A/N: Hey guys. I know it's not like me to post again so soon, well at least not lately but this may be the last chance I get for a few weeks so I thought I'd pop another chapter up. Plus evil hat is just shouting at me to post, lol!

I hope you enjoyed the last chapter and I thank everyone for their reviews. Please just note guys that if you have a reply blocker on or you post as a "GUEST" then I can't reply to your reviews. Please, if you can, try and sign in to review so I can respond to you. I like to respond to everyone.

Well, that's get on with the angst shall we...mwahahahaha!

Chapter 4

Sara walked to the counter and as her eyes met the clerks, she noticed an odd expression on his face. It was as if he was trying to tell her something. Shrugging it off, she saw the first aid box beneath the counter and bent to retrieve it. As her fingers coiled around the handle her eyes suddenly fell upon what the store clerk must have been alluding to. A gun, tapped under the counter, next to the first aid supplies.

"Hurry up," Ryan's voice broke any temptation she may have been contemplating and she grabbed the first aid box, quickly returning to the group.

Her eyes clashed with her captors and she took a breath before she turned her full attention to the injured woman. Groaning as she knelt on the floor she placed the medical supplies next to her.

"What's your name?" she asked the distressed youngster but she failed to answer.

Opening the box Sara took out tape, bandages and antiseptic before glancing to the young man comforting the woman.

"Her name is Susan," he answered for his girlfriend. "My name is Joe."

"Alright..." The CSI nodded, "...Susan, Susan, can you hear me?" she asked leaning in a little closer. "You can just nod, okay? I know you are in shock, just nod if you can hear me."

Through a distressed sob the young lady nodded.

"Good," Sara began but she was cut short as the phone on the back wall behind the counter started to ring.

Jay stood and looked at his brother.

"Leave it..." Ryan said, "...let them wait."

Nodding, Jay returned his attention to Michael, ensuring the young boy continued to be occupied while his mother was busy.

"Get on with it," the older brother commanded to Sara and she nodded in acknowledgement.

Examining the bullet wound in Susan's upper right arm Sara knew it wasn't life threatening. It certainly could have been much worse.

Taking a pair of scissors from the box she gripped them firmly in her right hand and steadied herself.

"Susan, I need you to keep still while I cut away your sleeve. Can you do that for me?" she asked softly. "I need to get to your wound so I can stop the bleeding."

Slowly nodding the young woman took a hold of her boyfriends hand and he held it tightly.

Sara placed her left hand gently under Susan's injured arm and with her right she carefully edged the scissors to the top of the garment. Slowly she began cutting away the blood soaked shirt sleeve in order to give her full access to the wound. "You're doing very well," she reassured as she made her final snip. "And," she continued, picking up the antiseptic, "you are lucky, the bullet went straight through."

"You consider this lucky?" Joe whispered looking up at Ryan.

Offering a sympathetic smile, Sara tipped a little antiseptic onto a bandage but didn't continue the reassurance any further. Indeed Susan had been very lucky with her wound. A basic through and through was easily treatable but she knew right now that they weren't really in the best frame of mind to talk about it. "This is going to sting," she said, holding up the bandage. "So, prepare yourself. Let me know when you're ready."

Taking a deep breath Susan nodded.

"Can you hurry this up?" Ryan grumbled.

Giving him a quick, 'fuck off' look, Sara returned her attention to her patient. "Ready?"

"Yes."

With as much care as she could Sara pressed the bandage onto the wound and applied pressure. "Hold her still," she said quickly to Joe as Susan began to writhe and moan beneath her.

"Almost there." She pressed hard, grabbed a roll of tape and tightly wrapped some around the bandage, strapping it securely over the wound. "Well done." She ripped the tape from the roll and fixed the last piece in place. "Now just try not to move it, okay?"

Susan sniffed hard but nodded her head in understanding.

Sara gave her a compassionate smile and a light pat on her good shoulder before forcing herself to her feet with a muffled groan. She looked back to Ryan before her eyes flicked to the man lying face down on the floor. "Should I..." She pointed to the body, "...see if he's still alive?" A heavy lump formed in her throat as her eyes once again passed over the gunned down man. She was certain he was dead but she knew she should check, just in case.

