Chapter Twenty: When All You've Got To Keep Is Strong

(Move Along – All American Rejects)

"Officer Roman!" Came a loud shout.

Burgess and Roman, who were standing guard in front of The Spire's main entrance turned to the source of the shout. Burgess didn't recognize the girl and turned to her partner in curiosity.

"Jasmine," The male cop greeted. He turned to his partner. "Burgess this is Jasmine, Olinsky's bomb tech friend. Jasmine, this is my partner, Officer Kim Burgess."

The bomb tech smiled, shaking hands with the new face. "Wish I could say it was a pleasure. You guys want to fill me in on the situation."

"We, unfortunately, are a bit short on details at the moment," Burgess explained, leading the bomb tech into the nightclub. "All we know is that a Valerie Marshall is holding a bunch of gang members hostage, probably using a bomb."

"And that's a bad thing?" She teased.

Roman gave a concerned look. "Yeah," he confirmed. "That's a bad thing."

Jasmine shrugged as she trotted up the stairs. "You never know these days," she explained, "It's all a lot less black and white than it ever was in the army. Too many good people pushed to the edge. Many of them are just doing the things that we would do ourselves if the law didn't say otherwise."

"Jasmine!" Olinsky called as the bomb tech and the two cops entered his eyesight. "I see you're late as usual."

She laughed lightly. "I try. Now, what's the situation?"

Olinsky nodded. "Of course. I was just inside the room a moment ago. It looked like C4, but I'm afraid I can't be much more specific than that. I had to get this fool out of there," he explained, pointing at Lee. "Hank's still in there along with detective Atwater. I think he's been shot, but I'm not sure."

"Kevin's shot?" Burgess blurted.

Olinsky shrugged. "Like I said, I had to get Lee out of there. I'm not sure what exactly happened."

"Okay, Alvin," Jasmine interjected. "I need you to think about the bomb. Was it wired up? Did it have a blasting cap? C4's no good without one."

"It was wired. I'm certain it was live."

"Did you get a good look at the detonator? Was it just a button? A timer?"

Olinsky paused for a moment, trying to remember. "I think a switch..." he paused once more. "No, a button, definitely a button."

"Like a dead man's switch?"

"It's likely, our bomber does seem rather partial to their use."

"Not to mention she's severely suicidal," Roman added.

Olinsky thought for a moment, thinking of the best way to get Jasmine into the room without putting her in obvious danger. "Okay, we need to think this through. Jasmine can't just walk in unarmed."

"I could go in with her," Burgess offered. Olinsky sent her a doubtful look which she quickly shot down. "Kevin was my partner. We may not be anymore, but if he's in there and he's hurt, I want to be in there."

"Come on Olinsky," Roman insisted. "If this case has taught you anything it should be that partner's should have each others backs." He gave his partner an understanding look. "even if they're not partners anymore."

The older detective nodded. "Fine, you can guide Jasmine in, but be careful. It's a delicate situation in there."

"Send me back in too," Lee insisted. "Maybe I can-"

"Last time we sent you in, two people got shot. Clearly, she's too far gone for you to get to her," Olinsky pointed out.

"Two?" Roman blurted.

"Second was a Colbalt. It was just in the hand. Don't worry about it."

Roman nodded in understanding, but Lee was still adamant that he be allowed back into the VIP lounge. "No-" he began.

"I'll get her out," Burgess promised. "I'll get them all out." Olinsky nodded, giving the last piece of permission that Burgess needed. "Alright, Jasmine, stay close to me...and listen carefully. I may just have a plan." The bomb tech nodded, adjusting her bag of supplies on her shoulder, before following the officer down the hallway.

Voight sighed heavily. "I'm not going to let you blow them up," the detective decided. "They may deserve to die, you may deserve to die, but I'm not going to give it to you. Do you know why? It's because that detective you abducted and tortured, he wouldn't want me to kill you. He stopped me from killing someone who deserved it once...and even if I don't want to admit it...this is on me. So, to begin to make it up to him, I'm going to spare your miserable lives."

Valerie shook her head, waving the gun more frustratedly. "Leave, or I will make you leave!" She shouted.

Voight rejected her offer. "Not until you come out with me and put that gun and that bomb down."

BANG!

Voight stared in disbelief as he realized where she had fired her bullet. This one had hit his shoulder. It was the same arm that had already been shot once. Voight moved to rip off another piece of the table cloth, but the firing of another bullet aimed into the ground stopped him.

"You're no going to bandage that wound."

