The Fire
Talks
Chapter Twenty Five
by GCS and Hotshow
Dr. Early picked up the phone at the ER nurse's desk, "Hello."
"Hi Doc."
"Roy, Dixie tells me that Johnny took a tumble. What exactly happened?" He pulled a pen from his lab coat pocket and opened Johnny's chart that Dixie handed him. She always seemed to have ready whatever anyone needed in the ER especially when it came to himself or Dr. Brackett.
Roy explained the activities of their day ending with Johnny's fall.
"Hmm," Dr. Early pondered for a minute. "I think I have to agree with Dixie, Roy. It sounds like he tried to do too much too soon."
"Yeah, but…" Roy started to say something.
"Now let me finish." Dr. Early cut him off. "Remember I told Johnny that the dizziness and headaches could last for a few weeks, but should lessen over time. That said I think this is just more of what we expected. I am a bit surprised at the severity of it. That does concern me some. Let's see how he feels when he wakes up. I'm on shift tonight, so I'll be available at anytime if you need me. Okay?"
"Sure Doc." Dr. Early could hear the insecurity in Roy's tone.
"Roy, if I thought for an instant that there might be more to this I would have you call a squad and ambulance. Johnny needs time. This is by far the worst concussion I've seen him have. Combine those symptoms with fatigue and well you find him in the floor. Like I said, call me if he's not better when he wakes up. Rest is what he needs more than anything right now. Oh and Roy, make sure he takes his meds. You and I both know how he is about taking anything for pain or headaches. Make sure he stays on top of that. Make sure he takes the meds even if he doesn't think he needs them."
"I will." Roy sighed. "Thanks Doc."
"Thank you, for keeping me posted. I may want to stop by in the morning for some fresh coffee if Joanne doesn't mind." Joe chuckled.
Roy's eyes lit up and a smile spread across his face. "Joanne would love to have you stop by for coffee."
Joanne tilted her head and raised her eyebrows in question.
Roy held up his hand for her to wait a minute, and he would explain.
"Good. Why don't I stop by around Nine."
"Nine is good. We'll see you for breakfast." Roy looked at Joanne to make sure she was okay with that. She nodded her agreement. She wasn't sure exactly what she had agreed to other than breakfast, but it sounded like Dr. Early wanted to swing by in the morning. If she had to feed him steak and eggs that would be all right as long as he checked on Johnny. She was really concerned about him.
It was several hours before Johnny finally woke up. He didn't feel like getting out of the bed yet. Instead he lay in the bed listening to the sounds of the house, and feeling at peace. He had his memory back, had finally told the guys about the novel and shared with them his good fortune. Best of all for the moment anyway, his headache seemed to be gone. Now if he could just get over the concussion and get back to work everything would be perfect.
Dinner long past, the Desoto family had gathered in front of the TV to watch The Waltons. Johnny could hear Joanne asking the kids to settle down. "Chris stop poking your sister."
"Aw Mom I was just teasing her." He slumped down on the pallet Joanne had spread on the floor for the kids and pushed his elbows into his pillow. "A guy can't have any fun."
"Chris." Roy reprimanded his son. "If you can't abide by your mother's request with respect, you will not be allowed to watch the show with us."
Chris turned to his mother. "I'm sorry Mom." He waited for her response hoping he wouldn't be sent to bed early.
Joanne sighed, "Okay son, just keep your hands to yourself." She leaned back against Roy who wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"Daddy?" Jenny stood next to him and hung on his leg. "Is Uncle Johnny gonna watch with us tonight?"
"Honey Uncle Johnny isn't feeling well tonight." Roy patted her on the top of her head. "I think he's still asleep."
"He needs his rest doesn't he?" She said in a matter of fact tone.
"Yes pumpkin, he does." Roy scooped his daughter up into his lap and hugged her tight. Then he set her back on her feet. "Now get over there with Chris. The show is coming on."
It warmed Johnny's heart that Roy's kids wanted him to be included in their family time. He drifted back to sleep feeling loved.
Dark black smoke poured out of the down stairs windows.
Mixed in with the billowing plumes of black were flames that licked against the brick walls, reaching for the paint chipped wooden window frames of the second story, trying to gain purchase.
The thicker the smoke, the higher the flames seemed to snake up the wall.
Ash and burning debris drifted out of the busted windows, blown out from the force of the fire within.
A lighter gray smoke slipped out of the wall cracks just below the roof line mixing with the rising black cloud like wisps of gray hairs on a distinguished man's temples.
A ladder stretched up to the roof where several firemen had disappeared into the darkness on their way up to ventilate the structure.
Firemen scrambled everywhere, pulling hoses, swinging axes, working together side by side to gain access to the deteriorating building and free the victims from within.
The wall of heat that hovered around the scene pushed onlookers back across the street.
There was an eerie silhouette of the once grand structure reflected in the puddles of water collecting on the asphalt from the spray from the fire hoses.
Mike Stoker stood watch beside Engine 51.
Marco and Chet were nearby directing a wide stream of water onto the main entrance to keep it open for the many members of the department ducking in and out carrying victims to the triage area.
Captain Hank Stanley had just entered the building to assist Roy with a victim; Johnny had been sent to the roof in response to a firefighter who had partially fallen through the roof, when an explosion rocked the entire structure.
When the explosions finally stopped and the dust settled, it became very apparent that many lives would be changed on that day.
Marco lay unmoving on the pavement; Chet a few feet away moaning and rolling from side to side. Mike Stoker sat dazed on the ground leaning against the front tire of Big Red. Roy and Captain Stanley had somehow managed to get clear of the building, but both men and their victim lay sprawled in a heap of arms and legs just outside the entrance, unconscious.
When the dust settled, no one knew what had happened to the men on the roof. What they saw before them didn't leave much hope that anyone else inside or on the roof could have survived.
One man in the crowd smiled at the devastation before him. His planning had paid off. The accelerant he used had burned at just the right speed to allow more firemen to feel secure enough to enter the small office building. He had timed it just right so that the temperature could reach the heat level necessary to ignite the explosives in the storage room on the second floor when the most people were in the building. In the process of getting to the younger, tall, dark haired man that had treated his beautiful daughter and let her die, he had successfully injured the man's friends as well.
