The Fire
Talks
Chapter Twenty Two
by GCS and Hotshow
"First I would like to explain the name I wrote it under." Johnny tapped his fingers nervously on the table. "I didn't want people to know it was me that wrote the book. I decided that if no one read it then no one had to know. See?"
"So you used an alias." Chet stated matter of factly. "Lots of people do that."
"Yeah. I decided to use a made up name, Chris for Roy's son and J Bean for Jenny Bean, Chris J. Bean."
Roy smiled broadly as the other men realized Johnny had created his pen name after Roy's kids.
"The contract I drew up made special arrangements for the proceeds if there should be any. First I wanted to be sure that the people who had helped me with the story benefited from it too."
"Who helped you Johnny?" Marco asked while turning his envelope over and over.
"You did Marco, and Mike, and Cap, even Chester B." Johnny smiled broadly at his friends.
"We did? What are you talkin' about Gage? We didn't even know you were writing a book. How did we help?" Chet looked at Johnny like he was crazy.
"Of course you did Chet, every day while we were on duty. Don't you see. You guys are the crew in the novel. You are the characters. Mike is the quiet Engineer. Marco and you are the skilled linemen. Cap of course is the Captain. Roy and I are the Paramedics. It's us Chet, just with different names." Johnny absently rubbed his temple.
"Johnny, do you need to take a break?" Roy leaned forward asking quietly.
"No…not yet." Johnny sipped some more of his juice. "Anyway, in the envelopes you'll find papers that explain your part in all this."
"Our part Johnny?" Marco asked as he stopped playing with his envelope and looked at his name on the front.
"Yes Marco, your part. I asked the publisher to devise a contract that divided the proceeds into ten parts, one part for each of you, one part for Chris and Jennifer, one for the hospital, one for the Firemen's fund and one for me." Johnny held his hand across his chest as he leaned back in his chair.
"You didn't have to do that Johnny. We didn't do anything." Mike spoke first. "Thank you."
"Yeah Gage, thanks." Chet looked at his own envelope. "How much did we get?"
Everyone laughed at Chet for his abrupt question.
"Straight to the point aren't you Chet?" Captain Stanley scolded. "Why don't we let John finish."
"I have arranged for each of you to receive 5% of my earnings for being my inspirations. You are my family, and I want to share this with you. Chris and Jennifer will also get 5% each to put towards college. The hospital will get 10% to be divided among the children's ward in honor of Chris and Jenny, the burn unit, and the ER for Dix and the Docs, and 5% will go to the Firemen's fund for Widows and Children. The other 50% I hope to put toward a ranch I've been looking at and to pay off the Rover. So there you have it. In your envelopes you'll find the legal documents explaining it all as well as bank statements with details on your money."
"Wow Johnny, this…" Mike held up his bank statement. "This is quite a bit of money. Are you sure about all of this? I…I don't know what to say."
"Man Johnny, I didn't know you cared that much." Chet stared open mouthed at his bank statement.
"Madre Dios!" Marco exclaimed.
Hank already knew of Johnny's intentions. "John, I think I speak for all of us in saying we are very touched by your generosity, but none of us deserve to share this money with you. You did all the work son. You don't have to do this."
"I know that Cap, but I want to and besides it's already done." Johnny grinned broadly.
Roy had not spoken. He sat staring at the documents before him. Not only had Johnny included him in the distribution of funds, but he had given each of his children equal shares as well. He didn't know what to say. He couldn't formulate the deep feelings he had into words. Slowly he stood next to Johnny.
Unsure of what was going on and worried at the paleness he saw in Roy's face Johnny rose as well.
Roy stepped closer, placing both hands on Johnny's shoulders. "Junior." He pulled Johnny close and wrapped his arms around him. "Brother," was all he said. Tears stung his eyes as he buried his face in Johnny's shoulder. In five minutes, his best friend had solved all his worries of how he would be able to put his children through college. Their future was secure thanks to his best friend, his brother.
Johnny hugged Roy back and patted his back. "It's okay Roy. I wanted to."
