Part three
***
/.../
In the arms of an angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from your wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of an angel
May you find some comfort here
/.../
Sarah Mc Lachlan, 'Angel', Fumbling towards ecstasy
***
Atlanta
VCTF Headquarters, Bailey's office
"... Sorry, Dr Samantha Waters ..." Bailey slipped off his cell phone with anger. It was the fifth time he tried to call Sam that day. Angel had told him she was gone. Bailey of course knew where she was but he was beginning to worry. It was not a habit of Sam to let her cell phone off such a long time. He was even more worried that he couldn't reach John either. And nobody in Boston knew where he was. All they could say to Bailey was that he might be in trouble because of recent arrests within the O' Doyle's mob. Bailey shook slowly his head and sighed. He should not have let her go there. He had hesitated but he couldn't have been able to refuse it to her. He looked at his watch. 10 hours. It remained 10 hours before he could organize searches to find her. And maybe to find John too. He gathered George and Grace in the command center. He told Grace to stay in Atlanta to coordinate things and take care of the VCTF in interim. George would go with him. There was no doubt Bailey would need the 'hacker' and his computer.
***
Boston PD headquarters
A few hours letter
"I'm sorry Agent Malone, I can't lend you some of my guys. We are working very hard on the O' Doyle's case. Since John had joined us we're focusing on his mob but he is almost everywhere in Boston and we need everybody here. Why don't you ask the FBI in Boston?"
"I can't, Captain McGuire. It remains a little more than eight hours until we can launch any rescue operation. At least any official FBI operation. This is why we are here."
McGuire staid silent, thinking.
"I see ... Alright. I can find some guys and I'll work personally with you. You can set up in my office if you want. Anything else?"
"We need to know everything you have about O' Doyle's activity and the cases John was working on."
McGuire nodded then he motioned them towards his office."
***
Boston
Somewhere, in a warehouse
Sam woke up first. It took her a few seconds to remember where she was and why. She looked up at John, he was still sleeping albeit not peacefully. He had sweat on his forehead and he was wincing. He must be really suffering. Sam staid into his warm embrace and began to think. They had talked about him last night and she was relieved he had trusted her enough to open up to her. But deep inside her heart she felt guilty. She didn't lie to him ... but she didn't tell him the truth either. She had wanted so many times to tell him she had left Coop, that she had come for him, to see him, to touch him … to bring him back with her. To tell him she needed him as a co-worker, as his best friend ... and maybe something else beyond.
Sam had always suspected John had feelings for her. Real feelings or not was another question. He always hid so well his feelings, using humor as a shield. How to know what was the reality and what was just fun ? Of course she was flattered, even if he was only flirting with her. John was a man of many conquests, of many beautiful conquests. And with her he was all caring and protecting, surely what no one of them ever could have gotten from him. And in a way it would help her tell him how she felt. She was not afraid of telling him. In fact she was, but even more of what might happen if she did. She had thought of Jack of course but he already had to deal with Jack's threat. So afraid of what ? Of loving again ? 'That's ridiculous' she thought. 'How could I be afraid of loving him ? Love is such a beautiful thing. I want to have a chance with John.'So why couldn't she tell him ? She had tried but she had failed every time. As a matter of fact, she was afraid for him. The situation was too dangerous and confessing her feelings then would only make him realize even more painfully how much she was in danger. And she knew he would do anything to protect her. Even maybe give his own life. She would never be able to handle it. She was well aware he would do it either he knew or not. But at that moment, all that mattered was to get out of there alive and if to keep the secret a little longer would make it easier for both, then she would wait.
Lost in her thoughts she suddenly felt his body shivering and heard him moan again. She motherly stroke his hair then let her hand wandered on his cheek - his skin so smooth to the touch. She gently called his name. He slightly moved his head nervously. Then he sat straight up in one sudden move, his eyes full of fear. It hurt him and the pain hit him full force. He closed tight his eyes and leaned back against the wall. As he reopened them, the fear had disappeared. They looked at each other a while and John smiled.
"Good morning."
She put her worry in the back of her mind and smiled too.
"Good morning John."
He glanced at his watch. "They must have begun to look for me now."
"They ? Oh ... yeah ..." She looked down, feeling ill at ease. It was so weird. She was with John but they didn't expect Bailey to come to rescue them. She definitely wanted him back at the VCTF to bring things back to normality.
"John ..." she began but he cut her.
"Don't worry Sam. Everything's gonna be alright." He tried to sound convinced or hopeful. At least he hoped she would be alright. He had decided to do everything to get her out of this alive. No matter the cost.
