A/N: Many, many thanks to everyone who is reading. Hope you continue to enjoy the story. :-)

I'll Be Home For Christmas

Chapter 6

Laura and Andrea stood in front of the supermarket huddled close together, fear for their children shrouding them like a heavy blanket. Laura's eyes had been repeatedly drawn to the dark red stain glistening on the ground just outside the supermarket doors as Con's pronouncement echoed in her ears – "Joe's been shot" – opening up an ever-growing hole in her heart. How much of that large pool of blood belonged to the critically injured guard and how much of it was her son's? She tore her eyes away from the grisly scene, glancing at her husband.

He and Frank were talking animatedly with Con Riley and Ezra Collig, Bayport's Chief of Police, who had arrived moments earlier. Fenton crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head emphatically while Frank stood shoulder to shoulder with his father and silently glared at the two police officers. Laura couldn't help but smile to herself, not even needing to hear the conversation to know what was being said. She was certain Chief Collig had asked Frank and Fenton to let the police handle it, more out of protocol than any belief he had that they might agree. Fenton and Frank had obviously responded with something along the lines of "Over my dead body," leaving Laura with a sense of relief despite her fear for her child. She had the utmost confidence in the Bayport Police Department but if Joe's life was in danger, there was no one she trusted more to bring him home safely than her husband and son.

She sighed heavily as Fenton turned and started towards her. Laura knew exactly what was coming and despite understanding it was necessary, she still hated it. Her husband approached, stopped in front of her and silently took her in his arms, holding her close. She leaned against him soaking up the strength that seemed to be a part of his soul. Slowly he pulled away, holding her at arm's length. He glanced at Andrea and then stared into Laura's eyes.

"Frank and I are going to assist in the negotiations for Joe and Vanessa," he began, as Andrea cut him off with a startled gasp.

"You know where they are?" she exclaimed.

"There was one police cruiser pulling into the parking lot as the armored truck pulled out so yes, they've been able to follow it right from the start," he explained. "Last report is they seem to be headed for the airport. My guess is they're going to try and trade Joe and Vanessa for a plane ride out of here."

Laura swallowed hard as her stomach lurched and then turned to ice. She realized Fenton wasn't being completely honest, probably in an effort not to send Andrea off the deep end again. Having lived with a detective – three detectives! – for so many years, Laura had learned a few things. One of them being, criminals holding hostages always had the upper hand and they would never give up that leverage – or their hostages – simply because the police promised to meet their demands. No, it made more sense for them to keep their hostages, or at least one of them, until they had safely arrived at their destination.

Laura looked away, blinking rapidly. If it came to that, and the thieves had to give up one hostage to get what they wanted, whom would they give up and who would they keep? Would it make more sense to take the injured hostage along for the ride? Would they think an injured and disoriented male hostage would be easier to manage? Or would they prefer an uninjured female hostage, assuming she'd be easier to intimidate and control?

"Laura, honey."

She felt her husband squeezing her arm and looked up at him.

"You and Andrea go back to our house and wait. I'll call you the second we know anything. I promise."

Laura nodded mutely, accepted a kiss from Fenton and walked slowly towards Andrea's car.

"Excuse me, ladies," a male voice called out. Laura glanced at Andrea and they turned around. The elderly couple who had identified Joe and Vanessa in the picture were walking towards them.

"Yes?" Laura replied.

The couple shuffled a few more steps and stopped next to the car. The woman stared at them for a moment and Laura thought she saw tears in the elderly woman's eyes. She reached out and grasped both Laura's and Andrea's hands in a surprisingly strong grip.

"They're such a sweet couple," she smiled. "So in love with each other. That boy…he adores that little girl. It's in the eyes, you know. He couldn't take his eyes off her."

"Brave boy, that one," her husband chimed in. "Pushed his girl out of the way and then jumped right in to help that poor guard without a second thought for himself."

The woman gave their hands one more squeeze and leaned forward, her voice low and reverent. "We'll pray for your children tonight at Midnight mass. A Christmas miracle…" She nodded, as if she knew without a doubt her prayers would be answered. "God Bless." Without another word, the couple turned and walked away.

Laura stood frozen in place, trembling. "Such a sweet couple… Brave boy… Without a second thought for himself… We'll pray for your children… a Christmas miracle." Numbly she turned and climbed into Andrea's car. As the two worried mothers pulled away from the supermarket and headed for home, the car radio droned low in the background.

"I'll be home for Christmas,

You can count on me…"

Laura's resolve crumbled and she let out a muffled sob as tears spilled down her cheeks. Just this morning she'd had so many Christmas wishes yet right now she had only one….

'Please, God, bring my son home for Christmas...'