U is for Upset Stomach
The car hit a pothole and Jamie put a hand to his stomach, wincing at the jolt of pain but trying not to let Eddie see him.
"You alright?" Eddie asked.
"Yea I'm fine." Jamie said.
"You don't look fine. You look pretty green." Eddie said, continuing to eye him.
"Just an upset stomach. I'll be fine." Jamie said, looking over at his partner.
"If you say so." Eddie said, though she wasn't convinced at all. They drove on their usual route, without much excitement. Eddie didn't say anything, but she couldn't help but continue to notice the hint of pain Jamie was trying to disguise.
Later…
"What are you saving for later or something?" Jamie asked, looking at the meal Eddie was carrying back to the car.
"Actually, I plan to eat this all now. I was blessed with a fast metabolism!" Eddie replied.
"Yea, and the appetite of a NFL player!" Jamie joked.
"You're just jealous!" Eddie said.
"Not remotely." Jamie answered with a laugh. The two found a park bench a short walk from the restaurant, and happily at their lunch, enjoying the summer sun.
They were on their way back to the squad car, when they watched a man in a dark hat walk up behind a woman. The two officers made their way closer behind the man, as something seemed off about him. They were right in their assumptions because a minute later, the man picked up speed, and pulled a gun out of his pocket.
"Police! Drop the weapon!" Jamie yelled, pushing through the crowd towards the man. The suspect didn't listen, and took off running, but not before shooting the woman.
"Go! I got her!" Eddie yelled to her partner, who turned on his heel and sprinted off after the gunman.
Jamie chased him down multiple blocks, weaving through crowds, and telling ahead for people to clear the way. He had radioed for backup and a bus, and continued the chase the man. He hurdled boxes, trash cans, and even a car or so as the chase droned on. It was a good thing Jamie was finally back in tip top shape after the bomb, because he sure needed to be this time. Finally, the man started to tire and slow down.
"Come on man just drop the weapon." Jamie said between huffs. If his stomach was hurting before, this felt more along the lines of if someone had ripped it out. He ignored it, and focused on talking the man down. He realized her was stuck, so the gunman suddenly decided to comply. Jamie was just about to cuff him when Eddie rounded the corner onto the street they were on. The man saw the opportunity that Jamie had taken his eyes off him, and landed a sharp elbow directly into Jamie's gut. Jamie collapsed into a heap of pain, trying to push it away as he watched the suspect run off. He saw the man heading for Eddie, and that she was completely unaware of the armed perp heading her way. Jamie saw the man reach for the gun now in the waistband of his shorts, and made a split second decision despite the pain he was in. Eddie watched as the man not more than a foot in front of her seized up, the dropped to the ground. She stood in confusion for a moment until she looked beyond the man to where here partner was sitting on the sidewalk, taser in hand. She hurriedly cuffed him, then rushed to Jamie's aid. He was now standing, doubled over, trying to catch his breath. He looked even worse now than he did this morning. Eddie groaned and turned away as Jamie heaved, the emptied his stomach into the drain in front of them.
She waited until he stood up once again, and handed him a water bottle and a napkin.
"What happened?" she asked, looking to where their backup had picked up the suspect and towards the ambulance.
"He…..hit me." Jamie managed to say as he wiped the gun away from his mouth. He motioned to his now extremely tender stomach. Eddie nodded, and after walking back to the car slowly, she decided to fill out the paperwork instead of him this time. She watched how he leaned against the car, obviously trying to hide the amount of pain he was in, but she still saw it.
"Uh uh. I'm driving." Eddie said when she saw him reaching for the drivers side door
"Eddie, I threw up, so what. It happens sometimes. I can drive." Jamie said, giving her an annoyed look.
"Fine, but if you throw up your cleaning the car." Eddie said, reluctantly getting in the passenger seat.
Later…
Jamie flipped through the paperwork, trying to ignore the pain that still raged in his stomach. He had taken an aspirin and drank a Sprite, which was said to ease an upset stomach, but nothing seemed to be working. It felt like all the blood had drained from his head. His arms and hands felt like lead bolts.
"You feeling alright Reagan? You look a little pale." Sergeant Renzulli asked in passing when he saw his officer bent over at his desk. Jamie never sat like that, even when he had taken a night shift and still come in the next morning.
"I'm...fine. Just need some...water." Jamie said, slowly lifting his head up.
"I don't know Jamie… you don't look good." Eddie said, finally seeing how bad her partner really did look. He was pale as the paper he was holding, and sweating even though the A.C. was on full blast next to them. Eddie and Renzulli watched as he stood shakily, froze, then passed out cold. Sergeant caught him and gently guided him to the ground before calling an ambulance. Eddie quickly came to his side, waiting for him to come to. He finally did as he was being loaded into the ambulance.
Later…
Jamie drew in a deep breath and opened his eyes. He looked around him as the fuzzy figures started to change into forms, then people. Eddie was sitting next to him on o e side, with Linda on the other, checking his IV. All I did was pass out. Why do I need an IV? Jamie thought curiously.
"Next time you tell me you're fine, I'm immediately calling bull and taking you to the nearest hospital." Eddie said.
"What do you mean?" Jamie asked.
"The stomach pain you've been having? The area of your large intestine where you had surgery got infected. When that guy hit you, you started bleeding internally. Had Renzulli not seen you and you waited any longer to tell someone how you were feeling, you might be needing a transfusion." Linda explained. Jamie took it all in, then eventually called and thanked Renzulli. He and Eddie sat together for a while longer talking and watching ESPN, just glad to be near each other.