After the scene was secured, Henry and Gus came running to Shawn's side. He was barely recognizable. Henry began to do like he always does when Shawn in hurt, he takes an inventory of all his injuries.
His face was covered in scrapes and bruises and an oozing gash on his forehead from the last pistol whipping. He gently ran his hands through his hair in a way only he did, to let him know he was there with him.
His torso looked more like a package of ground beef, than the torso of a man and his poor legs; Henry shook his head in disbelief. Those poor legs they had to witness being viciously broken. He didn't think anything could be worse than seeing that video but he was wrong, seeing them in person was much worse.
They were curved in an unnatural position and he had a gun shot in each knee. Henry let out a deep breath and thought, "If he survives, will he ever be able to walk again?"
Gus was on the other side of Shawn just stunned. He tried to find a place on his arm to rub that wasn't covered in bruises or scratches, but he couldn't find any place. He just decided to tell Shawn that he was here. He promised him a smoothie everyday in the hospital if he would just be okay.
The approaching paramedics snapped Henry out of his thoughts. Henry was gently helped up and out of the way by Buzz. Lassiter extended a hand to help Gus.
The four men stood in an awkward silence while the paramedics gently rolled Shawn to one side and placed a backboard under him. They secured him to the board and then lifted him to the gurney. With military procession each of the paramedics went about the work of stabilizing Shawn for the trip to the hospital.
Within 10 minutes of their arrival they were out the door and loading him into the waiting helicopter. There was another set of paramedics from and ambulance that tried to take Lassiter to the hospital but he refused. He allowed them to bandage his arm but refused any other treatment. He gruffly waved them away telling them, "It is a flesh wound, I am fine."
Lassiter left the other officers to process the scene. On his way out he left Officer Michaels in charge and he told him that Henry's house better look perfect when he retuned. The young man snapped to attention and said, "Yes Sir"
Shawn was being brought to St. Michael's hospital the same one they would take O'Hara to. Buzz, Gus, Henry and Lassiter all piled into Lassiter's squad car and took off for the hospital with lights flashing.
They arrived shortly after the helicopter had. Chief Vick was already sitting in the waiting room. They noticed her and walked over to her for any updates. Chief sighed and said, "Well O'Hara is fine she has a broken ankle, they are going to set it and put her in a cast. She will be on crutches and desk duty for a while but she should be fine, in time." Lassiter let out a relieved breath.
Vick noticed that his shirt was torn and bloody and he had a bandage around his arm. She said, "Well, what the hell happened to you?" Lassiter waved it off and simply repeated what he told the paramedics earlier, "It's a flesh wound."
Henry was patient as long as he could be. He nervously asked Vick if she heard any word on Shawn? She frowned and said, "The doctor came out after his initial exam and told me that he arrived alive, he told me he has too many injuries to list but we will work on him and let you know what we find."
The five worn out people took their places in the waiting room to begin their vigil. The maniac father set out to torture Shawn and everyone that was involved in his son's arrest, he had succeeded. One battered officer, two injured detectives and a psychic that is left fighting for his life.
They sat in the waiting room for the first two hours in relative silence. They were all surprised when the doors opened and Juliet came hobbling out on crutches with tears streaming down her face. Lassiter ran to help guide her to the chairs, and make sure she didn't fall.
Once she got settled they asked her why she was crying? She said, "I was in a room across the hall from the where Shawn was and I heard them working on him." She paused and started to sniffle again. Lassiter wrapped his unhurt arm around his partner to try and comfort her.
After a few minutes Henry couldn't stand the silence. He mustered up as much calm as he could and asked Juliet, "Please, can you tell me what you know so far?" Juliet grabbed Henry's hands and shook her head yes.
Juliet started, "I knew he was coming, when the nurses and doctors started to run around and get ready. Within just a couple a minutes of them radioing, they busted through the door with him. I could hear them say he isn't breathing." She had to pause to compose her self and Henry just sat back in his chair letting those words ring in his head. His only son wasn't breathing.
After another minute Juliet continued, "They tried to put a ventilator in, but his throat was closed, so they had to do a tracheotomy on him. (Henry muttered OH GOD.) I thought I would hear him scream at that point (Juliet's voice began to crack) but nothing. Another nurse saw me crying and realized I was his girlfriend and she is the one that gave me these crutches so I could wait out here. When I was leaving they were taking him to surgery."
Her voice quivering from emotion she looked at Henry, "God Henry he didn't even look like himself. I was able to blow him a kiss and I told him that we loved him, just in case." She couldn't say anymore she held her head in her hands. Henry reached over and lifted her chin up to his. He had tears streaming down his face. He said, "Thank you!" Juliet was surprised, "Thank you for what I couldn't do anything." Henry swallowed hard, "If he doesn't, (pausing to steady his voice, nearly choking on the words) if he doesn't, make it out of the operating room the last thing he heard was the voice of the woman he loved (Henry's voice was now almost a whisper from the tears) reminding him how much he is loved."
He grabbed Juliet and wrapped her in a huge hug. He whispered in her ear, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear, "Juliet he loves you so much and told me he thought you were his forever." Juliet and Henry just held each other. No one was immune from the tears not even Lassiter.