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Choices and Challenges

Part 2

An Emergency Story by

Alana
 

Links to Parts 1. 2. 3.

 

Lee smiled at the basket of flowers setting her on her desk.  She had found them there when she came into work. She had read the card so many times she knew it by heart.

 

 Baby Girl…never knew this tradition existed until I watched you with the princesses.  Love you for so very  many reasons!
                              Johnny

 

The basket was a colorful mix of tulips and faerie roses, both flowers that were special to them.  The last few months had been stressful for a variety of reason.  This was Johnny’s way of telling her they had survived some rough times and now it was time to concentrate on the good things to come.   He had finally agreed to start seriously looking at plans for a house.  She giggled knowing she had totally over whelmed him with her dream house.

 

“That is not a house, that is a village,’’ he said shaking his head in disbelief. “What about you not wanting to show off your money”

 

“I was ashamed of it…because of why I had it. Now, it doesn’t matter, because you love me.”

 

She was jolted back to the present by the phone ringing. 

 

“Data and Statistical Analysis, this is Lee.”

 

“Yes, this is Chief McConnikee’s office.  The Chief was wondering if he could see you sometime before the meeting today.   He was thinking around 10:30 if that works for you.”

 

“That would be fine.  Or any time that is good for him.  I’ll be here all morning.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Johnny walked into the locker room, cheerfully whistling.  He was feeling really proud of himself.   He had managed to keep a surprise from Lee.  Telling her he needed to leave a little early to go to the gas station,   he had managed to leave flowers on her desk.    Mike and Marco were in the locker room.

 

“Good morning, good morning…How are you this bright and beautiful May Day?”  He asked as he opened his locker, a poster of Smokey the Bear and a copy of his favorite picture from their wedding decorating the inside of the door.    It was a relief never to worry about water bombs any more.   While he still got pranked in other ways,that was one thing he never had to worry about.     

 

“You look pleased with yourself. “  Mike observed.

 

“Just enjoying this beautiful May day…Did you know that white tulips mean forever love in the language of flowers?”   He said turning to Roy who was finishing dressing.

 

“Aah geez, Gage, didn’t know you cared…When did you get all soft and mushy?”

 

“I’d say about 2 years ago, wouldn’t you, Roy?”  Mike teased their friend.

 

“Yeah that sounds about right.”  Roy answered smiling.  “Think I learned about the tulips one day a few months ago.”   Johnny gave him an “I don’t believe you said that” look.  

 

“Roll call in 5 minutes.”   Cap called.   They went on out to the bay.   Chores we assigned, announcements read.   “Concerning the Skill challenge, all registration forms are due in next Monday, including any possible substitutions.  Any questions or concerns should be sent to Chief Houser or McConnikee.  The squad  will be  stood  down  at  10:45  to  go to a  meeting at  Rampart  …If  anyone has anything  they  want the  guys  to ask  at the meeting let them  know.”

 

“Are you bringing back the leftovers for dinner?”  Chet asked.  “Did she order some of that good roast beef this time?”

 

“Kelly, I have no idea what she has ordered.  Or if there will be any leftovers.”   Cap rolled his eyes at the two and muttered 'twits' as he went to the office.   Before  he  reached the  office  SCU the  tones   and the  phone in the  day  room  sounded at the  same  time.  Everyone stopped and listened to the dispatcher.   “Engine  51,  trash  fire at  ….As the others headed for the  engine  Johnny  answered  the  ringing  phone.   “Station 51. Fireman/paramedic Gage.”

 

“Fireman/paramedic Gage you are a wonderful husband.   Thank you so much for the flowers…I love them almost as much as I love you.  Can’t wait to show them off when you come in for the meeting.  You have a good day and a safe one.”

 

“Love you too.  Glad you liked them.”    After he hung up, he went back out to the bay.   “That was Lee…She liked the flowers.”  

 

“That flower basket Jen gave Jo this morning really brightened her day.    Jenny was telling her what all the different flowers meant.   I can’t believe Jenny managed to keep it a secret all week.” 

 

“I was with her and  the girls when they went shopping for the baskets and the flowers.  I had never heard of May Day baskets before. Lee bought each of the girls a book about the flowers and what they mean but she hasn’t given it to them yet.  She got the boys each a book about sport heroes. She doesn’t want them to think she plays favorites.”

 

Roy laughed at that.  “How many sport events have we taken the boys too because she gets tickets for us? Tickets in seats we would never dream of being get able to and the autographed baseball gloves?  Yeah it sure looks like she’s playing favorites.”

 

“Yeah she’s pretty remarkable….she takes doing stuff for others for granted.   We go next week and see the revised plans for the house.   She’s spending money like its water.”  He frowned.  “Once  people  see this  house they’ll know I’m not the one  paying  for it…She  said she doesn’t care if  people  know  we have  money…because she isn’t ashamed of it  any  more.. .Because I love her.”

 

“Does it bother you people are gonna find out about her money?  I  mean  most of the  guys  here  know she has a trust  fund  since that’s  how  you  explained  the  wedding.”

 

“A trust fund is one thing, 2.5 million dollars is something else.”

 

“That  reminds me,  the kids have been told  never to mention  anything to anyone  ever again  about  your  finances  or repeat anything  their  grandmother  says.    If they have questions or want to talk about something they hear its ok to come to us or you…”

 
“Not Lee?”  Johnny said with a raised eyebrow and a slight frown.  “You  know she has  always told them if they had  questions they could ask her.”

 

“Yeah, I need to add her to the list.  Guess I just didn’t want her to get hurt again.”  Roy answered.

 

“Think feeling like there was something the kids couldn’t come to her with would hurt her more.”    Before more could be said, the engine returned to the station.   Mike smiled as her saw the freshly swept and mopped bay. 

 

“Thanks guys.”

 

“Don’t expect you did the latrine while we were gone,” Chet muttered.

 

“No, we didn’t.”   Roy answered.  “Wouldn’t want to deprive you of your solitude and time of meditation.”

 

“Besides, you do it so well, you have it down to an art form,”  Johnny  added with a grin.