A few awkward minutes later the two separated and everyone began talking at once. Johnny sat down and leaned back listening to his friends. He had never dreamed his novel would be that successful, but now here he was presenting large sums of money to each of the men he considered his family. He couldn't be happier.
"Hey Pally." Johnny leaned over and whispered to Roy. "I think we need to go."
Remembering Johnny was still recovering Roy looked him over quickly. His eyes looked glassy and his face pale. "Can you make it to the car?"
"I think so. My head is really swimming. Hurts." He closed his eyes. "I'm glad we came today."
Captain Stanley had noticed the exchange between the Paramedics. "Okay guys, I think John needs to get back to Roy's and rest. John we can't say enough to express our gratitude for your generosity. Now let's get you out to the car and back home." He moved over beside Johnny and began gathering his papers putting them back in the envelopes.
"Okay." Johnny whispered with his eyes still closed. He felt hands on either side of him helping him from the chair. Cracking open his eyes he saw Chet and Marco on either side helping him up. He allowed them to assist him across the room and out to the car. Everything spun wildly in his head making him dizzy and feeling sick to his stomach. Mike pushed a cool glass of water into his hand and he sipped it thankfully. Then he felt Roy reach across and pull the shoulder strap across his chest, heard the click before the belt slid back against him. He was asleep before Roy got the car in reverse.
"So you used an alias." Chet stated matter of factly. "Lots of people do that."
"Yeah. I decided to use a made up name, Chris for Roy's son and J Bean for Jenny Bean, Chris J. Bean."
Roy smiled broadly as the other men realized Johnny had created his pen name after Roy's kids.
"The contract I drew up made special arrangements for the proceeds if there should be any. First I wanted to be sure that the people who had helped me with the story benefited from it too."
"Who helped you Johnny?" Marco asked while turning his envelope over and over.
"You did Marco, and Mike, and Cap, even Chester B." Johnny smiled broadly at his friends.
"We did? What are you talkin' about Gage? We didn't even know you were writing a book. How did we help?" Chet looked at Johnny like he was crazy.
"Of course you did Chet, every day while we were on duty. Don't you see. You guys are the crew in the novel. You are the characters. Mike is the quiet Engineer. Marco and you are the skilled linemen. Cap of course is the Captain. Roy and I are the Paramedics. It's us Chet, just with different names." Johnny absently rubbed his temple.
"Johnny, do you need to take a break?" Roy leaned forward asking quietly.
"No…not yet." Johnny sipped some more of his juice. "Anyway, in the envelopes you'll find papers that explain your part in all this."
"Our part Johnny?" Marco asked as he stopped playing with his envelope and looked at his name on the front.
"Yes Marco, your part. I asked the publisher to devise a contract that divided the proceeds into ten parts, one part for each of you, one part for Chris and Jennifer, one for the hospital, one for the Firemen's fund and one for me." Johnny held his hand across his chest as he leaned back in his chair.
"You didn't have to do that Johnny. We didn't do anything." Mike spoke first. "Thank you."
"Yeah Gage, thanks." Chet looked at his own envelope. "How much did we get?"
Everyone laughed at Chet for his abrupt question.
"Straight to the point aren't you Chet?" Captain Stanley scolded. "Why don't we let John finish."
"I have arranged for each of you to receive 5% of my earnings for being my inspirations. You are my family, and I want to share this with you. Chris and Jennifer will also get 5% each to put towards college. The hospital will get 10% to be divided among the children's ward in honor of Chris and Jenny, the burn unit, and the ER for Dix and the Docs, and 5% will go to the Firemen's fund for Widows and Children. The other 50% I hope to put toward a ranch I've been looking at and to pay off the Rover. So there you have it. In your envelopes you'll find the legal documents explaining it all as well as bank statements with details on your money."
"Wow Johnny, this…" Mike held up his bank statement. "This is quite a bit of money. Are you sure about all of this? I…I don't know what to say."
"Man Johnny, I didn't know you cared that much." Chet stared open mouthed at his bank statement.
"Madre Dios!" Marco exclaimed.
Hank already knew of Johnny's intentions. "John, I think I speak for all of us in saying we are very touched by your generosity, but none of us deserve to share this money with you. You did all the work son. You don't have to do this."
