Chapter 25

"So basically what the two of you are telling us is you have NOTHING and no plan to do ANYTHING about it!" Danny snapped as he paced around lounge area where he and his father were meeting with Frank's lead detail man, Detective Nucifero, and the assigned DC Detective, William Fowler, regarding the status of the investigation which seemed to be spinning nowhere. As usual, Baker and Garrett were in attendance, but both sensed that it was wise in this instance to stay out of the fray, at least for the time being.

"Danny, keep your voice down! I don't want you waking Eddie," Frank warned, not knowing at the moment that his daughter-in-law was already up and making herself ill over what was overheard down the hall from the pair of nurses passing by them at that very minute.

"How can my brother get run down in the middle of a busy street in a city like this and you sit there and tell me there's not one traffic cam or ATM or security camera that caught this guy either before or when he was fleeing the scene? No one else was on the block?"

"All of our metro traffic cams in that sector were down from 4:08 that afternoon until well after this incident," Detective Fowler reported. "The tech department was uploading updated software trying to get ahead of the storm and it failed for unknown reasons," he put it bluntly. "Most of the businesses in that district were closed overnight. I'll have a team of unis recanvass the area starting at nine this morning to see if they turn anything else up. As of this point, that's all we have except for a bit of broken glass that will be sent to forensics… looks like it could have come from the headlight… might point us to a make of car, but that's all."

"So what is the plan going forward?" Frank demanded.

"That's it. Recanvass and wait for the forensics. Listen, I don't know how you do things up in the Big Apple, but down here this district only has one investigator devoted to hit-and-run accidents and you're looking at him. No witnesses… nothing to go on… it gets filed, I move onto something I can solve with the limited resources I have and you hope for the best."

"Jesus, that's beautiful... doesn't your arm get sore throwing things in the cold case can that fast?!" Danny continued to fume. "My brother is still in surgery… you haven't even interviewed him and yet it sounds to me you've already dumped it. Jamie has an eidetic memory… did anyone ever teach you what that means? He can give you every detail of what he saw… like it gets burned in his brain. It's what makes him a great cop and it would be nice if he got a little damn support from his supposed brothers in blue down here!"

"Well, for his sake I hope that's the case. If he remembers anything when he wakes up, give me a call. Here's my card," Fowler offered while Danny glared at him before snatching it out of his hand. "My best to him and your family."

"Thanks for nothing!" the oldest brother barked back, hardly noticing the orderly across the hall who appeared to be engrossed in checking files on a rolling computer station. "Nothing!" he repeated as the DC detective retreated. "THEY GOT NOTHING, DAD! Not one effing clue as to who did this to Jamie… and he just wants us to accept that! WELL I WON'T!" he warned. "I swear if I have to stay down here and do it myself I'll find the guy that did this and bury him! If he thinks he can get away with it, he hasn't met me yet!" he asserted as a tiny wry smirk tugged at the corner of the orderly's lip. Perhaps the game was on after all, and Daniel Reagan might prove to be an interesting target while he left the younger one suffer a bit and continued to take action to drive that little blond irritant towards breaking. Maybe Matthew hadn't screwed up so much as he had first thought, not that he wouldn't find the back of his father's hand across his face at a later time just to remind him about it though.

"Danny, calm down now before you wind up being admitted here yourself for stroking out," Frank warned as he rubbed his own aching temples. "That's the last thing we need. I don't have a lot of pull down here, obviously. We're fighting the MPDC, the weather and the fact that they botched the investigation from the get go… I was there… patrol never bothered to contain the scene until after we left, any potential witnesses were lost, half of them will probably check out of their rooms before their damn canvass decides to knock on doors."

