Title: The Guardian – Book II
Chapter 17 – Waiting to Exhale
The thick tension continues to escalate in the stuffy courtroom as the man nears Danny's frame. His eyes had slightly fluttered and he wonders if that was a wise course. However, he knows they aren't stupid and the gunman wasn't about to just buy his playing possum the entire time.
Danny's lips utter an automatic grunt as one of the gunman kick him in the side; his body slightly jerking and his eyes snapping open.
"Just checking," the man snarls as he steps away from Danny's slightly gasping frame and then looks at Jamie with a narrowed gaze. A few seconds later the man suddenly storms back toward the kid who had earlier been making the fuss and lowers his gun; the mother instantly letting out a small shriek and trying to push her child behind her.
He pulls his phone and dials the number Frank's negotiator had given them. "I want to speak to the real man in charge."
"This is Police Chief Frank Reagan. Whom am I speaking to?"
"You already know. Where is our secure transport?"
"It takes…"
"Time. Well I have a mouthy kid here who is starting to become a real pain in my ass! I'll give you 20 minutes. If I have nothing by then, the kid dies!"
And before Frank can say another word, the line goes dead and he looks at Henry in concern. "They'll kill a kid if we don't act fast."
"Which kid?"
"I don't think one of ours," Frank whispers as he leans in closer. "But either way we have to get this resolved."
"Jones!" Henry's voice bellows to the SWAT leader. "Where are we at?"
"Thermal imaging is up," Jones leads Henry and Frank over to the back of the SWAT truck; all three of them looking at the monitor before them. "We're able to ascertain that the three moving heat signatures are our baddies. However, they are as you can see clustered here with the rest of the hostages. Two unmoving heat signatures here," Jones points to who the little dots that represent Jamie and Erin. "This one," he now points to Danny. "Here," he's now referring to the DA and her assistant. Henry and Frank of course not knowing who's who. "This one keeps pacing back and forth but if we storm the place it's going to be a bloodbath. They have all the control in that closed in room and they know it."
"Can we ambush them en route to the getaway?" Henry wonders. "They want a helicopter?"
"Yup and they might take hostages with them until they're inside and on their way," Jones explains. "We might be able to get them once they are out of the stairwell and in between the helicopter. Very short window."
"They have to know it's a dead end," Frank muses with a hiss. "To what end?"
"Time's moving fast Sir. What do we do?"
"We could track them in the air," Henry looks at Frank. "We have to let them try to get away. I'm sure they'll head to either JFK or LaGuardia or somewhere else but if this gets them away from the hostages we can take it from there."
Frank looks at his father and knows Henry's right – they were wasting precious time and the man at the helm was already facing a capitol murder charge. Frank knows they have nothing to lose. He, however, has everything to lose. "Make the call. Jones, get your men ready."
"Yes sir."
Frank pulls back and looks at Jones and then back at the courtroom. "May God forgive is if anyone innocent is hurt."
The phone rings inside the stuff courtroom, making all in attendance jump; including Danny, Jamie and Erin.
"About damn time Chief!" The gunman growls as he looks around the room; his brain doing exactly what they had predicted, looking for a hostage to take for extra insurance.
"What's going on?"
"Each of you grab a shield! We're leaving!"
Jamie's eyes slightly widen as he realizes that the gunman means a human shield. Danny is overlooked because of his condition but Jamie's heart instantly soars as one of them stop toward him and Erin.
"What's your name!" The man demands of Erin.
"Erin R…"
"Ross. She's my sister," Jamie interjects in haste. "Please leave her alone."
"Women make the best hostages!" He growls as he tries to yank Erin free of Jamie's grasp.
"NO! You can't take her!" Jamie shouts as he tries to pull her back. But all he gets is a kick to his side, making him cry out but hold on tighter.
"Why not take a male, you coward!" Danny huffs as the man pulls away and stomps back up to him. He fires off a shot that misses Danny's face by inches and causing Jamie to shout and Erin to scream. Danny however looks back up in angry defiance as the man bends down to him.
