Author's note: I decided to make this chapter extra-long to make up for the shortness of my last one, and the awful cliffhangers I've been leaving you guys with. I was going to post this a lot earlier, but due to Spring Term starting back up, and new ideas on where to get where I'm eventually going with this popping up...you understand, I hope. Again, thanks to everyone who has reviewed thus far and also THANK YOU for taking time out of your lives to even read this. Okay, now, I'm babbling...
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Chapter Fifteen: Escalation
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Not feeling the impact of a bullet, Danny opened his eyes again after a few seconds. In front of him, a surprised Keller dropped his rifle and held his left arm. With a look of pain on his face, he turned to face Ed, who was still holding his pistol. He had shot Keller in the arm before Keller could shoot and probably kill Danny.
"You son of a bitch." Keller growled, taking a step forward.
"You take another step," Ed warned, not wavering. "And I'll blow your ass to kingdom come." His blue eyes turned to Danny. "You okay, kid?"
"I'm fine." Danny nodded, getting to his feet. Of course, he thought that Ed might want to ask him again when the adrenaline eventually wore off.
"Good." Ed replied, turning his gaze back to Keller. "Looks like yourself a choice here, Jack. You can either surrender peacefully…" Ed gripped the pistol tightly. "Or I kill you where you stand."
"I'd go for the first option." Danny said quietly.
"You neglected to mention the third option, Ed." Keller chuckled, reaching into his coat. Before either Ed or Danny could move, the dark-haired man pulled a silver pistol out of the inside of jacket and pressed the barrel against Danny's temple. Danny gasped in surprise, and a concerned Ed lowered his pistol slightly. A fiendish grin crossed Keller's face. "I do what I should have done the whole time: I take the kid hostage."
"You son of a…" Ed started, aiming his pistol again.
"Careful, Ed." Keller smirked, "You really don't want to set me off right now." He firmed up his grip on the pistol. "I guarantee that you won't like the consequences."
With a fire burning in his eyes, Ed simply stared silently at the picture in front of him for a moment. There was no way he could take Keller out now, and not give the other man the opportunity and reason to shoot Danny. Ed knew that the ex-Marine wouldn't survive a bullet from that close of a range. Sighing, he cautiously lowered the gun and set it on the desk next to him. He raised his hands in the air to show that he had no weapons.
"That's better." Keller commented with a smile.
"Ed, no!" Danny protested, "Just let this bastard kill me!" He glared at Keller. "God knows that he's going to do it anyway."
"Don't put ideas into my head, kid." Keller replied gruffly. He forcibly turned Danny around, so that the ex-Marine faced away from him. McCoy was about to react when he felt the barrel of the pistol jam against his spinal cord. He winced slightly, as Keller looked at Ed. "No reason for him to get hurt if you'll just follow directions."
"What do you want?" Ed asked with a voice full of defeat.
"That all depends on you, Ed." Keller replied, nodding his head towards Danny. "How much do you think his safety is worth?" A grin crossed his face. "Of course, there's also that little matter of what you robbed me of in Vegas, and a little extra for interest and this adventure."
"I'll make the call right now if you'll let me." Ed said with a nod.
"It kind of ruins the effect if you can see the hostage, Ed." Keller replied, shoving Danny towards the door. "I'll call you with instructions on where we'll do our little trade." Noticing that McCoy had stopped, Keller shoved the younger man forward again. "Move it, kid!"
As he exited out the door, Danny took one last look at his mentor. A solemn look of both defeat and yet, reassurance was on his face. Ed nodded silently at Danny before Keller pushed McCoy out of the room.
As the door slammed shut behind them, Keller stopped for a moment before continuing down the stairs and out the factory. With his injured arm (so he wouldn't take his pistol off Danny), he gingerly reached into his pants pocket and pulled out some keys. Turning his head to see what his captor was doing, Danny was surprised to see Keller locking the door.
"What are you doing?" Danny asked surprised.
"Just in case Ed had any wild ideas about going after us." Keller smiled, stuffing his keys back into his pocket.
Suddenly, he mightily shoved Danny forward, causing the ex-Marine to tumble down the stairwell in front of the two. When he finally landed at the bottom, McCoy lay in a heap for a moment. His whole body ached, but his previously injured head and abdomen seemed to hurt the most. He out a small groan as he pulled himself, using the handrail, into a sitting position.
Danny quickly glanced up to the window into the overseer's office. Seeing as how the mini-blinds had been pulled up, Ed could be seen standing in front of the window, watching what was taking place down below. An angry yet compassionate look was present in his eyes.
"He can't help you now, kid." Keller remarked as he descended down the last of the stairs. He jerked Danny to his feet, and held the pistol on him once more.