"I had some of the men go through the hotel unofficially last night," Detective Nucifero revealed. "That was my first thought as well. We were able to hit all the halls with access to that side of the building. Sorry boss, we didn't come up with anything either. The hotel relies on the corner traffic cam for exterior security in the front other than the camera pointed directly at the entrance door. There was a possible reflection in the glass registered at the time of the incident… I had it sent up to TARU to see if they could work any magic, but frankly, sir, there wasn't much there. It was cold out and the dinner hour… most people were off the street eating at that time or in the building. MPDC never even got the name of the driver that stopped first after Jamie was hit in front of him. He also left the scene. That would have been our best shot for a description or a potential plate."

"I'm telling you, Jamie is our best lead," Danny insisted with frustration since no one else appeared to share his viewpoint or faith in his brother at that point. Had he seen youngest sibling's condition prior to this conversation, it was doubtful he would still have the same belief. "You'll see that when he wakes up. He'll give us something so Fowler won't have cause to just sink this case."

"A little outside influence might help," Garrett broke into the conversation for the first time, having sat uncharacteristically quiet for longer than usual. "An article in the Post highlighting the MPDC's lack of interest in solving a crime against a fellow NYPD officer… perhaps shared with a sister publication down here to get the word out and ask for the public's assistance for information."

"That could blow back and look like I'm using the power of my office to influence another department," Frank frowned and let out a heavy sigh. "It better be a hell of a lot more subtle than that," he ordered his gray-haired advisor with a knowing look. "I want to keep this quiet back at home, so just run something here, and I want to sign off on it first."

"On it, boss," Garrett jumped to his feet, relieved to have finally gotten a positive response to his presence down there since he felt a good deal of guilt himself for the current situation between the two police commissioners and the DC mayor, not to mention the strife between him and Frank had revolved around Jamie to a large degree, and now… well it was hard not to feel sorry for that given the circumstances.

"Baker, if you wouldn't mind, would you please go look in on Eddie?" Frank asked as she nodded and got up to make her way down the hall while he checked his watch. "Nine o'clock," he informed them. "Two hours since the last update from the OR. Let's hope we get more good news soon," he worried even as his assistant was finding his son's greatest love collapsed on the floor in the bathroom convinced that she had selfishly made the wrong decision for her husband, and a nondescript orderly was walking off in the opposite direction preparing to continue this game of cat and mouse under the Commissioner's very well-mustached nose.

###

"How's he doing there, Skip?" Kenzie asked with a hint of worry in her voice after a warning beep sounded on the monitor and she glanced up to see what was the matter.

"Oxygen stat's dropping a little," the substitute anesthesiologist informed her as he quickly adjusted the gas levels flowing into Jamie's endotracheal tube and the sounds stopped. "Might want to shoot a chest film and make sure that pneumothorax is still reduced or we don't have a tension on our hands."

"Alright, let's get that done, and watch for any signs of tachycardia," she agreed as she stepped back down and off her stool to stretch for a few moments. "Take a bilateral one of the tibia too while you're over there so I can confirm the nail and pins are in place before we plate the fibula," she requested while the tech moved in to do the imaging. "Boy, this is a whole lot easier when you get to see what you're doing and not operating under a Humvee with shells dropping around you," she observed.

"Have you seen action recently?" Rebecca, her new and admirably skilled scrub nurse inquired.

"Not for a couple of years," Kenzie admitted. "I've been in the lab and setting up my clinic recently, but just started operating again a few weeks ago. Haven't built up the endurance for it yet though," she added while trying to work a few more cramps out of her neck. "Sergeant Jamie Reagan is taking me to task on that and making me work for my dinner, aren't you? Hang in there… I know we're taking our time here with you. What's it say, Skip?" she asked.

"Looks good," he confirmed.

