Chapter 45

Worry over not knowing where Tara was ate him alive as the tall Aussie lay in the hospital bed. He wouldn't accept any pain medication, knowing that its side effect would probably make him sleepy. He wanted to make sure he was awake in case they found out anything on Tara.

She's got to be all right, Bobby pleaded silently. I don't know what I'd do if I lost her, he sighed as he watched the others working to find her.

Jack had slipped easily back into his team leader role, barking orders to the others as he made his own phone calls. Kat and Carlton soon joined them, after Hannah notified them of the Franklin and Tara's disappearance. When they found Colton, Cameron, and Shanna didn't answer their cell phones, the worry intensified.

"There hasn't been any hits off the program Tara installed," Kat informed them, barely looking up from the wireless notebook she held on her lap.

"Great," Jack groaned sarcastically. Since Tara and Franklin's cell phones weren't on, the software had been their only chance at a lead.

"Jack…" Bobby leaned forward anxiously in the bed.

"Don't worry, Crash," Jack strode quickly across the room to ease his best friend back against the pillows. "We'll find her," he promised.

Bobby wanted so much to believe him, but his feelings for Tara were still so new that they clouded his thinking. He'd waited so long to find someone like her, and he was afraid that she'd be taken from him before he had the chance to tell her.

Darcy had been special, as were other girlfriends before her, but he found over the last few weeks, they weren't the same. No one quite understood him – his job, his passions – like Tara.

From the very first day, Tara had worked her way into his life. From her fuzzy pens and that quirky little frog she kept on her desk, she was so different from anyone he'd ever dated. He never expected to fall for her so hard and so fast.

I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you
Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

Now I'm just rolling home
Into my lover's arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

The ringing of a cell phone brought Bobby's attention back to the room. Looking around, he saw Jack flip his open.

"Hudson."

Watching his best friend pale as he spoke low into the phone, Bobby felt like his heart stopped. Please don't let that be bad news about Tara, he prayed, wishing for once that he had even some of Sue's lip reading ability, so he would know what was going on.

"Listen up people," Jack called as he snapped the phone shut. "We've got a lead. That was a cab driver that says he just dropped off a woman fitting Tara's description and claiming to be F.B.I. outside a warehouse in San Antonio," he announced as he ran his hand through his hair, lowering his eyes to the floor.

"San Antonio?" Sue asked, not quite getting what he said when Jack looked down.

"Sorry," Jack signed and said apologetically. "Yes. He said they followed a car from Austin. It stopped in front of a warehouse on Maddox, with a man and woman getting out. Tara instructed him to call me and she followed them."

"Was Franklin with her?" Myles asked curiously.

"No, but he matched the description of the guy they were following," Jack confirmed, then looked at Carlton and Kat. "The woman could have been Shanna," he sighed.

"No!" Kat exclaimed. "She can't be involved in this," she insisted, having been told of their suspicions of Franklin.

"I'm not saying she is, just the description he gave me fits Shanna," Jack held up his hand to ward off any arguing.

"Well, what are we doing waiting around here?" Carlton asked, grabbing his stuff and heading for the door. "We're not going to find out if it was Shanna, or even Wayne, and it's going to take at least forty minutes to get there, even with the benefits of the sirens," he finished, holding the door open to see if anyone was coming with him.

"Twenty," Bobby stated, recalling how fast he got to the hospital after learning of Paul's admittance as he flipped back the covers and swung his legs off the bed.

"Whoa, there Crash," Jack called, stepping over to grab him as Bobby sagged slightly as he tried to stand up. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked, helping him to sit back on the bed.

"I've got to go, Jack," Bobby persisted, looking pleadingly into the dark haired agent's eyes. "What would you do if it was Sue?" he asked, knowing he was playing dirty to get his way.

"Ok, but you stay in the car with Sue," Jack agreed reluctantly, letting the tall Aussie move unsteadily towards the bathroom to pull on some clothes.

Like hell, I'll stay in the car, Bobby swore as he closed the door behind him. Not when Tara might need me! he vowed as he pulled on his jeans under the hospital gown.

(Song: Broken Road by Rascal Flatts)

Chapter 46

The trip back to San Antonio felt like the longest twenty-five minutes of Bobby's life. Even with the sirens enabling them to drive at speeds in excess of ninety miles per hour, it seemed as if they were moving in slow motion.

