Chapter 34
"I can be your hero baby. I can kiss away the pain. And I will stand by you forever. You can take my breath away. You can take my breath away. I can be your hero. " -Enrique Iglesias
"Oli, if I get hurt will you take care of A..." Jane starts.
Jane doesn't get the chance to finish her sentence. While she is speaking the door opens slowly and silently. Both Oliver and Jane close their eyes for a split second then Detectives look at each other and take a deep breath, preparing themselves to get into action. They know they are on their own, back up is not there. Both Oliver's and Jane's heart beats fast, they both had a nagging feeling the moment Jane got inside and told what was going on. Like the good Detectives they are they managed to hid it from Alex and her parents. But they saw it in each others eyes when they looked at each other. When the door opens further Oliver and Jane have their weapons raised and pointing at the door. They agreed to take a shot when they thought the perp would fire. They never get that chance. As soon as the door is open a man starts firing with an automatic weapon before Oliver or Jane gets a chance to shoot first. For a couple of seconds a deafening sound of gunshots is heard inside the bathroom before it's get awfully quiet...
Two months later...
A knock on the door made Alex look up and the blonde sees Jane walking into the room at the ICU. Where she had stayed the past two weeks. The first 6 weeks Alex had stayed with Oliver on the CCU after that horrible, dreadful Friday 2 months ago. After Alex heard Jane screaming for help she opened the door and ran inside. All the color had left the blonde's face when she saw what was in front of her. A dead man near the door opening, Jane bleeding from a GSW in her arm and Oliver, her Oliver, lying on the floor bleeding badly from being hit multiple times. Oliver was taken to the OR within three minutes after being shot and they knew what happened after Jane waked up after surgery. Oliver who had been staying on Jane's left side had pushed the taller Detective away will firing himself when the man had started firing. Hitting Jane with the last bullet he fired with his weapon pointed at them before it went up after being shot in the head by Oliver. Oliver was hit with 6 bullets. 5 bullets hit his upper body and chest and one had scamped his head. Jane was in and out of the OR within an hour. Oliver had been in the OR for close to 9 hours. It had been a touch and go for the majority time he had been in the OR and had been kept in a drug induced coma to give his body time to recover and due to infection he got while being in said coma. It was a bigger complication than the swelling of his brain and it became a threat for the Detective's already weakened body. And after several critical days they managed to treat the infection effectively. Slowly Oliver's condition improved after that.
Today they are going to pull Oliver out of the medical induced coma he is still in. And Dr. Bouchon made an exception by allowing Alex and Jane be present together. Knowing that if the Detective would be alert he would be worried about Jane, Dr. Bouchon had given his permission for Jane to stay with Alex and Oliver when the Detective was pulled out of the coma and could wake up. Everyone else, meaning Alexander, Caroline, Alex's brothers and sister, Liz and Abby stayed in the visitors room that was on the same floor.
"Sorry I'm late, traffic is a bitch. Did they do it already?" Jane asks.
"No not yet. You're just in time. Dr. Bouchon could be here any moment." Alex says with a worried voice.
"It's going to be ok, Alex. Dr. Bouchon wouldn't pulled him out of his coma if he'd think there were too many risks." Jane says softly.
The tall brunette sat down next to Alex and pulled the blonde into a hug.
"I'm scared for the moment he wakes up. What if he doesn't recognizes me? Or he doesn't remember we are engaged and together?" Alex asks with a small voice.
"Alex, although we can't know for sure how he's going to be when he wakes up, the scans they did didn't show any damage to his brains. I'm sure he'll recognizes you the moment he opens his eyes. Stop worrying so much. Everything is going to be alright. Until the moment he realizes he needs to stay in this damn hospital much longer of course." Jane says, trying to lighten Alex's mood.
It works a bit. Alex smiles slightly at the Detective's final words.
"If he is his usual self it's gonna be hell. Although I would take that over everything else right now." Alex says.
"Exactly. By the time they can release him they are gonna hang out the flag and they think you are a saint. Now get your game face on or do I need to drag you out of this room and have Abby kick your ass?" Jane jokes.
Alex seems to be a bit more relaxed now. Resigning herself to the fact that she can't predict what's going to happen or how Oliver will be. After a moment of slightly panicking the blonde pulled herself together. The two women talk further for 10 minutes until Dr. Bouchon enters the room.
"Do I need to explain everything again or are the two of you ready?" Dr. Bouchon asks.
Alex looks at Jane and then answers Dr. Bouchon.
"We are ready. Are you ready for Liv being awake and be an ever bigger pain in the ass than he was before?" Alex asks.
Dr. Bouchon thinks for a second or two, looks at Jane and Alex then he reacts.
"How bad?" Dr. Bouchon asks.
"By the time you're gonna release him every Dr. and nurse here are going to give their votes for sainthood to Alex ." Jane smirks.
"That's comforting." Dr. Bouchon mumbles sarcastically under his breath.
