Possession
by Stephanie White

Roy leaned back in his recliner and reached for the remote control. As he looked for a good game on the TV he reflected that while he was enjoying the solitude now, in a couple of days he would really begin to miss Joanne and the kids. Of course, he could have gone with them to see her mother. But then again, that would have meant two weeks with his mother-in-law. The loneliness was preferable. He was startled out of his reverie when the telephone rang. Reluctantly, he pulled himself out of the recliner and went to answer it.

“Hello?”

“Hey Roy! What are you doing?”

“Oh, hi Johnny. Not much. Enjoying a day off without a 'honey-do' list. Watching the Lakers game. How 'bout you?”

“I did have a date to go sailing with that new nurse in pediatrics. But the arrangement with the boat fell through and…well…so did her enthusiasm.”

Roy smiled. Johnny's record for getting dumped remained intact.

“Why don't you come over here? Joanne and the kids went to her mom's and I've got the house to myself. We'll watch a game or two and relax.”

“I've got a better idea. The fire department is looking for volunteers to help restore this old house. They're going to use it as a halfway house or something. I figured since I didn't have anything to do I'd volunteer. What do you say? I said we'd be there in an hour.”

“We?” asked Roy. “You volunteered me too?”

“We're partners, Roy! I just figured it'd be something fun to do together. We haven't done anything interesting lately. We can watch a game anytime.”

Roy just shook his head. “Okay, but you're driving. Come pick me up.”

Roy could almost hear the crooked grin. “I'll be there in 20 minutes!”

The house resembled something seen in old horror movies. It was big and creepy and falling down. In its original glory, it probably resembled a small castle. Now it was just sad.

Roy looked at the house and shuddered. He couldn't put his finger on why it felt so odd. He mentally shrugged and put it down to one too many horror films that Chet had made him watch.

Johnny didn't seem to have any qualms. In fact, it was just the opposite. He couldn't wait to get inside and get to work.

“This house is gonna be great when it's finished. Don't you think, Roy? I mean it's got so much personality already. I think a house needs a personality. You know, something of the person that lives there. I mean, I know we're not going to live here. But that doesn't mean we can't leave something of ourselves.”

Roy wasn't listening to his partner's rambling. He was looking up at a window on the second floor. For a second, he was convinced there was someone standing there. Captain Stanley called a greeting to the two men. Momentarily distracted, Roy looked away from the window. When he looked back, there was no one there.

Turning back to Captain Stanley, Roy waved. “Hey Cap, where do you want us to start - inside or out?

Stanley turned and said, “It'll have to be outside. The lawyer for the owner of the house isn't here with the key yet.”

Roy got a sinking feeling in his stomach. “You mean there's no one inside the house yet?”

“Nope. Hasn't been for nearly 70 years. As I understand the story, this house once belonged to a fireman who died in a fire when he went back in to save another fireman. The house has been empty ever since. The current owner of the house asked the fire department to help fix this house up before he donated it to the county. He felt it was something we could do for the previous resident. Kind of a sentimental thing, I guess. Anyway, grab a sander and start with the front porch.”

Roy and Johnny worked all morning on sanding the old paint from ornate wooden porch. Roy couldn't shake the feeling he was being watched.

'Hey Johnny, do you have the feeling someone's watching us?' Roy was using his voodoo-given power to transmit his thoughts to Johnny. He wasn't ready to voice his fears out loud.

'Nah. Old houses always give people that feeling. Especially when Chet makes them watch a Vincent Price movie marathon on TV.'

'You're probably right. Although, when we first arrived, I was sure I saw someone in an upstairs window.'

'You heard Cap. No one's been in this house for 70 years. Now stop being paranoid and hand me another sheet of sandpaper.'

The lawyer for the home's owner arrived shortly before lunch. He gave Captain Stanley the key and beat a hasty retreat. Roy found the man's quick escape unnerving. It seemed to give credence to the theory that he was rapidly forming: The house was haunted.

Chet, Marco, Dwyer, Bellingham and Brice made their way into the house. Roy could hear their whistles of astonishment.

“Hey Roy, Johnny!” called Chet. “You guys have got to see this place! Can't imagine how a fireman could afford all this.”

Johnny looked at Roy. Roy really didn't want to go into the house and Johnny could tell.

'I'll check it out and give you the all clear, okay Pally?'

'Thanks.' Roy blushed a little - embarrassed at being scared of walking through a doorway.

A minute later, he heard Johnny's voice in his head. 'It's dusty and everything is covered in sheets, but there ain't any ghosts here. Come on in.'

Roy took a deep breath and walked into the house. The feeling that he was being watched came back with a vengeance. None of the other guys seemed to feel it. It was as though he were being targeted for some reason. Suddenly, he felt a chill and there was a voice inside his head, calling his name. It wasn't Johnny's voice. Roy began moving toward the stairs, incapable of stopping himself.

“Roy?” called Johnny. He had seen Roy walk into the house, but fascinated by the history in the room, quickly lost track of him. “Hey Charlie, you seen Roy?”

Dwyer looked around. “He was here a minute ago. Maybe he went to find Chet and Marco. I think they headed back towards the kitchen.”

Roy reached the top of the stairs and walked down the dark hallway. He almost felt like he was floating, not walking at all. It was as if he was a puppet and someone else was pulling the strings. When he got to the master bedroom, he hesitated. The puppeteer gave the strings a yank and he stepped into the room. The bedroom was very cold, dark and ornately furnished. In the center of the room was a large bed with a carved cherry-wood headboard. There was a matching chest of drawers, armoire, desk and night table placed tastefully around the room. There was a full-length mirror next to the armoire. It was in a wooden frame on a carved wooden stand. Roy couldn't help thinking that Chet had a point. How could a fireman afford all of this?

The word inheritance floated through his head. Roy turned to find the source of the voice. There was no one there. Roy started to back out of the room when the unseen force exerted itself again. He was pulled further into the room until he was facing himself in the mirror. As he stared into the mirror, his reflection began to swim and a fog seemed to fill the glass. Suddenly, he was no longer looking at himself. Standing in the mirror was a tall, handsome man with dark hair, a mustache and piercing green eyes. He was dressed out of another decade…one long past.

Roy was terrified. "Who...who are you?" he stammered.

The man in the mirror just smiled. The words 'I need you' floated into Roy's mind. Roy took an involuntary step back. The man moved forward in the mirror - reaching out towards Roy. Roy felt something cold and dead seep into his mind. He did the only thing he could do.... he screamed.

