Author's Note: Same disclaimer as previous chapters
Chapter 16
A helicopter overhead, searchlights, and police vehicles parked all over the yard and in the driveway. When Tom Fallon does something, he goes all the way. It was all a blur to Donovan as he cradled Caitlin's head in his lap. Blood, so much blood.
Randy collapsed beside Caitlin's prone body. "I...oh my God, what have I done?" He sobbed into his hands.
"Get away from her," Donovan growled before turning his attention back to Caitlin.
"Don't leave me, angel. You're stronger than both of us, you can make it." He was numb from head to toe. The pain of watching her, as she was shot, it was unbearable. Rather he was dead than deal with her leaving him. And those eyes, they would haunt him forever. Hers had locked onto his as she fell, the love still shone brightly in them, even as she knew she was giving up her life for his.
There was no movement from Caitlin who lay unconscious, her breathing had become shallow, her pulse weak. Two of the bullets had entered her upper back with no exit wounds. The third wound, the one that scared the living hell out of him, was at the left side of her head, above her temple. At first glance he thought it had just grazed her, but it had gone much deeper. It didn't lodge into her skull, but that didn't mean it wasn't serious. So much blood, he thought as he sobbed openly.
Tom crouched beside Donovan. "Caity," he whispered as he laid a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder. "Get that damn stretcher over here!"
At the Chief's order, a stretcher was laid next to Caitlin and she was lifted onto it and strapped down. "Get her to the 'copter." He pointed to the large clearing not far from the house. "Let's go Frank, we can get her to the hospital in Calais within minutes."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The trip in the helicopter was short, and Caitlin had been rushed into emergency surgery. Donovan sat in the waiting room, elbows on knees, his head cradled in his hands.
"Here's some coffee." Tom handed him a cup.
Shaking his head, he stood and began pacing the room. Where was that damn doctor? It had been nearly two hours since Caitlin was taken into surgery.
Attention turned to a young officer that entered the waiting area. He handed Tom a slip of paper and left the room.
"Just an update. Jeffries, Gentry and Vance have been booked for drug trafficking and the attempted murder of a Justice Department agent. Randy Meiner is being held for aggravated assault on Caitlin." Tom watched as his friend nodded absently. "She'll make it, Frank."
Before he could comment, a surgeon walked in. He was still in his blue scrubs, the cloth facemask hung around his neck and he was wringing the cloth hair covering between his hands. "Are either of you related to Caitlin Whitfield?"
"No," Tom answered. "Caitlin has no family. I'm Tom Fallon, Chief of Police, Bangor P.D. and this is Frank Donovan, Justice Department."
The surgeon looked the two men over, the latter looked as if he was in physical pain. He would venture to guess that Ms. Whitfield meant a great deal to him. "I'm Dr. Phillips. Ms. Whitfield is in recovery."
"How is she?" Frank asked, not daring to hope for good news.
"It was touch and go for a while. We lost her twice, but she must be a fighter, because she hung on." He watched the pain take visible form on Donovan's face. "The bullets in her back pierced her right lung. At this time, we don't know if the head wound has caused any brain damage. She's in critical condition, and when she comes out of recovery, she'll be taken to ICU. I don't expect her to wake any time soon, gentlemen. You might want to go home and get some rest." With a nod, he turned and left the room.
"Lost her twice," Donovan whispered to himself.
"She's alive, Frank. Be thankful for that." Tom slapped him on the back. "Let's do as the doctor says and get some rest. We'll come back in a few hours and check on her. The hospital has my number, if anything happens, they'll call."
Too weak with worry to argue, Donovan let himself be ushered from the hospital. Tom took them to a motel in town, but Donovan knew he wouldn't sleep. How could he sleep while Caitlin struggled for her life in the hospital?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Word traveled fast in the small town. The waiting room was full when Donovan ventured back to the hospital a few hours after he had been ushered away. He recognized quite a few people, including Mrs. Redman and Mr. Jenkins. At the far side of the room, he saw little Daisy and her brother Devon sitting with their father. Misty must be close by.
The sound of a slap to the face echoed through the corridors. "You bastard!" Misty's eyes held her contempt for Donovan visibly. He could almost feel the shape of a bright red handprint on his cheek. "If she dies, it's your fault!" Her fists balled and she began to beat him on the chest.
Donovan grabbed her arms and pulled her into his embrace until she stopped flailing. "I know better than anyone who's fault it is," he whispered into her ear. "Don't think this isn't killing me, because it is."
Misty's husband, Jason, came to their side, along with the two children. He held Daisy with one arm, and pulled his wife into his embrace with the other. To everyone's amazement, little Daisy held her arms out to Donovan to take her and went easily into his arms.
