Wow, so many reactions to what happened. Sorry for the cliff hanger. I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint but it'll be a while before we find out who did it. Consider this like the first 15 minutes of an episode. Can't tell you everything in the beginning. Thanks to decadenceofmysoul, YaleAceBella12, dhnysports88, LucifersAlleyCat, JazzyBoo1997, huskgirl13, Faithfan2000, Benskywalker4ever, Kuara5, daughterofriversong23, Mikaela296, bookworm125, and the guests Shadow97, snowflake18540, and MirraRosee. That's a lot of people. This will answer a lot of questions you guys asked, but not all of them, don't hate me. I can't just tell you everything.
Ricky and Trey were enjoying a quiet meal in their ambulance when the call came over the radio. They were less than a block from the call location. "Hit it, man," Trey said, tossing his bag of chips on the dash. Ricky wrapped up the other half of his sandwich, started the bus, and flipped on the lights. They rolled to a stop and Trey was already pulling on his gloves. He grabbed the medical bag from the back. Ricky rounded the bus to open the doors as Trey was waved over to the patient.
"What do we have?" Trey asked, kneeling next to the young woman.
"I didn't see what happened. I was just walking down the street when I heard gunshots. When it went silent again, I saw her drop her keys. Then I noticed there was blood on her hand. She collapsed and that's when I noticed she had been shot," the man said.
"Ok." Trey took a look at where the man had his hands pressed. Ricky joined him. "Get the gurney, we have to move fast." Trey began packing the wounds. Trey looked at the Good Samaritan. "Are you hurt?"
"What? No, it's all her blood."
"Thank you."
"Where are you taking her?"
"St. Victor's hospital's the closest."
Ricky returned with the gurney and they moved her onto it. "We have any information on her?" he asked.
"I don't know her but that's her purse," the bystander said.
The two EMTs got her bag then loaded her into the ambulance. As Trey drove to the hospital, Ricky kept an eye on her and found her phone. Though it was locked, it had an emergency information button. Pressing it pulled up three I.C.E. contacts and an option for medical information. He checked the medical information first. There were no allergies or medical conditions listed as well as no medications. The only thing listed was her blood type.
"Ricky?" Trey asked. Ricky told him what he found. "Try that first contact. It's usually the most important."
Ricky hit call and they picked up on the second ring. "Hey, kid, don't tell me you regret going home already," the male voice on the other end said.
"Um, my name's Ricky Marlow, I'm an EMT with FDNY. Can you tell me whose phone I'm calling from?"
"Her name is Anna Reagan. Wait, EMT? What happened?"
"And your name?" Ricky pressed, not answering the question.
"Mike Johansen. I'm a friend of hers. I'll repeat, what happened?"
"She was shot and you're listed as an I.C.E. contact. What can you tell me about Anna?"
"20 years old, healthy, no medical conditions, no medications, no allergies. You said she was shot, where at?" Mike asked.
"Left shoulder. You're a friend? Do you know next of kin?"
"You said FDNY, I assume you mean New York, so it would probably be her parents."
"We are; we're headed to a hospital in Brooklyn. St. Victors."
"That sounds familiar for some reason ..." Mike trailed off trying to think of why that was familiar. He couldn't come up with a reason. "Is she okay?" he went on to ask.
"She's stable at the moment. Do you have contact information on Anna?"
"As in next of kin contact? No, but I think her parents are the other I.C.E. contacts."
"Ok. Thank you for the information."
"Thank you," Mike said. He slipped his phone back in his pocket.
"Mike? What is it?" Mike looked to his right and saw his sergeant. He slowly let out a breath then told him what he knew. "We need to get back to the station. This is not good. Do you have plans for the next couple of days?"
"Nothing pertinent."
"I'd like you in New York. In case something comes up," the sergeant told him.
"You think she's in danger if—when she pulls through?" Mike asked, turning the car back towards the station.
"How many guys has she put away in the last couple of months? How many were felonies? She's a good cop and I'd hate to lose her. I'll clear it with Cap and the Chief. When we get back, book to soonest flight you can." The sergeant was partially worried about a number of the guys that Anna had put away but he was more worried that her cover had been blown and that any one of the guys she had taken down from a gambling ring had connections in New York that was getting back at her. Of course, Mike didn't know that and the sergeant couldn't tell him. While the sergeant did trust the NYPD and knew his captain would too, it wouldn't hurt to have extra eyes on the girl, especially if it was someone Mike could identify.
Meanwhile, Danny pulled up to the scene as they were loading the ambulance and, looking around, he didn't see any other detectives on the scene. He did however see several uniforms and his brother. "What do we got, kid?" Danny asked.
