Night was rapidly approaching, and Rodriguez, Carla, Wick and Melissa were
preparing to leave. This time, they had been assured by Carla and Rodriguez
that they wouldn't stray from the group.
Everyone else headed silently out the station doors, but Wick stayed behind
for a second. He pulled up his shirt a little and rubbed the gun he had
there. He quickly recovered it and bounded out of the station.
§¤§¤§¤§
Ryan curled up in her bed and listened to the sounds of Bell struggling
with his covers. Flipping her hair over her shoulder, she listened as it got
quiet. She slipped him a silent glance and caught his eye as he looked over
at her. Their gaze held for a minute, but he quickly dropped it.
She sighed and turned over on her stomach, replaying that morning over and
over in her mind. She was carrying the curse of replay, because every event
that happened to her got played -over- and over. But in this case, maybe a
replay wasn't so bad..
Bell gave her another quick look. She was on her stomach and her head was
turned away from him. He knew he had been acting rather strangely, but he
was just trying to sort everything out. He knew he wasn't sorry and he was
pretty sure she wasn't either. He couldn't place his finger on it..
He knew what they had done was risky. Jerry could have walked in. Then God
knows -what- could have happened. He smiled as her light snoring filtered
through the room. He really didn't care if Jerry, or anyone, had walked in.
It had been..almost..therapeutic..for them both.
Then it hit him. He knew what was wrong. Megan.
// "She's insane," Megan laughed as she watched Ryan being lifted onto the
shoulders of the firemen.
"She's my partner," Bell said catching Ryan's eyes. She smiled at him and
he returned the smile. Megan shot him an indistinct look.
"Well then maybe she's the one you should be dating," she commented,
probing his eyes..which were still focused on Ryan.
"No. That would make too much sense," he said. His eyes were still locked
with Ryan's. \\
Megan had known all along. Maybe even before he'd known. He shook his head
and tried to clear all the mush from his muddled brain. He was too tired to
think about that right now. He'd deal with it in the morning..
§¤§¤§¤§
Jerry was sitting in the front room of the cabin reading an old car
magazine. He flipped idly through the old pages stopping on occasion to view
a beaut. The boredom was gnawing at him, eating him up from the inside. He
threw down the magazine and jumped to his feet. Maybe he'd go have some fun
with his..tenants..
A light outside the window caught his eye. He struggled to make out the
source..
"Shit!" he hissed. It was Wick and three other people from the station.
§¤§¤§¤§
Melissa's flashlight clicked off as they reached a cabin. There was a tiny
window on the side, and a soft light shone through. "Guys," she hissed.
"Let's try here," she suggested. Wick put his hands on the gun and followed
Melissa as she crouched down below the window. They stalked silently around
the side of the cabin until they found a door. Wick stepped in front of the
door and was getting ready to try the knob when the door swung open.
There stood Jerry, with a large knife in his hand. Wick was preparing to
draw out the gun, but Jerry grabbed his arm and pulled him inside. Rodriguez
managed to slip in before Jerry slammed the door and barred it, leaving the
women locked outside.
"Damn," Melissa said. "We've GOT to get in there!"
Not waiting for a reply or comment from Carla, she took off around the side
of the cabin, searching for any windows or doors. "Melissa!" Carla hissed.
"I found a window, but it's barred."
Melissa followed the sounds of the girl's voice until she reached the tiny
window. She clicked the light on and shone it through the window and onto
two sleeping figures. Her breath caught in her throat. Ryan and Bell..
§¤§¤§¤§
"Jerry," Wick growled angrily, standing in front of him.
"Wick. Nice to see you..but you should have come alone," Jerry grinned
pointing over at Rodriguez. "Where did those lovely ladies go?" he asked,
looking around. "To get help? Oh, that's okay. By the time help comes, you
all will be dead."
He flashed the knife and grinned wickedly taking a step closer to Wick. He
loved the fear in Rodriguez's eyes, loved the power..the feel of the knife
in his hands. He wasn't really watching Wick, he was just enjoying the
thrill.
When he did turn his focus back on Wick, he saw a gun in his hand, aimed
straight at Jerry. He laughed and raised the knife higher. "You wouldn't,"
Jerry mocked. "You -can't-."
§¤§¤§¤§
Ryan stirred as she heard someone call her name. She thought it was Bell,
but when she looked over at him, he was fast asleep. Rubbing her head
curiously, she swung around to the side of the bed and let her feet slip to
the cold floor.
Glancing at the window, she caught a glimpse of something. She padded
sleepily over and peered out in time to see two familiar figures slip around
the corner of the cabin. "Carla!" she hissed. Carla's head snapped up and
she tugged on Melissa's shirt, pulling her back towards the window.
"Ryan! On God, Ryan! You're okay!" Carla said smiling, wishing she could
get to her.
"Yeah. I'm fine. Where's Wick? Is he okay?"
