"Picking Up The Pieces" © February 2001 Nancy F. Thysell. "Emergency!" and its characters © Mark VII Productions. All rights reserved. No infringement on any copyrights or trademarks is intended or should be inferred. This is a work of fiction, and any similarity to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.

TITLE: Picking Up The Pieces-Part 4

AUTHOR: Nancy, the Nifty Lady (Niftylady51@aol.com)

Picking Up The Pieces-Part 4

They delved deeper into the belly of the beast. Thick smoke hampered their vision and choked the air. Johnny leaned heavily into Roy's back, supporting the line as the water fought for it's release through the brass nozzle. Roy worked the water in a circular pattern. Knowing that his partner was covering his back was reassuring. Chet and Marco advanced on their left. The handi-talkie in Gage's pocket summoned his attention. He awkwardly removed the device and brought it to his face. Using the HT with air masks in place was never easy.

"This HT Five One. Go ahead Cap!" he yelled as he depressed the talk button.

"John! I need you and Roy back out here," Cap's muffled voice crackled back at him.

"Ten-four Cap," he acknowledged. He tapped Roy's shoulder to get his attention. His partner turned and understood from his gesture that they were to retreat. He turned off the spray and laid down the hose and followed Johnny from the inferno. Jogging across the building's parking lot, the two paramedics moved quickly through the obstacle course of hose lines and men.

They found one of the firefighter's from Station 110 writhing in pain on a yellow blanket someone had placed on the ground near the squad.

"Hey Bill. What's going on?" Johnny asked as he and Roy shrugged out of their SCBAs and turnouts. Johnny tossed his helmet to the ground.

"My leg," the soot covered fireman gasped through gritted teeth. "It's busted for sure."

"Well, let me be the judge of that," Johnny said lightly. Bill Madison looked up into the paramedics face and relaxed. If Gage was teasing him then it couldn't be all that bad.

"Just take it easy and let me get some vitals on you," Johnny continued as Roy unloaded their supplies. The fracture of Bill's left femur was visually apparent but the paramedics wanted to check their coworker over to be certain that there were no other injuries. In a matter of minutes they had Bill packaged and ready for transport to Rampart. The ambulance was on its way. Johnny rocked back on his heels and gazed at the fire. The orange glow silhouetted the firefighters as they fought the blaze. Roy stood beside him watching the same scene.

"Amazing, isn't it," Roy commented. There was a certain beauty to the beast at times.

"Sure is," Johnny agreed before swivelling his head once more. "Where the heck is that ambulance?"

Bill was resting comfortably with his IV and MS. He smiled up wanly at the paramedics.

"Are we there yet?" he asked in a slurred manner. Johnny smiled back him. Yeah, the morphine was doing it's job and Bill was feeling no pain.

"No not yet, Bill. You just take it easy. It won't be long now," he assured the man. Bill nodded and closed his eyes. The ambulance finally arrived and reversed its direction to back up near the squad. The attendants jumped from the cab and hurried to the rear doors, opening them and retrieving the gurney.

"Okay Bill. Your ride's here," Johnny announced. In moments, they had the injured firefighter in the ambulance and headed for Rampart. Roy followed in the squad.

Later as they made their way back to the station, Johnny leaned his head against the back of his seat and sighed.

"I don't know about you, but I'm beat. I can't wait to hit the showers."

"Me too. I just hope we beat the engine back to the station."

"Oh yeah. I want a hot shower," Johnny emphasized. He need not have worried, the engine crew had remained on the scene to do the overhaul. The two paramedics were showered and asleep in their bunks by the time the rest of Station 51 returned to quarters.

# # # # # # #

The orange glow was mesmerizing and Johnny watched it fluctuate and dance against the nighttime sky. He'd never quite seen a fire this color before. It was a soft orange, almost creamy. Damn if it wasn't the craziest thing and he felt cold. Almost as if it could snow, it was so damn cold. He turned to ask his partner if he'd noticed the same thing but Roy wasn't standing beside him. He turned in confusion as he was enveloped in the blackness. Roy wasn't there. No one was there. He was all alone-just John Gage. He looked back at the fire that generated no heat. Am I dreaming? He shivered controllably.

