Chapter 14---Here's the latest chapter of the cross-fanfiction story. I hope you like it! Thanks for reading, commenting and for those in the States, hope you're enjoying a nice holiday weekend.

"What kind of plan," Matt said, looking at Jonathan.

The federal agent looked at both Matt and Walker.

"We're nearing the time when it's going to become clear to the robbers that we're stalling on their demands," Jonathan said.

"That's pretty obvious," Matt said, "so what are you going to do about it?"

"We're flying in our special tactical team," Jonathan said, "They're coming from D.C."

Matt and Walker looked at each other.

"That's all," Matt said, "Isn't that standard operating procedure anyway?"

Walker nodded.

"Yes it is," he said, "but it might not be the best action to take in this case. This Johnson guy's just escaped out of prison, he's trapped inside a bank with hostages and he's very edgy and unstable."

"We know that," Jonathan said, "He's our prisoner."

Walker's eyes flashed but his expression didn't change.

"He's a powder keg waiting to go off."

Jonathan sighed, sitting down next to them.

"We've just gotten the last psych eval done on him and we don't disagree that he has psychological issues."

Walker put up his hand.

"Sending a tactical team in there like a bunch of commandos could set him off to kill everyone in that bank," Walker said.

"Are you sure you're not exaggerating," a voice said.

Matt and Walker looked up to see Denton standing in the doorway.

"I'm pretty sure I'm not," Walker said, "It was our men that caught him and his band during their last job."

"What happened," Matt asked.

"Some hostages died," Walker said, "didn't they?"

Jonathan looked at Denton and nodded slowly.

"You might have a point," he admitted.

Denton narrowed his eyes.

"What do you mean," Denton said, "You know the tactical team is the only way to get the maximum number of hostages out of there."

Matt stood up.

"What do you mean, maximum," he said, "Are you going to sit around and draw straws to decide who gets to live if you go in?"

"It doesn't work that way," Denton said, "but we're not giving into their demands and Johnson and his men know that."

"I'm not sacrificing one life in that bank," Walker said, "You better accept that."

Denton folded his arms.

"This operation's going by the book," he said, "in several hours."

Jonathan stepped in.

"We know you both have loved ones in there," he said, "We'll take every step to protect them when we do go in."

Matt shook his head.

"I'm not sacrificing my fiancée," he said, "or any of the others."

Denton pointed his finger, angrily.

"You have no say in this operation," he said, "Consider yourself lucky you even know what's going on."

Walker rubbed his chin.

"I've got two of my best Rangers scouting out those steam tunnels," he said.

Denton scoffed.

"Certainly you can't be serious," he said, "They probably all lead to dead ends and none of them anywhere near the bank."

"It's worth looking at all angles," Walker said, "and this is as good as any."

"It's a long shot at best," Denton argued, "a waste of valuable time at worst."

Brody walked up and looked at Matt.

"What are these bureaucrats fighting about," he asked.

Matt took a water bottle from him.

"They want to charge in with the federal version of a SWAT team," he said.

Brody frowned.

"This early in the operation," he said, "with an unknown number of hostages in there."

"They're going to lose some of them," Matt said.

"Probably," Brody said, "Unless they're damn lucky."

Matt sipped his bottle.

"Walker said that he's got two agents looking through the tunnels," Matt said.

"And did they find anything," Brody said.

"He hasn't heard back from them yet," Matt said, "but they haven't been out that long."

Denton frowned at them.

"I hope you're not planning to interfere with our operation," he said, "or I'll have you both arrested."

Jonathan moved in front of him.

"They're not planning anything," he said, then looked at Matt and Brody for affirmation.

Matt nodded.

"That's right," he said, "but what assurances can you give that all the hostages will be safe?"

Denton set his jaw and looked at Jonathan.

"That's what I thought," Matt said.

Walker sighed.

"We've got to give my team members a chance," he said.

"We don't have the time," Denton said.

"Then we have to do what law enforcement always tries to do in situations like this and that's slow the time clock down," Walker said, simply.

Brody nodded.

"That's what the LAPD did when I was there."

Denton grimaced.

"We're not the LAPD."

"Yeah I can see that," Brody agreed, dryly.

