The Fire
Talks
Chapter Nineteen
by GCS and Hotshow
Joanne returned home from shopping to find everything quiet. She peeked in on Johnny and found him asleep. Thinking Roy must have taken a nap as well she went upstairs to their room where she found him asleep as well. She slipped off her shoes and crawled up on the bed next to her husband. He woke up and pulled her into a warm hug. "Good morning sweetheart."
"Afternoon Roy," she teased. He kissed the top of her head. "Johnny's asleep. Did you guys have breakfast this morning?"
"Yeah, but he was sick after."
"Oh no, poor Johnny I thought he was past that stage of his concussion. I guess I had better get lunch ready." She moved to get up, but Roy pulled her back into his arms.
"He is past that stage I think, but he remembered something today that upset him. He almost hyperventilated and all of it together made him sick. He'll be okay Jo."
"What could have been so bad that it made him sick? I can't remember anything bad that happened during the time he can't remember." Joanne looked up at her husband.
"It wasn't bad, just surprised him. I think he just couldn't believe it." Roy chuckled, "I can't believe it myself."
"What are you talking about Roy?"
"I'll tell you later if he doesn't talk about it when he wakes up. It's really his story to tell. Okay?"
"Oh Roy, you know not knowing will drive me crazy!" She untangled herself from his arms and sat up on the side of the bed. "I'll get lunch." She knew Roy wouldn't talk. He could keep his mouth shut about anything for any length of time. He had more patience than anyone she knew. Asking him would only get her more frustrated. She would work on Johnny. Eventually he always gave in and talked to her.
"I'll be down in a minute and help you wake Johnny." Roy moved to get up.
Johnny woke up and squinted at the light streaming in from the window. His headache still lingered. Knowing he had a lot of explaining to do, but dreading it he closed his eyes and remained in the bed. He turned over on his back and laid his arm over his eyes to block the light.
"Light bothering your eyes?" Roy asked from the doorway where he stood leaning against the door frame.
"Yeah, a little." Johnny raised his arm enough to peek out at Roy.
"You want to talk about it?" Roy hoped Johnny was ready to talk.
"I..I don't know what to say." He rose up and turned his long legs to the side of the bed and reached for his slippers, the movement made his head spin, and he slowly sat back up pinching his fingers on the bridge of his nose. Roy walked over and helped him put them on.
"Joanne has lunch ready. Do you feel like trying to eat again?"
"Okay, I'll be there in a few minutes. I need to freshen up." Johnny stood up and walked slowly down the hall to the bathroom.
In the kitchen Joanne had soup and sandwiches and iced tea for the three of them. She already sat at the table waiting for the men.
Soon Roy and then Johnny joined her. "How are you feeling Johnny?"
"I'm fine Jo." Both Roy and Joanne knew that meant he didn't want to talk about the earlier episode. "This looks really good." He picked up his sandwich and paused before taking a bite. Looking up at his friends he realized they were staring at him. "What?" He put the sandwich back down.
"Johnny if you want to talk about whatever upset you so much earlier we're here for you." Joanne said softly.
"You told her?" Johnny shot a glare at Roy who simply shrugged his shoulders. "There's nothing to talk about. He pushed his chair back to leave.
"Johnny you need to eat. We won't question you about it. I just wanted to let you know we are here when you're ready." She reached across the table and laid her hand on his.
He lowered himself back to his chair and scooted back up to the table. "Okay, I'm sorry." He again picked up the sandwich and held it, placed it back on the plate and stared at the food. "It's just that I can't believe it."
Neither Joanne nor Roy said a word. In fact they held their breath in anticipation.
Johnny picked up his sandwich and took a big bite. While chewing as he usually did he started talking to his friends. "I guess it started about six months ago. Well anyway that's what I remember." He swallowed the mouth full of sandwich and smiled up at his friends.
"Oh Johnny you remember. That's wonderful!" Joanne got up and rushed over to give him a hug. Roy leaned back in his chair and chuckled. He knew Johnny had remembered and now his beautiful wife had gotten him to start talking about it. Joanne returned to her chair. "Now you just tell us everything."
