Extreme Circumstances

Author: aria

Rated: PG

Rating :

Rei walked into the bank that day, like she would any other. It was a nice sunny day so she decided to walk the few blocks from the mall to the bank. She watched the birds in the sky, twittering and swooping as they flew, playing in the air currents. The sky was an amazing color blue, she was sure she'd never seen shade quite like it before. The clouds were fluffy and white and looked like blobs of foam floating on the sea.

Smiling to herself she switched the bags she was carrying to the other hand and opened the heavy glass door. It was pretty crowded but she decided against coming again another time. She was in too good a mood to care about having to wait in line.

So she followed the divider to the queue and stood behind an elderly man.

He turned his gray head to her and smiled kindly. "Nice day isn't it?"

Rei smiled back. "It is. It's absolutely gorgeous out." She looked at the line and shrugged, "It even makes waiting in line not so bad."

He laughed heartily. "I agree completely."

They shuffled forward an inch.

"So what do you do? Are you in school?" he enquired quietly. "I hope you don't mind me asking."

Rei shook her head emphatically. "Of course not. It's not like it's a state secret or anything. I'm in school at the moment. I'm studying nursing."

"Very admirable. My grandson is studying medicine. Perhaps you know of him?"

They shuffled again.

She doubted it, but shrugged slightly. "Maybe, but it's a very big school."

"Of course. How silly of me. It's not like the old days where everyone knows everyone."

Rei smiled and changed the subject, hopefully to spare the man's feelings. "Don't you feel like cattle when you're in line? I mean, look at us. They have us all lined up and penned off. It's terrible."

He smiled knowingly as if he knew what she was doing. "It is. But can you imagine if they didn't? The chaos that would ensue!"

They both laughed and shuffled at the same time.

They chatted for a little while longer. And before long if was the man's turn next. They were waiting patiently when a man cut through the line and walked right in front of them. He shoved a lady out of the way and leaned over the counter until his nose hit the protective glass.

The man Rei was chatting to walked up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. "Excuse me. There is a line, you know."

The other man sneered at him and instant before he grabbed him around the throat and pressed a gun up under his chin. "Sorry pops but I'm in a hurry!"

Screams rose from the crowd and almost instinctively everyone fell to the ground.

Rei followed suit, but kept her eye on the old man. There had to be something she could do.

"Just stay calm and no one will get hurt!" the robber brandished the gun a moment before returning to its resting place under the man's chin. He turned to the teller. "Now give me the money. No dye packs, no marked bills, just what you all have at your tills." He pushed a pillowcase under the glass. "Put it all in this. And remember I'm watching you." he spun around and looked over the frightened people prone on the marble floor. "That goes for all of you too. Don't anyone try and be a hero now."

Shaking, Rei stayed down. She looked up at the poor man being held hostage. He looked so small and frightened. She had to do something.

Rei clawed the tangle of raven coloured tresses out of her face and crept forward very slowly, trying to get closer to the two men. She felt a tug at her leg.

Rei turned and glared at the man. The blonde simply shook his head and motioned her to come back.

She had half a mind to keep going but something in his eyes stopped her. Rei looked up again to make sure she wouldn't be spotted then slid back to her place.

The blonde man nodded. He pulled out a badge on a chain around his neck and flipped open his coat to reveal a gun. He quickly re-concealed them both.

Rei nodded almost imperceptibly and laid her head on her hands. She caught his gaze and then pointedly looked at the old man. He had to get him out of there before he got hurt.

He held out his hand palm out in a ‘calm yourself' motion.

Rei fought the urge to scream. She hated being in a situation where she couldn't do anything. She felt so useless, so helpless. And along with the fear and anger, it had to be the most infuriating mix of emotions she'd ever had to endure. She turned her head downwards and tried to calm herself. Then amazingly a cool hand covered her and she felt a little stronger.

