The surgery lasted nearly seven hours before Kano was pulled from surgery. The doctor came over to Nate and Sophie with saddened eyes that were filled with more sorrow then anything. Nate knew that look all to well.
"Mister and Mrs Ford." he said stopping in front of the couple. "Kano survived the surgery but I'm afraid...I'm afraid he might not make it an entire week,he is on life support,there was bleeding that we missed during the first surgery. Even with the multiple blood transfusions his condition is very grave. The boy should not see his father in such a condition." The doctors eyes switched to the sleeping child between the couple.
"That's taken into consideration,but,he needs to see his father." Nate said looking to his wife who nodded. "If it were you,wouldn't you want at least one last good-bye?"
"I'm only saying he is so young,it might be traumatizing."
"I understand," Nate said standing and waking Jimar. "But this is his father you are talking about."
"Mr Ford,there is one more thing." The Doctor held a piece paper out to Nate. "Kano made you in charge of the decision to end his suffering."
"Oh,Nate." Sophie said as she picked Jimar up in her arms.
"But I-" Nate held the paper with shaking hands. How could a man who has known him for just two months make him in charge of such a serious task.
"The choice is yours Mr Ford." The doctor walked away leaving Nate with the paper.
"Mister Oliver,
This must come as a surprise to you,I am truly sorry for you to find out this way but I've decided this a month ago when I watched you and your wife with my son. I have never seen him smile so much,it brings tears of joy to my eyes. If anything should happen to me,I am sure it will,but if it does I want you to take care of my son,he adores you and the things you teach him. I also want you to make the choice that no man should have to make. I Hope you can forgive me for not telling you myself,there is just something about you that lets me know I can trust you with these two tasks,do not make my boy suffer by watching me die in a hospital bed hooked up to all those dreaded machines. I know who you are Mister Ford,you are a good man,maybe one day you will discover how I know your true identity,until then,please,take care of him and the tasks I ask of you.
-Your Friend Kano"
Nate's eyes were swimming in pools of unshed tears. Question in his mind were begging to be answered but the only man who could answer them,was not in a condition to help. Running a hand over his face he felt Sophie's hand on his arm as he nodded following her to the back leaving the others behind. "I can't do it,Soph," He said quietly
"I know,he might make it through this Nate,you can't make that choice right away,give it a day or two." She spoke with a voice full of care and concern,love and warmness. An amazing quality of hers,she was so motherly it warmed him inside and out to hear that side of her.
"I know,even without Jimar,I don't think I could end the life of a man I barely know. Not like this." He sighed quietly as they came to the room.
Sophie placed Jimar down watching as he went to his fathers side. "Do you think he understands?" She asked looking to her husband.
"I don't know Darling," He said watching the boy as they both came to his side.
"Is my Dad going to be okay?" The eight year old asked staring at his father. "Is he sleeping?"
Knelling down next to him Nate gave him a small smile. "Yeah,your dad is sleeping so he can get better." he stared at the boy,lips pressed together in a thin line deciding his next words carefully. "Jimar,there is a chance that he won't wake up,and if that happens he will be watching over the other fishermen just like your mom."
Jimar turned to Nate with eyes full of questions. "Does that mean he won't come back anymore?"
Sophie's heart was breaking at the sight. Jimar held tight to his father's hand as he was trying to figure out exactly what it is he was being told.
"Yeah,it means he won't be coming back anymore." Nate said softly watching the boy as he turned back to his father.
Tears ran streaks down the boys face as he stared at his father. "No...he can't he has to wake up." He moved closer to the bed shaking his father's arm. "Come on dad wake up...you have to get up!"
Grabbing Jimar,Nate pulled him into his arms. Tears stinging the corner of his own eyes bringing back memories he'd long forgotten about. "It's okay." He said quietly standing with him as his cries became hysteric.
