The Rub by the JG Pen Guins and Friends The genie propped her chin on her hands and lay prone on the ten or so jewel-toned cushions scattered on the floor of her lamp. She scanned through a two-thousand-year-old copy of a fashion scroll and wondered idly what the other genies were wearing this millennium. Her bare feet crossed and uncrossed in the air, setting off the tiny golden bells that dangled from bracelets on her delicate ankles. Unconsciously they moved in rhythm to the latest popular song she'd heard...from about 720 AD. The genie tossed the scroll to the side and flopped over onto her back, staring at the lavender haze that prevented any intrusive gaze from outside as well as distorting her view of the world beyond the lamp. Oh she knew what was going on out there...or did before the last possessor of the lamp got mad and threw it into the South China Sea. If it hadn't been for her quick thinking, the lamp might have settled into the Mariana's Trench and been lost forever. Luckily she had the presence of mind to make it float... her last coherent thought as seasickness took its toll. Finally a strong jolt told her the lamp was once again on solid ground. She hoped for a new owner...and a fresh chance to escape this accursed prison she was in. "The caliph's son," she thought, "acted like a pig. It was only fair I should make him look like one." Achmed, the prince of the jinn, didn't agree. "And so, here I sit. Only eight millennia to go in my ten-thousand-year sentence. Maybe I'll redecorate." She glanced around the lamp and waved a lazy pinky. Instantly the room changed from aqua to ruby, then emerald, topaz, and back to aqua. "I'm so bored." She stood and stretched. Creating a vision-mist in mid-air she took a look at the world around her lamp. Sand, nothing but wet and for ten feet in every direction. Well, she had made the lamp float, could she make it rise through the sand to the world above? She began to wave her pinky and then stopped. "Which way is up? If I send the lamp the wrong direction, I may be burrowing down instead of up. Well, I guess I'll just take a chance." Concentrating with all her might she forced the lamp to rise, inch by torturous inch through the shore's sandy soil until a rush of fresh air swirled the lavender mist above her head. Exhausted with the unaccustomed effort, the genie dropped to the cushions and slept. ~~~~~ Johnny and Roy walked along the sand carrying their equipment. Their call for a man down on the beach turned out to be a false alarm. They didn't see anyone lying on the sand and what few people were at the beach this brisk January day didn't notice anything out from the ordinary. "I don't understand how someone can spend a dime to call in a `man down' and there not be one." A John Gage tirade was beginning. Roy shifted the equipment. It was heavier than normal as the two of them were walking on sand to get back to the squad. Gage continued, "an' you'd think someone would be here to direct us to the man down. But no. Nada. I just think…" Johnny stopped as he nearly lost his balance. While walking on the sand his foot stepped on something hard that threw his stability off. "What the heck was that?" Johnny stopped and placed the equipment on the sand. He crouched down to his right foot's footprint and started digging. He looked up and discovered Roy continued ahead. They weren't that far away from the squad so it didn't matter that he stopped. Turning his attention back to his `excavation', Johnny continued to dig. It took only a few seconds but he unearthed the thing that broke his stride. It was sand encrusted in spots and quite worn, but it was shaped like a lantern. He used his jacketed arm to rub off the lamp. Cleaned a little, his find looked more valuable. He was so enchanted by his find; he didn't hear Roy approaching. "Whatcha got there?" Roy stood over Johnny who stayed in his crouched position. "I think it's a lantern of some sorts. It looks kinda old." Johnny handed it to Roy for his opinion. He stood up and gathered the equipment and the two walked toward the squad. Roy used his jacket to polish off the lamp even more. "So whaddya think it is Roy?" With a smile on his face, Roy answered, "a magic lantern." "Nah, come on, what is it?" Johnny loaded the equipment into the truck. "You think it has a jeannie in it?" Now that he had time to think that it was a magic lantern, he had to ask the next logical question. Roy narrowed his eyes at his partner. "I was only kidding Johnny.  There's no such thing as a magic lamp or jeannies." "How do you know? Sometimes folklore is based on truths." Johnny grabbed the item from Roy and got into the squad. Roy returned to the driver's side and the two headed back to their station. "Squad 51 available." Johnny spoke into the mic. He carefully studied his prize. "Ya know if it is a magic lamp, then it only allows three wishes. Hmm, I'm gonna have to think really hard about this. What do I want? I can't be greedy and ask for lots of money. No, that's not me. But maybe I can ask for a date with that hot chick, Amber, you know the one from The Donut Dip…" Johnny continued speaking as Roy drove back to the station. He laughed thinking that Johnny believed it was real. It was nice to fantasize about getting a magic wish come true. Roy began daydreaming what he'd ask for if he were granted one request. "Are you listening to me?" Johnny asked in a huff. "Yes, I always listen to you." Roy said as he backed the truck into the station. "I'm going to hide this in my locker. There is no way I'll let Chet see it cause he'll waste it on a barb wire collection or something else useless." Johnny jumped out from the squad hiding the lamp under his jacket as he walked to his locker. Seeing the coast was clear, he sat down on the bench and rubbed the lantern. I wanna new car, a new rover, he thought. Letting the fantasy play in his head for a few minutes, he smiled and placed the lamp in his locker, hidden under some clothes. He whistled as he walked into the dayroom with hopes of finding a fresh pot of coffee. Chet and Marco were sitting at the table. Roy was sipping coffee, leaning against the stove. The phone rang and Chet got up to answer it. "Station 51 Fireman Kelly speaking." He listened for a minute. "Gage, it's for you." Kelly passed the phone to Johnny. "This is John Gage." There was silence as Johnny listened to the man speaking. "You're kidding aren't you." "You're NOT?!" "I did?" "When can I pick it up?" "Tomorrow! That's great, I'm off tomorrow. I'll see you then." He hung the phone up in disbelief and went back to retrieve his coffee. "So are you going to tell us or just keep that silly grin on your face?" Kelly asked. "Remember about a month ago when I was having trouble with the Rover? I brought it to the dealership to have it serviced. I was waitin' around and I filled out a contest form for a new Rover. I had time to kill, so I filled out the form, never thinking anything of it. I mean, it was a nationwide contest." Johnny paused to build the moment. "I won! I won the new Rover!" "You did not." Chester argued. "Eat your heart out Chet, I did. I can pick up the car tomorrow when I'm off." Johnny continued with his cocky grin to the annoyance of his coworkers. Then his expression changed as he remembered his wish. Could it be? How could it happen? He asked himself. He decided to ask Roy. "Roy can I speak with you for a minute?" Roy stood up and followed Johnny into the locker room. "Alone Chet." Chet heard and turned around, leaving the two paramedics alone. Johnny grabbed Roy's arm. "Roy I rubbed the bottle and wished for a new car and I got it. It's a magic lantern, I'm telling ya." "Johnny, you entered a contest and won. Rubbing a lamp isn't going to make a difference. "Roy, if it's just coincidence I believe it if you make a wish." Johnny went into his locker and dug out the lamp from under the clothes. He shoved it toward Roy. "Here you make a wish." Roy took the lamp and thought about what to wish for. `This is crazy. There's no such thing as a magic lamp. I might as well wish for something big to happen.' "Okay I know what I'm going to wish for. I'm going to…" "ROY don't tell me. Tell the lamp and rub it while you think your wish." "This is so stupid." But Roy did what Johnny said, made his wish and rubbed the lamp. He gave it back to Gage. "When will I know if it works?" Johnny thought about it. He wished about the car and within 10 minutes he won a new one. "I guess it will happen soon." Roy gave a hmpf and left the room. Roy had to laugh. What he wished for was physically impossible since he knew it could never happen. And it was a selfish wish too. Since he didn't believe in jennies and magic lamps he had nothing to loose so he made his wish. It was a quite afternoon in the station after the squad responded to the false alarm at the beach. It gave the men he time to do chores around the station. Roy and Mike were assigned to hanging hose. Marco had kitchen duty.  Chet's responsibility was to polish the floors and Johnny needed to catch up with paperwork. Hanging hose was the most physical of the chores so it was usually rotated. Roy didn't want to admit he was getting older, but at thirty he wasn't in the shape he was when he was 20. Sometimes hanging hose drained him. Today was one of those days. When he and Mike finished, his muscles ached, his shoulders were sore and he thought he pulled his groin. Roy shrugged it off as he had the perfect antidote for what ailed him, JoAnne. Just thinking of that put a big smile on his face. Roy forgot about his wish as the station was called out to battle a 3-alarm warehouse factory fire. It was a grueling incident but there were no casualties. He and Johnny were used to fight the fire and administer some minor first aid to several firefighters who inhaled too much smoke. The crew returned to the station four hours before their shift was to end. Each man was tired, hungry and dirty. Roy decided to take a shower before going home. JoAnne disliked it when he came home smelling of soot and ash. Roy wasn't in the shower too long when he came running out, a towel rapped around his waist. He immediately found Johnny in the day room. His eyes were closed as he leaned his head on his palms as his elbows supported the weight. "Where's that lamp?" Roy asked in an urgent but hushed voice. "Huh?" Johnny replied opening his eyes to see his dripping partner standing over him. "Where is the lamp, you know the one you found yesterday?" "I guess it's still in my locker. Why?" Johnny paused as he began to understand the situation. "What happened. Did your wish come true?" Fully awake, Johnny turned around and looked at Roy. Slightly embarrassed Roy answered. "Yes it did." "What did you wish for?" Johnny's curiosity got the better of him. "I'm not going to say. But that lamp is dangerous. I asked for something that couldn't physically happen and it did. You've got to get rid of that lamp." "I can't get rid of that lamp. It's still has one wish