Heart of A Hero

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

A/N: I wasn't going to post part 2 without part 3 but the holidays and other distractions got in the way of timely writing. This story intermingles with Partner's and I had no option but to include scenes  from Roys birthday and the Christmas scene and John's run in with Brad Kimmerlin for it to fit the timeline. Sorry for a rehash of what you have read in the past. I did my best to cut out anything other than the basic storyline to move it along to part three and the conclusion of the story. Words in italics are from Partners. Happy reading.

PART 2

Johnny and Roy were changing in the locker room the next morning before heading for home. Captain Hammer stuck his head in the doorway. “Gage…Telephone,” he barked before disappearing back out into the apparatus bay.

“Wonder who that is?” Johnny mused with a frown.

“Flavor of the month?” Roy teased.

John gave him a withering glare but shook his head. “Not seeing anyone at the moment,” he admitted.

“Maybe it’s your lucky day and that blonde from the deli is finally calling ya,” Roy joked. John threw him another irritated scowl and his older partner chuckled. “Only one way to find out…Go answer the phone,” he said matter of fact.

“Gee thanks for the advice,” John growled, trotting through the door to the dorm and picking up the phone on Cap’s desk.

“Hello?” He questioned curiously.

“Hi Johnny,” a young voice greeted.

“Hi Tommy,” he replied. “What’s up?”

“I just wanted you to know that Janis took me to that eye doctor yesterday,” he told him.

“Did she? Good. What did they find out?”

“The doctor said my eyes were fine. Janis is really mad that she took me for nothing,” he whispered

John almost laughed, envisioning the woman’s wrath, but quickly realized that Tommy was the one that would have to deal with her.

“Tell her I’ll be over to pay her back in a few minutes,” he promised.

“Okay,” Tommy said. “Maybe we can go do something?” Tommy hinted.

John laughed at the less than subtle suggestion. “Sure…Maybe I’ll take you over to the go Kart track. They have mini golf and stuff too,” he added.

“COOL!” Tommy crowed.

“I’ll see ya in a bit. Make sure Janis is okay with it,” he cautioned before hanging up.

He walked back to the locker room. Roy gave him a curious glance. “Anything serious?” He asked.

John shook his head. “That was Tommy, he got his eyes checked.”

“And?” Roy pressed.

“Doctor said there was nothing wrong,” John said with a shrug.

“Probably just the stress he’s under with those people,” Roy said dryly.

“Yeah…I’m heading over there,” John admitted.

“Why?”

“Guess Janis is pissed that she spent that money on him for nothing,” he said ruefully.

“It’s her job junior…she is his foster parent.”

“Yeah…But I did tell her I’d pay for it,” he reminded him.

Roy nodded. “I’m gonna take him over to the go kart track,” he added.

Roy’s blonde brow lifted and John shrugged. “It’ll be fun,” he said, defending his action.

Roy chuckled. “Well I have a honey do list a mile long or I’d join ya,” Roy admitted.

John giggled. “I’ll see ya on Tuesday then,” he said closing his locker and giving his friend a wave.

“Yup…Unless you wanna come over tomorrow and help me finish it up?” He hinted.

John grinned. “You’re on.”

“Good; Jo will feed ya lunch,” he promised.

“Deal,” John agreed.

Roy watched his young friend walk away, his blue eyes narrowing in concern. John was getting pretty attached to this kid already. He hoped he didn’t get hurt.

Johnny knocked on the door of the Wallace’s home an hour later.

 Janis opened the door and her mouth pursed in annoyance as she realized who was on her porch. Her hand landed on her cocked hip. “What do you want?” She asked abruptly.

“Tommy called; he said you took him to the eye doctor,” John replied.

“Yeah…Well I told ya it was waste of time and money,” she sneered. “There wasn’t anything wrong just like I said. He was just trying to get attention,” she added knowingly.

John sighed and shook his head. “There are a hundred other reasons for him to have recurring headaches,” he returned scathingly, refraining from adding that she could well be one of them. “Regardless…I told you I’d pay for it, so what did it cost?” He asked.

“Twenty five bucks,” she growled.

John pulled out his wallet and counted out the cash. “Here,” he said curtly, handing her the money.

She snapped it from his fingers. “Thank you.”

“Is Tommy here?” He asked.

“Yeah…TOMMY! That fireman’s here,” she bellowed up the stairs.  “He’ll be right down,” she added turning her back on Johnny.

He nodded. “Is it alright if I take him to the fun park?” He asked at her retreating back.

She shrugged. “It’s your time and money,” she sneered. “You wanna waste it on a kid,” she continued.

“I don’t consider it a waste,” he shot back as the eleven year old ran down the stairs.

“Hi Johnny,” he greeted happily.

“Hey kiddo…You ready?” John asked.

Tommy nodded. “See ya!” He said, brushing past the woman.

John gave her a curt nod of his head and the pair headed off for the Go Kart track.

 Johnny and Tommy spent the morning zooming around the go kart track. Never having driven before, Tommy started off a bit slow but soon, he was keeping up with Johnny.

The older man cut him no slack due to his age. He made the eleven year old work for it, having learned at a young age himself that no one gave you anything…It required real effort and determination, and Tommy grinned triumphantly when he finally beat the tall paramedic.

“YES!” He shouted exuberantly, throwing a grin at the tall paramedic. The victory more exciting because he’d earned it.

John tousled the chestnut brown hair. “Wanna get some lunch and try the golf?” John asked.

“Way cool,” the boy replied enthusiastically.

John smiled. He hated to admit it, but he was having as much fun as Tommy was. John had missed out on all this when he’d been a child and he was enjoying the chance to relive that lost childhood through Tommy, not to mention that it was a sure bet that this kid didn’t get to do this sort of thing with his foster parents. John was happy to give the boy some much needed attention.

They headed for the concession stand where John bought them hot dogs and fries along with cups of coca cola to wash it all down.

“You having fun?” John asked, as the found a place to sit. 

Tommy nodded but then frowned. “Yeah…but if you aren’t...,”he said hesitantly.

John’s smile fell away. “What makes you think I’m not?” John asked suspiciously.

“Well…It’s just Hal thinks I shouldn’t be bugging you,” he admitted glumly. “That you wouldn’t want to be hanging around with a kid all the time.”

 John’s mouth tightened in annoyance but then he managed to force a grin to his lips. “Look Tommy…There will be days when I have other things to do or my schedule is a bit crazy and I won’t have time, but I  think I’m old enough to tell you that and you’re old enough to understand when I can’t and not worry that I don’t want to be around you okay?”

Tommy gave him a relieved smile. “I won’t…I promise.”

“Good deal,” John said, ruffling the child’s hair the same way Roy did to Chris and much to his chagrin, even him on occasion. “So how long have you been with Janis and Hal?” Johnny asked him casually.

“Two years. Before that I was with the Millers and before that at the orphanage.”

“What happened to your parents?” He questioned gently.

Tommy shrugged. “My mom died having me and I don’t know where my dad is,” he said. “Guess they couldn’t find any other relatives that wanted me,” he admitted ruefully.

John knew that feeling. “I’m sorry Tommy. My mom and dad died when I was young too, so I understand.” Tommy nodded and half grinned that his friend understood him. “So; you wanna try some mini golf?” Johnny asked, breaking the somber mood.

“You’re on,” Tommy said, taking the dare.

They both finished up their lunch and cleared their table. “I’ll race you over there,” Johnny challenged.

“Not fair,” Tommy said, looking at John’s long legs.

“I’ll give ya a head start,” John promised.

“You’re on,” Tommy said, spinning around and taking off at a run. John gave him a good head start before he raced after him.

Tommy gave him a run for his money but John’s long legs made up for the head start he’d been given and they arrived at the golf course almost at the same time.

John laughed as he turned back toward the boy, but the smile quickly fell away at the grimace of pain on Tommy’s face.

“Are you okay?” Johnny asked worriedly, leaning over the boy and resting his hand on his bowed back as the boy panted for air.

Tommy saw his day coming to an end if he told him how bad his head hurt and forced himself to grin back at the concerned paramedic. “Nope…Just that headache again,” he muttered.

“Maybe I need to take you home,” the older man suggested.

“Nah…You’re just afraid I’m gonna take you mini golf,” he taunted his friend, hoping to distract the older man. It worked.

“Oh yeah…I’ll take that challenge,” he teased..

He and the boy headed for the counter to rent their clubs and golf balls before heading out to the course.  The pair had a great afternoon together and Tommy was careful not to let the pain in his head show on his face.

“So how’s school goin?” Johnny asked as they walked back to the camper.

Tommy’s nose wrinkled in distaste. “Alright I guess,” he said with a shrug.

“You don’t like school?” Johnny pressed.

“It’s okay,” he hedged.

John grinned. He understood completely. He’d hated school too, but most likely for a whole different reason. “Look kiddo…I never liked school much either…,” he began.

“How come?” Tommy questioned.

“Well Tommy. I grew up on a reservation in Montana. I’m half Indian,” he admitted, waiting tentatively for the boy’s reaction.

“Oh wow…way cool,” Tommy cried enthusiastically.

John laughed. “Yeah…way cool, but the town where I grew up in…well; some of those people didn’t think it was so cool,” he explained. “I got picked on a lot,” he said as they arrived at his car.

“Oh,” Tommy murmured. “That’s not too cool,” he added sympathetically but he understood. He got picked on a lot too about being an orphan. John unlocked his camper and let the child slide inside before he went around and climbed in the driver’s seat. He continued his conversation.

“No...No it wasn’t, but the point is…If you want your dream of being a fireman to come true, you have to want it bad enough to fight for it…work hard, even when it’s tough and you wanna give up,” he said encouragingly.

The boy sat silently for a long moment, before looking over at John. He finally nodded. “I want it bad enough,” he said reassuringly.

“Good,” he replied before starting up the camper and driving off toward Tommy’s house.

“When are you gonna be off again?” Tommy asked hopefully.

John gave him a rueful quirk of his mouth. “Well Tommy, my schedule is kinda funny for the next few weeks with the Holiday and stuff.

“What about this coming Saturday?”

“Sorry…It’s my partner’s birthday and I already promised to be at his party,” he demurred.

“Oh,” he said in disappointment. “What about the next one?

John shook his head. “I won’t get another weekend off until after the Holidays.”

Tommy sighed. “Guess I won’t get to see you for a while.”

“You can always call me,” John said with a grin. The boy nodded. “So what are you doing for the holidays?” Johnny asked.

Tommy rolled his eyes. Janis and Hal go to her parents. We ALL have to go,” he grumbled.

John chuckled. He knew the feeling. His Aunt was always trying to get him to come home for the holidays…The problem was that her house had never been his ‘home’. The only place that John felt a bit like he belonged was with Roy and Joanne, but he wouldn’t intrude on their family time. He had to work this Thanksgiving anyway so it wasn’t an issue.

He knew his aunt would call and try and get him to come to Santa Barbara. He dreaded the call, but at least this time he could honestly tell her he had to work.

“Yeah…I understand,” he said simply as he headed for Tommy’s house.

Johnny stayed busy over the next couple of weeks. *Roy’s birthday was celebrated at his home where Johnny met his partner’s mom for the first time.

Tommy called him almost daily, letting him know how things were going in school. The boy had tackled his studies with a new resolve and had stopped misbehaving in class, giving his teachers cause to send notes home to the Wallace’s praising the boy’s new attitude and asking what they’d done to change it.

Janis had wadded the note up and thrown it away, but Tommy had still called to tell Johnny about it. “Good job kiddo,” he’d praised the boy’s efforts.

John kept the daily calls a secret, not wanting to listen to the lectures he knew would come about becoming too involved with the boy even though Roy sort of understood.

*As expected, his Aunt Rosemary had called him to ask him to come home for Thanksgiving, which had started Chet prodding him for details of his family and why he didn’t want to go.

Roy had deflected the worst of the taunting and had insisted that his young partner join his family for the holiday. Then called and told John’s Aunt that he’d be spending the holiday with him and his family…She’d thankfully let it go.

As promised John purchased two tickets to the Rams game for the first Sunday he had free.

Tommy was almost dancing with excitement on the front porch steps when he pulled his camper into the yard.

His foster father Hal stood in the doorway glaring at the young paramedic as he walked up the lawn. John ruffled the boy’s hair playfully before throwing the man a jaunty salute and turning to wave the child toward his van. He chuckled as he heard the resounding SLAM from the front door.

Tommy glanced back and then threw a grin at Johnny as he backed out of the driveway.

Tommy chatted excitedly in the seat next to him, telling about the last couple of weeks. “I’ve told all my friends at school about you,” he informed him. “They all think you’re cool.”

