Within hours of Opie leaving Shane's room, the local police department had set up a press conference. They trotted Macy out in front of the cameras, the brokenhearted, pregnant girlfriend of the hero cop, and plastered photos of the suspect on the upper right-hand corner of the screen.
"Caleb Michael Sampson," the chief said again. "Please call the number on your screen if you see this man. He's armed and extremely dangerous."
The reporters asked Macy for something, a statement or a plea, but she just stared at them. The only thing she wasn't too overwhelmed to do was cry.
Two days had passed with not one actual sighting. Macy held her vigil dutifully but each day felt longer than the last. She'd never tell anyone but she was losing her will. How long could she sit and stare at his blank face? She wanted to go home, she wanted to sleep in her bed with Shane's pillow and smell something more than antiseptic.
On the third day, Shane slowly opened his eyes and despite what his blank expression said he was in a panic. He remembered hearing things, just from the hour or so as he woke up but they were distorted and confusing. The pain and his inability to move was what sent his heart rate through the roof. Macy hit the call button in a panic, hers was far more visible than Shane's though.
"Shane," she said as she continued to push the call button. "Baby it's okay. You're okay. Don't freak out."
The nurses rushed in and in less than thirty seconds his eyes were closed again. They had to sedate him, worried that he would hurt himself as he tried to heal.
"When can he wake up?" Macy asked with concern.
"We'll slowly bring him out of sedation over the next few hours so he can ease into it," the head nurse explained.
"Okay," Macy sighed. "Guess that was a good sign? Seems pretty strong for a guy who almost died."
The nurse smiled and nodded. "Yeah, that man of yours is a fighter."
"Yeah," Macy said wistfully. "I'm going to run home and shower, I uh, I want to look a little nicer when he's awake."
"Did I just hear you want to look pretty for a man?" Gemma asked as she snuck into the room. "Never thought I'd hear that from you."
"Mom," Macy didn't give Gemma the warm greeting she was expecting. "What are you doing here?"
Gemma gave her a dark look for a minute before turning to the nurse. "You mind?"
"No, of course not," she said, quickly intimidated into scurrying away.
"I know you said no Sons," Gemma remarked before Macy could speak, "But I wanted to check on you."
"We're fine," she said with a huff.
"You look like shit, you do need a shower and maybe some lipstick, your color is terrible."
"Yeah, I know," Macy snapped. "I've kind of been sitting at my boyfriend's bedside for days, I'm not looking my best."
Feeling momentarily guilty, Gemma softened. "I'm sorry. How are you?"
"Fine," she said with a shrug. "He opened his eyes then spazzed out. They had to sedate him."
With genuine sympathy, Gemma frowned and hugged her daughter. "Oh baby, I'm sorry."
"Yeah me too," she whimpered. "I appreciate the check-in and the boys actually staying away."
"They've been a bit busy," she smirked, "They found him, the shooter, they got him up at BlueBird."
Macy was conflicted. "That's amazing but, but are they gonna kill him? Please, mom," she begged. "Tell Dad not to kill him, make him turn this asshole in."
"They're not going to kill him," she told Macy, "They're not thrilled about it but they're not going to do it. This guy hurt the club, indirectly, so they're going to get their pound of flesh before turning him in."
"They are?"
"You look surprised," Gemma remarked.
"You weren't?"
"Your father loves you and he knows you want this guy in jail, Jax and Opie too. They convinced the others, didn't take much."
Macy's face lit up. "Thank you."
"Don't you thank me," Gemma chided. "You thank your father, Macy."
"I will, I will," she said enthusiastically. "I need to go, I want to look good for him."
"You really love him," Gemma said looking slightly surprised. "Don't you?"
"More than I have ever loved another man," Macy beamed.
"Even Opie?"
Macy nodded, not missing a beat, although her smile fell. "Even Opie."
"Good," Gemma smiled. "Go, I can sit with Shane while you're gone if you want?"
"Sure," Macy said as she hurried toward the door. "Thanks, Mom," she added, kissing Gemma's cheek.
—
On her way back to the hospital, Macy purposely drove by the lot. She slowed, peering up the driveway, but couldn't make anything out, not that she knew what she was looking for. Macy picked up speed, hurrying back, to find Gemma had kept her promise and stayed with Shane.
"Thanks," Macy said, slipping back into the room. "You can uh, you can go," she said timidly.
"I can't sit with my daughter?"
"You can but it's kind of weird," Macy admitted. "Since I left you and I haven't exactly been super close."
"We've never been super close," Gemma rolled her eyes. "You're a daddy's girl."
Macy smiled at that. "Guess so."
"I'm glad he's going to be okay," Gemma said, turning more serious.
"Me too," Macy said, her voice cracking. "I don't know what I would have done if he didn't make it."
"Now you don't have to find out," Gemma said. "Are you going to Trammel's funeral?"
Macy nodded. "Beach is going to go with me."
"Good," Gemma said, getting up from her chair. "He'll be awake soon, I'll give you some privacy."
"Thanks," Macy nodded. "I'll talk to you soon."
Gemma smiled and nodded, kissing both Macy and Shane before leaving the room. The last thing she wanted to do was witness or interrupt the emotional moment that was to come.
Macy dozed off as she waited, rather impatiently, for Shane is open his eyes. She asked the nurses to let her know when the medication was beginning to wear off so she could be awake. Thankfully, they did and it was just in time.
"Shane," Macy spoke softly as his eyes fluttered. "Baby it's me, it's Mace. You're in the hospital, you got...shot," she whimpered. "You're okay, don't freak, you're okay. I'm here."
All she heard in response were a few grunts and grumbles but it was better than the last time. His eyes opened, immediately shutting again from the bright lights around him until the nurse flicked the switch off.
"Mace?" He croaked out.
"Hey," she said, tears rolling down her cheeks. "It's me, I'm here."
"Are you okay?" He asked, his weak hands squeezing hers as best he could.
"Shit, Shane," she laughed, "I'm fine. Really. It's you we're all worried about."
Shane grumbled something and dozed off for a second before opening his eyes again. "Is Trammel okay?" He asked, suddenly remembering the shooting.
"I'm sorry," Macy whimpered. "Trammel died on the scene. They did everything they could, I'm so sorry."
Slamming his head against the bed, Shane growled while attempting to keep from crying.
"Get out," he growled at the nurse. "I need to talk to her alone."
The nurse skittered away and Shane looked at Macy. "I think Opie did this."
"What?" She inhaled sharply. "My dad said he didn't. My dad swears it was all an accident."
"He was there. I saw him." Shane grunted. "It was supposed to be Jax, I told Clay I didn't want Opie involved, not after everything."
"Fuck," Macy sank down into the visitor's chair. "Would he? Would he really?"
"He'd do anything to get you back, Mace. I saw it with my own goddamn eyes."
"Calm down," she said, "You're getting upset, Shane. Too upset."
Shane nodded, taking slow deep breaths. "Alright, I will, but you know it's true, Macy. I can't trust them anymore."
"Let's just get you home and then we'll talk about all this, okay?"
"Marry me," Shane said quickly. "I told you I was gonna make an honest woman out of you and I meant it. I came too damn close to dying to wait anymore. Marry me, Mace, please."
"Oh my god," she beamed, planting a kiss on his dry lips. "Of course I'll marry you!"
"I was waiting for a no," he laughed. "I never know with you."
"No way, I've wanted this for a long time."
"Me too," he admitted. "Hit that call button."
"Are you okay?"
"No, I'm in fucking pain," he grumbled.
"I'll get her," Macy said hurriedly. "I love you, Shane."
"Love you Mace," he winced. "Now get me some fucking drugs. Please."