Chapter 2

The sirens pierced the air as Tom drove down the busy street to Diana's apartment building. A crowd of bystanders was gathering in the cold weather waiting to see what all the commotion was about.

Tom took note of the situation. One ambulance...one casualty…the police…a violent crime maybe?...no coroner…they weren't dead.

Tom had been so nervous when Ryland called him that he rushed to Diana's apartment. Ryland said that he would meet him there.

Anxiously Tom parked his car on the curb and ran through the crowd explaining that he was with Homeland Security to every police officer he met. His partner was hurt…and he needed to be there for her.

He entered the building and rushed into the elevator pushing the number five button and waiting eagerly as the lights changed. Finally when the door opened he rushed the door where Ryland was standing.

"What happened?" Tom asked.

"Diana's been…um…she's been…shot Tom. The paramedics are in there taking care of her, but it doesn't look good."

"What about Maia?"

"The neighbors heard two men rush out of Diana's apartment, one neighbor saw Maia being carried out with them. They're also the people that found her."

Tom sighed. "Does Diana have any family that you know of?"

"I don't…"

FLASHBACK

Diana is on the phone as the 'comet' is about to hit the earth.

"Dad…if your there could you pick up please? It's Diana…you know…your daughter."

END FLASHBACK

"I think her father's in the area, but I'm not sure how close they are," Ryland said.

The men were drawn out of their conversation as the paramedics began to enter the hallway with the unconscious Diana on a stetcher. An oxygen mask covered her nose and mouth and pads of gauze showed where the damage had been done.

"If we can't get in touch with her family…I'm going with her."

"Tom, you can't do anything at the hospital. She's going to need surgery and you're going to go crazy waiting. All that we can do right now is find Maia."

"I don't care," Tom said. "I am going with her."

Tom took off down the hall behind the stretcher. Her face looked so pale and color drained. The ends of her hair were matted with blood and the ivory skin on her neck was turning the shade of a red crayon.

The paramedics didn't stop him. He climbed into the back of the ambulance with Diana and sat quietly as the doctors worked to save her.

He was worried both about Diana and Maia. Who knew where the little girl was? Had whoever done this been after Shawn he would be worried sick. Maybe it was a blessing that Diana was unconscious right now. At least she wouldn't have to worry for the time being.

Tom took Diana's hand in hid own and began rubbing it with his thumb. In response to his touch Diana curled her fingers around his hand before she forced her eyelids open.

"It's going to be okay Diana," Tom lied. "Everything will be okay."

"Where's Maia?" Diana asked. Her voice was low and muffled from the oxygen mask.

Tom sighed. He didn't want to drive Diana further into denial but he didn't want to worry her either, but he knew that Diana would want the truth.

FLASHBACK

Tom spilled the entire story about Shawn's ability to Diana who is now really ticked off.

"I can't believe that you didn't tell me."

"I didn't even tell Linda!" Tom defended.

"You're divorcing Linda. I'm your partner, you should have told me."

"You were so cynical when they first arrived. You were calling them disease vectors…"

"Yeah, but haven't you noticed any change in me," Diana asked. "Especially since…I don't know…I have one of them living in my apartment."

END FLASHBACK

Tom knew what he had to say. "Diana, Maia was kidnapped. We're going to work on finding her…" Diana closed her eyes as if both the physical and mental pain was too much to bear. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this but I thought that you'd want to know." Suddenly Diana's breathing began to become short and raspy. Her eyes began to grow wide with fear. "Diana? Diana...what's wrong?"

"It…h…hu…hur…hurts," Diana managed before slipping into unconsciousness again.

TBC