TITLE: Papa

AUTHOR: StoryMorgan

PAIRING: N/A

RATING: NC-17

RATING: NC-17

SUMMARY: Johnny tells his friends about his childhood

DISCLAIMER: I don't own the men of Station 51, They belong to others. I do not make any money off of this; I do own Roderick Two Bears. This story can be reposted anywhere as long as my name and email remain on it.

Authors Note: WARNING THIS STORY IS ABOUT CHILD ABUSE AS WELL AS ADULT ABUSE. This story is based in some fact. My friend, who was a Native American, lived through the abuse as a child and as an adult. This story is dedicated to him.

"" Thanks to all my Beta Reader, You all helped me so much."

Los Angles County Station 51
2:13 am

The klaxon alarm sounded in Station 51, bringing six men to their feet. Instantly awake, Pulling on their turnout gear.

"Station 51, bar fight with injuries. 2174 Clairirmont, cross street Lamar.
Time out 02:14 hrs."

"Station 51,10-4, KMG-365" replied Captain Stanley.

The squad and Engine roared down the road, stopping in front of The Lamppost Bar and Grill. Several police cars were already there. There were several men standing around outside with their hands cuffed behind their backs. Two cops were standing guard. There were several other cops on the ground, helping those who where injured. Roy was first out of the squad, as Johnny gathered their equipment.

"Hi Vince, what have we got here? "

"We've got four inside with injuries. Those three have minor cuts, and these four have bruises only." Vince moved towards the bar doors, "They didn't like one guy, and all hell broke loose." Johnny walked up to stand next to Roy. Along with Cap, Chet and Marco, they entered the bar.

Roy walked into the dimly lit bar, or what was left of it. There were broken chairs, tables, beer bottles and other glass all over the floor. The first man Roy stopped to look at was bleeding from his stomach. As he applied pressure to the wound, Roy looked around to see who else need attention. Johnny kneeled next to a man who was face down. He placed his hand to the young man's neck to check for a pulse; he didn't find one.

He moved on to the next man. He found the same result as with the first victim.

"LA. Engine 51" Cap spoke into the HT.

"Engine 51," was the reply.

"We have multiple injuries here, dispatch another squad and three additional ambulances to our location."

"10-4, 51"

"What do you have there Johnny?" Roy asked.

"Two DOA Roy. I'm going to check over here," said Johnny as he moved on to the next injured man.

"Okay I got a stomach wound here." I'm going to call it in."

As Johnny kneeled over the next victim, a shadow moved over him. "Hey man, get out of my light!" Johnny said as he turned to look up to the man standing behind him.

The first blow knocked him over. Then the man straddled Johnny and began to pummel his face. The man was yelling something at Johnny. Vince moved fast and tried to pull the man off the downed paramedic. The words the man was yelling was foreign to Chet, but he moved to help his friend who was being hurt. Cap also moved to help get the man off Johnny. Finally, Vince got the man on the floor and put the cuffs on him. The man continued to yell at Gage as Vince pulled him outside.

"Johnny, you all right?" asked Cap, as he knelt beside him. Johnny didn't answer.

"Hey Roy, better take a look at Johnny too!" yelled Chet.

Squad 10 arrived and was working on the other injured people. Roy moved over to Johnny. "Hey Partner, you OK?" he asked.

Blood covered Gage's face, and he was out cold. Roy took his vitals and called Rampart on the bio-phone.

"Rampart, Squad 51."

"Squad 51, go ahead." Dr. Brackett replied

"Rampart; we have a male firefighter, age 24. He has multiple cuts and abrasions to the face. He is unconscious. Stand by for vitals." Roy worked on getting his BP, as Cap got his respiration and pulse.

"Rampart, squad 51."

"Go ahead 51."

"Rampart, BP is 110 over 70, pulse is 25 and respiration is 15."

"10-4 51, start IV normal saline, and transport."

"10 - 4 Rampart, normal saline and transport." Roy started the IV and packaged Johnny for transport to the hospital.

"Go on Roy, I'll have Kelly bring in the squad." Cap said as he pointed to
Chet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



The ambulance backed into the space outside of the emergency bay. The stretcher was taken out of the ambulance, and the voice of Roy DeSoto was heard as they entered through the doors.

"Johnny you were out for the last ten minutes, you are going to see the doctor."

"Roy, I'm all right I just want to go back to the station."

Nurse Dixie McCall met them as they entered the ER. "Room three." Dixie closed her eyes in sympathy as Johnny was rolled past her on the gurney. Both of his eyes where swollen, there was still blood coming from his nose even with the bandages covering it and his lips were split in several places.

Dr. Brackett met them in room three. "Roy, you didn't say it was Johnny who was hurt." Stated Brackett as he looked at Johnny. "What happened?" he asked.

"Some guy jumped him on our last call. Beat him bad before we could get the guy off of him. He was out for about 10 minutes Doc." Roy moved to the side of the bed to help transfer Johnny to the gurney.

"I'm all right, Doc," Johnny's voice was low and strained from the pain.

"Yeah, I can see that, Johnny." Dr. Brackett removed the gauze from his nose, and blood flowed freely. "I think you are going to need some stitches for that and maybe a couple in your lip here." He pointed to Johnny's lower lip.

"Do you remember what happened, why this guy would do this to you?" Brackett asked as he replaced the gauze and readied the suture tray.

"Yes, I remember what happened, and as for a reason... he never needed one before... just cause I was still breathing was as good as any." Johnny looked away.

"You know who this guy was?" asked Roy.

"Yeah, I know him. I had hoped I would never see him again." Johnny winced as the pain in his face was getting worse. "Hey Doc, this is really starting to hurt."

"Okay, let's get you back in one piece then. You want to stay, Roy?" Brackett took a needle and syringe and filled it with clear liquid. Roy nodded as he stood by the bed. "Okay, I'm going to numb your lips and nose and stitch you up, and then we will get you a room for the rest of the night. I want to keep you for 24 hours at least."

"Why is it every time I get near that man, he has to put me in the hospital?" Johnny cringed as Dr. Bracket put the Novocain into his lip. He closed his eyes.

Dr. Brackett exchanged looks with Roy at Johnny's last comment.

"Doc, I don't want to stay, By the time you're done our shift will be over, I can go home and rest." Johnny gave Dr. Brackett his best puppy dog look; not an easy thing to do with his face messed up.

After all was said and done Johnny was released. He was told to go home and take it easy for a few days. He could return to work on his regular schedule as long as he didn't mind looking like he did. Roy drove Johnny back to the station to pick up his Land Rover. Roy was still wondering about what Johnny had said at Rampart.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once in the locker room Roy asked the question. "Johnny, you never did answer my question at the hospital!"

"What question?" Johnny knew what Roy was talking about, but he needed a minute to come up with a story.

"You know damn well what question!" Roy said angrily. "Who was that guy and why would he hit you like that?"

"Look, he is just some guy that I knew on the Rez, okay? Can we just drop it? It's not important." Johnny pulled on his civilian shirt, and tossed what was left of uniform shirt in the trash. "I'm going to head for home, my face is really starting to hurt. I'll see ya on Monday." Johnny turned and walked out, got into his Land Rover and drove off.

Roy was not fooled by what Johnny had said, there was much more to this then meets the eye. As Roy drove home, he was making plans for the next shift.

