Blinded

Chapter 14

They arrived on scene within 10 minutes. This time Myles was behind the wheel, not trusting Jack to be anywhere near the frame of mind to be able to commandeer a vehicle. They sped along the roads, the sun brightly shining on the blue skied day that contrasted the darkness that was settling over them.

Myles spoke up as they neared the scene. "So, Pete Hadley… I can't believe we didn't realize he had been released a month ago. I never would have thought…" he swallowed, the guilt consuming him. Did Jack blame him? Would Sue?

Jack continued to stare out the front window, looking intently for the scene of the accident. Myles took his silence to continue.

"Jack, I never would have thought. So much is different from those years ago. I feel terrible…". This seemed to snap Jack out of his revery. He turned to his fellow agent.

"Myles, no one blames you. Don't blame yourself." Myles nodded, focusing back on the road as they approached the flashing lights of multiple police vehicles, an ambulance and two fire trucks. He got as close as he could to the scene, seeing pieces of Bobby's car through an intersection and pushed up against a nearby light post. It clearly had been hit with some speed.

Jack hardly waited for the vehicle to come to a stop before he jumped out and raced towards the scene, flashing his badge and ducking under the caution tape.

"Jack Hudson, FBI." He announced himself to the officer on scene, as Myles rushed up behind him, flashing his own badge. Jack took in the scene around him. A few onlookers glanced their way but there was only Bobby's vehicle. Shards of glass glittered on the pavement in the morning sun, other pieces of metal and plastic scattered the road. Both the driver and passenger side doors were open. Jack could see blood and spidering on both the driver's side window and the passenger side windshield. His stomach clenched as he saw the clear signs of the impact on the passenger side.

"What happened?" Myles asked to the officer in charge. He took a breath and Jack quickly jumped in.

"Where are the two passengers who were in the vehicle?" He demanded. The officer looked between the two men.

"Witnesses say a white van went through the red of the intersection directly hitting the front passenger side of the vehicle. It mostly hit the front end, but clearly the passenger door side took damage as well. The car span through the intersection and hit a lamppost on the back driver's side. They said a man got out of the van, passenger side, and started to pull a woman out from the driver's side, but after that saw little."

"Why?" Myles asked. Jack was looking increasingly pale and green.

"They said the driver pulled out a gun and shot at a dog who was barking from the backseat. They think the driver may have been unconscious from hitting his head. When they heard the gunshot, they all took cover." The officer sighed. "All they remember next is hearing the white van door close and speed off. A few eventually ran out to help the driver. We arrived about 7 minutes after the first 911 call which was approximately 25 minutes ago. I understand dispatch immediately contacted the FBI once the vehicle and driver were identified as an agent."

"Where is the driver? Is he okay?" Jack asked. His best friend. It should have been him. Why hadn't D let him pick up Sue that morning?

"I don't know but I assume so. He's in the back of the ambulance. I understand he's refusing transport." Jack turned to look and immediately started towards the ambulance. He paused when he heard Myles ask.

"What about the barking dog? Was it from the backseat of the car?" Jack turned around as the officer nodded.

"Animal was deceased upon arrival," Jack felt numb. Levi. Levi had been shot and killed trying to protect Sue. How much more loss could they take. He couldn't look. He didn't want to see Levi and his blood in the backseat of the car. Levi who would have been a connection for him to Sue, like he had been before. Her faithful companion.

He turned without any words and made his way towards the ambulance, banging on the back of the door. The paramedic opened it, and he quickly heard Bobby's voice.

"Let me out of here, I'm fine! I need to help. Please!" The paramedic glared at Jack.

"What do you want?"

"Jack?" He heard Bobby say. Jack saw his best friend, a massive gash to his forehead that the paramedics seemed to have been able to patch up. He had a nasty bruise starting to form along his left cheek and was clearly cradling his right arm. It was clearly not broken as he gingerly used it to rip off the blood pressure cuff. The other paramedic sighed. "Look mate, I'll sign whatever you need me to but I'm leaving." He moved to the entrance where Jack was standing.

"Where's Sue?" He quickly asked. Myles had since come over as well. Jack shook his head, unable to speak. Bobby paled, looking between Myles and Jack. Myles spoke up.

"Sounds like he took her. White vehicle came speeding through the intersection and hit you and pulled her from the vehicle." The three men stood in silence.

