Johnny Gage walked into the locker room whistling. He'd just come back from work after a refreshing two week vacation. He spent part of the time back home visiting friends, but the last week had been for him. He'd gone out just about every night cruisin' the bars and having a fine time. He'd also treated himself to something that he had wanted for months but had been too nervous, so he kept putting it off until last Monday.

Chet Kelly pushed open the door to the locker room just as Johnny pulled off his shirt. "Gee, Gage. What did you do to yourself?" He pointed to the large square bandage that covered the left side of Johnny's upper chest. "You cut yourself shaving?" He giggled.

"No, Chet." Johnny gave Chet 'the look'. "NO! It's a secret."

"Oh, does Roy know about this secret?" Chet asked.

"Why would he?" Johnny raised his eyebrow in just the way that signaled to all who knew him that he was cruisin' for a fight.

"No reason." Chet raised his hands as he backed out of the room.

Johnny continued dressing for work. He was just tying his boots when Captain Stanley called for roll.

"Welcome back, John." Cap said to Johnny as he came to a halt next to Roy.

He winced from the pain the sudden movement had caused, but tried his best to hide it. "Thanks Cap."

Roy looked over at his partner of five years and did a double take. He had noticed the pain that crossed Johnny's face. 'What did you do now?' He thought.

"All right, there's a ton of hose to clean, so Mike, you and Johnny can get to that. Roy, dorms, Marco, kitchen and Chet, old man, you got latrine duty." Cap winked at the hapless man.

"Thanks, Cap." Chet groaned.

"Okay, let's get going. This afternoon, there's some new buildings over on Avalon Blvd. They're putting in an apartment complex and we need to go over the layout." Cap then turned and dismissed the men. "Marco, do me a favor and go easy on the spice today. My doctor says my stomach's a mess."

"Sure, Cap. Nothing serious I hope." Marco looked at his Captain with concern.

"Nothing serious, Marco, just a little acid buildup that happens whenever my mother in law visits." He winked at his men.

"Okay, Cap." Marco left to go into the kitchen and take inventory of the cupboards and fridge. He then set about cleaning the kitchen/dayroom.

Roy and Johnny pulled the drug box and biophone out of the squad and started inventory and telemetry checks with Rampart. Johnny reached to pull out the data scope box and winced yet again.

"You all right, Johnny?" Roy stood and walked over to his partner.

"Yes, Roy. I'm fine." Johnny bit off. Roy was the last person he wanted to know what he'd spent his off time doing. He wasn't sure why he didn't want Roy to know, he only knew he didn't.

"Okay." Roy knelt down and opened the drug box. He cursed as he went through the contents. "Hey Johnny, hand me the trauma box."

Johnny set the requested box down by Roy and this time he yelped.

"That's it!" Roy stood and descended on Johnny.

Johnny took a step back when he saw Roy stand. "Now look, Roy, I told you it's nothing serious. Just leave me alone." He tried to walk away but Roy stopped him with his arm. "Roy!" Johnny hissed.

"What did you do?" Roy asked.

"Nothing! And if you don't let me pass, I will do something to you!" Johnny's voice was low and his eyes narrowed.

Roy stepped back. "Okay." He turned and went back to the inventory. "Don't go too far, we have to go to Rampart."

"Fine." Johnny walked into the locker room and opened his locker. He slowly peeled off the tape and looked at what was under the white pad. "Looks good." He smiled. Looking up, he noticed the door to the latrine opening and Chet walking out. He quickly re-taped the bandage and re-buttoned his shirt. "Hey, Chet."

"Gage." Chet scowled.

"What's your problem?" Johnny asked.

"Nothing." Chet sat down on the bench in front of his locker. "I don't know what I did wrong."

"What happened?" Johnny sat down next to his co-worker.

"I was out with Shirley last night, we were at Bernie's, you know, that joint off Perry, and we ordered our drinks, and then when the waiter came to take our order, Shirley ordered for me. She just looked at the waiter and said, 'I'll have the Cobb Salad, and he'll have the Sirloin Steak, with a baked potato.' I mean, she even told the guy how I wanted my steak and that I wanted a salad, not soup. I couldn't believe it." Chet sighed.

"So, she ordered for you. Sounds to me like she knows you pretty well." Johnny said. "So, did you eat what she ordered?"

"Yeah, I ate it. She then took the check right out of my hand and paid for it with her credit card. I didn't get any dessert, and she paid for the meal. Then, get this, I get her home, right, and walk her to the door. Instead of a good night kiss, I get a good night hand shake." Chet was almost finished. "The worst part was this morning, before I could even shower, the phone rings. It's Shirley, she called to thank me again for the 'wonderful' evening but she didn't think she could go out with me again."

