Adam Tobias bristled with anger as he listened to the cries from the inside of the store. He turned his head and caught sight of the familiar swat team van pulling up across the street. He knew this team was led by Martin Jackson and prayed his men were as good as he remembered. He heard Carter talking to Jackson, but his own eyes were once more glued to the front of the store.
“I...I’m okay, Peg,” Mannix hissed as she ran her hands through his dark sweat soaked hair. He watched as tears ran form her expressive dark eyes. He knew she was crying because of him, but it took a few minutes for him to remember why. “D...don’t cry, P...Peg,” he muttered as his eyelids grew heavy.
A deep sigh left him as he struggled to gain oxygen to his lungs and she knew he needed help. A bluish tinge was now noticeable around his lips as his heart fought to keep pumping whatever blood was left in his body. She knew things were just going to get worse the longer he was without medical care. She turned her hatred fed eyes on the man named Mike, ready to tell the man just what she thought of him. A hand on her arm made her look into the eyes of the man she’d grown to care so much for.
“D...don’t, Peggy, n...not worth it,” Mannix mumbled.
“Ya’d best listen to him, Lady, cause if ya try anythin’ I’ll make him pay,” Mike smiled and kicked out with his right foot, again connecting to the injured man’s right knee. He laughed as Mannix gasped in pain and tried to curl in on himself.
“Leave him alone,” Roberto Martini cried as he scrambled to his feet.
“Shut up old man,” Jake hissed as he slammed his gun into Martini’s head.
“No!” Sophie cried as her husband dropped heavily to the floor. She knelt beside the unconscious man and wept openly. “Oh, Roberto,” she gasped as she wiped the blood running from the open wound above her husbands right eye. She looked up at Jake and spat. “You animal!”
“Shut up, Old Woman, or I’ll put a bullet in him right now,” Jake hissed, waving the gun back and forth between her and her husband.
Joe could see the situation escalating and knew he had to stop it before the unstable man killed both Martini’s. He pushed away from Peggy and lifted himself onto his knees. He crawled the short distance and got in front of the angry man. “You won’t s...shoot either of t...them,” he snarled weakly.
“Get back where you were, Mannix, or I’ll put a matching hole in your left side!” Jake warned, not ready to give up his power over these two people.
“N...no!” Mannix hissed, his voice weak, but his resolve to see these people stopped, strong. He heard Peggy crying beside him as she fought to get away from Margie. “I won’t let y...you...”
“Won’t let me what, Mannix?” Jake pulled him to his feet and held him there.
Mannix stood on rubbery legs, his breath coming in hitching gasps as pain lanced from the wound in his side. “W...won’t let you k...kill t...them!” He could hear Margie unstable laughter ringing in his ears as pain pounded in his temples.
“I’ll do what I want, Mannix,” Jake said, letting Margie’s laughter goad him on. “You ain’t in charge here!”
“Neither are you, Jake.”
Jake turned at the sound of Mike’s words and the smile seemed to fade on his face as he saw the gun pointed in his direction. He swallowed deeply and lowered his gun, but held tightly to the injured man. “Ah, come on, Mike, I’s just havin’ a little fun!”
“We need him alive!” Mike explained, his gun still pointed at his partner. “He’s our ticket out of here. Remember what I said. Cops look after cops. Even if they are private ones. Now leave ‘em be!”
“Sure, Mike,” Jake swallowed and once more Mannix was shoved to the floor.
Joe tried to hang on to his tenuous hold on consciousness, but a deep breath, a painful shudder and his mind lost the fight. He didn’t feel Peggy sit beside him and pull his head back onto her lap. He didn’t hear her soft sobs as she settled the thin blanket over him.
Peggy watched as Sophie Martini once more replaced the pillow under Joe’s legs and smiled at the older woman.
“He’s strong, Peggy!” the older woman told her.
“I know,” Peggy said as she placed her hand over the beating heart of the man she held.
