Chapter One

A/N As with the rest of my stories….this is set in an AU.

"Think it can rain any harder?" Jim asked the question, but Pete didn't have time to answer before a clap of thunder rumbled through the air, lightning lit up the sky and the rain began beating down upon the streets of Los Angeles.

"You were asking?" Pete glanced at Jim.

"What if we see if we can take time to eat?" Jim, who hadn't had much lunch, was starting to feel more than a bit hungry.

"Sound good to me," Pete agreed, as he too was wanting to eat a bite.

Jim went to make the request only to hear the familiar, "Adam 12…." Both officers groaned as the dispatcher informed them of an accident not far from them.

"Guess food will have to wait." Pete said as he turned on the lights and siren, and then traveled as fast as he dared-considering how badly it was raining. Soon they, along with other police officers, were either running to the wreck, blocking traffic or redirecting traffic-all were hoping the rain-which had already started to slow down just enough to make the task a little less difficult-would stop soon.

"Don't move, ma'am." Jim looked in the first vehicle-a light brown station wagon. There was a brown-haired woman who appeared to be in her late twenties behind the wheel and two small children in the back seat. He was amazed, but grateful, to see the children in seat-belts. They were crying, but appeared to be fine otherwise. The woman behind the wheel had some blood running down the side of her face, but she was conscious.

"We have an ambulance on the way. How are you feeling?" Jim asked; his concern could be heard in his voice and seen in his eyes.

"I'll be fine only," the woman sighed, hating to know what she had to admit to-but unwilling to have the officer standing next to her car not know the truth. "This isn't the other driver's fault. I... I was trying to drive careful only," She sighed again before continuing. "I hydroplaned. I hit the other car; they didn't hit me."

Jim admired the woman for being honest and said as much. "Let's not worry about that right now." He could hear the sound of a couple ambulances approaching. "Help will be here soon."

While Jim was checking on the first vehicle, Pete – who had reached the second vehicle-found himself grabbing the driver's door. He had to in order to steady himself. The unconscious driver's head hung down and blood was on the side of his face. That alone was not what had Pete having to steady himself.

"What do…" Jeri, who had also arrived on the scene with his partner, ran up to Pete only to cut his sentence short when he saw who the driver of the second vehicle was.

"Get a paramedic over here now!" Pete, who had quickly got himself together, barked.

"They're already coming." Jeri stepped aside, as did Pete, when two paramedics approached the wrecked car.

"This can't be happening. He's got to be alright." Pete thought as the paramedics began looking their patient over-not easy to do as they too were in a bit of a shock. Though, he hurried to the squad car, calling out to Jim to join him; Jim had just finished talking to the medical personnel helping the woman and checking the children.

Jim, who had been so bent on helping the woman that he hadn't looked to see who the other driver was, hadn't seen Pete looking so upset in ages, asked as he climbed into the car. "What is it?"

"Not what, who." Pete said as he took the CB in his hand, and then sent shock waves over Jim by telling the dispatcher just who had been injured and asking permission to go to the hospital.

"Mac?" Jim stared at Pete once his partner had received permission and put the CB back in place. "He was the other driver? But, that's not his car." That was impossible! At least, Jim didn't want it to be on a list of possibilities. After all, Mac had lost Mary in a freak car accident three years ago. History just couldn't repeat itself; it just couldn't.

"Yes, Mac. Remember, he said he was buying a new vehichle." Pete, who was looking straight ahead and wearing a non-readable expression, answered. "And, before you ask, he was unconscious, probably been that way since he was hit." He fought to keep away a sick feeling that wanted to wash over him. He had to concentrate on getting to the hospital-and getting there safely.

"Are his children still in town?" Jim asked quietly, thinking on how happy Mac had been to see his daughter who had left home to attend college in another state, along with his son was in the military. The young man had come home for a two day visit before he had to fly down to Texas.

"No. They left yesterday." Pete almost felt as if he was listening to someone else talk as he answered Jim's question.

Silence fell between the two men, each thinking about Mac and what he meant to them-both as their superior at work and their friend during off hours. By the time Pete and Jim reached the hospital the rain had slowed considerably. They were shocked to see Sally when they entered the hospital. She was supposed to have moved out of state. Had she changed her mind? Was she still working at the hospital? However, she stunned them when she answered the unspoken question she saw in their eyes before they could speak.

"No, I'm not still working here, and, yes, I'm still moving." She shook her head, her own emotions showing in her eyes as she said, "It's my cousin, Nicole Ames, who was driving the vehicle that hit Mac's car. She's beside herself over this, even if she wasn't driving recklessly in the rain. I've told her not to beat herself up, but I don't think she'll really settle down until Mac regains consciousness. She is getting a few stitches while my aunt has the children in the waiting room."

"Maybe it would help if I talked to her." Jim didn't really feel like doing such a thing, only he didn't want the woman to keep berating herself either. Mac wouldn't want that, and he knew it.

"You do that." Pete spoke up before Sally could agree or disagree. "I'm going to go to the ER." He then turned and briskly walked away.

Sally, who could tell Jim wanted to follow Pete, urged him to go. "I can talk to my cousin again."

"No," Jim let out a slow breath. "I'll talk to her. That is, once I call my wife."

Sally, who was actually grateful Jim was still willing to make the visit, said, "Thank you, and Jim?"

"Yes."

"He's in good hands."

Jim simply nodded and headed for the closest phone.