She's Gone

Disclaimer: Dick's, not mine!

Carolyn and Bobby were at the hospital first, followed by Deakins. Deakins looked like he was going to keel over.

"Does anyone know what happened to her? I got a call from the three one saying we had an officer down." Carolyn looked at Bobby, who had turned pale at the mention of the precinct. "Sorry Bobby. But it was the same thought I had. Has anyone talked to a nurse?"

Carolyn shook her head in response, and then gasped in shock. "Did anyone call Mike?" She pulled her phone out to call her partner. "Mike? Get to St. Claire's. Something happened to Lynn. We don't know anything yet, just get here." She hung the phone up on him. She walked over to the nurses' station.

"Yes?" The nurse heard someone approach, but didn't bother to look up.

This annoyed Carolyn. "We need some information on one of our officers. She was brought in here a little while ago, but we don't know anything. We don't even know why she's here."

The nurse looked over at a chart. "G. Lynn Bishop? She was hit by a car. She's with the doctor." The nurse knew what would come next and decided to cut her off at the pass. "Family only when the time comes."

Carolyn blinked several times at the rudeness of the nurse, but was in too much shock to say anything nasty back. She numbly walked back to Bobby and Deakins. "She was hit by a car. She's with the doctor. Family only." She collapsed in a chair and cradled her head in her hands. There they sat, with no word on Lynn for a while.

Mike walked in to the emergency room, dazed by Carolyn's call. He just saw her, how could something have happened to her? He approached his friends warily. "What's wrong?"

"She's with the doctor. Apparently, she was hit by a car. Only family is allowed in." Bobby glared over at the nurses' station.

Oh, this will never do, Mike thought. He glanced at Deakins. "Jimmy, let me see your ring for a minute."

Deakins frowned at him. "Why do you need my ring?"

"You'll see. Give it to me." Jimmy handed it over to him. Bobby caught Mike's eye and gave him the thumbs up.

Mike put on Jimmy's ring and charged over to the nurses' station. "Excuse me? I need to know what's going on with my wife. She was brought in here a little while ago." Mike slapped the hand with the ring on it on the counter, hard enough to make the nurse look up.

"Name?"

"G. Lynn Bishop."

"The doctor brought her into recovery a minute or two ago. He'll speak to you when he's done, and then you can see her." The nurse attempted a smile and then went back to her work.

"Thank you." Mike walked away, triumph and worry competing with each other. The others stood as he approached. "She's in recovery." There was a collective sigh. And, speak of the devil, a doctor approached them.

"Can I see Mr. Bishop?" Carolyn and Deakins looked at each other. Mike stepped forward and walked away with the doctor. "Okay, she's got a broken leg, a broken arm and bruised ribs. She's not awake yet and she'll be in pain, lots of pain."

"What exactly happened though?

"One of the witnesses said she was running and a car ran up on the curb and hit her. The driver was drunk. Why you would be drunk that early, I don't know. He was taken in by the precinct over there." The doctor patted his arm. "Your wife will be fine with lots of rest and time to heal." The doctor smiled and walked away, off to tend to other patients. Mike stood frozen in his spot. He snapped out of it and walked back over to the others and explained what happened.

"The son of a bitch. I'll kill him. I'll just kill him. Who is he?" Carolyn went spastic. "I'm sick of people killing my friends!" She stomped off towards the restrooms. Bobby sank down in his chair.

"Jesus." He rubbed his face hard.

Mike looked after Carolyn, confused, then turned to Bobby and Deakins. "She did hear the part where I said she was okay, right?" He took Deakins' ring off and handed it back to him. "Thanks, sir. Do we know if Bishop has any family? She'll need someone to take care of her."

Deakins shook his head. "She does, but they live in Hawaii. I don't know about the rest of the Bishop crew, but I hope they have stock in sunscreen." He looked down at Bobby and nudged him. "You all right" Bobby nodded and lifted his head.

"Mike, you'll have to take care of her." His somber face changed to a wicked smile.

"Deakins knows, Bobby. Cut the crap," Mike replied to Bobby without taking his eyes off of Deakins. "I'll take care of her. She can stay at my place. And I know what you're thinking…and you're right. But seriously, let me help her."

Once again, Deakins was surprised. "That's fine. But you'll have to okay it with her." Deakins faked an innocent look. "And what do I know?" He chuckled. "If it's all right with you guys, I'm going to head home. Angie's pissed at me for last night. Tell Bishop I'll call her later."

The guys wished Deakins well as he left. They sat silently together, both their long legs stuck out and crossed in front of them. They had matching exhausted expressions and their arms were crossed, warding away anyone who might want to chat.

