AUTHOR'S NOTE: Apologies if your favorite character wasn't mentioned. This chapter was mainly focused on the going ons in the lobby.
"Give me Collins," Peter demanded on the phone.
"I'm here," Kevin replied after Jordan handed him the phone.
Peter passed the phone to Lucky and Cyrus told Laura and her son, "It's showtime. If you say anything that doesn't relate to the surgery, pow-pow."
Mother and son nodded and Lucky spoke into the phone, "Kev? We're ready."
"Take a deep breath, Lucky. Tell your mom to do the same. Just remain calm," Kevin advised.
Lucky whispered Kevin's advice to his mother. "We've got everything you listed here. What's first?"
Kevin responded, "Lay a towel down and move Emma on top."
Lucky put the phone down and quickly placed a towel next to Emma. He and Laura gently moved her body on top of the towel. "Alright, what next?" Lucky asked after picking up the phone.
"What's her pulse?" Kevin inquired.
Laura felt for Emma's pulse. Lucky held the phone up to his mother and she responded, "Still weak. But it's steady."
"How's her abdomen?"
"It's firmer than it was before."
"Alright, it's time to get started. Laura, I need you to trace the path of the bullet through Emma's stomach with your finger."
"Just like I did with the bullet that hit your shoulder?" Laura asked.
"Yes! Just like that!"
Laura quickly pulled up the rubber glove on her hands and gently inserted her index finger into Emma's wound. Thirty seconds of silence followed before Laura shouted out, "I feel the bullet!"
Kevin replied, "Great! Okay, so now I need you to swab the sight and sterilize the knife."
Laura immediately began swabbing the wound sight with her left hand and looked to Lucky to deal with the knife.
"I got it," Lucky said as he popped the bottle of vodka that Cameron and Spencer found. He poured some over the knife and handed it to his mom.
"Alright, Kevin. Now what?" Laura inquired.
"Lucky, be ready with towels. Laura, you will need to make a three to four inch incision directly over the path of the bullet. Just a warning: there will be a hell of a lot of blood. And Laura, make sure you cut from the top to the bottom. Use the sponges to put direct pressure over the bleeder. Now, as soon as you've made the incision, we need to find out where all the bleeding is coming from," Kevin advised.
Laura took a deep breath. She began to cut an incision on Emma's stomach. Emma, although almost unconscious, began to moan in pain. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'm sorry," Laura whispered.
"Holy shit!" Lucky exclaimed, holding the phone with his shoulder and grabbing the sponges and towels.
"What's happening Lucky?" Kevin nervously ascertained.
"Oh my God!" Laura shrieked.
"Lucky! What's happening?!" Kevin bellowed into the phone.
"There's so much blood! Oh my God! Kevin! Something is wrong! The blood won't stop!" Lucky cried out.
"The bullet may have hit an artery! I need the both of you to stay calm. Laura is going to tie off the artery. Lucky, I need you to strip one of the towels to the thinnest thread possible as quick as you can!"
"So, when the clock resets at midnight, Dante and I will go through the service entrance," Jason explained.
"But Stone Cold, Officer Chase said if he catches us again behind the building, he will arrest us. This is a problem," Spinelli warned.
"Robert will distract Chase. He will keep him up by command central. Dante and I will be quick," Jason retorted.
"And what do Curtis, TJ, and I do?" Nikolas questioned.
"Once Dante and I are inside and in safe spaces, Spinelli will give Curtis the all clear to join us. You and TJ stay on the outside in case we need some time of backup," Jason said.
"So you get to play big hero as usual," Nikolas scoffed.
"Your mother, son, and siblings are trapped in that building. Do you want them to make it out alive and find out you are dead because you had to play a big hero?" Jason challenged.
"Jason's right," TJ admitted.
"Really?" Nikolas asked incredulously.
"Yes. We can't let those guys win. If we don't follow this plan, we all will lose everyone who matters to us," TJ advised.
"So, I see you are with child," Number Two said.
"What's it to you?" Trina snarked as she held Ava's dead body.
"Too bad it won't live to see the day, huh?"
Trina roared, "You are such a bastard! I will make it out of here! We all will and you and your buddies will pay for everything you did tonight!"
"We just want revenge," Number Two shrugged.
"What did Ava ever do to you!?"
Ryan pulled his dark ski mask over his head and replied, "She ruined me."
"Ryan!" Trina yelled in shock.
"Ava trapped me in her spell and then turned on me! We could have taken everyone in this damn town down but no! She wanted to be good and moral!"
"You didn't have to kill her."
"She wouldn't listen to reason. I took matters into my own hands. And if I can't have her and love her, then no one can."
"That's not love! Are you even capable of that emotion?" Trina questioned.
"I haven't killed you and your unborn baby, have I? I'm capable of some emotion, don't you think?" Ryan responded.
"Jesus! This is so much blood! Kevin, she's going to die!" Laura sobbed.
"Stay calm, Mom. Please," Lucky encouraged as he quickly cut a towel.
"Lucky, give the phone to your mother," Kevin kindly demanded. Lucky placed the phone between Laura's shoulder and ear.
"Kevin?"
"Laura, you can do this. Just stay calm. She will not die. I will not let that happen. You will not let that happen. Just remain calm. Okay?"
"There's so much blood!" Laura cried.
"It's everywhere!" Lucky yelled into the phone.
"The blood is coming from the artery! Lucky, are you almost finished stripping a towel?" Kevin asked.
"Yes! Finished right now!" Lucky replied and put the phone back between his shoulder and ear.
"Laura, you need to clamp off the artery," Kevin instructed.
Lucky retorted, "How? We can't even see anything."
Elizabeth jumped from her position on the floor to go help.
Cyrus pointed his gun at her. "Stay in your seat or this bullet goes directly between your eyes."
"I was just trying to help. They have no idea what to do. They are overwhelmed," Elizabeth explained.
"I can understand that you would be willing to risk your life for a young girl, friend of your son, but what if I told you if you moved again, I would kill your unborn grandchild? Would that keep you in your place?" Cyrus threatened.
Across the room, Alexis, Ned, and Kristina watched the operation occurring and the horror Laura and Lucky were being put through. "I'm so glad that isn't me over there," Alexis whispered to Ned.
Ned replied, "Agree. I don't know how they are getting through it. I would probably go in a panic."
"The reason you never became a Quartermaine doctor," Alexis teased.
"Snarky business, my lane. Blood and guts, Alan and Monica's," Ned said.
"If Number One said you had to operate on Emma, who would you have picked to help you?" Alexis asked.
"We are in the middle of a hostage situation, a girl is getting operated with hotel supplies just a few feet away from us and you want to play what if?" Ned needled jokingly.
"I have to remain calm somehow. Now, answer the question."
"You."
"Shut the hell up."
Ned replied, "I'm serious. I would pick you."
"Why? Because being a lawyer translates into doctor skills?"
"No. Because, one, I'm assuming the rule about not picking Elizabeth would apply to me and two, I trust you more than anyone in this room. Maybe in the world."
Alexis scoffed.
"It's true."
Alexis squeezed his hand. "Same for me, Ned. Same for me."
Ned and Alexis's eyes met in a loving gaze.
Kristina looked at her mother and Ned's entwined hands and stares. Oh. Mom. If we make it out of here, Olivia is gonna kill you.
"I'm sure… Jason is working… on a… way to… get us all… out of here," Sonny said.
Michael nodded. "You're right. He probably is, but Dad, you don't look so good. You need help immediately."
"I'm fine."
"I think Mom stores some bottled water in the storage closet over here." Michael walked across the room and opened the closet. "Aha! There's some in here. Are you thirsty? Do you want one?"
Sonny replied, "I am… a little… thirsty."
Michael grabbed a bottle and walked it over to his father. He opened it and handed it to Sonny. "Here you go."
"Just… how… bad is… it out… there?" Sonny asked once he finished sipping some water.
