Don't Sleep

Hey there everyone!

This is the sequel to 'My Recurring Dream' as promised, you can read this without having read that, but this does follow on quite nicely! The original was going to be three chapters but the first one was over 7000 words so I've cut it in half so I'm not sure how many chapters I'll post!

I really hope you enjoy, and this first part is for Lily Moonlight.

Chapter 1

"What was that?" Mac said quickly. The lights above them flashed and the emergency generator powered lights came on, creating an eerie dim blue light around them.

"I don't know." Answered Stella and she, along with the rest of the team had grabbed their pieces.

"Come on!" Called Flack and they hurriedly all left the room to find the source of the shooting.

"Cheryl!" Lindsay cried as they entered the bedlam that was the reception area. People were running in all directions, screaming and shouting, those with pieces had brought them out but none would fire. Standing before them was Diaz, his arm round the receptionists throat, his gun aimed at her temple.

"Good afternoon detectives." He said, his slimy voice, sending shivers down their spines.

"Let the girl go." Mac said, his gun poised.

"Or you'll what?" Diaz mocked, "You'll shoot? I'm sure you have a good shot detective but even you can't get a bullet in me without it entering poor Cheryl here first."

Diaz held the scared girl directly in front of him meaning if any one dared shoot, Diaz was right, they couldn't shoot him without hitting the receptionist.

"Meet my demands or the girl dies."

"Where's Maddy Self?" Stella asked trying to keep her voice calm, a few feet away from Mac.

"She's alive, for now, but Miss Self is not why I am here."

"Let the girl go." Mac tried again.

"It's not her I want." He turned to Stella, " Detective Bonaserra, drop your weapon."
"What?" Stella spluttered.

"Drop your gun or I will shoot her, then you."

"You won't touch her!" Mac growled taking a step forward.

"Ever the gallant hero aren't we detective Taylor, now tell your pretty little friend to drop her weapon."

"Do it Stel." Mac said quietly.

Stella nodded and lowered her gun.

"Put it on the floor."

Stella did so, each move slow and precise, she had no gun, no way of defending herself, she was a sitting duck.

Diaz approached Stella, still with a whimpering Cheryl clutched to his chest. He lowered his gun from Cheryl's head and bought it back up, letting it rest on Stella's temple. Stella looked at him, he could pull the trigger in a second, she could die at any moment. Diaz threw Cheryl down and grabbed Stella, holding her tightly across his chest whilst he let the gun point menacingly at her head.

"Detective Taylor." He turned to Mac whose face was white. His eyes were filled with hatred for Diaz but the fear could not be hidden. He had only just found Stella, he couldn't let her be taken from him but more importantly, he couldn't let her suffer.

"Drop your gun."

Mac didn't move, he was debating whether to shoot. Stella was a lot slimmer and shorter than Diaz, he could miss her with a well placed bullet.

"Drop your gun or I'll put a bullet in your partners head."

Mac looked at Stella,her eyes were pleading, pleading for him to save her whilst fighting the anger that she was in this situation and had Mac in it too.

Mac dropped his gun.

"Good, now take me to the interview room."

"What?"

"Take me to the interview room detective Taylor, I want to talk to you and Detective Bonaserra."

He addressed the rest, "I am merely talking with your friends here, I have not committed a crime, so you will leave us. Try anything, and I mean anything, you will find the brain of you beloved boss splattered all over the wall."

Diaz walked backwards, facing the crowds, showing he meant business, if one of the tried to shoot, he would place a bullet in Stella's head. Mac looked at his team, all of them looked scared and their fear was increased when they saw Mac's uncharacteristic expression masked theirs. He nodded at them and led the way, what was waiting for them, he didn't know.

"You," Diaz pointed at Flack, "Follow, gun down."

Flak obliged, he was not going to be the reason why Stella died. He put his gun on the floor and followed them, as the rest of the team watched on, there were a hundred things they could do to intervene, but most of them would result in Stella's death, something they would not let happen. They watched on, all scared, all worried and all wanting to help Mac and Stella escape their captors clutches.

They reached the interview room in a second, Stella still in Diaz's firm clutches and a weapon-less Mac and Flack at their heels.

"Open the door." Diaz instructed. Mac opened the door and Diaz threw Stella in, his force sending her crashing into the wall.

"Stel," Mac cried and automatically turned to her.

"Move and I'll blow your head off." Diaz warned, pointing the gun threateningly at Mac.

"What's your name?" Diaz asked Flack, still holding the gun to Mac's head.

