Bad Day
Disclaimer: As before.
/
/
Chapter 7
As was her wont, Sharon rose fairly early, went through her preparations for the day and was nursing her first cup of coffee when she remembered something fairly significant. Although she had stated her intentions to the doctors to be at the hospital for 1000, her team were unlikely to be aware of this. Nor for that matter, was Taylor. Mind you, he probably wouldn't object to her working at home for the next few days while looking after Rusty. It would be safer for them both to be together, and probably under police protection. After all, Rusty could hardly stay at the office while she worked.
Looking at her watch, and guessing that Taylor would probably be making his way to work by now, she decided to give him a call. He answered promptly, and by the background noise, she figured that he was in the car.
'I hope you're on hands-free,' she said by way of greeting.
'And morning to you too Raydor,' came the reply, and she chuckled. 'How are you feeling this morning?' he asked.
'Fine thank you,' she said. 'I was just a little over-tired yesterday. But I have a favour to ask.'
'Ask away.'
'Rusty is probably being discharged from the hospital today, and I will need to stay here with him for a couple of days, so I was wondering if I could work from home?'
'With a police detail?' Taylor was smart. 'I assume you'd feel safer if Rusty was protected, even if yesterday was a hoax.'
'I know it's a lot to ask,' Sharon said. 'But if he's sick he can't be at the station and I can't really leave him alone. If it actually was Stroh, how much trouble would he have hurting a sick boy?'
'I think the technical term is "young man" now, but I see your point,' Taylor said. 'What time are you going to the hospital? I'll have a car there as security for when you leave.'
'I'm supposed to be there at ten, but you know what hospitals are like for discharging someone,' she said. 'Could be some time.'
'A car will be there no later than 1030,' the chief said.
They hung up, and Sharon downed her drink before proceeding to finish preparing the condo. At 0945 promptly she was out of the door and heading to the hospital. As she had been told, Rusty was much better.
'Hey sweetheart,' she said as she crossed the threshold, free of the mask this time. 'How are you feeling?'
'Like a bus ran me over,' came Rusty's scowling reply. 'Everything aches Mom. I just feel awful.'
'That's good,' Sharon replied as she sat down next to his bed.
'Good?!' he repeated incredulously.
'Well the last time I saw you, you were still pretty out of it,' she pointed out. 'This is the first time you've been able to hold a decent conversation with me in days.'
'I'm sorry I've made you worry,' Rusty said. 'I imagine you've not had a good few days either.'
'I was worried, yes, but it obviously didn't cause me any problems,' she lied. He didn't need to hear about her erratic behaviour. He would only blame himself. 'The main thing is that you are getting better – if not yet feeling it,' she added with a smile.
'I feel ready to go home,' he said. 'The doctor said he'd get here at around 1030 this morning. And you know what doctors' timekeeping is like. So we have some time to wait.'
Sharon snickered at the return of Rusty's dry humour and he smiled at her. Having not seen him do so for several days, she privately felt that it was one of the most welcoming sights she'd ever seen. The 'I've missed you,' slipped out of her mouth almost before she'd finished thinking it.
'I've missed you too,' he said, and that coming from a boy not overtly demonstrative either in word or action, caused a warm feeling to blossom inside the steel core of the captain.
They sat in silence for a minute. After all, how do you follow that with anything? Eventually Sharon broke the silence and she caught Rusty up with the news of the previous few days. He was aware of the bomb threat but hadn't known the call allegedly came from a Stroh affiliate, and Sharon reasoned that since it was a hoax, and neither Provenza nor Flynn could be relied upon to keep their mouths shut, he might as well hear it from her. Besides, he'd probably notice the police protection.
'You know, I'm really starting to dislike Stroh,' was all Rusty said as he settled back against the pillows.
'Me too, sweetheart,' she said as the doctor suddenly bustled in. It was a different one to any she'd previously seen.
'Ah, Captain Raydor, Mr Beck,' he said politely. 'I just need to check a few things, and then we'll see if we can send you home today.'
He performed a few routine examinations, then stood back. 'Obviously you're still not back to full health,' he said, talking to Rusty but primarily addressing Sharon. 'However, to be frank, you'll just be taking up space in the hospital when you can just as easily recuperate at home. We'll sort out a few medications for you, then you can leave.'
'Thank you,' Sharon said gratefully. 'I assume he mainly needs to rest?'
'Indeed,' the doctor said. 'In fact I would recommend at least a week, perhaps closer to two. If his employer requires a doctor's note then please tell them to contact your family doctor in the first instance, who will receive a copy of all notes pertaining to this.'
'Thank you,' Sharon repeated. 'We will wait for the medications here, and I'll start packing your things, okay?' This last being directed at Rusty.
