What for you say I am evil? I am a meanie? I did a cliffie. Oh yeah.

Don't own, don't own...

Chapter 19 – Shot to the heart

Jeff Tracy jumped up from his seat and began to run to the front of the courtroom. He was oblivious to his son and daughter-in-law coming up behind him. Hell, he was oblivious to everything except Alan, once more held by a lunatic bent on harming his baby boy. Jeff froze when Jackson Mitchell turned, left arm pushing against Alan's throat, the gun in his right hand against Alan's right temple.

"Did you really think I would let you off scot-free? You are not worthy to have everything in life handed to you. You get it all. Billions of dollars, a tropical paradise for a home, people bowing and scraping for you… Oh, and you have five healthy, loving sons who adore their "daddy". Well, it's time you know that you can't have everything."

Jeff was furious. How dare he…. "Yes, I do have a lot. But it has been the result of blood, sweat and tears. I am a billionaire. I started as the son of a Kansas farmer who often barely paid his bills. I worked hard, put myself through school and served in the Air Force. I got into the space program based on both my flying skills and my engineering abilities. I married the love of my life and lost her in a lousy, stupid accident. I have the island, a safe place where I can relax with my family, boys who I love and who mean everything to me. That was why I showed you that picture that day in my office. I was trying to show you that with everything else I had, none of it means anything without my boys. That having people who love you and who you love were what made life worthwhile."

Alan tried to focus on his dad. He tried to see Scott standing behind his dad. He tried to see Kate… Why couldn't he see Kate? Had she been hustled out the courtroom by the bailiffs, with the others who had been in the courtroom? By the now open doors he could see reporters trying to get past the bailiffs and then a cop trying to get in past the crowd of reporters blocking the doorway.

"Mitchell!" Everyone turned at the call. Kate stood off to the side, a gun in her hands. She had lost nothing of her stance since leaving the FBI – she still looked dangerous. And now she looked pissed. This guy wasn't just threatening an innocent kid. He was threatening family. And nothing pissed off an Eppes faster than someone threatening family.

Jackson Mitchell looked up at Kate. As dangerous as she had looked that night last December, she looked downright deadly today. Mitchell drew the gun away from Alan's temple and raised it, not at Kate, but at Scott. With one bullet he could destroy both Jeff Tracy and the miserable Fed who had ruined his plans last year.

With the gun no longer at his head, Alan made his own move. He elbowed his captor, and hit the guy's arm, trying to throw off his aim. It worked, Mitchell's gun fired high into a wall. But at the same time, two other guns went off. One was Kate's. Blood gushed near Mitchell's throat. He dropped like a sack of potatoes. The second was from the New York Police Officer who had just gotten past the reporters. But one of the reporters bumped into him just as he fired. The officer's bullet missed Mitchell.

Kate was tackled by another police officer who had made his way through the reporters. She cried out in pain, as her shoulder made hard contact with a wooden bench. "Stop! She saved them!" The first officer called out to the second, walking over to help Kate up.

Wincing in pain, Kate looked around for her piece. The second officer picked it up. "You have a permit for this, Miss?"

"It's Mrs., and yes I do." Kate tried to move, but her shoulder was hurting badly. Motioning to her purse now on the ground, the first officer handed it to her. Gingerly, Kate pulled out a concealed carry permit. "Here." The first officer helped her to her feet as the second took the permit – and Kate's gun.

"These will be returned when the proper authorities deem than can or should be."

"Whatever."

Ana Nevada, the annoying reporter from the forest fire that had nearly killed Alan and his track team stood nearby. "And the hero of the day is Katherine Eppes Tracy, daughter in law of Jeff Tracy, the reclusive billionaire. Mrs. Tracy, do you have anything to say to the world?"

Katherine Tracy glared at the reporter. "No."

With her one word answer, Kate made her way to where her family was. She was surprised that Scott hadn't come back to check on her. Jeff and Scott were bent over Alan as the second police officer began to check on Jackson Mitchell. Scott looked up at Kate, then at the officer behind her. To the officer, he said "Call an ambulance, now!"

The officer said "I think the other officer is calling one in for Mitchell now."

Tears running down his face, the oldest Tracy son shook his head. "No, not for Mitchell."

Kate moved to get a better view – and the sight broke her heart. Alan lay cradled in his father's arms, blood on his face and streaking his blond hair. Kate now knew where the officer's bullet had gone when the reporter had knocked off his shot.

a/n - And ANOTHER cliffie... evil chuckle, chortle. But they are so much fun! Hey, at least I update frequently...