Author's note: Thanks for all the reviews!
Dolly: Thanks very much!
Kat: Thanks =)
WriterChick2391: SWAT was a great movie ... I didn't get sick of watching it on a 14hr flight ... tells you how much I loved it!!
Leann: What's gonna happen? You'll have to wait and see *evil laugh* Thanks.
Heather: It was just a random idea that occurred to me on the 3rd watching ... Thankyou!
Amora M: Thanks! Hope this chapter satisfies.
Katie: Thankyou too ...
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters – I make no profit from this (unfortunately :-p)!
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Chapter 2: Confessions
Hondo was livid. Deke couldn't remember ever having seen him this angry. He had spun the car around and was tearing down the street back to Checkpoint two… hoping they weren't too late. Sanchez hung on for dear life in the back of the car, clutching the seat handle.
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TJ led the way down the stairs of the subway station, and Alex came after him, then Gamble and Street. Halfway down the stairs, Gamble stuck his foot in front of Jim's and pushed Street hard; Jim tripped and fell down the stairs, landing with a hard thud at the bottom. TJ half-turned, but then Gamble grabbed Street and pulled him to his feet, dragging him – stunned – along.
There were people screaming – Street could dimly hear them – but he couldn't think properly – why would they be screaming? Then it hit him – he remembered. Gamble – Gamble and TJ – they were in it together; they were breaking Alex out. And he ... he was a hostage.
Street hated that feeling. He had always hated feeling helpless, or having to rely on others. He hoped that Hondo would realise that he – Street – hadn't wanted to go with Gamble ... he also hoped that an escape opportunity would present itself really quickly.
Street forced himself to snap out of his reverie. You'll need to be alert, just in case he told himself.
He found that they were entering a train; Gamble tripped him again and forced him to stay down. "TJ!" he called. "Check him for weapons."
TJ nodded, and walked over. Gamble took his weight off Jim's back, allowing him to his knees while TJ carefully checked Street for weapons, removing any he could find. He then took a pair of handcuffs and forced Jim's hands behind his back, cuffing them together.
Gamble walked away, but TJ stayed, watching Street intently. "TJ..." Street began.
"Shut up," TJ ordered.
"TJ, don't do this," Street said. Part of him refused to believe this was happening ... he couldn't believe it; he couldn't understand. How could TJ do this? How could he betray them all?
"Look, Street, maybe you don't want for money – but I do, ok?"
"So you broke out a criminal and betrayed your colleagues? Damn, TJ, isn't that taking it too far?"
"How would you know?" TJ yelled suddenly, anger overcoming him as he jumped to his feet, and pulled Street up with him, slamming him against the wall. "How would you know what it's like to have no money, pretty boy? You don't have a damn clue about why I'm doing this..." He sat back down, and released Jim, who fell back to his knees. "You think I wanted to betray you guys?" TJ continued quietly. "Hell no. I never wanted it to come to this ... but beggars can't be choosers, Jimmy." He grinned. "Think they'll put me in the SWAT training book?" He put on a pompous accent: " 'And now, on page 57, how to deal with the traitorous group member...' " His voice died away. "Look Jim," he said, his face serious, "you play your cards right, and you'll get out of this with your life. Put a foot wrong and Gamble will shoot you down like a dog. You know he will."
Jim looked up, impressed by the seriousness of TJ's tone – and the fact that despite everything, TJ apparently wanted Street to escape with his life. "Yeah," he replied. "I know."
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Deke slammed the brakes on as they drew up beside Car Two. Hondo leapt out and ran straight to Boxer; Sanchez followed. Deke ran to check the car. "They're gone," he yelled. "TJ, Alex ... Street!"
Hondo looked up sharply at the mention of the last name. "Street's missing?"
"Hostage or –" Deke stopped short of saying what he thought ... he's betrayed us ...
"No," Hondo said firmly. "You heard him – he tried to tell us what was happening – would he had done that if he'd betrayed us?" He shook his head. "You're barking up the wrong tree, Deke." He turned to Chris as she knelt by Boxer. "Sanchez?"
"It's bad," she told him. "I've radioed for an ambulance. We need to get him to hospital real quick."
Hondo nodded. "Ok." His ears pricked up as he heard sirens: the ambulance, he thought with a sigh of relief. "We're going after Gamble – you coming?"
Chris took Boxer's hand for a second, and gave it a quick squeeze. "Yeah," she said, before leaning close to Boxer and whispering, "Don't you die on us, Boxer." She pulled back as she heard the ambulance draw up, and she followed Hondo and Deke into the subway.
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"If I could just break up this heart-to-heart," Gamble drawled, approaching Street and TJ, "it's time for us to go." He pulled Street to his feet and over towards the door. TJ and Alex followed.
Jim noticed with a start that the train had stopped moving. "What the hell are you doing?"
Gamble grinned. "Watch and learn, Jimmy-boy, watch and learn." He pulled the carriage doors open. "After you." He threw Street out of the carriage; with his hands cuffed behind his back he could not break his fall, and landed hard on the ground, winded and in pain. He groaned; his ribs felt like they were on fire, but he knew they weren't broken – broken ribs hurt a hell of a lot more. He heard Gamble and the others leap down, and then felt the familiar hand on his collar, jerking him to his feet. He stifled a cry as his bruised rib cage was forced into full extension.
"Getting sluggish in your old age..." Gamble remarked with a laugh. "Don't train 'em like they used to, eh TJ?"
"Let's keep moving," TJ said, ignoring Gamble. He pushed past them, down the tunnel. Gamble looked after him for a second, then released his hold on Street and walked after TJ. "Stay there," he called over his shoulder.
Gamble grabbed TJ by the arm and pulled him around. "TJ, what's your problem?" he asked, innocently but with a venomous gleam in his eye.
"Nothing," TJ replied, "apart from the fact that we are running behind schedule, and that the rest of his team will be coming after us." He nodded at Street. "So let's keep moving."
Gamble nodded, understanding filling his eyes. "OK, TJ, if that's the way you want it," he said softly. "But if you let him escape ... I will shoot you then I will kill him." He gripped TJ's arm as he tried to pull away. "Understand?"
TJ frowned, as if confused. "Yeah, I gotcha."
Gamble stepped back. "Let's move!" he called.
-- Street saw Gamble follow TJ, calling "Stay there" at Jim. Street – naturally – began to look around and assess his surroundings, estimate how far he could get before Gamble could get back. Suddenly he felt Alex's hand on his shoulder.
"Run and die, my brother," Montel whispered. "You know how I treat my prisoners?" he continued. Street steeled himself as he felt a blade run down his neck. Alex laughed. "This is a present from your friend – Gamble. If you try to run ... you will wish that you had never been born." He flicked his wrist suddenly, and Street gasped, more from shock than pain, as he felt blood run down the back of his neck.
"Let's move!" Gamble called. Alex released Street, but said as he did so, "Never forget that brother ... there's nowhere far enough away from me for you to hide." --
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Author's note 2: Well, here is chapter 2. Let me know what you think of the direction the story is taking ... any general comments also much appreciated!