"Bless the children," Mrs. Redman commented. "How are you holding up, Mr. Donovan?" She asked as she crossed the room.
"Fine." He lied.
"Yep, I can see that. You look like death warmed over," she smiled sympathetically. "The last update we had was that Caity has slipped into a coma."
"Mr. Donovan?"
Turning, he saw the nurse standing behind him. "I'm Donovan," he answered.
"Come with me, please."
Donovan handed Daisy to her mother and followed the nurse down the corridor. She led him to the elevator and told him to take it to the fourth floor. ICU. He was finally going to see Caitlin.
Caitlin lay, hooked to machines all around her, looking small in the hospital bed. Donovan sat in the chair next to the bed and took her small hand in his. They had shaved a large section of hair from the left side of her head to treat the bullet wound. Tubes were protruding from her mouth and nose to help her breath, and the sight of her in such a condition was enough to make a man insane.
"Angel," he whispered, "we have a lot of plans to make, you and I, so hurry and get well." He kissed her cold, clammy hand. "All of your friends are downstairs waiting for you. Little Daisy's there, too. Wouldn't you like to hold her again? I know how much you love her."
No response. No eyelid movement. Nothing. The ICU nurses told him she might respond to a voice that was dear to her, but there was no reaction.
"I didn't tell you then, but in the ballpark, when you were holding her, I couldn't help but wish that was our child you were holding." A sob escaped his throat. "I love you so much, angel. Wake up, so we can be together again. I need to hold you, love you."
Nothing. Just those damnable machines mocking him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A day turned into a week, and there was very little change in Caitlin's condition. She remained comatose, the only good news was that her body was healing and her vital signs had stabilized and she had been moved to a ward that ministered to coma patients.
Donovan remained by her side as much as the hospital staff would allow. He spent the time talking to her of their future together or just reading to her. He knew she was in there somewhere, and wanted to make sure she knew she was cared about.
There was a constant flow of visitors that checked on her throughout the day and her friends had come to accept his presence and most had become friendly towards him. Misty had been the most difficult, but her anger fled when she realized how much pain Donovan was in and how much he truly loved Caitlin. It was Misty that entered Caitlin's room now.
"Frank, the Sheriff is looking for you. He wants you to meet him in his office." When she saw the look of hesitation in his eyes, she continued, "I'll sit with her while you're gone. Don't worry, if there's a change, I'll call the Sheriff's office."
He nodded and leaned over Caitlin to kiss her gently on the forehead. "I'll be back soon."
Misty stopped him as he passed her and stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. He smiled down at her then hurried from the room.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hello, Sheriff. Misty said you wanted to see me?" Donovan sat in the chair in front of the town's Sheriff. Tom had introduced them a couple days prior. Peter McClain appeared to be a good man and had a genuine fondness for Caitlin, having known her since she was a child.
"Hey, Frank," he greeted Donovan with a smile. "How's Caity fairing today?"
"Same. No Change," he sighed, shaking his head.
"You know, she a tough kid, she'll pull through." His smile grew as past memories invaded his thoughts. "I remember one time, she was out with her daddy and me on a fishing trawler. She was a little scamp; let me tell you. She was afraid we were going after the dolphins she had seen the day before, so she threw all the rods over the side of the boat!"
Donovan laughed along with the older man. The Sheriff was a kindly man who reminded him of Santa Claus with his white hair, beard and mustache. He was a bit on the round side, too, for good measure.
"I imagine you didn't think it was too funny at the time," Donovan remarked, still laughing.
"Hell, no! But Shane, her father, he thought is was funny as all get out." He wiped a tear from his eye. "He just gave her a big hug and told her how proud he was that she would fight to save those precious creatures."
"What are you trying to say, Sheriff?"
"That, no matter the danger, Caity would fight for anyone in trouble. It was just her nature." He pointed a finger at Donovan. "So, stop blaming yourself, and be strong for that little gal."
"Thanks, Sheriff." Donovan smiled bleakly. "Is that why you called me here?"
"No, you have a call coming in." He motioned to the phone, the extension button flashed red. "I'll leave you to it."
"Hey, boss, miss me?"
"Cody." Donovan couldn't stop himself from rolling his eyes.
"Man, have I miss your exciting repartee." He could imagine the grin on Cody's face.
"I'm sure you have. What can I do for you, Cody?"
"The D.A. called. He needs you back in Chicago for your testimony in the Petrocelli case."
"I can't leave right now," Donovan stammered.
"The Sheriff said you wrapped up your case in Bangor."
Donovan hesitated for a moment. "I did. Look, I'll get right back to you." Without a goodbye, he hung up the phone.
To be continued....