Sam was rushing as fast as he could, while still driving safely, back to Toronto. If Mia wasn't with him he'd be driving with all his police skills, but he dialed it back a bit. Still, Mia was upset. She was probably picking up on Sam's mood which ranged from worried to angry and back. Worried for the obvious reasons. Angry because there was nothing he could do or have done to prevent this from happening. Angry that this did happen because somebody was being stupid and texting while driving. And, not only that, but in winter weather conditions. With that thought in mind, Sam eased up a bit on the gas and reigned himself in. It wouldn't help anybody if he got in an accident on the way to the hospital in an attempt to get there just a few minutes sooner. Having been in enough rushes to the hospital before, he should have known that he'd be waiting awhile, whether he got there now or fifteen minutes from now.
Still, it was Andy. The love of his life. The only person in the world that could complete him, understand him, and quite likely, be able to love him given the man he'd been. But she changed that. Changed him. Made him a man that could be a father. Not just a father but a good father. Maybe even a great one. Someone that actually wants to have a family, not somebody who lives with the burden of one. He and his dad were two very different people, and Sam couldn't be more thankful for it. But if it wasn't for McNally, he knew he could never honestly say anything close to that.
Sam was snapped out of his thoughts by his phone ringing. He picked it up on speaker phone.
"Yeah?"
It was Oliver. "I got Collins waiting for you. He's gonna escort you once you get into town. You're still on the same course."
"I am, almot to the city line."
"Alright, I'll let Nick know. Listen, I got an update from Traci. They took her into Surgery. She was still conscious and alert, so that's good."
"Thanks."
"Yeah, I'll see you in a bit."
Sam clicked off and swallowed back a knot that had been forming in his throat. A little tension let off. She's alive. She's awake. She's aware. She certainly was tough. But then again, Sam already knew that. Not that he'd ever publicly admit it, but she may give him a run for his money on that front. That thought put a sight grin on his face and for the first time in a while he was feeling something other than anger and worry.
Sam was right on the border of the city now and he could see a Metro Police squad car on the shoulder up ahead. Apparently, Nick saw him approaching because he flipped on his lights and pulled out in front of Sam. Sam fell in behind but was happy to see that Nick was driving with good haste as well. "We're on our way, Andy. Hold on," Sam said just above his breath.
Back at the scene of the crash, the wreckers were hauling away the vehicles. All of the rest of the victims had been triaged and treated accordingly. Juliet had talked to all of the witness and was in the process of getting official, signed statements from them. Dov was trying to track down next of kin for the deceased driver by going through her phone. He couldn't find any contact with the same last name to indicate siblings or parents. He did see a name for a daycare center in her phone. He hoped beyond hope that she worked there, that he wasn't dealing with an orphaned child because of this stupid tragedy. He ran the woman's driver's license and pulled up her records. No criminal record. Her name was Maria Carson. Relatively clean driving record. Just some basic parking tickets and a couple moving violations. Common-enough stuff. He wrote down her address and logged out of the computer in his car. HE walked over to Oliver who was on the phone in his truck.
"-and alert, so that's good."
Dov waited for him to finish the phone call, which was obviously about Andy.
"Yeah, I'll see you in a bit." Oliver hung up. "What do ya got?"
"No family I could find, easily. I'll keep looking though. Clean record, seems like a normal person."
Ward walked up then. "I got all the statements. Basically, all saying the same thing. Van doesn't stop, slams into McNally and pushes her into the intersection right in front of the oncoming bus. AS Far as she goes, do we have a name?"
"Maria Carson," Dov Supplied.
"Ms. Carson ejected thorough the windshield on impact, landed awkwardly on the road, and never moved. Probably broke her neck enough to kill her instantly."
"I'll get Price to go with the body to the coroner and confirm."
Juliet nodded and looked at Dov. Oliver followed suit.
Taking the hint, Dov continued, "Uh, I have an address for her-"
"Can I see that?", Juliet copied it down into her notes under the newly added name.
Dov carried on, "I was thinking of going to talk to the neighbors to see if they know of any family. I also found a daycare number in her phone. I'm hoping she worked there, but, well, you know."
"Yeah, I do," Oliver said grimly. They all had to be prepared for the worst. "That's good. Both of you. Something to follow up on. I'm going to be at the hospital if you guys need anything."
"Epstein, if you want to go to the hospital, be with your partner and friends, that's fine. I can run this stuff down," Juliet offered.
"You sure?"
