Six hours. Three hundred and sixty minutes. Twenty one thousand, six hundred seconds. No news. Nothing. Zip.
The mood at HQ was somber. It was as if time had stopped. Grays were grayer, shadows were bigger, darkness covered the whole building. Twenty squad was hungry, thirsty, tired and exhausted. Their eyes and brains pleaded for a break. Surveillance after surveillance; video after video after video. Same information they already knew.
The vehicle was intervened by something, guided out of route and then...gone! Nobody had a clue where they were headed. GPS track locator in the car was malfunctioning, sending signals all over the place. Unfortunately, the day before there had been a power failure in that side of town, affecting all traffic cameras. With no clear video, the chopper under attack with signal interference and several alarms going off in the area, the officers had lost all sight of the missing unit. It's as if it had disappeared from the face of the Earth!
MPD and FBI were able to identify a suspect from several neighboring cameras. However, the man created a chaos when officials went to arrest him. When the officers were finally able to trap him, the man pulled out a gun and ended his life. Now, officials found themselves with no real lead.
For Street it meant much much more than just one...it was two, taken! His heart was heavy, his brain on a trance, his lungs gasped for air. He couldn't just sit still, he wanted to throw all the damn rule books out the window and just get out there. He would look through every corner of the Earth if he needed to, but... he needed her -them- back.
He was sick and tired of waiting...looking aimlessly at videos that showed nothing. Waiting for instructions that took too long! Why so much protocol? They had the best technology available on the planet at their disposal, yet...nobody knew? Nobody could find the hostages? Impossible! He was not going to accept anything less than perfection!
BZZZT BZZZT
Hondo's phone vibrated, making him jump out of his skin. He, just like the others, had been glued to a screen for hours, looking for anything that could help. He took a quick glance at the mobile, shrugged it off and clicked on the red button. He and his team were under a lot of pressure, as was the LAPD. They needed to find the missing hostages... and alive!
CLICK CLICK CLACK CLACK
From the corner of his eye he saw Street, angrily hitting the keys on the laptop. He seemed extremely annoyed and angry. Hondo shook his head slowly, understanding perfectly how much pressure he must be feeling. It reminded him of the op in which they came together to save him from an abduction on a plane. Chris really came through. It was clearly a team effort, but Hondo had to give it to her, she saved his life. Now, Street probably felt he needed to step up and help her. That car was somewhere...they just needed to figure out where. Hondo was confident on his team!
"Damn!" Street said slamming down his headset hard on the desk. He got up abruptly and headed out.
"Street! Street!" Hondo called.
Tan, Luca and Q turned to Hondo, as he headed towards the young angry officer.
"Leave me alone!" Street said sternly, not turning around at all. He stumped angrily, deaf to the world.
BZZZT BZZZTT
Hondo's cellphone vibrated, again. Hondo kept glancing at Street as he took it out. Just as Street was reaching the door, Hondo read the message.
"The kids wanna talk!" he said, turning to the three that were still sitting. "Street!"
Everyone froze, including Street, who by now had reached the door. He quickly turned around to face Hondo. Holding the cellphone up towards himself, Hondo frowned at Street.
"Kid, I understand you're desperate. I know. She saved you when you was on a plane, now you wanna do the same...but the way we got to do this is by sticking together." Hondo said, trying to remain calm.
"Hondo, we're wasting time! She could be hurt by now!" Street demanded, raising his voice to a tone Hondo didn't appreciate at all.
"Street" Hondo said pausing to keep his cool, "we don't even know where they are. We have to get leads, follow them, then prepare to assist on the rescue. You know protocol says-"
"Screw protocols!" Street blurted loudly, interrupting the sergeant on the spot.
A collective gasp was heard from the three men in the cubicles. Tan glanced at Q who in turn glanced at Luca. What was his problem?
"What did you say to me?" Hondo asked angrily.
Street took a deep breath, then shot a death glare at Hondo. He shook his head slowly, threw his hands on the air and turned around. "I can't do this." he shook his head violently, and approached the stairs.
"Street! You better sit ya ass down! We ain't done!" Hondo ordered sternly, pointing at the empty chair next to Luca's cubicle.
His efforts were in vain, as Street didn't stop, in any case sped up a bit. Hondo noticed he was being ignored and sprinted towards him.
"Uh oh!" was heard from Luca, as all three officers rushed after him.
"Street, Street! I'm talking to you" Hondo said in between breaths.
"I don't care!" he answered angrily, without turning around. He moved quickly down the narrow dark stairs, unto the main floor.
Just as he reached the platform, Hondo grabbed his arm. With a violent move, Street jerked him off. His mind went blank, his nose puffed hot air...he couldn't think, he couldn't breath! He felt useless, desperate...the energy accumulating like hot lava coming out of an exploding volcano!
