Greg.
Greg! We have some of the best
orthopedic surgeons in the country. My money is on Kevin making a full
recovery. I've seen people with worse spinal cord injuries than his walk out of
this hospital unassisted. Kevin has a
chance. Don't take that away from him.
Tears
flowed down Greg’s face as he digested the news. “I want to see him.”
“You
can’t be moved because of your body cast and he can’t be moved because of his
broken back. What I can do, though, is get you the number to the phone in his
and Gwen’s rooms so you guys can at least talk
on the phone. Since only Gwen’s neck is immobilized, I’m sure I can arrange for
her to visit you.” Andy answered him.
“I
don’t know if she’ll want to see me,” Greg whispered sorrowfully.
“She
does. She’s been asking about you and Dave.”
“Probably
to blame me for her and Kevin’s condition. I know because I blame myself.”
Once
again, Dave jumped on this a little more forcefully this time. “You are not responsible for their injuries. Hicks and Kenson are. Not you!”
“I’m
the one who got them fired…”
“And
did the city a great service, one I don’t think you understand the scope of,”
the Commissioner interrupted.
A
look of confusion crossed both Greg and Dave's faces. "How did I do the
city a great service?" Greg wanted to know. Dave was listening closely as
he was curious to know as well, even though he had a pretty good idea what the
commissioner's answer was going to be.
How am I going to get past his guilty
feelings and make him understand? "Greg, try and
look past your feelings and understand; because of you, I was able to get rid
of two homophobic bastards that were a disgrace to this Police Department. If
you remember back to the day in my office I asked Hick why the stack of
complaints against Kenson was 6 inches thick. My only regret is that it came at
such a high cost."
"High
cost?"
"Yes.
Your friend that was raped in his home, his friend that was assaulted and
accused of being the rapist, the abuse you had to endure at your former
precinct, countless others who were abused by Kenson and those who were injured
or lost their lives from the bombing of the LGBT center. An inexcusable loss of
innocent people," the commissioner noticed the guilty look that overtook
Greg's face. "Don't you dare go there Officer Peters," the
commissioner said sternly, pointing a finger at Greg. "I'm serious! No
blame, no guilt. They chose to follow that path; you didn't force that on
them."
Greg's
face cleared of guilt as he finally let go of the destructive emotion. "I
understand, Commissioner. If I may ask, what's going to happen to the families
of the victims and the task force?"
The
commissioner smiled. "The families of all the victims of this atrocity
will receive full death benefits. As far as I'm concerned, every police officer
who was attending the meeting was on duty."
This
proclamation brought tears to both Greg and Dave.
"How
did you manage that, Fred?" Dave asked.
"Easy.
As soon as I got the list of names from the hospital, I scheduled everyone for
specialized sensitivity training on that date and time and at the center.
Everyone is covered."
"That's
an incredible thing to do, Commissioner. While it won't bring the people back,
at least they won't have to worry about the loss of income and health
benefits."
"I
wish it wasn't necessary. Every officer that was there served, and some will
continue to serve with distinction. It is only fitting. I wish I could do the
same thing for the families of the LGBT center who lost their lives."
"So
what's going to happen to the task force now?"
"At
the moment, Brad Colton is running it until you and Gwen are back on your feet.
Once the two of you are back to work you'll start recruiting people who you
feel with be an asset to the Task Force. There is no way in hell I'm going to
let this situation end the Task Force. It has helped a lot of people in the LGBT
community since its inception and I firmly believe it will continue to be a
vital part of the community and this department."
"That's
great, Commissioner, but what's going to happen if my blindness is
permanent?"
"You
still have your ears, mouth and fingers, don't you Greg?"
"Yeah,"
he responded slowly, not knowing where the commissioner was going with this.
"With
the possible exception of your eyesight you're going to make a full recovery,
correct?"
"Yes."
"I'm
not going to lose you, Greg. You can still be a valuable asset to the Task
Force."
"How?"
Greg questioned.
"There
are a lot of ways. Gwen has told me how during an investigation you all
brainstorm how to best conduct the investigation. You can still do that. In
addition, you can provide valuable input in new procedures, programs and
planning, and advising junior members of the Task Force. So, as you can see, we
still need you. Besides, something tells me, call it a gut feeling, that your
blindness is only temporary. Like I
said before, and I'm saying it again for emphasis I am not letting you go until you're ready to retire. When you
reach normal retirement age, that is."
