Hill and Renko arrive at the station with Alberto Gonzales in their custody. He yells, "She tricked me! The little tramp got me over there 'cause she said she didn't wanna fight no more. Now I'm gonna get hauled off to jail 'cause of her!" Gonzales wriggles furiously.
Renko puts his hand on the man's back and yells, "Will you please shut up! What you sir, are going to be looking at will be breach of peace."
Gonzales turns his head even though he's being held down. "Whose?"
Renko gets in his face. "Mine!"
Hill adds in, "Alberto, I'd strongly advise you to take my partners suggestion."
They bring him over to be booked on charges, with the khaki officer present.
Stepping through the threshold of Hill Street Station, Furillo walks into the usual calamity of typewriters and chatting echoing throughout. Hill and Renko turn their attention as Gonzales is led away. Sniffling back, the captain speaks in a nasally tone. "Uh, if I could have your attention…please." He looks around the room. Everybody stops what they're doing. Goldblume slowly walks towards Furillo as the rest look on. He can clearly tell something isn't right by seeing the captain's bloodshot eyes and somber demeanor. Furillo takes a deep breath. Blinking back tears, he announces, "Um, at about 8:45 this morning…" He looks down trying to gather his thoughts. "Uh, there's no easy way to put this. I'm still trying to…understand…what happened. At about 8:45 this morning was an accident which happened on the east side of town. You know your colleagues by heart because you work with them. Day in and day out. Um…" He puts a tissue up to his nose as eyes upon him grow with worry and confusion. "It involved a pursuit of some suspects and one fatality. Former Lieutenant, Ray Calletano and former de…detective, John… You know him better as J.D. LaRue were struck by a police unit, causing the car to crash into a nearby tr…truck."
Goldblume quietly says, "Oh my God."
Hill and Renko look down.
Furillo takes in a hasty gulp of air. "A tractor trailer." He closes his eyes. "Uh, our dear friend and former colleague, Lieutenant, Ray Calletano was…pronounced dead at the scene."
A collection of gasps and looks of horror fill the squad room.
Someone from the back yells out, "But, he was just here!"
Furillo looks at each face, filled with numbness and tears.
Belker blinks back in confusion. "Ray?"
Lt. Hunter slowly takes off his cap and glasses. He swallows hard. "Raymundo." The name slowly leaves his lips as his cheeks become tear streaked. "Me amigo."
Washington puts his head in his hands. Then the thought occurs to him. Panicked he asks, "J.D.!"
Furillo answers with, "LaRue's in the hospital. I was told they didn't know how he made it out of there alive."
"Where is he?"
"County General."
Bates looks on stunned. Her jaw drops.
Washington puts his hands in his pockets, shaking his head. "How did it happen?"
"It was during a robbery pursuit by units of 1400 and 2200.
Belker immediately steps forward and hisses, "2200? Those are our units."
Furillo looks at the angered detective. "Yes. Mick."
"You're telling us that units from this precinct were responsible for killing Calletano and putting LaRue in the hospital?"
Goldblume slowly comes out of his state of shock. "What numbers, Frank?"
"2208 and 2209." Capt. Furillo answers stiffly.
"2208 was assigned to Gelman and Jolevitch. 2209 was assigned to Johnson and Kincaid."
Belker shakes like an awakening volcano. Gritting his teeth, he finally explodes, wanting to attack Furillo. Officers Buchanan and Garcia hold him back. "I told you! You wouldn't listen to me! I told you that I didn't like those new guys." He darts his eyes to a bereft Lt. Goldblume. "He even knew it. He didn't like them either!"
"Mick." Goldblume says with a sigh.
Furillo says, "I'm sorry Mick. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you."
"That's not going to bring Ray back!" Belker shouts, nearly in tears. "It's not going to take LaRue out of the hospital either! What will it take for you to trust us?"
Furillo looks into the enraged Belker's brown eyes, feeling the detective's panting breath close to him. "Mick, I take full responsibility for this." He survey's the whole room of tear stained eyes of shock and sadness. "I'm telling all of you that this is my fault. Nothing I say can change the outcome of what happened. Yes. It was an accident. People in the department complained about these four transfers. M…more than just Mick." He shakes his head, and eyes the floor. "And, I did not listen." Looking back up, he says, "In the process, I failed all of you. Most of all I failed Ray Calletano and John LaRue." Feeling a lump in his throat, he states quickly, "I'm sorry." Furillo then rushes away to his office.