Adam watched as the Swat Team manoeuvred into position on the buildings surrounding Martini’s store. He knew they wouldn’t shoot unless they had a clear shot. He also knew the three people holding the Martini’s, Joe Mannix and Peggy Fair would not be escaping in a car or anything else. The procedure called that they be taken down one way or another. He just prayed it would be at the cost of human lives. The bullhorn sat on the roof of the car as he waited for the hostage taker’s wishes to be granted. The car and the money would be delivered, but the men would not escape custody with any or all of the hostages. He turned to see Carter and Jackson talking and knew they were discussing how to take the three down. He knew instinctively there were three, knew in his heart that’s what Mannix had told him when referring to the lights. His eyes returned once more to the front of the store and he sent a silent prayer that no innocent lives would be lost tonight.
The hours dragged by for the people inside and outside the store. Joe Mannix remained unconscious as Peggy held him in a tight embrace, sending her own strength in hopes of keeping this man among the living. She watched as the three criminals helped themselves to anything they wanted, or trashed the shelves around the store. She felt sorry for the destruction, but was glad they were working out their frustrations on the equipment and not on their hostages. Peggy’s head turned towards the small carriage as a soft cry emanated from inside. She watched as Margie moved towards the baby, wondering how any woman could take a baby into such a dangerous situation. She turned her eyes back to the man in her lap and forced a smile as his eyes open.
“Hi,” she whispered, not wanting to garner attention from the three people with guns.
Lines creased his brow as he struggled to focus on the woman’s face. He moved slowly, his body stiff from lying in one spot. A frown marred his handsome face as pain reawakened with the slight movement.
“Easy, Joe,” Peggy said as she rubbed her hand on his shoulder.
“Peg? H...happened?”
She could see the confusion in the fever bright eyes as he struggled to speak. The blue tinge still encircled his dry lips and she bit her lip to stop herself from crying. “It’s okay, Joe. You’ve been hurt and I want you to...” She didn’t finish as Adam Tobias’ voice droned over the bullhorn.
“Listen!” Margie said as she held the baby in her arms. The child suckled on a bottle and Peggy guessed the age to be around six months. Again she was struck with thoughts of the life this child seemed destined for. She prayed nothing would happen to it.
Adam knew things were about to get tense as a black Sedan parked in the spot next to the door of the grocery store. He knew the time had come for him to inform the criminals that their demands were here. He sighed and picked up the bullhorn. ‘Please, God, keep them safe,’ he prayed.
“You in the store. We’ve got the car and the money out here. Now release the hostages and you can go!” Tobias called.
Mike smiled as he knelt in front of Peggy and Joe. He held the gun tightly as he spoke. “You hear that, Mannix? It’s time to get this show on the road. Do you think you can get up on your own or should we take one of the others?” he laughed as his eyes raked over the woman before him.
Mannix swallowed with some difficulty, but dragged himself to a sitting position. “I’m f...fine,” he hissed as he struggled upwards. He felt strong soft hands helping him and was soon on his feet. He swayed weakly but managed to stand to his full height, his right arm held tightly against the wound in his side.
“Well, I’ll be dammed. Never thought you’d be able to get to your knees let alone your feet,” Mike said smugly. He reached out and pulled Mannix from Peggy’s grip.
“Let them go,” Mannix hissed as they moved to the front of the store.
“Not yet! Gotta see what those cops are offerin’ before I let anyone go. Jake, you and Margie watch those three.” He shoved the injured man towards the door, the gun held tightly to his back. “Open the door, Mannix!”
“Okay, people, looks like things are about to get hot,” Jackson warned into the headset. He knew his men were the best and he didn’t need to tell them what to expect. He smiled as he looked from rooftop to rooftop. Even with the encroaching daylight there was no sign of movement from above. His eyes returned to the front door and he watched as things began to slowly unfold.
Joe reached for the door with a trembling hand. He knew he was in trouble between the pain and the blood loss he felt as weak as a newborn baby. Twice his fingers slipped off the handle before he finally pulled it open. he looked into the street, surprised that daylight was once more upon them. He felt the gun gouging into his back and bit off a groan as Mike shoved him forward.
Tobias could see his friend was in bad shape as soon as the door opened. He could see blood on the right side of his shirt and gauze bandages wrapped around his left hand. “Joe, are you, the Martini’s and Peggy alright?” he asked automatically.
“We’re okay, Adam...” he cried out as Mike shoved the gun against his injured side.
