Bates takes LaRue's hand, holding until the tears roll. She reaches for a tissue with her free hand. Taking place of where Washington sat, her eyes never leave LaRue. Bates' voice squeaks her fond remembrance. "I remember. You had such a firm grip. Don't leave us now, J.D." She sniffles back, glancing at the heart monitor. She cracks a smile. "You're gonna be okay. You know, you're so full of surprises. Like I told you before, here I thought you were just an obnoxious jerk a lot of the times. There's so much more to you that gets over sighted because of those few bad years. You've done so much for others. You've done things for me and I'm not talkin' about…" She shakes her head. "I know I've misjudged you a lot and…" Tears well up in her eyes. "…I'm so sorry." Again, the sergeant breaks down and cries. She feels her hand being squeezed again. Looking over, Bates sees LaRue's charm through his eyes. Placing a hand over his chest, she quietly utters. "Love you."

In the waiting room, Furillo returns. He sees Washington talking with a very nervous auburn haired woman.

Washington looks up, "Uh, Captain? This is Peg Nelson. J.D.'s sister."

"Hi, Ms. Nelson. Capt. Frank Furillo of Hill St."

"How is he?"

"He's in rough shape. I haven't been in there to talk with him yet, but you most certainly can."

"No." Peg shakes her head. "No. I can't go in there."

"John is your brother?"

Peg turns away, ready to pace the floor. Arms folded, she shakes her head again as though everything is simply a very bad dream. "It's what I should have expected to hear since he's a cop. It's what I always dreaded. I told him he should take up some other kind of job, but he's too proud."

"Ms. Nelson…" Furillo begins.

"Please. Call me Peg."

"Um, Peg? Were you even told what happened?"

"I was only told he was in the hospital due to an accident. I figured it was some freak shooting since he quit being a detective. That is what happened?"

"Actually, it isn't. He was on the way to drop off a former lieutenant at a building on the east side of town. A police chase occurred around the same time and his car was hit."

Peg swiftly turns around. "You're not telling me that a police car hit my brother." She looks at him with extreme hurt and confusion in her eyes. "A cop did this?"

Furillo bows his head down. "Two. An eyewitness at the scene said there were two police cruisers which caused J.D.'s car to crash."

"The passenger? The lieutenant you mentioned?"

"He didn't make it. He was killed instantly."

Peg breathes back in shock. Collecting her thoughts, she gives a quick glance to what might be going on beyond the hallway nearest the waiting room. Without looking at the captain, she begins to talk. "I worried so much after he got shot that one time. I hated that he still wanted to be a cop. I had sleepless nights, wondering if I would get that one call. That one dreadful call telling me what I didn't want to hear. You know, John nearly lost his life a few years back."

Furillo arches his brows. "I know."

He was always lonely. He always wished for stability. I said it was never too late. You could be sixty and have that. He's always had that oh-so-irresistible charm. There's an ideal woman out there for him, somewhere." Her eyes start to water. "Isn't it ironic? My brother quits a dangerous thankless job, just to get hit by another cop? I mean, what are the chances? Can you answer me that, Captain?"

Furillo bows and shakes his head.

Bates arrives back in the waiting room. She bows her head, clears her runny nose and tear filled eyes. Slowly, she makes her way towards a concerned Washington.

"Okay?" He asks quietly.

"Yeah. I just hate seeing him hooked up to all that equipment."

Furillo asks, "Is he still awake?"

"Yeah. He is." Bates says, turning her attention to see Peg.

Washington notices her stare at the woman. He quickly introduces her. Both women shake hands. The captain looks back, eager to see LaRue. "I'll go next. Peg? If you change your mind?" He gives her an eagle-eyed glance then walks away.

Prior to entering the hospital room, Furillo takes a deep breath to prepare himself. He walks in as a nurse checks LaRue's stats. The oxygen mask is off. She flashes a quick smile to the captain, then leaves. Furillo looks back at the door for a second and walks up to the sleeping LaRue.

"J.D.?"

LaRue slowly opens his eyes. "Cap…"

"No. No. You save your energy."

LaRue closes his eyes in an agreeable fashion. Something then makes him try to grab for Furillo's arm. "Item one." He tries to breathe back quick. "Find D.J." Furillo listens as close as he can to the near whispers. "Item num..ber two. Hey, Ne… Neal." The captain gives a slight smile. "Item num… thr..three. Love…you…too." LaRue gives a quick gasp as he strains a little harder to sit up. He looks at Furillo. "R… Ra…"

Immediately, Furillo shakes his head. "Ray didn't make it." He watches LaRue's eyes sink low in sadness. He then winces in pain, trying to talk back. Furillo steadies him. "No. It's okay. Don't strain yourself. You need to relax. Blink twice for 'yes' once for 'no.'" It takes a moment for the captain to think. "About this DJ. Do you know where I can find him? Radio station?" He answers quizzically.

