Sitting there now, KD cursed the US court system. Faraday should have
been locked away in maximum security a year ago, but the courts had to drag
it out. His trial lasted eight months. Now here he was, free as a bird, so to
speak, trying desperately to kill a few more agents before he went down
again. KD winced as she saw an agent take a bullet through the arm, but then
she rejoiced that the bullet had been restricted to his arm. He would recover
soon and his family wouldn't have to sit around his hospital bed in tears
wondering if he was going to make it okay. No, he would be okay. But would
she? She glanced again and saw Max Erickson making a run for the hostages.
Terrence didn't notice him and in a split second, he lost his bargaining
chips. KD heard his deep voice utter a dark curse and watched as Terrence
disappeared into the darkness of the warehouse.

"Max, get them out!" KD called before taking off after Faraday. He wasn't
going to get away this time. Not this time.


Leo leaned back into the couch. It was going on nine thirty, and there
was still no news. He looked up and saw Toby leaning in the doorway. Their
eyes met and their thoughts exchanged. They looked at each other and shared
their worries with each other.

"No word, Toby." Leo said softly. Toby took the news and sighed, looking
at the floor.

"Tell me this is going to be all right, Leo." Toby pleaded softly. Leo
tried to conceal his surprise. Then it occurred to him. KD saw him like a
father, and Toby was her boyfriend, had been for eight months. By now, it was
almost as if Leo were a father-in-law, and they both knew it.

"I don't know, Toby. I'm praying that it will." Leo replied honestly.
Toby nodded and looked up to meet his friend's eyes again.

"Okay. I'm gonna be in my office. You will let me know?" He asked softly.
Leo nodded.

"You're not going home?" He asked in concern.

"I can't go home, Leo. The place is empty." Toby returned. Leo smiled
weakly and nodded reassuringly.

"I'll call you as soon as I hear anything. I promise." Leo assured him.
Toby nodded, smiled weakly and turned to disappear in the hallways. Leo
stared at the empty doorway for a moment, trying to analyze what had happened
to him just now with his revelation. He felt closer to Toby now, something he
never would have thought possible. Toby was like a son to him most of the
time. Just as aggravating, Leo thought with a smirk. KD had better be all
right, for Leo felt the need to share his new feelings with her. He found
himself starting to pray for the day that Toby became his son-in-law. He
shook his head and looked around. Then the phone rang.


"You okay, ma'am?" Max asked a fleeing hostage carefully. The woman
nodded weakly as she moved beyond the doors of the warehouse. "George, take
care of the rest. I'm going after Rocky." He called before turning back into
the dark room. Rocky. A complicated nickname to arrive at, but KD liked it.
Brody . . . Roady . . . Rocky road . . . Rocky. It's just the way things
happened. Now what the hell was she doing? She wasn't supposed to go it alone.

"Katy??" He called as he slid across the floor. No sign of her. Suddenly,
the bitter silence was disrupted by the sound of a single gunshot.

To Be Continued . . . .