Here you go! The last chapter! I hope it lives up to the expectations sent. Again, the Emergency characters are not mine, the members of PCH are. I have no rights to the song "wipeout" but Desert Roads and Alone are mine.

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The ever unpredictable Johnny

Chapter 3

Roy pulled into this driveway and turned off the engine with a heavy sigh. He was bone-tired. A smile came to his lips as he thought of the friend he'd just left. "You're a little late." A voice startled him.

He nodded, removing the seatbelt and climbing out of the car. "I know." He pulled his willing wife into a hug. JoAnne squeezed her husband close then pulled away, her nose wrinkling up at the odors coming from in front of her. "You haven't showered yet."

He shook his head. She could see he was tired but there was something else in his eyes. She took his hand and led him toward the house. "I saw the fire on the news." She commented. "Was it a bad scene?"

He shook his head again and Jo rolled her eyes at his non-verbal communication. He chuckled at that. "No, I mean, it was a bad fire and there are several people in the hospital but none critical and no deaths."

She nodded, "Well, that's something to be thankful for." She pushed the front door open and continued to pull him into the living room. Once there, she stopped and pulled him into another hug. He looked around. "Where are the kids?"

"Sally took them all to the park, then they're going to the Matthews birthday party. They won't be back until about 3." She looked closely at him, "So, you're not late because you stopped to shower, I know the fire was long, but not deadly so . . ."

He knew what she was quietly asking. "I followed Johnny home."

At that bit of news and her curious look, he laughed. "No, he's alright. At least when I left he was safe in his bed, sound asleep."

He pulled her closer to him, and they stood there for a long moment before she broke away. "You want some coffee first?"

He nodded and followed her into the kitchen. He sat as she placed a filled cup before him, followed by a plate with sausages wrapped in pancakes, one of his favorites and a meal easily kept warm or reheated. She had been following the fire.

She refilled her own cup and sat down next to him. She knew he'd need to 'decompress' before he'd shower and sleep. She could wait on him.

Roy ate one of the sausages and drank from his cup, that far away look still in his eyes. "It was exhausting, Jo. We got the call about 3 am and we were the second alarm. Cap immediately split Johnny and me up."

Jo frowned, "That's unusual isn't it?"

Roy nodded, "Yeah, I guess. I didn't think so at the time, I just went where I was told. Chief sent me over to help with triage and Johnny was assigned with the ones getting people out. Every time I looked up he was either on the ladder going back in or bringing another patient for us to check."

Jo sipped her drink as she remembered the scenes that had been covered on the news. "He must have been tired . . ."

"Beyond that." Roy agreed. "I almost couldn't wake him once we finally brought the squad back to the station. Then I was afraid he'd never make it home."

"That's why you followed him." Jo added.

Roy nodded, "Yeah, he told me that he could drive, he was alright. But I knew he wasn't."

Jo laid a gentle hand over her husband's hand, smiling at the caring he'd shown for their mutual friend. She'd been beginning to see that the two men's relationship was becoming more than just 'partners at work' and she liked the changes the vivacious younger man seemed to have on her sometimes too stoic husband. "So you followed him. More of your predictability sense?"

Roy chuckled and ate another sausage. "No. My predictability sense was telling me what I already knew about Johnny."

"And that is??"

"That if something is gonna happen to someone, it'll probably be him and that if I stick close, it probably won't happen at all." He grinned as he said, "Self-preservation. Keeping an eye on him is keeping me from going crazy."

She nodded, drank more of her coffee and smiled. 'Yeap, he's definitely beginning to care about that young man. He's just basically admitted he was worried. And no one can worry over someone he cares about better than Roy.' Aloud she asked, "So I take it nothing happened?"

Roy nodded as he drank more coffee. "He made it home safe enough, then slumped over his steering wheel right there in the parking lot. I had a dickens of a time getting him out of the car and up to his apartment."

He thought back over the morning. How he'd first knocked on his partner's window but had gotten no response. Worried that maybe his partner'd been injured more seriously earlier at the fire that just a knock in the shoulder and a burned arm, he'd opened the door, reaching instinctively for the other man's wrist. Johnny hadn't moved but his pulse was strong and steady as were his respirations. He'd grinned and shook his friend's shoulder. "Come on Johnny, let's get you to your bed." Johnny had groaned but made no other effort to move.

Roy shook him a little harder and spoke firmly, "Get up, Gage." This got an answer in the form of two unfocused eyes blinking at him. Then Johnny slowly pulled himself from the car, mumbling, "I'm fine, Roy. Go home."

Roy snickered, "Yeah, sure you are, partner." He grabbed the man by the elbow as he pushed the car door shut, then he began leading the asleep paramedic toward the complex. As he did, he suddenly realized he didn't know where Johnny lived as this was the first time he'd been to Johnny's place. But as Roy faltered, it appeared Johnny knew the way even asleep. Johnny shuffled his way toward the steps and reached out a hand toward the railing. He missed the first few times, then opened his eyes a little wider to see and caught hold, using that to help pull his tired body upward. Roy maintained his hold on the other arm, but let Johnny lead the way. As they reached the second floor landing, Johnny turned to the left.

A door opened and part of a grey head of hair and one bespeckled eye could be seen peering out at them past the secured chain. " 'Morning Mrs. Finklestein, It's just me getting home." Johnny muttered as he stared at the keys in his hand.

"Hmmpphh, getting home all hours of the day and night. You should get a real job! One with normal hours!"

"Yes, Mrs. Finklestein, you're right. Good night Mrs. Finklestein." Johnny muttered. Roy was amazed that Johnny hadn't even looked once toward the eye peering at them. He still stared at his keys as if not sure what to do with them.

Mrs. Finklestein had now turned her attention from Johnny to the one who had ahold of him. The door closed a little more and the quivery voice squeaked, 'Who? Who are you?"

Roy tried to smile soothingly, "I'm John's partner. I'm just making sure he gets home safely."

The eye narrowed as it took in the wavering figure before the door. "Why? Is he drunk?! Is that why he's home now! It's not even noon yet! I knew it! No good comes from his kind. Before you know it he'll be fired then just lay around and drink and then have wild parties and . . ."

Roy's eyes widened and he rapidly shook his head, "No! No, you've got it all wrong. We were at a fire and Johnny got a little hurt and I just wanted to make sure he got home ok!" Roy tried to put a little of a pity spin on his tale, hoping he wasn't getting Johnny in trouble with what was obviously a busybody.

"Some excuse! At a fire! You'd think that firemen would have enough of seeing fires at work but to go watch one!? Serves him right to get hurt! He should have been home not out wandering around. . . ."

Desperate now, Roy grabbed the keys out of Johnny's hand and searched them over. The first key he tried didn't work but the second did. He pushed open the door and pulled his partner in behind him, nearly knocking Johnny off his feet in his haste to leave the hall. He quickly pushed the door shut and on instinct locked it. "I'm really sorry about that, Johnny." He apologized. "I hope she doesn't give you . . ."

His words trailed off as he turned his attention from the door to his partner. Johnny was slowly sliding down the wall Roy had shoved him into when he'd pulled him through the doorway. The younger man's head was hanging down and his eyes were closed. Roy grabbed under his arm, stopping his descent. He wrapped one arm around Johnny's shoulders, bracing the slighter man's body where it leaned against his, and took Johnny's other arm and slung it over his own shoulders. He held it there with his other hand by firmly gripping Johnny's wrist.

"Come on partner, let's get you into bed." He smiled at the younger man. Johnny's eyes never opened again and his head remained down as Roy mostly dragged him down the hall. After opening each door, Roy found Johnny's bedroom. It wasn't as if there were many doors to search; a closet, a bathroom and the bedroom. Roy pushed Johnny into a bathroom so tiny, he wasn't sure they both could be in there at the same time. He stood in the doorway after placing Johnny in front of the sink, pinning him against the cabinet with his own hips. He ran the water until it was nice and warm, wet a washcloth and soaped it up. He placed it in Johnny's hand and commanded, "Wash your face and neck at least. You'll feel better."

Johnny didn't move, his head stayed on his chest, eyes closed. Roy sighed and rolled his eyes, "Just like my kids." He grumbled as he washed the soot from his friend's face and neck then rinsed him off. He'd thought that the feeling of water on his face would awaken Johnny at least a bit but the most Roy got was one eye barely cracking open.

