The Never Ending Call

Title: The Never Ending Call 11/?
Author: Kim Riley a.k.a. MYSTIC
Disclaimer: The characters belong to the producers of Emergency. Also, the character Mike Stoker is in no relation to the real one. Since they are no longer using them I’ve decided to take our boys out of the ‘closet’ and let them play and be happy. Enjoy.
Summary: What should have been a simple response to an emergency turns into what will seem a never ending nightmare.
Warnings: This is an Au story, also language, violence, abuse, attempted rape (I will not be graphic), and death (though not of E characters)
Rating: NC-17 (see warnings and m/m sex)
Pairing: John/Roy (Emergency fandom)
Archived: at (or will be archived at) http://www.geocities.com/mysticmcknight/KimRstorylist.html
If you want to archive it, please do, just let me know.
Feedback: Please! Mysticmcknight@hotmail.com

"The Never Ending Call"

Okay, this was not what he expected, not that he had expectations per se as to what Argentine would provide as assistance to get them to Mexico City, but traveling with a group of Guerrillas or rebels was not it. No, he didn't like it one bit, especially the leader, Captain Chavez; the man was a snake if he ever saw one. Though he still didn't speak Spanish well, he had learned enough to understand a lot more and it was clear from the conversation he overheard between Argentine and Chavez, that the Rebel Leader owed him a favor and this was how it was going to be paid back. So here they were in military jeeps, with rebels armed to the teeth, with Johnny in another jeep behind him. It also didn't help that with the jackets he and Johnny were given made them actually 'look' like they could be members of this rag-tag bunch. At the moment Roy was glad Johnny had the knife Argentine had given him, in his boot as it was designed to be; it was something, though Roy wondered if Johnny would use it. Kick ass…yes, but use a weapon…he doubt it.

"Your instincts are good," a strange man, sharing the jeep with him, spoke, his accent thick, but English good. "There have been hints the Federalies are in the area searching for bands like ours," he laughed darkly. Roy decided it was best to remain silent and not respond to the comment, "So, you and your friend…healers, no?"

"No, we're 'not' doctors," he clarified. "We know…advance first aid," was how he decided to explain it as the concept of paramedics was foreign here. Seeing the glazed look of lack of understanding, Roy clarified farther, "we can do some things to stable a person but they still need a doctor to heal them." It seemed to satisfy the man for the moment. Roy went back to eyeing the mountain like terrain that was heavily covered in trees and other thick greeneries. The sound of an approaching vehicle at high speed strained his nerves even more. He glanced back and caught his lover's eyes, who also was keen to the situation, but was remaining calm.

Roy saw as the four jeeps, he in the second, Johnny third, came to a halt, all weapons pointing in front, as the fifth vehicle, a jeep, came into view; guns were lowered. Once they were in range, someone shouted something, his tone hurried and anxious. Captain Chavez in the first Jeep turned and gave additional orders; the jeeps started up again, and started to turn around. "What's going on?"

"The Federalies have set a trap up a head, so we're going back to our camp," the man with Roy explained. "I guess you won't be getting to Nevo tonight after all," the medium built Latino explained with a chuckle.

"What's in Nevo, I thought we were to go to Mexico City?"

The man laughed again, "You are, but its not like 'we' can drive you there. There is a Mission in Nevo and they will take you to the city," he clarified. "But now you'll have to wait as it’s not safe," he shrugged.

"How long," Roy asked, needing to know, for he really wanted to get home, not that he didn't like having Johnny all to himself, in a way, the idea of facing Joann and his kids after all this time was not pleasing to think about. He loved his kids and would do whatever was needed for him, but he had quickly come to know that Johnny was his life. He somehow didn't think they would ever understand that, as he would be leaving their mother upon his return.

"Don’t know, can't say. Up to the Captain," the man informed him. "Might take you by boat as it would be easer and faster."

"What do you mean?"

"It's a four-five day journey by land to where you want to go," the man commented casually as they were once more on their way back the way they came at a faster speed, forcing him to hold on, where as before it had not been needed.

"Four days! And by boat?"

"Two and half, three," the man replied casually.

Roy shook his head wondering if this journey would ever end. He looked up and saw ahead of him, Johnny looking back at him, his eyes wondering, while mouthing his question of what was happening. Roy mouthed as best he could he'd explain later. Then he gave an okay sign and a look to reassure his lover, for there was no way Johnny could hear him over the noise. In the meantime they both would just have to wait and see what would happen.

******

"What's going on," Johnny asked his lover as he was shoved into a hut like building in what looked like a long term makeshift camp.

