Hi everyone! This is a Season 2 Life Sentence alternate ending fic. Hope you like! Please review!

The Gambler - Part 1

Boyd stared distastefully at the deck of cards scattered on the floor by his feet. He knelt down and picked up a few before looking back up at the man with the gun. Tom Rice. The man who was pointing a gun at his face. The killer kept switching the aim from Boyd to Maya, the kidnapped and terrified young prostitute. Boyd noticed how Tom barely pointed the gun in Claire's direction. But that didn't mean she was safe. Tom had already killed her friend Tim. His lifeless body was slumped against the opposite wall of the shed if anyone needed reminding of this.

"Ace of spades?" Boyd asked, starring up at Rice. "Jack of clubs? Nine of clubs?" He flicked the cards back to the dirt on the floor and slowly rose up on his feet. "None of the cards matter, do they? You decide, not the cards." He nodded towards Claire. "She told us, Tom, everything. You're not The Gambler, it wasn't even your idea!"

Mel watched the scene from her position in the doorway. She wanted to check her watch, to determine how far away back up were, how long until they arrived. But she couldn't risk looking, both hands we're holding her weapon, keeping it aimed directly at Tom Rice. She wouldn't take her eyes or attention from him. He was a killer. He unnerved her. And he knew it. Mel quietly sucked in a deep breath of air as she refocused herself on the scene: Maya, Claire and Boyd, all in the serial killers direct line of fire.

"You were a fake," Boyd continued. He didn't know if aggravating Tom was the best approach to take, but he could think of nothing else. Divulging the secrets Claire had shared in interview seemed the best option, maybe knock Tom off guard, hurt his blazing ego perhaps. Claire would be safe, Boyd believed. Despite her betrayal, Tom was still obsessed with his victim. Boyd was certain she was on safe ground, that even if Tom gave in and killed them all, Claire would be the last to die. He hoped so, anyway, but he could think of no other play to make.

Tom gave a snicker and took a step backwards, now standing closer to Maya who was struggling to hold in her cries. The tape had been removed from her mouth, she was terrified and wanted to scream in fear, and cry with relief that she had been found, but the ordeal was far from over yet. Her kidnapper placed a hand on her shoulder, still aiming the gun at the police officer. Maya let out a whimper and tried not to shudder.

"I know what you're trying to do, Boyd. You'd be better off having you're psychologist here, to talk me into submission, her tactics might not be as glaringly obvious as yours."

Boyd shrugged. "So what happens now?" he asked. "You're partners dead, Claire doesn't want you-"

"YES SHE DOES!" Tom yelled, "Yes. She. Does." He paused, took a moment to smile lovingly at Claire. She was staring ahead, Boyd was sure he recognised signs of shock in her. She seemed robotic, trance like, too scared and traumatised to react. "We share a bond," Tom continued, "we understand each other. We can be together."

"No Tom," Spence spoke, stood at the window, gun ready, hoping to divert some attention away from Boyd. "What future could you have? On the run from the police? Living in hiding?" Boyd was trying to aggravate the killer, Spencer hoped to reason with him instead. His efforts failed as Tom continued to address Boyd, not acknowledging Spencer's words.

"We're united for eternity," Tom continued, "you just don't understand."

"Okay," Boyd sounded exasperated. He was tired. The adrenalin rush had faded during the stand off. "How does this end? Tell me? What was Maya's fate? Was my card going to be safe?"

Tom shook his head. "I told you," he yelled, "that wasn't me! I didn't choose her!"

Boyd of course knew this, he just wanted to provoke Tom. "I know it wasn't you," Boyd smiled, "so let her go. Let Maya leave. She had nothing to do with this."

Tom shook his head. Boyd continued in his attempt to bait the man. "You didn't do this!" His temper grew. "Come on! You obviously don't have the nerve!" Tom stepped back towards Claire, pushed her forwards, using her as a human shield.

"I don't have the nerve?" Tom smirked once more, nodding his head. The gun shook in his hand. "You have no idea who you're dealing with."

Spence felt his irritation grow. This was getting them nowhere. His view of Tom was blocked, Maya on one side, Claire in front. Did Tom realise he had effectively blocked himself in from his and Mel's view, Spence wondered, asking himself what Tom planned, if this was deliberate? He didn't have to wait long to find out.

"No nerve?" Tom laughed again, tightened his grip on Claire, pulling her closer to him. He fired the gun. Spence ducked, moved from the window, then crawled on all fours to Mel's position near the doorway. She had moved to the side wall for cover. After checking Mel wasn't hit Spence began shouting into his radio, demanding to know where back up were, adding that shots had been fired at the scene. Mel moved further against the wall for cover, edging away from the splintered doorframe. The door was still swung open on its hinges. The smell of gunpowder was suddenly overpowering.

Mel had acted instinctively as soon as she heard the shot, her training kicking in, throwing her out of the line of fire. Now she was angry with herself - who was hit? The gun was aimed at Boyd, but Claire was also a possible target. Or had Tom fired up at the ceiling, a warning shot, to scare them?

Spencer finished in the radio and grabbed Mel's arm, making her jump. "Was anyone hit?" He whispered. Mel shook her head, "I don't know." Spence crawled up to the edge of the doorframe, gun ready he leaned forwards, looking into the shed as far as his angle safely allowed. Tom was still against the far wall, Maya kneeled down besides him, Claire, still staring blankly ahead, held before him. Tom was whispering to Claire, his attention on her, though Spence could just make out the man's words. "No nerve, I've shown him our nerve, we did it all, together…"

Worried, Spence looked for Boyd. "Shit," he yelled as he moved back to Mel, covered by the shed wall. "Officer down," he yelled into the radio, "we have possible hostage situation and an officer down. Where the hell are you're men?" he snapped, waiting for a response. Mel looked up at Spence and gripped his arm tightly, waiting for him to finish on the radio. "Officer down?" she whispered, her face draining of its cover. Spence nodded. "I don't know how bad it is, I couldn't see much, but Boyd's down, he's been hit."