Johnny was painting the kitchen with Marco and Chet when he heard Roy scream inside his mind. He put his hands over his ears and looked over at his companions. Neither of them seemed to have heard anything.

"Hey, did you guys hear that?" he asked, already guessing the answer.

Marco shook his head.

Chet looked up, "You hearing things, Gage? You probably just heard the house settling or something."

Johnny opened his mouth to protest when suddenly, from upstairs, there was a blood-curdling scream.

"That's Roy!" yelled Johnny as he took off up the stairs. Chet and Marco as well as Dwyer, Brice, and Captain Stanley followed the frightened paramedic.

When they reached the top of the stairs, Roy was walking out of the bedroom. He looked calm and collected...as though nothing had happened.

“Roy!” Johnny panted as he ran over to his friend. “We heard you scream. Are you okay?”

Roy wouldn't meet his eyes. “I'm fine John. I just thought I saw something. It wasn't anything special.”

Inside his mind, Johnny heard a very weak voice, 'Help me, Johnny! Please! Get him out!'

'Get who out? Roy? What's wrong?'

'He's got me! I don't know what…' Roy's voice trailed off as he finally looked at Johnny. Johnny gasped and took a step backwards.

Roy's eyes were no longer blue, but a very deep green.

“Roy? Hey Pal, you sure you're okay?” asked Captain Stanley. “You really had us worried.”

“I'm fine, although I do feel a headache coming on. John, would you mind taking me home?”

“Uh, hey Roy? Why do you keep calling him John?” asked Chet. “Isn't that a little formal?”

Roy lowered his eyes again. “It is his name, isn't it?”

“You always call me Johnny, right Pally?” said Johnny, putting extra emphasis on the last word as he glared at Roy.

“Right…Johnny.” Said Roy hesitantly. “So, would you take me home?”

Johnny stepped up close to Roy and whispered harshly in his ear, “I thought you were home.”

Roy whispered back, “Not until I'm through with him.”

Roy entered his home and looked around. “Not bad. Not bad at all. What's this thing?”

Johnny followed, watching him like a hawk. “It's called a television set.”

“What's it for?”

“Entertainment. What are you doing?”

“I'm sitting in a chair. What does it look like?”

“That's not what I meant. Who are you and what have you done to Roy?”

“This is a nice chair. What does this handle do?” He pulled the handle and the chair reclined. “Even nicer.”

Johnny was still glaring at him. “Come on, Green-eyes. What have you done to him?”

“My name is not Green-eyes. I'll thank you not to address me like that. My name is Edward Halliwell. Well, it was… when I was alive.”

“When you were alive? You're a ghost?”

“That's generally what dead people who come back are called. Yes, I am. It was very nice of you guys to fix up my house, by the way. I was starting to think it would fall down pretty soon.”

“You're the firefighter who was killed 70 years ago?”

“68 ½. But who's counting?”

“That still doesn't answer my question about what you're doing to my friend.”

“I'm not doing anything to him. He's still here. I think he's fainted, though. I guess I did scare him a little.”

“A little? He was terrified! What gives you the right to possess him like this?”

“Look, I don't have a choice here. Okay? I have something I need to finish. At least that's what they are telling me.” He gestured heavenward. “I needed a firefighter to do it. He seemed like a good candidate - especially with his psychic ability. How'd you guys learn to communicate like that, anyway?”

Johnny shrugged, “I was turned into a dog by a voodoo witch. Another voodoo guy gave Roy and me the power to talk using our thoughts until I could speak English again. When I was human again, we could still do it.”

“ Sorry I asked. If you didn't want to tell me, you could have told me to mind my own business instead of making up a story like that.”

“You're a ghost - inhabiting the body of my best friend - after haunting a house for 70…sorry, 68 ½ years and you don't believe me? I believe you.”

“It's true, huh? Interesting. Anyway, you've got to help me. Now that I've fixed on Roy, I can't get out until I do whatever I'm supposed to do.”

“Whatever it is, you've got 2 weeks to figure it out.”

“Why 2 weeks?”

“That's when his wife and kids come back from visiting his mother-in-law's. They won't take too kindly to you. They like Roy the way he is.” Johnny glared at him again. “And so do I.”

“He's married? He didn't say anything about it to me. Okay, he didn't say much of anything to me. Understandable, I guess. I suppose I should have found a gentler way of asking.”

“Understatement of the year,” said Johnny sarcastically.

“Look, truce, okay? I'm here and I can't leave until I finish what I have to do. Problem is, I don't know what that is. Will you help me? It's the only way for me to leave Roy and go home.”

“Can I talk to Roy about this?”

“I'm not sure he's awake yet, but okay.” The body of Roy took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He seemed to convulse for a second and then went limp.

Johnny was leaning over his friend as he started to stir. Roy moaned and put a hand up to his head. He opened his eyes to find a very worried John Gage standing over him. The worry in Johnny's face changed to relief as Roy's blue eyes stared up at him.

“Johnny? What happened? How did I get home? Was it a dream?” He stopped as realization dawned. “He's still here, isn't he? I can still feel him. What's going on? Help me, Johnny – please?”

“Okay, Pally. I'm trying. I talked to him. It's that firefighter that was killed 70 years ago…sorry 68 ½ years ago. He says he needs a firefighter to help him do whatever it is he needs to do in order to move on. Problem is, he doesn't know what that is. I think he's okay. I don't know how to get rid of him any other way.”

“It's odd. I hear you, but I can also hear him. It doesn't hurt anymore. I guess if it's the only way, we'll have to help him. I just hope we can do it before Joanne comes home.”

“Me too. Think I could talk to him again? We have some things to work out.”

Roy nodded and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they were green.

“I know you want to talk and all, but do you think we could talk in a restaurant? You have no idea how long it's been since I've eaten.”

“I can guess,” said Johnny dryly. “Yeah, whatever. It's about dinnertime anyway. Let's go.”

Johnny picked a restaurant as far away from station 51 as he could. It was a Saturday night and he didn't want to risk having anyone they knew running into Edward. Edward was practically dancing with excitement at the thought of actually eating again after 70…sorry, 68 ½ years. When they were seated, Edward looked at the menu hungrily. Everything looked so good!

Johnny seemed to see the greed on his face. “Relax, would you? If you order everything on the menu – and I can see that you're tempted – you're gonna make Roy sick. Neither of us will like that. Just pick something…how about that combo platter? It's got a lot of different stuff on it and it's only one dinner.”