Feeling completely satisfied with himself he turned and slowly walked away.
"NO! He's getting away!" Roy could hear Johnny screaming from the spare bedroom. "Roy, you have to get up and stop him." When he came into the room he found Johnny tangled in the sheets and struggling to get up. His face was pale and his eyes looked around the room wildly. "HELP!"
"Johnny, it's okay…it's just a dream." He approached the bed slowly and carefully spoke in a soothing tone, trying to get Johnny to wake up.
"The arsonist, he's getting away. Don't let him get away. He started the fire. He had explosives in the cleaning closet. He wanted us to get hurt. He..he..you all got hurt, because of me." Johnny continued screaming at Roy. He grabbed his shoulders and shook him hard. "Roy don't you see. It's my fault. You have to stop him."
Roy continued his soft assurances that it was just a dream. In fact he remembered a chapter in Johnny's book that described a similar fire scene. Johnny must have been dreaming about his book. "Okay Johnny, I'll get him, but you have to calm down. Come on, Junior…deep breaths."
Johnny stopped screaming and slowly came to awareness, blinking his eyes several times and finally turning toward Roy seeing him for the first time since he had come into the room. "What happened?" He ran a shaky hand through his sweat dampened hair.
"You were having a bad dream." Roy calmly responded.
"A dream?" Johnny sighed.
"Yeah, it sounded like something from your novel."
Johnny closed his eyes and shuddered. "I'm sorry Roy, I didn't mean to upset anyone."
"Don't worry about it. The kids are asleep anyway, Joanne and I were just watching Johnny Carson."
"Carson is on already? What time is it?" Johnny yawned.
"You hungry?"
"Man am I." Johnny swung his legs over the side of the bed. "Did you save me anything from dinner?"
"Nope." Roy teased. Johnny turned to him with sad eyes and an open mouth. Roy paused long enough for Johnny to begin to get steamed. Then he continued. "But Joanne did."
"Oh, ha ha ha." Johnny rolled his eyes at Roy.
"You think you can get up without falling?"
"Yes Dad. I can get up without falling." Johnny retorted.
Roy backed up and held his hands in a gesture of surrender.
Johnny stood slowly and hoped that he could get up without falling. He didn't want to go to Rampart, and he knew if he as much as stumbled, Roy would have a squad and ambulance there in two seconds flat. Much to his satisfaction he not only stood, but walked to the kitchen by way of the hall bathroom to freshen up. When he reached the kitchen he found Roy seated at the table with milk and cookies, while Joanne had a very full plate of roast beef and vegetables along with two glasses of milk for him.
"Thanks Jo," Johnny said to her as he pulled her into a hug. "You're the best."
"Your flattery will get you nowhere with me, John Gage." She swatted him with the dish cloth she had been wiping her hands with. Then she winked at Roy. That wink had shown him that she felt that Johnny was definitely better than he had been earlier in the day. Roy nodded his agreement to her and smiled as he dunked a cookie into his milk. "After you finish, just leave the dishes in the sink. I'll wash them with the breakfast dishes. Then Mr. Gage you can take your meds and crawl back into bed."
"Um okay." Johnny looked from Joanne to Roy. "I will."
"I'm serious Johnny. You need to rest. Day after tomorrow is a big day." That said Joanne blew a kiss to her husband and disappeared through the door. "Goodnight boys."
"Goodnight Joanne." They echoed each other.
Roy dunked another cookie, "So aside from the bad dream, are you feeling better?"
"Yep…lots." Johnny dug into his food for the first time in days. "I feel pretty good."
"No dizziness, headache?"
Johnny thought about it for a few minutes, rolling his eyes from side to side as if looking to see if he was dizzy or not. "Nope, not now."
Roy smiled. "That's great, Johnny."
Johnny smiled and kept right on eating.
"I talked to Doctor Early. Joanne invited him over to breakfast in the morning." It was a little white lie and both Johnny and Roy knew it.
"So..he wants to check up on me." It was more a statement than a question.
Roy cleared his throat. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Um..Joanne wants him to. Just to be safe."
"She does?" Johnny asked with one eyebrow raised.
Roy purposely dunked another cookie and bit into it fast so he wouldn't have to verbalize another lie. He simply nodded his head, yes. It wasn't really a lie, Joanne really did want to be sure Johnny was all right, but in fact it was Roy who wanted Doctor Early to stop by.
Johnny shrugged. It warmed his heart that his friends would worry so about his welfare. "Okay." He finished his dinner and leaned back in the chair. "Man that was great. I'm stuffed." To prove his point he yawned deeply. Roy slid his chair back and moved to the cabinet above the refrigerator where they kept medications out of the reach of their children. He returned to the table with Johnny's meds. Handed the pills to him and pushed the second glass of milk over to him. "Thanks Roy."
"No problem, Junior." He grabbed the dishes and rinsed them off before putting them in the sink until morning. "Do you want to watch some TV before you head back to bed?"
"Nah, I'm going to try to do what Joanne suggested and get back to bed." He stood slowly testing his balance. When he was sure he wasn't dizzy he smiled at Roy and whistled as he headed back down the hallway to his room.
Roy turned off the kitchen light and headed upstairs to join his wife. He felt better than he had in days as well. Maybe Dr. Early and Dixie were correct. Maybe Johnny did overdo it today, and just needed to rest. That's what he hoped anyway.
"Hi Doc."
"Roy, Dixie tells me that Johnny took a tumble. What exactly happened?" He pulled a pen from his lab coat pocket and opened Johnny's chart that Dixie handed him. She always seemed to have ready whatever anyone needed in the ER especially when it came to himself or Dr. Brackett.
Roy explained the activities of their day ending with Johnny's fall.
"Hmm," Dr. Early pondered for a minute. "I think I have to agree with Dixie, Roy. It sounds like he tried to do too much too soon."
"Yeah, but…" Roy started to say something.
"Now let me finish." Dr. Early cut him off. "Remember I told Johnny that the dizziness and headaches could last for a few weeks, but should lessen over time. That said I think this is just more of what we expected. I am a bit surprised at the severity of it. That does concern me some. Let's see how he feels when he wakes up. I'm on shift tonight, so I'll be available at anytime if you need me. Okay?"
