Too Much of a Good Thing continued Chris and Jeff pulled up to the curb at the DeSoto house by the time Roy arrived. With their help, they aided Johnny into the house and helped him get settled on the couch. Roy wanted him to go to bed, but Johnny said he had a few phone calls he had to make. Roy, Chris, and Jeff quickly departed the living room to give Johnny privacy while he made his phone calls. JoAnne was in the kitchen preparing a late lunch when the three men converged on the kitchen. JoAnne smiled when she saw her husband. She urged him to sit. She then looked at Chris and Jeff. One sniff and she curled up her nose. "I do think you both need a shower," she said. "When you're finished, lunch will be ready." Jeff inhaled deeply. "Something sure smells good," he said. "Chicken Pot Pie," JoAnne replied. "Yummy," Jeff answered. "I do love coming over here. Can you adopt me? Mrs. DeSoto you have to be the best cook in LA." JoAnne laughed. She loved Jeff like he was her own son. He was kind hearted, pleasant, and hard working. Like Chris, Jeff loved being a paramedic. "Well, Jeff, if you don't go get some of that grime off yourself, you won't be enjoying any lunch at my table," she stated in a teasing way. "I'm going. I'm going," he said laughing. "I'm sure you remember where everything is and you have a change of clothes in the small dresser in the linen closet," JoAnne said as Jeff walked out of the kitchen. JoAnne then turned to her son. "Once Jeff is finished, it's your turn, young man." "Yes Mom," Chris replied with a salute. "How did everything go," JoAnne asked looking at Roy. "With the ranch or the hospital?" "Both." "The ranch is totaled. Not much left. Hank was gonna take anything they salvaged over to his house to put in his garage," Roy sighed. He shook his head. "It was awful, Jo. I'm not surprised that Jen is upset or Johnny for that matter." "I know it might not be much consolation, but at least no one got hurt. We still have our family." "Your right. I don't know what I would have done, if…" "Roy? Don't. Lets just concentrate on helping Johnny, Jenny, and Kaitlin salvage their lives." "You're right. Not much since in dwelling on things that never happened," Roy answered. "What about the hospital, Roy?" JoAnne asked. "Morton and Carlson want Johnny to rest and stay off his feet as much as possible. They want him to be aided when he does anything, including getting in and out of the tub," Roy said. He then reached into his shirt pocket, "Here. This is a prescription, they want Johnny to take for a few days and Carlson wants to see him again." JoAnne took the bottle of pills. "I'll give these to Jen. She'll make him take them." Everyone smiled. Each of them knew the kind of power Jenny had over Johnny. A power she possessed since the first day she first met him, when she was three years old. If there was anyone that could make Johnny follow a doctor's orders, it was Jenny. JoAnne was taking the potpie out of the oven when Johnny hobbled into the room. Chris jumped to his feet and immediately walked over to his brother in law. Johnny tried to brush him off, but with the stares he received from everyone in the room, he changed his mind. He let Chris help him to the table and to sit down. "Did you get a hold of your insurance agent," Roy asked. Johnny nodded and sighed. "Yeah. They're gonna send an insurance adjuster out to the ranch to have a look around. They also want a report from the fire department. When I asked how long everything would take, he told me it could take weeks to settle the entire claim. Weeks. What are we gonna do? We can't stay here more than a couple day." He put his head in his hand. "John Gage. Don't you start? You, Jenny, and Kaitlin are staying here with us and if it takes weeks then it takes weeks." "But JoAnne…" "No buts. Besides, you still need a lot of help. You're still recovering from your surgery." "JoAnne…" JoAnne shook her head. "Don't. I've already settled this with Jenny and you're gonna have to stop being so stubborn. Understand." Her hands were placed on her hip. He shook his head understanding where Jenny got that gesture from. "Yes Ma'am," Johnny said sheepishly. **** "Jenny and I are going to go to the mall and pick up some stuff for you three. Then, we'll get you all settled in." JoAnne said directing her attention to Johnny. "It's been a long time since we've had so many people in this house." Roy said. "It will be like old times." Roy announced with a laugh. Johnny just looked at him, but didn't say anything. He heard the sound of his daughter crying. He started to get up when Roy, put his arm on his shoulder. "Let me take care of her." Roy got up, walked into the living room to grab something and went upstairs to find Kaitlin in her bed sobbing. "Hello Katie Roo. Why are you crying?" "Poppie? Poppie, where's Pooh?" "Well, I'm not sure which Pooh you mean, but will this do?" He took the stuffed toy that he hid behind his back and gave it to his Katie Roo. "POOH!" Kaitlin snatched the toy from her Poppie's hands and hugged it. She started to talk to it, but Roy didn't mind. At least the tears stopped, as he knew it would. Roy chuckled when he realized how Johnny must have felt dealing with a three year old Jennifer. Being so close to the situation, Roy didn't understand it back then. But now, with Kaitlin, he could see how a little girl could charm her way into a man's soul, just like Jenny did to Johnny so many years ago "Do you need to use the potty?" "Yes, Poppie." "Let me help you up." Roy lowered the bed railings and helped Kaitlin get