switch in two parts

SWITCH

by Janet & Betty aka the EFF Collaborators

Copyright Kajakat & Betty Stull 2001

"What does your fortune cookie say, Roy?" Johnny asked while loudly munching on his. The two had stopped at a Chinese restaurant for lunch after their last run.

Roy opened his cookie and read his fortune out loud. "Be careful what you wish for as the grass isn't always greener on the other side." Roy chuckled. He folded the fortune and placed it in his shirt pocket.

"Oh man, yours is loony. Okay, lemme read mine." John opened his fortune up and read it to himself, making a face.

"What does yours say?" Roy asked.

"Mine's weird too. It says, the next woman in your life will give you a gift that you can never acknowledge."

"Is that about Suzanne?" Roy said making a suggestive expression

"Like I said, Roy, it's weird. What kinda gift could she give me?" Johnny said with a grin on his face. "I am lookin forward to my next date with her on Tuesday night. We really have lots in common. She loves horses and is into camping!"

The two finished lunch and returned to the squad to go back to the station. This was the first break they had all day. Not only were they busy going on runs, but Johnny Gage was in the midst of one of his exaggerated displays of emotion.

In typical Gage style, he started ranting and raving about some minor difficulty in his life. Roy had a tough morning with his own life, especially his son. Chris was going through one of those phases that all children go through. He wanted to be an adult, but he was still a kid and was acting out. The school had called to tell them what Chris was doing. Not only was Chris giving him a hard time, JoAnne had been hinting about having another child. Roy truly loved his children, but their financial situation was tight. He already turned down a promotion to engineer that would guarantee his safety and a higher salary.

"I'm tellin ya Roy, I just don't understand women." Johnny said. After driving for about a mile, Roy pulled the squad over to check a strange noise coming from the engine. The hood was up and Johnny was looking at the motor trying to determine what the noise was. As he continued to rattle on about his problems, Roy was getting irritated. They were good friends, but sometimes, John Gage was quite one-dimensional. His current tirade was down right annoying. Not only did he have to listen to it during lunch, Johnny continued nonstop before and after each run. The only break he had was when they were reading their fortune cookies.
"Johnny stop it. Just stop it. The world does not revolve around you. Just once, I wish you could spend several days in my shoes to see what my life is like." Roy said in exasperation, startling both men.

The strange humming noise started again and got louder. The two men felt a vibration then they felt the percussion of a pop. The next thing they felt before blacking out was having their breath pulled out from them.

After several seconds, the two woke up and immediately felt different. They were sitting on the ground by the squad. Roy was the first to awaken and he looked at his hand. It looked familiar, but changed. The fingers were longer and slimmer. His arms were also strange. They were lighter in weight and had no hair on them. At the same time that Roy gathered his senses, Johnny woke up. He started scratching his head and felt less hair on it. He sat up from his slouch and noticed the back of his partner. He said Roy's name but his voice sounded funny. Roy turned around to look at his partner. What he saw caused both men to shriek.

Roy was looking at himself. Johnny was looking at himself. They both realized that their souls, their essence, had been switched.

Johnny in Roy (for the sake of this story JiR) said, "What's going on?"

Roy in Johnny (for the sake of this story RiJ) answered, "I don't know."

What Johnny saw was his body with Roy in it. What Roy saw was his body with Johnny in it.

"How did this happen?" Johnny asked.

"I don't know," was Roy's reply.

"What are we gonna do?" asked Johnny. "Should we go to Rampart?"

"If we do, then what do we tell them. I don't feel sick. How can we tell them our bodies are switched? They won't believe us," said the sensible Roy. "They'll think we're just playing a joke on them."

"THIS IS NOT A JOKE! An' I know, but I don't like this," said a shaken Johnny.

"You think I like this? What, you don't like my body?" said Roy grimacing.

"Nah, it's not that. It's just weird. I look at you and I see me."

"I know what you mean. We better get back to the station." RiJ got up and closed the hood of the engine. Then he turned the motor over. The sound they heard before was gone.

"Since we're off tomorrow, we can try to figure it out. We just gotta act normal," said Roy as he, in Johnny's body, got behind the wheel of the squad. The two didn't talk much as they drove back to the station. Johnny, in Roy's body, was looking at his hands and feet, feeling his hair, touching his chest. Roy, distracted by Johnny's motions spoke up.

"What are you doing?" Roy asked.

"Well, since I'm gonna be in this," he pointed to his body, "For a while, I might as well get used to the lay of the land."

"Just remember, Junior, I'm gonna do the same thing." Roy said.

"Roy, I have nothing to worry about." Johnny said with a smile that didn't measure up to his infamous crooked grin.

"Why, do you have a complaint?" Roy asked.