"He'll bleed out," Voight growled.

"You're welcome to leave."

"The second I leave you are going to kill all these people, and I can't let you do that."

"They're not people Voight! When will you see that?! They deserve to die! You can either save these murderers or your friend. I suggest you choose quickly."

Voight looked at Atwater, who was slowly regaining consciousness. "Voight?" he mumbled drowsily, as if he was just waking up from an afternoon nap.

"Hey, welcome back," The older detective greeted, as he tried to keep an eye on Valerie. "I need you to stay with me okay?" Atwater tried to move in response, but stopped, wincing at the pain. "No no no, stay still."

"How many times did I get shot?"

"Enough. Stay put."

"Voight?!" Burgess called from outside the door. "Voight is Kevin okay?"

"He will be!" Valerie shouted angrily in response. "Provided you all leave right now!"

"We can't do that Valerie. Look, I have someone here who I think you should talk to," she tried. "Can we come in?" There was no answer, prompting Burgess to lead Jasmine inside. "This is Jasmine," Burgess introduced. "Jasmine this is Valerie Marshall. Jasmine's a bomb technician."

"I'm not going to let you ruin this! Get out! Now!"

Burgess looked at Atwater. More and more blood was flowing from his shoulder. "You know," Burgess began. "Last year...there was this bombing at Chicago Med. I was there with my niece. She almost died and...I was so devastated. She pulled through, but...there was this other girl...she was around the same age, and- and she didn't make it. I can still only barely imagine what you went through when you lost your own child Valerie, but...none of that makes this right."

Valerie sighed. "I won't be talked down."

"I can try," Burgess said hopefully. "We have all the time we need."

"No we don't." Valerie flipped over the bomb, revealing a timer. "Just in case, I had Ripper put in a timer as well as a button. You only have 5 minutes to make up your mind...actually..." She looked carefully at Atwater. "I'd say that's awfully optimistic. Your friend probably have less than five minutes, unless someone attends to that wound."

Burgess made a small step towards her injured friend.

"Which!" Valerie shouted. "I won't let you do...until you leave. me. Alone."

Voight gave Atwater an intimidating look, demanding he stay still, then rose to his feet. "Valerie. You should know that I will not take this lightly."

Valerie sighed. "I've seen the best you can do, Hank...Halstead's still dead. I guess the best you can do isn't very much. Just leave. One of your detectives has died today. Isn't that enough."

"Halstead's not dead," Burgess spat. "Not for sure."

"Maybe it's your best, Valerie," Voight growled. "That isn't very much."

"The doors are open!" Casey shouted. "Lindsay! Grab his hand! Be sure to squeeze the trigger tightly!"

The fireman had barely begun speaking by the time Erin had her hands rapped tightly around her partner's hand. Now, with the doors open, she could see the horror show, that was her partner. His face was covered in blood. She tried to tell herself that it was nothing, that head wounds just bleed a lot, but she couldn't quite convince herself. There was just so much blood.

Then there was his leg. She knew part of his femur had snapped, piercing the skin, and was beyond thankful that Mills had already wrapped up the injury. She could tell by all the blood surrounding his leg that it was pretty serious and she wasn't sure she would've been able to handle the sight of her partner's bone sticking out of his thigh, even if it was only a part of the bone.

His free hand was also coated in blood, along with the portion of his arm closest to his wrist. She assumed that he had tried to put pressure on his leg wound before passing out from all of the blood loss. She squeezed his hand tighter as Casey rushed out of the truck giving Erin a clear line of sight to Brett and Mills.

Brett smiled, assuring the detective that her partner was, in fact, breathing. It had taken the firemen longer than preferable to get the door open and Erin was nervous that the faint pulse Brett had found would soon slip away.

"I've got his leg as good as I can get it for now. We need to get him to a hospital."

"Look guys," Ruzek pointed out. "I want to get Jay safe and sound just as bad as anyone else here, but won't they just kick our asses out the moment we show up to a hospital with a live bomb?"

"He's getting the surgery he needs Adam," Dawson promised. "I have no problems with threatening to shoot surgeons if they have any other ideas."

"Antonio," Gabby blurted. "There won't be any need for that. As long as Erin's sure she can hold his hand throughout the whole process, they'll operate. I promise."

"I can," Erin pledged. "I don't care if the surgery takes three days. I won't let go."

"See?" Gabby said with a nervous smile. "Problem solved."

"I've got the back board!" Mills announced, rushing back to the truck after hurrying over to the ambulance. "Let's get him on it. Detective Lindsay? You ready?" She nodded in agreement.

