So, one more chapter left! :)

Kate stared out of the window, listening as the Mayor rambled on and on about a bill that would soon be passed on the regulation of hours that officials could work per week. Usually she was extremely talkative and constructive during the meetings, but she couldn't stop thinking about Jem. She didn't understand why he had been acting the way he had earlier. It was eating away at her insides. "Are you okay, Kate?" the Mayor asked, realizing that there was something different about her demeanor. He stepped up to her side, folding his arms across his chest as he looked out, taking in the view with her. She cocked an eyebrow at him and turned.

"Oh yeah, sorry," she answered, giving him a bold, warming smile. She turned and crutched back to the conference table, staring at the piles upon piles of labeled manila folders.

"This bill is shit, isn't it?" he questioned, shoving the manila folder across the table. Sirens sounded from the streets. It sounded like a parade. She hobbled quickly over to the window and looked out, watching as squads of police cars, sirens blaring and lights blazing.

"What the hell is going on?" Kate whispered, turning to the blank television in the room. The Mayor switched it on and sighed as bold words flashed in a marquee along the screen. Fenway Park was being robbed.

"These damn criminals. Have they no shame?" he protested, tossing the remote onto the small black leather couch in front of the television.

"Two suspects have been identified, Douglas McCray and James "Jem" Coughlin," the reporter spoke as clips from a vault room played, looping the recording of Jem holding the men in the room at gunpoint. Kate fell to the floor in a heap, shoving the crutches away.

"Turn it off," she muttered, holding her hands before her face. The Mayor looked down at her, confused. "Turn it off!" she screamed, pounding her fists onto the carpeted floor. She took a couple of deep breaths, hoping it was a dream. Her eyes slammed shut as she tried to think herself awake. "Come on," she whispered, repeatedly, tapping her hands on the ground. Her throat grew tighter as she opened her eyes, to find that she was really awake. "Get the damn car, we're going to Fenway Park," she snapped, looking up at the Mayor.

Jem stumbled his way around the bay area awkwardly. He was fearful of what he'd find when he eventually found an exit door… the swarms of SWAT teams, a roadblock, armed police officers… Announcements were being played on the intercom for workers to evacuate immediately. Jem adjusted the bill of his cap and continued walking, dropping his head down. He tried to make himself invisible. "Hey officer!" called out a voice. It caused Jem to jump. He looked up, gun ready at his side. "What's goin' on?"

"There's been a robbery. We're just securing the building," he answered, looking behind him.

"Are they dangerous?" he asked.

"We're not sure. But, ya wanna help me outta here? I'm kinda lost."

"Sure," the man stated, holding the door open. "I can get ya outta here." Jem walked up behind him, climbing the steps at a much slower pace. His legs and shoulders were growing tired. His breath was heavy as he climbed the two sets of stairs. They walked down another corridor, out of another door, and into the street. The sun made Jem squint his eyes. The snow had melted, leaving the pavement and sidewalk wet.

"Thanks," Jem grunted, giving a small wave of his hand. He glanced down the road and saw police cars parked along it. He tucked his head down, making his way to a small parking lot. There were only a few police officers walking around him, but they were walking to the squad cars, completely oblivious to him. He couldn't wait to set the duffel bags down. There was actually a lot he couldn't wait to do the more he thought about it. "Just ta tha damn lot," he cursed, struggling to carry the bags. Inside of the gate of the lot he dropped the bags, letting them slide off of his shoulder with a thud. He pulled the cap off of his head and ran a hand through his sweat soaked hair. His shoulders ached as he moved his arm, causing him to moan. Breathing in slowly he closed his eyes and thought of Kate. Her light brown hair, her green eyes, the freckles on her cheeks… his bottom lip quivered, his eyebrows scrunching together. He pulled the silver cross out from under his clothes and kissed it. "I'm sorry," he choked, opening his eyes to look up at the sky. Struggling, he clamored to his feet, ready to keep walking. He wasn't done yet. They weren't free from Fergie.

"Coughlin," barked an all too familiar voice. He shut his eyes and tried to pretend he hadn't heard the voice. Jem sniffed and pulled his cap back on, turning to face the man.

