The Fire
Talks
Chapter Thirteen
by GCS and Hotshow
Forty Eight hours after he ended up in Rampart's emergency room frustration enveloped him. Johnny knew who he was and who all his friends were, but he couldn't remember anything that had happened to him over the last six months. Sure there were moments of recollection, but for the most part it was one big fog.
"Don't worry about it Johnny. Dr. Early said it was more than likely temporary partial amnesia. He said that you should relax and not stress over it. Making yourself sick won't help the memories return." Roy was just as discouraged as Johnny, but he had to try to help encourage his friend to deal with his current situation. Johnny just stared blankly at the window. "Joanne is making lunch for us, so as soon as they bring your release papers we'll go home."
"Not my home." Johnny said distractedly.
"It will always be your second home Johnny. You know that." Roy continued to put Johnny's things in his duffle bag.
Neither man had noticed Dr. Early leaning against the door frame to the room, "Well I heard you were excited about getting sprung from this place. You don't look excited to me."
Johnny turned and tiredly smiled at the doctor. "Looks can be deceiving Doc."
"They can, so I guess that means you're just waiting for these." Joe walked over and handed the discharge papers to Johnny who looked at them for a few minutes before lowering them to his lap. "The memories will come back Johnny. You have a severe concussion. I'm surprised you don't have a skull fracture. This is a normal symptom. The more you dwell on it the more stressed you'll become. Do something to get your mind off of things, and then when you least expect it something will trigger your memory. Maybe you should try reading that new book. What's it called Roy?"
"The Fire Talks, and it's really good Johnny. I have a copy. I'll loan it to you when we get home."
"Well what are we waiting for then?" Johnny perked up a little. "Get me outta here." He pointed toward the door. "Home James!" Chuckling the three men headed out into the hall and freedom. "Roy can we stop and tell Dixie bye?"
"I think if we don't she'll hunt us both down and make us pay." Roy smiled as he wheeled Johnny toward Dixie's desk.
"What's so funny?" Dixie smiled at her two favorite paramedics.
"Nothing Dixie, Johnny's just glad to be going home."
"Well you look better. How is your memory?" Johnny's shoulders slumped, and he visibly saddened. Dixie looked questioningly into his eyes seeing unhappiness and insecurity.
"Not good. I still can't remember anything for the last few months."
"I know it's bothering you Johnny, but it will come back. Just go home with Roy and try to rest. How's your eye?" She reached over and pushed the hair out of his face and looked at his eye.
"It's better. Still stings a little, but I can see okay." Johnny absently put his hand up to rub his eye. Dixie intercepted it and put it back in his lap.
"You need to stop rubbing it." She patted his hand. "Roy here are the eye drops that were prescribed, and the antibiotic for the infection in his arm."
"I'm right here."
"I know that sweetheart I just thought Roy would put them in your bag." Johnny lowered his gaze to his hands feeling ashamed of his comment. "Take it easy on yourself okay. It will all come back. You'll see." Dixie bent down and gave Johnny a hug, placed her hand on his cheek and smiled. "I'll see you in a few days okay?"
"Okay Dix. Let's go Roy."
Once at the Desoto home Johnny walked slowly up to the house. He was exhausted from the morning and dizzy. Dr. Early had told him the dizziness might last for a while. Being dizzy made him feel nauseous. Joanne met him at the front door and led him to the couch. She helped him to sit. "Just relax here for a while sweetie. I'll get your lunch a little later when you feel better." He sat with his eyes closed and held his head in his hands.
Roy put his things in the spare room, Johnny's room. After he had been hurt and slept on their couch for a week a few years ago, Roy and Joanne had added a daybed to her sewing room. Now whenever he needed it there was a place for him to sleep more comfortably and not be disturbed. "Johnny do you want to lay down for a while?"
"No Roy I don't want to move. I'll just stay here for a minute. When the room stops spinning I might be ready for lunch. It smells really good."
"Okay Junior, whenever you're ready." Roy went to the kitchen to help Joanne get lunch on the table.
"After lunch I think I'll run over to Johnny's apartment and pick up some clothes and
things."
"Roy his memory, will he get it back?" Joanne looked into her husband's eyes for answers. Roy walked over and took his wife into his arms for a loving embrace.
"He will Jo. It may take some time. Serious concussions can cause amnesia symptoms for months even years. I hope that doesn't happen to Johnny, but if it does we'll help him get through it. Now why don't I go see if he's ready for lunch?" Roy went back into the family room and found Johnny asleep on the couch. He grabbed the afghan from the recliner and spread it over his sleeping friend. Returning to the kitchen he told Joanne that Johnny was asleep, and they decided to go ahead and eat. Johnny could eat when he woke up.