Monday morning arrived too soon for Johnny, he knew that Roy would want answers. He pulled into the parking lot and got out. He was not going to tell Roy anything about this, of that he was sure. None of the guys would ever know of his secret shame.

"Morning Gage," called out Chet as he dressed.

"Yeah." Johnny was not in the mood to deal with Chet this morning.

Chet looked at the man standing behind him. His face was still bruised and swollen, though not as much. "He must still hurt," thought Chet. He closed his locker and went in for roll call.

Roy came in just as Johnny was closing his locker. "Morning Junior," Roy said. "How are you doing this morning?"

"Oh I'm fine...how are you?" Johnny was making small talk and he knew it.

Roy watched as Johnny left the room. "I'm fine," he called out to his friend's back.

The tension in the kitchen reached him as soon as he entered the room. He went over to get his first cup of coffee. There was nothing for them to do as the engine and squad was still out on a run.

Captain Stanley broke the ice. "You sure you are okay, John?"

"I know I must look like hell Cap, but really I'm okay." Johnny hid his face behind the coffee mug he was drinking from.

"That was a hell of an ordeal that you went through pal. Just remember that if you need to talk, my door is always open." Stanley knew that something was wrong, he could feel it. He had made the offer, now it was up to Gage to take him up on it.

"Thanks Cap, I'll keep that in mind."

The engine and squad were backing in as Cap was walking to his office.

Roy tried to broach the subject several times and was always stopped by the klaxon sending them out on another rescue. They where very busy that day and it left very little time to talk.

Around 2:00am the runs finally slowed down. The crew of Station 51 dragged themselves back into the station from the last run. It had been a house fire, and the structure was totally engulfed by the time they had arrived. It was a total loss, but at least everyone had gotten out without any injuries. It took several hours to over haul the place, now they where home again, tired and hungry.

The men gathered around the kitchen table. Sandwiches would make this late night meal perfect, fast and easy.

Roy was determined to get the answers he wanted, even if he had to follow Johnny home in the morning.

And that is what he had to do. Johnny pulled into the parking lot of his apartment building and was surprised as Roy pulled in beside him. He had not even noticed that Roy had been following him.

Johnny exited the Land Rover and walk over to Roy's small car.

Roy stepped out of his car, "Johnny I want to talk to you."

"Roy, please don't do this. It is none of your business." Johnny's voice was almost whining.

Roy grabbed Johnny's arm "You will tell me Johnny!" The look in Roy's eyes told Johnny that he would keep up the pressure to find out what was happening.

"NO, I DON'T HAVE TO!" Johnny backed away and pushed Roy into his own car. Then ran to his own truck, jumped in and drove off.

Roy shook his head. He would find out, but not now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From Johnny's apartment above the parking lot, a man watched the exchange between the two men. A deep scowl etched his face. "That damn boy is in trouble again," he thought. "Why can't he be good? I'll have to make him be good!" He moved away from the window.

Johnny was gone for several hours, he wanted to think; How was he going to explain this to Roy later? He was going to be mad as hell at Johnny for shoving him.

"Damn, I'll be lucky if I have a partner to go back to," he thought.

Returning to his apartment, all he wanted to do was go to sleep. He opened the door and stepped in. The hand that grabbed him was large; it slammed him into the wall.

"What the hell was that all about in the parking lot, BOY?"

"Papa?" Johnny said. "I didn't do anything wrong."

His body was tossed face first to the floor. The large hands now doubled into fists, rained down on him. Over and over again he was struck in the side and back.

"Papa! I'm SORRY, please..."

"Who was that man and why was he touching you?" His father yelled.

"He is...my partner...at work." Johnny was stuttering the words. His breathing was fast, and his eyes stung with tears.

"That gives him the right to TOUCH YOU like that?"

"I'm sorry Papa, I'm sorry." Johnny was holding back the tears.

"DON'T YOU CRY YOU LITTLE SHIT! You know I'll get the belt out if I see one tear." His father made his point by slamming Johnny's head into the floor several times.

"I won't Papa, I won't...I promise." Johnny wiped the lone tear off on the carpet.

"What did I tell you?"

Johnny heard the belt being pulled from the pants loops. "I'm sorry Papa, I'm Sorry... please don't hit me! Please."

The sound of the belt sailing through the air was all Johnny could hear.

"Don't ever let that man touch you again. He only wants one thing, and if I ever hear that you let him, I'll kill you and that son of a bitch!" Each word was punctuated by the fall of the belt. Johnny heard the last word as all went black.

Johnny woke a while later; he was alone in the apartment. He slowly got up and went into the bathroom. Looking into the mirror he sighed. His lip was split open again, and he had new bruises on his face. He took off his shirt to try and look at his back. There were several welts and a lot of angry, red strips. His ribs where bruised again.

Slowly the tears rolled down his cheeks. Stripping off his pants and boxers, he turned the water on. He stepped into the shower and let the water cascade over his body, taking away some of the shame. Nothing would ever erase all the shame he felt, but the hot water felt good on his back.

Two days later, Johnny was still sore as he dressed for work. He had changed the lock on his front door. He would have to remember to give Roy a new key. As he drove to work, he was thinking of what he was going to tell Roy.

Pulling into the parking lot, he saw Roy waiting for him. He parked and walked over to his partner and started to talk. "Roy, I want to apologize." Johnny kept his eyes down cast.

"John, I wanted to help you is all, you are my friend. I know that something is wrong and I want to help." Roy laid his hand onto Johnny's back.

Johnny gasped and moved away.

"He was back wasn't he?" Roy stated. Roy moved his hand towards Gage's chin. he intended to lift his face to better see the damage only to have Gage gasp and move away as if he expected to be hit. "John! You know I would never hurt you."

"I know Roy...I'm sorry. I...uh...I need go now. If I don't hurry and change, I'll be late for roll call."

Roy could hear the slight stutter. He knew that when Johnny stuttered, he was really upset or scared. "Okay. We'll talk later though."

"Yeah, sure," Johnny hurried into the locker room.

As Johnny began to change Roy noticed that he wenched several times as he moved the muscles in his back. "Let me take a look at your back Johnny," he said softly.

"I'm all right, Roy," Johnny stated flatly, his eyes lowered again.

"No, you're not, Johnny, let me look," Roy reached over and raised Johnny's chin. "Look at me," he requested.

"I can't," was all Johnny could say.

"Yes you can. I'm your friend and I want to help. Please," Roy raised his face again. He moved around to his back and raised his shirt.

Chet was just coming out of the bathroom and he saw Roy raising Johnny's shirt. "Maybe I can needle him about something." Chet thought as a smile spread across his face. The smile disappeared quickly as he took in the view before him. Johnny's back was a mass of bruises and cuts. "My God, Johnny!" Chet swallowed hard, and ran out the door. "Cap! Cap, come quick!" he called.

Johnny jumped at the sound of Chet's voice. He turned as Chet ran out the door. "CHET!" he yelled as he pulled his shirt down. He looked at Roy and saw the blank face.

"My God, Johnny...why?" he asked shaking his head.

Captain Stanley entered the apparatus bay, with Mike and Marco in tow. Chet was standing there white as a sheet.

"Cap, you have to do something for Johnny!" He exclaimed.

"What are you talking about?" Cap asked.

"Cap, his whole back is black and blue. Please, do something," Chet was out of breath.

