Roy had been home for three days when Joanne invited Johnny for a Saturday afternoon cookout.  John had contemplated turning the invitation down.  The few times he’d been around Chris in recent days made it clear the teenager preferred not to be in his presence.  But upon giving it further thought Johnny decided he wasn’t going to let a sixteen-year-old ruin the relationship he had with the DeSoto family.  He hoped time would lessen the anger Chris still held toward him.  He hated the think of their relationship as being permanently damaged.  After all, Chris and John were probably the closest Johnny would ever come to having sons of his own.  And that’s how he thought of all Roy’s children.  He loved each of them with the same amount of love and devotion he’d give his own kids if he were to have any.

 

     Johnny arrived at two o’clock that afternoon.  Joanne immediately directed him to the deck where Roy and Chris were sitting.

 

     “We’ve had so much rain the last few days that Roy and Chris decided to soak up a little sun.  We’ll eat about four,” the woman said as she handed Johnny a cold Coke.  “Jennifer’s at a church youth group meeting.  She’ll be home in an hour or so.”

 

     “Where’s my little pally?”  Johnny asked as he looked into the backyard but saw no sign of John on the swing set or in the sandbox.  “Taking a nap?”

 

     “No.  I walked him two houses down - to the Milligan’s, a little while ago.  They have a son. . .Kyle, who’s also three.  Sharon and I take turns watching the boys when they want to play together.”

 

     “Sounds like a good deal,” Johnny agreed, knowing John wasn’t old enough to be left to play outside by himself yet without someone keeping an eye on him.  Like most three year old’s John’s curiosity sometimes got the best of him.  The last thing Joanne would do was risk the boy wandering

off somewhere.

 

     Johnny observed the various food items setting on the counter.

 

     “Need me to help you with anything?”      

 

     “No.  With John out of the house I’ve got it under control.  If I need any help I’ll call Chris in.  You go on out to the deck and say hi to your partner.”

 

     “Okay.”

 

     Johnny slid the screen door open and stepped out on the deck. 

 

     “Hey, Roy.”

 

     Roy smiled up at his friend from where he sat in a well-padded lounge chair.

    

     “Hey, Junior.  Have a seat.”

 

     Johnny took the chair next to Chris.

 

     “Hi, Chris.”

 

     When the boy didn’t say anything in return, but instead kept staring out over the backyard, Roy beckoned,  “Earth to Chris.”

 

     The teenager acted as though he’d been oblivious to what was going on around him.

 

     “Huh?”

 

     “Your Uncle Johnny just said hello to you.”

 

     “Oh.”

 

     When the boy said no more than that Roy spoke again.

 

     “Christopher, that usually means you say hello in return.”

 

     “Yeah.  Sure.  Hi, John.”

 

     Roy chuckled.  “What’s with calling him John?”

 

     “Nothing,” Chris scowled.  “I’m just getting a little old for the ‘Uncle Johnny’ routine, wouldn’t you say?”

     Roy had no idea what had gotten into his normally easy-going son this afternoon, but he could tell Chris’s words hurt Johnny even though the man was doing a good job of trying to hide that fact.

 

     “Chris--”

     Chris interrupted the scolding he knew he was about to get by standing and heading for the patio doors.

 

     “Where are you going?”  

 

     “I’ve got some homework to do.”

 

     “On a Saturday afternoon?”

 

     “Yeah.  Big test on Monday.”

 

     “Well. . .okay then, go on.  We’ll see you at supper.”

 

     “Yeah, see you then.”

 

     Chris patted Roy on the shoulder as he passed him.  Because the boy was now behind his father Roy didn’t see the dark scowl his son shot Johnny.  Johnny saw it; however, and interpreted it correctly.

 

     What are you doing here?  Dad and I were perfectly happy sitting on the deck by ourselves and then you had to show up.

 

     In all the years Roy and Johnny had been partners Roy never before had to apologize for any of his children’s behavior.  He didn’t like being put in that position now, and made a mental note to talk about it with Chris later.

 

     “I’m sorry.  I don’t know what got into him.”

 

     “Don’t worry about it.”  Johnny took a swallow of Coke.  “He’s been pretty upset over your injuries.  Cut him a little slack for the next few weeks.”

 

     “Yeah, I suppose it has been rough on him.  Him and Jennifer both.  This is the first time I’ve been hurt since they’ve been old enough to fully understand the  ramifications of it.”

 

     “Exactly.  It was a tough couple days for both of them.  Even more so for Chris because Jennifer was distracted with caring for John, but Chris was the one at the hospital with Joanne every day.  Not an easy role for a sixteen year old to have to assume.”

 

     “That’s true.  But still, that’s no excuse for him to be rude to you.  I’ll talk to him about it after you leave tonight.”

 

     Johnny shrugged.  “Like I said, don’t worry about it.  He’s by far not the first sixteen year old kid who’s gotten a little mouthy, and I’m sure he won’t be the last.”

 

     Johnny changed the subject then and the two men spent the next hour talking shop.  It would be several weeks before Roy would be able to return to work.  He knew by the time his cast came off and he got medical clearance he’d be going out of his mind with boredom.

     Chris’s surliness was made up for when Jennifer arrived home.  She bounced onto the deck and gave Johnny a kiss on the cheek.

 

     “Hi, Uncle Johnny.”

 

     “Hi, Jenny Bean.  How’d your meeting go?”

 

     “Great.  I even got elected to be youth council president.”

 

     “That’s my girl.”

 

     Jennifer sat down on the end of her father’s chaise lounge.  He smiled at her. 

 

     “Good for you, Jen.  I’m proud of you.  Maybe you’ll even get Johnny to go to church now.”

 

     “Ha, ha, Daddy.  Only if I can get you to come first.”

 

     “Yeah.  Ha, ha, Daddy,” Johnny said from his chair.  “Real funny.”

 

     Jennifer stayed outside and listened to her father and Uncle Johnny tease one another until her mother called her in to help with supper.  Johnny walked over to the screens and asked, “Joanne, do you want me to start the grill?”

 

     “If you don’t mind.”

 

     “No, I don’t mind.”

 

     With that Chris threw the screen door open and stomped onto the deck.  He brushed against Johnny, deliberately knocking him backwards. 

 

     “I’ll do it. If my dad can’t cook then I’m the one who will do it.”

 

     Roy forgot about his taped ribs as he pushed himself to his feet.

    

     “Christopher, I don’t know what your problem is this afternoon but I’ve had just about enough of--” 

 

     Roy wasn’t able to finish his sentence.  A woman raced through the DeSoto back yard in tears calling for Joanne.

 

     “Joanne!  Joanne!”

 

     Joanne stepped onto the deck.  “Sharon?”

     “The boys!  Are they here?”

 

     “Here?”

 

     “Yes.  They were playing in the sandbox.  I was right out there with them but then the phone rang.  I told them to stay put and ran into the house. I wasn’t inside for more than a minute.  Honest I wasn’t.  When I came back out they were gone.”

 

     “Gone?”

 

     “I’ve looked in my house and garage thinking they might be hiding, but I can’t find them.  Frank’s already started searching the neighborhood.”

 

     Johnny assumed Frank was the woman’s husband, but at this point that mattered little.

 

     “What direction did he go?”

 

     “To the west of our house.”

 

     “I’ll go east then.”  Johnny looked at Roy’s wife.  “Joanne, you take Jennifer and head north.  Chris, you go south.  We’ll meet back here in thirty minutes with or without the boys.”

 

     Joanne and Roy knew what Johnny was thinking.  Two three olds shouldn’t be able to travel very far.  It was reasonable to assume that with them canvassing the neighborhood in all directions they could find the boys in that amount of time.  If not, then they’d need to get help from the police and fire department.

 

     Roy reached for the cane he still had to use because of his weak right leg.

Johnny stopped him.

 

     “We’ll handle it, Roy.  You stay by the phone in case a neighbor calls to say the boys are at their house.  And if there’s any place you can think of John might go, call and see if he’s there.”

 

     “Johnny, he’s three years old!  Where the hell do you think he’d go?”

 

     “Other kids’ homes he plays at for starters.  Or to that older lady’s who lives down the street, the one with the puppy he likes to go see.”

 

     “Mrs. Carney.”

 

     “Yeah.  Call her.  Maybe he and Kyle are there.  Or will stop there.”

    

     At this moment Roy couldn’t remember a time when he’d been more grateful for Johnny’s presence.  When he couldn’t keep his thoughts straight because of his worry for his youngest child he could count on Johnny to know just what to do.

