Midnight Storm

Chapter 9: The Chase

The next morning I drove maria and myself to the office to find Phelps and Booth putting on bullet proof vests and loading their guns. 'What is going on?' I asked concernedly 'We have a lead to where the suspect is keeping Hopes family. It might be dangerous so we are taking safety precautions.' Booth said as he tightened his vest. 'Ok but I am coming with you. I promised Hope I would find her family and if we have a lead I am going to follow it' I said courageously as I jumped over my desk, opened my draw and took my vest out. 'I am coming too' Maria said as she started to walk to her desk. I moved in front of her and put my hands on her shoulders 'I can't let you. Tomorrow is your last day of work and the baby is due in a week. I have to protect you, I wouldn't know what to do with myself if you got hurt or I lost you.' I said. 'Aww Mark. Thats so sweet of you. Ok I will stay but you have to promise me you will be careful.' She said 'I promise' I said in return. I picked up her left hand and hand it in both of mine and kissed it gently. 'Aww you two are perfect for each other' Booth said. We smiled and blushed. I looked into her beautiful, bright blue eyes and they shone like the brightest stars in the night sky. She looked back at into mine and blushed. She helped me put on my bullet proof vest and just before we left I kissed her and we embraced. She hugged me and as we drove away I could see her waving as she smiled through the tears streaming down her face. We drove for about half an hour and finally we drove into a deserted farm, for some reason I always pictured that this was the sort of place we would catch a criminal. We drove about 50 metres up the driveway so that our car was out of sight and we t the rest of the way on foot. Myself and Flinders, one of my colleagues, were stationed at the front door as she could pick the lock. 'OPEN THE DOOR!!!' I yelled, no one answered. 'OPEN THE DOOR!!!' I yelled louder, again there was nothing. I nodded to Flinders, she tried to pick the lock but was unsuccessful. 'Screw it!' she yelledand kicked the door in 'Mental note, never ever get on her bad side' we went inside guns drawn. Looking around every corner, watching our backs, searching for any signs of life. I went into the corridor with my partner. We had checked every room except the room on the far end of the hall. It was locked, I stood facing the hallway we just came down my gun up and at the ready in case that coward dared to show himself. I heard a click and Flinders tapped on the floor, it was the signal. We crept in and saw yet another door next to the bed. I opened it to see a barn about 500 metres away. We searched the house. 'Clear!' I heard from my boss, ''the house is empty guys!' 'Sir we found a barn out the back!' I said. 'Great work! Now lets go go go!' He said as we all marched or ran out the door. It was in between marching and running but what do you call that anyway? Flinders and I went to the back door. 'Open up!' I heard my boss yell. There was no answer, he shouted again, no answer. I heard the door get knocked down and we went through the back door. We burst into the room guns drawn. No one was here, again. Thats what I thought at least, until I saw a shadow in the hall on our left 'Oh well I guess he isn't here.' I said as I gave the signal gesturing to the corridor. We crept to the hall. Booth was the first to advance any further, he crept through, keeping low. He tipped his head towards the room at the end of the corridor. We all crept along the corridor, the light was flickering but no one noticed, all of our eyes were fixed on that door, except for the poor guys standing watch. We crept along that corridor, it seemed like forever but we got to the door. Flinders struggled her way to the front, she knelt down and started to pick the lock. She turned and nodded. My boss worked his way to the front and I watched from the back as he and the rest of my team crept in. Suddenly I heard an muffled screaming, I ran as fast as I could pushing past my shocked colleagues. I made my way through to see my boss cutting a rope binding Jane to a bed. 'Jane!' I exclaimed and rushed to her side. She looked confused, she tried to talk but the duct tape was stopping her 'Shh, its ok. I will explain everything once we get out of here ok?' I said quietly. She nodded through the tears gushing down her face. 'Mark, free Jane and take her back home as fast as you can,' My boss said 'We can finish this.' 'Thank you' I said with a solute, he and the rest of my team left the room as I used my army knife to free Jane. I freed her from her bonds and pulled the duct tape off her mouth. She jumped and hugged me 'Thank you' she choked. 'Its ok. Now we have to get out of here. Put your arms around my neck.' I whispered, when she did I stood up holding her limp body in my arms and I ran charging out the doors. We got to the car, I opened the door, laid her on the back seat and threw a blanket over her. I closed the door and ran around the front of my car, slid over the bonnet, got in and drove away. I sped along the abandoned highway, nothing was going to stop me from getting her to safety, I was a man on a mission and nothing was going to get in my way. I got to the office and carried her inside. 'Oh my gosh what happened to you? Jane is that you?' Maria said worriedly as she ran to my side. I laid Jane down on the couch, she coughed and clawed at my arm as she cried silently. 'Who are you?!' Jane said choking on her words. 'I am Mark, this is Maria.' I said reassuringly 'Everything is going to be ok Jane' Maria said as she sat down on the couch next to her. 'Mark, get her back in the car,' Maria said urgently 'She is having a panic attack' she said as she ran, grabbed her keys and held the door open for us 'I am sorry Jane' I said as I picked her up and ran out the door. We sped to the hospital and I ran inside with Jane in my arms. I ran to the desk and told them, sternly, to attend to Jane immediately. They sent a male doctor and a female nurse with a stretcher within 15 seconds. They wheeled her into a private room and examined her. 'Ok she has a broken arm and leg, a black eye and she is having a panic attack. If you could sit down please sir we can help in every way we can and will do everything we can to help her.' The nurse said as the doctor attended to Jane. It was too painful to watch, Jane was on the stretcher pale as a cloud with an oxygen mask on, multiple blankets around her while the doctor and nurse worked frantically. I left the room and waited in the waiting room. I stared at my hands as I wrung and rubbed them, I only did that when I was either extremely worried or extremely nervous and right now I was both. The nurse came out with a blank expression, I stood up 'She is going to be ok, we have put the bandages on and her panic attack has passed but she is going to be very sore for a while' she said. 'Can I see her?' I asked relieved 'Yes you may' she replied. I walked in to Jane's room and saw her lying down on the raised bed. 'How are you feeling?' I asked 'Besides having a broken arm, broken leg and a black eye and just having a panic attack yeah I am great' she said with a smile. She coughed,I held her hand and looked at her reassuringly, suddenly a knock came at the door. It opened to reveal Maria 'May I come in?' She asked 'Yes you may' Jane said. Maria came and sat next to me. 'Now can you please tell me what is going on?' Jane asked.