Dying of the Light
Disclaimer - nope. Sorry this got out later than I planned but my muse was magically hijacked and imprisoned by Harry Potter and Castle.
Chapter Ten
A couple of minutes earlier
Don stood back, slightly grumpy, wanting desperately to be in the thick of things as the Massachusetts police lieutenant and several Boston police officers got into position, knowing that the door would be opening.
Suddenly, Daria was pulling on a windbreaker and zipping it up as she passed by Don, making him frown in consternation. There was no need for her to advertise that she was FBI – everyone there knew it. And it wasn't even that cool, so the jacket should actually be slightly uncomfortable today.
"Agent Delgado?" Don questioned as she hurried to catch up with Lieutenant Matthews.
Daria shot a grin over her shoulder. "Just need to check something out, sir. I'll be right back."
"OK, that is the same grin Kate has when she is up to something," Scott murmured, eyeing his wife on the monitor, more than aware the two had been sending coded messages back and forth.
Kate did indeed give the same grin. "Just a little re-con," she shrugged. "Dorf will be fine."
"Since when did you become an optimist?" Scott muttered.
"I haven't," Kate answered. "But I am a pessimist who makes a plan for all foreseeable outcomes."
Don shook his head. Retirement couldn't come too soon.
Nate watched in horror as the masked gunman that Agent Delgado was referring to as LeGroux raised his weapon and got off a shot before anyone could stop him. When Delgado dropped back to the floor – no, was thrown back to the floor – by the force of the bullet, Nate grabbed the fallen agent under her arms and pulled her back around the corner.
"Nate!" a voice called out that initially made the cop wince before relief flooded him.
Shana Pierce dropped to the other side of the FBI agent, looking her over quickly even as she pulled open her medical bag.
"Not that I'm not glad to see you, honey," Nate sighed, "but what the hell are you doing here?"
Looking up at her husband, the doctor gave a shaky smile. "I had to transport a patient to Mass General. I called your office when I got here – I had hoped you were still at the State House and I could catch a ride with you. The chopper I rode in here was having engine problems and you know how I hate riding the train."
Daria stirred and tried to sit up, only for both Shana and Nate to push her back down.
"I'm fine," she muttered, irritable.
Don ran up, kneeling next to Shana. "What the hell happened?" he barked, motioning Scott to stand back when his son-in-law would have moved closer.
"Someone," Nate snapped, "thought it was a good idea to provoke a gun-toting lunatic. Or maybe the lunatic is the one who got shot."
"I'm fine," Daria growled, trying once more to sit up.
"Listen, you," Shana snapped in return, not realizing how much she sounded like her husband. "I'm a doctor and not too bad of one, if I say so myself…"
"Honey," Nate grinned, "according to the Harvard Medical Review, you are one of the top five trauma specialists in the world."
"Yeah," Shana growled, "number three. Em got number two."
"So try harder next year and let me get up," Daria tried again.
Don reached forward and pulled open the agent's windbreaker, sighing with relief when he saw the vest. "You're wearing."
"Duh," Daria groaned.
"That was point blank with a semi-automatic pistol," Nate argued. "Even with a vest, you probably have cracked ribs at the least." Looking at Shana he was encouraged at her nod. "The shooter -"
"LeGroux," Daria interrupted.
"Whatever," Nate said. "He was what? Ten feet from you?"
Daria shrugged as she forced herself to sit upright. "Probably more like twelve or thirteen, max. And one vest probably would have still seen me on medical leave." Shrugging off her jacket, then the vest, she patted the second vest underneath. "Kate suggested the second vest. Something about the jerk having issues about women being in positions of authority and not to take a chance."
Shana removed the second vest and examined the area where Daria had been shot. Looking up at Don and Nate she shook her head in amazement.
"Some bruising is possible and it may hurt a couple of days, but besides that she will be fine."
Don reached out a hand and helped pull Daria to her feet before he began to admonish her. "Take a chance like that again, Agent, and I will have you written up so fast your head will spin. Now come on back to the command post – we need to review some data and I need to have a word with Kate."
"Kate?" Shana asked as she prepared to follow the group. "As is Kate Tracy, Em's crazy sister-in-law?"
"As in my daughter," Don growled.
Shana paused for a second before she continued to follow. "And now I can see where Kate gets her charming personality from."
Alan jumped to his feet in panic at the sound of gunfire, but was quickly held back by Tomo from doing anything.
Before either could react, the pair saw the two who had been dragging Professor Gunderson's body out to the hallway jump back into the room.
"What the hell was that about?" one of them yelled, shoving the one who had done the shooting up against the wall.
"Who the hell do you think you are, you wetback?" the shooter said in a dismissive tone.
Nico strode forward and pushed the gunman down – hard. "Watch who you call a wetback, or we will be dumping another body."
Kyle snapped, "You two wouldn't be in here if it wasn't for us."
