"His FATHER, now GET OUT!" "Please go Mr. Thomas, we'll deal with this later." "LATER, I'm going home, so it better not be TOO much later!" "I understand." "Well fine," the man answered, leaving in a huff. Johnny watched him go, and then stared at the other two ladies until they too left the room.  Now that he'd gotten himself some space, he got down on his knees, and peered for himself, under the desk.  Sure enough, the tiny boy had somehow managed to crawl up underneath it, and wedge himself in, in a way that nothing short of taking the desk apart was going to get him out, unless he came out on his own. "Hi there." Johnny spoke quietly.  "Whatcha doin under here?"  The boy ignored him, just as he'd figured he would.  "Boy, that doesn't look too comfortable.  How about you come out of there...no?"  Johnny laid down, and twisted his lean frame to see if he could reach up underneath. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," Michele warned from the doorway. "Yeah," Johnny answered with strained breath as he struggled to get a better angle, "I seem to remember being told that here before." "That boy under there has been through a lot.  He's going to be absolutely petrified of you, do you understand?" "Of me...and he's not of all of you?" "At least he's been here for a while, he knows us." "Yeah, and look at the wonderful job you're all doing, getting his confidence." "We're doing our best!  What do you think you're going to do with him anyway?" "Well..the first thing I'm gonna do...is get him out of this desk," he answered, reaching up inside.  "OWWW...MAN!" he shouted, withdrawing his hand quickly. "I warned you." "Yeah!  You warned me!" he shouted back, sitting up, and leaning against a wall to catch his breath. "Let me see--" "Don't worry about it," he answered, sucking at his bleeding knuckle. "It's a human bite, you're going to need a tetanus shot." "I'm fully aware of what I do and don't need." "Then you better get yourself off to the hospital." "Have you got a wrench?" "Yes we have a wrench!  What about the tetanus?" "I'm fine!" "Unless you've had one within the last--" "I know when you need them, and I know when I need one.  Don't worry about it.  I'm fine.  Now can you get me a wrench?" Michele handed him an adjustable wrench that the man had left behind.  "So when did you have your last--" "Last week." "Last week?" "That's what I just said." "What did you need it for?" "Could you stop talking to me please?  I think it'd be better if I talked to him." "He won't answer you." "He doesn't have to." "Suit yourself," she answered, leaving the room. Johnny slid under the desk to look up at his son.  "Hi again, how're you doin'?  I'm ah...I'm gonna have to start taking this desk apart now...unless you'd be willing to come down outta there.  Whadda ya say?"  The boy didn't budge, so Johnny began to remove all of the bolts, being very careful that the desk didn't come apart in a way that could hurt the child.  In a couple of minutes, he was able to lift the top off, and gain access to the boy.  As the light fell on him, he looked up, then ducked his head, and stiffened his body.  His hands were bleeding from the sharp edges he held on to.  "Okay, it's all right...I'm just gonna get you out of there now, okay?"  As Johnny lifted him out, he became a statue, immovable, and solid.  He had seen frightened children before in his line of work, but never like this.  "I'm taking him to the hospital," he informed Michele as he carried the boy out of the office. "If you sign the forms now, you won't have to pay for--" "I'm not signing anything.  I'm taking my son home.  I don't know how good I'll do, but I KNOW I can do better than THIS!" "Now wait just a minute!" "No you wait.  I have custody, and I'm taking him.  Could you PLEASE get his belongings together." "Belongings?  Everything he has belongs to the state!" "Well what do you want me to do, strip him so you can keep his clothes!" "No you don't have to strip him, but as far as belonging--" "Forget it." "We could probably scrounge you up some--" "FORGET IT, I'll take care of it." "Mr. Gage, we really do do our--" The door slammed behind him, cutting off her last words.  Placing his human box on the seat, and doing his best to fasten the seat belt around him, he headed for the hospital.  As he entered the Emergency room, he was relieved to find it was very quiet. "Excuse me," he asked a nurse. "Yes?  Oh no, not the biter again!" "What?" "What was it this time?" "I don't--" "Do you work there?  I don't think I've seen you before." "I'm his father!" "Oh yes...yes of course you are...you look just like him!  And they ah...I take it the courts gave you back custody." "They gave me custody, yes they did." "Really...unbelievable." "Why?" "What is it I can do for you Mr. uh..." "Gage.  John Gage.  His name is Coty McConnely.  He cut his hands here, and yesterday some kids were hitting him across the stomach with a--" "Across the stomach?" "Yes, with a--" "I'll get the sedative, you put him on the gurney...over there." "Sedative?" he asked, but she was gone.  He carefully placed the boy on the gurney, and the nurse reappeared with a syringe. "Do you really have to--" "Unless YOU can get him to lay down, I do." Johnny narrowed his eyes at the lady before turning back to his kid.  "Coty?  Son?  The nice lady here needs to look at your tummy, okay?  Can you just lay down for me...just for a minute?  She won't hurt you, I promise.  You've been to the doctor before...haven't you?"  If anything, the boy stiffened more at the mention of the word doctor. The nurse sighed impatiently.  "Can we do this now?" "I...just give me a minute...I..." "I'm sorry sir, we haven't got all night," she said, swabbing the boys hip, and injecting him before Johnny could speak.  "Let me know when he's asleep." Johnny stood there with his mouth hanging open, unable to believe the nurse he had just seen.  A nurse like that wouldn't last ten minutes at Rampart.  Dixie would be all over her.  She returned in a few minutes without Johnny having said a word, and wheeled the gurney into an exam room.  