OIP14

Roy made coffee in the morning and waited for Johnny to wake up. All he had been told by his captain was pick up Gage at the airport, take him home, and watch after him for a few days. Stanley could be as tight lipped as the next man and this time he wished he had been more forthcoming. His friend's condition didn't help the questions swirling around in his head, nor did the multitude of medications Gage came home with.

Hearing groans from the bedroom, DeSoto made his way to Gage's bedroom to make sure he was still alive. He found his partner sitting up against the pillows, still half asleep and frowning. Gage's hair was sticking up in odd places and his eyes still had a glazed look to them.

"Mornin," Roy gave a nice toothy grin to his paramedic partner.

"If you say so," Johnny slowly moved up from lying down to sitting up and fluffed the pillows behind him. "Ow." He tried grinning only to find it hurt and then winced.

DeSoto looked up and down the body of his friend, "Tell me Johnny, is there any body part that doesn't have a bandage on it?" He smiled.

"Very funny, Roy. But let me tell you I'm never goin' back to Hawaii in my life. That, my friend, is a killer," Gage groaned. "Man, I hurt all over."

"Coffee?" Roy offered.

The dark haired man nodded. Roy disappeared and brought in a big mug of coffee along with some toast.

"Man Roy, you won't believe what happened to me when I went to Hawaii," Gage looked at the knowing glance of his friend. "Well, maybe you will."

Roy took a hold of his cup and sat down on the floor next to John's bed.

"So are you going to tell me what happened or not? It's not everyday you get a police escort home, you know," Roy was getting impatient.

"Oh that," Gage rolled his eyes. "Overkill man. It's not like he can kill me here, you know."

"Kill you? My God Johnny, just what the hell happened in Oahu?" Roy shook his head, not believing his friend's nonchalance.

"Well these are all his misses. Let's see first it was parasailing, and then snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, then horseback riding and then point blank range. Yeah, all and all I had a vacation I'll never forget," Johnny sighed and then grinned.

Roy sat there, his mouth open and wide eyed.

"You're freakin' joking right Johnny? Seriously, it was just another Gage trip right?" Roy took a long hard sip of his coffee.

"Roy, man, does this look like a joke? Yeah, I called Vince and told me to meet up at the airport and hey; I even called the Chief since we're such good friends. Man, I hate Hawaii," Johnny leaned back into his pillows and grimaced.

"Well let's get you something to eat and then you can tell me from the beginning, huh?" Roy stood up, patted his friend on the shoulder and disappeared to the kitchen

****

A few hours later, Roy was still dumbfounded with John's description on what happened. Only John Gage could get into something like this and more.

"Was she pretty—I mean your seatmate?" DeSoto looked at his bachelor friend hoping John had gotten a date.

"Roy, she was in the bathroom all the time. I think she was airsick and no, I didn't ask her out. Man what gets me is I rode first class and fell asleep," Johnny took a pain pill. "Pally I'm going back to sleep, 'kay?"

"Sure Johnny. I'll go watch some TV," Roy closed the door and walked to the front room. Glancing out the window he could still see a police car. He felt safer with it there.

****

DeSoto stayed until he was sure Johnny could maneuver around and said goodbye. Gage had sworn him to secrecy since he knew Chet would have run Johnny ragged with his trip.

Going into shift he was again stuck with Brice and no doubt he would be ready to punch the guy out if he didn't have an outlet. Stanley shrugged and hoped for the best.

******

Johnny was happy to be at work as he pulled his Rover in. Getting out he grabbed a paper sack filled with surprises. Gage hadn't seen DeSoto since he left and hoped he would like the gifts.

Walking to the locker room whistling, Gage felt better and his Hawaiian vacation didn't look so bad after all. Williams had assured him he didn't have to come back to testify against the Grey Ghost and if and when he chose to go back to Hawaii it would be another island like Kauai or Maui.

After roll call, everyone went into the dayroom and Johnny distributed the surprises he had found in his suitcase once he was over his disappointment, and looked at the happy faces.

Everyone got chocolate covered macadamia nuts and fun key chains, the dark haired paramedic also found a new camera, sunglasses and a couple copies of newspapers, which he would show no one. But the thing that impressed him the most was there were photographs of his vacation, he knew they were by the officers guarding him but no one would know that except Roy.

The guys were around the table as Johnny was passing around the photos and answering questions. The phone ringing interrupted their discussion and Hank went to answer it.

"Gage, phone call," Stanley came back into the dayroom.

"Huh, wonder whose calling," Johnny made his way to the office. "John Gage," he said into the handset.

"What do you mean I have to testify?" Gage sat down on the chair. "You said the girl was going to."

"What do you mean she disappeared?" John swallowed hard. "You think I'm crazy or something detective?" He stood up again.

"Yeah same to you, buddy," Johnny stood up. "Well these are my demands, Detective," the paramedic said with conviction. "First off I want to fly first class and with an escort, second you're going to put me up in some nice hotel and not some freaking safe house, and once this is all over I want an all expense paid week vacation to Maui, otherwise I won't go," John felt sure the state of Hawaii wouldn't do it. Besides he had no intention of going back.

"Huh?" John couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You will? You are?" Johnny sat down on the chair again, deflated. "Well, arrange things through the Chief. Aloha to you too, pally." Gage set the handset back in the cradle and walked shoulders slumped back into the dayroom.

Roy looked at his worried partner and ran up to him.

"Johnny, what the hell is the matter?" Roy touched his forearm.

"I have to go back to Oahu Roy, can you believe it? It's just incredible and they met my demands, seriously they did. What am I going to do?" John's chin hit his chest.

"Well you know what they say," Roy grinned. "Here today, gone to Maui."

"Very funny Roy. Very funny," Johnny's shoulders drooped as he headed into the dayroom and started answering questions about his photos.