"Well, since you asked, you are a bit soft here." Johnny pointed to his stomach. "And, you're a little thin here," he pointed to his hair.

Roy turned red. It was bad enough he wasn't in his own body, but to hear his partner, his best friend complain about his frame, was too much. These were his own private thoughts about his own body and Johnny was openly discussing them.

"Look, John, I'm not happy about this either," he gestured to his new body, "but I'm not gonna gripe about it." Roy said with emphasis.

"I just think you're getting the better end of the deal," was Johnny's comeback.

That was it. Roy pulled the squad over and glared at him. Johnny looked at Roy with his new blue eyes, flashed a somewhat crooked grin. "Sorry, Pally. I guess I'm really upset.   No hard feelings?" Johnny asked.

Roy could never stay angry with his partner for long. That's the staying power of their work and personal relationship. Roy put the squad in gear and began to drive. He looked at Johnny and said in his soft voice, "you're forgiven."

Roy, in Johnny's body, backed the squad into the station. Chet was in the bay area when the two got out of the squad.

"Hey Roy, did you lose a bet?" asked Chet.

Roy in Johnny's body, started to answer, but he "heard" Johnny's mind say “NO.”
"What do you mean Chet?" said JiR.

"How come you let Johnny drive the squad? Isn't he off limits cause he dented it last week?" Chet replied.

JiR paused and then replied, "I'm a little tired, so I asked him to drive, as long as he promised to behave."

JiR then walked to the lockers. He motioned to Roy to follow him.

"Oh man, how are we gonna handle this?" Johnny said. "We're gonna have to watch what we say and who we react to."

"I know, Johnny. We gotta stay in control and not react too fast and keep a really low profile." Then Roy, in Johnny's body, paled.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" Johnny asked.

"JoAnne. What do we do about her?" Roy said. "I can't go home there like this. AND I'M CERTAINLY DON’T WANT YOU GOING TO MY HOME AND WIFE."

"Now calm down, Roy. I already thought of that. You'll have to come to my apartment so we can think this through. You'll have to drive the Rover and I'll drive your car. We're gonna have to pretend to everyone that I'm you and you're me."

After thinking of what Johnny said, Roy shook his head in agreement.

"This is gonna be real tough. It's not that I don't trust you, Johnny, but..." Roy didn't get a chance to finish the statement as the squad was called out on a run.

***

The squad brought its patient to Rampart. Johnny, in Roy's body, rode in with the injured man.

"Hi Roy," Dixie said.

Johnny didn't look up. He forgot he wasn't who he appeared to be.

"Earth to Roy." Dixie said.

"Sorry Dixie, I'm not entirely here." Johnny said with a chuckle.

"Where's that partner of yours?" Dixie said.

"He should be here any minute." Johnny said with enthusiasm.

"Suzanne couldn't stop talking about him." Dixie continued, "She's really looking forward to seeing him again."

JiR had a big grin on his face. Then he panicked realizing that he couldn't go on his next date with her. Roy would have to.

"Hi Dixie." Roy in Johnny's body said.

"I was just asking your partner where you were. Suzanne had such nice things to say about you." Dixie said.

"Suzanne?" RiJ said.

Dixie looked at RiJ and raised her eyebrows. JiR came to the rescue.

"Yeah, Johnny, that nice nurse you were tellin' me about during lunch. The one you have another date with," he said leading.

Then it dawned on Roy, "Oh yes, Suzanne. We had a good time the other night."

As fate would have it, Suzanne saw the three of them talking. She walked over to them.

"Hi Johnny!" she said grinning mischievously.

RiJ blushed and JiR froze. JiR nudged RiJ. "Hi Suzanne. It's good to see you again."

"I'm looking forward to Tuesday night." She replied holding his arm to reach up to whisper in RiJ's ear.

"So am I." RiJ said with his voice cracking. "I gotta go now, we're late for a meeting. I'll talk to ya later." RiJ walked back to Johnny and said, "Let's get out of here NOW."

"I wonder what has gotten into him now? He's never passed up a moment to flirt with me before." Suzanne thought somewhat puzzled.

"That's strange. You usually have to use the Jaws of Life to pry John Gage away from a pretty girl." Dixie thought. She didn't want Suzanne to think anything bad so she said, "I bet Johnny has stuff on his mind. I'm sure he'll make it up to you."

Suzanne looked at Dixie and replied, "Oh, I'm sure he will Dix. In fact, that little falter was delightful. I have a feeling he's just teasing me. Besides, Dix, I'm a big girl and I've been fully warned about John Gage."   Suzanne chuckled. Dixie and Suzanne walked back to the base station. Dixie raised her eyebrow when Suzanne suggested Johnny was teasing her. One thing Dixie knew about John Gage was he was not a tease. The John Gage she just saw was timid.

