HEART OF EVIL - PART FOUR -- The E!Shelter Interactive Story Board

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Date Posted: 07:44:16 09/14/99 Tue
Author: E! SISTERS
Subject: HEART OF EVIL - PART FOUR

Author: Sally

Chet felt the pressure of an arm... coming to rest about his hunched shoulders. Looking over, he saw that Marco had come to join him -- saw the man's cheeks wet with tears -- heard the ragged breath as it was drawn in.

"One of us should have gone with him, Marco." Chet said.

"We...couldn't." Marco responded softly. "There was a job to do...Johnny would have understood..."

"But he was alone when it happened, Marco!" Chet cried out. "HE WAS ALONE!"

The thought that Johnny had only strangers to turn to for any shred of comfort...as death came to claim the brave firefighter...tore at Chet's heart and mind.

"We should have been with him! We should have been with him!" Chet's voice was strangled with unshed tears as he spoke the words over and over again.

Marco took hold of the trembling man...hugging him -- to hell with what the on-lookers would think or say!

That act alone gave Chet the permission he needed to release the rest of the raw pain that was threatening to consume him.

Collapsing against Marco's, the sobs came...deep and seemingly endless...wracking his body.

From somewhere within the depths of his own suffering, he heard Marco's sobs mixing with his own.
*********

JoAnne DeSoto pushed opened the doors of the small hospital chapel, then paused. At the front, she saw whom she thought must be the Hospital Chaplain, quietly preparing the altar for tomorrow's services.

She thought of approaching him...of calling upon his aid...but then... simply slipped into a pew in the very
back -- not really sure why she had even come here -- just knowing she had to get away from the others who were facing the loss of their dear, dear, Johnny.

Tear filled her eyes once again...oh, how could it be possible? HOW!

And WHY Johnny?

Why any of the poor victims?-- who had been killed in the initial blast -- or who had died later...some who would perhaps still die, as a result of their injuries suffered at the hands of some demented creature.

Who would do something so terrible? And WHY?

Her thoughts traveled over to Roy...she reached into her purse and pulled out the wrapped gift -- it had been found inside the pocket of Roy's tattered Paramedic Jacket...and, in turn, given to her.

She knew the gift was for her...even without any card attached to tell her. Mother's day was just around the
corner and her dearest husband always made sure he gifted her with a special treasure of his love and gratitude for bearing him two beautiful children to love and treasure!

It seemed amazing that the wrapping and even the little bow were still in place...still sparkling like new.

Perhaps, she thought -- prayed -- it was a good omen!

Looking up toward the large wooden cross that held center spot on the altar, JoAnne prayed softly:

"Dear God...please....spare my husband...we love him so! And please...spare his sight!"

Dissolving into tears, she thought again of how much it was going to grieve Roy when he came to learn that Johnny had died.

She knew how deeply Roy cared about the zany, carefree man whom fate had brought into the lives of the DeSoto family - forever changing them. She knew that her husband had connected in a special way with Johnny -- had developed a bond that was perhaps only second, to that which he had with her and the children.

'Oh, Johnny!'... JoAnne sent her thoughts towards the Heavens once again '...how very, very much you will be missed! Did you know just how deeply we all loved you? What a precious and special place you held...will always hold...in our hearts? Be at peace, dear, dear Johnny...!'

From his place at the altar, the Chaplin turned toward the sounds of a woman's anguished crying. The sounds of total grief that came only from those heart-broken souls who had just lost a cherished loved one.

Leaving his post, he moved silently down the aisle, then slipped into the pew, sitting down beside her.

Without a word, he reached out to enfold her hands into his own...

Author: DiAnne ;)

Shock and reality setting in...her hand still on the black telephone receiver, she looked around the apartment, almost as if she had never seen it before. Dotted throughout the room stood pictures lovingly placed in frames over the years. A young soldier in battle fatigues; a young teenage girl donning pigtails and saddleshoes; the same couple hand-in-hand in marriage, lined the mantelpiece. Surrounded by photographs of a growing family, their story stood testament to the hands of time. A young mother holding her first-born; a proud father with his first son; the last-born, also a son, sitting on his daddy's knee marked the joys of a once happy family.

Josie gasped, taking in a deep breath. Falling back against the wall, she slowly slid to the floor, grasping her knees firmly as she curled into a tight ball, burying her face against her legs. Raven curls cascaded over her arms as uncontrollable sobbing racked her body. Several minutes passed. Breaths coming in short, rapid succession threatened her senses as lightheadedness set in. Forcing herself to calm down, she took deep, slow breaths until she felt in control again.

