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Heart of A Hero

Part 3

An Emergency Story
by Tammy B

Links to Parts 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

 

 

 

 

Janis gasped in shocked horror as the boy crumbled to the ground but Johnny was already in motion. “Call the fire department,” he snapped back over his shoulder at the immobile woman. She remained frozen in place for another long moment before turned and ran for the house.

 

John knelt next to the fallen child and felt for a pulse. He blew out a relieved breath as it beat strongly beneath his fingers. He glanced up as the rest of the children gathered about him.

 

“You need help mister,” the bus driver asked worriedly as he pushed his way through the kids.

 

“No…I’m an LA County Paramedic,” he replied reassuringly. “Why don’t you just get the rest of the children on the bus. “It’ll be easier if they’re not around.”

 

“Yeah; yeah good idea,” he agreed, shepherding the children toward the bus. “Let’s go kids…Tommy will be alright,” he reassured them as they climbed aboard.

 

John turned his attention back to the boy. “TOMMY! TOMMY…CAN YOU HEAR ME?” John called loudly as Janis ran from the house.

 

“They’re on their way,” she announced, sounding more annoyed than concerned by the whole thing. “But this wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t upset him,” she accused, trying to absolve herself of the guilt of not having the boy checked out sooner.

 

“That had nothing to do with it,” he snapped back. “He’s been sick for weeks and you did nothing and you know it?” He growled. “And right now all I care about is Tommy and finding out what’s wrong with him,” he added angrily.  

 

Tommy’s eyes began to flutter and a low moan slipped from his lips stopping the argument. “Tommy?” John called again but the boy didn’t respond and slipped back into unconsciousness and John began to take his vitals as best he could without his equipment.

 

John breathed a sigh of relief at the sound of sirens in the distance. Station 36 was close by and wouldn’t take long to get there. The squad rolled around the corner a minute later confirming his thoughts and pulled up to the curb.

 

Doug Stone and Jay Cameron climbed out a moment later and ran around to gather their gear before trotting over to where John waited.

 

“What’ve we got Johnny?” Doug asked, setting his equipment down.

 

“He collapsed. He just grabbed his head and fell. His pulse is 80, respiration is 12. BP is 80 by palpation,” he informed them. “He’s been having headaches for several weeks,” he added.

 

Doug threw him a quick glance while Jay got Rampart on the line. “You know this kid?” Doug asked.

 

John nodded. “Yeah; he’s a friend of mine,” he told them.

 

Doug grimaced. It was always tough when the victim was close to you. His attention was drawn back by his partner’s voice.

 

“Rampart base…this is squad 36…”

 

“This is Rampart Squad 36…go ahead,” Kelly Brackett’s voice came back.

 

“Rampart…we have boy; age…?” He let the sentence hang as he looked to Johnny for the answer.

 

“Eleven,” John replied.

 

“Eleven Rampart. He collapsed in his front yard and is unconscious at this time. He’s apparently been suffering from headaches for several weeks…cause unknown. Vital signs are…Pulse 80, Respiration 12…BP is 110/80.”

 

“36…is there a parent present?”

 

John nodded toward Janis. “10-4 Rampart.”

 

“Has there been any recent head trauma?”

 

Jay looked to Janis. She shook her head. “No…He had an accident but that was a while back.”

 

“He was caught in a building collapse two months ago but he reported having headaches previous to that,” John added. Jay relayed the information.  

 

“Is he still unconscious 36?” Brackett questioned.

 

“10-4 Rampart,” Jay replied as Johnny reached out to do a quick Sternal rub. The boy moaned but didn’t wake. “Victim is responsive to pain,” Rampart he duly reported.

 

“10-4 36…start an IV…D5W TKO and transport. Monitor his vitals on the way in,” he instructed,

 

“10-4 Rampart,” Jay confirmed waving the newly arrived ambulance attendants over.

 

John lifted the boy onto the stretcher.  “I’ll follow you in,” John told them as they rolled the gurney toward the waiting vehicle. John looked to Janis. “Do you want to go with them?” He questioned.

 

She shook her head. “I have to call my husband and children’s services. This is going to be a problem,” she said in disgust. “I’ll be there in a while…Do whatever you have to for him,” she muttered. This kid was turning out to be a real pain in the neck she mused in annoyance.

 

John gave her a withering glare. He shouldn’t have expected anything different from her but he’d hoped there might be some sort of maternal feeling. He just didn’t understand her attitude toward the boy…He was a great kid. “Fine,” he growled spinning away from her and running toward the camper.

 

He waited for the ambulance and the squad to pull out before falling in behind them. John lost them after a few moments since he had to obey the traffic lights.

 

He ran inside in time to see Tommy being wheeled into treatment three. He only hesitated for a moment before he quietly pushed the door open and stepped inside.

 

Brackett was waiting impatiently for the ambulance attendants to move the boy to the exam table. They quickly made the transfer and left the room. Jay gave John a light pat on the arm as he passed.

 

Johnny was too upset to even notice the contact much less pull away from it as he usually did. “Don’t worry Johnny; he’ll be okay,” he reassured his young associate.

 

“Yeah,” he mumbled, not taking his eyes off Brackett and Dixie as they moved in to examine the boy.

 

Dixie spotted John and frowned, wondering why he was here and out of uniform. She glanced at the patient and suddenly made the connection. “Kel…this is Tommy Masters,” she informed the dark haired doctor. Brackett gave her a blank look. “The boy Johnny and Roy pulled out of that building collapse a few months ago,” she prodded, nodding toward Johnny.

 

Kel looked over and spotted the worried paramedic. “You should wait outside Johnny,” he said brusquely before turning back to the child.

 

“Don’t waste your time on me doc, I’m not leavin…just worry about Tommy,” he stated with finality.

 

Kel’s mouth tightened ominously but he knew John Gage had a stubborn streak a mile wide…he’d run into it several times during training. Right now however, the boy was his priority. He’d argue with Gage later.

 

“Dix…Get me a new set of vitals,” he directed as he plucked his penlight from his pocket to check the boy’s eyes. He pursed his lips, frowning at whatever he was seeing. He reached for the Opthamalogy scope and took a closer look.

 

John saw the worried frown. “What is it doc?” He asked.

 

“I’m not positive yet Johnny, but I want to run a few more tests,” he replied reassuringly. “Are his guardians outside?”

 

John shrugged. “I dunno. She didn’t wanna come with us. She had to call DCF and her husband first,” he muttered grimly, his mouth tight with annoyance.

 

“I see…,” he muttered.

 

“She gave us verbal permission to treat him at the scene,” he added.

 

Kel nodded. “Let’s see if she’s got here yet,” he said with a disgusted shake of his dark head.

 

They stepped out into the corridor where Janis was now standing with her husband and an older, officious looking couple.

 

“Dr. Brackett; you remember Janis and Hal Wallace from the last time?” He questioned, barely keeping his tone civil. Kel nodded as John turned to the older couple. “I’m sorry I don’t know your names,” he said politely.

 

Janis took over. “This is Mrs. Gwinn and Mr. Fry from children’s services,” she said shortly. Brackett shook their hands in greeting before Janis continued. “So what’s wrong with Tommy?” She questioned coldly and without preamble.

 

“Tommy is still unconscious at the moment. I’m very concerned about that of course, and I’d like to run a few more tests.”

 

“How much is that gonna cost us?” Janis asked huffily.

 

“Never mind that now Janis,” Mrs. Gwinn admonished.

 

“What are you looking for doc?” John asked worriedly.

 

“That’s hardly your concern Mr. Gage,” Janis said frostily.

 

“Someone needs to give a damn,” John shot back.

 

“What exactly does that mean Mr. Gage?” Mrs. Gwinn inquired curiously as Janis glared warningly. He ignored it.

 

“Tommy’s been having these headaches for months and they’ve ignored it,” he explained.

 

Mrs. Gwinn looked to the Wallace’s questioningly. “Is that true Janis…Hal?”

 

The younger woman’s face paled a bit, an her husband shuffled his feet uncomfortably. “Well…well you know how kids are; crying over every little scrape,” she hedged.

 

“I guess this wasn’t so little was it Janis?” She replied frostily. “And it’s not the first complaint I’ve had. I’m afraid I’ve heard from the State office in Sacramento. They’ve had a report from the governor.”

 

Janis’ eyes swiveled toward Johnny who grinned smugly back, but she had the good sense to keep her mouth shut for the moment.

 

“So what do we need to do Dr. Brackett?” Mrs. Gwinn inquired.

 

“We want to do an EEG and a few X-Rays as well as a lumbar puncture.”

 

John winced at that but let the older couple ask the questions. “What exactly do you think he has?” Mr. Fry asked in concern.

 

“I’d rather not speculate until I know more,” he replied folding his arms over his chest in a gesture Johnny knew well…The good doctor wouldn’t budge. The group exchanged nervous glances as he continued. “I just need permission to go ahead with it?” He added.

 

“Janis…Hal?” Mrs. Gwinn inquired with an arch to her brow.

 

“Look…I don’t have the money for all this stuff. If the kids that sick, maybe you should just take custody of him. You can do what you want,” she snapped, happy to be rid of the little nuisance. She’d get another kid that wouldn’t cause so much trouble.

 

Mrs. Gwinn and Mr. Fry nodded in agreement. “I think that might be best,” the older woman agreed.

 

“Good…C’mon Hal,” Janis said as she spun on her heel. “He’s their problem now,” she said happily.

 

Mrs. Gwinn’s voice stopped them both in their tracks. “By the way; we’ll be by to pick up his things and the other three children as well. Please have them packed and ready.”

 

“WHAT?” Janis barked back. “The other children aren’t a problem,” she protested, not wanting to lose the income they got from the state.

 

“No, but I’m afraid you are. The children can’t remain in your home since we can no longer trust you to provide for their best interests,” she explained.

 

John’s dark sparkled in amusement and a smug grin curled his lips. At least the children would be in a safer environment. Janis shot him an ugly glare before she turned back to the older couple. “I’ll have their things ready when you get there,” she said sullenly.

