Going to Extreme
Measures
Chapter Sixteen
by GCS
Over the next few days Johnny improved greatly. The antibiotics kicked in and allowed him to avoid the vent. Dr. Brackett was so pleased with his progress he had promised to let him go home in a few days.
Mike and Lizzy had spent all of their free time together, some of it visiting Johnny. The spaghetti dinner at Mike's home had given them the opportunity to really get to know each other better. So far it seemed that they were fast becoming the perfect couple.
Chet still would not believe that Johnny knew a surfer chick and had not bragged about it, but he had not discussed it with Johnny yet. The engine crew had decided to pay Johnny a visit after lunch today. What they didn't know is that Mike would be bringing that surfer chick with him, but first he was meeting her for a breakfast picnic on the beach.
It was starting out to be a warm day. The sun was bright and hung lazily in a clear blue sky. Mike pulled his truck into the parking area close to Gus' stand and put it in park.
He smiled as he looked over and found Lizzy walking along the breaking waves in a white sun dress that hung almost to the ground, but had a slit up the side which caused it to move more freely with her body. The dress was obviously meant to be beach attire. Her hair blew off her shoulders in the breeze, and she carried a seashell in her hand. She was the picture of a fashion model in one of those magazine spreads of beach attire only to Mike she was far more beautiful.
He slid from the truck and grabbed the basket of food he had prepared for them. It was a simple breakfast of croissants, cheese, fruit and coffee. He knew she watched her weight for her training. To him she didn't need to worry too much about it. She was perfect.
She spotted him as he approached and met him half way. "I have a blanket over at the stand."
"Okay let's get it and go over by those rocks. I think it will be more private if anyone decides to venture out this early," he said taking her arm.
The early morning beach goers were usually runners or walkers or families with small children. They really didn't have to worry about being disturbed, but Mike liked the solitude they would have between the outcroppings of rock. There it would be as if they were all alone in a secluded place. He wanted to be alone with Lizzy, to spend more quality time with her. Mike Stoker was falling in love.
"You smell nice," he whispered closely in her ear. She could feel his warm breath brush across it. Stopping before picking up the blanket she had folded on a picnic table beside her dad's hot dog stand she turned to face him.
She took his hand and pulled him closely looking up into his eyes. With her other hand she reached up and smoothed his hair and placed her hand on the side of his face. After looking deeply into each other's eyes for what seemed like a lifetime he bent down and slowly brushed his lips across hers. Then he sat the basket down and took her in his arms and kissed her again more deeply. She kissed him back wrapping her arms around his neck and playing with his hair.
"Lizzy," he said breathlessly when they finally pulled only a few inches away. "I want…no I need you to be sure this is what you want." She looked into his eyes and smiled. "I mean I'm falling in love with you and…"
She put her finger over his lips, "I'm sure Mike. I've never been more sure. I want to see where this is going." She kissed him lightly, "I'm already in love with you." He pulled her fully into his arms and kissed her again.
"Good, I was hoping you'd say that." A very contented smile crossed his face. "I don't think I would have been able to continue seeing you if you didn't. It would have been too difficult."
"Can you do me a favor?" She asked him as he continued holding her closely.
"Anything."
"Could you call me Beth?" Her gaze lowered. He reached and took her chin in his hand and raised her face back to his and waited for her to explain. "My mother used to call me Beth. No one has called me that since she died back in Hawaii except Johnny. My dad always calls me Lizzy. I know dad loves me, but my mom….well I haven't felt that special kind of love in a very long time. Dad was so hurt when she died. That's why we moved here. He just closed up part of his heart, because it was to painful to remember that kind of love. I would like it if you called me Beth."
"Thank you Beth for letting me love you like that. I would be honored to call you by that special name." he kissed her more deeply and held her in the morning sunshine for a long time.
Later that morning, Mike and Beth stopped by to see her dad and get some "special" chili dogs he wanted to send to Johnny. "Hey dad where are those old surfing magazines you kept?"
"What would you want with those?"
"Well first of all I wanted to show Mike some of the articles about my career, and secondly I wanted to take them to the hospital and let Johnny see the pictures of him on the covers. I think it would be fun."
"Okay, they're in the bottom drawer of the desk, but I want them back." Gus smiled at his daughter. He was extremely proud of her surfing career and wanted to hang on to those memories.
"I'll bring them back," she said with a tinge of aggravation.
"She'll bring them back sir," Mike smiled.
Gus slapped him on the back good humouredly, "Good man."
Beth looked back at the exchange between her dad and Mike. She was glad her dad approved. She had big plans for Mike Stoker. "Here they are, Mike let's get over there and see Johnny before these dogs get cold. There is nothing worse than cold chili dogs."
