Chapter 3

It was two hours since Senator Logan had come out of surgery, but he had yet to wake up. With him on the third floor, the SWAT team had positioned men near each room so that no one knew what room he was in. Each member had on their uniform, a bullet proof vest, and a Glock 17 in their sidearm. Four of them carried a magnificent semi-automatic M4, capable of killing in an instant. They each had gone through the same training, waking up at 4 am, running through obstacle courses, combat training against one another for hours, and honing their sniping skills. They lived together, fought together, and would die together. And their one goal was to protect Senator John Logan.

Led by them was Captain Hector Allen, few others deserved such respect from a team. With dirty blonde hair and blue eyes, he traded his good looks for a call of duty and a scar that spread vertical on his chin. At age 40, he had seen more action than most people see through movies. Eager to find action after watching Die Hard 2, he signed up for the military. He served in the first Golf War, and found this was the thrill he needed. After serving for 8 years, he wanted to live in one area and joined the police force in D.C. It was only a matter of time before SWAT found him and asked him to be part of the team. He served in mission after mission, showing he wasn’t just your average adrenaline junkie. Finally promoted to Captain, he guarded the door that led to the senator. And he would only allow the doctors and nurses to enter.

Captain Allen gazed ahead to find Jake Myles approaching him. Hector examined every part of the doctor, making sure nothing was out of place. Even though men holding guns surrounded Jake, the captain noted that he was unfazed. He was surprised, many people become nervous around guns. There wasn’t any sweat on his forehead, nor any change in his walk. It meant one of two things, the doctor was either trained or he felt he was in control. He smiled to himself, even though the doctor was conceited, Jake gave a positive aura. Hector was taught never trust anyone, but something was different about him.

“Hey Captain, how’s it going?” asked Jake with a grin, “I could never stay in one place for hours on end, just trying to protect someone.”

Captain Allen smirked, “you get used to it. And aren’t you a surgeon? I thought your whole job was to stay in one spot, hours on end, trying to save the poor cancer victim.”

“That’s where you are wrong Captain. Sometimes we play music, tell each other jokes, even text. It can be fun, not to mention we are slicing into a complete stranger. This is practically the whole reason I went to med school. Sure, sometimes I need to do my homework on a disease. But it’s all worth it when I enter into that room and cut a man up.”

“Wow, I am very happy you didn’t become a serial killer. I love the chit chat, but what is your business here?”

Jake was already opening the door when he said, “I need to check up on my patients. These are the most critical hours. I have to make sure he doesn’t have an infection and that he isn’t in too much pain. I’m doing the same as you Captain, I’m protecting him.”

Both of them walked into the Senator’s room to find him sleeping. It was easy to see the favoritism in the deluxe room. Almost twice the size of a regular room, even the big plasma screen TV looked a bit small in the room. The walls were painted a calming light blue with white calligraphy on the edges. An antique clock rang softly, giving the only noise except for Logan’s breathing. It seemed at first glance that there was no protection inside the room, but two trained snipers aimed their PSG1 at the doctor and SWAT member as the approached the senator. The snipers were in the building across the hospital, and nothing would escape their view. Keeping their fingers next to the trigger, they looked for anything out of suspicion. Noting nothing was out of the ordinary, they eased their sniper rifles as they saw Jake and Captain Allen conversing.

Jake strolled over to the bed and examined Logan. Grabbing the senator’s wrist, he pressed his index and middle fingers against it and counted the number of beats. Afterwards, he checked his temperature and made a few other observations. He then pulled out a pen and wrote down on his planner. After reviewing a few things, he said to Hector, “his heat beat is a little slow, but besides that, he is doing well. I will send over a nurse to give him something to fix him up. But that is it for now.”

Jake was then escorted out of the room and sent for a nurse to give the senator his meds. Five minutes later, a young nurse was on the third floor. Even in spite of the ugly outfit, most members of the SWAT team could not help but admire her beauty. With long black hair, brown eyes, and a model’s figure, she had their complete attention. And by her facial features, it was clear she had Asian heritage. Walking with style and grace, she approached Hector Allen and remained professional.

Another person who is unfazed by all this weaponry, Allen pondered in his mind, and it’s a young nurse. She must have been raised around guns, but something seems a little odd. The Captain came out of his train of thought and asked, “is there a reason you’re here miss?