Johnny leaned back in his chair and laughed for the first time in days. "Okay Joanne, I'll tell you….everything!" He looked over at his partner and best friend. "This you are not going to believe."
He picked up his spoon and started on his soup.
"Well Johnny don't make us wait. What is it that we're not going to believe?" Joanne was getting impatient.
"Oh sorry. Well like I said it started about six months ago. I kept getting these ideas. I started writing stuff down. You know Roy I had to write it in Lakota to keep Chester B. from reading it, but anyway I started writing the ideas down on a notepad. After a while I realized it was pretty good stuff. You know?" He picked up the sandwich again taking a big bite.
Roy was used to listening to Johnny when he tried to express his thoughts out loud. Joanne was not accustomed to the time it would take for him to get to the point. She looked over at Roy and rolled her eyes in aggravation. "Johnny?"
"Huh?" He stopped in mid chew. "Oh yeah, the notes…they really started to come together in a really good idea, and well I thought maybe I could do something with them."
"What Johnny? What could you do?" Joanne had no idea what he was talking about. Roy of course already knew. This little exercise had been to help Johnny remember for himself.
"I'm getting to it Jo." He reached for the iced tea taking a very long drink.
"Humph," Joanne crossed her arms and held them against her chest. "Honestly, Roy how does he not drive you crazy?"
"What'd I do?" Johnny looked questioningly to Roy, his mouth open and his hands held out.
"Nothing Junior, just finish your story." He shot a 'be patient' look to his wife. She understood and relaxed her arms on the table again and nodded her understanding.
Johnny relaxed a bit himself and hesitantly started his story again. "I….um…put the notes in order like I did when I was editor of the newspaper in high school. Did I ever tell you I was editor of the high school newspaper?" He looked up at his friends. Roy laughed, and Joanne smiled and nodded. "Oh okay, anyway I got my notes organized, wrote out an outline, and then well, then before I knew it I had it all."
"Had all of what sweet heart?" Joanne was still confused.
"The book."
"What book Johnny?" She still did not know what he was talking about. She didn't know of any book Johnny had written.
"The Fire Talks." He smiled at her. "I wrote 'The Fire Talks'."
"Afternoon Roy," she teased. He kissed the top of her head. "Johnny's asleep. Did you guys have breakfast this morning?"
"Yeah, but he was sick after."
"Oh no, poor Johnny I thought he was past that stage of his concussion. I guess I had better get lunch ready." She moved to get up, but Roy pulled her back into his arms.
"He is past that stage I think, but he remembered something today that upset him. He almost hyperventilated and all of it together made him sick. He'll be okay Jo."
"What could have been so bad that it made him sick? I can't remember anything bad that happened during the time he can't remember." Joanne looked up at her husband.
"It wasn't bad, just surprised him. I think he just couldn't believe it." Roy chuckled, "I can't believe it myself."
"What are you talking about Roy?"
"I'll tell you later if he doesn't talk about it when he wakes up. It's really his story to tell. Okay?"
"Oh Roy, you know not knowing will drive me crazy!" She untangled herself from his arms and sat up on the side of the bed. "I'll get lunch." She knew Roy wouldn't talk. He could keep his mouth shut about anything for any length of time. He had more patience than anyone she knew. Asking him would only get her more frustrated. She would work on Johnny. Eventually he always gave in and talked to her.
"I'll be down in a minute and help you wake Johnny." Roy moved to get up.
Johnny woke up and squinted at the light streaming in from the window. His headache still lingered. Knowing he had a lot of explaining to do, but dreading it he closed his eyes and remained in the bed. He turned over on his back and laid his arm over his eyes to block the light.
"Light bothering your eyes?" Roy asked from the doorway where he stood leaning against the door frame.
"Yeah, a little." Johnny raised his arm enough to peek out at Roy.
"You want to talk about it?" Roy hoped Johnny was ready to talk.