“They don’t even know me,” John teased.

“They don’t hafta…I told them how you rescued me and that you took me to the station and the park and what you do and that I wanna be paramedic like you,” he said with a shrug.

“Thanks...but beng a paramedic is all on you, you have to want it bad enough." Tommy nodded. "So, how was Thanksgiving?” He asked, changing the subject.

“Boooring,” he drawled.

John chuckled. “How are your foster parents?” He pressed.

Tommy’s grin fell away. “I thought they’d be happy that I was doing better but…,” his shoulders lifted and fell resignedly and John could feel his anger grow at the couple. It wouldn’t take them any effort to just praise the boy and give him something to try for.

“Well I’m proud of you,” he reassured him.

“Thanks…It’s just that Hal doesn’t think I should be bothering you and Janis says it’s not fair that I get to go with you and the others don’t,” he admitted, afraid Johnny would think the same and stop being his friend.

“Well…The others aren’t my friend are they?” He questioned. Tommy grinned and shook his head. “And it’s their job to take care of what you need…I’m just hanging out with a pal,” John told him, drawing a reassured smile from the boy.

“Yeah…,” he agreed.

“If Hal thinks the others are being left out, then he needs to get involved and take them places. It’s his job to be doing these things,” he added.

“Hal don’t care about us…He just likes the money the State gives him,” he said with a sigh. He glanced up at John. “I wish you were my dad,” he told the older man.

John’s head snapped around in surprise at the boys comments. He’d felt the same way once, wishing that the fire chief in Montana would want to take him, but it hadn’t happened. He’d sent him back to his family and into the hands of his abusers, and now John had to do the same thing…At the end of the day, he’d have to take the boy home to a family that didn’t want him, but he had no choice.

He vaguely wondered if that had been the case for Captain Rigsby back then. He guessed he’d never know that now. Well at least Johnny could let Tommy know that it wasn’t that he wouldn’t want to be.

“I wish I was too,” he assured him softly, surprised that he suddenly did feel that way. Wishing he could just keep the kid, but it was impossible…Wasn’t it?

Tommy grinned happily at John’s words but it faded as the older man continued. “But I don’t think they’d let me Tommy,” he said ruefully.

“Why not?” He asked plaintively.

“Well for one…I’m single and for another my schedule,” he explained. “There’d be no one home to watch out for you for twenty four or even forty eight hours sometimes if got stuck with a double,” he added, worrying his bottom lip with his teeth thoughtfully.

There had to be single fire fighters raising their kids on their own though, he mused.

“Oh,” Tommy replied dispiritedly, his hopes dashed. Well; at least Johnny could still be his friend. He’d just have to be grateful for that, he decided.

John parked his camper and the pair headed into the stadium to watch the game, but John’s thoughts continued to return to their conversation. He kept his wayward musings to himself though. No point in raising the boys hopes up by discussing it further, but it still preyed on his mind.

John returned to work on Tuesday…His conversation with the eleven year old running through his mind over and over throughout the past two days, and today was no exception.

He really wanted to talk to Roy about it; find out what he thought, but he was afraid his older partner wouldn’t understand. He went about his chores more or less by rote throughout the morning, but his eyes kept returning to his friend.

“Roy...?” He’d begun.

The older man turned to look at him. “Yeah?”

“I uh…Um…nothing,” he said, turning back to what he was doing.

Roy frowned, well aware that his young partner was fretting over something and wondered what it might be, but he also knew John wouldn’t be rushed and that he would tell him eventually. He turned back to cleaning the oven, but threw a glance over his shoulder several times at Johnny as the dark haired paramedic sighed heavily.

John finished mopping the floor, blowing out another resigned breath. “Roy?” He said again.

Roy stopped what he was doing. “Yeah Junior,” he said again with a raised eyebrow.

“I was um…Just wondering,” he started.

“About what?” He asked.

“Well I…I had this conversation this weekend and…,” he hesitated.

“And…,” Roy pressed.

“Never mind,” John said, retreating once again.

Roy rolled his eyes and closed the oven door. He carried the pan of dirty water to the sink to dump it. He could hear his young friend mumbling to himself but could barely catch a few of the words.

“Parents…kid…adopt…impossible,” John’s softly spoken murmurings reached his ears.

Roy rinsed his hands before grabbing two mugs and pouring them both a cup of coffee. He carried it to the table and sat down. “Johnny?”

The younger man stopped and turned to look at his partner. “Yeah”

“C’mon over and have a cup of coffee,” he invited quietly.

John sighed, he knew where this was going and while part of him wanted to talk this over with his best friend, a different part feared Roy’s reaction. He finally set the mop aside and went to join his partner. He slid into the chair and picked up his coffee cup.

“Okay Junior; spill it,” Roy said.

John gave him an innocent look. “What? My coffee?” He asked, looking down at the table.

“No smart ass…Whatever’s had you in a funk all morning,” he replied sarcastically.

John shrugged. “It’s nothing…You wouldn’t understand,” he demurred softly, worrying his lower lip.

“Tell me anyway Junior; you know you want to,” he pressed.

John frowned, continuing to tug at his lip with his teeth as considered the offer. He finally set his cup down and blew out a resigned breath. “It’s about Tommy,” he said finally.

Roy gave him a surprised look. John hadn’t mentioned the kid at all over the last couple of weeks and Roy had assumed the boy had simply gotten over his case of hero worship and had gone back to his normal life.

“You still seeing that kid?”  He questioned.

Johnny nodded. “Yeah…a couple of times over the last few weeks and he calls me almost every day,” he admitted.

“Jo…oohn,” Roy groaned, with an eye roll of frustration with his young partner. The kid never learned to keep their victim’s impersonal and now here he was…All wrapped around the axle over the kid.

 John started to stand. “See…I told ya you wouldn’t understand,” he said angrily.

“I’m sorry Junior,” Roy apologized quickly. “Sit…tell me,” he urged.

John hesitated before sinking slowly back into his seat. “Well…I took him to a football game Sunday,” he admitted, his dark eyes lifting to gauge his partner’s reaction.

 Roy’s eyebrow rose…Tickets to the Rams were expensive and John was pretty tight fisted.

Roy would learn over the next few years that John’s grip loosened considerably when children were involved, a fact that would be evidenced with his own kids, Chris and Jennifer, but for the moment, he was still surprised at his generosity.

Roy said nothing but gave his young partner a nod of his head to encourage him to continue.

John took the hint. “He was telling me about his foster parent’s…the Wallace’s; and he just kinda blurted out that he wished I was his dad,” he confessed.

“Oh wow,” Roy murmured. “So uh…What happened?” Roy asked, afraid he already knew.

“I uh…I um told him the truth. That they probably wouldn’t let me…you know…cuz I’m single and because of my hours,” he admitted.

“Good,” Roy said in relief, glad that John realized the improbabilities of what the boy was asking. “So what’s the problem?” He added.

John frowned at Roy’s response, afraid his friend would flip out when he told him, but he replied anyway. “You don’t suppose that there’s um…any way; um any chance they’d like…let me?” He stammered nervously.

Roy’s blonde head dropped forward for a long moment. He closed his eyes and counted to ten in his mind trying to stay calm. The last thing his twenty two year old partner needed was a kid at this stage of his life, but he knew the young man was serious about this and that he had a stubborn streak a mile wide, and when he got something in his head…well… it was hard to get it out.  He blew out a resigned breath and raised his head to lock eyes with his partner.

“No John,” he finally said quietly. “There’s no way a court would give a single guy custody of an eleven year old,” he assured him, “Especially not with the crazy hours we work,” he reiterated what John already knew in his mind, but was struggling with in his heart.

John nodded unhappily but pressed on. “There have to be single fireman out there raising kids,” he argued plaintively.

Roy nodded. “Yes…THEIR kids and I imagine it’s a struggle for them to find someone to watch them at odd hours, besides…you’d have no social life and it’s expensive to hire a baby sitter, especially one that will watch them for twenty four hour stretches; did you think of that?”

“No but…”

“Johnny…,” Roy interrupted, “I know how you feel?”

“No you don’t,” he almost whispered, swirling the coffee around in his cup absently; breaking the eye contact to stare into it sadly.

“What?”

“I said you don’t…You’ve never felt like no one cared if you lived or died,” he murmured. He raised his eyes once again, locking dark with blue. “Wishing someone…anyone would care about YOU,” he stressed.

Roy’s heart broke at the melancholy sound of his young friend’s voice, and he reached over to gently touch his young friend’s arm. “I know what you’ve been through and believe me; it tears at my heart that it happened to you, and I wish I could have been there…I wish I could change what happened to you. I wish I’d known you then, but Johnny…it’s not exactly the same thing. They may not be the best parents in the world, but they aren’t beating him or hurting him physically…in other ways,” he said tactfully.

“Abuse isn’t always physical,” he told him softly. “It’s also being told you’re worthless too; that nobody wants you.”

The miserable tone of his voice made Roy want to wrap his best friend in his arms but he knew John would be horrified…especially if anyone walked in and caught them. Truth was…Roy wasn’t all that comfortable showing his feelings in public either.

“I know that Junior, but the chances of them allowing you to take Tommy are at best slim and most likely none, and all it would do is get both of your hopes up just to have some bureaucrat tell you no.” Roy tipped his head thoughtfully before he continued. “But maybe you could contact the state and see if you could get him into a different foster home,” he suggested.

John’s eyebrows knotted over his nose as he thought about the possibility. He knew he didn’t have the clout to cut through the bureaucratic red tape, but he knew someone who did. He’d give her a call tomorrow.

He snapped his fingers, looking excited at the idea. “YEAH! YEAH! That’s a great idea,” he said enthusiastically.  He didn’t admit that he intended to find out if she could pull a few strings more than Roy had suggested.

The blonde paramedic stood and headed for the sink with his coffee cup, giving his partners sable hair a playful scruff as he passed.

John swatted his hand away. “Quit that,” he growled, smoothing the dark locks back into place.

Roy chuckled, knowing he’d been able to get John’s mind off his latest obsession without realizing he’d just given him the fuel to try and start a new one.

John called his aunt early the next morning, hoping to catch her at home. It was answered by a voice he didn’t recognize and John assumed it was her housekeeper. He didn’t know the woman, but she didn’t sound as friendly as her last help had been.

Johnny had been fond of Laura, Carrie and Ellen as well as her butler Edward, who’d actually been his Uncle Geoffrey’s gentlemen’s gentlemen until he’d died shortly after John had arrived and Edward had taken on the butler’s role instead, he mused before replying to the woman’s brisk “Hugh’s Residence.”

“Yes ma’am…May I speak to Mrs. Hughes please. This is her nephew John,” he added quickly, hoping to forestall the inquisition he knew was coming in order to speak to the very busy woman.

“Hold please; I’ll see if she’s available,” she replied, her tone clearly indicating her doubt that Rosemary Hughes even had a nephew.

“Thanks,” he muttered. Well at least she was home.

There was a brief wait before his aunt’s cultured voice came on the line. “John?” She questioned, sounding a bit surprised. Her nephew seldom called her and almost never around the holidays for fear she’d ask him to come home.

She knew her family had never made it a joyous occasion for him, and that he didn’t like being in his father’s ancestral home after the way they’d treated his mom and himself, but she missed him and wanted him to know how special he was to her so she always tried anyway.

“Yes ma’am,” he answered.

“Oh Haah’keta, how nice to hear from you…how are you” She asked.

John rolled his eyes at the nickname she’d called him by since he’d come to live with her eight years ago after he’d inadvertently translated the English term ‘little one’ his parents had called him by into Cheyenne.

“Aunt Ro…oose,” he groaned.

She giggled on the other end of the line. “I’m sorry sweetie. Now how are you?” She asked again.

“I’m fine Aunt Rose, but I was uh…um wondering if you could um…help me with something?” He stuttered.

“What do you need sweetie?” She asked cautiously, warned by the stammering of his voice that it was going to be something big.

“Um…There’s this kid we rescued from a building collapse a month ago,” he began.

“Go on,” she pressed at his hesitation, wondering where this was going and guessing that the child may need some expensive medication or surgery, and he wanted her to pay for it. Despite the lengths John went to in order to hide his own emotions and another condition that he had been diagnosed with that she knew about but had never revealed to him, she knew he had a good heart.

“He’s an orphan…,” he said before halting again.

“Oh I see,” she commented, suddenly understanding why John would take such an interest in this boy.

“His name is Tommy and his foster parents aren’t really good to him and,” he stopped briefly before blurting out the rest. “Aunt Rose…I was thinking about adopting him,” he added in a rush.

There was a long pause as she assimilated that statement and then she sighed. “John; that’s a wonderful idea and very noble, but sweetie…No court on earth would let a twenty two year old, single man adopt a child,” she told him as gently as he could.