Once the door was closed, Roy gathered his lover in his arms, as they were alone in the hut, a single cot in the corner and little else. "Didn't anyone explain it to you," he asked, wondering if Johnny had waited in the dark for the last two hours as they drove here.

"I didn't exactly get the 'talkative group'," he quipped, tired and a bit scared, glad to be in Roy's arms.

"Well, from what I can make out. The Mexican Government or military have set up a trap to catch the rebels along the path we were to take. It's a couple of hours journey to some place called Nevo, where there is a Mission and the people there will take us to the city," Roy explained. "From there it may be four or five days."

"So how long are we stuck here now," Johnny whined softly, for like Roy he wanted to go home. He also didn't like this bunch one bit. "I don't trust that Captain."

"I don't either, but there is nothing we can do but hope the debt he owes Argentine counts for something," Roy replied, hoping to reassure his lover. "Besides, one of the men said it would be faster by boat, but their original plans didn't take them to the river, now we're closer," Roy added hoping to soothe his lover some more.

At the sound of a lock being open on the door, Johnny stepped away from Roy, again trying to keep the nature of their relationship tomselmselves. As light streamed in the door, the figure of a woman appeared…holding a machine gun. "I'm told you are healers," she growled.

"Were not doctors," Johnny replied quickly. "We just know some advance first aid," he told her, giving the same explanation Roy had given earlier as it was their solution to the matter of what a paramedic was. "We work 'with' doctors, but we're not one."

"But you know how to treat the sick, yes," she growled, her desperation blazing in her dark eyes.

"To a degree, yes," Roy replied, taking a protective step in front of his partner.

"Then you will come with me," she informed them.

"Look, we're…" Roy wanted to say again, not doctors but didn't get the chance.

"That wasn't a request," she snarled.

Not seeing any choice, Roy and Johnny took their backpacks and followed the woman across the worn and weary camp far to the other side to an actual building that looked like a broken down church. Once inside she led them to the back where there was a small bed and in it was what appeared to be a very sick little girl. "She had a fever last night and now I can't wake her," the woman told them, as she gestured to the other two women who were tending the little girl aside. "You 'will' help her," she growled.

"Look, again, we're not doctors, and we don't have any equipment," Johnny snapped back, having been in this situation before.
he whe woman with the gun gave orders to the effect of get the doctor's stuff, and soon a large medical bag and two large boxes of supplies were brought in; they even had medicine within it. Johnny and Roy searched out the equipment, much they recognized and knew how to use, but again…they were limited. Johnny grabbed the BP cuff and the scope and grabbed a chair and started running vitals on the little girl.

"How old is she," Roy asked, seeing if he could help figure out what was going on.

"She's eight," the woman replied, her eyes focused on what Johnny was doing; Roy knew then that this was either the mother or a relative.

"Did she make any other complaints before getting the fever," he asked, hoping to dig up something.

"She said something about her stomach or side hurting," the woman replied, appearing distressed.

Johnny shared the vitals with Roy. "You said she complained of pain in the stomach or side, could you be a bit more specific," he inquired. Seeing the woman shake her head no, he lowered the blanket and gently palpitated the area and when he got to the lower right side the girl weredered.


"What are you doing," the woman growled, pointing the gun at Johnny's head.

"Hey, you asked us to take a look and figure out what's wrong," Roy snarled at her, moving to get in between the woman and the bed thus protecting Johnny. "He's checking to see if there was any tenderness and there was that's all. It's probably her appendix, she'll need a doctor."

"He's over two and half days away," the woman replied, her fear and concern full in her voice. "You will help her," she demanded, pointing the gun at Roy.

"If you keep pointing that thingus, us, what little we can do we won't," Roy replied; his own hackles up. "And 'again' we're not doctors. We may know what this stuff is, but without a doctor's direction, there is 'nothing' we can do."

The woman lowered the gun and turned, giving a soft sob, "Father, what kind of healers have you given my Teresa," she asked the air. She then turned to them, the desperation of a mother filled her being, "The doctor said he couldn't be here until day after tomorrow…please, you must do something?"

Roy didn’t know what to say, as he understood her grief, but again, they were limited. Johnny came to stand next to him, "You 'spoke' with the doctor," he asked, having keyed on to a vital bit of information.

"Yes, we have a radio," she nodded.

"If we can talk to him, explain to him what we…do, we might be able to stabilize her," Johnny offered.

"If it's her appendix it might not be enough," Roy explained to Johnny, so he also didn't get his hopes up too much.