"Alright then," Severide called out, as he, Casey, Ruzek and Dawson gathered around the back of the truck, ready to carry him to the ambulance. "On Three. One. Two. Three."

In one swift movement, the group lifted Jay's motionless body onto the back board, and slowly (ensuring they had plenty of time for Erin to keep up) carrying him into the back of the ambulance. Once he was in place and Erin had taken up her seat, Mills hopped into the back and Brett raced to the wheel.

"We'll meet you at Chicago Med!" Mills called out to Dawson and Ruzek.

Gabby turned to her lieutenant. "Can I-?" She began.

"Don't say another word," Casey interrupted. "You can go."

She gave him a grateful smile before jogging off to hop into the back of her brother's car. Mills shut the doors to the back of the ambulance and turned to face his fellow paramedic.

"Step on it!" He called out.

And she did.

Burgess and Voight were getting no where with talking to Valerie. Valuable time was ticking by and now, they had barely two minutes before the bomb went off. Jasmine was getting antsier by the minute, more and more eager to diffuse the bomb.

Burgess looked down at her injured friend, to see his eyes slipping closed. She immediately dropped to her knees beside him and shook his fiercely.

"Stay with me Atwater!" She demanded.

"Stay away from him!" Valerie demanded.

"He's losing consciousness!" The female cop snapped. "I'm just trying to keep him awake."

"You can leave!" Valerie reminded them. "You can all leave."

Burgess growled. "We're not leaving people to die Valerie! I don't care if they are gang members! They deserve a second chance! Atwater! Kevin! No no no! Stay with me! Jasmine come here! I need your help."

"I said stay away!"

Burgess rose to her feet as Jasmine approached her. Soon, the two were standing side to side, so closely, their hips were touching. Jasmine snuck a hand behind the cops back and grabbed the gun she had tucked in the back of her pants (as they had planned just before entering as a last ditch scenario). The bomb tech held the gun behind her back.

"Step away from him! Now!" Valerie barked.

"Okay! Okay!" Jasmine whimpered, scurrying over to stand behind Voight.

"Damn it Valerie! He's dying!" Burgess shouted, successfully managing to distract Valerie from what was going on between Voight and Jasmine. The bomb tech was currently, slowly and carefully, bringing the gun out from behind her back and tapping Voight's with it. The sergeant of Intelligence realized what was happening and slid one of his own hands behind his back, grabbing the gun firmly.

"Valerie," Burgess begged. "Let me help him."

"You can! I don't want to kill him! I want to kill them!"

"You want to kill yourself," Voight spat out. "No one else needs to get hurt as a victim of your tameless revenge scheme!"

"They need to di-"

BANG!

And just like that. Valerie Marshall was dead. A bullet from Burgess' gun lying right in the middle of her forehead.

"Jasmine!" Voight barked immediately. "Get that bomb diffused! Now!"

"Are you kidding me?" Isiah Horran shouted as the bomb tech rushed over to Valerie's body and grabbed the C4. "We need to get the hell out of here."

"Go!" Voight growled. "Leave then!" The Colbalt leaders didn't hesitate and rushed out.

"Voight," Burgess pointed out. "I don't think its safe to move Kevin, not until his wounds are secured. We could make it worse."

"Worse than an explosion?" Voight asked bitterly. "Jasmine! Time!"

"A minute and twenty five seconds. I...I don't know if I can diffuse it in time."

"You have to try.

That was when Olinsky rushed in. "All the Colbalts just ran outside. I assumed you-" He froze once he saw Valerie's body. "I guess I was right to send Lee outside with Roman and those gang members."

Voight laughed, but there was little humour in it. "Atwater's been shot. We need to secure the wound."

"And the bomb's got a timer," Jasmine added. "A minute and five seconds. Damn it. There are too many wires."

"Jasmine," Olinsky urged. "You can do this. Come on."

Burgess, meanwhile, was tightly wrapping more pieces of the table cloth around his shoulder. "There's so much blood," She mumbled.

"Burgess we've got this. Get out of here," Olinsky insisted.

She shook her head. "I'm not leaving without him," she stated.

Voight looked at her, hesitating. In that moment, she reminded him so much of Erin. Of course, she wasn't quite as out of control as Erin had been, but she still refused to leave the man who had once been her partner behind. Voight smiled faintly at the thought.

"Fifty seconds!" Jasmine called out.

"Jasmine," Olinsky said, making his way to her side. "Stop calling out numbers and talk to me. What wire do we cut?"