“Why not? I can take care of him,” he argued plaintively.

Rose heaved a frustrated sigh. She loved John like her own and she’d move heaven and earth for him if she could, but she also knew the real world and her nephew’s limitations.

“How John? Do you have any idea what it takes to raise a child?” She asked and then continued without waiting for an answer. “You don’t make a lot of money. You work crazy hours and you have no one to watch him while you’re at work,” she said, using the same arguments Roy had.

“That’s what Roy said,” he replied dismally.

“Well then listen to him sweetie because he’s right,” she assured him.

“But maybe if you could talk to someone…,” he pressed.

“Sweetie…I have a lot of pull with a lot of people, but…not with this. They have these rules for a reason.” She almost wept at the silence on the other end, knowing she’d let John down, but even if she could have bent the rules for him, she wouldn’t have. John wasn’t ready to be raising children when he was still basically a child himself; at least emotionally if not in physical age. 

 “So you won’t help me?” He asked forlornly.

“John; I’ll make a couple of phone calls but I doubt it’ll do much good. The best thing we can hope for is that the state will move him to a different home…a better one.”

“What if it isn’t better? What if it’s worse?” He growled unhappily.

“Sweetie…This is the best we’re most likely going to get,” she warned him, not telling him that they could move him clear out of the county and further away from him. She didn’t want to hurt him; she just wanted him to face reality.

John sighed. He knew in his head that she and Roy were right. Realistically…he knew he wasn’t ready to be an instant father, but in his heart? His heart understood the boy’s loneliness and feelings of being uncared for and unwanted. He’d been there himself and not all that long ago.

 “Okay Aunt Rose; thanks for anything you can do.”

She heard the defeated sound of his voice. “I’m sorry sweetie.” There was a long pause. “Are you coming home for Christmas?” She pressed hopefully.

John grimaced. He hated going to ‘that’ house. His mother had been unwelcome and unwanted and his father had been disowned by his parents for marrying her, but he owed his aunt for her help both now and in the past.

He sighed in acquiescence…It wasn’t like he had anywhere else to be. “Sure Aunt Rose…I’ll come there for Christmas,” he conceded.

“Thank you sweetie,” she said happily. She’d heard the resigned tone and knew he was doing this under duress, but she was hoping she’d be able to give him a great day despite his reticence. “I love you,” she added.

There was another long pause before he finally answered with his usual response. “I know you do,” he answered quietly.

Rose blew out a frustrated breath, fearing that her beloved nephew would never be able to say those words to anyone after all that he’d been through. “I’ll call you when I find out anything,” she added.

“Thank you,” he replied, before hanging up.

John stared at it for a long time. She was right…So was Roy, but if he could at least get Tommy in a better foster home it was worth it.

John returned to work two days later. He was sitting in front of his locker tying his shoes when Roy came in.

“Hey Johnny,” he greeted cheerfully, looking a bit surprised that John had actually beat him in this morning.

“Mornin,” his partner greeted him dismally.

Roy frowned. “How were your days off?” He questioned, worried that John was still hung up on this adoption thing.

John shrugged. “Didn’t do much,” he replied. Roy blew out a relieved breath but it was short lived. “I called my aunt,” he added quietly.

Roy’s expression took on a wary look. “Yeah? What about?” He asked suspiciously.

John had told him a couple of weeks ago that he rarely called the woman and almost never around the holidays for fear she’d ask him to come to Santa Barbara where his cousins would be. He didn’t get along well with the two older, spoiled offspring of his aunts.

“About Tommy…To see if she can help me,” he replied, staring absently into his locker with a dejected look on his face.

“About getting him into a new foster home?” He pressed with an arch to his blonde eyebrow.

Johnny gave him a sideways glance and a negative shake of the head. “About trying to adopt him,” he admitted dismally.

“AW JOOOHN,” the older man moaned, throwing his hands in the air in frustration.

“Well don’t worry,” Johnny interrupted forlornly.

“Don’t worry?”He barked.

“Yeah…because she told me the same thing that you did,” he added sadly.

Roy looked relieved, but he also recognized the disappointment in his young friends face. “I’m sorry Junior, but you do know that we’re both just thinking of you and Tommy here right? I mean it would be a huge disappointment for both of you to try and take this any further and have them tell you no,” he warned.

“Try what?” Chet asked from the doorway.

The two paramedics spun around to see the Irish fire fighter leaning against the door frame. John stood up abruptly and slammed his locker door closed. “Nothing that concerns you Kelly,” John snapped at the older man. He turned back to his partner. “She is going to try and get him into a new foster home though,” he added.

“That’s good,” Roy said enthusiastically, glad that John’s aunt had dissuaded him from his current obsession, but unsure of what he thought his aunt could do about it.

“You talkin about that boy?” Chet asked, sauntering into the room and opening his locker. “You still hung up on that kid?”

“Shut up Chet and just…just mind your own business,” John growled in annoyance, disappearing through the door.

The curly haired fireman turned to Roy, but the blonde paramedic held up his hand to stop his curious questions. “Just leave it alone Chet…He’s not up to your jokes about this okay?”

The other man nodded as Roy left the room, afraid the youngest member of the crew was getting way too involved and was going to get hurt, maybe already had from the look on his face. Despite the fact that he loved to tease the kid, he really did like Johnny.

He decided to press him a bit further after he’d had his coffee. He pulled his uniform shirt out of his locker and began to get dressed.

Johnny and Roy were at the table with Marco and Mike, sipping their coffee when Chet strolled in. The look on the lineman’s face warned John that he wasn’t about to let the subject of Tommy and John’s involvement with the kid die. John shot him and angry glare while Roy gave him a warning shake of his strawberry blonde head, silently pleading for him to just leave it alone.

The matter resolved itself as the station control unit began to tone. “Station 36, Station 51, Squad 45…Meet LAX Engine Company 6 at runway 7 R… Aircraft in distress,” Sam Lanier’s voice chimed.

Since the A shift crew was all present, the call was theirs. They ran for the rigs. Roy pulled out a minute later, sirens blaring and lights flashing. They heard the blast of the air horn as the engine followed close behind.

“Aircraft in distress,” John murmured. “Ya think it’s another small plane like that one you talked in that time?” He asked.

Roy shot him a sideway’s glance. “From the call out...I’d say it’s bigger,” he replied warningly.

John grimaced. He’d already figured that out himself, but he’d been hoping Roy would agree with his theory that it might be a single or double engine plane. “Oh man…this could be really bad,” he murmured with a shake of his dark head.

“Let’s hope not,” Roy returned quietly, thinking of the number of victims they could potentially be dealing with.

They rolled into the airport fifteen minutes later. The airports on site engine sat with its lights flashing at the midway point of the runway. Roy turned and drove down to join them. Mike followed. They could hear the sirens from station 36 and 45 in the distance as they climbed out.

“I’m Captain Hammer…Station 51. What have we got?” Dick asked the Captain.

“Captain Maury…Station 6,” the man replied. “We got a 727 coming in. The instrument panel is showing that the nose gear is not locked and there is a fire in the compartment.”

“How many on board?”

“Boarding list shows one hundred twenty three including the flight crew.”

John and Roy exchanged a worried glance. Six paramedics, one hundred twenty three potential victims was not a good ratio.

“We could need a lot more help,” John said bluntly.

Dick nodded. “I’ll put dispatch on standby and request more ambulances,” he agreed, heading back to the crown coach to call up reinforcements before rejoining his crew and the crews from station 36 and 45.

“Do you see them?” John asked the gathering crews; all of them scanning the skies in the distance.

“Not yet,” Roy replied.

There was a two or three minute silence before one of station 36’s paramedics, Bob Belliveau suddenly pointed. “THERE!” He shouted.

They all turned their attention in the direction indicated. A small, glittering dot was rapidly growing larger as it approached, trailing a wispy thread of black smoke.

The crews turned and ran for their vehicles in preparation for its landing. John stood on the running board, shielding his eyes from the glare of the sun as the silvery speck they’d seen grew and became recognizable as an aircraft, and then the whine of jet engines broke the silence. It became a high pitched, deafening roar as it passed over them.

John could see the small spurts of flames from the open landing gear compartment and that the landing gear was only partially dropped and obviously not locked.

He swung into the passenger seat next to his partner. “GO…GO,” he shouted urgently.

Roy quickly accelerated behind the plane, followed by the engines and squads; their crews leaning forward to gaze upward at the aircraft as it began to lose altitude.

The pilot lifted the nose upward, intending to keep it on the rear wheels for as long as possible. There was a squeal of rubber bouncing off the runway and then the roar of brakes being applied.

The plane finally slowed enough and the front end dropped. Sparks flew from beneath the fuselage as the wheels collapsed and the aircraft began to skid down the runway on its nose. A moment later the rear tires gave up the fight and the plane continued to slide on its belly for another minute before finally coming to a stop on the tarmac.

Flames shot from beneath as the rigs rolled to a stop. The rear door furthest from the fire popped open and a huge, yellow, inflatable slide unfurled. A moment later the well trained flight crew began hurrying anyone who was mobile down the ramp.

They spotted the fire engines and one cupped her hands over her mouth. “Please hurry…We have people injured up here,” she shouted.

Captain Maury gave her a wave. “Just keep evacuating the ones who are mobile and we’ll be right up there,” he called back reassuringly before he turned to the other crews and began issuing orders. “Engine 6, get on the foam unit. Dick; have your crew keep those flames from spreading until we get set up. Engine 36…Get a ladder up to that first door as soon as 51 clears it. We need to get the paramedics up there,” he instructed. They all nodded and began to direct their own crews. He turned to the paramedics. “Get on up there…let me know if we need more squads,” he finished.

“Yes sir,” Roy replied for the group. They quickly returned to their vehicles and gathered what they thought they’d need before turning and running toward the plane. John and Roy were first and as the senior paramedic of the group, Roy took over. “Belliveau, Cameron…Why don’t you set up a staging area. Well send the least injured down first and you can get them packaged for the hospital,” he suggested.

“You got it Roy,” Bob replied giving his partner a slap on the shoulder and heading for a clear area to set up.

“Bellingham…Doug,” Roy addressed the two paramedics from 45’s. “Why don’t you help them evacuate the plane and be ready for the ones we send down to you? We don’t have much room up there and we’ll be crawling over each other. You can help Bob and Jay after we get them out,” he suggested, nodding toward the ramp where the people were landing in an awkward heap at the bottom.

“Good idea…at this rate we’re gonna have a ton more injuries to deal with,” Doug said drily before they headed over to take control of the situation.

Johnny and Roy ran for the front of the plane where the ladder was being set up now that Engine 51 was keeping a steady flow of water on the flames while they waited for the foam unit to set up.

“Cap… I’ll toss you a line,” Roy shouted to his superior as he set down the drug and trauma boxes.

Hammer nodded and ran to assist his paramedic team. Roy climbed the ladder and tossed the line down to his captain. Hammer quickly tied the trauma and drug boxes to the rope and the blonde paramedic began to pull them up.

John began making his way through the first class section of the plane where several people were moaning and holding a broken limb or bloodied laceration. The young paramedic began to check them over as quickly and efficiently as possible while he waited for Roy. He patted a shoulder here and there after a quick check.

“My partner will be right here to splint that for you,” he promised reassuringly after ascertaining that a broken arm or leg was all that was wrong.

One woman had blood trickling down her face and John moved to her side, squatting beside her. “Hi; I’m John Gage…I’m a paramedic. I just want to check you out,” he explained.

“My head hurrrs,” she slurred.

“Yes ma’am; you have a quite a gash here,” he said as casually as possible.

“Oooh,” she whimpered. “Will it leave…a scar?” She asked, sounding a bit dazed.

John’s mouth dropped open in shock.  He was always surprised at the things people worried about in a crisis, especially after just surviving a plane crash. “Www…well um…Ma’am…I um…I’m not a doctor but…We’ll do the best we can to be sure that doesn’t happen,” he promised, pulling his pen light from his pocket to check her eyes. Yes…she was definitely concussed, he mused silently as Roy came down the aisle toward him with the equipment boxes.

“What have you got?” He asked his young partner.

“Some broken bones in the first seats, but she’s got a concussion and a bad scalp laceration. She’s moving around okay though,” he assured him.

Roy flipped open the trauma box and pulled out a couple of 4X4’s and a roll of gauze.

“I’ll start on them,” he said nodding toward the first seats.

John nodded and set to work as Roy moved back toward the front to where a man was still cradling his fractured arm and the woman was holding an obviously fractured knee. He set down the box and started checking the man over as Captain Hammer entered the cabin and moved to assist them.

