Chapter 72
Exasperated, Myles followed Bobby into the room, running into him when he stopped abruptly. Stepping around the tall agent, his heart dropped when he saw the scene in the room. Composure was a Leland family trait, but Myles found it hard to maintain his strength as he forced himself farther into the room.
Carrie and Dale had immediate dropped to their knees beside the dark-haired agent on the floor. Myles struggled to pull his eyes to the women lying in a heap by the far wall. He considered one of those women was his friend and he prayed she was okay.
Glancing at Mike to make sure he was covered, Myles pulled on the first arm he could dislodge from the pile. The light brown haired woman jerked back, her arms flying up defensively between them as she searched his face.
Myles immediately recognized her from the pictures as Kayla Jarrett and figured it would be useless to try to talk to her. She could probably understand him with time, but with all that she'd been through, he felt it would be better to have someone who could talk to her in her language. Matt! he thought, recalling seeing the young man when they came barreling through the hallway earlier.
"Matt!" Myles hollered, turning briefly towards the door. "Someone get Matt in here. He was in the hallway with Agent Williams."
Turning back to Kayla, he smiled and pointed at his vest, saying, "F.B.I." He waited for her to nod her understanding, and then pointed at her and signed, O-K, proud that he remembered at least that from all the times Sue tried to teach him signs.
Concern lined Myles face when Kayla pointed to her shoulder, where a dark patch of blood stained her sweater from a single gunshot wound. It didn't look too serious, though he could tell the young woman was in a lot of pain.
Myles face quickly turned from concern to shock when the woman pulled open her sweater, revealing the bomb strapped to her body. His eyes widened as mind reeled over the new development, since they never expected anything like this when they came in.
"Bobby," he choked, putting his hands on the woman's arms gently, trying to keep his face as neutral as possible. The last thing he needed to do was to scare her even more than she was.
"Bobby, we've got a bomb!" Myles called over his shoulder, relieved when the Aussie moved swiftly to his side. Bobby had experience with bomb disposal in S.W.A.T., so Myles hoped he could take care of it quickly.
Matt had joined them also, so Myles moved out of the way, letting Bobby take his place. Seeing Kayla and Matt smile with relief at each other, Myles knew the young woman was going to be okay.
Turning back to the others, Myles saw Sue being helped up, with Mike's arm carefully around her as she staggered to her feet. Seeing the blood covering the front of her robe, Myles rushed to her side.
"Sue," Myles touched her arm gently, kicking himself when she jumped. "Sorry, you okay?" he questioned when she looked up at him.
"Yeah," Sue replied shakily. "Girsvin?"
"Dead," Mike stated from beside her.
"She's dead," Myles repeated, knowing Sue couldn't have seen what he said. The varying emotions, from regret to anger, that flashed across Sue's face surprised the two men.
The woman has been stalking her and just tried to kill her, but Sue is standing there feeling sorry for her, Myles thought in amazement. This woman is incredible.
Not one normally to show his emotions in front of others, Myles pulled Sue into a gentle hug, careful of her soreness. Over her shoulder, he told Mike that Kayla would need medical attention, and he would personally take care of getting Sue checked out.
"Sue!" Myles heard Tara cry from just inside the door and reluctantly released the trembling blonde. Keeping his arm around her waist, he turned pointing in the direction of Tara, mouthing her name so Sue knew she was coming.
Myles watched as the two women hugged, hoping that Tara could keep Sue occupied while Jack was loaded onto a gurney and taken out of the room. Unfortunately, that wasn't going to happen as the ever-observant Sue saw the medical team working to stabilize the dark-haired agent before moving him.
"Jack," she whispered, pushing away from Tara and Myles stumbling to his side.
Seeing her take Jack's hand, Myles watched her struggle with the tears threatening to spill over as she looked at his pale face. Taking her by shoulders, Myles wrapped his arms around her comfortingly.
"Let them do their jobs, Sue," Myles told her, lifting her chin so she'd look it him when he spoke. "He's lost a lot of blood, and they need to take him to surgery," he said.
Cradling her in his arms, Myles looked over as Tara and Bobby joined them. The friends stood there, consoling each other as they watched Jack being wheeled from the room.