 

~~~~~~~~

 

Lee looked over the agenda for today and looked thru the folders she was getting ready to put out.   There were no complaints from Craig Brice this time about “her” committee.   He had been nitpicking for several months.  The complaints did seem to slack off after he had very publicly criticized her for something that Chief Houser had said.   He commented to a reporter that her interoperation of an incident was based on her own inaccurate findings and understanding of the basic underlying fire fighting procedure.

 

The reporter, who liked Brice, had used the tirade in her story without checking the facts.   Bob Houser had been livid, not only at they arrogance of Craig Brice and unprofessionalism of the reporter but at the malice shown  Lee.  Lee had just shrugged it off but it was known that many of the firefighters and paramedics had also been angered by the unfair treatment she received. She looked up when the door opened and Chief McConnikee came in.  Putting the papers for WBSF in her desk, she smiled at the Chief.   “Good morning Chief.”

 

“Lee, thank you for making time for me this morning.   I know you must be terribly busy getting ready to move.”

 

 “We won’t be moving for at least nine months…that is if everything goes well.

 

“I would think that the state would want you up there before that.  I know the Chief at John’s new station said it would be a month or less before…”

 

“Hold on there.  Johnny doesn’t have a new station unless you’re here to tell me you kicked him out of 51...?”  

 

“John has requested all his files be sent to Sacramento and his name be withdrawn from the skill challenge, that his and DeSoto’s registrations were to be removed from the paramedic competition list.   That is why I wanted to come in early to talk with you.  To see if you could postpone your move until after the games.  I was a little surprised and saddened by John’s leaving our department but happy for your promotion.   Although I was a little angry that John hadn’t come in and talked with us or at least with Hank before turning in the paper work.”

 

“Chief, the rumor  mill running wild is one thing but if someone is  requesting Johnny’s files that is a totally different matter.   There is confidential information in those files that need to be protected.   Not  just  Johnny’s,  all  your  people  have the right to know their files are safe.”

 

“I agree completely.   So you aren’t moving to Sacramento to be head of  some new department that is going to put all the files on a computer?”

 

“That is probably going to happen in the future, but by the time it does Capt. Gage will be retired.  And so will I.”

 
“Oh,   Captain Gage it would be?” this idea  made the  Chief  chuckle.

 

“If not Chief…” She giggled.   “After Himself would be retiring with much honor and glory...”   She added something in Gaelic much to McConnikee’s surprise and delight.

 

“Now where would you be learning that and with such fine Connemara   accent?”

 

“My darlin’ Gunny…a fine lad and upstanding Marine…who one of these days I’m going to take the Boyo to meet.  Tis a sadness that fine gentleman went home to his beloved Galway County.  When I was little he was my favorite playmate on our island.”

 

“You have a very interesting circle of friends.”  The Chief smiled at the young woman’s look as she remembered her old ‘play mate’.

 

“Which I am glad to include you in.  But, seriously, can you find out who sent the request?   Let your Sacramento counterpart know it’s just a nasty rumor he is leaving Station 51.  We are in the planning stages of building a house on some land I inherited so we are here to stay.”

 

“There has been several inquires for information on John’s work  history lately.   The  clerk  almost  sent  the information for  this one then  noticed  there wasn’t a release of  information form  attached to the  request.”

 

“We  have  contacted  several  adoption  agencies…they  want to  know  what you eat for  breakfast and what  time you  have it,” she  joked.  He could see the sadness behind the joke.   “People should be starting  in soon,  so if  you’ll  excuse  me,  I’ll  set the meat and salads out.  Mick sent over  roast beef , pulled pork ,  crab and salmon spreads.  There’s   pecan  pie  today and frozen pineapple pie…Both which  just  happen to be the Boyo’s  favorites.  Please  don’t  tell him I called him that to you.  I’m afraid he   gets a little embarrassed with my attitude towards his bosses.”

 

“I think your attitude toward anything to do with John is just what he needs.  I have nothing but admiration for the both of you.”

 

People started coming in and getting their food.  Soon all were there except Dixie, Johnny and Roy.   The unwritten  rule  was the  seat on  Lee’s  left  was  left open  for  Johnny  and  Roy  sat  next to  him.  Stan Winters who was new to the committee  frowned.    

 

“Why can’t those people be on time?   They think their time is more important than ours?”

 

“Since Dixie McCall isn’t here either I would  make an educated  guess there is something  major  happening  right  now and  that the squad is  on a  call.  That has priority over any meeting.”

 

They covered the agenda including updates on the items from the last meeting.  Dixie  had arrived   just  as they  getting started on the serious discussion  part of the luncheon.

 

“Johnny  left  this  in  case they  did  not  get  back  here in  time.  I have not read this.  He and  Roy  and the  guys a the  station  wrote this  and  sealed  it there.  Chief, would you open it and read it.”  Lee said as she handed the envelope over to the Chief.

 

“Gladly.”  He read the page quickly then smiled as he laid it down.  “It  seems  the  paramedics and the  crews  of  all the  shifts  are  worried about a  trend  they see.  The reporters and  by standers are  harassing  the  law  enforcement personnel  at the scenes  of too many  calls.  While  the  officers are  dealing with  the  unruly crowd  other members of the press  are  sneaking over closer to the area  where the  victims  are  being  treated.  This is  not only  an invasion  of the  victims  right  to  privacy  but  also  on  several occasions has  interfered  with moving  the  victim  to the  ambulance  or  gotten  in  the  way of  treatment.   This is  in  no  way  to be  seen as a  criticism of the  officers on the  scene  as they  are tending  to  one  problem  while  another is happening.”

 

“I  have heard  several of the paramedics  who have  been  up  here to  eat  complain  not  just  Station  51.   In  fact,  a  sheriff’s  deputy  was  shoved  hard  enough  yesterday he fell and  hit the back of his  head.  They put in 10 stitches to close the gash.  He hit at an angle so it was a jagged.”  Lee commented but was leaving the discussion to the others.  This  was  Johnny  and  Roy’s  concern  and they  should  have been the ones  leading  the  discussion.  She took down notes and the tape recorder was going as always. 

 

“Unless there is  something  else I  think  we are  done…As always  thank  you  for  your  time.”

 

“Thank you for yours and for the good food as always.  I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to talk with  John or  Roy.    By  the  way  tell  that  young  man of  yours  sent you a very  lovely  May  Day  basket…Very unusual  choice of  flowers.”

 

“A very special choice of flowers.  Chief,  please  don’t  forget  to  check on  who is  trying to get  Johnny’s  records and  who is  spreading the  rumor  we are leaving.” 

 

“I will look into it.”   He left and she finished putting away the food.
 
 The door opened and a very tired and dirty Roy DeSoto came in.  He had a bandage on his   right hand.   Lee had  expected it to  be  Johnny and Roy  coming  in  for a late  lunch and to  catch  up on  the  meeting

 

“What happen?”

 

“There was an explosion.   Part of the building came down  and he was trapped in an old school bus along with a 14 year old.”

 

“I   almost didn’t call…I thought he would be here and I almost didn’t call to tell him I love the flowers…I wanted to tell him when he was here not on the phone.   Tell him I love him…”   She felt a cold shiver go up her spine.   “What if I had waited?”  She took a deep breath

 

“But you didn’t.   Malcolm was  just going in to take X-rays.”

 

*******************
The three boys were skipping school again.  They had come down to the local salvage and storage lot.   This  time  they had  found  a  cabin  cruiser  that  had  not  been  properly  cleaned  before  going into  storage.   They  had came  off  with a  flare  gun  and  several  half  empty  bottles of  rum  and  scotch.   Parked inside of the old warehouse was a beat up school bus.   The  passenger side was  so  dented  the door would  not  open, so  the  only  way in was through the emergency exit  in the rear.  The boys had turned it into their own personal clubhouse.  Since  the  new owner  had  moved his  office from  this  building  into a  new building at the  front of the  yard  it was  rare anyone  ever came back  there.  The only reason it was still standing was it would have cost more than it was worth to have it demolished.  There were a few miscellaneous items stored in the building from the previous owners. 

 

“Bet I can hit that box from here.”  Tyler said giggling, the 14 year old   was drunk and laughing as he waved the flare gun around.

 

“You couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn…Let me try.”  16 year old  Danny  thought since he was the oldest he was the leader.  “My dad ’s  taken me to the shooting range a few times.”

 

“Yeah  so  you  can  drive him  home  when he is  too  drunk  to  find  his  way…”  Matt, also 14 years old laughed as his friends bickered back and forth.  Taking another  long drink from the  rum bottle he had poured a  can of coke into, “I  can hit that sign over there, ”  Tyler bragged.  With  not  a so  careful  aim he looked at the  Do  Not  Enter sign hanging on  the  door.   They had  tried to open  that door once but it had  been locked so  they  had  quickly lost interest in it. 

The flare hit the dried out wooden door.   The  boys stood  there watching  unable to comprehend what was happening at first as the door burst into  flames.   Somehow, in his drunken fog the idea that if they were in the school bus they would be safe formed in Tyler’s head.    He moved to the bus and crawled in, calling for the others to follow him.

 

“Come on,  we’ve got to get out of here…”  Danny said as he watched the flames move closer.   He grabbed Matt and began pulling  him towards the door.  “Tye, come on…”     The smoke was heavy and it was getting harder to breathe.    The metal trash barrel sitting next to the old bus suddenly  burst into flames as a flying ember landed on the  papers that had  soaked  up some of the rum left in a broken  bottle.  Danny  tried  to  pull it  away  from the  bus but   couldn’t  as  his  hands blistered  from the  intense head of the  metal  drum.

 

A  worker  in the  salvage  yard  was  looking  for a  part  for a  really  old  Ford, one from 1949.   He remembered seeing one out by the old warehouse.   He drove out there trying to remember exactly where he saw it.    He smelled the smoke before he spotted it.  Just as he was  about to  call  the  office on  his  walkie  talkie  he  saw the  boys  running  from the building   coughing and stumbling.   He drove the converted  golf cart over to the boys.

 

“Our friend, he’s still in there.  We couldn’t get him to come out.”  Matt said, between coughs, tears running  down his face.  Danny was trying to catch his breath as he dealt with the pain of burned hands.   “You gotta   help us mister…”

 

“Boss, this is Walker…we’ve got a fire out in the old warehouse…there are three kids back here…Two outside one still in the building.”

 

“Stay with them, we’ve called it in.”

 

The  squad was  on its way  back to the station when the call came in  so  they were there before the  engine.   They  followed  the  man in a golf cart  back thru the maze of old cars, appliances and  general  salvage  materials.

 

“Tyler is still in there…he got in the old school bus and wouldn’t come out…. We tried …but he’s scared and….”

 

“And what?  It’s important we know if there is something else wrong.  It could  affect his condition.”  Roy said as he was taking the drug box and  trauma box from the squad.  He looked up to see Johnny getting his  turn out coat on and his tank.    Johnny looked at him  with a  raised eye brow.

 

“What?”  Johnny  said as he began fastening the coat.  “There’s a kid in  there we need to get out.”   They  could hear a popping noise  from inside the  building.  “What were you going to tell us about  your friend?”

 

“He’s  drunk,  really drunk…Rum  and  coke…On a dare he was guzzling it…Last time he drunk so much he passed out and we couldn’t wake him    up…He  got  really sick and dizzy  that time  when he  finally  did  wake  up… He  was puking  up his  toenails…”

 

“Roy,  if  this  kid  is  drunk  enough to  pass out  he  could  be having  trouble  breathing  just  from  that,  let alone smoke…What if he  vomits  while he’s passed out?”   Johnny  finished  buttoning his coat and put on  his  tank.  “I’ll  do a grab and  run.”

 

“You  need to  wait …The  engine  should  be here any  minute.”  As he  was  talking  Roy was  pouring sterile water over Danny’s hands and draped a  cloth over them.  “You need some  cover…” 

 

“That  kid might not have a minute.  What  is the big  deal?  I  go in,  grab  him and  we’re  all in  the clear so the  guys can  take care of the  fire.  How old is this  kid?”

 

“Ty  just  turned  14...”  Matt  said.    “His  mom  and  dad  just  broke  up  and it is messing with his head.”  

 

Without another word Johnny trotted over to the doorway.    He   pulled his  mask on and tightened the chin strap on his helmet.    Roy watched  him  with a  bad feeling  about the  whole  situation.   They  should have waited  for the engine to provide back up and support but he understood  the need to  get to the young  boy.

 

“Ok,  Junior,  you said it,  grab and  run.”  Roy  said  as  he sat  up  the  biophone to contact Rampart.

 

“Rampart this is Squad 51,  how  do you read?”  Roy  said as he  anxiously watched the building.   The popping sound was louder and more frequent.

 

“Loud and  clear,  51.”  Dr. Joe Early said. 

 

“Rampart  we have a 16 year old  with  second  degree  burns on his  hands  and lower arms.  His vitals  are…”   He  gave the information as  he  heard the  engine approaching.  

 

“51,  do you have permission to  treat the minor?”  Joe asked as he  re read the vitals.

 

“Negative, Rampart.”

 

“Can  a parent be reached by  phone?  I  am assuming you have  dressed the  burns?”

 

“Affirmative on the wet sterile dressing.  I’ll  check on contact information for  his  parents.”  He put the  phone  on his  shoulder.   “Danny where  can  we reach  your  parents?” 

 

“Mom is a  nurse  there at Rampart…Margret  Morgan…she works up  in orthopedics .”

 

“Nice lady,  she’s helped put a  couple of  casts on my  partner.”  He  picked  up the  phone.   “Doc,  his mom is a  nurse  there…Margret Morgan   in  orthopedics.”

 

“I’ll  call  up  there. “

 

The  engine pulled in, soon Cap  was giving  orders.  Once  Marco and  Chet  began dousing the flames Cap came over to Roy and the two boys. 

 

“What ya got pal?   Where is your partner?”  Cap had an idea where  John  was and  wasn’t  too happy  about it.

 

“Second  degree burns…He  went in after their friend.  Said he was gonna  do a  grab and  run.”   Cap  could  hear the worry in Roy’s voice along  with a tinge of  anger.   “He should have been out by now.”

 

**********
Johnny  made his way into the  building  moving  carefully  through the  thick  dark  oily  smoke.   He  got to the  bus, forcing  the  battered  door  open,  he climbed  in.   Sweeping  the dark interior of the bus  at  first he  didn’t   see anyone.  Moving  slowly   towards the  front of the bus  he  did a side  way  sweep of  light.  Near the front he saw a foot hanging out in the  aisle.   He  made  his  way  to  the boy.  Luck  or divine  province   had   caused the  boy  to  pass out  laying  on  his  stomach,  his  head  positioned so  that  when he  began  throwing  up,  he  didn’t  choke  on his  own  vomit.  Checking  for any obvious injuries Johnny  turned  the boy over, getting ready to pick him up..  The movement  cause  Tyler’s  eyes  to  fly  open and  he jerked seeing  a  figure  leaning  over  him.  Tyler tried to  scream but it  came out as a strained  croak before his eyes  closed  again.   Johnny got  his air  mask on the boy.  Bending over to  picked him  up  he  lost his  balance as the  first  blast rocked the old building.   Johnny straightened  up  regaining  his  balance.  The second  blast  brought  down a  section of  the  ceiling  and  upper  loft on  top of the  school  bus ,  cascading over the back end  blocking the emergency exit and  knocking  Johnny  off  his  feet.  As he fell, his head hit the corner of a  seat.


