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Chapter 17:
Myles tried hard not to lose his head in the narrow space he was sitting in. It took some time, but he realized they were acting like kinder garden kids. The realization did nothing to change their behavior and he couldn't change the fact that he was sitting in a surveillance van with her on the back, watching the monitors.
He blamed himself. He pushed too hard and it resulted in nothing but rejection and awkwardness. They were having a wonderful morning, they bantered and argued and he was having a great time just sitting beside her and researching. They finished the meeting and then he did the stupidest thing ever; he invited her for dinner. He used his best intonation and mentioned the best Italian restaurant he knew; surely any woman would swoon in his arms at the prospect of an offer like that.
She didn't swoon.
And she also refused politely, explaining that it wasn't the right time.
He was left standing in the hallway feeling like a stupid teenager.
And now, they were avoiding each other. They barely spoken a word since the beginning of their surveillance assignment and she monopolized the back of the van, not lifting her eyes from the monitors that showed every side of the environment around the van.
"Myles." The soft voice pulled him from his musings and he turned to face her. "They're heading back towards the station." She said quietly and he nodded his head and moved the van, driving at a safe distant behind the ambulance.
Sue frowned a little when she saw the back door of the ambulance station open a little. She looked around and saw that there wasn't any ambulance in the parking lot. She swallowed and decided to go in, maybe they forgot to lock the door on their way out. She saw that there was light inside and thought it would be better than waiting outside in the freezing cold. Levi whined softly as he followed her.
She sat down on one of the couches and waited. She tried to call Jack but he didn't answer his cell phone. Swallowing her sudden anxiety, she looked at Levi. "It doesn't mean anything, right boy? Maybe he's just in the middle of a call or something." Levi moved closer to her, resting his head on her knee.
She felt her heart beat accelerating when her mind portrayed all kind of horrible scenes. The flowers were a massage of some kind and Jack needed to know. They were in danger.
Suddenly, she regretted coming over. She could have called anyone else from the team. Myles and Tara were at the surveillance van tonight. She rose from her seat. Levi growled softly and she stared at him. "Levi?" He saw him growling again, showing his teeth. "Okay, let's go. I don't like this place either. I'll call Tara from my car."
She took three steps forward when the lights turned off.
Megan drove towards the station and then pulled the ambulance to a stop in front of an open Deli. "I need coffee." She said, yawning as she spoke. "Want some?"
Jack shook his head. "I'll wait here."
He looked at her as she walked inside and then glanced at the rear mirror, noticing Myles and Tara as they pulled aside a few blocks behind the ambulance. His cell phone ringed and he answered with a smile.
"Megan wanted some coffee, you want some?"
He heard Tara refusing and Myles talked to him again. "Jack, why are you driving with her?" Myles sounded amused. "Wouldn't Koala boy be jealous?"
Jack snorted. "I think Bobby will get over it." He replied. "Did you see anything?"
In the van, Myles shook his head. "No, nothing so far. I do wish for you to stay put for more than ten minutes. I'm getting tired and Tara's eyes are all red from watching the monitors."
"I'm fine, Myles." Tara called from the back seat and Jack chuckled.
"I wish for a break just as you are. Hopefully, things will calm down soon."
He hung up his phone when Megan sat down at the driver seat, drinking from a cup and handing him another. She smiled at him when he shook his head. "You can't take no for an answer." He chuckled.
"Give it a try; it's the best coffee you ever tasted." She insisted and started the ambulance, continuing to drive towards the station.
Jack took a sip and agreed silently, the coffee was strong and very good. He looked at his cell phone and noticed he had a missed call. Frowning at the number he pressed the fast speed dial and waited for her to answer.
She couldn't move.
The sudden blackness that surrounded her seemed to paralyze her and she felt her palms curling into tight balls as she fought against the scream that was about to burst from her throat. She tried to blink a few times, but her eyes couldn't adjust themselves for the darkness. She felt Levi nudging her and she let out a small whimper, lowering herself to the floor.
This was her worst nightmare, being in a strange place with no light to show her the way out. Her mind played tricks with her and she started to see all kind of shapes in front of her. She knew she screamed, although she couldn't hear it. She wanted to get out of there but couldn't see the door that she walked in from. She no longer knew if the exit was on her right or her left. She dropped her blackberry and had no idea where it was.
