In a Minute
For him, everything was off. All of the sounds, smells. Everything. He knew where he was but he couldn't speak or move. He felt pain all the parts of his body. Finally, he could open his eyes. He saw a lof of broken glasses. They were everywhere.
- What the hell happened here? – he thought while he tried to move a little. And then he saw it. It was red but he didn't know what was that. Maybe some drink. Or food. No, it was too thick. Then what is it? - As Detective Donald Flack tried to find out about it, he heard some screams from somewhere far away.
- Jesus. Is everyone alright? – the woman was one of his collegue. He knew her. Oh, yeah, Stella Bonasera.
- Yeah, I think I'm right – answered an older man, Mac Taylor - And you?
- Yeah, I think so. What happened?
- Shots fire – Mac turned around. He saw the Medical Examiner, Sid Hammerback who tried to fought some chairs.
- Sid, are you okay?
- No, I'm not okay.
Neither Mac was. The lab technician, Adam Ross was lying on the floor, his shirt was red from the blood.
- Adam? You okay?
He didn't answer.
- Kid, are you okay? – the question was from Dr. Sheldon Hawkes now. He almost yelled to him.
Finally the young man sat up. He looked at his shoulder what was covered from blood.
- I don't know.
- All right. Let me see – Hawkes was on his side in a minute.
- Okay, It's not bad, but I think he is in a little shock – said Hawkes while he tried to claim the bleeding.
- I'M not in shock. I'm just suprised – argued Adam with a weak smile.
One second later they heard screams. It was a familiar. They all knew it. Lindsay Monroe yelled as she tried to remain calm.
- I need some help over here. SOMEONE HELP ME!!!
Mac and Stella responsed immediately and ran to Lindsay. She sat on the ground. She screamed as hard as she could.
- Linds – Mac was fustrated. And stressed. As he tried to got across some destroyed chairs and tables he thought that he is gonna crazy. Sure enough. And he saw the woman on the floor and he understood why Lindsay cried so hard.
His husband lied in her arms, his eyes were closed. Danny Messer didn't move.
- Someone call 911 – Mac's voice broke as he squaed next to Lindsay.
- Mac, please – Lindsay pleaded to Mac.
Mac Taylor was a hard man. But as she looked at Lindsay, he wasn't the same man. Not anymore. He closed his eyes. He felt something. Death. He looked at Lindsay who stared at Danny's lifeless face.
- Lindsay – Mac broke the silence.
- Please, don't say anything. Please, don't say – her body shook as hers fell to Danny's.
- Danny, don't do this to me. Don't leave me. I need you. I can't live without you – her voice was heart breaking – Come back, Danny Messer.
When she opened her eyes, everything was too white to withdrawn the figures. She had had a terrible head ache. And then she realized that she was in the hospital. In a waiting room.
- Danny…
She ran out from the room and she almost devastated Mac.
- Hey, easy Lindsay. Are you alright?
- Mac, where is Danny? Where is he?
- He is in his room, you know it. You okay? What's wrong?
Lindsay took a deep breathe to stay calm.
- What's going on? Are you alright, Linds?
- Yeah, I'm fine. I just…
- You just…
- You know, I had a terrible dream about the shooting.
- Oh, I see. Come on – said Mac and hugged her.
It had now been three days since the shooting. Danny was still unconscious.
- I'm so tired – said Lindsay.
- You should sleep a little.
- I can't. I don't wanna dream again. Now, I'm… I check on Danny – and she left Mac.
Danny Messer lied on his hospital bed, his eyes were closed. There were tubes coming from his mouth. He was so pale and looked so helpless. Lindsay sat next to him on an uncomfortable chair. Her heart broke.
- You know, Danny. I had a dream about you. About us, the shooting. It was terrible so I want to ask you that… - Lindsay suddenly stopped it. She started to cry. And then she continued.