Then she stood back, her arms folded, her foot tapping, as she waited for the boy to become drowsy enough to her satisfaction.  Then, in a flash, she descended upon him, stripping him down to the skin in less than a minute. "All right," she said as she left, "I'll get the doctor." Johnny looked at his naked son, not quite asleep, but far too gone to put up much of a fight.  Bringing his leg up, he rolled to his side, trying to cover himself a little.  A child or not, Johnny was furious.  He looked for his clothes, but he had not seen what she had done with them.  He began to open and close every cupboard in sight, looking for a sheet or a blanket.  As he slammed yet another door, a gray-haired doctor entered. "Okay, what have we got here?" "My son," Johnny paused, "he was--" "Your son?  I thought he was from the center." "He was." "What seems to be the problem?" "His hands got cut...and some boys--" The doctor rolled the boy to his back, and examined his ribs.  Johnny spotted a white bag hanging from a doorknob, and started to go through it, looking for the boy's undershorts.  He froze as he saw the boy throw his arm over his eyes to block out the examining light, so much like he would have done.  The bright light showed a number of stripes across his abdomen, as well as several thin white scars on other places on his body; the kind that could only have been caused by an adult with their own belt.  The nurse reentered snapping him out of his reverie. "Have you got a sheet?" he demanded. "A sheet?" "Yeah, a large square of fabric used to COVER PEOPLE WITH!" "In that cupbo--" Johnny whipped around, fetching it for himself. "LOOK!  You can't just go helping yourself to--" "SHUT UP LADY!" "SHUT--" "Evelyn, why don't you see if you're needed in B?" the doctor hinted strongly. Johnny slightly bumped the man out of his way as he covered his son.  "Sorry," he apologized. "It's all right.  He seems to be fine.  A little black and blue, but that's all.  His hands won't need stitches, just bandaging up.  I'll send Evelyn back in and she'll fix him up for you." "Doc, do you have his medical rec-- " Johnny began to ask, but the man was gone. Nurse Evelyn appeared again, wheeling a tray of gauze, tape, scissors, and the like.  Without looking at the father, she started on the boy's hands.  Remarkably, the boy managed to clench his fists in resistance. "Open," she demanded, prying at his little fingers. "That's it," Johnny spoke, grabbing the bag of clothes, and dressing his child. "What are you doing?" "Leaving." "I'm suppose to--" "Lady, you're suppose to do a lot of things, and I haven't seen you do one of them yet." "Just what do you mean by that?!" "Mr. Gage?" Michele said, interrupting at the door. Johnny looked at her in surprise, but did not speak. "If you're taking him, you'll need to sign these if you would." Johnny grabbed the papers and the offered pen, and read them over carefully, to make sure of what he was signing.  Once satisfied, he wrote his name where needed, and returned the pen and papers. "Make sure you see the cashier on your way out," Nurse Evelyn snapped at him as he picked up his child. "Actually, the state will cover treatment up until he signed the forms.  He was still the state's responsibility until these were signed." Johnny would have given the rude nurse a satisfied smirk as he left, but he refused to stoop to her level.  Instead, he ignored her, and carried his son back to his Rover.  Opening the back, and laying him down, he realized he had forgotten the boy's shoes.  "Oh forget it," Johnny whispered in aggravation, "I'll get him new shoes."  Pulling out his first aid kit, he tried to bandage the little hands himself, but the fighting imp still kept his hands closed, and the last thing Johnny wanted to do was hurt him.  "Okay Coty, it's all right.  Just let me fix this, okay?  It won't hurt.  I'll be careful.  Okay?"  Johnny bent the hand all of the way forward toward the wrist, pressing firmly on the bottom part of the boys palm, opening the hand slightly.  With trained professionalism and ease, he had both hands cleaned and bandaged in no time.  Putting away his kit, he looked at his son, staring at him with fear and wonder in his glassy eyes.  Johnny threw him a reassuring smile, and the boy looked away.  "I'm your father Coty.  I know that sounds nuts, but I am...and you're going to live with me now.  You never have to go back to that center again.  Is that okay with you?"  Johnny didn't get the answer he didn't expect, but he smiled anyway.  The boy was amazing.  A complete miniature of himself.  He didn't know how he had even considered leaving this child behind.  This was his son...HIS son, and come what may, he was going to do right by him.  After securing him in the back with a pillow and a blanket, Johnny got on the highway and headed for home.  He figured the first thing he'd do, would be to take him by Rampart for an opinion from doctors and nurses he trusted.  'The medical records!' Johnny shouted to himself silently.  'Some father I'm going to be.  Forgot his shoes, forgot the records...I'll be lucky if I don't end up forgetting HIM some place.  Man...I've GOT to get it together.' Repeatedly glancing in his rearview mirror, he kept an eye on the boy.  He couldn't tell whether or not he had given into the drug induced sleep, but he hoped he had.  Drug or not, he looked like he could use some rest.  Johnny figured it must be difficult to fall asleep in a room full of boys you didn't know, especially when one of them might come after you.  He was glad he had gotten his son out of there.  No one should have to live like that, in such a horrible place.  Looking into the mirror for the hundredth time, he didn't see him.  Looking again, he nearly hit another car.  'Man', he thought, 'where is he?'  He pulled off the road before looking a third time, not wanting to cause an accident.  To his disbelief, the kid was gone.  He ran through his mind all the times he had stopped at stop signs and lights.  Could he have gotten out then?  Johnny was sure he would have heard the rear door open and close, but then where was the kid?  He got out, and opened the rear door, finding it shut as securely as he knew he always shut it.  