"Remember it can take between minutes and hours before Oliver wakes up. So don't panic when he won't wake up soon." Dr. Bouchon says calmly.
"We will." Alex says.
Dr. Bouchon nods while injection the medication for Oliver to wake up in his IV.
"When he wakes up call me. He should be alright, Alex. Every test we have done the past days were alright. We have to wait to be sure of course, but I don't expect anything major to be wrong." Dr. Bouchon says.
"I know that, I'm worried a bit anyway." Alex says.
"That's normal Alex. I promise you that I wouldn't have pulled him out of his coma if I thought it wouldn't be alright. Alright, I'll leave you alone for now." Dr. Bouchon answers.
Alex and Jane thank the Dr. and are left alone waiting for Oliver to wake up. Alex was looking at Oliver's face for any sign he would wake up the moment the Dr. left the room. After 20 minutes Jane went to the bathroom to use the toilet when Alex saw Oliver moving his eyelids, trying to open them up. The blonde had never been more relieved and anxious at the same time as she is now.
"That's it Liv. Open your eyes honey. Show me those beautiful brown eyes I've been wanting to see again so badly." Alex softly encourages.
Alex keeps talking to Oliver and after a minute Oliver opens his eyes. He's looking around, panicked, until he sees Alex sitting next to his bed. The moment he sees the blonde's stormy blue eyes he calms down. And reaches out with his hand to grab Alex's hand.
"Oh God, I'm so happy you're awake honey. I was so worried about you." Alex says emotionally.
Oliver tries to talk but finds out that can't and start to panic again. Alex sees Oliver struggling to talk.
"Calm down, Liv. You have a breathing tube in your throat, that's why you can't speak. It's alright baby." Alex says.
Oliver nods at Alex, letting her know that he understands what she's saying. Oliver looks at Alex and raises his eyebrow questionably. Thankfully Alex understand what Oliver means and is relieved that the Detective seems to be alright.
"Jane is alright honey. She'll be back soon. She just went to the bathroom, she's been waiting here with me for you to wake up. Everybody is alright." Alex says.
The relief is visible on Oliver's face. When Jane walks out of the bathroom Oliver looks her up and down to see with his own eyes that the brunette is indeed alright. The tears are start running over Oliver's cheeks now that he is fully awake and realizes what happened. Everything comes back to the strong Detective and he gets frustrated that he can't talk. Oliver turns his head and looks at Alex, trying to tell the younger blonde how sorry he is with his eyes. Seeing the emotions in Oliver's eyes Alex herself starts crying too. For two months she has been so worried about her fiancé. And now everything is coming out. The fear and anxiety, the anger and pain, everything she felt for the past two months. Jane wants to leave the two of them alone now that Oliver has seen she's alright, but Oliver motions for her to come. Jane walks to the other side of the bed and briefly hugs Oliver.
"Next time you want to play a hero wear Kevlar." Jane husks.
Oliver makes a gun sign with his hand and points at Jane.
"Yes I was hit but it wasn't bad. Just once in my arm. Thanks to you." Jane answers.
Oliver points at himself and raises his eyebrow. Jane swallows before she answers.
"You've been hit 6 times Oli, 5 in your upper torso and chest and 1 scamped your head." Jane answers softly.
Oliver looks shocked at Alex.
"She's telling the truth, Liv. Do you remember what happened?" Alex asks softly with a voice full of emotions.
Oliver shakes his head, he remembers everything. He also remembers that Alex is his fiancé, Oliver takes Alex's hand and glides with his finger over the ring on her finger. And then he looks at Alex with a hopeful look. Alex smiles at her fiancé.
"Yes we're still gonna get married. Getting shot didn't change that. I'm still going to be Mrs. Benson, Detective." Alex says smiling through her tears.
Jane looks at Oliver and then at Alex.
"I'm going to get Dr. Bouchon and tell the others that Oliver is awake, so that the two of you can have a few moments to yourself." Jane says.
Hearing the word Dr. makes Oliver glaring at Jane. The tall Detective just shrugs with her shoulders.
"Oliver Alexander Benson, you don't start being stubborn and hard headed already. Jane is going to get the Dr. and you will behave yourself. You were shot 6 times! He needs to look at you whether you like it or not. Understood?" Alex asks sternly.
All Oliver does is smiling at Alex for calling him by his full name. Alex shakes her head before she nods at Jane. Jane laughs loudly and nods at Alex before she leaves the room. Oliver looks at Alex and pets on his bed.
"Oliver, I can't lay down next to you. You still are injured." Alex says softly.
Oliver sets his jaw and slowly moves aside, of course that hurts like hell but he won't show it to Alex. The Detective is determined to get the blonde next to him. When he thinks there is enough space for Alex to lay down he pets on his bed again and looks at Alex with his best 'puppy dog eyes' look. Although Alex knows she really shouldn't do it, when Oliver looks like that at the blonde, she does anything he wants for him. Just like it is the other way around.
