The knocking on the door made everyone in the diner look up. Sarah breathed a sigh of relief. The knock meant that someone from the team would be coming in. Hopefully Jason would be allowed to go to a hospital, she thought as she turned to see Morgan walk into the diner. Entering the diner, Morgan took in his surroundings. Everyone was huddled in scared little groups and the dead cashier was on the floor behind the counter. He spared her a quick prayer before turning to the unsub.
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"What can we do to get these hostages out of here?" Morgan asked. Making sure to speak clearly so the wire he was wearing would pick everything up.
"I want a car out of here and a one way ticket to Mexico and I want it now," Marcus demanded.
"We'll see what we can do once we get the injured out and on their way to a hospital. Is the young man the only one hurt?" he asked even though he already knew the answer.
"Yeah, it's too late for that bitch," the unsub said jerking his thumb at the dead cashier. Morgan started walking over to where Sarah sat with Jason.
"I'm going to check on him, okay?" he said as he held his hands up indicating he wasn't armed. The unsub nodded and kept his gun trained on the federal agent as he reached the small group and dropped to his knees.
XXXX
"Is he awake?" he whispered. Sarah shook her head.
"He slipped into unconsciousness about 20 minutes or so ago. His breathing and pulse are holding steady for the moment," explained the man on Jason's other side. Morgan nodded while giving him a curious look.
"James Blankenship, I'm an EMT and have been helping Sarah look after Jason. I'm doing as much as I can, but he needs to get to a hospital as soon as possible," the EMT stated.
"How hard would it be to move him?" Morgan wondered glancing sadly at his youngest child and how still he was.
"As long as you have a stretcher, not too hard," James answered.
"If we're going to get Jason out of here, we need a stretcher, I need to tell the EMT's to bring one to the door so this guy and I can get him on it and I can carry him out," Morgan called to the agitated gunman.
"Fine, if you must, give me the number. I'll call them and tell them to bring a stretcher then they can start working on my other demands," he said picking up the phone and dialing. Five minutes later a stretcher was being settled next to Jason and with James's help, Morgan settled his son on to it.
"I need him to help me carry it to the door," Morgan pointed out.
"I won't go any farther, I swear," James replied. Marcus nodded and the two men lifted the stretcher in order to carry it to the door and out to safety.
"Wait a minute, please," Sarah requested as she stood next to the stretcher. Leaning over she kissed Jason's cool cheek and allowed a few tears to slide down her cheeks.
"I love you, Jay, stay strong and I'll see you as soon as I can," she said. Placing one last kiss on his cheek she sat back down and allowed them to take him away to get the care he desperately needed. They'd made it a few feet when Sarah called out in a whisper.
"Uncle Morgan?" Stopping he turned to her and gave her a soft smile.
"What is it, kiddo?"
"Back door, store room," she whispered. Morgan frowned for a second before understanding her words and smiling.
"Gotcha, stay calm and we'll get you out as soon as we can," he promised before giving her another small smile then heading for the door eager to tell what he'd learned to the rest of the team.
XXXX
Cheers arose from the crowd as Derek carried the stretcher with Jason on it out the door and into the bright sunshine. Instantly paramedics were swarming around the stretcher and assessing the situation.
"There's an EMT, James Blankenship inside. He was helping tend his wound," Morgan explained.
"Jamie did a hell of a job. I'm his partner. He had the day off," complimented one of the male medics.
"We're taking him to St. Sebastian's, any of you riding with us?" another medic asked as she secured an IV tube in Jason's arm. Both Morgan and Reid looked at Hotch.
"I need one of you to stay here, but one of you can go," he told the two anxious fathers. After a moment a decision was reached.
"You go, Reid, keep me posted and tell him I love him and that I'll be there as soon as I can," Morgan requested.
"Of course," Reid agreed making his way to the ambulance and climbing in. The last glimpse the team got was Reid grabbing his son's hand as the doors closed and the ambulance took off lights and sirens going full tilt.
"Can someone call Garcia and let her know what's going on?" Morgan asked.
"I will," JJ said pulling out her phone and calling the tech.
XXXX
"What's going on, JJ? Is everyone okay?" Garcia demanded as she answered her phone.
"The unsub was convinced to let Jason go. He's on his way to St. Sebastian's. Reid's going with him. The others are still in the diner, but Morgan's talking to Hotch. It sounds like Sarah might have given him a clue that could help rescue them."
"How's Jason?" Garcia wondered.
"He's holding his own. Apparently there's an off duty EMT inside and he helped Sarah tend to his wound the best they could. I have to go, but I'll keep you posted as I learn more," JJ said hanging up her phone and turning back to see what Morgan had learned.
XXXX
"What's going on, Mom?" DJ questioned.
"They've gotten Jason released. He's on the way to the hospital. Your dad went with him," the tech shared.
"Did they say how he was?" Nate interjected.
"JJ said he was holding his own," she replied.
"Which hospital is he going to, Aunt Penny?" Henry wanted to know.
"They're taking him to St. Sebastian's."
"Why don't we go and see how he's doing? Even if we can't see him, I'm sure Uncle Spencer would like the company," he suggested looking at Lisa, DJ, and Nate. The other three nodded and stood up.
"You want to come with, Jack?" he asked looking at the older man.
"No, I think I'll stay with Aunt Penny. Let me know how he is, though. We'll let you know when the others are safe," he promised.
"Thanks, tell Sarah we love her," he said as he herded his sister and both their significant others towards the door so they could check on someone dear to them all.
TBC?