Roy sighed as he took a hold of both of Johnny's arms at the elbows and moved him the few feet into the bedroom. He stopped for a moment as he looked around. The first thing he noticed was how neatly everything was arranged, even down to the bed made up with a star pattern quilt on it. A beautiful picture of a mountain pool hung above the headboard and other tastefully framed scenes of landscapes decorated the walls. Several statues of carved animals graced a wood shelf set on the wall. And a large hoop wrapped with some sort of string with an intricate weaving in the middle and feathers hanging from the side twisted gently in the window over the bed. He wondered what it was and made a mental note to ask Johnny about it later. The only thing out of place made him smile as he glanced at the clock alarm on the floor.

He gently pushed the dark haired man down onto the bed. Johnny offered no resistance and Roy was instantly reminded of the many times he'd put his sleepy son to bed after a long day. He bent over and removed Johnny's shoes and socks. When he straightened back up, he found Johnny had laid down, his left arm now over his face. "No John, not yet. We have to at least get your dirty uniform off."

" 'm tired. Wanna sleep." Johnny muttered as Roy pulled him back into an upright position. Roy hid another smirk. He pulled both shirts off over the younger man's head as one, figuring it would be easier that way. Johnny made a muffled protest as his t-shirt hung up briefly on his ears, then gave a deep sigh once it was off. Roy then undid his partner's belt and pants, saying, "I'm kinda glad you aren't really there, junior, or this could be kinda embarrassing."

"Yes, Dad." Johnny mumbled. Roy stopped for a moment as the word caused a funny feeling in his gut. His mind instantly went in several directions at once as he looked up into Johnny's face. 'Is he . . .? No, his eyes are still closed. I don't think he's really there. He must be exhausted if he thinks . . . He never talks about his parents . .." Even as Roy thought it, he thought that was strange. As he let his mind dwell on that, he realized that for all his boasting about knowing Johnny's patterns, he actually knew very little about him personally. He finished undressing the unresisting man, swung his long legs up on the bed and then covered the younger man with the blanket. Johnny snuggled down into the sheets with a contented sigh and that left arm again rose up to cover his face.

Roy stood there for a moment, watching him sleep and feeling odd sensations of . . . of protectiveness? flow over him. Without realizing it, he folded Johnny's dirty and smoky uniform and placed it on the chair by the window, picked up the alarm and placed it back on the nightstand, then with one last glance at the deeply sleeping figure, turned and left the room. As Roy passed through the rest of the tiny apartment, he noticed more framed scenes on the walls and more items of definite American Indian origin. For a moment this puzzled him then he had an eye rolling moment as he realized, by physical evidence, his partner might very well be Indian. He didn't know; he'd never asked and his partner had never told.

"I might think I have your habits figured out but maybe I really don't know you." He mused, then after making sure Johnny's keys were on the coffee table and the door was locked, he left.

A tap on his arm startled Roy back to the present and he looked up into his wife's smiling face. "I think someone else needs to go to bed as well." She chuckled. Roy nodded with a tired sigh. He finished the last piece of his breakfast, drained the glass of juice his wife had poured for him and stood. He hugged her again and kissed the top of her head. He opened his mouth then stopped as Jo deepened her voice and said, "I love you, honey. I'm gonna take a shower now and try to get some sleep Wake me in about four hours ok?"

Her green eyes twinkled at him as he made a face. She squeezed him about the middle, "Now. Be truthful. Isn't that almost exactly what you were about to say?"

He shook his head and she raised one eyebrow in disbelief, "Rooooooyyy?"

He grinned and squeezed her back, "Nope. I was gonna say, I'm beat. Let me shower and then join me for a snuggle."

JoAnne giggled, "ooooo! Spontaneity, I like that! Tell me, fireman, do you think you have the strength?"

"Just try me," He growled and she squealed as he attacked her neck.

When Roy next opened his eyes, the first thing he noticed was he was alone, the next was the shrill voice of his daughter calling for her mother and Jo's lower voice in answer. A glance at the clock revealed the time was about 4:30 and his stomach rumbled. He pulled himself from the bed, pulled on a pair of jeans and a shirt and went off to find his family. His wife's smiling face greeted him first when he entered the kitchen.

"Hi! I figured you might be hungry since you missed lunch so I made you a sandwich to tide you over until dinner." She pulled a plate from the fridge, pulled the plastic wrap off it, and placed it on the table. "Milk or tea?"

"Tea," he answered and a tall glass of tea appeared next to his plate. He ate the sandwich and drank the tea, his eyes idly following his wife's movements as she moved around the kitchen, preparing the evening meal of a chicken casserole before placing it in the oven to cook. He could hear the voices of his children coming from outside as they played with some of the neighborhood children.

Once Jo finished, she poured herself a glass of ice tea and joined her husband at the table. Roy noticed she had a pad of paper before her and couldn't contain a groan of recognition. 'Great. She's got the ever present honey-do list already made up. I can hear it now, Now Roy, don't give me that. It's just a few things that really need to be done. If you get started now, you'll be done before supper. Honest, it won't take that long.' He mentally verbalized.

Jo looked at him and laid down her pencil, "Now Roy don't give me that. I just have a few things on this list and I'm sorry but they really need to be done." Suddenly her eyes narrowed and she moved slightly closer. Her voice sharp, she demanded, "Roy William! Are you predicting me again!?"

He pulled back, shaking his head, but the guilty flush to his cheeks gave him away. He tried a grin and took the list from her unresisting hand, saying, "I'll just get started on these right away." He glanced briefly at the paper and shrugged, "It's not that long, I'll be done before supper." He leaned over and kissed his wife quickly on the cheek and hastily moved toward the door, noting her still narrowed eyes watching him.

As he reached out and slid open the sliding glass door to the backyard, her cold voice stopped him, "One moment, mister." He froze. Slowly he turned to face his wife, the apologetic expression on his face quickly changing to confusion as he realized his wife was now smiling and her eyes were twinkling brightly. She pointed a finger at him and winked, saying, "Gotcha!" Still laughing she left the kitchen, leaving her husband standing partially in the doorway with his eyes wide and his mouth open.

As she busied herself in the laundry room, she could hear the start of the lawn mower. "Try to find me predictable, humph." She grumbled then smiled. She was going to enjoy the surprise she had planned to pull on her little-to-smug husband.

The rest of the Saturday went by peaceably, and with the list finally completed, and supper over, Roy relaxed in his recliner as he listened to the sounds of his children completing their nighttime routines. His thoughts went back to the morning and the strange feelings that he'd had worrying over his partner. 'Wonder how long Johnny slept today?', he mused. A glance at his watch told him it was now after 8:30. Almost before he realized it, he'd stood and had the phone's receiver in one hand and was dialing what was fast becoming a very familiar number with the other. He let the phone ring twenty times, with no answer, before he hung it up.

'Not home. I bet he decided to head out into the mountains.' He glanced out at the clear sky he could see from the back. 'Great weather. I bet he'll spend the rest of his days off camping.' In his mind he could picture his partner, tent pitched in one of the picturesque sights like he'd seen framed at Johnny's house. Briefly, he wondered if perhaps they were actual places Johnny had been in. 'Something else I don't know about him. I know he loves to camp and fish and hike whenever he can but I don't know where.' As he thought this, he again about those spectacular scenes. 'They looked like photos. I wonder where he got them.' He sighed as his mind's eye pictured Johnny relaxing next to a fire, head back as he leaned against a large log, watching the stars appear in a clear sky.

"Tired?" His wife's voice startled him and he turned to smile at her. "A little." He opened his arms and she willingly embraced him. "Well, I am too. The kids are down, why don't we call it a night as well."

Roy kissed the top of her head, "You read my mind, Mrs. DeSoto." She chuckled and headed off toward the stairs leading to their bedroom as Roy secured the doors before following her up.

The next morning was the usual rush before church; getting the kids dressed, finding that missing shoe under the bed for Chris, making sure Jenny had tied her tithing securely into the corner of her hankie. Finally, the kids were all dressed and waiting for their parents in the living room while Roy straightened his tie once last time, and Jo checked her hair in the mirror before she shooed her family out into the car.

Church went as church usually did, members there welcoming Roy since he often wasn't able to accompany his family because of his work schedule. Others asked him about the apartment fire still in the news since the cause was under investigation. Once the service and subsequent meet-n-greet afterwards was completed, Roy herded his family back into the car for the trip home. Once there, the kids eagerly shed their 'good' clothes for playwear and raced outside. With no less equal joy, Roy shed his suit and changed into a casual pair of slacks and shirt. Jo had headed immediately into the kitchen to check on the meal simmering in the crock-pot. As Roy headed toward the living room and the Sunday paper, she passed him headed for the bedroom to remove her dress. "Supper will be ready in about 10 minutes." She told him as she toed off her heels with a sigh of relief. "Roy, could you get the kids in, get them cleaned and have them help set the table?"