 

     Johnny turned to Sharon.  “Ma’am, search your house and garage again.  Kids do like to hide.  The boys might have not answered you on purpose, thinking they were playing a game.”

     “Okay.  I’ll do that.”

 

     As Sharon ran toward her home, Chris, Joanne, and Jennifer began heading in the directions Johnny had assigned them. 

    

     Johnny jogged through the neighborhood yelling, “John!  Kyle!”  over and over again.  He stopped to look in bushes or behind garages, anywhere he thought two little boys might want to hide or explore.  As the paramedic traveled he drew the attention of other neighbors who asked what was going on.  Johnny was familiar to most of them.  They knew he was Roy DeSoto’s partner and best friend.  Johnny quickly explained what was happening, and soon the whole east end of Roy’s neighborhood was being searched by a large band of helpers.

 

     As Joanne, Jennifer and Chris covered their territories they drew the attention of neighbors as well.  Like Johnny, they soon had people aiding them in their search. 

 

     Thirty minutes later Joanne and Jennifer arrived back home to find Roy pacing the kitchen while clutching his cane with a white knuckled grip.

 

     “No luck?” He asked his wife.

 

     “No.  How about you?”

     “I called everyone I could think of.  No one’s seen him.  Sharon just called here, too.  She searched her home four more times.  They aren’t there.”

 

     Before the couple could exchange further words Chris entered the house.  One look at his face told his parents he hadn’t found the boys either.  Johnny walked in less than a minute after Chris.  When he didn’t see John standing in the kitchen with his family the paramedic headed straight for the phone.  Joanne started to cry quietly as she heard Johnny talking to the police.  He put a call in to Station 51 next.  B-shift was on duty.  He knew he could count on them to help.  His third call went to Hank Stanley.  Johnny quickly explained the situation.  Hank told Johnny he’d call the rest of the A-shift and have everyone to Roy’s house within the hour.

 

     By five o’clock that evening Roy’s neighborhood was covered with police officers, firefighters - both on duty and off, and private citizens, all looking for the missing boys.  There wasn’t much the DeSoto family could do now but wait.  Johnny was out with the searchers, while Jennifer and Chris remained in the house with their parents and Kyle’s mother.  The distraught Sharon could barely contain her emotions.  Though Joanne repeatedly assured her she’d done nothing wrong, the woman couldn’t be comforted.  Chris was glad when Sharon’s mother finally showed up and took her back home.  The woman’s tears were getting on his nerves. He was also glad when Grandma DeSoto came.  If nothing else she was able to comfort his parents in a way Chris and his sister weren’t.  

 

     The teenager paced the width of the living room until he couldn’t stand it any longer. 

     “I’m going out and joining the search.”

 

     “Chris--”

 

     “Let him go, Joanne,” Roy said. “He’s old enough to take care of himself.”

 

     Despite Joanne’s misgivings, Roy knew just how his son felt.  He hated not being to join in the search himself, but with his leg in its current state, and his arm in a cast, and tape still around his tender ribs, he wasn’t going to get far before collapsing with fatigue.

 

     “Just join up with some of the guys, please,” Roy instructed his son. “Chet, or Marco, or your Uncle Johnny.  It’ll be getting dark soon.  I don’t want you out there alone.”

 

     “I will,” Chris called over his shoulder as he ran for the front door.

 

     “I wanna help, too,” Jennifer said as she started for the door as well.

 

     Harriet DeSoto shagged her by the arm.

 

     “You can help.  You and I will start making supper for the search parties.  I’m sure everyone will appreciate a sandwich and a cold drink in a little while.  Let’s take inventory of your mother’s kitchen.  I’m sure we’ll have to make a trip to the grocery store for some bread and soda.”

 

     Roy was glad when his daughter didn’t protest her grandmother’s suggestion.  It was one thing to allow his sixteen-year-old son to rejoin the search.  He wasn’t going to allow his thirteen-year-old daughter to do the same.  Especially not with darkness just a few hours off.

 

     Ten minutes later Grace Stanley, Linda Stoker, and Marco’s mother arrived with laden arms.  A trip to the grocery store was no longer necessary, these wonderful ladies had taken care of that.  Food preparation now began in mass volume.  Joanne went to help, needing something to do to keep herself busy.

 

     Roy wandered out to the front steps.  He stood there leaning on his cane, his heart aching as he listened to the distant calls of, “John!  Kyle!  John, where are you?”

 

____________________________________

 

     Johnny lost count of how many times he’d jogged around Roy’s neighborhood calling for John and Kyle.  The sun was starting to set when he stopped to take a breather.  He wiped the sweat from his brow.  Even though the day had been mild with temperatures not getting over seventy degrees, he was now warm from the physical exertion. 

 

     I’m warm, but the boys won’t be.  As soon as the sun goes down they’ll start to feel the chill in a way an adult wouldn’t.

 

     As the search went on around Johnny he tried to come up with any other place he could think of that John might venture to.  He’d already been to the local playground twice, and to the school four blocks away that held slides and swings as well.  He knew the neighbor lady with the puppy John liked to play with had already been contacted by Roy, so there was no use in going there.  He’d looked every place he could think of that would attract the attention of three year old boys.  Trouble was, Roy’s neighborhood was fairly benign.  Other than the park, and school, there just wasn’t much here for a kid that young to want to explore.

 

     Come on, John, come on.  Where can you be?  Give your Uncle Johnny a clue, Little Pally.

 

     Johnny wouldn’t even allow himself to think of the other possibility, that the boys might have been kidnapped.  After his experience with Chris and Jennifer several years ago, he knew the DeSotos could never live through something like that again.  But he also knew if they didn’t locate the boys soon that’s what the police would start treating this as.

    

     Johnny thought a long moment, then cut through a backyard and headed north.  There was water reservoir several blocks away that dumped into a man-made creek.  He knew some of the local kids, like Chris, occasionally fished there, but he also knew the local mothers did their best to keep the creek’s existence a secret from children as young as John.  Johnny wasn’t aware that John knew the creek was there, but Kyle might.  Or if the two of them had walked far enough they could have discovered it on their own.  Johnny thought of every water rescue he’d ever been on that involved children as young as John.  It was rare you ever pulled them out alive.

 

     Damn. What is it about kids and water?  They’re always attracted to the damn water for some reason.

 

     Johnny had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach as he started to run.  He’d never before believed in premonitions, but this time he had one and he didn’t like where it was leading him.

 

____________________________________

    

    

     John DeSoto had enough common sense to bypass the rain-swollen creek when his friend Kyle led him there.  The water was rushing by so fast.  It was fun to watch, but kind of scary, too.  John liked to take baths, and his mommy had promised him he could take swimming lessons when he turned four, but he didn’t think he’d like to be in water that moved this swiftly.  When Kyle walked toward the creek’s edge John grabbed his arm.

 

     “No, Kyle.  Too fast.”

 

     Kyle shrugged his shoulders.  He knew of another neat place.  He’d take John there if the creek wasn’t to his liking.

 

     The boys headed for the reservoir.  John thought it was like climbing the mountains behind Uncle Johnny’s ranch as they hiked up the steep sidewalk with the blue metal railing on either side of it.  John stopped and stared in awe at the huge metal tank in the distance.

 

     “Wow!”

 

     The tow headed Kyle nodded his agreement.  He pointed far below.

 

     “See?”

     John leaned between two of the railings.  There was water running in a concrete bed.  Concrete rose up the side of the steep hills as well.  It looked like the swimming pool at the YMCA to John, only so much bigger and prettier.

    

     Kyle grabbed John’s hand.

 

     “Come on.”

    

     The boys ran together until the sidewalk came to an end.  The metal rail formed a gate here and there was sign posted that read, Danger.  Keep Out.  Unfortunately neither John nor Kyle could read, and even if they had been able to the allure of the water was just too great.

 

     The evening sun bounced off John’s auburn hair, giving it a reddish tint.  He thought he might have been gone from home a long time now, but he just had to get a closer look at the water.  After that, he’d tell Kyle they needed to leave.

 

     The boys slipped between the railing and fell to their blue jean covered behinds.  Using the rubber soles of their tennis shoes for traction, they began inching their way down the steep concrete wall.  It wasn’t until they got to the bottom, and the rushing water was touching their shoes, that John realized they were in trouble.  He looked up, up, up, up, and saw how far away the sidewalk was.  He tapped Kyle on the arm and pointed. 

 

     “Home.”

 

     “No, stay.”

 

     “No, Kyle.  Home.”