***
The two men walked to the squad with RiJ going to the driver's side. JiR cleared his throat and said, "I think I better drive or the guys will get suspicious."

They drove back to the station in silence. The rest of the night was quiet and they didn't have any runs that required a follow up visit to Rampart.

The phone rang and Captain Stanley answered it. "Hey Roy, it's JoAnne."

Both men looked at each other. RiJ made a motion to get up, but saw JiR shake his head no.

"Comin' Capt," JiR said. RiJ followed him anyway.

"Hi honey." RiJ nudged him so he could listen. He made sure that none of the other guys were around.

"Chris did what? Again? I can't believe it." RiJ looked at JiR

"What do we want to do?" JiR looked at RiJ for advice. RiJ made a face, while JiR continued to listen to JoAnne speak.

"I agree JoAnne, no dinner and he should go straight to bed."

RiJ nudged JiR and thought, "tell her you're not coming home and going over to "my" place."

"Listen Jo, I gotta help Johnny with something urgent when the shift ends. I'll come home as soon as we're finished. Yeah, he's okay." JiR paused, listening to his "wife".

"Love you too." Johnny said blushing.

JiR hung up the phone, but both men sighed.
"I don't know if I can do this, Johnny," RiJ said. "Why don't we just tell JoAnne? She'll understand."

"And whaddya suppose to do. Sleep with her? How do you explain that to Chris and Jen? And what if your neighbors see "me" there? No Roy, we'll figure something out and switch back to our own bodies. We just gotta be patient."

"I guess so. I just don't know how long I can take this."

"I know Pally, I know."

The rest of their shift was uneventful and their tour ended. They went to their lockers and changed into “their” street clothes. The two men went to Johnny's apartment driving their correct car. Even though each man swapped their cars before, they decided they missed their own car. Technically, they were driving the wrong car.

The longer they were in the "wrong" body, the more of the other's characteristics were taking over. JiR was walking with longer strides. A somewhat lopsided grin also appeared on his face when the occasion called for it. RiJ was also changing. He was talking much softer and his style was more composed.

JiR walked first into the apartment building and reflexively went for his keys. When he realized he didn't have them, RiJ reached into his pockets and fished them out. They walked into Johnny's apartment. Johnny looked at his mail. Roy sat down on the couch.

JiR walked to the refrigerator to see what there was to eat.

"How can you eat now?" RiJ asked. "We gotta figure out how to get back to our own bodies."

"Roy, I'm hungry and tired. I gotta eat."

"Some things never change. Don't eat too much. I don't want to gain weight."

"I know, I know, but somehow, I feel that my quick metabolism will burn off those calories."

"Just promise me, you'll take care of my body." Roy pleaded.

"Hey, that goes two ways. Look, why don't we catch up on some sleep? I'll even let you sleep in my bed and I'll take the couch."

JiR walked to his closet to change into more comfortable clothes. He realized that "his" clothes wouldn't fit his body. He found an old pair of sweat pants and a T-shirt. He realized he needed underwear and other essentials, such as toothbrushes and other toiletries.

"Roy, I'm gonna take a shower."

"Kay." RiJ said, as he dozed on the couch.

Johnny stripped down and went into the shower. It was the first time he could take inventory of "his" body. He looked at all of the hair on his body and grimaced. It was something he didn't want to get used to. He vigorously shampooed his head and then realized he'd have to be gentle with his scalp. While he continued to lather his body he took further inventory of it. He tested his "equipment" and discovered that it worked on demand. He thought it was too weird. Johnny was glad Roy was sleeping as it would be difficult to explain what he was doing. Then, Johnny realized that Roy would probably do the same things. Well, they've been through so much together that this was going to be just another episode in their lives.

Johnny got out of the shower and toweled off. He looked in the mirror at his face. He decided he needed to shave. It was too eerie looking at himself in the mirror with Roy's face staring back. He quickly finished his routine and left the bathroom.

He went to the couch and gently nudged Roy.

"Why don't you go to the bed?"

"I think I'll shower first and then sleep."

"Here, lemme give you some clean towels." Johnny went to his linen closet and gave Roy his good towels.

Roy went into the bathroom and realized he didn't have his drop kit. Johnny read his thoughts and told him that he had spare razors and toothbrushes under the sink.

"Thanks."

Roy shaved his new face. He looked into his eyes in the mirror. Although the reflection back was brown, Roy saw his own blue eyes. After staring for some time, he got chills and decided to take his shower.

He, too, went through similar motions to what Johnny did. He shampooed his hair but delighted in the full head of thick hair on his head. He also noticed how lean his body was and how little body hair he had. He too checked out his "new" equipment. He chuckled at the thought of what he was doing, so he returned to his showering.

