Sunday Afternoon
I heard the call over the radio.
I had only been a few miles down North Lincoln Avenue, on my way home, when I heard hat gunshots had been reported. I hit the lights and siren, and then floored it. I didn't like the sound of gunfire this close to home; Mindy had to be involved somewhere!
I reached the scene quickly and saw a total mess on North Kedzie Avenue. There was a green SUV, buried in a parked car. I saw an ambulance cutting through the traffic and then I saw the back end of a Police Car half way down the riverbank. The bonnet and front doors were submerged, the roof-mounted lights were still flashing.
I pulled up on the bridge over the Chicago River, got out, and jogged over to the scene. For now, it looked like I would be the Senior Officer on the scene. Then my heart literally skipped a beat as I saw the backend of a Land Rover LR4, which looked suspiciously familiar, sticking out of the water. I looked more closely at the licence tag and felt sick to my stomach.
..._...
"Sergeant!" I yelled.
"Lieutenant!" The Sergeant called, jogging over.
"That Land Rover – the driver?"
"She's down there, Lieutenant – doesn't look good. A boy pulled her out, she wasn't breathing."
"Thanks, Sergeant," I said and felt numb inside.
I could see the paramedics gathered on the riverbank, gathered around somebody. I saw legs encased in wet jogging pants. Then I saw a face. Tommy's face was wet with both the river and streams of tears.
I felt cold.
Then I felt a hand in mine. I opened my eyes and tried to focus on the shadow beside me. The shadow was tall and muscular. It had to be –
"How you feeling, baby doll?"
My sight cleared and I focused on –
"Daddy?"
"I'm here, child. I'm always here when my little girl is hurt."
Then I froze.
"Where the hell am I?" I cried out, almost panicking. "You're dead!"
"Nothing gets past you, Mindy!"
"Am – I – am I – dead?"
"No, child – it's not your time – not for a long time..."
My vision went hazy and so did my mind – then everything went black.
"I was so scared. We were upside down and we slid into the river – the water was so cold."
"You're safe now."
"The Land Rover righted itself and started to sink. We were underwater – Mindy wasn't moving, I fought with my seatbelt buckle and it felt like forever before it released. Then I struggled with Mindy's and managed to release hers too. She wasn't breathing – I thought she was dead – I pushed open her door and dragged her out. A cop helped me drag her out of the water – it was horrible."
"You did well, Tommy – you may very well have saved her life."
"Only if she survives – she has to survive!" Tommy declared.
"She will, Tommy, she's survived a hell of a lot worse!" I replied as the paramedics placed my unconscious daughter into the ambulance.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
"Where is she?" Dave demanded as he rushed up the corridor.
"Room 32 – I'm sorry Dave, it is still touch and go," I said, feeling completely empty inside. Mindy was like a daughter to me.
I followed Dave down to Room 32. It was not a pretty sight. Mindy was naked, with her modesty protected only by a white sheet. Wires ran from under the sheet to electronic devices beside her bed. A tube was down her throat and connected to another plastic tube that led to another machine. Her head had a large pad taped to one side and there were arterial lines in her arm.
I saw Dave hesitate and then stop, only feet from his fiancée.
Dave had seen Mindy beaten almost to a pulp, bleeding from numerous bullet wounds and covered in bruises. He had even seen her shot by a crossbow bolt, and then crash her motorcycle! However, this – I had seen so many people visit loved ones in that room and other rooms just like it. Nevertheless, this was the first time I had known both the person in the bed and the person visiting.
I could not have felt any worse, if it had been Chloe in that bed.
Two hours later
I felt so damned helpless.
Seeing Mindy just lying there – it was unbearable. I had sat staring at the most important person in my life for the past two hours. Mindy's vitals had picked up about half an hour or so ago and the tube had been removed from her throat. Cathy kept appearing to check on me, but I could tell that she was struggling with it too. Cathy was a senior doctor here and she had ensured that Mindy had received the best of everything. I felt somebody sit down in the chair beside me and cuddle in to the side of me. It was Chloe.
"I'm so sorry, Dave."
Chloe had tears running down her face. Looking at Chloe, I had a thought just then and laughed. Chloe looked up at me, appalled that I could laugh at a time like this.
"Considering what else has happened to her – it's kind of funny that Mindy ends up in hospital after something as mundane as a car crash!" I explained weakly.
Chloe actually grinned a little.
"It is rather nuts!" She agreed.
Four hours later
I awoke again.
This time I was alone – or at least I thought I was. I could not hear any voices, just the sound of machines. I hoped that I was really awake this time. I looked around me – I was in a hospital bed, my mouth and throat were dry. I felt around with my hands; I was naked and there were tubes in my arm and wires on my chest. My head hurt, too.
The room was dark, but I could make out two shapes sitting beside the bed. I recognised the larger shape as Dave and then realised that the smaller shape was Chloe. They were both fast asleep, with Chloe cuddling into Dave.
..._...
A shadow moved into the doorway.
"So, young lady, you've decided to wake up!" Cathy announced.