 

“Good,” she replied, turning her back on her dismissively and giving her attention back to the doctor. “You have our permission to run your tests doctor,” she said firmly.

 

Brackett gave them a nod and headed back to the treatment room to get things started before she turned toward Johnny. “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. As I told Janis; we’d already had a complaint and were prepared to look into it within a day or two. This just expedited the situation.”

 

“Yes ma’am. I asked my aunt to help me out with it. She spoke to the Governor,” he admitted.

 

“That would be Mrs. Hughes then?”

 

“Yes ma’am,” he agreed with a wry grin.

 

“What is your interest in this if I may ask?” Mr. Fry questioned.

 

“Tommy was caught in a building collapse in October,” he began.

 

They both nodded. “Yes…we were very upset that they hadn’t informed us about that until much later,” she assured him.

 

“Yes ma’am. I was one of the paramedics that rescued him.”

 

“Well thank you for that.”

 

“He said he wanted to be a fireman and so I kinda…took him under my wing,” he admitted.

 

“And now you’re involved with the boy? I thought you all didn’t get involved with your victims?” The older man questioned. “I thought it was against the rules?”

 

“We usually don’t,” Johnny replied. “it’s not recommended, but it isn’t against the official rules and I  just thought Tommy needed a friend. Actually I had kinda of hoped to…to adopt him,” he hinted hopefully.

 

“You and your wife?” She questioned with a raised brow.

 

John scuffed his toe on the white tiled floor. “I uh…I’m not married,” he confessed.

 

“Oh I see…Well that would be quite impossible then I’m afraid,” she said gently, wishing the rules could be different. This young man would make a far better guardian in her opinion than Janis and Hal Wallace had been. At least he cared about the child. She grimaced at the disappointed look on the young man’s face as he nodded.

 

“Yes ma’am…that’s what everyone’s told me,” he said forlornly.

 

Their conversation was interrupted as the door opened and Tommy’s gurney was wheeled out into the hall. The child’s eyes were still closed in unconscious repose. Kel gave John a curt nod as he followed the stretcher down the hall.

 

“Excuse me,” John said as he quickly followed the dark haired doctor. “Doc?” He called, halting the older man.

 

“What is it Johnny?”

 

“What are you looking for?” He asked quietly.

 

“Just relax Johnny…I’ll let his guardians know when I know,” he promised.

 

John nodded dismally. He hadn’t really expected the surly doctor to give him any information without being sure of is diagnosis, he knew he man too well, but he’d hoped he’d at least offer some reassurances.

 

“Okay,” he gave in with a sigh.

 

He patted the young man’s shoulder and headed off down the hall. “John…? Why don’t you show them where they can wait?” He called back.

 

“Sure doc,” John replied turning back to the couple and sweeping his hand toward the waiting room. He returned to the base station a moment later and poured himself a cup of coffee. He hopped up on the edge of the counter and settled in to wait.

 

Tommy had been swimming in a sea of blackness, oblivious to what was going on around him, but then sound intruded into his awareness…a quiet hum and thump, and then pain began to seep in. He moaned softly as a dull throb began at the base of his skull.

 

A man’s voice intruded into his thoughts. “Just stay still okay…We’re taking some pictures.”

 

Tommy’s eyes blinked open to look into the face of a young black man wearing a strange looking vest. The business end of an X-Ray machine hovered over him. He recognized it from when he’d broken his arm a couple of years ago.

 

“Wh…where’s Johnny?” He whispered, afraid his friend had abandoned him here or that Janis had run him off.

 

“I’m sorry…I don’t know who that is. I’m almost done here and we’ll get you back to the ER…that’s probably where he is,” he said reassuringly not realizing that the boys ‘Johnny’ was John Gage, someone he knew quite well.

 

“Okay,” he mumbled letting his eyes close and hoping they’d hurry. His head was really hurting.

 

 

It was almost an hour later when Brackett finally made his way back to the treatment room where Johnny had returned to hover anxiously by the door. He peeled himself off the wall as the doctor approached.

 

Two orderly’s followed wheeling the stretcher carrying the boy.

 

“How’s Tommy?” John asked, relieved to see that the child was now awake and giving the boy a reassuring nod as Kel held the door open to allow them to enter the room first. Tommy looked up at him and the fear in his eyes eased when he saw his friend was still here with him.

 

The serious look Kel threw him caused his heart to drop into his stomach. He didn’t wait for an invitation as he followed the dark haired physician inside and moved to the table.

 

“Hey kiddo,” he greeted gently, reaching over to give the boy a playful tweak of his nose. Tommy reached up and grabbed hold of the older man’s hand, hanging onto it like a lifeline.

 

“What happened Johnny?” He whispered. “No one will tell me,” he said plaintively, looking as if he would burst into tears any moment.

 

“You just fainted kiddo; nothin to be scared of, you got the best doctor in LA looking after you,” he added reassuringly.

 

Kel gave John a wink at the compliment knowing Johnny was just trying to calm the child. He well remembered that just a couple of months ago the young paramedic couldn’t even be in the same room with him without arguing. They’d only called a truce of hostilities a couple of months ago after the paramedic bill had passed due to Kelly Brackett’s impassioned plea before the state congress, and they had mended the last of the fences just a month ago when he’d found out that John had been an abused child. It had given him a lot of insight into what made the young John Gage tick.

 

“How are you feeling?” Johnny asked.

 

“My head really hurts,” he whispered with a pained frown.

 

“Can you tell me what happened?” Dr. Brackett interrupted.

 

“I had a real bad headache this morning…worse than usual,” he admitted.

 

“Johnny says you get them a lot?” He questioned.

 

“Yeah; but this was worse than any of them before and they were arguing about getting me to a doctor and I was getting upset and then my head felt like it was gonna explode and then…I don’t remember anything else till I woke up here,” he explained, looking scared.

 

Brackett patted the child’s arm. “Well…we’re going to figure this all out, I promise,” he assured the child.

 

“I’m sorry I upset you,” John said guiltily, knowing the argument had probably elevated the boy’s blood pressure and increased the pain.

 

Tommy shrugged it off. “I get them even when you aren’t there,” he replied, absolving John of any guilt.

 

“Don’t apologize John…If you hadn’t gone over there this might have continued for weeks before they thought to bring him in,” Kel told him.

 

The door opened behind them interrupting the conversation and the young, student nurse Sharon entered the room carrying an envelope. “Miss McCall said to give this to you,” she said timidly, clutching the folder to her chest nervously.

 

Kel’s dark eyebrows rose sardonically. “Do you think you might hand them over without wrinkling them?” He asked sarcastically.

 

Tommy’s eyes widened as he glanced at his friend,  Johnny frowned at the surly tone; After all, Johnny had been the recipient of it himself on many occasions.

 

Sharon’s face colored in embarrassment as she attempted to smooth out the now rumpled folder. “I…I’m sorry,” she stuttered, handing him the envelope and the turning to flee the room.

 

John threw her a reassuring wink that almost made the girl giggle as she slipped through the door.

 

Kel shook his head and pulled the X-Rays from the folder. He moved to the light panel across the room and slapped the first one in. He scanned it for a long moment before he plucked it free and inserted the next one.

 

John watched anxiously, hoping he’d find nothing. His heart skipped a beat as Kel suddenly leaned forward to peer more closely at the flimsy plastic. His mouth tightened in what John had come to recognize as an ominous sign of bad news.

 

“Doc?” John questioned worriedly.

 

Kel shot him a quick glance and a small negative shake of his head.

 

John bit his lip but took the hint to keep his questions and his fears to himself. “I need to speak to Mrs. Gwinn and Mr. Fry. Why don’t you stay here and keep Tommy company?” He suggested.

 

“Why doc?” John pressed.

 

“Johnny; you know I can’t discuss this with you without permission,” Kel admonished.

 

John frowned. He often discussed a patient’s condition when John and Roy brought them in as paramedics but this time that wasn’t the case and he had to adhere to the patients right to privacy.

 

The younger man nodded. “Okay doc,” he agreed unhappily.

 

Kel left the room with the X-rays while John turned back to Tommy.

 

“What’s wrong?” Tommy asked plaintively.

 

John smiled reassuringly. “I’m sure it’s nothing serious,” he said, squeezing the boy’s hand, but John didn’t believe it. He remembered the look on Brackett’s face, but he didn’t want Tommy to be afraid.

 

 

Kel walked into the waiting room where the older couple were seated. They stood up when they saw him. “Can I see you both in my office please,” he questioned.

 

“Certainly Doctor,” Mr. Fry agreed.

 

The couple followed the handsome doctor down the hall. “Have a seat,” he invited, sweeping his hand toward the comfortable looking chairs in front of his desk.

 

They sank into their seats while Kel moved around the desk and sat down. He folded his hands in front of him and stared dismally at the top of if the polished surface for a long moment, his mouth was tight set and anyone who knew him well would have been forewarned.

 

“I’ve checked the results of his EEG and I just looked at his X-Rays,” he began without preamble.

 

“And?” Mrs. Gwinn prodded.

 

“I’m afraid that I suspect that Tommy has a brain tumor.”

 

Two mouths dropped open in shock. “Oh dear,” Mrs. Gwinn murmured.

 

“Is there anything we can do?” Mr. Fry questioned seriously, as he stroked his graying beard nervously.

 

“I’d like your permission to do an exploratory surgical procedure to see if it can be removed,” he replied.

 

The pair exchanged a concerned glance. “We’ll need to discuss this with our superiors,” she finally answered.

 

“Is there a problem?” Kel asked.

 

“Just that this is beyond our scope of authority,” she replied.

 

“How long will it take to get their permission?” He pressed.

 

“A couple of days…Possibly a week to get this through the court.”

 

“Court?”

 

“Tommy is a ward of the state doctor…anything we do beyond the basics has to be cleared by the court.”

 

“We’ll do our best to rush this I assure you,” Mr. Fry added.

