A/N: The cliff hangers will end eventually, I promise …
"They're coming out!"
As soon as the yelled words reached the ears of the Lieutenant, he sprang to his feet. Henry, Cora and Zelena did the same.
"Stay here," Killian said to the civilians before he and Sidney rushed to the door of the HNT truck and scanned the front of the bank. Nothing had changed.
"The alley," called one of the snipers who was beckoning them over to where he was perched on top of another police truck, his partner lying flat against the roof.
The two men sprinted over and climbed up the attached ladder to get a clear view of what was happening. Behind them, Henry, Cora and Zelena were being held back by Killian's detectives as they tried to follow. Once they had climbed up to the roof of the truck, the two men shuffled forwards.
"What's going on?" Killian asked the man who had called him over who was crouched behind a second sniper. The latter's gaze was focused down the scope of her gun and didn't shift despite the new arrivals.
"One of them came out," the officer's partner said. "Masked. He's got Miss Mills. He's holding a gun on her. We can't get a shot. She's too close."
Killian and Sidney both looked towards the alley where the black car gleamed in the late afternoon sun. Sure enough, two figures were moving slowly towards it. From a distance, it was hard to say but he suspected that the captor was about five ten, medium build. Regina looked tiny, pressed against his body as they shuffled forwards. She was carrying something. A bag. Cash and jewellery, Killian was sure. The four police officers watched, holding their breath, as they reached the car.
The driver's door was wrenched open and the bag was thrown inside by Regina. Then the duo turned so that the captor's back was to the vehicle. Killian grabbed his radio. "Hold your fire. I repeat. Hold your fire." There was no telling what the rest of the group had been instructed to do if one of them was taken out.
The man climbed awkwardly into the car, keeping his head as close to Regina's as possible. And then suddenly she was pushed away as the door was slammed closed. Regina stumbled and almost fell at the force but managed to catch herself. Killian saw her glance up and down the alley in either direction.
"Come on," Sidney muttered under his breath. "Come to us. Run. Come on, Regina."
But then she straightened up and walked back to the fire escape, which was ajar, and disappeared into the bank. Killian and Sidney glanced at one another. "Why didn't she run?" Sidney asked.
Killian shrugged. "I'd guess they have other hostages inside and they threatened to harm them if she didn't obey. She might have been able to save herself but it seems Miss Mills feels obligated to someone inside. Neal mentioned a kid. I'd suspect that was what we were looking at."
All four police officers' eyes returned to the fire exit, waiting.
Emma stood as close to the open door as she dared, staring out at the bonnet of the black car she could see parked in the alley. Come back, she prayed. Come back in. She didn't look at Peter or Lily. She knew they must be curious about what was between her and Regina. She was curious herself. But in that moment she didn't care about anything except Regina returning.
It felt like an age but in reality was barely a minute when at last Regina's silhouette appeared in the doorframe. Emma let out a sigh of relief as the woman walked back inside the bank.
"Are you ok?" Emma asked as Regina came towards her.
"Yes," Regina nodded. "There are cops everywhere out there. They are all pointing guns right into the alley."
"But Neal got in the car ok?"
"Yeah," Regina replied. "And he told me that if we think of bailing on him, he'll shoot at as many cops as he can and make sure they storm the bank. I believe him, Emma, so if you were thinking of doing anything except what he told us, I don't think we should."
In truth, Emma had been pondering just slamming the door shut once Regina got back and surrendering to the cops. But she knew Neal would follow through on his threat and she also knew that if the police took fire from Neal, the counter-offensive would be lethal for all of them.
"Alright, come on then," she said, knowing there was no other option. At least this way she was keeping Regina safe. Or safer.
Emma stepped forwards and Regina turned around, imitating the position she had been in with Neal. She picked up a second bag of cash, wondering how much money she was carrying as she did so. Just as Emma went to wrap her arm around Regina's neck, the brunette turned her head. Emma hitched as she felt the puff of warm breath ghost over her lips. Her eyes locked on the red gash now inches from her own mouth. An overwhelming urge to kiss it better came over her but before she could do anything, Regina spoke.
"You should put your mask on."
It took Emma a moment to register the words. Eventually, she swallowed and nodded. "Right."
Stepping back, she dug in her pocket and pulled out her ski mask, sliding it over her head. Regina watched as the beautiful features were covered up until all she could see were those bright green eyes. "Better?"
Somehow, Regina could tell that Emma was smirking at her from beneath the wool. "No, to be honest," Regina murmured. "But for your safety, yes."
Why they were pretending that this escape plan was going to actually work, Emma wasn't sure but in that moment she was grateful. She moved towards Regina once more, the brunette turning to face the door again. Emma wrapped her arm around Regina's neck and stepped as close as she could to her body. The hitch in Regina's breath was unmistakable as she felt Emma press against her. Through the younger woman's heavy black hoodie, she could feel the swell of her breasts pressed against her shoulder blades.
And then the blonde began to move forwards, lowering her head slightly so it was closer to Regina's. Emma didn't want to put the brunette in danger by offering the snipers a chance to take herself out. What if they missed? She couldn't bear to think of a bullet flying past her own head and striking the brunette's.
Regina felt a vaguely familiar heat coil low in her body as Emma's warm breath, even through her woollen mask, washed over her earlobe. She had felt like this before, a few times, with Daniel. She suddenly realised that she hadn't thought about the boy she had been dating since the whole hostage ordeal had begun. Was that strange? Was it as strange as the way her body was reacting to Emma right now? No, she thought to herself. There was nothing strange about the way she felt about the blonde. Of everything that had happened that day, the one thing that made sense, in some twisted way, was Emma.