***************

 

The  two explosions  knocked  Marco and  Chet  backwards  but  they  were able to maintain  their  balance.   Roy  looked up as his  heart  hit  his  stomach.  “Johnny”

 

Cap grabbed his  HT and  called dispatch requesting another engine  as a  patrol car pulled up next to 51.   Vince Howard got out and made his way over to Roy and the boys.   Both boys were sitting on the yellow blanket, their heads hung down neither saying a word.   

 

“Vince, keep an eye on these two…Johnny’s in  there with another  boy.”   Roy  said as he got up.  Grabbing his coat and helmet he  made his  way over to Cap.  Mike  had left the engine and was helping  Chet and  Marco  as they began moving debris .  A truck with workers  from the yard pulled  up as  they  were  working.

 

“We thought you might need a hand with this.”  They began moving brick, wood and steel.

 

“Any idea  what  exploded  in there?”

 

“No there was  just a bunch of  junk  stored in there…Don’t think the boss  even  knew.   There  was a rumor going around that there was some illegal cleaning stuff from a dry cleaning  plant stored out here  but don’t  think it  was ever proven.  The old bosses’ cousin ran a  chain of  dry cleaners for  awhile…”

 

“Great,  just  great.”  Cap muttered as the  second  engine responded.  They  all worked carefully but as quickly as they could.  Roy  knew that Johnny had went in with a full air  tank. . He also knew his partner too well,  Johnny  would  be  sharing  his air with the 14 year old if he  was  able.


***********

 

Inside the bus the stunned paramedic took inventory of his aches and  pain as his head cleared a little.  Nothing seemed  broken  just a little achy.  His  chest was tight  but after a few quick  breaths from the O2  eased it.  

 

His  ankle and knee  hurt  but  it  felt more like a pull or strain  than a break  or serious tear.  The angle he was on the floor was awkward he as he carefully tried to get up.  The movement  made him  dizzy but he didn’t  pass out again.  He twisted around so he could do a check on the boy  and  put the mask back on him after a few gulps of the air.   Once he had  Tyler settled  he  moved so that  he wasn’t twisting his leg at an odd angle  and   waited.   Leaning back he worked on controlling his breathing and staying calm.  

 

His  mind wandered to the meeting they were suppose to have been at.  He  was  glad now Lee had asked him to write out his concern  about the reporters  not staying where they were told.   Maybe if they all worked at  it they  could  come up with a solution.  He was finding it hard to stay awake. 

 

He  had  slipped out of  his coat since it was so hot in  there…fingers fumbling,he  undid his uniform shirt and  took it off.    He  was  getting  too hot and he needed a drink of water badly. He pinched the skin on the back of his  hand  and watched as it slowly lost the wrinkle.  He could hear the boy  moaning but  just didn’t have the energy to get back to him. 

 

Lee…he  hoped she didn’t  know why he  was late for the meeting.   They had another  meeting  soon  with the architect and the interior  designer.   Hector  and  Eddie  were working on  the patio  design.   The garage /workshop  she  wanted for  him was bigger than most of the houses on the reservation.  Colin  and the  doctors  had sent pictures  not  too long ago on the progress being  made.  

 

The  new clinic  was almost done and the new safety equipment had been delivered.   Something  good had  come out  of their  visit  there.   Some of the old  ghosts had  been  laid  to  rest as new  friendships  had  been established.  

 

 Uncle  George or   Chief Running Scared  and  others  didn’t  haunt his  dreams as  often..  He  felt the anger stir  even  now as he  remembered Lee’s black eye.  There  was a faint  small  scar  from  one of the cuts but her hair usually  covered it.   Most  people  would  not have even seen it  but he  would  lay  next to her watching her sleep studying every inch of her  face.  

 

 Maybe it  was  better if  they  didn’t  have a  child.  How  would  Lee handle  one  on her  own?  “Don’t  kid  yourself  John.”  He  wasn’t sure if he had said it out loud or  just  thought it.   She wouldn’t be on  her own.  Her  family…our  family  would  be there for her  and  their  son.   It  was  strange in his dreams and imagination  it  was always a boy…but he would be  just as  happy if they  had a  girl.  

 

 He had  lost  track of  time  since he had no idea  how long he had  been  unconscious.  He  thought he  heard  voices but  wasn’t  sure if they were  real or his imagination.   He  closed his  eyes  as the smoke was  making  them  water.  He  felt  someone  watching him and  opened his  eyes.   He  thought he saw two men standing  there.  But then when he blinked they  were gone.   They  were  gone but  not  the feeling he was being watched.   He  was sweating  profusely he  knew  that  wasn’t good but still better than if  he wasn’t sweating at all .  He was nauseous but he  wasn’t sure if that  was  from the heat or from the knot on his head.  Was the achy cramping  feeling from the way he had fallen or a symptom of  something  worse? Sometimes  having  some medical knowledge  wasn’t all that comforting.    One thing to be thankful for was that most of the smoke was going out of the  broken windows.    He closed his eyes  trying to  control  his  breathing,  He was panting too fast…A  voice he  didn’t  recognize  called his name.  He  opened his eyes but  didn’t see any one. 

 

“John,  remember  what the  respiratory  therapist told  you.  Breath  in  as  deep  as you  can slowly…Now  exhale out your  mouth  even slower…keep it  even keep it  in control.”   The  words  were familiar  but  he had  no idea  who the  voice belonged to.  Usually  when he  heard  voices  in his  head  he  could put a face  or name to it.  Maybe this time  the head injury  was  worst…Maybe  this time…Maybe this time it  would   just  be easier to  go  to  sleep. 

 

“That’s  enough of that  kind of  thought.  You’re  letting the  pain  do  your  thinking.  You need to focus on  breathing slow  and  staying  calm.”  John  heard  the  words as if   the  speaker  was standing  right next to  him.  “You  gonna  give up  and let  those  people who don’t know you win?  The ones who want you to  fail?  All those  people  who  said  you’d  never amount to anything?  The ones that  never saw past  your  mixed heritage?  Or  you  gonna  fight and prove to them you are a  fighter…That you are  worthy of  the respect you have earned ?  That you are worthy of the love  Lee gives you with every breath she takes?  Doesn’t  she  tell you she  knows  her mother and I  are  proud of  you and  we love you like a  son.  Our  baby girl  already  lost  too much  in her  life…there will be other  lost and  heart ache  but  don’t you add to it  by  giving  up.  That’s an order…Keep  fighting.   Don’t  hurt  her,”  the  voice and the feeling of  being watched  left him. 

Later  when he  remembered this he would  wonder why it was her  dad and  not his  that  came into his mind.  He had  seen the official  pictures of  her dad in his  uniform, taken not  long before the car crash  but the one he saw  in his mind now was the one of him  and Lee playing in the surf with  flowers in her  hair.  He would  be going to  home to her.   He  concentrated on his  breathing.

 

Cap and the men outside had been  working  for about  ten minutes  to  reach the battered school  bus.   The  problem  was  trying to  move the  debris without  causing  more to fall.  It  had  fell at an odd angle.

 

“It has to be like an  oven in there.”   Cap  was  standing off with  the  captain  from  the other  engine.  “Knowing that  twit  he probably  doesn’t  have his air mask on.”

 

The other  captain was  new to Station  36  so he  wasn’t  familiar with  Johnny’s reputation.  “If  he is that irresponsible why is he still a paramedic?”

 

“It’s  not irresponsibility it being too focused on  keeping the victim  alive.   Especially when it’s a  kid.  I’d  bet  he has had  that  on the  kid  90%  of the  time they’ve  been  in there.”
.

 

“Cap,  we can  see the  back of the  bus.”  Chet  yelled.  Jay Cameron and Doug Stone were set up to treat  Tyler.  Roy had everything  set up  for  Johnny’s  care   Roy  knew if  nothing  else  Johnny  was  going to  be  over heated and  congested…He and the other paramedics had  been  helping  with  the  digging out  until  they had  gotten  to the place  removal would  be soon.  He had  an idea.

 

“Is  there some place we can get some ice?”  He asked the yard  foreman.

 

“The gas station around the corner.” 

 

“Vince, can you  get us  about  20 pounds of  ice?   We’re  gonna  need to get  their  temperatures down.  Especially  Tyler’s  if  we are  dealing  with  alcohol  poisoning.”   Vince left to  get the  ice.

 

“Roy, do you want us go in there  first?”  Jay said as it became clear they were almost to the door.  


“No, I’ll  go.”   He appreciated the other’s  concern  for  what he might  find.  It had to be  like an oven in there. “The boy probably has alcohol poisoning as well as heat exhaustion.”

 

Marco pried the bent door open.   The heat escaped from the bus  like a  door being opened on an oven.  Roy went in followed by Jay.   Johnny  was   unconscious on  the floor,  Tyler was on a seat and as Roy  expected  wearing the air mask.   Quickly checking for a  pulse he found it.  He could  feel the heat coming off Johnny’s body.  The tee shirt he was  wearing  was  soaking wet Jay carried the boy out to the waiting treatment  area.  Roy looked up as Marco climbed into the bus. 

 

Once they had him on the ground,  Roy began vitals as Marco set up the IV  they knew Dr. Early was going to order.   Roy took  Johnny’s  temperature  and  frowned.   “What’s the boy’ temperature?  Also,  Johnny?”

 

“104.8   Dry skin,  no wetness left on his shirt  for the 14 year old.”

 

“103.8 …his  shirt is still  damp.”   Doug  was on the  phone to  Rampart  giving the vitals as the others  reported  them

 

After listening and  giving orders for the IV’s  Dr.  Early said to start  cooling measures and  transport  as  soon as  possible.   Due to the  seriousness of  Tyler’s  condition  it  was  decided  that Roy  and  Jay would  ride in with Johnny and Tyler,  Chet  would  take  squad  51  into  Rampart and  Vince would  transport the other two boys.   

 

Tyler  went into  treatment  room  3  with  Kelly  Brackett and  Johnny  went into treatment  room  2  with  Joe  Early.  Mike  Morton was helping Kel  and one of the other residents was checking out the other two boys as a precaution  as well as treating  Danny’s  burnt  hands. 

 

“Roy,  get a temperature and a new set of  vitals.   Any  idea what he  hit his head on?”  The cut was  small but  had a  good  sized  bruise.

 

“Think it  must have been one of the seat backs.   It was like an oven in there.  The  smoke in the  building  wasn’t as  bad as it  could have been   since all the windows were broken out.,  the  smoke had  an  escape route.   They are  still  trying to  finds out what was in barrels  that  exploded.  His  temperature is down to 103.”

 

Just  as  they  finished  getting the  vitals  Malcolm  came in  with the  portable  X  ray  machine.  “Doc, while  they’re  getting  the x-rays I’m going up to talk to Lee.”

 

**************
Her  voice  was soft  and controlled.  “Will you  help  me?”    He  brought  the wheel  chair over to her holding it  steady as she  transferred  with  practiced  ease.   Most  people seeing her  would have been amazed at  how  calm she looked after  hearing  the news. 

 

Roy  pushed her to the  elevator  and  waited  for  her to  say  something, giving her time to get her emotions under control.  The calm  almost cold  persona she presented at times was a mask.   The more of the ice  maiden she looked the more she was struggling to maintain her composer.

 

“Who is with  him?”  She asked as the elevator opened.    

 

“Dr. Early.  Dr. Brackett  is with the 14 year old Johnny had went into  to get out.  

 

“I’m  glad it’s  not  Dr. Morton.  I   know it  wasn’t really wasn’t his  fault    Johnny got  sick but  part of  me  still  thinks if  he had  been  nicer that  morning  Johnny  might have gotten his ear  checked.  He  knew he had  water in his  ear that morning.”

 

“Morton’s a  good  doctor  and a  good  guy.  Johnny  didn’t  think it  was serious,  no one  did.” 

 

“I  know….a  friend  laughs  at me  and says  when  we get  a  baby I  am  going to be so  over protective the kid will  smother or  so laid back  that  that he will be a dare devil just like his  father.   That  poor baby  isn’t  gonna have a chance.”

 

“That  baby is  gonna be so  loved with  such  good  parents  he’ll  have  every chance  in the  world.”

 

“Thanks now  if the powers that be only  agree.   We got another rejection  letter last week.”

 

Roy  didn’t  see any  reason  to tell her he knew that Johnny had  held her  until she cried  herself to sleep  after the last rejection.

 

When they reached the ER Chet was  there.  He nodded at Lee but didn’t  say anything,  they had a  truce at the moment. 

 

“Roy,  Dr. Early said you could go back into the treatment room when you  came back  down.”

 

“Thanks  Betty.”  Roy looked over at the treatment room then at Lee.

 

“Go…I’ll be fine… it  helps knowing  you are there with him.  Tell  him I  love him,  that  I’ll 

be here  waiting.”

 

Roy started over to the treatment  room.  Chet stepped over to him.  “Don’t  worry Roy. I’ll  keep an eye on her from over here.  Maybe  go  get her  a soda or  some  tea.”

 

“Thanks.”  He  patted Chet on the shoulder.   “You’re a  good  friend and she  knows it.”

 

Dr. Early   and  Dixie  were  applying   cool  towels  to  Johnny’s  body  when  Roy went  back in.  

 

“He  still hasn’t  opened his  eyes?”   Roy was  brushing the  damp   hair  back  from his  forehead.  “Lee is  outside,  Junior.  I  told her I’d  let you  know she  was waiting  for you  and that she loves  you.” 

 

The  heart monitor  blipped .  “Keep talking  about  Lee.”  Joe  said as he  replaced   towels  on Johnny’s  legs and  chest.

 

“Junior,  she has  your  flowers on the  desk  next to your   wedding  picture…She  didn’t  say  much about the meeting so I  guess it  went ok.”

 

“Tiger,  she told everyone what a wonderful  surprise it  was to  find  the  that  beautiful  basket of  flowers.   Said they were very special flowers  to  you  both.  She had pies for dessert today, said they were your  favorite.”

 

“Bet she had an extra one delivered for us to take back  to the station.”  Roy  teased.  “I  could  use a nice cold piece of that pineapple pie right now.   Jo said she and Lee were going shopping  to check out  ideas for  curtains and  some odd and ends   Lee  wants me and  you to  go shopping for stuff for  your workshop and garage.  That’s gonna be some  house…”

 

The dark eye lashes  moved  as  Johnny tried to fight his way back through the foggy mist  .

 

“D..dr..em..  hou.”  The raspy voice  was  barely  audible.   The  eyes opened  briefly, then  closed.   “No  hurt  Lee.”  The  monitor  beeped  wildly  as he   began  coughing and gagging.  

 

“Shush no one is gonna hurt Lee, she’s safe waiting for  you.  Bet Doc’ll let you see her soon as you  can breathe better and  keep your eyes  open..  You need to  relax…slow even  breaths.”

 

“Sure I  will.   Just relax,  let the  IV and the towels  do their  job.”

 

“Boy? OK?”  Johnny was fighting to keep his eyes open but the light was  hurting them.  “Couldn’t…help…  fell.”

 

“You kept the oxygen  on him  that was helping him.”   Joe  was  concerned  about how his heart  rate was jumping.   “Let’s start another bag of  Ringers  wide open.  Dix  I need a  temperature.  Roy  go  check on  Lee and  the  boy  that  should help John  relax.”  Roy noticed that he called him John not  Johnny. 

 

Lee  noticed  Chet  left the  waiting  room but  didn’t think  much about it,  her  mind so focused on what was happening in the treatment room.   She  jumped,  startled when a hand touched her shoulder.

 

“I   thought  maybe you  could use a  soda…and  uh,  while I  was in your  office I  called Maria.  Thought  maybe it  would be easier for  you to  wait, ya  know  with family  here.”

 

“Thank  you.”  She took a  sip of the  icy  soda.  “I …um…I  …”

 

Cap and the  crew came into the waiting room.    She looked up  at the tired,  dirty  men.  “How is  he?”

 

“We’re still waiting for news.   Roy’s  with  him  and Joe and  Dixie.  Chet  has been  really  good, helping me  wait.”

 

“I just got her a soda and made a  phone  call, that’s  all.”  He  shrugged it off as no big deal.”

 

Lee took a good  look at  their friends.   “You  need to  go up and  eat…there   is all the food I was going to send to the station.  There is soda and  water cold in the fridge.  I can call  you  when  we know something.   The food is packed up ready to go back to the station if  you want to do  that  but get some juice or water or even soda  but get some  liquids  now before you’re too dehydrated.  You  all look like you’re  ready to  drop.”

 

