Chapter 33
A light sprinkling of snow still covered the ground of the D.C. park, as the children laughed and played on their way home from school. The dark haired man wrapped his arm around the blonde as they made their way back towards the other end of the park. A streak of gold flashed by as the retriever bounded after the ball the man threw.
"Delta two-four to Sam three-six," the man stated, lifting his collar higher around his face.
"Sam three-six, go ahead, Kevin," Jack called from the surveillance van across the park as he watched the couple move slowly back towards them.
"We've got nothing, Jack," Kevin told him as he continued to adjust his collar, looking down at the woman beside him as if they were talking. "We've been out here for three hours, if he was going to show he would have done it by now."
"He's right," Myles stated from his perch beside Jack in the van.
"Katherine and I are like icicles out here, man," Kevin continued. Jack could see the couple's breath as its warmth mingled with the frigid DC air.
"Okay, make your way back to Sue's apartment," Jack conceded reluctantly. "If nothing else, maybe we've let them know we're back in town, and they'll try something there."
"Roger, Delta two-four out," Kevin responded.
"I don't know how you and Bobby talked me into this," Jack muttered to Myles as he continued to monitor the area. He had to admit Katherine and Kevin made believable decoys for him and Sue, even his own mother would have had trouble, unless she got up close.
"You knew it was probably the best way to flush the stalker out, and figure out who is stealing these documents," Myles reiterated for at least the thirtieth time since they started the stakeout. "While I'm sure you enjoyed your time with Thomas, she's just too nice a person to say just how much she utterly detested her confinement with you." Noticing how he was getting to Jack, Myles added, "She did jump at the opportunity for this operation, even offering to be the decoy herself, just to get out of the house with you."
Jack eyed the blonde agent beside him, then turned back to the window missing Myles' smirk to D and Tara who were in the van with them. Instead, his focus was trained on the second van, parked just barely visible through the trees on the other side of the park, where he knew Sue sat with Bobby, Carrie, and Mike.
He desperately wanted to be in the other van with her today, but the situation warranted differently. Jack knew Bobby would take care of her, but it still didn't squelch his apprehension when Sue was out of his sight.
I hope Sue's doing okay with Bobby, he thought absentmindedly.
"I'm fine." Jack jumped when he heard her voice in his ear, causing the others in the van to laugh as he almost fell out of his chair.
"Sue?" he said into his mike, then shook his head. Stupid, she can't hear you! Jack practically laughed at himself as he leaned back towards the window, gazing at the van across the way.
Carrie and Bobby had been feeding her the information from the radio all afternoon, but it still freaked him out a little as she always seemed to be reading his mind.
"Bobby said Katherine and Kevin are on their way back to the apartment," Sue continued as if she was responding to his voice. "I'm hungry. When are we going to eat?"
"She's been with Manning for three hours and she's already sounding like him," Myles scoffed as he helped Tara and D pack up the surveillance cameras.
"Hey, a woman after my own heart," Bobby's voice came over the radio. "If you don't hurry up, Sparky, I might just have to take her for myself."
"Get your own woman, Crash," Jack admonished jokingly, his face reddening as he realized the implication of what he just said.
He was still watching out the window, a silly grin on his face when he saw the explosion. Jack's world stopped as he watched the surveillance van being lifted into the air by the blast and smash back down to the pavement.
Chapter 34
Jack was out of the van and running across the park as soon as his feet hit the ground with D and Myles right behind him. Pushing his way pass the people rushing in the other direction, his focus was only on the smoldering metal as all other sights and sounds faded away.
Grabbing the back door handles, Jack snapped his hand back as the heat burnt his palm. Pulling his coat off, he wrapped it around his hand to try the door again when he heard Carrie calling his name.
"Hudson!" Carrie called.
Turning, Jack almost passed out with relief when he saw Carrie dragging a semi-conscious Sue around the side of the van. A trail of blood dripped from her forehead as Sue leaned heavily on the petite agent, while they staggered towards the three men.