“We’ve got the fire out and 127’s snorkel is setting up to take these people out as you get them set. Stone and Bellingham will be up to help out now that they have the rest of the people out.”

“Good deal,” John said standing up. “They can start with this lady. I’m gonna go check the rest of the plane,” he added, heading for the rear section of the plane.

“Call if you got anything serious,” Roy called after him.

“You got it,” he replied, disappearing through the curtain. He returned seconds later. “I have about 9 victims back there, one is a possible neck facture,” he said worriedly, grabbing a C-Collar. “Cap…I’ll need a backboard,” he said before heading back the way he’d come.

“On it,” Hammer answered going back toward the door.

Roy sighed. It was gonna be a long morning.

 Johnny climbed into the ambulance with the last two victims to head for Rampart while Roy followed in the squad.

“We’ll have coffee ready for you when you get back,” Captain Hammer assured the two tired paramedics.

“Thanks Cap,” Roy called, sliding behind the wheel.

Rampart was a madhouse when they arrived. Every treatment room was in use and in some cases, contained more than one gurney.

Kelly Brackett spotted Johnny and Roy at the base station resupplying their drug box. “Hey you two; can you hang around and help us out?” He questioned.

The pair exchanged a glance. This was the first time they’d been asked to do something like this. Brackett had been against the paramedic program at the beginning, and he and Johnny had butted heads several times before they’d recently buried the hatchet. They both were rather pleased that Brackett had begun to trust them, and was asking for their help. They both nodded.

“Sure; where do you need us?” Roy questioned for the two of them.

“I’ve got Bellingham in with Mike and Stone is in with Joe…Can you two help me out in four?” He asked.

Johnny and Roy nodded and followed the dark haired doctor. There were three crash survivors on gurneys lined up, and a harried Nurse Dixie was moving between the three beds.

“Got you some help Dix, get me vitals on those two,” he directed the two paramedics.

“Thank God,” Dixie said in relief. She’d been running between rooms and directing her own team of nurses for the last two hours and she was relieved to have the extra four hands.

The two paramedics jumped in and began to get the BP and pulse of two of the patients in the room, while Dixie took the third. The group moved around each other, moving from task to task like a well oiled machine, reading off vital signs and starting IV’s at Brackett’s direction.

The handsome dark haired doctor looked very pleased with how well this had worked, and resolved to never take his paramedics for granted in the future when the situation called for it. They’d definitely earned his respect. He gave the pair a slap off the back as last patient was wheeled from the treatment room.

“Thanks for your help fellas…You two did a great job in there,” he admitted.

“Thanks doc,” Johnny said, looking pleased.

“We may utilize you guys again in the future,” he warned them with a grin as he headed off to help Mike and Joe.

“Let’s get back to the barn Junior,” Roy said steering his young partner toward the emergency room doors where their squad was waiting.

John and Roy pulled back into the station just as the rest of the crew were getting ready for lunch.

“What kept you?” Captain Hammer inquired as they came into the day room.

“Rampart was still swamped with victims of the crash and their regular patients so Brackett asked if we could stay and help out,” Roy explained.

Dick nodded. “Well you’re just in time for lunch,” he told them.

“Great…I’m starving,” Roy replied.

“Uh Cap…?” John began.

“What is it Gage?” The older man questioned.

“Uh…My aunt didn’t call did she?” He asked.

“No…No one called,” he replied turning away and heading for the table.

“Whatsa matter Gage…Afraid she’s gonna make you come for Christmas,” Chet asked, remembering Johnny ducking her phone calls around Thanksgiving as well.

“NO,” John growled. “I already told her I’d be there for Christmas,” he added.

Roy looked surprised and then a pleased smile broke over his face. “Really? Johnny that’s great,” he said enthusiastically, hoping that meant that John was coming around a little about being with his Cousins and his Aunt at the holidays. He knew Rosemary’s children didn’t get along well with John out of jealousy and bigotry about John being half Indian.

John shrugged. “I kinda owed her for helping me out with um…You know?” He hedged guardedly, not wanting to bring up Tommy in front of the others. Chet took the matter out of his hands.

“You mean about that kid right?”

“CHET,” John growled warningly.

“You still seeing that kid?” Mike asked curiously.

“What kid?” Dick asked.

John swallowed hard. So far his captain hadn’t heard about his involvement with the boy and he’d hoped he wouldn’t unless he’d actually gotten to adopt the child. “Uh…the kid we uh…rescued from the building collapse in October,” John stuttered.

Dick frowned. “What about him?”

“He wants to be a fireman Cap and I just brought him to the station and let him look around,” John replied innocently.

“Oh,” Dick replied in confusion, wondering how that would involve John’s aunt. He didn’t have long to wonder.

“Yeah…And he took him to the park with Roy and his kids and he’s been talkin to him on the phone,” Chet told his superior.

Marco and Mike glanced at each other, worried for their young friend. They knew it was hard to not get attached to some of their victims, but they also understood why the rule was in place. It could cause undo stress on a seasoned veteran, never mind someone as young and impressionable as Johnny was…worse; it could get the department involved if it went too far, and that could be trouble.

John shot Chet an ugly scowl. “Snitch,” he muttered.

“Gage…You getting involved with a victim again?” He asked, remembering the pretty girl Paula and the dog John had gotten stuck babysitting for not too long ago. 

John shrugged nervously. “Uh y…yeah cap, but this is different,” he stuttered. “This kid is in a foster home and…and they’re not real nice to him and…He needs a friend is all,” he added, tugging at his lower lip with his teeth when he’d finished.

Hammer understood. He was the only one of the crew besides Roy that knew John was an orphan, though he didn’t know the details, since he’d figured it out on his own just a couple of weeks ago but still…it wasn’t a good idea. Hammer sighed…”Just don’t let it go too far,” he warned.

It already had, John and Roy both mused, though neither said so. “Yes sir,” John replied. The sat down to eat. John shot several dagger looks at Chet as they ate their lunch but refrained from any comments since he didn’t want to bring Captain Hammer’s attention back to him any further.

Chet smirked at him, knowing Johnny was furious and unable to take a shot back at him, but really…he had done it out of concern for his young friend in the long run, hoping Cap would order him to back off.  Short sheeting the younger man’s bed on the other hand was something done out of pure wickedness, he mused, waiting for the kid to try and climb into his bed tonight and the Gage rant that would follow.

John spent the rest of the shift moving restlessly about the station and staying near the phone, but he was disappointed...His aunt didn’t call.

Chet on the other hand lay in his bed later that night listening as John unleashed a classic Gage rant over having to remake his bed and vowing to get even with the ‘phantom.’ Chet wasn’t worried; John wasn’t nearly as practiced at pulling pranks as he was and Chet was always two steps ahead of him, just like with the candy and garlic John had brought in to get the phantom…Chet had found it and doctored the candy himself and nailed his gullible, young crew mate with it. Yup…he had nothing to fear from the innocent Gage.

The next morning, the crew was ready to head for home and Roy could see the disappointed look on his young friends face. He patted John’s back as they walked across the parking lot, pleased that Johnny no longer pulled away from his casual touch as he used to just a short time ago.

“Don’t worry Junior…She’ll call. These things can’t be rushed.”

“I know, but the waitin is killin me,” he grumbled.

“Yeah…Well cutting through the bureaucratic red tape takes time,” he replied, still not sure how much Rosemary could really accomplish or who she knew that could get something done.

“I’m supposed to take Tommy to a Kings game tonight. I was hoping I’d have some good news,” he added dejectedly.

“Just how much time are you spending with this kid?” Roy pressed worriedly.

John shrugged. “Just the Saturday’s we get off,” he replied.

Roy nodded in relief. They didn’t get many of those in the long run and if the truth be told, he was glad to see Johnny going out and having some fun, even if it was with a kid half his age.  

Having been raised in the abusive life style Johnny had grown up with, he’d never really gotten to be a kid. Tommy was helping him relive that even if only through the child’s eyes, only this time…John wanted the results to be different…that Tommy wouldn’t live through what he had, even if it was emotional rather than physical abuse.

“Well I miss ya around the house junior but I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself. Just please…Please be careful,” he urged.

John threw him a crooked quirk of his lips. “Nothin’s gonna happen,” he assured his friend.

John picked Tommy up later that afternoon. The boy climbed into the camper tossing a wave at the other kids playing on front lawn watching with a hint of envy. John noted that there were two very young children and two teenage girls that could spell trouble if he got involved with them, he mused to himself, and the little ones required more attention than he was sure he was capable of at this point with his limited knowledge of children. He didn’t feel quite so bad at leaving them behind.

“So, how was school this week?” He asked the eleven year old.

“It was great,” he chimed enthusiastically.

“Yeah…What happened?”

“The teacher went around asking us what we wanted to be when we grew up, so I got to tell the whole class that I was gonna be a paramedic like you.”

John laughed. “Well just remember…It’s not always a fun job. It can be hot, sweaty and exhausting and even dangerous,” he reminded the boy.

Tommy nodded. “I know and I don’t care…It’s what I wanna do.”

“And worse…sometimes you have to put up with your crewmates and their stupid pranks,” he added dryly.

“Like what?”

“Oh; like getting doused with a water catapult. Having your bed short sheeted,” he grumbled, remembering the night before.

Tommy giggled. So whadda ya do to get even?” He asked his friend.

John shrugged. “Nothin,” he muttered unhappily. “I’m not good at comin up with stuff like that?” He admitted.

“Ah c’mon…You can’t let him get away with it. I’ll help ya,” he offered.

“Oh yeah…you good at that?” Johnny asked curiously.

Tommy grinned wickedly. “Yeah, but just don’t tell Hal and Janis cuz they’ll know who did all that stuff,” he warned.

John’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “What stuff?” He asked.

Tommy chuckled. “I dumped Hal’s aftershave lotion and filled it with pickle juice. Then turned it blue with food color,” he confessed.

John’s eyes widened and a snort of laughter slipped from his lips. “That all?”

“Nope…I took green food color and squirted it into Janis’ pastries,” he informed him with a laugh.

Johnny chuckled. “What happened?”

“Everybody’s teeth turned green,” he blurted out, howling with laughter as he remembered the green tinted lips and grins.

John frowned. “Does it come off?”

“Yeah…Toothpaste will take it off…But I put salt in the toothpaste tube,” he admitted, doubling over with mirth at his own jokes.

John giggled at what must have been some unhappy faces at Tommy’s house but the wheels were turning. He could do all of those things himself. Give the phantom a taste of his own medicine.

Tommy glanced at his friend to see if he was mad at him for his tricks, but was relieved to see a sly grin cross John’s face as he contemplated the boy’s ideas. The grin brought the next confession. “One time I made a scarecrow and stuck it in Doreen’s closet. She’s Janis and Hal’s daughter. She’s as mean as they are,” he admitted. “Boy did she scream,” he said, laughing so hard, his face was turning scarlet.

“Thanks Tommy…You’ve given me a couple of ideas,” John said with a snicker of amusement. “Maybe I’ll figure out something to put in one of his own catapults,” he murmured thoughtfully.

Tommy’s lips pursed as he stared out the window musefully. “How about pepper? Or powder,” he suggested.

John shook his head. “Nah…spreads too much. Could hurt his eyes even if I aim it low,” John replied logically.

“Tomato sauce?”

“Stain his uniform…I’d have to pay for the dry cleaning,” he said ruefully.

They both continued to think about it as they drove. Tommy rubbed at the back of his head. He’d laughed so hard, he’d given himself another headache.

“I know,” John said suddenly snapping his fingers.

“What?” Tommy asked, his eyes shining with excitement.

“I dated a girl a while back. She wore this really nasty perfume. Made my eyes water,” he admitted.  Tommy giggled. “I just have to be sure to rig it to hit him in the chest and not the face,” he mused.

“Alright,” Tommy said with a grin.

John glanced toward him and saw the boy rubbing at his head. “Are you still getting headaches,” he asked worriedly.

Tommy shrugged, afraid if he told him he was that John would take him home and not take him anywhere anymore. No one wanted a sick kid around,” he mused. “Just sometimes when I do too much or something,” he admitted.

John frowned. “Have they taken you to a doctor?” he asked.

Tommy shook his head. “Nah…She just tells me I’m fakin it to get attention. It’s okay really. It goes away if I just settle down and rest for a bit.”

John didn’t like this at all. Kids didn’t just get headaches for no reason, but these foster parents just didn’t care, which is exactly why he wanted to get the kid to someone who’d take him to a doctor. He tried to find a way to broach the subject of what he’d asked his aunt to do. “So where are you going for Christmas?” He asked finally, figuring the opportunity would present itself eventually.

