I swear I got the idea for this story months ago, long before I heard about the topic for the Season 7 finale, so the bank robbery story is just a coincidence... Thanks to all who have reviewed and are following!
(o.s.) = "voice on speakerphone"
CHAPTER 3 – The Race Against Time
...
I must remember to take out the garbage this morning—No! That was yesterday!
Ouch!
JJ: Hey, good morning!
? JJ? What is she doing here?
I never made it to headquarters... I'm in the hospital!
I shot a man! He shot—
JJ: You slept longer than expected: the nurse tried to wake you up for breakfast, but—Do you remember? You gave her 'the glare', she backed off, and you went right back to sleep!
I did? I don't remember.
When did she get here?
"What time is it?"
JJ: It's almost 10 am.
It's been over 24 hours since Nicholas was shot. Is he still alive?
JJ: The team is on their way back. They rested a few hours. Do you feel up to doing a cognitive interview with Derek when he gets here? After eating something first, maybe?
I've wasted a whole night.
His mother must be—
JJ: You gave us quite the scare yesterday, you know, disappearing like that?
"I didn't mean..."
JJ: I know. I'm not trying to blame you, I'm sorry.
*sigh*
I wanted to get help. I escaped?
Didn't accomplish anything.
JJ: Are you feeling hungry? You missed the hospital breakfast, but I have something, here in my bag.
"..."
I walked. Barefoot.
Why?
It might be too late—I wasted too much time!
JJ: Hotch, what's wrong?
"..."
Nothing! Everything! My head is a jumble!
I can't move without feeling sick!
A boy could be dead.
His mother is scared, need help.
His father...
JJ: It's okay, we'll find them. Don't be so hard on yourself.
What? How does she—?
JJ: Yeah, we all feel the same way, believe me. Here, have a bite; it will help—
"JJ—"
JJ: Hotch, you know what they say: misery loves company! Come on, humor me.
She won't take no for an answer.
I don't know if a bagel and cream cheese is a good idea, though.
Hmm.
I guess I am hungry—
JJ: Here's another piece. What's funny?
"I'm not a one-year old."
JJ: Oh, I know: you can feed yourself! Open your mouth!
"Thanks."
JJ: How's the stomach?
"Actually, I think food helps... for now."
JJ: Good. That's one half down—
NURSE: Good morning! I see you're able to eat now?
Yeah, but no hospital food.
NURSE: Your muscle relaxants are probably starting to wear off. How do you feel, today?
Stiff as a board, can't even move a toe.
"Better, thank you."
NURSE: The doctor was here earlier and said all your tests were clear. Do you remember? You were a rather sleepy.
Should I... JJ? She's nodding! Maybe I was too groggy.
"I don't want any more drugs. They're making me... foggy. I need to be able to think."
NURSE: True, the medication is making you sleepy, but the bruises on your brain are not helping! Let me check with your doctor if we can switch you to pain killers that won't make you 'foggy'. They might not be as strong, but it would be better than nothing. Would that be okay?
Yes—Ooh, damn... the dizziness! Don't try to nod!
I'll stick to chewing—chewing didn't hurt. Except, the thought of food is not... great.
Need to change position, but if I try moving—Wait for the pain medication.
Clara and Nicholas...
Think! I know their last name. She introduced herself.
Clara and Nicholas...?
I was trying to remember the license plate, and something else...
Phil Cook and...?
JJ: Would you like some water? More food? I have the other half of that bagel, here—
"Water would be good, thank you. What about you? What did you eat?"
JJ: I brought two bagels with me, I ate the other one already. Here, using the straw will be easier.
Good... That's good...
JJ: Want another piece?
"Sure, thanks."
Uh-oh... Maybe that's enough food and fluids. Don't move.
JJ: Maybe that's enough for now.
Damn! Can't keep anything from her! She's reading me like a book.
Keep still. Breathe.
ROSSI: Hey! How is he?
Sounds like the team is back.
JJ: From what you and Reid told me, I'd say the same.
MORGAN: Did he regain consciousness?
"I'm awake."
REID: How's the head?
"I'm trying to remember their last name. Did you find anything?"
MORGAN: Sorry, man, nothing new. But I'll call Garcia, see if she has anything.
JJ: Did she go home, too?
