Broken

Chapter seven

Elliott 

Thanksgiving is next week and as usual this time of year, crime goes up. Gary and I were grabbing coffee at a local gas station when three guys walked in shooting everyone in the convenient store. Gary and I retaliate and I took two in the chest and stomach, piercing through my vest. "Elliott," he exclaims as he takes out the last of the shooters.

My breaths come in quick pants, almost hyperventilating. "Jessie, I need to see her," I say between rapid breaths, tears rolling down my cheeks.

"Hang in there Elliott," Gary says in a soothing whisper. 

"J-Jessie," I say in a gurgled breath and everything fades to black.

Jessie

I'm waiting with my mother for Elliott to come in the emergency room. Gary just called and said she was shot while they were getting coffee. My mother was doing her best to keep me calm for the baby's sake, but until I see Elliott, I don't think I can calm down.

She was being wheeled in and it felt like everything started to move in slow motion. She had a trachea tube with a paramedic squeezing the bag to help her breathe. Gary was pushing the stretcher while another paramedic was straddled over her, giving chest compressions. Carol and the rest of my team rushed her to an operating room. 

My mother holds me back, taking me in her arms as uncontrolled sobs escape my lips. I know she was wearing her vest before she left, so the shooter must have had what we call "cop killer" bullets in their gun. I fall slack against my mother and she lowers us to the floor.

"I know it's not something you want to hear right now, but you need to stay strong for your baby in case she doesn't pull through," my mother chokes quietly and I hug my arms to my small bump. 

"I need to find a way to keep Macy," I choke in broken sobs and turn in my mother's arms to hide my face in her chest.

"We'll figure that out if it comes to that," she chokes quietly, rubbing my back in comfort.

 
I was asleep on my office couch after hours of waiting to hear about Elliott. I woke to my mother tucking hair from my face and it took a minute to remember that Elliott was in surgery and she was probably giving me an update. I sit up as tears fill my eyes and my mother takes my hands.

"Please tell me you have good news," I choke quietly as tears roll down my cheeks. 

"She made it through surgery and is in recovery. There's still the possibility of an embolism, but as of right now she's going to be fine," she chokes with a smile and I go in her arms.

"Can I see her," I choke in barely a whisper. 

She helps me up and guides me to Elliott's hospital room. She was in her sports bra and scrub pants. She was hooked up to a ventilator for breathing, a heart monitor to track her heartrate. She had a bandage on her upper, right chest and another on her lower right abdomen. I climb in on her left side and carefully lay on her left shoulder.

I stroke the bullet scar from Reese and shutter a calming breath. "I love you Elliott, please don't leave me," I choke in broken sobs. "I need you."

Four days later...

Elliott still hasn't woken up. Macy wants to see her, but I know Elliott wouldn't want her to see her like this. I was sleeping on her chest, like I have been every night. Her breathing tube was removed yesterday and was able to breathe on her own. It was just a matter of time before she woke up.

I woke to feather light trailing on my lips and look up at Elliott. Her eyes were open and was smiling at me. "Hey beautiful," she says softly, caressing my face.