Ryan turned and walked to the man. Slipping a foot under his chest he kicked him over onto his back. Blood pooled all around his body as he lay motionless, sticky and crimson. His eyes were open and his pupils fixed. He was very much dead. Bending, he picked up the dead man's revolver and stuck it into his belt. Straightening himself out, he turned back to Sara. "I'm pretty sure he's dead..." he said mockingly, "...but feel free to check, if that's what you want."

Quashing the urge to shake her head in disgust at him Sara approached the man, placed the first aid box on the floor and once again forced herself to her knees. Her back was killing her now and she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep up all this excessive bending and kneeling. Immediately she checked his pulse and found nothing. Not a flutter of a beat. He was indeed very dead. Sighing heavily she sat back on her heels and closed her eyes for a moment.

"Pass me his wallet," she heard and her eyes flicked open. Ryan was glaring at her holding out his hand.

"Why?" she questioned bitterly. "He's dead, what difference does it make who he is?"

"Do I need to ask you again?" he enquired coldly, his eyes piercing into hers. He tapped his gun impatiently on his leg waiting for Sara to do as requested.

"Fine," she mumbled, noting his impatience and slipped her fingers into the man's jacket, pulling out his wallet. She couldn't help but get blood on her hands and turned her nose upon feeling the sticky liquid coating her fingers, she was accustomed to wearing gloves. Flipping open his wallet before passing it to her captor she immediately came face to face with his shield. A cop or more precisely, he was a cop.

"Here." She held up the wallet and Ryan took it from her. He spent several moments looking through it before tossing it to his brother. Jay took his attention from Michael for a moment to look through the wallet.

"Great," he mumbled, "We killed a cop, just what we need."

"It was him or us, little brother, you know that," Ryan responded with lack of emotion.

Shrugging, Jay tossed the wallet back to the floor and turned his attention back to Michael. The youngster stared at the wallet as it flipped open on the floor and the dead man's badge caught his eye.

"Badge," Michael pointed causing his babysitter to smirk.

"Smart kid," he chirped, looking to Sara.

"Yes, he is," she agreed once again pulling herself to her feet.

"Wait," Ryan stopped her and she froze, her eyes widening.

"Does he have cuffs?"

"What?"

"Cuffs," the elder brother repeated himself, "Any on him? Check," he commanded.

"Are you serious?" Sara was astounded.

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Ryan growled.

Now, she shook her head in disbelief but did as he asked. Bending, she checked around the dead man's clothing and she did actually find a pair of cuffs in the right front pocket of his pants. Pulling them out, she held them up.

"Good," Ryan began stepping forwards, holding out his hand, "May come in handy." He reached out and took the cuffs from Sara as she straightened herself out. Picking up the first aid box she walked back to the counter. "I'll just put this back and then I will take my son." She had no idea why she felt she had to put the box back; right now she didn't know what to think about anything apart from the fact she wanted Michael by her side and no one else's.

As she walked back behind the counter she slipped the box underneath and was tempted to make grab for the gun but she couldn't risk placing her son in any more danger. Maybe that's why she self consciously went back there, temptation to take the weapon but as she fought with her decision, it was made for her when Ryan was suddenly behind her. He grabbed her painfully by the arm and thrust her against the wall.

Emitting a short, sharp, shocked squeal she trembled in his grip as the barrel of his weapon jabbed into her abdomen.

"Mommy!" Michael shouted upon seeing his mother being man handled but Jay was quick to grab him as he attempted to get to his feet. "Just keep still little man," he whispered in his ear. "Be good and your mommy will be fine, okay?"

Master Grissom wasn't quite sure what to do and looked afraid for his mother as her eyes flicked to him for a moment after hearing his plea. He did as Jay asked him and remained where he was but didn't take his eyes from his mother.

"Why so eager to come back behind here, huh?" Ryan snarled at Sara. "I saw the look on his face before," he glared at the clerk and the older man quickly averted his gaze.

"Please..." she whispered, fearful of the gun threatening her unborn children. "...I wasn't doing anything. I didn't..." she stuttered, "I wouldn't..."

