Thank you for the reviews so far and I hope everyone is enjoying the story. We now join our story in progress...

"Well it seems Darrell Morrow was telling the truth," Bobby called, standing up from peering over Tara's shoulder. Waving his hand toward the screen, he said, "Got him coming in and leaving the grocery store. That, a dead cell phone, and the clerk putting him at the gas station means he couldn't have talked to or met Farther and Dell."

Nodding, D watched as Myles crossed his name off the board. "Sue and Jack back yet?"

"Should be any minute," Bobby replied.

"D, metro PD, line three," Lucy called, holding out the phone.

"Gans," D snapped, picking up the phone on Jack's desk.

The sight of the blood leaving D's face brought Bobby to his feet. "What?"

"Where?" D asked, snatching up a paper and pen and scribbling furiously. "We'll meet you at the hospital. Make sure the paramedics know that Agent Thomas is deaf, but can read lips."

His words brought Lucy and Tara from across the room. Lucy's concern grew, as D literally seemed to stagger from what he heard next.

Disbelief and shock laced his next words. "Right. Put out an A.P.B. for her, the car, and Farther, Daniel J. and Dell, James. We'll get their pedigrees to you as soon as possible." With those words, D slowly lowered the phone and turned stunned eyes towards his waiting coworkers.

"D?" Bobby urged, gripping his arm.

"A truck t-boned Jack's car," D stuttered, trying to comprehend what he had just heard. "The truck driver and another man tried to get to Jack."

"And?" Myles asked anxiously.

"Something must have spooked them cause they left him there. Paramedics just got him out of the car and are taking him to Mercy."

"What about Sue?" Lucy whispered huskily, followed by a whimper from Levi at the sound of his master's name being said with so much emotion.

"She's gone. Witnesses said the driver of the truck that hit them drug her from the car shoved her into another vehicle and took off with the second man."

Pulling up to the crash sight, Dimitrius swallowed hard at the sight of the mangled sedan trapped between the light pole and the large delivery truck. Looking at Myles, he saw the same shock mirrored in his face. Swallowing again, he nodding toward the vehicles. "See if the techs have found anything. I'll talk to the locals," he said quietly, opening the car door.

"Supervisory Agent Gans," D said, holding up his identification. "Find out anything more from the witnesses?"

"Seems it may be your guy Hudson was the one they really wanted. One of the kidnappers was cussing up a blue streak cause the other one smashed into the car door and they couldn't get to him. So, they pulled Thomas out of the car. The younger man was going to shoot your man but the older one said something about wanting him to be able to see it coming," the uniform officer said, glancing down at his notes. "They must have heard the other agents that had been following Hudson and Thomas coming and took off."

"What about Thomas?" D pressed. "Did they say if she was hurt or conscious?"

"From what they said, it seems like she was half out of it. And she was bleeding," the officer said, pointing to the trail of blood leading to the mangled federal car. "They heard her scream when the man pulled her through the window."

Behind D, Leland walked slowly up to the vehicles, peering into the truck as he flashed his badge at the technicians combing through the wreckage. "Any prints?" he asked, taking the gloves being offered to him.

"Steering wheel, door, gear shift," the crime scene technician said pointing to each. "If they're the driver's or someone else, don't know yet. One things for sure, the guy wasn't worried about us id'ing him. Didn't try to wipe anything down."

"Oh, there's little doubt who did it," Myles murmured leaning in to move around several paper cups on the floor. "Hello," he said, picking up a receipt from the floorboard. Coming out of the vehicle, he held the paper up in the light to read the print. "A coffee and Danish from a gas station in Fredericksburg. No accounting for taste. Still," he added, slipping it into an evidence bag,

"Bobby Manning, FBI. Jack Hudson was brought in a little bit ago. Car accident," Bobby said to the emergency room receptionist.

"Yes sir, room two. The doctor is with him now. If you'd like to take a seat…."

"No, I'm afraid I wouldn't. Room two you say," Bobby retorted cutting her off. Moving through the swinging doors that led to the examination rooms and finding the curtain area marked two, Bobby paused and drew a deep breath, unsure of what he would find. Bracing himself, he pushed his way through the doorway only to find an empty room. Looking around he spotted bloody clothing that had been cut away and discarded on the floor. A wave of nausea passed through the tall man at the thought of what might have happened.