The only space back there was under the seats, but with the gear he kept under there, surely the boy could never get under it as well.  Surely was wrong.  Sandwiched between the tent, and a sleeping bag, he had managed to squeeze himself in.  'Man, that CAN'T be comfortable,' he thought. "Come on...come on out of there.  Look, I'm telling you, it's gonna be okay!  There aren't any bullies here to bother you.  It's just you and me." Johnny pulled out the sleeping bag, then slid his human box out with it.  He smiled at his boy's skill.  He was a strong little guy.  "Come on, why don't you ride up in front with me so you can see out the windows.  I know I always liked riding up in front with MY dad when I was your age." He picked the boy up to put him in the passenger seat, and was bit for his trouble.  Sucking the blood, he tried hard not to take it personally, or be angry, but this kid was starting to tick him off.  He hated biters, and didn't want to believe his child was one of that nasty lot.  Carefully fastening the seat belt, he bandaged his hand, and hit the road again, as fast as the law would allow him to go.  He drove well into the night until he found his eyes sliding dangerously shut.  Giving in, he pulled into a Motel 6.  "I don't know about you, but I've had it.  It is definitely time for some shut eye." Though the boy had not slept the entire ride thus far, he had also never looked up.  Looking up now, he saw the motel sign.  He began to scream and kick with everything he had. "What's the matter!  What's the matter with you!  Knock it off!" Johnny shouted at him in confusion.  "Look!  Knock it off and I mean NOW!"  He leaned forward, trying to catch a flying foot before it landed on his ribcage for a third time.  In the neon light, he saw the boy's face, terror stricken and pale.  "All right, all right, we're going, just calm down, okay...just calm down!"  It took over an hour for the breathing next to him to return to normal, and the problem remained; he was still too tired to continue driving.  Spotting a wayside in his headlights, he decided to pull off.  "All right now, just take it easy.  I'm getting my sleeping bag, and I'm getting out.  I'm going to leave my keys right here, and you can lock the door.  This flashlight right here is yours, okay?  If you don't like the dark, you can leave it on all night.  I've got to get some sleep.  PLEASE don't freak out on me again.  Nothing bad is going to happen here.  I'm just going to get some sleep."  Johnny took his sleeping bag, and locked the door before he closed it, leaving the keys behind just as he had promised.  As he dozed off, he wondered what kind of a scary movie with a motel in it someone had let that kid watch, and cursed the stupidity of whoever had let him do it.  Some things just weren't meant for kids. He awoke to someone prodding him in his sore ribs with their foot.  Blinking his eyes, he found a Police Officer, hand resting on his gun, looking at him very disapprovingly. "Morning," Johnny said with forced cheer, sitting up slowly and rubbing his eyes. "Mornin was hours ago," the officer informed him. Johnny looked at his watch, finding it was only 10:30, but decided he had best not argue with the man. "This your boy?"  the officer asked, jerking his thumb at the car. "Yeah," Johnny answered, getting to his feet.  "We were heading home, and I got a little too sleepy to drive, so I just pulled over for a while." "Uh huh.  Where's the mother?" "The mother?  Oh, well, she passed away," Johnny told him quietly, hoping the boy wouldn't be able to hear. "So you're a widower." "No...no...never been married actually, you?" "Never been married huh.  You have custody of this here boy?" "Yeah I do I--" "I don't suppose you can prove that." "Yes I can actually, you see, I just got him and I--" he stopped, trying to pull open the door and remembering his keys were inside.  "Coty?  Son?  Open the door for me now okay?" The boy slid to the floor by the passenger seat, and covered his head with his arms.  "It's all right Coty, the Policeman's not going to do anything.  I need you to open the door now."  The boy didn't budge.  "He's ah...he's a little shy," Johnny joked. "Uh huh, sir I need you to step back, and place your hands on the car." "Huh?" "Step back and place your hands on the car." "Why?" "Just do as I say sir." Johnny complied, and found himself handcuffed in a flash.  "What...what's the problem?" "You been beating that boy?" "ME?  NO!" "Would you mind telling me what happened to his eye, and his hands?" "He cut his hand's on a desk.  I bandaged them myself.  I don't know what happened to his eye, but I'd be willing to bet it was caused by another kid...I didn't do it!" "Where's your drivers license," the cop asked, not finding it when he frisked him. "It's in my jacket," Johnny said, nodding the direction with his head, "in there." The cop tried to open the door, and found it locked. "Yeah," Johnny tried to laugh, "that's why I was trying to get him to open it." "I suppose the keys are inside too." "Yep." "So he managed to lock you out, is that it?" "Huh?  NO!  I locked the door, not him!" "Why?" "To try to make him feel safe," Johnny explained, regretting the words the moment they left his mouth. "Uh huh.  Please stand over here," the officer instructed, guiding him to a place some distance from his vehicle. Johnny did as he was told, and was soon sitting on a fallen tree. "Look, I can explain all of this, if you'll just..." The officer ignored him, and went back to his car.  Johnny could hear the man trying to talk his son into opening the door for him.  After ten minutes, the officer returned. "Look, can't you just run my plate?"  Johnny asked.  "My name is John Gage, John Roderick Gage.  I live at--" "I AM running your plate.  It's out of state though, so it will TAKE a while." "Oh," Johnny spoke quietly.  "All right, but, can I at least tell you what happened?" "Go ahead, let's hear what you come up with." "I..."Johnny paused, not liking the comment.  "I just got him, like I said.  I didn't know about him till a couple days ago.  I came here from California.  