62Percy sits on his knees, looking too tired to care about the imminent threat to his life.
"Listen, Gerald right? The hostage negotiator is 2 minutes away. Let's not do anything we can't fix."
He gave a glare at Gordon, implying the message was meant for him too. Both Gordon and Harrold took a few steps out to give Captain space to work.
"Got any demands?"
"A car to get out of here, and access over Vicarstown bridge."
"We can get that for you, If you let Percy go."
"He won't let me go. He claimed in a muttering tone." Percy Muttered, "He just loves me too much."
Percy gave a subtle wink to Captain, signaling his intention.
"That true pal? I can't guarantee you anything unless he's safe."
"He is safe! With me."
"I'd be safer in a ditch." Percy muttered.
"He's got a point," Gordon chuckled, "At least the dirt is more flattering."
"Listen, Gearld… if you want to run, we can arrange that. But he's coming with us." Captain repeated.
"He's not going anywhere. He's mine!"
"Far fetched chap," Harrold muttered, "You've got neither the manners nor personality to keep him around for long."
"We're meant to be together!"
"Keep telling yourself that." Captain muttered.
"AAAGH!"
Gator raised the pistol towards Captain.
There was a loud bang, followed by a thud. Belle and Flynn ran downstairs to see Gator slumped against the wall holding his shoulder.. Blood streaking down his arm.
"Take him." Gordon said. Gator began to squirm, but Captain grabbed his arms and threw a pair of handcuffs on him, before leading him outside.
Gordon, Belle and Harrold rushed to Percy still on his knees.
"Thanks guys." Percy muttered. Belle began to cry, but Gordon grabbed her shoulder to comfort her.
"Good to see you in one piece Chap." Harrold chuckled to himself.
The paramedic then came in and gave Percy the lookover.
"Look towards me," She said as she shone a light in his eye, "When was the last time you ate something substantial?"
"Thursday. Haven't had a drink since last night."
"What a horrible man."
"This was my doing." He muttered, voice getting weaker. "Though I could use it as an ultimatum."
"Well that's rather brave of you kid."
She stood to talk to the group of adults.
"He's alright for now, but he needs to go to a hospital. We have to take the suspect in due to his heavy bleeding.
"We can take him." Flynn butted in. "Where's the closest hospital."
"Ffarquar general. However we'll be taking the suspect to Knapford due to the severity."
"Understood. Thank you Ma'am."
The paramedic left, and Flynn and Gordon helped Percy to his feet, practically carrying him out. They loaded him into the Firetruck, and Gordon and Harrold gave them a wave. The truck raced off into the distance, lights flashing.
Captain came up alongside.
"Thanks for the help guys. And Gordon, I owe you a favor."
"I have an idea for that actually. But it can wait. Are we done here?"
"You two are. I have to stay and collect evidence. I also want to search the surrounding area for anything else he may have disposed of. But you two deserve a break. I'll talk with you soon."
"Will do, thank you Captain." Gordon smiled, shaking his hand.
The two boarded Harrold's helicopter, placing their guns on the rack.
"Ever thought about changing careers Chap?" Harrold chuckled.
"No. Not to this line of work anyway. This was personal, I couldn't do it 'day in day out'."
"Fair enough. Let's head back to base, so we can go home."
"Sound's good to me."
Thomas sat with Jacelyn, reading her a book. "The little blue engine who could. He flipped the pages as he read. Putting on voices for the different characters.
"The boys and girls will be so happy, said the toy clown. "All because you helped us, Little Blue Engine!"
The Little Blue Engine just smiled. But as he puffed down the mountain, the Little Blue Engine seemed to say…
I thought I could… I thought I could... I thought I could." Thomas trailed off. He was lost in thought.
"I thought i could." He muttered to himself.
Jacelyn squealed with joy. Mumbling incoherently, as Thomas closed the book.
"Did you enjoy that?" Thomas asked, Snapping himself out of a transe. Just then Rebecca jumped around the corner.
"Grab your things, let's go."
"Go where?"
"They've found Percy, He's in hospital at the moment. Let's go."
"Really!?"
James sat stocking the shelves in the bar, wiping the glasses clean. Edward sat across from him on his phone.
"Everything's going to shit Edward. And we're the only ones doing ok."
"I'd say you've had more than your fair share of Downs James."
"Well, yes. But they were all my fault, this isn't. Poor Percy, and Henry too. What am I to do Edward."
"Well you could write poetry if you're going to speak like that." He chuckled. The two laughed at the moment. Edward stood and walked around the counter. Pulling his partner into a warm embrace.
"Everything will sort itself out James. With time, And Patience."
"And you by my side." James finished.
"Yes James. With you by my side."
He pulled his partner in for a long tender kiss. However his phone buzzed in his pocket, creating an awkward moment.
"Is that your phone? Or are you really excited to see me? James laughed.
"It's my phone James." Edward chuckled, he opened the message and almost stood agape.
"What is it?"