When they arrived at the hospital and walked into Johnny's room hand in hand he knew that things were heating up for the couple. Lizzy was like a sister to him and Mike a brother. It would make him very happy to see them together. "Hey."
"Hey Johnny-bro, how are you today?" Lizzy kissed his cheek. Mike chuckled at her name for Johnny.
"Ready to get out of here," Johnny grumbled.
"Well I brought you some of Dad's old magazines to look at. There are some really great shots of you in them. I thought Mike would like to look at them too, but first here are some of the best chili dogs in California."
Johnny smiled broadly, "Best chili dogs on the continent." Johnny happily devoured the food while Lizzy showed Mike some of the pictures.
"Can I ask you something Beth?" Mike looked over at her with questioning eyes.
"Beth?" Johnny asked.
Lizzy looked over at Johnny and smiled. "Well you know Johnny-bro my mom used to call me that."
"I know." He knew if Lizzy had asked Mike to call her that then things really were getting serious. She had asked him to call her that too a long time ago. He always did when they were on the circuit. In front of Gus and others he used the name her dad called her. "It's special."
"Yes it is. I wanted Mike to call me that." She sat on the arm to the chair where Mike sat and took his hand.
"I'm glad Beth. I'm glad for both of you."
Mike smiled widely, "If it weren't for you and the surfing lessons we would never have met."
"You never know, but I'm glad I could help." Not wanting the conversation to get too serious Johnny reached for the magazine Mike was holding. "Let me see that picture." Taking it he whistled. "Man I was young."
"When were you not young Gage?" Chet said as the rest of the A-shift filtered into the room. "You're still a baby."
"Hello Amigo," Marco greeted.
"John, I hope you're getting out of here and back to work soon. Your partner really needs a break from Brice," Captain Stanley commented. "But don't tell him I told you. He'll be up in a minute. He stopped to say hello to Dixie."
"What-cha lookin' at Gage?" Chet looked over Johnny's shoulder at the article he was looking at.
"An article about surfing."
"You wish you could move like that. Look at the way that guy is riding that wave. You couldn't do that if you tried." Chet didn't have a clue that the article was about Johnny.
Marco and Cap who were standing behind Chet also looked at the article. They exchanged knowing glances. There was no mistaking the man on the surf board. Captain Stanley had known of Johnny's surfing career. Since it had been his source of income before joining the department, it was in his employee records. Cap had just never brought it up out of respect for Johnny's privacy.
"Hey Johnny," Roy said as he entered the room. "I just talked to Brackett. He said you can get out of here tomorrow and might be back at work soon."
"That's great," everyone agreed.
"Hello Mike, Lizzy," Roy greeted.
"Hey Mike you didn't introduce us to your friend," Chet had noticed the nice looking woman sitting next to Mike.
"Um everyone, this is Beth," Mike nervously introduced her. "She's a good friend of Johnny's. Her dad is Gus of Gus' Chili Cheese Dog down on the beach."
"Beth?" Roy asked.
"Elizabeth," Lizzy answered. "My dad calls me Lizzy; my mom always called me Beth. It's nice to meet all of you."
"Wow your dad has the best dogs," Chet exclaimed.
"She's also a professional surfer," Johnny told them.
"You mean you really do know a professional surfer?" Chet asked.
"Uh yeah Chet, I know a lot of professional surfers. For instance I know this guy right here." He pointed to a picture of a tall dark haired surfer. Roy smiled as he recognized Johnny's picture.
"How do you know that guy?"
"Chet, he is that guy," Mike announced.
Chet's mouth fell open in disbelief. "No way man let me see that." He took the magazine and looked at the picture on the cover. The guy was young, but it was clearly Johnny. "What did you do Gage, pay someone to make a fake magazine cover?"
"No Chet I didn't pay someone to make a fake magazine cover. Read the article."
Chet opened the magazine and read about Johnny's award winning surfing career. "Why would you leave all that fame and fortune to become a fireman? Are you nuts?"
"Well Chet I always wanted to be a fireman. Surfing was just something I fell into when I met Beth and Gus. I had to pay the bills somehow while I attended the academy. Surfing was easy, so that's what I did." Johnny laughed at the look of astonishment Chet had on his face. Obviously Johnny had gotten the best of the phantom.
The rest of the group laughed as well.
Dixie had stood in the doorway watching the interchange between her favorite fire crew. She was glad to see that the quiet Mike Stoker had found someone to love and she liked her, Roy would soon have his partner back, Marco and Cap were proud of Johnny's surfing career, and once again Johnny pulled one over on the phantom.