Carolyn came out of the bathroom and looked at the pair. Tall, dark, handsome and scowly. How cute. She settled in next to Bobby. He broke his reverie and turned to her.

"What's going on?" He whispered to her.

"I'm so sorry. I just freaked out. I didn't mean to upset you." She squeezed his arm once, just to drive the point home. "Hey Mr. Bishop," she directed at Mike, "did you see your wife yet?"

Mike tried stretching his leg over Bobby's to kick her. Bobby blocked him. "No, I haven't seen my wife yet. She's going to be staying with me until she gets better. Her family lives in Hawaii."

Carolyn caught Bobby's smirk and put it together. "You slept with her, didn't you?"

Mike decided another black eye wouldn't be that bad. "Of course I did, she's my wife. But what's your excuse?"

Bobby physically restrained Carolyn. "No hitting," he said to her. "Things happen. You two were drunk, we were needy and that's the last time I say anything on the subject." He glared at Mike for a moment, the doctor interrupting him.

"Mr. Bishop, you can see her now. Follow me." Mike got up and followed the doctor, talking as they walked. "The two officers out there, my wife and I work with them and we're all close. Do you think they could come see her?"

The doctor nodded. "It's up to you. You're family, you decide." They reached Lynn's room. "She's conscious and everything. She just hasn't woken up yet; she might while you talk to her. I'll leave you alone." The doctor walked away. The only light was coming through the partially closed blinds covering the window. Mike took a seat beside her, holding her good hand.

"Lynn, I'm going to take care of you." He suddenly got choked up. He put his head down on the bed next to her hand.

In Lynn's Head…

A song kept going through her head, she couldn't hear the words, but the tune teased her memory. On top of the song she could hear some one speaking, but the words were garbled and she couldn't make them out either. It was like hearing a conversation underwater. She opened her eyes a little. It was dark, but there was some one next to her. The song floated back in, humming in her head. She couldn't move her legs. She had been running, why was she laying down? Why couldn't she move? She tried to sit up, gasping at the pain. Well, now I'm awake. The song disappeared, but the spoken word tour next to her didn't stop, coming in clearer. Take care of me? Why? Who has to take care of me? The pain in her midsection came back as she turned. The speaker looked up at her. Mike. Where the hell was she that Mike was sitting next to her crying? Mike was crying. She couldn't move her leg. The panic set in, and she couldn't breathe.

"Lynn, breathe. Stop moving and breathe in. Slow…that's my girl." Mike was brushing her forehead softly. Her eyes darted around, trying to make out objects in wherever she was. She looked down at her hand. An IV? What the –

"Fuck!" She squeezed her eyes shut as another shot of pain went through her. "Ow…god." She forced her eyes open. "I'm going to be sick." Mike stared at her for a second and grabbed an ice pail for her. When she was done he wiped her mouth with some paper towels from the bathroom. "Mike, where am I?"

"You're in the hospital. You were hit by a drunk driver. He ran up on the curb. You were out running?" He looked at her, the worry in his eyes sending panic back into her.

"Why can't I move? I can't move!" Her breathing became shallow again.

"Stop. Breathe in nice and easy. Close your eyes – "

"I can't I'll get sick again." She breathed in, focusing on his eyes. She calmed down again. "Why can't I move?"

"You have a broken arm, a broken leg and your ribs are bruised so take it easy. You're not paralyzed or anything. Do you want me to call your family?"

"No. They'll just…never mind. Why do you have to take care of me? I heard you, you said you'd take care of me." Lynn frowned, looking into his eyes.

Mike touched her cheek softly. "You've got one broken leg and one broken arm. You're gonna need some help getting around, kiddo."

Lynn pondered this for a moment and nodded. They sat in silence a little longer. "I wrote love, not later."

Mike looked at her and then remembered. That felt like ages ago. "I know; I saw it." He reached for her good hand again. "Is that why you wouldn't answer the phone?"

"Yeah. That's why I went out for the run. I had to think." She bit her lip, grimacing at the pain.

"Take it easy. It's okay."

"No, I shouldn't have left myself out there like that. I –"

"You didn't mean it? Ah, I'm hurt." Mike squeezed her hand, teasing her.

"I did. That's the thing. I don't put myself out there like that. That's the reason I got broken up with in the past. That and because I'm a cop. My parents…they hate the fact that I'm a cop. They're waiting for the phone call so they can look to the heavens and say 'we told you so'." She breathed deep, breathing through the pain. "You don't have to take care of me. I'll be fine. I've got friends I could call." She looked away from him.

