The Agent and the PI (Sequel to Falling For the Undercover Detective) complete

Danger Lurks

Michael’s POV

I sat by her side for what seemed like hours just watching her chest rise and fall as she was breathing.  It was tearing my heart out because the breaths were shallow and few.  Willing her eyes to open one more time so that I could actually look in them and tell her how much I loved her.  Tell her how much the world needed her.  Just then there was a knock at the door and Chad came in.  "Hey there buddy, Jacob is going to sit with your woman for a bit we all need to go in and talk for a while.  It's important and if she even looks like she is going to wake up he's going to text me immediately."  I agreed to go with him and leave Jacob to watch her. I felt that I could trust him.  Not sure usually that kind of trust comes from years of knowing someone.  I don't usually trust that easy the rest of the squad and I have been together for years and that is how I have grown to trust them.  I made my way to the waiting room where everyone was sitting.  The room was filled with squad and family and all the guys had grim faces.  I looked around at them and said "spill it what's up?"  With that everyone glanced my way and Chad cleared his throat.  "We have spotted Reedway lurking around the hospital as well as the Cain family home.  We know that you and Elizabeth are in danger but we also fear he may try to retaliate by kidnapping the twins,” “Over my dead body!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.  Larry laid a hand on my shoulder and I turned to look at him I could see the same anger in his face.  "Michael, I promise you nothing is going to happen to you, Elizabeth or these precious babies.  We have put a shelter protocol in place for the babies to be safe and out of harm's way.  Unfortunately, that means after today until the two of you come home you won't see the babies again.  They won't be leaving the house in any way.  No less than three guards and two other people will be at the house at all times.  One person and one guard in the same room as the twins and the other two guards will take turns walking the property.  On the same note there will be no less than two guards here at the hospital with you guys.  One in the room with you and one outside the door.  We are going to limit the staff to who can and can't come into your room.  They will all have a special badge and it can only be verified through a special device that the guard at the door will have.  This badge can't be counterfeited so we know you two will be safe."  I looked over at Chad and he was shaking his head in the affirmative.  I said "Chad close your ears so you don't hear this, I don't want to put you in a bad position."  Looking at my squad I said "same goes to you guys."  They all looked at me and said "we are with you all the way brother what are you thinking?"  I looked at the men all sitting there and said "when do we go after this bastard and take care of him ourselves? Because I'm not sure if anyone has told you or not but the reason, she's unconscious right now is because she remembered."

Jacob’s POV

I was now armed. Before I had only been carrying a small tazer and some pepper spray but now I was armed with a glock as well.  Reedway had been spotted around the hospital and the family home just recently and we feared that he would try something again Michael and Elizabeth once again as well as against the twins.  I had only been on this assignment for less than a day when all hell started to break loose but I also knew that this family unit was important in more ways than one.  I just couldn’t put my finger on why it would be so important other than the obvious.  When I saw those baby girls my heart melted.  They were ever bit as beautiful as their mother.  God how I envied and pitied Michael all at the same time.  Not only did he have the love of his life and a beautiful little family but in an instant because of some jackass he could lose it.  Chad and a couple of Elizabeth’s brothers asked me what I was going to need to ensure that Michael and Elizabeth were kept safe while here at the hospital and I informed them I would love to see them moved another wing in the hospital where there are no other patients.  They still needed to be in the same room but separated from everyone else in the hospital.  We were putting a shelter protocol in place for the whole family unit which meant until they left this hospital that neither of the parents would be seeing their babies anytime soon.  Also because of the threat there would always be two guards with special badges on duty at all times.  I was one and there would be a rotation of three others.  We would work in twelve hour shifts and rotate out.  Only people with specialized badges would be allowed into the room and since the badge couldn’t be reproduced we knew they were cleared.  Nobody was certain as to how long this protocol would be in place but it would last until the threat was stopped. 

