In the room, outside of earshot the doctors were barking orders. Billy had been down for about 5 minutes, and it wasn't getting any better. A nurse did chest compressions as the doctors tried to stop the bleeding in the ER. They did an ultrasound of his stomach and another doctor yelled.
"Still V-fib! Charge to 300!" The doctor prepared to shock Billy again. Another doctor looked up from the ultrasound machine.
"Belly is full of blood. He has a ruptured diaphragm. We need to get him to OR now!" It was obviously the trauma surgeon. He looked at the doctor as Mary gave the word and everyone backed off. Billy's body jerked with his third shock in 3 minutes. The doctors watched the line go from jagged, uneven jumps to a steady, but rapid heart rate. They kicked the brakes on the bed and moved him fast, hooking him up to portable monitors and moving him out to the elevators.
Alex watched, shaking in Jimmy's arms as they moved him to the elevator. Jimmy looked up, seeing Billy, covered in tubes, blood all over the place. Alex jumped up and ran to the doctor, grabbing him. The doctor was spun around and looked down her. She looked up at him and the look the doctor had told Alex everything. They didn't expect him to survive. The doctor looked at her for a second longer, then disappeared as the elevator doors closed.
Alex lost it as her body started to shake. She felt sick to her stomach, and she stumbled, trying to remember where the bathroom was. She had been in this ER hundreds of times before, and she couldn't remember anything. She stumbled a few feet before collapsing. Davis caught her and looked at her, shocked by what he saw. Alex was pale, with a greenish tint, her eyes were red and swollen, tears stained her face as her nose got more red. Her lips were swollen from crying. Davis felt her shaking and looked at Jimmy, who looked shocked by what he saw. In all the time he has been a firefighter, he has never seen that kind of work being done on a man, never mind a man he knew.
Davis picked her up in his arms and she fought him. He let her down and she shook her head. He looked at her as she looked between Jimmy and Davis and she shook her head. They watched her as she backed up and stared at them with her red rimmed eyes, that made her blue iris' glow. She backed up farther, crying hysterically, hyperventilating. She backed into someone and turned fast, seeing Johnson standing behind her. She looked up at him, he looked down at her. He saw her face and she fell into his arms. He caught her and held her tightly, rocking her gently. He felt her lose her footing and held her up, talking gently to her. The Squad was behind Johnson and saw the way Alex looked. They watched Johnson walk her into the Nurse's Lounge, her muffled cries heard until the door shut. The Squad looked at Jimmy, who just swallowed hard and looked back. He shook his head, sniffling himself. A tear or two had fallen down his own cheeks, streaking the soot on his face from the fire he helped save Billy from.
"He's in surgery. It doesn't look good." He said and moved into the dark exam room to his left. The guys all looked at each other and shook their heads. JD went to find Morgan. Maybe she could find out more. Stu went into the bathroom, feeling sick. DK looked up at Logan, and Lombardo. DK looked back to see Swertzky walk in. DK looked at him and wondered why he was there.
"I know you're only a temporary Lieutenant, but if I can help you out, in any way." Swertzky left it at that. DK looked at him and nodded.
"Can you bring me to Billy's parent's house? I need to tell them, and it's not something that should be explained over the phone." DK asked as Swertzky nodded. He lead DK out.
"My car's right outside." They left together, and Davis looked at Joe. Joe shook his head and walked out. Sully came in, right after Swertzky and looked at Davis. Davis looked back as their radio crackled.
"55-CHARLIE, RESPOND TO 53rd AND LEXINGTON. 55-DAVID REQUESTS BACK UP ON SHOOTER FROM EARLIER."
Sully cursed, and called back, as they ran out of the ER. Joe and Logan leaned against the wall. They didn't want to be alone, but they didn't want to interrupt anyone who wanted to be alone. They looked in the trauma room and Joe saw something. He went in and leaned down, looking at the puddles of blood. He moved a piece of bloodied gauze, pulling up a bloodied up necklace. It was a silver chain, but not Billy's. He looked at it and wiped it off a bit. It was Alex's father's ring, the one she wore around her neck since it was given to her by her mother, when he was lost in the World Trade Center collapse. Joe heard a voice and turned fast, holding the chain and ring in his hand.
"Joe? Where is my daughter? Is she alright? I saw the fire on the news." It was Beth Taylor. Joe looked at her and sighed, moving to her.
10/01/2004 10:18 PM
Most of the Squad had left to bring the truck back, find replacements, change, and come back. They left in groups, first Joe and Logan, then JD and Stu, DK and Jimmy. Johnson was the only one left, still in his bunker gear. Alex hadn't moved from his arms since he arrived. They were all now in the Surgical waiting area. Over the past 6 hours, there had been no word, but one Code was called, about 2 hours before. Alex tried to comfort Mr. and Mrs. Walsh, but she was a wreck herself. The Squad knew she needed help and DK and her mother helped out as much as they could. Mrs. Walsh looked like a typical Irish woman. She had strawberry-blonde hair, with some streaks of gray. She was about 5'2", and shaped the way a woman her age should be shaped. Mr. Walsh was what Billy would look like when he was older. Dirty blonde hair, tall, and meaty like his son. He was the same height as Billy, with the same eyes, just about 25 years older than Billy. He leaned against the wall, and watched his daughter-in-law cry.
Bridget and Kate sat between Stu and DK, looking dazed and shocked. Why was this happening? Why their brother? Bridget stood up and looked at the group. No one really noticed she had gotten up, except for Kate and DK. DK looked up at her, wondering what she was doing.