"These guys are just randomly picking people to terrorize them. Emma, little sweet Emma, is out there bleeding to death. He's making Lucky and Laura operate on her! They aren't doctors! I think Kevin is yelling through the lobby doors what they should do. It's sick! And what he did to Grandma, Willow, and Sasha was just-"
"I have... no idea... what they... want. But what I... do know... is that they... have nothing else…. to do but torture... everyone out... there. If they... let you go… back into the... lobby, do not... antagonize... them or disobey... them. I know you… want to be... strong, but listen... to... me. Don't... draw their attention... and please... remain calm," Sonny advised.
"Okay."
"Promise me, Michael," Sonny demanded.
"I promise. I'll lay low," Michael agreed.
"Laura! I need you to tie off the bleed with the threads Lucky cut," Kevin instructed. "Lucky, I need you to hold the artery closed."
"Doc, we didn't go to med school!" Lucky yelled out in frustration.
"Laura, grab the thread and tie off the bleed. Just tie it tight like you are tying a shoe. Lucky, hold the artery closed. Just put your fingers in there and hold the rip together!"
"Tie off the bleed. Tie off the bleed," Laura repeated to herself as her and Lucky began to follow Kevin's instructions.
"Yes! Tie off the bleed, Laura. You guys can do it!" Kevin warily encouraged them.
Elizabeth looked up at Cyrus. "Please let me help," she begged.
"It's more fun this way, don't you think?" Cyrus taunted.
"Please. As hard as they try, they don't know what to do. Emma will die," Elizabeth replied.
LuLu looked over at Elizabeth begging Cyrus and decided to intercede. "Let her or any of us help them! Please."
Cyrus shrugged. "I'll keep your requests in mind."
"Please?" Spencer piped up.
"Wow! We have a room full of heroes. Well, a family full of heroes. Must be some complex. Any other volunteers?" Cyrus yelled to the room.
"You are going to have to just shoot one of us then because we won't let Emma die!" Spencer forcefully replied.
"Now would be a great time for you to let someone else help us over here!" Laura bellowed.
Cyrus looked over at Peter to get his opinion. Peter shrugged his shoulders. "Fine! Busy Lizzie, go over there. You will pay your price later," Cyrus replied.
Elizabeth ran over to the makeshift operating area and quickly pulled on a pair of rubber gloves.
"Everyone else! Calm down and no more heroics! There will be a time for that later!" Cyrus said.
"Kevin, Elizabeth is here. You have someone here who understands what the hell you are telling us to do," Lucky explained into the phone.
"Elizabeth! I need you to tie off the bleed. Basically just like they teach in a suturing class. Someone needs to tie off the bleed while someone else keeps the artery closed."
"Alright, let me see," Elizabeth said squeezing next to Laura to examine Emma's wound. "Okay, Laura, hold her wound open so I can see the artery."
"Down to your right," Lucky pointed out.
"I see it! Okay! Lucky, hold the sponge close to the artery because its bleeding a ton. Laura, hold open the wound. Where are the threads?" Elizabeth rattled.
"Behind you," Laura said.
"Kevin, I'm going to sew the artery now. Lucky is holding a sponge and will keep the area clean while Laura holds the wound open for me. What comes after this?" Elizabeth asked as she began to sew the artery closed.
"Make sure you keep the area clean. Add extra sponges if needed. After that, Look around and see if there is any organ damage, more bleeding, or any tears," Kevin advised.
Once Elizabeth finished sewing the artery, Laura checked around for any damage. "I don't see any more damage, Kevin. We traced the bullet, tied off the artery bleed. What now?" Laura asked.
"Sew up her stomach. Hopefully this will hold her off until you guys make it out. Lucky and Laura, tear up more threads. Once you have about two dozen, Elizabeth, stitch up her stomach the best you can," Kevin instructed.
Everyone waited on baited breath until Laura and Lucky quickly finished stripping the towels down into threads. "I'm starting to stitch up her now," Elizabeth announced to Kevin.
"Alright, since we are wrapping up Grey's Anatomy here, it's time to say bye bye," Cyrus taunted as he grabbed the phone from Lucky and ended the call.
"Laura?! Lucky?!" Kevin yelled into the phone. "Dammit!"
