Chapter 14

The shrill sound of the sirens echoed through the crowd as an ambulance careened off into the night. Standing in its wake, a group had gathered to watch solemnly as it disappeared around the corner.

"He'll be okay, Jack," the blonde woman reassured, laying her hand comfortingly on his arm. "Myles is strong…and way too stubborn to let something like this get him," she added with an encouraging smile.

"I know," the dark haired agent nodded, but couldn't shake the image of his friend's almost lifeless body as paramedics loaded him on the ambulance. He knew Hannah's exhausted, bruised face only hinted at what the two agents went through inside the building.

"Thanks, Diana," D stated as he approached the couple, his arm around his wife's shoulders. "We appreciate everything you and your department has done for us tonight," he droned on, sounding more like a supervisor playing politics than anyone cared to admit.

"Anything we can do to help out fellow law enforcement," Diana replied with the traditional stock phrase from when departments had to work together. After all they'd been through tonight, I'm surprised they're still on their feet, she thought, eying the men sympathetically as Bobby joined them, minus his bomb disposal gear. "You all need a lift to the hospital?" she questioned, knowing they were probably anxious to get there to check on their friends.

"Thanks, but we have our own cars, shelia," Bobby responded, still high on adrenaline from the bomb and his friends rescue. "Speaking of the hospital, where are the shelias? I figured they'd be the first ones at the door when Kelsey called that we were bringing them out," he asked, looking around in the crowd.

"Uh," Jack stammered, looking at D for help.

"It's a shame the explosion busted up my radio," Bobby continued, not seeing the look between his friends as he scanned the area for his wife. "I would have loved to have heard their excitement when we found them," he finished, finally looking back at his best friend for an answer.

Four pairs of eyes stared at him for a moment, before slowly shifting to look at each other, silent communication flowing between them. None of them wanted to be the one to tell him, but as all eyes settled on Jack, the decision was made.

"What is it, Jack?" Bobby tensed, the worry returning to his face. "Where are the girls? Where's Tara?" he demanded, closing the distance to stand menacingly over his best friend.

"Calm down, Bobby," D bristled, stepping between the two men.

"I will NOT calm down!" the tall Aussie hissed, his anger boiling over. "Where's my wife?"

The emergency room doors slid open as Bobby ran through, followed closely by Jack. As he approached the desk, he heard his name called out from the waiting room and turned to see Sue and Lucy hurrying over.

"Bobby!" Sue cried as they got closer. "Are you okay?"

"We just saw them bring in Hannah and Myles," Lucy added, touching Sue's arm gently first to get her attention. "They looked awful," she frowned, signing the last word as she said it.

"I'm fine," Bobby waved them off, looking curiously at the two men coming up behind the two women. "Where's Tara?" he asked sharply, turning his attention back to his friends.

"She's in the back," Lucy responded, subconsciously waving her hand slightly to let Sue know she was talking. "The doctors are running some tests."

"I need to be with her," Bobby stated firmly, pushing past them to head towards the doors the petite black woman had indicated.

"Whoa, buddy," the dark-haired man behind Sue cautioned as he and his friend grabbed each of the tall Aussie's arms, holding him back. "The doctors need some time to work."

"They'll be out when you can see her, but she was doing fine when we left her," the other man insisted quietly as Bobby tried to pull himself out of their grip. "She told us she'd been burning the candle at both ends lately on this bomber case, so she's probably just overly tired."

"Who are you?" Bobby asked, teeming with anger as he tried to figure out why these two strangers were keeping him from his wife.

"Gabe Venezula," the dark haired man replied. "And that's Thad Shaw," he

"Relax. They're the paramedics that brought Tara in," Jack explained, his hand on his best friend's shoulder.

"Firefighter/EMTs," Thad corrected with a wink.

"Right," Jack nodded as he noticed Bobby slowly start to relax.

"Well, I really don't care who you are," Bobby groaned as he started pacing the floor, the others watching him carefully in case he tried for the door again. "I want to see my wife!"

"Then today is your lucky day," Gabe boasted as he looked toward the door. "There's your wife's doctor now," he added, nodding his head toward the short balding man that was approaching.

"Doc Allen, this is Tara's husband," Thad introduced them briefly.

"How's my wife?" Bobby asked quickly, taking the older man's outstretched hand. "Can I see her?" he inquired eagerly, ignoring the others as they gathered around supportively.

"Your wife is fine. A little tired but that's more than understandable considering the line of work she's in," the doctor explained, catching the 'I told you so' looks the two firefighters shot the tall Aussie.

"Well, then why did she faint?" Bobby questioned frustrated and confused.

"Uh…your wife wanted to explain that for herself," the doctor continued, almost reluctantly. "She's been asking for you," he added, taking a few steps back towards the doors he'd come through.

"What's wrong? Where is she?" Bobby asked, almost before the doctor could finish.

"Right this way. Room six," the doctor called, scurrying to catch up with the tall Aussie, leaving the others staring worriedly after them.

As soon as he saw the number on the door, Bobby's long legs carried him quickly down the busy emergency department hallway. Pausing only briefly in the doorway to make sure he had the right room, he strode to Tara's bedside, taking her hand in his as he scanned her face.

"Are you okay?" Bobby breathed, pulling her into his embrace as she smiled tiredly up at him.

"I'm fine…considering…now that you're here. I was so worried," Tara reassured him as she leaned back. "What about Myles and Hannah?" she questioned, raising her hand to brush a stray hair from his dust-laden forehead.

"They were brought in a little while ago," Bobby told her, cradling her hand to his lips, pressing a tender kiss to the back of her hand. "They were pretty banged up when we found them, so…" he confessed, not wanting to reveal anything that might worry her more.

Tara nodded quietly, tears forming in her eyes as she looked at him with concern for her friends. She doesn't need to worry anymore until we knew more about their conditions, Bobby resolved as they sat silently, comforting each other as they said own little prayers.

"The doctor said you were okay, but you wanted to talk to me about why you fainted," Bobby started, worried about his wife as well as what happened earlier, despite the doctor's reassurances. "What's up, shelia?" he asked, caressing her cheek lightly with his hand.

"Well…" Tara started, biting her bottom lip nervously.

Before she could continue, a short redheaded nurse came bustling in chattering away. Bobby pulled away slightly, reluctantly turning as the woman approached the bed.

"Before Doctor Allen discharged you, he wanted to make sure you got these prenatal vitamins, Mrs. Manning, and see if you had any questions regarding getting with your obstetrician?" the nurse asked as she handed Tara the bottle and papers.

"Uh, no…thank you," Tara replied, hesitantly taking the offered items as Bobby slowly turned back toward her.

His eyes locked with hers as realization crept into his head. Oh, my God! Bobby thought as his heart pounding excitedly in his chest.

"Does that mean what I think it means?" Bobby asked quietly, his hands cupping her face.

"Yes," Tara replied breathlessly.

"WOOHOO!"