"Sure Doc." Dr. Early could hear the insecurity in Roy's tone.
"Roy, if I thought for an instant that there might be more to this I would have you call a squad and ambulance. Johnny needs time. This is by far the worst concussion I've seen him have. Combine those symptoms with fatigue and well you find him in the floor. Like I said, call me if he's not better when he wakes up. Rest is what he needs more than anything right now. Oh and Roy, make sure he takes his meds. You and I both know how he is about taking anything for pain or headaches. Make sure he stays on top of that. Make sure he takes the meds even if he doesn't think he needs them."
"I will." Roy sighed. "Thanks Doc."
"Thank you, for keeping me posted. I may want to stop by in the morning for some fresh coffee if Joanne doesn't mind." Joe chuckled.
Roy's eyes lit up and a smile spread across his face. "Joanne would love to have you stop by for coffee."
Joanne tilted her head and raised her eyebrows in question.
Roy held up his hand for her to wait a minute, and he would explain.
"Good. Why don't I stop by around Nine."
"Nine is good. We'll see you for breakfast." Roy looked at Joanne to make sure she was okay with that. She nodded her agreement. She wasn't sure exactly what she had agreed to other than breakfast, but it sounded like Dr. Early wanted to swing by in the morning. If she had to feed him steak and eggs that would be all right as long as he checked on Johnny. She was really concerned about him.
It was several hours before Johnny finally woke up. He didn't feel like getting out of the bed yet. Instead he lay in the bed listening to the sounds of the house, and feeling at peace. He had his memory back, had finally told the guys about the novel and shared with them his good fortune. Best of all for the moment anyway, his headache seemed to be gone. Now if he could just get over the concussion and get back to work everything would be perfect.
Dinner long past, the Desoto family had gathered in front of the TV to watch The Waltons. Johnny could hear Joanne asking the kids to settle down. "Chris stop poking your sister."
"Aw Mom I was just teasing her." He slumped down on the pallet Joanne had spread on the floor for the kids and pushed his elbows into his pillow. "A guy can't have any fun."
"Chris." Roy reprimanded his son. "If you can't abide by your mother's request with respect, you will not be allowed to watch the show with us."
Chris turned to his mother. "I'm sorry Mom." He waited for her response hoping he wouldn't be sent to bed early.
Joanne sighed, "Okay son, just keep your hands to yourself." She leaned back against Roy who wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"Daddy?" Jenny stood next to him and hung on his leg. "Is Uncle Johnny gonna watch with us tonight?"
"Honey Uncle Johnny isn't feeling well tonight." Roy patted her on the top of her head. "I think he's still asleep."
"He needs his rest doesn't he?" She said in a matter of fact tone.
"Yes pumpkin, he does." Roy scooped his daughter up into his lap and hugged her tight. Then he set her back on her feet. "Now get over there with Chris. The show is coming on."
It warmed Johnny's heart that Roy's kids wanted him to be included in their family time. He drifted back to sleep feeling loved.
Dark black smoke poured out of the down stairs windows.
Mixed in with the billowing plumes of black were flames that licked against the brick walls, reaching for the paint chipped wooden window frames of the second story, trying to gain purchase.
The thicker the smoke, the higher the flames seemed to snake up the wall.
Ash and burning debris drifted out of the busted windows, blown out from the force of the fire within.
A lighter gray smoke slipped out of the wall cracks just below the roof line mixing with the rising black cloud like wisps of gray hairs on a distinguished man's temples.
A ladder stretched up to the roof where several firemen had disappeared into the darkness on their way up to ventilate the structure.
Firemen scrambled everywhere, pulling hoses, swinging axes, working together side by side to gain access to the deteriorating building and free the victims from within.
The wall of heat that hovered around the scene pushed onlookers back across the street.
There was an eerie silhouette of the once grand structure reflected in the puddles of water collecting on the asphalt from the spray from the fire hoses.
Mike Stoker stood watch beside Engine 51.
Marco and Chet were nearby directing a wide stream of water onto the main entrance to keep it open for the many members of the department ducking in and out carrying victims to the triage area.
Captain Hank Stanley had just entered the building to assist Roy with a victim; Johnny had been sent to the roof in response to a firefighter who had partially fallen through the roof, when an explosion rocked the entire structure.
When the explosions finally stopped and the dust settled, it became very apparent that many lives would be changed on that day.
Marco lay unmoving on the pavement; Chet a few feet away moaning and rolling from side to side. Mike Stoker sat dazed on the ground leaning against the front tire of Big Red. Roy and Captain Stanley had somehow managed to get clear of the building, but both men and their victim lay sprawled in a heap of arms and legs just outside the entrance, unconscious.
When the dust settled, no one knew what had happened to the men on the roof. What they saw before them didn't leave much hope that anyone else inside or on the roof could have survived.
One man in the crowd smiled at the devastation before him. His planning had paid off. The accelerant he used had burned at just the right speed to allow more firemen to feel secure enough to enter the small office building. He had timed it just right so that the temperature could reach the heat level necessary to ignite the explosives in the storage room on the second floor when the most people were in the building. In the process of getting to the younger, tall, dark haired man that had treated his beautiful daughter and let her die, he had successfully injured the man's friends as well.
Feeling completely satisfied with himself he turned and slowly walked away.
"NO! He's getting away!" Roy could hear Johnny screaming from the spare bedroom. "Roy, you have to get up and stop him." When he came into the room he found Johnny tangled in the sheets and struggling to get up. His face was pale and his eyes looked around the room wildly. "HELP!"
"Johnny, it's okay…it's just a dream." He approached the bed slowly and carefully spoke in a soothing tone, trying to get Johnny to wake up.
"The arsonist, he's getting away. Don't let him get away. He started the fire. He had explosives in the cleaning closet. He wanted us to get hurt. He..he..you all got hurt, because of me." Johnny continued screaming at Roy. He grabbed his shoulders and shook him hard. "Roy don't you see. It's my fault. You have to stop him."
Roy continued his soft assurances that it was just a dream. In fact he remembered a chapter in Johnny's book that described a similar fire scene. Johnny must have been dreaming about his book. "Okay Johnny, I'll get him, but you have to calm down. Come on, Junior…deep breaths."
Johnny stopped screaming and slowly came to awareness, blinking his eyes several times and finally turning toward Roy seeing him for the first time since he had come into the room. "What happened?" He ran a shaky hand through his sweat dampened hair.
"You were having a bad dream." Roy calmly responded.
"A dream?" Johnny sighed.
"Yeah, it sounded like something from your novel."
Johnny closed his eyes and shuddered. "I'm sorry Roy, I didn't mean to upset anyone."
"Don't worry about it. The kids are asleep anyway, Joanne and I were just watching Johnny Carson."
"Carson is on already? What time is it?" Johnny yawned.
"You hungry?"
"Man am I." Johnny swung his legs over the side of the bed. "Did you save me anything from dinner?"
"Nope." Roy teased. Johnny turned to him with sad eyes and an open mouth. Roy paused long enough for Johnny to begin to get steamed. Then he continued. "But Joanne did."
"Oh, ha ha ha." Johnny rolled his eyes at Roy.
"You think you can get up without falling?"
"Yes Dad. I can get up without falling." Johnny retorted.
Roy backed up and held his hands in a gesture of surrender.
Johnny stood slowly and hoped that he could get up without falling. He didn't want to go to Rampart, and he knew if he as much as stumbled, Roy would have a squad and ambulance there in two seconds flat. Much to his satisfaction he not only stood, but walked to the kitchen by way of the hall bathroom to freshen up. When he reached the kitchen he found Roy seated at the table with milk and cookies, while Joanne had a very full plate of roast beef and vegetables along with two glasses of milk for him.
"Thanks Jo," Johnny said to her as he pulled her into a hug. "You're the best."
"Your flattery will get you nowhere with me, John Gage." She swatted him with the dish cloth she had been wiping her hands with. Then she winked at Roy. That wink had shown him that she felt that Johnny was definitely better than he had been earlier in the day. Roy nodded his agreement to her and smiled as he dunked a cookie into his milk. "After you finish, just leave the dishes in the sink. I'll wash them with the breakfast dishes. Then Mr. Gage you can take your meds and crawl back into bed."
"Um okay." Johnny looked from Joanne to Roy. "I will."
"I'm serious Johnny. You need to rest. Day after tomorrow is a big day." That said Joanne blew a kiss to her husband and disappeared through the door. "Goodnight boys."
"Goodnight Joanne." They echoed each other.
Roy dunked another cookie, "So aside from the bad dream, are you feeling better?"
"Yep…lots." Johnny dug into his food for the first time in days. "I feel pretty good."
"No dizziness, headache?"
Johnny thought about it for a few minutes, rolling his eyes from side to side as if looking to see if he was dizzy or not. "Nope, not now."
Roy smiled. "That's great, Johnny."
Johnny smiled and kept right on eating.
"I talked to Doctor Early. Joanne invited him over to breakfast in the morning." It was a little white lie and both Johnny and Roy knew it.
"So..he wants to check up on me." It was more a statement than a question.
Roy cleared his throat. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Um..Joanne wants him to. Just to be safe."
"She does?" Johnny asked with one eyebrow raised.
Roy purposely dunked another cookie and bit into it fast so he wouldn't have to verbalize another lie. He simply nodded his head, yes. It wasn't really a lie, Joanne really did want to be sure Johnny was all right, but in fact it was Roy who wanted Doctor Early to stop by.
Johnny shrugged. It warmed his heart that his friends would worry so about his welfare. "Okay." He finished his dinner and leaned back in the chair. "Man that was great. I'm stuffed." To prove his point he yawned deeply. Roy slid his chair back and moved to the cabinet above the refrigerator where they kept medications out of the reach of their children. He returned to the table with Johnny's meds. Handed the pills to him and pushed the second glass of milk over to him. "Thanks Roy."
"No problem, Junior." He grabbed the dishes and rinsed them off before putting them in the sink until morning. "Do you want to watch some TV before you head back to bed?"
"Nah, I'm going to try to do what Joanne suggested and get back to bed." He stood slowly testing his balance. When he was sure he wasn't dizzy he smiled at Roy and whistled as he headed back down the hallway to his room.
Roy turned off the kitchen light and headed upstairs to join his wife. He felt better than he had in days as well. Maybe Dr. Early and Dixie were correct. Maybe Johnny did overdo it today, and just needed to rest. That's what he hoped anyway.
Chapter Twenty Six
By Friday morning the headaches and dizziness had mostly subsided, but the nervousness about the presentation tomorrow had his nerves on edge.
Having slept all afternoon and through the night, Johnny was the first one up in the Desoto household. He had brewed a pot of coffee and sat at the kitchen nursing his first cup.
Joanne came quietly into the room not expecting anyone to be up. When she saw him sitting at the table with his shoulders drooping and his hands continually twirling the half full coffee cup that he stared at, she knew he must be thinking about the presentation ceremony.
One thing about John Gage, he hated to be the center of that kind of attention. Now a pretty nurse's attention he welcomed; a group of excited children he could put up with, but anyone trying to make him out to be a hero or interview him on television would see an entirely different man. He would effectively shut down and become unable to formulate coherent sentences. He hated that kind of attention.
He and Roy both did the job they did because it was what they were meant to do. They didn't consider themselves to be anything other than just a couple of guys doing their jobs. She was sure that he felt the same way about writing the novel. He was just a guy writing a book so others could get a taste of what it was like being a fireman in LA County.
"Hey kiddo, there's nothing to be nervous about." Joanne put her hands on his shoulders and massaged the knots.
"Nervous...me?" Johnny teased. He leaned back and looked up at her with his hand spread across his chest.
"I wanted to thank you again for what you've done for us, Johnny." Joanne bent over and kissed the top of his head.
"Aw Jo, y'all are my family. Look at all you've done for me."
