Chapter 5

Charlie was pretty sure he'd broken more than a few speed limits as he went back to their place. Sarah had moved in with he and Rex, admitting that it was silly to maintain two residences, especially since she ended up at his more often than her own. So, when Charlie walked through the front door, everything reminded him of her.

He stripped out of his smelly clothes and threw them into the hamper. Cranking on the hot water, he jumped into the shower, not caring that the water was almost scalding. He was only going to be in there long enough to wash a long day off and then he was going to hop out.

The water was shut off a few minutes later and Charlie wrapped a towel around his waist. His wet hair dripped onto his face and shoulders so he grabbed the other towel on the nearby bars. He started to ruffle his hair dry when he smelled Sarah's shampoo. Heaving a sigh, he put the towel back on the bar and headed into the bedroom.

He was dressed in short order and then he grabbed a duffle bag. Knowing Sarah as he did, she would want a few things to make her hospital stay more comfortable. Grabbing a few items of makeup from her dresser that he'd seen her use almost every day, he moved to clothing. She wouldn't be able to wear real clothing probably but he grabbed some pajama pants and socks, knowing she did not like to be cold. Then he moved to her underwear drawer. He hated to rifle through it, despite knowing almost her entire collection. It still seemed like a violation of her privacy. She'd be doing this if she could, his brain reminded him. He grabbed a few of her everyday bras and panties, just in case, leaving the skimpier things for their private life.

Satisfied, he was about to move to get some dog food for Rex, when a voice in his head stopped him in his tracks – "Oh well". The nightmare resurfaced in his memory and he put the duffle down the on the floor. He moved to his own underwear drawer. Opening it, he stuck his arm into the back of the drawer and found what he was looking for – a little black box. It had been a tricky thing getting this little item to the house. He couldn't have Sarah picking up the mail, only to find the package.

The last time they'd been to Toronto to visit her parents, only a few months ago, Charlie had had some time alone with her dad. Sarah and her mother had run out to have a mother/daughter day, leaving the guys to enjoy a hockey game on television. The conversation came flooding back.

"Sir, I…"

"What did I say about calling me, Sir?" Daniel Truong gave him a look. The couple had been dating for just over two years now and Sarah's father felt there was no need to be so formal.

"Dad," Charlie said.

"That's better," Daniel chuckled and then frowned as the shot from the Maple Leafs' player went wide.

"I love your daughter very much," the TV went on mute and Daniel's attention turned completely to the detective.

"Son, are you starting this conversation with the intent of asking me a certain question?" Daniel gave him a look. It was an old-fashioned notion and the elder man was a little surprised that Charlie would suggest he needed to ask.

"I was wondering if you know a jeweler that I could go to? I'm looking for someone to make a ring, one I intend to give to your daughter. I have an idea and I figured that you may know of someone," Charlie admitted.

"Forget the hockey game. I have a guy we can call," Daniel said before pulling his cell phone out of his pocket. Charlie chuckled to himself at the memory. It had turned into quite the afternoon and he was glad that he'd done it. He put the box back into the drawer, not wanting the moment to be made at the hospital. Grabbing the duffle, he went into the kitchen and pulled some of Rex's food from the cupboard before heading back out to the Charger. Once inside the vehicle, he pulled out his phone to call Sarah's parents to tell them what happened.

"We'll be on the first flight out," Daniel told him after the detective gave him a quick explanation of what had transpired the day before. He profusely apologized for not calling sooner and her father brushed it off stating that he was glad that he'd been there for Sarah.

"Send me your flight information and I'll get you from the airport," Charlie promised them.

"Nonsense. You stay with Sarah and we'll get a cab there," Daniel didn't want his daughter alone.

"I'm so sorry. This is my fault," Charlie told him.

"No, no it isn't. You didn't aim a gun at her Charlie," Daniel said. Charlie only nodded, even though Sarah's father couldn't see it.

"We'll text you when we land," Daniel promised.

"Sounds good," Charlie told him and the call ended. The detective heaved a sigh and then quickly turned on his car. Aiming for the hospital, he was about to break some more speed limits.

"Charlie," Sarah was awake and sitting up slightly in her bed. Rex had not moved from his spot – except for Joe taking him for a quick walk for a bathroom break.