 

Kel sighed but nodded his understanding of the situation. “The sooner the better,” he pressed.

 

“Can we take Tommy back to the orphanage with us?” She questioned.

 

Kel pursed his lips and shook his head.  An eleven year old boy in a house full of other children held great potential for possible rough housing and future injuries, especially when he’d be on medication. “I’d really rather keep him here where we can monitor him and his activities,” he suggested firmly. “We’ll need to start him on medication and it could take a few days to get it regulated, he added.

 

The pair nodded and climbed to their feet. “We’ll make this a priority I promise you,” she said reassuringly.

 

“Do you want me to tell him?” He asked.

 

“I think it would be better if we don’t tell him until we get some kind of answer,” she suggested.

 

“Surely they won’t just let the boy die without trying to help him?” He asked in horror.

 

“No…No of course not, but they may want a second opinion and to look at other options,” she answered with a wry look.

 

Brackett nodded as the couple turned and headed for the door. “Um…there is one more thing.”

 

They stopped and turned back. “Yes doctor?”

 

“John Gage. He’s become very close to Tommy,” he began.

 

“Yes…We spoke to him about his friendship with the boy.”

 

“Good. I’d uh…I’d like your permission to keep him informed about Tommy’s condition and what’s happening.”

 

The older couple looked at each other questioningly and finally nodded their unspoken agreement. “I think that would be alright doctor.  He seems quite taken with the boy and I think Tommy would handle being here a lot better knowing his friend is close by.”

 

“I agree.”

 

“Will he agree to keep this to himself until we’ve decided what to do?”

 

“John’s a paramedic. He understands the need for confidentiality. He’ll keep quiet until you give him the okay to say something,” he assured them.

 

“Alright doctor; and I promise you…We’ll expedite this and call you as soon as we know what the decision is,” Mrs. Gwinn promised the man.

 

“I’ll go talk to John,” he added as he ushered the couple out the door.

 

Kel turned and headed up the hallway to where Johnny and Tommy waited in treatment room two. The news wasn’t good but at this point it was all he had to give them.

 

 

Johnny turned as the door opened behind him. He bit his lip nervously at the serious expression on Brackett’s face. “Hey doc,” he greeted, carefully concealing the concern in his voice.

 

Tommy’s eyes flicked toward the doctor as Brackett gave a John a subtle head nod toward the door while he walked to Tommy’s side.

 

“Hey Kiddo…I’ll be right back okay?” He said patting the child’s arm.

 

“Okay,” Tommy agreed.

 

Kel smiled down at the boy as John gave the older man a final worried frown and slipped out the door. “Hi Tommy; how are you feeling?” He questioned.

 

“My head still hurts a lot,” he murmured.

 

“Well we’re going to give you something for that. I asked the nurse to get it for you on my way in here,” he assured the boy.

 

“So didja find out what’s wrong with me?” He asked hopefully.

 

“Not yet…We still have some more tests but we have to wait for permission to run them?”

 

Tommy sighed. “And Janis and Hal won’t letcha do it,” he said sagely.

 

“Well Tommy; Janis and Hal don’t have any say in it anymore.”

 

The boy’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really?” He asked hopefully.

 

Kel grinned. “Really,” he reassured him. Mrs. Gwinn and Mr. Fry are going to be taking you home with them when we release you.”

 

Tommy frowned. “You mean to the orphanage?” He questioned.

 

“Well yes…But just until they can find you another foster home.”

 

“I could go with Johnny,” he offered hopefully.

 

Kel’s lips pursed. “I don’t think they’ll allow that, but I don’t want you to worry about that right now. All you need to worry about now is resting and getting better,” he advised changing the direction of the conversation. “You’ll be here for the next few days and Johnny will probably be visiting when he’s not at work.”

 

“Okay,” he murmured, relieved that Johnny was still going to be close by.

 

“Good,” Kel said glancing toward the door as a nurse came in carrying the requested medication. “Now I’m going to give you something for that headache,” he promised taking the syringe from the nurse and injecting it into the boys IV port.

 

“Thanks…Is Johnny still here?” He asked plaintively.

 

“Yes; he’s waiting outside. I’ll send him back in shortly.  I want to talk to him for a few minutes and then he can go with you when they take you to your room.”

 

“Okay,” the boy agreed, at ease now that he knew Johnny hadn’t abandoned him too.

 

Kel looked to the nurse. “Would you make the arrangements to admit Tommy Masters,” he ordered brusquely.

 

“Yes doctor,” she replied, turning on her heel and heading out the door.

 

He turned back to Tommy but the medication was doing its job and the boys eyes were drifting closed.

 

Kel gave the dark hair a reassuring scruff and went to find Johnny.

 

 

The tall, slender paramedic was leaning against the wall with his eyes folded over his chest when Kel stepped out the door.

 

“How is he?” Johnny asked.

 

“I just gave him something for the pain, he’s asleep,” he told him, noting the anxious look in the young man’s brown eyes.

 

 “Come to the office Johnny,” Kel suggested solemnly.

 

A worried frown creased the younger man’s forehead, but he gave the dark haired doctor a brief nod and preceded him down the hall.

 

Kel waved him into his office ahead of him and then followed him inside. “Have a seat Johnny,” Kel said quietly.

 

John’s heart sank at the somber look and the soft tone of the usually surly doctor’s voice, but obediently sank into the chair across from the man.

 

Kel folded his hands, glancing over the desk for a moment before clearing his throat. “John; I’ve spoken to both Mrs. Gwinn and Mr. Fry.” Johnny nodded, silently urging the man to go on. “They understand from your conversation with them that Tommy’s become very close to you, and they’ve given me permission to keep you informed of Tommy’s condition,” he explained.

 

John blew out a relieved breath, knowing Kel would have been unable to tell him anything if they hadn’t been willing to continue to let him be involved with the boy. “Okay,” he murmured.

 

“John…there’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to tell you.” John’s face paled at that but he nodded for him to go on. “I looked at Tommy’s X-Rays and there is a mass at the base of his skull.

 

“Oh God,” John mumbled in dismay, his face growing more wan.

 

Kel noted it but there was no other way to break it to him. “We suspect that Tommy has a tumor…”

 

“Suspect? So you don’t know for sure?” He began, grasping at straws. “I mean…It could be a mistake; a shadow on the film or…,” he stopped at the dismal look on Brackett’s face. The older man’s lips twitched in a very familiar gesture as he shook his head negatively.

 

No Johnny…I’m not mistaken.”

 

The young paramedic began to rock. It was slow and subtle but noticeable. “How bad is it? Can you remove it?” He asked plaintively, his eyes beginning to take on a faraway look.

 

Kel frowned at the rocking motion and the slightly vacant gaze. He’d never seen John do that before. “Johnny, are you alright?” He asked worriedly, not answering his question.

 

John caught himself and the gentle motion abruptly stopped as he pushed the gray walls crowding in around his conscience. He needed to be strong for Tommy. He didn’t know why this happened when he was stressed but it always had for as long as he could remember. He’d pretty much outgrown it and he could usually control it unless he got overwhelmed by his emotions…He’d learned to fight it by just not allowing himself to feel anything for anyone, but Roy had changed that over the last few months. He wasn’t sure it was a good thing… feelings hurt.

 

“Yeah doc,” he finally answered, refocusing his attention on the older man. “I’m just worried,” he added lamely, not mentioning the rocking and hoping the doctor wouldn’t press the issue.

 

Kel nodded uncertainly, worried about what he’d just seen, but not wanting to pressure the young paramedic right now either; he was upset enough. “Alright Johnny, and to answer your question…I’d like to do an exploratory surgical procedure to help us determine what kind of treatment plan to set up for him.”

 

“When are you going to do that?” John asked worriedly.

 

Kel sighed. “Well Johnny; we’re going to have wait on that.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because Tommy is a ward of the state so they have to run any kind of major decision like this through their superiors and it may have to go through the court.”

 

John shook his head, knowing time was of the essence here. “How long will that take?” He pressed.

 

Kel looked grim. “It could take a few days. Maybe a week,” he said resignedly.

 

“Oh man,” John groaned.

 

“I’m sorry Johnny,” the doctor commiserated understandingly. “But the good news is that they’ve given me permission to keep you in the loop.”

 

John smiled ruefully. “Thanks doc,” he replied knowing Kel hadn’t needed to ask them for this favor and had made the request of them as a favor to John.

 

“We all think it will be better for Tommy to keep you involved with him and his care, but John…? They don’t want you to tell Tommy anything about his condition until we know whether we will be going ahead with the surgery or choosing some other options.”

 

John frowned but nodded his acceptance of that stipulation, afraid he’d be banned completely if he argued that the boy had the right to know what was going on. “Alright doc,” he agreed.

 

Kel nodded and gave the young paramedic a concerned look at the reaction he’d witnessed earlier, though John seemed fine now.

 

Johnny saw it and quickly climbed to his feet, anxious to retreat and refusing to meet Brackett’s worried gaze. I’m uh…I’m gonna go see Tommy now,” he mumbled uncomfortably.

 

“Johnny…you seemed a bit..,” Kel began.

 

“I’ll talk to you later doc,” John interrupted as he turned and headed for the door. He slipped out and closed it quickly behind him.

 

Kel frowned and sighed. John wouldn’t talk to him about whatever that was...he simply didn’t trust him enough…at least not yet, and if Roy knew…he’d take that secret to the grave rather than betray his young friend.

 

 

John drew a deep breath and blew it out slowly, trying to compose himself before he went back to Tommy and totally embarrassed himself in front of the boy the way he just had in front of Brackett.

 

That would have been just perfect and the end of his career if he’d zoned out in front of the good doctor. He’d have thought John was crazy, just like his own family did.

 

He walked down the hall and pushed the door to the treatment room  open and stepped inside, and just in time too it appeared as two orderlies were just about ready to move Tommy over onto a gurney to take him upstairs. Johnny recognized them both as he’d seen them many times in the halls of Rampart. He gave them a brief nod in greeting.