"Hey now...we did that because we love you Johnny. Not because we expected anything in return. Besides you do plenty for us as well. You help Roy with the yard, you're wonderful with the kids, and I enjoy it when you clean your plate every time I put it in front of you." She continued working on the knots in his neck and shoulders.
"I'm glad everyone likes the book, but I wish the fire department could just accept the donation to the fund and let it go at that. I mean send me a thank you card. Why do I have to be the poster boy for the department?" He hung his head and continued to spin the cup of now cold coffee.
Joanne put her hand on his to stop the nervous activity. When she saw the tension in his face release and a smile take its place, she took the cup from him. "How about I get you a fresh cup?"
Johnny chuckled. "That would be great."
"Did Roy tell you Dr. Early is stopping by this morning for breakfast?" She returned to the table with two cups and sat down beside Johnny.
"Yeah, but I know there's more to it than that." He grinned at her.
"Well, tomorrow is a big day and we wanted to be sure you are healthy enough to attend it." She returned his smile and reached over pushing his bangs out of his face. "Besides I like Dr. Early, he's nice. Does anyone at the hospital know about the donations yet?"
"No, I haven't had an opportunity to tell them yet. Maybe I'll just let them be surprised tomorrow. Everyone else already knows about theirs. Maybe if I don't tell them the attention will be on their reaction instead of me." Johnny spoke his thoughts out loud.
Joanne sipped her coffee. "This is good coffee Johnny. Thank you for making it. That is usually my job. It's nice to wake up to a hot cup of coffee." She sipped again then slid her chair back. "I guess I had better get a shower and start breakfast."
"What can I do?"
"You sweetheart, can enjoy your coffee out on the deck. You don't need to do anything today but rest. That fall yesterday scared the life out of me, and I won't have a repeat of that today." She ruffled his hair, and he ducked away.
"Aw Jo, I'm all right."
"Well even if you are, you are going to rest today."
He picked up his cup, stood up and walked over to the sliding glass door. "Well it does look like a nice morning to sit on the deck."
Joanne smiled and laughed at how easily she had "convinced" Johnny to have his coffee on the deck. "Now that's a good boy." She teased just before turning around and heading back upstairs to dress.
When she entered her bedroom she ran face to face with Roy. He wrapped his arms around her. She looked up into his eyes as he lowered his mouth to hers brushing her lips with his, teasing her. Then he pulled her into a hug and nuzzled her neck planting kisses just behind her ear. She moaned at his gentle bites. He pulled back and looked at her smiling. "Too bad the kids will be up in a minute for school."
"And that Dr. Early is coming over for breakfast in a couple of hours." She reminded him.
He bent down and kissed her again more passionately. He sucked on her bottom lip and then slowly pulled away leaving her breathless. "I love you Mrs. Desoto."
"I love you too, Mr. Desoto. Now you need to join your partner on the deck for coffee. You may need to start another pot." She turned toward the bathroom and the shower she had come up for.
"Johnny's up?"
"He's on the deck." She called from the bathroom.
"What do you need me to do to help with breakfast?" Roy had followed her back into the room and stood outside the closed bathroom door.
"Nothing right now, I'll get the kids up after I shower. We'll feed them and get them off to school and then start on breakfast for the adults."
Roy could hear the water turn on. He reached down and tried the door knob, sighing loudly when he found it locked. "I'll start some toast for the kids."
Out on the deck, Johnny noticed a pair of birds in the tree just beyond the back fence. They were singing and flitting around on a branch near the top. The playful way they flew up and back to the branch toying with each other was fascinating. He didn't even notice Roy when he came out with the coffee pot and refilled his mug. He reached for his suddenly full coffee cup and looked over his shoulder wondering how it got that way.
"Thought you needed a refill." Roy said as he came back out with his own cup.
"When did you get up?"
"Just before I refilled your cup." Roy chuckled.
"Oh yeah, thanks." Johnny raised his cup in a thankful gesture, and then took a drink. "Did you see those birds?"
"What birds?" Roy asked.
"Never mind, they're gone now."
"Uncle Johnny! You're up!" Jennifer Desoto came bounding out of the sliding door and almost leapt into his lap.
"Whoa, Jennifer. Johnny has hot coffee, and he's still not ready to be pounced on."
Jennifer stopped in her tracks and her bright happy face immediately turned into a very pouty one. "I'm sorry Daddy, I just missed him last night."
"Come here Jenny Bean." Johnny pushed his hot coffee across the table and pulled Jenny into his lap squeezing her tightly. "I missed you too princess."
Jenny wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a very wet sloppy kiss on the cheek. "I love you Uncle Johnny. I wish I didn't have to go to school today. Maybe I could stay home and take care of you." She looked at her dad to see his reaction.
"I don't think that would be a very good idea Jenny Bean. You might miss some very important things at school today. What if I promised to be here waiting for you when you get home? You could read some more of that book we started to me. I really like that book."
Jenny pressed her mouth to one side and narrowed her eyes, considering his idea. Then her face lit up with joy, "I think that would be a good idea, but only if you promise to finish your nap before I get home. That way we can read until dinner."
"Okay." Johnny hugged her tightly again. "It's a deal."
"Okay sweetie, you need to get dressed for school. Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes." Jenny climbed down from Johnny's lap and ran over to her Dad to give him a morning kiss. Roy pulled her into his lap and snuggled her for a few minutes before putting her back on her feet. "Now scoot." He gently directed her back toward the house. "And tell your brother to get up and get dressed too."
"He's up already." Joanne said from the door. "Now missy, you better hurry." Joanne and Jenny disappeared into the house.
The two men drank their coffee quietly, enjoying the fresh, early morning air. Roy looked Johnny over trying to see how he was doing. He looked okay. He wasn't showing any signs of headache or dizziness. He wanted to ask him how he was, but knew that would ruin the peaceful moment. He leaned back and looked up at the bright blue sky filled with puffy white clouds.
A few minutes later Chris poked his head out the door. "Good morning Dad, Uncle Johnny."
"Good morning son."
"Hey sport."
The small replica of Roy was gone before they could get out their own greetings. The two friends looked at each other and laughed.
"You know, Roy, I've been thinking."
"Yeah, about what?"
"Well, I keep having these…dreams." Johnny paused.
