Aaron
I slowly lift my eyelids, letting the hospital lights shine into my eyes. I turn my head and see Vanessa setting her head on the side of my bed. Taking huge breaths, Vanessa raises her head. Finally seeing her face again, I smile. In my eyes, her face glows in beauty. She singlehandedly changed my life with just her bright smile.
"Hey-" She interrupts me with a gentle kiss.
"I hate you. Don't ever do that to me again." Vanessa whispers to me as she holds my face in her hands. Tear drops fall onto my cheek.
"I'm sorry." I chuckle.
A doctor walks in with a chart.
"Aaron Van Wormer. Nice to finally see you awake. How are you feeling?" The doctor asks.
"Well, my chest hurts pretty bad, but I'm still happy." I say. My voice has a raspy tone to it.
"I could imagine. Your heart has been through a lot these past few days, but pain is normal after major surgeries. I'll leave you alone." He insures.
"Thank you for everything, Dr. Lee." Vanessa says.
"Where is Vincent and Veronica?" I ask.
"They are actually down the hall. Vincent broke a rib." Vanessa informs me.
"What? How?" I question. I cough after I speak, creating more pain on my chest.
"Vincent found the guy who did all of this. He was chasing after him and ran into a wall, I guess" She tells me.
As she finishes the story, Vincent and Roni both walk into the room.
"Long time no see." Vincent smiles.
Veronica comes over and hugs me.
"I'm so glad you're ok." She smiles too.
"Thanks. I've missed you two." I chirped.
I got shot. How did this even happen ? Although I really want to ask Vincent how this went down, I need a break from all things detective and police related.
"I'll be right back." Vincent announces.
"Babe?" I take a hold of her hand. "I want to tell you something."
"Yeah, of course. What is it?" She runs her fingers through my matted hair.
"I think I want to quit my job." I confess.
"What?" She raises her eyebrows in confusion. "But you love being a detective!"
"I love you more." I cough.
"What?!" Vincent comes back into the room, overhearing the little conversation I had with Nessa.
"You should probably talk to him first." She kisses me. "Roni?"
They both walk out while Vincent slowly plods towards me.
"Aaron, what do you mean?" Vincent grumbles
"I can't keep putting my life and others lives in danger." I admit.
"That's the hard part of being a cop, but I thought you knew that?" Vincent argues. "I don't understand."
"I'm clearly not meant to be a cop! I got my own girlfriend hurt. That day, I didn't even try to save Nessa. I just...let her go." I started to feel the pain I felt that day. Knowing that she was in danger and not doing anything, it was the worst decision I've ever made.
"You were just listening to Chiefs orders. You did the right thing and you still came through to save us all. Who knows would have happened if El Diablo did something more! We could have been dead." He points out.
"I know, but-" He cuts me off.
"You are an amazing detective. Don't quit all together, ok? You can do things in the office more. Instead of being out with me, use the computer or something to give me information and crap. You were meant to be a cop." Vincent insists.
"I guess." I agree.
"There's the spirit." Vincent smiles.
A silence fills the room.
"Awkward hug or fist bump. Vincent asks.
"Considering that I'm kind of immobile at the moment, manly fist bump." I say. "Sorry, I won't be out in the field with you."
"Doesn't matter. You'll always be my partner." He motions the twins to walk back in.
"You need some rest. Roni and Nessa have to go to some meeting and I'll bring them." Vincent assures me.
~~~
Veronica
"You trying to steal my spotlight, Vincent?" Aaron says.
"What do you mean?" Vanessa chuckles.
"I get shot, he breaks a rib, you know?" He smirks.
"For your information, I was saving your lazy ass." Vincent jokes
"Although I just love your senses of humor, I'm going to call your dad and get some food." Vanessa kisses Aaron on the fore head and walks out of the room.
I see Aaron place his hand gently over his heart and wince.
"Are you ok?" I say.
"Yeah." I murmur. "My chest just hurts."
"So, I know you've only been awake for like 10 hours or so, but are you still going through with the proposal." Vincent asks with a smile.
He quietly laughs and looks at me. Raising his eyebrow, Aaron's blue eyes shimmers in the afternoon sun.
"I don't think so." He informs us.
"What?" Vincent shouts out.
"Ok. I know. I love Vanessa and I do plan on spending the rest of my life with her, but it's not the right time. I have to recover from all of this and piling on the stress of planning the wedding, it will be so hard. After this incident, anything could happen. She is the love of my life, I want to spend every day with her and I want her to know that I will always love her." Aaron says.
Hearing his little speech made my heart melt. I knew that he loved Vanessa, but he proved it to me immensely. Nessa's happiness means a lot to me and I know Aaron can bring her the joy she deserves.
"Ok, fine." Vince gives in. "Can I talk to you for a minute, babe?"
"Sure!" He takes a hold of my hand and we sit down in chairs.
"What's up?" I ask.
"It's no engagement ring but," He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a promise ring. "I'm so in love with you. And we are obviously not ready for a proposal, but I'm gonna love you more and more everyday, I promise you that I will." He places the ring on my finger. As I start to smile, I wrap my arms gently around his neck and place my lips on his. When I am with him, it felt like I was in paradise. Everything was perfect. Aaron is ok, Nessa is happy, Vincent solved his case, and I am madly in love.
His voice interrupts my thoughts.
"Veronica? There is one more thing I need to tell you." He says.
"Ok." I couldn't contain my happiness. My smile was practically as bright as day, but on the contrary, Vince has sorrow in his eyes. My expression quickly changes as I see tears well up in his eyes.
"What's wrong?" I wipe the smile off my face.
He didn't answer.
"Vince, you can tell me anything." I hold his hand. I've never seen him like this. He looked distraught, like a lost puppy. A tear falls from his eyes. It shocked me. I've never seen him cry.
"Vincent? Can you hear me?" With every second, I start to get more and more anxious.
"Veronica, I have cancer." I watched his mouth as every word left his lips. I try to speak but nothing came out. My heart starts beating faster as if it was trying to crawl out of my chest and run away. I clench his hand tighter as the tears come. Vincent takes my head and places it near him. I start bawling, not even trying to hold it in anymore. As my tears fall onto his chest, his tears fall onto my head.
"I love you." I could barely get those three words out as my voice shakes.
A/N I hope you liked this chapter. I need your opinions. Would you like me to end the book here or make one more chapter?
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Apart
General Fiction*READ THE BEGINNING OF THE END BEFORE* El Diablo changed their lives. But after Aaron gets shot, Vanessa has never been more terrified in her life. As she tries to adapt of having the knowledge that Aaron might not be by her side, Vincent tries to f...
