And Love
Chapter 19 Rock bottom
A/N: It's been said that it is blackest just before dawn; let's hope so!
3-5 PRECINCT
Jamie walks into work just in time to observe roll call. There are no special announcements, no urgent alerts. It should be a quiet day. Sargent Mark Wilson handled things nicely, as he always does.
Afterwards, Jamie walks up front and talks with Mark. "Should be an easy day, unless something breaks out. I'm going to pay Kara Walsh a visit at the rehab. It's been a long time, I owe her a check-in. I'll be on cell if you need me."
"Ok Lt. She's been there a long time; over 2 years, isn't it?"
"Yeah. I wouldn't want to be in Dylan's shoes for anything," Jamie shivers. "I pray for them when I think of it."
"Me too. If she's awake, tell her we all are thinking and praying, eh."
"Yeah, we can only hope. See ya." Jamie slips out.
88888888888888888888888
HILLCREST REHAB
Jamie parks and walks in. He walks up to the main nurse's desk. "Hi Marilyn, I haven't been here in a while. How is my friend Kara Walsh doing these days?" He greets the head nurse on duty.
Marilyn jerks her head up, "Oh, Jamie Reagan. You came on a great day! Kara woke up an hour ago! I was just about to call Dylan."
"REALLY? Can I make that call?"
"Certainly, do you have his number?"
"Yes, unless he's changed it recently."
Marilyn gives Jamie the number, it is new.
Jamie slips down to a small waiting area and sits down. He takes a minute, then goes back up to the nurse's desk. "Marilyn, has Dylan been visiting Kara regularly?"
Marilyn drops her head. "No, but he is still listed as her next of kin."
"When was Dylan last here?"
She checks the log . . . "5 months ago, I'm afraid."
"Damn . . . is there anyone else listed as next of kin, or emergency contact?"
"Just Eddie Janko, your wife."
"I will tell Eddie, when was she last here?"
"3 weeks ago."
"Who is responsible for the bills?"
"Medicaid."
"Any recent visitors?"
"Eddie, 3 weeks ago."
"Can you add me as an emergency contact, please? And inform no one else of her condition change?"
"If she agrees, sure."
"I'll go talk with her."
88888888888888888888
ROOM OF KARA WALSH
Jamie knocks and slips in the door. She is sitting upright in bed; she grins when she sees him.
"Hi sarge! Wait . . . white shirt!"
"Hi Kara, yeah I made lieutenant."
"You were a sergeant, just yesterday. What did I miss?"
"Over 2 years, hasn't anybody told you?"
"No, shit! The nurses keep telling me that the doc will be in after a while and will answer my questions."
"If I were one of your emergency contacts I could answer your questions."
Kara rings for the nurse. When she arrives, she corrects the record.
"So, Kara, what do you remember?"
"Well, we answered a domestic, black guys. You yelled, one of them attacked me. Now here we are. Wait . . . I remember Eddie visited a while ago."
"3 weeks ago." Jamie supplied.
"Yeah, I've been trying to wake up for a while. I couldn't talk, couldn't put anything together. She probably thought I was still asleep."
"Probably. Do you remember anything about that visit?"
"No . . . wait . . . is it true, is she a lawyer now?"
Jamie is stunned! Does the whole world know? Except him, her husband? "Why do you ask that?"
"She was talking about going back to school, law school. Has she?"
"She is thinking about it . . . listen Kara, I'll give Eddie the good news. She will be thrilled. I gotta run, I'll be back to see you soon." He gives Kara a peck on the cheek and is gone.
88888888888888888888888
THE FAN
Jamie runs to his car and leaves rubber tracks in his haste to get the hell away. Far away. He turns off his cell phone, which is irresponsible.
He drives around the city for a while; finally stopping at a bar where he knows the owner and bartender. But not a cop bar near one of the precincts.
Jim Brooks is the owner and his friend. They were at Harvard together. Jim in poli-sci, which didn't pan out. After 3 lost elections, Jim gave up.
Jamie took a shot glass and a bottle of tequila to a back booth. He wasn't sure he wanted to see tomorrow. Jim kept an eye on him, fortunately. That's what friends are for, right?
After 3-hours the bottle was empty, and Jamie wasn't capable of much besides breathing. Jim called Frank Reagan. Frank called Lt Gormley.
Syd showed up an hour later with the PC's detail.
"Hi Jim, where is he?"
Jim led the way to Jamie's booth. Syd tried; Jamie couldn't stand.
"I'll help you get him to the car," Jim offered. "Where are you taking him?"
"The commissioners house, his dad doesn't want Eddie or the girls to see him like this."
"Understood. Ok buddy, here we go."
Jamie is deposited in the back of Frank's SUV. They drive to Bay Ridge. He is carried up to his old room, undressed and put to bed. They place a bucket next to the bed and turn on a night-light. They place a bottle of water and 2 Advil on the nightstand and leave him to sleep it off.
88888888888888888
RING
"Eddie here, Frank! What do you know? Please tell me Jamie is ok, please!"
"He is ok, sweetheart. Syd Gormley found him and brought him here to my house. I didn't want the girls to see their daddy like this. He is smashed, Eddie."
"Thank God! What do I tell them, Frank?"
"Tell them that he is on a special assignment for me. And he will be home in a couple of days. You can call him tomorrow afternoon."
"Take care of my love, please."
"We will."
"Thank you."
88888888888888888888888
TOMORROW MORNING
Jamie wakes up with a hellacious headache. He looks around and realizes that he is in his old room at his dad's house in Bay Ridge. He sees the water and Advil on the nightstand. 'There is a God in heaven'. He pops 2 Advil into his mouth and washes them down with half a bottle of water. He sees the bucket, it is empty. He isn't nauseous now; he'll keep the bucket handy. He picks it up and slowly drifts down the stairs.
In the kitchen he finds Pops, who hands him a mug of coffee. "Hi, pops."
He gets a grunt. It could be worse.
"Is there bread to toast? Maybe a bagel?"
Pops points at the bread box.
Okay, he finds some whole wheat. He plops 2 slices in the toaster and presses them down. He finds butter and marmalade in the fridge, and sets them on the counter.
"Marmalade is mine," Pops puts it back in the fridge.
Ok, tough crowd. "Sorry, I forgot."
"Should be around more."
"Should be more welcoming."
"Sit down and drink your coffee. I'll fix the toast."
He does; when the toast comes it has marmalade on it.
Maybe tough love?
The phone rings, Henry answers. He listens for a moment then hands the phone to Jamie without a word.
"Hello?"
"Jamie, it's dad. How are you feeling?"
"Alive, barely." He pinches the bridge of his nose and takes a sip of coffee.
"I spoke with Eddie, told her that you are there with Pops. She probably will call this afternoon."
"Thanks dad, and Pops." He glances at his grandfather. "I appreciate the help last evening. How'd you find me?"
"Jim called me. Good thing you chose his place to do the deed."
"Yeah, the only thing I did right last night."
"Probably true, son. Do you have a speech ready for Eddie?"
"I need more than a speech, dad."
"Yeah, you're right. Do you want to talk with Pops?"
"Not really."
"He's wise; he's been there, done that."
"I'm sure. No, I know what I need to do." Jamie hangs his head.
"So do it, son."
"Yup, I will. Bye dad."
"Bye Jamie."
8888888888888888888888
Shortly after lunch there is a knock at the back door. Jamie goes to the door and opens it.
There stands Eddie, tears streaming down her face.
888888888888888888888
TBC