A/N: Hey guys. Thanks for all your great reviews. I hope you are enjoying the angst :) Please remember if you sign in as a GUEST, that I can't reply to your review. Also those who have their blockers on I can't reply to you either. I've noticed a few of them. Well... let Mr Evil hat take it away...

LOL!

Chapter 6

Sara sighed and looked around trying to assess the situation...

The two gunmen were whispering to each other by the counter, the store clerk and the old couple hadn't moved a muscle since they were bound but as her eyes floated to Susan and Joe she frowned. The injured woman looked very pale and seemed to be shaking. Her boyfriend was doing his upmost to comfort her but in this situation how much comfort could he actually offer?

Still, something didn't sit right with her about Susan's condition and as she slowly stood, Ryan caught her action immediately, pushed off the counter and walked towards her causing her to freeze in her tracks.

"Going somewhere?" he asked.

Swallowing heavily and feeling her heart skip a beat she nodded towards the couple. "She doesn't look too good; I'd like to check her."

The gunman flicked his glance to Susan and then back to his prize hostage. "You're right, she doesn't look that great does she?" he responded with half a smirk. "But she looks a little better than our man over there." Now he looked to the dead officer on the floor.

"Do you have to be so crass?" Sara accused on a sigh.

His eyes narrowed and he held up a finger. "Watch your mouth, Sara," he warned. "Or I may just stop being so nice to you."

Jay sniggered in the background. "Yeah, you tell her bro."

As Ryan shot his brother a death glare the younger man smirked. Returning his attention to his captive he took another step closer. "Do we understand each other?" he asked coldly.

Responding immediately Sara nodded. "Yes," she mumbled quietly.

Now Ryan smirked. "Good."

Walking away he headed behind the counter and Sara carefully watched him. He picked up the first aid kit, returned to her and held it out. "Be quick," he instructed.

Looking at the box she felt surprised he was allowing her to tend to Susan after their little confrontation. "I..." she began, cautiously holding up her hands. "...can't do it with my hands tied."

Ryan's eyes narrowed further and he just stood staring at her. Eventually he slipped a hand into his pocket and pulled out a knife and Sara watched nervously as he flicked open the blade. He placed the first aid box on the floor and made a sudden grab for her hands causing her to jump.

She looked him in the eye with some trepidation and could feel her heart pumping with fearful intensity as he slickly ran his thumb over her skin. Snorting through his nose he grinned. "You need to relax, Sara. You're so tense."

Unsure of exactly how to respond to that apart from telling him exactly where to go, she remained silent.

Grinning again he moved his attention to her hands and hovered the blade over her wrists. "I suggest you keep still," he advised and Sara was quick to offer a nod in response.

Slowly and with a surprising amount of care he cut the tape and peeled it from her wrists. It hurt a little; tearing away some of the top layer of skin and Sara gritted her teeth as the binding was removed. But she knew it could have been a lot rougher and more painful than he was actually making it.

When he was finished he slipped the knife back into his pocket, picked up the first aid box and held it out.

After rubbing some life back into her wrists she slowly took the box from him. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me; just get on with it and..." He raised his brow. "...do not try anything, Sara, or I will end up using my knife on more than just tape. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes," Sara responded, "very clear."

"Good."

As Sara approached the injured captive Ryan headed back to talk to his brother but seemed to be keeping a watchful eye on everything that Sara was doing.

"Hey, Susan," Sara began, cringing as she knelt beside her. "How are you doing?"

Susan's weak eyes clashed with Sara's. "I don't feel too good..."

As Ryan stood by his brother his eyes floated from Sara to once again pass over the dead cop.

"You know, maybe we should clean up a little here." He nodded to the body on the floor and the pool of blood surrounding him. "I don't think we want him to start stinking up the place if we're here for a while."

"Good idea," Jay agreed. "But get them to do it." He nodded towards the captives and the elder sibling grinned.

Stepping back around to the group of hostages Ryan pointed at the store clerk and Joe. "You two, get up."

Joe's eyes clashed with Sara's and he hesitated but the clerk stood immediately.

Taking her attention from Susan for a second Sara placed a hand on Joe's arm to stop him from moving and looked to Ryan. "What's going on?"

"A little cleaning up," he replied flicking his glance to the body. "If that's alright with you?" he then finished on a hint of sarcasm.

Releasing her hand from Joe's arm Sara offered him a weak smile. "It's not pleasant but I would do as they say. I'll look after Susan until you get back."

The young man nodded, slowly stood and approached the brothers.