She moved a little to her left, bumping into the couch and leaned against it, curling herself into a small ball. She was shaking and forced herself to close her eyes. That way, at least, she won't see the images her mind was showing her.
Despite her closed eyes, she felt his presence. He knew that because she suddenly froze in her place. No more shaking or whimpering, she only breathed quietly. He grinned to himself. Tonight, was the night of terror; he regretted not being able to see the fear in her eyes. The dog growled again, and the man took a few steps backwards and left the room.
Levi nudged her and she realized her blackberry was vibrating. "Levi, bring me the blackberry." He voice shook but Levi understood and walked away from her to find it. She experienced a second of complete horror at the thought that Levi will run away and won't return and then he was back at the side and she placed her arm around her companion. She traced the blackberry with her finger as it vibrated in her hands; she found the answering button and pressed it.
Jack frowned when she didn't answer and then tried to dial again. Megan looked at him from the corner of her eyes. "Everything okay?"
"Sue called, but now she's not answering her blackberry."
Megan was silent as she watched him dialing again. Droplets of rain mixed with ice covered the front window and she shook her head with frustration at the slippery roads.
"Sue!" Jack called suddenly and then frowned when he received no reply. "Sue, are you alright?" He asked again.
"Jack…" Her voice was shaking and his heart missed a beat when he realized something was very wrong.
"Sue, where are you?" He asked again.
"My blackberry is broken…the screen doesn't show any light. Jack I don't know if you can hear me." She chocked for a moment and Jack gripped his cell phone so hard he thought he might break it. "I'm at the ambulance station, the power is out…" He realized she was crying. "I can't see anything…"
"Sue is at the station. The power is down." He said.
"We'll be there in five minutes." Megan replied and then frowned. "The generator should kick in after a minute of power failure."
"It didn't! She's in the dark!" He exclaimed.
Megan looked at him quizzically. "It's only a power failure, we'll be there in a few minutes." She said, shaking her head at her partner's sudden hysteria.
"Megan, she's deaf! If she can't see…" Jack's voice broke and he coughed. He held the phone to his ear and heard her soft crying.
Megan's eyes widened and she reached for the siren and turned it on, before crossing the intersection in a red light. The falling snow and rain didn't help and she had to slow down at the turns, fearing that they will slip on the wet roads.
"Megan, hurry…" He said quietly.
"Okay, I'm driving…" She answered, her foot pressing the gas pedal.
"Faster…" He said desperately, the sound of her soft crying tearing his heart.
"I'm driving as fast as I can!" She snapped at him.
He slammed the phone shut. "What in god's name is she doing there?"
The ambulance screeched to a stop beside the station and Jack leaped outside, followed closely by Megan who tossed him a flash light. Jack fumbled with the keys to the door but finally did manage to open it. Megan followed him, holding another flash light. Jack pulled out his gun as he crept inside.
Megan turned and walked towards the T.V room. She stopped at the entrance and checked the generator. The wires were all cut off and she frowned at the damage. No wonder the emergency lights didn't work. She took a look inside and then walked away from the room and down the hallway.
Jack walked slowly and quietly called Levi. He heard breathing from around the corner and hesitated before moving forward. He had a feeling that they weren't alone. He swallowed the lump that formed in his throat, he had to find her and she had to be alright. He didn't know what he would do if anything happens to her. He turned the corner and heaved a sigh of relief before lowering his gun and hurrying to her side. She screamed when he touched her and Levi barked. She was shaking hard and fought against him.
Someone touched her and she screamed. She didn't dare getting up from the floor ever since she tried answering her blackberry. She fought against the strange man and the sense of despair that flowed in her veins. Her fists hit him hard and he pulled her body flush against his, caressing her hair. Her hazy mind recognized the familiarity of the touch and her nose picked up the scent that seemed to be her life line. She collapsed against him, sobbing hard, clutching his coat in her hands.
"J…Jack." She stated and felt him signing into her hands before pulling away from her so that she could see his face in the light of the flash light. She couldn't read him but she saw the worry and relief in his eyes. He blinked a few times and then crushed her into him, his mouth claiming hers.
"I was so worried." He moaned to the kiss, knowing that she didn't understand but feeling the need to say it.
She pulled him closer, her body stopped shaking and she welcomed the heat that he gave her. He deepened the kiss, his hands roaming freely, forgetting where they were and who they were, focusing only on her touch and the relief that she was alright.
Megan's cry startled him and he pulled away, his eyes widening.
