FORGOTTEN MEMORIES!—15

Peggy heard Malcolm leave, but didn't turn to see why. Her gaze was locked on the man lying silent and unmoving on the bed. She reached over the rail, smiling thinly as the nurse lowered the safety rails for easier access.

"Thank you," she said softly, reaching for Mannix's left hand and holding his fingers without touching the IV. She used her left hand to manipulate the dark hair, pushing it back from the white bandage covering the bullet wound.

"You're welcome. My name is Katrina. Why don't you talk to him? Let him know he's not alone. The doctor's have eased off on the sedation and he should be coming around soon. When he does it will be good for him to hear familiar voices and see familiar faces."

"Thank you, Katrina," Peggy said, turning her face back to the injured man. She rested her hand on his forehead and bit her bottom lip in an effort to fight back the tears she felt just below the surface. Taking a deep breath she began to speak, her voice soft and filled with worry as she listened to the reassuring sounds made by the ventilator.

"Joe, you're going to be alright now. She can't hurt you anymore, she can't hurt anyone anymore. Now all you have to do is concentrate on getting better. Toby loves when you come over, and he told me it's not just because you always hide things in your pocket thinking I don't see." She released her hold on his hand long enough to reach for a tissue and wipe the tears from her eyes. "I do know what you've been giving him Joe, and I don't mean the candy and treats. You've been giving him a role model. Someone he can look up to and admire and you don't even realize you're doing it. He misses his father so much, but you've filled a hole I didn't think would ever be filled. You make him smile, you take him places he wants to go. God, Joe, he needs you so much." The tears she'd been fighting against slipped past her closed lids as she gave into the pain in her heart. "I love you, Joe Mannix, and don't you dare think about leaving me! Do you hear me? I won't let you go...I won't...I can't…"

Art hurried into the room as he heard Peggy's soft sobs. He reached for her and pulled her into his arms as the tears fell freely from her eyes. He looked at the nurse and nodded as he left the room, pulling the grief stricken woman with him. He knew sooner or later things would get to this point and had vowed to be there when she finally broke.

MANNIX-MANNIX-MANNIX

Katrina watched them leave and shook her head as she looked back at her newest patient. Joe Mannix was covered from head to toe in bruises, contusions, cuts and scrapes. She knew the extent of the knee injury and the broken ribs and that the doctors were worried about the advent of pneumonia. She checked the overhead monitors, noting the slightly elevated temperature and the increased heart rate. She looked at the man's face and smiled as the eyelids slowly opened. She knew he was still feeling the effects of the anaesthetic and began speaking softly to him.

"Hello, Joe, I'm Katrina and you're in the hospital. Everything is going to be fine," she continued to speak softly to him even as she buzzed the desk to have them put in a call to his doctors. She kept her eyes locked with his, seeing the panic in the handsome face.

"You're on a ventilator and it's helping you breathe. It won't be there much longer, but it would be better if you didn't fight it."

MANNIX-MANNIX-MANNIX

Joe tried to speak, gagging on the intrusion down his throat. 'No...not...again...' he thought trying to force the nurse to hear him. Again and again his tongue came up against whatever was in his mouth, but he couldn't make the connection. He heard the woman next to him speaking in soft tones and understood she wouldn't hurt him. He picked out several words including hospital and ventilator and again panicked at being unable to move his arms. He shifted slightly and realized it was probably a good idea that he couldn't move as his body erupted in waves of nausea and pain. He felt her hand on his shoulder and turned his head slightly. He felt something slide down his cheek and berated himself for showing weakness to this woman. He saw the soft smile on her face and was grateful for the kindness she showed as she used a warm cloth to wipe the evidence away.

"It's okay, Joe, I know you're uncomfortable and you don't feel very well right now, but Dr. Lewis is on his way and he'll probably order some more pain meds for you."

Joe understood her words and nodded slightly, turning his head as a familiar voice spoke to her.

"What's going on Katrina?"

"Joe's awake, Dr. Lewis," the nurse explained as the physician made his way to the bed and smiled down at one of his most frequent patients.

"Hello, Joe," Lewis greeted the man and could see the pain as the detective tried to move. "Lay still, Joe. Katrina, I've ordered a mild pain medication, could you get it for him?"

"Right away, Dr. Lewis."

"Joe, I know you hate the ventilator, but it has to stay for a couple of hours yet. I'm going to monitor your blood gases and if all goes well we should be able to remove it later tonight." He smiled as the nurse used an alcohol wipe to clean a juncture on the IV and injected the prescribed medication.

