Episode Five

Med Center
2:58 PM

Drew and Sarah were both sitting on the floor, watching the gunman pace back and forth and stare at his partner's heart monitor. "If he dies..." the man started.

"We die," Drew supplied, having heard the exact same phrase repeated at least twice an hour for the past 4 hours.

"Don't piss me off..."

"Or we die?" Sarah asked. "We got the idea 4 1/2 hours ago when you killed Lily."

The gunman growled slightly at them before turning his attention back to his partner.

Outside Med Center
3:00 PM

"Are you sure about this, Mike?" Malcolm asked as he made sure Mike's bullet proof vest was secured.

"They want to negotiate, and I'm the only one with hostage training," Mike replied. "I don't have a choice."

"Just be careful and if it looks too dangerous, get out," Rebecca said as she leaned against the frame of the open van door.

"I will," Mike replied with a slight smile. "If anything happens, make sure Jamie finds out from a person, not the news, all right?" he asked. "Get Laurence to tell him."

Rebecca nodded. "I will. But nothing's going to happen."

Mike nodded. "Right. It'll all go perfectly." He climbed out of the van and gave Rebecca a kiss. "We're still on for breakfast tomorow, right?"

"As long as you don't get yourself killed," Rebecca said, trying to make light of the danger her fiancee was putting himself in.

"I don't plan on it," Mike said.

EdiSigns Offices
3:00 PM

Toria stretched her neck from side to side as she flipped threw the photos of potential models again. Most of them were the typical stick figures, and those weren't the kind of models she wanted. Toria wanted people who looked 'real', people that others could relate to. She sighed and tossed the photos back onto her desk, ready to throw another tantrum.

She knew she was being more than a little childish, throwing tantrums when she didn't get her way. But, damn it, she was a fashion mogul, (A Diva according to some magazines in Manhattan!) and she expected to get what she wanted when she wanted it. Instead she was sent photos of anorexic looking models who would probably collapse under the weight of one of the thick cable knit sweaters from the winter line.

She spun her chair around a few times, thinking. She suddenly got an idea and turned back to her desk, grabbing paper and a pen.

'Heavenly' line, she quickly wrote, Fresh faces from around Heaven Falls. Canvas highschool, university, teen hangouts. 'Want to be a model?'

She paused and read that possible line for advertisements about models, then shook her head. "That sounds condescending," she said with pursed lips. 'Want free high end clothes'? she wrote after it. "Better. And plenty of girls will want free clothes," she said, smiling.

The door opened slightly and Linda stuck her head in. "Miss Edison? I brought dinner."

Toria smiled. "Thanks, Linda. I knew I made the right choice when I brought you with me. No one else would be able to remember that I'm still on New York time."

Linda smiled. "Well, my own stomach is saying it's dinner, so here I am," she said.

"Still you are the best."

Linda set down the tray with tea and mexican takeout. Then she also set a pad of paper on the desk. "And I found the numbers for the friends you were looking for."

Toria grinned and looked over the list, pleased to see the names. "Thank you, Linda."

"Anytime, Miss Edison."

The Montoya Bodega
3:10 PM

Jamie walked through the door and saw Maria and her family still watching the TV. "Any news?" he asked.

Maria looked up and nodded hestiantly. "Yeah..."

"What's wrong?" Jamie asked, worried. "I was watching at the Diner until, about 15 minutes ago, what did I miss?"

"Jamie..." Maria started.

Diego, Maria, and Theresa's mother, Pilar, walked around the counter and put an arm around Jamie's shoulder. "Your papa went inside the hospital a few minutes ago," she said, he accent more evident due to being upset. "He's going to try and negotiate the release of the hostages."

"He'll be fine," Diego spoke up, seeing the fear on Jamie's face. "Come on, Jamie, your dad isn't dumb enough to go in without a vest. Even if the guy shoots him, he'll be fine."

"Diego!" Maria said, hitting her brother.

"Not that he'll get shot!" Diego added. "He's too smart to get himself shot."

"Come, sit down and have some food," Pilar said.

"I ate at the Diner," Jamie said.

"And did you eat more than two bites?" Pilar replied, smiling slightly.

"You know Mama has your number, Jamie," Maria said with a smile. "When you're stressed, you don't eat."

Jamie shook his head, but accepted the sandwich he was offered. "Thanks, Pilar," he said.

Pilar kissed the top of his head. "You're practically one of mine you're here so much," she said with a shrug.

"So," Diego asked after a moment. "You gonna need a ride to school tomorrow?"

Jamie shrugged. "I don't know. My dad always likes to take me on the first day, but if this isn't over by tomorrow he can't," he replied. "Hell, if it's not over I'm just gonna stay home and watch the news. The Principal knows Dad's a cop, so he won't hassle me if I call in."

"I'm sure it will be over by then," Pilar said. "Probably very soon."

Jamie nodded, but before he could say anything the sound of gunfire echoed from the TV.

"Oh my God!" Rhonda screamed on the screen. "It sounds like shots have been fired inside the hospital! It sounds like a lot of gunfire!"

"Oh God," Jamie whispered. "Oh god, Dad."

Med Center
3:10 PM

Mike eased his way down the coridoor, well aware of the cops following him about 10 feet back.

He stopped outside the door to the trauma room. "Hello?" he called. "I'm here to negotiate!"

"Move where I can see you!" the gunman yelled.

Mike eased open the door and held his hands up. "I'm unarmed," he said. "I need to see if the hostages are all right."

"All except the dead one," Sarah said, looking up at Mike. "He killed Lily Jackson."

"Are you two all right? Unharmed?" Mike asked, not wanting to reveal that he knew both Sarah and Drew.

"We're fine," Drew replied.

Sarah nodded. "But ready to go home," She added.

Mike smiled. "Well, that's what I'm here to do, Dr. Reed," he said. he looked at the gunman. "What's it gonna take?" he asked.

"I want a helicopter, on the roof, in 20 minutes. I want it full of fuel. The pilot will get out when he lands. I can fly it."

"It's gonna take us longer than 20 minutes to get you a helicopter. We don't have any local ones. We'll have to ask for one to be sent from Cheyenne or Laramie. That's at least a half hour."

"20 minutes, or one of them dies!" the man insisted.

"It can't be done," Mike replied, trying to stay calm.

"You think if I shoot another cop it'll speed things up?" the man asked as he raised his gun.

"Just calm..." Mike started.

Gunfire erupted from the hallway, and paint chipped off the walls. The gunman in front of Mike fired his own gun, and soon there were shots everywhere. Mike started to turn to yell for a ceasefire, then jerked backwards as several shots hit him.

End Of Episode Five