"I..I don't know what to say." He rose up and turned his long legs to the side of the bed and reached for his slippers, the movement made his head spin, and he slowly sat back up pinching his fingers on the bridge of his nose. Roy walked over and helped him put them on.
"Joanne has lunch ready. Do you feel like trying to eat again?"
"Okay, I'll be there in a few minutes. I need to freshen up." Johnny stood up and walked slowly down the hall to the bathroom.
In the kitchen Joanne had soup and sandwiches and iced tea for the three of them. She already sat at the table waiting for the men.
Soon Roy and then Johnny joined her. "How are you feeling Johnny?"
"I'm fine Jo." Both Roy and Joanne knew that meant he didn't want to talk about the earlier episode. "This looks really good." He picked up his sandwich and paused before taking a bite. Looking up at his friends he realized they were staring at him. "What?" He put the sandwich back down.
"Johnny if you want to talk about whatever upset you so much earlier we're here for you." Joanne said softly.
"You told her?" Johnny shot a glare at Roy who simply shrugged his shoulders. "There's nothing to talk about. He pushed his chair back to leave.
"Johnny you need to eat. We won't question you about it. I just wanted to let you know we are here when you're ready." She reached across the table and laid her hand on his.
He lowered himself back to his chair and scooted back up to the table. "Okay, I'm sorry." He again picked up the sandwich and held it, placed it back on the plate and stared at the food. "It's just that I can't believe it."
Neither Joanne nor Roy said a word. In fact they held their breath in anticipation.
Johnny picked up his sandwich and took a big bite. While chewing as he usually did he started talking to his friends. "I guess it started about six months ago. Well anyway that's what I remember." He swallowed the mouth full of sandwich and smiled up at his friends.
"Oh Johnny you remember. That's wonderful!" Joanne got up and rushed over to give him a hug. Roy leaned back in his chair and chuckled. He knew Johnny had remembered and now his beautiful wife had gotten him to start talking about it. Joanne returned to her chair. "Now you just tell us everything."
Johnny leaned back in his chair and laughed for the first time in days. "Okay Joanne, I'll tell you….everything!" He looked over at his partner and best friend. "This you are not going to believe."
He picked up his spoon and started on his soup.
"Well Johnny don't make us wait. What is it that we're not going to believe?" Joanne was getting impatient.
"Oh sorry. Well like I said it started about six months ago. I kept getting these ideas. I started writing stuff down. You know Roy I had to write it in Lakota to keep Chester B. from reading it, but anyway I started writing the ideas down on a notepad. After a while I realized it was pretty good stuff. You know?" He picked up the sandwich again taking a big bite.
Roy was used to listening to Johnny when he tried to express his thoughts out loud. Joanne was not accustomed to the time it would take for him to get to the point. She looked over at Roy and rolled her eyes in aggravation. "Johnny?"
"Huh?" He stopped in mid chew. "Oh yeah, the notes…they really started to come together in a really good idea, and well I thought maybe I could do something with them."
"What Johnny? What could you do?" Joanne had no idea what he was talking about. Roy of course already knew. This little exercise had been to help Johnny remember for himself.
"I'm getting to it Jo." He reached for the iced tea taking a very long drink.
"Humph," Joanne crossed her arms and held them against her chest. "Honestly, Roy how does he not drive you crazy?"
"What'd I do?" Johnny looked questioningly to Roy, his mouth open and his hands held out.
"Nothing Junior, just finish your story." He shot a 'be patient' look to his wife. She understood and relaxed her arms on the table again and nodded her understanding.
Johnny relaxed a bit himself and hesitantly started his story again. "I….um…put the notes in order like I did when I was editor of the newspaper in high school. Did I ever tell you I was editor of the high school newspaper?" He looked up at his friends. Roy laughed, and Joanne smiled and nodded. "Oh okay, anyway I got my notes organized, wrote out an outline, and then well, then before I knew it I had it all."
"Had all of what sweet heart?" Joanne was still confused.
"The book."
"What book Johnny?" She still did not know what he was talking about. She didn't know of any book Johnny had written.
