Chapter Fourteen

Van had been at her desk since seven-thirty in the morning, up to her ears in work. Just after eleven her assistant Eric rushed into her office, his face white with fear.

"Van, turn your television on. There's a hostage situation at a high school in Seattle. The SWAT team is there. I saw Cara on the television!" Van could barely understand Eric, he was so agitated.

Van's heart leaped in her throat as she turned the television set on to the news broadcast. "Oh God, Eric!"

"All we're being told right now is that there are fifteen students and two teachers being held in the teacher's lounge by a lone gunman. According to our sources, the suspect is a seventeen-year-old senior from the school. He's been holding them under gunpoint for over two hours, after walking armed into a classroom early this morning. The SWAT team has moved into place outside the school. Please stay tuned, as we carry this unfolding drama, live."

As the camera panned across the school, Van saw several people she'd met at Cara's picnic. She thought she caught a glimpse of Cara, but wasn't sure. She could barely breathe, as she thought of what could happen to her girlfriend. She couldn't even remember if she had told her she loved her before she left that morning.

"Van, sit down. You're awfully pale, honey." Eric gently pushed Van into her chair as she watched the television. She was unable to look at him. She couldn't lose Cara.

Over the next three hours, Van was numb, as she watched the hostage crisis. Anna and Tia had called to see if she was okay, or had any word on Cara. But she could barely speak. She didn't stay on the telephone long. She wanted to make sure that the line was open in case Cara tried to call. All of a sudden on the television, there was a flurry of gunfire and a rush of police running into the building. Within minutes it was all over, as the now handcuffed and wounded student was taken out on a gurney.

Van sat silent in her chair with Eric next to her, holding tightly to her hand. "One hostage, two police officers, and the suspect have been shot. They're all being transported to the hospital. We will update you on their status as soon as the hospital releases their status."

The announcer droned on, but all Van heard was that two police officers had been injured and she shut down. Van felt sick as she saw two police officers being wheeled out of the building. She couldn't see any faces. She prayed that whoever was injured that it wasn't Cara or one of her friends. She wasn't sure what to do or who to call to find out. All she could do was sit and wait for a telephone call. She sat glued to the television waiting for the newscaster to announce a name. An hour later no names had been announced, and Van was going crazy. Tears threatened to fall as she sat silent, Eric still holding tightly to her hand.

The telephone rang shrilly in the silence making both Van and Eric jump. Eric snatched it off Van's desk. "Van, its Cara." Eric's smile was enough for Van.

Van grabbed the receiver from his hand. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, honey."

Van breathed heavily. "How are the officers?"

"Superficial wounds, they're both very lucky."

"I love you."

"Van, I love you."

"Cara, I want to live with you." Van felt tears slide down her face. "I could have lost you today, and I want as much time as possible with you."

"I want to live with you. We'll work it out. As soon as I can get away, I will. I need to write my report and attend a debriefing. I also need to stop at the hospital to check on the two officers."

"How about I meet you at the hospital?"

"Are you sure?"

"I’m sure."

"Good, I want to see you, and I need to be there."

"What time and where?"

"How about five at Harborview?"

"I'll be there, love you."

"I love you."

After Cara hung up, Van sat quietly in the office trying to settle her thoughts. She had never come so close to losing someone she loved so completely. It scared her to death and it rapidly changed her priorities. Anna called as she tried to recuperate. "Van, is Cara okay?"

"She's fine. Two other officers have minor injuries. I'm going to meet her at Harborview at five."

"Could I go with you?"

"I'd love it if you did, but it might be a long night."

"That's okay. How about I pick you up at work, and we take one car?"

"Thanks, Anna."

"Honey, what are friends for?"

Van rushed into the emergency waiting room with Anna trailing behind her. "Alex!"

"Van, she's okay." He met Van with a hug.

"I know. She called me. How are you?"

"I'm fine. Actually, the two injured officers are supposed to be released tonight."

