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Johnny was already crossing the street, mask and tank in place, pulling on his gloves as he dashed toward the main entrance of the structure, before Roy  had finished strapping on his SCBA. For a moment the wall of flames pushed him back and caused him to gasp for breath, but he doggedly leaned forward, ducking his head against the heat. A wall of water cascaded over him, only briefly dousing the flame but enough to allow him to see the doorway and move toward it again. He didn't make it more than a few feet beyond the curb.

A massive explosion rocked the building. Johnny felt himself lifted several  feet off the ground and thrown backwards into the middle of the street. Nearby, six other firefighters were also knocked down, and three vehicles rocked on their foundations.

Almost as soon as he had hit the ground, Johnny felt the powerful stream of water jetting across him and realized he must be burning. Hands grabbed him and tugged on his helmet and coat as the dousing continued. He thought dimly that it was a good thing he was wearing his tank or he'd be drowning. Someone was shouting his name.

Oh, wow....

"Johnny, you okay?"

Good ol' Roy. Something bright flashed into his eyes, then disappeared. Oh, that wasn't nice. Not nice at all.

"Cut that out!" Johnny tried to slap the light away, but whoever was using it was persistent.

"Here, lie back, let me take a look."

"I'm all right."

"Roy, how's he doing?"

"He took quite a knock to the head, Cap. We're gonna run him in, have him checked out."

"I'm all right. I don't wanna go to the hospital."

"No arguments, John. You've been out for ten minutes--you do as Roy says." Hank turned to Roy. "I'll have Chet bring the squad in for ya."

Ten minutes? Well, that explains this merry-go-round, anyhow.

"You're gonna be fine, Junior."

Junior? Who's Junior?

"Well, John, looks like you've had quite an afternoon." Kelly Brackett smiled down at his patient, whose only response was a grimace.

"Jus' lemme go home, and I promise my evening will be much better," Johnny mumbled.

"Sorry, but we're gonna have to keep you overnight. The x-rays are negative, but you still have a nasty bump on your head, and your partner says you were unconscious for ten minutes at the scene. And, unless I miss my guess, you're still feeling dizzy and you still don't remember landing in the street." Brackett's smile widened as the expression on Johnny's face told him he was right.

Johnny sighed. "Okay, I surrender." Truth be told, he did feel a bit squeamish still, and he was shivering in the damp clothes he wore. The thought of a warm bed and some sleep sounded very appealing just now.

Dixie McCall smiled at his side and patted his shoulder. "I'll make sure you get the prettiest nurse on the floor, John."

Johnny's face brightened for a moment. "Kelly?"

"No, a new one. Melinda. You'll like her."

Johnny settled back onto the table with a cockeyed smile. Hm. This staying overnight might not be a bad thing after all.

A half hour later, he wasn't sure he had reached the right conclusion. He'd spent most of that thirty minutes alternately shivering and retching and wishing someone would just whack him on the head again and knock him out. But, all they had done was leave him lying in the cold examining room a room was readied for him.

Roy had stopped in before he left, assuring himself that Johnny was all right and offering to bring him his car in the morning if he wanted. Johnny, in between bouts of violent nausea, gratefully accepted, and his partner left as rapidly as he could without offending Johnny. The younger man, however, was too miserable to notice much.

At last someone finally arrived and wheeled him upstairs, despositing him in a corridor and vanishing. Johnny closed his eyes and let himself drift to sleep.

"Mr. Gage? Mr. Gage, wake up. Come on, open your eyes. That's it."

What the--? Johnny squinted in the light of the hallway.

"Mr. Gage, come on, let's get you into bed, all right?"

Thought that's where I was.

"Here, let me help you sit up so I can get this wet shirt off you."

Opening his eyes more fully, Johnny realized that he was still in the hall on the gurney. He wondered idly how long he'd been lying there.

"Mr. Gage? Are you all right?"

At last Johnny turned his gaze on the speaker. At his side stood a drop-dead gorgeous redhead. Her long hair fell casually to her shoulders, clipped back underneath her nurse's cap by invisible pins. Startling green eyes peered at him in some concern from underneath perfectly shaped eyebrows.

John Gage was instantly in love. Again.

"Mr Gage!" The nurse caught him as he started to topple. Johnny caught the edge of the gurney before he tumbled from it and stopped the sudden attempt to slide to the floor.

"J-John," he murmured. "Johnny."

He was too dizzy to notice the dazzling smile.

"Here, put your arm around my shoulder and I'll help you into your room," suggested the vision.

Carefully, Johnny swung his legs over the side of the gurney, eased his feet to the floor, and allowed the nurse to support him as he made his wobbly way into the room.

"Here, you just sit here," she said, leading him to the bed and pushing him onto it, "and I'll get you a gown."

Johnny sat absolutely still, clutching the side of the bed with both hands and willing himself not to throw up. He wanted to make the right impression on this vision of loveliness. By the time the nurse had turned back to his side, he had managed to quell most of the nausea.

"You all right?" she asked, her forehead creasing in a frown. "You look awfully pale."

Johnny nodded wordlessly, narrowing his eyes a moment as he struggled to read her nameplate. Mallory? Maleficent? No, wait....Melinda! This is Melinda?

Had he felt better, his grin would have spread from ear to ear. As it was, all he could manage was a weak smile and a brief nod of his head.

Melinda smiled again, her eyes shining with suppressed amusement, and she began to undo the buttons on the uniform shirt Johnny still wore. Slipping it over his shoulders and pulling his arms through the sleeves, she replaced it with the standard hospital gown, tying it off in the back, brushing up against him gently as she worked. Johnny found himself with quite the view of quite the bosom.

"Can you stand up?" she was asking. "It might be easier to get your pants off that way."

Johnny nodded absently, his eyes still on the low-cut uniform Melinda was wearing as she leaned forward to help him stand. Gage, you idiot, you're not in any shape to be ogling women.

He stood unsteadily, holding onto the side railing and reaching slowly for his belt buckle.

"Here, I'll get that." Melinda brushed aside his hands and began to undo the buckle.

Johnny watched in helpless fascination as the nurse slowly unbuckled his belt and even more slowly undid the button and zipper of his pants. Melinda raised her eyes to his. Her mouth parted slightly and her tongue lightly traced the contours of her lips, resting seductively a moment on her teeth. She dropped her eyes once more and slowly slid Johnny's pants over his hips and down to his knees.

Johnny made as if to sit down, but Melinda caught him before he could move. Once more gazing solemnly up at him from her position crouched in front of him, she reached up again.

Johnny froze as she reached into his boxers and took him in her hands. Her touch was so gentle that he shuddered in ecstasy, the dizziness this time not at all related to his concussion.

"I want you, John Gage," whispered Melinda.

Eyes wide, he gasped, then suddenly vomited what little was left in his stomach all over the nurse's rather ample cleavage. She fell back, sputtering and mewling pathetically, wiping at the yellow bile that spotted her previously spotless uniform.

"Oh, god, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry...I didn't mean..." he said as he knelt down to help her up. She backed away, hand raised to fend off his further attentions.

"I'm really...sorry."

"My fault. You obviously aren't up for any extracurricular activities." She gingerly took his arm and urged him to his feet and towards the bed.

"I'm really, really sorry..." he kept muttering.

"It's all right...I'm a nurse," she said again and tucked him into the bed. "It's not the first time I've been vomited on. You get some rest, and that phenergan should kick in soon to stop this nausea."

"I'm just so...sorry," he said to the retreating shapely rear as Melinda hurried from his room. "Gage, you're an idiot!" he hissed, as he settled into the bed and let sleep take him. "I'm really... really...sor...ry.

"It's okay, Mr. Gage. Wake up. You're having a dream." A little voice was whispering in his ear.

"Huh?"

"I need to get your vitals. Can you wake up?"

"Huh?"

He felt something digging into his chest, and opened his eyes to find a lovely, red haired nurse giving him a rather vigorous sternal rub. "Ow!! Cut it out, willya?"

"Sorry," the redhead grinned. "You had me worried for a minute. You were really out."

Johnny squinted at her. It was the same nurse who'd had her hand in his boxers all right--but she wasn't covered with puke. "Did you...er...did I throw up?"

"Not since I've been here. Dixie said you puked plenty down in the ER. They gave you some phenergan to help the nausea."

She flashed that dazzling smile again, and he relaxed, relieved that he'd obviously had a bad dream and had another shot at this gorgeous gal.

"What's your name?" she asked.

"Johnny. Johnny Gage," he said, turning on his most charming grin. "What's yours?"

The nurse smiled coyly. "I'm Mel--I mean, I'm Nurse Feuer. Do you know where you are, Mr. Gage?

"Well, I think I'm in the company of the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

"Oh?" she giggled. "Well, thank you. You really think so? Oh, I mean...um, who's the president?"

"Huh?

