A/N – Thanks for the reviews! I love reading them! I'm knee deep in an audit at work, so hopefully, I didn't make too many mistakes.

Chapter 15

Gabriel glanced around the room. The guards had just blacked out the glass in the lobby doors and Carly had shut the blinds. The elevator was shut down and the other entrances were locked. She sent a message to all rooms that there is an emergency and everyone needs to stay calm and stay inside. That is how Mac found out. There were so many calls pouring in from the hotel to 911, that it had overloaded the system.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, my name is Gabriel. If you listen and follow directions, you may survive our visit today."

Carly swallowed hard. "Why are you here?"

He focused on her. "Carly, right?" Gabriel had done is homework and knew she had dated Sonny.

"Yes." The fact he knew her name was creeping her out.

"Well Carly, today I plan on taking down Julian Jerome and I'm going to use the Quartermaines to do it."

Monica gasped.

"You are Jason's mommy. I'm hoping that he loves you enough to give me what I want. I guess time will tell."

"Then why do you need the rest of us?" Maxie asked as she crossed her arms.

Gabriel glared at her. "And who are you?"

"I'm Maxie."

"I can already tell that you are a know it all. How about you shut up and do as I tell you. You're not going anywhere." His eyes swung back to Monica. "It should be an interesting day. I can't wait to see if Jason helps you or turns his back on the people who turned their backs on him."

Edward's eyes narrowed which is something that didn't go unnoticed.

"You were the leader of the anti-Jason pack old man. You'll only have yourself to blame if they don't make it out alive."

Monica grabbed Edward's hand and squeezed.

"You want to say something, mommy?"

Monica's glare almost cut him. "What exactly does my son have that you want?"

Gabriel smiled. "Elizabeth Jerome."

They are getting the picture.

"You're going to kill her, aren't you?" Anna asked.

Their gaze connected. "If Julian and Jason don't do what I want, then yes. In fact, I will probably kill her regardless because Julian needs to be put in his place. What is your name?"

"Anna."

Francis had his phone on speaker. He had hidden in the coatroom until the gunman left. He knew he probably didn't have a lot of time left before they found him and put him with the others. In the meantime, he wants Johnny to know what was up.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

A breaking news report broke into the song playing on the radio in the car.

"This just in, there is a hostage situation at the Metro Court hotel in Rochester. Police and tactical units are onsite. We have no information about how many people have been affected, but the hotel is on lockdown. Please avoid the area. You will not get through."

Jason cursed under his breath.

"He's going to hold them hostage to get to me."

"I won't let him."

"What are you going to do, Jason?"

"Find a way in and if that doesn't work, I'll talk to him."

Liz gasped. "Jason! No!"

"Elizabeth, it may be the only way." He grabbed her hand. "I can't let him have you. Don't ask me to."

She couldn't speak as she fought back tears.

Jason pressed down harder on the gas pedal. He needs to get there as soon as possible.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Alan tried to take deep breaths, but he couldn't quite catch his breath.

Monica took his pulse and then grabbed his hand. His heart is racing. "Alan, you need to come calm down."

"I'm trying," he growled.

He closed his eyes and loosened up this tie.

"What's the problem?" Gabriel asked as he observed from across the room.

"He has heart problems," Monica said.

"A heart surgeon with heart problems, how ironic." He turned to Carly. "Do you have water behind the desk?"

She nodded.

"Get him one."

"Thank you," Monica said.

"I can't have anything happen to my collateral before the main event happens." He certainly didn't do it out of the kindness of his heart.

Carly grabbed the water and handed it to Alan.

"Thank you," he said as he unscrewed the cap and took a gulp.

The phone is ringing incessantly.

"Answer it," Gabriel growled.

Carly picked it up, her hand slightly shaking.

"Carly? It's Mac."

"Hi ,Mac."

Gabriel walked next to Carly and rested his hand that was holding the gun on the counter. "Don't say my name."

"Can you tell me who is there?"

"He wants to know who is here."

"Sorry, not going to happen."

"He said no," Carly said before sucking in a deep breath.

"What does he want?"

Carly stared at the gun. "Can I tell him what you want?"

Gabriel leaned closer, making her cringe. "I want Jason Morgan. If he's not here in a half hour, I start shooting. And there is a bomb in the lobby. Don't make me detonate it. Hang up the phone Carly."

Mac was livid. "I knew this was mob related. He wants Jason."

Ronnie shook his head. "All of this for Jason? I don't know." It just didn't add up.

"I guess he isn't dead," Lucky muttered.

His phone rang. "Did you find Anna and Maxie?"

"No."

