a smile. "Welcome back!" she gave her husband a big kiss and then called for the nurse. The nurse poke her head in the door,

"Yes Mrs. DeSoto?"

"Will you let the doctors know that Roy is fully awake now?"

"Yes right away."

Roy looked at his wife, then around the room. "What happened? Is Johnny alright?" He was worried about his partner in the next bed.

"Roy, it's alright there was a gas leak at the station and the doctor had knocked Johnny out so he could get some sleep."

In no time at all Kel and Dix were giving Roy the once over looking for lasting effects from the gas. Like the others Roy was surprise to find out that Johnny's middle of the night shower had saved them all.

Roy smiled at his partner as he too began to drift off back to sleep.

Mike Stoker was the last one to wake up about an hour after Roy did. It seemed that Mike was the worse of all the men he slept closest to the kitchen at the station.

Crockett and Maura arrived about an hour after Cap's request.

He filled them in on what he once again suspecting.

"Cap you were right, the gas company said that the gas main was back on and they had shut it off."

I hate to admit it, but it looks like Gage is in trouble and you all are just in the way!"

The Lt. went on to tell the captain that they were going to place police officers outside of each door to keep an eye on his men. He was also told that when the men all went home they would keep an officer with Gage, unless the others become in danger then they would get protection too.

"You can hide, but I will still find you all!" A figure said outside of the room listening to all what was said...

Once Cap was sure that the men would be safe, he could finally rest and that made his doctor happy.

Gage woke with at early sunlight. He opened his eyes and try to remember where he was and why. At first everything was fuzzy until he saw Roy sleeping in the bed next to him. "Roy?" he called out the best he could but his throat was dry. John noticed a cup of water beside his bed on the night stand so he reached for it.

"OHHH!" as soon as he moved for the cup, he realized that was a big mistake. With the pain came the memory of all that had happened the day before including the fact that the Doctor had knocked him out. This was the first time since the cars near miss, that he had stayed put for several hours without moving some part of him. He was soar and stiff and couldn't move at all!

Roy was almost awaking up, when he heard John cry out. That brought the man's eyes open in a flash, "Johnny you alright?"

"Roy ummm man I am so sore and stiff."

"You want the nurse?"

"Naaa, You alright?"

"Yes thanks to you, from what I hear you save our lives, and I think I'll buzz the nurse anyway." Roy pushed the button for the nurse and soon Dixie and Doctor Brackett walked in to the room.

"Morning Roy. What can I do for you this early in the morning?" Dixie was wearing the same pretty smile that she always wore around them.

"Morning Dix, Doc. Me nothing. Junior over there I think has a little problem."

Doctor Brackett went over to John's bed, " Well Johnny what seems to be the problem?"

"Slept to good and too long."

Brackett smiled, "yeah, I know I'm the one who knocked you out remember?"

"Oh, then your the one I want to smack huh." "Look Doc nothing personal but that was a bad move."

"Oh, and how do you figure that Johnny, you sure do look better this morning."

"Looks can fool you. I may look better but, I don't feel better doc! I'm so stiff and sore that, I can't even move muscle. Thanks alot doc."

Doctor Brackett had a hard time keeping from laughing, "Sorry, John.

Dix, lets get our young friend here 3cc of MS and lets get some warming blankets under him, then we'll start working those muscles."

All the while Roy lay in his bed fighting off the need to bust out laughing himself. Roy need to get his mind off Johnny before he lost it.

"Hey Doc!" "How are the other guys doing this morning?"

Brackett turned to face Roy this time. "Cap, Chet and Marco all have normal blood gases this morning. They will be leaving here later this morning. You and Mike still have elevated levels so well see how they do this afternoon before we decided on you two."

"That's good news Doc. What about our hero over there?"

"Well Roy that depends on him. Will see how well he can move after lunch or supper." Doc then took out his pen light and bent over Roy in a low voice he added, "Between you and me tomorrow he needs the rest right now." He then put the light away and headed for the door. "John call the nurse don't try to get up by yourself. Roy make sure he calls or you do it."

"Right Doc. later Doc."

The day passed quietly, as Doc had said after dinner. Mike and Roy were ready to head home. Johnny however was not very happy.

He too was feeling better but the doctors said he could go home in the morning. They didn't want him to get home and stiffen up again and have to come back. After, trying his best to get the Doctors to let him go home and failing, he decided it was time to watch a little TV. After about an hour of this he decided it was time to call it a night. The faster he went to sleep the faster morning would come and he could get out of here. During the night the nurse kept an eye on John and the night passed quietly and quickly. When Johnny woke up, he was feeling a lot better and to his surprise he was nowhere near as sore or stiff. By the time Doctor Brackett made his way to Johnny's room, he was up dressed and ready to go home.

"Well, Johnny I see your feeling better today?"

"I sure am thanks Doc."

"Alright, John you can go home. But like I told the rest of the guys you all need to rest. No going back to work in 4 days. Got it?"

"Sure, do and Doc you don't have to worry about us." "The Chief has closed the station down, until they get the gas main and the oven fixed, so we won't be back to work before next week they said."

"That's good news. Now John you go home rest that foot, the cut looks good, lets keep it that way. Oh and try to stay out of trouble and my hospital will ya please?"

John laughed, "Don't worry Doc, I already told the Captain that he can take his own mail to the mailbox from now on."

When John had his discharge papers and was ready to leave. Roy showed up to take him to the station to get his land rover. There was a lot of activity at the station when Roy and Johnny arrived.

They were not surprised to see that Lt. Crockett and Lt. Maura were also at the station waiting on them to arrive.

"Hi Lt. What's up?"

"Roy , John. well we figured you would want to get your stuff out of your lockers, and I wanted to see if you all had anything missing from them,."

"Okay Lt."

The 2 detectives followed the paramedics into the locker room. As they entered the locker room they saw a young lady standing there. she nodded to the Lt.'s as the entered.

"Roy, John, this is Officer Ria." John was the first to smile and say hello and he offered that famous Gage smile too. Roy shake his head and offered a hello himself.

"Guys" she smiled and shook hands with the 2 men.

Officer Crockett then decided it was time to fill Gage in,

"John, Officer Ria is here, because your Captain is bull headed. she has been assigned to you for awhile."

"What do you mean by assigned to me? Okay what gives?" John was a little confused.

"Well with the rash of accident you been having here lately, your Captain and long with rest of us. Have decided to play it a little safe for a while. We want to make sure you don't have any more accidents anytime soon. alright?"

"Um Lt. I really don't think this is necessary, besides Kris is not gonna be happy with this one."

"Kris?"

Roy decided to take over for Johnny. "Kris is Johnnys new girlfreind they have been together for over a month now. Lets put it this way Kris is one to keep Romeo's eyes were they belong."

John let out a little snicker "yeah or she will black them both for me." "Maura and Crockett couldn't help but laugh at that one.

"Hey he's not joking." Roy added, "He gets caught looking and she will deck him!" "Oh, hey John be careful, we dont want her to put you back in the hospital and her in jail."

"Ha Ha Ha." John turned as he and Roy started to get all of their stuff out of the lockers till they returned.

As John headed for his car, Roy let him know that he would be home all day, so if he needed anything or help with Kris, he could call him. As John climbed in the land rover, Ria climbed in to her car ready to follow the man home.

It took John about 1/2 an hour to reach the ranch. When he pulled in he could see Kris standing in the doorway. He had been told that they did call Kris the night before and filling her in on what had happened. Kris had decided to put John to bed when he get home and made sure he stay there. She was a little surprised to see the car pull up behind the land rover. John waited for Ria to join him and they both walked toward the porch, he could see Kris's face and he knew she was not looking to happy.

"Hi!" said John with his voice squeak, because he was nervous. He still looked wore out and moved a little stiff. "Ria this is Kris, Kris this is Ria." Ria said hi but Kris just looked at her.

"John we need to get inside now." John and Ria started for the door but, Kris just stood there with a look on her face and told John, that someone was gonna get hurt.

"Kris come on you need to come inside with us.

"John who is that and why is she here?"

"Not out here we need to get inside!" With that John grabbed her by the arm and dragged her inside!

"Kris this if Officer Ria." After, they finally got Kris settled down, John went in to lay down for a while and left the 2 ladies to talk. While they talked Ria kept an eye outside on the driveway and around the house. Kris kept an eye on Johnny. He seemed to be resting good but not peacefully.

Roy had left the station after John did, he was also looking forward to his warm soft bed and his family. As he was on his way home his mind was on getting home. He was thinking about his partner. He hoped he was alright with Kris.

Roy was taking the expressway home when he heard that all forlorn sound of, "POP!!"