After lunch as planned Roy headed over to Johnny's apartment to get the things that would make him more comfortable. He used the extra key Johnny had given him when he was injured before. When he entered the apartment he immediately noticed that everything was very neat and organized. There was a stack of papers on the coffee table and a box over near the dining area. `Wonder what's in that box.' Roy thought for a moment. Walking past the table he noticed a letter on top of the stack. He picked up the letter and began reading it. He put the letter back on the table and slid the documents out of a large envelope. There were several legal documents. Roy carefully replaced everything the way it was when he got there. Then he moved toward the large box. He opened the lid and inside he saw exactly what he guessed would be in it. Smiling as he worked he packed up Johnny's things and left the apartment. `Junior when you get your memory back I think even you will be surprised.'
Back at the Desoto's Johnny had enjoyed the lunch Joanne had brought to him on a tray so he wouldn't have to get up. Now he was relaxing on the couch reading the book that Dr. Early had mentioned. He was a fast reader and was already several chapters into the story when Roy came in. "Hey Roy this book is really good. Some of these fires are just like calls we have been on over the years. Who wrote it?"
"Well Johnny that has been what everyone has been trying to figure out since it hit the stores. It's on the best seller list now. There is a dedication page in the front. It is a firefighter from right here in LA County, Chris J. Bean. Does that name ring a bell."
Johnny looked up a Roy with a wrinkled forehead. He shook his head. "Nope."
"I went over to your place and picked up some things. I'll put them in your room."
"Thanks Roy. I really appreciate you and Jo putting me up." Johnny got up to follow Roy down the hall. He swayed feeling light headed and grabbed the back of the recliner to steady himself.
"Johnny are you okay?"
"Dizzy." He squeezed his eyes shut not moving.
Roy came over beside him and took his arm, "Let me help you to your room. Maybe you should lie down for a while."
"Yeah, okay." Johnny let Roy help him down the hall. "Maybe I'll just read some more. This book is something else."
"Don't worry about it Johnny. Dr. Early said it was more than likely temporary partial amnesia. He said that you should relax and not stress over it. Making yourself sick won't help the memories return." Roy was just as discouraged as Johnny, but he had to try to help encourage his friend to deal with his current situation. Johnny just stared blankly at the window. "Joanne is making lunch for us, so as soon as they bring your release papers we'll go home."
"Not my home." Johnny said distractedly.
"It will always be your second home Johnny. You know that." Roy continued to put Johnny's things in his duffle bag.
Neither man had noticed Dr. Early leaning against the door frame to the room, "Well I heard you were excited about getting sprung from this place. You don't look excited to me."
Johnny turned and tiredly smiled at the doctor. "Looks can be deceiving Doc."
"They can, so I guess that means you're just waiting for these." Joe walked over and handed the discharge papers to Johnny who looked at them for a few minutes before lowering them to his lap. "The memories will come back Johnny. You have a severe concussion. I'm surprised you don't have a skull fracture. This is a normal symptom. The more you dwell on it the more stressed you'll become. Do something to get your mind off of things, and then when you least expect it something will trigger your memory. Maybe you should try reading that new book. What's it called Roy?"
"The Fire Talks, and it's really good Johnny. I have a copy. I'll loan it to you when we get home."
"Well what are we waiting for then?" Johnny perked up a little. "Get me outta here." He pointed toward the door. "Home James!" Chuckling the three men headed out into the hall and freedom. "Roy can we stop and tell Dixie bye?"
"I think if we don't she'll hunt us both down and make us pay." Roy smiled as he wheeled Johnny toward Dixie's desk.
"What's so funny?" Dixie smiled at her two favorite paramedics.
"Nothing Dixie, Johnny's just glad to be going home."
"Well you look better. How is your memory?" Johnny's shoulders slumped, and he visibly saddened. Dixie looked questioningly into his eyes seeing unhappiness and insecurity.
"Not good. I still can't remember anything for the last few months."
"I know it's bothering you Johnny, but it will come back. Just go home with Roy and try to rest. How's your eye?" She reached over and pushed the hair out of his face and looked at his eye.
"It's better. Still stings a little, but I can see okay." Johnny absently put his hand up to rub his eye. Dixie intercepted it and put it back in his lap.
"You need to stop rubbing it." She patted his hand. "Roy here are the eye drops that were prescribed, and the antibiotic for the infection in his arm."
"I'm right here."
"I know that sweetheart I just thought Roy would put them in your bag." Johnny lowered his gaze to his hands feeling ashamed of his comment. "Take it easy on yourself okay. It will all come back. You'll see." Dixie bent down and gave Johnny a hug, placed her hand on his cheek and smiled. "I'll see you in a few days okay?"
