A/N: Tag to episode 5.21 Shockwave: Part Two. No beta, all mistakes are mine.
A/N2: We are finally to the end of Hearts after Midnight. A heartfelt thank-you to all of you who have continued this journey with me. Thanks for your patience, favorites, follows and reviews. Look for my next story Grace coming soon.
Her hands are cold; more specifically, the hand he has held for the past eight and a half minutes since they pulled out of the parking garage, still feels cold. This seemingly insignificant detail shouldn't worry him, yet it does. He glances at their hands joined atop the center console, then sneaks a look at her face before returning his eyes to the road. Sharon's been quiet ever since they left PAB; too quiet in fact, she appears to be sleeping, but he knows she just resting her eyes. "So, Commander…" he couldn't be more proud, but the word still felt weird on his lips, "I thought we could stop somewhere nice for dinner…you know, to celebrate."
The gentle squeeze on his hand drew his eyes back to her face for moment, the green looking back at him was dull…cloudy even, "Oh…Andy," she softly hummed. "Not tonight."
He ran his thumb along the top of her hand, "You okay?" He studied her face once more, she looked exhausted. Her eyes were closed again, her head rested against the back of the seat.
"Honestly…" she glanced back at him with a soft smile, "I can't remember the last time I felt this tired. I think, almost getting blown up twice in a matter of days, is finally catching up with me." She saw the worry ghost across his features, even though his eyes had returned to the road in front of them. She squeezed his hand again, "Andy, I'm fine… you know the paramedics checked me over yesterday. Just bruised and tired, that's all." Pulling her hand from his to stifle a cough, she couldn't hide the grimace that washed over her.
He knew first hand, the kind of pain she had to be in, coughing when your ribs are bruised hurts like a son of a bitch. He moved his hand to rest on her thigh, drawing comforting circles with his index finger. His mind kept replaying the last twenty-four hours over and over in his head. Surprisingly, she had already been in bed when he finally got home last night after dealing with FID. That in its self, told him she was feeling worse that she was letting on. It wasn't until their shower together this morning that he saw for himself the dark red and purple patches littering her left side, especially around her hip and ribcage.
"Andy?" the breathy sound of her voice and the feel of her hand now atop his brought him out of his thoughts. He turned to look at her, "Something…" She moved her hand to her chest, the pain was almost unbearable, "I…"
"Sharon?" panic laced his voice. He glanced back at the traffic in front of them before meeting her eyes once again.
Her grip on his hand tightened, fear filling her eyes, "Can't…" she pushed against the center of her chest with her other hand, "breathe."
"Okay…okay…don't panic!" He mumbled more for himself than for her. "You're gonna be fine, Sweetheart. Just focus on breathing. I know you can do that for me." Her nod was barely perceptible. "I'm going to call Provenza; he and Patrice can get Rusty." He hated to let go of her hand, but he really didn't have a choice.
Andy waited for Provenza to answer, his focus split between the traffic around them and keeping an eye on Sharon. Her breathing was steadily becoming more and more shallow; the pallor of her skin a deathly white, tears streamed down her cheeks. "Damn-it Flynn, you better not be calling me to a scene," the irritation seeped from the older Lieutenant's voice.
"I…" he glanced over at Sharon, "I need you to get Rusty."
"What do you mean get Rusty?" He interrupted. "As usual Flynn, you're not making any sense."
"Can you just shut up for one god-damn minute and listen to me!" the soft touch of her hand against his thigh calmed him slightly. "Listen…" he started again, "Sharon's sick…we're on our way to St. Leo's. I need you to go get Rusty and bring him to the hospital, but wait until you're almost…"
"Don't worry I'll handle Rusty," his voice now laced with concern. "Where are you now?"
"Just got off the 101…maybe ten…" he felt her hand slip from his leg before he glanced over at her. "No…No…No…" her head lolled off to one side before she slumped forward, the seat belt catching her. "Shit…Shit…Sharon…Sweetheart…No…" One hand reached for her neck trying to find her pulse, while he tightened his grip on the steering wheel with the other.
"Flynn? Flynn?" Provenza yelled over the phone.
"She…" his own breathing loud in his ears. "Passed out, she's still breathing…kind of, but her pulse is way too fast. Shit…come on Sharon…come on baby… Look, I gotta go…I've got to focus on getting her…" He hung up without finishing his sentence. His eyes scanning the road ahead he reached down, flipping on the lights and siren in the unmarked sedan, intent only on getting her through the traffic and safely to the hospital. The feel of her hand jerking against his thigh startled him, he looked over just in time to see her eyes flutter open, only to slip closed again. He guided his hand around hers, pulling it to his chest, her light blue tinged fingertips making his foot press harder on the gas pedal. "Hang on, Sweetheart! Please…we're almost there, just hang on."
