Chapter 16

Teagan's Kick in the Butt

I had on full battle gear except for the helmet. I did have an earpiece and I was offered a more substantial weapon, but I thought I needed my hands free of automatic weapons to get my kid and get out of there. I wasn't there for anything more than to get Furey.

We had two vehicles, a van and a truck with eight guys, supposedly there to load the guns after the purchase. Marc and Ricky were the negotiators that would be dealing with Furey's kidnappers/gun sellers. I had on a rather bulky shirt to hide my vest and weapon, a 9ml glock. I got out with the two guys and we entered the building. My mind was like radar searching for Furey.

Furey, baby, where are you?

Auri? I'm here, here!

Can you feel me nearby?

Kinda…but not real close.

I'm getting the same impression. Hold on, we're all here. How many are with you?

I'm sitting here with two guys. They untied me and said that when the time comes, they're going to take me out to read the minds of some guys. Is that you getting closer?

I listened to him as we were met at the back door next to the dock, by a rather small, but brutish looking man who eyed me with suspicion. That would be the guys I'm here with. I'll be right back. I wanted to listen into the thoughts of the guy meeting us.

Who is this chick? What is she doing here?

I realized I needed to do something, he was ready to balk. Marc's cover name was Gerry. "Gerry, honey, I gotta pee baby. Is there a bathroom?" I asked the guy at the door.

His brain switched gears. This is his girlfriend? Christ, she looks like she belongs in a Disney movie.

Marc played along, "Hey Joe, you gotta toilet for my girlfriend?"

He was clearly annoyed, "Yeah, this way." We went down several corridors of the old warehouse building as we walked towards the front. He pointed down another corridor, "Down there. When you're done, just go down the corridor until it dead ends and then turn right; you'll find us."

I nodded and started on my way, watching to see that they disappeared down the corridor and then took a right.

I listened for Furey. Baby, where are you?

Here Auri. You're closer, a lot closer. They're walking me towards…turn around!!!!

I turned around and saw Furey in the company of two men, one who had his gun drawn. My heart lept into my throat. Furey looked worried, unsure what to do. He looked taller than when I saw him just six months ago. His hair was also longer and he was looking more like his Dad. His brown hair and blue eyes were a perfect frame for his long face. I put my hand up and smiled, "I'm with Gerry, his girlfriend, just going pee!"

I could feel the guy relax. He started thinking about getting Furey into the warehouse. I pushed the door open to the bathroom as they walked by. It seemed a little awkward so I smiled and nodded, "Hi, kid. " They walked by me.

Furey, if I tell you to run, you run. You run fast, like your life counts on it…because it does. Understand?

Yeah…Auri, I'm so glad to see you.

My heart started pounding. I whispered into my radio, I have Furey in sight, accompanied by two men. I have the advantage; I'm going to take them.

I knew that Marc couldn't respond because he was in negotiations in the warehouse. He had on a little receiver that looked like a telephone earpiece. It was an open mic so we could hear him in the warehouse doing the negotiations. I had to actually touch my chest if I wanted to talk into my mic.

A voice came from one of the guys on the docs, "Acknowledged Agent Ferrell, we'll send in another agent to assist."

I whispered, "Not enough time. I'm moving now before they turn into the warehouse."

I pulled my weapon and moved fast, the tall one with his weapon turned.

Furey, run now…to your left, not to your right, left, left, left! Get out of the building, the agents will find you.

Both of the men were now turned looking at me, while Furey hauled ass. I was very proud of him, he ran like a pro. The guys turned back to him, reaching out, but he was gone. In my earpiece I heard the warehouse erupt with several, "You're under arrest," meaning that Marc had pulled the plug, deciding that they had enough evidence and wanted it over.

I felt free to yell, "FBI! Halt or I'll shoot."

The one with his gun drawn let his gun drop and put his hands up. The other took off, the same way that Furey had taken off, down the left corridor. Another agent came up behind me and I almost shot the SOB because he failed to identify himself. I turned and when I saw it was one of us, rolled my eyes and took off after the guy who had run. I didn't want him getting Furey and using him as a shield.

I ran as fast as I could, my mind reaching out for Furey. Furey, watch out for that short guy, he's running in your direction. Where are you?

I hit a locked door. I have to double back the way I came!

No! Honey, find a place to hide, is there a place to hide?

There's some boxes and equipment.

Hide behind it; I'm coming. Did you run straight?

No the doors were locked at the end of the hall, I had to go down a short set of stairs to the right. You can't go any other way.

Okay, hide.

Auri, I hear him. He's close.

Hide!

I tried to pick up my pace, but my 31 inch legs wouldn't go any faster. I was frantic. How could I ever explain to Greg that I had Furey in my reach and I let him get hurt? I realized I had just run past the stairs. I went back and took them three at a time. I could feel Furey and he was scared, but he wasn't panicked. I figured that he was well hidden or he would be more frightened. I let my mind search for the other guy.

Where's the kid? If I can find the kid, I can use him and get out of here. Where's the kid? Christ, she's here. There…just a couple more steps and I can get her.

I stopped and crouched, realizing that I was being silhouetted against the light in the hall behind me, giving him a clear shot.

Fuck! Where did she go? Forget her, find the kid, find the kid.

I was worried. I'm an okay shot, not the best, not the worst. But everyone knows that when you're in the heat of battle, the odds of you actually hitting your mark is about 20% unless you're close enough. That's why we go for body shots, bigger chance of taking someone down. I traveled along the wall in a crouched position until I was as far in the back as I could get before my path was blocked by some equipment.