Jamie gripped his cell phone and avoided Danny's eyes. He took a deep breath wondering how best to break this to his brother. He hated being the bearer of bad news. It wasn't the first time he had to break bad news but it was the first time that he had to tell his brother that someone he cared about had been hurt. The last time Jamie broke bad news to his brother it was when Nicky had been arrested but now that Anna was hurt ... he took another deep breath.
"Jamie?" Danny pressed.
Jamie took one more deep breath, glanced at the red car on the curb, then looked at his brother. "You need to get to St. Victors," Jamie said.
"What?" Danny asked confused.
"St. Victor's hospital. It's where they're taking her. You need to go. It's Anna."
"What's Anna? She's in Miami."
"She's not. She came in yesterday. I'm sorry. I—I was having dinner with her. I walked her to her car and said goodbye. Next thing I know, someone's yelling there's been a shooting and she's on the ground."
"Where were you when the shooting happened?" Baez asked.
"Inside. That gentleman over there was with her right after the shooting. Danny, I'm sorry." Jamie let out a breath.
Danny looked between his brother and the street, his eyes landing on the bright red car. Baez however was focused on his brother. "How bad is it?" Baez asked.
"GSW to the left shoulder. Through and through," Jamie said.
"Danny, I've got this. Why don't you go to the hospital?" Baez suggested. Danny turned back to his partner.
"The shooter?" Danny asked.
"No one saw them," Jamie said. "Come on, I'll give you a ride." Danny let his brother guide him to the car. Baez, meanwhile, headed to the good Samaritan to get as much information as possible.
It was another crazy day in St. Victor's E.R. Linda loved her job and would only trade it for her family. She was at the desk filling out paperwork on a patient when the call came in for an approaching ambulance. She summoned a few nurses and grabbed gloves to get to work. "What have we got?" she asked.
"Single GSW to the left shoulder, female, 20 years old, no medications, no allergies," Ricky said. He read off the girl's stats. They got her stabilized and called up to x-ray to make sure there was no bone damage.
As they waited for the x-rays to come back, Sandy, another nurse, was processing her intake information. She picked up the girl's bag and looked through it for her identity. When she found the license, she was a bit shocked to see it was from Florida. Then she noticed the name on the license. It rang a bell but she wasn't sure why. At least not until she noticed the seven curtesy cards in wallet. Behind those was a photo of the girl with a five-member family. The mother in the photo made Sandy's heart freeze. She looked from the photo to the patient in the bed as the similarities and resemblances sank in. She set down the wallet and the intake forms then went to find Linda. Linda was working with another patient. Sandy waited for Linda to finish then guided her boss across the bay to the other patient.
"Sandy, is everything alright?" Linda asked. Sandy opened the curtain and guided Linda into a chair. "Sandy? What's going on?"
"I was doing her intake information and so naturally I looked through her belongings for an identification card. I found a Miami license and some police curtesy cards. Then I found a family photo. Your daughter's name is Anna, isn't it?"
"Yeah. Why?"
Sandy looked at Linda then at the patient in the bed before looking back at Linda again and nodding to the bed. Linda looked at the patient then looked back at Sandy. "No." Linda stood and moved to the bedside. She brushed back the patient's blonde hair and her knees went weak. Sandy helped Linda sit on the edge of the bed. "My baby," Linda said softly. It was indeed her little girl. Her baby was hurting and she didn't even recognize her when she had come in. Sandy stood with her until another nurse ducked behind the curtain.
"Mrs. Linda, we need your help with another patient," the nurse said.
"Not now, Christie," Sandy told her.
Linda scoffed. "You know what Ann—Anna would say?" she asked. She cupped Anna's hand in her own.
"Thank God my mom's here?" Sandy asked. Christie's eyes widened as she looked at the two women on the bed.
"Well yeah, but it'd be more of "quit staring at me, Momma. You can't help me right now so go help someone you can." She'd rather me be helping when I can instead of staring at her."
"Sounds like her mom," Christie said.
A fourth nurse stepped around the curtain. "X-rays are back," the nurse said. She handed them to Sandy and Sandy looked at them.
Linda also looked at the X-ray. "Call up to surgery; book a room. The bullet nicked her shoulder blade," Linda said.
Sandy nodded as she updated the chart then looked at Linda. "Linda, there's nothing you can do for her here until she comes out of surgery. I will keep you informed every step of the way. I promise."
Linda reluctantly left her daughter's side to continue her job. Five minutes later, Anna was moved up to the O.R. Linda followed.
Danny and Jamie made it to the E.R. in more time than Danny would have liked and went straight to the desk. He flashed his badge and ID. "I'm looking for a patient," he said, getting the nurse's attention.
She held up a finger and finished her phone call. "Yes, Detective?" she asked, hanging up the phone.
