A/N I know this is late, I'm sorry everyone, but I am on vacation which has caused significant delays.
Thanks to all Reviewers!
Dedication: To whitetigers for her review. :)
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
They had parked the car down a side street directly across from Marion's complex, close enough for them to reach to make a quick escape, but far enough that it wouldn't be noticeable. Callie and Joe were currently sitting in the car planning their next move.
"It seemed much easier back at your apartment." Callie admitted.
"It usually does." Joe replied dryly.
"The only way in or out that won't trigger an alarm is through Marion's office, however if Marion's in his office, which he probably is there is no way we will be able to get in that way." Callie explained.
"What we need is a distraction," Joe mused, frowning when he saw the look on the other blonde's face. "No. No. No. Definitely not."
"I could distract him..." She said even as Joe began to protest vehemently.
"And, then you'll end up kidnapped and we'll have to rescue you."
"Well, do you have a better suggestion?" Callie demanded.
"Well...no. But-"
"Then why can't we just do this my way? It doesn't even have to be that dangerous...I can throw a rock through a window a few hallways down from his office, the alarms will start going off, and then you'll have maybe three minutes or so to get upstairs to Frank, he's on the fourth floor."
"This is a terrible plan." Joe said bluntly. "And, if I were anyone except me, I would tell you how we're both going to end up captured, how it's never going to work, and how it's impulsive, irresponsible, and we should really just sit back and wait for the professionals..."
"But?" Callie asked a slow smile spreading across her face.
"But, I am Joe Freaking Hardy, and impulsive and irresponsible is what I do best." Joe replied the smile on his face matching her own. "Let's go, I have a brother to save."
-Story Break-
"Joe and Callie have been gone for awhile; maybe we should go after them." Vanessa ventured.
"I am sure that they will return soon." Arthur Gray replied. "And, in the meantime it might be preferable that we allow them to cool off, before we are able to go and retrieve Frank."
"I guess." Vanessa said doubtfully. She knew her former boyfriend and her best friend, and she knew that they were both impulsive, stubborn, and inclined to take risks, especially when it cam eto someone they cared about, and this wasn't just anyone this was Frank.
"My most recent information tells me that five of the seven bombs have been successfully disabled, so we will be able to surround the compound soon." Gray concluded.
-Story Break-
Joe was currently crouched in Marion's closet waiting for the telltale alarm to start ringing. He didn't have to wait long, the distant ring of an alarm sounded from the other end of the compound and he heard Marion curse and exit the room shutting the door with a decisive click behind him. Joe waited a minute before exiting the room sprinting down the hallway and up the stairs to the fourth floor. He had thought that he would have trouble finding where his brother was, as it turned out it was rather easy, as the screams of pain rapidly informed him of the correct room.
"What the fuck are you doing to him?" Joe demanded bursting into the room and finding a man gripping a knife and attempting to pull it out of his brother's leg.
Salino had attempted to pull the knife out and had managed to move it a little, but it was deeply wedged in Frank's leg and he had not been able to get it all the way out, he had succeeded in causing more bleeding however.
"Removing the knife, as Mr. Marion requested." The doctor replied.
"Look, I don't want to have to hurt you as it will take time and energy that I don't have, so what's say you just let me take my brother and leave?" Joe asked hopefully. Something about the way the shorter man's hands were shaking, and the pale look on his face told Joe that he didn't really want to be a part of this.
"He'll kill me."
"I'll bring you with us." Joe said impulsively. He wasn't sure if this was a trap or not, but he didn't have time to quibble about the details.
"How did you even get in here?"
"Through Marion's office. I had a distraction." Joe said curtly.
"He'll have discovered that it was nothing by now, and returned to his office, you're not going to be able to get out that way again."
"Then what do you suggest?" Joe demanded. "And make it fast, because my brother is not in the best shape." Despite his relatively calm tone, Joe was beginning to panic as he looked down at his brother who was fading in and out of consciousness.
"There's another exit, Marion has one on every floor, in case he has to make a quick getaway, follow me." Salino said.
Joe managed to pick up his brother, who was actually quite light after a year in captivity and carry him out of the room. They had opened the door only a crack at first to make sure the hallway was empty. Finding the hall to be deserted, Joe followed Salino down the hall to stop at a door, there was a keypad that demanded a pass-code, which Salino typed in, causing the door to open and reveal another stair well.
"I heard him tell it to one of his guards once." Salino explained, leading the way down the stairs. They headed down the four flights of stairs and came to a door which led to the outside, it opened without setting off any alarms and they were able to make their way swiftly to where Callie was waiting with the car. It was almost too easy...
A/N Review, update next Tuesday!