Brian, and one of the agents, an older man in his fifties stepped forward. The doctor spoke to them quietly with the men nodding at her occasionally. The older man rubbed a hand wearily over his face, and Brian just nodded. The doctor left and Brian and the older man spoke for several more minutes. Finally Brian rejoined them. Every one moved to form a circle around the blonde man.
"Tell us." Mia begged.
"They aren't sure Joe's gonna pull through." he murmured sadly. "A lot of blood loss, and one of the bullets hit his spleen. His sister is on her way in from Detroit. Cadence is better. She's young and healthy. One of the bullets broke her clavicle, and the other tore through her rotator cuff in her right shoulder. She's got a long road of recovery ahead of her. It's a bad wound to get, but the doctor thinks she should get most of the mobility back in that arm eventually."
"Eventually?" Georgia cried. "Only most? What does that mean for her job?"
Brian was silent, but he met Dom's eyes. Dom was the one to speak. "It means she won't be able to work in the field anymore."
"Is that true Brian?" Mo asked not wanting to believe.
"Dom's exactly right. It's the truth." He confirmed. "Her boss, Ridley, told me he could put her on a desk, but he doesn't think she'll agree to it. He's worried that she'll push it too far."
"Why he telling you all this?" Dom asked.
"When she began on this case she told Ridley to act as if we were next of kin." Brian murmured. "Rose was right. Cadence doesn't have any next of kin. Besides Izzy, she has no family. She told Ridley she trusted us to do what was necessary. When she first moved in to watch over Georgia she left instructions with the Bureau and her attorney for me and Mia to care for Izzy if it came down to it."
"She knew it was gonna be bad." Letty said looking at everyone. "Chica knew it would get ugly."
Dom felt a tug on his pants and looked down to see Isabella.
"Dom, can I see my Mama now?" she asked in her sweet little voice.
He swung her up in his arms and walked to the nurse's station. "When can we see Cadence Lake?" he asked.
The nurse made a phone call and stood with a smile. "Follow me." They were led down the hall and into a sterile room.
She didn't look as bad as Jesse had the first time. A lot less tubes and wires hooked up to her. She was pale, and her right arm and shoulder were wrapped up like a mummy, but beyond that she just looked tired. Cadence opened her eyes at the sound of footsteps. She was feeling pretty out of it due to the medicine. It was odd seeing Dom with her daughter. "Isabella." she murmured with a tinge of a slur to her words.
"Mama." she little girl sighed. Dom sat her on the edge of the bed on Cadence's left side. "Dom said you was gonna be okay."
"He did huh? That was awful nice of him." Cadence looked up fuzzily to see Dom looking at her. "Thanks Toretto."
"No problem." he said with shuttered eyes. Izzy had laid down next to her mother and wrapped her small around around Cadence's waist.
Cadence dropped several kisses on the little girl's head. Even in the worst of situations, even though she tried to put her out of her mind, Izzy was always right there in the back. Cadence always worried that something would happen and Izzy would have no one. Just like it had happened with Cadence growing up. "Has she been a good girl?" Cadence whispered when it was obvious Izzy had fallen asleep.
"She's a good kid. Real well behaved."
Cadence smiled. "Yeah, I don't really know where she gets that from. Sometimes I think she's too serious. I worry that she isn't having enough fun."
"It must bug the hell out of ya, working a case and not being able to see her." There was something in his voice that caught her attention.
"Yeah, it does."
"There a reason you didn't tell us about her?" he asked scratching a finger down his cheek.
Ah, he was angry, she realized. "No reason to. That's my job. She's my daughter."
He laughed derisively. "Yeah. Ya know, Lake, I think that's bullshit." his voice never rose, and Izzy didn't stir. "I think you saying this was just a job is bullshit."
"That's exactly what it was. What did you think would happen? I'm a cop, and we both know how you all feel about those." Cadence wouldn't meet his eyes. "Dom…"
"You don't have to say anything else." It made her sad to hear the bitterness edging his words. "You're right. You're a cop. We both know I'm just a criminal and an ex con. Just so you know. You did a great job. Seems like everyone's gonna make it out okay from this one." Dom turned on his heel and walked out the door.
&&&
Izzy slept for an hour and woke up smiling. She chattered at Cadence and Cadence made sure to smile and pay attention. She didn't even know what the hell was going on. Nothing had happened between her and Dom except for a few kisses. Why was he getting all bent out of shape? Tears came to her eyes and she didn't understand why. Where did he get off acting like she'd owed him the knowledge of her daughter? They weren't like that. Couldn't be like that.
Brian came in bearing lilies. "You don't look so bad."
"Yeah, thanks." she murmured dryly.
"Hey Izzy, I think Mia's going to go down and get something to eat, you wanna go with her?" he asked.
Izzy looked at Cadence who nodded and she skipped out the door. "How's Joe? And Vince?" she asked him as soon as the door shut.
"Vince is good. Georgia's in there mothering him, which I happen to think he's eating up. Joe is holding his own, and though it wasn't looking good, it's looking better now."
She smiled tiredly. "Good. I really screwed this one up."
"No you didn't." he argued. "How could you have? They parked down the block and snuck up on foot. Joe never even saw them coming. He managed to down Jacobs while he was on the ground. You made it back in time to save the day. Maddox even gave Georgia enough information that they're performing a search of his lake house. They think that's where they'll find Jessica's body." Brian sat in the chair next to her and smiled. "You saved my family Cadence. You'll never know how much I appreciate that. The doctor said it was amazing that you got up after being shot twice and still managed to take two men down."
