Alex walked into the fourth. He saw Pistone in the hallway.
"Jesus Alvarez, you look fucking horrible."
"Thank you for the compliment, Jackass."
"Have you been sleeping?"
"No, not really."
"You have three year's worth of PTO plus vacation days saved. Why don't you put in for some time off? You seem to be spiraling in the last month. Why don't you come out with Martino and me tonight? Maybe you can find someone to help you sleep better."
"I really don't think..."
"I know you're off for the next 48."
Jesus Christ read the room, Pistone. "You don't understand, and I don't expect you to, but I am just not feeling it."
"Then explain it to me. You were high on life for the last year, and then, like a bolt of lightning, your attitude just changed. You look like a kid who just lost his puppy... and then found its dead body under your bed."
"Really nice Pistone. Do you ever wonder why you are still single?"
"My wife hasn't been born yet."
"You are vile."
"I didn't mean it like that. I like my young woman. Wait, that sounded even worse."
"Pistone, now would be a good time to shut up."
"I wanted to say that I'm just putting the gravity of my observations in words. I don't know what's happening, but you must get over it or do something about it."
"It's not that easy. I wish it were, but it's not."
"Is it a girl? I bet it's a girl. I did not know you were dating anyone."
"No, I was not dating someone." It wasn't a total lie. Technically, he was not dating Allie.
"You didn't sleep with Kingston again, did you?"
"You know, she's been married since she left the hospital."
"Yeah, but sometimes the ring does not always plug the hole."
"Has anyone ever told you that you're slightly deplorable?"
"Well, they never put the word slightly in front of it. I was just wondering because she's the only one that can make you like this.
"Just think about it. Jakes 6:00."
He walked into the locker room to put on his uniform. He opened his locker and put the ultrasound photo inside the door. He had printed the photo Allie had sent him yesterday. He looked at it. It had already seared into his brain. He had spent the last eight hours staring at it on and off.
Jesus, Allie, I want you back so bad. I can't fucking do this. Pistone is right. I need some time off.
He put the photo in his breast pocket and slammed the locker shut.
"C-327 to dispatch Sgt. Alvarez 10-8; show me in service."
"10-4 C-327 I need you to respond to an alarm drop at 487 Gardner. C-128 will be responding from the station."
"10-40 C-327 responding 487 Gardner."
"Dispatch show C-327 10-23 on scene."
Alex got out of the vehicle and met up with C-128. "What do we have, Combs?"
"There was an open door in the rear of Berkley, and I checked it out, clearing the building. It looks like the door was left open. Beyond that, nothing is missing or broken. This is the fourth alarm here today. Someone is doing this on purpose. The question is why."
Alex rubbed the back of his neck. "Alright. Call in the all-clear and tell dispatch I want the owner's name and his information. It's time to have a chat." He squeezed the bridge of his nose.
"You alright, Sergeant? You're not looking so good."
"So, I've been told."
"Is there something going on? Anything I can help with?"
"No, I just need to take---"
A gunshot rang out, and Alex fell forward into Combs.
"Holy shit!" He took Alex under his arms and did a fireman's drag to the rear of his shop.
"C-128 send backup to 487 Gardner. 10-18 urgent response needed. Officer down. Alvarez has been shot. We have shots fired by unknown assailants coming from the west. Officer down. The alarm showed all clear in the building. 10-52 EMS needed."
"C-134 responding."
"C-149 responding."
"C-408 responding."
"Mutual aid is responding from the fifth district. ETA four minutes, sending three."
"Mutual aid coming from the sixth. We are at the crossroads in Green Tree. Sending three."
Sirens began to flood the area. EMS was cleared to pull into the area. They quickly loaded him into the RA and took off to the ER.
Patrick Bruss sat in his den listening to the scanner and flipping through some cold cases. He saw the case of the stolen hummels, and he smiled. Bruss had heard the call go out over the scanner. His head snapped up towards the scanner.
"C-128 send backup to 487 Gardner. 10-18 urgent response needed. Officer down. Alvarez has been shot. We have shots fired by unknown assailants coming from the west. Sgt. Alvarez has been shot down. 10-52 EMS needed."
"I had to have heard that wrong."
"C-134 responding."
"C-149 responding."
"C-408 responding."
"Mutual aid is responding from the fifth district. ETA four minutes, sending three."
"Mutual aid coming from the sixth. We are at the crossroads in Green Tree. Sending three."
