Matt's P.O.V.

*A few hours earlier*

It didn't take me long to find the officer in charge of the situation. Corey filled me in as soon as I asked him what was going on. It was a good thing that I had served with him in my first couple of years in Iraq, if we hadn't known each other I would be clueless about what was happening. They had been trying to reach the criminals over the phone for hours, but the lines were dead.

"Can't you try another approach?", I asked him.

"C'mon, Shadz! You ain't seriously asking me that... They're armed and there are seven or eight innocent people inside, we can't try anything stupid and risk their lives. So far they haven't harmed anyone, lets keep it that way. What are you doing here, anyway? I heard you had joined the cleric... Ain't priests against violence and shit?", he chuckled loudly.

"My ex-girlfriend owns the gallery, she is one of the hostages. I want her out of there, don't care if I have to get my hands dirty to get her out.", I said truthfully.

"You're way too much concerned over an ex-girlfriend, man. If I didn't know you were a man of God I'd say you still have feelings for her.", he teased.

"Just because I'm a priest it doesn't mean I'm less of a man. I have feelings too, you know? I'm still the same guy you met a few years back, I'm just on a different path now. And she is just not any ex-girlfriend, Corey... It's Hayden.", he turned serious and looked at me.

"[b][i]The[/b][/i] Hayden?", he finally asked.

"Yeah. It's my Hayden that is in there, man. When I found out, I got in my car and just drove and I got here."

"Chief! Chief! We have line again.", an officer ran over to us with a phone in hand.

Corey took it and press it to his ear. After a few seconds he spoke for the first time. "I'm officer Taylor from the LA PD... Who am I talking to?"

Someone answered him on the other end of the line and he looked at me."How many people are being held hostages? Is anyone hurt?", I heard him ask and then he waited for the other person's answer.

"They can't just do their demands to a civilian, miss Somerhalder. But they can talk to a negotiator.", I froze when I heard the name. It was her on the other end of the line.

He stayed silent for a few minutes waiting for a reply. "It's not that easy! Not any civilian will agree on this. Could you please give us a few minutes to find someone willing to do the negotiations? I'll call you back...", he finally said and glanced at me.

"I won't need that much time.", he said right before he hung up the phone. "Can you do it?", he asked me.

"What? The negotiations?", I asked.

"Yeah. Technically you are a civilian... but you also know what to do in situations like this. I wouldn't trust anyone but you to do this, Shadz.", I knew he was right, but I didn't know if I was ready to talk to Hayden after all those years.

"I can do it.", I agreed to do it.

He redialed the number and gave me the phone. I heard some muffled sounds on the other end of the line and I knew someone had picked up. "Hello? Who am I talking to?", I asked.

[i]"Matt?"[/i], it was her.

"Hay? Is that you? Are you okay? Did they hurt you? Is anyone hurt?", I questioned worriedly.

[i]"Matt? What are you doing here? What the fuck are you doing in front of my gallery?"[/i], she snapped back in a harsh tone.

"Does it really matter?", I was not expecting her to be so harsh to me.

I heard someone said something far behind, but I wasn't able to understand what was said.

[i]"A cop? Are you fucking kidding me? Matt's my ex-boyfriend... He's a priest now!"[/i], I heard her cold remark and froze. She knew about me, she knew the path I had taken.

"Who told you?", I couldn't help but ask her.

"Word travels fast, Matthew. You haven't told me yet what you're doing outside my gallery!", I could feel the sour in her words.

She had every right to be mad at me after the way I had handled things eight years ago, but I wasn't expecting her to be so resentful after all these years. It might have not been the best way to end things, but I did it for her. I loved her so much, that it didn't seem fair to condemn her to live worrying about me for god knows how long. When I got assigned to go to Iraq, it seemed like the better idea to break up with her and let her be free and re-do her life despite what it might hurt me, I just wanted her to be happy.

"I heard about the robbery on the TV, but it was my father who told me this was yours. I don't know how I got here."

"They're gonna call to the bank and they want that the cops let the bank clerk pass through them to the front door so he can deliver them the money.", she passed the criminals' demands.

I filled Corey with their demands and he nodded. "They'll allow it, Hay.", that was all I was able to say before she hung up the call.

"I might have a plan. Do you mind if I call the guys over here?", I asked Corey.

"Not at all. What do you have in mind?", he asked me curiously.

"I'll fill you in as soon as the guys get here.", I said before I called the guys and hurried them to get their asses in front of Hayden's gallery.

