Author's note: Many thanks go out to Kaz who lent me her time, editing expertise, and moral support. This story wouldn't be what it is without her. Thanks Kaz!

Chapter 1

"Dean, wake up." Sam nudged his brother who had been sleeping in the passenger seat of the Chevy Impala. Dean stirred and rubbed his eyes as Sam pulled the car to a stop in front of a 7-Eleven.

"Where are we?" Dean questioned sleepily.

"Colorado Springs," Sam replied as he pulled the key from the ignition. "I need coffee."

Dean glanced at his watch and grimaced. "5:45am? Yeah, me too," Dean agreed. The Winchester brothers climbed out of the Impala and stretched as they walked toward the door. They exchanged nodded greetings with the sleepy-looking middle-aged man behind the counter before they shuffled toward the back of the convenience store where the pots of freshly-brewed coffee were located.

"Oh yeah, its time for the big guns!" Dean exclaimed as he reached for the 24oz cups, handing one to Sam and taking one for himself. He filled his cup to the brim and took a tentative sip of the hot beverage. "Mmmmm… nectar of the gods," he murmured. Sam smiled and handed him a lid. He reached toward his wallet but Dean stopped him. "Save your cash Sammy, this one's on…" Dean pulled a credit card from his wallet and peered at the name. "Hanz Eriksson," he finished with a smirk.

As Sam followed his older brother toward the counter, two men in their mid-twenties burst through the door brandishing handguns. The first gunman pointed his weapon toward the Winchesters and ordered them to lie on the floor in an isle lined with potato chips, motor oil, and Band-Aids. Dean and Sam quickly abandoned their coffee cups on a shelf and complied, not willing to tangle with a gun-wielding mortal if they could avoid it. The second man trained his gun on the frightened clerk. "Empty out the registers and hand the cash over!" he ordered in a cold even voice. The clerk stood frozen. "DO IT NOW!" The gunman yelled forcefully, spurring the clerk into action.

Riley Adams flung her gym bag over her shoulder, locked the door to her apartment and hurried to her car. Seeing the beauty of the sun peeking over the eastern horizon painting the Rocky Mountains to the west pink and purple did little to soften the blow of being awake so early—especially on a Monday. She was a member of the USA Judo team that trained at the Olympic Training Center but unfortunately her sport had drawn the short straw and ended up with the 6am slot each day in the Strength and Conditioning Gym. "I'm switching to volleyball. They have the 5pm slot," Riley muttered to herself as she drove toward the Training Center. Stifling a yawn, she realized she was going to need some caffeine if she had any hope of making it through the workout. The glowing green digital clock on her dashboard read 5:48am. She decided she had enough time to make a quick stop and turned into the 7-Eleven around the corner from the Training Center.

She yanked the keys from the ignition, grabbed her purse and raced toward the door. As she pushed through the door, she found herself looking down the barrel of a gun and froze in mid-stride. She stared in horror as another man pointed a gun at the clerk who was frantically shoving cash from the register into a plastic bag. Never taking the gun off her, the man grabbed her by the arm with his free hand and pulled her further into the store. "Sit down and shut up!" he yelled as he pushed her hard toward two young men sitting on the floor of one of the isles. She landed hard on her knees and turned to face the gunman as she scrambled backwards towards the boys.

Dean reached out to the frightened girl that had been shoved toward him and placed a reassuring hand on her arm. Her frightened blue eyes locked with his calm hazel ones and he sent her a look that said, "Welcome to the party." He was rewarded with a half smile. His eyes stayed on hers until he heard Sam sharply inhale then whisper the order to "get down!" As he pushed the girl to the ground, covering her body with his he followed Sam's gaze to the counter. The clerk had taken the opportunity the distraction had caused to pull a shotgun from behind the counter. Before he had a chance to take aim, the older-looking gunman saw the shotgun and fired a bullet into the man's chest, sending him backwards into the rack of cigarettes before slumping to the floor.

"Aaron, watch those three, I'll get the money," the shooter barked as he bent down to retrieve the shotgun then turned to gather the money.

"Hurry up Jake, the cops are probably on their way," Aaron replied frantically as he kept his gun trained on the two men and the girl lying on the floor looking up at him with fearful eyes. He wiped sweat from his brow and tightened his grip on the gun.