The mother was killed, and they called me, looking for the father...you see?  So I came to see if I was, and I was, and now they gave me custody!  I have the forms in the car." "Where did you get him from?" "The Boy's something or other center in Colorado Springs.  Just have the dispatcher call social services over there, and tell her to talk to Michele." "Michele what?" "I uh...I don't remember, but she was his case worker...really." The cop went to sit in his squad, never taking his eyes off his suspect.  An hour later, the cop came back and removed the handcuffs. "John Roderick Gage of Los Angeles?" "Yeah, what happened." "Your story's been confirmed.  You're free to go." "So Michele told you I have custody now." "Actually she told our dispatcher, 'he wanted him, let him deal with it.'" "Well, that was nice of her.  Coty, come on now, open the door...please?" "Open the door this minute, or I'll have to take you to jail!" the cop shouted. "What are you doing?!" "Trying to help." "Well don't!" "Sorry...you want me to call a locksmith?" "No!" "Suite yourself.  I have to leave now.  How long are you going to sit out here before you--" "Fine, call a locksmith." "I'll call a locksmith," the cop laughed, turning for his vehicle. "Coty, you could save me thirty-five bucks if you'd just reach up there for just a second, and pull up that lock.  We're going to get it open anyway.  Come on Coty, please?  I'm not mad at you, really...please just pull up the lock!" The cop left, and twenty minutes later, the locksmith arrived.  Without conversation, the foul smelling man had the door open in seconds.  Johnny picked up his keys and jacket, and fumbled around for the money inside his pocket.  "Thirty five okay?" he asked, holding out the full sum, instead of trying to dicker like he'd usually do.  The man took the money, and drove off, leaving his aroma behind him.  "Okay...what do you say we get out of here?"  Johnny drove until he was sure he was well out of the Police Officers jurisdiction before pulling over at a truck stop for food.  He was famished, and he was sure his son must be too.  He cursed himself for going to sleep without thinking about whether or not the boy might be hungry or thirsty and vowed not to make that mistake ever again.  Parking his Rover, he walked around to the passenger door.  His son still sat on the floor, never having moved the entire time.  "Food," Johnny announced, trying to sound normal, and happy.  "I bet you like french fries." The boy didn't appear to hear him. "Come on...aren't you hungry?" He squeezed his head harder in his arms. "I'm not mad, really.  Come on...can't you smell the food?  You're at least thirsty, aren't ya?"  He didn't know what to do.  Should he go in and bring the food out?  He couldn't very well carry the boy inside all folded up like he was.  Besides, the last thing he wanted to do was draw a lot of attention.  He was in no mood for more prying eyes.  Johnny closed the door, locking it after making doubly sure his keys were in his pocket, then he hurried inside to place an order 'to go'.  Being a diner, it took some time, so he kept stepping outside to look at his Rover, and make sure nothing had changed.  Returning to his vehicle with two bags, and two large drinks, he found the boy had pulled his disappearing act again.  Johnny set the stuff down, and walked to the rear door to pull his son out from under the seat.  He found only his tent.  "Oh shit...oh no.  Oh god...where did he go?  Stay calm...stay calm...he couldn't have gone far...maybe he went to the bathroom.  That's it, he went to the bathroom.  How could I be so stupid."  He ran to the door, and opened it, finding it empty.  Taking a chance, he opened the door to the ladies room.  A woman looked back at him in complete surprise.  "I uh...I'm so sorry.  I was looking for uh...sorry." Johnny closed the door, hoping with all his might the lady didn't have a husband or a boyfriend anywhere near by.  Johnny looked in the restaurant and around the gas pumps before checking his Rover again.  "You looking for that little boy?" a lady shouted at him from the passenger side of a semi cab. "YEAH!  Did you see him?" "Cutest little boy you ever did see.  He looks just like ya.  He went over that way, into the grass by them trees.  I figured, you know...figured he had to go.  Can't blame him for not wanting to use the restroom's here.  The ladies room is gross, can't imagine what the men's room must be like." "That way?" Johnny asked pointing. "Yep." "Thanks a ton!" "Oh you're welcome sweetie." Johnny ran to the edge of the field, but saw nothing but grass, nice long grass.  "Oh man, now what?"  He started to walk across the field, looking for any bit of color, trying to remember what the boy was wearing, and becoming angry with himself when he couldn't.  Almost by the trees on the far side, he tripped on something that then jumped up, and started running.  Johnny chased after him, surprised at how fast the tiny boy could run.  Every time he nearly had him, the boy changed direction, and Johnny missed.  From a distance, one would think it was a game, but from the boy's expression, Johnny knew it was not play.  On his fourth try, he managed to snag him by the shirt, and pick him up.  He expected a fight, and kept him at arms length, but the boy only panted at the ground.  "All right now," Johnny panted back.  "For the last time, I'm not gonna hurt you!  I'm a grown man, not some big bully kid.  I'm not mad, but you are getting me pretty close.  I'll let you walk, but you better go straight back to that car, and get in.  You hear me?"  Setting him back on his feet, he couldn't believe it when the kid obeyed. Inside the car, he started the engine, and handed the boy the food.  "I got you a burger and some chicken, cause I don't know what you like, okay?  And of course I got you plenty of fries.  That drink is yours, this one's mine."  Johnny downed half his soda in two swallows, then tore into his burger.  "Man I'm hungry," he said aloud.  Finishing his own fries, he noticed the boy hadn't touched a thing.  "Aren't you hungry...don't you like burgers...try the chicken....well at least eat the fries...no?  