"I know that Cap, but I want to and besides it's already done." Johnny grinned broadly.
Roy had not spoken. He sat staring at the documents before him. Not only had Johnny included him in the distribution of funds, but he had given each of his children equal shares as well. He didn't know what to say. He couldn't formulate the deep feelings he had into words. Slowly he stood next to Johnny.
Unsure of what was going on and worried at the paleness he saw in Roy's face Johnny rose as well.
Roy stepped closer, placing both hands on Johnny's shoulders. "Junior." He pulled Johnny close and wrapped his arms around him. "Brother," was all he said. Tears stung his eyes as he buried his face in Johnny's shoulder. In five minutes, his best friend had solved all his worries of how he would be able to put his children through college. Their future was secure thanks to his best friend, his brother.
Johnny hugged Roy back and patted his back. "It's okay Roy. I wanted to."
A few awkward minutes later the two separated and everyone began talking at once. Johnny sat down and leaned back listening to his friends. He had never dreamed his novel would be that successful, but now here he was presenting large sums of money to each of the men he considered his family. He couldn't be happier.
"Hey Pally." Johnny leaned over and whispered to Roy. "I think we need to go."
Remembering Johnny was still recovering Roy looked him over quickly. His eyes looked glassy and his face pale. "Can you make it to the car?"
"I think so. My head is really swimming. Hurts." He closed his eyes. "I'm glad we came today."
Captain Stanley had noticed the exchange between the Paramedics. "Okay guys, I think John needs to get back to Roy's and rest. John we can't say enough to express our gratitude for your generosity. Now let's get you out to the car and back home." He moved over beside Johnny and began gathering his papers putting them back in the envelopes.
"Okay." Johnny whispered with his eyes still closed. He felt hands on either side of him helping him from the chair. Cracking open his eyes he saw Chet and Marco on either side helping him up. He allowed them to assist him across the room and out to the car. Everything spun wildly in his head making him dizzy and feeling sick to his stomach. Mike pushed a cool glass of water into his hand and he sipped it thankfully. Then he felt Roy reach across and pull the shoulder strap across his chest, heard the click before the belt slid back against him. He was asleep before Roy got the car in reverse.
Chapter Twenty Three
After Roy left with Johnny the guys filtered back into Cap's house.
"Man I can't believe Gage did this." Chet stared at the papers in his hand.
"Well I think we need to do something for him too." Marco looked up at the others.
"What did you have in mind Marc?" Cap settled in his recliner.
"I don't know Cap. I just thing we need to do something." Marco shrugged.
Mike moved to the couch and sat slowly. Not usually one for many words he was deep in thought. After a few minutes with everyone looking at their bank passbooks in awe he leaned forward. "I think…" Mike glanced at his friends cleared his throat and started again. "What if we all donated a part of what he gave us to the Fireman's fund? You know made the overall contribution bigger. I mean I never expected this kind of windfall. It's a lot of money. Don't get me wrong…I can certainly use it, but well, a little less wouldn't be that bad either." He looked to Captain Stanley for his reaction.
"I think that is a wonderful idea Mike. I'm sure Roy will agree, at least with his portion. I think he should keep the children's intact as Johnny set it up. I'll give him a call once he's had time to get Johnny home. Now Chet and Marco how about you two?"
Marco was quick to respond. "I'm in Cap, one hundred percent." Chet just continued staring silently at the papers. Marco leaned over and squeezed his shoulder, "Amigo?"
Chet looked up with watery eyes. "Huh?"
"Are you going to go in on the donation?" Marco asked.
"Um…yeah, yeah I'll go in. How much?" He returned he gaze to the number at the bottom of the bank statement.
"Mike this was your idea. What did you have in mind?" Cap looked at his own statement.
"Well I was thinking maybe one percent. That would still leave four percent for us." He shrugged.
"That sounds reasonable. I'll call headquarters and set things up with the Chief after I talk to Roy." Cap got up from the recliner. "Anyone need another beer?"