Roy fought the car until, he got it off to the side of the road. He was tired and he hated the fact that he was gonna have to change a tire, but he did know that the sooner he got it started the sooner he get home. So, he started about his work and in no time he was done with the task and putting the jack away. He placed the jack where it belonged and headed back to the drivers side of the car.

He wasn't sure why? But for some reason as he walked, something made him turn around. All at once a truck was headed right for him. He didn't have time to get into the car or to run around it, so he did the only thing he could as fast as he could. He jumped over the hood of the car! Roy went sliding across the hood of the car landing on the other side hard and fast with a thump.

The truck just missed him.

Roy wasn't sure whose voice he was hearing. All he did know was that his head hurt and so did his back.

"Roy? Roy can you hear me?"

Roy rubbed his eyes trying to bring the face into focus. After a minute or two Roy could tell it was Vince Howard standing over him.

"Vince?"

"Yeah, Roy its me. Are you alright?"

"I think so. What happened?'

"I was gonna ask you that same question." Roy started to raise up, "No Roy stay put." Vince placed a hand on his chest and lowered him back down, "I called for a squad already. I think you need to be checked out, to be on the safe side."

"Your right Vince." Roy knew what smile on Vince's face meant, he had seen it many times when Vince had won a fight with John about going to the hospital to be check out.

While Roy was waiting for the squad, he try to think about what happened.

Did you have a flat tire?" Roy lay back with his eyes closed he try to remember what happened, he remembered leaving the hospital and going to the station.

Then he remembered that darn flat tire he had. He then filled Vince in on the truck that had been speeding down the road and how it had almost ran him down.

He had just finished filling Vince in on what had happened when he heard that familiar sound of the squad pulling up.

"Roy what happened?"

"Hey, Dwyer someone try to run me over but missed. I'm alright I'm a little sore and my head hurts a bit."

"Were you knocked out?" Before Roy could answer Vince took over. "Like a rock. He was out when I got here and it took me about 5 minutes to get him to wake up."

Dwyer checked out Roy's eyes and then called Rampart.

"Well Roy looks like you get a return trip to Rampart to be on the safe side."

It wasn't long before Roy was at Rampart letting the doctor give him the once over. Doctor Brackett shook his head, "Roy I could have swore I told you all to go home and take it easy for a while?"

"That's where I was heading Doc. When I got a flat tire, then I almost became road kill!"

Doc finished giving Roy the once over. "Roy everything looks good but, I want you back here right away if your headache gets worse or if anything new surfaces, you know what to watch for."

"Right Doc I will thanks."

Captain Stanley had done as he was told too and Nancy made him go to bed and take a nap. But by noon the next day he knew that John was home and he was tired of being in bed and he wanted to do something other then sleep. Nancy had forbid him to do anything other then sit on the porch and watch the girls play frisbies in the yard.

He thought it was nice that even though they were teenagers, they still loved to toss and play frisbies. That was until it flew on the porch roof.

After a few minutes of looking at the teenagers poor sad faces. Hank went and got his ladder out, so he could get the wayward frisbie. As soon as he made sure that Nancy was nowhere around he climbed the ladder quickly as he was about to climb on to the roof, he heard a sound that sent a cold chills through his whole body. It was the sound of a rung on the ladder breaking. Before Hank could make a move he felt himself falling thought the air and landing on the grass with a hard THUMP!

Brenda and Sarah watched as their father fell to the ground! Brenda ran to her father and Sarah ran to get their mother!

"MOM! MOM!" Sarah's yelling caused her mom to drop the dish she was drying

"Sarah don't yell like that!"

"Mom! come quick dad fell off the porch roof and he's got to be hurt!"

"WHAT!" Nancy started to follow Sarah out of the house but she stopped and called for the squad first then she joined her daughters out on the lawn with her husband.

"Hank! Hank! are you alright?" She asked as she knelt down beside him.

"WOW!" was all he said back to her.

"Don't move the squad is on its way. Girls what happened?" she asked as she turned to Brenda.

"He fell from the top of the ladder, when one of the rungs broke. He landed real hard and he just laying there, he didn't move!"

Hank was laying still for a few more minutes then he decided that he was fine and started to get up.

However Nancy and the girls keep the Fire Captain where he was.

Soon the squad showed up along with Officer Howard. They couldn't believe their eyes.

"Captain are you all right?"

Vince other question was? "Hank what happened?"

"Guys guy's I'm all right! One of the rungs broke and I fell.

Nancy and the girls won't let me move." Dwyer laughed and added.

"Good girl that Nancy. Now let me have a look at you. Then I will see what Rampart has to say. We're you knocked out at all?"

"No just had the wind knocked out of me. I was a little stunned but nothing seems to hurt except for my back. Its a little sore right now."

Dwyer went to work on checking the Captain out and getting the vitals for Rampart. While Dwyer checked on Hank. Vince went to check out the ladder.

"Hank that rung split right in the middle and its a perfect break too."

"Vince that's kind of funny I just bought that ladder last week." While they had talked Dwyer had been on the Bio-phone with Doctor Brackett, "Hank doc wants to see you just to be on the safe side." "You know we should start a special squad just for the members of Station 51." Hank shot Dwyer a look of concern at that last statement "What did you mean by that last remark ?"

"Nothing Cap. Just after what happened the other night, and with Roy almost getting ran over by a car. It seems you guys have had some bad luck the last 3 days that's all."

"Roy! Is he alright?"

"Yes he's got a headache and like you a little sore and will be for a few days. Vince took Roy home and he's fine."

Vince then stepped in "Hank calm down he's fine. He blew a tire and after he changed it. A truck got a little close. He's home right now with Joanne and the kids."

No one, seemed to notice the figure standing across the street watching as Hank Stanley was loaded in to the ambulance. Once again an evil smile appeared. “Soon real soon!” And he walked away...

Meanwhile

Vince followed the ambulance to the hospital. He wanted to make sure that none of the other men from Station 51 were being treated. Brackett gave Hank the once over too and gave him the same advice that he had given Roy. If there were any problems or major change to get back there right a way. Only with Hank he gave one extra piece of advice and that was to keep off ladders after all that was not a way to rest up.

Vince waited for Hank, he had told Nancy that he would give Hank a ride home just like he had done for Roy that morning. Before Hank would leave the hospital he asked Vince to put a call into Officer Ria and let her know what all had going on. Maybe it was just a way to draw attention off Johnny, so she need to keep an eye on the place really close and to make sure that Johnny was alright.

At the ranch Kris grabbed the phone on the first ring. She then handed the phone over to Officer Ria. "Hey Vince, What's up?"

"Hey Ria looks like some stuff has been happening with the rest of the guys from the station. It may be a way to draw us off of Johnny. So keep a real close eye on him. Ria Hank wants to talk to John for a minute."

"I'm sorry Vince, John came in and went right to bed. He's been up once or twice to get a drink or use the restroom. Right now he's back to sleep. You want me to have him call Hank when he gets up again?"

"Alright Ria have him call Hank and keep that eye on him we like Johnny."

"Will do Vince."

After Ria hung up the phone, she went to check on her shadow who was sleeping. She then joined Kris at the kitchen table.

"Boy, Kris that man can really sleep can he?"

"Yep, if he's tired enough, he could sleep though an earthquake and has, from what I was told. What did Vince want anyway?"

"It seems that the guys that from John's station had had a few accidents today. So they wanted to make sure that sleeping beautie in there was alright."

The ladies continue to sit at the table laughing and talking. Taking turns checking in on Johnny. What they didn't know was that there was someone new at the ranch watching everything that was going on in the house.

The evil still on the strangers face. The stranger had been making rounds and soon one by one they all would be gone. Just like the life the stranger once had, thanks to these men was now over...

It was almost dark when John Gage stepped out of his room. Kris was working on dinner and Ria was looking out the window. He was stiff and sore. Ria and Kris both looked at him they couldn't help but think that, he look worse now then when he got home.

Kris went right up to him "John are you alright?"

"Ya I'm just stiff and sore. I think I slept to long and to hard. Now I'm gonna pay for it."

Kris helped him, to the couch and then went about making her dinner.

Ria however had the hard part she had to fill John in on the days events. Of course once he heard what had happened, he called Roy right away. Roy was in the middle of his dinner when John called, the first thing that Roy did was tell John to calm down. He and the captain were both fine, but a little sore like him but fine. John talked to Roy for a few minutes longer then asked Roy to come and spend the day at the Ranch with them all tomorrow. He then called Cap. Cap seemed to relax right on the phone when he heard Johns voice, and was told that he was fine. He had slept the whole day away. John invited Cap to the ranch the next day too, but Nancy was refusing to let Hank set one foot outside of the house for the next 2 days.