"Yeah, of course. These leads have to be run down now and I'm the least connected to McNally so I should be the one to do it. Police work, it never rests."
"Thank you, I really appreciate it," Dov said and took off for his car. "Keep me posted," he yelled over his shoulder.
"Yeah, Ward, thanks for taking one for the team," Oliver said. "Although, I'm hesitant to send you solo on this. But we're kind of thin right now considering.
"Sir, I'll be fine. I'm just door knocking and talking to neighbors. Nothing will happen. But, if it'd make you feel better, I'll even keep the vest on."
"It would. I'll try to send someone your way if somebody opens up."
"Sure, you know where I'll-"
"I'll go," they both noticed Gai for the first time, who had apparently been listening in on the conversation.
"You?", Juliet asked. "She was most confused by Gail wanting to work with her on a personal level but didn't want to voice that right in front of Oliver so she used the most convenient evasion. "I'd assumed you'd want to be at the hospital with your…friends…, and be there for Andy."
"Nah, don't really like them. Hospitals, I mean. All the sick people and the smell of death. Plus," all serious now, "if there is an orphaned child because of this, I want to be involved."
Oliver and Juliet both understood. "Well Peck, it sounds like you made up your mind," Oliver said. "I won't try to change it. Just stay safe and keep me posted. And when you're done, get to the hospital. I don't care how much you dislike them," he eyeballed Gail then looked at Juliet before closing his door and taking off for Memorial.
"Shall we?", Gail asked.
"Lead the way."
The emergency room entrance at Memorial was a mess, clogged up with ambulances and police cars. Inside was no different. Many patients from the bus were in there along with their family and friends. There were other patients that found their way there for various reasons. Then there was the plethora of cops congregating and waiting for news. Sam pushed through it all to the desk, carrying Mia in her carrier. To the lady at the desk he said, "Hi, Andria McNally? I'm her husband."
The attendant pulled up Andy's file.
"Sam? Let me buzz you through and we'll take you through to the recovery ward. You can wait for her there."
"Great, thanks." He turned around and saw Traci a few feet away talking to Chris. He walked over. "Hey."
"Swarek, glad you're here," she said.
"Yeah, they're taking me back to recovery. Can I give you Mia for a bit? I called Marlo but I couldn't get ahold of her. Hopefully she can get here soon."
"Yeah, yeah, no worries. We'll take good care of her." Traci grabbed the carrier form Sam and Chris took the go-bag.
"Thanks guys, I owe ya." He caught back up with the attendant and she walked him through the maze of hallways and to an elevator that dumped them off a couple floors up. Some more turns and he found himself in a much quieter waiting room.
"Is there a doctor I can talk to?", he asked.
"Yeah, I'll page the ER doc that saw her to come up and see you."
"Thank you."
"If you need something, those guys over there will help you," she pointed a nurse's station a little way down an adjacent hallway. When he left Sam leaned his head back and shut his eyes. Not sleeping, he just wanted to block everything out and try to relax, as best he could, until the doctor came to see him.
He was jostled out of that by his phone ringing. It was Marlo.
"Hey Sam, I'm sorry about missing your call. I was out of my office for a bit and left my phone there. What's up? Is everything good with Mia?"
"Marlo, It's Andy." Sam filled her in on what he knew, which wasn't much, yet. But again, what little he did know was encouraging.
"I'll leave right now. Give me an hour."
"Mia's with Traci and Chris in the main ER waiting room. I'll let them know you're on your way."
"Okay, yeah, I'm walking out of my office now."
"Mr. Swarek?"
Sam noticed a 30-something woman in scrubs and a doctor's coat standing next to him. It said 'Emergency Medicine' on it. "Listen Marlo, the doctor just got here, I gotta go. Talk later."
"Hi, Sam," he offered his hand and the doctor shook it.
"Doctor Simms," she said. "First off, your wife was conscious and very alert. We checked for any signs of head trauma and didn't find any."
"That's good."
"Yeah, that let us operate on her. She has a fractured left humerus and right femur. SO that's what they're working on.
"Okay, okay." Sam processed that information and said a prayer of thanks that it wasn't worse.
"Just try to relax here, they know you're here so they'll come get you when she's out and moved into a room.
Sam took a deep breath, "Thank you, doctor."
Dr. Simms nodded and took off back down the hall. Sam sat back down and tried to relax again. It was a little easier this time after talking with her. But he still wouldn't feel a whole lot better until Andy was out of surgery and he was in the same room with her.