Hey, I think there's only a couple of chapters left in this story. Thank you so much to everybody that has read and reviewed so far, especially Kita, who's reviewed every chapter so far! If you're still reading, drop me a review and let me know what you think. I accept anonymous reviews.
Song lyrics in this chapter are from Bob Dylan Knocking On Heavens Door.
On the CD player at the moment are Eric Clapton's Sessions for Robert J and Kathleen Edwards Back To Me
Chapter Eleven
"Would you like some water?"
Amy nodded, her mouth painfully dry. She could still feel the burning rush across her shoulder where the bullet had clipped her. If she hadn't seen his sunglasses, hadn't bent down to pick them up, his shot would have taken her dead in the forehead.
That was bullshit. If Nathan Gault hadn't been between her and the first shot, she would have already been dead.
Michelle Dessler poured her a tall glass of water and sat back down behind her desk. "Can you tell me what happened?"
"He opened the door for me and I heard a sharp noise. Then he…how's he doing?" Angry at herself for taking so long to ask after him. She still clutched his sunglasses in her right hand, numb with pain and anaesthetic.
"He's in medical at the moment. I'll go see how he is when we're done here, and I'll have someone tell you how he is." Michelle switched abruptly back to her professional mode. "Did you see where the shot came from? Either one?"
Amy thought for a second and then shook her head.
"Anything that might help narrow down the sniper's position?"
Amy shook her head again. "I'm sorry Ms Dessler. I really don't know anything. I'm sorry."
"That's okay." Michelle signalled and a guard pushed the door open and walked into her office. "I'm going to have to ask you to remain within CTU for your own safety, until we have the sniper in custody." She nodded at the guard. "Lawson will take you to a room where you can be comfortable."
"Thank you, Ms Dessler." Amy stood, staggering a little before she forced herself to regain her balance. She followed after the guard, closing the door behind them.
Michelle dialled quickly, drumming her fingers impatiently on the desk.
"Baker."
"It's me, Tom. She couldn't give me anything more. You're going to have to do this the hard way. Floor by floor."
xxxXXXxxx
Tom looked around the Delta teams and raised his voice. "Alright listen up!"
Instantly, the ground floor of the parking lot fell silent. Waiting for his orders.
"I want two men on every exit. Nobody leaves without my express authorisation. The rest of you, I want a hard search of the entire location. Systematic. Floor by floor. Stay in your teams and keep in radio contact. Understand?"
The teams around him nodded, their faces hard and grim. They all knew what had happened to Nathan. They all wanted revenge.
"The suspect is to be considered armed and extremely dangerous. The Director wants him alive." Tom shrugged. "I, on the other hand, don't give a fuck. You all know what he did to Nathan. If he resists, do what you have to do. I want this bastard out of play."
"Understood."
"Sir, the teams are in position. They're waiting for your orders."
"Good." He looked around the teams again. "Stay in contact, and hold your positions. I don't want to give him any gaps to slip through." He adjusted his earpiece. "Keep Channel Four open for communications with CTU. Can you hear me Chloe?"
"Loud and clear."
"Good." He took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. "Move out."
xxxXXXxxx
"Lift him, on my count. One, two, three."
Gently, carefully, they lifted him onto the table. Quickly crowding around him, stripping away bloodstained clothing with gloved professional hands.
"Jesus, what a mess!"
"Give him two units of type specific. He's lost a lot of blood." He pulled away the front of the ruined jacket. "No exit wound. The bullet must still be inside him."
The nurse laid a hand against the side of his neck. "Weak pulse."
"Shit. It must have clipped…"
His words were cut off by the shrill whine of the heart monitor.
"Charge to 200. Clear."
Electricity coursed through his body, making it jerk and dance on the harsh uncomfortable pallet.
"Charging to…"
"Wait." The monitor resumed its normal, steady rhythm. "We need to get that damn bullet out of him. Prep him for surgery."
"Doctor, the Director's here. She wants to know how he's doing."
He looked up to see Michelle Dessler. Hovering nervously on the other side of the security glass. Staring at the activity around the table. Around one of her people.
