The Love of a Child By: Stull and Rory Chapter 1 He snuggled deeper under his covers as the aroma of baking bread aroused him out of sleep. Blinking his eyes at the brightness outside his window, he realized he had been allowed to rest longer than usual. The sunlight played with the frost on his windowpane, making snowflake patterns on the handmade quilt that covered him. He again blinked at the window, as he was able to make out two small birds fluttering about it, pecking at the breadcrumbs he had left for them the night before. He smiled and snuggled his face into the warmth of his pillow. ~/~/~/~/~ Bright light flashed, startling him, and a loud noise set his heart to pounding. "Station 51, Engine 45, Engine 10, respond to a house fire, 763 Santa Fe, 763 Santa Fe, cross street Dansbury, time out 4:32. Station 51, be advised, two victims are reported to be inside, in a second floor bedroom located at the front of the house. " John Gage jumped out of his bunk and into his turnout pants along with the rest of the men as his captain acknowledged the call, "Station 51 KMG365." Quickly each of the crew ran toward their respective vehicles and hopped aboard. Roy and Mike started their engines as the heavy bay doors began to rise. Turning on the emergency lights and sirens, the squad leading the engine, pulled out into the dead of the night, speeding toward their destination. The flames shooting through the roof near the rear of the dwelling lit up the black sky as the crews pulled up in front of the home. "Dear God," Stanley whispered as he jumped from the rig. After he finished issuing orders as to where he wanted the men, Hank called in a second alarm. He then assisted his paramedics with the rescue, hoping that the victims would be found alive. Chet and Marco each pulled an inch and a half from the engine and began to assault the blaze from the front of the house. After adjusting the water pressure for the men, Mike busied himself hooking up to the nearby hydrant. Johnny and Roy donned their gear in preparation to rescue the victims believed to be inside. With Stanley's help, Johnny and Roy placed the ladder from the engine just under the bedroom window at the front of the house. Stanley then motioned for Chet to drop his line and assist with the ladder. The flames grew as several more firefighters arrived to battle the blaze with their hoses. After what seemed like ages, Roy appeared at the bedroom window with the first victim, a baby. Once he handed his charge to Johnny, Roy returned for the second victim. Mike looked up from the gauges when he heard another siren careening toward them. A squad, from another district, came to a halt across the street. The paramedics, unknown to Mike, quickly exited the squad. Neither man donned turnout gear before they hurried across the street. One of the paramedics frantically searched the area before he raced toward the ladder screaming, "Elizabeth!" Mike realized that whoever the victims were, they were important to one of their own. He placed his hand on his captain's shoulder. "Cap! We have a problem," Mike said pointing in the direction of the paramedic running toward the ladder. "Elizabeth!" the paramedic screamed again. The hair stood up on the back of Mike's neck. His own wife's name was Elizabeth. Chet let go of the ladder and tried to reason with the unknown paramedic, grabbing his arm and shouting for him to be careful. The man shoved Chet away, knocking the firefighter to the ground, and then mounted the bottom of the ladder. Johnny was only part way down, the very precious cargo tucked into his jacket. The man's added weight caused the ladder's legs to sink unevenly into the water soaked ground, causing the ladder to begin to slide sideways. The paramedic's partner, Dale Caruso, was trying unsuccessfully to pull his frantic co-worker away from the ladder. "Steve. Come on, man," he begged, "stay back before ladder tips over." Steve pushed his partner to the ground and returned his attention to the ladder. "What are you doing?" Johnny shouted below him, unaware that the paramedic he saw was not at the moment a co-worker, but a very panicked victim. Instead of getting off, the man began to climb. "Get down!" Johnny screamed as the ladder slid further sideways. Johnny shifted his weight as best as he could to keep it steady, but the man continued to climb. As he realized there was no way he could keep the ladder from tipping over, Johnny turned his back toward the ground, doing everything he could to keep from landing on the infant, and to help break his fall. Stanley and Stoker both ran toward the ladder, but were too late to prevent it, with Johnny, his victim, and the paramedic, from crashing to the ground. Marco also heard the commotion over the roar of the fire and the other firefighters. He dropped his line and rushed over to aid his fallen co-workers. "What in hell do you think you're doing?" Stanley bellowed at the paramedic. Mike and Dale went about checking Johnny and the baby, while Marco helped Chet back to his feet. Together they placed the ladder back under the window for Roy. Once the ladder was back in place, Marco held it tightly while Chet quickly climbed up to the window to help Roy with his second and last victim, a young woman. Before Stanley could say any more to the paramedic, he was called away by the captain of 45's. Before walking away, Stanley noted that his men were all accounted for and safely out of the burning structure. Stanley glanced at the paramedic's nametag. "You haven't heard the last of this, Firefighter Mitchell," he barked. By this time Chet was already on the ground with the other victim. He and Marco heard every word their captain had said, and they both knew that the paramedic was in deep shit. Seconds later, Roy joined everyone on the ground. He ran over the squad where everything was set up. Dale was tending to the baby, while Johnny began working on the woman. Roy glanced at his partner with a critical eye. Johnny was all business. Roy wasn't sure if he had been injured in the fall, or if he was just pissed at the paramedic whom Roy quickly realized was the woman's husband and baby's father. The wayward paramedic sat, kneeling beside Johnny as he tried to work. "Elizabeth?" the man asked weakly. "She's gonna be just fine...Mitchell," Johnny responded quietly, taking note of the man's nametag. "What's your first name? Don't think I've seen you around before." "I just started. We just moved here." Johnny glanced up at him with a half smile. "Oh...Steve, and this is Elizabeth." "I think I had that one figured out," Johnny teased, trying to get Steve to relax and stop hovering over him. Instead, Steve only frowned. "You okay?" Roy whispered as knelt on the other side of Johnny. "Yeah, we're doing okay here," Johnny, answered, letting the air out of the blood pressure cuff. "You wanna call it in?" "Sure," Roy agreed as he started to set up the bio-phone. "He's not breathing," Dale informed them with a hint of panic to his voice. Johnny stopped checking the woman's eyes, and reached to get a pediatric airway out of the trauma box. "Give him here," he told Dale as held out his arms for the baby. Dale was a more than competent paramedic, but it was generally known that John had a knack for treating children. Their tiny arms and legs, and their even tinier mouths and veins made more than one paramedic feel like a clumsy fool from time to time. Johnny, on the other hand, rarely missed an IV, even on the smallest of children. Dale was only too happy to turn the baby over to him. As he placed the small boy into Johnny's