Chapter 48
Jack paced the floor of small room that had become his cell. An old freezer in a meatpacking plant on the east side, he was thankful the cooling system no longer worked. However, the steel walls and heavy metal door effectively imprisoned him in this relatively sound-proof tomb.
According to his watch, Kyle Jarrett and his accomplice had left him here over two hours ago and hadn't been back. He didn't know what their plans were, but all he could do now is wait. Hoping an opportunity would present itself when they returned, if they did, Jack sat down on some boxes by the wall.
A short time later, he heard the welcomed sound of the freezer door being unlocked. He moved next to the door, his back to the wall hoping to get the jump on his 'visitors'. When the door opened, he grabbed the first person through, his arm raised ready to strike.
"Sue?" His heart leaped into this throat when he recognized her.
Pulling her into his arms, he turned again towards the door seeing Troy being shoved inside by Jarrett. Flanked by his accomplice, Jarrett pointed his gun at them, almost daring them to try something. With Sue tucked against his side and Troy next to her, Jack glared back at the two men as they pushed heavy door shut again.
Alone, Jack tilted his head down to look at the blonde in his arms ready to yell at her. As soon as he saw her pale face, his reprimand flew out of his head. Tightening his arm around her, he ran his fingers down her cheek pushing her hair back from her face.
"Are you okay?" Jack asked breathlessly. Gasping when she fainted, he caught her in his arms and gently lowered her to the floor. "Sue?" he called his hand cupping her face.
Glancing at Troy as he knelt beside them, Jack could see the concern in the other man's eyes. He wanted to yell at Troy too for letting her come here, but he knew Troy had just as much trouble as he did telling Sue 'no'.
HERE NOW HOW, Jack signed with his free hand to Troy cradling Sue's limp body his other arm.
FIND-YOU. LEAVE HOSPITAL HER ME. DISAPPEAR-YOU. WORRY-HER, Troy replied.
LEAVE HOSPITAL HER. BAD-HER, Jack responded frustrated. When he got into the van earlier with Jarrett, his thoughts were about seeing Sue again so he was glad he got that opportunity. However, she was in no condition to be here, which was clearly evident after watching her pass out on him.
KNOW YOU LEAVE ANYONE. B-O-B-B-Y. M-Y-L-E-S. ANYONE, Jack questioned hopefully. Seeing Troy shake his head NO, Jack couldn't help the overwhelming feeling of dread that washed over him.
No one knew they were here, he thought regretfully to himself. Now instead of just him, Jarrett had three people. Looking down at the still unconscious Sue, Jack thought, And one that can't defend herself.
Chapter 49
The veil of darkness gradually began to lift from around her. Her body was so fatigued all she wanted to do was surrender to it. However, she fought against the need for sleep, struggling to open her eyes.
Slowly, Sue forced her eyes open, gasping slightly when she saw a pair of dark eyes gazing down at her. Can he really be here? she thought to herself. Am I dreaming?
"Jack?" she lift her hand, disbelieving her own eyes. "It's really you," she breathed in awe when she touched his face. Tears streamed down her face as she caressed his cheek with her hand.
"Sue," Jack choked, pulling her tightly against him. Burying his face into her soft hair, he let her sob out her relief in finding him. Her hands found their way to his shoulders, clinging to him, afraid to let go.
Finally, her tears eased and she pushed away from his chest. She ran her fingers through his dark hair, wanting to touch him as it still didn't seem real to her.
"I thought I lost you," Sue whispered, battling the overwhelming emotions.
"I'm here now," Jack groaned. O-K YOU, he questioned, searching her face frantically.
"Yes, now that I've found you," she sighed, her eyes never leaving his face as she struggled to sit up.
Movement out of the corner of her eye had her glancing away reluctantly. Troy knelt beside her ,his eyes shifting worriedly back and forth between Sue and Jack. Seeing him brought back the severity of the situation.