"I am going for coffee, anyone want some?" She asked as they all looked towards her, hearing her talk. Everyone nodded, except Alex. She was in the shocked part of hysteria. She trembled in Johnson's arms as he rubbed her arm, holding her, trying to comfort her. Occasionally, Alex would let out a cry, but other than that, she was fairly quiet. Beth looked at her daughter, shaking her head. This was not good for her, or the pregnancy. DK stood up, letting Mrs. Walsh stay with Beth. He walked out with Bridget to the cafeteria.
Bosco slammed a cuffed man through the station doors. Swertzky looked up, seeing him and Sasha. He blinked and Bosco slammed him into the desk. Swertzky looked at the guy, who looked back with a snicker. Sasha shook her head and grabbed a paper. Swertzky crossed his arms over his chest.
"Dumb ass, say hello to Lieutenant Swertzky. Lieutenant Swertzky, say hello to the dumb ass that shot a firefighter, ACROSS THE STREET FROM A POLICE STATION!" Bosco yelled in his ear. The man flinched, then smiled. Swertzky watched his smile and nodded, looking at Bosco.
"Throw him in a cell, DA is on her way, I wanna question him about something. I'll be up in a few. Stay with him." Swertzky said and Bosco nodded, pulling the man away from the desk and shoving him up the stairs. Swertzky watched and saw Davis and Sully walk in. He looked at them, and they looked at him.
"Any word?" Davis asked, leaning against the desk. Swertzky shook his head and pointed to the holding cells.
"Bosco caught the guy who shot him though." Swertzky smiled and Davis nodded.
"Yeah. Here is the gun, Detectives said to send it in for an analysis ASAP." He said, passing the EVIDENCE bag over. Swertzky took it, and did what had to be done for it to be processed quickly. Davis looked at Swertzky and Swertzky nodded.
"Go get changed, your off the rest of the night. Go to Mercy, support her." He said and the phone rang. Davis nodded and walked to the locker room with Sully. Davis was worried about Alex. It was no secret anymore that she was pregnant. He had never seen her that hysterical, ever. Not during 9/11, or her father's burial, or their break-up. It just, didn't happen. Seeing Alex lose control frightened him. Just as he finished buttoning his shirt, Swertzky walked in.
"He's out of surgery." Was all he said before leaving again. Davis nodded and stood up, slamming his locker. Sully watched him walk out and he shook his head, moving out of the locker room after him.
10/02/2004 3:53 AM
It had been 4 hours since they found out Billy made it through surgery. He had been moved to a room in the SICU, where he was allowed two visitors at a time. At the moment, it was just Alex in with him. She had been sitting in the same spot for 3 hours, just holding his hand, caressing it gently, talking to him, more like begging him not to leave her.
The words have been drained from this pencil
Sweet words that I want to give you
And I can't sleep I need to tell you, goodnight
When we're together, I feel perfect
When I'm pulled away from you, I fall apart
All that you say is sacred to me
You're eyes are so blue, I can't look away
As we lay in the stillness You whisper to me
Baby, marry me
Promise you'll stay with me
Oh you don't have to ask me
You know you're all that I live for
You know I'd die just to hold you
Stay with you somehow I'll show you
That you are my night sky
I've always been right behind you
Now I'll always be right beside you
So many nights I cried to sleep
Now that you love me
I love myself
I never thought I would say that
Alex rested her head against his chest and listened to his breathing. The hissing of the respirator was drowned out by her. She closed her eyes and cried softly. Her tears soaked the blanket as she listened to his breathing. The sound of the machine forcing air into his lungs, then out was all she heard. His other lung had a chest tube in it, to help it stay inflated. She felt odd for a moment and gasped. She stood up, and stumbled to the door. She came out and saw the groups of firefighters. Johnson looked at her and saw the pained look on her face. Alex fell and Crosby, Billy's friend from the academy was next to her, having just arrived after a hard shift. He caught her.
"Alex!" Johnson moved to her and Morgan, who was off duty, but was there for JD, ran over. She pointed to the wall.
"JD, hit that yellow button." Morgan got Alex on the floor. She was conscious, just weak. Morgan looked at her as a page went over and a doctor came running. He looked down at Alex and they got her on a bed. Alex fought them. Johnson stopped them.
"Don't let her leave. She needs to be near her husband." Johnson said and the doctor looked at Alex, her eyes pleading not to leave the ward. The doctor shook his head and then told Morgan where to go. They moved her into an empty SICU room, to check her out.
"Does it hurt, Mrs. Walsh?" He asked her and she nodded. He looked at her and Morgan came back with the Ultrasound wand. He nodded and Morgan looked at the doctor.
"She's about 2 months pregnant." Morgan said and the doctor nodded. He moved the wand over her stomach, pausing, not hearing anything. He moved it to another spot, still not hearing anything. He guided it gently over her stomach, he paused everyone once in a while, still not hearing anything. Morgan looked at him and went and got the ultrasound imager. He squirted the warm gel on her stomach and searched for the baby. He looked at Morgan.
"Call OB" He said and Morgan called. Johnson came in and saw Alex watching the machine, shifting in pain. Johnson held her hand, watching the ultrasound machine searching for the baby. He finally found it after Morgan came back from calling OB. Looking at the image, Morgan looked to see what the pulse rate was on the baby. The OB walked in and took over, looking over the image, then looking at the pulse.
"There's no pulse." She said and Alex looked up. She looked at the picture, seeing their baby on the monitor. She shook her head and looked at Johnson, hoping he would tell her otherwise.
"Not the baby too." She squeezed his hand and he looked down at her. The image jerked as she cried, her stomach muscles tensing, then releasing as she cried.
TBC…