“Now listen here, Cop!” Mike shouted. “You move all those cars back and give us a clean street out of here. Otherwise this guys gonna be bleeding from another hole or two,” he laughed.
“Let the hostages go first!” Tobias ordered.
“No can do, Cop. We’re gonna need some insurance that you guy’s’ll let us get away,” Mike told him.
“You g...got me. Let the o...others go,” Mannix muttered softly.
“I got all of you...”
“The police would take it as an act of faith if you let them go. They’ll be more than willing to let you go with one hostage than four.”
“You may have something there, Mannix. Least you’ll be easy to hand. Can’t do much when you’ve got a hole in your side,” he cackled as he again shoved the gun against the wound. “Listen up, Cop. I’ll let the other three go, but this one comes with us.”
“Let them all go!” Tobias tried again.
“No way, Cop. We do it my way or I keep all four hostages. Maybe I should kill one of them right now!”
“N...no,” Mannix hissed. “Adam, he’ll let P...Peggy and the Martini’s g...go. You h...have no c...choice.”
“Joe,” Adam knew the detective was right, yet he hated he thought of leaving his friend in their hands.
“You heard him, Cop. He’s willing to stay with us.”
“You let the others go and I’ll see you have a clear way out,” Tobias assured him.
Mike knew he had no choice. He had to release the hostages and this way there would be less people for him to watch. “Alright. Gimme a few minutes to get them ready!”
“You got ten minutes!” Tobias warned as he pulled the injured man back into the store. He shoved Mannix onto the floor by the counter and turned to the five remaining people. His eyes finally came to rest on Peggy, and the two Martini’s. Roberto Martini had finally come too, but he was shaky and pale. “Alright you three can go!” he ordered.
“What?” Jake asked as the three climbed to their feet.
“Ya can’t let them go. We need them to get outta here,” Margie hissed.
“We’ve got the private cop...”
“No, please, let him go,” Peggy interrupted as she hurried to kneel beside the pale man.
“Sorry, Lady, but he stays. Now get the hell outta here before I change my mind!” Mike warned.
Joe looked into her tear filled eyes and again spoke softly. “Go, Peggy,” he ordered as he pushed her away.
“N...no!” she cried.
“Toby needs his mother,” he looked into her face and knew he’d said the right words as she stood up.
“Margie?”
The young woman turned at the sound of her name being called. “What?” she asked.
“Ain’t no way we can take the baby...”
“I’m not letting...”
“You have no choice. You want him dead?” Mike asked.
“No. I can protect him!” she cried as she lifted the baby from the carriage.
“Not if there bullets flying. You can’t hold a gun and a baby at the same time. Give him to her...”
“No, Mike!” she cried as she held tightly to the baby.
“Then you stay behind!” Mike warned.
“No!”
“Yes! I’m not gonna spend my time worrying about you not doing your job. Ain’t no skin off my teeth if you keep the baby, but damn sure don’t want to have to take care of it. Now ya either give it to the woman or ya stay behind with it. Either way you’ll be losing him. One way he’ll be dead, the other way he gets a new home with a mama who can take better care of him.
Margie looked at the baby in her arms and felt the warmth of motherhood flow through her normally frigid veins. A tear fell from her glacial blue eyes as she passed the baby to Peggy. “You take care of my boy. Make sure he gets a good home!”
“I...I will,” Peggy stammered as she took the crying infant and looked back at Joe Mannix. “J...Joe...”
“Go, Peg,” he ordered, a slight smile sparkling in his pain filled eyes.
“Come on, Lady, before I change my mind!” Mike ordered.
Adam and the others watched as the door opened and the dull interior was bathed in sunlight. The Martini’s leaned heavily again one another as they exited the store. Peggy came next holding a crying infant in her arms. He held his breath as the door closed and the three people made their way towards the safety of the police cars. A female officer came forward and took the baby from Peggy’s arms. The Martini’s were quickly escorted to a waiting ambulance.
Adam quickly reached for the Peggy as she hurried towards him.
“Oh, Adam,” she cried as his arms wrapped her in a protective enclosure.
“It’s okay, Peggy, I got you,” Tobias said softly.
