Disclaimer: Dick Wolf owns them. I in no way profit from my stories.
Want to thank Nicole for all of her help. (No not Wallace). I have no knowledge of the correct medical procedures involved in heart transplants and birth and the kind of trauma that Wallace suffered so I have adlibbed a bit for this story.
His Worst Nightmare
Ch. 39.
Underwood Memorial Hospital.
Dexter had just been through a grueling 30 minute interview with Detective Jeffries and Richards, who had taken his statement. He told them he had no idea why he had been shot by a Mafia hit man. He was irritable and in some pain. Deborah had left as the Detectives had entered his room with Harrison to drive him back to detective Eames sister's place. As soon as the Detectives had left, a nurse walked in and administered some pain killers. He was grateful when he finally was able to fall back to sleep.
He had to plot a way that he could get to the Mafia boss man and eliminate him without alerting the guard in front of his room. The sooner he killed him, the faster he was assured that his family would be safe. He would talk to his sister when she returned in the morning.
Mount Sinai Hospital.
Alex and Bobby stayed with Gwen for as long as they were allowed to. They went over to the surgical ward to see if Nicole was out of surgery, the nurse on duty led them into a private room in the ICU, and told them she would send in the Doctor to talk to them.
They saw Nicole lying so unnaturally still on the bed, a machine was breathing for her and she looked very pale.
Bobby walked to her bedside and inspected her body. He frowned when he saw the bruising around her throat, hand shaped bruises. So Copa had tried to strangle her. He was interrupted from inspecting her further by the Doctor who entered the room with them.
Dr. Patel shook their hands and smiled at the man and woman and introduced herself.
"Hello, my name is Pradeepta Patel I'm in charge of the maternity unit here in the hospital. I have treated Ms. Wallace during her pregnancy."
Alex and Bobby showed the doctor their badges and Alex introduced them.
"Dr. Patel, I'm Detective Alex Eames and this is my partner Detective Goren."
Bobby noticed that the Doctor had recognized his name.
"You must be the father of Nicole's baby? She has spoken very highly of you. Detective Goren, we did everything that was within our power to save her; the rest is up to her now. Alas the injuries she sustained were life threatening and we were left with no other option than to perform an emergency hysterectomy. She has lost a lot of blood and was deprived of oxygen. Unfortunately the EEG is showing impaired brain activity. I'm sorry to tell you the likelihood of brain damage is very high. She is in a coma."
Bobby digested this information. He had never seen Nicole so vulnerable.
Alex turned to the Doctor.
"What are her chances?"
Dr. Patel shook her head.
"Ms. Wallace had a heart transplant and she stopped taking her Immunosuppressant drugs to enable herself to become pregnant. As a result her immune system has been attacking her transplanted heart. We have started to re-administer the drugs, but the damage has been done. If she survives then she will need another transplant and soon. I'd say she has a 30% chance of survival at this point."
They thanked the Doctor and Bobby gave her his card, so that she could contact him if there was any change. They left the room and contacted Hannah so that a guard could be placed at her door. Just as Alex had finished the phone call they saw Ron Carver approach them. Bobby thanked him for responding to his text and dropping by.
"I took the liberty and dropped by the NICU Detective, you have a beautiful daughter and congratulations. I just wish the circumstances were different." He opened his suitcase and withdrew some paperwork.
"I have drawn up preliminary custody papers, as you requested. Judge Garcia has signed them as of now and until Ms. Wallace is capable of lodging an appeal, you are the legal Custodian of the baby girl. Congratulations Detective."
Ron Carver handed him the papers. He now had it in black and white, Gwen was his. He thanked Ron Carver for all of his work.
"Oh detectives, Judge Garcia has agreed to your request." He shook their hands and left.
After they checked back to see how Gwen was they left the hospital, Bobby stopped off on the way at a jewelers and bought a beautiful 2 carat ring and a white gold wedding band for him-self. Then ignoring Alex's complaints about her wanting to get her hair done and make up they drove to the court house.
Judge Garcia was waiting in her chambers when they arrived and after asking a court clerk to be their witness, within half an hour they were pronounced man and wife, Bobby took his wife in his arms and kissed her. As they had previously planned they would start with adoption proceedings for Alex.
"Do you think your dad is going to be mad that he wasn't at our wedding?"
Alex smiled up at her husband and shook her head. I think he will be more than happy that we finally married, although we should break it to him carefully as he has a weak heart.
She grabbed Bobby's hand and pulled him closer to her, they were standing in the middle of the courthouse but she didn't care. She guided his head down and they kissed. Afterwards she wiped the lipstick off of his mouth and smiled.
"C'mon, let's go and break the good news to my old man."
He took her hand and led her to the SUV and they made their way back to Inwood….
T.B.C…