Chapter 2

XXXXXXX

Martin sat on the sofa and glanced around the office. It was early in the morning and the sunlight made everything in the room seem pink and soft. It was easier to meet with Lisa Harris before work since time seemed to get away from him as the day wore on.

He eyed the bouquet of red roses on Lisa's desk and wondered who sent her flowers for St. Valentine's Day. While she knew a lot about him he knew very little about her. He knew she wasn't married but that didn't mean she didn't have someone in her life. He wasn't married either but he had Ruby.

Ruby had called him late last night to thank him for the roses he had sent. They both lamented the fact that neither one of them could get away from work so they could celebrate the holiday together but they made plans to have dinner when he flew down to Washington later this month.

Lisa finished her phone call and came around her desk to take a seat opposite of him. "I'm sorry about that but I had to take that call." As she got comfortable in the seat she pulled out her notepad and asked, "How are things?"

"Good," Martin began. He looked down to stare at his hands for no other reason than to give him something to focus on. "I talked to Danny about the shooting."

"How did it go?" she asked in her usual calm neutral tone. It never failed to impress him that she was always composed and professional no matter what time of day they met.

"He told me he thinks I should be happy that I don't remember anything." Martin looked up at Lisa and finished, "He said he wished that he could forget it."

She nodded her head, leaned back in her chair and asked, "Can you tell me what he told you specifically?"

He swallowed. "Why? I'm sure I won't be telling you anything different from what Danny told you himself."

"I'd like to hear it from you," she replied.

Martin nodded his head and began.

XXX

"Come on!" Danny shouted at the television as the Knicks were getting their asses kicked by the Lakers.

Martin just sat back on his sofa and laughed at how riled up the Latino agent was getting. He took a long drink of his beer and tried to think of the best way to broach the subject of the shooting. He had purposely invited him over tonight so they could discuss it – not that Danny knew that.

As the game cut to commercial Danny leaned back, took a drink of his soda and said, "I cannot believe Hardaway missed that shot."

"Yeah," Martin replied noncommittally.

"What' s up with you? You invited me over but you're not even watching the game," Danny asked suspiciously.

He looked at his now empty beer bottle before turning to look at his friend. He cleared his throat and asked, "I was wondering if you could tell me about that night; the night of the shooting."

Martin noticed that Danny's face went blank before he turned to look at the television. His knee started bouncing up and down before he asked, "Why do you want to know?"

"I need to know. I hate that I don't remember anything. I was involved in an event that changed my whole life and I can only read about it in case reports." Martin swallowed and continued, "I just think I'd feel better to know, to know the stuff that isn't in the reports. And you are the only one who was there."

He could see Danny working his jaw, considering. A little later he softly began, "It happened really fast. I had just gotten off the phone with Jack and there was a dark blue van in front of us. The light turned green but they didn't move so you honked the horn to try and get them to move. We were in a good mood that Viv was going to be okay. I even told you, 'At least we're ending the day on an up note.' Then Dornvald and Jamal jumped out of the back of the van."

Danny paused and took a drink of his soda. Martin noticed that he looked extremely uncomfortable and said, "I'm sorry, I totally sprung this on you. If you don't want to…"

"No, you're right. You should know." Danny looked at Martin and their eyes met in mutual understanding. He turned back to face the TV but not really watching as he continued, "It was so loud between the gunfire and glass shattering. I shouted 'Get down!' as soon as they started shooting and felt a pain in my shoulder. You must have been hit at the same time because immediately after you slumped down on top of me. I knew I couldn't get out of the car to shoot back so instead I pressed down on your leg so your foot would hit the gas. I was hoping to hit them with the car or at least get us out of the way. But you were slouched against the steering wheel and it made us turn and head to the intersection where we hit the SUV.

"I heard tires screeching and by the time I was able to move out from under you they were half-way down the street. I gave chase but it was hopeless. I shouted orders to the SUV driver we hit to call for an ambulance. When I got back to the car you were covered in blood but your eyes open and you were having difficulty breathing." Danny swallowed and sighed. "I got you out of your seatbelt but your leg was wedged under the steering wheel so I couldn't move you. I panicked. I just wanted to get you out of the car." He gave a humorless laugh. "A civilian actually had to remind me to try and stop your bleeding and wait for the paramedics. So using a jacket I pressed hard on your chest wound and prayed for the bleeding to stop."

Martin just looked at Danny, his heart racing and anxiety building.

"The look on your face, man, you just kept looking at me to do something, to help you, but there was nothing I could do but try and stop the bleeding. I kept telling you that you were going to be fine and to hang on." Danny turned and looked at Martin as he said, "You looked at me for like a split second before you shut your eyes. That's it. That's everything."

He swallowed and nodded his head. He brought the beer bottle to his lips to take a drink when he remembered that it was empty. He put the bottle on the coffee table and softly said, "Thanks for telling me. I know it wasn't easy."

Danny exhaled audibly and said, "Martin, I can't imagine how you feel waking up after losing two months but believe me, it is a blessing that you don't remember that night. I would give anything to forget it."

The two men's eyes met in understanding and he couldn't help but think that maybe Danny was right.

XXX

"Do you feel better knowing the personal version of events from Danny?" Lisa asked.

"I don't know. I feel bad for him more than anything else," Martin commented. "I don't know how he manages to be so cheerful after all that happened. I envy him for that."

"We all have our coping methods, Martin." Lisa said as she leaned forward in her chair. "I'm sure Danny has his days just like everyone else. It's great that you were able to talk to him. I really think it is a step in the right direction."

"I don't know about that, I actually feel worse for having found out all the details. I honestly didn't think it would feel like this," Martin replied lamely.

Lisa smiled and said, "I know it doesn't feel like it now but believe me: that is progress."