The end to a nervewracking and weird weekend

[guidehimback]

The truck was full of gear, Blair was bleary eyed and barely awake and they were racing into Cascade as fast as that old truck could go. Guzzling coffee, Blair stole glances at Jim. He was tight jawed though his hands were relaxed on the wheel. He lived for this. No wonder he took everything at the cabin in stride when Blair was still a wreck from

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[walkstheborders]

With the infamous words, "Stay in the truck, he's talking about shooting outside," Jim slipped from the truck, sighed when Blair inevitably followed him and got the low down.

"I don't see what you want me to do about him, Simon. I'm not a negotiator. I can go in, but I don't know if that will help." He looked to Blair. "And no, you're not coming in if I go in."

[walkstheborders]

There was more silence.

"I think he's considering it. I can hear the girl, she's whispering," he broke off, then continued. "She's whispering 'please, dad, please,' to him."

"Okay. Alessa can leave. Make sure she stays with my mother, not that bitch of a mother in law."

[guidehimback]

Blair nodded though he wasn't sure if the man could see him or not. "We'll do that. You have my word,' he said looking to Simon to find the woman as he mouthed to Jim.

I didn't say they wouldn't be at the station, safe and under watch.

[walkstheborders]

"Simon, do we have the grandparents details?" He pulled his gun, checking over it and cocking the safety off.

"Alessa's leaving out the front door," David said.

And the front door opened moments later, a trembling teenaged girl in a hoodie and jeans and bare feet stepping out. Somewhere to the side, Megan called to the girl and she took off running over to the officers.

"Now, just go away! We'll sort this out without the police! Bitch shouldn't have said she was going to have me locked up forever!"

[guidehimback]

Simon nodded, already making a call. "We'll have her at the station."

"David, calm down. Please? We can't go away. Not when you... Your wife's sister isn't involved. Why involve her in this? You don't want her in the middle, do you?"

He had to get them out. One at a time. Just seeing the girl made him determined.

[walkstheborders]

"That bitch is the reason all of this happened! Fucking cow should've kept her nose out of it, what the hell do you know?!"

There was a scream. Jim was already off over the cars, gun drawn and slamming through the front door as several other officers chased him in.

[guidehimback]

Blair paled, eyes going wide. He'd messed up and because of him, she might have been hurt. He couldn't even speak, couldn't find his voice.

[walkstheborders]

Simon clapped Blair's shoulder. "You got the girl out. That's the main thing. You got the girl out."

Inside the house, there was a roar of, "Police, lower your weapon!"

Then two shots. Two different guns.

The radio crackled. "Ellison here. We need an ambulance, suspect is down, hostages are unharmed. Repeat, suspect is down, we need an ambulance, non-fatal shooting."

[guidehimback]

Blair nodded at Simon, not feeling it was enough but he had to cling to that. A teenage girl hadn't been there when the cops...

The sound of a shot made him jump and he lunged forward before Simon could grab him. He felt something grab his collar and a moment later he heard Jim's voice. Blair bit the inside of his lip to stop tears as the cops rushed the place.

[walkstheborders]

It was another five minutes before the ambulance arrived, the suspect declared secured and Jim came out, pulling off his vest and nursing his side.

"Did you shoot, Ellison?" Simon bellowed across the street. Blair was released.

He nodded. "Shoulder. Both women are fine. He shot me first." He held up the vest, showing the slug in it.

[guidehimback]

The moment he was released, Blair took off. He launched himself at Jim, skittering to a stop a few inches from him. He was pale and staring at the slug.

"Oh God." It happened a lot but now, more than ever, it terrified him. "Right. Job. Right. You're okay, Man?"

[walkstheborders]

"Bruised." He breathed and winced, feeling something shift wrong and sound off. "Maybe cracked. I'll live. I'm not bleeding."

[guidehimback]

"Simon! I'll do Jim's paperwork later. I'm getting him home."

It wasn't often Blair took charge like that. It usually meant sentinel senses were off and he had to take care of Jim. He was willing to barter on that.

"In the truck."

[walkstheborders]

Jim dropped the vest into the box of kevlar and walked back to the truck, pulling his keys back from his pocket. He held them out to Blair mutely.

He hurt too much to drive.

[guidehimback]

Blair knew it was bad if he was driving. Grabbing the keys, he unlocked Jim's door but didn't open it. That would be too far.

He fired up the truck, waiting until his partner was settled. "You don't need to be seen, do you?"

[walkstheborders]

Jim dragged himself into the cab and put the belt on, slumping against the window. "No. It just hurts."