"A patient. She was brought in in the last half hour. Blonde, petite, 20, her name is Anna Reagan," he said impatiently.
"You won't be able to talk to her, Detective," she answered as she flipped through the chart.
"Where?" Danny demanded.
"O.R." she answered. Danny bolted off.
"Thank you," Jamie said.
"Follow the signs," the nurse told him. Jamie followed his brother and together they made it to the waiting room.
Linda looked up when the door burst open. "Danny!" she said shocked.
"Linda," Danny answered, slightly confused. She came to him and he instantly wrapped her in a hug. "You know?"
"I treated her when she came through the door but didn't even recognize her until Sandy told me. She's in surgery now. GSW to the left shoulder. Mostly muscle and tissue damage but it nicked her shoulder blade. How'd you know?" Linda told him as they walked over to the nearby chairs.
"We were a few blocks away when it happened. Heard it on the radio. What does that mean, "nicked her shoulder blade"?" Danny asked.
"On the way through, the bullet hit the top part of her shoulder blade. Cracked a piece off. They have to do surgery to make sure that's the extent of the damage."
"So we wait?"
"Yes." While Danny and Linda sat in the waiting room praying for their eldest, Jamie made the unfortunate calls he didn't want to make. He started with his sister as she'd probably accept the news the easiest. Sure enough, she was concerned but didn't freak out on him. She also said she'd pass the word along to Henry and Nicky. That left him with the task of calling his father. He was beyond certain that Frank already knew about the shooting, no doubt it had come across Baker's desk as a possible cop shooting, but wanted to touch base in case they hadn't gotten an update.
"Hello?" Frank answered.
"It's Jamie. Anna's been shot," Jamie said, trying to keep his cool.
"Where? When?" Frank's heart stopped. It was the last thing a grandfather wanted to hear and when he heard the location from Jamie, it hit him even harder. Based on what Baker had dug up from the radio and reports being sent in and on what Gormley had told him it was not going to be good for his granddaughter.
Jamie filled his dad in on all the information. "Danny and Linda are here at St. Victor's waiting for more news. Erin and Pops know. Detective Baez was working the case when I left. It's a shoulder wound and the witness didn't say how bad it was but his hands were covered in blood."
"This isn't your fault."
"Isn't it? I asked her to visit and I suggested dinner. If I hadn't …" Jamie trailed off.
"Can't think about the what it's. She's safe where she is now and we'll get this guy."
"We'll try."
"You said she was only hit once?"
"Yes."
"Reports say CSU found three bullets at the scene."
"Three? Huh. I'll double check with the doctor but I'm sure there was only one wound."
"I'll be there soon."
"Thanks, Dad."
After hanging up with his dad, Jamie walked back to his brother. "Linda, you treated her when she came in, didn't you?" Jamie asked.
"What? Yes. Why?"
"I hate to ask this but there was only one … wound, correct?"
"Through and through in her shoulder. That was it. We checked for others but there weren't any."
"Kid, what do you have?" Danny asked.
"Dad said CSU reports state three bullets at the scene," Jamie answered.
"Three? How is that possible? Unless they missed?" Linda asked.
"I'm going to check in with Baez," Danny said. He took a few steps away and Jamie sat down next to his only sister-in-law.
"She's going to be ok. She's as stubborn as her dad," Jamie said.
They waited a bit and then Frank showed up. He went straight to his daughter-in-law who stood to meet him and hugged her.
"She's still in surgery. The doctor will let us know when we can see her," Linda said.
"She's in good hands," Frank said.
"The best," Linda agreed.
"Then we wait," Frank said. Linda nodded. They sat down and waited. Soon the rest of the family arrived and the boys went straight to their mom.
"What's going on?" Sean asked.
"Pops said something happened to Anna," Jack added.
Before Linda could answer her boys, the doors opened and a doctor stepped out. He looked around and a confused look passed over his face as he saw Linda. "Doctor Cox, Anna, how is she?" Linda asked.
"Reagan, of course. Your daughter is very lucky. Most of the damage is soft tissue, except for what you saw on the x-ray. The bullet entered her back just above the spine of the scapula. From there it traveled at a downward angle through the gap between the shoulder blade and the clavicle and tore through the pectoral muscle. There was a piece of her shoulder bone that was broken off and there was a bit of fracturing around that spot but—"
"Doc, in English, what's it mean?" Danny snapped. Linda placed a hand on his shoulder and the doctor looked at Danny.
"It means there was some damage to the shoulder bone and the muscle here in her chest"—the doctor touched a spot just below his own collar bone—"and she's going to be sore but that's to be expected. We managed to stop the bleeding and close the wound on both sides. With some P.T. and time, she should make a full recovery. You and her mom can come see her now but the rest of your family must wait until we've moved her to a recovery room."