Roy awoke in the early morning to the sound of teeth chattering and turned his bleary eyes toward his partner. Johnny was the one making the noise. He sat up instantly alarmed. His partner lay on his bunk, dressed only in a T-shirt and boxers. His covers were lying twisted on the floor. It wasn't that chilly in the dorm for Johnny to be shivering so. He knelt by Johnny's bedside and felt Johnny's forehead. He withdrew his hand in surprise. John felt ice cold to his touch. He reached over for his jacket and withdrew his pen light and directed on Johnny's face. His lips were blue!

"Johnny?" he whispered loudly, trying to keep the panic he felt from his voice. He shook his partner gently. "Johnny!"

"C...c...cold," Johnny chattered weakly. Roy grabbed up the discarded covers and quickly covered his friend. Then he grabbed the blanket from his own bed and placed that over his friend as well.

"Cap!" he called out. He waited for his superior to respond. He glanced at his watch. It was nearly five-thirty.

"Roy?" came Hank's groggy response.

"We need to call in a silent alarm. Johnny's really sick," he informed him. Never taking his eyes off his partner. Hank rounded the divider and stood by Roy. The rest of the crew, awoke to the intrusion of their sleep.

"What do you need, Pal?"

"Drug box, bio-phone. More blankets."

Johnny's eyes were open but Roy was certain he wasn't seeing anything.

"Co....cold...so c...cold," he repeated. Roy tucked the blanket under his friend's chin.

"Marco go get the things from the squad. Chet get all those blankets off the beds and help Roy," the Captain directed. He gently placed a comforting hand on Roy's shoulder and went to call it in. Roy heard him request an ambulance.

"What happened Roy?" Chet inquired worriedly as he helped the paramedic cover Johnny with the additional blankets.

"I don't know Chet," Roy admitted and it scared him. He wanted to take Johnny's temperature but the way Gage's teeth were chattering, he didn't think he could get one orally. Marco dropped the equipment by Gage's bunk.

"What else can we do?" Marco asked softly. Hank noted the distress in Roy's demeanor.

"Come on guys, let's give Roy room to work. Roy? Do you need us to leave, pal?" he asked sensing that need. Roy gave him a thankful nod.

"For right now, thanks," Roy responded gratefully. Hank herded his crew out of the dorm and into the day room. Roy removed the rectal hypothermia thermometer from the box and gently rolled Johnny over on his right side. He felt as though Johnny wasn't aware of what was happening. He didn't fight him in the least and that alone scared Roy even more. He set up the bio-phone and contacted Rampart.

"Hypothermia," he muttered under his breath as he gathered Johnny's vitals. His core temperature was down to 93⁰F. He got the IV inserted. Johnny felt so rigid. His respiration were shallow.

"Roy, ambulance is here," Mike informed him from the doorway to the apparatus bay..

"Thanks Mike. Send them on in here," Roy responded. He gathered his equipment together as the attendants entered with the stretcher. Johnny was quickly transferred and placed into the ambulance. The rest of the guys gathered around as Roy climbed into the back.

"Roy?" Hank asked without asking more. Roy gave his captain a worried look.

"I dunno Cap. He's hypothermic. Don't ask me how," Roy admitted. Shock registered on Hank's face. That was the last thing Hank expected to hear.

"Call us as soon as you can."

"Will do."

Hank shut the doors and tapped the back of the doors twice and the ambulance pulled away into the early morning light.

# # # # # # #

Dr. Morton took a look at John Gage on the exam table and looked over at his partner.

"Hypothermia? How the hell did that happen?" he demanded brusquely.

Roy shrugged his shoulders, worry etched in his features. "I don't know doc. I woke up and found him so cold his teeth were chattering."

Mike made a face and gave the nurse some orders. Warming blankets had been placed under Johnny's body with others placed over him. Roy watched as the nurse started an femoral IV of warmed solutions close to the central circulation. The IV Roy had started at the station was removed so that the IV solution in the arm wouldn't wash lactic acid into the heart and cause him to go into V-Fib. Next warm humidified oxygen by mask was administered. Morton indicated for Roy to join him outside the treatment room. He crossed his arms over his chest.

"It doesn't make any sense Roy. Something must have happened that you weren't aware of. Could he have left the station without you knowing it?"

"It's possible but not like Johnny. Honestly Dr. Morton, I don't think he went anywhere. We hadn't been asleep all that long. The engine crew returned after we turned in. They would have noticed if he was gone." Roy raked his fingers through his strawberry blonde hair with one hand and pulled at his turnout suspenders with the other.

"Well, however it happened, it happened. It's going to take a while for us to bring his body temperature back up to normal. Then I'll have him admitted overnight for observation."

