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Date Posted: 15:08:35 09/18/99 Sat
Author: E! SISTERS
Subject: HORAT OF EVIL - PART 10

Author: Brenda

"Hey Roy?" Mike called as he pushed through into his room,

relieved to see the look of happiness on both his and Joanne's faces -- something that had been missing for what felt like forever.

Actually, in Roy's case, he was more then smiling -- he was...beaming.

"MIke did ya hear? He's alive!" his voice full of excitement..

Mike patted his shoulder, unable to contain his own excitement. "Yes I did. Dixie just told us. Hey listen, we're on our way over to UCLA right now to see him."

"Thank God. Poor Johnny must think we all deserted him or soemthing." Joanne smiled in relief.

"Yeah. Cap's still over there as far as I know. We'll go over there and stay with him a while."

"Thanks Mike." Roy said, relief washing over him.

"Tell him I'll see him a little later, okay?" Joanne added.

"Sure thing." Mike was anxious to get moving and headed for the door.

"Hey Mike?"

"Yeah, Roy..."

"Hey, when you see him, tell him..." Roy's voice grew quiet and trailed off, unable to appropriately verbalize the heartfelt sentiment inside. Joanne squeezed his hand in support.

Mike understood completely. Of all of them, Roy would have been the most deeply hurt by Johnny's death -- Johnny was...family.

Mike's own voice softened as he looked back at his friend.

"I know Roy...will do."

Author: Sally

Dr. Kelly Brackett unlocked the door to his car......and slipped behind the wheel. Just as he inserted the keys into the car’s ignition, he heard a rapping on the passenger window. Looking over, he saw Dixie looking in -- motioning for him to unlock that door as well.

He heeded her bidding, then watched as she slid into the car.

“Can I offer you a ride some place?” Brackett asked, not quite managing to keep his grin totally masked.

“Your destination is my destination.” Dixie answered smartly.

“Oh? And your that sure you know where I’m headed?” Brackett toyed.

Looking at the ER physician and a long time friend, she threatened, “Look, are you going to get this jalopy going...or do I have to hot-wire the engine and drive myself over to UCLA!?”

“Jalopy! I’ll have you know this is a state-of-the-art machine!” Brackett growled, with mock indigence.

“It’s a gas-guzzling tug-boat!” Dixie countered, adding: “Now, drive!”

Turning the key, Brackett gave the Head Nurse a side-long glance. “And just where did you learn how to hot-wire a car?”

Without looking his way, Dixie responded brusquely: “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Doctor.”

Putting the car into gear, Kel Brackett muttered, “I’m sure there is!”
*********

“What the hell do ya mean-- we can’t see Johnny!?” Chet shouted at the Nurse blocking the entrance to the ICU.

“I’m sorry, but without special authorization...I have to enforce the policy.” The Nurse, who stood a head taller than Chet, responded. “It’s really for the patients’ welfare.”

“Look, Lady...we don’t give a damn about your stupid policies! All we want is to see Johnny!” Chet raged.

“Come on, Chet...calm down...” Stoker said, stepping forward to pull his firefighter pal away from the nurse.

Chet yanked his arm free of Stoker’s hold. “I’m gonna tell ya something...I did not spend forty-five minutes on the freeway and then drive around twenty-seven side streets to get passed accidents and...and...road construction...just to get here...and get sent away without seeing John!”

“Uhmmm...Nurse....this special permission...who do we get if from?” Marco questioned, keeping his own voice level -- although he too felt Chet’s frustration.

“You’d need to speak with Mr. Gage’s personal physician...” the Nurse began...

“Then get him up here...right now!” Chet demanded.

“He may not be available....I believe he’s in a meeting with the Hospital Administrator....” The nurse explained.

Her response ignited Chet’s temper even more. “Look, lady....we don’t care if he’s in a meeting with GOD...just get him up here!”

“Kelly...shut the hell up!” Stoker ordered. “You have no right to treat her that way! She’s just doing her job...”