“That sounds  good…We’ve  been  stood  down   for  an  hour.”    Cap  said.  He  was hot, hungry and worried about his junior paramedic.  “We’ll  take it to go…We  need  showers.”

 

“You know the  code .   Go  eat and  get  cleaned  up.   Johnny  and I  will be fine.  It  would  just  make  him  feel  bad if you  guys  didn’t  eat   because of him.”

 

Cap  sent Chet,  Mike and  Marco  up  to the  office.  “Ok,  now,   how are you  doing?  Do  you need  Em  to  come  down  here?”

 

“I’m doing ok…Chet  called  Maria  so I ‘m expecting her to pop in…It’s  not easy waiting  but I  know  Joe and Dixie and  Roy are doing  everything they  can  for him.   This  isn’t how I  planned on seeing him  today.”

 

“He  was  so  proud of  himself  this morning for  getting here  before you with the flowers.  You’ve made a world of  difference in his  life  on so many levels.”  Cap  was sitting on the  edge of the  chair.  “Don’t  ever  doubt  that.  I know you don’t say a lot about it but  Em and I  both  think  you and  John will make great parents.   We got the forms from the adoption  agency.  The  questions were  pretty in depth and  tough.”


Johnny had used  Hank as a professional  reference,  Lee had  put  Emily  under her personal/social  references.  “It’s gonna  happen  when the  time’s  right,”  They saw Roy coming towards them.  Lee sat straighter and without  realizing it,  reached for Cap’s hand.

 

“Cap.” he acknowledged his captain and then squatted down in front of  Lee.  “The  X-ray’s were clear.  He is  having a hard  time waking  up but Doc  thinks that is part of the heat exhaustion.   His heart rate was jumping all over the place but that has stabilized as his temperature come down and the  fluids hydrated him.  He was worried about the  14 year old  and you.”

 

“The  boy?  How is he?”  Lee needed to know so she knew what she was  dealing  with   when  Johnny asked her.

 

“He had some seizures on  the way in but it looks like he is gonna be ok.   He wouldn’t have made it if  Johnny hadn’t shared the O2 with him.”

 

“Shared or  put it on him and left it?”  Lee had her head cocked sideways  with a small smile.  “The Boyo’s idea of sharing is 90-10 with him the low man.”

 

“Think this might have  been  70-30  at  first.  Doc  said  you  could  come in and  see him.   Not sure how coherent  he is.”

 

Johnny struggled to open his  eyes when he  heard them talking.  “Baby  girl.”  The raspy voice was a little stronger.

 

“Shush, just rest.  I’m only gonna stay here a minute  but I wanted to see you.  Joe do you know what  room?  I’ll  be  there  when  you are.”

 

“326.  They  should  be  down  soon to take him up.  A few breathing  treatments  then  some rest and he’ll be fine.  Unless  something turns up, you can  take  him home in the  morning.”

 

“The  boy?  Tyler?”  Johnny’s  eyes were  closing  again  as the  tightness in his  chest  worsened.  The  heart  monitor  began  beeping loudly  as the  heart  beats  became  erratic  again.  Roy pulled her back  out of the  way.  “Couldn’t …  help...too dizzy.

 

“He’s gonna  be  fine…You  did  help. …He’s  doing  good,  honest.”  Roy talked  to Johnny in a soft  comforting  tone  but  with authority  so  Johnny  understood  it  was  ok.    “You did  your   job.”

 

Joe  had  quietly went over and  added  something to  the  IV.   Lee  watched  as  Johnny’s  breathing  settled  as Roy gently brushed  his  hair  back  from the  sleeping  man’s  forehead.   As  much as  they  loved  each other  and  shared  so  much, this was a part of  John’s  life  she  would  never  be  a  part of fully.   This  part of  his  heart., the  bond  between  him and  Roy  was  forged  in  a special  place of  fire and sweat and  tears.    Some  might   never  understand  this  bond,  she wasn’t  sure that  she and  Jo really  did.  But they  knew  it  was  as  much  of a  a part of them  as their  heartbeats. They just knew that neither  man was  totally complete  without the  love and support of  their  brother.

 

“Thank  you, all of  you,  for taking such good  care of  him.”  She  took a  deep  breath,  “ I’m  going out and wait somewhere  I  won’t  be in  the  way.”

 

***************

 

Johnny had  been  moved into  his  room  and  was  sleeping  peacefully. The  meds  were working  and his heart  rate  had  been  stable  since he had  gotten  settled.  Joe had reassured her the problem with the erratic  heartbeat was from  the  heat exhaustion .  Lee was  working  on a piece  of  embroidery.  She was focusing in on a small delicate flower and didn’t hear  the  door  open.

 

“When did you start doing that?”  Maria said  looking at the half finished  scarf.

 

“About  two weeks ago.  Melody and her  husband are  moving  and I  wanted to do something for her.  She’s really good at helping me with  getting in and out of my chair when Nel  isn’t here.  Guess I didn’t realize until she said something the other day,  I don’t keep my chair hidden like I use to so I can get in  and out easier since its in reach.”

 

“You are more open in many areas of your life now.   You no  longer try to  hide the  fact you are a very  pretty women.   You are more  relaxed in the  way  you  meet new  people…You even  dress differently.  I  noticed  that  while   most of  your  new  tops are  modest  they are  no longer the high  necks.   You  are more  comfortable  with who you are.”


She  looked over at Johnny.  “He  believes in  you  and  that  gives you  the  courage to  believe in yourself.” 

 

“When he first woke up he was worried  about the boy he had went into  help.  That  because he got hurt he didn’t do what was needed.   He is  always more concerned with others.”

 

“You’re both like that.   Have you had anything to  eat today?”

 

“A  little.”   She had to admit to herself she was getting  hungry.  “Will  you  stay with him  while I  run  upstairs?  I  shouldn’t  be  long.   If  he  wakes  up try to get him to take some water or ice chips.”

 

“Take  your  time ,  sweetheart.  I have nothing to do.  I  brought  my  book and  my  needle  work.   If he wakes  up I  will  take  good  care of  him  for  you.”

 

Lee had only  been gone a  few  minutes  when  Johnny did  wake up.  He  looked around  trying to keep  from  moving his  head.  Maria  went over to him.  “I sent  her to  get something to  eat.   I  promised her if you woke up  you’d  drink  some  water.   She  filled the cup half  way.  “Slowly,  you  don’t  want to  throw  up. “

 

“Roy?”  He took the glass  and began sipping slowly.  

 

“I  would  assume  he is working.    You’re squinting,  do you  want me to  lower the lights?”    She felt his forehead as she bushed his  bangs  back  from  his  forehead.  “You’re still  running a low  grade temp.”

 

“If you lower the  light it’ll  be  hard for  Lee  or you to see to  do your  sewing.   I’m ok.”

 

“I have been  told never to trust  you and the phrase I am ok  when  you are  lying in a  hospital  bed.”  She  gave him  some  more  water..

 

“Lee or  Roy?”  Johnny said with just a slight smile.

 

“Both and  Dr. Early and  Brackett  and  Dixie and  Hank and  Em  and…”

 

“Ok, I  get the  picture.”   He  laughed  softly  but  started  coughing.   “She  really doing ok?”  He asked  after  several  more sips of  water.

 

“Yes.”  The respiratory  therapist  came in.  “While  you are  busy I  am  going  up to the  office.   If  we aren’t back by the time she leaves call,  ok?”

 

“Ok”  The  therapist  also  nodded that she had  heard.

 

Lee  was  just about  finished  with her  lunch when Maria  came in.  Lee looked up  alarm showing on her  face.

 

“He’s  fine, getting a breathing treatment.   I  wanted to  give him  some  privacy.”

 

“I  wonder if  he is  hungry?  I  don’t  remember  Joe  saying he  was on  any  special  diet…”  She  wheeled over to her  desk.   She  dialed  down  to  the ER.  “Dr. Early  please.  It’s Lee Gage.”   Lee heard the page

 

“Yes, Lee.  Is there a problem?”  Joe  asked,   puzzled by  her  call.

 

“No  I was just wondering,  can  Johnny  have whatever he  wants to eat?”

 

“Sure.  You bringing his dinner in?” 

 

“Was  thinking about it…I know he didn’t have any  lunch  so he should  be  hungry.”

 

“Anything he wants is fine, I'll let the  kitchen  know he  won’t  be  needing a  tray.”

 

“Thanks  Joe.  Um, how late are you going to be here?”

 

“Me and Dixie are  here  till  8.”

 

“Ok…Plan  on  dinner in about an  hour?  Depending how busy  Mick  is.”

 

“You don’t have to do that.” 

 

“Joe, I know that.  I want to do it.   And I’ll  have  something  added  for the floor  nurses.”   

 

“That’s  good.”

 

Lee hung up and  dialed  O’Sheas’.    After  several rings  Shelia  answered.  Lee told her what she needed.  Shelia went into  the  kitchen.

 

“We  have  4 special to go orders  plus  we need  to  send  someone  over to the  bakery for about  6 dozen  cupcakes  to  replace the  ones I am sending   with the to go order.   I want the to go orders ASAP.”

 

“We’re swamped.  If  they want  fast  food  let them  call a  Chinese  place.”  The assistant  cook said  not  realizing  it  was Shelia  not one of the  regular  servers.   “Call them  back  and tell them  we can’t do it.  If anyone out there was smart enough to get a call  back  number.”

 

Mick and  Sean  came  back in from the  store  room   just  in time to hear the last of the conversation. 

 

“I  think you’d  be wise to tell  my wife you are sorry you spoke to her in that tone of voice.”   Sean was  angry.

 

“And  you’ll not be talking to anyone in this  establishment in that manner.”  Mick added.   “Even if  the one on the desk did forget we don’t  do carry outs after  5.”

 

“I  didn’t forget.   Johnny is in Rampart…Lee  needs a meal  for him.  She   thought baked chicken for him.  Dr. Early and Dixie are very fond of the  salmon and Maria likes the Sheppard’s pie.   And she  want cupcakes…Three  dozen assorted  for the nurse’s  station on the third floor and  three  dozen for the nurses’ desk in ER.   Oh, and a  large slice of  apple pie for the Boyo.” 

 

“And  what for the lass?”  Mick asked frowning.  “She didn’t even ask for  any cheese straws?’’

 

“No,  not a thing for herself.  Use your own judgment.”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Roy and  Jason  King,  Johnny’s  replacement  had  been  on  several  runs  but  none had required  a  trip to  Rampart.   Roy  had talked to Lee  earlier  so he  knew  Johnny  was resting comfortably and would  be going  home in the morning.  It had been hard not to see him but he knew he wasn’t alone.

 

After everyone had eaten Johnny had fell back to sleep.  Maria  and  Lee  watched some  TV and  talked softly.    A little before 8,  Joe  came back  up.

 

“The nurses  said he  has done well., his  lungs are sounding much better.  Unless something  unexpected  happens he can go home in the morning.   When is his next shift?”

 

Four  days…They have three days  off.”

 

“He should be fine to return to duty then.  Kel  or  Mike  will be up to check him in the morning and do  the discharge.”

 

“Doc,  make her go home.”  Johnny said as he opened his eyes.  He  had been  listening since  Joe had  first  came into the  room.   “She  needs  out of that  chair and to  rest.  You said  so  yourself I am  fine.   Don’t  see  why I have to stay the  night.”

 

“I  want you to have another breathing treatment tonight  and  one in the morning.  We don’t want a replay of October.”

 

“That’s  for  sure,” he conceded. Joe wished them all good night and  left.

 

“Baby Girl,  listen  to me.  I’m  just  gonna sleep after the breathing  treatment.  I’ll  sleep better knowing you are home and resting.”

 

“It’s not fair.”

 

“All’s fair in love and  war.”  Johnny said.

 

“And this is love.”  They said in one breath then broke into laughter.  All the time Maria was sitting back watching her foster daughter so much in  love.   Even more so than on her wedding day if that  was  possible.  

 

“Ok,  you  win.  Maria  and I  will  go  home  and   we’ll  be  back in the  morning.”

 

“Call  Hector to  come get you.  You’re too tired to be driving.”  Johnny  sat  up  straighter trying to  keep from  coughing. 

 

“I ’ll  drive.  And  bring her back  in the morning.”   Maria said.  She had the  feeling she had been  forgotten.   But that was ok since it meant  she  and  Hector  had  done  their job  well.  It would make her and Hector’s  decision  easier too share with  Lee and Johnny.   It  would  also make it  easier for Johnny to accept the new house,  hopefully.

 

The  door  opened and  Roy  came into the  room.   Cap  had  said he  could  stay to visit as  long as they stayed  available  from  Rampart.

 

“Hey,  Pally.”  Johnny  smiled  as his partner came over to the  bed.   “I  was  wondering  about you.”

 

“Well,  while you have been lying here goofing  off  we’ve  been  working.  The  guys  said  to tell you  lunch and  dinner were great.  Chet said  that he could  be happy never eating anything except that roast  beef   the  rest of his  life.  But that was before he  got the  dessert.”

 

“I’m  glad he liked it.  If  you  would  help me stand up,  I’ll  kiss  my  darling Boyo good  night,  I’ll  let you two talk.”  

 

“Don’t  let me  run  you  off.   I  can’t  stay  long.  Jason  is  getting  supplies.”

 

“You aren’t  he is.”  A final  kiss and a  promise that  Johnny  would  call  her soon as  he  got  up in the morning she and Maria left.

 

“So  did you hear any more about the kids we brought in?”

 

“They’re  keeping  Tyler a  few  days.  The  alcohol  poisoning  made  his  react  more to the  heat…The  seizures stopped once they  got his  temperature  down and  they  pumped  his  stomach.   I  think  he and his  folks are  going to  get some  counseling.  Danny is  staying overnight  so  they  can  get  some  antibiotics into  his system  and  keep  an eye  out for  any  infection .  Matt   went  home.  The all three will  have to go to  juvenile   court.”

 

“Glad  they  are ok…so  did  you find out  how the  fire started?”

 

“Tyler  was  using  a flare  gun  for  target practice.   There  was  some  mystery  barrels  in a  store  room.  The  arson  guys and  haz-mat are  trying to  figure out  what they  were.   So what about you?”

 

“Getting  another  breathing  treatment tonight and  one in the  morning  then  going home.    Should  be back to  work   next  shift.   So for the next  three  days I  am  just  gonna  be   hanging around  the  house.   Hector is  gonna  set the  pool  up  tomorrow.   I  was  gonna help  him.”

 

“If you’re   a good  boy ,  Lee’ll  let  you  go  sit out in the  sun and  watch  him  and his  crew  work.   Tomorrow   you are gonna  be resting  and  doing  breathing  exercises  and Lee is going to be  cooking up a storm  because she  will  be so happy  you are  home and  safe.”
Look,  even  if  we can’t  swim  we can have a  cook out,  the  first of the  season.  Talk to  Jo and  see if that  sounds  good.  You  can  call   us  tomorrow  afternoon.”  

 

A nurse  came in and  gave  Johnny  and Roy  the  evil  eye.  “Look  guys,  it’s  passed visiting  hours and I  know   you have  special  arrangements  with some of  the  doctors…but  I  really  need  you to   go.   Dr.  Vanace is  going to be  up here  in a few minutes.”

 

“Who is  Dr. Vanace?”

 

“The  new  lung specialist .  He was looking over the  files pulled for  breathing  treatments  up here and  thought  yours  was  interesting.”

 

“Big if not interesting.   See you  sometime  tomorrow  Junior.”

 

“No,  stay  I  want you  here if  this  doctor  has  something to  say.   You  and  Lee have  equal  rights as  my  next of  kin.”

 

“You  sure?”

 

“Yeah  I’m  feeling  fine  but if  there is  anything  important being said I  want someone else here to hear it.”

 

“Makes  sense.”   Back  when  Johnny  and  Lee had  gotten  engaged it had  made sense  to them  to  keep  Roy as  next  of kin  along with  adding  her, especially if an emergency came up.  Ten  minutes  later  Dr. Vanace  came into the  room.  He  was surprised to  see  the  two  men  talking and  the  one in the  bed  trying not to choke as  he was laughing.

 

“I think I  see now  why  the  nurse  told me I  was not  going to  find  you  the  typical  patient.”   They weren’t  sure if the  doctor  was angry or  just  surprised.

 

“Sorry…he  was…”Johnny stopped. He was coughing too hard to talk.  Roy handed him a glass.

 

“Sip slow then try to slow your breathing.  I shouldn’t have  told him  about  the  latest  antics  of the  station  joker.”

 

“Actually  the  laughing  is  probably  good  for  him.  Makes  him  use  the  chest  muscles  to  breath  deeper.   People  tend  to breath too  shallow  when it  hurts.”   He watched  as  Johnny  regained  a  natural  rhythm  to  his  breathing  and  was  glad to see the  proper  breathing  technique  being  used.    “As  the  nurse  probably  told  you, I’m  Dr. Vanace.  I  just  started here  as a pulmonary  specialist.   Wish I had  known  you  when I  was looking  for a  subject  for my  final  case  study  as a resident.”  

 