What about your drink, now I KNOW you have to be thirsty, especially after all that runnin."  The boy sat normally this time, instead of folding himself up into a box, but he made no move toward the food or the drink.  Johnny sighed sadly, trying to convince himself he just wasn't hungry.  The day passed, along with another two meals, and still the boy ate nothing.  Arriving back in LA at dusk, Johnny drove straight to Rampart.  He wanted some reassurances, and for the boy to be checked out by people who cared.  "Okay, let's just go in here for a while, then we'll head home.  Will you walk, or do I have to carry you?" The boy opened the door on his own, and waited for Johnny to walk around.  Johnny headed for the Emergency room entrance, glancing back over his shoulder repeatedly to make sure he was being followed.  The area was relatively quiet, and no one sat at the nurse's station.  Johnny disappeared around the back of the desk, to check the roster and see who was on that night.  The boy, seeing him stop, took the opportunity to sit down and rest against the wall.  Dr. Early came out of an exam room, followed closely by Dixie. "Sorry Dix," he said after doing a double take at the figure in the hall then turning back to speak to her, and nearly knocking her over. "Oh that's quite all right.  It's been one of those days." "I agree, but do me a favor?" "What's that?" "Tell me that's not Johnny sitting in the hallway, cause if it is, I really need to get my eyes checked.  I'm getting more nearsighted by the minute.  He only looks about three feet tall." Dixie smiled, but lost her grin when she saw the same thing.  "Well, I hate to tell you this, but I seem to be having the same problem." "Oh there you," Johnny called, rounding the corner and seeing them. "Oh thank goodness," Dixie joked. "No kidding, I was worried there for a moment.  I was beginning to wonder if he hadn't fallen into a jar of shrinking cream." "Shrinking cream?" Dixie laughed. "Huh?" Johnny asked, missing the joke. "Is this a cousin or something?" "No, actually he uh--" "He's adorable...absolutely--" "Dixie, don't touch--" "OWW!" "DIXIE?  I'm really really sorry.  He ah...he's a little scared and--" "My fault...my fault entirely.  You'd think I'd know better by now.  He sure wasn't smiling and I just...walked right into it." "I'm so sorry Dixie." "It's all right Johnny.  What do you need tonight?" "Actually I was wondering if--" "Oh my god, would you look at that," Dr. Bracket cried, entering the hallway.  "It's a miniature John Gage.  You baby-sitting a cousin?" "No, he's my son." "Your...your what?" Dixie stuttered. "He's my son, and I really need someone to look him over for me.  I just got him, and that other hospital was so--" "What happened to his face Johnny?" Dr. Bracket asked in full doctor mode. "I don't know, he cut his hands on a desk." "You bandage these?" he asked, taking a quick look. "Yeah." "Thought so, all right, why don't we take him into two." "Kel," Dixie warned as he started to place on hand on the boy's shoulder to guide him in.  When he looked at her, she tapped her teeth, and he pulled his hand away. "You?" he asked.  She nodded back, showing off the teeth marks on her hand. "You better have Joe take a look at that." "Dixie...I'm so--" "It's OKAY Johnny, you better go with Kel." "Yeah okay," he agreed. "All right, let's just get you up on this table," Dr. Bracket told the boy. "Doc," Johnny interrupted, "maybe you better let me do that."  Being careful to keep his hands well away from the boy's head, he picked him up, and sat him on the bed. "Okay now," Dr. Brackett continued, "can you lay down for me?  Guess not.  I'm just going to check your glands under your chin right here okay?"  The doctor examined him as best he could, while the boy glared in return.  He allowed the doctor to remove his shirt, listen to his heart, and even took two breaths for him on request; but when the doctor got him to lay down, and started to press down on his lower stomach, nears his pants waist band, he bolted up, and sank his teeth into the man's elbow. "Doc?" "It's not your fault Johnny, it's wasn't like I hadn't been warned.  Now Dixie has something to gloat about.  She's going to get to give me a tetanus." Johnny tried to smile, but he felt horrible for his friends. "How many times you get bit?" the doctor asked, seeing the bandage. "Twice." "TWICE?" "He's fast." "He sure is.  Do you have his medical records?" "No, they're still in Colorado Springs." "Colorado.  Do you have any of his history?" "Not really doc.  I just kind of got him." "Where's the mother?" "Dead." "I'm sorry." "It...I lost touch with her a long time ago.  She never said a word you see?  Not a word.  Then...well..got a phone call, and voila." "How old is he?" "Eight." "Eight!" "Yeah." "Were you this small?" "Small for my age, yes, but not that small." "Well I don't want to jumped to conclusions...but it may be from malnourishment and neglect.  We' send for his records and see what we find.  In the mean time, I'll have the kitchen send him up something." "That's just it doc.  He hasn't had a thing since I've had him.  I mean I've given it to him...he's just--" "Not eating for you." "Not even a soda." "Well in that case, maybe we need to keep him here overnight.  We'll give him another chance to eat on his own, but if he won't, we'll have to put a gastric tube down him and--" "Oh come on doc.  It's not that bad yet, is it?" "We can start with an IV, to get him re-hydrated, but come tomorrow--" "So give me till then, okay?" "For what?" "Let me take him home and if I can't get anything down him by morning, I'll bring him back." "Johnny, he's already dehydrated." "I know doc, but...look at it from his point of view.  If we order him to do it, it's just going to make it that much harder for him.  Let's not make a big deal out of it yet okay?  I promise, if he still won't eat, I'll bring him back, but let's just give him a little longer, okay?" "Johnny, I can't say I approve, but if you keep a close eye on him, I'll give you till eight tomorrow morning." "Thanks doc." "Aren't you on tomorrow?" "Yeah I am, I've got to get home and start making some calls." "If you're successful, call me so I know.  