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As Keller marched Danny out of the factory, Ed turned away from the window in disgust. He put his fists on the desk, and lowered his head. Although he didn't like the situation that Danny was in, Deline knew that McCoy could take care of himself for the time being. Ed was more concerned with the question of what had happened to Nessa, Mike, and Sam. From what Keller had said to the man on the phone, Keller's men appeared to have them trapped somewhere, and were waiting for the orders to kill them. There was no way Ed could allow that to happen.
But, how was he supposed to escape? Keller had locked the only door to the room, and it appeared too strong for even Ed to kick down. He stood up, sighed, and ran a desperate hand through his hair. There had to be a solution! Suddenly, his blue eyes fell upon his pistol, which was still lying on the desk. After he slowly picked the gun up, he walked over to the window again. Sure enough, there were plenty of pipes and whatnot in close enough range. A smile crossed Ed's face, and he only hoped that the glass wasn't bulletproof.
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"So, where are we going?" Danny asked as he walked down the asphalt road in front of the factory. Keller was only a step behind him, and still held the pistol to his back.
"You'll find out." Keller replied as a jeep was heard nearing. The dark-haired man grabbed Danny's shoulder to stop him from moving. A cautious look appeared in his eyes. He changed his tone to a whisper. "Damn it."
Realizing that it wasn't one of Keller's men, Danny could feel himself fill with curiosity. He hoped that it was some sort of assistance, but he didn't get his hopes up about it being the others from the Montecito. Last Danny knew, they were coming from the opposite direction, and where would they have gotten a jeep? As the jeep neared, McCoy could see more and more of the driver and lone passenger. It was definitely a woman with long, dark blonde hair…No! It couldn't be.
The jeep parked quickly in front of the two men, and Danny could feel his heart and stomach sink while his mind wondered what in the hell she was doing there? Feeling full of despair and fear, he closed his eyes tightly, hoping that he was just imagining things.
"Please, God…" he whispered, feeling sick to his stomach.
"Danny!" Mary exclaimed as she got out of the jeep. She gasped and put a hand over her mouth upon seeing Keller with the gun.
"Ms. Connell!" Keller greeted with an evil grin. "I'm glad you could join our little party."
"Just let her go, Keller." Danny begged, opening his eyes and looking at his captor. He shook his head. "She has nothing to do with this."
"That's the problem with you and Big Ed." Keller remarked, "You both care too much about other people." He struck Danny in the middle of his shoulder blades with his gun. The younger man lurched forward in pain. "It only causes you problems."
"Danny!" Mary said, running over and holding him in her arms. He winced slightly as she touched one of the bruises he had earned over the past few days. Watching the scene unfolding in front of him, Keller smirked slightly.
"Looks like the two of you want to catch up." Keller remarked before nodding to the jeep. "Why don't the three of us take a little drive?"
To be continued...
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Chapter Fifteen: Escalation
------------------------------------------------------------------
Not feeling the impact of a bullet, Danny opened his eyes again after a few seconds. In front of him, a surprised Keller dropped his rifle and held his left arm. With a look of pain on his face, he turned to face Ed, who was still holding his pistol. He had shot Keller in the arm before Keller could shoot and probably kill Danny.
"You son of a bitch." Keller growled, taking a step forward.
"You take another step," Ed warned, not wavering. "And I'll blow your ass to kingdom come." His blue eyes turned to Danny. "You okay, kid?"
"I'm fine." Danny nodded, getting to his feet. Of course, he thought that Ed might want to ask him again when the adrenaline eventually wore off.
"Good." Ed replied, turning his gaze back to Keller. "Looks like yourself a choice here, Jack. You can either surrender peacefully…" Ed gripped the pistol tightly. "Or I kill you where you stand."
"I'd go for the first option." Danny said quietly.
"You neglected to mention the third option, Ed." Keller chuckled, reaching into his coat. Before either Ed or Danny could move, the dark-haired man pulled a silver pistol out of the inside of jacket and pressed the barrel against Danny's temple. Danny gasped in surprise, and a concerned Ed lowered his pistol slightly. A fiendish grin crossed Keller's face. "I do what I should have done the whole time: I take the kid hostage."
"You son of a…" Ed started, aiming his pistol again.
"Careful, Ed." Keller smirked, "You really don't want to set me off right now." He firmed up his grip on the pistol. "I guarantee that you won't like the consequences."
With a fire burning in his eyes, Ed simply stared silently at the picture in front of him for a moment. There was no way he could take Keller out now, and not give the other man the opportunity and reason to shoot Danny. Ed knew that the ex-Marine wouldn't survive a bullet from that close of a range. Sighing, he cautiously lowered the gun and set it on the desk next to him. He raised his hands in the air to show that he had no weapons.
"That's better." Keller commented with a smile.
"Ed, no!" Danny protested, "Just let this bastard kill me!" He glared at Keller. "God knows that he's going to do it anyway."
"Don't put ideas into my head, kid." Keller replied gruffly. He forcibly turned Danny around, so that the ex-Marine faced away from him. McCoy was about to react when he felt the barrel of the pistol jam against his spinal cord. He winced slightly, as Keller looked at Ed. "No reason for him to get hurt if you'll just follow directions."