"Sort of," Kenzie frowned when she took a look at the leg x-rays a few moments later. "I'm still worried about the nerve function. He's got damage to the tibial nerve here from the fracture site," she pointed. "But I think we might be okay there, eventually. Now that we've reestablished better blood flow and straightened a few things out by realigned those bones it seems more stretched than torn. It's this one that has me concerned, though," she added while pointing more to the side of Jamie's leg. "This is where he took the hardest impact from the front bumper and the peroneal runs right through there. That's at a pretty high point… usually with today's vehicles you're looking at a strike much lower unless it was an SUV. At the moment though it seems like he might need some kick-ass neuro work to graft that back together. There's so much swelling in that area right now… I can't tell exactly and that's way above my pay grade, plus even with the best results it can be disappointing," she sighed. "Up to a twenty-four-month recovery time, or worst case he loses sensation and control of his foot and lower leg," she fretted. "Or maybe he suffers from constant pain and weakness down there. Crap," she hemmed. "Was an easier choice when I thought the tibial was gone too. Now we need to make a decision or go all in and fix the femur or all out and call it."

"You still think you can fix the bone?" Rebecca questioned. "That's so amazing! I really wish I could be involved in more surgeries like that. Sometimes at this hospital..." she trailed off. "We just can't. This is my last week here though. I've finished my active duty requirements."

"I know I can fix that bone," Kenzie replied confidently as she processed that admission and tucked it away for later considering this nurse had an easy and confident manner in the OR and she had an opening for such a person up in New York, but that was for later… there were too many other things to be concerned about at the moment. "What I don't know right now is if I should."

###

"Hey, baby," Eddie sniffed as she curled up alone on another couch down the hall… grateful for some distance from everyone else since she had been virtually smothered by the family after that breakdown in the bathroom and a subsequent somewhat fiery 'discussion' with her father-in-law about the merits of keeping things about Jamie's condition from her. An hour, multitudes of assurances from everyone attached to the family that she had done the correct thing for her husband, half a box of tissues and a good talk with a sympathetic grandfather-in-law over the phone had her glued back together again, at least for the time being. Word had come out from the back a short time ago that things were still proceeding forward for now, but that there had been some minor complications with Jamie's oxygen and heart rate that were slowing the progress which threatened to send Eddie into another tailspin, but she had gritted her teeth and maintained her composure. Now, though it was time to contend with a little girl who had been promised a talk with her daddy that morning… one who was still completely out of reach at this point. "Did Auntie Erin make you your favorite breakfast for you?"

"I not 'ungry," was the sad report. "My tummy hurt. Where Daddy, p'ease?"

"Daddy's still sleeping, baby," Eddie tried to assure without getting into the details of exactly why that was but knowing that an upset and precocious Kaylin would not be satisfied with a simple answer and if she was allowed to think about it too hard Henry and Erin just might have some more hysterics on their hands, so more details were quickly added before things got to that point. "He had a very long night, so he's really tired and the doctor isn't quite done making him better, but hopefully she will be soon, and then he'll sleep a little longer before he wakes up and we get to talk to him, okay?"

"But Pop Pop promised me to talk to 'im," came the quivering reply.

"I know he did," Eddie tried to soothe before the waterworks started again with either of them. "Sweetie, Pop Pop really thought you would be able to do that this morning when he said you could, but it just seems that things are taking longer than we thought, and for now we just have to what?... be patient and wait. I know that's something that you and I usually have to work on, right? Mommy, Grandpa and Uncle Danny… we're all still waiting to see Daddy too. I promise just as soon as he can he will call and talk to you, but I can't tell you when that will be because the yucky medicine they gave him makes him sleepy just like when you got stung by the wasps at the soccer game and you and Uncle Danny slept together on the couch almost all afternoon, remember? We had to wake you both up to eat supper and you still couldn't keep your eyes open at the table. That's how Daddy is right now baby; he's just sleeping while the medicine and the doctor are helping him."

"Him have a big boo-boo?"

"Yes, baby. It's a very big boo-boo, but we'll help him make it all better. Mommy and Daddy love you Kaylin Elizabeth, and hopefully this will all be over and we'll both be home soon."