Tires squealed as he took the turn-off to the emergency entrance at St. Leo's with far too much speed, but Andy managed to keep control of the car, coming to a stop seconds later in the space marked for police officials. As he hurried from his side of the car he was startled to hear his name.
"Lieutenant Flynn?" the young man's voice questioned as he rounded the nearby ambulance.
Looking up, relief spread over Andy. "I need some help over here."
Pete Alford hurried past Andy, to quickly open the passenger door. The young paramedic knelt next to the car, "Captain Raydor…" his hand moved instantly to her neck, searching out her pulse, "I spoke with Ricky last night, he said his Mom was in the explosion yesterday."
"Yeah, she was fine until…"
Andy stepped back as Pete quickly lifted Sharon from the car and hurried through the sliding glass doors of the emergency bay. The young man began barking orders the second they were inside. Andy watched as she was placed on a gurney and wheeled through a set of dark grey double doors. Moving to follow them, Pete placed his hand against Andy's shoulder. "You can't come back here, Sir." The door closed with a soft whoosh, effectively separating him from the woman he loves.
With a jagged breath, Andy leaned against a nearby wall. Time stood still, his eyes slipped closed as he willed himself to calm down. "Lieutenant?" His dark eyes opened to meet the crystal blue ones staring back at him. "She's in good hands. These…" the young man held out Sharon's glasses, watch and engagement ring, "will be much safer with you." Andy could only nod as he carefully took the items from Pete. "I've gotta get going, but I'll check in later. And Sir, don't worry, she's a tough one."
"Yeah," his head dipped. "Thanks Pete."
Moving to a chair down the hallway to the left of the double doors, Andy's legs felt like jelly. He sat heavily, all the while staring at the items in his hands. He slipped her glasses into the inside pocket of his suit coat, her watch into the side pocket. He leaned forward, the flawless lines of the emerald cut diamond staring back at him did nothing to diminish the dread and fear threatening to overwhelm him. This ring had been the first one to catch his eye, but he looked at dozens more before coming back to the stately diamond. He had never planned on an emerald cut, in his mind he wanted a vibrant, multifaceted ring that screamed I love Sharon Raydor. Now he rolled his eyes slightly at the thought, boy did he almost get it wrong. In the end, it was the simple, elegant beauty and the promise within that brought him back to this very ring. His mind wandered back to the night she agreed to marry him; he could still hear her soft whisper against his ear, the warm feel of her breath against his skin.
"Mr. Flynn?" the too loud, yet familiar voice pulled him from the shelter of his memories. "With me…please." Slipping the ring into the safety of his shirt pocket, Andy moved quickly behind Doctor Liu. "I was in emergency assisting with another patient when I heard Caption Raydor was brought in." She held the large grey door open for him. "She was in the explosion at the Police Administration Building yesterday, is that correct?"
"Yes," Andy's voice cracked. "Paramedic's checked her…"
"It's not uncommon for injuries of this type to manifest at later time," she interrupted as they continued down a long corridor of glass cubicles. Injuries…injuries, the word sounded over and over in Andy's mind. "Mr. Flynn? Are you listening?"
"Sorry…I…is Sharon okay?"
"She will be," Dr. Liu paused near the end of the hallway. "She's been very agitated since she regained consciousness."
Andy frowned, "That doesn't sound like Sharon. She…"
"Once again, given the nature of her injuries, Mr. Flynn, it's not uncommon," the doctor continued. "The trauma she sustained to her left side yesterday has caused a pneumothorax. Luckily, only a portion of her lung has collapsed but this trauma caused her oxygen levels to drop dangerously low. Confusion is just one of the side effects."
"Okay…" he ran his hand through his hair, "what do we do now."
"I need to insert a needle into her chest cavity to relieve the pressure against her lungs. But first, I need you to see if you can get her to calm down. I need her to be very still and I would prefer not to have to give her anything."
'And I'm sure she would prefer not to take anything,' Andy thought with a shrug. "But she will be okay?" He searched the doctor's face for any signs that she wasn't telling him the whole story.
"Barring any other complications…and honestly, I don't expect there to be any; Overall, Captain Raydor is healthy and physically active. After this small procedure and a few hours observation, I don't see why you can't take her home tonight."
With a deep sigh, Andy finally felt like he could breathe, "Commander…"
"Excuse me?" Doctor Liu questioned.
"It's actually Commander Raydor…now."