"Okay Dix. Let's go Roy."
Once at the Desoto home Johnny walked slowly up to the house. He was exhausted from the morning and dizzy. Dr. Early had told him the dizziness might last for a while. Being dizzy made him feel nauseous. Joanne met him at the front door and led him to the couch. She helped him to sit. "Just relax here for a while sweetie. I'll get your lunch a little later when you feel better." He sat with his eyes closed and held his head in his hands.
Roy put his things in the spare room, Johnny's room. After he had been hurt and slept on their couch for a week a few years ago, Roy and Joanne had added a daybed to her sewing room. Now whenever he needed it there was a place for him to sleep more comfortably and not be disturbed. "Johnny do you want to lay down for a while?"
"No Roy I don't want to move. I'll just stay here for a minute. When the room stops spinning I might be ready for lunch. It smells really good."
"Okay Junior, whenever you're ready." Roy went to the kitchen to help Joanne get lunch on the table.
"After lunch I think I'll run over to Johnny's apartment and pick up some clothes and
things."
"Roy his memory, will he get it back?" Joanne looked into her husband's eyes for answers. Roy walked over and took his wife into his arms for a loving embrace.
"He will Jo. It may take some time. Serious concussions can cause amnesia symptoms for months even years. I hope that doesn't happen to Johnny, but if it does we'll help him get through it. Now why don't I go see if he's ready for lunch?" Roy went back into the family room and found Johnny asleep on the couch. He grabbed the afghan from the recliner and spread it over his sleeping friend. Returning to the kitchen he told Joanne that Johnny was asleep, and they decided to go ahead and eat. Johnny could eat when he woke up.
After lunch as planned Roy headed over to Johnny's apartment to get the things that would make him more comfortable. He used the extra key Johnny had given him when he was injured before. When he entered the apartment he immediately noticed that everything was very neat and organized. There was a stack of papers on the coffee table and a box over near the dining area. `Wonder what's in that box.' Roy thought for a moment. Walking past the table he noticed a letter on top of the stack. He picked up the letter and began reading it. He put the letter back on the table and slid the documents out of a large envelope. There were several legal documents. Roy carefully replaced everything the way it was when he got there. Then he moved toward the large box. He opened the lid and inside he saw exactly what he guessed would be in it. Smiling as he worked he packed up Johnny's things and left the apartment. `Junior when you get your memory back I think even you will be surprised.'
Back at the Desoto's Johnny had enjoyed the lunch Joanne had brought to him on a tray so he wouldn't have to get up. Now he was relaxing on the couch reading the book that Dr. Early had mentioned. He was a fast reader and was already several chapters into the story when Roy came in. "Hey Roy this book is really good. Some of these fires are just like calls we have been on over the years. Who wrote it?"
"Well Johnny that has been what everyone has been trying to figure out since it hit the stores. It's on the best seller list now. There is a dedication page in the front. It is a firefighter from right here in LA County, Chris J. Bean. Does that name ring a bell."
Johnny looked up a Roy with a wrinkled forehead. He shook his head. "Nope."
"I went over to your place and picked up some things. I'll put them in your room."
"Thanks Roy. I really appreciate you and Jo putting me up." Johnny got up to follow Roy down the hall. He swayed feeling light headed and grabbed the back of the recliner to steady himself.
"Johnny are you okay?"
"Dizzy." He squeezed his eyes shut not moving.
Roy came over beside him and took his arm, "Let me help you to your room. Maybe you should lie down for a while."
"Yeah, okay." Johnny let Roy help him down the hall. "Maybe I'll just read some more. This book is something else."
Chapter Fourteen
Roy helped Johnny settle in the bed and then went to take care of some of the things he knew Joanne had on her honey do list.
Johnny snuggled in his pillow and thought about reading some more, but was fast asleep within minutes.
About an hour later the school bus pulled up out front and the Desoto kids disembarked and ran full speed to the front door. Roy opened the door and immediately shushed his kids. "Hey guys hold it down okay. Uncle Johnny is asleep in his room, and he doesn't need to be disturbed."
"Did he get hurt again Daddy?" Jennifer looked up at Roy with a very worried frown.
"Well yes sweetheart he got hurt. Come on in, and I'll tell you about it." He stepped back and let the kids into the great room. "Why don't we go into the kitchen Mom has some milk and cookies for us."
The kids dropped their backpacks with a double thud and ran to the kitchen. Roy stood with the backpacks at his feet, shook his head at the forgetfulness of his kids, bent over and picked up the packs setting them at the bottom of the stairs and joined his family in the kitchen. "Remember guys to please try to keep the noise down for Uncle Johnny's sake."