“Does Roy drink? I would love a drink, but if he's got no tolerance…well…I don't like getting too drunk.”

“He can hold his liquor – within reason of course. I'm driving anyway. If you want a drink, he can handle it.”

The waitress came back to take their orders and Edward flirted shamelessly with her. Johnny started to say something and then realized it would probably do no real good. He hadn't seen a woman in an awfully long time. Johnny just sighed and watched, looking for pointers – the man's technique was pretty good.

Finally, the drinks arrived and Johnny turned to Edward. “Okay, I've got all night. What's the story?”

Edward took a deep breath and began talking.

April 21, 1907 –

“The day started out normally. We were just sitting around the station house. We had already checked the pump and taken care of the horses. There was really nothing to do but sit and play cards. I still remember, there was Captain Howard, Peter Holmes, Bert Parker, Andrew McCoy, and me. Andy and I were best friends. I was going to be the best man in his wedding in two more weeks. Our relationship was a lot like yours is with Roy. I think that's part of why I picked him.

Anyway, we were just sitting around playing cards when a boy came running into the station.

“You gotta help me! My apartment is burning! My mom couldn't get out! She told me to run for help!”

In those days, there were no fire codes and building specifications for things like firewalls or anything like that. If a building went up, it usually burned until there was very little left. We weren't nearly as efficient as the fire department is now. All we could really do is try to get people out and stop the fire before it took the neighborhood with it. Apartment fires were always the worst. They always had the highest casualty rate. In fact, I knew it was a pretty safe bet that the kid's mom was dead. The walls were usually plaster and wood. You know how well that burns.

We got into our gear while Pete hooked up the team. I grabbed the kid and sat him with me on the pump wagon. It probably wasn't a good idea to take him back to his mother's deathtrap but we couldn't leave him at the station alone, either. Actually, it was a damned stupid idea to take him back. That's what started this whole thing.”

Edward stopped talking as the waitress brought their food. He grabbed his fork and dug in like a starving man. People at neighboring tables looked on with mild disgust at the table manners.

“Roy…I mean, Edward, slow down, would you! I know it's been forever since you've eaten, but you're going to make yourself and Roy sick. I doubt you'll do what you need to do in the next ten minutes, so I think you can slow down.”

Edward looked up with a slightly guilty smile on his face. To Johnny, he looked like a child caught with his Easter candy – the night before Easter.

“Sorry. I forgot. I'll behave. It feels like a dream. I want to experience as much as I can while I'm here. Food is just one thing. Maybe I'll stay until his wife comes home! Ow!” He winced. “Okay, Roy. I get the picture. No wife.”

Johnny grinned. “Nice to see you have some control in there, Roy!”

For a minute, Roy's eyes were blue. He grinned and winked at Johnny. Then his eyes were green again. Edward just shrugged and turned his attention back to his meal.

“So what happened next?” asked Johnny.

“The building was fully involved when we got there. There was another fire company there already. They weren't having much luck. They managed to get a lot of the people out but there was still a lot more trapped. As soon as we pulled up, Bert, Andy and I started getting the ladders and hoses in position while the Captain and Pete manned the pump. All of us had forgotten the little boy.

Andy and I each had a hose and Bert was helping people out of the building. He would climb in the windows and come out with someone or other on his shoulder. If the person was still conscious, they had a good shot at survival. We didn't have…what do you call them? …paramedics back then. We did our best, but it usually wasn't good enough. We'd get them out, make sure they were breathing and leave them to go rescue others. It was all we were trained to do.

Anyway, we were fighting a losing battle. The building was involved all the way through. Suddenly, that damned kid goes running into the building screaming for his mother. I made a grab for him as he ran past, but with the water pressure in the hose, my move base was pretty limited. Needless to say, I missed. Andy saw the kid go in. Next thing I know, he's dropped his hose and run in after this kid. I tried to move my hose into position to give him some cover. Bert came running over to take the dropped hose. Someone from the other company took over his place in the rescue chain. I could still see Andy in the building, he was moving as fast as he could, but there just wasn't enough time. I yelled to him to forget the kid and get out.

“I can see him! I can get to him! Just one more minute! I can get to him!” He yelled back and ran out of my sight.

I could see the ceiling was about to go and knew he didn't have that one more minute. I pulled the hose in with me. I figured if I could douse the flames inside enough, it might give us the time we needed to get out. I've never been to hell, but I think I know what it's like. The heat was incredible. You know…I'm sure you've gone into fires before. I could hear the ceiling groaning and knew I had maybe 30 seconds to find Andy, the kid and get out. I'm ashamed to say that Andy took priority over the kid as far as I was concerned. I mean, we had been best friends for more than 10 years. We became firefighters together and had pulled each other out of quite a few tight spots in the past.

Suddenly, I saw him. He had the kid and was passing him out a window to a firefighter outside. Just as he was about to go out the window himself, the ceiling collapsed in front of him. I yelled at him and he began moving towards me. We were 20 feet from the door when our luck ran out. I heard the ceiling groan again and as I looked up, I saw my life flash before my eyes. It really does happen, you know. Next thing I know, I'm being tackled to the ground. Andy had pushed me out of the way of the collapsing ceiling. Unfortunately, he had become trapped himself.

All logical thought fled at that instant. I dropped the hose and ran over to him. I still remember…he smiled up at me. He was in an incredible amount of pain, but he still smiled. I think he knew it was almost over. I just wouldn't see that. All I could see was my best friend lying under a fallen ceiling and all I knew was that I had to get him out.

“Just get out of here! It's all over for me. Get out while you still can!” he said to me.

“Not while you're trapped under here. What am I supposed to tell Margaret if you don't make it? We're both getting out of here.”

“Just tell her I love her. Make sure she's taken care of until she finds someone else to love.”

“No more of that talk. I promise I'll get us both out of here and you can tell her yourself.”

I learned that day not to make promises I couldn't keep.

I was trying to find something to pry the beams off of Andy when I heard the ceiling groan again. I remember turning around to see the rest of the ceiling bury Andy once and for all. At that moment, I froze. All I could think about was that I just watched my best friend die…after I promised him that he wouldn't.

Finally, I came to my senses and ran for the door. I almost made it, too. I was maybe 5 feet from the door when the rest of the building decided it would like to be on the ground floor. I remember a minute of the worst pain I had ever experienced. Then the world went black and the next thing I knew, I was a ghost in my own home.”

