Remember Me?
Chapter 4
Author: spookycc
Summary: Years ago, Robert Goren sent away a notorious drug dealer. But not without parole…
Spoilers: References to Endgame, Brother's Keeper
Time line: This story takes place after US Season 6, before Amends.
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone in here, except for Gene Palmer, who is my own creation. The LOCI characters belong to Dick Wolf and NBC/USA/Universal. I'm just taking them for a spin, and I'll return them relatively unharmed. ;-)
THANK YOU to my beta and best friend, my little sister JudyG!
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Remember Me? Chapter 4
The ER doors flew open and the EMT's rushed in with their patients. ER staff had been notified while the ambulances were still en route, and knew they would be dealing with head trauma, among other injuries.
Cortland Regional Medical Center
Cortland, New York
"I'm fine, dammit." Mike Logan was wheeled in first, followed immediately by Alex Eames. Both had remained awake during the trip, and Logan was arguing that he didn't need medical attention, despite the blood running into his eye from under a gauze pad. They were quickly wheeled to separate exam rooms.
Bobby Goren was the last of the three to enter the ER area, and it was quickly evident to the physicians on-staff that he was in worse shape than the first two. He was barely conscious, and his face was slick with a sheen of sweat. He was shivering uncontrollably, despite having three thick blankets tucked around him.
Ross followed his three detectives into the ER, and gave out the information requested by the staff at the hospital, filling in details as much as he was able.
One ER tech held the IV bag connected to Goren's hand, as they rolled his stretcher into another exam room. She slipped the bag onto an IV pole and they lifted him from the stretcher to the exam table, careful to cover up his shivering form again.
Goren's eyes slipped shut, as they took his vitals and added various bags to the IV tree beside him. One bag was another d5w solution, to re-hydrate him, since he was sweating out precious fluids. The second was a muscle relaxant, to combat the cramps that they knew heroin withdrawal would cause in Goren's arms and legs. They replaced the nearly-empty bag of liquid Buprenorphine, an opioid drug, which they would taper off over the next 24-48 hours, to wean Goren off the heroin that he had been addicted to, against his will.
The neurosurgeon on staff checked Goren's head wound, determining, after it was cleaned up, that no stitches were needed. He gently shook Goren's shoulder, to make sure he would wake up, which he did. There was likely a concussion, and he didn't want the man sleeping for awhile.
Their captain went from one cubicle to the next, checking in on each of his detectives. He checked on Goren first, but was shoo'd out after just a few moments. He managed to learn that Goren's vitals were stable, except that his temperature was still elevated. Ross had seen the various meds dripping into the IV beside Goren's bed, and sighed. The things this poor man got caught up in... and this time his injuries were the direct result of his 100 conviction rate in narcotics. Ross wondered how many other paroled psychos were out there gunning for his best detective.
Ross visited Eames next. She was leaning back against several pillows. The EMT's had staunched the blood flow from her head wound, and she looked nothing so much as extremely drained. As soon as she saw him in the doorway, Eames sat up straighter. "Is Bobby ok?"
"He's doing pretty well, all things considered," Ross reported. "They're countering his withdrawal with meds, and re-hydrating him. His head wound wasn't severe. How about you?"
Eames shrugged her shoulders. "No stitches, just a headache," she dismissed her own injuries. The staff had cleaned up her scalp wound and she looked much more alert, much more herself.
"Can I get you anything?" Ross offered.
Eames shook her head. "What room is Bobby in?"
"WHEN they determine that you can be up and around," Ross warned, "he's in room 6."
"Thank you, Captain. Thanks for finding us out there, too. I was beginning to get a little worried."
Ross smiled a sideways smile, and left Eames, certain that she was plotting how to get out of her room and over to check on her partner.
He found Logan sitting with his legs dangling off the exam table, holding a piece of gauze on his forehead.
"Captain - how's Goren?" Logan's concern was not for himself, either.
Ross went over Goren's prognosis with Logan, too. He knew that if Goren were awake, he'd be asking about his partner and Logan. The detectives were a close-knit group, and they had become friends through some trying times for Major Case.
