I haven't stolen them, I'm borrowing without permission, with every intention of giving them back (well, maybe!)
Terry was twisting Bookers broken arm behind his back and forcing him to his feet, sending dizzying pain through his body and causing a wave of neausea that he struggled to control. Unable to hold it back any longer, he let out a wail of agony.
Crane held out his gun to Harry, as Joe held his gun on him.
"Take it!" Crane said coldly.
"No way!" Harry said disgusted as his dark eyes glared into Cranes.
"If Tommy doesn't want to play, you're going to have to take his place." he said, a twisted grin forming on his lips. Then he said softly "Look, all you have to do is pull the trigger, put our friend Dennis here out of his misery and then I'll let you go."
"Just like that?" Harry said flatly. "And what about Penhall and Hanson? You gonna let them just walk away?" Crane simply shrugged and smiled.
"I haven't decided. They're quite amusing and I like having them around. Actually I may let them watch!" he said his cold eyes showing a spark of enjoyment. "Joe go and fetch Officer Penhall. Oh and if little Tommy's still coherent bring him aswell, I'm sure his friend will help you carry him."
Dennis just stood fighting back his pain and looking intently at Harry. He knew Harry would never pull the trigger on him, and at this point he was more concerned for Harry than himself. He just wished he knew what game Crane was playing.
"You bastard!" Harry yelled as he launched himself at Crane.
Judy hid in the shadows listening to the voices coming from the next room. She had no idea what shape her partners were in and she was desperate to get to them. She saw the large figure leave the room and head down the hallways. She qucikly debated with herself weather she should follow him to where they were holding Doug and Hanson or if she should help Harry and Booker. Deciding that the pair with the guns pointed at them were in the most imediate danger she cocked her gun and burst through the door.
Harry sat once again restrained by handcuffs as he had tried to take Cranes gun, unable to move more than a few inches away from the wall.
"Leave him alone or I swear to god once I get out of this I'll make you wish you'd never been born!" Harry threatened, earning a scornful laugh for his efforts.
"Crane said I could have some fun with you two and that's exactly what I'm gonna do." he said twisting Dennis mangled arm further up his back. As Dennis let out another yell Judy Hoffs burst into the room. Firing a warning shot at Terry she shouted "You put him down or I will blow a hole straight through you!"
Harry and Dennis looked on in amazement at the sight of the young black woman pointing her gun at their tormentor. "How you doing boys?" she asked.
"All the better for seeing you!" Dennis said as he peered at her through his swollen eyes.
Their relief was short lived however as while she was busy checking on her partners Terry came up behind her and snatched away the gun.
"Oh good, the gangs all here!" Crane said with a twisted grin on his face as he watched Judy struggle against the vicelike grip that held her. "Now the fun can really begin".
"Don't you go anywhere near her!" Harry yelled at the top of his voice.
"You're not in the position to be giving out orders Officer Ioki. Besides, I'd like to get to know Miss Hoffs a little better." he said smiling at her. "Go check on the other two. Our little visitor may have made other stops along the way" he ordered his remaining stooge. "Make yourself at home Miss Hoffs" he said as he forced her down into the corner beside Harry.
Hanson and Penhall continued making slow progress down the hallway towards their partners, worried out of their minds after hearing the gunfire. As they rounded the corner they heard footsteps coming towards them. Tom's eyes widened as he saw the imposing figure of Terry heading towards them. He freed himself from Dougs grasp and stood almost steady at his partners side. The large man launched himself at Penhall as he aimed the gun at him and managed to wrestle it from Doug's clutches and tossed it, before turning his own gun on him. With the larger officer subdued Terry made the same mistake many had made before him. He turned his full attention on Penhall, thinking that the smaller fragile looking Hanson presented no danger. That is until said officer had him in a vice like sleeper hold cutting off all his air and one hand holding a gun in his back.
"Let him up now!" Tom said, his voice as steady and threatening as his tortured breathing would allow. He dropped the gun and began to rise to his feet as Hanson released his hold on him.
"Now, you're gonna give me those keys, turn around and walk right into that room back there, ok" Tom said, still keeping the gun on him. He and Doug followed behind the heavy built man as he headed towards where they had been locked in not so long ago. Once he was in Doug took the keys from Tom and slammed and locked the door, leaving him in there with a still wailing Joe.