up. When he turned around, he saw Jennifer standing at the doorway. She looked disheveled. Her hair was mussed up and the circles under her eyes were dark. "I'll take her Daddy." Jenny walked over and picked Kaitlin up. "Kaitlin, after we finish in the potty, I'm going to fix you some lunch." "Momma?" "Yes, Kaitlin?" "You look sad. Why are you sad?" Jenny looked at her father with a worried expression. She felt if she were to answer her daughter, she would start crying again and that was something she didn't want to do. Roy, seeing her daughter's trepidation responded to Kaitlin. "Katie Roo?" "Yes Poppie?" Kaitlin looked toward her Poppie. Her blue eyes searching for an answer. "You, your Momma and your Daddy are going to be living with me and Gramma for awhile." "Why Poppie?" "Well," Roy sat down. He lifted Kaitlin and sat her on his lap. He knew it would be difficult to explain a fire to a two-year-old. However, he watched how Johnny and Jenny dealt with their daughter, so he knew to be honest with her. "You know how your Uncle Chris fights fires. Right?" "Right!?" "And you know what a fire is?" "Yup. Fire is hot. Fire is no touch." "Well, there was a bad fire at your house and you, your Momma and your Daddy will stay here until it's okay to go home. Do you understand Katie Roo?" Kaitlin looked at her Poppie and shook her head up and down. She took the Pooh and hugged it. Roy doubted she understood, but at least she seemed to be content with his explanation. "Okay, Kaitlin, let's get you to the potty." Jenny took her daughter off her father's lap and walked to the bathroom. Roy put his hands on his thighs and shook his head. He didn't know how they were all going to cope with this misfortune, but he knew, they all would survive, somehow. *** The DeSotos and Gages settled into a routine. Roy only worked 2 ½ days teaching at Rampart. JoAnne was going to school part-time. Jennifer worked at Rampart for three shifts a week around her father's schedule. Johnny's job was to recuperate at home and be with his daughter. The first several nights at the DeSoto's house was awkward for Johnny. Although he slept there many times, recovering from his own injuries in the past, he never slept with their daughter in the same room. He had a difficult time sleeping there. Jennifer convinced Johnny to take his tranquilizers in order to get some rest. An additional strain to this set up was that Kaitlin was having nightmares. At first, Johnny would stay in her room, rubbing her back, until she fell asleep. But hours after she settled in, she would start crying again. Roy and JoAnne didn't say anything, but after the third night, Jenny brought their daughter into their bed. Johnny didn't say anything, but was not happy with the situation. **** "I can't believe they're fighting again," JoAnne said as she cuddled in Roy's arms. "It seems they fight every night." "I know. Well, they bring Kaitlin into their bedroom every night. They won't let her settle into her own routine." "Well Roy, she is having nightmares." JoAnne said with emphasis. "I know, Jo, but we never coddled our kids like that. We just settled them down and put them back to sleep in their own room." "I know Roy, but I think they have their own way of doing things." "If you ask me…" "No one is asking you." JoAnne said, pinching her husband. Roy smiled and continued, "If you ask me, their way of doing things is wrong." Roy pinched his wife back, turned out the bedroom light and kissed JoAnne good night. *** "Johnny, I don't want Kaitlin in here either, but what am I gonna do?" Jenny threw her hands up in the air. She was exhausted, having worked a twelve-hour shift at the hospital. Kaitlin was having bad dreams ever since they moved in with her folks. The only way to settle her down, so the whole house got some sleep, was to bring her into their bedroom. They bought a cot and used that as Kaitlin's bed. Johnny sat up in bed and saw his daughter asleep in her bed. She had her Pooh bear in her arms. Johnny wrapped his arms around Jenny and pulled her onto the bed. Johnny started to kiss her neck. He moved her long hair out of his way. "Stop." "Whaddya mean stop?" Johnny said breathlessly. "I'm not in the mood." "You're never in the mood anymore." Jenny looked around at Johnny with hurt in her eyes. "And what is that suppose to mean?" She pulled away from him. Johnny slapped the bed in frustration. "I'm sorry Angel. It's just, em, I'm just frustrated, in more ways than one." "Go on." "Well, we don't have privacy here and I certainly can't do what I want to do when I want to do it. I'm getting cabin fever. Roy overprotects me if I go outside. Your mother is pushing food at me, claiming I'm too thin. Then, Roy criticizes every little thing Kaitlin does. He seems to have forgotten what little kids like to do." Johnny shifted his weight and leaned back on the pillows. "And, I don't like having Kaitlin here all night. We don't have any privacy. We should put her back in her room, after she falls asleep." Jenny stood up and walked to the end of the bed. "Johnny, we tried that and she still wakes up shrieking. I can't listen to her like that. And when I go into the room, Mom is in there comforting her. I know she means well, but hell, Kaitlin is my daughter." Jenny took her t-shirt off and threw it on the floor. "Jenny, I think we've had too much of a good thing. I think we should look for a motel. Our house will be ready in another month, if the weather holds. I don't like what this strain is doing to us." Johnny gestured back and forth between Jenny and himself. He