 

     Kyle sighed.  John was sure no fun today.  The boy reluctantly copied his friend’s movement.  He turned over so he could crawl up the wall in the same way a baby crawled across a floor.  It didn’t take John and Kyle long to realize this wasn’t possible.  They didn’t have enough strength in their legs, nor the motor skills necessary to make such a steep climb.  Fear overwhelmed John as the rushing water rose higher.  He had no way of knowing that with all the rain they’d received this past week water from the reservoir was being allowed to run into the creek at two hour intervals.  John started to cry as he clawed at the concrete.  His feet slipped, plunging the lower portion of his legs into the cold water.  Kyle soon found himself in the same predicament.  The boys tried to dig their little fingers into the smooth wall, the whole time yelling, “Help!  Help!” as water splashed over their lower bodies.

____________________________________

    

     Johnny ran along the creek bed.  He saw no signs of John or Kyle, but that didn’t keep him from repeatedly calling their names.  He headed up the sidewalk the boys had just traveled.  He knew there was a park on the other side of the reservoir with a bank of pay phones.  He decided the smartest thing he could do at this point was to call the fire department and have them dispatch some of the searchers to this area.   He prayed no one found a little body floating in the water anywhere, but he knew it wasn’t practical to try to conduct this search by himself.

 

     Johnny was just about to jump the gate that warned him to keep out, then cross the street to the park when a patch of pumpkin orange caught his eye.  The noise from the water prevented the paramedic from hearing the boys screaming for their parents.  It was Kyle’s orange T-shirt Johnny had seen from above. 

 

     The paramedic had no time to make a phone call.  The water was already up to the boys’ waists.  How they were hanging on Johnny had no idea.  He dropped to his backside and crab-crawled down the wall.  He paid no attention to the scrapes he collected on his arms as he flew down as fast as his legs would carry him.  As he got closer he could hear the children’s terrified screams.

 

     “Mommy!  Daddy!  Mommy, help!  Help me, Mommy, help!  Daddy, help!”

 

     When John looked up and saw the man coming after them he changed his plea from, “Daddy, help me!” to “Unca Johnny!  Unca Johnny!  Unca Johnny, help! Help!”

 

     Just as the water was about to claim both boys Johnny grabbed Kyle with his right hand and John with his left.  He pulled the children against his chest, panting heavily.  He didn’t have time to ask them if they were all right, or to try to get back up the wall with them.  The water splashed over his head like an ocean wave before he could get any words out. 

 

     When the water receded the boys were coughing and crying both at the same time.

 

     “You guys have to calm down,” Johnny ordered as little fingernails dug painfully into his neck.  “You have to calm down and let me get us. . .”

 

     Another wave washed over the trio, this one more powerful the one before.

 

     Damn, that water’s coming out of there fast.

 

     Johnny knew the reservoir’s gates were set on timers meaning there was no man operating its controls who might see them and shut it off. 

 

     Two more waves came in quick succession, threatening to dump Johnny and the boys in the water.  Johnny figured he could swim to safety on his own.  He’d just follow the flow of the water until it dumped into the creek where he could climb out on level ground.  But with two three years old clinging to his neck there was no way he’d be able to do that.  He estimated the two boys to weigh between thirty and thirty-five pounds apiece.  That would be like trying to swim with a sixty-pound boulder tied to his neck.

 

     When the water receded a little bit Johnny struggled to climb up higher.  Again, the children hindered his progress.  Hopelessness was beginning to take over.

 

     I should have made that phone call first.  If I had one of the engine companies would be here by now with ropes. 

 

     Despite those thoughts Johnny knew he’d done the only thing he could have.  The boys would have never been able to hang onto the slick concrete wall while he made a phone call.  Johnny had no choice but to take the action he did and get to them as quickly as possible.

 

     Another wave caused Johnny to lose his balance. He fell hard on his right side, Kyle screaming in his ear.  He regained his balance but was unable to make certain if Kyle was okay before more water washed over their heads. 

 

     Just when Johnny knew he couldn’t outlast the force of the water he looked up and saw Chris crawling down the wall using the same method Johnny himself had.

 

     “No, Chris!  Go back!  Call for help!  Call for help, Chris!”

 

     Chris ignored Johnny and plucked Kyle from his arms.  He was able to stay far enough away that the water didn’t touch him.  It was slow going, but somehow Chris managed to climb the wall while carrying Kyle against his side.  He sat the shivering three year old in grass thirty feet from the reservoir’s edge. He shoved a stern finger in the boy’s face.

 

     “You stay right here!”

 

     Kyle was so cold he couldn’t even nod his head.  He sat there shivering with tears streaming down his face and his lower lip trembling.

    

     Chris ran back for the wall.  Again, he crab-crawled toward Johnny.  The water was higher now, up to Johnny’s neck.  He was holding John above his head with both hands.

 

     “Here, Chris!  Take him!”

 

     Just as Johnny got those words out the water took him under.  Chris held his breath for ten long seconds, certain that he’d never see his little brother and Johnny alive again.  But then Johnny popped back up and thrust a sputtering John toward him.

 

     “Take him, Chris!   Get him the hell out of here!”

 

     Chris snared his little brother from Johnny’s hands.  He held John against his left side and reached his right hand out to Johnny.

 

     “Here! Take my hand!”

 

     Johnny knew Chris didn’t have the strength to pull him out of the water.  The only thing that would happen if he took Chris’s offered hand was that he’d end up pulling both Chris and John in with him.

 

     “No!  Just go!  I’m right behind you!”

 

     When Chris made no move to turn around Johnny yelled, “Dammit, Chris, go!  Get him out of here!”

 

     Because of John, Chris turned and did as Johnny ordered.  He barely got up the wall this time, his leg muscles screaming in protest as he made the steep climb with his brother in his arms.  When Chris got to the top he turned around.  His heart fell from his chest when he realized that not only wasn’t Johnny behind him, but the man was nowhere to be seen.

 

____________________________________

    

     As soon as John was safely in Chris’s arms Johnny had tried to climb out of the water.  But twenty minutes in the cold stuff holding onto two little boys while being assaulted by waves had taken its toll on the paramedic.  He didn’t have the strength to climb, and when another wave washed over him he was plunged far beneath it.

 

     Johnny knew the best thing he could do was stay calm.  He swam for the surface, coughing and spitting water when he got there.  He took in as much air as he could in preparation of being plunged beneath the surface again.  This time he did as he’d earlier thought possible.  He allowed the water to carry him toward the creek.      

 

     The paramedic never imagined his limbs could be so heavy.  He told himself to swim, but it felt like his arms and legs belonged to someone three times his size.  He did whatever he had to in order to survive be it doggie paddle or float on his back.  Just when he was sure he had somehow overshot the creek and had been dumped into the ocean the water got shallower.  Johnny turned his body to the right and kicked with what little strength he had left. When he felt his knees hit a rocky bottom he dropped to his hands and crawled.  He ignored the cuts the rocks sliced into his hands and knees as he headed for the bank.  He knew he had to keep going until his body was completely out of the water.  When it was, he collapsed in a shivering heap.  He promised himself he’d just rest a minute, then get up and head for Roy’s.  He was still promising himself that when he passed out.

____________________________________

    

     Chris DeSoto didn’t know how much time passed while he just stood hugging two shivering boys to his chest while watching the water swirl below him.  He kept praying he’d see Johnny’s dark head emerge, or catch a glimpse of the navy blue shirt he was wearing, or a leg of his faded Wrangler jeans.  When none of those things happened Chris knew the first thing he had to do was get help for both the little boys, and for Johnny.  He hiked toward the same phones Johnny was originally headed for.  He tried to soothe the upset boys as he carried them in his arms.  Kyle was crying for his mother, while John leaned over Chris’s shoulder with outstretched arms screaming, “Unca Johnny!  Unca Johnny!”

 

     Chris couldn’t help but start to cry himself when a patrol car came into view.  Vince Howard recognized Roy’s oldest son, and took an educated guess as to who the little boys were in his arms.  He pulled the car to the curb and grabbed a big blanket from the trunk.  He ran to the children, throwing the blanket around Chris’s shoulders thereby covering the children he was carrying.  He ignored the screams and cries as he ushered Chris to the vehicle.  It wasn’t until he got all three kids in the back seat that he could understand what Chris was trying to tell him.

 

     “Uncle Johnny got swept away!”

 

     “What?”

 

     “Uncle Johnny!  He’s the one who found the boys.  They were clinging to him down at the bottom of the reservoir.  I took them from him, but before I could help him out he went under.”

