Chapter 25

Marco was loaded into the ambulance, and Madison climbed in beside him. She had hung the IV on the pole and did another check of his vital signs.

"Don't I know you from somewhere?" he asked.

"Um, don't think so," Madison said as she wrote down vitals.

"You look familiar," he insisted.

"Look, Sergeant Hernandez, I'm trying to save your life here. Respectfully, will you please not talk until I ask you to?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

He closed his eyes. She looked so familiar, but he couldn't place her.

Thanks to police lights and sirens, Voight made it to Chicago Med in record time. He watched Buffy out of the corner of his eye. She had come with Antonio to a few holiday celebrations, and she even brought dessert. She usually didn't say much, seeming to prefer to listen to the conversation than actively contribute. He and Jess had just been to their wedding two days earlier.

"Hell of a way to start married life, huh?" he asked, trying to make conversation.

She nodded. "I always thought that if Marco ever got shot it would be by some jealous husband or boyfriend, not in the line of duty."

Voight nodded. "Marco is a good cop. Antonio speaks highly of him."

:Evidently not good enough if he stood in front of a bullet."

"It happens. Not everyone goes through their whole career without firing their gun."

"So my Dad tells me every Sunday at dinner."

"He was talking when he was being loaded into the ambulance. That's always a good sign. Most likely, it's a through and through."

"I hope so. But knowing Marco, he'll be getting plenty of attention from the female staff."

Voight smiled. "He's a good looking guy. I'm sure he will get a date or three out of this."

"More like three thousand."

Voight pulled up in front of the Emergency Room and slapped a police sticker on the dash.

Buffy opened the door and stepped out, heading inside. She spotted Antonio in the hallway and tried not to run to him.

"Hey," he said as she reached him.

He opened his arms and she slipped into them, hugging him tightly.

"Any word?"

"Not yet."

"Did anyone call my parents?"

"I did. They're on their way. Come on, let's go sit down."

She released Antonio from her hug and slipped her hand into his as he led her to the waiting room. Olinski rose from his seat.

"Sit down," he said to Buffy.

"Thank you, Al."

He nodded and walked over to Antonio. "I'll go get coffee."

"Thanks, Al. She drinks hers strong, black with two sugars."

He nodded and started through the door. He noticed Voight in the hallway. "Going for coffee, Hank. Want to come?"

Voight nodded and joined Al. They walked to the elevator. Once they were inside the car, Olinski filled him in on what he had learned at the scene. Voight nodded and didn't speak until Olinski was finished.

"I take it it's Intelligence's case now?"

"It is, but we need to keep Antonio out of the loop. This is personal for him, being the Vic's brother in law and former partner."

Voight nodded. "His wife's pretty shaken up. I get the feeling they're close, but she wouldn't volunteer any information."

"Buffy's pretty quiet."

"So we will need to get back out in the street ASAP. "

Olinski nodded. They both knew they would get the shooter. It just might take a while, but eventually, they would be caught. Voight was like a dog on a bone when a fellow officer was shot.

"Likely or Not Likely?" Voight asked.

"Not likely unless there are complications in the OR."

Voight nodded. If Marco did die, Homicide would want to take over. Intelligence had to get there first.