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Description
Jenna didn't know how long she spent in the sumptuous jacuzzi tub, but it was wonderful and all of her stress melted away. As she soaked, she was hearing voices in the other room, it was Gavin and Dave who'd stopped by, and she felt that warmth come back. Maybe Helen was right, she though as she got out and dried off. She dressed in her tank top and sweat pants and then put on one of the incredibly thick and warm bathrobes. As she stepped out of the bathroom, she heard what sounded like a voice over a radio.

"Everything is going OK here, boss," a man's voice was sounding, canny and intermingled with statics. "We are getting the last of their people into...oh shit, they made us boss! I have to go, I will keep the mic hot for you!"

Then, Jenna heard shouting coming over a radio and she went around the corner, finding Dave and Gavin, who were sitting at the bar with a radio in front of them. Both men were staring at the device listening and tense. Of Helen, there was no sight, she'd probably gone to bed and crashed just as she'd said when Jenna told she was going to take a bath.

"Look out, Fuck, those are fire bombs!" the man's voice kept on coming. "Stop them! Look out! Get that guy! Alex no, get him, Will!"

Jenna was suddenly shaking and she must've made a noise, because the two men looked over at her. Gavin made a move to get up, but Dave put a hand on his shoulder and went back to staring at the radio. There was a sound of rapid gunfire, more shouting and cursing. Jenna ran her hands through her wet hair and clenched her hands behind her head as she found herself staring at the radio with Dave, terrified of what she might hear next, but unable to walk away. People were being hurt. And it was her fault! This wasn't right! she raged to herself. It felt like hours had passed, although it was only a minute or two, before things seemed to calm down. Then there was silence from the small radio, and she moved toward the bar to stand next to Gavin. He put an arm around her shoulders and she lowered her arms. She was beginning to shake and he helped her to a seat as the radio crackled anew.

"You there boss?" came the voice. "You are not going to believe this shit"
"Report!" Dave snapped, looking about ready to explode.
"They made us, I don't know how, but these are not usual thugs. This mob twerp hired some serious muscle. I'm talking military grade muscle. We would have lost a guy if not for a few civilians. However the Green Door Corner is fine and so are we. Damn lucky though. The civilians are coming over now. You want to listen?"

"Yes!" Dave confirmed. He looked up at Jenna, who gave a shaky nod.
"What were you two doing here?" said the voice on the radio. Then Jenna heard a voice with a South European accent and winced. Spiros! The second voice was that of her next-door neighbour Ken.
"We were looking out for our friend's store," Ken was saying. "We didn't know anything like this would happen. Then that guy over there was pointing a gun at that other guy. So we tackled him and the other guy who had the fire bomb. What is going on? It's like a fucking war going on here! This is crazy, this isn't London, it's fucking Syria!"
"Ken!" Jenna interjected. "Are you and Spiros all right?"
"Yes, we are. By the skin of our teeth. Where's the goddam coppers when we need them?"

"Listen," another voice cut in. "I want to thank you both and I can say for sure that my boss, the man on the other side of this radio, would agree. Anything either of you ever need, you contact us! Even then we will still owe you for helping our people."
"Absolutely," Dave said. "William will take care of both of you for as long as you need. I'm going to make some calls. I will be getting back to you Will, stay available. Over and out." He turned of the radio.

Jenna felt emotions she'd never felt welling up and she found she couldn't catch her breath. Dave passed her a shot of something but her hands were shaking too hard to lift it. Gavin helped her and whatever it was went through her like fire and she started coughing and gasping. Strangely, once that was passed she felt better. Dave nodded.
"I will be right back," he said, then he grabbed his jacked, turned and left. He was snarling at someone on the phone before he was out of the suite. Jenna turned to Gavin who was also looking furious, yet there was a softness underneath his expression, worry in his eyes. A compassion she could feel as he squeezed her hand and then took a gulp out of his glass.