"What?" Anna asked.
"Emma's alive. Elizabeth was able to assist them. But he hung up the phone before they were completely finished. Elizabeth was just starting to stitch Emma's stomach," Kevin explained.
"Emma's alive?" Robert inquired for confirmation.
"Yes," Kevin replied.
"Thank God!" Robert and Mac sighed in relief.
"You're done. Now, it's time I collect my bargain that I made with Lovely Laura," Cyrus warned.
"What do you want from me now?" Laura asked.
"You and only you can close little Emma up."
"No way. I have no training. None. Let Elizabeth do it," Laura explained.
"Then little Emma will die on your watch. I'm sure you wouldn't want to be the one to tell your dear pal District Attorney Scorpio that his granddaughter died on your watch, would you?" Cyrus taunted.
Laura cried, "Why are you doing this? You let Elizabeth help me this far, can't she just finish?"
"Number Three and I have short attention spans. We have a few more hours left until the ticking bomb over there goes off. So, if you don't want to be Wonder Woman, that's your decision. We still have a lobby full of hostages left. If Emma dies, oh well. She served her purpose," Cyrus tormented.
"Please let Elizabeth close her up. None of us will ask for anything else again. Please," Lucky begged, trying to broker a deal.
"It's Laura or no one. And anyone who tries to play Florence Nightingale gets a bullet to the head," warned Cyrus.
Elizabeth gave Laura the threads and knife to complete the sewing. "Slow and steady. Just think you are sewing a pair of Lucky's old, torn pants," Elizabeth gently advised.
Lucky and Elizabeth moved away from Emma's body but still nearby in case Number One or Number Three would try to hurt or derail Laura.
"You only want me to do this because you want to watch me fail. I know it's you under that mask, Cyrus," Laura seethed as she revealed Cyrus's true identity.
Cyrus pulled off his mask. "Ahhh. Now, I can really breathe. Get to work, Sister Dear. But I do think playing doctor is something out of your league."
"You don't think I can do this? Then, you don't know me. Watch me," Laura declared as she began to sew Emma up.
"Could you hear anything in the background?" Mac asked.
Kevin shook his head. "No. I was too busy trying to coach my wife and step-son through an operation when they have never gone to a day of med school."
"Kevin," Felicia muttered.
"Sorry, Mac. I didn't mean to get sharp. That was just a stressful situation," Kevin apologized.
Mac patted his best friend on the back. "It's fine. I understand. I was just trying to get a stronger understanding of the conditions inside there."
"I know. I know. I should have tried to pay more attention to the background, but I was just so concerned about them operating on Emma. From what I can remember, it was pretty silent. I think Cyrus was very interested in watching his sister and hoping she would fail," Kevin offered.
"I hope you are enjoying this," Laura said as she finished stitching Emma's wound. "Would you like me to bandage her up alone as well, Brother Dear?"
"No need to be sarcastic. Lucky, you can help your mother bandage the patient. Elizabeth, you can move back next to your son," Cyrus instructed.
"How are we doing this, Mom?" Lucky asked. "Her pulse is steady."
"I'm thinking we apply layers of the scraps of towels and just duct tape it on. Almost like makeshift gauze," Laura said.
"Alright. That sounds good. We just have to make sure her stomach stays closed," Lucky replied as him and his mother got to taping poor Emma's stomach together.
After a few minutes, Lucky and Laura finished their task. "Well, well, well. It seems our patient is alive and not bleeding to death. You fulfilled your end of the bargain, darling sister. Time for your reward," Cyrus said.
"Reward? What reward?" Laura questioned.
Cyrus walked over to Spencer and pulled him up by the arm. "I promised you a reward. Here it is." Cyrus began dragging Spencer away from the lobby.
"Hey! Where are you taking him? Cyrus! He's your nephew! This isn't a reward!" Laura sobbed. Lucky jumped up to hold his mother back from running to Spencer when he noticed Peter slowly raising his gun.
"There is only two hours left on that bomb over there. I don't plan on letting any of you leave beforehand. Your reward is Spencer gets to be tucked away from the bomb," Cyrus turned around to explain.
