Part 4 - Add Assault with a Deadly Weapon

Some seventy miles away at Peterson Air Force Base, Major Davis stepped into a waiting helicopter and prepared to be flown to Bracton. He may work for Homeworld Security and a small bank heist in the States certainly wouldn't normally warrant his attention, but whatever mess John Sheppard had got himself into, Major Davis was determined to sort it out. He won't be alone as the I.O.A. was sending operative Bates. Davis hadn't known Sheppard for long but he already admired the man for his quick thinking and dedication. Colonel Carter had spoken highly of him and the fact that he'd been willing to plant a nuke on the hive ship to save Earth, had proven that beyond doubt in the major's eyes.

-oOo-

Wade was coming to the end of his patience and he'd never had much to begin with. He and his brother had robbed a couple of small banks over the last year. Both times had gone like clockwork. And yet, here they were stuck with a group of hostages just waiting for the damn cops to give them a free passage out.

Losing his patience indeed and he was just about ready the shot something. What between the screaming brat and the good looking smart ass, no all, he was really losing it. Added to that, was the fact that the place seemed to be getting hotter and more unbearable. Maybe the air-con wasn't working right?

His eyes caught a glimpse of the water dispenser. If it was uncomfortable for him, then what the hell was it like for a small kid? In that moment, Wade knew he'd have to release the brat sooner or later, but he wasn't going to make it easy.

John and Rachel watched his actions and exchanged a look of understanding. They both knew that they had to try and negotiate again. Try to make the fool see reason. Before John could formulate the right words, Rachel quickly spoke up. She did so mainly to protect John. "Have a heart, Wade. Release the child and his mom. You'll still have the rest of us as hostages." The others began to voice their own pleas, including Mollie who finally found the courage to speak up.

Unfortunately, it only served to make Wade more enraged. Temper driven, he stormed toward Rachel. At first, John thought he was going to hit her and he would have to intervene to protect her. However, at the last second, the thief reversed his gun and lashed out at him, striking him forcibly across the front of his head. The blow was powerful, yet somehow, John managed remained conscious. His ears vibrated loudly and a sharp pain flared behind his eyes. He closed them tightly against the agony, hoping it would soon subside.

"My god, what did you do that for?" Rachel shouted through everyone's protests.

"Just trying to get a message across, lady! For the last time…everybody…shut up!" Wade spat the last words out, his face nearly crimson with anger.

Shocked to the core, the others immediately fell silent, but Rachel wasn't intimated by a long shot. "It was just a reasonable request and he didn't even make it." She turned to look at John. He had lowered his head and had his hand over the wound trying to staunch the flow of blood. "Can I please tend to his injury?"

"No…you…may…not." Wade emphasized. "Clive, get one of those paper towels from over there."

Clive looked at his brother and hesitated. He'd always followed Wade's lead but for the first time, he began to question his brother's actions. "Wade, I don't think that was a very good thing to do."

His brother sent him a scathing glance. "What makes you think that?"

"Because if we get caught they'll add assault to our crimes."

John looked up and tried to focus on the young man through his pounding head. He saw two images, slightly fuzzy. "Not you, kid, but your brother for sure."

"Firstly, we ain't gonna to get captured and secondly, you'd better shut up or I'll rearrange your hair some more."

John closed his aching eyes before turning to look at the young mother. His vision eventually cleared enough for him to see that she was rocking her son tightly in her arms and murmuring to him. For second John didn't see them, in his minds eye he saw Teyla and Torren. And he knew what he had to do.

A paper towel suddenly landed on his lap, which he quickly held to his forehead. And regardless of his own safety, he risked speaking again. "Wade, I'm asking you one last time to let the mother and her child go. And the women."

"Are you kidding me? That would leave only you and dumbass here," he argued, waving his gun towards the manager. For the first time, Mr. Frank's looked truly terrified.

"Aren't we good enough for you?"

"No!" Wade screamed, holding his gun up and swinging it towards John.

At that moment, Rachel's cell phone began to ring, which momentary distracted Wade from any further brutality towards John. "You take that thing out of your pocket, lady. Then switch it off and throw it across the floor. The same goes for the rest of the cell phones!" That Wade hadn't thought of their phones before proved yet again how brainless he was.