"I was hoping to surprise you when you finished your bath. Champagne, sterling company, you would have loved it. That may have to wait my dear," he said. Jenna nodded shakily and giggled softly.
"Thanks," she murmured. "Anyway," she added as she felt her fear beginning to draining away. The two of them went over to the couch and sat side by side. He held her hand.
"It may not seem like it, but this is going to end soon," Gavin began. "There's no one better at this than Dave."
"How long have you guys know each other?"
"Since military, we served together in Libya. There's no one like him, he saved my life. Twice. After the war, the man turned down a consulting job with the Secret Service so he could remain independent. He gets a new offer from them every year." He stroked her hand and smiled softly. "Everything is going to be fine, Jenna, trust me."

***

Jenna awoke in the morning and stretched luxuriously. She had a slight headache, but it was not the hangover she expected. Sitting up, she looked around, she was in the centre of the enormous bed and realized it may require some work to crawl to the edge just to get out, it was that big. Then she got the silly idea of just staying in bed all day to avoid the work she'd have to do. She couldn't help the giggles that came out of her at the thought. Just then, there was a soft knock on the door.
"Come on in," she called, expecting it to be room service with breakfast or something. But it was Gavin, who walked in fully dressed and carrying a tray with coffee and juice and still warm croissants.

"What's so funny?" he asked with a smile. As she explained her plan, he laughed.
"Good point," he said as he sat on the bed and she slid over to be closer. It did take a moment to get there and they both laughed again.
"I brought you this," he said as he placed the tray on the bedside table.
"Where's Helen, she's still asleep?"
"No, she's in the shower, I met her on the way in her, apparently she's been up with the rooster and tried out the basement gym."
"Gee..." Jenna sighed. "She's giving me the bad conscious with her exercise. While I'm here eating croissants. I really ought to be losing some," she said and pinched her side. Then, almost as a protest, she bit into one of the croissants, and it sure was lovely. Just the right amount of crunchiness and softness and with a mellow buttery taste.
"No, don't mention that," Gavin protested. "I think you're fine as you are."

He poured her coffee and juice and nicked a croissant for himself from the basket before he stood.
"I have to go with Dave and take care of some things. I hope that's fine with you, Jenna," he trailed of with an anxious look. Jenna smiled for him and nodded.
"Go and do what a man's got to do," she said. "I can't wait to see what we are like when we are not in the middle of a crisis." she told him.
"I'm glad to hear you say 'we'. I look forward to finding out too," Gavin smiled as his eyes lingered at her for a brief moment.

Finishing her breakfast, she took a quick shower and dressed before joining Helen in her room. The latter was channel zapping, watching the large plasma screen for any news that might relate to what had happened yesterday, but it was all about Brexit. Helen switched it off and they compared notes from the night before. Jenna told her friend about the radio call and she said she had heard about it.
"I thought I was dreaming," she said and shook her head. "Fire bombs! Is this London or the middle east?"
"Ken was wondering about that too. Seemingly these guys are ape shit crazy."
"So now what?"
"I guess we'll have to wait and see, how about watching a movie while we're doing so," Helen said and picked up the remote. "They have quite the selection."

Jenna agreed, and soon she and Helen found themselves watching some Marvel super hero movie, and just by the ending showdown, Gavin and Dave were back in the suite again, Dave with news.
"Detective Jenford disappeared," he began, "but it seems he took his family and hid them. He's been working on things out of sight. Ken and Spiros's families are in protection. And I think these gentlemen both deserves a medal. From the Queen herself no less. You have some pretty good neighbours. Anyhow, I guess you girls get to spend today wandering around this facility, while the cops round up the rest of the badasses connected to this."
"I wanted to thank you two for everything," Helen said. "Jenna told me about the radio report from the café last night. I'd thought I'd just dreamed it."
"Think nothing of..." Gavin began, but he was interrupted as an ear-splitting alarm started howling. The next moment, Spenser blasted though the door, Cherilyn not far behind.

"We're out of here! Now!" Spencer bellowed.
"What's going on," Helen asked.
"There is a fire on the other side of this floor near base. It was purposely set." Spencer paused and met Cherilyn's eyes. "A service staircase, this way," he went on. "There are no windows, and we can barricade ourselves in if we have to."