He kissed her cheek as he answered, "Right away, Ma'am." She swatted at him as he ducked out the door, chuckling.

After the prayers were said and plates were filled, the family set about enjoying their Sunday meal. In her usual enthusiastic way, Jenny was perched on the edge of her chair, both legs swinging wildly under the table. "Momma! When is Mrs. Ritter coming?"

"Not until 1:30." Her mother answered, dishing more green beans onto her scowling son's plate. "You will eat these, Christopher, and if you ever drop food down to the cat again, you'll finish the meal with your chair pushed into a corner."

"That's forever away!" Jenny complained.

"No it's not. It's only a hour away. Now sit right in that chair, young lady, and finish your supper." Grumbling under her breath, Jenny straightened in her seat and applied herself to her meal.

"What's happening at 1:30?" Roy asked as he took another helping of pot

roast.

"Vivian is taking the kids for the rest of the day. She'll be bringing them back late tonight." Jo answered as she buttered her bread and then bit off a piece. Roy frowned as he digested this information while finishing his dinner. This wasn't typical. Normally when he had a Sunday off, they spent the day as a family; playing in the park or taking a drive somewhere or watching TV or playing a game.

From the corner of her eye, Jo watched her husband puzzle over this announcement and gave a secret smile. 'Gotcha again, Mr. DeSoto. You who think he has me so well pegged. . .'

Soon the kids were asking to be excused and she let them, allowing her to enjoy the rest of her meal while Roy sipped his coffee. She let him stew a little longer before she causally mentioned, "Oh Roy, remember when I told you about that concert with the PCH Cruysers? The charity one?"

Roy nodded, wondering where this was leading. He knew his wife liked that band, even if he thought their music was a little too "hard rock" for him. He'd even looked into tickets for her, thinking that maybe they could invite Johnny along, that way Jo could have someone to gush about the band too. He knew Johnny liked the group, he'd seen several of their cassette tapes in his partner's Rover. However, the tickets still available had been way out of his price range so he'd done nothing.

Jo watched him as he nodded then gave a peculiar frown. "Well," she said as she poured herself a cup of coffee, "You know I listen to KLIV?' She waited for his nod again before she continued. "Well, they had a trivia contest about the band and I called in." Now she looked directly at him, her eyes sparkling with her growing excitement. "I won, Roy! Can you believe it! I won the contest!"

He smiled at her, "That's great honey!"

"Yes! Yes, it is! So I figure that we should leave right after Viv picks up the kids. There's bound to be a crowd, the concert's has been sold out forever. I even picked up a few things for us to take with us."

Roy blinked in surprise at her gushing. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on, you lost me. Go where?"

Now it was Jo's turned to blink at Roy. "To the concert of course. Didn't you hear me? I said I won."

Roy's brows dropped, "I heard that part. I just don't understand the 'going' part."

Jo rolled her eyes at the obliviousness of her husband. "I won tickets to the concert, Roy. That's where we are going."

Traffic began to back up off the access road as soon as Roy turned the car off the highway. He sighed as he thought of the long line before them. "Better hope they don't have any emergencies," he mumbled, "an engine or squad would never get through this mess in good time."

In her seat beside him, JoAnne rolled her eyes. She knew her husband was less than thrilled at this outing, although he'd never tell her that. Truthfully, she didn't care. She was just so glad to be on her way to an actual live concert of one of her favorite bands. She pulled the tickets back out of her purse and looked them over again. She recalled how she'd had butterflies in her stomach after she'd received the phone call telling her she'd won right after her husband had headed to bed the day before. While he was still asleep, she'd gone off to pick up the tickets and stopped at the grocery on the way back to pick up a few items. Now here she was, in the car, just mere miles away from the arena and mere hours away from the concert time.

With one eye on the traffic and one eye on his wife, Roy sighed. He knew how excited she was and wished he could feel better about it with her. Again he couldn't help but think that Johnny would've been the better choice to go with her. But he also knew that there was no way his wife would've gone for that. He gave another sigh as he resigned himself to an evening of loud music and a headache afterwards. Then he stopped as another thought came to him. 'hmmm, Jo really loves this group. I haven't seen her this keyed up about something since I took her to the homecoming game our last year in high school.' He grinned as he realized there could be some fringe benefits for him to have his wife so happy. With that possible prospect, he allowed a smile to come onto his face as he finally pulled the car into the already crowded parking lot.

Johnny looked out over the crowd amassing in front of him and swallowed—hard—with a suddenly dry mouth. A bottle of water appeared in front of him and with a grin over his shoulder, he took it and drank deeply. He turned from the milling human throng to his friend. Luke grinned back, "You're looking a little nervous there, amigo."

"BJ? Nervous?" Scoffed Mitch as he joined them. "The man runs into burning buildings for a living, Luke. Why would he be nervous?"

"There aren't a couple thousand people watching me when I do that." Johnny murmured, his gaze straying back to where he could see the crowds streaming into the arena even though he and the rest of the bands remained hidden from them.

Luke chuckled heartily and cuffed his friend on the back, moving the paramedic a good two feet. Mitch punched Luke in the arm, "Hey! Don't damage my drummer!"

Said drummer gave both a weak smile. Mitch laid a hand on Johnny's shoulder, his face suddenly serious. "Really man, we do really appreciate this."

Johnny gave a faint rendition of his lop-sided grin. "No problemo. Just like old times, huh?"

"Old times!" snorted a melodic voice. Lisa stepped up to the group, still dressed in her dressing gown. It was obvious she'd just come from having her make-up and hair done. The three men looked at her appreciatively. Mitch pulled her into a hug and kissed her head. Lisa returned the kiss to his chin, turned turn back to the others. "This is soooo much better than those old times. Open air, no heavy smoke trying to choke you as you try to sing, no grabby stinky men trying to cop a feel. Better pay. Hundreds of people screaming your name, hanging on your every words—watching your every move, listening to each and every note played, hoping that the performance they'll see will be worth the time and money they spent," She tilted her head and gave a coy smile, "Shall I continue?"

"Nope." Johnny replied, shaking his head. "You convinced me. I'm goin' home." He took two steps toward the exit before Mitch reacted.

Luke and Lisa laughed as Mitch grabbed the retreating man's elbow. "You aren't going anywhere but out on that stage in . . ." He glanced at his watch, "in three hours." He growled. Covertly he studied the man he had a hold of and noticed that the bantering had worked, the tautness in his friend's body had dissipated. He still absently twirled the sticks he held back and forth between his fingers but his shoulders were no longer hunched. He moved his arm upward and gave Johnny a gentle push. "Let's go back to the bus, have a drink of something wet and cool and relax."

"Ok," Johnny conceded. "I'll have a tequila bottle straight with salt and lime." Laughter echoed backstage as the group made their way through the mixture of musical equipment, wires, cables and people.

Roy sighed as he looked ahead of them. "Great," he muttered, "I love long lines about as much as Johnny and we know his opinion on them." The thought of his partner brought a small smile to his lips. He pictured himself where he figured his friend was, camping in some off-road place that he'd hiked to, a tent already set up with a warm comfy sleeping bag inside, a fire crackling away, the smells of roasting fresh fish caught in a nearby stream and coffee percolating in its pot mixing with smells of pine trees and wood smoke. He sighed with longing, 'Wish I was with you, partner.'

Jo reached over and grabbed his arm tightly giving a little jump of excitement. "I can't believe we are really here! Just think! In less then three hours PCH will be playing! Live! And I'll be there!" She gave two more little hops, her smile nearly splitting her face as she looked happily at him.

He couldn't help but grin at her excitement, it was catching. But as she always did, she saw right into him. "I know you're not really happy about this Roy." She hugged his arm tightly to her and laid her head on his shoulder. "Thank you for doing this for me." He chuckled and kissed her head. "I love you Mrs. DeSoto.'

"I love you too, Mr. DeSoto." She answered and handed him a small container. Thinking it was mints or some other kind of candies he opened it and shook the contents into his hand. To his surprise two plastic earplugs fell into his palm. He looked up into his wife's twinkling eyes and she laughed at his expression. "I thought they might help you to 'cope'" She made quotes in the air. He shook his head as he chuckled, placing the items back into the container and putting the container in his chest pocket.

The line had been moving slowly but steadily while this discussion had played out and now they found themselves at the entrance. Jo handed the taker her tickets. He read them over and smiled as he tore them and handed her back the ends. "Congratulations. Your seats are to your right and down. Enjoy the concert."