 

“Hey Johnny,” one of them named Don greeted. “What are you doing here?”

 

“Tommy,” he said nodding toward the boy.

 

“This your kid?” The other named Frank asked.

 

Don and John both shot the guy an incredulous look. “Yeah…I was a promiscuous child,” the very young paramedic quipped dryly.

 

Don snorted with laughter as Frank frowned in confusion before he realized the impossibility of John being the boy’s father. His face flushed in embarrassment, but John grinned, letting the disgruntled orderly off the hook. “He’s a friend of mine,” he explained. “So be careful with him okay?” He added.

 

“Sure thing,” Frank replied sheepishly as he and Don shifted the boy onto the gurney. John held the door open for them as they wheeled the sleeping child out the door and headed for the elevators.

 

 

Kel walked to the base station where Dixie was seated going over a chart. She glanced up as he approached. “Hi Kel, did you get Tommy Master’s results yet?” She asked.

 

Brackett nodded dismally. “Yeah,” he replied.

 

Dixie picked up on the forlorn tone. “What’s wrong?” She asked worriedly, snapping the chart closed.

 

Kel’s mouth twitched as he glanced down at the boy’s chart in his hands. “I think he has a brain tumor Dix,” he replied with a rueful grimace.

 

“Oh no…How bad?”

 

Kel shook his head. “I’m not sure. We need to do a few more tests but we have to wait for the court to give us the go ahead.”

 

Dixie rolled her eyes in annoyance at being held at bay by bureaucratic red tape. Her blue eyes lifted to meet his. “Does Johnny know?” Brackett nodded. “How’s he taking it?”

 

“Not too well at first,” he replied remembering the odd reaction he’d witnessed.

 

“At first?”

 

“Yes…he appeared to be a bit out of it for a minute or two. It kind of worried me, but then he seemed to come to terms with it,” he added reassuringly, seeing the concerned look on her face.

 

“Where is he?” She asked worriedly.

 

“Probably upstairs with Tommy by now.”

 

“I’m going to call Roy and then I’m going to go check on him and be sure he’s okay,” she said, standing up and slotting the chart into the rack. She reached for the phone.

 

Kel nodded his head, well aware of how fond Dixie was of John Gage, and if he was willing to talk to anyone other than Roy…I would be Dixie.

 

 

Dixie waited while the phone rang at the DeSoto home but she was disappointed when it went unanswered. She hung up and waved one of her nurses over to the base station. “Betty. I’m taking my break. I’ll be up in pediatrics for a bit. I need you to watch the desk.”

 

“Okay Dix,” the older, gray haired, woman agreed.

 

The pretty blonde nurse headed for the elevator.

 

 

Johnny was sitting by Tommy’s bed. There were several moments when John had felt a grayness press at the edges of his awareness, but he pushed it back. Tommy needed him and he couldn’t let whatever it was that happened to him when he got stressed win out.

 

He couldn’t let the boy or anyone else see the kind of weakness that had made his mother’s family believe he was crazy. No one could ever know about that. He couldn’t explain it because he didn’t even know himself why it happened, just that he always had.

 

He knew Roy had seen him almost go over that edge once or twice, but he’d thankfully managed to pull himself back before he’d made a fool out of himself.

 

He glanced at the sleeping child and his heart turned a small flip. What was he gonna tell the boy when he woke up? He’d been told he couldn’t be honest with him so what could he say?

 

Part of him wanted to leave; run away and not face the child. He had no answers…nothing to ease the child’s fears or his own for that matter.

 

The door opened interrupting his musings. “Hi tiger,” Dixie greeted as she slipped inside the room.

 

“Hey Dix,” he replied as she walked over to him

 

“How is he?” She asked tipping her blonde head toward the boy.

 

“He’s still asleep. Doc gave him something for the pain and it kinda knocked him out,” he explained.

 

She nodded and sat down in the chair next to him. She reached out to take his hand. She felt the young man tense; an automatic reflex action for the young paramedic, but he quickly caught himself and relaxed. She threw him a wink and a smile. “How are you holding up sweetie?” She asked softly.

 

John shrugged off her concern. “I’m fine,” he murmured as his sensitive mouth turned down unhappily.  “Did Dr. Brackett tell you?” He asked as his dark eyes lifted to hers.

 

“Yes he did…I’m sorry Johnny,” she replied, her heart aching at the forlorn look on the young man’s face.

 

“Me too,” he mumbled sadly. “But we don’t know for sure what it is so maybe they can just take it out and he’ll be fine,” he said, trying to sound positive.

 

“Maybe,” she agreed. “If you want to talk about it…?” She began.

 

John shook his head, afraid he’d lose control like he had in front of Brackett. That would be just perfect if he lost Dixie’s respect because she thought he was nuts. “No Dix…I’ll be okay. I’m just trying to figure out what to tell him,” he admitted.

 

She gave him a soft smile. “The bare minimum of the truth,” she advised, understanding that John didn’t want to lie to the child, but couldn’t tell him the whole truth either. “I tried to call Roy…,” she began, thinking John would be more relaxed with his older partner here with him. She was shocked by his sudden, negative reaction.

 

“NO!” He said firmly, shooting from his chair to pace about the room.

 

“Why not?”

“He didn’t want me to get involved with Tommy, and I don’t want him getting on me about getting mixed up with this and…,” he halted at her incredulous look.

 

“Oh sweetie; Roy would never do that, all he’d care about is you,” she asserted confidently.

 

John shook his head, he didn’t’ believe that and he didn’t want Roy giving him a hard time, especially when he was already struggling with that gray wall. He knew Roy had already seen him that night after his nightmare and the humiliating moment when he’d fallen apart in his arms. The older man had been great about it but still… He didn’t want a repeat and he sure didn’t want Roy all over him about this and having to listen to an ‘I told you so.’

 

“No…I don’t want him to see…uh…I mean…I just don’t want to,’” he stuttered with a shrug, his face coloring in embarrassment.

 

“Alright sweetie,” she finally agreed, realizing Johnny was very serious about this. “Settle down…I won’t call him,” she promised soothingly.

 

John nodded his head in relief and returned to his chair. He sank down onto the edge of it, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees.

 

She reached out to pat his hand again. “I have to go back to work,” she told him, still concerned about his reaction, and worried that he was going to go through this alone. “Johnny?” The dark eyes lifted to meet hers. “I’m here if you need me.  Just call me or come and see me if you need to.”

 

“Thanks Dix,” he replied softly.

 

Tommy stirred in the bed, gaining the attention of both adults. Dixie leaned over him and smoothed the dark hair back from the boy’s forehead. “Hi Tommy,” she said softly.

 

The boy’s eyes blinked sleepily before he focused on the pretty face. “Hey,” he murmured drowsily before his eyes drifted about the room. His face lit up when he spotted Johnny. “Hi Johnny?” He greeted happily.

 

“Hey kiddo,” Johnny replied, ruffling the boys hair playfully.

 

“You stayed?” He said with a grin.

 

“Course I did,” Johnny said cheerfully. “Didja think I wouldn’t?” He questioned.

 

Tommy shrugged sheepishly and Johnny understood. No one in the boys life had been there for him, he just assumed Johnny wouldn’t either. It was a concept John understood; he’d lived it himself not too long ago despite his aunt’s best efforts and is new friendship with Roy.

 

John was always on edge waiting for the other shoe to drop that would take one or both of them from his life. He’d learned long ago never to trust anyone to stick around for long.

 

John threw him a wink. “Well I’ll be around?” He promised the boy.

 

Dixie grinned and began a quick vitals check on the child. She gave them both a smile when she was done. “I have to go back to work so I’ll leave you two to chat,” she offered, heading for the door.

 

“Thanks Dix,” John called after her.

 

Tommy waited for her to leave before turning his attention back to John. “So Dr. Brackett said they don’t know what’s wrong with me,” he told John.

 

“Yeah, they won’t know until they run a few more tests.”

 

“That’s what he said,” Tommy admitted. “But he didn’t say what kind,” he hinted, hoping John would elaborate.

 

“I’m not exactly sure either,” Johnny murmured evasively.

 

Tommy chewed his lip. “Would you think I was a baby if I said I was scared?” Tommy asked hesitantly.

 

John’s eyes widened. “Oh Tommy no,” he said reassuringly. “No I wouldn’t,” he added firmly.

 

“You don’t get scared,” he whispered.

 

John hated admitting to any weakness, but the child needed to know it was okay to be afraid. “Well I don’t know who told you that crap,” he teased the boy.

 

Tommy shook his head. “You’re always brave,” he maintained.

 

John smiled ruefully. “I promise you…I do,” he asserted.

 

“When?”

 

John sighed. “Tommy…A certain amount of fear is healthy. It’s what keeps us from rushing headlong into dangerous situations that could get us killed. It’s called survival instinct and it’s natural in all of us. Overcoming that fear and doing what you have too anyway is courage, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t afraid; it just means we’ve thought it through and made a choice to risk our life for someone else,” he explained. “And we try to be careful,” he added with a slight grimace. John wasn’t always known for being careful.

 

Tommy’s lips twisted in concentration as he mulled that over and then he finally nodded his understanding.

 

“Good; now, why don’t you try and get some more rest,” he suggested.

 

“Are you gonna stay?” He asked.

 

“I’ll hang out for a while; I have to work tomorrow so you’ll be on your own, but I’ll run up when I can.”

 

“Okay,” he agreed.

 

Johnny stayed with the boy for most of the day, either watching TV or playing cards, but finally left after the boy had his dinner and the nurse gave him his meds. He waited until Tommy fell asleep before leaving for the night. He had to work but he knew Tommy would be in the best of hands.

 

 

Johnny got to the station early, hoping to avoid running into the others in the locker room and being cornered into telling them about Tommy. John hated lying and didn’t want to be put in the position of having to lie or tell them everything that had happened, and he sure didn’t want to listen to the ‘I told you so,’ he knew would be forthcoming, especially from Roy. His older partner had the uncanny ability to make John tell him things he never told anyone else.