"You mean nightmares?" It was really more a statement than a question.
Johnny nodded yes. "Nightmares. Anyway, that's kind of how the whole thing with "The Fire Talks" started. So, I was thinking maybe I should do another book. I mean, maybe people would like it too." Johnny looked at him with questioning eyes.
"Well Johnny, you did get an overwhelming response from your first novel. I think it would be a good idea to do another one. Who knows you may be able to retire from the fire department before you're thirtieth birthday."
Having slept all afternoon and through the night, Johnny was the first one up in the Desoto household. He had brewed a pot of coffee and sat at the kitchen nursing his first cup.
Joanne came quietly into the room not expecting anyone to be up. When she saw him sitting at the table with his shoulders drooping and his hands continually twirling the half full coffee cup that he stared at, she knew he must be thinking about the presentation ceremony.
One thing about John Gage, he hated to be the center of that kind of attention. Now a pretty nurse's attention he welcomed; a group of excited children he could put up with, but anyone trying to make him out to be a hero or interview him on television would see an entirely different man. He would effectively shut down and become unable to formulate coherent sentences. He hated that kind of attention.
He and Roy both did the job they did because it was what they were meant to do. They didn't consider themselves to be anything other than just a couple of guys doing their jobs. She was sure that he felt the same way about writing the novel. He was just a guy writing a book so others could get a taste of what it was like being a fireman in LA County.
"Hey kiddo, there's nothing to be nervous about." Joanne put her hands on his shoulders and massaged the knots.
"Nervous...me?" Johnny teased. He leaned back and looked up at her with his hand spread across his chest.
"I wanted to thank you again for what you've done for us, Johnny." Joanne bent over and kissed the top of his head.
"Aw Jo, y'all are my family. Look at all you've done for me."
"Hey now...we did that because we love you Johnny. Not because we expected anything in return. Besides you do plenty for us as well. You help Roy with the yard, you're wonderful with the kids, and I enjoy it when you clean your plate every time I put it in front of you." She continued working on the knots in his neck and shoulders.
"I'm glad everyone likes the book, but I wish the fire department could just accept the donation to the fund and let it go at that. I mean send me a thank you card. Why do I have to be the poster boy for the department?" He hung his head and continued to spin the cup of now cold coffee.
Joanne put her hand on his to stop the nervous activity. When she saw the tension in his face release and a smile take its place, she took the cup from him. "How about I get you a fresh cup?"
Johnny chuckled. "That would be great."
"Did Roy tell you Dr. Early is stopping by this morning for breakfast?" She returned to the table with two cups and sat down beside Johnny.
"Yeah, but I know there's more to it than that." He grinned at her.
"Well, tomorrow is a big day and we wanted to be sure you are healthy enough to attend it." She returned his smile and reached over pushing his bangs out of his face. "Besides I like Dr. Early, he's nice. Does anyone at the hospital know about the donations yet?"
"No, I haven't had an opportunity to tell them yet. Maybe I'll just let them be surprised tomorrow. Everyone else already knows about theirs. Maybe if I don't tell them the attention will be on their reaction instead of me." Johnny spoke his thoughts out loud.
Joanne sipped her coffee. "This is good coffee Johnny. Thank you for making it. That is usually my job. It's nice to wake up to a hot cup of coffee." She sipped again then slid her chair back. "I guess I had better get a shower and start breakfast."
"What can I do?"
"You sweetheart, can enjoy your coffee out on the deck. You don't need to do anything today but rest. That fall yesterday scared the life out of me, and I won't have a repeat of that today." She ruffled his hair, and he ducked away.
"Aw Jo, I'm all right."
"Well even if you are, you are going to rest today."
He picked up his cup, stood up and walked over to the sliding glass door. "Well it does look like a nice morning to sit on the deck."
Joanne smiled and laughed at how easily she had "convinced" Johnny to have his coffee on the deck. "Now that's a good boy." She teased just before turning around and heading back upstairs to dress.
When she entered her bedroom she ran face to face with Roy. He wrapped his arms around her. She looked up into his eyes as he lowered his mouth to hers brushing her lips with his, teasing her. Then he pulled her into a hug and nuzzled her neck planting kisses just behind her ear. She moaned at his gentle bites. He pulled back and looked at her smiling. "Too bad the kids will be up in a minute for school."
"And that Dr. Early is coming over for breakfast in a couple of hours." She reminded him.
He bent down and kissed her again more passionately. He sucked on her bottom lip and then slowly pulled away leaving her breathless. "I love you Mrs. Desoto."
"I love you too, Mr. Desoto. Now you need to join your partner on the deck for coffee. You may need to start another pot." She turned toward the bathroom and the shower she had come up for.
"Johnny's up?"
"He's on the deck." She called from the bathroom.
"What do you need me to do to help with breakfast?" Roy had followed her back into the room and stood outside the closed bathroom door.
"Nothing right now, I'll get the kids up after I shower. We'll feed them and get them off to school and then start on breakfast for the adults."
Roy could hear the water turn on. He reached down and tried the door knob, sighing loudly when he found it locked. "I'll start some toast for the kids."
Out on the deck, Johnny noticed a pair of birds in the tree just beyond the back fence. They were singing and flitting around on a branch near the top. The playful way they flew up and back to the branch toying with each other was fascinating. He didn't even notice Roy when he came out with the coffee pot and refilled his mug. He reached for his suddenly full coffee cup and looked over his shoulder wondering how it got that way.
"Thought you needed a refill." Roy said as he came back out with his own cup.
"When did you get up?"
"Just before I refilled your cup." Roy chuckled.
"Oh yeah, thanks." Johnny raised his cup in a thankful gesture, and then took a drink. "Did you see those birds?"
"What birds?" Roy asked.
"Never mind, they're gone now."
"Uncle Johnny! You're up!" Jennifer Desoto came bounding out of the sliding door and almost leapt into his lap.
"Whoa, Jennifer. Johnny has hot coffee, and he's still not ready to be pounced on."
Jennifer stopped in her tracks and her bright happy face immediately turned into a very pouty one. "I'm sorry Daddy, I just missed him last night."
