Disclaimer: I don't own anyone but Kali.
The heat seemed to have gotten worse in the past ten minutes in the ER. As we walk out the bay, Abby rushes out of the ER.
"Kali!" she cries.
"What!" I turn around just before she jumps me, moving out of the way before she crushes Henry.
"Hey, who's this guy?" she asks, confusion in her eyes when she sees two babies.
"It's Henry, Dr. Weaver's kid," I explain… once again.
"You weren't really going to leave without giving your big sister a hug were you?" she teases.
Then she's all over me with hugs and kisses and "Kali Wali's." I laugh and cover Henry so he doesn't get crushed. Alex blushes ten shades of red. And finally Abby backs off.
"Sorry I couldn't help myself," she grins mischievously.
I shake my head in amusement and saunter towards Jumbo Mart with Alex in tow holding Cosmo.
"I'll see you at eight!" she calls.
I turn and blow a kiss.
As we reach the door, I realize that my hands are a little full to open the door. Thankfully two men are also going in and they hold it open for us.
"Thank you," I say gratefully.
I move to the end of the store and grab a Coke from the fridge and Alex grabs a few Freezies from the freezer.
We make our way to the front to pay when I see that the two men who opened the door for us are holding up the store. One is pointing his gun at the cashier and the other is pointing his gun at everyone in the store. I catch his eye and look at him in disbelief. Then I notice that cops have pulled up outside and realize that the cashier must have pressed the panic button.
"Shit!" the taller one says, as he sees the cops. He locks the door and pushes a shelf in front of it.
"Everyone get down! Get down!" the other screams.
I grab Alex's arm and pull him to the floor with me. Sitting against the freezer I hold Henry close to my chest and wrap my arm around Alex. From here I get a view of another shopper. Oh my gosh it's Scott! Ever since that day I ran from the party, I had stopped hanging out with that group of people.
He catches my eye and I look away, trying to see where the robbers were. Suddenly the tall one is standing in front of me.
"Get up," he says gruffly.
I stand and help Alex up. We follow him to the front where he makes us sit on the counter.
"Too many kids," he mumbles to his partner. I survey the store and see an elderly couple, Scott, a middle-aged man and the cashier who is a 20-something woman. All have fear in their eyes.
"You, what's you name?" the short one has a British accent.
"K-Ka-Kali," I stammer.
"These your brothers?" he pokes at Alex.
"No, I'm babysitting them," I say quietly.
"Oh so you wouldn't be too heart broken if they died would you?" the tall one grabs Alex and holds a gun to his head. Alex freezes and clutches Cosmo tightly.
"Stop! Please," I cry.
He cocks the gun and the British one snatches Cosmo and hands him to me. I slide down from the counter and try to juggle holding two babies.
"No don't!" someone yells and suddenly Scott has rushed to the front and pushed Alex to me. The gun fires and I drop in fear. Alex is crouched beside me unharmed but Scott is laying in a pool of blood. The tall man was bleeding from his arm.
I sob and stare at him. The babies are crying and now I'm being yelled at the "shut them up!"
"Please, he needs to go to the hospital," I beg, "I know people there will help you."
"Yeah like they will," he mutters through clenched teeth.
"They will, I know most of the staff, my sister works there," I carry on.
The two robbers conspire then turn and yell to everyone.
"If you can do it on your own, get out!" the short one moves the shelf and flings open the door. I sprint towards it with Alex and the babies but the British short robber grabs me.
"Not you," he hisses.
"Please, let the boys go," I sob, clutching the infants with Alex close by. Waiting.
"Fine," he mutters.
I hand the babies to Alex and he runs out. I sigh with relief. At least the boys are safe. I'm dragged back to the front and placed beside Scott. Now it's just him and me alone with these guys.
I turn him over and see the bullet went through his stomach.
"Scott," I whisper, stroking his face tenderly.
"Kals, I'll be okay," he says.
"Yes, yes you will," I insist.
"Aww look at the love birds," the tall robber mocks. One kicks me and yells "get up!"
I scramble to my feet and eye the two.
"What do you want?" I sneer, feeling angry.
"Well we had to keep a hostage or two, we need some leverage over the cops," the short one smirks.
I look out the windows and see a crowd has gathered. A big crowd! Many ER docs are out there and I see Alex talking to a police officer with Sam and Luka at his side. Susan is holding Cosmo and beside her is Dr. Weaver with Henry. Both women have tears streaming down their faces. Finally I spot Abby, she's been watching me this whole time. She's wrapped up in Carter and they're crying as they watch me.
"Please, let me go," I say, turning to the men, "I want out."
"Too bad for you," the tall one states.
The phone starts ringing and the British one picks it up.
"What is it?" he demands, "Yes we have two hostages, yes one is harmed," he tells the person (presumably a cop) on the other end. "We want a getaway truck, then you can have the kids." With that last statement he slams down the phone.