Rewinding a little, inside the bank. Lets see what happened. Thank you so much for taking the time to write your lovely reviews.
Thanks Lalez for your comments. I have to admit I rushed the last chapter, but I've gone back and given it another stab. Hopefully filled in some of the gaps and along with the next chapter I hope you can see why I went there. I had an end game in mind and was lazy about the execution!
Chris's last words in his ear sent him into shock as she was wrestled pathetically from his arms. Panic flooded him. If this guy knew she could identify him then this would be the last time he ever saw her. His fight turned real. He used every ounce of strength and skill he had to flight against the machine gun man who had stepped forwards and was now between him and Chris.
'Jim, stop,' her voice broke as she did what she was told. They would kill him if she didn't. He heard her, his name sounding strange coming from her lips when she always called him Street- he didn't like it. His eyes found her through the chaos. He stopped, dropping the gun he had just acquired to the floor as if it had burnt his hands. His eyes went wide as he took in Chris, a large muscular arm wrapped firmly around her neck and a hand gun pressing mercilessly into her temple.
Street had no words. He had never been so scared in all his life. The guy retrieved his machine gun and used the butt of it to hit Street with. He fell to the floor, but his focus was entirely on Chris and the man who was dragging her away from him.
Rod didn't let go of her this time. He hit redial and the phone started dialling Hondo's phone. Chris was placed back in her seat by her neck, just as the phone held to her ear was answered.
'Hello,' Hondo answered the call.
'Do it,' Rod's eyes were alight with rage, but still she found herself unable to break her ethics and read out the words in front of her.
'I won't,' Chris was proud of the strength in her voice.
'I'll do it,' Rod was aiming his gun in Street's direction.
'Kill me,' Chris spoke and she was serious. She needed that gun off Street and she was willing to go down this road to keep him safe.
'There's no need for that,' Hondo spoke, and although he was trying to stay calm Chris knew him well enough to hear the panic in his voice. 'I'm sure we can come to an understanding.'
'You might as well kill me. I won't read that for you,' she taunted him this time, ignoring Hondo as the gun was still trained on Street. It worked. Rod turned his gun on her.
The gun was aimed at her, for a second anyway. The next thing she knew Rod had lifted the gun high over his head. She didn't have time to move as he brought the butt of it down on her forehead. Everything went black
'Don't. I'll do anything,' Street shouted as he watched the butt of the gun drive downwards onto Chris's head, but it was too late the blow had landed. He watched her body go limp and she fell off the chair. 'Chris. Chris can you hear me?' Street's bolted from his place on the floor to her side before any of the robbers could object.
'Turn that bloody thing off,' he barely registered one of the guys saying.
'Chris,' he whispered at her, cupping her head on the floor. There was a large gash that was bleeding freely. She stirred.
'Street,' it was more of a question, but she was awake and talking.
'I'm here,' he smiled down at her. She moved to sit up. 'Stay, you've just had a knock to the head,' Street tried to get her to stay laying down, but Chris pushed herself into a sitting position.
She was sat, leaning forwards, elbows on her knee. Blood dripped onto the carpet. There was already blood down the side of her face and neck and by leaning forwards she was stopping it going near her eye. Her hands were covered in blood and she had nothing to stop the bleeding.
'I need a first aid kit,' Street spoke expecting some kind of co-operation. He got none. No-one moved to help them. He shrugged his checked shirt off from over the top of his T-shirt and scrunched it pressing it to her forehead. She looked up at him and in that moment he saw that she wasn't scared, she was completely calm. It eased some of the storm going on inside him. 'I need a first aid kit,' he repeated looking up at Rod.
'If you want a first aid kit, you go out and get one,'
'Let me take her. She needs a hospital,'
'That's not how it works. You get a first aid kit or there is no first aid kit.'
Street took a glance around the room looking to the employees, hoping for some help.
'Where's the first aid kit?' He asked, holding the shirt to Chris's head.
'It's fine,' Chris tried to take over holding the shirt, but he wasn't looking at her.
'It's behind the help desk,' one of the female employees pointed in the right direction. Street pressed the shirt into Chris's hand and held them both to her head. Part of him knew he was panicking; but he couldn't stop.
Street didn't ask permission to retrieve it, he just went. He located it and brought it back to Chris. He unzipped it, unpacking the condense onto the floor beside them. There was ice packs, band aides, a sling, some gloves, scissors, tape, and a couple of small pieces of gauze. None of these items were going to help. He heard the snigger come from behind him. He turned to Rod.
'You could help,' he snapped.
'Why would I want to do that,' Rod was enjoying this.
'Street, calm down. It's not that bad,' Chris tried and failed to get through to him. He lifted his hand to her head and pulled back his shirt. The blood was running freely from the cut. It needed stitches.
'She needs a hospital,' he placed the shirt back onto her head applying pressure.
'I told you. No hospital, if you want a first aid kit you have to go outside and get one. Make sure you bring me back a diet soda.' Street looked from the first aid kit supplies on the floor to Chris. There was only one thing for it. He was going for the first aid kit.
'Street,' Chris placed a hand on his upper arm, her fingers were cold and wet. 'Sorry,' she pulled her hand away looking at the the bloody finger prints she'd left on his arm.
'Hey,' he took her hand in his, their eyes met. The glassy look in her eyes had him more worried. Her skin was pale, and he moved his fingers to her wrist to find her pulse weak. 'You're going to be ok.' He had to tare himself away from her.
'Street, I'm ok,' she stressed her words, 'just hurry up or we're going to be late.'
'Chris what are you talking about?' He was kneeling in front of her now. Their eyes level.
'The toy drive,' she released the shirt from her head, too tired to hold it up. She didn't look right.
'That was months ago,' he picked up her hand and placed it and the shirt back onto the cut. There was blood everywhere. Her white hoodie looked like a scene from a horror film. She just looked at him confusedly. He needed to stop the bleeding. 'Keep the pressure on. I'll be right back,' he planted a kiss on the top of her head and made his way to the door.
'Movement at the door,' he heard the call go out as he opened the door. He looked around at the scene. He didn't know which way to turn. He scanned the police set up in front of him and found a familiar face heading towards him; Hondo.
'I need a first aid kit,' Street shouted to him.
'Get me a kit,' Hondo ordered, stopping to wait for it. A few seconds later a first aid kit was thrust into his hands and he jogged the rest of the way to Street.
'What's happened?'
'Chris,' was all Street managed to say, before he turned to the bank heading back to Chris.
'Street,' Hondo stopped him. 'How bad?' Street's mind was on Chris, he didn't have time for this. Still he stopped and pictured Chris sitting in there by herself.
'She, she, she's bleeding,' Street was a mess. All of his training did nothing for him now. He felt like he had made a mistake leaving her. He just about registered that he hadn't answered Hondo's question, but all he could think about was Chris. He knew she was bleeding and he just wanted to be at her side. 'They won't let her go. I begged. She needs a hospital.' He gave Hondo the information he could quickly before deciding enough was enough. He shook off Hondo's grip on him and made a dash for the door.
'Get ready for entry,' Hondo spoke behind him. At least they were on their way.
Street had spent exactly four minutes and twelve seconds out of the bank; but it was four minutes and twelve seconds too long. He re-entered clinging onto the first aid kit, the zip was already open and he was ready to jump into action; but it was too late, he had taken too long and she was already gone.
Street stood in the doorway, bag in one hand, his free hand stilled after rummaging through it to find what he would need. He'd stopped. Looking at the scene in front of him. Her blood pooled on the floor. He didn't remember her bleeding so much.