"Come here Jenny Bean." Johnny pushed his hot coffee across the table and pulled Jenny into his lap squeezing her tightly. "I missed you too princess."
Jenny wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a very wet sloppy kiss on the cheek. "I love you Uncle Johnny. I wish I didn't have to go to school today. Maybe I could stay home and take care of you." She looked at her dad to see his reaction.
"I don't think that would be a very good idea Jenny Bean. You might miss some very important things at school today. What if I promised to be here waiting for you when you get home? You could read some more of that book we started to me. I really like that book."
Jenny pressed her mouth to one side and narrowed her eyes, considering his idea. Then her face lit up with joy, "I think that would be a good idea, but only if you promise to finish your nap before I get home. That way we can read until dinner."
"Okay." Johnny hugged her tightly again. "It's a deal."
"Okay sweetie, you need to get dressed for school. Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes." Jenny climbed down from Johnny's lap and ran over to her Dad to give him a morning kiss. Roy pulled her into his lap and snuggled her for a few minutes before putting her back on her feet. "Now scoot." He gently directed her back toward the house. "And tell your brother to get up and get dressed too."
"He's up already." Joanne said from the door. "Now missy, you better hurry." Joanne and Jenny disappeared into the house.
The two men drank their coffee quietly, enjoying the fresh, early morning air. Roy looked Johnny over trying to see how he was doing. He looked okay. He wasn't showing any signs of headache or dizziness. He wanted to ask him how he was, but knew that would ruin the peaceful moment. He leaned back and looked up at the bright blue sky filled with puffy white clouds.
A few minutes later Chris poked his head out the door. "Good morning Dad, Uncle Johnny."
"Good morning son."
"Hey sport."
The small replica of Roy was gone before they could get out their own greetings. The two friends looked at each other and laughed.
"You know, Roy, I've been thinking."
"Yeah, about what?"
"Well, I keep having these…dreams." Johnny paused.
"You mean nightmares?" It was really more a statement than a question.
Johnny nodded yes. "Nightmares. Anyway, that's kind of how the whole thing with "The Fire Talks" started. So, I was thinking maybe I should do another book. I mean, maybe people would like it too." Johnny looked at him with questioning eyes.
"Well Johnny, you did get an overwhelming response from your first novel. I think it would be a good idea to do another one. Who knows you may be able to retire from the fire department before you're thirtieth birthday."
Chapter Twenty Seven
Johnny looked at him with wide eyes and his mouth hanging open. "Retire! Who said anything about retiring? I don't want to retire! I love what I do. Retire. Geeze Roy. I just thought I might write another book. I never said anything about quitting the department." He ran his hand through his hair leaving it sticking up at odd angles.
"I sure am glad to hear that. The last thing Chet wants is to have to break in a new pigeon." Roy laughed heartily.
"Is someone quitting the department?" Joanne asked from the door looking confused and worried. She thought she heard Johnny say something about quitting.
"No one is quitting the fire department!" Johnny said a little too forcefully.
"Well! I was just asking." Joanne answered with a bite of her own.
"I'm sorry Joanne, it's just that Roy here…" He waved his arm at Roy. "…has it in his head that I can't write another novel and keep working as a paramedic."
"I never said that!" Now Roy was getting aggravated. "I simply said if you wrote another book you might have enough money to retire before you're thirty."
"Is that what you meant?" Johnny asked more calmly. "I thought…"
Roy held up his hand. "Johnny, I don't want you to leave the department. I want you better, so you can come back to your spot in the squad more than anything right now. If you want to write another book, I think you should."
"Okay." Johnny leaned back in his seat and took a deep breath.
"Okay?" Roy asked for confirmation. Johnny simply looked at him and grinned.
"Now that's settled, can I get either of you another cup of coffee?" Joanne smiled at her two favorite men who both held their cups out to her. "Oh, I came out to let you know Dr. Early called and said he was almost ready to head this way. I invited Dixie and Dr. Brackett to join us. You two better finish up your coffee and freshen up." Both men looked at themselves and wondered what was wrong with what they had on. Roy was wearing Jeans and an undershirt. Johnny had on a pair of sweatpants and a button up shirt that was unbuttoned revealing his chest. "They said to expect them in about an hour, so you have time for one more cup." She disappeared through the door.
"The whole gang is coming. Are you going to tell them about the donation?"
"I don't know. Maybe."
Joanne returned with two steaming cups of coffee and two children following behind dressed and ready for school.
"Bye Dad." Chris walked over and quickly hugged his dad.
"Uncle Johnny, don't forget about our date this afternoon. I have the book all ready. I put it in your room." Jenny stood on her tiptoes and panted another wet sloppy kiss on his cheek. It took all of his will power not to wipe off the wetness.
"Okay princess. Have a good day at school."
Chris moved over to Johnny and Jenny went to kiss her dad. "I hope you feel better today Uncle Johnny." He leaned over and gave him a hug.
When Chris stood up Johnny ruffled his hair. "I will."
"Johnny, I just combed his hair. Chris come here and let me smooth that back down. The bus will be here in a minute." Joanne was reaching for Chris before he got close to her. Jennifer followed them inside.
"You are one very lucky man, Roy."
"Yes, I am." They both raised their cups and drank. "I guess we had better go freshen up." He chuckled as he slid his chair back and got up.
"I guess so." Johnny stood more slowly, hoping he wouldn't be dizzy when he got up. Roy noticed he was still moving cautiously.
The doorbell rang and a light knock followed it, then the door opened and Dixie called out hello as the three medical professionals arrived at the Desoto home. Joanne stepped out of the kitchen wiping her hands on a dishtowel. "Come on in."
Roy was just coming down the stairs in his jeans and a pale blue short sleeve button down shirt. Joanne smiled. She approved of his "freshening up". "Good morning." He smiled broadly. He had hoped Dr. Early would check on Johnny and by the looks of the medical bag he carried in his hand that is exactly what he planned to do.
"Make yourselves at home. Can I get coffee for anyone?" Joanne was the perfect hostess.
"I'll help." Dixie followed her into the kitchen. The men settled around the living room.
"How's our boy this morning?" Joe asked.