Roy pulled into his garage and shut off the engine. He looked over at his best friend asleep with his head resting against the window. "You really surprised us today Junior. I mean if finding out that you were the author of the novel wasn't enough, you go and pull a stunt like this." He smiled and reached to unlatch the seatbelt. When he got out of the car he noticed Joanne standing in the door to the kitchen. "Hey honey."
"Looks like today took a lot out of our boy there." She smiled. "Need any help getting him inside?"
"No, I've got him." Roy moved around and opened the passenger side door careful not to let Johnny tumble out. "Hey Junior, time to wake up for me, we're home." He shook him gently.
"What Roy, I'm sleepin' here." Johnny groggily complained.
"Come on buddy, let's go inside. Jo's got your bed all turned down and ready for you." He bent down and hooked Johnny's arm over his shoulder pulling him carefully out of the vehicle.
Johnny blinked at him and followed slowly. "We home?"
"Yeah Junior, we're home. Come on."
Joanne followed the two men down the hall to "Johnny's" room and helped Roy tuck him in for a nap. "How did it go?" She asked Roy as they left the room.
"Well honey, I have so much to tell you that you are not going to believe. Can you make some iced tea? I'm really thirsty." He went back to the garage to retrieve the papers that would show her just how generous Johnny had been with them and their children.
Joanne poured two glasses of tea, put a plate of peanut butter cookies on the table and sat waiting. When Roy came back in the room she pushed the cookies his direction. "I thought you might want a little snack too."
"Joanne, he's done it again." Roy smiled and shook his head.
"What on earth are you talking about Roy?"
"Johnny." He simply stated and sat down grabbing a cookie and biting into it.
Joanne was growing impatient. "Well don't just leave me hanging here." She tapped her fingernails on the table.
"Oh sorry babe, Johnny surprised us all today with even more news. He has done something really amazing." He pulled out the three bank statements and slid them across the table. "Take a look at these."
She pulled them closely and as she scanned the names at the top her eyes grew wide. "Oh my, Roy these are in the kid's names."
"Yep." He leaned back and chuckled. "They sure are."
"Why would he do something like this?" Joanne had tears welling up in her eyes.
"Because I love those kids." Johnny whispered from the doorway.
Roy got up quickly and moved over beside Johnny who looked a little unstable. "What are you doing up?"
"I was thirsty." He moved to sit at the table. "I need to take my meds. Then I'll go back to bed."
"Is your head still hurting?" Roy asked.
Johnny leaned forward and rested his head in his hands. "Yeah, dizzy." He rubbed his temples. "I'm so tired of this. It's never been this bad before."
"You've never had a concussion this severe." Roy patted him on the shoulder. "Dr. Early said the headaches and dizziness would get better, but it may take a few weeks. He did say it should improve daily, but if you're still having a lot of trouble maybe we should let him check you out again."
"No way Roy, I'm not going to Rampart. Not until I have to." He heard a sniffle from across the table. "Joanne?"
"Oh Johnny…I just can't believe you did all this. How can we ever repay you?" Joanne looked up with tears in her eyes. Roy walked over to the kitchen counter and grabbed the box of tissues handing them to his wife. He looked at Johnny and winked.
Johnny leaned forward and placed his hand on Joanne's. "You already have, Joanne. You have taken me into your home time and time again when I've been sick or hurt at work. You and Roy always include me in your family time, the kid's birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter. There is never a time when you don't include me. You don't owe me anything. This is what I to do. It means a lot to me to be able to do this for the two of you and the kids." He smiled at her.
Joanne got up from her seat at the table and wrapped her arms around Johnny kissing the top of his head. "I love you John Gage. I can never begin to put into words how you have made me feel today."
"Aw Joanne, don't make me blush." Johnny teased. She messed up his hair and sat back down.
"Well now that the mushy stuff is over here's your meds Junior." Roy slid a glass of milk across the table and dropped the pills into Johnny's outstretched hand.
"Thanks Roy." He threw the pills into his mouth and gulped the milk placing the empty glass back on the table. Then he slid his chair back and excused himself. On the way down the hall he was overcome by a severe dizzy spell. He reached for the wall to steady himself and missed.
