The Shield: Sing The Blues
(Characters of The Shield do not belong to me; they are property of FX and their creators)
Curtis "Lemonhead" Lemanski woke up in a good mood. It was amazing how having a beautiful, intelligent woman next to you all night could do that. Lem, as he was called by most, had been dating Michelle Sutton for almost three months. Lately, they shared space more often than not.
Michelle was a beautiful 24 year old auburn haired beauty, originally from Santa Barbara. She'd moved to LA to finish nursing school. She'd had her job as a nurse at St Augustine's Hospital for the past two years. She worked in the surgical recovery room and post op. That's where she had met Lem, when Ronnie was getting his surgeries done after his face had been burned.
Michelle had been cold at first, never cracking a smile while Lem grinned at her as she took Ronnie's vital signs. She'd always worn her hair up and loose fitting scrubs, but Lem saw past all that. He saw how beautiful she would be with a little makeup and wearing street clothes, her hair down with a smile. He saw the potential when he looked into her sea green eyes. It intrigued him.
Finally, after a week of rebuffing his endeavors, Lem had followed her to the cafeteria.
While Michelle picked out a ready made entrée, salad and drink, Lem carried her tray.
"So why don't you like me?" hew persisted. "I'm a real likable guy."
She passed her ID card through the checkout card reader. "It's not that I don't like you," she's admitted.
He followed her through the milling doctors and nurses to an empty table. They both sat down.
"Okay, so you might like me just a little," Lem went on. "Good start. Married? Boyfriend?"
She shook her head while putting a straw in her Coke.
"Lesbian?"
She rolled her eyes. "No."
Lem grinned and shrugged. "So what's the problem? Just go out with me once. It won't kill you."
"I don't like cops," she finally said, picking over her salad.
"You don't like cops?" he repeated. "You don't look like a criminal. You're not wanted are you?" he kept up his prodding jokingly.
For the first time, Michelle cracked a hint of a smile. "No."
"So, seriously, what is it?"
"I see so many of you guys come through, like your friend, or worse. I see their families, their loved ones. I could never handle that."
Lem nodded. "Okay. That's fair. I've been on the job 6 years. I've never even had a paper cut."
"That doesn't mean it won't happen."
"No. It doesn't. But if I went around waiting for the bullet with my name on it, what kind of life would that be? I know something could happen, but I don't dwell on it. I just live. I'm not planning on anything happening to me."
"Was your friend Ronnie?" she asked quizzically.
He sighed. "Okay, I get your point." He looked at her full lips and slim nose. "Well, I'll leave you alone." He got up sticking his hands in the pockets of his loose Hilfiger jeans. He gave her a final "look".
Michelle took one glance at his 'puppy dog' eyes and lost her cool composure. She finally smiled up at him.
"Curtis, is it?"
"Most people call me Lem."
"Well, you're real persistent."
He grinned.
"And you've got real nice teeth."
"Does that mean you'll have dinner with me?"
She smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I'll go out with you."
*******
And those words had led up to the shower they now shared. Both were early risers due to work; Michelle worked from 7 am until 7 pm and Lem had to be at the Barn at 7 as well. They'd spent the night at Michelle's condo, so Lem had called Shane to pick him up. Lem and Michelle kissed goodbye in the parking lot as Shane pulled up. Then Michelle, in her ark pink nurses' scrubs, got into her Honda Civic and pulled out.
Lem got into Shane's Chevy truck.
"That woman has entirely too many brains to have an ass that good," Shane remarked, looking over his sunglasses.
Lem shot him a look. "Hey," he said.
"Getting a little possessive? Must be serious."
Lem shrugged. "I just don't need any competition looking at it."
"Yeah, yeah. I've seen that look before. You're in deep buddy."
Lem laughed. "What ever."
The Strike Team was only Shane, Lem and Ronnie; Vic had taken the day off for personal business. Only his friends knew that business was a court appearance with Corrine.
They managed to pull in a few outstanding warrants and fill up the cage in the barn.
It was after seven when all the paperwork involving their warrant cases was wrapping up.
"Geez, I gotta go," Lem told Shane and Ronnie. "Michelle's waiting for me to take her to a movie."
"Shit, can't you log in the arrests first?" Shane grumbled. "I've still got files to close out."
"It's not my fault you pricks don't have a life," Lem said good naturedly.
"Go on," Ronnie told him. "I'll finish up."
