Blinded

Chapter 29

The ambulance arrived quickly at the hospital. Bobby sat nervously next to his best friend as they watched them unload him into the Emergency department. Jack had been mostly despondent the entire journey there, although despite the noise of the ambulance sirens and paramedics working, heard Jack's voice at times, barely above a whisper, calling out Sue's name. It broke Bobby's heart.

His best friend was black and blue, especially on the left side of his face where it was clear he had sustained days of physical abuse. There were angry red welts deeply embedded into his wrists and ankles, as it was clear he had strained against his restraints. It must have been agony as they wept and bled. Jack didn't even flinch as the EMT's worked to dress the wounds.

They stripped him of most of his clothing, though protecting his modesty with a hospital gown as they assessed the rest of his body. Bobby noticed the bruises didn't just extend to his face but across his legs and abdomen as well. The only time Jack winced was when they assessed his abdomen near his upper left quadrant. The EMT's looked at each other.

"Spleen?" The other nodded. Bobby turned to the paramedic.

"What does that mean?" He inquired, keeping an eye on Jack.

"Your colleague may be bleeding internally from the beatings. It would explain his low blood pressure." Bobby paled. The EMT must have noticed. "It's okay. We're calling ahead to George Washington, so they have a general surgeon ready to assess once we get there. We'll take good care of him." Bobby just nodded.

"Who's Sue?" The younger EMT asked Bobby. Bobby swallowed difficultly.

"She was one of our colleagues…" he said, noticing after what he said what tense he had used. He took a deep breath. "She was also kidnapped a few days before Jack. She…." He couldn't say anymore. The EMT just nodded as his colleague punched him in the shoulder as if to scold him.

"I'm sorry." Bobby just nodded.

It only took a few more minutes before they arrived at the hospital. Bobby followed behind the stretcher, the EMTs moving at a quick pace towards the Emergency Room. Shortly after they entered the hospital, one of the healthcare workers put his hand up to stop Bobby.

"I'm sorry, sir. You'll have to wait in the waiting room while we stabilize your colleague. We'll be out as soon as we know more to speak to his next of kin." Bobby just stood there in silence, trying to comprehend as he watched them move Jack into a trauma bay and a team of professionals work together to transfer him onto the Emergency Room bed off the stretcher.

"I am listed as his next of kin." The nurse nodded and steered him towards the waiting room. Bobby took a seat and watched her hurry off.

Jack and Bobby had made each other their next of kins for any medical emergencies years ago. One night shortly after they had started together in surveillance after a close call with a terrorist group they had talked about it. Both preferred to have the information of any injury or death filtered through the other to their families rather than their parents getting the call directly if something were to happen. Bobby was glad now for their decision.

About 20 minutes later, Tara, Myles and D burst into the waiting room. D spotted Bobby sitting in the chair, his head in his hands and the three moved towards him.

"Any updates?" Bobby shook his head.

"Not yet. They said they were assessing him first and would keep me updated. In the ambulance they talked about him potentially needing surgery for his spleen." The others went to sit next to Bobby, amongst the motley crew found in a large tertiary emergency department.

"What about…" Myles said glumly.

"I haven't heard anything either." D responded.

Several other patients and family members gave them side glances, the four agents still decked out in their raid attire. But the four of them hardly noticed.

Not long after a physician came out to the waiting room and called for the family of Jack Hudson. He quickly stood and rushed over, Tara, Myles and D close behind.

"Are you his next of kin?" The physician asked. Bobby nodded. "Please come with me." They brought them all to a small family room and they sat down.

"Mr. Hudson is in rough shape. We are prepping him for emergency surgery as we speak. We believe he has trauma to his spleen which is causing internal bleeding. He's been hemodynamically unstable. Otherwise, apart from some bruised ribs and clear trauma to his face, ankles and wrists, I do anticipate with time Agent Hudson should make a full recovery. I am confident the surgery will be successful." All four of them breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you doctor." D said. The physician nodded.

"I am concerned about his psychological wellbeing. I understand he was held captive for several days, and he keeps mumbling and calling out but isn't responsive to questions. There is no sign of head trauma, such as a concussion and it's too early to assess with all his physiological needs and the clear and evident stress he's been under, but rest assured we will keep an eye after his surgery on that part of his recovery as well."

The group thanked the physician again. They moved to stand, but the physician hesitated.

"As you are all with the FBI, there is more…" He started.

-STFBE-

Everything was hazy, and the lights were so bright. It was difficult to understand what was happening as he saw faces around him, lips moving but his ears wouldn't stop ringing nor his brain comprehend what was going on.

He didn't offer any resistance. As time went on, he felt more and more the ache of his bones, a deep pain in his abdomen, but all he could picture was her face as she said goodbye and the tarp covering her body.

He tried to sit up, but firm hands pushed him back down.

"Mr. Hudson, it's okay. You're safe. You need surgery." He tried to rise again, mumbling.

"I need to see her." The team looked at him confused.

"I'm sorry sir, you can't see anyone right now." Jack tried to resist but had no strength. Even in death, he wanted to see her one more time, but he couldn't get them to understand.

He tried looking around for Bobby but couldn't see him. Instead, Jack let the medical team take over and just lay there passively, feeling the coolness of some substance enter his body through the IV and a mellowness wash over him.

Before long he could tell he was being transported through the hospital, and after they moved him to a small metal table, saw a man put a mask over his mouth, told him to count back from 10, then disappeared into the darkness, hoping that he wouldn't wake up.