Desperate

Ty watches Libby play, grinning as he sees how good she is. Leaning back against the wall, he tucks one hand halfway in his jeans pocket, cocking his head a little. This young woman was different... nice. And she actually wanted to interact with him. It was definitely better than nodding off on the couch while watching a boring B movie to kill the free time.

Libby's question though, brings him back to reality. Looking her in the eye, he knows he really doesn't have a choice here. He could fake it and maybe get away with it, but Libby was smart. And if he declined, she might think he didn't want to play the game with her, which wasn't true.

Sipping on his rootbeer, he knew that he was taking an awfully long time to answer her. He wanted to avoid this. Most of the time, people either decided he was too stupid to do anything, or they tried to baby him through whatever it was they were doing. Even on the rare occasion that a friend genuinely wanted to help, his embarrassment and frustration kept that at a distance. No matter what, it always ended badly.

Finally, Ty shrugs. "I can give it a whirl, but... I can't pick the songs or anything." His thumb taps on the lid of his cup, making nervous noise. "Look, Libby..." He tries not to be embarrassed. He tries not to let it show, but he knew his eyes would give him away. She'd find out sooner or later anyway. "...I can't read."

He purses his lips and nods once. It was a fact. "So yeah... my choices of games are a bit limited here."


Gunner has never known quite the same pain in his heart as he feels right now, looking into eyes so empty that were so full of life the last time he saw them. "Oh, Bree." Taking her hand, he kisses it gently, putting his own palm against her face. "What did they do to you, huh?"

Standing up, he takes Bree and shifts her in the bed, making sure one blanket stayed wrapped around her. Then slipping his arms under her, he lifts her up so her head can rest on his shoulder. "Alright... let's get you out of here."

Just as Gunner is ready to leave the room, JT suddenly backs through the door, shutting it almost all the way. He puts a finger to his lips and Gunner holds Bree a little tighter. Passing footsteps are heard out in the hall. Once they die away, JT cracks the door and makes sure the coast is clear. Before leaving though, he takes a step towards Gunner, reaching out to touch Bree's hair. Righteous anger flowed through him. It was hard to see her in the dark, but her lack of movement and response told him that she was not in good shape. She was strong, and she could recover, but JT didn't know if he could ever forgive his sister and brother-in-law for this.

"We gotta go," Gunner urges.

JT shoves aside his feelings for now and turns back to the hall, leading the way.

"You're clear on hall two." Scott doesn't take his eyes off the cameras. "Dalton, bring up cam five."

Gunner walks easily with the precious cargo in his arms. JT stays in the lead, his gun drawn, but hoping he did not have to use it. Only having to duck into a supply room once on Dalton's cue, they made it down to the ground level once again, heading to the same door they'd come in.

Scott sees movement on one of the cameras the same time Dalton does. "Gunner, JT, don't go around that corner. Repeat, don't move. Two bogies at the door."

Gunner and JT skid to a halt and look at each other with worry. JT is quick to glance around. There were no doors. No empty rooms. The only escape route was through the two men or back down a long hall.

"Get of there," Scott warns. "They're coming your way." He gives Dalton a worried glance. Where the two doctors had come from, he didn't know. Somehow they must have slipped under the other cameras. The only good thing was they hadn't gone outside yet and discovered the guard who was... Scott's eyes widen. He'd thought too soon.

The unconscious guard is spotted. The doctors reach the emergency phone by the door.

Scott's stomach churns. "Gunner, they called the cops. Get out of there, now."

Gunner and JT had just turned around to go for the hallway, and now break into a run. "Scott, what happened?" Gunner hisses.

"They found the guard."

"Great. What's door three look like?"

"Locked down, but head for it. Go." Scott brings up another screen and hands the task off to Dalton. "Get that thing unlocked. I'm gonna try to find out how long they got before the cops get there.

The next few minutes are a nightmare. The two doctors had found Gunner and JT and had cornered them near one of the exits, but a shot from JT had forced them to stay back. Panic was setting in and it wasn't good.

"We gotta get out of here." Gunner holds Bree close, breathing heavily. "Hang with us, Bree... we're gonna get you out."

JT waits for the click of the door, his hand resting on the handle. "Alright, lets move."

