A/N: Okay, that was mean. Leaving you on a cliffhanger (old habits, heh).
But worry not! Here we have the big conclusion and a little epilogue to look forward to after this.
After what I put you all through with the close calls and misdirects, you deserve a satisfying finale.
ENJOY!
TEN MINUTES AGO...
Burke anticipated the onslaught of a police presence when the power was cut off. They would definitely be drawn to this area when the first explosives went off. So to make a quick getaway he rigged a simple but effective bomb that would create an obstacle to anyone ascending the stairs (since the elevators wouldn't be working). From the other side of the wreckage he would make his escape.
He cursed himself for not obtaining the safe and its contents. Now the strategy was survival.
And to assist this escape, he had a hostage.
Fast-forward to the present. The police officer got the jump on him (or so she thought) and he seemingly complied, holding the detonator behind his back. It worked better than he had hoped because by being down on the ground, he successfully dodged the blast. But he knew he had to act fast.
Among his arsenal, he had an oxygen mask in case he needed to act fast and loot the safe before the dust could settle.
With his trusty hunting knife on his belt, he made quick work of the duct tape restraining Jade. Since she had the piece of tape from her mouth removed, he gagged her with a rag he had.
He picked her up and slung her over his shoulder like a fireman and bolted.
A moment later, Tori would come to and the pair were phantoms.
END OF FLASHBACK
"VEGA! VEGA! CAN YOU HEAR ME?"
The muffled male voice on the other side of the mask was understandable enough. Tori coughed up a storm before nodding in the affirmative.
"ARE YOU INJURED?"
Tori shook her head fervently.
"No," she hacked. "Silver! Jordan Silver! She's-ah-ah-ah-she's trapped on this floor."
She pointed to the end of the hall.
"Around the corner...door off the hinges that say CONTROL ROOM...can't miss it."
The SWAT guy looked at his fellow men, who were rounding up hotel guests for an evacuation.
Tori was relieved. This means the situation in the lobby was contained for now.
"Alright guys, we got our sister trapped in rubble on this floor. GO GO GO!"
A small band of burly SWAT guys ran into the direction Tori indicated.
Tori ripped the mask off her face. She was feeling confined again and really didn't want it on her any longer, despite the good it was doing.
She clutched her chest and squatted down, coughing more. Her vision was less blurry. She could make out a few firemen putting out what little flames there were. The biggest issue was the smoke. Evacuees were encouraged to stay hunched down s there was more air in the lower half of the space.
"Vega?"
A slightly familiar voice was overhead.
Tori gazed up and saw someone remove their mask to reveal an older gentleman.
"Are you sure you're okay, officer?"
His voice was stern but with worry.
"Talmadge?"
"At your service," he replied, presenting a helping hand.
She accepted it, both as practical assistance and also as an unspoken truce between them. Tori was sure that her father would forgive him for what he did for these people, including his daughter. Maybe this guy wasn't all bad after all.
"What's the situation?" asked Tori, beginning to get her bearings.
"We have the building infiltrated. About 50% evacuated by now. Our people work fast."
Tori nodded.
"Bad guys?"
"We have a couple confirmed corpses so far. One is stable."
A memory flashed into Tori's brain.
"I'd say two more stiffs a little further up. Sorry, the floor number escapes me."
"It's okay, Vega. Who?"
"An assassin and a target. Looks like this was the match that started the fire."
Talmadge looked gravely at the stairs, wondering how far up this bloodbath goes.
"Where's my gun?"
Tori looked around and not finding her piece, she took the one off Talmadge's holster.
"What in God's name Vega?"
"Jade," she sighed, almost hyperventilating. "He has her."
"WHO?"
The half Latina didn't answer fully until she was past the other SWAT members.
"JUST HELP JORDAN! HURRY!"
"VEGA!"
(Goddammit!)
Jade's ears were still ringing from the last explosion.
He discarded his remaining baggage, which means he is out of bombs and hopefully ammo. Son of a bitch needed to travel light.
She mumbled protests and a smorgasbord of obscenities at her kidnapper.
Burke was feeling the strain of carrying the grown woman over his shoulder for a few flights now. He had to stop for a second but every time he wasn't moving forward, the LAPD was sure catching up.
He could sense the noose closing in. This was it.
Burke gripped a small box in his jacket pocket. One more ace in the hole.
Little Miss Hostage bought him a matter of minutes but it was about the time for the mad bomber to make his grand exit.
Leaning over the metal railing, he shifted Jade's weight and sent her over, grabbing onto her hand. She screamed wildly, sending the rag falling stories below.
"This is where you get off, sweetheart" he teased.
Jade was in tears.
"No-No, no please DON'T! I want to live! I want to have my baby!" she sobbed. "I want my babyyyy!"
"Bitch I don't give a shit about you..."
"FREEZE!"
Burke looked down at Tori Vega, fire in her eyes. She looked like a violent caged animal, daring him to do something stupid.
"You let go of her and you won't make it out of here alive, bitch!"
He leaned in closer to Jade.
"What do you think?"
Burke then poked his head up to see Tori again.
"I'm gonna have to say...no."
He smiled and let her go before dashing away. Jade screamed bloody murder down twelve feet as Tori caught her hand.
The force of gravity getting interrupted by Tori's aid sent a shooting pain in Jade's shoulder. She winced, trying to ignore the rawness and focus on holding onto Tori.
She groaned as she implemented all of her upper arm strength to keep Jade from falling.
"JADE! I...know its hard...but you need to give me your other hand!"
The dark haired woman squinted as she used everything she had to raise her free arm high enough for Tori to grab onto.
"I CAN'T!"
"YES. YOU. CAN!"