"What'dya want, Liam?" Jem quipped, straightening his back.

"Care to explain why you're in a uniform and carrying two large duffel bags?" Liam asked, gesturing to the bags by Jem's feet.

"Well, ya know, I'm not one ta maintain my career choices," he answered with a smirk. Liam shook his head at Jem.

"What in the fuck did you get yourself into?"

"Stop tha fuckin' pleasantries. You an' I both know you aren't down here ta play nice. So jus' quit playin' tha damn games."

"I'm out here because it's my goddamn job and because I know how much you mean to Kate. If you didn't mean anything to her, your ass would already be on the wagon with a fucking express ticket to Walpole." Jem smiled and looked up at the clear blue sky above them.

"Please, do yourself a fuckin' favor an' quit pretendin' like ya actually give a shit about Kate," he growled, his face looking back at Liam's.

"Excuse me?" Liam asked, turning his head at Jem, acting as if he couldn't hear him.

"Ya heard me right, ya prick. You don't care about her. Ya don't give a shit about her. Where are ya when she needs ya?" Liam gritted his teeth and pointed at Jem, ready to speak. "'Cause I know where I am," he added with another smirk. Liam's face grew red with heat. "I'm in her fuckin' bed. Doin' your fuckin' job."

"What the fuck did you just say?" Liam screamed, holding himself back from tackling him to the ground.

"Ya heard me, asshole. Where do ya think I was last night?" he growled, full of arrogance. Liam yelled out and threw himself at Jem, causing Jem to lift his knee into Liam's chest, knocking the wind out of him. He grabbed Jem's pant leg and tried to pull himself up, causing Jem to slam the butt of his assault rifle into Liam's forehead. He went limp and fell to the ground, senseless. Jem looked up slowly to make sure no one had been watching before grabbing the bags and hoisting them up onto his shoulders again.

He was almost out of the parking lot and across the street when Liam yelled his name. He turned, just in enough time to watch Liam raise his arm from the ground. Jem heard the shot ring out and felt the pain in his right kneecap. "Fuck!" he yelled, falling to the pavement. Cars swerved around him as the bags fell on top of his chest. It caused another adrenaline rush to surge through his veins. Stumbling, he climbed to his feet, turning the safety off of the assault rifle. He pulled the trigger, yelling as he aimed the bullets for Liam. Glass and metal flew around Liam as he covered his head, scooting his way under a truck. Sirens and lights added to the chaos as squad cars pulled up on the road. Jem shoved his arm through the straps and hobbled into a windowed lobby with a metal table. With a grunt he shoved the table onto its side and fell behind it, praying it would prevent him from being shot again. His leg was gushing with blood, he breathed, trying not to cry as the pain ripped through him. He almost swore he could hear Kate's voice…

Kate found Liam covered in glass shards, standing by a squad car talking to a few officers. "Where is he?" she screamed, frantically, walking on her cast. She had ditched the crutches a few blocks away because they had been slowing her down. Liam held up his hands in defense.

"He's taken himself hostage in that building," Liam explained, calmly, nodding his head towards the glass lobby.

"Well, get him the fuck out," she yelled, giving him a shove.

"It ain't that easy. He stole a lot of money, threatened the lives of at least 5 people an' shot at a police officer. If he leaves here, it's gonna be in a body bag or a squad car," the cop next to Liam added, pointing at the parking lot behind him.

"No, there's a logical explanation for this," Kate insisted, scowling at the officer, thrusting a finger in his direction.

"Is there now?" Liam asked, rising his eyebrow.

"Yes, there is and I'm gonna get it." She started walking towards the building, but was stopped as Liam held him arm out.

"You know I can't let you do that," he advised, looking into her eyes.

"Fucking watch me," she taunted, taking another step.

"Restrain her," he ordered a cop next to him. The cop wrapped his arms around her chest, preventing her from moving. She grunted and screamed, trying to push his arms off her.

"Fuck you, Liam," she snarled, pulling and pushing her body against the cop's chest. "You know he's changed and you're not even going to try and help him."