"Thanks man," Lem said, grabbing his jacket.
Michelle had finished her shift and given report to Lisa, the night nurse. She got her things and left the unit.
She took the elevator to the parking structure. She dug in her purse for her keys as she walked into the dimly lit interior parking garage. As she neared the section where her car was parked, she noticed the light was out in the sector.
"Great," she muttered, walking a little faster.
She was almost to her car when a shadowy figure stepped out from behind a parked car where he'd been crouched.
He grabbed Michelle's arm.
She was too startled to scream.
"Don't make a sound," he commanded, muffled by the ski mask that covered his lower face, leaving only eyes exposed.
She couldn't even if she's wanted to. She instead tried to hand him her purse.
"I don't want you bag, bitch," he growled. He had a thick Mexican accent. He pulled her by the arm into the deeper shadows between the cars.
Now Michelle began to fear for her life. She tried to remember anything she'd ever seen on TV that might save her. But her mind was dizzy. She tried to pull away from the strong grip, but that just angered the man. He stopped and backhanded her, knocking her down onto the cold concrete. She tasted salty blood on her lips.
Lem got to Michelle's condo. He used the key she'd given him to get in when he knocked and there was no answer. He saw at once that she had not been home. He found that a little odd, since her gated condo complex was only a few minutes from work. He first checked the messages on his cell phone to see if she'd called. There were none. Then he dialed her cell.
Michelle heard her cell phone ringing. She could see it a few feet away with the rest of the contents of her purse spilled out under a car. She was numb from the cold concrete under her body. But that was all she wanted to feel. It was the least of the revolting feelings invading her mind and body.
Lem called the nurses' station on Michelle's unit. Maybe she'd had to work over.
"No, she didn't stay late," Lisa told him. "She left on time."
"Did she say she was going anywhere else?" Lem asked.
"No. In fact, she mentioned you two had plans so she was going home to get ready."
"Can you have security check for her car? I'm on my way over."
"Yeah, of course. Maybe she had car trouble, or a flat or something."
"Okay, can you call me back if she shows up?"
"Sure."
Lem gave Lisa his cell number.
******
Lem was almost at the hospital. He looked at all the convenience stores and gas stations along the way, but had seen no sign on Michelle's car. His cell phone rang.
"Lemanski," he answered.
It was Lisa. "They found Michelle," she said, her voice quavering. "You better go straight to the ER."
Lem ran into the emergency Room and to the clerk behind a bullet proof glass window. He flashed his badge.
"Michelle Sutton," he said to the woman.
She hit a button on her desk and the door buzzed to let him in. He went into the triage station.
A nurse and a security officer, whose badge read Wallace, Chief of Security met him there.
"Detective Lemanski?" the older security officer asked.
"Yeah. Where's Michelle? Is she ok?"
"My officers found Ms Sutton in the parking garage. She's been assaulted."
"Assaulted? Are you saying she was raped?" The nurse, whose badge read Irene, nodded. "She was beaten and raped. She's in with an officer from the Sheriff's Department and the SANE nurse taking the rape kit now."
The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner was one of the key factors in making a case. They were specifically trained just for this kind of case.
"Did they find the guy? Can she ID him?"
The Chief of security shook his head. "We didn't find anyone."
"What about witnesses, cameras?"
The man shook his head again. "I'm sorry detective. If you'd like to wait in my office, Irene can come get you as soon as they are finished with Ms Sutton."
*****
Lem paced outside the ER cubicle where Michelle was. The Sheriff's department deputy had already left, taking the information Michelle gave with her. Lem had gotten little information, as he knew he would, from the deputy. But that was fine. He had every intention of taking this his way.
Finally, the doctor who'd been in with Michelle and the SANE nurse came out and shook Lem's hand.
"I'm Dr Murphy," the female doctor introduced herself. "I've known Michelle as long as she's been here."
"How is she?"
"Well, she'd got a lot of facial and torso bruising, but there appears to be no internal bleeding or injury and no broken bones. Unfortunately, the standard hit and run. I'm seeing a lot of this in the ER. All the physical evidence was collected and turned over to the S.O."
"What.I mean, what happens now?"
"I want to keep her overnight. She's getting some IV antibiotics as a precaution and she'll be getting some other preventative medications. For now, that's all we can do. The rest is psychological. She'll be referred to an excellent rape counselor. I'd suggest you go as well."
Lem nodded. "Can I see her?"