He did hear it correctly. "Oh my God. Alex."
He ran into the living room. "Shelly, I got to get to the hospital. Alex has been shot. The call just went out over the radio."
"Do you know where?"
"Where he was shot?"
"No, baby, where are they taking him? Hospital?
"Oh, right. They said he was en route to UH."
"At least it's not Metro. What do you want me to do? I want to come with you."
"Okay. Hurry up. Meet me in the car."
She gave him the side eye. "Very funny. Hurry up?" Shelly lifted herself slowly from the bed, her small frame holding onto a big pregnant belly.
"I didn't mean it like that."
"Be nice! I look like a Weeble."
"Weebles wobble, but they don't--"
"Finish that, and I am going to file for divorce." She waddled to her chair and put on a pair of sweatpants the size of a circus tent. "Should we call Allie?"
"We'll call her in the car, my beautiful wife."
They got in the car, and Bruss started driving to UH at breakneck speed. Shelly called Allie.
Allie was asleep. Peanut was sleeping between her and Dean. Her phone vibrating on the side table woke her up.
"Hello?" she whispered.
"Allie. It's Shelly. First of all, please don't flip out."
"That is only going to freak her out more, Shell!" Bruss said.
"Shelly? What's wrong? What's going on? Is Patrick okay? Are you okay? Is the baby okay? Oh my gosh! Are you in labor?"
Yes, we are both okay. The baby is fine. I am not in labor."
"Then what the sam hell is going on!"
"Pat was listening to the police scanner in his office, and he heard a call come through that... that." She couldn't say it out loud.
"What call? Shelly!"
"Alex has been shot." She squeaked out.
"WHAT!"
Allie was so loud that Dean jolted awake, and she startled Gwen. Gwen began to cry.
Dean picked her up. "Allie, what's going on?"
"Alex, it's Alex."
"What is Alex?"
"He's been shot, Dean."
"I'll get clothes on. I'll get Little Bean dressed." He hurried out of bed.
"Shelly, what do you know? We have no information. Just that he was shot and taken to UH,"
"Okay, we are on our way. Call me if you get any information before we get there."
She quickly dressed and ran downstairs, slipping down the last two because she was in such a panic. All she could think of was that she needed to get to him.
"You okay, baby?"
"I'm fine, let's go."
Dean buckled Peanut in her seat. She had finally calmed down and was excited because she loved car rides.
Allie went to get in the driver's seat.
"Oh, hell no! I'm driving. YOU are way too upset."
Dean climbed into the seat and took off out of the driveway. Allie's Porche Cayenne's engine reeved under the hood.
"We really need to get a car seat for the Challenger," Dean said, slipping into the driver's seat.
"Because the V8 in this vehicle is not powerful enough."
"Well, the 807 horsepower would have gotten us there faster. Plus, it's still outfitted."
"Yeah, with shit you legally can no longer use. Are we arguing about horsepower right now? Alex has been shot. Just get to the hospital."
"Dada! Da. Da." Clap. Clap. Clap.
Dean pushed down on the accelerator, and the Porshe went faster. Gwen raised her arms like she was on a roller coaster. She laughed and squealed.
"She's going to love Cedar Point."
"You sure are taking this well," Allie said, clacking her fake nails together. A new nervous habit.
"Don't think the worst, Allie."
"So, you weren't thinking about the worst when I got attacked."
"No. I was almost shitting myself when you were attacked. But you're still here. So, don't think the worst."
The seventeen-minute drive took twelve minutes. They parked, and Allie ran inside while Dean got Gwen out of the car.
There were a couple dozen cops in the waiting room.
She went up to Pistone.
"Do you know anything?"
"No. We aren't family. We can't get any information," he said. "You got here fast."
Dean came in with Gwen. "Anything?"
"No, they won't give information to anyone but family members."
"His family lives in Flordia," Pistone said.
"No, they don't," Allie said.
"What?" Dean asked.
"Follow me." She went to the nurse's desk. "Excuse me."
"Hi. How can I help you?" A delightful woman asked. She reminded them of Peggy, the nurse who took care of Allie after she was attacked."
"Hi. We are here for Alex Alverez."
"Are you family?"
"Yes. This is his brother."
The nurse looked at Dean. "My goodness. What did your mother feed you boys?"
"We drank our milk," Dean said with a smile.
"Did your parents own the cow? Between the two of you, a lot of milk was purchased."
