I do not own Die Hard, though it's not a from lack of trying. This chapter will be extra-long.
"What do you think happened to McClain?" Penny asked Hans when he finished with the radio. "Do you think he's dead?"
The radio crackled and popped as McClain's voice rattled of the line, addressing the Police officer, Powell. He sounded as if he were in an unbearable amount of pain. "Speak of the devil and up he pops" Theo Shrugged.
John asked the officer to tell his wife he was sorry, and Penny struggled to suppress any amount of pity she might feel for him. "Do you think his wife works here?" she asked.
"No" Hans shook his head, "there was no one on the guest list with the last name McClain."
"That doesn't mean anything, she might have used her maiden name, or a fake name." The French woman insisted, "I'm just saying if we want this guy to suffer, we should find out if he has connections with any of the guests."
"You're a sick bitch you know that?" Theo said as the filled bag after bag with the money, "Bless your heart." Penny replied with a bat of her eye lashes. She fingered the slips of paper, running her thumb down the side making the pages ripple. "64 million dollars" she whispered under her breath. With a sudden idea, Penny folded up five of the slips, each worth 1 thousand dollars, until they were small enough to fit in a pocket and slipped the parcel into the side of her bra , just in case. She thought.
That way, if something were to turn sour they would have something.
"Penny Come with me." Hans said and pulled her up. "You two keep packing, the helicopters will be here soon."
Hans and Penny Rushed out of the vault and down the hall, instead of taking the stairs which would have been faster, Hans pulled her into the elevator and hit three buttons. "uh Hans?" she noticed. "How's your leg feeling?" he asked suddenly pocketing his pistol.
"fine actually." She looked down at her thigh which still had a lump on it where gauze wrapped the wound.
"Good."
He pushed her up against the elevator wall and captured her lips roughly, all the air was rushed out of Penny's lungs as she gasped into the kiss. The initial shock wore off as she responded to his kiss with total submission. Instinct took over as she reached up her hands and wrapped her arms around his neck while running her fingers through his hair. He responded with pinning her hips to the wall and running his large hands down her torso, waist, and hips until he reached her thigh, causing her to hiss with pain.
"Sorry." He pulled away as quickly as he had attacked, not looking the least bit sorry, then again neither did she. "Had to make sure."
"Make sure of wha…" she cut off as understanding filled her, "Oh, Hans Honey." She almost laughed if she didn't feel a twinge of sadness. "You could have just asked." She took his hand, "I meant what I said that night Berlin, I meant every word of it then, and I do now and I always will."
(Flash Back)
Berlin Germany, five years earlier.
Penelope laughed as her pulled Hans into her hotel room. Both had a buzz after drinking too much wine, Penny being a happy drunk was giggly and clingy, while Hans being a quiet somber drunk was happy enough to simply follow her.
Somehow, the events of the night that no one remembers led up to them in bed together, Hans over her as she looked up at him with semi-coherent contentment. Well, after a long night of something we shall not go into great detail on. Penny said something she had felt for a long time.
"I Love You Hans." She had whispered into his ear after their lovemaking, both of them half asleep. At the time Hans almost didn't hear her and said nothing. Soon she was fast asleep, her breath was heavy and steady as he rolled over to face her. "I Love you to Penelope" he whispered, careful not to wake her up.
(End Flash Back)
"I can't imagine you heard what I told you after you said that?" he asked quietly, as if someone was listening. "No. I don't think so" she whispered.
He leaned in enough that his mouth was almost touching her ear. "I Love You Penelope Sinclair, Always Have and Always will." She smiled the largest smile she could and wrapped her arms around his chest. Before she could say anything the door binged a final time, signaling that their stop had come.
"Alright, we'll have enough time to finish this when we have the money" she peck his nose and pulled him out of the elevator. They walked back into the office and Hans barley sat in the chair before Eddie Radioed in.
"They're coming!"
He peered around the corner into the office, "Choppers are coming."
"Okay." Hans cut him off. "Penny grab the bag." He plucked his radio off the desk and slid it into his inner pocket in his blazer. "Ready your flock Miss. Genero."
Penny's eyes paused over the small TV, "Hans Wait a sec." she grabbed the back of his coat, "Look at this."
A little girl in a blue dress, maybe four or five years old, appeared on screen, "You know your mom and dad are very important people." An interviewer asked her. "So is there something you would like to say to them if they're watching?"
Mary mother of God, don't let it be what I think it is. Penny thought, Please let this kid's parents be somewhere other than here.