She slipped from the room thinking that Johnny Gage had many layers. Some that they might never know about, but getting to know him better was certainly an adventure she enjoyed.
The end
10/18/09
Mike and Lizzy had spent all of their free time together, some of it visiting Johnny. The spaghetti dinner at Mike's home had given them the opportunity to really get to know each other better. So far it seemed that they were fast becoming the perfect couple.
Chet still would not believe that Johnny knew a surfer chick and had not bragged about it, but he had not discussed it with Johnny yet. The engine crew had decided to pay Johnny a visit after lunch today. What they didn't know is that Mike would be bringing that surfer chick with him, but first he was meeting her for a breakfast picnic on the beach.
It was starting out to be a warm day. The sun was bright and hung lazily in a clear blue sky. Mike pulled his truck into the parking area close to Gus' stand and put it in park.
He smiled as he looked over and found Lizzy walking along the breaking waves in a white sun dress that hung almost to the ground, but had a slit up the side which caused it to move more freely with her body. The dress was obviously meant to be beach attire. Her hair blew off her shoulders in the breeze, and she carried a seashell in her hand. She was the picture of a fashion model in one of those magazine spreads of beach attire only to Mike she was far more beautiful.
He slid from the truck and grabbed the basket of food he had prepared for them. It was a simple breakfast of croissants, cheese, fruit and coffee. He knew she watched her weight for her training. To him she didn't need to worry too much about it. She was perfect.
She spotted him as he approached and met him half way. "I have a blanket over at the stand."
"Okay let's get it and go over by those rocks. I think it will be more private if anyone decides to venture out this early," he said taking her arm.
The early morning beach goers were usually runners or walkers or families with small children. They really didn't have to worry about being disturbed, but Mike liked the solitude they would have between the outcroppings of rock. There it would be as if they were all alone in a secluded place. He wanted to be alone with Lizzy, to spend more quality time with her. Mike Stoker was falling in love.
"You smell nice," he whispered closely in her ear. She could feel his warm breath brush across it. Stopping before picking up the blanket she had folded on a picnic table beside her dad's hot dog stand she turned to face him.
She took his hand and pulled him closely looking up into his eyes. With her other hand she reached up and smoothed his hair and placed her hand on the side of his face. After looking deeply into each other's eyes for what seemed like a lifetime he bent down and slowly brushed his lips across hers. Then he sat the basket down and took her in his arms and kissed her again more deeply. She kissed him back wrapping her arms around his neck and playing with his hair.
"Lizzy," he said breathlessly when they finally pulled only a few inches away. "I want…no I need you to be sure this is what you want." She looked into his eyes and smiled. "I mean I'm falling in love with you and…"
She put her finger over his lips, "I'm sure Mike. I've never been more sure. I want to see where this is going." She kissed him lightly, "I'm already in love with you." He pulled her fully into his arms and kissed her again.
"Good, I was hoping you'd say that." A very contented smile crossed his face. "I don't think I would have been able to continue seeing you if you didn't. It would have been too difficult."
"Can you do me a favor?" She asked him as he continued holding her closely.
"Anything."
"Could you call me Beth?" Her gaze lowered. He reached and took her chin in his hand and raised her face back to his and waited for her to explain. "My mother used to call me Beth. No one has called me that since she died back in Hawaii except Johnny. My dad always calls me Lizzy. I know dad loves me, but my mom….well I haven't felt that special kind of love in a very long time. Dad was so hurt when she died. That's why we moved here. He just closed up part of his heart, because it was to painful to remember that kind of love. I would like it if you called me Beth."
"Thank you Beth for letting me love you like that. I would be honored to call you by that special name." he kissed her more deeply and held her in the morning sunshine for a long time.
Later that morning, Mike and Beth stopped by to see her dad and get some "special" chili dogs he wanted to send to Johnny. "Hey dad where are those old surfing magazines you kept?"
"What would you want with those?"
"Well first of all I wanted to show Mike some of the articles about my career, and secondly I wanted to take them to the hospital and let Johnny see the pictures of him on the covers. I think it would be fun."
"Okay, they're in the bottom drawer of the desk, but I want them back." Gus smiled at his daughter. He was extremely proud of her surfing career and wanted to hang on to those memories.
"I'll bring them back," she said with a tinge of aggravation.
"She'll bring them back sir," Mike smiled.
Gus slapped him on the back good humouredly, "Good man."
Beth looked back at the exchange between her dad and Mike. She was glad her dad approved. She had big plans for Mike Stoker. "Here they are, Mike let's get over there and see Johnny before these dogs get cold. There is nothing worse than cold chili dogs."