Helen and Jenna were right back into the terror of the day before.
"How is this possible?" Helen asked.
"Doesn't matter right now. Now the goal is survival," Spenser answered. He had a point and Jenna took it to heart trying to remain calm. She realized, if she'd still been as wound up as the day before she might have panicked. Sure she was terrified, but she could still function. Helen too. They were soon rushing down the hall until suddenly a double door opened ahead of them and two guys with guns came out. Helen and Jenna were shoved to the ground and Spencer and Cherilyn lay across them. They heard gunfire and shouting. An instant later were they pulled to their wobbly feet.

"GO!" Cherilyn shouted and they all hasted down the hallway. They ran by two bloody bodies on the floor. Cherilyn was in the lead as they approached the service stairwell, and soon they were spinning around and around several floors down as the alarms kept on howling. Then they were down on the ground and Cherilyn kicked an emergency exit door open and ushered them all all out and they tumbled into a narrow back alley filled with scrap and garbage cans. A light rain was falling and it was chilly.

Just as Jenna crossed the threshold, she heard a shouted curse from behind. She turned and was shoved to the ground again as she saw fire flare up inside of the building. Cherilyn and Spencer moved to the edge of the alley as gunfire erupted in the street outside. Was it backup?

"Behind that garbage can!" Dave shouted. They did as ordered and got behind it and then they all looked at each other with a trembling terror, not daring to peek up to see what was happening.

Meanwhile, Cherilyn and Spencer were against the walls on either side of the alley opening. Cherilyn was listening intently and then silence fell. The seconds ticked by and she looked at Spencer, shaking her head. Then the sound of approaching emergency vehicles could be heard. Police. And the fire brigade. She held up a fist and started counting with her fingers.
"All clear," she then called out, her head towards the quartet huddled behind the largest of the garbage cans.

There was a pause and then her boss' voice was heard.
"Good, let's end this shit!"

***

Jenna was humming softly to herself as she was sitting at the end of her coffee counter, watching the customers. There were nine of them and business was going well. Life was weird. The chaos of the past weekend had ended with the fire at the fancy member's club, but there had not been a single line about it in the press, not a word on the news. Probably somebody had paid to eradicate this little 'incident'. Well, it was not as if she could care less. She'd emerged without a scratch and a whole life of experiences wiser. She'd seen real luxury and real terror, and she had a definite feel of her world having grown over just a few days. The good news was that the only people who died were bad guys. Everyone injured on their side was going to be ok, even the cop who had shooed the kids away from Helen and her. He'd been smart enough to disappear for a while.

She'd called her mother the moment she was safe again, and oddly enough her mother had not been worried at all. What were a few missed calls on a weekend, Catherine Winters had simply assumed that her daughter had been out dating or perhaps on a girl's outing.

As she prepared coffee for a trio if men in yellow vests and hard hats, she heard the front door bell chime, and she lifted her eyes, thinking it was Christine, as the writer usually came in this time of the day. But instead it was Gavin stepping through the door, eyes sparkling. He was in casual jeans and shirt with sneakers, he looked damn good in them too, and he held his arms behind his back.

He waited his turn and as Jenna handed the last cup over to the construction workers, Gavin held out a bundle of red roses wrapped in thin paper.
"Can we start over," he asked as he held them out.
"Start over?" she asked, arching a brow.
"Yes, I imagine I just gave you the worst date in history. And I imagine I can do better than death and fire."

"Ow," she managed as she blushingly accepted the flowers. "But you did save our lives."
"So where's Helen today?"
"She had a dentist's appointment in the morning, you know life do goes on. Although she'd almost forgotten about it. She'll be in by lunch when the rush starts."
"Good for you," he grinned. "Well about that date thing, let me try to show you how a date shall really be performed. Are you free tonight."

"Eh, I guess I am."
"I imagined, since I know when you're closing. I'll be around by eight then." After that, he leaned forward and surprised her with a quick kiss on her lips. As she felt herself blush even more, she could hear the clapping of hands. She turned to her right to see that the construction workers were all applauding what they'd just seen. Smiling she boved slightly at them, as if at Green Door, the coffee came with entertainment. Then she looked up at Gavin's glittering eyes.
"Sure," she said, more than eager to see where this was going. How the two of them were when they were not in the middle of a crisis.