"Enough, Kelly," Cap walked into the locker room.

"Gage?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Let me see your back."

Johnny looked at Captain Stanley and knew that he would have to show him. He slowly lifted his shirt and turned around facing Roy, lowering his eyes.

Cap refrained from gasping at the sight of the young man's back. "Gage, are you fit for work?" he asked.

"Yes, Cap."

"You can wear your gear without any trouble? You Sure?"

"Yes, Sir. I'm okay."

"Roy?" Cap looked to Roy for his report on Johnny's condition.

"He does have some bruising on his ribs, but…" He let the sentence hang.

"All right, Roy, you keep an eye on him today. If he has any trouble, I want to know about it," Cap looked at Roy as he nodded.

"You got it, Cap," Roy replied.

As Cap left the room, he yelled behind him. "Roll call in two minutes."

"Cap?" Chet said.

"Drop it, Kelly. He says he is fit to work." Cap moved to the front of the
group as they gathered for roll call.

Chet looked at Gage as he stepped into line. "You sure you're okay, Johnny?" Chet asked with concern in his voice.

"I'm fine Chet. Thanks," Johnny smiled for the first time that day. Chet's concern for him was touching.

"Okay listen up," Cap then proceeded to give out the assignments for the day.

It was a slow day, and Johnny was forever grateful. His back and ribs were hurting. Everyone was watching him as he finished the dinner dishes.

"Let go get some supplies from Rampart, Junior." Roy walked out the door and got into the squad before Johnny could say a word. Johnny walked out to join his partner. As they drove away Roy asked, "You okay?"

Johnny looked over at Roy. "Yeah, I'm all right."

"Johnny, would you tell me if you were not?" Roy had been watching Johnny like the others had been. He was worried about his friend. He had been moving slower tonight then he had been earlier in the day. He planned to have a doctor at Rampart take a look at him. A few minutes later they arrived at their destination.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dixie McCall was at the nurses' desk as the two-walked in. "Hi Roy, Johnny," she looked at the pair.

"Hi Dix, we wanted to get some supplies," Roy said.

"Sure, you got your supply request?" She held out her hand for the sheet of paper.

"Right here," He handed her the sheet.

As she looked to see what supplies where needed, Roy asked. "Hey Dix, is one of the docs available to take a look at Johnny?" Roy glanced at his partner.

"Sure, Roy. What is wrong with him?" She asked.

"Nothing," John said hurriedly.

"He has some cuts and bruises on his back and side. I just thought that as long as we were here, he may as well have it looked at."

Dix noticed that Johnny was giving Roy a nasty look.

"Kel?" Dixie walked over to where Dr. Brackett was coming out of his office.

"Yes Dix?" Bracket walked over to the desk.

"You got time to take a look at Johnny?" She pointed at Gage.

"Sure, what seems to be the problem Johnny." He asked.

"Nothing Doc, I got a few bruises and my partner is having fits about them."

"Well, let's take a look anyway," He lead the way into treatment room three.

"Go ahead and take off your shirt for me," Brackett turned on the overhead lamps.

Johnny threw a look at Roy that said, "Please don't do this."

"Come on Johnny, I don't have all night." Johnny unbuttoned his shirt, and took it and his undershirt off.

"A few bruises Johnny?" Brackett began looking at his back. "What happened?"

Johnny spoke before Roy could. "I fell down the stairs at home Doc."

"Well, you didn't break anything at least." Brackett looked at Roy for more info. These where not bruises that would come from a fall. Roy lowered his eyes, but said nothing.

"Like I said Doc, I'm fine."

"Well, I wouldn't say you are fine. You have a lot of deep bruising here." Brackett poked and prodded Johnny's back and sides. Johnny flinched several times as Brackett touched a few sore places. "When did you fall?"

"Day before yesterday."

"Well, I think you should be home in bed, not working."

"Doc, I'm okay, and I want to finish my shift."

"Well, it's against my better judgment, but try not to push it if you can help it. Those ribs are bruised and could easily become broken." Brackett didn't like the idea of sending Gage back to work.

"Thanks Doc." Johnny pulled his shirts back on and almost ran from the room.

"Roy?" Brackett looked at Roy. "What the hell is going on with John?"

"I don't know Doc, but, you know as well as I do that those bruises didn't come from falling down the stairs like said." Roy walked out the door, picking up the supplies as he went to look for Johnny.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Roy and Johnny arrived back at the station, Roy talked to the cap for a minute, then Cap told John that there was a man waiting out by his car for him.

Johnny walked outside to find his father standing by his Land Rover. "Papa! What are you doing here?" He asked.

"I want to talk to you, now." The man moved around so that Johnny was now facing the station. His father walked towards him.

"Papa, don't start anything here; please," Johnny backed away.

"You telling me what to do now Boy?" The first slap knocked Johnny back.

"No Papa, please. I have to work," Johnny rubbed the side of his face.

"You'll do what I say, and I say get in the car and leave."

"I can't papa...I'm working," Johnny tried to move out of reach, but the next hit to the face took him down to the ground.

"You little shit, you will do what I say or else!" The man slid the belt from his pants. He started in on Johnny.

Chet was coming out from the kitchen headed for the dorm; he had spilled some of Stoker's spaghetti on his shirt and wanted to change. He glanced out into the parking lot. He saw a man swinging a belt and then saw that Johnny was curled up on the ground.

He ran back into the kitchen yelling, "CAP, SOMEONE IS HITTING JOHNNY!" He turned back and ran back outside.

Captain Stanley, Roy, Marco, and Mike were right behind him. Chet piled into the tall man full force, taking him to the ground beside Johnny. Chet punched the man several times before the Cap was able to pull him off.

"That's enough Chet," Cap moved Chet off to the side. "What the hell is going on here?"

"None of your business!" The man yelled as he stood up and kicked Johnny in the ribs.

Marco and Mike stepped in, and pushed the man away from Johnny. Mike had his fist raised to strike, but Chet moved in and decked him again.

"Mike call the police," Cap stopped Chet from hitting the man again.

Mike ran for the office.

"Roy move your partner out of here," Captain Stanley moved between the man and John. Roy walked over and helped Johnny to his feet. The man said something to Johnny that no one understood, and Johnny replied in the same language.

"Johnny, you all right?" Roy asked as he moved Johnny into the apparatus bay and over to the squad. Johnny was breathing fast and kept looking out towards the other man.

A few minutes the police car arrived, and Vince stepped up beside Roy and Johnny. "What ya got here Roy?"

"That," Roy pointed outside to the parking lot; "Man, over there was beating on Johnny."

Roy got the equipment out of the squad and set up the bio-phone. Vince looked at the blood on Johnny's face and walked outside to where the rest of Station 51's crew was, to arrest the man for assault.

Roy wiped some of the blood from Johnny's face, looking at the damage. He moved his hands over his chest and ribs too. Johnny was talking out loud, but nothing made sense to Roy. "Johnny, at least speak English. I don't know what you are saying," Roy lifted Johnny's face to look him in the eyes.

Johnny finally focused on Roy, "What?"

"Johnny you were talking, but not in English. What where you saying?"

Roy made him lie down on the floor beside the squad.

"He promised. He always promises, and he always breaks that promise." Johnny let the tears fall down his check.

