-1Obsession
Disclaimer: See Prologue
A/N: Thank you so much for your reviews.
Chapter 34:
Ian glanced around briefly as the SWAT helicopter landed and then turned his attention back to the cave that Bashere was hiding in. He pulled a toothpick from his mouth and tossed it to the ground as he stood up. Shouldering his rifle, he walked over to meet the six-man team as they disembarked.
"Agent Edgerton? I'm Robertson." the SWAT team leader introduced himself and then got right to the point. "How do you want to handle this?"
Ian nodded his head in acknowledgement. "You brought the smoke bombs and the gas masks?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good." He said over his shoulder as he headed to the helicopter to collect his gas mask and repelling gear. "Let's go flush a rat out of a cave."
Ten minutes later he was gathering the swat team together to review his strategy when Robertson called to him from the edge of the cliff.
"You may not need the smoke bombs."
Edgerton glanced around. "Why do you say that?"
"Because there's already smoke coming out of the cave." The agent pointed downward. "See for yourself."
The sniper and the rest of the team hurried over to the side of the cliff. Ian squatted down and his eyes narrowed as he studied the opening closely. "Now why would Bashere start a fire and what is in that cave that could burn and cause that much smoke?"
"Maybe he made a torch out of something?" Robertson suggested.
Ian shook his head slowly. "That's too much smoke for just a torch and if he was burning wood the color of the smoke would be different."
Robertson put down his binoculars. "So what do you think he's up too?"
Edgerton stood up and stared thoughtfully at the cave. "Not a clue, but if he's got a big enough fire to make that much smoke, then there has to be another entrance to create an airflow."
Edgerton turned slowly in a circle, studying the skyline and then turned suddenly toward the SWAT leader. "We have a new plan." He said abruptly and with Robertson in tow, he headed back to the helicopter. "You keep half of the men here and repel down to the ledge, but don't enter the cave until you hear from me. The other half will come with me to find the other opening, then we'll coordinate our assault and trap the man between us."
"Won't it be hard to find the right cave?"
"It'll be a lot easier to spot the smoke from the air." He reopened his pack and removed the smoke bombs. "Don't think we'll be needing these but we will need the gas masks." Ian tossed his pack into the helicopter and called for the men that would be going with him.
"Let's get this party started." Edgerton said as he slid the door closed.
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The main waiting room was getting crowded and although they sat around the corner form the crowd, the five anxious friends could still hear the frantic voices of concerned relatives and crying children. For a while they could hear the drone of the television set from the main emergency waiting room but even that was getting drowned out by the cacophony of noise……until one voice rose above the others.
"This is Michael Whittemore coming to you live from the entrance to the Malibu Memorial Hospital where forty-five minutes ago, an FBI SWAT helicopter landed on the roof. The helicopter was carrying an injured man from the Point Mugu crash site. We have been unable to ascertain the name of the injured man, but there is speculation that it could be Professor Eppes."
"I've had it with that guy, he's really getting on my nerves!" David said as he angrily stormed around the corner.
"I'm with you." Colby quickly followed his partner as he muttered. "I thought LAPD was controlling the media."
A few minutes later they returned and Colby informed the others. "Someone just turned the volume up on the TV. That idiot Whittemore is out in front of the hospital."
"Yeah, LAPD won't let him through." David said smugly as he leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms.
Larry shook his head and stood up, pausing in mid-stretch as he stared at the closed doors of the emergency room. "Shouldn't they know something by now?" He asked worriedly.
Amita's head jerked around at his words and then she turned expectantly toward Megan, waiting for her to answer Larry's question.
Megan swallowed and glanced sideways at Amita. She didn't want to upset the girl any further, but she couldn't lie to Larry either. "Charlie lost a lot of blood Larry." she said sadly.
"I know." he sighed . "It's just…." his voice trailed off as a member of the trauma team came running up the hallway carrying another bag of plasma and quickly disappeared behind the ER doors.
Larry sat down heavily and leaned forward putting his face in his hands. "This can't be good." he said, his voice muffled by his hands.
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The helicopter circled the ridge slowly as Ian and the swat team scanned for another smoke trail.
"Wouldn't it be kind of stupid for this guy to light a fire and let us know where the other entrance is?" The pilot asked.
"Yep." Edgerton said as he continued to scan the rocky hill sides. "Take us down and over that rock escarpment." The agent ordered as he pointed out a particular section below them. They circled lower and then spotted at billow of smoke coming from an opening in the rocks.
The pilot dropped off the team a half mile from the escarpment and with Edgerton leading the way they were soon at the base of the ridge. Guns at the ready, they began to make their way up to the cave.