"Is he gonna be okay?"

"I hope so, Roy. Right now, I have no reason not to believe that. Why don't you go on back to the station? We'll call you if there's any change."

"Thanks doc." Roy watched as Dr. Morton disappeared back into the treatment room. He reached over the counter at the base station and picked up the phone and called for a ride back. This was one for the books. That was for sure.

# # # # # # #

Roy returned to Rampart as soon as the shift was over. Johnny was now in his own room on the third floor. Roy rapped lightly on the open door before entering.

"Come in," Johnny called. He sounded defeated.

"Johnny? You okay?" Roy asked with concern as he entered the room and crossed to the bed. Johnny shrugged his shoulders and shifted his gaze out the window. He was still hooked up to an IV. But at least his hands and arms were free.

"What's going on?" his friend asked. "How did this happen, Roy?"

"You tell me."

"I don't know. I remember taking a nice hot shower and going to sleep. Next thing I know, I'm in the ER, freezing to death!" He finally looked over at his friend. His eyes begged for answers.

"I don't know, either. It's the damnest thing I've ever seen. You scared the crap out of me!" Roy admitted.

"Sorry."

"It's not your fault."

"Then how can you explain this?"

They were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Excuse me gentlemen," Dr. Randall Shields spoke from the door.

"Rand! Come in," Johnny called and the doctor entered. Roy and the doctor exchanged pleasantries.

"Roy, if you don't mind. I need to talk to John alone," the doctor said courteously.

"Certainly. I'll go get some coffee or something," Roy said and quietly departed from the room. Dr. Shields pulled the only chair over to Johnny's bedside and sat down.

"So, John. Tell me what happened."

"I don't know."

"Tell me what you remember."

Johnny related to the doctor the events before going to bed.

"Did you dream?"

Johnny thought hard. "I think so. I don't remember it."

"Would you like me to hypnotize you?"

"Do you think my dream gave me hypothermia?"

"It's possible. The mind can be very powerful. It could be that you're trying to protect your coworkers from your dreams."

"That just sounds crazy. Am I going nuts?"

Dr. Shields chuckled. "No. John. Absolutely not."

Johnny looked at him doubtfully. "You sure?"

"Well, John. We can't be sure about everything. But I'm confident that you're not crazy. I told you before that your subconscious is still processing a lot of suppressed information. This may be just another manifestation of that. I think that you've been so worried about harming others in your sleep that you internalized all your fears toward yourself, to protect them."

"Man! This is so weird." Johnny leaned back on the bed and closed his eyes. He opened his eyes again and looked at the doctor. "So, is it okay for me to go home?"

Dr. Shields looked at Johnny's chart and then back at the dark haired paramedic.

"I don't see why not. I'll speak to Dr. Morton. He might want to keep you overnight."

Johnny started to protest and the doctor held up his hand.

"Don't complain to me! He's your doctor and it's his call. If you have to stay, try to get some rest. How soon do you go to Palm Springs?"

"On the twenty-first. Man, I don't want to do that either!"

The doctor rose to his feet and placed his hand on Johnny's leg. "Hang in there, John. You can do this. Call me if you need to talk. My service will know how to reach me."

"Thanks Rand."

"I'll see you next week?"

"For sure."

"Good. I'll see you then." With that Dr. Shields took his leave and left Johnny to his own thoughts. Roy returned after a while and Johnny told him that Dr. Shields thought his hypothermia might have been brought on by a dream. Roy had whistled low, amazed at that. Dr. Morton came in and checked Johnny's vitals and determined to keep him overnight, much to Johnny's dismay.

Before long, Roy took off and the rest of A-Shift dropped by to check on him. In the afternoon, he became bored with soap operas and flicked through the channels. He landed on a PBS station that had a program about horses. His interest picked up immediately and suddenly he realized that more than anything, he wanted to have his own horse. After all, he had the ranch now and a barn with a corral, there wasn't any reason not to. Now he could barely wait to get home. Excitedly, he called his partner at home.

"Roy!"

"Johnny? You okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. Guess what?"

"What?"

"I'm going to get a horse!"

"Pardon?"

"I've decided to buy a horse. Maybe two. I mean I've got the ranch and all. What do you think?"

"I think that's great! It'll mean a lot of extra work for you though. What about when you're working?"

"Oh. I'll figure that out later. I can always hire someone to do that! Man! I can't wait! I'm going to check out some breeders tomorrow. You want to come?"