Dr Murphy nodded. "Go on in. As soon as I finish her paperwork, she'll be moved into a room."
Lem took a breath and walked inside. He'd tried to prepare himself for the worst.
Michelle looked small against the all white on the bed. She had her knees drawn up. Her left cheek and eye were a dark purple and her bottom lip was swollen. But mostly she just looked vacant. Her eyes were red from crying.
Lem walked slowly and stood by the bed.
Michelle's eyes followed him. "Hi," she finally said.
"Hi." He was uncomfortable and awkward. He had no idea what to say to her. "Can I do anything?"
She nodded. "Get the bastard."
Lem chewed him bottom lip. That was exactly the plan. When Michelle saw that in his eyes, she was able to draw some comfort there.
********
Shane had eaten cold pizza and a beer for dinner. He'd been too tired to even work out on his weights that sat in the dining room where a table should have been. He was half asleep on the couch in front of the TV when he heard someone banging on the door.
He went to get it and was surprised to see Lem.
"Hey," he said, stepping back to let his partner in. "What's up?" He could tell that something was wrong. Lem didn't look good.
"Michelle. She was raped."
"Holy shit. When?"
"Tonight, leaving work."
"She know the guy?"
Lem shook his head. "He was wearing a mask. I talked to her though; she thinks there was something familiar about him, a smell like soap or something."
"Who's on the case?"
"Pointer from the SO."
"Crap."
"Exactly. All Michelle can give is that he's 20-30, probably Hispanic, dark skin, brown eyes, black hair."
"So you want to track this asshole?"
Lem nodded. "I don't know what else to do for her."
Shane shrugged. "Well I'll help, you know that. Vic's back tomorrow, it's our day off. We'll get on it first thing in the morning."
Lem nodded. "Thanks man."
"You should try and get some sleep. Stay here if you want."
"Thanks, but I better get back to the hospital. I promised her. I'll take her home in the morning, then we'll get on it."
"This shit usually starts close. We'll check out the hospital, employees. Start with the Mexicans, run them, see if there's any rap sheet hits."
"I'll catch up with you as soon as I get her settled."
Shane nodded as Lem went to the door. "I got your back brother."
"I know. Thanks again, man."
(Characters of The Shield do not belong to me; they are property of FX and their creators)
Curtis "Lemonhead" Lemanski woke up in a good mood. It was amazing how having a beautiful, intelligent woman next to you all night could do that. Lem, as he was called by most, had been dating Michelle Sutton for almost three months. Lately, they shared space more often than not.
Michelle was a beautiful 24 year old auburn haired beauty, originally from Santa Barbara. She'd moved to LA to finish nursing school. She'd had her job as a nurse at St Augustine's Hospital for the past two years. She worked in the surgical recovery room and post op. That's where she had met Lem, when Ronnie was getting his surgeries done after his face had been burned.
Michelle had been cold at first, never cracking a smile while Lem grinned at her as she took Ronnie's vital signs. She'd always worn her hair up and loose fitting scrubs, but Lem saw past all that. He saw how beautiful she would be with a little makeup and wearing street clothes, her hair down with a smile. He saw the potential when he looked into her sea green eyes. It intrigued him.
Finally, after a week of rebuffing his endeavors, Lem had followed her to the cafeteria.
While Michelle picked out a ready made entrée, salad and drink, Lem carried her tray.
"So why don't you like me?" hew persisted. "I'm a real likable guy."
She passed her ID card through the checkout card reader. "It's not that I don't like you," she's admitted.
He followed her through the milling doctors and nurses to an empty table. They both sat down.
"Okay, so you might like me just a little," Lem went on. "Good start. Married? Boyfriend?"
She shook her head while putting a straw in her Coke.
"Lesbian?"
She rolled her eyes. "No."
Lem grinned and shrugged. "So what's the problem? Just go out with me once. It won't kill you."
"I don't like cops," she finally said, picking over her salad.
"You don't like cops?" he repeated. "You don't look like a criminal. You're not wanted are you?" he kept up his prodding jokingly.
For the first time, Michelle cracked a hint of a smile. "No."
"So, seriously, what is it?"
"I see so many of you guys come through, like your friend, or worse. I see their families, their loved ones. I could never handle that."
Lem nodded. "Okay. That's fair. I've been on the job 6 years. I've never even had a paper cut."
"That doesn't mean it won't happen."
