Author's Note: And now, the thrilling truth about WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO DETECTIVE GUMSHOE?

Chapter Fifteen: Time Is Of The Essence, Part Two

The Intersection of Maple Avenue and Verdict Street

October 21, 2029

Ten minutes later, Phoenix, Edgeworth, and Maya were all strapped into Edgeworth's red sports car, and Edgeworth was pushing the speed limit as much as he dared, racing down the street towards the Police Department.

"All right," sighed Phoenix, hanging up his cellphone. "I spoke to Larry, and he said a bunch of police officers just showed up at his house, and a few of them went over to check on Mr. Parker. Thanks for taking care of that, Edgeworth."

Edgeworth only nodded, his eyes on the road. "Of course. What about Officer Gumshoe?"

"I called Maggey," said Phoenix. "I…wasn't sure what to say, so I just told her as much of the truth as I dared. I said we'd gotten a call from Detective Gumshoe, that we were on our way to investigate, and that I needed her to close and lock the doors and windows, and to stay where she was."

"Surely that wasn't much comfort," muttered Edgeworth.

"Probably not," admitted Phoenix grimly, "but even if she's a terrified wife, she's also a competent police officer. She'll follow instructions."

"Indeed." Edgeworth turned the car down a side road. "Detective Gumshoe should be very proud of her."

Didn't you see the way his eyes lit up when he told us about her pregnancy? thought Phoenix. He's more than just proud. He thinks the world of her. Now, let's just get him back to home to her as soon as we can. This kid needs to meet their father.

In the backseat, Maya was still on the phone, arguing with Trucy.

"Please, Truce," she said, for probably the third time, "just stay where you are, and don't leave the hotel without Athena and Simon. Hey, hey! I know you are, I KNOW, but you know how Nick gets! If he isn't sure that you're safe and sound, he'll lose it, and we can't have him losing it right now! What? No, you can't. I mean, okay, you can, but you SHOULDN'T, because your Dad said-!"

"Maya," commanded Edgeworth, "give me the phone."

"Huh?" Maya blinked at him. "But I-!"

"The phone, now." Edgeworth sounded tense. Apparently hearing that anxious edge in his voice, Maya hesitated, then passed Edgeworth the phone. Edgeworth managed to expertly balance the phone between his ear and his shoulder while continuing to drive the car with both hands.

"Miss Wright," barked Edgeworth, "you will – yes, this is Prosecutor Edgeworth. Now listen to me. You will do exactly what your father says, immediately, and I will hear no further argument. We will contact you as soon as possible, and until then you are to stay with Ms. Cykes. Do you understand me? Very good." There was an audible click, and Edgeworth let the phone fall onto the seat beside him. Phoenix and Maya both stared at him.

"She's stubborn," mumbled Edgeworth, sounding annoyed. "I'm not surprised. She takes after her father."

Maya's eyes went wide. "Wow. So that's the kind of dad you'd be, huh? Super strict."

Edgeworth just shrugged. "Luckily for the fragile children of the world, that seems very unlikely to happen. We're here."

Edgeworth pulled the car to a screeching halt right outside the Police Department, and he, Phoenix and Maya all piled out. Maya was off like a rocket before Phoenix even had a chance to say anything.

"Hey, Maya! Jeez, don't go in there alone!" He rushed in after her, with Edgeworth in hot pursuit.

It only took Phoenix moments to find her in the entrance hallway, crouched on the ground over the prone body of Detective Dick Gumshoe.

"Nick," she whispered, turning to look at him with tears glistening in her eyes. "He…he's…"

Behind Phoenix, Edgeworth sucked in a sharp breath. "No…impossible."

There was blood all over Gumshoe's chest from an ugly, clumsy-looking stab wound just above his breast pocket. Phoenix knelt down beside him and carefully felt around Gumshoe's throat. Maya, realizing what Phoenix was doing, leaned forward and put her ear close to Gumshoe's mouth.

"He's breathing!" she exclaimed. "He's still alive, Mr. Edgeworth!" Maya was so relieved that she started crying in earnest.

Edgeworth was already on the phone. "An ambulance," he barked, presumably to the 911 dispatcher. "A police officer is critically injured at the Police Department. What? There isn't time!" Slamming the phone back into his pocket, he joined Phoenix and Maya by the side of the stricken Gumshoe.

"The knife missed the heart," Phoenix assured Edgeworth feebly. "He's…hes' gonna be okay, Edgeworth."

Actually, thought Phoenix, I'm not sure. He's lost a lot of blood. It's…it's not looking good, but maybe if the ambulance gets here in time-!

Maya had her hands over the wound and was pushing hard, clearly trying to stop the bleeding. Gently, Edgeworth removed Maya's hands, then pressed his handkerchief down over Gumshoe's chest. He didn't say anything, but there was a quietly desperate look in Edgeworth's eyes that made Phoenix's heart ache.