"Jack!" She called again and he heard her footsteps echoing the building as she walked towards them. "Sue, are you alright?" She asked.
Sue couldn't completely understand but she guessed what the question was. "I'm alright." Her voice was still shaking.
"Jack, you need to see something." Megan said and they followed her to the bedroom. She pointed her flashlight on one of the walls and Jack followed her lead. He heard Sue gasping behind him.
He swallowed. The entire wall that used to be white was now painted with a dark color. On the wall were several enlarged pictures and he groaned when he realized that someone was watching them for a long time. He recognized the restaurant he and Sue had lunch in a few days ago. He pointed one of the pictures. "This is the picture Bobby showed me yesterday, the one with the towel."
Megan nodded her head. "It wasn't Brian." She said.
Jack shook his head. "Okay, let's get out of here." They moved towards the door. "He knows we're FBI." He muttered.
He only felt better when they were outside the station and hidden behind the ambulance. He took a good look at Sue and then signed franticly, knowing the light was still too dim for her. "WHY DID YOU COME HERE?"
Sue swallowed and handed him the note. "I received dead roses. Someone left them on my door step." Jack frowned and then jumped when Megan's cell phone ringed.
"Yes?" She answered and then shook her head. "There's a power failure and someone sabotaged the phones too." She said and then sighed. "Okay, we're on our way." She closed her phone and bit her lip.
"Jack we have a call." She said quietly.
Jack nodded his head and pulled Sue after him, heading towards the surveillance van that stood at the other side of the road. "I want you to stay with Myles and Tara." He said and Sue nodded her head, still too shaken to protest. He returned to the ambulance and Megan started the vehicle, transmitting their code on the radio. "Washington 52."
"Are you wearing your vest?" He asked quietly, pulling his gun from the holster. Megan nodded her head and bit her lips while waiting for response.
"52, you're driving to the corner of 7th St. and E St." There was a small pause. "Car accident."
Jack glanced around them at the quiet street and then back at Megan. He shook his head. "This is it." he said quietly.
"It's not a comforting thought." She mumbled and reached for the radio. "Washington 52 at the scene. There's nothing here can you please contact your informant?"
"52, hold your position, I'll make the call."
Jack knew what will happen next and yet the resonating sound of a single gun shot surprised him. "Get down!" He shouted, his fingers tightening around his gun.
"Did he even hit us?" Megan whispered. Jack shook his head as two more gunshots echoed in the air. Megan flinched and raised her head a little. "Jack…" She whispered, shocking numbness crawling in her veins. "He's right in front of us…"
The front window shattered to pieces as three more gunshots were fired. Megan gasped at the sudden burning sensation in her forearm. "Get us out of here, Megan." Jack hissed, trying to raise his head and fire a shot. "I'm not playing this game anymore."
Megan nodded her head and pressed the gas pedal, sending the ambulance backwards. She took a chance and raised her head only to realize that he was no longer standing in front of them. The cold wind hollered in her face and she glanced at the mirror before pressing the breaks, trying to stop the ambulance from hitting the vehicle that was behind them. She screamed when the ambulance seemed to spin around itself, the steering wheel no longer responding. They slid forwards before hitting something and then stopping. Jack felt his head hitting the window twice before everything went black.
Bobby leaned backwards in the plastic chair. James decided that they will stay at the ER for a while and notified that in case there is a call then they will be available on their cell phones. James went to visit his wife, who worked the night shift and Bobby took a few minutes to rest on the plastic chair, drinking coffee.
He smiled when he realized that he was looking forward for the shift to end, it had nothing to do with the fact that it was a horrible shift. He was just expecting breakfast. The thought that he missed her presence was both comforting and unsettling, was that the reason for his sudden reluctance to kiss her? He knew the woman less than a week and somehow, she managed to slip into his mind. The morning they shared in his apartment was special and it wasn't about the physical side. He chuckled, when was the last time he made breakfast to a woman?
He recognized the fact that the physical attraction between them was mind blowing, one time and he became addicted. He found himself wishing for a few moments alone with her at the station just to steal a kiss, with her permission of course. He sighed to his coffee; the case wouldn't allow them the luxury of exploring further. He hoped that they will solve the case so that she will be safe and he could focus his head solely on what ever it is that's happening between them.
"Bobby." James' voice roused him from his thoughts. "We have a call. A car accident on E St."