"No. It doesn't. But if I went around waiting for the bullet with my name on it, what kind of life would that be? I know something could happen, but I don't dwell on it. I just live. I'm not planning on anything happening to me."
"Was your friend Ronnie?" she asked quizzically.
He sighed. "Okay, I get your point." He looked at her full lips and slim nose. "Well, I'll leave you alone." He got up sticking his hands in the pockets of his loose Hilfiger jeans. He gave her a final "look".
Michelle took one glance at his 'puppy dog' eyes and lost her cool composure. She finally smiled up at him.
"Curtis, is it?"
"Most people call me Lem."
"Well, you're real persistent."
He grinned.
"And you've got real nice teeth."
"Does that mean you'll have dinner with me?"
She smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I'll go out with you."
*******
And those words had led up to the shower they now shared. Both were early risers due to work; Michelle worked from 7 am until 7 pm and Lem had to be at the Barn at 7 as well. They'd spent the night at Michelle's condo, so Lem had called Shane to pick him up. Lem and Michelle kissed goodbye in the parking lot as Shane pulled up. Then Michelle, in her ark pink nurses' scrubs, got into her Honda Civic and pulled out.
Lem got into Shane's Chevy truck.
"That woman has entirely too many brains to have an ass that good," Shane remarked, looking over his sunglasses.
Lem shot him a look. "Hey," he said.
"Getting a little possessive? Must be serious."
Lem shrugged. "I just don't need any competition looking at it."
"Yeah, yeah. I've seen that look before. You're in deep buddy."
Lem laughed. "What ever."
The Strike Team was only Shane, Lem and Ronnie; Vic had taken the day off for personal business. Only his friends knew that business was a court appearance with Corrine.
They managed to pull in a few outstanding warrants and fill up the cage in the barn.
It was after seven when all the paperwork involving their warrant cases was wrapping up.
"Geez, I gotta go," Lem told Shane and Ronnie. "Michelle's waiting for me to take her to a movie."
"Shit, can't you log in the arrests first?" Shane grumbled. "I've still got files to close out."
"It's not my fault you pricks don't have a life," Lem said good naturedly.
"Go on," Ronnie told him. "I'll finish up."
"Thanks man," Lem said, grabbing his jacket.
Michelle had finished her shift and given report to Lisa, the night nurse. She got her things and left the unit.
She took the elevator to the parking structure. She dug in her purse for her keys as she walked into the dimly lit interior parking garage. As she neared the section where her car was parked, she noticed the light was out in the sector.
"Great," she muttered, walking a little faster.
She was almost to her car when a shadowy figure stepped out from behind a parked car where he'd been crouched.
He grabbed Michelle's arm.
She was too startled to scream.
"Don't make a sound," he commanded, muffled by the ski mask that covered his lower face, leaving only eyes exposed.
She couldn't even if she's wanted to. She instead tried to hand him her purse.
"I don't want you bag, bitch," he growled. He had a thick Mexican accent. He pulled her by the arm into the deeper shadows between the cars.
Now Michelle began to fear for her life. She tried to remember anything she'd ever seen on TV that might save her. But her mind was dizzy. She tried to pull away from the strong grip, but that just angered the man. He stopped and backhanded her, knocking her down onto the cold concrete. She tasted salty blood on her lips.
Lem got to Michelle's condo. He used the key she'd given him to get in when he knocked and there was no answer. He saw at once that she had not been home. He found that a little odd, since her gated condo complex was only a few minutes from work. He first checked the messages on his cell phone to see if she'd called. There were none. Then he dialed her cell.
Michelle heard her cell phone ringing. She could see it a few feet away with the rest of the contents of her purse spilled out under a car. She was numb from the cold concrete under her body. But that was all she wanted to feel. It was the least of the revolting feelings invading her mind and body.
Lem called the nurses' station on Michelle's unit. Maybe she'd had to work over.
"No, she didn't stay late," Lisa told him. "She left on time."
"Did she say she was going anywhere else?" Lem asked.
"No. In fact, she mentioned you two had plans so she was going home to get ready."
"Can you have security check for her car? I'm on my way over."
"Yeah, of course. Maybe she had car trouble, or a flat or something."
"Okay, can you call me back if she shows up?"
"Sure."
Lem gave Lisa his cell number.
******
Lem was almost at the hospital. He looked at all the convenience stores and gas stations along the way, but had seen no sign on Michelle's car. His cell phone rang.