"The Fire Talks." He smiled at her. "I wrote 'The Fire Talks'."
Chapter Twenty
Joanne looked at Roy and back at Johnny. "What did you say?"
"I wrote the book." Johnny kept his head down and looked at his hands as though he couldn't believe it himself.
"Oh sweetheart, the author couldn't be you. His name is Chris J. Bean. I know you're trying to remember. I know it's still so confusing." She shot a glance at Roy who had not offered a word of clarity for his confused friend. Roy had a huge grin on his face and nodded to his wife. "Roy?"
Johnny looked up at Roy and together they burst out laughing. "It's true Jo," Roy managed to get out between laughs. "He really did."
Joanne's mouth dropped open; her eyes darted back and forth between the men. "He…he did?"
"I did." Johnny leaned back in the chair. "I really did."
Finally Joanne began to believe them, "But the author's name?"
Roy had already figured out how Johnny had come up with the name. He was sure that if Joanne thought about it for a while she too would realize where it had come from, but she wouldn't have to wait. Johnny spoke up, "Chris for your son and J. Bean for Jenny Bean."
"Oh Johnny," Joanne paused tears welled in her eyes, "that is so sweet. The kids will be so honored."
"Well Pally, if you think it would be alright I would like to share this news with Cap and the others. I was going to anyway before…" He pointed to his head. Roy nodded his understanding. "Do you think we could give Cap a call and see if everyone could meet this afternoon?"
"I'll call him. See what he says. I can tell you though Cap already knows and so does the Chief." Roy had leaned forward resting his folded arms on the table. "Johnny, the publishers want to make a presentation of the royalty check. They want to have a news conference at the station. The Chief thinks it will be good PR for the department. Cap is supposed to make sure your there on Saturday."
"Saturday? That's only a few days away. I…I don't want to make such a big deal of this. I never wanted to. I don't know Roy. I'd rather not." Johnny's words poured from his mouth without time for a breath. He suddenly felt overwhelmed and a little dizzy.
Joanne noticed the look in his eyes. They had become a little unfocused and glassy. His face paled. She rose from her chair and moved beside him rubbing small circles on his back. "Take it easy Johnny. No one can make you do anything you don't want to do. Can they Roy?"
"Ah, no," Roy said hesitantly. "No they can't, but they are sure going to try." Johnny's breathing became faster. Roy realized he was hyperventilating again. He rose from his chair and moved to Johnny's other side. "Okay Junior, you need to slow down." Johnny didn't seem to hear him. "Johnny, look at me." He squatted down beside Johnny and turned him where they faced each other. Taking Johnny's face in his hands he lifted his chin until their eyes met. "Slow down…in through the nose…out through the mouth. Come on now…again…through the nose." Johnny started to slow his breathing. "We'll figure this out. First I'll call Cap and set up the meeting with the guys, and we'll go from there."
"O….okay." Johnny whispered.
Roy went to the telephone on the wall and dialed Cap's number.
After they made all of the arrangements Johnny asked to swing by his apartment to pick up some things on the way to Cap's house to face his friends. Walking into his tiny apartment, he first walked around looking at his things. He ran his fingers over the picture of his parents, "I think they would have been proud of me."
"They would have," Roy agreed.
Johnny walked over to the large box and pulled out several copies of the novel. "You know Roy I still can't believe I actually have a published novel." He ran his hands over the spines and lifted the books to his nose so he could smell the pages.
"Well Johnny don't think you're alone in that. I'm sure Chester B will want to see proof."
"Yeah, I know. That's why I'm taking this contract. I think that will make him believe. Don't you?" Johnny smiled toward Roy. "Chester B will have to believe once he sees this."
"Are you about ready?" Roy wanted to get Johnny over to Cap's house. This was his first outing since the accident. He was still recovering, and didn't need to over do it.
"I just need to get something from the other room. I'll be right back." Johnny disappeared down the hall.
