Chapter 7
The pain seared through her as the darkness fell all around her causing her to thrash out blindly in an attempt to fight it off, to keep it at bay.
Suddenly something had a strong hold on her arms pushing her backwards.
Andy tried to fight it off but it was too strong, it kept her pinned.
It caused her to fight back, renewed confidence in her actions.
Then a calming voice called out to her "oh sweetheart, you're ok. You're ok, you're in the hospital. Sweetheart it's Daddy, I'm right here, you're ok"
Andy's eyes fluttered open and she tried to focus on the figure leaning over her but the lights were so bright that she closed her eyes again.
Feeling the wrenching pain move through her she wanted to scream.
That thought bought back memories of a similar war she waged with herself in the diner.
My name is Andy McNally
I'm a police officer with Toronto's 15th Division.
I am a second generation copper.
Daughter of Tommy Mcnally.
Best friend of Traci Nash.
Close friends of Chris Diaz, Dov Epstein, Gail Peck.
And I am hopelessly in love with my Partner Sam Swarek.
Before There was nothing I was going to scream!
That was not how my last moments would be remembered, how I would be remembered!
But I am alive and I want the world to know it!
With that thought in mind Andy let out a blood curdling scream that could be heard down the hall in the waiting room.
Even though screams were usually a bad sign the officers of the 15th were never happier than they were when they heard Andy's scream.
It ment she was alive that was all they needed to know.
Nurses came in and asked Andy her pain scale and she rated it at a 9.
That was a lot of pain, but the more pain Andy felt, the more alive she felt.
Soon more drugs were pulsating through her veins. This time the darkness that settled around her was welcomed. She knew she would wake up from this darkness, this was the healing kind.
It was not the cold frigid darkness of death.
The next time Andy woke the room was shrouded in darkness. Traci sat next to her sleeping in a chair that looked way too small to sit in never mind sleep in.
Almost as if Traci sensed she was awake her own eyes flew open and she flew out the chair.
"Andy" she shrieked lunging on top of Andy despite her painful wounds.
Remembering where they were and why Traci pulled back tears evident on her cheek.
"I knew you would stay" Traci said as she composed herself.
"...I..." Andy's voice was scratchy from not being used for hours.
Reaching for the jug of water on the bedside cabinet Traci poured the cold liquid in to a glass and helped Andy sit before drinking.
"Where...dad?"
"We've been staying in shifts. I sent your dad home to get some sleep. He hasn't left since we bought him in"
"How long have I been here?"
"You've been here for almost a week Andy. Can you remember what happened?"
"Yeah every step of it. A week?"
"Yeah you were shot and had surgery but were in a coma. You and Sam both. You both refused to wake up until yesterday".
"Sam...is he?"
"He's ok Andy.".
" I have to go see him " Andy exclaimed moving to pull back the covers.
"Whoa there. Andy you just woke up"
"Now Traci. Get a wheel chair or a nurse to help me but I have to go now".
"Andy you need to rest. You just got shot and nearly died" Traci was desperate to convince Andy to stay in bed.
"Traci either you do it or I will push this button and get the nurse to do it!" Andy was not backing down.
"Ok I'll get a chair" Traci said leaving the room.
Andy heard movements in the room and looked up to see a woman standing in the doorway.
"Hello" Andy said recognizing her straight away.
"Hi. Are you Officer Andy McNally?" The woman asked as she edged forwards.
"Yes"
"I'm. I'm...Hayley's mom Cassey. Um...Hayley drew this and asked me to give it to you when you woke up. She drew it a week and a half ago, when we came in and I saw you guys arrive a week ago so I don't know how this is possible. But she asked so I will give it to you. She asked me to say thank you to you and Sam I gave him his by the way" the woman trailed off as she handed a folded piece of paper to Andy.
Andy opened it and felt the tears well in her eyes as she saw a picture of her and Sam standing on top of a wispy white cloud surrounded by blue velvet skies.
"Do you believe in Angels?" Andy suddenly blurted as she looked up from the tear dripped paper to the woman's sad face.
"I'm not sure I follow" the woman replied as her face drew a frown.
"You see I met Hayley a few hours ago and she helped me to come back. If that makes any sense. I believe you had the privilege of having an Angel if only for a short while. She said it was what she wanted and she was happy" Andy trailed off as she grew sad.
"Thank you Officer. I needed to know that she was happy" with that the woman gave Andy a weak smile before making a retreat as hasty as her arrival.
Seconds later Traci was back with a wheel chair and asked about the woman and the drawing.
Andy gave her a short ' I'll tell you later' before she pulled back the covers and swung her legs off the side of the bed.
With a lot of help from Traci Andy was seated in the wheel chair, drips hanging on their stand at the back of the chair and soon they made their way out the door and in to a long bright white hallway that had three wooden doors lining it.
"Let me find out where he is and we can go. I haven't been to see him yet." Traci said moving towards the wooden nurses station.
"It's ok Traci I know the way" Andy said.
"Really? And how would you know that? Do you have Swarek sensor's now?"
An amused smile tugging at her lips.
"Part of the long story. Come on I'll give you directions".
True to her word Andy got them to Sam's room with no problems in navigating the hallways.
Stopping outside the doorway, Traci raised an eyebrow as she leaned down to whisper a "do I even want to know?" In Andy's ear.
Sitting next to a sleeping Sam, Sarah Swarek turned to see the visitors and smiled.
Standing up she moved over to Andy as quietly as she could.
"Hi" Andy said redness in her cheeks betraying her embarrassment at meeting Sarah unexpectedly.
"Hi you must be Andy" she said grabbing her in a comfortable hug.
"Yup" was all Andy managed to mumble.
"Traci do you mind if I have a quick word with Andy, I need to ask her something."
"Sure, I'll go down and have a coffee so long, you can join me when you're done?"
"Great I'll see you in just a minute then".
Off Traci went as Sarah moved Andy's wheelchair into the room and turned the chair to face her causing Andy to suddenly feel clouded with uncertainty.
"Don't look so fretful, I don't bite" Sarah giggled out in a whisper.
"Um...ok" Andy was borderline panicky now if she wasn't before.
"I just wanted to ask you something. Ok so here goes, what would you say if I told you that when Sammy woke up earlier he told me this outrageous story about the two of you and a little girl called Hayley and I simply said thank you?"
If anyone doubted that Sarah was a Swarek they would quickly be corrected the moment she opened her mouth.
Just like Sam, she was blatantly blunt about what was on her mind.
After a moment of gathering her thoughts Andy smiled and whispered "So he told you. I would say you don't have to say thank you I guess"
Sarah could not hide her shock at Andy's answer if she tried. She thought Sammy's ramblings were morphine induced but obviously she was mistaken.
She was also watching Andy's reaction in an attempt to get a feel of her feeling for Sammy, but seeing her here after being shot spoke volumes on its own by actions rather than words.
"You were the first thing, the last thing, and the only thing he spoke about when he woke up you know. He was practically climbing out the bed to go look for you, I had to call the nurse to sedate him before he hurt himself. That had me wondering about you, but now that you're here I don't have to wonder anymore" Sarah finished with a dimpled grin.
"Sarah?" Came a groggy voice interrupting their whispers.
"I'm here Sammy. And there is someone else that wants to see you too" Sarah stood up and pushed Andy over to Sam's bedside.
Seeing his face react to Andy's presence was all she needed to know.
"I have a coffee date with Traci, so I'll see you two later" with that she was gone, closing the door softly behind her.