The two were silent for a moment. "I'm done for field work O'Connor." she said softly. "They haven't told me yet, but I know it. The two wounds I took, my right arm won't ever be the same."
"I'm real sorry Cadence."
"I'm not working a desk job. I'll be retiring from the Bureau . Which means I'll have to find something new. Something to keep me busy while Izzy's in school." she smiled grimly.
"You're a smart woman Lake, you'll find something." Brian assured her. He didn't even hesitate before speaking again. "What's going on with you and Dom?"
She looked at him and saw concern. "Nothing." He looked at her with the disbelief evident in his eyes. "We shared a few kisses that was it. He's pissed off because I didn't mention Izzy. I never mention Izzy when I work."
"Come on Cadence, you know this became more than just a job. Almost from the beginning. And if you were sharing kisses with Dom, then you should have told him about Izzy."
"It isn't like we have a relationship Brian. It isn't like we ever could."
"Why?"
"I'm an FBI agent. No matter how good of a man he is he's an ex con and I know he was behind those heists." Brian ducked his head. "You don't have to deny or confirm. I know. What kind of relationship could ever come from that?"
"Two things Cadence." Brian said, and his voice was tinged with anger. "One, Dom is a good man. Maybe he did stupid shit in the past, but it's done."
"And what's number two O'Connor?"
Brian didn't even pull his punch. "Two, you WERE an FBI Agent. Not anymore."
She winced at the reminder. Brian stood and left the room. "Great. I'm just pissing everyone off today."
&&&
George stared at Vince as he lay in the hospital bed. He'd been shot because of her. The guilt was eating away at her. His eyes blinked and he woke up slowly. She gave him a slight smile. "Hey."
Vince gave her his normal grin. "Hey there Gorgeous. How you feeling?"
She almost laughed. "I'm great, it's you I was worried about."
"Me? Nah, a little bullet to the gut won't take down the ol' coyote." he chuckled. "Come here, come closer to me."
Georgia edged up to the bed and before she could stop them tears slid down her face. "I'm so sorry Vince."
"Stop that." he commanded. "Just stop. You had no control. Agent Lake saved the day huh?"
"Yeah, she got shot twice. I guess Brian said she's done as a cop." Georgia sighed. "I feel bad for that too."
"You can't feel bad for that stuff Georgia. You just can't. Everyone did what they had to do. Lake got shot doing her job. I got shot because I was in the way. None of it your fault. All of it Maddox's fault." he told her and brushed a hand down her cheek. Then he grasped both of her hands in his one. "It's all over with now. We can move forward and don't ever have to look back again."
Georgia leaned in and kissed Vince's whiskered cheek. "I'm so glad I met you."
He grinned. "Yeah, you're pretty lucky." he laughed. "So, is Dom in there reading Cadence the riot act for getting shot?"
Georgia winced getting Vince's whole attention. "He's pissed. Turns out she's got a little girl. At first we thought she was Brian's but she's not. She never told Dom about Izzy, that's the little girl. I don't know what's going on with those two now."
"That's harsh. Dom hasn't looked at many women since he and Letty split. I mean, he got together with a few chasers at first, but not for a while now." Vince sighed. "Hopefully it'll all work out."
"You mean like it is for us?" she said leaning closer to kiss him again.
"Exactly."
&&&
Maureen sat in the chapel and prayed. She didn't pray often, but now she felt it was needed. She prayed for Vince, because she knew her sister was falling for the gruff man, and she prayed for Cadence Lake, who'd saved her sister's life. She prayed for Joe Lempke who'd been shot trying to protect Georgia, and she prayed for Dom because she knew how drawn to the agent he was. Maureen even took the time to pray for the souls of the three men who died, and everyone they'd harmed.
"You okay?"
She turned to see Jesse standing in the doorway. "Shouldn't you be using your chair?" she reprimanded softly.
He shrugged. "I can go without it some. It won't be much longer til I can go without it all the time."
Maureen stood and joined him. "It's been quite the day."
"Are you glad it's all over?" he asked brushing a curl away from her face.
"Yeah. I really am. I'll start school soon and we'll be able to live a normal life. Maybe Georgia and I can get our own place."
Jesse frowned. "You wanna move out?" He started to fidget.
"No, I wasn't saying that. But don't you guys want your space back?" she asked uncertainly.
Jesse looked down not sure how to speak to this girl who he spent so much time with. He'd never tried anything with her, hell, she wasn't legal or anything, but he'd really grown to like her. More than like her. A lot. "No." he answered not knowing what else to say.
Maureen almost smiled. She'd been crushing on Jesse for a long time now. Ever since they got there really. She always thought he looked at her as a kid, but he was all nervous now. She inched closer and his fidgeting increased. "No?" she asked softly.
"No." he said with more force.
Maureen leaned down and kissed Jesse on the lips. It was only for a moment, but it was nice. "Okay."
Jesse was flabbergasted. "Okay." he parroted.
She felt shy suddenly. "Ya know, Jess, I turn eighteen in a month."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
Jesse nodded once. "Maybe we should go out then. I mean after your birthday, or on your birthday. Whatever."
"I'd really like that."
&&&
Cadence was in the hospital for a week as was Vince. Joe held on touch and go. Isabella stayed with the team and everyone seemed to get a kick out of the bright child following them around. She would listen to them as they argued and laughed with wide eyes, and Dom realized it was because she was so used to it just being her and her mom. It seemed lonely to him when he thought about it.
They missed the little girl when Cadence got out and she went home. The day after Joe Lempke succumbed to his wounds and died.