Nearly two hours later, the phone rang for about the 50th time. Jim had only answered four times. It was always the police, trying to make some sort of deal. This wasn't like other situations.as far as they all knew, Jim didn't want anything.no money, nothing, just making people suffer.
The security guards had tried getting free more than a few times, but Jim always threatened them.
Carter held a piece of his shirt against the cut on his head. It had stopped freely bleeding, but still hurt. Abby sat against the wall, her head on Susan's shoulder. Susan, exhausted rested her head on Abby's, but wouldn't let herself fall asleep.
Jim still sat on the counter, turning the gun in his hands.
Gallant sat restless, frustrated he couldn't do anything. The few patients still sat in shock. Their small injuries now not so important as when they first came into the ER. One little girl sat against the wall a couple of feet from Carter. Tears streamed down her face. Her teacher, or whoever it was who brought her in sat on the other side of the room. Carter looked over at her and whispered to her. "How are you holding up?"
The little girl shrugged, wiping a tear from her cheek. "How old are you?" "Eight."
Carter smiled a little at her. "I'm Dr. Carter, what's your name?" "Amy." "Well Amy, don't worry ok? Everything will be ok."
She nodded. "Is your foot ok?"
She looked down at her foot when he mentioned it. "It hurts. I think I sprained it." "Okay.hang on a sec."
Carter, keeping his eyes on Jim reached into the cart next to Gallant. He pulled out a wrap and motioned for Amy to scoot over.
Once she was next to him, Carter tightly wrapped her foot and ankle in the bandage. "There. That should hold you until we can get you a cast." "Thank you Dr. Carter."
He smiled.
Jim hopped down from the desk and walked over to this. "What's going on over here?"
Carter didn't look at him. "I was just wrapping her sprained ankle." "Oh, you're the hero then, huh?"
Carter still didn't look at him.
Jim crouched down in front of Amy. "You sprained your ankle?"
She nodded, tears began streaming down her face again. "How'd you do that?" "I.I did it at recess." "Oh.why are you crying?"
Carter sighed, frustrated. "Come on, leave her alone."
Jim glared at Carter. "I wasn't talking to you."
He turned back to Amy. "Why are you crying? Are you scared?"
She nodded. "Scared of me?"
She nodded again, wiping a tear from her cheek.
Carter shook his head. "God, just leave her alone. Haven't you done enough damage?!"
Jim stood up and glared at Carter. "You need to learn to shut your mouth."
Carter shook his head. "Look, why don't you just let the patients go. They didn't do anything to you." "You think its that easy? You think I can just let them walk out of here? They walk out, the police walk in, its that simple." "Look, we can work something out. The police have been calling, they want this to all work out so no one has to get hurt, okay? You won't win Jim. They probably have the SWAT team out there by now. No matter what you do, they'll get you."
Jim clenched his jaw, and pointed his gun at Carter. "Yea, maybe they will, but not before I kill you."
Abby shot up when she noticed Jim pointing his gun at Carter. She stood up. Susan grabbed her arm. "Abby what are you doing?!" "I can't just let him kill him!"
Abby yanked her arm free. She walked toward the ambulance bay doors, hiding behind the wall. She inched her way toward the doors, trying to find a way to open it without making noise. She turned her back on the room, slowly trying to pull out the lock. She was startled by a voice behind her. "You must really want to die."
Abby turned around, her eyes full of fear. "Look, I.um.I just.God.just let us get the kids out, okay? Please."
He stared at her and grabbed her by the arm, throwing her into the hallway. She fell on her knees on the floor, bracing herself with her hands. Jim pointed his gun at her. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you now."
Her eyes darted around the room, trying to think of something, something that would make him stop. "What would your son think of you if he saw you like this?! Do you honestly think this is what he would have wanted?"
Jim pulled his gun back. He stared at her face. "What the hell would you know about it?"
She pulled back, sitting against the desk. "I know that it must have been a horrible time for you.and to be taken away by the police.it wasn't your fault.it wasn't.anyone's fault." "It was mine."
Abby looked up at him. He continued. "Sammy was at my house for the weekend.he.he wanted to go to the Zoo. I promised him we would go, but.but I had work I had to get done. He was playing by the stairs outside.he was playing with his ball and.and his blocks. He made a tower and.and he wanted me to come out and see it.I told him I would.but I had so much work to do."
Abby cautiously stood up. He stared at a spot on the floor, his eyes were vacant.like he was seeing it all over again. He continued. "I finally got a minute. And I walked outside to see him. He was standing on the edge of the top stair.playing with his ball. I must.I must have scared him. He didn't see me. I just said his name.and her toppled over.he fell down all the stairs. It happened like it was in slow motion.but I couldn't move fast enough. He.he just lay at the bottom of the stairs.limp.I screamed for help. My neighbor called the ambulance. I just held him in my arms, trying to wake him up. His head was bleeding.I didn't know what to do.they brought him here.it was all my fault."
Abby cautiously stepped closer. "No, no. It wasn't your fault. It was an accident. You can't blame yourself." "But I do."
Abby looked at him. She bit her lip.hoping for the best. "If.if your son were alive.what would he think of his father, putting other lives at risk?"
He finally looked at her. She knew he was nearly at the point where he would let them go. The silence was broken by a loud banging on the door. Everyone looked toward the ambulance door. A police man stood at the door, surrounded by five other officers. "This is your last chance!! Let everyone out now!!"
Jim narrowed his eyes. Abby looked at him. Damnit. She lost him. He grabbed her arm, pulling the gun to her head. He shuffled with her towards the door. She squeezed her eyes shut. Her heart pounded in her chest.
Carter watched her, not knowing what to do. He would run over there and jump the man in a second, but he didn't want to take that chance on Abby's life.
Jim banged against the ambulance door. "YOU ALL GET BACK!! I'LL SHOOT HER! I SWEAR TO GOD!!!"
Abby looked at the police officer. They locked eyes for a minute. The police officer nodded. "Alright, sir. Look, we just want this all to end well. We don't want to hurt you, or get anyone hurt. Why don't you just let them out of there. We can work this out, okay?"
Jim shook his head. "You'd like that, wouldn't you?!"
Jim pulled back with Abby, still holding the gun against her temple. Abby offered no resistance.she didn't want to get herself killed.
Jim threw her down on the ground. She yelled out and grabbed her arm. "Son of a bitch!"
She yelled, not necessarily to him. She held her wrist tightly, she definitely heard a pop. She winced and scooted back to Susan. Susan sighed. Abby shook her head and whispered to her. "I almost had him."
Susan nodded. "Its okay. How's your hand." "It hurts like hell."
Susan sighed.
Jim paced around in the hospital room. The phone rang again. He picked it up, only to hang it up. He glanced around. Carter slowly stood up and cautiously walked over to him. "Jim, I'm begging you, please.just let the patients out. You don't have anything against them. Just.its me you want. Let everyone else go."
Jim shook his head. "Back off *Doctor*."
He spit off the word 'Doctor'. "Jim, please.just listen to me." "I'll only say this again. Back OFF."
John sighed, still standing there. "Jim." "BACK OFF!!!"
Jim shot his gun, making a loud noise pulse through the ER. Abby shot up from where she sat. "JOHN!!!"