by Kajakat "Roy, don't point that at me." John said as he slowly backed away from his partner. "Roy, put that gun down!" He tripped over the mop that had fallen on the floor. Johnny couldn't squirm any further as his back was against the wall. Roy had an evil grin on his face as he aimed the black weapon at his partner. "I should have done this to you years ago." Roy pulled the trigger. Then he laughed. A few moments earlier… "I'm telling you Roy, the store was so unorganized. I went in for nails, a new screwdriver, sanding paper and other stuff. They couldn't find it. It took 'em thirty minutes to tell me they didn't have the stuff I needed." Roy shook his head acknowledging he was listening to his partner's rant when he was actually thinking about Chris, his teenage son. "…and it was dirty and dark in there. Someone should open up a store that only sells building supplies and make into a warehouse that's big and open." Johnny paused to breathe. He looked at his partner. "Are you listening to me?" Roy, who was driving back to the station took his eyes off the road to look at Johnny. After many years of practice he knew how to answer his willful partner. "Yes, Johhny, I heard everything and I think it's a good idea." He smiled which caused his partner to smile. "I knew you'd see it my way!" Glad to have his idea endorsed Johnny settled back on the squad's seat. A look of satisfaction was on his face. Roy backed the vehicle into the bay. He shielded his eyes from the strong July sun. Johnny hopped out of the squad and headed toward the kitchen but Roy meandered. His thoughts went back to Chris and what was found in his room. He slowly got out from the vehicle and walked to the front of the station. Some litter had blown across onto the station's lawn. Normally Mike meticulously kept the grounds immaculate but he couldn't always be there when some debris flies across. It was also a beautiful day and Roy wasn't too anxious to go back into the station especially when Johnny was on one of his missions. Roy bent down and picked up the trash and slowly headed back to the station's bay. Captain Stanley was leaving his office as he saw Roy walking back in. Knowing this was out of character for his senior paramedic, a silent alarm went off in his head. He went out to meet him. "So how was the last run Roy?" Stanley had a big smile on his face and rubbed his hands together. Roy didn't answer directly as he was still thinking about Chris' new 'plaything'. "Cap, did your kids ever bring home something you knew you'd object too? Something that you have no idea where they got it from?" Hank paused thinking beyond Roy's question. "Well, my girls have brought home some dates that I'd rather have not met, but they're pretty good girls. Why? Are you having problems with your kids?" Roy learned not to talk about his domestic problems at work, after the Stoker spaghetti incident. Sometimes though, he wished he had someone to confide in. Certainly Johnny wouldn't understand. He wasn't married and had no children. The only coworker who would understand issues with children was his boss. Roy was comfortable talking with Hank but Roy's issue concerned his son Chris. Hank only had daughters and Roy didn't think Hank would be able to help. Roy shook his head, "nah, just usually stuff." Roy wanted to change the topic. "Any coffee left?" "If your partner didn't finish the pot, I'm sure they'll be some left for you." Hank patted Roy's back and urged him toward the kitchen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It was a quiet shift. The men were doing their chores. Roy was done with his cooking chores so he was helping Johnny swab the bay's floors. It wasn't lost on Johnny how quiet his partner was. He knew Roy would feel better if he talked about his problem. Sure, there were some wounds from the spaghetti incident, but Johnny was confident Roy was big enough to get beyond it. Summoning up the right words to use, Johnny spoke. "You've been mopping that same spot for the last ten minutes Roy. Do you want to talk about it?" Johnny leaned his mop against the wall and put his arms on his hips. Roy looked up from his mop and stared into the inquisitive eyes of his partner. "Huh?" "See you're not payin' attention. I asked you if you wanted to tell me what's bothering you." Johnny grabbed the mop back and placed his two hands on top of it and rested his head on them. Roy then leaned his mop against the wall. "What makes you think something is bothering me?" Roy's question made Johnny change position. Gesticulating with his hands Johnny answered Roy's question. The mop fell to the floor. "Cause I know you. You didn't listen to me in the squad. You walked around the station. You finished your assignment in record time. To me, that means somethin' is botherin' you." Johnny paused to see Roy's reaction. "You know you'll feel much better when you tell me." Johnny said that with such confidence. Roy was taken aback that Johnny was aware something was bothering him. He underestimated his partner's intuitive powers. "Nothing is bothering me except you asking me if something is bothering me." Now Roy's arms were on his hips indicating his annoyance. It was one thing to have a problem at home but to have Johnny intrude and offer bad advice was something he couldn't deal with at the moment. His problem with Chris was too serious for Johnny's interference. Johnny didn't take the hint. He pressed on. "Is it JoAnne? Do you want me to speak with her about something? Are the kids okay? Is that bully bothering Jennifer cause if he is I can go over to the school and have a talk with him. You know you'll feel better when you tell me. Is it…" Johnny continued talking bringing up DeSoto's domestic issues as the wheels in Roy's head turned. He knew he'd have to put an end to this or he'd be hounded the rest of the shift and probably his life. "I'll be right back." Roy said and walked toward the locker room. He was tired of hearing unsolicited advice. He quickly came back with an item and pointed it at Johnny. "Roy, don't point that at me." John said as he slowly backed away from his partner. "Roy, put that gun down!" He tripped over the mop that had fallen on the floor. Johnny couldn't squirm any further as his back was against the wall. Roy had an evil grin on his face as he aimed the weapon at his partner. "I should have done this to you years ago." Roy pulled the trigger. Then he laughed. Water from the water gun hit Johnny right in his face and then dripped down onto his shirt. Johnny tried to deflect the stream but Roy would readjust his aim. When the water gun had no more liquid, Roy dropped it by his side. "Now why didya have to that to me?" Johnny was shaking his hair to let the water drop. He looked down his body to see what damage was done to his uniform. "You wanted to know what was bothering me and I brought it out to show you." Roy raised it again and Johnny flinched thinking he was going to get wet. "That?" A pained expression appeared on Johnny's face. He couldn't understand why Roy would use him as a target. "Yes this." Roy lowered his arm again. "I found this in Chris' backpack. He knows I won't let any guns in the house even toy guns. But he thought he could sneak this in. He's grounded. But I don't know how else to tell him guns are dangerous. So I took it away with me and brought it here. Every time I saw it in my locker got me more angry. If he only saw the gunshot victims we have to deal with he'd know that guns are not toys." Roy took a slow breath. Gradually a smile came on his face. He did feel better. Just being able to get his anger out first physically then verbally calmed Roy down. Roy looked at his wet partner. "Sorry about that." He blushed. Johnny got up and looked at his partner and saw his shoulders sag. His previous stance of hostility was replaced with calmness. Picking at his shirt Johnny said, "don't worry about it. I keep plenty of clean shirts around. Ya never know when the Phantom will strike. I guess I should go and change. Johnny headed toward the locker with Roy following him. Roy stopped at the trashcan. He broke the black plastic gun apart and dumped it in there. He walked over to his locker and sat down in front of it while his partner changed shirts. As he removed his shirt Johnny began to speak. "Ya know, I've been thinkin' about …" Roy partly listened but mostly just smiled that his friend was able to help him. Help me title this story. Send your suggestions here. Feedback |