Title: Buried
author: Cindy Ryan
notes and summary: See part one
The rest of the week passed slowly and uneventfully. Lucy was able to briefly call her parents and let them know she was safe and alright. Lucy felt her strength returning and was glad for it. She wanted to be part of the defense and not one to be protected.
On a tuesday morning Tim got a call from Grey. After getting permission he put it on speaker as he and Lucy sat in the living room.
"Dr. Adams has requested both of you come in for a follow up."Grey explained. "He wants to make sure everything is healing as it should."
"Thought the hospital understood the circumstances."Tim protested. "We're going to need somebody to come to us."
"Doctors stopped making house calls a hundred years ago."Lucy pointed out.
"Adams is insistant and I agree with him. Besides both of you have been cooped up and there hasn't been any incidents in the last few days."Grey responded.
"Not even with Jackson?"Lucy inquired worriedly.
"No."Grey affirmed. "Nothing on social media either."
"Has Adams been checked out?"Tim asked grimly. "This could be part of something to lure Lucy out."
"Tim."Lucy protested with a shake of her head. "That's not..."
"One parking ticket in fifteen years; other wise squeaky clean."Grey interjected. "Appointment's at three. Escort will arive an hour before. I'd also like you to come to the station after; brainstorm."
"Copy that."Tim acknowledged as Grey ended the call.
Tim still didn't like it. He hoped that was just because of the shooting that happened the last time they were there. He doubted it; his instincts were screaming. Then again maybe Grey was right. They'd been dealing with nothing but this threat for days. A hand on his right arm drew Tim from his thoughts. He looked over to see Lucy concern in her brown eyes.
"This is a good thing, Tim."Lucy stated quietly. "Could even be an end of your body guard duties if things stay quiet."
Tim nodded trying to put the worry aside. He wasn't sure he succeeded.
"Maybe."Tim agreed reluctantly. "Come on, let's find something for lunch."
By four thirty Lucy was relieved things had gone smoothly. Nobody seemed to have followed them from the safe house to the hospital. She and Tim were seen by different doctors to speed up the process. Lucy and her escort of Officer Mark Thompson were supposed to meet Tim in a service corridor near the main lobby. From there they'd go out a side exit. Lucy had just finished her appointment and was saying goodbye to Dr. Adams when the fire alarm began to sound through out the hospital. It was quickly followed by instructions over the PA system.
Lucy looked up and down the hall for Thompson and didn't see the older blond man. She caught the attention of one of Dr. Adams's nurses's.
"Did you see where Officer Thompson went?"Lucy asked raising her voice slightly to be heard over the controlled chaos.
"He asked where he could get coffee."The red haired young woman replied nodding to the right."There's a few vending machines down there."
"Thanks."Lucy responded as she headed in that direction.
As soon as the fire alarm started to scream Tim felt a knot in his stomach. He glanced at Dr. Young who shook his head.
"Probably just a drill."Young commented.
"Yeah."Tim muttered as he stepped into the hall.
Tim grabbed the left arm of his escort Chris Donovan and motioned to his radio.
"Call Thompson; I want a twenty on Chen."Tim ordered.
The young African-American nodded and started speaking into his radio. Thirty seconds later the knot in Tim's stomach tightened as Donovan shook his head.
"Thompson's not answering."Donovan reported grimly.
"Keep trying."Tim commanded sharply as he pulled out his cell phone.
He hit Lucy's speed dial and raised the device to his right ear as he and Donovan started towards the floor above where Lucy's appointment had been.
"Come on boot, answer."Tim said as they thread through the crowd.
"She might not be able to hear it."Donovan suggested.
Tim ended the call and hit redial as Donovan continued to try to raise Thompson. He hoped he was being paranoid about this, but Tim had a sinking feeling he wasn't.
Lucy found the break room the nurse had mentioned but there was no sign of Thompson. She felt her phone vibrating in her pocket and went to grab it. She moved back into the hall and looked at the screen relieved to see Tim's name on the caller ID. Lucy answered on the fourth ring noting the previoius missed call.
"Tim?"Lucy began.
"Where are you?"Tim demanded. "Donovan can't raise Thompson on the radio."
"I can't find him; he went for coffee."Lucy explained. "I'm in the breakroom to the right of Adam's office."
"Stay there we're almost to you."Tim ordered.
"Alright."Lucy responded as she stood in the doorway. "I..."
Lucy broke off as a strong arm wrapped around her neck from behind. She'd been standing sideways in the doorway scanning the crowded hall for her T.O. As the phone fell away from Lucy's hand she heard Tim call her name.
Relief flooded Tim as he spotted his rookie in a doorway on the left side of the hall. She had the phone to her right ear.
"Stay there, we're almost to you."Tim ordered as he shouldered through the crowd.
"Alright."Lucy replied. "I..."
Tim cursed as Lucy's sentence was cut off. He saw a tall brown haired white man with a beard and built like a bouncer grab his partner in a choke hold.
"Call for backup!"Tim ordered Donovan.
Tim pulled his weapon from the waistband of his pants and silently cursed the crowd. There were too many people.
"LAPD!"Tim shouted. "Let her go!"
People became aware of the situation. Someone screamed. Most quickly moved to a safer location. The fire alarm continued to bouncer wanna-be smirked and began to drag Chen backwards towards a stairway. Tim ran to them gun still raised. No way in hell the guy was getting Lucy off this floor.
"Stop!"Tim yelled. "LAPD!"
The man reached the stairs and began to shoulder open the door. Lucy took that opportunity to elbow him hard in the stomach. The bouncer wanna-be gasped and released his hold slightly. Lucy worked herself free and kicked her attacker in the right shin. The man cursed and recaptured Chen but his hold wasn't as strong. Lucy broke free just as Tim and Donovan reached them.
"You're under arrest!"Tim stated angrily.
The man hit Donovan with a sharp right hook sending the younger man sprawling into Tim. Tim lost his balance and he tumbled into Lucy sending them all into a heap on the floor. Next thing Tim knew the man was through the door of the stairway and gone. Tim heard Donovan radioing an update to dispatch. Tim disentangled himself and turned to Lucy to find her leaning back against the wall her face ashen and brown eyes wide. She was taking in large gulps of air.
"You hurt?"Tim asked anxiously.
Lucy shook her head. Tim looked at Donovan.
"Go after him!"Tim ordered crisply.
The youth nodded and quickly ran into the stairway the attacker had entered a few minutes before. As much as Tim wanted to join Donovan his priority was Lucy's safety. He had to get her somewhere secure. Gently Tim helped his rookie to her feet. The color was returning to Lucy's face which Tim was grateful to see.
"Come on."Tim said as he led them into the crowd.
Tim kept Lucy close to him as they made their way to the service hallway and the side exit where the LAPD unmarked vehicle was waiting. He didn't relax fully until they were outside and in the SUV.
"This confirms the leak in the department."Tim commented angrily as he sat in the driver's seat. "Grey said this was a need to know only."
"He didn't say anything, Tim."Lucy said hoarsely. "Just grabbed me from behind."
When Tim got a hold of Thompson it wasn't going to be pretty. The man had a lot to answer for.
"We'll find him."Tim promised as he reached for Lucy when he saw her hands were shaking.
Lucy nodded and Tim covered her hands with his.
"I just want this to stop."Lucy said quietly.
Tim hated the fear in her eyes. Freeing one hand Tim reached over and brushed a hand against Lucy's right cheek.
"I know, so do I."Tim replied softly. "We'll figure this out."
Tim wasn't sure she believed him. He could only hope they'd have good news soon; they needed some.