left in it. We can put it to good use like world peace or ending hunger or winning the lottery." Roy thought about it for a moment. "Okay, let's discuss it in the morning. Come on over to my house in the afternoon. We'll figure out what to do then." Roy realized he better get some clothes on so he walked back to the locker room. `I wonder what Roy wished for?' Johnny wondered. `Oh well, it doesn't matter. Johnny returned to his prior position and thought about what the last wish should be. Johnny sat the troublesome lamp on the coffee table and waited for Roy to return. The most pressing issue now was how to dispose of it before somebody made a really dumb wish without realizing it. He shuddered at the thought of his own debacle. Jennifer came bouncing into the living room and made a beeline for Johnny. She crawled into his lap and gave him the customary big hug. A little distracted, he tried to pay attention to the lively six-year-old as she chattered like a happy squirrel. "Richie Taylor is so mean. Uncle Johnny, you know what he did? He took a magic marker and drew a black eye on my favorite Barbie! I'm gonna tell Daddy when he gets home. Can you beat him up for me, Uncle Johnny?" She cocked her head sideways and gave Gage her most pathetic look, one guaranteed to get her whatever her heart desired. With a sigh, Johnny reached for her hand. "Jen, honey, you know I can't do that. Grown-ups just can't go around beating up little kids, ya know. Which Barbie was it? The one with the blond hair? Maybe we can find one just like it and get you a new one." "It wouldn't be the same," Jennifer pouted. "It just stinks that you can't beat up that old Richie Taylor." She wandered over to the coffee table and picked up the lamp. Before Johnny could warn her to put it down, she looked at her reflection and said petulantly, "I wish you were my age, Uncle Johnny! Then you could beat up Richie for me." Johnny started to jump from the chair in protest. When his feet hit the floor, so did his blue jeans. He looked down in horror to note that his only apparel was the adult-sized T-shirt sagging off the shoulders of six-year-old Johnny Gage. "This isn't happening!" His feet lost in shoes he wouldn't grow into for another ten years, Johnny stepped out of them and hitched the shirt back up onto his shoulder. He looked down through the huge neckline to watch his boxers fall down around his ankles. Now what? "Who's your little friend, Jennifer?" Joanne DeSoto breezed into the room and kissed her daughter on the top of the head, then turned to look at the dark-haired boy in consternation. She had never seen him before. Jennifer, with the resilience and delight of a child, squealed, "its Johnny!" She ran to give him a hug. Johnny backed off defensively, still holding onto his T-shirt. "Um, Johnny, maybe you'd better go home and get some clothes on. Where did you get these?" "Mommmmeeee, I said it's Johnny. He doesn't have any clothes that fit now." "Jo, it's me, Johnny, Johnny Gage." Joanne DeSoto looked at her friend with horror. "How? Why?" She sat down on the couch, stunned. "It's me, Mommy, I did it. I made the wish, and it came true. I wished for Uncle Johnny to be my age and it happened. It came true! Isn't that wonderful?" Jenny danced around the living room. "Oh man, why me?" Johnny moaned. Just then Roy walked in. "hey where's Johnny?" "Right here, Pally." The words were familiar, but the voice was definitely coming from the wrong size body. "Johnny?" It took a second before Roy's eyes registered anything near recognition as he glanced at the small form before him. His first instinct was to laugh in disbelief, but the intense look in the little boy's eyes told him that this wasn't a joke. "John...Johnny...? But how...how," he stammered, almost stooping as he continued to search for his friend in the child standing there. "Daddy, isn't this the neatest thing, Uncle Johnny's little just like me! I wished it, and it came TRUE!" Jenny was beaming. "Roy, what is she talking about? What does she mean, she wished it?" Joanne sat, stunned with her eyebrows knit together. "Right here, Mommy! I wished it on this lamp, just like in the story of Aladdin!" "It's true, Jo. See, we found that lantern on the beach after a run last shift. I was just kidding when I said it was probably a magic lamp and I made a wish on it!" Johnny explained his voice several octaves higher than they were all normally used to. "Roy thought it was coincidence when my wish came true, but then HE made a wish on it and it came true too!" It was easy to see where Johnny's 'little-boy' excitement came from, as it now seemed to fit so well with his young age. Roy was having a hard time digesting the information. He had made a wish and it had come true...and now here was his 28-year-old work partner standing before him, the age of his first-grade daughter. "Yeah but I-I was just kidding when I made that wish, Jo! Who believes in magic lamps, I mean that's just crazy! It's just make-believe!" Roy tried to rationalize to both himself and his wife. "Yes, you know that and I know that...but honey, LOOK at him! It IS Johnny, isn't it? He's standing right there and he's a...a child!" Joanne didn't know whether to laugh or panic, her hand over her mouth. Johnny stood with his back to the wall, feeling exposed. Holding the teeshirt close to his body, he could feel himself blush as all three DeSoto's locked eyes on him. "Heh...yep...it's me, all right," he gulped. The reality of the situation had already begun to dawn on Roy. How were they going to explain this to Cap, to the guys, to the Department! And could they reverse it...? Catching Johnny's glance, he saw those exact same questions in his friend's eyes. "I don't believe this...Junior, it...it's really you?" Johnny stood uneasy, feeling a draft from his lack of clothing underneath the cotton teeshirt that hung from his tiny frame."Yep...it's really me, Roy. What do I do now?" was all he could squeak out. --- Roy looked again at his partner and realized the first thing needed. "Gotta get you some clothes you can wear." After Roy said that Johnny's modesty became apparent. He blushed and held the oversized t-shirt against his body. "JoAnne, do you have any of Chris' old stuff upstairs?" "I know exactly where it is." JoAnne left the living room. Jenny was still to close to her uncle Johnny. She giggled. "Are you going to come to school with me tomorrow?" Johnny gasped. "School? Are you kidding? Those days are over for me." "But what are you going to do?" She asked. That was right, what were they all going to do? A shout from upstairs indicated that she found clothing. Johnny headed upstairs to claim the garments. While Johnny was upstairs, Roy picked his daughter up. "Honey, what did you exactly wish for?" Roy feared Jenny's wish was something with permanence. He knew exactly how the genie's bottle (magic lantern) worked, having seen the results with Johnny's wish and then his. If the wish was permanent and it was the last wish, Johnny would have to `grow up' again. His `junior' would really be his junior. "I said I wanted Johnny to be my age." Jenny didn't understand the importance of her father's request and didn't add the time qualifier. Roy had no idea she asked for just one day. No one did. Roy sighed and sat down with Jennifer on his lap. His worst fear came true. Johnny was going to be an adult in a six year old's body. He rubbed his temple with his hand and closed his eyes. Two minutes later Johnny walked downstairs wearing a worn pair of jeans and a t-shirt that said I Love New York on it. His feet were bare. The jeans were short and a bit big around the waist. JoAnne took one of Roy's old ties and rapped it around his waist as a belt. "Whaddya think?" A pint sized Johnny's voice asked. Jenny's eyes shined. Roy moaned. JoAnne shrugged her shoulders. As this was all happening, a 9 year old Chris DeSoto came home from school. "Hey, I'm home," he said as he walked in the front door. He saw two adults and two kids in the living room. "Hi Mom, Dad, Jen." He looked at the boy. Something was familiar about the boy, but he couldn't put his finger on it. "Hi I'm Chris." He walked over, arm outstretched like adults behave. Roy and JoAnne held their breaths to see what would happen next. Johnny froze, not knowing what to say. It was one thing to be Jenny's age and size. But Chris was older and bigger than he was. How could he or anyone explain what happened. The silence continued long enough for Chris to figure that something wasn't right. Before anyone else had a chance to say anything, Jenny spoke up. "Don't you recognize him? That's Uncle Johnny!" "What:" Chris yelled as he dropped his backpack on the floor. He walked closer and looked at the little boy. "Oh my gosh, it is him. What happened?" Chris turned around and looked at his parents. When he got no answer from them he looked back to Johnny. "I got stuck in the dryer too long and shrunk." He said as shrugged his shoulders. Chris looked back at his parents. "Mom? Dad? What really happened?" "It's a bit hard to believe Chris. You might want to sit down," said Joanne. "Roy? I think you better field this one." Roy glanced at his pint-sized partner. "Johnny?" "Go ahead Roy. I can't believe this," he said sullenly. Johnny dropped down to the floor and pulled his knees up to his chest and glanced from Roy to Joanne and then to the floor. Jennifer giggled and sat next to her uncle. She sat a little too close and Johnny backed away. "Jennifer! Don't crowd him. You can sit next to him without sitting in his lap." As an adult, John Gage didn't mind Jenny sitting on his lap but it was a whole different matter now that they were the same size. He looked at Joanne and she could see the thanks in his eyes. He could also see the hurt in Jen's eyes. "Sorry kiddo." She burst into giggles as her favorite uncle called her kiddo. He was a kid himself. Johnny blushed again and wrapped his arms tightly around his knees. "Well, Chris, it's kind of hard to explain because ...." "Just tell me Dad. How come Uncle Johnny is a kid again?" Roy proceeded to explain about their rescue and the lamp they found. Chris stared at the three, make that two adults in the room and shook his head. 'Nobody is going to believe this at school,' he thought. "Is he going to stay here with us?" Joanne looked at her husband. "He has to stay Roy. He can't go back to his apartment like this." Johnny was about to protest and Roy stopped him. "She's right partner. You are going to have to stay here for a while, at the very least. What are we going to do if this doesn't correct itself?" Gage had no answer to that. He was not thrilled with the thought of being a kid much less having to grow up all over again. 'Once was bad enough,' he mused. "Uncle Johnny can sleep in my room!" Jenny shouted gleefully. "NO!" a distraught Johnny replied at the same time that Roy and Joanne shouted the same answer. Jennifer burst into tears. "Why not?" she whined. "Because Uncle Johnny is a guy!" reasoned Chris. "He gets to sleep in my room." "Not fair Chris. He's my age, he should sleep in my room." Johnny looked helplessly at his partner. "Chris is right Jenny.  