I sat up until 3 in the morning, knowing I have to get up in a few hours for work so that I could get this done for you guys, I really hope you like it, I clearly have no medical know how so I did what i could wiht those parts. So here we are enjoy.
It all happened so slowly, or so it seemed to Ilsa, it actually happened fairly quickly, She had been sitting behind Casey watching the trial with half interest, she cursed herself when her thoughts went to Casey and not in a professional way. She smiled reassuringly at Emily as she testified, short of jumping up and screaming "You can do it!" It was the only way she could reassure the girl.
Casting Asael a glare as he took his seat on the stand, Ilsa sat and listened with disgust as he tried to justify what he had done to Emily. She rolled her eyes several times as he spoke, and waited for Casey to start her questioning, knowing she'd show the jury what kind of a person he was.
Ilsa hadn't really expected Asael to freak out on the stand, but wasn't too surprised; Casey had a way of pushing people's buttons. It was normal for some perps to try and fight the court officers as they dragged them out of the room. Ilsa was watching along with everyone else in the room when he was being dragged away, she wanted to beat the shit out of him for the things he was saying.
When he pushed off the officers and pulled out one of their guns out all logical thought disappeared from her. She had her gun with her, she could have pulled it out and shot him, but the only thought going through her mind, was that this kid had a gun and it was pointed at Casey.
She moved fast, jumping up and reaching out to get Casey out of the way, it started getting kind of fuzzy after she felt pain searing through her chest, she couldn't move and breathing was becoming an issue. She coughed as the bitter coppery taste of blood filled her mouth, she would have spat out the blood in her mouth is she had the energy to do so.
Instead she lay on the floor, bleeding out from the bullet to the chest, she felt cold and tired, like the energy was slowly being taken from her body, she couldn't see people anymore, they were just blobs in her sight and the words they spoke to her turned to gibberish in her ears.
She could hear one voice though, but it was taking too much effort to try and concentrate when all she wanted to do was rest.
"Hand on Ilsa please" was the last thing she heard before her world feel completely to black.
Ilsa was loaded into an Ambulance, paramedics working fast to try and keep the wounded detective stable until they could get her to the hospital and into an operating room, Casey had called Don and told him what had happened, she followed the paramedics and got into the ambulance with them, She was using all the will she had to stop herself from breaking down. Her heart broke as she looked down at her detective, her face pale, so much pale, so pale. Her were continuously drawn to the wound on her chest, covered now to try and slow to bleeding, but blood was still seeping through. The thought 'It should have been me' Kept going through her mind.
The young Paramedics we're doing everything they could, when suddenly Ilsa stopped breathing.
"Oh shit we're losing her" he called out
Casey's eyes widened when she heard those words 'losing her? We can lose her' She watched helplessly as they went about trying to save the bleeding woman, Casey did the only thing she could think off, she started to pray, praying that Ilsa would be ok, that she would be saved.
"We've got pulse!"
The words snapped the young attorney back to reality.
"How long until we get there?"
"We're almost there" The driver called back "Just a few more minutes"
As the ambulance pulled into the hospital a team of doctors we're already there, waiting for then, the doctors quickly took Ilsa away informing Casey that she had to wait until they finished surgery. When she asked how her friend would be, the look on the doctors face was less then encouraging.
"We'll do everything we can to save her" he said before turning and rushing off.
Casey made her way to the waiting room, slowly, trying to take in the whole situation, the thought that Ilsa might not make it was a crushing one. She looked up and saw Donald Cragen and Olivia standing there.
"What happened?" Olivia asked as she ran over to the young ADA, Casey looked up slowly, looking confused and dazed.
Olivia led her to a seat next to Captain Cragen "Casey can you tell me what happened?" she asked again, casting a glance down she saw the blood on her hands, It was also covering her shirt, She also noticed the cut on Casey's head, above her eyes brow.
"It, uh…At the…" Casey was having a hard time trying to
Olivia looked up at Donald, his face was blank, but she knew what he was feeling, she was feeling it to, she had been walking into Donald's office to tell him she was done with her paper work and was heading home when she saw him on the phone, his face losing colour as the conversation went on. He hung up the phone quickly.
