Do not hunt me down for the angst
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following Day.
Ambulance on route to Mount Sinai Hospital
EMT 247 to Mount Sinai"
"Go ahead 247."
"We have a male victim approximetly 31 years of age. Three gunshot wounds to the upper chest. Victim has already crashed twice. Please have three untis of O Neg ready to go. We are shocking victim again, no response. Our time is at least four minutes before we arrive."
"10-4...we will have everything ready when the victim arrives."
Running around the Trauma room the nurses had everything ready and prepared to go. They knew this was going to be a tough one. Detectives always were. Forever in the line of fire. Very few ever made it out of the O.R alive. Hearing the Ambulance pull up they ran out and found the EMT performing manual CPR.
"How long...."
"Ten minutes doctor. We've already brought him back twice. He's lost at least three units of blood. All three bullets are in the upper left chest."
Racing into the Trauma room they began working to save the young Detective who had his whole life ahead of him.
Outside in the waiting room he cried. He was covered in his best friends blood. God how could breaking up a fight in the bar gone so wrong. None of this made sense. All they were doing was having a fun night out.
Coming through the ER doors Mac and the team ran up.
"What happened Don? What the hell happened with Danny?"
Mac knew there was one hell of a story to be told. Waiting patiently Don began......
Eight hours earlier.
"Hey man...wanna grab a drink. It's been a long day."
"Sure Danno. Give me five to shower and change. I'll meet ya upstairs."
Heading upstairs Danny seen Mac and Adam laughing .
"Hey Danny...what's up for tonight?"
"Hey Sheldon. Don and I are heading out for a few drinks. Wanna come?"
"I'll have to pass tonight. I have a date with DNA and trace."
"Eww...lucky you. See ya man."
Walking into the Breakroom Danny asked....
"Hey Mac, Adam. Don and I are heading out. Would you like to come?"
"Mmm...no thanks. I think Mac and I are planning a nice quiet evening with the DB's we just brought in."
"Nice!!! Have fun kids."
"You ready Danno?"
"Yeah man...let's go."
When they arrived at the bar they sat down and ordered a couple beers.
"Hey Danno what are you doing this year for Christmas? Are you spending it with us at Stella and Mac's?"
"Yeah. I'll most likely spend it bugging you guys."
Don laughed. It had been a tradition for these boys to spend each Christmas with Pizza and beer through the years. In reality there actually wasn't much these two didn't do together. So close they were. More brothers then best friends. It was going to seem strange spending it with a large family.
"Damn Donnie look at time. It's three in the morn'n already. Let's call it a night."
Leaving a tip for the waitress they headed towards the exit when they seen the fight break out. Running over to break it up Don tossed the guy up against the wall. While Danny pulled the other suspect of the other guy. Leaning him against the wall he told him not to move. Turning to reach for his cuff's the guy brought his elbow back and smashed it into Danny's face. Then pulling for his weapon he fired three shots into Danny's chest.
With other Officers already on scene they had the two suspects in custody. While Don reached down over Danny.
"Listen to me Danno. I need you to breathe. Come on Danno, breathe."
Starting CPR Don couldn't get any pulse. The more he pumped on Danny's chest the more blood that spewed from his mouth and chest. Hearing the EMT's pull up they ran over and pushed Don aside. While they worked on stablizing Danny. The other Officers tried to question Don.
"What happened Don? We need a statement."
"Fuck your statement. I need to go with Danny. Get the hell out of my way."
Back to the Present time...The Explaination
"Danny and I were at the bar. We were kicking back a few drinks like we do every friday night. As we were leaving we noticed a group of four guys arguing to each other. When Danny and I seen the fists begin to fly we tried to break it up.
I had the first suspect against the wall. Danny had the second. I remember Danny saying...Don't move. But it all happened so fast Mac. Danny reached for his cuff's, the guy reached for his gun and fired. Three shots, right into Danny's chest."
"Are you telling me Danny didn't check for weapons while he had him pinned to the wall?"
"I don't know Mac. It all happened so fast. I can't even remember how many people, or witnesses, were there. The only thing I remember is Danny going down. That......it...God!!!!"
Don broke again. Hearing his heart broken sobs Stella wrapped her arms around him.
"Shh!!! Come on Don. It's okay. Danny's going to make it, he's strong. He'll pull through."
"Excuse me....Det.Taylor?"
"Yes. How is he?"
Shaking his head he whispered...."I'm sorry."
Breaking out of Stella's arms Don ran into the Trauma room.