 

He headed for the day room and the company of the departing B shift but he didn’t make it. He should have known his best friend would beat him in. Roy was the epitome of responsibility and never slid in under the wire the way Johnny and Chet frequently did.

 

“Hey; morning junior,” Roy greeted cheerfully.

 

John froze in mid step and glanced over to where Roy stood near the squad. “Oh uh…hey Roy,” he stuttered nervously.

 

Roy frowned. “Something wrong Johnny?” He questioned worriedly, recognizing the stammer as something John did when he was nervous or upset.

 

“No…Uh…why?” He asked, giving him his best innocent look.

 

“Because you’re stuttering that’s why,” he pointed out.

 

John scuffed his toe on the cement floor, looking away, refusing to make eye contact with his partner. He drew in a deep breath and composed himself before he replied. “I just had some stuff on my mind and you startled me is all,” he said with a shrug.  

 

Roy draped his wrist over the large mirror of the squad and gave John a ‘come here’ quirk of his index finger.

 

John glanced toward the kitchen and then back at his partner. He sighed, deciding he couldn’t escape his friend’s curiosity. Johnny sauntered toward his partner. Roy pointed at the spot on the floor in front of him. John stopped and forced himself to meet his partner’s suspicious stare. “What kind of things?” He asked curiously.

 

“Nothin that would interest you,” John replied.

 

“A girl?” Roy said positively.

 

John blew out a relieved breath. “Yeah…yeah; a girl,” he said quickly, realizing Roy had just given him an out.

 

“So who is it?” Roy asked, looking amused at John’s obvious attempt at misleading him.

 

“Who?” He asked, stalling for time.

 

“Yeah. Who…What girl?”

 

“Oh…Uh…You don’t know her.”

 

Roy’s blonde eyebrow rose. “So when’s that ever stopped ya from telling me about a new girlfriend?” He questioned suspiciously.

 

“It’s uh…um…Mary,” he said lamely, throwing out the most common name he could think of.

 

Roy frowned. He’d never heard him even mention this girl as being on his radar. His frown turned into an amused smirk as he realized his young partner wasn’t being completely honest with him. Problem was, he couldn’t figure out why. John had never hesitated to tell him about a female companion…practically gloated over them most of the time. The only thing he was usually reticent about was his past and the things that had frightened him back then and that certainly wasn’t the case here, At least he hoped not. Roy considered John to be a part of his family and if the kid was upset, he wanted to help. He continued with his fishing expedition.

 

“Mary huh? Is she nice?” He asked.

 

“Oh yeah…yeah, she’s…she’s uh super nice,” he agreed hastily.

 

“So where’d ya meet her?” He pressed with a grin, watching John squirm under his amused stare.

 

“Meet her? Uh…Look Roy, um it’s getting late and I really need a cup of coffee,” he said innocently, trying to change the subject.

 

Roy glanced at his watch. “Yeah it is. I could use another cup before roll call too,” he said.

 

“Great,” the younger man replied in relief, turning to head for the day room.

 

“You can tell me about Mary while we drink it,” he said.

 

John stopped abruptly and Roy almost plowed into his back. “Hey; what’s wrong Johnny?” He asked with a smug grin.

 

John turned back. “Why are you so interested,” he barked in annoyance.

 

“Why are you lying about this girl?” Roy shot back.

 

John sighed. He was terrible at lying and he always got caught, at least by people who really wanted to know the truth. He’d gotten away with it as a kid simply because his teachers and other members of his family chose to ignore what was happening to him.

 

“There’s no girl,” he mumbled.

 

Roy grinned. “I already figured that,” he teased. “So what is it really?”

 

John shrugged. “It’s nothing,” John insisted.

 

Roy frowned. John usually told him everything eventually. He decided to leave it alone, after all teasing his young friend was one thing but he couldn’t force John to tell him what was going on. He figured he’d spill it sooner or later. “Okay junior…If it’s none of my business,” he said slipping past John.

 

The young paramedic chewed his lip, worried now that Roy was miffed at him. “It’s not that…It’s just personal,” he explained.

“Okay John,” Roy said moving on.

 

John…not Johnny, not junior. Yup he was mad or had his feelings hurt. John followed after him trying to figure out how to appease his best friend without actually telling him about Tommy.

 

As if he was reading his young partners mind, Roy suddenly turned around. John halted rapidly to avoid running into him. “What happened with Tommy yesterday?” He asked.

 

“Uh…Tommy?” Johnny stuttered.

 

“Yeah Junior; ya know…the kid you hang out with?” He reminded him dryly.

 

John gave him an impressive roll of his dark eyes. “I know who Tommy is Roy,” he said snidely.

 

“So what happened then? You went over there yesterday right?”

 

“Yeah um…Janis and I had a bit of an argument about Tommy seeing a doctor,” he admitted.

 

Roy grinned, he had little doubt of the outcome knowing how stubborn his young partner could be, but he asked anyway.  “Who won?” He asked.

 

John gave him a shrug. “I did,” he said simply, not wanting to admit how exactly he’d won.

 

Roy chuckled. “So she’s taking him to a doctor?”

 

John bit his lip a bit guiltily as he prepared to give his partner the half truth. “She already did,” he told his friend as he turned and headed for the day room.

“So did you find out what’s wrong with him?” He asked as the pair walked to the stove. Roy poured two cups of coffee while he waited for the younger man to answer.

 

John shook his head. “No…It’ll be a couple of days,” he explained, turning away before Roy could see the evasive look in his eyes.

 

Captain Hammer chose that moment to enter the day room halting the conversation as Roy turned his attention to his superior.

 

“Good morning Cap?” He greeted, bringing his cup to his lips to take a sip.

 

The older man gave him a nod. “Morning Roy…John,” he replied before he stopped and looked at the pair in surprise. “Wait,” he commanded as he looked at his watch. He tapped the face and then lifted the instrument to his ear to listen.

 

“Something wrong Cap?” Johnny asked curiously.

 

“I uh…I saw you and thought it was later than I realized. I thought my watch had stopped,” he teased his youngest crewman.

 

Roy started to choke, forcing him to spit the coffee he’d drunk back into the cup to keep from wearing it. He looked at John and began to snicker.

 

John shot him an unamused scowl before turning back to captain. “Sorry Cap…Just thought I’d try getting an earlier start,” he hedged with a slightly wounded look.

 

“Good…Good, glad to see you starting to get on top of that,” he added with a smirk as he headed for the stove and the fresh pot of coffee.

 

“Thanks Cap,” Johnny said dryly.

 

Dick stopped and turned back. “Oh…Did you get that issue with the kid all straightened out?” he asked.

 

“Yes sir,” he replied simply not wanting to get back into this with Roy around. No such luck.

 

“So what happened?”

 

“They took him to a doctor,” he answered honestly, picking up the paper and shaking it out, he began to scan the pages in the hopes that both Roy and his captain would drop the subject.

 

“Good…, good, then maybe you can back off being around the kid so much,” he hinted.

 

John sighed and tugged at his lower lip nervously, but nodded his head. “Sure Cap,” he replied, continuing to read the paper.

 

Roy’s eyes narrowed suspiciously at his usually verbose partner’s easy capitulation, not believing for a minute that John intended to just stop his association with the kid.

 

Charlie Dwyer and his partner Kirk Carlson chose that minute to enter the room, halting further conversation and John blew out a relieved breath.

 

“Hey guys,” he greeted cheerfully.

 

“Hey great; our relief is here early,” Charlie quipped, looking surprised that one of them didn’t have to wait for Gage to show. He grinned at his own taunt and headed for the coffee pot.

 

John scowled sourly but continued on with the conversation. “So how’d your day go?” he questioned, getting the focus off him and on something else.

 

 

Roy and John climbed into the back of the squad after roll call to check the air bottles before they began to clean the apparatus bay.

 

The senior paramedic grinned at John’s diligence in what was an obvious attempt to avoid conversation. His smile fell away as he wondered why Johnny was being so secretive. What had happened yesterday that Johnny didn’t want to share with him?

 

Whatever it was, it had to be very upsetting to his young partner. He wanted to help him, but if John wouldn’t talk to him then his hands were tied until he chose to reveal it. He suspected he would eventually, he almost always did.

 

He was about to broach the subject one more time when the station control unit began to tone.

 

“Squad 51…Vehicle accident with injuries,,”

 

John shoved the mop and bucket out if the way and ran for the squad, personal conversations forgotten as they raced from the station. They rolled up on the scene a few minutes later.

A teenage boy sat in the middle of the street.  His pants were ripped and his arms and face were scratched and bleeding, and a large bruise decorated his forehead.

 

Two were cars were crumpled together…One having rear ended the other. Neither driver seemed badly hurt, more upset and angry than injured.

 

A uniformed officer that both recognized as Vince Howard walked toward them. “Hey Vince,” Roy greeted as he approached.

 

 “John; Roy,” he returned.

 

“What happened?” Johnny asked, nodding his dark head toward the accident scene.

 

“Apparently the kid over there decided to take an uninvited ride on the blue car,” he explained looking toward the two vehicles.

 

“On?” Roy questioned curiously.

 

“Yeah…got the bright idea to grab hold of the ladies bumper and hang on.”

 

John and Roy both rolled their eyes at the stupidity of the act. “So what happened?” Roy prodded.

 

“She spotted him in her rearview mirror and panicked. She started to slow down but she was watching him and didn’t see the other guy stop in front of her.”

 

“She hit him,” John stated.

 

“Yeah…which sent the kid flying over her car and onto the pavement,” he concluded, as they all headed for the group gathered a few feet away.

 

“I’ll take the drivers,” Roy said, walking toward the obviously shaken woman and the very angry man.”

 

The boy glanced up as the tall paramedic came towards him. The pain in the blue eyes was obvious, even as he cradled his injured arm. The cuts and scrapes still oozed.