"Your sister screamed, you are still giving me attitude," he growls as he shoves the gun in Danny's cheek. "That's why I'm leaving you behind!"
He clips Danny's jaw with the gun as he stands up and stomps back toward Erin and Jamie, fairly yanking Erin to her feet, wrapping an arm around her neck and pointing his gun at Jamie.
"Faster than a speeding bullet kid?"
Jamie looks up at Erin who shakes her head and he stays quiet. Jamie can only watch helplessly as Erin is pulled toward the back exit to up to the stairs and then out of the building.
"They have hostages!"
Frank hears Jones voice over the radio and looks at his father with gritted teeth. "Proceed with caution captain."
"Copy that Sir."
As soon as the three gunmen and the prisoner have cleared the room, Danny looks at Jamie before racing toward one of the fallen guards. Their main weapons were taken but he's able to find a small sidearm in the dead guard's ankle holster and then grabs the phone.
"Tell Frank they have Erin!" Danny instructs Jamie as he rushes past; spitting some bloody saliva onto the floor.
"You can't go after them!"
"JUST DO IT!" Danny shouts as he disappears from view.
However, not wanting to be left behind, Jamie quickly texts Frank and then follows after Danny.
"Erin's a hostage, Danny's going after the gunmen!" Frank hisses as he texts back to Jamie to stay put. "They have Erin."
"Ah damn it!" Henry curses as he radio's Jones about the four female hostages, Erin, the mother of the screaming boy, Amanda and one other woman.
As much as Frank wants to admire Danny's courage he also knows that SWAT has their job to do and Danny's interference might cost more lives – including his. Then without warning, Frank pulls away from the pack, snatches a bulletproof vest and rushes toward the opening of the courthouse!
"Francis!" Henry curses once more under his breath, drawing a few curious glances in his direction. Of course he can't call back the Chief of police but at the same time, his entire family was now in one place and the thought of him losing his entire family in one fell swoop sickens his stomach.
"STAY BACK!"
"GET BACK!"
*BANG*
*BANG*
Danny follows at a close distance, his heart racing at stop speed – almost painful and his head starting to boom. He prays the loud ringing in his ears dampens a bit so that he can get some clear focus but that's not to be.
"Hey! Children aren't allowed here!"
Danny turns to see the person behind the voice and narrows his gaze at Larry Abalos, the man who was Joseph Regan's best friend and the one who had gotten after him in the precinct when he accidentally called himself Danny Reagan.
"Scram!"
"Ah stuff it!" Danny growls as he raises his gun.
"Where'd you get that?" Abalos demands.
But just before another snide comment can be made Danny feels a hand on his shoulder and turns around with his gun drawn. "Frank!" He gasps as he quickly backs down.
"Thanks Danny, we'll take it from here," Frank tells him as he looks at the bruise on Danny's jaw. "Where's Jamie?"
"He waited."
"You go b…"
"I tried to stop him but, he took Erin!" Danny states in desperation. "I tried to keep her safe. I'm sorry."
Larry Abalos's loyalty to Joe Reagan was something that no man or other office would dampen or tamper with; something that annoyed Sonny Malvesky to no end. Sonny had tried at one time to convert and corrupt Abalos into joining his side against Joe Reagan but Abalos couldn't be bought. He wanted to hate Danny for thinking that he was just trying to use the Reagan name to further his own career in the NYPD. But when he sees the genuine concern for Erin in Danny's expression something inside slightly softens; especially when Danny shows to respect the chain of command and doesn't argue with Frank, even surrendering his borrowed weapon.
"She'll be okay. Go check on Jamie."
As much as he wants to argue, Danny knows he's not an actual officer and he'd just be in the way. The lives of the innocent civilians top priority – especially Erin's. Danny nods and then ducks back around the corner, watching as Jamie rushes up to him with an expectant expression.
"Where is she?"
"Still with them," Danny replies with a heavy sigh. "How are you?"
"I'm fine Danny…is Erin going to be okay?"
"I hope so," Danny looks at Jamie with a defeated look. "I don't know. These guys…they're aiming to kill."