"I...I've narrowed it down to one of these three red ones. This bomb, it's so abstract. I've never seen anything like it. There's no way to know for sure which wire to cut," The tech confessed.

"Okay," Olinsky said with a nod. "Get out of here." She nodded and after giving a small apology rushed off. "Hank, you and Burgess try to get Atwater out of here without agitating the wound too much. Get as far as you can."

"And what about you?" Atwater mumbled weakly.

"I'll you as much time as I can, then I'll guess and hopefully get it right," He explained, pulling out his pocketknife.

"Al-" Voight tried.

"Go! You've got thirty seconds!"

Voight and Burgess helped Atwater to his feet and slowly made their way out of the room. They weren't going very fast and it took them ten, out of their thirty seconds to get out of the room. Olinsky was certain they wouldn't even make it down the stairs before time ran out.

The detective stared at the timer, slowly watching it count down.

Ten.

He looked at Valerie's body, thinking how sad Lee would be if all he got to see of her was her charred remains.

Eight.

What would his own daughter feel if he died in this explosion?

Six.

He focussed his attention on the three red wires.

Four.

He weighed each of his options. Right. Middle. Left.

Two.

"Please be right," he whispered.

One.

Snip.

As Brett made another sharp turn, Erin squeezed Jay's hand even harder, terrified of letting go, terrified that she literally held his life in hands.

Mills was jumping all around, checking all sorts of monitors and doing his best to properly dress his head wound and leg wound. Of course, there was little he could do in the small ambulance.

"He's going to be okay right?" Erin asked quietly.

Mills opened his mouth, but no words came out, only a small, hopeless breath.

"You don't know?" She whispered in a horrified voice. "How can you not know?"

"I just don't have the means," The paramedic confessed. "I could tell you he'll be okay, but that'd be a lie because there's just no way for me to know. Not yet. Not here."

Erin nodded as a single tear fell down her cheek. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze and leaned in nice and close to his face.

"Jay? I don't know if you can hear me, but...but I need you to hang on okay? I need you to stay with me." She paused, only to sniff back another wave of tears. "I know I let you down. I was supposed to have your back and I didn't. I wasn't there when you needed me. You caused these injuries to yourself because...because I was too far away...because I let you down. I'm sorry I wasn't your back-up."

"Don't be silly."

Erin snapped out of her misery. "Jay?"

"I caused...that crash," he whispered slowly, unable to get out more than a couple words between each heavy breath. "Because...I knew...you...you would come...I knew...I knew...you would...save me..."

She gave another soft squeeze, leaning even closer to his face. "You're going to be okay now. You have to be okay."

"I'm...I'm so...so tired..."

Erin shook her head. "You've got to stay awake."

"M...M'kay..."

"Jay. Jay stay with me okay? I know you owe me nothing, I need you to do this small favour for me okay? I need you to stay awake."

"I...I want...want to...but I...I'm so...tired...so tired..."

"No. You're not tired. Just focus on my face. Okay? Just focus on my face. We're almost there." She looked hopefully at Mills who gave her a desperate look, mouthing the words: five minutes.

She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. "You can't fall asleep. You can't..."

"Any...anything...for...for you..." he murmured drowsily.

"Hey Jay..." She whispered, hoping to get his attention. "You know. I was shot."

"Mhm..." he mumbled, acknowledging her statement.

"That means..."

Jay managed a small smile. "Didn't even...think...of it...like...like that..." Erin smiled through her tears, nodding softly. "Well..." Jay continued in a tired voice. "That...That's a...a reason...to live...ain't it..."

She nodded once more. "So you have to stay awake."

"Said...Said I'd live..." He teased. "Made...no promises...about...about staying...awake..."

"Jay..." She begged.

"Don't worry..." He managed to put his free hand on top of both of hers. "I'll wake up...for you..." He chuckled softly. "Cause...Cause you...got shot..."

His eyes drooped closed and Erin let loose all the tears she'd been holding in. "Jay. Jay?" She looked at Mills hopelessly.

"We're almost there," He promised. "We're almost there."

Tada? Whatcha think? I'm actually super happy with this chapter (aside from how long it took me to write it. I'm super tired so I'm gonna make this quick. For any who didn't catch it, the thing about Erin getting shot is 'cause now they can date and stay in Intelligence. Just in case you were confused. Anywho...I hope you enjoyed. Keep the love a-comin', and I will see you all next Sunday.

Next Chapter: Chapter Twenty One

The Only Sound You'll Hear