 

     Oh, damn.

 

     Vince took note of the rapidly growing darkness and immediately picked up the radio mike.  He put a call in for fire and rescue units.  He waited until the first fire truck arrived at the scene.  He had Chris tell the captain from Station 36 exactly what had happened and where the last place was he had seen Johnny.  By the time Vince was heading his patrol car toward the DeSoto home two more fire trucks had arrived along with a paramedic unit.  The black man had to tune out the whimpers of little John DeSoto as he lay in his brother’s arms crying for his Uncle Johnny.

 

____________________________________

 

     Joanne was in her garage where long tables had been set up to hold the food for the searchers.  Amongst those taking a fifteen minute break right now were Roy’s co-workers from Station 51, save for Johnny.  No one was sure where he was, other than to assume he was still out with another search party, or possibly combing the neighborhood again by himself.

 

     Joanne was beginning to grow worried when Chris didn’t show up for a sandwich.  She knew Roy had told him to hook up with one of the guys from the A-shift, but then again he could be with Johnny.  Or with some of the other off-duty firemen from various stations that he knew. 

 

     Roy stepped into the garage, hating the silence that greeted him and the way no one wanted to meet his eyes.  He felt like he’d aged one hundred years in the last four hours.  He wondered if he’d ever see his youngest son alive again and tried to remember the last words they’d exchanged before Joanne had walked John to Kyle’s. 

 

     Probably nothing significant.  Or at least it didn’t seem that way at the time.  Just “Bye, Tiger, have a good time,” on my part, and probably, “I will, Daddy,”  on John’s part.  Oh God, he’s so little.  Only three.  It’s been almost four hours now since Sharon realized the boys were missing.  Where could he have gone to?

 

     Everyone looked up when the patrol car pulled in the DeSoto driveway.  Roy caught sight of his oldest son seated in the back with something wrapped in a blanket in his lap.  At that moment the paramedic was sure he was going to faint.  Joanne must have swooned behind him because he heard Grace Stanley cry, “Joanne!”  and was vaguely aware of Marco jumping to his feet in order to grab Joanne and keep her on hers.

 

     When the blanket wrapped bundle moved and John’s head emerged Roy let out the breath he didn’t realize he was holding.  Two little arms reached for him.

 

     “Daddy!  Daddy!”

 

     Roy dropped his cane and limped for his son.  Keeping the blanket in place he took John in his arms.  He pulled the boy to his chest and hugged him as tight as he dared.  He kissed a cold cheek and did his best to do a visual assessment of his son before turning the child over to a sobbing Joanne.  Above John’s cries Vince said, “I already dropped the Milligan boy off at his home.  There’s a paramedic looking him over now.  The other one is headed this way.  As far as I can tell though, both Kyle and John are fine.  More scared than anything else.”

 

     Roy nodded, already seeing Squad 36 coming into view.  He turned to his oldest son.

 

     “Did you find them?”

     “I. . .kinda.  Johnny. . .Uncle Johnny found them first.”

 

     Roy looked at the patrol car, but didn’t see Johnny seated inside.

 

     “Where is he?”

 

     Though Chris thought when a guy reached sixteen he was too old to cry, he couldn’t stop the tears that started running down his face once again.

 

     “Chris?”

     Vince put one arm around Chris and the other around Roy.

 

     “Come on, let’s go in the house.”

 

     “Vince?  What’s going on?”

 

     “We’ll tell you when we get in the house, Roy.  I’m sure Joanne will want to hear what Chris has to say, too.  And Captain Stanley and the rest of your co-workers.”

 

     It was all Roy could do not to grab Vince and shake the story out of him right there.  Something was terribly wrong and Roy knew it. Vince refused to say any more, Chris was crying, and John was screaming, “Unca Johnny!  Unca Johnny!   I wan my Unca Johnny!”

 

     When Roy finally heard the whole story as told by Chris his knees gave way and he sank to the sofa.  He was barely aware of the Station 51 A-shift running out the door to aid in the search for their missing paramedic.  Roy gathered his children and wife around him, all of them sending up a silent prayer for Johnny’s safe return.

 

____________________________________

 

     At ten-thirty that night Roy and Chris sat out on the deck wearing sweatshirts and jackets to ward off the November chill.  The house was fairly quiet now.  John had been checked out by Roy and Bob Bellingham and given a clean bill of health.  Joanne gave him a warm bath, then tried to get him to eat something.  He was so upset over his missing Uncle Johnny she couldn’t get more than a few bites of macaroni and cheese and a glass of milk in his stomach.  He finally cried himself to sleep in her arms, then had been carried to bed by Chris at nine o’clock.

 

     Jennifer and Joanne sat at the kitchen table doing just what Roy and Chris were doing, worrying while waiting for word on Johnny.  Joanne had sent Grandma DeSoto and all the other helpers home, promising to call everyone as soon as they had word. Right before she left Grace Stanley told Joanne the women of the Station 51 A-shift would return in the morning to help prepare breakfast for the searchers if Johnny was still unaccounted for.  Roy had to turn away then.  He knew if Johnny was still unaccounted for by morning the odds that he’d be found alive were slim to none.

 

     Chris paced the deck while Roy sat in a chair staring into the darkness.  The teenager’s voice broke the stillness of the night.

 

     “I wish I could be helping them search.”

 

     “I know you do. I wish I could help them, too.  But right now they have all the man-power they need.  Johnny has a lot of friends, Chris.  Every off-duty fireman in this county is at that reservoir looking for him.”

 

     “But if they haven’t found him by now--”

 

     “If they haven’t found him by now, nothing.  I’ve seen your Uncle Johnny walk away with barely a scratch from things that would have killed another man.”

 

     Chris studied his father’s face in the darkness.  “But you don’t think he’s still alive this time.”

 

     Roy gave a heavy sigh.  He wouldn’t lie to his sixteen year old about this issue.

    

     “He was swept into water that wasn’t much warmer than fifty degrees.  If they haven’t found him yet. . .”

 

     The paramedic was unable to finish his sentence.  He knew Johnny was probably dead, but he wasn’t ready to admit that out loud.

 

     Chris looked up at the stars.  He could barely speak past his tears.

 

     “We had a lot of good times with him.  Camping.  I always loved it when he took us camping.  Or just to his ranch for the weekend.  Or even to his apartment when Jen and I were little.  I never thought you could have fun in an apartment, but Uncle Johnny always made it fun.”

 

     Roy smiled.  “He had a knack for doing that.”

    

     “And the carnivals, and bowling, and out for pizza, to Dodgers games, horse back riding.  He took us a lot of places, Dad.  Places he didn’t have to.  After all, we weren’t his kids.  And then when he’d come here to baby-sit Jen and I loved that best.”

 

     “I know.  Your mother and I used to get the feeling you two were chasing us out of the house on purpose just so your Uncle Johnny would come stay with you.”

 

     “I think we did more often than not.  Did I ever tell you about the time Uncle Johnny got the ghosts out of Jen’s room?”

 

     “No.”

 

     Chris laughed.  “Remember how she used to be scared of the dark?  Always said her room was filled with ghosts?”

    

     “Yeah?”

    

     “Well, one night when Uncle Johnny was baby-sitting Jen was really upset about those imaginary ghosts.  So Uncle Johnny sprinkled sugar all over her room, down the hallway, through the living room, and out the front door.  He told Jen the ghosts would eat the sugar, following its trail right out of the house.”

 

     “Oh, so now I know why we fought ants for the next month.”

 

     “Yeah, now you know.  But you should have seen the look on Jen’s face. She thought Uncle Johnny was the greatest guy on the face of the earth after that night.”

 

     Chris started crying harder. “And I guess he was because he saved John tonight, but wouldn’t take my hand when I--”

 

     “Oh geez, Chris, save the eulogy for some dead guy who needs it, will ya’?”

 

     If it was possible to jump a mile into the air, Chris and Roy were sure they did.  The voice that came out of the darkness was familiar to both of them, and so was the bedraggled figure that trudged around the corner of the house seconds later.

 

     “Johnny!”

 

     “Uncle Johnny!”

 

     Because of Roy’s leg Chris was the first one to make it to Johnny’s side.  He latched onto a cold arm and helped the man to the deck.  Johnny had to bite back a groan as his sore leg muscles refused to be forced to climb.  Roy bent down and hooked his right hand beneath his partner’s other arm.  Between himself and Chris they got Johnny up the stairs and into the house.