Slowing rising off the floor, she brought one arm up and swiped it across her eyes. She brushed her hair back out of her face.

"Doesn't matter," she spoke softly to the faces in the photographs. "None of it matters anymore. They got what they deserved. All of them. It's all their fault."

Her heart grew cold and empty. Her hands clenched into tight fists. She picked up the phone and hurled it across the room. The cord ripped out of the wall as the flying black missile smashed against the fireplace, scattering the happy faces, shattering glass, and destroying the illusion.

Author: Brenda

Joanne stood staring at the pay phone in the hall, not wanting to pick it up and dial, not wanting to talk to
anyone just yet. Pastor Garey's words kept bouncing around the corners of her mind, fighting for space with the grief that welled in her heart.

'I know it's hard to accept right now, but sometimes God doesn't make sense. Sometimes, we won't understand until we join with Him why He does the things He does.' Pastor Garey had said. Once she was finally able to control the tears, they had had a long talk about both Johnny and what Roy was going through, in addition to many prayers.

Joanne leaned against the wall in the hallway a moment to try and collect herself, try and focus on her next task. But her mind and heart wanted so desperately to make sense of all that had happened...

'...and remember with fondness all the lives he has touched with his skill and compassion, with his friendship and love and he'll never be far away...'

Joanne wiped at her eye again, not wanting the tears to fall. She knew deep down that the pastor was right, but she couldn't help questioning God's decision in this one case, and she felt she'd question it for a while to come. But for now, she had to get herself under control. Roy was going to need her to be strong to help him through the grief, was going to need her to be strong to help make Johnny's fune....she still couldn't accept the finality of his death, of never seeing him again. She would no longer be seeing him and Roy off on another fishing trip, no longer have to put that additional place setting at the kitchen table for dinner, no longer see him chasing the kids through the yard in play.

The kids - they were going to be devastated when they heard the news. From Johnny's first visit to the house back when he and Roy had officially become paramedics, the kids had become attached to Johnny. It wasn't hard - in many ways the child in him had never left John Gage. He could enjoy life with the same wild abandon that Chris and Jennifer did. 'Uncle Johnny' was a regular part of their lives and his death was going to leave a large empty hole in their lives...

Joanne physically shook herself out of her thoughts and rummaged through her purse for some change. Even though she wasn't ready to explain things to the kids yet, she had to check in with Susan....

Grabbing the change, she picked up the phone and dialed, trying to clear her eyes as the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Susan?"

"Joanne ---" Susan heard the trembling in her best friend's voice and her own alarm bells went off. "Oh my God, has something happened to Roy?" When Joanne had called and asked her if she could pick up the kids from the Keatings' and stay with them, all she had known was that there was an explosion and that Roy and Johnny were involved. She'd had no other news on what happened because she had made sure the radio or
TV were not on, so that the kids would not end up seeing their daddy or Uncle Johnny inadvertently on the news...

Joanne willed her voice to be strong. "Susan," still shaky, she tried again. "Susan, Roy's upstairs in surgery. He's taken a lot of glass in the eyes and they had to perform surgery right away - they thought he would lose his sight if they didn't operate immediately....but..." Her voice broke off again, as the grief of the past hours threatened to overwhelm her again.

"Jo?"

"...but because of some head injuries, they think his surgery could be dangerous. Dr. Brackett is there assisting the specialist, Dr. Cahan. I haven't heard anything..."

Susan was silent for several moments, searching for the right words. What do you say to a fireman's wife who is afraid for the life of her husband, AND afraid that if he does survive, he will no longer be able to see?

"Joanne, you know Roy will do everything in his power to come back to you. He loves you more then anything."

"I know." The words were small and quiet.

"What about Johnny?" Susan wanted to know.

There was a long, painful silence on the other end of the line, and Susan was beginning to wonder if they had been cut off.

An equally small, quiet voice finally emerged through the line. "Johnny's d...dead, Susan."

Susan's own voice was absent for a long while. Then finally, "I wish I could come there and be with you, but with all the casualties and chaos from the explosion, Deke was called in to work..." She said quietly.

"I know. Thanks. How're the kids?" Joanne asked.

"They're out in the backyard playing right now. Since I picked them up from the Keatings' they know something is up but I haven't mentioned anything to them."

"Did they ask to watch TV?"

