A/N: Little warning here. This chapter is a looooot longer than the other ones. It was two shorter chapters, but I liked them better put together. So, enjoy!
The rest of the LAPD and SWAT cars got there when the bomb went off. Ambulances arrived moments later. Liz desperately tried to listen to the comm. unit in her ear. She heard a scraggly voice.
"Colby!" Suzie yelled as she hacked on the dust that was hanging heavily in the air. She had narrowly missed a couch that had fallen through the ceiling. "Colby are you alright?"
"Suzie!" Liz called. "Suzie, are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Suzie said. "We're at 241 on 17th street."
"Ya, we got that." Liz said. "The bomb was a bit of a clue. We're sending rescue teams, alright?"
"I'm gonna try and find Colby and Don." Suzie replied.
"Be careful." Liz warned.
Suzie could barely see in the heavy dust of the explosion. Her ears were still ringing and her guts felt like mush from the concussion of the bomb. She got flashbacks of Iraq and tried to shove them to the back of her mind. "Colby? Don?" She called again as she pushed some chunks of drywall and plywood out of her way. She tried to go in the direction she had last seen the two agents. She wasn't going to bother to check on Swarrid. If he wasn't dead already then he would be soon. She knew where her bullet had planted itself.
It was only when Suzie had to duck underneath a table that she realized she'd been crawling the whole time. "Colby? Don?" She called.
"Over here." She heard Don croak.
Suzie pushed through some more debris and found the bottom post of what looked like a dental chair. She looked up and saw that Colby had thrown himself overtop of Don. She stood and started pushing large chunks of wreckage off of them. "You alright?" Suzie asked.
" 'm fine. Help Colby." Don said. He was irritated that the young agent had risked his life for him and now he couldn't even help the unconscious man. The cuffs holding his arms in place were preventing him from that. He also found it kind of awkward that his face was in Colby's chest. Suzie huffed as she shoved at a chunk of wall that was on top of Colby with her shoulder. When it finally toppled over it sent off a series of other crashes and made more plaster dust fall on top of them. Suzie coughed into her fist as she inhaled some of the filth.
Suzie gave Colby a once over and found the main injury. She looked down and found the source of the injury. A piece of metal piping had clipped his side and he was now gushing blood. "Liz, can you put the rush on that medical team?" Suzie asked as she tried to think of a way to slow the blood flow. She didn't pay attention to Liz's response as she pulled out her handy dandy knife. She quickly cut the belts that were strapping Don down to the chair. "Are there keys for these cuffs?" She asked Don.
"He has them." Don said.
Suzie grimaced. "Is there a way you can put pressure on his side while I see if I can get the keys?"
Don nodded. "Roll 'im on his good side."
Liz looked at the partially collapsed house and wondered what was going on underneath the wreckage. The rescue team had told them to stand back because even the slightest movement could send the structure toppling down. Liz had tried to tell Suzie that, but she was obviously ignoring her at the sound of crashing and breaking coming from the house.
"If they don't hurry up I'm going to start moving stuff myself." Ian grumbled. The rescue team had set out to find the steps down to the basement. They figured they should still be in shape enough to be able to get down to the next floor safely.
Nikki was getting twitchy too. Two of the people she considered her best friends were trapped down there and probably injured. "Should someone call Alan and tell him we found Don?" Nikki asked.
"I wouldn't." Liz answered. "Not until we know what kind of condition he's in."
Nikki nodded. It would be bad to call and tell them they found him and then… She grimaced at the thought and told herself that it wouldn't happen. They'd get Don out alright.
Suzie found Swarrid with no problem and found he was still hanging on by a thread. His gasping breaths echoed in the small cavern he had been trapped in. Suzie took a deep breath and crawled over to the dying man. "Mr. Swarrid?" she asked.
His eyes darted over to her and recognized her as the one who had shot him. His eyes narrowed.
"Look, Mr. Swarrid, you're dying and there's nothing anyone can do about it. Can you please just hand over the keys so I can get Agent Eppes out of here?" Suzie tried to reason. She saw the cold stare in his eyes and knew it wasn't happening. "Look I know why you did it. You had a hard childhood, right? Your older brother was probably very special to you. You fled to him when something bad happened and you thought he was invincible. So when you finally got out of your childhood you did whatever he told you even if you didn't like it. But you still thought your brother was Superman, invincible. So when Don shot him and it showed you that he was just like everyone else, you hated it. So instead of hating your brother you moved that hate to Don. You associated your brother's downfall with Don and when you found out he had a brother you plotted your revenge." Suzie saw the look in Swarrid's eyes and knew she'd struck a nerve. "Now you put Don's younger brother in the hospital and he's not going to be there to comfort him. How's that going to affect him?" She paused and gave Swarrid one last stare. "Please, give me the keys so a brother can comfort the other." She hoped and prayed those four years of psychology paid off. But they didn't have time to because Suzie watched the life fade out of Swarrid's still open eyes and heard his gasping stop. Suzie cussed and started searching his pockets. She found one ring with eight keys on it and Robin's phone. She then made her way back over to Colby and Don. She made it back faster than before.
