Okay, here's the old disclaimer: This is a Third Watch fanfiction, the key word being…fiction! The only characters that are mine are the Reileys (Cait, Grace, and their family). The rest are the property of NBC and John Wells and all those other folks. I don't own 'em, I'm just borrowing 'em. Don't sue , it'll be a waste of your time.
With that done, let me just say that this is my first Third Watch story. I hope you like it and as always, reviews are much appreciated. Now, read on.
Chapter One: Is She Dead
"Central to 55 Adam, please report to Mercy ASAP." The radio squawked on Officer Cait Reiley's shoulder. She stopped on the second floor landing and turned to look at her partner, Officer Steven Gusler. He just shrugged his shoulders. Frowning, Cait keyed her mic to respond.
"55 Adam to Central, we're on a call."
"10-4 55 Adam, 55 David is coming to assist." The dispatcher replied, causing Cait to frown even more.
"Are we waiting for Faith and Bosco?" Steven asked, leaning against the banister.
"Nope." Cait replied and started back up the stairs.
The two officers were just coming out of the building's double doors, leading a handcuffed suspect, when the second squad car pulled up. Officer Maurice Boscorelli stopped the car just inches from the already parked one. Shaking her head with dismay, Officer Faith Yokas climbed out of the passenger side.
"Hey Faith." Cait said as Steve put their suspect in the backseat. Cait looked at where Bosco sat behind the wheel, looking pissed. "What's going on?"
Faith shrugged, leaning against the car. "Central told us to come here. Bosco's gonna take you to Mercy and I'm gonna stay with Steve." Cait didn't say anything about riding with Boscorelli. It was common knowledge that two female cops couldn't ride together.
"Who's hurt?" Cait asked, her blue eyes clouding over.
"They didn't say." Faith said, not looking Cait in the eye.
Cait was about to speak when Bosco honked the horn and started motioning with his hands.
"I should give you my gun." Cait told Faith.
"Why?"
"I might shoot him."
"Do you know what's going on?" Cait asked Bosco as they sat in traffic on the way to Mercy Hospital.
"All they said was that there was some sort of emergency and that Faith and me had to pick you up." Bosco replied.
"Is it Grace?"
"That's your sister?" He asked. He watched as Cait's crystal blue eyes clouded over. Dammit.
"Is she dead?" Cait asked, her voice flat.
"They didn't say." Bos replied softly.
They rode in silence to Mercy. Bosco thought it sucked that he had to be the one to take Cait to see her sister in the hospital. Why couldn't it be 55 Charlie? Sully and Davis were way more compassionate and sensitive. Besides, he rarely spoke to Cait. Sure, Faith and her were friendly, but that didn't rub off on him just by association.
When they got stuck in traffic again, Bosco tried to put on the lights and sirens, but they were stuck tight and no one was moving. Cait was fidgiting in the passenger seat. She took out her cell phone and pushed one button.
"Jason, it's Cait." She said when Sergeant Jason Christopher answered the phone at the precinct house.
"Are you at Mercy?" Jason asked.
"No, Bosco drives like my grandma. He's got us stuck in traffic." This earned Cait a dirty look.
"How far are you?"
"Far. Tell me what's going on."
"I can't."
"Damn you, Jason! Tell me what the hell happened to Grace or the next time I see you I'm gonna forget you're my boss and remember the time that…"
"Christ, Cate! Calm down!" Jason cut her off. "Just go to the hospital!" Then, he hung up on her. Cait was tempted to call him back and yell at him some more, but then she realized something.
"It's bad when they won't tell you over the phone." She said, looking right at Bosco.
"We'll be there soon."