Chapter 21

Olivia and Fin walked into interrogation. Nick was sitting there hand cuffed to the table with a piece of dressing on his forehead where he had tried to kill himself.

Olivia sat down at the table while Fin set up the camera and stood against the ledge by the 2 way mirror by the door.

Almost a minute of silence passed until Amaro asked "Is he dead?" without making eye contact with Liv or Fin.

Fin knew it was time to bluff otherwise they might never find out the truth

"You're lucky Barba survived otherwise you would be looking at a double homicide." Said Fin coldly.

Wait, your saying Amanda's dead?"

Fin just returned stared out Nick, not flinching a muscle, just staring.

"No, that can't be right, you're lying!" he said as he tried to get up from the table he was shackled to.

"No Nick, we aren't lying, he was rushed into surgery but she died on the table." Said Olivia

"No, No! This wasn't supposed to happen! She wasn't supposed to die. I just wanted her with me. If Barba was out of the picture I knew she would come back. He said as he struggled through the tears.

Olivia turned around and looked at Fin as they heard a tap on the glass, they exited out of interrogation. "We're not going to get anything more out of him right now." Said Olivia.

"I've already got a call into Dr Lindstrom, he'll be here soon." Said Cragen.

45 minutes later Dr Lindstrom arrived at the squad room and he was escorted into see Nick.

"Nick, what happened? I was getting regular updates from Dr Bell and everything was on track everything was going well?

Nick sat there in silence for a couple of minutes before responding. "I don't know." He said as he refused to make eye contact. "Something just snapped inside. I just knew I had to see her again and then it's all a blur."

"Alright Nick, give me a minute." He said. As he was exiting the interrogation he could hear Nick mumbling to himself. "I didn't mean to kill her. I didn't mean it, tears started to stream down his face.

Dr Lindstrom met up with the Captain, Liv and Fin outside interrogation. "I've spoken to him, he's in denial, depression. He can't be responsible for what he has done, he has a mental illness."

"He knows what he did, he knows what he did was wrong, he deliberately escaped from a psych ward, he kidnapped an ADA, he shot and ADA and a cop!" said Liv.

"Look, get him in front of judge for arraignment. But I can guarantee that the fact that he just escaped from psych ward will be all the ammunition his defence attorney needs to get him sent back to a high security psych ward. If you take this trial, he'll plead not guilty by reason or mental disease or defect and he will be sent to the psych ward for treatment." Said Lindstrom as he walks out of the squad.

Liv walked back into the interrogation. "Alright Amaro, it's time for you to go to arraignment." She said as she uncuffed him from the table and led him to transport down the courthouse.

30 minutes later he was back in court at arraignment. "Nicholas Amaro, the charges are kidnapping, unlawful and attempted murder. How do you plead?"

"Guilty, by reason of mental disease or defect your honour."

"The defendant will be remanded to Bellevue Psychiatric Ward.

"Your honour, we request that the defendant be remanded to a more secure facility. The charges come as a direct result of the defendant escaping from Bellevue.

The judge looked at Amaro. Very well. I remand the defendant to LaGuardia Psychiatric where he will receive medication."

We also request a 730 exam to determine whether his condition is a contributing factor in these charges." Said the ADA.

"There is no need for a 730 exam, your honour. We will stipulate that the defendant suffers from a mental disorder."

I agree with the defence, no 730 exam will be ordered. Take the defendant into custody."

Nick was taken to transport to LaGuardia where he would start treatment,

Cut Back to Rafael and Amanda

After being in the hospital for 8 days after he'd woken up Rafael had grown more frustrated by the day. Amanda was sitting by his bedside she hadn't told him about the pregnancy or the possibility that she had Huntington's

"How much longer do I have be here?" He said as he shuffled around in his bed.

"Rafael, you got shot and woke from a coma a little of a week ago." She replied

"I know, I just hate lying around, and not doing anything I like to be productive." He sighed

"I know you do. Look let me ask the doctor if you can come home, back to your apartment I mean."

Amanda went off in search of the doctor as Mrs Barba came into the room.

Rafael, ¿cómo te sientes? (Rafael, how are you feeling?)

Me siento mejor mamá, pero yo quiero ir a casa. No puedo conseguir ningún descanso en estas camas de hospital. (I feel better mum, but I want to go home. I can't get any rest in these hospital beds.)

Amanda found Rafael's doctor. "Hi I'm Amanda, I'm Rafael's partner, he's getting a bit frustrated, being here, he wants to go home.

"He just woke up from a coma, a week ago!" he said.

