Chapter Text
"Get everyone away from the building and start a headcount," Vera shouted after hearing the third blow-out explosion coming from the storage area. They all felt powerless watching the scene as Doreen screamed her baby's name helplessly behind the gates. Suddenly feeling like she was the only one in charge, Vera knew she had to make sure everyone remained safe... "Everyone, including Joan," she thought. Where was Ferguson? Vera watched the flames with horror at the realization that Joan was most likely trapped by the fire. Whether she or Warner was behind it seemed of minor importance as she was driven by only one thought in that moment: rescuing her mentor. "I need to get her out" was all she kept telling herself and she felt pathetic for it. After everything that had transpired between them, Vera still cared for her governor. She turned to Linda Miles and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Linda, I need you to make sure everyone stays safe here while I go over there."
-What? Wanna play the hero?
-Just do as I say. Ferguson's over there and needs help.
Miles gave her quite the look, before Vera corrected : "I mean, Ferguson, Joshua, Warner and probably Doyle and--"
Before she could add "Smith," Linda tapped her shoulder and motioned her to look behind her. Vera turned around and saw both Franky and Bea running towards them as one carried baby Josh in her arms. Vera ran to them with Will Jackson who arrived at the same time. "Only take Anderson and the baby over there to the paramedics. Bea, Frankie where are Ferguson and Warner?! " she asked. "Vera let the firemen do their job and the paramedics take care of Doyle and Smith," Will objected. "No Will! Only they know where Ferguson and Warner are and we need to find them!" They all looked at her with disbelief. "Please just tell me where they are!" A few seconds passed before Smith agreed to showing her the spot. "Alright, let's go, but I only saw Ferguson in there," said the redhead as she ran back there, followed by Vera and also Will who felt responsible for them.
"This is the only way to get inside but it's blocked. There's this small opening and I can't fit in nor can Will," Bea explained between coughs. They exchanged worried looks before Vera stated: "I believe I can."
-What? No Vera don't go in there. Let her burn!
-No! Just go both of you and get more help there's no time. Go! That's an order!
Vera was already engaged in the small entrance created by the shattered window in the lower part of the door. It was still accessible between the blocking stones and she managed to get through and disappear behind it. Will and Bea gave it one last glance before doing what they'd been told and running in the opposite direction, calling for help.
***
"Joan? Joan can you hear me?", Vera managed, moving stones around as she made her way in, coughing heavily.
Joan slowly raised her head and tried to identify the faint sounds.She tried to make out who was calling for her and where from. Her breathing was ragged and her vision was blurred, and she found it hard to concentrate. Her heart rate was accelerating. Her eyelids dropped once more and she felt someone pull at her and turn her around. "Joan, it's okay I'm getting you out of here."
She slowly opened her eyes, thinking her mind was playing tricks on her as she deciphered her deputy's face hovering over hers. "I'm just going to move the stones which are blocking the entrance from inside."
Vera started doing just that and Joan wanted so desperately to help her but she felt too exhausted and completely unable to move, which frustrated her. Joan fought to stay awake, knowing Vera was now risking her life for her. She watched helplessly as her deputy struggled to clear the way while protecting both their heads, avoiding the bits of concrete which were falling off from the collapsing building. It seemed she was being successful at creating some kind of a tunnel between the chunks of concrete which had been falling off nonstop. A few minutes later, when the exit was within reach, and they both could hear the firemen on the other end, Vera almost collapsed to the floor. She managed to carry Joan and herself out. She rolled her eyes knowing she had done all the work herself since everyone on the other side had remained extremely cautious out of fear they'd get caught in the explosion. Both women were instantly rushed to the paramedics and one final big explosion was heard.
They had left in extremis.
As each was taken in one ambulance, they gave each other one last look before they both closed their eyes with exhaustion and abandoned themselves to the care of the paramedics.
***
A few days had passed since the fire. Joan had gone through moments of confusion and delirium and had been sedated for long hours. Only today would she be able to regain her full sense of clarity for the medication had been tampered down. Joan had opened her eyes this morning and had recognized her surroundings. She knew she was in a hospital, but she couldn't exactly recollect what had happened. She saw one police officer guarding her door. It downed on her that her plan had most likely failed and that she would probably be facing charges soon. A nurse came in and approached the monitor to check her vital signs. "I see you're awake, feeling better?"
"How discerning," she replied sarcastically, befofore asking, "How long have I been in here?"
"4 days," the chubby brown-haired woman replied. "You've been taking long naps and I'm not even sure how awake you were when you were."
Joan flinched at that, clearly unsatisfied with the news. "Don't beat yourself up love. You've only lost track for a few days, while your mate next door won't be so lucky. You should be thankful," the nurse added as she handed her a cup of water.
Joan frowned. "And how is that relevant to my situation?", she asked irritated as she grabbed the cup from the woman's hand and drew it to her lips.
The nurse hesitated then sighed. "Well, I was instructed not to share info with patients who also happen to be law-breakers but here's what I know... from what I understood she's the colleague who saved your life, and now she's in a coma. Bennett I think her name is."
Joan almost choked on her sip. It all came back to her in one flash. She put the cup on her bedside table and pulled the nurse's arm as she whispered, "why am not cuffed?"