“Going to Hal’s parents,” he said dismally. “What about you?”

“Going to my aunts. She raised me from the time I was fourteen,” he added. “But maybe I can see you before Christmas,” he said, hoping he’d be able to give the boy some good news for the holidays.

“Cool.”

“Uh speaking of my aunt,” he began hesitantly. “I told her about you the other day,” he admitted casually.

“You mean about me wanting to be a fireman?”

“Well no…more about the Wallace’s and how bad they are to you sometimes,” he explained.

“Oh. Well what did she say?”

“She’s gonna talk to some people; try to get you into a different home…a better one.”

“With you?” He asked excitedly.

John grimaced and shook his head. “No,” he replied.

Tommy’s face crumbled in disappointment. “But I’d rather be with you,” he said plaintively.

“I know and I wish you could be and honestly…I did ask her about it.” Tommy grinned but it faded as John continued. “She said the same things I told you. They’d never allow a single man to raise you…especially not with my crazy hours and how dangerous the job is.”

Tommy looked away dejectedly. “That’s not fair,” he grumbled, folding his arms over his chest, his mouth turned down in a mutinous pout.

“I know it isn’t. Life often isn’t fair but we have to learn to deal with it…So the best I can do is get you in a good home with nice people,” he consoled the child.

“Can I still see you?” He asked in a small voice.

“Well yeah sure…As long as they don’t move you too far away,” he added honestly.

“Then I won’t go,” he warned firmly.

“Tommy…you’d have too, and I want what’s best for you,” John admonished.

“You’re what’s best for me,” he mumbled his face twisted as he tried not to cry.

“Well thanks,” John said sincerely. “But you know; you can still be a fireman with or without me right?”

Tommy nodded morosely. “I know, but I wanna stay near you,” he insisted.

John sighed. “Well why don’t we just wait and see what happens before we get all worried over that okay?”

“O…kay,” Tommy conceded grudgingly.

John reached over and gently scruffed the child’s hair the way Roy did to him sometimes when he wanted to get John’s mind off something else.

Tommy grinned at him as John turned into the parking lot.

John tried calling his aunt the next morning, but was told that she was out and would return his call when she returned the next day.  He headed out to his camper. He had some shopping to do, but it wasn’t for Christmas, he mused with a grin.

***Christmas was two weeks away but the signs of it were everywhere…Brilliant bulbs hung from trees and roof eaves. Christmas music played softly in the background of every department store. Excited children dragged their Parents from window to window along the sidewalks.

Johnny realized on his way in this morning that he’d seen it all happen around him for years but hadn’t really noticed it…ignoring the sights and sounds of the season and keeping to himself. John grinned … what a difference one good friend had made…not allowing him to stay locked within himself and tearing down the walls.

He returned home with his purchases, including a fire truck and firemens hat for Tommy and spent the afternoon setting up a few surprises for the ‘phantom’. Maybe he’d decide he’d met his match in John Gage after this and leave him alone, not that he could ‘admit’ that he was the culprit anymore than Chet Kelly could admit he was the phantom, but John was sure of it.

He set his alarm that night for a half hour earlier than usual and went to bed.

Roy came in as he finished tying his shoes… “Hey Partner…,” He said patting John on the shoulder, noting with satisfaction that Johnny never pulled away anymore.

“Roy…,” He greeted his friend with a smile…

“You’re in awfully early…something wrong?”

“Not a thing…I’m gonna get some coffee…I’ll see ya in a few.”

“Hey, save some for me…”

“Kay…,” He yelled back.

Roy was just finishing up when Chet ran in…

“Man I can’t believe I let Gage beat me in…I’ll be stuck with Latrine duty for sure…,” he grouched as he dropped his duffle bag and began to unbutton his shirt.

Roy chuckled as he heard Caps bellow… “Roll call…”

“Better hurry it up there Kelly…,” He teased heading for the door as Chet sat down to pull his shoes off…

“Man I’m not even gonna have time to get cleaned up,” he complained to the exiting Paramedic.

“Do it after,” Roy advised as the door swung shut behind him.

Roy joined his Partner in the apparatus bay as Mike and Marco joined them. They were standing in line waiting for the missing Irishman…Cap was tapping his foot impatiently…They all jumped at the scream that came from the locker room…all but Johnny…

“Aaargh…,” Chet shrieked.

Roy glanced at the others as they looked around in confusion…Chet’s arrival solved the mystery…The smell of cheap perfume wafted into the apparatus bay several seconds before he did.

“Real funny…,” He snarled holding one of his own water catapults… “Who’s the comedian?”

The others looked at each other questioningly but no one confessed.

“Well…,” Cap said moving well away from Kelly, “You’ll want to take a shower after roll call Kelly so I guess the Latrine is a good job for you…,” Cap said with a grin as the others edged away, keeping several feet between them and the sweet, flowery scented Fire Fighter.

Cap continued giving assignments while Roy cast a glance at Johnny…A slow, smug smile spread across his Partner’s features. Roy had to stifle his laughter. “Good job…,” He whispered aside to his friend. John barely nodded.

After Roll Call they headed to the Rec Room for coffee…while Chet headed for the locker room to change and clean up.

They sipped their coffee helping themselves to the donuts that had been left on the table. John set a lemon filled Donut on a napkin and went to pour more coffee…but stopped to smother a giggle as a loud bellow reverberated through the station…

“Alright that’s it...,” Kelly yelled as he stomped into the rec room...the flowery scent had diminished considerably but a new scent had now replaced it.

Roy leaned closer and sniffed… “Uh Chet…you…um smell like a pickle.”

“No kiddin,” he growled holding up the bottle of aftershave he usually kept in his locker…He glared around the room at the smirks of his Crew mates…

“That sweet or dill…?” Marco asked.

“What’s the matter Chet…can’t take what you dish out?” Mike teased. John’s giggle could be heard from the sink where he stood making another pot of coffee.

“You have anything to do with this Gage?” Chet growled.

John turned giving him his best innocent look…He opened his mouth to deny everything just as the phone began to ring…it went silent as Dick answered it from his office.

“Gage; phone…,” Cap yelled…

“I’ll…ah…just take that in the dorm…,”Johnny said with a grin as he made his escape.

John trotted into the dorm and picked up the receiver. “Hello?” He questioned curiously.

“Hello sweetie…Its Aunt Rose,” the softly cultured voice responded.

“Hi Aunt Rose,” he replied.

“I just called to let you know what I found out,” she said gently.

John’s stomach turned a small flip and he swallowed back the lump in his throat. He could tell from her tone that at least part of what she was going to say was going to be disappointing.

“What did they say?” He questioned hesitantly.

“Well to start with; they won’t let you adopt Tommy, but really, you already knew that didn’t you Haah’keta,” she told him right up front.

“Yes ma’am,” he replied, trying not to let the hurt in his voice be heard.

“I’m sorry sweetie,” she consoled, before she went on. “They are however going to look into moving him to another home. They have had complaints about that particular household before and were very angry that the Wallace’s didn’t see fit to inform them of Tommy’s accident or that he’d been injured while in their care. He is a ward of the state after all and it’s their right to know when an accident like that happens so they can investigate the cause.”

“Yes ma’am…Did they say when?” He asked.

“Sweetie; this is a bureaucracy here and they never move swiftly I’m afraid, but they will begin checking up on all of it tomorrow and once the investigation is over, they’ll begin looking for a suitable family for Tommy.”

“Okay,” he sighed, realizing it was the best he was going to get no matter how hard he pressed her. “Well, thanks Aunt Rose. I appreciate everything you did,” he said sincerely, preparing to hang up.

“Oh John?” She called before he could set the receiver down.

“Yes ma’am?” He replied, putting the receiver back to hs ear.

“About Christmas?”

“I’m co…,” he began to reassure her, but she cut him off.

“Joshua and Tiffany bought airline tickets and rented a villa in Mexico for Christmas, and I know you don’t really like coming here, so I knew you wouldn’t mind if we change the plans for coming here. I thought you might like to come with us though if you can get the time off,” she hinted.

John swallowed back the hurt that suddenly formed a lump in his throat. “Ahem,” he croaked, trying to clear it before he spoke.

“John? Are you okay? I can change...”

“No…no it’s okay. I uh…I don’t wanna go to Mexico, but you have fun,” he said, trying to sound cheerful, masking the pain of being an afterthought…an unwanted burden as he usually did. He’d never let anyone know they could hurt him. He’d learned that the hard way long ago.

“John?” She tried again as the SCU tones began to sound.

“It’s no problem…Aunt Rose I gotta go,” he yelled in relief, hanging up the phone and racing for the apparatus bay where his partner was waiting for him. He slid into the cab keeping careful control over his emotions, trying not to let Roy see the hurt she’d inadvertently inflicted.

In a way he didn’t blame her. He hadn’t exactly given her any reason to believe he’d wanted to go there and he really didn’t, but that didn’t mean being sloughed off in favor of Mexico hurt less.

Chet watched him leave… “Roy, did Gage do this…?” He asked the blonde Paramedic. Roy shrugged with a grin. “I’m almost proud of him…,” Kelly said with a chuckle as he reached out to snag John’s donut… “But I can’t let him get away with it so…this will be his punishment…,” He laughed biting into the sugary pastry…” He grinned but the smirk slowly faded as he noticed the look of shock on the faces of his crew mates and then the guys doubled over with laughter.

“What’s so funny…?” he asked suspiciously at their hoots of hilarity…he glanced down at the lemon donut and did a double take...the filling was green. The Irishman closed his eyes in frustration. “Are my teeth green…?” He ground out in annoyance.

“Uh…yeah,” Marco answered.

“S…so are your lips…,” Mike sputtered out trying to contain himself…

“Gage…,” He bellowed.

The SCU tones began to sound… “Squad 51…vehicle accident with injuries…”

Roy ran for the squad as Cap began writing down the information…a moment later Johnny slid into the passenger seat. Roy glanced at his Partner as he reached around to grab his helmet from behind him. There was an odd look on his face. Roy wondered what was wrong but it would have to wait until the run was over. He took the slip from Cap and the Squad began to roll.

 They got the victim’s of the traffic accident delivered to Rampart twenty minutes later, delivering them into Dr. Early’s capable hands in treatment room two.

They walked to the Base Station where Dixie was working on some papers in front of her. She glanced up and smiled as she recognized her two favorite Paramedics. “Hey guys…,” She greeted.

“Hi Dix…,” Johnny responded for both of them… “You’re lookin pretty festive…,” He commented nodding at the Garland strand strung along the counter area.

“Oh we’re just getting started…The nurses are putting up a tree in the waiting room and one in the lobby.” They nodded.

“Very nice,” Roy said with a smile. “Are you workin Christmas?” He asked the pretty blonde nurse.

She shook her head. “Nope, I’m spending it with Kel…How about you guys…? What are you guys gonna be doin…?” She asked.

Roy grinned… “This’ll be Jen’s first Christmas. Joanne and I will be setting up the tree this weekend…Hey Junior why don’t you come help us…Chris would love it.”

John shifted uncomfortably, “Uh…thanks but no…I don’t get into all that…”

“C’mon Johnny it’ll give you some practice before you go to your Aunts.”

Dixie looked at the fidgety young Paramedic…“your Aunts…?” She questioned. This was the first she’d heard of any of John’s family…

John hesitated… “My Aunt …uh…wanted me to come…but…”

Roy glanced suspiciously at his Partner. “You are going to Santa Barbara right? You said she’s expecting you…”

John glanced away as that same look of hurt resignation entered his eyes for a fleeting moment before John slammed the wall of indifference back in place…he shrugged, “I thought maybe I’d work some overtime and let someone with a family take it off…”

Roy’s mouth set in irritation… “What happened?”

John shrugged… “Um…my Cousins are taking her to Mexico for Christmas…”

Roy could tell by the look on John’s face that he suspected it was his Cousin’s way of keeping him away from Rosemary for the Holidays…Anger climbed in the older man at the total insensitivity these two people had for their younger relative. “So you’ll be coming to my house then …?”

“No Roy, it’s okay really… I can use the money besides, you already let me spend Halloween and Thanksgiving with you…Christmas should be just you and your Family ya know?”

Dixie glanced over at Roy expectantly…she already knew what was coming.

“Good…so you’ll be there?”

“But Roy…I just told you…,” He trailed off in confusion.

Roy arched a brow at him, waiting for his sometimes dense Partner to catch on. Johnny continued to look blankly at his older friend…The blonde Paramedic sighed…

“Junior, you are Family…”

A small smile crept across John’s face… “Oh,” He said softly.

Dixie grinned at Roy… “He’s a little slow isn’t he…?”

“Give him time Dix it’s early…he picks up speed as the day goes on…,” Roy said with a smirk.