"I know, but he's doing better he's moving around and I will be there and his mum will be there to look after him. I think if he is in his own place, it will aid his recovery alot better than being here, Where he is not sleeping and not actually resting."

"Alright. I'm going to give you specific instructions, he bandages need to be changed often, he needs to take the medication and rest as much as possible. If he gives any trouble."

"He won't have you met his mum, she'll put him in his place" she said as smiled the doctor chuckled."

"Alright let me draw up the discharge paperwork and get you his medication."

"Thank you" she said shaking his hand. Amanda headed back to Rafael room. As she entered she saw Mrs Barba talking to Rafael in softened tones.

"Sorry to interrupt Mrs Barba."

"That's okay Amanda."

"I have good news. I have spoken to your doctor and convinced him to let you go home."

"That's great, but I am sensing a but." He said

"Well you're very perceptive" she joked.

"Well you and your mum are coming back to my apartment. The doctor is giving us strict instructions and you have to come in a week to follow up."

"Wait, you're apartment and what did you mean by us?"

"Well me and your mum and yes my apartment." Amanda leant to down to Rafael's ear. "I can't face your apartment right now Rafael, not after what happened."

"I understand" he said smiling as he kissed her on the cheek. "I'm happy to be getting out of here though.

30 minutes later Rafael, Mrs Barba and Amanda were heading to her apartment she was feeling better but she was still winded after helping Rafael up the couple of stairs.

"Here we go" she said as they entered her apartment.

"Hey Amanda?" Rafael yelled out

"Yeah"

"I've been in the hospital for a while and I could really use a shower."

"Sure, but since this is first time upright take a chair in there with you and sit down if you feel winded."

"Amanda" Rafael started to say

"Hey, do you want me to take you back to the hospital or are you going to play nice." She said

"You know me. I never play nice." He winked.

Even after he gets shot, he's still a smart ass Amanda thought to herself!

She picked up the chair as put in the shower as she helped undress him.

Rafael turned on the wáter and stepped into the shower. "Are you sure you don't want to join me."

"Hmmm, maybe next time" she said as she stood at the door of the bathroom.

"Hey, can we talk when you're feeling up to it?" she asks.

"Is everything okay" he asks.

Amanda stayed silent.

"Yeah, we can talk when I get out of the shower."

"Thanks" she said as she returned to the living room.

10 minutes later Rafael was out of the shower and Amanda was helping him get dressed. His mother had brought over some sweat pants and shirts for him to wear.

Amanda and Rafael settled in on the couch.

Mrs Barba walked into the lounge.

"Rafael, hijo, tienes que comer algo. (Rafael, son, you need to eat something.")

"No soy mamá hambre" (I'm not hungry Mama) said Rafael as he waved his hands.

Usted necesita conseguir tus fuerzas.
Amanda ha estado tan ocupada cuidando de ti y de mí asegurarse de que están bien y se olvida de sí misma. Voy a ir al mercado y tomar algo y voy a cocinar, está bien! (You need to get your strength up. Amanda has been so busy looking after you and me making sure we are okay and she forgets herself. I will go to the market and grab something and I will cook, okay!)

"Bueno" (Okay) He said as his mother left the apartment for the market.

He looked at Amanda. "I learnt long ago not to argue with my mother" he said as he smiled.

"Thank you for taking me and mother in, I know it's alot, especially after what you went through." He said

"It's okay. I'm happy to have both of you here."

"You wanted to talk?" he said as he took a drink of wáter.

"Yeah, Uh when I was brought into the hospital they ran some tests. I'm 8 weeks pregnant Rafael" she said.

"You're….pregnant." he said

"You're pregnant" he smiled as he hugged her.

"You're happy?" she asked

"Of course" he said. Aren't you?

"I hadn't planned on getting pregnant, I had never planned for kids Rafael."

My mother had Huntington's disease, it's a terminal brain disorder, it's passed from parent to child."

"Wait, are you saying that you have this disease? That you are dying?"

"I don't know? After my mother died from it. I hadn't thought about it, until I found out I was pregnant! I had a test done to find out if I had it."

"And?"

"And I still have to wait another week for the results."

"Why didn't you say anything Amanda? You wouldn't have had to go through this alone."

"I didn't want to think about it Rafael, the fact that I might be dying. I wanted to spend my time being happy, being with you."

"Come here Mi Amor. It'll be okay, we will tackle this together." He said as he pulled her close.

"Please don't say anything to your mum until we know for sure." She said

"I won't I promise." He replied.

Amanda snuggled into his body falling asleep in his arms.

Chapter 22 to come

Please leave reviews guys, let me know what you think