###

"It's over," came the two most feared, yet welcomed words in the Reagan family vocabulary at nearly two o'clock that afternoon, with Jamie's surgery running just short of ten full hours by that point, but the soft smile it was delivered with soon alleviated their worst fears. "He's on his way to recovery, but it will be some time before we have him situated and allow anyone back there to visit," the far more considerate, but now very tired-looking scrub nurse, Rebecca, informed them. She had stayed with Kenzie throughout the entire procedure, fascinated by this woman surgeon's work. "The doctor needs a few minutes herself, but she asked to meet the family in the conference room… that's 410 straight down that hall there in about a half hour so she can go over what was done and the postoperative expectations for his care for at least the next few days or so."

"Thank God in heaven," Frank murmured as he rubbed his tired face, feeling the rough, uncharacteristic stubble there and suddenly very thankful for that dopp kit Garrett had managed to provide… a gesture that did generate some appreciation for his long-time advisor now that the crushing weight of fear for his son's life had been somewhat lifted from his chest. A much-needed trip to the men's room for a meeting with a razor was due in short order.

"So he… I mean he still has his…" Eddie managed to stumble out, still unwilling to let herself go to the place where Jamie had managed to keep his leg for fear it was all a cruel joke and they would be informed as such in this family meeting. "It's still there, right?"

"Yes," the nurse nodded as she rubbed her tired shoulder and neck muscles with one hand. "As Dr. MacKenzie will explain though there's some temporary external fixation devices on it now, which can look overwhelming and scary when you first see them, but she has a plan and a timetable to deal with those. Jamie had a few rough patches in the latter part of the surgery where he required some additional anesthesia, so it might be some time before he comes back to us."

"But he's stable now, right?" Eddie continued with an uneasy feeling that the next shoe was about to be dropped. "That doesn't mean anything's wrong, does it?"

"No, ma'am," Rebecca assured. "It's not uncommon after such a long surgery. It's very taxing on the patient, but he did well considering."

"You said Kenz needed time?" Rick asked on the same line of thought while trying to mask a puzzled look and tone from Eddie as that revelation had left its own seed of doubt gnawing at him.

"Yes, sir," the nurse responded. "As I said it was quite a long surgery, and she just needed to recharge and grab a quick cup of coffee. I'm sure she'll be out shortly."

"I think we all need a moment to regroup," Frank agreed. "I know I do. So as she asked we'll meet down in that room in a few minutes. Eddie, let's get you situated in there with something to eat since I will not have you or my future grandchild go without after a day like today. Danny, why don't you give Linda, Pop and Erin a call and let them know he's out and tell them I'll touch base later when we know more."

"Yeah, okay… I'll go do that," Danny agreed as he palmed his new replacement phone, delivered on-site courtesy of a certain very thorough NYPD assistant.

"Commissioner, I'll join you in a few minutes if that's alright," Rick inquired, determined to settle something in private before that. "I know it's a family matter now…"

"No, of course. Rick," Frank assured. "You're Jamie's friend… our friend that we owe an enormous debt of gratitude because frankly we wouldn't have gotten to this point without you. You need to be included although I hope you still intend on going ahead with the House Committee presentation if you feel up to it. As I understand you're due there at 4:00. We'll have a car waiting to take you back to the hotel by 3:00 to change, and while it isn't ideal for you to tackle something like that given the circumstances, Jamie wouldn't have it any other way. He told me several times this week that you were to be in charge of that, anyway."

"Thank you, sir. I… yes, sir... I should try to do that… we worked so hard on it," Rick conceded with a nod as he watched the rest of the party disburse on their assigned tasks before he turned around to hit the wall button and stride through those double doors marked 'Authorized Personnel Only,' on a mission of his own to find Kenzie and figure out just what the hell had gone wrong.

So, Rick knows Kenzie pretty well, and it appears that he's got a sense maybe there's something amiss. Next, our newest set of lovebirds have a revealing chat about that before the rest of the Reagans discover what upcoming challenges Jamie might be facing, and finally we get that Jamko reunion we've been waiting for… or do we? Maybe not quite yet. Another long chapter to follow with a flash forward to the present to start us off as our hero gets his first bit of hope if he can hold onto it.