Once John had ate his dinner. Called everyone to make sure they were all alright. He went outside with Ria to care for his horses. John then took a shower. After all that he noticed that he was once again ready for bed. Even though Ria would be there all night Kris decided that she would stay too. John knew that Kris was staying to keep an eye on him and Ria and he didn't care he was just too tired and sore to care right now.

By sun up, John didn't seem to be as sore and his foot didn't seem to hurt as much either. After all he had been through the last several days John was looking forward to spending a day relaxing around the ranch. It was to be a warm sunny day.

With Roy coming over he thought it would be great to go swimming at the lake. They could relax and have fun at the same time.

Roy arrived after breakfast he too was glad to be spending the day at the ranch with Johnny. Having a whole week off just less then a month since his vacation. Roy was sure that by tomorrow Joanne would have a list a mile long for him to do around the house.

Once Roy got there and they all said hi.

Roy went with John to help him brush down the horses and move them to the back pasture. For some reason Roy loved to help John with the horse. He never thought of it as work and he enjoyed it, he didn't know why but he did know that Johnny enjoyed it too. You could see it on his face as he worked.

After they got the horses moved they headed back to the barn to get started on the worse job of them all. Cleaning out the barn and the horse stables.

They were both enjoying the walk back toward the barn. It gave them time to walk and talk about different things.

Roy was always on alert, so he was the first to notice that John was starting to limp on his cut foot. He asked John if he wanted to stop and rest for a bit, but John said they could rest at the house once he got there. Soon they were almost back to the house, the closer they got the better they could see Ria with her binoculars watching John like a hawk.

By the time they reached the house Kris had lunch ready for the 4 of them to eat. She wanted them to eat before returning to the barn to work.

While they ate Roy decided to find out if Ria was bored yet or was she use to getting the boring assignments. She told him that she was never bored, besides she thought it was kind of neat to see how other people lived, and in this case it was a first to be on a ranch with real horses ranch.

After they were all done with lunch John and Roy had planned on heading back to the barn, but John decided that he wanted to head to the lake first. John didn't want to tell Roy cause he knew that Roy would start worrying, but he was starting to get sore again and his foot was really starting to hurt. John told the ladies to go change and he and Roy would start for the lake.

This all puzzled Roy, he knew that John wanted the barn done about 2:30 and it was now 1:30, they could be almost done with the barn by now.

As they walked Roy noticed that John was walking slower and slower and his limping was getting worse and worse.

"Now I get it." Roy said.

"Get what Roy?"

"When I got here this morning you were ready to build a barn and now you don't even want the one you got."

"Roy what are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about your foot. It really starting to bother you again isn't it? Do you want me to take a look at it?"

"Down mother Down, yes my foot is a little sore. You do remember a razor blade and a shower right? No I don't need you to look at it, doc did yesterday. I haven't been on it much the last 2 days and I think that by the time we get done at the lake it, will fill much better and then we will finish the barn up alright? Now can we please just enjoy our selves?"

"Alright Jr." Roy shook his head only John Gage would put having fun before anything else like someone trying to kill him.

In no time the guys were at the lake and the girls were not far behind them. John had been right they were all having a good time.

About 4 O'clock, it was time to head back to the barn so the ladies could get dinner started. John and Roy could get the barn done at the same time. Roy and John changed back into work clothes and headed back to the barn. Before John had put his shoes back on Roy had insisted that John let him take a look at his foot. After Roy checked it out, he found that the foot was healing fine and there was no sign of infection.

John took this moment to stick his tough out at Roy, as I told you so sort of manor.

Soon the girls were cooking and the guys were on their way to the barn. When they reached the barn John wanted to get the work done as fast as they could, because he was hungry.

Roy and he each started on different ends of the barn. Soon both men were lost in their work and before he knew it John was done with the first stall and moved on to the next one. Roy wasn't use to working in a stall so it was taking him a little longer but they both were working at a brisk pace.

While the 2 men worked they didn't notice that they were being watched by a pair of eyes that belonged to a mad, mad person. One with no heart and was pure evil on the inside...

As they worked, Roy could see in John's eyes that he loved this kind of work and that Station 51 was his second love.

Horses were his first love, and he could not picture John without other either one of his loves.

As Roy watched John, he heard a sound that he had heard hundreds of times before. But, where was it coming from, he scanned the barn to find out where the sound was coming from?

After a moment or 2. Roy's eyes saw what he was looking for, one of the main beam holding the barn roof up was cracking.

"Johnny the beam!" he yelled as he ran toward his friend.

At first John was confused, but then when he saw Roy running.

He to turned and started to run for the door when the whole thing came crashing down on them.

Kris and Ria were just finishing up with dinner when they heard a loud roar from outside. At first they just looked at each other then in a heart beat, it dawned on them what they had heard and they ran for the door. They were not ready to see what lay a head for them the barn was no longer standing it was one big pile of wood.

"Kris call for help!" "Johnny ! ROY!" she yelled as she ran for the barn.

Kris did as she was told she called for help. Then ran back to the barn with Ria to help look for the guys. They were both yelling for the men who were buried under all that stuff. As they yelled out. Ria couldn't help but think she was right here and she didn't see it coming.

"Johnny! Roy!" they continue to call out, but there was no answer from the barn.

In side the barn Roy followed by John, they had almost made it out of the barn, when the roof came crashing in on them.

At first Roy wasn't sure where he was or what had happened after a few moments, his head cleared and it all came back to him,

"The Barn! Johnny !!"

"What!"

"You alright?"

"Yeah, just a little dazed.

What about you, you alright?"

"Yeah a headache. What in the world made that beam break like that?"

"Roy, I think we both know the answer to that one, the one answer I want to know is how are we gonna get out of here?"

"Well, I'm sure the ladies have called the fire department and they will be here soon. I also think this is one time we let them do all the work! How's your foot and your head doing?"

"Sore and a little fuzzy, Why?"

"Oh, no reason it just seem to be the right question to ask you this week."

"Oh ha, ha, ha." John knew that Roy was worried, as always and not just for him but was there anymore surprises in this barn for them?

It wasn't long before Ria heard the sirens coming up the road toward the ranch. She waited until the engine stopped and Captain Lanny climbed down before she ran to him.

She informed him that John and Roy were still inside the barn.

With that the men got to work searching for there missing friends.

Ria watched as Lt. Crockett and Lt. Maura pulled into the ranch.

Maura was the first to speak "What the hell happened?"

"Lt. I don't know I was in the house with Kris, when we heard the barn collapse and we came running out and this is what we saw."

"Was there an explosion?"

"Not that we heard of. There has been no fire or smoke since it folded up."

Maura still wanted more information, "Has anything happened today? Anything strange going on? Someone hanging around?"

"No, Roy been here since right after breakfast, and he has been with Gage all day. So we've had no trouble I been keeping taps on him."

With no answer to get. Lt. Crockett and Lt. Maura decided to walk around the barn looking for some kind of clue, as to what had happened here.

It didn't take long before the news spread that John and Roy were in trouble. Hank Stanley arrived with Marco, Mike and Chet all 4 began helping with removing the barn off their friends.

Inside the fallen barn, the 2 men were starting to hear the searchers getting closer by the minute. Roy could tell that they would be out of the barn with in an hour. He was glad his head hurt from the bump he had taken, and if his hurt then John had to hurt too.

"Johnny?"

"I'm not a sleep I'm just resting."

"Yeah, I know. It sounds like we will be out of here soon. How's your head?"

"Oh just fine I have a headache. How's yours?"

"The same." Roy replied.

"Well Roy, if I know Rampart and does looks like were going to be spending the night there."

"Yes, I know and because of you! They will make me stay too."

"Sorry Roy."

Roy laugh at his partner and once again began listening to the workers, as they got closer to getting them out of the barn. Roy had been right it hadn't even been a full hour when he could hear the men talking. "Hey over here!" Johnny had lied to Roy and had managed to fall a sleep on him. The worse part was that Roy was unable to get him to wake up for him.

"Roy!"

"Over here Cap!"

"Roy are you two alright?"

"We will be once we get out of here!"

"Hang in there pal we will have you out of here in a few minutes."

At first Roy wonder why Captain Stanley was working, but figured that the rest of station 51's crew were right behind their Captain. At that moment a wall of debris came crashing down around them. Roy dove to cover Johnny so that he would not be hurt by the fallen barn.

"Hey Roy are we interrupting something here."

"It had to be you to stick your face in here first didn't it?"