"Sure. How about I pick up you when Morton cuts you loose? Then we can go by the station and get your Rover."

"Sounds great to me. Thanks Pally!"

"You're welcome, Junior. I'll be there in the morning."

"Great! See ya then."

Johnny hung up the phone feeling better than he had in months. He locked his fingers behind his head and stared up at the ceiling and smiled. This was exactly what he needed.

# # # # # # #

Roy was fascinated by the Johanson's quarter horse farm that Johnny drove to the next morning. They spent the morning looking at numerous horses. Roy was amazed at Johnny's level of knowledge about the different breeds and horses in general. He almost found himself wanting to have a horse of his own but fortunately, reality set in and he realized he'd never be able to afford even a saddle. Johnny bounced around the farm, checking everything out. The owner saddled a couple of the horses up for the two paramedics and they took a leisurely ride through well worn trails. Johnny practically was bursting with excitement by the time they returned to the barn.

"I'll tell you what, Roy. I'm definitely going to get two horses. That way if you come over we can both ride. Or the kids! Yeah, Christopher and Jennifer can both learn to ride. I'll have to get a two horse trailer. And tack. Man. I need to get so much before I even buy the horses. What do you think?"

"I think you need to come up for some air," Roy chuckled as he moved stiffly toward Johnny's Rover. He had no idea that a brief horse back ride would work muscles in his legs he didn't even knew he had. Johnny laughed at his friend's obvious discomfort.

"We'll just have to get you riding more often. Build up those puny leg muscles of yours!" Johnny teased as he moved a bit stiffly himself.

"Look who's talking," Roy countered with a smile. Johnny rubbed his blue jeans with his hands, trying to massage his muscles.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. But once I have my own horses, I can ride all the time," Johnny grinned. "After all, with the inheritance, I can afford it. Can you imagine how long it would take me to do all this on just my salary?"

Roy smirked. "Are you kidding? Johnny we make practically the same amount of money. Of course, I know what it would take. I know I couldn't do. I think it's great that you can do this with the money. I know how happy it's gonna make you."

Johnny smiled thoughtfully. "Yeah. It will. Well, come on partner. Mr. Johannson gave me the names of some places to check out for trailers and tack."

"Lead on," Roy directed with a broad smile. The remainder of the day was spent looking at new and used horse trailers with Johnny finally deciding on a used one that was in mint condition.

Later when Johnny took Roy home, he joined the DeSoto's for dinner. Jennifer and Christopher were beside themselves with excitement when they learned that Johnny was getting a couple of horses. Jennifer refused to go to sleep that night until Johnny promised to let her help name them, which he did happily.

When Johnny got home that night, he sighed as he entered his house. It had a nice peaceful feeling about it. He tossed his keys on the table by the door and smiled. Maybe the pieces of his life were finally coming together. Without turning on any lights, the dark haired paramedic climbed the stairs to his bedroom. He barely remembered falling into bed and the best night's sleep he'd had in months.

# # # # # # #

Palm Springs was unusually hot for the time of year. Johnny shifted uncomfortably in his white shirt and tie as he waited in the corridor outside the court room. He hated waiting but because he was a witness, he wasn't allowed into the courtroom until he was summoned. His knees bounced nervously as he waited for Roy to return. He looked up and saw his partner and friend approaching with a couple of cold drinks in paper cups. Roy handed him one of the cups and a wrapped straw.

"Thanks," Johnny mumbled as he relieved his friend of the cup. He stuck the straw through the plastic lid and took a long pull of the cold liquid. "Ahhh. Thanks Roy."

Roy chuckled. "No big deal." He sat down beside his friend.

"I hope they call me before you," Roy commented. Johnny looked up puzzled from his soda.

"Why?"

"Because, then I can be in there when you testify."

Johnny considered this for a moment.

"I agree. But I doubt that will happen." He gave Roy a worried look. "I'm sure that I'll be one of the first prosecution witnesses. They might not even call you."

"I know. Heck, they haven't even asked for Cap or any of the rest of the guys to be here yet," Johnny's best friend commented.

Time passed slowly as they waited. Lunch break came and the two paramedics found themselves waiting into the late afternoon. At the end of the day's session, the district attorney, David Ralston sought the men out. Mr. Ralston was a ruggedly handsome man in his mid-thirties, with curly black hair and ice blue eyes. He wore immaculate expensive dark blue suits with white silk shirts. This day he wore a silk maroon tie with a matching handkerchief. Gold nugget cuff links gleamed on his shirt sleeves. The man oozed confidence and an air of authority.