“That bad?”  Roy  asked  concerned.

 

“No  that interesting.   So   how did  you  end  up here today?  Mr. DeSoto,  why  don’t  you  tell me  while  our friend  here  continues  his  deep  breathing.   And I  take it  you  have  no  problem  with us  talking  about your  medical  condition in  front of  Mr.  DeSoto,  Mr.  Gage?”

 

“It’s  John  or  Johnny.  Just  saves me  the  trouble of  telling  him  later.”

 

“Ok.  Can  you  tell  me  what  was in the  air  you were  breathing  today?  And why  you  didn’t have an  air  mask  on.  Had it  been  damaged?”

 

“Besides  the   dust and  dirt  from the  collapsed  wall  several  barrels of unidentified gunk  had  exploded.   The   owners claimed  they  didn’t know  what  was in that room but the previous  owners had  ties with a dry  cleaning  shop.   Junior  here  was sharing  the mask  with a  14 year old victim.   After  getting  thrown against a seat back he wasn’t able to make  the  exchanges as  needed.   That old school  bus  they were in  worked  sort of  like an  oven.”

 

“This  not  wearing your  mask  does  it happen  often?”

 

“More often  than  me  and our  captain  would  like  but its  usually a  case  like  today  where he  is  giving it  to  someone  else.”

 

“If  you  would  agree I  would like to  do  some  periodic  testing  on  you and have  you  do  some  breathing  exercises  on a  regular  basis.   You have  a  history of  lung  problems  but  the amount of  scaring I  found  was  relative low.  I  am  working on developing  a new  program  that  would  increase  the  quality of  breathing  using   less  inhalators and  medicines  but  more of the  body’s  own  healing  powers.   I  think  we  can  train our  bodies  to  work  better.   I  have  spent  time  with  the Shoaling   monks  and   have  seen  the  exercises  they  do to  improve  and control  their  breathing.”

 

“Cisco has taught  me some of the  breathing  tricks he  calls them.   When  we  were  running  10 to 15  miles.”  He began  coughing  harder and  Roy  handed him  the  nasal  canula   he had  slipped off.

 

“You do  that on a  local  track?  I’ve  been looking for a  good  place to  run.”

 

“Most of the time  it’s  up  and  down a  mountain.”  Roy  said   as  Johnny  nodded  his  head.  “Once the  weather  gets a  little  warmer he’ll  be  swimming  laps   on  his off  days.”

 

“About  how  many?”  

 

“Think  they  start out  doing  10   a set   but  by the  end of  summer  they’ll  be  doing about  200 a  week.”

 

‘You  and  your  running  partner?”  The more  the  doctor  talked  with  Johnny  the  more interesting it  got.

 

“With  his  wife.    It’s  one   of the activities  they do  together. “  The  HT  toned in. 

 

“Squad  51   illness…”

 

“Squad  51   KMG365...”  Roy started to the door.  “See ya  tomorrow Junior.  Get  some  rest  and  keep the  O2  on.”  

 

“That’s  good  advice.  Look, I’m  going to want to  talk to you  some  more and  maybe  we can work on a  program  to increase  your  lung  capacity.  But it  sounds  like you’re  doing all the  right  things  already.  It maybe all we  can  do is   keep the  damage  that  has been  done  to  a minimum.

 


When   Roy  got   back  to the  station after the  run  he  gave  the  guys an  update.  Jo had  called and  left a message that she had  talked  with  Lee.


********************


The  next  morning  Lee  was at the  hospital by  7:30.  She  went  into  Johnny’s room  with   coffee, juice and  rolls.   The  nurse at the  desk  just  waved as  she  went  by.  Maria had  brought  Johnny  some clothes  to wear  home. 

 

“Hey,  Baby  girl…didn’t  think  you  would  be here this  early.”

 

“I  was up  and  ready  so  I  stopped  off at O Sheas’.  I  called ahead and   one of the  servers  ran it  out to  me.   So  how are you feeling?’

 

“Good.  I had a breathing  treatment   about  6:30.   They  let me  take a  shower  and I  have  just  been  reading the  paper.  How are you  doing?”

 

“Fine.  Maria and I  stopped  and got something to  eat  on the  way home.  Then  I  took a  shower and  went in and  watched  television  until I  fell  asleep.  Maria  called  up  this  morning to see  if I  needed anything.  I  talked  to Jo  last night  and she  sent her  love.  They’ll  be over  later  this afternoon.   I  missed  you last  night  but  that’s nothing  new.   So  what  about  you?”

 

“After  you  left  Roy  came  by  and  then the  new  lung  doctor  came in  said  my  file  was interesting.   He  said it  looked  like  I  was  doing  all the  right  things  to  keep  my lungs  working.    The  therapist  said   everything  sounded  good  and  to  call if  there  was  any  problems.”


************


Marco  and Chet had  called  to say  they  would  bring the  Rover over  later if they  wanted.   Lee  put a  large  pot of  fresh  green  beans on  to  cook  with the  ham  bone she had  saved.   Johnny   was   in  his  recliner more asleep  than awake.   The phone  ringing  woke  him  up.   He heard  Lee  talking and  was  surprised at the  no  nonsense  tone  she  used.  It  was what he  called her  ‘no  I  am  not  going to  change my mind,  do it  my  way or  forget it’   tone.

 

She  went  back  into the  front  room.   He  could  see she  was  angry at  something or  someone.  “Problem?”  Johnny  asked.


“The  committee  for the  Skills  game  wants  to change things  around.  They had  planned on  20  stations  taking  part  and  now  they  want to add at  least  10  more.  There is  no  way in the  time  frame  and  with the amount of  equipment  available.  There are also  people  demanding  that I  be available  the whole week end to  man  the  registration  table  and  fix   any problems  that may  come  up.”

 

“So?” 

 

“So  I  said I  would  stay  with  registration  until  9:45.  The  first  event   for  Station  51 is  at   10:00.  If  someone  pushes  me I  can  be there  to  watch  on  time.”

 

“I  can  push  you.”

 

“No  you  can’t.  You have to  be in the  competition  area  by 9:30.  Even if  you aren’t  in  the  first  challenge the  total  team  has  to be assembled  a half  hour  before the  start of  any  challenge.”

 

 The  teams  would be  pre- reregistered  and  sign in  was  7:30  to  9:00.   Lee  had  agreed to be there  by 7:15.   She  would  be  at the  academy  on  Friday helping  with the set  up  and  would  attend the  reception  for the  officials  on  Friday  night.   Johnny  had  been included in her  invitation  but they had  decided  it  would  be better if  he  just  dropped her  off at the reception.  Tom and  Will  would  also  be at the  reception  so  Johnny  didn’t have to  worry about her  being there alone.  Kel  was suppose to be there and  said  he and  Dixie  would  bring her  home. She was being very  careful  to  do nothing  that  would  make it  look like  51  had  an advantage in  any way. “

 

“What  did  they  say to that?” 

 

“Chief  McConnikee laughed and  said I  should have  been a drill  sergeant  and   not to  worry  about it.   He thinks  there  should  be a series of  these    from  May  to   July  then in  September  have a  larger one   that  all the  winners  come  to and  compete  against  each other.  That  there are  too many   for  just one   event.  

 

“Maybe   you were right in the  first place and  you  shouldn’t  have  taken  this project on.   It’s  been a lot of  added  work  for you.  You’ve  been  stressed out  about it  for  over a  month  now.”

 

“A  few  more  weeks  and  it  will be over.” 

 

“You  did a good  job of not freaking out when I was in the ER…getting  use to it?”  He was  teasing but she knew what he was really telling her.

 

“Never but I  have  confidence in the doctors and the guys.   Chet  was  really good  waiting with me  when  Roy was in  with  you.  He  called  Maria and  got me a soda.   I  really  do  try  to  like  him  but…sometimes…he makes me feel really  uncomfortable.”

 

“How?” 

 

“I  can’t  explain it…He  just   makes me  want to  run and  hide and I  hate that  feeling.”  Lee  said.  She frowned  then  wheeled  out to the  kitchen.  She  came  back in  with a  large  glass of ice  water.  “They said you  need to make  sure you  drink  extra  water  today.    I  am  going to  go finish cleaning the bathroom and  change the  bed…You  rest and  drink  this  water.”

 

“Don’t you  want me to  help  with the  bed?”

 

“No,  I  want  you to  rest.  I  can  do  it…just takes me longer  when I do it  by  myself.   If  we ever  do  get approved  for adoption  I  have to  be able to  show  the  social  worker I  can  do  things myself.”  

 

“Yes,  but she also  needs to know we  are a team and work together.    Don’t  give  up  on us,  ok?”

 

“On us?  No, that is never  gonna  happen.   Don’t   worry  about  me…I  am  fine.   You have that  look in  your  eyes  you  get  when I  do something  you  think is dangerous.”

 

“Didn’t  know I  was  giving you a  look.   The only  look  I  want to  give  you  is one  that  tells  you how  much I  love you and  how  proud of  you I  am.   Come on, lets go   make the  bed and  then  I’ll  run the  sweeper  while  you  clean  the  bathroom.   Doc  told you I  was  fine  so  there isn’t  any  reason I  can’t help  you  today.”

 

The rest of the day was laid  back .  When the  guys  from  51  started  calling  to  see  how  Johnny  was,  Lee  invited  them  to  dinner.    She  made 2  big  pans  of  corn  bread  to  go  with the  green  beans and  cucumber  salad.  She  called  Keelson’s  to  order a  pre cooked,  sliced  ham  to  be  delivered.  She  added  the  potatoes that Johnny  peeled  for her to the  green beans.  By  5  everything  was ready.  The  pot of  beans and  potatoes  were  simmering  and  the  table  set.   She had  made 2  pies,  one  lemon  and one  pineapple.  After  dinner  while the  women  cleaned  the  kitchen  the  guys  talked  in the  front  room.  The  conversation   turned  to the  skill  games  with  Hank  giving a  look  towards the  kitchen.

 

“Will it  bother her if  we  talk about  this  here?”   He asked  knowing she had  been  uneasy  about   the  games.

 

“Not  as  long as she isn’t in here…From  the  laughing   coming  from the  kitchen  they aren’t  paying  any  attention to us.”  The  kids  were  downstairs  with  Maria  and  her  grand kids in  the  newly renamed  playroom.   It  was now the  game  room  

 

“Why don’t  we  go  down and  check  out the   patio.  You  said  Hector and Eddie had  been  working  on it.”   Roy suggested.  

 

By 9:00 everyone had  left.   After  checking everything  was  put away and  locked up they went into  the  bedroom  to  watch  TV  and  read.

 

“You did  a  great  job  with  dinner.   Thanks  for  making  the  guys  feel at  home.”

 

“No  problem,  silly.   This is  our  home…I  want our  friends  to feel  welcome  here.”

 

“Seems  like  it’s usually  my  friends.”

 

“They  are our  friends   now.  Other  than Kathy and  Jim and  the Alvarez’s   I  didn’t have many  real  friends.  I  knew a lot of  people  but  friends…not  really.  Merce  but she is  always  off  somewhere  modeling.   I  was  happy  in  my  own  way…now It’s  just  so much  better…Now  I’m  married  to my  best  friend.  I  think it’s  important to  be   friends  as well as husband  and  wife.    I  know  that  what  you and  Roy   share is a  bond   deeper  than  friendship …and I  am  so  thankful   that  you have  that…Now,  stop  fighting it and  go  to  sleep  my  love.”

 

**********************************


Three   weeks   later:


Jo and  Lee  were at the  dining  room  table  working on   reports  for WBSF.  They had  gotten  more than the usual  amount of requests  that  week and were going over them together.   They  were about  half  way done  when  the  door bell  rang.  Jo excused herself to go answer it.
 
“Mom, I  didn’t  expect   to see you  today.”  Jo said  as he  mother  came into the  hallway.   “Is  dad  with  you?”

 

“No.   He had  some  business  meetings so I  decided to ride  up.”   Arline  sat  down  on the  couch.    She ignored  Lee  completely  at  first  then   gave out a  huge  sigh. “ I   should  have  known she  was here.  It  seems as if  any time I want  to talk to you she is  here.”

 

“Jo,  I‘ll  go   into the  den and  make  those  phone  calls.”    Lee  wheeled  herself  out of the  room praying  no one  saw the tears  in her  eyes.  Lee  wasn’t  sure if they were  tears of  sadness,  anger or  embarrassment.   She  decided  most likely   of all  three.

 

 “I want  you and the children to  come  down to visit over  Memorial Day  week end.  Unless you would consider  the  children leaving school  early on Friday,  we  will  pick  you  up  right  after  school.   I have a  wonderful  weekend planned. Pack  something appropriate for  church.   There will be a  picnic  after  services on  Sunday.”

 

“What  about Roy?  Isn’t he  included  in this week end?”   Jo  was  trying to keep her  temper.

 

“Oh  I  just assumed  he  could  find  something to  do  with that partner of  his.  Maybe  he and  that  wife  of  his  can  feed  Roy,  some  payback   for all the  free meals  they  get  from  you.   Gracious, it is  warm  today, I  really  could  use a  cold  drink.  I don’t  just  go  helping  myself  to  what is in  your  fridge like  some  people.”   Another   dig at Johnny who had  gotten  tea out of the fridge  without  asking for him and  Roy  a  few weeks ago.

 

“I’ll  get you a  drink in a moment.  I’m  sorry  but  Roy and I have  plans  for  that  week  end.”

 

“I’m  sure the  children will miss you  but   will  still have a  wonderful  time  with me and their  grandfather.”

 

“Actually,  they  will be spending that  weekend  at the  lake  with their  Aunt Lee and  Uncle  Johnny.  They have  rented a cabin and a  pontoon  boat  for that  week end.”   She  didn’t  add that the  Kildare’s  would also  be there.

 

“I absolutely  forbid it!”  Arlene’s expression  was almost  comical.   “Besides,  you  can’t  really   think  my grandchildren  would  rather  spend  time  with  those  two  rather  than  their  grandparents.   That   you  would  even  think  of  putting  them at  risk …”

 

“I  trust  John  Gage with  Roy’s  life  every  time  they  go to  work… Of  course I  trust   them  with Jen and Chris.   Mother  we have had  this  discussion  before.”

 

“I don’t understand  why  you  think  you have to  put  up  with  those  two  disrupting  your  life…You  tore  up  your  flower  bed  to  build that  ramp,  that  just  encourages  them  to  hang  around more.   They  use  your  children  to play  house.   It’s  a  blessing  they   don’t have  a  poor  child  to  be  dragged around and  treated  like a  plaything.”

 

“Mother,  please  lower  your  voice.  I  am  not  going to argue  with  you  over something so absurd.  Lee and  Johnny are  family  and are  welcome   here any  time.”   Jo  was livid  and  she  knew  there  was no  way  Lee  wasn’t  hearing  every  word.

 

“More  welcome  than  your own  family?  Can’t  you see they are  turning  your  children and  you against us?   That  husband  of  yours  would  love that.   He  wants  to  keep  you  away  from  your  real  family…He  has…”

 

“He has  never  said a  word  against you or  dad to  me or  our  children.  Even  when  you have  been  rude and  hateful  to him  he has  never  said  anything  unkind  to  you.  He has  walked away time and  time again.”

 

“Because he  knew  we were right.  You  should have married  one of the  boys  from  college  or  one of the young  professional  men.   I  will never  understand  why  you settled  for  just a  fireman.   Lee…? I  can  understand  her  settling  for   that ….”  Arlene  stopped  short.  “…partner  of  your  husband.  What other  chance  did  she  have?   They  deserve  each  other.”

 

“I asked  you nicely  to  lower  your  voice,  now I  am  telling you to shut  up.”  

 

“How  dare you  talk to me  like that?  Is  that the  influence  those   people  have on  you?”  Arlene was red in the  face  with  rage.   “ I  taught  you  respect  for  others!   I  taught  you  that  breeding and  position  mattered.”

 

“That’s  funny I  haven’t  seen  a lot of that  from  you.   You will  not  be  welcome in this  house if  you  do  not  start  treating  this  family  with the  respect they  deserve.  That includes me as we’ll  as my  husband and  children.  You  will  not  fill  their heads  with  your   outdated  social   standings.   You  will  treat  anyone in this  house with  respect,  Lee, Johnny,  Hank or  Emily  or the  newspaper  carrier…if they are in  this  house  they are  to be  treated  with  respect.  You  will  never again  tell me in  front of  OUR  children  that  someone is  not  welcome  in this  house or make  remarks  that  are  disrespectful  to  my  husband.  I have allowed it  too  long  for the  sake of   family  peace.   It  has  taken  me too  long to realize it  wasn’t  family peace  but  walking on  egg  shells  and  being  glad  they  only  cracked  not  shattered.”   Jo  looked  at her  mom  her  anger  spent.  But  she  did  not  regret one  word  that  was  said.  “You  will  not  manipulate  my children  with your  guilt  trips and  tricks.”   ‘Like you have me  for  years,’ she thought to herself.

 