With a smile, "Chester B to the rescue."

"Hey Roy you guys alright?"

"Were alright Chet. I think we will make it." Roy smiled at Chet.

"Then why is Gage still out like a rock?"

"He knew it was you coming so he decided to catch up on some shut eye." Roy knew that Chet worried about Johnny but would never come right out and say so. Marco followed by the paramedics from 110 arrived next. Roy was check out by Brice while Dwyer checked out Johnny. He too found it hard to get his dark haired friend to wake up.

"Roy, I really must insist on a stokes for you."

"Brice I'm fine. I have a bump on the head and a small headache. No where in the rule book does it say a bump and a headache requires a stokes, so can we go now. I think Johnny needs to get to Rampart sometime today."

Roy's temper was getting short. He knew he needed to lie down but it would be quicker if he just walked to the ambulance. He was right 5 minutes later he was sitting beside Johnny while Dwyer radioed rampart to let them know about Johnny condition. Roy was also glad that Brice was not the one riding in the ambulance with them.

"Roy? Doctor Brackett wants to know how long Johnny's been out."

"He was a little fuzzy right after the barn came down. He complained of a headache and then about half and hour before you all got to us he fell asleep on me.

I haven't been able to wake him up."

After Dwyer relayed the info to the doctor, then he asked "Roy doc wants to know how you are feeling?"

"Well let's see I have a bit of a headache, I am dirty and tired. I'm fine." Roy couldn't believe that Dwyer repeated back all he had said to the doctor. It soon they arrived at Rampart, Dixie was waiting for Roy with a wheelchair and he was taken to room 3 and Johnny was taken in to room 2.

It didn't take long for them to check the 2 men out and just as they had predicted they would both have to stay over night for observation. By the time the doctors were done examining Johnny he was finally starting to come around. He had a concussion and would have to be woke up every hour or so. Roy's test was negative but the doctor wanted to keep him to be on the safe side and keep a close eye on him.

Evening came and Roy wasn't too surprised to see Joanne walk thought the door, but he was surprised to see Ria walk thought the door behind her.

"Hi Jo."

"Hi honey how you feeling?"

"Oh I'm fine just decided to camp out here again."

"Roy how is Johnny doing?"

"Concussion, he's still out of it most of the time right now but hell live. Hi Ria what brings you here."

"Oh, I had to come check up on the you and Johnny, besides after what happened to day I'm going to be doing a lot of paper work.

Roy did you or Johnny see anyone around the barn or ranch before the explosion today?"

"No we were cleaning the barn. When I heard the cracking sound, we ran but not before the roof came down on us."

"Thanks Roy. Well I'll let you get some rest if you thing of anything let me know alright? Oh and we have a guard outside of Johnny's room once again. I'll get out of here and let you get some rest."

As she headed for the door Roy stopped her, "Ria?"

"Yes Roy?"

"I just wanted to thank you for all that you done for us. I'm sure Johnny will later. But we enjoyed having you look over us, and we look forward to working with you again."

"Thanks Roy. I'm sure I'm not done with that partner of yours just yet. Let me know if you think of anything else?"

"We will and thanks again." Ria said goodbye to Joanne too before she left the room. Once Ria was gone Joanne sat beside Roy before speaking, "Roy are you all sure someone is out to get Johnny?"

"Jo, how can you ask that after all that's happened the last few days?"

"No Roy. What I mean is that every time something has happened it has not always involved him, Hank and you were hurt and Johnny was in bed a sleep. Why did this person try to get to him at the ranch instead of going after Hank and you?"

"Jo I think you're on to some thing maybe you should let the detectives know this right away."

"I think Maura and Crockett are still in Johnny's room. I'll tell them right now. You get some rest."

Joanne headed straight for Johnny's room. Just like she said, Maura and Crockett were talking to Johnny. She went in the room. Johnny looked up.

"Joanne hi. How's Roy Doing?"

"Oh he's doing fine. How about yourself?"

"Well beside having a killer headache. I have no clue why they have to make me stay here again."

Lt. Crockett smiled at the young man. He knew from past encounters with Johnny that the man would only be happy at the hospital if there was a pretty nurse taking care of him.

"Johnny, I don't call being in and out of conscious for 4 hours with a concussion being alright." She then turned to the 2 officers, "May I speak to the 2 of you out side for a minute please?"

Once they were all outside, Joanne filled them in on what her and Roy had figured out a little while ago. The Lt. agreed with Joanne and they both agreed to have guards put on each other the men's doors and at their houses.

The night went off without any problems.

By morning Roy was ready to leave as soon as his paper work was ready.

As soon, as he was released the first thing Roy did was head for Johnny's room. Roy was so glad to see his friend awake, wanted to see for himself that his friend was alright. Roy also knew that Johnny might need a ride home from the hospital. He was however surprised to see Johnny still lying in the bed.

"Hey Johnny doc not been in to see you yet?"

"He's been here can't leave until tomorrow! But I see your out of here?"

"Yes. Hey what's the story? Why are they keeping you a day longer?"

Before Johnny could answer the door opened and in walked Doctor Brackett. "Roy let me answer that one for you? It seems our friend here is still on the dizzy side when he gets up regardless what he tells you."

John just shook his head at Roy.

"He's always been a little dizzy, huh John?"

Johnny lay with his arm over his eyes, "I'm not talking."

"That's a first for you Johnny isn't it?" Brackett just could not seem to keep the comment to himself.

Roy once again felt sorry for his friend, "Hey Johnny I will call or maybe stop back by to night to see how your doing." Roy knew his partner was still out of it when he's reply was,

"Why bother if all I do is lie?"

Doctor Brackett was shocked at his answer. "Hey John I never said that."

John reached down and pulled his cover up without even lifting his arm off his eyes. "I'm tired! Will you all leave?" His tone was not asking it was telling. This told the doctor something was wrong and from the look on Roy's face he was starting to worry also.

"John does your head hurt?"

"Yes doc! No thanks to you, whatever you had that nurse give me just made my head hurt worse!"

Alarms went off in the doctors head, "Johnny how long ago and which nurse?"

"About 10 minutes before you two came in here and I don't know she looked new to me. Why?"

The doctor turned to Roy, "Get Early in here stat and get me a nurse."

"Doc what's wrong?" he was shocked at what he just heard the doc say.

"I didn't order any meds for Johnny, and we have no new nurses at Rampart." Roy flew from the room.

"John you still with me?"

"Yes"

"Now listen to me! Did the nurse give you a shot?"

"No, she put it in the IV bag." John's voice was starting to sound weak.

"Johnny stay awake for me. Uncover your eyes."

"No I'm tired."

The doctor knew that Johnny was going to fight him. The doctor reached over and removed the arm from Johnny's eyes. Then the doctor turned off the IV drip and removed the tubing from Johnny's arm, so no more of the drug would enter his body.

"Kel? What's going on?" Early asked as Dixie and Roy flew in the room behind the older doctor.

"I think some one poisoned Gage!"

"What!" that was Doctor Bracket and Roy's clue to fill the new comers in on what John had told them.

Roy moved back by the door and watched as the team worked on his friend. He was not surprised to see them draw blood. He was not ready for them to put his friend on oxygen. All Roy could do was watch as they worked to save his best friends life. As they worked Dixie looked over at Roy she could tell he was starting to really worry about Johnny and that he too was starting to look bad. Dixie left the 2 doctors to work and went and took the older paramedic by the hand and led him from the room. As they walked out into the hall way they saw Joanne getting off the elevator.

Once she saw Roy she hurried to her husband, "Roy what's wrong? Are you alright?" Dixie took it upon herself to fill Joanne in as they walked Roy to a near by chair.

"Roy I have to get back I will let you know some thing as soon as I can." She then went back to help with Johnny.

When she returned to the room she helped put John on the heart machine to watch for any problems to arise. She hoped they would have some answers soon the young man was not looking to good at this point and all they need was the lab results back.

Out in the hall way Joanne decided that something was wrong with Roy and it was not concern for Johnny either. Roy was not moving, he was becoming almost lifeless at this point. That's when Joanne decided to take Roy back to Johnny's room. Roy had taken 2 steps, when he fell to the floor in a heap! Joanne ran as fast as she could in to Johnny's room. Dixie turned and saw her friends face.

"Joanne what's wrong?"

"Help please, something wrong with Roy! He's collapsed in the hallway!" Dixie and Doctor Brackett ran out of the room to help Roy while Early stayed with Johnny.

Kel what is it?"

"Looks like the same thing as Gage! Dix get me some help and we'll put him in the room with Johnny!"

