I was running through a dark, grimy tunnel, the only lighting was coming from the street below and a few dim overhead lamps. I called out to Esposito and Beckett who were leading the charge on the building. Castle was right behind me - as always he had refused to stay in the car.
As we ran the lighting flickered, occasionally casting gloomy shadows on the floor that added to the feeling of being watched. I heard Beckett telling the swat team to be on guard as we were approaching the room.
"Ryan you go in first, Espo, Castle and I'll take the side door"
I readied myself for combat by stopping and taking a long slow breath; it was just long enough to feel the adrenaline rush but not long enough that I lost the edge.
I nodded to Beckett giving her the signal to go. I crept up to the door and tested the handle to see if it was open.
It wasn't.
"NYPD! Open the door!"
No response.
I kicked the door open and entered the room, as expected it was a drug lab, but the dealers were nowhere to be seen. I heard a noise and spun around but it was just Beckett, Esposito and Castle coming in through the door to the left
"Where are they?"
"Don't know I heard them in here, but they're gone now"
"Well let's get out of here, go back the Precinct and get an APB out on them" Beckett said
I felt the bullet tear into my shoulder. Then my warm blood flow across my chest. I felt myself fall as my legs gave way. I heard Javier screaming my name…
I woke up with my heart pounding in my throat, and I started hyperventilating as I remembered the searing pain in my shoulder. I took several deep breaths to try and calm my breathing. When that failed I crawled out of bed, reached for the Anti-depressant's that I kept in the night stand in case of emergencies and gulped one down with a glass of water.
"Honey what's wrong"
"Nothing, just had a bad dream is all"
"About the shooting?"
I nodded, while running my left hand over my right shoulder where the bullet had torn through. I followed the trajectory down where it had wreaked havoc with my lungs. It had gone in at an angle and punctured my right lung then ricocheted off my rib cage and lodged itself in my chest. The doctors had said it was a very strange wound and I was lucky to have survived it.
"I just can't get it out of my head; it's still there teasing me. Like I'm waiting for him to come back and finish me off"
"Kev, they got the guy while you were in the hospital, he's in jail he can't get you"
"I know, sorry for waking you" I said while resting my hand on her thigh.
She pulled me in for a long slow kiss, before lying down next to me and cuddling on the bed. I loved the feeling of having her next to me; her long curly hair tickling my cheek and chest I kissed her forehead and shut my eyes.
The next morning I woke up to the best sound in the world –Jenny singing as she cooked- she was singing 'Wake Me Up' by Ed Sheeran it was one of her all time favourite songs and I loved hearing her sing it.
I dragged myself out of bed and followed the smell of bacon and eggs to the kitchen. I crept up behind her and hugged her.
"Morning, love" I told her
"Breakfast is nearly ready"
"I know I can smell it, it smells amazing"
I poured myself a cup of coffee and leaned against the kitchen bench slowly sipping it.
Jenny gave me a plate piled with scrambled eggs, bacon and toast, we moved to the kitchen table to eat.
After we finished eating I went to get ready for work. It was my second day back and we were already working a murder case. My shoulder was still quite stiff and it was a bit of a struggle to get my shirt on. I grabbed a tie and tied it in a double Windsor knot.
When I left my room Jenny was standing there with a concerned look on her face
"What's up hun?"
"Just be careful, okay"
"I will, Love you"
"Love you too"
I kissed her goodbye and left to go to work.