"Hey," Charlie smiled at her. Joe excused himself and that left the couple alone.

"I called your folks. They're catching the next flight," he told her before leaning down and kissing her forehead. She seemed a little warm.

"They'll be so upset," Sarah said.

"They have every right to be. I brought you some things and I brought Rex some food," Charlie told her. Rex perked up slightly but then gave him a look as he did not see Charlie holding any takeout boxes. The astute dog would be correct as the detective set down the duffle bag and that was it. Hopping down from his spot on the bed, Rex made his way to the bag to find that he could smell actual dog food.

"They weren't going to let me grill you a burger right here in the hospital," Charlie teased Rex. The dog whined a little but he knew that he much rather have actual dog food if that meant he didn't leave Sarah.

"Food does not sound appetizing at the moment," Sarah spoke up.

"I'll talk to the doctor. You may need to be on the milkshake diet anyway," Charlie gave her a wink.

"As long as they don't mix in Rex's food, a milkshake might be nice," she was trying to crack and joke and be reassuring at the same time. She knew that solid food would be out of the question until she healed a little more. Still Charlie used the food item as an excuse to make his exit to the nurses' station.

"What's going on Detective?" The nurse, whose nametag read "Sandy", asked.

"Sarah didn't say anything but she feels warm to me – warmer than she should be. Also, I'm not sure on the food aspect but she said that food doesn't sound appetizing," he told her. Sandy frowned and started clicking the mouse as she navigated to a screen on the computer.

"She's on a clear liquid diet right now and there is a note that says she did not put much in this morning," that garnered another frown from the nurse. While Sarah could not be eating large meals, Sandy would have liked to see that she had taken in more than what the chart indicated.

"I'll pop in in a couple of minutes, after I talk to the doctor," she promised.

"Appreciate it," Charlie noted. Sarah had not mentioned that they had brought her something to try and ingest. He saw no evidence of a food tray but he had gone to meet Joe and then went home, so he could have missed it.

"So, it seems nothing but clear liquids for you, for right now," Charlie announced as he walked back into the room.

"Well, that isn't a surprise but it is a sad development – no milkshakes," she gave him a slight smile.

"When you're feeling a little better, I'll make sure you get that milkshake," he winked at her. Rex gave a slight growl and Charlie chuckled.

"I need to stop bringing up food if I'm not going to feed you, right? I'm pretty sure they would frown on you eating it in here so we probably need to find a quiet corner to do it in," the detective told him. Rex whined but seemed to understand.

"Hi there Sarah," the doctor walked into the room. It was not the surgeon but the doctor on duty. Charlie had not met him but given the greeting, he assumed that Sarah had.

"Have we met?" Sarah asked. That made Charlie pay even more attention.

"I'm Doctor Tice. I swung by earlier to discuss your diet," he said. Charlie could see that look on her face, a look of recognition was not there. The doctor frowned and Charlie didn't like how many times he'd seen a frown today already. The medical man grabbed the digital thermometer machine out of his pocket and he quickly put the business end into the unit. The unit dispensed a new plastic cover over the thermometer and then he asked Sarah to open her mouth.

"Doctor Tice, what's going on?" Charlie asked.

"Sarah, how do you spell your last name?" The doctor ignored Charlie and started asking standard questions, checking Sarah's mental state. She managed to get her name right but she could not tell what day it was or that breakfast had been delivered to her. Tice went out into the hallway and called for a nurse to come take a blood sample. Once that was done, other nurses came into the room and wheeled the bed down the hall. Rex barked – completely confused – and tried to go with Sarah but Charlie stopped him.

"You're Detective Hudson?" The doctor asked.

"Charlie," he told him.

"There's a chance that Sarah has developed an infection. We're going to run some tests and we'll keep you updated," Tice promised.

"How could she have developed one so fast?" Charlie wanted to know.

"Honestly, gastrointestinal wounds can be difficult. Infections can develop quite quickly. We'll have her back to you as quick as we can," Tice made another promise and then left Charlie standing there. Rex whined as his partner collapsed back into the chair that he'd spent the night in.

To Be Continued…