Alan could hear Nico lean down to – what was his name again? Ravi? No, Javi – and ask if he was alright. Javi nodded and growled back at Kyle, "From where I am at, I am wondering if that would not be such a bad thing." Turning to his compatriot, he explained, "The Wizard here just shot an FBI agent point blank in the chest."
Shaking his head, Nico ticked, "Oz, mi amigo – I told you, you only kill who I say you can."
Alan looked at the group and didn't realize the sound of disgust he had made until Nico turned to the teenager and glared. Quickly moving to him, Nico shoved Alan into the wall and pushed his gun into Alan's stomach, driving his breath from his body. When Alan was helpless, Nico growled, "And has the pretty boy got something to say?"
"Just that you're stupid," Alan gasped. "A very public kidnapping? Coldblooded murder? And now you shoot a federal agent? Massachusetts may not have the death penalty, but if the agent dies, the federal government can call jurisdiction and they do have the death penalty. And thanks to Professor Eppes' status as a government consultant, they may even consider this a terrorist act. Welcome to Homeland Defense Act of 2020…You're busted six ways to Sunday."
Nico just sneered at Alan before shoving him back onto the floor, but Tomo was relieved to see Oz was now nervous and that Kyle and Javi looked worried. It had been one thing starting this but now they wondered if every federal agency would be after them.
Glancing over his shoulder, Nico saw the concern in the eyes of his cohorts. With a last look of disdain at the remaining hostages, he stalked back over to the others.
"We'll get the money from the pretty boy's family, then we'll keep them with us until we get to the airport. We let the other two go, we get on a plane, we head to someplace warm, welcoming – and without any extradition. Just keep it together, and we'll be happy." Looking at the group, he nodded at Javi. They had discussed it earlier – none of the hostages would know them for sure, so if they wanted to, they could probably get back into the country at some later point. Westcott would probably have to stay and Oz was questionable.
But looking over the two ex-cons that had helped make this all possible, Nico wondered if he wouldn't be better off getting rid of those two as well. The destination he had in mind, deep in Central America had family of his – and they had long worked for the cartels down there, assuring they had the skills and knowledge of how to make someone disappear permanently.
Virgil and John both held their wives' hands, watching the news in growing horror. Gordon kept stalking from his spot behind the couch to the windows as if the peaceful ocean could wash away the horror story playing out on live television.
"The FBI, Massachusetts State Police and Boston PD have issues a joint statement, assuring us that they are working in seamless unity to resolve this hostage crisis," the reporter said with appropriate solemnest.
"While no official confirmation has been given on identities, word that a professor from Wharton's School for Boys near Springfield, a senior year student, a former student and a visiting professor are still being held has been confirmed. A source has told us that ten 13-14 year old students were rescued with the help of one of the other hostages, but at what price is unknown."
The reporter – the name running under said Sasha Saccetti – began to ramble on about the Museum itself, what a shame that such a family centered spot was becoming the scene of violence…
Gordon looked up as a red-eyed Tin-Tin came into the room. "Mother called, she and father are on their way home."
John nodded before Emily looked up in alarm. "Wait – Onaha is gone? I thought she had the kids."
Virgil shook his head even as he rubbed Sarah Jane's back in an attempt to keep her calm. "No, Scott had a meeting in New York so he took the kids. Said it would give Dad a break, letting him spoil the kids while Scott met with the development team."
John frowned. "Dad had me set Kate up for a teleconference a little while ago. You don't think…"
Emily jumped up and glared at the television. "Yes, I do – and John, you are about to become the oldest Tracy son!"
The Tracys all looked back at the screen, a glimpse of the command post showed two men in dark glasses talking in a doorway. They all recognized Scott and strongly suspected the grey haired man was Don Eppes, Kate's father.
"He brought my daughter to an armed stand-off?" Emily screeched.
"And he probably brought his son as well," Gordon argued.
"Not helping, Fish-face," Sarah muttered.
"Breaking news," the reporter said breathlessly. "Our sources are telling us that one of the hostages may have been killed and the body dumped by a gunman who has now fired on law enforcement."
In the background, the Tracys could see Don and Scott run into the building the mobile command was parked next to.
Sarah finally said what they all were thinking. "How incredibly selfish am I for praying that if a hostage is dead, it's not Alan?"
Virgil just pulled his wife closer and kissed her forehead as they all became lost in thought, the fear of losing Alan first and foremost in their minds.
Daria let Don help her into a chair while she breathed deeply, easing off the second vest completely.
"I'm alright," she sighed again, wincing slightly at the tender spot where she had been "shot" acknowledged where the bruising would soon be appearing. "Tony is going to have my head on a stick."
"Tony?" Nate asked as he finished giving out another assignment to several officers.
"My husband," Daria groaned while turning back to the monitor, wanting to review some facts with Kate.
"Yes, someone was crazy enough to marry her," Kate said cheerfully as she came back on the screen.