Roy and Joanne heard a thud in the hall.
"Man I can't believe Gage did this." Chet stared at the papers in his hand.
"Well I think we need to do something for him too." Marco looked up at the others.
"What did you have in mind Marc?" Cap settled in his recliner.
"I don't know Cap. I just thing we need to do something." Marco shrugged.
Mike moved to the couch and sat slowly. Not usually one for many words he was deep in thought. After a few minutes with everyone looking at their bank passbooks in awe he leaned forward. "I think…" Mike glanced at his friends cleared his throat and started again. "What if we all donated a part of what he gave us to the Fireman's fund? You know made the overall contribution bigger. I mean I never expected this kind of windfall. It's a lot of money. Don't get me wrong…I can certainly use it, but well, a little less wouldn't be that bad either." He looked to Captain Stanley for his reaction.
"I think that is a wonderful idea Mike. I'm sure Roy will agree, at least with his portion. I think he should keep the children's intact as Johnny set it up. I'll give him a call once he's had time to get Johnny home. Now Chet and Marco how about you two?"
Marco was quick to respond. "I'm in Cap, one hundred percent." Chet just continued staring silently at the papers. Marco leaned over and squeezed his shoulder, "Amigo?"
Chet looked up with watery eyes. "Huh?"
"Are you going to go in on the donation?" Marco asked.
"Um…yeah, yeah I'll go in. How much?" He returned he gaze to the number at the bottom of the bank statement.
"Mike this was your idea. What did you have in mind?" Cap looked at his own statement.
"Well I was thinking maybe one percent. That would still leave four percent for us." He shrugged.
"That sounds reasonable. I'll call headquarters and set things up with the Chief after I talk to Roy." Cap got up from the recliner. "Anyone need another beer?"
Roy pulled into his garage and shut off the engine. He looked over at his best friend asleep with his head resting against the window. "You really surprised us today Junior. I mean if finding out that you were the author of the novel wasn't enough, you go and pull a stunt like this." He smiled and reached to unlatch the seatbelt. When he got out of the car he noticed Joanne standing in the door to the kitchen. "Hey honey."
"Looks like today took a lot out of our boy there." She smiled. "Need any help getting him inside?"
"No, I've got him." Roy moved around and opened the passenger side door careful not to let Johnny tumble out. "Hey Junior, time to wake up for me, we're home." He shook him gently.
"What Roy, I'm sleepin' here." Johnny groggily complained.
"Come on buddy, let's go inside. Jo's got your bed all turned down and ready for you." He bent down and hooked Johnny's arm over his shoulder pulling him carefully out of the vehicle.
Johnny blinked at him and followed slowly. "We home?"
"Yeah Junior, we're home. Come on."
Joanne followed the two men down the hall to "Johnny's" room and helped Roy tuck him in for a nap. "How did it go?" She asked Roy as they left the room.
"Well honey, I have so much to tell you that you are not going to believe. Can you make some iced tea? I'm really thirsty." He went back to the garage to retrieve the papers that would show her just how generous Johnny had been with them and their children.
Joanne poured two glasses of tea, put a plate of peanut butter cookies on the table and sat waiting. When Roy came back in the room she pushed the cookies his direction. "I thought you might want a little snack too."
"Joanne, he's done it again." Roy smiled and shook his head.
"What on earth are you talking about Roy?"
"Johnny." He simply stated and sat down grabbing a cookie and biting into it.
Joanne was growing impatient. "Well don't just leave me hanging here." She tapped her fingernails on the table.
"Oh sorry babe, Johnny surprised us all today with even more news. He has done something really amazing." He pulled out the three bank statements and slid them across the table. "Take a look at these."
She pulled them closely and as she scanned the names at the top her eyes grew wide. "Oh my, Roy these are in the kid's names."
"Yep." He leaned back and chuckled. "They sure are."
"Why would he do something like this?" Joanne had tears welling up in her eyes.
"Because I love those kids." Johnny whispered from the doorway.
Roy got up quickly and moved over beside Johnny who looked a little unstable. "What are you doing up?"