- Lucy is with your mother. She misses you. As much as I do. So wake up soon and getting better, alright? – said Linds as she lied next to Danny. She almost fell asleep when she realized that someone was squeezing her hand. She looked at Danny's face. His eyes slowly opened. He was a little bit distracted as he looked at Lindsay. His big bule eyes stared at Lindsay's.
- Danny, honey. It's okay. I'm right here. Everything is gonna be alright. I'm gonna get your doc, okay? Just stay calm – Lindsay ran out from the room and tried to find a nurse or someone who could help Danny.
- Mrs. Messer, are you alright? – Danny's doctor, Jason McDonald was a young doctor with tie and suit. He was a handsome guy.
- Ah, Doctor, thank God. Danny woke up.
- Are you serious? – said the Doc while he followed Linds.
- I've just lied next to him and he squeezed my hand – Lindsay was very excited.
- Okay, here we are – and the doctor step into the room.
- Good morning, Mr. Messer. I'm glad to see you awake.
Danny nodded.
- Okay, now I see that you're breath your own, so I'm gonna get out the tubes. You will have to take a deep breathe and then out. You understand me?
Danny nodded again and followed the orders. When the man took out the tubes from his mouth, Danny began to cough.
- It's alright. So how are you felllin'?
- Perfect, doc. Perfect – answered Danny and smiled at Lindsay.
- It's good to hear. We will run some test on you, but I think you're doing great.
- Yeah, that's right. Thanks, doc.
- My pleasure – laughed the doctor and left them alone.
Lindsay sat down Danny's side and kissed his forehead.
- I worried about you, cowboy.
- I know you did and I'm sorry 'bout that.
- You have to promise me that you will never do this to me again, okay?
- You got it, Montana.
Lindsay started to laugh. She laughed hard and kissed Danny.
- Why are you laughing?
- Because I missed that.
- Missed what?
- The name, Danny. Montana.
Danny smiled as he drew her to himself and kissed her.
- I realize all over again how lucky I am to sharing my life with you. I love you, Lindsay.
- I love you, too Danny.
Stella Bonasera sat on a chair in the lab while she drunk a coffee. It was almost 9 a.m. and they still worked on the shooting case. After Jessica Angell's death they all felt so weird, so helpless. And then, the bar…
„ That's right. I'm gonna try my best not make anybody cry. Would everyone raise their glass? – said Stella as Mac arrived. Hawkes gave him a glass and then Stella spoke up.
- Jessica Angell was one of those rare people, who touched each of our lives, the kind who reaffirm your faith in humanity…
While Stella spoke, one car drove next to the bar. In a minute, gunshots' sound filled out the café. Everyone fell to the ground, tried to find some safe place. And then silence."
Her mind went back to the reality when her cell phone started to ring.
- Bonasera.
- Come va, Stella?
Stella Bonasera stood up with a shock as she tried to keep concious.
- Danny. Oh, my God. You alright?
- I'm fine, Stell. I'm fine.
- God, I'm glad to hear your cute Italian voice again. We worried about you, Danny.
- I know, Stell. But I'm alright now. Well, I'll see you soon.
- Sure about that, Danny. Say hi to Lindsay and Lucy.
- I will. Bye Stella.
- Bye, Danny.
Stella put down the phone and started to laugh. When Hawkes looked at her, Stella couldn't say a word.
- Hey, Stell. Why are you laughing so hard? – asked Sheldon with a smile.
- It's Danny, Hawkes. He is awake. He woke up. He phoned me, just now.
- You've gotta be kidding me – Hawkes was really suprised and then hugged Stella.
- Everything is gonna be alright now.
3 days earlier:
Detective Daniel Messer was so happy. His wife was more beautiful than ever and their daughter…
- You're a lucky man, Messer – thought he while he tried to not late from work. Lindsay has already done with dress up so she waited for Danny.
- Okay, cowboy. Mac is gonna kill you.
- I know, I'm coming. OK, let's go.
