April 13, 2005

DISCLAIMER: Cold Case and the Cold Case squad isn't mine but the story and other characters are mine.

April 13, 2005

"Wow, it's awfully quiet here."

Dr. Anastasia David looked up from the pile of papers in front of her, her pen pausing in mid-air. "Hey Matt," she greeted her colleague. "Don't jinx it."

"I come in peace, Ana," Dr. Matthew Cameron replied, flashing her a peace sign with his index and forefingers. "Is Dr. Nixon around?"

"What, you didn't come to see me?" Ana teased, briefly looking up from her paperwork.

Matt smiled and placed a cup of coffee on her table. "Of course, I did, I was only using Nixon as an excuse. I even brought you coffee."

"Thanks, Matt. I was just kidding, but thanks anyway," Ana smiled, putting her pen down. She was three hours into her shift, and because it was a slow night, she had been catching up on her paperwork. Slow nights like this are rarities for the often bustling ER, and she welcomed the change of pace.

"Seriously, though, is Dr. Nixon still here?" Matt asked, referring to the department chief.

"I think so," Ana replied, taking the lid off her coffee. "He hasn't dropped by to say goodnight. It's just 10 o'clock anyway, and you know he often stays until midnight."

"And I'm standing right here," a voice behind Ana said. Swiveling her chair around, she saw their fatherly department chief standing with his coat in his arm and his bag slung on his shoulder. "Good evening Dr. Cameron."

"Good evening Chief," Matt said. "I was just asking Ana here if you're still around."

"I am, but I'm on my way out now," Dr. Nixon replied. "How are things around here, Dr. David?"

"It's a slow night, Chief," Ana reported. "Not that I'm complaining."

Dr. Nixon nodded, surveying the ER. "I know. That's why I decided to head home early. You need to talk to me, Cameron?"

Matt was about to say something, but was interrupted by a nurse approaching Ana's table. "Dr. David, paramedics just brought in an unconscious male they picked up in front of a bar. He's in Exam 2. Hello, Dr. Nixon, Dr. Cameron."

"Hi Marge," Matt smiled at the nurse as Ana stood up. Dr. Nixon nodded in acknowledgement. Ana took a quick sip of coffee before grabbing her stethoscope. "Thanks for the coffee, Matt. Good night, Chief. Gotta go to work now."

"Cameron, let's talk on my way to my car," Ana heard Dr. Nixon tell Matt as she left them to follow the nurse.

Marge the nurse led Ana to the cubicle where the paramedics had placed the unconscious patient. Several other nurses were already working on the patient, and a crash cart had been prepared. Ana took the history from the paramedics and began examining the patient. She guessed he was in his forties, and whoever said that life begins at forty was proven dead wrong by this man. He looked to be having the worst time of his life, his face was gaunt, unshaven and he had wounds in various stages of healing all over his face. His clothes were dirty and reeked of alcohol and smoke, and Ana guessed it's been awhile since John Doe has had a healthy meal and a bath.

"Let's get him out of these dirty rags," Ana ordered. She got her penlight and moved closer to the patient to examine his pupillary reflexes when suddenly, John Doe's eyes opened. Before anyone could react, he began trashing about wildly, knocking off the nurse removing his shoes as well as an instrument tray next to the stretcher. He lunged towards Ana, who was about to take a step back, and managed to grab both ends of the stethoscope hanging over her neck. Ana reflexively grabbed both of his arms, but he was already pulling both ends of the stethoscope, tightening it like a noose around her neck. The young doctor began to gasp for air, and her vision was starting to go dim. As she struggled wildly against his grip, he lost his balance and fell off the stretcher, knocking her down. The fall made him let go of her stethoscope, but his weight on top of her almost knocked her out. Then, just as suddenly as he started moving, Ana felt the man go limp.

"Get him off her! Call security!" somebody yelled as Ana lay gasping for breath. As her dimming vision returned to back to normal, she saw Matt pushing the man aside, an empty syringe on his hand. As the paramedics and the guards carried the man back to the stretcher, Ana struggled to stand up. "Hey, take it easy," Matt said, supporting her up. "Are you okay?"

Ana gingerly touched her neck with her left hand, leaning heavily against Matt. Her legs felt like jelly, but she just had to get out of this place for a while. "I just need some fresh air," she said, amazed that her voice sounded stronger than she felt. "Can you cover for me for a while, Matt?"

"No, you go with her, Cameron, I'll take it from here," Dr. Nixon ordered. As he barked orders, Matt led Ana out of the suddenly suffocating ER. Outside, on the ambulance bay, Ana drew out a pack of cigarettes from her pocket and lit one up. She offered the pack to Matt, her hands still shaking. Wordlessly he took it and lit his own. For a while, they just stood there side by side, quietly smoking. Matt would glance at Ana now and then, but she was staring blankly in space, oblivious of this. Flicking his cigarette away, he sighed and lightly placed his arm over her shoulders, pulling her gently to his side. Ana did not resist. After a while, she looked up at him and spoke up. "I'd better go back."