“Yes sir,” answered the nurse with a smile, “Dr. Myles sent me here to give Senator Logan his medicine.” She lifted her hand to show she had a needle with the name of the medicine. Giving a kind smile, she walked into the room as Captain Allen opened the door for her. She quietly approached the senator and lifted his arm to give him the medication.

“Stop that right now,” replied Jake as he barged through, “I don’t know who the hell you are. Captain, the nurse I sent for was found dead a minute ago in the supply closet. A janitor found her dead and stripped of her clothes. I immediately ran here as soon as I heard.”

Captain Allen had his M4 aimed at the fake nurse, keeping his finger steady on the trigger. The woman took a couple steps back and laughed, “You have no idea what you are doing. I suggest you lower your weapon if you want to live. And as for who I am, you only need to know that I am with very powerful people and if we went him dead, he is dead. So drop your weapon.”

Something felt very wrong to Jake, why would someone make empty threats? Unless it wasn’t a threat. Jake gave the room a quick check through, looking for anything that could lead to their downfall. He then examined the Asian woman, she seemed too calm and even had a smile on her face. The door was closed and the SWAT members didn’t know what was going on, but they still would stop her. Jake then concluded her only exist could be out the window. He knew there were 2 SWAT members outside, so how could she escape? Then it hit him, why haven’t the SWAT members killed her yet? His eye glanced over to the next building and searched until he found the sniper. But only one was there and his gun was angled not at the woman. Then it hit him.

Jake yelled out, “Get down now!” and no sooner did a bullet break through the window and hit the senator in the chest. Jake and Captain Allen struck the ground next to the bed. Grabbing his M4 tightly, Allen crouched up against the bed and then raised his semi-automatic to find the woman gone and the window shattered to pieces. He quickly aimed it to the man across the building and fired off. The semi-automatic rang out, but failed to hit the sniper. Captain Allen ducked back down, trying to think of an idea.

“Dr. Myles, how well are you with a gun,” asked the Captain, “I have a Glock that should reach him. If I act as a distraction, maybe you could hit him.”

Jake took the Glock from his side holster, “I’ve been going to a gun course for the last few months. I think I can get him, I just have to imagine I’m Jack Bauer.” Jake gave a smile and then added, “I just need you to hold him off for a few seconds and I can get him.”

Captain Allen nodded and raised himself to shoot, but dove back down as a bullet zoomed past the top of his head. Taking a deep breath, he got back up and started firing. Jake took the chance to army crawl towards the wall and leaned his back against the edge. Taking hold of the gun, he waited and looked at Allen. Allen lifted himself up, positioned his M4, and gave quick nod. Allen rose up and fired off a few rounds into the room with the sniper, but the sniper had already dropped down and was reloading his PSG1. Instead of dropping down, the SWAT Captain stood his ground and continued to aim at the hiding sniper.

It’s always a terrible feeling, trusting someone with your life. It’s even worse when you have to trust someone who you barely know. Captain Hector Allen had done it many times before, but it was with members of the SWAT team. This was completely different, he had to trust a doctor who had no military background. Sure, he said he had been going to a gun course, but he could be lying about going there. Or he could be going, but suck. As he looked for the signs of the sniper popping out, he felt a little more comfort at a new thought. Whoever this doctor was, he was confident. Even though he joked around and was conceited, he had something many new recruits don’t have, confidence.

The SWAT member smiled, somehow this man made him believe he was safe. Breaking off his concentration, he saw a faint movement from the sniper. It was faint, but he knew what it was. It was the movement every man made before he threw himself in danger. It could either be a body shrug or a let out deep breath, but that tell was no different than the ones poker players look for. The Captain looked at Jake and gave a silent nod. The man across the window used incredible speed, so fast that Captain was completely caught off guard. It was a split moment, but the Captain knew he was about to die. Everything slowed down in his mind as he expected the bullet to hit him square in the head, but instead he saw the man fall back gripping his chest. In that split moment, Jake had aimed and fired two bullets into the sniper’s chest. Jake had removed any hesitation, but was cool and calculating in his shot. It was clear Jake had the making of becoming a pro.

Taking a breath that turned into a sly grin, he said, "damn I really did feel like Jack Bauer. I almost want this job instead of mine now."