A/N – I'm glad you guys are enjoying things so far. I was thinking of letting you all squirm for another day, but then I found a couple hours spare time and decided to keep going. This chapter might be like the last, watch for violence and language and stuff, just to warn you. Thanks for all the reviews, as always Shellie
Chapter 28:
Jack and Bobby entered into the dark forest. Sunlight had left, and was hidden behind the endless horizon. Unwilling to wait for Myles and Dimitrius, Jack and Bobby headed into the bush, searching for their lost friend. A trail of disrupted leaves and twigs guided the two men into the depths of the forest. Jack could hear the sounds of a river. He wanted to call out Sue's name, but knew it was no use. They were so close he knew he just couldn't give up.
They reached a small gap in the forest. The river to one side, refreshing the night. Bobby shone his flashlight over the pressed down earth. He saw the gleam of blood.
"Jack – I think this is blood." Jack raced over and bent down. He pointed his flashlight at the trunk of a large tree, riddled with gouges, and stained with red.
"She must be around here somewhere." They frantically looked everywhere but the darkness was winning the battle against them. They could hear the distant sirens. God only knew where James and Sue were. Jack started to head towards the river, flashing his light as he went. He froze when he saw a small rope tied to a rock. Then his eyes continued on to what was tied to the rope. Jack yelled as loud as he could before he jumped into the freezing waters.
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"Any response yet?" Bobby asked anxiously, searching for more blankets.
"Not yet…" Jack said quietly, his eyes never leaving Sue, his hands in hers. She was covered in bruises, sat unresponsive, shivering at the bottom of a tree next to Jack's car.
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The moment he saw her, Jack had jumped into the river and carried her out. Her lifeless eyes stared up at him. She was still barely alive. Bobby had rushed to his aid, ripping off his jacket to wrap around her. Her lips were blue, her body shivering against the cold. Jack tried desperately to talk to her, but she didn't react. She was completely catatonic, her mind so withdrawn. He carried her back to where the car was, praying for the ambulance to arrive, to bring her to safety. He put her down near the tree where Bobby searched in the car for more blankets. Jack took her hands in his and looked at her eyes. He kept talking to her, begging her to wake up. Pleading with her to return to him. Not to give up.
Bobby wrapped another blanket around her and sat next to her on the other side, his hands around her back, trying to warm her with his strength. They tried desperately to get her to acknowledge in any way that she could understand what was going on, but there was nothing. It wasn't until Jack leaned over and swore to her that he wasn't going to leave her, promised that she was going to make it through it all, that he felt the weak grasp of her hand. Her eyes denied him, but her hand continued to feebly hold his, assuring him that she wasn't about to give up.
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A lifetime had passed before the ambulance carried Sue away. Bobby stood next to D and Myles, watching the sirens hurry away into the distance. He was exhausted, numbness started to overtake him. He could only imagine how Jack felt. Or even worse, how Sue was feeling. But she was a fighter. Beaten, stabbed, and left to die in a freezing river she still held on. Jack wouldn't let go of her hand as they lifted her fading body into the back of the ambulance and took her away. D put a hand on Bobby's shoulder.
"We got a radio call in just before we arrived. They caught Crydle, running from out of the forest. He's in custody now."
"Just wait until I get my hands on that bastard." said Bobby in a low voice.
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Sue's condition hadn't improved as they drove to the hospital. Her only response to any stimulation was the weak grip she still had on Jack's hand. Just as they were arriving at the hospital, her eyes that had remained lifelessly open started to close.
"Oh no you don't!" exclaimed the paramedic. Jack heard the incomprehensible beeps of the machines, and was moved out of the way as the medics surrounded Sue. They finally arrived at the hospital. Jack had no idea what was going on, all he knew was that his feet were carrying him down the familiar hallways of the emergency.
"You can't go in there Sir." Jack couldn't understand what the man was telling him. He needed to be with Sue. He needed to hold her hand and make sure she knew everything was going to be okay. He promised to stay with her. Jack turned and saw Dr. Miller rushing down the hall. He paused before he entered the room.
"Mr. Hudson. I don't have long. We're trying to stabilize Miss. Thomas right now. I don't have much other information except I need to get in there. I promise I'll let you know as soon as I know anything." Jack just nodded and headed for the plastic couches in the hospital waiting room. He lowered himself down, poised for the long wait ahead.