Hope everyone enjoys this chapter, and big thank you to everyone who's reviewed the previous ones and enjoyed! This has been a bit difficult to write, but I think I've got it how I wanted it! I have to say that the first bit is just so I can hug Adam, I love the guy so much! I wish he'd get more air time! And to those who spot it...well done! Please Review!
"I cannot believe its still snowing.'' I muse from the break room window, it's only mid October, but snow has been falling for the past day or so. We were told to expect a cold snap after the beautiful September we had experienced, but I wasn't expecting snow, even if the city looked prettier in a fresh blanket of pure white snow.
"I know, I hate snow.'' Adam mumbles from behind me, giving the outside world a disgruntled look as if the snow has somehow offended him. Adam and I have managed to bond over the past month, having both being caught by Mac dancing in the AV lab whilst listening to the recordings from a recording studio where the producer had been strangled to death. Now we were both stuck on a gangland killing spree that was taking over Central Park, Adam had been grumbling through the whole scene, wrapped in about three coats, scarf and hat as well as knitted gloves underneath his latex ones to protect himself against the cold.
"Really, Adam you'd never guess.'' I smiled, stirring my coffee, continuing to stare out of the window, enjoying the watching the snow fall. "Why do you hate snow so much?''
"He hates being cold.'' I say, also watching the snow, it feels too early for snow, we haven't even had Halloween yet. I want to be back for Halloween, try and get off for it for once, and shot the local kids with silly string from my apartment window like I used too.
"It's cold, living in Phoenix the closest I got to cold was going to the freezer, its not natural to be this cold.'' He answers.
"I love it, makes you feel like a kid again.'' To this I receive a wall of silence. "You alright Adam?'' I ask, noticing the lack of response.
"Don't mention being a kid to him, I don't think he had a happy childhood.'' I say seriously as Adam's face changes.
"Yeah I'm fine,'' he answers, although I can see a sad look on his face.
"I'm sorry Adam…'' I start as both Hawkes and Flack enter the break room.
"Get your coat, we gotta a suspect.'' Flack says, holding out a folder for me to take. We both agreed that we were to keep our relationship at work professional, Flack having regaled me with tales of him walking in on Danny and Lindsay in compromising positions, and I didn't want that tag on me so early in my NYPD career.
"Nathan Kempner.'' I read off the top of the sheet. "Where do we find this Nathan?''
"We get to play in the park, I know his crew hang out round by central park.'' Flack smiles.
"If we're lucky we might be able to build a snowman.'' Hawkes says brightly at Flack as Flack's eyes dart to the window looking overly excited by the snow too. "Don't worry Adam, you can stay here.'' He adds as both he and Flack begin to make their way out, "Mac…'' I hear him shout down the hall, trying to get his attention.
"See you later, Adam.'' I gather my coat from its drying place by the heating grate, as I pass I wrap an arm around Adam's shoulders, attempting to give a comforting half hug. He smiles in response but doesn't say anything as I leave the room and follow the others.
"What's up with that?'' Flack asks me as I catch both him and Hawkes, who's talking to Mac in front of us.
"Sometimes, everyone needs a hug.''
"Ok, I'll admit its cold.'' I say, stamping my feet crushing more freshly fallen snow into the ground, trying to create some warmth in my legs. Luckily the snow has lightened, with only a few flakes descending around us as we continue into the park.
"Matthews, you sound like Adam.'' Flack laughs, signalling for two of the uniforms to talk the other path around the children's play area where our gang of suspects is currently residing. Our troop, consisting of me, Flack, Hawkes, Mac and Danny, who admittedly only Flack and I know is there, continue on the path to the main gate of the fence that encloses the area, and walk up to the gang.
"Nathan Kempner?'' Flack shouts to the group, grabbing their attention, several quickly stand up from their position on various swings and benches. I count eight, which is useful considering there are eight of us, I see several dart glances at a twenty something guy, who approaches us in a cocky swaggering manner.
"Yes?''