“Alright…,” John growled, flushing in embarrassment.

“So you’ll spend Christmas with us right?”

John chewed his lip…He’d become so close to the DeSoto family over these last few months and he loved being a part of their lives…but he was afraid of becoming a burden.

“I don’t want to be a…”

“Don’t finish that sentence Junior…”

John hesitated at his friends warning tone… “I'm sorry...Alright... If you’re sure…?”

“I am…so show up this weekend and help us decorate the tree.”

“Okay…and um…thanks,” he said softly as he kicked at the tiles sheepishly.

“Johnny…? You mind if I talk to your Aunt when we get back to the Station…?”

“About what…?” John asked curiously.

“I’d just like to wish her a Merry Christmas.”

“That’s all…?”

“Pretty much…”

“Okay…I guess.” John turned to the older woman standing there… “Guess we better take off…see ya Dix.”

Dixie smiled at Roy as he threw her a wink… “See ya Dix…,” He said following his Partner down the hall.

When they got back to the Station Roy got Rosemary’s number from Johnny and tucked it into his Pocket. “Aren’t ya gonna call her?” John asked.

“Yeah…a little later,” Roy said cryptically… “Let’s get some coffee Junior.”

They headed into the Rec room…Kelly was waiting with the others… “So Gage…that was quite a little trick with the donut this morning…”

John grinned… “What donut would that be Chet…?” He asked guilelessly…

“The lemon one…with the green food coloring…,” He reminded him.

“Really…it did?” John asked in wide eyed innocence… “You mean the one you stole from me…,” John taunted… “Maybe it was the Phantom..? After all, if you hadn’t have taken it…I would have eaten it,” John pointed out.

Chet looked around at the others suspiciously…then realized John was just trying to throw him off… “Yeah I’ll bet…”

“Besides you seem to have gotten rid of the uh… evidence,” he said.

“Yeah…I did…I ahh… really appreciated the salt in the toothpaste tube…”

Roy snorted with laughter from the counter where he was pouring coffee for himself and his Partner. He headed back to the table a moment later with the smirk still on his face.

“Salt…?” John said with a giggle… “Why who’d do a thing like that…maybe the phantom..?” He asked glancing up at Roy as the older man set the coffee cup in front of him.

Roy grinned at the mischievous sparkle in Johnny’s eyes. “I'm proud of ya Junior…,” He whispered.

“This means war Gage…”

“Bring it on Kelly…,” John challenged.

“We gonna get some work done around here this morning…?” Cap asked poking his head into the Rec Room…

“Comin Cap…,” John said as he got to his feet. The others followed the younger man out.

Roy waited until his Partner was on the hose rack before he called John’s Aunt Rosemary… “Um Rosemary this is Roy DeSoto…”

“Oh Roy, how are you…? How’s John…? Is he alright? He wasn’t upset this morning was he?”

“Yes Ma’am…he was,” Roy said coolly…

“I feel so awful about this…I mean this is the first time I didn’t have to badger him to come home and then I went and hurt him by telling him I wouldn’t be there after all.”

“Don’t worry Rosemary, He’s gonna spend Christmas with me and my Family…We’d love to have him.”

“Oh I see…,” she whispered correctly reading the cold tone in Roy’s voice. “I’m so glad to know he’s got someone who really cares for him there. Please understand...I want to love him like he’s my own but he won’t let me…he’s always pushed me away… I thought…well…I guess I thought he really didn’t want to come…I mean he usually prefers to be alone and… I should cancel this trip…I didn’t want to hurt him.”

Roy relented… “look I know John’s had trouble accepting your love and I know he gave you a lot of resistance…it was within reason for you to think he would again…but I didn’t call you to make you feel bad…really. I uh…I was hoping you could help me give him a special Christmas and you’re the only one who can. John told me you moved into your Parents home after they died…,” Roy explained what he wanted and what he was hoping she could get him.

“Oh Roy…what a wonderful idea…I can’t imagine why I didn’t think of this before …I haven't been in that attic since I moved in but I’ll get on this right away…I promise.

Where do I send it if I find it…?”

Roy gave her his address. “Rosemary thank you…have a Merry Christmas.”

“Oh I will if I can find these for you…I wish I could be there to see John’s face,” she said with regret.

Roy hung up and headed outside to rejoin the crew…he hoped her efforts would turn up what he wanted.

Johnny looked at him curiously as he returned to the rear parking lot and climbed the tower to take his place at his Partners side. Roy threw him a grin.

“Sorry guys I had a phone call…,” He explained as he got to work.

A week later Roy found the package from Rosemary in his mailbox… His smile broadened as he opened it and examined the contents. He had some work to do.

Three days before Christmas and LA was chaos…Johnny stood at the sink washing the lunch dishes after having lost yet another round of cards, which they played to determine who got stuck with the job… Roy stood next to him drying. “Why do all the crazy people come out at Christmas time?” Johnny complained…

“That’s what you said at Thanksgiving…,” Roy reminded him.

“I know but it’s worse now…Candles setting houses on fire, falls from the roof, drunk drivers…people electrocuting themselves…I’m tellin ya …they’re nuts.”

Roy grinned… “Everyone’s in a hurry Junior…no time to watch out for the little things…”

John snorted… “You mean like not setting lit candles on window sills and makin sure they don’t overload their circuits…?”

“Exactly…”

The SCU tones began to sound….Station 51…Engine 36…battalion 14…Station 88…Structure Fire…2135 Worshington…cross street Western….2-1-3-5 Worshington…cross street Western…time out 13:57

“Here we go again…,” John said in frustration as he wiped his hands on his pants and ran for the Squad. Roy was right on his heels…They slid past Captain Hammer as he acknowledged the call…

“Station 51…KMG-365…,” he responded. The doors were already rolling up as Cap handed the slip of paper to Roy, who passed it on to Johnny as the truck began to roll.

John glanced at his partner as they raced toward the scene. “I saw a Christmas festival in the paper this morning,” he commented. “Turn left at the next intersection,” he added without missing a beat.

“Yeah…What’s it about? Roy asked as he made the indicated turn.

“Lots of decorations and trains and trees and stuff… I wanna take Tommy to it tomorrow before Christmas Eve and they head off to his foster ‘grandparents,” he added.

“He’ll like that,” Roy agreed.

“Thought you might wanna take your kids too,” he invited his friend.

“I’ll ask Jo,” Roy offered as they pulled up at the scene.

Their plans fell apart soon after. Both Paramedics climbing from the squad and grabbing their turnout coats. Red smoke billowed from the blown out windows… “Johnny…?” Roy said pointing at the smoke… “Chemicals…”

“Well at least it’s not Christmas related…,”John said with a grin.

“They think there may be a guard inside…Use your air masks…,” Cap directed as he went by… “In and out you two…”

“Got it Cap…,” Roy replied as they donned their air tanks and headed inside…They stepped through the door. The smoke was thick and heavy. Roy pointed to the right… “You go that way Johnny...I’ll go left. Be careful I can hardly see.”

John nodded and headed off in the opposite direction from his Partner. The hose crews were beginning to follow in behind them. He didn’t notice one of them break away and follow him.

They’d been inside for nearly five minutes when Roy’s Handy Talkie crackled to life.

“DeSoto, Gage… clear out…the guards outside.”

“10-4 Cap…I’ll find Gage…we’re comin out.”

“10-4…”

Johnny had started his search moving room to room…He entered the third room…the air was like a smothering blanket and John could barely see…he was grateful for the air mask…he didn’t like the color of the smoke at all. John turned to leave the empty room when he suddenly felt himself pushed forward from behind…he reached out to catch himself but before he could recover he felt his helmet pushed forward over his face…something struck the back of his head and the room seemed to tilt and then he sank to the floor semi conscious.

John’s eyes blinked against the pain swimming through his head…he squinted into the grayness surrounding him and saw another Fireman leaning over him… “Roy…?” He whispered…The man leaned over him and flipped the mask off John’s face. John gasped as the fumes hit his nostrils…he reached frantically for his air mask…He saw the man’s foot draw back…a moment later he gagged as the foot connected solidly with his stomach doubling him over and forcing him to take in a lungful of smoke filled air.

John drew his knees to his chest…trying desperately to breathe. The foot drew back again...pain filled eyes raised to look at his assailant…It was difficult to see through the thick haze but he thought briefly that he should know this man…then the foot made contact with John’s face and the world went black.

Brad Kimmerlin stood staring down at the younger man. “I told ya there’d be another time… Shoulda kept your mouth shut Gage…,” He muttered as he turned to walk away…He’d made it only a few steps as the ceiling cracked above him…He had only a second before it gave way and crashed down on top of him.

“Johnny…,” Roy shouted…making his way back along the corridor he’d last seen his Partner in. He came upon two other Firemen. He recognized them as Marco and Chet… “You guys seen Johnny…?” He yelled.

They shook their heads… “Maybe he went out…,” Marco shouted back.

“He wouldn’t leave without signaling me…,” Roy answered. “I’ll check up there…,” He said pointing at the next door.

John’s eyes cracked open. Pain swam through him as he tried to move. His lungs felt heavy and he coughed harshly…doubling up in pain at the pressure in his chest…After a moment it eased enough for the young Paramedic to push himself to his hands and knees. He pulled his air mask over his face and began to crawl…dizziness washed through him. He’d only made it a few feet when he saw the feet of another Fireman showing beneath a pile of rubble.

John made his way to the man’s side and began pulling the debris away…A deep rasping cough erupted from John’s lungs but he continued pushing and pulling at pieces of the ceiling until he cleared enough away to feel for the man’s carotid. It was there, beating strongly. The man began to cough and John realized that the other Fireman’s mask was broken…Johnny pulled his own clear and turned the man’s face toward him. He gasped in surprise when he recognized the face of Brad Kimmerlin.

He coughed again as he placed his air mask over Kimmerlin’s face allowing the man to breathe in the fresh air. John’s head swam as he breathed in the toxic smoke…combined with his head injury, it was too much…John’s vision shrank to a pinpoint. He slumped over Kimmerlin unconscious.

Roy found him a few minutes later. He quickly enlisted the aid of his two linemen and between the three of them, they managed to get John and Kimmerlin out into the fresh air and on O2.

Chet was at the Squad with Johnny by the time they emerged into the sunlight. He was placing the oxygen mask over John’s nose and mouth. A harsh, ragged cough erupted from the unconscious Paramedic. Jim Patterson from Station 14 was already running to help. “Take care of Kimmerlin…,” Roy directed Jim. He moved to Johnny’s side and reached for his Partners wrist to get a pulse.

Roy quickly assessed his young partner and they were soon on their way to Rampart.

They wheeled Johnny into treatment room three a minute later. Roy helped the attendants make the transfer from stretcher to table. Brackett moved in quickly. “Roy, help me move him down,” he directed, pulling John towards the head of the table. Johnny’s head dropped back slightly. His eyes fluttered open.

“Dix…bronchoscope,” He ordered. “Carol…” He said to the other nurse who had followed them in... “Get that tube out and his clothes off and then get X- ray up here…I want a full skull serious and his abdomen and chest.” She nodded and got to work.

“Dix, I want an ABG, CBC and electrolytes...” She nodded as she went to gather the items she would need.

John wheezed heavily as Carol pulled the tube free. The young man only had a moment's respite as Brackett began to insert the bronchoscope but Johnny turned his head trying to fight the sudden intrusion. Roy moved to his side and took John’s hand. “I’m right here Partner,” he said softly. “You’re gonna be okay…just relax.”

Kel turned his head back into position…after several moments he completed the insertion, “Suction...” he rapped out to Carol…She handed him the suction tube and he began to remove the debris John had aspirated.

Brackett finished and removed the scope. John’s breathing was a wheezy rasp and his eyes were clenched shut. Kel moved to the cabinet…he came back a moment later and injected a syringe into John’s I.V. port. “Bronchodilator,” he explained…the Ammonia gas is causing bronchospasms and I barely got the scope in…I can’t get the vent tube back in until it’s relaxed.

Roy nodded worriedly. Kel saw the fearful look on the Senior Paramedics face. “Don’t worry Roy, it’s just a precaution. I don’t want Johnny to have to work too hard to breathe right now. The Vent will do it for him and let him rest. I’ll take it out in the morning if he’s breathing better.”

Kel noticed that John’s breathing had already eased a bit. He began to insert the tube but John’s reaction was instant and panicked. His eyes flew open as he tried to slap Brackett’s hands away…Roy moved quickly to press his frightened Partner back on the table. “Easy Johnny…he’s not gonna hurt you…I’m right here. It’s gonna be okay,” He soothed.