 

     Joanne and Jennifer were just as startled as Roy and Chris had been when John Gage was ushered into their kitchen.  He gratefully accepted their hugs, if only because the heat from their bodies warmed him up a bit.  Roy immediately recognized what his partner needed.

 

     “Jennifer, get some blankets from the hall closet. Chris, help Uncle Johnny to the couch.  Joanne, call dispatch and tell them he’s been found.  Have them send a squad over here.”

    

     “No,” Johnny said from the living room where Chris was already urging him to a seated position on the sofa.  “No squad. I’m okay.”

 

     “Yes, a squad.  It’s either that, or Chris and I take you to Rampart right now.”

 

     “Okay, okay.  A squad.  But all they’re going to say is that I need a hot shower, dry clothes, some supper, and a warm bed.”

 

     “And if that’s what they say then you can get all those things here.  But if they say more than that then you’ll get those things at Rampart.”

 

     Johnny shot his partner his best scowl, even though he was fully aware it would do him little good.  He was grateful for the two blankets Jennifer wrapped tightly around him, and the towel she used to begin drying his damp hair.

 

     “Thanks, Jenny Bean.”  The paramedic looked up at Roy. “Is John okay?  And Kyle?  Are they both all right?”

 

     “Yes, thanks to you they’re fine.”

 

     “And to Chris,” Johnny said.

 

     “And to Chris as well,” Roy acknowledged.  “Other than being cold and scared, they were okay. I imagine Kyle’s doing the same thing John is right now.  Sleeping.”

 

     “Thank God.  I couldn’t have hung onto them much longer.  If Chris hadn’t come along when he did the boys would have gone into the water with me.”

 

     “What sent you over to the reservoir anyway?”

 

     “I don’t know.  Just a hunch I guess.  I’d looked everywhere else I could think of, and suddenly it dawned on me how kids are always drawn to water.  I didn’t think John knew about the creek or reservoir, but I figured if they walked far enough they were bound to run across one or the other.”

 

     “And just how did you get back here?”

     “Same way I got there.  Walked.”

 

     “Johnny, there’s more than one hundred firefighters out there looking for you!  You mean to tell me you walked all the way back here without running across any of them?”

 

     “Do you think if I had run across any of them I would have trudged three miles in soaking wet clothes at this time of night?”

 

     “With you, who knows?”

 

     Jennifer caught Chris’s eye over the top of Johnny’s head.  The teenagers exchanged amused smiles at the familiar interaction going on between their father and his best friend.

 

     “Well, I didn’t see anyone.  But then I cut through backyards most of the way here so that might explain it.  Oh, and if one of your neighbors reports a peeping Tom that was me.”

 

     “What did you do now?”

     “I didn’t do anything!  She just happened to look out her kitchen window and see me walking through her yard.  It must have freaked her out because she screamed to high heaven.”

 

     Before further bickering could ensue a squad arrived at the scene bearing one rookie paramedic whose nametag read, Mitch Jenson.  His partner had remained at the reservoir to help put away the equipment that had been used in the search for Johnny.  He assured Roy that word had just arrived on the scene that Johnny was safe and at the DeSoto house.

 

     The young man Roy and Johnny only knew by sight took Johnny’s blood pressure, pulse, and respirations, then checked his pupils while feeling his skull for any signs of bumps, cuts, or bruises.

 

     “Did you swallow any water, John?”  Mitch asked.

 

     “No.  Just spit a lot out.”

 

      From his standpoint as an observer nothing seemed remiss to Roy.  Therefore, when Johnny assured everyone that he hadn’t lost consciousness, but had simply fallen asleep with exhaustion once he reached the creek’s bank, Roy didn’t put up a fuss when his partner refused to allow the attending paramedic to contact Rampart.  He signed the waiver of care Mitch put in front of him, then thanked him for his time.  After Mitch left Johnny stood on weak legs. 

 

     “And just where do you think you’re going, Mr. Gage?”  Joanne asked with hands on her hips.

 

     “Home.”

 

     “I think not.”

 

     “But--”

 

     “Don’t even start with me, Johnny.  Roy already told you if you didn’t have to go to Rampart then you’re staying here for the night.”  Joanne turned to her children.  “Jennifer, heat up some soup for your Uncle Johnny.  If I remember correctly chicken noodle is his favorite.  And make him a sandwich please.  Chris,

get Uncle Johnny a pair of your sweat pants, socks, and a sweatshirt.  Your father has a package of brand new boxer shorts in his top dresser drawer.  Open it and get a pair out for Johnny.  And turn down the spare bed in your room then put an extra blanket on it.”

 

     “Joanne--” Johnny tried to protest again, only to be ignored.

 

     “Roy, head your partner in the direction of the bathroom and that hot shower he wants.  Get him a clean towel and washcloth out of the linen closet please. Johnny, make sure you clean those scrapes on your hands and arms.  There’s a tube of Neosporin in the medicine cabinet you can use when you’re done in the shower.”

 

     At this point Johnny decided further protest would do him no good.  Joanne was doing a better job of bossing her troops than General Eisenhower had ever thought of.

 

     Johnny stood under the hot shower for twenty minutes that night.  The water felt good against his aching muscles, and he was grateful for the soap and shampoo that washed the smell of dirty creek water from his skin and hair.  When he stepped out of the tub he made quick work of drying off, rubbing some Neosporin ointment into his cuts, then getting into the clothes Chris had brought him.  Roy’s boxers were a bit baggy in the waist, but at least they stayed up.  If nothing else it was nice that Chris was currently going through a lanky stage.  The sweat pants fit Johnny just fine.  The sweatshirt was a little short in the arms, but he could live with that.  For now he was just thankful to have warm clothing to put on.

 

     The ever-efficient Joanne had Johnny’s wet clothes cycling in the washing machine by the time the paramedic came out of the bathroom.  He’d missed a quick visit from the Station 51 A-shift.  Roy had assured everyone Johnny was fine, then sent them on their way telling them Johnny was exhausted and needed to rest.  Johnny was indebted to Roy for that.  It was now after eleven o’clock and he felt like he could fall asleep standing up.  Thank God the next day was Sunday and this was the A-shift’s weekend off.

 

     Despite everyone’s efforts to keep the house as quiet as possible, the commotion woke John.  As soon as his mother entered his room the three year old remembered the happenings of the day and began to cry for his Uncle Johnny.  Joanne carried him to the kitchen where Johnny sat eating his soup and sandwich with Roy, Jennifer, and Chris seated at the table with him.  Roy wished he had his camera at that moment.  The look on John’s face was priceless when he caught sight of Johnny.  He practically flew from Joanne’s arms and into Johnny’s lap.  Johnny scooted his chair back and picked the child up.

 

     “Hey there, Little Pally, last time I saw you, you were lookin’ like Ernie after he’d spent too long in the tub with his rubber ducky.”

 

     Despite the gentle teasing, John buried his face in Johnny’s chest and started to cry.  He knew he’d done wrong by leaving Kyle’s yard and understood enough about what had happened to realize his Uncle Johnny almost died trying to save him.

 

     “I sowwy.  I sowwy, Unca Johnny.”

 

     “Don’t cry, John.”  Johnny rubbed the boy’s back.  “Don’t cry.   It’s okay.  I know you’re sorry.  Everything’s all right now.  Everything’s all right.”

 

     It took a while for John to sniffle his tears away, but after he did he stayed wrapped in one of Johnny’s arms until the paramedic had finished eating his supper.  It was then that Joanne declared it bedtime for the entire DeSoto household.  Chris and Jennifer made quick work of carrying Johnny’s dishes to the dishwasher for their mother, then lights were turned off and everyone headed for the bedrooms.  By the time Johnny laid John in his youth bed the little boy was sound asleep.  Johnny left the tucking in part of the job to Joanne and Roy.  He was so tired all he wanted to do was drop to the twin bed Chris had ready for him.

 

     And drop Johnny did.  He took off the sweatshirt and tossed it to the end of the bed, but left on the sweatpants and socks.  He pulled up the sheet and blankets, then hit the pillows like a brick.  He never heard Jennifer say goodnight to him, nor was he aware of Roy and Joanne doing the same. 

 

     Chris came in the room after brushing his teeth.  He was as quiet as possible as he changed out of his clothes and into his pajama bottoms.  He soon realized a bomb blast probably wouldn’t wake Johnny at this point. 

    

     The teenager shut out the overhead light and climbed in his own bed.  Right before he pulled up the covers he whispered, “Good night, Uncle Johnny. And thank you.  Thank you so much.”

