I'm still just borrowing them!

I appologise in advance, but I'm having difficulties with Cranes character. Also much out of character angst and overly sentimental slush be on the horizon. Ye be warned!

They wasted no time in heading for Bookers car and in no time at all were speeding on their way to Harry's aid. Unfortunately obilivious to the car that was parked across the street watching them.

"Their on the move. I'm heading after them!" came the voice from the driver as he spoke into the phone.

"Keep me posted" came the reply from the other end as the car pulled out and headed after the three officers.

Soon after they were headed for the docks. Tom was shifting around restlessly in the backseat.

"I'm always in the back, when do I get to ride up front?"

"When you're grown up!" Doug replied. This was met by disgruntled mumbling and something about one day being big enough to kick Dougs ass.

"Hey, that car's following us!" Doug said suddenly. Booker peered in the review mirror at the car behind.

"Nah. Can't be!" he said

"No, Doug's right, it is" came Tom's voice from the back seat. "Pull over Dennis."

"What!"

"Trust me. Pull over."

"What's going on Hanson?"

"Right there" he said pointing to a grass verge by the side of the road.

Dennis pulled the car over as they watched the car behind follow. Hanson quietly and slowly slipped out of the car.

"Get down and be quiet" he told his partners. He crouched by the side of the road as he watched the old green car come to a stop. As the figure stepped out of the car Tom walked quitely up behind.

"What are you doing Detective?" he said softly. Judy Hoffs jumped up ten feet in the air at the sound of the familiar voice.

"Hanson! You scared me to death!"

"You're following us! Why?"

"You know where Crane's got Harry don't you?" she asked her brown eyes staring pleading into Tom's.

"What gave you that idea?" he said evasively

Judy let out a small bark of laughter. "Like I can't tell when you and Pennhall are up to something! Why didn't you tell me?"

"We couldn't risk it getting back to Fuller. Look Jude, the more people that go in after Crane the more desperate he's going to be. It'd just put Harry in more danger."

"If it was Doug what would you do if I kept something like this from you?"

"Yeah ok, point taken" he said with a smile. "Get in the car Jude, we'll fill you in."

Having put thier guard down after finding Hoffs the car behind still followed easily without being noticed.

"This it?" Doug asked as Booker brought the car to a stop. "Doesn't look much."

"This is gonna be cake!" Tom said checking his gun. "Judy, you stay here. Give us twenty minutes then call Fuller for back up. That should give us enough time to get Harry out and get Crane."

"You must be joking Hanson! There's no way on earth you're leaving me behind." she said, a stubborn look on her face.

"Judy, please! Just go with me on this one ok." he said softly. "After you call Fuller, come in after us." She rolled her eyes in submission as the three men stepped out of the car.

They made their way slowly over to the wall of the storage unit. There was a small window midway up, which Doug peered through to see if he could get any idea of how many were inside. He let out a sudden gasp, which made Tom and Booker anxious.

"What is it?" Tom asked

"I can see Harry"

"Where?"

"He's in the corner, cuffed to a pipe. How imaginative!"

"Anyone else?" Booker asked

"Only Crane"

They all jumped and hid in the shadows as they heard voices coming round the corner. Peering from the darkness they saw Matt and the man who had done all the shooting come round the side of the building and get into an old car. As they drove away the three men gave a sigh of relief.

"So where are the other three?" Tom said.

"We've gotta move, they might not be gone long" Booker replied.

"Right. Dennis, go round the front, block his exits, and if you see anyone, get out, fast. Doug, come with me, we're going to get Harry." Tom said with a steely determination in his soft voice.

"Hey, if this goes wrong..." Doug began.

"It's not going to go wrong." Tom reasured him. "We'll get Harry and were gone. OK."

"You know Fuller is going to be pissed!"

"Yep!" Tom said "We can deal with him later" he said smirking. "Besides, he never actually told us to stay away did he?"

"You know Tommy," Booker began,a sly smile on his face, "Just for the record, I never really hated you."