Laura looked over at Cameron, clinging to Elizabeth but eyes on Laura. "What about Cameron? I will not allow one grandson to be saved over the other," Laura reasoned.
"It's one or none, Sister Dear. And I get to choose. Spencer is my choice," Cyrus shrugged and continued to drag Spencer away from the lobby.
Robert marched over to where Jason and the rest of their little group were huddled together. "I'm going to have the cops evacuate the building through the east stairwell."
"So, that means the lobby access will be blocked on the east side of the building, right?" Jason asked.
Robert nodded. "Correct. So, what you and Dante will do is stay in the service hallway-"
Spinelli interjected, "And you will eventually find a door that should lead to either the manager's office or just a spare office. I'm not quite sure how Carly and Olivia designated the rooms."
"Are there security cameras in that hallway?" Dante questioned.
"I don't know," Spinelli answered.
"Well, figure it out!" Robert exclaimed. "We need to know if they separated the hostages."
"The last I checked of the lobby security footage, some people were missing. So, I am assuming that they separated some of the hostages," Spinelli admitted.
Jason said, "Dude, would you be able to find out now whether there are cameras in that hallway or not?"
Spinelli opened his laptop, "Give me a few seconds." He began typing and pushing buttons so fast, the men could swear the saw smoke coming from his fingers. "Uh oh," Spinelli gasped.
"What?" Curtis wondered.
"The cameras in the lobby's hallways are all blacked out. Once you and Dante make it in there, you will be doing it blindly."
"You aren't planning on killing me, Uncle Cyrus. Are you?" Spencer rattled as Cyrus dragged him along.
"Not if you behave. And anyway, I'm doing you a favor. I'm keeping you far away from the bomb. Aren't I a good uncle?" Cyrus teased.
"The best," Spencer sarcastically replied.
Cyrus stopped them in front of a door and knocked. "This will be your new home for the rest of tonight's festivities."
Number Two opened the door. "Well, well. What do we have here?"
"Brought you a new room mate. Don't kill this one. He's family," Cyrus warned and pushed Spencer in the room.
Spencer looked around the dark lit room and noticed Trina knelt in the corner next to Ava's body. "Trina!" he yelled and ran to sit besides her. "Is she-"
"Dead? Yes," whispered.
"How? Why? I didn't like the woman, but she didn't deserve to die," Spencer said.
"I killed her. She didn't listen," Ryan said and took off his mask to reveal his face.
"Ryan!" Spencer exclaimed in shock.
"I did you a favor, little buddy. Remember when you wrote to me and wanted help splitting her and your father up? Well, problem solved," Ryan explained as he pointed to Ava's corpse.
"Do you think he killed Trina?" Cameron nervously asked his mother. "It's been forever since he took her away. I'm worried about her and the baby."
Elizabeth wrapped her arms around Cameron. "I think Trina is fine. If Cyrus didn't let Emma die, he wouldn't have killed Trina. He is just trying to stress you out. Do not let him."
"Trina and that baby mean the world to me. We are supposed to find out the gender next week."
Elizabeth sadly smiled. "And you will. Believe, Cameron. We will make it out of here. You will find out the gender. I promise you."
"I hope you are right," Cameron sighed.
"When have I ever steered you wrong?" Elizabeth lightly teased.
Behind Cameron and Elizabeth, Maxie felt her heart rate speed up. She was beginning to panic in fear that this night would end tragically for all of them. "This needs to end soon. I can't do this anymore," Maxie whispered to LuLu.
LuLu squeezed her best friend's hand. "I know. But you have to stay strong. We need to think of an escape path."
"Escape path? LuLu! That bomb is set to go off in under two hours. We are going to die!" Maxie quietly muttered.
"Maxie! Calm down!"
"Hey!" Number Three roared as he marched over to stand in front of Maxie and LuLu. "Cyrus's rules haven't changed. Don't move. Don't talk. Why can't you understand that?"
"Oh my God," Maxie breathlessly said.
"Maxie…" LuLu mumbled.