"I could say the same thing," Daria growled, "if said crazy person wasn't in the room with me."
"And the crazy person might agree with you sometimes," Scott groused only to have his father-in-law glare at him.
"And if you hadn't gotten my daughter pregnant -" Don growled.
"And we were already engaged when we found that out," Kate interrupted.
"Are they always like that?" Shana muttered to Nate only for Jeff to sigh.
"Pretty much."
Jeff's answer made the Don, Kate and Scott all glare at him before he was literally saved by the bell. He quickly answered his phone, only to sigh again.
"Virgil. Yes, it's true." Jeff covered the mouth of the phone to mutter to Scott. "It's on the news."
"No, Virgil, I don't think any of you should come out. We have Kate on the vid, Scott is with me and Don Eppes and Daria Delgado are representing the FBI. Oh, and you remember Nate Matthews? He is here – What? Oh, yes, the babies are with us and -"
Jeff suddenly went still. "Oh, hello Emily. Yes, we brought the babies with us. A few of the boys from Wharton's are watching them. Uh, no, Emily...Well, you see, Emily..."
Shana grabbed the phone from Jeff's hand. "Damn it, Em – stop being a pain in the ass. I'm here, your daughter and nephew are well in hand. So stop being a bitch when you know your father-in-law has to be freaking out at this moment in time."
Handing the phone back to Jeff, the doctor smiled. "I think Dr. Tracy would like to apologize."
As Jeff continued to talk to his sons and daughters-in-law, Don eyed Nate. "OK, I am impressed."
"At Shana?" Nate asked.
"Nope, you," Don grinned. "That is one scary woman there. Reminds me of my own wife."
"And I am so telling Mom you said that," Kate sniped as she tried to adjust the angles of the cameras outside of the exhibit hall for additional intel.
"You think after this many years of marriage I haven't told her that – a lot?"
Kate shrugged. He had – she had heard it said, sometimes rather loudly. But her parents had always made up, and she had usually hid out at her Grandpa's while they did. It was less traumatizing.
Kneeling beside the three hostages, Kyle tapped each of them with his weapon. "I don't think you really understand the reality of your situation."
Closing his cobalt eyes, Alan rested his head against the wall. "We're stuck in a locked room with four armed men, of which only one may have a conscience." Opening his eyes, he glared at Kyle. "It's not you. You've hated me since my sophomore year and I never understood why. And now, I really don't care."
Kyle stood up and glared back at Alan. "I hated you before that. People like you make me sick. It's like you have angels watching you. My nanny used to tell me God sent angels to watch over good people and bad seeds like me were rejected. You were the sheep and I was among the goats is what the old bruja would have said. She always made these freaking biblical references, said there was nothing good in me if my own parents could see it even before I was born."
Tomo put a comforting arm around Alan, drawing the other boy closer, wanting desperately to protect his little brother from the madness that was showing in Kyle's face.
Charlie watched the two boys anxiously, the feeling of lightheadedness and nausea becoming worse and worse. He felt the pressure from his back and stomach now moving through his entire upper torso. Suddenly, he flashed back to when his father had his first heart attack...
"Oh, crap," Charlie thought in frustration. "Not now..."
A/N - Hmmm. Picked my daughter up Thursday...I need an expert opinion. ALAN!
Alan - Yes? Kinda busy here.
CC - Your not that tied up.
Alan - Maybe not literally. Now how what question did you have?
CC - OK, Thursday I picked my daughter up at school. High School lets out at 2:45, but her dental appointment on the north side of town was at 3:15 so I sent in a note (which I verbally confirmed later) that I would pick her at 2:30. So I walk up to the school, buzz to be let in and Janie - who had been watching from the office - comes running out. I asked if I didn't have to sign her out (like I had at her elementary and middle schools) she flashed a piece of paper, said it was an attendance receipt. She was all set. But she was in a hurry, which surprised me, as she wisely hates going to the dentist.
Alan - And?
CC - She was embarrassed to be seen with me! ME! You'd think I was an axe murderer.
Alan - Well, you aren't. At least not yet, though I guess we shouldn't encourage you.
CC - Still...
Alan - It's typical teenager stuff. Chill.
CC - You do that?
Alan - CC, I go to a boarding school. A dentist and doctor visit the school a few times a year for maintenance check-ups. Anything urgent or beyond basic maintenance and someone from the school drives us off-site. So when I get to see my father isn't for dentist appointments.
CC - Still put me in a bad mood.
Alan - Damn. That doesn't bode well for me, does it.
CC - (grins) Nope. No, it doesn't. Well, Happy Easter, Blessed Passover and OMG -it' April on Monday (hate that day. nothing but an excuse for bad jokes and cruel pranks).
Alan - Down girl. Grab a cup of coffee and get something to eat.
CC - (grumbling) Still not happy.
Alan - And I'll take my vitamins. I'll need them. Laters folks.