Description
Jenna didn't know how long she spent in the sumptuous jacuzzi tub, but it was wonderful and all of her stress melted away. As she soaked, she was hearing voices in the other room, it was Gavin and Dave who'd stopped by, and she felt that warmth come back. Maybe Helen was right, she though as she got out and dried off. She dressed in her tank top and sweat pants and then put on one of the incredibly thick and warm bathrobes. As she stepped out of the bathroom, she heard what sounded like a voice over a radio.

"Everything is going OK here, boss," a man's voice was sounding, canny and intermingled with statics. "We are getting the last of their people into...oh shit, they made us boss! I have to go, I will keep the mic hot for you!"

Then, Jenna heard shouting coming over a radio and she went around the corner, finding Dave and Gavin, who were sitting at the bar with a radio in front of them. Both men were staring at the device listening and tense. Of Helen, there was no sight, she'd probably gone to bed and crashed just as she'd said when Jenna told she was going to take a bath.

"Look out, Fuck, those are fire bombs!" the man's voice kept on coming. "Stop them! Look out! Get that guy! Alex no, get him, Will!"

Jenna was suddenly shaking and she must've made a noise, because the two men looked over at her. Gavin made a move to get up, but Dave put a hand on his shoulder and went back to staring at the radio. There was a sound of rapid gunfire, more shouting and cursing. Jenna ran her hands through her wet hair and clenched her hands behind her head as she found herself staring at the radio with Dave, terrified of what she might hear next, but unable to walk away. People were being hurt. And it was her fault! This wasn't right! she raged to herself. It felt like hours had passed, although it was only a minute or two, before things seemed to calm down. Then there was silence from the small radio, and she moved toward the bar to stand next to Gavin. He put an arm around her shoulders and she lowered her arms. She was beginning to shake and he helped her to a seat as the radio crackled anew.

"You there boss?" came the voice. "You are not going to believe this shit"
"Report!" Dave snapped, looking about ready to explode.
"They made us, I don't know how, but these are not usual thugs. This mob twerp hired some serious muscle. I'm talking military grade muscle. We would have lost a guy if not for a few civilians. However the Green Door Corner is fine and so are we. Damn lucky though. The civilians are coming over now. You want to listen?"

"Yes!" Dave confirmed. He looked up at Jenna, who gave a shaky nod.
"What were you two doing here?" said the voice on the radio. Then Jenna heard a voice with a South European accent and winced. Spiros! The second voice was that of her next-door neighbour Ken.
"We were looking out for our friend's store," Ken was saying. "We didn't know anything like this would happen. Then that guy over there was pointing a gun at that other guy. So we tackled him and the other guy who had the fire bomb. What is going on? It's like a fucking war going on here! This is crazy, this isn't London, it's fucking Syria!"
"Ken!" Jenna interjected. "Are you and Spiros all right?"
"Yes, we are. By the skin of our teeth. Where's the goddam coppers when we need them?"

"Listen," another voice cut in. "I want to thank you both and I can say for sure that my boss, the man on the other side of this radio, would agree. Anything either of you ever need, you contact us! Even then we will still owe you for helping our people."
"Absolutely," Dave said. "William will take care of both of you for as long as you need. I'm going to make some calls. I will be getting back to you Will, stay available. Over and out." He turned of the radio.

Jenna felt emotions she'd never felt welling up and she found she couldn't catch her breath. Dave passed her a shot of something but her hands were shaking too hard to lift it. Gavin helped her and whatever it was went through her like fire and she started coughing and gasping. Strangely, once that was passed she felt better. Dave nodded.
"I will be right back," he said, then he grabbed his jacked, turned and left. He was snarling at someone on the phone before he was out of the suite. Jenna turned to Gavin who was also looking furious, yet there was a softness underneath his expression, worry in his eyes. A compassion she could feel as he squeezed her hand and then took a gulp out of his glass.