"President. Who is the president?"

Johnny frowned, then nodded, shaking a finger at her. "Ah...I know what you're doing. You're seeing if I'm oriented. Well, I'm not. You've absolutely made my mind a blank."

"Oh, brother," a disgusted voice called from the doorway. "That is the worst line I've ever heard."

Johnny looked up and suddenly was seeing double. Two identical gorgeous redheads were standing by his bed...and one had damp water spots all over her uniform. "Oh...my...god.... It wasn't a dream."

"Nope," the newcomer said and arched a perfectly plucked eyebrow at him. "I see you've met my sister, Melissa."

"We're twins!" the perky Melissa chirped.

"Yeah, I can see the resemblance." Johnny smiled weakly at Melinda. "So...you were the one I...."

"Yep. That was me. Melinda Feuer."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to..."

Melinda's angry expression softened somewhat. "My fault. You obviously weren't up to the task at hand."

"What task?" Melissa asked brightly.

"Uh...uh...uh..." Johnny stuttered and Melinda took a precautionary step backwards.

"Oh Lindy! You didn't try to go down on him, did you?" Melissa pouted and stomped her foot. "He's got a concussion--and besides--you promised!! The next cute one was mine!!"

Johnny just grinned. "Now, now, ladies...there's plenty to go around...."

He sat up, trying to look reasonably virile under the circumstances. The actual effect projected was pathetic hopefulness.

"Not until that phenergan goes to work, there's not," Melinda corrected, and cocked her head at her sister. "He gave me... a little something to remember him by, earlier." She lifted the bodice of her uniform between two fingers and shook it slightly, as if to help it dry.

"Well, serves you right, you sneak!" Melissa giggled. She cocked her head at Johnny. The pair's stance looked like a mirrored reflection. "Lindy can't play anything without trying to cheat me blind. Terrible competition complex," she confided to her patient.

Johnny's mouth was hanging a bit slack. His brain, rattled now by more than the earlier impact against the inside of his skull, scurried frantically to make sense of what he was hearing and seeing. "You... you both do this...? Man!"

The sisters looked at each other, and each took an arm, easing him back down onto the bed. "Too bad," Melinda tsked to her twin, "I think we've melted some logic circuits, there."

To a puddle... Johnny's mind seconded, then managed to reconnect the thought/speech pathway. "I'm feeling a lot better, now. I think the phenergan's working." His voice carried a wistful tone.

"Oh, goody!" Melissa chirped, and perched her round little behind on the bed beside him, her hip warm against his. She began rubbing his belly in slow, descending circles. "Are you sure?"

Johnny swallowed experimentally and ran a quick interior systems check. He absolutely did not want to repeat his earlier resounding social gaffe... "I'm positive," he breathed, his eyes locked on Melissa's smiling face as her hand reached the level of his navel-- and showed no signs of reversing course.

Melinda leaned into his line of vision and snapped her fingers in his face, "John!"

He shifted focus somewhat reluctantly.

"You won't give us away, will you?" Her words were a plea, but her tone carried a bit of an edge.

"No! Hell, no! I've got a concussion but I'm not nuts!" he burst out, and for the first time since he'd been admitted, the infamous Gage grin spread across his face. He laced his fingers behind his head. "This is every hospitalized man's fantasy come true." Melissa's hand slipped inside his boxers, and he closed his eyes with a low moan.

Melinda's response seemed to come from far away. "I'm so glad you feel that way. I'd hate to have to make your stay-- uncomfortable."

John's reply was strictly nonverbal, as Melissa slid his boxers off his hips and bent, her lips brushing his erection. She licked him playfully, once, like a lollipop, from balls to tip, then twisted her head towards her sister. "You'll stand lookout, won't you, Lindy, hon?"

"Wouldn't miss this for the world," Melinda chortled, and leaned against the doorframe, where she could keep a watchful eye on the hallway revealed through the door's narrow window--- and the activities on the bed.

With a smile to her sister Melissa turned back to her previous activity, letting her tongue retrace its path but from top to bottom this time. Johnny moaned softly, hardly believing what was happening. He would have to think of a way to thank Dixie for assigning his nurses without exactly letting her know why. All thoughts of Dixie, and everything else, faded from his mind as Melissa took his length completely in her mouth and began to gently suck. Her lips moved up and down, taking in his full erection then slowly letting it out with the caress of her lips and just a touch of teeth. Breathing heavily Johnny clutched the edges of the mattress as waves of pleasure radiated outward through his body from his groin. Another groan escaped him as Melissa lightly dragged her manicured nails across his scrotum.

Melissa turned her head slightly to look at her patient, smiling as well as she could with her mouth full at the expression of near rapture that crossed his face. She picked up the pace a bit, moving her mouth more rapidly up and down Gage's turgid organ as one hand massaged his testicles and her other hand slipped to find the now hot, wet core between her own legs.

Johnny's mind was on auto-pilot, not trying to think but merely enjoying the sensations running through his body. He knew he was quickly approaching the apex, close to going right over the edge. His breathing was rapid and shallow, a hint of throbbing returning to his head, but it was no match for the intense throbbing of his erection. He could feel the moment getting closer, closing his eyes and digging his fingers even deeper into the edge of the mattress as he awaited the inevitable explosion. Johnny's eyes flew open with a gasp as suddenly Melissa broke all contact. He stared at her, eyes wide, not believing she could be cruel enough to leave him like this.

Melissa saw the fearful anger in Gage's eyes and smiled. Bending over she kissed him lightly on the cheek and whispered. "Don't worry. I'm not finished with you by a long shot." As he watched in total amazement the red-head quickly pulled up the skirt of her dress and nimbly removed her panties leaving just a white garter-belt to hold up her equally white stockings. Smiling an almost feral smile the nurse climbed quickly onto the bed and straddled his hips.

At the door Melinda turned back from a quick check of the hall. "Mel!" she hissed seeing her sister about to go further than was intended.

It was too late.

With a sigh of immense pleasure Melissa lowered herself onto Johnny's ample erection. Leaning forward she ran her hands up from his waist to his chest and gently took a nipple between each thumb and forefinger.

Johnny could not help the moan that slipped from his lips at how good she felt around him. As she began to softly pinch his nipples and rock her hips he swore he had died and gone to heaven. Reaching up he slid his hand around Melissa's neck, pulling her head down and capturing her lips with his own. She returned the kiss with a strength and passion that took him by surprise.

When her tongue pressed against his lips seeking entry he allowed her in, his own tongue tangling with hers as their bodies moved together. They quickly found a rhythm, rocking and thrusting, each pushing the other toward climax. Johnny was already close, knew it wouldn't take long, but tried to hold on to the glorious sensations as long as possible. Just when he knew he could hold it no longer Melissa's body began to shudder. Her cries of delight were captured in his mouth as she plunged over the orgasmic edge. Johnny felt her muscles contract around his erection and followed her into ecstasy.

Johnny relaxed back on the pillows totally spent. The throbbing in his head was returning to remind him why he was in the hospital in the first place. Exhaustion was quickly replacing arousal. He was only dimly aware of Melissa sliding off him and leaving the bed. Soon after gentle hands quickly toweled away the evidence of her presence. He was covered, the blankets pulled up to his chest. He was fighting to stay awake, wanting to tell Melissa how wonderful it had been, but he could not keep his eyes open.

Just before he lost the struggle a soft voice purred in his ear. "You rest up now Johnny Gage. I'll be back in later to make sure you get cleaned up properly."

"Johnny, Johnny, are you awake?" Melissa asked as she touched his shoulder. "It's time for your bath."

"Mmm bath, sounds great," Johnny said sleepily.

"I told you I'd be back to make sure you were cleaned up properly," Melissa added.

As she opened Johnny's hospital gown the sight of his firm, well defined body filled her with desire and she licked her lips seductively. Melissa dipped the soft cloth in the warm water and began Johnny's bath by gently wiping his face and neck. She worked her way down his chest, paying close attention to his nipples. She continued working her way down the right leg and up the left, purposely ignoring his rapidly growing erection. Melissa dipped the cloth again, wet her lips again and then gently caressed Johnny's now fully erect member.

"Mmm, yes," Johnny moaned.

Melissa spread Johnny's legs and continued to work her way down.

"Okay, Sis," Melissa heard a voice behind her. "You had him earlier. It's my turn now."

"I'm just getting him ready for you, Sis," Melissa replied.

"Oh sure you are Missy. You don't fool me," Melinda said with her hand on her hips. "You'd like nothing better than to have him all to yourself."

"Now, now ladies," Johnny interrupted. "I told you before, there's no reason to fight over me. There's plenty of me to go around."

"You might not feel that when I get through with you," Melinda replied with a wink.

Melinda moved closer to the bed and wrapped her hand around Johnny's painfully swollen tool.

Johnny moaned aloud at her touch.