Once in his bedroom Johnny once again looked around his room. Memories flooded his mind. Things he had forgotten and now remembered. He walked over to the closet, opened the door and reached high up on the shelf in the back corner under the blankets he had some important papers hidden. He pulled them down and opened the envelope.
Inside he found the things he was looking for. He smiled to himself. He looked through them to be sure everything he needed remained in the envelope. He slid the documents back in and closed the closet.
Then he moved to the dresser. Opening the third drawer on the right he took out all of the clothes and laid them on the bed. He pulled the drawer from the dresser and flipped it over. On the bottom side, taped to the wood he pulled another thick envelope off. He returned the drawer and replaced the clothes. Turning the envelope over he opened the gold metal clasp and looked inside. 'This should help prove to Chet. He'll recognize my handwriting. He'll know this is real.'
Tucking the two envelopes under his arm he left his bedroom. "Okay Roy, I'm ready if you are."
"I wrote the book." Johnny kept his head down and looked at his hands as though he couldn't believe it himself.
"Oh sweetheart, the author couldn't be you. His name is Chris J. Bean. I know you're trying to remember. I know it's still so confusing." She shot a glance at Roy who had not offered a word of clarity for his confused friend. Roy had a huge grin on his face and nodded to his wife. "Roy?"
Johnny looked up at Roy and together they burst out laughing. "It's true Jo," Roy managed to get out between laughs. "He really did."
Joanne's mouth dropped open; her eyes darted back and forth between the men. "He…he did?"
"I did." Johnny leaned back in the chair. "I really did."
Finally Joanne began to believe them, "But the author's name?"
Roy had already figured out how Johnny had come up with the name. He was sure that if Joanne thought about it for a while she too would realize where it had come from, but she wouldn't have to wait. Johnny spoke up, "Chris for your son and J. Bean for Jenny Bean."
"Oh Johnny," Joanne paused tears welled in her eyes, "that is so sweet. The kids will be so honored."
"Well Pally, if you think it would be alright I would like to share this news with Cap and the others. I was going to anyway before…" He pointed to his head. Roy nodded his understanding. "Do you think we could give Cap a call and see if everyone could meet this afternoon?"
"I'll call him. See what he says. I can tell you though Cap already knows and so does the Chief." Roy had leaned forward resting his folded arms on the table. "Johnny, the publishers want to make a presentation of the royalty check. They want to have a news conference at the station. The Chief thinks it will be good PR for the department. Cap is supposed to make sure your there on Saturday."
"Saturday? That's only a few days away. I…I don't want to make such a big deal of this. I never wanted to. I don't know Roy. I'd rather not." Johnny's words poured from his mouth without time for a breath. He suddenly felt overwhelmed and a little dizzy.
Joanne noticed the look in his eyes. They had become a little unfocused and glassy. His face paled. She rose from her chair and moved beside him rubbing small circles on his back. "Take it easy Johnny. No one can make you do anything you don't want to do. Can they Roy?"
"Ah, no," Roy said hesitantly. "No they can't, but they are sure going to try." Johnny's breathing became faster. Roy realized he was hyperventilating again. He rose from his chair and moved to Johnny's other side. "Okay Junior, you need to slow down." Johnny didn't seem to hear him. "Johnny, look at me." He squatted down beside Johnny and turned him where they faced each other. Taking Johnny's face in his hands he lifted his chin until their eyes met. "Slow down…in through the nose…out through the mouth. Come on now…again…through the nose." Johnny started to slow his breathing. "We'll figure this out. First I'll call Cap and set up the meeting with the guys, and we'll go from there."
"O….okay." Johnny whispered.
Roy went to the telephone on the wall and dialed Cap's number.
After they made all of the arrangements Johnny asked to swing by his apartment to pick up some things on the way to Cap's house to face his friends. Walking into his tiny apartment, he first walked around looking at his things. He ran his fingers over the picture of his parents, "I think they would have been proud of me."
"They would have," Roy agreed.
Johnny walked over to the large box and pulled out several copies of the novel. "You know Roy I still can't believe I actually have a published novel." He ran his hands over the spines and lifted the books to his nose so he could smell the pages.
