Author:Tiina

Title:Family Ties

Rating:R, probably

Spoilers: Through TBO

Disclaimer:Not my characters, not making any money, etc.

Family Ties

Prologue

I was being chased through the TriBro warehouse by a guy in a rabbit suit. I could hear Angie and Mary Alice screaming somewhere ahead of me. Loud male voices overlapped, so I couldn't make out what they were saying. There were people running with me, I suddenly realized. I looked at their faces as we ran, and wished I hadn't. Samuel Singh and Steven Soder ran beside me, taunting me. "You can't save them, Steph, you can't even save yourself." said Singh. "Your heroes won't be able to bail you out this time. The trap for them has already been sprung." added Soder.

My sense of urgency kicked up a notch, if that was possible, and I ran faster. The girls' were starting to sound closer, but the male voices were silent now. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. Couldn't worry about it now, had to get to the girls. Their voices were very close now, just ahead of me. I plunged through the doorway, and almost passed out in relief. Ranger and Joe were there, untying my entire family, working quickly. Ramirez lay in a heap in the middle of the room. I didn't check to see if he was dead, again. I jumped in to help untie the others. I had just gotten Mom untied, and she took the girls' in her arms, calming them. Joe was untying Grandma, Ranger was just finished freeing Mary Lou (when did she get here?), and Dad was struggling with the knots that still held Val. Ranger pulled out a wicked looking knife and cut the ropes, and everyone was free.

Quietly, Ranger said "We need to get out of here. Steph, you and Val follow me, Mary Lou, I want you and Edna two steps behind them. Mr. and Mrs. Plum, you two carry the girls, behind them. Morelli, bring up the rear, don't let anyone fall behind." Morelli nodded, saying "Ready when you are." The rest of us got into position, and we followed Ranger out the door.

We had gotten about halfway down the first hallway when Arturo Stolle and a couple of his goons stepped out of the shadows. Joe was shooting before the rest of us even realized they were there, and all three of them dropped quickly.

"Good eye." Ranger told him.

"Thanks, keep moving."

Ranger nodded, and set off at a brisk pace. The rest of us were keeping up, and I tried not to think about what my nieces had seen tonight. Just get them home safely, I told myself, before worrying about consequences.

We turned the corner, and ran straight into Abruzzi. Ranger shot him before he had time to take a breath. "Stay dead." he ordered him. Mom and Dad cuddled the girls to them, turning their faces away from the body. As soon as we got out of sight of it, Ranger reordered us. Now Dad and I were behind him, followed by ML and Val, carrying the girls, then Mom and Grandma, with Joe still bringing up the rear.

We finally reached the main hallway, and I could see the doors at the end of it. I wanted to sob with relief, but held myself together. We got halfway to the doors when Ranger stopped us. "Wait here, I want to make sure there's no surprises."

He turned to Joe, saying "Keep your eyes open." Joe nodded.

"Hold onto this Babe, just in case." He reached around to the small of his back, and handed me a gun. I tried to keep my hands from shaking as I took it from him. He gave my hands a quick squeeze and headed for the doors.

He reached the glass doors, and I held my breath. He looked quickly through the doors, and pulled his head back just before the hail of bullets came through it from outside. He jogged back to us.

"Who's out there?" I asked.

"Slayers. There are too many of them to go through without someone getting hurt. We need to hurry, before they gather enough courage to come in after us."

Joe had been listening intently. "There's a loading dock at the back of the building, and a small door at the west end of it."

Ranger nodded, saying, "You lead, I'll bring up the rear."

Mom was crying silently, the tears rolling down her face. Joe squeezed her shoulder as he passed her. He gestured for us to follow him.

We made it to the loading dock without incident. Joe waved Ranger toward the doors, and Ranger began to pick the huge padlock that was locking them. Just as we all heard the lock click open, the small door opened.

Clyde Cone stood in the doorway. Joe and Ranger and I drew our guns on him, but he laughed and showed us a small object in his hand. A grenade, with the pin already pulled. Shit. Clyde laughed. "You've all done well, but only the master gets to win the game."

He tossed the grenade at the group of us.