Bye Bye Baby
A/N: Sincere and heartfelt thanks to all those who are diligently following this story chapter by chapter and a special word of gratitude to those who leave comments on every update. I appreciate the time it takes and want to let you know how much all your feedback means to me. Apologies for the endless cliffhangers but I hope you can forgive me due to the fact that I am updating daily ... It keeps the story exciting and we are reaching the climax of the action in these next two updates. After that my ending chapters deal with the aftermath and I hope you will all stick with me for those chapters too as I think they tie the whole story up nicely and are worth reading on for ;-)
Chapter 15
Steve dragged himself as quickly as he was able to out the other side of the concrete structure and struggled to stand on his injured leg, having been sitting for so long in the tiny cramped space. His head spun as he finally righted himself and he shook his head to clear the dizziness. His strength was draining fast and he was worried about how long he could last in any confrontation. His legs were shaky at best and were barely holding him up. Holding the wall with his left hand and Elena's gun in his right hand, he heard the hurried footsteps that heralded his tormentor's arrival and staggered backwards holding the gun up towards the direction the footsteps were coming from and noted that his hand was shaking every bit as much as his legs.
As Dmitriy rounded the corner and saw Steve, he stood and laughed again at the pitiful sight of the young Inspector, fevered and sickly and barely able to stand. To Steve's relief he saw no weapon or gun in the Russian's hands and so he called out in a shakier voice than he would have preferred, ignoring the sneering laughter as best he could.
"Don't come any closer or ... I'll shoot."
Again Dmitriy sneered and laughed loudly as he advanced one step closer on purpose like a cat playing with its prey.
"Ah! I see she even gave you her gun as well. How convenient."
"STOP! I'll do it ... I swear I'll shoot ..."
This time the laughter stopped and Dmitriy took one more step forward and spoke in a ridiculing tone.
"My dear Keller. Do you really think that my Boss would be stupid enough to give that little tramp a gun that works so that she might one day use it on HIM? Well? "
Steve's heart sank as he heard Dmitriy's words and he hoped against hope that he was just saying them as a ploy to get him to give up the gun.
"You're ... lying ..."
"If I am, then SHOOT me Keller. PROVE I am lying ..." he challenged, taking another large step closer to where Steve was.
Knowing that Dmitriy would soon be way too close for comfort, Steve pointed the gun at Dmitriy's lower leg and pulled the trigger but nothing happened except for a faint click. Steve tried again but nothing happened as he heard Dmitriy laugh again and he closed his eyes briefly to curse his luck and to wallow in the dire realization that his luck had just officially run out. Mike was never going to get there on time and he wasn't going to fare well against Dmitriy in his current weakened condition. Knowing that pleading for mercy was not going to work either, he flung the gun in Dmitriy's direction, managing to clip the side of the Russian's face with it as he then made one last valiant attempt to get himself and the baby away from the sadistic Russian.
Limping pathetically, he made his way towards the edge of the roof and peered briefly over the small wall at the activity below. He could see the police exchanging gunfire with the Russians inside and knew from the plumes of smoke that tear gas was being used to subdue and to try and gain entry to the building. But he knew it would take far too long and he tried in vain to catch even a brief glimpse of Mike, fearing that it might be his last. To Steve's further dismay he couldn't see him and hearing Dmitriy advancing behind him, he spun around and searched frantically in his pocket again for the small knife that he had procured from Sergei. Finding it, he whipped it out and held it out defensively as he staggered painfully along by the small wall that lined the roof edge trying to keep a comfortable distance between him and his tormentor.
From down below as the shots rang out, Norm happened to glance up and saw what looked like Steve and another person up on the roof. Tapping Mike's shoulder, he yelled at his Lieutenant over the loud gunfire.
"LOOK! Steve's on the roof. Looks like he has unwanted company ..."
Mike glanced up and saw his partner staggering precariously way too close to the edge and someone advancing after him. He frowned helplessly and then scanned the building ahead of him and saw a fire escape off to the left of the building, leading to the roof. Gesturing to Collins, he watched as the other Lieutenant made his way towards him and pulling him down with him out of the gunfire, Mike spoke firmly.
"Our hostages are in trouble on the roof. Can you lay down enough cover fire to let me get over to that fire escape and to get up it to try and help them?"
"You bet we can. The tear gas is starting to do its job ... I think we should be able to breach the building soon and we'll reach you."
Norm grabbed Mike's arm.
"Mike, it's too risky. You could be killed trying that!"