“Adam,” Peggy lifted her eyes and looked at the soft-spoken policeman. “Joe’s hurt.”
“I know, Peggy. How bad?”
“He’s got a bullet in his right side.”
“Reynolds said he was shot and I saw the blood.”
“We have to get him outta there, Adam.”
“We will, Peggy. The swat team’s already in position. They’ll take them down if it’s possible. How many are there?”
“Three,” she saw the slight smile on Tobias’ face and wondered where it came from. “Two men and a woman.” She looked towards the front of the store as the door opened and Joe Mannix’s pale form was silhouetted against the darkened interior.
“Okay, Cop, we gave you what you wanted, now it’s your turn. Get them cars outta here, Now!”
“Adam?”
“It’s okay, Peggy. Alright, men, move back!” he ordered through the bullhorn.
“Hear that, Mannix, we’re gettin’ outta here,” Mike laughed as he watched the police cars pull back past the buildings and out of sight.
Joe glanced around the area. He knew police procedure and knew there were cops hiding somewhere, ready to take these people down at all cost. He knew if they got away he was a dead man anyway and steeled himself to move at all cost. He felt Mike’s gun dig into his back as he was shoved forward. He stumbled and caught a glimpse of a man on the roof across the street. His strength was quickly leaving him as Mike pulled him roughly in front of them. He knew the time had come to act as he caught sight of a second Swat team member hiding behind a garbage bin between the buildings across the street.
‘I hope you guys are as good as they say,’ he thought as he let his knees buckle and sank to the ground. The blood pounded in his ears, drowning out the cries of rage and pain from the three people who were using him as a shield. He fought to stay awake, to make sure no one else got hurt, but felt himself losing the battle. “Peggy,” he groaned as hands reached out for him. He forced his eyes open and looked into Mike’s angry face.
“I’ll kill you!” Mike hissed as he brought his gun up to Mannix’s head.
Joe used the last of his strength to grasp the gun hand. A gunshot sounded, but Joe Mannix didn’t know for sure who was shot. Pain radiated out from the wound in his side as blood dripped from the surprised face above him. He let his eyes close as the body fell on top of him. He tried to breath, but the Mike’s weight on his chest prevented the air from reaching the oxygen-starved lungs. He turned his head to the side as running feet sounded. He barely heard the men around him as they struggled to lift the dead weight.
“Clear!”
“Get the ambulance in here!” Jackson shouted as he placed cuffs no the arms of the wounded young woman. He saw another of his men cuffing one of the males. The one on the hostage was dead, the bullet through his forehead leaving little doubt of that.
“Peggy, you stay put until we get the all clear!’ Tobias warned as he forced the woman into the police car.
“Adam, I need to...”
“You need to stay there until I check it out. Joe would never forgive me if anything happened to you. I’ll send one of the men to get you as soon as it’s safe.”
Peggy’s shoulders slumped as she listened to his words. “Alright, Adam. Just hurry, please!”
“I will, Peggy,” Adam promised as he hurried towards the store.
Adam rushed around the corner and saw the chaos in front of the store. He watched as Jackson and another man pulled a body of his friend. He ran towards them just as a jacket covered the body. He didn’t waste time on who the dead man was as he knelt be side Joe Mannix.
“Joe?”
Mannix forced his eyes open to half-mast. The pain that was dulled during the few minutes of unconsciousness was now screaming for attention. He tried to breath deeply, but there didn’t seem to be enough room in his body for the much needed air.
“A...Adam, Peggy?” he asked.
“She’s fine, Joe,” he assured the injured man as he looked around. He spotted Pete Reynolds and called him over. “Pete, go get Peggy and make sure the ambulance gets through the barricade.”
“Yes, Sir, Lieutenant,” Reynolds hurried away as Jackson knelt beside Tobias. The two men began removing the blood soaked bandages from the injured man.
Joe felt the hands touch his body and trembled violently. He couldn’t remember ever being so cold. He knew a lot of it had to do with the blood loss and shock, but he couldn’t give into it until he was sure Peggy Fair was okay. He smiled as the woman and two ambulance attendants came into view. He felt Adam and Jackson move away as the three newcomers knelt beside him.