"What happened to him Dad?" Chris asked as he chewed his cookie while talking in Johnny fashion.
"Christopher Desoto you don't talk with your mouth full." Joanne scolded.
"Yes Ma'am."
"Uncle Johnny has a concussion, a very serious concussion. Do you remember what that means Chris?"
"Sure Dad we learned that when we earned our first aide badges in scouts. He will have nausea, headaches, and dizziness. He has to be checked to be sure he doesn't have a…um hem…hema…toe…na."
"Subdural Hematoma"
"Yeah that. He has to answer questions for a nemo check."
"Neuro"
"Yeah, yeah that's right Dad, you really know your stuff!" Chris smiled with pride at his dad.
"He also has some amnesia." Roy explained.
"You mean he doesn't remember us?" Jennifer asked worriedly.
"Don't worry sweetheart he remembers you, both of you." He glanced at Chris. "He has partial amnesia where he can't remember the last six or so months. It's like he forgot about that period of time. I think he will remember though. He has a pretty serious concussion."
"Can I go check on him Daddy?" Jennifer got up from the table and grabbed a few more cookies. "I'll take him some milk and cookies.
"Let me put them on a plate and pour the milk honey." Joanne said getting up herself. "I think Johnny would like that.
"Okay, but don't wake him if he's still asleep. You can put the snack on the table by his bed." Roy smiled at his little girl.
Jennifer tiptoed into Johnny's room and put the milk and cookies on the table. She turned to leave and saw Johnny looked at her. "Hello Uncle Johnny. How are you?"
"When did your hair get so long?" Johnny asked in awe of her long golden hair.
"Oh Uncle Johnny you know I've been letting it grow for months." Her little hand went to her mouth as she remembered what Roy had told her. "I'm sorry. I forgot."
"It's okay princess. I love it." He struggled to untangle his feet from the covers.
"No Uncle Johnny you don't need to try to get up. Daddy said you have to rest." She pushed on his chest.
"I can get up Jennifer, besides I need to….uh….you know. I have to go." Johnny blushed as he explained to the little girl.
"Daddy!" Jennifer ran from the room. "Daddy! Uncle Johnny's trying to get up! He'll hurt hisself. Hurry Daddy!"
The yelling sent pains right through Johnny's head. He sat cuddling his head on the side of the bed as Roy entered the room. "You okay?"
"I was until my little princess went yelling for you. My head is splitting, and now the room is on a tilt a whirl. I just wanted to go to the bathroom." Johnny whined.
"Here let me help you. I think it's time for your meds anyway and some Tylenol will help." Roy reached under Johnny's arm and helped steady him down the hall. "I'll be right back." When Roy came back from the kitchen with Johnny's medications he found him on the couch with his head resting on the back. Jennifer was sitting beside him. "Here ya go."
"Thanks Roy." Johnny took the glass and the meds and gulped them down.
"Uncle Johnny what happened to your eye?"
"I…I can't remember sweetie, but they tell me the Phantom had something to do with it." Johnny laid his head back again waiting for the Tylenol to start working.
"That mean old Phantom better not hurt you anymore." She folded her arms across her chest. "He's bad."
Johnny chuckled and rubbed his hand down the back of her silky hair. "It's okay sweetie I don't think he meant for me to get hurt. He was just pulling one of his pranks. The water catapult just sprung apart that's all."
Roy stopped and looked back at his friend thinking to himself, 'Did he remember that or did someone tell him.'
"What about your arm? It's all bandaged up." She rubbed softly across his bandage.
"Cat scratched me."
"What kind of cat was it?"
He cracked open one eye and looked over at Jennifer. "It was a tabby cat. Do you know what they look like?"
"Yes they're pretty. How did a tabby cat scratch you Uncle Johnny?"
"I…I don't know Jennifer." His forehead wrinkled. "I just know it…Roy did you tell me that?"
"No Junior. I didn't tell you what kind of cat it was. Maybe Chester B did." Roy knew no one had told Johnny what kind of cat it was, but he didn't want to stress Johnny. He would remember more easily if the memories came back on their own, at their own pace.
"Well I guess someone told me. Anyway it was a pretty tabby cat and your dad and I rescued it. It scratched me real good. It got infected and now Dr. Brackett has me on some antibiotic to make it all better. Okay?"
"Okay Uncle Johnny. We'll take real good care of you. I'll be your nurse when I'm not at school. I'll get you whatever you need whenever you need it." She smiled a huge smile and kissed Johnny on the cheek.
"Jennifer, Mom says we need to go up and do our homework before dinner." Chris walked through the room. Johnny thought he looked like he had grown at least two inches since the last time he had seen him, or the last time he remembered seeing him.