After drying off, he changed into clothing that Johnny left in the bathroom. It was strange putting on his clothing. It's one thing to wear the uniform, but wearing another's clothes was daunting.

The two men were tired from their workday and their problem. Johnny was sleeping, sitting up on the couch. Roy walked into Johnny's bedroom and saw the bed turned down. He thought he'd be uncomfortable sleeping in his partner's bed, but he wasn't. He just hoped it would be a quiet night; not like the first time he stayed over, when his house was being fumigated. He fell asleep with his left arm covering his face.

****
Roy woke up to the smell of coffee. Johnny was up making breakfast.

"Mornin." Johnny said.

"Morning," was Roy's reply.

The two eat breakfast in silence.

When breakfast was complete, RiJ excused himself to make use of the facilities. While JiR cleared the table, RiJ stared at his reflection in the mirror. Inwardly he thought, "God, I don't want to go around in Johnny's body for the rest of my life! I like my friend, but I love my family more. I miss them, even with all of the problems of being a father and husband. I wish I could have my body back. I guess the grass isn't always greener on the other..." It was then Roy recalled the fortune cookie from the day before. "OH NO! This couldn't be! There's no way. It was just a cookie, wasn't it? I don't even believe in that hogwash." Backing away from the mirror, RiJ stumbled trying to get out of the bathroom. "Johnny! JOHNNY!" RiJ yelled.

JiR jumped when he heard his partner's voice echo off the wall. The glass he was drying dropped from his hand, shattering on the kitchen floor. He thought something happened to Roy. As JiR, raced toward the bathroom, he collided with RiJ coming out through the door. Both men went sprawling onto the floor. RiJ shook his head. He looked at Johnny. "Are you okay?" he asked.

After Johnny checked "his" body over and realizing he had more padding, he replied, "Yeah, I'm okay. How ‘bout you?"

"Sure, I'm okay, but what in hell did you come racing through the door like that? One of us coulda been hurt."

"I heard you yell for me. I thought something happened to you. Besides, it's not like either of us got hurt." JiR snapped.

RiJ shook his head. He hated the thought of his partner trapped in his body abusing it. He didn't even want to think about the potential damage if and when they switched back. At least, he now had hope that they would be able to switch back. "The reason I yelled is I think I've figured out what happened to us."

JiR grinned the best he could hoping his friend did have the answer. "Okay, then how did this happen and how do we fix it?" he said gesturing back in forth between their bodies.

"Remember the fortune cookies?" RiJ asked.

Johnny thought about it and then reacted. "No! No way! Roy, that's something that I would've come up with. IT'S NOT POSSIBLE!"

"Would you listen to me for a minute. Do you remember what my cookie said?"

"Something about being careful what you wish for...the grass isn't always greener...on the other side, or something like that."
"That's right! Remember when we pulled the squad over yesterday so we could have a look at it?"

"Yeah."

"You were on one of your tirades about women and the problems in your life."

"So."

"Remember me yelling at you to stop your bellyaching. Then in the same breath, I wished that you could spend time in my shoes to see what my life was like. Then we felt the strange humming noise and the vibrations before we blacked out. When we came to, our inner beings were switched."

"Oh man, Roy! You don't suppose that's what happened, do you?"

"It has to be. It's the only explanation I can think of Johnny."
"Okay. If that's the case, then we will change back after your wish has expired?"

"Or do we?" Roy said dejectedly. His thoughts once again returned to his family. The family he couldn't be with for another couple of days at the very least.

"Roy?"

"Yeah, Johnny."

"If your fortune came true, do you think mine will too?"

"I don't know, Junior. What was it, anyway?"

"It was kinda weird, Roy. It said the next woman in my life would give me a gift that I can never acknowledge. Whaddya think it means, Roy? What kinda gift could a woman possible give me that I couldn't admit to?"

"I don't know, but if I was you, I would be extremely careful until this thing blows over and we are back in our own bodies.

"Roy, I think you're right."

The phone rang. JiR went to get it, but motioned to RiJ to answer it.

"Hello? Oh hi JoAnne. You want to speak with Roy? Hold on." RiJ didn't want to relinquish the phone, but he did.

"Hi JoAnne. Everything's okay here. Uhum. I see. Okay. See ya later." He hung up the phone.

"See you later? What do you mean by that?" Roy said already hating the thoughts of his partner anywhere near his wife in a husband-like way. It wasn't that he didn't trust his best friend. There were just some things that he only shared with JoAnne. Roy figured it would be easier if his partner stayed away from his wife until they were back in their own bodies.

"Well, Roy, JoAnne needs me to come home. She said you could come over too and stay for dinner." Roy didn't know what to say. The longer they stayed switched, the harder it was going to be for both men. They knew that they couldn't tell JoAnne about what happened to them. She wouldn't believe them. Hell, they were having a hard enough time coming to terms what was happening to them.