“Peg, okay?” he asked weakly, a thin smile on his too white face.
“I’m fine, Joe,” Peggy said as the two attendants began examining their patient. She reached for his left arm and placed her fingers near his elbow.
A dark haired man placed a BP cuff around his right arm, while a red haired man placed a new bandage over the wound. Both men could see Mannix was in a lot of pain as they tried to make him comfortable.
“Joe, my name is Terry and I’m gonna give you something to help with the pain. Then we’re gonna get an IV started and get you to the hospital. Okay?”
“O...okay,” Mannix managed to drag out. He felt a cold swab of alcohol on his left shoulder and the sharp sting of the needle as it entered his flesh. The medication soon entered his system and he could feel it take the edge off the agony racing through his body.
“Gary,” Terry looked at his partner. “I think we’d better get him on oxygen. His lips are a little blue and he’s having trouble breathing.”
“I’m on it,” Gary replied as he pulled out the portable oxygen cylinder and the mask. “Joe, I’m going to place this over your face. Just relax and breathe as deep as you can.” Gary continued to work on their patient. He removed the gauze from the man’s hand and immobilized it.
Mannix couldn’t muster the strength to answer as the man lifted his head and placed the band around his head to hold the mask in place. He felt the cool mist enter his lungs and smiled at the woman beside him. “I’m okay, Peggy,” he mumbled as he felt a needle inserted into his arm.
“He’s lost a lot of blood, Gary. I’m gonna run this wide open. He seems a little shocky as well.”
“Alright,” Gary answered. “As soon as you’re done we’ll get him on the stretcher.”
“Done!” Terry told him. “Ma’am, can you move back for a minute. Lieutenant, can you give us a hand.”
Adam moved to take Peggy’s place beside the injured man. He could see the dark eyes open and smiled sympathetically.
“Alright, We do this on three,” Terry ordered as they readied to lift the injured man. “One, two, three.”
Joe cried out as his body was lifted from the ground and placed on the waiting stretcher. He bit his bottom lip as blankets were placed over him. he felt the strap placed over his body to secure him to it. It wasn’t long before the stretcher was pulled to its full height and racing towards the waiting ambulance. He couldn’t keep his eyes open, but he felt Peggy climb in with him. He knew it was her as a soft hand wrapped around his right hand. He sighed heavily and gave into the call of darkness.
The ride to the hospital seemed to take forever to the woman sitting beside the injured man. She watched the rise and fall of his chest, grateful for every breath he took. She knew once they arrived at the ER the real fight to save his life would begin.
“Oh, Joe,” she whispered softly as the ambulance pulled into the covered area. She was shocked to see his eyes open and focused on her.
“S...show me that smile, Peg,” he told her as the back doors opened. He sighed as she forced the smile to her face. The stretcher was quickly pulled from the vehicle and he lost sight of her as they raced him through the automatic doors.
“What’ve we got?” Dr. Carl Lewis asked as he hurried to the stretcher.
“Gunshot wound to the right side. Bullet’s still in there. Maybe a couple of bruised ribs as well. The left hand has a lot of abrasions and may have some fractions. The patient was in a lot of pain and was blue around the lips. We put him on oxygen. We started and IV right away and gave him a shot of morphine.” Terry explained as they pushed the stretcher into an examination room where they lifted the semi conscious patient onto the new bed. he moved out of the way as a team of nurses and a second doctor entered the room.
Carl Lewis watched as a blonde nurse began cutting the ruined clothes from the injured man’s body. More bruises became evident as the clothing was removed. He removed the bandage from his patient’s side and heard a soft moan. He lifted his eyes to meet those of his most frequent patient.
“Easy, Joe, we’re gonna look after you.”
“Hmm, D...Doc,” Mannix tried to move on the bed as a hand touched his injured knee.
“Stay still, Joe. We’re gonna make you more comfortable in a second. Just give us a few minutes to see where you’re hurt.”
Mannix managed a small smile beneath the mask as he answered. “H...hurts e...everywhere!”
Lewis couldn’t help but smile. “I don’t doubt it for a minute. Jenny, I want him typed and cross-matched. Have the blood bank send up two units of packed cells. What have you got, Spencer?”
