Restoration
Chapter 66
Ignoring the twist in his gut, Nolan approaches Grace. "Jackson West, how is he?"
Grace shakes a stray strand of hair out of her face. "You know I can't give you details on a patient, John, but he doesn't appear to be in any danger. His next of kin is on the way. I'll fill him in, and you can ask him yourself."
Nolan groans, hoping it's Jackson's brother Marshall. John dreads the idea of talking to Percy. Even if Janet did defend him, John found the elder West's explanation of his connection to the Derians too damn convenient. Apparently, so did the L.A.P.D., or they wouldn't have bounced him. Hell, Lucy can talk to him. She can talk to anyone.
John drops heavily into a chair, his eyes flitting to the new arrival in the waiting area. Jessica. Great! Two women who hung him out to dry. And Jessica is coming over.
The D.H.S. agent hesitantly takes the chair next to her former lover. He doesn't look happy to see her. "John, I just wanted to tell you that without your help, I don't think we could have gotten everyone out safely."
"We didn't get Jackson West out safely," John retorts.
"West's a cop, John. He signed on knowing the risks. We all did. People just stopping for a donut didn't. You did good work."
John sighs. "Not good enough."
Percy rushes through the elevator doors before they finish opening and pounds to the nurses' station. "I got a call about Officer Jackson West. I'm his father."
The aide at the desk nods. "Yes, Sir. You can talk to Dr. Sawyer. I'll page her."
As Percy paces, Lucy and John lock glances. She approaches the distraught father. "Commander, Jackson did a great job. He may have saved a lot of lives. You should be proud of him."
"I am proud of him, Officer Chen. I've always been proud of him. But right now, I need to know how he is."
Grace approaches, smiling. Lucy steps back but makes sure she's still close enough to overhear the conversation. "Mr. West?"
"Com., no, uh, Mr. is fine. Yes. How's my son, Doctor?"
"He's stable in good condition. He has a gunshot wound in his arm, but the bullet passed right through. There's some tissue damage, but nothing that shouldn't heal in time. If there's someone to look after him, he should be able to go home tonight."
"I can bring him to my house. My wife and I can look after him," Percy declares.
"Commander, Jackson is my roommate. I can take care of him," Lucy suggests gently.
"You have work to do, Officer Chen. I'll see to Jackson," Percy insists.
"It looks like Jackson has a great support system," Grace observes, "but he should be where he's most comfortable. He's just down the hall. Why don't you ask him?"
Percy nods. "That's a good idea, Doctor." Striding the short distance in the direction Grace indicated, he knocks on the open door of Jackson's room before walking in. "Hello, son. I hear you did some great work today. I'm proud of you."
Jackson shifts uncomfortably against his pillows. "I was doing my job, Dad." He nods at Lucy, who followed Percy in. "We all were."
Lucy steps between the two men. "Dr. Sawyer said you can go home tonight. You feel like coming back to the apartment?"
"Um," Jackson stutters. "I called Sterling. He's got that big place and people to clean up and everything. He's coming as soon as he finishes filming the scene he's working on."
"Great," Lucy smiles. "Then you're all set. I think I'll call Emmett to come over. We haven't had much time together lately."
"You should do that," Jackson agrees enthusiastically.
Lucy starts toward the door. "I'll leave you two to talk."
"Son, I really am proud of you," Percy reiterates. "You're going to be a fine cop. Just try not to step in front of too many bullets. Your mother worries. Can I call you? We have some things to work through."
"Yeah, Dad," Jackson agrees. "We do. Talk to you tomorrow."
"Jackson's going to be fine," Lucy tells the waiting cops.
Harper starts for the elevator, glancing back at Nolan. "We should get going, Boot. We have a shift to finish – and a lot of paperwork."
"Right!" Nolan follows her out, as both Grace and Jessica stare after him.
"What happened?" Jessica asks.
Grace gazes at her in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"You and Nolan were so hot for each other I could practically feel the steam coming off your bodies the first time I saw you together. Knowing you were in the wings made me feel better about breaking up with him. And now – nothing."
"I lied to him," Grace confesses.
Jessica shrugs. "That makes two of us."
"And John was a place to hide from seeing the changes I need to make in my life," Grace adds. "I have a son to raise who needs more than a kiss before school in the morning and a mother who half the time can't make it home to tuck him in. I'm leaving the hospital and joining an urgent care organization. I'll still be practicing emergency medicine, but with a lot more regular hours. Oliver isn't the only one who needs that. I do too."
Impulsively, Jessica throws her arms around the doctor. I hope it works out for you. I wish you and Oliver the best."
Working his fingers after finishing the last of his report on the hostage situation at Donut Central, John takes a moment on a bench in the locker room. He'll welcome leaving the thirty pounds of utility belt behind and donning his civilian clothes. He just needs to work up the energy to change. When his phone buzzes, John's lips turn upwards of their own volition. It's Janet. "Hey!"
"Hey yourself, Officer Nolan. I'm at our favorite cop bar, and they're running a special on nachos. Feel like joining me?"
"For a chance to stuff my face with empty calories and enjoy stimulating conversation? I'll be there in 20 minutes."
In three minutes less than that, the tension drains from John's body as Janet waves from a small table practically covered in nacho platters. "It was buy one, get one free. If we finish them, you can buy the second round."
"It's a deal," John agrees. "How was your day?"
"I had to get a few demonstrators out of jail, but I'm betting a lot less eventful than yours. Councilman Abbot dropped something off at the courthouse, and I overheard part of his conversation. You were behind that come in from the roof rescue at that donut place today, weren't you?"
John's hand pauses over a cheesy chip. "I wouldn't say I was behind it, but if you mean I asked Abbot to get us the building plans, guilty as charged."
"That should win you some points, John," Janet speculates.
Nolan shakes his head. "Not with Grey. With him, it's always about the last five minutes. And Jackson West was the real hero of the day. He took a bullet to save those people."
"Which he wouldn't have been able to do without you. But if you have to keep impressing Grey, what are you doing for your next trick?"
John pulls the chip loose, dragging threads of cheese toward his mouth. "Damned if I know. But I have been thinking about my future with the department. Most of the cops that move up have college degrees. I missed that when I dropped out to marry Sarah and raise Henry."
"So you want to go back?" Janet queries.
"Sort of. I was in pre-law, but I'm pretty sure I'm not cut out to be a lawyer. I like being a cop. So I was thinking I'd pick up in Criminal Justice, maybe with a psych or sociology minor. That would help in handling a lot of the situations we encounter."
"How about your building project with Abbot?"
"That's moving under its own steam now, especially with the Derians out of the picture. But I can still put in the hours here and there when I need to feel like I'm doing something constructive, no pun intended. Working with my hands helps to clear my mind."
Janet runs her finger down the bare skin of his arm. "I know of something else you can do with your hands, and I think it's about time. Would you like to come to my place, John?"
"Yes, Janet, I'd like that very much."
Finis
A/N The new season of "The Rookie" has finally started, and it's time for me to begin a new story. Chapters should come out on about the same schedule. Join me soon for "Recovery."