Johnny can't sleep in your room. He won't be sleeping with Chris either. He can stay in the den." Chris grumbled about that not being fair either and Johnny sighed in relief. He loved his partner's kids as if they were his own but he was a grownup and needed his space. 'Grownup? This is so unfair,' he thought. "Roy, what about work tomorrow?" Roy looked at his partner. There was no way he could work like this. "I guess I'm going to have to call Cap. He needs to know." Johnny groaned. "He is not going to be happy about this Roy." Joanne left to start supper. She knew this wasn't going to get any easier for her husband's partner. Shaking her head she turned on the oven. 'This could only happen to Johnny Gage.' Roy went into the den to place the dreaded call to Hank Stanley.  Johnny had followed him, leaning against the doorframe in the same manner he always did except it looked funny for him to be doing that in his current state. "Hello Cap? Yeah, it's me. Cap? Are you sitting down? What? Oh, yeah it's about Johnny. Maybe you better come over here so I can explain this better. You aren't going to believe this one. Not in a million years." Roy risked a glance at his partner. Johnny was standing in the doorway with his arms folded across his chest and shaking his head vehemently. Roy shrugged apologetically and said, "Okay Cap. See you in about thirty minutes." "I'm sorry Johnny. He's not going to believe this without seeing it." "Leapin' Lizards! I didn't know John Gage had a kid!" The child standing before Hank Stanley bore an uncanny resemblance to his junior paramedic. Hank merely joked, but was puzzled to see the small face darken like a thundercloud in response to his outburst. Whatever happened to Johnny Gage, this boy was smack dab in the middle of it. The words "paternity suit" made their way into the captain's uneasy mind. "Cap, you'd better sit down," Roy told his superior as he struggled for words that would somehow make sense. "All right." He looked at the child again, then frowned and captured Roy's eye. "Uh, if this is bad news, should we be discussing it in front of a little boy?" Cap froze in place, halfway down into the leatherette armchair as the 'little boy' addressed him in a bitter voice. "Seeing as how this 'little boy' IS the issue, I don't see how we can avoid it, Cap." 'Little' Johnny emphatically gestured to himself in a classic Johnny Gage gesture. "Cap, it's me. I am Johnny Gage. Six-year-old Firefighter Paramedic...Johnny Gage." He looked ready to cry. Cap's mouth fell open like a beached carp, gaping and closing as words struggled to come out...but nothing did. Finally, after alternately shifting his gaze from Johnny to Roy and back to Johnny, Hank Stanley managed to vocalize a single word, "How?" Twenty minutes later, Hank was no closer to believing the completely unbelievable account of how his twenty-eight-year-old paramedic became a small child again. Yet here before him stood irrefutable evidence that it was so. "How do I explain this to the Chief?" Hank wondered aloud. "Cap, I'd really appreciate it if you didn't spread this around. I mean, can you imagine what would happen if KELLY finds out?" Extremely agitated, Johnny ran his hand through already tousled hair. "Man, I'm never gonna live this down. How am I gonna live? How can I support myself?" "Johnny, you're gonna have to live with us..." "And be what, Roy, one of your kids?" Anger erupted at the thought. "Are you gonna put me to bed and tuck me in at night? Spank me when you don't like what I do? Ohhhh no, partner, there's got to be an answer somewhere. I can't deal with this. There has to be a solution. I...I just wish I knew what it is." Johnny slumped onto the couch, defeated. What do I do now? The same question filled the minds of the three 'men' in Roy's living room, although each struggled with a different aspect of the same problem. Jennifer, unable to wait any longer, burst into the room, hopping onto the sofa beside her favorite 'uncle'. "Hey, Uncle Johnny, let's go swing!" Miserably, Johnny took her proffered hand and slipped from the sofa. At Roy's sound of protest, Johnny shook his head. "Why not? What else can I do?" He gave a short sarcastic laugh. "I always wanted to be a swinger." The other two watched their pint-sized crew mate exit the room. What else could he do? Inside the lamp, the genie was having the best time laughing. She hadn't laughed this much in over ten thousand years. At first, she thought these two `mortals' would be just like the rest. Wishing for riches and personal wealth after Johnny made the wish for the new car. Oh, but Roy's wish really got her attention. She was glad to grant that one after a good feminine laugh. Was the wife going to have a big surprise tonight. She laughed. It was a tinkling sound that chimes made on a breezy, hot summer day. Then when the little one had wished her Uncle Johnny to be her age for a day that was the absolute kicker! She granted that one without a second thought. Just think of the mayhem and havoc that would create! And genies were good at creating mayhem and havoc. That was why most were confined to bottles or lamps, to stop their reigns of terror in the old days. Ah, she sighed, the old days. The days when she could turn kings into toads and toads into swans and when she could be on one side of the world and then the other in the next second. She threw herself down on the tiny cushions that lined her prison. If only she could be free again. Maybe . . . but no! It was done and there was no getting out of the lamp now. The magic user was thorough when he trapped her all those years ago. She peeked back into the outside world to see Johnny swinging with the little one. She laughed again. Poor Johnny Little Boy, trapped that way for a whole day. If only he knew the magic word, this would all stop. Things could even go back to `normal' before all of this even happened. She laughed again. But she wasn't about to tell him the word. That would ruin all her  fun. It would be better to see if he could come up with it all on his own. ~~~~~ Outside, in the backyard, Johnny moped while he pushed Jenny on the swing. "Push harder, Uncle Johnny! You usually push me higher!" He gave her the hardest push he could, given his small frame. She jumped out of the swing, and came back to him. "I'm sorry, I forgot. I made you smaller. Are you mad at me?" Johnny sighed, looking into the bright blue eyes of the little girl he adored almost as if she were his own. "No, sweetheart, I'm not mad, justa little upset. My being this size creates a whole bunch of problems. I can't work, so I won't be your dad's partner on the squad, and I can't drive, my legs are too short, and..." "Hey Baby! Who's your boyfriend?" The belligerent voice could only belong to Richie Taylor, the bane of Jenny's existence. "You be quiet! What are you doing here?" Demanded Jenny. "I came over to give you a black eye, just like your stupid Barbie doll." Taunted Richie. "You better leave me alone, or I'll sic my Uncle Johnny on you! He'll fix you good!" said Jenny, secure in the knowledge that her Uncle Johnny would fix everything. "Yeah, well, if he's anything like this pipsqueak, I can take him with one hand tied behind my back!" "I am not a pipsqueak!" exclaimed Johnny. "Yeah, well, I'll bet you can't take me. In fact I dare ya! I double dare ya! Ya big fraidy cat!" Richie was beginning to remind Johnny of one Chester B. Kelly, without the mustache. "You better get out of here, or I'll get my dad!" warned Jenny. That spurred Richie to leave, saying, and "I'm not scared of your dad, or your friend either Hey Kid, you better stay out of my way, or I'll make you wish you had." He turned to walk away. Jenny stuck her tongue out at Richie, and then turned to Johnny. "You could have taken him." Johnny answered, "Fighting never solves anything, Jenny. We'll have to deal with him another way. Come on, let's go inside." He took her hand and headed for the backdoor. The genie was disappointed. She was hoping for a good knockdown, drag-out fight, and Gage wouldn't fight. Knowing his love for the little girl, she thought, 'I bet he would, if she were in trouble. Hmmm, maybe at school tomorrow. Let's see..' ~~~~ "Johnny, Jennnnny, time to come in and get cleaned up." Joanne leaned out the back door and called into the yard to the two "kids" just as they left the swings and headed for the house. Johnny cringed as Jenny called out gaily, "Coming, Mommy!" This has to be one of the most embarrassing days of my life, he thought. First I become the first pint-sized paramedic, now Joanne is treating me like I really am six. What's going to happen next? OH NO! I'm supposed to pick up my new Land Rover today! They sure won't give it to a six-year-old kid. Well, at least Roy got his wish. Johnny and Jennifer entered the back door as Joanne held it open, her arm bracing the door a good six inches above Johnny's head. He started to duck then realized there was no need. "You two wash up quick and then I have some snacks set out on the table." Joanne smiled indulgently at the pair, thinking how cute they looked together. "Uh, thanks, Jo." He returned her smile with a sickly grin. Johnny followed Jennifer up the stairs and waited his turn at the bathroom sink. Jennifer giggled as she played in the water, creating a mountain of suds, which she took in her hands and blew toward Johnny. Only slightly irritated, he scooped up a handful and deposited it on top of Jennifer's head. She squealed in protest and wiped her soapy hands on the front of his T-shirt, then ran from the room. Johnny looked down in dismay at his wet shirt, shook his head, and started to wash up. A glance at the door found Joanne frowning at him as she stared pointedly at his hands buried in the mound of suds and the watery mess on the bathroom floor. "Johnny, clean this up, or there will be no cookies for you!" His best friend's wife stalked off as Johnny glared helplessly after her, feeling the unjust treatment acutely. He grabbed a towel and began to mutter as he sopped up the soapy mess on the floor and proceeded to drain the sink. After the bathroom was again in order, Johnny hurried down the stairs and opened the refrigerator. Bypassing the milk and Kool-Aid, he reached for a beer. Having removed the cap, he tilted the bottle back to take a deep swallow...and felt the beverage removed abruptly from his hand. "Johnny, are you crazy? You can't have that!" Roy stood there angrily, hands on hips, glaring at the "child". "And just why not, Pally? I bought 'em!" Johnny pointed at his chest for emphasis. "Because you're only six years old!" Roy rolled his eyes. "I'M NOT SIX YEARS OLD! I'M TWENTY-EIGHT!" "Young man, you will not raise your voice in this house," Roy informed him sternly. "That's it! I'm outta here," Johnny stated, turning on his heel and heading for the kitchen door. The truth once again sank in when he had to reach up to open the latch. "Johnny," Joanne implored, "you can't leave. Where will you go?" "Jo, I can't stay here and be treated like a child. I'm not a child and it's...well, it's insulting." "Johnny, don't you think you'd better address my wife as 'Mrs. DeSoto?' " "AAAAAAAAARRGH!" ~~~~~ Johnny had HAD it. He stormed over to Roy and shouted, " what is it with you and Mrs. DeSoto. When today started it was Roy, Joanne and Johnny? Just cause I'm six doesn't mean I'm six!" His face was turning red. Pointing to himself he continued, "I've had more experiences then every six year old. Hell even most 26 year olds.  