"Bugged"

Epilogue

Less than an hour later…

Squad 51's paramedics stepped out of Treatment Room Three, in their street clothes, and began strolling towards the hospital's exit.

"Man! Thanks for bringin' me my clothes and springin' me from this place. I cannot believe you actually drove all the way back here, just for me." John draped an arm across his companion's shoulders. "Yah know, Roy...you're a pretty terrific partner!"

"You're no slouch, yourself. I mean, if it weren't for you, I'd be buried under a ton a' bricks, right now."

"Guess bein' partners has been pretty advantageous for the both of us."

"That would be a fair statement. So, where will I be observing you eat?...at my expense."

"I've been givin' that some thought. Since I sort a' roped you into this whole observation thing, how 'bout we buy each other breakfast?"

"Works for me, but it's after eleven. A lot a' places quit serving breakfast after eleven."

"Well then, how does Sunday Brunch sound?"

"Brunch it is! What, exactly, is brunch, anyway?"

"Brunch is what partners buy one another when it's too late for breakfast and too early for lunch."

"When you put it that way, I guess it really doesn't matter what it is."

"Yeah. Just so long as it's filling."

The corner's of Roy's pursed lips edged upwards and he shot his perpetually hungry partner a sidewise roll of the eyes.

His forever famished friend full?

Unless brunch turned out to be a ten-course meal, DeSoto had serious doubts he'd be observing that!

The End

Author's note: SCBA stands for self-contained breathing apparatus.

Author's additional note: SOP stands for standard operating procedure.