hands, Steve grabbed Johnny by the arm, causing him to nearly drop the child for the second time that night. "Watch out," Johnny ordered him. "But what about Elizabeth? You're supposed to be helping Elizabeth!" "She is gonna be just fine," Johnny, answered, trying to shrug his arm free without losing his grip on the boy. "But...." "Mitchell, let go!" "Sir...Sir! You need to come with me," Roy said seizing the man by the wrist, but not wanting to cause a struggle. "He's suppose to be--" "Steve! Go with him. I'll check on Elizabeth for ya," Dale implored to his partner. Reluctantly, Steve moved away from Johnny at the insistence of his partner. Roy and Johnny both shook their heads. Neither man could understand Steve's lack of concern for his child. Roy quickly got back on the horn to Rampart about the baby, while Johnny gave the tiny infant life saving breaths. In less than a minute the baby began to wail, bringing a smile to everyone's faces, everyone's, except for Steve. Several minutes later Roy and Johnny, with Dale's help, had both the woman and baby packed up and on route to Rampart. By then the firefighting crews had the flames extinguished. All that remained of Steve's home was a gutted out shell, which still had to be overhauled. Steve stood in the front yard, mesmerized as he stared at what was left of his home. Stanley stood back studying the paramedic briefly. He found himself wondering if he would have acted the same way if this had been his home and his family. No I wouldn't, because I'm a Captain and I have to keep my head clear and do my job, the answer rang back in his mind. Stanley really hated the thought of reprimanding someone who came close to losing his family, but he knew if the young firefighter had any hope of remaining in such a dangerous profession, he was going to have to learn how to control his emotions. One thing Stanley did decide, was that he would keep the reprimand out of headquarters. It would be verbal one, and he would speak to the young man's captain. As Stanley walked toward Steve, so was Dale, with Dale being first at his partner's side. "Steve!" Dale said, placing a hand on his partner's shoulder, "Maybe we should go to the hospital. I know you're concerned about your wife and son." Steve closed his eyes and sucked in a breath before turning to face his partner. "Don't ever refer to that child as my son. He isn't my son, and he never will be...understand?" he said seething. Both Steve and Stanley were taken back by the words uttered by the young paramedic. Neither could understand how anyone could be so unfeeling toward a child, whether the child belonged to him or not. "Steve. Look, man, I didn't mean…look, how about we get over to Rampart. We can check on Elizabeth," Dale said as he glanced up at Stanley. "Go. Check on your wife. I'll speak with you later," Stanley affirmed, taking note of both their names and the number off their squad. Chapter 2 Roy held the woman's IV aloft as the ambulance attendants wheeled the woman into Exam Room Three at Dixie's orders. Johnny trailed slowly behind them, carrying the baby in his arms. Dixie glanced up at him, as she was about to follow Dr. Brackett and the rest into the room. "Johnny?" she asked looking at the baby. "He's doing juuust fine," Johnny answered as if speaking to the baby and not her. "Good, take him into two. Mike should be there in a minute." "Okay, Dix," Johnny answered, never taking his eyes off the child. He carried the boy into the relative quiet of the empty room and started to lay him down on the exam table. However, after some hesitation, he hopped up on to it himself, keeping the boy in his arms. Dr. Mike Morton walked in with his usual rush and immediately began to pull on some rubber gloves. "John," Mike acknowledged him. "Doc." "What do we have," Mike inquired peering closely at the baby, "a little one, huh? Why don't you lay him down here?" "All right," John answered with a hint of reluctance. He jumped down and laid the baby on the hard bed. His arms and chest felt cold with the boy no longer resting in them. He could only imagine how cold the table must feel to the child. Leaning against the table, Johnny closely watched everything Dr. Morton did. "John? What's this?" "What?" "He's a little...black in blue, isn't he?" Johnny looked closer. In this light you could make out some definite purple marks. "And what's this? Is that a burn?" Johnny had no explanation. There were a number of red marks on the baby's arms and legs, but it didn't look like a regular burn. Beside, fire had been at the rear of the house, nowhere near where the mother and child had been found. "Did something fall on him, John?" "No...I...we fell, but...I don't know how he's black and blue like that. I broke his fall." "You both fell?" "Yeah, but.." "Well...anyway." Mike smiled and removed his gloves. "Well?" Johnny demanded. "Well what?" "Is he gonna be all right? He stopped breathing on us out there." As he spoke, the boy grabbed Johnny's hand and began sucking earnestly at one of his fingers. Johnny responded by allowing him to suck away, and stroking his cheek with another finger. "I'd say he's going to be fine, Johnny, though it looks like he could use a bottle. I'll have them send one down." "What about all the uh..." Johnny asked, waving his hand toward the reddish marks and mild bruising. "There's no swelling or any sign of a break. Still...I'll ask Brackett what he thinks about it when he's done." "Can I uh..." Johnny stammered, again waving his hand at the baby. "Out with it Gage, can you what?" "Uh, I don't know. Does he have to stay laying on the table?" "You know a better place for him?" "Yeah." "Well, then put him there!" Morton ordered in an annoyed tone as he hurried out the door. As soon as Mike left the room, Johnny scooped the boy up, into his arms. "Hey there, little guy," he chirped, "you're gonna be just fine...just finey, diney, niney." "Finey, diney, what?" Dix laughed from the door. "Oh! Hi, Dixie. How's the mother?" "Fine so far, how's the baby? Mike's still not here?" "Come and gone." "Oh...I take it the baby is finey...diney..." she teased as a nurse entered carrying a baby bottle. The young woman smiled at the beautiful boy, and held out her arms for him. "I got it," Johnny told her, as he took the bottle, and settled himself into a chair. Dix raised her eyebrows at the nurse. The nurse raised her eyebrows back and left the room hiding a grin. Dixie folded her arms and stood beside Johnny, gearing up to give him a hard time, but instead, she frowned. "Huh, that's a little strange," she said aloud as she took in the child good for the first time. "What is?" "The mother said he was fourteen months." "Fourteen? He's a little on the small side, isn't he?" "Well...she did say he had some difficulties eating." Johnny looked skeptical as the boy in his arms was quickly devouring the bottle of formula; one hand on the bottle, the other against Johnny's cheek, eyes wide open and gazing straight into his. "He sure isn't having any problems with it right now!" "No, he isn't. Maybe you just have the knack," Dix told him, meaning the compliment, but without conviction. "Fourteen months...shouldn't he know some words by now? I know Jenny did. She kept saying poo poo the first time I was invited over there. Roy kept wanting to crawl under the table." "What about me?" Roy asked entering the room. "Poo poo?" Dixie laughed. "Huh?" Roy squeaked. "We were talking about your daughter's first word," Johnny explained to his rather embarrassed and confused friend. "Oh...that. Well...you about ready?" With one hand still on the