The atmosphere in the CID offices were subdued. Many of the officers knew Mickey and they felt bad about how badly injured he was. They knew that he was supposed to be going on a much needed break this weeked but that was something they didn'tthink he would not be doing now. Many of them prayed that when he woke up that he would be okay but the news that their Guv had given them concerning Mickey's condition had not been promising.
Down in the Sargent's Office, Smithy was trying to cheer Stevie up he knew that she felt guilty about Mickey being injured but as he pointed out to her it was part of the job, something like this could happen to any one of them. It was one of the things about the job that everyone knew that sooner or later they could get hurt in the line of duty. He pointed out to her that it could have also just as easily have been Stevie that got shot and who would now be lying in a hospital bed and despite how much he meant to make her feel better, he only succeeded in making her feel even worse. Stevie knew that he was trying to do his best in cheering her up but she thought that the only thing that would cheer her up was hearing that Mickey was consciouce and not paralyzed which was something they all feared.
Jack had been unable to get on with any work he was as worried if not more so than any of his other colleagues about Mickey. He had known him for such a long time and thought back to the first time that he had ever met D.C. Webb, it was when the young officer had transferred to Sun Hill following his promotion to Detective Constable, Jack tried to think just how long ago that had been but in his present state of concern he was unable to think how long ago that had been. Instead he remembered all the things that had befallen Mickey while at Sun Hill, he had survived the shakedown that had happened when all in CID had been suspended following one Officers corruption that had almost resulted in everyone being sacked from the Met and indeed quite a few had been forced out either into early retirement or simply fired, Jack himself had almost been one of them to find himself out of a job.
Mickey had also lost his beloved mother while stationed at Sun Hill and had then been viciously raped by an individual called Martin Delaney, a newly releashed prisoner who had been prowling the streets of Cranley looking for his former cell mate who should have helped him but had instead stood by and watched him being raped inside, Mickey had unfortunetly ended up as one of his Delany's victims when the psycopath had targeted the young officer after he arrested him for a crime he had committed. Jack had thought that Mickey would never get over what Delaney did to him but he did and although he had transferred to another squad, he had eventually returned to Sun Hill. Now after all he had been through he had been shot. Jack hoped and prayed that Mickey would be alright and strong enough to get over this latest piece of drama in his more than eventful career.
Feeling restless Jack wandered into the CID Offices to see if anyone had any news for him concerning Mickey's shooter or any information on why the womans house had been attacked. He wandered over to where Terry was hunched over his computer typing furiously on the keyboard and swearing whenever he missed a letter or something else went wrong. Jack gave a small smile he knew that Terry hated computers and would have gladly thrown the damn thing out the window if he thought he could away with it, he noticed that some of the files that Terry had on his desk had been on Mickey's desk the day before and as he glanced around the office he noticed that other desks had files that had been on Mickey's desk the previous day.
"Have you got anything for me Terry?"
Terry looked up to see his boss standing by his desk, looking down at him with what looked like desperate hope in his eyes.
"Sorry Guv, not found out anything on Mickey's shooter yet."
Before Jack could ask him anything else his mobile went off and Jack fished it out of his pocket to answer it, flipping it open he saw that it was an unlisted number.
"DCI Meadows."
"This is Dr Asif at at St Hughes, I'm phoning to let you know that your Detective Constable Webb regained consciouness an hour ago."
"Is Mickey okay?"
There was a pause on the phone before the doctor replied.
"I think it would be best if I spoke to you in person rather than over the phone Mr Meadows. Are you able to come to the hospital."
"I'm on my way."
As Jack hung up the phone, he became aware that all conversation had stopped while he had been on the phone talking to Dr Asif. Looking around the office at those present in the room he could see the concern and fear in their eyes, they were waiting for him to give them bad news about their colleague and friend, Mickey. Terry had been listening in as close as h could to the conversation that Meadows had been having with the doctor and although he could not hear what the doctor had said he had seen the look that passed through his guvnors eyes when the doctor had asked to talk to him in person, he spoke up before Meadows could say anything
"What did the hospital say Guv?"
"He said that Mickey has regained consciousness but he would not tell me anything else over the phone. I'm going down to the hospital to talk to him and as soon as I have anything more to give you I will let you all know people. Now while I am at the hospital I want you guys to find out something, anything so we can get this son of a bitch that shot Mickey."
Without another word to those in the office, Jack walked throught the main doors and down to his car.
A/N: This is not looking good for poor Mickey. Find out in the next installment what it is the doctor has to say to Meadows and what message Delaney has for Mickey.
