Disclaimer: No claim to Drake and Josh, do I claim.
A/N: I'm no master of Police procedure. If it sucks, I'm sorry.
Shane pushed Drake through the house toward the front door, he could hear the wail of the sirens growing louder as the police sped down the road. They were too close, he'd never have time to get the van out of the garage. Drake was fighting again, yelling and pulling away. It took most of his focus to keep the boy at his side and under moderate control.
He couldn't just let Drake go, he knew too much, about Billy, about everything. Once the gag was removed from his pretty mouth the words would spill. Shane would never taste freedom again, he would loose all of the control he'd gained.
He heard the screech of the tires as the cars stopped abruptly in his front Yard and driveway. His options were minimal. He held Drake tightly against his chest, knife cradled against his throat and moved toward the door.
*.*.*.*.
Audrey and Walter rode with Officer Grey, their hands grasping on another so tightly they were white and numb. This was it, they were getting their son back. Audrey swore she'd never let him out of her sight again when this was over, no one would ever take him from her again.
"That's the house." Officer Grey said, pointing to a small house isolated on the corner. It looked so normal from the outside, well cared for and clean.
Walter squinted his eyes as they approached, staring at the familiar car out front. Wasn't that…?
"That's the boy's car!" Audrey gasped. "What is it doing here?"
Walter's face went white. "Josh…"
*.*.*.*.
Shane watched the police exit their cars, standing near the open doors as they pulled out their megaphones.
"Shane Archer, This is the San Diago Police. Exit the house slowly, unarmed."
Shane smiled as he pushed open the door, stepping out slowly, Drake held in front of him like a shield. He could see the relief, and the pain in Drake's parents' faces as they looked at their son in person for the first time in two days.
"Release the boy." Officer Grey's voice echoed against the quiet of the evening. He looked with cold eyes first at Shane, and then to Drake. He could see the blood on his chest, the waver in his step. He was hurt.
"No." Shane growled. "He's mine, and he's going with me, or he dies here." He pushed the blade tighter against Drake's throat. "What'll it be Officer, are you going to let me leave with him, or are you going to make me kill him right here, in front of his parents?"
Josh heard the sirens stop, the distant murmer of the megaphone. The Police were here! He pulled at the tape around his wrists, it was almost loose. The sweat had dulled it, made it easier to loosen. He wriggled his left hand until finally, it was free!
He took a moment to catch his breath before he freed his right wrist, rubbing the soreness out of them. As quietly as possible, he crept through the house, towards to noise outside. The front door was standing open, he could see Shane's back. Then he saw his parents, the pain in his dad's face as he held onto their mom.
Officer grey watched Shane closly, waiting for a moment when Drake wouldn't be at risk of harm. There was no way he was lettting the guy leave with him, and no chance he was going to let him die here. "Where's Josh, Shane?"
Shane spit, cruelty spreading over his face. "He's tied up inside. He tried to take Drake away from me."
"Do you really care about Drake Shane?" Officer Grey asked.
Shane smiled, his grasp in Drake's hair tightening. "Yeah. That's why I brought him here, I tried to take care of him."
"He's hurt Shane, he needs to see a doctor."
Shane was getting annoyed now. "I know he's hurt, I'm he one who did it to him." He laughed softly. "I've hurt this kid in more ways then you can imagine." He taunted. "I cut him, used him. I broke him down and bent him to my will. My control!" He pulled Drake's head back, leaving his throat bare and defenceless. "I am in control here." He sneered. "You cant mess with my head and trick me into letting him go!"
Drake screamed as he felt the cold teeth of the knife graze his throat, drawing a thin line of blood. It felt like a paper-cut, insanely painful all the while not dangerous.
"That's right," Officer Grey replied, trying to get Shane to calm down. "You have control over this situation Shane. You decide what happens next."
Shane's reply was a sadistic laughter, rising from the depths of his throat like a cackle from Hell. "I know what your trying to do! I'm not stupid, I wont fall for any of it! I'm not letting him go, and I wont rot my life away in a cell for what I did with him!" Shane pointed his knife at Officer Grey, glaring.
Josh saw his moment to move just before Officer grey saw his chance to shoot. Without thinking, Josh ran out the door and lunged at Shane, Knocking him over and sending Drake to the ground next to him.
The next few moments were a sea of chaos. Josh saw officer Grey sprint across the yard as Shane yelled and grabbed for his knife. Josh fought his fear and crawled over to Drake, pulling him into his arms and sheltering him from Shane's anger. Shane wrapped his fingers around the handle of the blade and dove toward Josh, fully intent on killing him then and there. And then he'd kill Drake, neither of them would see another day!
Officer Grey Threw himself onto Shane, careful to avoid the flailing blade as he wrestled it out of Shane's hands and forced Shane onto his stomach. "Lets see how you like handcuffs," He growled as he fastened the metal rings tight against Shane's wrists.
Josh could feel Drake's body shaking as he held onto him. "It's okay Drake, it's over." Josh whispered as he pulled the gag out from Drake's mouth.
"Josh…" Drake looked at his brother, felt his protective embrace and fell into Josh's chest. He didn't want to cry, but he couldn't stop it. Drake squeezed his eyes closed against the world and cried in his brother's arms. All he'd wanted was to keep Josh safe, and to make it out of there alive. Josh had saved him, and now josh was giving him the comfort he'd needed so badly.
Officer grey fished a key out from Shane's pockets while another officer read him his rights and forced him into a car. He approached the brothers quietly, leaving them space. He'd seen the look josh had in his eyes before, on people who became dangerous in their need to protect what was dear to them. He knelled down behind Drake, and spoke softly.
"I'm going to remove those handcuffs now. I won't hurt you, and niether will Shane.
Drake winced as Officer grey unlocked the cuffs and removed them. He could feel his wrists bleeding again, but he didn't want anyone near im. So he wrapped his arms around Josh and chocked back the remaining tears. He was afraid, he didn't know why, but that fear was still there.
Audrey ran across the lawn as soon as one of the other officers told her it was okay. Never taking her eyes off of Drake, she raced toward him as fast as she could, pushing back the dream-like slow motion of it all. She slid to her knees and looked at Josh, who reluctantly loosened his grip on Drake.
Drake looked up at his mom, seeing the tears in her eyes. "Mom…" He cried again as she pulled him into her arms, hugging him like she had when he'd been a little boy. "It's okay Drake," She sobbed as she storked his hair. "I'm here now, I wont let anything happen to you."
Walter locked down at Josh, a smile on his face. "You did good,' He said, pulling Josh to his feet, and then into a hug. "What on Earth were you doing here?" He asked as he held his son close.
"I promised Drake I'd save him," Josh whispered, his eyes burning. "I had to save him."
After five minutes of watching them reunite, Officer grey finally stepped forward again. "You did good Josh." He smiled, extending a hand. Josh shook it, then turned back to Drake.
"He's hurt," Josh said.
"Mr. And Ms. Nichols, we need to get Drake to the hospital. The ambulance is here, you can ride with him."
Drake watched with blurred, heavy eyes as he was lifted into the ambulence. He felt his body being strapped down and the panic rose. But his mom was there, holding his hand, careful not to touch the cuts and bruises. HE turned his eyes toward Josh, and smiled as best he could. "Thank you," He whispered before falling into sleep.
