Danny had been in ICU for ten days without regaining consciousness. He had been shot four times: two bullets hit his vest, one slid under his vest and entered his abdomen while the last one entered his skull. After surgery to remove the bullets he had been placed into a medically induced coma to allow his brain to heal. Someone from the family was always at his bedside. His injuries happened when his friend, Texas Ranger Major Waylon Gates, had come to town again chasing a drug trafficker from Texas to New York City. The perp had been captured and while being transported from Riker's to the courthouse the convoy had been attacked. Both Danny and Waylon had been injured as well as Maria Baez. Four other NYPD officers and two marshals had also been shot as well as their perp and five of one gang trying to kill the prisoner and and two from another gang trying to get the perp removed from the custody of law enforcement.

Maria had been at Danny's bedside all night. She had yet to return to duty but hoped that would happen soon. She had run out of things to say and had taken to reading passages from the Bible to him. They had been getting closer since her birthday and Danny had planned an evening together to talk to her about moving their relationship outside of work to the next step. However, even before dinner had been scheduled they heard from Waylon and Danny's plan was put on hold until the perp was in custody.

Maria had been meeting with Monsignor Donahue, police chaplain, to catch up on her religious education. She had been baptized and received her first Holy Communion but at a time when she should have been preparing for her confirmation her brother, Javi, had gotten involved with drugs and she did not finish her classes. The lessons Maria was reading were from her sessions with the Monsignor. For the Reagan family, religion was a large part of family life. If Maria and Danny had a future together she wanted to see why religion was so important to them. She had finished the reading and had some questions and perhaps, once Danny was awake she hoped he might have some answers for her. She was rambling on about the passages she read trying to find some answers.

She saw something moving out of the corner of her eye but couldn't identify what it was. She stared at Danny and said, "If you've been moving your hand, please do it again, Danny." His hand came up off the bed just a bit and he wiggled his fingers. "Are you trying to tell me that I should shut up about what I've been reading?" He put his thumb straight up in the air. Maria stood up and held his hand. "Danny, you're awake?" He moved his thumb again. Maria pressed the button to call the nurse into the room. The nurse came and Maria told her that Danny was regaining consciousness. She went back to the nursing station and summoned the medical team responsible for Danny.

Maria pulled out her phone and called Frank and asked him to come to the hospital as quickly as he could get there, yes, lights and sirens all the way. His son seemed to be waking up. While Frank was in his car he called the other family members so they could head to St. Vincent's. Monsignor Donahue was next on his list.

Within ten minutes, the room was full of white coats and numerous staff in uniform along with the protection detail for Danny. Waylon Gates managed to get into the room and stood behind Maria lending his support. Doctor Brockway, head neurosurgeon and his colleague Doctor Deibel stood on either side of the bed. "Ms. Baez, please tell me what you saw the patient do," asked Doctor Brockway.

"I had been reading some passages from the Bible to him and out of the corner of my eye I saw his right hand moving. I asked him if he wanted me to stop reading and his thumb went up, then I asked if he was awake and he stuck his thumb up again."

"What name does he usually respond to?"

"Depends on what we've been doing and if he's aggravated me. Danny or Reagan work."

"Mr. Reagan, this is Doctor Brockway, your neurosurgeon. Your partner here seems to think that you are ready to join us. If that is what you wish, please raise your thumb again for me."

Everyone froze and watched Danny's hand and his thumb rise up off the bed. Maria could hear everyone releasing their held breath. "Excellent, Danny. Now, I'm going to send your family and friends out to the waiting area so we can do our assessment and get you extubated if we can. So family, say see you soon and go get a cup of our lousy coffee and have a seat in the waiting room. As soon as we're finished I'll send someone to bring you back."

Danny had grabbed Maria's hand and wouldn't let go. It took a few moments but finally the surgeon agreed to let her stay during the evaluation. The team worked together evaluating the patient's ability to breathe without assistance, to hear and obey commands and move his limbs. The pulmonologist observed Danny while the ventilator settings were decreased. His vital signs remained stable and the endotracheal tube was removed. After a few minutes Danny opened his eyes and looked around the room. When he saw Maria he reached his other hand out to her. She stepped closer to the bed and held his hands.

"Things are looking good, Mr. Reagan. We've completed what we need to do for today. We have a few things lined up for tomorrow and if all goes well we should be able to get you out of bed and start some physical therapy. I'll leave orders to start a liquid diet but if you handle that without any problems we'll get you up to real food in the next few days. Of course, it will be hospital food but once you're on a regular diet perhaps your family might like to bring something in. If you need something for pain, call the nurse. I've left orders for a few different choices…"

"No opioids, doc, if you don't mind."

"Have you had a problem with them in the past?"

"No, but I don't plan to start having a problem. I'm pretty tough. And as long as my partner is here, I'll be fine."

"Okay, as you wish. I'll make a note, no opioids. Anything else you want to avoid?"

"Anything in a needle."

"Danny, are you afraid of getting a shot? You were hit by four bullets and you're afraid of a teeny, tiny needle?" asked Maria.

Danny stared at the sheets on his bed. "Needles hurt, bullets usually bounce off and don't hurt like needles do."

"Detective Danny Reagan, afraid of a little needle. What till I tell all the guys back at the house. You may never hear the end of it."

"Gee, thanks, partner." He was still holding her hands, he moved her right hand close to his mouth and kissed it. "I'm so glad you were here when I woke up. But, I've got to tell you the dream I had." Danny proceeded to tell her that, in his dream, they had just gotten married when Linda showed up. His dream included all of his family, his boss, Maria and her mother and her sister, the Monsignor, Doctor Dawson, and his friend from Texas, Waylon Gates. Maria was pregnant in the dream but wouldn't let Danny be involved in the pregnancy. His world fell apart and he almost died.

"Danny, everyone you named, except Linda, obviously, has been here to see you. Most said a prayer or was here when the Monsignor was here praying with us. What do you remember about how you ended up here?"

Danny thought long and hard. "Not much, Waylon came here to find someone from Texas and we were helping him. We found the guy and arrested him." He paused, trying to remember. "Were we part of a convoy transporting someone from Riker's to court for Waylon? And someone tried to take out our prisoner. Waylon was with me and you were in another car. We went through two clips and I was about halfway through my last clip when I was hit, right? "Cause that's all I remember till now."

"That's pretty good. When you were shot, Waylon pulled you out of the line of fire and he was hit twice but both hit his vest. He dragged you over to me and while trying to take out a few more of the shooters I was hit, once in the vest, once in my leg but that was through and through. Waylon had never been shot in the vest so he was really sore. You look like you're about to fall asleep. Let me put the bed down a bit. I won't leave, promise. I want to hear more about the dream. And if I get dragged out of here someone from the family will be with you, I promise. Your father told me." She still held his hand until he fell asleep and was relaxed enough to let go. She took her cell phone out and called Eddie to find out who would be coming in next. Then she called Erin and found out she was on her way to relieve Maria. She picked up Danny's hand and kissed it. "Partner, your sister is on her way and I have to take Waylon to get his clearance to fly back to Texas. I'll be back after I get some sleep. Don't give the nurses a hard time. Love you, Danny."

Just then Erin walked in and hugged Maria. They talked about Danny waking up and what was done today. Tomorrow would be busy; it was time for her to get some sleep.