Scott sipped his coffee, trying to ignore the stare Henry was giving him, they were sitting on the Coffee shop's terrace. "Go ahead Mac, say it."

Henry looked like he'd remain quiet, but then, "you have a crush on someone. I never though I'd see that perfectly controlled exterior of yours crack."

"Feel better now?"

"Are you joking? I'm only getting started. I'm certain that once the shock has passed I'll be able to come up with an infinite amount of jokes to torment you with."

Thomas hid his smile behind his cup of Chai and Scott rolled his eyes in an exaggerated display of exasperation.

"Seriously 'tho," Thomas said, "You shouldn't get your hopes up, doctor Grey doesn't socialize much."

Scott nodded "I guess that being able to find out a guy's hidden motivation behind his nice actions probably doesn't lead to the best opinion of them."

"She doesn't go looking for them. From what she's mentioned it's that men don't even bother hiding their intentions. They broadcast them so loudly that she can't stop herself from hearing them."

"A beautiful woman like her and she can see just how ugly men are," Scott sighed, "God really has a lousy sense of humour. You think I'll pass muster?"

Henry and Thomas exchanged a look coming to the same conclusion, Scott had it bad.

"You're a good and honest man Scott," Thomas said patting his arm, "I'm sure she won't simply write you off as one of the sleazy ones."

"She's a mind reader, She probably already knows that you're a knight in shining armor," Henry added, before frowning and looking in the distance.

Noticing it Scott followed his gaze; a few blocks away people were gathering around a building. "What's happening?"

"An alarm has just gone off," Henry said, "I believe it's the bank."

Thomas closed his eyes, letting his sense travel through the shadows to the building. "Yes, it's the bank. There's a robbery in progress."

"How many are involved?" Scott asked.

"Six I think, no, eight."

Scott nodded, "any hostages?"

Thomas opened his eyes, "you're not thinking of getting involved, are you?"

"Why not?"

"That's what the police is for."

Henry stood. "Statistically, in this area, the response time for the police is seven minutes and twenty three seconds, in that time a well organized group of thieves will have accomplished their goal and left."

Scott did the same "You can stay here, but we're less than a minute away. We're in the best position to make sure no one gets hurt."

Thomas sighed and finished his Chai, "Since I'm the only one with anything resembling legal authority here, if anyone asks this was my idea."

"So? Any hostages?" Scott asked again as they got closer to the bank.

"Five, all on the front lobby."

Scott nodded, "where are the thieves?"

Thomas didn't even have to think about it now that they were closer, "three are watching over the hostages, two are in the back, the lunch room I think, and the other three are in the vault."

"Can you get in the vault?"

Thomas filtered through the shadows, sensing their depth, "not directly, the closest shadow that's dark enough is in the corridor leading to it."

"Ok, then you take care of them. Henry, go in through the back door see if you can reach the two in the back before they notice I'm dealing with those in the lobby."

Henry nodded "it shouldn't take me more than a minute to disable the lock and reach them." having said that he headed to an alley, and then bounded up the fire escape. Thomas followed him to the alley, but as soon as he stepped in the shadows he disappeared from view.

Scott continues to the bank, making his way through the crowd of gawkers. He reached the door and tried to find a spot through the blind that might let him see where everyone was located, but there weren't any. He pocketed his glasses and examined the lock, a simple bolt. He focused his gaze on it and released a precise beam, slicing the bolt through the space between the door and the frame. Not waiting to find out if anyone inside had noticed he opened the door and entered.

Before the door closed he had three assault riffles pointed in his direction. "Who are you, how'd you get in?" asked the larger of the three men.

Scott raised his hands "I came in through the door; I need to make a deposit."

The man looked at the one on his right "I though I told you to lock the thing."

The man glared at back, "I did. What kind of incompetent do you think I am?" and walked toward Scott, indicating with his riffle to move away from the door.

Scott did as instructed, using the time to look around; the hostages were lying on the floor at the foot of the counter. The other two men kept their riffle pointed at him on the other side of two island bolted to the floor while the other one bent down to examined the door.

"The bolt's been cut!" he exclaimed in surprise, turning toward Scott and raising his riffle.

Scott chose that time to kick the man in the face while shooting a wide beam at the other two. Because of the width it wasn't strong enough to do more then push them on their back. He then jumped over the counter as one of them raised his riffle and shot a burst in his direction.

He peered over the counter to see them getting up. He looked about the one further away and smiled as he shot the wall stand holding a television set running advertising for various bank services. It fell on the man, knocking him unconscious.

The other man shot at him again forcing him down. After a few moment of silence Scott heard the man put a new clip in his riffle

"Come out from back there, or I kill her." The man said. Scott stood with his hands in the air. The man kept his weapon pointed at someone on the ground. "That's better. You try anything mutant and I waste one of them."

Scott didn't have the chance to reply; a body flew out of the door leading to the back of the bank and collided with the gunman sending them against the wall, where they crumpled on the floor, unmoving.

Henry walked through the doorway carrying the other man over his shoulder. "I believe my timing is impeccable, as usual."

* * * * *

Thomas stepped out of the shadow in a well lit corridor. Except for the one behind him, cast by the open door all the others were very weak. He walked to the room where the thieves were, and took a quick peek to get visual confirmation of what his sense told him. There was too much light there for him to use the shadows. Fortunately he was trained not to depend on them.

Another peek showed that the three men were focused on the vault door, the one holding the blowtorch was almost done cutting through it. The two watching him held automatic pistol.

He ran toward them, not caring about making noise, one turned, raising his pistol. Thomas slipped under his arm before he could fire, grabbed the pistol, twisted, and then hit the man's elbow, breaking it. He took the pistol out of the man's hand as he turned and shoot the other one in the shoulder before he could process what had happened.

With both men down, squirming in pain he aimed at the one with the torch. "Drop it," he ordered. The man complied, turning it off first and then raising his hands.