CHAPTER 9

SACRIFICE

Craig had laid down the rules of the game and swore Steve would die if his directions were not followed to the letter. Newport Beach PD had been alerted and they closed the beach, carefully avoiding the area where the green VW van was parked above the beach on the cliffs. They also closed the residential streets to through traffic as an extra precaution.

Bonnie and Kathy drove Sindy down to Newport in Bonnie's cruiser, and the two of them tried in vain to make her change her mind.

"Steve would do the same for me, or any one of us. I'd be lying if I said I'm not scared, but I'm going to do whatever I can to stay safe. I promise."

At about nine o'clock in the morning, a black and red Honda Interceptor pulled up to the road block leading to the cove. The driver removed his helmet and held out his badge to the officer guarding the entrance. After a brief exchange, Bruce rode through the quiet residential street and parked at the end of the block. He and Lindsey dismounted and Bruce bent over leaning heavily on the bike, holding his side. Lindsey offered assistance but he shook her off.

"No matter how bad I feel Steve has it worse. I'm fine."

The day was clear, but a cold, biting wind stung their faces, pulling at their hair and clothes. They looked around and saw the sun reflecting off the water just over the edge of the rocky cliff across the street. A bit further down the street at the side of the road was a green VW van. Lindsey's heart was in her throat and she started toward the van but Bruce grabbed her arm.

"No. Not yet. We have to-"

"What the hell are you two doing here?" Lt. Michelson suddenly appeared and motioned for them to follow him to his car. Sgt. Getraer and Capt. Anderson were standing behind the vehicle and looked concerned.

Lindsey looked at the officers. "Craig called me and said he would let me take Steve-"

"Damn it!" Getraer punched the trunk and started to pace. "No. I'm not giving him another pawn."

"He said he won't release him to anyone but me, Sergeant. I have to go out there. I won't let you stop me, either."

"You won't let me stop you," the sergeant repeated angrily. "This isn't your ER, Ms. Buchanan. If you think that I'm going to let you-"

"Bruce drove us down here on his motorcycle so we could get here faster," she argued. "And need I remind you his broken ribs are still healing?" Lindsey stood as tall as she could and held Getraer's gaze. "We are all making sacrifices and taking risks, sergeant. You have to let me do this."

"She's got a point, Joe," Anderson said.

Before he could reply, Bonnie's cruiser pulled up. She parked in the street and the passenger door slowly opened. The four officers instinctively crouched behind the Lieutenant's car, hands on weapons and Bruce pulled Lindsey down beside him.

Sindy emerged from the squad car, still in uniform but sans utility belt and weapons. She faced the van and called out, "I'm here Craig."

The wind whipped through her hair as she waited for a reply. Kathy and Bonnie had exited the vehicle from the driver's side and were now crouched behind it, weapons drawn.

There were many officers scattered around the area shielded by squad cars or motorcycles, and they watched Sindy closely, ready to protect her with their own lives if necessary. Turner, Ponch and Jon were closest to the van, with Baricza and Grossman behind them.

Lindsey tried to get up but Bruce and the lieutenant both put a hand on her shoulders, and Michelson shook his head. "We wait for him to ask for you."

She bit her lower lip, her heart ready to beat out of her chest. She clutched Bruce's arm and watched as Sindy called out once more.

"Craig?"

The side door slid open and Craig cautiously stepped out of the van, gun drawn. He glanced around and nodded, apparently happy with what he saw. "Nice to see you again, Cahill. Step away from the squad car and let me look at you."

Sindy started walking toward the van, trying not to let her fear show. She would give her life for Steve or any officer, but knowing what Craig had done to the others terrified her. She was about thirty yards from the van when Craig held up his hand.

"Stop right there. Where's Lindsey?"

Fighting the overwhelming urge to run and a fear like she had never known, Lindsey slowly stood up.

"Come up on the sidewalk over here. And please hurry."

His tone was kind and had a nervous urgency to it. Jon looked back at Ponch who shrugged his shoulders in response. None of this made any sense, and it was unnerving.

Lindsey glanced at the officers around her and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to try and calm down.

The captain looked up at her. "We have paramedics waiting around the corner, and we have a chopper that can be here in three minutes if he needs it. Good luck."