"NYPD.'' Flack hasn't even flashed his badge as the gang takes off in different directions, Mac taking down Nathan has he takes a swing at him, Hawkes tackling another as he tries to dodge round us. Uniforms are grabbing the ones who are running towards the back gate, another two are running to the nearest fence as Flack and I follow, both simultaneously vaulting the fence. "Take the short one.'' Flack shouts at me, as the taller one rounds a corner to the left, and I'm left chasing the shorter perp who's wearing a luminous green jacket, meaning that I literally won't lose him if the snow becomes heavier again. I'm glad that I wore my trainers, having soaked my other shoes from the crime scene this morning Mac had allowed me to wear them in case they did decide to run. I push on, as we run down some stone steps as Flack's target cuts in front of us from a side path Flack pushing him to ground shouting cusses at the guy, causing my guy to slow up a bit to let them pass him meaning that I can catch up with him, we descend another set of steps and start across another snow-clad path, and I get close enough to tackle my guy forcing him to the left. I feel the shock as we collide with the ground and skid across ice, I lose my grip on him and he slides further than me. I try to catch my breath as he slips trying to get up and I manage to pick myself up and slam him into the ground.
"Seriously, why run?'' I pant, trying to hold him down as he struggles against me, it's then that I hear ice crack beneath us. I look up to see Flack and others have gathered at the edge of the path all with horrified looks on their faces.
"Don't move!'' I hear Mac shout at us, as my guy makes another bid for freedom, causing me to force him back down, creating another ominous crack. "You're on the lake.'' He shouts, I look around to notice that we are on smooth slightly snow covered ice, that stretches out from the section where the others are standing.
"Will you pack it in?'' I ask the guy, getting annoyed that he is still trying to throw me off him as I begin to panic that we're stuck on frozen water, which by the sounds of it, isn't frozen enough to handle our weight. We're only about ten feet from the others but it's too far for them to reach. "We're on the lake.''
"What? Can't pigs swim?'' He laughs menacingly. Throwing his weight back into me so that he lands on the ice with more force than usual. I'm once again forced to try to slam him down with my weight to stop him from getting away. The ice begins to crack even more and I can see them edge their way out from under us and towards to edge. My breathing increases as I realise what is about to happen, I give one final look up to Flack as there's a loud creak and support from beneath me gives way.
"No!'' Both Flack and I shout as the two figures disappear through the ice and into the water. Flack makes a bid to go in after them, but is held back by Mac who's giving orders for buses and back up to the uniforms who remain frozen in their position around the water. I breathe a sigh of relief as two heads emerge back into the air from the icy water.
Damn this hurts, the water quickly penetrated through my clothes and his attacking my body. It feels like a thousand knifes are stabbing my skin, my breathe catches in my chest which feels like it's about to explode with the pain. Somehow I begin to kick, even though every part of me wants to curl up into a ball to decrease the space that the water can get to me. And my head manages to break through the surface.
"Holly!'' Flack is screaming from the side, pushing Mac aside as he tries to put a foot on a piece of ice that is still intact, but breaks off under his weight.
"Flack, I can't afford for you to go in as well.'' Mac shouts at him, pulling him back. There's nothing they can do as we're forced to watch as the perp tries to swim over to another edge of the ice and climb out.
No way in hell is he getting away, a voice in my head screams as I notice my guy trying to lift himself out of the water onto another section of ice. I also make way over and drag him back, forcing him back into the water.
"Holly!'' Hawkes is shouting, "Let him go, we'll get him, get out of the water!'' She's not paying attention as she pulls him back into the water, there's a massive splash and they both disappear back under the water. Flack is fighting against Mac to get into the water, and the uniforms are screaming into radios. They both re-emerge looking exhausted gasping for breathe in the cold air; they're only a couple of feet from us now.
"Bitch.'' The guy shouts, placing a forceful punch to the side of Holly's face as she tries to force him to the edge.
He just hit me! What the hell? I feel the contact throw me to the side and back under the water. The pain in my chest is now compounded with pain in my check, and it's getting harder to swim with the weight of my waterlogged clothes, my muscles are screaming at me to stop.