"You know, Missy," Melinda said smiling at her sister. "I think he needs a little 'mouth-to-mouth'."

Suddenly Johnny felt two hot mouths on his body. Melinda almost swallowed him whole, taking him fully into her mouth, while Melissa worked her way further down between his legs, towards as of yet unexplored territory. Her tongue finally reached its destination and plunged in.

"Oh, God, yes!!" Johnny moaned as he clinched the bed sheets with his fists and bucked his hips in unison with the twins sensuous mouths.

"Don't stop, don't stop, Please don't stop," he begged.

"Shhh." Melinda reached up and put a finger to Johnny's lips. "Easy, baby," she soothed. "We're nowhere near through with you, but you have to be quiet."

Melinda and Melissa's hot mouths continued their teasing, tantalizing dance, then in one swift movement Melinda pushed her sister aside, lifted her dress and placed herself fully on Johnny's silky smooth steel shaft.

"Oh, Sis," she moaned as she pumped up and down. "Oh, oh you were right. Oh, he's so damn good."

Johnny was close to the edge and Melinda was right behind him. She began contracting her muscles as her orgasm began to build. Melissa moved around to the head of the bed and was now probing Johnny's mouth with her tongue. She lifted her skirt and cocked her leg on the side of the bed giving Johnny the access he needed to insert two fingers into her dripping wet core. They all moved in perfect unison together and seconds later their bodies shuddered in culminating ecstasy.

Exhausted, Johnny fell into a deep sleep almost immediately. A second bath, a few kisses and promises of more to come were the last lucid memories Johnny had before sleep completely overtook him.

The next morning, Dr. Brackett entered Johnny's room.

"Good morning Johnny, how are you feeling this morning?"

"Exhausted" Johnny yawned, barely able to keep his eyes open.

Brackett noticed the difficulty Johnny was having staying awake and the concerned look on his face was proof it disturbed him.

"How does your head feel?" Brackett asked.

"Still hurts." Johnny mumbled.

"Well Johnny," Brackett began, "You're not going to like this, but I think I'm gonna have to keep you here another night. We have to see if we can figure out what's going on here. You really shouldn't be this drained, even with a concussion."

"Whatever you say, Doc," Johnny yawned again. "You're the boss."

Johnny drifted off to sleep with a hint of a smile on his lips.

Kelly Brackett stepped outside into the hallway, his brow furrowed, deep in thought. He thought he'd just heard John Gage agree to a longer stay in the hospital. The same John Gage that Dixie McCall had threatened to tie down in the hospital bed two months earlier when he had been injured in a structure fire. Still deep in thought, Brackett turned and headed into the crowded hallway.

Johnny spent the morning in a pleasant daze, catching up on much needed sleep in anticipation of the evening ahead. Images of Melinda and Melissa filled his dreams.

A little before the noon hour, Melissa slipped into the room. She licked her lips as she eyed the sleeping paramedic.

"Oh, fireman . . ." she crooned, stepping over to the bed, "wake up, you've got a fire to put out . . ."

"Huh?" Gage murmured, waking with a start. His head cleared and he glanced around the room. "What time is it?"

"Lunch time, baby. And you look hungry." She bent over, giving Gage a good view of an ample breast.

He could already feel himself responding to her suggestion. "But . . . someone might come in . . ."

"Oh, no, baby, no one's gonna interrupt us." She took one of his hands and slid it inside her uniform blouse. "Doctor Brackett's getting worried about you. Seems you're not getting enough rest. So, I'm supposed to get you ready to move, to a quieter room down at the end of the hallway."

She moved closer, her body brushing against his. Gage groaned as he pulled her towards him. A moment later, her breasts were free. Gage sucked on the taut nipples greedily.

"That's right, fireman," she whispered, "I told you that you were hungry . . ." She slid the sheet down and began stroking his cock. "I'm hungry too, baby, real hungry . . ."

She pulled away suddenly. For a moment, Gage was disappointed at being deprived of his treat.

She laughed. "Don't you worry, there's more where that came from," the silky voice crooned. She straddled across the bed and bent down, her mouth eagerly swallowing his swollen member . . .

Gage thought he must have died in that explosion, for surely this must be Heaven. "Oh, God," he murmured.

Suddenly, the door swung open. Melissa bolted upright, quickly pulling the covers over her patient and fixing her top.

Seeing it was her sister, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Shit! You scared the crap outta me, Lindy!"

Johnny sat wide-eyed, nodding in agreement, his heart still pounding.

"Sorry," Lindy said. "But the orderly is on his way with the wheelchair to move John to the end of the hall. Thought I'd better check to make sure it was safe for him to come in."

"Thanks, Sis. Good thing you did. John and I were, um... getting better acquainted. Too bad it has to end," Melissa sighed.

"But I'm just moving down the hall," Johnny said. "Can't you still, er... take care of me there?"

Lindy laughed. "I think our fireman likes your bedside manner, Missy."

She turned back to Gage, "Of course we'll take care of you there... but our shift is about to end. We'll be back tonight. That'll give you a chance to rest up."

Gage laid back and smiled. Wonder how long I can extend this hospital stay?

Melinda and Melissa helped the orderly ready and move Johnny to the room at the end of the hall. They straightened things up and fussed over him until the orderly left pushing the wheelchair ahead of him. Melissa turned to Johnny as soon as the door was closed. She ran her hand over the blanket, smoothing it, paying close attention to his groin area.

"We'll be back tonight to finish up what I started earlier." She leaned down over him and put a light kiss on his lips, running her tongue over them as she did.

Melinda moved up to the bed as her sister moved away. Tucking the blanket around Johnny, she bent over him giving him a clear shot of her cleavage. "You get some sleep so you're all rested up for tonight. Sweet dreams, our little fireman."

They walked out and Johnny sagged back against his pillow. He grinned as he thought about the night ahead. Sweet dreams is right. He had just closed his eyes when he heard the door open. Opening his eyes he saw Roy walk in.

"Hey, pally!"

"Johnny, how ya doing? Brackett tells me they're keeping you another night. He's worried about your headaches and exhaustion. You doing something you shouldn't be?"

Johnny nearly choked, if Roy only knew. "Nothing that I shouldn't be. I'm sure it's nothing that another night won't cure."

Roy visited for awhile and then stood up. "Well, I should be going. You take care of yourself and get some rest. You look like you need it."

A yawn escaped from Johnny before he could stop it. "I am a little tired, I think I will try and sleep some."

Roy left and Johnny was just dozing off when Dixie entered the room. She sat a tray on the table beside Johnny's bed and shook Johnny awake. Johnny opened his eyes and looked at her. "Hey, Dix."

"Hey, yourself. Not feeling up to par yet, I hear." She reached into the tray and got the supplies that she would need.

Johnny looked at them and then back at Dixie. "Uh, Dix? What are you planning to do with that needle?"

Dixie looked up at him and smiled. "Nothing to worry about, Dr. Brackett just ordered some blood tests so I'm here to collect a couple of tubes."

Shit! Now what am I going to do? He knew there was nothing wrong with him. At least nothing that a full nights rest wouldn't cure. If there was one thing he hated it was getting his blood drawn.

He racked his brain trying to figure out how he was going to get out of this one.

Dixie was quick, though. By the time his sluggish brain had begun to sort through possibilities, she had tightened the tourniquet, jabbed him, and withdrawn the first tube. And, when he had finished his cry of protest at that injustice, Dixie had her two vials of blood, bandaged his arm, and was grinning at him.

"Did you leave any for the mosquitoes?" grumbled Johnny, drawing his arm back to his chest protectively.

"You big baby. Would you like a sucker for your troubles, little boy?" she teased. She mistook his choked snort for amusement. Patting him on the shoulder, she inserted a thermometer into his mouth with a wide grin. "Listen, mister," she went on, wrapping the BP cuff around his arm, "we want to get to the bottom of this mystery. I can't have you in here indefinitely. I only have so many nurses to go around, you know--I don't want you wearing them out so they can't do their job!"

The thermometer dropped from Johnny's mouth as he instinctively opened his mouth to protest, his face flushing.

"John Gage, don't you dare try to tell me you're not chasing every skirt on this floor," Dixie scolded, putting the thermometer back in. "And keep your mouth closed long enough for me to get a reading, would you?"

Johnny subsided while she finished recording the current set of vitals on his chart. At last, she pulled the thermometer from his mouth and studied it. "Hm," she murmured as she noted his temperature on the chart and replaced it on the hook at the foot of his bed.

"'Hm' what?" Johnny wondered, shifting into a more comfortable position and dropping his head onto the pillow tiredly.

"Oh, nothing, really," Dixie replied, looking up. "Your temperature's a little elevated, that's all. Nothing to worry about."

"Oh." Johnny didn't suppose the lack of sleep would cause a temperature, but right now he was too tired to care. "Well, if people would just leave me alone and stop stealing my blood, maybe I wouldn't be running a temp."

