Stuck
Chapter 7
"She's just been odd since we came back from the farm. I don't know what's wrong. Before we went we were talking about getting married and now she won't talk about the future at all." Mike said as he and his partner, David, finished their foot patrol.
"Did something happen? You said your mom was not very welcoming." David asked.
"Not that I know of. There was one night that Mom and I were talking downstairs…late. Christine had been asleep, but when I came back upstairs, her bedroom door was partly open. It had been closed." Mike said.
"Did she maybe overhear something?" David asked.
"Not from me. I told Mom that we were getting married. But Mom was questioning a lot and maybe that got Christine to questioning things." Mike admitted.
"It seems to me, the answer is simple. You need to just ask Christine. I can't believe you haven't already." David said. Mike's attention was elsewhere. He was watching a corner store. There was something going on.
"Robbery. Gun. In the corner store. See?" Mike said pointing at the store. David watched for a moment, and then called it in to dispatch to get more units there.
"So, rookie. Do we wait for back-up, or do we go in? It could become a hostage situation if we wait, but could also turn into a shoot-out if we don't. You have at least two people besides the robber in that particular store." David asked. Mike evaluated for a moment and decided to go in.
"I go in the front. You stay at the back? Act like I am going in for coffee and don't realize anything is going on." Mike suggested.
"Or vice versa." David said.
"C'mon. You're having your tenth kid." Mike said.
"Sixth, but okay. Just don't be a hero." David corrected and Mike nodded. Both men took a moment to make sure their guns were off safety and David called back into dispatch to let them know they were headed in. As planned, Mike strolled in the front door like nothing was out of the normal, and immediately realized there was two young teenagers robbing the store. They were holding a gun to Mister and Mrs. Yang, the owners; who barely knew English. Mike made eye contact with them and drew his gun.
"Gun down! Hands in the air. Now!" Mike shouted. One of the kids whirled around and Mike heard the loud boom from a shotgun and felt stinging all over his chest, neck and face.. It made no sense because David wouldn't have a shotgun and Mike was wearing a bulletproof vest. Then he heard yelling and felt himself falling to the floor. Mrs. Yang appeared in his vision field and gave him a warm smile.
"Ambulance?" Mrs. Yang asked someone. Mike was glad that was one of the few English words she knew. Just then David appeared.
"I told you not to be a hero! Damn, kid." David said.
"Christine…" Mike choked out.
"I will get her to the hospital. Those two are in custody and no one else was hurt. Mrs. Yang, can you put pressure on this? Pressure? Like this?" David asked as he showed Mrs. Yang what to do. Mike had a feeling he was in pretty rough shape. Mrs. Yang put pressure on his shoulder and chest and reassuringly patted his cheek, much like his mother would do.
"Very bad. Lotsa blood. Lotsa." Mrs. Yang said.
"Christine…" Mike said.
"His girlfriend. Fiancée. Almost wife?" David explained and Mrs. Yang nodded. David went back to talking to the most senior officer on the scene.
"Alright. Paramedics are here. I'll call his parents, but can you get the fiancée?" Commander Smith asked David.
"Yes, Sir. Mike; stay calm. I'll get Christine to you." David said.
"Tell her…I love her." Mike said, all while choking. Mrs. Yang patted his cheek before the paramedics took over his care. He must have passed out because the next time he woke up, he was at a hospital and there were doctors and nurses everywhere. Commander Smith came into his line of vision and gave him a compassionate smile.
"Your parents are on the way and Sergeant Adams is on his way with your fiancée but you will be going in for surgery. Just relax." Commander Smith said.
"We need to get him in. There's an artery impacted." The doctor said.
"I'll tell your parents and fiancée that you love them. Just hang on." Commander Smith said. Mike felt the gurney rolling and the lights going by so fast. Finally, he came to rest in a brightly lit room and found himself getting sleepy. As he fell asleep again; he prayed that his mom treated Christine well, because she would be really torn up. He was really worried about her.