patted the bed again. "Come here and sit next to me." "Don't want to." Jenny pouted. "You don't want to come here or you don't want to move out." "I don't know what I want, Johnny. I'm tired. I want to be in our home in the Jacuzzi. I want to have candles lit and have a glass of chardonnay next to me. I want Kaitlin to be asleep in her own room. I want to come out of the Jacuzzi and find you naked in bed waiting for me. I want to spend the night with you and not have to worry about anything. I don't want to worry that my parents will hear us in here. I want my life back to normal." Jenny took off her pants and sat down on the bed. She put her head in her hands and cried. Johnny didn't know whether to comfort her or let her be. She was so moody lately. He sat up to get near her, but Jennifer motioned for Johnny to give her space. He lay back down, turned the light on his side of the bed and closed his eyes. *** "I can't believe you, Roy. Have you forgotten what it's like to have a little one around?" "Of course I haven't forgotten. In fact I did a splendid job rearing my kids and they both respected our things. But you don't have a clue as to how to raise a child." Roy said in exasperation. "And just what is that suppose to mean, Roy." Johnny stood up to be eye level with Roy. "You spoil Kaitlin, way too much. You let her get away with everything. JoAnne says no cookies before dinner and what do you do…" "I don't believe this. If I remember correctly, there were a few times when you caved into your children too." Johnny said as he shook his head. "Yes Johnny, I did, a FEW times. Not all the god damn time like you do with Kaitlin. She isn't gonna have any respect for anyone or anything as she grows up. You'll see to that if…" "Respect. I got news for you, Roy. She does have respect. Especially for me and Jenny and all the other adults in her life. You know what I think. I think you're jealous that I finally have a family of my own." "A family of your own, eh. I suppose if robbing the cradle counts I guess you did all right in that department." Roy spat out. The expression on his face was pure fury. "What in hell is going on in here," JoAnne shouted walking into the house interrupting the quarrel. She glared back in forth between Johnny and Roy. "Well?" she demanded. "Stay out of this JoAnne. This is between Johnny and me." Roy asserted not breaking eye contact with Johnny. "I won't stay out of it. What's happened?" JoAnne demanded. Walking over to pick up Kaitlin who was crying. "This so called son in law of yours can't even keep track of his own daughter. He thinks he's such a great father too." Roy announced with sarcasm. "Roy, what are you talking about?" JoAnne queried. "Kaitlin. She got into the garage this afternoon while we were outside. She climbed up onto the Dennis, when she's been told never to go near it unless she was with an adult. She managed somehow to pull all the hose off the hose bed making a mess of it and then, she picked up my hammer and used it on the Dennis. The fender is ruined." "I told you, Roy, that I would replace the damn hose and I'll get the fender fixed. I mean it's only a hunk of hose that sits on a fire engine and an auto body shop can pound out the dents in the fender." "Only a hunk of hose. Only a dented fender," Roy said in annoyance tossing his arms in the air. "This is unbelievable and to top it off, Johnny here doesn't think she needs punishment. Instead he cuddles her and tells her it's okay," Roy mocked. He then looked at Johnny. "Do you remember how much time you and I put into that beauty? How long it took us to find everything to make her look original?" "No I haven't forgotten. I busted my back just as much you did refurbishing it. Dammit, Roy, it's partly belongs to me too." Johnny yelled at Roy as his splayed hand was on his chest. "What is going on," Jenny snapped walking into the house. "I could hear you guy's yelling all the way out to the driveway. Seeing Kaitlin in tears and sobbing, Jenny hurried across the room. Taking her from JoAnne's arms, she cuddled her daughter. "Johnny? Dad?" Jenny said looking at both men. "Jenny," Johnny said in softer tone, "Kaitlin got into the garage this afternoon while you and your Mom were shopping. She managed to make a mess of the hose on the Dennis and dented the fender with a hammer." "Is that all?" Jenny answered while smiling at her daughter. "And here I thought it was something major." "Is that all? I'll have you know young lady, if your husband had better control over Kaitlin and maybe disciplined her from time to time when she's wrong. Maybe…" Roy shouted, his voice up an octave. "Discipline. Exactly what kind of discipline are you referring to Dad, as if I didn't know?" Jenny expressed, raising her voice. "Well a hand on your backside growing up never hurt you any." Roy affirmed. "I'll have you know, Dad, Johnny and I do not resort to corporal punishment with Kaitlin. No child deserves to be spanked." Jenny firmly stated then placed a kiss on her daughter's cheek. Kaitlin was still sobbing due to all the shouting. "You see, JoAnne. I told you. I guess neither of them know anything when it comes to raising kids." Roy stated raised his arms again in frustration. "I've had enough. Jenny, please go pack. We're leaving." Johnny snapped. "Johnny. Jenny. You can't," JoAnne pleaded. "Johnny, what about your hip? You've still have a way to go before you're completely on your feet again. You still have your physical therapy sessions. Where will you go? How will you get around?" "I'm sorry Mom. Johnny's