The two men drove their "own" cars to Roy's house. RiJ was walking first to his house; when he "heard" Johnny say, “wait for me”. The two walked into the house together. JoAnne heard them enter and came to greet them. She kissed RiJ on the check and then kissed JiR more lovingly. RiJ cringed as he watched his wife kiss his partner.

"Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!!!!" Jennifer came running down the stairs and crashed into her father's legs. JiR picked her up and gave her a kiss. Seeing the despondent look on RiJ's face, he gave her to her "Uncle Johnny".

"Sweetie, give Uncle Johnny a kiss. He had a bad day yesterday." And she did. Uncle RiJ not only got a kiss, he got a hug too. He took Jennifer to the couch so she could tell him everything. Seeing she had a break, JoAnne asked her "husband" to follow her into the kitchen.

"Roy, I don't know what to do about Chris. I've tried talking to him, but he won't listen. Please go upstairs and speak with him."

JiR replied, shrugging his shoulders, "okay."

JiR knew his way around Roy's house so he went right upstairs to Chris' room. He found his "son" reading a book.

"Whatcha reading, Chris?"

"Last of the Mohicans." Chris replied.

JiR laughed. The irony of the situation, that Roy's son would be reading a story the included Indians.

"Are you enjoying it, Chris?"

"Yeah, Dad I am, but it's not like the stories Uncle Johnny tells."

Again JiR laughed. He realized the influence he has on Roy's son's life.

"Chris, I think you know why I'm up here. Your mom told me about what happened in school. Do ya wanna talk about it?" JiR asked.

Chris looked up at his Dad somewhat puzzled, as this was not typically how his “Dad” handled his outbursts.

"Dad, why do you spend so much time with Uncle Johnny?"

"I work with him."

"I don't mean that. When you're off, you still spend time with him."

JiR paused. He was unsure what to do. He wished Roy was with him to answer his son's question. Johnny did not want to botch anything up. He proceeded cautiously.

"Do I spend that much time with your Uncle? I guess I never thought about it. Does it bother you?"

"Yeah, I mean nope. I dunno. Last night, you didn't come home. Mom said Uncle Johnny had a problem and needed you. But I had a problem and needed you too!" Chris started to cry. JiR didn't know what to do; this was unfamiliar territory for him. He gathered Chris into his arms and hugged him and offered some soothing words. He'd have to discuss this with Roy, when he had a chance.

****
The DeSoto family and Johnny sat down to dinner. While they ate, the children talked about how they were doing in school. Chris even mentioned a project he had been assigned about Indians. He looked to his "Uncle Johnny" pleading for some help. "Uncle Johnny, will you help me with my project? I know with your help, I'm sure to get an A."

RiJ smiled, but not his usual crooked grin and replied, "sure thing Chris, I'd be glad to help. How about tomorrow?" RiJ then looked at JiR, who nodded his affirmation.

"Okay Chris! Now that dinner is over, it's time for you to go finish up your homework and get ready for bed. That goes for you too, Jennifer." JoAnne stated firmly but motherly.

"Yes mom." Both children said in unison, but before they left the room, Jennifer turned to look at her Uncle Johnny. "Uncle Johnny, you will stay long enough to read me a story and tuck me in?"

RiJ looked at JiR, who gave a light nod that it was okay. "You know I will. In fact, I'll tuck you both in." Roy's heart was breaking. He knew he wouldn't be able to spend the night. He hated the fact that he wouldn't be able to sleep with his wife either. All he had to look forward to was returning to Johnny's bachelor pad and all that entailed. Suddenly a horrible though entered his mind. RiJ nudged his partner and whispered, "I need to talk with you privately."

"Why don't you both go out onto the deck for a while until the kids are ready for bed." JoAnne said giving her husband a peck on the cheeks. Once again, RiJ cringed. He should be the one receiving those kisses, not his partner. Inwardly he swore that he would never again take his family for granted. He would be happy for what he had, even if it meant a few problems here and there.

Outside on the deck, RiJ directed JiR away from the kitchen window. He really didn't want to risk JoAnne overhearing their conversation. "Johnny, there is no way you can spend the night here."

"What do you want me to do Roy? Tell me, cos I certainly don't know anymore. You know JoAnne won't let me leave now." JiR responded, gesticulating with his hands.

"I know that Johnny. I just don't want you to...I mean... Jo’s a bit..." RiJ didn't finish.

"Me to what, Roy?" JiR said.

"TO SLEEP WITH MY WIFE. There I said it." Roy said eyes glaring, teeth clenched.