bottle, still sucking away, the boy had become mesmerized by one of Johnny's ears. With his other hand, he tugged softly at the ear lobe, bent the top of the ear over, and pushed the hair around the ear in every which direction, not that it didn't go that way naturally. "Ummmm," Johnny hesitated. "I'll take him," Dix offered. "Well..." "I promise to take good care of him, John," Dixie teased. "I know, I know. I just..." "Come here, little guy," Dixie cooed as she took the child from Johnny's arms, again leaving him feeling cold. "Yeah, well...I guess...." Johnny said sucking it up and preparing to leave. "You ready?" "Yeah I'm ready, I just asked you. Remember?" As the two paramedics opened the door, the baby began to cry. "Oh its okay, Johnny, its okay," Dixie said comfortingly. "Huh?" Johnny turned back with a frown. "That's his name. You didn't know?" "No! Well how 'bout that! Roy, did you know--" "I heard! Can we go now? I'd like to try to get some sleep tonight." "Yeah, okay," Johnny, answered, hesitating again as he held the door open and glanced back at Dixie rocking the baby. "Goodnight, little Johnny." "Good night, John." "Night Dix." Roy seized Johnny's collar and tugged him out the door. The two walked in silence through the now deserted hallways. "Man," Johnny sighed as he closed the door in the squad. Roy smiled in the darkness. "That one really got to you, huh?" "Yeah...I guess. You know, I work with kids a lot, all the time, we both do. And it's not like I don't like them or care about them or anything...but this one...certain ones...." "Reach right in and grab a piece of your heart." Johnny nodded, "A big piece." He sighed again, ending the breath out with a flinch. "You okay?" "Yeeeeah, I just..." "No, I mean physically." "Huh? Oh, no I'm fine." "What did Dr. Morton say?" "Morton?" "Didn't you have him look at you?" "No." "Johnny. That was a pretty bad fall. You should have had..." "Well I was a little busy. I--" "Okay, I know. Just...let's have a quick look, okay?" Roy asked, flipping the interior lights on in the squad. "Oh come on, Roy, I'm fine!" Roy ignored him and started to try to pull Johnny's shirt up out of his pants. "Where did you land, on your side? Right in here?" he asked with a circular motion of his hand. "I'm fine! Would you cut it out?" Johnny appealed, knocking Roy's hands down. "If you're fine, then there's no hurt in looking, is there!" "Oh just do it," Johnny gave in, allowing Roy to yank his shirt half way up over his head. "Johnny that is not 'fine.' You're black and blue!" "Of course I'm," John paused sucking in his breath as Roy's fingers prodded a rather tender spot, "black and blue. It's just a bruise!" "Probably, but let's get going. I don't want to be here all night. Hopefully X-ray won't be crowded." "X-ray?" "Once Dr. Brackett gets a look at that, that's exactly where you'll be going." "Oh it's not that bad!" he insisted, probing the spot gently for himself. "Bad enough," Roy said closing his door. Johnny sat musing at the floorboards for a moment, only to have Roy rudely rouse him by banging on his window and shouting, "Come on!" "I'm comin...I'm comin." Roy smiled at his grumpy friend. "Look, maybe we can peek in at little Johnny while we're waiting for your x-ray's to come back." "Yeah, we can do that," Johnny agreed, instantly happy and picking up his pace. Roy frowned, realizing he had just made a big mistake. The last thing Johnny, or any paramedic needed, was to become too attached to a victim, especially a child. Johnny hurried into the hospital as Roy called them in unavailable on his handy talkie. As he followed his partner through the sliding doors, he noticed another squad pull up, and Dale, along with that other paramedic from the fire, got out. Steve recognized Johnny and Roy when he jumped out of his squad, and ran to catch up with to them. "Hey!" he called to them, "Do either of you know where they took my wife?" "I believe she and your son are still in the treatment room here in the ER. I'll take you to someone who'll know," Roy said sympathetically. Forgetting his partner for the moment, Roy guided Steve into the ER and toward the nurse's station, hoping to find Dixie or one of the doc's. Johnny couldn't help but notice Steve's lack of interest for little Johnny. Shaking his head sadly, he followed Dale, Roy, and Steve into the ER. Guiding Steve down the hallway toward the nurse's desk, Roy noticed Dr. Brackett and Dixie exit the treatment room where he had left Elizabeth. "Doc?" he asked. Brackett turned when he heard Roy's voice. "Doc, this is Steve Mitchell, Elizabeth's husband and Johnny's---" "How's my wife, Doctor? How's Elizabeth?" Steve said cutting Roy off before he could finish speaking. "Mr. Mitchell. Could I speak with you in private please?" Dr. Brackett asked. "I don't think that will be necessary, Doctor. Just tell me how my wife is," Steve replied narrowing his brow. "Mr. Mitchell..." Brackett made a quick glance toward Roy before continuing. "Your wife is doing just fine, but I will want to keep her here overnight for observation. Your son...we have some concerns about your son. He has some...marks on him that ..." "What are you implying, Doctor!" Steve snapped. "I'm not implying anything, Mr. Mitchell. I thought maybe you might be able to shed some light on how he got...well we're not even sure what they are. There's some bruising as well." "Ask him," Mitchell barked pointing his finger right at Johnny, "he's the one who took a header off a ladder with him!" "Now, wait a minute," Roy cut in. "Roy," Johnny cut him off, shaking his head. "Mr. Mitchell, some of the bruising is old and healing. Others are relatively fresh." "Are you a parent to, anything, Doc?" "No!" Dr. Brackett answered angrily, at the insult. "Obviously. Well, kids fall down all the time, especially at that kid's--" "That kid's?" "My...son's age. My son is just fine. We have our own pediatrician." "I just wanted to ask you if you knew what may have caused…" "It's been a long night, Doc. Go ahead and keep 'em both for your observation until morning. I have some things I have to take care of. Then I'll be back for them...around seven." "Seven isn't that far from now, Mr. Mitchell. I'd rather keep them here till..." "And I'd rather get them home." "Mr. Mitchell, you are a paramedic. I'd like you to be reasonable. It might be a good idea if your wife and child remain guests of ours for a few days. Your wife can get some rest, and the baby will…" "She can rest at home. Look, Doctor, no offense, but like you said, I am a paramedic. I can take care of my wife myself. When I get back, I expect her, and him, to be ready to leave." "Mr. Mitchell, there are some other questions I'd like to ask you about your son." "What about the boy?" "Your wife tells us that he's 14 months old." "Yeah...so what's the problem?" "A nurse here asked me to check him over, aside from the uh...I noticed that he's very small for his age." "He's had feeding problems since birth. Between colic and projectile vomiting, it's a wonder he's…what's the point to all of this anyway?" "Well, with your permission, I'd like to admit your son and run some tests on him as well." "He's had tests; he's got a weak stomach. The boy will be fine. Now if you all will excuse me," Mitchell told them before walking away. Dale was shocked at his partner's behavior. He jogged up to his partner, grabbing onto his arm. "Steve. Pal. Look, there's no need of getting all uptight. The doctor's just trying to help." Steve looked back at Brackett and then glared at his partner. "Help? Get real, Dale! He's just like all the