"I'm sorry, Chet." Johnny patted the man on the back. "Hope things work out for you." He then left the room.

Roy and Johnny were walking down the hall at Rampart when they stopped at Dixie's desk.

"Hi Roy, Johnny." Dixie gave each man a smile.

"Hey, Dix." Johnny leaned against the counter trying to relieve the pressure that the tape was making on his chest.

"Hi, Dix." Roy said. "We need some stuff and I think Johnny needs something looked at." He graced his partner with a stern look.

"NO I DON'T!" Johnny hissed and turned on his heel. "I'll be out in the squad."

Roy and Dix looked at Johnny's retreating back.

"What's wrong with him?" Dixie asked.

"Something. I'm bound and determined to find out too. Something's causing him pain and I want to know what it is." Roy picked up the list and handed it to Dix. "Here's what we need."

"Okay." Dix started filling their order. She handed Roy the full box. "Here ya go."

Roy thanked his friend and headed for the squad. He put the items in the drug box and trauma box, then closed the doors. He walked around the back of the squad and looked at the parking lot getting his anger under control. He yanked open the door and got in behind the wheel.

Johnny looked out his window and reached for the knob. Rolling the window down, Johnny sighed.

"I don't know what's gotten into you, today, Johnny, but you better drop the attitude." Roy started the squad and pulled out.

The shift was relatively slow for a change. This made Johnny very nervous. He didn't like it when his friends didn't speak to him and right now, his best friend hadn't said more than two words to him since their visit to Rampart for supplies. That is when they weren't on a run. The rest of his shift mates seemed to be following suit.

Johnny sighed and again went into the locker room to check on the bandage. He was happy he didn't have to change the bandage.

The shift finally came to an end and Johnny didn't bother changing, he just grabbed his clothes and gym bag and left. He didn't even say good bye to anybody. He just wanted to get home and take off the bandage. He knew he'd have to tell his co-workers sometime, but right now, he was certain that if he did he'd be laughed at and ridiculed.

Johnny ran up the four flights of stairs and opened his apartment door. Pushing it closed behind himself, he stripped off his shirt and undershirt and heading for the bathroom. He then peels off the tape and throws it and the bandage away in the small trashcan beside the sink. He then gently washes the area with soap and water then climbs into the shower and scrubs the rest of his body.

Once clean, Johnny dries off and dresses. Since they had such a slow shift, he'd been able to sleep the whole night through, so he was wide awake. He pulled on his jeans and a t-shirt and went out to the living room where he looked around for his sneakers. Once dressed, Johnny put his wallet and money clip into his pockets and grabbed his keys. Looking around his neat apartment, Johnny then left his small home for his car.

Johnny drove around his neighborhood thinking about the way Roy had been treating him. He thought hard about what he'd done to cause his best friend to give him the silent treatment. He ended up at the beach. He parked his Rover and stepped out onto the hardpan. He walked across the hot parking lot, unbuttoning his shirt as he walked and looked out to the horizon. As he brought his vision closer to the shore, he saw several catamaran's out on the calm waters. He saw that there were no surfers out and lots of bodies lying on the sand. He pulled his shoes off and tucked his socks in the toes before tying the laces together and swinging the sneakers over his shoulders. He then stepped onto the sun kissed sand and headed for the water. The slight wind whipped his shirt back away from his body revealing his new 'additions'. Johnny didn't care, he was feeling comfortable for the first time since he returned to work. He sat near the tide line and watched the boats out on the water. He heard the kids playing in the water and on the sand yet he didn't watch any of them. His fingers went over his chest and he smiled remembering how he'd come to have these new 'additions'.

Several hours later, Johnny stood and brushed the sand off his bottom. He then headed for the boardwalk and something cold to drink. He was standing at the outdoor portion of a bar when he heard the all too familiar voice.

"Hey Gage." Chet Kelly walked up to Johnny. He took in the way Johnny pulled his shirt closed and started buttoning it. This of course piqued his interest. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing, Chet." Johnny scowled. He downed the rest of his beer then pushed past Chet.

"Hey, you forgot your shoes." Chet ran up to Johnny with the sneakers in his hand.

Roy was sitting on his deck drinking a beer and listening to his wife tell him what an asshole he'd been.

"If he says nothing's wrong, Roy, then you have to believe him." Joanne DeSoto was stating as she watered the plants that were in small containers around the deck. "He's a big boy, Roy. He doesn't need you or anyone taking care of him. Trust me."

