�This isn�t over!� Vin yelled to them. �I will be back!�
�Do you see him?� Nickolas asked.
�It�s too dark,� Jakob replied. �I can�t see a thing.�
Nick grabbed Fitzgerald�s radio and said, �There�s a suspect on the premises and I need everyone to be on the look out.�
�Justin,� Jenai said crawling over to him and he moaned. �Are you all right?�
�I was shot,� Justin replied and Nickolas looked at Kendra.
�Then don�t move,� Jenai said.
�You are in so much trouble, Detective,� Nickolas assured Kendra.
�I had a perfect shot,� Kendra stated.
�I don�t want to hear it,� Nickolas rebutted. �You disobeyed a direct order and got someone shot. You could�ve got us all killed.�
�Justin needs to go to the hospital,� Jenai said.
�So do I,� Fitzgerald said and they looked at him, as he put his hand on his head.
�Can you stand up?� Nickolas asked.
�Yeah,� Fitzgerald said, as Nickolas helped him to his feet.
�Kendra, help him inside,� Nickolas ordered and she disgustedly obeyed. �How�s Justin?�
�He really needs to go to the hospital,� Jakob said. �He already lost a lot of blood.� Jakob looked at Nickolas. �He got him by the spine.�
�I�ll go call,� Jenai said getting up.
�I already did,� Dannika said.
�Help�s coming, Justin,� Jenai said. �Just hang in there.�
�He just saved your life,� Dannika stated.
�Yeah I know,� Jenai said.
�Shouldn�t we get him inside from the rain?� Dannika asked.
�I don�t think we should move him,� Jakob replied. �We don�t know where the bullet is.�
�Right,� Dannika said. �Shouldn�t we cover him then?�
�Yeah, go get a blanket,� Jakob said and Dannika ran back inside.
�He really needs to get to a hospital,� Jenai said. �Maybe we shouldn�t wait for an ambulance and take him ourselves.�
�We can�t move him, JJ,� Nickolas said. �If we do we could paralyze him.�
�But he�s losing so much blood,� Jenai said.
�He�s going to be fine,� Jakob tried to assure her and she just looked at him.
�Here�s the blanket,� Dannika said handing it to Jakob and he put it over Justin.
�Josie,� Justin whispered.
�I�m here,� Jenai said and Nickolas looked at her. �I�m not going anywhere.�
�It�s cold,� Justin said.
�Shh, don�t speak,� Jenai said glad the rain was hiding her tears. �Save your strength, ok? You�re going to need it.�
�I just need you,� Justin said.
�Where�s that damn ambulance?� Jenai questioned.
�It�s coming,� Nickolas answered.
�JJ,� Justin said.
�What?� Jenai asked and he motioned her closer. �What is it?�
�I�m sorry for everything,� Justin replied.
�I know.�
�And I just want to say that�� He winced in pain. �I never stopped loving you, JJ.�
�I know.�
�If I don�t make it��
�Don�t say that, because you will make it.�
�But if I don�t just��
�Don�t do this.� She looked at Nickolas. �Where�s the damn ambulance?�
�It�s coming,� Nickolas said.
�Not fast enough,� Jenai said.
�It�ll be here,� Nickolas assured her. �Just stay calm for Justin.�
�Haw can I stay calm when Justin has a bullet in his back?� Jenai wanted to know and Nickolas just looked at her. They all just sat there for a few minutes in silence. They waited for the ambulance and when it came Dannika led them outback to Justin.
�What happened?� the medic asked.
�Police business,� Jakob replied. �He was shot.�
�No exit wound,� another medic said.
�You have to save him,� Jenai stated. �You can�t let him die.�
�Miss, you have to get back and let us do our job,� the first medic said.
�C�mon, JJ,� Nickolas said pulling her back.
�He needs me,� Jenai replied looking at Nickolas.
�Let the medics do their job and get him to the hospital,� Nickolas stated, as Jenai watched the medics.
�Take it easy,� the medic said, as they got Justin on the stretcher. �Ok, let�s get him to the hospital.�
�I�m going with,� Jenai said following the medics.
�I�m sorry, but you can�t come along,� the medic replied.
�What? Why not?� Jenai questioned.
�There�s not enough room,� the medic answered, as they got Justin in the ambulance. �Plus we can�t have any distractions.�
�But he needs me,� Jenai said.
�I�m sorry, but you can�t ride along,� the medic repeated. �We�re going to the hospital in town if you want to meet us there.� The medic got in the back and closed the door. Jenai stood there in the rain and watched the ambulance.
�We can go,� Nickolas said and she looked at him.
�Yeah,� Jenai said.
�I am so sorry,� Kendra said and Jenai turned and punched her.
