Standard disclaimers apply.
Second Chance
By Christine
When Gary heard the second shot, he knew it wasn't him that had been hit. He looked into David's eyes, as he slowly slumped to the floor. Gary could see the blood coming from his chest.
As Gary turned to check on Chuck, Armstrong came to the door. "Hobson you all right?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine, but they're not." He turned his attentions to his friend. "Chuck, Chuck!"
"Ah, Gar, I got shot in the hip." Chuck screamed.
"It's all right. Chuck, you're gonna be all right." Gary said as he squatted down beside him.
Armstrong walked over to David. He checked his pulse.
"He's dead." Armstrong said.
Gary looked behind him at David Detillo. He killed someone. Granted it was an accident, self-defense, but he had still taken someone's life. He thought about Casey. She would have died if he hadn't found her. Gary would have gladly given his life for her.
The paramedics that entered the room brought him out of his thoughts. They went directly to Chuck. Gary and Armstrong stepped outside. Gary took a breath of the fresh air.
"Is Casey all right?" He asked Armstrong.
"Why don't you go see for yourself." Armstrong motioned with his head in the direction of the van.
Gary looked over and smiled when he saw his father holding Casey in his arms. As he walked towards the van, Bernie put Casey down and she ran into Gary's arms. Tears welled in his eyes as he picked her up and held her tightly.
"Hey, sweet girl." He whispered to her. "How you doing?"
"I missed you." Casey said kissing him on the cheek.
"Happy Birthday, baby." He whispered.
When Kaitlyn got out of the police car, the first sight she saw was Gary holding Casey. Tears streaming down her face. She couldn't believe it. Her baby was right in front of her own eyes.
Gary saw her out of the corner of his eye. He put Casey down and said to her, "Look there's Mommy." When Casey turned and saw Kaitlyn she ran into her arms. Gary smiled. He turned to find Chuck on a gurney and the paramedics wheeling him to the ambulance. He walked over to check on his friend.
"How you doing buddy?" Gary asked his friend.
"Gar, I was shot in the ass, how do you think I'm doing?" Chuck smiled. "Is Casey all right." Gary turned and saw Kaitlyn kissing her daughter's face.
"Yeah. She's all right." Gary said as he put his hand on Chucks' shoulder. "Thanks buddy."
"Yeah, well you owe me big time for this Gar." The paramedics started to put him into the ambulance. "I mean big time." He screamed to Gary.
As Gary turned to walk away, he heard Chuck say to the blonde paramedic. "Hey, I'm a movie producer and you know I'm always looking to cast new talent. You ever done any acting." Gary smiled. Chuck is always Chuck he thought, never changes.
Gary saw Kaitlyn talking with Armstrong. He headed over to the van to check on his father.
"Detective, I don't know how to thank you." Kaitlyn said to Armstrong.
"Don't thank me. Hobson and his crew are the ones who got your daughter back." He said motioning in Gary's direction.
Kaitlyn watched Gary walk away from the ambulance towards his van. "Maybe you should thank him." Armstrong said. She shook her head in agreement and started to walk towards Gary and Bernie.
Gary saw Kaitlyn heading in his direction and his heart ached. When she got to where he was standing they just stared at each other.
"I'll leave you two alone." Bernie said and walked away.
"Thank you." She said, her voice barely above a whisper. Gary nodded and looked down at his feet. Kaitlyn opened her mouth to speak and was interrupted by the paramedic.
"Miss we would like to take your daughter to the hospital to have her checked over. Just as a precaution." He said.
"Okay." Kaitlyn turned to Gary. Their eyes met. She could feel her heart breaking. She loved this man in front of her so much.
"You better go. Casey's waiting." He said and he turned and walked away. As he turned back, he saw her walking off to the ambulance.
"You okay." His father put his hand on his shoulder as he asked.
"Yeah." Gary said shaking his head. "Let's go home."