Vic woke around two hours later when Jennifer told her they were getting ready to go see Luke for lunch. She smiled as she sat up.
"Can you help me change the bandages on my knee, get dressed and then put the brace back on?" Vic asked and Jennifer nodded.
"Of course. Let me get the stuff from the bathroom, since you still have the brace on, do you want to grab some clothes and then we can get you all fixed up?" Jennifer asked and Vic nodded.
"Yeah, that works. Thanks Jen." She smiled and they went to get what they needed to so they could work on getting her ready. When they came back to the bed they took of the brace and Vic slid her sweats down her legs so that Jennifer could change the bandages on her knee. Vic flinched when she saw the stitches, but she wasn't expecting it to be so hard to look at it.
"Are you okay?" Vic nodded. Jennifer gently applied the ointment Vic was given and placed a fresh bandage over it. She the helped Vic into the t-shirt and shorts she'd picked out before helping her back into the brace. They went downstairs, grabbed their purses and walked out the door.
When they got to headquarters Vic lead them towards Luke's office and his assistant smiled before knocking and letting him know they were there. He walked out and smiled before leading them in. He saw the pained look on Vic's face and went over to let her lean on him.
"Better?" He asked softly. She smiled.
"Much." She replied as he sat her down on the sofa in his office.
"I have paperwork for us to fill out for HR after were done eating. They also have to do a quick interview with you to make sure that I didn't force you into anything. Just a precaution." He said and she nodded she understood why but at the same time she didn't. Lucas was the most kind, gentle, honest man to ever walk the earth.
"Okay, but if my leg starts to bug me, I'm walking out." Vic replied.
"I told them exactly that. You leave if and when you need or want to. Especially since its barely been forty-eight hours since you had surgery and you're pregnant. They were happy to agree." He smirked. She knew he'd made it more of an order than a request, but she was grateful for it.
"The wheelchair is in the trunk of my car if you need it." Jennifer said reminding her that she had that option as well.
"Thanks Jen. That might be a good idea. Babe can you…" He was already up and grabbing Jennifer's keys to go get it.
"I'll be right back, and we can fill out those forms, okay?" He smiled and was out the door before she could say anything else. She smiled to herself but that didn't last long. Frankel came bursting through the half open door. Vic stood immediately, out of respect and in defense. This would be ugly especially without Luke here to run interference.
"Can I help you Battalion Chief Frankel?" Vic asked politely.
"Where is he?" Frankel demanded.
"Getting my wheelchair." Vic replied trying to hold onto her respect and her patience.
"Good. Who the hell do you think you are? Using the Chief to get some fucking promotions and shit?" She began. Vic moved to stand in her face.
"I don't care if you are my Battalion Chief. I don't let anyone speak to me like that especially in front of my niece, who by the way doesn't need to listen to your potty mouth. I am not using him for anything, I fell in love with him. I couldn't care less about any damn promotions. I like where I am at and plan on staying there at least for the foreseeable future. Luke is my husband and you will not speak of our relationship like that." Vic practically yelled. Lucas came running, wheelchair still in his hand to her aid and to keep her from causing bodily harm to Frankel.
"Victoria, I got this. Sit, rest your leg." Luke said softly but Vic could the fire in his eyes, so she did as he suggested.
"Deb, do you honestly think that low of her? Or me for that matter? You think I wouldn't have been able to figure her out sooner if that what she wanted out of this?" Luke asked, loudly but trying to avoid yelling at her in front of Lila. She opened her mouth to speak but Luke held up a hand.
"You will never accuse her of that again, you will never speak to her like that and you will get the hell out before you say something else that you'll regret. Now!" Luke demanded and she turned on her heels and left.
"Uncle Luke why was that lady so mean?" Lila asked quietly having squirmed out of Jennifer's grasp and moved to his side. He picked her up and sat with her on his lap.
"Because she was trying to protect me and thought aunt Vic was trying to take advantage of me." He replied and Vic took his hand. Leslie, his assistant poked her head in the door and smiled.
"Everything alright Chief?" He smiled.
"Yeah we're good. Thanks Leslie." She nodded and shut the door.
"I knew she was going to put up a fight but that? In front of Lila? Hell no. I couldn't just let her stand there and scare her like that and I wasn't letting her talk to me like that, about us. I have to much respect for myself and you for that." Vic said still coming down from her adrenaline high. Luke nodded.
"I know sweetheart. Thanks for not punching your Battalion Chief." He chuckled and she smirked.
"No problem, Chief."
"She didn't lay a hand on any of you, did she?" He asked.
"No, but I have a feeling she might've if you hadn't come in when you did." Jennifer replied and Vic nodded.
"Can we get the forms filled out so I can talk to HR and then we can go home?" Vic asked and rested her head on Luke's shoulder. He pointed to a clipboard and Jennifer handed it to him.
"Yeah. Come on. You have to either sign or initial where I highlighted. It's just a whole bunch of waivers saying the department and the city are not liable for anything that may be cause for a lawsuit." He replied and she signed it without reading because she knew that wouldn't be a problem. He took her down to HR in her wheelchair and sat with Jennifer outside the room while she answered the questions they had for her, or rather she told them exactly what she said to Frankel, in a nicer, more polite way before they nodded and let Luke in to wheel her out. She rode in the car with Luke who'd rescheduled all of his meetings and Jennifer and Lila took her car back to the house. She was asleep before they got home and woke to find him carrying her inside.
"Sleep, love. I'll lay with you upstairs." He whispered and she nodded before closing her eyes again.