"I think they are inside. They want Jason."

"I'll go talk to Sonny then," the detective said preparing to leave the scene.

Mac looked around and saw him standing close by. "Don't bother. He's right here." He marched over to him. "Why do they want Jason?"

"Why would I know that?"

"Don't play games with me Sonny. I have family in there. Why?"

Johnny cleared his throat. "It might be related to the shooting."

Mac frowned. "Jerome?"

"We're trying to figure it out, but we haven't had much luck."

Mac knows there is more to it. "Get Jason here now. They'll start shooting in about twenty-five minutes and there is a bomb." He went back to his post and sent a message to the officers cordoning the area to let him through.

Jason had practically flown home and was about fifteen minutes away. "Morgan."

"Jason, it's Johnny. Gabriel is asking to see you. Your family is inside and he's using them as leverage. He'll start shooting in twenty-five and apparently, the lobby is wired to blow."

Jason smacked his hand against the steering wheel. "I won't have time to take Elizabeth to the safe house."

"Make her stay in the car. I'll have Milo meet you and he can watch her."

"Okay."

Johnny told him where to go and then Jason ended the call knowing he was about to get in an argument with the one person he really didn't want to go there with.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Jim had the radio on and heard about the hostage situation.

Doreen sighed. "It could be them."

"I know."

"This just in, apparently, the armed man holding a group of people hostages at the Metro Court in Port Charles, wants Jason Morgan or he'll start shooting. They have fifteen minutes or all hell will break loose."

Doreen threw down her dish towel. "Pack a bag. We're going to Port Charles. Something tells me that Elizabeth is going to need us."

"Okay."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Jason parked in the lot and turned to her as Milo walked towards them. They are a half a block away. "You have to stay here. He may have men running around."

Her eyes billowed with tears. "I'm scared that I'll never see you again."

He leaned over and kissed her. "You will. I promise."

"Don't make promises that you can't keep."

He touched her face. "I will do everything that I can to come back to you. Okay?"

"Okay."

They kissed languidly and then Jason jumped out of the car. Milo handed him a Kevlar vest and he ripped off his shirt, put it on, and then re-dressed. "Take care of her Milo."

"I will. Good Luck."

Jason didn't even bother taking a gun. He knows that they will search him. Quickly, he jogged to the site and Mac breathed a sigh of relief and called the main desk.

"Mac?"

"Carly, Jason is here."

She closed her eyes as her stomach rolled. "He's here."

Gabriel smiled. "He better not be empty handed. Tell him to come to the door."

Monica is shaking, unable to fathom that she might have to watch her son die.

"Now who needs to calm down?" Alan asked her.

Edward hadn't said a word, but there is a permanent scowl on his face.

Anna scanned the room, counting the guards. Unfortunately, she isn't armed, but she hopes that if Jason has a plan that she can help.

Lulu is shaking. She had come along with Maxie because the other woman had begged her. Now she wishes she had gone to Kelly's instead.

Jason looked at Sonny and nodded.

"Go inside," Mac said. "And don't do anything stupid."

"Okay."

Jason took a deep breath and headed towards the double doors. It is chaos outside. There are reporters everywhere that had gotten through before they locked down the area and a ton of cops and EMT's. They are waiting for the worst to happen.

Jason opens the door and immediately is grabbed and pushed against the wall as a man pats him down.

Gabriel smiled. "The illusive Jason Morgan, we finally meet in person. Where is she?"

"I don't know what you are talking about."

Gabriel sneered. "Wrong answer." He points the gun at Alan. "Want to answer again?"

"You don't need her."

"Don't tell me what I need. I know exactly what it will take to get that disk."

The guard whispered in his ear and Gabriel cursed.

Jason could see the fear in his eyes. "Is your past catching up with you?"

Gabriel shot the gun as everyone screamed. Jason didn't even flinch as it flew by his head. "Shut up! This is all Julian's fault."

Jason gazed at his mom and then the rest of his family, making sure they are okay.

"Where is she?" he yelled as he starts to unravel.

"About an hour away…"

Gabriel's chest is heaving as he grabs his head and turns in a circle. "No, no, no, get her here! You get her here or I will blow everyone you love to pieces!" His enemies are surrounding them and he needs to finish this. If he is going down, he wants to take everyone else with him.

"May I borrow a phone?"

Jason moved forward a few steps and Gabriel held up his hand and his guard took out his phone and delivered it to Jason. He called Sonny. "He wants Elizabeth. She's an hour away. You know where."

"We heard. Francis is right around the corner. Be careful."

Jason ended the call and handed the phone back.

Maxie starts to panic. She can't last another hour. "I've got to get out of here. I can't stay here."