"Lemanski," he answered.
It was Lisa. "They found Michelle," she said, her voice quavering. "You better go straight to the ER."
Lem ran into the emergency Room and to the clerk behind a bullet proof glass window. He flashed his badge.
"Michelle Sutton," he said to the woman.
She hit a button on her desk and the door buzzed to let him in. He went into the triage station.
A nurse and a security officer, whose badge read Wallace, Chief of Security met him there.
"Detective Lemanski?" the older security officer asked.
"Yeah. Where's Michelle? Is she ok?"
"My officers found Ms Sutton in the parking garage. She's been assaulted."
"Assaulted? Are you saying she was raped?" The nurse, whose badge read Irene, nodded. "She was beaten and raped. She's in with an officer from the Sheriff's Department and the SANE nurse taking the rape kit now."
The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner was one of the key factors in making a case. They were specifically trained just for this kind of case.
"Did they find the guy? Can she ID him?"
The Chief of security shook his head. "We didn't find anyone."
"What about witnesses, cameras?"
The man shook his head again. "I'm sorry detective. If you'd like to wait in my office, Irene can come get you as soon as they are finished with Ms Sutton."
*****
Lem paced outside the ER cubicle where Michelle was. The Sheriff's department deputy had already left, taking the information Michelle gave with her. Lem had gotten little information, as he knew he would, from the deputy. But that was fine. He had every intention of taking this his way.
Finally, the doctor who'd been in with Michelle and the SANE nurse came out and shook Lem's hand.
"I'm Dr Murphy," the female doctor introduced herself. "I've known Michelle as long as she's been here."
"How is she?"
"Well, she'd got a lot of facial and torso bruising, but there appears to be no internal bleeding or injury and no broken bones. Unfortunately, the standard hit and run. I'm seeing a lot of this in the ER. All the physical evidence was collected and turned over to the S.O."
"What.I mean, what happens now?"
"I want to keep her overnight. She's getting some IV antibiotics as a precaution and she'll be getting some other preventative medications. For now, that's all we can do. The rest is psychological. She'll be referred to an excellent rape counselor. I'd suggest you go as well."
Lem nodded. "Can I see her?"
Dr Murphy nodded. "Go on in. As soon as I finish her paperwork, she'll be moved into a room."
Lem took a breath and walked inside. He'd tried to prepare himself for the worst.
Michelle looked small against the all white on the bed. She had her knees drawn up. Her left cheek and eye were a dark purple and her bottom lip was swollen. But mostly she just looked vacant. Her eyes were red from crying.
Lem walked slowly and stood by the bed.
Michelle's eyes followed him. "Hi," she finally said.
"Hi." He was uncomfortable and awkward. He had no idea what to say to her. "Can I do anything?"
She nodded. "Get the bastard."
Lem chewed him bottom lip. That was exactly the plan. When Michelle saw that in his eyes, she was able to draw some comfort there.
********
Shane had eaten cold pizza and a beer for dinner. He'd been too tired to even work out on his weights that sat in the dining room where a table should have been. He was half asleep on the couch in front of the TV when he heard someone banging on the door.
He went to get it and was surprised to see Lem.
"Hey," he said, stepping back to let his partner in. "What's up?" He could tell that something was wrong. Lem didn't look good.
"Michelle. She was raped."
"Holy shit. When?"
"Tonight, leaving work."
"She know the guy?"
Lem shook his head. "He was wearing a mask. I talked to her though; she thinks there was something familiar about him, a smell like soap or something."
"Who's on the case?"
"Pointer from the SO."
"Crap."
"Exactly. All Michelle can give is that he's 20-30, probably Hispanic, dark skin, brown eyes, black hair."
"So you want to track this asshole?"
Lem nodded. "I don't know what else to do for her."
Shane shrugged. "Well I'll help, you know that. Vic's back tomorrow, it's our day off. We'll get on it first thing in the morning."
Lem nodded. "Thanks man."
"You should try and get some sleep. Stay here if you want."
"Thanks, but I better get back to the hospital. I promised her. I'll take her home in the morning, then we'll get on it."
"This shit usually starts close. We'll check out the hospital, employees. Start with the Mexicans, run them, see if there's any rap sheet hits."
"I'll catch up with you as soon as I get her settled."
Shane nodded as Lem went to the door. "I got your back brother."
"I know. Thanks again, man."