Spencer Marcus looked up at his colleague and frowned. “Probably got an ACL ligament tear here. Let’s get portable X-ray up here now. The faster we get him stabilized the faster we get him to surgery.”
“C...cold,” Mannix whispered as the last of the clothing left his body.
“Joe, we’re gonna set up a second IV and get more fluids in you. You’re in shock right now and that’s probably got a lot to do with why you feel so cold. Try to relax for a few minutes and we’ll get you warmed up.”
“O...okay,” Mannix muttered as hands continued to probe his body.
Peggy had no idea how much time passed since they’d taken Joe Mannix into the examination room. She’d watched as a portable X-ray machine was rushed into the room. She’d seen nurses come and go. Some carrying what could only be units of blood while another seemed to be delivering more Saline units. She paced back and forth in front of the door trying to stay out of the way, but hoping to catch a glimpse of the man she knew held a part of her heart. She looked up as Adam Tobias entered through the emergency doors. She hurried to him and felt his strong arms wrap her in a comforting embrace.
“Oh, Adam,” she cried.
“Any word?” he asked.
“Nothing. They’ve been in there with him for over an hour and I can’t find out anything. I wish they’d tell me what’s going on.”
As if in answer to her question the doors opened and the stretcher holding Joe Mannix was wheeled through the doors. The two people hurried towards the stretcher and Peggy reached out to touch Joe’s right arm. She heard Adam’s voice asking the questions she couldn’t voice. She smiled as Joe opened his eyes and looked at her from over the oxygen mask.
Joe tried to show assure her he was okay, but the drugs he’d been given made him lethargic and his body unmovable. He knew they were taking him to the OR to remove the bullet from his body. His eyelids lost the fight with gravity and slipped down over the fever bright orbs.
“You’ll have to let him go now, Peggy,” Lewis told her.
Peggy looked up to see the AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY BEYOND THIS POINT! Sign. She reluctantly released his hand and moved back into the waiting arms of Adam Tobias. The soft sobs she’d been holding in check broke like a dam and tears flowed from her eyes.
“Oh, Adam,”” she mumbled as he passed her some tissues.
“Come on, Peggy. You know Joe wouldn’t want you tearing yourself up like this. Let’s go get a coffee and something to eat.”
“No. I want to be there when he wakes up,” she said, swiping at her eyes with the tissues.
“He’ll be in surgery for a couple of hours, Peggy. We’ll be there when he wakes up.”
“I...I can’t!”
Adam’s eyebrows rose in a no nonsense expression. “You can and you will. Come on. We’ll have lunch and hopefully the time will go faster.” He smiled as her head bobbed once and he led her away from surgical doors.
His mouth felt like it was filled with cotton as his tongue slipped between dry lips. He briefly wondered where he was as he moved slightly on the bed. ‘Bad move,’ he silently thought as tremors of pain awoke in his side. A soft voice beside the bed made him smile as he forced heavy lids to open.
“Hi, Peggy,” he whispered, and coughed as the words tore at his arid throat.
“Here, Joe,” Peggy said as she held a straw in front of his mouth.
He took a small sip and swished it around in his mouth, enjoying the feel as moisture returned to sap away the dryness there. He swallowed and smiled at the woman above him. “Thanks,” he said tiredly.
“You’re welcome, Joe,” Peggy said as she placed the glass back on the table. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired,” Mannix answered. “How long?”
“Twenty six hours since you went to surgery,” Peggy answered as she reached for the call button and depressed it. As soon as the nurse answered from the desk she told them Joe was awake. It wasn’t long before Dr. Lewis and a nurse hurried through the door.
“Well it’s good to see you awake, Joe,” Lewis observed as he checked Mannix’ pupils.
Joe squirmed under the attention, but knew it was necessary. He willed himself to relax as Lewis examined the wound in his side. He bit back a soft groan as the man probed the area. He had no idea how long it took for the doctor to finish his examination, but he knew the man was always thorough in what he did. By the time the examination was finished Joe’s body was once more a mass of agony.
“Joe, I know that hurt but it needs to be done. There was a lot of infection in the wound and we need to make sure it doesn’t come back. Mary is going to give you a shot of morphine to help with the pain. Then I want you to try and sleep some more.”
