Halloween Prank by Becky "So, we're all set for the thirty-first?" "Yeah, man. I'm really looking forward to pulling one over on Roy." "With the Phantom's help, you can't fail." ~~~~*E!*~~~~ On this Halloween weekend, the A Shift was lucky enough not to have to work. Johnny looked forward to the weekend with Roy. Even if he didn't have the camping trip to occupy his time, Johnny was glad he wouldn't have to spend the day on duty. Halloween was never fun as a firefighter or paramedic. There were just too many weird people in the world that came out of the woodwork on the 31st of October. So, he planned a little camping trip with Roy, knowing his partner appreciated not trick or treating the night away with his children. It would also give Johnny a chance to spring a little surprise on Roy-just a little Halloween prank. Johnny had decided he wasn't devious enough to pull the trick off alone. So, he enlisted the help of the Phantom. Roy and Johnny arrived at the Carl's Cayuse Condos about nine in the morning. They grabbed their supplies from the back of the Land Rover and headed toward the barn. During the past four years, Johnny slowly introduced Roy to the pleasures of horseback riding. Johnny often combined camping with the outdoor, equestrian activity. Roy had developed into a fair horseman, although he had a healthy respect for the large animals. He saw other riders seriously injured after falling from or getting too close to a horse. Johnny, on the other hand, grew up with horses. While he treated them with respect, he was also knew their idiosyncrasies and used them to enjoy spending time with horses. It seemed to Roy that Johnny delighted in riding on the edge of safety as if daring fate to deal him a bad hand. Roy much preferred a steady, gentle mount to the more spirited ones that Johnny rode. Saving money from his meager paycheck, Johnny purchased a horse and paid for boarding at a local stable. He chose an Appaloosa gelding that was primarily white with large black and brown patches. Roy's daughter, Jennifer, thought it looked like a calico cat. Rowdy's Derby Winner was spirited, to say the least. Johnny had been unseated several times before the two, horse and rider, reached an understanding on the finer points of equestrian sportsmanship. Roy would be renting a horse for the weekend, and Johnny was going to borrow a third horse to carry supplies. They had a tent as well as food, water, and other supplies to pack into the wilderness area for the weekend. By ten Saturday morning the two intrepid campers were on their way into the Angeles National Forest. Johnny had camped there several times and enjoyed the rugged, mountainous area. Leading the way with the packhorse, Johnny glanced over at his friend and decided it was time to prime the pigeon. "Hey, Roy, I hear there are more bears than usual being spotted in the park this year. Have you heard about that?" "No, I haven't. Wouldn't the rangers have posted a warning to campers?" "Maybe, maybe not. Bears aren't all that unusual for this area. There's plenty of places for them to roam. I've seen a few when I've been camping. They generally run the other way." "Well, what happens if they don't run the other way?" Roy looked around carefully; wondering how many bears could hide in the surrounding trees. He was actually looking forward to riding along a cliff-at least there wouldn't be any bears lurking on a rocky mountainside. "There are two schools of thought on how to react to a bear. Some experts say to drop and play dead. The bear might paw you a little, but, then, it's supposed to walk away." "Supposed to, huh? So, what's the other theory?" "Run like hell and climb a sturdy tree. But, bears can climb trees, too. And, they can run pretty fast. Basically, you need to trust your instincts for the situation." Johnny turned back to the front to hide a smile as he noticed Roy becoming increasingly nervous. Yep, the pigeon was priming nicely. Johnny changed the subject so that Roy wouldn't get too suspicious. But, Johnny noticed that Roy continually scanned the brush, as they moved through the forest. During their ride, the two men had steadily climbed a low sloping mountain. On the other side was a small canyon with a wide stream. They reached the edge of the stream shortly after three in the afternoon. Roy and Johnny made short work of setting up camp. Then, they relaxed at the side of the stream. "Isn't this a much better way to spend Halloween than working or running the neighborhood with your kids?" "I must admit