"Yeah, but I explained that since it was a beautiful day out, they should play outside." A pause. "I'll take care of them as long as you need me to, Joanne."

"I know thanks. I'm going to wait here while Roy's in surgery - I'll call you as soon as I know anything. Give the kids my love, okay? Tell them I'll be by as soon as I can to get them."

"I will Jo. I'm praying for Roy..."

Joanne hung up the phone quietly, and slowly headed back toward the ER waiting room. Even if she was devastated by the day's events, she knew it would help to be around her friends there.

As she rounded the corner, she nearly bumped into someone in the hall.

As hands reached out to steady her from her sudden stop, she realized it was Hank Stanley, and she had never seen him look as sad as he did today. She was interrupted from further thought.

"Joanne - we've been looking for you..."

Author: Sally

Agent Maxwell thanked the ER Nurse....as he closed his small black note pad and then slipped it back inside the pocket of his jacket. At first she had been startled....and then had become quickly flustered...when he had commented, without thinking, that the call Betty had just hung up the receiver from, could very well have been from the person responsible for the Mall bombing.

Wanting to gather from the Nurse as much of the conversation as he could, while her memory was still fresh, he quickly ushered the woman away from the Emergency Room area amid the enraged outcry of the injured (and in at least one case...now deceased) firefighters' friends.

Handing Betty his card, Maxwell instructed, "If there's anything else you remember...please call me."

"Oh, I will! I will!!" Betty hurried to assure the Federal Agent.

Thanking the Nurse once again, Maxwell left the lounge area and started down the hall, only to be stopped by Mike Stoker.

"So...what's the story? What did you find out? Did ya get a lead on the animal that murdered Johnny?" Stoker pressed - stepping closer to Maxwell. "Whoever he IS...I want him! Ya hear me, Max....I WANT HIM!"

Maxwell's eyes widened in surprise as he considered the man standing in front of him. There was a black, smoldering anger emanating from the eyes of this usually quiet, docile man...and his fists were clenched into knuckle-white balls.

"Not HIM, Mike...." Maxwell said quietly, then added. "HER."

Author: DiAnne ;)

There was a knock at the door�thrusting Josie back into her own sense of reality.

"Josie!" the voice called out from the other side of the door, "Josie, are you in there? Are you alright?"

'It's that nosy neighbor again,' grimaced Josie. 'Why can't she just mind her own business and leave me the hell alone!' Shaking her head, she cleared her voice before she spoke.

"What is it, Mrs. Wilson?" Josie mustered up the most pleasant sounding tone she could manage under the
circumstances. When no one answered, Josie sighed and answered the door.

"Oh my dear! You are alright!" Mrs. Wilson seemed quite relieved to see the young girl standing before her in one piece. "I heard the most horrific crash and was worried sick you'd fallen."

Josie smiled a sweet smile, reassuring her busy-body neighbor, "No, everything's fine. I just dropped a vase while I was cleaning. You know those things, they make more of a mess than anything when they shatter." Like lives, she thought grimly to herself.

"Well, I was just concerned, my dear." Mrs. Wilson breathed a sigh of relief. "I was just wondering too, have you been watching the news?"

"The news?" Josie asked innocently.

"Oh dear, I don't know how to tell you this�but that Pizza parlor you work at�there's been a terrible, terrible explosion. I'm afraid the parlor was completely destroyed, along with several other businesses."

"Is that so?" Josie asked with keen interest. "Do they know who did it?"

Mrs. Wilson thought that was a strange question in light of her news, but then again, this was one strange girl. Too bad, too. She was such a pretty girl, and had so much going for her, until last year.

"No. No, I don't think they know just anything just yet. I just thought you might have heard it on the news. I'm so sorry about your job," Mrs. Wilson offered her condolences.

"Doesn't matter," Josie said quietly. "Doesn't matter anymore�" She drifted off in thought, recalling the
spectacle she had witnessed earlier that day. Shaking it off, she added quickly, "I was looking for a new job anyway, remember?" She smiled again, then bide farewell to her nosy neighbor before the woman had a chance to further this inane conversation.

Leaning against the door, Josie listened intently as the sound of footsteps grew further and further away. When she was satisfied that the coast was clear, she grabbed her purse. She had a visit to make. As much as she hated hospitals, this was something she knew had to be done.

Author: Stephanie

Fighting one last time for voice...before he went under.

"Jo..."Roy tried to say in the mask now over his face.

Thinking Roy was asking about JoAnne, Bracket leaned down to Roy.