"I know that, Jo. I just can't help it. He's so young and impressionable." Roy sat up on the lounge chair and looked at his wife. "He's only...." he stopped at the look his wife gave him.

"ROY DESOTO! How dare you! John Gage is almost 30 years old. He's only three years younger than you are. Now get that notion out of your head. He does not need a baby sitter. He's in fact, baby sat for us on numerous occasions and you never said anything about him being young and impressionable then." Jo sat down next to her husband. "Face it, Roy. Johnny's an adult man. He's not your son, he's not your brother. He's your co-worker and best friend. He needs you to treat him with the respect he's earned. I know for a fact that he respects you, hell, I even think he envies you."

"Why do you say that?" Roy asked his wife.

"Because you have things he doesn't. A loving wife, two beautiful children, a house, a family." Jo ended with that last part. "When's the last time you invited him over just to have him here?"

"Dunno." Roy shrugged. He thought about it and realized it was just before Johnny left on vacation. "Hey, wait a minute, you said a family, Johnny has a family. He said that's where he was going, to visit them."

"Roy, the only family that man has, is living in a nursing home in Inglewood." Jo stated. "He went back 'home' as he calls it, to visit friends he left behind when he left the reservation."

"How the hell do you know all this?" Roy asked.

"I talk to him, Roy. It's really quite easy." She looked at her husband, "You and I do it all the time. You just open your mouth and words pour out, that's why it's called TALKING." Jo smiled, "You just talk to him." She stood and entered the house. "You might want to try it some time."

Roy sighed, he knew his wife was right. "Talk to him. Easy for you to say." He stood then entered the house and went to the phone in the living room. He dialed Johnny's number and listened to it ring. Finally the answering machine picked up.

"You have reached John Gage. If this is the person you really want to talk to please leave a message at the beep. If this is NOT the person you wish to talk to, go fuck yourself." then there was the beep.

Johnny walked into his apartment and threw his keys on the side table. He noticed that he had several messages. He pushed the replay button on the machine and listened.

"Hi, Johnny. Nice message. You available tomorrow? Give me a call, 555-2313. Bye." The woman's voice sounded sweet to Johnny. He wondered what she had meant by the message though.

Next message. "Hi, Gage. Boy, you sure know how to piss people off, don't ya. Well, just wanted to apologize for yesterday. I didn't mean to upset you. Well gotta run." Chet Kelly had been feeling bad about the way he'd treated his co-worker.

"Wow, that's a first. Now what is with these people and my message?" He wondered.

Next message. "Hey, Junior. Nice Message. You get a lot of hang ups with that one? Anyway, it's Roy, you probably know that, but I'm calling to invite you over for dinner tomorrow night if you aren't too busy. Give me a call when you get in. Thanks." Roy hung up. Johnny sighed. He then pressed the button that allowed the owner to listen to his own answering message. He scowled when he heard it. "I'll kill that SOB." He pushed the erase button and re-recorded the message. He then reset the machine and went to take a shower.

Johnny finally called Roy back. "Hey, Roy."

"Hey." Roy sounded a little miffed.

"I was, uh, I was just returning your call." Johnny felt a knot form in his stomach.

"So you have." Roy bit off.

"Look, what did I do to piss you off?" Johnny asked.

"You know what you did." Roy said.

"Is it about the way I acted at Rampart yesterday? 'Cuz if it is, I'm sorry." Johnny said.

"Okay." Roy sighed.

"So, am I still...." He broke off, thinking he better not push his luck. "I'll let you go." Johnny tried to keep his voice from breaking.

"Okay." Roy said. He then hung up. Turning from the phone, Roy looked at Jo.

"Well?" She asked.

"I don't think he's coming." Roy walked out to the deck.

Johnny stood in front of his phone listening to it ring. He finally gave up and answered. "Hello?"

"Hi, Johnny. It's Jo. Just wondering if you're planning on coming over for dinner tomorrow night?" She asked.

"I don't know, Jo. Roy's mad at me for some reason." Johnny felt so sad. He was certain that if he told his friend and co-worker what he'd done he'd lose them for sure. "I'm sorry, Jo, but I don't think that it would be a good idea for me to come around." Johnny then hung up the phone.

"What did you say to him?" Jo approached her husband. "He's running like a scared rabbit."

"I didn't say anything." Roy stood his ground. "He's the one who's been acting up. He's been acting like he's hiding something."

"Did it ever occur to you that he might be. And that it's his business." Jo wrapped her arms around her husband. "He's not a kid, so please, stop treating him like one."