"I was hoping to surprise you when you finished your bath. Champagne, sterling company, you would have loved it. That may have to wait my dear," he said. Jenna nodded shakily and giggled softly.
"Thanks," she murmured. "Anyway," she added as she felt her fear beginning to draining away. The two of them went over to the couch and sat side by side. He held her hand.
"It may not seem like it, but this is going to end soon," Gavin began. "There's no one better at this than Dave."
"How long have you guys know each other?"
"Since military, we served together in Libya. There's no one like him, he saved my life. Twice. After the war, the man turned down a consulting job with the Secret Service so he could remain independent. He gets a new offer from them every year." He stroked her hand and smiled softly. "Everything is going to be fine, Jenna, trust me."

***

Jenna awoke in the morning and stretched luxuriously. She had a slight headache, but it was not the hangover she expected. Sitting up, she looked around, she was in the centre of the enormous bed and realized it may require some work to crawl to the edge just to get out, it was that big. Then she got the silly idea of just staying in bed all day to avoid the work she'd have to do. She couldn't help the giggles that came out of her at the thought. Just then, there was a soft knock on the door.
"Come on in," she called, expecting it to be room service with breakfast or something. But it was Gavin, who walked in fully dressed and carrying a tray with coffee and juice and still warm croissants.

"What's so funny?" he asked with a smile. As she explained her plan, he laughed.
"Good point," he said as he sat on the bed and she slid over to be closer. It did take a moment to get there and they both laughed again.
"I brought you this," he said as he placed the tray on the bedside table.
"Where's Helen, she's still asleep?"
"No, she's in the shower, I met her on the way in her, apparently she's been up with the rooster and tried out the basement gym."
"Gee..." Jenna sighed. "She's giving me the bad conscious with her exercise. While I'm here eating croissants. I really ought to be losing some," she said and pinched her side. Then, almost as a protest, she bit into one of the croissants, and it sure was lovely. Just the right amount of crunchiness and softness and with a mellow buttery taste.
"No, don't mention that," Gavin protested. "I think you're fine as you are."

He poured her coffee and juice and nicked a croissant for himself from the basket before he stood.
"I have to go with Dave and take care of some things. I hope that's fine with you, Jenna," he trailed of with an anxious look. Jenna smiled for him and nodded.
"Go and do what a man's got to do," she said. "I can't wait to see what we are like when we are not in the middle of a crisis." she told him.
"I'm glad to hear you say 'we'. I look forward to finding out too," Gavin smiled as his eyes lingered at her for a brief moment.

Finishing her breakfast, she took a quick shower and dressed before joining Helen in her room. The latter was channel zapping, watching the large plasma screen for any news that might relate to what had happened yesterday, but it was all about Brexit. Helen switched it off and they compared notes from the night before. Jenna told her friend about the radio call and she said she had heard about it.
"I thought I was dreaming," she said and shook her head. "Fire bombs! Is this London or the middle east?"
"Ken was wondering about that too. Seemingly these guys are ape shit crazy."
"So now what?"
"I guess we'll have to wait and see, how about watching a movie while we're doing so," Helen said and picked up the remote. "They have quite the selection."

Jenna agreed, and soon she and Helen found themselves watching some Marvel super hero movie, and just by the ending showdown, Gavin and Dave were back in the suite again, Dave with news.
"Detective Jenford disappeared," he began, "but it seems he took his family and hid them. He's been working on things out of sight. Ken and Spiros's families are in protection. And I think these gentlemen both deserves a medal. From the Queen herself no less. You have some pretty good neighbours. Anyhow, I guess you girls get to spend today wandering around this facility, while the cops round up the rest of the badasses connected to this."
"I wanted to thank you two for everything," Helen said. "Jenna told me about the radio report from the café last night. I'd thought I'd just dreamed it."
"Think nothing of..." Gavin began, but he was interrupted as an ear-splitting alarm started howling. The next moment, Spenser blasted though the door, Cherilyn not far behind.

"We're out of here! Now!" Spencer bellowed.
"What's going on," Helen asked.
"There is a fire on the other side of this floor near base. It was purposely set." Spencer paused and met Cherilyn's eyes. "A service staircase, this way," he went on. "There are no windows, and we can barricade ourselves in if we have to."