 

     Like the rest of his household, five minutes later Chris was sound asleep.

 

____________________________________

 

     Chris DeSoto wasn’t certain what woke him at six o’clock the next morning other than to say it was a sound he couldn’t immediately identify.  He stretched as he heard a rumble of thunder.  He caught a glimpse of lightening flashing behind the closed curtains of his bedroom window, then heard the patter of rain on the roof. 

 

     The teenager enjoyed the feeling of Sunday morning.  No need to hurry and get moving.  It wasn’t a school day, and over the past year he’d managed to convince his mother not to make him attend church on those Sundays he’d rather sleep in.  He doubted anyone would be attending church this Sunday morning.  After the Saturday the DeSotos had experience Chris figured no one in his household would be stirring much before nine o’clock.  Not even John, who was usually up at the crack of dawn.

 

     I’ll lay here until about eight, then get up and cook pancakes and sausage for everyone.  Mom deserves the break, and it would be a good way to tell Uncle Johnny thanks.

 

     The boy dozed off as the rain outside intensified.  Over the next hour he was vaguely aware of someone coughing.  When he surfaced from sleep again he realized what had woke him up to begin with. 

 

     It must have been Uncle Johnny coughing.

 

     The teenager hiked himself up on his elbows and looked across the space between his bed and the one Johnny was sleeping in. Chris could tell Johnny was huddled under the blankets with his back to him, but it was too dark to see anything else.  When Johnny coughed again, a harsh barking cough that sounded like it was threatening to choke him, Chris called softly, “Uncle Johnny?  Uncle Johnny, are you awake?”

 

     When he received no answer Chris reached up  and flicked on the lamp that sat on the nightstand between the two beds. 

 

     “Uncle Johnny, do you want me to get you a glass of water? Or some cough medicine?”

 

     “John,” Johnny rasped between coughs.  “Get. . .get John.”

 

     “John’s fine. He’s in his bed sleeping.”

 

     “John. . .Chris.  Get. . .get John. Take. . .take him.  Can’t. . .can’t hold

him. . .any. . .any longer.”

 

     Chris watched as Johnny began thrashing in the bed, repeating his pleas in a way that made him sound like he was fighting for air.  Chris threw back his covers.  He thought the man must be having a bad dream.

 

     The teenager placed a hand on Johnny’s shoulder with the intention of shaking the paramedic awake.  He yanked his hand back with surprise as soon as he came in contact with Johnny’s skin.  It was like touching a hot stove. 

 

     Chris turned Johnny on his back.  The man’s face was flaming red, and sweat trickled from his hairline to his neck.

    

     “Uncle Johnny?  Uncle Johnny, wake up!”

 

     All Chris got for his efforts was another series of barking coughs, and then gasping, delirious cries for John.

 

     “Uncle Johnny!  Uncle Johnny, come on!  Wake up!”

 

     When the teen still had no success rousing the paramedic he hurdled his bed and threw his door open.  He ran down the hall calling, “Dad!  Dad!  Dad!”

 

     Roy opened the master bedroom door before Chris got the chance to pound on it.

 

     “Chris, what’s wrong with you?  It’s seven o’clock on Sunday morning for crying out. . .”

 

     “Dad, it’s Uncle Johnny!  He’s got a fever and I can’t get him to wake up!”

 

     Roy was barely aware of Joanne jumping out of bed at Chris’s words, nor of the bleary eyed Jennifer who poked her head into the hallway.  Roy left his cane behind and ran after his son as fast as his cast, taped ribs, and bum leg would allow.

 

     “Chris, get me my medical bag from the hall closet.”

 

     Chris raced for the bag his father kept at the house for emergencies. 

 

     “What’s going on?” Jennifer asked as she came abreast of her brother.

 

     “Uncle Johnny’s sick,” the boy said as he dashed back to his bedroom.  He climbed over his bed and brought the bag to his father’s side.  By this time his mother had wet a towel with cool water and was running it over Johnny’s face.

 

     Roy took Johnny’s blood pressure, pulse, and respirations.  Chris tore a page from a spiral notebook sitting on top of his desk and wrote the information down for his father.  Roy placed the stethoscope to Johnny’s chest.  He listened to both lungs, then had Chris help him lift Johnny to a sitting position.  He placed the stethoscope on Johnny’s back, listening again.  Chris wasn’t sure what his father discovered other than to know it wasn’t good when Roy mumbled, “Dammit, Johnny, you sure did swallow water.  And God only knows what else,” as he picked up the phone from the nightstand.  He dialed Rampart’s emergency room by memory.  As he waited for the call to be answered he looked at Joanne and Jennifer. 

 

     “Keep sponging him off with cool water.  Chris, get dressed, then put a blanket and three pillows in the back of your mother’s car.  We’ll have to take Johnny to Rampart.”

    

     Before Chris could ask what was wrong with Johnny his father was talking to Dixie McCall.  As Chris slipped into jeans, socks, and a sweatshirt in the bathroom across the hall he heard his father briefing Dixie about Johnny’s unexpected swim the evening before, then give her the paramedic’s vital signs.

 

     “Chris and I are bringing him in now, Dix.  No, I’m not calling for a squad.  I can get him there faster myself.  Just have a gurney and a couple orderlies waiting for us by the doors.”

 

     By the time Chris returned from putting the requested items in his mother’s Impala his father was dressed as well.  Or as dressed as a man could be who had one arm in a cast and tape around his ribs, and a wife who wasn’t able to offer him assistance at the moment.

 

     Chris made quick work of buttoning his dad’s shirt for him, then dropped to his knees and tied Roy’s shoes.  He could hear his mother trying to soothe Johnny as he thrashed in the bed and called for John. 

 

     Joanne and Jennifer moved out of the way when Roy and Chris approached.  They tried to get Johnny to a sitting position again, but he fought them. 

 

     “Johnny, come on, calm down,” Roy ordered.  “I need you to calm down and let us get you to the car.”

 

     “Roy, let us help,” Joanne said, referring to herself and her daughter.

“With your arm and ribs the way they are you and Chris can’t get Johnny there by yourselves.”

 

     As soon as they had Johnny in a sitting position Joanne wrapped a blanket around his bare shoulders.  Jennifer held it in place while her mother, father, and brother alternated between walking and dragging her Uncle Johnny to the car. 

 

     Roy was thankful the car was in the garage and not sitting in the driveway.  If nothing else that meant they didn’t have to walk Johnny through the pouring rain.  Roy wasn’t able to bend in order to help his family get Johnny in the back seat, but they managed to do the job without him.  Still, the paramedic in Roy couldn’t keep from calling out instructions.

 

     “Chris, keep your hand on top of Johnny’s head so he doesn’t bump it on the frame of the car.  Jen, make sure his upper body is propped against the pillows.  He needs as much help breathing right now as we can give him.  Jo, cover him with that blanket.”

 

     Joanne assisted Roy in getting in the back seat with Johnny while Chris slipped behind the wheel.  Jennifer handed her father his medical bag and a towel filled with ice.

 

     “Chris, drive carefully,” Joanne ordered.  She looked into the back of the car at her husband.  “Call me as soon as you know anything.”

 

     “I will.”

 

     Joanne and Jennifer stood together in the garage watching Chris back the car onto the desolate street.  They didn’t reenter the house until the car turned the corner and was out of sight.  As they headed down the hallway toward Chris’s room in order to pick up the wet towels and scattered blankets, Joanne peeked in on John.

 

     The woman gave a sigh of relief when she found her youngest child still sleeping soundly.  He was going to be upset enough as it was when he woke up and found his Uncle Johnny gone.  He had been promised the evening before that Johnny would eat breakfast with them.  If nothing else John had been spared the trauma of watching his ‘bestest bubby’ being loaded into the car and sped off to Rampart.  At this moment all Joanne DeSoto could do was thank God for small favors.

 

__________________________________

 

     Three hours passed before Roy and Chris got word on Johnny.  Dixie had them wait in the nurse’s lounge so they had both privacy and a soda machine at their disposal. 

 

     “Chris, let me take you to the cafeteria for breakfast,” Roy told his son as he watched the boy drink his third Coke.  “You must be starving by now.”

 

     “In a little while.  I wanna be here when Doctor Brackett comes for us.”

 

     “I can leave word with Dixie as to where we’re at.  He’ll have us paged and then we’ll come right back--”

 

     Before Roy could finish his sentence Kelly Brackett entered the room.  He slipped into the chair next to Roy and motioned Chris to have a seat, too.