"Oh I will!" JoAnne bubbled as she placed the ends safely into her purse then hand in hand the two headed in the direction indicated. After several moments they found their seats and Jo clapped her hands like a little girl as she realized they were close enough to the stage to be able to see the band's faces easily but far enough away to not get neck strain by trying to look up and around to take in the whole stage.

"Oh Roy! These are great seats! Oh, this is perfect! I'll be able to get pictures!!" She pulled her small 110 camera out and made sure it was all ready to go. Roy merely nodded and tried to get comfortable, knowing they still had a long wait. The first band wasn't due on stage for another 45 minutes. He saw a man walking past carrying drinks from the concession stand and got an idea to kill time. "Hey Jo? I'm kinda thirsty. Wouldn't you like a drink?"

"Oh." Jo stopped her staring at the stage area and began to rummage around in the large carry bag she'd insisted they bring. She pulled out two bottles of coke, handed one to him and then pulled out a packet of chips as well. She handed one bottle and the chips to Roy and returned to her scrutiny of the stage area, hoping for that first peek at a performer.

Roy looked at the bottle in his hand and sighed. He should've known his wife would come prepared. He shrugged, opened bottle the bottle and chips and settled back in his seat to people-watch.

"Oh Roy Look! Look! I thought I saw Lucas Mendoza! Yes! It was him! He's standing over there with another man!" She pointed somewhere down by the stage off to the side. Roy tried to look interested but didn't really see what she obviously did. Jo stopped, a puzzled frown on her face, "I . . . I don't recognize him. He's holding sticks. A drummer? But it's not Vic Kimmel . . ." Jo was muttering.

Roy shrugged, "Maybe it's one of the other band's drummers." He tried to sound helpful. Jo's green eyes never left the two she stared at as she slowly shook her head. "Noooo," she drug the word out slowly. "No, there's something familiar about him though, the way he's standing. . ."

Roy sighed deeply and shrugged his shoulders as he turned his attention back to his drink and snack. "Oh, they've left now." She sat, her face still looking puzzled. "I swear I know him, but it wasn't anyone from the PCH . . ."

Roy patted her shoulder. "Well if he is a drummer for tonight, you'll get a better look at him later on." He comforted her. She shrugged, "I guess." She opened her own bottle and grabbed a few chips, munching on them as she went back to searching the stage area.

Johnny had changed clothes into something more 'band appropriate ware'. He had exchanged his dark blue button up cotton shirt for a quiana fabric one of the same style with an oriental pattern. The shirt clung to his body like real silk, outlining him from his muscular shoulders to his trim waist. He buttoned it up, stuffed it into his chocolate brown tight jeans, and refastened the beaded belt his aunt had made for him. That done, he carefully rolled up the sleeves to free his forearms. He grabbed a spare cloth and gave his freshly polished boots a few swipes. To complete his onsombo, he took out the clean bandana he usually kept in his hip pocket while working at Mrs. M's and carefully began rolling it.

A long whistle from the door caught his attention and wide-eyed he looked up.

"Hubba-hubba! My, you clean up pretty!" Lisa teased and watched the red flood upward from Johnny's exposed long neck, over his chin across his cheeks and up his ears. He bent his head back to the task at hand and when he had the cloth rolled into a tube, he fastened it around his forehead, tying it securely in back.

Lisa stepped up to him and with soft fingers rearranged his hair around the band then stepped back, looking at him with a critical eye. "Yeap. Now you look like a rocker." She was pleased to see that familiar lop-sided grin appear on his face. "So what's that supposed to mean? Just what does a rocker look like?"

She shrugged, "I don't know. I've never been able to figure that out myself."

He chuckled, then drank more water from the bottle she handed him, saying, "I know I don't have to harp on you the importance of staying hydrated like I hafta the rest of this ratpack."

He nodded, "Yeah, if there's one group of people who are very familiar with dehydration it's probably firemen."

"How's your voice?," she asked next, a slight frown on her face as she recalled the scene in the hospital the previous day.

He grinned again, "It's fine today. Like I said before, it was just a minor case of smoke inhalation. Nothing to worry about."

"Good to hear that, BJ." Mitch's voice announced his presence. He, too, looked his friend over critically then nodded. "Lookin' good there, BJ."

"I'll say." Vic agreed. "My clothes look better on him than on me." The others chuckled as Johnny's face tinted red once more.

Just then the band currently on stage ended their performance to the very loud cheers of the crowd. Johnny looked toward them, his face paling slightly as he swallowed hard.

Mitch stepped closer to his friend, his smile gentle as he reassured. "You'll do just fine, John. Relax, enjoy yourself."

Johnny looked at him and Mitch could see the anxiety in his brown eyes. "What if I mess up?" He murmured. "I know how important keeping the beat is in a song. This isn't just practice and it isn't like playing along with your recordings in Mrs. M's garage. This is the real thing in front of hundreds… thousands of people who have paid a lot to see your band, not some…some…"

"That's enough." Lisa's voice was harsh and Johnny blinked at her in surprise.

"BJ, you are part of our band. Didn't you hear Mitch before? You will always be part of the PCH Cruysers whether you're playing with us in concert or not. And as far as keeping the beat . . ." Her smile grew bigger as she giggled, "It's not like you're Stanley Wilson."

Johnny blinked at her then suddenly burst out into laughter, as did Luke and Mitch. "Man! I haven't thought about him in years!"

Vic looked confused. "Who is Stanley Wilson?"

"Oh let me tell it!" Mitch looked at the others and received nods from his wife and fellow band member and a hand flourish from Johnny. He turned to Vic, barely controlling his laughter as he related the tale. "Back when we were in high school, BJ, Luke and I all played in the marching band and the concert band. BJ also was a track star, a darn good one too. Some of his records still hold." He glanced at his friend who was once more changing colors. He continued, "Well, BJ had had a track meet the morning before our first fall concert. Unfortunately, he's taken a bad spill on the track."

"Bad spill, hell," Luke growled as he looked at BJ, "We all saw Straughten elbow you." Johnny only shrugged. He knew what had happened better then anyone but since none of the coaches had said anything, he knew there wasn't anything he could do. Under his breath, Luke told Vic, "That's ok. Straughten had a bit of an 'accident' himself later in the locker room." Vic glanced at Johnny, who hadn't heard the exchange, then back at Luke who gave a faint shake of his head. In a way, Vic felt kind of glad to hear this, even if he had nothing to do with what had happened obviously years ago.

"Anyway," Johnny took up the tale, "I ended up with some cuts and bruises and a sprained wrist so I couldn't drum."

"Cuts and bruises!" Now Mitch cut in again, "BJ, they were digging half the track out of your arms and legs!" Again Johnny just shrugged and looked nervously at the sticks in his hands. With a heavy sigh, Mitch went back to his tale, "So anyway. BJ here shows up to the concert sos he'll still get credit because Mr. Falkner was real uh… insistent on that. But his hands were so messed up he could barely hold a stick. So Mr. Falkner calls up Stanley Wilson to be the drummer." Laughter now took over and Mitch shook his head, helpless over his amusement.

"What's so funny is that while Stanley could play the drums, as far as doing drum rolls, complicated beats and all that, he had no sense of rhythm." Johnny added, his own eyes sparkling with mirth.

Vic looked at the four in open-mouthed surprise, "You're kidding right? A drummer with no rhythm?"

All four nodded, and Luke finished the tale, "You shoulda seen it! We went onto the stage and BJ here is standing next to Stanley with one stick and a wood block. He beat on it to help Stanley keep the proper beat on each piece."

Johnny giggled, "Yeah, I was his own personal metronome." He swayed from side to side while clicking his tongue and the other three band members dissolved into laughter.

Vic shook his head in disbelief. Just then one of the stagehands called out, "Ten minutes guys." Instantly Johnny sobered and his face lost a little color. Mitch stepped up to him.

"Do the songs just like we did in rehearsal and there'll be no problems." He smiled as he laid his arm over his friend's shoulder. He wasn't worried. The rehearsals had sounded as if they'd never been apart. Even the newer songs, Johnny kept right up with. When Sal had expressed his surprise, Johnny, with blushing, had confessed he would play along with the albums, adding his own unique touches to the drums of Vic.