And some 30 year olds too!" He glared at Roy clearly insinuating his lifetime experiences were more than Roy's. "Roy, ya gotta take me home. I CAN'T STAY HERE." He stomped his foot. That stopped both Roy and Johnny and they stared at his foot. Not only was he an adult in a six year old's body, but he was starting to act like one. "No Roy, take me home." Roy had a moment to calm down and look at this situation rationally. "You can't go home. You can't cook for yourself. Heck you can't even reach your cabinets." "So we'll move everything to my height." Roy kept shaking his head no. "Roy YOU are not my parent or guardian. I'm an adult!!!" "Not acting that way," Roy said under his breath. "Johnny, let's compromise. You stay here tonight and tomorrow we'll try to figure something out. We're both off tomorrow, so work won't get in the way. Cap said he's not going to say anything. If you're still like, um - er, like this by next shift then he'll figure out what to do." Johnny looked up at Roy. In all his life, they were eye level, but today, this moment, Johnny felt so small. "Okay," he meekly said. "Good let's go inside and wash up for dinner." Roy patted Johnny on his head as they went inside. If looks could kill, Johnny's would as Roy blushed and put his hand in his pocket. The genie sighed in her lair. Another confrontation avoided at the last moment. Her fun was starting to dwindle with this Johnny Little Boy. She sighed and said a word to bring up her vision of the little boy at the dinner table with the DeSoto family. The little girl was sitting close to Johnny and talking excitedly about school. The genie was starting to enjoy the game again as she watched the flickering emotions on the man-boy's face as the little girl chattered on about school and her classmates. The genie barely took notice of the talk until a word caught her attention. The word `science.' She sat up suddenly and leaned closer to the bubble view of the dinner table and the little girl. "Yes, you'll love it, Uncle Johnny! I've got Mrs. Johnson for science and Mrs. Carlton for spelling and readin'." Johnny made a face, he had never liked going to school when he was small. Bigger boys always picked on him as if he were easy prey. Most of the time, he showed them who was the easy prey. "Science? Spelling and reading? Pally, you're not sending me to school tomorrow, are you?" Johnny's face took on a horrified look that almost made Roy laugh. Until it came to Roy just who he was talking to. Man, it was hard to remember, Johnny being so small and, well . . . cute, darn it! "I'm afraid so, Junior. Jo will take you in the morning and get you registered at the school. She'll try to get you into Jenny's class.  I think you'll make it just in time for science." The genie sat up straighter. Oh, no. She had originally thought that school would be a good, humiliating experience for the man-boy, but now she changed her mind. She needed to keep him from school at all costs or all her fun at Dinner for the most part, was a silent affair. There was one incident of rebellion as Joanne put a spoonful of vegetables on her children's plates, and then added a spoonful to Johnny's. "You're gonna make me eat vegetables, aren't you?" He asked sarcastically. "The rule is, everyone must eat one spoonful of vegetables, no more, no less. Even I have to, so do you." said Roy. "This is just great." thought Johnny. "No veggies; no dessert, right Mom?" "That's right, Jenny. No exceptions." answered her mother. Johnny picked up the fork, stuck it in his veggies, and took a bite. "Well, I guess a few veggies won't kill me." he reasoned. The broccoli seemed to stick in his throat. His mind said 'swallow it'. His stomach said, 'no way'. Johnny slowly chewed the green mouthful, trying to figure out a way to gracefully avoid swallowing, other than spitting the nasty stuff back in his plate. Roy noticed Johnny's nose wrinkling in distaste as he chewed and knew immediately what his little partner was thinking. "Don't you dare spit it out," he warned. Johnny tried with all his might, but couldn't help a little bit slipping out the sides of his mouth before he hopped up and ran for the bathroom. Joanne slipped out of her chair, entered the bathroom, and came up behind Johnny as he knelt before the toilet. She sat on the side of the tub, rubbing his back, and murmuring words of comfort, just as she had done for her children many times before. "Oh man! How much more? This is too much! Why me? Why does it always have to be me?" He moaned. Joanne wet a washcloth; and handed it to her friend. "I'm so sorry, Johnny, I forgot you don't like broccoli. Can I get you something else?" He shook his head. "I think I need to lie down." He looked into her eyes. "I am sorry Jo, I ruined dinner, and now this." "I've made up the sofa in the den for you, swee...Johnny. Are you sure you don't want to share a room with Chris? He has an extra twin bunk and it's much more comfortable than that old leatherette sofa." Johnny shook his head, remembering how many times he'd seen Roy stretch out for a nap on that "uncomfortable sofa". "Nah, Jo, I'll be okay." He thought for a minute and then asked, "Uh, Jo, you don't happen to have an extra toothbrush, do you? My mouth tastes icky." Oh geez! Did I just say "icky"? I haven't said "icky" since I was....six years old. His shoulders drooped. Joanne patted his shoulder and assured, "I think I may have an extra one somewhere." She opened the medicine cabinet and reached for a toothbrush still in the package. Handing it to the small boy, she winked and left. Johnny turned on the tap and looked found the spigot at eye level. With a sigh he dragged a stepstool in front of the sink and reached into the cabinet for toothpaste. The face that looked back from the mirror looked a great deal like his first-grade picture. He felt like crying. Roy had cleared the table and served the kids dessert while Joanne saw to Johnny. He had started rinsing the dishes, and had them stacked while he got the dishwater ready. The kids were watching TV, and it seemed that, for the first time in a long while, Chris and Jenny were actually getting along. "Will wonders ever cease?" Roy wondered. Joanne walked into the kitchen, and put her arms around her husband's waist. Roy felt the arms encircling him from behind, and grinned. "Well, this feels nice." "Just a small token of appreciation for taking care of the dishes, and the table for me." She smiled. "Have I told you lately that I love you, Mr. DeSoto?" "You just did, Mrs. DeSoto, and later, I'll show you just how much I love you." "Mmmm, sounds nice, isn't it time for the kids to go to bed?" "One of the kids is already in bed, Johnny isn't feeling well, so I had him get ready for bed." Roy looked thoughtful for a moment. "You know, Jo, it's easy to think of Johnny as a six-year-old, but he is right. He may have the body of a child, but his mind is twenty-eight. It isn't right to treat him like one of our kids." Joanne sighed. "Roy, in my mind, I know that, but when I see that mouth go into a pout and...do you know he just said his mouth feels 'icky'?" "He said 'icky'?" "Yep. Now what twenty-eight-year-old would do that?" Joanne challenged. Roy smiled and shook his head, unsure what to expect from his partner next. He walked into the living room and scooped up Jennifer who had fallen asleep before the TV. Chris blinked in a gallant effort to keep his own eyes open. It had been an eventful day for them all. "Let's go, sleepyhead," Joanne said to her son while giving Roy a look that was at once teasing and inviting. Roy made quick work of tucking in his daughter before joining his wife in their room. Joanne was wearing the red silk nightie he had gotten her for their anniversary. Roy's eyes lit up at the picture she presented before him. It didn't take him long to join his wife in their bed, and enveloping her in his arms for a spine tingling kiss. He nuzzled her neck and kissed her lips. Her breathless sighs and gasps punctuated his kisses. The red nightie joined his boxers on the floor, as Joanne whispered, "Oh Roy........!" and then louder, "Oh Roy!" In the den, Johnny heard the noises coming from his partner's room, and put his pillow over his head to drown out the noise. It didn't work. Flopping back on his back, he pulled the waistband of his pajama bottoms up and glanced down at himself. "Well, buddy, it's gonna be another ten or twelve years before you see any action again," he thought sadly. "Man, how do I get into these things?" He finally drifted off to sleep. ~~~~~ Yawning, Joanne stretched her arms above her head. Looking over her shoulder, she grinned. Her stud muffin from the night before was snoring loudly. Looking at the clock on the night stand, she decided to let him sleep a little longer. Making her way out of the room and down the hall, she stopped at Chris's room. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she gently pushed him. "Time to get up Chris, rise and shine." Chris rolled over and ignored her. Grabbing the comforter, she yanked it off of him. "Chris, get up and get out of bed now, I don't have time for this." Chris sat up and gave her a grumpy look. "Okay, okay, I'm up." "If I have to come back up here and wake you again, you and your father will be having a little chat, do you understand me?" "Yes Mom." Leaving Chris's room, she headed to Jennifer's. Walking in, she pulled the curtain back. "Jen it's time to get up, rise and shine." Jennifer rolled over and yawned. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up. Her sleep filled face quickly changed to a bright smile and she bounced out of bed. "Uncle Johnny's going to school with me today!" Joanne opened her mouth to ask why she thought Johnny was going to school with her when it all came back in a rush. Placing a hand to her head, she sighed. Life was never boring in their house with two kids, but what was happening to them now was unbelievable. "Yes honey, he is, so why don't you get dressed and come down for breakfast so we can get you two off to school. You're clothes are there and..." Jennifer looked at the outfit laid out for her and frowned. "I don't want to wear that, I want to wear my pink dress! Uncle Johnny thinks I look pretty in it." "If you don't get dressed now, Johnny won't be going to school with you today." Jennifer's frowned turned into an expression of disbelief, then she hurriedly began changing. With a triumphant smirk, Joanne made her way down the stairs. As she stepped into the den, she couldn't help the smile that came to her face. She'd seen Johnny sleeping on numerous occasions as an adult and had never taken a second look at him, but as a child, he was totally angelic. Curled on his side, he had his thumb in his mouth. Long dark lashes rested on rosy cheeks, the tousled raven locks on his head gave him a cherub like air. Walking softly over to him, she brushed her hand over his forehead, then she pressed her palm to his skin. He was hot. At her touch, Johnny stirred and opened his eyes. Squinting at her, he pulled his thumb from his mouth and frowned, his voice pained. "I don' feel good." Tears welling in his eyes joined the frowned. He held his arms out to her and without even thinking, Joanne picked him up and cuddled him to her breast. Patting his back, she rocked him gently. "Sssssh. It's okay, it's okay." As she carried him out of the den and into the kitchen, she let out a slow breath. She couldn't believe what was happening. Yesterday he was John Gage, a six foot one man and today she was carrying him around like she would Jennifer. Unfortunately, just like his adult self was at times, he was sick. As she went to put him down in a chair at the kitchen table, he clutched tightly to her. His muffled voice against her shoulder whined. "My head hurtz. My throat feels funny. It feels thick." Running her fingers over his head, she hugged him a little tighter. "It's okay Johnny, mommy will make you feel better." She froze. Did she just call herself his mommy? Oh boy, things were getting too weird. She walked over to a cabinet and shifting the bundle in her arms, she picked out a bottle of baby aspirin. The same aspirins she gave to Jennifer whenever she was sick. Carrying him over to the sink, she tried to set him down, only to feel him tighten his hold on her again. "Johnny sweetie, I have to set you down to give you some medicine to make you feel better, okay?" The little voice that answered her seemed on the verge of tears. "Okay." Setting him on the counter, she gave him a small smile as she opened the bottle and shook out an aspirin. Filling a small cup, she didn't think twice as she put the aspirin in his mouth and held the cup up to his lips. As soon as he took the pill, she set the cup in the sink and picked him back up, surprised at how hot he felt against her skin. As she turned to go check on the progress of her 'other' two children, Roy walked into the kitchen. He gave her a curious look. "Jo, what's going on?" Just as she opened her mouth to tell him, she felt the telltale convulsions. Before she could react, Johnny vomited. "Roy, he's awful hot, can you get the thermometer?" Roy nodded and took the stairs two at a time, nearly colliding with Christopher who was on his way downstairs. Joanne looked down at the child nestled in her arms and smoothed his hair back. His eyes closed, Johnny shifted restlessly and his thumb made its way back into his mouth. She quickly grabbed a towel, dampened it, and did her best to clean up the mess soiling her and the miserable Johnny Gage. "Hey, Mom, what's wrong with Uncle Johnny?" Christopher eyed his older/younger uncle with curiosity. "He's sick, Chris," Jo replied in a hushed voice. Just then Roy returned with a thermometer, trailed by Jennifer, clad in her pink dress, despite Joanne's instructions. "Mommy, Uncle Johnny can't be sick. He's supposed to go to school with me today." Jennifer's rosebud lips took on a definite pout and her brow wrinkled in consternation. "Honey, it doesn't look like that's going to happen today. Uncle Johnny is a pretty sick little boy." Jo made her way into the living room and sat down in the rocker she had used since Chris was born. "Johnny, honey wake up. We need to take your temperature. Open your mouth." Gage squeezed his eyes and mouth tightly shut in stubborn defiance. He shook his head and buried his face back in Joanne's shoulder. "Johnny, stop being stubborn," Roy admonished. "We need to know how sick you are so we know what to do next. "Roy, he's burning up. Maybe we should just take him in to Rampart." Johnny's eyes popped open in panic. "No," he croaked, "no way! They'll poke me with needles!" Two tears escaped and began to trickle down his cheeks. "Johnny, listen to me, honey...you have to let us take care of you, okay? You wanna feel better don't you?" Joanne found herself trying to appeal to Johnny as if he really were a small child instead of an adult in a child's body. Sniffling, Johnny wiped the back of his hand across one cheek, pouting as he lay against Joanne's chest. The heat from his head was making her start to sweat now and it was making her nervous, wondering how high his fever had climbed in the few minutes they'd sat there. "I don't wanna go to the hospital, Joanne! Roy, I'll be okay, just lemme sleep awhile," the child whined, trying to curl up tighter. "I can't just let you sleep, Johnny, you're sick! At least let us take your temperature, okay? You're burning up, you know how dangerous that can be..." "Nooo, I don't wanna." He shook his head 'no' against her shirt. They both knew how difficult he could be when he tried, and he was definitely doing a good job now. "C'mon, it only takes a couple of minutes! Don't be stubborn, you can have it all done and over with in no time!" Joanne tried reasoning with Johnny. "M-MM!" Johnny's lips were set in defiance as he shook his head once again. "I dunno what to do, Roy...even Chris and Jenny were never THIS stubborn!" "They're no match for my partner, honey. He's about the most stubborn  ma...person...I know," Roy answered. The same thought occurred to both Roy and Joanne at the same time. Joanne bit her lip as she watched Roy's face flush pink, and the words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. Roy had his head down, rubbing his brow and leaving this one for his wife to explain. Joanne suddenly got an idea, and winked her eye in Roy's direction, an action that was not lost on her husband. "Well...I guess we could always resort to other measures if we have to.  Right, Honey?" "Oh.....right. I mean, that's what you do with little kids who don't wanna cooperate. I mean, even Johnny knows that, right Partner?" Roy answered his wife. Now Joanne addressed the pint-sized paramedic lying quietly in her arms. "Listen, honey...if you don't wanna hold this in your mouth, I'm gonna have to take it 'the other way'..." she left the sentence hanging in mid air for an instant. An instant was all it took for the realization to hit Johnny. His eyes and mouth both flew open incredulously as his body stiffened. "WHAT? You WOULDN'T...you...he...that's not...I can't....no WAY!!" he croaked hoarsely, his eyes bloodshot and heavy-lidded. His pale and sweaty skin made sharp contrast to his matted dark hair, and one could almost smell the fever coming off of him. An inkling of the 'grown-up' Johnny had emerged again, and Joanne felt herself smile a little - whether in response to her friend's horror at the possibilities at hand, or just her relief that he was still 'in there', she wasn't exactly sure. It was just good to see him again. Roy overrode any response Joanne could make by leaning down to Johnny's eye-level and clearing his throat. "Listen, Johnny, you're not giving us much choice here. Now we don't wanna embarrass you or anything, so you're gonna have to cooperate with us a little, okay? Just open your mouth and hold this under your tongue, alright?" Johnny once again squeezed his eyes shut and seemed to curl into himself. Roy ran a hand across his own face and took a deep breath. This was getting ridiculous. 'Who really was the adult here?', he wondered. "Okay...now Johnny you have two options here," Roy offered, putting on the no-nonsense voice he usually reserved for Chris and Jenny. "Either you let us take care of you here, or you're up for a trip to Rampart. Now I can tell you this much, Junior. You might be able to get away with some of the carrying on while you're here, but if we take you to Emergency at Rampart, I can tell you this much...Dixie's not gonna take any of it...understand?" Johnny's eyebrows furrowed in defeat. That was a scenario he did NOT want to envision, much less experience. With a great sigh, he opened his mouth to admit the offending glass rod, which Joanne placed gently. Grimacing, he did his best to hold it still between his lips whilst trying to pout at the same time. Joanne began to rock gently, smoothing his bangs back off his forehead gently while his temperature registered. "That's a good boy," Roy found himself saying. "Just try to relax, it won't take long." Johnny rolled his eyes, then closed them tight as a new wave of nausea rumbled his stomach. The rocking motion of the chair carried it further, and he groaned under his breath. Watching Johnny's face pale over again, Roy knew and without hesitation shot to his feet, which warned Joanne. "Honey, I think he's gonna..." Roy started, as Joanne nodded. Her eyes met his, and Roy gave a nod, heading for the kitchen in search of the biggest Tupperware bowl they had. "ROY! Hurry....he's...." Joanne's urgent cry came almost too late as she plucked the thermometer from Johnny's lips and cupped her hand beneath his mouth. Roy heeled it back to the chair again and in one scooping motion, he shoved the bowl beneath Johnny's chin just as the little boy let go again. This episode yielded a lot more than before, and it left a limp, sweating Johnny lying in Joanne's arms. Lowering his head, Johnny moaned, his arms wrapping around his middle and the two adults feared he may soon dehydrate himself. "My tummy...I don' feel good," Johnny began a long mournful wail and Joanne hugged him tighter,  sitting him up carefully. "Johnny, we gotta take you to the doctor, okay? We gotta get you some medicine to make you feel better," Joanne explained. The dull dark eyes stared back at him, seeming to have lost any spark of the previous debate and that worried Roy. Johnny could only nod weakly, and that wasn't like him at all. Experience had taught the two parents well, and they knew what their next step was to be. Somehow they knew this time they wouldn't have a fight on their hands either. "O..okayy..." he whined, his little face screwing up as another round of  tears began. The last thing Johnny Gage wanted was to end up as a patient at Rampart. And being in the Pediatric Wing was far beyond his wildest imagination at this stage of the game. "Awwww...shhhh, we're gonna take good care of you, sweetheart. We'll get you well, don't worry." Joanne gathered Johnny up in her arms while Roy took the bowl to the bathroom to empty its contents and wash it out. He picked up a blanket from the linen closet, which Joanne proceeded to wrap Johnny up in. Remembering their other two children... "Kids, let's go, NOW..." Roy called to Chris and