"Ilsa's been shot"
That was all Olivia needed to hear before she ran to the car with Don and drove to the hospital, sirens blaring as they sped to get to their friend. Now here she was, waiting for any information on her friend.
"Casey-" Ilsa was about to ask a what happened again when a voice interrupted her.
"Where is she?"
She looked over and saw who it was and her heart clenched, with dishevelled blond hair and wide eyes, Sam was standing there with a frantic look on his face, and standing next to him was Josh, looking scared and confused.
They both ran forward when they noticed Olivia and Donald.
"Sam what are you doing here?" She asked
"What am I doing here?" he asked "I got a call saying Ilsa was bought in here, where is she?"
Donald and Casey had walked over when they heard Sam demanding and explanation
"She's been shot" Donald answered "She's in surgery now…the doctors don't know if she'll make it" he said sadly.
"h-how did this happen?" he asked, his voice thick with emotion, Josh just stood at his side listening.
"Me" Casey croaked "We were in court…"
"Right the Asael case, she said she couldn't pick up Josh because of it"
"He took one of the officer's gun a-and tried to shoot me" she choked "It's all my fault" she said a the tears she had been trying to hold back came tumbling out. Olivia wrapped an arm around the crying woman and led her to a seat.
"She got shot trying to save me" the ADA sobbed.
Josh walked over to the woman and sat down next to Casey, he also wrapped his arms around her.
"It's ok" he said kindly "I think mum would be more upset if you got hurt"
Casey and Olivia turned to look at Josh who had a smile similar to one that Ilsa would have on.
The little boy bit his lip "Aunty Liv?" he asked is my mum going to be ok?"
The adults all looked at each other, each wondering what to say to the young boy, how could they say that his mother might not make it out of surgery.
"She's going to be ok" Olivia finally said "You're mother is to stubborn to die" It coaxed a smile out of him, and everyone standing around. Josh didn't say anything, just wrapped his arms tighter around Casey and snuggle close, offering her all the comfort he could.
"It's going to be ok Miss Novak" he whispered
"Call me Casey" she said back as she moved her arms around him.
"It's going to be ok Miss Casey, mum likes you too much so she's going to be ok so she can see you again"
Casey looked down but Josh just gave her a knowing smile before steeling back down against her, getting ready for the long wait.
"Go home Sam, take Josh with you" Donald said, placing a calming hand on his shoulder.
"I can't leave, Josh will want to see her the second he can" Sam said, he was holding a cup of coffee in his hands, glad they weren't shaking so bad anymore. He wasn't sure how much time had passed, frankly he was too scared to look at the clock, he was scared that if he did only a short amount of time would have passed.
Olivia was sitting in a chair, trying to read a magazine, she had read the same article 3 times now and she couldn't process the words, she looked next to her, Josh had fallen asleep, his head was resting on Casey's lap. After getting her a clean shirt and having someone look at the cut on her head, Casey had sat back down with Josh, neither one speaking, just offering comfort. Soon he had fallen asleep, Casey didn't have the heart to move the boy so she let him lay there, slowly running her figures though his hair and softly praying.
Sam sighed and looked at the clock finally "When are we going to be told anything" he said "She's been in there for hours…I'm going to find a nurse" He said before walking off. Donald just let him go and walked to sit next to Olivia.
"What do you think her chances are?" she asked quietly so Casey and Josh didn't hear
Captain Cragen sighed "A normal person, not much…Ilsa, I reckon she's going to come out of there annoying as ever"
Olivia let out a small chuckle "She is one stubborn son of a bitch"
"How's Josh taking it?" Cragen asked looking at the boy.
"He's asleep now, I think he's just holding it in"
Don shook his head "Too much like his mother"
Sam came back into the waiting room looking worse than he did before.
"What happened?" Don asked getting up from his seat
"She's still in surgery" he said, his voice shaky "They lost her on the table, they don't think she'll make it, she's losing a lot of blood" Tears started falling down his face "I don't think I could face it if we lost her" he weakly said.