Chapter 73
The first floor of the hospital was buzzing with activity as scores of DCPD and F.B.I. agents intermingled with the medical staff and patients. Two F.B.I. agents escorted a young man through the throng of people towards the bank of elevators against the far wall. While dark circles hollowed out his hazel eyes, the man's face was a mixture of relief and exhaustion as he rubbed his hand across his fuzzy, unkempt chin.
"Your wife is going to be fine, Mr. Jarrett," Katherine reassured him as the elevator doors slid closed behind them. "She'll probably need some counseling, but we can help get that set up if she wants it," she offered.
"But you said Kayla needed surgery?" he questioned, his shoulders hunched as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. He couldn't wait until he could use those hands to pull his wife close, to talk to her himself, and to make sure she was truly going to be okay.
"It's just minor surgery, but they are waiting for you to see her before they start," Katherine explained, glancing briefly at D who'd been quiet since they'd gotten the call about Kayla and Jack's injuries.
"What did that woman do to her?" the man sighed, closing his eyes as his emotions threatened to overwhelm him.
"Mr. Jarrett," D started, waiting for the young man to look over. "Kyle, your wife was shot," D told him, placing his hand on the man's shoulder.
"Shot!" Kyle cried, sinking back against the elevator wall. Both Katherine and D reach for the man, but he waved them off, struggling back to stand unsteadily on his feet.
"I'm sorry, Kyle. I know this must be hard," D sympathized, his hand on the younger man's shoulder.
"Are you married, Agent Gans?" Kyle asked, looking at D with sad eyes.
"Yes, I am," D replied quietly, unsure of the other man's line of questioning.
"Value every second you have with your wife, Agent Gans," he stated, his voice ominous but sincere. "The time is so precious, and you never know when you may lose it," he sighed, shuffling his feet as he dropped his gaze to the floor. "I almost lost the chance to tell my wife how much she means to me, how much I need her in my life, how she is my life..." Kyle swallowed hard as his voice cracked emotionally.
"You've been given a second chance to tell her," Katherine stated as the elevator doors opened on the surgical floor.
Kyle met the petite agent's blue eyes for a moment before nodding, allowing her to lead them out of the elevator. The heels of Katherine's low-heeled boots echoed harshly down the hallway as they made their way towards the nurse's station.
Passing the surgical waiting room, her steps slowed when she saw a group of familiar agents lining the room. Glancing over her shoulder at D, Katherine knew the agents were waiting for news about Jack and figured D probably wanted to be there too.
"Go ahead, D," Katherine murmured softly, seeing the way the older agent looked longingly at the room. "I'll take Mr. Jarrett to see his wife and be right back," she offered.
"Thanks, Kat," D smiled, squeezing her shoulder appreciatively. With a brief nod to Kyle, he disappeared into the waiting room.
"I'm sorry I've caused so much pain," Kyle sighed as they continued down the hallway with Katherine.
"What happened wasn't your fault!" Katherine insisted, turning him to look at her. "You and Kayla were just pawns in a mad woman's very sick plan. Neither of you did anything wrong," she took both of his large hands in hers.
"I should have gotten help when Kayla first disappeared, but I thought she'd be brought back and everything would be okay when I got those papers," Kyle groaned wryly. "I was so afraid they were going to find out the papers were fake and I'd never see my wife again," he sobbed as the petite agent comforted him.
"We know," Katherine reassured him. "You were just trying to protect your wife. You did what you had to so she would stay safe…anyone would do that for someone they loved," she said. "Your wife is lucky to have you."
"No, I'm lucky to have her," Kyle corrected her firmly. "Thank you," he sniffed as they continued down the hallway again. Just before they reach the nurse's station, Kyle stopped again abruptly. "Will I go to jail?" he asked panicked.
"You never really took any confidential documents, but you were involved in the kidnapping of Agent Hudson, Ms. Thomas, and Mr. Meyers," Katherine informed him, watching his face drop at the news.
"I understand," Kyle muttered sadly, his shoulders sagging.
"However," she added quickly, "under the circumstances, we'll be talking to the A-USA on your behalf so any charges, if filed at all, will be minimal, as long as you continue to cooperate," Katherine smiled, hoping the news would reassure the young man.
"Oh, I will. Thank you," Kyle released the breath he didn't realize he was holding. "I don't know what I've done to deserve your compassion, but thank you," his face finally breaking into a grin for the first time in weeks.