"Roy, JoAnne will be waiting for you after the surgery is over. YOU have to stop fighting the anesthesia and let it work". Bracket said as he watched Roy's eyes slowly become unfocused before they finally closed.

"Is the patient under"? asked Dr. Cahan.

"Yes doctor" answered the anestheologist.

"OkaY, let's get the show on the road. Would you turn on the stereo to the jazz station please?" Dr Cahan asked as he moved the tray of surgical instruments towords him.

Looking down at the patient, Dr Cahan started laying the sterilized sheets over Roy's face so that only his eyes were showing.

Looking up at Dr Bracket who had remained in the background until needed.

"Kel, let's get going." Looking up at the clock on the wall, "This surgery should only take about 2 hours at the most, if there is no unforeseen problems." Dr.Cahan said as he looked around the room.

"Scalpel"........

Author: Mary Ellen

Johnny looked around him to realize suddenly he and Laurel were in an operating room. About 50 feet away to his left he could see a group of doctors and nurses gathered around a single patient. From a small section of blonde hair sticking out from underneath the sterile coverings, he could tell it was Roy. He could tell from the voice through the sterile mask, that one of the attending doctors was Brackett. Under
normal circumstances, Johnny's first concern would have been that his and Laurel's presence there might compromise the absolute sterile environment every Operating Room requires. However, these were not normal circumstances. Once Johnny saw the blonde hair, he didn't hesitate. He rushed over and even
through the group of medical professionals to stand right next to his partner.

"Roy!" Johnny called. "Roy! It's me, Johnny! Roy, can you hear me?"

Johnny bent over the anesthetized figure in an attempt to somehow make Roy hear him. It was then he saw the true condition his partner was in. He saw Roy's right eye propped open while small, delicate surgical instruments were cautiously removing various sizes of glass fragments. Johnny could see Roy's eyeball so filled with white laceration lines and blood that their characteristic deep blue seemed completely lost. This thought and the symbolism behind it struck Johnny to the deepest core of his being. What if that blue was lost? What if it was forced to be replaced by a pair of dark glass and a white cane? What in the world would
Roy do if he went blind? What would Joanne do? Someone needed to take care of her and the kids! How could that be accomplished if Roy were handicapped?

He'd be forced to retire from the Fire Fighting Service, that was certain. But what then? Being a Firefighter/Paramedic was Roy's whole life as it was Johnny's. Roy may as well die right here and now in spite of all Rampart could do for him if he was forced out of his profession.

All these questions and problems were swirling around in Johnny's head. Each one screaming to be solved for the sake of his partner and the entire DeSoto family. As he grappled with these thoughts, Johnny suddenly saw a tray before him that was being used to hold the glass fragments that had been removed. One fragment, due to its size and color stood out from the rest. The crystal heart that had been on the teddy bear figurine Roy was looking at just before the explosion. It had remained intact and John shuttered as he thought of the immense damage to Roy's eye so large a piece must have caused.

"Man, Roy! To think, it was because of the heart you like the bear to begin with. You thought it was the perfect symbol to remind Joanne how much you loved her." Johnny began to break down in tears as he spoke the last sentence. He then felt Laurel come to him gently and embrace him once more, ease an
emotional pain this time.

Johnny turned to Laurel and held her by her shoulders. "Laurel, if there's anything you can do. Whatever healing magic you have use it for Roy! Please! Forget me! I don't care what happens to me! Roy's family needs him. Do whatever you can to see to it he sees again."

It was then that Laurel was taken with as devilish a feeling as any citizen of the other world could possibly be taken with. Just how far would this charge of hers take this sentiment? How deeply was he dedicated to the values of his forefathers? Was he worthy of the heritage into which he was born? Before her now as an opportunity to find out and she decided to take it.

"John, I can only be of service to one being and one being only! If I were to help Roy, I would have to abandon you." Laurel said.

"Then do it!" Johnny commanded her.

"John, if I were to leave you'd be completely alone!"

"I've made it on my own before! I will again!" Johnny said with hesitant confidence.

"John, there's no telling the depths to which your spirit would be demoralized if I left you. You might lose all will to live and be dead in a matter of hours." Laurel warned him.

"Well, here! Let me make the decision easier for all of you. I'll leave! I'll die right now! You don't have to bring me back to my body. I'm not going back! I don't want any healing! I don't want to go on living! Not if it means Roy has to go blind! I'm leaving! I'm leaving right now!" Johnny shouted.

