| Part Six Previously: Roy has internal injuries and has to have surgery Authors Notes: None ............ "Yeah looks that way, my patient is suppose to be resting not having parties." said Joe. Joanne stood up when she heard Dr. Brackett�s voice. "Doctor Brackett how is Roy?" "He's had a broken rib that punchered a lung with some artery�s. He had a lot of internal damage from one rib. We got it all under control. He's going to be fine. But he's got a lot of recovering a head of him. But he is going be fine." Said Brackett. He could feel the relief drain from the room. "Doc, thanks " said Cap. "Joanne he'll be in recovery for a few hours and then moved to a room, you can see him then. As for the firemen who are not a guest in this hospital go home and take a shower and get some rest. Joanne go with Dixie and get some rest. You don't want to look tired for that husband of your when he wakes up." smiled Brackett. Joanne got up and gave Kel a kiss on the cheek "Thanks Dr. Brackett" she smiled. and she went with Dixie. Everyone left the room but Brackett and Early. They walked closer to the bed. "How are you feeling?" asked Early. "Better now that I know something on Roy." said Johnny. "I'm still a little tired and my leg hurts a little." said Johnny. "I'll have the nurse bring you in something for the pain. And I want you to get some rest." said Brackett. "I will thanks Doc." said Johnny. They left the room. They found Captain Stanley outside the room. "Hey Doctor Brackett and Dr. Early just wanted to say thanks again" Cap said. "Hey don't worry they'll both be fine with some rest." said Dr. Brackett. "Yeah I don't know if I can handle having someone else at the station." he smiled. "Did they find out what happen?" asked Joe Early. "No we'll have to get a report tomorrow for the records and the report to account for totaling the squad. Must of been something out there for Roy to wreck the squad." said Cap. "Well you boys need to get a good hot shower, a hot meal and a bed, now march" said Brackett. "Your right Doc. we've gotta be back on duty at 7 am to replace a shift." said Cap. They shook hands and Cap left along with the rest of 51's crew who had been waiting. After Dixie got Joanne something to eat and cleaned up, she took her to Roy. "He's still sedated so he won't wake up for hours yet. Why don't you go home and get some rest you've been here for hours." said Dixie. Joanne leaned over and kissed Roy on the forehead and said "I love you see you later." she then turned to Dixie and they left the room. "Where are the kids?" asked Dixie. "Oh Mike and Beth Stokers have them. They are staying the night or till I get them. I don't like having to leave them there for long a time." said Joann. "If I know the Stokers they are happy to have the kids over. Besides you need to get some rest and let Beth worry over the kids. Enjoy the quiet while you can because that husband of yours in there is going get better and then, he will be going home for some much needed TLC and plenty of more rest, and with 2 kids and him your not going get much peace and quiet, so I would enjoy it if I could." she smiled. "So so true, Night Dixie call me if he wakes up?" she asked and gave Dixie a hug. "I will now go home and stop worry." said Dixie. Joanne turned and walked out of the hospital and realized that the fire department battalion chief had brought her to the hospital hours ago and now it was late. Once she got out the bay doors she found a fire departmental car sitting there waiting. The department had assigned a car to drive Joanne to and from the hospital. .......... After several hours in recovery Roy had been moved into his room. They figured Johnny and Roy would recover quicker if they were together in same room instead of spending all their time trying to find ways to get together. Johnny had slept through the whole thing. He was so unaware because of the medication that they gave him earlier made him sleepy. Johnny woke the next morning to find Roy in the bed across from him. he laid there watching Roy's still form. The door opened and he never noticed. "He's ok really" said Dixie startling Johnny. "oh sorry Johnny." said Dixie as Johnny jumped. "Hey Dixie?" "He's resting comfortable." she said going over to take Roy's vitals. She put the b/p cuff on and Roy slowly opened his eyes blinking a couple of times. "We'll hello handsome." smiled Dixie. J ohnny sat up quickly to see for himself that Roy was awake. Roy looked at her and then at Johnny. He grinned at Johnny, he looked like a kid getting a new fire truck to play with. "How are you feeling?" asked Dixie. Roy looked at Dixie and tried to talk but all he could manage was to cough. Dixie helped him sit up some and grabbed a little cup of water. "Here try to take a sip of this water." Roy got a little sip of water. He then tried to talk again and once again broke into coughing fit making his stitches hurt. Dr. Brackett and Dr Early were making rounds and entered the room as Roy once again