Call To Arms (Chicago PD - Fire - MED)

07. Hot Water

The shooter cursed. A mixture of rage and pain as the canine clung to his forearm, effectively disarming him as the shotgun tumbled to the ground. 

But the perp was far from done. The brutish man grabbed at Jekyll's scruff, and as my dog let out a pained whine my gaze was ripped from the sight of Jay crumpled on the pavement.

I fired on instinct, but my aim was true. His brains splattered on the wall behind him as he fell like a sack of potatoes. Jekyll shook off the attack, snarling at the deceased as the haze cleared from my mind.

Jay had taken it in his upper right quadrant, dangerously near the clavicle. He had already lost consciousness, from a vast overload of shock, agony, and blood loss. His shoulder was a shredded mess that pulsed and shuddered as the only visible sign that his heart was still pumping. 

I kneeled beside my fallen partner, allowing my minimal training to guide my hands. Being aware of not moving him, for fear of a spinal injury from the blast backwards. I placed pressure at the wound extremely carefully, ignoring the slick warmth that coated them instantly.

"Kim. Call it in. Then, I need you to secure his arm. If he wakes up and moves, he could dislodge a fragment and severe an artery." I warn.

To her credit, the timid officer reacted quickly. Calling for an ambulance before taking up her hold on his limp limb as crimson bloomed further along his chest.

"Guard." I snapped at Jekyll, having complete faith in his abilities as he eyed both the alley and doorway beyond, pelt bristling. Not an ideal location, but unless we were under fire, I wasn't risking further injury.

What felt like hours, but was really only a minute or two later, the gun shots faded, and distant shouts of officers clearing the house were heard.

"Morning! Halstead? Burgess?" Voight sounded out nearby.

"Back here!" I shouted back, not budging an inch on my pressure, even with my hands slick with life force. 

Voight and Erin were there an instant later. Lindsey gaped, frozen at the sight of Jay, but I didn't have time to explain, or express my regret, as I heard the siren and saw the EMT's unloading.

I conveyed what little I could on his vitals as they briskly patched what they could before transporting him back to the ambulance. Erin immediately hopped in alongside, and they roared away in a crescendo of lights and sirens, as I felt the adrenaline seep from my bones and I leaned on the alley wall. 

Guilt riddled me as the rest of the team joined us and were filled in hastily as other cops had the crime scene under control. Granted, I hadn't been here long, and I wouldn't consider us besties, but he was my partner, and in this line of work that had to mean something.

I wiped sweat from my brow before regretting it as red smeared my forehead in some demented Lion King reference. Except, there was nothing remotely child friendly in the gesture and my stomach turned. 

Jekyll nudged my hand and I patted his head hesitantly as officers milled about and I zoned out. As the team stood uncertainly Dawson took control of the situation. 

"Atwater and Rowan can begin processing with me. The rest can go to the hospital." He said assertively. Voight looked prepared to argue, but his second in command said calmly, "Erin will need the support."

Silenced at the mention of what was essentially his daughter, he simply turned and walked out of the alley towards a waiting vehicle brought by an officer that wasn't riddled with bullet holes.