rest...pointing his finger... I won't let it happen again!" he snarled as he turned and stormed out of Rampart. Dale walked back over to where Brackett and the others stood. "Doc. I'm sorry about his behavior. He's a bit emotionally upset considering he almost lost his family tonight." "Mr…" "I'm sorry. The name is Dale, Dale Caruso. We're stationed in Malibu. Station 89." "How long have the two of you been partners?" Brackett inquired. "About three weeks now. He's new to the area and our department. He moved here from upstate," Dale replied. "Then I assume you don't know too much about him." Shaking his head Dale answered, "No! But, he's a good paramedic. He knows his stuff. But tonight…I don't know. I figure he's acting the way he is because of the fire. There's nothing left of the house. His wife and," he paused swallowing hard, "son could have died." "Yeah that's true," Johnny admitted, "but it doesn't really justify the way he's--" "He's what?" Roy asked. Johnny shrugged. "Yeah," Dale answered feeling uncomfortable, "well I better get going. I'm sure our captain will have a replacement in for him by now so Steve'll be able to do whatever he needs to do." "Hey, Dale?" Johnny called after him as he started to leave. "Yeah?" "Uh...thanks. Just...thanks...for...you know. Doing all you tried to do." "Yeah... you're welcome. I uh...gotta go." "See you around, Dale," Johnny called as the man left. "Well what are the two of you still doing here?" Dixie asked, "I could have sworn you guys just left." "Oh, well...Johnny needs to be looked at." "Dix...how's uh...how's the baby?" "He's doing fine, Johnny. What's the matter with you?" "Nothin, Dix, I was just wondering." "I mean, what needs looking at?" Before Johnny could answer, Roy pulled up his still un-tucked shirt. Brackett gave a low whistle and started to palpitate the large bruise. "Do we have to do this in the hall?" Johnny asked indignantly. "How'd he do it?" Brackett asked Roy, ignoring Johnny. "Like Mitchell told you, he took a header off of a ladder, compliments of the same charming young man." Dixie raised her eyebrows at Roy. "Long story," Roy told her. "You fell with the baby?" she asked, surprised. "Yeah," Johnny admitted, "but...I broke his fall. I didn't...I know he didn't get hurt then...in case...in case it's important." "All right. Well, Johnny, I think you know the drill by now, go down and get an x-ray. Bring it to me when they have it ready. Dixie, could you write the orders?" "Sure," Dixie replied, grabbing a note pad off of her desk, and filling out a sheet. "Here you go, Johnny." "Gee thanks." "Anytime." A nurse carried the baby from the elevator back to Treatment Room Two. Upon seeing Johnny, the boy cried and reached out his arms. "Where was...where were..." Johnny stuttered, then turned and walked toward the treatment room door. "Johnny," Roy said to him. "Yeah?" "I can't make us available until you've been cleared." "I know," he answered heading for the door again. "Johnny." Johnny turned to say something back, but no sound came out of his mouth. Instead, he sighed and turned toward the elevators. "I'll catch up with you in a minute." Johnny waved his hand to show that he'd heard as the doors opened and closed behind him. "So, Doc! Tell me, what do you make of Steve Mitchell?" Roy inquired before Brackett had a chance to leave. "Not sure. To be honest, I didn't think that much of it until I saw the way he acted. Then again, you could say this sure hasn't been his night. We've got some time before morning. I'm gonna take a closer look, and then I'll decide if... Dix, let me know when Johnny gets back with his x-rays." "Will do," Dixie nodded to him as he walked away. "Well, Dix," Roy said interrupting her thoughts, "I better get down to X-ray to see how Johnny's doing. I really would like to get back so I can at least get a couple hours sleep tonight." "Good luck," Dixie told him as he headed for the elevator. Chapter 3 Down in X-ray, Johnny was finished getting his taken. He stood outside the room waiting for the technician to develop the film. "Hey," Roy said, getting his attention. "Hey... Roy? What do you think about Steve Mitchell...and the way he reacted to Dr. Brackett?" "I don't know, Johnny!" "Roy--" "Don't start, okay?" Roy told him, in no mood for another Johnny rant. "But--" "Johnny! Just drop it, would ya? The guy's a jerk, I'll give you that, but...it's not our problem. Our job is done now. Let's get you looked at so we can get back." Before Johnny could say anything more, the technician stepped into the hallway with a large manila envelope containing his x-rays and handed it to Johnny. Johnny took the envelope and turned for the elevators without so much as a glance at the pretty young woman who'd handed it to him. Roy, however, took a moment to give her a smile. "Long night," he said in explanation of his partner. "Oh, I know. Me too. A little while ago we had a baby down here, full skeletal. No broken bones right now, but he's already had a broken femur and stress fractures in both wrists. Some times you've just got to wonder, ya know?" "Yeah, well...I hope you have a pleasant night, what's left of it anyway." "You too." Roy walked over to the elevator where Johnny was impatiently waiting and trying to keep the door from sliding shut. "You're welcome," he said under his breath once Roy was inside. "Huh?" "Nothin." When the doors opened in Emergency, Johnny quickly handed the X-rays off to Dixie, and then headed again for Treatment Two. "Johnny!" "Yeah," he answered, not hiding his annoyance. "Kel will want to see you too." "I know. When he's ready, just--" "Three." "I...oh fine." Johnny opened the door to three just as Dr. Brackett was walking out, nearly colliding with him. "Oh, hi, Johnny. Do you have your---" "Right here," Dix answered for him. "Thanks, Dix." "I figured you might as well just take him in there." "All right. Come on, hose jockey, and let's see what we've got." Dr. Brackett put the x-rays up and stared at them thoughtfully. "Doc? Where uh...where's the lady...Mrs. Mitchell?" "She's already been taken up to a room for the night, what's left of it." "And the baby?" "Still in two." "Good." "Pardon?" "Nothing. How do I look?" "Tired, dirty...oh, you mean the X-ray!" "I never knew you were a comedian, Doc." "At three in the morning, I can be anything." "So...how is that baby?" Dr. Brackett took a long time before answering. "He should be okay." "Is he uh...is he being--" "So, Doc, will he live?" Roy asked, letting himself in without knocking. "If he takes up another profession, like becoming a nun." "Boy, you're full of 'em tonight," Johnny whined. "Nah, just need a few winks," the tired doctor replied. "Me too!" Roy volunteered. "Nothing broken this time. Up!" Brackett ordered, lifting Johnny's shirt, and exploring the area again. Johnny tried hard not to flinch. "Okay, you're clear. You'll be sore for a few days. If you have any excessive tenderness, or any other problems, come back in. Got it?" "Sure, thanks, Doc." "Finally! You ready?" Roy asked with an exhausted sigh. "Squad 51 available," he added, talking into his handy talkie. "Yeah, I'm ready. I just wanna take a peek at--" "Pediatrics just took him up," Roy explained as Johnny opened the door to Treatment Room Two, and found it empty. "Come on; let's see if we can make it all of the way to our bunks before we get toned out again." Johnny spun around and left, not bothering to see if Roy was coming along behind him, and walking faster than usual. Roy followed a little more slowly. "He's got it bad this time, huh," Dixie quietly spoke to Roy as