"What are the odds on that should?" Jamie asked. The last thing he wanted was an injury he caused to end her police career for good. He would hate himself forever if that was the case. He knew Anna would never fully blame him but deep down, she'd hate it just as much.
"I don't do odds but I will say that cases like this rarely ever cause permanent incapacitation."
"Thank you, Doctor," Linda said.
"Do you have any other questions for me?"
"The wound tract, was it just one bullet?" Danny asked.
"Yes and there was no other bleeding noted," Doctor Cox answered.
"Is she still unconscious?" Linda asked.
"She is but that could be because of the anesthetic we gave her to keep her under for the surgery. That should be wearing off in the next couple of hours and then it'll be up to her when she wakes up. If you have any other questions for me, just get the nurse. They'll know how to reach me." She and Danny followed the doctor into the post-op room.
The instant Danny's eyes landed on his oldest child, his heart broke. She appeared to be so small and defenseless in that hospital bed. Her blonde hair spread around her like a halo, her chest rising and falling in perfect rhythm. It reminded him of the first time he had seen her in the hospital nursery after she was born.
"It looks like she's sleeping," he whispered to his wife as she went to the bed. She slipped her hand into her daughter's and brushed her other through her hair. Danny swallowed and joined his wife. Linda felt him behind her but knew better than to say anything. They stood watch over their daughter for ten more minutes, Danny's arm around Linda's shoulders in complete silence with the exception of Anna's heart monitor.
Finally, Linda spoke. "You find out who did this to our little girl and you make him or her pay. It's what Anna would want."
"I can't tell you how many times she's said that. If something happened to her, she'd want the detective that was going to eat, breath, and sleep the case like a dog with a bone. My lieutenant on the other hand isn't going to let me near this case. It's my daughter and it's against protocol. Besides, it happened in the 6-5 precinct."
"They shot a girl outside of a cop bar. Isn't there a chance that they were trying to shoot a cop? And if they were, doesn't that make it a major case?"
Danny bent a little to see Linda's face and smirked in disbelief.
"I've been married to a cop for almost 20 years. You think I can't think like you?" Linda asked.
"I never thought you'd advocate for me to take this case. It's something to consider though."
"Even if your L.T. doesn't let you near the case, you're not going to sit back and let everyone else work it and I'm sure you have friends in that precinct. Now, the other thing."
"What other thing?"
"You think I don't notice there's still tension between you and Anna? We could have lost her today, so when she pulls through this, you'll talk to her and sort this out. Enough is enough."
"I know. I didn't even know she was in town."
"Came up yesterday. She's staying with your father. She wanted to tell you but ..."
"Yeah, I screwed up." As the nurses came in to prep her to move, Danny got a message from Baez. "Baez says they ran ballistics and it's from .45 caliber. It's a big gun. The bullets recovered, only one had blood on it. I have to go. I love you."
"Love you more."
"Love you most." Danny kissed his wife then leaned over his daughter. "I am not ready to lose you as much as you prefer your uncle Joe so stick around," he told her. He pressed a kiss to Anna's forehead then left the room. He hugged his boys then looked at his father.
"I won't tell you to stay out of it," Frank said softly.
"I know," Danny answered. They watched each other for a moment longer then Danny headed into work.
After the nurses got Anna settled in a recovery room, the family was allowed to see her. Jack, Nicky, and Sean took seats on the far side of the room as Henry joined Linda next to it. Erin, Frank, and Jamie stood at the end of the bed. The family waited until long after the sun set outside the window but Anna never woke.
Linda made the command decision to send everyone home since nothing more could be done for her. Jamie volunteered to stay even though the 5-4 had sent a uniform for additional protection.
"It's not your fault, Jamie," Linda said.
"See, I know that she would tell me that but I still feel guilty. If I had just stayed with her or didn't invite her to dinner …"
"Then there could be two Reagans in hospital beds or it'd be another family. Anna would never want that. And Danny doesn't blame you either. You did what you could for her. Go home, it's been a long day."
"After you. I know you're worried about her but you have two boys who need their mom. I'll watch her like a hawk. Let me do this for you."
Linda looked at her daughter. She really didn't want to leave her little girl but Jamie did have a point. The boys needed her too. "The minute anything changes …"
"You will be my first call. When I know, you'll know," Jamie promised. Linda reluctantly went home to her boys and did her best to soothe their fears. Jamie pulled the chair up next to the bed and made himself comfortable to keep his niece company.
I really tried not to make it so much of a cliff hanger this time and I really do hope you'll tune in next time for some more information. Let me know if something doesn't make sense about this chapter. I will update soon. (Well, I hope to.)