Chet turned on him. “Maybe YOU don’t care about Johnny...but I do!”

Without any change in his expression, Stoker’s arm shot out. Grabbing a fistful of Chet’s shirt, he shoved the man down into one of the waiting room chairs. When he next he spoke, each word was filled with an cold fury. “I care about Johnny just as much as you do!”

It took a few seconds for Marco to react, so stunned was he by Stoker's uncharacteristic reaction. He had always wondered what it would one day take to get his otherwise stoic, always-in-control friend riled up.

Stepping forward, he placed a hand on the arm that was still keeping a very surprised and now cowed Chet pinned to the chair. “Mike...come on, man...”

At first Marco thought he might have to physically pry Stoker’s hand free of Chet’s shirt, but after the passing of a few more seconds in which the Engineer continued to peer down at the recipient of his anger...

Stoker drew in a tight breath, then released his hold.

For a moment, he stared down at the hand he had just used against a friend, as if it were some sort of foreign object...then turning away, he said softly. “I...I’m sorry...”

Climbing back to his feet, Chet straightened his shirt, then reached out and gripped Mike’s shoulder. “No, man...I’M SORRY.”

Clearing her throat, the Nurse said softly, “Let me see what I can do about finding Dr. Colson.
********

“Yes....yes I understand....” JoAnne said, holding Roy’s hand as she completed the telephone call he insisted she make. “Thank-you, anyway.”

Looking down at her husband as she returned the receiver to its cradle, she prepared for his disappointment.

“Honey...they said there isn’t a phone in Johnny’s room...and he really isn’t strong enough yet to get out of bed...”

Throwing back the covers, Roy spouted, “Maybe he isn’t....but I am.”

JoAnne reached down a restraining hand. "Roy DeSoto...what in the world do you think you’re doing!? ”

“What does it look like I’m doing?” Roy snapped, pushing against the his wife’s hold...both, amazed and annoyed, that he was still too weak to fend it off.

“You’re not going anywhere!” JoAnne countered firmly.

“But, Johnny...” Roy started to protest.

“Is being cared for...” JoAnne sat down on the bed, keeping both her hands planted firmly on her determined husband’s chest. “Roy...you will listen to reason! Now I know you worried about Johnny and I know how much you want to be with him...but right now...it’s just not possible. Johnny would not want you to put your own health in jeopardy....any more than you’d want him to, if the situation were reversed.”

With a weary sigh, Roy gave up the struggle...his head spinning, his eyes throbbing with pain.

“All right....but then you go over there...you go see him.”

“I'll check on Johnny tomorrow...” JoAnne said.

“No! Now! Go over there NOW!” Roy demanded.

Jo drew in a calming breath. “Honey, Hank’s over there...and so are Chet, Mike and Marco...”

“It’s not the same, JoAnne!” Roy hissed. “You know it’s not! Johnny needs....he needs US! We’re his FAMILY!”

There was a part of Roy that felt bad about giving his beloved wife such a hard time -- he knew she was probably exhausted, having been through hell herself in the last two days....but he just had to convince her to go over to UCLA and at least spend a few minutes with Johnny.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the Cap or the other fellas to look after his partner... or to accurately report back what was going on...

It went deeper than that.

Roy knew the strength he, himself, drew from his wife’s presence...from her voice...her touch...her love. He knew that while it was a different kind of connection, JoAnne felt a very deep love for Johnny, as well....

And that she could offer him a type of comfort nobody else could.

“Ann....please?” he begged.

Leaning forward, JoAnne hugged Roy. “All right, Honey...all right.”

She felt him relax beneath her touch, saw a little smile appear.

“Thanks.” he said softly, adding, “I love you.”

Reaching for the phone, she began to dial.

“Who are you calling?” Roy questioned.

“Deke.” JoAnne responded. “I want to see if he can come stay with you while I’m gone...”

“But it’ll take him at least...at least an hour to drive over here!” Roy protested. “I don’t need anybody here to...to baby-sit me!”