She trotted across the street and stepped up onto the sidewalk, passing where Jon and Ponch were. They both nodded to her in encouragement, and she smiled nervously as she continued quickly toward the van.

She was about twenty feet away when the cold command sounded.

"Stop." Craig turned to face Sindy. "C'mere beautiful," he said with a leer. "I need some insurance." She walked closer to him, then stopped about three feet away. He reached out and grabbed her by the arm, then turned her around to face the others. He put one arm around her waist and held the gun to her back. Then he spoke to Lindsey. "He's in the van."

She hesitated only a moment and then ran to the van and climbed inside. What she saw nearly stopped her heart. Steve was lying on his right side, arms drawn up to his chest, his breathing rapid and shallow, and his face was grey. His hair was damp with sweat and stuck to his face, his eyes unfocused and glassy.

Lindsey knew she only had a short time and immersed herself in the role of ER nurse. She climbed onto the mattress and ran her practiced hands quickly and gently over his torso, feeling for specific injuries. He gasped when she came to his stomach and he started coughing up blood. Fighting tears and the rising panic for her friend's life, she spoke softly to him.

"It's going to be all right, Steve. I'm going to get you out of here."

He looked up at her and a flicker of recognition crossed his face. "Li-Lind..."

"Shhh. Don't talk."

"N-note..."

"Mickey, shhh. I'm going to..." she trailed off as she realized there was a folded piece of paper above his head. She grabbed the paper and unfolded it, scanning its contents.

"Time's up, Lindsey," Craig called out to her. "You need to come out now."

She glanced through the note once more, then kissed Steve on the forehead. "I will be right back. I promise."

The officers watched as she climbed back out of the van, visibly shaken. She walked over to Craig and spoke to him, but not loud enough for them to hear. Whatever she said pleased him and he laughed. Sindy closed her eyes, fighting back tears as Craig pulled her closer to him.

"What the hell is going on over there?" Sgt. Getraer gripped his weapon tightly in frustration, which quickly turned to confusion as he watched what happened next.

Craig's whole demeanor changed as he loosened his hold on Sindy and whispered something in her ear. Her look of utter shock and confusion could not be missed and she looked over at Lindsey who nodded slightly. Getraer could tell even from this distance that Lindsey was uncomfortable with whatever was happening by the way she held her arms to her chest and shifted her weight from foot to foot. They had to end this, but how?

Jon's voice came through the radio, speaking his sergeant's own concerns. "What do you want us to do, lieutenant? Ponch and I can sneak around-"

"Negative Baker. We wait, just like we promised to."

Just then Lindsey turned around. "Get the paramedics in here now," she called out loudly. "Just them and a gurney, nothing more. Tell them to have the chopper ready to meet them. Hurry!"

Joe was on the radio in an instant. "Rescue four, this is Sgt. Getraer. Get in here with a gurney only, repeat gurney only. And call the chopper. You're gonna need to fly him out."

"Roger that sergeant."

Captain Anderson stood up and called out, "They're on their way, Lindsey."

A look of admiration, and then utter contempt crossed Craig's face when he saw his father. He placed the gun to Sindy's head and cocked it.

"You'd better not do anything stupid, dad. I really don't want to have to blow this beauty away."

The sudden change in attitude unnerved both women, and Lindsey stood rooted to the spot, afraid to move. She watched as the paramedics came into view and then quickly glanced over at Craig. Using Sindy to block the officers' view of him, he leaned behind her and nodded to Lindsey, smiling sadly.

"Good luck," he said softly.

He then shook his head and moved the gun from Sindy's head to under her jaw. "You'd better hope he survives, or your sacrifice will have meant nothing. And I'll still have my way with you, regardless. Ain't life grand?"

"My sacrifice means everything and you can't take that away from me," she responded coldly.

Craig quickly spun her around to face him, keeping the gun at her neck. "I wouldn't dream of it, pretty lady," he said seductively as he let the gun trace the side of her face.

His sadistic smile was suddenly replaced by a fearful look and panic filled eyes; his voice now soft and urgent. "Promise me that you'll run when I tell you to and don't look back."

She blinked in shock and stammered trying to respond, but couldn't speak.

