X is for Xiphoid

Danny looked up and smiled as Linda walked into the room.

"Have I ever told you how amazing you look in scrubs?" Danny asked, checking her out.

"Oh please! Just because you still haven't convinced me to go on that cruise with me doesn't mean kissing up is gonna work!" Linda rolled her eyes and laughed.

"What?! Why do think I automatically want something when I flirt?" Danny said with a smirk.

"Because that's exactly why you do it. I've got you all figured Daniel Reagan!" Linda said, giving him a mischievous look.

"Oh really? I guess you have learned from the best!" Danny said, puffing his chest out jokingly. Linda shook her head and playfully threw a pillow at him. He ducked out of the way just in time and straightened his tie.

"It is a really nice cruise though! And my buddy is giving us the tickets! It doesn't get much better!" Danny said.

"Yea about that, are you guys really that close that he just gives you tickets for a cruise that costs like 30,000 dollars? You sure there's nothing shady happening?" Linda asked with a furrowed brow.

"I saved his life way back when in Fallujah. I told him it doesn't matter, but he insisted that he wanted to do this." Danny said.

"Huh. I don't think I've heard that story?" Linda said, seeing the far away look starting to come into Danny's eyes. She knew he was back overseas in his army green in his mind right now, just by looking at him.

"That's a story for another time… see ya tonight." Danny said, snapping himself out of his day dream. He gave her a kiss before heading out the door. She sighed, and grabbed her stuff to leave soon after him.

Later…

"I just don't get why she doesn't want to go! For us, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity!" Danny said, looking across the desk at his partner.

"Well maybe it's because she doesn't like boats. By the way, it's really bad if I know that about your wife and you don't." Maria said.

"Of course I know that about her! But she married a Marine for pete's sake!" Danny said.

"That doesn't mean anything. My first boyfriend was an architect that built skyscrapers for a living and I still hate heights!" Baez said.

"Well you're gonna have to face that fear today detective. An address for the suspect in the construction case was just found. Belleview Apartment 701." Both detectives looked up as their sergeant walked towards them with a paper in hand. Danny jumped up, happy to finally be closing this case. Baez wasn't so eager, and waited till the sergeant was out of earshot before groaning in disgust and giving Danny a look of fear.

Baez squeezed her hands tighter around the handrail in the elevator as it continues to climb further and further into the blue New York sky. Danny looked from where he was taking in the scenery around him to his partner who was scrunched into the corner.

"I know you hate heights and all, but come on! This view is incredible, and you're completely missing it!" Danny said.

"Yea well maybe if this was a normal elevator and not a glass death trap, I'd be able to enjoy it a bit more!" Baez said. She flinched slightly when she felt the elevator slowing, then glide to a stop.

"Well lucky for you, it's our stop!" Danny said, walking out of the door.

"NYPD open up!" Danny yelled, knocking on the door. He waited a few moments, then knocked again. He heard footsteps and a voice respond that they were coming. Soon, there was a rattling of chains, and the door opened to a young woman in workout gear.

"What can I do for you officers?" she asked.

"We'd like to speak to Kyle King. Is he home?" Maria asked. Just as she was about to respond, Danny caught a glimpse of a man shoving a window open and jumping out onto the fire escape outside.

"Police! Stop!" Danny shouted, and pushed past the woman, soon following the suspect out the window. Baez was close behind him, and groaned when she saw that the stairs of the fire escaped also led to the roof. It was a construction sight in progress, as the building was in the process of adding another floor. Danny kept his eyes on the man as he sprinted after him, dodging tools and workers along the way. The soon rounded a corner, and Danny saw where the man was headed. There was a different fire escape on the other side of the building. Danny then realized how long they had actually been running for. He saw the man getting close to his destination and ordered for him to stop once again. When he didn't, Danny kicked it into high gear, and started running faster in an effort to catch him. As he rounded another corner, he accidentally stepped onto a tarp that was covering boards. His feet slipped out from under him, sending him flying out over the side of the roof. He realized he was falling, and grabbed desperately to the edge of the building, which stopped his fall, but threw him violently against the side of the building. Baez heard his scream of pain as she hurried to cuff the man who had been hastily grabbed by one of the workers. She then ran over to where Danny was now being pulled to safety by other workers who luckily had seen him fall and quickly rushed to save him.

"Hey! Are you alright? What hurts?" Baez asked when she saw the pain on his face.

"Ch….chest…" Danny said a weak voice as the fiery pain spread through his upper body. Baez panicked as she saw him grimace, then his eye roll closed.

"He's not breathing!" one of the workers yelled, and started CPR.

"This is Detective Baez requesting a bus to my location, 10-13 officer is unresponsive! Come on Danny breath! Come on!" Baez yelled into the radio, then stood nervously over her partner, watching as the man desperately tried to resuscitate him. About a minute later, he gently pressed his ear to Danny's chest.

"He's breathing!" the man announced, and cheers and applause erupted from everyone standing near. Danny was soon put on a stretcher by paramedics and sent away.

Later…

The Reagan family once again found themselves waiting anxiously in a hospital room. Jack rubbed his mother's back, trying to comfort her while pushing away the all too familiar terrifying thoughts that were running through his mind. The all looked up eagerly as the doctor walked towards them.

"Danny is out of surgery. During the fall, the Xiphoid bone on the end of his sternum broke off and pierced his lung. That's what caused him to stop breathing momentarily when he was first rescued and twice during the surgery, but we were able to successfully repair it. He will be on a ventilator for at least a day to make sure the lung is functioning properly, but other than that we expect him to make a full recovery." Dr. Lewis informed the family. Linda thanked him, and then they waited until they could visit him.

Two days later…

Linda walked into Danny's hospital room to find him watching a football game and scarfing down his dinner. She smiled when he looked over at her and greeted her.

"I have a surprise for you." She said with a smile.

"Oh yea? Is it that I get to leave earlier?" Danny asked.

"No. It's better. I talked to your friend, and I got us those tickets." She said, pulling them from behind her back.

"Your serious?" Danny asked.

"I almost lost you this week, and to many times before. I've realized I need to soak up every second I have with you, even if that means doing something I'm scared of. I love you." She said, staring into his eyes.

"I love you more." Danny said,kissing her. Then, she crawled onto the bed and happily snuggled into him.