Johnny laid his head back on the couch in frustration.
"It will all come back Johnny." Roy saw his friend's distress.
"I hope so. Your kids look like someone else to me, like I might not have even known them if I'd seen them on the street. They've aged and I don't remember it. Six month's is a long time Roy. What if I never remember? I've lost so much. So many things have happened in that six months. So many important things."
"I know Johnny. A lot of things have happened. Some things I think you will be very surprised to find out about, but you will. You will remember. Give it some time."
"Okay Roy. I think I'll go back to my room and read some more. I fell asleep earlier and didn't get the chance. I'm really enjoying that book. I'm glad Dr. Early suggested it. The author is really good. He makes it seem like I'm right in the middle of the story. I wonder if he's written anything else."
"Well I heard he had a short story in a magazine. Maybe we can find that too."
"Yeah that would be great. I hope he writes some more novels. He's very talented."
"Yes he is. He really is Johnny. Very, very talented."
Johnny snuggled in his pillow and thought about reading some more, but was fast asleep within minutes.
About an hour later the school bus pulled up out front and the Desoto kids disembarked and ran full speed to the front door. Roy opened the door and immediately shushed his kids. "Hey guys hold it down okay. Uncle Johnny is asleep in his room, and he doesn't need to be disturbed."
"Did he get hurt again Daddy?" Jennifer looked up at Roy with a very worried frown.
"Well yes sweetheart he got hurt. Come on in, and I'll tell you about it." He stepped back and let the kids into the great room. "Why don't we go into the kitchen Mom has some milk and cookies for us."
The kids dropped their backpacks with a double thud and ran to the kitchen. Roy stood with the backpacks at his feet, shook his head at the forgetfulness of his kids, bent over and picked up the packs setting them at the bottom of the stairs and joined his family in the kitchen. "Remember guys to please try to keep the noise down for Uncle Johnny's sake."
"What happened to him Dad?" Chris asked as he chewed his cookie while talking in Johnny fashion.
"Christopher Desoto you don't talk with your mouth full." Joanne scolded.
"Yes Ma'am."
"Uncle Johnny has a concussion, a very serious concussion. Do you remember what that means Chris?"
"Sure Dad we learned that when we earned our first aide badges in scouts. He will have nausea, headaches, and dizziness. He has to be checked to be sure he doesn't have a…um hem…hema…toe…na."
"Subdural Hematoma"
"Yeah that. He has to answer questions for a nemo check."
"Neuro"
"Yeah, yeah that's right Dad, you really know your stuff!" Chris smiled with pride at his dad.
"He also has some amnesia." Roy explained.
"You mean he doesn't remember us?" Jennifer asked worriedly.
"Don't worry sweetheart he remembers you, both of you." He glanced at Chris. "He has partial amnesia where he can't remember the last six or so months. It's like he forgot about that period of time. I think he will remember though. He has a pretty serious concussion."
"Can I go check on him Daddy?" Jennifer got up from the table and grabbed a few more cookies. "I'll take him some milk and cookies.
"Let me put them on a plate and pour the milk honey." Joanne said getting up herself. "I think Johnny would like that.
"Okay, but don't wake him if he's still asleep. You can put the snack on the table by his bed." Roy smiled at his little girl.
Jennifer tiptoed into Johnny's room and put the milk and cookies on the table. She turned to leave and saw Johnny looked at her. "Hello Uncle Johnny. How are you?"
"When did your hair get so long?" Johnny asked in awe of her long golden hair.
"Oh Uncle Johnny you know I've been letting it grow for months." Her little hand went to her mouth as she remembered what Roy had told her. "I'm sorry. I forgot."
"It's okay princess. I love it." He struggled to untangle his feet from the covers.
"No Uncle Johnny you don't need to try to get up. Daddy said you have to rest." She pushed on his chest.
"I can get up Jennifer, besides I need to….uh….you know. I have to go." Johnny blushed as he explained to the little girl.
"Daddy!" Jennifer ran from the room. "Daddy! Uncle Johnny's trying to get up! He'll hurt hisself. Hurry Daddy!"
The yelling sent pains right through Johnny's head. He sat cuddling his head on the side of the bed as Roy entered the room. "You okay?"
"I was until my little princess went yelling for you. My head is splitting, and now the room is on a tilt a whirl. I just wanted to go to the bathroom." Johnny whined.
"Here let me help you. I think it's time for your meds anyway and some Tylenol will help." Roy reached under Johnny's arm and helped steady him down the hall. "I'll be right back." When Roy came back from the kitchen with Johnny's medications he found him on the couch with his head resting on the back. Jennifer was sitting beside him. "Here ya go."