"Promise me, please Sindy. I don't want him to hurt you. He'll come after me, not you. Run when I tell you to. Promise me!"

"I-I, I promise."

He smiled and the lust filled eyes bore into hers once more. "Lovely, lovely Sindy. You will be screaming my name before this day is through." He spun her back around and shouted to the officers, "Remember ladies and gentlemen, once we have made our trade, no one follows us or she dies instantly."

The paramedics were now at the van and Lindsey quickly climbed inside. One of them followed her in and she quickly showed him the note and told him what they needed to do as he assessed Steve.

"You want me to do what?"

"Shh. Just go with it, please!"

"You can't be serious."

"Look. I'm an ER nurse at Cedar's, and I've seen it all. And I've seen Craig in action before. We have to trust this. Please play along!"

"Play along? He's going to die if we don't get him out of here anyways. How is this going to help him?"

"Just do it, okay? If that guy out there thinks there's even a small chance that Steve will survive then his hostage is as good as dead. He has to think Steve is dying now."

The pain and fear in her voice were too much and Wallach rubbed his eyes with his forefinger and thumb. "Okay."

She started to shake and he took her hand. "And no matter what you see or hear," she laid her hand on Steve's side, "he is your only priority. Get him out of here ASAP."

He nodded and she steadied her breathing. She looked out the door to Sindy and then back to Steve. Wallach squeezed her hand.

"I'm ready when you are."

She held his hand tightly and then shouted. "Steve, no!"

"Patton I need you. He stopped breathing!"

"Hold your positions!" Getraer shouted as several officers stood as if to rush the van.

Patton jumped into the van as Wallach started shouting out a breath count. Sindy leaned back against Craig, utterly defeated, while he started to laugh.

"Too bad for poor McLeish. I guess he wasn't as strong a fighter as you would have hoped."

Every officer was on their feet, guns pointing at Craig and Sindy as they watched the paramedics load Steve onto the gurney.

Craig watched them with gloating satisfaction. He had gotten his way. Steve was as good as dead and Sindy was his for the taking. Looking at all the officers before him, he glanced over at his father with a wicked smile. "All for you, dad. I did it all for you."

The moment he said it, his vision began to spin wildly. He shook his head to clear it, and a new look of resolve could be seen in his eyes. It was now or never. Looking directly at his father he started to speak in a loud voice.

"I promise to fulfill my oath as a soldier of the law; to uphold the honor and integrity of the California Highway Patrol; to be loyal to my fellow officers."

The others looked on in shock. It was a slap in the face to hear the Code of Honor recited by someone who had no regard for any of it. But there something in the way he spoke the words that held their attention.

Will Anderson felt a stab of pain-filled pride in his heart as he remembered administering the CHP Code of Honor to his son and the other cadets all those years ago. He saw a young cadet, bright eyes shining with pride as he pinned the shiny badge to his chest, his future before him. At that moment, he realized the man standing before him had that same look now. Pride for the badge and the job he loved. What are you doing, Craig?

Craig felt a wave of anger wash over him but his resolve was firm. Not this time, Revenge.

"I will never again knowingly commit any act that will in any way bring discredit upon the California Highway Patrol or any member thereof." He removed the gun from Sindy's neck and held it loosely at his side.

Lindsey came out of the van as the paramedics strapped Steve down and started to rush him to the ambulance. Something in Craig's tone made her stop short and she glanced down at the note in her hands. She read the last line once more and suddenly realized exactly what it meant.

"Oh my God, Craig please don't…" she whispered fearfully.

Craig's face contorted with anger for a moment but then was serene once more. Now he was shouting, "I will assist those in peril or distress."

Sindy suddenly felt him release his hold on her. "Run!" He gave her a shove and she ran toward Bonnie's cruiser as fast as she could.

"And I shall lay down my life rather than swerve from the path of duty!"

Craig started to run toward the rocky cliff and the captain followed him. "Craig, stop! That's an order."

None of the officers moved until Craig turned around and leveled the gun at their captain.

Lindsey shouted at the officers, "Don't shoot! Don't shoot," and started running after the father and son. "Craig, please, you don't have to do this!"