When they arrived at the hospital and walked into Johnny's room hand in hand he knew that things were heating up for the couple. Lizzy was like a sister to him and Mike a brother. It would make him very happy to see them together. "Hey."
"Hey Johnny-bro, how are you today?" Lizzy kissed his cheek. Mike chuckled at her name for Johnny.
"Ready to get out of here," Johnny grumbled.
"Well I brought you some of Dad's old magazines to look at. There are some really great shots of you in them. I thought Mike would like to look at them too, but first here are some of the best chili dogs in California."
Johnny smiled broadly, "Best chili dogs on the continent." Johnny happily devoured the food while Lizzy showed Mike some of the pictures.
"Can I ask you something Beth?" Mike looked over at her with questioning eyes.
"Beth?" Johnny asked.
Lizzy looked over at Johnny and smiled. "Well you know Johnny-bro my mom used to call me that."
"I know." He knew if Lizzy had asked Mike to call her that then things really were getting serious. She had asked him to call her that too a long time ago. He always did when they were on the circuit. In front of Gus and others he used the name her dad called her. "It's special."
"Yes it is. I wanted Mike to call me that." She sat on the arm to the chair where Mike sat and took his hand.
"I'm glad Beth. I'm glad for both of you."
Mike smiled widely, "If it weren't for you and the surfing lessons we would never have met."
"You never know, but I'm glad I could help." Not wanting the conversation to get too serious Johnny reached for the magazine Mike was holding. "Let me see that picture." Taking it he whistled. "Man I was young."
"When were you not young Gage?" Chet said as the rest of the A-shift filtered into the room. "You're still a baby."
"Hello Amigo," Marco greeted.
"John, I hope you're getting out of here and back to work soon. Your partner really needs a break from Brice," Captain Stanley commented. "But don't tell him I told you. He'll be up in a minute. He stopped to say hello to Dixie."
"What-cha lookin' at Gage?" Chet looked over Johnny's shoulder at the article he was looking at.
"An article about surfing."
"You wish you could move like that. Look at the way that guy is riding that wave. You couldn't do that if you tried." Chet didn't have a clue that the article was about Johnny.
Marco and Cap who were standing behind Chet also looked at the article. They exchanged knowing glances. There was no mistaking the man on the surf board. Captain Stanley had known of Johnny's surfing career. Since it had been his source of income before joining the department, it was in his employee records. Cap had just never brought it up out of respect for Johnny's privacy.
"Hey Johnny," Roy said as he entered the room. "I just talked to Brackett. He said you can get out of here tomorrow and might be back at work soon."
"That's great," everyone agreed.
"Hello Mike, Lizzy," Roy greeted.
"Hey Mike you didn't introduce us to your friend," Chet had noticed the nice looking woman sitting next to Mike.
"Um everyone, this is Beth," Mike nervously introduced her. "She's a good friend of Johnny's. Her dad is Gus of Gus' Chili Cheese Dog down on the beach."
"Beth?" Roy asked.
"Elizabeth," Lizzy answered. "My dad calls me Lizzy; my mom always called me Beth. It's nice to meet all of you."
"Wow your dad has the best dogs," Chet exclaimed.
"She's also a professional surfer," Johnny told them.
"You mean you really do know a professional surfer?" Chet asked.
"Uh yeah Chet, I know a lot of professional surfers. For instance I know this guy right here." He pointed to a picture of a tall dark haired surfer. Roy smiled as he recognized Johnny's picture.
"How do you know that guy?"
"Chet, he is that guy," Mike announced.
Chet's mouth fell open in disbelief. "No way man let me see that." He took the magazine and looked at the picture on the cover. The guy was young, but it was clearly Johnny. "What did you do Gage, pay someone to make a fake magazine cover?"
"No Chet I didn't pay someone to make a fake magazine cover. Read the article."
Chet opened the magazine and read about Johnny's award winning surfing career. "Why would you leave all that fame and fortune to become a fireman? Are you nuts?"
"Well Chet I always wanted to be a fireman. Surfing was just something I fell into when I met Beth and Gus. I had to pay the bills somehow while I attended the academy. Surfing was easy, so that's what I did." Johnny laughed at the look of astonishment Chet had on his face. Obviously Johnny had gotten the best of the phantom.
The rest of the group laughed as well.
Dixie had stood in the doorway watching the interchange between her favorite fire crew. She was glad to see that the quiet Mike Stoker had found someone to love and she liked her, Roy would soon have his partner back, Marco and Cap were proud of Johnny's surfing career, and once again Johnny pulled one over on the phantom.
She slipped from the room thinking that Johnny Gage had many layers. Some that they might never know about, but getting to know him better was certainly an adventure she enjoyed.
The end
10/18/09