"Come here" the little girl stated, not looking into the camera. Hans kept looking at the woman from before and then at the Penn, then the TV. He followed Miss. Ginero's eyes of an over turned picture frame and snapped it up, revealing John McClain, Miss. Genero, The little girl, and a small boy.
"Son of a bitch." Penny whispered as Han's head snapped toward the newly dubbed Mrs. McClain.
"Mrs. McClain." Hans Addressed the terrified woman, a murmur spread throughout the crowd. "How nice to make your acquaintance" he pulled out his gun and Penny was almost afraid he would shoot her, however on the plus side, she no long felt the stab of jealousy.
Hans instead fire shots into the air and every one flew into a panic, "Everyone on your feet and to the roof. Now!" After firing a few more shots, Hans lurched forward and seized Mrs. McClain's arm. "Not you, we're going on a little trip."
Hans handed Penny his pistol, "I'll hold her, if she tries to escape shoot her legs."
"I can do that." Penny nodded receiving a glare from Holly. Which she returned by sticking out her tongue.
They rushed up the stairs and into the vault. "Theo." Penny sang, "A little bonus for us." Hans gestured to Holly, "Sit down Mrs. McClain," she fought against him until he pushed her down, "Sit. Down"
"We thought a policemen's wife may come in handy" Penny shrugged and stay behind Hans to guard. Holly.
"McClain we have some news for you." Hans called over the radio, received no answer, "McClain."
Holly looked up at Penny in fear and hate, "You disgust me." She hissed and Penny looked down slightly, "Down do you sleep at night?" Penny dropped to a squatting position to look the woman in the eye.
"On silk sheets." She smiled kindly, coming off slightly mad, "Rolling naked in money."
"I'd love to see that." Theo Smiled as he packed up his lap top, "Ha Ha, Perverted joke, what are you twelve?" Penny retorted, "Yes, but I read at a thirteen year old level" Theo shot back,
"Would you two please focus?" Hans snapped as he tossed packages of money at the guard who stuffed them in a bag. Theo set up a bomb in a silver box next to Hans, "Armed."
He looked over at Hans, "Truck?"
"Truck." He confirmed. Penny couldn't stop smiling, this was the part she like the most about heists, the climax, when she could feel the blood pumping through her.
"Good Luck Tinkerbelle." Theo yelled over his shoulder at Penny who Flipped him off with a cheerful smile.
"After all your Posturing, all your little speeches, you nothing but a common thief." That set Hans off a bit as he whirled around, Making Mrs. McClain Flinch.
"I am an exceptional thief, Mrs. McClain, and since I'm moving up to kidnapping you should be more polite." He barked, Penny set her hand on his shoulder. "Now, now, darling." She cooed making both of them look up at Penny who wore a slightly demented and frightening smile, "We need her alive, for now."
Holly didn't know who to be more frightened of.
"Hey, wheres Karl?" she asked. Hans thought for a moment before shrugging. "I think he's on the roof."
"Theres something wrong!" Eddie rounded the corner, "they're all coming back down!" Penny and Hans Looked at him then at each other. "Blow the roof." Hans said firmly. "But Karl is up there!"
"Blow. The. Roof!" Hans pushed past him and slammed his hand down on the detonation button. Above them, roaring explosions shook the entire building. "Sweet Jesus, Hans how much fucking explosives did you use?" Penny asked. As sparks flew from the ceiling. The room shook Penny thought the entire building might crash on top of them. "Hans?" she called with a slight quiver in her voice.
"Everything is fine Penny." Hans assured her, "Everythings fine? What are you going to do, sit here and watch the building fall around your ears?!" Holly barked Hans barked in german to the guard who tried to haul Holly to her feet, "Stop, stop it! Alright!" Holly shrieked
Penny took slight pity on her and held her hand out to the guard, a signal for him to knock it off, and she offered her hand to Holly who took it reluctantly. Penny handed Her off to Hans with a look that said "Behave yourself" and grabbed a few bags
One of the men rushed out and a few seconds later a thump echoed through the hall, followed by a tired sounding yell. "Hans!"
"Oh shit." Penny cursed and looked around the corner at a limping, bloody, machine gun totting John McClain. She reentered the room and jerked her finger at the door way, "It's for you."
Hans Pulled Holly in front of him and entered the hallway. Holly took one look at her husband and whispered, "Jesus"
"Hi Honey." John smiled slightly. "Penny Stay where you are." Hans said and nodded to Penny to hand him his gun. They circled the room silently.