"That's a lie" Tom replied, still smiling, "But thanks anyway. Ok we ready?"

"Let's do it!" Booker said as he got to his feet and disappeared around the front of the building. He made his way quietly through the large main door of the unit and positioned himself just outside the office door listening for Hanson and Penhall's signal.

"You coming partner?" Doug said his eyes sparkling at the prospect of once again working with his partner and best friend. Tom gave a slight nod of his head as they moved slowly through the shadows towards the door that would lead them to where Crane and Harry's voices could be heard.

"How far do you think you're going to get before you're picked up?" Harry was saying sounding tired yet perfectly calm.

"You'll be surprised at how much loyalty money can buy. Atfer your buddies have helped me get access to my accounts, my little helpers will arrange my flights away from this cesspool, I'll have my fun with you and your partners and then I'll be gone before anyone even finds you"

"You really think they're that stupid?"

"People do stupid things when people they care about are in danger. Your buddy Hanson already proved that. He made himself such an easy frame up! This time, when they get here, my men will be waiting. You can watch them die and then you can join them. Maybe I'll tell them to leave Hanson till last, it might be fun make him watch you all suffer first, I haven't decided. Either way it's going to be long night, but don't worry, you'll have company soon."

Tom and Doug stood outside listening to this exchange, flitting between anger and amusement.

"Shall we just shut this asshole up?" Tom said a mock bored expression on his face.

"My thoughts exactly" Doug replied. They both cocked their guns and took positions on each side of the door. As they prepared to break the door down Doug looked over at Tom and flashed the widest grin Tom had ever seen.

"Hey Tom? he said still grinning.

"What?"

"I've missed this"

Tom grinned back as he said "Yeah, me too". Both men extended their hands and came together in the legendary McQuaid's handshake.

"Heh!" they both said in unison.

"Ready?" Hanson said

"Yep!'

"OK. NOW!" Tom cried as they burst through the door. At the same moment hearing Tom's shout Booker burst through the door leading from the main floor to the smaller room.

Crane and Harry's heads snapped round as they entered, both looking shocked, although Harry's shock was mixed with obvious relief at seeing his partners.

"You people never learn" Tom said as he moved towards Crane,aiming his gun.

"Never tell anyone your plans untill the very end" Doug added.

"Have you never watched James Bond movies." Booker continued. Just then the three missing thugs from the breakout entred the room, each carrying a very large gun. A twisted grin appeared on Cranes face.

"I guess he has Dennis!" Tom said maintaning his nonchalant attitude. The next thing he knew was a headsplitting pain and white lights dancing before his eyes as something extremly heavy hit him across the back of his head, before darkness fell around him.

Doug spun round to see his partner hit the floor hard. Matt and Terry had returned to join the other two and had begun attacking from behind, Terry having suceeded in making short work of putting Hanson out of the picture. Penhall lunged for the nearest man forcing him off his feet and aiming several vicious kicks to his stomach. He felt hands grab him to drag him away. His let fly with his fists and his feet but the two men were overpowering him. The last thing he knew was struggling to breathe as a colth covered in a foul smelling substance was forced over his nose and mouth as he sank to the floor beside Tom.

Booker had faired no better. Before seeing Doug overpowered he had desperately tried to get to Harry. He was stopped in his tracks by the remaining two as Crane watched on from the corner of the room, a smug smile on his face. His gun had been thrown from his grasp and ended up lying on the hard concrete floor not far from where Tom and Dougs guns lay useless. "Damn, I could use Penhall right about know" he thought to himself as he shrugged his shoulders and launched himself into the fray. Unfortunately, with Tom and Doug outcold on the floor, Cranes five stooges were free to focus all their attention on Dennis. He put up the best resistance he could, his fists, feet and head launching themselves in every possible direction. He actually managed to cause some damage before a seering pain tore through his arm, leaving it flapping uselessly by his side after a particularly painfull blow from what appeared to be a large crowbar. This was followed by the aforementioned crowbar being wrapped around his head as he followed his companions into darkness.