"They've found Percy, Meeting at Ffarquhar Hospital now."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's join them."
James and Edward walk in to see Thomas, Henry and Rebecca playing with Jacelyn, Belle watching in her firefighting gear, and Gordon pacing.
"Evening Everyone." Edward said calmly.
"Evening." They replied.
James took a seat while Edward walked up to Gordon.
"You and Belle, Look rather concerned."
"We had a long day." He replied. Edward noticed the spots of blood on his shirt.
"Dear God are you alright?"
"Not my blood."
"Not Percy's I hope."
"Gator's. Splatter from the open shoulder."
"Do you want a spare?"
"I have a singlet underneath. I'll be alright.
"Right."
Henry stood up and came over.
"How did he look?" He asked.
"Do you want me to answer honestly?" Gordon asked. The dull look on Henry's face implied the obvious answer.
"From what I can see, and what the nurse said, Mall-nurrished, Dehydrated, and frail. But alive nonetheless." He continued.
Just then the doctor came in and walked up to them.
"Henry! Good to see you're still kicking."
"Murdoch. Yes I'm fine, but I'm not here for me."
"Right," He said, as everyone stood up to pay attention, "Percy is doing fine at the moment. He hasn't eaten anything for the past few days so he's on an IV Drip. He has some swelling and bruising in the oral and anal cavity, so i'm afrain he was…"
He paused and looked to Belle holding Jacelyn.
"Taken advantage off?" Belle offered.
"Yes. Precisely… He is regaining consciousness, but we don't want to burden him with people. So if you could go two or three at a time, that would be great."
Everyone looked confused as for who should go first.
"Henry, Thomas and Gordon." Belle suggested, "You three look the most anxious to see him."
"Are you sure?" Thomas asked.
"Yes Thomas." Edward said. "She's right."
The three nodded before following Dr Murdoch down the hallway.
As they walked, Dr Murdoch looked to Henry.
"As for some good news we should be able to operate in a week's time. So come and see me when you feel up to re-considering."
"I'll think about it."
"Henry, I've known you for nearly ten years. Don't think about it too long, or it will become a problem."
"I know Murdoch. I know… Is Percy going to develop trauma from this?"
"It's statistically more than likely. But he's shown great resilience so far, so there is hope."
As they round the corner he pointed towards a door.
"He's in here. Just bear in mind he is on pain medication, so he might be rather drowsy, and non-coherent."
The three enter to see Percy in the bed with an Iv drip in his arm and monitors connected to nearly every part of his body.
"Hey Guys." He said weakly.
Thomas shed a tear before sitting down next to his friend and grasping his hand.
"Hey Percy."
"...I hope you didn't kill that bastard." Percy said, looking to Gordon.
"No, he'll see the rest of his life behind bars if i have anything to say about it."
"Good."
Henry walked up to his brother and leant over to give him a gentle hug.
"Easy there… I'm sore from the whipping." He winced.
"I'm glad you're alright Percy. There's one stop I need to make, I'll swing by soon." Gordon said. Giving a small wave.
"By Gordo. Stay..Safe."
Thomas gives a chuckle at his friend's drowsiness.
"I'm glad to see you in one piece, Perce." Thomas said, sobbing quietly.
"I'm glad I'm here too Thomas."
As the sun set outside the window, the three shared a humbling experience in the hospital room.
Gordon walked down a dark brick hallway to find Captain standing at the end.
"Captain."
"Gordon. This is your favor?"
"Yes. I know i can call on you if the times ever get rough."
"Hopefully times don't get rough."
"How long is he looking at for kidnapping?" Gordon asked.
"He's already at a life sentance for 2 cases of murder, so-"
"What?"
"Remember the two kids I mentioned. We dug up their bodies earlier today."
"Oh… That's deeply troubling."
"Looking to be a landslide case though, the evidence is too far stacked against him. I'll be prosecuting personally."
"Well, do us proud."
"I will. Not look, you can't hit him. He can sue you for that, and I'd have to detain you."
"I won't lay a finger."
"Alright, One minute."
The steel door buzzes and swings open revealing a light grey room, with the gator sitting at his little table eating. He sits in a sling, with a bandage clearly visible under his jumpsuit.
"Gordon. A surprise to be sure. Thanks for the arm by the way."
"You deserve it." He replied before walking over to his food tray and spitting in his food.
"Told you I'd be the first to spit in your food."
Gators tone shifted from mild confusion to concealed hatred.
"You won't keep him from me."
"That's not my job."
Gordon walked out of the room and gazed back in.
"To think I used to idolize you." He muttered. "Oh the indignity."
Captain shut the door and the two turned away before they heard a bang on the door.
"He's mine. We'll be together. He loves me."
"No-one loves you Gator. And you're not leaving laying your eyes on him EVER again."
Alright Guys. This part is finishing up.
Give me some ideas of new things to explore. Mabye somemore characters you want to see in this story.
Stay safe. I'll see you all eventually.
