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Chapter Five - The Dangers I Had Passed
Tess flung open the doors to the ER. "She's out of surgery!" she called in their direction. "Doc's gonna be here in a minute to let us know what's going on."
"Coming!" Evan called back, and Tess disappeared back inside. He heard Vincent crawling out of the shrubs and raised an eyebrow at JT for explanation.
"Super hearing," JT informed him. "One of the perks."
"Come on," Vincent barked as he blew past them on his way to the doors. "Let's find out how Catherine's doing."
"Whoa whoa wait a minute big guy!" JT yelled, running to catch up with him. "What do you think you're doing? You gonna just waltz in there like some normal guy that doesn't have a death certificate on file? Are youserious?"
"JT, no one has to know my name or who I am. I'll lurk in a corner away from the rest of you. With my 'super hearing' as you put it, I don't have to be standing in front of the doctor to still hear his report."
"Yes, but If I know you – and I think I do by now – you're going to want to 'talk shop' and ask questions, and the temptation to discuss her condition will gnaw at you until you cave and get involved. And then what? What if he recognizes you?"
"I doubt he will, JT," Vincent answered, stopping just before the automatic doors would sense his presence and open. "I was only a resident and it wasn't here, it was at St. Benjamin's. So unless he worked the ER there 10 years ago, he wouldn't have a clue as to who I am. Look, I promise I'll be careful. And if by some freak thing I do happen to know him IpromiseI'll keep my distance." He pulled the brim of his cap down a little lower over his eyes. "Now let's get in there before we miss the doctor altogether and all this arguing becomes a moot point." Vincent went in first, looked around and saw Tess and Heather just getting up to greet the doctor. He turned and walked in the opposite direction, finding a seat in a quiet corner to position himself so he could eavesdrop.
Evan and JT strolled in together and walked up just as the surgeon was introducing himself. "She came through the surgery with flying colors," he reported "The bullet, as you know, had gone clean through. She'll be pretty sore for a while but she should make a full recovery. Fortunately she was wearing her seatbelt and didn't sustain any life-threatening internal injuries, just some cuts and bruises, and a broken ankle. The biggest thing we have to watch her for is a concussion."
"What about the other woman who was brought in from the accident?" Tess thought to ask. "Is she still alive?"
"Sadly there was nothing we could do for her. She was DOA."
"Aww gee isn'tthatjust too bad," Tess muttered under her breath.
"I'm sorry," the surgeon said, getting a little edge to his voice. "I don't know what your issues with the other woman were, but your comment is pretty inappropriate considering your friend apparently killed her."
Tess whipped out her badge. "That other woman was a psycho-matchmaker who tried to kill mypartner, if you must know. She'd already killed one man, and afterDetective Chandlerinterrogated her, she knew she was going down for it. Apparently she figured she had nothing to lose, so why not kill the cop that spoiled it all for her? Now, forgive me, but inappropriate or not, I'm glad she can't do any more damage."
"My apologies for misreading the situation. But our professional objectives are not always compatible, as I'm sure you know. My goal is to preserve life whenever possible. I can't allow moral judgments to impair my ability to do my job. Those are best left for the legal system. In your line of work, you see the worst of humanity on a daily basis. I imagine it gets frustrating when you feel justice isn't served."
"It sure does. So you'll please forgive me if I don't get all torn up about the way this one turned out."
"Understood, detective. At any rate, Ms. Chandler is going to be in ICU at least until she regains consciousness and we see how she's doing. You may go check in on her one at a time for no more than 5 minutes before you leave. She's still sedated from the surgery so she won't respond to you, just so you know. You can call about her status in the morning to see if she can have visitors. She's in ICU 104. The nurses can direct you."
"Thanks so much, doctor," Evan said, extending his hand.
"Certainly," the surgeon replied as he clasped the offered hand in a firm shake. "Hopefully your friend will be out of here in a couple of days. Now if you'll excuse me I have another patient to tend." As he walked away, JT turned to make eye contact with Vincent, only to find his friend was nowhere to be seen. Now where had he ducked off to…? He trailed after Tess, Heather, and Evan as they went to the nurses' station and got directions to ICU. All the way there, JT kept looking around nervously for some sign of Vincent. He knew it was too much to hope for, that Vincent had gone home. He was lurking around here somewhere, JT was sure of it.
"Oh Cat," Heather whined with a sniffle as she held her sister's hand. "Youhaveto pull through this. I need you big sis. Who else can I sit up all night with eating ice cream and crying over my train wreck of a love life?" She gave a teary laugh. "Although just between you and me, I reallyreallylike Evan." She waved her hand dismissively, even though Catherine couldn't see her. "Oh I know you said he's a flirt, but who knows? Maybe I can be the one to make him settle down." She choked back a sob as she bent to kiss Catherine's forehead. You rest, and I'll talk to you in the morning OK? I love you Cat." She walked out of the room and Tess gave her a hug before going in.
