The team entered the ED waiting room. Tons of family members and friends of the shooting were there, as more came in.
Caitlin looked around and walked over to Nathalie.
"Where's Al"?
"They brought him up to surgery".
"And Adam"? asked Kim just as worried.
"He's also in surgery. I don't know anything more". Nathalie looked at Kim, she only had a few minor cuts. She turned to Caitlin.
"Why don't I check you and those babies out and then get you stitched up? Looks like you had a pretty nasty fall".
Caitlin stared into oblivion.
"Caitlin"? said Nathalie. She looked her over and noticed not only the drying blood on her hands but also her ring. Her heart sank. Caitlin didn't deserve this. "Jay, do you mind taking her into booth 5? I'll meet you there in a minute".
He nodded. "Come on Cat".
As she headed to get the ultrasound, she ran into April.
"This is a nightmare", April said.
"I can't believe the world we live in. Let's focus on doing our jobs and hope everyone makes it".
After having checked Caitlin out, she sent in someone to stitch the side of her head. When they were done, Caitlin headed back to the waiting room. Kim and Hailey were sitting with Adam's dad so she headed to a free seat next to Jay and Kevin.
"Everything alright with the twins"? asked Kevin.
Caitlin simply nodded. It was like she was having an out of body experience. Her body was there physically but she was feeling numb. Everything around was hazy and foggy.
Meredith came hurrying inside. She looked around and saw Cat. She ran over to her.
"Oh my God, Caitlin are you alright"?
Seeing that she wasn't responding, she knelt down in front of her and took her hands. She also had known about their engagement and she had been happy for them. She looked at the ring.
"Cat? Where's Hank? Where's Alvin"?
Caitlin looked up at her. "Hank's was with the Chief when we left Molly's".
Meredith, closed her eyes in relief. If Hank had been with the chief than it was a good sign.
"Alvin's in surgery, he's….", she couldn't finish her sentence and merely started to cry.
Jay scooted over allowing Meredith to sit down next to Caitlin. She put her arm around her.
"He's strong. He'll make it. Don't doubt that".
Caitlin started to sob. "I can't… I can't do this without him…".
"And you won't have to".
Meredith took her hand in hers and patted it. "Are you thirsty"?
Caitlin nodded as she wiped away the tears from her eyes.
"I'll get you some water".
As she headed for the water fountain, she saw Hank come inside. His shirt was all bloody, not a sight she enjoyed seeing. He saw her and walked over to her. She took him into her arms.
"Are you alright"?
"It's only superficial".
"What the hell happened"?
"I wish I knew. What's the status"?
"I just got here. Alvin's in surgery, that's all I know", she looked over at Caitlin. "And Caitlin is a mess".
He nodded as he looked over at Caitlin. Her emotional distress was more than understandable. For her, this hit too close to home. It was almost like a dejà vu.
"I'm going to check up on Kim, I'll be right over".
She held him back. "You also need to have your shoulder looked at".
He caressed her face. "I'm alright, don't worry. There are more important things to tend to right now".
"What are you talking about"?
"Meredith, I need to get the team I have left, together and we need to start investigating on who did this".
She narrowed her eyes. "Caitlin needs you right now".
"I know. But she's a cop and I know she'll understand and want me to find the whoever did this".
Meredith knew he was right, but still she didn't like it. She headed over to the water fountain and took a cup for her and Caitlin and sat back down next to her as Hank talked with Kim, Hailey and Adam's father. Hailey stood and headed outside with Adam's dad. Kim and Hank walked over to the rest of them.
"Cat? Are you OK"? he asked.
She looked up and gave a weak nod of the head. "Physically we're fine. Emotionally? I'd be lying if I told you I was hanging in there".
He knelt and took her hand in his. "Don't you ever feel as though you have to lie to me about how you feel. We're all worried about Alvin and Adam".
He then stood and looked at Jay and Kevin. "Are you two operational"?
They both nodded.
"Ok, we're going to need all the help we need".
He looked at Meredith than at Caitlin.
"Cat, I need to get back out there and help out on the field".
She looked at him with burning eyes. "You find the bastards that did this and you bring them to justice, do you hear me"!?
He simply nodded and looked at Meredith.
"I'll stay with Kim and Caitlin. You guys go ahead and do what you've got to do".
Ethan came out of the operating room at the same time as Will. They met at the scrub zone and removed their surgical scrubs and gloves.
"Tell me you've got good news", Will said to Ethan.
He shook his head. "He's stable but it's not good. And you"?
"He's stable as well, but he was lucky".
"This is the part I hate", said Ethan. "The one where you have to tell the families".
"I feel terrible for Caitlin. Did you know that Alvin proposed and that's why they were at Molly's? So that they could share the news with everyone"?
"I didn't know. It's awful. They don't deserve this. None of the victims tonight, deserve what's happening to them".
They took the elevator downstairs to the ED in silence, then walked towards the waiting room.
All three women stood as both doctor's walked in.
"How are they"? asked Caitlin.
Ethan looked at her than at Kim and Meredith, Will did the same.
"We're a family", said Caitlin, "Whatever you're going to tell us individually, we're going to tell one another". She took Kim and Meredith's hand n each of her hands.
Will nodded. "Adam is in recovery. His surgery went well. He lost a lot of blood but the bullet didn't touch any of the vital organs".
Kim gave a sigh of relief. Caitlin squeezed her hand.
Ethan swallowed. "Alvin is stable but the rest of what I have to say is not good news. The bullet lodged itself in the spinal cord at T6. When he came in, there was no reaction to stimulus in the lower half of the body".
Caitlin blinked a couple of times as she mentally took in his words. "Are you saying he's paralyzed"?
She felt Meredith and Kim's hands tighten around hers.
"It's too early to tell. We'll know more when he comes to, but we have to be prepared for the probability that he is paraplegic. It could just be the legs, or the trunk and legs".
"So, he may never walk again"? asked Caitlin in a very quiet voice.
"At this time, I can't say whether it's permanent or temporary. I'm really sorry".
Caitlin felt the Earth beneath her waver. She felt her legs and knees buckle under the stress of the heartbreaking news. Had she not been somehow supported by Meredith and Kim, she would have sank to the floor.
"Why don't you sit down", said Will, seeing that it was weakening her.
She sat down and they discreetly left.
"How am I going to tell him"?
"Let Ethan do it. You heard him, right now it's too early to tell for sure".
She looked at Meredith who hard tears in her eyes. Caitlin couldn't cry, she wouldn't, she was mad. Mad at the entire world. She wanted to be hopeful, but she couldn't be. She needed to prepare herself for the worst case scenario: Alvin would never walk again and he'd spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.