"Two down!" Doug said smiling as he cocked the gun he had taken from Terry. The smile vansihed however as he saw Tom's face twisted in pain and heard the wheezing sound of his breathing. "Hey, man, how you holding up?".
Tom straightened up with visiable effort before flashing a brief weak smile. "Holding up fine" he said shakily as Doug once again offered him support and they headed back through the hallway.
Crane was holding a gun to Judy's head and forcing her to her feet. As he did a gunshot went off behind him, a loud voice said "Get your damn hands off her!" and his head snapped round to see Doug Penhall and Tom Hanson stood in the doorway. Doug was holding a smoking gun and Tom stood defiantly beside him.
"What the hell!" Crane began, "Terry! Joe!"
"Oh they can't help you" Tom said softly as he tossed his gun to Harry and took hold of the gun Crane had in his hand. "Now do as he says and let the lady go. You're finished. It's over!"
"It's never going to be over until I settle a few scores" Crane replied.
At hearing this a faint smile appeared on Hanson's face. "So we're back to revenge huh? Well if that's the game here we can all play. Let me think, you try to kill and kidnap my friends, hold them at gunpoint, ruin their careers" he said gesturing towards Ioki and Booker. "Anything else? Oh yeah, and send me to jail for the rest of my life for a murder you are responsible for. Do I win? Or would you say we're about even?" Every word he said hurt and he was begining to find it increasingly difficult to breathe. The sound of sirens echoed around the building.
"It's Fuller. About time." Judy said as she turned and ran to get her comanding officer and lead him to the small group gathered inside.
She made her way desperately through the narrow corridors to the large heavy door at the front of the building. Breathing a sigh of relief she pushed the door open only to be met by glaring flashing lights and the sound of any number of automatic wepons being readied. She threw her hands in the air in panic, which was quickly relieved at the sound of the familiar authoritative voice.
"Hold your fire!" Fuller called, " She's one of my officers." Judy watched as Captains Fuller and Briody dashed towards her.
"Captain, they've got him!"
"Are they ok?"
"I don't know. Doug and Harry look OK, but Hanson and Booker are in bad shape."
"Ok, lead the way." he said, as he began to head towards the entrance.
"Adam!" Briody called, stopping him in his tracks. "Didn't you say Officer Hoffs told you they're were six armed men in that building!"
"I've only seen Crane and two others Captain. He sent them to get Hanson and Penhall, but i think they must have delt with them or they wouldn't have been able to get to Crane!"
"That's my guy's!" Fuller said with a smile. "Ok Jude, lead the way carefully!"
Judy headed back into the building followed quickly by Fuller, Briody staying behind to command the unit they had gathered to provide back up.
"You took everything from me. I lost it all!" Crane said looking stonily at the fragile looking young police officer pointing the gun at him.
Tom's usually soft, calm brown eyes blazed with an anger and hatred Doug had never thought possible.
"What about what you took from me? You took my life man! And for what? A fucking football stadium. I should shoot you dead right now."
Doug, Harry and Booker moved in closer to back up Hanson, each aiming a gun at Crane.
"You hurt people. You're a bully and a muderer. You brought this all down on your own head, thinking you were above the law, that you could anything to anyone and get away with it! I was innocent. I could have spent the rest of my life in prison. In my head I'm still there! Everynight I relive it. The beatings and the threats. The fear. I want you to live with that fear everday of your miserable fucking life!" His eyes were growing wider as his previouosly calm and reasoning voice became more shrill and the anger that had been building up for so long came pouring out, between his ragged breaths.
"So, if you're into revenge, how do you sugest I get mine?" Tom asked, once more regaining his composure. "How do I show you what it's like to be truly afraid?"
He moved closer to Crane, looking up into his face, he brought his gun up and held it beneath Crane's chin. Although more than a head shorter than Crane, Hanson appeared strangely frightening at that moment, his hand totally steady and his usually warm eyes stoney and cold.
Harry, Doug and Booker looked on in shocked silence as it slowly dawned on them what Tom meant to do.
"Tom, please put the gun down and let us take him back."
"Where's the fun in that? Don't get boring on me now Penhall!" he said. Then with a shrug of his shoulders he said, "Ok I'll make it quick."
He aimed and fired a shot inches away from the left side of Raymond Cranes head.
"Scared yet?" he asked. Crane nodded, sweat begining to run down from his temples.