"Hey" Don said "Do you really think a little bullet is going to stop her? How many crazy things has she done in her life?" But the words we're of hallow hope, both knew that if the doctors couldn't save her it was over.
Casey looked over at Olivia "What do you think they are talking about?" she asked motioning to the two men
"Same thing we all want to know about, Ilsa"
Casey paused for a minute "Tell me she'll be ok" she said her voice filled with unshed tears
"She'll be fine"
"You're lying aren't you?"
"Maybe, we'll find out when the doctors are done"
Casey looked back down at the boy in her lap, he was a lot like Ilsa, But not so alike he had to lose his mother young too.
Casey had fallen asleep too, her head resting against the back of the chair, Josh still asleep in her lap, Sam had left to go for a walk to get some fresh air, asking Olivia to keep an eye on Josh.
This was the most calm Olivia had seen Casey since she came in, the whole thing had really upset her. Add that to the fact that Ilsa had done it to save her, she knew Casey would be feeling responsible, but Olivia knew Ilsa well enough to know that she wouldn't have had it any other way, Ilsa would do anything to save a friend, that included taking a bullet to the chest.
Donald walked over with a fresh cup of coffee for his detective. She accepted with a smile and let the warm liquid roll down her throat. "Thanks Don" she said after she had finished taking a sip "How long do you think?"
"Not long" he answered "Ilsa never could sit still for a long period of time"
Just then a doctor walked over to them "Are you the family of Miss Couri?" he asked
Don and Olivia we're on their feet quickly.
"Yes how is she?" Olivia asked franticly
"She's out of surgery" he said.
Casey and Josh slowly opened there eyes, noticing Olivia and Don with the doctor they got up and made their way over as well.
"We lost her once of the operating table but we managed to bring her back, she's lost a lot of blood too, And after surgery like this she'll need all the rest she can get, but hopefully with time she'll be back to normal?"
"Will she be able to work again?" Olivia asked, knowing that being a detective was the most important thing to her, after her son of course.
The doctor nodded "In time yes, but she'll be sitting working from the desk for a while"
"Don't worry I'll make sure of it" Don said.
Sam had walked back in to see the doctor and the relived looks on everyone's faces, he quickly ran up to them.
"How is she?"
"She's going to be ok" Donald said with a huge grin on his face.
"Can we see her?" Josh asked
"Please" Casey added
The Doctor shook his head "She's asleep and resting right now, no one can se her"
"Look doc" Sam said, all patience out of his voice "You'll want to let these two in their now because if she wakes up you'll have one very upset and difficult patient, and if you don't let them in I'll have my farther call your boss and believe me you don't want that"
The doctor looked at the man threatening him, trying to gauge if he was telling the truth "OK you two can go in, but only quickly, she's still asleep"
"Thank you" Sam said with a smug smile
"Don't you want to see mum, dad?" Josh asked looking up at his farther.
He smiled down at his son, he grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him into a hug "I'll see her later, when she's feeling a bit better, right now I think it's really important she sees you and Casey"
Josh nodded then grabbed Casey's hand "Come on Miss Casey"
***
The Doctor led Casey and Josh to Ilsa's room "Only a few minutes" he warned.
They slowly walked inside, the walls we're white and it had that 'hospital' smell, they saw detective, a blanket covered her up to her chin and she was still slightly pale but at least she had more colour to her cheeks then when Casey last saw her. A machine was hooked up to her, keeping track of her heart rate and a drip was stuck in her arm.
They walked closer, till they we're beside her bed.
"Oh Ilsa" Casey sighed, reaching out to touch the woman through the blanket.
"Mum" Josh said as he reached his hand out to touch her cheek, he pulled his hand back and grabbed Casey "Look" he said pointing with his free hand to his mother's face.
Ilsa slowly blinked her eyes open, wanting to close them when the harsh light came into focus. She started to breathe harder and the beeping of the machine showed it.
"I feel like I got hit by a truck…a truck with a gun"s he murmured softly, still not quite awake.