John reached a blood stained hand into his pocket and pulled out his brand new iPhone. Thumbing it off, he slid it over the floor to join several others. Clive went after it, shoving it into his pocket without Wade noticing.

Regardless of being in his mother's arms, baby John was growing restless again. And despite the fact his head wound was still bleeding and he still felt woozy, John risked pleading again. "Come on…let the child go, Wade."

"And I told you, no!"

"You didn't. You refused to let me and the manager be your only hostages. What if I told you that having me as a hostage alone would guarantee your freedom?"

"And why is that, shit face?"

Rachel turned to catch John's gaze. She wanted to shake her head as she was afraid for him. Wade was jealous enough already but knowing that John was a high ranking officer could push him further over the edge. However, what came out of John's mouth surprised her. "Because I'm a business man with my own company and I'm sure my family would be only too willing to pay a tidy some to ensure my safety."

Both Wade and Clive perked up at the news. "Okay what's the name and address of your company? Then I can ask for a ransom."

John laughed and shook his head. "Oh no, not until you release the women and the child. I'll tell you everything you need to know after that."

Rachel threw him a look of astonishment he was playing a risky bluff for their sake. He was also counting on Wade not having enough brains to figure out a far easier way to get the information he needed.

The young teller must have caught John's game and she spoke up for the first time. "He's telling the truth because he used a platinum Visa card which only the wealthier folks have." Of course that was a load of nonsense but she was hoping that Wade didn't know that.

Wade looked unsure. Thankfully the phone started to ring again cutting down his thought processing time. He moved to pick it up and once again, he didn't speak at first. Whatever was said on the other end didn't annoy him as much this time around, giving everyone the belief that this could be resolved peacefully after all. "Okay then," he finally said to the person on the other end. "I'm willing to release the kid and his ma along with the two female tellers." John's heart sank as it didn't look as if he was willing to release Rachel. "But if you try anything, then I'll shoot the manager. Is that understood?" What was said on the other end must have been positive because Wade put the phone down and moved back to them. "Alright. Clive, you bring the stroller over here. Then you get your kid strapped into it, lady."

John looked towards Wade. "I wouldn't advise that. Just leave the stroller here, then walk out slowly holding your child for all to see and don't make any unexpected moves until you're sure that they've acknowledged you." John hoped to god that the sheriff had taken Wade's offer seriously, and that he and his men weren't a trigger happy bunch just itching to shot something.

The older teller looked towards him. "Don't worry, I'll walk out first and make sure the coast is clear." John thanked her with a smile.

Wade waved his gun around, dramatically. "Alright then, that's settled. The ones that are leaving can slowly stand up."

Strangely, Wade didn't seem all that upset at having his orders countermanded, so John tried another plea. "Why aren't you letting the store owner go?"

"Oh, she's my guarantee that you'll behave."

John sighed. If he argued the point, then Wade could reverse his plan to release the others.

Rachel lightly touched his arm and whispered. "It's alright." John didn't like it but it seemed that he had no choice but to go alone with Wade's plan, at least for now. Although, overpowering the two brothers with Rachel still present made the risk too high.

-oOo-

The Air Force helicopter swung over the small town and Major Davis instructed the pilot to land on a piece of wasteland, hoping that it was far enough from the bank not to be heard. Quickly getting out, Davis ordered the pilot to power-down and standby for further orders before legging it in toward the bank, which he estimated was about five blocks away.

His arrival coincided with the emergence of the three women and child from the building. Guns were raised and aimed in their direction. The major held his breath praying that this wouldn't turn into a bloodbath. Thankfully, the women were quickly recognized and met halfway by a deputy, who hastily hustled them towards a waiting ambulance.

Davis pushed his way through the small crowd that had already gathered around the fortunate hostages. He wanted to speak to the Sheriff but the man was currently questioning two of the women while the third sobbed into the arms of an older woman, obviously a relative. The child held protectively in her arms adding his own voice to his mother's.

The major eventually managed to introduce himself and get the gist of what was happening. He looked towards the bank and sighed. From the looks of it, John Sheppard was being a hero again but he was playing a very dangerous game.

tbc