Mike looked Norm square in the eyes and spoke emotionally.
"Norm, Steve's up there and he's badly hurt. If that was Dan up there, would you take that risk? Well?"
Norm's face darkened and he nodded reluctantly.
"Yeah ... yeah I would ... but I'M coming right after you ..."
Mike went to protest but saw the determination in his Sergeant's eyes and knew that arguing was both futile and time wasting so he also reluctantly agreed. Waiting patiently for Collins' signal, he saw Collins give the order and as gunfire burst forth repeatedly, Mike and Norm made a panicked dash towards the fire escape as several bullets barely missed them as they ran. Reaching it they started to climb the metal stairs as Collins and his men continued to draw fire away from them.
Back up on the roof:
There was a visible cut on Dmitriy's brow now and a steady trickle of blood was now running down his face from where Steve had made impact with Elena's small gun and Steve could see the contemptuous anger clearly on the Russian's face. With an extra seething tone, Dmitriy spoke menacingly.
"You're going to pay for that Keller. I also see that Damacov was right to insist that Sergei only carry a small knife for fear you managed to trick and overpower him somehow. You see our Boss is always one step ahead of you pigs. However that small knife will do you no good Keller because ... mine is bigger than yours."
With that Dmitriy whipped out a machete from a leather case under his jacket at the back, glistening and shining as it reflected the rising sun, as he swung it back and forth threateningly. Steve shut his eyes again briefly as he feared what the next few minutes would hold. He staggered back and peered over the side again briefly hoping to see the building breached but the gunfight was still continuing. Looking back at Dmitriy he heard the Russian speak again in a sadistic tone.
"I think first I will carve that baby off you before I slowly cut you up piece by piece ... very, very ... slowly."
Staggering further along the edge of the roof and feeling his head spin again from the blood loss and the infection induced fever, Steve spat back bravely.
"The only way you'll get near this baby is over my dead body ..."
"That can be arranged ..." Dmitriy spat back as he made a swipe with the large knife at Steve who barely moved back in time to avoid the blade from making contact.
Breathing heavily, he dodged another well aimed blow, his small knife practically useless in this unmatched fight but the third swing came too quickly for him to counteract and seeing the knife swing towards Brigitte he turned quickly to shield her as the machete swung a glancing blow against his right side and Steve felt it slicing his flesh. Dropping his own knife from his hand as the pain peaked, he sucked in a deep agonizing breath and staggered further along the roof, his right hand now clutching his side as he felt warm, fresh blood ooze through the soaked fabric of his shirt and through his fingers. Holding Brigitte protectively with his other hand he knew his time was up. The next blow would finish him and so he glanced once more over the edge as he wondered frighteningly if he would be better to throw them both over the side than to suffer what Dmitriy had in store for them.
He felt more hot tears fill his eyes and cursed the fact that he was forced to even consider such a horrific action. He glanced down at the tiny bundle in the blanket tied around him and knew he could never make that decision and then noted curiously that Dmitriy was not advancing towards him for the kill. He watched as a sly, creepy smile crept over the Russian's face and watched as Dmitriy suddenly and unexpectedly threw the bloodied machete down on the ground behind him. Knowing that the fight was gone from his prey he made his next decision and spoke angrily.
"You know Keller I think I shall spare you any more of my knife work, as beautiful a thing as it would have been to witness and instead I think I would get greater satisfaction if I were to toss you both off this roof and watch your partner see your bodies land in a bloodied mush at his feet. If you have a God Keller perhaps now would be a good time to start saying your prayers ..."
Steve swallowed hard at the Russian's new plan of action and yet trying to force his brain to think straight he figured that if he had one good move left in him, he just might be able to turn the tables and send Dmitriy off the roof instead. However he would have to judge it perfectly and he would also have to make sure that Dmitriy didn't manage to get a hold of him or Brigitte in the process as if he did, Steve knew for sure that the Russian's bulky weight would most certainly drag them over with him. It was risky and in his current fragile state practically impossible to imagine success but it was his final chance to save them both. He had to try. Forcing himself to straighten up despite the agony coursing through his body in waves and the dizziness threatening to consume him, he spoke bravely and with a revengeful venom in his tone.
"Go ahead ... Take your best shot ... Did anyone ever tell you by the way ... that you have a face ... only a mother could love?" he added, knowing that inciting the Russian might just give him the added advantage, he desperately needed.
True to form, Dmitriy's anger visibly increased and with anger dripping from his voice he made a run at Steve, shouting spitefully as he did.