"I was thirsty." He moved to sit at the table. "I need to take my meds. Then I'll go back to bed."
"Is your head still hurting?" Roy asked.
Johnny leaned forward and rested his head in his hands. "Yeah, dizzy." He rubbed his temples. "I'm so tired of this. It's never been this bad before."
"You've never had a concussion this severe." Roy patted him on the shoulder. "Dr. Early said the headaches and dizziness would get better, but it may take a few weeks. He did say it should improve daily, but if you're still having a lot of trouble maybe we should let him check you out again."
"No way Roy, I'm not going to Rampart. Not until I have to." He heard a sniffle from across the table. "Joanne?"
"Oh Johnny…I just can't believe you did all this. How can we ever repay you?" Joanne looked up with tears in her eyes. Roy walked over to the kitchen counter and grabbed the box of tissues handing them to his wife. He looked at Johnny and winked.
Johnny leaned forward and placed his hand on Joanne's. "You already have, Joanne. You have taken me into your home time and time again when I've been sick or hurt at work. You and Roy always include me in your family time, the kid's birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter. There is never a time when you don't include me. You don't owe me anything. This is what I to do. It means a lot to me to be able to do this for the two of you and the kids." He smiled at her.
Joanne got up from her seat at the table and wrapped her arms around Johnny kissing the top of his head. "I love you John Gage. I can never begin to put into words how you have made me feel today."
"Aw Joanne, don't make me blush." Johnny teased. She messed up his hair and sat back down.
"Well now that the mushy stuff is over here's your meds Junior." Roy slid a glass of milk across the table and dropped the pills into Johnny's outstretched hand.
"Thanks Roy." He threw the pills into his mouth and gulped the milk placing the empty glass back on the table. Then he slid his chair back and excused himself. On the way down the hall he was overcome by a severe dizzy spell. He reached for the wall to steady himself and missed.
Roy and Joanne heard a thud in the hall.
Chapter Twenty Four
Roy and Joanne ran to the hallway where they had heard Johnny fall.
He lay in the middle of the hall on his back with his hands over his face moaning. "Ohhh Man."
"Johnny, did you hit your head?" Roy asked as he sank to his knees beside his friend and grabbed for his wrist to get a pulse. "Joanne, call a squad."
"NO!" Johnny tried to sit up which made his world spin crazily. Roy put his hand on Johnny's chest and tried holding him down. He laid back. "No squad Roy."
Joanne stopped and waited to see what Roy wanted her to do. "Roy?"
Roy looked at her and then back at Johnny, his lips pressed into a line, a mix of concern and aggravation in his eyes. "You collapsed here in the hall, Johnny; I think we need to get Dr. Early to check you out."
"I just got a little dizzy. There was nothing to grab on to. I…I'm okay now. Help me up." He struggled to get up.
Roy pushed him back down. "Don't get up, Johnny. I need to check you out."
"Roy, I said I'm okay now." Johnny insisted. "It was just a busy day. I must have over done it a little." He swatted Roy's hands away.
"At least let me check your vitals." Roy turned to his wife. She stood at the end of the hall wringing her hands. He knew she was concerned by the familiar way she creased her forehead when one of the kids was hurt or sick. "Get my kit from the closet." She turned and went to the closet under the stairs to get Roy's first aid kit.
"Can't we get out of the hallway first?" Johnny didn't want to be in the middle of the hallway on the floor when the kids came home. He raised his hand to the forehead. The coolness of the back of his hand felt good against his skin.
Roy looked at him and bit his lip. "Well you're sure you didn't hit your head?"
"I promise, Roy, I didn't hit my head." He held his hand out for Roy to help him up.
Roy pulled Johnny to his feet and wrapped his arm over his shoulder. Then he grabbed Johnny around the waist. He could feel how weak Johnny was. His legs barely carried him to the bed. They had to stop twice to let him get his bearings. The hallway seemed to close in on him as he walked. Roy felt the slight tremor as he walked. "Are you still dizzy?"
"A little." Johnny almost whispered. Roy had to really listen to hear his response. "But that's not new."
Joanne followed them down the hall.
