The afternoon the next day, Just what the family feared would happen, the media found out, they showed pictures of Jamie from his Harvard student photos, his face was plastered all over the local news and even made it national news on one network,
"NYPD Commissioner youngest son, Hospitalized in a brutal attack."
The headlines read. The media had their own hypothesis to what happened to Jamie some say it could've been a robbery gone wrong, others believe it could have been criminals trying to send a message to the commissioner. The phones in the office were ringing off the hook from the NY Post and other news outlets trying to get an official statement but the calls were not returned at this time. Frank had heavy heartedly decided to head to 1PP, just for a few hours, as commissioner he had other responsibilities, Baker had gone to the Reagans home to grab the commissioner fresh clothes. Frank sat behind his desk; going through the footage they had on this guy. Where did he go? The man clearly knew where the cameras were, because after two blocks he just disappeared. Frank played it over and over. Trying to see if the man looked around so that he could see his face. But he didn't do it. He just walked away, he just walked away and Frank couldn't find a clue on this guy. He removed his glasses pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Sir." Baker interrupted nicely maybe you should try to get some rest?" Baker suggested. "I pushed all your meetings and cleared your schedule."
Frank smiled slightly, he appreciated Abigail. "Thank you, Baker, but I need to be with Jamie right now."
"You haven't slept at all or you haven't eaten a thing." She responded.
"You should at least get an hour nap before you head back to the hospital."
"Okay." he agreed. he walked over to the sofa and laid down, he honestly felt the relief.
Joe, Danny, and Erin called off this morning, as expected, Erin went home to get Nikki ready for school, Jack had to leave to work. Danny had fallen asleep laying his head on Linda's shoulder, Joe held Angela's hand, he hadn't gone to sleep, he couldn't, the guilt he felt inside was unbearable, 'Why the hell didn't I go outside with him' couldn't stop asking himself that question.
"I wonder if detective Curtola has found anything yet," Joe mentioned.
"I know you want to find the people who did this, but let's focus on Jamie," Angela said, she and Linda were out of the loop, she had no idea Joe was the one they were after. "Are you hungry?" Angela asked.
"No." Joe deadpanned.
"I'm going to get you some water then, you need to be hydrated," Angela asked Danny and Linda if they wanted anything from the cafeteria. Joe sat slouching in the chair, he was so deep in thought, he blinked rarely.
"Here you are." Angela handed him the water sitting beside him, he was still stuck in a state of deep thought, when his phone rang bring him back to reality. He read the name on the screen and shot up getting the attention of Danny and Linda.
"I'll be right back." He walked off.
"Anderson?" Joe said, finally had privacy.
"Joe are you okay?" She asked. She learned of the accident from the news.
"Am I okay?" Joe fully annoyed by the question. He leaned back into the wall behind him grabbing the bridge of his nose. "No of this is okay! Anderson, they tried to kill my little brother!" He expressed angrily. "You told me they had no idea about us investigating! you said I would be safe if I left warrants!-"
"Lydia Gonsalves was killed this morning." Joe's heart sank, his knees could no longer support his weight, and he slowly slid down the wall to the floor
"Lydia?.. no... no way, she's not dead." He said hysterically in shock.
"I'm so sorry Joe." Joe removed the phone from his ear, looking down into his knees he just broke down crying. Lydia was another person from warrants who was in the templar but instead of leaving like Joe did she decided to say and be the inside ear.
"How- How did she die?"
"Bust gone wrong is the official report for it, it says a perp got the jump on her, shooting and killing her, That's when the other detectives came in and killed the perp." He scratched his head in confusion.
"And what do you think?" Joe asked.
"I don't know what to think we have a dead person so all evidence against them was circumstantial. What I do want to say is, I'm sorry I promised you two protection but the FBI couldn't be there in time for you guys, you're little brother, how is he?"
"I don't know, he was stabbed 9 times, we don't even know when he'll wake up or if he can even walk again," Joe stressed.
"Joe just stay with your family, for the time being, don't go anywhere alone, we'll continue wiretaps and surveillance," Anderson assured
"Okay." He replied sadly. The call ended. and Joe looked up to his left seeing Danny.
"What's up Joe?" Danny walked over to him kneeling making perfect eye contact.
"Lydia Gonsalves was killed this morning." Danny sighed sadly, he knew the woman and met her once.
"Templar." Joe nodded biting his lip.
"Who were you on the phone with?" Danny asked.
"My FBI contact, Anderson." Joe reviled
"What did she say?"
"Lydia died and she told me not to go off anywhere alone and that they'll continue the investigation."
"I'm so sorry Joe.." Danny quaked. "You're saying by my side from now on." Danny declared.
"Danny I'm not a kid, I don't need your supervis-"
"Shut the hell up Joe." Danny snapped standing to his feet. Joe's eyes widened, "What the hell are you talking about? you could've been killed and Jamie…" He felt the large knot in the back of his throat. "If I lose a sibling.." Danny choked. "You're staying with me, Joe... We're going to stay together until Jamie is better you hear me." Joe nodded with tears in his eyes, Dad is going to be here soon, so let's get it together. Danny helped Joe up to his feet when the two walked back over to the conference room, Frank arrived and was already speaking with the doctor and by Franks demeanor, it didn't look good at all.
