Ironing CH 7

Carolyn had rousted out the local law enforcement when Dan and Bobby pulled up. Dan got out and shook hands with the Sheriff. He told him in terse terms what was at stake and they took off with the Sheriff in the lead. Dan gritted his teeth that the man put on his lights and siren. The idiot was tipping the kidnappers off. He'd have had his job, if he'd been on Dans Squad.

They took some back roads and the Sheriff shut off his siren, but left his lights on. So at least he wasn't a total idiot. They pulled up behind some woods. Dan got out and hurried up to the front. Bobby had his weapon out already. Carolyn told them. "The house is right through these woods. They've been spotted. We almost had them. They escaped and almost made it to the woods, but the others had ATVs and got to them before we did." She said.

"They were alright?" Bobby demanded.

"As far as we can tell. They aren't going to be very happy when we get to them. They were tied with their elbows behind them when while we watched. There wasn't any way to get to them. They put them on the back of the ATVs and taken back to the house. I don't think they were going to be turned loose when they get back there."

"We're almost out of time. Let's go get them. Carolyn, take your guys around the backside and keep an eye on the barn. Bobby with me." Dan said.

"Now wait a minute. This isn't your jurisdiction." The sheriff said indignantly.

Bobby and Dan both converged on the man. "Those two officers in there are NYPD and they are our partners. Either help or get the hell out of the way." Dan told him harshly.

"We'll go on the opposite side. There's a creek there that would allow them to leave without leaving too many tracks." The sheriff offered.

"Let's go." Dan told everyone. They spread out and moved across the dark ground. Dan was in the lead with Bobby right beside him. They moved slowly to the house, giving Carolyn and her team time to get to the barn and the sheriff's men time to get into place.

There were enough shadows to give them some cover. The porch in front of the door was in bad shape, though. Bobby had to go around the edges to make sure it didn't collapse under his weight or creak and give them away. He was on one side of the doorway and Dan was on the other when Dan nodded. He went in low and Bobby snap kicked the door in and went in high.

The men inside were packing their stuff up when the NYPD burst inside. "Police, freeze." Both officers called.

The men inside were armed and drew on the intruders. One of the men was wearing an assault rifle and let fly toward the bedroom peppering the entire door and everything inside. Dan stuck his hand around the doorway and started blazing away. He hoped he'd hit something. He heard a crash of glass. Bobby poked his head around to look. "They're gone." He said.

They charged into the house. Dan made a beeline for the decimated door. It was just splinters and he hit it hard enough to break it in. The room was a mass of bullet riddled beds and not much else. The beds had been turned on their sides. He sagged in dismay. The women weren't there.

He turned away when the mattress moved. It dropped away and Alex and Karla were crouched underneath it. He started toward them. "Dan!" Karla cried and he whirled around, gun at ready, to see what the problem was. That saved his life.

One of the kidnappers had hidden behind the sofa. He rose up to shoot at both Bobby and Dan. He snapped off several shots at both. Bobby was quicker to duck and was able to make him duck back behind the furniture with a quick shot.

Dan wasn't so lucky. A bullet plowed into his side and knocked him into the bedroom. Karla screamed and rushed toward him. "Karla, no!" Alex cried.

The man popped up again looking for more targets. Karla had reached Dan. She snatched up the gun and pointed it at the man, crouching protectively over Dan. Bobby took the shot that he hoped he'd never have to. He killed the man.

Bobby checked the dead man and hurried over to where Karla knelt over Dan. He pulled off his uniform shirt and put it against Dans wound, pushing hard against him. He dialed Carolyns number. "Officer down! Tell the Sheriff I need an ambulance in here, now."

He hung up and looked at his captain. But Dan had eyes only for Karla. "Are you alright?" he asked her.

"I'm fine, now that you're here." She said teary eyed. "I knew you'd come."

Alex came over and put a hand on Bobbys shoulder. He looked up at her with relief in his eyes. "I'm okay." She told him. "I'm glad to see you. Both of you."

They heard footsteps on the porch and Bobby had his gun ready in an instant. Alex took Dans weapon from Karla and moved up next to Bobby. The footsteps belonged to the Carolyn the sheriff and his men. "I've called the ambulance. They're on their way." The sheriff said.

One of the deputies stepped forward and knelt down next to Dan. "I'm a paramedic." He told Karla gently so she would let him near Dan.

He inspected the wound. "He needs to be in a hospital and soon." He said to anyone who was listening. They could hear sirens in the distance. "How are you two? Do you need any medical assistance?"

"I'm fine." Alex said from where she was in Bobbys embrace.

"I don't care about me. Just take care of Dan."

"Karla, you have to take care of yourself and our baby." Dan said, groaning in pain.

"You're pregnant?" the paramedic asked her.

"They both are." Bobby told him.

"We should check you out." He said.

"Take care of Captain Ross, first. We'll get checked out at the hospital." Alex said.

The paramedic gave Dan another respectful look and went out to bring the ambulance in. Dan looked at Alex and Karla. "Are you alright? They didn't hurt you?"

"We're fine, Captain." Alex said.

Dan stiffened when a wave of pain hit him. He groaned. Karla grasped his hand. "Squeeze my hand." She told him.

He did but not because of the pain. He needed to touch her and that was all he could manage. The paramedics came boiling in. They took over, shoving the others away. Karla looked was ready to collapse with fear. She went over to stand beside Bobby and Alex. To her surprise and gratitude, Bobby put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his side where he also had Alex on the other side. Karla snuggled into his, needing contact. Alex tried to catch her eye, to give her an encouraging smile, but her eyes were only on the group on the floor.

They brought a stretcher in and a backboard. Dan had slipped into unconsciousness. They loaded him onto the stretcher and headed for the door. Karla made to follow them, but they stopped her. " There isn't room in the ambulance. We need to have space in case he crashes." One of the paramedics told her.

Karla squared off with him. "I'm going. If you have any objections, too bad. He's my fiancé and I'm going to be with him."

"I can't condone you going….."

"Baxter, let her go. She's pregnant and needs to be looked after too." The Sheriff told the man.

Baxter looked at his CO and nodded. He didn't like it, but he'd been given his orders. Karla didn't wait for him to change his mind, she bolted after the stretcher. Baxter followed resigned to the ride in. The ambulance roared away, lights and sirens going, powerful engine throbbing over the other noise.

Bobby took charge of the scene for NYPD. He gave Alex his gun, according to procedure and went out with the Sheriff to take care of the kidnappers that had been caught.

Alex pulled out her cellphone and called Major Case.

"Major Case, Logan."

"The captain's been shot. He's on the way to the hospital."

"Alex, thank God. Carolyn and Karla?"

"Karla is on the way to the hospital with Dan and I haven't seen Carolyn. No one has said she was hurt so she and the baby are fine."

"She, uh, lost the baby, Alex. While you were abducted."

"Oh, Mike, I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"Now that you're safe, things will get better. Is Bobby alright?"

"Everyone but Captain Ross is fine. Did they get the guys at the Cash Store?"

"We did."

"I'll let you know when I find something out." Alex hung up the phone. "I hope the Captain will be alright. I'm not sure how Karla will take it if something happens to him."

"The same way I'd be if something happens to you." Bobby said putting his arm around her. "Lost. Let's get you checked out too."

Carolyn came into the house. "How is Captain Ross?" she asked.

"We don't know. He went to the hospital in the ambulance, Karla went with him. I've called Mike to let him know." Alex said.

The sheriff came back in and frowned at them. "It looks like we got everyone. Is there any word on your officers?"

Bobby shook his head. He took Alex's hand and they walked out into the night.

TBC