Saving Her

Chapter 11

The ambulance keeps jostling us around as we race to Toronto General. Camila still hasn't opened her eyes, but the paramedics keep assuring me that she will.  The steady beat of the monitor tells me that at least her heart is beating; she's fighting.  I can't tear my eyes away from her broken and bruised body.  All I want to do is hold her in my arms and take all this pain away, but I can't.  I'm beating myself up for not listening to my gut sooner, not answering Sinu's call sooner, or Sofi's texts.  The pit in my stomach is one of disgust towards myself, pure rage at Andy and the uncertainty regarding Camila.

I wasn't there for her when she needed me.

I keep pleading with her to come back to me as I watch the paramedic bandage the gash on the back of her head.  I keep mumbling apology after apology.  I feel sick.  I can't believe my perfect little Banana is in the predicament. 

The world is so fucking cruel.

I feel like I zone out for most of the ride until I hear a car horn blare in front of us.  Connor and Brian are escorting us in the cruiser so we can get to Toronto General as soon as possible.  I realize we don't have that much further to go and when we make the final turn to the ambulance bay the last person I want to see comes running out to meet us.

Andy.

I'm pretty sure I'm crushing Mila's hand, I'm so angry. The fire returns in my eyes and I'm seeing red. I feel like I'm the bull in the ring and Andy is waving the red cloth, egging me on; steam screaming out of my ears and nose. I can't see straight and all I want in the moments to come is to jump out of the ambulance and tackle him to the ground.  To beat the crap out of him for hurting the woman I love.  To make him feel even an ounce of the pain that Camila is feeling right now.

I swear, if he so much as tries to touch her, I'll break all his appendages and beat him until he's the one not waking up in the back of an ambulance.

"Son of a bitch" I say under my breath as I keep a death grip on Camila's hand. 

I radio to the boys that they need to hold Andy back because if I get anywhere near him, I'll be the one in handcuffs. They radio back and agree Andy needs to be detained and they'll take care of it.  A smirk crosses my face.

Son of a bitch will never hurt my Mila again. Ever.

The next moments are pretty much a blur. I remember flying a punch squarely to Andy's jaw before Connor and Brian can detain him. I feel better, but it meant I had to leave her side. She's being rushed inside where doctors and nurses come ready to jump into action. Some let out small screams and some have tears lining their eyes. They are all family, Ale Cabello made sure of that, and when one of their own, his daughter especially, is in trouble, it's all hands on deck.

A sense of heartbreak can already be felt through the halls of the unit and she's not even in a room yet. Shouts and fingers pointing here and there are the next flashes I remember. Two doctors I know quite well have to hold me back until she's situated because I just want to be by her side.  I need to be there to protect her.  I need to make sure they are taking care of her.  This is personal this time.

One of the doctors tells me they are going to do everything they can to make sure she's alright.  He tells me one of his partners is already stitching up the back of Camila's head and then she's going to get some sort of scan.  At this point I'm crying so hard, I don't have enough fight left in me to beg them to let me go with her.  I let one of the nurses escort me to the waiting room where Connor and Brian are waiting for me.

We share a bro hug before I can't stand it anymore and I fall to my knees.  I crumble and let the grief consume me.  My head in my hands, sobs wracking my body.  The boys try and help me to a chair, but I just bat their hands away.  No one needs to be consoling me.  I'm not the one who's hurt. 

Hours later, I'm still in shock, I can't even hear Connor tell me that our Commander is personally bringing Andy to the station for questioning. I decline a cup of coffee which is unusual for me, but I'm too sick. I won't be okay until I know that she is. 

They've managed to get me in a chair now.  Brian rubs my back and pulls me out of my misery just long enough to ask me if he should call Sinu or if I want to.

Knowing it needs to be me, I collect myself, wipe my swollen, red eyes and find my phone. This is the hardest call I've ever had to make, and I've made death notices before, but this one takes the cake.

Staring at the ceiling and taking a few deep breaths I find Sinu's number in my phone and hit the call button. The phone rings and rings and I feel like my heart is going to stop again at any moment.

"Hello. Shawn? Is that you?"

"Yyy....yes....yes mama it's me. I'm afraid I have some bad news." Trying to remain stoic, I continue. "I found Camila; y-you and Sofi ne-need-need to get to Toronto General as soon, as soon....as you can. I'll send Connor and Brian to come get you. I'll explain the rest when you get here...just please...please come." I say as I hold tears back.

"Mijo...where is she, what happened to her?" I can hear anger in Sinu's voice, but I can't say anymore. I can't lose it on the phone because I don't know if I'll be able to recover.

"I'm sorry mama, I just need you to get here. The boys are on their way."  Hanging up, I take another deep breath and prepare to call my mom.  The tears are at bay for now but my stomach is doing somersaults and I'm trying to keep from throwing up.

"Hi honey, what's going on? Aren't you working?" My mom answers, concern etched in her voice.

"Yeah...mom I am....but mom, I need-need you to stay-stay.....calm, I....I have something....something to tell you."  I mumble on the verge of tears.

"Shawn, you're scaring me."

"Son, just tell us." My dad says joining the call.

"It's Camila. She's been assaulted and I'm not allowed to say much more, but it's bad."

"Oh honey!" My mom cries.  "We'll grab Aaliyah and be on our way. Hang in there Shawn. We'll be there soon" my dad says.

I hang up. I can't even say goodbye before my head is in my hands, my heart in the pit of my stomach and my body so weak I don't think I can stand if they asked me to.  I'm pretty sure to the average person, seeing a detective in uniform crying in a chair in a unit like this is not entirely surprising, but also kind of pathetic. This is what I signed up for after all. However, I'm so broken, even if the passers by had something to say, I wouldn't pay it any mind.

After what feels like hours, I look up to see a pair of black flats in front of me. I stretch my neck to be met with blue eyes I recognize as Camila's co-worker and friend Tiffany.  I don't even know where Connor and Brian are, but I'm sure they aren't far.

She sits down next to me and places a hand on my shoulder. I can tell she's been crying too and we share sad looks.

"Shawn, we can go see her now."

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A/n: Thank you for over 50 reads so far and some comments. I know this is kind of sad right now, but I promise it will get better, hang tight.

Also, shameless plug for my other story "So This is Love." Check it out if you haven't already! 💜