"Now I will send you straight to HELL, Keller ..."
Mike reached the top step of the fire escape first and landed onto the roof just in time to see the Russian barreling towards Steve who was teetering just at the edge.
"Oh God help us... " Mike muttered distressfully as he ran towards Steve yelling his name, seeing as if in slow motion what was about to happen and knowing he was too far away to prevent it from occurring.
Pulling his gun as he ran, he realized that firing could result in him hitting Steve or the baby by accident so he kept running, gun in hand instead, hoping against hope he could reach him in time but knowing at the same time that was a miracle too impossible to hope for.
Steve judged it as best as he could and as Dmitriy reached him at full speed, at the last minute he ducked to his left having to put his full weight agonizingly on his bad leg in the process as he then rammed his good right shoulder into the middle of the Russian's back and felt Dmitriy topple forward, grappling as he did for something to hold onto but failing to get purchase on Steve as Steve's bad leg gave way from under him at the same time and Steve turned precariously on the way down so that his right side would impact the small wall and not where Brigitte was situated.
"You first ..." Steve spat out in a pained voice as the Russian sailed over the side and disappeared from Steve's view, a loud piercing yell the only sound that reached Steve's ears before the silence that heralded the Russian's untimely death.
His ordeal over for now, Steve's leg and both sides burned in agony and his lungs refused to suck in any oxygen as he started to cough violently and tears began to stream down his face in a flow of both relief and unbearable pain caused by the impact of his fall as Mike reached his right side and knelt beside him, not quite believing what he had just witnessed but also relieved that Steve had miraculously survived relatively intact.
"STEVE? Steve it's Mike. Take it easy now. You're going to be ok " he said as he dropped his gun on the ground beside Steve and grabbing his young partner, he pulled him close so that Steve's head now rested on his left arm, as he wiped the perspiration from his brow with a cool hand and watched in horror as Steve struggled to catch his breath after the fall.
From where he now rested against the older man, Mike was sure he heard a distinct wheeze coming from the young man's chest and started checking him over for injuries, startled again to see so many and they were just the visible ones. Still coughing violently, Mike held him fast and rubbed his back as he tried to do whatever he could to help him regulate his breathing.
"Easy now ... Easy Steve ... Try to slow your breathing ..."
Norm landed onto the roof just then and seeing Steve sprawled in Mike's arms, he swallowed hard having just witnessed the descent of the Russian Gang member so horrifically just mere seconds before, shamefully glad that it hadn't been their friend and colleague instead. Running now towards the two men, he bent down as he approached and saw Steve coughing and almost struggling to breathe.
"Oh my God ... How is he?"
"He's hurt bad, Norm. We need to get the paramedics up here fast. What's the situation down there?"
"Collins' men just breached the building. They're storming inside as we speak. They should have it cleared soon and get up here."
"Norm, go down that roof stairwell and see if you can help them from this side but be careful! There's no telling what you'll walk into. As soon as the situation is controlled, get those medics up here. I'll stay with Steve and help him until they arrive but I think we're going to need that chopper to airlift him out of here when they do. He looks in a bad way."
"Ok Mike ... I'm on it ... I'll have those medics up here in a jiffy, just you wait and see ... I'm going to get you some help Steve ... Hang in there kid." he added as he gently patted Steve's cheek before turning and heading off at a run to the roof doorway.
"Remember BE CAREFUL! And don't take unnecessary risks ..." Mike shouted after Haseejian as he saw Norm disappear through the roof doorway and worried for his Sergeant's safety.
As the coughs finally abated, Steve looked up into Mike's face and fresh tears glistened in his eyes at the welcome sight of his partner.
"Oh Mike ... I'm so glad to see you ... I thought I wasn't going to again ... I had no choice Mike. It was me or him ..." he stammered, feeling a strange need to try and explain his actions to his partner as shock, sickness and the stress of the ordeal took their toll and the young man shook uncontrollably.
"I know you had no choice. I saw it Steve. It's ok. It's over now ..."
But Steve was not calming as Mike hoped. Instead between ragged breaths he stuttered emotionally, as to Mike's dismay tears visibly rolled from his partner's eyes.
"Mike, check the baby ... She's not moving Mike ... She was so cold ... I swear I tried to keep her safe but I ... I think there's something wrong with her Mike. I dropped her bottle ... I had nothing to give her ..."
It was hard to see his young partner so sick and distressed so he again tried to get him to calm down.
