Chapter 2 Hospital
When Michael, Robbie and Stuart arrived at the hospital, they saw Burke "How is she?" Michael asked. Burke's worried expression had surprised Michael, of all people he didn't expect Burke to care. "She's in surgery, there's internal bleeding" Burke answered. He was covered in Jackie's blood. Michael looked at him seeing her blood, he felt his heart sink 'Jackie's really hurt' he thought to himself.
"Matt, are you ok?" Matt had looked dazed, but when he realised Michael had asked about him. He mentally told himself to snap out of it. "Yeah I'm fine, everyone is searching for Kennedy." He motioned to Robbie and Stuart that they should do the same. Robbie grabbed Stuarts arm and they both left.
"What's the chances that she'll pull through" Michael asked not sure if he wanted the answer, but he needed to know. He couldn't bear the thought of losing her. She meant too much to him. He shuddered at the thought of their last conversation. She had tried to talk him out of jumping to conclusions about Matt Burke. She always seemed to know what was best and the last words he had said to her were in angst 'I'll see you!' He was praying hard, that those wouldn't be his last words to her. "They don't know, mike." Burke finally answered.
"That Bastard Kennedy, he went after the person I care about most. Like he did to Innes" Michael turned away from Burke. The realisation setting in to Michael "this is my fault, I should have known. I should have known he would hurt Jackie" Burke wasn't sure why Michael felt guilty. He had seen Jackie's loyalty to Michael first hand. Burke then thought to himself, is there more to their relationship than meets the eye. But instead of prying he just touched Michael's arm "No one saw this coming, he did this in broad day light!" Michael appreciated Burke's honesty but couldn't beat the feeling that he could have saved Jackie. "Matt, I need you to get back on the case and find Kennedy!"
"Are you sure Mike? You know you are in danger here too!" That was the last thing on his mind, he needed to see Jackie. "I'm staying here Matt" he said bluntly. Michael took his hand, "thank you for taking care of her". Both men had exchanged a mutual respect for each other, Michael had respected that Burke had taken care of Jackie and that he looked as if he genuinely cared about Jackie's well being. For Burke he had realised that the team he had stormed into was a close-knit one, filled with friendships as well as great workers. He hadn't expected them to care so deeply for each other.
Michael paced the waiting room. Every time the door opened, his heart stopped. The waiting, the not knowing, was killing him. The doctor finally walked to towards him. Michael tried to gauge his face, trying to see what the news would be. Fear came over him. "she out of surgery and is stable for the minute but she's not out of the woods yet" Michael was relieved but knew that this was far from Jackie being fine. "Can I see her?" he asked.
"Yes you can, but not for too long."
"I think I will need to keep watch over he until a uniformed officer arrives for a protective detail"
"Fair enough, chief inspector, come this way!"
Michael stepped into the room. Jackie's eyes were closed, her face pale. She looked frail. He sat down beside her. He fought every urge not to cry. "Jackie" he touched her hand "oh Jackie, I'm so sorry" he said bringing her hand up to kiss.