Edward downed the rest of his drink in one quick swallow and motioned to the waitress for another one. Johnny was sitting with his mouth open – shaken to the core by the story that he had just heard. He thought of what it must have been like to watch his best friend die. For a minute, he saw in his mind's eye Roy lying under the beams as the building fell on him. He shuddered and pushed the image as far from his mind as he could get it.

“Wow!” was all Johnny could say.

“I know. It still hurts to think about it. I promised him I'd get him out! It should have been me under that ceiling! He had his whole life to look forward to – a wonderful woman that he should have married and had ten children with and I was just a single guy living in an inherited house with no family to mourn my passing.”

Johnny chuckled grimly, “You sound just like Roy. He's always blaming himself for things that aren't his fault. He always comes up with ways he could have done something differently, even though there's no way it could have been done.”

“I guess I made a good choice then. I'll be able to pass myself off as Roy with no problem.”

“Wait a minute! You can't try to pass yourself off as Roy! The guys at the station would notice within the first ten minutes! For one thing, your eyes are the wrong color. You can't live with 5 guys 3 days a week and not have them know what color your eyes are supposed to be. Besides, you don't know the first thing about being a paramedic.”

“Okay, how about this, I'll let Roy out at the station. Off duty, though, I'd like to stay in control. It's been so long since I've been alive. I'd like to have some fun before I go back. Okay?”

“Take that up with Roy. He's the one you're sharing with, not me.”

“Fair enough. What's for dessert?”

The next day at the station, Johnny was one of the first ones in…much to the surprise of C-shift. He wanted to talk to Roy before the shift started. After changing clothes, he went into the day room and poured himself some coffee. Gradually, the rest of A-shift filtered in. Roy was the last one to arrive. As he went to the locker room to get changed, Johnny ran in to talk to his partner.

“Roy?” he asked tentatively. He gave a sigh of relief as Roy's baby blues looked at him. “It is you! I was worried he wasn't gonna want to let go.”

Roy just chuckled. “He set the rule himself. He wasn't going to break it. It is weird, though. Last night, he wouldn't even let go for bed. Says he really missed sleep. Apparently, ghosts don't sleep. You wouldn't believe the dreams I was having!”

“Bizarre, huh?”

“It was awful. It was like I was reliving his last day, but instead of you as my partner, I saw this other guy. I guess it must have been Andy. When the ceiling came down though, Andy suddenly became you and I woke up screaming. I hope it isn't going to be like that every night. I'll never sleep again!”

“I know the feeling. As he was telling me the story, I could almost see it. It was never Andy, though – always you. I never want that vision to come true and I can't imagine him living through it.”

“He didn't.”

“Yeah, he did. Andy went first.”

Roy stopped and thought about that remark. Then he heard Captain Stanley calling the men in for roll call. He mentally shook himself and went out to stand in line.

“Roy, I hope you're feeling better today, Pal?” asked Captain Stanley.

For a brief moment, Roy's eyes shifted, “Better than ever. Glad to be alive!” Johnny shot him a warning glance.

“Glad to hear that. It's your day to cook. Marco – floors, Johnny – dorms, Roy – check the squad, Mike - check the hoses and Chet, for that misaimed water bomb last shift – latrine.”

“Aw, Cap! I said I was sorry!”

“And I said, latrine duty!”

Roy/Edward snickered. Cap looked at him, “Would you like to help Chet, Roy?”

“Er, no. Sorry, Cap.”

The shift passed relatively uneventfully. The squad went on several minor runs and one or two small fires. Edward was smart enough to stay hidden for the most part…except for his first trip to Rampart and his first encounter with Dixie.

“Hey fellas, how's my favorite paramedic team today?”

Johnny grinned, “Just great, Dixie! We need some supplies.”

“Sure thing, let's see your list.” She studied the list and then handed it to a nurse to fill. Then she turned back to Roy and Johnny. “I understand you guys were fixing up a house for charity over the weekend. How'd it go?”

“It was…” Johnny paused, unsure of what to say. “an experience.”

“Really? What happened? Was the house haunted or something?”

Roy looked up with a mischievous smile. “As a matter of fact it was haunted, Dixie!”

Suddenly, Roy's eyes were green. Dixie stepped back as she saw the change.

“Dixie? What a beautiful name for a beautiful woman. How is it a woman like yourself has no husband to care for?”

“Uh, Roy? What's wrong? Are you feeling all right? Johnny? What's going on?”

“It's nothing, Dix. Don't worry about it.” Johnny said with an apologetic smile. To Roy he whispered, “Edward! Let Roy out now!”

Roy's eyes were blue again. “Sorry about that. Dix? Are you okay? You look a little pale.”

Dixie saw the change again and said, “I'm…uh…fine guys. I think I just need a break. If anyone needs me, I'll be in the lounge. Tell Cathy when she comes back with your supplies, okay?”

Johnny grinned, hoping to put the worried nurse at ease. “Sure thing, Dix. Go have a cup of coffee and relax. You're just tired.”

As the very confused nurse walked away, Johnny turned to Roy. “Don't you have any control over him? You nearly gave Dixie a heart attack!”

“Sorry Johnny. Sometimes he just jumps out before I know what he's going to do. I thought he'd have more sense than that.”

Suddenly, Johnny was aware of a strange voice inside his head. 'I'm sorry, John. Dixie is a beautiful woman. I guess I got a little carried away. After all, it's been…'

'I know, I know…70…sorry, 68 ½ years since you've seen a woman. Fine. Just don't hit on my friends. They all know Roy's married. Okay?'

Roy's eyes were green for a second as he nodded at John. Then Roy was back and they headed back to the squad.

The next day, Johnny called Roy at home. The phone rang 8 times before it was answered.

“Hello?”

“Is that Roy or Edward?”

“It's Roy, Johnny. Edward couldn't figure out what the telephone was. Apparently, the telephone was not widely used in 1907 – and it certainly didn't look like it does now.”

“Good point. Listen, I was gonna go camping. I wanted to see if you guys wanted to join me.”

“Johnny? It's Edward. How soon can we leave?”

“I'll pick you guys up in two hours. We'll stop for a bite to eat and then head out to this great little campsite I found a couple months ago.”

“We'll be waiting,” said Roy with a sigh.

Roy let Edward have control for most of the two-day trip. Edward had never been camping before and Johnny couldn't help chuckling at watching 'Roy' floundering with the fishing pole. Roy - who usually was the first to catch dinner - as Edward couldn't seem to catch anything except for the tree behind him every time he tried to cast his line.