They tucked Johnny back into bed and Roy checked his vital signs jotting them down on a notepad. Johnny might not go to see Dr. Early, but he planned on calling him with a full report.
"Are you feeling sick?"
"No…not anymore." Johnny pulled the covers up to his chin and snuggled deeper into the pillow. Sleep tugged at his eyelids.
"You felt queasy in the hall?" Roy put the blood pressure cuff back in his kit and reached for the thermometer sliding it under Johnny's tongue.
"Ym..humm." Johnny tried talking around the thin, cold, glass rod.
"Don't talk. It won't get a good reading." Johnny rolled his eyes at Roy who glanced at his watch. "Just a minute more." Roy smiled at his patient. When the minute was up he pulled the thermometer out and smiled. "Well at least that's normal."
"I told you I was all right." Johnny sighed and yawned deeply.
Roy took his pulse one more time. "It's closer to normal." He put Johnny's arm down, patted Johnny's shoulder, stood to leave and let Johnny get some much needed rest.
As soon as Roy finished taking his vitals Johnny's eyes started blinking slower and slower, staying shut a little longer each time he blinked. Roy recognized the way his partner tried to stay awake. That's how he always acted when he fought sleep. "Relax Johnny. Go on to sleep. I won't call a squad. I am going to call Dr. Early though and see what he says. If he wants to see you we'll go in when you wake up. Okay."
Johnny yawned and closed his eyes. "Okay," he whispered groggily. Then his eyes slid closed in sleep.
Roy and Joanne slipped quietly from the room and returned to the kitchen. "I'm really worried about him, Roy. He's never been this dizzy or sick with a concussion. Do you think there may be something else wrong with him?"
"I don't know Joanne. I don't think so. Dr. Early did say it was a severe concussion. He's lucky it wasn't a skull fracture. I just thought he would be getting better by now, especially since he got his memory back. I'm going to call Rampart and see what he says." He grabbed the phone off the wall and dialed the familiar number.
"Rampart Emergency, Nurse McCall. May I help you?"
"Dixie, this is Roy."
"Well hello Roy, how's our boy?"
"That's why I'm calling. He fell in the hallway today. Is Dr. Early busy?" Roy tapped his pen on the notepad as he waited for her answer. He hoped Dr. Early was on duty and not too busy to talk for a minute.
"Let me get him. Did he hit his head or hurt himself?" Dixie wanted her own report before turning the call over to her colleague.
"He said he didn't. He said he just got dizzy and there was nothing to grab on to. He's awfully weak though."
"What has he been doing today?" Roy felt a little guilty when he explained to her all that they had done today. He didn't go into any details about the gift Johnny had planned for the hospital. He would let Johnny share that news. "Well it sounds to me like he tried to do too much on his first outing. Don't you think?" She shook her head smiling. Knowing John Gage, he was up at the crack of dawn and talked Roy into going all day.
"Yeah, I guess, but I would still like to run this by Joe. Is he around?"
"Oh, of course, hang on a minute while I get him to the phone." She put the call on hold and went in search of Dr. Early.
He lay in the middle of the hall on his back with his hands over his face moaning. "Ohhh Man."
"Johnny, did you hit your head?" Roy asked as he sank to his knees beside his friend and grabbed for his wrist to get a pulse. "Joanne, call a squad."
"NO!" Johnny tried to sit up which made his world spin crazily. Roy put his hand on Johnny's chest and tried holding him down. He laid back. "No squad Roy."
Joanne stopped and waited to see what Roy wanted her to do. "Roy?"
Roy looked at her and then back at Johnny, his lips pressed into a line, a mix of concern and aggravation in his eyes. "You collapsed here in the hall, Johnny; I think we need to get Dr. Early to check you out."
"I just got a little dizzy. There was nothing to grab on to. I…I'm okay now. Help me up." He struggled to get up.
Roy pushed him back down. "Don't get up, Johnny. I need to check you out."
"Roy, I said I'm okay now." Johnny insisted. "It was just a busy day. I must have over done it a little." He swatted Roy's hands away.