�You stupid little bitch,� Jenai snapped. �You�re the one that got Justin shot and you�re sorry. You shouldn�t even be allowed to have a badge or own a gun. I swear to God if Justin dies�� She glared at Kendra, as the anger built up inside her. �It�s going to be on you and you�re going to have to live with his death on your hands.� She walked away and Kendra just looked at her.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Where the hell�s the doctor?� Jenai wanted to know. �I have to know how Justin is.�
�He�s most likely still in surgery,� Jakob replied. �When he�s out the doctor will let us know.�
�I�m just worried about him,� Jenai said. �He saved my life but risking his own. How many guys would do that for me?�
�Four,� Jakob replied and Jenai just looked at him. �Kevin, Justin, Nick, and me.� She gave a little grin. �I�m sure a lot of other guys would too. Justin pushed you out of the way because he still cares.�
�And Nick saved my life so many times because��
�He cares also.�
�Because it�s his job.�
�And he cares about you.� She just looked at him. �Do you think Nick would be so concerned about you if he didn�t care about you?�
Jenai looked across the room and sighed while saying, �Right now isn�t about how Nick feels about me, because it�s about Justin. Justin was shot and he�s the one we�re here for.� She got up. �Besides, after what I learned about the past I don�t know if I want a relationship.�
�It�s been ten years, Jenai.�
�Ten years of lies, Jakob. Ten years of not knowing I was raped until now.�
�But you shouldn�t��
�I don�t want to walk about this, ok? I just want to know how Justin is doing.�
�I didn�t know you still cared.�
�Of course I still care. Why wouldn�t I?�
�The way you act towards him.�
�The way I act�you think just because I act hateful and shit towards Justin you think I don�t care about him? Well you�re wrong, because I do still care about him and believe it or not a part of me still loves him.�
�How can you say that after the way he hurt you?�
�Why are you acting like this? Justin�s in surgery right now fighting for his life and you�re acting like this. What is wrong with you?�
�Nothing is wrong with me.�
�Then act like nothing is instead of hating Justin all of a sudden. Just because I still care about him and you hate that doesn�t mean you have to hate him. If it was the other way around I�d still care about you.� She turned and Jakob watched her walk away. He sighed and walked over to Nickolas, as he hung up the phone.
�So what�d Kev say?� Jakob asked.
�Kendra�s going home,� Nickolas replied.
�She�s not going to be happy about that,� Jakob stated.
�He doesn�t care though, because she put our lives on the line and put her fellow officer on a surgical table,� Nickolas explained. �She neglected to follow orders and he�s not risking JJ�s life by keeping Kendra here.�
�Ok, but what about Vin Davis?�
�He�s going to run a check and let us know if he finds anything.� Jakob nodded. �He�s also going to let us stay in Kentucky as long as Justin�s here.�
�So JJ can be here for him.�
�That�s my guess too.� Nickolas sat down and Jakob sat next to him. �How�s she doing?�
�She�s upset and wondering what�s taking the doctor so long.�
�She still cares about him.�
�Yeah she does, but don�t be discouraged. She means the things she says and she said her and Justin would never get back together.�
�How do you know this won�t change it?�
�Because I know Jenai and when she breaks up with someone she doesn�t go back out with them. Believe me I know from personal experience.�
�You and JJ were��
�Yeah, but it was just for about three months.�
�Oh.�
�And we never went back out.�
�When was this?�
�A few years ago after Brianna died.� Nickolas nodded. �We�re best friends now.�
�I figured that much.�
�God, what is taking so long?� Jenai asked and Nickolas and Jakob looked at her.
�The doctor will be here,� Dannika said. �They have to be careful since it�s by his spine.�
�But I hate this waiting,� Jenai stated. �I have to know if he�s going to be ok so I know if I have to kick Kendra�s ass or not.�
�He�s going to be fine,� Dannika assured her. �He�s a tough guy.�
�Of course he is,� Jenai said. �He dated me for three years and you have to be tough.� Dannika chuckled. �I still want to kick ass though and Detective Morgan is first on my list.�
�Why don�t you wait until we know Justin�s condition?� Jakob suggested. �That way she doesn�t get you for assault.�
�I don�t care,� Jenai said. �She can get me for anything she wants, because it�s not going to change the way I feel.�
�We all blame her for what happened,� Nickolas began, �but we�re not going to go around and kick ass.�
�Maybe not you, but I will,� Jenai rebutted. �Where is that bitchy homicidal slut anyway? Still giving her statement to the police? Or maybe it�s something else she�s giving them.� They all held back their smiles, as a doctor approached. �Can you tell me anything about Justin Timberlake�s condition?�
�You�ll have to ask Dr. Erikson,� the doctor replied. �She�ll be with you shortly. She just got out of surgery.�
�Thank you,� Jenai said and the doctor walked away.
�I�m sure everything�s fine,� Dannika said.
�Yeah,� Jenai agreed, as another doctor approached. �Are you Dr. Erikson?�
�Yes,� Dr. Erikson replied. �I assume you�re here about Mr. Timberlake.�
�Yes,� Jenai said. �Is he going to be all right?�
�He�s going to be fine,� Dr. Erikson stated.
�Thank God,� Jenai said. �Can I see him?�
�In a little while,� Dr. Erikson said. �They�re making him comfortable in recovery.�
�Will he still have the use of his legs?� Dannika asked.
�We�ll know more in the next few hours,� Dr. Erikson replied. �The bullet was near his spine, but I don�t think there�ll be any permanent damage. He�ll most likely have to go through rehab though.�
�Well it could be worse I guess,� Jenai said. �Just as long as he�s going to be all right.�
He�s going to be fine,� Dr. Erikson assured her. �Is there any more questions?� They all shook their heads. �Well, then, when we have Mr. Timberlake settled I�ll have a nurse come get you.�
�Thank you,� Jenai said and Dr. Erikson walked away and Kendra joined them. �You are so lucky, Detective.�
�I assume Justin�s going to be fine,� Kendra said.
�Yes and no thanks to you,� Jenai rebutted. �But it�s still on you.�
�Whatever,� Kendra said and Jenai glared at her.
�JJ, why don�t we go get some coffee while we wait to see Justin,� Nickolas suggested.
�No thanks,� Jenai said. �I don�t drink coffee.�
�I don�t give a shit if you like it or not,� Nickolas said. �Let�s go get some coffee�now.� Jenai continued glaring at Kendra and ignoring Nickolas. �Son of a bitch.� He grabbed Jenai�s arm. �Let�s go.� He pushed Jenai along and she kept he glare on Kendra until they turned the corner. �Is it necessary to constantly pick fights with her?�
�She almost got Justin killed,� Jenai started, �so you tell me.� Nickolas looked at her and they walked to the vending machines.
CHAPTER 18
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