She turned again and opened her violet eyes to meet a pair of gentle green ones. A wobbly smile came to her lips and she turned her hand so that their fingers linked. She gave it a light squeeze in thanks and it was returned.

A guttural croak tore through the silence and she clutched his hand and looked up.

The old man was clutching his chest and slowly slid to the ground.

Instinct taking over, Rei got up and ran over, not caring that it brought her inches from their captor.

"Sir, sir!" she checked him over and looked up to plead with the robber. "Please we have to get him to a hospital! It looks like he's having a heart attack!"

"So what? It looked like he was going to kick the bucket any day now anyways." He snorted.

The anger in Rei's veins boiled over now and she jumped up, lunging at the man.

He caught her and twisted her in his arms and held the gun at her temple and growled, "Shut up."

She twisted and scratched at him. "You're a monster."

He tightened his grip around her neck. "I said shut up!"

Jadeite was on his feet now, his gun in hand and aimed at the man. He couldn't let her get hurt. "Just relax."

The gunman whirled around and stared at him with a crazed look in his eyes. He took the gun away from Rei and pointed it at him. "Back off or I'll kill her." Shakily he brought the gun back to Rei's head.

Jadeite inched forward. "I'm not going to hurt you. I need to check on the man." Encouraged by the man's silence and keeping his gun trained on him, he knelt down and checked the old man over.

Slowly he stood back up, keeping eye contact with the man holding the woman hostage. "Put away the gun. I'm sure we can come to some sort of agreement. You don't want to hurt anyone else do you?" Jadeite moved closer. "Let the woman go."

The gunman looked like he was thinking it over but when he saw Jadeite move closer, he pressed the gun harder into the side of Rei' head. "S...stay back."

Jadeite stopped. "You don't really want to hurt her do you?" he crooned, his voice soft from training. "Let everyone go. You don't need all these people."

He took a look at her frightened face and his heart hardened. He had to get her loose from the madman. Jadeite looked over at the teller and saw her moving for the silent alarm. He returned his gaze slowly, as if nothing was amiss and tried to reason with him again.

"Come on. You don't want to be a murderer do you?" He took another half a step forward. "I know you don't. Give me the gun." He coaxed gently.

The man holding Rei started to waver and she could feel it. She looked over to the cop and caught his eye. She blinked and rolled her eyes over to the man and nodded slightly, hopefully he would get the message.

He did. He stepped forward, almost within arms reach of her. "Come on. It will be much easier on you. Obviously you are not getting out of here without hurting someone. And I swear if you harm even one hair on her head, I will hunt you down personally." His eyes grew hard. "Now give me the gun."

Rei felt the arm around her throat relax and tremble. She quickly ducked out and knelt by the man on the floor. "You'll be ok. Help is on the way." She looked up at the blonde cop.

He slung the robber against the wall and checked him over for any other weapons before cuffing him.

Rei closed her eyes in silent thanks when she heard the sirens approaching.

When they arrived, she helped the paramedics move the man to the ambulance and watched as they drove off. It looked as though he would be alright.

She heard a deep voice behind her. "Ma'am?"

Rei turned and knew whom she was about to face. "Yes?"

Jadeite held out his hand. "That was a very brave thing you did back there, ma'am. I just wanted you to know that." He shook it, very aware of the electricity that flared between them.

She smiled back at him and it knocked him for a loop. He heard a sultry voice say, "I can same the same about you."

Rei looked up at him and could feel herself gravitate towards him. "Thank you for saving my life."

He leaned in closer. "It's my job."

He was so close she could smell his aftershave and feel the warmth radiating from him. Rei closed her eyes as he gently caressed her mouth with his. And before she knew it her arms had wound themselves around him and his around her.

The suddenly he broke the kiss and pulled back. "I'm sorry ma'am—"

Rei put her finger on his lips silencing his apology. "I don't think you have to call me ma'am anymore."

Smiling, he leant down again. "Yes, ma'am." And he touched his lips to hers once more.

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the end