right. It's time for us to leave. We've overstayed our welcome," Jenny sadly declared as she walked upstairs to pack her things. After one half hour, Johnny, Jenny and Kaitlin's meager possessions were packed. No words were spoken as the three headed down the stairs. Johnny held Kaitlin as Jenny carried the bags. JoAnne looked on in dismay as Roy just sat on the couch, not offering to help his daughter and his best friend. The door slamming shut caused the windows in the DeSoto's house to vibrate. Roy stood up and seethed over the fight he had with his daughter and son in law. Johnny, Jenny and Kaitlin drove to a small motel about one mile from their house. They settled into the small room and requested a crib for Kaitlin. About one hour after putting most of their stuff away, Johnny stood up. "I'm going out to the house." "You're what?" Jenny asked "I'm gonna go out there and help. I know that Hank, Chet, Mike, Marco, Chris, Jeff and some others are out there helping the construction crew. One more hand with a hammer makes it one day closer for us to move home." "Johnny, you know Carlson will have a fit." Looking at Jenny, "who's gonna tell him?" Jenny looked down, unable to meet her husband's eyes. She knew Johnny wasn't ready to do the physical labor. She also realized he was having a difficult time with this whole housing issue. He once told her how he failed them, by letting the fire destroy their home. Jenny knew was some macho attitude. She also understood that nothing she said would change his mind. It was that generational gap issue that they ran into every so often. "Johnny, Chris will tell Carlson." Jenny firmly stated. Shrugging his shoulders, "I don't care." Johnny walked to the phone and picked up the phone book. After finding the number he wanted, he dialed. "Hello, this is John Gage. I'm at the Crescent Hills Motor Lodge. I need a taxi to take me to 1735 Crescent Way. Ten minutes? Okay, I'll be ready." "I wish you wouldn't do this, Johnny." Johnny looked at Jenny but didn't say anything. He grabbed old jeans and changed into them. He took off his shirt and put on an old LACO fire department t-shirt. He found a backpack and put some of his stuff in it. Kaitlin was sitting on the king size bed, watching TV. Johnny walked over to her and picked her up. "How's my Kitty Kate?" "Daddy, I fine. How your booboo?" Johnny smiled and tapped his hip. "My booboo needs a kiss, but you can kiss me here." He pointed to his cheek. Kaitlin obliged by kissing her father's face. "That's my girl. I'm gonna be away for a bit. Be good for your Momma. Okey dokey?" Kaitlin smiled, "okey dokey SMOKEY!" Johnny put her back on the bed. He walked over to Jenny to kiss her good bye, but she turned her head away. "Fine. See you later." Johnny walked out of their motel room, using the walker, letting the door slam behind him. ****** "I don't believe this," Chris said watching Johnny get out of the cab. The others, Hank, Mike, Marco, Chet, Jeff, Stash, Dooley, and Butch, along with Chris were sitting off to the side taking a mid afternoon breather from working on Johnny's house. Each of them glanced in Johnny's direction. "What's Gage doing here? Chet voiced. "He knows he can't do any work." "I don't know, but I'm gonna find out," Chris replied. Standing up, Chris jogged toward his brother in law. "Johnny. What are you doing here?" Johnny didn't stop walking. "Just get out of my way Chris. I'm here to work." Johnny announced. Chris saw the sheer determination on Johnny's face. He was certain, he was going to have problems trying to change Johnny's mind. "You're here to work, I don't think so. Doc Carlson hasn't cleared you to do more than your physical therapy." Chris put his hand on Johnny's arm Johnny looked at Chris and fiercely said, "I don't care what Carlson says. I'm helping out whatever way I can. I need my house finished as soon as possible. My family needs a place to live." Chris removed his hand. Hank and the others stood as Johnny approached. "Johnny. We're working on it. The house will be ready in a month." Chris stated. "That's not soon enough for me." Johnny growled. "Now point me to a hammer." Hank stepped over to Johnny and placed a hand on his shoulder. "John. I think you should relax, pal. Your not…" "What, Chief? I'm not what? Fit to do anything? I'm tired of people trying to tell me what I can and cannot do. I'm tired of everyone telling how to run my life. I'm tired of everyone telling me how to raise my daughter. I'm tired of everyone…" "Johnny. Did you and Dad have a fight?" Chris asked cautiously. Johnny glared at Chris. "Don't even mention your father's name to me. As far as I'm concerned, Roy doesn't exist at the moment." Johnny snapped, raising his voice up an octave. Now where is there a damm hammer?" Johnny barked continuing to walk toward his house. Chris followed Johnny across the planks that covered the soil and lead to the main floor of the house. While Hank excused himself to get his cell phone out of his car, the others stood shaking their heads unsure of what they should do. Although Johnny's actions were new to Stash, Butch, Dooley, and Jeff, the others were quite familiar with his tantrums. Even though Johnny concealed his temper while he worked at 51's, Marco, Mike, Chet, and Hank all knew it existed and since Johnny's accident in the San Gabriel Mountains, it was displayed with increasing frequency as time went on because of his limitations. And now with his restrictions after his surgery, Johnny sometimes was like a nuclear explosion waiting to happen. Despite