I'm on all night." "Sure doc, thanks.  Okay Coty, we're going back to the car now, you walking, or am I carrying." The boy scooted off the table by himself, landing on his feet and leading the way out the door. "Johnny," Dr. Brackett called, causing Johnny to pause a moment. "Yeah?" "I forgot to ask...what happened to his stomach, do you know?" "Some other boys took a belt to him." "On the stomach?!" Johnny nodded, and Dr. Brackett frowned.  "Nice kids." "Yeah." "Good luck Johnny." "Thanks doc.  I'll let you know."                        ~/~/~/~/~ Johnny drove to a grocery, not being able remember what food he had at home.  He was happy when the boy willingly followed him into the store.  Johnny watched as the kid looked around him at all the tall isles full of food. "Haven't you ever been in a grocery store before?" Johnny laughed.  Then he frowned...maybe he hadn't. "Well when you see something you want, point, and I'll check it out."  He'd told himself long ago that if he ever had a kid, he was going to be strict about what he'd allow him to eat.  So many children seemed to have so many problems, overweight, ADD, acting out, even diabetes.  Johnny always felt that a lot of the problems weren't the kids, or something wrong with their bodies, but what they were eating.  He was sure all the new chemicals...all the hormones used, all the additives and preservatives, were at least partly to blame for a lot of the things they seemed to start drugging kids for.  He tried to watch for that sort of stuff in the things he ate himself, and now he told himself he'd watch out for his son.  As he thought about the kinds of food he wanted his kid to eat, the boy continued to look around.  Johnny decided to let him wander, and just followed with his cart.  He wondered if the kid was looking for something specific and hoped it wasn't something he'd want to say no to. A lady, equally busy in looking other than where she was going, headed straight for his kid. "Coty!" Johnny shouted in the nick of time. The boy collapsed into a tight ball and the lady screamed, believing she had hit him. "He's okay...he's okay," Johnny told her, trying to get him to stand. "I didn't see him!  I'm so sorry!" "It's okay!  You didn't hit him." "Oh yes I did, I SURE I did." "No, he's fine...come on Coty," Johnny said, placing him in the bottom of his cart. "If he's fine, what's the matter with him?" "He's shy," Johnny explained with a phony smile before pushing his cart away from the scene, and down an empty isle.  "I'm sorry, really...I didn't want you to get hit.  Look, I'm going to go up and down the isles, all you have to do is point.  No junk food, but you can have anything else you want...just point, okay?  You have to sit up to see Coty.  Would you please stop doing that?  I'm SORRY!"  Johnny sighed in frustration and sadness.  Why on earth was this kid so afraid of him, and everything else.  He grabbed some food, several cans of juice, and some milk, and hurried to the checkout.  He avoided the girl's eyes, as she first stared at the clothed lump in his cart, then at him.  "He's SHY," he told her forcefully as he paid her, and pushed the cart outside.  He loaded everything into the back, boy included, and headed for home.  His ranch never looked so good.  His half Malamute, half German Shepherd pup named Shawnao greeted him with a wagging tail. 'Oh god, the dog.  He's going to be REALLY terrified of the dog,' he thought to himself.  He jumped out, and locked the confused mutt in the barn, counting on the boy staying a box until he returned.  He found everything the same as he had left it, and now debated as to what to carry inside first, the groceries, or the boy.  He opted for the boy, setting him down in the middle of the large living room, where he'd be able to see most of the downstairs at once; that was if he lifted his head, and opened his eyes.  Johnny hurried back for the groceries, and finding the boy the same, went into the kitchen to put them away.  He made two sandwiches, poured three glasses of milk, and one glass of juice mixed with lime soda.  He put his own down on a wooden TV tray, and placed the boy's on the floor next to him. "All right, here's what's gonna happen.  It's time to eat now.  You can have this sandwich, or you can have some cereal, your choice.  If you want cereal, it's in the kitchen, and you can get it yourself.  Milk's in the fridge, and I left a bowl and spoon on the counter.  Anytime you're hungry...ANYTIME...you can have some cereal.  You don't have to ask.  Anytime you want something to drink, you can help yourself to that too.  This is your home now Coty, so anywhere you want to go in it, go ahead and go.  You can explore as much as you want...if you still can't eat, then I have to figure you're too sick to eat, and tomorrow, I'll have to take you back to the doctor...but I think maybe you just weren't hungry, with everything going on like it was.  But you can relax now.  No more car, no more teachers, no more kids...just a nice quiet house, your house.  If you're sick, and can't eat, the doctor will put this little tube through your nose, and down into your tummy.  It doesn't hurt very much, and once you get some food in your tummy, it'll make you feel better.  That's why doctors do it, to make you feel BETTER.  But that's ONLY if you can't eat...I'm gonna go have my sandwich now." Johnny ate, forcing his food past the lump in his throat as he watched his son sit so still.  He went to wash his plate, and use his bathroom.  Taking a chance, he jumped in the shower for a quick wash, putting on jogging pants and a t-shirt when he was through.  When he returned, half the sandwich was gone, and both glasses were empty.  He ducked back into the bathroom and waited another fifteen minutes, but when he returned, the other half of the sandwich still remained.  'So long as he didn't eat it cause he's full,' Johnny told himself. "Okay," he said feeling quite happy, "you ready for bed?" The boy took one look at him, and his eyes filled with tears.  