The outstretched tan hand and the outstretched pale hand connected. Now with both arms, Tori pulled Jade back up. Her feet made use of the railing to help Tori get her over the top.
Jade collapsed into Tori's lap. She hugged her wife tighter than she had ever before.
"Oh, God. Jade" Tori sobbed. "It's really you. I thought I lost you!"
"I thought you were gone too."
Tori had the realization that she could be referring to their spat as well as their harrowing experience.
Tori kissed Jade all over her face.
"No, no. Never. I'm never letting go."
Jade made a face and Tori quickly noticed.
"Your shoulder, is it bad?"
"Might be dislocated," Jade groaned.
Tori helped her wife up.
"Don't worry babe. We're gonna take you to the hospital and they'll fix you up."
Jade couldn't believe what she was hearing. Looking at Tori she looked like she had been in World War II.
"What about you?" she asked, bewildered.
"I'm much better now," Tori smiled, clutching Jade's hand.
Burke fled, looking behind him. He really should've paid attention because the stoic Kristoff stopped him like a brick wall.
The scrawny man fell, spilling his paraphernalia.
Kristoff's blood ran cold.
"It was you!" he sneered, pointing his gun down at the prick. "You killed Heinrich!"
"Now hold on, big guy" Burke tried talking him down. "Be smart about this."
"Good advice."
The German then shot Burke in the dick. He cried out in pain, vainly crawling away.
Kristoff amused himself watching him squirm for a second before executing him in the back of the brain.
"That's it for you, boy!"
It was pandemonium outside the grand hotel, police and EMT's and firefighters milling about, tending to the injured and shaken up. Emergency personnel had to jerry-rig a system of triage to tend to the minor injuries while the more serious issues being sent to the ER downtown. It was going to be a long night for the hospital. The deceased were to be sent over to the morgue for examination.
In time, when these men are identified, federal agents can piece together whom was the mastermind behind this. Among the evidence collected are the mostly intact cellphones from the slain suspects. A clear trail would lead investigators to Renato Delgado. He would be the very special guest of the DEA, the ATF and a slew of other entities who wants to see someone pay for this calamity.
Tori helped Jade out of the building, covered in a blanket big enough for two.
"I want to go home," shuddered Jade.
"Not yet, baby. We need to have you checked out."
"WE GOT A LIVE ONE HERE! MAKE A HOLE! "
They turned and saw Jordan being escorted on a gurney out into the fresh air. The couple followed her to the ambulance.
"Jordan!" cried Tori.
"Hey Jade," she groaned. "Great meet up place. Really."
"Dang girl," Jade said. "You look rough."
"Thanks," Jordan quipped. "I'll be sure to remember that remark when you're writhing in pain pooping out a kid."
The gurney was ushered into the van. Tori helped Jade inside and climbed in.
"No way we're you're going alone," said Tori.
"VEGA!"
"Who the fuck is that?" asked Jade.
"Just my boss's boss."
Screaming erupted in the crowd when Kristoff stood, holding his gun and aimed it at the ambulance.
BANG!
The hulking German fell backward, sporting a fresh head wound.
Jade and Tori's peripheral saw the shiny shaft of a gun and even more surprising was who held it.
"That's my family, asshole!"
Talmadge stood there slack-jawed.
"Okay, who was the moron that didn't relieve the victim of her firearm?"
Two EMT's exchanged glance as well as a couple of uniformed cops.
"Um, we didn't think she was armed, sir."
"It's Jordan Silver! She's always armed!"
"Facts!" the redhead added.
His attention turned to Tori.
"And you! What were you thinking pulling a stunt like that? Going into danger alone? Stealing a superior's gun?"
"Oh, that reminds me," said Tori, handing back the deputy chief's pistol. "Here you go."
"I should have you suspended for this!"
Tori nodded.
"Time off, great idea. That's why you're the chief! I'm in no shape to return to work. Have to regroup, heal..." she gazed lovingly at Jade. "Make up for lost time."
Talmadge was stunned by her cavalier attitude.
"Perhaps a demotion will teach you a thing or t-"
"You mean a boring desk job? Paperwork, making copies, running samples to the lab? Get home the same time every night?"
Tori squeezed Jade harder.
"Off the streets and out of trouble?" asked Jade.
"That sounds wonderful!" said Tori.
The deputy chief was not used to his threats being taken this way. He backed up a step to let the EMT's close the doors.
"I'd turn in my standard issue but I lost it in there," pointed Tori. "That's why I had to borrow yours BYEEEEE."
The ambulance doors locked and the driver got into the front and started driving off.
(It's like even when I win, she wins. Once a Vega always a Vega.)
Inside the ambulance, Jordan was coaxed to lay down while the EMT's affixed a brace on her neck in fear of injuries.
"Tori?"
"Yeah?"
"Call Nate and tell him to come to the hospital."
Jade shook her head. "He's gonna be worried."
"I KNOW!" coughed Jordan. "It sucks because I had an ER hot streak. Hadn't been to the hospital in 6 years. Now its ruined."
Tori sighed.
"We're not getting any younger, partner. We need to slow down."
Jordan groaned.
"Aren't you cranky?" chided Jade.
"Worst. Christmas. Ever."
"I completely spaced," confessed Tori. "I didn't get your present yet."
"You're all I need," smirked Jade.
"I swear to God," Jordan warned. "If either of you start singing Mariah Carey I'm gonna stab you both with the nearest thing I can find!"
A/N: I was really trying to work in either Tori or Jade delivering the coup-de-grace to Burke but it didn't fit. So hopefully him getting gunned down like he did made up for that. Think Mr. Harvey inexplicably falling to his doom in The Lovely Bones.