"At least let me check your vitals." Roy turned to his wife. She stood at the end of the hall wringing her hands. He knew she was concerned by the familiar way she creased her forehead when one of the kids was hurt or sick. "Get my kit from the closet." She turned and went to the closet under the stairs to get Roy's first aid kit.
"Can't we get out of the hallway first?" Johnny didn't want to be in the middle of the hallway on the floor when the kids came home. He raised his hand to the forehead. The coolness of the back of his hand felt good against his skin.
Roy looked at him and bit his lip. "Well you're sure you didn't hit your head?"
"I promise, Roy, I didn't hit my head." He held his hand out for Roy to help him up.
Roy pulled Johnny to his feet and wrapped his arm over his shoulder. Then he grabbed Johnny around the waist. He could feel how weak Johnny was. His legs barely carried him to the bed. They had to stop twice to let him get his bearings. The hallway seemed to close in on him as he walked. Roy felt the slight tremor as he walked. "Are you still dizzy?"
"A little." Johnny almost whispered. Roy had to really listen to hear his response. "But that's not new."
Joanne followed them down the hall.
They tucked Johnny back into bed and Roy checked his vital signs jotting them down on a notepad. Johnny might not go to see Dr. Early, but he planned on calling him with a full report.
"Are you feeling sick?"
"No…not anymore." Johnny pulled the covers up to his chin and snuggled deeper into the pillow. Sleep tugged at his eyelids.
"You felt queasy in the hall?" Roy put the blood pressure cuff back in his kit and reached for the thermometer sliding it under Johnny's tongue.
"Ym..humm." Johnny tried talking around the thin, cold, glass rod.
"Don't talk. It won't get a good reading." Johnny rolled his eyes at Roy who glanced at his watch. "Just a minute more." Roy smiled at his patient. When the minute was up he pulled the thermometer out and smiled. "Well at least that's normal."
"I told you I was all right." Johnny sighed and yawned deeply.
Roy took his pulse one more time. "It's closer to normal." He put Johnny's arm down, patted Johnny's shoulder, stood to leave and let Johnny get some much needed rest.
As soon as Roy finished taking his vitals Johnny's eyes started blinking slower and slower, staying shut a little longer each time he blinked. Roy recognized the way his partner tried to stay awake. That's how he always acted when he fought sleep. "Relax Johnny. Go on to sleep. I won't call a squad. I am going to call Dr. Early though and see what he says. If he wants to see you we'll go in when you wake up. Okay."
Johnny yawned and closed his eyes. "Okay," he whispered groggily. Then his eyes slid closed in sleep.
Roy and Joanne slipped quietly from the room and returned to the kitchen. "I'm really worried about him, Roy. He's never been this dizzy or sick with a concussion. Do you think there may be something else wrong with him?"
"I don't know Joanne. I don't think so. Dr. Early did say it was a severe concussion. He's lucky it wasn't a skull fracture. I just thought he would be getting better by now, especially since he got his memory back. I'm going to call Rampart and see what he says." He grabbed the phone off the wall and dialed the familiar number.
"Rampart Emergency, Nurse McCall. May I help you?"
"Dixie, this is Roy."
"Well hello Roy, how's our boy?"
"That's why I'm calling. He fell in the hallway today. Is Dr. Early busy?" Roy tapped his pen on the notepad as he waited for her answer. He hoped Dr. Early was on duty and not too busy to talk for a minute.
"Let me get him. Did he hit his head or hurt himself?" Dixie wanted her own report before turning the call over to her colleague.
"He said he didn't. He said he just got dizzy and there was nothing to grab on to. He's awfully weak though."
"What has he been doing today?" Roy felt a little guilty when he explained to her all that they had done today. He didn't go into any details about the gift Johnny had planned for the hospital. He would let Johnny share that news. "Well it sounds to me like he tried to do too much on his first outing. Don't you think?" She shook her head smiling. Knowing John Gage, he was up at the crack of dawn and talked Roy into going all day.
"Yeah, I guess, but I would still like to run this by Joe. Is he around?"
"Oh, of course, hang on a minute while I get him to the phone." She put the call on hold and went in search of Dr. Early.
