Disclaimer: Nope, still isn't mine. Er, that's it.

A/N: Here is the conclusion to the long chapter split up. And a cliff-hanger-one of my best. The events from chapter 17 on Robert's side and a bit further. Sorry about the chapter order. Probably need to be re-ordered really but I don't think they're too confusing. I might re-arrange them later. Not to try for sympathy or anything but this was a very tricky chapter to write. If it is occasionally un-believable I apologise, but hey, I don't know how a nutters mind works. Or Robert's when he's off on one for that matter so it's big ole guesswork.

Time for someone to take some action. But who?

(Couple of swearwords-again a warning)

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'Hi again doc, it's me. I thought I could have a little chat before I go. Whilst we wait. How's the money coming?'

Robert realised as soon as he picked up the phone, that he really did not want to be speaking to Martin again. Anger and exhaustion bubbled up inside him as he heard the man's voice, grating into his ear.

'It's coming,' he replied tersely.

Yvonne's eyes flicked up at him.

'He's going to try to explain,' she whispered.

She had warned Robert to expect more demands, but it seemed Martin had developed a morose, yet determined mood. He began rambling.

'You ever been in love doc?' he asked.

What the fu-of all the things he could have talked about, he had to choose that? thought Robert. How about the state of government? World poverty? Fungal nail infections even. But instead he had decided to spill his guts about luurve-great.

'I mean real love,' persisted Martin, 'real gut-wrenching, mind-bending love when you can't understand why or how but one person has you whole?'

Oh ha, ha. Parallel lines right down my forehead, thought Robert. I get it.

'Yes,' he said.

'Really? Who was she?'

Robert hesitated.

'Don't tell him,' warned Yvonne, quietly, 'he'll only use it as ammo.'

'Old girlfriend,' he said, with as much conviction as he could muster.

He wondered how long this was going to last. The swell of anger was spilling out. It raged against Martin and his self-pity. It raged against his own uselessness and moreover it raged against the police, who sat and waited whilst this moronic, whining asshole played them all a merry tune. You want me to feel sorry for you? he thought, you want me to weep my guts out for you; just because you're wife ran off-

'-always do. You always end up alone. I mean Sarah left me for Jack and now...Jack's gone from her-'

-and you got into some trouble through you're own misguided view of romance? Fuck you, I've got no arm. No career. And nothing else. You're about to take away the only thing I care about and even if she comes out of this, nothing will change. She still won't feel about me like I do about her.

'-her husbands gone and...hey Dr Corday what about you? You been married, in love?'

'Is she still awake?' Robert found himself asking.

'Just listen!' hissed Yvonne.

'I am,' he murmured, through gritted teeth, 'I've listened the whole way.'

But it didn't matter. Martin seemed only to be listening to himself.

'-she's gone quiet over there. Always the way. They flake out on you in the end.'

She's gone, he thought. She must be gone. All right, nothing left to play for-let's make you suffer.

'Martin you'll go down for double murder, you know that?' said Robert, suddenly.

'Ha. I don't think so. They'll have to catch me first.'

He sniggered and Robert felt his fingers tighten around the phone. He shot Yvonne an angry look. She was staring at him warningly and shook her head.

'They will,' said Robert, 'eventually. And your conscience will. It'll start asking you if it's all been worth it. Jane Graham still isn't out of danger. She may still die and that will be murder too. Of a nine year old girl.'

'That isn't my fault.' mumbled Martin.

'You kept her in there Martin,' Robert carried on in an even tone, 'you kept them all in there. You shot three people, one of whom is definitely dead and you almost killed a nine year old girl-when does it become your fault?'

Martin was silent except for his breathing.

'What are you doing?' he heard Yvonne say, but he was past caring.

'Something,' he answered, and leant away from her, as if talking to a friend, 'Can you tell me something Martin. After all I've done for you, I feel owed.'

Yvonne reached out a hand to switch him off, but he said,

'You want me right Martin? You don't want to talk to the police again?'

'No,' said Martin, with force, 'I don't want to speak to those pigs. You tell them not to try anything okay?'

Yvonne flashed him an angry look.

'Listen to me-' she began.

'I am,' said Robert,' this is no reflection on you, I just want to ask Martin a couple more things, then he can tell me anything he wants. Is that okay Martin?'

'Why?' asked Martin suspiciously.

'Martin I admire your initiative. Really. I'm not being patronising or anything. I admire you and dislike you in equal measure.'

'Thanks doc,' said Martin, with a harsh laugh, 'what do you want to know?'

Robert took a deep breath.

'Is it really because of her?' he asked, 'Because of Sarah?'

Silence.

'Yes,' said Martin, in a constrained way, 'She'll be with me now, and we'll be together and she'll have everything she ever wanted. She loves me.'

'Really?'

Martin paused.

'I love her,' he said, 'but she's giving me this look. This really horrible look like she wishes I didn't exist.'

He giggled.

'She just spat at me. Maybe I'm wrong.'

'Mmm, I had a feeling. Truth is, you can't make someone love you. And she doesn't, she ran off with your best friend for God's sake. And you just killed him, so she definitely won't love you now.'

Martin's breathing sounded ragged and choked.

'She does-'

'No Martin,' Robert said firmly, 'she doesn't. Look at her, look into her eyes. You can tell. Trust me.'

Another pause then a half laugh, half sob, forced down the phone. It filled Robert with vicious pleasure.

'There's no point, is there?' Martin mumbled.

'No, there really isn't. Best to just end it,' said Robert.

'I got one bullet,' said Martin, suddenly, 'she's still looking at me.'

Robert's heart jumped in alarm.

'Martin, you don't want more-'

'Not for her, doc. For me. I don't want to go to prison.'

Robert's heart was still racing and he looked up at Yvonne, who seemed to have frozen in place.

'I thought it would end like this,' said Martin, 'hope you have something to clean up the mess.'

Suddenly, Robert heard a voice in the background.

'What?' said Martin, away from the phone.

Robert strained to hear and caught a woman's distant voice say,

'I love you, Martin.'

Then there was an ear splitting thump and the clatter of the phone against the wall. Another thump, then another followed by a strange silence.

'Martin?' said Robert, panic rising in his throat, 'Martin!? What the hell-he's gone!'

'We need to get in there!' stated Yvonne.

She turned to the SWAT team stationed in the corridor, but before she could say a word, they heard a door fling open and a woman's voice scream,

'Someone please help!'