Chris' objections, Johnny found a hammer, sat down on his living room floor, and began to pound nails into the sheets of underlay readying the floors for the hardwood flooring. The others returned to what they were working on, but kept a close eye on their friend. From time to time, one of them would glance in Johnny's direction. They noticed how Johnny was taking his frustrations out by pounding. Inwardly, each of them thought maybe it wasn't such a bad idea after all. Johnny was safe, out of the way, and not hindering his hip any. Forty minutes later, Roy appeared at the construction sight. "I'm glad you could make it, pal," Hank said extending his hand out to greet his friend. Roy took the proffered hand. "I don't know what good I can do, Hank. You know Johnny. He's stubborn." "Like you, you mean." Roy began to chuckle. There was no denying it; he too had stubborn streak in him just as wide and as long as Johnny's. "Hank, I want to be honest with you. I said some things to Johnny this afternoon and I don't think he will listen to me now." "Well, could you at least give it a try? He really should be looking after that hip of his. He shouldn't be working on a construction sight." Roy nodded then walked across the planks and into Johnny home. Glancing around, he was amazed at how much work had been completed since his last visit only two days before. Spying Johnny off in the far corner of the living room, Roy approached. "What are you trying to do put yourself back in the hospital?" Roy said. All of Johnny and Roy's friends ceased working and glanced in the direction of the two men, as Roy tried to talk some sense into Johnny. Hammering echoed in the background as the construction crew continued with their duties. Johnny looked up at Roy. "What in the hell are you doing here?" "Hank called me and said you were being bull headed." "I guess I have more than one traitor in my midst." "Everyone is worried about you." "Spare me Roy. You and I both know how you feel. So, why don't you just leave?" Johnny bellowed. "I'm not going anywhere." Roy yelled. Chris placed the electric nail gun he was using onto a sawhorse and walked over to his father and brother in law. "Dad. Johnny. How about…" "Stay out of this Chris." Johnny snapped. "This is between your Dad and me." "But…" "Johnny's right Chris. Stay out of it." Roy asserted. Chris nodded and took a couple of steps back, away from Johnny and Roy. He noticed that Hank and Mike stepped over near where Johnny and Roy stood. He assumed they were making themselves available just in case all hell broke loose. "I thought I told you to leave." Johnny shouted, dropping the hammer he was using onto the floor. Although he had never physically harmed anyone in his life, Johnny felt safer if it he wasn't holding a potential weapon in his hands. "I'm not going anywhere until you listen to someone." "This is rich. The high and mighty Roy DeSoto trying to give me more advice." Johnny said in a mocking tone. "Why don't you stop acting like a child for once and consider your family." Roy tried pleading with Johnny. "A child. You think I'm acting like a child. I suppose that's exactly how you've always thought of me, isn't it? I guess all those years at 51's you felt like you were baby-sitting me. Trying to keep me out of trouble. I can see now just how much you really despise me. I'll even bet you're sorry I didn't die up on that mountain eight and a half years ago when I was shot. Well Roy, you know what, I'm sorry too. I'm sorry I've made your life so miserable all these years. It's apparent you can't stand being around me." Roy couldn't believe what he just heard. He shouted "Is that what you think, that I wanted you dead. I got news for you, Johnny; I ran like the devil himself was after me, so I could get you the help you needed. In fact I was so caught up with worry that I was gonna be too late, that I fell. I tore my knees all to hell, but did it stop me. NO. I kept going until I got you the help you needed." With his face flushed with fury, Johnny arose and stepped forward intending to walk away from his friend. Instead, he forgot to use his walker and stumbled catching an electrical cord around his foot. As the cord tighten, the nail gun it was attached to fell off the sawhorse. The trigger caught on a wooden dowel as the nail gun fell toward the floor causing several nails to discharge with each of them hurling toward Johnny. Suddenly, Johnny felt a sharp searing pain in his left thigh and hip before he fell onto the floor hitting his head on the hammer he dropped only moments before. All the men couldn't believe what they just witnessed. Roy was the closest and ran over to Johnny. He tripped on a loosened plank, which hit him in the shin. But that didn't stop him. "Johnny?" Roy's voice barked in fear. Chris, Jeff, Stash and Dooley awoke from their momentary paralysis and ran over to Johnny. The other men followed suit. Roy took charge. "Hank, call 911 and get us a squad and ambulance." "Already done." Hank took his cell phone out again and made the call. Chris and Jeff bent down next to Roy. Roy looked up at each of the paramedics. "Okay. I know you all have first aid kits in your cars. Go get them so I can see what you have." All four men sprinted to their cars. Chet walked over and bent down, grimacing. "Gheesh, this looks bad." Roy looked at Chet but didn't respond. He was taking in all the wounds. Besides the growing lump on Johnny's head, Roy counted five entry wounds to Johnny's right thigh and hip. Although Johnny was wearing jeans, the nail gun penetrated his