“Okay, Doc, thanks,” Mannix told him.
“No thanks necessary, Joe. You just make sure you do as your told and we’ll have you out of here as fast as we can. Try and sleep. Peggy, don’t let him do anything stupid.”
“Me?” Mannix smiled, knowing the doctor was referring to how many times Joe was hurt and insisted on getting out of bed too soon.
“Yes, you!” Peggy answered as the doctor left. She watched as the nurse inserted a syringe into the IV and delivered the required dose of morphine. “What’s that?” she asked as Mary placed a new bag next to the Saline solution.
“Antibiotics. It’s to help ward off infections,” Mary explained as she hooked up the second bag. “Mr. Mannix, just press the call button if you need anything.”
“I w...will,” Joe assured her. He looked at the woman standing beside the bed. he saw the lines of worry etched in her face, the bloodshot eyes, the slump of the shoulders and knew he was the cause of them. “I’m sorry, Peggy,” he whispered.
“For what, Joe?” she asked seriously.
“Making y...you worry,” he answered as he felt her hand slip into his. He let his eyes close as the drug entered his system.
Peggy leaned over the bed and placed her mouth next to his ears and whispered to the sleeping man. “Don’t you know I’d do anything for you Joe Mannix.”
“Me too, Peggy,” he mumbled.
Peggy gasped and smiled as she realized he’d heard what she said. “I thought you were sleeping.”
“Al...most,” the last was barely audible as he gave into the call of sleep.
Peggy sat beside him and watched his face relax. The drugged sleep caused the pain lines to disappear and she could see he was finally at rest. She slipped her hand from his and stood up to stretch her back. She looked down at the man on the bed and realized just how deep her feelings for him ran. She knew she loved this man. Loved him not only for the special man he was, but for what he meant to her. ‘I do love you, Joe,’ she thought as she leaned over the bed and placed a soft kiss on his parted lips.
It was two weeks since Joe Mannix was released form the hospital. His right knee was still immobilized and his left hand was still wrapped in gauze. The wound in his side still bothered him at times, but more so because of the itch than the residual pain. He looked at the woman driving and smiled as they pulled into a parking spot in front of Martini’s store.
Peggy turned to the man beside her as she pulled to a complete stop. “Are you sure you’re ready for this, Joe? she asked softly.
She knew this would be hard on both of them. Adam and his wife were coming for dinner tonight and they both felt a need to face what happened to them nearly a month before. One man was dead and a man and woman in jail because of that night. A baby was in the custody of Child services and waiting for a good home. There were several couples waiting for the child and Peggy knew the baby would be far better off with either of them instead of with it’s natural mother.
Joe took a deep breath. He knew this was something he had to do. It wasn’t something anyone was forcing on him, but being a man who prided himself on his own actions he would see this through and not dwell on a night that nearly cost him his life. He stepped from the car and hurried around to open the drivers door for Peggy.
“Chivalry is not dead,” she laughed as he helped her from the car. This was another side of Joe Mannix she’d grown to love. He was a man who believed in opening doors for women, for paying the bill in restaurants or anything else a man could do for a woman. She smiled as he closed the door for her..
Joe looked in the store window and saw Roberto Martini talking with a young woman. A sense of Deja vu came over him and he shook his head.
“Joe? What’s wrong?”
Mannix watched as a pretty blond woman paid for her purchases and exited the store. He knew it was the same woman who’d been there that night. he smiled as she left, content in the knowledge that at least she’d been spared the hostage situation.
“I’m fine, Peg. Let’s go see if Mrs. Martini has any fresh pies ready.”
“Are you sure, Joe?” she asked worriedly.
Joe Mannix smiled at the woman standing before him. He pulled her close and spoke softly into her ear. “I’m fine, Peggy,” he whispered. He moved back and met her eyes, seeing the love he felt mirrored in her expressive eyes. He put his right hand into his pocket and fingered a small velvet box there. ‘Soon, Peggy, very soon,’ he thought as he led her into the store. A smile spread on his face as the Martini’s greeted them and he knew there was no pain left for either of them from that night.
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