"Thought it was about time," I croaked. Cathy helped me to sip some water from a glass with a straw.
"Sips – no gulps!"
How long have they been here?" I asked, indicating Dave and Chloe.
"Dave, about six hours; Chloe, about four hours. Marcus was here for a couple of hours, but he had to leave. You scared us Mindy."
"What happened?" I asked. I couldn't remember anything at all after leaving the house.
..._...
"You drove the goddamn Land Rover into the goddamn river!" Another voice announced. "You really need to learn to damn well drive – people like you give women drivers a bad name!"
Cathy turned and I saw Paige and Megan. I tried not to laugh at Megan, but failed and I saw a look of panic on her face.
"I'm okay, Megan," I croaked to reassure her.
"I heard swearing. That must mean either Megan's here or Mindy's awake!" Dave said, waking up and coming over to me smiling broadly.
"Funny cunt!" Megan said for us both, with a smirk in my direction.
Chloe woke up, too and looked very pleased to see that I was awake.
"Right – too many people – Mindy needs her rest!" Dr Cathy Bennett announced, wiping away a tear.
The next day
Monday
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
The boy looked nervous.
"I think we're even now – don't you?" I suggested with a grin. "You don't owe me anything."
"I suppose so," Tommy said, blushing.
"I understand from Marcus that you gave me the 'kiss of life'," I said and the boy blushed even more.
"Somebody had to do it," Tommy said smiling.
"Remember – she's mine!" Dave quipped with a smile. "All future kissing is done by me!"
I glared at Dave.
"Oh, I brought you some fresh clothes – considering you trashed the ones you were wearing," Dave said innocently. "I brought the purple bra and knickers."
I felt myself blushing now and Tommy laughed to cover his own embarrassment.
Marcus had appeared earlier that morning and we had spent half an hour talking. He had explained what had occurred at the scene. Apparently, the two escaping gunmen were dead – killed when they crashed their SUV as they had tried to avoid me. I was actually pleased – saved me from having to go after the bastards. Dave had then appeared with Tommy, who was desperate to see how I was.
I grinned at Tommy. "He only brought me those, 'cause he likes to remove them rather quickly – he says they put him in the mood!" I teased and laughed at Tommy's expression of horror.
"I don't think you are ready for any exertions, Mindy," Cathy announced, sweeping into the room. "Definitely not that sort!"
"Okay – but can I at least think about what I am not allowed to do, even though I am not allowed to actually do it?" I asked facetiously.
"Knock yourself out – figuratively speaking of course!" Cathy replied, laughing.
Four days later
Friday
West Ridge
"You are staying in bed, my girl!" Marcus insisted as I started to complain. "At least until tomorrow."
"I'll make sure she stays in bed!" Megan announced, grinning at Mindy.
"Okay, I'll be a perfect little angel," Mindy said sweetly.
"Bullshit!" Marcus said as he headed out of the room.
Mindy was not a good patient.
She even managed to push Megan to her limit. I tried to explain to Megan, who was doing as much as she possibly could for Mindy that Mindy hated being stuck in one place. I also told Megan that Mindy really did appreciate her help, even if the moody bitch refused to admit it!
Just about everybody, appeared to check on Mindy during the day. Some even brought flowers! Mindy did not approve of flowers all that much – too girly she said. I reminded her with a few carefully phrased, whispered comments, which made her blush furiously, that she was in fact a girl!
"What you whispering to Mindy?" Megan asked, curiously.
"Never you mind, little one!" Mindy spluttered trying to hide her embarrassment at my comments.
Megan just scowled.
The following afternoon
Saturday
West Ridge
Thank fuck for that!
Those assholes allowed me out of bed, at long bloody last! I still had a small gauze pad, taped to the left of my forehead but otherwise I was healed – according to Dr Bennett. According to me, I had been fine for the past few days!
I was annoyed that I had totalled the LR4, but very glad that neither Tommy, nor I, had any lasting damage. In fact, I owed that kid a lot – first time I'd been kissed by an eleven year-old too! Well, he must have been a good kisser, as he did get me breathing again!
Marcus had been over to tell me about his new job. He was now the head of the new Organised Crime Taskforce. He would be based at District 21, along with Voight and he would be targeting the Russian Mafia and other organisations like them. Marcus was really looking forward to this new job and I wished him well with it.
That evening
Safehouse F
I had a fucking mutiny on my hands.
"You are not going out Mindy Macready!" Dave insisted. "You shouldn't even be here!"
"Dave – for your own safety – stay out of my way – I am getting my combat suit on!"
Next thing I knew, Dave had me in a bear hug and Chloe wrapped duct tape around my ankles and wrists. I was mad and I made Tommy blush with my comments.
"Are you going to be quiet or do I need to tape that sewer you call a mouth?" Megan asked sweetly, holding up a roll of purple duct tape.
I scowled at the little girl who never flinched. She just grinned at me and waved the roll of duct tape. Dave deposited me in the Command Centre and gave me a very nice kiss! On the way out the door, Megan patted me on the head.
"Be good, young lady."