Charlie

Chapter 3

For nearly two weeks Alejandro and Adam paced the halls of the hospital, chasing every lead that came their way. Sadly, everything led right back to an ever present dead end. They needed to speak with Charlie. She was the best thing, close to having the perp drop into their laps, of them solving their case. Charlie's grandmother insisted they work only as hard as they needed to, that God had the last say and that whoever hurt her Charlie Girl was going to be punished one way or another.

After catching a bite to eat, Alejandro and Adam heading up to Charlie's room in the SICU (surgical intensive care unit). Upon walking up to the nurse's station, they were greeted with a warm smile.

"Good afternoon, Norma," Adam greeted with a warm smile. The older nurse had tended to Charlie. No matter what kind of day Charlie may have had, Norma kept a positive attitude. She just knew Charlie was going to pull through.

With her hands on her hips she said, "Well, there's my handsome boys. How are y'all doing today? Got any news?"

Alejandro gave Norma a boyish grin. "Now, Miss Norma, you know we can't tell you anything regarding the case. I'm sure you've been keeping up with the news better than anyone we know. Right?"

Norma gave Alejandro a smile with a playful roll of her eyes. "Yes. Anyway, since you can't help me can I help y'all?"

Adam nodded. "How's Charlie? She wake up yet?"

Norma's smile brightened. "Yes, sir. In fact she's no longer here in the SICU. She was moved a few hours ago."

Alejandro gave Adam a surprised look before turning to Norma. "That's great news, Miss Norma. What room?"

Norma gave the detectives the room number, before wishing them luck on the case and shooing them away. Telling them that she had things to do and sick people to take care of.  The two young men wasted no time heading up the few floors to reach Charlie.  Once they reached her room, they knocked lightly. They could hear Charlie's grandmother tell them to come in.

Walking into the small hospital room, Alejandro and Adam gave Mrs. Young a smile, their eyes drifting to Charlie, who was fast asleep, propped up on the hospital bed. The tubes had all been removed aside from her IV. She was finally out of the woods and well on her way to fast recovery.

"Hey, boys. Guess Norma told y'all we were moved."

They both nodded. "How's our girl?" Alejandro asked.

"Well, she woke up on her own last night when they took her off those meds. Wanted to make sure she was alert, that her brain and nerves were functioning properly.  The nurse said she was in a lot of pain at first but she was doing better when I got here this morning. They had her up doin' a little rehab not too long ago. As much as she didn't want to, she needed the pain meds to help deal with the pain after. Said she'd be out for a little bit. That was around nine."

Adam looked at his watch. It was just after two in the afternoon. "She's making amazing progress. She'll be home before you know it," he said with a smile.

Alejandro nodded, agreeing as he looked over at Adam. Thinking that they were finally going to get some answers and finally get to meet Charlie Waters. Whoever went after the seemingly sweet young woman deserved to be put under the jail. Lowlifes like that didn't deserve to be out on the streets.

Although he wasn't looking forward to working with another partner, Alejandro was glad the Captain had assigned Adam as his partner. All the years he and Mike were partnered he never would have guessed his back wasn't covered the way it should have been had Adam come along.  Truth be told, he probably would have gotten killed if he put his life in Mike's hands completely. Even though thinking of Mike pissed him off to no end he was happy things came out the way they did. Had Mike not shown him how terrible a partner and friend he really was, he never would have known what a true and genuine partner was. That it was possible to have true friends in a world where you constantly had to watch your back.