"Ok ... Ok now. I know you did Buddy boy. Don't worry now. Relax will you? I'm sure she's just fine ... I'll check her ..."
Mike pulled at the makeshift sling and reached his hand inside towards Brigitte, worried by Steve's words at what he would find, despite his spoken reassurances. His hand alighted on soft baby skin and she felt warm and toasty in her cozy sling.
"Is ... is she ... cold ?" Steve asked anxiously.
A small smile crossed Mike's face as he spoke reassuringly.
"Not in there she's not. Steve ... she's like toast."
"But ... is ... is she breathing?"
Frowning now that Steve was still so worried about the tiny baby in his care, he placed his hand on her tiny back and felt her breathing soft and steady and as his hand made contact, Brigitte squirmed and wriggled and he removed his hand and smiled even wider.
"She's fine Steve ... She's ok ..."
That news caused Steve's already frayed and fragile emotions to collapse and he brought his hand up to his mouth and stammered in distressed heaves ...
"Are ... are you sure? Mike, you're not just saying that are you ... She's REALLY ok?"
Mike squeezed Steve's shoulder and spoke firmly.
"NO, I'm not just saying it, Steve. She's ALRIGHT. You did a great job of keeping her safe, Buddy boy."
"Oh Thank God ..." Steve uttered in an emotional voice and Mike felt the distinct slump of relief as he held his young partner.
"Steve, it's YOU we have to worry about now. Look at you ... Where do I even start checking you? "
Seeing Steve's swollen split lip, Mike winced but as his gaze went down to the knife embedded in Steve's thigh, he inhaled sharply and decided that that would be a good starting place.
"Steve, I need to get a look at your leg ... Hold still for me ..."
As soon as the words left Mike's mouth, Steve stiffened in Mike's arms and he spoke in a tortured and pained whimper
"NO MIKE! ... Don't touch it ... Please don't touch it ..."
Mike grew alarmed at Steve's violent reaction and spoke soothingly.
"Ok, ok RELAX ... I won't touch it but I need to look at it Steve ..."
Steve flung out a hand and grabbed Mike's arm as it ventured towards his leg, stopping him effectively.
"Mike ... I think ... it's infected ..."
Mike stared unnervingly at his young partner and saw the unspoken worry that statement caused reflected in the two pain filled green eyes now staring back at him. He removed Steve's hand from his arm gently and squeezed it before dropping it back at Steve's side and speaking again in a quiet calming tone.
"Ok ... Well I won't know until you let me take a look at it, alright?"
Steve blinked and then nodded reluctantly but remained on edge as Mike moved the torn fabric as gently as he could away from where the knife was situated and drew in an unsteady breath as he saw the red, inflamed ragged skin. There was also an alarming warmth coming from it which totally contrasted the icy cold emanating off the rest of him and in that moment he realized why Steve was shivering as much as he was. He reached over to Steve's surprise and placed a firm hand on Steve's forehead and felt the burning heat underneath his palm.
"Steve, I think you're right. You've definitely got a fever. How long as this knife been in your leg?"
Steve closed his eyes as he remembered the exact moment it had been driven sadistically into his thigh and without reopening them he spoke barely audibly.
"Since ... outside your house ..."
Mike shuddered as he thought about how that had been almost five hours ago now and how long Steve had endured it's unwanted presence. He leaned back over the wound and pressed it gently as fresh blood oozed around the jagged cut which caused Steve to stifle a yell and grab Mike's arm once more in a vicelike grip.
"Sorry Buddy boy ... I know that hurt ... I'm so sorry. I was just checking if there was any other signs of infection. There's no discharge that I can see other than blood so ... I think that's a good sign."
Steve's grip never loosened and Mike regretted having caused him so much pain. As he turned to check on his partner he noticed Brigitte squirming again within the blanket but also noticed that it caused no reaction from Steve and he then remembered how Steve had told him that she hadn't been moving earlier. A sinking feeling entered his stomach as he spoke urgently.
"Steve? Did you feel Brigitte moving just then? "
Steve finally opened his eyes and fighting through the pain and nausea Mike's ministrations had caused he looked at Mike in confusion.
"What?"
"Did you just feel Brigitte moving?"
Steve shook his head and Mike exhaled sharply as his worst fears were confirmed.
"Elena said you were beaten Steve. Were you beaten on your left side?"