Jenny. "What's goin' on, Dad?" Chris asked, Jenny peeking out of her room. "Get your school stuff together, okay? We're gonna take Uncle Johnny to the doctor on the way to school." "Did Uncle Johnny throw up again, Mommy?" "Yes he did, sweetie, he's very sick and we have to get him some medicine to make him all better." "Is he gonna get a shot?" the little girl asked, her eyes widening. "I don't know, Jenny...are your teeth all brushed? Do you have your homework together Chris?" Joanne asked, her own stomach flipping nervously now. "All done, Mommy." "We're ready, Mom." Roy glanced at his watch as the family piled into the station wagon. Dixie was definitely already on duty. How on earth would they explain this to her? Neither Roy nor Joanne had thought to check the thermometer before they'd  left. It lay on the coffee table on a tissue...the number on the scale registering at 104.2. ~~~~~ In her lamp on the coffee table across the room, the genie was in a quandary. Things weren't going at all like she hoped. Johnny would "grow up" again long before she could have any more fun with this situation, and he would be only be a child--a sick child--until this afternoon. She stood up and began to pace. There must be a way around this. What was the exact wish? She snapped her fingers and Jennifer's voice echoed in the small lamp chamber as her wish was replayed. "I wish you were my age for a day, Uncle Johnny! Then you could beat up Richie for me." The genie replayed and replayed the wish looking for a loophole. "Aha! It seems to be a two-parter or perhaps a conditional wish." She reached into a small gilded chest and withdrew a scroll. Reading rapidly, she unrolled it until she was halfway through. "Yes! There it is. 'A wish containing many parts, or one with a condition attached, is not fulfilled until all of its parts are complete or its conditions satisfied. Article 4293995 Paragraph 4663' He can't grow up again until he has had the opportunity to beat up Richie. Oh, but did that happen yesterday when Richie was here? Hmm that is a possibility. No, wait she said, '...you COULD beat up Richie for ME!' She opened the scroll again and scanned the contents. "Okay! Article 4294007 Paragraph 32882 clearly states that in any wish the INTENT must be fulfilled. Clearly it was Jennifer's intent for Johnny to beat up Richie. So...unless he guesses the magic word, I can keep John Gage a small boy until he beats up Richie...and it has to be FOR Jennifer." She hugged herself in triumph. Since Johnny didn't appear to want to fight, and he didn't know about magic words, she had all the time in the world to have fun with Johnny Gage. Now what could she do about that pesky Land Rover he asked for? Well, he didn't specify that it had to be a REAL one, did he? She giggled. No, he never wished for a REAL Land Rover that he could drive. ~~~~~ After the DeSoto children were safely dropped off at school, the elder DeSotos made the familiar drive to Rampart Hospital. Roy was in his paramedic mode and drove the family station wagon with the authority he uses driving the squad. JoAnne sat in the back seat holding her sick patient. She could feel the heat emanating from his body. The thought struck her that she neglected to look at the thermometer in their haste to leave. Leaving the parked car in the emergency lot, JoAnne and Roy rushed into the emergency wing. JoAnne held Johnny in her arms. She realized he was small for his age and that didn't surprise her. He was lanky as an adult and little for his age. His age! JoAnne chuckled thinking he was little for his age. She came out of her daydream as the seriousness of their situation became clear. They were walking into Rampart's emergency room with a very sick person. Roy held the door open as JoAnne walked in. Roy was relieved to immediately see Dixie. The little boy, in his make shift pajamas, was softly moaning as they greeted the head nurse. Dixie saw their solemn expressions as they approached. "Dix, we need to see one of the doctors." Roy said. Looking at the charge in JoAnne's arms Dixie responded. "Should you see someone in Pediatrics, Roy?" Roy and JoAnne exchanged glances. This situation would be harder to explain to strangers than the doctors they all know. Roy shook his head no. "Dix, if you have a room open, we can explain this too you." Knowing Roy was not a kidder, Dixie took his statement at face value and motioned for them to follow her into treatment room four. JoAnne gently placed Johnny on the gurney. Noticing the child's flushness, Dixie put her hand on his head. "He's burning up." She went over to the supplies and took out an oral thermometer. "Will he take a thermometer this way?" Dixie asked. Once again JoAnne and Roy exchanged glances. JoAnne nodded yes, hoping the tirade they witnessed earlier in the day would not be repeated. JoAnne leaned over Johnny and asked him to open his mouth for Nurse Dixie. Much to her relief, Johnny complied. Dixie took the man/child's pulse. "Tell me what happened. Who is he? A relative you're watching?" Roy took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "It's Johnny." Dixie looked at Roy and smiled. "Yes and then I'm Florence Nightingale." "Dixie, it is Johnny. Look at him. Take a close look." JoAnne advised. Turning her glance from JoAnne to the boy, Dixie really took a look at him. Brushing the stray hairs that were blocking his forehead, Dixie noticed the resemblance to Johnny. If she didn't know better, she thought this boy could be his son, but she knew Johnny was no child's father. Roy spoke. "Look at his leg. You'll see the puncture marks from the snake bite." Dixie rolled up the oversized pajamas and gasp. On his right leg there was a faint scar resembling a snakebite. "How? When? Why?" Dixie uttered. "It's a long story, Dixie and I'm not sure I know for sure." Roy said. "All I know is it happened yesterday and he got sick this morning." After staring at the boy she knows to be Johnny, she snapped out of it and her professionalism returned. She removed the thermometer. Much to her dismay his temperature was 104.7. "I better get Joe. I think we're going to need a level head to figure this out." Dixie wrote the temperature and the pulse in a chart. She asked Roy to get the B/P. Then she left the room to find Joe Early. Roy wrapped the juvenile B/P. cuff around Johnny's arm. The constriction brought Johnny out from his stupor. "Roy?" He asked weakly. Roy didn't hear the little boy's utterance. JoAnne did and motion for Roy to listen. "Yes Johnny?" "No shots. I don't want no shots!" "Partner, you know I can't promise that, but let's find out what's wrong with you before you have to worry about shots." "No shots." Johnny muttered and then closed his eyes just as Doctor Early walked in. He looked at the boy on the table and saw what Dixie told him. Medically, he knew of no way a person could reverse his age. As curious as he was, that would have to wait. Right now a sick boy, a sick man, a sick friend was on the gurney. "Temperature is 104.7, BP is &&& and pulse is weak and thready." Dixie recited. "This could be anything. Did he complain of anything?" "He threw up but before he complain his head hurt and his throat felt thick." JoAnne repeated just what Johnny told her several hours ago. Doctor Early looked at the boy on the bed. He palpated his abdomen. He saw the small scar from when he removed Johnny's spleen. He looked at Johnny's throat. "Give me a throat swab, Dix." With the swab, a specimen was taken. I also want to run a CBC, etc…… "No needles." "What's that Johnny?" Doctor Early lowered himself to hear his patient's request. "No needles Doc. I don't like needles. They ouch." Joe looked up at Roy who was close to the table. "They ouch?" Roy shook his head. "He's been speaking mixed up between an adult and a six year old. I think because of his fever he's even more confused." "Did you give him anything before you brought him here?" Joe asked. "We gave him aspirin, but he threw that up." "Until I know what he has, I don't want to give him anything. But I think I know what he has." "What?" JoAnne asked. "I think he has the mumps." "The mumps?" JoAnne and Roy said in unison. "It's going around the schools. It's possible exposure to one of your children may have given it to him. And without his spleen, he's more apt to come down with infections. The good news, if it's mumps, you can treat it at home with pain relievers and fluids." "No shots?" Johnny asked. "No shots, Johnny, provided it's mumps. Did you ever have mumps?" "No Doc, never had it." "Well I think you'll have it now. We'll know after I get the throat culture back. Meanwhile, we'll give you something to lower your fever. Is your stomach feeling better?" Johnny didn't answer immediately as he didn't remember not feeling any different than he felt now. "My throat feels weird." "Okay, we'll give you some liquid Tylenol and water. That should make you feel better as we await your results." Dix came over with the small cup. She helped Johnny sit up. He made a face as he held the liquid in his hand. He swallowed it in one gulp and burped. "Scuse me." A small smile appeared on his face. "Dix, why don't you stay with him while I talk with JoAnne and Roy." She nodded her head. She knew Joe wanted, no needed to know what happened to cause Johnny to get younger. In time, Joe would tell her, but right now, one of her favorite paramedics was a sick little boy who needed some tender loving care. Dixie walked over to the sink, what a cloth, dried it out and returned to Johnny, placing it on his head. "Thanks Nurse Dixie, that feels good." 