Chapter 15: One Leg Shy of a Cop, Part 2

"Here's the deal, Dan," he said. "You can talk it out with Sergeant Connor later. I'll send him and you the details. We needed someone in Victim Services. It is mostly a volunteer group, they follow up with emotional support for victims of violent incidents, but there are times when it will be helpful to have someone in uniform be able to respond. We're suggesting you take the training. If you decide it will be a good fit, you will continue in that position. If your rehab brings you to the point where you can pass the physical, you will be able to return to active duty. Even if you can't, or don't wish to, there is a career track available through this posting. You don't need to decide now. Talk to Sergeant Connor, talk to the coordinator of Victim Services."

"When can I start the training?" Dan asked. "I promise I will talk to the Union, but another day sitting around doing nothing will send me over the edge."

Sergeant Connor leaned back in his chair and looked over at Dan. He nodded at the captain who sighed and sat more relaxed.

"I'll walk you over to Victim Services," the captain said. "You will have whatever time you need to make the decision."

Dan pushed himself to his feet.

"Thank you, sir."

He followed the sergeant out of the office. Connor waved and wandered back to his office.

The captain led him to the elevator and down to the main floor. They walked out into the atrium and into an office that wasn't directly connected to the rest of the building.

"I'll let Shelly explain Victim Services to you. Remember that you will remain a sworn officer. It's unusual, but I'm sure you will make it work. What the Chief and I are hoping is you'll be able to concentrate on this zombie thing. Seems to have gone quiet for the winter, but my gut still knots up just thinking about it. You did good work finding DesLauriers." He knocked on a door.

A middle-aged woman answered.

"He agreed?"

"Full pay, sworn officer, the lot."

"Shelly Hadon," she put out her hand and Dan shook it. "I'll give you the tour and we'll go from there."

The captain headed back upstairs.

"Do you know anything about Victim Services?"

"I know I handed out quite a few of your cards."

"Good, that's a start."

***

Dan waved thanks to the cruiser as they pulled out and walked up to the house. Cindy met him at the door.

"Well?"

"I start training tomorrow for a new position," Dan said. "I'll tell you all about it when I get this damned leg off."

Cindy brought him coffee and a sandwich, so he sat at the table while he alternated between eating and filling her in on his new work.

"I did some research," Cindy said when he'd finished. "Thought I remembered something from a thesis I edited last year. There is someone at the university who works with the kind of pain you're dealing with. He told me he'd meet with you. No promises, but it's something, isn't it?"

"When?"

"Tomorrow? I told him it was urgent." Cindy's hands tightened around her cup. "I don't want it interfering with your new job-"

"I'll take a break to go and see him," Dan put his hand on hers. "Thanks for not giving up on me. Don't know how I got so lucky."

***

Shelly didn't mind him taking the afternoon to see the doctor at the university.

"Whatever you need," she said. "We'll work the training around your appointments."

He took a cab over to the university and met Cindy there. Dr. Grenfell came out to lead them back to his office. He got Dan to remove his leg and sock before running a series of tests on the stump's sensitivity.

"Well, I have good news and bad news," Dr. Grenfell said when he'd finished. "The bad news is you're stuck with one leg. We can't grow it back. The good news is that we should be able to significantly reduce your pain levels without medication that would impair your ability to function as a police officer." He hooked up a machine to electrodes and placed them on his leg. When he turned it on, the pain rapidly faded away.

"Ah, good," the doctor said. "I'll send you home with a small version of this. There are other things we must do, but I think it likely that you will be able to walk without much pain within a month."

Dan walked out with Cindy. The leg was still a nuisance, but it ceased to be torture.

"I think we should celebrate," he said. "Let's pick up some Chinese food on the way home."

"Sounds good to me," Cindy said, "and I have some other things that don't require two legs." She grinned at Dan and his heart sped up.

"Maybe we should get the food delivered."