Sophie took the boy from the mastermind knowing he wanted time alone with Kano. She took him back out to the waiting room,tears in her own eyes,the whole situation was very emotional. Sitting down the others remained quiet as they listening to Jimar sobbing uncontrollably. It took nearly twenty minutes until he had calmed himself down enough. Isaac got up and took a seat next to Sophie tapping the boy on the shoulder.
"I want you to know something kiddo. Your father is an amazing man...I've worked with him before. He is the most amazing fisherman I have ever seen. Would you like to hear a story about him?" Isaac said with a smile on his face. Sophie listened confused by his actions.
Jimar nodded. "Yes." He said quietly as he clung to Sophie,holding her tight.
"Okay then,about four years ago,you where only four at the time and boy were you feisty,you use to kick me in the leg whenever you saw me." Jimar laughed at his words. "But your dad he took me out on the open water with him,and we sat out there for hours waiting for the fish to come to us. Guess what we caught instead." Isaac smiled at the young boy waiting for him to answer.
Jimar looked to Sophie who nodded. "A dolphin?" He asked now intrigued by the mans story.
"Nope we caught a giant shark!" He said loud for dramatic effect which worked because Jimar smiled widely. "He was a fighter,he tried to bite us and fight with us but your dad,he took care of it and got the giant shark on the boat and here you can keep this." Taking out his wallet he handed Jimar a picture of himself with Kano standing next to the very shark they captured.
"I can keep it?" He asked excitedly.
"Sure you can,then when your dad gets better he can tell you more about the shark." Isaac smiled and got up from hs spot next to Sophie and returned to his sport across the room.
"Thank you." She said quietly watching Jimar stare at the photo.
Nate stood there watching Kano for a very long time. "Kano,I'm not doing this,you hear me? I will not turn off these machines and you want to know why?" He asked as if the man could hear him. "Because you will make it through this,not only for yourself but for your son. He needs you more then anyone else."
Nate stayed quiet before leaving the room to join the others in the waiting room. "So what is our plan now man?" Hardison asked at first sight of the mastermind.
"Well we-" The phone they took off of one of the men began to ring.
"Mister Ford,so sad to hear about your friend." Nate looked around the waiting room. "Oh no no,you won't find me that easily ,I'm afraid your wife and you have business to attend to,leave the boy with Isaac and your little friends,you and your wife meet me in the parking garage in ten minutes and if you don't come alone I blow the place." The phone line went dead as he looked to Sophie.
"He has a bomb in here. Soph give Jimar to the others we have to go." He was more serious then he had been in recent days,nodding she didn't agree but she knew he wasn't willing to risk the lives of thousands of people just like he wouldn't.
Taking her husbands hand she nodded. "Let's get this over with." She said as they walked towards the elevator.
Jimar was left with Parker while Isaac,Eliot and Hardison followed the couple by taking the stairs,Nate knew what he was doing but they had to be careful."We are almost there Nate." Eliot said as they neared the parking level.
Turning to his wife in the elevator he took his com out his ear as she did the same."Sophie,I want you to know-" She stopped him pressing a finger to his lips.
"Don't Nate,please. We will be fine." Her eyes told a different story,in those eyes he saw fear.
"No,Sophie." He spoke taking her hand away from his lips. "You have to hear this just in case anything happens."
"You know I hate it when you say that." She looked down but he moved his hand gently under her chin making her look at him.
"I know." He spoke softly looking at her,his blue eyes full of nothing but love for her. "I love you,Beautiful. I will do everything I can to make sure you are safe,when I tell you it's time to run,you run...and you don't look back. Promise me you will."
Tears trailed down her cheek but he was there to catch them before they fell. "Nate,I'm not leaving you behind,I love you too,we are a team."
"Sophie...promise me." He wouldn't look away from her.
"I-I promise Nate." Pulling her into his arms he held onto her tight,he meant everything he said,he was going to do whatever it took to keep her safe.