Using her no-nonsense “MOM” tone, JoAnne informed her willful husband: “We are going to do this MY WAY! Got it, buster?”

“Got it...” came the meek reply from the bed.
*****

"I expect the leg burns to heal nicely -- although there are some patches that may require grafts," Dr. Colson continued his medical report.

Hank Stanely nodded slowly...still shocked to learn the details of just how close they had come to really losing Johnny.

"...we're watching his kidney function..." Colson continued. "And of course...the fact that he arrested multiple times...well lets just say it's going to be a day by day situation for a while, I'm afraid."

"I understand." Hank said, then reached out to shake Colson's hand. "Believe me...everybody who cares about John is very, very grateful for what you've done."

The physician offered a smile, returning the handshake. "Well, I'm just glad I have a real fighter on my hands...otherwise we'd be having a different kind of conversation.

The buzzing of the Hospital Administrator's desk phone cut into the men's conversation.

Brown snapped up the receiver, "I instructed not to be disturbed...!" he listened a moment, then said; "I see...very well, tell the Nurse we'll be right there."

Hanging up from the call, he looked to Stanley.

"It seems some of your men are in the ICU asking to visit Mr.Gage."

Hank leaped to his feet, heading for the door. "Then lets get them in there..."

"I'm not certain the patient is up to multiple visitors just yet." Colson called out.

The Cap stopped short, turning a hard look at the physician.

"You WILL let my men in there to visit Johnny!"

Colson considered the Captian for several long moments...then gave a sharp nod.

"Very well..but only for a few minutes."


Author: DiAnne ;)

Agent Maxwell walked through the front doors of UCLA...heading over to the lobby desk to inquire about little Tommy Stratton when he noticed Captain Stanley of 51's being escorted by one of the staff doctors. Puzzled, he hurried to catch up to them.

"Captain Stanley!" Max called out. "Fancy meeting you here. Don't tell me another one of your men has been injured!"

"Agent Maxwell," Cap beamed, extending his hand. "No, not at all. In fact, the most incredible thing has happened. John Gage isn't dead. He's alive! And he's upstairs in ICU! We were just heading on up to go see him"

Any other time, Max might have figured this for some sick joke, but the elated look on the Captain's face told him this was indeed no joke.

"How? I mean, what happened?" Max asked of the two men.

"Well," Dr. Colson interjected. "It seems there was some sort of horrible clerical error when it was reported that Mr. Gage has passed. We're still trying to sort out the whole sordid affair."

"I see," Max said thoughtfully. "Doctor, I'm Agent Maxell, in charge of the bombing investigation. Is there any way I can get in to see him?"

Colson shook his head. "I'm afraid not at this time. He's still a pretty sick man and too weak for any type of questioning at this time."

"Very well," Max conceded. "But I would like to get in to see him, as soon as humanly possible." He dug in his pocket and pulled out one of his calling cards. "Call me, anytime, day or night. Please."

Dr. Colson nodded, took the card, and the three men bid their farewells and parted ways.


Author: DiAnne ;)

Still not quite believing the news on John Gage, Agent Maxwell continued with his original mission, to find Tommy Stratton and hopefully to question the older sister.

Obtaining the room number for the boy, Max made his way to the wing where Tommy was being cared for, only to be stopped by the nurse in charge.

"Look, I'm sorry, but noone gets in to see Tommy unless they are family, or unless they have express permission to see the boy. He's developed a serious case of pneumonia and we just can't risk further infection at this time."

Max could tell by the stern look on this woman's face that she meant business. No amount of official business was going to sway this nurse from her protective duties of her patient. This, he could see for himself.

"Look," Max tried to explain. "I'm not really here to see the boy anyway. I'm interested in talking to the older sister, Josie." Max hoped for the best the rigid look on the nurse's face was not weakening. "Can you just see if she's perhaps in there, and ask her to step out for a minute?"