When Gumshoe does wake up, thought Phoenix, you need to tell him how much you care for him, Edgeworth. He has to wake up so that you can tell him that, at least. It would make him so happy to know how worried you were.

Edgeworth didn't move until the ambulance arrived. After the paramedics had bundled Gumshoe onto the stretcher and had loaded him into the back of the ambulance, one of them turned to Edgeworth.

"Somebody should come with him," they said. "You know, just in case-!"

Maya got to her feet and started climbing into the back of the ambulance.

"I'm going," she said. "Don't worry, Nick, Mr. Edgeworth, I'll say hi for you as soon as he wakes up! Um, I'll meet you at the hospital, okay?"

Then the paramedics shut up the ambulance and drove off into the night.

For a long moment, Edgeworth stayed on the ground next to where Gumshoe had been lying only seconds before. He seemed almost frozen there, as though he wasn't sure exactly how to get back up.

Phoenix stood up, then offered Edgeworth a hand.

"Hey," he said. "Let's go, Miles. Maya and Gumshoe are waiting for us."

Edgeworth looked up at Phoenix, paused a moment, then nodded curtly and accepted Phoenix's hand. In silence, they walked back to the car.

When they arrived at the hospital, they found Maya sitting in the waiting room and meditating, so they waited beside her while she returned from, presumably, the twilight realm.

Finally, Maya blinked, turned to look at them, and smiled. "Oh, hi! Good news! Detective Gumshoe's not on the other side, yet!"

"Yet," muttered Edgeworth darkly.

"Phew, that is good news," insisted Phoenix, trying to smile. "Where is he now?"

"They've got him in surgery." Maya shifted uncomfortably on the chair. "He needs a pretty big blood transfusion, so…they said we could wait out here. They'll come get us when he's back in his room. Maggey's in there with him. She showed up a few minutes ago and ran right in. I, uh, think she decided to stop following orders."

"Understandable," Edgeworth nodded. "Wright called her from the car. That's probably best, at any rate. She'll be safe here."

Gumshoe should have been 'safe' at the Police Department, thought Phoenix. How many times over the years have we assumed that an office, a business, a hospital was 'safe,' only to be proven wrong? At least, here, though, she's with us, and we can keep an eye on her, for whatever that's worth.

Edgeworth sunk into his chair, hunching over himself, elbows on his knees. His hand went to his chest, and he squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, almost as though he was in pain.

"Nick," whispered Maya, jerking at head at Edgeworth and looking worried.

Phoenix started to reach for Edgeworth's hand, but then remembered how Edgeworth felt about people "discussing" their relationship. He stopped himself, frowned, and stood up.

Just then, the door to the waiting room swung open, and Trucy Wright swept in. She glanced around the room for a moment, spotted her father, and rushed over to him.

"Daddy!" She hugged him. "I'm so glad you're okay! Athena told me everything. Where's Detective Gumshoe? Is he…?"

Phoenix gaped. "T-TRUCY? "Why are you here? You're supposed to be at the Gatewater!"

"I guess Maggey's not the only one who's tired of following orders, huh?" Maya shrugged. "Oh well."

Edgeworth looked up and glowered at Trucy. "I believe I made your responsibility quite clear to you, Miss Wright. Was there something you failed to understand about my instructions?"

"Oh, Mr. Edgeworth!" Trucy knelt on the seat beside Edgeworth, and threw her arms around his neck. "You must be so scared! It's okay, Detective Gumshoe's going to make it. I just know it! I believe in him!"

Edgeworth, taken aback, froze. Then, with a slightly bewildered look on his face, he slowly raised a hand and gently ruffled Trucy's hair, murmuring something to her that Phoenix didn't hear.

Phoenix felt his eyes pricking.

"Trucy," he managed, clearing his throat, "Where's Athena?"

Trucy released Edgeworth and hopped down from the chair. "She's still at the Gatewater with Simon," she explained. "Klavier's there too. He showed up with a bunch of police officers to protect Athena and His Honor. Everybody's just sort of…waiting. I know what you said, but…I needed to know you were okay. Now that I'm here, I'm glad I came! Family should be together in crisis, don't you think?"

"Wow." Maya looked impressed. "How is Trucy always so…positive?"

She's doing her best, thought Phoenix, but she's pretty upset. You can't tell because of how sunny she is, but she wouldn't have come all the way out here to find me if she wasn't really worried. I'm sorry, Trucy. Maybe I shouldn't have run off like that without thinking. You must have been scared.

Phoenix changed his seat so that he was sitting beside his daughter, and she flashed him a quick, grateful smile.

The waiting room door opened, and an exhausted-looking nurse holding a clipboard stepped out. "Ms. Fey? Are you still here?"

"Yes!" Maya waved. "How's he doing? Is he out of surgery? He's going to be okay, right?"