She started shoving keys into the lock and found the right one after two tries. 'Third time's the charm.' She said grimly in her head. Don shook some feeling back into his hands and started to heft Colby into a sitting position as he put better pressure on his side. A moan escaped Colby's lips as pain flared up his side. Suzie unlocked the other cuff and then hurried to help Granger. Don sat up stiffly, trying not to use his abdomen, and helped keep Colby in a sitting position.
Colby's comm. system was still on hands-free and the three agents standing on the edge of the wreckage heard the moan and knew Colby would only make that noise if something was seriously wrong. "That's it." Ian decided and picked his way carefully into the house. Nikki and Liz followed. The rescue team tried to get them to go away.
"Look, Suzie, we're coming to you. Can you make some kind of noise to let us know where you are?" Liz asked.
Suzie looked around her and tried to find someplace that she could see out of into the next level. She found a small hole where light was coming through from the early day sun. She looked around and found a long skinny piece of wood. Carefully she picked it up and tried to stick it out. Height was an issue for her though. She cautiously stepped up onto the bottom part of the chair Don and Colby were on and found the hole was easier to reach. "I've got a board." She informed the agents that were listening. "Just look for movement." She tried to move the pole up and down as best she could.
Ian's keen eyesight was the first to pick it up. "There!" he said and pointed.
"Hey!" Nikki yelled loudly to the rescue team. "They're over here!"
Ian and Liz were the first ones there. They started pulling things out of the way to get a bigger hole made. Liz was relieved to see that Don was alright. Suzie dropped the board with a small clatter and got down off the chair.
"How are you doing, Eppes?" Ian asked.
"Fine." Don replied. "Colby's out cold. I'm not sure how we're gonna get him out of here."
"There's a rescue team up here and EMTs ready. We'll take care of it." Liz reassured.
Suzie walked over and helped Don put more pressure on the gash in Colby's side. "Did you check him for a head injury?" she asked gently. Colby moaned slightly as more pressure was applied.
"Don't have to. He's bleeding on me." Don muttered. Suzie grimaced. That wasn't good.
Ian laid flat on his stomach and reached a hand down. "Can you guys reach?" he asked.
"You first, Don. I've got Colby." Suzie said.
Don nodded. As much as he'd like to help his friend he was eager to get out of there. Suzie helped Don lower Colby to the chair. She then stood on top of the chair again and clasped her hands together for something to give Don a boost up with. Don grabbed hold of Ian's hand and stepped onto Suzie's clasped hands. Ian gave a good tug and Suzie pushed upwards. Don grunted as pain rippled throughout his body, but he soon found himself on the ground floor.
Some EMTs rushed over and gave him a quick looking over before taking him to an ambulance.
"How's Colb?" Nikki asked as she glanced in.
"Not so good." Suzie called back. "How're we getting him out?"
"The rescue team's bringing over a harness." Nikki replied.
Suzie was still keeping tight pressure on Colby's side, but warm liquid was still gushing out. She saw his eyes flicker. "Colby, you with us?"
"Mmm… Whut hppn'd?" His green eyes floated down to Suzie's face and then to his side.
"You covered Don from the bomb." Suzie explained. "You got hit with some piping."
" 'm tired." He mumbled.
"I know you are, Colby, but you gotta stay with me, okay?" Suzie coaxed.
Colby nodded.
"Where's that harness?" She yelled back up to the people above.
"It's coming down now!" Liz yelled back.
Suzie saw a rope being lowered down with the harness attached to the end. "Wha's that?" Colby asked.
"It's a harness. I'm gonna strap it on you and they're gonna lift you up. Alright?" Suzie grabbed hold of the harness and started to sit Colby up right.
"Yes, ma'am." He mumbled as his eyes drifted shut.
"Colby!" Suzie said sharply. Colby jerked and opened his eyes. "Can you hold yourself up for me?" She was having trouble getting the harness on with one hand.
"Don't think so…" he mumbled.
"Alright, that's okay." Suzie said. "Can you lift your arm up then?" Suzie then easily slipped the harness on and tightened it as she kept Colby talking and awake. "Alright! Lift him up!" she yelled. It took them no time to lift Colby up and EMTs whisked him away on a gurney already shoving an IV into his wrist.
"Your turn." Ian said and offered a hand down again. Suzie stood up on the chair and grabbed Ian's hand. Ian huffed slightly as he lifted her up. Nikki helped her up the rest of the way. "Jeez, what do you weigh? 45 pounds?" Ian joked lightly.
"Ha ha." Suzie said sarcastically.
"You okay?" Liz asked instead.
"I'm fine." Suzie said. "How's Don?"