Later on the first night, Edward looked at Johnny as if seeing him for the first time. “You know, you're very good out here. It's almost as if you belong. You weren't born in the woods, were you?”

Johnny chuckled, “Nope. Born on a reservation. I guess that's close, huh?”

“A reservation? You're an Indian?”

“Half.”

“Wow! I've only ever seen pictures of Indians. How come you don't have long hair and a feather?”

Johnny gaped at the man. “We're normal people – like anybody else. Besides, do you know how big a fit Cap would have if I showed up with long hair and a feather?”

“I just always heard…well, you probably have heard all the stereotypes we White Men have come up with. I hope I didn't offend you, did I?”

“Nah,” said Johnny. “I guess in 1907 there weren't too many Native Americans walking the streets of LA.”

“I never saw a one. Do you know how to use a bow and arrow?” Edward asked. Then he seemed to realize what he had just said. “Or is that a stereotype too?”

“Yep. I never learned. There were others on the reservation that were pretty good. They did it for tourists and stuff like that. You know, the whole powwow, rain dance thing. Anthropologists love that sort of thing. You know, 'hanging on to the sacred traditions of yesteryear'.”

“Did you ever do any of that?”

“Nah, half-breeds weren't allowed to show themselves at these things. Look, could we talk about something else?”

Edward seemed to sense his discomfort. He heard Roy whisper to him, 'That's a really sensitive topic for Johnny. He doesn't like to talk about his past. Try sports or something.'

“Sorry. Do you like baseball?” The men spent the rest of the evening discussing the way the game had changed over the past 70…sorry, 68 ½ years.

The next day, after some more hiking and fishing, the men headed back to LA.

After another relatively uneventful shift back at 51, Johnny called Roy at home.

“Hey Roy, it is you, isn't it? If it's Edward, let me talk to Roy. I'm at the library on Maple Street. You gotta come down and see what I found.”

“Johnny at a library? This I've got to see!”

“Funny, Pally. Real funny. Just get down here, okay?”

“I'll be there in half an hour.”

When Roy got to the library, Johnny was waiting at the entrance.

“You guys won't believe what I found! I thought I'd try to learn about our friendly neighborhood ghost. Come on!”

He led them to a microfilm machine where he had several films stacked on top of each other. He put one of them into the machine and scrolled to the proper page. It was a front-page story from the LA Times from April 22, 1907. The headline read APARTMENT FIRE CLAIMS THE LIVES OF TWO FIREMEN. Below the headline were two pictures. Roy recognized one of them as the man he saw in the mirror at the old house and the other one from his dream.

“That's Edward and Andrew.” He said. It was a statement, not a question.

“I know. It goes on to say that the fire department managed to put the fire out before it took out the neighborhood. It also talks about the kid that ran into the fire. You wanna know what really stinks? The kid's mom did manage to get out all right and was already out by the time he ran back in the building.”

Roy's eyes flashed green. “You mean Andy died for nothing? If that kid hadn't run in, we both would have lived to see…I don't believe that!”

Johnny nodded sympathetically and turned back to the machine. He adjusted the controls and another page came up. It was a continuation of the story with an interview with the kid. Edward almost pushed Johnny out of his chair in an effort to read what the kid had to say.

'Ten year old Harold Miller said, 'I couldn't find my mom. I knew she was probably in our apartment waiting for me to get back.' Witnesses said when young Miller ran into the building; one of the firemen went in after him. Another fireman went in after the first. No one was sure who entered first. One of them managed to get young Miller out of the building before he was killed.

'When the boy found that his mother had been outside all the time, he said, “I'm sorry those firemen got killed. I just wanted to find my mom.”

'Harold Miller's mother, Annabelle Miller professed extreme gratitude to the firemen who gave up their lives for her son and vowed to nominate both of them for a medal.'

Johnny pulled the film off the machine and scrabbled through the stack of films before he came across another one. He threaded the machine and there was another story. This time the headline read DECEASED FIREMEN POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED MEDAL OF HONOR. The story went on to elaborate on the ceremony and the speeches made by the mayor and fire chief. It also included a description of how Margaret Taylor, Andrew McCoy's fiancée and Jonathon Halliwell, Edward Halliwell's cousin accepted the medals on behalf of the deceased.

Edward read the story over Johnny's shoulder. “I forgot about Jonathon. I hadn't heard from him in about ten years. My dad was never really close to his brother, so I rarely got to see my cousin.”

Johnny looked at him and then back to the screen. “Is that Margaret? She was pretty, wasn't she? Poor Andrew.”

Roy was back for a moment and looked at the picture. “Hey, does she remind you of Dixie? Or am I seeing things?”

Johnny looked a little closer, “Now that you mention it, she does a little bit. That's why Edward reacted so strongly to her the other day, isn't it?”

Green eyes again. “Yes, I guess it is. You want to know the weird thing, though?” said Edward. “I didn't even place it until I saw this picture. I'd almost forgotten what she looked like. I just knew Dixie looked like a beautiful woman I once knew.”

Over the next hour, the two…er…three men looked through news clippings about the fire department in 1907 from both before and after the fire. They finally stopped when Edward, no longer able to control himself, began sobbing. Johnny turned off the machine and put his hand on Roy/Edward's shoulder.

“I'm sorry, Johnny,” he sniffed. “I'd forgotten how much I missed all those guys. I'll be okay in a minute.”

“It's okay, Pal.” Johnny said gently. “If I were in your position, I'd probably bawl my eyes out too.”

Edward took a deep breath and put his hand over Johnny's for a minute. Then he pulled himself together and stood up.

“Let's get out of here. It's almost dinnertime. What do you feel like? I could eat a horse.”

Johnny chuckled. “Okay, let's go. You like Mexican?”

The next morning, Johnny decided that Edward should be like every other tourist to California. He picked Roy/Edward up and they drove to Disneyland.

They spent the day being overgrown kids. Edward learned what a real roller coaster was like and that it wasn't a good idea to go on one immediately after lunch. He loved the giant characters walking around. He was going to have his picture taken with Mickey Mouse until Johnny reminded him that it would be a picture of Roy with the overgrown rodent and not him.

“Besides, Roy's kids would never forgive him if they knew he went to Disneyland without him.” Johnny grinned.

After a long day of riding rides and seeing shows and being awed by everything around them, they drove home. Johnny looked at his partner sleeping in the passenger seat and smiled. How can anyone go 70…sorry, 68 ½ years without sleep? He knew Edward hadn't surrendered control to Roy the whole day. He was just having too much fun.