"Just shut up and let me in, Lynn. Okay? Just…just let me." To Mike's surprise, the lump in his throat came back with a vengeance. Lynn heard it.

"Okay." She didn't turn, but squeezed his hand. "Thank you."

Bobby's Apartment – Later That Night…

Carolyn collapsed on the couch, Mike collapsed into Bobby's armchair. "You've left me with no where to collapse." Bobby dragged a footstool in between them so he could talk. "I've got to call Gillian. Let her know I can't come tomorrow."

Mike frowned. "Why not?"

"Because you're going to need help getting Lynn up to your hole. Or is she letting you mess up her place?" Bobby rubbed his face. God, he was exhausted. He looked over at Carolyn. Passed out, her leg hanging off of the couch. She always slept like that. He rolled his eyes.

"We're going to my place. Don't disappoint Gillian. You're making dinner. Nan's coming back tomorrow night with you right?"

"Yes."

"You've got enough to worry about. I've got Lynn." Mike looked at the clock on Bobby's VCR, his eyes immediately drawn up to Alex's smiling face. He sighed. "I'm going to get going. I've got to clean up some things. Tell Captain Sunshine there I said goodnight." He walked to the door.

"Goodnight." Bobby heard the door shut. He got up to lock it. He went into his room, pulling an extra comforter out of his closet for Carolyn, not that it mattered. He'd learned now that Carolyn's MO was to kick one leg off of whatever she slept on, steal the blankets and then kick them away so no one could be happy. He tucked the blanket around her tight. He always turned the heat down when Nan wasn't there to save some money. He turned it up on Sundays before he left for the Eames'. Summer was coming, thank God. He sat in his armchair for a minute, watching Carolyn tussle with the blanket. And as predicted, it landed on the floor. New record. He checked the clock – almost midnight. He picked up one of Alex's pictures. It was from before they were together, one he had taken at work, teasing her. Deakins was in the background, face squeezed shut laughing, but if you hadn't been there you would've thought he was crying. He focused on Alex's face, her face angry but her eyes smiling. He tried to think why he would've taken a picture of her like that, but he couldn't remember. And that bugged him, for Bobby Goren did not forget. It was before Carolyn's time; he couldn't ask her. Maybe I'll ask Deakins on Monday, Bobby idly thought. Ten after twelve in the morning. He was making lasagna for Sunday dinner. Might as well get a head start, Bobby thought, heading for the kitchen.

Nan was falling off the bed. It was in slow motion, as was Carolyn's running. She couldn't reach her no matter how hard tried to make her legs work. The baby just kept falling and falling and it seemed to take an eternity for her to hit the floor. And hit the floor she did. She laid there, unmoving. Carolyn held her breath, trying to move faster but now she couldn't move at all. There was an inhale and then the wail. It pierced Carolyn's eardrums and she wailed right along with Nan, falling to her knees trying to get to the baby. Carolyn screamed out and her eyes flew open. She was on the floor of Bobby's living room. She heard footsteps running towards her.

"Carolyn? Are you all right? I heard you scream." Bobby knelt down next to her on the floor, putting an arm around her while she cried.

"I couldn't get her Bobby. I couldn't stop her from falling." She pulled away from, pulling the blanket around her.

"Another Alex dream?"

"No, a Nan dream. My legs, I couldn't get to her. I couldn't move." She sniffed, wiping her tears away, calming down a little. "I must have fallen off the couch." She looked around her.

"Come on, you're sleeping in my bed." She shot him a look. "I will sleep on the couch."

"Bobby, this is your place, I'll sleep on the couch. I usually only have one dream – "

"And that's because you don't go back to sleep after you have one. Now, take my bed. I will sleep out here." Carolyn glowered at him. "Fine, we'll do it the hard way." Bobby stood and scooped her up, taking her to his bed. He threw her down and looked at her. She pushed herself up and looked at him.

"Are we ever going to be happy Bobby?" She had a look of defeat on her face.

"Maybe." He didn't want to think about it. He pulled out the sweats she wore the previous night and handed them to her. "Sleeping in jeans hurts –change."

"You didn't answer my question."

"I did. I said maybe. But only if you get some sleep – in the bed. Goodnight." He smiled at her and shut the door. Carolyn changed into the pajamas he gave her and settled into the bed. She stared at the cracks in the ceiling, willing herself to fall back asleep.


Mike's Apartment, The Next Day...