As the two hostages were forced to drag the body into the back and clean up the mess Sara returned her full attention to Susan. Her first instinct was to check the wound. Maybe the bleeding had started again but as she reached for the dressing Susan stopped her.

"I need my medication," she said placing a weak hand onto Sara's.

Frowning deeply Sara shook her head, "Medication?"

"I have a heart condition," she laughed on a whisper. "Stupid for someone my age, I know. Hereditary crap. I told Joe I'd taken them." She tightened her hand onto the CSI's. "I don't want him to worry any more than he already is."

"Where are your pills?" Sara asked with haste.

"At home, we only came in to get some popcorn; I was going to take them when I got back."

Sighing heavily Sara looked around until she spotted the medication rack. "And there is nothing here that will help you?"

Coughing, Susan held her good hand to her mouth. "No, I need, Clopidogrel. I get it from my doctor."

"How long do you think you have?" Sara felt a sudden urgency building within her now. She knew Susan needed medical assistance and she needed it very, very soon.

Shrugging her shoulders the younger woman tried to smile, "Maybe an hour or so."

"Alright," the CSI began placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Let me see what I can do, alright?"

"Okay," Susan sighed on a sniff.

Standing, Sara approached her captors who were happily watching the cleanup operation of the two hostages attempting to mop up the blood.

"All done?" the elder asked as his eyes floated to her.

"Why don't you let her go?"

Ryan flicked his glance to his brother and then suddenly laughed.

"She is very sick..." Sara continued, "...and I am not fooling around. She has a heart condition and needs her medication."

Suddenly Joe sprang to his feet upon hearing the conversation. "What?"

"Don't you move!" Jay commanded pointing his gun firmly at the hostage. "And who the hell gave you permission to talk?"

Joe's eyes flicked to his girlfriend and then to Sara before back to the gunman. "Did you say she hasn't had her meds?" the young man whined.

As Jay flicked the safety back on his gun at Joe's ignorance Ryan stepped in. "Chill out, Brother," he said shooting Jay a glance before turning his attention to Joe. "And you..." He pointed a firm finger, "...get on with cleaning that shit up or she'll need more than med's. You get me?"

The young man again looked to Sara and she offered him an encouraging nod. Best he did as he was told or Susan would never get any help.

Sighing heavily Joe returned his glance to the bloody floor and continued mopping, although he did every now and again look up to see what was happening.

"Keep your eye on them," Ryan instructed his brother as he returned to Sara, grabbed her arm and pulled her away from prying ears.

She swallowed hard as he pushed her into the canned goods isle and up against the shelving. "Are you playing with me?" he growled keeping a tight hold on her arm.

"No," she replied quickly shaking your head. "Given the circumstances I would not dare play with you. I am telling you the truth, she needs her medication and she needs it now."

"Why should I care?"

Looking him dead in the eye Sara searched for some kind of compassion. "I don't know," she whispered. "But she could die if she doesn't get help. Do you want another death on your conscience?"

Releasing his grip on her arm he took a single step back and rubbed his chin. "There is nothing here that can help her?"

"No," Sara said simply. "They are prescription pills."

"So we can just get the pills, right?"

Sighing, "Yes," she replied. "But why don't you just let her go? She is in a lot of pain."

"Would you?" he sniggered, "If you were me and in this situation? Would you keep on letting your only leverage walk through the door?"

"I'm not you," she began, "So, I can't answer that question."

"I guess you can't." He smirked taking her arm again. He pulled her back towards the others and pointed to Susan. "Are you finished with her?"

"There is nothing I can do, you know that."

"Then sit," he demanded now pointing back to the chair.

Exhaling a heavy breath Sara looked to the chair. "Are you going to release her?" she dared to ask.

Ryan walked to the counter and grabbed the role of tape before moving back to Sara. "I said, sit," he commanded more firmly now.

Knowing she had to do as told Sara stepped backwards and slumped back into the chair.

"Your hands, please," he requested, holding up the tape.

Knowing she had no choice Sara again held out her hands and they were bound together again. Just as Ryan finished securing his hostage for the second time the phone rang again and all occupants of the store looked to it before glancing at their captors.

"Alright, you two back with the group." Ryan left Sara's side and commanded his two cleaners to rejoin the rest of the hostages. They did so quickly and Joe instantly crouched by his girlfriend and pulled her into his arms as the store clerk sat next to them.

Sara watched as Ryan approached the monitors taking a quick peek before looking at the telephone. Was he going to answer it?

CSICSICSICSICSICSI

Happy that Michael was fine the paramedics released him and Grissom helped him down from the back of the ambulance. Just as the CSI took his sons hand Catherine pulled up in her SUV and she and Greg exited her vehicle.