Vic, who had been released in the morning, had come out of the bus to listen to them play the last few songs and had wandered back, shaking his head and muttering, "Man, I sure am glad he loves those sirens so much. My job would really be in trouble." The earlier animosity he had felt for this man, that the others talked about so happily, had left. Johnny had been the one to pick him up from the hospital, checking him over and listening carefully to the doctor's directions. Vic'd been a bit surprised when the dark haired doctor had teased the young paramedic in the way friends do with "And you, hose jockey, I've seen enough of you around here. Make sure I don't see you again until your next shift and you're in your blues and still vertical!"

"Johnny's been a patient here a time or two." The nurse wheeling Vic's wheelchair had leaned close and explained with a giggle. "He seems to have an inclination for getting a little banged up."

During the drive, Vic had asked Johnny about his job and once the younger man began talking, his face lit up and the words gushed forth. There was no denying he loved what he did. And Vic found himself genuinely liking this friendly fellow. Now he added his pep talk to the obviously nervous younger man. "You'll do great, BJ. I've seen you and heard you. Just let the drums talk to you and you talk to them and everything will be groovy." Johnny smiled his thanks to the other drummer and grasped his wrist, Vic returned the grasp, grabbing onto Johnny's wrist as well. The stage hand reappeared. "Five minutes."

"It's show time, boys and girls." Mitch intoned and Lisa stepped up and kissed him on the cheek. She did the same to Luke and Johnny who grinned at her, "Still do that, huh?"

She smiled, "Before every show. For luck."

The small break between the bands seemed like forever for JoAnne whose eyes never left the now darkened stage. Suddenly she gasped and grabbed onto Roy's arm, squeezing it hard. "I see movement! Oh! They're coming onto the stage! Oh Roy!"

Roy winced and slowly peeled his wife's fingers from his bruised flesh. "Yes, I see." He tried to say it with enthusiasm but there wasn't any need; Jo never heard him.

A loud hiss came over the loud speakers then a voice announced, "And now ladies and gentlemen, we're proud to present, the band you've all been waiting for . . . LA's own, The PCH Cruysers!"

The crowd reacted wildly as the lights went up and the heavy thud of the base drum began its steady rhythm, followed a few measures later by the bass guitar, then the lead guitar began as the band broke out into song. Jo sat transfixed; her eyes wide and focused only on the stage. Roy looked around, seeing similar looks on most of the people around him. With a sigh, he glanced at his watch, thinking, 'Well, this is the last band. Soon it'll all be over.'

When the song was over, the lead singer grabbed the mic and shouted to the crowd. "Hello LA!"

The crowd reacted again and the lead singer grinned, "We're happy to be back here where it all began. And we're so glad you all could come out tonight and join us. Now, enough talk, let's rock and roll!"

He turned and gave a nod to the drummer who began a fast tattoo on the edge of the snare. tataraparap tataraparap. Soon he added the bass drum as well. tataraparap (thud) tataraparap (thud) Then all the males began to sing. They finished the first stanza, then the drum broke out into a series of beats across the tom-toms and the guitars started. Roy watched the stage. Through the earplugs, he could still hear that music and he had to admit, it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. The lyrics made sense and there was a nice beat to the music. The band actually played on their instruments. A little surprised, Roy found himself beginning to enjoy it.

He watched the lead singer for several moments, then turned his attention to the bass guitar player. 'Man! That guy's huge! He's almost as big as that guy that nearly broke Johnny's arm a couple of days ago.' He shook his head in remembrance of the bruise he'd seen on his partner's arm.

Next he looked at the female playing the keyboard. She was pretty with long blonde hair swinging loose around her shoulders. Then the paramedic in him noticed something and frowning, he looked closer. Yeap, he hadn't imagined it. She was definitely pregnant and in her last trimester by the looks of her. He grinned, wondering briefly how that would affect the rest of the band. Just then Jo leaned over and said, "Lisa looks about ready to drop, don't you think? I bet Mitch is excited. This will be their first."

"Mitch?" Roy questioned. Jo nodded, "Yes, the lead singer and the keyboardist are married. They've been sweethearts since high school." She smiled into her husband's eyes. "Almost as long as you and I." He smiled back and then Jo returned her attention to the stage, singing happily along with the band.

Roy sighed, 'Why do people do that?' he wondered, 'Why pay all that money to listen to the band and then drown it out with your own singing? That song ended and the band immediately swung into another. Roy returned to his inspection of the band. The last member was the drummer. He watched as the man moved quickly around his set-up.

The light there was a bit dimmer and he squinted his eyes for a better view. There was something . . . something. . .

Roy frowned. 'I've never seen this band before.' he mused, 'I've only seen the covers of their albums when Jo's pulled them out, so why does something about that drummer seem . . . familiar?' Intrigued now, he focused all his attention on the seated figure, carefully watching every move he made.

He could see a slim man with lean tanned limbs. Dark hair which had fallen forward, covered the band of cloth wrapped around his forehead and provided only occasional glimpses of his eyes. He wore dark brown jeans and a buttoned up silky long sleeve shirt. The sleeves were rolled up over his biceps, just like . . . Whataminute . . . Naw, it couldn't be . . . Roy found himself focusing hard on those moving arms. Yes, one had a gauze bandage wrapping it from wrist to elbow. Surely it was just coincidence? Then he realized what he was trying to reason. 'With him, there is no coincidence. It has to be him!' "Johnny!" Jo turned to him, her face expressing her question. "You say something, Roy?"

Roy nodded, his eyes still glued on the drummer, trying for that one glance that would confirm his suspicions. Beside him, JoAnne sighed, "Look Roy, I know this isn't your usual kinda thing," She began, thinking her husband's problem was with his dislike of what he called, "Loud noise—not music" But he made a cutting motion with his hand, his eyes still staring straight ahead, "Johnny!" he said it out loud again. Jo looked around then back toward her husband. "What? Where?"

Roy broke out into a grin as he glanced at her, excitement on his face. "Jo. The drummer. I think it's Johnny!" Now Jo's eyes went wide as she stared at the figure in the shadows. "WHA?!" As she did, she noticed the man on the drums wasn't the usual drummer for the band, but the man she'd seen earlier talking with Lucas Mendoza. Could it be her husband's partner?

Just then the song ended and everyone gave voice to their appreciation of the concert. Once the noise died off, the lead guitarist came up to the mic. "I want to thank you all for coming and for giving generously to the Radnor Fund. Now we have time for a few more songs and we decided to make these special. Those of you who know us, probably noticed that tonight our regular drummer, Vic Kimmel, isn't here."

Murmurs went through the crowd as people acknowledge the truth in what he said. "He's alright folks, just a smack to the head, not anything important damaged." There was laughter as expected then he continued, "He'll be back with us soon. For those of you who have been following us since our mphmm days" Muffled words were spoken into the mic and the audience laughed.

Someone shouted out, "High School! Rock on!" Mitch looked out and gave a faint nod, "Uh huh. I know you didn't go to our high school then if that's what you think." More laughter as the heckler's friends tease him. "Anyway for those long timers, you might have recognized our original drummer who stepped in tonight for Vic. We want to thank BJ for being here. He took a break from his real job saving people's lives with the LA County Fire Department to come save our butts in this concert. I think he's done a pretty good job tonight, don't you folks?" The crowd's voice brought a blush to the already flushed face of the drummer who nervously twirled his sticks.

Mitch grinned at the rest of the band. He loved doing shtick like this and often indulged in it during a concert. He knew that Johnny would remember it too and had a good sense of humor. Hoping his friend would 'play along' with his skit, Mitch continued.

"So tonight, since BJ is here, we thought we'd do some of our original songs." He turned and looked over toward the drums. "Hey, BJ, you wrote this one for that cute thing that . . . " Right on as if cued, noisy drum rolls and clashing symbols drowned Mitch out. He shook his head slowly at the drummer who shrugged innocently. "Still have those uncontrollable urges to beat on things, huh?"

The crowd laughed as the drummer ducked his head, still twirling his sticks. Mitch grinned as he faced the audience once more, "As I was saying, BJ was a little shy in high school and there was this girl in his History class that . . ." Again rapid patter from the drums drowned him out. Mitch faced his friend again. Each time he opened his mouth, the drums drowned him out. Finally he put up both hands in surrender, "OK fireboy, stand down, I give."

The drummer relaxed in his chair and Mitch grinned at him. "You aren't gonna let me tell the tale, are you?"

The drummer shook his head, grinning lopsidedly back. Roy felt a charge go through him. That grin! He knew that grin!

Mitch nodded his head, "Uh huh. Well, I'll just wait until you're not around to tell it then."

"OH NO YOU WON'T!" The rest of the band chorused and the drummer ducked his head, convulsing in laughter. Mitch sighed heavily, "Alright. You guys win. I'll just say this next song was written by BJ and became our first hit."