"What's up?" Danny and Joe took a seat at the table.
"Unfortunately Jamie is getting worse, he has developed a fever."
"How bad is it?" The doctor looked over at Frank before re-explaining what he just had.
"Remember when I told you guys early this morning his spleen had to be removed? well, the spleen fights infections and other common illnesses, so with the state, he's in not having a spleen is unfortunate and dangerous."
"Dangerous?" Danny sounded apprehensive.
"Yes, and without the right kind of care it very well may be fatal." The word fatal sent shockwaves through their skin.
"What are you doing now?" Joe asked.
"Well, we have to start by running even more test. but right now he's in his room until we know the cause of the fever he cannot have visitors in his condition."
"Thank you, doctor." Frank quaked sadly.
"Just you guys hang on okay?" The doctor tried to comfort, "We're going to do everything we can to get Jamie better." The doctor said his goodbyes and left.
"Dad where are we with the investigation." Joe eagerly asked.
"Jackie is still waiting on taru for the plate we're no further than what were last night."
"What about Camia?" Danny asked. Linda and Angela's ears are very invested in this conversation.
"His tour and Jackie's tour is tonight," Frank responded.
"That bastard." Joe sneered.
"Bastard?" Linda asked confused.
"What are you guys talking about?" Angela asked completely unaware.
"We have to tell you something," Joe said. After explaining everything to them, Angela broke down in tears, abruptly leaving the room, Joe got up quickly as well and ran after her.
"Angela," Joe called her name. "Angela please."
"Joe I just can't right now." Angela sobbed. Joe
caught up to her grabbing her wrist gently, she snatched her wrist from him cover her eyes with her hands. "How could you not tell me?" emotions in her voice.
"I-" Joe couldn't ask that question himself.
"They could've killed you," She cried at the thought, "They almost killed Jamie! Joe, I'd be so lost without you, I don't know what I would do without you-" Joe brought her in for a hug.
"I'm still here." Those words made her cry harder. "I'm so sorry," Joe whispered to her, it was never supposed to go this far, his actions and failure to tell his family cost him everything. Frank grabbed his things, he had a press conference in an hour about the NYPD officer who was killed on duty, but after he returned but still hours had gone by and Linda and Angela left, they have work and other responsibilities but the doctor finally returned to the room with an update.
"I have the results back." The family said nothing just waiting for the doctor to continue. So the doctor did.
"Unfortunately, Jamie is rejecting his blood transfusion and that is what's causing his severe fever."
Frank didn't understand. How could someone reject blood? "How is that possible?"
"Despite the precautions, it sometimes happens that the recipient of a blood transfusion carries antibodies against the red blood cells from the donor. An immune response can be the result. If you get blood that is not compatible with your own blood, you get symptoms like: a fever, shaking, chills, chest, and lower back pain, shortness of breath, upset stomach and nausea. In severe cases, shock, renal failure or intravascular coagulation and even death."
Joe was trying to understand what the doctor just said. "Isn't that rare?"
"In emergency cases, you are depending on random blood donors. Like Jamie, he came in with major trauma, we gave him blood so he could get through surgery. Jamie is more prone to this type of immune response now because he already received multiple blood transfusions during surgery. So yes, rejecting a blood transfusion is rare. But in Jamie's condition, not so much."
"So what can we do about it?" Danny said unsettled.
"Jamie's blood pressure is still very low, so he'll need another blood transfusion."
"He is rejecting it.. so how are you going to do that?" Frank questioned.
"The first transfusions were from random blood donors. The donor could be a relative with the same blood type. So I would like to test you guys and see if there's a match. Do you know if anyone of you, share the same blood type?" The family looked around at each other confused.
"Danny and Jamie do," Frank remembered. Danny's eyes lit up.
"The blood drive we did for the 9/11 survivors relief," Joe remembered.
"Yeah, Jamie was only 15 but he definitely had the same blood type as you, Danny."
"That's amazing!" The doctor smiled, "We can get some test running and see if you're a match for Jamie."
"Tell me where to go," Danny replied.
Jamie was still unconscious, his fever was still fairly high even with Danny's blood flowing through his veins, Joe and Danny stayed at the hospital with no intentions of leaving anytime soon, although he did want Joe to come home and rest, he of course refused. Erin came by a few times the office was busy so she couldn't stay as long as she wanted to, Henry was their hospital finally going back to his home to get rest, Frank, however, he was the first family member to return home, Frank showered at the office and slept at the hospital Baker had gone to the home in the past two days grabbing Frank the clothes he needed, but he needed to sleep and rest in his own bed. There was a police presence outside their home, two marked cars and two unmarked, Joe's vehicle had been taken for evidence, entering his home felt so empty, memories of the kids growing up in this space and of his wife scolding their children for time they miss behave showed too, losing a child, he didn't know if Mary would ever forgive him for it. He had gone upstairs, walking past Jamie's room he'd seen his suitcase and other childhood memorabilia. He sighed sadly continuing his path for his bedroom, Frank sat on the edge of the bed clicking the button of the answering machine, there were over 200 missed calls, assuming leave from neighbors, friends other relatives, Frank sighed and began listening to the voicemails one by one.
TBC!
More to come very soon! please review good or bad feedback is so good to me.