Carlton drove the lead car with Myles, Kat, and Jack while Hannah followed close on his bumper. Though Sue and Hannah tried to engage him in conversation when they first left the hospital, Bobby was glad he had the backseat to himself. He knew they were trying to keep his mind off Tara, but he was thankful when they finally gave up.

Bobby didn't mean to be rude, but ever since he woke up from the dream, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. She just has to be okay, he prayed silently.

"That's Shanna's car," Hannah muttered from the front seat as they came around the corner finally and saw the car sitting in front of their warehouse destination. "Shanna's car," she repeated after tapping Sue's arm to get her attention, and then pointed toward the car.

Pulling up beside the others a safe distance away, Bobby jumped out of the car almost before it stopped. Jack and Myles quickly grabbed him before the tall Aussie took off towards the warehouse.

"Whoa there, buddy. Where do you think you're going?" Jack asked as they backed his best friend against the car.

"I've got to go find Tara," Bobby insisted, trying to pull away.

"We don't even know if she's in there," Myles persisted, keeping his hand on the other man's arm.

"Myles is right. Let us go check it out," Jack maintained, relieved when Bobby finally sagged against the car. "You're in no condition to go in there," he told him, noticing the way the other man continued to watch the building, his body weary but tense.

"Sue and I will keep an eye on him," Hannah offered as the two women approached, stepping closer to Bobby.

"Think you can handle that," Myles snapped, before turning away quickly. Hannah glared at the tall blonde, obvious to anyone watching that she was doing her best to hold her tongue.

"Okay, you three stay here," Jack agreed, checking his gun. Coming from the hospital, they didn't have time to change into their gear so they were going into this unprotected.

"Be careful," Sue whispered, placing her hand on his arm before he turned away. The look in their eyes as they locked made it evident both of them were remembering the outcome of their last case at the hospital.

"STAY HERE," Jack repeated, signing the words for emphasis.

Reluctantly, Jack joined the others, and they made their way across the street. Myles and Carlton went around one side of the building, while Jack and Kat made their way cautiously around the other end.

Bobby only partially listened to the conversations going on around him. His mind was focused on the building he knew Tara was in. He didn't know how he knew she was there, but he could feel that she was close.

I've got to get in there, he thought, cutting his eyes over to where Hannah spoke with Sue. Seeing both women were not watching him, he casually eased his way around the back end of the car and headed towards the building.

His legs felt wobbly as his feet pounded the pavement, sprinting across the street, but Bobby didn't stop. He heard Hannah call his name, but knew what he had to do as he stumbled into the dark entrance of the building.

His heart stopped when he heard the telltale sounds of gunfire inside the warehouse. Tara! Bobby cried out silently, his hands pulling on the door, trying to get it open.

"Bobby, stop," Hannah whispered quietly as she came up beside him. "Wait."

"I can't wait, Hannah. I know she's in there," Bobby hissed, the shots still echoing in his head as it suddenly went silent inside the building. He continued to pull on the door.

"Bobby!" Hannah grabbed his arm. "Let me help," she asked, her eyes pleading as he glanced down at her.

"We need to find another way in," Bobby nodded, turning away.

"No, wait," Hannah insisted, getting him to turn around. With a sly smile, she pulled out a set of lock picks, much to Bobby's surprise. "What? You think you're the only one who can work magic on a lock?" she smirked, leaning down.

"Impressive," Bobby admitted as the door popped open.

"Just stay behind me, and don't go getting yourself killed," Hannah warned, giving Bobby her back up weapon. Pulling out her gun, she slipped through the entrance before him.

They could hear the voices inside before their eyes adjusted to the darkness. Hannah inched her way around the boxes and crates, listening intently. Bobby ran into her when she suddenly stopped.

"Colton has Tara," Hannah whispered, glaring up at the tall Aussie before peaking around the corner. When he started to go around her, she had to grab Bobby again, pushing him back against the boxes. "Wait. We need to wait until the others get into position, or we could lose it," she cautioned.

Bobby wasn't sure how long he could wait, but he knew Hannah was just trying to make sure no one got hurt. A wave of dizziness passed over him, and he leaned his head back against the crates, straining to hear what was being said.

Tara's cry in pain sent Bobby barreling around the crates, uncaring if anyone was there to back him up. Hannah called out to him, but it was too late. His attention was focused on the petite blonde that had occupied his thoughts for so long.

Rage cursed through him as Bobby saw Colton manhandling the woman he loved. Despite his injuries, he launched himself at the man, just as another gunshot echoed through the warehouse.