And the final chapter of 'Open Range' is up! Yes, it is only going to seven chapters. I plan to do a sequel called Aftermath, and that should be up on the weekend. Many many many thanks to afta4ever, Justicerocks, speedlesweetie and bloomsky for their reviews! (Dang it, I feel like I'm forgetting someone!! I'm sorry; I just can't remember your name!) Thank you to everyone who just read it as well, the fact you took time to read it means a lot to me!
Disclaimer: I do not own or make any profit from Flashpoint or its characters. I own only Alexis, Mark, Bryce, Sullivan and the two medics.
Enjoy!
"Ed, Wordy, Spike, wait out here. You're too emotionally involved in this. I'm sorry." Parker told them, holding up his hands. "You can run the command post from the truck." He turned to Sam, Jules and Lou. "Sam, go around back. See if you can get in from the kitchen. Jules, Lou, cover me. Let's go." With that, Parker pulled out a microphone and stepped out from behind the truck. "This is the Police Strategic Response Unit. Please release Mrs. Lane, Mrs. Woodsworth and Miss Whalen." There was no answer from the house, so Parker gave the order to move in.
Down in the basement, the girls looked at each other in wonder. "That was Greg..." Sophia said softly.
"We'll be home for supper." Shelly said, a smile finding its place on her face.
"We will." Alexis agreed.
Upstairs, the SRU had broken down the front door only to find the men in the kitchen. Sam's voice came through on the mouthpiece. "I got a clean shot on two of them, but the blonds just not quite in my line of sight."
"Understood, Sam; hold your position." Parker murmured into the mouthpiece. "Well, how are you gentlemen today. I believe you have some of our friends downstairs; could we get them out of there?"
"No." Bryce said, pulling out a knife.
"Yes." Mark said, stepping away from Bryce and Sullivan. "You said the police wouldn't get dragged into this. I'm out." With that, he turned to Parker and held out his wrists. "Cuff me."
Parker gave a short nod to Jules, who stepped out and cuffed him. "Take him." She told the SWAT behind her. "He's under arrest for kidnapping and assault." The SWAT member nodded and pulled him outside, where Wordy immediately began to glare at him. Mark ducked his head, not wanting to look at his old rival.
Inside, Sullivan and Bryce stood firm in the kitchen. "I know you don't want to"
Parker was cut off by Sullivan shouting at him angrily. "Yes, yes I do dammit! I should have gotten that spot, I was always better! He's incompetent in every way! Mike can't get anything right!" As he spoke, he advanced closer towards the SRU and SWAT. "I'm better in every way! And if I can't have that spot, he can't either! He'll hurt till he leaves!"
With that, Sullivan threw himself at the SRU, intent on getting through them to the stairs. Lou's shield took the impact, and SWAT pulled him back and disarmed him. "You're under arrest for kidnapping and assault." Jules told him over her shoulder as he was lead out. Spike glared at him Sullivan glared back, hate in his eyes.
Bryce shook his head as he backed away. "And I thought they could pull it off. Hurt the people they love, you'll hurt them too I told them. It's a fool proof plan. But I guess it's time to go."
As Bryce spun and wiped open the screen door, Sam shot up and aimed his gun at him. "Freeze! You're under arrest for kidnapping and assault." Bryce froze in his steps, his eyes on the gun. The SWAT team closed in, taking his knife and cuffing him.
"Sam, tell the guys we'll have the girls in a second. I'd bet they are in the basement. Come on." Parker led the way back inside and down to the basement.
The girls looked up at the sound of footsteps, having heard what was going on up stairs. Parker came down first and smiled at them. "You're safe." He told them, looking them over for injuries. Nothing too serious and they probably wouldn't need a hospital stay. Parker went to Sophia, Lou went to Shelly, and Jules went to Alexis.
"How are you feeling, Sophia? You'll be able to see Ed soon, promise." Parker told Sophia as he untied her wrists.
"I'm a little sore and tired." She told Parker while flexing her wrists to get feeling back in them.
"Wordy's been worried, you know." Lou told Shelly as he untied her ankles.
"Not like I planned to get kidnapped, you know." She teased, rubbing her wrists.
"How you holding up? You look a bit beaten up." Jules told Alexis as she helped her stand.
"Gee, thanks Jules." Alexis murmured, leaning on Jules for support.
"You girls ready to go up?" Parker asked as he helped Sophia to her feet. The girls nodded, and Lou started up the stairs, supporting Shelly. Alexis and Jules followed him, with Parker and Sophia behind them.
On the lawn, the guys looked up at the sound of footsteps nearing the door. Lou and Shelly appeared first, and Wordy stepped up immediately, taking all of Shelly's weight. "Hey." He said softly, looking her over.
"Hey yourself." She replied, taking in the warmth and smell he always had. "I missed you." She murmured, burying her face in his chest. Wordy simply wrapped his arms around her.
Alexis came out next, supported by Jules. Spike's breath caught in his throat as he stepped forward to hold her. She stepped willingly into his arms, laying her hands on his chest and looking up at him. "I'm back." She told him, smiling softly.
"Yes, you are." He told her as he held her in his arms, lowering his head to press his lips to hers for a moment. "And I'm not letting you go."
Parker and Sophia appeared a moment later, and Sophia slipped free of Parker's hold to attempt to walk to Ed on her own. However, Ed wasn't having any of that. He stepped up and caught her hands. "Hey, what do you think you're doing?" he asked, worry overlapping with pain in his voice.
Sophia smiled up at him, attempting to ease the worry she saw in his face. "Coming to see you. Am I in trouble because of that?"
"I guess I can't get you in trouble for that." He replied, wrapping an arm around her. "Come on; let's get you checked out so you can go home." Sophia simply nodded and leaned on Ed.
Wordy, Shelly, Spike and Alexis were already at the medic's when Sophia and Ed arrived. "Looks like you're good to go, Mrs. Woodsworth. I'd recommend taking a day or two off to rest before anything strenuous."
Shelly smiled at the medic. "I'm sure Wordy will take care of me."
"And it's time to get you home to your little girls." He told her, steering her away.
The medic turned back to the group. "Would you mind if my partner took care of you, Mrs. Lane? He's just inside." Ed and Sophia nodded and stepped inside as the medic turned to Alexis. "Please, sit. This should only take a second." The medic stepped close to Alexis to examine her injuries, looking her over and doing a basic health check while Spike sat beside her.
Ed and Sophia sat in the truck while the other medic looked her over. "Looks like a few bruises; nothing serious. Make sure to drink a lot of water or else you might get dehydrated. You're good to go. You can leave that way, if you'd like." The medic gestured to the front of the van, and the Lanes took his advice and left that way.
A minute later, the medic pulled back and smiled at her. "You'll be ok if you take some time to rest."
"I will, don't worry." Alexis told the medic as she and Spike stood up.
"I'll make sure of it." Spike told the medic as he snaked one arm around his girlfriend. "Come on," he told her, pulling her close with one arm while he pulled out her keys with the other. "Let's get you home." He murmured, holding the keys out.
As she reached for her keys, he let her close her hand around them before closing his own hand around hers. As she looked up into his eyes, he leaned his forehead against hers. "Let's go home." He told her softly before capturing her lips in a soft kiss.
When they broke apart, she smiled at him. "Let's." She agreed, laying her head on his shoulder.