Vince placed handcuffs on the man's wrists, and placed him in the back of the patrol car. He was yelling at Johnny, it was not in English. The others had no idea what he was saying, but Johnny did.

As Captain Stanley watched, another patrol car arrived and the man was taken away. He needed to find out what the hell had just happened.

Johnny was being cared for now, and he headed towards the squad. He heard Roy talking to Johnny, and he heard something about a promise.

"Is he going to be okay?" he asked Roy.

"Well, remember the ribs that where bruised?" Roy asked Cap.

"Yeah?"

"Well, they are broken now. We are going to need an ambulance." Roy cut away Johnny's uniform shirt and T-shirt, he looked at the bruises.

Cap went to call in the incident and request an ambulance. The rest of the men were standing close by, as Roy worked on Johnny. Just then Vince came in....

Johnny, you up to answering some questions?" Vince asked. He took out his notepad to write on.

"Vince, Can this wait? I would like to get him to the hospital," Roy said as the ambulance arrived.

"Sure, I'll stop by the hospital later and get his statement," Vince left to take the man to jail. This was one arrest that he wanted to be done perfect. Johnny was a friend, and he would not let his friend down.

Roy called into Rampart, and relayed all the info. He started an IV and they placed Johnny onto the stretcher and into the back of the ambulance.

They arrived a few minutes later at Rampart. He was taken into treatment room two. Dr. Brackett entered the room; a nurse followed him in.

"Hey, Roy, what happened to Johnny this time?" Dr. Brackett asked in all seriousness.

"He had another run in with that same man Doc, I think he broke his ribs this time."

"Well, let's take a look." Dr. Brackett looked Johnny over. "Carol, call for x-ray. I want a full chest series." Brackett looked at Roy, "I think you're right Roy."

Johnny laid on the gurney and said nothing. His eyes stared off into space.

"Johnny? Johnny?" Dr. Brackett moved into Johnny's line of vision. "You're going to be okay, I want to keep you here for at least the night," Brackett looked over to Roy.

"He hasn't said a word all the way in, Doc. I'm really worried about him." Roy closed the distance to stand next to Johnny's gurney. "Hey Partner, you okay in there?" Roy reached out to brush the damp hair from his forehead.

Johnny jumped at the touch, throwing his arms over his head and face to keep from being hit. He moved so fast that Roy and Brackett were surprised when he flew off the gurney crashing the cart onto the floor. He ran into the corner curling into a ball. He was crying out, words that neither could understand.

Nurse Dixie McCall heard the crash in room two and came running. What she saw, made her catch her breath. Johnny was curled into a ball in the corner crying.

Roy and Kel were standing with their mouths open, almost like they were afraid to move.

Dixie moved slowly to kneel close to Johnny. "Johnny, its Dixie. Calm down and look at me, Johnny," She repeated this several times before she got the response she wanted.

Johnny slowly lowered his arms and looked at Dixie. "Dixie?" His voice was just above a whisper and tears where on his face. He looked to be scared half to death of the nurse.

"It's okay, Johnny, it's okay. No one is going to hurt you here. You know that I will not hurt you, and neither will Kel or Roy. Let us help you Johnny, please."

Dixie slowly made her way closer to him, her arms out. She gently wrapped them around his shoulders. Johnny leaned into her embrace and began to cry.

Dixie sat on the floor and held him. She rocked him like he was a small child. Talking to him the whole time. Brackett moved to the door and asked Carol to bring him a tranquilizer.

Tom Petry, the x-ray tech was standing there watching. He knew Johnny and Roy both. He had never thought he would see John behave like this. "Doctor Brackett, What's wrong with John?" he asked.

"He is just not himself right now, Tom, he'll be all right in a minute. Why don't you wait outside for us, please," Brackett kept his voice low as he spoke.

"Sure Doc," Tom rolled the cart back out the door. He was worried about Johnny, but did as he was told.

Brackett approached Johnny slowly, "Johnny, I want to give you something to calm you down a little, okay?" Brackett slipped the tranquilizer into the IV port.

Johnny's breathing slowed, as did his tears. He looked at Dix and then over at Dr. Brackett and Roy. He lowered his head and closed his eyes. He was so ashamed. "I'm sorry..." was all he could say.

Roy lowered himself to the floor next to Johnny. "It's okay, partner. We got ya." He wanted to hold onto his partner, but Dix was still doing that.

Taking a deep breath Johnny pulled out of Dixie's arms. He reached for Roy. He needed to have Roy tell him it was all right. Roy excepted the offer to hold onto his partner. He took hold of Johnny's hands and pulled him up to stand before him. He wrapped his arms around him. He knew what Johnny needed and he was willing to give it to him. "It's all right Johnny, I've got you partner."

Johnny wrapped his own arms around Roy and held him tight. "Roy, let's get him back on the gurney. I want to check that IV, and his ribs again." Brackett helped Roy move Johnny back to the bed.

The crew of station 51 waited in the doctor's lounge. They were worried about their friend. No one had told them anything, and they had been there almost an hour. Captain Stanley had told dispatch that they would be staging out from Rampart. He had called in and asked for a replacement for Johnny, and he was waiting to see if he would need one for Roy as well.

The door opened and Roy walked in.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Roy, how is he?" Cap could see the pale look on his paramedic's face.

"Dr. Brackett said that his ribs are broken, and he said he wants to keep him over night." Roy ran his hand through his hair. "He freaked out for a while, Brackett had to tranquilize him. He thought I...we...where going to hurt him."

Cap could see that Roy was hurting. Roy had closed his eyes at the memory of seeing Johnny cower from him.

"Roy, I want you to stay with Johnny, I'll get a replacement for you too. I think he should talk to someone about this. He may be in deeper then he wants to admit," Cap placed his hand on Roy's shoulder. "Your partner is going to need you, my friend." Cap moved away, as Chet walked up to Roy.

"Roy, I know that Johnny and me, we don't always look like we get along. But I would do anything to help him," Chet was being very serious.

"I know that Chet, you showed that tonight, and I know that Johnny knows it too. Thanks from both of us." Roy pulled Chet into a hug.

"We'll all help anyway we can, Roy," Mike Stoker placed his hand on Roy's arm. All the crew agreed.

Johnny had been moved into a room upstairs. He was awake now and knew what all had happened in the ER. He would have to explain to everyone what was going on in his miserable life. But he only wanted to have to tell it once.

He was still thinking about what he would say when Dr. Brackett opened the door and walked in. He waited by the door to see kind of reaction he was going to get from Johnny. "Hey, Johnny?" Brackett called out. "Okay to come in?"

"Hi, Doc, sure come on in. I won't freak out again. I promise," Johnny gave a half smile.

"Good," Brackett smiled back. "I guess you do remember what happened!" Brackett walked over to the bed.

"Yeah, I remember," Johnny looked away from Brackett's face.

"You want to talk about it Johnny?"

"Yeah, Doc, I do. But I only want to have to tell the story once. So...ah...could be wait 'til everyone is here?" Johnny looked hopefully at Brackett.

"You want to tell everyone? Are you sure that is what you want to do?"

"Yes, that is what I want. I need to explain what happened and why, or at least as much of the 'why' as I know."

"Okay, I'll make arrangements for everyone to be here tonight." With that Brackett checked his ribs and left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Johnny was sitting up in bed when the crew from 51 came in, followed by Dixie and Dr. Brackett. "All right Johnny, everyone is here." Brackett moved to the foot of the bed.