Jon, Ponch and Bear ran after Lindsey, shouting at her to get out of the way as she ran out onto the rocks. Craig shouted something at the captain, then started to point the gun at his own head. His father lunged for the gun, knocking the two of them onto the rock-strewn cliff. A moment later there was a gunshot, and Lindsey screamed.

"Call an ambulance!"

Jon ran back to his bike while Bear and Ponch went to assist Lindsey. Bonnie, Kathy and Turner ran up a moment later and stopped short at the sight before them. Ponch and Bear were working on the captain who had a gunshot wound to his shoulder, but nothing could have prepared them to see Steve's best friend trying to save the life of the man who had tried to kill him.

-oOo-

Two hours after the ordeal began Lindsey came out of the ER at Hoag hospital with two doctors and walked straight over to Bruce who took her in his arms. The officers stood and Sgt. Getraer stepped forward to meet the doctors. As they shook hands, the first doctor made introductions.

"I'm Dr. Paul Austin and this is my colleague Dr. Fiona Jones. Your captain is out of surgery now and is doing fine. It was a clean shot and the bullet was easily removed. You should be able to see him shortly. And the man Nurse Buchanan rode in with is his son?"

Several people nodded and Getraer answered. "Yes sir."

"As I understand it, Craig struck a large rock when he fell, resulting in a blunt force trauma injury to his head and neck. He is critical condition. We won't know more until the swelling in his brain goes down."

"How's Steve? Is he going to make it?" Sindy's voice quivered as she voiced everyone's concern.

Dr. Jones now stepped forward. "He has internal injuries, including his liver, kidneys and stomach. There is intense bruising across his chest where the seatbelt restrained him, three fractured ribs and a fractured right fibula. He's still in surgery and I do need to get back, but I wanted to let you all know that I can tell he's a fighter and is hanging in there. His condition will probably be listed as grave due to the severity of his injuries, but I honestly expect it to go to critical very shortly. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to head back."

They thanked the doctors and started the hated waiting game once more. Lindsey held onto Bruce tightly and he stroked her hair. She started to tremble as the tears flowed for the first time since her arrival.

"Hey, it's going to be okay. It's all right." He kissed her forehead and led her over to one of the couches. "Lindsey, he's going to be okay."

"We don't know that for sure, Bruce."

"But the doctor said-"

"The doctor wants to give you something to hold on to because she knows how much we've all been through!"

The weeks of worry and stress came crashing down on her and Lindsey snapped. She was standing now and everyone was looking at her as she started yelling at Bruce. "Don't you get it? She was sugar-coating it for you. He has severe internal injuries, Bruce. I was in the gallery watching the surgery and she wasn't nearly as positive in the OR as she was out here two minutes ago."

Bruce tried to hold her hand. "Linds, calm down."

"Calm down? She said he's going to come out of surgery in grave condition. Don't you realize what that means? From my experience it generally means the patient has about a thirty percent chance of survival. Thirty percent!"

What little hope Dr. Jones had offered vanished with these words, but she wasn't finished yet. "And not that anyone probably cares at the moment, but Craig isn't any better off that Steve. He hit his head hard when he fell, and there's a lot of swelling in his brain right now. If that swelling doesn't go down soon, he may need surgery, and even then he might not recover at all. So guess what? The captain may very well lose two officers under his command, one of them being his own son!"

She quickly ran from the room, leaving the others in stunned silence.

-oOo-

Mrs. Anderson was brought down to Hoag by Cadet Montez around twelve thirty that afternoon and was rushed into the captain's room right away. She was briefed by Dr. Austin on his condition as well as Craig's, and after being sure Will was doing well she went to visit her son. The doctor had let Sgt. Getraer in to see Craig and he was still there when Mrs. Anderson arrived.

"Carol."

"Oh Joe…"

He hugged her and felt her tremble. "It's going to be okay, Carol," he said as he led her to Craig's bedside. She sat beside her son and held his hand for several minutes before finally speaking.

"What happened to you, my love? How did it come to this? I can't believe the things I heard this morning about you, Craig. My son would never be so cruel. My son is honest, loving, strong…"

Joe couldn't keep from tearing up as he listened to the mother's anguish. He knew the man she was talking about and couldn't make any more sense of it than she could.