"Already on the way to the hospital." Nikki replied. "C'mon, I'll take ya."
Liz nodded. "We'll wrap things up here and be over."
"Don't I have to fill out a statement?" Suzie asked.
"You can do that later." Liz said. "Now go on." She gave her a slight push in the direction of the SUVs.
Robin was watching the phone. She hadn't taken her eyes off of it for some time. So when it rang she reacted with superhuman reflexes. "Did you find him?" she answered.
"Ya, Robin." Nikki said. "He's on his way over to the hospital already. He should be there soon."
"Thanks, Nikki." Robin replied. She snapped the phone shut. "They got Don." She told Alan. Without saying a word they both ran out of the room to meet Don in the ER.
Don was drifting in and out of it. The pain medication he was on was really doing the trick. He heard some people talking to him and asking him questions. He tried to answer as best he could. But when he heard her voice he paid full attention. "Robin." He said and opened his eyes.
"Hey." Robin greeted. She appeared to be floating over Don and he realized she was leaning over the gurney to look at him. They were still speeding down the hall.
"You okay?" Don asked. "Swarrid didn't hurt you?"
"No, Don." Robin said with a smile.
"Mr. Eppes, can you look here for a moment?" a female voice asked.
Don didn't want to look away from Robin. He wanted to look at her forever. But he decided it was best to listen to the doctors. He looked over at the doctor and winced as a bright light was shone into his eyes. He heard someone tell Robin that she couldn't go any further.
"Wait." He said suddenly. The gurney rolled to a stop.
"It's alright, Don." Robin said and stroked his sweaty face.
"How's Colby?" he asked.
"Colby?" Robin asked.
Don nodded vigorously.
"I'll find out and tell you later, okay?" Robin said.
Don nodded again.
"Ready now, Mr. Eppes?" The female doctor asked.
"Mmhm." Don agreed.
The doctor nodded and some more pain killer was introduced into the IV. Don drifted off before the gurney was even in motion again.
Nikki and Suzie pulled into the hospital right behind Colby's ambulance. They kept up the fast pace the EMTs were running at. "Mr. Granger, you need to stay with us." One of the medics said.
"Hey, Colby," Nikki said as she got close. "You listen to those doctors, okay?"
"Ya…" Colby mumbled. Why couldn't they understand? His whole body hurt and the pain meds weren't doing anything. He really just needed to go to sleep… He heard Suzie's voice pull him back.
"Not much longer now, Colby." She said. "You just hang on a little longer and then you can sleep all you want."
"…Sounds good." He drawled.
"There we go, Mr. Granger." A doctor encouraged.
Down the hall a little ways Robin and Alan saw them coming. They saw the pale form on the bed and were instantly worried. He looked worse than Don. Only a short couple seconds passed before the doctors were telling Suzie and Nikki that they'd have to wait here.
"Hey, how's Don?" Nikki asked when she realized Robin and Alan were standing there.
"Better than Colby." Robin responded.
Alan looked from Nikki to the girl he didn't know. Nikki saw Alan and said, "Oh! Alan, Robin, this is Suzie McFlinn. She's a profiler like Megan was. She just started today… or yesterday I guess I should say."
"Welcome to LA then, Suzie." Alan greeted and shook her hand. "I'm Don's dad and this is his fiancé."
Suzie nodded in acknowledgement and shook Robin's hand too. "Nice meeting you both. Wish it was under better circumstances though."
"Tell me about it." Robin complained.
"Where are you from?" Alan asked curiously.
Nikki acted like she wasn't paying attention. Suzie saw right through it. "Pennsylvania."
"That's quite a long ways away." Alan replied.
Suzie just shrugged. "You do what you have to."
"So what happened?" Alan asked. "How did Colby get hurt? He didn't get shot did he?"
"No, no, no." Nikki hurried to cut off Alan's speculation. The idea of Colby getting shot made her shiver. "Colby and Suzie went in to get Don with back up five minutes away."
"Five minutes is a long time." Suzie mumbled.
"Would you like to tell the story then?" Nikki asked as she put a hand on her hip.
"Yes, please." Suzie replied. Alan was amused at how the two girls interacted with each other. It reminded him of Donny and Charlie. "Colby and I knew that five minutes was a long time when it came to situations like Don's. So we ran out of the car-"
"She has a concussion, so you know." Nikki butted in.
"-and found where Don was being held. We went in, cleared the downstairs, and then entered the basement. Swarrid and Don were down there. After a brief conversation with Swarrid he caused a distraction that allowed him to set off a bomb." She looked Alan straight in the eyes as she said, "Colby threw himself over Don to protect him." Then she glanced down at her feet. "I had to put a round in Swarrid's chest."
The silence that followed was almost deafening.
Yep. I tried for some fail psychology up there. XD I just tried to imagine what Megan would say in a situation like that and Suzie-fied it. So… What do you think about Colby's idiocy/heroism? Lol. **