"Oh, John! Please, you mustn't say that!" Laurel said in contrived panic and presenting her folded hands to him in a plea to heed her warning.

"Alright, Death! Here I am!" Johnny called to the air around him. "I'm John Roderick Gage! I'm ready to go! C'mon! Take me!"

"John, Don't! Don't! I beg of you!" Laurel said now dropping to her knees in desperation.

"Do you hear me? I said I'm ready to go!" Johnny continued to call out to the spirit world. "Well, c'mon! Take me! What am I, not good enough for you? Are you ashamed to have me? Are you afraid to have me? Afraid your pure little shining white clique would be tainted by the presence of the spirit of an Indian? Are you all cowards? Prove it! Prove to me you're not! Take me! Take me now! This very day, this very minute!"

"John, please, no! They'll hear you!" Laurel warned yet again but too late!

Hear him they did! and accommodated his wishes! John looked in front of him and beheld the Operating Room wall open up before him. He viewed a black room with silver vapor swirling all around it. There was a single footpath leading up to a solid dark oak door. On either side of the footpath were piled generation after generation of human bones. Above the door was inscribed his name along with the date of his birth and the current day's date.

Johnny watched the door open of its own power revealing a black void beyond. He heard a deep, guttural voice summon him inside.

"JOHN RODERICK GAGE! STEP FORWARD!" the voice commanded him.

John was taken with a panic he had never known until that moment. But he wasn't going to go back. Proceeding on through that door would free Laurel to stay with Roy and help him get his sight back. No, John wouldn't trade that even for his own life. He walked with determined step forward toward the void.

Author: DiAnne ;)

With each step he took...his unwavering determination grew. Johnny knew this was Roy's only chance. If it meant the end for him, so be it. He had no doubt of his conviction. With one final step, he passed through the open doorway, the blackness of the void embracing his very soul.
**********

Back at UCLA, the situation had gone from bad to better to worse. When Sue had found a pulse on this young firefighter, it had given everybody hope. Even more than that, when Cara had realized that the injured paramedic was conscious, it gave everyone a sense of encouragement and optimism to see to it that this young man survived his ordeal.

Great pains had been taken to make the patient comfortable. There was never a time when someone was not at his side. His vitals were monitored continually as drugs were being pumped into his system in an effort to stabilize his condition enough for surgery. His burns were being treated and draped with sterile white sheets.

Even though Cara was due to be off-shift, she had volunteered to sit with this patient and keep close tabs on his vitals. Dr. Colson, impressed with the tenacity and heart exhibited of his patient, felt it his obligation to see this young man through to surgery, rather than pass off the duty to any of his colleagues.

Cara had watched Johnny drift in and out of consciousness, yet with each minute that passed, he had seemed to be gaining strength. Dr. Colson had seemed confidant that the patient would be stable enough for surgery within the hour.

Cara checked vitals once again. Each time he had come around, she had tried to be positive and consoling, without revealing too much information. He did not need the added stress to complicate his injuries.

When she was finished with checking his vitals, she looked up towards his face, hoping to see those wonderfully dark eyes staring into hers again. His eyes were closed again, but they looked different this time. More at peace than they had been previously. Cara had seen this look on patients before�

Hurriedly, she checked his blood pressure again, even though she had just done this just a minute ago. Frantic, she ran for the door, flinging it open and yelling to the first person she spotted.

"Get Dr. Colson! STAT!" Cara screamed at her startled head nurse. Racing back to the gurney, she grasped Johnny's hand tightly in hers.

"Oh no you don't, Mister! I'm not letting them take you! You just ignore whoever it is that's pulling you away from us. You hear me?"

Cara squeezed Johnny's hand, waiting, for what seemed like an eternity for Dr. Colson and staff to arrive.

Author: Brenda

The doctors worked over Roy silently, methodically, hoping to assure that with each fragment removed, the fireman would retain his sight. They had continuously monitored the man's vital signs due to the hematoma on his brain. So far everything had been going smoothly. The work was meticulous and tedious, but required every bit of their skill and concentration to successfully conclude the operation.

"Doctors," the nurse suddenly spoke up concerned. "His BP and pulse are dropping..." She quickly rattled off the information, obviously alarmed.

"What the hell?" Cahan exclaimed as he bent to examine the patient, who, up to now, had been stable.

The usually unflappable Brackett felt his stomach tighten in knots as his fear grew. The immobility lasted only a split second, then both physicians jumped into action as Roy's vital signs continued to plummet...

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