She took a shuddering breath, "I've prayed for you every day, did you know that? I've prayed that my precious boy would come back to us. Oh Craig, please don't leave me…"

Getraer walked over and put a comforting hand on her shoulder as she wept for her lost son. He had no words of encouragement to console her; no hope to offer for her son's recovery as he sadly led her back to be with her husband.

-oOo-

After wrapping up his part of the investigation at Pirate's Cove, Lt. Michelson arrived and searched out Getraer who filled him in on the captain's condition as well as what little they knew about Craig.

"What about McLeish?"

Joe sighed heavily. "He's still in surgery and according to Lindsey, it's not looking too good." He told Rick what she had said an hour before, noting that she had still not returned. "Nelson and Clark have gone looking for her. I don't want to imagine what she's going through."

-oOo-

Bruce had finally found her in the chapel, but she refused to speak to him. Bonnie had come with him and offered to stay with Lindsey, sending Bruce back to the waiting room. Once he was gone, Lindsey leaned on the pew in front of her, putting her head on her arms and started to tremble with pent up fear and frustration.

Bonnie came and sat beside her, offering silent support. They stayed that way for a few minutes until Lindsey finally spoke.

"Why did he do this to me, Bonnie? Why?"

"What do you mean, Lindsey? Are you talking about Craig?"

"No," came the forlorn reply. "Not Craig. Bruce. Why did he break up with me? I need him and he wants to help me, but…"

"What?" Bonnie looked at her in surprise. "But I thought-"

"We were going out until a few days ago." She looked up at the stained glass window with the cross as she wiped her eyes. "Apparently Steve and I are the only two people in the world who don't realize we're in love with each other and Bruce felt the need to 'free me' so I could figure out what I want. I didn't ask to be set free like some captive, Bonnie. Why can't anyone accept that we are just friends? The only time we've ever tried to get together is when our friends say 'Oh you're the perfect couple! Why aren't you together?' So we try to date but it never, ever works out. Why would this time have been any different?"

She looked at Bonnie's stunned expression as tears blurred her vision. "I do love Steve, Bonnie, but I'm not in love with him. I'm not the one seeing a love triangle where there isn't one. I'm being told to make a choice I've already made but no one believes it's the right one. And yet I know it is." Lindsey looked directly into Bonnie's eyes, "I even kissed Mickey last night, just to see if something had changed for me, or for him. I won't lie, it was nice, but it was nothing like when I kissed Bruce for the first time…"

Bonnie gave her a hug. "Why don't you tell him now?"

"He'll just think it's because I need him now. He's trying to be supportive for me and I know it's hard for him, but all I want is for him to hold me and he does but… God Bonnie, I hate this. What am I going to do?"

Out in the hallway Bruce stood listening to her confession, feeling a flush of shame color his cheeks and yet relief flood his heart. What the hell was I thinking? How could I have done this to her?

He quietly opened the door and walked over to the two women. Lindsey turned and her heart jumped as he approached, causing her to flush and she looked away from him. He sat down beside her as Bonnie quickly stood up.

"Lindsey, I'm so sorry…" His voice cracked with emotion and she looked up into Bruce's bright blue eyes. She tried to turn away but he took her in his arms.

"Just let me hold you."

She laid her head on his shoulder as he enveloped her in a comforting embrace and he sighed as huge weight lift from his soul. His decision felt so right a few days ago, but after last night and watching her today he realized just how much she meant to him. And it was tearing him apart to watch her go through this and try to maintain his distance.

Sharing their pain without words, they both felt bittersweet relief in each other's company.

-oOo-

Bonnie quietly left the chapel and let them be alone. As she walked back toward the waiting room, she saw Barry walk out the front doors and over to his squad car. The stoop of his shoulders concerned her and she followed him. When she reached the car he was leaning on the trunk with his head on his arms.

"Bear? What it is? What's wrong?"

He lifted his head, "Steve just came out of surgery and they're looking for Lindsey. He's not doing as well as Dr. Jones had hoped…"

"Oh Bear, no." He nodded and she put her arm around his waist. "What did she say?"

Bear looked over her head and out across the parking lot, fighting back tears. Bonnie could feel him tremble as he fought to control the intense emotions looking for release. "Lindsey was right," he finally said as his voice broke, unable to hold back any longer. "Dr. Jones is giving him a twenty-five percent chance to live."

