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   Part 35 
Johnny looked over at unconscious Dr. Lambert, who was struggling with each breath, as the blood poured from the gunshot wound inflicted by Alica.  He struggled to reach the call button, frantically pressing it, not knowing that Alica had disabled it at the nurse's station.
Damn, where is a nurse when you need them.  First, they poke and prod and won't leave you alone and then when you really need them, they are nowhere around, he grumbled to himself as he struggled to pull himself out of bed, turning the oxygen back on as he did so.  Gasping, he took several breaths from the mask.

He stumbled over the prone Alica, crawling the last two feet to Dr. Lambert, dragging the oxygen mask behind him.  Johnny looked around for something to stop the bleeding before grabbing his gown, ripping it off and pressing it against the pulsing wound in Dr. Lambert's chest and fitting the mask over his face.   Of course, I had to bring the stupid oxygen mask with me and not a sheet.  Roy I could use some help about now, he thought as he tried to gauge whether he had enough strength to make it to the door.

Before slowly sinking into unconsciousness, he grimaced, Man, I sure hope Chet isn't the one who finds me naked and passed out on the floor, I'll never live it down.
 

*****
 

"Roy, why don't you wait til later to talk to Johnny?  It's been a long day and night and it's only 6 a.m.  Why don't you get some rest and then we can talk to him together?"  Joanne urged her exhausted husband and he lay snuggled up next to her in the hospital bed.

The door swooshed open as Kel walked in, smiling at the couple in the bed. I wish Dixie and I could have that kind of relationship, he thought wryly before approaching them.

"I thought I would find you here, Roy," he said motioning for him to relax.  "No, everything's fine.  I was just going to go check on your wayward partner and thought you might like to tag along.  He must have had a pretty quiet night.  I checked with the night nurse and she checked about an hour ago and everything was fine.   I'm just getting ready to start rounds."

"You look like you could use some rest yourself, Doc," Roy chided looking at the haggard face of his friend.

Kel rubbed his hand wearily over his face, "For once, I won't argue with you.  It's been a rough night.  Brice had a seizure episode and it was touch and go most of the night so I was staying close by."

Joanne sat up with concern, "How's he doing now?"

"Well, for now he's holding his own, but until he regains consciousness we won't know how extensive the damage is."

Roy jumped up, "Well, what are we waiting for, let's go," leaning over to kiss Joanne before following Kel out the door.
 

*****
 

The Judge looked sternly over the rims of his half glasses at the pale young man standing before him.  "Do you, Michael Dean Stoker, take this young lady, Sharon Marie Walters, to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

Oh my god, what am I doing,  he thought, glancing over at his soon-to-be wife, Sharon, standing stiffly beside him, struggling to hold on to a progressively fussier and fussier Mikey Jr.  Or maybe I should say  what DID I do?  he thought wryly, with a small smile at his squirming son. The room seemed to be closing in on him as he reached up to loosen his tie.

"Young man!  Your answer, sir.  I do have other weddings to perform," theJudge prompted.

Mike was jerked from his thoughts, managing to finally stammer, "I...I...uh...um...do."

The Judge shook his head slightly before turning toward the young lady standing before him, ramrod straight like she was awaiting a firing squad instead of her wedding vows.  Something tells me that neither one of these young people really want to be here,  he thought shaking his head briefly before continuing, "Do you, Sharon Marie Walters, take this young man, Michael Dean Stoker, to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Mike Jr. had enough.  He was hungry.  He was hot.  He wanted his diaper changed.  So he picked that precise moment to let them all know exactly how he felt and started screaming for all he was worth.  Sharon looked over at Mike and burst into tears.

Mike reached over for his son and grabbed a bottle from the diaper bag, popping into Mikey's mouth.  Mike shook his head fondly, gazing down at his son, amazed at how quickly he calmed down once he had food.  "Wow, maybe we should have named you after your Uncle Johnny.  Obviously you love your food as much as he does," he crooned gently as he watch little Mike suck on the bottle for all he was worth.

The Judge sighed, "Young lady, do you want to take a few minutes to collect yourself?"   he offered, glancing in slight irritation at his watch.

"No, I'm okay.I'm sorry," Sharon managed to swallow back her tears, glancing over at Mike as he comforted their son.

Mike looked up and pulled her close to him, tipping her chin up with his free hand, "Look, I know this might not be the wedding of our dreams," he smiled, causing Sharon to laugh softly through her tears, "but," he continued on, convincing himself even, "I really think we can make this work.  So how about it.," he said dropping down on one knee, "will you, Sharon Marie Walters, marry me?"
 

 
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