To Know A Man

Part 3

The pneumatic doors slid open silently, allowing Tom and Cassy entry into the emergency room. It was almost 2:45 a.m., but the facility looked like a McDonald's on Saturday morning.

The detectives negotiated their way through the crowd, the admissions desk being their goal. A long line of people stood in front of the counter, many talking and shouting to the clerk, but no one getting a response from the woman.

Tom skimmed the room, but could not find Frannie. "I don’t see her."

Cassy shook her head. "Maybe they let her back with Harry? The clerk would know. "

Tom shook his head, frustrated by the line. Pulling out his badge, he held it in the air, "Excuse me. Police emergency. Out of the way. Police" he shouted.

Obediently, the crowd parted and allowed the armed officer through. The clerk eyed the badge suspiciously. "May I help you?"

"A police officer was brought in a little while ago with a gun shot wound. Where is he?"

The disheveled woman looked at the clipboard lying on the counter. "Room 3."

Tom nodded and made his way around the counter, Cassy following close behind. "Sir, I'm sorry. You'll have to wait here."

Tom shook his head, "The shooting of a police officer requires us to be present. Security reasons." The woman seemed to buy the explanation. She shrugged and turned her attention back to the line of people in front of her.

The two detectives rounded the corner to the treatment rooms to find Frannie leaning heavily against the wall. Her head was down, face buried in her hand.

Cassy felt a knot grow in her stomach. "Frannie, how’s Harry?" she asked, laying a gentle hand on the distraught woman’s shoulder.

Frannie looked up with red-rimmed eyes and shook her head slowly. She started to answer, but a sob took her breath. Cassy glanced at Tom with worry.

Tom stepped forward and brought both hands to the woman’s arms. "Frannie?"

"They won’t. . ." her voice broke. "They won’t let me see him."

Cassy tried to give the woman a reassuring smile, "That’s normal procedure, Frannie."

"But. . .he looked so bad in the ambulance. He didn’t know I was there. He couldn’t feel me touch him." She paused, taking a deep breath. "Then they took him away before I could tell him. . ." Her voice failed her again and tears ran down her cheek.

Tom pulled her into a hug, the petite woman grabbing onto him for strength. "Harry knows you love him, Frannie. Never doubt that."

Her tears soaked his shirt, but he continued to hold her close, rocking her slowly from side to side, knowing that in some small way he was providing comfort. Cassy watched the two for a moment then walked softly to the door of the trauma room.

A small window allowed her to peer into the room and revealed white lab coats and green surgical scrubs, all stained in red, scurrying around a still form. She closed her eyes and said another silent prayer. The scene in the room suddenly changed and the gurney holding their captain was moved towards the door.

Quickly, Cassy moved out of the way, making room. Frannie and Tom saw the movement and came forward, but Cassy pushed them back against the wall. "I think they’re taking him to surgery."

"I want to see him," Frannie started forward again, but this time Tom held her back.

The doors burst outward, the gurney rushing by without stopping, three hospital staff guiding its journey to the elevator. Frannie rushed to catch up with her husband, but a man in a stained lab coat held her back. "No. Let them go."

"But I need to see him. I have to see him."

"He needs to get to surgery as soon as possible. You need to let them do their job so that they can save him."

Frannie turned to the man, eyes wide, "He could die?"

The man closed his eyes for a moment, and then moved his hand to her forearm. "My name is Dr. Nabours. Are you his wife?"

Frannie nodded silently. The doctor gave her a warm smile, "Let’s go talk and I’ll tell you what’s happened." The doctor tried to guide her down the hallway, but Frannie was frozen in place.

"Is he going to die?" Frannie asked again.

The doctor pulled her gently, "Let’s talk."

"Oh God, he’s going to die," the woman whispered. Tom placed a hand on her shoulder and could feel her body’s tremble.

Cassy went to her other side and put her hand on the other arm, "Frannie, let’s go talk to the doctor. He’ll tell us how Harry is."

Frannie looked at the two detectives with worried eyes, then she nodded and allowed them to guide her to a small, empty waiting room.

The doctor motioned the three to a small couch, Tom and Cassy sitting on either side of the woman. The doctor pulled a chair up to them. Sitting heavily, he leaned forward, placing elbows on knees. "Frannie, is it?" The doctor asked gently. Frannie nodded again. She then motioned to either side of her, "This is Tom Ryan and Cassy St. John. Harry is their captain."

The doctor smiled and nodded. "I treated your husband when he was brought in. I’ll be honest with you, Frannie. He was in pretty bad shape when he arrived."

A tear fell down the woman’s cheek, "He couldn’t hear me," she whispered, her mind tumbling back to the ambulance.

"I know. But he’s doing better now, Frannie. We were able to stabilize him. Now we can operate."

Tom spoke up, "The bullet’s still in him?"

The doctor nodded. "It's lodged just below the heart."

"Oh no. . ." Frannie mumbled.

The doctor placed a hand on hers, "But, we can operate now and get the bullet out. Dr. Klinger is going to handle the surgery. He’s the best. He’ll take good care of your husband."

"How long will the surgery take?" Cassy’s voice was quiet.

"It will depend on how much other damage there is. If the bullet went in clean, then the surgery shouldn’t take more than two to three hours."

"And if it didn’t," Tom had to ask.

The doctor shrugged, somewhat helplessly. "If it didn’t, then one of two things may happen. Dr. Klinger will go ahead and try to repair all the damage, which could mean the surgery could last six to eight hours," the doctor stopped to let the information sink in.

"Or?" Cassy prompted.

"Or he’ll repair the worst of the damage in this surgery and then operate again when your husband is stronger. It will depend on how well Harry holds up in the surgery today. We don’t want to take a chance of overstressing his system with this kind of injury. So we have to play it by ear."

Frannie’s eyes dulled, her mind trying desperately to absorb the information. "What are his chances?" she finally asked.

The doctor smiled, "He has a good chance of coming through without any complications. He’s in the best hands possible. Trust me on that."

Frannie nodded, "Thank you."

"Sure thing. Harry’s being taken to the surgical suites on the third floor. There is a waiting room directly across from the nurse’s station. Why don’t you wait there and I’ll have the nurse update you on his condition while they are operating."

Frannie’s eyes cleared slightly, "I want to know what’s happening to my husband."

"I understand. Paula Cook is the head nurse on that floor. I’ll make sure she knows to keep you informed."

The doctor stood. "I promise you Frannie. We are doing everything we possibly can to help your husband."

Frannie nodded, "Thank you."

The doctor smiled. "If you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to the ER. We’re a little busy tonight."

The three nodded and the doctor left the room. Frannie said nothing for a moment then Tom and Cassy heard her gasp another sob. Cassy pulled the older woman close to her. "He’ll be okay. Harry’s a fighter."

Frannie nodded. "Who would do this to him," she whispered.

Tom and Cassy looked at each other. They had both been asking the same question, but neither knew the answer. Tom placed a hand on Frannie’s. "We don’t know. But we aren’t going to rest until we find out."

End Part 3