"It's just so hard. He's so child--not childish, more child-like at times." Roy sighed. "Okay, I'll go over there and talk to him."

"Thank you." Jo kissed her husband then turned to go into the kitchen and finish dinner.

Johnny was sitting at his table picking at the dinner he'd made. He really didn't feel like eating. He jumped when he heard the knock on his door.

Johnny looked through the peep hole and seriously contemplated not answering until Roy knocked again. He opened the door and looked at his friend. "Roy."

"Hey, Johnny. Can I come in?" Roy stepped towards the threshold.

"Uh, sure." Johnny stepped aside to let Roy enter.

Roy looked around the small living/dining room and saw that Johnny had a TV dinner on the table. "Am I interrupting dinner?"

"That's okay. I wasn't hungry anyway." Johnny sat down on his recliner. "You want something?"

"Yeah, I want you to come over for dinner tomorrow night." Roy sat on the couch.

"I told Jo that I didn't think I was really wanted." Johnny said. "Am I?"

"You know you are, Johnny. I wouldn't have asked ya, if you weren't." Roy was getting frustrated.

"Okay. I'll be there, but you have to promise not to ask me how I am feeling, okay?" Johnny sat forward in his chair and put out his hand.

Roy shook the hand. "Deal." He stood. "Hey, what's a guy gotta do to get a drink in this joint?"

Johnny stood and walked into the small kitchen. "Here ya go." He handed Roy a bottle of soda. "I went house hunting last week." He said quietly.

"Really? That's great!" Roy said. He downed his pop in a few swigs.

"Thanks. I'm meeting with a loan officer tomorrow morning. I'm hoping to know by tomorrow afternoon." Johnny pulled another two bottles out of the fridge and handed one to Roy.

"Let me know what happens, okay?" Roy said.

"Yeah, I'll let you know tomorrow night." Johnny said.

Roy finished that pop and burped. "Thanks, Junior. I gotta get, Jo's gonna have dinner ready soon."

"Okay." Johnny walked to the door with Roy.

"Tomorrow, five-thirty." Roy said.

Johnny arrived promptly at five-thirty. He hopped out of his Rover and grabbed the six pack of beer and the bouquet of flowers. He then headed up the walk to the door. He never had a chance to ring the doorbell as he was accosted at the door by two children.

"Hi, Uncle Johnny." Eight-year-old Jennifer DeSoto jumped up and down next to him.

"Hi, Jenny." He smiled at the youngster. "Here, Chris, take this sack for a sec, will ya?"

"Sure, Uncle Johnny." Eleven-year-old Christopher DeSoto grabbed the paper sack out of Johnny's hand. "What's in here?"

"It's for your dad." Johnny said. He hugged Jenny then took the sack back. "Let's go in."

The three entered the house. "He's here!" Jenny bellowed.

"Jennifer, how many times have we told you not to yell?" Roy came out of the kitchen smiling. "Hi Junior."

"Hey, Pally. Got something for you." He smiled at his friend. "NO! Not that, this." He held up the sack.

"Gee thanks." Roy winked.

"These are for your wife." Johnny took the flowers into the kitchen and gave them to Jo along with a kiss on the cheek. "Hi, Jo."

"Hi, Johnny." She smiled at Johnny and put the flowers in a vase. "These are pretty, thanks."

"No thanks needed." He sat down at the kitchen table and watched Jo work in the kitchen.

Roy came in and put the beer in the fridge then pulled out a cold one and handed it to Johnny.

"No thanks." Johnny turned down the beer. "I'll take a soda if you got any."

"What's this, Johnny Gage turning down beer?" Jo looked from her husband to her friend.

"I'll tell ya all about it later, I promise." Johnny stood and accepted the bottle of 7-Up Roy handed him. They then went out back to watch the kids play. "There's going to be a storm tonight."

"Think so?" Roy asked.

"Saw the clouds moving in over the mountains." Johnny said.

"Cool, we need the rain." Roy played with the bottle of beer in his hand. "So?" He looked at Johnny.

"I got it." Johnny whispered.

"You did?" Roy almost shouted.

"Shh. Not so loud. I wanna tell everyone later." Johnny said.

"Oh, okay. Thanks for telling me." Roy gave Johnny's shoulder a friendly squeeze.

"Hey, you're my best friend." Johnny smiled at Roy.

"Yeah, I guess I am." Roy blushed.

Jo came out to the deck. "Dinner in five, guys, get washed up." Jo smiled at Johnny.

Dinner was a noisy affair as Chris and Jen each vied for Johnny's attention.

Finally, dinner was over and the dishes done. Johnny helped Roy and Jo get the kids settled down for the night and tucked into bed.