"You're welcome," Katherine replied. "Now let's go see your wife. I think she's waited long enough to see you."
Katherine turned approaching the nurse's station, flashing her badge to ask to be directed to where Kayla waited. Making sure Kyle followed, Katherine led him to the curtained area the nurse indicated.
Pulling back the blue material, Katherine saw Matt sat at Kayla's beside. However, from the look on Kyle's face he only saw the brunette Matt was signing to.
Hearing them come in, Matt pointed in their direction and watched as Kayla's face lit up like sunshine when she saw her husband standing at the foot of her bed. Matt stepped away from the bed, but it was evident to all who watched that Kyle and Kayla only saw each other as tears of joy streamed down their faces.
Chapter 74
As Katherine and Matt slipped from the room, Kyle slow circled the bed to his wife's side, touching her as if he thought she'd disappear. When he realized she was not one of his many dreams that he'd had over and over during the last several weeks, he pulled her tenderly into his strong arms.
Dropping to sit next to her on the bed, Kyle held her to him, never wanting to let her go again. Her cheeks wet with tears, Kayla's face crumpled as she held onto him with her one good hand. They stayed in each other's arms for several minutes though it seemed like a matter of seconds compared to the time they'd been apart.
Remembering her need for surgery, Kyle reluctantly released his wife, his fingers tracing her jaw as he gently laid her back against the pillow. It was then that he noticed the bulky while gauze stained with blood on her shoulder, peeking out from under her hospital gown.
HURT MUCH YOU? He signed his eyes meeting hers with a questioning look. Kyle stroked her hair concerned as he waited patiently for her to respond.
NOT NOW NO, Kayla signed reassuringly. B-U-L-L-E-T NOT OUT, HIT BONE. P-H-Y-S-I-C-A-L-T-H-E-R-A-P-Y ME NEEED, she took a short breath, the pain evident as she inhaled. ME O-K ME, she smiled.
THANK GOD, Kyle signed, relief and joy filling him as his smiled down at her. He brushed a stray hair back from her forehead, leaning in to place a kiss in its path.
GOOD LUCK ME HAVE, Kayla sighed when he leaned back again. POETRY YOU-ME SEE? REMEMBER S-U-E? she asked, her eyes questioning.
REMEMBER ME YES, Kyle nodded, placing his hands in her lap as she talked. His need to touch her was overwhelming.
FRIEND S-U-E HURT BAD HIM, Kayla cried, the tears threatening again. MY LIFE HE SAVED, finally giving into the tears.
SWEETHEART, HAPPY ME-HIM HELP, Kyle pulled her back into a gentle embrace, his hands caressing her back soothingly.
Closing his eyes, her weeping echoed through his head as he thought of how much his wife had been through because of that mad woman. When her sobs finally died away, Kayla slowly pushed out of his arms, lying exhausted against the pillow.
K-A-Y-L-A, MEAN MUCH ME-YOU, Kyle gazed longingly at his wife. ME LOSE YOU, NOT KNOW ME. ME VERY SAD, the love he felt was evident in his eyes as he looked into her eyes.
MANY PROBLEMS ME MAKE, Kayla shook her head disbelievingly. I NOT HELP WHAT YOU NEED, she threw her hands up sighing. WOMAN TAKE ME, ME LET, ME NOT GET WAY.
NO, Kyle shook his head firmly cupping her chin making sure she was watching him. PROBLEM HAPPEN BECAUSE ME NOT THERE FOR YOU, he signed, dropping his head for a moment before continuing. YOU GONE, ME KNOW HOW MUCH ME NEED YOU.
Tears spilled from Kayla's eyes as she tapped a "K" to her chin. Kyle tenderly brushed his thumbs across her cheeks, wiping the wetness away as he struggled with his own feelings.
WITHOUT YOUR KISS, WITHOUT YOUR TOUCH, WITHOUT YOUR LOVING ARMS AND FAITH FOR ME, APART ME FALL, Kyle signed his emotions bubbling to the surface as he saw the love mirrored in her eyes. MY WORLD, MEAN NOTHING WITHOUT YOU, he told her as he leaned forward, his lips brushing hers in a soft, warm kiss that melted them from two into one.