"Well Johnny don't think you're alone in that. I'm sure Chester B will want to see proof."
"Yeah, I know. That's why I'm taking this contract. I think that will make him believe. Don't you?" Johnny smiled toward Roy. "Chester B will have to believe once he sees this."
"Are you about ready?" Roy wanted to get Johnny over to Cap's house. This was his first outing since the accident. He was still recovering, and didn't need to over do it.
"I just need to get something from the other room. I'll be right back." Johnny disappeared down the hall.
Once in his bedroom Johnny once again looked around his room. Memories flooded his mind. Things he had forgotten and now remembered. He walked over to the closet, opened the door and reached high up on the shelf in the back corner under the blankets he had some important papers hidden. He pulled them down and opened the envelope.
Inside he found the things he was looking for. He smiled to himself. He looked through them to be sure everything he needed remained in the envelope. He slid the documents back in and closed the closet.
Then he moved to the dresser. Opening the third drawer on the right he took out all of the clothes and laid them on the bed. He pulled the drawer from the dresser and flipped it over. On the bottom side, taped to the wood he pulled another thick envelope off. He returned the drawer and replaced the clothes. Turning the envelope over he opened the gold metal clasp and looked inside. 'This should help prove to Chet. He'll recognize my handwriting. He'll know this is real.'
Tucking the two envelopes under his arm he left his bedroom. "Okay Roy, I'm ready if you are."
Chapter Twenty One
At Captain Stanley's house the rest of 51's A-shift had gathered and were waiting on Johnny and Roy to arrive.
"So Cap do you know what's going on?" Chet couldn't stand not knowing why Johnny had asked them all to meet. He fidgeted in his seat on the sofa.
"Yes Chet I do, but it's not my place to tell you." Hank sat back, raised the foot rest on his recliner and grinned knowing his answer would serve to drive Chet crazy.
"Aw come on Cap. We won't tell him you told." Chet begged moving to sit on the edge of the cushion.
"Don't whine Chet." Mike handed Chet a beer and moved to sit on the sofa next to Marco handing him a beer as well.
"Shut up Stoker." Chet slunk lower in his seat and leaned back again.
"Original Chet." Mike smiled and sipped his beer casually crossing his leg over his knee and resting his ankle there.
Before Chet could give a retort to Mike the front door opened and a tired Johnny Gage followed by Roy entered the house. "Hey guys thanks for comin'."
"John, have a seat pal." Hank stood up to let Johnny have his chair. Johnny looked pale and shaky. He looked like he needed to sit down.
"I'm okay Cap." Johnny wavered slightly, and Roy took him by the elbow and led him to the chair.
"Sit Junior before you fall." Roy turned to the others and saw their beers. "Got any juice or milk Cap?"
"I'll get it. What about you Roy?"
"I'll take a beer." Roy reached for Johnny's wrist to take his pulse. It had been a busy day for his recuperating friend.
Johnny jerked his arm away from Roy. "Stop that."
Roy rolled his eyes at his friend and took a seat in the other recliner.
"What's this all about Gage?" Chet asked. Again sitting up and leaning forward eyebrows raised.
"Just hold your horses Chester B. I'll get around to it as soon as Cap's back." Johnny leaned back and tiredly closed his eyes. His head hurt, but he'd never admit it to anyone. He was nervous and excited all at once.
"Here Pal." Hank handed Johnny a glass of pulp free orange juice and two Tylenol.
Johnny took the two tablets and swallowed them down with the juice. "Thanks Cap."
"Why don't we move to the dining room table?" Captain Stanley clapped his hands together taking charge of his men in his usual fashion. Once they were all seated around the table he looked to Johnny and raised his eyebrows.
Johnny smiled at his Captain and laid the two envelopes from his apartment on the table. Slowly he opened the first one and took out the contract with the publishing company spreading it out on the table before him. "I uh…I need to share something with you guys. I should have told you a while back, but I…I didn't…"
"Just show them Junior." Roy put his fingers on the corner of the paper Johnny had his hand on. "They'll understand." He slid the paper from beneath Johnny's hand and to the center of the table.
