| Title: Through the eyes of a child Part: six Rated: R By Spanky Content Warning: Child abuse and mention abuse towards Johnny Previously: Johnny tells his friends about his past with his uncle The next morning Roy found Johnny sitting in the day room drinking a cup of coffe. Roy quietly studied his partners exhausted face. " Did you get any sleep?" Roy asked quietly " No not really, I guess demon's ruled again last night." Johnny sighed tiredly " Hey Pal, how you doing?" Stanley asked as he and the rest of the guys strolled into the room " Still a little shaky I guess Capt, you want to hear something dumb? I'm scared to go home, I'm afraid to be alone." Johnny said softly. Roy looked at his partner and best friend with tears filling his eyes." Hey Johnny how about if you come over to my place, Jo can make us some breakfast and you can use the guest room to crash." Roy offered With a small smile Johnny realized he had the best friends a guy could ever ask for. " Johnny I know that none of us can ever fully know what it's like for you but I wanted you to know that I"m here for you. Man all I've been able to think about since you told us , is how bad your life must have been and how lucky the rest of us really are. One thing I do know is that when I leave here I'm going straight over to my moms and give her a hug." Chet said hoping Johnny would kow that he really did care. " Thanks guys." Johnny said ........ An hour later Roy and Johnny walked into the DeSoto kitchen to find Joanne sitting at the table enjoying a cup of coffee." Roy what's wrong?" Joanne asked noticing Johnny's pale and drawn face and Roy's equally concerned one. Glanceing at Johnny, Roy wasn't sure how to begin " Could you tell her everything Roy, I'm going to go use that guest room of yours now." Johnny said as he started to walk away. " Junior if you need anything, anything at all you know all you have to do is ask." Roy said to Johnny's retreating back " Roy please tell me what's going on, Johnny looks so sick." Joanne said feeling her fear rising " Oh God Jo, you have no idea, I had no idea he was hurting so bad." Roy bagan as a tear fell down his face. " Honey." Now even more scared Joanne wrapped her arms around her husbands waist. " You know how we've all been really worried about the way Johnny's been acting? It turns out that Johnny was abused as a child by his uncle, he broke down and told us all about the life with his uncle last night. God Jo, the things he told us were horrible it makes me sick to think about the pain that he suffered as a child and is still suffering. His Uncle almost killed him." Roy said as his tears flowed at the memories of Johnny's painfull words. " Why din't he tell you weeks ago?" Joanne asked now her tears mixing with Roys " Honey, Johnny had no idea what was happening to him. He locked these memories away for so long that when they first started to surface th thought that is was because of his concern for Becka." Roy said taking a deep rugged breath " You mean Chris's friend Becka Williams from the party? Why was he concerned?" Joanne stopped realizing where her husband was telling her." Oh God no you dont mean." " Yes Jo, Becka was abused by her father. Jo she jumped off the utility tower yesturday, and if Johnny wouldn't have caught her she would be dead right now." Roy said sadly glancing towards the guest room door hearing Johnny whimper out in his sleep. " Johnny said yesturday when she jumped from that tower he saw himelf in her eyes. She's in real bad shape. So terrified that someone will hurt her. Johnny said she has welts on her back and several large bruises on her legs. At the hospital she wouldn't let anyone near her and even sliced an ambulance attendent with a scalpel when he went to grab her. Johnny finally got her calmed down so they could treat her. " What can we do to help honey, not just Johnny but Becka as well?" Joanne asked and then began to cry harder as Johnny started to whimper louder in his sleep " I don't know, Dammit I'm so angry. Jesus Christ listen to him Jo, he can't even sleep without being terrified. I've spent weeks watching Johnny sit inside his locker and draw his knees up to his chest as he shook and cried. He was so frightened of me that he whimpered when I touched him. God Dammit Jo, I'm a paramedic, I'm suppose to help people and I can't help my best friend much less a ten year old girl." Roy said standing up to go and try to quiet Johnny's screams of fear. Johnny finally slept the exhaustion away waking ten hours later to the smell of Joanne's lasagna ......The next day...... Johnny was so excited about what Joanne and Roy had told him, If everything worked out the way they had it planned Becka would go from the hospital to there home. Johnny walked quickly through the lobby of Rampart General, in a hurry to give Becka the much needed good news. He stopped short and with a smile he went into the gift shop. Ten minutes later he caught up with Roy and Joanne outside Becka's room. " There you are, first you walk ten miles ahead of us then you disappear so we can't fing you, just what do you have in the bag? Roy asked his curiosity getting the better of him. " A gift for Becka." Johnny announced pushing the door open." Hey Bec, I told you I'd be here, and I brought some friends with me. " Johnny said dropping the bag onto Becka's lap making her jump " What is it Mr. Gage?" Becka asked shyly " Open it and find out." Johnny gave Becka his famous Gage smile Becka peeked into the bag and her eyes filled with tears." Thank you it's the nicest thing I've ever gotten. " Becka cried pulling a stuffed monkey from the bag and instantly pulled it to her chest hugging it tightly. " You're very welcom, my friends you remember them, Chris's mom and dad well they want to talk to you about something." Johnny sat on the edge of Becka's bed and held her hand. Being surprised that she didn't pull her hand away. " Becka first we want you to know that we are very sorry for everything that has been done to you and we know how scary everyting must seem especially right now. But we talked it over and if it's okay with you we would like you to come and live with us." Joanne moved up to Becka's bed beside Johnny as she spoke. " But that's only if you want to. Roy then walked up to the other side of the bed. " Becka it's not going to be easy but as God as my witness. You'll never be hurt again." As Becka heard those kind words, she hung her head to cry. But these were not tears of pain but tears of joy. She didn't know what to say for her nightmare was ending. TBC |