As Johnny was getting off the exit near Roy's house, he was aware of movement beside him. He turned to say something when he realized that Roy was still asleep. From the look on his face, it wasn't a very good dream. Johnny reached across the car and touched Roy on the shoulder. Roy woke with a start, his blue eyes wide with terror.

“Johnny!” gasped Roy. Then his eyes cleared as the dream faded and reality set in. “Johnny? It was that dream again. Except this time, I only saw you – never Andy. Do me a favor will you? Don't die.”

“I don't intend to anytime soon, Pally. Look, we're almost to your house. Are you going to be okay? You wanna come crash at my place? You want me to stay with you? You look like you could use the support.”

Roy opened his mouth to protest then thought better of it. “Yeah. Thanks, Johnny. Maybe I'll sleep better if you're around…where I can keep an eye on you.”

Johnny almost responded with a smart-ass comment but suddenly realized Roy wasn't trying to be funny. “Sure, Roy. I'll stay over with you. Think Chris would mind my borrowing his room?”

“Nope. He'd love having his Uncle Johnny staying over. He'll just be sorry he missed you.”

Once Johnny was ready for bed, he went in search of Roy. He found him sitting on the sofa with a picture of Joanne and the children. He looked up with green eyes when he heard Johnny enter the room.

“Nice looking family. Roy's a lucky guy. Do you have a family like this?”

Johnny shook his head. He pointed to the picture. “You're looking at them. I've sort of been adopted by Roy's family. I ain't married. Roy and I are best friends and I love his family almost as if it were mine.”

“Don't you ever wish to find someone to settle down with? I mean, a surrogate family is nice when you've got no one else in the world, but I think every man should have a family of his own to take care of.”

“I think about it sometimes. I still like the single life, though. I guess when I meet the right girl I'll change my mind. Until then, I'm content the way things are.”

“I had your attitude,” said Edward as he replaced the photo on the mantle. “I thought I had plenty of time. I was 25. That was a little old back then, but not too bad. There was a girl that I really liked and I think she liked me. Maybe if there had been more time, I would have proposed and maybe…well, kind of a moot point now, isn't it?”

Johnny nodded solemnly. “Yeah, I guess so. So, what was she like?” asked Johnny, hoping to lighten his mood a little.

“She was beautiful. She had the most beautiful brown hair and the deepest, darkest brown eyes you have ever seen.” Edward got a faraway look in his eye as he remembered. “She was 19. She was so petite; she only came up to the middle of my chest. I would joke that I could fit her in my coat pocket. She used to get the cutest blush when I'd say things like that.”

“She sounds really great,” said Johnny. “What was her name?”

“Mildred…Millie Carrington.”

Johnny looked thoughtful, “Why does that name sound familiar? Yeah, I remember. There was a Mildred Carrington in a nursing home that caught fire a few months ago. I remember 'cause she said she always liked firemen. She talked about firemen all the way to Rampart. Said she loved one once…”

Edward looked up, “You don't suppose…?”

“She did survive that fire. She sent the department a Christmas card this year. That was just two months ago.”

“Johnny, you don't suppose we could go see her sometime?”

“Gee, Edward. I don't know if that's such a good idea. I mean, what would she say if a strange guy comes up to her and says, 'hey it's Edward! I know I've been dead 68 ½ years, but do you think we could still get it on?' I think a heart attack would be the appropriate response to that. She's about…let's see, if she was 19 in 1907 and it's been…” Johnny wrinkled his brow in concentration. “She'd be about 87 years old!”

“Come on Johnny! I'm not that stupid. I could tell her I'm your partner. She doesn't have to know I'm a ghost. I don't want to scare her to death. I just want to see her.”

“We'll see. We're on duty tomorrow. Let's go to bed. I'll see you in the morning.”

'Squad 51, man down, Heritage House Nursing Home, 1139 College Avenue, 1-1-3-9 College, cross street Livingston. Time out 11:32'

“Squad 51, KMG 365”

As they pulled out of the station, Johnny looked at Roy. “You might get your wish after all, Edward. That's where Millie is. Don't say anything now. Roy needs to drive. We'll talk after we get this guy taken care of.”

When they pulled into the driveway of the nursing home, the administrator was waiting for them. He shook his head as Roy and Johnny started to get their equipment.

“Don't bother, guys. Mr. Henderson is gone already. I don't think there really was anything you could have done for him. We've already called the appropriate people to take care of him.”

Suddenly, Roy spoke up, “Um…sir, you wouldn't happen to have a resident by the name of Mildred Carrington, would you?”

Johnny looked at his partner. Roy wasn't the one asking.

“Yes, we do. Do you know Millie?”

Johnny spoke up quickly before Edward could say something that would give him away. “Yeah, we pulled her out of that fire at the Shady Elm Rest Home. She sent us a Christmas card this year. You think maybe, while we're here, we could say hello?”

The administrator smiled, “I'm sure she'd love that. I think she's in the common room now. I'll take you back there now.”

As they walked back, Johnny picked up the handi-talkie. “Squad 51 available from Heritage House nursing home.”

'10-4, 51.'

When they got back to the common room, there were a lot of elderly people sitting around. Some were reading books. Those with steady enough hands were doing a jigsaw puzzle. A few were sitting around a television set watching a soap opera. All of them, though, were waiting for relatives to visit … relatives who had long-since forgotten them.

Johnny looked around for a minute before he spotted her. She was sitting on a window seat staring out at the garden that was tended by volunteers. She looked up when the administrator called her name. Johnny could tell that, at one time, she had been a very beautiful lady. As it was, she was still a very lovely woman.

“Millie, these firemen wanted to say hello. Are you up for company?”

The old woman looked at the two and smiled. “Of course! I'm always up for company. Especially firemen!”

“Hi, Miz Carrington.” Said Johnny with his trademarked crooked grin. “You remember me? Johnny?”

“Of course I remember you! You were that nice boy who rode in the ambulance with me and put up with my ramblings. I don't think I remember this one, though.” She looked curiously at Roy.

“Uh…this is my partner.” He checked the color of Roy's eyes. “Edward Halliwell.”

At the mention of the name, Millie got a nostalgic look on her face. “I once knew a fireman by that name.” She said softly. “He was a really special man. He died nearly 70 years ago.”

“Really,” said Johnny, pretending that he didn't know the rest of the story. He chanced a look at Edward, who looked ready to cry.