Afraid of Joan and tempted to alarm the officer who was standing nearby, she glared at the door. Joan whispered in her ear: "Think again," then let go of her. "I have much money in the bank which I can have transfered to you very easily and efficiently if you simply give me the information I want whenever I ask for it. I'm sure you wouldn't mind telling a bit more than you've already shared."
The nurse considered this. "Alright. What do you want to know?"
-Tell me how many days I was signed to remain in here and why am I not cuffed like any prisoner.
-Doctors think you have mental instability, and as for your physical health, they think you're too weak and don't require handcuffs. In other words, you are not seen as a threat in your current state, and won't necessarily need to be sent to prison until your trial. A psychiatrist will be evaluating you soon to deem you ready to face your trial and make recommendations. And by the way you were squeezing my arm, I think you'll need to pretend you still are too weak to be moved so that they prolong your stay in this unit.
Joan nodded. "Am I allowed to leave this room?"
-Yes but only cuffed in a wheelchair and accompanied by your appointed officer. If you do so much as walk on your own you'll be sent to prison until your trial.
-I see. Well call him in I am making the request now.
The nurse nodded and fetched him.
The man was ridiculously young and nervous in her presence. Joan instantly recognized him. She had shots of him partaking in Derek Channing's drunken little parties at his brothel, involving young parolees. The nurse helped Joan get on the wheelchair as he proceeded to handcuff her. "Are you sure this is necessary? One hand would suffice. I feel already so handicapped."
-Oh, hmm, w-well. Well I-I guess you're right hmm, okay.
He pushed Joan's wheelchair in the corridor and Joan motioned him to pass in front of Vera's room. "I want to visit this patient's room."
-We can't, sorry. I'm not allowed to let you in here.
Joan smiled wickedly before motioning him to bend over as she whispered in his ear : "Oh but you will, otherwise I'll get word out there that you like to wank while you grope defenceless women in their hospital beds during your night shifts." He stared back at her with a look of desgust. "But it's not true."
-Maybe not, but once they start digging they start finding. Dirt is dirt. One tends to only believe the irreproachable. Are you irreproachable, officer Jones?
His face dropped and he remained speechless for a minute until he turned the doorknob and opened the door in defeat. He pushed Joan's wheelchair inside Vera's room. "My shift ends in 2 hours, you have until then before another officer takes over."
-Before you leave, remove this.
She motioned him to uncuff her but he hesitated. She grew more irritated and stated sternly. "Rest assured, I will not cause her any harm, she saved my life and is already in pretty bad shape. I would be a fool to add charges to my case by harming her don't you think?"
He finally removed her cuffs and left her with Vera at her instruction. "Make sure no one disturbs me, no one except the nurse." Making sure he had gone and closed the door, she rose from her wheelchair and walked very slowly towards Vera, so slowly that it almost seemed sacred. Her lips trembled as she watched her deputy in that laying positing, her skin so pale and her forehead covered with nasty cuts which reminded her of her sacrifice. She reached up to touch them, tracing the red lines on her face, her pretty hair which seemed to have been combed. Stroking down Vera's cheek, she murmured "Vera, it's me, Joan. I hmm... I know it has been difficult, between us but--I--I just wanted to say, thank you." She paused as if hoping for a sign that Vera could hear her, but none came. She inhaled sharply to gather all her courage. "I also want to say that, despite everything, I still think you were--you are, a fine officier, Vera you are. You are no disappointment at all. And I regret not telling you how much I was fond of you as a person too." She paused again."What I mean to say Vera is-", she started before hearing a knock on the door. She was on the verge of shedding a tear when the nurse barged in. "Well well, didn't take you long to get that poor boy in your corner eh? Are you here to tourment that poor lady too?", she asked as she checked on Vera. "No big change yet," she stated sadly. Joan grabbed Vera's hand which was limp on the covers of the bed and gave it a gentle squeeze, hoping she would squeeze back. "I want to know what happened to her."
-Well you tell me, she was in that fire with you wasn't she?
Annoyed, Joan rolled her eyes. "I had been in there longer than she was. I don't understand why she is in a coma whilst no one got injured or hurt nearly as badly."
-Well, it is sad, but in miss Bennett's case and from what was reported, she worked so hard to get you both out that it added more strain to her lungs which were already weakened by recent treatments for hepatitis C.
Joan winced, closing her eyes with realization. She swallowed with anger and shame as she listened. "You see the smoke inhalation put more stress on her lungs, which put stress on her heart, which sent Vera into cardiac arrest and coma."
Joan's lips twitched with desgust as she nodded with understanding. She felt responsible for Vera's misery. "Do you think she'll recover?"
"It's really hard to tell. I'm sorry I can see it affects you," the nurse said with genuine empathy.
"Would you leave us, I'd like some more time alone with my--friend.", Joan asked.
-Of course, no problem.
Joan sat next to Vera and held her hand as she contemplated her features. She did not look in pain, she looked so peaceful. If only she knew if Vera was sensing her presence or if she could hear what was being said around her, to her. Although Joan still felt betrayed, she was conflicted with so many emotions that she needed to put all of the negative aside and focus on her most powerful sentiment: her affection for Vera which was stronger than any desire for revenge. The greater good had suddenly flipped. If only Vera could wake up.