As they arrived to the lab Danny thought about Lucy, his daughter.
- Uh, it's weird. His daughter. Whether what she will do when she grow up. She will dating, it was clear to Dan. And what else? Maybe she will take drugs or she will join some bad gang and try to burglarize a shop or something. She will go to jail and then Danny Messer, the COP, will visit her.
- Hey, Danny where are you? Earth to Danny.
Lindsay's voice was a little bit hard as she stopped the car.
- What?
- We're here. Where are you, honey?
- I'm here, I'm just thought about Lucy.
- Really? Me too.
When they steped in to the elevator, Danny went back his thoughts.
- Alright, you're daughter won't go to jail, she won't be some dope-fiend teenager. You have to stay calm, because you have to work. So, try to keep yourself easy!
„Detective Donald Flack was in his car, with his old friend, Terrence Davis. He was a young club manager, who was busted for drug running. After some unexpected threats from Don, he had to work with the detective.
- You do this one last thing, and we're through.
- I heard that before.
- Open it – said Flack and he gave an envelope to the man.
- Deactivation.
- Yo, is this real? – Davis was suprised.
- You're a free man. Sign at the bottom, and you and me, we're done.
- I was just about to put you in my Fave Five, too.
- I can tear it up.
- Nah, I'm good.
- I read the fine print. I still reserve the right to make your life miserable – said Flack with a small smile when his cell started to ring.
- Flack.
- Tonight, you, me, a bottle of wine. I'll wear that black negligee I know you like – Jess Angell was very attractive and she was also tempting.
- Mom? – and Flack had a humor.
- Ah, never mind. What are you doing?
- Breaking up with an old friend. You?
- Babysitting. Taking Connor Dunbrook over to the grand jury. With the murder rap hanging over his head, so he decided to save his own ass and testify against daddy. It'll be enough to put Robert Dunbrook away for at least 20 years – said Angell as she went to Connor Dunbrook.
- The good son's treating us to breakfast – said she with a big simle in her face.
- Oh, yeah? Let me guess…Tillary Diner, two eggs over easy, turkey bacon on the crispy side, glass of O.J.
- Am I that predictable?
- Yes, you're that predictable. Alright, well tonight sounds great. I'll pick up some stuff, I'll be your place about… - suddenly Flack heard a hard noise from the phone.
Jess tried to find out what happened when she saw a truck what drove to the diner place.
Don didn't know what happened there, but he heard some gunshots, too.
- Jess! Get out, now. Get out – yelled Flack and started the car. On his way to the scene he thought about Jess Angell.
- I can't lose her, not now – he was in panic when he arrived. He ran into the Tillary Diner and then he froze. Jess was lying on the ground. She had two wounds. One in her shoulder, near to her neck and one in her side.
- Hey, baby. Hey, hey, will you look at me – Jess was in a bad shape. She really couldn't concentrate on Flack's words.
- Hey, I'm here. Where is the ambulance? - yelled Flack – You're going to be alright. Okay? You're going to be alright.
He tried to took a close look at Jess's wounds. They were serious. And then Flack decided.
- Everything's going to be alright. I got you. I got you – said to her while he hold up Jess's body and rushed out from the diner.
- I need help. Help me open the door. Get the door – said he to some police officer who opened one of the car's door.
- Help me get her in the car – Don Flack embarked to the car, he was so doubtfully.
- Drive! Drive! Hang in there, Jess. Stay with me. I got you."
Mac Taylor was in his office when Jess got shot. He thought to his father. Not a long time ago, he had a case about a man who killed on an auction. And finally, they caught an old guy who was the member of the HitlerYouth in his young ages. In 1942 he betrayed a jew family. Later, Mac got a video about an old man who survived the Holocaust's terrible years and he told in an interview that in 1942 there was an American man who saved him. Primary McKenna Boyd Taylor. Mac Taylor's father.
