Chapter 3
Lee watched in horror as his partner was loaded onto the ambulance. A wave of grief consumed him and he had to swallow hard. The second time in less than a year he'd had to witness Aria leaving on a stretcher, wounded. He wanted to give in to the grief and cry but knew that now was not the time for his grief.
"Lee, you ok?" John Hartford asked. He nodded. "You still haven't told her have you?"
"No," his voice was lower than normal. John laughed.
"Maybe after this you will," he turned more serious. "I'm sure she'll be just fine. They'll fix her," John smirked.
"Thanks John," Lee was grateful to this paramedic. He moved away from his friend like a robot. People were casting him looks, but Lee took no notice. He wanted to kill that man for hurting his Aria.
"Lee," the chief called over to him. With a sigh, Lee walked over to his superior who surprised him. "Go."
"Huh?" Lee squinted at Chief Merke.
"Go. You'll be a nuisance here. Go to the hospital. Keep me posted."
"Thank you Chief!" He got into the squad car and left for the hospital, only breaking about ten laws on the way. When he got there the nurse sent him to the waiting room, where he waited for nearly four hours.
"Is she out yet?" he asked the nurse who just got on duty three minutes ago.
"I'm sorry officer, but she's still in surgery," she shook her head. "I'll let you know when she comes out."
Lee called the chief and told him the news. There was silence on the other end for several minutes. "She's been through a lot," the chief finally said.
"I know, with everything that happened this year," Lee agreed.
"Lee, I'm not just talking about that. Her childhood wasn't the best."
"What? What happened?" Lee couldn't believe his partner wouldn't have divulged this piece of information.
"It's her story to tell Lee. I won't tell it," the chief finally said, as shocked as Lee that Aria hadn't mentioned her background to her partner.
"I just hope she can tell me," Lee said.
"She's tough. I have to go make sure the other officers don't kill him for what he did to one of our own."
"Alright," They hung up. Lee kind of hoped that he wouldn't survive the interrogation, but knew the prisoner probably would.
"Sir?" A nurse asked, startling Lee, who looked at his watch. 5:37 A.M. "She's out of surgery. You can see her now." Lee followed her to room 412. Aria was inside, machines beeping, clarifying they were keeping her alive.
He sat by her and looked at her pale, frail frame. She looked like she was on Death's door, knocking for entrance. Only if he could find Ron, Finn, Dan, and maybe even Rohi could aid him now.
"Ron?" he was relieved when he answered the phone. "It's me Lee . . . I know . . .too long but I need a favor . . . Mmhmm . . . My partner on the force? . . . Yeah that's the one . . . She's in the hospital . . . I dunno . . . Yeah that would be great . . . Are Finn, Dan, and Rohi coming too? . . . My place is fine . . . See you all in three days."
Lee smiled as he looked at her prone figure. "Soon, meleth nin, you will be awake and I will be able to tell you how I feel then." Gently he kissed her hand as he prepared to spend the rest of the night and day by her side.