“Yes. I remember that day very clearly. He and I were going to go for a picnic when he got off duty. I was skipping around the house like a schoolgirl. My mother kept telling me to calm down…proper young ladies didn't skip. I didn't care. My young man was coming the next day to take me out. I knew I still had a whole day to wait, but I couldn't calm down. To appease mother, I went to my room to pick out something to wear. That didn't make mother happy either. I was throwing clothes all over the place.”

Edward was smiling at the image she was creating. There was a tear threatening to spill out over his cheek.

Millie got a faraway look in her eye. “I had just picked the perfect dress. I still remember what it looked like. It was white with a pink sash and trimmed with pink silk ribbons. I even had a hat that matched it. I had it on and was showing mother when there was a knock on the door. I still remember, I went skipping to the door. When I opened it, there was Margaret McCoy. She was Edward's friend Andrew's fiancée. I was going to be a bridesmaid at their wedding. I had never seen her like that before. She was in tears and it looked like she ran over from wherever it was she had been. As soon as the door was open, she flung herself into my arms.

“It took her a good five minutes before she could tell me why she was crying. She just kept crying 'he's dead, Andy's dead!' I just stood there in shock. I remember leading her into the parlor and whispering meaningless platitudes in her ear. That's when she looked at me and said, 'Edward's gone too. I'm so sorry!'

“I remember trying to deny it just saying 'it can't be! No!' over and over. I wouldn't look at her. I knew if I did, I'd see it was the truth and I'd start crying and never stop.”

“Oh, my poor Millie,” whispered Edward. “I'm so sorry.”

Millie looked at him curiously. “Are you all right, young man? You look a bit peaked.”

Edward looked her in the eye for the first time. “Yes, I'll be fine. Thank you for asking.”

She looked into his eyes. “My Edward had eyes that color. I used to hope our children would have eyes that color. My brown eyes were always so ordinary.”

“There's nothing ordinary about your eyes!” said Edward indignantly. “You have beautiful brown eyes. Don't ever let anyone tell you they're ordinary. They may be dark, but they glow like sunlight!”

She gasped. “That's…that's what Edward always used to say to me!” She looked at Roy/Edward a little more closely. “Edward? Is that you?”

Edward smiled, “Yes, Millie, it is me. I guess you could say I'm a ghost. This nice fireman was kind enough to let me borrow him for a while. When I heard you were still around, I had to come see you.”

“Oh Edward! I missed you so much!”

“Why didn't you ever get married?”

“I was going to marry you. I didn't want anyone else.”

“Oh, Millie. I never intended for you to pine for me. You should have moved on! Gotten married and been happy.”

“I believe there's only one true love for a person. You were mine. How could I be happy with anyone else?”

“I love you, Millie. I always have. I always will.”

“I love you too, Edward. There, I said it to you. I heard you say it. That's all I was wanting to hear.” She leaned back into the window seat and closed her eyes.

“Millie? MILLIE??”

Johnny moved forward and felt for a pulse. There was none. He looked at Edward and shook his head.

“Oh Millie.” He said sadly. He leaned forward and kissed her gently on the forehead. Then he and Johnny went to tell the administrator.

By the time they got back to the squad, Roy was in control again. Johnny kept looking over at him curiously.

“It's okay, Johnny. I'm fine. Edward's withdrawn. I think he just needs to be alone for a bit. It'll be okay. We're on duty anyway. He doesn't need to be here.”

“Yeah. I guess so. I just can't imagine that. To find someone you love after all those years only to have them die like that.”

“Well, when he gets whatever it is he needs to do done, he'll be able to join her. They'll be together for eternity then.”

“Yeah. He deserves that at the very least. I wonder what he has…” he was cut off by the tones.

'Station 51, Station 16, Squad 41, Battalion 8, Engine 32, apartment fire. The Marcus Arms apartments, 1283 West Lincoln, 1-2-8-3 West Lincoln, cross street Marcus. Time out 2:28.'

Johnny picked up the handset, “Squad 51, KMG 365. Will meet engine 51 at scene.”

'10-4, Squad 51.'

Roy looked over at Johnny. “Edward just told me. That's the same address where he died.”

Johnny looked over at Roy. “Remember your promise…don't you die on me today. Okay?”

“I won't if you won't.”

“Deal.” Said Johnny grimly as he turned on the siren.

The building was fully involved when they arrived. They drove the squad around to where the engine was parked. When they got out of the truck, Stanley came jogging up to meet them.

“There's a child trapped in one of the second floor apartments! Her mother says she's six and was playing in her bedroom when the fire started. It's that one right over there” he pointed to a window with thick smoke coming out of it. “Apartment 207. The whole building is unstable. You only have a couple of minutes at best. Get in and get out as fast as you can. I'll have Chet and Marco cover you.”

“Have them ready at the window in case we get blocked in, okay Cap?” said Johnny as he shrugged into his oxygen tank. Stanley nodded and waved them on. Without further ado, Roy and Johnny made their way into the burning building. They slowly made their way up the smoke filled stairwell to the second floor.

When they got to apartment 207, Johnny felt the door. It was warm, but not hot yet. When he tried the doorknob, it was locked. He looked at Roy for a second and threw himself against the door. It gave easily.

Once inside, they split up looking for the little girl. Roy took the kitchen, bathroom and living room while Johnny checked the bedrooms. Johnny finally found the scared little girl hiding under her bed. Johnny thanked God for small favors as the smoke stayed above the bed. When the little girl saw him, she scrambled out from under the bed and into his arms.

“They taught us not to be scared of firemen in kindergarten,” she said with a lisp.

“That's good, sweetie. I'm gonna get you out of here and back to your mommy. What's your name?”

“Sophie.” She lisped and then coughed.

Johnny removed his mask and held it over Sophie's face. “Nice to meet you, Sophie. My name's Johnny. What say you and I get out of here?” Roy came into the room just as Sophie nodded.

“Johnny! The hallway is on fire. It'll be impossible to get out that way. We'll have to do the window!”

“Okay!” Johnny coughed. He said to the little girl, “Sweetie, can you take a deep breath and hold it for a second?” She nodded and did as he asked. As soon as she held her breath, Johnny took the mask off her face and took some oxygen himself. When he caught his breath sufficiently, he took one last deep breath and put the mask back over the little girl's face.