"Thanks Roy." Johnny took the glass and the meds and gulped them down.
"Uncle Johnny what happened to your eye?"
"I…I can't remember sweetie, but they tell me the Phantom had something to do with it." Johnny laid his head back again waiting for the Tylenol to start working.
"That mean old Phantom better not hurt you anymore." She folded her arms across her chest. "He's bad."
Johnny chuckled and rubbed his hand down the back of her silky hair. "It's okay sweetie I don't think he meant for me to get hurt. He was just pulling one of his pranks. The water catapult just sprung apart that's all."
Roy stopped and looked back at his friend thinking to himself, 'Did he remember that or did someone tell him.'
"What about your arm? It's all bandaged up." She rubbed softly across his bandage.
"Cat scratched me."
"What kind of cat was it?"
He cracked open one eye and looked over at Jennifer. "It was a tabby cat. Do you know what they look like?"
"Yes they're pretty. How did a tabby cat scratch you Uncle Johnny?"
"I…I don't know Jennifer." His forehead wrinkled. "I just know it…Roy did you tell me that?"
"No Junior. I didn't tell you what kind of cat it was. Maybe Chester B did." Roy knew no one had told Johnny what kind of cat it was, but he didn't want to stress Johnny. He would remember more easily if the memories came back on their own, at their own pace.
"Well I guess someone told me. Anyway it was a pretty tabby cat and your dad and I rescued it. It scratched me real good. It got infected and now Dr. Brackett has me on some antibiotic to make it all better. Okay?"
"Okay Uncle Johnny. We'll take real good care of you. I'll be your nurse when I'm not at school. I'll get you whatever you need whenever you need it." She smiled a huge smile and kissed Johnny on the cheek.
"Jennifer, Mom says we need to go up and do our homework before dinner." Chris walked through the room. Johnny thought he looked like he had grown at least two inches since the last time he had seen him, or the last time he remembered seeing him.
Johnny laid his head back on the couch in frustration.
"It will all come back Johnny." Roy saw his friend's distress.
"I hope so. Your kids look like someone else to me, like I might not have even known them if I'd seen them on the street. They've aged and I don't remember it. Six month's is a long time Roy. What if I never remember? I've lost so much. So many things have happened in that six months. So many important things."
"I know Johnny. A lot of things have happened. Some things I think you will be very surprised to find out about, but you will. You will remember. Give it some time."
"Okay Roy. I think I'll go back to my room and read some more. I fell asleep earlier and didn't get the chance. I'm really enjoying that book. I'm glad Dr. Early suggested it. The author is really good. He makes it seem like I'm right in the middle of the story. I wonder if he's written anything else."
"Well I heard he had a short story in a magazine. Maybe we can find that too."
"Yeah that would be great. I hope he writes some more novels. He's very talented."
"Yes he is. He really is Johnny. Very, very talented."
Chapter Fifteen
Johnny returned to his room at the Desoto home and read several more chapters in "The Fire Talks", but he soon fell asleep again. Roy did not wake him until dinner was ready. "Hey sleepyhead dinner's ready."
Sleepy brown eyes slowly opened to a room that seemed to be swirling around Roy's head. He closed them tightly trying to calm the dizziness. "I…I'll be there in a minute."
"Dizzy?"
"Yeah."
"Let me help you sit up." Roy eased Johnny into an upright position and held his head down near his knees until he felt Johnny's resistance. "Better?"
"Yeah, thanks."
"You need me to help you to the table?" Johnny looked up at his best friend. They had an easy comfort between them, neither shied away from being themselves in front of each other. If he needed help Roy would not see it as weakness. He would just gladly offer the assistance needed.
Johnny smiled, "I'm okay now." He stood slowly and led the way to the dinner table.
"Uncle Johnny I drew you a picture, see. It has you and daddy in front of your red truck." Jenny pointed at the picture she had shoved in front of Johnny's face as he entered the room.
"It's a squad you goof." Chris corrected her in a not so nice tone of voice.
"Chris, don't talk to your sister that way and do not call her names. Now you apologize," Joanne said as she set a bowl full of potatoes on the trivet in the center of the table. She stopped, placed her hands on her hips and glared at her son waiting for his apology to his little sister.
"Sorry." He lowered his eyes.
"Sorry, what?" Joanne waited for the answer.
"Sorry for calling you a goof and speaking in a mean voice."
"That's better. Now did you both wash your hands?"
"Yes ma'am," the two children responded together holding their hands up for inspection.
The entire exchange only lasted a couple of minutes, but long enough to make Johnny's head spin again. He could feel the headache in his temples and the slightest feeling of nausea in his stomach. He hoped Roy hadn't noticed.