"Can you give me any information on my brother?"
"Hold on." She picked up the phone. She wasn't on long.
"He's doing okay. You can go back. He's in room eight."
Allie looked back at Pistone and gave him a slight nod. He responded in kind.
"Thank you so much," Allie said.
They went through the double doors, and Allie ran to room eight.
"MA'AM, PLEASE DON'T..."
Allie was already in the room before she could finish her sentence.
"SIR! I'm sorry, but you can't bring the baby in there."
"It's his," Dean said.
"Oh, Okay. You can bring her in."
Allie threw the curtain back. Alex was sitting up on the bed. His shirt was off, and his bruises were already deep purple. She couldn't contain herself anymore, so she flung her arms around him.
"OUCH! Allie, I'm okay. The vest took the brunt of it. I was shot with a 9mm. It fucking hurt."
Dean walked in. "Wow, dude, you look like shit."
"So, I've been told, and I was just shot two hours ago. I think I deserve a pass."
Alex's face lit up when he saw Peanut. "Oh, Peanut, I have missed you."
She lit up, too, and reached out to him. "Oh, sweetheart, I can't hold you right now."
"Dada. Da. Da. Dada," Peanut called to him. Clap, clap, clap. Then she reached out.
"Wow, I'm a little jealous," Dean said. "But I guess it's understandable."
Alex smiled and looked like he was going to start crying.
"What happened, Mi Vida?"
"I went on an alarm call, everything checked out fine with the alarm, then I was shot in the back."
Allie looked at his back. A bruise larger than the size of a softball had started to surface. She ran her fingers gently over the dark purple marks that started forming patches on his back and side.
"Oh fuck. That looks like it hurts. Is that a burn mark?" Allie looked closer.
"Language," he said, smiling.
Allie kissed him hard.
Dean pulled his lips into his teeth and looked around. When she releases her lips from his, this will turn out bad or good.
She didn't release him because he began to kiss her back.
When they did release each other, she rested her forehead on his. "Never scare us like that again, Mi Vida. Do you hear me?"
"I'm just trying to get even with you."
She looked at Dean. "Now I know how you two must have felt. Twice."
"So, what did that feel like?" Dean asked.
He put his hand on his back. "It feels like I got fucking shot, asshole."
"I'm very sorry, prick. Please continue."
"Gee. Thanks. Well, they said my kidney was bruised. Shot me right over it. They looked at my plate and saw it would have missed my vest if it were half an inch lower. So, I got that going for me."
"Which is nice," Dean and Allie said.
"So that hurts. I remember an extremely sharp, stingy, pointed pain. It did burn. Is there anyone out there?"
"Yeah, a few dozen guys," Dean answered.
"Can you tell him that I am alright? They don't need to stay here, and there is nothing to worry about unless I lose my kidney."
He laughed but stopped. "Ouch! I would never wish this on anyone."
"Try getting the shit kicked out of you, causing amnesia, and having two different parts of the body god gave you removed."
"Yeah, but I was shot," he said.
"Okay. Let me add, I was shot in the chest and had an IED explode, causing me to get shrapnel lodged in my back."
"Okay, I relent, you win."
"I'm going to go and let the guys know." He handed Allie Gwen and left the room.
She reached out with both arms for him. "Dada. Dada." She looked like she was about to blow if she didn't get her way.
"Okay, give her to me. I'll muscle through the pain." She handed him Peanut, and he winced.
"Maybe you shouldn't hold her, Mi Vida. You are in a lot of pain. She'll be okay."
"No. I don't mind the pain. The nurse is getting me some more pain medication. I missed this little girl." He tickled her tummy. She grabbed his hands and laughed. He made funny faces. She reached for his face, and when he came closer, she put her mouth on his nose. "Was that a kiss?"
"Maybe she just likes the taste of a fine Latino." She winked at him.
"You have no idea how much I missed that laugh," he said. "And your mommy's beautiful smile. I loved that picture, by the way. You looked amazing in that suit."
"Really? Because you told me to stop texting you."
"I needed to get over you two. I needed to move forward."
"Do you still need to move forward?"
"I have gone over and over things. Sometimes, I feel like I am suffocating."
"I'm sorry. It sounds like you have been through a personal hell."
"Language," Alex said with a grin.
"If it's in the bible, it doesn't count." She shook her head. "You're such a jackass... It's in the Bible, too."
