O is for Orchard

Jamie was shaking. It was cold and dark and the orchard was creepy. His voice is hoarse from calling the little girl's name. Jamie has been searching for her, for five hours. An anonymous tip told him that she was seen in this orchard with a man. That man was her very deadly, very criminal father. He took her in the middle of the night. Her mother didn't notice until the morning. So now Jamie was walking through this orchard by himself, because he refused to give up on her.

Jamie could see his breath every time he exhaled. A shiver racked his body, but he continued on.

"Nicole!" His swung his flashlight around, hoping to find something. He kept walking forward. "Nicole!" He went to keep walking, but he thought he heard something. He froze and strained to hear.

"Help me." It was just a whisper. It was coming from above. Jamie looked up. Nicole sat on a branch up in the tree.

"I'm going to get you down, ok." She nodded. Jamie thought for a second and thought the best way to get her down would be to have her jump. "Ok, I want you to jump down, and I'll catch you." She hesitated. "I promise." She nodded a little. "Ok, good. On three, ok? One…Two…Three…Jump." She jumped and Jamie caught her. "You're safe now. Why were you up there?"

"He said that no one would find me there and he would be back after the police left."

"Well he was wrong. I found you and I am the police." Nicole shook in Jamie's arms. "Are you cold?" She nodded. Jamie set her on the ground and removed his jacket, despite him being freezing. "Let's get you home."

Jamie pulled out his phone only to find it dead and his radio was out of reach. So he led the way to his car. After a couple of minutes of walking, Jamie sensed someone following them. He stopped and turned around. Jamie could just out the outline of a man. Jamie drew his gun. He whispered to Nicole.

"Get behind me." Nicole moved behind Jamie. "When I tell you to, run down this path until you see my car. It's a police car." He slipped Nicole the keys. "Unlock it and puck up the radio and tell them who you are and say that Officer Reagan needs back up. Nicole nodded her understanding. "Good. Now run." Nicole took off running. Jamie raised his gun toward the figure. "Freeze! Hands in the air."

"Give me back my daughter."

"Sir, put your hands in the air!"

A single shot flew through the air and hit Jamie's side. He fell to his knees. But kept his gun aimed at the figure.

"I said, give me back my daughter!"

"You will never get her."

Another shot was fired and it imbedded itself in Jamie's shoulder. Jamie aimed with his gun and fired the whole clip. His rage coming out of him. He hated kidnappers. The figure fell and Jamie slowly rose and stumbled towards them. The man lay face down, Jamie flipped him over. Jamie pulled the gun away from him and started the journey back to his car.

Pain laced throughout his entire body, but Jamie's determination to make sure Nicole was alright, kept him going. His car came into view. He could see the inside lights on and Nicole talking into the radio. He shuffled next to the car and slide to the ground, his back against the back driver's side door. Nicole looked over to him.

"I did what you said." Her smiled disappeared. "You're hurt." She turned back to the radio and frantically said the he was hurt. She jumped from the car and sat next to Jamie. "Thank you for saving me." Jamie was growing weaker and could only smile back at her. A car came to a stop soon followed by other police cars. Jamie looked up and recognized the one car. Danny threw the door open and ran to Jamie's side. Jamie raised his eyes to meet Danny's.

"Hey, kid…I'm going to put some pressure on your wounds ok?" Jamie nodded weakly. Danny placed his hands on Jamie. "You stay with me."

"I-It doesn't hurt." Jamie reached a weak hand to Danny. "M-make s-sure Nicole g-gets to h-her m-mom."

"She's safe. Just focus on yourself."

"I-I l-love you, D-Danny." Tears sprung in Danny's eyes as he realized that his little brother wasn't going to make it.

"I love you too, kid." Danny locked eyes with Jamie and watched helplessly as his eyes lost their brightness and his body stilled. Danny pulled Jamie close and mourned his loss. The paramedics, who just arrived, stayed back and let Danny have a moment. Another car came skidding to a stop. Danny looked up at his father drew near.

"Dad, he's gone." Frank stopped dead in his tracks. Danny motioned for the paramedics and rose to meet his Dad's open arms.

BBBBBBBBBBBB

Frank stood at the front of the hall, his left hand rested on the closed casket. Unshed tears fill his eyes. He took a shaky breath and began his speech.

"Another Officer has fallen for this city. He died a hero. Moments before his death, he had saved a younger girl from her kidnapper." Nicole sobbed in the front row next to her mom. "He will be missed by many."

The Reagan family huddled close by the casket. They all silently whispered their good-byes. Danny looked back down the aisle, because something caught his eye.

In a warm ray of light, Jamie stood tall in his uniform. He nodded and then turned around and disappeared in the light. Danny turned back to the casket in front of him. He placed a hand on it and said one final good-bye.

"I'll see you soon." A small reply came, but it was just a whisper.

Not too soon. Danny smiled a small smile and pulled Linda and the kids in for a hug. Jamie was watching over them and he would wait for Danny to live a long prosperous life.