it is nice to get away for a while. I love my family, but a little peace and quiet is great for a change." Johnny nodded in agreement knowing that Roy wouldn't have much peace and quiet tonight. Even though he hadn't seen any sign of his co-conspirator, Johnny knew Chet was in the area preparing their Halloween surprise for Roy. "We better gather some wood for the campfire before it gets dark," Johnny suggested. He stifled a laugh as a look of panic briefly crossed Roy's face. "Well, how about I get supper started, uh, while you, uh, gather some wood," Roy suggested, swallowing hard. "Sure, Roy, no problem. I'll be right back." Johnny turned and headed into the trees around the camp. Chet waited out of sight of the camp for Johnny to head into the forest. He watched as Roy began getting food and cooking utensils out for the meal. Carefully, he headed in Johnny's direction. When he was far enough away from camp that Roy couldn't hear, Johnny began quietly calling Chet's name. "Hey, Johnny. It's about time you two got here. I've been waiting for a couple hours." "You got everything set up for tonight?" "Yeah, packing that bear suit in here wasn't any treat. Did you set Roy up for the fall?" "Man, I had a hard time keeping a straight face when I started talking about bears. This is going to be great." Johnny clapped Chet on the shoulder. "I'll try to get Roy to turn in early. And, try not to blow it, Kelly." "ME! Blow it? Look who's talking, the original pigeon. I've forgotten more about pranks than you'll ever know. Just hold up your end of the bargain." "Yeah, yeah, yeah." Johnny was beginning to wonder if it would be worth it in the end to pair up with Chet for this little gag. But, in for a penny, in for a pound. He headed back to camp, looking for wood along the way. As he neared the camp, Johnny could see Roy looking anxiously into the brush. Johnny took a deep breath and hid the smile that threatened to split his face wide open. He stepped out of the trees with an armload of wood. "Took you long enough," Roy shot at John as he returned to camp. "I just had to go a little farther than usual to find some dry wood. It must have rained up here this morning." Johnny worked on coaxing the wood to burn. "How's supper coming?" "I'm ready to start cookin' as soon as we have a fire." "Great, I'm starving." "You're always starving, Johnny." Roy and Johnny sat around the campfire after supper, watching the flames dance over the blackened logs and quiet surrounded them. The crackle of the fire seemed loud compared to the quiet of the night. Johnny noticed Roy was looking into the woods around them as various animals could be heard rustling through the brush. He figured Roy would be ripe tonight for a bear of a surprise. Johnny gave the signal to an unseen Chet to begin the prank. Roy's head whipped to his left when the growling and crashing began in the woods to the east of the camp. Wide-eyed, he looked at Johnny to see if he heard the commotion. But, Johnny was still facing forward, staring into the fire. "Did…did you hear that, Johnny?" Roy asked as he continued to scan the trees at the perimeter of their camp. "Hear what?" "I thought I, uh, heard some growling." "Maybe there are a few more bears around." Johnny glanced disinterestedly at the forest around them. "If it is a bear, it won't come near the fire, will it?" "Naw, it shouldn't. Bears are usually more scared of us than we are of them. Unless, they're Momma bears guarding their young. Or, if they've been fed by humans and associate people with food." Johnny looked thoughtful for a minute. "I guess they could come into the camp, now that I think about it." "So, what should we do for the night?" "Maybe we could take turns staying awake to watch for them." Johnny looked over at the horses. "But, the horses will generally alert us if bears start nosing around. They'll get skittish if they smell a bear." "So, we can use the horses like watch dogs. I guess that beats staying awake most of the night. I'm beat." "Let's turn in. I don't think the bears in the Angeles Forest have had much exposure to humans like the Yellowstone animals." Johnny banked the fire for the night and headed for the tent. Roy followed Johnny into the tent. Despite his fear of being accosted by a bear, Roy fell sound asleep, the fresh air and horseback riding taking their toll. Johnny waited for his partner's breathing to even out, indicating Roy was sleeping. Slipping out of the tent, Johnny whistled softly for Chet. A large, hairy form emerged from the