"That's wonderful. Alex, this is Anna, my best friend." Alex was still in his SWAT gear, and many other officers milled around waiting for a word on their friends.

"Hello."

"Hi. I am sure glad the officers weren't badly hurt."

"Thanks, we're all very lucky. Van, Cara is here."

Van turned around in time to see Cara swiftly darting through the emergency entrance. She wrapped her arms around Van when she reached her, and hugged her tightly.

"I'm so glad you're okay." Van's voice shook with emotion.

"I am, too." Cara whispered. "I love you."

"I love you, honey."

"Hey, Anna, how are you." Cara released Van and turned to Anna. She too, was still in uniform. She looked very intimidating and competent.

"Good, Cara, I'm glad you're okay."

"Thanks, we're all very lucky."

"Hey, ladies," Tia came flying into the hospital. Anna and Van had spoken to her on the way to the hospital. "Cara, give me a hug, girl."

"Hey, Tia, what are you doing here?"

"Checking out my buddy, it's good to see you're okay."

"Thanks, Tia."

"How are the two officers that were injured?"

"I heard they were fine, but I need to check."

"Honey, you go do what you need to do. We'll be right here." Van hugged Cara again before Cara headed toward Alex and a small crowd of officers, still wailing quietly for information about their friends and fellow officers. It was a very subdued group.

"How're you doing, Van?" Tia gazed at her with concern.

"I am fine, now. I was a mess all afternoon. God, I've never felt like that before."

"That's perfectly understandable. Come on, and let's sit down over here." Tia led the way to three open chairs in the waiting room.

"Tia, is that you?" A nurse approached the threesome. She was a small, blond woman with a gentle smile on her face, wearing a cheery, turquoise nurse's outfit.

"Catherine, I didn't know you worked at Harborview."

"I just started a month ago. I work in the emergency room. What are you doing here?"

"A friend of ours is a police officer who participated in today's mess at the high school. She wasn't hurt, but we're all waiting to hear how the other two officers are doing."

"How about I go and find out for you."

"That would be great, thanks."

"No problem." The petite woman headed for the emergency room.

"Who's that, Tia?"

"Catherine Nobel. She and her daughter Maddy moved into my building a couple of months ago. I've watched her daughter a couple of times when she had to work."

"She's cute." Anna remarked.

"She's straight, and newly divorced." Tia's voice had a note of discomfort in it.

"Here she comes. Van, can you get Cara's attention."

"Catherine, could you tell those waiting officers what you found out?"

"Certainly." Catherine followed Van, Anna, and Tia over to where Cara and Alex stood talking.

"Cara, Alex, this nurse has information about your friends."

"They're both fine. The tall one, I believe his name is Ed, has a bullet furrow on his upper thigh. It barely grazed him. He is being bandaged as we speak. The other young man dislocated his shoulder, and he has a bullet graze on his arm. His shoulder has been slipped back into place and is being bandaged. They're waiting for x-rays to make sure he didn't fracture anything. Baring any of that, he should be able to go home later tonight, or early tomorrow morning."

"Thank you. We appreciate your letting us know." Alex responded with a sigh, as his fellow officers breathed a sigh of relief.

"You're very welcome." Catherine smiled at the obviously concerned group of police officers.

"Catherine, thanks," Tia walked away from the crowd with Catherine.

"You're welcome. Which one is your friend?"

"See the woman with the curly black hair standing next to the tall, pretty, blond woman? The blond is Van, and she's one of my dearest friends. Her partner is the black-haired woman. She's a detective and member of SWAT."

"I'm glad she's okay."

"So am I. Watching the news was nerve wracking."

"I bet."

"When do you get off?"

"I'm off my shift at six." I'm taking Maddy out for pizza."

"Celebrating something special?"

"No, it's just a break from cooking, and Maddy loves the pizza at Pegasys Pizza."

"I don't blame her, it's my favorite pizza, too."

"Do you want to join us? Maddy loves you to death, and I would love to have another adult to talk to."

"I'd like that, what time?"