"Excuse me," Bobby called, stopping a nurse passing by. "Jack Hudson? He was suppose to be in here," he asked, gesturing toward the empty exam room.

"He's in x-ray right now," the nurse assured him, running an assessing eye over his pale features. "Perhaps you'd like to sit down and wait for him?" she suggested, taking his arm and moving him towards the stool in Jack's room.

"Yeah, I'll do that," Manning said, following meekly along. Sitting down, he absentmindedly muttered, "thanks."

"Are you feeling okay?" the nurse asked gently. "Can I get you a glass of water or a wet cloth?"

Shaking his head, Bobby swallowed the lump that had appeared in his throat. "No," he croaked. Clearing his throat, he tried to smile at her and speak again. "I'm fine, but thank you."

Relenting, the nurse nodded. "Family?"

The word seared through Bobby's soul causing his stomach to once again clench. He'd never had anyone who meant more to him, outside of his parents and siblings. The two of them had worked together early on in their careers and had been best friends ever since. "Yeah," he breathed. "About as close as you can get," he added softly.

Patting the big man's shoulder, she turned. "I'll be down the hall if you need anything."

Watching her leave, the sad smile he had summoned up for her drained from his features. Jack had to be okay. The thought of loosing his best mate was more than he could tolerate right now. And Sue would never….

Sue.

Bobby closed his eyes at the thought of her. How was he going to tell Jack that she was gone? He knew that Jack would never forgive himself if something happened to her. It wouldn't matter that there had been no way for him to predict or know that something like that was going to happen. Sighing, Bobby leaned forward and rested his arms on his thighs to wait.

Staring out the window, Bobby unseeingly followed the movements of the passing cars in the darkness. Glancing down at his watch, he grimaced at the number telling him it was now oh-three-thirty. He knew he should be trying to sleep, that he would need his energy for whatever the next day would bring. But every time he tried, his mind would begin a chaotic spinning of thoughts and imaginings.

Thoughts of what could have happened in that car; images of what might have happened since then.

Neither was pleasant.

Hearing the rustle of Jack shifting, Bobby turned away from the window to look at him. His friend had been awake several times, but he had been having trouble remembering what had happened. The first couple times, it had scared Bobby. The nurse and doctor had tried to assure him that it was normal given the trauma that Jack had sustained. They had told him that Jack would retain what he had been told as time passed.

Bobby hoped so, because he didn't know how many more times he could see the anguish caused by having to tell him each time that Sue was gone.

"Bobby?"

Forcing his features to calm, Manning stepped closer. "Yeah, mate. How you feeling?"

Raising his arm, Jack waved his hand to indicated so-so. "Any news on Sue?" Jack asked, his voice rough from sleep.

That was progress. Bobby's momentary relief was countered by the reality of having to tell him nothing had changed. "Myles, Tara and D are still looking. They said they've had a few leads but nothing definite."

Raising the bed slightly, a low groan escaped Jack's lips as he reached out for a glass of water.

"Let me," Manning said, jolting forward to hand over the glass. "Nurse should be coming to check your vitals soon. Since you're more awake now, maybe they can give you something to make you more comfortable."

Shaking his head, Jack eased himself back down. "Don't want anything," he breathed out, trying to hide his discomfort. "I need to get out of here and find Sue."

"You need," Bobby stressed, knowing that the more aware Jack became, the more of a handful he was going to be, "to rest and let your body heal. I don't know how to break it to you, but you're not indestructible, superman."

"Nothing's broken, I'll be fine," Hudson said flatly.

"Jack," Manning said, his voice reflecting his disbelief. "You were hit, literally, by a Mack truck. Bruised chest, ribs and shoulder, slight concussion, cuts, abrasions," he stopped seeing no give in his friend. Pursing his lips, Bobby pondered his next move.

Stubbornly, Jack pushed the covers back and slowly began to roll his body to sit up. "Where's my clothes?" he gritted out.

"If you leave now, you're going AMA and there's no way anyone's going let you work this case," Manning threatened.

"It's my fault. If I would have listened and gone out of town…" Jack broke off, his voice husky with emotion. "Sue's going through God knows what because I…." Jack closed his eyes, the emotional pain overriding the physical.

"It's not your fault," Bobby said softly, moving over to put a comforting hand on Jack's shoulder. Leaning down to catch Jack's eyes, he silently sent his support and understanding. "Look, stay here 'til morning, let the doctor release you, and then we'll find her. D will let us know if something happens between now and then."