trees. Johnny clamped a hand over his mouth to keep from laughing out loud. He couldn't decide if Chet looked like a little bear or a really big monkey. "That's a lame looking bear suit," Johnny whispered as Chet came into the camp. "Well, you try renting a bear costume at the last minute before Halloween." Chet waggled his head. "Let's just get it over with. This suit's hot." "Okay, I'll wait just out of site while you mess with Roy and the tent. See ya in a few minutes." Johnny headed into the forest chuckling quietly. He was going to meet up with Chet after the Phantom roared and growled while shaking the tent allowing his shadow to play on the tent walls. Chet stepped between the tent and the campfire. Clearing his throat, Chet began his best imitation of a bear with a series of low growls, snorts, and a few roars, just for good measure. Then, he pawed at the tent with the large furry paw that came with the suit. Hearing Roy move around in the tent, Chet headed for the trees at the edge of camp. Roy pulled aside the tent flap when he heard the 'bear' moving away. Looking around the campsite, Roy saw it lumbering into the woods. He could hear it crashing through the underbrush as it moved away. Roy was surprised to find Johnny missing. Not wanting to attract attention and cause the 'bear' to return, Roy softly called out Johnny's name. Roy looked over and saw all three horses were still tied but had their heads turned toward the trees where the 'bear' had disappeared. While he desperately wanted to find Johnny, Roy also knew it would be foolish to go stumbling around the dark forest. So, he stoked the campfire and sat down to wait for morning or Johnny's return, whichever came first. Suddenly, Roy heard a sound that turned his blood cold. Amid the loud growls and roaring, Roy could discern his partner's voice calling out. Putting his fear aside, Roy headed into the trees to find Johnny. Out in the trees, Chet had removed the head part of the bear costume. He continued to make the growling noises as Johnny began calling for help. Both men knew it would be only a few moments before Roy headed into the trees to find them. "You better put that back on," Johnny whispered to Chet, indicating the head of the bear suit. Chet replaced the hot head covering after one last hearty growl. No sooner had Chet replaced the costume than a real bear came charging into the small clearing where Johnny and Chet waited for Roy. Johnny looked right into the eyes of the large black bear as it rose on its hind legs and gave a mighty roar. The bear's hot, sour-smelling breath brushed across his face. The behemoth batted Chet out of the way. Chet slammed into a nearby tree losing consciousness immediately as his head rebounded off the trunk. Johnny tried to remember what he and Roy had talked about when they were discussing bear encounters. He quickly decided that the drop and play dead approach would be the best option. Sliding to the ground in a boneless heap, Johnny fervently wished the bear would rapidly lose interest and wander away. Unfortunately, the bear had other ideas. Johnny tried not to groan as the bear batted him across the clearing like a human bowling ball. Claws raked large furrows across his back, arms, and legs. The burning and ripping pain left him breathless. Blood began seeping into the shredded cloth that used to be a shirt. The bear's teeth nipped at Johnny's head as if he were taste testing. Then, for good measure the bear bounced his front legs on Johnny's torso cracking a few ribs and crushing John's chest until the lack of air in his lungs caused his world to gray. Just when Johnny thought he would lose consciousness, the bear decided the man wasn't worth the effort and lumbered away. As the bear neared Chet, he took a few moments to sniff the large furry object that lay on the ground beneath the tree. Johnny opened his eyes and turned his head slightly to see what the bear was snuffling. Even if he had the strength to do so, Johnny wasn't too keen on trying to distract the bear from Chet, especially after the attention the bear had already paid to him. Luckily, the bear didn't find anything interesting in Chet or his costume and lumbered away. When he could no longer hear the bear moving through the brush, Johnny opened his eyes again and looked carefully around the tiny clearing. A searing pain indicated where the long scratches were left by the bear. Blood dripped from his elbows. Holding his ribs in an effort to keep the pain to a tolerable level, he pushed himself