"Ready," Emma asked as they began to walk slowly towards the door.
"Yes," Regina said, turning her head slightly so that her ear bumped into Emma's wool-covered nose. "Hold your gun up to my head."
Emma's step faltered at the words. "Regina, I -"
"Not now, Emma," the brunette whispered. "Just do it. I know you're not going to hurt me. Let's get you out of here safely, ok? Stay close to me."
"I'm not going anywhere," Emma said, her arm tightening around Regina's neck but careful not to put any pressure on her larynx. Her other hand slowly raised the weapon as Regina had commanded. Regina, the woman whom Emma had just met who had no idea that the gun wasn't even loaded.
They moved slowly, as Neal had done, out into the alley. Emma couldn't help glance around as they shuffled forwards. She could see police everywhere and she was sure more officers were hidden out of sight. Her heart thundered in her ribcage and she was sure Regina could feel it. The words which were whispered next confirmed her suspicions.
"Nothing is going to happen to you," Regina murmured. "I promise."
"Didn't I promise you that?" Emma quipped.
"Well, save your promise for when my life is in danger. Right now, I can protect you. When the time comes, how about you return the favour?"
"Deal," Emma said, reaching out and opening the rear door of the car they had reached.
Regina threw the bag of cash inside, ignoring Neal who, unmasked once more, was leering at them from the driver's seat. Then they slowly turned on the spot so Emma could climb into the seat. She knew there was nothing else she could do but she hesitated nonetheless.
"Go on," Regina whispered. "I'll be ok."
"I'll be waiting," Emma replied, the hot breath on Regina's ear once again sending a spike or arousal through the brunette's body.
And then her arm unwound and she launched herself backwards into the car. Regina turned and slammed the door shut, eyes locked once more on Emma's before the blacked out window broke their connection.
Neal slow clapped as Emma straightened up and slid over to sit behind the passenger seat which she knew Regina would soon occupy. "Fuck off," she snarled at him, looking out of the window and watching as Regina returned to the bank to perform her third of four trips.
"What is she doing?" Sidney asked as he and Killian, still on top of the police truck, watched as Regina came out with a third hostage taker clinging to her, yet another gun pointed to her head.
"I have no idea but she's clearly doing whatever they tell her. We've got cops in position to follow once they move, right?" Killian asked the question into his radio. A crackled affirmative response came through seconds later.
"Assuming they leave with only Regina, we need to get into the bank as soon as possible. Are the team in position to breach?" Killian asked again into his radio.
"Yes, Lieutenant. Just say the word," came the reply.
"Hold off for now," Killian said. "But you should be able to breach in a few minutes. As soon as you do so, secure the area so EMTs can get in. We know we have at least one gunshot victim. From the main area, go through to the bank manager's office. Back corridor, turn left. Get your techs into the security system and get the cameras up and running, just in case."
"Copy Lieu."
Killian dropped his radio back to his shoulder where it was clipped and returned his full attention to the scene before him. The third hostage taker was now climbing into the car and, once again, Regina was returning to the bank.
"How many are there?" Sidney murmured as Regina disappeared inside.
"I spoke to three hostages on the phone. I'm guessing there's, yep, at least four," he said as another masked figure emerged with Regina, yet another bag of money clasped by the brunette.
The two snipers, the Lieutenant and the Police Commissioner watched as Regina repeated her now practiced routine. This time, however, after the door slammed shut, she did not return to the bank. Instead, she walked around the back of the car towards the passenger door.
"What is she doing?" Sidney asked again. "Why is she getting in with them? If that's the whole crew and they don't have a kid hostage, why is she going with them?"
Killian said nothing. He didn't have an answer for that question. He just watched as the petite brunette walked around the car and opened the door. For a moment, she glanced back in their direction, as if she could feel their eyes boring into her back. And then she turned and climbed into the car. In the silence which had fallen across the area, the clunk of the door shutting sounded magnified.
"What the fuck is -"
The engine roared to life, a guttural rumble echoing off the alley walls.
"Squad cars, get ready to pursue but keep back," Killian said into his radio. "Civilian hostage inside. I repeat. Civilian hostage in the car. Do not shoot. Do not engage. Follow at a distance and try to avoid a high speed pursuit if possible."
Killian glanced at Sidney who nodded.
"Snipers," he said into his radio once more. "Does anyone have a clear shot of the driver?"
"Negative," came a chorus of voices. "He's got a gun on the hostage again," one added.
"Fuck," Sidney muttered. "What is his plan?"
Killian said nothing. He had no answer to that question but he wished he did. Glancing over Sidney's back, he spotted Henry and Cora Mills, the latter stood with her arm around Zelena's shoulder outside the HNT truck. How was he supposed to explain this to Regina's family? Turning back to the alley, the car began to move.
"Breach team, you are clear to engage," Killian said, reminding himself that there were seventeen more hostages who, it appeared, were now free.
As the car turned right out of the alleyway, the shattering of glass as the battering ram collided with the bank door tinkled across the quiet street to the top of the police truck.
"Come on," Sidney said. "Let's see what we're looking at inside. They're not going to get far with a fleet of cops on their tail."
A/N: disclaimer; if anyone tries to rob a bank to try and find true love, I do not condone that …