"Jack, mate. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry – I was supposed to protect her."

"Bobby." Jack said very clearly. "This was not your fault. Are you okay?" Despite everything, he was thankful Bobby seemed to be on his feet. Thankful something had stopped Pete Hadley from shooting Bobby too. Bobby nodded.

"I think so, though this headache is something fierce. I refused to let them take me to hospital. We need to find Sue." Myles turned to the Aussie.

"What happened, Bobby? The officer in charge told us the eyewitness accounts, but what did you see?"

"We were driving along – I think we both saw a van coming at us through the intersection. I remember throwing my arm out instinctively to shield Sue but the van hit and then it all went black. I thought I heard a gunshot and eventually came to, but once the haze cleared, I was alone in my car and a few bystanders were trying to help me get out. Sue's passenger door was open, and I couldn't see her anywhere. Emergency services arrived quickly, and I was too dazed to stop them from putting me in the back of the rig." He took a deep breath. "She's gone? We're sure she's gone?"

Myles and Jack exchanged looks. They didn't know if it was Bobby's head injury or just complete disbelief in what was happening for him to ask again. Jack couldn't answer, but that was enough for Bobby. Silence reigned again, with only the sounds of the fire crew cleaning the mess to try and restore traffic. Bobby quickly turned.

"What about Levi?" Jack dropped his head as Myles responded.

"That was the gunshot you heard." Bobby was stunned.

"No…" he put his hand on Jack's shoulder.

"Look." Said Myles. "I think you need to get back into that ambulance and get checked out at hospital." Bobby went to protest. "It's FBI policy. Let them clear you and then get back to the bullpen." Jack looked at his best friend.

"Please Bobby. We'd all feel better knowing you're okay. Especially me, knowing that it should have been me in that car with Sue."

"Jack…" Bobby started. They directed him towards the back of the rig, where the two paramedics had been sitting and watching the clean-up scene waiting for clearance to depart, as well as keeping an eye on Bobby. They explained and managed to coax Bobby back in, and within moments, the doors shut, and the ambulance took off towards the Emergency department, leaving Myles and Jack behind.

"I want to see Levi." Jack decided. He determinedly started walking back towards the car.

"Jack…" Myles started. "I'm not sure that's a good idea…." Jack turned, his face impassive towards Myles.

"Sue would want me to. One last time. For the both of us." Myles explained to the officer near the car who was continuing to gather evidence and photos. He agreed and opened the back door.

Levi was lying there, a pool of blood, sticky underneath him. He looked peaceful as though it had been quick. They couldn't even see where the wound was.

"They will need to do a necropsy to recover the bullet to help you find who did this." The officer said kindly, as both he and Myles watched as Jack gently stroked Levi's fur. He took off his collar. The officer took a step forward as if about to stop Jack. Myles put his hand on the officer and shook his head. The officer clearly understood not to stop Jack, despite this being a crime scene.

"We know who did this." Jack said, as he put the collar in his pocket. Both he and Myles had one last look before going back to Myles car to return to the bullpen.

-STFBE-

She felt every bump as the car sped along the road. She held back the groan in her throat not wanting to alert her captors that she was awake. She recognized Pete Hadley in the passenger seat, but not the man who was driving. Her hands were tied behind her back, her ankles similarly constrained. She could feel blood against the right side of her face where she had hit the windshield. Her right arm was screaming, not just from the position but as it had taken the brunt of the hit.

As they hit another pothole, she couldn't help but let out a gasp of pain. She saw Pete Hadley turn around, her eyes connecting with this evil man.

"You're awake." He said gleefully. He undid his seatbelt and made his way into the back of the van, all the while his partner continuing to make their way to wherever she was to be held. To the place she knew she might die. "I've been dreaming of this moment for years." He pulled out a vial and syringe from his pocket and drew up the medication. Sue started to squirm against her restraints.

"Trust me. You'll soon realize how merciful I am being by giving this to you. Before long, you'll be begging me for more." She felt the sting and burning as he injected her with the unknown substance. Within moments she felt delirious and faint as the world stopped making sense and Pete's face grew in and out of focus. She had no more ability to read his lips or know what was happening.

Instead, she thought about Jack, about her friends and prayed her end would be swift before the darkness claimed her.