Author note:
Hello, everyone. First of all, thank you for all the kind reviews. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoy and I look forward to hear from you again. All feedback are appreciated.
Have a nice day.
Katsumoto was with Magnum when both men headed to check on a location. Higgins took some load off his shoulders when she offered to stay behind and go through the suspect's phone and financial records. He remembered asking Magnum to wait outside until all-clear had been given which to his surprise, the PI agreed. However, it never got that far because routine check had turned to on foot pursuit when the suspect they been trying to track down stormed out of the warehouse even before Katsumoto can step in.
"Gordon, flank him!" Magnum shouted, pointing his hand towards the other alley that would bring Katsumoto ahead of the suspect.
"Yeah," Katsumoto parted his way when he turned left and a few seconds later, he turned to his right. The energy push in Katsumoto's leg decreased and his steps slowed down when he saw no sign of the suspect or Magnum. Something was wrong. There was no way he could have missed them, from where the suspect and Magnum was running, they should have turned into the same alley Katsumoto was now standing.
Gasping for breath, Katsumoto took his phone and was scrolling his contact list when the sound of a gunshot rang out, invading the silent alley.
"Magnum!" The shout came out Katsumoto's lips without any effort. He doubled his speed and in a distance, Magnum's back greeted him. He was leaning on a car nearby. There was no sign of the suspect.
"What happened?" Katsumoto asked, just a few steps away from Magnum. "You lost him?" Katsumoto threw another question, strangely Magnum was not answering any of them. The PI seemed out of breath. Katsumoto turned to have a good look at Magnum and his eyes grew wide. Magnum had his left hand on his chest, clutching his shirt, blood was seeping through his fingers.
"Magnum?" Katsumoto whispered when their eyes meet. "Gor…" That was all came out Magnum's mouth before he lost his balance and Katsumoto caught him. He gently lowered Magnum to the ground. The police detective placed his hand firmly on Magnum's chest and at the same time, his other hand took out his buzzing phone. He was grateful to see Higgins's name on his screen. He didn't give her the chance greet him when he spoke in a rush.
"Higgins, send an ambulance to my location ASAP! Magnum has been shot. Right now, Higgins. Right now!" He shouted and turned his full attention to the man on the ground.
"Hey, don't close your eyes," Katsumoto said, slightly tapped Magnum's cheek when the private investigator struggled to keep them open. No matter how much he tried to keep firm pressure on the gunshot wound, Magnum's blood was seeping steadily through his fingers. The sight of the bright red blood pooling on the pavement awakened Katsumoto's strong urge to vomit. He could hear his breathing. "It's okay, Magnum. Help is on the way." He repeated like a mantra when Magnum coughed, struggled to get air in him. Katsumoto was holding Magnum like he was holding for his life. The man in his arms was getting weaker and he was adamant to admit that it was just a matter of time. To prove his point, Magnum blinked a few times and then slowly closed his eyes.
"No, no, no… open your eyes." Katsumoto cried, tapping Magnum's cheek a little harder. He was not getting any response in return. The wailing sound of the ambulance's siren was just around the corner.
"Thomas Magnum, open your damn eyes. That's an order!"
Katsumoto splashed a handful of water over his face when the memory replayed again to torture him. He closed the water tap and looked at the mirror. His reflection was mocking him back at him. Physically he was fine, but mentally he was exhausted. If he could, he would crawl into his bed and never come out for the next couple of days, forgetting everything that had happened but right now, he just had to suck it up. He decided to head back and when he did, he saw a doctor walking in as well.
"Family of Thomas Magnum?" The doctor asked.
"That would be us." He said automatically, stepping into the doctor's line of vision. Rick, TC, and Higgins jumped to their feet and was beside Katsumoto within seconds.
"My name is Dr. Darren. I am here to give you a quick update. I was Mr. Magnum's first attending doctor. We have stabilized him and now he is being prepped for surgery which will take roughly three to six hours. You can leave if you want. I will get a nurse to call once he is out of surgery."
"We will stay," Higgins informed and the others nodded. They thanked the doctor for the update, settled down, and began to wait.
Cups of coffee from the cafeteria piled up on the nearby table. They were so into waiting that nobody complained about the murky taste. About one hour later, Kumu arrived with packed sandwiches and decent coffee and that was when they all realized they were starving for some food. They thanked Kumu for her thought, ate, and continued to wait.