"Thanks, ah...I want to start this by saying, what I have to tell all of you, will no doubt cause all of you to have questions. I would like for you all to wait until I am finished before you ask them. Okay?"

Roy could tell that Johnny felt very uncomfortable. "Okay, Johnny. We can hold our questions, but we also want you to know that we are here for you, no matter what you tell us. We will stand by you," Roy placed his hand on Johnny's arm, as he looked around the room to make sure they all agreed.

Johnny took Roy's hand from his shoulder and squeezed it. He needed the support of Roy more then anyone else in the room. He looked at the men before him and focused on Chet standing next to his bed. "Chet," Johnny paused to take a breath. "I need to ask you, not to tease me about what I'm going to say here. Please!" His voice broke slightly.

"Johnny, you have my word pal, The Phantom is not here tonight. He will never know about what you say tonight," Chet took Johnny's other hand and held onto it for support. John smiled at him. "Thanks, Chet."

Johnny was finding it hard to start this talk. "Okay, first I want to apologize to all of you. I lied more then once to you. The man at the bar last week, and the man tonight is the same man. His name is Roderick Two Bears. He is... ah...my...real father," Johnny paused for the words to sink in.

"I need to start at the beginning, My real father never wanted kids, he married my mom when they where both really young. I was born a year later. Dad had to travel a lot to find work and he dragged Mom and I with him most of the time. He would be gone for months at a time, then he would come back for us. He would drink, and get into fights where he worked. Then he would get fired, and drink some more, then come home and take out his frustrations on mom and me. I don't remember a lot from when I was real little, but from the time I was about five on, I remember. He use to hit mom a lot. I can remember him hitting me too. As I got older I tried to protect my mom. I was just too little, and he would hit me 'til I was..."

Johnny pulled his hands from Roy and Chet's and covered his eyes. "He would hit me 'til I was unconscious, or he passed out. When I was about 9 or so my father took mom and I back to the Rez. He stayed around for a few months, working and getting drunk. One night he came home and started in on mom and I. I was afraid he was going to kill mom, so I hit him with a fireplace poker. I hit him as hard as I could," Johnny was near tears now. "I wanted to kill him first. Only I didn't hit him hard enough, he turned on me; I don't remember much of what happened next. He was hitting me..."

Johnny looked at the shocked faces around him. He lowered his eyes. Roy took hold of Johnny and pulled him to his chest. Johnny wrapped his arms around Roy's waist, leaned his head into him and let the tears fall.

Roy held him tight.

Johnny finally pulled away. He wiped his eyes and started again. "When I woke up the first time, Mom was carrying me across the field behind the house. When I woke up later, I was in a hospital. Mom had taken me to the neighbor's house three miles away; they took me to the hospital. My father had broken three of my ribs, my right arm, and gave me a concussion. Mom had told them that I fell out of a tree. We stayed at the hospital for three days. When we got back home, my father was gone, along with almost everything we owned.

"Mom did the best she could, but work was not easy to find on the Rez. They didn't have any kind of help there for women. Mom was considered an outsider because she was not from that Rez, and that made it harder. One day I went into town, as I walked down the street I saw a newer truck parked at the general store. There was a large basket of apples on the tailgate; I stole two of them. As I turned to run, I ran into a big tall man. He grabbed my shirt. I tried to get away and the shirt ripped off my back. I fell onto the ground, and knocked the wind out of myself. I knew he was going to hit me for taking the apples. I curled up as much as I could and waited," Johnny took a deep breath.

Roy and the others had tears in their eyes as they thought of Johnny as a small boy. John continued again, "But, he didn't hit me, he knelt down and helped me up. He held me by my shoulders and asked my name and where I lived. After I told him, he took a small bag and filled it with apples and gave it to me and told me to go home. I ran as fast as I could home. I was afraid to tell mom, she would be mad at me for stealing the apples, butI had lost my shirt, and I had the apples, I would have to tell her. Mom would be mad but she would never hit me, I knew that. So I told her I stole the apples. That man was Robert Gage.

"Later that day the same truck pulled up to the house. The man got out, mom knew why he was there, it was about the apples. The man took two large bags out of the back of his truck, and walked over to the porch. Mom stood her ground; she would never allow any man to punish her child again. When he offered her the food, she backed away as if she had been struck. She had expected him to be angry, not to offer her food. My mom had a lot of pride," Johnny gave a lopsided grin. "She still does. I didn't have any at the time. I was 9 years old and very hungry. At first she refused to take the food because it would be charity. But he talked her into working as his housekeeper. That night when I went to bed, for the first time since my father had left two months before, I wasn't hungry. Before he left, he gave me a new shirt to wear. He said he was sorry that he had ripped the other one and hoped that this would be okay to replace it. I had never had anyone but Mom say that they were sorry to me. I told him that the shirt was fine and that I was sorry for stealing the apples. He smiled at me, and said that it was OK, that he understood why I did it. You see I was so thin, you could see all the bones in my body.

"For the next two weeks Mr. Gage picked mom and I up and took us to his ranch. While mom would be clean his house, he was teaching me to ride horses. At the end of the two weeks he asked my mom to move into the guesthouse, saying that he could not keep picking her up everyday. I knew the real reason was because there was no electricity or running water in the house we were living in. I'm sure mom knew the reason too, though she never said anything. We learned that his wife and son had been killed in a car accident two years before. Mom had married him by the time I was ten years old. Bob Gage is a good man and has always treated me like I was his own son. I love him very much. As far as I am concerned he is my dad. I only saw my real father a few times after that, and he would always hit me."

Johnny shook his head and lowered his eyes. "Last night he wanted me to leave with him. He was telling me that I was stupid to try and stay in the white man's world. That I would never fit in here, that I was no good. When I refused, he started in on me." Johnny looked at all his friends gathered around him. They all had tears in their eyes. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean...."

Dixie stopped him, and placed her arms around him for a hug. "You have nothing to apologize for, or be ashamed of. For such a rough start, John Gage, you sure turned out to be a fine young man." She kissed his forehead, wiped her eyes and moved over to stand next to Kel Brackett.

"John," Cap wiped his eyes as he spoke, "Bob Gage must have loved you very much to have given you his last name."

"As soon as he married my mom, he went to the council and asked for the change in records. Mom was so pleased, she wanted nothing from the family of my father. They did ask me if I wanted to change my name. I said I would be honored, and I never regretted it." Johnny gave a small smile, and Captain Stanley hugged him.

Roy bent over and hugged Johnny. "I'm glad you had a Bob Gage in your life, cause without him, I bet we would never have met; and for that I will forever be grateful to your dad. You are more then my partner. You are my best friend, and closer to me then a brother. I love you, John Gage." Roy too kissed his brother on the forehead.

Chet took his turn next; he gave Johnny a hug and looked into his eyes. "I know we don't always agree John, but I want you to know this. I will always think of you as a brother."

Marco hugged him too. "I am proud to call you my brother."

Mike moved over to stand next to Johnny. "You are a good man John, don't let anyone ever tell you different." Mike hugged him too.

Dr. Brackett cleared his throat, "I think John's had enough for tonight. Why doesn't everyone go home and get a good nights sleep. Johnny can answer any of your questions later." The crew all said their goodnights and patted John on the shoulder as they left the room.

