And Love
Chapter 7 Recovery
St. Victor's room 331
Jamie sits in a chair with Mal on his lap; Joe Hill occupies a chair in the opposite corner of the empty room. They are waiting for Eddie to come out of recovery.
"Daddy, can we pray for mommy again?" the little girl asks.
"Yes, sweetie," he holds his daughter close and whispers a prayer. Joe assumes a stance of reverence and whispers an amen.
Nurse Rebecca slips into the room and goes close to Jamie. "Edit will be coming from recovery in about 15 minutes; everything is going well. There is a group of visitors in the waiting room at the end of this floor. They have requested to speak with you as soon as possible."
Joe looks at Jamie, "Let me go talk with them, I'll tell them what we know."
"Are you sure?" Jamie wants to be sure Joe is ok with that. Nobody yet knows what he and Eddie suspect.
"Yes, you and Mal wait here, I'll be back soon."
"Thanks," Jamie reaches out and shakes Joe's hand.
Mal slides off her daddy's lap, goes to Joe, "Thanks partner Joe." She gives him a hug.
Joe slips out of room 331. He walks down to the end of the hall, into a small waiting room. The group stands when he enters; he finds Frank, Henry, Danny and Erin Reagan all looking at him. He goes to Frank first; "Commissioner, officer Joe Hill. I am Edit's TO."
"Officer, what do you know?"
Henry recognizes trouble right away. He slides in front of Erin & Danny and basically pushes them backwards out of the room, shushing them under his breath. He gives them the evil eye and they take the hint (surprisingly).
"The nurse just told us that Eddie is doing well, and will be coming to her room shortly."
"Thank you, officer Hill. I think you better get back to the 12th and finish your tour; dismissed!"
"Ah . . . yes, sir." Joe and Frank salute – the officer departs, toward the elevators and away from Erin and Danny.
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SMALL WAITING ROOM, 3RD FLOOR
"What the hell was that, Pops?" Danny snorts.
"Yes, what was that?" Erin huffs.
"You were going to open your big mouths and insert your feet . . . were you not?" Pops glares at his 2 grandchildren.
"Dad, did you see who officer Joe Hill looks like?" Danny spouts.
"Yes, but I recognized that this is not the time or place to bring that up." Frank frowns.
"You, of course, were not able to recognize that," Henry spits at them.
"In addition, Erin, I don't think you should come into Eddie 's room." Her dad says.
"But dad, I need-
"Erin, this is not the time or place for that either. I will make sure she and Jamie know you were here and are concerned about her wellbeing."
"You do that," Erin stomps off.
Frank and Henry hope she doesn't run into officer Hill.
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ROOM 331
RN Katelyn pushes Eddie and her bed into the private room. Jamie holds Mal tightly while the nurse positions the bed properly, adjusts Eddie's covers and then slips out of the room.
Nurse Debbie comes in and introduces herself. "Hi Eddie, I will be taking care of you this afternoon and evening."
Mal can't take it any longer; she breaks free from her daddy, takes 3 steps and hops up on the bed. Fortunately, it is Eddie's left side; her operation and bandages are on the right side. "Mommy, are you ok?" The young girl exclaims.
Debbie starts to remove Mal, Jamie intervenes; "I've got this." He steps up and helps Mal settle down in a way that won't hurt her mother. "Careful of mommy," he cautions.
"I will, daddy."
Jamie leans over his love and gives her a kiss on her forehead. "It's great to see you, sweetheart. How is your pain control?"
"Um . . . 5/10. I could use some medicine."
"Here is the button," he points to the red button on the IV infusion pump. He presses it for her, "just press this red button when you need pain medicine. The unit has a lock-out feature to prevent you from unintentionally overdosing. Neat, huh?"
"Yeah, I like that. Even better would be you staying by my side 24X7 and pressing the button yourself!"
"You can't afford me!"
"Oh, really? I seem to remember up on the-
He stops further declarations with his lips on hers.
"What was that!"
"Memory erasure."
"It only has a short-term effect!"
"Then I will use it again . . . and again . . .. and again! I have an endless supply."
"I like that – top of the-
"Careful, I hear my dad's footsteps."
Sure, enough Frank, Henry and Danny appear and crowd into Eddie's room.
Pops starts, "Eddie, my dear, how are you doing?"
"Pretty good for being shot in the leg and having surgery."
"Can you tell us what happened," Frank inquires.
"Well, we responded to a silent alarm at a bodega; when we entered, we saw 2 perps holding weapons on a pharmacist at the back of the store. We advanced down separate aisles, and when we reached the end, my partner shouted FREEZE POLICE! The perps whirled around and fired at us – our uniforms, I think. Before we could take them out, I was hit, in the right thigh. And here I am; all fixed up." She smiled and squeezed Jamie's hand tightly.
Jamie added, "the surgeon said that the action taken at the scene probably saved her life. Officer Hill applied immediate pressure to the GSW, and a pharmacy tech applied a rubber tourniquet. Everyone did their job, dad."
"That's wonderful! And I see a little lady and a young man who will help you recover after you get home."
"I will take care of mommy!" Malina exclaims.
"I'm sure you will, princess." Pops declares.
Danny has kept quiet but he adds, "Erin wanted you to know that she was here for a little while . . . she had to get back to work and couldn't stay. She expressed her best wishes."
"Thank her for me, please," Eddie expresses.
"I will," Danny adds, sheepishly.
Frank and Henry give each other a side eye.
"Mommy, can I get some green Jello?" Mal whispers.
"I heard that!" Nurse Debbie had just walked into the room. "After I check your mommy's BP I will check. Anyone else?"
No other Jello requests. Eddie knows that Jamie will sneak in whatever she desires.
"Vitals stable," Debbie declares. "I will be right back with 2 green Jello cups. Last call for anyone else!"
No one peaks up, Debbie slides out of the room.
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12-CHARLIE
"So, Eddie will be laid up for a while?" Kara throws a smirk Jamie's way.
"Yeah, so?" Jamie wonders what Kara's point is.
"I suppose you'll be Mr. Mopey. Somethings you just can't replace, believe me I know!"
"Ah, you and Dylan."
"Yup, good times in Queens!"
"Spare me the details, Walsh."
"No worries, only Eddie gets those!"
"What? Seriously?" Jamie scowls.
"You know, girl talk," Kara wiggles her eyebrows.
"I don't believe it!" He blushes a little.
"I see that pink cheek there, Reagan!"
He turns to the passenger side window.
Kara chuckles, almost laughs out loud!
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TBC