Officers and detectives feel at a loss of what to do. Some slowly make a move to step back. Others stand in place numbly. Renko's eyes well up with tears.
A short time later, Furillo feels comfortable enough to walk out of his office. He calls out, "Neal, I ju…" He's cut short when Ray's wife, Rosa arrives at the station.
"Oh, hi Frank." She answers in a bubbly tone. "I'm just wondering if Ray's still around? His car broke down and he's been nagging me to bring him to work when he knows that I have errands to run. I tell him, 'Honey, dinner doesn't walk onto your plate by itself.' And he would say, 'I know, but one more day. Then the car should be ready.'" Each and every time I've fallen for it. You know I c…" She looks at Furillo's eyes. She could tell he had been crying. Curiously, she scans the room with her eyes at the men and women of Hill St. Station. They all remain silent. Glancing back with sudden worry, she says, "Frank? What's wrong? You look like you've been crying. As if somebody just died."
Furillo takes Rosa by the shoulder, urging her to go with him in his office.
Various members of the department watch them disappear inside the captain's quarters. The door shuts. Bates holds a tissue to her nose.
"I can't believe what's happening."
Goldblume answers back, trying to keep it together. "Nobody can, Lucy."
Lt. Hunter makes his way closer than anybody to Furillo's office. "I would like to know how they were allowed in this precinct first and foremost. Officers of the law call in…"
"!"
Everybody is witness to Rosa Calletano's tortured scream. Hunter is taken aback by the sight of her hitting the captain, pounding her fists against his shoulders, then crying hard against him. Through the door, they can hear her muffled yells of, "Not my Ray! Not my Ray! No! No! No!" Her words cut deep into those who were trying to convince themselves it was only a nightmare, instead awakening a reality. As the sight unfolds, Furillo tries to calm Rosa.
The captain opens the door to his office and calls out to Goldblume, "Henry, I want you to spend some time and talk with Rosa. You're better at this than me and I really need you right now."
Goldblume swallows back hard and nods, "Sure. Sure thing, Frank."
Furillo's eagle eyes stare at Washington. "Neal? I want you to come with me. We're going to the hospital." He dons his coat in seconds. As he throws on a scarf, Bates steps out from the crowd.
"Captain, I want to come too."
Furillo looks at her, unable to comprehend her willingness to tag along. After all, she didn't always see eye to eye with LaRue. He turns to Washington for approval. Washington nods back in agreement.
Knowing her request comes out of the blue, she hesitantly answers. "I've known him a lot longer than either of you."
Furillo answers in a matter-of-fact tone. "Okay."
The three briskly make their way out of the station.
Lt. Hunter plops down at one of the nearby desks to collect his thoughts.
Inside, County General Hospital, doctors mill about. Capt. Furillo asks at the main desk where LaRue is staying. The receptionist gives him the coordinates. The three continue on when a doctor immediately recognizes the captain.
"Frank."
"Dr Mendelsohn."
"I know. You're here to see John LaRue."
"Yes."
"As you know, he's in the TICU. Nobody knows right now the extent of his injuries. It's my understanding that the passenger didn't make it."
"Yes. That would be correct."
"Who was it?"
"Um, former Lt. Ray Calletano."
The doctor looks on in grief. "I'm so sorry to hear that. Ray was a good man."
"I know."
"Please give my condolences to his family."
"I will." Furillo looks back at Washington and Bates by his side. "You two, make yourselves comfortable in the waiting room. I need to talk with Dr. Mendelsohn."
The two walk away with Bates leaning her head against Washington's shoulder for comfort.
Furillo asks the doctor, "Is there any more you can tell me about LaRue?"
"Besides the fact he made it out of that horrendous crash alive? John might look okay from the outside. No facial abrasions or cuts. Looks normal. In reality, he's worse off than when you were shot. He was breathing when they got him out of the wreck. Shallow, but breathing. His blood pressure was very low when he was brought in. He had shortness of breath due to a crushed rib which we had to inflate. There's no telling if he has any blood clots. We haven't even brought him in for an EKG. It's a wait and see situation, Frank."
"What are… What are his chances?"
"I'm not going to lie to you, Frank. He's touch and go. More touch, than go. We don't fully know yet, but his insides were crushed pretty badly. He's been on and off oxygen. I would prepare either way, 'cause that's the way it can go."
