Just Before Dawn Chapter 10 (standard:mystery, 2697 words)
Author: Sarah Spenser	Added: May 18 2005	Views/Reads: 3320/2231	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
This picks up after Allison loses consciousness in the ambulance!

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

caressed it before placing a gentle kiss on her lips. “I love you, 
Allie, fight for us, please! Think of the future we could have 
together! I ... I want to marry you, Allison!” the nurse signaled that 
time was up, Lynn and Connor watched as the orderly wheeled Allison to 
the surgical elevator, Connor watched until Allison faded from view, 
with the metal thump of the elevator doors closing behind her. 

For hours they sat in the waiting room, drinking coffee and flipping
through magazines, occasionally talking. Charlie had stopped by to see 
how Allison was, but she was still in surgery, and both the nurses and 
doctors predicted a bleak picture for the future. But Connor knew that 
whatever the future brought, he wanted Allison by his side as his wife. 
He prayed that she would live through the surgery, and didn't even want 
to contemplate the possibilities if she didn't. Charlie entered quietly 
and sat next to Lynn. He spoke in a low tone, it was late about 1 in 
the morning. Some people were asleep, while others paced and talked in 
hushed whispers. They were all bonded by the strange chasm of waiting 
for news on their loved ones, and the abyss know as speculation. 
Sometimes your imagination was worse then the actual waiting, just 
imagining what was happening was enough to put anyone on edge. “How is 
she?” Charlie asked softly. “It's touch and go, Chief. They don't know 
if she'll make it through the night!” Connor said a sob catching in his 
throat. “I'm sorry, Connor. I came to check on Allison, and I also came 
to talk to you.” “Not now, Chief, please. Whatever it is can wait. 
Nothing's more important than Allison.” “No, Connor I need to talk to 
you now! Is there any place we can go?” “The cafeteria.” “I'll come get 
you if anything happens.” Lynn volunteered. “Thanks, Lynn. Would you 
like anything?” “No thanks. I just want Allison to be all right.” 
Connor glanced at Lynn as he and Charlie walked to the elevators. Once 
they were seated, Charlie got right to the point. “Um, Connor I know 
you care for Allison a great deal, but your actions tonight were 
questionable at best. You went against every protocol and police 
procedure in the book! You put countless lives in jeopardy including 
Allison's! you let your heart rule your head and when you're 
emotionally invested in a case such as this that could be deadly. Not 
only for you, but also for everyone else involved. You're lucky this 
didn't turn out worse!” Connor slammed his  fist against the table in 
anger and exasperation. “Listen to me, Chief I don't give a damn about 
police procedure! All I care about is that the woman I'm in love with 
could be dying! Why the hell are you giving me this lecture about 
police protocol?” “Listen, Connor, you went against every regulation 
this department has, and until further notice you're suspended!” 
“What?” “You heard me suspended! Give me your badge!” Connor removed 
his badge and handed it to him. “I'm sorry, Connor you're a good cop, 
it's a shame that you let your heart take over. But you have to 
understand that your actions tonight  could have cost many people their 
lives!” “I'm sorry, Chief. I was just so worried about Allison that I 
forgot about all the rules.” “I'll be by tomorrow to question Allison 
on this.” “Don't you dare! She will need her rest after an ordeal like 
this!” anger flashed in Connor's eyes, and he couldn't remember a time 
when he had been so angry. “Connor, as part of the investigation ...” 
“You know what you can do with your investigation? You can take it and 
shove it up your ass!” Connor got up abruptly and left leaving Charlie 
alone at the table. 

When he entered the waiting room, he immediately asked Lynn about
Allison. She saw the worried look on his face, and had a feeling that 
Charlie's visit was more than a concerned citizen for Allison's 
welfare. She had a feeling that something was brewing under the 
surface, but she dared not ask. She updated Connor on Allison's 
condition. “I was going to come find you, but you showed up. The nurse 
said that she just came of surgery. She's weak, but she seems to be 
holding her own.” “That's great news! When can we see her?” “As soon as 
they get her moved up to her room.” 

Half an hour later, Connor and Lynn were keeping a vigil at Allison's
bedside. They hovered over her, staring at her weakened condition. The 
strong and vivacious woman that Connor had known seemed nonexistent. 
Allison was alive and almost died in surgery, but managed to pull 
through. She looked very pale and weak, the nurse informed them that 
she would need several more blood transfusions. “You two should really 
go and get some rest. She's going to be unconscious for hours. We had 
to give her a heavy dose of anesthesia.” “We'll stay.” Lynn said 
squeezing Allison's hand. Connor took hold of her other hand and talked 
to her soothingly. “Allie, you made it through the surgery. You're a 
fighter, sweetness! I love you so much, I'm so glad you're going to be 
fine. You're going to be weak for a while, but you're going to be just 
fine. You and I have a future together, Allie.” They talked to her for 
hours until they both fell asleep. 