"You don't have to, I can cover for you," Matt replied.

"No, Matt, I need to go back," Ana insisted, the vacant look in her eyes now gone. "If I don't go back and make myself busy, I'll be replaying that incident over and over in my head 'til I go crazy."

Matt looked at her doubtfully. "Are you sure?"

"Positive," Ana said with a small smile. She punched him lightly on his side. "Thanks, Matt."

"You know what, I've got nothing planned for tonight and tomorrow anyway," Matt began, "I could stay around for a while." He paused, then hastily added, "but only if you want me to."

"You don't have to baby sit me," Ana replied with a bigger smile. "I really appreciate it, but…" she started saying but changed her mind mid-sentence. "Oh, what the hell, I'd like you to be around tonight. But promise me, no baby sitting, no treating me like I'm made of eggshells."

Matt smiled back. "I promise."

They met Dr. Nixon as they re-entered the ER. He kindly offered to let Ana take the rest of the night off, but she was adamant in going back on duty. Dr. Nixon only relented when he learned that Ana was willing to let Matt stay for the rest of the shift.

"Okay, then, I guess I'll be going now," Dr. Nixon finally said, looking at his two young residents. He started walking towards the exit, but paused and turned back. "By the way, Cameron, what was it that you wanted to talk to me about?"

Matt looked around at the now busy ER. "I'd rather we talk in private, sir. Anyway, it can wait 'til tomorrow."

"I've got this," Ana interjected, referring to the patients in the ER. "I can handle this until you two have finished your talk."

Matt looked torn. "Okay, it won't take long anyway. I'll be back right away."

"Come on, Cameron, walk me to my car and let's have that chit chat," Dr. Nixon told him. "David, if you change your mind, you have my permission to leave Dr. Cameron here and head home. The night is still young, after all, and it is Friday the 13th and a full moon."

"And a Good Friday, too," Ana smiled wryly. "To us Catholics, those three isn't such a good combination. But I can handle it, sir."

"Very well, if you say so," Dr. Nixon said, glad that Ana seemed to be back to her usual self. "Come along, Cameron."

Ana watched as the two men headed out. She then turned away from the exit and went to the nurses' station, where a long line of patient charts are demanding her attention. Picking the first one on the line, she began working again.

The guard on duty was making his first rounds in the morning light when he stumbled upon an unmoving body lying face down in the parking area. The ER chief's car was still in its assigned parking space, and as he reached down to check the man, he realized with horror that it was Dr. Nixon. Not knowing whether he was alive or dead, the guard immediately radioed for help.

"Nixon, C., April 2005." A box so similar to other boxes on the shelf held what remained of the investigation of the old doctor's death. If it weren't for sophisticated equipment in the forensics lab, the death would have been ruled as one due to natural causes. However, extremely high levels of potassium and chloride in Chester Nixon's blood made his death suspicious, but lack of evidence and suspects eventually forced the investigation to be discontinued. It was a sad ending for a man who saved numerous lives.

Present Day

Detective Scotty Valens was in a good mood, and it showed. Yesterday had been great, he had a couple of old buddies at his place and together they watched one of the best football games he'd seen in a long time. It was just like the old times…a bunch of kids hanging around, getting rowdy over football and drinking beer like it was the end of the world. Scotty realized it was just what he needed, only he didn't know it when he invited the guys over. Yesterday he was not a burnt out detective, Randy was not a used car salesman trying to make the ends meet, Manny was not a husband who had fallen out of love with his wife and Kyle was not a son taking care of a mother whose memory had gotten so bad she can't remember him. They were just as they were twenty years ago, a group of friends enjoying a game and not caring about the world.

With a cup of coffee in one hand, Scotty entered the headquarters and headed to his department. He was just about to greet Will Jeffries, who was talking to someone on the phone, when Lieutenant John Stillman came out of the office.

"Valens, I need you to go to the Philadelphia Medical Center right now," Stillman ordered. "Go to the ER and look for Rush."

"Lil's in the ER?" Scotty asked, a worried frown replacing the relaxed expression on his face. "What happened?"

"Cat got Rush," Stillman said. The statement elicited a surprised gasp from Detective Kat Miller, who had just emerged from the break room with her mug of coffee. "I what?"

Stillman smiled. "Sorry, Miller. I didn't mean you. I meant one of Lilly's cats scratched or bit her, I'm not exactly sure which, and she had to stop by the ER for some shots. Or stitches. I don't really know what happened, but Lilly just called me and said she stumbled on some cold case on one of the doctors who worked there."

Detective Nick Vera pumped a fist on his desk. "I knew those…those ANIMALS of Lil are evil! I can't understand why she puts up with them."

"Much like we can't understand how Jeffries puts up with you," Scotty quipped, relieved that his partner was not in the ER for more serious reasons. "I'm on my way, Boss."

Opening credits