AN: The ol' adrenaline is pumping just writing this...

*

On the way over they caught the emergency call on the radio. To that very apartment building. To that very apartment. Olivia turned on the siren immediately, putting Elliot's previous driving completely to shame. Elliot did the only thing he could, calling in that they were also responding to the call.

They arrived at the same time as the radio car, coming to a near collision as they both pulled to a sloppy halt. Olivia barely acknowledged them as she made her way into the building. Elliot filled in the officers on everything they knew without slowing.

She heard the yelling from the stairwell. It was far too muffled to make out words, or even distinct voices. The sound drove her on. Olivia felt her hairs stand on end, and a heavy feeling settled in her gut.

At the third floor she pushed the door open, and scanned the hallway quickly. It was empty, and she was sure all the doors, save the one blown open, were firmly locked. She had to struggle to follow protocol, wanting to rush right in. But she wouldn't be any help if she got herself incapacitated.

Olivia waited for the others to catch up, going in as a group. The two officers went left, and she and Elliot turned right. She took a quick glance and saw the two adults on the floor in the living area, where the officers went. Blood smeared the furniture and the ground.

"They're dead," Olivia heard one say as she turned back. And there was A.J. crumpled against the wall. His hands pressed against his stomach, blood seeping between his fingers.

Elliot was ahead, dropping down to him first. "We need a bus!"

The door to his bedroom was half open, hanging at an angle. Olivia squeezed through, gun in the lead. It was empty, and she heard a new wave of screams filter in through the open window. She barely paid it any attention, but couldn't help but note the cracked glass that spider webbed across the pane. Cautiously, she peered out the window, able to hear them more than see on the grating far above.

"He's going to the roof," Olivia called back. She was already outside when Elliot entered the room, having gotten one of the officers to look after A.J. The sobs filtered down cleanly in the crisp air.

"Please!" The word was so raw it was almost just a noise. They followed up silently, announcing their presence would just cause him to panic and possibly do something before they could close the gap. Olivia pulled herself up the fire escape, feeling her limbs tremble with overwhelming fear.

"Shut up, you ungrateful bitch!"

She heard the reverberation of the slap, and the yelp that followed.

"I'm sorry!" Sara's voice wavered with tears.

"You ruin my life and you're sorry? I should cut you into pieces!"

Olivia finally pulled herself onto the roof, but Eric Holden was almost to the other side. They were behind the stairwell door, so she had no line of sight.

"No!" The girl's reply was immediate. Olivia ran.

When she came around the corner Olivia found Sara standing between her and her father. No shot.

"Police, Holden! Let her go!"

Holden looped one hand through Sara's armpits, lifting her up higher for more protection. His other hand grasped a knife and angled it at her neck. She could see the blood coating it in the dim light. He took a step away.

"Back off, now!" he growled. Sara's eyes were tightly shut as she cried.

Olivia didn't move. She couldn't afford to give him too much room to breathe. Elliot appeared from the other side, and Holden turned over in his direction. The knife did not move.

She still couldn't risk it.

"Drop the knife and put Sara down," Elliot ordered in a steady tone. Holden split his gaze between them, backing up even more.

"Come on, Mr. Holden..." Olivia paused as her voice quivered. "Let's work this out."

"I'm not going to jail for this brat. I won't let her turn me into an outcast."

"Sara's just a kid. It's not her fault," Elliot replied, softening his voice.

Holden shook his head. "It's all her fault!"

"It's my fault," Olivia countered. "I'm the one who made her give a statement."

For a moment she thought he might lunge at her. Wished he would. But he managed to stay still, only just. His hand shook.

"You don't want to do this," Elliot said. He took a small step forward and Holden took a larger one back. Elliot stopped moving again.

Olivia fought to keep her gun steady. She fought to keep breathing. She fought to keep some semblance of professionalism.

Holden addressed Sara, his tone mocking. "Why the hell are you crying? I thought you liked to get hurt?"

"Please don't," she plead weakly.

"I should kill the whole lot of you."

"We don't want any more bloodshed," Olivia said. She knew it was only going to get worse. The look on his face said so. All she could hope was that he made a mistake before it reached that point.

She gave a silent prayer.

"Why couldn't you have just stayed out of our business?" Holden was shouting again. Sara flinched, and the knife nicked her shoulder. She instantly froze, and they both tightened their grip on their guns.

"Put her down, Mr. Holden. Let's end this on a good note," Elliot said.

Holden's brow rose. "A good note."

"Yes," Elliot confirmed.

"Go to hell." He hadn't even finished the sentence when his knife slid against Sara's neck. She flinched away and Holden dropped her immediately. He turned and started to go for the edge.

Holden didn't make it as he went down to a barrage of bullets.

Olivia was kneeling at Sara's side before she even knew she had moved. The girl's hands were clasped over her throat, and Olivia quickly added her own pressure. Her eyes were open wide with fear.

"Don't try to move, ok?" Olivia wanted to give Sara her jacket, but she didn't dare move her hand. "Keep looking at me."

Elliot pulled off his coat and took the radio from his belt in one motion. As he draped the fabric over her, he spoke firmly. "Is that bus here yet?"

"On its way up."

"Send them to the roof, we've got a critical."

Olivia felt the tears roll down her cheeks, burning the frozen skin. Bloody foam bubbled up the corners of Sara's mouth.

"Hang on, honey. Hang on for me."