Joanne and Roy busied themselves with bringing in the rest of the meal and pouring drinks for everyone. Their constant movement around the table did not help Johnny's predicament.
"Uncle Johnny?" Jenny looked up at him with a wrinkled brow. He didn't answer. "Uncle Johnny?" She tugged on his arm.
"Oh sorry Jenny did you say something?"
"Mommy asked if you wanted potatoes." She started to stand. "I think you need checking over. I'll get my doctor's kit."
"Sit down Jennifer," Roy stopped his budding medical professional in her tracks. "You do not leave the table without permission, and Johnny does not need checking over." Jennifer slid back down in her seat and looked down at her plate.
"It's okay Jenny Bean, I was just thinking about how good this all smells," he couldn't believe he had just said that. Although he was certain it did smell good he was very sick to his stomach and did not think he could eat. Roy had prepared his plate and was just adding some potatoes when Johnny quickly excused himself, covered his mouth and retreated to the hall bathroom.
He stood at the sink willing himself not to get sick. Turning on the cold water he splashed his face several times and stood gripping either side of the porcelain with his head down and the water dripping down his nose. There was a light tap at the door. "Uncle Johnny are you alright?" Jennifer whispered through the door. Johnny reached over and opened it.
"I'm okay sweetie."
"I'll get my kit and check your temper." She turned to go bumping into her dad who had followed her down the hall.
"Whoa, not so fast honey. You need to wait about doctoring your uncle. He really does not feel like playing right now."
"Uh, Nurse Desoto," Johnny paused and swallowed. "Uh….your patient needs a glass of ice water. Could you please get him some?"
Roy looked thankfully at his partner. Johnny always knew exactly how to keep Jennifer from getting upset. "Oh yes! I'll bring it right back. I'll get mommy to put it in one of those pitchers with the cup like at the hospital." She turned and skipped down the hall, "Moooommmmmeeeee!"
Johnny closed his eyes tightly and swayed. "Okay Junior, the couch or the bed?"
"Couch." Roy took Johnny under the arm and helped him to the couch. Johnny gently lowered himself and laid his head on the back. "I'm sorry about dinner."
"Don't worry about it Johnny. I'll save you a plate for later. Maybe when things settle down around here you'll feel more like eating," Joanne placed a damp rag on his forehead. Jennifer put the cup of ice water in his hand. He dutifully lifted it to his mouth and took a sip. "Now everyone else back to the table, dinner is getting cold."
"Call me if you need anything Junior," Roy patted Johnny's knee and returned to the table. The rest of the evening went peacefully. At the explicit instructions of their mom the children went to their rooms to play quietly after dinner.
Roy was on shift the next day, so he was up and out of the house at about the same time as the children. Johnny slept in.
Arriving at the station Roy was called into Captain Stanley's office. "Hey Roy can I see you a minute?"
"Sure Cap what's up?"
"Close the door." Roy knew that Cap never shut the door unless the conversation was serious. He closed the door and turned to face his Captain. He didn't remember doing anything that would get him into trouble. He had no clue what this meeting was about. "Relax Roy, I just don't want Chester's keen ears to hear what we have to talk about," then he said a bit more loudly, "and if he is caught listening he will get a formal reprimand!" Feet could be heard shuffling away outside the door. Captain Stanley and Roy laughed.
"Okay now that we are alone I have something I need to discuss with you. It's about John." Roy looked at his Captain with a new concern on his face. "He's not in trouble." Captain Stanley knew he would have to ease Roy's worry quickly. "He….well I got a call from the Battalion Chief last night. It seems that our Junior Paramedic has been moonlighting a bit."
"I know."
"You know? He told you?"
"Uh no….I kinda….well when I went to his place to get some clothes I saw the letter."
"Then you know they want to do something about it."
"Yeah, but what are we going to do?"
"What do you mean?" Captain Stanley did not understand the immediate problem.
"He doesn't remember."
Sleepy brown eyes slowly opened to a room that seemed to be swirling around Roy's head. He closed them tightly trying to calm the dizziness. "I…I'll be there in a minute."
"Dizzy?"
"Yeah."
"Let me help you sit up." Roy eased Johnny into an upright position and held his head down near his knees until he felt Johnny's resistance. "Better?"
"Yeah, thanks."
"You need me to help you to the table?" Johnny looked up at his best friend. They had an easy comfort between them, neither shied away from being themselves in front of each other. If he needed help Roy would not see it as weakness. He would just gladly offer the assistance needed.
Johnny smiled, "I'm okay now." He stood slowly and led the way to the dinner table.
"Uncle Johnny I drew you a picture, see. It has you and daddy in front of your red truck." Jenny pointed at the picture she had shoved in front of Johnny's face as he entered the room.