Is that the kid there? Nah, it's a sack of coal. Crap.

He was much closer to me than before. I stood up and looked. I could see he was about twenty feet to my right. I looked around and stopped in my tracks. I could see Furey from my angle and he was about ten feet from the guy under a machine. I knew the guy was going to find him.

Furey, get ready to get up and run back the way you came. I'm sure that there are some agents looking for us. When you do run, identify yourself loudly.

I watched the guy take another five feet, searching under the equipment.

Marc! Marc! It's Auri. I'm sending Furey to you. We're downstairs. Come and get him now! I have a perp with a gun.

Marc asked, Auri? Downstairs?

West side of the building, hurry.

Okay.

Don't shoot my kid.

I won't. Be careful.

I switched back to Furey. Furey, I'm going to make a noise to distract him. You need to climb out the opposite way and run the long way around, understand?

Okay!

I banged a piece of equipment softly with my foot. It was just enough; he turned and ducked behind a steel box. Furey climbed out and started running again; even though it was the long way around, the direction he was running gave him more cover. The guy caught a glimpse of him and started after him.

I jumped out from my spot, "FBI! Put your weapon down."

The guy turned and I could see he was pulling the trigger. I knew this was it. I was about to shoot my gun for only the fourth time in my career. I felt my finger bring back the trigger just as the hot lava seared through me. I heard my gun, but wasn't sure if I had gotten the round off before I was hit.

I could do nothing more. My body was flat on the ground. The short man walked up to me and aimed the gun at my head. My only thought was that at least Furey was alive. I was comforted by that thought until I saw Furey, standing behind the man with a metal pipe. I saw the man's finger start to pull. But there was no sound, instead I barely caught a glimpse of the pipe flying through the air and the dull, heavy thud as the pipe connected with the man's head. I saw nothing more; I lost my connection with this world.

The wind and light hit me, made my hair and clothes fly, but I couldn't feel it. I was floating above an ambulance. I could see the red cross on the top and the call numbers, 12NY784. I looked around and saw the van with a portable blue light on top of it chasing the ambulance through the streets.

I felt happy. I had no worries, no feelings of dread or self-doubts. I wasn't hot, I wasn't cold. I was free. I swooped down and through the roof of the ambulance into chaos. The paramedic was screaming, the machine was flatlined. I was staring at me on the gurney, the paramedic pushing on my chest, blood covering everything.

"I've lost her! I've lost her. Chris' sake, what's our ETA?"

The driver yelled back, "Less than a minute. Keep doing chest compressions."

"I think her lung collapsed."

"J.C. just keep the chest compressions going."

"Okay."

I left the ambulance and floated into the van. Marc was inside along with Ricky. They were silent. In the back was Furey, crying.

"I can't hear her. I can't hear her thoughts. Oh, I want my Dad." He sounded like he was drowning in phlegm and tears.

I tried to touch him, but couldn't. I didn't feel sad, or worried, or anything but happy. I wanted him to be happy too. I was about to try to touch him again when I was pulled, like a vortex, into the ambulance and my body.

"I've got a pulse, it's weak, but I've got one," the paramedic yelled.

I didn't feel, see or hear anything again until later when I started floating again. I was in an operating room. I floated up to the ceiling and looked down. The area around my heart was opened up and I could see it wasn't beating. I felt like I was swimming in the air, floating with ease. The monitors had that high whine of a flat line. I flew up and out of the room. I saw Furey in the waiting room, the television on, his face streaked with the tracks of dried tears. I heard a commotion down the corridor. Furey jumped up and ran out the door. Greg was flying as fast as his cane would carry him. They collided together like atoms, the force almost knocking them both off their feet. I could hardly see Furey, his father's arms were wrapped safely around his entire body. Greg was crying, like a child. I saw Furey pull his face out from his Dad's chest. He was crying too. Everyone in the area was crying. I felt happy. But then, I already felt happy.

I left them holding each other tight, clinging on to each other like twisted wires. I floated and floated up and out of the hospital at a rapid pace. I watched as it all looked like a scene from Google Earth. I got higher and things grew smaller on the ground. I was so high I could no longer make out anything on earth but colors. I tumbled and twisted and ended up in the lemon yellow light of a cloudy mist. It cleared and I felt even more content, more blessed, more loved, more at peace. I saw someone coming towards me…floating.

It was Teagan, smiling, gorgeous, enveloped in light and cloud. She was shaking her head.

"Teags! Oh Teags, it's you! You're okay. Isn't this wonderful? Isn't this glorious." I cried out.

She nodded, "But Auri, you have to go back. You have so much to go back for now."

"No, I'm happy here. I think I'll stay."

She smiled and floated like a cotton-candy Goddess. "Oh honey, you can't. My boys need you. I picked you. I picked you to take care of them. You're going to go back."

"Take care of your boys? I saved Furey, he's with his Dad."

"But, there's so much more for you to do."

"Greg doesn't want to get married."

"Maybe, but who knows what will happen? You need to go back. You need to teach Furey so much."

"You go back. I'm happy here."

She chuckled, "I can't. I'm very dead. You still have one foot left on the platform dear. Now, be a good girl and go back. They need you, I picked you. I picked you."

I heard her say it over and over as I was sucked again into my body. I heard the collective sigh of the surgical team, the ping pong sound of the monitor and then I heard nothing.

Dear Readers: Gosh, just had someone from Bend, Oregon and Australia leave reviews! Thanks for the reviews, they encourage me to keep writing!