Fic: Numb3rs - Crosshairs, Chapter Seven/14

[aleo_70]

Title: Crosshairs
Author: ALEO aleo_70 
Genre: Gen
Characters: Don, David, Colby, Charlie
Rating: PG 13+
Warnings: violence
Spoilers: nil

Summary: One year on and Brad has not forgotten the FBI agent he blames for putting his father in prison.  When their paths cross he takes advantage of the opportunity.

Status: Chapter 7 of 14
Wordcount (this chapter): 2700
Wordcount (total): ~42,000

NB:  This is a sequel to a previous fic - Flight .  Crosshairs can still be read alone as I have provided some background explanation as we go along.

Disclaimer:  I don't own them, I just borrowed them.  Numb3rs and its characters are the property of those that created them.  No copyright infringement intended.  No financial reward gained.  All real places and organisations are used in a fictional sense.  Original characters and the storyline are mine however.

 

CHAPTER SEVEN

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“Agent Eppes?”

Once again Don dragged himself out of the half doze he’d been letting himself slip into as the heat became too oppressive.  He’d almost been able to convince himself he was sitting in the garden overlooking the koi pond at Charlie’s house.  It hadn’t been long since he’d spoken with David and he supposed he should have been alarmed at how quickly he was zoning out, but at the moment he couldn’t find it in himself to care too much.  Not for himself anyway, but now someone was calling him, someone that shouldn’t be out here with him.

“Sir?”

He raised his head and saw the young agent standing several yards away.  “What are you doing here?  I told David-”

“Jack said I could bring you this.”  Curtis jerked one arm and Don’s eyes fixated on the bottle of water held in his hand.  He bent and placed it on the ground before giving it a solid shove.

It was all Don could do to not lunge out to grab at the bottle before it reached him.  The extra split second it took to cross the final yard seemed to drag interminably.  He finally snatched it up, the slick coolness from the condensation forming on the bottle was soothing to his hands.  He forced himself to stop, but couldn’t quite put the bottle back down.  “What’s the cost of this?  He’s going to make you stay?”

“No, no cost.  Jack agreed to it after he’d been told Nelson was being brought here from New Mexico.  He’s said he may let you have more once Nelson gets here.”

He couldn’t wait any longer.  He unscrewed the cap and gulped a couple of mouthfuls, relishing the feel as the cold liquid slid down his throat.

“Easy, sir.”  Curtis warned.  “Drink it too fast you might be sick.”

Don had already pulled the bottle away from his lips, pressing one hand to the centre of his forehead.  “Or get an ice-cream headache.”  The sudden cold shock had caused his head to pound worse than it had already been from the dehydration.

“Yeah, that too.”  Curtis agreed.  “Make it last, Agent Sinclair said it could be a couple of hours before they get Nelson here.”

“He told me.”  He took another sip as the ice-cream headache started to fade.  It may have been his imagination but he could already feel himself reviving.  He’d not had the energy to ask before but now, “What’s David got planned when Nelson arrives?”

“I don’t know, sir.  He didn’t say.”

“Alright.  You’d better go before Jack changes his mind.”  He raised the bottle briefly as if in a toast.  “Thanks for this.”

“No problem, sir.”  Curtis started backing up slowly before gaining enough confidence to turn and walk away. 

Don gave himself to the moment and rolled the icy cold bottle across his forehead and down his face before resting it on the side of his neck.  At that instant he couldn’t think of anything else that had felt so good.  He took another mouthful, grimacing slightly at the slightly salty/sweet taste of the sport drink, but it was cold and refreshing.  Another sip then he resolutely placed the cap back on.  Curtis was right, he had to pace himself as he couldn’t be sure when or if he would get any more.

He started to place the bottle at his side in the minimal shade afforded by his suit jacket when a sudden thought struck him.  Putting it down opened the bottle up to being a target for the sniper if he was a good enough shot.  He wouldn’t put it past Jack taking pleasure out of shooting the bottle to deny him the remaining contents.  Don picked it back up and rested it on his lap.

As time wore on and the sun slowly maintained its path across the sky, no clouds appeared to block the harsh rays that beat down upon him.  The temperature continued to rise.  Every ten minutes or so he would unscrew the lid of the drink bottle and take a few mouthfuls of the ever warming drink.  Far sooner than he would have liked he took the last tepid mouthful and put the bottle down where it would be visible.  The fluid had only gone a small way to replacing what he’d already lost and was still loosing.  His dehydration headache persisted and he knew he needed more soon.  Already he could feel himself starting to wilt.

Once again picturing himself in the shade of the tree overlooking Charlie’s prized koi pond he was unprepared for the sudden searing pain that burnt its way across his upper left arm.