Allison was immersed in darkness, she heard glimpses of Connor and
Lynn's voices, but everything seemed to be in some sort of fog. Where 
was she? What happened to her? Everyone who hovered over her seemed 
genuinely concerned and she couldn't figure it out. Where am I? She 
thought as she opened her eyes slowly. The room was dimly lit, and the 
tiles reminded her of a hospital. Everything was spinning around her 
and she felt weak. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. 
Connor woke with a start, he thought he heard something. Lynn was still 
asleep, so he stared at Allison. “I love you, sweetheart.” He whispered 
gently squeezing her hand. She squeezed back. “Allie? Can you hear me?” 
she squeezed his hand again. “You've come back to me! Lynn she's waking 
up!” Lynn sprang up and glanced at Allison. “Allison, I love you like a 
sister, come back to us! We both love you.” Allison opened her eyes 
slowly and adjusted to the dim lights. “Allie?” Connor whispered. 
“Connor? Lynn, what happened? Where am I?” “You're in the hospital. You 
were shot. Do you remember anything?” it took her a moment to answer, 
and Connor could tell that the drugs hadn't warn off yet. “A little, 
bits and pieces. Are you okay?” “I'm fine, sweetheart. Lynn and I have 
been right here waiting for you to wake up.” “You gave us quite a 
scare, Allison. It was touch and  go for a while. The doctors didn't 
think you'd make it.” Lynn said beginning to cry again. “Don't cry, 
Lynn nothing's going to happen to me. I'm still here.”  She gave Lynn's 
hand a squeeze. “I know, and we're so glad you are! I'm going to go and 
let you get some rest.” “Have you two been here all night?” “Yes, we 
love you so much.” After Lynn left, Allison turned her attention to 
Connor. “Connor, are you sure you're okay? You didn't get shot or 
anything?” “No, sweetness, I'm fine. I think you should rest, we'll 
talk tomorrow.” “Connor?” “Yeah?” “Thanks for everything I love you.” 
“I love you too, Allie. Thanks for coming back to me. You almost died, 
I didn't know what I'd do without you! You're the most important person 
in my life!” “I'm not going anywhere, we were made for each other. Can 
you do me a favor?” “Anything, name it?” “Can you check on Dad for me?” 
he was perplexed by the question. “Um, ... Allie? You do know he 
kidnapped you right? Held you hostage, and was responsible for this 
whole mess!” “I'm drugged not stupid! Of course I know that. But 
somewhere deep down, I don't want to believe that my father the man 
I've loved and trusted ...” she couldn't go on she was choked by a sob. 
“could kill three innocent people! Please, Connor go check on him.” He 
couldn't resist her pleading eyes and her sad expression. Even though 
he despised Jack, he'd do it for Allison. “All right, I'll check on 
him. I'll tell you how he is tomorrow. You should get some rest. You 
must be exhausted.” “I am, these drugs really pack a punch.” Connor 
placed a gentle kiss on her lips and turned to go. Before he left the 
room, Allison was asleep. 

Jack fiddled with the lock on his cell door. After he had attempted to
kill Allison, he had been booked, finger printed and locked in solitary 
till morning. He had to see if his little girl was all right. In his 
own twisted way, he loved her. Maybe it wasn't the conventional kind of 
love, but it was love. He hadn't meant to snap and take her hostage, 
she had been the brunt of all his frustrations, and when they finally 
came to a boiling point, she had taken the fall. “They couldn't keep me 
in here in '65 and they're not going to do it now!” Jack cursed as he 
fashioned a lock pick out of a spoon and some elastic from his 
underwear. As he slowly chipped away at the lock, he thought of 
Allison. 

Connor couldn't sleep once he arrived home, all he could think about was
Allison. Not only was he grateful and forever thankful to have her 
back, but he faced another dilemma. How was he going to tell her that 
he had accidentally shot her. Was he supposed to walk in there and tell 
her? What would she say? He'd never get her to agree to marry him at 
that rate. He perused the paper, listened to the radio and tried to 
think of a way to broach the subject with her. 

He snuck into the hospital under a guise. He had knocked out a delivery
man who was putting supplies in a storage closet and stolen a doctor's 
uniform. Now free, he roamed the halls looking for her room. He found 
it on the second try, he entered quietly, she was asleep. She looked 
weak, and he worried about her. He hated to disturb her, but he had to 
talk to her. He quietly crossed the room and tapped her on the 
shoulder. “Allison?” She stirred but didn't fully wake up. He shook her 
gently. She opened her eyes and glanced around. The anesthesia and pain 
medication had her in  a haze, and she felt stiff and leaden. 
“Allison?” he whispered softly. She turned to face him and froze. 


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