"Do you really believe I'm capable of killing you?" Tom asked, his voice still soft and calm, despite the sweat pouring from him and the pale sallow sheen on his face.
"I don't know" Crane replied
"Not good enough" Tom said and fired another shot, just narrowly avoiding blowing Cranes head clear off, giving a rueful smile as he watched Crane flinch. Then he turned to his partners.
"Told you we were wasting our time. See what our prison system does?" he said spreading his arms wide. "Think of all the shit I pulled before. Hey, Harry? What do you think I'm capable of now huh?" a cold, eerie and emotionless smile spreading across his face. Harry instantly felt sick remembering his outburst in the chapel.
"Tom I'm sorry! Come on, Fullers outside let just go, ok?" Harry pleaded
Doug's mind flashed back to a conversation he had had with Tom almost two years ago.
"What if we scare them so bad, they don't have anything left to be afraid of?", he heard himself say. He thought of Hanson's recent distance and cold disinterest and at that moment feared for his best friend.
"HANSON!" came Fullers voice as he and Hoffs burst through the door.
"Hey Coach, you're late. Still the more the merrier" Hanson said smiling at his captian.
"Don't do it Tom!" Fuller continued, "There's a whole team out there waiting to take him into custody. Come on, we'll get him back where he belongs and we'll get you help."
Tom chuckled bitterly. "You think this is a cry for help?" he said turning to Fuller, whilst still holding his gun on Crane, his other arm curled protectively over his sore and broken ribs. "Nah, I know what I'm doing" He focused his attention back on Crane, putting the gun to Cranes temple. "You think I won't pull the trigger? Don't I seem unbalanced enough? Maybe you should ask yourself how screwed up I am." he said calmly, with that eerie smile playing on his lips.
"Tom!" Harry said, bringing himself out of his stunned state. "If you shoot him, you'll go back to prison. For good this time. You don't want that."
"How do you know? Why are people always telling me what I want and how to feel? Always putting me in situations I don't want to be in" his face remained still but his unaturally wide brown eyes showed a small glimmer of hurt. "Why didn't you just leave me there?" he said turning to Doug and Booker. "Did you think everything would just go back to how it was?"
Then catching movement out of the corner of his eye he noticed Crane trying to inch away. Tom turned his attention full on him.
"Don't even think about it man. I'd have a bullet through your head before you took another step, man i swear! You know it only takes 3.3 seconds to shoot someone? Doesn't sound much does it? I bet it seems like an eternity when there's a bullet drilling a hole through your skull."
"Penhall!" Fuller yelled, gesturing towrds Hanson, knowing Doug was probably the only one in the room with any hope of getting through. Hanson desperately needed medical attention. The rattling laboured sounds of his breathing and almost white colour of his face was causing him tremendous concern. Penhall moved towards his friend.
"Tom give me the gun please".
"Get away" he said looking at Doug with eyes that showed no glimmer of recognition.
"You don't really want this do you?"
"The hell I do. Stay back where you are."
"It's too easy man! You kill him and that's it. He won't suffer for what he's done. That's what he deserves and you need a doctor. Come on Tom, me ,Judy and Harry need you with us, please."
"This piece of shit had my father murdered!"
"What?" Fuller scoffed, looking at Crane with disbelief. "That's the game you're playing is it?" Crane just stood, eyes focused on the young man in front of him holding the gun.
"Tom, that's bullshit!" Doug said. "It was an accident. How was anyone to know where your dad was gonna be that night? Think about it man! Anyone who knows your name can find out what happened to your dad, it's no secret. He's playing mind games with you Tom, don't let him win!"
Ignoring Doug, he turned back to Crane and he let his anger fly.
"You took my future you bastard. You might as well have killed me. So tell me why I shouldn't return the favour right here and now!"
Judy, Harry , Booker and Fuller stared in horror as the realisation of the extent of Hanson's pain hit them like a sledgehammer.
"GIVE ME A FUCKING REASON!" Tom screamed only pure adreniline keeping him from collapsing in a heap as a result of his injuries. His voice echoed throughout the entire building. His eyes were bulging and the hand holding the gun was shaking uncontrolably. He watched Crane's pale face, sweat coating his forehead and his eyes filled with terror. Then Tom turned to look at his commanding officer. Fuller looked back at him with disbelief on his face. The look on his face finally bringing Tom back to himself.
