Chapter Eighteen
Doug Penhall was pouring himself over a manila file folder, his head in his hands, and his knee bouncing up and down to some unknown rhythm. He was a mess and he knew it. Mrs. Hanson had called him that night to let him know that Hanson was starting to wake up. Instantaneously, Doug had wanted to go right over to the hospital but Mrs. Hanson talked him out of it, telling him that Hanson needed his rest and she'd call whenever they got any new news. Doug had grumbled something about supposing she was right and had hung up and attempted to go to sleep. His mind was racing; however, with thoughts of Tom. How much longer until he woke up? Would he remember anything? What would he say about Judy? Needless to say, Doug Penhall had gotten yet another sleepless night. Now, he had forced himself to come to work and review old case files for Fuller, something the captain had figured would be safe for him to do, given his condition.
After a few feeble attempts to concentrate, Doug tossed the file aside and cursed the day that Crane and his goons ever came into their lives. If it wasn't for Crane, Tom would have never been thrown in jail, Booker would still be at Jump Street – not that Doug knew if that was necessarily a good thing or not – and Judy would never have had to go through all that crap, Tom wouldn't have gotten shot, and Judy wouldn't be blaming herself. Anger and hate boiled within Doug's veins. He had half a mind to take his gun and go…
"Penhall?"
Doug looked up to see Ioki standing at his desk.
"Aren't you supposed to be at school?" Doug asked sharply.
"Yeah," Ioki nodded, "But I had to come by and check in with Fuller first. He had to review me on the case. I-I was going to ask you if there are any details you think I should know about before I…"
"Damn it, Ioki!" Doug slammed his hand down on his desk. Wincing, he looked up at the younger man and rolled his eyes at him immature and selfish behavior, "Look, I'm sorry alright. I'm just stressed about this whole thing and…"
"I understand," Ioki nodded, "Really, I do. You're not the only one who lost two friends…"
"Yeah well they aren't lost. Hanson's down at the hospital trying to wake up and Judy's…"
"We'll get her back, alright?"
"I know. It'll kill Tom that she's blaming herself for this whole mess, you know."
"Hey, when Hanson wakes up, he'll go get her and drag her back home."
"I know he will," Doug sighed, "It…it just won't be soon enough."
"I know," Ioki nodded.
"Hey, that case!" Doug quickly changed the subject, "The only tip I can give you is if you meet a girl named Jerri-Lynne, stay as far away from her as possible! That girl is a psychopath!"
"Alright," Ioki chuckled, "I think I can remember that. Thanks."
"No problem. And Ioki?"
"Yeah?"
"Good luck."
"You too, Penhall. You too."
--
The lights are bright.
Too bright.
It stings.
He winced under the pain from the brightness of the fluorescent lights above him.
Everything is so bight.
Is this heaven?
Can't be.
Heaven's full of chili dogs and Twinkies.
I could really go for a Twinkie right now.
And a chili dog.
When was the last time I ate?
My stomach feels like it's going to explode.
Where is everyone?
Where am I?
Ow!
Why is there an IV in my arm?
I swear if…
"Officer Hanson?"
Officer Hanson?
Dad?
What does that man want with Dad?
"Officer Hanson, I'm Dr. Kimberton…"
Why is he talking to me?
Where is Dad?
"I've been monitoring you for the past few weeks."
Weeks?
How long have I been gone?
"Do you remember anything about what happened two weeks ago?"
Of course I don't remember!
I wake up in some…room and I don't know where the hell I am!
Of course I don't remember what happened!
Where's dad?
"You were shot, Officer Hanson."
Shot?
But…
"The bullet almost grazed your heart. You lost a fatal amount of blood thus putting you in a coma. Honestly, Officer Hanson, we didn't know if you would make it or not. You must have some sort powerful guardian angel lookin' out for you."
Guardian angel?
Shot?
Almost died?
Fatal?
Guardian angel?
"Officer Hanson, you are a very lucky man, do you know that? Now then, I am going to go get the nurse in here to get your vitals but first I'm going to ask you some questions. Do you know where you are?"
Hanson shook his head.
"You are at Sacred Heart hospital."
"Jump…Street?"
"It's about thirty minutes off of Jump Street, yes. Do you know your name?"
"Tom."
"That's right. Officer Thomas Hanson."
"Dad."
"Do you want your dad?"
"Dad."
"Alright. Just a few more questions. When is your birthday?"
"April…"
"April 6, 1965. That's all with the questions for now, Officer Hanson. You did very well. Now then, I'll go get the nurse and while she's getting your vitals, I'll go call your mom and tell her that you're awake."
"Mom?"
"Yes, your mother. She was in here last night with a man named Doug. Do you remember Doug, Officer Hanson?"
"Doug…McQuaid."
"Doug Penhall, Tom, his name was Doug Penhall."
"Doug McQuaid."
"Alright, confusion is normal for the first few weeks…"
"Doug and Tommy. McQuaid."
"Alright, Tom, Doug and Tommy McQuaid. Are they…brothers?"
Tom nodded, "Best friends."
"Alright. Well I'll go get your mother on the phone. Sit tight."
"Not…going…anywhere," Tom smiled. The doctor returned the smile and excused himself. A few minutes later, a nurse came in with a cheery smile.
"Good to see you're finally awake, Officer Hanson. My name is Nurse Annette. I've been taking good care of you these past weeks. Now then, I'll need to take a few blood samples and check your temperature and your heart rate. First off, tell me how you feel?"
"Tired. Sore."
"Where are you sore, Officer Hanson?"
"Chest."
"Well you were shot there, Tom. It's to be expected. Now then, we can give you some pain meds before you leave here to help with the pain…"
"Who…all…visited me?" Tom interrupted.
"Oh well your mother of course. She's a real sweet lady. Why, she's just about as sweet as cheery pie! And then some people who work with you. I think Captain Fuller, Officer Penhall, and Officer Ioki. Yes, and there was one other…"
"Judy."
"No, no one named Judy came by."
"Judy…Hoffs. Detective."
"No, I'm sorry Tom; no Detective Judy Hoffs came by. But there was another man. He didn't give a name…"
"What…did he…look…like?"
"About your height," Annette spoke as she poked the needle in an unused vein, "Dark hair, brown. Possibly black. He was kind of rude. Something he said, it bothered me. When I came to get him out of your room after visiting hours, I told him that you'd get better and he said, 'Yeah, he's strong. He'll get better. He has to. He's Tom-the…well…you can fill that in-Hanson. Greatest officer on Jump Street!'"
"Booker?"
"You know him?"
"Yeah," Tom nodded, "Dennis…Booker."
"Well other than that comment, he seemed alright. He looked concerned about you but when I asked if he was a friend, he quickly corrected me."
"Asshole," Tom said but he was smiling through the insult.
"Excuse me," Dr. Kimberton stuck his head in through the door, "Officer Hanson, your mother is on the way. She told me to tell you she'll call the team and tell them to meet her here. She's very excited you're awake."
"Me…too."
Mrs. Hanson wasn't big on speeding, in fact, she hated it. Never in her fifty-two years of life had she ever gotten a single ticket for it. But today, for the first time in her life, she floored the accelerator and rushed to the hospital as fast as her little Ford Taurus could take her and, in her opinion, it wasn't fast enough.