Dixie smirked as she gathered the blood samples. "Okay, Oscar, get some sleep then. Maybe when you wake up you won't be quite so grouchy."

"Hey, Dix?" Johnny's eyes had closed, but he opened them again, something akin to panic flitting across his face.

Dixie frowned. Why, he looks almost scared! "What?"

"Listen, would you tell the nurses to just let me sleep?"

Dixie stared thoughtfully a moment. "Sure, Johnny, but you know we'll have to wake you up for the neuro checks until Dr. Brackett gets to the bottom of your exhaustion."

He nodded, evidently relieved. "That's okay. I...I just wanna try to get a couple hours, uninterrupted..." He stopped, realizing that saying anything more would require more explanation than he was willing to provide.

Dixie offered him another smile. "Now that is the most unGage-like thing you've ever said." She pulled open the door and departed.

Johnny lay back, closed his eyes, and fretted. He knew that, as soon as the coast was clear, one of the twins would be back. He'd be powerless. The memories alone were enough to cause a stirring in his groin. "Oh, man," he whispered, "what am I gonna do?"

He heard the door open. Heard soft footsteps crossing to his side.

Oh, no...

He cracked open his eyes. Green eyes leered seductively beneath a halo of red.

"I'm getting ready to go off duty," whispered Melinda, leaning forward until her chest was almost touching his face. "Just wanted to say goodbye."

Johnny choked back a strangled moan. In spite of himself, he began to grow hard. "Melinda..." he tried to protest.

Melinda put a slender, well-manicured finger against his lips. "Shh," she breathed, bringing her face closer to his. "You just let me do all the work." She straightened slowly, pulling her sweater over her head in one smooth motion. She tossed her hair as her head came free of the garment, her ample, unsheathed breasts shaking gently with the movement.

Johnny gurgled again, and Melinda looked appreciatively at the noticeable bulge beneath the blanket. "Melinda," he tried again.

"Miss McCall said you weren't to be disturbed," she cooed, pushing aside the blanket and lifting Johnny's meager hospital gown to free his erection. "So, we can take our time with this one." She took his member in her hand and began to stroke it slowly, smoothly sliding her fingers up and down his shaft.

Johnny moaned and helplessly responded to the sensation.

Smiling broadly, Melinda lifted Johnny's hand. Taking his middle finger, she slid it into her mouth and sucked on it two or three times. Johnny watched intently, beginning to lose himself in the excitement coursing through his body.

Melinda gyrated slowly against the side of the bed, gradually, Johnny realized, raising the level of her very short skirt until it rose beyond her hips. She took Johnny's hand and placed his wet finger against the soft flesh between her legs. Releasing his hand, she took her own fingers and spread herself for him, all the while continuing the gentle caressing of his cock.

Johnny began to explore her with his finger, his penis throbbing beneath her ministrations, growing more excited as he felt her wetness. "Oh, Melinda," he moaned, closing his eyes and swallowing.

"Uh uh," Melinda said, gripping his face with one hand, "no fair shutting your eyes."

Johnny opened them to find one breast pressing against his mouth. He opened, and Melinda shoved herself inside him. Johnny's tongue explored this new taste a moment, then Melinda removed it and placed her other breast against him. Johnny reached up with his free hand and gripped the breast and held it in his mouth. After a moment, Melinda removed his hand from both her breast and her wet pussy, and left off stroking his engorged member. She kicked off her shoes and climbed upon the bed, her face dropping over his pole as she settled her bottom over Johnny's face. As her mouth opened over him, Johnny reached for her eagerly.

Melinda moaned and twirled slowly as Johnny's tongue darted in and out and his teeth pulled gently at her swollen vulva. Her mouth moved up and down over Johnny as he thrust himself upwards.

Johnny was by now completely lost in the powerful thrills washing over him. Melinda's hands expertly worked his member, grunting her own pleasure at what Johnny was doing to her. Just when he thought he was going to break loose in orgasm, Melinda stopped and shifted.

Johnny's eyes never left her face as she turned around and planted herself firmly atop him. Gripping both of her breasts as she rotated on his cock, he pushed again and again into her, his thrusts growing more and more forceful as his excitement took control. He gritted his teeth and choked back a yell. Melinda clamped one hand over his mouth while the other reached behind and squeezed his balls.

Johnny shoved so hard he thought he was going to knock Melinda off the bed. She gripped the side rails of the bed, threw back her head and arched her back as Johnny came inside her. He thrust again and again as he felt her shudder and shake with her own orgasm, until he was spent and her head dropped forward, indicating she was finished.

Melinda remained atop him a few minutes longer before climbing off.

"Melinda..." he whispered.

She placed her finger across his lips again. "Shh," she ordered, pulling down her skirt with one hand and reaching for her sweater. She slipped it over her head and turned toward the bathroom. "Just let me clean you up, and you can go to sleep."

Johnny was asleep by the time she returned. Smiling, Melinda took the damp cloth she held and lovingly cleaned her patient.

"Johnny?"

He stirred, his head twisting away from the sound, but his eyes remained closed.

"John Gage, open your eyes for me. Come on, it's time for your two o'clock neuro check. Let me just make sure you're okay, and you can go back to sleep."

Johnny finally lifted one eyelid, focusing slowly with that eye before opening the other eye as well.

"That's better." Kelly Brackett offered a smile to the patient.

"John Gage, Tuesday the 26th, and you're the mad scientist who won't let me sleep," supplied Johnny grumpily.

Brackett laughed. "Well, I guess you're all right."

"Now, can I go back to sleep?" Johnny was drained. If those nurses kept up their "care", he'd never leave the hospital.

"As soon as we talk about your blood tests."

Johnny was instantly more alert. "What about them?" he asked warily.

"Well, John, I think we've found the cause of your exhaustion." Brackett held aloft the papers he clutched in one hand.

Johnny's eyebrow quirked up. "Oh, yeah?" I doubt it, Doc.

Brackett nodded. "Seems, Johnny, that you are suffering from Epstein-Barr Virus."

Johnny's eyes narrowed. "Is that what I think it is?" he said slowly.

"Well," Brackett told him, "if you're thinking that it's also known as mononucleosis, then it's what you think it is."

"So it wasn't all the fu...uh..f..f..fault of the concussion?" Johnny asked, catching himself just in time.

"No. Actually, this is a lucky break. It's likely you might have gone on for a couple of weeks before we discovered it if you hadn't gotten that knock on the head." Brackett sat on the edge of John's bed. "I'm going to release you in the morning. I think you'll rest better at home. The hospital isn't the most conducive atmosphere for recovery when all you need is rest and time."

"You can say that again."

Brackett smiled and arched an eyebrow. "Keeping you busy, are they?"

"W...who?" Johnny asked, nervously.

"Melissa and Melinda, your nurses? Why do you think I had you assigned to this floor?"

"What? You know about them?" Johnny's eyes grew wide.

"Know about them? I'll have you know Dixie trained them herself."

Johnny's jaw dropped. "Dix? Trained them?"

Brackett nodded. "I helped, to some extent. There were some things Dixie wasn't able to instruct them on, some techniques that they were a bit reluctant to perform at first, but, they got over their initial squeamishness, and now--well, as you know, they're pros."

"Pros...yeah. I guess you could say they're experienced, all right." Johnny scrutinized Dr. Brackett closely. "You taught them how to...do...what it is they do?"

Brackett smiled proudly. "Well, I don't want to brag, but the whole thing was my idea. As a doctor, I know what I like a nurse to do...and I want her to do it well, and on demand. That's not to say I don't like to see a nurse with initiative. One who'll take the situation in hand, so to speak, and make the most of opportunities."

"Take the situation in hand...yeah, I'd say they have it well in hand," Johnny grinned and punched Dr. Brackett on the shoulder. "You dog, you. I didn't think you had it in you, but, I've got to hand it to ya, those girls are incredible."

Brackett smiled. "It's hard to believe that only nine months ago, neither one of them had any experience."

"You mean that nine months ago, those girls were...?"

"Novices. Absolute novices."

"They were nuns?!?"

Brackett scowled. "No, I mean they'd never laid a hand on a patient before."

"Oh. Yeah, that is hard to believe. They're really good with their hands." Johnny's mind was reeling. Brackett and Dixie had trained Melinda and Melissa? What did that say about Rampart? Never mind that, what did that say about Brackett and Dixie? The possibilities were mind-boggling. Johnny leaned in close to Dr. Brackett. "Uh, Doc? Are there any more nurses like them in the hospital? Another floor maybe? Or even in the ER? That'd be convenient, wouldn't it?" Johnny nudged Brackett in the ribs.

"It's my goal to have every nurse in this hospital trained to the same standards as Melinda and Melissa." Brackett stood to go.