"But it'll be more than we can do now," Johnny retorted his eyes beaming with hope and a similar desperation to help. "If you can, we need you to either set the radio up here with us or we have to move her and this," he gestured to the medical supplies to it.

The woman gave orders te woe woman who dashed out the door. "The radio will be here soon, but be warned the signal is weak at times, especiall he he is already traveling the river."

"Well, we can't do much without him, so we'll do our best," Roy replied, and moved to help Johnny treat the little girl for shock and fever as best they could while they waited.

*********

Doctor Thomas was very forth coming once it was explained to him in great detail as to the skills he and Johnny hbut but once he was convinced they could help, he listened to what the men had to report and ordered an IV and basic intervention. "Note, if her fever rises any higher, you might have to operate."

"Doc, again, we're paramedics, not doctors," Roy explained.

"I got that, Roy. But you're the only chance that little girl has, it already sounds as if the appendix is ready to burst from what you've told me. I truly doubt she'll last until I get there."

Johnny saw the fear grip Maria, the little girl's mother at the comment the doctor made. He stared at the little girl and her mother, then Roy, his mind taking in everything and then with a decision made moved and took the radio from Roy. "You think you can talk us through it?" he asked. "J "Johnny, are you insane," Roy gasped.

"I'm sure I can," the doctor replied.

"Roy, that little girl will die if we do nothing. At least this way she'll have a chance…but I can't do it alone," he said, his eyes begging for Roy's help.

Roy saw the desperation in his love's eye and knew he would. "Doc, you'll need to give a list of what we need to be sure we have it all first. Then I want you to take some time to right out all the steps so none are forgotten; remember, neither of us have done anything like this, but…we're willing."

"Terrific," the Dr. Thomas replied the sound of relief in his voice as well.

"Thank you," Maria whispered to Johnny as Roy took down the list of needed equipment.

Johnny looked at her seriously, "don't thank me yet, for as you've been told, we've never done this before; she could still die."

"But she has more of a chance with you than without, and for 'that', I thank you," she replied, tears rolling down her dusty cheek.

*****

It took some time to set up the 'surgical' room, for rooms were limited and it wouldn't exactly be sterile, but they did the best they could with the help of the others to clean it up. Then lighting was a problem, as they would need a great deal of it and it was getting late. Mirrors and Candles were brought in; Johnny said he recalled a movie with Mickey Rooney in which they used the technique…it seemed to be working now.

Roy was not sure how it was decided, but he would work the chloroform and track vitals and Johnny would do the actual cutting. Roy was nervous as hell and saw that Johnny was too, but he believed as always, his love's determination would aid him in overcoming that when the time was called for.

Soon, thanks to the heavily stocked supplies, all were washed, ready and gowned up, though there were no rubber gloves, so Johnny used soap and rubbing alcohol to sterilize his hands and the equipment. Doctor Thohad had talked Johnny generally through the operation briefly, giving him some idea of what to expect, and it appeared it might be a good thing as the radio was fading in and out.

Johnny looked at Roy and once more made sure everything was laid out the way he wastructructed and the women helping him understood what he would need when asked for. Then he looked at Roy once more, his eyes seeking his partner's strength and assurance. He smiled seeing Roy's love and confidence in him, shine back in his beautiful eyes. He took a deep breath, "Let's get started."

Roy administered the chloroform over the padded mask that covered the little girl’s nose and mouth, which he would have to switch over to an oxygen mask, as they didn't have what was needed to intubate her. They had bare minimum, and would make do. Roy's job was to keep a close eye on her vitals to be sure she was under well enough for the operation but not too far as for the chloroform to kill her; it was going to be tricky. After a few large drops, he pumped up the cuff and monitored her blood pressure and pulse. After a few minutes he gave a tiny bit more and redid the vitals, then nodded, "Okay," he said, indicating it was time.

Johnny took the scalpel in his hand and looked at the now open sheet box. They had made a sheet wall between the girl's face and the rest, not only for her should she wake, but so Johnny didn't keep staring at her; he needed to focus on that onech tch that held his objective. He had inked the place where he was to cut; now it was time to do it. As it was the first day back when he was first allowed to practice being a paramedic and 'he' was in charge, the first day someone's life truly rested in his hands, a transformation overcame him; he went from being the lighthearted humorous boy, he was accused of being into a competent professional; that feeling once more filled him as he knew his purpose and made the cut. "I've made the first cut," he called out, so Doctor Thomas knew what was happening.