"Alright I'll lay down, but if you get too much pain you do let me know it." Alex says sternly but with a soft voice.
Oliver shakes his head but Alex already knows that she has to look at his face because he won't tell it when he needs to, he'll only make it clear when the pain is unbearable. Sighing but internally smiling Alex climbs very carefully next to Oliver. She stays at the edge of the bed but Oliver motions for Alex to come closer. When the blonde refuses he looks at her again. He just want to hold Alex in his arms, wants to know she's safe and unharmed. He needs to feel the blonde. When Alex looks in his eyes she sees the uncertainty and pain in his eyes and understands why he wants her to lay against him. For the same reason she really wants to do it but knows she can't do it.
"I'm alright honey, I didn't get hurt physically. I really can't lay down against you. It's not that I don't want it but it will hurt you too much. How about I come a bit closer and you lay down your head on my shoulder, for a change?" Alex asks.
Oliver nods. As long as he can feel Alex it's alright for the Detective at this moment. Alex changes her position a bit so that Oliver can lay down against her shoulder and lays her arm down on stomach. Hoping that it will take more than a couple of minutes before Jane will be back with Dr. Bouchon. Yes she wants her fiancé being checked but right now she just wants to lay with him in her arms.
Meanwhile in the visitors room.
Jane had looked for the Dr. but had asked him to wait a couple of minutes so that they could go to the couple together. Giving them some more time. At first he was reluctant but when Jane told him that he seemed alright and already glared at her he decided that it probably couldn't hurt. Besides, Alex was with him and he knew that if there would be anything wrong she would call him. So he told Jane that she had 5 minutes and then they would go to Oliver and Alex. Jane nodded at the Dr. and walked to the visitors room where she is now. As soon as Jane enters the room Abby jumps up and walks to Jane.
"Is he awake? How is he doing?" Abby asks impatiently.
Jane raises an eyebrow and rolls with her eyes.
"Calm down, Carmichael. He's not walking out of this hospital yet." Jane answers.
"C'mon. Quit stalling, Rizzoli." Abby says.
"Abby, let the girl breathe." Alexander says.
"Really? Don't tell me you don't wanna now how your future son-in-law is doing." Abby says.
"Yes of course I want to know how he is doing. But Jane couldn't even walk inside before you jumped her. I'm sure she'll tell us how he's doing if you don't breathe in her neck." Alexander answers.
Now it's Abby's turn to roll with her eyes. Jane only smiles. The brunette Detective probably would have done the same as the brunette ADA if the roles were turned around.
"Oliver woke up a couple of minutes ago. As far as I can tell he is alright." Jane says.
"Are you sure?" Abby asks.
"Yes I'm sure. He knew what happened, he asked me if I was shot and how many times he was shot himself. Well he couldn't ask it literally of course but he did ask it with signs. And he's his old self too. As soon as I told him and Alex that I would leaven them alone for a few moments and that I would go get Dr. Bouchon, he glared at me. Seems to me he is still the same." Jane answers, smiling at Abby.
"Yeah that sounds like Oli. And like a certain Detective, who we shall remain nameless, when she was woke up, ain't that right Detective?" Abby snickers.
"Shut up, Counselor." Jane says.
Jane looks at Caroline and Alexander.
"He also remembers that Alex and he are engaged. He picked up Alex hand and touched the ring on Alex's finger. He really is alright. I'm sure that sooner,than the Dr.'s and nurses or we would like, he'll be a real pain in the ass again." Jane says.
"I almost feel sorry for them already, almost. Sounds like Alex will have her hands full with him again." Alexander laughs relieved.
"As soon as that tube is out of his mouth and he can speak normally again, they'll be fighting like cats and dogs again. Alex lectured him when he glared at me and all Oli did was smiling at Alex because she called him by his full name." Jane answers.
Jane looks at her watch and looks around before she looks at Abby.
"I need to go. Dr. Bouchon is going to Oliver soon and I would bring him. But more importantly I don't wanna miss a second when he gets inside." Jane says, smiling.
Abby smiles, the Texan can imagine how that will go.
"You better go then. I'm sure that the Doc will be happy that Oli can't talk yet." Abby says.
"I'll come back to tell how it went when he is gone." Jane says generally.
"Don't twist your panties when I'm not back soon, Carmichael." Jane winks.
"Can't twist them since I don't wear panties, Rizzoli." Abby counters with a shit eating grin.
Both brunettes roll their eyes at each other and Jane walks out of the room. She is back at the nursery station just in time, Dr. Bouchon was about to leave it to go to Oliver's room. They walk to Oliver's room and Dr. Bouchon knocks on the door first before he enters the room. As soon as he sees the view in front of him he stops dead in his tracks causing Jane to almost walk up against him.
"Not again." Dr. Bouchon mumbles.