"Amen to that, Doc." Johnny settled back into his bed, hands locked behind his head. "Amen to that."

"Get some sleep, Johnny. I'll have the nurses look in on you later." Brackett paused at the door. "You're going to have to spend a couple of weeks in bed. You need to get 10 to 12 hours of sleep every night. The rest of the time I want you to just take it easy. Plenty of fluids, a good well-balanced diet. No alcohol, and no caffeine. As for activity, only do what you feel up to doing. Oh, by the way, it might be a good idea if you had some home nursing. Just until the acute phase is over. We've got a new class in training now. How about if I arrange to have them cover you at home for a few days? I'd like someone with experience to break them in, so to speak."

Johnny grinned from ear to ear. "That'd be great, Doc. I really appreciate this. It's kinda like a dream come true."

Brackett shook his head. "You have some strange dreams, Johnny."

Johnny watched as Brackett walked out the door. "Oh, yeah...this is gonna be GREAT!"

Johnny's dream flowed seamlessly into reality. Soft hands slid over his body. A sultry voice purred in his ear, "Wake up, pretty fireman!" Soft lips brushed his, in a kiss that began as demurely as a schoolgirl's first then deepened to...

A kiss! His eyes flew open. "Don't!"

Two pairs of astonished green eyes stared back at him.

"Don't?" Melinda echoed in a disbelieving tone.

"Why not, Johnny?" Melissa pouted.

He sat up in bed, feeling as disappointed as she looked. But sheesh, he wasn't a cad, they had to know... "Dr. Brackett came by earlier. He'd ordered some bloodwork to find out why I'm still so exhausted."

The twins looked at each other. Melinda gave an earthy chuckle. Melissa giggled.

"Yeah, that's what I thought, too," Johnny admitted with a flicker of his grin. "But it's not. He said I have mononucleosis."

"Oh, lovely," Melinda groaned, "Just lovely."

"Mono?" Melissa squeaked, "That's... contagious!"

Her sister lifted a sardonic eyebrow. "Brilliant deduction, Missy! So easy to see why you graduated at the top of your class." She turned back to her patient with a bit of a longing sigh. "Well, pretty fireman, we certainly don't want to do anything to hinder your recovery," she murmured. She brushed a lock of hair away from his forehead and planted a kiss there. "Get well soon, Johnny."

She turned to her sister. "Looks like it's going to be all work and no play tonight, Sis." She left the room with efficient alacrity, her shoes squeaking on the tile.

Johnny and Melissa looked at each other a long, longing moment. She gave her head a little shake and reached for the BP cuff that hung at the head of the bed. "It was fun while it lasted, wasn't it?" she smiled, as she wrapped it around his arm.

John opened his mouth to tell her about Dr. Brackett's home nursing orders, only to have Melissa insert the thermometer. She recorded his blood pressure, then laid her hand lightly on his abdomen as she lifted his wrist. Under the circumstances, he found even that slightly impersonal contact arousing.

She noticed. "Uh uh. Sorry, Sugar. You do need to rest."

The instant she retrieved the thermometer, he drew breath to speak... and a tinny voice spoke from the intercom speaker: Melissa Feuer, you're needed in Room 315, stat.

"Sleep well, Johnny!" she called over her shoulder as she hurried from the room.

"Sleep well," he muttered with bitterest sarcasm. He wadded his pillow and tried to find a comfortable position. After an apparent eternity of trying very hard to sleep, he decided it was impossible to sleep, very hard. He took the problem firmly in hand and thought of Melinda and Melissa.

A few-- very few-- moments later, he gave a deep sigh. Relieved, though not contented, he readjusted his pillow and drifted off.

Some odd sound woke him. Still on his side, he lazily stretched and opened his eyes. He blinked. He'd gained a room mate. "Hey, Tom! Why're you here?"

Dwyer's slightly dazed focus shifted from the door of the room to John's face. He blinked, too. "Oh, uh... Hi Johnny. I uh... busted my arm last night-- had a falling crate catch me." He lifted the gleamingly fresh cast on his right arm. "Since I was out a few minutes, Morton put me in for observation. Hear you're getting out today.."

"Yeah, get to go home to be cooped up in my apartment for a couple of weeks. They found out I have mono."

Tom surprised him by not laughing in his face. "That's tough, man. I had it a couple of years ago. Makes you feel like crap." An odd look crossed his face, and he rubbed his heavy blond mustache thoughtfully. "Hey, Johnny? Have those two twin nurses been on duty while you've been in here?"

"Melinda and Melissa?"

"Yeah..." Tom replied, drawling the monosyllable out into two or three.

A sharp rap on the door saved John from having to reply. "Come in!" he called

Roy stepped into the room, pushing a wheelchair. "You're not dressed? You must be sick!" he exclaimed. "I figured I'd find you pacing the lobby, waiting for me!"

"Bet you're glad to be getting out of here," Roy said as he grabbed Johnny's bag of clothes.

There was a snicker from Tom and a muttered, "I doubt it," which Johnny tried studiously to ignore.

"Uh, yeah. Guess I am. Just give me a sec to get dressed." Johnny dashed into the bathroom, untying the hospital gown and flinging it behind him onto the bed.

Roy sighed and plopped onto a chair. "Sure, but try to hurry if you can. I have to get to Chris's baseball game this morning. He's pitching."

Johnny stepped out of the bathroom, toothbrush in hand and toothpaste foaming from his mouth. "No kidding? He's pitching? That's great! Tell him I said good luck."

Roy grinned. "I will. He's so excited." His brow furrowed and he cocked his head. "What's that mark on your neck?"

"Huh?" Johnny reached up towards his neck trying to feel if there was anything there.

Roy stood and came closer. He pointed, "Right there on your neck. It looks like a bruise or rash." His eyes widened. "You got another one on your belly. Damn, Johnny, you must have a least half a dozen marks." Roy whistled softly. "Did Brackett see them? Maybe you should let him know."

Johnny could feel his face flame as he suddenly realized what the marks were. "Oh, it's nothing. Just a reaction to one of the medicines. I... I took some Benydryl a little while ago." Johnny laughed weakly. "I told Brackett that they looked like little hickey's."

Roy grinned. "Don't you wish."

Johnny was spared from any further comment as he took the opportunity to duck back into the bathroom and spit the toothpaste out. After rinsing his mouth, he looked in the mirror and was stunned to see the extent of the 'damage'. He'd have to talk to those girls about being a little more careful in the future.

Future? Johnny shook his head. What was he thinking? That this was going to become an everyday thing?

He finished dressing as quickly as he could, the activity after a few days of being in bed nearly exhausting him. "Okay, I'm ready," he said, plopping his foot down after tying his shoe.

"You sure you're up to going home? You look beat. Like you haven't slept in days," Roy said, shaking his head in concern.

"Oh, well you know how it is when you're in the hospital. Nurses coming... uh... uh... coming and going all the time," Johnny stammered, becoming flustered for a moment as the thought of all the comings and going that had occurred in the last few nights.

"I hope you plan on taking it easy for the next few weeks. I need you back ASAP because in two weeks, Bellingham is going on vacation then and I'll be stuck with Brice." Roy made a face at the prospect.

"Don't worry, Pally, I plan on getting much more rest than I did in here." Johnny turned towards Dwyer. "Take it easy, Tom. Hope you're feel better soon."

Just then, Melinda entered the room and Tom smiled. "I'm sure I will, Gage. I'm sure I will."

Johnny smiled uncertainly, not sure if Dwyer was hinting at what Johnny thought he was hinting. "Uh, take it easy." Glancing at Roy, who looked slightly puzzled at the exchange, Johnny just shrugged. " I guess we're outta here."

"Not so fast, Fireman. I'm not done with you yet." Melinda glided to a stop next to Johnny. So close that her breasts just barely brushed his arm. A gleam came to her eye as she handed Johnny his discharge papers. "Dr. Brackett has ordered a visiting nurse for you for the next two weeks."

Johnny gulped. "He did?" he squeaked, then cleared his throat. "Who's going to be the visiting nurse?"

A slow smile spread across Melinda's face. "Nurses," she said, emphasizing the 's'.

The ride from Rampart to Johnny's place was quiet, unusually quiet. So quiet that Roy found himself beginning to worry whether his partner was actually well enough to be released from the hospital. Casting a quick glance sideways he found his friend, elbow against the window frame; chin resting on his hand as he stared unnoticing at the passing scenery.

"You feeling okay?" DeSoto asked with more than a little concern. A moment passed with no response. "Johnny?"

"Huh?" Johnny finally turned his attention to Roy. "What'd you say?"

"I asked if you were feeling all right." He again glanced at his partner. "You haven't said more than two words the entire trip."

"Sorry." Johnny mumbled. "Guess I'm just tired."

"Are you sure you're going to be okay by yourself? I'm sure Joanne and I could-"

"No!.no." Johnny cut in quickly. "I'll be fine, really. And I'd never forgive myself if Joanne or one of your kids got sick."

