Trapped {Part 8} [Phan/Neribedtime]

[Carrie's POV]

"You let PJ go or I'll shoot!" I hear from the back of the ambulance. Ignoring the protests of the paramedics, I stand up and have a look at where that cry is coming from. My heart is in my throat. That sounded like Chris! Surely Chris wouldn't be threatening anyone... but then again I'd never think PJ was capable of hurting anyone until now. I round the corner and see Chris with a gun. Holding it to Alex's head.

"ALEX!" I cry, falling to my knees. I must have ran out of tears to cry, because none come, but I've never felt so upset. Alex can't die, not now I'm safe! Alex was what kept me strong in those 5 days (according to the policeman) I was in there! He can't die just as we are reunited. It isn't fair.

Alex looks at me, tears in his eyes. His hair is raggedy, and he's wearing a good morning sunshine t-shirt, which looks relatively clean even though he looks like he's been waiting out here for days. Which, I remind myself, he probably has been. He's frozen with shock, as is Phil who's standing right beside him.

I remember Dan. Unconscious Dan. If Chris shoots... I could potentially lose all five of them: Dan, PJ, Chris, Phil and Alex. My closest friends all lost. Could I bear that? Probably not because, as much as I love Jack and Dean, they could never replace these five. Well, at least they could never replace Alex. Alex is the love of my life, I don't know if I'm ready to let him go so easily. No, I know that I'm not ready. I will NEVER be ready to leave Alex. NEVER!

"Chris let him go!" I call across the silent tarmac. Chris turns his head towards mine, but says nothing.

"C...Carrie... I love you" Alex says, only just loud enough for me to hear.

"I love you too Alex. I love you so so so much." I cry back to him.

The police are finally aware of the situation, and push me aside as they run to form a wall of bulletproof shields around Alex, Phil and Chris. The paramedics try to bring me back to the ambulance but I refuse to move and I stay on my knees, desperate for Chris to back down and let Alex go. Jack comes next to me and tries to calm me down, but it doesn't work. I can't live with Alex being in there.

"Sir, please put down the gun." Says one police officer.

"N..n...no! Let PJ go!" Chris stutters. But he doesn't sound very convincing. Not like PJ did. But then again, I was the one PJ was threatening, and now I'm just a spectator, looking in from the outside.

"Ca-Carrie." Alex croaks.

"Yes Alex, love?" I call.

"If this is the end... then I love you. You are the highlight of my day. You never fail to cheer me up, and I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you! I wanted to grow old with you. The reason I wasn't there, in that hotel, is simple. I was buying an engagement ring. I was going to propose to you Miss Fletcher. I love you."

"Al-" The pain and exhaustion get too much and the world goes black.

[Phil's POV]

I might not have a gun at my head but I'm scared. More scared than I've ever been. But not only scared that I will die, but scared that I will die and never tell Dan that I love him too. I can't die with that regret! Not now that Dan's free-ish. Unconscious is still better than trapped... they can cure unconsciousness... right?

There's a thump and a scream from Jack, then raised voices of policemen and doctors. From what I can hear, as I can't see over the barriers, Carrie has collapsed. A look at Alex confirms this fear as he is sobbing uncontrollably, his legs shaking. I so desperately want to hug him, but I'm scared that if I do, Chris will shoot.

Another voice rings out from the crowd, loud and clear.

"Chris."

PJ is speaking through a megaphone. Alex, being taller, sees that he's still in the back of a police van, and talking from there.

"Wh..what Peej?"

"Let Alex and Phil go. I did wrong, okay? I don't know... I think my head's messed up. One minute I want to kill Dan for being perfect, the next I want to protect him. I want to kill Carrie because she loves Alex, and the next I remember how much I love her and hurting her would do no good what so ever. Please don't do this."

"But I love you PJ" he cries.

There's a pause. I look at the tears streaming down Chris's face. I understand it must be hard, if the guy he loves is about to be locked up. But that gives him no right to hold a gun to Alex's head, especially after everything we've been through! And Chris has been here with us, he should know how hard this has been. He slowly lowers the gun to the side of his body and Alex collapses into my arms.

"Chris... I love Carrie... not you..." PJ finally says, breaking the silence.

BANG.