off of the ground with the other arm. He staggered over to Chet's still form. With a groan, Johnny pulled Chet onto his back. Taking a few shallow breaths, he pulled the head of the suit off of Chet. The exertion caused his vision to narrow to a small tunnel as the pain and dyspnea nearly caused him to black out. Johnny sank to his knees to keep from passing out entirely. After a few moments, he was able to continue his assessment of Chet. Johnny found Chet's pulse to be strong and regular. He could see Chet wasn't having any problems breathing. He probably had a mild concussion from his head bouncing off of the tree. Johnny sat back as he realized Chet would probably be okay. Man, did this little prank backfire. I knew I was going to be in trouble asking the Phantom for help. Johnny shook his head. When will I ever learn? "Johnny! Where are you?" Johnny didn't think he had ever heard a more wonderful sound as his partner's voice drifting through the trees. Clearing his throat, Johnny tried to get enough air to answer Roy's call. "Over here, Roy." Johnny produced a fairly decent volume despite his cracked ribs. Roy turned slightly and headed in the direction of Johnny's voice. He didn't hear any growling or crashing in the underbrush. Suddenly, he came upon the small clearing that held a bloody Johnny and a furry, unconscious Chet. "What's going on, Johnny? Why is Chet…?" Roy stopped as he realized part of the scene was meant to be an elaborate trick played on him. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Chet's bear costume. But, the injuries that Johnny clearly demonstrated had nothing to do with the ratty bear suit that encased Chet. "We were… going… to play … a trick … on ya … for Halloween," Johnny managed to gasp out as he tried to catch his breath despite the cracked ribs. Roy moved quickly to assess Johnny's injuries. "I guess it didn't quite work out the way you expected, huh Junior?" "Not … 'xactly." Johnny closed his eyes as Roy lifted his shirt away from the deep scratches. "The bear… slammed… slammed Chet into…into a tree. His pulse… and respir-…respirations are… strong." "All right, Johnny. Then, let's concentrate on you right now." Roy had taken his shirt off and tied strips to Johnny's arms, legs, and around his chest to stop the flow of blood from the wounds inflicted by the bear. Roy didn't like the way Johnny was breathing. His respirations were rapid and shallow as he tried to keep his ribs from hurting so much. "Can you stand and walk back to camp, if I help?" Roy waited for Johnny's answer. "What …what about …Chet?" "I'll come back and get him after we get you back." Johnny nodded and braced himself for the pain that movement would cause him. Roy squatted and wrapped his arm around Johnny's waist rising slowly as the younger man stood. Johnny swayed and nearly fell. "Whoa. Steady there, Johnny. Let's try to get back to camp." Johnny nodded wearily and started putting one foot in front of the other. After what seemed like several miles but was in reality only a couple hundred feet, the two men reentered the campsite. Roy helped Johnny to sit and pulled a saddle and sleeping bag over. He used the saddle to prop Johnny in a semi-reclining position and covered him with the sleeping bag. "I'm going to get Chet. Are you going to be okay for a few minutes?" "Yeah,…I'll… I'll be fine… Roy." Johnny waved weakly at Roy. Roy returned to the clearing where he had left Chet. The stocky firefighter was beginning to show signs of consciousness. Roy knelt beside him and shook his shoulder. He would much rather walk back with Chet than carry him. "Oh, my head." Chet groaned and brought both furry paws up to his head. When he felt the fur rather than the skin of his hands touch his head, Chet opened his eyes to find out what was going on. The first thing he saw was Roy's concerned face. "How ya feelin', Chet?" Roy reached up to check the pulse in Chet's neck since his arms were covered with the bear suit. "Like a bear used me for batting practice. There was a bear, right?" "I guess so. I didn't see it, but Johnny's got some lacerations on his upper body and legs that look like they were made by bear claws." Roy helped Chet sit up and take off the suit. "What are you doing up here anyway?" "We were going to pull a Halloween prank on ya. Johnny asked for my help. We sorta worked the idea out together." Chet rubbed his aching head. "This sure isn't how it was supposed to happen." "I'd like to think you two learned a lesson, but I have a feeling that would be