They heard the sound of the door lock and stood up. O' Connor and his supposed little brother entered. Then an older man came in. Sam immediately felt John's body tensing up and, staring at the man in front of them, she supposed he was John's father : the same eyes - not the same look though, self-confidence and strength emanating from them. And yet she felt uneasy. John was a caring and warm person, his father seemed to be hard and egoistic. She suddenly had a flash. She could see that man beating up someone, a child. She figured the child was John.
"Hi son." His voice was calm and rough.
John clenched his jaw. "I'm not your son!"
"John, you want it or not, you will always be my son."
"But you're not my father anymore. You stopped being my father years ago." His eyes were challenging his father's.
Patrick O' Doyle waved his hand. O' Connor stepped just in front of John. "Don't talk to your father like that." Then he hit John in the stomach with his knee. John muffled a shout and his knees began to weak. In pain, he straightened up and looked directly in his father's eyes.
"At least when I was younger, you had the courage to do it yourself."
O' Connor hit again and John backed against the wall. Sam was watching, hurting. John's anger and pain were obvious but he was doing everything he could to hide them. Looking at his father, she could see anger and disgust increasing in his eyes. They were both so stubborn and proud.
Patrick O' Doyle slid his gaze on Sam. "Dr Samantha Waters I presume ?" She widened her eyes in surprise then nodded. "I'm sorry for that" he continued.
John snorted. "Sorry? You don't even know what it means."
O' Connor was about to his again but O' Doyle held up one hand and O' Connor stepped back.
"What a generous man you are."
"Don't push me too far John, or your friend might ..." John cut him.
"Don't even think of that!" He shouted, pointing his finger at Sam. His anger was about to burst but he tried to calm down. "Let her go."
Sam tilted up her head in surprise.
"You wanted me? I'm here. She has nothing to do with our business and you know that." He paused. "Let her go."
Sam shook her head negatively, locking her eyes with his. John didn't hold her gaze and slid his on his father, waiting for his answer. The silence seems to last an eternity.
"Alright. Contrary to what my son thinks, I am not a barbaric man. Particularly when women are concerned."
John closed his eyes tightly, thinking about his mother.
Sam couldn't believe John was doing this. Exactly what she had feared he might do. And she was aware that, to let him there alone was like executing him. Tears began to fill her eyes. Then she remembered the little ship George had given her. It was still in the pocket of her jacket. She was supposed to have it fixed behind her brooch so that she could be traced in case of an emergency. She kicked herself for not having remembered sooner.
O' Doyle prodded her to stand up and lead her toward the door. John's eyes were following her. Just in front of him, she stopped. Their eyes locked and she hurried toward him. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately, deeply. John was first surprised but soon he held her tight and close and let himself sink into the pleasure of the embrace, of her kiss. It was the second time. He really could get used to it. Sam took advantage of the situation and slowly slid down her hand along his back, then discretely she put the ship in the back pocket of his jeans.
He broke the kiss and hugged her tightly one last time. He was not sure he would see her again. He closed his eyes, breathed deeply then let her go. He kept his eyes closed until he heard the sound of the door shut. He didn't want her to see his pain and his worry.
***
Sam was wearing a blindfold. She could guess she was in the back of a van when it stopped. Nothing. Suddenly the door opened and a man grabbed her arm to pull her out of the van. She could hear the other guys around them and get into the van. The other was still beside her. He made her sit down on the floor then threw her purse into her lap.
"Here's your purse. Right now, my gun is aimed at your head. Count to 20 after we left and then you can take off the blindfold."
She heard the van starting up. She waited a few seconds then stood up and took off the blind fold. The bright light of the day hit her like a brick wall. Once accustomed to the sunlight, she looked around. She was totally lost. Looking down she spotted her purse and realized she had her cell phone. She grabbed the purse, turned it inside out and took her phone. She slipped it on and hit the VCTF number, anxious to hear Bailey's voice.
"Malone." She sighed in relief.
"Bailey, it's me, Sam."
"Sam! Good God. Are you okay? Where are you?"
"I'm fine Bailey. But I'm worried about John. Bailey ... I think they are going to kill him ..."
Bailey cut her. "Sam, where are you?"
She walked up to the entry of the street. "Uh ... I'm near a stadium ... at the corner of McDonald and Westford. Call the Boston PD Bailey, we don't have much time. John doesn't have much time."
"We are in Boston Sam, George and I will be there in a minute."
"George's with you? Oh thank God! Bailey, do you remember the ship he gave me? I put it in John's pocket."
"Okay, I tell George. Don't move, we're on our way."
***
John and his father were alone in the room, staring at each other. The tension between the two men could be felt. O' Doyle broke the silence, his voice sounded even harsher.
"You've made a terrible mistake Johnny. And you know that."
John laughed bitterly, a little and quick laugh. O' Doyle carried on.
"You thought because you're my son I would have left you alone?"
"Oh no. I hoped you would do what you just did. I hoped you would give me the opportunity to ..."