As they got closer to the cave they began to notice a strange odor. Ian halted them and sniffed at the smoke. One of team members wrinkled his nose and expressed his opinion of the odor. "What is that awful stench?"
"Man, your not kidding." Another squad member remarked. "It's enough to make a person gag."
Edgerton glanced around and said grimly. "Bashere's not burning wood, that's the smell of burning flesh and that explains the color of the smoke."
"I thought he was the only one in there." The third member of the team spoke up.
"That's what we all thought." Edgerton answered as he waved them forward. Soon they were taking up positions on either side of the opening. Ian clicked on his radio.
"Ridge 1 to Ridge 2. Over. What's your status?"
"Ridge 2. Over. We are outside of the cave and ready to make entry. There's a really bad smell coming from the cave, it's almost overpowering. Over."
"Roger that, same on this side. We go in five. Be advised however, that there may be more than one target inside the cave. Over."
Ian and the team moved closer to the entrance and took up their positions.
"This is the FBI, come out with your hands in the air!" The agent shouted. No answer. "Last chance Bashere!" Still no response.
On his signal they pulled out their masks and put them on. The smoke was thick, making the dark cavern appear even darker. They ducked through the opening, crouching down on either side of it while their eyes adjusted to the dim light. The first section of the cave contained piles of dried leaves and sticks, along with old animal bones. Clearly, this was home to some kind of animal.
"Looks like an animal's den." Edgerton warned his men. "Be on your guard, could be a lion around here somewhere. Did you copy that Ridge 2?"
"Roger that. Over."
Ian could see a light coming from the next cavern so he silently gave the hand signals and the team made it's way toward the flickering light.
Edgerton's eyebrows rose in surprise at the sight that greeted them. It was a macabre scene, to say the least. He approached the flames cautiously and circled around the fire as he studied the bizarre sight.
"Is that what I think it is?" One of the SWAT team asked in disbelief.
Another member whistled through his teeth. "If they killed each other, then who set the fire?"
Ian crouched down and despite the smell, pulled off his mask so he could get a better look. The agent glanced around the cave and stretched out a hand to grab an old animal bone which he used to drag a gun from the ashes. Next he pulled the remnants of a charred bag from the remaining flames.
The agent used the bone to push things around in the bag. "Well, it's just a guess, but that looks like a lighter in what's left of the bag and there are pieces of partially burned bundles of money in here too." Ian paused, studying the scene thoughtfully. "Bashere was probably using the flame from the lighter to light his way through the cave. The cat attacked, the lighter fell into the bag, the flame caught the money on fire. " Using the old bone as a pointer, he waved it at the burning bodies. "They fought and fell on the flames, killing each other in the process. "
"Do you think all of the money was burned up?"
Ian shrugged. "Well, there was apparently enough of the money in the bag to create the flames needed to engulf these two." He looked down at the smoldering bodies. "We may never know how much of it was destroyed."
He didn't pick anything up, but left it for the forensics team that would be coming to the site. The fire was just glowing embers now and Ian stood up just as the second team worked it's way into the chamber from the other side.
"Did you see anyone else?" he asked the SWAT leader.
"Nothing but a few bats." Robertson nodded his head at the body. "Is that him?"
"Looks like it" Edgerton answered. "Now that would have been a fight to see… predator against predator."
"Shame about the cat." Robertson observed.
Ian shrugged. "Better this way."
Surprised flitted across the man's face. "Why do you say that?"
Edgerton shouldered his rifle and started moving toward the opening. "I saw the cat's tracks down below the rocks and I'm pretty sure this is the lion that ate that fellow over on the other trail. The ranger's would have had to hunt him down anyway; once a man eater, always a man eater." he glanced back at the smoldering embers. "At least this way, the puma went down fighting. Look around, see if there are any more bags hidden around the cave." He stopped at the entrance and turned back around to face Robertson.
"I've got a call to make." Ian said and a smile briefly crossed his face. "The SAC and his brother are going to be very relieved to hear about Bashere's death. Personally, I think it's poetic justice."
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Alan followed the nurse through the door and around the glass enclosed trauma center, but his footsteps faltered as his eyes drifted toward the glass windows. He was drawn to the glass like a magnet, and he stood in shock at the flurried activity that was taking place within it's walls.
"Oh, Charlie!" he sobbed. Alan's hand covered his mouth as he gazed upon his youngest son. He lay upon a table, surrounded by the trauma team and it seemed to him that every machine imaginable was connected to his little boy. A breathing tube had been inserted into his throat and there were multiple monitors beeping in time with his heart. The trauma team was frantically trying to replenish his blood supply and raise his core temperature , which had lowered considerably with the loss of so much blood. There were multiple IV's of plasma and warm saline attached to his arms.