The ding indicated they were there so he released her from his embrace as they both put back in their coms. With her hand in his he was in front of her stepping into the dark parking garage. Once the elevator door closed they were doused in complete darkness.
"Nate,I can't see."
"I can't either Sophie,just-" He was hit by something heavy on the back of his head. He feel to the ground with a loud thud nearly pulling her down with him.
"Nate?" She called to him finding his body she felt the warmth of blood on her hand when she reached his head. A cloth came around her mouth and withing seconds she was out as well.
Eliot and the other reached the parking garage as a car sped away. they found the couples coms laying on the ground. "Dammit! We missed them!" Eliot yelled
"He won't take them to far from here,he does not know the place as well as one would think." Isaac cut in.
"Then where would he take them?" Hardison asked watching the tail lights disappear.
"He would take them...do you hear that?" Isaac asked listening to a strange beeping sound.
"Yeah man,what is that?"
"Bomb." Eliot said listening closely. "It's counting down."
"How in the hell do you know that man?" Hardison gave the hitter a look.
"It a distinct rhythmic beat." Looking around he found the bomb."Dammit we have 30 minute to evacuate the place,let's go!"
By the time the count down reached thirty seconds the bomb squad was to late to stop it. They did one last sweep making sure everyone was out,by the time they reached the door the bomb had gone off,the force knocking the three boys off their feet and sending screams through the crowded area around the hospital. Coughing Eliot was the first to stand up followed by Hardison.
"Man,I am so down with these damn explosions can we not get in trouble without blowing our damn selves up?" He complained as Eliot helped Isaac up.
"That does not matter,Hardison." Isaac said coughing. Cheers erupted from the crowd as the three stood facing the crowd of people they saved from the explosion.
"Eliot!" Jimar yelled running to the hitter who picked him up. "Where is Nate and Sophie?" He asked as the hitter sighed.
"I don't know kid but Isaac here does."
"Right,on to that little bit of business. With Nikolai he likes to keep his victims in a dark and cold place."
"Nikolai?" Eliot asked as the man nodded.
"Yes,Nikolai Mager."
Eliot groaned."Are you kidding me? Mager as in the Mager's from southern Russian?"
Isaac nodded. "The very same ones."
"Wait,what's wrong with them?" Parker asked after finding the boys.
Pinching the bridge of his nose Eliot looked between all of them. "The Mager's are known for their torture techniques leading back to the 1700's they don't torture anymore but they leave their victims behind after one hell of a beating,sometimes they don't make it,and when they do...it's not good."
"He is right,we need to find your friends and fast before it's to late. Follow me to the cars,we can only check the places that look like something he would use."
Nate woke with a grown the shooting pain in his head told him what he already knew;he had been hit over the head. Letting his eyes adjust to the dark he found Sophie next to him. "S-sophie." He said shaking her as she woke up.
"Nate?" She asked sitting up."Where are we? She stood up helping Nate to his feet.
"I don't know,looks like some sort of a room built into a cave or mountain." He spoke as he stood up.
"Good luck finding your way out of this one,i have set up many obstacles for you to get through." Nikolai's voice came from a loud speaker some where.
Trying for a handle the door opened into a maze like area filled with twists and turns,multiple doors and tests. "Great,we get the guy who likes to play games." Sophie mumbled sticking close to Nate.
"Don't worry we will get out of this." They stepped forwards and the floor beneath Sophie had fallen through. Turning around quick,Nate grabbed her arm holding tight.
"Nate,I-I'm slipping." She said trying to reach his other hand with hers.
"No you are not." He said through gritted teeth as he struggled with what little strength he had to pull her back up. Once she was up his voice came through again.
"Oh darn,so close.I will check on you to see if you are still alive in an hour." Nikolai laughed leaving the two to find their way out of the room of traps and mysteries alone.
[Okay,end of chapter 8! I hope you are all still enjoying this story,how will Nate and Sophie do in the room of traps? Will they need an hour or will the others get there first? We will find out! Thanks for all the reviews!]