CHAPTER THREE

He wanted to wake up. It seemed that someone was saying his name and urging him to wake up, and he wanted to do that. He blinked and saw a nurse hovering over him.

"Good to see you awake, Mr. Goren," she said cheerfully.

Bobby blinked again, and wondered how it was possible to feel as though he'd been asleep for days and completely exhausted. He realized he was terribly thirsty and that a dull, distant pain in his left leg was becoming stronger and closer. He tried to speak, but only produced a croak.

"Here," the nurse said and held a cup of water to him.

He sipped the water slowly and gratefully. His body seemed to belong to someone else.

"Is…Is everyone on my team ok? Was anyone else hurt?" It was very hard to concentrate.

"Yes," the nurse said quietly. "Some of them have been here to see you. They couldn't stay long. Your Captain is waiting to see you."

"I screwed up," Bobby thought.

"Could…could I see him now?" he asked.

"Are you sure?" The nurse didn't like the sudden darkness in his eyes.

"Yes…Please…" The pain in his leg was growing.

"All right," the nurse said, although her tone clearly indicated that she didn't think it was all right. "But only for a few minutes…Then I'll be back to check on you…And let us know if you're in pain. We can take care of that. There's no need for you to act brave and tough." She adjusted his IV and the monitors. "Don't you want to know how you are?"

"Uh…yea…"

The nurse smiled at him. "The bullet nicked your kneecap, but didn't do too much damage. It managed to get a couple of veins, and you lost some blood. But you should be back catching bad guys very soon. But the leg will probably give you some trouble in the future, especially if you abuse it or it gets very cold. I'll get your Captain, but behave yourself."

"If they let me catch bad guys again," Bobby thought. He turned his head to look out the window, which offered a lovely view of the air conditioning units. "I need to call Carmel Ridge…Let them know…See if I can talk to Mom and explain things…She probably won't listen…Just tell me that Frank wouldn't let something like this happen to him."

"Goren…How are you?"

Bobby turned to face his Captain. "I…I'm ok, Sir. A little foggy. Is everyone ok?"

The Captain sat heavily in the chair closest to the bed. He was exhausted and drawn. "Yes…Thank God…And thanks to you…You saved that mess, Detective…Just about everything that could go wrong did…" He saw the stricken look on Bobby's face. "None of it was your fault…All of your crew…Everyone there…The civilians…They all agree that you saved a lot of lives…Tommy Phillips is certain that you saved his. And he's convinced his father and uncles of that."

The idea that he wasn't in trouble began to sink into Bobby's brain. "Phillips…He's a good cop…He kept his cool…He picked up on what I was doing…"

"Yea…" The Captain shook his head. "Goren…You pull some of the stupidest…and bravest…stuff I've ever seen. I'm putting this one in the bravest category. I'm putting you in for a medal…The medal…With Tommy Phillips and his uncle and dad in your corner, you got a good chance of getting it."

Bobby blinked in surprise. "I…I was just doing my job."

"You're always just doing your job." The Captain smiled. "And doing it very well. The only thing I regret is that every division in the Department will be courting you. You can have your pick of assignments. I know you're having some doubts about working Narcotics."

Bobby nervously plucked at his covers. "I…I hope it's not that obvious. I…I owe you a lot, Captain. For supporting me…Letting me do my job…It's just…It's frustrating…Like trying to hold back a flood."

"You make me look very good, Detective," the Captain said. "I owe you. The truth is I'm getting a promotion, and your record has a lot to do with it."

The pain in his leg steadily increased, and Bobby felt very tired. "The next captain…might not be so…flexible."

"If you want to go, Goren…wherever…I'll give you the highest recommendation that I can…But if you'd like a suggestion…I think you'd be great in Major Case."

"Major Case?" Bobby asked. "But…I'm not that good with the politics…"

"You're better than you think," the Captain said. "Don't dismiss the idea. There is more pressure, but the cases are tough and challenging and different. I know Jimmy Deakins, the captain, and recommended he take a look at you. He's a good man and a good cop. He's good at the politics, but he takes care of his people. You'll get to use that brain of yours. And spend less time on the streets."

Bobby considered the Captain's words. "Thank you, Sir…I appreciate it…More than I can say…" He felt very tired.

"You don't have to make up your mind right away. But I wanted to let you know your options." The Captain stood. "I'll get out of here before the nurses throw me out, but I'll be back. You get some rest."

"Captain…One thing…When they brought me in…Was it last night…There were all these cops…And some of the things I heard…Was there another cop hurt last night?"

The Captain sighed. "Should've known, Goren…Even with a bullet in your leg, you're still one of the sharpest detectives around. Another deal went bad last night…Very bad…"

Bobby shivered. "A cop got killed…"

"Yea…Joe Dutton…I didn't know him…It wasn't a Narcotics operation…But I've heard very good things about him, even before…" The Captain shrugged. "You know how cops killed in the line of duty are always great cops and people…Dutton apparently really was…Came from a family of cops…Married to a cop…"

Bobby remembered the small young blonde woman in the hospital corridor. "I'd like to make the funeral…If I can…"

"I'll check with your doctors and do what I can," the Captain promised. "I've got to go. Take care of yourself, Goren. Get some rest. You did a great job."

As his Captain left, the image of that woman haunted Bobby. "Why," he thought. "Why him and not me? He seemed to have so much, and I…Why am I alive and not him?"

END CHAPTER THREE