A/n: ooh two days in a row. Do you feel spoiled yet?

Chapter 2

Joe staggered as he felt something slam into his knees. Instinctively he grabbed the edges of the sink in an effort to stay upright, but the soapy residue made his grip rather less than tight and he fell sideways against the wall next to him. As he twisted around to face his attacker he found himself staring into a pair of wide hazel eyes. A very familiar pair of hazel eyes.

"Danny?" he exclaimed incredulously. Danny Frisk (Junior) was an almost 11 year old past kidnapping victim that Joe had met under less than ideal circumstances* a little over a year earlier. They had spent a rather uncomfortable few days trapped in a collapsed mine shaft awaiting rescue and become rather fond of each other. In fact, they had kept up their friendship afterward and Danny now played on the Youth League Baseball team Joe assistant coached under Biff Hooper.

Danny threw himself into the arms of the still bewildered blond, who held his dripping wet and still soapy hands out awkwardly away from the boy's body. The boy was trembling violently, almost as bad as he had done while trapped in the mine shaft. He was obviously struggling to maintain his composure and he was sniffling against Joe's shirt. Awkwardly, Joe tried to reach above his head and grab the paper towels, but half on the ground as he was, even he was too short to reach. With a shrug, Joe gave up the attempt and brought his arms closer in, enveloping the boy in a gentle hug. "Hey, Buddy, what's wrong? What are you doing here, huh? Where's your dad?"

Danny spoke, his voice muffled against Joe's chest so he couldn't be understood. Joe gently but firmly pulled Danny away from his chest and chucked a soapy finger under the boy's chin. Danny's eyes were full of unshed tears and he was definitely scared of something. (It's a friggin' bank for cryin' out loud. What's there to be scared of?) "Danny, just spit it out, okay? Tell me what's happened."

Danny stood up and stepped back, which allowed Joe to finally rinse off and dry. As soon as that was done, he turned back around and crouched in front of the boy, wryly noting that soon enough he'd be able to look him in the eye without having to do so any more. Kid was growing like a weed.

"They..they've got guns" Danny whispered in a trembling voice. His eyes shifted toward the door of the restroom as if he half expected it to burst open any second.

"Who has guns, Pal?" Joe figured that Danny would not have had this reaction if he was referring to the security guards the bank employed, or even the men from the armored car company that transported excess cash and other valuables; therefore he assumed the worst, that there were armed and dangerous people inside the bank. Probably up to no good whatsoever.

Danny's voice got ever so slightly louder and less panicky as he relayed his experience earlier. "Me an' Dad were here so Dad could get some money before we went to the amusement park. His ATM card got ate up by the machine outside so we had to come inside. But the line was really long and I had to go pee so I left and came in here but when I came back out there were these guys with guns and they were waving 'em around and everybody was all scared and stuff so I just ran back in here an' hid!" the last few words came out in a gasp as they tumbled out.

"Danny, you did exactly the right thing." Joe assured the boy. "Will you be okay right here while I go take a look?" The panicked look that appeared in those hazel eyes told Joe more eloquently than any words that actually, no Danny would NOT be okay. Joe sighed as he contemplated his next move.

He couldn't very well spend the rest of the day hiding out in the potty, that's for sure. He had to at least try and see what was going on. He had his cell phone on him so if nothing else he could call the police and relay information. He was also painfully aware that he could not drag Danny around with him as he snuck into the other parts of the bank, if for no other reason that he was not about to risk the kid getting hurt if they were caught. Once again, Joe regretted being all mature and stuff. For about half a second. Joe's knees creaked as he stood up straight again but he studiously ignored the twinge of pain in his left one. Hopefully he would not be called upon to chase after anybody today. Last week's debacle on the basketball court still protested if he tried anything faster than brisk walk. Joe sighed again as he made his decision. ( This is sooo the last time I volunteer to run errands.) "Okay Kiddo, follow close behind me and if I tell you to run, or hide, or anything, you do it . Capish?" Danny only nodded, solemn. He knew from past experience that Joe would never let him get hurt. Even after a year, the hero worship thing had not waned. Joe still found this a little disconcerting and he had confessed to Frank during one of their joint sessions with Dr. Suitland months ago that he was sorry he placed so much pressure on his big brother with his own idolization when he was Danny's age.

Joe grabbed Danny's hand but steered him behind his own body as he cautiously edged the bathroom door open and stuck his head out. Seeing and hearing nothing, he stepped out into the hall, keeping a firm grip on Danny's hand as he did so. Slowly they crept down the corridor. About half way down, just past the room with the seaside watercolors, Joe heard voices coming their way, and they were not filling him with anything vaguely resembling calm. When he heard one harsh voice saying "Check out the offices and look for strays" Joe knew he had seconds to get out of sight. In a flash, he had twisted open the door knob of the room he had paused in front of in an effort to discern what was being said and shoved Danny in ahead of him before following close behind. He immediately twisted the small (and to his trained eye, ineffectual) lock, being grateful as hell the doors were solid as opposed to having a window and hoping against hope the thugs would not force the door when they started down the hallway. He reached into his shoulder holster, breathing a small prayer of thanks for remembering to wear it that morning. As he pulled out his weapon, he hissed in a low voice, "Danny, go tip the table over and get behind it." Joe knew the cheap particle board would offer almost no protection from anything bigger than a BB gun but beggars couldn't be choosers. He shifted so that he was on the side of the door that would be opening should the other guys with guns feel so inclined to give him a better angle of attack. When he didn't hear any scraping or other sounds of furniture being moved, he spoke a little louder and sharper "Danny! Do as I said!"

"What about the lady?"

Joe half turned so that he could see what the heck Danny was talking about while still keeping an eagle eye on the door. His jaw dropped as he realized that the room he had just barreled into was occupied. She was about his age, with skin so pale she looked like a porcelain doll. Her hair was jet black and styled in an elaborate braid that wound around her head before falling over one shoulder. But what caused his jaw to drop was the intense color of her eyes. They were a green so deep that an emerald paled in comparison. She stood there, staring at him, one arm raised and holding a safety deposit box like a truncheon. Under other circumstances, Joe would have laid on the charm thick and sweet, but he was a little distracted by the sounds of 2 men arguing with one another coming closer and closer to their hiding spot. With a sudden movement he swiftly came away from the door. He grabbed the edge of the flimsy table and flipped it on it's side, grabbing Danny by the shoulder and pushing him down behind it. Before the woman could react, he tore the safety deposit box out of her hand and none too gently shoved her down too, practically on top of Danny. "Stay down" he hissed to both of them as he crouched over her and steadied his gun arm against the lip of the table just as the door knob started wobbling.

A/n: Yes the car is still in one piece. For now...Bwahahahahahah

*See my other story 'Cave In' if you haven't already.