"Speaking of jackass' how exactly did Dean get back here? I assume you said you were my wife."
"No. I figured they would know if you were single. We said Dean was your brother."
He let out a painful laugh and grabbed his side. "And they believed you! He doesn't exactly look Latino."
"Actually, I'm English and Irish," Dean said, walking back in.
"Irish with beautiful emerald green eyes," Alex said, looking into Gwen's face. "I guess when people see two gigantic men, they assume all gigantic men are related."
The nurse came in. "Drugs." She handed him two white tablets and a small cup of water. He swallowed them down.
"Let it overtake you. It's good shit, man," Dean said while taking Gwen so Alex could take his pills.
"Language," Allie and Alex said together.
The nurse laughed. "You make the cutest couple, and baby looks so much like her daddy." She looked at Alex and smiled.
"Here are your discharge papers. If you experience any sharp or stabbing pain that lasts longer than a half hour, call the doctor if the bruises spread to unaffected areas of your back. If you have blood in your urine, come to the ER. Call the doctor for fever, chills, or any other signs of infection, including painful urination, or feel free to come back. The nurses wouldn't mind seeing you again. There is also a prescription for painkillers. Three days' worth. That's all ER doctors can prescribe. If you feel you need more, talk to your PCP. And follow up with your doctor a week from now. Any questions?"
"Nope. Just want to go home."
"Alright. Take care of yourself, officer. Your baby is absolutely adorable."
She left the room. Alex got up very slowly. Dean came over and helped him up.
"My baby?"
"It was the only way we could bring her in," Dean said. "Don't get used to hearing that."
"Do you need a ride home, or is someone coming for you?" Dean asked.
"I wanted to know If my room is still available."
"You want to come home with us?" Allie exclaimed. An explosion of warmth flooded her body. She was trying so hard not to jump in excitement. Of course, your room is available."
"I don't want to be alone. I want to come home. You are my home," he said. His speech was getting a little slurry.
He handed Gwen to Dean and picked up his shirt. He moved very slowly. With his free hand, Dean helped him slip the shirt on.
"Ahh. Thanks, Bro."
"Sometimes you just have to help a prick out."
"Who better to help a prick out than an asshole." He made a kissy face at him.
"Fuck off, Alvarez."
"Only if I can ride the Cowboy," he answered.
"I think we should get going before you two end up in the utility room, " Allie said, shaking her head and smiling.
"Yeah, he's about to be in the ivory tower. We should get home."
Allie slid her arms around him gently and hugged him. "Then why don't we go home?"
"I could use a drink," Alex said, wincing again. He got to his feet very slowly.
"Bruh, wait for those pills to kick in. You will not need a drink."
They walked out into the waiting room. Shelly and Bruss were still there.
"Hey there. Wow, you look like---"
"Shit, I know."
"Wow, getting shot makes you snippy," Bruss mumbled.
"Shelly, you look stunning. Pregnancy looks good on you." Alex gave her a light kiss on the cheek.
She blushed. "Thank you, Alex."
"You guys didn't have to stay. I'm alright."
"I just wanted to tell you they caught the shooter. It was a member of the KTP. He saw you were a Sergeant. Thought he would try to up his membership."
"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint him."
"You know there are less painful ways to get some time off from work," Bruss said.
"Well, I didn't want to use the time I had saved, so I thought I should try to get three months of medical leave. I was thinking of a twisted knee or something, but go big or go home, right?"
"Speaking of which, do you need a ride home?" Selly asked, rubbing her belly.
"No, but thank you so much. I am going to go home with Dean and Allie. I don't want to be alone. Plus, Peanut's smile is better than any painkiller. But I have got to say the pills are pretty good, too."
"Told ya," Dean said out of the corner of his mouth.
"We can get your script filled in the morning. Till then, I have some leftovers from when I was released from the hospital," Allie said.
"Really? Where were you hiding those?" Dean asked.
"If I told you, they wouldn't be hidden anymore."
"So, you're going home with them. Does that mean everything is all good now?" Shelly asked with a hopeful look.
"No. It means he was just shot, and he needs company till he feels safe again. He knows I will protect him. He is weak. He needs someone to be the muscle. Right, little man?" Dean patted Alex on top of the head.
"You are such as asshole."
"Yep. You are such a prick."
"Yep. I missed you, Cowboy."
"Good fucking sake. You two need to fuck already," Allie said.
"Language," Dean and Alex said together.