"To do what Johnny? To kill me? To revenge?" They stared at each other in silence. "Don't make me laugh Johnny. You wouldn't be able to kill your father." O' Doyle was wearing a sadistic smile on his lips while speaking. "You're too weak."
John's smile faded as he clenched his jaw in anger. He looked coldly in his father's eyes.
"I'm not a scared little boy anymore. You don't know me."
Silence fell again between them, they were still staring at each other. John had kept his hands on his hips and his gaze was intensely focused on his father, on his every move. O' Doyle watched him thoroughly. His behavior, his gaze … John was right. He was not a scared little boy anymore. O' Doyle couldn't see any sign of fear or submission in John's eyes. They were full of anger and resolve.
O' Doyle began to pace in front of John, looking straight ahead.
"Johnny, Let's finish this quickly. You come back to Boston, you arrest my guys, you challenge me ... What's next? Come on, Johnny, what do you know exactly?"
He slowly looked up to find John's eyes.
"I know you killed my mother and I know I'll prove it one day. I also know I won't get out of here alive so don't expect me to tell you everything I know. I am not stupid."
O' Doyle's mouth tightened. John was so stubborn. He had always been and he had always hated that. He stepped to stand in front of him and prepared his hand to hit. But John didn't move, not even his eyes flickered in fear so O' Doyle gave up and lowered his hand.
"Why don't you kill me right now? We are alone in this room …"
John smiled. "As I said, I'm not stupid. Your goons are everywhere and I know at every suspect noise they would rush here to kill me. I could try, I'm a dead man anyway, but I am not sure I would have enough time to kill you before I die."
As O' Doyle didn't speak, John carried on. "But now that you know I won't tell you anything, why don't *you* kill me right now?"
O' Doyle remained silent an instant. "it is not my job Johnny. I don't kill anyone. I pay people to do that. This is the reason why you will never be able to prove I killed my wife."
"She was my mother. She stopped being your wife the day you beat her for the first time." John shouted in anger.
Suddenly the door opened and O' Connor's brother entered, alerted by the shouts. He aimed his gun at John. "Don't move, bastard!"
***
Bailey, George and the Boston PD came as quick as they could to find Sam pacing back and forth. Bailey ran toward her and hugged her in relief.
"Are you okay?" he asked softly, gently stroking her hair.
"I will be when John is out of there. Did you find him?"
They reached together the van where George was working.
"What's up George?" Bailey asked.
"They have a system to jam the waves the ship transmits. I am using a brand new program who should be able to pick up the signal in a few minutes." George explained at Sam.
She turned to Bailey. "We don't have much time Bailey. They'll kill him if we don't rescue him now!"
Bailey had never seen Sam so nervous. Her eyes were constantly filled with tears and she couldn't stop pacing again and again.
"It's okay Sam, we'll find him. Why don't you tell me what has exactly happened there? We'll see the rest later." He said, grinning.
"They wanted John to tell them all he knows about O' Doyle's business, what he would do next ..." she paused, closing her eyes, "They beat him pretty roughly but he didn't say anything. They wanted to use me to force him to talk but he begged for my releasing." Tears were about to roll down her cheeks and she sighed deeply to hold them back. "O' Connor, O' Doyle's right arm, has two brothers. John killed one of them two years ago and now, he and his little brother don't dream of anything else but revenge, but to kill John."
Sam could see the worry building in bailey's eyes too when George shouted.
"I've found him! He's in a warehouse, two miles east from here."
"Okay, let's go now ! McGuire, call for back up there. We don't have anymore time."
The van revved up and headed towards the warehouse, all sirens and lights on.
Sam just hoped it was not too late. She would never forgive herself for not having the time to tell him all she wanted to say. She had already wasted too much time. She silently prayed God to let her the time, to let her one last chance.
***
Somewhere in Boston
In a warehouse, two miles from Bailey, George and Sam
John looked at O' Connor's brother coldly: he was nervous, angry and scared at the same time. Then he stared at his father again.
"First time, right? His initiation?"
O' Doyle didn't answer. John's gaze slid another time on O' Connor's brother.
"Are you sure you'll be able to pull the trigger? It's not so easy you know, even anger …" John couldn't finish.
"Shut up!" He was more and more nervous. "You're the one I've hated most for years. Every second of my life I saw you dead."
"So do it!" John shouted as he put up his hands and faced him. "Do it! Shoot!" He challenged him. "Don't wait or you won't be able any more." He paused. "All the Boston PD is now looking for me, and they know all too well where watching."
John was scared the hell out of him and he knew that this argument wouldn't have much weight in his decision. But the growing nervousness and anger of O' Connor's brother was not a good thing. And he was himself in such a great pain, just to remain standing required enormous efforts and caused so much pain. This had to stop soon, in a way or another. Maybe if he was shot or killed he could forget the pain.