"Check it out," Logan lifted the gauze and revealed the tidy stitching underneath. "The docs say it won't even scar much. It's a damned shame, too, cuz women think scars are hot." Logan smiled, relieved about Goren and now feeling antsy. "So when can we get the hell outta here?"
"You and Eames are being released as soon as the paperwork is done," Ross told him. "Goren will be here until the drug treatment is finished. A day or two, I think."
Logan nodded. "Is it ok if Eames and I-"
"I've already booked two rooms in town for you and Eames," Ross smiled. "I knew you wouldn't want to leave until Goren gets out, too. I called and got you a rental vehicle, too, since your SUV will be in the shop for awhile."
Logan grinned sheepishly. "Sorry about that, Cap."
"Not your fault," Ross replied. "You three take care - I have a pile of paperwork with my name on it, back in the city."
"Safe trip, Captain," Logan smiled.
Ross sighed. "Give me a call if there are any changes in Goren's condition," he told Logan. "Otherwise I'll see you back in town." His own head pounding, Ross headed back out to follow his team back to New York.
--
Cortland Regional Medical Center
The next day
Goren struggled from the depths of unconsciousness, and lifted his eyelids wearily. The florescent lights on the ceiling made him squint.
He tried to stretch experimentally, but it felt like every muscle was stiff. He looked down at his right arm and saw the IV start. He looked at his left arm... and saw the tousled blonde hair of his partner. She was fast asleep, her head on her hands, her hands resting on his arm.
The memories came back to him then, flooding his mind with images he tried to shut out. Palmer... the drugs...
He remembered lying, tied, on a filthy floor, and trying to awaken his partner...
Goren looked at Eames more closely, and he saw the wound on the side of her head. He traced its outline with a long, slender finger.
"I'm sorry, Eames."
She moved just a bit, and awakened, looking into his face. A tear made its way down his cheek.
"What is it?" Eames was immediately alarmed. "What's wrong?"
"I just - it's just one more time." Goren shook his head.
"One more time?" Eames was puzzled now.
"One more time that you've gotten hurt, saving my sorry ass," Goren finished.
"Bobby, don't-"
"Don't you ever get tired of it, Eames? Your life would be so much easier without me to worry about."
Eames wiped his tears away with her finger. She smiled, a sad smile. "I wouldn't be anywhere else, Bobby. You're my partner... my friend. I know you'd be there for me, too."
Goren snorted, but he knew she spoke the truth; he would never let anything happen to her, if it was in his power to prevent. It never seemed to turn out that way, though. The last time she'd been in trouble... he shuddered. Only her guile and her own will had saved her. He sure as hell hadn't.
Eames mis-took his shudder for a shiver, and she tucked his blankets gently around him. He pulled his arm back out, and found her hand with his. "Thank you."
Eames smiled, and it brightened his mood. "You're welcome, partner."
--
County Courthouse
Moravia, New York
Two months later
The case of the People vs Gene Palmer had been moved from New York City courts, because the defense attorney had successfully argued that her client could not get a fair trial there. This would be the last day of Palmer's trial...
The foreman of the jury stood with the verdict on a piece of folded paper. She opened it and read it. It had taken only a short deliberation to determine it.
"On the three counts of kidnapping of a police officer, we find the defendant... guilty.
"On the one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, we find the defendant... guilty.
"On the one count of attempted murder of a police officer, we find the defendant... guilty."
Goren released a breath he hadn't known he was holding, and rubbed his hand along the back of his neck. It was over. REALLY over. There would be no parole for Palmer, not this time. He was going away for life. Not that there had really been any doubt, not with the seriousness of his crimes.
The judge thanked the jury, and adjourned the courtroom.
Goren and Eames shook hands with Logan and Ross. Now they could move on... Goren stepped forward toward the railing that separated the court officers from the gallery, and shook the hand of the prosecuting attorney.
He was right at the edge of the aisle that separated the prosecutor's table from the defense. As the officers cuffed Palmer and prepared to lead him away, he stared in Goren's direction until the detective's eyes met his.
Palmer smiled. "This ain't over," he sneered, as they led him away...
fini