"Got it, lets go!" Jake shouted and Aaron jogged after the older man, keeping his gun trained on their captives until a soda display blocked them from his field of vision.

Dean felt the girl relax beneath him as a relieved sigh escaped her lips. He smiled down at her, really looking at her for the first time. She was hot in a Sporty Spice kind of way. She was wearing sweats and her shoulder-length reddish-blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail. Tension was draining from her pretty features and the fear was leaving her light blue eyes.

"I'm Dean, and this is my brother Sam," he whispered.

"I'm Riley," she whispered with a smile, "and if this didn't convince me to give up coffee, nothing will."

Dean grinned. And a sense of humor too! He thought.

Jake was halfway out the door with Aaron hot on his heels when he reversed his direction and propelled himself and Aaron back inside.

"Damn-it! The cops just pulled up! Get back from the windows," Jake yelled in a panicked voice.

"What are we gonna do?" Aaron cried.

"How the hell should I know? This wasn't part of the plan!" Jake roared.

Dean felt Riley's body tense beneath him. He locked eyes with his brother and they shared a look that said, "We are in serious crap!" "Stay still," he quietly whispered to Riley, not wanting to do anything to spook the robbers and send bullets flying their way. She nodded imperceptibly in response.

Jake was pacing back and fourth behind a poster of the sales of the week that blocked him from the cops' view. "Ok, we need to barricade the doors and cover up the windows so they can't see inside and take us out with snipers. Hey blondie, get over here!" he yelled. Dean nodded at her as he rolled his frame off her so she could get up. "Be careful," he whispered. She nodded in response and got to her feet. Jake pointed his gun toward her.

"I want you to stack those cases of soda and whatever else you can, in front of the door so they can't see in," he ordered. She pulled her eyes away from the gun, took in a shaky breath and moved to carry out his orders. Aaron returned to the isle where Dean and Sam were sitting and trained his gun on them. "Stay still and stay quiet," he growled at them. Dean looked past Aaron to where Jake was leaning against the counter, his eyes following Riley as she worked. He didn't like the way the man was looking at her.

Riley continued to haul 12 packs of soda from the display in the corner to the front of the door. She could see a significant police presence gathering outside. She made eye contact with one of the officers and tried to communicate to him through hand signals that there were two gunmen while her back was to Jake. She was almost out of soda cases and the top half of the glass door remained uncovered. She noticed a tape dispenser on the counter and walked toward it. Jake quickly pointed the gun at her head.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked, his voice low and cold.

"I'm almost out of soda cases and I saw the tape there and figured I could tape newspapers to the windows to cover them up," Riley explained nervously.

"Do it," Jake snapped.

When Riley had finished covering the windows she walked to the counter to return the tape dispenser. Her eyes went to the clerk and she was surprised to see the slight rise and fall of his chest. "He's alive!" she exclaimed. She turned to Jake. "The clerk is alive. You haven't killed anyone yet. You can still get out of this. Please, let me help him."

"Fine," he conceded gesturing her toward the injured clerk.

Riley knelt beside the man and sent a silent prayer heavenward before she felt for a pulse. She found one but it was weak. His breathing was labored and dark red blood soaked his shirt. She opened his shirt to get a look at the wound. The bullet had caught him under his right collarbone and he was bleeding profusely. She knew if she didn't somehow slow the bleeding, he was going to die. "I need a first aid kit or bandages or something," she called out.

Sam grabbed one of the first aid kits from the shelf to his left and slid it toward Aaron. Aaron picked it up and took it to Riley.

"Is he gonna be ok?" Aaron asked worriedly.

"I don't know," Riley replied.

With shaking hands, she took the kit from him and opened it to examine the contents. She pulled out rubber gloves but noting the blood on her hands, decided it was too late for that precaution and set them aside. Riley grabbed for the small bottle of antiseptic, opened it and poured some on the wound. She wiped away the blood and liquid with a gauze pad then grabbed several more and pressed them to the wound. Holding the gauze in place, she retrieved an elastic bandage from the kit and began to wrap it around his chest and shoulder to hold the gauze pads tightly in place. She had done everything she knew to do but she was sure that if he didn't get to a doctor soon he would die.