too much to hope for. Let's get back to camp. I don't want to leave Johnny alone too long." "How is Johnny?" Chet asked as he finished getting himself untangled from the furry costume. "He's lost a fair amount of blood from the lacerations, and I think he cracked some ribs, again." Roy picked up the head portion of the costume and walked with Chet back to the campsite. "Man, I hope that bear doesn't make a return visit." Chet dropped the bear suit beside the tent. He sat down next to Johnny. "How ya doin', Gage?" "I'll be all right, Chet," Johnny replied, keeping his eyes closed against the pain that racked his body. Chet glanced at Roy. The light from the campfire flickered across his worried countenance. Chet could hear the pain in Johnny's voice and saw how Johnny was holding his ribs. This isn't quite what I expected, Chet thought as he watched Roy get the medical kit from the tent. Roy took the stethoscope and blood pressure cuff from the kit to get a reading on Johnny. He needed to know how Johnny was doing after losing blood from the claw marks. Too low, he thought. Roy had a little difficulty feeling Johnny's pulse at the wrist. He moved his fingers to Johnny's neck. Rapid and a little weak. "Well? How is it?" Johnny asked glancing at Roy. "Your pressure's a little low, and your pulse is a little rapid. How are you feeling?" "My ribs're really killing me." Roy listened to Johnny's breath sounds, front and back. He could hear a few crackles, but he didn't think the ribs had moved out of place enough to puncture a lung. "Your lungs sound pretty good. Let's take off what's left of your shirt and clean those wounds." Johnny tried to sit forward slightly to help Roy get his tattered clothing off. Roy turned Johnny to his side to expose his back. Then, he got a pan of water from the stream and started cleaning Johnny's back, arms, and legs. "Easssy, Roy." "Hey, Gage," Chet tried to distract Johnny while Roy worked on his back. "So much for a Halloween prank on Roy, huh?" "Yeah, this isn't how I expected it to turn out," Johnny agreed, wincing as Roy irrigated and put salve on the deeper cuts. Johnny thought it felt like Roy was dripping acid in his wounds. "So, what was your plan? To scare me into an early grave?" Roy also tried to get Johnny's mind off of his treatment. "You fill him in, Chet. I'm too tired. As soon as Roy's done, I'm going to turn in." "As soon as I'm done, we need to find a way back to the stable. You, my friend, need a hospital." "How're we goin' to get him back to the stable? I don't think he can ride a horse, do you, Roy?" Chet asked looking around the area. "I thought we could make a travois and take him back that way." "A tra- what?" "It's like a litter that we attach to the horse, like the Indians used to carry old or injured people." Roy finished dressing Johnny's wounds and turned his partner gently on to his back. "We need two long, straight poles. About ten feet long should do it." "Okay, Roy. I'll be right back. I'm going to get my horse and stuff that's downstream from here. I'll look for the poles along the way." "While you're gone, I'll get stuff packed up here and saddle up the horses." Roy turned and started tearing the tent down as Chet left the campsite. After about twenty or thirty minutes Chet was back with the requested poles. He helped Roy finish putting the tent and supplies on the packhorse. They saddled the other two horses. Chet watched as Roy took some rope and secured the poles to the stirrups on his horse. Then, Roy took another length of rope and lashed the poles together forming a frame on which he placed a blanket. Chet and Roy assisted a semiconscious Johnny to his feet across the clearing to the travois and placed him on the blanket. Roy saw that Johnny was having more trouble breathing with his head lower and propped him up with a rolled sleeping bag. Chet covered Johnny with another blanket. As they stepped away from Johnny, Chet whispered to Roy, "he looks pretty bad." "He really needs a hospital. Let's get started. It's going to take longer to ride back. We can't go very fast with the travois." Taking a deep breath Roy pulled himself up on Rowdy hoping the horse would behave. But, his wishes were not answered. Rowdy humped his back and sidestepped swinging his head toward his tail nearly unseating Roy. Clamping his hands on the saddle horn, Roy held on for the ride of his life. Rowdy took him careening around the campsite and into the edges of the forest. He splashed through the stream a couple of times before