First crack at writing a Die Hard story. Not sure how long I want to make it, I'm thinking 5 chapters. I've also omitted Argyle, and the walkie-talkie conversations between Sgt. Powell and John. As I felt this was filler material and didn't add much to the plot itself. I hope you all enjoy. Thank you for reading!

Not much affected the hardened New York City cop. But the moment he foolishly snapped at his estranged wife, Holly, just when they were starting to get along, hit him like an unforgiving punch to the gut. All because she signed her checks with her maiden name of Gennaro. He watches as she briskly walks out the door to give her speech to an awaiting mass of Christmas Eve party-goers of the Nakatomi Plaza in LA.

McClane gives a heavy sigh, running a calloused thumb delicately over the worn sleeve of his his billfold. Containing a small, scribbled note from his children, beside it, a photo of his daughter. Smiling warmly. All-the-while, he is completely unaware of what was unfolding just a floor below him. Two men of a high profile German terrorist group, enter the lobby. One acting as distraction, as the other snuffs out the front desk security guard. Theo, their cyber hacker, went to work disabling all main elevators, apart from the service.

Meanwhile Karl, their leader's second in command. Shoots and kills a second guard with a silenced pistol. This allowing clearance for the others to enter. "We're in" Theo radio's fellow group member, Heinrich. Whom, once got word, eased the Pacific Courier truck into the loading dock of the underground garage.

Within minutes, their leader, Hans Gruber, accompanied by the remaining henchmen disembark. He and fellow terrorist, Eddie, join the men in the lobby. Karl is thrown a duffle bag and given orders to join his younger brother, Tony, to sabotage the Plaza's telephone lines. Hans keeps firm hold of the building's key card.

"Geh schnell!"

Gruber commands sternly. The fair-haired German quickened his pace towards the downstairs junction boxes. As Hans neared the door, he stops for a moment. The corner of his mouth forming into a brief small smile. Parting his gray trench coat slightly, as a hand lightly caressed his gravid middle. There was, of course, skepticism and hesitation amongst his men, initially. Having a heavily pregnant leader at the helm of the operation, could possibly spell death for all thirteen of them.

However, they worked too hard to turn back now. The $640 mil. in bearer bonds within the Nakatomi vault was well within their reach. So long as they didn't divert from the course. Hans waited several seconds with the card pressed firmly against the scanner. Unwittingly smiling once more as he felt his daughter's tiny foot nudge the palm of his hand. Once accessed, he tosses it to Eddie, whom now is manning the desk and tucks the card inside his suit jacket.

Gruber gives a nod towards Theo, his cue to cut down the hall ahead of him. Meanwhile, the brothers went to work severing the lines. As Tony sifted through the migraine-inducing bundle of cords, clamping them off and setting the timed device to disable it. Karl emerges, giving an almost devilish grin from behind his face shield as he revved up the chainsaw.

"Nein! Nein! Nein!, Scheißekopf!"

Tony growled. Beads of sweat running down his forehead as he very nearly got the last wire clamped, before his older brother went hog-wild and harshly tore through the junction poles like a hot knife through butter.

Just as McClane had touched base with his precinct back home. He was perplexed when the line mysteriously went dead. Back on the lobby floor, Hans and the others board the service elevator. Their sub-machine guns close, and at the ready, as the lift ascended towards the 30th floor. It announcing their arrival with a classic ding. The men slowly step out, surveying the crowds of people.

"Hello?"

McClane exclaimed, his tone conveying the same amount of confusion. Just as he held the phone to his ear, once more, the sharp sound of gunfire erupts, followed abruptly by screaming. He gathers his gun off the bathroom floor, rushing towards the front and peeking through a crack in the door. Absolute chaos unfolding, as heavily armed men forced swept the area. Forcibly clearing the frightened office workers from their rooms. Rounding them to gather in the vast plaza area.

McClane takes this moment to rush up the stairwell towards the unfinished 32nd floor. With the crowds still in hysteria. The company's coke fiend ass-kisser, Ellis, unsuccessfully attempted to bring a lull to the insanity. Another round of gunfire pierces the air, finally bringing the distraught hostages to silence.

"Ladies and gentlemen"

Hans calmly addresses the crowd. His palms momentarily raised and his German accent cutting in thick. Standing atop the small platform, he repeats this line once more. Before delving into the small black book in hand. Suddenly slamming his eyes shut and a sharp hiss escaping him, as his daughter's movements intensified. Franco, the group's only other Frenchman, apart from Kristoff, takes notice.

"You alright?"

He hastily inquires, trying his best to split focus between the pained German and the sea of hostages. Hans grits his teeth briefly before uttering an agitated "fine". Flipping through another couple pages of the book.

"Due to the Nakatomi Corporation's legacy of greed around the globe. They're about to be taught a lesson in the real use of power. You will be witnesses..now...where is Mr. Takagi?"