"Hey partner," Tess said softly as she walked up to Catherine's bed. She gently brushed a stray lock of hair from her friend's cheek. "You need to get better quick and get back on your feet. What am I gonna do without you? I mean, you know my luck. Joe will try to stick me with Wolanski for a partner. Next thing you know MY name will be on the police blotter for assault. That guy seriously winds me up." She took Catherine's hand and gave it a little squeeze. "I need you, Cat. You're the only thing that keeps me sane in that testosterone jungle." Tess just stood and watched Catherine breathe for a couple more minutes, before releasing her hand and leaving the room.
Evan slipped into ICU 104 and just stood by the door watching Catherine for a minute. So much had happened in the last couple hours, it was hard to process it all. Who was this woman that he thought he knew? This beautiful, vivacious girl that made him laugh, and was always finding some extra project at work to rope him into? He smiled remembering some of the "favors" she'd managed to get him to do for her.
It was a shame that she would never know what she meant to him. He knew that she saw him as a player, but that was what he'd always wanted her to think. The truth was, and he was finally ready to admit it to himself, he let her think that to keep her at arm's length because he was scared.More like terrified, he thought. Deep inside, he knew that she was the one that could make him break his 3 month rule. But he just wasn't sure if he was the marrying type. And Catherine deserved that. She deserved… everything. After all she'd been through, he didn't want to be just one more failed relationship for her to agonize over. He wanted to see her happy – truly happy.
His thoughts turned to Vincent. Something told him here was someone that could give Cat her "happy ever after" if they could somehow find a way to at least keep his DNA from mutating any further than it already had. It was obvious that Keller was totally smitten with Catherine, and her feelings for him must be pretty powerful if she was willing to risk not only her relationships with friends and family, but her career and reputation to protect this poor tortured man. Joe had made it crystal clear that he wanted the rogue vigilante hauled in and brought to justice. If Cat was found harboring a known fugitive on Joe's 10 most wanted list, she was going to have bigger problems to worry about than desk duty.
Evan sighed. Who the hell was he kidding? Theyallwere going to be in serious trouble if they got found out. All the more reason not to bring Tess into it. She'd never forgive them after her last brush with desk duty. He pushed himself off the wall he'd leaned against and crossed the room to her bedside. "Ah, sweet Catherine. What a fine mess we've all landed ourselves in, eh? So now I know your deep, dark secret that you've been keeping from us all. What I need is for you to wake up and tell mewhyyou're risking everything to help Vincent Keller. And while you're at it, maybe you can explain why the hell I'm sticking my neck out too. You must be rubbing off on me." He smiled sadly as he leaned down to brush a kiss on her lips. "Be well, sweetheart. And be happy. Now that I know why you kept turning me down, I won't pressure you anymore."
When Evan left the room, Tess had already gone. He looked at JT, who was waiting for his 5 minutes with Cat, and said, "I have to take Heather home, and let her dad know what's happened." He pulled out his wallet and removed a business card. "Here's my number – when the dust settles, give me a call OK? We can start discussing our… collaboration."
JT nodded. "Yeah, I will. And Marks? Thanks." He watched as Evan pulled Heather to his side and escorted her out of ICU. When they were out of sight he took a deep breath and entered Cat's room.
There was something so wrong about seeing her lying there like that, he thought. So still… surrounded by the beeping and buzzing of machines tending to her broken body. He thought of all the times she had gone to bat for Vincent, and he felt ashamed of the way he'd treated her. He had come to realize that even though she may have crossed the lines sometimes, it was only because she had to learn where they were. He and Vincent had been living with those lines for 10 years. It was all new territory for her. And she had adjusted. In the end, her fierce loyalty to Vincent was more than he expected or ever could have hoped for.
"Hey Cat," he murmured as he stood next to the bed watching her. "I, uh… I just want to say how sorry I am for the way I've treated you. I guess I've been protecting Vincent for so long, it never occurred to me that there might be someone in this crazy world that couldreallylove him in spite of everything he has going on. It wasn't that I was afraid you were going to rat him out; I just don't want to see him get hurt, you know? I realize that must sound silly, he's a big boy and all… but he's lonely. I've had to give up a lot in the social life department, but I still get to have a life. Vincent has nothing. Or at least… hehadnothing until you came into his life." He paused. "I guess what I'm trying to say is,thank you. Thank you for seeing Vincent for who he is as a man and loving him as he is. I promise I'll be less of a jerk to you when you're back on your feet, OK? Just… get better. Vincent needs you. Weallneed you."
JT hesitantly reached out and patted Catherine's hand before turning and walking out. He never stopped as he exited the room; just kept on going until he reached his car. There was no point waiting around for Vincent. He'd find his own way home when he was good and ready. And JT was pretty sure that wouldn't be any time soon.