Chet and Marco craned their necks to see the paper. Mike seemed to already have an idea of what it was. "So Johnny you get a good deal?"
"Huh?" Johnny looked up at Mike. "Yeah, I guess. How…?"
Mike shrugged. "I remembered that incident where you described the crew in the novel responding to a bombed building. You got your leg hurt in that one. Roy got you out just in time."
Chet and Marco looked at each other with open mouths. "What are you talking about Mike? Is this some kind of joke? Come on Gage. I know you've wanted to get back at the Phantom for a long time. This is just a fake contract right?"
"No." Johnny looked over at his friend. "No joke. It's real."
"No way man." Chet leaned back and took a long drink of his beer. "I mean I thought some of the stories sounded familiar. Like the one where the guy slipped on that tower and nearly fell off. His crewmate had to help him down only to find out there was a dummy on top of the tower, but that could have happened to anyone; besides everybody in the department heard about that one."
"Johnny, how did you get the idea to write a novel?" Marco asked.
"Well, I 've been keeping notes on things for a while. On my legal pad. I thought you guys would think it was stupid so I wrote it in my native language. That way you couldn't read it." Johnny ran his hands through his hair.
"So that's what you had on the notepad. You said it was about Jennifer's birthday." Chet couldn't believe Johnny had told him that if it wasn't true.
"I did have that too. I…" He stopped and opened the other larger envelope and pulled out a thick bundle of papers, handwritten papers. "Here." He slid the papers to the center of the table. "Here's the novel."
Chet grabbed the papers before anyone could look at them. "Well so you say. We can't read this." He flashed the papers above the table. "This chicken scratch is in your language. How do we know what it says?"
"Keep looking Chet. The back pages are in English." Johnny sighed.
Chet flipped to the back of the stack and leaned back in his chair again, mouth and eyes open wide. "No way."
Johnny chuckled as did Roy and Hank. "Yes way."
"So you're some kind of millionaire now?" Chet wondered aloud.
"No Chet."
This statement caused the others to look back at Johnny.
"But why not? That book has sold millions of copies Gage. Didn't you get a good deal?" Chet spoke what the others were thinking. Only Cap knew the truth.
"I did get a good deal Chet. I'm not stupid ya know."
"Humph." Chet guffawed.
Johnny's face reddened and he shot a glare at Chet. "Well I'm not!"
"Ahem." Hank cleared his throat loudly. "John, why don't you explain? I think the guys would like to know what happened to the proceeds of your contract."
Johnny slipped additional legal documents from the envelope that had held the contract along with seven small white envelopes. He handed each of his crewmates an envelope with their name on them. He handed Roy two. "Before you open those I want to tell you what is inside."
"So Cap do you know what's going on?" Chet couldn't stand not knowing why Johnny had asked them all to meet. He fidgeted in his seat on the sofa.
"Yes Chet I do, but it's not my place to tell you." Hank sat back, raised the foot rest on his recliner and grinned knowing his answer would serve to drive Chet crazy.
"Aw come on Cap. We won't tell him you told." Chet begged moving to sit on the edge of the cushion.
"Don't whine Chet." Mike handed Chet a beer and moved to sit on the sofa next to Marco handing him a beer as well.
"Shut up Stoker." Chet slunk lower in his seat and leaned back again.
"Original Chet." Mike smiled and sipped his beer casually crossing his leg over his knee and resting his ankle there.
Before Chet could give a retort to Mike the front door opened and a tired Johnny Gage followed by Roy entered the house. "Hey guys thanks for comin'."
"John, have a seat pal." Hank stood up to let Johnny have his chair. Johnny looked pale and shaky. He looked like he needed to sit down.
"I'm okay Cap." Johnny wavered slightly, and Roy took him by the elbow and led him to the chair.
"Sit Junior before you fall." Roy turned to the others and saw their beers. "Got any juice or milk Cap?"
"I'll get it. What about you Roy?"