"Oh, Mr. Gage. Good you're still here," he said as he set his briefcase down.

"Mr. Ralston."

"And Mr. DeSoto. I'm glad you could be here." He shook hands with both of them.

"What's going on?" Johnny demanded.

"Mostly opening statements. We'll begin with witnesses in the morning. You'll probably be one of the first one's called, Mr. Gage. Mr. DeSoto, you and the other firemen will be on standby. Have the others arrived?"

"Not yet. We expect them to arrive this evening."

"Good. That's good. Dr. Brackett should be here tonight as well. I'd like to meet with all of you at eight a.m. There's a room on the first floor that we'll be using tomorrow. I've arranged for all of you to wait there until you're called to testify. The media has gotten wind of this and I'm afraid it's going to become a circus if we're not careful." He opened a notebook from his pocket. "Yes. It's going to be room one-oh-four. Got that? Good. I'll see you in the morning then."

He made quick goodbyes and rushed down the hall. The two paramedics watched as he disappeared and then they looked at each other.

"Man. He's something," Johnny whispered in awe.

"Yeah. Did you see his cuff links? Wonder what a pair like that costs?"

Johnny eyed his partner and grinned. "I doubt we'll ever have to worry about buying a pair."

Roy laughed. "I think you're right partner. Come on. Let's go back to the hotel and see if the rest of the guys are here. Then we can all go out and get some dinner."

"Sounds good to me, Pally."

Side by side, the two friends headed toward the elevator.

# # # # # # #

The witnesses were all booked at the downtown Holiday Inn Hotel. The rest of their coworkers were just checking in when Roy and Johnny entered the lobby.

"Hey guys!" they called. The way the group greeted one another, someone would have thought they had come together for a reunion of some sort and hadn't seen each other for years. Luggage was quickly stowed in various rooms and the group headed for a nearby restaurant for a friendly meal.

The table of six men had were nearly half-way through their meal when Dr. Brackett and Dixie McCall entered the same restaurant, accompanied by Barnaby and Jebediah "JR" Jones.

"Doctor Brackett! Dixie! Mr. Jones!" Roy greeted the group jovially. Pleasantries were exchanged and the hostess seated the foursome at the table next to the firemen. Dr. Brackett invited the entire group back to his room at the hotel for after dinner drinks. It was the first chance that Johnny had to really talk to Barnaby and JR and to thank them in person for all their help in orchestrating his rescue from the cabin compound.

# # # # # # #

At precisely eight a.m. the next morning, the group assembled once again only this time it was in room 104 of the courthouse. Mr. Ralston and his assistant arrived a few minutes past eight and gave the group a brief run down as to what they might expect. He surprised the group by announcing that Dixie and Dr. Brackett would be the first witnesses to be called. Roy would be next. He'd let the others know later when he expected to call them.

The door closed behind the DA on the quiet group.

"Well," Hank broke the silence and cleared his throat. "I guess we're in for a bit of a wait then."

"Good thing I brought a deck of cards," Chet announced. "Anyone up for a game of gin or something?"

"Well, we'd better not try playing poker. At least not in a courthouse," Hank observed with a chuckle.

"I'll play with you Chet," Marco offered. The two firemen sat down at a corner of the table and Chet shuffled the deck and dealt out the card. Mike settled into a corner with a book he'd brought. Barnaby and JR left to locate the pay phones to deal with some cases they were working on. The rest of them sat around the room, waiting uneasily, wishing the time would pass.

Shortly after nine, Dixie was summoned to the courtroom. Her testimony verified that it was because Dr. Taroboli had requested John Gage's medical records from Rampart that they had determined that he had something to do with the young man's disappearance.

Dr. Brackett testified to following up with the trip to Dr. Taroboli's office in Palm Springs and being told that Dr. Taroboli was only doing research. After their testimony, they were excused and allowed to sit in the gallery.

Roy nervously entered the courtroom. The room wasn't quite what Roy was expecting. It was a small room compared to what he had seen on television. The jury panel sat to the judge's left in two rows of stuffed swivel chairs. The DA and his assistant were also on the judge's left in front of the gallery. Dr. Vincent Taroboli, Edgar Newman, and Vik Nathan, the defendants, with their lawyers sat on the right hand side. The bailiff directed Roy to the witness box and swore him in as the court reporter, who was seated in front of the judge took down everything that was said.