 

“Hi,” John greeted the teen. “What’s your name?” He questioned quietly.

 

“David,” he replied.

 

“Hi David; my names John Gage… I’m a paramedic,” he explained in a tone meant to soothe the victim.

 

“Okay,” he said wincing gingerly.

 

“How ya doin?” He asked squatting next to the boy.

 

“Think I busted my arm,” he admitted, giving John a cocky grin.

 

John managed to avoid rolling his dark eyes in irritation. “Yeah…Yeah that’ll happen when ya get tossed over a car,” he said dryly.

 

“Woulda been alright if the old lady hadn’t freaked,” he complained.

 

John threw him a disbelieving stare for a long moment before shaking his head. “It wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t been hanging on her bumper either,” he reminded the kid calmly, masking the distain in his voice as he began to check him over.

 

“I just wanted a WILD ride,” the boy giggled.

 

“Well…ya found it,” John answered, prodding the injury.

 

“AH,” David groaned, wiping the smirk from his face.

 

“Looks like you broke it,” the dark haired paramedic confirmed. “Let’s get your vitals here,” he added, laying the boys arm gently back in his lap. He pulled out the BP cuff as Roy trotted over to join him.

 

“How are they?” He asked his older partner.

 

“She’s a bit shaken up…He’d like to strip the hide off the kid,” he said ruefully.

 

“He managed to do that by himself,” he said dryly.

 

“Just wanted to live a little,” the boy said flippantly, still oblivious to the fact that he easily could have been killed by his foolish actions.

 

“Yeah…well ya could have fooled me. More like you wanted to get yourself killed,” John shot back, finally giving in to his annoyance at the kid for still trying to defend his stupidity and being so obtuse about how close he’d just come to packing it in, while Tommy was in a hospital and might never get the chance to be a teenager.

 

The teen’s face flushed at the angry rebuke.

 

 Roy realized that John was close to losing his temper with the kid but didn’t understand the underlying reason behind it. He reached out and touched his young partners shoulder. The subtle gesture was enough for Johnny to realize that he’d let his temper show.

 

He drew in a ragged breath and gave a slight head bob to his partner, letting him know he was back in control. “Could ya get me a splint and get Rampart on the line,” he asked quietly.

 

“Sure,” he replied, retreating to the squad and returning a moment later with the requested item and the biophone. He handed the splint to John and set up the radio link.

 

“Rampart base; this is squad 51.”

  “Go ahead 51,” Joe Early’s voice replied.

 

“Rampart…we have a male victim of a traffic accident. Approximate age fifteen,” he said glancing toward the boy for confirmation. The boy nodded.  “He has an apparent fracture of the left radius; also multiple scrapes and contusions,” he added.

 

“Are there any signs of head, neck or back injuries?” He questioned.

 

“He has a minor bruise on his forehead and a laceration on his cheek, but he’s conscious and oriented Rampart. Vital signs are…?” He let the sentence hang while looking to John.

 

“Pulse is 120, respirations 12. BP is 140/90. Pupils are equal and reactive,” John told him without looking up.

 

Roy repeated the information to Dr. Early.

 

“51…is there a parent present to treat?” He questioned.

 

“That’s negative Rampart.”

 

“Splint the arm 51…Monitor vitals and transport as soon possible.”

 

 “10-4 Rampart.”

 

The two paramedics got the boy splinted and onto the waiting gurney. “I’ll go in with him,” Roy offered, knowing John was still annoyed with the kid.

 

“Thanks,” John replied as he began to gather their equipment.

 

He pulled out behind the ambulance a few moments later as they sped off toward the hospital.

 

 

 

Johnny backed the squad into the emergency bay just a few seconds after Roy arrived with the ambulance. He watched his partner hustle inside beside the gurney carrying their teenage victim.

 

Dixie was standing in the doorway, waving them into treatment room two. They brushed past her and she began to follow them inside when her soft blue eyes fell on Johnny standing in the hallway

 

He looked toward the elevator with a small jerk of his head upward; his right index finger lifted to his lips in a shushing motion.

 

She glanced toward Roy who was helping transfer the boy onto the exam table.  She nodded her understanding that Johnny was going upstairs to visit Tommy and that he didn’t want Roy to know.

 

She truly felt Roy would be understanding if John would just trust him enough to tell him the truth, but it wasn’t her call.

 

Having seen her conspiratorial nod, John turned and ran for the elevator. He didn’t have much time before Roy would miss him, he needed to hurry.

 

The elevator rose slowly and finally stopped on the right floor. John walked quickly down the hall and gave the door to the boy’s room a quick tap before pushing it open. 

 

Tommy’s face lit up at the sight of his friend and Johnny grinned back before sliding into the chair near the bed.

 

 

Roy left the treatment room as soon as Dr. Early didn’t need him anymore. He wandered to the base station fully expecting to see his partner waiting and regaling Dixie with the full account of what had happened on their last run, but he was disappointed. There was no sign of him anywhere.

 

Dixie glanced up from her charts as he approached. She gave her watch a glance before fixing a disarming smile on her pretty face.

 

Roy grinned back, looking around the empty corridor and giving Dr. Brackett a quick nod of greeting as he stepped from another room and moved to join them.

 

“Hey Dix…Doc,” he said. “Have you seen…,” he began.

 

“Coffee Roy; Kel?” She offered interrupting the blonde paramedic.

 

“Oh uh…sure,” Roy replied, a bit taken aback at her rather rude interjection.

 

“That would be great,” Kel replied absently, coming around the counter to stand beside Dixie.

 

She turned away and poured a couple of cups of the strong brew, carrying them over and setting them on the counter in front of the men.

 

They both picked up their mugs and took a sip. “So Roy, what brings you in?” Kel asked curiously.

 

“Teenage boy decided to hitch a ride on the back of some ladies bumper.”

 

“Oh great,” Kel muttered at the boys stupidity.

 

“Well it gets better…She spotted him and hit the brakes…sent him flying over the car.”

 

They both shook their heads imagining the injuries that came from that. “How bad?”

 

“Broken arm; a few cuts and bruises; could have been a lot worse.” They both nodded. “Hey have you seen Johnny?” He asked, starting to get a bit worried that his partner was nowhere around.

 

Kel glanced up and looked about as if just becoming aware that the younger member of the team was missing but then a thought occurred to him. “He’s probably up in pedia…OW!” He barked as Dixie’s foot suddenly crashed down on his toes.

 

He gave her a sharp look and caught the frosty glare and subtle shake of her blonde head. “Uh…in pediatrics with that…new nurse?” He finished questioningly, with a raised brow.

 

Dixie grinned and nodded her head encouragingly. “Yes Jackie…I’m sure that’s where he went,” she affirmed with a nod of her head.

 

Roy’s blue eyes narrowed suspiciously at the pair but he finally shrugged. “Huh…he hasn’t mentioned that one to me,” he replied looking perplexed.

 

“Just met her,” Dixie explained. “I’m sure he’ll be right down,” she added hopefully.

 

As if on cue, the elevator doors opened and Johnny hustled out. He’d tried to keep the visit short, hoping to get back to the ER before Roy finished up. He slowed his pace as he spotted his partner with Kel and Dixie, biting his lip and hoping Dr. Brackett hadn’t spilled the beans about Tommy or that Roy hadn’t even questioned his absence.

 

“There you are,” Dixie said quickly as he approached.

 

“Uh yeah…I uh..,” he began, hesitating when he couldn’t think of what to say.

 

Dixie rescued him. “So did you manage to snag a date with Jackie?” She asked pointedly, giving him a hard stare.

 

“Jackie? Oh yeah…Jackie. No uh…I’ll have to work on her a bit,” he stammered.

 

Kel and Roy exchanged a confused glance at all the subterfuge, but with Dixie’s confirmation, Roy accepted the explanation.  “Greeeeat,” Roy drawled drily. “Guess that means I’ll be seeing a lot more of you guys while I wait for Johnny,” he teased.

 

John forced himself to grin while giving an eye roll of thanks to Dixie for covering as well as giving him an excuse to run upstairs when they were here on a run.

 

“Well, I guess we better be getting back huh Junior?” Roy questioned giving Johnny a slap on the shoulder.

 

“Yeah…Let’s go Pally,” he agreed.

 

“See ya fellas,” Kel replied giving Dixie a sideways glance which she studiously ignored until John and Roy were around the corner.  He immediately turned toward the pretty nurse. “Would you care to tell me why my toes are throbbing and I’m inventing a nurse on the pediatric floor?” He questioned brusquely.

 

“You didn’t invent her, I did,” she added innocently. “You just suggested her,” she clarified.

 

“Don’t split hairs Dix,” he growled. “What gives?”

 

“Johnny just doesn’t want Roy to know what’s going on with Tommy,” she explained.

 

“Why not?” He asked, looking mystified. “I’d have thought he’d appreciate the support.”

 

“That’s the problem Kel; he’s afraid Roy will get on him for getting involved with Tommy in the first place.”

 

“Ah… Rule number one,” Kel said with a nod of his dark head

 

“Exactly; and John isn’t just involved…he’s totally entangled in all of this and worried that Roy will be uptight about it.”

 

“I don’t think Roy would do that. We both know how protective he is of Johnny. I think he’d be more likely to back him up,” he protested.

 

“You’re right, Roy cares about him a lot but sometimes he can be a bit too over protective with him,” she reminded Kel.

 

Kel grinned understandingly. Brackett and Dixie both saw John as a bit naïve at times personally, but there wasn’t anyone else they’d hold up against him as a paramedic and rescue man with the exception of Roy DeSoto. Both of them were excellent at their jobs and even in skills which made them the best team out there.

 

They also knew that Roy could get a little heavy handed in his role of senior partner and big brother, and while he and Dixie knew it was Roy’s way of showing John how much he cared about him…Johnny was still a little insecure and bristled at the idea that Roy thought of him as a kid that couldn’t take care of himself or needed anyone to tell him what to do.