"Because he's a fucking criminal, Kate. He doesn't get special treatment just because you're banging him." Her face fell as she looked at him. "Don't look so shocked, Kate."

"How long have you known?"

"Long enough." Her eyes dropped to the ground as he spoke.

"Can I talk to him?" she asked, quietly, her anger fading.

"You can try." He handed her the megaphone and stepped back as the officer released his grip on her.

"Jem," Kate started, holding the mic button down. Jem felt his entire body shut down. "I know you're in there, Jem." He sat still for a second, unsure of what to do. Her voice was as shaky as her knees as she looked at the reflections on the window. He held a hand over the table causing tears to rim her eyes. "Just come out here, okay? Explain what's going on. I know you didn't do this willingly." She bit her lip as the sadness made its home in her throat. She felt like everything she knew was fading away. Tears fell down her already red cheeks as she saw the trail of blood leading into the lobby. Jem closed his eyes, tears forming behind them. He had taken his bulletproof vest off to use the Velcro for a tourniquet. He couldn't breathe with it on. The stress didn't help him at all and now that he could hear her voice… it was a hundred times harder to keep his composure.

"I can't," Jem yelled, throwing the cap across the lobby.

"Why?" she asked, her vision blurring as the rest of her make up began to flood down her face with her tears. "Just come out."

"I'm hurt," he answered, looking down through the wall of his own tears at his numb leg.

"I'm coming in to get you," she stated, seriously, putting the megaphone down on the hood of the police car next to her. She took a brave, shaky step forward, hoping she wouldn't be stopped again. Liam stood before her, his arms out.

"I'm not gonna let you kill yourself for some goddamn low life," he whispered looking into her eyes. Mascara was running in thick, black lines down her face. Her lips were swollen. There was a clanking of metal on concrete, causing Kate's eyes to flick over and watch smoke pour from out of the doorway. She yelped and shoved Liam, trying to break past him.

"Jem!" she shrieked, her throat burning as she forced the air of her lungs. Jem sputtered and coughed as the smoke filled his lungs. Choking, he rolled onto his stomach and slowly army crawled to the door, keeping as low to the ground as possible. His eyes were burning and tearing up faster from the fumes.

"Are we firing on sight?" asked a voice Kate could hear from a few yards away. Her heart surged with energy.

"Jem!" she yelled again, this time even deeper and clearer. "Don't come out!" He crawled from out of the smoke, confused and agitated. He squinted his eyes open, barely long enough to see Kate screaming, pounding her hands on Liam's chest. There was a sound of a loud crack as he felt the force pound into his shoulder. He yelled out, bringing his hands to the wound. Kate yelled his name again and put her hands on Liam's shoulder, this time finding all of the courage and strength in the world to push him against the car and out of her path. She fell at Jem's side, holding her hands down on the wound with a large amount of force. His eyes met hers. His chin slightly quivering as he held his hands lightly over hers. "Damn it, Jem," she sobbed, trying to push down even harder. "Why?"

"I'm sorry," he choked. "I'm so fuckin' sorry." He blinked and swallowed hard. "I know you hate blood." She smiled as tears fell.

"You know that's not why I'm upset," she whispered.

"At least I've got my lucky charm," he cooed, lightly touching her face with his hand. "I know I'm gonna make it now. Ain't nothin' I can't do when you're with me." He closed his eyes, this time for a longer period of time.

"Jem, stay awake," she ordered, the smile fading from her lips as she shook him. He jolted back to life and looked at her.

"I love you," he whispered, holding her hair.

"I love you," she breathed, hunching down to kiss him. He weakly kissed her back, unable to move his arms again. "You're gonna make it, okay?" He nodded, slightly, his eyes closing again. "Jem, please. Please don't leave me," she begged, her body shaking as she squeezed her hands into him, feeling his warm blood ooze over her hands. "Somebody fucking help me!" she yelled, holding her head back. He slowly felt himself fade, the world beginning to become nothing but darkness. All of the sounds echoing around him from a mile away. Paramedics rushed in and gently pulled her away, checking for vitals, shouting at each other as they packed his wound full of gauze. She back away slowly, watching the world without responding to it as they wheeled him away…