He moved his arm backwards. He felt a ray of lightning jolt his spine, all the way to his brain. That energy sparked a force beyond his control! His arm felt an immediate impulse, it now possessed an energy of its own. The room darkened, his eyes grew bigger. The steam coming out of his nose just like that of a dragon. The heat in his chest boiling like hot lava off a volcano. Without even knowing, he felt a force moving his fingers into his hand, closing up the grip with such power that he didn't even recognize himself. All of a sudden, his arm went back, pulling the powerful fist backwards, then towards... Hondo's face?
He blinked and the world returned to his eyes. There he was, standing right in front of him: Hondo.
GASP
STOP! STOP! his brain yelled.
Somehow, he found the strength to stop midway. His fist hung in the air for the longest of time, right beside his head. What was he doing? Q and Tan pulled him back, while Luca positioned himself in front of Hondo, back turned to the angry young officer.
"What the- you swinging at me!?" yelled the angry sergeant.
"Woah! Woah!" Tan said holding back Street's balled fist. "Bro, what are you doing?"
Luca quickly grabbed Hondo and held on to him, "Hondo! Hondo!" Luca's voice seemed so far away.
BUMP-BUMP
BUMP-BUMP
BUMP-BUMP
Everything was blurry. Their voices were far, far away. The sound of the scuffling shoes as the officers held him and the angry sergeant back were evident, but far away. All he could focus on was the loud throbbing on his temple, filling up his ears with the deafening sound of drums banging loudly and fiercely. There wasn't any real rhythm, it was just...draining! He stopped to catch his breath, but his lungs were weak.
BUMP-BUMP
BUMP-BUMP
BUMP-BUMP
He felt his knees weak, giving away to his weight. Without realizing, his body went sideways, leaning on the wall for support. He was hyperventilating and sweating as if he had just finished an hour full sprint on the treadmill! Huge droplets continued to go down his spine as his chest felt compressed and his eyes watery. Was she gone? Was this it? Was his family destroyed?
He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling something holding him up. Strong forces that kept him on his feet! He felt their breaths close, but couldn't make up their faces. He could smell Luca's cologne and Tan's body spray, but his eyes were failing him. He heard noises, voices...nothing he could make out. He closed his eyes momentarily...
"What the hell is going on in here?" he heard his boss called from the bottom floor.
GASP
Everyone stopped, as the older gentlemen went up two stairs. He frowned at the scene, completely lost and expecting a logical explanation.
"Sir." Hondo called, emerging from behind Luca, who had turned to face Commander Hicks.
"Hondo, what's going on?" Hicks repeated, now gesturing to the three officers in front of him.
By now, Street had gotten some sense back and was actually on his feet. Both Q and Tan stared quietly at Hicks, as Street straightened up.
"Sir, we may have new information." Hondo reported, trying to sound as convincing as possible, "Street and I were gonna check with a contact of mine. Q and Tan were on their way to the IT department to check on a detail that they found near the perp that might help us identify his intentions. Luca here" he paused to point at him, "was going back to make a call to the FBI to see if the suspect said anything or if they found anything in the body could help us narrow down where they're taking the hostages."
Hicks listened and nodded, holding on to a file on his right hand. "Ok, and this drama? Anything I should know?" he said swinging the file in front of him, gesturing to the three gentlemen, who stood frozen at the edge of the platform.
"Uh...Street was heading to the kitchen to get a bar. He was dizzy. Probably low sugar." Luca said as the others glanced at him from the corner of their eyes, except Hondo who glanced at Street.
"Oh. Well, you know what?" Hicks paused, "Why don't all of you go get something quick? Take 5. You've been staring at screens for hours." Hicks said shrugging.
"Yes, sir. We'll head out and uh...these guys can take 5." Hondo said pointing at Luca, Tan and Q.
"Alright, but strictly 5...ok? My boss wants leads!" Hicks demanded sternly.
"Yes, sir!" everyone answered.
As soon as Hicks disappeared, every one of them took a deep breath.
"You heard the boss. Take 5." Hondo said, gesturing with his finger to the floor. He turned to Street and with a glaring eyes said "You, stay." he finished with a clenched jaw.
Everyone stared at Street, then made their way out. Quietly, all three officers went down the stairs and out of sight. Hondo straightened up, all while staring at Street.
Street swallowed hard. He knew he had lost his cool, but wasn't sure how to fix it. Hondo took several slow steps towards him, head bowed down. Suddenly he stopped, looked up, then down the stairs. Nobody was even close to the area.
Out of the blue, Street felt a hard force pinning his chest back onto the wall. When he had a chance to react, he noticed it was Hondo's fist, which had grabbed part of his jacket and sent him backwards.
"You ever think about taking a swing at me again and I'm gonna have your badge. Understood?" he asked in a deep voice, clearly holding back.
He let go of Street and took a step back, still puffing out hot air through his nostrils.
"Yes, sir." Street responded.