Matt stepped away, not believing what he was hearing. Not believing that the federal agents would propose an operation that considered the potential loss of hostages, collateral damage. He ran his hand through his hair, thinking that he needed to come up with a plan. But he also knew that even if he did, he and Brody couldn't pull it off by themselves. He looked at Walker and saw an expression on his face which he felt certain matched his own. Walker was thinking about his wife being inside there.

"We don't have to buy into their plan," Brody said, standing next to him.

"I'm not giving up on C.J.," Matt said, "and I'm not agreeing to anything that's going to get her and the other hostages killed."

"I'm with you man," Brody said, "and I wouldn't be surprised if we could swing Walker our way."

Matt looked back at the Ranger.

"I doubt it," he said, "He's law enforcement to the core and they always go by the book."

Earp shone his flashlight into the darkened tunnel to illuminate what had moved in front of them.

"Are you sure you're not just seeing things," he said, "That's not uncommon down here with the steam and all."

"No I'm sure I saw something move," Sydney said, "What about you, Gage?"

He nodded.

"Don't know what it was but there's something definitely in there ahead of us."

Earp shrugged.

"I still say if it's not from the steam, it's from dehydration," he said, "Plays tricks on the mind."

"Just point the flashlight ahead," Sydney said, "I'm sure it's still there."

Earp did, moving it from side to side. He turned to face them.

"I don't see anything," he said.

A shape suddenly emerged behind him.

"There it is again," Sydney said, pointing. "It's fairly good-sized."

Gage looked closer.

"Is it a man?"

Earp shook his head.

"I hardly think so young man," he said, "People don't feel too comfortable staying down here that long."

Earp moved his flashlight back towards the tunnel, grumbling.

"I still…"

Suddenly a man appeared in front of them. Earp frowned.

"Who are you?"

The man dressed in army fatigues glared at him.

"I'm down here looking for the monster of course," he said.

Sydney and Gage looked at each other.

"Monster," Gage muttered.

"Just a legend," Earp said, "Of course you never really know…"

"I've seen it," the man said, matter of factly, "Well, not the monster itself but foot prints."

Earp scratched his head.

"I've never seen it," he said.

"What does it look like," Sydney said.

Gage scoffed.

"Syd, you're not buying into this nonsense…"

She turned to look at him.

"Just be quiet while I ask him some questions about what he's seen," she said.

Gage folded his arms. The man looked at him and frowned.

"Typical nonbeliever," he said, "but this creature's about yey tall."

Sydney noted that his hand gestures put the creature at about eight feet tall.

"And he's very hairy," the man said, "with a funny smell."

"That sounds like some of the guys you hang out with, Syd," Gage said.

Sydney glared at her partner.

"Okay, you've described this…thing but you just said you never saw it."

The man scowled and flinched.

"I've dreamed about him," he said.

"Oh great," Gage said, "Now he's saying he dreamed it up."

"Shhhhh," Sydney chided, "I want to hear the rest of it."

The man looked at her, doubtful. She raised her brows and he continued.

"He feeds on rats, snakes and other animals," the man said, "Perhaps even human flesh."

Earp snorted.

"Stop scaring these young people with your stories," he said, "No one's been lost in these tunnels…at least in the last 10 years."

Sydney looked at Gage who just looked back at her, as the two men continued arguing about the legendary creature who wandered the steam tunnels of downtown Houston.

C.J. looked at her watch. Chris' contractions still remained far apart but sweat broke out on her friend's brow. Alex sat down next to her.

"How you doing," she asked.

Chris looked up gamely.

"I'm doing great," she said, "I'm just waiting for us to get out of here so I can have my baby."

Alex looked at C.J.

"She's still early on," she said, "It could be hours or even longer yet."

"It could be sooner," C.J. said, "and we have to be ready for that."

"We will be," Alex said, "It's not what I thought I'd be doing today when I got up this morning."

C.J. chuckled despite herself.

"Me neither," she said, "Of course, I ran out of bed and then ran to the bathroom about a minute later, so I wasn't thinking very much."

"How you feeling now," Alex asked.

"I feel okay," she said, "A little tired but it'll pass."

"Maybe you should get some rest," Alex said, "Your body's going through a lot of changes, robbery or not and you need to take it easier."

"I can't," C.J. said, "not until we're all out of here."

"That's not going to be for a while," Alex said.

C.J. looked around the office where the other women sat or napped fretfully.

"I know they're working hard out there," C.J. said, "but we have to do something in here."