Roy got him under a semblance of control. "Maybe you should try out for the rodeo, Roy," Chet offered as Roy came to a breathless halt atop a panting Rowdy. Rowdy snorted loudly as Roy tried to catch his breath. "I don't think so, Chet." Roy gathered Rowdy's reins somewhat amazed that he was still in the saddle. He urged Rowdy over to the horse Johnny rented for the trip. Chet climbed aboard his horse and lead the packhorse. Finally, the group was headed back to the stable. The going was slow due to the travois maneuvering over the uneven ground, darkness obscuring the trail. Roy didn't think the trip would ever end. They stopped every half hour to let Johnny rest from the bouncing of the litter for a few minutes, give him some fluids, and check his bandages. I wish we had some meds. Hell, I wish I had the whole squad right now, Roy thought as he watched his partner's ashen face contorted in pain. Every bump that the travois hit rang through Johnny like a dynamite blast. His breathing continued in short, panting gasps as he tried not to move his rib cage any more than necessary. The long furrows on his back, legs, and arms throbbed with his rapid heartbeat, and he felt the blood saturate the bandages Roy had applied. He prayed that the trip would end soon, or that he would pass out and be oblivious to the whole ordeal. "How ya doin', Johnny?" Roy asked during one of the frequent stops. "I'm okay. We 'most there?" Johnny looked up at Roy through heavy lidded, pain-filled eyes. "We're about half way there. Just hang in there, Junior." Roy clasped Johnny's hand for a few moments before returning to his mount. Sotto voce Chet asked Roy, "Is he gonna make it, Roy?" when Roy got settled on Rowdy. "He's pretty rough, but Johnny's as tough as they come. He'll make it," Roy replied as much for his and Chet's sake as for Johnny's. The sun had risen above the horizon by the time Roy, Chet, and Johnny made it back to the stable. Carl met the caravan as they neared the barn. "Carl, could you call the fire department and have 'em send a squad. Johnny was mauled by a bear." "Right away, Roy. Then, I'll come back and take care of the horses for ya." Carl ran to the other end of the barn to a small office and phoned Los Angeles County Fire Dispatch. Roy and Chet unlashed the travois poles from the saddle and propped them on a fence rail to keep Johnny in a semi reclining position. For what seemed like the thousandth time, Roy checked Johnny's dressings. He retrieved the medical kit from the supplies and obtained a new set of vital signs so that the paramedics would have fresh numbers to report to the hospital. Johnny mumbled incoherently. His skin was pale and clammy. The bandages that Roy had applied and reinforced during the ride were soaked with blood. His lips and fingernail beds were blue-tinged. As much as he wanted to put Johnny's head down and legs up to alleviate some of the hypovolemic shock, Roy knew that Johnny would have more difficulty breathing in that position. Roy's worried look as he worked with his friend told Chet all he needed to know about Johnny's condition. Even Chet could see that Johnny was getting worse. So much for a little Halloween prank. The sound of emergency vehicle sirens brought a sigh of relief to Roy. Squad 15 screamed into the barnyard and stopped amid a billow of dust. Gary Palmer and Roger Williams scrambled out of the truck and raced to the equipment compartments. They moved quickly to Johnny's side. "What happened to your partner this time, Roy?" Gary asked. He had filled in for Johnny after some of Johnny's other accidents. Roy related the injuries Johnny received from the irate bear as well as the most recent vital signs. Roger raised his eyebrows as Roy talked. He set up the biophone and contacted Rampart. Within moments he had permission to start two IV's wide open, apply oxygen, monitor vitals, and transport. Roger also advised the doctors that the victim was Johnny Gage so they could obtain his blood type from previous records. The ambulance attendants had the stretcher lined up next to Johnny by the time the treatments ordered by Rampart had been completed. Using the blanket that Johnny was lying on, the six men gathered around Johnny lifted him to the stretcher. Moaning slightly, Johnny was vaguely aware of the change in position. He had heard the orders from Rampart and winced inwardly at the thought of an intravenous catheter in his arm. But, he knew it would help until he reached the hospital. He groaned again as the stretcher hit the wheel stops in the ambulance.  