This time the keyboard started out the song with the melody played mournfully, then the drums joined as well as the guitars. The lead singer sang while the others provided harmony and backup. Jo smiled brightly, "Oh! Desert Roads! They haven't played this in concert for years!" Roy nodded abstractly as he continued his surveillance of the drummer but he couldn't help listening to the lyrics also. 'Didn't the lead singer . . . what was his name? Oh yeah, Mitch, he said the drummer wrote this. He called the drummer BJ. Maybe it isn't Johnny. It sure looks like Johnny.' Roy stopped his self-monolog as he listened to the words.

I heard once long ago, life's like travelin' a road

And the scenery there's from the seeds we've sowed

You traveled with me, and you shared my load

Carelessly I pushed you away, and life's become a desert road

My life is like a desert road, all empty dry and so alone

Ohhh girl you were my substance, my food, my air and my drink

Without you life's flat, dreary, barren and so bleak

And now that you're gone my life's an empty desert road

I never realized I had it so goooood,

Never stopped to see, never understood

I'd change it all, take it back if I coooould

But it's too late now, my life's an empty desert road

I took you for granted, I'm ashamed to saaaayy,

Didn't know or care that I could lose you one day

I was wrong, I was foolish, let it all slip awaaaay

One day you walked out, and now my life's a desert road

ooouuuu, Baby! Baby come back!

Yeah, yeah a desert road!

I'm beggin' ya please! Please! Pleeeeeaaase!

Baby come back, my life's a desert road.

Crowd loved it, singing enthusiastically along with the band. The band finished to the rousing applause of the crowd. Mitch came back to the mic. "Are you having fun tonight!"

Crowd cheered. Mitch looked disgusted. "Oh, wonderful. My granny's bridge team can make more noise." Louder he asked, "I said, are you having fun tonight?" This time the crowd erupted with screams, whistles and foot stomping. Mitch smiled widely and looked toward the drummer. "Any more enthusiastic and we'll have to call your station to come hose them down."

The crowd laughed as the drummer nodded, "They'll come. They enjoy a party." His voice was muted since the mic was further in front of him then Mitch's but Roy's head came up at the sound of that oh so familiar voice.

Mitch looked back out to the crowd. "OK we had a blast from the past, now we'd like to do something new. This song we've just released and it seems to be doing well." He turned to the drummer again, "And gee, surprise, it's another one of yours, isn't it?"

The drummer shrugged and twirled his sticks. Mitch shook his head as he faced the crowd again. "There must be something in all that smoke at fires."

"Maybe that's not the only smoke!" Someone from the crowd yelled out. The drummer ducked his head and Roy could've swore he saw his face darken as everyone laughed. Mitch shook his head, "Naw, you don't know BJ then. The guy don't need drugs; he gets high just on life!" With that, he turned and began the next song. Jo crowed with excitement. "I love this song!" Oh, Roy, listen to the words; they're beautiful!"

Alone

Do I even have a place in this world?

Deserted

Worthless, unwanted no one cares at all

How can I go on?

Is there a point to all this?

Wish I could just disappear,

Just a useless waste in a useless space

Wanted

Could it be I finally belong?

Respected

A purpose, a duty, a reason to be

Now I must go on

I've found the point to it all

I know I belong somewhere

No longer a useless waste of space

As the last verse was sung, Luke looked over at Lisa, tilted his head toward Johnny then winked. Lisa smiled as she remembered their discussion the other night in the Emergency Room. As the last notes of the song died away, Luke found himself grinning at Johnny, who grinned back and gave a slight shrug of his shoulders. 'Yeah' Luke thought happily, "You have found where you belong and I'm happy for ya, BJ'

Once the crowd again became quiet, Mitch continued. "So tonight as our final song," The crowd interrupted him with groans and beggings of "no! Please more!"

Mitch smiled as he shook his head, "Sorry folks. We have a bus to catch and Lisa there needs her beauty sleep. Hell, I need my beauty sleep before the baby comes!" At this the crowd laughed again. Mitch made a gesture of submission to the fist Lisa waved in the air. Then Mitch turned back to the mic and continued, "For our last song, we're gonna do something really different for us. To let you really see what BJ can do, we thought we'd do a classic—one we used to do back in the day when we were still in high school." He turned to the rest of the group as he pulled his guitar into position, "You guys ready to rock?" All nodded.

Roy watched as the man he was now positive was his partner shifted slightly, changing positions and settling the sticks into his hands. The lead called, "One two three four" and immediately the drummer began beating out a familiar cadence. Within mere seconds, the bass and guitar joined him as the crowd went wild. Someone screamed, "WIPEOUT!" and Roy recognized the song. He watched, transfixed as the drummer worked his entire layout.

Johnny's hands moved from each drum so fast they were only a blur; the sticks nearly totally invisible. His right knee bounced as his foot beat the bass drum while his left leg operated the Hi-Hat. The lights caught on the symbols and flashed out reflections each time he hit them. Roy could see the grin on his friend's face from where he sat—stunned. Every part of his kinetic partner was moving, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that Johnny was in his element. The bass player and lead guitarist exchanged grins as they watched Johnny, happy to see their friend really rockin' it out.

As the song progressed, Johnny's motions became faster, although Roy hadn't thought that possible. The crowd picked up on the generated energy and screamed encouragement as they rocketed to their feet. All too soon, the final beats were hit and the final notes were strummed. The crowd was wild in their cheering. Roy could barely see through the people in front of him as he strained for another look at the drummer.

Roy could see the man's chest heaving with his rapid respirations, saw him wipe a shaky arm across his forehead but even from this distance Roy could also see the dark eyes shining bright and the mega-watt smile on the other man's face. The group took a few bows then turned and left the stage. Instantly Roy was on his feet, one hand clasped around Jo's wrist as he made his way through the crowd.

"Roy! Slow down! Roy!" his wife's protests finally reached his ears and he turned to see her stumble yet again. He stopped and she glared at him as she regained her balance, shoved her bag back up on her shoulder and slowed her breathing. He flushed briefly, "Sorry, I just got . . I just . . ."

She smiled and laid a hand on his shoulder, "You just want to go see if that 'BJ' is your partner. I understand. But Roy, we don't have to run a 40 yard dash to get to him." Roy nodded and headed off again, slower, picking his way through the crowd now.

He was close enough now he could see the workers breaking down the equipment. His gaze searched the area, trying to spot the lanky figure of the dark haired medic among all the bodies moving about in after concert clean-up. Finally, he heard a laugh as familiar to him as his own and headed off in its direction.

Johnny wiped the towel he'd been given by Lisa over his face and neck. He gave her a grateful smile as he took the water she offered next. "Drink BJ." She told him. "I know Mitch always loses about five pounds each concert and most of that is just in sweat. I saw how hard you were working out there and I bet you've lost twice that much." She poked him in the ribs, causing him to jump slightly. "And unlike Mitch, you don't have anything extra to lose!" He chugged the drink, not caring that the liquid overran his mouth and trickled down his chin and his neck. It felt too good. When he finally came up for air, Lisa dabbed at the dribbled water with a giggle. He smiled at her.

"Hey stick boy!" came a loud voice, "You tryin' to make time with my wife?" Johnny faced Mitch with a grin, "I tried, but I think she's too stuck on some crooner." Mitch laughed and slapped his friend's shoulder before clasping his hand tightly.

"That, my friend, was one great concert."

"Yeah, we haven't had that much fun since . . .since . . ." Luke paused trying to think of something.

"Since that show we did at the Shaffer's bar mitzvah?" Johnny teased and both Mitch and Luke burst out in laughter. Lisa rolled her eyes, "Oh, yeah . . . That was a blast . . .not!"

Johnny was still chuckling as he pulled the shirt over his head. He wet one end of the towel he still held and wiped the material over his neck and chest. An elbow bumped him and he looked up to see Vic. The other drummer smiled at him as he handed the paramedic his blue shirt back. Johnny grinned as he put it on, "Hey thanks man. And thanks for lettin' me step into your spot tonight." He tried to hand the quiana shirt back but Vic shook his head and raised a hand. "Keep it man. Consider it a souvenir."

Johnny grinned again and draped the shirt over his shoulder. "Thanks!"

Mitch came up and grabbed Johnny's hand, bumping his shoulder against the paramedic's as he did. "Hey thanks again man, for comin' out here. You really pulled us outta the fire." His other hand reached back around Johnny's back and he slapped him between the shoulder blades.