"I don't know. Jerry caught us," her voice was just above a whisper. Her
eyes were full of fear and worry, and her hands were moving anxiously over
her arms. "He dragged Wick into the front room and Rodriguez managed to slip
in before the door closed."
"I'll wake Bell and fill him in. One of you go get help," Ryan ordered.
Melissa nodded and took off. She was so scared. Scared for
Wick..Rodriguez..herself..Bell..
She hurried over to Bell's bed and shook him awake. "Bell. Come on..wake
up. Be ready. They're coming for us. We're getting out of here."
*****
Bell blinked, comprehending what Ryan was telling him. They had been
rescued? ..No..they were -going- to be rescued.. He rubbed his head in
confusion. Her lips were moving a mile a minute and her words were becoming
a mixed up jumble in his ears.
He grabbed her face in his hands and kissed her, stopping the flow of
words. She responded but only for a second. They pulled back and she started
up again. Slower this time.
"Wick and Rodriguez are in the house. Here. Carla is outside, looking for
another way in, and Melissa went to go get help. We're going to be fine."
she told him. He smiled and jumped to his feet.
"I knew Wick would find us," he smiled, taking her hands and kissing them.
He threw her arms around her, and all was blissful..until a thought
protruded through Ryan's happiness.
"Wait..what..what if he hurts them? I mean, what if he has a weapon and
they don't? They could be killed!"
§¤§¤§¤§
"I can't huh?" Wick leered, waving the gun. "I CAN'T?!" he was closing in
on Jerry, his hatred and disgust boiling to the top, preparing to explode.
"Where are they, Jerry? Where are Ryan and Bell?"
"I have no idea, Wick."
"Don't feed me that bullshit Jerry! Tell me NOW!" Wick hit the extended
knife with the butt of his gun, sending the knife flying to Rodriguez's
feet. He stooped and picked it up, turning it over in his hands.
"Okay, Wick. I'll tell you. But it doesn't mean you'll be able to get them
out..or even get to them," he grinned and reached in his pocket. Pulling out
a small key he said, "you'd need this, and well.." he trailed off as he
slipped the key in his mouth and swallowed it. "It's gone."
Wick slammed Jerry up against the wall. "Just tell me where they are," he
demanded, his voice low and menacing.
"Fine. Last room on the right," he said reluctantly. Wick took off, giving
Rodriguez orders to stay with Jerry. He jogged down the short hallway until
he reached the door.
"Shit," he murmured. The door was metal. Trying the knob, he also found it
was locked. He was so close to his partners..yet so far away.
He pounded on the door furiously and kicked it until his foot felt like it
was falling off, but he couldn't budge the door. Frustrated, he walked back
into the main room and found Jerry sitting on the couch, Rodriguez standing
above him with the knife in hand.
Jerry was getting angry. How dare these imbeciles just -ruin- his plans
like that? He abruptly stood and flung his arm out at Rodriguez, while the
knife slashed through his arm. He didn't even feel the pain or notice the
blood coursing down his arm. All he knew was that it didn't matter if he was
killed..he just wanted to make sure that all the partners didn't walk out of
there alive.
"You have it so perfect," he spat at Wick. "You and Ryan and Bell. You're
the best of friends," he mocked. "None of you have the problems I have. You
just coarse right through the job, right through life," his voice was rising
and his hand gestures were becoming more frantic, but Wick didn't back down.
"You're not the one that got fired, Wick. That was ME. You weren't the one
who lost your firehouse family. That was ME," he paused for a minute, rubbed
his chin thoughtfully and laughed. "But now it's not me that's going to end
up dead. No, Wick. That's YOU."
§¤§¤§¤§
"Ryan, it'll be okay. Wick knows what's up. He can handle Jerry," he said,
placing his hands firmly on her shoulders and making eye contact with her.
"Yeah. You're right. I know you are. But I just can't help it.."
"Melissa will be here soon and she'll probably have a whole strew of cops
with her, and then we'll be free." They were getting too close to being
rescued for her to start losing the faith. He wrapped his arms around,
buried his face in her hair and inhaled deeply. He released her and walked
over with her to her bed where they sat down.
"Yeah..really..I know.." she began, taking his hand. He placed a finger to
her lips.
"Sshh," he whispered. He took his finger away and replaced it with his
lips. They were warm, soft, and comforting against her own and she
surrendered to them..to the feeling they instilled in her.
§¤§¤§¤§
"Jerry, man, I really don't think you're in any position to be telling me
that I'm gonna die when I'm the one with the gun," Wick laughed, sticking
the gun in Jerry's chest.
"That's what you think, Wick," he chuckled. Before anyone in the room had
time to register what was happening, Jerry dove at Wick, sending the gun
flying. Each of them dove for it, hitting and kicking the other in the
process.
Wick and Jerry each got to it at the same time and clasped it in their
hands. They twisted and squirmed wildly and then.....the gun went off...
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