 

Kel also knew what Dixie didn’t, at least not for sure. John had been abused as a child and had been forced to take care of himself since he was a youngster since no one else in his family could be bothered, except for his aunt but that hadn’t been until later in his life. By then John had become a withdrawn, emotionless loner well used to using his wits and skills to survive.

 

“I guess you’re right Dix,” he agreed, knowing Johnny wouldn’t tolerate being berated for caring about this child, not from Roy or Dixie or anyone else. “I’ll keep it to myself…for now anyway,” he agreed, deciding that if John needed the support he’d let Roy in on it.

 

She nodded her thanks, guessing that Kel would go to Roy if he had too but she knew she would as well if Johnny needed him.

 

 

The two paramedics pulled out of Rampart and drove back toward the station. “So how come you never mentioned Jackie to me?” Roy asked, curious why John hadn’t shared his latest love interest, which he usually did.

 

“Just spotted her today,” he answered simply, not wanting to lie any more than he just had. “So how about that kid…you believe that?” He asked, changing the subject to something less guarded.

 

“Yeah…that was pretty stupid. Apparently his mom thought so too,” Roy said drily.

 

“Yeah? What happened?”

 

“She got there just before I came out. I don’t think he’ll be skateboarding again until he’s eighteen,” he explained.

 

John grinned. “Good; maybe he’ll actually live to be eighteen,” John replied.

 

Roy chuckled and the pair drove on. John turned his attention out the window hoping Roy wouldn’t bring up ‘Jackie’ again.

 

The pair stayed busy over the rest of the day and John managed to sneak up to visit with Tommy twice while Roy was busy in the exam room with a patient. Johnny gave Dixie a conspiratorial wink after the second visit knowing she’d deliberately kept Roy busy to give him the opportunity.

 

She grinned back, happy to help her favorite paramedic out.

 

 

Johnny was changing in the locker room the next morning when Roy entered. “What are you doing on your days off?” He asked his friend.

 

John hesitated. He’d planned to spend a good part of it with Tommy. The child was probably a little scared and he had no one else, but he wasn’t ready to share that with Roy just yet.

 

“I have a few errands to run,” he hedged, not giving up any more information than necessary.

 

“We haven’t seen you around the house much lately. The kids miss you,” Roy pointed out. “Why don’t you come home with me for breakfast?” He finished.

 

John worried his lower lip with his teeth for a moment before he finally nodded. He could run up to visit with Tommy later in the morning and still make Roy happy. “Sure Pally,” he agreed.

 

Roy grinned and began to change.

 

 

Joanne greeted her young friend with a sisterly kiss on his cheek, bringing a flush of color to Johnny’s face. She’d grown very fond of the handsome, dark haired paramedic over the last month or so and thought of him as a little brother, much the same way Roy did.

 

 She still took care how she approached him, not wanting to make him uncomfortable, after all…they hadn’t exactly started out on the right foot and it wasn’t until just a short time ago that she realized how special John was to her and her family.

 

Johnny shifted nervously as Jo stepped away from him. “Hope you don’t mind me coming without warning you,” he said softly.

 

“Of course not sweetheart,” she disavowed turning away to give her husband a much warmer greeting, rising on tip toe to kiss him on the mouth.

 

“Hey babe,” he answered, fighting back the twinge of jealousy he always felt when his wife paid attention to another man, even his young partner. “What have we got for breakfast?” He questioned.

 

“Bacon and eggs okay with you two?” She asked.

 

“Yeah,” John agreed happily.

 

“Sounds good,” Roy added as the pair headed for the table.

 

“Honey…I have some things I need you to take care of after breakfast,” Jo called from the kitchen.

 

Roy shook his head. “When doesn’t she?” He mumbled aside to his young friend.

John giggled at the woebegone look on Roy’s face that his day off would not be restful. Roy shot him a glance. “Wanna stay and help?” He asked.

 

John’s smile fell away as Joanne came back with two cups of coffee. “I’ll fix you lunch,” Jo teased, tempting the young man with his second favorite thing in the world…food.

 

John gave them a weak grin but shook his head. “Got some other things to do today,” he replied.

 

“Must be a girl,” Jo teased.

 

“Why do you say that?” Johnny asked.

 

“It’s the only thing you like better than eating,” she shot back.

 

John blushed a bit but he gave her a smile.

 

“Gonna go try again with Jackie?” Roy prodded playfully.

 

“Jackie? Uh…oh yeah,” he finally replied, remembering the nonexistent nurse. 

 

“Oooh, new lady friend,” Jo teased as Chris came down the stairs.

 

John gratefully turned his attention to the child as Chris spotted him and ran to throw his arms about his neck.

 

“UNCLE JOHNNY!” He shouted happily.

 

“Hey Buddy,” he greeted, grateful for the distraction.

 

“You haven’t come to see us for a long time,” he complained.

 

“Been busy Buddy,” he explained.

 

“How come you never brought Tommy back,” Chris asked.

 

Johnny almost groaned in frustration that he’d just brought that up. “Uh…I uh…Well…He’s been busy too with the holidays and stuff,” he said lamely.

 

“Oh…Well I liked him.”

 

“I did too,” Jo added, placing his plate before him.

 

“Yeah…Well, I’ll try and get him over here sometime soon,” he promised, hoping he’d drop the subject.

 

It worked and the conversation moved on to other things.

 

 Johnny left just before noon and headed straight for Rampart. He didn’t stop at the base station; just bee lined for the elevator. He stepped off and walked down the hall toward Tommy’s room, stopping short at the sight of Dr. Brackett and another doctor in the hallway along with Mrs. Gwinn and Mr. Fry.

 

He chewed his lip a bit nervously for a moment before continuing down the hall. The small group heard the rapid footsteps and turned toward him.

 

Brackett gave him a small half smile of greeting. “Johnny…I’m glad you’re here.”

 

“What’s goin on Doc?” He asked hesitantly.

 

“You know Tommy’s Guardians,” He stated more than asked.

 

“Yes,” he replied simply.

 

“Good…This is Dr. Carsten.” Johnny nodded to him briefly before looking back to Brackett. “The state has asked him to give us a second opinion on Tommy before they make a decision about his treatment. We were just about to give Mrs. Gwinn and Mr. Fry the results.”

 

“Oh…Uh…Can I stay or…,” he questioned hesitantly.

 

“You can stay Mr. Gage,” the older woman replied. “You already know what’s going on and Tommy is very close to you.”

 

“Thank you,” he answered in relief.

 

“Alright Dr. Carsten…What is your opinion?” Kel asked quietly.

 

“I’ve gone over all the reports and reviewed the test results,” he began. “I’m afraid I have to agree with Dr. Brackett’s assessment of Tommy’s condition,” he said in no nonsense fashion.

 

Johnny’s face fell in disappointment and he worried his lower lip with his teeth. He’d been hoping Brackett was wrong and that this doctor would recommend something else that was less drastic and easier to treat.

 

“What is your suggested course of treatment Dr. Carsten?” Mrs. Gwinn asked the shorter, gray haired physician.

 

“I suggest an exploratory procedure to see if it can be successfully removed,” he explained, backing up Dr. Brackett’s initial recommendation.

 

“Oh man,” John murmured dispiritedly.

 

Kel heard the soft whisper and reached over to gently pat John’s arm in a gesture of comfort while waiting for the older couple to make a decision.

 

“What are the risks?”

 

“The best scenario would be to remove it and Tommy makes a complete recovery, but there is always a possibility that if the tumor is large or irremovable or located in an area that we’d have to cut away tissue…He could end up with brain damage or be paralyzed.”

 

“Oh God,” John whispered.

 

“I said could…It’s not likely.”

 

John nodded, but he looked decidedly unhappy. How would Tommy handle this? He didn’t want the boy to be afraid. Should they tell him about the risks? He didn’t want these people to tell him and scare him. He didn’t know what to do. Man; he wished he could talk to Roy.

 

Mrs. Gwinn nodded her head in acquiescence. “Very well…We’ve been authorized by the court to go with your advice on this matter,” she said.

 

Mr. Fry nodded. “If you could get the forms together, we’ll take them to the court for the judge to sign,” he added.

 

“Please go ahead and schedule the procedure,” Mrs. Gwinn instructed.

 

Dr. Carsten nodded in agreement. “How soon can you get those signed?” He asked.

 

“The judge will sign them this afternoon,” she assured them.

 

“That will be perfect.”

 

“We can schedule the procedure for tomorrow morning then,” Kel added. John’s face paled.


“Would you like me to explain this to Tommy for you?” Dr. Carstens asked.

 

“No,” John said before they could answer. “I’ll explain it,” he added firmly.

 

They all looked at the tall paramedic in surprise. “That’s not your decision John,” Kel reprimanded the younger man quickly.

 

The dark eyes narrowed warningly and his jaw set in a stubborn line. “Tommy doesn’t mean anything to any of you,” he growled. “But he’s my friend and it’ll be a lot easier for him to handle coming from me,” he argued. “Besides…I don’t want him to know the risks involved.”

 

Brackett’s eyebrows drew together in a knot over his nose and he opened his mouth to tell John in no uncertain terms to back off, but Mrs. Gwinn reached out and touched his arm to get his attention. Kel glanced over and saw the negative shake of her head.

 

“He’s right doctor…Tommy barely knows us and Mr. Gage is a trusted friend. We’ll go with him of course, but it probably would be less frightening for the child coming from Mr. Gage,” she admitted, “and I agree…there’s no point in telling him the potential risks and having him scared to death.”

 

Kel frowned again. Roy had been right and Johnny was now way too involved with this boy and Kel was very concerned that the young paramedic was going to be badly hurt, but there was nothing he could do. He nodded his head.

 

“If that’s what you want,” he agreed unhappily.

 

Mrs. Gwinn and John both nodded in agreement. It wasn’t what John wanted…He wanted Carstens to tell them that Brackett was wrong and it had been nothing but a smudge on the film, but that hadn’t happened and he felt Tommy deserved to hear this from someone who truly cared about him and would be there for him through whatever came next.