began to cough. He held his side and stitches as he coughed the pain was horrible. He was trying not to cough as Dixie elevated his bed. "Dixie what's wrong?" asked Brackett as he and Joe came over to help her get Roy up right some. "He woke up a few minutes ago. He tried to talk and began coughing. I gave him a sip of water and then the same." said Dixie. Roy's coughing began to ease after a minute. Dr. Brackett checked Roy�s surgery wound while Dixie got his vitals again. Dr. Early got out his pen light and said "Open your mouth for me Roy." Roy did as he asked and after a few minutes Dr. Early shut off the light and stepping back a little. "Ok Roy the tube we inserted to help you breath has aggregated your throat and since you were already on the verge of loosing your voice before you got here it caused your throat to swell up. You have no voice. But, I think It'll return after a few days so no talking at all, cause when you try and talk it makes you cough." said Joe "And coughing can make you pull out all those stitches I put in you. You need to rest your voice for 2 to 3 days do you understand me?" asked Brackett. Roy nodded. "Good now how are you feeling?" he asked. Roy rolled his eyes and shook his head no. Dr. Early grinned and handed Roy a pad and paper from the table. Roy wrote "Tired..... hurts..." and he laid the pad down he didn't have the energy to hand it to the doctor. "Your going be tired, your body has been through a lot and is gonna need a lot of rest to recover. Can you point to where your are hurting?" asked Brackett. Roy slowly raised his right hand the one with no iv in it. He pointed to his head and then down to his mid section. "Hmmm all over huh?" asked Early with a grin. Roy nodded. He then winched in pain as he took a deep breath hurting his rib and grabbed his side. "Easy Roy." said Dr. Brackett. Dixie took hold of Roy�s hand. After a second it passed. "You ok?" she asked. Roy nodded slowly. "OK Dixie get him 10cc morphine, also I want a very close eye on him and this room. I shared a room once with romeo here and I got no rest, so pass on to the staff this room is off limits." said Brackett and watched Johnny�s mouth drop open "Sorry Gage, I want this room quiet and limited on visitors also Dixie." "Yes Doctor." she said. Dr. Brackett turned back to talk to Roy and found his eyes closed and breathing heavily. "Go ahead and give him the morphine Dix and keep a close eye on his respirations. I also want him on clear liquids for a couple of days." he said She nodded and left the room. Joe and Kel went to Johnny. "Sorry to mess up your love life there Gage, but he needs lots of rest." said Kel. "Is he ok?" asked Johnny. "Yeah he's ok, his voice is gone from the inflammed vocal cords and then we tubing him. His voice will return but no talking. But if we keep him sedated that will help. If your flock comes to visit have them wheel you down the hall or something or we could put you in another room." said Kel. "Uh no I want to stay here with Roy." said Johnny. "How are you feeling" aske Joe. "Ok a little bit of a headache and my leg hurts a little but I'm doing ok." Johnny said. "You want something for the pain?" asked Joe. "Nah, I'm ok, if it gets worse I'll ring for something." said Johnny. "Ok" said Joe "Johnny?" asked Kel. "Yeah doc?" "Is everything ok?" asked Kel Johnny signed and laid back on the bed. "yeah I think so." said Johnny. "John what's wrong?" asked Joe. "I just keep thinking of how close I came to loosing my best friend yesterday. You know?" said Johnny. "Johnny it's ok, You did a great job keeping Roy and yourself alive out there. I still don't know what happen?" said Joe. "We were responding to a call and was cancelled. The route dispatch gave us lead us right into the fire area. A burning tree fell hitting the side of the squad, Roy tried to keep it under control but we had no where to go but into that revine. I don't think I was out for long but when I did wake. I found Roy slumped over the steering wheel. He did a hell of a job keeping us from rolling. I still don't believe we didn't roll." said Johnny. "The rest you pretty much know. Man, I guess that squad is toast." said Johnny. "Yep, squad 51 was stood down last night till a new one could be sent. The other stations are covering 51's runs" said Brackett. "Man, that's bad. No offence but I am glad Roy was driving." smiled Johnny. He looked over at Roy who was sticking his tongue out at Johnny. Brackett, Early, and Johnny all laughed. Dixie came in and gave Roy the morphine. It didn't take but a minute for him to drift off to sleep. Brackett shook his head. "Alright you get some sleep. If you behave yourself we might let you out of here soon." said Kel and he left the room. ................ Their recovery was slow going. Johnny had intense rehab on his ankle, if he was to get it back to the way it was before he broke it, so he could return to duty. He was release after 4 days in the hospital. Roy�s recovery was slow they had a slight delay with some infection in his incision sight. But he soon started getting better also. After a week his stitches were removed and his voice was returning and he would be going home soon. "Hey guys." said Roy as Johnny and the rest of 51's crew came through the door with Joanne behind him. "What�s up?" he asked as Joanne gave her husband a kiss. "Well you have been released and we came to see you home. And also Dr. Brackett has give you permission to go to the Firemen�s banquet tonight. We are trying to get Johnny here to go." said Joanne. "I think you should go Johnny besides I want you to be there with all of us as a team again." smiled Roy. "Brackett also said, honey that your to take it easy and don't over do it or you'll be right back in here." Joanne said. "Come on Johnny go with us." said Roy. "Alright... I'll go what do we wear?" asked Johnny. "Were your dress Blues for the dinner." said Cap. "Can I walk or do I have to use this wheelchair?" asked Roy. "I have a cane you use the chair." smiled Johnny. "Only if you feel your strong enough to walk, remember your still recovering." said Kel who had been behind them. "We'll all be there if he needs help Doc." said Captain Stanley. "Ok, but remember don't over due it. It�s your first night out of the hospital in 2 weeks. We don't want you back in here." smiled Kel. They left the hospital. Joanne took Roy home. Captain Stanley had joined them. His wife was to meeting him later at the banquet. He helped Joanne get Roy inside. He pretty much did everything himself. The kids were spending the weekend with Joanne�s mom. Cap made sure Roy was situated before getting his stuff out of the car and using the kids bathroom to shower and get ready. Roy was ready and sitting in the living room nodding off when Joanne all dress up came in. "Roy?" she asked softly. "Hm' oh sorry must of been nodding off. You look great." he said and she kissed him. "Are you ok?" she asked "Yeah I'm ok really." he said. "Are you sure you want to go?" she asked with concerned. "Yeah Jo I'm not gonna miss this." he smiled. Cap then walked in full dress blues. "WOW!" said Joanne. Roy couldn't believe his wife said that. "You look good Cap." said Roy. "Hey I'm the captain. I have to look good in this." he smiled. "You ready? We gotta pick up Johnny" said Cap. "Yep" said Roy slowly trying to get out of the chair. "HELP!" he said . His stomach muscles screamed he couldn't get enough strength to pull himself out of the chair. "Darn chair, remind me to sit on the couch that chair is a man eater." laughed Roy as Cap and Joanne helped him stand. "Alright let's go" said Roy. "They walked out to the car and they helped Roy get situated in the front seat and Joanne got in the back and they drove to Johnny�s place, he was waiting for him. "I thought you were standing me up." said Johnny. "Nope, had problem with a chair." said Roy as Johnny got in back with Joanne. "You look nice Johnny." said Joanne. "So do you pretty lady, if you weren't married." he smiled... "Your such a flirt." laughed Joanne. It didn't take them long to reach the banquet hall. They got out of the car at the door valet parking. Cap Helped Roy get out of the car. They walked slowly inside the building. Roy looked at the long hall they had to walk. He was tired. "Um cap, I don't think I can walk that far. I need to sit down my strenght is going." They helped Roy over to a bench and sat him down. "Sorry guys, I though I could do this." said Roy. "Don't worry about it pal we have you covered." He stood up and motioned for someone to join them. "Your lemo has arrived!" Roy heard Chet's voice. He looked up and found Chet Kelly standing there with a wheelchair.. "How did?" he asked. "We figured we'd have one just incase. Chet here came early to check out the place for distance when he saw how long the walk would be he waited with the chair for us. Mike and Marco are already inside they got us a good table so we�re down front." smiled Cap. "Thanks guys." said Roy, as Cap and Chet helped him into the chair. "I'm gonna hate this." said Roy. "Hate what?" asked Johnny "Everyone looking at me in this chair." said Roy. "I'm using a cane so pretend they are watching me." said Johnny. That made Roy feel better, he knew how much Johnny hated being he center of attention. "Thanks" said Roy. They went through the lobby until they reached the banquet room. Roy took a deep breath as Chet opened the door and they went in. It was filled with fireman who weren't working and some who were working they had there radios turned down low so only they could hear. They went down front where Marco and Mike and Mikes wife Beth were waiting for them. They sat down. Roy decided to stay in the wheelchair. He had arm rest this way. Soon people were coming over and talking with them and people at the table. Soon after the lights simmer down and came back up and everyone took the seats. Battalion chief McConnike stood up and went to the mike at the podum in the middle of the stage. TBC |