"It's a squad you goof." Chris corrected her in a not so nice tone of voice.
"Chris, don't talk to your sister that way and do not call her names. Now you apologize," Joanne said as she set a bowl full of potatoes on the trivet in the center of the table. She stopped, placed her hands on her hips and glared at her son waiting for his apology to his little sister.
"Sorry." He lowered his eyes.
"Sorry, what?" Joanne waited for the answer.
"Sorry for calling you a goof and speaking in a mean voice."
"That's better. Now did you both wash your hands?"
"Yes ma'am," the two children responded together holding their hands up for inspection.
The entire exchange only lasted a couple of minutes, but long enough to make Johnny's head spin again. He could feel the headache in his temples and the slightest feeling of nausea in his stomach. He hoped Roy hadn't noticed.
Joanne and Roy busied themselves with bringing in the rest of the meal and pouring drinks for everyone. Their constant movement around the table did not help Johnny's predicament.
"Uncle Johnny?" Jenny looked up at him with a wrinkled brow. He didn't answer. "Uncle Johnny?" She tugged on his arm.
"Oh sorry Jenny did you say something?"
"Mommy asked if you wanted potatoes." She started to stand. "I think you need checking over. I'll get my doctor's kit."
"Sit down Jennifer," Roy stopped his budding medical professional in her tracks. "You do not leave the table without permission, and Johnny does not need checking over." Jennifer slid back down in her seat and looked down at her plate.
"It's okay Jenny Bean, I was just thinking about how good this all smells," he couldn't believe he had just said that. Although he was certain it did smell good he was very sick to his stomach and did not think he could eat. Roy had prepared his plate and was just adding some potatoes when Johnny quickly excused himself, covered his mouth and retreated to the hall bathroom.
He stood at the sink willing himself not to get sick. Turning on the cold water he splashed his face several times and stood gripping either side of the porcelain with his head down and the water dripping down his nose. There was a light tap at the door. "Uncle Johnny are you alright?" Jennifer whispered through the door. Johnny reached over and opened it.
"I'm okay sweetie."
"I'll get my kit and check your temper." She turned to go bumping into her dad who had followed her down the hall.
"Whoa, not so fast honey. You need to wait about doctoring your uncle. He really does not feel like playing right now."
"Uh, Nurse Desoto," Johnny paused and swallowed. "Uh….your patient needs a glass of ice water. Could you please get him some?"
Roy looked thankfully at his partner. Johnny always knew exactly how to keep Jennifer from getting upset. "Oh yes! I'll bring it right back. I'll get mommy to put it in one of those pitchers with the cup like at the hospital." She turned and skipped down the hall, "Moooommmmmeeeee!"
Johnny closed his eyes tightly and swayed. "Okay Junior, the couch or the bed?"
"Couch." Roy took Johnny under the arm and helped him to the couch. Johnny gently lowered himself and laid his head on the back. "I'm sorry about dinner."
"Don't worry about it Johnny. I'll save you a plate for later. Maybe when things settle down around here you'll feel more like eating," Joanne placed a damp rag on his forehead. Jennifer put the cup of ice water in his hand. He dutifully lifted it to his mouth and took a sip. "Now everyone else back to the table, dinner is getting cold."
"Call me if you need anything Junior," Roy patted Johnny's knee and returned to the table. The rest of the evening went peacefully. At the explicit instructions of their mom the children went to their rooms to play quietly after dinner.
Roy was on shift the next day, so he was up and out of the house at about the same time as the children. Johnny slept in.
Arriving at the station Roy was called into Captain Stanley's office. "Hey Roy can I see you a minute?"
"Sure Cap what's up?"
"Close the door." Roy knew that Cap never shut the door unless the conversation was serious. He closed the door and turned to face his Captain. He didn't remember doing anything that would get him into trouble. He had no clue what this meeting was about. "Relax Roy, I just don't want Chester's keen ears to hear what we have to talk about," then he said a bit more loudly, "and if he is caught listening he will get a formal reprimand!" Feet could be heard shuffling away outside the door. Captain Stanley and Roy laughed.
"Okay now that we are alone I have something I need to discuss with you. It's about John." Roy looked at his Captain with a new concern on his face. "He's not in trouble." Captain Stanley knew he would have to ease Roy's worry quickly. "He….well I got a call from the Battalion Chief last night. It seems that our Junior Paramedic has been moonlighting a bit."
"I know."
"You know? He told you?"
"Uh no….I kinda….well when I went to his place to get some clothes I saw the letter."
"Then you know they want to do something about it."
"Yeah, but what are we going to do?"
"What do you mean?" Captain Stanley did not understand the immediate problem.
"He doesn't remember."
