Chapter 24

Maxie kept her eyes on Cooper as she finally slipped out of the rope. When she saw that he wasn't getting up Maxie ran over to where he was lying on the pavement floor and knelt beside him. She could see that the color had drained from his face and he had already lost consciousness. Before she could think about anything else she heard the warehouse door open and the PCPD busted in. A few officers went over to Craig who was in the corner clutching his injured shoulder while the other half tried to tend to Cooper the best they could until the paramedics got there. Mac Gently pulled Maxie out of the way.

"I should call his sister," Maxie said still in shock of what had and was happening as the paramedics finally arrived.

She got out of Mac's grasp and walked over to one of the corners of the warehouse and got out her cell phone.

When Maxie got to GH Chasity approached her with Spencer following close behind her.

"What happened?" Chasity asked knowing it was a stupid question but she was too scared to care at the moment.

"Craig and Cooper were talking and then two shots went off and then Cooper---" Maxie was cut of by Patrick and Robin coming into the waiting area.

"How is he?" Maxie asked.

Patrick and Robin exchanged glances.

"When Craig shot him the bullet went into his chest but we won't know how much damage it did until we get him into the O.R." Robin explained.

Maxie sighed and blinked back tears.

"Can we see him before you take him into surgery?"

"He regained consciousness after we stabilized him and he asked to see you, so go ahead,"

Maxie and Chasity nodded and headed back to the room they had him in.

When they got back into the room Maxie didn't say anything she just grabbed his hand and gave it a light squeeze and he squeezed back.

"Are you okay?" Cooper asked after a few minutes.

Maxie smiled slightly.

"I should be asking you that,"

Before Cooper could respond Robin and Patrick stepped into the doorway.

"We need to take you down to the O.R." Robin said giving Maxie a sympathetic look when she saw the look on her face. The look didn't go missed by Cooper either.

"Hey look at him, I'll be okay I promise," Cooper said lifting Maxie's chin.

"Don't--- Don't promise me something you're not sure of, just promise me you're going to fight, okay?"

"I promise,"

"We really need to get down to the O.R." Patrick said.

Maxie nodded.

She turned to face Cooper again and leaned down to gently kiss him.

After that Maxie and Chasity watched as Robin and Patrick took him down to the O.R.

Back in the waiting room Maxie sat quietly while Chasity constantly moved her foot the same way she had when they had had to stay in the waiting room before.

Maxie sighed.

It felt like déjà vu not because Cooper had been hospitalized before but because it brought back memories of what happened to Jesse.

Maxie cringed slightly as she remembered what happened…

"Can he breathe on his own? My God!"

"Maxie, we're doing the best we can."

"Maybe I can help! I know C.P.R.! Please let me hold his hand. He needs to know that I'm here."

"Maxie, Maxie --"

"He needs to know that I'm here!"

"Listen to me. You listen to me now, okay? Do you want to help Jesse, huh? You stay calm, alright? I know how strong you are. I have seen it. I have seen you pull through it, okay? Get a hold of yourself, stop screaming, and pray for Jesse, okay?"

"He has a bullet in his head!"

"I know. People live through that. I've seen it, alright? I've heard stories -- people live through that."

"Okay. Okay."

Maxie felt a tear roll down her cheek. After that happened she swore she never wanted to feel that kind of pain again but here she was not even a year later in almost the same position just different circumstances. She just hoped this time it had a happier ending.

Chasity sat quietly in the waiting room chair trying to think about anything except the fact her older brother had gotten shot and now was in the O.R. She felt angry, angry at Craig for shooting Cooper in the first place and angry at the fact she could lose her brother after just getting him back.

Chasity's thoughts were interrupted by Spencer sitting down next to her.

"I guess I don't have to ask how you are,"

"I'm scared," Chasity said holding back tears.

Spencer didn't say anything he just let Chasity rest her head on his shoulder.

Later that night Maxie was awakened by Robin and Patrick who were accompanied by Monica.

"What happened? How is he?" Maxie asked glancing back at Chasity who was still sound asleep with her head on Spencer's shoulder.

Robin sighed.

"During surgery we discovered a problem that wasn't caused by the bullet wound, his heart muscle is severely weakened---" Robin was cut off by Maxie.

"He needs a heart transplant doesn't he?" Maxie asked even though she knew the answer.

Robin just nodded.

"Can I go see him?"

"Yeah, he woke up a little while before we came out here," Robin said.

"So he already knows?"

Robin nodded

Maxie didn't say anything else she just headed towards Cooper's room.

When she got to back to Cooper's room neither of them said anything---They didn't have to. Maxie just carefully climbed into the bed next to Cooper and they stayed in a comfortable silence.