After that Mac went over his life. His father was a hero. In NY Mac was it, too. He was a hero cop, but he didn't feel that. Somehow he changed since he was a cop. He saw a lot of horrible thing. Victims, families…
His train of thought was over in a minute when Stella imploded to his office.
- Mac. There was a shots fire in a Tillary Diner. Jess was in there. She got shot. Flack is in a hospital with her. And Connor Dunbrook is gone. We don't know where he is.
Mac jumped as he heard the news.
- How the hell is that happened?
- I'm not sure. Some idiot drove his truck into the Diner and then shots fire. Danny and Lindsay've already been on the scene.
- Okay, let's go.
When Stella and Mac arrived at the scene, Danny went to the hospital. He was stressed as the team's members was. And when he's already found Don, he lost all of his hope. As Flack looked into his eyes, Danny saw the pain in them.
Flack took a deep breathe.
„She's gone."
„12 hours later Flack found the man who killed Jessica Angell. He didn't hesitate. He killed the killer.
On that night everyone was in a bar, the King's Ale House.
Danny sat next to Lindsay, hand in hand. Adam was their right, Sid was their left.
Stella, Hawkes and Don sat in front of Danny and Lindsay.
- Her first autopsy – Sid spoke up when he saw the tears on his colleauges'eyes – we had a tech play dead on the table next to our vic. Two minutes into the post, he sits up from under the sheet and moans. Jess nearly had a heart attack. I thought she'd never speak to me again – he stopped and then he continued - now she never will.
Lindsay looked around the team and took the glass from Hawkes.
- Okay, come on, you guys, we promised we weren't gonna turn this into a tear fest. Let's keep it going.
And then it started."
„- That's right. I'm gonna try my best not make anybody cry. Would everyone raise their glass? – said Stella as Mac arrived. Hawkes gave him a glass and then Stella spoke up.
- Jessica Angell was one of those rare people, who touched each of our lives, the kind who reaffirm your faith in humanity…
While Stella spoke, one car drove next to the bar. In a minute, gunshots' sound filled out the café. Everyone fell to the ground, tried to find some safe place. And then silence.
The car has already gone away. Broken glasses covered the floor as Mac saw up. His shoulder was bleeding where the bullet grazed it.
- Mac, you're bleeding – said Stella as she sat up.
- I'm okay. It's nothing. You alright?
- Yeah, I think so.
- Guys, what the hell happened? – Adam Ross was full of fear.
- It's okay, Adam. It's over. Are you hurt?
- No, I'm okay. Sid – Adam looked down and saw Sid who sat on the ground.
- Sid? You alright? - Sid Hammerback turned around. He saw Stella, Mac and Adam.
- I don't really know. I feel some dizziness, I think – and he tried to touch the wound on his head.
- Hey, don't touch it. It can infect. Just leave it – Sheldon Hawkes was still a doctor and he tried to stanch the bleeding.
Don Flack didn't hurt.
- Flack, you okay? – Stella was concered.
- Yeah, I'm fine. You?
- It depends on…
Danny and Lindsay lied on the ground. Lindsay felt that someone pushed her to the ground just after when the first gunshot sounded. It was Danny.
- Linds, you okay, honey? – Danny sat up and his big blue eyes stared at Lindsay's.
- Yeah, I think so. I'm gonna need some stitches but I'm good. You? – said Lindsay as she stood up, too. On her right arm was a deep wound but she felt fine. But when she looked at Danny's face she began to concern. His husband was in fear and he was so pale. It's not normal.
- Danny?
- Ah, yeah I'm fine. I'm just – he said between some gasps as he putting his hand to his chest. He realized he was bleeding.
- Danny?
- It's okay. It's not too bad – said Danny as he fell to the floor.
- Danny? – Lindsay began to cry – Help!
On the same time Mac realized that he no where saw Lindsay. He was ready to yelled her name when he heard that.
- Someone help me! Please, help – it was Lindsay. Mac started to run but he froze as he looked at Danny.