The phone on the counter rang and Jake turned to glare at it.

"Uh, I'm thinkin' you might wanna get that. It's probably the cops," Dean spoke up.

"Shut up!" Jake spat, before reaching for the phone.

"Hello?" he barked… "My name's none of your business!" he answered gruffly. He paced as he listened to the voice on the other end. "…I've got four hostages—one's already bleeding, and if you don't get me a black car with tinted windows and a full tank of gas, they will all die! I want it outside with the keys in the ignition ASAP!" He continued to pace in front of the counter as he listened to the response. "Give you something? No! Its not f---ing Christmas, Detective," he spat into the phone, "I don't have to give you a damn thing!" he roared before slamming the phone down. He turned to Aaron. "I am NOT going back to jail again, damn-it!"

"I know bro," Aaron replied. "We'll find a way out of this."

"Excuse me," Riley began hesitantly, "but, maybe you could let the clerk go—I mean, if he doesn't get help soon he'll die and I'm thinking armed robbery charges are a lot better than murder. And they may be more willing to work with you if you give them a hostage."

"Shut up!" Jake snapped.

"She's right," Sam spoke up.

"Yeah, and how the hell would you know?" Jake growled.

"I studied pre-law at Stanford so I'm kinda familiar with the penal code," Sam replied coolly.

"Jake, maybe we should let the clerk go," Aaron suggested.

Jake sighed and ran his hands through his dark brown hair. "Fine," he conceded, "I'll call them back."

Jake dialed star 69 and made arrangements with the cops. He didn't want any cops coming in dressed like paramedics so Riley would go outside and retrieve a gurney and bring it back into the convenience store then wheel the clerk back outside and return to the store. Before he let her leave to get the gurney Jake grabbed her by the throat and held his handgun to her head.

"If you don't do exactly as I've said I will kill these guys," he said coldly, gesturing toward Dean and Sam. "I don't think you want their blood on your hands."

"I'll do everything you've said," Riley told him, "I'll be back, I promise," she said shifting her gaze to Dean and Sam.

Jake released his grip on her and she pushed the stack of soda cases aside, walked outside and retrieved the gurney. Moments later she wheeled the gurney through the door and Aaron helped her lift the clerk onto it. Before she could leave, Jake grabbed her arm.

"Hurry back or you know what'll happen," he said pointing his gun toward Dean and Sam.

As she rolled the gurney out the door and toward the awaiting ambulance, paramedics and police officers surrounded her. The paramedics began working on the clerk while a policeman began firing questions at her.

"How many gunmen and what kind of firepower do they have?"

"Two males in their 20's with two handguns and the clerk's shotgun." Riley answered.

"And how many hostages?" questioned the officer.

"Just me and two guys," she replied, "now I gotta go."

"You're going back in there?" the officer asked incredulously.

"If I don't they'll kill the other hostages," she said as she walked quickly toward the door and reentered the store.

Sam and Dean sighed in unison when Riley entered. She looked toward them and noted their relief. "I told you I'd be back," she said with a slight smile.

"Get those soda cases back in front of the door!" Jake barked at her. She quickly shoved them back into place and moved to take her spot on the floor next to Dean and Sam. "Hold it," Jake said sternly. Riley stopped and Jake grabbed her arm roughly and pushed her toward the counter.

"What are you doing?" Aaron asked.

"Making sure the cops didn't give her a weapon or a transmitter or something" Jake replied as he shoved her face-down on the counter and kicked her feet apart. He tucked his gun in the back of his waistband then began to frisk her, starting at her ankles and working his way up. His movements slowed as hands reached her torso and moved up to cup her breasts. He smiled as he felt her body shudder beneath his. He pushed his hands beneath her sweatshirt and t-shirt and felt the warm soft skin of her abdomen. Riley tried to jerk away from him but he forcefully pushed her back on to the counter holding her there with the weight of his body as his hands continued to explore.

"Please, don't" Riley whimpered.

"Ooh, I love it when girls beg," he replied gruffly.

"Leave her alone you son of a bitch!" Dean roared.

"Shut up!" Aaron ordered, leveling his gun at Dean. Sam placed a restraining hand on Dean's shoulder.

