A/N: Here is my next update. Sorry that it took so long but I was on vacation and then I came back and started the Starr and Cole 4th Anniversary Project, which has been taking up a lot of my time. If you want to know more about it, message me or leave a comment/review. This chapter is dedicated to one of my Sole bff's, Jackie, because she kept on me for it and because she started her first day of high school today and made it through. Without further ado, enjoy.
Eli is down at the police station in an interrogation room. After the shooting John had came to the hospital and asked Eli to come down to the station with him to answer some questions.
John walks in to the room, "Look officer McBain I would be happy to answer any questions you have but I also would like to be at the hospital right now. See how Cole is doing."
"Why are you so interested in how Cole is doing?"
"Well he is the father of my future step-granddaughter. He is part of the family; I want to make sure he is okay."
"I just got off the phone with Marty, Cole is still in surgery. Now can we go over this again? How you wound up finding Cole."
"I told you already, I was walking along the docks, I heard a gun fire, I ran towards it. When I got there all I saw was Cole lying on the ground bleeding profusely."
"You didn't see anything else? Anyone else?"
"No, I didn't."
"How long did it take from when you heard the gun shot to get to Cole?"
"About a minute maybe."
"And you didn't see or hear anyone?"
"No. I really wish I could help. I mean I can't imagine who would want to do this to him. I don't know him that well but I did represent him on his attempted murder case, and from what I saw he seemed like a really great guy."
"He is. He is a great kid. This is why it is hard to understand why anyone would do this to him."
"Have you talked to Hannah O'Connor?"
"What would she have to do with this?"
"Well I mean Ms. O'Connor is unhealthy obsessed with Mr. Thornhart."
"But she is locked away in St. Ann's."
"Maybe Cole made her mad and she had someone go after her? I'm not the detective here, just a thought."
"Well thanks for the suggestion."
"Am I free to go now detective?"
"Yes, but don't go far. We may need you do answer more questions."
"No problem."
Eli gets up and walks out of the room. John follows him out, once Eli is out of sight John approaches one of his officers, "I want you to tail him. Call me if there is any trouble or if he goes anywhere near Cole Thornhart."
"Yes, sir."
I'm gonna nail you this time you son of a bitch, John thinks to himself.
Starr has rejoined everyone in the waiting room. It has only been a few hours but it feels like it has been days. They haven't heard anything since the nurse came out and updated them a little while ago. Everyone is on edge, especially Starr. She wishes Langston was here with her but she said that she really needed to go take care of something.
"Matthew, how about you and I go get everyone some coffee, and maybe something to eat?" Nora says looking at Marty and Starr.
"Oh Nora thank you, but I'm fine," Marty replies.
"Yeah I don't think I could eat right now," Starr concurs.
"Oh come one you two have to eat… I'll tell you what, we will go get food and if you are hungry later it will be here for you."
"Thank you," Marty replies.
Matthew and Nora leave. Marty looks over at Starr, "Hey sweetie, have you checked in with your mom?"
"Yes. She said Hope just went down for a nap. She wanted to come here but I feel better know that she is with Hope."
"Yeah…. He's going to be okay."
"You mean that?"
"He has to be."
Right then a doctor walks up to them, "Dr. Saybrooke."
Both Marty and Starr jump straight out of their chairs at the doctor's presence. "How is he? Is he out of surgery?"
The doctor looks at Starr, "Dr. Saybrooke, perhaps we should go over here and talk?"
"No, Starr can hear this. She is Cole's girlfriend, the mother of his child."
"Okay… Cole was shot in the upper abdomen. He lost a lot of blood; we had to give him multiple transfusions…"
"Yeah that is what the nurse said, is he okay though?"
"During surgery one of his lungs collapsed, we did almost loose him."
Starr puts her hand to her mouth, "Oh my god."
"We were able to revive him. We removed the bullet and were able suture the wound; however between the collapsed lung and the blood lose, Cole is unconscious. We don't know when he'll wake up. The next 24 hours are crucial. The good news is he is breathing on his own, even with the collapsed lung."
"So he's going to be okay then?" Starr asks looking back and forth between the doctor and Marty.
"Like I said, we will know more after 24 hours. In the mean time keep saying prayers."
"Thank you. Um… can we see him?" Marty asks.
"Yes, but only one person at a time. I'll keep you updated."
"Thanks again." Marty looks over at Starr, "You go ahead."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I know that he'd want to hear your voice more than anything."
"Thank you."
Starr walks in to Cole's hospital room. He is hooked up to so many machines she doesn't know what to think. She walks up to him slowly. She sits on the side of his hospital bed, and strokes his face. "Hey Cole, it's me. I don't know if you can hear me, but if you can please come back. Hope and I need you. I'm so sorry, for everything. I just need you to come back to me. I love you. God, I love you so much." She starts to cry and then lies down next to him in his bed.
Outside the hospital room, Eli is standing there looking on at the young couple. The doctor walks by the room, "Oh hey, doc. I was wondering what the status of Cole Thornhart is?"
"Are you family?"
"Not exactly. Well we will be soon, but I found him and I just want to make sure he is going to be okay."
"Mr. Thornhart is breathing on his own, but he isn't out of the woods yet. We'll know more after the next 24 hours. I'm sorry that is all I can really say, I have to go, I have another surgery."
"Okay, thank you."
Eli looks back through the window at Starr and Cole lying in bed, and says to himself, "Well Cole, if you know what is good for you, you'll never wake up."