LaRue slowly blinks once, trying to shake his head. He reaches down, tapping himself.

Furillo tries to understand. He looks down. "Appendix?"

LaRue shakes his head and attempts to grab for the captain's waist, poking at his side.

Furillo attempts to make a connection. "Waist? Side?" He shakes his head. Then a thought occurs to him. "Pocket? Is that what?"

LaRue blinks back twice. The captain steps away, poking his head out the door as he sees a nurse walk by.

"Uh, ma'am? Do you know if it's at all possible for me to have a look at this man's belongings?"

"Well, it's not…"

Furillo pulls out his shield.

"I'll talk to the doctor." She answers quickly.

"Thanks."

Furillo returns to the bedside of his former officer. "Besides this DJ thing, there are a few things I've wanted to say to you. I hope I can say it. Um, I really wish you would come back to the station, but, you chose…you chose your reasons for not and I can completely understand. It's…it's just that I'm being ridiculously selfish and although I was…have been your boss, it's you that I've looked up to as a mentor in some way. You found your way back. You've fought every urge to not pick up a bottle again. I find you to be one of…" He tearfully sniffles back. "Oh boy. Uh, I find you to be one of the most bravest human beings that I've ever crossed paths with. I strive… I continue to strive and be the better man that people think I am. I don't know if I'm as strong as you. To see my way through the light at the end of a tunnel. I'm still learning and you've been a true inspiration to me. I will always be grateful of that." The captain picks up his head, letting the tears pass.

A knock comes at the door. The nurse returns. "Here's what I could find. The shirt was destroyed by the medical team. Sorry about that."

Furillo looks through the bag. "No problem." He feels his way, then picks out a small folded piece of paper. "That'll be it. Thanks." Waiting for her to leave, he reads it. "DJ. Rockford Airport." He glances at the phone number accompanying the information. Shaking his head, he goes back by LaRue's side. "What am I saying? You'll be okay. You're a lot tougher than people think. You'll get past this."

LaRue tightens in pain as he slowly blinks once.

Furillo tries to ignore the former detective's pessimistic outlook. Just as he's about to step back, LaRue grabs for his hand, squeezing as hard as he can. With determination set in his eyes, he breathes back heavily.

"Thank…you."

He lets go.

The captain smiles and walks away. Seeing he's nearing the end of the hallway, he stops and takes a deep breath. Allowing himself some time from questions everybody is bound to ask. He feels his eyes water once more. The thought of losing Calletano and LaRue in the same day becomes too much for him. Covering his own mouth, he nervously wonders about the future. He peeks around the corner of the waiting room where Bates and Washington talk. Peg stands apart from them, staring at a picture on the wall.

Furillo glances down with another breath as he's ready to join the three. A nurse rushes by him, followed by three other staff members. Doctors race beyond the double doors of the TICU.

One calls out, "We have an A-fib patient. Car crash. His pulse is at 130!"

"Which one?"

"Room 726."

Furillo's eyes widen. He steps through the double doors, enough to see it's the room he had just stepped out of.

Dr. Mendelsohn rushes past the double doors without seeing the captain. "What have we got?" He places a mask over his face.

"A-fib."

"Bmh." He glances up at the monitor watching the patient going into shock. "150…180…210…260… Potassium levels are too low. …385…410. Fibrillator! 450… Come on, John. Come on. Don't leave us now."

Furillo stands numbly.

The sudden sound of flat lining makes him mournfully closes his eyes. Doctors solemnly file out of the room. Dr. Mendelsohn pulls up his mask and heads into the waiting room. The captain slowly watches him approach the three. Bates' eyes fill with desperation as she and the others are given the news. Immediately, her expression changes to convulsions of bitter tears. She collapses into the arms of Neal Washington. Both sob heavily against each other, unable to stop the tears from flowing. Furillo sadly watches it unfold. He had experienced Lucy Bates' pain before when she lost her partner, Joe Coffey. He knew her sobs and also her strength to carry on. This was different though. Neither Calletano nor LaRue were involved in active police duty. They were both content with their latest jobs and overzealous cops ended their lives. Furillo looks over at Peg Nelson who starts crying when the doctor hands over her brother's academy ring. She grips it tight, sobbing uncontrollably. Furillo finally makes a move to comfort her. He holds onto her as she clears her eyes.

"He started wearing it again after he went to the PPD. I don't know. Maybe it was to prove something. He couldn't stop being a cop." She clears her nose. "I have to call my husband."

She walks away.

Furillo turns his head to see Neal and Lucy still in tears clinging to each other. He briskly goes to a different pay phone where he puts in his own call.

"Henry? Call downtown. I want those four on double vehicular manslaughter charges."

"Frank, are you telling me…?"

"Yeah. Just… I'll be there soon." He looks back at Neal and Lucy.