As promised if I got 170 reviews I'd post today! Well I did and I am posting (obviously) As stated last chapter that this one was my favorite to right. I did say it's the longest, but looking back at other chapters it isn't. But it does fall closer to the top of the word count.
Thank you Jordan for helping. Casey Jr for suggesting to see the sensitive side of Erin. Guest(s) for seeing Hank/Erin bond and Camille/Erin bond.
I really hope you guys like this one. Please let me.
"Dawson! Platt!" Commander Marshall called to the rookie cop and the newly cleared patrolwoman to his desk.
"Yes Commander Marshall?" Dawson questioned as he walked through the office.
"Head down to Oak Park. We got a witness call in thinking they have seen Lorenzo Vega. Apparently he went to score a deal with on of the Latin Kings."
"On it, Sir." Platt turned to follow Dawson to the patrol car.
Forty-five minutes later they duo parked in front of Speedway Gas station. Binoculars both held in their hands and pressed against their rather tired eyes.
"How's married life?" Trudy asked flatly as silence struck the patrol car.
"Good." Antonio smiled. Him and his wife, Laura were only married for three months since he became a rookie cop on the streets.
"What does she think about you in uniform?"
"She's not complaining," Antonio jokes but quickly suppresses his laughter when sees Platt's face contort in disgust.
"Leave your bedroom talk for you guy friends." Platt stated firmly. She glanced at the radio; the time read 6:01pm. "Well now its overtime."
Antonio laughed, "Should I radio in that we are-"
"Shush." Platt pointed to the man that came out of the grocery store across the gas station. His black hair covered with a baseball cap and his beard shaven off. "Is that Vega?"
Antonio brought the binoculars back to his eyes, "Yes. The scar above his left eye." He studied the man more, "Check out the tattoo. Meets the description."
"Let's get 'em." Platt placed the binoculars in her lap as she pulled the car out of park and into drive. She turned the sirens on and jumped the curb, swerving to avoid oncoming traffic.
Platt skidded to a stop, just as Antonio jumped out of the car, his gun ready. Lorenzo noticed the cops and decided to drop the bags of food he had in his hand and he booked on foot down the alley.
Dawson and Platt ran after him, jumping over the chain link fence he just hopped over. Platt was first over and ran after Vega who ran down the block before swiftly turning into the third to last house.
"Arrest in pursuit. Backup stand by." Dawson radioed in as he jogged.
The house was falling apart. Siding peeling away. Missing boards from the porch floor. Glass broken in the upstairs windows. The grass was overgrown and ivy vines grew up the gutters. It was a complete dump.
Trudy cautiously approached the front door, taking note that as she was running she noticed tennis shoes were hanging front the telephone line. The sign of gangs in the neighborhood.
Just as Trudy undid the safety on her gun, a bang erupted the quiet streets. Car alarms went off, dogs' barked, Antonio screamed. A small ping of metal hit the ground as Trudy fell along with it.
"Trudy!" Antonio yelled. He rushed to his partner's side. He noticed blood coming from her side. Then noticed the 12-gauge hole in the front door. Antonio looked at the window, spotting Vega peak from behind the sheet used as curtain. He pointed the gun up to shoot off another round, but Antonio was quick in response.
Antonio lifted Trudy up and out of the way. "Shots fired at the police! I repeat, shots fired at the police." He shouted through his radio. He applied pressure to the wound; silent prayers were said as tears ran down his face.
SHELTER
Erin gripped the steering wheel tightly and held her breath as she felt her eyes well up with tears. She blinked the tears away and she focused on the road. The sun was just setting, coloring the sky in hues of orange and red. Erin placed her foot on the gas, swerving in and out of traffic trying to make it to the hospital as quick as she can.
The car to the side of her honked as she almost collided with them. She jerked the steering wheel to avoid hitting them and moving back into her lane. Just as she reduced her speed to the limit, she then slowed to a stop as a light changed from yellow to red. Once she came to a complete stop she dropped her hands from the wheel and brushed her hair from her face. Erin looked over in the cup holder and saw her phone was blinking; she had not checked it since she dropped it in her purse when leaving the District after working the front desk. The light was still red so she turned to look at her flashing phone, revealing she had a missed call. Two exactly.
She pressed in her code to her voicemail and placed the phone against her ear.
Hank's gravely voice rang through, "Erin," he let out a sigh, "I'm heading to the hospital now. There has been an accident with Trudy. Please call me back." Erin deleted the message and another started up.
This time Camille's voice entered her ear, "I just dropped off Justin at the sitters, I'll meet you in the main lobby. Love you." Erin deleted that message too, just as she heard a honk from behind her. Startled, she dropped her phone at her feet. Erin hunched over her lap, trying to grab her phone with the tips of her fingers.
The driver wailed on their horn once more as the light had been green for a few seconds.
Erin grabbed her phone and tossed it to passenger seat, "Calm down, asshole!" Erin shouted out her open window. In her rearview mirror she could see the impatient driver smack his hand on the dashboard, yelling "Come on!" She shook her head and she released her foot from the brake and pumped the gas petal, meeting the speed limit. As much as she wanted to say few more choice words with the driver, her main focus was getting to the hospital.