Riley shuddered as Jake's hands forcefully fondled her breasts then slid down and dipped inside her track pants. Please God, make this stop! she screamed inside her head as his fingers roughly explored inside her panties and plunged inside her. A strangled cry ripped through her as she shot her right elbow up and back behind her and connected with Jake's jaw. Jake cried out in pain as he stumbled backwards. Riley quickly pivoted on her left foot and kicked her right foot out behind her, hitting him in the stomach. Aaron kept his gun on Dean and Sam to ensure they could not come to Riley's aid as Jake pulled his gun out from his waistband and leveled it at her.

"Come here," he commanded in a steely voice.

Riley remained still, her eyes filled with rage and renewed fear, her fists clenched.

"Now bitch!" Jake yelled.

Riley walked slowly toward Jake. When she was within arms reach Jake grabbed her by the throat and threw her to the ground. She rolled onto her hands and knees and was about to climb to her feet when Jake kicked her mercilessly in the ribs. The impact rolled her onto her back and Jake pounced on top of her and delivered a couple hard punches to her face. Riley cried out in pain and tried to shield her face with her hands but Jake encircled both her wrists with his left hand and pinned them to the floor above her head.

"Try fighting back now bitch" Jake growled in her ear before covering her mouth in a violent kiss. She writhed beneath him but his weight kept her immobilized.

Aaron's gun was still pointed at Dean and Sam but his eyes were on Jake and Riley. Dean knew if he didn't do something now he was going to have to watch helplessly while the bastard raped Riley. In one fluid movement he lunged at Aaron shoving him to the ground while pushing the hand holding the gun toward the ceiling. Just when he'd almost wrenched the gun free from Aaron's hand a gunshot sounded and fiery pain sliced through his left shoulder propelling him to the ground.

"Dean!" Sam yelled.

"NO!" Riley screamed when she saw Dean hit the ground. She tried to wrestle the gun from Jake's grasp before he could fire again but Jake pulled his hand free and slammed the butt of the gun against her head knocking her unconscious.

Aaron clambered to his feet and pointed his gun at Dean who had struggled to a sitting position, gripping his shoulder.

Jake got to his feet and pointed his gun at Sam. "Damn-it Aaron, how the hell could you let that happen?" he snapped.

"I'm sorry, man." Aaron replied meekly.

Jake kicked Riley's still body then looked at Sam. "Get this trash outta my way." Then he gestured for Aaron to follow him back to the counter.

Sam crawled to Riley and gently dragged her back into the isle. Dean crawled to join them. He brushed her hair back and winced when he saw the bruises and blood coloring her face. "Oh God," he breathed. "She's gonna be ok, right Sammy?" he asked in a low voice.

"I don't know Dean. I was pre-law, not pre-med. But something tells me she's a fighter," Sam replied quietly.

"I think you're right," Dean agreed, admiration coloring his voice.

"Are you ok?" Sam asked, his gaze traveling to Dean's shoulder.

"Yeah, just a flesh wound," Dean replied distractedly as he tried to dredge any first-aid knowledge from his memory. He gently lifted Riley's eyelids and noted with relief that her pupils were the same size and they contracted when he shined his pen light into them. Sam pulled another first-aid kit from the shelf and opened it.

"Here Dean, let me take a look at your shoulder."

"It's fine Sammy."

"Dean, come on, you're bleeding. At least let me put a band-aid on it!"

Dean acquiesced if for no other reason than to make Sam feel better. He shrugged out of his flannel shirt and rolled up the bloody sleeve of his grey t-shirt revealing a deep jagged wound that sliced through his deltoid. Sam gently cleaned the wound with antiseptic and a gauze pad then expertly secured a bandage over it with medical tape.

"Thanks Sammy," Dean said before returning his attention to Riley.

He eyed the blood that stained the front of her Forest Park Judo sweatshirt.

"I think that's the clerk's blood," Sam said following his gaze.

Dean quickly checked her torso for wounds and was relieved to find none. He reached for the bottle of antiseptic and gauze pads and gently cleaned the gash on her forehead and wiped away the dried blood that had trickled from her nose. He covered the gash with a bandage and tenderly brushed his thumb over her cheek that was swelling and turning from pink to purple. He dumped out the contents of the first-aid kit onto the floor and found an instant cold pack at the bottom. He picked it up and began shaking it vigorously to start the chemical reaction. When the pack was cold, he carefully pulled Riley into his lap and cradled her still form against his chest. He placed the cold pack against her cheek with her head resting on his shoulder. He noticed Sam looking at him strangely.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Yeah right, what?"