The force of the punch pushes the guy further towards us and Flack manages to grab the back of jacket and rip him from the water, placing his own punch on his left eye, shouting random insults at him as Mac and uniforms try to wrestle him off. I look back to the water, where Holly's head is. "Come on.'' Hawkes is encouraging her from the edge, her swimming isn't so good anymore and most of her strength has disappeared, as she edges nearer. "Just another few inches.''
I can see Hawkes reaching out for me, I can't breathe anymore, moving anything is a massive effort, my head feels light, I just want to stop.
"Holly, don't you dare.'' Flack is next to Hawkes, both doing their best to reach her from the edge without falling in themselves. "Holly, for fucks sake give me your hand.'' He screams, as she sinks lower in the water.
Damn it Flack, I'm trying here, I think as he screams at me to give him my hand, I reach out again feeling for anything to grab onto.
Flack and Hawkes grab her out stretched hand and drag her from the water, her breathing is shallow and her head falls back as Flack gathers her up into his arms and carries her away from the water towards Mac. "Hawkes, what do we do?'' He asks laying her on the snow covered ground, as Hawkes automatically goes into Doctor mode checking her pulse on her neck.
"We need to get her out of the wet clothes.'' He says, as he starts to unbutton her coat.
What? Everything seems so distance, but I swear they're trying to undress me. I'm not stripping in Central Park.
Holly begins to move, fighting against Hawkes undressing her. "Quit it.'' She mumbles, her eyes still shut against the cold, she sounds really weak.
"Sorry Holly, but you're too cold, we gotta get you warm.'' Hawkes answers her, as he motions for Flack to help him. They soon get her coat off and sweater, "Flack I need you to do the same.'' Hawkes says seriously retaking Holly's pulse. Flack doesn't even argue as he too takes off his coat and jacket, unbuttoning his shirt as Holly's breathing slows. "Ok,'' Hawkes says he takes off her shirt, so she's left in just a tankini bar top, "Skin to skin contact is the best way to get her warm again.'' He says as Flack picks her up wrapping his bare chest against her body, jumping slightly at the coldness of her skin. Hawkes rewraps Flack's disguarded coat round them, doing the same with own over the top.
"Come on Holly,'' Flack says into her soaked hair, as she remains unresponsive in his arms. I can hear sirens approaching us, and notice that Mac is shouting directions to get as close as they can. "I'm not losing you too. This is not happening again.''
I hated watching them wait in the hospital; it was like when I came in. Watching them wait, screaming at them that I was still there, but getting no response. There's a tight group of Mac, Hawkes and Flack surrounding her bed, blankets piled high over her body, with only the sounds of the heart monitors reverberating around the room.
There's a light tapping at the door as Stella enters, "hey,'' she says quietly noticing the lack of noise in the room. "How's she doing?''
"Preliminary tests look good, her body is just in shock.'' Hawkes answers, her chart in his hands, he keeps rereading it like it is going to wield new answers.
"I thought you guys should know, the hospital called the office, Danny's vitals dropped this afternoon.'' She said quietly taking a seat next to Mac. "His parents are with him, but…'' She trailed off sadly. What do they mean they dropped? I feel fine, this is not good, I need to check this out.
"Danny, you're ok.'' I open the door to my room a couple of floors above Holly's, my parents are standing over my body, which looks exactly the same as before only my breathing tube has been removed. "It's ok Danny.'' My Ma continues, gently stroking my face as tears stream down her own. "You keep fighting baby.'' She says, it feels like years since I last saw her, she has the same look on her face when Louie was like this, she can't give up hope on me. "He can't go the same way as Louie, Joe, I can't lose another baby.''
My father stands on the other side of the bed, he's keeping his sombre expression on his face. "We'll see what these test results say Marie.''
"He's my baby, Danny please baby,'' she continues to stroke my cheek. "Don't give up, you stay strong, keep fighting, I'll make you all your favourites when you come home, yeah?'' She bows her head and begins to pray under her breath. I haven't registered that my own tears are now free-falling down my face, my own mother is having to pray for my life, having to watch another son in a coma, watching him die, she shouldn't have to go through that.
