Johnny's Wheels By Storywriter 51 "Good morning, good morning!" Johnny cheerfully announced, as he rubbed his hands together and headed for the coffeepot.  "Hello, Johnny," Mike said with a smile. "Hi Mike, Cap, everyone," Johnny said. "Did you have a good day off?" "Yeah, Cap, as a matter of fact, I did. Not only a good day off, it was more like a great day off." Roy sat sipping his coffee and reading the newspaper. He glanced at his partner.  Something seemed different about him, but Roy wasn't quite able to put his finger on it. He studied Johnny. "It's probably a girl," Roy thought as he set his cup on the table. Johnny was reaching for a cup from the cabinet, when Marco handed him one. "Here you go, Johnny." "Well, thank-you, Marco," Johnny replied. He placed it on the counter.  Marco picked up the hot coffeepot and was pouring his friend a steaming cup of coffee, as Johnny turned around and focused his attention on everyone who was sitting around the table. "Well, isn't anyone going to ask?"  He picked up his coffee and blew on it. Chet spoke up before anyone else could say a word, "What are you talking about?" Cap looked at Chet, shook his head, and mumbled, "You just had to ask didn't you?" Johnny walked toward the group, grinning from ear to ear. His eyes gleaming with joy. "It's a girl, isn't it," Chet commented.  Johnny set his cup on the table, pulled out a chair, and propped his right foot on the seat. "Gentlemen…" "Here it comes," Cap mumbled quietly to himself, as he looked at the young paramedic. "I stand before you, the proud owner of a Harley Davidson," Johnny continued. "A what? You bought a Harley?" Roy shouted in amazement. "Why on earth did you do that?" Chet asked. "A new one?" Mike questioned. "What are we waiting for?  Let's go out and see it!" Marco exclaimed. Johnny threw his hand in the air. "Now, just hold on a minute. One question at a time, please." "You really bought a Harley? No joke?" Cap asked skeptically. Johnny cleared his throat, as he removed his foot from the chair and stood up straight. "Yep, I sure did, Cap." Mike whistled. "It sure must have set you back a pretty penny." Johnny picked up his cup of coffee and took a sip. He held it as he snatched a piece of coffeecake from the plate on the center of the table. After stuffing some into his mouth, he mumbled as he chewed, "it's a used one, a nineteen fifty-seven Sportster. Better known as the Super Bike. It's a bit rusty, but everything considered, she's in pretty good shape. I've always wanted one."  He spilled a bit of coffee while he fumbled to catch some crumbs. Chet rose from his chair and started toward the door. "Where you goin' pal?" Cap asked. "Thought I'd go take a look at Johnny's bike." "No sense looking out there for it. I didn't ride it today." "Didn't ride it? Why not?" Mike asked as he took a piece of coffeecake. "Well, it needed a bit of work and tomorrow, I figured that you'd all come and help me fix it up a bit." "I would, but, I've already made plans to help Cap redo his kitchen floor," Marco quickly stated. Mike apologetically said, "Sorry, I have to mow grass and do some landscaping work."  "I'd like to, but I promised to take someone's place for a couple…" Chet began, but was quickly interrupted by Johnny. "Roy, how about it?" Johnny looked in his direction with pleading eyes. Roy was shaking his head no. "Joanne and the kids have made plans. Her mother is coming, and believe me, if I could get out of it…" "Fine," Johnny scowled. "I'll do the work myself." "What all needs to be done to it? It does run doesn't it?" Chet chirped. "Of course it runs. Uh, at least I think it does, anyway," Johnny said. "What do you mean, think it does?" Roy asked with concern. "How did you get it to your apartment?" "Well, Roy, I didn't. The guy, who I bought it from, volunteered to bring it over to me. I mean, look, Roy, you understand that I had my vehicle, and well, I couldn't very well ride the bike home and drive the car. And I sure couldn't put it on top of my…" Everyone scooted his chair back, as Johnny continued, "my Land Rover, so he brought it to me on a trailer. You know how it is, don't you Roy?" "Yeah, I guess so." "I know what happened. You didn't ride it to work today because it didn't start, right?" Chet stood up and looked directly at Johnny. "You did test drive it, didn't you?" Roy asked.      "Well, sure I did, well, sort of did, I guess," Johnny grabbed Roy's arm as he stood up from the table.  "Roy, look, it'll only take us…" Cap interjected, "You didn't even take it for a spin around the block or start it, or anything?" He shook his head. "Yeah, sure I did. I started it. It had been sitting for awhile, but after a few tries, it sputtered. It just needs a tune-up and a little work. I've bought all the parts I'll need and it'll be just fine." "A tune-up," Marco jeered. "A trip to the junk-yard sounds like it might be the best thing for it, if you ask me," Chet chuckled.  "Well, nobody asked you," Johnny said with disappointment. Johnny looked down at the floor and placed his hands into his pockets as he pouted. He scuffed his foot back and forth and looked like a child who had been left alone on the playground with no friends. "Hey, what the heck, I can do my yard work the next time I'm off. I'd be glad to help you," Mike said as he patted Johnny on the shoulder. "Me too, I'm only working a couple of hours tomorrow morning anyway," Chet said. "The kitchen floor can wait. Marco and I'll help you too." "It's a good excuse for me to leave the house," Roy stated. "Thanks, that's great! You'll see. We'll have it in tip-top shape in no time. It was a great bargain. I'll save gas, not to mention the nice fresh air…  "Station Fifty-one, man stuck in a car, twelve eighteen Western Avenue, cross street Van Nyes Boulevard, one two one eight Western Avenue. Time out, eight forty-six." Everyone scurried to the vehicles. The engine and the squad pulled out of the station. Part II Sirens roaring and lights flashing, they pulled into a driveway. In the doorway of the house stood an elderly woman frantically waving her hands.  Captain Stanley stepped down from the cab of the fire engine and approached the woman. "Ma'am, where is the car?"  Johnny and Roy got out of the squad and quickly got their equipment, as the woman started walking. "Back here, it's in an old shed way out back. Please hurry, he's stuck."  As they walked she said, "I told him not to do it, and do you know what he told me?" "No ma'am," Cap answered. "He said, 'I'll prove it to you Ella, just you watch,' that was his exact words." "Prove what?" Cap asked, as they came within a couple feet of the garage. She said, "Open the door, you'll see what I mean." Captain Stanley opened the shed door and Johnny flashed Roy a quick look of disbelief before they entered. "Are you all right, sir?" Roy asked as they walked inside toward the man. "Other than a bit embarrassed, I believe I'm just fine. Get me out of this confounded contraption!" He demanded loudly. "What do you want us to do, Cap?" Marco asked. "Stand by and see if Roy and John need our assistance." "Just try and calm down now. I'm John Gage, and this is my partner, Roy DeSoto. You, are Mr. uh…" "Rebelton, Bill Rebelton.  Now enough with the introductions. Get me out of here." Roy placed the blood pressure cuff on the man as Johnny got his respiration rate and pulse. "Quit that! Take that thing off my arm young man and get me out of this blasted thing," Bill shouted. "Now look sir, you need to calm down. We need to check you out before we do anything. We'll get you out in a minute," Johnny said sternly. "How is he follows?" "A slightly elevated blood pressure, Cap." "Pulse and respiration rates are a bit high as well. Perhaps due to anxiety," Johnny added. "What do you say, we get him out of here, and then we check them again," Roy suggested. Cap and Johnny nodded with approval. "Sir, we are going to try to pull you out of here now," Roy told him as he got on one side and Johnny on the other. "Guys, hold the car down while we pull." Each paramedic got a grip under his arms and tried to pull upward without success. "He's stuck all right," Johnny said. "Get the saw, Marco," Cap instructed. "No, you can't cut this car up into pieces," Bill shouted in an agitated tone of voice. "Sir, I'm afraid there is no other way to get you out of there." Johnny mumbled to Roy, "Guess we could take him car and all to Rampart for removal." Roy smirked. "I don't think so, partner." Marco threw a yellow blanket over the man while Johnny stayed with him and made sure they didn't get too close to the man's legs. In seconds the man was released from his captive experience. "There now, have a seat right over here," Roy said, as he and Johnny helped him to sit on a wooden crate a couple steps away from the car. The man sighed. "Look, just look what you fellows did to that car." "I'm sorry, but we didn't have a choice," Cap said sympathetically. "Bill, you did this. It's your fault. Just be thankful you aren't hurt." Ella faced Roy. "I'm sorry to have to have bothered you boys, but this was our son's car when he was a youngster.  