"Cath!" Grissom shouted and the two CSI's spotted him, rushing straight towards him.

"Hi," she sighed when she reached father and son. "Hey, Mike, how you doing?"

"Okay," the young boy responded with a smile.

"He's doing alright," Grissom added. "Much better now he's out of there."

Nibbling on her bottom lip Catherine offered a weak smile. "Brass filled me in, Sara's still in there?"

The supervisor nodded sadly. "Do you have anything yet?"

"Soon," she said quickly pulling out her note book. "Got lots of prints from the store, Nick and Warrick are processing them at the lab as we speak, plus, lots of video footage, although they wore masks so we won't have a face unless we get a hit off the prints."

Working his jaw Grissom scratched the back of his head. "Did they get away with much?"

Catherine was quick with her answer. "Yes, over two million dollars worth of diamonds."

Grissom felt his eyes widening, "Two million dollars?"

The female CSI nodded.

A heavy sigh fell from Grissom's lips, he knew that was a lot and they were not about to give that up easily. He looked down to his son and even though Sara was still very much caught in the middle of this huge mess, he knew he had to get Michael away from there. This was only going to get worse once they knew exactly what they were dealing with.

Michael looked up to his father obviously noting his agitation. "Okay, Daddy?" he asked.

"Yeah, Mike," the supervisor sighed again, "I'm okay." As Grissom looked into his son's eyes he knew it was time to get him away from the scene. He'd already been through enough let alone seeing anymore of what could unfold. He looked to his second in command.

"Catherine would you mind..." he began but she knew immediately and held her hand out to young Grissom.

"Come on, Mike. Shall we go to my house? Lindsey is waiting there for you with Nana. They have ice cream."

A huge smile appeared on Michaels face, "Ice cream?"

"That's right, lots of ice cream," Catherine continued. "And you can eat as much as you want."

Turning to his father Michael tugged on his hand, "Mommy and Daddy coming too?" he asked but suddenly he sighed. "Why is Mommy still in store?"

Kneeling on the ground Grissom placed a soft hand under Michaels chin. "Mommy is...is..." The CSI struggled to find an answer that his son would understand, "...she will come out in a little while she is...helping the sick lady, remember? And we will come and join you at Aunt Catherine's real soon."

"Promise, Daddy?"

Grissom felt his chin trembling, he didn't want to lie to his son and in all honesty had no idea how long it would be before they could get Sara out of there. "Soon, Okay?" He softly kissed his son on the cheek and fought the sting of tears that were forming in his eyes. "Be a good boy and go with Aunt Catherine."

Catherine waggled her hand and Michael reached out and took it. "Bye, Daddy," he said softly as Catherine led him towards her car.

"Bye, Mike," Grissom replied on barely a whisper.

"Hey!" The sound of Brass's voice caught the supervisor's attention as he watched his son leave and he looked to the captain. "Dexter finally got an answer from inside."

Grissom and Greg exchanged a quick glance before they both rushed towards Brass and the command unit.

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

Picking up the telephone Ryan kept his eyes on the monitors as well as the people under his control. "What do you want?" he snapped down the appliance.

"I want to help you," Colin responded quickly and calmly.

"Oh, you do, do you?" the younger man mocked as he sat on the counter.

"Yes."

With his glance now fixed solely on the monitors Ryan watched as people shifted around outside. "You a cop?" he asked.

"No," Colin answered rubbing the back of his neck, "I'm not a cop."

Just as Colin finished his sentence Grissom rushed into the unit and was quickly by the negotiators side. Colin saw him and immediately held his hand up to keep him quiet. He pointed to the speakers on the wall and Grissom nodded, knowing the conversation was audible to all. Brass and Greg stepped in behind him and all listened anxiously.

Grabbing a chocolate bar from the racking on the counter, Ryan removed the wrapper and bit into the candy. "What's your name?" he mumbled.

"Colin Dexter, what's yours?"

Scoffing as he took another bite, the hostage taker rolled his eyes. "Funny, yeah, I'm going to tell you that. In fact..." He took the last bite of chocolate and threw the wrapper to the floor, "...I'm trying to work out just how long it's going to take you to find out. Not too long I'm sure but there is no way I'm aiding your cause any."

Shuffling in his seat Colin looked back to Grissom. "Why?"

"Why?" Ryan laughed. "Why? Because then you'll try and get into my head, act like you think you know me when you have no idea who I am."

"Alright..." the negotiator continued, "...what would you like me to call you? Although I only wanted your first name, what would that hurt? I am here to help you, no matter what you may be thinking right now."

