Part 8 - It's a Bad One

Outside the tension suddenly increased tenfold when the sound of gunfire rang out from the direction of the bank. Every head turned towards the building and every gun took aim. At first nothing happened then the emergence of a young man with his hands held high caused fingers to twitch, ready to take him down. Luckily for Clive, Bates quickly accessed his appearance. He stood up and screamed. "Don't shoot! He's unarmed!"

Fingers relaxed but only slightly as they watched the man stagger towards them for a few short steps before sinking to his knees. He knelt motionless for a minute or two, and then his body suddenly began to visibly shake. Those nearest to him could hear him muttering, over and over. "I've just killed a man."

Sheriff Richards moved very cautiously from behind his vehicle, keeping his gun pointed straight at the young man while he slowly approached him. Bates and Davis followed closely behind. The other deputies kept their aim on the bank's entryway and windows just in case.

When the Sheriff reached Clive, he roughly pulled the thief's hands behind his back and snapped on a pair of handcuffs. Bates and Davis pulled him up between them then they almost dragged him towards the sheriff's car. Once there, Richards quickly moved in. Roughly grabbing Clive by the chin to raise his head, he asked sternly. "Is your brother still armed and holding hostages?"

Clive whimpered. "No. I think he's…dead."

That was enough for Bates. Together with Davis he wasted no more time as he held his weapon ready and zigzagged towards the bank. The doors opened with a whoosh and what he and Davis saw inside left them both feeling shocked and speechless.

The woman they knew was Rachel Blake sat on the floor near John just staring at an ever growing pool of blood as if mesmerized by the sight. While the manager stood pointing an unsteady gun at prone thief even though the man appeared to be deeply unconscious.

As soon as Rachel heard their footsteps she came out of her stupor and slowly lifted her eyes. They flooded with relief at the sight of the two men. One was wearing an Air Force uniform, which meant that it was finally over and maybe they could save John. She knew in her heart that he was still alive but only barely. She raised her head and pleaded. "Please help him."

Bates swiftly pulled himself together. "Right! You stay here, Major. I'll go and alert the paramedics."

Davis acknowledged him with a nod before moving towards Franks. "I'll take that from you if you like?" He gently eased the gun out of the manager's hand before stepping towards the prone body of the assailant. Checking his neck, he felt a slight fluttering but the man didn't look so good. The major didn't feel any remorse. He moved over to check on Sheppard, he had a pulse but just like the robber's it was very weak.

A minute later, a couple of paramedics and a nurse arrived bearing several equipment cases, so Davis moved aside to allow them room to work while Rachel and Mr. Franks were gently led out of the bank.

-oOo-

Outside, the world had dissolved into even more chaos. Reporters and film crews tried to move in to get the latest update, so the deputies were forced to respond quickly by setting up barriers to keep them back.

Having only just arrived a few minutes earlier, Rodney elbowed his way through the throng, dragging Jennifer behind him. "Get out of my way!" he bellowed when one person flatly refused to move aside.

Rodney dug his elbow in. The man turned around to glare at him but seeing Rodney's very angry countenance, he quickly backed off to let them through until they were standing before one of the deputies.

The man stopped them with his hand. "You can't go any further. That goes for all of you reporters! You'll get your news when the Sheriff is ready to give it. In the mean time, I want you all to stay well back behind the barrier."

Rodney took no notice and continued to push his way forwards. The deputy grabbed him by the collar causing Jennifer to collide with his back. Rodney struggled to break free but the man had a firm grip on him. "Let go of me, you oaf!"

"Not helping, Rodney!" Keller told him. Then she tried pleading with the cop. "Look our friend is in there. You have to let us through."

"That doesn't change a thing, miss."

Just then an ambulance started up and began moving towards the bank. "I'm a Doctor." Jennifer explained. "If anyone is hurt then maybe I can help."

The officer looked at Jennifer's casual jeans and blue cotton top. "That's just an excuse isn't it because in reality you're just a nosy reporter?"

Rodney had had enough. "Oh for crying out loud…will you just move aside! We are not reporters and knowing Sheppard, he probably needs her help!" he shouted, pointing at Jennifer. "Now let us through!"

