Disclaimer: Profiler and all characters belongs to NBC, Sanders/Moses Productions, Cynthia Saunders, Stephen Kronish ... Not to me. No copyright infringement intended.

Part XVIII : The trap

It was 3:30 pm and they had spent the whole day in Bailey's van. The sun was high and the heat made them sweat. Sam was sitting in the driver's seat and Bailey was next to her playing with his walkie talkie. The rest of the team was dispersed around and inside St Matthew. They had nothing to do but wait.

" I wish we could wait inside !" Bailey said. "They must have the air conditionning in there.
- You should try to sleep a little. I'll wake you up if things move.
- I tried. But I can't.
- You want to talk about it ?
- I don't know. It's like ... I feel like I'm on the edge of a cliff and I've got a friend clinging on a branch. I try to help him up but he can't reach my hand."

Sam did not answer at once. She wasn't sure it would do him good to talk. But she wanted him to know she was there for him, like he had always been there for her.

" You and Darryl Turner were close, weren't you ?" she finally asked. Bailey looked outside the car window.
" I wasn't really what one would call a well-behaved kid. I did a number of bloody stupid things. I was going with bad company. I did a few things usually condemned by the law. I got caught by the cops. But there was a war in Viet Nam. They needed men there. They let me decide : go to jail or join the army."

Sam was staring at him. For her, Bailey had always been a symbol of honesty and rectitude. It was something natural that he joined first the army, and then the FBI. She could never have imagined he had done so in such circumstances.

" They sent me to a training camp near Atlanta. It was not exactly a choice, and I was rather unwilling to cooperate. I gave them a hard time. Until I was left with a new instructor, the sergeant Darryl Turner. He was known for being one of the toughest non-commissioned officer of the base. Then he gave me a hard time. But he also taught me a few things about life ... about respect.
- I'm sorry."

He smiled to her. " Darryl was probably the closest thing to a father I ever had. We lost contact years ago. Until two days ago. But it was too late." Sam put her hand on his thigh and they kept silent for a while.

" I don't want to loose you, Sam." Bailey said without looking at her. " I could not stand it.
- You won't. Bail, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
- Yesterday, when you told me we should ...
- I was wrong. Bailey, whether we catch Jack or not, I will never let him rule my life again. What must happen will happen, but I want to profit by any second we can be together."

Bailey put his hand on her shoulder and was about to kiss her when the walkie talkie started to crackle.

" Carpenter to control, do you read me ?
- Malone here. What is it ?
- I'm not sure sir, but there is a doctor Simpson here, who has just arrived. I read the list of the medical staff this morning and I don't remember this name. Could someone check ?"

Sam took the list on the back seat of the car.

" Is the man near you right now ?
- Yes sir. He is discussing with a nurse in the corridor, at about fourty feet from where I am.
- He's not on the list !" Sam exclaimed.

" Carpenter, keep him in sight, but don't get noticed. I'm sending you some support.
- Yes sir.
- Does he look like the portrait ?
- Not really sir. He's blond, blue-eyed, average size, he doesn't have a beard or a moustache.
- Ok. Good job Carpenter."

Bailey called his men inside and outside. He opened the door of his car.

" Where are you going ?" Sam asked.
" Where do you think I'm going ?
- Bailey, you're not in condition for that. There's enough people on the job.
- Sam, it's Jack ! It's not just an ordinary bust.
- And what if you find yourself in front of Jack ? You can't even use your gun." she said, pointing out to his left arm.
- Sam, I'm going. I want to see this son of a bitch."

He stepped out of the car and went towards the hospital. Sam checked her gun and followed him. They entered by a back door used for deliveries. They took a dark corridor and found themselves in the kitchen.

" John, were are you ?" Bailey asked in the talkie.
" Covering the main entrance.
- Carpenter ?
- Second floor, sir. He entered the dispensary thirty seconds ago.
- Alone ?
- Yes. Should I go ?
- No, stay outside.
- Steve, I want more people on the second floor.
- Ok."

Sam and Bailey moved to the back stairs and went up one floor.

" John, I'm on the first floor, west wing back stairs. How do I get to the dispensary ?
- Hold on ... Up one floor, then on your right when you exit the staircase. You have to cross a long corridor to the TV room. You cross it and turn left. The dispensary is on your right, about twenty feet away.
- Thanks."

They followed John's instructions and stopped in the TV room.

" Carpenter, is he still in there ?
- He did not come out. It's been about ten minutes now.
- It is not normal." Bailey said to Sam. "We enter."

They joined Carpenter and two police officers from Granger's team in front of the dispensary door. Carpenter waited for Bailey's signal and openeed the door. He entered with the two cops, while Bailey and Sam waited outside.

" It's clear, sir. Noone inside." Bailey entered. "He did not get out thru that door, sir." Carpenter went on. Bailey had a look around the room. " The linen pipe." he said. "O'Hara's room !" he added. He ran out of the room. "Which number ?" he yelled. "233" Sam answered, trying to keep up with him.

Bailey took his gun with his right hand and slammed the door opened with his foot. He entered. Sam followed him.

Jack was there, by the bedside table. Though she had never seen his real face, Sam knew it was Jack. She couldn't explain but she could feel it in every cell of her body. A thrill climbed along her spine. Instinctively, Bailey moved between Sam and Jack.

" Lie on the bed ! Slowly." Bailey shouted at Jack.
" Mr Malone ! What a surprise ! I wasn't expected you so soon." Jack turned back to the two agents. It was then they saw the knife in his hand.
" Drop your weapon !
- Come on, agent Malone. You and me have been waiting for this for so long. Let's enjoy the moment. We're in no hurry."

Sam could hear the other agents arriving.

" Drop that god damned knife. Now !" Bailey repeated. Sam felt Bailey was getting more and more nervous.
" They're coming, Bailey." she whispered.
" Samantha, why are you hiding this way ?" Jack said slowly. "Come on, Samantha, you know I won't hurt you.
- Leave her out of this. Do what I told you !
- Or what ? You will shoot me ? You know you won't. 'Cause you're a cop, Malone. You're much too weak to assume it."

Sam saw Bailey's hand clench on the grip of his gun. She knew he was exhausted.

" Besides, " Jack went on, going one step forward, " it seems you're a bit handicapped tonight.
- Bail, he's not worth it.
- It's over, Jack." Bailey said. " You won't get out this time. You'll have to pay.
- Pay for what ? You know what the love of Samantha is worth. What is the value of those poor human lives compared to that ?"

Bailey's finger contracted on the trigger. He heard some noise behind him. John entered the room. He moved around Sam and Bailey, his gun pointed in Jack's direction. Jack was circled now. He knew he couldn't escape. The knife fell on the floor with a blank noise. John grabbed him and forced him on the bed. He pulled out his handcuffs and locked them on Jack's hands.

Bailey was still pointing his gun to Jack. Sam put her hand on his arm and forced it down gently. "It's over." she whispered to his ear. "It's finished.".

John and the policeman who had arrived after him took Jack out of the room. Bailey hadn't said a word. She led him to the bed. He sat down. Pain made him close his eyes. Sweat beaded his forehead. She delicately pushed him back and helped him lie down. She removed his shoes and carried his legs to the bed cover.
Bailey curled up in the hospital bed. Sam lied very close to him and put her arms around his body. She rocked him gently, kissing the back of his head. "It's over." she repeated, for herself as much as for Bailey.

Grace and Granger appeared in the door frame. Grace closed the door quietly. These two were deserving a little privacy after all they'd been through.


- THE END -



That's all, folks. Hop you enjoyed ... R&R, Thanks.
Absolut.