What a mess this was turning into. That thought hadn't even crossed Johnny's mind until now. His face paled. He ran his hands through his thinning hair. He knew he couldn't sleep with JoAnne. He had to figure out something to get out of that part of Roy's relationship. "Don't worry Roy. I promise I won't go within 50 feet of her. If I have to," Johnny paused to look around, "I'll crash on the couch."

Before Roy could continue the conversation, JoAnne poked her head out the door.

"Johnny, Jen is ready for that story now."

"Be right there, JoAnne." RiJ said.

Roy looked at this best friend once more, before walking back inside the house. This whole mess made him nervous. For a brief moment he thought about coming clean with JoAnne, but new knew she'd never believe what happened.

RiJ hated the fact that he had to leave for the night. He'd have to leave his family in the hands of his best friend.

After RiJ tucked both kids in, he walked downstairs. JoAnne was folding laundry with JiR's help. RiJ smiled inside, knowing JoAnne was appreciating the help.

"I guess I'll be going now." RiJ said, slightly shrugging his shoulders. JoAnne walked over to him. JiR stopped folding laundry to watch. JoAnne took RiJ's hand and said, "Thanks for coming for dinner." She wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a kiss on his cheek. RiJ blushed.

"Why John Gage, I think, you're blushing! This must be a first!"

JiR walked RiJ to the Land Rover. "I promise Roy, I will be on my best behavior tonight,” he said patting his partner on the back.

Sighing, Roy looked at his best friend. "I know you will. I just hate this whole thing. I love my family and I never realized how much until now. Can I have them back, please?"

Johnny wasn't entirely sure how to respond so he nodded his head in understanding. "I'll take good care of them and I’ll see ya tomorrow."

"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow, Johnny." Roy replied dejectedly.

With that RiJ got into his car and drove to his friend's apartment. Tears rimmed his eyes and threatened to spill down his face. He had to pull over to the curb to compose himself. To Roy, it felt like he lost his family.

When Roy got "home", he didn't know what to do. He looked around Johnny's apartment, but felt he was invading Johnny's privacy.   He walked around, trying to get used to the place. He saw the answering machine light blinking. He played the message. It was from Suzanne asking to confirm their date, as she would be working different shifts and wouldn’t be able to reach him. Perhaps it was because he was lonely or was it that he was in Johnny’s body, he decided to call Suzanne.

“Hello? Is this Suzanne?”

“Yes it is. Is this Johnny?

“Yes, it is.”

“How ya doing Gagey?

Gagey? Roy thought. It must be a nickname. “Oh I’m okay.”

“What’s wrong, you sound different.”

“No, I guess I’m just tired. Sometimes the job catches up with me.”

“I can only imagine. I don’t know how you do it. It’s one thing to fight fires, but to rescue people and then treat them. You must have stamina!” She said with a provocative tone.

Roy found Suzanne’s verve refreshing. It’s not that JoAnne wasn’t enthusiastic about his job. It was more that she’d been with him from the onset. Suzanne really wanted to know about his profession.

So Roy stayed on for the phone with Suzanne for over an hour. He was careful what he spoke about, mostly about the job and the people they know in common. He giggled when Suzanne called “Roy” a sweetie. Roy started to yawn, so he brought the conversation to an end, but he confirmed their date.

When he hung up the phone, he was troubled. He just made a date! He’d have to talk with Johnny about it.

He tossed in Johnny's bed. His mind was on overdrive thinking about all the events that had taken place since he and Johnny switched bodies. He soon fell into a troubled sleep only to have a horrid nightmare about them having to have to accept their new bodies for eternity.

"Roy stood off in the bushes watching his family have fun with his partner. It was Jennifer's birthday. His heart ached seeing how much the kids loved being with their dad. He wanted so much to have it all back but knew it would never happen. He cringed every time he saw his wife touch JiR. Finally, RiJ found the courage to join the DeSoto family. "Well DeSoto, guess you'll have to get used to it. You don't have a family anymore. They belong to your partner now. It was because of your selfishness and not understanding and listening to your partner that got you into this whole mess." He thought as he walked toward the happy family."

"Hey Johnny! I'm glad you could make it. It wouldn’t be a party without you." JiR said beaming.
"Yeah, I know." RiJ replied with sorrow. At that point, JoAnne walked up to RiJ and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Roy and I are so pleased that you could make it, Johnny. Did Roy tell you our great news?"

"No, he didn't? What is it?" RiJ asked.

"JoAnne beamed. "Roy and I are going to have another baby! Isn't that great?!" Suddenly the color drained from RiJ's face as he surrendered to darkness and sank to the ground.

Roy woke with a start, drench in sweat with his heart pounding in his chest. The image of his wife telling him that she was going to have a baby was still vivid in his mind. He shook his head, "No I can't let that happen. JoAnne, Chris and Jen are my family. If for some reason Johnny and I can't switch back, we'll have to tell JoAnne, no matter how hard it is to accept. I love my wife and my kids and I won't let my partner move in and take them away from me.”