Dr. Brackett walked over to the bed, "John, I know that must have been hard to tell your friends about, I want you to know, I'm proud to call you my friend. You are a good man, John." Brackett smiled at him.

"They had the right to know, after all that had happened. I had never told anyone about that. I was always too ashamed." Johnny looked at his hands in his lap.

"Dixie is right you know. You have nothing to be ashamed of. You where just a small boy, you did all that you could to protect your mom and yourself. That was really brave of you to do." Brackett had taken a hold of Johnny's hand. "You can be proud of yourself for standing up to that man."

"I'm not proud. I hate the fact that I'm 24 years old and I still allow him to hit me. I'm still afraid of him just like I was as a kid." Johnny was shaking.

Brackett didn't know what to say to that. "Johnny, I would like you to see the psychologist, maybe you can work this out that way."

"I don't know Doc, If I have a psyche record, I may not be able to stay in the department." Johnny was worried about his job.

"Well, maybe we could do it on the sly, no record. If I can arrange that will you go?"

Johnny thought about it for a minute, "Yeah… Okay." Johnny looked back at Dr. Brackett.

"Good. Well I think you need to sleep now. Good night," Brackett walked out the door.

Six weeks later John Gage returned to work.

CHAPTER TWO

Dr. Brackett had been true to his word; He has sent Dr Royce Yancy to see Johnny, off the record. He was a man full of help and hope for Johnny. They talked about how Johnny felt about his real father and the man he called his dad. He tried to convince Johnny that he did still love his real father no matter what he had done to him. Johnny didn't want to have nothing to do with the idea.

Johnny was ready to return to work finally.

*********

"Hey Roy " John greeted his partner.

"Man, I am so glad you are back, one more day with Brice and I would have needed a padded room" He gave Johnny a hug.

" Roy, it is so good to be back." Johnny watched as Chet entered the locker room.

" Hey, Chester B. " Johnny smiled at his friend.

"Hey John, glad your back" Chet smiled

"Hey Johnny, you better watch it, he has had no one to play with for the last 6 weeks" Roy took his turn at a smile.

Johnny opened up his locker only to have water launched onto him. "Oh man" Chet laughed as he walked out of the room.

"Welcome Home " Roy said as he laughed.

"CHET" Johnny yelled.

Captain Stanley heard the yell from Johnny as it echoed into the apparatus room. He smiled, yep, things where back to normal at station 51.

Johnny and Roy entered the room at a run, both pulling up short to get into line for roll call.

""Okay first, John I want to welcome you back" Cap shook Johnny's hand. "Now for the tasks at hand. "Roy you are cook for the day, Mike you have sheets, Marco and John, C-shift had a lot of runs so there is hose to be hung, and Chet."

"I Know, I know Latrine duty" Chet moaned.

"Yes, That's right, and you know why, you twit? You just had to get John as he walk in the door, and as long as you have that mop, you can do the locker room as well. I'm sure you made a mess in there." Cap smiled as he walk into his office.

***************

The next several hours where done doing chores around the station. The phone rang. Station 51, Captain Stanley speaking." He paused as he listened to the man on the other end, "Sure He is here, hold on and I will get him." Cap walked out to the back and yelled for Johnny.

"Gage phone call for you."

"Be right in Cap. "Johnny ran into the room. "Hello" Johnny was suddenly very quite. He only spoke a few words that no one understood, then hung up.

"Everything okay, Pal? "Asked Cap

"Yeah, well... that was my father, He was telling me he was sorry, I have heard it too many times before. I told him he could put his apology where the sun don't shine."

Johnny walked back out to help finish hanging the hose.

Over the next few weeks John got more calls from his father, it was always the same a few short words and then he would hang up the phone.

There weeks later a man in a suit arrived to speak with Johnny. They sat in the office, papers where placed on the Captains desk, "Mr. Gage, I think you should look at this."

"What part of this don't you understand, I don't want anything from that man. I hated him. Do you understand that." Johnny's voice rose as he left the room and walk outside.

The man stood, and gathered the papers, " Is there anything I can help with, Mr. Nova?" The Captain had walked is as Johnny walked out.

"Captain Stanley, I would like to see if you can get Mr. Gage to except these important papers." He handed the papers over to the Cap. "I don't know if you are aware of this, But his father passed away about a week ago. He left Mr. Gage his Estate. I am the executor of that Estate, I need to have Mr. Gage sign this and return it to me as soon as possible. "He handed another sheet of paper to Stanley.

"That's going to present a problem, Mr. Nova. You see Johnny.. ah.. "

"I was told about the abuse by Mr. Two Bear's, He said that I would have a hard time getting him to sign this, He put in several stipulations, this is only one of them. That, I do not receive payment till he signs" Mr. Nova was not a happy man, He hated having to be the deliver of problem wills.

"I do not care what he does after he signs the paper, I merely want to get what I am owed. He can let the state have the property, house and other things if he don't want them, he can sign it over to the lady that lives on the property. I don't really care." He closed his briefcase up and walked out.

Cap waited for a couple of hours to let Johnny cool down, there was a few runs in that time to help. He wanted to try and talk to him. "John can I speak to you in my office." Cap walked out of the dayroom before Johnny could refuse.

"Come in and sit down, John. "Cap leaned back in his office chair. "and before you start, hear me out." He placed the folder with the papers in it on the desk.

"Yes, Sir. "Johnny sat down. Cap noticed he had a determined look on his face.

"Okay, I want you to reconsider signing these papers that Mr. Nova left for you." Johnny started to speak, but Cap held up his hand. " You said you would hear me out." Cap gave Johnny his look of determination.

"Okay I'll listen, but don't except me to change my mind on this." Johnny crossed his arms over his chest.

"Good, Now, Mr. Nova has a job to do just like you and me. But, by you refusing to sign the papers and send them back, that makes his job that more difficult, He told me that he could not get his payment 'til you sign, Now John, that is not fair to him, You are keeping him from earning his living." Cap paused for a moment to let that set in, he knew that John would never cause anyone harm in anyway. He leaned towards Johnny. "He said that what you do with the property and house is your business There is someone living on the place and if you want you can turn it over to her, or even let the state have it. No matter what you decide, you should allow Mr. Nova to get his payment." Cap leaned back again.

"I'm sorry Cap, I didn't know that Mr. Nova was not paid. I'll sign the papers." Johnny took the papers from the desk

"Johnny Before you sign them I would suggest that you read them closely first, Mr. Nova said that your father put some stipulations in the will, so.. please read it first before you sign it."

Johnny shook his head and as he walked out of the room Cap heard him mumble, 'Even after he's died he is still out to get me'.

Johnny walked into the dorm and sat on his bunk, he pulled out the papers, spreading them out on the bed. He really didn't want to do this, but he didn't want to keep Mr. Nova from being paid.

Captain Stanley walked into the dayroom and looked at Roy, and then glanced out the door towards the dorm. Roy took the hint; He took 2 cups of coffee and he walked out and headed for the dorm and his friend.

Johnny sat shaking his head; "I don't believe this." he said out loud.

"Hey, Johnny. You want some coffee?" Roy asked as he walked in.

"Ah Roy, you are not going to believe what this S.O.B. put in this" Johnny took the coffee and took a drink before he continued. "If I sign these papers, then I have to have his body cremated and take his ashes back to the Rez and spread them in the mountains. Do you believe this" Johnny got up and paced back in forth beside his bunk, running his hand through his hair. "Roy, I don't know if I can do this stuff that he wants me too."