- Hey, Danny. Look at me. You're going to be okay – said Lindsay. In her eyes, Mac saw the fear and the pain.
- Someone call an ambulance.
Stella pulled his cell out and dialed the 911.
- Don't cry, honey – Danny took deep breathes as he tried to concenrate on Lindsay.
As Flack watched them he remembered at Jess.
„- Hang in there Jess! I got you. You're going to be alright."
He closed his eyes. He realized that he was crying. Crying hard.
- Okay, Danny – Don avoided Adam and he squaded down to Danny.
- Look at me, buddy. You have to stay with us, okay? You have to stay with Linds and Lucy, you understand me?
- Yeah – Danny closed his eyes – it hurst so much.
- I know that, Dan. But you have to hang on. The ambulance is on the way. I've already done this today with Jess. You can't die on me.
Linds cried as hard as Flack did. Stella was on Mac's side and grasped his hand. Mac looked at her and squezzed her hand.
- Alright le me see – said finally Hawkes and he found himself at Danny's side.
- Oh God – Danny whispered – No one said that it hurst like this.
- I know, Dan. Getting shot it's not the best thing, you know.
- Yeah.
- Okay, there is one wound on his back. It's the only one. You're a lucky man, Danny.
- Uh, I feel that.
- It's okay, Danny. I'm here with you.
- I know you are, Linds. You know when Lucy was born, I was so proud of you. And now I'm still that. Becasue you're a great mother. Lucy is has to be happy because she has a Mommy like you – as Danny spoke to Lindsay, he started to cry.
- And a Daddy, like you, Danny. Please, just stay me with, alright – Lindsay lost herself. Her life is lying in her arms, and she couldn't help him.
One second later, Danny began to cough. He was on panic.
- Danny? Danny?
The young CSI tried to tell something, but he couldn't.
- I…I can't breath. Doc, I can't…
- Damnit. Mac help me. I need to see his wound again. Maybe it's worse then I thought – and then they turned Danny to his stomach.
- What do you see, Hawkes? – asked Adam.
- Ah, shit. Bad news.
- What's that?
- The bullet might affected his lung. If that ambulance won't arrive sooon, he will die.
- No, no, no. Danny! – Lindsay was distracted as she looked at Danny's face.
- I'm so cold, Lindsay. I'm so cold – when Danny realized that he might die he said three words. And that 3 words almost killed Lindsay.
- I love you.
In that minute they heard the sirens.
- Okay, they're here. You hear that Danny. You're going to be okay.
When two ambulance men ran to Danny, Sheldon told them what he knew.
- What is his name?
- Danny, Danny Messer.
- Mr. Messer, can you hear me?
Danny nodded but he still stared at Lindsay. His wife stood behind Hawkes.
- Kyle, don't hesitate, do what you have to do.
- Don't yell at me right now.
- HEY! – yelled Mac angrily as he stared at Danny.
- He's right. Alright, we have to go. Now.
When the paramedics took Danny to the car, Flack almost immedaitely opened his car's door and took Lindsay to the hospital.
- What now, Mac? – asked Adam.
- My kit is in my car – said Mac and Adam understood it.
On the way to the hospital Flack thought to Jess. Then he looked at Lindsay. She stared at the window, didn't say a word.
- Lindsay!
- Huh, yeah I'm fine.
- Danny's strong. He is gonna make it.
- Jess was strong, too – said Lindsay.
Flack closed his eyes. The though, the sight of his girlfriend bleeding on the floor.
- I know. It's hard.
Lindsay began to cry.
- I can't lose him. I can't, Don.
- I know. Just stay strong. He is gonna need your help.
- Yeah. I know.
- Hey, look. We're here.
They jumped out from the car and ran to the hospital. The ambulance has already arrived.
- Hey, wait – yelled Flack as he saw one man who worked on Danny.
- How is he?
- Sorry, we have to go – and the man ran away as Don and Lindsay went into the hospital.
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