Chapter 21

There was total silence inside and outside the house. Maria quickly told the cops to surround the area and charge in.

Matt pushed himself off the ground. He spun around to see Elisa holding her side and Lucas standing over her with his gun ready to fire.

"My game is over. You will die. Get ready to meet God." Matt tackled him as soon as the police charged in. They immediately assessed the situation. The officers grabbed Matt off of Lucas and held him back. One officer carried Elisa out the door.

Matt went to Mark and had an officer escort him out. He looked at the tiny splatters of blood and thanked God no one died. He couldn't handle losing his partner. He walked outside to see Elisa sitting on the back of an ambulance.

"Guys, there's no need to fuss. I'm fine. It's just a scratch," she told the paramedics.

Matt walked up to them. "Make sure my partner is on her best behavior." Elisa glared at him but he paid no attention to her. "You almost took two bullets in there."

"I'm fine," she said.

"You're still going to the hospital," said Matt. He pulled out his cell phone. "I'm calling Jason."

Elisa quickly plucked his cellphone out of his hand."He'll only worry." She wasn't in the mood to deal with Jason.

Matt rolled his eyes. "He needs to know."

"No, he doesn't and I'm not going to discuss this any further," she said narrowing her eyes. Matt held out his hand to retrieve his phone. She placed it in his hand with a look that he had better not call anyone. The paramedics finished and she rode off in the ambulance.

Matt watched as he heard Maria yell his name. "Bluestone!"

He winced at her unpleasant tone. He faced her. "Captain."

She crossed her arms. "What were you two thinking? That was one of the dumbest moves you two could have made."

"But the whole thing worked out. The family is safe. The perpertrators have been arrested and you know they will be charged."

"I have one cop wounded," Maria said. "Why wasn't she wearing her vest?"

"We had to take them off so the parents wouldn't be harmed. It was our lives for theirs. We would do it all over again," Matt replied.

"How did Elisa end up getting shot?"

Matt really didn't know himself. He heard a shot after feeling a force push him out of the way. When he saw Lucas hovering over Elisa he had only one thought: saving Elisa. "I really don't know. It happened so fast."

"Get to the hospital," Maria ordered. "I want a report by morning."

"Yes Captain."

Matt drove to the hospital and spotted Elisa in the emergency room. She was filling out discharge papers. "I see you are done already."

Elisa looked up. "Just a scratch. Let's go." As Matt drove Elisa home, he asked her the one thing on his mind. "Why did you get in between us?"

"You have a wife and a child on the way. They need their husband and father," Elisa stated.

"You know I would take a bullet for you," said Matt.

"Exactly. No need in putting Sara in a stressful situation. We're partners and I know there's nothing we wouldn't do for each other. You being killed wasn't going to happen on my watch. I have no plans in attending your funeral anytime soon."

"Still…

"I would do it again if it meant you seeing your family," Elisa said. "I want you to return home in one piece."

He stayed quiet for a moment. "What about Jason?"

Elisa looked out the window. "What about him?"

"His heart would break if you ever died while on duty," Matt stated.

"I know it would. However, we aren't married and we don't have a child on the way. He can find someone else," she deadpanned.

"Jason has a right to know." She sighed but didn't say anything else.

Matt took her home and made sure she settled in. He took her phone and dialed Jason's phone in the hallway.

"Elisa," Jason said quickly.

"No. It's Matt. You need to get here when you can," he said quietly. "Elisa had an incident today and she needs you."

Jason gripped his phone. "What happened?"

"Elisa…Elisa could have died today."

Jason's heart dropped. "I'm on my way."

Matt hung up and sat the phone by her bedroom dresser. He left her bedroom and waited for Jason to arrive.

A rapid but quiet knock was heard and Matt opened. Jason quickly walked in. "Where is she?"

"She's in the bedroom." Matt grabbed his arm before Jason could go. "She's probably shaken up but refuses to admit it."

Jason nodded. "Thanks for calling."

"You deserved to know," he said. He grabbed his jacket and left. Jason locked the door and went to her bedroom. He sat on the bed and watched her with unshed tears. He almost lost her and the last conversation he had with her was an argument. He mentally kicked himself for starting it.

After about an hour, she stirred. She felt as if someone was watching her. She turned over and met Jason's blue eyes. She sat up. "What are you doing here?"

"Matt called," he said.

She sighed in annoyance. "I told him not to bother you."

"Why not?"

"I didn't want you to worry," she admitted. "Besides, I really had no intention of seeing you today after our last conversation."

He went to grab her hands but she moved away. He looked so hurt when she did it. She faced him arms crossed over her chest. "I don't know what got into you today. It's not like you to start questioning my motives regarding our relationship."

"I'm sorry I doubted you. I let Demona get underneath my skin. We had an argument and well, you know the rest," he admitted.

Elisa creased her eyebrows and asked, "Why did you go to see her? Was it about the baby?"

He nodded. "We got into it. She mentioned my father. What she said about you pissed me off. She said how I was just the rebound guy and you would eventually go back to Goliath. Once the anger fades, you will realize your mistake and leave."

She grabbed his hand and softened her gaze. "I've told you several times that you aren't the rebound guy. I love you and the life we share. I'm not dumping you for anyone. I'm not with you out of spite. Didn't we have a similar conversation before? I voiced similar concerns."

"I know but-

Elisa placed a finger on his mouth. "Listen to me. It doesn't matter what anyone says, you are it for me. You don't have to worry about me backtracking. I am completely committed to us."

He grabbed her hand. "I don't want you to wake up one morning regretting everything that's happened since the accident."

She leaned over and kissed him silencing his fears. She hoisted herself up and wrapped her arms around his neck never breaking the kiss. She pulled back eventually resting her forehead on top of his. "I'm not going anywhere," she whispered.