Roy climbed into the back of the ambulance with Gary. Chet climbed into his car to follow them to the hospital. Trying to reign in his impatience, Roy silently urged the ambulance to greater speed for the long drive to the hospital. "We'll be at the hospital soon, Johnny," Roy advised his partner squeezing his shoulder. He watched Johnny closely along with Gary. Roy thought Johnny was struggling to breathe and still looked cyanotic. He was going to bring it to Gary's attention when Johnny's rapid respirations suddenly stopped. Johnny's body had exhausted itself trying to keep up with the high oxygen demands despite the cracked ribs. Gary grabbed an esophageal airway and inserted it into Johnny's mouth and esophagus. Roy handed him the resuscitator mask. Once it was in place, Roy depressed the valve and delivered life-sustaining breaths of oxygen to Johnny. Meanwhile, Gary used his stethoscope to listen to Johnny's lungs. Even with the forced air, the sounds were distant and coarse. The ribs may have punctured one or more lobes after all. Keeping a steady rhythm on the demand valve, Roy tried to estimate how much longer it would be before they reached the hospital. About five minutes, Roy thought. He exchanged a glance with Gary. Johnny's color had improved slightly since Roy had been breathing for him. The ambulance backed into the bay, and they removed Johnny from the vehicle.   Carol met them at the entrance doors. "Room two." By the time Roy, Gary, and the ambulance crew had transferred Johnny to the examination table, Dr. Brackett had entered the room. Gary updated the physician on Johnny's most recent vital signs. After listening to the paramedic's lungs, Brackett moved to the head of the table and removed the esophageal airway. He rapidly replaced it with an endotracheal tube and attached it to a respirator. Roy watched as Dr. Brackett continued his exam, ordering multiple blood and x-ray tests. Brackett motioned to Roy to precede him out of the room when the radiology technician arrived with the portable x-ray machine. "What do ya think?" Roy asked the doctor. "I think that between the blood loss and the cracked ribs, the oxygen-carrying capacity of his blood dwindled rapidly. We'll get him transfused with a couple units of blood and watch him overnight. I think by morning he'll be able to come off the respirator." Brackett paused momentarily. "I'm going to order a couple of antibiotics, too, to cover any infection that may occur from the lacerations." Roy nodded as Dr. Brackett outlined his planned treatments for Johnny. He was glad Johnny's prognosis sounded pretty good considering how long it took to get him to definitive medical care. Brackett returned to the treatment room with Roy on his heels. Johnny could hear indistinct noises around him. His entire body was racked with pain, especially since they had moved him on and off of the hard x-ray plates. The breaths being forced into his lungs made his cracked ribs protest. He tried to moan but only managed to make a strangled gurgle around the tube in his throat. Roy and Brackett moved to the head of the table.  "Johnny, open your eyes," Dr. Brackett tried to bring Johnny to consciousness. He wanted to assess John's neurological status before he ordered any analgesics or sedatives. "Come on, Johnny, open your eyes for Dr. Brackett," Roy urged on the other side of the table. Roy's voice rose above the din in Johnny's ears. Summoning all of the energy he could muster, Johnny managed to pull his eyes open. The room swam into focus. Bright lights stabbed straight through to the back of his brain. He became more acutely aware of all of the painful spots on his abused and battered body. "Johnny, I want you to squeeze my hand," Brackett ordered when he saw Johnny's eyes gain some focus. "Now, move your legs. Great." Doctor Brackett turned to Carol and ordered some pain medicine to help make Johnny more comfortable. "We'll get you into a room soon, John. I'm afraid you'll be our guest, again." Brackett smiled as he saw Johnny's eyes slide shut. Looking over at Roy, he saw a smile on Roy's face, too. "He's gonna be fine, Roy." Roy looked between his partner and the doctor. Then, he sent a silent prayer of thanks. Despite the delay in treatment and the severity of Johnny's injuries, his partner would once again recover. Roy only hoped that Johnny had learned a lesson about pulling pranks. But, knowing his friend as well as he did, he sincerely doubted it. feedback for Becky return to main menu