Soon Roy and John were in the same room waiting for the blood work to come back. It took the lab about 15 minutes to come up with the name of the drug used on the paramedics and it took Brackett all of 30 seconds to bark out the treatment for it.

John's vitals seemed to level out pretty fast but, Roy was not responding to the treatment at all. This was once again causing Joanne to worry.

Doctor Brackett assured Joanne that this was normal. The drugs that were given to the men, worked faster on someone who was up and active, since Johnny had been a sleep, and Roy as getting ready to leave. Roy would take longer to recover. He also told her that from the blood work they were sure that Roy had gotten his drug before Johnny had, so it had been in his system longer. Time moved slowly for Joanne, but she was soon relieved when Roy opened his eyes and started to talk.

"Jo? What happened and where am I?"

Doctor Early approach the man and began to explain what had happened to him and Gage. By the time he was finishing up Lt. Crockett and Lt. Maura followed by Captain Stanley. Everyone who needed to know was called as soon as they had discovered the men have been drugged, Early was done.

Lt. Crockett stepped up to Roy. "Roy who gave you, you're last shot?" "One of the nurses something about it would help with the stiffness why?

Doctor Early step in at this point, "Roy we didn't order anything for your stiffness or Johnny's headache."

Maura was next to ask him question. "Roy which nurse gave you the shot?"

After thinking for a minute Roy answered with a puzzled look. "Don't know, she said she was new and I hadn't seen her before."

Lt Maura turned toward Doctor Early, so she could ask him some question that doctor could answer. "We haven't hired no new nurses in over 2 months and that boy here!" points toward Johnny, "Knows all the nurses that work in this hospital."

Johnny had not moved or even said a word, while they all talked and this worried Roy. "Doc how is Johnny doing."

"Johnny woke up a while ago, he was hurting pretty much good, so we gave him a little MS and now he's resting well. Don't worry he's going to be alright too."

"Good he needs the rest." Roy's face seemed to change, "A while ago? How long have I been out?"

Doctor Early smiled, "Well lets see you went out about 10 am and it's now 5 pm."

"7 hours?" Roy was alarmed at this.

Dixie had been standing quietly, while they had all been talking.

"Roy that was 10 am yesterday, try more like a day and a half."

Roy could tell Joanne was not happy, "Wow that stuff really put our lights out didn't it."

"Darn near killed you both, it's a good thing Johnny was being a pain in the butt or we would of let you walk right out of here and not even noticed anything was wrong with Johnny until it was to late."

Roy looked at Dixie "That close Dix?"

"Yes Roy that close."

Lt Maura went straight back to work. She asked Roy if he could give them a detailed description of the nurse, he was not able too she see her face pretty much turned away from him or was in the shadows.

Captain Stanley had decided to add his 2 cents worth at this time. "Well its seems this person not only wants to get Gage but also Desoto!"

Maura stepped in once again, "Captain I think its safe to say that it's a not a person, but a woman who's out to get them now we have to find out who and why."

"That, would be a loaded question if we were just talking about Gage but not Desoto."

The detective raised and eyebrow.

Captain Stanley explain, "You see Lt., Gage has had a lot of lady friends in his life, but not Desoto. He and Joanne have been together since they were kids."

Lt. Crockett decided to have Maura set out, and go through anyone that the men may have made mad at them like an arsonist. She was told the check on females that might want to get back at the 2 of them.

Lt Maura suggested that Captain Stanley go through his records and see if he could come up with any leads.

As soon as they had agreed. Doc Early told everyone it was time to leave. He order Captain Stanley home to bed, Cap had been there since, what happen to John and Roy and he needed to get some rest. Dr. Early, did allow Joanne to stay. She had only gotten there for about an hour before Roy woke up. But Roy would have to get some rest or he would kick Joanne out too.

"Doc!" Roy asked, "How long before Johnny and I can get out of here?" "Well, we'll see how you and Johnny do the rest of the day and we'll see how much rest you get. We'll try for tomorrow morning how does that sound?"

"Sounds great Doc thanks." Roy was starting to get tired so he did as the doctor had ordered and went to sleep. He was hoping by the time he woke up, Johnny would be awake.

Roy was sleeping when he was woken up by the smell of food, he opened his eyes, he knew it had to be lunch time and he was starving.

"Oh boy food!"

Roy knew that voice, and he was sure glad to hear it, "How you feeling Johnny?"

"Roy hey how are you feeling?”

“I'm doing all right except for the fact that they haven't fed me forever and I am starving!"

"Something never change huh Johnny? Doc says you were pretty soar earlier?"

Johnny laughed a little, "Sure was but he gave me something and it knocked me out, I just woke up a little while ago. I got up and worked out some of the stiffness, hope they let me out of here soon. Hey wonder where the food is and what we are having?"

Roy smiled at his friend when it came to food, his stomach always took over. Roy then filled Johnny in on what the doctor had said, "Great cause in a few days we are back to work, and I for one can't wait!” “This week has been worse then working with Brice at a 4-alarm fire at the same time."

Roy looked around the room, "Johnny where is Joanne?"

“She went to get something to eat and will be back in a little while. Where is the food I am starving?"

Soon, the nurse arrived with their trays, after a few bites the 2 men decided that no matter how hungry they are. they we're not going to eat the mystery meat and wanted something else! Johnny was not ready for the food to be the worse ever.

When, Joanne returned she carried a bag with burgers and fries. She had tried the mystery meat also and knew her 2 favorite guys would be throwing a fit over the food by now. So she asked the doctors if it was alright and they agreed to the food. After the men had filled their stomach. Joanne tucked both of them in and gave them a kiss on the cheek and gave them both orders to stay in bed and get some rest if they wanted to get out of there.

Both men wanted to get out of the hospital and back home, so they went right to sleep. So they won't make the doctors or nurses mad at them. They both were out as soon as their eyes closed, so Roy had no idea what time it was when he a woke. He didn't know at first what made him wake up, after a moment he knew. Someone was in the room. And after last time he decided to keep an eye on whoever it was. He was starting to get sick of being at Rampart. Roy looked around the room and was surprise to see that the sun was up. He was even more surprise when he realized it was Liz standing by Johnny's bed. Liz was Chet's steady girlfriend.

"Liz?" He whispered as she walked toward Roy's bed.

"Hi Roy how are you feeling?"

"Fine why are you here?"

Liz smiled at the man, and she knew he would get a kick out of her answer. "Well you see Chet decided that the 2 of you needed to be watched over while you slept. That way, you 2 could get out of here and no one would be able to get to either you. Johnny is still a sleep. I have this watch Chet had the last one, he is now sleeping in the hall. So go back to sleep I'll be here if you need anything."

"Thanks Liz and thank Chet for me too." With that said Roy closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

Roy was once again awake, but someone entering his room. He knew this time that it was 7 am and he knew this, because he could smell the food. So he decided that it was time to sit up and get ready to eat. What Roy did not like was the fact that Johnny was still a sleep. "Liz?"

"Morning Roy."

"Liz has Johnny been a wake at all?"

"No!" she answered as she looked at Johnny. "But man can he snore, I though about asking for some ear plugs for me."

Roy did not like the fact that the food was here and Johnny was not a wake. "Hey Liz, maybe you should wake Johnny up so his food don't get cold. We all know he gets grumpy when his foods cold." He didn't want to tell her that he was starting to worry about him.

Liz went about waking him up. "Gage hey Gage!" Johnny had his arm over his eyes and didn't seem to be waking up at all.

Chet walked into the room followed by Dixie. "Good morning. How are my guys today?" She asked wearing her smile as always.

"Morning Dix. We are doing alright I think, Johnny doesn't seem to want to wake up and eat and I have to admit I am starting to get a little worried about him." Roy confessed to her.

Chet walked toward Johnny and added to Roy as he went, "Nothing new there huh Roy?" Chet walked over to Johnny and removed Gage's arm from over this eyes and then picked up a piece of bacon and waved it back and fourth under the sleeping mans nose. "All you need is a little food." Chet added as he waved the bacon. As if by clue Gage started to open his eyes.

"Johnny, you alright?" Roy was not going to wait until he was all the way awake. Johnny seemed to not hear the question. "Man I kept having the same dream over and over again." He shook his head as if to clear a picture out of his mind. As he sat up and opened his eyes. No one in the room was prepared for the cry of fright that Gage let lose. A look of horror came across his face. Roy was out of his bed and a cross the room to his partner in a flash. "Johnny!"

Johnny caught his breath and then realized what he had done.

"Oh man I am so sorry."

Johnny was still a little pale. "That nightmare I kept having was Chet standing over me and not leaving then I open my eyes and who do I see Chet standing over me."

