This is a shift day [see above]. There was another upload this morning: You'll Find Wonder, chapter 18.

"A Dish Best Served Cold"

11. Eleventh

Will had seen to it that Blaine and Sugar got to eat and drink. As they did, he asked them about what had been happening inside. He could see the worry on the boy's face, knowing Kurt was still inside, but that didn't stop him from providing information, if anything it made him more determined to help. They explained how they had all gone in there early because they had all been so nervous about Matheson possibly coming to Lima, before the man in question had arrived and surprised them. They went on in explaining the boarding up process; they had been completely cut off. And after that, it seemed all they could do was sit and wait, none of them able to get very far without Matheson reminding them of the gun... like they could forget. They reported the numerous unanswered calls to the phone in the side office - he wouldn't dare opening, the door. And then there had been the call from Santana, and the arrival, the trade off and their escape. That was all they had.

"He looked distracted, like he had to figure something out, but whatever it is, he hasn't found it," Blaine concluded.

"Mr. Schuester?" They looked back to find Detective Beckett. She first looked to the two kids, the ones she didn't know. "You two alright?" she asked and they nodded. "Can you tell me what happened in there?" They looked to one another before launching back into the story they had just finished for their teacher. "I want you to stay with your families, alright? No trying to go back in," she indicated the school.

"Fat chance of that," Sugar promised. Beckett looked to her before turning to Will.

"Could you come with us? We could use your knowledge of the building, the room, and the kids."

"Absolutely, anything I can do to help," he nodded and followed her to Castle, Ryan, and Esposito.

"If he won't answer our calls, we need to get eyes on him. We can't start storm the room, too small, too crowded, too risky," she addressed the four men. "What's on the floor right over the choir room?" she turned to Will and he thought.

"Just... classrooms, why?" he asked.

"We could be able to get a camera down into the room through the ceiling," she explained. It only took one second. All of a sudden his face showed realization, along with frustration that he hadn't thought about it before.

"You might not need to," he told them, indicating that they should follow. He led them through the crowd, looking for the telltale gathering of red and white uniforms. He knew she would be with them. "Sue!" he stopped and, when she turned, he signaled for her to come toward them. When she did, she was briefly taken aback as she recognized the famous writer, but then got over it.

"I heard Santana and your other three went in there," she addressed Will, displeased.

"It's a long story, alright, but you may be able to help."

"Go on?" she cautiously asked.

"Do you still have the choir room bugged?" The woman's face betrayed nothing.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she defended, eyes skirting briefly toward the detectives.

"Sue, now's not the time," he begged.

"I won't get in trouble for this? Theoretically?"

"We'll forget all about it," Beckett promised. Finally the coach nodded.

"In my office."

"Show us the way," the detective breathed, the potential for a breakthrough showing itself.

"Wait, what if he's listening?" Castle spoke up. "The reporters are back there looking at everything, if they're reporting about it and he's got a radio, anything..."

"They didn't say anything about that," Will looked back to where Blaine and Sugar stood with their parents, watching them.

"Let's not take any chances. You two stay out here, keep an eye on things," Beckett instructed Ryan and Esposito, while she headed off with Castle, Will, and Sue along the side of the school.

Entering the school, it was hard not to think of just going for the choir room, but they had to keep their eye on the prize. They got to Sue's office and she called up the surveillance feed from the besieged room.

"I was kind of hoping you were joking about having this," Will looked to the coach.

"Bet you're glad I wasn't, now," she told him, as the feed appeared on the screen. They all paused, taken by the sight of the thirteen kids and the gunman. It was particularly difficult for the teacher and the coach.

"You alright?" Castle asked Will.

"I... yes. I mean they're unharmed, that's good news." He looked on to the screen once more. "Is it alright if I inform the parents?"

"Yes, just make sure they understand about the discretion aspect?" Beckett told him.

"Got it," he turned to leave.

"Hold on," she called to him and he turned back. "I need to know, out of that group, who might be trouble."

"Sorry?" He asked, unsure.

"Would anyone try to be a hero, act against him?" He didn't need to think long, and looking to Sue he could tell she was thinking the same thing.

"An hour ago I would have said no, only now..."

"Your flight risks were outside. Now they're inside," Sue reworded for Beckett and Castle. "You've got a wrestler, a delinquent, a leader, and a... well, a bitch..." she shrugged, calling it as even the girl in question would. "Might want to get moving."

X

New York City

Alexis had been feeling her heart in her throat since her father had hung up so abruptly before. "Sweetheart, please sit down," Martha begged of her granddaughter as she watched her pacing in a circle around the couch.

"Why isn't he calling?" she looked down to her phone to make sure it was working.

"He's probably just busy doing something to help get these kids out of there."

"What if something happened? What if someone got hurt, what if... what if she's..." Alexis just continued her round. When her phone did ring, she jumped, answering. "Dad?"

"I'm sorry I had to keep you waiting," he replied, and she breathed deep.

"Just... tell me."

"Matheson released two of the kids, in exchange for the four who were outside." For one split second she had started to hope, only to have that turned back to smack her in the face when he went on. He had let her know already who had been outside, and now she knew who the new hostages were. Santana, and Puck, and... "It was not our idea, okay?"

"Dad... Brittany..."

"She's okay," he promised her right away. "We got to see inside the room, I saw her, she's not hurt, none of them are, you hear?" he would have held her if he could. He heard her breath release.

"Okay, well... that's good," she nodded, getting the thumbs up from Martha. She returned with a gesture - not quite.

"Things are progressing, I wanted you to know that."

"Thanks, Dad." She stood silent for a moment. "Next time you call..."

"Hopefully I'll have some good news."

TO BE CONTINUED (TOMORROW)