“You should  be ashamed of  yourself  speaking  to me in  such a manner.”

 


“ I  am  ashamed I  didn’t stand  up for  my  husband  before this. Now,  unless  you have  something  else to  say  I  suggest  we  close  this  discussion.”

 

“Are you  asking  me to leave your  house?”  Arlene   was confused and  hurt  now.  The  anger had  been  swallowed  by  hurt and  fear.  Fear that her  daughter  would  cut her  out  of  her  life and the  lives of her  grandchildren.   Eileen  had  never  been  that interested in having  children and  neither  had her  husband.   “I was  hoping to  see  the children.”

 

“No,  I  am not  asking  you  to leave I  am asking  you to  remember  you are a  guest in  this  house.   You are  welcome  to   wait  for the  kids to come  home.   But,  please  remember  what I  said.   Because  I  will  call  you out in  front of  them.   They  both  felt  really  bad  that they  hurt  Johnny and Lee  because of  something  they  heard  you  say.   The idea of  losing  their  aunt and  uncle  was  scary  and  sad  for them.   They love  you and  dad  but  that  does not  give you the  right to  dictate  who  else  they  love.

 

“I  suppose  she  played on  their  sympathies and  made  me out to be the  wicked  witch.”

 

“No,  mother,  you  did  that  yourself.  Lee  told  them  you   had  every  right to  feel  as  you  did.   That  you were  correct that  there  was no  blood  ties.  As I  said, you are  welcome to  stay to see the  children.   I am  going to  go  see if  Lee   wants  to  continue  our  project.”

 

When Jo  went into  the den,  Lee  was  writing   and  the  radio  was  on.    “I  rewrote the proposal for  the play  ground  equipment  to  raise the  amount  to  cover the  cost of  having a  professional  come in and  evaluate  and  design the  playground  and  still  have  additional  money  for  equipment.”

 

“If  you  want  we  can  get  back  to  work.  I  just  said  some  things  to my mother I  should have  said  a long  time ago.”  Jo  said  with a  calmness  that  surprised  her.  “She  has  been  told  she  will  respect this  as my  home and  she  will  not  dictate  who  can and  cannot  be here.  I told her  you and Johnny were  taking  the kids  Memorial Day weekend  as  we planned.   She  can’t  just  come in here and  start  making  demands”

 

“Jo, please,  I  don’t  want to   cause any problems  between you and  your  parents.  If  you  want the  kids to  go  with her and  your  dad…”

 

“No,   they are  excited about  being  with  you.   You  and  Kathy  have a  wonderful  week end  planned and I am  almost  jealous  we  won’t  be there.”

 

“ I  was  with  you when  you  got that new  nightgown at  Styles Remembered.  You will  be having a  fantastic  time.”  Jo  giggled  thinking of  the lacy  black gown.   “ The  room  has a  double  width  Jacuzzi   tub  in it.   And  you are  going to  love the view  from the  balcony.”   This week end  away  was  a  anniversary   present  to  them  from  her and Johnny.   It  was  at the  hotel  Lee and  Johnny had  stayed  at  on  one of their  week end  getaways.

 

Lee  called  a  cab and  left.  Jo  wasn’t  happy  that she  felt  like  she had to leave  but  respected her and appreciated  the  fact that she  didn’t  want to  make the  kids uncomfortable.   It had  taken  time for  Lee to be  comfortable  around  them  after the  last  run in  with  Jo’s  mother.

 

The  kids were  surprised to see their  grandmother.   She  gave Chris a  hug  but  remembered he  was too  old  for  kisses.  Jen  settled  down   next to her  grandmother  excited to  tell  them  about her  day.   There  was only a few more  school  days.   The  Friday before the  long  week  end  was the  school  fitness day.  They  would have  races and  games and a picnic  lunch.  And she   could  wear the new  shorts and  shirt Aunt Lee had  gotten  her.  Stacy had  gotten one  just  like it  in purple,  her  favorite color.  Jen’s  was pink.

 

“Well,  I  hope  once  school is  out  you can  find  time  in  your  busy summer schedule  to  come  visit your  grandfather and  me.   I had a  wonderful  week end  planned  for us  but  I   guess  you already have plans  for  Memorial  day week  end.”   She let out a  long  sad  sigh.

 

“Uncle  Johnny  and  Aunt  Lee have  rented a  cabin  and we are  gonna   get to  go out on a  pontoon  boat.  The  cabin  has a  big  fireplace   you  can  cook  in  and a  fire  ring  for  cooking  outside.  Uncle  Johnny  said  we can  rent  bikes  and there  is even a  trail  that  Aunt  Lee  can  go on.  The  water  will  be  too  cold  to  swim  in  but  it  still  will be  fun  on  the  boat.” 

 

“Your grandfather is  going to  be so  disappointed  you  won’t  be  coming  down.  He had  such  good things planned.  There is  going to be a special  holiday  picnic  at  church on  Sunday  after  services.  On  Saturday  there is all  kinds of  special  things at the  zoo with a  spectacular  fireworks  display.   He  was so  excited  to  be  taking  you…”   sigh.   “Chris  there are  going  to  be  sports  clinics  with a  variety of professional  athletes.  There is  going to be a Victorian  doll  house  display  and  a  doll  fashion  show   and  tea.  I  thought  we  could  do  that  while  Chris and  grandpa  did  the  guy  stuff.”

Chris  looked  unhappy.  It  was  like  she  was  forcing  him  to chose  between  being  with  his  uncle  or  his  grandpa.   Jim  and  Jimmy  were  going to  be at the  cabin  and they had  planned on a  hike and  maybe  getting to sleep outside  in  a tent  if  the  night weather  was  warm enough.  He  didn’t  want to  hurt his  grandfather’s  feeling  but  it  didn’t  seem  fair to  change  his mind  after all the  plans  had been  made. 

 

Jenny  listened  to her  grandmother  talk about the  zoo.  It  sounded fun to go to a Victorian  tea and  doll  fashion  show.   Mom  and  Aunt Kathy  had  said  maybe it  wasn’t a  good  idea  to take  Jenny  Lee and Stacy Lee  with  them  to the  lake.  She  bet  grandma  would  let her  take  Stacy  Lee  to the  doll  fashion  show.  But if  she  went  with  Aunt  Lee and Uncle  Johnny  she’d  get  to be with  Stacy  and  she  knew  that  would  be  lots of  fun.  Uncle  Johnny had  promised  a  long  bike  ride and  a  hike  to see the  wild  flowers with  Aunt  Lee…

 

Jo had  gone out to the  kitchen to get  the  kids a snack and  fix  some  tea  for her and her mom.   She   could  hear  Jenny telling her  grandma  all about the  school  day and the  planned  fitness  day and  picnic.  And  they  could  wear  shorts to  school  that  day!   Jo  smiled  listening to  her  daughter  being  so  excited.  Then she heard her  mother  as she  started into the  living  room  with the  tray of  snacks.   She  said a  silent  Thank  You   to  Lee for   being  wise  enough  to  leave.  This  was  not  going to be  pretty.

 

“Maybe you should  ask  your  mother if  you could  come  with   me and  grandpa  that  week  end.   You  can   go  to a  cabin and  a boat  ride any  weekend  or even during the week once school is  out.   With the  strange hours  your  dad works   he  could  take  you up to the  lake  for a  few  days.   If he had a  job  with  regular  hours…but  I’m sure he  could find  time  for  just you  four to do  something as a  family.”

 

“Kids, take your snacks  and  go  upstairs.  I’m  sure  you have  homework  to  do.’

 

“Joanne, that can  wait…I get to  spend  so  little time  with  the  children.  I am sure they can get their  homework  done  later.”

 

“I   think it’s  better they  go  upstairs.”    Jen and  Chris  wasn’t  sure  what had  happened  but  they  knew  that  tone  and  look  on  their  mother’s  face.    That tone and  face  meant  do as I  say and  no arguments.

 

“I don’t  understand why   they  had  to go do their  homework   right  this  minute.”   Her  mother  said.   The  whinny  tone    grated on  Jo’s  nerves.


“Apparently  there are  several  things  you  didn’t  understand.   I  just   told you  that  my  children  were  not  going to be pawns in  your  ego  games?  They are  going to  the  lake with  Lee and  Johnny   and  there is no  way I  am  letting  you  blackmail  me  emotionally into  giving in  to  you.  I   guess I  shouldn’t  be  surprised  you  did  that  since  that is  how  you have always  acted.   Jenny and  Chris    a  wonderful  time  with  Lee and  Johnny  and the  Kildare  family.   Roy  and I  will have a  wonderful  romantic  weekend   and on  Monday  we  will all have  dinner together.   I  am  sure  you  can  find   something  to  do  that  weekend.”

 

“You  would  choose  being  friends with those  people  over  your  mother and  father?”

 

“No,   you are  choosing to  let  your  need  to  be in  control  and  for  refusing to  accept  the  fact  that I  love  my  husband  in  spite of the  fact you  disapprove,  remove  you  from  our  lives.”

 

“Very  well,  call  me  when  you  come  to  your  senses.”  She  got  up and  walked to the  door.  She  stopped  waiting  for   Jo  to  beg  her to  forgive her.  

 

“The  telephone works both ways.   Tell  dad I  said  hello  and have a  safe trip  home.”

 

After the  door  slammed  shut,   Jo  stood  there thinking,  trying to decide  what she felt.   It  was a  mixture of sadness and relief.   This  conversation  should have  happen a  long  time  ago  but she had  kept  hoping  her  mom  would  change.  Maybe  after she  cooled  down and  found  out  Jo  wasn’t  going to  call   they  could  start  a  new  better relationship.  One   where  everyone  was  treated  like an  adult and  with  respect.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

When  Roy  came in  the  next  morning the  kids  had  already  left  for  school.  They had  a  run  at  7  and  did   not  get  back  to  the  station  until  8:30.   Jo  had  finished  cleaning  upstairs and   was  putting in the  second  load of  laundry  when he  came in.


“Hey,  Babe,  sorry  I’m  late.”  He  sat  down at the  table  and she brought him  a  cup of  coffee.  “Kids  get off  ok?”  She set the  coffee  down and gave him a  kiss.

 

“Yes.   Chris  has  two  end of the  year  tests  today  and  was  looking  forward to those  being  done.   Said  that the  last  school days  were a waste of  time.”

 

“I  have to agree with him.   It’s  hard to tell  who is  more  excited  about  this  weekend  at the  lake.  Them or Johnny.”

 

“My mother  wants the kids  for that weekend.”  Jo  said as she  sat  down.

 

“Did  you  tell her  no?”    He knew  how  much  Lee  was  looking  forward to this  weekend.  And  for the  first time in awhile  she  really  wanted to be with the  kids. 

 

“I  told her  no  when she  first  mentioned it…and I  told  her  no   after she  brought it  up  to the  kids and  was trying  to  get them to  say  they  didn’t  want to  go  with  Johnny  and  Lee.   I  also  told her I  wouldn’t  listen to her  snide  little  comments about  them or  you any  longer.  That she  would  show  respect  when  she  was  in  this  house or  she  wouldn’t  be  welcome.    She  walked out  slamming  the  door.”  Roy  saw the  sadness  in her  eyes but also saw the  relief.

 

“Sorry I  wasn’t  here …I  could have  been  the  bad  guy,  she already  dislikes me.”

 

“I  should of  stood  up to  her a long  time ago.   When  she  calls I  will be polite and  when she  comes  over  again  I  will  stand  my  ground.   She   has  gotten away  with   behaving  like  that   far too  long.  I  guess I  hoped  she  would  change.   When  she  saw  what a good  husband  and  father  you  were and understood  how  important  your  job  was,  she would  stop  being such a  snob.”

 

“As  long as you’re  happy  with me  she  doesn’t  matter  other than it makes you  unhappy.”   She had  stood up and  went over to the  stove to  fix  his  eggs.

 

“I  love her and  dad  but I  won’t allow that  behavior  in  this  house  any  more.  I  mean,  what  does  that  teach the kids?  Its ok to make plans with  someone  then  cancel if  something  better  comes along?”

 

“So  did  the kids say anything to you about  what they thought  about  it?”
Jo put a plate of  bacon and  eggs  in  front of  him.

 

“Chris  said  he  was sorry if  his wanting to  go with  Uncle  Johnny  and  Aunt Lee made his  grandmother  unhappy  but he  was really looking  forward to all the stuff  they had  planned and  with  getting to do  some  extra things with  Jimmy.”

 

“What  did  Jen  say?”  he  asked  between  bites.

 

“She  was sorry that her  grandma  and  grandpa were  sad but  she  really  wanted to  go to the  lake.  She  knew Stacy would  be  sad if  she  didn’t  keep  her  promise  and  so  would  Aunt  Lee.   And  she  never  wanted to make  Aunt  Lee  cry  again  or  have  Uncle  Johnny  mad at her  for  making Aunt Lee  cry  again.”   Jo  took a  sip of  her  coffee  before  continuing.  “Our daughter is a  very  perspective  young lady.   She  asked  me if   you and  Uncle  Johnny  would  always be  best  friends and  brothers  even if  Aunt  Lee  didn’t  want to  come over  any  more.   Or  would he  leave  like  he  did  that  day…She  was afraid  he  was  never  coming  back.  Said he  was  so mad he  didn’t even  want the  apple  pie  we made .”

 

“She has  a point…he  does love your apple  pie.”

 

“I told her he wasn’t mad  that day but what was said had  made  him very  sad.”

 

“Good  answer.  Even  as  upset  as he  was  that  day  he   was  worried  about the kids being  in  trouble.   You  think  your  mom  will  stay  mad at  you for  long?”

 

“I  honestly don’t know.   But, I  do  know  I  am glad I  finally   told her  what  I  thought.   Sorry I didn’t  do it  before,  I  know it hasn’t  been  easy for  you.”

 

“After awhile it  was  just noise.  Irritating  but  not  harmful.”  They talked  some  more as  Roy  ate.  He went  up to take  a nap  and  Jo  finished her  housework  then  went  back  to  work  on  the  grant  applications.   By  the  time  they  were  going to have to get a new  car she  should  have  most of the  money  saved  so  they  wouldn’t have a  car payment or   if they  did  it  wouldn’t  be a  very  large one. 

 
**************************************

 

Jim  and Jimmy  Kildare  were  putting the  last of  the  back packs,  duffle  bags and  food in the  back of their   station  wagon.   Jo was  going to meet Johnny  at the  station  so he could  take  Jenny  and  Chris  and  their  stuff  on  home  with  him.

 

“Dad, why  doesn’t  mom  drive the station wagon and  Aunt  Lee and Stacy  and Jen can ride together and me and you and Chris can go with Uncle  Johnny.”

 

“Maybe   Johnny  rather  spend  the  two  hours or  so it’ll  take to get to  the  lake  with  Lee instead of  us.   Or maybe  your  mom  doesn’t  want to  drive.”

 

“Then can Chris ride with us and Stacy with Jenny?”

 

“Now that we can  probably do.”   They  were  taking  two  cars in case  there  was  an emergency  and  Jim had to leave early to get back to the  hospital.

 

Jo  watched as  the  kids  loaded  up  their  back  packs.  Roy  had  taken  the  soda  and  snacks   to  work  with him  yesterday  so  they  were already  safely packed away in the Rover.  They had agreed that the girls  could  take  the dolls and a limited amount of clothing for them.  But the dolls were not to be taken on the boat or any hikes.  The  boys had  been  allowed to take  some sports equipment  as well as fishing poles.

 

“Johnny, you have all the papers in case of an emergency,  right?”   Roy asked as they were changing.

 

“Yes, Lee has the originals in the office and  has two notarized copies.  One in  the Rover’s  glove compartment  and  one  at the  house.”  Johnny said. “Lee  also  has  a  copy of their  medical  history  and  the names of their doctor and  contact information  for  your mom  and Jo’s  parents.  We have the  number of the  hotel …You have the phone number..”    He stopped  what he was  doing and looked at  Roy,  puzzled.  “Are  you worried about  the kids’ safety?  We will  also have  two very  qualified  doctors  with  us.”   Surprised at the  questions.

 

Before Roy could  answer  Chet  did.  “Gage, we’re   proud of  you.  Finally  thinking  ahead and  planning for your next  disaster.  Lee hired two doctors to nursemaid you?”

 

“I am not  worried  about  my kids  being  with  you,  you  know  that.   I  was  just  going  over  all  the stuff I  was suppose to  give  Lee.  I didn’t  want  her worrying about  anything.”  Turning to  Chet  to  give  Johnny a  minute more to  cool  down.   “We  trust Lee and Johnny, they  watch over  those two just the same as we do.  If  not  closer  some  times.   Come on, Junior,  Jo  and the  kids  should  be here by  now.”

 