Dark eyes met and locked with his as Brackett smoothly inserted the airway and hooked Johnny to the machine. Dixie inserted the needle into the artery in John’s wrist drawing a grimace of pain from the young Paramedic. Roy winced in sympathy and squeezed John’s hand reassuringly as Carol inserted the catheter.

Once Kel was sure Johnny was breathing alright he'd continued with the rest of the exam. He felt the lump on the back of John’s head and carefully turned the young man’s head and cleaned the laceration. Then He put three small butterfly stitches on John’s cheek. His hands drew a slight gasp past the vent tube as he probed the bruised area on John’s stomach.

The X-ray technician trundled his machine into the room.

“Let’s get some coffee Roy and then we can check out those X- rays and your partner’s hard head,” he said with a grin.

An hour later Johnny was moved to a room for the night… “You’re partner’s waiting at the base station Roy…,” Kel told him. Roy hesitated, casting one more worried glance at his friend… “Johnny’s only going to sleep tonight anyway and he won’t know whether you’re here or not,” Kel assured him.

“But I will…,” he said softly. He cast one final look at his sleeping partner and headed for the door.

Roy returned the next morning after his shift ended. He poked his head into his Partners room to check on him. John was moving restlessly beneath the covers. The hiss and thump of the Ventilator was the only sound. The older man moved to his friend’s side. “Johnny can you hear me?” He said softly.

John’s head turned in his direction...his eyes opened slowly, he looked at Roy blearily for a moment before he slowly reached up to touch the vent tube. His eyes looked questioningly at Roy. “He said he’d take it out today if you looked good Junior,” Roy said catching his friend’s hand.

The door opened and Brackett walked in. He smiled when he saw Roy already at his Partners bed side after he’d practically had to throw him out the night before. “Morning Roy…”

“Mornin Doc,” Roy greeted.

“Johnny…,” Kel said with a smile. “Let’s take a look at you okay? Can you remember what happened…?” The younger man shook his head. “Okay well…let’s take a listen,” He said putting his stethoscope in his ears. He listened to John’s lungs. “Sounds good, are you ready for me to take that tube out?” Johnny nodded eagerly but closed his eyes tightly as dizziness washed over him from the sudden movement. He tried desperately to hold his stomach in place.

“Doc…?” Roy questioned worriedly.

“Are you gonna be sick Johnny?” Kel asked as he quickly began to remove the tape from around the vent tube.

John remained motionless but the tightly clenched eyes were enough for an answer. “Okay John…I need to get this tube out. If you can… without being sick I need you to cough…it’ll make it easier okay?”

A faint nod was his only response. Kel began to remove the tube…John gave a hesitant cough, wincing as the tube scraped his irritated throat. He coughed again and breathed a sigh of relief as the tube was finally removed. “Thanks…,” He croaked softly trying not to move his head.

Kel once again listened to his lungs… “Breathe in for me Johnny,” he instructed. John drew in a deep breath and coughed harshly. “Let’s sit him up.” They eased Johnny to a sitting position… “Breathe in one more time John.”

Johnny took a breath, coughing again and then he suddenly turned pale… “Doc…,” he gasped. Brackett moved but Roy was faster, he grabbed the emesis basin and thrust it under his Young Partners chin. John heaved miserably but thankfully his stomach was empty and all he brought up was a bit of saliva.

“Okay now?” Roy asked easing his friend back onto the bed.

John gave a weak nod as Roy gently wiped his face. The older Paramedic looked at Brackett. “He okay…?”

“I’m afraid that concussion’s causing most of this, though his lungs are still congested. Johnny, does your chest hurt…?” Kel asked the younger man.

“Yeah…a little,” He rasped. Kel felt around John’s neck.

“Does your throat still feel tight?”

“Yeah…uh… Doc when can I go home…?” He asked with a stifled cough.

“Not today Johnny, I want you to rest today ok? I’m gonna give you Compazine to settle your stomach,” he replied as he settled a nasal cannula under Johnny's nose.

“What about tomorrow?”

“We’ll see… If you’re still having the same issues tomorrow…,” Brackett let the warning trail off.

“But Doc…,” He began to argue in a raspy whisper... his eyes drooping in exhaustion.

“Johnny…,”Roy said interrupting his Partner… “You need to rest now…You can argue about it later okay?” he said resting his hand on his friends shoulder. “Just close your eyes Junior… you’re worn out.”

“I wanna go home Roy…,” he croaked.

“I know you do…We’ll talk about it tomorrow,” He promised moving his hand to gently swipe the hair off the younger man’s face and then resting his hand on the sable hair as he continued to lightly brush John’s forehead with the back of his fingers…

“Quit Roy…That’s cheating…,” He whispered drowsily as his eyes began to close, his hand lifted slightly as if to push Roy’s away but quickly fell back to the mattress as he drifted off.

Kel grinned as the young paramedic began to breathe deeply in sleep. “That’s quite a trick…”

“I use what works…,” Roy said with a chuckle. “But seriously Doc, tomorrow’s Christmas Eve. I’d really like to be able to bring him home with me…I’ve got something kinda special planned for him.”

“We’ll do our best to make that happen Roy…I think he could use that.”

“Me too Doc…Me too,” He said lightly patting his young Partners arm.

Johnny woke at Rampart. The first thing he noticed was the definite tightness still in his Chest and the pounding headache at the back of his head as he began to cough harshly.

The door opened and Dixie poked her head in. “Morning handsome,” she greeted the young man.

“Morning Dix,” he choked out trying and failing to stifle yet another round of coughing, grimacing as his head began to throb in a matching rhythm.

“Oh Johnny… you sound terrible,” she observed moving to the younger mans side.

“You think Brackett’ll let me go home?” He rasped out.

“Johnny I don’t think so, not the way you sound.”

“But Dix…,” He began as the door opened to admit Kelly Brackett.

“Good morning Johnny, Dix…I thought I’d find you here,” He quipped to the blonde nurse with a smile.

“Mornin Kel…”

“Doc…,” Johnny greeted, speaking as little as possible to avoid coughing.

“How are you feeling this morning Johnny?”

“Fine…,” he mumbled avoiding looking at Dixie.

It didn’t matter… Kel was already on to him anyway. “Well why don’t I judge for myself after I listen to your lungs...” he said, placing his stethoscope in his ears. “Can you sit up for me Johnny?” he asked helping the younger man to an upright position. John’s head swam dizzily and he stifled a groan of misery but Kel’s alert gaze caught the grimace on the younger man’s face. “Still dizzy…?”

John clenched his teeth in frustration but he knew he’d been caught. “Yeah a little,” he admitted reluctantly.

Kel listened to his chest moving around to his back… “Breathe in…” John complied. “Again…,” The Doctor listened then finally stepped back wrapping his stethoscope and tucking it in his lab coat pocket. The tell tale twitch of his lips told Johnny what he already suspected… “I think one more day at least Johnny, maybe two.”

Dixie’s heart broke at the disappointed look on the younger man’s face.

“Doc…,” John began with a wheeze.

“Johnny I’m not going to argue this with you. You still have rales in both lungs and you’re still experiencing dizziness from the concussion. You’re running a low grade fever which could be the beginning of a lung infection. I can’t in good conscious release you, I’m sorry…maybe tomorrow if there are no further complications.”

John looked away in frustration, “Yeah…that’s what you said yesterday,” he rasped in disgust.

Kel nodded briefly and sighed. “I’m sorry…,” he said again. He glanced at Dixie one more time and left.

Dix turned back to the younger man. “Johnny…,” She began.

“Please Dix just…just leave me alone,” He whispered.

“He’s just doing what he thinks is best for you right now…”

“What’s best for me is to spend Christmas with Roy and his family…I finally have someone who wants…,” he stopped abruptly realizing what he’d almost blurted out. “Never mind…,” He whispered in defeat.

She chewed her lip as the door opened once more to reveal the smiling face of Roy DeSoto.

“Hey Dix…,” He greeted cheerfully. Her blue eyes turned to his. Roy’s smile wavered as he saw the distressed look on her face and Johnny’s averted gaze. “What’s wrong?”

“Kel said he has to stay one more day at least.” Roy’s disappointed look matched Johnny’s.

“Johnny… I’m sorry,” Roy said softly.

John nodded but continued to stare out the window in silence.

Roy looked at Dixie and nodded at the door. “We’ll be back in a minute junior…,” Roy assured him.

“Whatever…,”he mumbled.

Dixie followed the blonde Paramedic into the hall. “Can I talk to Brackett?”

“I don’t think it’ll help but we can give it a try…come on.” They both headed toward the elevators.

They found Brackett in his office. He was leaning over his desk studying a chart when they knocked. “Kel can we talk to you a minute…?” Dixie asked.

He glanced up to see two sets of blue eyes peering at him with determination. “I’m not gonna argue with you two…I’ve made my decision about Gage. It’s for his own good and it’s final….”

Dixie glanced at Roy then moved into the office to swing around and glance up into Kel’s face… “Wanna bet?” She asked with a stubborn look that matched his own.

Brackett sighed…she did this every time she wanted to fight and she usually always won but damn it not this time. John Gage was still sick and concussed and he was better off in the hospital with round the clock care. Kel turned to face the two… “Dix, you saw him yourself this morning…he needs to be in a hospital where someone’s watching him twenty four hours a day. It’s better for him…”

“It’s better for him physically maybe but as far as his emotional well being goes, it’s better for him to be in a happy home for Christmas where he’s loved and wanted. Now I don’t know all the particulars of his past but I could see it in his face…He was really looking forward to this and he needs this. Now if you want to help his recovery, then send him home with Roy…”

“I’ll be there to watch him Doc…round the clock. I’ll be sure he rests and I’ll bring him back at the first sign of trouble… I promise,” Roy said earnestly.

Kel looked between the two of them. “It’s Christmas Kel…,” Dix said pleadingly.

“Please Doc…He hasn’t exactly had a great track record for successful Holiday gatherings…I want this one to be good,” Roy argued.

Kel shook his head stubbornly, staring at the floor with pursed lips. Dix and Roy exchanged a glance and grinned. Dixie took in a deep breath…

Johnny lay in his bed staring silently out the window. Depression settled over him like a blanket. For the first time he’d been really looking forward to celebrating a real Christmas...

 The door swung open and Roy came in… “Hey Partner…,” he said cheerfully.

Johnny put his best effort into a wan smile. “Hi Roy,” he wheezed out. “Hey I’m really sorry I can’t make it tonight.”

“Oh you’ll make it…,” He said as the door opened behind him. Dixie pushed a wheel chair into the room.

John looked up in confusion as Roy reached around his shoulders and pulled his Partner into a sitting position. “Let’s get you dressed junior.”

“What…? I…don’t…,” he stammered in confusion.

“Doc had a change of heart…He’s gonna let you go home with me…if that’s ok?” he said retrieving John’s clothes from the small armoire.

Dixie’s heart lifted as a broad smile broke across John’s face… “Yeah…? For real…?”

“For real Partner…let’s get you dressed,” Roy said gently, handing his Partner his clothes.

They got John into Roy’s car a short time later…Dixie handed the older man a small bag with Johnny’s medications. “See that he rests Roy, I can’t stand to hear Kel say I told you so if you have to bring him back.”

“I will Dix…promise and hey if you wanna stop by tonight we’re having a little get together at my house, he leaned down to whisper softly, “You can even bring Brackett if he wants to come.”

Dixie nodded as she leaned into the passenger seat planting a light kiss on the young Paramedics cheek. “Merry Christmas Johnny,” She said gently.

“Merry Christmas Dix,” He wheezed with a crooked grin lighting his face and despite the tightness in his chest and the occasional dizzy spell there was a definite lightness to his heart.

Roy climbed in tossing the paper bag into Johnny’s lap. “Ready junior…?”

“Ready… Uh…Roy could we stop at my apartment on the way…”

“What for junior…?”

“Um I…, ”John coughed. “I bought some stuff and…I want to pick it up…,” he finished coughing once more. “I need a change of clothes too.”

“Alright Partner but you give me the keys and I’ll get them okay?”

Roy pulled into the driveway a short time later. He came around to help his young friend from the car. “I’ll bring your stuff in later… let’s just get you settled first.”

“Kay…,”he conceded as Roy led him inside. He got his partner settled on the sofa as Joanne came out of the kitchen.

“Welcome home sweetheart,” She said planting a kiss on Johnny’s cheek. “Hi honey,” she greeted Roy a bit more warmly with a gentle kiss on her husband’s lips.

Roy smiled at her as he flipped the shoes off John’s feet and lifted his legs onto the sofa. He pulled the afghan off the back of the couch and spread it over his partner, he didn’t object as he lay back on the couch pillows. His eyes closed almost instantly.