Three hours later, they were all still waiting and boring commercials from the TV hung in the corner were keeping them company.
Four hours fifteen minutes later, everyone was getting a little anxious and they were doing everything they can to keep them grounded. TC began to pace along the waiting room, Katsumoto was catching up with HPD on the case progress, Higgins was scrolling her phone and Kumu was flipping old magazines. Rick, however, was staring at the door.
The boring TV commercials were going on and on. The waiting was driving Rick crazy and out of nowhere, he snapped. "One more time I see that stupid commercial, I swear to God I'm going to break that TV open with my bare hands." As soon as the words left his mouth, Rick regretted and facepalmed.
The other guy who was in the waiting room with them took the remote and turned the TV off. Rick mouthed I'm sorry to that guy to which he waved his hand to ease Rick's embarrassment. Rick bit his lips before he turned to his ohana. As he expected, all eyes were on him. Fortunately, he didn't have to explain anything. They understood his outburst. Higgins closed the gap between them and rubbed circles on his back. Rick closed his eyes, absorbing the comfort he could get.
Five hours and twenty-five minutes later, when all were clumped together on the couch they heard what they had been waiting for.
"Family of Thomas Magnum, I presume?"
Their eyes caught a female doctor right in front of them and before they could jump to their feet, she did them a favor and knelt in front of the couch. "I'm Dr. Anu. First of all, the surgery went fine, we were able to retrieve the bullet without any major complications." Everyone let out the breath they were holding for so long. "Mr. Magnum was extremely lucky and unlucky at the same time."
"Why do you say that?" TC lifted an eyebrow.
Anu inhaled before she continued. "The bullet didn't leave any lasting damage but unfortunately, it did its harm when it moved from its initial point of entry. When Mr. Magnum was shot the bullet went through his right lung, then penetrated his heart through the right atrium, exited through the left ventricle and then penetrated his left lung before it stopped in between his eight and ninth ribs."
"You saying that one bullet managed harm both his lungs and heart at the same time?" Higgins winced.
"Correct. He was not lucky when the bullet moved the way it did but lucky in the sense it didn't leave any lasting damage on the organs. Once we knew what we were dealing with, we placed him on urgent extracorporeal circulations. It's a technology that took over his heart's work and allowed us to work on the open heart." Anu explained when she saw blur faces. "All these information might be overwhelming but rest assured, he pulled through and although he is not out of woods yet, I'm optimistic."
"So what now?"
"He will be in ICU for the next twenty-four hours. We will keep a close eye on him. Then, if everything is looking well, we will shift him to the normal recovery room."
"Can we see him?"
"A nurse will get you once he is settled. Two at a time and only for ten minutes. I'm sorry but I can't allow anyone to stay with him today."
"I'm sorry Doc. Thomas was a POW before. I gave all the information to the nurse at the reception. It will good if one of us can stay with him." Rick informed.
"Yes, they have updated me and I understand your concern." Anu nodded. "But he will be heavily sedated and our nurses at Cardiac ICU which I assure you will take good care of your friend."
"Sorry, doc. Detective Gordon Katsumoto, HPD." Katsumoto flashed his badge. "Magnum was shot when he was pursuing a suspect and until they are caught, one of us will have to stay with him."
Anu bit the bottom of her lips before she nodded. "Okay. I will let the nurses know."
Once they thanked Dr. Anu, they waited for her to leave before all eyes went to Katsumoto. "I was not eavesdropping but from all the phone conversation you were having, I get the idea that Five 0 intervened when they heard Magnum was shot and helped to solve the case." Rick rubbed the back of his neck.
Katsumoto nodded. "They did. The suspect is in Five 0's holding facility."
"Then, what was that about?" TC asked, gesturing his hand to where the doctor was kneeling.
"One of you want to stay with him or not?"
Rick held both his hands up." Hey, I'm not complaining." He turned to TC and both shared a silent conversation. TC nodded his head and Rick shook his head. TC titled his head to a side, narrowing his eyes, and Rick sighed.
He turned back to his ohana. "When the nurse comes to get us, Higgins you go in first with Kumu. TC and I will go in next and Gordon, you…you stay with Thomas tonight."
Katsumoto blinked in surprise. "Are you sure?"
"No, I want to stay with him but after what happened today, and the stunt you just pulled with your badge, I think you need stay with him more than any of us."
Katsumoto let out a harsh breath, finding some peace in Rick's words. "Thanks, Rick."
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