Erica was angry.

A slow bubbling rage had been building up inside her ever since Ricky had tricked her with the gun; ever since he had taken her grandchild hostage; ever since he shot Jack.

Erica just wanted to lash out him, if not with fist, then at least with her words.

She could hear him behind her, pacing; dragging her grandaughter with him as he went, the terrified child still unable to control her terrified wailing.

"Just shut up!" Ricky growled at Miranda.

Erica turned back to glare at her captor, a cutting comment on the tip of her tongue.

"Erica don't" whispered Jack beside her.

Erica flicked her eyes his way, and the anger melted away, replace by concern.

Jack's face was stone white and his eyes were glazing over. Was there more blood on his shirt than before?

"Jack!" Erica gasped.

Jack shook his head.

"Don't do anything to put yourself in danger." He mumbled, his words slurring slightly.

"Jack!" Erica cried a little louder, reaching out to stroke his cheek.

Even as she cupped his clammy cheek, Jackson's eyes rolled up into his head and he slumped forward; crumbling to the floor into a boneless heap.

"JACK!"

Griffin reached out to check on him, but Ricky shouted at then to stay as they were.

Suddenly all hell broke loose.

There was a loud crash from the corridor on the right. It sounded like someone was trying to break down the door. Then there was the loud crack of gun fire and a cloud of smoke began to fill the corridor.

Erica heard a scream on her right… Kendal or Marissa she couldn't tell.

Griffin's voice was yelling;

"Get down, get down!"

Erica threw herself on top of Jack and closed her eyes tight, praying that they were all going to get out of this in one piece.

…

Brot had led the two best shots from Alpha team into position behind the nurses' station. The remainder of the team, led by Sergeant Defoe, had been sent to cause a distraction, taking the long way round to break through from the west door as loudly as possible. The diversion should be enough to spook Ricky and catch him in a vulnerable position so they could take him out without harming the hostages.

Time ticked by, the diversion team were given orders to break in at exactly 22:00.

Brot kept one eye on the room as his ad hoc sniper team checked their weapons. No one had a proper rifle; instead they would be relying on their side arms.

Moments before 22:00 Brot watched as the increasingly pale Jackson Montgomery slumped forward. Ricky moved in behind the hostages snapping out orders, right in their line of sight, it was perfect.

On cue there was a loud crash and shouts as the diversion team broke down the door. In the same moment the sniper team popped up above the nurses' station and lined up their shots.

Brot pulled the trigger; he watched the bullet strike Ricky's cheek but it didn't drop him.

Brot lined up again only there was a pop and a hiss and a cloud of smoke rushed through the corridor.

This wasn't his men; Ricky must have rigged a smoke bomb on the door!

Brot squinted through the cloud of grey, but Ricky was already ducking behind little Miranda and dragging her back as the room was filled with impenetrable fog.

How could they shoot him if they couldn't see him?

…