*BANG*
*BANG*
"Danny!"
"Maybe SWAT got one of the gunmen," Danny replies in haste as they hear screaming in the distance. And that is of course what happened but they wouldn't know that until later.
"Frank one of the gun men are down but they're out in the open now."
Most would be able to marvel at Frank Reagan's ability to remain object in even the most tense of circumstances or under the most gravest of dangers; but when he reaches the top of the stairwell and peers out through the small window and sees his beloved daughter being so mishandled and knowing she's already injured forces his anger to pulse even harder.
"Jones, where are your men?"
"My top snipers have the other three lined up. You give the order and…seconds count!"
"If you have the shots you take them. We can't let them board with…"
"Sir they're preparing to kill one of the hos…"
Jones words stop short.
Frank looks outside just as one of the gunmen lines up one of the women.
Three shots are heard.
Three bodies fall.
Erin instructs the other women to pull back, run for the exit doors while Frank orders his men to head onto the roof, wanting to ensure the gunmen were taken care of before further retribution could ensue.
"Dad!" Erin shouts as she hurries toward him.
"Thank God," Frank whispers his gratitude as he pulls his daughter into his arms and holds her close, kissing the top of her head before he looks at the wound on her shoulder.
"It's not bad," she replies as he can only offer her a small smirk.
"The boys are waiti…"
"Erin!" Danny shouts from the mouth of the stairwell as Erin hurries toward him.
Frank watches them embrace and then turns back to go and help his men.
"Frank?"
"Good work Jones. All unfriendlies are down. You know the drill."
"Yes Sir. How are the hostages?"
"Alive thanks to you. Good work."
Frank looks at the first man with a bullet embedded in his forehead and then at the rest of the team, telling them all good work before he radios to his father that it's all over. Frank looks up at Larry Abalos as he nears.
"Good work today Abalos," Frank commends as the seasoned officer looks at him in wonder.
"Thank you Sir," he simply replies as he nods to Frank. "About earlier…"
"You told a civilian to get out of harms way. Next time…a bit more tact but you were in the right."
"Course," Abalos replies slowly.
"Erin!" Jamie exclaims as he watches Danny and Erin exit the stairwell. He rushes up to her and gives her a small hug, the three of them following a uniformed officer outside to a waiting medic.
"Ah thank God you're okay," Henry hugs first Erin and then both Danny and Jamie at the same time. But the small burst of affection isn't lost on all, as Sonny's friend Shawn was recording – everything.
Jamie hangs back while the medic's tend to Erin's shoulder and Danny's superficial wounds, watching all the comings and goings of various parts of the NYPD, SWAT and then the coroner's team.
"Kinda fascinating huh," Danny comments as he joins Jamie, easing himself down onto the cement bulkhead facing the courthouse.
Jamie's stony gaze is kept fixed on the courthouse until Danny's shoulder gently nudges his. "I thought he was going to shoot you," Jamie whispers as his voice cracks.
"Hey come here," Danny replies in a softer tone as his arm wraps around Jamie's slightly shaking shoulders and gives them a warm squeeze. "I thought they were going to…damn my brain was racing so fast."
"But you ran after those guys like it didn't matter."
"You followed me," Danny retorts gently as Jamie looks up at him in misery. "We're all okay and the bad guys are dead."
"I'm glad they are," Jamie states firmly as Frank finally exits the building and heads toward them. But this time it's Jamie's turn to feel Danny stiffen beside him and looks at him in wonder.
Danny's gaze fixes on Frank and then quickly on the man that walks up to Frank and both of them shake hands. "It's him…"
"Who is that?"
"Sniper leader," Danny replies as his mind zooms back in time to his first encounter with the man who shares the same name as his biological father – Wade. "Wade…Jones."
"And?"
"No, I just…" Danny's voice stammers as he tries to reply. "Before we went to talk to Margaret he showed up at the range one day and I just…I lost it. I thought of dad and…"
"He doesn't look like…"
"I know that!" Danny snaps as Frank leads Jones over toward them. "Sorry," he quickly mutters as they near.
