Chapter 20:

Tara had managed to track Myles cell phone down to an area around Madison, Virginia. The police were on their way. Tara tried to get back in contact with them, but the cell phone seemed to have died. At least they knew that Myles and Sue were safe. For now. What confused Tara was the background noise. She played the tape over for everyone again. Jack sat at his desk, in completely disarray.

"At least we know that they're both alive." Tara started. "When I listened the second time, I noticed something in the background. I'm trying to isolate the noise now." She played the tape again. Sure enough, without Myles voice, there was the sound like a baby crying. Jack looked at Bobby, his eyes alert and confused.

"Was that a baby crying?" Tara nodded and answered Jacks question,

"I think so." Jack slumped in his chair, at the end of desperation. Had Sue had the baby? It was way to early. What if the baby didn't survive? Why didn't Myles say anything? Just then D came rushing into the bullpen.

"Police and SWAT are on their way to where the signal came from. It's a wooded area in Virginia, but its known to have a few houses hidden around. Let's go." Jack and Bobby grabbed their coats, Tara close behind. Lucy was still at her desk, upset but ready to help from the bullpen. They rushed out the door and started driving west as fast as they could.

---

"I'm pretty sure there's only two of them. When they both get down here, I fight them. You take the baby and run." Sue looked at Myles in disbelief.

"That's your plan? Get yourself killed?" He hadn't noticed how incredibly pale she looked.

"I know the team is on their way, they would've tracked my phone. Don't worry about me. I've been trained in this sort of stuff. We need to get you out. I'll bait them by saying something's wrong. You hide under the stairs with the baby, and then run when they get down here. Don't stop until you're safe, understand?" Sue nodded, the tears running down her face. She leaned over and hugged her friend. He just nodded and gave her a weak smile, his eyes telling her what words couldn't.

"Be careful. I'll send help." She whispered quietly.

"Go hide under the stairs – it's now or never." She quietly went to the stairs. Myles arranged the blanket, so it looked like there was a body underneath. He took a cloth and went over to the dead body on the other side of the room. He bent over her lifeless form, to the pool of blood beside her. He whispered to the tragic body,

"I'm sorry for what happened to you. I just hope I can save them." He took the cloth drenched in blood and smeared it around the blanket. Sue knelt still underneath the dark stairs. Myles looked at her, gave her a quick reassuring smile, then yelled frantically,

"Quick! Come down here! Something's wrong with my wife!" Sure enough, Sue felt the vibrations of footsteps down the stairs as two men raced down. Before she could see what happened, she snuck around and bolted up the stairs and out the front door as fast as she could, the infant girl snug in her arms.

There was nothing but trees around her; the house seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. Sue had never felt so lost in her life. The darkness seemed to consume her. She had no idea where she was going, but figured that anywhere was better than where she had come from, so she started to run as fast as her tired legs could take her. After what seemed to be hours, she had slowed to a walk, out of breath and tired. Each step took more effort, but she knew she couldn't give up. Not for her little one, not for the little one in her arms and not for Myles. She kept going until she saw a light and what looked like a road. Unable to go any further, she sunk to the ground as she saw the form of a body rushing up from behind her. Her eyes tired noticed a gun. She tried to pull herself up but couldn't as she sunk on the side of the road, praying for a vehicle to pass before the man reached her.

---

She fought weakly against the man who held her on the side of the road, one arm still holding the baby, trying to shield her from the attacker. Her eyes were half open from exhaustion; she couldn't hear the desperate man's cries.

"Sue, Sue!" Jack said over and over as she continued to try and fight his grip. She stopped fighting and muttered quietly.

"Please, don't hurt the baby. Please don't hurt the baby." Jack suddenly noticed what Sue had been holding gently in her arms. He looked at her stomach, and noticed she was still pregnant. She opened her eyes weakly, ready with a look of determination to protect this baby, but was surprised when she saw her husband.

"Jack?" She whispered quietly

"I'm here honey. I'm right here. You're safe."

"Myles – he's still at the house, you have to help him." Jack nodded.

"It's okay, we'll find him." Jack picked up his radio.

"This is SAM 36. I've found Sue. She says Myles is still in a house where they were captive. I need an ambulance here stat." He could hear the relief of his friends, as they all communicated that they were looking for the house where Myles still was. A few officers came out of the forest to where Sue and Jack were sitting, on the side of the road. The ambulance came quickly and Sue was loaded in, along with the baby.

"Stay," she said quietly to Jack.

"No, no, I'm coming with you honey." She gave him a stubborn look.

"They'll take care of me, we're all fine. Go find Myles. Please." He nodded and leaned over and kissed her. The paramedics were attaching the baby girl to a heart monitor and oxygen.

"I'll be there as soon as we find him okay?" She nodded.

"I love you."

"I love you too." Jack hopped out of the back of the ambulance, as the paramedics closed the doors and raced off to the hospital. His heart felt relieved, knowing Sue was safe but knew that they needed to find Myles. Fast. He radioed in that he was still searching for the house, informing everyone that Sue was on the way to the hospital, and that she seemed to be unharmed.

After 15 more minutes of searching, Bobby called in the radio,

"I think we've found the place. White van outside. Everyone come to my coordinates. Take extreme caution." Jack raced to where Bobby was, hoping that they would find Myles alive knowing that he owed his wife and baby's life to him.