Chapter 2:

Days that Followed

It had been three days since Jess woke. It was only for a brief moment but her eyes had been opened. She was still very weak. She had been back and forth between semi conscious and unconscious. Dr. Morris had her on pain medicine and sedated. He wanted her to rest giving her body a chance to heal. Dr. Morris also had cautious them that Jess wasn't out of the woods. Infection and other complications could occur.

Dr. Morris had bent the rules for the Angell's for Ryan because he was one of his interns and let them stay at the ICU. But Detective Angell was his priority and she needed rest. Her family had gone to Ryan's and Chris' place to sleep. But they were at the hospital during the day.

Don sat in the hard plastic chair in her room. One person was allowed to stay. He had volunteered. Her family needed rest and he couldn't bear to leave her.

The sun rays began to shone through the hospital's curtains meaning a new day was starting. Don's eyes were beginning to drop. He was exhausted, he had been sleeping on those hard chairs for days which meant very little sleep. Besides, he was afraid to close his eyes. Afraid the moment he did, Jess would slip away.

The nurses had been letting him shower at the patients' showers and Danny had been bringing him clean clothes. Stella and Mac had been coming in every morning with breakfast and news on the investigation. They were close to finding Conner and the guys who did this or at least that's what Mac kept telling him. He wasn't sure if it was the truth or he was just being told what he needed to hear.

Don turned in the chair and tried to get comfortable. He needed a couple of hours. The need for sleep was winning out.

As he began to fall asleep, his mind began to wonder. Wonder back to the days before the shooting. Back to when they were happy.

**two weeks before**

"Hey," Don said, walking into the bedroom. He had just finished his shift and he was dead tired.

"Hey," Jess replied looking up from the book she was reading as Don crashed on the bed next to her. "Tired?" she asked

"You can say that" Don yawned "I did just work a double"

"So you just want to sleep" Jess smirked pulling on his tie and pulling him into a kiss.

"I'm wide now," Don chuckled, "what do you have in mind?.

"Good because I've been waiting all day to finish our superman mathon" Jess laughed.

** present**

It was a simple encounter, nothing of consequence about that night. Just a happy moment between the couple. He remembered every touch, he remembered her snuggling in his arms as they watched the movie together, he remembered how they had enjoyed tai food in bed, he remembered her lips on his and almost could feel her lips now.

The moment felt so real he raised his hands to his lips. Almost expecting Jess to be there.

"Don" Mac interrupted his dream.

Don's eyes fluttered open. He had fallen asleep. Jess was still in the bed, hooked up to the machines and unconscious. He really thought she would be standing in front of him. He had hoped it had been real and what he was living was the nightmare. Instead, Mac and Stella were in the ICU. "You need to go home" Stella said sitting next to her worn out friend "really get some sleep. You are going to wear yourself out here"

"I'm fine right here," Don said rubbing his hands over his face trying to wipe away his sleepiness.

"Ok" Mac said "but remember to take care of yourself too."

Stella passed him a coffee and a breakfast sandwich. He accepted it with gratitude. Stella pulled out the ipad she had with the details from the case. She pulled up the information. Mac took a seat next to Don. "we got Conner" Stella said

"And the shooters?" Don asked. He was glad they found Conner but he just wanted to know that the men responsible for the shooting were caught and brought to justice.

"Yes ...well mostly" Stella replied

Don looked confused "we were able to arrest three of the shooters. Max Thompson, Calvin Young, and Zack White." Stella said, showing him the pictures of the men that they had arrested the night before.

"Which one shot Jess?" Don asked

Mac took the ipad and pulled up another mugshot "Simon Cade is our fourth suspect. He wasn't at the warehouse when we raided it. From the intel we gathered, he was out getting supplies and he must have seen the raid. He managed to escape arrest."

"And Simon is the leader and…" Stella let her sentence hang. She didn't have the heart to say Cade was the one who fired the desert eagle.

"It seems Cade fired the desert eagle," Mac said.

"Where is Cade now?" Don asked

"We are looking for him" Mac said

"So let me get this straight, the guy who shot Jess is still out there?" Don asked

"Yes," Mac said. He could have lied or sugar coated it but Flack deserved the truth.

"Just great," Don said, getting up from the chair "I want this case. I deserve to get his guy"

"We have his picture at every airport and bus terminal. We got this Don" Stellia replied "take care of yourself and be here for Jess."

"We got this" Mac said "you need to trust me. I promise you, I will find Cade"

:-: :-: :-: :-: :-:-: :-: :-: :-: :-: :-:-: :-: :-: :-: :-: :-:-: :-: :-: :-: :-: :-:-:

Don walked up to his building. After Mac and Stella left, Ryan arrived at the hospital. It took Ryan a good 30 minutes but he finally convinced Don to go home. As Ryan pointed out, he wouldn't be any good to Jess if he was admitted for exhaustion. So he left the hospital hesitantly so he could get some real sleep.

