Finally: “Captain, I know I can’t be out in the streets for a while. But I’d like to get back as soon as possible. Maybe some desk work. You’ll need all the officers you can—”
Brandt shook his head.
“Jack, how long has it been since you’ve had any time away from the job?”
“I don’t need any time. Soon as my leg is good, in a few weeks, I can—”
“You need a break, Jack. Let psych service see you. Get some counseling. You can’t just shrug this off. You have a lot of time coming.”
Jack arched his back up, raising his head off the pillow as much as he could.
“I don’t need any damn time.”
The nurse came into the room again.
“Officer, your family is downstairs, coming up now.”
Another smile from her, but it quickly evaporated as she sensed the tension in the room.
Brandt pushed his chair back and stood up.
“Yeah. I want you to take the time. Talk to your wife. A break. A vacation.”
Jack opened his mouth, but he knew Brandt well enough to know that an order was an order.
“Talk to Christie. Get away. The Can Heads will be here when you come back.” Another pause. “I need people like you, Jack.”
A boy’s voice echoed from the hospital hallway.
His son, Simon.
Brandt started for the door.
“Get better, Jack.”
Then he turned and left.
Christie watched Simon run ahead, down the hospital hallway, Kate walking tentatively beside her. She had worried how they both would react, seeing their dad in a hospital bed.
She and Jack had agreed to tell them only that he’d had an accident at work.
Their strong daddy took a nasty fall.