“He looks wiped out Honey,” Joanne said brushing her fingertips over John’s forehead to swipe the bangs aside, “and he’s a little warm.”

“He is, but at least he’s here. Brackett wasn’t gonna let him go until Dixie and I fought it out with him. He really should be in a Hospital but...man I just couldn’t leave him there…I mean he looked so disappointed Jo.”

“Well I’m glad you did…we’ll take good care of him.”

“Where’s Chris?”

“Upstairs…he’s so excited… first Uncle Johnny being here and being Christmas Eve and the guys coming over…I don’t know how we’ll ever get him to sleep tonight.”

Roy chuckled… “I think I’d have the same problem with this one if he wasn’t so sick,” he said nodding at Johnny. “You should see the presents he bought. Speaking of, I better go get them and put em under the tree.”

She nodded heading back to the kitchen to finish up with the party preparations for the evening.

Christmas Eve proved to be a quiet but happy time for the small family and the crew. It was the first Christmas celebrated as a team, and despite the fact that Johnny was still obviously not well…he was at least on the mend and would return to Station 51 … and for Johnny, it was the first time he felt at home; as if he were part of a real family, regardless that he had a concussion and was sick and felt terrible.

He managed to stay awake long enough to watch his new friends open their gifts before he was hustled off to his bed, protesting the entire way even though he was practically asleep on his feet.

Johnny spent Christmas day lying on the DeSoto couch watching Christmas shows and watching the kids playing with their gifts. He was still tired and fighting the constrictive feeling in his chest and napped off and on through the afternoon, and he might have remembered his promise to call Tommy if he hadn’t felt so lousy. 

Roy returned to work the next morning. He joined the crew in the day room for coffee.

“How’s John feeling?” Captain Hammer asked, without looking up from his reports.

“Still got a bad cough and he still has trouble drawing a deep breath. His voice was pretty raspy but a lot better than yesterday.  He was going back to bed when I left and Joanne said she’d call if anything happened,” he told his superior.

“Good…How long will he be out?”

“Brackett thought it would be at least ten days before he’d release him for duty.”

Dick nodded. “So about four or five shifts then,” he murmured thoughtfully as John’s replacement strolled into the room.

“Captain Hammer?” The young man questioned.

“That’s me?” The older man replied pushing himself up from the table to offer his hand to the young man.

“Dave Roper Sir…I’m Gages replacement for this shift.”

“Nice to meet you. You know Roy?”

“Yes sir,” he replied nodding to the blonde paramedic.

“Hey Dave,” Roy greeted as the phone began to ring.

“How’s Gage doing?” Roper questioned moving over to join the older paramedic, while Hammer snapped up the phone.

“Station 51; Captain Hammer speaking,” he said briskly. “No John’s not here,” the crew heard him respond. “Can I ask who’s calling? Tommy who?”

Roy heard the name and set his cup down, heading toward his Captain. “Is it a kid?” He questioned. Dick nodded. “Tommy Masters?”

“Yeah…Here,” he replied, handing Roy the phone.

“Tommy…this is Roy De Soto,” he said, taking over the conversation.

“Hi Roy,” the young voice came back. “Where’s Johnny? He was supposed to call me before Christmas but I guess he forgot and he hasn’t been home.”

“No he didn’t just forget Tommy,” Roy corrected quietly.

“Oh,” the single word hung between them as the boy tried to figure out why his friend had broken his promise, and hoping it wasn’t because John didn’t want to be friends with him anymore.

Roy sighed. He didn’t want to scare the boy but he had to tell him. “Uh Tommy…Johnny got hurt at a rescue a couple of days ago,” he told him as gently as he could.

“How bad?” A small voice questioned fearfully. Tommy could feel his head begin a dull throb as Roy continued.

“He’s gonna be alright, but he took a hard thump on the head and breathed in some toxic fumes.”

“Is he in the hospital?”

“No…He’s at my house. I’ll tell him you called tomorrow and have him call you as soon he’s feeling better okay?”

“Yes sir,” the child replied.

“Don’t worry son, he’s gonna be alright…I promise.”

“Okay.”

Tommy hung up the phone and ran his hand over his eyes. He’d already had a headache when he’d called the station but now it felt as if someone were playing the drums inside his head as fear crept in and his blood pressure elevated.

His vision wavered briefly and Tommy decided he needed to lie down for a little while. It usually helped when it got this bad.  He tottered unsteadily toward his bedroom, using the walls to support himself as he went.

Gray was crowding in and Tommy was afraid for a minute that he was going to pass out. It had never been this bad before. He finally made it to his room and crawled into his bed and let sleep claim him.

Roy hung up the phone and looked to his Captain. “Is the kid okay?” Dick asked seeing the concerned look on his senor paramedic’s face.

“Yeah…I scared him a little but, he seemed to settle down once I told him John would be alright.”

“I don’t like Gage getting so involved with this kid,” he said gruffly.

“Me either Cap, but John’s just gonna dig his heels in if I push him on this Cap, and he’s good for the kid,” he admitted.

Hammer sighed. He knew Roy was right. He’d only know John a short time, but he’d quickly learned that the young Gage had a stubborn streak a mile wide. “Just keep an eye on this situation okay?”

“Yes sir.”

Roy told John about Tommy’s call when he returned home the next morning.

“Oh man,” John groaned, following the statement with a harsh cough.

“Easy Junior,” Roy warned, helping John to sit up to ease his breathing.

“I can’t believe *cough*I forgot about him,” he wheezed tiredly, finally understanding why Roy and his aunt had told him adopting Tommy would be a bad idea. What if something like this happened? What if it had ended differently leaving the boy with no one and ending up right back where he was right now?

“Well in all fairness Johnny; you were a bit preoccupied,” he reminded him.

“I know *cough* but the poor kid *cough*thinks I forgot him,” he choked out.

“I know, but I explained the situation and he understood and he wasn’t upset, just concerned that you’d been hurt. I told him you’d call him when you felt up to it.”

“I should *cough* call him,” he wheezed.

“As bad as you sound? I think you’d scare him,” Roy warned.

John considered that and finally nodded, realizing Roy was right. He’d wait until his breathing and his voice had returned to normal. He settled back against the pillows and Roy reached out to gently scruff the shaggy, dark hair. “Quit that,” he growled.

The older man chuckled. “Get dressed…I’ll tell Jo you’re ready for breakfast,” he teased before heading for the kitchen.

John returned to work just after the beginning of the new year; his voice had finally lost the rusty, rasping sound to his voice. He found out immediately that the phantom hadn’t retired in his absence, but this time he was ready for him with a few little tricks of his own.

Roy smiled over his coffee cup as John ranted by the kitchen sink. The quiet, shy, withdrawn kid he’d first met was gone. The slightly zany, energetic, enthusiastic, cocky, live life on the edge man who’d replaced him was as fascinating as he was complex. He might drive Roy crazy trying to figure him out but the older man was looking forward to the challenge. They watched with amusement as Chet came skidding around the doorway of the rec room.

“Gage…,” he bellowed in outrage… “You know anything about how my locker got glued shut…?” He growled.

“Maybe it was the same clown who put the jelly in my boots last shift or the baby powder in the supply closet…,” Johnny yelled pointing at his white coated uniform shirt in irritation.

“You gonna break that up…?” Cap asked with laughter in his voice as the two at the sink continued to bellow at each other.

“Nah..it’s good for him. He’s been quiet way too long. It’ll do him good to interact with other people, even if it is an argument.”

Chet finally snatched a screwdriver from one of the drawers to go and pry the locker door open. John grinned smugly as he watched him go before he decided to use the opportunity to call Tommy.

“Hey Tommy,” Johnny greeted. He grew concerned the moment the boy began to speak. From the sound of it, the boy wasn’t feeling well himself.

“Hi Johnny,” he replied, his voice sounding thin and reedy.

“Are you okay?” He asked worriedly.

“Yeah; I just got that headache again,” he replied.

“Did you tell the Wallace’s?”

“No,” he admitted.

“Tommy…?”

“It’s okay…It’ll just make em mad and I can handle it,” he reassured his friend.

“How often?” John growled in annoyance that the boy didn’t feel like he’d be taken seriously.

Tommy chewed his lip in indecision, not wanting to upset his friend and not willing to lie either. “I guess every day,” he admitted sheepishly. “Last week I had a real bad one. It made me really dizzy.”

“That’s it…I’m coming over there first thing tomorrow morning and I’m taking you to a doctor whether they like it or not.”

“You don’t hafta,” the boy protested. “Besides; they already took me to the eye doctor,” he reminded him.

“That’s not the kind of doctor I mean,” John told him.  “I mean a real doctor like the one who took care of you after that wall collapsed.”

“Oh; I hafta go to school tomorrow,” he reminded him.

“So you’ll be late. I’ll be there.”

“Okay,” he agreed.

John hung up the phone and came to join his partner and his captain at the table. They both grinned at the light dusting of powder on John’s shirt from earlier that morning. The smile faded quickly at the look on his partner’s face.

“What is it Junior?” Roy asked in concern.

“Tommy’s still having those headaches and his foster parents aren’t doing anything about it; so I am,” he said determinedly.

“John…You can’t keep getting involved in this kids life,” Dick said gently.

“So what? I’m supposed to just sit back while they ignore the fact that he’s sick?” John ranted angrily. “I’m sorry Cap but I just can’t do that,” John added.

“I thought your aunt was going to get him into a new foster home?” Roy questioned.

“She is…She told me it would take some time,” he said plaintively. “They have to do a full investigation first.”

“Then they’ll find out what’s going on and fix it,” Dick assured him.

John gave his best friend and Captain a hard stare. “Look; I know you don’t like the idea of me getting involved but if that were Chris or Jen or your son Matthew, wouldn’t you want someone to step in and help them?” He challenged.

Both of the older men exchanged a glance; John was right. If Tommy were their son, they’d want someone to help. They both nodded.

“I guess you’re right Junior,” Roy conceded.

“So I’m going over there tomorrow and get him to a doctor,” he vowed with a look of determination.

Johnny headed for Tommy’s the next morning. He was prepared to call Social Services himself if he had too, but would see a doctor about these constant headaches. He pulled into the yard and noticed a group of children on the porch, dressed and ready for school.

Tommy spotted the camper and stepped gingerly down the steps to meet him, unlike his usual exuberant leap from the top step when John arrived.

Johnny could tell from the pinched, gray look on his face that the boy was in pain. Why couldn’t the Wallace’s see it?

“Hi Johnny,” Tommy greeted his friend.

“Hey kiddo…How are you feeling?” He questioned as Janis came out on the porch.

She folded her arms tightly over her chest when she spotted John.  “What are you doing here on a weekday?” She growled in annoyance.

“I spoke to Tommy yesterday. He said he’s still having headaches and you and your husband aren’t doing anything about it.”

“Oh for Pete’s sake Mr. Gage…The kid’s fine and I told you before that he lies to get attention,” she snapped.

“FINE? Take a good hard look at him Janis…He’s not fine. He’s in pain and you can see it in his face; in his eyes if you’d bother to look,” he shot back. “I want to take him to a doctor.”

“I’m not paying good money to another doctor just so he can tell me there’s nothing wrong…AGAIN,” she sneered.

“What good money…I paid for the last doctor…not you,” he reminded her as the school bus rumbled up the road toward them.

Janis pointed at Tommy. “You get moving or you’ll miss the bus,” she barked at the child.

Tommy gave John an unhappy glance but headed slowly toward the street where the rest of the children were now waiting and watching the argument between John and the angry woman.

“Tommy wait,” John called after him. The boy stopped and turned back in indecision, looking between the pair.

John gave him a reassuring smile before he turned back to Janis and dropped his voice to keep the conversation private.  “You listen to me…There’s something wrong with that child and he needs a doctor…Now,” he snapped.

“Now you look here…,” she began angrily, but John cut her off.

“If you don’t; I’ll call child welfare and lodge a child abuse case and they can come here and take him themselves.”

There was a low moan of sound from the front law that stopped the argument as both adults turned to see the boys hands clasped over his head as if it to hold it in place, just before his legs buckled and he collapsed in a heap on the ground.

Tommy heard John’s command to wait and froze, turning around to watch his protector battle it out with Janis.

The headache that had left his face pinched with pain seemed to intensify as he waited.

His head throbbed with it and the grayness that had crowded his vision the last time seemed to close in around him. It felt as if the back of his head was going to explode and a sudden dizziness washed over him.

He moaned in pain as the gray turned to black, his hands rose to hold his head as gray turned to black and his vision shrank to a pinpoint. Tommy never felt it when he hit the ground.

Conclusion in Part 3

Posted to Site 12/24/16 Merry Christmas

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