Roy started to laugh, but Chet found nothing funny about what Gage had done. Dixie was not laughing either. She knew there had to be more to the dream then, what he was letting on to. Johnny was still shaking and she was worried. So Dixie excused herself. Roy told Johnny to relax and to eat his breakfast, before he returned to his own bed and started to eating his own breakfast.

Chet and Liz, decided that it would be alright to leave at this point that way Gage would relax and they could get some sleep of their own.

"Guys we will see you later. Johnny relax and hang in there." And then they headed for home.

As they left the room Doctor Brackett and Dixie walked in, "Hi guys. Johnny what's going on?"

Johnny shot Dixie and evil look, "I'm alright. I had a bad dream that shook me up a little and then I open my eyes to see Chet standing there and I freaked a little."

"Johnny I want you to tell me all about the dream and I don't want bits and pieces. I want the whole thing this time!" Doctor Brackett was not smiling. "Doc I already went over all this that's all I remember and then Chet was standing over me." Johnny was not telling all but he could not seem to get his mind to remember the entire dream.

Roy decided to see if he could change the subject. He could tell by the look on Johnny face he was starting to get uncomfortable with this. "Doc, when can I get out of here and take him with me?" Roy asked smiling at his friend. "Well with the expectation of what happened with Johnny this morning everything looks good. Johnny you are going to have someone with you at the ranch at all times right?"

"Yes. Roy and I will both have police following us around keeping an eye on us."

"Alright then. Johnny I want someone to stay with you and keep an eye on you incase this happens again. You both can return to work in what 3 days?" Both of the men nodded yes at the doctor. "Okay then, I want you both back in here in 2 days to be check out before returning to work. Johnny you have your officer come see me before you leave here." Both men agreed to the doctors orders.

Once the doctor was out of the room the 2 paramedics grinned at each other and was on the phone in a flash. Soon Kris and Joanne arrived together followed by Officer Ria and Office Vince Howard. A short time later Lt Crockett and Lt. Maura arrived also.

After everyone was in the room in came Doctor Brackett and Dixie. "Hey Roy, why don't we bug out of here right now. With all these people I don't think they will miss us."

"Yes we would be long gone before they missed us." Roy was laughing when he heard the order from the door way. "Quiet boys!" Everyone turned to look at Captain Stanley. "Hi Cap." Roy smiled at him too.

"Well, John and Roy you are officially released as soon as I see the officers and Kris out in the hall way in just a minute." Ria and Kris smiled at Johnny before they followed the doctor out of the room in to the hall way.

Roy had been surprised to Officer Vince Howard walk in to the room. "Hey Vince what bring you here today?" Lt. Maura decided to answer for the officer. "Well Roy we decided that Ria could stay with Kris and Johnny again and we are going to let Vince stay with you and Joanne." Joanne decided to take over from here. "I sent the kids to stay with my mother for a while. This way we have more room for Vince. You and I don't have to worry so much about them right now."

"How come Gage gets the girl and I get Vince?"

"I guess I am just lucky partner." Johnny laughed as he headed for the bathroom to get dressed before Roy could get there.

Out in the hall way the Doctor told the ladies to keep an eye on John. The nightmares may be from the new head injury or from all that has happened to the man lately. The ladies assured the doctor that they would keep a close eye on Johnny. In no time the 2 men were flying out the door, "I'll see you in 2 days Roy."

"Yep I want to go back to work on Monday with the rest of the guys. Johnny be careful and I don't want you back here before Saturday." "You too Roy."

And everyone headed home.

Vince and Roy spent the day watching TV and playing cards. The rules we're, that once they got to the house the first day home they were not allowed to go anywhere not even outside. They we're to rest all day. The officer had to go with them where ever they went too.

Johnny however got to the ranch and saw his barn for the first time. At first Johnny just stood there looking at the barn. He did not move nor did he say anything. Kris and Ria started to get worried. Kris told Ria to go call the hospital and that's when Johnny finally bent over and started to pick up pieces of the wood from the barn.

"John, honey we need to get you inside, your not suppose to be out here." He looked at Kris. She could see the hurt in his eyes and he nodded his head and turned and walked in the house with her. As, Kris walked in to the house she filled the officer in on how it had taken Johnny years of hard work to get his ranch up and running and then this happens to him.

Ria walked around the ranch. She had a bad feeling and this time no one was going to get near Gage and hurt him again. Not as long as she was protecting him.

Ria was right to be worried. because across the way a woman stood with binoculars trained on the house. With a look of hatred on her face that could be read a mile away.

“So, now you know that I am not a man!” “I believe the time has come that all shall die, it maybe one by one or all together. Only you hold the answer to this.” She was so content on watching the house. The wheels in her sick and damaged mind kept constantly turning and turning and turning.

Johnny and Roy could not believe how fast the 2 days had gone by. They were even more surprised that there had been no more attacks on them, in the past 2 days. The time had come for them to return to the doctor. So they could get their releases to return with the others the next day.

“One more day, Roy and I are back to work!” John was so excited that he could not even sit still. "I know Johnny and will you sit down you are driving me nuts!" Roy knew that his younger friend couldn't help it.

"I'm sorry Roy. I just can't help it, I can't wait till Monday. I wonder what all they did to the station? Cap called last night and said they did something."

"Cap called me last night too. By the way Johnny how your head and foot doing? You look better almost that entire road rash it gone."

"I feel better. Doc put the worse 2 people on me. All Ria and Kris let me do was sleep and rest. I haven't even started on the barn clean up yet."

"Um speaking of sleep anymore bad dreams?"

"No every time I try to get to sleep, I feel like someone is watching me and when I open my eyes there stands Kris or Ria watching me sleep.” “Hey do they know who this lady out to get us is yet?"

Roy shook his head, "Cap says no."

"Man, Roy how are we going to be able to work with some nut out to get us?"

"Well, Cap says he has the answer to that one too." Roy stopped as Doctor Brackett followed by Dixie came into the room.

"Hi guys," The men said their hellos to everyone. The men set out and told the doctor everything and that they were both doing fine. Johnny was not surprised to find out that Kris had already talked to the doctor before he came in to the room. After a little check up the doctor okay them both to return to work. "Johnny if the nightmares return I want to know about it."

"Doc I work with a nightmare and I'm sure I will run into him at some point tomorrow."

Dix shook her head at him, "Johnny you know what he means!"

Johnny was smiling until Dixie pointed that finger at him. As soon as the doc Okayed them to leave they were met by their officers. Soon they stepped out of the treatment room. Both men headed home for their last day before returning to work.

Johnny had decided that since the insurance company was going to pay for the barn and that he wanted to get his horse back from the pastor he was going home and start cleaning that mess up that once was his barn. The doctor had released him. So Kris couldn't fight him on this one. He knew he might have to fight with Ria but, he was tired of sitting around all day doing nothing, he had been babied for days now and he knew that tomorrow if they had a big fire he would not be ready to handle it if he didn't work out some.

Roy knew that once he got home him and Vince would have to go back to doing nothing because. He was not going to fight with Joanne because she always won.

****************

Johnny didn't think he would have to call the doctor get win his fight with Kris. But all in all he did win, and with the doctor's okay and under Ria's watchful eye he set out to remove the barn. He and the rest of the guys were glad that nothing happened the rest of the day or on Sunday. They were all ready to return to work on Monday.

***************

Monday morning came and Johnny was up an hour before his clock went off. He was not going to be late his first day back. Roy too had also gotten up way early. Without even meaning too then Johnny, Roy, Ria and Vince all headed for the station at the same time.

“Today is the day! All shall be removed from this earth!” With this said she walked in to the station with a smile on her face.

Captain Stanley was the first to arrive at the station on Monday. He was glad to be back at home in his station. He had been filled in on the entire news, on what new around the station, like the new door closer on the bay doors and that the front doors where his office was now had a lock on it and stayed locked at all times. They had installed a door bell that rang through out the whole station. There were also emergency shut off switches and smoke detectors with sprinklers and alarms systems that would alert LA if there were any major problems. As he walked toward the Day Room he was not surprised to see a pair of legs sticking out from under the engine. He knew that the Engine and the Squad had been sitting for a while and that LA would wanted to have them checked before they went into service. So he smiled at the feet before saying his hello "Morning Chris how is Mike's baby today?"

Chris wheeled herself out from under the engine. "She's doing fine Captain." Smiled the young lady. All the men at station 51 liked Chris she had been though some tuff times and the men had all been there for her.

"I bet you guys are glad to be back?"

"That we are Chris that we are!"