"Captain Jones always likes to see the people behind the lives he saves. This is Danny and Jamie," Frank introduces as Jamie shakes Jones hand.
"I…don't I know you?" Wade Jones as Danny as he shakes his hand.
"Yeah…I uh…work at the gun range on the weekends," Danny reminds him as Jones smiles and nods.
"Oh right…old man Walters says good things about you," Jones tells Danny in truth. "Frank said you both were very brave today."
"You have an amazing team," Danny praises Jones who offers a modest smile.
"You two okay? You look a little rough."
"Yeah, we're okay," Danny says with a small shrug as Jones chuckles.
"Yeah…Frank said you were the tough guy."
"Thanks," Danny replies softly as Jones gives his shoulder a good squeeze and then takes his leave.
"How are my boys?" Frank asks as he hugs first Danny and then Jamie; the three of them slowly walking back toward the ambulance were Erin is being treated.
"Fine."
"Shaken."
Both Danny and Jamie answer at once; Frank's brows gently arching as he looks at Danny after his 'fine' lie.
"I know after today, no matter how brave an officer, everyone goes home a little shaken."
"Even Jones?" Danny asks as he turns to watch the SWAT leader rejoin his team.
"Even Jones," Frank answers as Danny looks at him with a heavy frown. "How's my girl?"
"Fine," Erin retorts; all three men gently laughing. "They said that too?"
"Danny did," Frank confesses as Danny purses his lips. Erin's head lolls onto her father's as the medic finishes tending to her arm. "How is she?"
"Tough girl. But it runs in the family," the medic tells Frank with a firm nod. "Bullet just grazed the top of the shoulder. Just a few stitches and a few pain killers and she'll be good to go."
"You two were really brave today…well you were Jamie. Danny…"
"What?" Danny huffs as he looks at her amused smile.
"I was worried when he came at you."
"I think you three better tell me the whole story," Frank states as Henry walks up to them.
"All taken care of," Henry informs the small group as he pulls Jamie close. "I think it's time for you three to go home and get cleaned up and just take the rest of the day off."
"Is Amanda okay?" Erin asks in concern.
"She's a tough cookie. She's going to be fine."
"I'm glad."
"So…is that kinda stuff…normal?" Jamie dares to inquire as he looks at Erin and then up at Henry.
"No. It was a rash act purported by three morons sharing a single brain cell," Henry groans as Danny slightly smirks. However, Jamie's expression remains serious.
"But people were killed. The Judge and the guards," Jamie reminds them stonily.
"No one's making light of that fact," Henry explains in a kind tone. "I guess old cop humor just comes to the fore after very stressful situations. How about…instead of making anyone cook tonight, we order in dinner?"
"Really?"
"I'm in!"
"That'd be great."
"I think that's a unanimous verdict, pop," Frank looks up at his father with a smile. "Danny, you okay to drive?"
"I'm okay," Danny replies in truth.
"Okay we're going to finish up here and see you all at home."
"Thank you Jamie," Erin tells Jamie as Frank looks at Jamie with arched brows. "He wouldn't let me give my last name and even offered himself in my place."
"I can't wait to hear all about it tonight," Frank tells Jamie as he hugs him once more. "Thank you."
"She's my sister," Jamie answers with a warm tone as he looks at Erin with a friendly smile.
Jamie helps Erin get up and they slowly walk to their car as Danny texts Linda to let her know what happened in case it was on the news but that they are all okay.
'I love you and I'll see you tomorrow night.'
Danny looks at her final text and feels his heart settle. The three of them get into the car, Erin in the back just resting as Jamie's gaze fixes on the courthouse, Danny pulling away slowly and heading for home.
"How is our girl?" Henry asks Frank as they both watch the car round the corner and disappear from view.
"Tough as nails. She'll break down tonight, when she's not with the boys. Danny was roughed up pretty good and Jamie was mostly scared," Frank responds as he looks at his father's stony expression. "Erin said Jamie stepped up to have them take him instead and Danny ran after them without missing a beat."
