Bainbridge could only watch in horror as Dzhokhar Tsarnev escaped out of his reach and drove down to the docks. He knew Constitution had killed his brother and he wanted revenge. Bainbridge pulled out his radio, hoping to warn the frigate of the impending danger but it was too late. The sound of gunshots rang into the night and then the FBI agent heard a sound he'd hope he'd never have to hear. A piercing scream split the night air, a scream of agony, fear, and despair. The sound of it resonated within bones. To the average human, it sounded like merely another womanly shriek. But to those who could see, who could truly See the ships for what they really were, it was a cry of death. Somehow, Dzhokhar had managed to wound Constitution so that the once proud frigate was made helpless. What Bainbridge saw when he arrived on the scene, he knew would haunt him for the rest of his life.
Constitution stumbled along, using the dock as a sort of guide. Blood filled and ran out of her eye sockets, indicating that she'd taken several hits to them. A ship that couldn't see was as good as dead though at the moment, Constitution was relying on her other senses to guide her along. She had her guns run out but she didn't dare fire them, fearful that due to her blindness, she'd hit something or someone friendly, not her intended target. Bainbridge pulled to a stop and leaped out of the car. "Constitution!" He cried. Constitution's head whipped around at the sound of his voice. "Issac?" She whispered uncertainly, trying to move towards the sound of his voice. She didn't notice that Dzhokhar had placed a pair of grenades on her hull and when she moved the pin was pulled. Fire flashed up along her side and she shrieked in pain, staggering. Bainbridge tried to run faster, desperate to get to her. The smell of burning oak grew stronger the closer he got. Constitution could hear him approaching and desperate, she tried to move in his direction. Her wounded side prevented her and she gasped slightly.
Bainbridge reached her just as she fell against the dock, unconscious. His fingers stroked the small curves and laces in her prow. "Wake up, Connie." He whispered. "Wake up..." Constitution was frighteningly still under his hands. "Medic!" He shouted. "I need a medic over here!" As a man came running up, Bainbridge turned to him and said "I hope you have experience with ships." "I have some yes." The man replied. "Then get to it, quickly now!" Bainbridge growled. "Keep a close eye on her." The man ordered and set to work assessing the damage.
Constitution regained consciousness a few minutes later. Her nose twitched, recognizing Bainbridge's scent. "Issac?" She questioned. "Right here." He replied, stroking her prow gently. She purred weakly, nudging him with her nose. "How bad?" She asked. "The doctor's doing an assessment right now." Bainbridge replied. "She's got massive damage to her lens. The outer shell has been completely destroyed, with time perhaps it'll heal. I can't say definitively if she'll see again or not." The man called. "And her side?" Bainbridge questioned. Constitution suddenly stiffened. "Bainbridge, get back!" She gasped. "What's wrong, Constitution?!" He demanded. "The gunpowder, the fire it's reached it. Get back, both of you now!" She cried. "Can't you put it out?" Bainbridge asked. "It's too late, I can't do anything!" She whimpered. "She's right, we can't be anywhere near her when that powder ignites. The explosion would kill us for sure." The doctor said. "And her?" Bainbridge asked. "I don't know. I would think she'd survive initially but there's no telling the trauma she'll sustain from it." He replied. "Go, Issac. Please..." Constitution begged, pressing her muzzle against his hand. "I'll be right back." He promised. She whimpered, her bloodied eyes closing tight as she braced herself. Bainbridge had only just gotten clear when a ball of flame shot out Constitution's damaged side, blowing her hull wide open. Her wail could be heard for miles. Firefighting crews set to the task of extinguishing the flames while Bainbridge ran back to the stricken frigate.
Constitution lay completely on her side now, fortunately the water helped to put out the fire. Her exposed side gleamed with sweat, the paint blistered from the heat. Blood was just everywhere, turning the black water a sickly shade of maroon. Straightening out in the current were, as best as Bainbridge could figure, the frigates intestines, gleaming white beneath the surface. Feeling sick, he turned back to Constitution's bow. What remained of her eyes were still closed and a trail of blood trickled from her mouth. Fearful, he leaned down and placed a hand gently across her nose, relieved to feel the warmth of her breath against his fingers. "Good girl." He sighed, stroking her. A horn sounded and Arleigh Burke arrived on the scene. She was the fleet's only healer now that New Jersey had been decommissioned. "Move!" She growled to the men that had crowded around Constitution. "Can you help her?" Bainbridge asked. "It's bad but I'll do what I can." Arleigh sighed. She set to work at once, inspecting Constitution from bow to stern. "She's suffered massive internal trauma to most of her major organs. I've got to get her to the medical berths stat." She growled. With nary a struggle, Arleigh lifted the frigate up and over her bow, resting her on her forward deck. "Let me come with you." Bainbridge begged. "Why should I? You'd just get in the way." Arleigh growled. "She's family. My great great grandfather was her captain at one time." Bainbridge growled. Arleigh relented and let him climb aboard, racing off into the night.
Reaching the medical berths she shooed Bainbridge away while she conducted a nearly 15 hour long surgery. Bainbridge, having nothing to do, remained just outside the medical berths, pacing. Docked beside him was Arleigh's sister Cole. The destroyer looked at him. "Constitution will be okay. If anyone can help her, it's Arleigh." She said. "How would you know?" Bainbridge muttered. "She saved my life a while back. One doesn't soon forget such things." Cole replied. She shifted, revealing a 40 foot long scar on her starboard side. "I was lucky to make it back to the states, let alone survive surgery. When I got back, I was so weak Arleigh had to wait nearly 2 weeks before she proclaimed me strong enough to conduct surgery." "Sorry, I forgot about that." Bainbridge grunted. "I'm not surprised. My own injury was eclipsed a year later by the same bastards!" Cole growled. "I got my revenge in the end though." Bainbridge nodded and resumed his pacing. "She'll make it, she's strong." Cole assured him. "I hope you're right." Bainbridge sighed but he couldn't shake the nagging guilt that gnawed at him. Constitution was a part of his unit, if she died, the blame would rest on him and rightly so. "Please wake up Connie, please..." He thought.
