Sorry about the Shakespeare in chapter 23…I know, I'm a dork

Chapter 24

Don jumped at the sound of the phone and was happy and nervous at the same time when he saw that Terry's name was on the screen of the caller ID

"Terry?" Don asked as if maybe it wasn't really her. Like she wasn't really calling and it was his mind playing tricks on him. The office went silent, so silent you could hear the other side of the conversation

"Hi Don" Terry answered.

Don breathed again knowing that for now she was safe "Oh thank god you're ok. How's your head?"

"How did you-" Terry started

"Amita called and told me. I'm just glad you're ok…however I think that you didn't call to just have a pleasant conversation" Don said almost sadly as he resigned to the fact that this was a hostage situation, not a chat as if Terry had just stayed home for the day

"Always perceptive, agent Eppes" Joe called out. Don almost dropped the phone. He hadn't realized that he was on speakerphone.

If the office was quiet before David thought you would think if a single sound was made then it would be hell on earth

"Ready for negotiations?" Don asked as coolly as he could. He knew that his voice betrayed his feelings for Terry and that (the knowledge of his feelings) could be a very dangerous thing for those in charge of the hostage situation.

"Yes. I want your little brother to hand over that equation he's working on. I have a mathematician of my own to decipher the equation so don't try to give me a fake one. I'll give you some time to think" The line was open for another moment, then a click and a dial tone. Don stared at the phone a moment and then hung up.

"What are we going to do?" Charlie asked hesitantly. He knew that they couldn't give him the equation but he also knew that because they had Terry Don wasn't going to treat this like a normal hostage situation, no matter how hard he tries

"I don't know. We obviously can't give them the equation because that's the key to stopping them. If we don't, I don't know safe the women will be. Let us not forget that there are most likely other hostages" Charlie's eyes widened at the last part. How had he been so foolish as to not think that there were other people in danger?

"I suppose that we can give him the equation, I can memorize it or save all my work. He never said anything about handing over my notes, just the equation right?" Don looked up at his brother. Charlie thought he said something wrong until he saw a smile break across his face

"No, he never said anything about your notes. Now, how fast can you get the equation back to, I guess, functioning form with just your notes?"

"No longer then a half hour" Charlie said tentatively, afraid that wouldn't be fast enough

"That's amazing Charlie. Let me clear releasing the equation, if he calls back tell him that I just need to get approval from my boss to hand him the equation" Don clapped Charlie on the back, handed him his cell phone and then rushed off beaming

"Do you really think they'll give him the equation?" Amita asked Terry quietly. Her shoulder pain seemed to have dulled a little, but only a little

"I honestly don't know. I know Don wouldn't hand it over in a normal hostage situation"

"But…"

"But this isn't a normal hostage situation. With Charlie there, and the both of us involved I somehow doubt that this is going to be treated normally" Terry turned to face Amita and was frightened at how paled her friend had become "Amita, how are you?"

"My shoulder hurts like hell and I'm a little cold but nothing I can't handle" Amita replied forcing out a laugh but Terry could see in her eyes how scared she was. They fell silent, neither not knowing what to say. Amita had actually contemplated telling her about the date but seeing as they were in the middle of a hostage situation. Soon the men took up to talking

"What do you plan to do if they don't give you the equation? Are you really going to kill all these people especially an FBI agent?" Jack asked. Hacking never killed anyone. He never signed up to be part of a hostage situation let alone a killing spree

"They'll give the equation to me. Don loves Terry and I'm pretty certain Charlie loves Amita, so I'm pretty sure they're not going to do anything stupid that's going to get the women they love killed"

"Are you sure? Something tells me that the director isn't going to approve them handing us the equation. And by the way, I've heard of Charlie Eppes there is no way I'm going to able to tell if the equation is going to do what it says"

"It doesn't matter as long as they think that you can"

"Whatever" Jack said turning away. He didn't like this and he wanted to get the hell away from here. From Joe. As soon as this is over he swore to himself I'm going to tell Joe that he needs to find another hacker because I'm through with this. I just hope he doesn't shoot me. Terry watched this exchange and made a mental note to pass this information on to the Don and the rest of the team. However, it still was nagging at her that she knew the person that the voice of Joe belonged to she just couldn't remember who it was. Terry closed her eyes and let her FBI training kick in. She knew that she was going to have to start negotiating to get the other hostages out.

"Hey Joe" Terry called out and stood up

"She speaks. Yes Agent Lake?"

"Let the other hostages go. No need to let innocent people get caught in the crossfire" Terry said using her interrogation voice. Joe looked up at her, than turned to look at Jack and Doug. Jack had already expressed his weariness about having hostages and Doug was guarding the other hostages and they looked terrified. There were old ladies here for a cup of tea, and a little girl with ice cream. Joe's eyes surprisingly softened as he looked at Terry

"Ok I'll let them go but you and Amita have to stay" Joe answered

"Keep just me, Amita needs medical attention" Terry said firmly. Any sympathy in Joe's eyes vanished

"You and her stay. If both of you don't stay then they all stay" Terry opened her mouth but Amita Interrupted her

"Let them go, I'll stay" Amita said with a slight chatter. Terry looked back and saw that Amita was most likely going into shock

"Amita-" Terry whispered concerned for her friend

"It's ok" Amita whispered back "Well, what are you waiting for? Let them go. That poor girl is scared to death" Amita gesturing to the little girl hiding under the booth. She had taken her place there after Amita was shot

"Ok, ok. Doug let them out" Doug was slightly surprised that Joe was actually letting the other hostages out but he shrugged at let them go. Terry breathed a sigh of relief, now setting her sights on getting Amita medical help. As she sat down to hold Amita, to keep her warm so shock won't set in, shesilently wished that this would all be over soon.