Seeing a slight breach in Jack's resolve, Bobby pushed the advantage. "Come on," he urged, lifting Jack's legs to help him put them back on the bed. "Lay down and get some sleep. I'll wake you if I hear anything."

Walking slowly into the office later that morning, Jack tried to school his features to hide his discomfort. While his head was no longer pounding, the rest of his body was more than making up for the difference. The depth of the bruising meant that it would be weeks before he was back to normal. Taking time off to heal however was going to have to wait.

"How ya doing"? D asked coming forward to shake Jack's hand.

"Been better. Anything new?" Jack replied, shaking hands with Myles and accepting gingerly hugs from Tara and Lucy. Leaning forward, he leaned down to greet Levi. "Hey boy," he said softly, scratching the Golden's head.

"Doctor wasn't happy about him leaving," Bobby relayed, moving over to the coffee pot. "But, Jack here insisted, so he gave in."

"I'm fine," Jack said, starting to move past D only to be stopped by a hand being held up in front of him. Looking up, Jack locked eyes with him. "Let's just find Sue," he said softly, "then I'll rest."

Whatever D was going to say was cut off by Lucy. "Jack."

Turning he looked questioningly at the young woman holding the phone. Tension radiated from her.

"I think it's him," Dotson hissed. "He said to tell Jack Hudson that he has someone he's looking for."

Sharing a look with Dimitrius, Jack moved to his desk, but did not pick up the phone.

"Ready," Tara called from her space, her fingers flashing over the keyboard. "Try to keep him on for at least three minutes," she urged.

Pushing the recorder and the speaker, Jack snatched up the receiver. "Hudson."

"Hello pig," the caller growled.

"Farther." Jack acknowledged, nodding to the others. "Long time. I hear there's a whole bunch of people looking for you. How about you tell me where you are and I'll let them know where they can meet up with you. We'll even have a party for you."

An un-amused laugh met the suggestion. "Oh, I don't think so. I'm having too much with your little friend here."

The words made Jack's blood turn cold. "You don't want to hurt her," Hudson declared, trying to keep his voice steady. "That wouldn't be very smart."

"She's not hurt; at least not much by me… yet," Farther sneered. "Just to show you what kind of guy I am, I'll even show you. Check your phone. I just sent you a link to a website."

Jack's cell phone chimed indicating a text had come in. Snatching his cell phone from his hip, he tossed it to Bobby who nodded that it was there as he headed over to Tara. Watching them as they put in the web address, Jack hissed at the image that popped up on the big screen. Moving closer, he ran assessing eyes over the woman tied in a chair. Even though the picture was grainy, he could see the dried blood on the side of her face, neck, arm, and clothing.

The thing that drew his attention the most however was the dynamite that was surrounding her chest. Looking over at the explosive expert, he saw that Bobby was already peering intently at a computer screen trying to find out as much as he could. Turning back to the screen, he swallowed hard at the fear reflected in Sue's eyes.

"See, Hudson, she's breathing," Farther quipped. "If you want to keep her that way, you'll do exactly what I tell you to."

"What do you want?" Jack asked, his voice hard and flat.

"You, me, alone."

D shook his head sharply.

"Come on in. I'll arrange for us to have some time in a nice little eight by ten cell," Hudson said. Panic began to build in his stomach as a hand appeared on the screen, wrapping itself around Sue's throat. Jack could see the terror erupt on her face, as she was helpless to get away from the force restricting her air.

"NO!" Jack screamed, lurching forward towards the screen. His cry was echoed by the others' similar calls and screams around him. "Where? Just tell me where," he shouted hoarsely, desperate for the scene before him to stop. Momentary relief flooded through him as the hand left Sue's throat. He could see her coughing, gasping to get air into her lungs. But she was alive.

"You're going to come alone, right?" Farther said teasingly. "Otherwise…" he trailed off as a hand once again came into view and sent a vicious backhand across Sue's face making her head snap sidewise.

"Just tell me where," Jack ground out through clenched teeth, anger teeming from his body and voice.

"Be at Calvert and Connecticut, one hour. I'll find you. And Hudson, alone," Jackson snarled before hanging up. Almost immediately, Sue's image faded out.

The stunned quiet in the bullpen was broken by the sound of Jack slamming the receiver on the base. Turning, he viciously kicked his chair, sending it careening into the file cabinet nearby as he started around the desk toward the door.

