An Unexpected Invitation
All things Emergency! do not belong to me. I just write
about them for fun.
{Ring...... Ring....... Ring.......}
I'm coming! I'm coming! MAN! A guy can't even take a shower in peace! I don't
have time for this.... I want to get back to the hospital and see Roy.
HELLO!
Oh.... sorry.... Brice?
Ah, yeah... I saw Roy this morning.... Doc took him off the vent... he stayed
awake long enough to say his leg hurt and to kiss his wife... then he fell back
to sleep.
Well, Jo is doing okay...... ok...... I'll tell her you asked.
Brice, is everything okay? Did something happen to Bob?
Oh, I see..... well that's good.
Um, Brice, I don't mean to be rude, but I was in shower..... and I'm standing
here in my towel... and it's getting kinda cold..... did you call for a reason?
Um, well.... I suppose I could meet you and Bob for breakfast.... yeah, that
would be nice.... Bob's treat? That makes it even better!
What was that? I couldn't hear you.... stop mumbling!
Oh.... well..... I suppose.... I'll ask Jo if she needs any help when I see her
at the hospital.
Yeah... okay.... I'll see you guys around 8.... at Rampart.... sure.....
okay.... yeah.... um, thanks, Brice.
{click}
MAN! I must be more tired than I realize. I swear Brice just called me John!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Partners
The characters of Emergency! don't belong to me. I'm just writing
about them for fun.
"So why the big sigh, partner?"
"Oh... the usual."
"The usual, huh? Well, you know what I always say..."
"Yes, I know..... but it's not that easy."
"In your mind, maybe."
"Oh, right! Like if I was to walk up to anyone in the department and ask them if
they wanted to catch the exhibit at the museum, any of them would say yes!"
"Well, no, Craig, most of the guys would probably say no to that... but I bet if
you tried something a little less...."
"Stuffy?"
"Yeah, I guess that's a good word. You just have to give the guys a chance. I
mean, I took you to the archery range with me, and you had a good time, right?"
"Oh, man, that was fun! Hey, did I tell you that I'm even thinking of getting my
own gear and making it a regular hobby?"
"Really? See! You thought it was gonna be boring. Just goes to show ya that you
should try something before judging it."
"True. So, tell me, Bellingham, how did you like the art exhibit I took you to?"
"To be honest, I found it a bit boring, but not as boring as I thought it would
be. I found one artist I really liked and even did some research on their more
recent stuff."
"REALLY?"
"Don't sound so surprised, Craig! You know, we're not as shallow and one
dimensional as you think we all are!"
"And I'm not as unfriendly and anal as you all think I am!"
"Touche. Look, Craig, all I'm saying is give the rest of the guys the same
chance you gave me."
"I... I don't.... I don't think I can, Bellingham."
"Why not? I admit, we didn't start out so great..... but, Craig, now, I wouldn't
want a different partner. We have learned how to get along with each other....
how to come to compromises in the way we do things.... if you can do it with me,
you can do it with other guys, too."
"It's not that easy! You didn't hear them! I know what they think of me... and I
can't help that I'm the way I am! What do they want from me?"
"They don't want anything from you. Craig, you have to be yourself, otherwise
you won't be happy.... but, come on, man.... are you happy now?"
".... No...."
"Come on, Craig. We've had this discussion many times before..... you never get
this bugged about it.... what happened?"
"Gage and DeSoto."
"Huh?"
"You remember when Gage got hit by that car, and I subbed for him at 51's? Well,
I overheard them talking in the kitchen. They were talking about me.... The
Walking Rule Book..... God! I hate that name!"
"I know you do, Partner. That's why I never call you that."
"Yeah, well, you know, if I was to be honest with myself, I guess I could admit
I sort of deserve that one..... I do use the book.... "
".... to hide behind....."
<GASP>
"It's okay, Craig. Really. I knew that. And it didn't bother me.... you want to
know why?"
<Nodding Head>
"Because that's what makes you human. Don't you see, Craig? You try to 'go by
the book' so you don't have to think outside of yourself... make yourself reach
just a bit more..... If you do exactly what the book says, it is all right
there, cut and dry...... "
"But life isn't cut and dry, is it?"
"No, Craig, especially with the runs we get on the squad. It's okay to not be
sure of yourself at times.... you don't always have to be in control..... it's
okay to let someone else be in control.... and it's okay to admit your
weaknesses.... THAT, not some damn rule book, is what makes you human...... a
good person..... a good partner...."
"You mean that.... about being a good partner?"
"Of course, I do! Craig, if I didn't think you were a good partner and more than
able to do the job, I wouldn't still be your partner. I would have transferred a
long time ago. I trust you with my life. We couldn't do this job if we didn't."