 

“I’ll go get the paperwork started,” Kel offered.

 

“I’ll make the arrangements to have the OR ready for tomorrow,” Carstens added. “Please call if there are any problems with getting the paperwork signed.”

 

“Of course,” Mr. Fry replied for the both of them.  Both Doctors turned and left.

 

John gave the two older people a nervous glance before drawing in a deep breath and reached for the door handle.

 

“Are you alright Mr. Gage?” Mrs. Gwinn asked. John hesitated. “You don’t have to do this,” she added.

 

“Yes…Yes I do. I’d do it if he were my child,” he replied softly.

 

The older woman smiled understandingly, knowing that despite their inability to make that happen…John and Tommy still had that bond. She reached out an closed her hand over his and turned the knob. They entered the room.

 

 

Tommy’s face lit up when he spotted the tall paramedic but rapidly became guarded when he saw Mrs. Gwinn and Mr. Fry step in behind him.

 

Johnny gave him a reassuring smile. “Hey kiddo,” he greeted cheerfully, trying to sound upbeat.

 

“Hi Johnny,” the boy returned.

 

“You know Mrs. Gwinn and Mr. Fry right?” he asked, sweeping his hand toward the two older people who hovered near the door.

 

“Hello Thomas,” The gray haired woman greeted for the both of them.

 

“Hi...Oh yeah…you guys put me with the Wallace’s a couple of years ago.”

 

“That’s correct,” she agreed retreating to the two chairs against the wall.

 

John swallowed heavily and blew out a resigned breath before he dropped the bed rail and sat down next to the boy.

 

“What’s up?” Tommy asked warily at the uneasy look on John’s face.

 

“Well Tommy…The Doctors…Uh Dr. Brackett and this other guy…,”he began.

 

 “Dr. Carstens?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I talked to him yesterday.”

 

“Good…well; they’ve been looking at all the test results and they’ve decided they need to do another procedure,” he explained.

 

“What kind of procedure?” He asked curiously.

 

“Well Tommy, it’s a surgical procedure,” he began. Tommy’s face paled and his eyes grew wide in fright as his teeth began to worry his lower lip.  John saw it and reached out to pat the boy’s hand. “But it’s nothing to be afraid of okay...They’re very good doctors,” he reassured the child.

 

Tommy’s eyes locked with Johns searchingly. “Are they gonna operate on my head?” He asked worriedly.

 

“Yeah…yeah they are kiddo,” he replied, letting his fingers curl around Tommy’s.

 

“Why?” He questioned warily.

 

 John sighed. There was no easy way to tell him this but he wasn’t about to lie to the boy either. “Well…they think there could be a tumor and they need to be sure. If there is they hope to be able to take it out,” he explained. “Then you’d be as good as new,” he added reassuringly.

 

“And if they can’t?” Tommy asked fearfully.

 

John looked away as tears filled his eyes. He blinked them away, not wanting him to see the anxiety reflected in them. He finally swallowed the lump in his throat before turning back to Tommy. “I don’t know,” he admitted honestly. “I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

 

“I could die right?” He questioned with brutal straightforwardness.

 

“Hey…Let’s don’t get ahead of ourselves here kiddo.”

 

“I could,” the child insisted.

 

The older couple threw a worried glance at each other as they listened to the exchange. Mrs. Gwinn rose to her feet. “Thomas…,” she began gently, planning to give the boy a reassuring platitude. John shook his head at her. He didn’t want them making promises they may not be able to keep or lying to the boy.

 

She retreated into silence, letting John handle it as she’d promised. The young paramedic turned back to Tommy. “Yes, it’s possible.” Tommy’s eyes welled with tears but John held up his hand to stop him getting to upset. “Look Tommy, these doctors are really good at what they do. It’s quite probable that they can remove it and you’ll be fine, but if they can’t…there are other options”

 

“Like what?” He asked tearfully.

 

“It’s something called chemotherapy.”

 

“What’s that?”

 

“It’s medication that can shrink a tumor,” he explained.

 

“Can it cure it?”

 

John blew out a resigned breath. Tommy wasn’t stupid and he wasn’t going to let go of this without knowing everything he could. “Sometimes,” John answered.

 

“But not all the time?” He pressed.

 

John looked away; maybe someday they’d find a cure for this stuff but he knew right now, the science was still young and often ineffective. “No…not all the time,” he admitted.

 

Tommy swiped at the tears that slid down his cheeks, trying to stay brave. “If they take it out…can I still be a paramedic?”

 

“Sure ya can,” he replied, reaching over to tweak the child’s nose.

 

Tommy giggled at the familiar gesture. “Okay,” he answered, hoping Johnny was right and he’d still be able to be a paramedic and save lives like Johnny did. “Are you gonna be here?” He asked plaintively. John hesitated briefly. He was supposed to be on duty tomorrow. Tommy saw the indecision. “It’s okay if you can’t,” he said quickly.

 

John smiled at him. “No…No, I’m supposed to be on duty but I’ll call in and ask for the day off,” he assured the boy.

 

John nodded and smiled. Tommy needed him right now.

 

Mr. Fry and Mrs. Gwinn both gave a satisfied head bob at the boy’s acceptance of the situation. “We’ll see you tomorrow then Mr. Gage…Thomas.”

 

“Yeah,” John agreed.

 

The pair left and Johnny turned back to Tommy. “You don’t mind coming back tomorrow do ya?” He asked worriedly.

 

“Not at all,” he reassured the boy.

 

“Good,” he mumbled averting his eyes in embarrassment. “Cuz I’m a little scared,” he admitted. “Is that okay?” He questioned in a small voice.

 

John reached over and gently turned the boys face toward him. “It’s absolutely okay,” he promised. “I’m a little scared too,” he confessed.

 

Tommy nodded and his lip quivered, but he drew in a deep breath, trying to bring it under control so John would think he was brave and not be disappointed in him.

 

John wanted to pull the boy into his arms and hold him but he was afraid if he did, Tommy would crumble and himself along with him, besides his own background of abuse didn’t lend to knowing how to comfort the boy.

 

Roy and Jo would be great at this just as they were with him, even his aunt as she’d treated him growing up, but John didn’t have the words… He didn’t know what to say.

 

Maybe his partner and his aunt had been right after all. What kind of father would he be if he couldn’t hold and comfort the boy when he needed it?

 

He reached out and did what he could. He gently ruffled the boys hair.

 

John stayed with him for the rest of the day, leaving after he’d eaten his dinner and settled for the night.

 

He wished he could call Roy; run to his friend for advice and comfort of his own but he was afraid of the censure he’d receive for having gotten this involved with Tommy in the first place.  Roy had warned him and now he was paying the price for getting mixed up with this child, though he’d never regret it.

 

 

Roy’s trilling whistle echoed through the apparatus bay as he strolled toward the day room, still tucking his shirt in as he walked, anxious to find Johnny.

 

He’d tried to call him throughout yesterday afternoon but he’d gotten no answer. He’d planned to invite him for dinner since he hadn’t spent more than a couple of hours with them over the last few weeks. He was curious as to where Johnny had been all day after he’d left.

 

He glanced out the bay door as he passed and his steps slowed. John’s camper was nowhere in sight and station 36’s A shift paramedic Jay Cameron was just climbing from his pickup truck.

 

Roy waited for the sandy haired fireman to come inside. “Hey Jay,” he greeted.

 

“Morning,” the older man replied.

 

“What’re ya doin here?” Roy asked.

 

“Needed the overtime so I said I’d work when HQ called me and said Gage requested a personal day,” he explained.

 

“Not a sick day?” Roy pressed worriedly.

 

 “Nope…at least that’s not what they said,” he answered with a shrug of his shoulders. 

“Hmmm,” Roy mumbled with a frown. Johnny hadn’t been ill when he’d left and he hadn’t been home so he was probably not sick but it was odd that he hadn’t mentioned anything or called him to tell him what was going on.

 

Not long ago Roy would have understood his secretive behavior. John was a virtual clam when it came to his personal life, but that had changed back in October when John had awakened from a nightmare while staying with Roy.

 

He’d finally coaxed his young partner into telling him the truth about his past. Johnny had finally admitted to the abuse he’d been subjected to growing up. He’d been afraid that Roy would turn away from him in disgust, but when he hadn’t…Well the silent, brooding man had found his voice and used it often.

 

He told Roy pretty much everything now so it was a little odd that he hadn’t called to tell him something had come up and that he was taking the day off.

 

He finally shook his blonde head in bafflement and continued on to the kitchen to get his coffee. He’d find out about it tomorrow after his shift ended. He was sure Johnny would call and fill him in.

 

A short while later Captain Hammer called them to the apparatus bay for roll call.  Dick gave a brief nod to Jay. “As you can all see, Gage isn’t here today,” he informed his crew.

 

They nodded. “Is he sick Cap?” Mike asked in concern for their youngest crew member.

 

“No…He asked for a personal day,” he replied simply.

 

Mike nodded; glad that at least John wasn’t sick.

 

“Did he tell you what’s up?” Chet asked.

 

“No Kelly…That’s why it’s PERSONAL,” he stressed with a shake of his graying head at Chet’s nosey question.

 

Chet flushed in embarrassment as the others snickered in amusement.

 

After roll call and chore assignments, Captain Hammer returned to his office. Chet turned his attention to Roy, figuring he’d know why Gage was out. “So what’s goin on with Gage?” He asked point blank.

 

Roy shrugged. “Sorry Kelly; I’m as much in the dark as you are,” he admitted unhappily.

  

“Ah come off it Roy; Gage tells you everything,” he argued.

 

“Not this time.”

 

The crew exchanged concerned frowns. Roy hovered over Johnny like a mother hen and the idea that he didn’t know what was going on was surprising, but Roy wouldn’t lie to them.

 

They sighed and headed off to do their chores. They’d weasel it out of him when Johnny got back.

 

Continued in Part 4

Posted to Site 5/8/17

 

 

Links to Parts 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

 

 

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