Shortly after seven, Hondo returned to Cedars Sinai. When he went shopping, he had also bought a large box of biscuits, which he now gave to the nurses' station. The response was a polyphonic and multilingual thanks. In front of Christina Brown's room he spotted another uniformed officer, but he did not recognize his face. The man stood to attention as he approached, he had his badge on his belt as usual. "Jerry Rodriguez, Harbor Community Division," he introduced himself.
"Relax, Jerry. I'm Hondo. Phillip Santiago probably told you I'd be coming."
Now the uniformed man smiled. "He has. Santiago is in there. Do you think I'll might get some of the cookies?" He nodded towards the nurses base.
"It depends how pretty you ask"; Hondo grinned, then knocked on the door and poked his head inside. Phillip looked up, when he recognized him, he got up and pushed him into the hall.
"Hi Hondo. Nice of you to come."
"I stand by my promises. How is the situation?"
"She has a slight fever. Doctors say it is within limits and normal. They want to leave Christina in an artificial coma for two to three days to give her body some recovery time. I spoke to a contact in Coronado, on the fly. He says there might be a chance to contact Sean on Saturday."
"Still late, but better than nothing."
"That's what I thought too. Can you stay?"
"Yes, I'll take the night shift. But tomorrow you have to come a little earlier, I have to report back to the headquarters."
"I'll be there. Thank you for your time at all."
"If it helps only a little for Christina ..."
"She's alive," Santiago replied shortly, patting him on the shoulder. "Thanks to you and your team. Forty-eight hours ago I would not have dared to hope so. - I'll get my things," he explained after a short pause.
After a moment he came out of Christina's room with a rucksack and jacket. "See you tomorrow."
Now it was Hondo's turn to pat Phillip on the shoulder. He watched him go until he reached the elevator.
Then he went in and over to the chair on which he had already spent the night before. There was another book on it, a historical novel, he recognized, even if he hadn't suspected Phillip would read something like that. A look at the first inside page told him that the book belonged to Christina, whichever way it got here. He found Phillip's bookmark and read two pages, then there was a soft knock and a nurse came in. Hondo finished his sentence and looked up so he could see her face. "Good evening."
"Hello Hondo. I see you've already settled down. Do you need anything else?"
"Thanks, I'm fine. How are you? And she? ", He pointed to Christina and closed the book.
"I'm totally fine. Christina's still stable. She still has a low fever, but the antibiotics seem to be working. "
"At least some good news. Thank you."
"Nothing to thank for. Get in touch if you need anything. I'll check again later."
She checked the data on the monitors around the bed, made a note of something on the medical record, and left.
The night was quiet, after Cynthia's midnight round he was able to sleep in the chair until Phillip, a coffee in his hand, tapped him on the shoulder to wake him up. He gratefully took the coffee, said goodbye briefly, and ran to his car.
Back at headquarters, a rested team greeted them in the locker room. Chris asked about Christina Brown's condition and Hondo gave a terse report. It wasn't long before they were called to their first assignment. He was focused on the matter - and grateful that his colleagues accepted that he did not feel like talking. When they were changing after work, Chris asked if she should go to the hospital instead of him, but he refused. Her look was concerned, but she accepted the no.
He spent three more days doing day missions and watching at night in Cedaes Sinai. Saturday night, when he took over from Phillip, he told him that they had been finally able to make contact with Sean Brown and he was already on his way back. In addition, the doctors would begin to shut down the artificial coma on Sunday.
It was Sister Cynthia again who peeked in late at night. "Do you never have a day off?" asked Hondo, a little surprised.
"Today's the last and then I'll have a four-day break," she explained, smiling as always. "You caught me right at the beginning of my shift phase. But don't worry, they're not that kind of slave driver here either. By the way, thanks for the cinnamon buns, my colleagues asked me to tell you. They were very tasty."
"My pleasure. A recipe from my mother. The city was very quiet yesterday, I left early and had a feeling to bake."
"A man who can bake. Your wife has to hold you tight."
"I'm not married. The right one wasn't there yet."
"That's a pity. But at some point you will also find your other half. "
"Who knows."
The beeper on Cynthia's belt went off before the conversation could get any more embarrassing. She nodded to him again and hurried outside.
That night was more restless than before, once he had to call Cynthia for help because Christina didn't react to his calming words.
Hondo was tired when he left on Sunday morning, apparently it could be seen, because Phillip asked what had happened as soon as he got there.
"Christina was very restless despite the medication. Her circulatory system has made some ups and downs, now it's better. Talk to her a little," he asked before saying goodbye.