"It's you," Maxie said, shock evident in her tone. "I don't know how I didn't hear it. Or even see it. Oh my God."
"Maxie? Who is it?" LuLu asked.
"It's Peter," Maxie admitted.
Peter pulled his mask off his face. "Took you long enough."
"You shot Emma. Made me go over and help when you know what I went through with Nathan. How could I have been so blind? And what the hell do you want? Why are you doing this?" Maxie inquired.
Cyrus returned to the lobby and answered Maxie's question for both he and Peter, "That's for us to know and you all to never find out."
"Chief Scorpio? Any news on the hostages?" Martin asked as he and Lucy approached command central.
"Mr. Grey, you need to stand back with the rest of the civilians," Mac replied seriously.
"Mac, come on. Can't you tell us anything?" Lucy pushed.
"Please, my family is in there," Martin begged.
"Yeah. So is my niece. I know how you feel," Mac retorted.
"My sister is the damn mayor and none of you are moving a damn muscle or telling any of us anything!" Martin yelled.
"Marty…" Lucy muttered, trying to calm him down.
"Listen, I know you are stressed. Everyone here is. We all have someone we care about trapped in there. Please stay calm. I know it's hard. If it was up to me, I would rush in there and carry Emma out on my back. But I can't. Just remain calm, Martin. For your sister," Mac explained.
Martin scoffed.
Mac took pity on the man. "Laura and Lucky are alive. Your sister and nephew are pretty phenomenal. Cyrus allowed Kevin to instruct them on how to operate on my niece. They saved her life. So, please, remain calm and hopeful that they are still alive in there."
Martin nodded. "Thank you. Thank you."
"That bomb will be going off in less than two hours. We need a plan," Laura whispered to Lucky as she brushed sweat from Emma's forehead.
"A plan for what? There is no way we can escape without dying," Lucky countered.
"I know we are further away from the bomb but from what I can tell, it's not a large range explosive," Laura said.
"That means the further away we are from it, the less damage can be done to us."
Laura nodded. "Exactly. We will still be in the room but if we all can move as far away from it as possible, the best chance we all have at surviving."
"We just need to warn everyone else before the bomb goes off without tipping Cyrus and Peter off," Lucky cautioned.
"Do you think they could have rotated hostages from room to room? That way the hostages couldn't make a plan to team up against them?" Curtis suggested as the group were putting finishing touches on their plan to break in.
"From what I can see and what I remember seeing a few hours ago, there is a group that he hasn't touched. They have been in the lobby the entire time. There are others like Kristina, who he took away for a bit but then brought back," Spinelli explained.
"Can you see who is out of the lobby now of the original hostage list?" Jason asked.
"Mr. Corinthos is still gone. Michael, Spencer, and Trina are gone. Ava has been gone for a while. And rest in peace to Nurse Bobbie, Sasha, and Willow," Spinelli shared.
"Spencer's gone?" Nikolas cried.
"I wouldn't panic, Prince Cassadine. It doesn't seem like Cyrus's motive to kill people away from the group. He probably moved him to another room," Spinelli offered as a sense of comfort.
"Who are you going to rescue first?" TJ inquired.
"I don't know. Whoever I see first. We just need to get people out of there as fast as possible," Jason replied. "That goes for you too, Dante."
"What does that mean?" Dante retorted.
"He means that LuLu is probably number one on your list of people to rescue. He doesn't want you rushing in to find her," Sam stepped forwards from her spot behind the huddle of men.
"Sam-" Dante began.
"Just be safe," she said as she lightly kissed Dante. "Both of you," she directed at Dante and Jason.
"How is she?" Peter asked as he stood over Emma.
"She has a steady pulse," Lucky responded.
"So, Anna's precious Emma is going to live?"
Lucky said, "It's too soon to be sure. I'm not a doctor."
Before Peter could admonish Lucky for saying a smart remark, Emma screamed out in agony. "AHHHHHH!"
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry for any grammar or spelling mistakes. Also, if I screwed up the medical stuff, I apologize. Grey's Anatomy surgeries are the most I know about medical
procedures