Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.

Gale hits his head backwards on the wall that's behind him and groans. His knuckles ache and his eye is swollen. He shouldn't have fought back.

Five men came into the bank. They had guns. Gale thought he could take one of them down, maybe fight his way out and save the day. As it turns out, becoming a national hero isn't as easy as it sounds. They beat the shit out of him. He thinks he has a few cracked ribs and blood is still dripping down his forehead. They didn't really hit his face much, just his stomach. After they knocked him out with the butt of a gun and threw him in some dark back room they left him alone. He's been in here for at least ten minutes.

He's tried fiddling with the door multiple times but it just won't open. He's resigned himself to sitting down and breathing.

Still, his fingers tingle with the desire to stand up and fight back. Every once in a while he'll hear gunshots and be thankful that they've locked him in this room, but it also worries him. What if the criminals are just eliminating everyone?

Before he decides to try the door again it swings open, yellow light spills into the room and burns his eyes.

"Please!" a feminine voice cries. "Wait!"

There's a thud, and then the door shuts again. Gale listens and hears frantic breathing. The girl who's been thrown in moves to her feet, her heels are loud as they click across the tiled floor. She makes for the door, fiddles with it, and her breathing picks up again.

"It's locked," Gale says.

"Jesus Christ!" The girl leaps and spins around. "Someone's in here?" Gale grunts in response. "You've just been sitting in the dark?" she asks. The girl slides her hand over the wall before finding a light switch, filling the room with light. Gale throws his hand up to block the light when he hears her clicking heels coming toward him. "Oh my God! You're the one they were kicking!"

She drops onto her knees beside him but he swats her away. "I'm fine, I'm fine."

"You're bleeding, please." Eventually Gale stops pushing her away. She unravels her scarf around her neck and uses it to dab at his face. "I'm Madge," she says softly. "I think I was a few tellers over from you."

He blinks a few times before responding, "Gale."

This girl, she's impossibly beautiful. It's like some sort of action movie, getting locked up in a bank and having no one but an attractive female lead by his side. Only this isn't a movie, and she is honestly terrified. Her hands are shaking as she wipes the blood from his face. Her hair is long and curly, her eyes are bright and blue. All in all she reminds him of a sunny day.

"Did they hurt you?" he asks.

"Not really," she shakes her head, lowering her hands. "When they grabbed me it wasn't ideal," Madge gestures to her wrists where fingerprints are red and raw. "But I'm alive, so…"

Gale dips his head. "I heard gunshots." Madge doesn't respond, she just fiddles with her bloody scarf. "They were shooting people?" Her head tips forward slightly, her eyes filling with tears.

"The ones who… who were fighting back," she whispers. "There was a group of guys who… they're all…" she blinks her tears away. "You're lucky," Madge tells him, looking up and wiping under her eyes with the back of her hand. "You were trying to be heroic on your own, which I admire even though it did nothing. But if you had made a group…"

Gale drops his head into his hands and sighs deeply. Dead. How many? What does it look like out there? Gale remembers there were a few children out there; he prays to God that they're okay. And then suddenly he remembers that Madge, this girl right here, saw it all. He looks up and finds her still blinking back her tears. Immediately he extends his hand and grabs hers. She tilts her head and smiles at him.

"We're going to be fine," he murmurs. "Okay?" Hesitantly, she tips her head forward. "Let's talk about something else, yeah? Wait until the swat team comes and breaks us out?"

"Swat team," she echoes, her lips curling upward. Madge tips her head forward. "Okay, sure. What do you want to talk about?"

"Tell me about yourself," Gale says. "You come in here and the first thing you do is rush straight over and start cleaning my wounds." She laughs now, and Gale decides he likes the sound. "Do you have kids? Or are you just motherly?"

"I don't have kids," she says with another laugh. "I'm studying nursing in school." Ah, a nurse. And still in school. "Wounds just… call out to me to be healed."