Johnny grinned and winked at Lisa, "Well, that is my job. Rescuing people from fires."

Mitch grinned back, his eyes showing his gratitude. "I know it. And if you're half as good a rescuer as you are on the drums, I know you're damn good at that."

"Oh, I don't know about damn good . .. . Mind you though from what I've seen, he's not really bad at either one, drums or rescue work." Another voice drawled and Johnny spun around, his eyes wide. "Roy! Jo! Uhhhh . . . Hi! I . . . ummm" he sputtered to a halt, not sure what to say at the two who stared at him as they'd never seen anything like him ever before.

Silence covered the group as Lisa, Vic, Mitch and Luke looked from their obviously shocked friend to the man who stood there, pinning the other man with his blue stare and the woman who looked back and forth between them all.

Finally Jo rolled her eyes as she glanced at her husband who still stared at a now fidgeting Johnny as if he'd never seen him before. "Since these two have been rendered speechless," she grumbled good naturedly, "I'll be the polite one and handle the introductions." She held out her hand, "I'm Joanne and this is my husband, Roy DeSoto. Roy is Johnny's paramedic partner."

Mitch now smiled enthusiastically at the couple and stretched out his own hand, "Hey! Cool! I'm Mitch Patterson lead singer for The PCH Cruysers and this is my lovely bride, Lisa. BJ was telling us earlier about his miracle worker of a partner. I'm so glad we did get to meet you."

Jo shook his hand, a little shell-shocked as she realized she was talking with one of her favorite bands. She once thought she'd only be able to listen to them on the radio or records, never did she dream she'd see them in concert and now she was talking with them in person! And about, of all things, her husband and his enigma of a partner. She shook herself and concentrated on what he'd said.

"Miracle worker? My Roy?"

Now Lisa laughed, "Shy BJ gets all glowing when he talks about your husband. He told us yesterday all about how your Roy talked him into becoming a paramedic, then helped him through the training then asked to be his partner."

Jo smiled, she's also seen the way Johnny watched her husband, how he looked to him for approval and guidance. She smiled back at this woman, suddenly feeling a kinship with her. "So, according to what you said on stage, you've known Johnny since high school? Wow!"

Lisa nodded, "Yeap, since he was a scared transfer student into our English class. The boys were all in band together too. I was in choir. Once while they were helping me practice, we got the crazy idea to form a band and well . . ." She shrugged as she looked at the others, "Here we are!"

Roy had finally overcome some of his shock and tilted his head at his partner. "So you're a big rock-n-roll singer. And when were you gonna tell me this, partner?"

Johnny's face reddened as he replied, "I'm not any rock-n-roll singer, Roy." He jerked his head toward his friends, "They are. I'm just the kid they helped out in high school."

"Don't let him fool you." Vic interrupted, "He's every bit a member of the band and tonight should have proved that to him."

Luke and Lisa nodded as Mitch added, "You were with us when we were singing for free and for pennies at birthday parties and in smoky clubs. You were there with us when we cut our first hit record. You are on that, your name's right there in the credits and you know it. Our paths may have divided before we made it big, but never forget you are there with us."

Lisa punched him in the arm, "Yeah, fireboy. Haven't you been listening to us all weekend. Shhesshh!"

Johnny ducked his head as he rubbed his arm, "Ok, Ok, I get it, I get it."

"And don't you ever forget it, BJ!" Mitch said.

"BJ. Why do you call Johnny BJ?" Roy asked. John made a strangled sound as Lisa answered, her eyes twinkling. "That's the fault of our high school English teacher; she gave him that nickname. She said she had too many 'Johns' in her class and couldn't keep them straight. So John Hoffman became 'John', John Williams was already known as 'Johnny', John Thomas became 'Tom' and John Gage became 'BJ' as in 'Baby John' because he was the youngest."

They all laughed as Johnny's tanned face darkened with his blush. Behind them the bus doors opened and Sal hollered out, "Come on guys we gotta be in Seattle in three days! He grinned at Johnny as he added, "There's still room for one more, BJ!"

Johnny waved back, "No thanks, I kinda like it here."

Sal nodded "Any time, man, anytime." He disappeared back into the bus. Vic reached out and clasped Johnny's hand. "You name the place, and we'll have another set of drums on stage and waiting for you, man."

Johnny nodded, "Thanks man. I appreciate it."

Vic touched the bandage on his head, "Not as much as I do, man, not as much as me." He waved one last time as he stepped into the bus.

"Com' here, little cousin." Luke growled as he reached out and dragged Johnny into a one armed hug. Johnny let out a 'ommphh' and a squeak as he all but disappeared into the larger man's chest. "Breathing! Luke! Breathing good!" He gasped and laughing Luke released his friend. Johnny took exaggerated breaths as Luke laughed. "You're just too skinny, BJ, you need to haul more hose or something'"

"I'll suggest that to Cap next shift," Roy drawled. Johnny rolled his eyes. "Great," he grumbled, "Just what I need."

Luke laughed again, grabbed Roy's hand in a strong handshake as he said, "Take care of him for us, ok? If he's like he was back then, trouble just seems to follow him."

Roy nodded, "Still does."

Luke looked at Jo, their eyes meeting and unspoken communication passed between them. Jo blinked, a little surprised. She saw the worry coupled with a sense of passing on responsibility in those dark eyes. She instinctively knew that the big man was asking her to look out for his friend, something she found herself more than willing to do. She looked at Johnny and Luke could see the affection in her eyes. He smiled and nodded. "It's been really great meeting you. Hopefully, we'll get to see you again. Maybe even have a longer visit next time."

Jo nodded, 'We'd like that. Any friends of Johnny's are welcome at our house." Luke gave Johnny one last slap on the back, knocking him nearly off his feet, then still chuckling, he, too, stepped into the bus.

Sal reappeared, looking pointedly at his watch, "Mitch baby, come on man. Time! Time!"

Mitch rolled his eyes, "Ahh, the price of fame; we never get to stay in one place long."

"Well we better land in one place for a while," Lisa grumbled as she rubbed her belly, "I refuse to have this young one in that bus. I spend too much time in there as it is. I want a nice soft hospital bed with a real doctor and nurses and a cart full of drugs for this birth."

Johnny feigned shock. "Why Lisa!" He gasped, "In high school you were a big advocate of doing it all natural, you know like the Indians and the Africans tribefolk do."

Lisa punched him none to gently again in the arm, "That was before I watched my best friend go through two days of labor." She emphatically shook her head, "Uh uh, no way, not me man, not cool, not cool at all."

Jo nodded at her, her eyes sympathetic as the guys all laughed.

"BJ, if you ever get tired of running into fires, give me a call. Anytime; anywhere, man." Mitch again clasped his friend's hand, his eyes sparkling. Johnny grinned back, his own eyes as bright, "You know it man, And hey, you two, don't be strangers. You know where I am." He nodded toward Lisa's protruding belly, "And if you're in the area and need me . . ."

Lisa laughed, "I know. Call Squad 51 but only the A shift." She leaned forward and placed a kiss on Johnny's cheek. "I'll make sure we stay in touch, BJ. You know Mitch, he'd be lost without my directing him." He nodded; he did know how much they both depended on each other. Just like he saw between Roy and Jo; it was as he thought it should be with a couple and what he longed to have himself one day. With a final wave, the couple climbed aboard the bus and it slowly pulled out.

Johnny watched until the taillights had disappeared and let out a heavy sigh. Strangely, he found himself feeling a little lonely at the moment, but that passed as he felt a soft arm entwine with his. He looked down into a pair of bright green eyes and smiled. "They'll be back someday, Johnny." She softly told him as she briefly rested her head against his arm, "And until then you have us."

He nodded and squeezed her hand where it rested on his bicep. He turned then and faced his partner whose face still held a look of unbelief. Johnny tilted his head and asked, "Roy?"

Roy shook his own head. Johnny's face took on a more puzzled expression. "Roy? Something wrong?"

"You."

Johnny placed his hand on his chest as he squeaked, "Me? What do you mean 'me'? What's wrong with 'me'?"

Roy rolled his eyes and shook his head again. "Partner, you never cease to amaze me,"

Johnny looked at him and blinked. "Why's that?"

Roy punched him in the same spot Lisa had, grinning as Johnny mouthed 'Oww' and rubbed the area before the senior paramedic continued, "You! A drummer in a big named band??"

"You knew I was a drummer." Johnny looked puzzled.

Roy emphatically shook his head, "No junior, I knew you drummed on things, usually the squad's dash. That's not the same thing."