He started to cry softly, but it grew louder and louder. "What's the matter?  Coty?  What's the matter?"  he asked, his heart breaking at the sound.  'I bet he wants him mom, what do I say?  Why did I take him anyway?  What am I doing?  At least he had Angela.  I bet he misses her.  She was nice to him I'm sure.  Now what has he got.  Me, that's what.  Man what have I done?' he thought in anguish. He raced over to a wooden trunk in the living room, and yanking the lid up, he pulled out a teddy bear. "Look Coty, would you like to sleep with this?  His name's Buster.  My niece Jenny really likes him.  She sleeps with him whenever she and Chris stay with me.  You can sleep with him tonight...okay?" The boy looked back with complete bewilderment, not at the bear, but at the look on the man's face, and the tear running down his cheek.  He couldn't understand this man at all. "You okay now?" he asked.  The distrust was evident, but at least he'd stopped crying.  "Do you want the bear?" The boy took it to be agreeable, but what he was suppose to do with it, he didn't know.  Johnny walked toward the stairs, and he reluctantly followed. "This is your room for tonight, I'll fix up a better room for you tomorrow," Johnny said taking him into the guestroom where Chris and Jenny, or any other visitor he had, slept.  "I'll even make you your own bed, how does that sound?"  The boy followed him inside the room, and his eyes began to fill again.  "I'm going to fix the bed up really fast now, okay, just let me get some sheets on and a blanket for you."  Johnny made up the bed as fast as he could, hoping to beat whatever was causing the boy so much stress, to the punch.  The man's nervous fumbling made the boy pause again in confusion, and Johnny succeeded in beating the tears. "All right, there you go, all ready.  Do you want me to tuck you...probably not, huh.  Okay, well, you see that door right there?  That's where I'm gonna be, and that door right there...that's the bathroom.  Do you...do you want a night-light?  I'll uh, I'll just turn it on, just in case.  It's Winnie the Pooh...see?  Do you like...uh...well...time to get some sleep now, okay?  Oh...pajamas...uh...let me get you a t-shirt.  It's the best I can do till tomorrow...I'll.."  Johnny disappeared into his room, and returned with the shirt.  "There you go, okay?  Now uh...well...goodnight.  Remember, there's cereal downstairs if you get hungry again."  Johnny pulled the door shut and listened for a moment, not sure what to do when he heard nothing...no sound's of the boy undressing, or getting into bed.  He went to his room to think, but soon fell asleep.  A noise in the bathroom he had never heard before woke him.  He tried and tried to place it, and was just about to go check the room over when he heard it again.  It was the lock on the bathroom door.  Johnny frowned, but told himself to be glad the boy was able to bring himself to use it.  He listened closely, and was just able to hear the door to the other bedroom close again.  Falling back into bed, he threw his arm over his eyes, and was just about to fall back asleep when he remembered he had to get a replacement for the next day, and that he'd promised to phone Dr. Brackett if he was able to get the boy to eat. One phone call to Dwyer, and he was covered for his next two shifts.  Next he called Rampart. "Hi Doc," Johnny spoke into the phone by his bed, unaware of the small noise outside his door "he ate half a sandwich, and had a glass of milk and a glass of juice...no...no I didn't threaten him, I just told him what you'd have to do...no I tried to put it in a nice way, the last thing I want is for him to be afraid of me...no, I put him to bed now.  I don't know if he's asleep though, I'm almost afraid to look.  As far as I know, he hasn't slept yet either, not unless he slept some while I did...well hopefully he'll get some sleep tonight...no, not sure what I'm doing tomorrow.  I need to get him some clothes, I know that...yeah doc, I know he didn't have shoes on...it's a long story...well, call me when you get his file from the other hospital...okay, thanks doc...goodnight to you too...bye."  Johnny hung up, and thought he'd peek in at the kid.  His heart nearly jumped out of his body when he pulled his door the rest of the way open to see the little imp jump up in the darkness, and race back to his room.  "Coty?  Did you need something?"  He opened the door, and the boy stood before him, trembling like a leaf.  "What's the matter now?  Did I scare you?  I didn't mean to.  I'm sorry.  You scared me too.  I...what do you want me to do...do you need something?  Do you want a drink?" 'Oh man,' he thought to himself, 'look kid, I'd do anything for you, really, just give me a clue.' "I'll uh...some water maybe...I'll uh..." Johnny headed into the bathroom, and returned, placing a glass of water on the nightstand.  "Look, it's getting really late, try to go to sleep now, okay?  Try to go to sleep.  Do you need help with your night shirt," Johnny asked stepping forward.  The boy took two steps back, bumping into the bed.  "Well however you want to do it is fine by me, just please try to get some sleep.  Good night Coty." Johnny went back to his room, wondering if he should offer to let the boy sleep with him, but having a strong unexplainable feeling that that would be the exact wrong thing to do.                       ~/~/~/~/~ Despite his worries, Johnny slept well.  Waking the next morning, he took another quick shower upstairs, and jumped into a pair of jeans.  He stepped out on to his upstairs deck, and found the day would be fairly warm, so returning inside, he pulled out a white sleeveless t-shirt, and threw on some socks.  Taking a deep breath, he crept down the hall to the guestroom.  He tapped twice to announce himself, then let himself in.  The room appeared to be empty, but Johnny felt otherwise.  He dropped to his knees to look under the bed, and found his son staring back at him.  "I wish he's quite doing that," Johnny whispered to himself. "Morning, you hungry?  Why don't you come out of there.  Okay...fine, I'll take the bed apart, get you out, put the bed back together, and we'll have breakfast.  