Helen and Jenna were right back into the terror of the day before.
"How is this possible?" Helen asked.
"Doesn't matter right now. Now the goal is survival," Spenser answered. He had a point and Jenna took it to heart trying to remain calm. She realized, if she'd still been as wound up as the day before she might have panicked. Sure she was terrified, but she could still function. Helen too. They were soon rushing down the hall until suddenly a double door opened ahead of them and two guys with guns came out. Helen and Jenna were shoved to the ground and Spencer and Cherilyn lay across them. They heard gunfire and shouting. An instant later were they pulled to their wobbly feet.

"GO!" Cherilyn shouted and they all hasted down the hallway. They ran by two bloody bodies on the floor. Cherilyn was in the lead as they approached the service stairwell, and soon they were spinning around and around several floors down as the alarms kept on howling. Then they were down on the ground and Cherilyn kicked an emergency exit door open and ushered them all all out and they tumbled into a narrow back alley filled with scrap and garbage cans. A light rain was falling and it was chilly.

Just as Jenna crossed the threshold, she heard a shouted curse from behind. She turned and was shoved to the ground again as she saw fire flare up inside of the building. Cherilyn and Spencer moved to the edge of the alley as gunfire erupted in the street outside. Was it backup?

"Behind that garbage can!" Dave shouted. They did as ordered and got behind it and then they all looked at each other with a trembling terror, not daring to peek up to see what was happening.

Meanwhile, Cherilyn and Spencer were against the walls on either side of the alley opening. Cherilyn was listening intently and then silence fell. The seconds ticked by and she looked at Spencer, shaking her head. Then the sound of approaching emergency vehicles could be heard. Police. And the fire brigade. She held up a fist and started counting with her fingers.
"All clear," she then called out, her head towards the quartet huddled behind the largest of the garbage cans.

There was a pause and then her boss' voice was heard.
"Good, let's end this shit!"

***

Jenna was humming softly to herself as she was sitting at the end of her coffee counter, watching the customers. There were nine of them and business was going well. Life was weird. The chaos of the past weekend had ended with the fire at the fancy member's club, but there had not been a single line about it in the press, not a word on the news. Probably somebody had paid to eradicate this little 'incident'. Well, it was not as if she could care less. She'd emerged without a scratch and a whole life of experiences wiser. She'd seen real luxury and real terror, and she had a definite feel of her world having grown over just a few days. The good news was that the only people who died were bad guys. Everyone injured on their side was going to be ok, even the cop who had shooed the kids away from Helen and her. He'd been smart enough to disappear for a while.

She'd called her mother the moment she was safe again, and oddly enough her mother had not been worried at all. What were a few missed calls on a weekend, Catherine Winters had simply assumed that her daughter had been out dating or perhaps on a girl's outing.

As she prepared coffee for a trio if men in yellow vests and hard hats, she heard the front door bell chime, and she lifted her eyes, thinking it was Christine, as the writer usually came in this time of the day. But instead it was Gavin stepping through the door, eyes sparkling. He was in casual jeans and shirt with sneakers, he looked damn good in them too, and he held his arms behind his back.

He waited his turn and as Jenna handed the last cup over to the construction workers, Gavin held out a bundle of red roses wrapped in thin paper.
"Can we start over," he asked as he held them out.
"Start over?" she asked, arching a brow.
"Yes, I imagine I just gave you the worst date in history. And I imagine I can do better than death and fire."

"Ow," she managed as she blushingly accepted the flowers. "But you did save our lives."
"So where's Helen today?"
"She had a dentist's appointment in the morning, you know life do goes on. Although she'd almost forgotten about it. She'll be in by lunch when the rush starts."
"Good for you," he grinned. "Well about that date thing, let me try to show you how a date shall really be performed. Are you free tonight."

"Eh, I guess I am."
"I imagined, since I know when you're closing. I'll be around by eight then." After that, he leaned forward and surprised her with a quick kiss on her lips. As she felt herself blush even more, she could hear the clapping of hands. She turned to her right to see that the construction workers were all applauding what they'd just seen. Smiling she boved slightly at them, as if at Green Door, the coffee came with entertainment. Then she looked up at Gavin's glittering eyes.
"Sure," she said, more than eager to see where this was going. How the two of them were when they were not in the middle of a crisis.