"That should help a little, Joe and hopefully help you sleep. Now there are a couple of worried people waiting outside, would you like to see them?" He smiled as Mannix nodded once.

"Katrina, would you tell them they can come in for a few minutes."

"Certainly, Doctor," The nurse said and hurried to the door. She was relieved to see the policeman had calmed the distraught woman and motioned for them to come inside. She stood back to allow them some room and watched as a small amount of relief shone on both faces. Joe Mannix still had a long road ahead of him, but she knew he would not be facing it alone.

Peggy leaned wearily on the strong man walking beside her as she made it to the bed. She smiled at the tired eyes staring up from the battered face, knowing he would see just how worried she was.

"Hi...J...Joe," she stammered between soft hiccups.

"Hello, Joe," Malcolm smiled at the injured man, making sure he kept a steadying hand on the woman beside him.

'Peggy...don't cry...' Mannix thought, wishing he could hold her and sooth the fear he saw in the dark orbs. He moved the finger of his left hand and tried to reach for her, but was frustrated as the arm was held immobile by the restraints around his wrists.

Peggy knew something was bothering the injured man and she looked down to see his fingers moving. She reached out and took his hand in her own, smiling as she saw him relax under her touch. She looked into his eyes and wished she could take away the underlying pain she saw there.

"Oh, Joe, I'm so glad you're awake. You had us all so worried," Peggy told him, sniffing back the tears that once again threatened to fall.

'Sorry, Peg...didn't mean to worry you,' Mannix thought, feeling the pull of the medication he'd been given.

"Hey, Joe, you do what the doctors tell you now and you'll be out of here in no time," Malcolm ordered, the smile on his face showing his own relief at seeing his friend awake.

'Take care of her Art,' the injured man wished he could put voice to his words, but with the tube, talking was impossible. He closed his eyes as weariness and drugs sent him toward the softness of an easy slumber.

"Okay, you two need to go home and get some rest," Lewis explained as he checked the monitors once more. Satisfied that all was well, he turned to the nurse. "Page me if anything changes."

"Yes, Dr. Lewis," Katrina assured him as she checked the IV running into Mannix' neck.

"Now, Art, I want you to take Peggy home and make sure she rests. I don't want to see either of you for at least eight hours," the physician ordered.

"But..."

"Argue with me, Peggy and I'll see that you're banned for twenty four hours," Lewis said straight faced.

"Come on, Peg," Malcolm said.

"What if he wakes up again?" Fair asked, her fingers still entwined with those of the man she loved.

"Katrina or one of the other nurses will be here. Besides, he's not going to be awake for long periods of time until the anaesthetic wears off. If all goes well with his blood work we'll take him off the ventilator tonight. If...and I do mean if you've managed to catch some sleep I'll let you be here! Otherwise you might as well stay away. I mean it, Peggy, as much as Joe needs you here, I don't want another patient on my hands. That goes for you too, Art. Now go on home or do I call security?"

"I...I…"

"Might as well give it up, Peggy, he's right. Joe needs you to be strong," Malcolm told her.

"I know he is," she whispered. Ignoring the people in the room she leaned over the injured man, carefully avoiding the tubes and lines and kissed him on the cheek, whispering softly in his ear. "I love you, Joe Mannix, and don't you dare think about giving up!"

"Ready, Peg?" the policeman asked as the woman stood up.

"Yes...I'll be back, Joe," she turned to the doctor. "You'll call if he needs me...for anything?"

"I will. Now go home...and sleep, Peggy."

"Come on, Art, before I change my mind," she sniffed, backing out of the room as Malcolm's arm wrapped around her. She continued to stare at the injured man, unaware of the people around her. 'I love you, Joe,' she thought, before turning away and allowing Malcolm to lead her toward the elevator.

MANNIX-MANNIX-MANNIX

Run... Run…Run... Run...over and over the word raced through his mind. His legs felt weighed down, his body tired beyond imagination as he struggled to put one foot in front of the other. Pain lanced through him, setting jagged nerve endings on fire with every breath he took. Still he ran, knowing to stop now would place him back in the hands of a madwoman. The road ahead was dark, the buildings old and the windows shattered long ago. Death and decay was all around him. The smell of the ocean cut through his jumbled senses and still he ran. To what? To where? He had no idea, but for Joe Mannix to stop now meant certain death.

TBC