"You lucky I got mad respect for Chris...and Nichelle and my baby girl need me!" she said softly with a clinched jaw.
He turned around and all Street could do was take a deep breath. He knew a 'sorry' wouldn't cut it.
Both officers made it to the gray car in a hurry, Hondo jumping onto the driver's side. Once in, he turned on the engine and they rode quietly out of HQ. Street was still dizzy, drowned by how own thoughts.
They rode in silence for some minutes. Suddenly, he noticed the car was slowing down. They were next to a gas stop, at an empty parking lot. Hondo parked the car in the middle of the giant empty lot and turned off the engine.
Street frowned, not knowing what exactly was the plan. They didn't have any leads, so he had no idea what 'contact' was Hondo referring to. Hondo placed an elbow on the window and stared out, quietly.
The blistering sun hit the car as if frying an egg on a stove on high heat! Soon both officers felt the burn. Both began to perspire, silently. Nobody moved a finger, not a word was said, until...
"I'm sorry for losing my cool." Street said slowly, bowing his head.
Silence.
"Thanks for saving my ass -and my job- with Hicks. I truly am sorry." he continued, turning his glare towards Hondo.
Silence.
Street swallowed hard, he knew Hondo was steaming. He had disrespected him in front of the whole squad. Hondo probably felt like he was a lost a cause, back to his own self. Back to the troubled kid that started SWAT late and with the wrong uniform. Street felt so embarrassed. Deep breath.
Two full minutes passed. Silence. Street stared out in front, hoping his boss would quit the silent treatment.
Finally, the older officer spoke. "You've done UC work before, even with your family involved; even had a gun to your head... She's done UC too, went hours with no news, faced guns as well, have gotten shot and almost killed...and I ain't never seen you like this! Out of yo damn mind!" he said in disbelief.
Street lowered his gaze, shaking his head slowly.
"You're sweating like crazy, you can't focus, Luca had to call you like three times coz you was -I don't even know where- and now you taking swings at me? What the hell, Street?" Hondo demanded, his voice rising with every word.
Silence. Street was cornered. He knew his boss wanted an explanation, but...he promised her. He promised he wouldn't tell anyone. "Not a soul" she had said.
"Street?" Hondo called calmly.
Deep breath. The young officer looked up, then to his right.
"It's different this time." he whispered, swallowing hard.
"Why?" Hondo demanded, annoyed.
"It just is, ok?" Street snapped, annoyed.
Hondo took a deep breath, then turned on the car. "Ok" he said calmly.
Street avoided his stare, as he bowed his head to the floor. Hondo pulled out of the lot and unto the main road, all in silence. Suddenly, Street took a deep breath and whispered "They didn't just take her."
He turned to Hondo, as the older officer turned to him with a frown. "We know. Others were in the car too, Street. And you know we're working-"
"No" he said calmly, interrupting Hondo.
Instead of firing back, or yelling at him, the older officer looked lost. His bewilderment was clear, as he couldn't help but to frown lost. Completely confused!
Street was sinking into quick sand. He couldn't hold it anymore, it could be the difference between saving her -them- or losing his family forever. He couldn't sit still. He fidgeted his fingers nervously, moving his knees, rocking his body slowly.
Hondo noticed the uneasiness in his young teammate and decided, enough is enough! He was going to get to the bottom of this. Maybe Street needed help and didn't know how to ask. There was no way they would complete the mission if he wasn't 100%. So, he pulled over to the sidewalk, parked the car and turned to the passenger.
"Street?" he asked calmly.
Street slowly said, "They didn't just take her." he paused. He bit his lower lip, took another deep breath and felt the knot tightening in his throat. "They took my family. Two."
"What do you mean?" Hondo asked frowning surprised.
Silence. Street turned to him with watery eyes and said...nothing. Nothing at all.
"Oh my Lord!" Hondo said gasping for breath. His baby was right: that look is of a man worried about much more than just his partner. Nichelle insinuated something going on with Chris some time ago, but he dismissed it. He thought she was seeing things that weren't there. Boy was he wrong! "Is she..."
Street bowed his head. No sound.
Hondo stared at him, perplexed. Oh boy! Nichelle was right. Chris is...no wonder why Street has been acting very sporadic since leaving Hicks' office. Deep breath.
"She -they- are gonna be alright, Street!" Hondo said calmly.
The young officer remained motionless. A full minute went by in silence, both officers just sat quietly. Suddenly...
"Nobody's supposed to know. She...wants to get an abortion." Street said slowly.
Hondo wasn't surprised, after all the lady was fighting to get one of the most important jobs in the market right now. He figured she wouldn't want to jeopardize her chances!
"I wont tell anybody, but...you gotta give me your word that what happened in the stairs wont ever happen again, Street! Ever!" Hondo said sternly.
"Yes, sir."
"We'll talk about punishment later. First, we gotta get back."