EPILOGUE
Cope
Three days later…
Cope felt numb. The earth continued to spin on its axis, while his world crashed and burned.
It was day three of Jude’s hospital stay.
Ronan had been with Jude from the moment he’d come out of surgery.
He had slept in the hospital and was taking elephant baths in the bathroom sink. He’d stayed when Cope had to leave.
Ten and Jace were helping with the kids. They were spending the nights at Ten’s house, and Jace came over in the mornings to help everyone get ready for school. Wolf understood what was happening with Jude, but Lizzie simply thought her Dada was at work.
Jude had been shot in the upper left side of his chest. The bullet had nicked his heart and had required emergency surgery that lasted nearly eight hours.
He’d been in the ICU ever since in a medically induced coma to give his body more time to heal.
Thankfully, he hadn’t needed to be put on a ventilator.
After Jude had been taken off the sedation meds, hope was high that he would wake up within the next twenty-four hours.
Over the last few days, Jude had been visited by most of the members of the Salem Police Department.
The officers and detectives stopped by at all hours of the day and some even stood guard outside Jude’s room.
Cisco Jackson had also been a near constant visitor, stopping by at least twice per day.
Ten brought the kids by after school. Everly wanted to stay at the hospital with Jude and Ronan and had to be carried out of his room every night.
Ronan had done what Jude asked and gave Everly the message he had for her.
As far as Cope could tell, it only served to make Everly more determined to stay by his side.
The one person who hadn’t been to visit yet was Fitzgibbon, which Cope understood completely.
Not only had he been the one to shoot Jude in the chest, but he’d also been the one who’d saved Jonas Crawford’s life.
After Cope worked the death spell, Fitz had jumped in to perform CPR, while Cope helped West, and Ronan stayed with Jude.
He’d called and left several messages with Fitz, asking him to stop by and letting him know Cope didn’t hold any ill will against him.
One night, while Ronan was with Jude, Cope had snuck out of his hospital room and down the hall to where Crawford was recovering.
With his guard down, Cope was able to remove the memory of the death spell from his mind.
He might have heard the words as Cope spoke them, but would never remember them.
Meanwhile, the vigil continued. Cope sat in the chair beside Jude’s bed, holding his hand and talking to him.
He watched as the nurses checked his vitals and doctors came in to assess his condition.
They didn’t tell him much, but thanks to his gift, Cope knew Jude was on the mend.
He’d soon be awake and would be in his own private room within the next day or two.
A knock on the door pulled Cope’s attention away from Jude. Kevin Fitzgibbon hovered just inside the room. “Hey, Fitz. I’m glad you’re here.” Cope got up to hug him. Ronan and Ten were behind him.
“Ronan talked me into swinging by. Cope, I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt Jude.” Fitz looked as if he hadn’t slept in a week. His usually bright blue eyes were filled with guilt.
“I know you didn’t. Jude knows that too.” Cope led Fitz to Jude’s bedside.
“Hey, Jude.” Fitz brushed tears from his eyes. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t strong enough to stop Crawford from controlling my mind.”
“This had nothing to do with strength, Fitz. There were several times where I almost gave Crawford the death spell.”
“You’re serious?” Fitz asked.
Cope nodded. “His hold over all of us was nearly all-encompassing. Well, over all of us but Jude.” He knew how badly Crawford wanted the spell that had been spoken over Jude as a baby.
He was pretty certain Jude didn’t know what it was, which, of course, provided a secondary source of protection against psychic attacks.
“That’s why he forced the two of you to turn on Jude. ”
“He’ll never forgive me,” Fitz whispered. “I’ll never forgive myself.”
“You’re forgiven,” Jude whispered. His eyelids fluttered and slowly opened.
“Well, it’s about damn time.” Ronan snickered. “It’s good to see you back among the living.”
“It’s good to be back.” Jude managed a small smile. “Cut the shit, Fitz. I know you didn’t shoot me on purpose. If you really meant to kill me, I’d be dead. You’re the best shot out of all of us. You were strong enough to fight off Crawford in the moment when it counted most. You saved me, Fitz.”
“This is a hell of a way to save someone.” Fitzgibbon looked to be on the edge of tears.
“What about West? How is he?” Jude asked.
“He was released from the hospital yesterday. He’ll be off his feet for a week or so, but he’ll be just fine,” Ronan said.
“He also sent in his final report about the cold case team. Cisco hasn’t told me if he recommended for us or against us.
I’m hoping Cope binding his wound and staying with him until the medics arrived bought us a bit more goodwill. ”
Jude nodded. “What about Crawford? When’s his funeral? I want to piss on his grave.”
“There isn’t going to be a funeral,” Fitz said.
Jude smiled, which quickly turned into a grimace. “Good. He belongs in a fucking potter’s field with an unmarked grave. Good riddance.”
“No, Jude, you don’t understand. I saved him,” Fitz said. “I gave him CPR after Cope stopped his heart.”
“What? Why would you do that?”
