First I want to thank you all for your overwhelming response to this story. Keep it coming, I am glad that you are enjoying reading it as much as I am enjoying writing it. Then I must apologize as well, I am sorry I didn't have this next part to you sooner, my best friend was here from LA, so we were spending a few days together.
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The waiting room was silent, so much so that you could hear a pin drop as the four remaining officers, their captain and the "Janitor" all awaited word on their best friend and fellow officers condition. Penhall and Hoffs were cuddled together in the corner, Judy's eyes still tear stained. Fuller was pacing back and forth, Harry and Blowfish were leaning against the side pilars by the front doors of the waiting room. And Booker, well Booker sat stone frozen on the waiting room couch, his eyes permanently fixed on the blood stained T-shirt he was wearing, his eyes continually watering but never spilling a single tear.
The only movement at all from him was the bobbing of his adams apple as he swollowed in each breath.
It had been a good three hours now as Fuller's eyes kept wondering over to the lost young officer noting his lack of movement and his absence of any words at all... Even Penhall who was without a doubt Tom's best friend has said a few small sentances here and there trying to keep the dead air from eating them all live.
Scratching his beard he walked over and took a seat next to him placing his hand on his knee, "Dennis." He cleared his throat trying to avert his eyes from the blood on the young man's shirt, "How are you doin?' "
"I'm fine coach." He mumbled without ever even looking up his lack of eye contact a sure sign he was lying.
"Why don't you go on home and get changed, I'm sure Harry wouldn't mind driving you."
"No, it's fine. I want to be here."
"We should really get you out of those clothes though." The captain exhaled softly closing his eyes as he did so.
"I'm not leaving captain Fuller." His tone defiant and definate as he stood up, " I'm going to go have a smoke." He looked around at the people surrounding him, "Anyone want to come with me?"
"I'll go..." Judy whispered rising to her feet and streching her arms over her head.
"Yeah me too... I need some air...Or something." Harry was already half way to the door his last statement added as an after thought as he slid his sunglasses on.
"You can walk me out." Blowfish frowned searching for his kids, "I need to run home and check on Rosa and the kids... Captain will you call if you hear anything?"
Fuller nodded, "He still being worked on, but as soon as we know something I'll call."
"Thanks."
Within moments the hospital room was empty aside from the two remaining men, Fuller wondered if Penhall had even noticed the others leave, his head was back his eyes were closed... And although he had been spouting a few one liners before, for the last hour silence had befallen him almost as though the severity of the situation had hit him and he was trying to digest it.
"Penhall." Fuller stood up making his way across the waiting room.
"Yeah Captain?" He opened his eyes readjusting his head slightly and looking up at his captain his eyes were glazed over with a slightly red shade, and Fuller knew even without tears falling he was crying.
"How are you holding up?"
"I'm more worried about booker." He retorted almost to quickly, "Do you think he's going to be alright?"
"We're going to get him the help he needs when the time comes..." The older man took a seat next to him, "But right now I want to know how your handling things."
"How do you think I'm handling things?" He asked sounding a little more smug then he meant to. Drawing his lip into his mouth he waited a minute before continuing... "I'm sorry... I just-" He sat up a little more putting his head in his ahnds and running his fingers through his hair. "I hate this... I hate feeling so helpless... that's- that's my best friend in their captain... My partner, and I'm so damn helpless... I can't do anything to help him."
"I know Doug." Fuller whispered taking note of the water now building in the angry man's gaze.
"We don't even know if he's ok..." His hands balled in to fists and he bit down on the left one clearing his throat. "It's-... I just don't know what to do!"
"It's ok to be upset.."
Doug nodded shutting his eyes tightly once more and inhaling as deep as he could. "Everything I've ever delt with... I've never been this Angry Captain... It's like there is this- this parasite knawing at my insides... I want to hit something... I just- We have to find the guy who did this..."
"And we will." Fuller frowned deeper, "It has to be connected to the Roseavelt case..."
"I want to go back in."
"We can't take that risk Doug, if they figured Hanson as a cop, chances are... they figured you as well..."
"I don't care."
"Do you want to end up in the bed next to his?"
"Captain.."
"I'm serious." Fuller put his hand on Doug's shoulder and forced him to turn a little, "We can't take that chance right now... If Tom pulls through this he's going to need you-"
"He's going to pull through this!"
"I hop your right... Either way I can't risk it Penhall."
"So what are we going to do then? This asshole shot a cop... He shot Hanson we can't just let him get away with it."
"When things calm down I'll get a statement from Booker, and when the time is right... One from Hanson as well... Then we will go from there..."
"Fuller I-"
"Let's just not worry about this right now alright?"
"At least it gave me something to think about." Penhall's eyes shot around the hospital taking in the white walls and the stale smell, he was over-whelmingly nausiated. He hated this place.
"I know Doug. I know."
The doors to the OR opened and out stepped an older man waering a now dirty pair of hospital scrubs clip board still in hand he approached the waiting room just as the others began returning from outside.
"Hanson... Family for Hanson?" He called out
"Right here." Fuller rose to his feet the others quickly gathering around him.
The doctor looked suspiciously at everyones faces, "Your Thomas Hanson's family?" He questioned raising his brow.
"That's right." Booker Snapped through a clenched jaw.
"Is his mother here?"
"She hasn't been able to be reached as of yet, I'm Captain Fuller, and these are Tom's Fellow officers... How is he doctor?"
"It is procedure-"
"How is HE?" Penhall growled taking a step forward.
"I wish I had better news to deliver," The older grey haired man frowned looking at his clip board and purposely avoiding the 5 sets of eyes now staring him down.
"What do you mean you widsh you had better news? He-he's not De-" Judy choked softly feeling more tears fall down her cheeks as Harry's arm slid around her...
"Oh no, no no... He's not dead..." The Doctor was quick to correct their thoughts,
"Well then what is it...?" Harry's hand now made a circular motion on Judy's back.
"The bullet that hit Officer Hanson..." He let his eyes wander up very slowly makingeye contact first with the captain, "Severed his spinal cord... And then lodged it's self into his intestine. We were able to remove all of the bullet fragments... However the damage was already done..."
"What Damage? What are you saying doctor?" Fuller had a feeling he already knew but there was still asmall amount of hope to hold on to right?
"I'm sorry, but Officer Hanson has suffered full paralysis from the waist down..."
It was at that moment that the world stopped and even the ticking of the clock was silenced.