clothes. One nail landed close to Johnny's groin. Chris came back with his kit. "Chris, I need the scissors. I need to see if there are exits wounds, but I doubt it. Could you take his vitals?" Stash, Dooley and Jeff ran back with their kits. Roy proceeded to cut Johnny's jeans. He saw the entrance wounds on the thigh and groin. He also saw the damage to the hip. Roy shook his head. "Where's the damn squad?" Roy shouted. Marco knew it would be 51s that would be coming, since Johnny's home was in his district. The only reason he thought it would be taking this long was the squad was on another call. Marco put his hand on Roy's shoulder. "Roy. 51 will be here in a minute." Roy looked up at Marco and gave him an unconvincing smile. "I know, Marco. Thanks." Roy went back to tending to Johnny's wounds. "Dad?" Roy looked at his son. "Johnny's pulse is 130 and rapid. Respirations are 30. His eyes are unequal and sluggish. Considering Johnny's tirade only seconds before, no one was surprised that his pulse was a little fast. The unequal eyes and the growing lump on the back of Johnny's head concerned them all greatly. Roy started shaking his head. "There are five paramedics here and we can't do shit." Roy stood up allowing Jeff take his place. "Cap'n? Lemme check out your leg." Stash said. Until then, Roy didn't even know he was hurt. He looked down at his shin and saw the torn slacks and the blood on the material. Stash took Roy by his arm, remembering that Roy too was recovering from his own medical procedure, and helped him to sit down on a milk crate. Dooley, seeing Stash work on their former boss, came over and took Roy's pulse. Roy looked up at Dooley and was going to say something. Reading his former boss's mind Dooley said, "yes, I'm going paramedic on you. Ya know, we," pointing to Stash, "still blame ourselves for not catching the signs of your heart attack. So if we're gonna mother you now, you're gonna have to take it. Or I'll tell the Chief." Dooley smiled, enjoying pulling rank on his former boss. Although the situation was serious, Hank couldn't help but smirk over Dooley's words as it brought back some memories of a time long past. **** Jenny ran into the emergency room. JoAnne was following her, holding Kaitlin in her arms. Jenny headed straight to her father, who was sitting on one of the hard plastic chairs. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?" Jenny shouted. Hearing his daughter's voice Roy stood up. Chris grabbed his sister's arm. "LET ME GO CHRIS!" Jenny demanded, squirming to get out of her brother's grasp. Speaking softly Roy said, "let her go Chris." "What did you do to him, Daddy?" Jenny asked, visibly shaken. Her voice quivered as she asked the question. "Jen, I didn't do anything to him." "THE LAST THING I SAW WAS YOU TWO FIGHTING." Jenny said pounding her fists into her father's chest. Roy grabbed her, to hold and comfort her, but Jenny tried to pull away. "Calm down little one." Roy said. "Yes, we were fighting, but it was an accident. The nail gun fell and discharged. Unfortunately, Johnny was in its direct path." Roy continued to hold Jenny as she sobbed. Jenny backed away from her father and looked at him point blank. "Dad, I know you don't approve of my marriage to Johnny, but HE IS MY HUSBAND. I LOVE HIM and I don't want him to die." Jenny started to cry again. She turned around and Chris was there to hold her as she cried. JoAnne saw the distress on Roy's face. Giving Kaitlin to Hank to hold, JoAnne walked over to Roy. "How is he?" Roy looked at his wife and paused before answering. "The nail damage can be repaired, it's the blow to his head that they're worried about. They're gonna do a cat scan. They're afraid of swelling. And his hip will need to be repaired again." Roy said sitting back down, letting out a sigh. JoAnne joined him. Taking his hands in hers, she asked. "How are you?" "It doesn't matter how I am. I can't believe it even happened. Of all the stupid things….." JoAnne took Roy in her arms and held him. "Roy, we know Johnny's got nine lives. I'm sure he'll be okay." JoAnne heard Kaitlin crying she started to get up but saw Chris getting his niece. Kaitlin had her only Pooh bear in her hands. She looked on the verge of tears. Chris was holding her but saw he was loosing the battle. "Chris, bring her to me." Roy said. Roy reached his hands out and took his granddaughter in his arms. He kissed her on her head and held her. "Poppie? I hungry." "You are? What do you want to eat?" Roy asked her with a smile on his face. "I want ice cream." "Well, I think I can do something about that." He let Kaitlin stand up then he himself got up. "I'm taking Kaitlin to the cafeteria for some ice cream. Would anyone like to join us?" Hank, Mike, Marco, Chet, Dooley, Stash, and Jeff all left with Roy and Kaitlin. Jenny stayed behind with JoAnne and Chris. "Mom, I can't take this anymore. If it's not one thing it's another." "I know Jen. But you have to hang on. You have to have faith. "But the fighting between them has to stop. Mom, if it continues, Johnny and I will have to move. You know he gets offers from out of state all the time. We've never seriously considered them, but after this….." JoAnne interrupted Jenny, "Hon, you're only saying this because of what's going on. You are stressed out. You and Johnny really need a vacation. You never even had a honeymoon. Why don't you think about that, a vacation? Roy and I will watch Kaitlin. It will be good for your father to remember what it's like to have a toddler at home again." While Roy took Kaitlin out for