The nurse sighed. "He's stable," said the nurse, "but it was touch and go for a while. He'll need a lot of time to recover, and not only did he lose far too much blood, but one of his lungs was punctured. We've re-inflated the lung and the transfusion was successful, but he's in for a prolonged hospital stay. We'll keep him in intensive care overnight, and, if all goes well, we'll speak with Mrs. Gumshoe about transferring him to another wing."

"Officer Gumshoe," Edgeworth corrected her, almost mechanically. Maya raised an eyebrow at him.

Some of the tension that Phoenix had been holding finally released, and he let out a long, desperately relieved sigh. Suddenly, he was very, very tired.

"Hey, that's great!" Trucy grabbed Phoenix by the arm. "See, I told you he was going to be okay! Can we see him, ma'am?

The nurse shook her head. "I'm sorry, no. No one but his wife will be in to see him until tomorrow at the earliest, and I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't allowed visitors for several days. There's still a lot of reconstructive work to be done, and he…well, we'll see."

And he…what? Wondered Phoenix anxiously. What was she going to say?

Suddenly, Maya yawned, then, embarrassed, she quickly covered her mouth and tried to look innocent.

"We're all tired," muttered Edgeworth. "Wright, you should take these two home. I'll speak with Officer Gumshoe about arrangements, and I'll return tomorrow."

"Huh?" Phoenix frowned. "Wait, are you sure? Edgeworth, you shouldn't have to do this by yourself. I can stay-!"

"Thank you," Edgeworth interrupted, "but it's not necessary. Please get home safely, lock your doors and windows, and remain in your apartment until you hear further from me. I admit this feels a bit absurd, but none of us should take any unnecessary risks until the killer is apprehended."

Yeah, thought Phoenix. I mean, we're speculating that this guy's going after witnesses from our last couple of cases, but we're not sure. The witness theory doesn't even really make sense. Honestly, it could be any of us…for whatever reason. We can't let our guards down right now.

"I'm not leaving," announced Maya, unexpectedly.

Phoenix turned to look at Maya and found that she was near tears. Instinctively, Trucy grabbed her hand.

"Maya!" began Phoenix, "What-?"

"It was too close," Maya cried. "We…we almost lost him, and I can't. I can't lose any of you. Nick, Mr. Edgeworth, Trucy…and even Detective Gumshoe, you're all the family I have left. I was so excited to finally leave Khura'in and be back with you all, I WON'T lose you now. I don't want us all to leave, go off on our own, and get picked off by this lunatic. Nick, please!" Maya gave him a desperate look.

I hear you, Maya, I really do, thought Phoenix. But…what can I do?

"Well…look," he began with a sigh, "you're right, we're probably safer all together. Maggey'll be fine here in the hospital, but maybe the rest of us should help watch each other's backs. Trucy, come stay with me and Maya for a bit, okay? You said Athena's still at the Gatewater?"

"Yeah!" Trucy nodded. "I think she's going home with Simon."

And he's the second scariest thing to happen since Miles Edgeworth, mused Phoenix. Plus, he's got police connections, so she should be okay. Still, I'd better give her a call. I'd just like to hear her voice and know that she's safe.

"Edgeworth," he began, "why don't you come, too?"

Edgeworth shook his head. "Your apartment isn't large enough to comfortably handle four people for any length of time. I would only be in the way."

"Yeah," countered Phoenix, "but you heard what Maya said. We'd all be a lot happier knowing that you're with us. It'll be fine."

"Please, Mr. Edgeworth?" Trucy implored him with her eyes.

Edgeworth raised a finger. "I have a counterproposal," he offered. "Why don't the three of you join me at my home, at least until we have some further information about this situation? I have several guest rooms, so it will be much more bearable for everyone involved."

"Wow, how many guest rooms?" Maya looked excited. "I guess it makes sense. I mean, I knew you were rich, Mr. Edgeworth, but-!"

"Are you sure?" asked Phoenix. "We don't know how long it's going to take to wrap this case up, and things…could get ugly. Plus, Maya snores."

"I do not snore!" Maya glared at him. "You're the one who snores! We proved it in Arizona, remember?"

"Don't worry," insisted Edgeworth, "the walls are soundproofed."

Okay, neither Maya nor I snore THAT loudly, thought Phoenix.

The atmosphere in the waiting was so tensed and forced, it was almost ridiculous. Everyone seemed so eager to latch on to a joke, but none of the laughs felt real or sounded right.

Gumshoe's not out of the woods yet, Phoenix reminded himself, and we all know it. The nurse frankly didn't look too pleased about his condition. Hang in there, Gumshoe…we're all here for you.

"Well, Nick?" Maya was watching him expectantly. "Are we all going to Mr. Edgeworth's?"

Why, wondered Phoenix, do I have to decide?

Author's Note: Alas, I've spent a large portion of my life in hospitals, so we will be seeing a few hospital scenes in my stories. Write what you know, right? Thanks for reading!