| Title: For the sake of love Part: Forty six By: Spanky Content Warning: Adult language, and content. Previously: Johnny finds Roy in a bar and talks to him about what had happened Authors Notes: Three days later. ........... For the first time in two weeks both Johnny and Roy walked through the doorway ready for their shift. " Morning." They each greeted their friends as the took their seats at the table " Good morning, it's good to see you two. Tell me are you ready to get back to work?" Captain Stanley asked relieved to see his extended family back together again With a smile Roy said." Are you kidding, the day can't get started quick enough." He ended just as the klaxons sounded sending the squad out on a run. " Is this quick enough for ya Pally." Johnny teased as he hopped in through the passengers side door. .............. Walking up to the bay station both Roy and Johnny were greeted by Dixie and Dr. Brackett." Hey guys boy am I glad to see you two." Dixie smiled " Believe me we're glad to be back." Roy smiled After waiting for the question that should have came from Roy Johnny asked." So doc, how's Nicci doing?" " She's doing much better, There's no signs of blood in the uterus and the baby's starting to get very active." Doctor Brackett said as he glanced over to Roy to find him looking downward as if trying to ignore his words. Continuing Doctor Brackett added" She hasn't gained as much as I would have like but in all fairness I don't think she will. She's to far along to make up any weight loss that accured. How ever I'm optimistic that she'll be able to go home in a couple days." " Why so soon Doc, I mean are you sure she'll be ready?" " I think Nicci will be just fine, we've done everything we can for her here, now she needs to go home and try to get on with her life." " That is great news, can we see her?" Johnny asked Hearing Johnny's question after the words of the doctor, it was now the moment of truth for Roy. He wasn't sure if he was ready to face his daughter, or ready to come to terms with what he had done. Although Johnny's words were still in his head, about Roger still being in control, Roy couldn't bring himself to deal with the remnents of his past or to face Nicci. Feeling more pain then what one man should ever feel he turned towards Johnny. With words spoken above a whisper he declined." Junior, why don't you go, I'll wait for you in the squad." ........ Stopping just outside the door that lead inside Nicci's room, Johnny for a moment stopped as partner's words from echoed inside his head. He knew that Nicci would ask him the same question that she did the last time he stopped for a visit. Like the first time, Johnny dreaded telling her the truth. Deciding it best to shield her knowing he put on a fake smile and walked in." Hey Nic, how you feeling?" He asked as he took a seat on the edge of the bed. " Hi Uncle Johnny, I'm doing okay." Nicci stopped Waiting for the entrance of her father that didn't come she asked. " Where's dad at? did he come with you?" " No he didn't, he's waiting in the squad." He said his voice lined with worry. Hearing the tone in her Uncle Johnny's words Nicci asked." Is dad okay?" " Yeah he's just fine, don't worry okay." Johnny said getting to his feet. Deciding to leave before she picked up on his lie he ended." Hey Nic, I really got to be going, is there anything you need?" " Nope, I'm fine." She assured. Then watching her Uncle Johnny's retreating footsteps she added." Hey Uncle Johnny, I could use a jar of pickels and a Milky way bar." Listening to her words Johnny turned. With his famous crooked smile he gave her a wink and said." I'll be back as soon as I can." ............. Watching as Johnny placed Nicci's wanted goodies inside the fridge, Chet asked."Hey Gage, what's in the bag?" " Oh well it's for Nic." Johnny answered as he watched Roy leave the room as soon as her name was mentioned. " How's she doing?" Captain Stanley asked as he too seen Roy's reaction of Nicci's name being spoke. " Well she's doing much better, doc thinks she'll be leaving the hospital in a day or two." " Oh that's great news." Captain Stanley ended just as the klaxons sounded sending the station to a structure fire. .........The next day........... After spending an hour out on a run, Roy found himself sitting alone inside the locker room thinking about tomorrow and how Nicci was to come home. He wasn't ready to face her and the thought that he would soon have to, was taking it's toll on his already spent mind. " Hey Roy." Johnny called Looking up Roy spotted his partner and asked " What?" " Well me and the guys were thinking that when you go pick Nicci up tomorrow we could get together as a way to welcome her back." Johnny suggested " Yeah sure." Roy said with new found panic for it was Johnny's words that made Roy realize that he would indeed have to pick her up from the hospital. Deciding to push the situation away as far as he could he rose to his feet and headed straight to the office. Finding his Captain sitting at the desk Roy spoke. " Hey Capt." Watching as his Captain took his eyes off his work Roy asked." Could you do me a favor?" " Sure what is it?" Captain Stanley accepted " Could you pick Nicci up at the hospital tomorrow?" " Sure I can do that, but would you mind telling me why? I mean you should be the one to pick her up." Watching Roy's face change from normal to a look of despartation Captain Stanley asked." Roy can I ask you a question?" " No, what' s on your mind?" Roy asked " Now I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but I'd like to know if you've thought about seeing a professonal to help you." " No." Roy said declining the notion that he needed help " Look Roy, If it's a question of getting the time off to see someone, I'll give you all the time you need. You play a very important roll in this department and so does Johnny. I know that some feel that seeing someone to help them deal with their problems is a form or weekness. Roy you know that's not the case, if anything it proves strenght when a person isn't frightened to admit they need help." " Capt. I hear what your saying and I appreicate it, but there's not a shrink in the world that can tell me something I don't already know. I know I have to start dealing with realitiy but the fact is I'm not ready. Like I told Johnny, I have to do this my own way because I'm the one who has to face myself in the mirror. If I can't to terms with the man staring back at me then how can I come to terms with anything else." Stopping in order to study the look of worry on his Captains face Roy then added." Please Capt, let me do this and please don't worry about me." Athough Roy's words made the red warning flags go up inside of Captain Stanley's head he agreed." Okay, but don't push yourself and don't be affraid to talk to me. You know I'm here for you all, and if there's anything I can do please let me know." " Okay, thanks Capt." Roy ended leaving the office. Feeling relief that he for a time was off the hook he breathed a sigh of relief and headed for the day room. ........The next day........ Ending his steady stride just outside of Nicci's room. Captain Stanley after lightly tapping the door with his knuckles he called out." Nicci?" Hearing Nicci's soft voice urging him to come in the reached for the doors handle letting himself in." Hey you're looking good." Surprised to find her Uncle Hank instead of Roy she asked." Uncle Hank, where's dad, why didn't he come." " Oh he wanted to but he's got a lot on his mind." Captain Stanley watching Nicci reaction as she hung her head down taking in her father's excuse through the Captain's words. Deciding to push them aside she said." Well I'm getting hungry can we go now." " Did I hear right or is my ears playing tricks on me?" Dr. Brackett teased as he caught the last bit of Nicci's words as he entered the room " Yes, you heard right." Nicci smiled. " Well then in that case you better get going, the kitchen is serving Liver and Onions and I remember your reaction the last time it was being served." Dr. Brackett reminded with a grin just as Dixie entered the room with a wheel chair. Wrinkling her nose at the planned meal, Nicci stood on her feet and said " I'm out of here." While pointing her finger towards the door she teased." Home James."While taking her seat in the wheel chair. Stopping Dixie just inside the doorway that would lead to Nicci's freedom Dr. Bracket said by way of order." Now young lady, I know your excited about going home but you have to take it easy, I don't want you to over do it." " Yes Doc." Nicci said ........Meanwhile....... On time Chet pulled into the DeSoto driveway with Johnny in the passangers seat. " Hey I wonder why Roy's still here, shouldn't he be at Rampart?" Chet wondered as he threw the bug into park. " Not sure." Johnny said as he and Chet headed to the front door. Seeing the door was already being opened by Joanne's greeting both Johnny and Chet entered. " Hey Jo, where's Roy?" " Oh I think he's in the garage, working on Chris's flat tire on his bike." Joanne spoke as she held her head downward as away to avoid any further discussion. " Jo why isn't he picking Nicci up? He should be at Rampart now." Johnny said " I know but apparently he asked Hank to pick her up." Joanne explained. Then looking at Johnny then at Chet she added." I don't know, but I wished Hank wouldn't have, I mean Roy's got to get over this and move on." " I know, but it's up to Roy to do that, we cant force him to do anything. And between you and me, if Capt wouldn't have accepted then it would have been me or someone else picking her up." " Yeah I know, you're probably right." Joanne ended. As if trying to raise the spirits of the room she offered " Can I get you guys a drink?" " Sure." Johnny accepted following Joanne in the kitchen with Chet at his side. Spotting a well decorated cake on the table Johnny said." That's a pretty cake Jo, you make?" " No actually Ms. Henderson made it, she went to cake decorating class." Joanne said as she sat two glasses of punch on the table." So tell me how was it going back to......." Joanne stopped as the door bell rang. " Excuse me." Looking up both Johnny and Chet smiled when they saw Mike and Marco enter the room." Hey guys." " Hi." they returned. " So when is the Captain going to get here with Nicci, cant wait to see her." " Not sure, Dr. Brackett said she was scheduled for another ultra sound before she was released. Sometime's that can take awhile depending on if the baby is to active for the doctor to get good measurments." Joanne explained then with a slight grin as she handed both Mike and Marco each a glass of punch she said." I know Doctor Brackett said the baby is starting to get very active." " Must be a boy." Chet said with a certain happiness. " Doctor's seems to think so, but each time he tries to check during an ultra sound the baby has his legs crossed so he cant tell." " Oh well in that case must be a young lady then." Johnny grinned. Just as Roy entered the room. " Get Chris's flat tire fixed?" "Yeah, he must have ran over some glass or something there was a slash in his tire about an inch long. Anyway I'm going to go wash up." Roy ended as he walked past Mike and Marco who was standing in the doorway of the kitchen. Hearing an engine as it stopped in front of the house, Johnny looked out and announced." They're here, they're here ." Walking through the door way with her Uncle Hank, Nicci was greeted with open arms as each of her exstended Uncles gave her a hug. As she looked she spotted Sherry. With a smile she held out her arms allowing her best friend to crawl between Pleased that her friend had returned home Sherry said ." Man did I miss you." " I missed you too." Nicci returned. Pulling away from Sherry's embraced Nicci stopped as she came face to face with Roy. Not knowing what else to do Nicci hung her head and said lower then a whisper." Hi dad." Returning her greeting, Roy said." Hi." His voice too was spoken soft. For a moment he glanced up towards Nicci, seeing her sweet face looking back at him, was more then he could bare as the wrath of memories came back to him. Not wanting to deal with the pain he ended while heading straight for the room he and Jo shared." Excuse me." Seeing her father's reaction to her, Nicci was now on the verge of tears. Without a word she took her hospital bag in hand and headed straight for the room that she called hers. TBC |