-oOo-

Bonnie brought Lindsey and Bruce back to the waiting room and Dr. Jones took the nurse straight up to ICU. They walked into Steve's room and Lindsey went to his side, taking his hand gingerly in her own. The familiar whooshing of the respirator and the beeping of the heart monitor were the only noise in the room as Dr. Jones handed his chart to Lindsey.

"I somehow find it easier to take when I read the chart. Hearing the words seems to make it sound so much worse."

Lindsey nodded and took the chart in trembling hands. Some injuries were more severe than she had thought, and others were less, but putting them all together she knew the odds Steve was facing and she looked up at the doctor.

"He's a fighter. I won't let him die. And neither will the officers in the waiting room."

Dr. Jones nodded sympathetically. "I know. That's why you're up here with him."

"When can the others see him? Even just for two minutes. You have no idea how much it would mean to them. Please Dr. Jones."

She took the chart from Lindsey and glanced through it, then checked the various machines monitoring her patient and sighed.

"Not for another two hours minimum. He needs more time to stabilize, and I think having you here would be the best thing for him." She smiled at Lindsey's quizzical look. "I've talked with some of the ER staff. You have to know that things get around rather quickly, and your story is no exception."

Lindsey shook her head with a rueful smile. "It figures."

"Oh, I also want you to have this while you're here." She held out a pager. "I've informed the staff that you are to be paged along with any doctor or support staff if something happens to either Steve or Craig."

Lindsey took the pager reverently and held it in both hands like a priceless treasure.

"Thank you, Dr. Jones. This is… wow."

"You're welcome. Now, I do have one question for you. I've heard several versions of what happened out there today, and I'd like to put a stop to the rumors if I can. Did Craig really injure Officer McLeish and shoot his father?"

Lindsey squeezed Steve's hand for reassurance before responding. "Yes, Dr. Jones. Craig Anderson is responsible for Steve's injuries and the gunshot wound to the captain. And I was there and made every effort to save Craig's life when he fell." She took a shaky breath, "He needed my help and I'm sworn to render assistance to those in need. I'm not a hero, Dr. Jones. I just did what I had to do."

-oOo-

It was now early evening and the waiting was wearing on the officers spirits. No one wanted to leave until Steve showed some improvement or they were able to see him. Captain Anderson was brought to the waiting room in a wheelchair before being taken up to see his son, which helped everyone's morale. And Lindsey had managed to get the sergeant and the lieutenant up to see Steve, albeit for only three minutes.

After much coercing from Lindsey and a few of the nurses, the officers had some food brought in for dinner. At first no one wanted to eat, but the aroma of fried chicken wafting through the waiting area was more than the tired officers could handle, especially when some realized they hadn't eaten all day. As they ate, discussion turned to the days events. Several versions of the shooting had been shared over the course of the day, and Lindsey finally shared what she witnessed.

"The captain was about twenty yards from him, and Craig just stood there, pointing the gun at him. There was a snarl on his face and he said something, but between the wind and how far I was from him, I couldn't hear what he said. And then he no longer looked angry but peaceful, almost triumphant. Captain Anderson was just feet away and Craig brought the gun toward his head and shouted again. I think the captain was trying to grab the gun but they fell and that's when the gun went off."

They had stopped eating as they watched her tell the story and Lindsey paused, trying not to cry at the memory of the two men as they lay bleeding on the rocks. Bruce held her hand between his and she took a deep breath before continuing.

"When they fell, Craig's head hit a large, sharp rock. There was blood everywhere. That's when I screamed. I didn't know the captain was injured until Bear and Ponch pulled him off of Craig." She looked at them gratefully and then glanced around the room. "Everything happened so fast after that, I'm not sure-"

The beeping of her pager stopped her cold and she grabbed it from her belt. "No!" She jumped up from the couch in near panic.

Bruce grabbed her before she could run. "What's wrong? Who is it?"

Over the hospital speaker system a calm voice could be heard. "Code Blue, Room 2241. Code Blue, Room 2241."

"Craig's stopped breathing. Let me go!"

She wrenched free from his grip and ran out the door.