"Nooooooooooooooo...it can't be. Nooooo...."
Pounding on Danny's chest as he tried to get him to breathe as the nurse called for Security. Watching as the blood poured from Danny's opened chest as Don continued to pound. Running into the room Mac seen what Don was doing. The whole Trauma room looked like a blood bath.
"Dooooooooooon...stop this...right now Don, he's gone."
Grabbing Danny in his arms, he crawled with him into the corner of the room. Laying him against him, rocking him, talking to him, crying, telling him to wake up.
"It's okay Danno. It's okay man. I have you. I have you man. We are going to get through this Danno. You and I. We are going to bring you home."
As Mac seen Security come through the door, he told them to back off.
"Get out!!!! Everyone out now!!!
With everyone out of the room Mac took a few steps towards Don. Trying to clear the tears from his own eyes, so he could focus on Don was difficult. The heart wretching sobs alone were breaking Mac's heart.
"Don....I need you to listen to me. Look at me Don. You need to put Danny back on the bed Don. Do you here me? How about the two of us put him back on the bed."
Looking up from Danny's neck into Mac's eyes he shook his head....
"No Mac....I can...he's not dead. Look at him Mac, he's going to be fine. He's sleeping."
Mac knew Don was lost. He had seen it before several times during his Marine days. The denial, the want to believe that nothing happened.
"Please Don...just take my hand. Please...."
As Mac stretched out his hand to Don, he squeezed Danny all the closer to him. Mac knew there could be very little blood left in Danny's body. For it was all over the floor and Don's clothes. Knowing there was going to be no reasoning with Don he walked out and asked the doctor to bring a sedative to him.
"Are you kidding. You're not a doctor. I'll have to do it."
"Listen...if anyone goes near my Detective right now he's going to freak out all the more."
"I'm sorry. I have to come in with you. I'm sure you can control your Detective."
Mac was getting angry. He knew the doctor didn't understand the kind of pain and suffering Don's mind and soul were in. Deep down Mac knew the once he reentered that room with the doctor that would be it for Don's sanity.
"Fine. But you stay out of my way. Understood?"
"Of course. I understand."
Walking back into the room the doctor tried desperatly not to lose his lunch. He had seen alot of things in him time. But never nothing like this. It was like a scene out of Blood Fest. Trying not to slip on the blood, the doctor waited quietly in the corner.
"Hey Don...it's okay. I'm going to come over and comfort you and Danny okay? I'm going to hold you both tight. Don't worry Don. I won't try and take Danny from you, I promise."
As moved in, he knealt down onto the blood and wrapped his arms tightly around Don and Danny. God Danny still felt warm against him. Almost alive. Like he wasn't ready to leave or say good bye. Once Mac had Don's trust he motioned the doctor with his eyes to come over and inject Don with the sedative.
Just as the doctor neared him, Don seen him from the corner of his eye. Kicking out with Danny away from Mac, Mac slid into the table, cutting open his head. Trying to clear the blood from his eyes, he had had enough. Crawling back over to Don, they wrestled. With fist flying Mac was finally able to get Don into a lock.
"Now!!! Do it now."
Giving Don a large dose he was passed out in a matter of minutes.
"He's out Detective. You need to get that head checked."
"Don't worry about my damn head. Get my detective to a room. Keep him sedated till I tell you otherwise. Is that understood?"
"Of course." Calling for help the doctors lifted Don onto a gurney and transferred him to a room.
As Sheldon and Adam watched from outside the window they all realized it was going to be months, or maybe even years before Don healed.
"How many stitches Mac?"
"Six. I'll be fine. Has anyone checked on Don yet?"
"Yeah. He's still out. God Mac....how are we going to help him heal from this? He's so lost."
"We'll get him through it Sheldon. One step at a time. How are you doing Angell?"
"I'll be fine Mac. I'm more worried about Don."
"Listen...why don't you two head home. I'm going to stay with Don."
"You sure Mac? I don't mind staying."
"No. You go ahead Adam and Sheldon. I'll see you tomorrow. Spend some time with Brenda, fill her in on what happened. But cautiously. You don't want to upset her to much.
Walking into Don's room he sat in the chair reading a book while Angell sat on his bed.
As Angell looked up she found Don watching her with tear filled eyes.
"Don!!! How are you feeling?"
Closing his eyes again as his tears fell, he laid on his opposite side away from her.
"Don...please talk to me...please Don."
"Shh....he's out again Angell. He'll be in and out for a while."