Gale smiles. "Think you could fix a few broken ribs?" Her eyes dart down to his chest and the smile she had flickers. "Hurts to breathe."

"Not much I can do here," she says, her voice slowly getting quieter with every word. He squeezes her fingers and she lets out a deep breath. "I thought we were talking about other things."

"Sorry." Gale frowns. "So no kids." Such a relief. "You're a student. Me too, I go to the community college up the road. I'm transferring next year though."

"What's your major?"

"Architecture," he says. Her smile is sweet. "I like how things are built. I used to go to museums all the time when I was little and just admire the buildings. It drove my mom insane because we paid to see the art or whatever." Madge laughs lightly. "What do you do in your off time?"

"I like to play the piano," she tells him. Gale imagines Madge's long slender fingers dancing over the keys and smiles. She'd probably be good at it. "I've been playing since I was a little kid. I barely have time for it anymore, I always have some sort of test to be—" she stops speaking when the sound of gunshots reverberates through the walls. Instantly her eyes are filling with tears again.

"Hey, hey, hey," he reaches over with his free hand and pulls her chin up. "Look at me. We're safe in here."

"No we aren't," Madge croaks.

"Look at me," Gale says again. She blinks a few times and a tear drips down her cheek. Quickly he reaches up with his thumb and wipes it away. "My little sister, her name's Posy," he starts. "She's scared of thunderstorms. So is my brother Vick. The thunder, it really freaks them out." Gale releases his hold on her and slinks out of his jacket. "They always get under some sort of cover, it makes them feel safer." He drapes it over her shoulders and she quickly tightens it around her. "There. Do you feel safer?"

"No," she admits. Gale chuckles and she scoots next to him. His hand eases around her waist and he tugs her against him. "Now I do." They're both quiet for a bit. No more gunshots. The bank is eerily quiet. "So you have two siblings?"

"Three. They're all younger." Her head is against his chest, he wonders if she can hear his heartbeat. Maybe she'll blame the way it races on the fact that this is a hostage situation and not that she smells like lavender. "Do you?"

"Only child," Madge says. "My dad's busy a lot and my mom is sick, they don't have much time for kids." Gale frowns, his thumb rubs her hip. "I guess your parents are around a lot?"

"My mom is," he nods. "My dad, he uh, he passed when I was younger." Madge looks up, concern is in her eyes. "Car accident."

"I'm so sorry."

"Don't be," Gale shrugs. She nestles closer. He pulls her tighter. It doesn't even hurt his ribs. "What were your plans for the day?" he asks, changing the subject. "Besides, you know."

"Being held hostage?" she frowns. "I had to deposit my paycheck and then I was going to go home and do absolutely nothing."

"No dates or anything?" he asks. Madge pulls away so she can see him and lifts an eyebrow at him. He doesn't stutter, though his heart does. "Wouldn't want you to be late." Her cheeks turn pink and she blinks a few times before her lips curl upward.

"No dates," she finally nods.

"Hm." Gale smiles, too. "Me neither."

"We're trapped in a bank during an armed robbery," Madge says, her smile slowly widening, "and you're hitting on me?"

"Of course not," Gale waves his hand. She eases back into his side. "It's just I've got my arm wrapped around you and you're wearing my jacket and dabbed my forehead to make sure I wasn't bleeding anymore, I didn't want some vengeful boyfriend to come after me in case he got the wrong idea." Madge shakes her head but he swears he feels her smile. "And I wanted to let you know, of course, that I haven't got a girlfriend that would come and skin you alive for wearing my jacket."

"Reassuring," she exhales.

"Isn't it?"

"Most definitely. I'd hate to be accused of stealing someone's boyfriend because he comforted me in a hostage situation." Gale chuckles now and drops his head backwards against the wall. Again they fall silent. "Should we be doing something?" she asks. Doing something? His mind strays to a scene of him with his lips pressed to hers. Hostage situations clearly have his hormones running on full blast. "Looking for a way out?"