It's been sitting here for a few years. I asked Bill to clean out the shed and he decided to climb in and prove to me he could go down the driveway. Can you imagine that? A man of his age…" "All right Ella, that's enough. I'm just upset over them cutting the car and I'm a little embarrassed too."  "No bother ma'am. That's what we're here for. We're just glad he wasn't hurt," Roy said. He placed the blood pressure cuff on his patient's arm. "Your BP is better. One hundred twenty eight over eighty-six.  How's his pulse and respiration?"  Roy handed Johnny the BP cuff and stethoscope.  Johnny was putting the cuff away as he answered.  "Pulse is down to eighty-two and respiration rate is normal."   Roy patted Bill's shoulder. "You should be fine, but if you have any problems, be sure to see your doctor." "I will, thanks," Bill said as he put his arm around Ella. "Maybe I can weld it back together." "You'll do no such thing.  I don't want to have to call these people out here again," Ella said. Johnny gave Roy a slight grin as they listened to Ella. While Johnny and Roy gathered their equipment, they looked at the child's pedal car from which their patient had been removed. Roy and Johnny got into the squad. Johnny cleared them and said, "Roy, I wonder how he got in that car in the first place?" Roy shook his head, "I can't imagine." Part III Two days later, everyone was sitting around the table talking about Johnny's motorcycle. "It looked pretty good when I left. I hope he got it running," Mike said. "Did he get it running after I left?" Cap asked. "All he kept saying as we were leaving was, 'my dream bike is almost ready to hit the road.' Roy was still there when Marco and I left," Chet said. All eyes stared at Roy for an answer as to whether the bike was ready to ride.  "Don't look at me. It wasn't even running when I left at nine," Roy commented. "Where is Gage this morning? Anyone seen him yet?" Cap asked the group as they heard a door close. "That's probably him now, Cap," Roy said looking toward the bay. Johnny, dressed in jeans and a brown shirt walked into the room and said, a very haphazard, hi to the guys. Roy took one look at Johnny and said, "What happened to you?" "It's nothin' at all," Johnny said, while holding his right hand and limping slightly. "I got the bike running about ten o-clock last night. You should have been there. It sounded great. It felt good revving the motor. If I hadn't have run out of gas this morning, causing me to run late and get caught in that sudden rain storm…" "Never mind that, you had better sit down," Roy insisted. Mike handed Johnny a towel to dry the water from his face and body and noticed a bruise and a scrape on his right elbow through his ripped shirtsleeve. Johnny eased himself into the chair as he held his hand up in the air. "I cut it on a piece of metal on the bike, is all." Roy began to look at Johnny's hand. "Marco, get the trauma box from the squad, will you?"   Marco left and Roy lifted Johnny's right pant leg and pulled his sock down to take a look. Grimacing he said, "I must have burned my leg and ankle on the manifold. It hurts." Mike stood listening to Johnny. "How'd you get hurt?" "It started pouring down rain while I was riding to work. The wind began to blow hard and there must have been some oil on the road. I took a slight spill a couple blocks from here."  Roy shook his head. "What am I going to do with you, Junior?" Roy took Johnny's pulse and respiration rates and wrote them down on a piece of paper.  "Can someone get me a cup of coffee? How bad does it look Roy?" Marco set the black box beside Roy and opened it for him. "The ankle and leg definitely need medical attention. I'll pour some saline on the burn and bandage it for you," Roy said as he started to take Johnny's blood pressure. "I think I'm going to need a couple stitches in my hand," Johnny said. "I think, you're right," Roy said as he wrote down his blood pressure reading.   "Any other injuries?" Roy asked as he bandaged the hand. "My ribs are a little sore," Johnny moaned. "Perhaps you ought to get rid of that bike." "No way, Mike. I spent a lot of money on the parts to get that bike fixed and I really like it. I'd never get rid of it." "All right Johnny, calm down. He was just making a suggestion," Roy emphasized.  "I'll call in a still alarm," Cap said.   