 

 

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Impatiently pacing Colby again checked the large glass windows overlooking the tarmac at LA’s domestic air terminal.  At long last the bulk of the American Eagle Airline plane could be seen approaching the gate.  It was most of an hour later than scheduled and by his watch it was getting on towards 2:30pm. 

A last moment delay in the paperwork had threatened to have the whole transfer put at risk. The FBI did not currently have a company aircraft close enough to the jail to assist and they’d had to make arrangements with a commercial carrier.  The timing was close but they were going to make it.  David was advised and everyone had started to move onto the next step before it had all gone bad.  When word of the paperwork snafu reached them American Eagle had stated they weren’t going to wait.  Several frantic phone calls later the airline had buckled under pressure and delayed the departure of the flight from El Paso until the prisoner could board.  That meant a couple hundred disgruntled passengers with their associated loved ones waiting at the terminal shooting dark glances at the FBI agents.  Colby didn’t care, the alternative had been to attempt to charter a flight and that would have taken more time than they had.

Nikki and the other two agents were likewise less than sympathetic to the looks they were receiving.  There must have been something in their expressions, from time to time someone would start to approach as if to make a complaint only to reconsider and turn away.  Not many people had patience when it came to delays at airports but wisely those waiting managed to rein it in and confrontations were avoided.

A man appeared at the top of the ramp and waved at the agents, allowing them through the glass doors down the corridor.  As the agents escorting the prisoner were to travel unarmed arrangements had been made to allow armed agents to meet them at the door of the aircraft.  Another delay as the ramp moved out and stopped flush with the side of the plane.  The aircraft door opened and a handcuffed Nelson was already waiting, flanked by the New Mexico agents.

“Agent Granger.”  Nelson greeted as the group wasted no more time, immediately starting for the terminal.

“Mr Nelson.”

“How is he?  Agent Eppes, I mean.”

“Hanging in there.” 

“So how is this going to play out?”

“We have some things for you to sign at the Field Office.  Your agreement will dictate what happens after that.”  Colby didn’t elaborate further, Robyn was waiting and would explain the terms of the deal they had prepared.

Reaching their vehicles, Colby and Nikki put Nelson in to the back seat of their sedan.  The other two agents climbed into the SUV that was to provide protection in case Jack had thoughts of breaking Nelson out en route.  As they pulled away from the curb he dragged out his cell and reported in.

 “Agent Sinclair.”  His partner sounded somewhat harried.

“David, its Colby.  We’ve got him and are on the way to the office.”

“Bring him straight here.  We can’t wait, Don’s been shot.”

“What?”  Colby almost shouted alarm.  “How is he?”

“We can’t tell how bad yet, looks like his arm or shoulder.  Colby, it came from a different direction, we have a second shooter.  We’re on the clock, get Nelson here quick.  Robyn’s faxing us the forms so you’ll have to explain the deal on the way.”

“Okay, David.  We’re rolling.  Nikki, hit it.” 

Nikki flicked on the lights and siren, mashing the accelerator under her foot to the floor.  She glanced back at him via the mirror.  “What’s happened?”

“Don’s been shot.  Go straight to the scene.”  Leaving her to her driving he turned to the man seated beside him in the back seat.  “Alright, Mr Nelson, this is the deal.  In exchange for your assistance we will reduce your sentence to time already served.  That means if you agree to this and cooperate fully you will be completely free, released with no probation period whatsoever.”  The original custodial sentence had another seven months to run, followed by a two year probationary period during which Nelson would have had various reporting conditions and travel restrictions.  This deal removed all of that.

“That sounds very generous.  What exactly do you want me to do to earn that?”

“We exchange you for Agent Eppes.  You will be carrying a locator beacon and will do what ever it takes to assist us with arresting Jack Carpenter and your son Brad.”

“What’s to stop me from tossing the beacon and disappearing?”

“Nothing except your honour.”  Colby had read, and re-read Don’s statement and had spoken with Charlie along with a couple of Albuquerque police detectives who knew Nelson.  Everything pointed to Nelson having a well developed conscience.  AD Wright, the District Attorney and more importantly a federal judge had agreed, hence the deal.  “That and the knowledge that you will be free if you cooperate and hounded if you don’t.”

“They’ve survived a year on the run so far.”  Nelson pointed out.

“Yeah, they have.”  The agent acknowledged.  “But the way they are going now they are more likely die in a gun battle with police than stay on the run much longer.  You could get caught in the crossfire.  At best, as an accessory to any crimes they commit, including today’s you will get twenty to life in a maximum security facility.  I don’t think you want that.”

