Chapter 14

The jukebox in this chapter plays the following song:-) Search it on YouTube:-)

Heaven knows by Five for Fighting

All rights here belong to the performer.

--

Detective Williams and Lieutenant Rollins again spent the night with the Commander, but left by daybreak. Dr. Carter is fine with it, so he can check on his patient in peace. Yesterday he discontinued the drug for the artificial coma. Steve's values had remained good despite the attack a few days ago, but there was always a certain residual risk, especially with such injuries.

Because of this, he has not told the team yet. The nurse on night duty told him that the commander had his eyes open every now and then last night. Dr. Carter is surprised; he would not have expected it for another day or two, if at all. Quietly, he murmurs, "Commander, you're a phenomenon in your own right." He looks at Steve's vitals and decides to go for it and remove the breathing tube.

Steve feels kind of weird. It is always dim around him. In between he has the feeling that it is getting brighter and he hears someone talking, then it is dim again.

Now he is sitting in a bar, the jukebox is playing a song and a beer is in front of him. He takes a sip and then stares ahead again, trying to dispel the gloom.

"Hey Steve!" Someone sits down next to him with his beer. As Steve turns his head he recognizes his father.

"Dad?"

On his other side, the bar stool is also moved and someone sits down.

"Hey Steve."

"Freddy?"

"Yes, good to see you. How are my two girls doing?"

"Good, the little one is getting prettier."

"That's good, imagine if she looked like me. No way to think." Freddy grins, then his expression turns thoughtful.

"What are you doing here Steve, what about that pretty brunette? What was her name again? Isn't it about time you two took the next step?"

"Catherine."

"Yes, Catherine." Steve smiles, yes this was long overdue.

Then Freddy and his father become more and more transparent and lighter. The bar blurs and the music also becomes quieter and quieter. Tired, Steve closes his eyes.

When Dr. Carter checks on Steve again around noon to renew the infusion and the perfusor with painkillers, he has just opened his eyes again. When he speaks to him, Steve looks at him briefly. Then he closes his eyes again. Dr. Carter tries again, "Commander? ... Steve?"

Steve opens his eyes. He's sitting in the bar again. Did he sleep here? It's still dusk, but this time he's alone.

"Freddy? Dad?" No one answers.

He gets up from his bar stool and goes to the jukebox. What was that song called again? Oh yeah. He looks for the button and presses it. His arm extends, grabs the single and places it on the turntable. At first he only hears the creaking sound when a record is freshly started, then the first bars of the song sound. Again he looks around. Strange that there is no one else here. He listens, didn't he just hear his name? The song from the box becomes quieter.

"Steve?"

There, now he's sure. Someone is calling his name.

"Steve?"

Steve knows the voice. Slowly, he opens his eyes. Dr. Carter is standing beside his bed.

"Doc?"

His voice doesn't sound like him at all, kind of raspy.

"Not much talking Commander, we just removed the breathing tube this morning, your throat is still a little irritated."

Steve tries to remember, he had come back with Danny after all and he was fine. So why does he feel so awful now? And why breathing tube?

White. White was going to kill Danny. His heart starts to race.

"Danny!"

"Easy, Commander, the detective is fine. You're the one who got shot."

Steve calms down again. Danny is fine. He? Shot?

Briefly, he sees the red spot on his chest again, which is getting bigger.

Steve looks questioningly at Dr. Carter, his eyes almost closing again.

"They got shot when they warned Danny, it didn't take much for us to lose you."

Steve raises an eyebrow and puts his hand on his chest. Through the surgical shirt he feels the bandage and a slight tug as he touches the wound.

"Thanks, doc."

The doctor squeezes his hand.

"Get some rest, commander. Not many people survive an injury like this."

Steve nods and his eyes are already falling shut again.