The younger man sighed, sooner or later they would find out their real identities. "Fine, you can call me Ryan as we seem to be on such close terms."

"Good." A small smile passed over the older man's lips. "That's a start."

"Whatever," Ryan offered back, "Anything else you want?" he asked sarcastically.

Grissom shuffled nervously as he listened to the conversation. This man was simply mocking them, he knew it.

"Well," Colin began, "I would like to know how we can end this unfortunate situation and get the people inside out safely. So, how can we do that? What do you want?"

Holding the phone between his cheek and chin Ryan took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. "What do I want?" he asked, taking a cigarette from the pack and slipping it between his lips.

"Yes."

He took a lighter from the counter and lit up his relief, inhaling a long, satisfying drag. "I'll let you know." He smiled as he blew the smoke through his lips. "I'm still thinking on it."

"Alright," the negotiator reluctantly agreed. "How about while you are thinking on it we discuss the hostages?"

Scoffing again, Ryan took another drag of his cig. "What would you like to discuss?"

"We have been informed there are injuries." Colin shuffled in his seat again as he made the statement.

"Have you?"

"Yes."

"Well..." Ryan looked around the store and to each one of his captives in turn before resting his eyes upon Sara. He smirked. "Your CSI has been very helpful already but thank you."

Grissom felt himself tense as Colin turned his head and looked him in the eye. Suddenly all was silent.

"I gather from your silence..." Ryan continued, stubbing his cigarette out on the counter top but keeping his eyes on Sara, "...that you know who I am referring too?"

"Yes," Colin responded softly but on a heavy swallow. "May I speak with her?"

Laughing into the phone Ryan walked to the window. "Are you serious?" he chuckled as he peeked through the blinds.

"Yes. I'm sure you have noticed she is in a rather fragile condition and I have a very concerned husband here wishing to know if she is alright."

Grissom stepped forward; knowing that this man was playing with them more and more. Colin held up his hand to stop him and covered the mouth piece of the phone.

"He's playing with you..." Grissom whispered.

"I know this is hard," the younger man whispered back, "but please, let me do my job. I have to do this, Gil. I have to let him believe he is in control."

Gnawing on his bottom lip Grissom folded his arms. "Right now, he is," he growled.

Colin returned his attention back to the phone call when Ryan continued. "I'll tell you what," the thug started as his flicked his eyes to Susan who had begun shaking again, "I require a little something right now. Give it to me and I will consider letting you talk to her."

Grissom listened anxiously as to what their request may be.

"What do you need?"

"Some medication."

"What kind?"

"Give me a second." Placing the phone against his chest Ryan looked back to Sara. "Get over here," he shouted to her, crooking his finger in a, 'come hither' manner.

With a nervous tingle shooting done her spine, Sara slowly pushed herself to her feet and approached her captor, stopping in front of him.

"What is it that she needs again?" he asked, nodding his head in Susan's direction.

"Clopidogrel," Sara responded on a sigh.

"Ah, that's the one," Ryan replied mockingly before nodding back to Sara's chair. "Sit back down."

Doing as she was told Sara returned to her seat and slumped back into the chair.

Colin waited anxiously for a response to come until finally Ryan placed the phone back to his ear. "We require Clopidogrel," he said.

Frowning deeply Colin picked up a pencil and tapped it against the desk. "May I ask why? Is someone sick?" He knew immediately what the medication was for. "If they are sick why don't you release them...?"

"No!" Ryan shouted and everyone in the building jumped, looking in his direction. "I gave you one hostage already..." he snarled, "...so stop dicking with me unless you want someone else to get hurt. You asked to speak to your precious employee and I gave you an option. I'm the one who should be asking for things right now, not you!"

"Alright...alright..." Colin immediately tried to calm the situation. "I will get you the medication."

Ryan composed himself. "Good, you have twenty minutes; call back when you have it." He slammed the phone down and cut off the call.

"You okay, Bro?" Jay asked looking over to his brother.

Nodding as he stepped away from the counter Ryan looked to his brother. "Yeah, fine." He walked up to Sara and she swallowed hard as he hovered over her. "You..." he started, pointing a finger at her, "...appear to have quite a fan club."

She remained silent but squirmed in her seat.

"Isn't that nice?" he mocked.

Wanting to avoid the subject of exactly how precious a hostage she actually was to her current captors she nodded towards Susan. "I gather you are not allowing her to leave," she implied quietly.

Flicking a look to Susan who was now turning paler by the second he shook his head. "No," he stated coldly before returning his eyes to Sara. "No one else leaves."

A/N: I love writing this story! (When I have time, lol). Review please :)