****
"Honey, are you coming to bed?" JoAnne asked.

Never, in Johnny's life did he fear these words. Under other circumstances, he'd be flashing that crooked grin, but not now. He was terrified. He couldn't sleep in that bed with JoAnne.

"Jo, I've got to do some studying. I'll come up soon." JiR took out Roy's paramedic manuals and feigned studying them. With any luck, he'd fall asleep in the Lazy-Boy chair.

JoAnne heard her husband and came downstairs. She saw his books spread out. She walked over to him and gave him a kiss and a squeeze in an all too familiar place. JiR had to bite his tongue to keep from reacting the way this action would normally cause him to.

"Don't stay up too long." JoAnne said seductively and sashayed up the stars. Johnny watched her, seeing a side of her to which he shouldn’t have access too. Unfortunately, he responded to her enticement.   Seeing how he reacted, he was more determined to sleep in the living room, even if it meant no sleep at all.

In the morning, JoAnne came down to find her "husband" asleep in his chair. Sometime during the night, Jen joined her dad in the chair. The two slept blissfully, buried under blankets. JoAnne saw the precious scene and she smiled.

JoAnne let her husband and daughter sleep while she went about making breakfast. Before long, the smell of coffee pulled Johnny from his sleep. Opening his eyes, taking in his surroundings, he was a bit confused at first as to why he was in Roy’s home, sleeping in Roy’s chair. Then he remembered that he wasn’t exactly in his own body. After giving Jennifer a kiss on the top of her head, Johnny pulled himself out from under the sleeping child.   He walked to the bathroom to relieve himself, before seeking out a much-needed cup of coffee. Inside the bathroom, Johnny looked into the mirror. ‘I guess nothin’s changed. I’m still in Roy’s body,’ he thought. Although, if things had changed, he knew JoAnne would have reacted. He ran his hand over his face and through the thinning crop of hair on his head. Once he finished in the bathroom, he trudged into the kitchen hating the thoughts of seeing JoAnne, especially how his body reacted the night before.

“Well good morning sleepyhead. I missed you last night.” JoAnne cooed wrapping her arms around her ‘husband’ and giving him a long passionate kiss. If this kiss came from any other woman besides Roy’s wife, Johnny would have enjoyed it.

“Good morning, honey.” JiR replied swallowing hard.

“Now, I want you to sit down. I have breakfast all ready for you.”

“Thanks,” JiR replied.

Soon the children joined them for breakfast. Chris looked at his Dad and said, “Dad, do you think that Johnny could help me today with my project?”

“I’m sure he could. Why don’t we call him after breakfast and, if your mom doesn’t mind, I’ll take you over to his place.” JiR said giving JoAnne a pleading look. Johnny really didn’t want to spend the day with JoAnne, not in his current condition.

“Of course it is. After all, your schoolwork is important, Chris. Johnny already told you he would give you a hand.” JoAnne replied, smiling at her husband.

“What about me?” Jennifer asked. “Can I go over to Uncle Johnny’s too?”

“Jennifer! I don’t think Johnny will have much time to play with you if he’s helping Chris. How about if your father invites him to dinner again tonight so you can see him.”
Excitedly, Jennifer replied, “Oh boy! Maybe he can read me another story tonight. I liked the way he read me the story last night. He read it just like you do, daddy!”

Johnny coughed.

“Are you all right honey?” JoAnne asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just swallowed something the wrong way, that’s all.” Johnny replied praying JoAnne didn’t pick up on what Jennifer had just said. Not like it really mattered anyway. After all, in a couple of days, this whole mess would be straightened out, he hoped.

Johnny took a sip of his coffee.

“Hon, don’t you want some sugar for that?” JoAnne asked.

“Sugar?”

“Yeah, you know, sugar.”

“Oh, yeah, right.” And Johnny took the sugar bowl and slowly put sugar into his coffee, trying to remember how many sugars Roy puts in his. He stirred the coffee and took another sip. It was too sweet for him, but he’d have to manage. He tried to keep from making a face drinking the sweet, hot beverage.

“Dad, can we call Uncle Johnny now?” Chris asked.

Johnny sat back in his chair with his coffee in his hand. He thought about what Chris had just called him - Dad. All he could think was that someday he’d hear those words for real.

JiR looked at the clock and answered, “Chris, let’s give Uncle Johnny a bit more time to sleep before we call him. You know how those single guys are.” Everyone giggled.