Hopefully we'll be eating in a couple of hours."  Johnny started to pull the sheets off the bed, and the boy slid out, eyeing him like you might a dragon.  "Oh good, you just saved me two hours.  Let's go.  Or...wait.  Okay, I'm going downstairs to start breakfast, you go to the bathroom and wash up as best you can.  We'll go shopping today to get you some clothes.  I just hope no one notices you don't have shoes on.  Guess I should get them first so you have them the rest of the day...okay, well, in case you forgot, there's the bathroom, I'll be in the kitchen."  Johnny headed down the stairs, and Coty watched him go. Twenty minutes later, Johnny noticed the boy quietly make his way down the stairs, and sit himself down in the middle of the living room, where Johnny had put him the night before.  His hands were clean and his bangs were wet, but his hair stood out in every direction, and Johnny remembered the kid would need his own comb.  "I hope you like pecan pancakes, though you probably never had them before...maybe you did...did you?  I like 'em.  Even Roy likes 'em.  He keeps telling me to make them at the station, but...I can just hear Chet, you know?  No you don't know.  Well come on and eat in the kitchen, that's where I usually eat, right here at the counter...see, you even get your own stool.  Can you climb up there by yourself?" Johnny asked, setting the plate down, and pulling the high wooden barstool out.  The boy looked at him, not moving from his place in the living room.  "I'll get out some milk and some juice," Johnny told him, moving back to the other side of the counter to the fridge.  The boy crawled a couple of feet over in order to watch him open it, and pour out four drinks, three milk and one juice, then crawled back to where he was before Johnny had a chance to see him.  Johnny looked at him, considering what to do.  "Do you want me to bring it..."  'No, I can't go giving him everything he wants, then start trying to make rules about it later, that would never work.'  "We eat at the table or the counter Coty, now come and sit down." The boy stared back.  "You coming, or am I carrying?"  Now he slowly stood, and climbed up on the stool, never taking his eyes off Johnny.  Johnny brought his own plate around, and sat down at the other stool.  The boy looked at him like he expected at any moment to be eaten alive.  Johnny nearly asked him what was wrong, but thought better of it.  Instead, he calmly ate his breakfast, pretending not to notice.  When he finished, he stood to wash his plate, and set it in the drainer to dry.  Johnny hated cold pancakes himself, so he spoke not a word, but removed the boys plate, grabbed a clean one, and fried up two more pancakes, setting them down before him.  "Try them while they're hot, I think you'll like them.  Hurry up though, cause we got to get going."  Coty watched him pull a notepad and a pencil from a drawer, and go into the living room to sit in his chair.  Johnny pretended to be too busy writing to pay attention to the figure at his counter.  In the corner of his eye, he watched the boy try the pancakes, then start eating them.  He noticed every move the boy made was slow.  Every time he picked up his glass, he set it back down with caution, to make the minimal amount of noise.  Johnny didn't care, he was just happy the kid was eating.  Then again, he was a Gage, of course he liked pecan pancakes.  Johnny frowned, but he wasn't named a Gage, he was a McConnely.  He told himself he'd do something about that one day.                      ~/~/~/~/~ Roy was surprised to find he was working with Charlie Dwyer that day.  Johnny had never said a word. "So where's Gage today, Roy," Chet asked following roll call. "Not a clue." "He's not sick is he?" "Don't think so, Charlie said he just called last night to pull in a trade.  I guess Charlie still owes him a couple from his extended honeymoon." "Who owes who what?" Johnny asked coming in the back bay door from outside." "What are you doing?" Roy asked. "Oh uh, I need to borrow your pickup.  Is that okay?" "For what?" "Look, I just need to borrow it, can I?" "Of course you can, but--" "Keys?" "You know where they are." Johnny rushed off to the locker room, nearly running into Marco. "What's the matter with him?" "No idea," Roy answered. "Thanks Roy," Johnny chirped, hurrying for the door. "Johnny, what are--" "I'll talk to you later, Bye!" The three men in the Bay walked over to the door, and watched Johnny open the passenger side of his Rover, and the driver's side of the pickup.  With his back to them, they could neither see him talking, or the little figure that moved from one vehicle to the other.  They were completely baffled when he then closed the door to his Rover, jumped in the pickup, and drove away. "Did you see him get anything out of his car?" Chet asked Marco. "Not a thing." "Your partner's getting weird Roy." "Oh he's always been a little weird," Marco muttered, heading to the kitchen. Roy continued to look out the window, wondering what his friend was up to.                       ~/~/~/~/~ Johnny scanned down his list, wondering what to do first.  He opted for the bank, not wanting to have to write checks all day.  He hated to do it, but he withdrew the bulk of his savings, knowing he'd be needing it.  Next he figured clothes, shoes anyway.  Johnny drove to a large discount store and debated how to get the kid inside.  Going into these places late in the day, people didn't seem to notice things like shoes as much, but now it was morning, and people were more alert.  He figured he'd just have to go for it, and hoped that no salesperson decided to try to help him. The handsome man with his adorable little boy proved too much of a temptation to the saleslady, despite the fact she didn't work in shoes, but in ladies apparel.  Before he knew it, the woman was beside him. "Good morning," she smiled.  "Can I help you pick out some shoes?" "Uh, morning, no...I uh...think I got it," he smiled back, grabbing a pair of loafers, then looking at his son.  'Oh boy, now how do I get him to try them on without causing a scene,' he thought. onto part 3