Charlie didn't resemble the vibrant, energetic young man that had been taken from his home. His eyes were closed and his dark hair and dark lashes only intensified the white pallor of his skin.
Alan felt a hand on his arm and he reluctantly turned to meet the eyes of the nurse that he had been following.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Eppes, but you can't stay here. You can' t help your son by being here, there is nothing that you can do for him right now. Let us try and help him." She spoke compassionately , and Alan could see the truth in her eyes. "But you can help your other son and he can help you. Please come with me." She took his arm and lead him around a corner to the cubicle where Don was resting.
Don 's eyes were closed when Alan entered the small area, but the older man could tell that his son wasn't sleeping. The nurse placed a folding chair beside the gurney and closed the curtain to give them some privacy. Alan just stood there, staring hopelessly at the curtain that was separating him from Charlie. His shoulders drooped with the harsh reality of what was happening just around the corner
"Dad." Don asked anxiously. "Dad, are you okay?"
Alan took a deep shuddering breath and in a daze, turned around and walked to his son's bedside. He didn't realize that he was shaking until he tried to sit down and had to grab the side of the bed to keep himself from falling. He felt numb, the vision that he had of Charlie still playing through his mind and he didn't say anything until Don grabbed his hand and squeezed it tightly.
Alan squeezed his hand in return and softly whispered his name as he lifted his head and met his sons troubled eyes. "Donnie." He studied his son's face closely, taking in the bruise and the split lip that Bashere had given him back at the house and although he didn't think it was possible, his hatred for the Frenchman increased tenfold.
He was frantic with worry over Charlie and yet there was nothing he could do but wait. His gaze fell to Don's hand and he squeezed it again in an attempt to help soothe his brittle nerves.
An audible sigh escaped his lips as he tried to get his thoughts together. "What had happened to Charlie and why had Don needed to give him an emergency transfusion?" Alan's hand trembled as he wiped at the moisture on his cheek. When had he started crying? He felt Don squeeze his other hand again and he was reminded of the nurse's words. "But you can help your other son."
"Donnie." he leaned over and anxiously asked. "Are you okay?"
Don swallowed hard and answered softly. "Yeah….just a little tired." he paused, afraid to ask the next question. "Dad…is Charlie okay…..have you seen him?"
Alan's brow furrowed as he smoothed Don's hair in an effort to keep them both calm. "I …I…don't know anything yet son. The doctor's are still with him."
"Dad….it's bad….really bad." Don's voice was raw with emotion.
Alan blanched, but then set his jaw. "Your brother's a fighter, he won't give up easily."
"Dad, the last thing that Charlie said to me was…" he paused and searched his father's eyes and tried to soften his words. "Dad, you have to understand, Charlie was in a lot of pain , he was sick and exhausted."
Alan squeezed his hand encouragingly. "Go ahead Donnie, tell me what he said."
Don whispered. "He said….he said that he was tired and that he couldn't do this anymore."
More tears threatened to spill over so Alan took a moment and looked away. Taking a deep breath he turned back to meet Don's pain-filled eyes and in a shaky voice he said.
"That doesn't mean that he's giving up." his voice firmed with resolve. "It's like you said, he was sick.
Don crossed his arm over his forehead and closed his eyes briefly. "Funny, the things you think about at a time like this."
"What do you mean?" Alan asked softly.
"Yesterday morning…… it was just yesterday, it seems so long ago now. Anyway, yesterday morning Charlie asked me to be his best man." he swallowed thickly. "I was so happy. You know a few years ago, he never would have asked me, and I think at first he was afraid that I was going to say no but you should have seen his face light up when I said yes." He smiled sadly at the memory.
Don turned his head away and wiped at his eyes and when he looked back, they glowed brightly with the love that he felt for his brother. "It isn't fair Dad, all of those years we wasted because we didn't understand each other and now that we do, now that we have become friends, now we may lose it all."
The voices from the next room suddenly became louder and they both went silent turning their heads in the direction of the sounds.
"He's in severe hemorrhagic shock."
"Get some more plasma in here. Stat!"
The sound of running feet, a door slamming closed and multiple beeping noises coming from several pieces of equipment seemed to resonate around the small cubicle.
It became silent once again and Alan gripped Don's hand tighter. "While we are waiting, why don't you tell me what happened. All I know is that he lost a lot of blood. How? Did he get hurt during the crash?"
Don closed his eyes for a moment, not really wanting to relieve the events of the morning, but realizing that his father had a need and the right to know what had happened to Charlie. He opened his eyes to meet his father's imploring gaze and began his tale.