"So that's what this is all about?" John's voice was horse, "A fucking robbery?"
"Put the gun down." Hans ordered,
"Why'd you have you nuke the while building Hans?" John asked.
"You still 600 dollars and you can just disappear, you still 600 million people will find you, but they can't find you if they think you're already dead, now put down the gun." Hans explained
John's breathing was heavy and he looked to Holly who had the business end of a gun to her temple, then dropped the large gun, Penny sighed slightly, but had a sinking feeling this wasn't over.
Eddie quickly pulled out a large machine gun, and Penny couldn't help but think, 'Where the hell did you pull that from? Your Ass?'
"Nien, he is mine." Hans denied.
"You got me." John put his hands on his head, "Still the cowboy Mr .McClain, you Americans all alike. But unfortunately this time John Wayne does not walk off in to the sun set with Grace Kelly."
"That's Gary Cooper, asshole." John corrected. 'At least he's going out with a since of Humor' Penny shrugged.
"Enough Jokes." Hans said "Could have made a pretty good Cowboy yourself Hans." John almost laughed.
"What was if you said to me before?" Hans asked, Penny kept her eyes on John as he seemed to stretch his arms behind his back. "Hans?" She whispered.
"Oh yes."
"Hans?" she whispered
John reach further behind his Back.
"Yippe Ki Yay, Mother Fucker."
John began to laugh and Hans joined him.
"Hans!?" Penny shrieked, getting his attention as John pulled out a pistol and fired.
Penny screamed and rushed to Hans, the bullet had hit his shoulder causing him to fall back and into the window. She grabbed his hand and struggled to pull his weight up. Hans struggled to hang on to Holly who was screaming bloody murder.
"What are you doing?!" John yelled at Penny when she flashed by his side and held on to hans, "Let's see I don't want him to die, and you don't want her to die, I think we may have similar objectives here." She yelled back and braced her feet on the wall, and tried to pull Hans out of the window.
"He's too heavy! You can't lift him!" John tried to swat her hands away, "The! How about you stop fiddling with your wife's jewelry and help me, if we pull Hans in we can save both of them!"
John let out an angry and reluctant yell and grabbed the hand Hans was using to hold on to Holly.
Hans let go of Holly who jerked back her hand and stumbled back, John smirked and let go of Hans.
"the building is coming down and I'm not dying on account of you two." He yelled at the two thieves and hustled his wife out of the building. Penny Shrieked as her grip began to give and her knees buckled, "Penny!" She looked over the edge at Hans who dangled below, "Penny you have to let me go!"
"Like Hell!"
"Penny I'm too heavy and If you don't let go we'll both fall." Hans insisted. "I am not letting you die!" she yelled and pulled harder, Hans yelled in pain as his arm popped out of socket. "I need to tell you something" Hans called.
"Don't say anything you wouldn't say if you weren't about to fall to your death." She snapped, she felt sharp pain in her leg and looked down, her stiches had split and blood soaked her pants again.
"I love you, I loved you That night in berlin, I loved you when I first met you and I love you now. And that's why I have to do this." He yelled. The building shivered and rattled like it was about to come crashing down
Penny's heart dropped, "What? Hans What are you doing?!" she shrieked as his gripped loosened, "No. No! Hans!" she begged and gripped him harder. Behind her she felt a presence and thought it was John McClain come back to finish them off. She closed her eyes and prepared for death as a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled.
"What the Fuck?" she gasped as Hans was pulled over the edge of the building. Penny looked up and saw a bloody, bruise, and ragged face with long blonde hair falling around it.
"Karl?!"
"Yes, Karl, now let's go!" the angry German was in no mood for sentiments and he hauled the both to their feet, and stumbled on his, they rushed down each stair well, Penny Limping, Hans Clutching his arm and Karl doing god know what with as many injuries as he had. They made it to the garage and found the Ambulance that was to be used as an escape, Theo lay in the drivers seat knocked out and A young kid sat in a limo.
"The Police are coming!" the kid yelled, handling a handgun like an amateur. "Oh for the love of…" Penny turned around, "Look son, it's been a long day, I've been short," she pointed at Hans "He dislocated his shoulder and that gun," she pointed at Karl "I'm not sure, and you seem like a nice kid so…" she reared around and cold-cocked him.
Penny slapped Theo across the face to wake him up, she sighed and checked him over, "He has a concussion" she sighed and began to remove Theo's ambulance driver uniform,
"Looks like I'm driving"