I lost track of time. At some point I'd convinced Faith to go home
and get some sleep. Worrying about ma was enough for me. The last
thing I needed was to worry about my partner out there working with
little sleep.
During the morning hours, I visited with ma a few times. Each visit was only for a couple minutes, but at this point, I was glad ma was still alive.
Faith showed up again about noon. How did I know it was noon? Because she didn't show up empty handed; she brought lunch. I tell you, that partner of mine is one incredible woman. She spends eight hours a day putting up with my crap and the rest of her life putting up with Fred.
Faith sat with me and visited ma before she had to leave for work. She promised to stop by later after work. I told her she didn't have to but this was Faith. She'd be there by 11:30.
Ma had a somewhat uneventful day. The doctors kept her sedated, giving her body time to heal. According to the doctors, no change in her condition was a good thing. She was holding her own. I wasn't so sure. I've known ma a lot longer than any of the doctors around here. I couldn't put my finger on it, but something just wasn't right.
Kim and Alex stopped up a few times, between calls as did Doc and Carlos. Sully and Ty stopped by too, said they could only stay for a couple minutes, being that they were on their lunch break. You know, I wonder just how many lunch breaks Sully took that night cause I've worked with Sully long enough to know he takes his lunch break at eight o'clock sharp. You could set your watch by the guy. That night, he and Ty visited at 9:30. Go figure. I didn't see Faith, not that I was surprised; I'd see her again soon enough.
Soon enough came and went with no Faith. I wasn't too worried though. I figured she was probably working on a report, cursing me under her breath for leaving her with a rookie partner. I was a little shocked when Ty showed up just before midnight.
"Hey Bos," he replied. "Any change?"
"Nope; still holding her own," I answered. I was about to ask about Faith when Ty offered an explanation for her absence.
"Faith left a message at the station, apparently her son has the chicken pox. She went home about 9:30."
"Damn, poor kid," I replied. I didn't add 'poor Faith' but the thought crossed my mind.
"Yeah, almost makes me feel like scratching," Ty joked.
I laughed at Ty's comment, grateful for a break in a tense-filled night. He stayed for a half hour or so, preparing to leave just as Kim and Alex popped in.
"Anyone up for a midnight snack?" Alex replied, bags in hand.
I had to laugh at her, standing there with these bags of food.
"You think got enough food there?" I asked.
"I don't know," she replied. "Guess it depends. Just when was the last time you ate something?"
"If I didn't know better, I'd swear my partner put you up to this?"
"The one who puts up with you and your attitude everyday?" Kim interrupted.
"That's be her," I laughed.
"To answer your question, yeah we talked with her tonight. She mentioned that she stopped by today around noon," Kim continued.
"The way I see it," Alex countered. "I figure the last time you ate was probably about say...noon?"
"Is that a question?" I asked.
"Nope, no question cause I figure my guess is close enough," Alex replied. The food didn't last long, given that there were four of us eating. They stayed a while longer. By the time they left, it was time for another visit with ma.
I had been with her for a few minutes when the alarms went off. Doctors and nurses rushing to her bedside. One nurse tried to reassure me that they were doing everything possible for her as she pushed me out of the room. I stepped aside, finding myself in another room not far from ma's. Leaning against one wall, I braced myself as my body continued to shake. I had lost all control, my body feeling like jello. As my legs gave way, I slid down the wall. Pulling my knees to my body, I gave way to the tears, unable to stop their flow.
During the morning hours, I visited with ma a few times. Each visit was only for a couple minutes, but at this point, I was glad ma was still alive.
Faith showed up again about noon. How did I know it was noon? Because she didn't show up empty handed; she brought lunch. I tell you, that partner of mine is one incredible woman. She spends eight hours a day putting up with my crap and the rest of her life putting up with Fred.
Faith sat with me and visited ma before she had to leave for work. She promised to stop by later after work. I told her she didn't have to but this was Faith. She'd be there by 11:30.
Ma had a somewhat uneventful day. The doctors kept her sedated, giving her body time to heal. According to the doctors, no change in her condition was a good thing. She was holding her own. I wasn't so sure. I've known ma a lot longer than any of the doctors around here. I couldn't put my finger on it, but something just wasn't right.
Kim and Alex stopped up a few times, between calls as did Doc and Carlos. Sully and Ty stopped by too, said they could only stay for a couple minutes, being that they were on their lunch break. You know, I wonder just how many lunch breaks Sully took that night cause I've worked with Sully long enough to know he takes his lunch break at eight o'clock sharp. You could set your watch by the guy. That night, he and Ty visited at 9:30. Go figure. I didn't see Faith, not that I was surprised; I'd see her again soon enough.
Soon enough came and went with no Faith. I wasn't too worried though. I figured she was probably working on a report, cursing me under her breath for leaving her with a rookie partner. I was a little shocked when Ty showed up just before midnight.
"Hey Bos," he replied. "Any change?"
"Nope; still holding her own," I answered. I was about to ask about Faith when Ty offered an explanation for her absence.
"Faith left a message at the station, apparently her son has the chicken pox. She went home about 9:30."
"Damn, poor kid," I replied. I didn't add 'poor Faith' but the thought crossed my mind.
"Yeah, almost makes me feel like scratching," Ty joked.
I laughed at Ty's comment, grateful for a break in a tense-filled night. He stayed for a half hour or so, preparing to leave just as Kim and Alex popped in.
"Anyone up for a midnight snack?" Alex replied, bags in hand.
I had to laugh at her, standing there with these bags of food.
"You think got enough food there?" I asked.
"I don't know," she replied. "Guess it depends. Just when was the last time you ate something?"
"If I didn't know better, I'd swear my partner put you up to this?"
"The one who puts up with you and your attitude everyday?" Kim interrupted.
"That's be her," I laughed.
"To answer your question, yeah we talked with her tonight. She mentioned that she stopped by today around noon," Kim continued.
"The way I see it," Alex countered. "I figure the last time you ate was probably about say...noon?"
"Is that a question?" I asked.
"Nope, no question cause I figure my guess is close enough," Alex replied. The food didn't last long, given that there were four of us eating. They stayed a while longer. By the time they left, it was time for another visit with ma.
I had been with her for a few minutes when the alarms went off. Doctors and nurses rushing to her bedside. One nurse tried to reassure me that they were doing everything possible for her as she pushed me out of the room. I stepped aside, finding myself in another room not far from ma's. Leaning against one wall, I braced myself as my body continued to shake. I had lost all control, my body feeling like jello. As my legs gave way, I slid down the wall. Pulling my knees to my body, I gave way to the tears, unable to stop their flow.