"You want a reason?" Tom said when Crane didn't reply. "Because there's been too much blood spilt and too many lives ruined because of you. You're not worth it" he said lowering his gun. "He's all yours Coach." he said turning to Fuller. "There's two more back there, end of the hall last door on the left. One might need an ambulance."
Fuller stepped forward to take hold of Crane as Tom turned away, pain coursed through his battered, bruised body, steps unsteady. Doug stepped forward to take his friends arm to support him. "It's OK Doug." Tom said waving his friend away and putting distance between himself and the others.
"Told you it was my choice now Tommy" Crane said suddenly.
Then the air was split by Judy's scream. "HARRY!" she yelled as Crane pulled a gun from his jacket and fired a shot at Ioki. Before Harry could register what was happening the full wieght of Tom Hanson smashed into him and pulled him to the floor. The gunshots echoed around the room.
As they hit the floor Tom felt several searing arrows of pain shoot through him and everything around him seemed distorted and dim. With a grimace distorting his features Hanson pulled his own gun and fired a shot into the top of Raymond Cranes leg as he tried to make his escape in the confusion he had created. His face pale and twsited Tom made his way over to Crane and snapped handcuffs on his wrists. Fuller stepped over to take Crane into custody. He exchanged a meaningful glance at his young officer and Tom offered him a wan smile in return.
As Fuller lead Crane into the waiting squad car, Doug watched as all colour drained from Tom's face and he began to sway unsteadily on his feet. He rushed forward and put a supporting arm around Hanson's waist as he colapsed against him. He saw Tom's face twisted with pain and noticed the slick, tacky feel of his brown leather jacket beneath his hand. Looking down, Doug saw his hand was covered in blood. Fighting back his fear he lowered Hanson gently to the floor.
"Doug, what's wrong?" Harry said, his voice shaking. Dennis and Judy looked on anxiously as Penhall pulled back Tom's jacket to see the freely flowing bullet wounds in his lower torso.
"Still doesn't hurt as much as being shot in the ass!" Tom said trying to smile. "This is a bit more serious though isn' t it?" he said as blood came trickling from one corner of his mouth.
"You'll be ok Tom. We''ll get you to a hospital and they'll take care of you. Stay with me Tom. Hey, look at me man"he said trying to keep Hanson concious.
"I'm cold." he said his face blank "Doug, I'm sorry." Tom said before his eyelids fluttered closed and he retreated into blackness.
"Tom? Tommy?" Doug pleaded, panic rising, cradling his injured friend in his arms "Someone wanna get an ambulance! Hang in there partner, you're gonna be just fine" Doug said softly rocking back and forth.
Judy moved first, flying out of the door after Fuller stopping the patrol car in it's tracks.
"Captain, it's Hanson. He's hurt really bad."
"Radio for an ambulance" he said to the driver who responded imedeately. Fuller then laid a well placed right hook on Crane, drawing blood from a now broken nose.
"If my boy dies, I will make it my lifes work to make sure you never see the light of another day!"
When the ambulance arrived soon after Doug was desperately trying to stem the bloodflow from Tom's wounds. The bullets had gone straight through. Harry stared in horror as Penhall used anything he could find to use as a compress, pressing down so hard on Tom's slight frame that Harry was worried that he would crack all Hansons remaining ribs. Not that it really matters now, he was thinking. Judy had her arms around him and was switching between crying out of fear for Hanson and asking over and over for reassurance that Harry was ok. He felt numb as the paramedics lifted Tom onto the stretcher, listening to Dougs pleas to be allowed to go in the ambulance with him. All the while his dark eyes were fixed on Hanson, watching the the shallow rise and fall of his chest as he struggled to breathe.
"Judy! Harry!" Booker called as he approached them, his arm in a make shift sling supplied by one of the paramedics. "Come on, I've got a unit to drive us to the hospital."
"Thanks" Judy said moving to lead Harry after Booker.
"Come on, Penhalls waiting. He's pretty desperate to get there."
"I'm not going." Harry said coldly, "I can't see him like that. I can't sit there and wait for him to die."
"Tommy's tough, he'll be fine" Booker said.
"Booker, come on!" Doug shouted from by the door.
"I gotta go. If you're coming, better make it now!" Dennis said. With one last desperate look at Harry, Judy followed Penhall and Booker to the car.
