Savior

Chapter 49

-xx-

"JJ?" Cate braced herself against the brick wall and let out a deep breath. "What did you just say?"

The voice on the other end of the phone was hushed. "Derek was shot. He's been taken to the hospital. I have to go. I'll call you when I get a chance."

Cate blinked back the tears that threatened her eyes as she stared at the black screen of her cell phone. "Cate, what's the matter?"

She shook her phone, silently hoping it would light up with a phone call or a text message from Derek, or even JJ. The black stared back at her; her reflection was lit up by all of the neon lights outside of the bars and shops.

"Cate?" Jackie asked as her and Lauren followed them into the alley. "What's going on?"

She tapped on the screen of her phone and licked her lips. "Derek," she managed and stopped to take a deep breath. "He was shot."

Questions from all three women bombarded her at one time. Cate closed her eyes and rested against the wall. "I don't know. He's on his way to the hospital. That's all JJ told me."

"How is that all she told you?" Jessica asked as she crossed her arms over her chest. "That's bull."

Cate shook her head. "I'm not on his emergency contact," she mumbled. Cate gripped her cell phone and the strap of her cross body bag. "I have to get to the airport."

"You don't even know where he is," Jackie explained. "Are you going to fly around the country looking for him?"

The brunette cracked a slight smile at her sister. "I'll wait for JJ to call me back, and I'll fly to wherever he is."

Jackie opened her mouth but was silenced when Cate lifted her hand.

"You three enjoy the rest of the weekend. He needs me there."

Jackie pursed her lips into a smile. "We know he does. We can go with you."

Cate shook her head. "There's no reason to end your birthday weekend so soon. Go," she ushered them out of the alley way. "We're close to the hotel, so I'll walk back, and then grab a cab to the airport."

"Take your carry on," Lauren suggested. "We'll get your big suitcase home for you."

The four joined in one big group hug. "Thank you. I love you," she said to Jackie. "I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault," her sister replied. Jackie pulled her into one last hug. "Call me the second you know anything."

Cate wrapped her pinkie finger around Jackie's. "I promise." The brunette waved her friends off as she started the quick walk back to their hotel. After popping into a convenience store to grab aquaphor for her new tattoo, she made her way back to the hotel.

As she got to their room, she threw whatever she could into her carry on bag, making sure to grab her flip flops and cell phone charger. With her duffle bag over her shoulder, Cate made her way down to the front lobby and asked that they hail her a cab to the airport.

-xx-

"JJ," Cate sighed into the phone as she paced in the airport. "Where am I going?"

"Louisville," JJ responded into the phone. "I'm so sorry about how abrupt that call was before."

Cate smiled softly. "No worries. I'm going to check flights and I'll call you back."

"Are you really coming all this way? You're in Miami!"

The brunette readjusted her carry on bag against her shoulder and sighed. "Of course I am, Jen. I'll talk to you soon."

Cate braced herself as she stepped up to the ticket counter. "When is the next flight heading to Louisville, Kentucky?"

She felt like she was crossing her fingers and toes that it wouldn't be too late. A glance at the clock showed it closing in on 10 pm and her hopes were draining with every minute as the woman in front of her typed away at her computer.

Cate subconsciously tapped her fingernails against the counter as she waited. After a glance up from the woman behind the desk, she mumbled a 'sorry' as she continued to wait. "You're just in luck if you want a first class to Louisville leaving in less than an hour."

Cate nodded. "I'll take whatever you have," she replied with a simple smile. The woman looked up from the computer screen as Cate handed over her credit card. "I don't care what the cost is. Please, just don't let me miss it!"

With a pursed smile, Cate was handed back her ticket and credit card. She shrugged her bag back onto her shoulder and started off towards the check in.

-xx-

Cate readjusted her duffle bag as she checked her cell phone again. She took a sip from the Styrofoam coffee cup in her hand as she started towards the elevator of the hospital.

Each floor seemed to take minutes instead of seconds. She stepped off of the elevator to see JJ pacing in front of the nurses station. "Cate," she began with a sigh. "You made it in record time."

The blonde embraced her in a hug. Cate ran a hand through her hair as the two stepped away from each other. "Is he up here yet?"

JJ smiled and nodded. "He just came up a few minutes ago."

Cate pursed her lips into a tight smile. The blonde explained quickly to the nurses who Cate was as they were buzzed into the unit. As the two walked towards Derek's room, she caught the team sitting in the waiting room out of the corner of her eye.

The brunette gave a quick wave as they continued to the hospital room. JJ stopped by the doorway to let Cate in first. Just as the brunette was going to step inside, JJ reached for her duffle bag. "I'll watch it for you."

Cate smiled as a thank you as she stepped inside the room. She pulled a chair up to his bedside and watched him sleep.

The past few hours played over again in her head as she took his hand in her two. Her fingers ran over his hand as she watched his face. The rise and fall of his chest brought peace to her.

Three hours ago, all she knew was that Derek had been shot. Every horrible option ran through her mind. But watching him breathing in front of her made her finally relax.

JJ gave her the rundown as she waited for her flight to head out of Miami. One gunshot wound to the left shoulder, but according to the surgeon it only hit soft tissue and surgery was more exploratory than for repair.

For Cate, being next to him, holding his hand and feeling each breath he took was uplifting.

She forgot about how badly her feet ached from running through the airport in heels, determined to not miss her flight. As she shifted in the chair next to Derek's bedside, she glanced down at the plastic wrap on her bicep. It had waited three hours; another few minutes wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

For now, being next to Derek Morgan was her lifeline.

-xx-