"Thanks. I ..... I feel the same way about you..... Bob..."
"Thanks, Craig! You know, I had to wait 16 months for you to call me that....
but it was worth the wait."
"I guess it just took me that long to realize I was human."
"Naaaah.... you always knew it..... that's what scared you so much.... you are
just ready to admit it now."
"I guess so.... but, Bell--Bob.... when I saw Roy lying there under the rubble
the other day...... I felt something..... something I have never felt before....
I think.... I think..... I think I panicked. I wasn't sure what to do!
Then I saw Gage..... mister hyper little playboy..... just jump in and take
control..... doing anything he could to save his partner..... the look in his
eyes...... it was....... intense...... sorrowful..... pleading...... in that
instant... I guess I finally got it..... got what it was all about.... what
being friends was all about..... "
"Yeah... Johnny and Roy are good friends..... kinda makes a guy jealous once in
a while, huh?"
"Since when have you become so damn insightful, Bob?"
"Well, after all these months, I guess my partner is finally starting to rub off
on me."
"Yeah.... I think you're right..... because my partner is starting to rub off on
me, too."
"Speaking of partners.... I bet Johnny is missing his right now."
"Yeah, Dr. Brackett said DeSoto would be in the hospital for a week... then off
duty for a couple more."
"Well.... you think maybe Johnny could use some friendly company?"
"I suppose he could."
"....... Well........"
"Well what?"
"Well...... how about we take some of this new found insight of yours and put it
to some good use? We could go and take Johnny out for breakfast after shift and
maybe go over to Roy's with him and see if JoAnne or the kids need any help?"
".... I..... I don't know...... I don't want to intrude...... I ...."
"Craig.... I know it won't be easy for you..... but Johnny is a really good guy.
He is outgoing and easy to get along with.... and, most people don't realize
this because they judge him by what they see on the outside, but he is also very
intelligent. I bet he would surprise you if you gave him even half the chance
you gave me."
"Are you offering to buy breakfast?"
"If that's what it takes... yes, I'll buy breakfast!"
"You got yourself a deal, Bob!"
The End
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Leather
Goods
{All things E! are not mine.... I just borrow them for the fun of
writing.}
"So, Johnny, what you gonna get me for my birthday next week?"
"Gee, Chet, I'm sorry, but your birthday is before payday."
"Aww, Come on, Gage, I gave you that great book for your
birthday!"
"GREAT book, Chet? You call 'What Every Pre-teen Boy Needs To Know About
Dating' a 'great' book?"
"Yeah! I put a lot of thought into that gift! You have to admit, it was very
thoughtful. After all, you really DO need help dating....I was just tying to
help out a friend..... Geez!"
"You know, Chet, on second thought, I think I'll go all out this year!"
"Really?"
"Yeah! I think I'll go with leather goods...... you can never go wrong with
leather."
"Leather? Geeee, Gage, that's great! I can hardly wait!"
"Sure, Chet! I think I'll get you a belt in the mouth and a boot in the butt!"
"....Wh....a....what?"
"Well, Chet, it is as thoughtful as your gift. Besides, we all know it is the
thought that counts!"
The End
A customer told me this 'line' a couple of weeks ago, and I just
automatically pictured Johnny and Chet!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
{All things E! are not mine.... I just borrow them for the fun of writing.}
"Shhhh! You'll wake him!"
"I will not!"
"Just be quiet, Jen!"
"I'm not the only one making noise."
"Don't stick your tongue out! Mom will be mad."
"Well....mom's not here! Let's just go... I wanna see!"
"Me, too! This is gonna be so cool! I can't believe Daddy didn't tell us
sooner!"
"Shh! Did you hear that, Chris?"
"That's okay... that's just Uncle Johnny moaning in his sleep. Daddy does it
some times, too."
"Yeah.... I hear Mommy doing it, too."
"Yeah.... funny how Mom and Dad moan at the same times, though.... must be
something they eat after we go to bed."
"If you say so.... "
"Okay, Jen... I'll put back the blanket.... and you lift up his shirt, okay?"
"Okay.... just be careful!"
"I will..... okay, Jen, lift up his shirt so we can see!"
"LOOK, CHRIS!"
"I don't get it..... why would Dad say that Uncle Johnny had a bull's eye on his
back if there really isn't one there?"
"I don't know Chris... Daddy wouldn't lie! He always yells at us when we do."
"Yeah! Man... we better sneak back into bed."
"Yeah.... and maybe we shouldn't listen to Mommy and Daddy talking when we
should be in bed."
"You know, Squirt, for once, I think you're right!"
The End.