Nelson thought it over.  “You want me to put Agent Eppes ahead of my son and my friend.  I’m not sure that I can do that.”

“You wanted a way that kept them alive and here it is.” 

David in consultation with AD Wright had come to the conclusion that the only way to save Don was to accede to the sniper’s demand.  Don’s location and the degree of coverage indicated by the sniper meant that it would be impossible for a team to reach and shield the hostage before he could be killed. 

Rapid high level talks had taken place one they’d reached that conclusion.  The DA’s office was only too cooperative.  In exchange for releasing a low level prisoner and securing the safety of a federal agent they got a chance at bringing the AK-47s to justice.  That was more than worth the breach of their non-negotiation policy.  The paperwork had come through in record time and Robyn had hand delivered it to the office where she was now waiting to witness the prisoner’s signature.

Charlie had continued working on his part of the puzzle but had still not come up with a possible location for the sniper’s nest.  It was still the more preferable solution to find and neutralise the sniper themselves rather than release Nelson.  But now there was a second shooter.  Colby figured it was probably the son, and if he really did have a grudge as Nelson had indicated then the situation had just gotten a whole lot worse.  The sooner Don was out of harm’s way the better. 

It meant that either way Nelson was going in, if they could convince him to wear the beacon and cooperate then so much the better.  If not, well it was his photograph that was currently being circulated amongst the agents and police who were flooding into the area surrounding the square.  Nelson, Jack and Brad wouldn’t get far before they were spotted.

“Say I do this, carry the beacon so you can track us, how are you going to guarantee me that they won’t be killed?”

“I’ll be honest, we can’t make that promise.  You know what they have done and what weapons they have.  You are the only one that can ensure that they don’t die by either convincing them to surrender to us or by delivering them to us in a way that they don’t suspect a thing.” 

Nelson turned away and contemplated the rushing scenery clearly unhappy at what he was being asked to do.

Colby knew all about betrayal and that sometimes it was the only option to achieve the greater good.  He let Nelson think for a few minutes before adding a little more.  “Last year you put yourself at risk helping Agent Eppes.  You could have protected yourself by abandoning him at the crash or killing him later when you no longer needed him but you didn’t, you got him to the hospital.  You delayed your own escape for someone you didn’t even know.  Would you really do less for your own son?”

The older man turned back, a flash of anger crossing his face.  “Agent Granger, that was uncalled for.  I will do anything to save my son’s life, anything.  I’ll carry your beacon and you’ll get Agent Eppes back.  I just hope you and yours will show the same concern for my son that I did for Eppes last year.”

“We want to see them brought to justice, Mr Nelson.  Not dead.”

Nelson favoured him with a long stare before again turning away.  Nothing else was said as they continued at high speed into central LA.

Quickly negotiating their way through the barricades they pulled to a stop behind the Mobile Command Centre.  Knowing their arrival was being monitored they hustled Nelson into the truck as quickly as they could.  Colby immediately worked to remove the prisoner’s handcuffs.

“We’re not going to have much time for this.”  David greeted, a sheaf of papers in his hand.  The top page was the latest mugshot taken of Nelson this very morning as he was escorted from the jail.

“How’s Don?”  Colby demanded as Nelson started to scan the forms.

David waved at the monitor showing the lone figure sitting in the centre of the square.  “He’s told us that he was just winged.”

“Why did they do that?  They knew we were bringing Nelson.”

“A hurry up.  Jack called us immediately afterwards promising a shot every half hour until we hand over Nelson.”  He glanced at his watch and Colby knew that they’d only just made it.

Colby saw Nelson’s hand suddenly tense on the pen he was holding at the agent’s words.  The prisoner stopped reading and flicked to the end of the document and signed his name. 

“You understand this?”  David asked formally.  “Have any threats, promises or inducements been held out to you to make you sign?”

“I understand it.  I’ve signed it of my own free will.”

David countersigned and for the next minute or so they went back through the document initialling each page.

“This is your copy.”  David said when they’d finished, pulling out a section of the bundle.  “You understand that we can’t let you take it with you.  We’ll send it to your lawyer.”

“Agent Sinclair, its Jack.”  Sommers handed over the headset, the phone had rung as David separated the documents.

“He’s out here in five minutes or I start shooting.”  Jack ordered.  “We’ll see how many rounds Eppes can take.”

At the words coming over the speakers Colby pulled the box from his jacket pocket.  Opening it revealed the tracking device that they were going to use.  As he set Nelson up he listened to the rest of the call.

“Alright.  How do we do this?”  David was asking.

“Scott comes out to the middle of the square.  I’ll talk to him there.”  There was a click and the call ended.

Next chapter - here