he passed. "Yeah. Very. That kid's really gotten to him." "He'll be all right. He just needs a little sleep...and a little time." "Yeah...I think I'm gonna need a little myself. Right now I just want to go home and hug my kids." "Hang in there, Roy, it's almost morning." "I know, but I won't get see them till tomorrow afternoon. They'll be off to school by the time I get home." An uncomfortable pause followed as Roy stared at the floor, embarrassed and feeling like he had said a bit too much. "Well, Johnny's waiting. Night, Dix." "Night, Roy...and Roy?" "Yeah," he said pausing in the hall. "It's okay." Roy bit his lower lip for a moment before managing a smile. "Thanks." Chapter 4 The drive to the station was done in silence. Johnny sat brooding, while Roy thought about what he wanted to do with his children the next afternoon. Back at the station, Roy went to lie down on his bunk, though he doubted he would be able to sleep. Johnny went to the kitchen for some milk. An hour later, Roy realized he must have drifted off, as the sound of Johnny getting into his bunk woke him. "Johnny? The hospital will take care of him, you know. We just need to get past this one. "We?" "Yeah...we." Johnny sighed at his partner's admission. "Night, Roy." "Morning, Johnny," Roy joked halfheartedly, indicating the early hour. "Go to sleep," Johnny hissed back with a small giggle. "Cap, they're doing it again," Chet complained ten times louder than the paramedics had been speaking. "What?" Cap yawned loudly, obviously just waking. "Roy and Johnny...they're talking again." "The only one I hear talking is you." "That's 'cause you're way down there! They wake me up every time they come back." "Oh shut up, Chet," Johnny barked. "The both of you better shut up before I make you pull the engine out into the driveway, and scrub it with your tooth brushes. At least out there I wouldn't have to listen to you. Got it?" "But Cap..." Chet started to whine. "Mike, give Chet your keys to the engine." "I'm sorry, Cap. It won't happen again," Chet apologized in his most pathetic voice. "See to it, it doesn't." Johnny couldn't help but giggle. "Gage!" The dark-haired paramedic pulled his pillow over his face in an effort to stifle the sound. With the lack of sleep they'd had, and the sight of his partner nearly suffocating himself with his pillow, Roy soon succumbed to a loud fit of laughter of his own. "Gage!" Cap bellowed. "That was Roy!" Johnny burst out, sucking in as much air as he could before falling into another fit of giggles himself. "Johnny! Roy? Enough!" Cap ordered, but both men were at the moment, past hope. "I meant what I said about scrubbing the engine!" he declared, making the laughter even louder. They heard their captain get up and start toward their bunks. Roy covered his eyes with one hand while Johnny tried to hold his breath, both was keeping their eyes on the floor. "Are the two of you quite finished?" Cap asked them. They took a peek at each other, and then looked at their captain at the same time. The tall skinny man, with his long skinny legs, standing with one sock on and one sock off, in a pair of wrinkled Scooby-Do boxers, was too much, and the two fell apart again. "Oh for heaven's sake," Cap gave in, going back to his bunk. "Go get yourselves some coffee before I transfer the both of ya." "We'll be good, Cap, honest," Roy pleaded for them. "Scooooby Doooo," Johnny sang out, seconds before slipping his head back under his pillow. Roy pulled his covers up and turned to the wall, trying to ignore his best friend's contagious hysterics, and get himself under control. Chapter 5 In the morning, Roy drove home, looking forward to his bed. As he knew they would be his kids were at school. His wife met him at the door, holding her hand out for the keys. He forked them over, but asked, "Where are you going?" "Groceries, return Chris's glove, pick up some glue and poster board for Jenny, drop Chris's lunch off on the way...move before I forget something," she ordered, sliding past him out the door. "Good morning," he offered with his best sad boy face. "Oh, honey, good morning. Your breakfast is in the oven. I've got to get going. Can you pick Jenny up after school? That bully's been picking on her again. If I get my hands on that boy's mother...well. No violence, but I'd sure like to tell her a thing or two about controlling--" "Can I at least get a kiss?" Joanne smiled, and kissed him firmly on the lips. "Don't forget Jenny. Love you. Oh, I'm not getting Jenny because I have that PTA thing at four. I should be home around six. And, you lucky boy, I'll let you start dinner for us. Whatever you want, but no junk food. Bye." Chapter 6 Johnny sat in a hard plastic chair at McDonald's scarfing down a breakfast sandwich and two cartons of milk. A couple of teenage girls sat in a corner booth, daring each other to talk to him. The tittering, however, went unheard as he was too absorbed in his own thoughts. Johnny stood up with conviction, threw away his trash, got into his Rover, and drove to the hospital. Nurse Carroll sat at the base station desk. "Morning, Carroll." "Good morning, Johnny. What brings you here so early?" "Oh, I was just wondering...what room did they put the Mitchell baby in?" "The Mitchell baby?" "Yeah, Johnny Mitchell." "I'll check for you. When did he come in?" "Last night. Late." Carroll got on the phone, and made a call. "Good news," she said. "His father already picked him up." "What!" Carroll looked startled. "He went home." "What home? Look, can you find out if Mrs. Mitchell is still here?" "Mrs...." "The mother." "I'll uh...I'll..." Carroll stammered as she picked up the phone again. "She went home too," she told him when she hung up. "I don't believe this! Where's Dr. Brackett?" "His shift ended. He's gone...." "Dixie?" "The same." "What's the matter with them? Couldn't they see...I mean if I could see it! Oh man, I'm not wrong! I can feel it! Look...Carroll... thanks, okay? I...thanks." Johnny stormed out of the hospital and drove straight over to the DeSoto's. "Roy!" he yelled, pounding on the door. "Roy! Open up!" Roy groaned as he groggily peered out of his bedroom window at the lunatic pounding on his door. "Come on, Roy, I need to talk to you!" Johnny walked to the garage and saw the car was gone. "Aw, Man!" he huffed before cutting across the grass, back to his Rover. "Johnny," Roy croaked from the front door. "Johnny," he managed a little more audibly. "Oh there you are. Man, you're not going to believe this! Then again, maybe you will. Maybe...I know you'll tell me I'm imagining things, just thinking the worst, but that kid last night...that man is abusing him. I know it. At the very least he's neglecting him something awful." "Johnny, I told you last night, the hospital will..." "The hospital nothing! Steve Mitchell picked them up this morning," Johnny informed Roy sadly. "What?" "I guess that means I'm wrong...right? Roy?" Roy stared angrily at his feet. "Roy? What? Roy?" "I don't get it," Roy muttered quietly. "Get what?" "Doesn't make any sense." "Are you going to talk to me or the floor?" "Maybe it was another kid." "What was?" "No way, couldn't be. I'm gonna--" "Roooooyyyy." "The X-ray technician said she took pictures of a baby just before we got there. She said he had a healed break and two healed fractures." Johnny sat numbly, unable to focus his thoughts. "I'm gonna call Dr. Brackett." Roy dialed the hospital. "Hi Carroll, this is Roy Desoto..." "He's not there," Johnny told him, "he went home already." "Carroll, could you give me Dr. Brackett's home number? I know...I know...I wouldn't