ice cream, JoAnne sat with Jennifer in the waiting room. After an intolerable thirty minutes, Mike Morton came out and walked over to the two women. "Jenny, JoAnne, is Roy around?" Mike asked looking for Roy. "Doc, Mike, tell me about my husband." Jenny said as she stood up. Mike was never one to mince words. "There are five wounds from the nail gun. We've removed all of the nails. The damage was minimal, but there will be scars in his thigh and groin area. We are concerned about one thing. He's going to have to have his hip repaired again. So far his head is fine. No swelling, but he does have a concussion." Jenny moaned when she heard that. She knew how difficult the last several weeks were and now Johnny would have to go through the pain and rehab all over again. "I've called Dr Carlson. He's going to clear his schedule so he can operate tomorrow. Now orthopedics is not my specialty, but I'll be frank with you Jenny. This surgery will not be easy, especially since Carlson will be redoing what he did weeks ago." "Can I see him, Mike?" Jenny asked softly. "He's in pain, Jenny." Mike looked at Jenny's eyes and saw them pleading with him. "Sure, I'll let you see him. Just give me a minute to make sure he's comfortable." JoAnne made eye contact with her daughter but didn't say anything. Jenny tried to put her professional face on, but found it difficult. Roy and the group returned from the cafeteria. Chris took Kaitlin in his arms. "Any news yet?" Roy asked his daughter. Jenny glared at her father. JoAnne spoke up. "They removed the nails. But he's going to have to have hip surgery again tomorrow." "Oh shit." Roy said. "What about his head?" "So far he just has a concussion. There is no swelling." Roy sighed. "At least we got some good news," he said somewhat dejectedly. Morton motioned for Jenny and she walked to the treatment room. Roy started to follow but JoAnne held him back. "Let her see him Roy. That's her place now." Jenny entered the room. Johnny was on the gurney with his eyes closed. Two IV bags hung from the poles. Jenny walked over to Johnny and placed a kiss on his forehead. He opened his eyes. "Hi Angel," he weakly said. Jenny took his hand and held it. With her other hand she smoothed his hair. "Hey yourself, ole man." "I guess I really did it this time." "How do you mean?" "My anger is gonna get me killed. This is all my fault, tripping over a cord attached to the nail gun. How stupid can I be?" Johnny winced in pain, closing his eyes. "Johnny, it was an accident. You didn't mean to be in the path of those nails." Johnny opened his eyes and saw Jenny crying. He lifted his right arm since his left had the IVs in them. He touched his wife's face tenderly. "Jen, I've never been shot with nails before, and I never want to go through that again. Morton told me one nail got really close to ah, eh, you know where." Jenny smiled, "you mean the family jewels?" Johnny laughed and then frowned as another wave of pain hit him. Jenny looked at the IVs. "Well, at least they have you on some good painkillers, ole man." "Did Morton tell you about Carlson?" "Yes, Johnny he did." "Everything I went through is for nothing," he said with a grave expression on his face. "That's not true, Johnny. You've worked hard on your physical therapy, so that will make you stronger for the surgery." "Carlson's gonna want to keep me here longer. He's gonna put me in a rehab residence afterwards." He squeezed Jenny's hand. "That means I won't be able to be at the house. I won't be coming home for some time." A distressed look crossed his face. "Where are you going to stay? I really don't want you going back to your folks." That last statement hurt Jenny, but in her heart, she knew he was correct. "Johnny, I think I'll stay at Chris'. With his shift work we won't run into each other much." "What about Kaitlin? Where is she?" Johnny started to slur his words as the medication was putting him to sleep. "Dad's got her. I don't know what I'll do when I work. Maybe childcare. They have a good childcare program set up for medical workers, as you already know. I don't know though. I mean Kaitlin has never been away from us or her grandparents." Jenny said dispiritedly, to no avail as Johnny was out. She released his hand and kissed him on the head. Her emotions were no longer contained and the tears fell from her face. Jenny slowly walked out of the treatment room, glancing over her shoulder at her languishing husband. She took a tissue from her handbag to wipe her eyes. She walked down the hall to the waiting group. "Momma, why you cry?" Kaitlin said as she sat on the chair in between her Uncle and Grandmother. Chris got up to let a weary Jenny sit down. "Kaitlin, honey, Daddy needs to have his booboo repaired and I'm sad. He's going to be here in the hospital for sometime and I'm going to miss him." "Momma?" Kaitlin said looking up at her mother. "Yes Kaitlin?" "When you see Daddy, give him Pooh. It made Poppie better and will make Daddy too." Kaitlin gave the stuffed toy to her mother. Jenny smiled and pulled her daughter into her lap and hugged her. After several moments of silence, Roy broke the quiet. "What did Morton say?" Jenny glanced up at her father. A small part of her was still a bit angry with him even though Johnny's misfortune was just an accident. She knew it would not have happened if these two men, who obviously care about each other, weren't fighting. "Carlson's going to operate tomorrow on Johnny's hip, again. This time, Carlson is going to keep him here longer and the he will have to go to a rehab