Frowning deeply Ryan let up with his gun and released his grip on her arm. Sara watched as he turned back to the counter, swallowing hard when he looked underneath to where she knew the gun was. His hand reached in and he pulled out the weapon, holding it up for her to see.

Defensively holding up her hands she pushed herself tightly against the wall. "I saw it..." her voice shook with her admittance, "...but I wasn't going to take it."

"And you expect me to believe you?" he growled, approaching her again.

As he invaded her personal space again the CSI closed her eyes for a brief second as a queasy feeling washed over her. Suddenly one of the babies kicked and she lightly groaned, doubling over a little.

Flicking his eyes to her belly for a moment he grinned before returning his attention to his captive. "Giving you a little trouble?"

Sara shook her head through her anxiety, placing a hand over her tummy and tried to reason with him. "Look, I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize myself, these people or my son. You have to believe me. I am not a threat to you, can't you see that? I was only trying to help."

As Ryan contemplated his options the phone rang again and everyone looked to it.

"You want me to get it?" Jay asked.

Stepping back and away from Sara the eldest brother had a peek at the security monitors. It looked like they were pretty well boxed in now. "Leave it a little longer," he responded. "They need to know we say what goes, not them." Looking back to his brother he pointed into the store. "Go find some strong tape." He looked back to Sara. "We need to make sure all loose ends are tied up."

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

"Yes, Jim?" The CSI supervisor sighed as he answered his phone.

"Where are you?" Brass asked.

"I'm at the lab," Grissom replied flicking through the file on his desk.

Brass gnawed on his bottom lip, "So you're not with Sara?"

"No."

"Did you not have leave booked?"

"Yes, Jim, I did," the older man snapped, "But things changed."

"You better get down here, Gil, right now." The captain tried to sound calm although he didn't quite manage it.

Grissom frowned. "What's going on?"

"Just..." Brass swallowed hard, "...get down here, Canyon Gate..."

"I'm on my way," the supervisor responded without another moment's hesitation.

Flipping his phone closed the lawman placed his palms flat against the side of his car and exhaled a heavy, nervous breath. This wasn't going to be pretty and he knew it.

"Captain," a voice suddenly broke him from his thoughts and he turned to see one of his officers.

"We've tried to phone through twice, Captain, and still no answer from inside," the officer informed him.

"Alright," Brass replied scratching his head and he was interrupted again by someone else calling his name.

Spinning around a middle aged male in a black suit approached holding out his hand. "Captain Brass?" he asked awaiting hand shake.

"Yes," Brass replied.

"Colin Dexter."

Brass shook his hand. "You're my negotiator?"

"I am." Colin nodded with haste.

"Experience?" the lawman questioned.

"Relax, Captain." The younger man smiled, "Five years on the force, six years with the FBI."

"And as a negotiator?" the captain continued to feel nervous knowing it wasn't just anyone's life at risk here; it was one of his dearest, closest friends.

"Two years."

Folding his arms firmly across his chest Brass nodded and led Colin towards the scene, or as close as they could get. "Alright, I'll fill you in..."

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

Watching as Jay disappeared into the store Sara raised a shaky finger to her son. "Can I get him?" she asked, knowing she probably shouldn't move without permission.

Looking over to Michael, Ryan gave a single nod and Sara cautiously pushed herself from the wall and quickly approached her son. He immediately held up his arms to his mother and she carefully, given her condition, picked him up and held him as tightly as she could.

"Shush," she soothed, rubbing a gentle hand up and down his back. "Mommy's here, you're safe, you're safe." As she said those words she wished to herself that she truly meant them. At this point in time she knew she had to make her son feel as comfortable as possible. Reassuring words and being there for him were the only two things she had right now.

As Jay reappeared, tape in hand, the CSI felt her eyes narrow as she spotted her purse in his left hand. She'd dropped it when the commotion began, when she had to dive to the floor and she had completely forgotten about it. Jay must have found it when he was looking for the tape. Butterflies grew in her stomach as she watched him approach his brother. Her ID was in the bag, if they found out she was law enforcement all hell could break loose. However, she sighed with relief when the youngest gunman simply tossed the purse onto the counter and didn't give it a second look. He approached his brother and they whispered to each other for a moment before Jay approach the cowering group.