"Then don't do it Johnny." Roy sipped at his coffee.

"I have to sign, you don't understand, If I don't sign the papers and return them to the lawyer, he don't get paid. "Johnny stopped pacing long enough to look at Roy. Roy could see the hurt in his eyes. "I don't want this to be the reason I go home." The words where softly said.

"Then don't make it the reason. You can have him cremated, and then when you go home you can take him back there and do what has to be done. I mean, he didn't say in there when he had to be taken back to the Reservation, did he?"

"No he didn't, but what do I do with his ashes 'til I go home. He is NOT staying at my place." Johnny began pacing again.

"Okay, well... you can get a savings deposit box at the bank. Yeah, that's it." Roy was pleased with the answer he gave him.

"Yeah, that would work I guess." Johnny calmed down and went back to the bed and sat down. He was reading the papers again.

"You know, He has a house and a couple of acres outside of Bakersfield. "Mom said that we use to live up in Bakersfield, I must have been really little, cause I don't remember that." Johnny had a far of look to his face.

"Well, what do you plan to do with it? It's your place now."

"Yeah, he probably owes a million dollars in taxes on it." Johnny smiled a little at that.

"Yeah right" Roy smiled, "You at least going to go up and see it?" Roy watched Johnny as he asked the question.

"Well, Cap said that there was a woman living in it right now. Maybe I could give the place to her. I just know that I sure as hell don't want it." Johnny gathered the papers up and signed the top one. He looked up at Roy.

"Thanks Partner, You really helped me out here." He smiled at Roy.

"Anytime junior. "Roy smiled back at his friend.

They got a run, it was a minor accident, and they didn't have to transport, on the way back to the station Johnny was thinking of how he could talk Roy into going with him to the house in Bakersfield.

"Yeah, Roy?" he felt he may as well ask, the worse that he would say would be no.

"What Johnny?"

"I was wondering... ah.. If I go over to Bakersfield this weekend... would you go with me?" There he had asked.

"You really want me to go?"

"I don't know if I can do this alone. Maybe I should just mail the papers to her." Johnny lowered his eyes.

"No, Johnny. I think you should go up there and make sure she even wants

the place first, and I'll go with you Junior."

**************

The next day was the day to go to Bakersfield, and Roy was just pulling up to Johnny's apartment building as he was walking out the door. "You Ready Junior?" He asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be. "Johnny opened the door to Roy's car. They started the long drive to Bakersfield in silence. "I don't know if this is such a good idea, Roy. I think we should just forget the whole thing, and go home." Even with Johnny sitting in the car seat Roy could tell that on the inside he was pacing.

"Well.. we could, but, I think you need to resolve this here and now."

"I know that you are right Roy, But... What am I going to do if she don't? want the house?" Johnny glanced at Roy.

"Let's just wait and see, and cross that bridge when we come to it."

****************

After getting lost several times, they found the house. It was a beautiful, ranch style home on the outskirts of town." That's a beautiful house Johnny."

"Yeah it is.. But I still don't want it." Johnny opened the car door and stepped out.

He and Roy walked up to the house and he rang the doorbell. A plump woman of obvious Native American heritage opened the door and looked at Johnny, "Charlie, what are you doing ringing the bell, I have better things to do then play games with you." With that said she walked back into the house leaving Johnny and Roy standing there.

"Ma'am. Ah. ma'am." Johnny spoke into the house.

"Charlie, get in here and shut the door and stop with the games, I don't have time for them, I need you to help me move the couch so I can vacuum under it. Who is your friend, I don't think I have met him before?" She asked as she moved over to the couch to move it.

"Ma'am, I don't know who Charlie is. My name is Johnny Gage and this is my friend and partner Roy Desoto." Johnny looked at Roy, then back to the woman.

"Oh My" the woman placed her hand over her mouth. "You're Roderick' oldest boy from Montana."

"Yes Ma'am." Johnny tried to smile at her, but he was nervous. This was not what he had expected.

"You look so much like Roderick, so much like Charlie. I didn't realize that you where only a year or so apart. Charlie is going to be 22 next month." She looked at Johnny closely.

" WOW, I just.. turned 24." Johnny was not sure what to do, he had just discovered he had a half brother that he never knew about.

" Please won't you sit down and have something to drink. "The woman smiled at them. "I'm sure Charlie will be here any minute."

Roy spoke for the first time. "Thank you ma'am."

"I'm so sorry, My name is Ida Two Bears, Please call me Ida." She lead them into the kitchen.

"Thank you Ida. I'm Roy and this is Johnny." Roy smiled at her as he followed her with Johnny in tow.

"I must tell you, Johnny, I didn't even know about you 'til a few months ago. Roderick had never mentioned anything about you. It was only after he had become sick, that he talked about you. He wanted to find you and make amends with you. He didn't say about what. He left here almost 2 months ago and I have not seen him since. If you are here then I can only think that Roderick is gone." her voice caught, she began to let tears fall down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry Ida, He passed away about 2 weeks ago." Roy told her, he let his hand rest on her arm as he talked.

Johnny watched as the woman cried. He didn't know what to say.

"I'm sorry for your loss Ida. I didn't know about you and Charlie, my father an I was not really on speaking terms. He never said anything to me."

Johnny could tell that this woman was still in love with the man he knew as his abusive father.

Suddenly the front door opened and a young man came storming into the House. "Hi Mom, Where are you?" He yelled.

Johnny and Roy stood as Ida did; they turned as the young man walked into the kitchen. Johnny Gage' mouth hung open as he looked at the man. It was like looking into a mirror.

"JESUS H. CRIST" the young man said as he looked back at Johnny. His eyes where large, not believing what he was seeing. "Charlie Roderick Two Bears, I will wash your mouth out with soap if I hear you take the Lords name in vain again in my house!" Ida was dead serious.

"Sorry Mom." Charlie continued to stare a Johnny. "WOW"

"Yeah, WOW... Hi, I'm Johnny Roderick Gage. You must be Charlie." With a smile and laugh, Johnny held out his hand to shake hands with the young man. Charlie moved closer and excepted the hand, "Nice to meet you Johnny Roderick Gage.

" I guess our dad really liked his first name."

"Yeah, it looks that way don't it. "Johnny smiled at him.

"So.. Ah . I hate to be rude but, Why are you here?" Charlie was starting to think the worse after the shock wore off.

"Charlie, your father passed away 2 weeks ago." Ida told her son.

"What? Mom, Dads dead! I don't understand, Why where we not told, two weeks? What have you got to do with this?" Charlie was upset to say the least.

"I'm sorry, a lawyer came by where I work and gave me some papers, it was your dads will. He left everything to me. I didn't know about you till I got here." Johnny was trying to keep his voice steady.

"He left everything to you? Why?" He looked at his mother, she was crying again.

"Look, I don't know why he did it, I never wanted anything from him." Johnny raised his voice.

"So.. you are here to take our home from us?" Charlie asked accusingly.

"No Man, Look I brought the papers." He began to pat himself down looking for the papers. "What did I do with the papers Roy?" He looked at him.

"I think you put them into your breast pocket Junior. "Roy replied.

