Chapter 11

Rhonda felt numb. The tears had stopped an hour earlier, now she just sat there staring at the people going by and watching the nurses before looking at the clock, again. Her eyes felt dry and her chest was tight. She could only see the nurses’ heads behind the huge desk. Every few minutes one of them would stand up and she would notice the uniforms were no longer a sterile white, but an array of bright colors and patterns. The uniforms where she had been were bleached white and sterile. Do they wear the colors to uplift the patient’s moods or their own, she wondered briefly.

She glanced at the clock again. How long had they been here? It had to be at least two hours. She watched Owen cradling Leena in his arms as she closed her eyes to rest. Kasey and Chris were sitting close and talking quietly. Kasey was sitting still, a rare thing.

When they’d all gotten here, they heard Steven had gone into surgery with Patrick. Rhonda could only hope that helped his chances.

Rubbing his tired eyes, Steven walked out of the surgery and wasn’t at all surprised to see everyone sitting waiting in the hall. Rachel and Kasey hadn’t changed from work clothes, nor had Dade. Owen hovered protectively over Leena stroking his hand down her long hair as she stood close to Rhonda talking quietly. He glanced at Kevin. “Did you call them?”

Kevin shook his head and stood up. “No, when I came out, they were all here. Apparently, Rhonda and Cora knew when it happened.” He shrugged with a ‘who knew’ expression on his face.

Steven let out a long sigh and walked toward the anxious people. He glanced at the clock and realized he’d been in surgery for close to three hours. He held up a hand when they all stood at once. “I just need a coffee and then I’ll be able to focus.” Dade handed over his coffee.

He took a few sips and sat down. Rhonda slowly sat next to him and placed a scarred hand on his arm. He turned and looked at the red eyes and his heart ached. “How did you know?”

“He spoke to me, in my mind.” Steven’s eyes widened. “No, I didn’t know he could until then, so when I tried to reach out to him, I felt the pain…then there was nothing.”

Steven picked up her hand gently and looked around at the other worried faces. “He’s in ICU right now.” He looked at Chris. “Two bullets pierced his left lung…barely missing his heart.” He avoided looking at the women as he spoke. “They went right through and cracked his scapula…” Dade’s eyebrows quirked. “…his shoulder blade.” He took another sip. “There’s a lot of damage, muscles, tissue, arteries, we had to spread his ribs to close everything up…” he let out an exhausted sigh. “The next twenty-four hours will be critical, but if he can get through that, he has a really good chance.”

Owen hugged a shaking Leena into his chest. “Can we see him? Can we help at all?”

Steven glanced around the group and shrugged. “I don’t know. I can’t get everyone in there.”

“Owen can help.” Rhonda whispered beside him. “Can you take him in?” Her voice was quivering as she fought back the tears threatening to spill again.

Steven looked at her for a few moments. He sighed, “I’ll take you and Owen in, but that’s it for today.” He smiled. “I’m thinking you can help Patrick more than any of us at this moment.”

She smiled through the worry but didn’t say anything.

Rhonda looked one last time at the group of friends crowding around the window overlooking the ICU, then took Owen’s hand and went in behind Steven. She watched him say something quietly to the nurse and saw the sympathetic look as she nodded at him. She took an unsteady breath and turned to look at the bed.

Machines surrounded his bed and tubes ran from them to Patrick. She gasped quietly, he looked gray and weak. She’d never seen him look anything but strong and vibrant. They had him wrapped in blankets, leaving his face the only thing uncovered.

For such a large man, he looked small lying there. She looked at the tubes running out by his feet and watched the blankets rise. She remembered the circulation pumps they placed on her own legs as she lay in the bed for endless hours. The room smelled of disinfectant mixed with that stale, ill smell. Her stomach lurched as she remembered the pain and long hours of her own recovery.

Taking a deep unsteady breath, she let go of Owen’s hand and went to one side of the bed as Owen went to the other. Her throat was tight and her eyes watered again. She was almost afraid to touch him.

When her shaking hand touched his cheek, she was relieved to feel the warmth. She glanced up at Owen holding Patrick’s hand, he’d dug out from the blankets. He had his eyes closed in concentration. Steven stood behind him watching carefully.

Patrick, I’m here. She placed a hand again beside the mask on his bearded cheek and wished for his dark eyes to open and look at her. Owen’s here and trying to help you. She swallowed and continued to reach into his mind. It was very weak and she knew he was still too far under to respond to her, but had to let him know she was close. I should warn you, I’m going to be very angry with you for getting yourself shot as soon as you’re able to defend yourself. She glanced up to see Steven pull a swaying Owen back and turn him toward the door.

She pleaded silently with him for a few more moments. He closed the door behind Owen and leaned against it. I can’t stay much longer, Pat, but I’ll be back as soon as they let me. She ignored the pain in her back and bent down to place a tender kiss on his forehead.

Lass…

She straightened and looked at the man whose weak whisper filled her mind. Steven moved over to the monitors. He looked at her and shook his head at her. She took a shaky breath and looked back down at the silent man in the bed. You just rest and save your strength or they’ll be kicking me out of here. She lifted her hand from him and backed away. I’ll be back when they let me.

