REUNITED AND IT FEELS AWKWARD
SCENE SEVENTEEN
Before the radio silence all SWAT members were pulled off the hillsides and requested to roster at the SWAT control van and wait for further orders. The SWAT team Incident Commander and the second unit Team Leader sent Team two of the Special Weapons and Tactics team that did not enter the mine to the vehicles to move them out of harms way. Team member Hooper, the command electronic rover cam controller and monitor was requested to leave the site, but he didn't want to leave. "I'm sticking with the men sir. As long as I don't initiate the Rover to go any further it shouldn't affect the bomb and we can watch", he looks at the monitor and sees the first SWAT team move in. "Sir, there in and have engaged with un-subs."
Watching the monitor Hotchner turns to the Commander, "Levi, we can stay for only a few minutes and then we need to move to a safer location." He returns his attention to the monitor. "Look, there." He points to the upper right corner of the screen. "Your men have survivors coming from that back room." Holding his hand out Hotchner shakes the hand of the Swat team Incident Commander. "I am going to join my team. You make sure you leave as soon as your team comes out and I will have the ambulances standing by." The two men finish their goodbyes and Agent Hotchner heads back to the parking area. When he arrives all the vehicles have been moved down the small inlet road except for the Impala.
A short way down the road Hotchner catches up with Agent Spencer Reid and Kevin Lynch who are at the back of an ambulance. A paramedic is finishing up the dress wound on Kevin's arm where Dan as a Demon had grabbed so hard he sprained the shoulder. Hotchner was concerned. "Are you going to be ok Kevin?" Seeing a nod Hotchner smiles, "Good, you did what you could. Can you tell me what happened?"
Feeling intimidated by the powerful man standing before him made speaking a bit shallow and twitchy. "I was in the SUV, working on the encryption when this man opened the door and demanded the laptop. I tried to slide across the seat to get out but he grabbed my shoulder, then he broke my phone and I could do nothing but sit there and watch him start the timer. Then Agent Nick and the medical examiner Dan showed up." He stops to breathe and to collect his story as vaguely as he could. "All I know is they took off after him." He looked at Agent Hotchner. "Derek took off after them." The paramedic had finished a few minutes ago and Kevin now stood up. "There was only fifteen minutes on the clock sir and we are down to." He looked at his watch. "Three minutes."
Turning to Reid who had information on the mine Hotchner followed to the SWAT central control van. They stepped in and joined the four men inside. "You guys are doing a great job here today. I am sorry we couldn't get up on this one with a profile." Hotchner joined Reid at a computer and looked over the schematics of the mine. "Reid, did you fill Levi in on this?"
"I did and he sent three men out to cover the back ridge, but then we went to radio silence and we haven't heard from them." Reid sits quiet, giving the screen with the schematics a second look. "On top of the mine there is a small air shack which is most likely the place where the bomb could do the most damage." The two men looked and agReid.
The second team leader approached Agent Hotchner to fill him in on the bomb situation. "I sent four men to the top. They should be there by now." He pointed where his men would set up. "Two are assault, one sharp shooter who should be in this area and one bomb expert, just in case there is time."
One team member came dashing through the door, halfway out of breathe. "The kids are out of the mine and heading this way." Then he turns and leaves with everyone in the van following. They find a clear spot about two hundred yards away from the mine and can see the SWAT team and the teenagers a hundred yards out.
With the case having no profile Agent Hotchner can do nothing more but wonder if he should have brought more of the team in on this one. But he felt good about his choice and they did what they could here while the rest of the team was dispatched to another case. With Derek still out in the field he was concerned but knowing Derek could handle any given situation and with the SWAT team members to back him up Hotchner didn't need to worry. But he did, silently, almost too silent.
Without any means of contact he had to keep his mind from straying and concentrate on what was in front of him. The well trained SWAT teams holding back near their vehicles, Reid watching the team members and kids with binoculars. Then his thought drifted for a moment to the Impala and the two agents. "Reid do you see Agent Jonas?"
: END SCENE SEVENTEEN
CONTINUED: