The Longest Time - Tagged

[Benjamin Taylor]

It was one of those milestones in life moments; he was actually taking his daughter to get a bank account. The entire drive over he had wondered where the time had gone, it felt like just yesterday he was tying shoes, packing school bags and trying to be a parent to a child that could out run him at every turn. Where had that two foot tall human being disappeared to? He had managed to put off this day for three whole years but this time he had managed to run out of excuses.

A fourteen year old and a bank account, like that was going to be anything but trouble. Then again he could hardly keep up with his pocket money line forever but this, this was the last thing he had expected to be doing. When he pulled up he parked barely able to look at Grace for the simple fact that she was on her way to becoming an adult, one that would take a look at him and be embarrassed that he was there or worse be the kid that he had to drag home from the police station at all hours though he could only hope he had done enough of a good job to prevent that.

Ben held out his hand as he usually did waiting for Grace to catch up as he waited to cross the road, fourteen not four he told himself but he was going to hold onto her for as long as he could. The thought that this step was just another into the long line of things that he knew were just around the corner but he was unwilling to admit to.

Tag:@james, Grace Taylor,

[Grace Taylor]

Finally he was letting her get her own bank account and every single responsibility that came with it. All the way to the bank Grace had chatted away to her dad though she knew his head was somewhere else. She was finally getting to be adult though she didnt want to push it too much or she was sure her dad would have a heart attack over it. He was still in denial about a lot of things, school dances, boyfriends yeah there was a lot that he was better off not knowing about these days.

When her dad held out his hand she gave him a stare that said no. Oh hell no she wasn’t four years old anymore as she decided to just loop her arm with his. She grinned up at him as she practically dragged him across the road just in case he changed his mind between the car and the door. “Come on dad, it’s okay you’re not marrying me off to anyone.” She said practically jumping out of her skin to get through the front door of the bank.

Sometimes she wondered what went through her dads head but then again it was probably better she didnt know. “Come on before the sun sets and the place closes. I mean it’s your day off and I’ll get you lunch too if you hurry up?” She offered though technically it would be him paying for it with her pocket money but then again it still worked out.

[Deleted]

James Reagan

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It was barely midday, the bank was busy, several staff manned the windows on one side of the room whilst on another side several desks with more staff before them working, some had clients in front of them whilst others were either working alone or with other staff standing with them. In the middle was several seating areas, a large bar like divider stood in the middle - slots stood in the middle with various sheets of paper and booklets sat in the slots. The doorways at the front were manned by two security guards whilst on the other side near the cashier windows a secure door stood guarded by another security guard. Today seemed to be one of those days where a LOT of people wanted to use the bank.


James stood off discreetly to the side, watching cautiously, just that morning they'd received chatter - or rather a task force dedicated to a recent spike in bank thefts with the same MO had heard some chatter, about a possible attack on a bank this afternoon, no time or location.

James who had been freed up recently had been asked to help the FBI agents as they were spread out across the several banks in the city. With no idea what bank they'd hit they'd decided to have at least one or two agents undercover at all the major banks and officers at the minor ones also undercover.

It was not going to be easy but if they could combine efforts maybe they'd catch these people, too many people had apparently been hurt during these robberies, none killed yet but hurt, James knew it wouldn't take much to change that so the sooner the better.

He quietly observed as he stood at the far side of the bank, his nose buried in a book about finances, showing some mild interest in it, just enough to not raise any suspicions.

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[Benjamin Taylor]

Ben was still in a daze when Grace looped her arm with his, well it was all he could ask he thought until she grinned and dragged him across the road uttering words about marriage. “WHAT!” He said a little loudly as he realised that he was hardly at that stage yet nor would he be until he was at least ninety. Another what fifty years then she could date and do whatever it was that her heart desired. “Going going.” He said rolling his eyes as he held open the door to the bank for her trying not to hesitate too much.

“You’ll get me lunch huh?” He said grinning back at her as he walked behind her into the bank. “It’s a deal.” He said moving up to join the line to speak to someone in the bank. Lunch was a deal maker he thought because at least if his mouth was full of food he could avoid any conversation about her growing up, independence or anything of the sort. In his eyes she was still that baby he had to do everything for when he had no idea where to begin.