Mr. Ralston approached the witness box and gave Roy a reassuring smile.

"Would you state your name for the record?" he asked formally.

"Roy DeSoto."

"And what is your occupation, Mr. DeSoto?"

"I'm a paramedic/fire fighter for the County of Los Angeles."

"And how long have you worked in that capacity."

"For nearly five years."

"And how are you acquainted with John Gage?"

"He's my partner at work."

"And how long have you know Mr. Gage?"

"Five years. I recruited him into the paramedic program."

"So would you say that you and Mr. Gage are close friends as well as coworkers."

Roy smiled. "Most definitely."

"So when Mr. Gage disappeared without a trace, you weren't fooled by the efforts of Dr. Taroboli's henchmen."

"Objection!" the defense attorney interrupted. "Calls for a conclusion on the part of the witness."

"I'll rephrase the question. What was your impression when you were told that Mr. Gage had resigned from the fire department?"

Roy shifted in his chair. "I didn't believe it. Johnny, uh, Mr. Gage is my best friends and he's like a brother to me. He would never do anything like that without discussing it with me or our Captain. That's just the kind of man he is."

"And what did you do after you were told of his resignation?"

"I went to his apartment to check on him."

"And why did you do that?"

"Like I said, Johnny's like family. I had a key to his apartment. I was worried about him."

"And what did you find when you arrived at Mr. Gage's apartment?"

"I found it empty. Almost every thing that belonged to my friend was gone."

"You said almost every thing was gone. What did you find left behind?"

"I found a dream catcher hanging from the window in his bedroom."

"Would you explain to the court what exactly a 'dream catcher' is?"

"I guess it's an Indian artifact that they believe will 'catch' bad dreams from disturbing one's sleep. I knew when I saw it that Johnny hadn't left of his own volition."

"And why is that?"

"Because Johnny's mother had made it for him. There's no way he would have forgotten that."

"Objection! Calls for a conclusion," the defense attorney objected.

"Overruled. I'm going to allow it," the judge ruled.

"And armed with this bit information, what did you do?" Mr. Ralston continued.

"I started looking for him."

"And what did that entail?"

Roy related to the court everything that he had done to try and find out what had happened to his friend, including the trip they all made to Dr. Taroboli's office to the hiring of Barnaby Jones Investigations. He wanted to tell them about finding Johnny and what happened next but Mr. Ralston didn't ask him about that.

The defense attorney didn't ask too many questions. It was obvious that the jury liked the soft spoken paramedic. When Roy finished testifying, the court was recessed for lunch. Everyone was admonished not to discuss their testimony with anyone outside the courtroom.

# # # # # # #

"Come on, Roy. You can tell us!" Chet cajoled as the group settled a steak house near the court house. Roy rolled his eyes but Dr. Brackett answered before the paramedic could respond.

"Chet. We're under court order not to discuss our testimony. You'll just have to be patient," Kel snapped.

"Sorry Doc. We've just been dying of curiosity," Chet apologized. "Can't you tell us anything?"

"Chet," Hank said in a warning tone.

"Oh. All right. Any idea who they'll call next?"

"No. Mr. Ralston is keeping his plans close to the vest," Kel commented.

"I sure wish this whole thing was over," Johnny added.

"You and me both, partner," Roy agreed. Soon their meals were served and the group shifted to safe topics like the upcoming Firemen's Olympics.

# # # # # # #

Johnny wiped his sweaty hands on his slacks outside the courtroom door. He had been summoned to wait outside the door shortly after they had returned from lunch. Roy, Dixie and Kel were already inside the room seated in the gallery. That was at least a small measure of comfort. The bailiff opened the door and called for him. Nervously, he entered the room. It seemed every set of eyes in the room were upon him as he made his way to the front of the courtroom. He was sworn in and took his seat in the witness box. As he waited for the DA to approach, he glanced over at the defendant's table. Fear coursed through his body as he locked eyes with Dr. Taroboli and felt the pure hatred that emanated from the man. He licked his dry lips nervously. He tried to shift his gaze but it was as if the doctor had control over him. His heart began to race and his breathing quickened. He reached out and placed his hands on the witness box, gripping it until his knuckles turned white. Roy, Dixie and Kel all noted Johnny's reaction and watched with concern as Mr. Ralston approached the witness box.

# # # # # # #

To be continued in Part 5