Johnny shrugged, "Well, it's not something that was easy to slip into our everyday conversations. Roy, Rampart says IV ringers TKO and oh by the way, I used to be a rock star before I became a rescue man."

A burst of laughter broke out of Jo and Johnny grinned at her, causing the laughter to increase. Roy, however, just sighed that long-suffering sigh. As he did, Roy realized maybe he didn't have Johnny all figured out into a nice neat package. A part of him dreaded that he might never fully understand this man/child he'd taken as his partner. His look as he stared at Johnny was a mixture then of horror, respect and resignation.

"Just what do you mean by that?" Roy couldn't stop the words that burst from him. He like his nice neatly ordered world but that feeling of dread inside told him that as long as Johnny was around, he might never see it again. Part of him felt trepidation over it, and yet that part that had felt that glow of protectiveness the other morning looked forward to it. "How many other surprises do you have hidden away? Are you a prince or something incognito?"

"No, Roy. Nothing like that.' He rolled his eyes as he tried to think of the words to explain. "I'm just me, nothing special, no one special. Drumming is part of who I am, just like being a runner and being a rescue man." Johnny looked at his partner, saw the way he was looking at him and remembered his own inner conversation the day before. It was time to let others into his inner circle and he might as well start now.

He gave a shrug. "I can't really help it. It's the rhythm. I guess you could blame it on blood though." He said, his eyes twinkling. Jo stifled a giggle and he winked at her.

Roy, however, looked suspiciously at him. "Blood, you say."

Johnny nodded.

Roy glanced at his wife, noted her hand over her mouth and her failure to smother her constant giggles, then looked back at his partner, one eyebrow cocked in his consternation.

"Ok, junior, I'll bite. Just what does blood have to do with it?"

Johnny shrugged, "I'm Indian."

Roy knew somehow he was swallowing a hook but he couldn't for the life of him see where this was heading so with a patient sigh, he replied. "Yes. I figured out you're Indian. What does that have to do with it?"

"Us Indians have always had good rhythm." he smirked. "It's all in the blood." With that, he slightly hunched his body, straightened his arms and extended them slightly out from his body. At the same time, his voice lifted in a sing-song chant while his feet rapidly moved in the traditional steps of a tribal dance. Then he began to rapidly spin, his shoulders slightly tilted so his arms resembled the wings of a soaring bird. In that instant, Roy had a flash of his partner dressed in deerskins; with braided hair, decorated feathers and beads flying around his lithe body. Without breaking rhythm, Johnny smoothly straightened up, shoved his hands in his pockets and walked jauntily away, whistling.

Roy blinked and shook his head as the image of a traditionally outfitted warrior was replaced by the familiar figure of his partner sauntering away. Johnny stopped, glanced back over his shoulder and gave a Gage grin. "Hey! I'm hungry! Let's go already!"

Jo laughed and followed him while Roy still stood, too shocked to move. Then he shook himself, and shaking his head followed after them, muttering again, "Partner, you never ceased to confound me." 'Just when I think I know him so well,' he thought. Then he realized Johnny and Jo were leaving him behind, and Jo had the keys. "Hey. Hey! Wait up! Johnny! Jo? JOHNNY!" He broke out in a run as he heard his partner's laughter ring through the night air.

Epilogue

Monday morning found A-shift straggling in to an empty fire station. Both the squad and engine were still out on an early morning run. So, as each man dressed, they headed into the kitchen for a cup of firefighter's sustenance.

Johnny was the last man into the locker room and quickly changed. As he was finishing up, he was surprised when Mike Stoker walked over to him, a smile on his face. Johnny looked up from where he sat on the bench, removing his tennis shoes. "Mike?" He asked.

Mike's smile grew bigger and he clasped his shiftmate's shoulder, "Good Job, Johnny."

Johnny blinked, his dark eyes showing his bewilderment, "Uh, gee, thanks?"

Mike tightened his hand as he walked past. Before he left the room, he turned around and spoke again, "I always liked your version of Naked Hearts better that Vic's." With that, he exited, leaving a wide-eyed, fast breathing, paramedic behind.

Marco looked up at Roy as the senior paramedic entered the kitchen and smiled, "Hey Roy! So how was your weekend?

Roy shrugged, "Saturday and Monday were normal; sleeping, chores, playing with the kids."

"So predictable huh?" Chet asked. But to his surprise, Roy screwed up his face, "No, hardly predictable. Sunday. Now Sunday was full of surprises.

He looked around, seeing he had the attention of each man in the room now added, "Jo won free tickets to that big charity concert they held in Blazdell. We spent most of Sunday there."

"Was it good?" Chet asked, interested. "I tried to get tickets but couldn't. I really woulda've like to have been there. PCH doesn't often get back here and I really wanted to hear them."

"I'd heard they were sold out like months ago." Mike added as he glanced up from the paper he was reading.

"Yeah, it was pretty crowded. The music was alright, I guess. I'm not really into that kind of thing. Jo liked it though. She's a big fan of some group that played." Roy said.

"Good morning, good morning, good morning!" Johnny announced as he bounced into the kitchen. He slapped his partner's back as he passed, nearly making him choke on his coffee.

"Oops, sorry 'bout that." He giggled as he headed toward the pot to pour his own drink.

Roy looked at him and shook his head.

"So what did you do this weekend, Gage? Lie around the house in your shorts, wishing you had some kinda life?" Chet chuckled to himself over the thought.

"No," Johnny glared at the mustached man before he turned back to the pot. He poured himself a coffee and pulling out a chair next to his partner, sat down. "For your information, Chet, I had a very busy weekend. I met up with some old friends, preformed a rescue on some celebrities in both a diner and in the park and finished off the weekend by playing a concert with a rock band." Johnny said with a hint of a smile as he fondly remembered his weekend and sipped his coffee. Roy rolled his eyes at his partner's words and Johnny gave a muffled snort as Roy elbowed him.

Chet stared at him for a few seconds then burst out laughing, "Right Gage, Sure you did. Not even in your most delusional dreams, man." He laughed harder at the look Johnny threw at him. "I bet you spent the entire weekend alone in your pathetically tiny apartment and the only concert you played was along with your radio." He tried to get a handle on his laughter as he took a drink. "I gotta admit, Gage, you can make up whoppers. Too bad you can't catch any!"

Johnny's brows turned downward and his lips pulled into a thin line. "Fat lot you know, Chet." He muttered as he emptied his cup and left the kitchen.

Chet turned to the others, pointing his finger in the direction where Johnny had disappeared. "Can you believe him? What a load of BS!"

"Chet, after nearly two years at this station, if you've learned one thing about Johnny it should be that he doesn't lie." Roy reprimanded as he, too, left the kitchen.

Chet scoffed, "Yeah right. I'll tell you the one thing I have learned, and that's that Roy will always take Gagey-boy's side even when he is lying through his teeth."

"Oh really?" Mike said as he laid the entertainment section of the paper in front of Chet. Chet's eyes were drawn first to a picture of a dark haired man partially visible sitting behind a set of drums, then he read the caption. "Mystery Drummer Pitch Hits For Injured Kimmel."

He looked up and said, "So?"

"Read the rest," He told the Irishman before he, too, walked out. Chet shrugged and started reading the article out loud. "Victor Kimmel, drummer for The PCH Cruysers, missed playing with his fellow band members for the Radnor Charity concert on Sunday due to a minor injury suffered during a practice session on Saturday. Aid was immediately rendered by an off duty paramedic, according to eyewitnesses, before Paramedics arrived on scene. Kimmel was quickly taken to Rampart General Hospital where he spent the night. Sources say he will be sufficiently recovered to finish the rest of PCH's scheduled eight city tour.

However, what most want to know was, who was the incredible drummer who did play the concert in Kimmel's place? Although lead singer Mitch Patterson hinted that the substitute had been with the band when it first started, referred to him as "BJ" and made a reference to the drummer being a member of LA County's Fire Department, no further information was given and none of this would be confirmed by official sources.

Whoever he was, those that got to hear the concert were treated to a rare performance of vintage PCH with a flair that hasn't been heard in their music since their first record. A wonderful treat, well worth the ticket price."

Chet finished and exchange looks with Marco before both leaned in closer to scrutinized the picture, then turned—wide eyed in disbelief—toward the bay where they could hear someone tapping a fast rhythm on the squad's compartment door.

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Author notes. Hope you liked it. The story about the rhythm-less drummer is true, he was in my son's school band. The daydream I had came while listening to a station that only played songs from the '60's and 70's. When I heard Wipeout, I could suddenly see Johnny Gage playing the drums. The story came from there.