Morning Star
Chapter 6
The hours passed in a haze for Syd. Exhaustion, combined with powerful pain medication, caused her to sleep away much of the day. Alex visited with her for most of the morning and by late afternoon both Walker and Trivette had checked in on her. But by the evening, when visiting hours were almost over, Syd was growing increasing hurt by the fact that Gage had yet to stop by.
Despite herself, Syd began to think that maybe Gage was too busy on a make- up date with his cheerleader to come and visit. His no show at her bedside was confusing. Gage was her friend, they were best friends, and even if he did have a date, surely he would pop in and check on her. Didn't he care at all that she had been shot?
About 10 minutes to 9:00 that night, while staring straight ahead and pushing pity for herself aside, anger growing with the minute at Gage's inconsideration, there was a light rapping at the door and her partner poked his head inside.
"Good - you're awake!" smiling, Gage stepped into the room. She looked so small in the bed, her petite frame weighed down with the tubing, wires and heavy bandages. Gage fought the overwhelming instinct to race to her, hold her and protect her from all the Les Mysers in the world. He knew that Syd would never allow such a gesture but when she spoke he was very glad he had restrained himself.
"Thank you so much for coming to visit me today Gage. I really appreciate all your care and concern. As you can see I am fine, so go back home or go back to your date or go back to doing whatever else is important in your life, your services are not needed here." The words, dripping with scorn, exploded from Syd's mouth and were delivered without eye contact.
Stunned, Gage's mouth dropped open for the second time in as many days, thoroughly confused by his partner's tone of voice and the bitterness in her words that was so unlike Syd. He recovered quickly though, having expected her to be bit upset by his delay in visiting her. Truth be told, he had been scared to see her in the hospital, and had been building up the courage to come inside for a couple of hours.
"Sydney.' Her full first name sounded funny coming from his lips, and she looked up. "I am not on a date. I did not have a date today; I do not have a date tonight. I have been here, at the hospital, since 6:30 trying to work up the courage to come in here and see you. This is what is important right now in my life. I'm sorry it took me a while to get here but I am here now – don't you try to shut me out."
Startled by the forceful reaction of her usually mild-mannered partner, Syd was taken aback. Before she knew it and before she could stop them, tears began streaming down her face and she could not speak, her attempt at words turning into a choking sound.
"Oh Syd." Before either knew what was happening Gage had stepped across the room and was sitting on the edge of her bed, holding her tightly in his arms. His hands rubbed her back gently; he whispered comforting words into her hair. She clutched her arms tightly to her own body but rested her face against his strong chest, her tears quickly soaking the fabric, and allowed him to console her.
Syd had never cried in front of Gage before. In fact, she rarely cried, usually channelling her sorrow about things into aggression, which she most often put to use at the gym. And now here she was, in his arms, crying uncontrollably and for no reason other than he had taken a long time to come and visit her? Slowly Syd was able to rein in her emotions and her sobs turned to sniffles. A tissue appeared from nowhere and Syd gratefully took it and blew her nose.
Gage didn't want to let her go. He had slept all afternoon holding the blood-covered shirt, wishing he could be holding her, and now here he was, his arms tightly around her, and he did not ever want to let go. But he did as he felt her stiffen in his arms and make small motions to sit up straight.
Avoiding his gaze, Syd was the first one to speak.
"I'm sorry I accused you of not caring about me. I was just so hurt that everyone else had come to see me when..." her voice got so soft he could barely hear her, "...when it was you I wanted to see most of all."
"Syd." Gage took his finger and tilted her chin up, creating a pose far more intimate than he had any right to do, "I'm sorry I hurt you, that was never my intention. You have to know that."
Syd nodded, looking deep into his blue eyes.
"I know Gage. I know." Lifting her head away from his finger, Syd cleared her throat and shook her head. "Now, what do you know about getting me contraband? I have been craving a chocolate bar all day but the nurses have refused my bribes and ignored my threats and..."
Gage grinned at Syd and opened his jacket to reveal an inside pocket filled with three chocolate bars. "Take your pick."
"I'll take this one for now, this one for later and...this one for tomorrow."
"You're taking them all? You're leaving none for me?" Gage feigned indignation. "Why, if I had known that you would pull such a stunt I would never have..."
Just then a nurse walked in and found the two of them there laughing, Gage still sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Sorry Ms. Cooke, visiting hours are now over. I am afraid your guest will have to leave."
Syd nodded, as did Gage, and the nurse exited the private room.
Serious again, Gage looked at Syd. "I'm sorry it took me so long to come in."
"Me too." replied Syd, "But I'm glad you're here now. Thank you."
"Syd?"
"Mmm, hmm?"
"You know that you were great yesterday? The way you took down Myser, missing Rebecca, and all the while you were injured and bleeding. I'm so proud to call you my partner."
"Thank you." Syd looked up in wonder at Gage, smiling. "I'll see you tomorrow?"
"First thing partner, I promise. Now, you get a good night's sleep and I'll be here to take you home as soon as they release you. Okay?
Syd nodded as Gage stood up. He was about to leave when, unable to stop himself, he leaned over and kissed her gently on the forehead.
"Good night Syd."
"Good night Gage." Syd sighed lightly, settling back into the bed, and waving as he left the room. Then, with the feel of his lips still on her forehead, she fell asleep.