"Can he have visitors?"
"Yeah. Don't overwork him though."
"How about communicating?"
"He's on and off. We try to use the blinking system so he doesn't have to verbally answer as much. It's a lot of pressure on him. So, I strongly advise all of you to be careful. Oh, and one at a time."
"Understood. Thank you, doctor."
Dr. Mendelsohn nods and walks away. Furillo calls on Washington in the waiting room. "Neal?" Washington looks up, then back at Bates.
Washington slowly walks into the small room where his former partner lies. Small tubes intertwine for passing liquids. An accordion styled ventilator breathes as the heart monitor picks up every steady beat. The oxygen mask muffles soft steady breaths. Washington pulls off his cap and takes a seat in a nearby swivel chair. He puts a hand to his face out of grief. Taking the toothpick out of his mouth, he releases a sigh. "Oh man." Taking in the sight of the heart monitor's readings of jagged zigzags, Washington is lost for words. Nodding, he tries to cheer himself up despite the ill feeling in his own heart. Noticing that LaRue's eyes are closed, his partner can only ramble on softly in avoidance of turning misty eyed. "Look at you, gorgeous. Not a scratch. You got nine lives, babe. Doctor says you are one lucky dude to make it out of that accident alive. I know you're tough. You taught me a lot I know. We got into a lot of scrapes together, and uh, isn't that what partners are for?" He swallows back. You got in a lot of trouble yourself, but uh, I admire you for kickin' drinkin' to the curb. You said you wanted to beat it, and you did. Not many folks can turn their lives around even after a second chance. For some, it takes years…a life time. You? It was over motor pool." Washington chuckles back. "I gotta tell you, lovah, when you took that job over in division, I knew it was what you needed, but I couldn't help feelin' hurt. All those times together? Ten years? You took a bullet for me twelve years ago. You saved my life. I couldn't put that behind me 'cause I don't think I could do that for another human being. I could never be as brave as you. To think that might have changed you in a bad way for a time. Man,... Just like I couldn't put up with another partner who didn't turn an eye to a pretty girl or broke out an insane prank or told a funny joke. It just wouldn't be the same." He looks down at LaRue. "I remember I was laid up in the hospital twice with a bullet wound. Both times when I woke up? You were there for me. The Benedetto case, you came and visited me the day after and brought a little gift. You got me a pack of toothpicks. Man, I felt at home. Nobody knows me as well as you do. And, uh, that's why you gotta make it." Washington puts his hands together in praying motion. "You gotta make it for everybody who cares about you. You might not believe it, but a lot of folks are rooting for you to get better. The captain, even Lucy showed up. Then back at the station. Lt. Hunter, and there's Andy, Bobby, Henry, and Mick's really broken up about it. We all are. But uh,…" Bowing his head down, Washington waits for the sadness to pass. Suddenly, he feels a hand pat his. Gathering his emotions, he turns to face LaRue. The green eyes he remembered so well blink and squint in happiness of seeing his former partner. Washington slowly beams with a smile. "Awright, lovah. I knew you could make it. When you get out, I'm gonna take good care of you, so you'll be the good ol' J.D. we all know and… You know, all that stuff. I'll even bring you some of those girly magazines when they stop hookin' you up to this here heart monitor. Sound like a good deal? You're gonna have it made with all the pretty nurses around these parts and the sponge baths? Lap of luxury, babe!" He smiles mischievously.
Just beyond the waiting room, Furillo talks on the phone with Goldblume. "It can go either way, Henry. Dr. Mendelsohn said he's touch and go. He has relatives fairly close by, am I right?"
Henry answers back. "Yeah, uh, his sister. Peg Nelson. Her husband, Rob runs a dealership out of the north side of town. John's mentioned them both before. I think it's a dealership. Something about car selling. I called him already. One of the guys told me where to call. So, I did. Peg's on her way."
Furillo rubs his forehead nervously. "Okay."
"Frank? You need to come back down to the station."
"Can't you handle it, Henry?"
"It's Chief Daniels. He wants to see you."
"Can't you tell him to wait? I'm at the hospital waiting for word on LaRue."
Chief Daniels grabs the phone away from Goldblume. "Frank. I know what's going on but I must speak with you at once. It's urgent."
