Thanks for all your reviews, I love reading them. This turned out to be a longer chapterthan I first expected. Firstpost for a long time that I've done on my own without any real help from my beta, so all mistakes are mine.

Chapter Six: A Sticky Situation

A sharp swift crack had filled the air, barley giving Sara enough time to register the sound as the hair near her face was brushed back from the force of the propelling object. Her first instinct was to duck, but the second came on stronger, bred into her from countless training sessions. She reached for her gun.

"Put it down," she warned, letting out a slow breath. Even with her own gun ready to fire it did not change the fact there was another barrel in her face, literally inches from the bridge of her nose. She had been trained in firearms, but not negotiations. That wasn't her job. And she was afraid.

"You're not really in a position to making demands," Mckinely stated, his finger tightening on the trigger. He may have missed the first shot, but he wasn't going to make the same mistake twice. Without word he quickly glanced over to his left, staring down the other man who had started to creep up on him. "Stay where you are, I'll shoot."

Greg took a step back, hands held up in the air ever so slightly. He had no firearms on him, no real defense. The only thing he could offer was a distraction. Sara wasn't watching him, her eyes instead on the armed officer. She wouldn't shoot, not at this moment. He knew Sara well enough to know that even though sometimes she was rash, she wasn't stupid.

When Mckinely turned away again Greg took the moment to access the situation. There really was no logical way to disarm him. Sara's well being was the first concern, and even under the dim lights from the vehicle behind them he could already see the blood the trickled down the side of her cheek. There was a fierce concentration in her eyes, and her hands shook slightly as they gripped the weapon tightly, her hands mere inches below Mckinely's.

"What are you trying to prove?" Sara asked coldly, drawing in another deep breath. As of right now it was the only thing keeping her calm. It was the first time in her life that she had ever had a gun in her face, and it was not a pleasant experience.

"Put down your gun, and we'll talk," Mckinely breathed slowly, inching his way closer to her.

"Unfortunately that's not an option," Sara replied coldly, matching his steps evenly.

"Maybe you should listen to him," Greg offered up quietly from where he stood.

"Shut up Greg," Sara snapped, not even turning his way.

"You put down your weapon or I'll shoot him."

"Okay Sara, you should definitely listen to him," Greg whispered loudly, tensing up as the officer looked his way.

"You even try and you'll be begging for death," Sara snapped, drawing the man's attention back to her. It was too dangerous to attempt a shot at this range, not only did she have to count in the fact that she could be shot in the process, but she most likely would be hurt in the end as well. Not only that, the last thing she needed on her agenda was murder. Self-defense was one thing, but murder? A completely different story.

All she had to do was keep him talking until help arrived. Mentally she laughed at herself, too nervous to do so in actuality. It would be hours before any one would even start to wonder about them, and possibly several more hours before they sent someone out to search. And with the all the 'shortages' they had of officers, it would be a miracle if someone did show up within the night. There was no possible way that she could keep him talking that long.

He was outnumbered, two to one, but Sara wouldn't risk bringing Greg into such a dangerous situation unprepared. So in the end it was a battle of wits; brains over brawn, she silently reminded herself.

"How about I just shoot you instead?" Mckinely suggested quietly.

"Try," Sara dared him, praying silently that he wouldn't. He seemed to consider the option, his face tight as he remained silent. Sara frowned, her eyes still fixed on him. Obviously they couldn't stand here all night with guns in their faces, someone would have to give in soon, and she was afraid that it would be her. She had to at least attempt to convince him to drop his weapon.

"Why are you doing this?"

"I'm being offered twice my annual salary to finish this, and you stand there and ask why?" Mckinely laughed, shaking his head.

"Someone's paying you to kill us off?" Sara questioned quietly, barely able to believe what she was hearing.

"Not you personally," he shrugged, glancing at Greg who still stood off to the side. "Just someone from LVPD. No personal feelings."

"None," Greg replied mildly, using his time to scope the area out around them. The vehicles were a good stretch away from them; the officer's and their own rental car sitting side by side, but they would first need to get around Mckinely. Obviously that wasn't really an option.

The road itself curved into the impending forest, and though there were only scattered trees around them at the moment, the woods became dense the further you ventured in. The only problem was the dip that ran along the shoulder of the road. He was too far away to get a reasonable look at it, but in the darkness he was unable to see the ground beyond the guard rail. He glanced back up as Sara continued talking.

"Why someone from LVPD?"

"Stop asking questions," Mckinely groaned, "It's not like it'll matter in the end. Put your gun down and I'll promise that I'll make this as quick and painless as I can."

"Wow, there's a bargain we can't refuse," Greg scoffed, frowning.

Sara tightened her grip on the gun as the officer looked away again. There was a plan forming her mind, and it would take all her wits in order for it to work. What she needed now was a distraction. She risked the glance, making eye contact with Greg, giving him a short nod. 'Keep talking,' she mouthed, turning her attention back to the front.