He heard a deep groaning and realized there was almost no time left. He went to the window and saw Marco on the snorkel holding out his arms for the little girl. Johnny handed her out the window and was about to follow when the floor beneath him gave way. He felt himself falling and then felt himself being abruptly stopped as his turnout coat caught on a jagged floorboard. He dangled in mid-air trying not to move too much, knowing it could mean falling. He tried to grit his teeth against the pain and breathe normally as he realized that both of his shoulders had been dislocated by the violent jerk of the sleeves and oxygen tank against his full body weight as he fell. He also knew that the sleeves were the only things preventing him from falling farther down to be strangled by the neck of the coat. The fact that he couldn't lift his arms anymore meant that he couldn't fall out of his coat. 'Small favors' he thought wryly to himself.

“Johnny?!?!” Roy's frightened voice reached him. “Are you alright? I'm right here. Grab my hand.”

“Roy! This stupid coat dislocated both shoulders. I can't grab your hand. Can you get me any other way?”

Roy leaned down to try to pull his partner up by the coat. Johnny screamed in pain and passed out. Roy cursed as Johnny became deadweight. Try as he might, he wasn't strong enough to pull his partner up out of danger. He knew the floorboard that held Johnny wasn't going to hold up much longer. He started to stand up to find something to help hook Johnny when he suddenly saw in his mind's eye Andy being buried alive.

'What do you want me to do? I can't pull him up myself! He can't help me. The rest of this floor is going to go any second. I can't watch him die!'

'You don't have to pull him up by yourself. I'm here, aren't I? Try to pull him up again.'

Roy leaned down again and got a firm grip on Johnny's turnout coat. He began to pull his partner up. Just as he felt convinced that he wasn't strong enough and was ready to say good-bye to his best friend, he felt a surge of strength coming from somewhere else - or rather, someone else.

'Come on, Roy! Between the two of us, we can do this!'

Suddenly, it seemed to Roy as though Johnny barely weighed anything. He could almost feel Edward next to him helping him pull Johnny up through the hole in the floor. As soon as Johnny was free, Roy gingerly passed him out to Marco and then climbed around the hole in the floor and out the window just as the rest of the floor gave way.

Later that day at Rampart, Dixie found Roy sitting in the lounge staring at a cup of coffee.

“Hey, don't look so down, Roy. He's going to be just fine.” She smiled at the relief she saw in Roy's face.

“Can I see him, Dixie?”

“I think so. They've reset his shoulders and he's a bit more comfortable. They're starting him on antibiotics to avoid pneumonia caused by the smoke inhalation. He's still in the treatment room while we try to find a room for him. Come on, let's go see him.”

When they entered the treatment room, Johnny was lying on the examining table with both arms strapped to his torso. He smiled when he saw Roy enter the room.

“Hey Junior,” Roy said affectionately. “How're you feeling?”

“Feelin' just fine! No pain at all!” Roy grinned as he noticed the stoned look in his partner's eyes.

“Lots of painkillers, huh?”

“Yep. I guess it's to make up for tying me up like a Christmas turkey.” He looked down at his bandaged arms, then back to Roy. “Hey, what about Edward?”

Roy turned to Dixie, “Hey Dix, could you give us a couple of minutes here?”

Dixie nodded, “Okay, five minutes and then he needs his rest.”

As she left the room, Roy turned back to Johnny. “He's still here, but something feels different about him.”

Roy's eyes became green. “They're letting me stick around long enough to say thank you. Without you guys, I never would've been able to go home. I had promised my partner that he wouldn't die. I just needed to keep that promise.”

Johnny looked at him quizzically. “But Edward, I'm not your partner. Andrew was.”

“While I was using Roy, you were my partner. That was enough. Because the two of you are best friends, I could feel that and it was like I had the chance to save Andrew all over again. Thank you. I'm going home now.”

Johnny looked at him, “Bye Edward. Tell Millie I said 'hello'.”

Edward smiled and nodded. Then he closed his eyes and Roy swayed for a minute. He reached out to steady himself on the exam table.

“Roy? You okay?” asked a worried Johnny.

Roy's blue eyes met his dark ones. He smiled. “Yeah. I'm okay, Johnny. He's gone for good this time. I think I'm going to miss him.”

“I know I will,” slurred Johnny. “He was a cool guy. Considering he's been dead for 70…sorry, 68 ½ years.”

Roy smiled. “Yeah. Look, get some rest, okay? I can tell you're about to fall asleep on me anyway. Go ahead. I'll be around when you wake up.”

“Yeah, 'kay. 'Night Roy” Johnny murmured sleepily as his eyes closed.

Roy looked at his sleeping partner for another minute. Then he turned and left the room.

Two weeks later, Roy and Johnny stood together in the graveyard. They looked at the inscription on the stone: EDWARD ADAM HALLIWELL, 1882 – 1907, FIREFIGHTER, FRIEND, HERO.

“You know, Roy.” Said Johnny after a minute. “It's incredible to think that his guilt over his friend's death trapped him here for such a long time.”

“I know what you mean. But, to watch your best friend die…” his voice broke. He took a deep breath. “Johnny, if I had to watch you die like he had to watch Andrew. I probably would feel the same way he did. I'd feel like I hadn't done enough to save you.”

“You've always done enough. You've saved me more times than I want to think about. Just promise me one thing, though.”

“Yeah?”

“If there ever comes a time where you can't save me, remember the difference between the words 'can't' and 'won't'.”

“But Johnny…”

“No buts! There'd be no way you wouldn't save me if you could. But if you couldn't…don't let your guilt trap you like it did Edward.”

“Easier said than done.” Said Roy with a shrug. “If I had to watch you die, I'd…”

“Roy. I'm never going to try to die. If it happens, so be it. I don't want your eternal soul trapped on Earth because of me. I feel bad enough when you beat yourself up over my getting hurt. I'd have to haunt you haunting wherever you get stuck. I don't want to spend eternity like that. So promise me already?”

Roy chuckled. “Okay, I promise. I wouldn't want you haunting my ghost either.”

“Good. I'm heading back to the car. You coming?”

“In a minute.” Said Roy. Johnny nodded and walked away. Roy looked down at the stone in front of him. “Just before you left, you thanked me for helping you. I never got to return the sentiment. Thank you for Johnny. I think if you hadn't been there, it would have been you and Andy all over again. Wherever you are, I hope you're happy. You deserve it.”

Roy leaned down and put the flowers he had been holding on the grave. He looked up and thought he saw a man standing beside a tree. The man raised his hand in greeting. Roy waved back and smiled as the figure faded into nothingness.

“Bye, Edward.” Roy whispered before turning and walking back to the car.

Catch a ride back to the Flight Deck...