Reaching the parking lot, Erin spotted Camille's car and took the spot a few cars from her. She unbuckled, grabbed her phone, purse and stepped out of the car. Locking her doors and walked to the revolving door of the hospital, her black heels making a clicking noise as they hit the pavement. Erin didn't bother changing from work, so her feet were definitely sore.
She spotted Camille waiting on the other side of the revolving door. "Any news yet?" Erin walked up to the front desk, signing her name and placing a 'Visitor' tag on her shirt.
Camille shook her head, "Nothing yet."
"What did Hank say when he called?" Erin wondered as Camille draped her arm around her shoulder.
"He said that Trudy is being taken into surgery to remove the bullet."
"Where's Antonio?"
"He's filling out reports right now." Camille informed. Erin gave the woman a small nod and rested her head on her shoulder. "She's going to be okay, Erin." Camille placed a kiss on top of the teen's head. She heard a soft sob escaped the teen's lips, which only caused her to hold on tighter, "She's going to be okay."
SHELTER
"You!" Antonio poked the chest of Lorenzo Vega. The same guy left his partner bleeding. "You shot my partner. Not even brave enough to come out of the house and face us face to us!"
Vega had a smug grin on his face. His hands still cuffed together and shackled to the bar that ran across the length of the table. "She knew what she had coming. Shouldn't have chased after me!"
"You shot my partner! Just so you could make a deal?!" Antonio got face to face with the man, "She was rushed to hospital!"
"Maybe you should have had her back better." Lorenzo smiled, "So much of a cop you are."
Antonio's vision blurred and his mind was elsewhere. The next thing he knew his fist was connected to the guys jaw. He heard a crack and his knuckled were throbbing. Another officer came rushing in, pulling Antonio away from beating the man to a pulp. "That's from my partner, Trudy Platt!" He yelled as he was dragged out of the room.
Dawson was released and ordered to head to the hospital. The doctor called the Commander on Trudy's successful surgery.
SHELTER
Erin stared at her black high heel shoes as played with a thread from her dress shirt. She felt Camille's hand on her back, running circles soothingly.
"What's taking them so long?" Erin groaned as she sat back in the waiting room chair.
Camille moved her hand from being caught; she let out a deep sigh and looked to the teen. "Hank said he would keep us informed."
Erin brought her hands to her face as she felt her face become hot. "Why haven't they come out of there yet?" She asked referring to the double doors leading to the O.R. "They've been in there for an hour."
"They will tell us everything when they are done." Camille patted the teen's knee, giving it a squeeze as she stood up. "I'm going to grab a coffee. Want one?"
Erin nodded as her head became heavy with thoughts and worries.
SHELTER
"Officer Dawson?" A male doctor approached the frazzled patrolman. He extended his hand out, "I'm Dr. Wilson. I'm the one who performed the surgery on your partner."
Antonio shook the man's hand firmly, "How is she? Is she…."
"She's fine. Pulled through like a champ." Dr. Wilson gave the young officer a smile; "She is still going to remain in the ICU just until we can move the tubes and she can breath on her own."
"She's on a ventilator?" Dawson's eyes begin to water, he blinked the tear away and stared down at his hand. No matter how many times he scrubs at them, he still could see dried blood. The blood of his partner. The one who he was suppose to have her back.
"It's just a precaution as she still under mild anesthetics." The doctor informed, "I'll come get you when she wakes up."
"How long will she be out for?"
"Her body has been through a lot." Antonio nodded, obviously he knew that. He was there. "Anywhere from 2-4 hours."
"Okay. Thank you sir."
The doctor placed a gentle touch to Dawson's shoulder, "If you want you can get a bite to eat in the meantime."
"Thank you." Dawson walked through the double doors leading out of the O.R hall and into the waiting room. Antonio spotted Erin sitting against the wall. Her nose was red and her eyes were puffy, a sign she had been crying.
"Hey." He approached her quietly.
Erin looked up to the officer; she stood to her feet and wrapped her arms around him. "How is she?"
Antonio placed his hand on the back of her head, "She's fine. Surgery was successful."
If Erin was a religious type, she's drop to her knee and thank the lord, instead she just let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you." She stepped back and sat in her chair, dropping her head in her hands. She cried. Not holding back.
Antonio sat beside her; he rested his elbows on his knees and bowed his head to see her covered face.
"What's happened?" Hank voice startled the two as they were loss in emotions.
"Trudy's out. They have her on a ventalator, but she will be moved from ICU in a few hours." Antonio informed the older officer.
Hank sat the water bottle he had in his hand on the floor as he knelt to Erin's eye level. He placed his hands on her knees, "Erin?" Erin collapsed in his arms. Her legs gave out when she went to stand up. Her body weak, her sobs only got harder and louder. "Shh…" Hank caught her, holding on tight.