'Okay Mom,' he said listlessly, and Sharon could already see he looked tired again.
She quickly filled his rucksack; he had barely touched it, and the medications appeared with astonishing rapidity. A wheelchair was also provided, and Rusty was taken to her car. Upon being settled in the passenger seat he promptly fell asleep, which created something of a problem for Sharon, as there was no possibility she could carry him to the condo from her car and waking him proved impossible. Fortunately, for the first time in a few days, luck was on her side. The protection officers she had requested had been waiting in the car park for her where they'd followed her home and the stronger one – Lieutenant Davies, she recalled – offered to carry him while his partner cleared the way. She brought up the rear, wearing Rusty's rucksack and carrying her gun on one side and her handbag in the other. The group must have looked ridiculous, she reflected later, but she didn't care. Rusty was the priority. Nothing else.
They got to her front door and Sharon unlocked it. The officer at the front went to clear the lounge and Davies laid Rusty gently onto the couch before he accompanied his partner in clearing the other rooms. It was declared safe and the officers went to stand outside the front, but not before they graciously accepted an offer of coffee from Sharon, once she had Rusty settled.
She added an extra blanket to her son's sleeping form and a softer pillow under his head. He was completely sunk into sleep; he hadn't stirred since he was put in the car, and for the first time in a long time he looked younger than his age. A lifetime of hardship had caused him to mainly sleep half-alert to any sound, and the fact that he felt safe enough to completely relax caused another warm glow.
She started the coffee and handed it to the officers outside. Then she sat and watched her son sleep in between checking her emails on her laptop and skyping with the office. It was pleasant. It was calm. It was nice.
Three days later, though she wouldn't have admitted it out loud, she was bored. Her team had caught a case, so although they were keeping her in the loop, they were working long hours and she badly needed to talk to someone in person. Rusty was still spending most of the day sleeping, so most of her day was spent on skype or checking her emails. On the other hand, she couldn't remember the last time she had been so up-to-date with her admin.
Her phone beeped. She glanced at it. A message from Andy.
Can't talk properly now. Is it okay to come over tonight? Will bring food. A x
She almost broke the phone in her haste to type a reply.
Would be nice to have the company. Chinese or Thai? S x
Beep. You like Thai more. A x
Sometimes she really loved that man.
MCMCMCMCMC
A few hours later she received another text from Andy stating that he had just arrived downstairs, and she duly warned the officers he was coming up. She caught their sly grins at each other. Was everybody obsessed over their relationship? Apparently so.
When the knock came she opened the door and was confronted by Andy and his daughter. 'Nicole!' she exclaimed. 'I didn't know you were coming.'
'Surprise,' Andy offered with a grin, brandishing a bag of takeout. 'We'll explain why she's here in a minute. Food first.'
Rusty knew Andy was coming and had managed to keep himself awake, but he was still surprised at their other guest. 'Hey Nicole,' he said as they walked in. 'How are you?'
'Better than you, little bro,' she replied as she sat down next to him on the sofa. Although all the kids of the prior relationships were on talking terms, by fact of sheer geography Rusty and Nicole were the closest. They affectionately referred to each other as "little bro" and "big sis" and considered themselves responsible for Sharon and Andy's relationship in the first place.
'That's entirely true,' Rusty said as he groaned. 'I feel like death warmed over.'
'Still well enough to complain though,' Nicole said as she was handed her food. 'Want some?' she gestured at her bowl.'
'I will be sick if you give me that,' Rusty announced and Andy laughed. 'Come on Nicole, don't make Rusty worse.'
'So, not that I don't want to see you, but why are you here tonight Nicole? Andy didn't indicate you were coming,' Sharon asked as they were halfway through their meal.
'To offer my help,' Nicole said simply. 'If you're both willing, I can stay here with Rusty for the next few days so you can go to work.'
Sharon's fork paused halfway to her mouth as she stared at Andy's daughter. 'Are you serious?' she asked.
'Well why not?' Dean's taken the boys to visit some of his cousins and I was planning to work from home this week anyway. It is easy to work here. After all, all you're going to do is sleep, isn't it?' She nudged Rusty and he managed a weak grin.
'I don't mind,' he said. 'But I don't want to put you out.'
'It's no bother,' Nicole said. 'What do you think Sharon? Obviously I'd keep you updated and call if there was a problem.'
'If Rusty is happy with it, then I'm incredibly grateful,' she said. 'Thank you Nicole.'
They resumed eating and Sharon smiled at the sight of them together, like an average family.
Maybe not such a bad few days after all.
FIN
/
Author's Note: And that's it. The end of my first Major Crimes story. And sadly, also my last for now.
Note 2: I am from the UK, and I don't know the procedure in US hospitals. What I have described here is mainly from experiences in the UK.