Slowly the operation proceeded, with Roy adding tiny drops of chloroform, then monitoring her vitals, which thankfully were staying strong, then giving oxygen, and keeping an eye on his lover who was proceeding well, as far as he could see. It didn't help that the radio was still fading in and out and they would have to wait a moment or two before continuing to be sure all was well. "Okay, I think this is it," Johnny called out, having made his way to the appendix.

"Okay, now, you have to clamp above and bel…" Doctor Thomas started to say when the radio signal was lost, but this time there was also no static.

Johnny looked up at the young man who was operating it. "Get him back," he ordered.

After some effort the young man looked horrified as he spoke, and Maria, who was nearby, blanched. "He said the batteries are dead," she explained.

Johnny went pale, and then looked at Roy wondering what to do. "He went over it with you, can you recall what he said to do," Roy asked, for they were pretty far along and neither thought turning back would be a good idea.

"I…I can try," Johnny nodded, swallowing his fear and looked at the open area. "More light," he ordered and one of the women assisting brought over a lantern with a mirror to reflect the light into the open area. He stared at it a long moment, saying a silent prayer for guidance from his ancestors and anyone else who might be listening; //Just please, don't let me kill her,// he prayed once more and ordered for the claps that he would place above and below the area 'hop'hoped' was the appendix. It didn't look at all as what was described, yet he was told it might not if it was infected and ready to burst…he thought this might be the case.

Once more slowly he did what he could, trying to recall what he could remember and using his own judgment of what appeared to be best. Once he was ready, he cut out the segment in question and placed it in a tray and went back in to clean the area and make the needed connections; again unsure, but following his gut. Once it was done, he started to return things into their proper order, sewing up the cut muscles with the dissolvable thread that would dissolve in the body naturally and then he closed, using tiny stitches; he recalled Kelly Bracket telling him the smaller the stitch, the less likely of scaring, so he went as small as he could…it was done. Now all they could do was administer the antibiotics, pray and wait.

Roy helped make Teresa comfortable, on the table; she would not be moved and went to his partner and moved him along to wash up, Johnny's hands drenched in blood. "You did your best, that's more than she had before, just remember that," he whispered, not sure if Johnny heard him or not as he kept staring at the sleeping girl.

"How long," Johnny finally asked, looking back at Roy for a moment, his eyes showing his fear and concern.

"How long for what," Roy asked, wondering if he meant how long for the doctor to arrive or their getting home.

"How long before we know if I killed her or not," Johnny whispered, his eyes moist with unshed tears.

"Junior," Roy whispered, wishing everyone would leave so he could hug and just love his partner, then thought //hell with it,// and hugged him anyway, he needed it. "Have faith," he whispered, not sure what else to say. He knew that even if the operation didn't go well, the little girl would die without it, so either way Johnny would not be responsible, but he knew his love would never see it that way. Argentine was right, his heart was too big at time, but he would never want to see that changed. He then helped finish get Johnny get changed out of the blood covered gown. "Hungry," he asked.

"Not really," Johnny said, moving to grab a chair and sat with Teresa, Maria on the other side.

Roy saw two people he would have to care for at present, but one was and would always be his priority. He moved to one of the women and asked for food and drink. He would go with her and get some for himself, Maria and Johnny. He would probably have to bully them to eat, but he would look out for them, as everyone waited. He no longer feared that Maria would shoot them, but the lose would be devastating to his young lover and after so much he was concerned that Johnny might not be able to take it. He stepped from the broken church, blinking at the rising sun; they had worked late to get things ready and the rest of the night in the operation. He said a prayer as he saw the first light bathe the church that all would be well, and then moved off to gather the food.

*****
"I think we know where they are," Ray stated as he entered a small office in some back water town.

The young blond from the plane had his feet kicked up, smoking a cigarette; "Inform those two idiots that if they screw this one up, there 'won't' be another chance."

"Alex, you sure this is a good idea. The likelihood is that it got lost at sea…"

"They're alive and I saw that little fuck grab it, so until I search his bloody carcass and don't find it, it's necessary. Have you forgotten just how much is at stake? That 'key' literally will unlock the door to untold riches…Millions and I as 'hell' won't give up if there is the 'slightest' possibility that that fucker still has it."

"Fine, but as I'm sure you already know, it'll cost and we don't have enough reserves at present to get both. It'll take several more days to pawn off the diamondr a r a decent price…so unless you want to wait…"

Alex flops forward, his feet stomping the ground. "Get me that dark haired mother fucker; he grabbed it. If he doesn't have it, then we'll get the blond. Now, make the deal…now!"

****End of Part Eleven****