want to get you into trouble, but it really is important." He grabbed a pen and pad off of the kitchen table and began to jot down some numbers. "Thanks a lot, Carroll, I owe you one...yeah, you too...bye, bye." Pushing the button down with his finger, he released it, and began to dial again. "Dr. Brackett? It's Roy De..." "Roy?" Dr. Brackett asked. "Yeah. Look, I'm sorry to wake you but--" "You found out about the baby. We recommended he let them stay longer, but there was nothing we could do." "But...I talked to the X-ray--" "I know, I know. That...Mitchell guy...said the leg was broken falling out of the crib, and the wrists were fractured falling off of the couch. The mother agrees with everything he said and…" "But--" "As far as his size, his medical records say he's had difficulties with eating from birth and--" "That's bull, Doc! He didn't have any problems with me...'cept he was hungrier than--" Johnny said loudly toward the receiver where he had been straining by Roy's side to listen in. "Johnny's there?" "Yeah...look, we both feel--" "Roy, I felt that way too, but... Social Services have already looked into it, and they didn't find grounds to remove the child from his parent's care. I reported my suspicions, but unfortunately, that's all I can do." "Doc! What more do they need?" Johnny jumped in again. "They said the mother and the pediatrician backed up everything Mr. Mitchell told them. It's possible he's telling the truth, and things just look bad right now." "You don't really believe that," Roy said softly. "There's nothing more I can do. The injuries have been explained to Social Services' satisfaction. If any more were to happen, well, we'll be in a better position to…" "So that's it? You can't wash your hand of this! You know what's going on!" Johnny started shouting. "Thanks for talking to us, Doc, I'll let you go now. Bye Bye." Roy said quickly hanging up the phone. "Don't tell me you agree with him!" "Johnny! There's nothing he can do." "Call the cops!" "All they'd do is report it to Social Services." "What does he have to do, break the boy's neck? No, that wouldn't do any good, 'cause there wouldn't be any witnesses! Do you think maybe if he dragged the kid out on to the front lawn and invited his neighbors to watch, someone might do something?" "Johnny." "Everyone knows, Roy! You know, I know, Brackett knows. But that's it! No one's going to do anything! That's the way it always was! That's the way it always is!" "Johnny, please..." "You don't get it, Roy!" "I get it! But Social Services are… you know...professionals. Just maybe there isn't anything to--" "Oh man! You're just like everyone else!" "That's not fair." "What is? Huh? What is? You just don't understand," Johnny shouted as he rushed from the house, slamming the door, and driving away. Roy sank into his recliner, and rubbed wearily at his eyes. The house was a deafeningly quiet. Normally he liked a little peace and quiet, and he relished a little time alone, but not today. He showered and dressed and drove to the school. Slipping on a pair of sunglasses, he walked to the principal's office and asked them to get his children. He didn't know what his wife would say, or what his kids would think, but he didn't care. He'd take them to the park, out for ice cream, maybe a pizza; whatever they wanted. He just wanted them to be with him for a while. Chapter 7 After leaving Roy's house, Johnny headed up to 89's in Malibu, hoping to find out where Mitchell would be staying now that his home was unlivable. On the drive up to the station, Johnny replayed the conversation between Mitchell and Brackett in his head. Johnny was certain that he was right, the examination...and now the X-ray's, didn't lie. And there was that one little comment the man had made to his partner, 'I won't let this happen again.' Johnny pulled his Rover in behind the station. Jumping out, he jogged inside only to be disappointed to find both the engine and squad gone. Impatiently, Johnny waited for the firefighters to return. As he waited, Johnny decided to call his own captain to see if he had received any word back on the cause of the fire at the Mitchell's home. The phone rang five times before it was answered. Hank Stanley groggily said, "Hello?" Johnny swallowed hard. He was certain that his captain would be less than impressed about the interruption to his sleep, especially since he had woken him up in the middle of the night with his foolishness. "Cap? It's me...Johnny." "Gage? What on earth? What time is it?" "It's almost 10:30, sir." "This had better be good, Gage, or I can guarantee the latrine will have your name on it come next shift." "I'm sorry Cap...uh…Sir. I'll call back later after you've had some more sleep." "Don't hang up, John. Look, I'm just a little tired. What's on your mind, pal?" Stanley said, regretting being so nasty on the phone to begin with. He liked his men, each and every one of them. He had always told them that he would be there for any one of them, if they needed someone to talk to. "Cap? I was wondering if you heard anything back about the fire last night, the one at the Mitchell's' house?" "Why do you ask?" "Cause...I'm not sure. I guess it's because of the victims...I mean, they're part of the family, so to speak." "John...pal...listen to me. I'm sensing there's more to this than that. You wanna fill me in?" Johnny thought for a few minutes, then decided that if there were a problem within the Mitchell family, maybe some assistance from a captain wouldn't hurt. So, Johnny began to fill his captain in on everything he knew and heard with his own ears. When he finished speaking, he heard the engine and squad backing into the bay. Stanley was a little shocked at the story Johnny told him, but then his mind returned to the previous evening and the words he had heard Mitchell utter to his partner, 'Don't ever refer to that child as my son. He isn't my son and he never will be. Understand?' The words finally made a bit of sense to Stanley. If the man couldn't accept the child as his own, then possibly the child was being abused. "Where are you, John?" he asked. "I'm up at 89's, Cap. I came to see if I could find out where Mitchell took them, considering his home is gone. Uh, actually, the guys are back from their run and the captain is standing here staring at me as we speak." "Okay John. Put the captain on, would you please?" Johnny did as Stanley told him. He relinquished the phone to the captain at 89's. "Frank Waters here, Hank." "You don't know how relieved I am to be talking to someone I know. I'm sure you're wondering what my man is doing at your station." "Well, now that you mention it, I was a bit surprised to arrive back to the station and find someone I'm not familiar with using my phone." "Sorry about that, Frank. Rest assured he's there under the best of intentions. Listen, I need to discuss some things with you. I'm going to head on up to your station. Do you think maybe you could keep my man entertained until I get there?" "Not a problem. This wouldn't have anything to do with Mitchell, would it?" "Yeah. It does, but I'll explain in person." "Okay, Hank. I'll see you when you arrive." Once Hank hung up the phone he dressed quickly and left his house. While Captain Waters waited for Stanley's arrival, he invited Johnny to have a cup of coffee and join him in his office. Waters sat at his desk studying the younger man. Johnny made no attempt to engage in a conversation as he waited for his captain. Thirty minutes later, and thanks to the freeway, Stanley arrived at Station 89 in Malibu. After greeting his old friend