"Oh Yeah, here they are. Look Charlie," He handed the papers towards him. "They are all signed, all your mom has to do is put her name on them and the place is hers. I told you, I didn't want anything from your dad. The house is yours." Johnny was trying not to get mad, He didn't want to fight with this man.

" Why do you keep calling him my Dad, He was your dad too." Charlie took the papers and looked at them, they were signed.

"No Charlie, I never considered him my dad, Bob Gage is my dad, Roderick may have been my biological father but he was never my dad." Johnny looked away as he told his half brother that he never thought of his dad as his father.>{nce Johnny that he did still love his real father no matter what he had done to him. Johnny didn't want to have nothing to do with the idea.

"I don't understand, what do you mean?"

"Why don't we just drop it, okay. " Johnny didn't want to ruin Charlie's memories of his dad. He looked over at Ida and then back to Charlie.

Charlie got the hint, but he still wanted to know, someday, if Johnny was willing to tell him. "Okay, for now"

"Thanks" Johnny was glad to drop the subject.

Ida dried her eyes; She would morn later for her husband. "Please, everyone come into the kitchen and I will fix something for dinner."

"Ida, we don't want to impose, We should be heading back to LA." Roy answered. He was feeling lost, and didn't know what to do or say in a time like this.

"It would not be imposing , Roy. Johnny here is family and you are his friend." Ida smiled at them both.

Johnny glanced at Roy, he was unsure what to say to the words spoken by Ida. He was 'Family' He was not sure how to take that information.

"I guess that it's up to Johnny then." Roy smiled at Ida.

"Please stay Johnny, I would really like to get to know you better, I know so little about you." Ida smiled at Johnny, and held out her hand to him.

Johnny took her hand in his and said "We would love to stay for dinner Ida." He smiled at her.

"I'm so glad." Ida led the way into the kitchen and began to make dinner.

*************

The dinner conversation lasted for hours and ranged from Johnny and Roy being paramedics, to Charlie's motorcycle racing, to Ida' garden, to Roy' kids It was a enjoyable evening for all. Ida was a great cook. Johnny leaned back from the table full and content. He thought to himself that on the way up here he just wanted to have this over with as soon as possible. Now, here he was enjoying the evening with a half brother he never knew he had and a stepmother who was one of the nicest people he had met.

It was strange to look at Charlie, and see his own face looking back. It was kind of neat having a brother, even if he didn't know the man yet. He was beginning to hope that he would have the time to get to know him better. He would love to take him back home to meet his mother. He knew that his mother would welcome him with open arms. He would call her and tell her about Roderick and Charlie as soon as he got home.

"Hey Roy, I think it is time to head back to LA."

" It is getting late Junior. I should call Joanne and let her know that we are running late. I don't want her to worry" Roy stood up from the table.

"Oh, Please Johnny, Roy stay the night here and get a fresh start in the morning, It is too late to drive all the way to LA tonight." Ida stood as well as she spoke to them.

"I don't know." Roy looked at Johnny for what he wanted to do.

"You think Joanne would mind Roy, I would like to stay and talk some more." Johnny smiled at his partner.

" I'm sure it will be ok. Ida could I use your phone? I'll call collect!

"It is in the living room Roy help yourself" Charlie answered for him mom.

"Of course Roy" Ida stared at her son.

CHAPTER FOUR

Roy had called Joanne and said they would be coming home the next day, he told her about whom they had found in the house. Joanne was thrilled for Johnny finding a brother he never knew he had and was amazed that he would look so much like Johnny.

Roy watched as Johnny and Charlie talked, they had so many mannerisms that where the same. The looked almost like they could have been twins. Roy smiled, he could just see Chet and the others reaction to Charlie.

Johnny and Charlie had talked long into the night. When Ida came in to the room; She looked at them lying on the floor. They both looked so innocent. She wondered what she and Charlie would do without Roderick. Charlie had been very close to his father; maybe having Johnny there would make things easier for him.

"All right you two it is time for breakfast." Ida called out. The two young men moved and opened their eyes.

"Ok mom." Charlie rose from the floor and headed for the bathroom. Johnny didn't move he closed his eyes and tried to go back to sleep.

Roy walked up behind Ida and glanced into the room. "I see Johnny is not moving yet." Roy walked into the room and stood over Johnny. "Come on partner it's time to rise and shine." Roy leaned over and gently shook his friend.

" I don't want ta," Johnny said in a sleepy voice.

"You don't want me to show Ida and Charlie how Chet gets you out of bed at the station do you?" Roy smiled at the thought.

Johnny opened one eye and looked up at Roy. "You wouldn't dare!" One look at Roy and Johnny knew he better not press those words. "Okay I'm up. I'm up." Johnny stretched as he sat up.

"Good morning Johnny" Ida smiled at him. 'He is so much like Charlie' she thought.

Charlie came out of the bathroom, "It's all yours big brother." He had a towel around his neck.

Johnny smiled up at Charlie. "Well thanks little brother." Johnny went off to the bathroom.

Charlie snapped the towel at his brother. "I always wanted a brother that I could do that to." he laughed as Johnny yelped .

Roy and Ida both laughed, Roy was still amazed that this two man, who never knew that the other existed till yesterday, would pick up with each other like they had only seen each other last month.

" Hurry up Junior. I want to get going back home." Roy called out to Johnny's back.

"Sure Roy, be right out." Johnny yelled out as he jumped into the shower.

Breakfast was served and both Roy and Johnny got ready to leave.

Ida wanted to talk to Johnny before he left. "May I speak to you Johnny; alone." Ida walked out onto the back porch.

Johnny looked at Roy and followed Ida out the door.

"Johnny… what did Roderick ask you to do with his… remains?" Ida let a tear slid down her check before wiping it away.

Johnny felt his hear break as he watched the woman before his cry. "He wanted me to take him home to Montana and scatter his ashes in the hills."

"Roderick was always so proud of his family heritage. It is fitting that this be done. I would ask a favor of you. Do you think you could take Charlie with you to Montana for the ceremony?" Ida hoped that Johnny would say yes.

"Ida, there will not be much of a ceremony. He had only the house; he had nothing else to give away. I was thinking that only my mother and I would be there." Johnny looked at the Ida, he could tell that her heart was broken at the lose of her husband.

Ida looked at Johnny. "You will not have the traditional ceremony for Roderick?"

"Ida, as far as I know, you and Charlie… and my mother are all the family he had. I don't think that he had many friends on the Reservation. I don't think that he had been back there since he dropped of my mom and me off when I was ten."

"So Roderick will be taken to his homeland and no one will morn for him?" Ida was a traditionalist. She may not have been from the same tribe as her husband but she wanted him to have the ceremony that would send him in peace to his resting-place. She believed that the Great Spirit would not accept anything less.

"Johnny this was Roderick's home for many years. He has many possessions here; I can send them with you to be given away. Please Johnny it would mean so much to me." Ida continued to cry.

Johnny didn't know what to do. He was sure that there would be no one to mourn Roderick. "Ida I will take Charlie with me but only if you will come too. I will do my best to have a proper ceremony for him."

Ida smiled through the tears. "Thank you Johnny. I would be honored to come with you to take my husband to his homeland."

Johnny could only smile back at her. He was trying to think how he would tell his own mother of what was to come.

Roy and Johnny said there good-bye's and started for home. It would be a long drive.

CHAPTER FIVE SOON