C is for Concussion
Jamie finished buttoning his shirt, then grabbed his badge and gun and slid them into his belt before closing his locker and walking towards the squad room. He sat down at his desk and opened a file while waiting for Eddie to join him. He looked up as the tv was switched on, and a look of curiosity crossed his face as he watched the events that were unfolding on the screen. Eddie walked in, and was quickly sucked in also.
"Everybody in the squad room immediately!" All eyes look towards the sound of the voice, and quickly followed their chief down the hall.
"Looks like this won't be a slow day after all." Jamie said to Eddie as the took their places in the formation, waiting for further orders.
"Well if were about to be told what I think we are, our day is going to be anything but that." Eddie replied. Jamie and Eddie snapped to attention when their Sergeant yelled 10 hut! Jamie tried to hide the look of confusion as his dad walked in and took his place behind the podium at the front of the room. He gave him a quick smile when they caught each other's eye.
"As you were. As most of you probably already know, a protest has broken out a few blocks south of here. There is no one group, but multiple. They are protesting the current political climate. They turned violent just less than a half hour ago, and the police already out there are not properly equipped, so that's where you come in. You will each given the procedural riot gear. I'm sending you out because I will not allow the level of looting or violence that we saw in Baltimore in my city. Make only necessary arrests, watch each other's backs, and remember, we all come home tonight. Thank you." Frank smiled at his men, then walked off as everyone began talking as they made their way to where the gear was being handed out. Jamie tried to catch up to his dad, but he had left to quickly. Eddie and Jamie walked over, and collected their things.
"Tear gas? Ugh, I hate this stuff!" Eddie said as the suited up.
"Me to. Let's hope we don't have to use it!" Jamie said.
Later...
Jamie planted his feet in preparation for the crowd that was advancing towards them. He pulled the mask tighter around his face. Eddie shook her head at the chaos in front of them. Store owners had locked their door and boarded up windows in hopes of keeping the protesters at bay. Car alarms were beeping and glass was scattered across the street. The group of officers in front of them were already engaged in the fight. Jamie shot Eddie a glance as they received the orders to deploy the tear gas. They watched as it took effect on the rioters, but not quite enough. The crowd surged forward and broke through the first line of police. Jamie braced himself as bricks, rocks, and anything in reach was doing at them, while he was also being attacked by a man. Somewhere amidst the struggle, his helmet flew off, and before he could react, a sharp pain stormed through the side of his head.
Meanwhile...
"Its getting bad out there. There's been reports of over 20 officers injured so far." Garrett said as he and Sid walked into Frank's office.
"Any critical? Do we have names?" Frank asked, turning from the window to face them.
"Not as of now. And no, we are still waiting on a list. The hospital should be sending one over any time now." Garrett said.
"Frank, we gotta stop sending our guys out there! 20 men already injured, it's to risky." Sid said.
"So what, we by just sit back and let them ravage out city? We don't have a choice! Look, Frank-"
"I agree." He interjected.
"You do?" Sid asked with a surprised look.
"Yes. I hoped it wouldn't come to this, but we don't have a choice. I'm calling in the national guard." Frank said, and sat down to make the call. He had just picked up the phone when Baker pushed the door open.
"Sir, we just received the list of officers now confirmed injured. There's no critical as of now, but I...I thought you should see it." She said, and handed him the paper. Frank didn't have to say a word to the two other men for them to know what name he was looking at. It was Jamie.
Danny looked down from the news report on the tv in his squad room at the caller ID on his phone. He stood from his desk and walked into the hallway where it was quieter before answering it.
"Hey dad everything ok? Is it true? Over 20 cops injured?" He asked.
"Yea, I'm afaird so. Look, uh I need you to go to saint James for me." Danny felt his heart drop to his stomach at his father's words.
"Jamie? How bad?" He asked, running back to his desk and hurriedly grabbing his jacket and keys. Baez gave him a questioning look.
"I don't know. That's why I need you to get over there." Frank said.
"I'm leaving now. I'll call you as soon as I know." Danny said, and hung up.
"Everything alright partner?" Baez asked, even though she could already tell the answer by the look on his face.
"No... I gotta go to saint James. You know those 20 officers injured? Jamie was one of them." Danny said before running out.
Later...
Jamie woke to the smell of chemicals that could only come from one place. A hospital. But why would he be in a hospital? As he woke further, the blur of events that were the past few hours became more clear. He opened his eyes, only to shut them again quickly with a grunt of pain.
"Welcome back sleepy." Danny said when he watched his brother start to stir.
"My...head..." Jamie said with another sigh of pain. He opened his eyes more slowly this time.
"Yea, that's to be expected. You took a brick to the temple. Pretty nasty concussion, not to mention a fractured skull. Somehow you didn't need surgery. Just a crap ton of stitches and some pain killers." Danny said.
"Eddie?" Jamie asked.
"She fine. Likely back at the station filling out paperwork. Dad called in the national guard soon after you were put out of commission." Danny explained.
"Wow. Must be serious." Jamie said.
"Yea, if say bricks and cinder blocks being thrown is pretty serious!" Danny said. The two looked up to see the rest of the family clambering through the doors, with the exception of Frank, as he still had violent protesters to deal with. As expected, Erin, Linda, and Nikki all began to fuss over him, while Grandpa talked about procedure with Danny. The discussion and all the conversations seemed to get louder, and the more they did, the more Jamies head pounded.
"G...guys! Guys! P..please! The noise...hurts!" Jamie begged. Everyone hushed almost immediately at the sound of his strained plea.
"We're sorry." Grandpa said. Jamie nodded, and after fending off a few more questions from Erin, be slipped back to sleep.