Chapter XV: What Started Out as Friendship…

A/N: This chapter will be a busy one. There is a good Connor/OC story titled Unbreak My Heart by Secret-writer91. Crossover characters from Blue Bloods will be here for a while. Same for the crossover character from Law and Order SVU. Something finally happens here. I'm sure you all are as excited to read it, as I am to type it up *finally*! SSD

Hank had always been a light sleeper. It had served him well on many stakeouts. This was his watch on Sabrina, again he'd had to force Connor to go back to the McConnell's house to try and sleep. The kid looked like hell. He knew that he did not look much better than Connor did, but Hank had less on his mind.

He had almost drifted off to sleep again, when he heard coughing across the room. Rushing over, Hank saw that Sabrina was awake and blinking blearily at him.

Pressing the button to summon the nurse, Hank gave his niece a bone cracking hug whispering, "Welcome back. Don't ever do that again!"

Sabrina nodded as much as she was able. She pointed to the vent in her mouth.

"Yes, I called the nurse. She'll be able to take it out." Hank soothed before saying, "Your boyfriend saved your life you know."

Sabrina gave him a confused look. She wasn't seeing anyone at the moment. Before Hank could answer, a voice from the doorway said, "Doctor Byrne, you know full well who we are talking about. You can give us your answer when I take your vent out. Not that you need to give us one." It was Nurse Lockwood, who the Admiral had likened to a COB on more than one occasion.

Hank was more than glad to have never been on a ventilator during any of his visits to the hospital. It looked unpleasant as Sabrina coughed to help get it out. Once it was removed, and had a drink of water, she rasped, "Did I get her?"

Maggie turned to him and said, "She's definitely your niece" while giggling a bit.

Hank had to smile at that. He then answered, "Yes you got her. Right in the shoulder joint. It had to be amputated at the shoulder. Near perfect shot."

His niece smiled with her eyes closed before asking, "How is everyone else? You look like shit."

"About as well as they can be, given the situation. I've had to force Connor to sleep, eat, and shower for the past five days," Hank replied watching his niece's expression carefully.

His niece was mostly able to control her expression, save for the fact that her ears were turning bright red.

"I… Would like to talk to him. Alone, Uncle Hank," Sabrina replied, not quite looking him in the eye.

"I'm sure you will. After all he was the one who operated on you," Hank replied before continuing, "He was the only one available, other than Doctor Morganstern. Given that he hasn't done an amputation, the decision was easy to make. There was a mattress factory fire which tied up the rest of the other surgeons."

Sabrina nodded. Still operating on someone you knew was frowned upon.

"The feds are already here investigating. The consensus that they have come to was that you did not go onto Hynes on purpose, but they will still want to talk to you once you are able to do so. They did say that someone from Intelligence, not me, could take your statement."

"Good. At least it'll be a familiar face then," Sabrina whispered, since she wasn't able to do much more than that.

"Now, I will go and give everyone a call. The others will be coming here once they are all clean," Hank replied with a smile.

The day was looking up.

Doctor Daniel Charles noticed that the hospital seemed to be buzzing with excitement. He had heard that Doctor Byrne was awake after her brush with death.

He saw Maggie, Sergeant Voight, and Lucas's grandfather going over a list of some kind. All three were smirking.

Probably the order of the visitors of who gets to see her first. Wonder when Connor will get to see Sabrina?

Sabrina's opponent had been transferred over to the feds a few hours earlier. Since the bulk of her crimes had happened on federal ground, they had jurisdiction.

How had he missed Bekkar's descent into insanity? He was supposed to be a shrink, he was trained to see these things when others missed it. And her downward spiral would have had to take some time. The feds were bringing in a psychologist of their own to ascertain whether she was of sound mind to stand trial.

Daniel hoped she was. This way Connor and Doctor Byrne could get some closure on the matter. In his opinion, Bekkar was unstable, but definitely knew the difference between right and wrong.

Felix was barely keeping himself from bouncing on his feet from nerves. The special prosecutor and investigator were coming in from New York City. He had also just gotten off the phone from Hank, who'd told him Sabrina was awake and coherent. He had been smiling the entire drive to Midway.

This case would have been his. But given the fact that the two victims were Connor and Sabrina, who he'd known for over 20 years, would bring about accusations of conflict of interest. Felix was more than happy to recuse himself on this one. The case was already turning into a media circus. He was glad Connor and Sabrina had thus far been able to avoid the press.

Not sure how much longer they will be able to do that!

A short time later, he heard over the intercom, "Southwest Flight 327 out of New York LaGuardia has arrived at Gate E5."

That was the flight he was waiting for. Now, he would wait by the baggage carousels. He had been sent names and pictures of the people he was waiting for.

About half an hour later he saw them. Felix came up saying, "Ms. Reagan, Mr. Abetemarco? I'm Felix Belmont, and I'll be helping you from here."