“Because Ronan was busy trying to save you.” Fitz shrugged. “It was already going to be hard enough to explain how I shot you without having to detail how Crawford ended up dead on the floor.”
“How did you explain it?” Jude asked with a grin.
“I said someone bumped my arm. Ronan and Cope told the same story. One for all and all of that shit.”
“What about the kids and Everly?” Jude asked. “Where are they?”
“They’re back in school,” Cope said. “You’ve been out for three days.”
“Three days?” Jude shook his head. “I’d swear it had been only minutes.”
“We’ve been here with you round the clock,” Ronan said. “Everly comes by after school and sits at your bedside doing homework and reading to you. It’s been a fight every night to take her home. She didn’t want to leave your side.”
“Obviously, I’m her first love too.” A lone tear trickled from Jude’s eye. “She reads to me?”
Ronan nodded. “Everly knew you were going to be okay, but she was madder than a wet hen when I gave her your goodbye message. Don’t be surprised if she yells at you when she gets here later.”
“She can yell all she wants, just so long as I’m alive to hear her.”
“Hey, guys! Got room for one more?” Cisco asked, walking into the room.
“Hey, Cisco.” Jude reached a hand out to his boss.
Cisco took it with both hands. “It’s good to see you awake. I was really worried about you. We all were, except for Everly, who knew you’d be okay.”
Jude smiled. “Can I have some water?”
Cope grabbed the little pitcher and poured some into a cup with a flexible straw. He held it to Jude’s lips.
“Thanks.” Jude’s eyes began to shut again.
“Before you fall asleep, I’ve got news.” Cisco turned to look at everyone. “West recommended that Cold Case stay in operation. He said that you all provide a valuable service to Salem that can’t be measured in dollars.”
“I’m sure the mayor’s gonna love that.” Ronan rolled his eyes.
“There’s been tremendous public outcry since it was accidentally/on purpose leaked to the press that the mayor wanted to shut down the unit.
There have been protests and fundraisers all over town to raise funds for the unit that will last for several years.
Members of the New England Patriots heard what happened and they donated a substantial amount of money, along with tickets to a game in the luxury box, so you need to get better soon, so we can catch a game together.
” Cisco looked around the room. “As for you,” Cisco’s attention was on Fitzgibbon.
“You’ve been reinstated to active duty.”
“What? I shot Jude. I nearly killed my best friend. How the hell can I be restored to duty?” Fitz wobbled on his feet. Ronan grabbed him and helped him into a chair.
“Accidental weapon discharges happen. Apparently, there have been several involving the make and model of your gun. We’ll get you a new one, Fitz.
” Cisco winked. “You’re one of the best cops I’ve ever worked with.
Don’t let this situation get the best of you.
Jude’s gonna be fine, although, I suspect that he’s gonna hold this over your head for the rest of his life. ”
“Definitely.” Jude snickered. “There’s no one I trust more in the world than you, Cap.
You’ve saved my ass more times than I can count, and not just in the line of duty.
There are no hard feelings. I promise. I wouldn’t say no to a coffee and muffin every morning, though and I’m gonna need help mowing the lawn and clearing snow. ”
Fitz chuckled. “I suppose you’ll want me to hold the engine block the next time you replace a part in the Thunderbird?”
“Yeah, and you’re gonna want to wash and wax it once a week. Get the good carnauba wax, not that cheap, off-label shit they sell.”
“You got it, Jude.” Fitz reached out and took Jude’s hand.
“I’ll be back on my feet before and bothering you all in the office before you know it.”
“We’ll hold you to that.” Fitz gave Jude’s hand a squeeze. Ronan and Ten followed suit and filed out of the room, leaving Jude and Cope alone.
“I’ve been worried sick.” Cope rested his head on the right side of Jude’s chest.
“I was pretty worried too.” Jude smiled. “I know what you did, by the way.”
Cope barked a quick laugh. “What is it you think I did?”
“You pulled your punch with the death spell and didn’t give Crawford the full power of it.”
Cope shrugged. “I was so angry at the way he made Ronan and Fitz turn on you and each other. It had been my intent to let him have it with full-force, but right before I did it, a little voice told me that I was no better than Crawford seeking revenge, so I stopped in time for Fitz to save his rotten ass.”
“I’ll look forward to testifying at his murder trial.”
“Me too.” Cope pressed a kiss to Jude’s lips. “Get some rest. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“I know, babe. I love you.”
“I love you too.” Cope watched as Jude’s eyes closed. Seconds later, his breathing evened out.
Cope sat back in the chair where he’d spent the majority of the last three days and let his tears fall. He’d come so close to losing Jude. Not even Jude knew how close he’d come. If it hadn’t been for Crow and Bertha showing up when they did, he might not have made it.
All that mattered now was that Jude was on the mend and would be back to his usual annoying, wonderful, obnoxious, sweet self soon. Cope couldn’t wait to welcome him home.
Their fairy tale would continue as it was meant to, with one more battle scar added to Jude’s collection.
THE END