The baby with the bank account, next it would be a car and then life was over as he knew it. Ben shook that out of his head as he glanced around the bank before he set eyes on probably the last person he ever thought he would see again. ‘The served with guy’ he thought as he rolled his eyes debating if he could find any excuse to just leave. “Are you sure you want to do this today Gracie?” He asked her using the only name he gave her when he was pleading with her. So he went for cute over ‘let’s just go’ but still disappointing her was hardly on his to do list.

Ben did his usual grin and bear it as he smiled toward James for a second wondering if the man had seen him. Stephanie’s old ‘served with’ guy who tackled people in the middle of crowds, it was the first time he had seen the man since that day and he was hardly wanting a repeat of that as he made sure to wrap an arm protectively around Grace’s shoulders. A simple, just in case thought that had him wondering if James was in the habit of tackling anyone he saw.

Grace Taylor, @james,

[Grace Taylor]

Grace held her hands up when her dad spoke loudly and laughed. “Woah dad, dont get your knickers in a twist. Not like I’m getting married at all. It’s just a bank account.” She stated as she rolled her eyes, “If this is how you react to everything in life... just woah chill out.” Was there any wonder he fought with Steph she thought shaking her head as they walked across the road. The mention of marriage and she was almost having to start CPR on the guy, it just made for a happy future she thought trying not to think of that at all.

“Yeah yeah I’ll get you lunch so you’ll chill out.” She said elbowing him lightly as she laughed. So food was the way around her dad on any day and she knew it well enough to know how to sweeten him up a little. Lunch was being offered and she knew he wasn’t going to refuse it or at least if he did she was in big trouble. Grace was just excited to be there as they entered the bank, it was like taking a step into adult central just without the yelling as they joined the line.

She was just happy to be there and for her dad to be there too, not that she could do this without him but then again it was one of those things. Sure he embarrassed her... a lot but then she wouldnt do this without him. Not a chance. It wasn’t until she heard that name ‘Gracie’. Yeah he was trying to plead with her as she gave him a look that said not a chance. “No we’re staying dad, you cant take me out of this at all.” She said, “It’s just one thing dad, i’ve wanted this for ages... please.” She asked him trying to act as innocent and cute as possible just in case she really had to turn on the charm.

Grace would have been none the wiser to the other guy in the bank had her dad not put that arm around her. For a moment she leaned into him grinning before she saw where his gaze was focused. Guy sitting across the room reading what looked to be a very boring book. Something felt off to her or at least her dad’s reaction as she looked up at him. “Dad, what’s wrong?” She asked making sure to have an arm around him too just in case he decided to do anything stupid or to try to help with whatever it was that had him being protective.

Tag: @james, Benjamin Taylor

[Deleted]

James Reagan

tag: Grace Taylor  Benjamin Taylor

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Of all people to walk in, he'd least expected him - James quirked a brow when he saw Ben looking at him and wrapping an arm around Grace, brilliant the guy was paranoid now, not that he was bothered, he was glad he had tackled Steph - it meant she was safe and that was enough for him.  His only concern now was if anything went down whilst Ben and the young lady was inside James would have a whole lot more to worry about, but his job remained and that wouldn't change one iota. 

He continued to read, though he didn't miss the young lady look to him too, he willed them both to stop looking right at him, Ben sort of knew who he was so that made it just that much more difficult to keep his head down. 

A moment passed before the doors opened again and as James looked up the hairs on his neck began to rise his eyes cautiously watching, two men strolled in followed by three more, the three men took familiar flanking positions as the two men in front strode to the middle and before James could blink all five of them yanked out machine guns and fired into the ceiling repeatedly "GET DOWN ON THE GROUND NOW GET DOWN!" they bellowed and the screams erupted.

Great, it had to be on his watch, he pressed a button on his watch as he obediently tossed down the book and hit the floor, well he was going to play along.

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[Benjamin Taylor]

He was glad that she was not getting married, honestly he was hardly sure he’d make it that long if he found out anything like that. He wanted to explain to her how life worked, first the bank account then the boyfriend, then oh there was no then because he would make sure to scare any guy to the hills away from his daughter. “Chill out... this is me chilled very chilled.” He said as he rolled his eyes at her lightly trying to work out how to chill over the fact his baby was now growing up way to fast for him to even take it in.

“I’m super chilled see.” He said grinning as he pulled a face at her as he winced feeling her elbow him. Then the day just seemed to go from bad to worse seeing James in there too. A federal what was he again as Ben tried to figure out what he was doing just sitting reading a book, he heard Grace as he nodded. “Fine fine, we’re staying... I want lunch you know.” He teased rolling his eyes at her cute and innocent act, honestly why that worked on him he never knew but try and get away from it that never worked.