"Mum it's ok" Josh said, Ilsa slowly turned her head, tears filled her eyes when she saw her son.
"Joshy" she said, her voice hoarse "oh baby" she said and reached out from under the blanket to pull him closer, pain shot through her chest, but she ignored it so she could hold her son close "Sorry if I scared you"
"It's ok, I knew you would be ok" he said, but Ilsa could hear in his voice how he felt, and the red puffy eyes didn't fool her "You're too stubborn to die like this"
Ilsa furrowed her brow then started to laugh, then she started coughing, liking back on the bed, she let her son go and groaned "Don't make me laugh, it hurts right now"
"Ok, I'm sorry" he said, he cast a glance at the woman standing next to him "I'm going to tell dad you're ok, Can I come back and see you soon?" he asked with a smile
Ilsa smiled weakly "You don't need to ask honey, visit anytime" With that the young boy ran out of the room to find his farther.
Ilsa's gaze followed him out of the room, then she noticed Casey "Oh god are you ok?" she asked, Casey moved up to the head of the bed, Ilsa moved her hand up and gently touched where Casey had hit her head.
"Am I ok?" she asked, tears in her voice "You're the one who got shot!"
Ilsa managed a slight shrug "It was worth it to save you, I couldn't let you get hurt"
Casey grabbed Ilsa's hand and let some of the tears fall, before quickly wiping them away.
"I was so worried I might lose you" she said
"Sorry honey, you're stuck with me for a lot longer"
Ilsa closed her eyes for a minute; she was still in a lot of pain. Casey looked down at Ilsa, and though about how she had waited so long to let her know how she felt, deciding that enough time had been wasted she slowly leaned forward.
Ilsa opened her eyes when she felt a slight pressure on her lips, she moaned softly enjoying the feel of Casey's lips moving against her own. When Casey pulled back Ilsa couldn't stop the goofy grin that spread across her face.
"You know" Ilsa said smiling up at Casey "If all I had to do was get shot for you to kiss me like that…I'd have done it sooner"
Casey couldn't stop the relieved laugh that escaped "Oh god" she groaned "Promise me you won't go do anything stupid like this again"
"We both know that's a promise I can't make" Ilsa said seriously
"So um Ilsa…" Casey said suddenly nervous "I was wondering if when you're better you'd…" she paused, wondering if she should ask now.
"Why Casey Novak are you trying to asked me out?" Ilsa asked hoping to help Casey work up the courage to ask.
"Maybe…" The attorney mumbled
"Would it help if I told you the answer is yes?"
"Definitely…Ilsa would you like to go out with me when you're feeling better?"
Ilsa smiled brightly, she considered saying something silly, or making a joke but decided against it, now wasn't the time, not after everything they had been through.
"Yes Casey, I would love nothing move then to go out with you"
Casey couldn't stop the smile on her face "Great, well I better go before the doctor gets angry, I'll come back and visit soon"
Ilsa smiled kindly "Can't wait"
Casey turned to walk to the door when Ilsa called out to her
"Casey?"
She turned around "Yes Ilsa?"
"I'm feeling much better now" she said with her trademark grin
Casey smiled gently "Goodbye Ilsa" she said
"Casey?"
She sighed, but happily "Yes Ilsa?"
"I'm sorry I worried you today"
"Get some rest, ok" Casey said and she turned to leave again, she could feel Ilsa watching her as she left.
Ilsa waited until Casey was out the door before she lay back down and winced from the pain, the full impact of getting shot and almost dying and being in surgery for how long she was there should have been upsetting, she should have been thanking some great deity that she was alive and would still be able to work, but Ilsa could only think of one thing.
"I've got a date"
So here we are the end of the story, I hope you all liked it as much as I liked writing it, I'm sad to say I wont have anything up for a bit, I am planning on writing another story after this but I'm having trouble coming up with a good plot, if any of you have suggestions I would love to hear them, If not never fear! I've got an arsenal of inspirational music and a lot of Law and Order DVDs I'll come up wiht something eventually. :) Until then thank you for all the great comments they really ment a lot.