Again Steve struggled to answer so he merely nodded instead as he started to feel very woozy. Mike feared what damage had been done to cause him not to feel the movement of Brigitte against his left side but couldn't check until Brigitte was safely out of the way. Glancing down at Steve's hand still grasped on his arm, he suddenly noticed Steve's blood covered fingers. Slick with fresh blood, Mike frantically started searching Steve for a fresh wound and then saw the blood soaked shirt on Steve's right side. Alarmed, he quickly questioned Steve, his tone anxious and annoyed.
"STEVE! Why didn't you tell me you were bleeding? Were you shot?"
The pain and weakness were getting worse by the minute and he shook his head weakly, gesturing with tear filled eyes over Mike's right shoulder towards the ground. As Mike spun his head around and saw the lethal looking machete on the concrete, his heart skipped several beats. Looking back in horror at Steve he stammered almost incoherently.
"Did ... did he ... cut you with THAT?"
Steve again nodded.
"How deep did he cut you Steve?"
"I ... I don't know ... but it hurts Mike ..."
Mike laid Steve gently back against the small wall so that he could administer to the new bleeding wound on Steve's side. Pulling up the fabric of Steve's shirt he noticed the material seemed to be wet through but made a note to ask him about that later with more important concerns to deal with for now. Gingerly he wiped at the oozing cut with the end of Steve's shirt but although the slice was clean across, it didn't appear to be very deep. Mike almost sighed out loud with relief as he used the shirt to then press the sides of the cut together to try and stem the bleeding.
"Mike ... Is ... is it bad?" Steve asked shakily.
"No, no I don't think so. God Steve you were lucky. That thing could have caused a lot of damage if it had caught you any deeper. "
He noticed Steve looking very flaky and as he watched Steve's eyes close, he patted his cheek very gently to rouse him and keep him lucid.
"Hey, hey ... Keep those eyes of yours open for me. Try to stay with me Buddy boy until the medics get here ... "
Steve forced his eyes open obediently and tried to smile reassuringly at the older man. when he saw the level of worry and angst written all over Mike's face but the pain and discomfort he was in was stopping him from obliging. He felt so cold and shivered again as staying awake became more difficult.
"Feel ... so cold Mike ..." he uttered as his teeth chattered noisily.
Mike let go of the bleeding cut for a couple of minutes while he quickly removed his overcoat and laid it over Steve before resuming the pressing of the wound.
"There, I'm afraid that's all I have to cover you with for now. We'll get you a blanket as soon as the medics arrive. Steve? Why is your shirt wet? " Mike asked hoping that by asking him questions he could keep him awake.
"I ... I passed out ... Damacov used cold water ... to wake me up ..." Steve chattered and Mike felt his rage return at the horrific treatment of his young partner at the hands of the evil gang leader.
"Oh he did, did he? Well I hope I get the pleasure back at Bryant Street of giving HIM a cold shower all of his OWN! " Mike ranted as Steve finally allowed a wry smile to cross his lips, wishing he could be there to see THAT.
Steve's eyes were closing frequently but Mike noticed to his credit that every time they did, he struggled to force them back open again but Mike wondered how long he could keep that up for, as he felt his young partner's strength fading by the second. He looked toward the roof doorway and then across at the fire escape and started to pray that help would arrive soon.
"Where are those damn MEDICS?" he finally roared in frustration as he saw Steve's eyes close and reopen for the umpteenth time.
Ten minutes earlier:
Norm had headed very carefully with his weapon drawn down the stairwell from the roof and even more carefully headed down the dingy, dimly lit corridor. From below he heard more shouts and gunfire and knew it was only a matter of time before Collins and his men had the building secured. He continued on down the corridor slowly but as he passed one doorway, something hard hit his head from behind and he pitched forward, falling onto the debris covered floor as the blackness closed in around him. Grigori Damacov stepped from the darkened doorway with the pistol he had used to knock Haseejian out with, still in his hand. He smiled down at the prone pitiful police detective as he then turned and headed back up the corridor towards the roof stairwell to find and finish off his troublesome hostage.
As Damacov got to the doorway that led out onto the roof, he peered out cautiously and saw Keller sprawled on the ground over by the roof's edge with another police officer leaning over him seemingly administering first aid. Neither of them were looking in his direction so he very quickly ducked and made his way quietly across to the concrete air conditioning structure in the middle and hid behind it. Slowly peering around it, from his new position, he was now facing the second Officer's back where he knelt administering to Keller. He saw the grey fedora and a wide grin lit up his face. Stone! We finally meet. Such a pity it will be our first and last meeting. Saving Keller will now cost you your own life!