"Will six-thirty work? I need to pick up Maddy and change my clothes."

"Perfect! I'm going to head home shortly. I need to get out of these heels." Tia was wearing a coral colored sheath dress and matching jacket, her light brown high heels completed the outfit. She looked professional and very stylish.

"You look terrific."

"Thank you." Tia blushed profusely.

"Well, I need to go finish my charts and get out of here."

"I'll catch up with you at six-thirty."

"Maddy and I will pick you up." Catherine grinned as she headed down the hall. Tia waved and smiled in response. She liked Catherine. She looked so capable in her nurse's uniform, sailing through the emergency room full of police officers.

"Hey, Tia, I am going to head out. Van's going to ride with Cara." Anna called to her. "And I've got to call Emma and Melinda."

"I'll leave with you, just let me say goodbye to Cara and Van."

It was another hour before one of the officers was released and Cara and Van finally left the hospital, heading for home. It was their night to stay at Van's. Instead of picking up her car, Cara was going to drop Van off in the morning. The drive home was uncharacteristically quiet. Even after they entered the condominium they didn't speak as Van headed for the bedroom. Cara followed her into the room. She was dreading the conversation. She just knew Van was going to break up with her.

"Van, sit down, please. We need to talk."

Van stared solemnly at Cara. She was scared to death. Maybe Cara didn't want to live together, and she had pushed the issue. She could lose Cara. Cara sat down on the bed and pulled Van down to a seat next to her. She turned to face her, holding on to her hands. Her hands trembled.

"Honey, I'm a very good police officer. I know you were scared today, and I'm sorry for that. I called you as soon as I could. My job is rarely like this. I would understand if you don't want to be with me." Cara spoke the words but she didn't mean them. She didn't want to stop seeing Van, but her job was also important to her. She'd already figured that Van didn't want to deal with a police officer as a girlfriend.

Van felt her heart freeze in her chest and she had to force the words out, tears filling her eyes. "Cara, I don't want to break up with you. I accept that your job is dangerous, and it does scare me, but I love you. Being a cop is who you are, and I love you. I just want to live with you. I'm tired of rotating places and dragging our stuff back and forth. I want to live the rest of my life with you." Van started to cry.

Cara smiled and kissed her softly. "Van, I want to be with you and live with you. Let's do it. We can't move into my apartment, it's too small. Do you want to live here or find a new place?"

"Would you like to live here?"

"I love your place, but it's yours, and I don't think I can afford it." The problem of finances still loomed large in Cara's mind.

"I own this condominium, and what's mine is yours. I know you hate it that I make a lot of money. I promise you, we will only spend what you think we can afford. I know we can work it out." Van's face was awash with tears as she spoke directly from her heart. "I love you and I would do anything to make this work."

"Are you really sure about this?" Cara's heart pounded in her chest. She could hold a gun trained on a suspect and not be as fearful as she was at that moment.

"How soon can you move in?"

"How about next week?" I'll probably have to pay another month's rent, but we can move my stuff in a couple of days." Cara's face lit with her smile. "And Van, I'll try to be more open about the money thing.

"Perfect. I love you, Cara."

"I love you. What would you say to a hot shower with me?" Cara grinned as she stood up, pulling Van up into her arms.

"What a perfectly marvelous idea." Van grinned and followed Cara into the bathroom. The day had been frightening and emotional, but Van wouldn't change a thing. She and Cara would live together for the rest of their lives.

Cara lay awake as Van slept deeply in her arms. Van always fell asleep after making love. She no longer had trouble falling asleep. It was still early and Cara had way too much adrenalin in her body to fall asleep. Thank goodness everything had ended without a horrible tragedy. She couldn't help but feel extremely lucky that she and Van had found each other, and they had a wide circle of friends that supported them. Cara had been surprised to see Anna and Tia at the hospital with Van. And Melinda and Emma had called and left a loving message on her cell phone. She smiled as she realized she not only got Van in the relationship, the others were part of the package. It made her feel more secure and deeply loved. She had a family.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14