"Oh…well, remind me to congratulate her once she's feeling better," the Doctor smiled. "You ready?" Andy nodded softly before following her into the last cubical on the left.
As he stepped into the small glass room, just the sight of her reminded Andy once again that life should never be taken for granted, that each day they have together is a gift. She looked so small against the stark white sheets. Her eyes were closed, her hands balled into tight fists, the oxygen tubing draped across her face seemed so out of place. "Sharon?" she looked up at the deep whisper of her name. The dark green eyes looking back at him spoke volumes about the turmoil she was fighting within herself. In one stride, Andy moved to her side, gently wiping her cheeks. "Hey."
"Hey," she whispered.
"Shh…it's okay. You're okay," he gently pushed the hair back from her forehead.
She slowly shook her head, "I don't like this."
He didn't hesitate, finding her lips without regret. She tasted of tears and his heart ached for her. Cupping her cheek, he searched her still too dark eyes, "Did Dr. Liu explain what's going on?"
"I don't know…my head hurts and," her tears threatened again, "her voice is so…loud."
"Oh, sweetheart," He didn't even try to hide the grin that slipped across his face, "It is too loud, isn't it?"
Slowly nodding her head, she reached up tracing the faint stubble on his chin, "Andy, what's wrong with me?"
He pulled her hand to his chest, "You have a collapsed lung; that caused your oxygen level to drop…"
"And that's why I don't feel like myself…" He could almost see the relief wash over her.
"Yeah," he ran his thumb along the top of her hand, "just a small procedure, a few days of much deserved rest and you will be as good as new; I promise." Andy turned, nodding his head to Dr. Liu, all the while saying a silent prayer that he was right.
~~~SA~~~
The morning sun was just beginning to peak over the distant hills, offering a soft glow against the damp air. She settled on the chaise, pulling his robe underneath her chin. It had been after two in the morning when they finally got home from the emergency room, both of them physically and mentally spent. Andy was asleep before his head hit the pillow but Sharon was restless, unable to find a deep comforting sleep.
"Mom?" Rusty's voice startled her.
"Rusty, you should be in bed." She knew he was tired too, after having refused to leave the hospital without her.
"I couldn't sleep," she pulled her knees up with a slight grimace, giving him room to sit on the end of the chaise. "I kept having the same dream." He ran his fingers through his hair as their eyes met, "what about you? Doctor Liu said you need to rest."
She rolled her eyes, "I can rest here just fine." She studied his face in the pale morning light, "Want to tell me about this dream of yours?"
He shrugged his shoulders, "not really."
"Hmm," he knew that hum, the one that always makes him spill his guts no matter how hard he tries not to.
"Damn-it Mom," he shook his head.
"What…I didn't say anything," her smile was soft; her eyes bright, despite the dark circles underneath them.
His face turned serious, "what if…we…lose you?" the sadness in his eyes was not lost on her.
"Rusty, I'm not…"
"No," he reached out, his hand coming to rest on her leg, "You don't know that. We…don't know that, anymore. You've had two very close calls just in the last few days and we… damn-it," he looked away, trying to hold in his emotions.
"We…" the word played over and over in her mind as she studied the young man sitting before her. There was a time, not so long ago that "we" would have been selfishly replaced with "I", given this same conversation. "Rusty, do you mind me asking who we…is?" she knew the answer, but she needed to hear him say it.
It was his turn to roll his eyes, "Well, Andy…of course. I mean, Emily and Ricky too, but Andy…" he caught her bright smile before she could even try to hide it. "Okay…okay, I walked right into that one didn't I." With another sly smile, she softly shrugged her shoulders.
"Sweetie, Andy loves you very much and if something were to happen to me…."
"I know…" He interrupted, his voice rising slightly as he stood, moving closer to the railing. "Mom…I know that Andy would be here for me, I believe that now. But who would be here for him?" Confusion washed over her before Rusty could continue, "Because I…wouldn't be enough. Nicole and Drew… wouldn't be enough. Don't you see that? He would be lost without you…we all would be. But Andy…"
She slowly shook her head, "Rusty…"
"The kid's right," his voice carried across the morning air. She turned, slowly meeting his gaze, deep brown holding mossy green as he stepped towards her. "Of course," he sat down, taking her hand in his, "I'll always have Provenza, he's gonna out live all of us."
"Oh my god!" Rusty muttered under his breath with a small chuckle.
She reached up, tracing along his jaw with one finger, she tilted his chin slightly before capturing his lips in hers. Rusty, turned looking out over the hills, he would let them have this moment or maybe even two. Because after the last few days, goodness knows they deserve it.