"You're too late guys," Scott warns. "The cops are right outside." The outside security camera showed five cruisers and about eight officers with flashlights and guns drawn. "They're armed and know you two are inside. I intercepted the communication - they don't know who you are, but they know you've got Bree."

"Great." Gunner leans against the wall and tries to think.

"What if we-"

"We're going out." Gunner cuts off JT. "I'm taking Bree and you're gonna walk behind me with the gun so nobody fires. We're going to walk straight down to the car."

"Are you mad? They'll gun us down."

"Not with a patient they won't. Bree's our ticket out." Gunner looks up to one of the cameras, speaking into his mic. "Dalton... Scott... your job is done. I want you to close up and go home so you've got an alibi. Shut down our communication link so they can't trace it." He pauses, giving a nod. "Thank you."

Once JT signals he's ready with his pistol, the door is unlatched and they walk out into the beams of flashlights and the shouts to halt and lower weapons. But when the police see JT's got a gun and that he patient is still with them, they back off, trying to talk them out of it.

Gunner squints in the lights, but continues to walk, straight and tall. His eyes remain on the walkway down through the open gate and to the car across the street. Lights flash and shouting resounds in his ears, but he ignores it all. Fire blazed behind his gaze, his tight jaw hidden under the black and green of paint that had become war paint.

JT's back pressed against Gunners as he walked backward, his handgun stretched out and threatening any officer who made a move towards them.


Scott throws off his mic with a growl and runs his hands through his hair. "They're never gonna get out of there... I knew they needed a bigger team." Sighing, he looks to Dalton. They could still hear the police radio communication, but it didn't look good. "I don't know about you, I'm not going home until I know what happened."

Gunner and JT walk across the street and to the car, Gunner managing to get the door open and setting Bree in the back seat. He runs his hand along her face for a moment, not wanting to leave her. But he knew he had to. "Hang in there... I'll see you soon. I promise."

Standing again, he shuts the door and looks to JT, who was still threatening the police. "I want you to take her out of here."

"But what about you?"

"If we both go, they're going to follow us and we'll never make it. If I stay and give myself up, it'll give you enough of a head start to get out of here."

"But-"

"You gotta do it, JT... please... give me the gun and go."

JT's eyes fill with indecision. But right now, Bree was most important to him. "Alright."

Handing off the handgun, he slips into the car and starts the engine.

Gunner is quick to step away and wave the gun around, keeping the cops away. When an officer advances, he puts the gun to his own head. "Back off!" he barks.

"Sir, calm down. Take it easy."

Gunner knew that the police would always try to avoid a suicide. He keeps the gun to his head. "Take it easy?" he shouts angrily. "I'll take it easy." He fires a shot in the air, then puts the barrel back to his head. He hears the car leaving down the street and knows that JT is out of sight.

Keeping the police occupied for a few more minutes, he finally lowers his gun. They quickly advance on him with ready handcuffs. It was over.


Heading down the road, JT guns it, not caring about red lights or stop signs. He heads to the edge of town, continually looking in his mirror to make sure the cops have not found out yet. Just as he hits the back road that will lead him straight to the highway he was aiming for, his car gives a sputter.

"No... no, no, not now, you bucket of bolts!" JT slams his hand on the steering wheel, but it doesn't do any good. "No!"

The car gives one last lurch before he has to baby it onto the shoulder where it dies. He knew that there was no point in trying to get out and see what was wrong. "God, now what do I do??" He was desperate. Throwing off his baseball cap, he wipes some of his face paint off and takes off his gloves. He turns to check and make sure Bree was okay, giving her arm a gentle pat. "Hang in there, kiddo."

Taking his cell phone, he stares at it. He couldn't call Scott or Dalton. Once the cops figured out who Gunner was, they'd be all over other Elite agents and they'd never get out of the state. But who else was there?

One name came to mind but JT hesitates. Was it worth the risk? At this point, it was the only chance he'd get. He knew she wasn't working tonight.

Dialing, he waits, knowing that he probably will have woken her. "Amanda? It's JT... Jack Timble... look... I don't have time to explain and I'm sorry.... but I need a car and I need it bad. I'm out on sixty-two with a dead engine and I've got to get out of town tonight. Please... you're the only one I could call. Can you help me?"