"Okay, Junior, what is it about the beer?" Roy asked.

Johnny stood up and untucked his shirt. "Well, I had something's done while I was on vacation." He finished unbuttoning his shirt.

"What did you do this time, Johnny?" Roy stood next to his friend. He pushed the shirt aside and stared at the white bandage on Johnny's chest.

"I, uh, well, I sorta got a tattoo." Johnny stammered.

"A TATTOO!" Roy reached out and pulled the tape off the bandage and peeled the white pad off and stared.

Jo looked at the tattoo of a Timber Wolf. "That's beautiful." She put her hand on the tattoo.

Roy looks over the tat then his eyes drift down. "YOU PUT A HOLE THERE?!?!"

"Oh, yeah, I got that pierced months ago." Johnny said referring to his nipple ring.

"WHY?" Roy asked.

"'Cuz I could." Johnny shrugged. "Look it's no biggie. I kinda like it."

Jo smiled just knowing what this is doing to her straight laced husband. "Roy. Leave the poor man alone."

"I can't believe you did that, Johnny. You know there's a risk of infection. And why did you get the tattoo right above it?" Roy couldn't seem to take his eyes of the tattoo or the ring.

"Debbie told me that it would look best here." Johnny shrugged.

"Debbie?" Roy asked.

"The tattoo artist. She's the one who helped me pick out the tat and where to place it." Johnny explained. He re-buttoned his shirt and looked at his friends. "Roy, please don't tell Chet. If he sees it, he sees it, but if you tell him, then he'll be pestering me to show it to everybody."

"Sure, Johnny. You know, Chris is going to want to see that." Roy smiled. "It is kinda cool." He finally agreed.

Johnny smiled at that thought and picked up his keys. "Look, I gotta go, see ya at the station tomorrow."

"Yeah, tomorrow." Roy walked Johnny to the door and watched his friend drive away.

"See, it was nothing." Jo put her arm around Roy's waist.

"Yeah, I guess it was. I still can't believe he pierced it." Roy shook his head.

"Well, he is an adult." Jo kissed his cheek and walked into the kitchen to start to close up the house. "Come upstairs, Roy."

Roy closed and locked the door and walked upstairs. He thought about the ring. "I wonder if it hurts?" He said out loud.

"If what hurts?" Jo asked.

"That ring." Roy undressed and crawled into bed. He pulled Jo into his arms and kissed her. "I'll have to ask him, I guess."

"Roy! You'll do no such thing." Jo slapped her husband on the chest affectionately.

"Okay," Roy kissed his wife and pulled her closer. "Let's get some sleep."

Johnny whistled off key as he walked into the station. He had his clean uniforms over his arm and he walked into the locker room. Seeing the room empty, Johnny hung up his clothes and started changing.

Chet peeked into the room from the dorm. He couldn't see what Johnny had been hiding, so he walked in through the door hoping to catch the man off guard. He waited for Johnny to remove his shirt.

"Hey, Gage." Chet said as he came through the door.

"Chet." Johnny said. He pulled an undershirt over his head before turning around. This hid the ring and most of the tat.

"Hey, you got a tattoo. Cool." Chet tried to get a better look at the work of art. "That's just so cool, Gage. Who'da thought you'd do something like that?"

"Glad you like it, Chet. Now, I need to finish up here." He undid his jeans and put on his uniform pants, sitting, he changed his shoes and socks then put on his uniform shirt. He was tucking it in just as his Captain called roll.

Johnny went out to the bay and stood next to Roy. He looked at his co-workers and noticed they were all eyeballing him.

"Okay, men." Hank started. "We have a lot to do today, so let's get it out of the way." He snickered.

"Show 'em." Roy said.

"WHAT?" Johnny said.

"Yeah, Gage, show us the tat." Chet said. He was practically salivating.

Johnny sighed. "I'm wearing an undershirt. You can't see the whole thing." He unbuttoned his shirt and pushed the left side aside. "See?"

The men gathered around to see the wolf. Chet reached out to touch it. "Does is hurt?" He asked.

"Not anymore. It did for the first day, then it itched, I kept it covered because I had to keep the area moist with Vaseline. The bandage kept the Vaseline from getting on my clothes." Johnny buttoned his shirt.

Roy nudged him. "Show it all, Junior." He whispered.

"Show us all of what? There's more?" Chet started backing Johnny up against the squad.

"ROY!" Johnny crowed. "Back Chet. There's nothing else to see."

"All right. Let's get this show on the road." Hank said.

The men fell back into line and gave their captain their full attention.

then end
 

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