Mike dropped Lynn's bags onto his living room floor and ran back downstairs to retrieve her from his front stoop. "Sorry, kid. Let's get you up there." He helped her up carefully to avoid her ribs. They made their way slowly up the stairs, all four flights.

"If we stayed at my place, there'd be this elevator. The elevator, it does this crazy thing! It takes people up and down in buildings. It's the neatest thing." Lynn smirked at him once he settled her in on the couch.

"Listen, smart ass. I've got to fill your prescription. Back talk equals no Darvocet." He handed her the chocolate milkshake she'd requested on the way back from the hospital along with a sample pill the doctor sent her home with. "I'll get you some pillows and you can enjoy whatever Sunday morning programming you can find that doesn't suck." He smiled at her as she rolled her eyes.

"Thank you, Mike." She tossed the pill in her mouth, chasing it with the milkshake. She watched him bustle around her, piling pillows up around her arm and leg so she'd be comfortable. "So, where are you going to sit?"

Mike stopped and looked around. "I'll figure something out. I have to go get your prescription. I'll be back." He tentatively placed a kiss on her forehead and left.

Lynn sat. She couldn't do anything else. She put her milkshake down on the table beside her. She grabbed the remote and flipped through the channels, settling on yet another guilty pleasure, "My Super Sweet Sixteen". Sure, they were brats but it beat golf any day. She barely made it through the episode before the pill took its effect, knocking her out.

She awoke to Mike smiling at her curiously. "What's 'you're like my twin, you're always feeling what I'm feeling'? You've got a nice voice, I'll give you that."

Lynn thought it sounded familiar too. "I was singing that?"

Mike nodded and sang it back to her. "You sound better though."

She smiled. "That's the song! It was going through my head before I woke up." She paused. "That's weird."

Mike cleared his throat and handed her the pharmacy bag. "Controlled substances – enjoy. I'm going to make lunch, what do you want?"

"Turkey sandwich? Or whatever you have laying around that's edible. I'm not picky." Mike nodded and walked towards the kitchen. "Thank you," she whispered to herself. A few minutes later he emerged, a turkey sandwich and some carrots on a plate for her.

"Enjoy madam."

"What's with the carrots?" She popped one into her mouth.

"What's with the milkshakes?" She threw a carrot at him. "Okay, I will…" The TV caught his eye. "Why are you watching this crap? There's golf on."

"No. Frigging. Golf." She looked at him pointedly and picked up half of her sandwich, struggling to keep the lettuce he put on there in the sandwich. A glob of mayonnaise plopped onto her shirt, the lettuce sliding out with it. "Fuck," she whispered, trying not to let Mike see what a mess she'd made of herself. Too late.

"Aww Lynn, let me get you a napkin. Don't move." He jumped up and ran out into the kitchen. Lynn felt hot tears of embarrassment prick at her eyes. It was like the time she spilled the whole can of beets on herself because she wanted to be the big girl. And here she was making a mess. The tears fell, and she shook, squeezing her eyes shut. She heard Mike walk back in,

"I'm sorry, Mike. I'm sorry." She sobbed. She was still holding the damn sandwich. Mike plucked it out of her hands and wiped her shirt off.

"Lynn, it's okay. I should've paid attention – "

"Why, because I'm like a fucking child in a grown woman's body over here? I can't handle the simple task of putting a sandwich to my face." She punched at her leg, missing, and hit the plate instead. It landed on the floor, cracking. It made her cry harder. "I can't even eat a simple sandwich, Mike! How am I going to take care of myself? How am I going to shower, and get dressed?"

Mike waited until she calmed down to answer her. He cleaned up the mess and pulled her bag over to him and pulled out a clean shirt for her. "Let me take your shirt off, we'll put this new one on." This launched Lynn into a fresh sobfest.

"I'm not an invalid Mike." She raised her arms obediently anyway, allowing him to put the shirt on her. He sat down beside her, wiping her face clear of the tears.

"Lynn, You can't do some things. You won't be able to for a while. Now, you can sit here and be miserable about it or you can let me help you, like I told you I would. We both thought the sandwich would be easy; clearly we were wrong. Don't get upset. It's going to be okay." He put his arms around her; she did her best to reciprocate. "Are you all right?" Lynn nodded. "Okay. Let's get back to the brats then." He helped her eat her sandwich and together they watched the very best in Sunday morning programming – in Lynn's mind anyway.

A/N – The song Lynn sings in her sleep is – and I'm not making this up – "Dustin Hoffman's Children Don't Enter The Bathroom" by Of Montreal. This is a long chapter, but I'm kind of sketchy about it. Eh. Let me know what you think. Thank you!