She felt the bullet sink into the back of her shoulder and the burning feeling that sunk in and seemed to stay. She felt her body fall to the ground, but it wasn't the ground. Thats what she had to remember. It was the cop. She'd had to protect the cop.
Her body was being rolled. She wished she could open her eyes so she could see if the blond woman was okay. That had been the whole purpose though. To protect the cop. Not that she'd ever been fond of the police, hell most of them just gave her shit for being out in the streets. But the girl in her school had made mention that her mom was a cop. And if someone's mom could mean that much to them, then she could at least appreciate a woman cop, no matter the circumstances.
So when Tommy D had pulled his glock, she'd seen where he was aiming and hadn't even thought, when she'd taken off running toward the woman in uniform. Though she was probably confused as to what was going on and why she was being tackled, since she'd been the only one to see the gun trained on the woman.
Rolling this kid off of her, it took a few moments for Stef to realize that she'd heard a gunshot, just prior to going down. Or maybe while she was going down. Reaching down, she felt the blood that was now seeping out of this kid's shoulder. She was probably sixteen years old, maybe a little older, dyed purple hair and she was thin. Too thin for a kid of her age.
Mike stopped when he was close to the pair laying there, gun still pulled, waiting for another shot. Grabbing his ex wife by her shirt, he dragged her back behind the car door, leaving the kid lying in the street. "We can't leave her there."
"I'm going back for her. Don't worry."
"She shouldn't be moved. That bullet didn't come out, which means it could be anywhere."
"We can't just leave her there, Stef."
"Then move the truck. Get back-up here!" and she shifted herself, making her way out from under cover to get near the girl again.
Left with no choice, he got in the squad car and pulled it forward, covering both of them. Getting out, there were no other shots as back up arrived.
Putting her hand on the girls face, she pushed the hair back, instantly taking note of the dark make up, and all the piercings, one in her eyebrow, one in her bottom lip, one in her nose and three in each ear. "Jeez kid, what were you thinking?"
There was no response. Looking back at Mike, she covered the kid a little more, knowing she had her vest on and could take a hit if necessary. "She jumped in front of a bullet for me."
He nodded. "I know."
"Where did she even come from?"
He shook his head. "I don't know, Stef. Back up is here."
They had the scene secure before they knew it, and the ambulance was there. Staring after the kid as they loaded her up in the bus, she glanced at Mike. "I'm going to ride to the hospital with her."
Not sure why, he stared at her. Finally, he nodded once, telling her he would stay behind to do paperwork.
Watching in her eyes, he grabbed his phone deciding he would call Lena and let her know what was going on. Not that Stef wouldn't, but when she focused on something, things had a way of falling to the wayside when it came to letting people know what was going on.
Crawling up into the back of the ambulance, she watched them strap the kid in and start throwing needles and patches everywhere for IV's and such. Why did you do it, kid? What on Earth were you thinking?
She wouldn't get answers until the kid awoke. Having confidence that she would wake up soon. She didn't say anything as the EMT gave a rundown as much as he could. She was still as glass as he continued to prod and poke, running what he could to find out what was going on.
Stopping for a few moments, she cleared her throat. "There is no exit wound."
Nodding, he rolled her up onto her side once again to look at the wound. "She needs an x-ray as soon as we arrive, bullet is still in her neck looking at this trajectory."
"Got it!" the driver yelled back and started calling in to the awaiting staff prepping for their arrival. She heard them call out that their ETA was four minutes, and she prayed there was no major internal bleeding from the bullet. She helped as the tech started taking her jewelry off and putting it in a ziplock.
Looking at the phone in her hand, she saw Mike's number come up. It always made her worry when it was the middle of the day and he was ringing her phone. Because it usually meant that Stef was elbow deep in something that was going to freak her out.
"Hello."
"Hey Lena. Listen...there was a shooting today..."
Her breath caught in her chest. Not again. Please, not again. She hadn't realized she'd said it out loud until she heard his voice again.
"No. Not again. Actually, some kid jumped in front of her. She's on her way to the hospital with her, but she's fine. I was just letting you know because she's probably not thinking about much right now except the kid."
Letting her breath out, she nodded. Stef always did get consumed in what she was doing, especially when kids were involved. "Thanks."
"Do you want me to come get the kids so you can go up to the hospital?"
"Yes...thanks. Just...I'll let Brandon know what's going on."
"Alright. I've got them, I'll get them home. You go take care of Stef."
"Thanks." and she hit the end button. Popping her head into Monty's office, she cleared her throat. "There was a shooting...I've got to go."
Sitting up straight in her chair she leaned forward. "Oh my gosh! Is your wife okay?"
She nodded. "She is, but a kid was hit and she's at the hospital and I was going to..."
"Go." she interrupted. "Go to her. Keep me posted."
Nodding again she mouthed 'Thanks' before disappearing into the hallway. Making her way to her son's room, she knocked on the door and asked him to step out quickly.
Brandon knew it was serious; even being vice principal, she never took him out of class. "What's up?"
"Your dad is going to come and get you guys from school."
"Wait...what? What's wrong with mom?"
"Mom was involved in a shooting...don't worry, she wasn't shot. But she's with the kid who was shot at the hospital. I'm going up there to be with her."
He nodded. "Do you want me to do anything?"
"Just get the kids home."
He nodded again. "Tell mom I love her."
Giving him a hug real quick, she kissed his cheek. "I will." and she set off for the car.
Pulling up at the hospital within a few minutes, she rushed up the steps. "Okay Stef...where are you?" she whispered to herself softly. Suddenly Mike came into view. "Mike!"
"Lena!" he said, relieved.
"Where's Stef?"
"She's in room three-thirteen."
"Thanks." and she disappeared around the corner. Stepping up, she knocked softly, before creaking it open. "Stef?"
She smiled. "Hey." she replied softly.
Then she looked down at the girl in the bed. Still as glass and clearly unconscious. "What happened?" came out as she made her way over and hugged her wife tightly.
"We were investigating a scene and suddenly I was tackled. I heard a pop and noticed it was her that had been shot. She jumped in front of a bullet for me. And I had my vest on. I'd have been fine."
Looking closer at the child she squeezed her wife's hand. "Oh my gosh, Stef. I know this girl!"
"What?"
"She just enrolled at Anchor Beach on Monday. I wondered why I hadn't seen her today."
"What's her name?"
"Jace Lynn Taylor." then her brows furrowed. "She didn't have her school ID on her?"
Shaking her head back and forth, she leaned forward. "There was no identification on her at all. We didn't know who she was or where she came from."
"I have all her information at the school if you need."
"Yeah."
"Why'd she do it?"
"I don't know. She literally appeared out of nowhere and took me down."
"Well what's going on with her?"
"Doctor said they removed the bullet but that she could possibly have minor damage to her shoulder and collar bone area. I'd like to stay here until she wakes up, get her statement and pretty much say thanks. Try and understand why."
"I doubt you'll get much out of her."
"Why?"
"She doesn't talk."
"What?"
"Well, I mean...she talks, but very little, and you really have to push her. But she's freaking brilliant. She surprised me when she came in."
Curious as to why, she cocked her head slightly. "Really?"
Lena nodded. "I've been at Anchor Beach for a long time and I've never seen anyone take an entrance exam in less than an hour. And not only take it that fast, but pass it with a hundred and not even be phased by it. She's in advanced classes and despite her only being fifteen, I'm trying to get her into the senior class."
Staring at her, she smiled.
"What?"
The blond shook her head? "I love you very much, Misses Lena Adams-Foster."
Leaning in softly, she kissed her wife then sat back.