"I'll take a beer." Roy reached for Johnny's wrist to take his pulse. It had been a busy day for his recuperating friend.
Johnny jerked his arm away from Roy. "Stop that."
Roy rolled his eyes at his friend and took a seat in the other recliner.
"What's this all about Gage?" Chet asked. Again sitting up and leaning forward eyebrows raised.
"Just hold your horses Chester B. I'll get around to it as soon as Cap's back." Johnny leaned back and tiredly closed his eyes. His head hurt, but he'd never admit it to anyone. He was nervous and excited all at once.
"Here Pal." Hank handed Johnny a glass of pulp free orange juice and two Tylenol.
Johnny took the two tablets and swallowed them down with the juice. "Thanks Cap."
"Why don't we move to the dining room table?" Captain Stanley clapped his hands together taking charge of his men in his usual fashion. Once they were all seated around the table he looked to Johnny and raised his eyebrows.
Johnny smiled at his Captain and laid the two envelopes from his apartment on the table. Slowly he opened the first one and took out the contract with the publishing company spreading it out on the table before him. "I uh…I need to share something with you guys. I should have told you a while back, but I…I didn't…"
"Just show them Junior." Roy put his fingers on the corner of the paper Johnny had his hand on. "They'll understand." He slid the paper from beneath Johnny's hand and to the center of the table.
Chet and Marco craned their necks to see the paper. Mike seemed to already have an idea of what it was. "So Johnny you get a good deal?"
"Huh?" Johnny looked up at Mike. "Yeah, I guess. How…?"
Mike shrugged. "I remembered that incident where you described the crew in the novel responding to a bombed building. You got your leg hurt in that one. Roy got you out just in time."
Chet and Marco looked at each other with open mouths. "What are you talking about Mike? Is this some kind of joke? Come on Gage. I know you've wanted to get back at the Phantom for a long time. This is just a fake contract right?"
"No." Johnny looked over at his friend. "No joke. It's real."
"No way man." Chet leaned back and took a long drink of his beer. "I mean I thought some of the stories sounded familiar. Like the one where the guy slipped on that tower and nearly fell off. His crewmate had to help him down only to find out there was a dummy on top of the tower, but that could have happened to anyone; besides everybody in the department heard about that one."
"Johnny, how did you get the idea to write a novel?" Marco asked.
"Well, I 've been keeping notes on things for a while. On my legal pad. I thought you guys would think it was stupid so I wrote it in my native language. That way you couldn't read it." Johnny ran his hands through his hair.
"So that's what you had on the notepad. You said it was about Jennifer's birthday." Chet couldn't believe Johnny had told him that if it wasn't true.
"I did have that too. I…" He stopped and opened the other larger envelope and pulled out a thick bundle of papers, handwritten papers. "Here." He slid the papers to the center of the table. "Here's the novel."
Chet grabbed the papers before anyone could look at them. "Well so you say. We can't read this." He flashed the papers above the table. "This chicken scratch is in your language. How do we know what it says?"
"Keep looking Chet. The back pages are in English." Johnny sighed.
Chet flipped to the back of the stack and leaned back in his chair again, mouth and eyes open wide. "No way."
Johnny chuckled as did Roy and Hank. "Yes way."
"So you're some kind of millionaire now?" Chet wondered aloud.
"No Chet."
This statement caused the others to look back at Johnny.
"But why not? That book has sold millions of copies Gage. Didn't you get a good deal?" Chet spoke what the others were thinking. Only Cap knew the truth.
"I did get a good deal Chet. I'm not stupid ya know."
"Humph." Chet guffawed.
Johnny's face reddened and he shot a glare at Chet. "Well I'm not!"
"Ahem." Hank cleared his throat loudly. "John, why don't you explain? I think the guys would like to know what happened to the proceeds of your contract."
Johnny slipped additional legal documents from the envelope that had held the contract along with seven small white envelopes. He handed each of his crewmates an envelope with their name on them. He handed Roy two. "Before you open those I want to tell you what is inside."