"He seems better. He was up and had coffee made when Joanne and I got up this morning." Roy looked down the hallway. "He went to get dressed a little while ago. I guess I need to let him know you're here." He rose from his seat. "I'll be right back."
As Roy left the room the women came in with a tray of hot coffee and passed steaming cups around. Roy tapped lightly on the door and pushed it open to find Johnny stretched out across the bed, one foot on the floor, his arm over his eyes and his other laying across his notepad and his green pen in his hand. Roy walked softly over beside his sleeping friend. "Hey Junior, you awake?" He nudged Johnny's knee causing him to stir.
"Huh?" Johnny raised his arm up and squinted at Roy. He slowly sat up. "Guess I fell asleep." He yawned. "I don't know why I seem to be so tired all the time."
"A giant beam slamming against the back of your head maybe."
"Ha ha ha" Johnny glared at him.
"Well, I'm just sayin'." Roy shrugged. "Anyway, the docs and Dixie are here. You better hurry up and get dressed."
"Okay, I'll be out in a minute." He turned and picked up the notepad and studied the words he'd written earlier. It was interesting that the stories he had been writing down since finishing "The Fire Talks" were short and seemed to be complete in themselves, kind of like a recounting of several of their runs during one shift. His brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed; a slow grin spread across his face. Johnny had an idea of what to do with all the short rescue scenes.
"I sure am glad to hear that. The last thing Chet wants is to have to break in a new pigeon." Roy laughed heartily.
"Is someone quitting the department?" Joanne asked from the door looking confused and worried. She thought she heard Johnny say something about quitting.
"No one is quitting the fire department!" Johnny said a little too forcefully.
"Well! I was just asking." Joanne answered with a bite of her own.
"I'm sorry Joanne, it's just that Roy here…" He waved his arm at Roy. "…has it in his head that I can't write another novel and keep working as a paramedic."
"I never said that!" Now Roy was getting aggravated. "I simply said if you wrote another book you might have enough money to retire before you're thirty."
"Is that what you meant?" Johnny asked more calmly. "I thought…"
Roy held up his hand. "Johnny, I don't want you to leave the department. I want you better, so you can come back to your spot in the squad more than anything right now. If you want to write another book, I think you should."
"Okay." Johnny leaned back in his seat and took a deep breath.
"Okay?" Roy asked for confirmation. Johnny simply looked at him and grinned.
"Now that's settled, can I get either of you another cup of coffee?" Joanne smiled at her two favorite men who both held their cups out to her. "Oh, I came out to let you know Dr. Early called and said he was almost ready to head this way. I invited Dixie and Dr. Brackett to join us. You two better finish up your coffee and freshen up." Both men looked at themselves and wondered what was wrong with what they had on. Roy was wearing Jeans and an undershirt. Johnny had on a pair of sweatpants and a button up shirt that was unbuttoned revealing his chest. "They said to expect them in about an hour, so you have time for one more cup." She disappeared through the door.
"The whole gang is coming. Are you going to tell them about the donation?"
"I don't know. Maybe."
Joanne returned with two steaming cups of coffee and two children following behind dressed and ready for school.
"Bye Dad." Chris walked over and quickly hugged his dad.
"Uncle Johnny, don't forget about our date this afternoon. I have the book all ready. I put it in your room." Jenny stood on her tiptoes and panted another wet sloppy kiss on his cheek. It took all of his will power not to wipe off the wetness.
"Okay princess. Have a good day at school."
Chris moved over to Johnny and Jenny went to kiss her dad. "I hope you feel better today Uncle Johnny." He leaned over and gave him a hug.
When Chris stood up Johnny ruffled his hair. "I will."
"Johnny, I just combed his hair. Chris come here and let me smooth that back down. The bus will be here in a minute." Joanne was reaching for Chris before he got close to her. Jennifer followed them inside.
"You are one very lucky man, Roy."
"Yes, I am." They both raised their cups and drank. "I guess we had better go freshen up." He chuckled as he slid his chair back and got up.
"I guess so." Johnny stood more slowly, hoping he wouldn't be dizzy when he got up. Roy noticed he was still moving cautiously.
The doorbell rang and a light knock followed it, then the door opened and Dixie called out hello as the three medical professionals arrived at the Desoto home. Joanne stepped out of the kitchen wiping her hands on a dishtowel. "Come on in."
Roy was just coming down the stairs in his jeans and a pale blue short sleeve button down shirt. Joanne smiled. She approved of his "freshening up". "Good morning." He smiled broadly. He had hoped Dr. Early would check on Johnny and by the looks of the medical bag he carried in his hand that is exactly what he planned to do.
"Make yourselves at home. Can I get coffee for anyone?" Joanne was the perfect hostess.
"I'll help." Dixie followed her into the kitchen. The men settled around the living room.
"How's our boy this morning?" Joe asked.
"He seems better. He was up and had coffee made when Joanne and I got up this morning." Roy looked down the hallway. "He went to get dressed a little while ago. I guess I need to let him know you're here." He rose from his seat. "I'll be right back."
As Roy left the room the women came in with a tray of hot coffee and passed steaming cups around. Roy tapped lightly on the door and pushed it open to find Johnny stretched out across the bed, one foot on the floor, his arm over his eyes and his other laying across his notepad and his green pen in his hand. Roy walked softly over beside his sleeping friend. "Hey Junior, you awake?" He nudged Johnny's knee causing him to stir.
"Huh?" Johnny raised his arm up and squinted at Roy. He slowly sat up. "Guess I fell asleep." He yawned. "I don't know why I seem to be so tired all the time."
"A giant beam slamming against the back of your head maybe."
"Ha ha ha" Johnny glared at him.
"Well, I'm just sayin'." Roy shrugged. "Anyway, the docs and Dixie are here. You better hurry up and get dressed."
"Okay, I'll be out in a minute." He turned and picked up the notepad and studied the words he'd written earlier. It was interesting that the stories he had been writing down since finishing "The Fire Talks" were short and seemed to be complete in themselves, kind of like a recounting of several of their runs during one shift. His brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed; a slow grin spread across his face. Johnny had an idea of what to do with all the short rescue scenes.