Chris went back to work and Cap went to change in to his uniform before the guys started to arrive. By the time Hank had changed Chris had started the coffee going in the kitchen. Mike and Marco were the first to arrive in the kitchen but only after Mike had stopped to check the engine out and Marco checked his tank and mask out before they headed into the dayroom. Both of the men said hello as they entered the room.

"Hi Chris how is the engine?" Chris smiled at Mike at least this time she got hello out of him.

"She's fine and ready to go." No one seemed to pay any attention to the almost evil smile she gave Mike. Soon the group was joined by Chet, of course Chet came rushing into the room he was once again on a mission. His badge was missing. "Oh come on Chet it's our first day back!" Chet didn't answer the Captain he was just to busy looking every place for the missing badge. He offered no words to his Captain as he left the room.

John, Roy and their tag a longs were the last to arrive at the station. Vince followed the 2 men into the locker room so they could change into their uniforms. As soon as they were done they all met in the dayroom with the rest of the station men.

John's mood was even happier when he walked in and saw Chris at the table. He had always liked Chris.

"Hey baby. How about going out this Friday?"

"What with you?" Johnny smiled at her his best smile.

"Sorry Johnny not this year." Everyone laughed it was the same answer that the got every time it was more like a game with the 2 of them.

"Oh well maybe next year." Once everyone at sat down with their morning coffee the Captain spoke up, "Ok guys we need to go over a few things before we get to work this morning." He motioned for all of them to have a seat.

As the men and Ria took their seats, Chris look up, "Captain, I will say goodbye now so you all can get to work. You all have a good day." All offered up a goodbye as she left the room. Chris climbed in to the company truck where she sat for a moment before speaking to herself.

“Nena died because of you all and now you all will die!” A Hugh smile crossed her face as she put the truck in drive and pulled away from the station.

After the Captain had his talk with the men they all set about doing their house keeping as they called it. They were all were excited about all the new changes that had been done to their station. However by the time lunch rolled around the Captain was surprised that the entire day the tones had not dropped.

Chris sat parked down the street; she was starting to get mad. 4 hours had passed and there had been no calls. As she reached in to her pocket for some change the words came out, Well it‘s for that to change!” And she headed for a pay phone.

The Captain however was not surprised when the men sat down at the table to eat the tones dropped. Station 51 house fire 1234 Spanky lane . 1 2 3 4 Spanky lane . time out 12:15

The men jumped into action. Each of them went to their spots for the first time in a weeks. Each of them wore a smile just glad to be back at what they love to do. As the squad and the engine pulled away from the station the men could see the bay door shutting and Vince's car pull in behind the engine he was to following them to all their runs.

"Roy this is great!" John was smiling at his partner of many years, "I missed working, and I was beginning to think we were not going to get a run at all today."

"I know I was starting to get worried too there too." As station 51 rolled down the street the radio came to life once again,

"Station 51 cancel"

Roy took his helmet off as he slowed the squad down and looked for a place to turn around while John answered L.A. "Hey Johnny, lets run over to Rampart for a bit." Roy glanced over at Johnny he seemed to be a million miles away. "Johnny?" But still John's face was blank. "GAGE! You alright?"

Then without warning John came to life, "Rampart! That's it!" Roy was now confused by his partner's reaction. "Johnny you alright?"

"Roy I know who the nurse was that poisoned us at the hospital!"

"Johnny are you sure?"

"Yes and man Roy I don't believe it!"

Roy was starting to go nuts. He wanted to know who it was and John was dragging it on and on like he always does. "Johnny who!" He asked as he brought the squad to a red light.

What the 2 men hadn't noticed, that Mike was stomping hard on the brake pedal! "Cap no brakes!”

“The squad!" Cap reached for the microphone but it was too late!

Why, he would never know, but as Roy brake Squad to a stop. He looked in his mirror and seeing the engine bearing down on them at full speed.

"OH NO!" he yelled and stomped on the gas pedal but that was all he had time for the engine slammed in to the back of the squad at full speed.

When the engine hit the squad it pushed the squad and the 2 men thru the intersection and straight into a crop of trees. In a matter of seconds. The afternoon was filled with the sound of twisting metal and the sounds of breaking glass, followed by the eerie sound of silence.

Captain Stanley jerked awake when he came around. At first he did not seem to remember what had happened to him, and then it all came crashing back to him. He first looked over at Mike who was unconscious. "Chet, Marco?" He called out. "Cap?" he heard his name and then saw Chet looking in the window at him,

"You alright Cap?"

"Yeah how's Mike doing?"

"I don't know yet."

Cap raised his head to look at Chet, "where is Marco? John? Roy?"

"Cap, calm down Vince went to check the guys out in the squad, he has already called in for another station and 2 more squads."

"Chet are you alright?"

Chet smiled always looking after his men, "Marco and I got a way with a few bumps and bruises that's about it." Chet went back to his worrying about his captain, "Cap do you hurt any where other then your head?" "No, I think that's all, and it's nothing to worry about. Where is Vince at?"

Vince had reached the squad and was a little worried about what he would find inside the wrecked squad. He reached to John side first. The dark haired paramedic was out cold along with his partner. He could tell John had a head injury. No doubt from where his head hit the wind shield. He looked over at Roy he could tell he was breathing. But like John was, he was unconscious. Vince wished that the squads would hurry and get here, he headed back to the engine. As he neared the engine he could hear Hank as he walked back "Hank calm down they are both alive. Can you tell me what happened?"

"Mike said that the brakes were gone, he tried to stop but couldn't. Vince it wasn't his fault, there was just no time to warn the squad!" He could tell that the captain was getting upset and they didn't want to make any of his injuries worse then what they we're. "Hank calm down I know Mike was not to blame." As Hank did as Vince asked they could hear the sirens coming down the road.

The men from Station 110 arrived with Captain Lanny and the squad from station 8 arrived. All the men stood with their mouths open at what they saw the accident, they went to work. All of their faces showed nothing but shock. No one moved until Craig Brice went right to work as if he did not know who the victims were. He started giving orders at once. "Bellingham you take Stoker. Joni and Dwyer take Gage and Desoto. I will take the Captain." No one was surprised that Brice called Joni by her first name. As long as she had been with the department she had refused to give him any help with the pronunciation of her name, just to be on the evil side of Brice.

Chet, could not help but smile at the man, at least he was not taking Gage because it would be Brice that be needing a doctor if Gage found out. The men hopped down off the engine so everyone could get to work on the injured men.

The captain was not happy to see Brice's face looking at him through the window, "Captain are you hurt any where?"

"No just a bump on the head." Brice seemed to ignore the Captain, and turned straight to Chet. "Kelly was he unconscious at all?" Chet looked at Brice, "Yes only for a minute or two. Seems to know where he is and what's going on and is not complaining of any pain at all."

"Well Captain the book advises here to go a head and put you on a backboard and a C-collar, so that is what I am going to do now."

Brice could not see from where he was standing but all 3 of the men rolled their eyes at the paramedic and his rule book.

Bellingham had decided the same steps for Mike who was still unconscious and showed no signs of waking up. Both the men contacted Rampart on the first two men where the Doctor's agreed to their treatment and added oxygen for Mike and IVs for both them.

Dwyer took Johnny. He knew John would not let Joni get any work done with all the flirting he would do with her. John The dark haired friend was also out cold. He had a cut on his forehead which Dwyer patched with a 4x4 bandage. John was starting to come a round a bit, he was trying to move his head and calling out a name, but no one could figure out what it was. Dwyer figured that it was the same old partner thing happening and he was worrying about Roy instead of himself. John was giving the same treatment as Mike and Captain Stanley.

Joni had her hands full with Roy he had also started to come around. He however was crying out in pain, but was not awake enough to answer any questions as to where the pain was coming from. "Easy Roy! It's me Joni." Joni calmed the man the best she could. She contacted Rampart also and they ordered the same however they asked her to try once again to find where his pain was. If there was no sign of head trauma they could get him something for pain. "Roy come on can you hear me, it's me Joni. You need to tell me where it hurts." Roy let one word answers out to answer her, "Ohhhh... chest.. ribs.. Johnny... guys?" She could tell it was hard for him to talk and hard for him to breath. Joni said. "Take it easy Roy, the guys are all being taken care of right now." She called Rampart and filled them in Doctor Brackett was sure it was damage done by the steering wheel on impact. He also wanted to be on the safe side with Roy as he was with the others and orders a backboard and full spinal precaution.

Once they got their orders from Rampart it did not seem to take long before Roy was ready to be removed from the wrecked squad. Once he was placed on the stretcher to be loaded in to the ambulance Roy called out for Vince. Joni did not like the fact that Roy was trying to talk he needed to rest as much as he could as to not hurt him self any more.