'Nurse Dixie?' Her eyebrow raised up. She knew Johnny must be really sick to call her that. But considering how he voiced his objection of shots, she theorized Johnny was living in two worlds, the one he knows as the 28 year old adult he was and the 6 year old world he's living in now. The fever also muddled his brain further. "Nurse Dixie?" Johnny called out. "Yes Johnny?" She moved closer to her charge. "Can you hold my hand? I don't feel good. I'm scared." His brown eyes, grayed with fever, looked at her for an answer and for security. She pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down. She took his right hand and held it. "I'll stay here with you until Roy and JoAnne come back. Don't you worry. "Thanks Nurse Dixie." Johnny croaked out. He closed his eyes and fell asleep. The Tylenol was having an effect. One solitary tear fell down his cheek. Dixie marveled at this situation. Never had she seen John Gage this vulnerable and if she ever thought she would, this was not how she envisioned it. Two hours later the throat culture came back and confirmed John Gage had a case of the mumps. As childhood diseases go, this one wasn't a bad one to get. As Joe Early said early, rest, hydration and pain relievers were the road to recovery. Johnny didn't need to be admitted for that, so Joe gave Roy and JoAnne instructions for Johnny's care. The bigger question was how to get Johnny back to being an adult. But first things were first and they were to get Johnny well. ~~~~~ With Johnny safely back in the den resting, JoAnne and Roy had a little bit of time to themselves before their two other children came home from school. Settled into their couch the couple started talking, rehashing the last 18 hours. Roy stared at the lantern that he put on top of his bookcase. JoAnne caught his glance and stared too. "Do you really think there's a Jeannie in there?" JoAnne asked. "I used to think myself a rational man who only believed in facts. But after this last day, I would believe in Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, gremlins, ghosts, vampires." Roy threw his hands up in the air. "Yeah, I guess I believe." He got up and took the lamp down from its perch. He look around it to see if there was a way to open it, but there wasn't. He shook it a couple of times, but didn't hear a thing. Satisfied he couldn't open it, he placed it back. "You know Roy, you didn't tell me what you both wished for." "Well Johnny wished for a new car. Ten minutes later he got a call telling him he won a car in a nationwide contest." Roy let his sentence hang in the air as he really didn't want to admit to what he asked for. "And you? What did you wish for?" Roy turned beet red. On the one hand, the only person who could appreciate what he wished for was the woman he deeply loved. On the other hand would she believe him. "Um, I wished for something we would both enjoy." JoAnne was now confused. "And that was…" she rolled her arm begging Roy to continue. He looked over his shoulder to make sure no one was around. He leaned into his wife and whispered into her ear. JoAnne's eyes widened. "You did?" She thought for a couple of moments, recalling their passion the previous night. "You did! Oh Roy, thank you. Thank you!" She hugged her husband and he wrapped his arms around her. Her 'thanks' was getting more fervent and Roy was responding to it. The young couple was getting lost in their moment and didn't notice they were being watched. "Do you have to remind me of what I'm missing?" Johnny asked as he stomped into the living room." The flustered couple ceased all of their activity, tucked their clothing back into place and blushed accordingly. "Sorry, Johnny. I guess we forgot. Weren't you sleeping?" Roy asked. "I tried to sleep by my throat hurts." Johnny moved his right hand across his throat. He walked over to an arm chair and tossed himself into it. He folded his socked feet under his knees, getting comfortable cross-legged. He leaned his head onto his hands that were propped up on his thighs. He sulked. "Can I get you anything Johnny?" JoAnne asked sympathetically? "How about 22 years and the size that goes with it?" He woefully stated. "But you're 28. What about those 2 missing years?" JoAnne asked. Johnny lifted his head off his hands and waved off JoAnne's question. "I figure with all the bad luck I've had I've lost about 2 years. I'm willin' to do them over." JoAnne got up, walked over to him and mussed his hair. "Poor kid," she said out of habit. Johnny looked up at her with daggers in his eyes. "I'm not a kid!" He punched the chair's armrest. "Why won't everyone treat me like an adult!" "Cause even as an adult, you acted more like a kid, Johnny." Roy answered. "I want my mommy!" Johnny said under his breath, hoping no one heard him. Unfortunately, JoAnne did. She wanted to gather him in her arms to comfort him but knew not to. She decided to go into the kitchen to start on dinner. Roy walked over to Johnny and felt his head. "At least you aren't as warm as you were this morning." When Johnny didn't bat Roy's arm away, Roy knew something was wrong. He looked at this man/child sitting, lost in the arm chair and thought he saw a tear running down Johnny's face. Johnny must have noticed Roy's gaze and wiped his eyes using the heels of his hands. Roy didn't want to embarrass his friend any further so he changed the subject. "Do you want something?" Johnny thought for a moment. "butter pecan ice cream would be great!" His mood lifted. "We don't have any butter pecan." Johnny's face contorted as if he was going to have a fit and Roy saw it. "Okay, I'll go get you some." Roy walked into the kitchen and spoke with JoAnne. She told him additional things to buy, seeing he was going to the store. "I'll be back in an hour." It really wasn't going to be an hour, but two children were enough during normal occasions, but his 'third' child was wearing him down. He could never tell how Johnny was going to act. He grabbed his keys from the table and headed out the door. Johnny stayed seated. Several minutes later JoAnne came out from the kitchen with a cup of broth. "Have some of this Johnny. It should make your throat feel better and I don't think it will hurt your tummy." After hearing the word tummy, Johnny looked up at her. "Stomach. I meant to say stomach." She sighed as she handed the warm mug to him. Johnny took a tentative sip and then another and another. JoAnne smiled seeing she was finally able to please him. "Is there anything else I can get you? Do you want something to read?" Johnny took another sip then answered. "Do you have a Playboy I can read?" Not expecting that kind of answer JoAnne was shocked. "Johnny, we don't allow that kind of material in this house." Her answer was firm. "Yes you do." Johnny took another sip. "We do not." "Do to." JoAnne saw where this was going and was not going to play that game. "John Gage, there are no Playboys in this house." "Roy hides 'em under the mattress, in the middle." Johnny took another sip. JoAnne look at Johnny, looked upstairs, looked back at him sipping his broth. She decided to check. Content with his broth, he didn't think about what he just voluntarily said. Within a minute or two he heard swearing coming from the master bedroom. "Oh oh." Johnny said. "Roy's in trouble now." JoAnne stormed down the stairs with three Playboys in her hand. Johnny saw them and his face lit up. "Oh great, you have April. I haven't seen that one yet." He reached out to grab it. "Oh no young man. You are NOT going to see this. In fact, no one in this house is going to read this ever again." She flung the revolting magazines on the counter where Roy keeps his car keys. "Roy and I are going to have a little talk when he gets home," she said to no one. "Ooops." Johnny said. He got up and brought the mug into the kitchen. He would rinse it out if only he could reach. He walked back to the living room and swore he saw steam coming out from JoAnne's ears. "I'm goin' back down to rest. Thanks for the broth JoAnne. It was good." He gave her a tiny crooked grin and ran to the den to hide. The ringing of the doorbell distracted JoAnne from the three magazines that seemed to scream at her from the countertop. How dare he bring those things into this house where there are two small children...three, she mentally amended. With a snort of disgust she made her way to the front door and found Madge, an old friend, juggling cases of make-up and perfumes as she patted her untidy hair back into a makeshift bun. "Madge, I don't think this is a good..." JoAnne managed to get out only a few words before the determined woman took advantage of the open door and her past friendship to push her way into the house. In the den, Johnny watched from behind the door as the determined saleslady easily outmaneuvered JoAnne. He chuckled behind his hand. The Tylenol having done its work, the miniature paramedic was feeling better, and just the slightest bit ready to get back at Roy and JoAnne for treating him like a child. Two could play at that game. As the woman prepared to open her sample cases onto the coffee table already crowded with crayons and Matchbox fire engines, Johnny sauntered into the living room and piped up, "There's lots more room on the kitchen table, and more light too." "What a delightful child!" the woman declared, "and smart too. JoAnne I thought you only had two children." "I thought so too," JoAnne mumbled, glaring at the pint-sized charmer. "Actually, Madge, I'm just watching Johnny for...a friend. And he shouldn't be in here, he has the mumps." She looked pointedly at Johnny Gage who managed to appear heartbroken at being banished from the room. "Oh, please let him stay," Madge implored, "I've had the mumps and he's such a cutie." Johnny's dimples made a stellar appearance as he grinned at JoAnne in triumph and led the way into the kitchen. Too late JoAnne remembered the magazines now reposing on the countertop. She suspected Johnny had not forgotten them at all. As she set up her cases and opened the largest to reveal a make-up table complete with mirror and samples attractively arranged, Madge's eyes fell to the countertop and then fixed JoAnne with a shrewd glance. Johnny grinned wider. "Miss March was a real knockout but bleached blondes shouldn't pose nude. It gives away their secrets."  As Madge's mouth fell open, Johnny continued, "Jo won't let me look at April. I'll have to ask Roy." Her face aflame, JoAnne DeSoto grabbed Johnny by his thin shoulders and hustled him to the den. With a look of outrage that promised retribution, she shoved the pint-sized miscreant with the adult opinions into the room and shut the door firmly. She returned to the kitchen to find Madge gazing curiously at the March centerfold. At Jo's reappearance, she shut the magazine with a guilty blush and turned back to her samples. Both women, flustered, decided to refrain from mentioning the last few moments. "I'm back," Roy called out as he opened the back door and entered, his arms full of grocery bags. He was met with an amused smile from Madge and a fierce glare from JoAnne. "I'll just put these away..."  Roy turned to find an open segment of countertop on which to place the bags and met with the sight of his secret stash laying on the counter accusingly. "I'm gonna kill him," Roy muttered, rightly assuming his partner to blame for their discovery. "Get in line!" JoAnne whispered from behind his left ear. Madge gathered up her samples and packed them carefully in their cases. She knew there would be no sale today. Something had upset the DeSoto paradise and there were other customers to visit. They would be eager to see her merchandise...and sample the gossip. ~~~~~ Both JoAnne and Roy went to the den to confront Johnny but found him curled up in the bed sleeping.  His thumb was serenely near his mouth.  The couple looked at each other and decided to leave him to rest.  He was recovering from a bad morning. Going back to the kitchen, JoAnne shoved the magazines into Roy's face. "I was only holding them for Chet."  He had to think fast.  In a flat voice JoAnne's comeback was, "you have a locker." Realizing he wasn't going to win this one, he thought of a new tactic.  "Jo, honey, I do you think I'm gonna learn things now that I additional resources."  JoAnne was still angry but saw Roy's point.  "We've got to get that hellion out of our house and back to his 28 year old size!"  