     “It’s just what you suspected, Roy.  Pneumonia.”

 

     Roy shook his head with disgust.  “I knew I should have checked him out myself last night.  That Jenson kid did okay, but he’s a rookie.  I might have heard something he missed.  And by now I should have learned not to trust John Gage when he says he’s fine.”

 

     “Don’t be too hard on your partner, Roy, or on yourself.  With as cold, tired, and achy as Johnny was he wouldn’t have noticed the initial symptoms.  Yes, he should have allowed the squad to transport him here as a precaution, but I’m not even going to waste my time arguing with him over that issue.  It won’t do me any good, so suffice to say we’re lucky he stayed with you last night, and Chris heard him coughing early this morning, and from there realized something was seriously wrong.”

 

     “But he’s gonna be okay, right?”  Chris asked.

 

     Kelly Brackett smiled.

 

     “He should be fine, Chris.  I’ve started him on antibiotics and we’ve got him on oxygen.  He’ll be getting breathing treatments to aid in keeping his lungs clear.   He’s already had his first one.  If all goes as I anticipate it will, Johnny will be released in five to seven days.  But don’t tell him that.  If his health doesn’t allow me to keep that time table he’ll drive me crazy until I do send him home.”

 

     “I won’t say anything,” Chris promised, while Roy simply chuckled because he knew from past experience exactly what Doctor Brackett meant. 

 

     The doctor shook his head in amazement as he stood.

 

     “Based on what you told me brought Johnny to us in the first place I’d say it’s about time someone molds an action figure in his likeness.  I have visions of myself being eighty years old and still patching up a seventy year old John Gage.”

 

     “If anyone could pull that off, Doc, it’d be Johnny.  There’s a lot of days when I doubt he’ll ever slow down.”

 

     “I don’t think he knows the meaning of the word, Roy, though I’ve slowed him down for a while. One of the medications I’ve got him on will put an elephant to sleep.  It even worked on our active Johnny.”

 

     “Can I see him for a couple minutes before Chris and I head home?”

 

     “Sure.  Just don’t wake him.”

 

     “I won’t.”

 

     “He’s on the third floor in room 310.”

 

     “Thanks.”

     The doctor said goodbye to Roy and Chris, then left the room.  Roy reached for his wallet and pulled out a five dollar bill.

 

     “Here.  You go to the cafeteria and have some breakfast while I’m with Johnny.  I’ll meet you down there in about fifteen minutes or so.”

 

     “Can’t I see Uncle Johnny, too?”

     “Well. . .I guess so.  But you heard Doc Brackett.  He’s asleep.  We can’t wake him up.”

 

     “I know.  I won’t.”

 

     “We can come back this evening when he’s awake, Chris.  You can visit with him then.”

 

     “I’d like to do that, but I wanna see him now, too.”

 

     Roy shrugged as he returned his money to his wallet, not really sure why his son would feel this urgency to see Johnny.

 

     “All right.  Let’s go then.”

 

     Since Roy didn’t have his cane with him Chris helped him stand.  He remained close to Roy’s side as they made their way to the elevator, then walked the corridor to Johnny’s room. 

 

     Right before Roy pushed Johnny’s door open he turned to Chris and smiled.

 

     “I’m really proud of you, son.”

 

     “Proud of me?”

 

      “For the way you’ve been helping your mother since I was injured. For the way you helped me with Johnny this morning, and for the way you’re helping me now. It’s nice to know I can count on you when I need you.”

 

     Chris swallowed the guilt that threatened to overwhelm him at his father’s words.

 

     “Yeah. . .uh. . .thanks, Dad.”

 

     Father and son quietly entered Johnny’s room.

 

     Just like they had been told by Kelly Brackett, Johnny was in a deep sleep.  An IV ran through a vein in his right arm, and an oxygen mask rested over his nose and mouth. The head of the bed was raised to an angle that left Johnny in a position that was a cross between sitting and reclining.  His face was still flushed with fever, though not nearly as red as it had been when Chris first tried to wake him.  The paramedic was dressed in a hospital gown now with a sheet drawn up to his chest.  The absence of a cooling blanket caused Roy to deduce Rampart’s medical staff had gotten Johnny’s temperature to a reasonable level.

 

     Roy and Chris stood by Johnny’s bedside a few minutes exchanging small talk that ranged from Chris’s, “He looks better than he did a couple hours ago,” to Roy’s, “We’ll have to get a few things for Johnny from his house like pajamas and his razor when we go by there to feed the animals later today.”

 

     Just when Roy was about to tell his son they should return home Chris wandered over to the window.  He looked out at the rain, totally oblivious to the fact he was mirroring Johnny’s actions from the night when Roy had been injured at the Weber fire.

 

     “Chris, are you ready to go?”

 

     “I. . .Dad. . .I. . .you’d don’t have any right to be proud of me.”

 

     “What?”

 

     “You said you were proud of me, and you shouldn’t be.”

 

     “Why not?”

 

     “Just because.”

 

     Roy moved away from Johnny’s bedside so his voice wouldn’t awaken his partner. 

    

     “Chris, what would make you say such a thing?  Of course I’m proud of you.  I have every reason to be.”

 

     “No. . .I. . .I lied to you and Mom about helping Uncle Johnny with his chores right after he was hurt.  I didn’t.  I didn’t help him at all.  And I’ve been mean to him.  Said some things to him. . .lots of things that I shouldn’t have.”

 

     “What kind of things?”

 

     “I blamed Uncle Johnny for what happened to you the night you were injured.”  Chris brought his gaze from the window to his father.  “I blamed him for leaving you behind in that house.”

 

     “I see.”

 

     “I told him. . .I told him he wasn’t really part of our family.  That he wasn’t really my uncle.”

 

     “Oh, Chris,” Roy said, the disappointment in his tone plain to hear.  “How could you?  Do you know how much that must have hurt him?”

     “I know.  But at the time I didn’t care.  I was just so worried about you, Dad, and so mad, and. . .and. . .and. . .”

 

     When Chris started to cry Roy moved forward and wrapped his good arm around him.  Chris allowed his father to hug him even though he didn’t think he deserved this show of affection.  When Roy dropped his arm Chris wiped a hand across his eyes, then made his way to Johnny’s bedside.

 

     “I learned something at that reservoir yesterday.”

 

     “What was that?”

 

     “That some choices are tough to make, but are necessary.  After I took John from Uncle Johnny I offered him my hand so I could help him out of the water.  He refused to take it.”

 

     “He knew if he did he’d pull you and John in with him,” Roy surmised. 

 

     “I know. I wanted to stay and help Uncle Johnny, but he kept yelling at me to get John to safety.  I knew my first obligation was to John because he was too little to take care of himself.  That’s also when I knew what it must have been like for Uncle Johnny the night you got hurt.  He wanted to help you, but his first obligation was to that boy.”

 

     “You’re right, Chris, it was.  Despite our friendship, whenever Johnny and I go out on a call our first obligation is always to our victim.  Always.  That’s proven to be a difficult thing for both of us to live with on occasion, but nonetheless it’s a fact of life.”

 

     “I realize that now.”  Chris looked from Johnny to his father.  “Dad, I found out yesterday that it’s pretty awful to have to make a choice between two people you love.  I hope. . .well I hope I’m never put in that position again.”

 

     “I hope you’re not either, Chris.  I’m sure it wasn’t an easy place to be.”

 

     “No, it wasn’t.  And I’ll make sure I tell Uncle Johnny that when I apologize to him for being such a jerk.”

 

     “That sounds like a good idea to me,”  Roy agreed.  “Now come on, let’s get going.  If we stand around talking much longer we’ll wake your Uncle Johnny and then Doctor Brackett will have my hide.”

 

     Chris chuckled.  He walked with Roy to the door and opened it for his dad.  Chris cast one last long look at the man he had for so long thought of as his ‘uncle’ before following his father from the room.   He smiled when he felt his dad’s arm go around his shoulders and heard his father say softly, “Sometimes the measure of a man is in his ability to admit his mistakes.  You did that a few minutes ago, Chris.  I want you to know that I’m still proud of you, son.”

 

     Chris turned and hugged his father, not carrying who might see.

 

     “Thanks, Dad.  Thanks.”

 

__________________________________

 

     Three weeks passed in which good health returned to both Roy and Johnny.   Johnny was hosting a cookout at his home for the DeSoto family on a Sunday afternoon.  The next day Roy would be returning to duty at Station 51.  There was another reason to celebrate as well.  On Thursday Johnny had been found innocent of any wrong doing by the Fire Department’s Inquest Board.  What Terence Weber thought of that Johnny didn’t know, but if nothing else the paramedic walked away from the incident with the assurance that everyone involved; from Roy, to Captain Stanley, to the big guys at head quarters, felt Johnny had made the right choices and done the very best job he could have considering the circumstances.