Greg
was full-on crying now. Even though he'll be serving in a diminished capacity,
he still had a job doing what he loves. Of course, being blind, he never saw
Andy leave the room and return with Gwen in a wheelchair. Andy had motioned
everyone to keep quiet until the commissioner finished speaking. "That's
incredible news, Greg," Gwen cried tears of happiness. "I couldn't imagine,
and didn't want to run the Task Force without you.
"You've
kept me grounded and focused whenever I got down or frustrated. I don't want to
lose you, and I think what the commissioner just laid out is an awesome idea.
There's still so much you can contribute."
"You
mean, you're not blaming me for what happened at the center?"
"Absolutely
not. Nor is Kevin. I'm glad to see those two asswipes get what's coming to
them. Multiple death sentences for both of them. There's no way in hell the
Governor is going to commute those sentences."
"I
honestly don't know what to say. I thought you guys would be calling for my
head on a silver platter."
"Greg,
The commissioner has probably told you, and I'm willing to bet many times over,
that you were not responsible for the actions of those two dickwads. If I had a
dollar for every mess we've had to clean up after Kenson, I'd be a
multi-millionaire."
Dave
guffawed and Greg looked sheepish. "How's your brother doing, Gwen?"
Dave inquired.
"As
well as can be expected. He has a physical therapist working with him several
times a week to make sure his leg muscles don't atrophy. He can piss and shit
normally which the therapist said was encouraging. To be completely honest,
Greg, he looks up to you. We all know what happened to you in Boston. His
thinks that if you can learn to walk again, so can he. You're a role model for
him."
"But
Gwen, there's a huge difference between him and me. My spinal cord wasn't
damaged. His was."
"It
doesn't matter to him. He's determined to get his legs back."
"And
heaven forbid it doesn't happen?"
"I'm
not letting him go either, nor any of the surviving members, regardless of
their medical condition. Psychological counselling will be available free of
charge to anyone who wants or needs it. Those cock-sucking bastards aren't
going to win. They're not going to destroy what the two of you worked so hard
to create and sustain. No fucking way!" This statement drew looks of
shock from everyone. Nobody had ever heard the commissioner swear like that.
"So,
Greg, if you're willing, and I really hope you are, we have a lot of work ahead
of us."
"As
long as you're sure, I'm in. I'd still like to talk with Kevin, though."
"He
really wants to talk to you as well. Here's his room phone number." She
rattled off his number, which Dave started to dial.
"Before
you talk to him Greg," the commissioner signaled Dave to hang up the
phone. There's one more important matter I need to discuss with the two of you.
Kevin already knows about this. I've decided that the Task Force needs a slight
change in leadership..."
"What?"
the 'G Twins', as Greg and Gwen were affectionately referred to by the other
members of the Task Force, chorused.
"Yes,
but I have no intention of replacing either of you. Gwen, I want you to study
for the Captain's exam. I want you, Greg to study for the lieutenant's exam
both coming up in two months. Greg, we have it on audiobook, should the need
arise. Kevin is doing the same for the sergeant's exam. As long as you pass the
exam, even if it's marginally, you will be promoted. I wish I could give you a
promotion to captain as well, Greg, but you haven't been with us for as long as
Gwen has. Will this be a problem for either of you?" Both replied in the
negative. "Gwen, with you as captain, it will make it easier to recruit
from other precincts. With you as captain and Greg as lieutenant, you will both
be able to commandeer anyone you need in case of an emergency. This can make an
already effective task force into an even more effective task force. This is
not in any way taking anything away.
"You
guys, and by that I mean the entire Task Force, has made a tremendous
difference, and even has gone a long way in improving the LGBT community's
perception of the police department. Indeed, while you may not realize it, you
all have made great strides in repairing the damage those two asswipes have
done. I'm very proud of all of you, and once the Mayor has signed off on it,
you will all have letters of commendation placed in your personnel files."
That statement invoked sentiments of gratitude from Greg and Gwen. The
commissioner held up his hand for silence. "There's more. When everyone is
out of the hospital, there will be a formal ceremony where you will all be
awarded a commendation medal." Well, you could hear a pin drop in that
room.
"I
can't believe it," Greg whispered.
30
years of law enforcement gave the commissioner very sharp hearing.
"Believe it, Greg. It's a done deal."
Dave
followed that statement with a wide-eyed "wow."
"Wow's
not the word I would use," Gwen argued, "more like holy shit!"
Everyone snickered.
Greg's
bedside phone chose that particular time to ring. Andy grabbed it and handed it
to him. "Hello?"
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