"Nothing. Its just you were really cute with that whole Florence Nightingale bit."

"Bite me."

"Dean?"

"What!" Dean asked exasperatedly.

"What do we do now?"

Dean sighed and leaned his head back against the shelf. "I don't know, Sammy. I guess we just keep our heads down and try not to piss them off… again."

"Not much of a plan."

"Yeah, well, I'm better with demons."

Sam snorted, "Tell me about it."

The phone on the counter rang and Jake jerked the receiver from its cradle. "What?" he barked.

Aaron angled his head in to listen.

"This is Detective Reynolds again. We thought we heard a gunshot. Is everyone ok in there?"

"Don't worry Detective; we still have three living breathing hostages." Jake replied snidely, "now where the hell is my car?"

"We couldn't find one in town that met your specifications so one is being driven down from Denver. It'll just be another hour or two depending on the traffic on I-25," the detective told him calmly.

"It better not be any more than that!" Jake said sternly before slamming the phone down.

"So what do we do now, Jake?" Aaron asked.

"We wait. And make sure you keep an eye on our tickets outta here this time. Screw up again and I'll shoot you myself!" Jake replied.

The chemicals in the cold pack had returned to room temperature so Dean tossed it aside. He gently touched Riley's cheek with his fingertips and was shocked when she grimaced and jerked from his touch.

"Hey, hey Riley, it's ok. It's me, Dean."

"Dean…" Riley whispered. Her eyes fluttered open and he saw the pain and fear in her eyes. She moaned softly as she tried to move her head to look at him.

"Easy, don't try to move," Dean cautioned her.

"Are you… ok? I saw… I thought you were…" she took a shaky breath.

"I'm fine," he assured her, "the bullet just grazed my shoulder."

"Thank God," she whispered. "And thank you Dean. You almost got killed trying to save me."

"Well, he might have finished me off if you hadn't grabbed for the gun so I believe there was a mutual saving of asses that went on," he replied deflecting her gratitude.

Riley looked at him and smiled. "Wow, not real comfortable with the hero role I see. Wait, are you blushing? Yup, you are!"

"Keep it up missy and I'll flick you in the forehead," he warned.

"If you knew how bad my head hurts right now you wouldn't."

Dean's expression softened. "I wouldn't really do it."

"I know." Riley shifted her gaze to Sam. "Are you ok, Sam?"

"Yeah, I'm good—other than the held hostage at gunpoint thing." Sam replied with a smile. "How are you doing?"

"Other than the massive headache and—ooooh… some bruised ribs, I'll be ok. But apparently I won't be moving anytime soon," she replied as pain pinched her face.

"You can stay here as long as you like," Dean said softly.

"Thanks," Riley said as she leaned her head back against his shoulder. "I'm just gonna close my eyes for a bit."

"Ok. And don't worry, I won't let him touch you again," Dean promised.

Riley looked up at him and tears suddenly sprang to her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered before closing her eyes again.

Dean sighed and gently stroked her hair as she drifted off to sleep.

Riley awoke with a jerk 20 minutes later and Dean tightened is arms reassuringly around her. "You ok?" he asked worriedly.

"I'm fine," she lied trying to forget the nightmare that had also been reality. "Help me sit up, will ya?"

"Sure." Dean helped her to slowly sit up; her hand on his shoulder became an iron grip as the movement caused waves of pain to wash over her. The throbbing in her head subsided a bit and Dean helped her to sit between him and Sam with her back to the shelves.

The phone rang again and Dean, Sam and Riley watched nervously as Jake once again spoke to the police. Aaron peeled back a tiny corner of the newspaper and peered out then turned to Jake and nodded. Jake hung up the phone and turned to his hostages.

"Ok, people, its show time. Our car is here and we'll take two of you with us to ensure they don't shoot us." Jake threw a roll of duct tape to Riley. "Take Mr. Hero over to that pipe and tie him up."

"No," Dean protested. "Take me instead. Riley's hurt and she'll just slow you down."