"Tell her we're doing everything we can."
xxxXXXxxx
"Welcome back to CSRFM. It's just after 520pm. It's great to have your company for the afternoon drive. Thanks to David Morrison, playing some great music all the way up to 5pm."
"So, anything really get to you today? Boss picking on you? Bad driving? An argument with someone you love? Drop me a line, share the frustration with the rest of us! I guarantee you feel better afterwards."
"I'll take the first of your Why Today Sucked calls, straight after this classic from Bob Dylan."
"Mama, take this badge of me
I can't wear it anymore
It's getting dark, too dark to see
Feel like I'm knocking on Heaven's door
Knock knock knocking on Heaven's door"
xxxXXXxxx
"Here they come."
He'd already hidden the rifle. Carelessly, hoping to use it as a distraction, to make it easier for him to slip away. Hoping to make them lower their guards.
At least that was the plan.
He peered down between the floors, and then slipped away, keeping his movements nice and slow, his breathing even. He could still slip away from this, leave with his skin, if not all of his reputation, intact.
He faded between rows of parked cars, holding his suit jacket closed, the shadows falling across him, welcoming him home like a long lost lover.
He grinned, suddenly, viciously, his teeth bright in the dim light.
Let them come.
xxxXXXxxx
She had been certain that he had meant to kill her.
She had knelt there, his gun in her mouth, her eyes open. Watching his hand tremble, his finger tightening on the trigger. Watching his face, seeing clearly how much he wanted to shoot her.
Then Lester had groaned and he had pulled the gun out of her mouth. She couldn't stop herself sagging in relief. He had ordered her to sit behind Lester, binding them together with lengths of rope.
She had tensed her shoulders as much as she could, relaxing after the rope had started to cut into her wrists. Forty minutes, give or take. She had been sitting here forty minutes. Her shoulders and arms were starting to ache with the strain.
Ashley watched him pace around the clinic, checking rooms. She wondered if anybody at CTU knew she was there.
He knelt in front of her, pushing the gun against her forehead. She could smell the dynamite, contrasting with the smell of his sweat. "Who are you working for?"
She shook her head, trying to look away. His hand shot out, holding her head still, forcing her to look at him. "What agency do you work for?"
"Go to hell Jackson!"
"There is still a chance to save your soul, Ashley. Just tell me who you work for."
His phone rang suddenly, startling them both. He held her gaze and her face for an instant. Then he released her, walking away from her to answer his phone. Ashley shook her head, shaking beads of sweat away from her forehead, straining and relaxing her arms.
Lester felt her moving behind him. "What the hell are you doing?"
Ashley didn't take her eyes off Jackson Alexander. "Shut up."
xxxXXXxxx
"First thing he's gonna do is execute the hostages and that means he's gonna kill Ashley."
"Don't you think I know that?" Tony risked another look through the window of the Clinic. "I've just lost sight of Alexander. Any of you have a visual on him?"
"Yeah we got him." Tony could hear the wry humour in the other man's voice. "Son of a bitch is on the phone."
Tony risked another look, his eyes hurriedly scanning the corridors of the Clinic. It was eerily quiet outside now, the crowds moved back a safe distance. He could see Ashley, tied to another man. Could see her move her shoulders and arms, keeping a careful eye on Jackson Alexander.
Strain and release.
He could see the ropes binding her ease and loosen around her.
"Ashley's up to something." He fell back hurriedly against the wall as Jackson Alexander paced back into his line of sight. "We just have to give her sometime to pull it off."
"Copy that."
They just had to give her some time. Be ready for whatever she came up with, figure out some way to fit in with the whatever plan she came up with.
He leaned back against the wall, feeling it cold against his sweat dampened shirt. Leaning his head back against it, running his hand across his face.
He wondered if Michelle liked the name Jessica.
xxxXXXxxx
"Yes sir, I'm well aware of the problem Yes I know you briefed me about the situation earlier."
She listened carefully as the car drove through the streets of LA.
"I'm on my way to CTU now, sir. I'll take care of the situation when I get there."
End of Chapter Eleven.
So, maybe two chapters to go…let me know what you think!
