Chapter 2: Days that Followed
It had been three days since Jess had woken, if only briefly. Her eyes had opened for a few seconds before she slipped back into unconsciousness. She was still very weak, in a haze between semi-conscious and fully unconscious. Dr. Morris had kept her sedated to give her body the chance it needed to heal. He had been candid with Jess's family, warning them that she wasn't out of the woods yet—there were still risks of infection and other complications that could arise.
Dr. Morris had bent the rules for the Angell family, especially for Ryan, who was one of his interns, allowing them to stay in the ICU with Jess. But he was clear that Jess's rest was the priority, and her family needed to take breaks. So, when night came, her family would sleep at Ryan's and Chris's places, but they would all return to the hospital during the day.
Don had volunteered to stay with Jess. He couldn't bear to leave her. Her family needed rest, and he knew he couldn't be of any help if he wasn't there when she woke.
The sun had just begun to creep through the hospital curtains, heralding the start of a new day. Don sat slouched in the hard plastic chair beside Jess's bed, his eyes heavy with exhaustion. He hadn't slept properly for days—just snatched moments in uncomfortable chairs. But he was afraid. Afraid that if he closed his eyes, even for a second, Jess might slip away.
The nurses had been kind enough to let him shower in the patient facilities, and Danny had been bringing him fresh clothes. Stella and Mac had been visiting each morning, bringing him breakfast and updates on the investigation. They were close to tracking down Conner and the other men responsible, or at least that's what Mac kept assuring him. Don wasn't sure if it was the truth or just something he needed to hear.
He turned in his chair, trying to get more comfortable. His body screamed for rest, but his mind was too sharp, too wound up. He closed his eyes anyway, trying to ignore the weight of everything, the pain in his chest, the fear in his gut.
As he began to drift off, his mind wandered back to a time before the shooting. Back to when everything had felt normal.
Two Weeks Before
"Hey," Don said, walking into the bedroom after a long shift. He was exhausted, bone-deep tired, but he knew the minute he stepped in the door, his day would be better.
"Hey," Jess replied, her voice soft as she looked up from the book she was reading. Don collapsed beside her on the bed with a deep sigh.
"Tired?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You could say that," Don said with a yawn. "I just worked a double."
"So, you just want to sleep?" Jess smirked, playfully tugging on his tie and pulling him toward her for a quick kiss.
"I'm wide awake now," Don chuckled, pulling her close. "What do you have in mind?"
Jess's eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint. "Good, because I've been waiting all day to finish our Superman marathon."
They both laughed, the kind of easy, carefree laughter that came from being comfortable with one another.
Present Day
That moment felt so vivid, so real in Don's memory. He could almost feel Jess's warmth against him, smell the faint trace of her perfume, hear her soft giggles. He remembered every touch, every kiss, the way she had snuggled into his arms as they watched the movie together, the way they'd enjoyed Thai food in bed, the way her lips had felt against his.
He raised his hands to his lips, almost expecting to feel her there, but the reality of the situation hit him like a ton of bricks. Jess wasn't here. She was still in that bed, fighting for her life.
"Don," Mac's voice broke through his reverie.
Don's eyes fluttered open. He had dozed off. Jess was still in the bed, hooked to machines, her body still too fragile. He hadn't been dreaming—he was still living the nightmare.
"Hey, you need to go home," Stella said softly, sitting next to him. "Really. Get some sleep. You're going to wear yourself out."
"I'm fine right here," Don protested, rubbing his eyes, trying to clear the sleep from his mind.
"Okay," Mac said, his tone firm yet understanding. "But remember, you need to take care of yourself too."
Stella handed Don a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich, and he took them gratefully. His stomach had been in knots, but the gesture brought him some comfort. Stella pulled out her iPad, tapping a few buttons as she brought up the latest case details. Don was still groggy, but his curiosity piqued when he saw the familiar faces of the investigation.
"We got Conner," Stella said, her voice tinged with relief.
"And the shooters?" Don asked, his voice sharp. He wasn't celebrating until they caught the people who hurt Jess.
"Mostly," Stella replied. She showed Don photos of three men arrested the night before: Max Thompson, Calvin Young, and Zack White. "We arrested them after raiding a warehouse."
Don scanned the pictures, his gaze hardening. "Which one shot Jess?"
Mac took the iPad, pulling up another mugshot. "Simon Cade," he said, voice flat.
"Where is he now?" Don asked, his fists clenching.
"We're looking for him," Mac replied.
"So, let me get this straight," Don said, standing up, his frustration bubbling over. "The guy who shot Jess is still out there?"
"Yes," Mac said, his voice steady, not sugar-coating the truth. "We've got his picture at every airport and bus terminal. We're on it, Don. I promise you."
Don's jaw tightened, but he nodded slowly, trying to trust them. "Just great."
Stella placed a hand on his shoulder. "You need to take care of yourself. Be here for Jess. We've got this."
"I'll find him," Mac said firmly. "You just focus on being here for Jess. We'll get him, Don. I swear it."
Don hadn't wanted to leave the hospital, but Ryan had finally convinced him. After a half-hour of gentle persuasion, Ryan made him realize that he wouldn't be able to help Jess if he collapsed from exhaustion. So, reluctantly, Don had gone home.
He walked through the door of his apartment, dropping his keys on the coffee table before collapsing onto the couch. Exhaustion hit him like a wave, and he let his head fall back against the cushions. His hand automatically reached for the blanket on the armrest, and then he stopped.
He held up Jess's devil's blanket, a memento of their many arguments about hockey. It smelled like her—like strawberries from her shower gel. He couldn't help but smile at the memory.
Christmas
"I think I need to get you a new blanket, something red, white, and blue," Don teased as they snuggled on the couch.
Jess laughed. "I will never cover up in a Rangers blanket."
Don smirked. "I'm not sure how this relationship is going to work, then."
"It's not if you think I'm going to use a Rangers blanket," she said with a playful grin.
Present Day
Don smiled at the memory, the last Christmas they'd shared together. He chuckled softly, remembering how Jess had tried to cheer for the Rangers, just to annoy him. But deep down, he knew she was still a Devils fan.
He tossed the blanket aside, standing up to take a shower. He grabbed Jess's shower gel by mistake and inhaled the familiar scent. It smelled like her.
When he finished, exhaustion finally overtook him, and he crashed into bed. His mind, though, couldn't let go of the nightmare. His dreams were full of images of Jess lying in that diner, blood staining the floor.
"Jess," he whispered in his sleep.
The shrill ring of his phone broke through his dreams. Don's eyes snapped open. 5 missed texts and 3 missed calls—all from Ryan. His heart sank as he read the messages.
He didn't waste a moment. Grabbing his things, he rushed back to the hospital, a feeling of dread gnawing at his insides. Something had happened to Jess.
When he reached the ICU, his worst fears were confirmed. Sherry was standing outside the room, her face tear-streaked and worn from the emotional rollercoaster of the past few days.
"Donnie," she said softly, seeing the panic on his face. "Jess is awake."
Don's heart stopped. "She's awake?"
Sherry smiled weakly through her tears. "And asking for you."
A wave of relief flooded over him as he stepped into Jess's room. Despite her weakness, her eyes brightened when she saw him.
"Hey, you," Don whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
"Hey," Jess replied, her voice faint but strong enough to bring tears to his eyes.