The rhythmic beat of the heart monitor seemed to be the only sound filling the room as Flack sat himself on the chair by Kris' side and took her hand into his. Mac and Stella stood behind him; both analyzing the scene in front of them. Kris was definitely petite yet long limbed; her reddish brown hair starkly contrasted with the stitches on the right side of her head. The bruising from the assaulter's grip was evident on her elegant neck, tiny wrists, temple and right cheekbone. Her features were extremely delicate: long eyelashes that rested on her high cheekbones, an aristocratic nose and a slightly pouting lip; she was definitely more than pretty. However, what caught Stella's eye was a simple yet expensive engagement ring on Kris' slender finger. It was beautiful, a two – carat Princess Cut diamond encrusted in white gold.
"I was supposed to introduce you guys to her next week." Flack finally broke the silence, bitterness evident in his tone. "She was so excited to meet you all."
"How long have you been together?" Stella gently replied.
"I met her four and a half years ago; we were good friends for a year and a half, dated for two years and engaged for a year. She wanted a Christmas wedding."
"She's catholic." Mac stated having noticed the white gold cross that lay across her collar bone.
"Devout Roman Catholic." A small smile crossed Flack's face. "She believed in waiting till marriage but now-" the smile disappeared and Flack buried his face in her bed sheets. Not knowing what to say, the two kept their silence and waited for Flack to regain his composure. After a minute or two, Flack looked up and brought Kris' hand to his lips. "I love this girl. She's my life, you know?" he then turned to face Mac and Stella. "I need you to find this bastard and send him to jail for life. I want him to put away! He has to pay for what he did to her!" Flack clenched his fist in anger before turning away from them. "Promise me, Mac. Promise me that you'll never let him hurt another woman."
"I promise, Flack. We'll do everything we can to catch him." Mac comfortingly squeezed Flack's shoulder to stress his words before letting his arms fall back to his side. Just then Kris curled into a ball, small sobs escaping her lips. Worry flashed across Flack's face as he placed a hand on Kris' back causing her to flinch.
The heart monitor began to beep louder as Kris' pulse raced; her whole body trembling as she gasped for air. "Nurse! We need a nurse in here!" Mac roared, sticking his head out of the hospital room.
"Kris, it's okay. I'm here." Flack frantically tried to calm her down as her wheezing became more evident. Before he could do more, a group of nurses burst into the room and turned Kris on her back. Kris' eyes were now wide open; only the whites of her eyes were visible as the nurses desperately tried to place a breathing tube in her mouth.
"She's losing oxygen! We need that tube in her mouth, now!" the head nurse roared as she held Kris' head in her hands.
"Her throats constricting!" a nurse retorted.
"Got it!" another finally exclaimed in triumph, having gotten the tube in. She then began to pump air into the tube before Kris fell limp in the head nurse's arms.
"She's fainted." The head nurse felt for a pulse. "Pulse is racing. She needs some rest." With that, she gently lay her back down while the other nurses filed out of the room.
"What just happened to her?" Stella asked the head nurse.
"It was a bad respiratory attack most probably caused by the emotional and physical stress on her right now. She just needs a lot of rest."
"Thank you." Stella dismissed her before turning to Flack. He sat dejectedly on the chair, Kris's hand enclosed in his. "Flack…" she trailed off.
"Just find the bastard, Stella. You can start at my house." Not even looking at them, Flack handed them the key to his apartment. "Richmond Condominiums, thirteenth floor."
Stella and Mac exchanged a surprised look as they took the key from him. They hadn't expect Flack to live in such an upscale condominium housing.
"Wow… nice place." Stella couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as she and Mac entered Flack's condominium. Mac reached for the light switch and flicked it on; light flooding into the hallway.
"Blood spatters on the white carpeting; gravitational direction indicates that she came in bleeding and made her way to the living room." Stella analyzed as Mac took pictures. "Bloody handprint shows that she leaned for support and ended up passing out by the couch."
The two examined the pool of blood by the plush white leather couch; Mac taking more pictures while Stella looked for any trace of the assaulter. "What I don't understand," Stella suddenly spoke up. "is why she didn't call for help."
"Maybe she was too weak." Mac suggested.
"Or maybe, she knew the assaulter."
A/N: You guys, please please review!!! The reviews encourage me to write and update so please please please press that little button that reads review!!! Hahahaha!!! Thanks to Caitlin and NYPD55Chick (btw, thanks for the correction!!!), you guys encouraged me to update!