Complications, chapter 11

The teams separated, jogging the couple of blocks that still remained between their drop off location and the building. Jack led his men to the rear of the building where Lewis detonated a small charge, gaining them entrance through the previously locked rear door. The sound attracted the attention of the guard allowing Baker enough time to approach undetected and to render him unconscious with the butt of his weapon.

Focussed on the task at hand, Jack didn't spend any time thinking of the men at the front of the building, trusting in their abilities. He paused briefly, allowing his eyes to adjust to the meagre light filtering in through dirty windows that lined the cavernous ceiling. He chafed at the time spent, but knew it was necessary. His instincts were quickly confirmed when he realized that a plastic bin filled with small pieces of scrap metal lay at his feet, only a step or two in front of him.

Referencing the layout provided by Tony, he silently motioned each man in opposite directions. Leaving them to sweep the exterior walls of the massive room, he moved cautiously across the centre, heading to a hallway that he couldn't see, trusting the information in hand. He moved around a rusting, bulky piece of machinery and made out the edges of a door, lined by light from behind.

Quickening his approach, he knew he wouldn't wait for them to complete their sweep before proceeding. They knew where he was headed and would back him up once they'd ensured that there were no concerns from the rear. He silently tested the handle to see if it was locked. Thanking whoever was listening that it wasn't, he opened the door slightly, squinting into the light and trying to see if anyone was in the immediate area before entering.

Finding the hallway beyond the door empty, he quietly closed the door behind him. The hallway intersected with another about twenty feet ahead of him and from the infrared analysis, he hoped that the first room off of the left branch held Kate. A door slammed in that direction and then Tony's voice filled his ear.

"Jack! Hector just ran into the room with Kate. He knows you're there."

Jack raced down the hall and around the corner, slamming into the first door, finding it locked. Using all his strength, he booted the door where the lock held it in place. It held firm after the first and second tries, finally splintering after the third. His years of training prevented him from racing in as it flew inward. Bullets lodged themselves into the wall beside the door, bullets that would have lodged in him had he followed the door inward.

"Jack, you've got the right room." Tony's experience and Hector's video allowed him to relay to Jack everything that he couldn't see. "There's a desk in the far left corner and Hector is right in front of it. He's got a bad view of the doorway because of the door, but he's got Kate right in front of him. There's no way you're going to be able to shoot him without risking hurting her, Jack."

Tony's assessment gave Jack a very clear picture of what was in the room, but a part of him wished it hadn't. This was the one thing he hadn't wanted to happen. Now Hector was using Kate as both a shield and a hostage. His leverage over Jack had just increased exponentially.

"Hector, I know you're in there and I know you have Kate," Jack began. "I'm coming in. Don't hurt her."

"Come in here and I'll shoot you. Then I'll shoot her."

"Hector, listen, I just want to talk to you. Let's not do this through a wall."

"Somehow I don't believe that you came all this way for a little chat." Hector twisted Kate's arm further behind her back, causing her to cry out in pain. "Slide your gun through the doorway, and maybe I'll let you come in and say goodbye to your girlfriend."

Jack swallowed the rage that surged within him at Kate's cry. He didn't know how he was going to get them out of this situation and wished he had just gone ahead with the exchange instead. Switching the safety on his gun, he slid it through the doorway.

"Alright, Jack," Hector called once the weapon had slid across the floor to opposite part of the room. "You can come in, but slowly. And hold your hands apart and in front of you as you enter."

Jack moved through the doorway, following Hector's orders, taking in the view that was already in his mind's eye. He stood, as Tony had indicated, against the far wall with Kate blocking most of his body. He held her left arm, twisted behind her back, securing her effectively in front of him. His gun pressed against her temple and fresh blood traced a path down her right cheek. Her eyes met Jack's as he entered and the terror and desperation he found there delivered a crushing blow against his chest.

"Move to your left," Hector ordered. As Jack moved, Hector shuffled himself and Kate in the opposite direction, moving them closer to both Jack's gun and the doorway.

"Hector, please, let her go." Jack struggled for a reason to delay them and a plan to free them.

"Come on, Jack. You know I can't do that. There's no way I'll get out of here without her."

"You could take me instead of her. It's the same thing. It's better. I'm part of the government."

"You're right, Jack, I could. But why would I?" He pulled her left arm a little higher and pressed the muzzle of his gun back against her temple. "She's so much easier to handle. Right, Kate?"

"Let me go, you bastard!" Kate yelled in response, struggling despite the pain it caused her.

Hector jerked her arm further, subduing her efforts easily, and pulled the safety back on the gun he held. "Don't make me regret my choice, Kate. Like Jack said, I can still use him to get out of here. I don't need you anymore."

At the same time, Tony's voice whispered in Jack's ear. Baker had found his way to the room and was just outside the doorway, positioned on the same side of the door as Kate and Hector, just on the other side of the wall. He didn't have a clear shot of Hector, but would if he continued along his current path to the door and if Kate moved out of the way.

Jack wondered how to communicate to her that she needed to be prepared to move without tipping off their communication to Hector. He held her gaze without blinking until he saw the slight crease of her brows, letting him know that she noticed that he was purposefully not looking away. Then, for barely an instant, he flicked his gaze to the doorway that stood almost behind her, meeting her eyes again steadily. He watched as he eyes widened slightly, telling him that she understood that something was going to happen and she needed to be prepared. His eyes danced to the floor and then to hers again. She closed hers, he hoped in response.

"Listen, Hector, just let her go and take me instead. My partner already has your brother and is on his way to Griffith Park. He'll trade Ramon for me. Just put her down and take me instead."

Jack hoped that Baker had picked up on his careful wording and realized that Kate was going to go down as soon as they could divert Hector's attention. Tensing inside, he tried to anticipate what diversion Baker would supply. Hector had just moved fully in front of the doorway and was about to back out of it.

Suddenly, Kate cried out in pain. Her right arm wrapped around her abdomen and her knees gave out. She sunk quickly to the floor, wrenching her shoulder as her rapid descent caused her to injure herself further before Hector's grip slackened. She fell forward, barely catching herself with her good arm in time. The gun shot broke the silence followed by a dull, thud as Hector's body landed behind her.

Jack raced to her side, babbling about how she had scared him, trying to help her rise, not realizing that her pain was real. All her pent up emotions burst forth and tears streamed down her face while she weakly slapped his hands away with her free left hand.

"Kate? This is real, Kate? You really are having a contraction?"

"No, you idiot! I'm just trying to sell my performance. Of course it's real."

Silenced, he knelt beside her, prepared to offer her the physical support he knew she would need. He pushed his left hand into hers and wrapped his right arm across her back, gripping her shoulder firmly. Her contraction eased and her breathing slowed. With his help, she raised herself up to her knees. She wiped the tears from her face as he moved in front of her.

The corner of her mouth turned up slightly as she said, sheepishly: "I suppose I could use a hand up now."

Jack placed his hands on either side of her face, brushing with his thumbs at the tears that continued to fall. "Kate," he said softly, his voice thick with emotion, "Are you okay, Kate? I was so scared. I was so worried about you and about our son. I'm so sorry I did this to you. I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm…"

The mantra caught in his throat as tears tracked a pathway down his cheeks. She reached a hand up to brush them away. He moved his hands from her face, wrapping his arms around her and crushing her up against him. It took only a moment for her to return his embrace with as much strength as she could.

A/N: Sorry for the short chapter, but I felt that alot had already happened in this chapter and I didn't need to go on before posting. Don't worry, this isn't the end. There are still a few more complications to deal with:)But there won't be any further updates until next year;) Happy new year everyone!