Frank Waters, Stanley told the man everything about the fire, and the suspicions that Johnny had about the Mitchell baby. Frank sighed, "This is deep, Hank. Real deep! You and I both know we can't just start accusing a man of battering his child, without proof." "I know. Believe me I know, but I trust my paramedic's judgment on this! I don't want to outright accuse the man, but I'd like a chance to talk with him myself. See what he has to say. Nothing against Social Services, but... It sure couldn't hurt to talk to him ourselves and get the air cleared." "I completely agree with you. No sense in possibly ruining a man's career if there is a reasonable explanation. What would you like me to do to help?" "For starters, maybe you could help me find out where Mitchell is staying now that his house is a write off." Johnny sighed with relief. Stanley and Waters may not be using the approach that Johnny would have liked, but at least they were attempting to do something for the sake of the child who had wormed his way into the paramedic's heart. Chapter 8 With nothing more he could do, yet feeling that at least someone was doing something, Johnny drove back to Carson. The day was warm, so his windows were down. His mind was too full to turn on his favorite radio station, so the radio remained off. Getting closer to home, sounds of children pried their way into his brain. He had avoided the freeway, but was surprised to find how late it had become. The kids were out of school already. He stopped his car at the park that had drawn his attention, and watched for a few minutes. They all seemed so happy, so carefree. The sight of an ice-cream truck pulling up reminded his tummy that it had missed lunch, and it started to grumble at him. "All right, all right, shut up," Johnny mumbled as he got out of his Rover, and went for an ice cream. Rather than go back to his truck, he decided to eat it at a picnic table near a set of swings. After he finished it, he felt sleepy, and knew he should go home, but the sun felt too good. Just for a minute, he thought as he rested his head on his arm. ~/~/~/~/~ It was cold now, very cold. The handmade quilt seemed to do nothing to warm him. The odor of vegetables rotting made him feel nauseous. Outside his window, a bird laid dead in the darkness. He no longer had breadcrumbs to feed them, still they came anyway. How much could change in one year? How could this have happened, and why? Any minute now he knew it would happen, though it was still very early in the morning. "Johnny?" 'No,' he thought silently, covering his head with his pillow, 'let me go too. I want to go too. Why can't he leave me alone?' "Johnny?" 'Pretend to be dead. Pretend to be dead.' "What's the matter with him, Dad?" "Nothin, Jen, he's just dreaming. Chris, take Jenny over to the swings." 'Swings?' "Johnny," Roy said shaking his shoulder. "Come on, Johnny." 'No...no! Leave me alone.' "Wake up." "Don't!" "All right! I'm sorry.... you okay?" "Huh?" "Are you okay?" "Fine! Why? What do you want?" "Nothing...I...we just saw you and Jenny..." "Jen?" "Yeah...over there, on the swings. I brought them here, and we saw you. Jenny wanted to say hi." "Oh." "You okay?" "I said I was, didn't I?" "Yeah but..." Johnny started to growl, and then ducked his head as he charged Roy's children. They screamed in delight, and ran in separate directions. Roy watched numbly as Johnny chased them around and around the park, pretending to miss them by just inches, each time he got close. After ten minutes, he tucked one under each arm and carried them over to the picnic table. "We want pizza," Johnny declared as the three dropped down in exhaustion. "Pizza!" "Yeah," Roy's children agreed in unison. "We just had pizza for lunch." "So..." Chris argued in the way only children can. "Soooooo..." Roy started to continue. "Lunch?" Johnny asked. "Yeah...I uh..." "Daddy came and got us from school!" Jenny announced proudly. "Oh?" "Yeah," Roy tried to speak again, feeling like he'd just been busted. "I..uh..." "You don't have to explain it to me! I think it's cool! I wish my dad had...well...then again maybe I don't. Guess it would depend on when you were talking about." "What?" "Nothin Roy, absolutely nothin! Pizza it is!" he declared again, knowing Roy couldn't refuse now, without being the bad guy; and knowing his friend was in the mood for spoiling his children. Chapter 9 After finishing up their pizza at a nearby pizzeria, Roy gathered his children up so he could head on home, hoping to arrive back at the DeSotos' residence before his wife did. Before the kids got into Roy's truck, Johnny gave both of them a big bear hug and a noogie on their heads. Johnny flashed Roy an understanding look as he smoothed out Jenny's hair. He knew again that his friend had really meant it the night before when he had said, 'yeah, we.' "I'll talk to you later, okay?" Johnny asked. "Sure, Johnny, talk to you later." Roy hopped into his truck and drove away. Johnny sat in his Rover. He replayed the events of the past 24-hours over and over in his head. He wondered if maybe his captain had heard anything about the Mitchell's'. Soon he felt he couldn't wait any longer to find out, and drove to the nearest phone booth so he could call Stanley. After dialing out Stanley's number, a knot formed in the pit of Johnny's stomach as he waited for his captain to answer. One- ring, two- rings, three- rings, "Hello?" asked a female voice. "Hello. This is John Gage. Would Captain Stanley be at home?" Johnny nervously asked. "Just a minute. I'll get him for you," said the female's voice. Johnny stood in the phone booth clutching the phone in his right hand. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, trying hard to regulate his heart rate. His nerves caused his stomach to knot up even more since he first dialed out his captain's number. Johnny jumped when he finally heard his Hank speak. "Hi, John. I've been trying to call you for an hour or more now. Where are you?" Stanley asked. "I'm…ah…at a phone booth. What did you find out? Do you know where Mitchell has taken his family? Cap--" "John, would you slow down? Listen, pal, would you come over to my house? I have a few things I'd like to fill you in on." "Sure, Cap, I should be there in about...15 minutes." "Good. I'll see you then." After hanging up the phone, Johnny jumped into his Rover and headed over to his captain's house. When he arrived he noticed a strange car in Stanley's driveway. Curious about who was there, Johnny sprinted across the lawn up to the front door. Before he could ring the bell, the door flew open and there to greet him was Stanley. "Come on in," Stanley smiled. Nervously, Johnny entered his Captain's house. "What's going on Cap?" he asked as he stepped past the man, and into the front hallway. "Come inside and I'll fill you in." Stanley led his paramedic into his living room. Once there, Johnny discovered a man sitting in a chair with his back to him. There was something vaguely familiar to him about the man. Johnny looked back at his captain, his face holding a questioning look. "John, I'm sure you remember Steve Mitchell." A cold shiver trailed down Johnny's spine as Steve stood and turned around to greet his co-worker. "Hello, Mr. Gage." Johnny failed to acknowledge the young paramedic. Instead he turned to his captain. "What in hell's going on here, Cap, I mean…what's he doing here?" Johnny demanded with a seething look on his face. "John. Rest assured Steve Mitchell is here because I asked him here. I told you earlier today I was going to get to the bottom of things. I think once you've