center. My husband won't be coming home for some time." Jenny could no longer fight her tears. "So you're going to come back home with us, Jenny?" JoAnne asked giving her daughter a tissue. Looking at her mother, Jenny shook her head. "I'm going to stay at Chris'." "You can't." Roy announced. "What about Kaitlin? What about when you work?" Jenny looked away from her father. She just lowered her head, resting it on Kaitlin's. "When I have to work, I'll bring Kaitlin to daycare. Johnny and I already found a place, because I want to go back to working full time. I guess we'll start it earlier than we planned to." Chris got up and spoke for the first time. "Why don't we all go and get some rest. It's going to be a long day tomorrow. Munchkin, I'll go back to the motel and pick your stuff up and bring everything back to my townhouse. Jeff will help too, right Jeff?" Jeff smiled and nodded. "Of course I will," he said. Even though he was dog-tired, he'd do anything to help out any member of the DeSoto or Gage family. Roy stood up and walked down the hallway. Jenny put Kaitlin down on her chair and ran after her father. She grabbed his arm. "Where are you going?" Jennifer demanded. "I'm going to see him." "No!" "No?" "I said no, Dad. He doesn't need to see you now and I won't let you. You've done enough damage. You don't need to make him feel guilty." "Guilty?" Roy raised his voice. "What makes you think he feels guilty? It was an accident. That's what I'm gonna tell him. Jennifer, he's my oldest friend." "Friend? Is that how you treat your friends, Dad? You yell at him and tell him he doesn't know how to raise his family? You belittle his actions? And to make it worse, you follow him out to his home to continue the fight. You just had to be proven right." "Jennifer DeSoto, I don't appreciate you talking to me that way. Your husband may be the same age as me, but that doesn't give you the right to talk to me that way. I'm still your father." Roy's face flushed with anger. Jenny didn't expect his outburst. "I'm sorry Dad." Jenny hung her head down. "I just can't believe what's happened today." She shook her head. "First the fight, then the accident and now the surgery. He's gonna be laid up for months now, Dad. Do you know what that's going to do to him? Do you have any idea?" Jennifer was screeching. Roy gathered his daughter in his arms. "Yes, Jen, I know what that will do to him. You forget how many times I've been in your shoes with him. If it wasn't the virus, it was the snakebite or the explosions. In my own way, I know what you are feeling. I may not care for him the same way you do, Jen, but I do care." Jenny looked up at her father. "You sure have a strange way of showing it, Dad." She looked so tired to him. He hugged her and kissed her head. Softly he said, "you may be the mother of my granddaughter, but you will always be my little girl and I will always take care of you." He hugged her again. "Now I want to see that husband of yours. I need to straighten this whole mess out now." Jenny reluctantly nodded her head. Roy walked into the treatment room at the far end of the ER. Johnny appeared to be out of it. This brought back strong memories for Roy, especially the one where Johnny was bitten by the rattlesnake, and his life hung in the balance. Roy had to shake those images from his mind. "I was wonderin' when you were gonna come in." Johnny said with his eyes closed. Roy walked closer to his prone friend. "Have I ever missed any of your appearances at Rampart?" Roy laughed. Johnny opened his eyes and looked at his old friend. "Roy, I said some dumb things before. I'm sorry. I never believed you wanted me dead. I just said …." He trailed off. "I know. We were both pretty angry with one another." Roy's tone was soothing. "I want you to know that I overreacted about the Dennis. It is only a truck and it can be repaired. It's just…" Johnny shifted, "it's just what Roy?" "I don't know Johnny. Seeing you with Kaitlin reminds me of all the mistakes I made with my kids." Roy dropped his eyes. "In my opinion Roy, your kids are fine." Johnny let out a slight moan as he shifted his weight. "You think I'd be used to the pain by now." Johnny yawned. "I don't know how much longer I'll be able to stay awake. The stuff they gave me is strong. Jen is gonna stay at Chris' and Kitty Kate is gonna start daycare." "I know, Jenny told me." Roy paused and put his hand on Johnny's shoulder. "Johnny, what was said was said. We just had too much togetherness. We can't keep fighting like this, Johnny." "I know Roy, I know. It's destroying the family, our family." "Truce?" "Truce." "I'm gonna go back out and we're gonna go home. One of us will be here when you come out of surgery tomorrow. Don't worry about a thing." Roy squeezed Johnny's shoulder and left the room. Johnny closed his eyes, rehashing their conversation. He truly hoped bygones were bygones, for Jenny's sake, for Kaitlin's sake, for his own sake as well as Roy's. Authors comments: Poor Johnny. A nail gun no less. I actually knew a guy who had that happen to him and all he thought about, well I think you know the answer to that. Thanks Betty for putting up with my whining - Kajakat. My comments: Janet, it's a good job you did keep prodding me, you know how I love to procrastinate. <Grin> Actually, Janet and I couldn't resist causing a few more problems for Johnny and Roy as they try to rebuild their friendship. Thank you, Janet for your understanding that RL sometimes gets in the way of things we love to do. It was great working with you on this. -Betty |