Once they were out of the room and away from the staff Steven stopped her and whispered. “He talked to you?” She nodded. “As drugged as he is, he shouldn’t be able to surface like that.” He sighed. “Don’t be doing that again when he’s hooked up to every monitor and alarm in the place.” Rachel walked over and wrapped her arms around him. He stroked a hand over her hair as he looked around at the others. “I need to grab a nap.” He looked to a pale Owen using Leena as support. “As do both of you.”

Chris walked over and placed his hands on Kasey’s shoulders. “We’ll take turns staying for the next day or so. Kase and I can stay here for the first shift.”

Kasey nodded and looked at Rhonda, her sorrow plain in her eyes. “You should go home and soak your back. Someone will pick you up in a few hours to bring you back.”

Rhonda bit her lower lip but didn’t get a chance to reply before Dade spoke. “Cora and I will take you home for a little bit, so you can look after your back and refresh a bit…” He must have seen her objections in her eyes. “You know Patrick will ask how you’re doing just as soon as he wakes up…then you don’t have to lie to him.” She sighed and nodded.

The echoing sound of booted feet in the hallow corridor made Cora turn and watch a tall woman walking slowly towards them. She was dressed like she lived on the street.

“Excuse me, Doctor?”

Steven turned. “May I help you?”

She looked around at the group of people for a moment. “My name is Betty…I… ah, worked with Detective Blaine.” All eyes focused on her. “I’m taking a chance coming here, but when I heard, I had to see how Paddy was doing.”

Rachel looked at her for a moment. “And why is that?”

“I’ve been under for quite a bit longer than Paddy has, on this case and from what I’ve heard…they know he’s a cop.”

Rhonda turned quickly. “Is he in danger?” She looked at the ICU unit.

Betty put her hands into her pockets. “I can’t be sure at this point. I’ve notified the Captain…” She sighed. “Those with Pat at the time of the take down, a few didn’t survive and three are in custody …” She looked around and zeroed in on the tall dark-haired man. “The one they were after got away.”

Chris studied her for a moment then turned to Rhonda. “I’ll make some calls.”

Rhonda nodded at him them turned back to the thin woman. “Thank you for letting us know, Patrick is in ICU…” her voice broke.

Steven put an arm lightly around Rhonda’s shoulders. “The next twenty-four hours are critical, but so far he’s holding his own.” He paused as Betty looked quickly at a door when it opened. “I suggest you go, call the hospital anytime and ask for Doctor O’Reily and I’ll keep you up to date.”

She nodded. “Thanks for everything.” She looked at the group again then spoke softly to Rhonda. “Tell Paddy I’m still in, when he wakes up and I’ll keep an ear out for what’s happening.”

Rhonda nodded but didn’t have a chance to say anything before the woman turned quickly and walked away.

Kevin let out a deep breath and frowned. “Well that was, interesting. I…” He lost what he planned to say as he spotted three uniformed officers walking quickly towards them.

An older man among them walked over to Chris. “Councilor Larkin.” He extended his hand.

Chris nodded and took the hand. “Captain Bentley. I’ll wager Detective Blaine is one of yours.”

“I don’t think Detective Blaine really belongs to any one department.” He turned towards Steven. “Did he come through the surgery, Doctor?”

Steven nodded. “So far.” He grinned at Rhonda’s expression. “He’s a strong man though, so I expect after some rest he’ll be driving the nurses crazy.”

Laughing the captain nodded. “No doubt.” He cleared his throat. “I’ll need a list of people allowed in his room though.” He motioned to the officers behind him. “There will be men at his door at all times until Jack Williams is found.”

Dade pulled Cora closer to him. “Can you tell us what happened?”

The Captain studied him for a moment. “Detective Blaine broke his cover to call out warning to one of the team…” he paused a moment. “A few officers would be dead right now if it hadn’t been for him. Williams’ men shot him and left him for dead as they tried to run.” He shrugged. “We got them all but Williams and one other, that we know of.”

Rhonda’s heart was pounding so hard in her chest that she felt it in her throat. “Do you think he’s going to come after Patrick?” Leena moved over and hugged her.

The Captain looked at her for a moment, a soft look filing his eyes. “I can’t be certain, Miss Caruthers. More than likely Williams will run far and fast, but we want to cover all the bases.”

Rhonda sighed. “Yes, please do.” She glanced at Steven. “Can I go back in for a moment before Cora and Dade take me home?”

A look of indecision appeared on his face, like he was having some sort of internal debate. “A very brief moment.” Rachel wrapped her arms around him as he watched Leena walk back to the observation room with Rhonda.

Captain Bentley looked around the group and smirked. “Pat gave me quite the interesting accounts of you folks, off the record of course.” Kasey gave him a big grin. “I guess he’ll be more than safe with all of you on his side.”

Owen nodded. “Count on it.”

“I’m just going to have a word with my men and I’ll leave you in peace.” He glanced at Chris. “I’ll keep you in the loop, councilor.”

Chris just nodded and hugged Kasey into him.

Rhonda caressed Patrick’s cheek lightly. “Chris and Kasey are going to stay while I go home and rest a bit.”

She watched, waiting for some sign that he heard. There was nothing but the beep of one machine and the gasp of another. A tear rolled down her cheek. “Try to behave until I get back, Pat.” She looked at his pale face for a moment more then turned back toward the door.

Wake up soon, Patrick. I need you here and alert.