"And not me?" Roy joked.

"Or you." he agreed. "Really though, I'm just tired and need to rest. I'll be fine by myself." Johnny turned back to look out the window hoping Roy bought his answer and let the subject drop. There was no way he could explain that what was really on his mind was what to do about Melinda and Melissa. It would be an outright lie to deny he had thoroughly enjoyed the attentions of the terrific twins. Bliss did not begin to describe the experiences. But the fact was he would have been hard pressed to keep up with the pair if he were in top condition. Added to the stress the mono was putting on his system the double-the-fun-girls were threatening to put him in an early grave. Of course he couldn't think of a more pleasant way to go.

No, he had to stand firm on this. The twins were just going to have to take it easy until he'd had a chance to recuperate, at least a bit. He still wanted to play their games but he had to have the chance to rest too. Just thinking of those games stirred up feelings, and other things, which were not appropriate at the moment. Of course there was always the possibility Melinda and Melissa wouldn't want to play while he was sick. Mono was contagious after all. On the other hand could they possibly be any more exposed than they had been already? Would any further exposure make that much difference? Would he survive their combined efforts long enough to care if they caught the disease?

"We're here." Roy announced pulling the car to a stop and interrupting his friend's thoughts. Johnny looked around a moment surprised that they were already there.

With a minimum of fuss Johnny got settled into his apartment, his makeshift prison for the next few weeks. Finally convincing Roy he really would be fine all by himself, he locked his door and headed for the bedroom. His mind was made up to tell both Melinda and Melissa that the fun would have to wait until he got some strength back. Still, on the all too likely chance his resolved melted in their double emerald gaze, Johnny knew he'd better get as much sleep now as possible.

It was only a couple of hours later that Johnny woke to the sound of knocking on his door. Taking a quick look at the clock he groaned and stumbled wearily from his bed. If this was the boinks-me twins he was not going to survive the night. Determined to make them understand that they had to let him rest, Johnny took a deep breath and opened the door.

"Dix?"

Dixie regarded the surprised expression on the paramedic's face with some amusement. She knew exactly whom he had been expecting. "Sorry to disappoint you, Johnny." She brushed past him and entered the apartment.

"I know you were planning on Lindy and Missy, but they got detained by an emergency at Rampart. I told Kel I'd come see to you tonight."

"You... you don't have to apologize," Johnny stammered, pushing the door shut behind him. "I was just... I mean... I thought... I..."

Dixie smiled. John Gage was really so easy to get flustered. "Well don't you worry, Fireman Gage," she told him. "I know there's only one of me, but I assure you I can take as good a care of you as those two did."

Johnny stopped dead in the middle of his livingroom his mouth hanging open in total shock. No. Dixie couldn't have meant that in the way he was thinking. could she? The conversation with Dr. Brackett suddenly came to mind - he and Dixie had trained Melinda and Melissa. Taught them everything they knew. While he had no doubt the head nurse was every bit as capable as she claimed, the thought of that and Dixie just did not mesh in his brain.

"Dix, uh... are you sure you really want to do this?"

She turned back to him with a smile. "Of course. I haven't had the chance to do this in awhile. I talked to Kel about it while we were showing Lindy and Missy the ropes. I'm kind of looking forward to the change from the ER. Of course, I hadn't expected it would be you my first time back in the game, but I'm sure we can get over the awkwardness soon enough. It's not exactly like I'm inexperienced after all."

Johnny swallowed hard. "No," he squeaked. Taking a deep breath he fought to calm his suddenly jangled nerves and tried again. "I didn't mean to make you think I thought you couldn't... I mean that you weren't experienced in... that I didn't want to... Oh, God."

"Johnny, are you all right?" Dixie frowned noticing the dark-haired paramedic had broken into a sweat.

Not trusting his voice at the moment Johnny settled for nodding his head.

"Good," Dixie answered, still somewhat concerned. Johnny seemed to have paled considerably since she arrived. Well, she'd have that taken care of soon enough. "Tell you what, why don't you make yourself comfortable while I get this off, and then we'll see what I can do for you."

Johnny watched as Dixie once more turned away reaching up to her collar and unbuttoning then slipping off her cardigan sweater. His already over-exhausted brain went in to full overload and everything went black.

A cool, damp cloth to the forehead brought Johnny around a moment later. Opening his eyes he looked up into the sapphire blue ones of Dixie McCall. A frown of concern darkened her expression but eased as he focused more clearly on her face. Suddenly remembering the earlier conversation he wondered just how long, and for what, he had been unconscious. And yet they were both still dressed. "Wha... what happened?" Do I really want to know?

"You fainted," Dixie explained. "Gave me quite a start. Think you can sit up a bit?"

"Yeah, I think so." With her help he sat up then leaned back against the couch. He watched Dixie watching him and felt an embarrassing blush start to creep up from his neck. One thing was certain, maybe she did help Dr. Brackett train the others but there was no way he could. Not with Dixie.

"Want to tell me what just happened with you?" she asked.

"I... it just... I mean..." Johnny tried to bluff his way out of the question. "I guess maybe I was just more worn out than I thought." He offered what he hoped was his most endearing and sincere smile.

Dixie's frown deepened. There was one thing this young man had never been able to do well, and that was lie to her. There was more to this than he was letting on. She stood, fixing him with her no-nonsense head nurse stare that caused even hospital administrators to tread lightly around her. "All right, John Gage, I want you to tell me exactly what is going on, and I want it right now."

Uh... well I, uh..." Johnny stuttered.

"I'm perfectly serious, Johnny! I want to know what's going on. I'm really worried about you. Kel may have released you from the hospital entirely too soon."

"Dix, I'm fine, honest," Johnny said with a pleading tone in his voice. "I... I just need some rest and I'll be good as new in no time."

Johnny sat upright on the couch leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.

"Oh sure you're fine," Dixie said sarcastically, crossing her arms in front of her. "That's why you fainted, right?"

"Dix! I didn't faint. Men don't faint!" Johnny insisted. "I just..."

"You just what, Johnny?"

"I... I just got a little light headed is all," Johnny continued.

"John Gage, you know darn well you passed out cold!" Dixie scolded. "You're pale, feverish and...." her eyes narrowed, "what the heck are these marks on your neck!?" She leaned in closer to get a better look.

Johnny eyes widened and he brought his hand up to his neck in an attempt to cover the marks.

"Uh, well, uh," Johnny began stuttering again. "They uh, they're an allergic reaction to some medicine I took."

"Johnny, I know all the medicines you were on in the hospital and you aren't allergic to any of them. If you had been it would certainly have been charted and it wasn't, so..."

"I, I took some Benadryl a little while ago," Johnny swallowed hard. "They'll be gone soon, honest!"

"Maybe so, but humor me," Dixie answered. "Take your shirt off. I want to see how far this rash, or whatever, has spread."

Oh shit, now what am I gonna do!?

"Come on, Johnny, off with the shirt," Dixie insisted.

"Dix, really I..."

"John Gage! The shirt, off, now!!" she ordered.

"Ok," Johnny muttered, dropping his head in total defeat. Johnny removed his shirt and stood there feeling like a little boy caught with his hands in the cookie jar.

"Oh my God!" Dixie stammered. "They're all over your back!" She turned him around. "And your chest, too. How far down do these marks go?"

"Dix!" a stunned Johnny replied. "Believe me, they don't go any further." Sorry Dix... I hate lying to you but there's no way in hell I'm dropping my pants, you would totally freak if you knew how far down these marks really went..

"Sorry, Johnny." She examined the marks a little closer. "Johnny, if I didn't know better I'd swear these marks look like, like hickeys!"

"Hickeys! Now really, Dix, where would I have gotten hickeys? I've been in the hospital, remember?" Johnny smiled nervously.

"I know that, Johnny, but still I..."

"Dix, please," Johnny interrupted. "I really need to get some rest. If the marks get any worse I'll let you or Brackett know. I promise!"

"Well, ok, but I am going to get to the bottom of this. I suppose it can wait until you've had some rest. I be back to check on you tomorrow. I'll let myself out, Johnny. You go to bed, NOW!"

Johnny went into the bedroom, removed his jeans and flopped down on the bed.

Damn that was close! No telling what Dix would do if she knew the truth. The truth is.. Dix has two 'Nympho Nurses' running rampant at Rampart. "Rampant at Rampart."

Johnny laughed at himself and the joke he inadvertently made. He closed his eyes and quickly drifted off too sleep, knowing full well that tomorrow he would have to answer to the one and only Dixie McCall.

A couple of hours later, a distant pounding penetrated Gage's uneasy sleep. He groaned loudly.

"Go away!" He shouted, throwing one of the bed pillows toward the door.

The pounding continued, more insistent than before.