She kissed him again holding his face in her hands. He wrapped his arms around her instantly but she winced at the pain shooting through her body. She let go and held her side. He lifted up the side of her shirt and his eyes darkened with concern.

"Elisa…

"I'm fine," she gritted through her teeth.

"You were shot?" he asked in disbelief.

"Really, it's nothing," she argued.

Jason shot up an eyebrow. "It's not nothing. What happened?"

She sighed and rubbed her forehead. "I stepped in between Matt and this young kid. They were struggling with a gun. I pushed Matt out of the way. A bullet grazed my side."

He was taken aback. "Why would you do that?"

"He's my partner who's about to be a father. His family needs him," Elisa said.

"I understand but that's completely dangerous," he said.

"I would do it again. I know it's dangerous but that's what being a cop is about. Placing yourself in dangerous situations to save others."

"I could have lost you," Jason replied. "I don't want to lose another member of my family. I've already lost one of my girls."

Elisa blinked back tears. "I saw what was happening and I knew I had to rescue Matt. I didn't matter at the time. I figured you would find someone else to make you happy."

"No one has made me as happy as you," Jason said. "No one could ever replace you."

She smiled a little at his statement. "I want you to be happy. We both understand a cop's line of work. There's no guarantee that I would come back home."

"I was a cop too. I wish I could be out there to protect you," Jason said.

"You being here is enough," she said. The pain subsided and she laid on her back. She placed one arm behind her head. "I miss her too, you know. I'd be in my second trimester probably getting ready to go on maternity leave. We made so many plans and they just went down the drain. I think about her all the time. Even when I'm not trying to think about Jess, I do. Do you think we would ever have another child?"

"Do you want another child?" he asked.

She turned on her side and looked up at him. "I do eventually. It's probably too soon now to even try. I want us to be ready when the time is right."

Jason stretched himself out on the bed and faced her. "When the time is right," he said. "I'm sorry for the ultimatum earlier," he said. "It was wrong of me to ask you to choose."

"It was but I think I understand why you did it. Please understand they aren't going anywhere either. You don't have to like them but as my friends at least tolerate them. I'm not choosing."

He pulled her closer to him. "I'm not going to force a decision on you. I got scared and overreacted."

Elisa laid her head on his chest and played with the buttons on his shirt. "If the positions were reversed, I might've done the same thing."

Her phone rang and Jason handed it to her. "Maza."

"Elisa," she heard her mom say. There was sadness and panic in her mother's voice.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

"It's your grandfather. You need to come to his place right away."

Elisa snapped the phone shut and quickly got out of bed. She moved around the front of her bed when she had to stop because of the pain. Jason got out of bed and went to her. He steadied her as she held her side again.

"You're moving too fast. What's wrong?"

"My grandfather. He's needs us to be at his home," she said.

"I'll drive," Jason offered.

They got there and saw many cars on the property. Elisa forced herself to stay strong for her grandfather. She got out of the car and soon Jason was by her side. She held onto his hand as they entered the house.

Elisa saw her cousins, aunts and uncles all scattered throughout the house. One of her cousins approached her, "He's waiting for you."

Jason offered to stay behind but she tugged on his hand. They walked up the stairs and stood in front of his door. Elisa took a deep breath and entered his room.

Derek turned his head toward the sound. "Hi baby girl."

"Hi grandpa."

She knelt down in front of him as Jason closed the door. "See you brought the young man with you."

"Good to see you sir," Jason said quietly. He walked to the bed.

"I'm fine. I just wanted to see all my children."

"I didn't know you were sick," Elisa chimed in.

"No one did really except my grounds people," Derek replied. "I'm an old man anyway. I've made my peace with it."

Elisa fought to keep the tears at bay but with one smile from him, she let them go. Derek patted her hand. "Don't cry baby girl. I'm going to be alright. I've lived my life. It's time for me to go on home now."

"I don't want to let you go," Elisa cried.

"Hey, you have this young man here. He loves you so much and that's all I've wanted for you."

"I don't understand. You were fine the last time I saw you," Elisa said.

"I didn't let on about my illness. I've been dealing with cancer for over a year but the good Lord didn't let me show it. Now, my journey is about to come to an end."

Derek looked at Jason. "Take care of my granddaughter. She's special."

"That she is," Jason said.

Derek chuckled. "Guess I won't be burying your body in a dump somewhere."

Jason cracked a smiled. "No sir."

Elisa looked between the two. "That's what you were discussing that time."

"Man talk baby girl," Derek said. "He knows and he understood my position. One day, he'll be in the same position with his daughter and granddaughter."

"Elisa, do me a favor. I know Derek can't be here because of his circumstances. Give him this letter for me. Also, there's a letter for Beth as well. I can say goodbye to them properly." He handed her the two letters.

"Grandpa…" She had no words for something like this.

"You've grown up to be a fine young lady. You have your grandmother's and mother's spirit. Don't let another person's actions control you. Learning to forgive is one of the hardest things but you must do it."

She nodded. "Go get everyone else."

Jason and Derek were left alone. "Son, welcome to the family. I haven't known you long but from what I've seen, you love her dearly. Be patient with her. Maza women can be stubborn. Love her. That's all I ask. Just do right by her."

"Yes sir. You have my word," Jason replied.

They heard the rest of the family pile in and Derek sat up. "Rebecca and I raised a huge family. We instilled in you all the power of love and forgiveness. More importantly, we raised you with Christian values. You all had your own children and we loved all of them. It's time for me to say goodbye but I don't want any of you to be sad. I'll be fine and I'll see each of you one day. I love each of you and all I want is happiness in your lives. Take care of each other and never forget the family is important."

He stayed silent for a while taking in the faces. His eyes landed on his children before slipping away.