“It’s okay, just focus see we’re only three people before we get your account.” He said trying to be positive. Just another day he thought until he caught sight of the men who walked in, he grabbed Grace pulling her to the floor as he scooted over beside her holding her close to him as he winced against the gun fire. Laying face down on the floor Ben was scared enough as it was but with Grace there he was terrified as he stared at James and half glared at the man.

What was it about James? Trouble seemed to follow him though Ben should have known better and turned tail and ran the minute he saw the guy in a bank. His head however had failed to go full on Bonnie and Clyde, more a oh he’s here mode with a serious dose of do we leave now only to be pulled back by his daughter that he now had a death grip on for obvious reasons. “shhss it’s okay Grace.” He whispered to her hearing the screams as he ran his hand through her hair trying to calm her down as best he could.

[Grace Taylor]

Yeah her dad chilled, no chance of that at all. He was like the world’s worst parent for trying to be chilled when everyone could see that he wasn’t and far from it. Like then she could see through him just as he could see straight through her. She had grown up with her dad being ‘chilled’ which was practically code for freaking out on a whole other level. “Keep telling yourself that dad, no one believes you at all.” She fired back grinning at him, how could anyone believe that he was chilled.

“That’s not chilled that’s embarrassing.” She stated as she rolled her eyes, oh she knew that version of dad too. Maybe this wasn’t the best idea she had but then again it was sort of needed if she wanted to grow up at all which given her dad, wasn’t likely to happen at any point in the next twenty years. “Yes I’ll get you lunch, just act normal okay.” She stated grinning as she nudged him. Grace could see there was something going on between the guy on the seat and her dad, fire house war? Her dad dated his sister? No that wasn’t right because he was with Stephanie, or did her dad just make that sort of friend that he glared at.

Grace looked at the line not sure of her dads sudden hurry other than his usual crazy thinking about things. She hadn’t a clue what was going on until there were gunshots and her dad was pulling her to the floor. She was in too much of a state of shock to fight him on it as she felt him scoot over beside her. Grace clung to him feeling her fingers gripping onto his shirt as she felt herself shaking slightly trying not to look at anyone or anything. The screams and the yelling pierced her ears as she just lay there shaking having no idea what to do.

“Dad what’s happening?” She asked her voice shaky as she felt his hand run through her hair, sure on a bad school day that might work but not this time as she tightened her grip on him as she moved an arm around him. “Don’t go anywhere dad, promise.” She whispered, her dad to her was like a superhero, no matter what he was there. He was the one person she could count on in her life but she also knew he wasn’t exactly the most sane thinker at times as she turned her head for a moment to look at James and see what he was doing. She hadn’t a clue who he was but her dad seemed to be glaring at James. Oh she was missing something big there between the two of them.

Tag: @james, Benjamin Taylor

[Deleted]

James Reagan

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It was like everything slowed down, James knew it was just his perception of things - he watched as two of the gun men started to 'corral' hostages into the far corner of the lobby, Another two were working their way around the rest of the floor yanking people to their feet and shoving them into the direction of the group on the far side, James knew it wouldn't be long before they reached him and his eyes darted over to the guy in the middle who was approaching the tellers who were rooted in place "EMPTY THE TILLS! NOW!" he bellowed shoving a brown bag under each window "AND DONT DO ANYTHING STUPID"

Beside the doors the security guards looked to James who slowly shook his head - warning them - to which they looked around as if just looking around. 

Suddenly James felt a hand around his arm and he was yanked up, James obediently stood and as he was shoved towards the hostages he obediently did as told, sitting on the other side of Ben, his hands on his head and his legs crossed. Still  playing along? Yup. He shot a sideways look at Ben before looking around. By now all the people in the bank had been gathered apart from the tellers and were seated with him in the far side. There was no clear means of escape.

Two of the gun men now stood guard watching them whilst the other two moved to the desks - raiding them for stuff to stuff into their own brown bags. Oh they were confident.

James knew by now that the task force and the police were on their way, James' watch (An Apple watch) was both recording and had sent an alert as soon as James had pressed the button.

James' mind moved to the civilians with him, the children including Ben's daughter who he'd heard about from Steph. 

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