"Oh, man . . ." Johnny forced himself up, struggled back into his discarded jeans, then headed for the front door.

"I'm comin', I'm comin'," he grumbled under his breath.

Just as he reached the door, the pounding stopped.

Gage reached for the doorknob, then paused. Maybe whoever it was went away . . . he thought with relief. Then he frowned. Whoever it was, it must have been important to come pounding on his door at this hour. Maybe it was Roy . . .

Tempting as it was to turn around and fall back into bed, Gage sighed, realizing that, like it or not, he'd have to answer the door.

A second later, he opened the door a crack and looked out.

"See, I told you he was in there, Sis," a silky voice purred.

Oh no... Gage thought. First Dixie and now the twins. How am I gonna get out of this one?

"Well, hose jockey, aren't you going to let us in?" Melissa pushed past her sister so the tired paramedic could get a better view of her cleavage baring blouse and short skirt.

"Yeah, Johnny baby, we're gonna take real good care of you tonight," the other added, licking her lips.

"Uh," Gage stammered, "ladies . . . uh, this isn't a good idea. Dixie's getting suspicious . . ."

"Oh she is, is she?!" Melissa snapped. She gave Johnny a critical look then turned to her sister. "I think our fireman friend here is getting tired of our tender loving care. I think maybe he's enjoying Miss McCall's company more than ours."

"No!" Gage said, swallowing hard. "It's not like that at all, it's just . . ." He sighed. Just the sight of the two of them standing there was enough to turn him on. Let Dixie do her worst tomorrow, I'm gonna enjoy tonight . . .

He opened the door the rest of the way. Melissa pushed her sister aside, forcing Gage back towards the sofa. Her fingers played with the zipper of his jeans teasingly.

"It's not nice to tease us, baby," she crooned softly. "You hurt our feelings, right, Sis?"

"Yes," the soft voice added. "You've been naughty, Johnny baby. I think we need to show him how it feels to be teased, don't you, Missy?"

"Oh, yes, we need to teach our fireman a lesson, that's for sure." She smiled hungrily. "You work at the top, Sis, while I get started down here..."

Before the two could start, they heard the sound of loud voices coming down the hall.

"I told you, Kel, I'm really worried about him. There's something going on that we don't know about," Dixie's voice said.

"I just don't understand how. We kept a close watch on him at the hospital . .."

"I know. Look, you examine him and judge for yourself. That's all I ask."

There was a firm rap on the door. Gage looked at the two nurses in a panic .

Meanwhile, back at the station (;-), Roy drummed his fingers nervously on the table.

"He's getting to you, isn't he?"

Captain Stanley stood a comfortable distance from the fretting Roy and looked on him with compassion.

Roy glanced sharply towards Cap, and then back to his fingers where the drumming resumed with greater intensity.

"Well, it's not like I don't know how to do CPR, for Pete's sake!" Roy growled through clenched teeth.

"Now, Roy, I'm sure Brice was just trying to be helpful. You know he took that refresher course just last week, and they have changed a few things since the last time you took recertification."

"Counting 'One-one thousand, two-one thousand' isn't any different than counting 'One-e-and-uh, two-e-and-uh...' for chest compressions. It's the SAME THING! And he practically knocked me down trying to jump between the patient and me. And did you hear him? 'YOU'RE NOT DOING IT RIGHT!' He announced it to the whole crowd, including the patient. That's not real good for their confidence in us, Cap."

Roy's face blushed crimson as he recalled the morning's events.

Chet cautiously made his way to the senior paramedic.

"Uh, Roy, you want some coffee..?" he offered gently.

"No, I don't." Roy spat. "I want HIM..." he jerked a thumb towards the doorway "...GONE! And I want my partner BACK! Get that for me, would you Chet?"

Roy's sarcasm was not lost on the rest of the crew, and Marco approached the table hopefully.

"I think I know what would help. Why don't we all load up and go see Johnny. His place is still in our first-in district so we will still be available. I think it would make Roy feel a little better. Besides," he said, wiping his brow, "I think the change of scenery would do us all some good."

"Do you think Johnny is up to visitors?" Mike sounded a little worried.

"You know what a social butterfly Gage is. I bet he's going nuts sitting there all alone in that apartment." Chet thought for a moment. "Good idea, Marco. If I know Gage, a visit from us will be just what the doctor ordered to get him up and around. And get Grumpy over there back to his old peaceful self."

Brice was already at the squad alphabetizing the inventory when the rest of the crew entered the bay.

"Get in," Roy barked, none too pleasantly.

"Going for supplies?" Brice asked hopefully.

"Yeah, you could say that. Human resources. We're going to see Johnny, and I'd thank you to refrain from giving me better directions to his place or anything. He IS my best friend, so I assure you I won't get lost on the way."

Brice cocked an eyebrow at Roy's snide tone. "Well, I was going to say, that the on-ramp to the highway may be closed for repairs, so you may want to...."

"BRICE! CAN IT!" Roy bellowed as he slammed the squad door with enough force as to knock his helment from its hook, causing it to crack the back of his head sharply.

"Angry outbursts are not healthy," Brice informed Roy.

"Neither are you, Brice. Neither are you..."

(Brice elected to stay with the vehicles, for security reasons.)

"Poor Johnny," Cap mumbled, hands shoved deep into his pockets. "I never really thought about it, but it must be awful to be so alone when you're sick."

"Yeah, at least I have my Mom and my sister to fuss over me," Chet replied.

"Sometimes, my family smothers me when I'm sick! I have so many relatives, and they all think that fresh torillas and chicken soup is the cure-all for everything. I swear I gain 15 pounds every time I catch a cold." Marco chuckled.

"My wife takes good care of me, too, and I bet Joanne takes care of you, Roy." Stoker looked thoughtful.

"Poor Johnny." Roy was close to tears as he considered his friend, sick, exhausted, frightened, and all alone in his apartment.

Well, things would be better soon.......

Gage again looked at the two nurses in a panic. They stared back at him, identical wide-eyed expressions on their faces.

"John? Are you all right?" Brackett's voice sounded through the door.

"Back door?" Melinda mouthed.

John rolled his eyes and waved his arms wildly around the one bedroom apartment.

Melissa grabbed her sister's hand and pulled her toward the front door.

John's already pounding heart jumped into his throat as the twins approached the door. Oh, good, I'm gonna pass out again.

Instead of choosing the front door, Melissa opened the closet door, pulling her sister in behind her.

Why didn't I think of that? John slapped his forehead, then reached toward the knob on the front door. Don't look at the closet door. Don't look at the closet door.

"Stop that!" hissed Melissa, jabbing her elbow in her sister's arm.

"You stop that!" retorted Melinda, returning the gesture and leaning forward toward the sliver of light that sneaked through the still open closet door.

"Hey! I can't see what's happening!" Melissa shoved at her sister and put her own eye to the crack.

Melinda let out a small screech as, off-balance, she tripped over something bulky and unforgiving. Her indignity increased when her tumble continued until she found herself unceremoniously dumped in a heap onto her well-rounded rump. She reached up and offered a well-placed pinch to Melissa's hip, eliciting a startled oath. Melissa relatiated with a quick yank of her sister's auburn tresses.

Halfway between the door and the closet, Johnny spun around and stared with frightened, wide eyes at the closet door. Jumping back and grabbing the handle, he shoved the door closed. "Be quiet!" he hissed. He stood still a moment longer and tried to control his breathing. Nuts...

The pounding on the door continued. "Johnny?"

Heaving a sigh, Johnny shot a last, dark look at the closet, issued a menacing warning to the inmates, and crossed the hall to the front door.

"You don't think something's happened, do you?" Kelly Brackett eyed Dixie in puzzlement.

"Well, this is John Gage you're talking about, Kel. Anything's possible---" She broke off as the door opened.

"Good Lord," muttered Brackett, "you look like hell! May we come in?"

"Uh, yeah, sure..." Johnny stepped aside, his bemusement only partially feigned.

"Dixie was worried about you, John," Brackett said, coming right to the point as he followed Johnny into the living room. "She told me you passed out...?"

Johnny gestured for the doctor and nurse to sit but remained standing himself, running hand through his tangled hair. "Well..." he began.

A sudden noise from the closet cut him off. Brackett's head jerked around, and Dixie blinked in surprise. "What on earth was that?"

Roy led the small party down the hall to Johnny's apartment door. Behind him, Hank Stanley felt extremely foolish all of a sudden.

Gage probably doesn't want anything more than to just be left alone to get some sleep, he told himself. And here we are, traipsing around like a bunch of truant officers about to accuse him of playing hooky. He looked up at the door as Roy pressed the bell. But, so help me, if you're not home, Pal....

The thought went unfinished as the door popped open.

"Dix?" Roy was instantly alert. "Is something wrong?" He nearly pushed her aside trying to get through the doorway.