When  Chet  came out of the  locker  room  he  saw Jo  and  the  kids.   He  knew  she was as  over protective  of  Lee and  Johnny  as Roy  was  so  he  was  careful  to  keep  the   conversation   light  and  friendly.   By  8:10  Johnny   was on  his  way  to the apartment  and  Roy  was  following  Jo  back  to their  house.   If what he had  overheard  earlier  was  true  he  didn’t  want to  get  on  the  bad  side of  either  couple.   Not  that he  really  wanted to  be on their  bad side  for  any  reason.  It  just  seemed  for  some reason  Lee  took everything  he  said or  did  way  to seriously.


****************


Lee  was  downstairs waiting for  Johnny  and the  kids.  She  agreed  that it  was probably  more  fun  for the  kids to ride  in  pairs.  When  Jimmy suggested  that  Lee ride with his mom Lee said no,  she  wanted to  ride  with  Johnny.   The  trip up to the cabin was an easy one.  The girls were  happily chatting in the backseat with the dolls.

 

The  cabin had  been  built by a friend of Ben Oliver.  It  was fully  handicapped accessible  since  the  builder’s   wife had  been  hurt in a  car accident.  The  path to the  dock was paved and the dock was at the perfect  level with the  pontoon  boat’s  deck.   The  inside of the  cabin  was also designed for a  wheelchair user.  The  upstairs had  been for  the couples  teenagers and  was  basically a loft  apartment.  There  were  two bedrooms  upstairs and a  pull  out  sofa.   A  small kitchen and  bath  made the loft self sufficient.   There were pathways  into the  trees  and a  nice  fire ring  and  picnic  area  out  away  from  the  cabin.  The  owner’s  wife had  died  and  he  was thinking  of  moving  to Maryland where his son  now lived.  For  now, at least, he  was  just interested in renting the cabin out.   Ben  had  suggested he call  Lee.  She and Johnny had driven up and Lee had fallen  in  love  with  the  cabin and  grounds.   They had  rented it  for the  entire summer,  including the boat.

 

“This isn’t a cabin, it’s a  beautiful  home.”  Kathy said as they got  out of the  car.  “When  you said  cabin I  wasn’t  expecting  this.”

 

“This  was  the owner’s  summer  home and  they  called it a cabin.   If  he  decides  to sell  we’ll  buy it.   I  think  Ben   has  been  talking to him  about it.”  Lee and  Kathy were  fixing  lunch  while  Johnny,  Jim  and the  kids  were  outside  exploring.  “It’s  perfect for us.  Whenever anyone  wants  to  come  visit they can have the upstairs.  They  just have to  do  their own  cleaning  up there.   Johnny  said  the view up  there was fantastic.    He  wanted to carry me up there before but I said  no.”

 

“Well,  I  think  this  place is  perfect  for you.   Even the  cabinets  and  counters are at a good  height  for  you.”

 

“Yep…you  want  to  tell  them  everything is  ready.   They  can  fix  their  plates in here  then  eat outside or  in.”

 

When  they  finished  lunch  Kathy, Jim and  the  kids  went  upstairs and put away  their  things.  Johnny  and  Lee went into their  bedroom  and  put the  few things  they had  brought  up  away.     Since  there  was a washer and  dryer there  Lee had  brought  up  mostly  things  they  could  leave  there.  The  sheets  and  towels, cleaning  items,  etc.   She had even  brought  some  extra  pots and  pans and  muffin and  loaf  pans.    Johnny  had  insisted  she  get out of  her  chair and lay  down for awhile.  He was  putting  clothes in the closet and  dresser drawers.

 

“This room is  big  enough  we  could  put a  portable  crib  in here…or  even a  regular one…but I  really  liked  your  idea  of  building a  secure  platform  and  setting  the  port crib in  it.   We  could have it  at the  perfect  height  for me to  lift  a baby  in and  out   when  you  weren’t  home.  It  would  be a  little  low  for  you.  I   don’t  want  to have to  depend  on  other  people to take care of our baby.”

 

“I like hearing  you  say that,  our  baby.  I  was worried  you had  given up  on  the idea.”  Johnny  was  relieved to hear her being so positive.

 

“No,  I  think  when  the  time is  right and the  right  baby  is  out  there  and  needs  us…Johnny,  you  didn’t give up on us, did  you?”

 

“Never  Baby girl.   That  would  kind of  like  giving  up  on  breathing.  Can’t live without either one of those  things.”   He  went  over to the  bed and  laid  down beside her.  “Sometimes I worry  that  you’ll  get  so  caught  up in what I want that you  forget  what you want and  need.  Just  never  forget  you  are  a  very  important  person in  your  own  right.  You are more than  an  extension of  me or  your  job  or  your  uncles or  parents.”    He  kissed her on her  forehead,  then  her  mouth, a  deep  probing  kiss.  As she returned the kiss there was a  knock on the door.

 

“Uncle  Johnny,  dad  wants  to  know if  you’re  ready  to go  get the  bikes?” Lee  looked at him and  giggled as he got up and started over to the bathroom.

 

“Be  there in a  minute.”   He  gave  her a  frustrated  glance  then   laughed.  “That is the one disadvantage of  having  kids.”  

 

While Johnny, Jimmy and the boys went to the bike rental  place Lee, Kathy and the girls set out on the  deck.  The  girls  were  content  to  play with the  dolls,  Lee and  Kathy  had  books.   “We  need to  get a  wooden  lounger  for  up here.”   She  was sitting in a  regular  wooden   chair.  Johnny  had  brought the foot  stool from  inside out  so she  could   put  her  legs up.   You  know  you all  can  come  up  any  time,  even if  we aren’t  up here.   If  we  buy  this  I  think  we would  have a small  pool  put in.    It  will  be  pretty up  here in the  fall.   I  could  see having a  Thanksgiving  Day  up  here.    Or  even a  Christmas…I  didn’t  know it  took so long to get a  house  built  once  you  get the  design  settled  and  the  permits. 

 

“Aunt Lee,  when  you and  Uncle  Johnny get a  baby I’ll   help  you…So  will  Jenny.  I  can  tell  her  how  lucky  she is  to have  someone  pick  her  out  special.”

 

“What if its a boy?”  Lee  looked at the serious little girls.

 

“We’d  still  help  but we think you  should  get a girl  first.  Then she  can  be a  big  sister .   What  do  you  want?”

 

“A happy healthy  baby  that  we can all love and help  grow.   I  think  Uncle  Johnny  wants a  boy.”

 

“I’m  glad  you aren’t  mad at me  and  Chris  any  more.  I love you a lot  and so does  Chris,  it’s  just  boys  don’t  say  it.  What  grandma said was  wrong  and it was wrong what we did…”

 

“Sometimes it’s hard to be a little kid and sometimes it’s hard to be a big kid  or an adult.   We all say and do things we are sorry for.  I  was never  mad at you  sweetheart.  I  got  my  feelings  hurt  but  that  wasn’t  your  fault.  I  let  something someone said  make me feel bad about  myself.   I  should have  remembered  how  much I  love  you and  Chris  and  I would have  known  you  would  never  have  done anything or  said  anything  mean  to  hurt me.   I  guess  the  best  way it  explain is  that I  get  scared  some  time.”

 

“Like  Uncle  Johnny  use to  get  scared and  go  hide  in the  gray  place?  He  doesn’t  do that anymore because he  has  us to be his  safe  place  and  doesn’t  need  the  gray  place  anymore.”

 

“Yeah,  it’s  a lot  like  that.   I  get  scared and  run  away from  people.”

 

“Well,  you  don’t have to  be scared  because  we  can  be your  safe  place.  Me and  Stacy  and  all  of us.  Grandma  was  wrong,  we aren’t a  pretend  family  we’re  a real  family. “

 

“Yes  we are and  I  am so  lucky  to have  such  a  wonderful and  smart  family.”   Kathy could  hear the tears in Lee’s voice and  see them in her  eyes but she knew they were tears of gladness.   Kathy was so  proud of the  two  little  girls.  They had given Lee exactly what she needed right then  a  sense of  belonging.  

 

“Do  you  think  the guys will  catch  enough  fish  tonight for  dinner or  should we plan on a cook out?”  Kathy asked wanting to change the  subject.

 

“A  cook  out  tonight…can we have it at the fire ring or  just here on the  deck?”

 

“That’s an Uncle Johnny question.”

 

The Rover pulled in with a trailer on its back.  In the trailer was 5 adult    bikes and  2  smaller ones.   Everyone  except  Lee  was out  helping to  unload.

 

“Why  5 big bikes?”  Kathy asked  as they  were  being  unloaded.  “You  only needed  4.”  

 

“You,  dad,  me, Chris  and  Uncle Johnny.”  Jimmy  said  giving  his mother  a ‘ I  don’t  believe  you  didn’t  know  that’  look.  

 

“Um,  no,   that isn’t  going to  happen.  You and  your  dad and  Johnny  can  go  riding.  I  don’t  think it  would be very nice if we all went riding at once.”   Kathy said  frowning.  

 

“Lee’s the one  who ordered the bikes and if you have a problem ask her.”   Johnny said.  He wasn’t about to get into an argument with her about the  fact they sometimes  treated her as if  she needed a baby sitter.  “She is in  charge this week end.”

 

“Isn’t  she  always?   Although you do get to decide if  we  use the  grill  on the  deck  or the fire ring to cook tonight.”

 

Laughing, Johnny  thought about it for a minute.  “Let’s use the  grill tonight  for the  burgers and  steaks,  tomorrow  night  we’ll  do our  fresh caught fish at the fire ring.”

 

“Or the hot  dogs depending on how  good of  fishermen  you are.”  Kathy  teased.

 

“Don’t  be  surprised,  Lee  catches a lot…think  because she is  so patient.”  

 

“Yeah  and  she  even baits  her own  hook  without  closing her  eyes  now..”  Chris added.   They  went  back  up onto the  deck.  Lee  looked  up  from her  book.   “You all  ready  to go for a  bike  ride?”
 
Water  bottles are in the freezer and snack bags are ready.   I made up a  batch of  trail mix for you all.   And there are granola bars too, but they are  for  tomorrow  on the  boat.”   Everyone   except   Kathy   got  the  water  bottles and  snacks  and  went  down  to where the  bikes  were  waiting.

 

“I  don’t  think I  want to  go on a  5  mile  bike  ride.”

 

“Well,  why  don’t  you and  the  girls  ride  as  far as you  want  then  turn  back?  I  think  Stacy is  really  looking  forward  to  you  going  riding  with her.”

 

You’ll  be ok  by“ yourself?  I  mean  its  not  like  you  were at  home.”

 

“I will be fine.  If  it makes  you happier I  will  transfer  into my  chair  before you all  leave.  I  have my  book,  my needle work…There is  a lot  of  our favorite  music  up  here,  we  brought  copies  of a lot of  stuff  last time.   We even get  2  channels on the  TV…not the  greatest  reception  but  good  enough.   If  you  noticed  Johnny  brought  the  regular  chair  not the  travel  chair  because he  figured I’d  be  in it  more than  normal.”


(The  seating  in  her  regular  chair  offered  more  support than the  light  weight  travel  chair   she  took  when she  was  by  herself.)   Kathy   relax,  it’s  ok…I  can  do  fine  by  myself.   If   my family doesn’t  trust me alone   why should  strangers?   Why  would  they  trust me  with a  child? I  am not  going to be a part  time  mother,  I am going to be a full time mother  or I won’t be one at all.   If  I  didn’t  think I  could  take  care of a  baby  I would  have never agreed to starting this adoption  process.   Johnny  and I  are  gonna  be ok  even if we  don’t  get accepted  by an adoption agency.  I got to keep thinking it will work out.  Now,  go ride  with  your  daughter.”

 

After  they  left.  Lee  read awhile  then  went inside.  She mixed  up  a  pan 
of  yeast rolls and got the potatoes ready to  roast.  She puttered  around  the  kitchen  then  went  into  the  bedroom.  Using the dresser as a  support  she stood up  and  got  her  balance.   Doing  the  exercises kept  her  mind  busy since  she had  to concentrate on  the  movements.  But  as  she did  the  ones   where she  was  sitting  it  was  easier  to let  her  mind   wonder.   She began  going over the  plans  for the  skill  challenge.    It  was  coming together and  she  was  looking  forward to it being  over in  two  weeks. 

  The guys  had  been  doing  drills  every  free   minute.   Hank  was  feeling more  pressure  than he  should  because of  his  paranoia  of  McConnikee  and  the  guys  were feeling  the  pressure to  represent  Station 51and  make  Hank  proud of  them.    The  Chiefs  had invited  15  stations  from  L.A.  county   and  5  other departments  as  this  was a  test  year  for  what they   and the  state  hoped  was  to become an  annual  event   that included  more  departments  from  all over the  state.  She  finished the  exercises  then  went  back  out  to  the  kitchen.  She  fixed a   fruit  salad  to  go  with the  brownies  she 

had  made.

 

Kathy  and   the  girls  were  riding  behind  the   guys.  So  far they had  done   fairly  good at  keeping  up  with them.  They had  ridden about  2  miles and it  was  fairly  level on a  well  worn  path.  

 

“Mom,   my  legs   hurt.”  Stacy  said  as  they  went  up a  small  incline.  Can  we  go  back?”  They  had  stopped  to rest a  minute.  Jimmy  and  the  boys  had  kept  going,  Johnny  had  circled  back .
 
“Everyone ok?”  He asked   looking  closely at the  girls.  

 

“I  think  we are  going to go back.   I  am  sure the  boys  will  be  happy  to  go  faster  and farther.”

 

“It’s  not about  going  faster or  farther.   Its  about    having  fun…Look,  Jim  has a  handi talker  so  you  take  this one.    Just in  case.   Tell  Lee  we  should   be  back  in about 45  minutes.  I  don’t  want to  be out here in the  dark.”

 

“Ok,  we’ll  plan  on  eating in about  an  hour  then…you   have fun and  take  care.” 

 

“You girls  take  good  care of  your  mom and  Aunt  Lee for me, ok?”  Johnny  asked  with a wink.  “Don’t  let  those  two  plot  against  us  guys, ok?”

 

“We  won’t.”  Very  serious.  

 

Kathy and  the  girls  went  back  to the  cabin and  found  Lee out on the  deck  reading   and  listening to a  tape  Johnny had  made  for  her. Johnny  had  loved  the  new  cassette  deck  she had  given  him  for  Valentine’s  Day.  It made  making  copies of  tapes  really  easy as  well as  making  tapes  from  records  or the  radio  easy.   When Kathy  saw all the  prep  work  for  dinner  was  done  she  decided  to  get a  shower and  clean  up  before  dinner.    The  girls  had  their  dolls and were  playing on  the  deck  while  Lee  watched and  occasionally  joined in the  conversation.  

 

“Can  we  go  down to the  dock?”  Stacy  asked.

 

“Why?”   Lee said  looking at the two.  “What are you two  up  to?”

 

“We   just  want to  look at the  boat.  We  won’t  go  near the  end   honest.”  Jenny  said.  “We  want to  take our  drawing  pads  down and  make  some  pictures  for our  scrap  books.  Please.”   Stacy  had  developed   an interest  in  drawing   and  was  pretty  good   at it.  Lee had  bought  both  girls a sketch  book and  some  water color  pencils.

 

“Ok,  but  leave the  dolls in the  house.”

 

The  path  to the  dock  was  an  easy  one  and  Lee had  no  trouble.  The    two  girls  chatted  away.  As they  got on the  dock  Lee  reminded then  to  stay away  from  the  edges.    There  were several  boats  out on the  lake,  small  ones.  Lee  could  hear  children  laughing  and  looked to see the  source.  It  was a small  aluminum  boat  with a man and  2  children.  She  frowned  when she  saw  none of the occupants  had  life  jackets  on.   She  could  hear  the  motor  on the  boat and it  didn’t  sound  very  powerful.   Then  she heard  the  other   boat.  It  was  larger and  going  too fast.  The  wake it  was  creating  was  making  the  smaller boat   rock and  bounce.    Lee  watched  as  the  larger  speed  boat  came  closer  to the  small  boat  intentionally  making it  rock  and  jump.  She  could  hear the  boys  in  the  speed  boat  shouting and  laughing. 

 

“Write  these  numbers  down,  for me…K H Y  9876...”  Lee  said  as  she  saw  the  back  end of the  speed  boat.   The  name  Tom’s  Toy   was  painted on the  back.   She  had  decided to  call  the  Rangers and  report the  boaters   when they  went   back  up  to the  cabin.    They  could  hear the  older man in the  small  boat  yelling  and  the  boys  laughing   and  shouting.  “Girls,   let’s  go  back   and  start the  grill.”    Lee  didn’t think  they needed to  hear the  language  coming  from the  speed  boat.   Just  as Lee  started to  turn her  chair around  they  heard  the  screams.  The  wake  and the  movement of the  frightened  children  had   capsized  the  small   boat. 

 

“Run…call the  Ranger  station and  say  we  need  help…The  number is  by  the  phone,”  Lee  ordered.  The  two  little  girls  went  running.  Looking  around  Lee  knew she  couldn’t  reach  the  life  jackets on  their  boat  in  time.  Wheeling  to the  edge of the  deck   she  locked  her  chair and  quickly  moved  the   foot  rest.  Standing  up and   pushing  herself  forward  she  dove into the  water  

 