Sara watched as he instructed each person on the floor to hold out their hands and he bound them together. Even Susan, who whimpered at the pain cursing through her arm as he tightly, strapped her wrists. Once his task was complete her turned to Sara who still stood several feet away with Michael in her arms.

"Would you like to join everyone?" Jay asked pointing down to the group.

The thought of spending the next, God knows how long sitting on a cold, hard, floor made Sara cringe. She struggled enough sitting in a chair let alone on a hard surface.

Noting her hesitation Ryan stepped towards her and narrowed his eyes as their glances locked. "Do we have a problem?" he asked.

"No," she replied immediately. "I, well, um, just struggle to sit on a hard surface being..." She looked down at her stomach then back to her captor, "...It's painful but its fine, I can..." She didn't want to cause a confrontation and started towards the group.

"No, no." Ryan took her arm softly as she passed him and she stopped, closing her eyes briefly, afraid of what may come. She tilted her head to look at him and he smiled. "You have been, helpful, so allow me to return the favour."

Walking around the counter he grabbed one of the two cashier's chairs and returned to Sara. Placing it in front of her he pointed to it. "Sit." He gestured to the chair. Sara nodded and with a little relief sat in the chair. Manoeuvring her son best she could to avoid her bump, he balanced on her lap and she wrapped her arms around him. Well that was until Jay approached and asked for her hands.

Sara looked down to her hands as they clung tightly to her son. After everything they had been through in the past she absolutely hated being restrained and given her current condition was it really necessary? She hesitated.

"Do I need to ask you again?" the young thug enquired coldly.

With a shake of her head Sara released her hold on her son and told him to hold onto her rather than her to him. She held up her shaking hands, above Michael's head and Jay grasped them with a grin. She winced as he wrapped the tape around her wrists, tight enough to almost cut off the circulation. Eventually he snapped off the end and ensured it was secure before stepping back.

"Now we're all nice and cosy, aren't we?" he sniggered and Sara felt a cold chill run down her spine. These guys were just way too cool for her liking.

CSICSICSICSICISCISCSI

Pulling his Denali to a slow halt outside the barricade Grissom jumped out. Squad cars were everywhere, flashing lights causing him to squint as he looked for Brass. Spotting him he quickly walked towards the group of officers, holding up is I.D so the officer he approached let him through immediately.

"Jim?" he called, ducking under the tape.

Turning around Brass spotted his friend and moved towards him.

"What's going on?" the CSI asked.

"Its complicated," the captain began rubbing his forehead. "But right now we are looking at a hostage situation.

Frowning firmly Grissom shook his head. "Okay, so why did you need me here? The crime scene is still active."

Brass took a hold of Grissom's arm and pulled him towards the road. He pointed and Grissom followed the direction.

Across the road outside the store was Sara's car and the supervisor recognised it in a second.

His head snapped back to the detective. "Are you telling me Sara's in there?"

With a heavy sigh Brass nodded.

"Oh my God," Grissom gasped and was about to bolt forward when Brass grabbed his arm.

"No, Gil. You know I can't let you do that."

The older man struggled, trying to break free from his friends grip.

"Is Michael in there too?" Grissom cried, still trying to pull himself free.

"Gil, stop!" the captain demanded but he wasn't listening. "I need some help here," the older man shouted and in an instant, three officers were helping to restrain the CSI.

"Gil, Please..." Brass implored, "...calm down, now! Or I swear to god I will cuff you and shove you in the back of my car. You are helping no one right now!"

After several frustrating seconds of struggling with the officers Grissom's fight ceased, the tussle coming to an end when the supervisor was held firmly still with his arms locked behind his back.

"Alright...alright," he conceded, gritting his teeth.

Brass eyed him closely for a moment, their eyes locking.

"Captain?" one of the officers asked, waiting for instructions.

"It's okay. Let him go."

"Yes, sir," he responded and the men let Grissom go.

Standing dead still for a moment Grissom looked to the ground and tried to gather his thoughts. Eventually his head rose and he looked to his friend. "What the hell is going on?"

A/N: Hmmm... Quite a pickle isn't it? How bad is Grissom going to feel? And how is he ever going to get Sara out of there? I so love writing this :) Let me know how I'm going!