"Well, I'm not sure," she said slowly, eyeing the firemen standing outside the door. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Ah, we were a little worried about Gage," supplied Hank sheepishly.

Dixie turned to look over her shoulder. "Well, I'd say you probably have reason to be." She stepped back and gestured for Hank to enter. The other firefighter followed closely.

As soon as he entered the apartment, Hank realized what Dixie meant.

Johnny appeared to be collapsed on the sofa, and an anxious Kelly Brackett was leaning over him.

Roy pushed his way through the door and went to Dr. Brackett's side.  "Doc?  Is something the matter?  Is
he ok?"

Dr. Brackett looked up at Roy.  "He just passed out. Everything appears to be normal, from what I can tell.  Although
his blood pressure is a little high."

Dixie and the rest of the guys stood back a little and watched with concerned faces.

Roy knelt down in front of Johnny and gently shook him.  "Johnny?  Johnny, can you hear me?"

Johnny was slowly starting to come around and looked groggily at Roy.  "Roy?  What happened?"

"You passed out, partner.  How do you feel?"

All of a sudden Johnny groaned as he remembered what made him pass out.  He just hoped that Brackett and Dix would forget about the sound they heard in the closet. Looking at Roy he gave him a small smile.

"I feel fine."  He looked around at everyone standing watching him.  "What are you all doing here?"

Cap stepped forward.  "We wanted to see how you were and if you needed anything."

Johnny's heart thumped and he felt dizzy again as everyone's head turned toward the closet where another loud noise had just been heard.

"What was that?" Roy asked.

"Oh, um," Johnny stammered, looking positively green. "It's my cat."

Roy looked at Johnny incredulously. "Johnny, you don't have a cat."

"Oh." Johnny sat up slowly, panic setting in as Marco and Chet made their way to the closet.

"I don't feel so good," he said loudly, hoping to divert their attention. Shit! I need a distraction! "Fresh air... I need some fresh air. Let's go outside." He started to stand on wobbly legs.

"Oh no you don't," Brackett ordered. "You're not going anywhere."

Johnny could feel the room spinning wildly as Dixie forced him back down on the sofa. "He's burning up," she said.

"Hey, Johnny," Chet called. "I think there must be a cat in this closet! There's definitely something moving around in here... " He began to turn the door handle.

Johnny chose that moment to throw up. Chet and Marco turned and looked at their sick friend with sympathy, the noise in the closet momentarily forgotten.

"Marco, Chet, find a mop and a bucket and get this cleaned up," Stanley ordered. "Mike, let's get out of here. We need to give Johnny some peace and quiet."

"I agree," Dr. Brackett said. "Roy, let's get him in bed."

While Dixie, Dr. Brackett and Roy got Johnny settled back in his bed, Chet and Marco began cleaning the vomit on the floor.

"Geez, who's brilliant idea was it to come visit Gage today?" Chet griped.

"Not mine," Marco replied. "How did WE end up getting clean up detail, anyway?"

Just then, a very loud noise came from the closet.

"Johnny may not have a cat, but I'm going to see what's in this closet!"

Chet set the mop down and walked to the closet. He put his ear to the door and listened for a moment. "Hey, I think Gage has a chick hiding in here," he whispered to Marco. He grabbed the door knob.
 
 

He and Marco both scrambled back as not one--but two-- female bodies tumbled out and landed against their shins.

They stood frozen, staring down a bit stupidly, as identical pairs of grass-green eyes peered up at them. The girls untangled themselves and, with no help from the stunned firefighters, regained their feet.

"Hi Chet!" Melissa chirped brightly, "Remember me?"

Melinda smiled, "Hola, Marco... que pasa?"

Chet and Marco exchanged a knowing look, then in unison, stared toward's John's bedroom. "I'll be damned!" Chet exclaimed softly, "No wonder his ass is dragging!"

"Guys, it's great seeing you again, especially all in one piece, but I think we'd better be going," Melinda commented as she towed her sister towards the door.

"Not so fast!" Marco exclaimed, "I think Dr. Brackett would like to know the reason his patient is so... drained." His hand closed around Melinda's upper arm.

She glanced at his fingers as if they were an abomination, but the smile she turned on him was warm and sweet. "Marco, miel... I don't think you want to do that." She cocked her head, "It wouldn't be in your best interest... for either of you."

"You won't tell on us, will you, Chet, sweetie?" Melissa cooed, stepping closer to the fireman.

Stoker stopped suddenly as he and Hank stepped from Johnny's apartment building into the brilliant sunshine. "Damn," he muttered, hands reaching futilely through pockets.

"Something wrong?" Hank narrowed his eyes at the engineer. Deliver me from this nuthouse, he pleaded silently.

Stoker grimaced. "Sorry, Cap, I must've dropped my keys in John's apartment."

"You sure you didn't lock them in your car?" Hank suggested hopefully.

Mike shook his head. "Not a chance. I leave 'em in the car, and there's a really loud buzzer to remind me to take 'em." He shook his head again for emphasis. "Nope. I remember dropping 'em now. When Johnny...well, when he--"

Hank held up a hand. "Never mind. I'll wait here."

Stoker nodded once and disappeared back inside the building.

Chet and Marco exchanged horrified looks.

Marco's hand loosened on Melinda's arm, and she quickly grabbed his instead. Melissa leaned into Chet's face and breathed softly, "Remember the locker room...sweetie?" One hand reached down and squeezed gently. Chet's eyes slid shut and a low moan escaped his lips.

"But I think it might be a good idea for someone to stay here for a while, at least until he wakes up again, and make sure he's all right." Brackett stepped into the hall. His expression of concern relaxed into as much of a smile as the on-duty persona allowed. "Oh, good, you girls are here."

"You two sure made good time," Dixie added, right behind Brackett, shrugging back into her sweater and bobbing her head in greeting to the two nurses. "And none too soon." She turned to Roy as he, too, left Johnny's room and pulled the door closed behind him. "Roy, these are the nurses I mentioned, Melissa--" her head jerked toward Chet's captor "--and Melinda Feuer. They did quite a job with Johnny in the hospital yesterday and last night, and they've agreed to continue taking care of him while he recuperates at home."

Two pairs of cats' eyes seductively raked over Roy, and he swore he heard purring emanating from the girl on the left. His smile faltered.

"Are there any special orders, Dr. Brackett?" Melinda was the first to speak.

"Oh, the usual," Brackett replied, the smile widening a centimeter or two.

Melissa nodded. "We'll see to it that he's well taken care of," she promised, something feral glinting in her half-closed eyes.

The knock at the front door startled Roy out of his daze. Blinking, he realized he had been leaning slightly forward, toward the red-headed twins. He shook himself and opened the door.

"Oh, Roy," Stoker stammered. "I, uh...I dropped my keys here."

"Oh." Roy stared at him blankly a moment. "Oh, right, keys. Come on in." He stepped away from the door and motioned Mike inside.

"Well, fellas," Brackett said to Chet and Marco, "I guess we all need to let Johnny get down to the business of getting better, and let these two nurses get down to the business of taking care of the patient." He led the way to the door, turning back before he stepped into the hall. "Call me if his condition changes at all," he reminded the girls.

One of the twins--Roy wasn't sure which--nodded vaguely, her attention suddenly riveted on the tall engineer peering beneath the coffee table in front of Johnny's sofa.

Brackett departed, trailed by Dixie, Chet, and Marco. Roy hesitated a minute, then said, "I guess I'll hit the road, too." He watched Mike a moment longer as the other firefighter continued his fruitless search for the missing keys. "You need some help, Mike?" he asked.

Stoker looked up and shook his head. "Nah, I'll find 'em. They've gotta be here somewhere." He bent to scrutinize the nether regions of the underside of the sofa, then stopped and looked back up. "Do me a favor, though? I think Cap's gettin' kinda restless out there. You mind drivin' him home?"

Roy shrugged. "Sure." He glanced at the closed door of Johnny's bedroom, back at the two nurses, and finally at Stoker again. "Be seein' ya."

When no one paid him any attention, he hurried out, this time pulling the apartment door closed behind him. A jittery Cap was not worth helping Mike for.

Melinda nodded. Melissa cooed.

"Didn't think he'd ever leave," sighed the engineer. He tossed his keys onto a side table.

"Ooh," Melissa purred softly, eager fingers expertly slipping buttonholes over buttons and sliding her hands inside the warm folds of Mike's shirt.

"Oh, wait for me," Melinda sighed from behind him, pulling the shirt from the engineer's shoulders and pinning his arms behind him with the sleeves. She leaned her head against his back, hands running up and down his sides, hips, and abdomen.

Melissa nipped playfully at Mike's exposed nipples as she reached for his belt buckle. "You're late," she scolded, lifting her head a moment.

"I know," admitted Stoker. "I'm sorry."

"You'll have to pay for that."

Mike sighed in ecstasy.