"Earlier today the police officer that was shot down is still in critical condition. Newly sworn in Gabriella Montez was surveying the scene of an abandoned warehouse when she was struck in the chest, the bullet exiting her body." The reporter said as the footage cut to Chief.
"It's with great sadness that one of our own is in critical condition because of an intentional attack. The perpetrator is still at large and if anyone has any information, there is a reward."
"Officer Montez comes from a long line of police officers. Her father is Commander Roberto Montez in charge of the 4th precinct. He was there along with other high ranking officers looking into this attack. If you have any information on this gruesome attack, officials encourage you to call the police station. Live from St. Mary's Hospital, I am Amy Perez ABC 7 News."
Troy just stared at Gabriella, hearing her machines and seeing her lifeless body. Taylor was on the other side sitting by her bedside watching the news, a bible in hand as Gabriella's in the other. Taylor was crying softly as she prayed for her friend. Just 8 hours ago she was shot to death and now she was told she wasn't going to make it through the night.
"Hey Brie." She said expecting her to look up. "Please don't leave me like Daddy did." Troy looked at her cold since she was responsible for the shooting of Gabriella. He didn't speak a word to her.
Gabriella and Taylor were walking home from school together when a cop car pulled up to them. They both stopped seeing her mother run out of the car.
"Taylor sweetie." She said frantic with tears running down her face. Gabriella stood there afraid of what was happening.
"Mom what's wrong?" She said with worry in her voice.
"Daddy was hurt at work today. I need you two to come with me." She said reaching a hand out to Gabriella. She nodded and they walked to the car together. The whole ride to the hospital Taylor was squeezing her mother and Gabriella's hand. When they arrived at the hospital they were met with grim news that her father had passed away. Taylor walked into the room and held her father's hand in the final moments of his life. Gabriella stood there looking over her shoulder seeing her father run down the hallway scooping her up.
"Oh Mija mija mija." He said squeezing her tight, kissing her cheek sobbing. "I love you and will never leave you." The 8-year-old nodded as she looked over at her friend silently crying in the hallway.
"I just need you to wake up please." She said wiping her tears. "I just need to hear your voice…I'm so sorry." She observed Gabriella one more time seeing her the way she was. She was still pale in the face, wires connected all over her body. Taylor heard one loud beep and then one long beep. Troy stared in terror looking at the machines fail.
"What's wrong!?" He panicked, hearing the sound of flat line. Nurses and Doctors ran in with a few carts.
"Her heart rate is going flat." A nurse shouted as Taylor stood up and Troy stood there numb watching her body. "You need to leave." Another one said as they were being pushed out of the room. A few nurses walked them to the waiting room informing them that she is stable and that they we're going to replace a few of her tubes and dressing. They walked into the waiting room wiping their tears. Taylor's mom walked up and soothed her.
"Baby you need to go home." Taylor shook her head. Troy just stood there crossing his arms, looking down at his feet. His parents brought him a change of clothes earlier and she did code while he was changing. He couldn't be away from her room, so being this far was giving him anxiety. Chief walked up to him as he looked away.
"I know this is taking a toll on you…we all spoke and agreed to give you some time off." Troy nodded still looking down. "She's going to pull through this Troy. You know it." He assured as Troy nodded rapidly, a few tears falling from his face. Chief gave him a hug as the nurse called back for them. He walked back to her room sitting down and taking her hand again. He just stared at her closed eyes with a tube down her mouth. He looked down hearing a soft knock. He looked up and saw his love's look a like.
"Hi mijo." She said as he nodded, looking at her place a food container on his lap. He smiled at her as she sighed looking at her daughter. She walked up to her and stroked her hair, pushing aside loose curls that framed her face. "My beautiful girl." She said smiling, kissing her forehead. Troy looked away again, fighting tears that always built up during soft intimate moments. Maria made her way, putting her stuff down and pulling the chair up opposite of Troy.
"She called me this morning and told me you proposed." She said cracking a smile. "And here I am, thinking you would tell me over Roberto." She giggled as Troy finally cracked a genuine smile for the first time since this morning.
"I should have asked you both." He said, reaching out to brush her hair off her face as she laid there. She nodded.
"Well I'm glad you asked him for your blessing. We've been praying for a man like you to come into her life." She said as his throat closed up.
"I prayed for someone like her to be in my life. She's the woman of my dreams…I-I can't live without her." He said feeling the tears return as Maria stood up and walked over to him, bringing him to her chest as he cried. She soothed him enough to get him to stop crying.