Vince came as soon as Chet went and got him. "Roy easy Vince is here."

"Johnny knows who it is Vince." Vince wasn't sure if Roy dreaming or if Gage really knew who was out to get them." Roy looked at Vince with an almost plead in his eyes, "Protect Johnny please." When Vince didn't answer right a way Roy became very agitated, so he had to help Joni calm him down so he agreed. Not to leave Johnny's side not even for a moment.

Vince did as he had promised he went to Dwyer to see if he could help out with Johnny's treatment. He help get the man out of the squad on to his backboard. When Dwyer had called Rampart on Johnny he was giving the same steps to follow, Brackett however asked Dwyer to do a pupil reaction check for him. Once he was done he relayed to the doctor that they were reactive but sluggish.

30 minutes after help had arrived on the scene all the men from station 51 we're loaded into waiting ambulances. Marco and Chet were also loading into ambulances. So the doctors could check them out too, just to be on the safe side.

As he had promised Vince rode in the ambulance with Johnny and Roy. Roy was fully awake now and all he did was keep an eye on Johnny. Johnny however was still out and Roy wished his friend would wake up.

Soon the Ambulance arrived at the door to Rampart emergency department. All the men were unloaded and taken to different treatment rooms. Chet and Marco were taken to a room with Doctor Morton. Cap and Mike were taken to Doctor Early and Johnny and Roy went to Doctor Brackett along with Dixie.

First Morton checked out Chet and Marco, they both checked out fine, but he wanted to keep the men over night just to keep an eye on them. This didn't go over well with the 2 firefighters. So the men talked and it was decided that since they were not going anywhere until they knew that all the men were alright. They also agreed not to leave until Morton thought they were alright and gave his okay.

Doctor Early had started with Mike, he was still unconscious and was not responding to pain at all. He order a full skull series and a full blood work up. He wanted x-rays of the man chest to check for internal injuries. Then doctor then turned to the captain, "Hank how are you feeling?"

"Well like I told Brice. I think I will live but it didn't say that in the rule book so here I lay."

"Hank the guys said that you we're out for a few minutes? Does your head hurt, or your neck hurt?" Hank thought for a second before answering the doctor. "My head hurts a little and so does my arm other than that I am fine." The doctor checked the captain's eyes and then ordered x-rays of the arm and a full skull series. The man knew it would be useless to fight with the man. Besides this way he could stay with Mike for a while. "Hey Doc how's my men doing." "Well, we're waiting on some film on Mike and as for the rest I will have to go ask. Which I will do as soon as I finish up with you. So, lay back and relax so I can get these x-rays done."

When, he was done he went to check on the paramedics. He was glad the Captain wanted to find out about his men that way, he could also check on his friends and that was a good excuse to use. When Joe walked into the room he could see that Roy was laying and watching everything that Brackett was doing and saying. Doctor Brackett was talking to Johnny the best he could at that time.

"Johnny? Johnny? Can you hear me?"

"Umm Umm" was all the seemed to come out of the man's mouth.

"Joe, how is Mike and Hank doing?" Brackett asked his friend as entered the room, he was busy checking Johnny's eyes for reaction,

"Well Hank looks like a concussion and maybe a broken arm, we are waiting on the films now. Mike is not a wake yet looks like he may have a bad concussion, and some internal injuries and a few broken ribs we are waiting on the films on him too."

Dr Early walked over the older of the 2 paramedics, "How are you doing Roy?"

"Well not to bad considering. I have a few broken ribs for sure and a bump on the head that will have a black eye to go with it."

Roy watched as everyone left the room.

Once he and Johnny were all alone, he slowly got out of his bed and went to his friend's side. "Johnny? Its Roy, come on partner you know who did this and you can't let her win!" He then hurried back to his own bed before he was caught.

Doctor Early had returned to Mike and the Captain with the X-rays in hands. Mike did have a bad head injury but the good thing was there were no sign of internal injuries and no swelling at all. He did have a few broken ribs from big reds steering wheel, hopefully he would be waking up soon so they could check for other problems. Hanks x-rays were just as good they showed that there was nothing broken on the captain and that his head just had a little bite of a bump. Cap didn't put up much of a fight when the doctor told him he wanted to keep him over night. He knew that they would be in every hour to wake him, at this point he didn't care if his head hurt, and he was tired. He hoped to get a nap in before they came to move him to his room.

At first the doctors wanted to put Mike and Johnny in the same room together until they both woke up. Roy and the Cap disagreed with this, they felt it would be safer to have some in the room with each of them in case something or some one happened again.

So once again Johnny and Roy had a room together. Mike and the Captain shared a room and Chet and Marco both refused a room, but they did take up shop in front of the each room. It wasn't long before Roy saw Joanne, Kris and Officer Ria came throught the door. He knew that the families had been called by the department. All of them went straight to Roy first they asked if he was alright and then the attention turned to Johnny. He let them know that there was no change in his condition.

Kris went to Johnny's side she hated to see him so still like this, and it always scared her. "Johnny can you hear me its Kris?' The last thing any of them expected was for his vital machine to start beeping like crazy, his heart rate was increasing, and so was his breathing. Kris flew around to look at Roy, "Roy what's wrong?" Joanne ran from the room as Roy climbed down out of the bed and asked Kris to move out of the way. "I don't know! Jo went to get some help!" As if on clue the doctors followed by Dixie and Joanne flew in the room. After a minute or two Johnny seemed to calm down, so the doctors then asked the women to wait outside, so they could check Johnny out. Once they were out of the room doctor Bracket asked "Roy what happened here?" Roy was still standing beside Johnny, "I don't know Doc, Kris was talking to him and then he went nuts." A look of confusion was on the doctor's face, "What did she say to him?"

Roy smiled all she said was "Honey its Kris and the machines went nuts." Dixie was the one to look surprised. "That's it all she said was her name and he went nuts?"

"Poor Kris she must of freaked when he did that." "Dix wouldn't you?"

With out stopping to relay think about it, Dixie walked over to take Johnny pulse and asked not really to any one "Why would the name Kris set_." Only she didn't get to finish her sentence because once again his heart rate shot up and the machines went nuts.

"Well it's the name alright." She stated. Once again it took a few minutes to get the man calmed back down. Only this time something was different, Johnny's eyes were open and looking at her. "Johnny welcome back!" She was always so happy to see Johnny wake up after he had been hurt. However even though his eyes were open he didn't seem to even realize they were in the room with him, he just looked up at the ceiling tiles.

"Johnny can you hear me?" Doctor Brackett was hoping his young friend could hear him. However there was no sign that he heard him. "Johnny if you can hear me blink your eyes for me." Brackett figured it was at least a try. He was surprised when Johnny blinked his eyes at him real slow. The doctor couldn't help but smile Johnny could hear him and that was a good sign.

Then Brackett decided the best way to get any answers at this time was to have him blink once for no and twice for yes. "Johnny, do you know who we are?" Once again Johnny blinked only this time twice. "Do you know what did this is?" One blink, this didn't surprise them any but Roy could only think of one question that needed to be answered right at this moment. "Johnny listen to me good, do you know who is trying to kill us?" This time Roy was not ready for his partner to answer, Johnny waited for a long pause before he started to blink only this time he blinked slowly and it seemed to Roy that he had a tear in his eye. 2 blinks. The next question was going to be even harder, "Johnny is your girl friend Kris be hind all this?" All Roy knew at this point was that every time he heard the name Kris he got up set. Then came the answer his eyes only blinked once. "No" Roy said he then shook his head he didn't understand. This surprised him, "Man I was sure it was Kris," When Roy said what he was thinking aloud Johnny started to blink 2 times.

Doctor Brackett had been looking at Johnny when he blinked the yes, "Roy he blinked 2 times."

At first Roy was confused but after thinking about for a minute, he turned to Johnny and asked, "Johnny is the person behind this named Kris?" Once again the blinks answered yes, "Johnny is this Kris a male?" This time there was only one blink, "No" Roy said a loud, suddenly the picture became all to clear to him, leaning over Johnny he asked, "Johnny we know that we are talking about a female right, so is the Kris your talking about spelled with a C?" Once again there were 2 blinks, it was now time to ask the question he did not want to ask, "Johnny is the person trying to kill us Chris the mechanic?" Once again he blinked 2 times the answer was yes. However no one was ready when once again Johnny's machines went nuts, his breathing, and heart rate shot way up. "Johnny calm down," Brackett didn't like it when he did this it wasn't good for the young man. "Johnny we now know who's behind this so we can protect o