 Lee  hit the cold water  and  the muscles in her  back and  legs  tightened   but  she   kept  swimming  towards  the   boat.  The   speed  boat  had  ignored  the  screams and  kept on  racing  away  from the  capsized  boat.   She  was able to  swim  faster under  water coming up  for air as little  as  possible.  She  came  up  and  looked around.  The  man   had a  tight  grip  on  a  child  and  was  looking  around   calling  for  the  other.  

 

 Lee  went   down  under the water  and  kicked  harder,  her  arms  pulling  through  the  water with  strong  strokes.    Coming  closer to the  boat  she  saw a  splash  of  bright  neon   pink  floating  on  the  water.  Somehow she  found  an  extra  burst  of  energy and  swam   over to the  pink.  Grabbing  the  child  she  quickly   turned  her  over and  raised  her  head  out  of the  water.  Treading water, she  saw the  man and  boy coming  towards her.  The  boy was holding onto a life jacket and  kicking  as  he  was  being  towed.  Lee  managed  to get  turned  around  and  headed  towards the  dock.

 

“MOM!   AUNT  KATHY!   HELP”    Kathy  heard the  frantic  screams  of the  girls  as she  started  out on the  deck.  She  saw both  girls  running  towards  her  then  scanning  the  dock she  saw the  empty  wheelchair.  She  ran  to  meet the  girls.


“AUNT  LEE  SAID  CALL THE  RANGERS  THE  BOAT  WENT  OVER…PEOPLE  NEED  HELP… TWO  KIDS…HELP  HER  MOM!”  Kathy  heard the  frantic voices as  she  turned  back  to the cabin.  She  knew there  was a  list of  Emergency  numbers  by  the  phone.


She  dialed  the  numbers  trying to  remember  where  she had  put her  handi talkie…on  the  dining room  table or  on  the  dresser  upstairs. 

 

“Ranger Station.”  They  answered on the  third  ring.

 

“There is a  boat capsized  you  can see it  from the deck at the  Brewer  cabin…Not sure how many were in it…”

 

“Two  kids and a man”   Stacy  said as she and Jen came into the  room.

 

“My  daughter  just  said  2  kids and a  man…Please  hurry.”

 

“Help is on the way.  We are about 10 minutes from there.”  

 

Hanging  up Kathy went upstairs to get Jim’ medical bag.  He had  brought it  just in case he  needed to  go  back  to the  hospital  directly  from  the  cabin.  She  knew  that  Johnny  had  his  emergency  kit  with  him  also.   Looking  around  she  found  the  handi  talkie and  was  keying it as she  went  down  the  stairs.  She  went into the  closet  in the  hallway  and  grabbed  some  blankets she had  seen  there  earlier.  “Girls   go  get the  blankets  from  your  bed and  some towels  and  bring  them to me.” 


Thinking  with any  luck  Lee and the man  would  be  back  to the  dock  before the  Rangers  got  there.   Praying the  guys were on their way back.

 

“Hey we are almost  there.”  Johnny  said  before she  could  say  anything.  “We  can see the  cabin  now.”

 

“Hurry…Lee’s  in  the water…she’s trying to save a  child…”  Kathy  said as she was  running down  to the  dock. 

 

Johnny and  Jim   left the boys  behind  as they  peddled  faster  down  to the  dock.   When he saw  the  empty  wheelchair  on  the  edge of the  dock  he  felt  sick.   This  time of  year  that  water  was probably  less than  50 degrees.  God  only  knew  what that  was  doing  to her  back and  legs  not to  mention  to a  child…He  looked out and  saw  her  slowly   moving  towards  shore  and  then  saw  the man  struggling  even  more than she  was.   He  knew she  could  tread  water  for what  seemed  forever  so  as  he  jumped off the  bike and hit the  water.   He  headed  for  the  man and  child he was towing.    Lee heard  the  splash  as  Johnny  entered  the  water and  was  glad to  see he  was  headed  towards  the  man and boy.  The  boy  was kicking  and  she  had  been  afraid  he  would  lose  his  grip  on  the  life  jacket.  As  long  as she  could  keep a  good  grip  on  the  little  girl  while making  head way  to the  shore  she  was ok. 

 

Jim and Kathy had spread out blankets and had  others  ready to  use to  warm the  swimmers.  Jim had  his and  had  bag gotten  Johnny’s  first aid  kit out  from the  Rover.   They had  sent the girls into the  house and  had asked the boys to keep an eye on them.

 

“Do  you  think  one of us  should  go in to  help  them?”   Kathy  asked as she  paced. 

 

“Neither one of us are that  good of  swimmers…we  can  probably  do more  good  here  when  they  get  out.”   They  were  relieved  to  see a  Ranger car  pull into  the  driveway.   The Rangers  hurried  down  to the dock  as  a  boat  moved into sight moving  cautiously towards the swimmers.

 

“You  called about a  capsized boat?”  They  noticed the blankets  and the  first aid kit and medical  bag.   “Looks  like  you have  medical  training.” 

 

“I’m  Dr. Jim  Kildare,  my  wife is also a  doctor.   Our friends  rented  this place for the  summer.”  Jim was watching as the boat  neared the man and boy that Johnny was with.  Soon as they got to the man, Johnny  headed  over to  Lee.  It  didn’t take him long  reach her.  

 

“Get the  girl… too cold  for her…”  Johnny  looked  back  to  where they were still  working  on  getting the  man  into  the  boat.  They  were  closer to the  shore than  the boat.  “Go.”  She  was  tired ,she was hurting and was scared for the  little girl.    Johnny  looked at her.  “I  love you.  Go.”


Lee  watched him swim towards the shore and  went after him.    Now   that the little girl was safe she could relax.   She  swam  towards the  shore  glad  that  the family  from the  boat was safe.   The  boat  came  up  next  to her.


“We’ll  pull you  in .”  The Ranger  said as they  pulled close.

 

“No…that  won’t  work…Get  those  two to  the  dock.”  The Rangers  looked  uncertain but did as they were  told. 

 

Johnny  carried the little girl over to the blankets and  began CPR  on her.  Soon she was  coughing , bringing  up the lake water she had swallowed.   Jim took the vitals as  Johnny  looked  around  to  check on  Lee.  He frowned as he saw the boat move  away from  her.   The  Rangers were up at the  house with Kathy and the  girls. 

 

“Jim,  You need anything  else?”  Johnny  questioned  looking  out  towards  Lee and the approaching  boat.  “I’m going  back out  there…They left her in that water.”

 

“Go.”  Jim  said as he wrapped the girl in several blankets  

 

Johnny  took  off at a  run.

 

Inside the  house the girls told the Rangers about  the fast  boat and  how it had made the  waves  jump  and  how they had been yelling.

 

“Aunt  Lee  said  we  should  come back  here.  She   doesn’t  like  people  who  use  bad  words…then  she yelled  for us to call the Rangers and  get  help…Then she  jumped into the  water. “

 

“Can  you tell us anything about the boat like what color it was?”

 

“It  was  white and  had a  green stripe  and  a  name  and  numbers…”  Stacy  went over to the  table to get her sketch book.   “See.  I  drew a  picture .   Aunt Lee told me to write the  numbers.  KHY9876  Tom’s Toy  was  printed on the side of the boat  in  the picture she had drawn.   “Then  Uncle  Johnny  and  Daddy  came  and  you  came…Mom   made  us  stay in the  house.”

 

“Well, I  would  say  you and  your  Aunt Lee  did  a  really  good  thing.  You  helped  save  three  people.”

“Just  like  Daddy and  Uncle  Johnny do at  work…right   Aunt  Kathy?”     Jen  said  proudly.

 

“Yes.  You  girls stay up here while the Ranger and I go back down.   Tell  the   boys   where  we  went.”  the  boys  were watching  from the  upstairs  balcony.

 

“Mom, is  Uncle  Johnny  gonna  be  mad at us?  He  told  us to take  care of  Aunt  Lee.”  Stacy  said  looking  very  concerned.    One of the Rangers had  went  on   down to the  dock.

 

“No,  honey.  He  was only  teasing  you.  He  knows there  was nothing  you or  I  could have  done to  keep  her  from  helping  those  people.   I  don’t  even he  could have.” 

 

As they were  walking  back  down to the  blankets.  “Why  wouldn’t he  wanted  her  to help  those  people?  That  dark  haired  guy?  He  didn’t  hesitate to dive in.   Isn’t she a  good swimmer?”

“As  strong as he is  if  not  stronger.”


 The  Ranger and  Jim  were helping  the   man and  the  12  year old  boy  out of the  boat.    Once they  were settled  safely  on the  dock the  boat  left.

 

Kathy and  Jim  got  vitals on the  two  and  Kathy  kept an  eye on the  little  girl  who  was wrapped  in  several  blankets.   When  she  was  done  helping  Jim,  she  turned to the  grandfather. 

 

  “May  I  take  your  granddaughter  up to the  house?  I  think  she is about the  same  size  as our  daughter…I  can  get her into  some  dry  warm  clothes.   Send  your  grandson  up  when  Jim is  done  with  him.  Then we will  see what  we can  find  for  you…”    After  she had  found  something  dry and  warm for them to  wear the Rangers and the  family left.  They had  cancelled the ambulance  and  the  grandfather had  said  they  would  see their  family  doctor  the  next  morning

Lee  was having  muscle spasms as  she  was treading water. It  was  getting  harder to  keep her  eyes  open  now  that the adrenalin  rush  had  faded.  She  could  see  them  taking  care of the  little  girl and the  boat  was almost to the  dock.  Johnny  would  come  help her.  He  was always  there  when she  needed  him.  Her  eyes  snapped  open  as she  felt  him  grab  her  and  began  towing her into  the  dock.  He  handed her  over  to  Jim  and  then  made  his  way  out of the water.    He  dropped   down  beside  her and  began  rubbing her  legs with a  towel and   talking  softly  to her   as  Jim  began   getting her  vitals.  They  put the  thermometer  under her  arm  since her teeth  were  chattering so  bad.    “Baby  girl,  what  am I  going to  do  with you?”


“Ki…kis..me  tell  mmmee .”  She closed her  eyes.  Jim had the Rangers  walk the older man  up to the  house.   “Luv me.”

 

I’ll  give you a kiss on your forehead and  tell you I  love you.”  Johnny  said as  bent  down and kissed her.  “That was a  line in a story her  dad use to  read her when she was little.   It was a story  about a  little  girl  who didn’t  listen  to her  dad .   He would  scold her for not listening  then  tell her  that.  She told me that once when she  thought I was scolding her.   It  was one of their  favorite  stories.” He  picked her up and started carrying her  up to the  house.  

 

“She saved that little girl’s life so don’t scold her too  much.”  Jim  said.

 

 Kathy  was watching  out  the  window and  saw the men  coming with  Lee.
“Boys,  go  bring her  chair up to the house,  please.”  She  opened  the  door  for  the  men  and  watched as Jim  and John went into the  bedroom.   She then  went out to see about the  kids.

 

Lee  was on  the  bed,  Jim  was  checking  her  vital signs.    Johnny  went into the  bathroom to set  up the   bath chair  and  start the water running.   He  came out,  stripped down to his  wet  boxers.  He  gathered her  up  and  took  her into the  bathroom.  Jim  went out to the  kitchen  leaving  the  door  open   in  case  Johnny  called for help.  The  warm  water  cascaded  over them as he  washed  her  hair  then  gently  washed  her  and  massaged  some of the  knotted  muscles he  increased the heat level slightly until the  knots  began  to  relax.  He  turned  off  the  water and  wrapped her in the  large  bath sheet he had  laid  on  the  back  of the  toilet.  He  carried her out, laid  her on the bed,   covering  her  with  a quilt  and a blanket.  He  quickly dried  himself  off and  put on dry clothes.   After  getting her into her  night gown he went  to the  door and  called  for Jim to come back in.   Jim  brought  two of the pain pills  Johnny  had  told him were in the  back of the  cabinet over the  fridge  and a  glass of  water. 

 

“Take  these.   While  you  get some  rest I’m gonna  check  out  Johnny’s  ears  so  you can stop worrying about him.”

 

“Then  make  him eat  and let me sleep for a little  bit…so nice and warm...just  want to  sleep.”  

 

Johnny  ate  but  didn’t  really  taste or  enjoy  the  food.  He  was so  intent on  listening   to every  sound  that  came  from  the  bedroom.  The  kids  stayed  outside  until  it  was too  dark and  cool  then  went  up stairs  to  play  a  board game   with Kathy  while  Jim  watched  TV.    He had  checked  out  Johnny’s  ears and they  looked  fine.  Johnny  promised  at the  first sign of  discomfort he  would have them  rechecked. 

 

The  next  morning  Lee  was a little  stiff and  moved  slowly and  gingerly.   After  breakfast they  took  the  picnic  lunch  Kathy had  fixed and  the  fishing  poles and  went  down to the  boat.  It  was a  good  morning  for  fishing  and all caught  several nice fish.   Lee  looked a  little  sad she  didn’t  get to  fish  but her   arms and  shoulders  were so stiff she  didn’t  think she  could  hold a  pole.   

 

“We cook fish at the fire ring  for lunch.   You  guys   gonna  help  clean  these  while  the ladies  gather  up   the rest of the stuff  we’ll  need?”

 

Johnny  had  came  up  to the cabin and  pushed  Lee and  one  load of the  picnic  supplies back to the  fire ring.   Kathy and  the  girls  were  just about to  follow  when  the  Rangers  pulled  up  to the  cabin.

“Sorry to bother you folks ,  but we need to  get statements  from  Mr. and  Mrs.  Gage.”

 

“No  problem if  you  don’t  mind a  short  walk…Everyone  else is out at the  fire ring.   Johnny is  cooking the fish we caught  this morning.  And I  am  sure  they have  the  coffee  brewing   by  now.” 

 

“I  trust there  wasn’t  any  serious  consequences  to  last night’s adventure  for  anyone?”  The older of the  two  Rangers  said as they  walked  the  path.  “We  haven’t  found  the   boat  yet  but  we are  looking and  so are the  local  law enforcement  agencies.”

“The Williams  seemed  like a  nice  family.  It’s a  shame  they  were treated  like  that.”

 

“They were  lucky you and your family were here.  I  hope  this  doesn’t   discourage  you  from coming  back.”

 

“I  know it hasn’t  Johnny  and  Lee  have  rented this  place  for the  summer and we  have an open  ended  invitation.” Kathy said.  “I  think  my kids are  planning to spend a lot of  time  up here.”

 

“You’re related to  the  couple  who  rented this  place?” The  Ranger asked.  “Do  you  think  they  will  testify  in  court?   If  we  can find  the other  boat…they could have  moved it to another  lake   by  now.”

 

“Lee’s  parents and mine  were  best friends and I  she has always  thought of  me as her  big  sister.”

 

“I  noticed last night the girls called them  Aunt  Lee and  Uncle  Johnny.   That  was  quick  thinking on  her part having  your  daughter  write  down the  boat’s  numbers

 

“You  are in  for  an interesting  interview.”    They  could  hear the  laughter and squeals coming from the picnic area.   They  saw  Johnny  racing  across the  open  space  with  the  four  kids chasing  him.  Lee and  Jim  were  sitting there  watching and laughing   “I doubt if he had  4  hours of  sleep  last night.   Knowing  him every time she  moved he was awake..  When I came down at  7 this morning he had coffee made and   breakfast  started.  She  was  finally  sleeping  peacefully so he had  came out to the kitchen.

 

Kathy  introduced Lee  to  Ranger  Rick  Martin. 

“Excuse me  for not shaking hands  but  my arms and shoulders  hurt  to  move.   Have you found  those idiots  yet?”

 

“No…Uhm,  if you  feel  up  to it  we’d  like to get your statement.  Then  we’ll  get your  husband’s .”   The  Ranger was  clearly uncomfortable.

 

“There  were three men,  probably late  teens,  early  twenties.  Two  dark  haired, one  red head  with  very  fair  skin.  He  was  being  macho and  didn’t have a shirt on  so he is  probably  burnt .  He  was the  loudest,  with a New York  accent.   They  were  showing off   making their  boat  jump  and  creating  a  wake  that  was pretty forceful.  It  even  made our  boat  bob.   When the  language  became offensive and  racist  I   told  the  girls  we  needed to  go  back  up to the  house.   Then  when I  heard the  screams I  sent  them  running  for help,  then  went in  after the  little  girl.   Johnny   came  about  the  same  time   your  boat  did.”


  Johnny  joined  them  and  soon  they had  finished the  interview. 

 

“Any questions?”  The Ranger asked as he  was  closing his  notebook. When  neither of them had a question the  Ranger  decided to ask   the one that had  been  nagging at them  since he had seen   Lee in the  wheelchair.

 

“Did  you know  what  would  happen   when  you  jumped into the lake  yesterday?”

 

“”Yes.”  Lee  answered  simply.  There  was a slight  smile   as she  looked over to Johnny.  

 

“Then   why  did  you?”

 

“Because I knew what would have happened if I  didn’t.”  

 

Continued in Part 3

Posted to Site 09/21/13

 

Links to Parts 1. 2. 3.

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