Without a word, the nurse turned and opened the door to Tommy's room, disappearing inside. In a minute she returned.

"I'm sorry, she's not there right now."

Sighing, Max was getting discouraged. "Okay, but I 'will' be back," he informed her.

Not quite knowing what step to take next, Max decided he might as well stop upstairs and see if he couldn't get an update on Gage, and hopefully talk to him, though after this last altercation, he doubted it.

*****

Careful as to not alert anyone to her presence, Josie held back by the elevators, leaning against the wall, holding the newspaper she'd found laying in one of the waiting room chairs. From her vantage point, she could see the group of agitated well-wishers trying to get in to see the injured fireman. The broad smiles on their faces when they first arrived, and the determination in their voices when they were told they were not allowed access, told her all she needed to know. They had finally found their lost friend.

'How dare they?' she thought. Smiling as they had been, their persistence, the disruption in the hospital corridor, their disrespect when people were dying all around them. When people HAD died. They had no idea. They had no right! She had no time to deal with this. She had gotten her answer, and didn't like what she'd learned. She angrily threw the paper down on the floor and stomped back into the elevator.

Author: DiAnne ;)

Max made his way over to the elevators...waiting impatiently for a ride up to ICU. He'd couldn't get this girl out of his mind. He wondered if the picture of that blonde girl that he'd taken at the scene bore any resemblance to this Josie. If he could just get a chance to talk to her, to see her, he knew he could put this niggling doubt he had to rest.

The elevator dinged, announcing it's presence, and Max stepped inside. A second later, the next elevator came to a stop, and Josie stepped out.

Author: DiAnne ;)

As Dr. Colson and Captain Stanley stepped off the elevator, it had not escaped Cap's attention that something had obviously happened between his men. Chet and Mike looked a little shell-shocked, while Marco didn't look like he was faring much better. For some
reason, he knew this went beyond worry for their fallen comrade.

Furrowing his brow, he asked with trepidation, "Everything alright here?"

"Um, yeah, Cap," Marco spoke for the three men, "Everything's fine now."

Cap winced with Marco's 'now' inference, but decided now was not the time to press the matter either. Instead he introduced Dr. Colson to the trio, who told them, that they could indeed visit with Johnny, together, for just a few minutes.

"But," the doctor warned, "if there is even the slightest sign that he's tiring too quickly or becomes agitated, you're all out of there!" Dr. Colson was not about to risk the well-being of this patient who had fought so hard to hang onto life.

Nodding in agreement, the men acknowledged the doctor's orders. They would never do anything to upset or hurt Johnny. He had been through enough already. They just wanted to see with their own eyes that he was alive, and on his way back to them.
****

Author: Brenda

"Kel Brackett! My, my, my..." Colson said, returning from ICU after dropping off his patient's latest visitors. "What brings the star of Rampart ER over to our humble abode?"

Kel shook Colson's hand in greeting. "Well you guys are taking care of a friend of ours...John Gage."

Dr. Colson nodded his head. "This young man seems to have friends everywhere." He turned and Brackett and Dixie followed him down the hall.

"Oh, Jeff, this is Dixie McCall, she's head nurse over at Rampart ER."

"Dixie, of course! Mary has told me lots about you." He nodded to her as they walked.

"Don't believe a word she says!" Dixie smiled good-naturedly.

"Hey who is Roy?" Colson decided to take advantage of the opportunity to get more information on his patient. Heaven knows, up until only a short while ago, information had been scarce.

Dixie and Kel exchanged a look of concern. "Roy DeSoto is his partner." Brackett supplied.

"And best friend." Dixie filled in.

"Why do you ask?" Brackett wanted to know.

"The nurse tells me Mr. Gage has been asking for him. Where is he?"

Brackett looked down at the floor a moment before responding. "He was injured in the same explosion. He's stabilized but still too weak to travel, or belieive me, he'd be here already."

Colson nodded in understanding, stopping in front of a door to gesture them thru the doors leading to the ICU unit.