She breaks the pray as a nurse enters the room with an orderly; they explain that they need to take me to do another head CT, I can tell she's not listening to them she's too busy trying to flatten my hair by continuously stroking it, like she did when I was a kid and felt sick.
"Is it ok to go with him?'' My Pop asks, not like him to be emotional or sentimental, I suspect he's only doing it for Ma. They agree and soon I'm following my own body being wheeled down a long corridor by the orderly and nurse, by father in stride beside me. Soon we enter the CT room my father stops in a small waiting room whilst my body is taken into a bigger room which is practically filled by the scanner itself.
"Well, if it isn't Joe Messer.'' A harsh voice says from the side of the room, I turn to find a short dark haired woman sat in front of a control station that overlooks the scanner, various monitors surround her.
"Carla,'' he breathes, I've never seen this woman before , how does she know him?
"I heard you're son was injured, didn't think it was actually serious.'' She continues as she pushes a few buttons on a control panel that's obviously connected to the scanner.
"Carla, now is not the time.'' He gives a sad look through the window to my body. "My Danny could be brain dead.''
"Like father like son.'' She spits, not lifting her hands from the dials. "You're pathetic Joe, pretending to be this great family man.''
"Danny and Marie are all I have, it's not pretending.'' Now there's the tone I'm used to with my father. "I love my family.''
"Didn't love them all those years ago did you Joe? No, I remember quite well that it was me you said you loved, lying to your family Joe, sleeping with another woman, great way to show love.'' He had an affair? I always knew he was a bit dodgy, not always doing what was legal, but trying for us, even if it was only so my Ma could get a new dress for Church. How the hell could he have done that to her?
"It was nothing Carla, it was a stupid mistake, I've done more to make it up to them.'' He spits back at her, slamming his fist into the wall behind him. "A stupid couple of months that meant nothing.''
"Joe you never got it did you? You got me pregnant! I was eighteen for goods sake!" He did what? He got her pregnant? The bastard.
"I gave you money for the abortion, what did you want? For me to leave my wife? My kids? I'm a lot of things Carla but I'd never leave them for a tart like you.''
She gives a horrible smile to him, which sends shivers through me. "It was too late Joe, I was too far gone.''
"What do you mean, too far gone?''
"Means I had your kid, another Messer in the world for you to feel proud of.'' She laughs cruelly, "well if she survived.'' She adds as an after thought.
"What's that meant to mean?''
"I felt sick after what you did to me, I didn't want your kid as much as you did, if I could I would have gotten rid of it. I was eighteen, I had dreams, I had a life.''
"I meant about her surviving.'' Even he looks horrified, this woman is a psycho. But this means I have a sister…there's someone out there with my DNA.
"I managed to get through most of it without anyone noticing, people just thought I was getting fat.'' She smiles, "when I went into labour, I just went down to the docks and hid in an abandoned warehouse. Then I took her to the Saint Andrews church and left her, maybe someone found her I never checked.''
"You just left her?'' He shouting at her, she really is an evil cow, even my father wouldn't do that, and at times he can be a nasty piece of work.
"Under a bush, what was I meant to do Joe? Bring her to you? Wonder what the wife would have said to that?'' She continues to hit a few buttons on the machine. "They're taking your son,'' she motions to the nurse who's wheeling my body out of the other room. "Suggest you get back to your family.''
I leave the room before my father walking through the nearest door and down a well light corridor. He had an affair? He got her pregnant? She abandoned the baby? I stop and allow myself to drop down the wall so I'm sitting on the floor, too many thoughts are swirling through my head. My Ma, my poor Ma stuck with him through everything, and he did that to her? I close my eyes and slam my head into the wall, what the hell is happening? I feel so useless, so angry at everything. I need to tell her what I know, she deserves to know the truth, I need to find Holly, and I begin to make my way back through the maze of corridors when it hits me…