They glance around the room. No vents. No windows. Just the one door. This is the equivalent of a closet.

"Well," Gale frowns. "We tried." Madge opens her mouth to say something but again they hear gunfire. It's rapid and doesn't cease. She looks up at him and finds his eyes wide. "Quick, help me put things in front of the door." His first thought is that the robbers have realized they're stuck and are just eliminating everyone. "They can't get in if we board it up." He leaps to his feet and grunts, his ribs are still tight and it still hurts to breathe. They quickly push a few things in front of the door that would make it impossible to open. By the time they're done Gale's broken out in a sweat, his forehead has started bleeding again. "There."

"Hey, slow down," she pushes him backwards against the wall and he slumps a bit. Quickly Madge retrieves her scarf from the floor. "You need to get to a hospital."

"Mm," he winces as she dabs his forehead. "A little difficult considering the situation."

The shouting in the main part of the bank increases and Gale's eyebrows narrow. "Don't think about it," she says quickly. Her eyes are once again filled with tears but she continues to dab his forehead. "We'll be okay. You said so yourself."

"I did," Gale nods. "You're right."

Finally the shouting shifts into the hallway that they're in and Gale instinctively pulls her close. He spins so she's the one against the wall, his body a shield between her and the door.

"Police! We have the situation under control! I repeat, we have the situation under control! You can come out!"

The tension in both of them eases immediately. They both sigh. Gale drops his forehead to hers and pushes her golden hair from her face. Her smile is infectious.

"Open the door," she nods. Gale nods too but pulls her toward him in a fierce hug before. This time it does hurt his ribs but he just doesn't care.

Working quickly, the two move everything they just shoved in front of the door out of the way.

"Let me go first," Gale murmurs. "Just in case." Madge nods and Gale carefully opens the door. He peers out into the hall and spots a man in uniform. Immediately the officer rushes forward and Gale walks out with his hands up. "It's me and another," he says. "They moved us in here."

Madge follows Gale, her hands up as well, when the officer reaches them. "You two are safe now," the man says. "Follow me. I'll get you out of here."

Outside of the bank there is a swarm of news reporters and cameras and police cars and swat trucks and ambulances. Gale learns that thus far no one's lost their life, though many were injured. Those in critical condition are already on their way to the hospital and they all look like they can be saved. All of the men who committed the crime were caught.

Gale's alive.

"You should really get to a hospital," Madge says once they're outside. She's stuck by his side in the process of walking out of the bank, and having her by his side is reassuring. They weren't the only two locked up in a room, there were others just like them. The robbers were trying to divide and conquer so it would be easier to get away with the money. "You have broken ribs and your forehead keeps bleeding from where they hit you."

"I'm going, I'm going," Gale says. She practically drags him to an ambulance where they're ready and waiting to treat injuries. The first responder makes Gale sit as he dives in to get some supplies. Madge waits awkwardly a few feet away. He jerks his head, motioning for her to come closer.

"I should be going," she says. "My dad's probably worried sick."

"Sure," Gale nods.

Still, she doesn't move. "Thanks," Madge says. Her cheeks are beautifully pink. "For making me feel safe." She shrugs the jacket off of her shoulders and hands it back. "Of all the people to get stuck in a hostage situation with…" Madge bites her bottom lip.

"I'm glad it was you," Gale picks up.

"Me too."

Before she can step away he grabs her hands and pulls her closer. "Our lives aren't on the line anymore," Gale says. "Would it still be inappropriate for me to ask you on a date?"

"No," she shakes her head, "that's appropriate." Her smile is sweet. "I left my number in your pocket." How on earth did she find time to write her phone number down? Probably when Gale was talking to the officer when they were still inside the bank and he was telling them about everything that happened before they went outside. "I really have to go, though."

Her hands slide from his and Gale grins. "Okay. I'll see you soon." She takes a step toward him and dips down, pressing her lips to his cheek.

"See you soon," she echoes quietly.

All in all, there have been worse trips for Gale to the bank.