Chet placed a cup of coffee on the table in front of Johnny. "Did I ask for that?" "Did you hit your head?" Roy questioned, while looking at a bruise and a knot on the left side of his head. "Not that I know of, why?" "I see a bump and a bruise on your forehead, and you don't seem to remember asking for coffee." "Yeah, I remember asking for it now.  He gently rubbed his fingers across his forehead. I guess I do have a bump there. I dropped my keys this morning and bent down to pick them up and came up and hit my head on the handlebars pretty hard. "Didn't you have your helmet on your head?" Chet inquired. "No, I didn't have my helmet on yet.  I had just taken the keys out of my pocket when I dropped them. Chet, get me an icepack for my head. It'll be fine."  "Marco, hand me the normal saline, will you?"  Roy requested, as Chet brought the ice. Johnny tried to think of a way to put Roy's mind at ease and assure him that he didn't have a head injury. "At least I didn't swallow that grasshopper that flew into my mouth when I pulled out of the drive." There was silence in the room. "Look Roy, I'm just a little preoccupied with worry about my bike is all, honest. It seemed all right when I picked it up and rode it the rest of the way here, but I just hope it's not damaged." Roy nodded and finished bandaging the leg and ankle. "I'll check with Rampart and see if they want an IV established, and call an ambulance." "Roy, I don't need an IV. And I sure don't need an ambulance." Roy notified Rampart that he was bringing Johnny in and gave them the vitals and information that he had. He then walked over to his partner.  "Brackett said that we can hold off on the IV and that I could bring you Rampart. Do you think that you can make it to the squad?" "Yeah, with a little help." Roy helped Johnny to his feet and walked him to into the bay. The two left for the hospital. Chet said, "I hope he's all right, Cap" "I'm sure he is. Let's get to work everyone. Roy will keep us updated." Part IV Johnny and Roy walked into Rampart Emergency and were met by Doctor Brackett at the doors. "Take him into treatment two, Roy." Roy assisted Johnny into the room and helped him onto the exam table. "Lie back, Johnny," Kel instructed. Johnny laid back and put the icepack on his head. He looked at Roy. "See that my bike is o.k." Kel looked at Johnny's hand briefly not disturbing the bandage too much. He then looked at his head. Kel cut his pant leg and sock. Johnny winced as Kel removed the bandage. A red and blistered area on his ankle and leg was now in plain view. "Can you fix my hand up quickly so that I can get back to work, Doc?"  Kel palpated his abdomen.  Johnny jumped a bit when Kel touched his rib cage. "I'm going to order some x-rays and you're going to spend the night for observation. Do you need something for the pain, Johnny?"  "No, I'm doing all right for the time being.  Doc, do I have to stay?" Roy looked at Johnny. "You heard him."    Kel was examining Johnny's hand more closely, as the nurse who took care of Johnny when he had a broken leg, flung the door open banging it against the wall. The whole room grew cold as she walked in and looked at Roy. "Well, if it isn't Steve Stunning." Roy was startled. "Uh, Doc, if you don't need me, I think that I need to get back…" "No, go ahead Roy.  Start an IV with normal saline, nurse and get some new vitals," Kel instructed before picking up the phone to order the x-rays. Roy gave Johnny a pat on the shoulder. "Take it easy Johnny. Do you need anything?" Johnny clenched his teeth and grabbed Roy's shirtsleeve with his good hand. "You aren't going to leave me here with her, are you?" "Sorry, I have to go partner. Duty calls." "Be sure that you take care of my bike for me, will you?" Roy nodded. "I've got to call the station and let Cap know how you're doing. I bet I'll have to put up with Brice for the rest of the..." "Out of the way," the nurse interrupted as she pushed Roy a bit. He quickly left after giving Johnny a slight wave. Kel hung up the phone and looked toward Johnny. "Man, is an IV necessary, Doc?"  "Yes, it is Johnny, or I wouldn't have ordered it." "Well, where's Dixie?  Can't she start it for me?" "Dixie is on vacation for a few days. Is there a problem, Johnny?" Dr. Brackett inquired. "No, no probLEM! OW! That hurt," Johnny shouted as the nurse snapped the tourniquet in place. Johnny pulled his arm away. "Give me your arm now. I don't have time for this. I have a schedule to keep, you know." Johnny reluctantly started to put his arm back down when she grabbed it. The nurse jabbed the IV needle into Johnny's left arm and released the tourniquet. "OW! TAKE IT EASY!" "That was easy, sonny.  