The Unfortunate Ride

Chapter 3

18/07/2017.The 309 Subway to Quantico, Virginia. 08:00 hours.

Spencer had woken up that morning feeling good. His thirty day sabbatical had come to an end and he was able to return to the field where he felt most at home. It was a warm morning, warm enough that he could forgo his usual cardigan/blazer combo. Spencer had read through three books with his bowl of Lucky Charms and normal morning coffee. He decided to stop by his favourite coffee shop on his way to the subway. The baristas in there knew his usual order by heart and had it prepared for him arriving at the same time he did every day. He was never a minute late or a minute earlier. He arrived at the exact time. Each day.

Spencer sipped his hazelnut latte made with soy milk, a smile on his face and the sun gently warming his skin. His long shaggy curls bounced against the collar of his blazer as he walked, his long legs taking wide strides. His tan leather satchel rested against his hip, partially hiding the revolver on his belt. The sun disappeared as Spencer descended the steps into the subway. He drained the last of his coffee and tossed his cup into the trash can before making his way to the platform. The train whizzed past until it came to a stop. Spencer pressed the glowing button on the doors to open them and stepped inside the carriage. Several people sat quietly. Many of them eyed their phone screens. Some had newspapers. Spencer took a seat next to the window and sighed, gently closing his eyes and resting his head against the cool glass.

The sound of groaning metal brought Spencer back to reality. His senses prickled with alarm. The train carriage swayed from side to side as it tried to regain balance. Shorting electricity flashed blue against the stone walls of the tunnel. Spencer sat up straight and glanced around. Other people were looking around in fear. Spencer gripped the rail on the back of the seat in front of him to steady himself as the carriage teetered dangerously to the left, then swung to the right. With a creak and scrape of metal against metal, the carriage crashed over onto its left side. Spencer's head smashed the window, splintering the glass and shards entering his temple and scalp. His ribs cracked as they thudded against the side of the carriage. As the carriage dragged sideways across the rails, the metal tore open, piercing Spencer's leg. Black spots and stars danced in front of his eyes before consuming him entirely.

18/07/2017. St Andrew's Hospital, Virginia. 10:12 hours.

Spencer's chest rose and fell with each mechanical breath of the ventilator as surgeons busied themselves around him. A blue cap held his hair away from his face and medical tape held his eyes closed. Wires and tubes snaked across his torso and connected to steadily bleeping machines. The medical staff passed instruments back and forth to each other over Spencer's legs as they worked on his leg, flushing the large, gaping wound with sterile water. More staff worked at his side, making an incision into his left side, bubbling blood gushing out of the hole. Another surgeon poked a gloved finger into the hole to widen it, then removed his fingers with a squelch. A thick tube was shoved roughly into the opening. Large volumes of blood drained away from Spencer's chest. The steady bleeping of the monitor quickened then let out a long steady bleep.

"We're losing him!"

"He's in a-systole! Grab the paddles!"

"Get some adrenaline, stat!" Orange conduction pads were slapped against his clammy skin and the paddles pressed firm against them.

"Charging to two-fifty! Everyone stand clear! Oxygen away!" Spencer's limp body lifted with the voltage that surged through him, then crashed back down on the operating table. The steady bleep continued, "Going again! Charging to two-fifty. Stand clear!" Spencer's body jerked again. Bleep. Bleep.

"He's back."

18/07/2017. St Andrew's Hospital, Virginia. 10:48 hours.

It had taken the team over an hour to reach the hospital due to the continued gridlock of traffic. Two black government SUVs entered the parking lot and parked up side by side. Matt, Penelope, Emily and David exited one SUV. JJ, Tara and Luke exited the other. The team moved as one giant gaggle through the sliding double doors of the hospital. The waiting area to the emergency department was buzzing with people searching for loved ones. With a grim mask plastered across her face, Emily approached the front desk where nurses were desperately trying to appease other people. Emily slapped her FBI badge down on the desk in front of a very flustered nurse.