Alan's heart seemed to ache even more as Don's story unfolded. It truly felt as if it was going to break in half and he thought it had broken when his son revealed Bashere's final, treacherous act of stabbing Charlie with the knife. He remembered to start breathing again when his son's next words penetrated his exhausted mind.
"Charlie's a better man than I am Dad." Don whispered softly.
Alan's brows drew together in puzzlement. "Donnie, why do you say that?'
"Charlie was home free Dad, all he had to do was walk away. Just leave Bashere hanging over the cliff and find us. Bashere couldn't have stopped him…. if he had just left him there…..and walked away." Don swallowed and turned his head, unwilling to let his father see the turmoil in his eyes. He was angry at Charlie and proud of him at the same time but as he stared at the curtain in front of him the anger faded away and only the love for his brother was in his heart.
"I would have….after every thing that man has done….I would have let him fall!" his eyes flashed angrily as he turned back to face Alan. "But Charlie couldn't do that and now he may die because of it."
Alan squeezed his son's hand once again and sighed. "Donnie, none of us know how we will handle a situation until it happens. You know that better than any of us and I think you know in your heart, as well as I do, that if Charlie hadn't tried to help the man, the Charlie that we know and love, would have died on that mountain anyway. "
With a shaking hand he smooth back Don's hair. " Maybe not physically, but mentally and emotionally, we would have lost him because he never would have forgiven himself for not trying to save the man. It doesn't matter how evil that man is or what he has done, your brother would still have had to try." he patted his son's hand. "You are both good men, and your mother and I have always been proud of both of you."
Suddenly, a deafening alarm began to ring and they could hear rising voices shouting out commands. Clamorous sounds of beeping machinery could be heard coming from the room around the corner.
"CODE BLUE…..CODE BLUE!" the sudden announcement erupted over the hospital's sound system.
Fearfully, Don sat up. "Help me up Dad!"
Alan quickly looped one of Don's arms over his shoulder as Don put an arm around his father's waist and together they anxiously stumbled toward the dire sounds emanating from the emergency room trauma center. They pushed through the doors unnoticed and stood fearfully in the background.
A multitude of nurses and doctor's were working frantically trying to save Charlie's life and all that Don and Alan could see of him was his mop of brown curly hair.
"CLEAR!"
An electric buzzing sound could be heard as the defibrillator charged and they heard the jolt of the paddles but all they could really see were Charlie's curls rising and falling during the electric shock.
"HE'S STILL IN FIB!"
"AGAIN!"
'CLEAR"
Once again the buzzing sound and the jolt of the paddles could be heard and they watched, numb with fear, as the curls bounced up and back down again.
Alan and Don stood together, silently clutching to one another, barely breathing themselves, as the doctor brusquely ordered.
"AGAIN!"
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Megan closed her phone and returned to the waiting area in front of the emergency room to find that David and Colby had gone for coffee while she had been washing up. Ian Edgerton had called and given her the news about Bashere as she was on her way back.
David handed her a cup as she sat down next to Larry. The agent felt a little more alert now and took a sip of the coffee.
"Ian called." She said and took another sip while three heads turned around to face her. "Bashere's dead, he didn't give me all of the details, he just wanted Don and Charlie to know that the man couldn't hurt them anymore."
"Good riddance." David muttered, followed closely by Colby's emphatic "Yes!"
Larry met her eyes and just nodded in relief. She glanced over at Amita, a little puzzled that the professor hadn't made any comment on Bashere's death. Instead, the girl seemed focused on something that she was holding in her hand.
Megan was surprised to see her staring at the photograph that Bashere had taken of her and Charlie on the hillside. Her first reaction was to take the picture as evidence, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Amita was hanging on by a thread and that picture appeared to be the only thing holding her together. She sighed and turned a questioning gaze to Larry.
"Any news on…." she began but was interrupted by the announcement of "CODE BLUE… CODE BLUE."
"Oh, God!" Larry whispered as he stood up.
As Amita rose from her chair the coffee cup she had been holding fell unnoticed to the floor. Holding the picture over her heart she took a step forward and the styrofoam cup crumpled beneath her shoe, but she never even noticed it. Her eyes never left the door to the room where Charlie had been taken and she held her breath as she listened to the sounds coming through the slightly opened door.
Without warning, a keening wail and an anguished "Charlie…nooo.!" reverberated through the opening and as she recognized Alan's and Don's voices, Amita slowly crumpled to her knees sobbing Charlie's name over and over again, crushed like the cup that she had stepped on.
TBC