"Make her shut up now," he growled to Anna.

Anna put her arm around Maxie. "Please don't say anything else. Please….."

Maxie starts to cry.

Gabriel grabbed her by the hair and yanked her, making Maxie scream and Anna beg for her life.

"Shut up!" Gabriel yelled.

Anna's mouth clamped shut, but Maxie couldn't stop, so Gabriel reared back and hit her on the head with the gun and she smashed down onto the floor. Anna put her hand over her mouth and Lulu whimpered, making Gabriel turn to her.

"You better keep it under control or your next." He then whirled around and looked at Jason. "Sit down right where you are."

Jason did what he was told.

The major cleared his throat. "Sir, I might be in the position to help you get out of this mess."

Gabriel laughed. "Really? Do tell."

"I'm the mayor. I could get you a plane. This place is probably surrounded and…" before he could finish, Gabriel shot Garrett in the head as all the women screamed.

"I hate politicians," he muttered.

Nikolas had inched closer to Lulu and grabbed her hand and squeezed, trying to give her some comfort. She is shaking like a leaf.

"Keep her quiet or you die," Gabriel said to him.

Nicholas nodded. This is a no win situation and he knows that it will probably get worse. His eyes lock with Jason's for a second. If they don't get out of here alive, Helena will show up and that will be a whole other problem.

Gabriel looked at his watch. "Tick tock. You do realize what will happen if you don't deliver, right?"

Jason slowly nodded. All he can hope for is that Francis could create a diversion so he could take down the guard that is behind him and get his gun.

"Stand up."

Jason slowly stood and Gabriel trained his gun at him.

"Bang bang."

Monica scrambled to her feet and moved in front of her son. "Enough! I already lost him once, it's not happening again."

Jason touched her arm.

"Well, well. The mama bear is protecting her cub. Are you ready to die for him?"

Alan made a guttural noise as his heart sank.

Monica took a deep breath. "Yes."

"Monica…," Jason said painfully. "Don't."

"Isn't this touching?"

Monica turned to meet Jason's gaze. "I love you Jason and I'd do anything for you, but if we're going to die, I really need you to call me mom just once."

Jason's eyes reflected kindness. "Okay, mom."

Monica trained her eyes on the floor for a moment as tears gathered on her cheeks and then she quickly pivoted and glared at Gabriel who laughed.

"Now I know where he gets it from." He cocked his gun. "Move! I'm not going to ask you again."

"Please," Jason said. He couldn't bear her dying because of him.

She heard the desperation in his voice and shakily walked back to Alan and sat on the floor.

As the two men sneered at each other, everyone else watched nervously.

"Did you kill her?" Jason asked.

"Who?"

"Ava?"

Gabriel's head moved to the right, surprised by his question. "No."

Jason's brows went up. "Really?"

"I loved Ava with everything I had. She got me and no matter how much we argued, I would never kill her."

"And the disk?"

"I knew she had it, but once she fell in love with me she wouldn't have used it." That was the truth, but unfortunately, it had fallen into the wrong hands.

Jason frowned. It sounded like a really messed up relationship.

"You know, while I might have had a problem killing her, the same wouldn't apply to you."

The sound of a gunshot filled the air seconds before Jason's body recoiled as Monica called out his name and Lulu screamed.

"You monster!" Alan yelled.

"Relax, he has on Kevlar." His guard had informed him.

Carly let out a sob and Gabriel spun around and their eyes locked.

"Are you in love with him?"

"I love him. He's my best friend. Please let me check on him."

"No." He pointed to Anna. "You go."

She got up and checked on Jason. "He still has a pulse." She tried to undo the Kevlar, but her hands are shaking, so she felt around for the bullet instead and when she realizes it didn't go through she let out a sigh of relief.

"Where did it hit?"

"Upper right chest."

Monica and Alan's eyes locked. He will be in pain, but he'll live. With the caliber of gun that was used, it will probably feel like a semi had hit him. They are lucky that Gabriel didn't go for his lungs or heart.

Anna touched Jason's face and then pushed his shockingly blonde hair back. "You need to wake up. We need to get out of here," she whispered.

Maxie starts to stir and when her eyes blink open and she sees Jason, she screams.

"Bitch," Gabriel said before grabbing her. "You either get it together or die."

She whimpered, but sucked in a sob and then crawled to Nicholas and Lulu and fell into his arms.

"She's scared," Carly said softly.

Gabriel closed his eyes and tried to calm down and then walked over to a chair and plopped onto it. There is no way out of this. He is probably going to die and he hates that these assholes have gotten the best of him.