"Captain! We have a hostage situation down at 3rd Avenue! Requesting back-up!"
"I read you, Trowa. I'm sending over Officer Hilde and Detective Relena to assist you!"
Zechs immediately put down the radio and summoned the two girls. "Trowa, Quatre, Wufei, and Duo need back-up at 3rd Avenue! There are fifteen people being held hostage. Be careful."
"Right, Captain! We're on it!" Relena put on her jacket and Hilde gave one final salute before they headed to the patrol car.
"Uh, Hilde�let's not ride in the patrol car."
"Huh? You mean�we'll�"
"Yep. Into the Jaguar with you!"
MINUTES LATER�
Relena and Hilde arrived on the scene just in time to see an armed goon pick up a little girl and point a gun at her head. Everyone in the building screamed and the goon went crazy, shooting in the air.
"Y'all SHUT UP or I'll BLOW her BRAINS out!"
At that, everyone cowered beneath the large tables and Duo cursed inwardly. "Dammit! I can't SHOOT the fucker! He's got a KID with him!"
Hilde wiped her brow and strapped on a bulletproof vest. "We have to think of something, guys. We can't just go in there, now."
Quatre cocked his .45 and reloaded. "Jeez! And how! We need a plan in�" he looked at his watch, "�exactly 30 SECONDS!"
"I think we have to take some hostages out of the equation," Trowa quietly stated, shooting at another goon.
"WHAT? You mean�" Duo's eyes bugged out and he prayed silently. 'Uh-oh! He's not gonna do what I think he's gonna do, is he?'
"We have to shoot the hostage," Trowa continued. But it was obvious that he was bothered as well. Just HOW can you SHOOT a LITTLE GIRL?
Wufei inhaled sharply. "Trowa, I don't think we can do that! There has to be another way! We can't jeopardize the lives of innocent civilians, especially children!"
"Well, I can't wait that long! And I'm not gonna do any hostage-shooting! I'm doing this MY WAY!"
With that, Relena rushed in, dodging the spray of bullets, ignoring her companions' cries and finally stood in front of the goon.
The little girl he held was crying and a woman screamed, "My baby! Oh God! Please don't hurt my baby!"
"Mommy! Please help me! I don't wanna die! Mommy!" Tears streamed down the girl's face and the goon laughed maniacally.
The little girl screamed again and Relena whipped out her gun, pointing it at the goon. "Let the kid go, you dick! Put your gun down and put your hands on your head."
In the confusion, Relena hardly noticed a young man regard her with interest.
As Heero hid behind a post, he noticed the young woman bravely facing off with the armed goon. Armed only with a .45 Caliber, she squared her shoulders and pointed her gun at the man. She was dressed in street clothes and could have easily hidden in a crowd.
Heero noticed that she was extremely athletic, with toned arms, a slim waist, and strong-looking slender legs encased in jeans. 'God! There's something so familiar about her. The hair, those flashing eyes! Annie? Nah! Can't be her. Annie is gentle, sweet. But this girl looks as if she has the strength to shatter stones in her bare hands.'
Heero shook his head. 'Still, they have that uncanny resemblance.'
He continued to watch her from his hiding place and as he watched, he couldn't help but admire the woman who looked just like Annie. She was just as beautiful, but she had a feisty spirit, so UNLIKE Annie.
The loud report of a gun startled him and he snapped to attention. Looking around, he saw the young woman pale and clutch her left shoulder. There was a smell of burning flesh and Heero's eyes widened as a trickle of blood ran down her arm. 'Oh God! She's been SHOT! Gotta do something!'
Relena bit her tongue, trying not to scream from the pain that seared her flesh. She steadied herself and brought up her gun. The man still held the little girl in a vise-like grip, but she was not intimidated. She felt the adrenaline pumping through her veins and aimed�
BANG! BANG!
The goon howled and clutched his arm, releasing the little girl in the process. The little girl ran and hid behind Relena's legs.
Relena immediately kicked, her boot connecting with his groin and he doubled over in pain. "You mother fucking BITCH! I swear I'll kill you! I have my rights!"
"Thank you. I'll take that as a compliment. But right now, the only right you have is the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law," Relena wrestled with the man's huge wrists and handcuffed him.
She shoved him over to Trowa and Duo, who had the other goons unconscious. Hilde rushed over to her and her eyes widened, seeing the blood seeping out of her shoulder. "God, girl! Do you gotta do that and scare the shit out of us?!"
"Heh�If I hadn't done that, everyone would've gotten killed anyway. At least they're all safe. Don't worry, this'll be fine," Relena chuckled and then winced again as renewed pain shot through her arm.
The little girl tugged at her jeans and she looked down. "Miss Lady Cop, I'm really sorry for your wound. I didn't mean to ~"
Relena shushed the little girl. "Hey, it's not your fault, honey. These things happen when you've got this job. Happens all the time to me. At least you're safe. That's what makes me happy. Your mom's there, give her a hug."
A woman in her early thirties rushed over to Relena. "Oh, ma'am. How can I ever repay you for what you've done?"
"It's nothing. I'm just glad to have helped."
"But your shoulder is ~"
"Like I said earlier, this is just a flesh wound."
Mother and child smiled gratefully at the young detective and Heero was touched. 'She's such a brave woman. I have to get to know her.'
Wufei strode up to Relena. "We have to get you to a doctor, detective. It's time to go. I've informed the captain of your heroic efforts."
"Thanks, Fei. Well, ma'am, we'll be on our way. Hon, you take care of yourself, now, you hear?" Relena ruffled the girl's red hair.
"Yeah, sure will. By the way, it's Susie," the little girl smiled.