Chad's POV

It’s been two long weeks since Elizabeth woke up and then had the heart attack.  The prognosis isn’t good for her and they are talking about her “expiring”  just another way of saying she’s dying and there isn’t anything they can do about it. I've been watching my best man crumble before my eyes.  The poor guy is losing his woman the one woman who stole his heart and he would give his life for.  Hell, he almost did end up dying for her.  He's at a loss.  The doctors are telling the family that there is no hope for sweet Elizabeth.  I have talked to the prosecutor about the prognosis and we are moving forward with charges of attempted murder of a federal witness with the ability to change the status to murder when she does expire.  It's really up to Elizabeth's brothers as they are next of kin as to when or if to pull the plug so to speak.  Michael has refused to leave her side and can't bear to look at his baby girls at this time.  Hell, I can barely get the guy to eat or drink anything.  He's lost his will to live without her and that was what I was afraid of.  I've informed brass that while Elizabeth is in this state and even for a few months after she expires, we won't have him as an agent.  I'm going to put him on leave and ask that he seek counseling to help him through this great and tragic loss.  The rest of the squad has agreed and will do what they have to.  Even the new guy Jacob seems to be completely on board with everything that is going on.  He’s grown very close to Michael and fond of Elizabeth. They have understood and encouraged me to encourage Michael to seek counseling.  He's a strong man but I agree he is going to need some serious help.  Help that none of us can give him.  Thankfully all the operations are officially moved here so none of us have to leave at any time.  Our squad is on a pause until this matter is taken care of.  Reedway hasn't been captured yet which concerns me greatly because there are seven very angry men wanting at him and wanting him dead.  I can't say that I blame them any because if I was in any of their situations, I would be seeing red and out for blood as well.  It goes without saying that there are more than seven hell all of us on the squad want him brought to justice for what he's did to our brother and his family.

Michael's POV

Happy no I'm not happy.  I don't think I will ever be happy again.  I don't get to see her eyes open and tell me that she loves me again.  I know that her brothers have all come to the same conclusion.  None of us like it but such a beautiful strong warrior would not want to be kept alive this way.  I know I should spend some time with our girls but my time with their mother is coming to an end and I want to spend every drop of it with her.  Why oh why did this have to happen to her.  I love her so damn much that I just don't understand.  We are all meeting later today with the doctor to let him know what decision has been made.  Before we meet with the doctor though we are all getting together to talk about it.  I'm thankful that her brothers are allowing me to be a part of this decision.  They don't have to because technically I'm nothing to her but the father of her children and even then, that's not official.

Flash forward several hours.  

Later on, that day we all gathered in the conference room. To my surprise Elizabeth's brothers have asked their wives, my squad and their wives to all be here as well.  When I look at Larry with questions, he simply tells me "you are all family and you all love her just as much as we do.  Everyone in this room right now deserves to have a say and have their feelings heard."  After much discussion it was determined that while we didn't like the outcome, we knew what we had to do.  We had to turn off the machines.  We called the doctor in to tell him the decision and sign the appropriate paperwork.  Tears were brimming in every eye in the room.  We brought the girls in one last time and laid them next to their mother.  Everyone was in the room as the machines were being shut off.  Everyone took their turn saying their goodbyes to this wonderful woman.  Amber and Priscilla took the girls with them when they left.  Her brothers kissed her head and told her they loved her and to say hello to their parents for them.  That left me.  I held her hand and caressed her cheek.  "I love you so much Elizabeth.  I wish you had been stronger than all the evil that took over your life but you were as strong as you needed to be.  I promise you that our girls are going to know what a wonderful and strong woman their mother was.  I just wish you would have still had just a little more strength in you to fight once more."  I let go of her hand and laid my head on her stomach.  I started to cry uncontrollably.  It seemed like she was breathing a little deeper as I was crying.  At first, I thought I was imagining the movement I felt under my head but then suddenly a hand was caressing my head.  I looked up into the most beautiful pair of eyes I had ever laid my eyes on.  She was awake.  Was this even possible?  I didn't hesitate to kiss her face and tell her I loved her.  I pressed the call button and the doctor came in to presumingly pronounce her dead.  Boy was he shocked.