For a second, Jennifer thought the man would pull his gun but suddenly, he relented. "All right then but you'd better be telling the truth."

Once free of the barrier, Rodney and Jennifer rushed across the parking lot towards the ambulance but there was no sign of activity. They turned tail and headed towards the bank nearly colliding with Bates who just on his way out. The ex-sergeant looked paler than Rodney ever remembered seeing him, even after the Wraith attack.

Bates immediately recognized them. "Oh, thank god! Dr. Keller, you'd better get in there. Sheppard's in a very bad way and I have a feeling that the paramedics here haven't dealt with such a serious injury before."

"What happened to him?" Jennifer asked.

"Gunshot wound to the upper chest and a bad head injury."

Jennifer nodded and rushed off while Rodney quizzed Bates for a few more details. Once the man had explained everything, Rodney felt sick with worry but also mystified as to why John couldn't even take a vacation without getting into serious trouble.

McKay entered the bank a few minutes later, somewhat reluctantly. He wasn't good with injuries, especially his own. But this was John, his best friend in the whole universe, so understandably he was fearful of what he would find. For once, his worries were justified. There was so much blood everywhere. It coated the paramedics white uniforms and the scattered equipment. It stood out in stark contrast against the light colored flooring. It was smeared over Jennifer's brand-new top, covered her gloved hands, and there was even some in her hair as she frantically worked to save John's life.

Rodney felt like fainting. Must not pass out, must not pass out, he chanted to himself as he slowly walked around the scene until he bumped into the counter. He felt like sinking down it but stood his ground to watch in a state of shock, unable to believe that this was really happening. The whole scene seemed surreal somehow, like he was watching an episode of ER. But this wasn't TV. This was John bleeding out and dying before his eyes. This was John that Jennifer was currently having to intubate. Rodney didn't want to lose him. Not like this, he couldn't. It all became too much for Rodney. He couldn't cope anymore, so he fled the building and lost his dinner in a corner of the parking lot.

Bates saw him and gave him some space until Rodney straightened to wipe his mouth with the back of his hand. The ex-sergeant quietly approached thinking the worse. "Damn, I should have gone in earlier but I thought…I thought Sheppard could end this peacefully. From what the women said, he was making good headways towards it."

Rodney didn't answer because he was distracted by the appearance of Jennifer as she came out of the entry. She called him over and Rodney's footsteps felt like lead as he made to move. She was going to tell him that John was dead. He didn't want to go there. He didn't want to hear that news, yet somehow his feet disobey and carried him towards her.

"We have a problem, Rodney. The nearest hospital is over forty miles away and I'm sorry, but in his current state he's not likely to survive that kind of road journey."

"So bad?"

Jennifer looked solemn and nodded. "We need to get him to a fully equipped hospital, ASAP."

Major Davis stepped up, he'd overheard her. "I have a helicopter standing by just a few blocks from here. We can use that."

Jennifer looked relieved. "Okay then, let's get him transferred to helicopter with the ambulance and then straight to Cheyenne Mountain."

The transfer went smoothly and Rodney watched as the helicopter lifted high into the darkening sky. There hadn't been room for him, so he walked back to his car to start the two hour drive southeast towards the SGC, not knowing what he was likely to face once he got there.

As he approached his vehicle an attractive dark haired woman stopped him. "I hope you don't mind but I heard that you were a friend of John's?" Rodney nodded wondering who this woman was. "My name is Rachel Blake. I was trapped in the bank with him. I'm just wondering how he is?"

Rodney shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry…not so good." The woman looked like she was about to burst into tears. He hated dealing with emotional women, so he quickly added. "They're taking him to the best possible care…I'm sure…he'll…," Rodney couldn't say, 'pull through' because right now he didn't believe that himself, "put up a good fight. He's like that you know."

Rachel wanted to ask more but she could see that the man was itching to leave, so she simply replied. "Then he will be in our thoughts and prayers."

Rodney thanked her. He wasn't a religious man but he supposed a prayer or two wouldn't do any harm. So as he drove away, Rodney did just that.

tbc