"Oh, Hank…" Erin squeaked and bunched her hands in the back of Hank's uniform shirt. Her nails digging into him, almost poking holes through the material. "She could of die-"
"I know, Kid." Hank squeezed her tighter, resting his chin on top of her head. "Trudy is a fighter. She is going to fine and back to patrolling." Hank looked over to Antonio who stared at him and shook his head. Hank let out a sigh knowing things might not be back to normal. "Come on Kid, let's get a bite to eat."
Erin nodded and pulled from Hank's hold, "Can we eat it back here? I want to be there when Trudy wakes up."
Hank sighed, "We can't bring food on this floor. But don't worry, we will come right back up here when we are finished."
"I think I'll join you guys." Antonio gave the two a smile. He needed a distraction.
SHELTER
Beeping of monitors rang through the hospital room. The smell of bleach filled the nostrils of Trudy as she came conscience. She blinked several times, squinting her eyes open as her vision was blurry. She opened her eyes fully as the blurriness subsided and everything became clear.
She looked around the room, her eyes landing on a small vase of flowers on her bedside table. She sighed when no one came to her side. No one was there for the time she woken up. She could hear some humming of a machine, like a suction cup being released from a surface before popping back on the surface. She turned her head to the machine making that noise. Her eyes followed the tubing that was connected to the machine; it looped around a few times before it stopped under her gown. She lifted her gown to the side, revealing a draining tube covered by gauze.
A small amount of blood seeped through the gauze and started to saturate the white sheets she laid on. Pain thrashed through her back as she shifted to tuck her gown back in place. She heard footsteps approaching from the around the corner, she turned her head to see who was coming. Hoping to see her partner's face.
"Glad to see you are up, Ms. Trudy." Dr. Wilson came in with a smile on his face. He used his small pen flashlight as he shined it in the eyes of the wounded officer. Her eyes followed the light from left to right, then up and down. "How are you doing?"
Trudy went to speak but her mouth so dry.
"Don't worry, your voice will come back." Dr. Wilson informed, giving her a sympathetic look. "I'll get you some water to help." Trudy smiled gratefully, "How is your pain?"
Trudy groaned as she tried to speak again. She sighed in frustration.
"I'll take that as you need some relief." Dr. Wilson jotted a few things in Trudy's chart before putting his pen back in his white coat pocket. "I'll be back in a second." He turned and headed out the door he came in.
SHELTER
"How is she holding up?" Camille asked her husband as they both leaned against the vending machine, looking across the waiting room at the teen, who took up two seats, laying down.
"She's drained." Hank sighed, "But she refuses to go home."
"She's wants to stay for Trudy." Camille gave her husband a small smile, "Let's just sit and wait."
Hank laced his fingers with Camille's fingers, he placed a kiss to her hand, "Love you."
"Love you too." Camille rested her head on his shoulder for a second before they walked to the row of chairs. Erin sat up as Hank and Camille took a seat on either side of her.
"How are you doing, Kid?" Hank asked.
"Okay." Erin picked at her nails, "Did you hear from the doctor yet?"
"No not yet-" Hank stopped as he saw Dr. Wilson walk down the hall. "There is he now."
"Hank Voight?" Dr. Wilson approached the uniformed officer.
"Yes." Hank stood and shook the doctor's hand, "How's Trudy?"
"Good." Dr. Wilson gave a smile to Camille and Erin, who stood up with Hank. "She is up now."
"Really?" Erin grinned.
"Yes. She is in pain, so we just gave her some medication. She might be sleeping, but you can visit her."
Erin nodded and looked to the two adults, "Can we see her?"
"You go with her," Hank ordered his wife, "I'll find Antonio."
Camille placed a kiss on her husband's cheek before she walked with Erin down the hall to Trudy's room.
Erin poked her head into the hospital room, she could hear the sound of a television in the distance.
"Hey!" Trudy finally got her voice back. She wore a smile on her face as she saw the teen enter her room.
Erin let out a sigh of relief, happy tears fallen. "Miss. Trudy."
"Hey Miss Sassy. You didn't have to come here." She was very happy to finally see someone other than some nurse who came in to draw blood and check vitals.
"We couldn't keep her away." Camille gave the woman a small smile.
"Thank you Camille." Trudy smiled. "So Sassy, did you finish your hours?"
Erin rolled her eyes playfully, "I did."
"Good." Trudy congratulated. "I had a fun time hanging with you."
"Well…." Erin looked over the officer, "I actually plan on sticking around the desk for a little bit longer."
"Really?" Trudy's eyes glimmered with happiness.
"Yeah but only if I can be taught by the best?"
Trudy grinned, "Erin, you are going to make a great cop one day."
Erin's eyes welled up tears. She didn't think it was possible for a person to produce so many tears in one day. "I'm glad I was able to hear you say that."
Trudy knew what the teen meant. Boy, she was happy to be alive to tell her that, "I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon."
"Good." Erin placed a gentle hug to the officer, not wanting to cause any more pain.
"I am going to watch you get your badge." Trudy stated firmly. "I'm not going anywhere." She promised.
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