She stormed out of the room, leaving the magazines on the counter.  Roy meekly picked them up and put them in his workbag.  This was a battle he couldn't win on either end.  He went back to the kitchen and put away the food he bought.  He doubted Johnny would get an butter pecan ice cream tonight. The evening turned out to be a quiet one.  As long as Johnny was on the juvenile Tylenol he was pretty quiet.  He'd have a burst for about 15 minutes and then would tire.  Chris and Jenny knew better than to make fun of Johnny's thick neck.  Of course, being warned by their parents added to their reluctance to bother their uncle. Roy had to work the next day so it was just going to be JoAnne and Johnny at home.  Thankfully, Johnny slept late and only got up to eat a little bit of eggs.  JoAnne felt his head, but was relieved not to find the heat she felt the previous day.  She decided to allow Johnny to rest.  This whole situation must be so stressful for a 6 year old's body along with the mumps. If he wanted to sleep in that would be okay with her. The smell of cookies woke Johnny up.  His stomach grumbled.  He got out of bed and found freshly laundered clothing on the desk.  Although the clothing was big for him, it was the only thing that fit and there was no way he'd authorize the DeSotos to buy anything for him.  He could only imagine the cutesy clothing JoAnne would buy for him.  Jeans and a t-shirt would be fine.  Johnny got out from the bed to investigate the smell. He paddled into the kitchen and found warm cookies cooling on the cooking rack.  If he was a little taller he'd grab for one or two.  JoAnne, who was downstairs (to California homes have basements?) came upstairs.  She spied him spying the cookies.  A smile went across her face.  She walked over to the warm cookies and gave him one. "Fwank ywoo," Johnny said as the whole cookie was wedged in his mouth.  JoAnne handed him a glass of water to wash it done.  It was too soon to give him milk, his favorite drink. "Who are you making these cookies for?" "I'm baking them for Chris' scout meeting tomorrow." "Can we bake some more for the guys?" It took JoAnne a moment to think who the guys were.  "The guys….the guys…oh, the guys.  You mean your friends at the station?" "Yeah, we love it when someone brings in cookies.  We can drop it by this afternoon." "We?  How do I explain you, Johnny?" With an impish smile on his face Johnny replied, "I'm Johnny's little cousin and since Johnny is sick, you and Roy volunteered to baby…watch me." It was plausible.  And JoAnne didn't mind making cookies for the guys.  She wouldn't mind seeing her stud muffin even if he still was in the doghouse for those Playboy magazines.  "Sure Johnny.  Wanna help?" Johnny smiled.  "Sure, I'll lick the bowl." JoAnne's eyes narrowed as she took in the angelic look on the little boy's face. "When John Gage looks innocent, hide the silver!" she muttered to herself. Still, the Tylenol seems to be keeping his temp down and his pain level to a minimum. That at least is a blessing. "Johnny, save some for the other guys!" Johnny stopped in mid-chomp to give JoAnne pathetic wide-eyed look. "Buff theyrf goodff," he said in protest, as cookie crumbs dropped from the sides of his mouth. "Don't talk with your mouth full, young man," JoAnne retorted. Just for a moment his eyes narrowed to mere slits and then took on an expression that rivaled Henry at his saddest.  She shivered in apprehension. Something tells me I shouldn't have said that. Almost too cheerfully, John Gage raced ahead of his friend's wife to the DeSoto family station wagon. It took all of his strength to pull open the heavy car door. "Needs some WD-40," he muttered, as the door groaned and squeaked in protest, finally swinging wide. JoAnne smiled at the typical John Gage statement. He's always wanting to fix our car, and Roy never lets him. "Hop in, Johnny." She watched him climb into the car that he usually had to stoop to enter. When he was situated, she closed the door and hurried around to the driver's side. The cookies safely on the seat between them, she backed the car into the street and headed on the familiar route to Station 51. Johnny craned his neck to see over the dashboard. He started to rise on one knee, but at a look from JoAnne sank back into the seat and contented himself with looking out the side window. At Station 51, Mike Stoker felt a tug on his shirt and looked down to see a wide-eyed urchin that reminded him a lot of John Gage. "Hey, mister?" the boy addressed the engineer, "can I sit in the driver's seat?" Mike glanced around the station, wondering where this kid came from. He didn't recall Cap saying anything about a tour. With a shrug, he opened the cab and watched as the youngster struggled to climb in. His attempt to assist was rewarded with a very petulant, "I can do it!" "Is this where you sit?" the child asked. "Uh huh," Mike replied, nodding in the affirmative. "Who sits here?" The boy pointed to the seat next to him. "Cap sits there," Mike replied. He hoped this kid didn't plan to play Twenty Questions. "Oh." The child looked thoughtful, and a little bit devious. He pointed to the seat behind Mike's. "Who sits there?" "That's where Chet Kelly sits," Mike answered, wishing this disturbingly Gage-like little boy would find somebody else to pester. There was just something 'not right' about the kid. He was doubly sure when the small face lit up with a wide crooked grin. "Can I try it on?" he asked, pointing to Chet's helmet that sat ready on his seat. Mike nodded. "I guess so." He had to smile when the huge helmet swallowed up the diminutive head, covering all but the little boy's chin. He sure was cute. "Hey, Mike?" Cap's voice echoed through the apparatus bay. "I'll be right back," Mike told the helmet covered head. He received a nod of acknowledgement and left to find out what Cap wanted. Johnny's grin widened. He removed the helmet and reached into his pocket, withdrawing a small bundle. "It's not a cupcake, Kelly," he whispered, "but it'll do." Carefully placing the helmet back in the same position he found it, Johnny climbed back into the driver's seat and waited. Chet Kelly came out of the latrine carrying a mop and bucket. "It's just like Gage to get sick when it's his turn to do this job," he complained. As he crossed in front of Big Red, a long loud blast from the air horn made him drop the bucket and cover his ears. He checked his heart to make sure it was still beating then ran to turn off the racket. With a swift movement, Chet reached up and dragged the small boy from the driver's seat. The horn stopped. "What are you doin'?" he asked gruffly. The eyes of the small boy that looked up at him held a devilish look that rivaled The Phantom's own. Marco, Cap, Mike and JoAnne came running into the bay, stopping short at the sight of Chet Kelly firmly grasping the upper arm of the small dark-haired boy. "What's going on here?" Cap asked, knowing full well what must have happened. "Cap, this kid was in the engine all by himself. Who is he anyway?" "Uh, sorry, Chet," JoAnne spoke up looking daggers at Johnny. "I'm babysitting for Johnny's nephew. He must have sneaked away. LittleJohnny, tell Uncle Chet you're sorry." Johnny stubbornly crossed his arms and gave JoAnne a mutinous glance. Cap turned his head to hide a grin. "Man!" Marco Lopez exclaimed, "he's the spittin' image of John Gage." "Yes," JoAnne said sweetly. "Isn't the resemblance amazing?" Johnny's face took on a pout, then cleared and reassumed a smiling demeanor. "Hey, Uncle Chet," he practically sang, "have you tried the cookies yet?" Kelly's love of sweets overcame his momentary anger at the small urchin. "Cookies?" With a secretive smile, Johnny replied, "Sure, in the kitchen. Race ya!" He took off, knowing he had but a moment before the other fireman caught up. He reached into his pocket again and removed another bundle, quickly setting the contents on the cookie plate before Chet arrived. "Here, Uncle Chet, try one." Johnny held out the plate of cookies. Without hesitation, Chet reached for the largest cookie and took a big bite. His eyes grew large in surprise and he spit the offending morsel into his hand then ran for a drink. Not even waiting for a glass, Kelly stuck his entire face in the sink and drank directly from the faucet. Johnny doubled over in laughter. He knew Chet would reach for the biggest cookie. "Johnny, what did you put in that cookie, and when?" JoAnne moved between Johnny and Chet and placed her hands on her hips as she awaited the explanation. "Jalapenos," Johnny replied sweetly.  "You let me make that one out of the last bit of dough." Chet had recovered enough to hear the exchange. "Why you little bum! I oughtta..." Kelly doubled his fist and raised it threateningly. "Chet, he's only a child," JoAnne said quickly, pushing Johnny behind her out of harm's way. "Yeah, Uncle Chet, I'm only a child," Johnny repeated happily before sticking out his tongue at the irate fireman. Still grinning, he turned and raced from the kitchen just as the squad backed into the bay. Chet took off in pursuit, following the boy to the dorm as Roy anxiously entered the kitchen, nearly bowled over by the angry Irishman at the doorway. With a gesture in the direction of the two old antagonists, Roy asked uneasily, "What's he doing here?" "He works here," Marco replied. Rolling his eyes, Roy qualified, "Not Chet, Johnny!" His wife hurried to explain. "Little Johnny helped me bake cookies. We brought some to the station to share. Unfortunately he slipped Jalapenos into the one Chet ate and..." Roy snickered, then sobered. "He did only put them in that one, right?" As JoAnne nodded, the paramedic reached for the cookie plate. "Arrrgh!" A loud cry came from the other side of the station. It was recognizably Chet's voice. "Roy, aren't you going to do something?" his wife asked. "No." Roy smiled in pleasure as the cookie met his wife's usual standards. He stopped chewing long enough to add, "Chet's a big boy. He can take care of himself." Chet strode angrily back into the kitchen to confront Roy and JoAnne. "He kicked me! That little brat kicked me in the shins!" He would have added more, but the tones went off summoning the station to duty. JoAnne moved to retrieve Johnny and hustle him out of the station but he resisted. "WAIT!" He pulled back and nodded toward the engine. "Wait a minute." "AAAAAAAAAHHH! I'm gonna kill that kid!" Chet's voice roared above the sound of Big Red as the engine pulled out of the station. Mercifully the siren drowned out the remainder of his threats. "Now we can go," Johnny informed JoAnne. He did pause a moment more to watch the engine and squad disappear from view, wondering if he would ever ride with them again. "Johnny, what did you put in Chet's helmet?" JoAnne noticed Chet removing his helmet and looking at the interior as he bellowed. "Oh, nothing," the boy-man replied. "Just an egg." TO BE CONTINUED feedback for the JG Pen Guins return to main menu