It didn't take them long to get to where I was. Zacky and Johnny brought Savannah and Dana along, but Brian was alone.

"Where's Jade?", I asked him.

"She went to see her mom, I was home alone when you called.", he replied.

"Did you call her?", I asked.

"Nope, she left her cell at home! I left her a post-it on the fridge... She'll be here as soon as she sees it. So? What's the plan?", he asked.

"Well, they're calling the bank to get money delivered at the gallery. There are eight hostages inside the gallery and I bet my life that they don't work with the same bank. So there will be more than one clerk to deliver the money and that is where we fit in. We'll be the one's delivering the money, and I'm sure they'll make us go inside, at least I'm counting on it... They are five men, we are at least four. We're more than capable to take over the situation once we're in.", I explained keeping it simple.

"We'll see if that works when the time comes.", Corey said.

"Hey! There's some girl over the window.", Savannah said pointing at the window to a girl motioning for us to call them.

I snatched the phone in my hands and redialed. "Hello?", I asked as soon as someone picked up the phone.

"We're gonna need some food... Have someone deliver food for eight people, please.", a three seconds pause before she spoke again."Thirteen people, Matthew."

"Okay! Someone will the at the front door in a hour and a half with the food.", I assured her before she hung up.

"I guess we'll see if the plan works sooner than we expected. Who wants to be the pizza boy?", I teased earning glares from either Dana and Savannah.

"I'll go. I don't wanna be here when Jade gets here, anyway.", Brian offered.

"Why not?", I chuckled.

"She'll be pissed at me for that fucking post-it and I can't argue with her because I know she has all the right in the world to be mad at me."

"Whatever, man!", I chuckled and called for the pizza delivery and ordered the pizzas to be delivered in one hour.

When the delivery guy got to the area with the pizzas Brian switched clothes with him and headed to the front door of the gallery. I watched him walk inside the gallery and the door shut behind him and I knew I was right. The first stage of the plan was now completed. Hayden was not alone with those criminals anymore. We only had to wait till some delivery was requested again. Hopefully we wouldn't have to wait till the next day...

"Where the fuck is Brian?", a pissed Jade was now next to me fuming in anger.

"Hey to yourself too, Jade!", I teased trying to lighten her mood a little.

"Well? Where is he?", she asked again.

"He's with Hayden. He just got inside the gallery not even ten minutes ago. Why are you so mad? Don't you know that is not good for the baby?", I asked her.

"This! This is why I am mad!", she sticked the post-it to the back of my hand.

[i]I'm at Hayden's gallery, babe. Don't freak out, k? Hayden is being held hostage by five armed men. Matt has a plan. We're going to rescue her :) Love you, Jade <3[/i]

"What's so wrong about that note? He even said he loves you..."

"Five armed men? FIVE ARMED MEN? This is your goddamn fault, Matthew Charles Sanders!", she smacked the back of my neck. "You couldn't just let the police handle it, could you? You had to drag him along! Don't get me wrong, I worried about Hay, she is my best friend and I don't want her harmed. But did you have to send him in? I swear to God if something happens to him, celibacy won't be a problem to you anymore because I'll cut your dick and balls off! "

"I won't let that happen, Jade.", I assured her.

"How can you fucking stop it if you're here and he is there?", She hissed.

"Just trust me.", I looked her in the eyes trying to soothe her a little.

"That girl is over the window again!", Savannah said.

I looked over to the window and saw the girl motioning for us to call them again. I wasted no time in making the call.

"Hay?"

"We need some blankets, Matt. Can you please have a civilian drop them at the front door?", I heard a man's voice demanding something.

"Are you planning on making another hostage? Ain't nine hostages enough for you guys?", she asked bitterly to the man.

"Shut the fuck up, bitch! You'll tell your fucking boyfriend whatever I tell you to. Now, tell him.", I was able to hear his words this time and I tensed in anger.

"Matt? They want the blankets delivered just like the pizzas.", she asked.

"Don't worry, Hay... I'll have it done the way they want it.", I assured her before the phone went dead.

"Johnny, Zacky! You're up, guys. Are you ready?", I turned to my friends.

"Sure we are...", Johnny said. "I love you, babe. Don't worry, k? I'll be okay...", he kissed Dana before he followed the cops to go get the blankets.

"I love you, Vannah!", I heard Zacky muttered against his girlfriend' lips.

"Be careful...", she whispered before she pecked his lips and then he took off.

"If something happens, I'll...", both Savannah and Dana started to say to me.

"I know..."

Notes