"Yeah, but me and Riley got some unfinished business, don't we?" Jake said smiling sadistically at her.

"Don't you dare touch her you son of a bitch or I swear—"

"Dean, its ok," Riley interrupted. "Don't give him a reason to shoot you again. Come on; let's go do what the man said."

With clenched fists, Dean stood up and turned to help Riley to her feet. Dizziness overcame her and she leaned heavily on Dean until it had subsided, then they walked back to the pipe that extended from the floor up through the ceiling. He stood with the pipe in front of him and put his wrists together so it was between him and where his hands would be secured.

"Should I do it loosely?" Riley whispered.

"No, I think he'll check so tape me good."

Riley looked at him uncertainly.

"Don't worry," Dean whispered, "I have a pocket knife up my sleeve." Riley smiled and finished taping his wrists together. When she had finished her eyes locked with his. Dean saw fear and uncertainty there, but also anger, determination and strength that he knew would help her to get through whatever the next few minutes had in store for her. "Be careful," he told her. She nodded and reached out to touch his face. Her hand lingered on his cheek for a moment before she turned to leave.

"Riley," he called softly.

She turned back to him. "Yeah?"

"I'll see you soon."

"God willing," she replied then walked to their captors.

Jake pulled Riley roughly to him and held her from behind with his left arm around her neck and his right hand holding his gun to her temple. Aaron did the same thing with Sam. "Ok, we're gonna walk slowly to that black car out there. We'll get in the front and Aaron and Sammy, here will get in the back. Then we'll let you go when we're clear of the cops." Jake explained. "Let's move."

Jake propelled Riley slowly out the door and toward the awaiting car. They were surrounded by police officers huddled behind squad cars with guns drawn. "Back off!" Jake yelled. "Our fingers are on the triggers. If you shoot us, they die too!" Aaron and Sam came up alongside Jake and Riley and she looked toward Sam. He nodded at her and she knew he was thinking the same thing she was—if they got in that car, they were dead. She nodded back then took a deep breath. In one fluid motion, she pulled her head back while simultaneously pushing the gun out and away from her. She sensed a similar struggle going on between Sam and Aaron. The gun fired into the air and as she struggled to get control over it, a shot from a sniper rifle hit Jake in the forehead knocking him to the ground, his momentum pulling her with him. She was dazed but grabbed the gun from Jake's hand and scrambled a few feet away from him. Two officers surrounded her, taking the gun from her hand and helping her to her feet. A gunshot jerked her attention to Sam and Aaron. Both men were on the ground with Sam on top. Neither of them were moving.

"Sam!" Riley screamed as she broke away from the officers and ran to the men on the ground. She was the first to reach them and she rolled Sam off Aaron and into her own lap. The gun clattered to the ground as she did so. Aaron had a bullet hole in his head and both men's abdomens were soaked in blood. "Sam?" she cried as she tore open his jacket and shirt to see if he was hit. Panic washed over her when she saw the wound in his abdomen. "He's hit! Someone help! Please!" she cried out, tears running down her face. Paramedics swarmed around him to begin treatment and strong arms pulled her up and away from him. Please God, don't let him die she prayed silently.

Dean burst from the convenience store and ran toward the crowd of people. "Sam? Riley?" he yelled.

"Dean!" Riley ran to him with tears streaming down her cheeks. He pulled her into his arms.

"What is it? Is it Sam?"

She nodded. "He got shot."

The color drained from Dean's face. "How bad?"

"I don't know! Bad, I think. They pulled me away from him so they could work on him," she said, her voice shaking. "It was a stomach wound and there was a lot of blood. And he wasn't moving."

"Sammy…" Dean whispered. He watched the paramedics intently for some sign as to how his brother was. They had started multiple IV's and an oxygen mask covered his nose and mouth. They gently lifted him onto a gurney and quickly rolled him toward an awaiting ambulance. Dean grabbed Riley's hand and ran after them. "Wait, we're going with you!" Dean shouted. "He's my brother." The paramedic motioned for them to climb in and the doors were slammed shut behind them. The ambulance sped forward with sirens blaring.

Riley squeezed Dean's hand. "Don't worry; the hospital is only a couple blocks away." Dean nodded but his worried eyes never left his brother.

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