"Bobby's hurt," Sue mumbled, pointing weakly behind her. D sprinted passed them to check on him, calling to Tara to confirm ambulances where on the way.
Jack rushed over to Sue, her arm around his neck as he threw her legs up into his arms, carrying her quickly over to the grass. Sinking to his knees, he draped her gingerly across his lap, drawing his handkerchief from his pocket to press softly to her brow. He barely noticed when Myles brought Carrie to sit on the curb a few feet from them, the concern for the blonde evident on both of their faces.
"Carrie, what happened?" Myles asked softly, though she could hear the anger in his voice.
"I don't know," Carrie said still in shock. "Some guy, Howie, I think Sue said, came banging on the door," she put her hand up through her tussled hair. "He said we had to get out and pulled Sue out."
"Howie pulled Sue out?" Myles questioned. "How'd he even know she was here?" he wondered aloud.
"He grabbed me too, and started hollering at Manning and Mike to get out of the van," Carrie continued. "We'd just gotten out and started towards the corner when the van blew," she looked at Myles, realization at how close it had been setting in. "Bobby was out last, Myles. He got the brunt of the blast," tears streamed down the normally brave agent's face as Myles wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.
Chapter 35
Her head pounded as Sue felt warm fingers slowly caressing her cheek. Little by little, she struggled to open her eyes, meeting the passionate brown eyes above her as a gradual smile spread across her face.
"Come to take me to dinner," she teased, wincing as pain gripped her chest. Closing her eyes, Sue concentrated on shallow breathing until it eased into a dull ache.
"Take it easy," Jack said tenderly when she opened her eyes to look at him again. Stroking her bloodstained bangs back from her face, he searched her eyes, noticing the dazed look, realizing she probably would have trouble reading his lips.
STAY, Jack signed and not being able to do the complete sign for 'still' with his one arm around her, he put his index finger against his mouth, and then drew his open hand down towards her. She gave a brief nod shifting her eyes around.
"Bobby?" Sue whispered.
Jack tapped his fingertips to his forehead, and then turned the palm away. "Don't know," he said. "D went to see," he signed weakly, "Don't worry."
Sue moved her hand, and Jack clasped it in his own, caressing the back of her hand with his thumb. She offered him a brief smile before he watched her eyes slowly drift shut as the darkness overwhelmed her again.
"Sue," Jack pleaded ,caressing her cheek to get her attention. "Please don't leave me!" he begged as the paramedics approached, moving her from his lap onto the stretcher.
"She was awake for a little bit," Jack told them as shakily. "She had some trouble breathing, she winced when she tried to talk to me," he said, getting to his feet as they strapped her to the bed.
"What's her name?" one of the paramedics asked.
"Sue Thomas," Jack responded, moving to her side taking her hand again.
"Ms. Thomas?" the paramedic called.
"She's deaf," Jack stated absentmindedly, his eyes never leaving her face. "I'm going to the hospital with you."
"We can't have you in the ambulance," the other paramedic declared as he finished with Sue's IV line.
"I'd advise you to let him go with you, or I wouldn't put it passed him to hijack the ambulance," Myles explained, flashing his F.B.I. badge as he approached. "I'll take responsibility."
"Okay, let's get her loaded," the paramedic said over the sirens of another ambulance leaving the scene.
"Bobby?" Jack briefly looked up at Myles, worried about his best friend.
"It's bad, but he was conscious for a little bit before he left," Myles uttered unwaveringly. "Go with Sue. We'll get Lucy and be right behind you." Myles place a strong hand on the dark haired agent's shoulder, the look in his eyes telling more than words ever could.
"Thank you," Jack whispered, before turning and climbing into the ambulance, allowing Myles to slam the door shut as D and Howie walked up. The three men stood there watching two ambulances disappear down the street oblivious to the chaos still around them, their thoughts only on the occupants as they sent up a silent prayer.