Troy and Sue hadn't made it very far from the hospital when a dark van pulled up beside them on the street. Troy had immediately recognized the driver and tried to get Sue out of the way. Unfortunately, the two men in the van moved faster than they did and easily shoved them into the back.
With his street smarts, Troy had wanted to do something, but he couldn't risk Sue getting hurt knowing that she was still weak from being in the hospital. Instead, he waited and watched. hoping to be able to find a way out.
On the other hand, Sue sat patiently beside him, her eyes shifting back and forth between the driver and the other man. As time passed, her body started slowly shutting down as she began realizing leaving the hospital might not have been the best thing. By the time they arrived at her destination, she had to lean heavily against Troy as they were ushered into the building.
Now while they had found Jack, Troy and Sue had also ended up locked up with him. At least everyone was still alive, and it gave them hope. Now they just had to come up with a way to get out of there.
Chapter 50
Inside the old abandoned warehouse, the freezer was quiet, with the mood of those locked inside somber. While Sue had accomplished her purpose of finding Jack, she didn't know what they'd do now that they were all locked up together.
Sue leaned into Jack's shoulder as they sat on the floor, propped against the wall with his arm around her. Troy sat next to them, his eyes scanning the room.
Suddenly, Troy jumped up, startling Sue and Jack with his movement. Watching him move to the other side of the room, they wondered silently what had gotten his attention. They had started to get up, when Troy turned around, quickly coming back towards them.
"What?" Jack nudged Sue to ask. He watched Troy and Sue sign back and forth so fast, not picking up much of anything.
"He said one of us can crawl out the vent to get help," Sue told him as she began, struggling to her feet.
"But it's too small," Jack replied, taking her arm to gently pull her back down on the floor beside him.
"Maybe for you and Troy, but not for me," Sue declared, pushing herself up off the floor. She stumbled slightly as her legs gave way, but Troy was quick to move, catching her before she fell. Signing THANK-YOU, she pushed herself out of his arms.
"No, you're still too weak," Jack admonished as he stood up beside her.
WEAK YOU. REST YOU NEED, Troy signed, the concern evident on his face.
"It's the only way out," Sue insisted, moving gingerly over to just below the covered vent.
"We'll find another way out," Jack maintained, turning her back towards him.
"Jack, I can do it," Sue maintained, her eyes pleading. "You've got to trust me."
"I do trust you," Jack confirmed, pulling her to him in a tight embrace. "Okay, well, we need something to remove the screws," he said, releasing her looking around the room.
"I've got an idea," Sue smiled mischievously.
Jack turned back to her, his eyes widening as he saw what she was doing. Troy had been trying to follow the conversation to no avail, but his eyes locked with Jack's, then turned back to Sue as she reached under her shirt. Sue laughed aloud nervously as she saw the look of confusion and shock on the men's faces.
"Hey, I knew there had to be another reason for these things other than digging into you," she grinned, a light blush on her cheeks as she pulled the wire out of her bra.
"Ah, um, okay," Jack stammered, taking the wire she offered. His mouth dropped open as he stared at the stiff wire in his fingers. Despite his efforts, Jack couldn't get his mind from wondering aimlessly to where she had gotten it.
"Close your mouth, Jack," Sue teased as she brushed passed him.
Clamping his mouth shut, Jack stared after her, a slight tinge of pink covering his cheeks. Glancing at Troy, he raised his eyebrows in disbelief before following Sue to the wall.
Moving her carefully to the side by placing his hands on her upper arms, Jack stretched up to twist the wire into the screws hoping to get them out. Taking a deep breath, he could almost feel the electricity shooting through his fingertips from when he touched her.
Slowly but surely, each screw dropped out of its place in the covering, hitting the floor with a ping only Jack could hear. Troy stepped forward to help Jack slide the heavy metal plate to the floor.
"Are you sure?" Jack questioned again as Sue moved between them. He raised his hand to brush a stray hair back from her face, letting his fingers entwine themselves into her silky tresses.