Both nodded. "We'll be dropping your luggage off at the Palmer House before heading to the Daley Center. I hope you know that you're coming into a media circus."

"We are aware of that," Ms. Reagan replied before saying, "Call me Erin when we're not at the courthouse."

"Call me Anthony as well."

Iain was not resisting bouncing his feet. Soon he, Uncle Hank, and his dad would be the first to go in and see Sabrina.

"Do not mention what Connor revealed to all of us. That is for him and him alone to tell her," his father instructed.

"Don't worry I won't. Sabrina will get enough excitement when he tells her himself," Iain grumbled. He did not like Connor.

"You have made your opinions quite clear on Connor in the past. Also in the past, Sabrina made her thoughts on those opinions equally clear. In the end, it is her decision and hers alone." Hank continued.

They were at the door. Iain called out, "Hey Sabrina."

"You look horrible," she rasped out.

"Not like you look much better," Iain shot back.

"Fair enough. Why don't you sit down?"

All three moved to available chairs. Hank started with, "The next time you get a bright idea like that, ignore it."

"Don't worry I will. I have no intention of getting shot again," Sabrina assured as she shifted in the bed.

"Our family really will do anything for the ones they love. Hm?" Iain smirked.

"Iain, I am not up for word games right now." Turning her head towards his dad, she said, "Thank you for donating blood. But it couldn't have just been you and Iain donating?"

"Several from both 51 and Intelligence donated."

"Remind me to buy them all a steak dinner when I am up to it," Sabrina grinned.

"They'll hold you to that!" Iain laughed. When was the last time I did that?

This interview had been different for Captain George Hwang, USNR. On the face of it, it was like any other competency interview. But this woman was playing a game.

A game Hwang knew very well. She was trying to make him think she was too crazy to stand trial. She was using a psychology book as a script for her behavior. He knew precisely which one. It was one he helped write.

So she knew the difference between right and wrong. And through her ramblings, George saw clear evidence of premeditation.

Bekkar had tried to commit murder for some of the oldest reasons in the book: Money and wanting the significant other.

There had been looks of relief on the faces of the prosecutors when he had told them she was more than competent to stand trial. The faces of her defense attorneys however, had been less than pleased. Now, they would have to figure out a new tactic for defending their client.

He would also talk to the two victims of the attack. For both the case, and his own curiosity.

Mr. Belmont had told him a little of them, since he'd known them for over twenty years.

That would have to wait till later. George had a report to write up.

It was in between groups of visitors to Sabrina, that Robin got her chance to speak to her.

"Nice to see you again Robin, but why are you here?" she was confused.

"Just wanted to see how you were doing. You gave us all a scare." Robin stated.

"I know. I have been told repeatedly never to do what I did again. And I never will," Sabrina rasped as she made to drink some water.

"He's all yours," Robin said.

Sabrina choked on her water and began coughing. Once she was done, she asked, "Excuse me?"

"Connor is all yours. You should have seen how he was while you were unconscious. No one else can compete with that. He is all yours." Robin left with a smile on your face.

Connor strongly suspected that he had been left for last on purpose. When he had asked why he was last, Hank had replied, "Because you two have the most to talk about, preferably without any interruptions."

He had started on his way there once Lucas got back. This was going to be awkward.

How am I supposed to start this conversation? Connor mentally groaned. The door was shut, so he knocked.

"Come on in. I'm not going anywhere," Sabrina rasped. When he entered, her eyes went wide, before saying, "Please sit down." Connor could see that her ears were pink.

The silence that followed had to be the most awkward one he had ever shared with Sabrina, and there had been a few good ones over the years.

Sabrina finally broke the silence with "Thanks for saving my life. I owe you one."

"You saved my life in the parking lot when she started shooting. I'd say that we are even. Though I didn't like you using yourself as live bait, " Connor replied.

"The other option was asking you to be the live bait. I wouldn't do that," Sabrina retorted.

"And why wouldn't you?" Connor saw the opening and took it.

"Because, you're my best friend, no ulterior motives," Sabrina was looking at the wall past his head.

"Really? Try that again, and try to sound like you believe it." Connor said, moving a little closer to Sabrina. He noticed she did not stop him.

"There's nothing I wouldn't do for family, or those I…" Sabrina cut herself off to get a drink. The face that she was blushing was readily apparent, Connor suspected that it was a full body blush. Her eyes were also darkening.

"Those you what?" Connor knew he almost had her exactly where he wanted her to be.

"Before I go any further, I am going to say this: Connor, you're you. Everyone knows who you are, and how you are with women. Lord knows I've seen you at it and I-" Connor shut her up the best way he knew how. By kissing her.

Once she got over the shock, Sabrina began to join in on the fun, with her hands moving behind his head to hold him in place.

"Well… Isn't this touching?" A most unwelcome voice called from the doorway.

A/N 2: I had a *very* good time writing this. Now… Who's the unwelcome guest… Looking forward to seeing what you think! SSD