 

     Chris watched from the deck as Johnny swung John through the air.  The little boy squealed with delight, just like Chris himself used to do so many years ago now when Johnny did the same thing to him.  Ever since his near drowning experience John couldn’t get enough of his Uncle Johnny.  For as young as he was he seemed to sense he owed his life to the paramedic and would cling to him whenever they were together until Joanne or Roy sent him off to play so Johnny could have some peace.

 

     Johnny swung John around one last time, then set the boy on his feet.

 

     “You dizzy enough now, Little Pally?”

     “No, Unca Johnny.  More!  More!”

 

     “John, leave Uncle Johnny alone now,” Joanne called from where she sat relaxing on the deck.  “Go play with Joe or the kittens.”

 

     “But, Mommy, Unca Johnny is my bestest fwiend.  He wuvs to pway wif me.”

 

     “I’m sure he does, but he also likes to visit with Daddy.  Now you do as I asked or you’ll have to sit in the house by yourself.”

 

     “I be back, Unca Johnny!”  John promised as he ran toward the barn.

 

     “Now’s your chance to escape, partner,” Roy said from where he stood flipping hamburgers.

 

     “No need,” Johnny said as he joined his friends on the deck.  “After all, I wuv pwaying wif John.  I’m his bestest fwiend.”

 

     Joanne laughed at Johnny as he took over the cooking duties from Roy.  Fifteen minutes later Jennifer was called from the corral where she was riding Cheyenne and John was called from the barn.  The children were sent in the house to wash their hands, then everyone sat down to lunch.  

 

     After the meal was eaten and the picnic table cleared of paper plates and soda cans Roy heard Chris ask Johnny if he’d like to go for walk.   John tried to horn in on his brother’s invitation but Joanne put a firm stop to that idea.  Before John could voice his displeasure Jennifer was taking him to the corral to ride Cheyenne with her.

 

     When Chris and Johnny had walked far enough away from the house and barn that they couldn’t be overheard Chris took a deep breath and said,  “Uncle Johnny, I’m sorry about the way I acted when Dad was hurt, and sorry about what I said to you that day I brought you home.  I was wrong.  I shouldn’t have--”

 

     “Forget it, Chris.”

 

     “No--”

 

     “Chris, regardless of whether you were wrong or not, I understood how you felt.”

 

     “But still, I had no right to speak to you like I did.  I shouldn’t have said those things.  I--”

 

     “We all say things we shouldn’t at times, Chris.  Especially when we’re upset.  Believe me, it’s happened to me on more than one occasion.”

 

     “I know, but--”

 

     Johnny held up a hand, not allowing for further apologies.  “Chris, just drop it.  I said I understood and I mean that.”

 

     Though they’d walked too far to see the barn now, Chris could hear his little brother’s laughter.

 

     “Everything’s changing,” the teenager said.

 

     “Pardon?”

    

     “It seems like just yesterday that John was a baby and now he’s only a month away from turning four.”

 

     Johnny chuckled.  “How do you think I feel?  It seems like just yesterday that your dad invited me to your house for dinner for the first time and I was meeting you and Jenny.  But that yesterday will be eleven years ago come January.”

 

     “Someday soon you and Dad won’t be partners anymore, will you?”

 

     Johnny looked at the boy, wondering how he knew that changes were going to take place very shortly.  To the best of Johnny’s knowledge Roy hadn’t discussed his plans to take the captain’s exam with anyone but himself and Joanne.

 

     “Well, Chris, things change,” was all Johnny said. 

 

     “I know Dad is thinking about going for captain.”

 

     “How do you know that?”

 

     “Because I overheard him and Mom talking.”

 

     “Oh.”

 

     “Are you going to take the exam, too?”

 

     “I doubt it.”

 

     “Why?”

 

     “Because I love being a paramedic.”

 

     “So does my dad.”

 

     “That’s true, but he also has three kids to put through college.  The extra money he’ll earn as a captain will really help out.”

 

     “I heard Dad say the department offered you a teaching position.  Are you gonna take it?”

 

     For two years now Kelly Brackett had wanted to move the bulk of the paramedic instruction program out of the hospital and into the hands of the men who did the work on a daily basis.  When he had first approached Johnny and Roy with the idea a six months ago Roy hadn’t been interested because he already had his sights set on being a station captain.  Johnny; however, had been very interested and Brackett was encouraging him to be the head instructor and coordinator of the program.  At this point Johnny gave Chris the most honest answer he could.

    

     “That kinda depends on what your dad does.  If he decides not to take the captain’s exam, or doesn’t pass it for some reason, neither of which I foresee happening, then no.  No, I won’t take the teaching position.  But if he does make captain then I’ll be giving it serious consideration.”

 

     “Will you still get to be a paramedic if you do that?”

    

     “Yeah.  I’ll be dividing my time between the classroom and the field.”

 

     “Oh.  I suppose that means more money, too, huh?”

     “It does.”  Johnny smiled at the boy who was walking along beside him with slumped shoulders.  “Chris, come on.  Just because your dad and I move on with our careers doesn’t mean we’ll stop being friends.  Or that I’ll stop being your Uncle Johnny.”

 

     Chris smiled in return.  “I know.  It’s just that it’ll be different than how it used to be.  When I was a kid I always loved it when Mom brought me and Jen to the station to see you and Dad.  I still like to stop by there and see you guys.”

 

     “So now you’ll just have to stop by two stations.  The one where your dad is captain, and the one where I’m working with a trainee.”

 

     “I guess I can do that.”  Chris looked up at the mountain looming before them.  “My dad wants me to go to college but I’m not so sure about it.   I don’t know what I want to major in to begin with.”

 

     “College is a couple years away yet.  You have plenty of time to decide.”

 

     “You know what I really want to do?”

 

     “What?”

 

     “Be a paramedic.”

 

     “I see,” Johnny said in a noncommittal tone.  If he encouraged Chris to go that route, and bypass college along the way, Roy would kill him.

 

     “But I need you to talk to my dad about for me.  He’ll never agree to it otherwise.”

 

     “Chris, I don’t think--”

 

     “Please, Uncle Johnny.  Please.”

 

     Johnny sighed.  He never had been able to resist the word ‘please’ when coming from the mouth of a DeSoto offspring.

 

     “I’ll tell you what.  Next year at this time, when you’re a senior, if you still feel this way I’ll help you talk to your dad.  But until that time I want you to really give college a lot of consideration.  You know, if you’re interested in the medical field there’s lots of choices out there career-wise.”

 

     “I know.  But it’s not just medicine I’m interest in.  It’s being a fireman, too.”

 

     That’s what I was afraid of, Sport, and your dad will blow a gasket when he hears this.

 

     “Well, let’s just wait and see how you feel a year from now.”

     “I won’t feel any differently.”

 

     Johnny smiled. “Then maybe I’d better be moved out of the state by then.”

 

     “Dad will really be that mad?”

 

     “Let’s put it this way, he won’t be happy.  He’s always wanted all of you kids to go to college.  That’s what he’s saved for all these years, Chris.  But if you decide college really isn’t right for you then I think, eventually, your dad will come to understand that.”

 

     “He’ll understand it, Uncle Johnny.  Especially if you talk to him.”

 

     “Chris, you’re giving me a little too much credit here.”

 

     “And if you’re teaching by then you could even be my instructor.  Dad couldn’t argue with that.”

 

     “Now you’re getting way ahead of yourself, Sport.  Tell you what, let’s keep this conversation between us and see what time brings.  Agreed?”

 

     “Agreed.”

 

     As the two turned to walk back toward the house Chris placed a hand on the paramedic’s shoulder. 

 

     “Johnny?”

 

     “Yeah?”

 

     “Thanks for being my uncle.  I know it’s not by blood, but that it’s by choice means all that much more to me.”

    

     “You’re welcome, Chris,” was all Johnny said as he and Roy’s oldest son continued their journey to the ranch yard.

 

     A number of tough choices faced John Gage, Roy DeSoto, and Chris DeSoto in the coming months.  Regardless of what path they each chose to walk, Chris’s words told Johnny that, no matter what, he’d always be considered a member of the family.  And that’s one choice Johnny didn’t want to ever see change.

 

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

    

 

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