Greg frowned, trying to make out what she had said, watching as Mckinely focused on Sara once more. Then with a sudden sigh he understood. "And you think you'll get away with this?"

He wasn't sure of what else to say, but it was enough, causing the officer to look sharply in his direction, a smile playing on his face. It was all Sara needed, and with a quick burst of adrenaline she brought her hands up, connecting with the underside of Mckinely's fists.

The blow rattled through her arms, a sharp stinging sensation attacking her hands, the unexpected pain nearly causing her to drop her own gun. But she was more prepared than Mckinely, who let out a shocked cry as the gun fell from his hands.

Recovering quickly, Sara kicked the fallen weapon away from him, over to where Greg stood. He wasted little time in recovering it for himself, moving closer to Sara all the while keeping the gun trained on Mckinely.

The officer was still on his hands his knees, his failed attempt of reclaiming his only defense. Cautiously he raised his eyes, intimidated by the two barrels that were aimed at him.

"I guess we didn't think of everything," Sara commented quietly, directing her next statement to Greg.

"He should have a radio in his car; our cell phones are useless out here. Call for backup, we'll explain the situation when they get out here."

"Who, me?" Greg wondered, turning to her.

"Yes you!" Sara cried, rolling her eyes, "who in the hell do you think I'm talking to?"

"Sorry," Greg apologized, "I'm just making sure." He took a few steps back, sliding the barrel into the hem of his pants after making sure that the safety was on. Greg was sure to give them enough room and space as he quickly jogged back to the patrol car.

Sara watched him go, her eyes flicking back down on the man's fallen form. He was breathing heavy, not even watching her. For a short moment she could feel herself breath as she turned to watch Greg one more time. They were going to be okay…

Her feet left the ground quickly, and in vain attempt she found that she had let go of the gun in order to break her fall. Her shins still ached where the blow had landed, and in a sudden twist of fate she found out they had changed roles. She was now the one on the ground, Mckinely standing over holding her gun. Mentally she cursed herself for looking away, for giving him any sort of opportunity.

"I should just shoot you right now," Mckinely whispered, resisting the urge to glance over his shoulder. He knew the other was already radioing for help, and the anxiety was grating on his already wound-up nerves.

"Sara? Are you okay?"

She was thankful to see Greg already coming up, gun ready to fire. However, she also knew that Greg had never handled a gun before, and she prayed silently that he wouldn't do anything that he would regret.

"Yeah," Sara mused quietly, scooting backwards. Her attention was turned back to the front as Mckinely took a step forward.

"Put it down or I'll shoot," he warned. It was the same threat he had been giving all night, and Sara firmly shook her head.

"Don't Greg."

He stood their apprehensively, looking back and forth between the pair.

"I'd really hate to shoot her in front of you," Mckinely continued.

"You put that gun down and we're both dead," Sara told him, doing her best to keep both men in her line of sight at the same time.

"I can't," Greg breathed, shaking his head. "I'm sorry."

"What?" Sara whispered, watching as Greg slowly lowered his gun. He didn't honestly believe all these lies Mckinely was feeding them, did he?

The gun fell from his hands, clattering on the concrete. The officer was smirking above her, nodding towards him. "Smart move, kick it away."

With a defeated sigh Greg did as he was told, walking back away from him slowly. Satisfied now the officer nodded to Sara. "Go stand next to him, and hurry. Thanks to your friend here we don't have a lot of time to get this right."

With a scowl Sara reluctantly climbed to her feet, glaring at Greg as she neared him. "You couldn't have waited until back up arrived?"

"I couldn't get through," Greg whispered back without even looking at her. "Relax, I have plan."

"Does it involve getting us killed?" she wondered briefly, returning the officer's icy stare. Slowly Mckinely reached down to claim the other weapon, taking his eyes off the pair for a brief moment. It was all Greg needed.

"Jump!"

She could only watch as Greg scrambled over the guard rail, glancing over her shoulder as Mckinely's own shout could be heard. The man was quickly stuffing the second weapon in his belt, trying to free his hands up in order to grip the other gun. She didn't need a second invitation.

A surprised yelp left her lips as she landed on the slanted ground, quickly going into a roll as three sharp shots echoed through the air above them. It wasn't very far to the bottom, and Greg was already pulling her to her feet, half guiding, half pulling her along as he began to run once again.

There were more gunshots after a short pause, and Sara could only guess that he had switched guns. The odds were in their favor, a moving target was difficult to hit, and even if they were, the chances of the wound being fatal was even less. It still wasn't a very pleasant thought, and she urged herself on, keeping close on Greg's heels.

She barely had time to register as her pant leg snagged on a fallen branch, sending her to the ground. Her breath left her in one swift moment, and Sara found herself struggling to breath, barely able to register the pain as Greg hauled her back to her feet once more, wrapping an arm around her waist to keep her steady. Distance, right now, was the only hope they had.

TBC