When someone is suffering from a concussion, their reaction time slows, much like when they're drunk—something that was painfully evident with Hotchner at the moment.
"What... why did you shoot him?" Hotchner blinked up at Jack, his face pale and disoriented as Jack reached his side.
"That guy wasn't a random bystander—he's the one who parked the car bomb in front of your Suburban. Garcia confirmed it through surveillance footage. Hotch? Hotch, are you okay?"
"Stop shaking me, I'm gonna…" Hotchner gagged, looking like he might vomit.
Jack frowned, confused. He wasn't even touching Hotch—his hand was on the man's shoulder, steady as a rock. Realizing the situation was worse than it appeared, Jack immediately cast a healing spell.
The results confirmed his suspicions. Hotchner's injuries were significant but not life-threatening. His left eardrum was ruptured—a temporary condition—and his left forearm was fractured. Worse, shrapnel had embedded itself in his left thigh. If that had been a few inches higher, it could have been catastrophic.
Jack glanced over at Joyner, who was unconscious on the ground. Her injuries were far more severe. She had been outside the car when the bomb detonated, the blast hurling her to the pavement with enough force to damage her spine. Even if her internal bleeding could be stopped in time, she might never walk again without medical intervention.
Jack worked quickly, stabilizing her condition with a healing spell. Though he could repair her spine and stop the worst of the bleeding, her facial injuries would require the expertise of a skilled plastic surgeon.
Handing Hotchner a medical kit, Jack instructed him to staunch the bleeding at Joyner's waist. Then he turned to the disfigured corpse of the bomber lying nearby.
Even in summer, the long-sleeved shirt the man wore made Jack immediately suspicious. He inspected the body carefully, mindful of the possibility of a suicide vest or belt. A few pounds of C4, discreetly wrapped around the torso, could have devastating effects in a crowd.
There was nothing. No explosives, no identification—just an untraceable burner phone. Relieved, Jack deactivated the signal jammer he had engaged earlier, which had caused a temporary communications blackout.
On the other side of the barricades, ESU officers stirred uneasily. The sudden loss of communication, combined with the sight of Jack opening fire earlier, had left them on edge. Only their trust in Captain Werner, who vouched for Jack, had prevented them from escalating the situation.
"Jack! Jack, can you hear me?" Garcia's voice crackled urgently through the now-active comms.
"Loud and clear," Jack replied. "I had the jammer on earlier. Hotchner's alive, but Joyner's in critical condition. Can you get an ambulance to us?"
"There's one on its way—it should be rounding the corner now!" Garcia's voice was trembling but hopeful.
Jack could already hear the sirens. He glanced toward the barricades, where an ambulance was indeed approaching. ESU officers cleared the way, letting it through.
"Has the bomb squad cleared the scene?" Jack asked, suspicious of the timing.
"Not yet. The EMTs volunteered to risk it anyway," Garcia explained, her voice thick with emotion.
"Understood. I'll need you to trace a number for me later," Jack said, holding up the burner phone he had found.
As the ambulance pulled up, a bald EMT jumped out, carrying a medical kit. He froze upon seeing Jack armed with a rifle and the mangled body nearby.
"What the hell happened here?" the EMT stammered, his face going pale.
"FBI. That's a dead terrorist," Jack explained curtly, flashing his badge. "We need a stretcher. My colleague has a spinal injury—she can't be moved without proper support."
The EMT hesitated, swallowing nervously before nodding. "O-okay. My partner stayed behind—too scared to come closer—but I'll do what I can."
With the EMT's help, Jack and Hotchner loaded Joyner onto a stretcher and into the ambulance. After settling Hotchner into the front passenger seat, Jack climbed into the driver's seat.
"Where's the nearest ER?" Jack asked, looking over his shoulder at the EMT.
"Saint Barkley's. Go three blocks north and one east. The entrance is underground—just follow the signs," the EMT replied, already tending to Joyner's injuries.
Jack gunned the engine, but the ambulance barely accelerated. Frustrated, he pressed harder on the pedal.
"What's wrong with this thing?" he muttered.
Fortunately, traffic had been cleared thanks to the NYPD barricades, and they arrived at Saint Barkley's within ten minutes. Jack spotted the entrance to the emergency room but frowned when he saw a police cruiser blocking the way.
A group of men in black suits—clearly not NYPD—stood by the barricade. One of them stepped forward, signaling Jack to stop.
"What now?" Jack muttered, rolling down the window.
A flashlight beam swept through the driver's cabin, landing on Jack's rifle. The agent immediately drew his weapon, and the rest of his team followed suit.
"USSS! Identify yourself!" the lead agent barked.
"FBI!" Jack snapped back, his frustration mounting. "Supervisory Special Agent Jack Tavor. That's Supervisory Agent Aaron Hotchner in the passenger seat, and Assistant Supervisory Agent Kate Joyner is in critical condition in the back!"
"Show your credentials!" the agent demanded, his gun unwavering.
Jack sighed, keeping his hands visible. "I'm reaching for my badge. Don't overreact."
Moving deliberately, Jack retrieved his ID and held it up. The agent scrutinized it, muttered something into his radio, and finally holstered his weapon.
"Apologies, Agent Tavor, but this hospital is under lockdown. All patients must be redirected to Knox Hill Hospital."
Jack's patience snapped. "You've got to be kidding me! Get Joe Reacher on the line—he knows me. I don't have time for this! My colleague's life is on the line. Either move or I'll ram this barricade myself."
The agent hesitated, then relayed the information over his radio. Moments later, he nodded and stepped aside.
"You're cleared. Proceed."
Jack didn't wait for a second invitation, steering the ambulance past the barricade and into the emergency room entrance.
(End of Chapter)
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