I hit the vein didn't I? I'm good at what I do and I know what I'm doing," she said as she put the last piece of tape in place. "Doc, is he up to date on his tetanus shot?" She asked while reaching for Johnny's wrist to get his pulse. Johnny cringed and mumbled, "Oh brother, I sure hope so." The x-ray technician entered the room and the nurse shouted, "Make it quick." Part V Roy returned to the station alone. "How is he?" "I'm sure that he's going to be all right, Cap. Johnny's more worried about his bike than himself and wanted to make sure that I took care of it for him. It's become his prize possession." "Brice should be on his way," Cap told Roy. "I was afraid of that," Roy said to himself. Chet was holding a mop and said, "Roy we've been talking and we want to know what you think about buying Johnny a brown leather jacket with his initials and Harley Rider on the back. I have a friend who could get the lettering done by tomorrow morning if we called and ordered a jacket for him and got it there before two o'clock today." Roy sat down in a chair. He hesitated with his answer, considering what the correct response should be.  Remembering the look of happiness Johnny had when he walked in the other morning, and his concern for the bike at the hospital, he said,  "Sure, I think that would be a great idea." Mike said, "I know of a place that sells leather jackets. Do you want me to call?" "Sure, go ahead," Marco said.   "I'll see if Joanne has time to stop by and pick it up and run it by to have it lettered on her way to get groceries," Cap said. "Great!" Marco said loudly. Brice walked into the room. "Well, I hear Gage is injured once again and I had to come to Squad fifty-one's rescue." "What's that suppose to mean, Brice?" Roy asked defensively. "Nothing, DeSoto. Just stating a fact." Roy scowled at Brice. Mike hung the receiver up on the base of the phone. "All set, it'll be ready to be picked up in thirty to forty minutes." Cap called Joanne and told her about the jacket. Everyone chipped in the money and gave it to Captain Stanley. Part VI The next day, A-Shift left the station and after picking up the jacket, headed to the hospital. They arrived and rode up to the third floor and exited the elevator. Chet led the group and Mike was right behind him. "Right here," Chet said as he pushed the door to Johnny's room open, holding a package behind his back. "How are you Johnny?" "Doing all right, Mike. I'm getting out of here some time this morning, as soon as Doc Brackett releases me." Cap, Marco, and Roy walked in to the room. "Hi guys! How was the shift?"  Johnny questioned. "Long, but slow, thank goodness," Roy stated as he rolled his eyes. "What ya got there, Chet?" Johnny asked, seeing that Chet was holding something behind his back. "It's for you from all of us at the station," Chet replied, as he handed Johnny the neatly wrapped gift box. Johnny shook the box and held it for a minute. "Gee, you shouldn't have. What is it?" "Open it Johnny," Chet demanded.  Johnny tore the bow off of it. He was as excited as a kid at Christmas, ripping off the paper and tossing it to the side with his uninjured hand. He took the lid off and pulled out the jacket.  "Do you like it?" Marco asked. "It's to wear when you ride your bike. Read the back," Chet said anxiously.  Johnny turned it around, held it up, and read it aloud. "Harley Rider, J.R.G." Johnny lay in bed staring at the jacket. "Well, aren't you going to say anything?" Cap questioned. "Thanks, but I don't know quite what to say." The man in the next bed pulled the curtain back. "You ain't reneging on our deal are ya, dude? Cause if you are…" he held his fist up in the air and shook it in Johnny's direction. Chet looked at the man and backed away from the curtain a bit. He saw a large scarred face man with a bandage around his head, and tattoos everywhere, gazing at Johnny. "I said even trade, and I meant it, don't worry, Python," Johnny said assuredly. "What trade?" Roy asked. "I traded him my Sportster for a fifty-seven Chevy Belair convertible. I've always wanted one. All I have to do is find a way to get it onto a trailer, get it running, a paint job, and…Guys, come on, wait.  Where ya going? Hey, Roy, come back…" The End Author's Comment:  Thanks to Janet, we can all enjoy our favorite fan fic characters. Johnny and Roy will forever remain in our hearts and minds as long as Janet keeps posting our stories on Johnny's green pen. Janet says, "aw shucks!" return to main menu