"Go away," John Gage muttered in a scratchy voice as the bedside phone rang. He pulled his pillow over his aching head, sighed and glanced at the clock. It read 8:32 am. He finally reached over the grab the phone.
"Hello," he said after clearing his throat.
"Johnny? I woke you, didn't I?" JoAnne DeSoto asked.
"I should be getting up anyway. What's up, JoAnne?" Johnny said sitting up in bed.
"I just thought - Roy wouldn't happen to be there, would he?" she asked.
"Not unless he's sitting in his car outside or on the porch. Want me to check?" Johnny asked.
"No. I'm sure he just went for a drive. And I'm sorry I woke you. I completely forgot you're suppose to be resting. How are you feeling? Are you doing everything the doctors said?" JoAnne asked as Johnny smiled slightly.
"I'm being good, I promise. You sure everything's all right? Why did you think Roy would be here?" he asked.
"It's silly. I really shouldn't even talk about it," she said and Johnny sat up straighter.
"If you weren't that concerned, you wouldn't have called. What's going on?" Johnny asked.
"I guess we got into a little disagreement this morning," she said.
"You and Roy? That doesn't happen very often," Johnny said.
"I think I hurt his feelings," JoAnne said.
"You?" Johnny asked.
"I ran into an old friend. I invited him over for dinner last night. Roy thinks he sat there and flirted with me all night, but he didn't. Roy's over-reacting," JoAnne said.
"He's just protective of you," Johnny said, his voice getting scratchy.
"You need to be resting and I hear the baby crying. I have to go. Thanks, Johnny," JoAnne said hanging up.
"Didn't think Roy and JoAnne ever got upset with each other," Johnny said hearing someone knocking on his door. He sighed, pulled on a pair of jeans and headed for the door.
"Roy," he surprisedly said opening the door to his partner.
"Did I wake you? I know you're supposed to be resting. Got a minute?" Roy asked.
"Come on in," Johnny said opening the door for him.
"So, what's going on?" Johnny asked.
"Oh, nothing much," Roy said playing with the dream catcher on the wall.
"Oh. Want some coffee?" Johnny asked heading for the kitchen.
"As long as it isn't some fancy brand," Roy said. "By the way, how are you feeling?"
"Throat's a little scratchy. The cough's going away," Johnny said glancing at him as he got the coffee started.
"Good. Well, I better get out of here. Let you get some rest," Roy said.
"Roy, you just got here," Johnny said putting a hand on the door as Roy opened it.
"I shouldn't have come. It's silly. It's just that, I don't drink fancy coffee or speak three languages or fly to San Francisco every weekend," Roy said sinking to a chair.
"JoAnne called a few minutes ago," Johnny said as Roy stared at him.
"She called here?" Roy asked.
"She was worried. Look, Roy, you don't have a thing to worry about. The guy's a friend. An old friend," Johnny said.
"You didn't see the way they smiled at each other. And the kids, you should have seen the kids with him. They acted like he was the greatest thing they've ever seen," Roy said.
"The kids did? I thought they only acted like that with me," Johnny said as there was a pounding on his door and he heard Chet shouting,
"Gage, open up!"
"Chet? What's up?"Johnny asked as Chet threw back a fist and punched Johnny in the jaw, sending him to the floor.
"Chet!" Roy said hurrying over to Johnny as Chet started looking thru the apartment.
"Where is she?" Chet demanded opening a closet.
"Who? What's wrong with you?" Johnny asked rubbing his jaw as Roy got him some ice.
"Cassie, that's who!" Chet said.
"Cassie? You didn't tell me you had company. I should leave,"Roy said.
"Wait, I don't have company. Maybe a broken jaw, but not company. Cassie's not here, Chet. What the hell's wrong with you?" Johnny said as Chet sighed.
"She did it to me again," Chet said sinking to the couch.
"Women," Roy murmured sitting back down in the rocking chair as Johnny stared at them while keeping the ice to his bruising jaw.
"Sorry, Gage. She called this morning saying she was over here," Chet said then glanced at Roy.
"So, what's going on?" he asked.
"Nothing," Roy said. "I don't want to talk about it."
"I'm starving. Got anything to eat in there, John? By the way, how you feeling?" Chet asked heading into the kitchen.
"Let me think about that one," Johnny said lightly rubbing his jaw, then sighing as he heard another knock on the door.
"I'm almost afraid to get this one," he said heading over and opening the door.
"Johnny, I brought you some soup. Old family recipe. Cures sore throats in no time. Hey guys, I thought I saw your cars. You checking up on John, too?" Marco asked carrying a pan into the kitchen and putting in on the stove.
"Soup. Thanks, Marco," Johnny said and was about to shut the door when Mike Stoker pulled up and walked to the apartment.
"Johnny, I know you're not feeling well, but you have a minute?" he asked as Johnny opened to door and said, "Join the party. What's up? You look a little shaken."
"She's back. Last night. I got home and there she was," Mike said.
"Mike, who's she?" Johnny asked leading him into the living room.
"My mother-in-law," Mike replied sinking to the couch.
"Oh," Johnny said as Roy glanced at him.
"Just be thankful it wasn't an old boyfriend," he said.
Everyone glanced at the door as they heard another knock, then heard Dixie say, "Johnny. Open up. I have an emergency here!"
Johnny rushed for the door and opened it seeing Dixie holding a small kitten.
"Look at her. She's hungry and so thin. I don't know where her mama is," Dixie said carrying the kitten in to the apartment.
"Um, Dix. I don't know what I can do to help. She needs a vet," Johnny said.
"Little Gato, look at you," Marco said hurrying in to see the kitten.
"I know he needs a vet but he was in your parking lot looking terrified. And aren't you supposed to be resting? It's a good thing I came by to check on you," Dixie said.
"Um, Marco, pal. This soupy stuff, it's on fire," Chet called from the kitchen.
"My kitchen?" Johnny asked hurrying back with Marco, turning the burner off and spraying the soup with the fire extinguisher.
"That's funny. It's never done that before," Marco said and Johnny let out a cry as he touched the hot pan.
"John, you should know better than that. Roy, Johnny's burnt his hand," Chet called as Roy went to the bathroom to get Johnny's first aid kit and headed into the kitchen.
"Johnny, is something bothering you? You've been acting a little strange since I got here," Roy said getting out the burn ointment.
"Me strange? I'm the most normal one here!" Johnny said as Roy stared at him.
"That cold's getting to you. Dixie's right. You need to be resting," he said.
"Johnny, I'm going to run this little guy to the vet. I'll be back to check on you later. And go back to bed. You look flushed," Dixie said glancing in the kitchen while kissing the kitten then heading for the door.
"I feel a lot better now. Maybe I'll go to the Second Alarm and play a game of pool," Mike said.
"Hey, wait up. I'll go with you," Chet called hurrying after him.
"Sorry about the little accident here, Johnny. Maybe you should have that stove looked at. This soup has never caught fire before. Better get some rest!" Marco called heading for the door.
"Place is emptying out. You really should get to bed and stay quiet for awhile. Your voice doesn't sound too good," Roy said then adding, "I'll get it for you," as the phone rang.
"Hello?" he said hearing the response on the other end then smiling.
"Hey, sweetheart. I'll be home soon....Me, Mad? Upset? Of course not. What gave you that idea?"
Johnny shook his head as he listened to part of the conversation then headed back to his bedroom.
"I'm the only normal person I know," he murmured falling to his bed and closing his eyes to go back to sleep.
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