Chapter Three

Doctor Phillips, a twenty five year old veteran, stopped Pete and Jim as they walked out of the hospital cafeteria. "Officer Malloy, Officer Reed, I've been looking for you."

Because Doctor Phillips looked at Pete while he was talking, both officers took it to mean Pete should be the one to answer the gentleman's question.

"Is it Sergeant MacDonald?" Pete looked at the doctor as if to send him an order-one that said, 'If it is, you can start talking like yesterday!'

"Yes, it is. While the hospital has been in contact with the police station, I still thought you shouldn't have to wait to find out we are going to do a Cat scan. I mean, on your sergeant. The test will take up to ninety minutes. We're concerned he may have bleeding on the brain. We'll also be looking for anything else that might be keeping him from regaining consciousness."

The fear both officers had for Mac could be seen as clear as the noon-day sun. "How long before you have the results?" Pete forced himself to speak.

"It can take up to twenty-four hours only," Dr. Phillips shook his head, "I've told them not to drag their feet. I want those results at the earliest possible time. Until then, there's nothing you can do. I promise, I'll send you word first chance I can."

"Or, I will." Captain Moore shocked all three men when he walked up and looked at his fellow policemen. "As I said before, I'm off the rest of the day. I am staying here. It's not like my wife will argue with me." She couldn't either-having driven back to Kansas to visit her some of her siblings. "You two get back to work. It's not like you can't come back later."

"Yes, sir." Pete and Jim both said before walking away, though the whole time they wished they could stay where they were.

"He's got to pull through." Jim said once they existed the building and headed for the squad car.

Pete refused to entertain any other notion, saying as much as they climbed into their vehicle. "He will, just wait and see. Go ahead and clear us."

Jim didn't want to do such a thing, only he knew there really wasn't any other option. He reached drown and retrieved the CB. "1 Adam – 12, clear." Less than a minute later they were back on the road.

"I wonder if Mac's children will come back." Jim said after a few minutes.

"Unless the unthinkable happens, I don't know if his son will. Military's pretty strict when it comes to a soldier leaving his duties to go home though, I would think, he could put in for emergency leave." Pete went on to say he didn't know about Mac's daughter. "As you know, things are strained between the two as it is. I was amazed she traveled a thousand miles to visit as it was. Don't get me wrong; I'm glad she did. Still, I don't know that she'll make it unless she figures it's the end of watch for her father. The bottom line is -they've been contacted, and what they do is up to them." He then switched topics...as talking about the situation at the moment wasn't helping anyone.

The rest of their watch seemed to drag as nothing overly spectacular happened. By the time they pulled into the police station, both Pete and Jim were ready to change clothes. Pete wanted to go straight to the hospital while Jim said he'd drive there once he picked up Jimmy from school and took him home. Once inside, they headed straight for the locker room only to be stopped in the hallway by Detective Stone.

"I only found out about Mac a little while ago, when Captain Moore called the station." The detective wasn't surprised when Pete and Jim visibly stiffened.

"What did he say?" Pete kept his eyes on the detective.

"That he's still waiting to hear something, which means so are we." Detective Stone told them. "I want to go to the hospital myself only I can't at the moment."

"I can. I'll call you once I get there. That is, if Captain Moore hasn't called by that time." Pete assured him.

"Thanks," Detective Stone then went about his work. Within the hour, Jim was picking up his son while Pete stood in the hospital corridor once again talking with Captain Moore-and he wasn't happy with what the captain was telling him.

"They missed what!" Pete stared at the captain in disbelief. "How do you miss something like that! And, would that really render a person unconscious?" He didn't care if he was talking loud, or if the few people in the hallway turned and looked their way. All he wanted to do was throttle someone's throat.

"Apparently, this particular radiologist has made one too many mistakes and has gotten himself fired." The captain, who was also unimpressed, replied. "As to your question, the answer is no. I mean, it's highly unlikely that a hairline skull fracture would-by itself-render a person unconscious. However, a contusion can. From what the doctors said, the majority of time contusion simply require things such as rest and ice. However, in rare cases, a contusion is large enough to require surgery in order to make repairs." Captain more hesitated and then said, "Quite frankly, I'm surprised he has any kind of fracture, has had seizures or that he's got a contusion large enough to render him still unconscious. The wreck, from what everyone says, wasn't that bad."

Pete could only sigh as he said, "Apparently, for Mac, it was. Look, you can go home and get some rest. I am not planning on going anywhere, and Jim will be arriving soon."

"Thanks; however, you can wait in room 322. I was just going to call the station and tell them the doctors have Mac in surgery. Doctor Phillips has already given permission for someone to be in the room with him. Actually, up to two people, but that's it." The captain started to say something else only to change his mind. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Sure, but I'll call the station. I already told Detective Stone I would." Pete nodded ever so slightly and headed for the nearest telephone. After that he went to room 322-hoping that the surgery would go well, and that Mac would regain consciousness long before Captain Moore had a chance to return.