"Mijo, you need to get some sleep. I'll wake you up if anything changes okay?" She informed him as she gave him a blanket and ushered him to the opposite side of the room. Maria scooted up, held her cold daughter's hand and began to say the rosary. Troy just stared at Gabriella, him closing his eyes and finally getting the rest he needed. It was 2 am and he had a long day.
Two days later, Troy was standing over her bed stretching her legs out. He stared at her body still connected to all the wires. If Troy could do anything just to hear her speak again, he would give anything for it. He went through a long three days with her being in the hospital not responding. After she coded for the second time two nights ago, they were told she wasn't going to wake up so he devoted all his time to being in the hospital in case she did slip. Doctors were asking him and her parents if they would like to put her on a do not resuscitate list if she coded the next time. There was a knock on the door.
"Troy." Chief, his wife, and three daughters were standing in the door way. He smiled at them, forcing it.
"Chief." He said as they walked in giving him hugs.
"We made you something to eat since I know you haven't been home in a few days." His wife said handing him over a dish. He gave a warm smile to the blonde haired woman.
"Thank you so much. I appreciate this." He said honestly looking at her.
"Well I wanted to see if you were ready for our debriefing meeting." He said looking at him sternly.
"I can't leave her." He said honestly. Chief's wife touched his shoulder.
"We're here to take over for the hour you're gone." She said smiling.
"We'll give her a bath, clean her up, and make sure she's taken care of while you're gone." His eldest daughter said. Troy took a deep breath looking at her. Chief finally got him out of the hospital, down to the precinct with all the white shirts in on the meeting. Troy sat down next to Chief, seeing Taylor and Chad sitting across from them. Jason and Zeke were sitting on the other end of the table.
"Today we are here with the evidence and testimonies of the officers that arrived on scene." A white shirt spoke as Taylor looked depressed, as Chad looked stunned still. Zeke and Jason were more calm, but Troy had the intent to kill written all over his face.
"Gabriella Montez was shot at 900 hours on the morning of June 18th. She was riding along with year one officer Taylor McKessie and three year veteran Chad Danforth. The two were exchanging in conversation when first year officer Montez walked over and looked at the warehouse. At 859 hours, Montez's radio rang out for back up and at 900 hours she was requesting assistance for being shot." He paused as Troy just stared at the two disgusted.
"Officer Montez lost a lot of blood but was taken to a nearby hospital." He said finishing and looking up, taking his glasses off. "First of all, what the fuck we're you two doing in that car while and officer was checking the scene out?" The oldest man asked annoyed.
"You never let an officer explore by themselves." A man in his mid-forties supplemented. "Did she say she was going to go in?" He asked as Chad flashed back to Gabriella giving him an encouraging smile as she turned around and walked up.
"Yes sir. I instructed her to wait." Chad said as the officer just stared at him.
"And she refused so you just sat there continuing your little tea party with Officer McKessie?" The oldest asked. Chad felt that sting.
"Yes." He replied and Taylor sighed.
"It's honestly all my fault. I had an issue with Officer Danforth…I was taking it up with him because he was being hard on me-"
"So you're telling us that we have to open an investigation on your issues and the one at hand?"
"No, sir. I just being a recent rookie and being assigned petty rookie jobs by him…I took offense to that." The officer rolled his eyes. Troy knew the bullshit of the story because he knew they were talking about a possible budding love affair, but he kept his mouth shut. He sighed rubbing his temples eager to get back to the hospital.
"Alright, I've had enough." Chief responded as he looked at them annoyed. "I'm putting you on suspension without pay. Why the hell did you let an officer go into an unknown stable building alone? And not just an officer, you're best fucking friend." He shouted slamming his hands on the table. They didn't flinch.
"Alright, you're all dismissed." The one officer said sighing. Troy stood up eagerly to leave as Chad caught up to stop him.
"Troy I need to tell you how sorry I am." He said as Troy looked away.
"Sorry man, I have a dying fiancée in the hospital I have to hold vigil next to." He said pushing Chad out of his way, walking down the hall. His phone pocket buzzed rapidly, his heart racing seeing Maria Montez on the screen. He didn't want to answer the call. He fucking knew it, he shouldn't have even left.
"H-Hello?" He asked cautiously.
"Gabriella's up." She said with a smile. Troy looked at Chief who nodded, driving him straight to the hospital.