The drive over to RiJ’s apartment gave JiR a chance to talk more with Chris. He thought it would give him an opportunity to learn more about his partner’s son. Chris told JiR how he enjoys going camping with him and Johnny. Chris also told his “Dad” that he was happy about his involvement with the boy scouts. JiR then asked him, if he was so happy, why was he acting out in school? I know it’s tough now. You feel like you’re an adult, but everyone treats you like a kid. And, there are other things going on, like your body doing weird things. Right? Try to be patient with yourself. An’ if you feel you can’t talk to me about it, you can always talk with your Uncle Johnny. He’s a good listener.”

Chris couldn’t give him an answer

JiR just smiled. After a lull in the conversation Chris told him that he wanted to be a paramedic just like him when he grew up. This touched Johnny’s heart. He began to realize just how lucky his partner really was, having such a wonderful family. Inwardly he hoped that someday he would find a woman as endearing as JoAnne and have a family too.

JiR found his partner in a sullen mood when he and Chris arrived, But when RiJ saw his son, his face lit up. This didn’t go unnoticed by JiR. It pleased him to know that he could do something to cheer up his friend.

“Hey Junior, I hope you’re up for some company. Chris here needs some help with that project he told you about last night.”

“Of course! Whatever I can do to help.” RiJ motioned them both aside. Grabbing JiR by the arm, Roy whispered into his ear, “just where am I supposed to get the info he’s gonna need for this project? That’s your department, not mine.”

JiR leaned in and whispered to his partner, “I believe what you’ll need is on my bookshelf and I’ll help you both look up the information.”

Roy chuckled. He was pleased he wasn’t alone with this.

“Hey Dad, Johnny! Are we gonna get started or what?”

“Tell you what, Chris. Why don’t you go get us all some milk from the fridge and we can get started.” RiJ replied hoping to get Chris out of the room long enough so JiR could get the books that would be needed off the bookshelf.

“Okay Uncle Johnny.”

While Chris was out of the room, Johnny and Roy quickly grabbed the books that were needed for the project.

The day wore on with JiR helping Chris just as much as RiJ did. They stopped for a quick lunch. That’s when JiR invited RiJ over for dinner again, to which he gracefully accepted. He really needed to see his entire family again, even if he couldn’t acknowledge them as such.

It was nearing 4PM by the time the trio finished working on the project together. Then, they got ready to go back to the DeSoto’s house for dinner. Before walking out the door, JiR looked at Chris and said, “why don’t you drive over to the house with your Uncle Johnny.”

“Can I?”

“Yes you sure can. I’ll bet Johnny would love to have your company in the Rover.”

“Thanks Dad!”

On their way out to the cars, Roy leaned into his partner. “Thanks” was all he had to say.

At the DeSoto’s house Jennifer watched out the window, waiting for her Daddy and Uncle Johnny to arrive. When the cars pulled into the driveway, she squealed with delight as she raced for the front door.

RiJ walked up to the front door with his arm around Chris. He had enjoyed the drive over to his house.

Jennifer jumped into her Dad’s arms before he cleared the front landing of the house. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a big kiss on the cheek. JiR returned the kiss the little girl gave him. He passed her to RiJ so he could get a hug and kiss from her too. RiJ gave a ‘thank-you’ look to his partner. He needed this hug from Jennifer just as much as he needed Chris in his car on the drive over to his house.

JoAnne greeted both men with a kiss on the cheek for RiJ and a more generous kiss for JiR. RiJ made a face.

Dinner was full of conversation as Chris excitedly told his mother about how both his dad and Uncle Johnny helped him work on his project.

After dinner, Roy and Johnny sat out on the deck, talking while the kids bathed.

“Thanks, Junior.” Roy said.

Johnny furrowed his eyebrows, “For...?”

“Giving me time with my kids. I sure miss them.”

“You’re welcome and I know.”

Before they could continue their conversation, a freshly washed Jennifer bounded outside with a book under her arm. “Uncle Johnny? Will you read to me now?”

“Of course I will Sweetie. Let’s go inside so you won’t get a chill.”

After RiJ read to Jennifer and tucked her into bed, he repeated the process for Chris. He watched his children for a few minutes from the doorways of each bedroom. “I miss you both so much,” he said softly. Then Roy joined his partner in the living room. JiR was sitting on his Lazy-Boy and JoAnne was sitting on the couch. They both were tuned into the news on TV. RiJ walked over to the couch and settled himself down next to JoAnne. JoAnne leaned over and gave RiJ a kiss on the cheek.

“Thank you Johnny,” she said, “for helping Chris with his project.”

Roy savored being this close to JoAnne and cherished the kiss. “Any time JoAnne. I love him like he was my own and I’d do anything for him.” RiJ replied.

“I know you do and Chris thinks the world of you too.” JoAnne answered. Then she returned her attention to the TV. RiJ glanced over at JiR. Both men seemed to know what the other was thinking and feeling. They just smiled and nodded at each other.