Chapter 6
The hours passed in a haze for Syd. Exhaustion, combined with powerful pain medication, caused her to sleep away much of the day. Alex visited with her for most of the morning and by late afternoon both Walker and Trivette had checked in on her. But by the evening, when visiting hours were almost over, Syd was growing increasing hurt by the fact that Gage had yet to stop by.
Despite herself, Syd began to think that maybe Gage was too busy on a make- up date with his cheerleader to come and visit. His no show at her bedside was confusing. Gage was her friend, they were best friends, and even if he did have a date, surely he would pop in and check on her. Didn't he care at all that she had been shot?
About 10 minutes to 9:00 that night, while staring straight ahead and pushing pity for herself aside, anger growing with the minute at Gage's inconsideration, there was a light rapping at the door and her partner poked his head inside.
"Good - you're awake!" smiling, Gage stepped into the room. She looked so small in the bed, her petite frame weighed down with the tubing, wires and heavy bandages. Gage fought the overwhelming instinct to race to her, hold her and protect her from all the Les Mysers in the world. He knew that Syd would never allow such a gesture but when she spoke he was very glad he had restrained himself.
"Thank you so much for coming to visit me today Gage. I really appreciate all your care and concern. As you can see I am fine, so go back home or go back to your date or go back to doing whatever else is important in your life, your services are not needed here." The words, dripping with scorn, exploded from Syd's mouth and were delivered without eye contact.
Stunned, Gage's mouth dropped open for the second time in as many days, thoroughly confused by his partner's tone of voice and the bitterness in her words that was so unlike Syd. He recovered quickly though, having expected her to be bit upset by his delay in visiting her. Truth be told, he had been scared to see her in the hospital, and had been building up the courage to come inside for a couple of hours.
"Sydney.' Her full first name sounded funny coming from his lips, and she looked up. "I am not on a date. I did not have a date today; I do not have a date tonight. I have been here, at the hospital, since 6:30 trying to work up the courage to come in here and see you. This is what is important right now in my life. I'm sorry it took me a while to get here but I am here now – don't you try to shut me out."
Startled by the forceful reaction of her usually mild-mannered partner, Syd was taken aback. Before she knew it and before she could stop them, tears began streaming down her face and she could not speak, her attempt at words turning into a choking sound.
"Oh Syd." Before either knew what was happening Gage had stepped across the room and was sitting on the edge of her bed, holding her tightly in his arms. His hands rubbed her back gently; he whispered comforting words into her hair. She clutched her arms tightly to her own body but rested her face against his strong chest, her tears quickly soaking the fabric, and allowed him to console her.
Syd had never cried in front of Gage before. In fact, she rarely cried, usually channelling her sorrow about things into aggression, which she most often put to use at the gym. And now here she was, in his arms, crying uncontrollably and for no reason other than he had taken a long time to come and visit her? Slowly Syd was able to rein in her emotions and her sobs turned to sniffles. A tissue appeared from nowhere and Syd gratefully took it and blew her nose.
Gage didn't want to let her go. He had slept all afternoon holding the blood-covered shirt, wishing he could be holding her, and now here he was, his arms tightly around her, and he did not ever want to let go. But he did as he felt her stiffen in his arms and make small motions to sit up straight.
Avoiding his gaze, Syd was the first one to speak.
"I'm sorry I accused you of not caring about me. I was just so hurt that everyone else had come to see me when..." her voice got so soft he could barely hear her, "...when it was you I wanted to see most of all."
"Syd." Gage took his finger and tilted her chin up, creating a pose far more intimate than he had any right to do, "I'm sorry I hurt you, that was never my intention. You have to know that."
Syd nodded, looking deep into his blue eyes.
"I know Gage. I know." Lifting her head away from his finger, Syd cleared her throat and shook her head. "Now, what do you know about getting me contraband? I have been craving a chocolate bar all day but the nurses have refused my bribes and ignored my threats and..."
Gage grinned at Syd and opened his jacket to reveal an inside pocket filled with three chocolate bars. "Take your pick."
"I'll take this one for now, this one for later and...this one for tomorrow."
"You're taking them all? You're leaving none for me?" Gage feigned indignation. "Why, if I had known that you would pull such a stunt I would never have..."
Just then a nurse walked in and found the two of them there laughing, Gage still sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Sorry Ms. Cooke, visiting hours are now over. I am afraid your guest will have to leave."
Syd nodded, as did Gage, and the nurse exited the private room.
Serious again, Gage looked at Syd. "I'm sorry it took me so long to come in."
"Me too." replied Syd, "But I'm glad you're here now. Thank you."
"Syd?"
"Mmm, hmm?"
"You know that you were great yesterday? The way you took down Myser, missing Rebecca, and all the while you were injured and bleeding. I'm so proud to call you my partner."
"Thank you." Syd looked up in wonder at Gage, smiling. "I'll see you tomorrow?"
"First thing partner, I promise. Now, you get a good night's sleep and I'll be here to take you home as soon as they release you. Okay?
Syd nodded as Gage stood up. He was about to leave when, unable to stop himself, he leaned over and kissed her gently on the forehead.
"Good night Syd."
"Good night Gage." Syd sighed lightly, settling back into the bed, and waving as he left the room. Then, with the feel of his lips still on her forehead, she fell asleep.