"Danny's got cop inside and out but Jamie…" Henry's voice pauses. "Would be nice to have both boys on the force."
"They'll tell us everything tonight."
"You heading back to the office?"
"No hospital to check on Troy."
"How is he?" Henry turns to Frank and inquires.
"He's…still in a coma. I'm hoping for a good update. The body at the place Troy was investigating turns out to be a missing person from about two years ago. Some young musician."
"No ties to our boys in any way?"
"Not personally. Spencer and Chin will keep in touch with the locals but I'm leaving that investigation in the hands of the Springfield PD. If they find ties to Jed Allen we'll get involved again. If there is DNA for someone else that they can finger as the killer I'm leaving it with them. We have other things to worry about. Right pop?"
"Anton is working on a few things."
"But…"
"No, Francis…don't ask. This is my mess."
"No more deaths…of the good guys," Frank reminds his father with a heavy sigh.
"No more," Henry agrees as they both turn and gaze upon the coroner's van as the attendant closes the back doors, gets into the front and slowly pulls away. "No more," Henry whispers as he looks at his son with a grave expression. "See you tonight."
Frank watches his father head toward the SWAT team and then heads toward his own SUV, telling his driver to stop at the hospital before heading back to the precinct. On the way there he texts Spencer and tells him the kids are okay and he's heading to see Troy, telling him and Chin to get back on the case about finding out who was responsible for Ed Vickers death.
'Glad the boys are okay. See you tomorrow and I mean tomorrow. Go be with your family after today. Spencer.'
Frank puts his phone away as he heads into the hospital; his mind still worried about his friend and his family. "Angie," Frank greets Troy's wife as he gives her a warm hug and then pulls back with a concerned expression.
"Frank," she greets him with a small sniffle.
"How is he?"
"Well…the doctors said he's showing signs of improving. He's being kept in a medically induced coma while they put him back under the knife."
"He's a strong guy and a fighter," Frank tries to assure her. "He'll pull through. Call me as soon as he's awake. And Angie…if you need anything at any time. You call. I mean it."
"I will. Thank you for coming Frank. I'll tell Troy when he wakes up. How are you all doing?"
Frank talks to his friend's wife a bit longer before he leaves the hospital and then pauses outside. He looks across the street and lets his gaze rest fondly upon a family playing with their three children. For a few seconds his heart starts to ache as he thinks about his beloved wife and how much she's missing out.
Frank hears his phone buzz and pulls it out, looking at Spencer's text with a small frown. He starts to type his reply that he was on his way in but instead pauses as he rereads Spencer's earlier text.
'I'll be in tomorrow. Frank.'
With that he makes a call to his father and heads for home.
"I'm home!"
"Dad?"
"Frank!"
Erin rounds the corner from the living room looking at her father in wonder. "What's going on?"
"Thought I'd come home and finish things here. Is that okay?"
"Yeah."
"Of course."
"Can we play poker tonight?" Jamie wonders as Frank follows them into the living room?
"As many games as you can stay awake for," Frank answers with a smile as he hugs Jamie close and kisses the top of his head. "As many as you want."
"Great!"
"I just heard from Amanda…" Erin starts.
"Can I shadow Captain Jones one day?" Danny asks at the same time.
Frank looks at both and can't help but smile. He notices the bruise markings on different parts of their faces and knows he came so close to losing everything he holds dear in the world right now. Work could wait. Family was more important.
"Well…" Frank starts.
Henry would come home a little bit later and despite the harrowing events of the day, the rest of the night would be relaxing and comfortable; a small respite from the emotional turmoil raging all around them.
A/N: Okay so some Erin in peril but you know only a superficial wound (would never kill any of the Reagans!) A bit of Jamie and Danny tension to top it off. So while that superficial danger is over you know Sonny is still there and he's already planning their demises. What will he try next? Wade Jones was the man mentioned in book I when Danny saw him at the gun range (just as small ref point) and Danny might see him and officer Abalos again (little side plot points and hope you all like them). And what happens when Jamie sees George again? Would love your reviews so please send some appreciation our way before you go and thanks so much!