PRENTISS: No, she told me she'd sleep on the couch in the conference room, in case we needed her.
GARCIA'S VOICE (over speakerphone): What time is it?
MORGAN: Did I wake you up, Baby?
GARCIA (o.s.): Yes, but that's okay, a three hour nap will do. How's Hotch?
ROSSI: How are you?
Not funny, Dave...
"I'm fine."
GARCIA (o.s.): I wish I could have stopped by this morning, sir, but I will, as soon as this is over! I've been trying to follow some leads from the names you all gave me. Unfortunately, still no missing person reported, named Carla or Nicholas, or otherwise; no bank trouble or anything, anywhere, in a hundred mile radius; and I couldn't unearth anything useful on Cook other than the file I've sent you, I'm sorry.
ROSSI: I brought you some coffee. Do you feel like it?
Coffee? I don't know.
"Not through a straw."
ROSSI: *scoff* Okay.
The driver threw out his coffee!
"He threw out his coffee to pick up his phone. That's why I noticed him."
ROSSI: Who? Phil Cook?
"Yes. I drove up next to him. He looked... suspicious: nervous, ducking when we passed a police car, he was arguing on the phone, and looked... worried.
"I opened my passenger window, and I caught up to him. We stopped at a red light and I heard him talk about—"
Damn! Can't remember.
NURSE: Here we—Hem! How did you all get in here?
MORGAN: We have permission. FBI, we're investigating a kidnapping.
NURSE: I—I will have to check with the doctor.
ROSSI: Of course. He knows we're here.
NURSE: All right. Well, I have that new medication we talked about, Mr Hotchner. The doctor said you'll be able to stay alert with this one; it's probably better for your head anyway, during the day, at least.
"Thank you."
NURSE: Now, you have some water, here, but with the IV, you'll probably not feel too thirsty or hungry. I'll have someone bring you a tray of food. Fruit, maybe?
Maybe. I don't know...
"No, thank you."
NURSE: Make sure you don't tire him, let him rest. I'll check up on you later.
ROSSI: We'll be careful.
What was I saying? I keep losing my focus!
JJ: You were telling us that you heard what the driver of the van, Cook, was saying...?
How does she do that?
"He said: 'I'm almost there,' and... 'Nobody can see inside the van'... 'Who will dump her car? You can't leave it there! The bank is tomorrow!' Then I lost the rest, but I followed him. Memorized the plates."
I think the pain killer is working.
I need to move my legs... Ooooh, my back...
That's better.
But this nausea's overwhelming. It's like I'm sea sick.
ROSSI: LEOs found the van on 147th Street and later on, your car; you left it a block away. They had been called to investigate a report of gunshots and found Cook, dead, in an alley. Do you remember what happened?
"I was looking for a pay phone. I was too far, I lost him for a few minutes. Then, I found him, in the alley. I hid around the corner. He was pointing a gun at a woman and her son. He looked as terrified as they did, shaking. They were waiting for something, I think. The boy started running away. Cook fired before I—"
Why?
How did I let this happen?
REID: Cook died instantly, one bullet to the heart.
"I ran to the man, grabbed his gun, then went to the kid, his mother was—hysterical. I asked her to call 9-1-1. The boy was alive, unconscious; I was putting pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding. Someone came behind me, I guess..."
ROSSI: Did you see anyone else?
"No. Just the woman and the boy. Carla... and Nicholas... VAN BLERK! She said her name was Carla van Blerk!"
Finally! Something!
MORGAN: Garcia, did you hear that? Anything on a Carla and Nicholas van Blerk?
GARCIA (over speakerphone): Yes! Carla and her husband, Christoph van Blerk, live in Arlington... with their 11 year old, Nicholas...
ROSSI: What does the father do?
GARCIA (o.s.): He's an assistant manager, at the Third Bank in Aurora Hills. Oh! Oh, no!
MORGAN: What is it, Garcia?
GARCIA (o.s.): The SWAT team has just been called there! The police—There's been shots reported... A bank robbery!
REID: We're too late!
Shit!
Sorry for the delay with this update. I'm not able to contact my beta-reader for some reason, so I finally decided to give up on that. All the mistakes are mine... Feel free to send me your comments and corrections! It helps me learn English!