"I'll be fine," Sue maintained, placing her soft hand on his cheek, feeling the scruffy whiskers that had formed during the last couple of hours.
She gazed lovingly into his dark eyes and for a moment everything around them disappeared. No longer were they locked in an old freezer possibly waiting to die. They were together and no one could touch them.
Jack cupped his hand around the back of her head, using his fingers to pull her close. His lips brushed hers lightly, wanting to keep her in that moment forever. Her hands moved to his shoulders, sliding up to twist into the hair at his collar as she leaned into him. They slowly pulled apart, their hearts pounding in their chests, in time with each other.
"I better get going," Sue whispered, her fingers caressing his strong jaw. "Before anyone comes back," she told him, unable to hide the regret in her eyes.
She didn't want to let him out of her sight again, afraid that she would never see him again. However, Sue knew she had to do this as she was their only hope for escaping.
Turning, she saw Troy standing by the wall, obviously trying to give them some privacy as he stared at a spot on the floor. Remembering the kiss she just shared with Jack, Sue could feel the heat once again rising to her cheeks.
With a quick sideways glance at Jack, she touched his arm, letting him know it was okay to look again. Looking between the two as they stood below the opening, ready to lift her up, Sue could see the concern etched into their faces.
"I'll be careful," Sue signed, her words holding special meaning for Jack. UP, she signed to Troy.
Troy bent over, cupping his hands for her to step into so he could boost her up. Her hands on the wall ready to step up, she felt Jack's hand on her arm. Looking over, tears sprung to her eyes as she saw his hand pointed towards her, his middle and ring fingers cupped into his palm with the others outstretched.
"I love you too," Sue smiled, her eyes taking in his features one last time before letting Troy lift her up towards the tiny vent opening.
Jack helped steady her as she ducked her head into the darkness. Pushing her forward, the two men watched helplessly as she disappeared into the wall. Glancing over at Troy, Jack couldn't squelch the worry he felt inside.
Chapter 51
As the gray darkness swallowed her, Sue could feel her breaths quicken as she pulled herself into the tight space. She could barely see her hands in front of her face as she felt her way along the cold metal.
She'd gone several yards when she paused, closing her eyes as she struggled to control the anxiety building inside her. A wave of dizziness washed over her as her heart pounded in her chest.
Please, I've got to do this, she pleaded, groaning as she laid her head against the coolness of the vent wall. "Jack," she moaned quietly.
She flashed back to a moment so long ago with Jack sitting next to her in the hospital when Levi got shot.
I know you've had to prove yourself over and over again. But you know what? You've done it. It's time for you to accept that you're a warm, funny, caring, beautiful person. Every time you touch someone's life…you make it better…including mine.
She remembered how touched she was at those words as if it was yesterday. Even back then, when he'd only known her for a few days, he believed in her.
I love you, Jack, Sue whispered, lifting her head as she opened her eyes.
The space around her didn't feel quite as confining as she told herself she could do it. She had to believe in herself. With renewed energy, she pulled herself farther along in the tiny tunnel.
Without notice, she felt the vent widen in front of her. Pulling herself forward, she almost wanted to cry out when she saw the glimmer of light to her left.
Twisting her body around the corner, Sue moved quickly into the new tunnel, her eyes never leaving the light, afraid it would disappear if she blinked. The expanded space allowed her to move faster down the vent towards what she felt was their means of escape. Suddenly, everything shifted under her and she gasped, looking down into the darkness at the metal beneath her fingers. Her heart hammering, she didn't know whether to continue forward or go back.
Sue glanced back up as the vent moved again. The opening wasn't that far so she forced herself forward, her fear propelling her.
She screamed as the metal collapsed plunging her downward. Falling, Sue saw a hint of light as she bounced off the metal beams, colliding with the concrete floor before slipping into a different kind of darkness.