Missing Moment from Snakebite by Llanwenog Author's Notes: I started this months ago in response to the challenge to write a missing scenes story for Snakebite or one of the other Johnny-gets-hurt episodes. I'll probably never have time to finish it, so I converted the first section to a 200-word story for the current challenge. So economical! :) * * * * * * I knew it was bad when I saw Dix standing unhappily in the door of the lounge. I'd only seen that expression once before... the day I brought Johnny in with a temp of 104 and a virus that nearly killed him. I put down the coffee pot and waited. Bracing myself. "We just got a call from the county dispatcher," she said quietly. "Johnny's been bitten by a rattlesnake. The engine is bringing him in." "A rattlesnake?" My voice rose an octave. "Is he all right?" "We don't know. We're assuming he'll call in as soon as he can... or someone will." "Oh God." My stomach twisted in anxiety. The accident site was miles from Rampart. I reached for the HT, adrenalin surging. "The chopper can get me back there in ten minutes--" Dixie shook her head. "It's already gone, Roy. Squad 18 called for an airlift just before you set down. We'll have to wait for the engine." I stared at her in disbelief. My partner was out there alone, maybe dying. And I couldn't help him. Dixie took me gently by the elbow. "Let's go to the base station." I followed her numbly from the room. |