"What do you want?" Ed asked with a voice full of defeat.
"That all depends on you, Ed." Keller replied, nodding his head towards Danny. "How much do you think his safety is worth?" A grin crossed his face. "Of course, there's also that little matter of what you robbed me of in Vegas, and a little extra for interest and this adventure."
"I'll make the call right now if you'll let me." Ed said with a nod.
"It kind of ruins the effect if you can see the hostage, Ed." Keller replied, shoving Danny towards the door. "I'll call you with instructions on where we'll do our little trade." Noticing that McCoy had stopped, Keller shoved the younger man forward again. "Move it, kid!"
As he exited out the door, Danny took one last look at his mentor. A solemn look of both defeat and yet, reassurance was on his face. Ed nodded silently at Danny before Keller pushed McCoy out of the room.
As the door slammed shut behind them, Keller stopped for a moment before continuing down the stairs and out the factory. With his injured arm (so he wouldn't take his pistol off Danny), he gingerly reached into his pants pocket and pulled out some keys. Turning his head to see what his captor was doing, Danny was surprised to see Keller locking the door.
"What are you doing?" Danny asked surprised.
"Just in case Ed had any wild ideas about going after us." Keller smiled, stuffing his keys back into his pocket.
Suddenly, he mightily shoved Danny forward, causing the ex-Marine to tumble down the stairwell in front of the two. When he finally landed at the bottom, McCoy lay in a heap for a moment. His whole body ached, but his previously injured head and abdomen seemed to hurt the most. He out a small groan as he pulled himself, using the handrail, into a sitting position.
Danny quickly glanced up to the window into the overseer's office. Seeing as how the mini-blinds had been pulled up, Ed could be seen standing in front of the window, watching what was taking place down below. An angry yet compassionate look was present in his eyes.
"He can't help you now, kid." Keller remarked as he descended down the last of the stairs. He jerked Danny to his feet, and held the pistol on him once more.
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As Keller marched Danny out of the factory, Ed turned away from the window in disgust. He put his fists on the desk, and lowered his head. Although he didn't like the situation that Danny was in, Deline knew that McCoy could take care of himself for the time being. Ed was more concerned with the question of what had happened to Nessa, Mike, and Sam. From what Keller had said to the man on the phone, Keller's men appeared to have them trapped somewhere, and were waiting for the orders to kill them. There was no way Ed could allow that to happen.
But, how was he supposed to escape? Keller had locked the only door to the room, and it appeared too strong for even Ed to kick down. He stood up, sighed, and ran a desperate hand through his hair. There had to be a solution! Suddenly, his blue eyes fell upon his pistol, which was still lying on the desk. After he slowly picked the gun up, he walked over to the window again. Sure enough, there were plenty of pipes and whatnot in close enough range. A smile crossed Ed's face, and he only hoped that the glass wasn't bulletproof.
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"So, where are we going?" Danny asked as he walked down the asphalt road in front of the factory. Keller was only a step behind him, and still held the pistol to his back.
"You'll find out." Keller replied as a jeep was heard nearing. The dark-haired man grabbed Danny's shoulder to stop him from moving. A cautious look appeared in his eyes. He changed his tone to a whisper. "Damn it."
Realizing that it wasn't one of Keller's men, Danny could feel himself fill with curiosity. He hoped that it was some sort of assistance, but he didn't get his hopes up about it being the others from the Montecito. Last Danny knew, they were coming from the opposite direction, and where would they have gotten a jeep? As the jeep neared, McCoy could see more and more of the driver and lone passenger. It was definitely a woman with long, dark blonde hair…No! It couldn't be.
The jeep parked quickly in front of the two men, and Danny could feel his heart and stomach sink while his mind wondered what in the hell she was doing there? Feeling full of despair and fear, he closed his eyes tightly, hoping that he was just imagining things.
"Please, God…" he whispered, feeling sick to his stomach.
"Danny!" Mary exclaimed as she got out of the jeep. She gasped and put a hand over her mouth upon seeing Keller with the gun.
"Ms. Connell!" Keller greeted with an evil grin. "I'm glad you could join our little party."
"Just let her go, Keller." Danny begged, opening his eyes and looking at his captor. He shook his head. "She has nothing to do with this."
"That's the problem with you and Big Ed." Keller remarked, "You both care too much about other people." He struck Danny in the middle of his shoulder blades with his gun. The younger man lurched forward in pain. "It only causes you problems."
"Danny!" Mary said, running over and holding him in her arms. He winced slightly as she touched one of the bruises he had earned over the past few days. Watching the scene unfolding in front of him, Keller smirked slightly.
"Looks like the two of you want to catch up." Keller remarked before nodding to the jeep. "Why don't the three of us take a little drive?"
To be continued...