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Christopher paced for the fifth hour up and down the Director's office. His father looked up from the report he had been examining irritably. "Christopher, for the last time, could you stop pacing up and down and wearing a hole in my carpet and let me do my work in peace! I know you're worried but there's nothing you can do…" "Oh yes there is, if you would just tell me where O'Malley went, I could go and help her. Don't you see, anything can happen to her out there!" James Wilder did not answer. The two stared at each other silently. The frustration and anger was evident in his son's eyes. The telephone rang sharply, breaking the silence. The Director grabbed the headset immediately. "Hello?… What!" He ignored his son's frantic gestures. "I see, an operation? Four bullets and thirty-nine stitches in total… a concussion… and now?… Thank God, out of critical condition and resting peacefully… one hundred percent recovery, you say, and no permanent damage except a few scars? That's extremely good news. Which hospital, can you please repeat the room? Washington Memorial, room six-thirty-two. Right, thank you." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Christopher grab his jacket from the hanger and reach for the door-knob. "Christopher, wait!" His hand halted just before it touched the knob. "Now what, Dad? Nykki's in hospital!" "It isn't Nykki in hospital, it's O'Malley. I don't know what happened actually, but he took three shots — two in his right shoulder, one in his left leg. Another grazed his skull. It happened about three hours ago, the police didn't manage to find out who he was until he came out of the operating theater half and hour ago. There was quite a commotion in the Chinatown area, but they don't know what that is about." "Nykki? She's waiting in the hospital?" Christopher asked hopefully. "No, they don't know where she is. An eye-witness reported that he saw her being chased in the direction of Chinatown by three men. Another eye-witness in Chinatown said that she saw her getting into a car with another man and driving off. There's been no other report since." "Damn!" Chris swore, throwing his jacket onto the chair. "Where in the world is that exasperating girl?"
Mason Storm hauled the slightly built Senator down to the hall. He heard the sounds coming from outside the house but ignored them all, concentrating on his prey. "Well, Vernon, how does it feel to have a gun held up to your face and that you can do nothing about it if I pull the trigger? Just like Jackie." Mason Storm looked at the handsome, honest-looking face that had been the source of his pain. The face was now bloodied slightly from the blow on his face that he could not resist giving him. "Well, Senator? No answer?" He looked down at the silk robe Trent was wearing and smiled slightly. "I see you enjoyed yourself today." He held the Senator's shoulder with a stronger grip and lowered his gun to between his legs. The Senator's brown eyes followed the movement and widened when he saw where it stopped. "I'm a Senator, you can't harm me! Let me go you motherfucking bastard! You are not to pull the trigger! Nooooo!" He cried out as Storm squeezed the trigger. The shot echoed through the high-ceilinged hall. There was no pain. Trent sighed silently in relief. Then he heard Storm's mocking voice. His eyes opened. Storm was speaking. "I missed. I never miss. They must be smaller than I thought." The false surprise was evident. The barrel of the gun was raised. "Now, I won't miss, will I." He smiled a feral smile and prepared to shoot. "Dad! No! You promised!" The door had been flung open and a clear voice rang out. Mason Storm turned to see a sea of blue pointing guns at him. One of them, a captain from the rank on his uniform, who was not holding any weapon, spoke up. "Storm! Give me the gun Storm. Give the gun to me." Mason Storm hesitated, then shook his head. A commotion broke out at the door, and he saw the twins struggling to reach him. His eyes swept back to the captain, his hand tightening on the Senator's shoulder. "Storm, listen to me, we've seen the tape, we know about the set-up. Give me the gun. We know what all this is about. Senator Trent, you're under arrest." Two police officers walked forward to arrest Vernon Trent, while Mason Storm slowly handed his gun over to the captain. Nicholas and his twin finally broke free of the restraining hands at the door and rushed to be embraced by their father. "Dad!" they shouted in unison as his arms closed around them. Vernon Trent was protesting loudly in the background, but none of the three heard it. Mason Storm murmured softly to the twins. "It's over kids, time to go back." He looked up and saw Will Banks standing before him. "Thanks," he said, and stretched out his hand in gratitude. Will clasped it in his own. "Come on kids," Storm said, getting up. "Let's go."
"Dad, are we still going to hold the test tomorrow?" Christopher asked worriedly. "Nykki, she still isn't back yet, and she may be too tired to take the test." "I can't change it because of one person. If she's back, she'll take it, if she isn't she won't." "But Dad…" Christopher protested. "No more buts, Chris, it's the only solution. This test has been planned for weeks, and I will not cancel it just because of one cadet." He saw his son open his mouth to speak and cut him off. "No more arguments Chris, go to sleep now, you'll need the rest. We'll call the room like the others, if she's there, she'll answer it and she'll make it for the test." Christopher shot his father an angry look and left for his own room.
It was three in the morning when Nykki and Nicholas were dropped off in front of the FBI academy. "Dad, where will you be going?" Nykki asked, still holding the door of the Porsche open. "To the police station again to see to the rest of the report, then after to Will's house to sleep. I'll see you two tomorrow morning. Get some rest okay?" her father replied, ruffling her hair. "Okay, we'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight." "Yeah, goodnight Dad," Nicholas echoed. Mason Storm grinned at his two children. "Night guys, see you two tomorrow morning." The two watched the car disappear into the distance before heading to their room.
They crept back to their room. "Ouch! What did you out in front of my bed?" Nicholas demanded as he tripped. "Some of my books, I think there are also some clothes on the bed," Nykki answered sheepishly. "I never knew that girls were so untidy. Where's the light switch?" "Switching on the light isn't such a good idea, I didn't apply to leave the campus and Chris Wilder will be furious. Just sleep on my clothes and just forget about everything." "Easy for you to say," Nicholas answered, still rubbing his foot. Nykki had already taken off her shoes and was in bed. "I don't know what you do without me!" Nykki's gentle breathing was the only answer he received, she was already fast asleep. Nicholas sighed and went to bed himself.
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