Accidents

"Stop right there!"

Columbo was surprised at how his own voice sounded so rough and stern as it echoed off of the concrete walls of the indoor parking lot.

The dark figure's head whipped around to see a coated figure with a shining black gun in his hand... and it's barrel was pointed in her direction. Of course, she wasn't the only one with a gun pointed at her.

The man's face was hardened as he looked to the figure some distance off. "Drop the gun!" He ordered, soon cocking his own pistol's back. This moment, it was one he had been waiting for. This figure had to be the one. That figure that had managed to wiggle their way through the police for so long. The figure that had been the run of newspaper headlines, always being involved with a crime and, usually, a murder or two. This was the figure that had eluded police for nearly three years now. It was only a wonder how this decrepit creature thought it was still a good idea to remain in a city teeming with law enforcement, all at the sake of the figure's crimes.

Or, perhaps, it was because this figure was so confident that they knew that going wouldn't change anything. Except, perhaps, the scenery.

The figure seemed to keep her gun on the officer, and yet Columbo kept his gun on the figure. They were both as still as the concrete walls that were around them. The detective didn't particularly like the turn of events. Especially when it was just him. No other officers were around. They were still at the station. He had just decided to investigate a lead and here he was, and here they were.

"I said drop the--"

---

Manitowoc could hear his heart thumping in his chest just as loud as he could hear the rumble of his car's engine. The call had come in so abruptly, so unexpectedly.

*Officer down... gah. Officer down. Send back up... and an ambulance. Repeat... officer... down.*

The voice on the other end was clearly pained and fading, but it was unmistakable.

Khaysa was the first one to hear the call, and was also the one to call the ambulance, but she had let Mani know of the situation shortly after. And the officer was quick to try to get onto the scene himself, ahead of the ambulance and the other officers.

And while he could hear the sound of the ambulance not far behind him, he was making headway.

Of course. Of course Columbo would get himself shot. He was always launching headfirst into danger like it was his middle name! He did it for the right reasons, for he always saw safety of the public as a top priority, but he never once thought that committing such recklessness would be hard on the force.

Despite having a sportscar complete with the bells and whistles, Manitowoc felt as if he couldn't get there quick enough. Each block felt like it had taken hours to pass. It felt like it had been years by the time he had turned off into the indoor parking lot. Now all he had to do was speed his way to the third floor.

Tires screeched and engines revved as he sped his vehicle through each floor. By the time he got to the third floor he only had to move a little before slamming on his breaks. There his friend lay on the cold, unforgiving concrete, upon a pool of his own blood. That coat he wore so often was soaked in it and Mani could swear that he could smell it. The sight alone was enough to have the billionaire's stomach start churning.

Ignoring the feeling of his stomach, he ran to his comrade with the distance sounds of sirens growing closer. The red flashing lights could be idly seen bouncing off the walls and even reflecting in the liquid that puddled around his friend, but Mani barely took time to notice and instead just grabbed Columbo's shoulder in an attempt to turn him around. The detective was now on his back, and Manitowoc winced at the bullets that had hit his chest. Three holes... three bullets. So much blood.

"Columbo? Columbo, speak to me." Manitowoc's voice was sharp as he lightly shook his friend. The response was a wince and a weak hand coming to push his hand away from the detective's shoulder.

"Don't... Shake me..."

The air that had been caught in Mani's lungs was let out just then, relief washing over him like a sweet spring rain... then the earful of screaming sirens roared, then stopped.

"You're going to be fine, Columbo. The ambulance is here."

There was no response, the detective's eyes closed once more.

"Columbo? Columbo!"

A hand reached out to his shoulder once more, but instead of touching him, he felt hands on his own shoulders pulling him back. Next thing he knew, men in white were crowding around his friend with a stretcher. The doctors wasted no time, and after they got him on that stretcher they were quick to get him into the ambulance. Sirens screamed once more before the truck began its journey back home, to the hospital.

Manitowoc was left alone in the eerie silence of the lot, with nothing but the distant sirens and the puddle of blood to accompany him.

---

The hospital lights were harsh and the lights were so bright. Why were they so bright? The soft, consistent beep of the heart monitor idly rung in the background, but other than that things were eerily silent. Columbo's gaze squinted open, and the light only got brighter! A groan escaped him - and he instantly regretted it. The pain in his chest seemed to scream at him after such a noise as if he had been shot once again. He felt his eyes roll before he closed them again and placed an arm over them. Goodness, this light! How could anybody sleep?

A soft sigh escaped him as he willed himself back to sleep, and yet sleep did not come. At least, not the nice, deep, good sleep. It was more like that superficial, slightly-awake-slightly-asleep, sad sort of sleep. But it was something. At least, until he heard the door open, and for whatever reason, the door sounded a lot louder than usual. At this point he could feel the agitation infecting him like a virus, and he soon moved his arm to give the door, and the people who dared to enter, a very weak glare... which honestly looked something more like the look a cat gave when it just woke up.

It also didn't warrant any response from the small party that came in. Instead, Khaysa was quick to run up to Columbo's bed.

"Columbo! Oh, thank goodness you're alright!" She fawned over him like his own mother, gently placing her hands about the arm at his side. But he didn't mind her actions. She was a friend enough, of course she'd be worried. Part of him was just glad that she hadn't been there when it all happened. It was still a blur to him. Nevertheless, his gaze softened upon the sight of Khaysa, and a weak smile lit his face.

"Of course I'm alright. Why wouldn't I be?" He retorted to her playfully.

"You would've been better if you would've just worn your bulletproof vest like a good boy." She teased. Oh, he hated when she teased him like that, especially over his own ignorance.

"Hey. It wasn't like I had a date with that gun barrel."

She giggled at his retort, and soon he felt her squeeze his arm. Her mouth opened once more, as if to say something more before another set of footsteps came walking into the room. The tall, imposing blonde that Columbo knew well came sauntering in like he owned the place. Who knew, maybe he did.

Mani stopped at the side of his comrade's bed, close to where Khaysa was standing herself and only then did Columbo realize two things. One; this was probably the first time he had seen both Khaysa and Manitowoc in the same room, nevertheless standing next to each other. Two; Khaysa looked so short next to a guy who was a foot taller than her. It was so much of a surprise that Columbo couldn't help but cast quick glances between the two.

Stoic as ever, Mani's face was that of placid seriousness, but soon deep blue eyes landed upon the man who lay upon the bed and Columbo could see the tiniest trace of a smirk tug at the side of his friend's lip. Yet there was something that ghosted over the millionaire's eyes.

The last time Mani had seen Columbo was a week ago, when he was bleeding out in that four story parking lot.

"Glad to see you're awake," Manitowoc said lightly, trying to redirect his mind to something that wasn't that memory in particular.

"Glad to be awake." Columbo grinned.

Soft giggles came from the small amount of company the officer had, and he couldn't help the smile that remained on his face. But then a thought came to mind.

"Hey, how long have I been here?"

Both Khaysa and Manitowoc rose a brow, then cast a glance toward each other before looking back to their friend.

"You sure you want to know?" Manitowoc countered.

Immediately Columbo's face soured.

"I've been here a while, haven't I?"

"I cannot confirm nor deny that."

"You can't? Or you won't?"

Mani just smirked at him, but said nothing. Instead he raised his arm to take a glance at his expensive looking watch. Columbo only rolled his eyes.

"You're a pain, you know that?"