Karen Rose - Count to Ten

Olivia looked at Reed. "You didn't tell her?"

He shook his head. "I didn't want to get her hopes up. And, you said no."

"No, I just didn't say yes." Olivia met Mia's eyes. "Reed called me the day after you were shot and told me what you needed. He also told me your mother refused to be tested. You win, big sister. Your family is much worse than mine."

Mia was speechless. "You're willing to be tested?"

"No, I was tested. I never say yes to things right away. I had get the facts. Get tested. Get a leave of absence."

"And?" Reed asked impatiently.

"And I'm here. I'm a match. We're going to do this thing next week."

Reed's breath came shuddering out. "Thank God."

Mia shook her head. "Why?"

"Well, not because I love you. I don't even know you." Olivia's brows furrowed. "But I do know what you'd be giving up if I didn't. You're a cop. A good one. If you don't get a kidney, you lose that and Chicago loses you. I can keep that from happening. So I will."

She searched Olivia's face. "You don't owe me anything, Olivia."

"I know. Kind of." Her eyes shadowed. "Then again, maybe I do. But what I do or don't owe you doesn't really matter. If a cop in my department needed this, I'd do it.

Why not for my own blood?" Her brows winged up. "Now if you don't want my guts…"

"She wants it," Reed said firmly. He took Mia's hand. "Let her help you, Mia."

"Olivia, have you thought this through?" Mia wouldn't let herself hope. Not yet.

Olivia shrugged. "My doctor says I'll be back to full duty in a few months. My captain has approved my time off. I'm not sure I could have agreed otherwise."

Mia narrowed her eyes. "Once you give it to me, I'm not giving it back."

Olivia laughed. "Okay." She pulled up a chair on the other side of Mia's bed, sobering. "I wanted to apologize to you. That night we talked… I was so shocked. I ran. I ran all the way back to Minnesota."

"You needed time. I never meant to drop it on you that way."

"I know. You'd had a bad day. Nice save on the Kates case, by the way." She smiled. "I read the Trib . I boycott the Bulletin on principle."

Mia smiled back. "Me, too." Then she sobered as Olivia's smile faded.

"Mia, I'm sorry. I judged when I didn't understand. I understand better now. And I appreciate you trying to keep me from feeling… shunned. You were right. I was luckier. I wish my mother were alive for me to tell her so." She stood up. "I'm going to get a hotel room and go to sleep. I pulled a double shift before I got here."

"I'd offer to let you stay with us, but we're still in a hotel, too," Reed said.

"It's all right. Your doctor has my health records. He'll redo the typing a week before the scheduled day. Then it's a done deal. He says the procedure will be done laparoscopically on both of us. I'll be released in a day or two. You could be home by Christmas." She looked at Reed. "I assume this meets your approval."

Reed's nod was shaky. "It does. Thank you."

Then she was gone, leaving Mia staring after her. She turned to Reed, her eyes wet. "You did this for me."

"I tried. I didn't think she'd agree."

"The first day we met, you gave me your umbrella."

His lips curved. "I remember."

"Today you gave me back my life. An important part of if, anyway." But not all, she realized. Not anymore . She was more than a cop. She had a cat. And a kid. And a man who sat looking at her as if he'd never let her go. "How can I thank you for that?"

His dark eyes gleamed. "I think we can come up with something."

Sunday, August 12, 9:25 a.m.

"Stop it, Reed." Mia pushed his hand from its groping quest. "Look."

"I was trying," he grumbled.

"I meant look at the news . Lynn Pope from Chicago on the Town told me not to miss this morning's show."

With a sigh for the morning sex that was not to be, Reed sat up in bed and put his arm around Mia's shoulders. She leaned against him easily now, but the thrill was still brand new. As was the gratitude he experienced every time he woke up to her face.

She was a phenomenal woman. A good cop. She'd returned to duty from her surgery after only four months. Her first day back he'd watched her strap on her holster, fear clutching his heart, but he'd said nothing. In the first week she and Abe Reagan had put away two murderers. Now he watched every day as she strapped on the holster and fear still clutched his heart. But she was a good cop, even better now with the added appreciation of her own mortality. She was careful. She had too much to lose not to be. She'd have to watch her health and take her meds for the rest of her life, but she had a life and for that Olivia Sutherland was on their permanent Christmas list.

Mia was a good mom, which he knew she'd be, but he knew it surprised the hell out her. Jeremy was thriving, having found an affinity for soccer. Mia was training him for the peewee leagues. But he still found time to watch the History Channel.

She wasn't a daughter anymore. Annabelle Mitchell had been incensed that Mia had told "lies" about Bobby when she'd been negotiating for Jeremy's release. And "when every cop could hear every word from her wire," which Reed suspected was the real sin. Not the "lie" but the disclosure, which had not brought the pity Mia had feared. She'd earned far too much respect in her career. She was a good cop.

He kissed the top of Mia's head. And she was a good wife. On the day of their wedding Beth had informed him it was the first day of spring. It hadn't been his plan, but it seemed appropriate. Beth thought Christine would approve. Reed agreed.

"What's this?" he asked as a picture of an awards ceremony filled the screen.

"Lynn Pope was up for the Newscasters Award for the story she did on Bixby and Hope Center. Looks like she won. I hope Wheaton's watching this from her cell."

"Not that we're bitter or anything," Reed said and she poked him.

The picture changed to Hope Center, an excerpt from the expose Pope had aired months before. Bixby and Thompson had been determined to test therapy methods that had been rejected by every reputable group, so they'd started Hope Center. Further investigation had shown impropriety in handling state funds as well as kickbacks from pharmaceutical reps who wanted their meds to be exclusively administered. Teachers were fired before they could become suspicious.

Then the unforeseen happened and Andrew Kates had brought the spotlight on Bixby's life's work.

Pope had tracked Bixby to London where he'd hoped to lay low until excitement from the Kates case had blown over. Then he'd planned to quietly resume his work, but Pope's story had resulted in the closing of the school and the placement of the kids elsewhere.

"I hope those kids get a chance at real rehabilitation," Reed said as Pope signed off.

Mia blinked up at him, surprised. "I thought you didn't believe in rehabilitation."

He shrugged. "Maybe for some people. It's worked for Kelsey."

"But she's still in." Parole had been denied once again.

He hugged her close to him. "Next time."

"Maybe." Mia shook off her dark mood and crawled from the bed. "But it's not a day for the blues. Get up and get dressed, Solliday. I can't be late." He didn't move, instead rolling to his side to better watch her get dressed. "Reed, hurry. You know how long it takes you just to pick out your shoes."

"Shoes are an important accessory. You won't wear boots to the church. Please?"

"No, I bought these." With a grimace she held up a pair of sexy little sandals with a killer heel. "I'm going to hurt my feet for a kid who won't even remember it."

"I'm sure you'll remind her when she's old enough," Reed said dryly, choosing his suit. "It's not every day you become a godmother, Mia. Suck it up and wear the shoes."