She was in her bed looking at the wall with tired eyes. She looked at all the flowers, balloons and cards in her room. She took a deep breath, cringing in all the pain she was in. She pressed the button, taking as much strength to lift her arm an inch to do so. There was a knock on the door and she looked over seeing Troy. He rushed over to her bedside grabbing her hand, kissing it and crying. She looked at his dropped head and how he was crying. She stared at him, breathing slowly. He lifted his head, making eye contact with her as she stared deep into his eyes looking lifeless. She looked tired, but she was awake. A nurse walked in, and she looked at Gabriella.
"You pressed the button?" She asked. Gabriella nodded gently whimpering as she closed her eyes. He looked at the nurse. "It seems your medication is a little low on the painkillers. Ill refill them right now." She nodded walking out. Troy looked back at her.
"I'm so sorry." He said to her. She closed her eyes, breathing shallowly. She nodded, opening her eyes again and staring at him again. He kissed her hand again as he sighed not letting go. "I promise I will find the guy who did this to you and kill him." She closed her eyes taking a deep breath.
"I love you." She said staring at him and he smiled. The first words from her in three days to him were words he thought he'd never hear from her again. He sighed deeply thanking god over and over again.
"I love you." He repeated kissing her hand again and bringing it to his face gently.
"It hurts." She said bringing her other hand to gently graze her chest. He nodded seeing the nurse come back in with her new medicine. Gabriella watched her intently and when she left she looked over to Troy as he stroked her cheek. She was staring at him with an intense eye lock, when she started to close her eyes. She fought, opening them up quickly as he continued to stroke her cheek.
"Don't fight it. You need to let your body rest." He said as she shook her head, him wondering if she was afraid to fall asleep. He gave her an encouraging smile as she continued to stare, her eyes closing slowly as she gently and easily fell back asleep again. Troy sighed taking his jacket off and rubbing his eyes. He leaned over to kiss her forehead sighing. This was going to be a long recovery.
Maria and Roberto were outside with the doctor and Chief as he explained in detail her aftercare. Troy didn't care, he just wanted to be with Gabriella. He walked in with a cup of coffee seeing her open her eyes slowly as a little smile crept on her face as he smiled at her. He got close to her bed as she closed her eyes taking a deep slow breath.
"How are you?" He asked as she opened her eyes looking into his tired defeated ones.
"I feel like the hulk punched me in the chest." She said hoarse smiling at him noticing tears build up in his eyes. She frowned reaching to wipe his tears.
"God, I just love you. I don't know how I was going to live without you." She was now forming tears in her eyes as she took a deep sigh, staring into his eyes.
"I'm not going anywhere." She said as quiet as a mouse. He nodded looking at her vitals then back at her. "Tell me what I missed in the past three days." She said as he looked like he was busted. She nodded. "The nurse told me I was down for so long due to the shock and loss of blood." He sighed. When she woke up again Troy told her she was asleep for a few hours. He probably should have told her the truth, but didn't want to freak her out and overwhelm her.
"I just want to protect you right now, and-" He stopped seeing her close her eyes, then open them slowly again. "To start the healing process." She nodded in agreeance with him. He sighed grabbing her hand. "The Sox swept the Yankees, I officially got promoted, and I let your little rose plant by the sink die." He admitted honestly as she let out a genuine, but quiet, laugh. He laughed observing her nose crinkle and her eyes disappear in the wrinkles from laughing. He couldn't help it but let a few more tears go, thankful to hear her laugh again. She stopped laughing taking another deep breath.
"Hey, is it bad ass that you're with a girl who got shot?" She winked at him as he laughed again bringing her hand to his mouth and kissing it.
"Well, I don't think that something to gloat about, but I'll take it." Troy's phone buzzed as he read a text message from his new partner Charlie Winston. He too was actively pursuing the job that Troy wanted badly. The departments believed the two would be a great fit, pairing them together.
I have some information on the shooting if you're all ears about it.
Troy swallowed the lump in this throat looking back at Gabriella who was looking outside.
"How are they doing?" She asked him honestly as he sighed.
"They were so levelheaded and kept me calm." He said to her as she nodded.
"And what about Taylor…Chad?" She asked as Troy looked away. She frowned reaching for his hand. "Are they okay?" She wondered and she sighed feeling his lips press on her hand again.
"I haven't really talked to them El." He said as she nodded, understanding that he was visibly uncomfortable and she didn't want to push it any further. He leaned up and kissed her. The first real kiss in a few days. She smiled looking at him.
"I love you." She said as he smiled and didn't cry.
"I love you more." He said as she sighed contently closing her eyes.
Hello my loves! Hope you enjoy
