Hatch was relieved
to see the rumble was created by the rotors of the returning FBI Black Hawk, this time accompanying a medical chopper. After Hatch reached the other side of the gorge, she took up one end of the rope tied to Lawson, and MacIntosh took the other. The two shouldered the burden of Lawson’s weight equally as they hustled the last quarter mile across flatter ground to the landing zone.
Hatch put the great divide and Camp Hope behind her as the helicopters landed, driving away the fresh snow from last night, throwing it into the air as the sunrise broke through the last bit of gray. It now danced in the light and gave an angelic shimmer to the responding medical and law enforcement rescue team.
Hatch was pleased to see Agent Babiarz and her partner Agent Medina. Just as they'd done when she brought in Cruise, they hustled to her and met at the halfway point, taking the burden and allowing Hatch and MacIntosh to slow their walk, which enabled Hatch to favor her stronger leg over her injured ankle.
"Nice job on these bandages," one of the medics said to Hatch.
She shook her head and threw a thumb to MacIntosh who was standing beside her. "Credit for all this…" She pointed to her sling and bandaged head, then at Lawson. "…and all that there goes to this man."
"That’s why it pains me to do this." Cal Roe, commander of the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team stepped into view.
"I’ve got to put you in cuffs," he said to MacIntosh.
Hatch stepped in between the two men. Roe widened his stance. His facial expression implied he did not like the challenge Hatch presented. The glance he cast to the side, also told Hatch that he especially did not like the challenge in front of two of his operators.
"I don’t get on that helicopter if he goes in cuffs. If MacIntosh hadn't been there, Lawson and I wouldn't be coming down from this mountain outside of a body bag."
"You're not in a position to make demands. Listen, what you did back there was nothing short of amazing. And the fact that you're willing to stand and vouch for this man speaks volumes to that. I know there’s more to this guy, but right now, he’s on a parole remand and I have to see that through." He then directed his comments to MacIntosh. "These cuffs can come off as easy as they go on.
MacIntosh nodded and extended his wrists. "I'll take whatever's coming my way.
Roe's hand hovered with his cuffs. "If what she said is true, we'll do our best to figure some things out for you on the backend of this."
Roe placed MacIntosh into custody and escorted him aboard the bird. Medina and Babz were assigned to look over Lawson and were riding in the medical chopper with him. Just before Hatch climbed aboard the FBI helicopter, she called over to the female HRT operator.
"Agent Babiarz?"
The female operator turned and took a step closer and smiled. "Babz."
"Babz, I just wanted to tell you, that was a hell of a thing I saw you do yesterday."
Babz waved her off. "It was nothing."
"Don’t be modest. I know a lot of brave people who wouldn’t have done what you did, and several people are alive right now because
you did it."
Hatch turned to head back to her helicopter.
"Any advice for the new kid on the block?" Babz called out as Hatch climbed aboard.
"When the opportunity presents, never miss."
"I never do."
The rotors whipped up to speed and less than a minute later, Hatch was airborne, and Lawson’s life now rested with the medical team working to save it.
As the helicopter went up, Hatch looked down on the glacier. The cracks in the ice seemed smaller. The glacier itself seemed less menacing in the light of day. Their flight out took them over Camp Hope, and the black scar burned into the glacier where the cafeteria used to be.