Don entered his place and tossed his keys onto the coffee table as he entered the living room and crashed onto the couch. A wave of exhaustion hit him; he closed his eyes and let his head fall back onto the cushion. Automatically, he reached for the blanket that was neatly placed on the armrest. He opened his eyes to get comfortable, but stopped immediately when he realized which blanket he was holding: Jess's devils blanket. Hockey was one of their many jokes with each other. He always teased her for being a devils fan. He inhaled the blanket, it smelt like Jess, strawberries from her shower gel. Don rubbed his fingers along the Devil's symbol and a memory came flooding back.

**Christmas**

I think I need to get you a new blanket with the colors red, white and blue" Don said as they cuddled on the couch.

"I will never cover up in a rangers blanket" Jess replied

"I really not sure how this relationship is going to work" Don teased

"It's not if you think I'm going to use a rangers blanket" Jess replied with a smile on her face.

**Present**

Don smiled at the memory. It had been the best Christmas he had in a long time. He laughed to himself as he thought about the last time they watched hockey together he had caught her cheering for the rangers. He knew it was only because the Devils weren't playing.

Don shook his head and tossed the blanket to one side. He stood up walking completely out of the living room and headed towards the bathroom. Desperate for a real shower.

Don pulled the shower curtain across and turned on the tap letting the water flow. He removed his clothes and stepped in. Letting the water wash over him. He turned and reached for his shower gel instead he grabbed hers. He opened the bottle and smelled it in. Smelled Jess in.

Don put the gel back and finish his shower. He got out and went into his bedroom and crashed into his bed.

Exhaustion took over and Don fell into a deep but uneasy sleep.

Flack," he said into the phone

"Tonight - - you, me, a bottle of wine. I'll wear that black negligee I know you like," Jess said seductively

"Mom?" Flack asked with an amused look on his face.

"Ugh. Never mind. What are you doing?" Jess asked

"Breaking up with an old friend…you?" Flack replied

"Babysitting. Taking Conner Dunbrook over to the grand jury with a murder rap hanging over his head he's decided to save his own ass and testify against daddy…It'll be enough to put Robert Dunbrook away for at least 20 years...the good son is treating us to breakfast," She said

"Oh Yea? Let me guess Tillary diner two eggs over easy, turkey bacon on the crispy side, a glass of O.J," he said guessing what she ordered.

"Am I that predictable?" she asked

"Yes you are that predictable," Flack replied laughing.

"Ha-ha," she giggled.

"All right well tonight sounds great…I'll pick up some stuff, I'll be over to your place about…," But Flack never got the chance to finish his sentence…he could hear a loud crash and gunfire.

"Jess…?" Flack yelled into the phone, no she's OK, she has to be OK he thought, "get out! Get out!" Flack screamed at Terrence, he hit the sirens and floored it to Tillary Diner.

Then Don was in Tillary's dinner, screaming her name, "Jess! Jess!". He ran to her, "Hey Babe I'm here," Don said placing his hand on her cheek "hey look at me, where is the ambulance!" Don's voice called frantically, Flack looked down at her side and saw her wound, he knew Jess was losing a lot of blood…too much blood.

Don shot up in bed screaming Jess' name. He looked down at his hands expecting to see blood there. It took a moment for him to realize he had been dreaming. Don took deep breaths until his breathing returned to normal. When he finally calmed himself he reached for his phone.

5 missed text and 3 missed phone calls. All from Ryan and all telling him to get back to the hospital.

Don didn't listen to the voicemails just read the text. He just grabbed his things and headed back to the hospital. All he could think about was something happened to Jess.

:-: :-: :-: :-: :-:-: :-: :-: :-: :-: :-:-: :-: :-: :-: :-: :-:-: :-: :-: :-: :-: :-:-:

Don made his way down the hall to the ICU. His heart pounding and afraid to see what he was walking into. Ryan's text had just said come back to the hospital. Why did he leave? He rounded the corner and spoted Sherry outside Jess' room. His heart sank when he saw her face. Tear sain and her eyes were puffy. She had obviously been crying.

"Donnie," Sherry said, spotting her daughter's boyfriend. His face told her he hadn't gotten the news. "Jess is awake," Sherry explained. She had been so relieved that Jess was going to be ok but after the roller coaster of emotions, she had finally broke down.

Don swallowed back his fear "she's awake?" he asked again wanting to be sure he had her Sherry correctly.

"And asking for you" Sherry smiled "I need another minute but head in"

He nodded a thanks and slowly opened the wooden door not sure what he was walking into. A smile spread across Don's face at the sight of Jess fully awake. SHe still had her IV but no tube in the throat. She looked very weak but she was awake and talking to her brothers.

"Hey, you," Don spoke walking further into the room making his presence known.

"Hey," Jess whispered back.