Alex nodded.

"I don't know what would work in a situation like this," she said, "We know these men are capable of violence because they killed the guard."

"We have to find their vulnerabilities," C.J. said, "and exploit them."

"Easier said than done," Alex said, "but I know that you're right.

C.J. sat at her desk in her office when the phone rang.

"Hi, Houston is that you?"

"The very same," he said, "Have I caught you at a bad time?"

She smiled.

"No, no, I was just catching up on finishing up some reports on some cases," she said, "All of which ended happily for a change."

"That's great," he said, "I'm almost done here and then I'll pack for the wedding in Colorado."

"I'm all packed," she said, "I just have to book a flight."

"Hey, forget flying commercial," he said, "I'm taking the jet. Why don't I pick you up on the way there?"

C.J. chuckled.

"Houston, the straightest line from L.A. to Colorado is not through Southern Texas."

"I know my geography," he said, "But it would save you money and bad plane food."

"They don't really serve food on planes anymore," she mused.

"Then that's even better," Matt said, "I'll bring some great food on board and I can guarantee you more legroom and no baggage limitations on one of my flights"

She laughed.

"I'm packing light this time," she said.

"Then are you willing to join me?"

"What about your date," C.J. said, "Is she going to be okay with the detour to pick me up?"

He hesitated.

"She had to cancel," he said, "I'm going stag."

"So am I," she said, "Rhonda's already left to meet up with Jonathan to fly there together."

"Talk about traveling out of your way," Matt said, "So will you take me up on my offer?"

She hesitated.

"Are you sure she…"

"Nichole…"

"Oh…well are you sure she won't change her mind about going?"

"Why do you ask?"

His question surprised her.

"I'm just curious," she said, "I thought things were going well between the two of you."

"They were…but we're going our separate ways."

An answer she hadn't expected.

"Oh…that too bad," she said, "I'm sorry."

He tried to change the subject.

"What about you," he said, "Why are you going alone?"

She paused. A question she couldn't answer, even for herself let alone her best friend.

"I'm…not, "she said, "We're going together on your plane, right?"

"I'll pick up you up after work on Friday," he said.

C.J. smiled, her memories taking her away from the events surrounding her. They provided some respite from trying to figure out what to navigate through the quick sand which she felt she had been walking across since the robbers took over the bank.

"Trying to figure out what happens next?"

C.J. looked up and saw Alex.

"I was thinking about Houston and our trip to Colorado to attend a friend's wedding."

"A very good friend?"

C.J. nodded.

"They're both very good friends," she said, "They helped me through a very difficult time though they weren't in a relationship yet."

"But they got married," Alex said, "That's great."

"It was a nice wedding," C.J. said, "My friend Rhonda was a bit nervous because she was meeting Jonathan's parents."

"Ah, that can be interesting," Alex said, "I don't know with Walker because his were murdered."

"How awful," C.J. said.

"He was very angry for a long time after they were killed," she said, "But he lived with an extended family on the reservation and they healed his heart. They're very warm people."

"That must have been difficult," C.J. said, "My father was murdered when I was a little girl. They never caught the guy who did it."

Alex shook her head.

"Must have been tough on you and your mother," Alex said.

"My mother didn't live very long after that," C.J. said, "I think she died of a broken heart more than anything else. I went to live in Texas with my uncle on his ranch."

"Close to your fiancée, I imagine."

"Pretty close by," C.J. said, "It wasn't long before we became best friends. We spent a lot of time outside of school working on each other's ranches."

"We have a ranch," Alex said, "I never thought I'd love it as much as I do, but it's the perfect place to raise Angela."

C.J. placed her hand on her belly. Alex smiled as she did it, pretty sure the other woman was unaware of her actions.

"We're still working on our house," C.J. said, "I had some paint samples to look at but still haven't decided and we're trying to buy a piece of land near this lake to add onto it."

"I'm sure it's beautiful," Alex said, "It's so great to come home to all that beauty at the end of a frantic work day."

C.J. smiled.

"Tell me about it," she said, "I can't wait until we move there."

Gloria walked up.

"Do you think they're going to release us soon," she asked.

C.J. just looked at her.

"No," she said, "I couldn't even get them to release Chris, the woman who's about to give birth there."

Gloria frowned.

"Damn, I still thought I had a chance to make that photo shoot."

C.J. sighed.