***
They were all gathered in front of the warehouse, giving the last instructions to the cops before entering.
"George, how are the things going with the alarm?" Bailey asked through his microphone.
"Uh ... There is sort of a problem. Just a few more minutes ..."
Bailey cut him. "We don't have anymore time. Forget the alarm and guide us inside. Let's go!"
They opened the door and the sound of the alarm screaming filled the air.
***
Just as John stopped talking, they heard the alarm screaming and shouts coming from somewhere outside the building. O' Doyle leaned slowly toward the door ready to vanish. John moved, intending to stop him but O' Connor's brother forced him to freeze.
"You coward! Take your responsibilities and stay here, face me. So easy to let a young boy get caught. " He added in anger.
O' Doyle didn't even bother to turn his head. "See you in hell, Johnny Boy." He said coldly as he was leaving the room.
John watched him leave then turn his eyes upon O' Connor's brother. His look was still full of anger and fear and he could see the hand holding the gun slightly shaking. Maybe he could play with that, use it at his advantage. He decided he could try.
"Don't you see? He's using you. You wanna kill me? Do it now or else you'll spend the rest of your life behind bars. Is that your revenge? Come on, open your eyes!" John spoke loudly hoping he could shake him and make him realize his mistake.
'Make us be proud of you ... Proud of you.' His brother's words were turning inside his head while John was speaking.
"Shut up!" He shouted one last time as he pulled the trigger.
The shot rang and echoed in the whole building.
Everybody in there heard it and Sam became crazy.
"John !!" She shouted before beginning to run but Bailey stopped her with his arm.
"Sam, no, it's too dangerous. George, where is he exactly?"
"Second corridor on your right ... third door on the left."
John felt the pain growing, stronger and stronger, as he slowly sank to the floor, on his back. He closed his eyes and tried to forget his whole aching body. He even prayed for death so that the pain would be gone.
O' Connor's brother watched John falling, never leaving his gaze. His right arm was still stretched out, holding its grip onto the gun tightly. His ears were buzzing, he was excited, relieved and still afraid. He stayed stunned a while then he suddenly stepped out of his stupor and fled running through the still open door.
John could hear shouts coming from somewhere inside the warehouse. They seemed to be so far away. He believed he recognized Bailey's voice but he couldn't be there. He felt he was about to lose the fight. The pain was so strong and he was alone - he thought. He decided to let it come and tried to relax. His last thoughts, he wanted them to be about his mother he wouldn't have the time to revenge, about the VCTF and his friends but especially about Sam. Sam ... His mere recalling caused a sting in his heart almost huger than the harm done before. He wanted to scream, to be released.
When they finally reached the room, Sam rushed inside despite Bailey's warnings. She couldn't hear anymore anyone or anything but her heart. And it was ready to explode. It told her to hurry. When she saw John lying, his blood spread on his shirt and on the floor around him, she urged at his side and kneeled carefully. At first she didn't dare to touch him. But she had to know. She had to feel if he was still alive. She reached out with her hand to check his pulse.
John was trying to focus on his thoughts when he felt something touching his throat. The gentle move involuntarily jerked his eyes open and he saw Sam's face bent over him. He let himself drown into her beautiful blue eyes, full of concern and compassion. He thought that time he really was dead and she really was his angel.
She softly called his name with a cracking voice. "John" Her eyes began to fill up with tears when she could see the deep blue of his eyes again.
"John?" She repeated as she cupped his right cheek with her hand, gently ruffling his hair with the other.
He needed a few more seconds to realize he was not - yet - dead and that Sam was indeed beside him. Her warm eyes full of tears tore up his heart deeper, even more as he acknowledged it was because of him. All he wanted was to hold her tight to comfort her. But he only could whisper her name, hoping she would hear in his voice his worry, his apologies and his love.
"Sam ..."
She couldn't hold back her tears any longer when she heard his voice again. She put a finger on his mouth. "Shh … Don't talk. Paramedics are on their way." While speaking, she circled his cheek with her thumb. "Don't leave me John."
He felt weaker and weaker and the warmth of her hand on his cheek seemed to put away his pain. He was so peaceful. He moved further into the touch and closed his eyes. He felt somewhat ready and let unconsciousness get over him.
"John!" She shouted. And she broke down, allowing the tears to roll down her cheeks one after the other in a constant flow. Her heart was wrapped in fear. And the paramedics pulling her away to take care of him didn't change the way she felt.
Bailey had stayed in the doorway and watched calmly the scene. His own concern was growing, for John of course but also for Sam. She had already lost Tom, he was not sure she would be able to handle John's loss too. He swallowed hard the lump in his throat then walked up to Sam. He hugged her tightly as the paramedics took John out of the room then he lead her outside.
End of part three
