**we're back to the start... that odd little section at the beginning of the story and you get to see how it all starts to fall together... sorry about the length.. I'm writing this in a very 'organic' way... i write until i get to a 'stop' and then... I stop... more soon!***

PART NINE

The flash of headlights blinded her and she threw up a hand to block the light and stepped back as the brakes of a car squealed to a halt and when she looked up the flash of a Mercedes logo glowed in the half light of the exit.

"Elizabeth? Get in the car."

She was startled to say the least and turned toward the sound. Two flashes of light followed slightly by the unmistakable double roar of gunfire.

Elizabeth heard a thud and turned. The masked gunman who had brought her outside was sliding down the exit door, leaving a slug-like trail of blood on the metal behind him. "What? Who? Ow!"

A hand grabbed at her arm and pulled her toward the car, shoving her into the backseat. A moment later the car was in motion.

Lucky barely came to a stop, the momentum from his sprint down the stairs was nearly too much for him to overcome. The scene before him was chaos and he could barely keep the voices from jumbling in his head.

He was pretty sure he saw Emily, Nikolas maybe... Sam's dark hair, Sonny and Carly...

"Elizabeth!" He screamed her name as he staggered into the fray.

Cruz followed an armored SWAT member into the lobby, his eyes roaming over the crowd, picking out citizens among the stumbling people inside. He hear Lucky screaming out Elizabeth's name and a cold fear lanced through him.

This wasn't going to end well.

Sam was fueled by pure hate and a burning anger. She was tired of being less... tired of being second... tired of being the one he settled for...

She felt cool metal in one palm and the hot spurt of blood caused by her nails as she grabbed for his neck. "Jason, help!"

"You, bitch!" She felt the man pull her tight and saw, around his shoulder, Jason turn away from the lobby and head down the hallway where Elizabeth had gone.

She loosened her hold on the gun for a fraction of a second and that was all it took. The muffled crack of gunpowder echoed in her ears as she felt the sudden spasm of muscles in her middle.

"I wish I could stay and dance," he whispered in her ear, "but I've got places to go, Sweet Sam, and you've outlived your usefulness in more ways than one."

He didn't even lower the her down to the ground, merely let go, and left her on her own as he ran for a side exit.

Max had things well in hand... in both hands... as he propelled Carly and Sonny toward the doors and barely noticed the hot bite of pain that sizzled through his side.

Lulu screamed as someone bumped into her and knocked her down to her knees. She managed to stay out of the way of trampling feet, but she had no idea where to run... where to turn. She managed to see through the smoke and chaos and there was Lucky, lit by one of those harsh emergency lights. She could see the sweat pouring from his face. "Lucky, help! Please!"

Motion to his side caught her attention and she watched as Jason Morgan sprinted past her brother and down the hallway.

"Lucky!" She shrieked at the top of her lungs. "Dammit, Lucky! Help me!"

Lucky, ignoring her cries altogether, followed Jason down the hall.

Mac pushed his way through the crowd his voice booming above the rest as he called for Maxie. He saw Emily and Nikolas huddled together as they ran for the door and as he turned around to look at the room, he caught sight of Robin, near motionless on the couch. He ducked to avoid small arms fire as she made his way to her side.

Craig pushed open the outside door and took in a deep breath of clean cool air. He was so close to being free... so close. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a remote and flipped the switch. He listened as the device warmed up.

Lucky caught up to Jason as the enforcer threw open door after door looking for Elizabeth. "You're a part of this aren't you!" He pushed Jason against the wall. "You and Sonny... what are you getting out of this?"

Jason pushed him back and crossed the hall to kick down another door. "Elizabeth?"

Lucky grabbed the back of Jason's shirt and pulled. "Answer me, dammit."

"Elizabeth?" The hallway was silent. "He must have taken her outside." He turned to leave but stopped for a second as the high-pitched *beep beep* reached his ears. "Sh*t!"

A quick look to the side gave him an idea.

Craig grinned and looked up at the hotel's exterior dotted with lights in occupied rooms. "By the time they sort things out... I'll be long gone."

Pressing the button on his remote he ran into the shadows as a chain of explosions began to rip through the Metro Court.