heard what Steve has to say, your opinion of him will change." "I can't believe you, of all people, would fall for this, Cap. I don't think he's got anything to say, that I wanna hear." "John! I know how you feel. But believe me pal, just as I thought, there's more to this that meets the eye. Now I want you to sit down and listen to this gentleman...please!" Still irate, Johnny hesitantly took a seat on the far side of the living room. He really hated the situation, but to appease his captain, he did as he was asked. "Before I listen to anything...I wanna know where the baby and your wife are?" Johnny stated bluntly. "John...they're upstairs, asleep and safe," Hank replied sympathetically, totally understanding Johnny's plight. Satisfied that his captain was being honest with him, Johnny nodded to Steve to begin. "First of all, I want to apologize for my behavior at the scene last evening. I was out of line, but I was concerned about Elizabeth and my son." "I find that hard to believe, that you have any concern for that child at all!" Johnny snapped. Stanley intervened, "John...please. Just listen, okay, pal?" Sighing angrily, Johnny nodded. "Despite my behavior this morning, I do care for the boy. If I didn't, I wouldn't try to protect him. He's not my son. He is, however, my wife's son. The circumstances surrounding his conception are not exactly desirable. My wife... she was taken advantage of by an older man, much older. She was, and still is, young and impressionable. She really didn't understand what she was getting herself into by just being friendly to someone. The man took advantage of her innocence, and she became pregnant. At the time she was very naive. She didn't understand what was happening to her and her body as things changed with the pregnancy. It took a long time, but Elizabeth, she finally confided in me about what had happened to her. Because I cared about Elizabeth, I married her. I felt the baby deserved to have a father. And so, the nightmare began for all of us. "He, the man that fathered Johnny, made it possible through the courts to have an association with him, to get visitation rights. It was during these visits that things would happen to him. He was abused and starved while in his natural father's care. He's had difficulties eating since birth, but being with his father always seemed to make it worse. The man had no patience when the boy would get sick. When we took him for his checkups, and the doctors saw the bruises, it was me that they looked at. The doctors' figured that because he wasn't my son, that I would be hateful enough to harm him. I decided to leave Fresno and take my family with me. I guess I hoped that with the distance, his father would lose interest and leave us alone. "I know this morning I not only put your life in danger, I endangered your partner's life and that of my own family. I also snapped at my partner about the fact that Johnny wasn't my son. I can't change what happened, but I can try to make amends. "There's something else. I don't think that fire was an accident. In fact, I believe the fire was set. My wife and...son...were asleep upstairs when the fire was started in the main part of the house. It was the father. That I've been sure of since we heard the address after you were toned out. I was horrified when we sailed down the street, seeing the flames shooting out the back of the house against the blackened sky. I thought for sure…I love my family, Mr. Gage. I will do whatever I have to, to protect them. That's why I couldn't leave them at the hospital." "Why didn't you say anything about this, this morning?" "Because I was scared. I didn't know whom to turn to. I wasn't sure anyone would believe me." Johnny looked away from the man who appeared to be about ready to cry. He didn't know what to think. "If you'll excuse me now, I'm going to go up and check on them." Steve stood and walked toward the stairs. With his back to the men, neither Gage nor Stanley saw the slight smile that tugged at the corner of his mouth. 'Well Stevey ole boy, you really out did yourself this time. Not only was your tale believed by these men, especially the nosey one, Gage, but it was supported by those you used to work with in Fresno. And to think, no one, not even little Johnny's father will be able contradict your story. ' Mitchell thought as he tried to hold his smug self together. Once he was out of the room, Johnny looked at his captain, still feeling skeptical. "I know it's hard to believe, John, but the chief checked into his story about him living and working in Fresno and it checks out. So does his marriage to Elizabeth just before the baby was born. The chief talked to Steve's former captain, and he concurred with everything that Steve told you and I about the natural father, his age, and about Steve attending court proceedings over the child." "So...if the fire was set by this man that fathered little Johnny, are the police gonna do anything?" "Yes. In fact, a police investigation is underway as we speak. And as far as I know the arson team is still going over the remains of the house, looking for evidence to aid in their investigation. " "Man, I was so sure…I mean I thought…" "I know. Believe me, I know. It sure didn't look good for a while there, and I had the same thoughts as you did...until now, that is." Chapter 10 He could hear children laughing...laughing, at him. 'Oh no,' he thought, 'not again.' "Johnny, you need to go the principal's office." "Please, Mrs. Klein, I won't do it again." "You're not it trouble...just go to the office, okay?" He tiptoed down the hallway, hating how loud his shoes seemed to sound on the old, dirty tiles; feeling he could never be too quiet these days. "..is the fourth time he's fallen asleep in class this week, Mr. Gage. We're becoming rather concerned." "Well, with his mother...last year and all..." 'Oh no.' Johnny thought as he froze in the hall just outside the office door. "I realize that, but he seems to be more accident prone lately as well." "Oh you know boys...I seem to remember him breaking his arm last year on the steps of this very school." 'Don't see me...please don't see me,' he thought to himself. "Yes, he was trying to climb the wall if I remember correctly. However--" "I'll talk to him, Mrs. Carry. He...well get in here, boy, don't stand out in the hall with your mouth hanging open all day!" "Mr. Gage, I think it might be a good idea if you took him to a doctor." "I'll take care of everything. He won't be falling asleep in class again, I promise you. Move, boy." The hair stood up on the back of his neck as he heard the large man's heavy footsteps follow him out to their old, rusty pickup. 'I'm dead. He's gonna to kill me. I'm dead.' After slamming the passenger door shut, his father walked around to the other side, and slammed his own. "Just wait till I get you home," he hissed, bashing his fist into the dashboard. ~/~/~/~/~ "No!" Johnny screamed sitting bolt upright in bed. A drum pounded heavily and painfully against the back of his eyes. He made his way out into the kitchen, and poured himself a glass of milk, realizing how badly he was shaking as he raised the glass to his lips. He closed his eyes, and concentrated on the cooling sensation the milk gave to the back of his throat. "I'm not buying it," Johnny whispered angrily to himself. "They can talk their way out of anything, and everyone believes it. 'I didn't do it, must have fallen down, someone else must have done it.' Not me, I don't believe it for a minute! He hates that kid, and he's the one doing the abusing...but how do I prove it?" |