"Whoa, Jack," D started, moving to block the younger agent's advancement. "You aren't going out there."

"What choice do I have?" Hudson said lowly. Haunted desperate eyes peered into his supervisor's. "He'll kill her."

"And he could do that anyway," Dimitrius said harshly, trying to make Jack think. "You're giving him exactly what he wants… an easy target. We'll get SWAT out there on the roofs; he'll never know they're there."

"Tara, any luck?" Myles asked softly, watching the silent struggle between Jack and D.

"Got both of them," Tara announced. "Farther called from the Foggy Bottoms area. But the video on the website was coming from the Washington Harbor area. An abandoned warehouse."

"Means Dell must have been at the warehouse," D surmised.

"Bobby, Myles, Tara, get to Sue. She's the priority. If you can get Dell, fine, but if there a choice, let him go. We'll pick him up later. I'll go after Farther," Jack ordered. "You let me know the minute she's safe."

"No way. I'm going with you mate," Bobby declared, blocking his path. "You're in no shape to face off on this drongo yourself."

"I won't be alone," Jack assured his friend and partner getting a nod from Dimitrius. "I need you to get Sue out of there. You saw what was on her." Seeing the mixed emotions of being unable to help both of his friends in Bobby's eyes, Jack reached out and squeezed his arm. "Please," he pleaded softly. "If you want to help me, make sure Sue's safe."

Locking eyes with Jack, Bobby swallowed hard at the emotions whirling within them. Reading the trust reflecting with the fear and desperation, the tall man nodded.

"I'll see you at the warehouse," Jack assured him, before moving toward the door. Behind him, Gans followed pulling his cell phone out as he moved. "Get me S.W.A.T.," he ordered into it as the pair disappeared from view.

"Sam-Three-Nine in position," D said in the microphone hidden in his clothing. Pretending to dig through a sack of garbage, the seemingly homeless man scanned the street looking for any sign of Farther. "Nothing so far."

"Sam-Three-Six, don't worry. He's close," Jack murmured, picking up the cup of coffee in front of him and taking a sip. Glancing upwards, he made sure there was no sign of the snipers covering him.

"That's what worries me," D murmured, scanning the area again. Although Jack was confident that Farther would not shoot him from afar, he had no such illusions. It would be simpler to just pick Hudson off from a distance and then escape. Turning to look behind his current position, Gans turned back around and lowered his head as he said, "Sam-Three-Nine. Suspect spotted. One block west, coming in on foot."

Jack forced himself to not react to the warning. He watched as D seemed to blend into the wall to wait as Farther came into view. Schooling his features, he forced his mind to clear so he could focus on the task at hand.

"Right on time," Jack said conversationally as the convict stopped beside the table.

Sitting down, Farther faked friendliness. "I could say the same thing about you."

"What's this about Farther?" Hudson said flatly.

"This," Farther sighed, pulling his hand from his pocket to point a gun at the agent, "is about you getting up real slow and coming with me."

The corners of Jack's mouth rose slightly "Now that wouldn't be very smart of me, would it? Here, we're in the open, lots of people around."

"And I could just start shooting all of these people too," Farther sneered, glancing at the various sidewalk dining venues. "Maybe start with that woman over there and then…." The feel of a gun pressing into his neck interrupted Farther's retort.

"I don't think so. If you so much as breath wrong, you'll never know what happened," Dimitrius snarled. Behind him he could hear the sound of the other agents as they approached.

Reading the momentary flicker of indecision in Farther's face, Jack leaned forward and revealed a weapon in his own hand. "Give me an excuse."

"It might be worth it," Farther breathed as the other agents descended on them.

As the agents pulled the gun from Farther's hand, D grabbed his shirt and pulled him upright so he could be cuffed. "Where's Sue?" he pressed.

Snickering, Farther grinned at Jack. "Don't worry pig. Your girlfriend's being taken care of," he said snickering suggestively. "So tell me Hudson, how long have you've been with that sweet little thing?"

Lunging forward, D pulled Farther backward and intercepted Jack. Holding Jack back, he shook his head. "He's not worth it." Glancing backward, he ordered, "Get him out of here." Refocusing on Jack, he squeezed his arms. "Come on. Let's go get Sue."

Author note: Whew! Breathe… that's it… take a deep breath. We're almost there. But, unfortunately time for another commercial break.