"Flack."

"Mr Flack, here are my instructions, I need to talk with your bosses here, so I am going to go in here with them and lock the door. I take it there is a video camera in there?"

Flack nodded.

"Good, you will monitor this at all times as Detective Taylor will be giving you instructions and I have no time to waste. If you try anything I will shoot them both."

"What do you want from us?" Mac asked.

"I am here to make a deal. And Mr Flack I think it would be wise for you to spread my proposal. I want my demands met in 3 hours. Once I have seen proof I will let Miss Bonaserra and her companion go, untouched. If my demands are not met within in 3 hours I will kill them, both of them. Like I said, try anything untoward and I will not hesitate in pulling the trigger. Now Detective Taylor, you are going to come with me, Mr Flack, you will wait until you are given instructions ." With a rough shove, Mac joined Stella in the interview room. Diaz locked the door and put the key in his pocket, his gun still in his hand.

"Do sit down Detectives."

Mac had rushed to Stella, making sure she was all right, his hand was placed protectively on her back and she was holding onto his arm, her hands shaking slightly.

"I only want to talk detectives."

"You can put your gun away them." Stella said, unmoving.

"Yes, I suppose I can. I'm sure neither one of you will try something, you know the consequences if you do." He put his gun away and the two of them sat down gingerly.

"What do you want?" Mac asked quietly.

"I want justice Detective, justice. Now listen closely."

"What the hell are we going to do?" Danny asked, his voice high pitched as he paced the room. He, Flack, Lindsay and Hawkes were all watching the camera hooked up to the interview room. It pointed at where the suspect would sit, in this case Mac and Stella had taken those seats, and the fear in their eyes did nothing to reassure anyone that the situation could be resolved peacefully.

"We have to follow the book." Hawkes said, trying to remain calm. "We get the SWAT team in."

"Warn them though," Lindsay said quickly, "If Diaz sees." She trailed off and shuddered.

"Yeah." Flack agreed, "we get those guys in and meet his demands."

"We don't know that they are yet!" Danny exclaimed.

"It doesn't matter, we'll do it, for Mac and Stella."

Flack turned to the monitor and felt the others' eyes on his back as they too watched the screen. They could see Diaz was talking, but he spoke in a hushed tone and his back was to the camera so could not make out his words. His hostages' faces' gave nothing away which Flak hoped was a good sign. All they could do was wait, wait until Mac told them what they must do. Flack sighed in aggravation, he hated waiting.

"Now here's the deal detectives. My brother is awaiting trial for a crime he didn't commit. He will be taken to court if found guilty, and locked up, now I can't have that happen to my brother." Stella felt her her skin crawl as Diaz spoke. His other motive was so blatant she was half tempted to tell him not to bother with his story, but the gun was sticking out of his pocket so she held her tongue.

"So here's where you come in, I want your team to re examine the evidence, show it to the Prosecutor and have her close this case, letting my brother go free."

Mac's face drained and Stella just sat there, shocked. They had been over the evidence with a fine toothed comb and it was obvious what the outcome was. They had no choice but to blag it.

"And I need proof."

"Proof?"

"Yes proof. I'm sure it would be easy for you to falsify your evidence so I need proof. I want an pontifical document signed by you Detective Taylor and the Chief prosecutor, clearing my brother. When I have seen this I will let you go and I should warn you Detectives, in my line of work, I can spot a fake document a mile off."

So blagging was out the question.

"And as for your time limit, I need it done in 3 hours."
"Why?"

"Because," Diaz snapped and Mac instinctively turned towards Stella in a protective manner, "I have business to attend to once this whole matter is cleared."

"So if we get the document clearing your brother, you will let us go unharmed."
"That is correct, once I have the documents I will release you both. Of course I have to be sure none of your co-workers are foolish enough to attempt to shoot me, so I will let you go Detective Bonasera when I am out of the building and on my way. Now you have heard my proposal I suggest you inform your team on what they must do, remember, 3 hours."

"And if we don't get it?" Stella asked quietly.

"It's better not to think about that Stella." Diaz said and he got his gun out and lazily polished the side with his jacket. Stella scowled and looked at Mac, partly for her own reassurance and partly to give him the look that showed him they were in it together.

"Now would be nice Detective Taylor."

Mac stood up and went to the camera, Diaz stood up next to him, watching his every move, Mac glanced at him, then began to speak.

"Flack, I need you to get the all the team together and listen very closely to what I'm about to say."

Please review, they really inspire me and I promise there is a lot of drama to come!