Author: DiAnne;)

Making their way to Johnny's room, Cap paused outside the door for a second as he drew in a deep breath. Slowly, he pushed it open.

Johnny lay surrounded by machinery and tubes. His dark hair matted against the white of the pillow in sharp contrast. His skin was pale, and he lay so still that Cap wasn't sure if he was unconscious or just sleeping. Just when he decided they should turn about and leave, Johnny's eyes fluttered open.

Trying to focus on the images in front of him, Johnny squinted.

"Cap? Is...is that really you?" Johnny whispered the question. He hadn't been really sure if he had imagined the earlier visit or not. He wasn't sure he trusted what he now saw before him. Next to his Captain, stood Chet, Mike and Marco.

"Yeah, Johnny," Chet spoke up. "We're all here...now." His voice cracked as he spoke. The sight of his friend had taken him aback more than he'd realized it might.

Johnny sighed deeply, a great calm coming over him. His fears had been laid to rest. His fears that he had been abandoned by the people he'd cared about the most. His fears that he'd been forgotten. His fears that he'd had no visitors because they too had been seriously injured. A wave of relief spread over him.

"John?" Cap had noticed the deep intake of breath and became concerned. "Are you okay, Pal?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay...now." Johnny focused again on his visitors.

"Hey, Johnny," smiled Marco. "Can't tell you how good it is to see you."

"Hi John," Mike said quietly.

"Gees, Johnny, if you only knew what we've been going through..." Chet sighed.

"Wha...goin' through?" Johnny was confused. What had they been going through?

Three pairs of eyes glared at Chet and his slip of the tongue.

"Nothing, Pal, Chet just meant we were all really about worried you." Cap came closer to the side of Johnny's bed and placed his hand on his, giving it a light squeeze. "It's just really good to see you." Cap, in all his years on the department, had never been so scared about one of his men before. He would never be able to verbalize the hell he'd gone through when he thought Johnny was lost to them, or the jubilation he felt when he'd learned otherwise.

"Good seein' you too, Cap, guys..." Johnny closed his eyes again. As much as he wanted to visit, he was too tired to carry on much of a conversation.

Author: Brenda

Brackett and Dixie noted that the station 51's A SHIFT crew were gathered around one of the ICU beds.

"As you can see," Colson gestured to his visitors, "Mr. Gage is surrounded by not only by our excellent staff, but friends as well, so Mr. DeSoto can rest easy knowing we've got everything under control."

"While we're waiting," he added, pulling out Johnny's chart, "let me tell you about his condition…"

Author: DiAnne;)

The nurse who had been standing guard over her patient motioned now to the men that it was time for them to leave. Johnny opened his eyes again to see the men turn towards the door.

"No, wait!" His voice gained a new sense of strength. "Roy. How's Roy?"

Cap smiled as he said, "Roy's going to be fine, Johnny. In fact, if he could have, he would have come over himself, I'm sure."

Johnny said a silent prayer of thanks.

"Tell him...tell him, not to worry." He knew his partner, and he knew that Roy would worry despite orders from Cap. He wanted to say more, so much more, but the time would come soon enough for that. He wanted to tell Roy himself.

"I will, John. I will. You need your rest now, but we'll be back. I promise," Cap vowed.

As Cap, Marco, and Mike filtered through the doorway, Chet stopped in his tracks.

"I'll be right there," he told them, turning back to Johnny. He approached the bedside and in the most sincere statement he'd ever made, said, "Johnny, I'm really glad you're alright."

"I know, Chet. I know." Johnny's eyes locked on Chet's for a moment. His eyelids growing heavy, he closed them again, tired, but happy.

The rest of the men stood just outside Johnny's door when Chet finally joined them. Looking past the men, Chet spied Dr. Brackett and Dixie standing near the nurse’s station, their attention focused on a chart.

He brought up the tail end of the line as Cap lead his men back out of the ICU and into the hallway, where they all encountered Agent Maxwell.

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