"Okay. I'll be there shortly. Bye."
The captain hangs up and briskly walks toward Bates, who wipes her eyes.
"Where…?"
Furillo answers for her. "I have to go back to the station for a little bit. The chief needs to see me right away for something. When Neal comes out, you can see what he says and if it's okay then go ahead and visit J.D."
She nods back. He takes her face and plants a kiss on her forehead. Sniffling back, Bates looks up and smiles weakly.
"Okay."
At the station, Renko is preoccupied in thought as Hill returns with an arrest report.
Hill tries to stay in good spirits. "Mr. Gonzales' report is complete. Now, it's up to the judge to see what he decides."
Renko stares straight ahead, answering somberly. "I thought them new shiny computers took care of that?"
"Renko…"
"No more Calletano. I remember the first day I met him. That was in May of '75. He was so proud of his Colombian heritage. He would give each and every one of us a history lesson on his ancestors. 'Kiy-et-onno.' He would correct anybody if they got it wrong. Nobody did. That meant a lot to him. And, J.D., wonderful, crazy, brave… Rackin' up those arrests like it was goin' out of style."
Hill takes his partner by the shoulders. "Andy, we have to think positive about J.D. He's not gone."
"I should've beaten that boy 'til he was black and blue."
"Who?"
"That loud mouth, Johnson. If I woulda done just that, he wouldna been able to drive and R…"
"Renko! You can't blame yourself for what happened. You gotta realize it was an accident. We don't know if it was Johnson or any of those other transferees."
"How do we know it's not? I heard what Henry said. Those boys were assigned to those individual units."
"Partner, I don't know what else to say." Hill says, shaking his head. Renko holds his arm. He gives him a distressed look before the tears start to flow.
"I'm scared, Bobby. I don't wanna lose J.D. too."
Furillo returns, briskly walking past the main desk. Goldblume steps around the corner of the captain's office. Chief Daniels eagerly walks toward Furillo.
"Frank!" He hastily remarks.
Agitated, Furillo mutters back, "This better be important."
"Glad you could come so quick. I heard about the accident on the radio and who was involved. I'm so sorry to hear about the passing of Calletano and LaRue."
"LaRue is still alive. He was taken to County General."
"In that case, my condolences to Lt. Calletano's family. His wife, Rolanda…"
"Rosa." Furillo corrects him. "What is so important, Chief?"
"I was trying to talk with Lt. Goldblume here and clear a misunderstanding I think we could all agree on, Frank."
Furillo faces him. "And, what is that, Chief?"
"It's about Denver Johnson, Bryce Kincaid, Ryan Gelman, and Lou Jolevitch. Frank, the mayor wants to give them a citation for bravery."
Furillo finds it hard to swallow. He scowls. "For?"
"For acting upon the call of duty. For apprehending a dangerous group of bank robbers. Individuals who have killed guards and put others in hospitals for the sake of their own greed."
"Chief, are you aware that those four men were out of jurisdiction at the time?"
"Does a cop go into a burning building to save a life, despite not having the equipment of a firefighter? These are trained people to save lives, Frank. Whether they are police officers, firefighters, EMTs. They all have a duty to serve the common man.
"On the east side of town for a doughnut run. Crashing into various vehicles. Killing one officer and having another fight for his life in a hospital."
"Frank, I know how you feel, and I'm sorry but…"
Furillo squints as his blood pressure rises. "You're sorry?" He grits his teeth. "You weren't there to see the lifeless body underneath a white sheet plastered with blood on it. You weren't there to see a cab driver who was a witness throw up on the curb from watching the whole thing happen. You weren't there when I had to console a grieving widow in my office just a couple of hours ago. You come into my precinct and give me the news which I'm supposed to be overjoyed by a mayor's citation for bravery. The only justice I can see for those four is that they get locked behind prison bars, so they don't hurt or kill another innocent bystander again!"
Chief Daniels stands firm. "I'm sorry you feel that way, Frank. Here I was going to ask you to present them with the awards."
An infuriated Furillo, seethes and grits his teeth. "Over my dead body."
"Well then." Chief Daniels remarks in a nearly hurt tone. Instead of saying anymore, he walks away.
Goldblume approaches the captain.
"Where are they?" Furillo asks sternly.
"Downtown, awaiting further investigation. Their fate is pending."
Furillo looks straight ahead.
