Chapter 8
Hey all! Yes it's me again! I'm finally back!! :D
Well what can I say, apart from that I'm very deeply sorry to all my loyal Home and Away readers for not updating in so many months!
I hope however that you enjoy my new chapter! Be patient, it may take me a while to get back into the swing of this story, but I hope you enjoy what you read, and please do REVIEW, especially as I haven't updated in a while. I've missed hearing from you all!
Thank you all for being so patient!
The Captain mopped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand before yet again laying hand to the bulky model of the megaphone in prelude to making another attempt to try and spur at least some kind of positive response or reaction from the current occupants of the property. Fifteen minutes had now passed since their attempt to make contact with inside had initiated, and with silence being the only reward they had so far received for their efforts the strain of the situation had began to take it's toll on all of them, but especially Peter. Even in light of the current summer heat, which was surprisingly muggy, even for the time of year, his cheeks appeared more flushed than could normally be expected, especially in light of his pale complexion, and his clammy palms and distracted appearance only highlighted the sheer degree of stress and pressure that the current situation was putting him under. Jack frowned in silence, concerned as he noticed Peter cup his head in his hands on a number of occasions when he thought that nobody was looking, and finally making his way over, bending down beside the young Detective where he sat in the front seat of the patrol car. He placed a reassuring palm against his knee as he did so, squeezing the bone slightly. Peter looked up with this, his exhaustion evident as he did so.
"How're you holding up?" Jack smiled.
The blonde Detective simply shrugged. "I've had better days." He admitted.
"You need to rest Peter, you're exhausted." Jack advised, voicing his concern.
"I'll rest once we've got Dan and Leah out of there!" Peter snapped, "Do you really think I'd be able to rest anyway, knowing that they're still in there?"
The sound of pounding footsteps, and frantic feet could suddenly he heard from behind however, and as both men heard a voice calling their names Jack felt a hand upon his shoulder as Peter looked up. It was Fitzgerald.
"Hey you two." She panted. "The Captain wants you back immediately, there's been a new development. It would seem our intruder may be ready to talk to us."
Peter, still pale and exhausted, immediately jumped up from his seat with this, nearly colliding with Jack as all trace of his previous urgency immediately returned. He made his way with haste towards where he knew the captain had set up base, with only a brief glance in the way of the young brunette officer with this.
The older man turned as he heard Peter approach, his prominent features showing almost as much strain as the Detective's, although not quite, and the young constable whom it became evident the captain had been corresponding with at the time suddenly rose from his position in the sandy road, stealthily making his way from the scene.
"What's going on?" Peter asked as he approached.
"Why don't you see for yourself?" The captain spoke. "We've made contact, he wants to talk."
"What? When?" Peter's tone became almost desperate for information with this, leaving the captain to question just how he was to manage the blonde Detective and go on handling the developing situation.
"Just sit tight and wait!" He barked, "I mean it Peter!" He continued, eyebrows raised as he commanded the utmost respect from his men, just as Jack approached. The Sergeant placed a reassuring hand on Peter's shoulder as he came up alongside, locking eyes with the captain as his superiors words registered, before he and Peter took up position alongside their commanding officer.
They waited several long minutes however before the captain's suggestion of so called further developments in the case began to ring true, and they finally heard the click of the front door being unbolted. Jack could feel Peter's tension beside him.
… and there she was. Leah emerged first, obviously dishevelled but apparently unharmed, followed closely by their young suspect. She was struggling under the grip of the young man, who had a tight, unwavering grasp. He was notably gaunt in appearance Jack observed, before he even opened his mouth to speak, with a mop of grizzled brown, unkempt hair.
"Which one of you is Peter?" He demanded.
Both Jack and the captain turned to look at the blonde haired Detective with this, doing their best to restrain him, holding him down under his apparently overwhelming instinct to stand up and reveal himself there and then, in the newly introduced presence of Leah, all to little avail.
"Come on Peter…" Jack assured him calmly, quietly.
"Stay where you are!" The captain commanded.
Peter pulled away from them however. "No!" He told them both. "Captain, let me do this! Let me talk to him!"
"I can't Peter!" The other, older man explained. "Not in the state you're in! I've told you, you're too personally involved! I'm sorry!"
The young suspect spoke again.
"The man, Dan, has told me that his brother is a cop, Peter. You want to talk? Fine! But I'll only talk to Peter!"
"I'm here!" Peter suddenly pulled away completely, revealing himself however. Hands raised unthreateningly. "I'm Peter!" He explained. "But who am I talking to please?"
"Peter!" Leah cried as he revealed himself, the small smile of relief clearly immediately etched into her features, if not somewhat disguised by her concerned and fearful expression.
"Shut it!" The young man ordered her, pulling the young woman closer to him. "And my name is my own business!" He responded to Peter.
"It's alright." Peter assured him. "I only want to talk to her."
"You'll talk to me!" He told the blonde Detective.
"Alright." Peter sighed, hands still held high in resignation, "we can talk… but I need to know, is everyone alright in there?" He asked cautiously, but tone firm and unwavering.
"They're fine." The young man with stony grey eyes responded, keeping his responses short and frustratingly vague.
Peter aimed a sideways glance in Leah's direction with this therefore, the two sets of eyes meeting in silent correspondence for a moment, and Leah nodded subtly in confirmation of the young man's answer.
"Why don't you let her go?" Peter tried again by asking after a moment.
"No! She stays with me!" The young suspect continued to respond however, much to Peter's obvious dismay, as he fought to disguise a deep sigh, closing his eyes against growing exhaustion and intolerance. "They say you're a cop?" The young man continued to ask.
"That's right." Peter responded.
He paused with this however as though in consideration of his options, before continuing with a most unexpected ultimatum. "I want you to get me a car Peter." He replied. "Can you do that?"
Peter faltered with this, quite thrown and unsure as to handle the situation from hereon in however. "Well I'm not sure that I can do that you see…"
The young man became quite uncooperative with this however, and began backing up further, back in the direction of the house. "Get me a car within the hour or I shan't be responsible for me actions." He ordered.
… and with that as abruptly as they had appeared, and as Peter opened his mouth to reason with him, the young man disappeared back into the house, dragging Leah with him.