"You're not going to make your appointment," she said, "I'm sure they'll understand that you have a good excuse."

Gloria grimaced, as she looked at her fingernails.

"There won't be any chance to provide any excuse," she said, "This was my one and only chance."

Alex smiled, gritting her teeth beneath it.

"Gloria…honey," she said, "Life provides more than one opportunity."

The other woman snarled.

"Is there were you spill the platitudes about when a door is shut, a window is opened or something like that?"

"No, this is where I tell you to sit down over there and get yourself together so you don't endanger the rest of us with your histrionics."

"You have no right to tell me what to do," Gloria said, folding her arms, "You're not in charge."

C.J. threw up her arms.

"Okay, but you do realize that the more you whine, the more you'll draw attention from the robbers and if they do decide to make some sort of point to the authorities and shoot one of us, guess who's going to come to mind first?"

Gloria gasped.

"Surely, not me…"

C.J. continued, ignoring the change in her demeanor.

"Yes you," she said, "Because if they take out the one who's whining and complaining, then they've solved two problems."

Gloria just stared at her.

"That's so cold," she said, "You just don't like me because I'm prettier."

C.J. nodded.

"That's it exactly," she said, "I always wanted to be a blonde."

Alex sighed.

"It's not all it's cracked up to be."

Gloria just scowled, and then smiled at C.J.

"Well, you can't everything," she said, "I'm sure you're quite…smart."

"I hope so," C.J. said, "If not, then my seven years of education just went to waste."

"See, you have something that some guy might like," Gloria said.

C.J. suppressed a laugh.

"A thing or two," she said, winking at Alex.

Gloria sauntered off and both women breathed a sigh of relief.

"I hope she doesn't get us all killed," C.J. said, "I really want to check out how the new hardwood floors turned out."

"You will," Alex said, "I know that all those people working hard out there will get us out of here."

C.J. looked at Chris' direction.

"Hopefully sooner, rather than later."

They continued walking down the tunnel, having left the stranger behind to continue his hunt for the elusive creature.

"That guy's nuts," Gage said.

"I thought his story was very interesting," Sydney said, "You have to keep an open mind Gage, there are more things in this world than we know or understand."

Gage scoffed.

"In these tunnels," he said, "I doubt it unless you're talking about rats and snakes."

"And alligators," Sydney said, looking around for any signs of one.

Earp snorted a few feet ahead of them.

"I heard that," he said, "What did I tell you about my hearing?"

Sydney cleared her throat.

"That it was as sharp as when…"

Gage frowned.

"Never mind, Syd," he said, wiping his reddened face, "Man it's hot in here."

Earp laughed.

"It's a steam tunnel young man," he said, "Something would be wrong if it weren't hot."

Sydney felt the dampness on her shirt prickle her back.

"Any chance there's a tunnel that's air-conditioned?"

Earp turned to look at him, shaking his head.

"I thought you Rangers were the toughest breed," he said.

"That would be Navy SEALs but we come a close second," Gage corrected, "How long have we been walking?"

Earp paused.

"Not long at all," he said, "In fact, we've just gotten started."

Gage and Sydney looked at each other and groaned.

Matt and Brody watched as Dan walked towards them where they sat next to the trailer.

"What did you find out," Matt asked.

"I talked to some old buddies of mine with HPD and they've handed this whole operation off to those feds," Dan said, "They're supportive only."

"That's what the feds told us," Matt said.

"Leaving it to a SWAT type operation makes me nervous," Dan said, "What's going to happen to those hostages in there?"

"They told us they might lose some of them," Brody said.

Dan shook his head.

"I'm not accepting that," he said, "My wife is in there, your fiancée…There's got to be something that can be done."

Matt looked up at him.

"I'm trying to think of something," he said, "I want to hear back from Walker's agents who are checking out those underground passages."

"You mean the steam tunnels," Dan said, "We were never sure exactly where they went because the only maps are really old…"

"It's got to be very hot and humid down there," Matt said.

Dan nodded.

"Take a tropical jungle and multiply it several times and that's how it feels."

"Really," Brody said, "I left my Bermuda shorts at home."

"If it's the best way inside the bank," Matt said, "I'll take it."

Brody nodded.

"Maybe we should go off and try to find out where these tunnels are located," he said.

Matt nodded.

"Let's go," he said.

The three of them took off down the street.