Title: On Deadly Ground
Chapter 1 – Vengeance for Hire

Summary: SQL to Inside Man. A ruthless enemy comes back for vengeance against Ed and Wordy; pitting them against deadly odds, threatening their future and straining their friendship.

Disclaimer: If you don't know by now you need to read more of my stories. I don't own FP if I did Ed Lane would be all mine lol and all names not associated with Flashpoint come from a random name generator, any resemblance is pure coincidence.

A/N: Okay so yes this is the sequel to my very first Ed/Wordy adventure, Inside Man, a short 4 chappy action packed ficlet that finished a bit open ended (hopefully you all got to read that first b/c this just jumps right into the action!). I wanted to come back and tie up a few loose ends (pardon the pun lol). So I hope you all what Alice has come up with!

Ed slowly feels his world coming back to him, his head pounding and the cold around him starting to nip at his exposed skin. But as soon as he tries to move he finds his movements are hampered by the fact that his wrists are tightly bound in front and his calls for answers muted by a thick cloth was still wedged between his teeth.

His mind flashes images of himself and Wordy being attacked by four men in the alley, being rendered unconscious due to chloroform and then waking up…here. But where is here? And what happened to Wordy?

Ed's fingers yank the cloth down, his eyes squinting into the darkness around him, a form to his right finally starting to stir, causing his eyes to immediately look downward. "Wo…Wordy," he coughs as he tugs the cloth out of his friends mouth. "Hey Wordy…wake up."

"Ed…what…happened?" Wordy asks as he tries to sit up. "What the…hell?" He grimaces as he rises to a seated position, his head also pounding and his lightly clad frame now feeling the effects of the cold air around them.

"You okay?" Ed wonders in concern, unable to really see any kind of physical wounds in the darkness, the sky around them lit only by a semi-clouded moon and a few twinkling stars.

"My head hurts…you?"

"Yeah mine too and I can't find my damn knife."

"And our jackets are missing and we in the middle of…" Wordy's voice dies out as he looks around the frozen landscape dotted with a few trees, boulders and a thick dusting of frost twinkling under the bright moonlight. "Where are we?"

"Outskirts of town would be my guess," Ed guesses in error, as he too looks around not realizing he was nowhere near home; his body starting to shiver from the fact that his heavy winter jacket was missing and he was wearing only a sweater and undershirt.

"Those guys…that jumped us," Wordy groans. "Was this their idea…of a damn joke?"

"No idea, but if so, then hopefully that was all it was. Okay we gotta find something to cut ourselves free and…" Ed's voice is interrupted by the sound of a gunshot.

"What the hell?" Wordy growls as he and Ed freeze in place.

Both of them look up to see a dark shadow with the outline of a rifle raised in the air, blackened against the moonlit landscape.

"Rise and shine boys!" The male voice calls out with a distinct smugness in the tone.

"Who are you?" Ed calls out as he slowly tries to stand up, his pounding head begging for him to remain in place on his knees.

"Good evening Constable Lane…Constable Wordsworth."

"He knows us…what's going on?" Ed lightly stammers.

"Are you the man that is responsible for this?" Wordy's angry tone matches that of Ed's as he demands the second question.

"Partly."

"Partly? What does that mean? Who are you and what do you want?" Ed asks as he takes a step forward, instantly freezing in place as another shot pierces the following silence.

"Stay where you are Constable Lane…or else. I have a message for you both."

"Fine let's have it!" Wordy grumbles.

"You two honestly didn't think that little stunt you both pulled a few weeks back would be passed over without a little bit of retribution did you?"

"Come out here and face us like a man and we'll end this right now," Ed demands in frustration.

"I like it here!"

"Who are you?"

"Well Ed…I can call you Ed right?" The dark shadow snickers, making Ed grit his teeth. "My employer has enough money to be able to pay people very well to do his dirty work; he doesn't have to face you if he doesn't feel like it and well right now he doesn't feel like being here in person. That's part of the perks of the job for me. My employer doesn't much like the cold or hunting at night but I like both."

"Quit the damn mind games already and tell us what's going on."

"Survival of the fittest," the voice changes to a more serious tone. "Yours most importantly. You have the small task of getting yourselves free and trying to out run my team. Course there are also the elements and a few locals you'll also have to contend with as well."

"Pardon? Is he serious?" Ed huffs in an angry undertone. "Are you serious?"

"Very."

"Who are you?" Wordy asks again.

"Me? I'm no one."

"Fine, who's your damn employer?" Ed challenges.

"Darren Lockhart."

"Ed!"

"Oh damn it," Ed curses under his breath, his ears picking up something in the distance; the darkened landscape keeping their impending doom hidden. He looks sharply to the right and then back at Wordy.

"What is it?" Wordy asks in concern as the moonlight casts eerie shadows of Ed's sudden panic-stricken expression.

"That gentleman is vengeance," the dark shadow states in a mocking tone before the rifle is lowered and aimed at them.

"Wordy…we gotta move now!"

XXXXXXXX

~Monday, 1 week earlier~

It had been a few weeks after Ed had inadvertently stumbled upon one of Wordy's drug busts and ended up a hostage, nearly getting himself and his best friend killed and putting a certain strain on their friendship at the time. Thankfully a little Guns & Gang's intervention saved their asses, earning each of them a stern lecture and some comments made on their confidential personnel files but no suspensions or professional backlash – as of yet. The two of them quickly working to resolve their strained dealings and get back to the strong bond they had both been accustomed to.

"Earth to Ed," Spike's voice calls to their team leader, Ed's mind instantly snapping from its slightly dazed stupor and making him look over at Spike's wondering expression.

"Lost in thought," Ed mentions as he glances over at Wordy's empty locker and then puts on a tight lipped smile for Spike.

"Better than lost in space," Spike smirks as he turns away with a small frown. It really wasn't any secret to the team that Wordy's fresh absence had and was still affecting their stoic team leader, but he would just never verbalize it openly; especially in front of Raf. It wasn't fair. Wordy's choice to leave was his own, something Ed still couldn't get past at times or agree with. 'But he's on medication that could keep the symptoms…' his mind recalls Greg's interjection just before Wordy confirmed he was leaving.

'You coulda taken the medication until….' Ed had tried to argue back on the dark road just after Wordy had rescued him from his mob kidnapping.

'Trust me I looked at all the angles. I didn't want to leave either, but I couldn't take that chance with any of your lives. One day it could depend on me and in that moment…if I have a tremor…what if it was your life? And it was my choice and in that moment I failed you? Ed…I couldn't live with myself if something happened because of me.'

As much as Ed had tried to reason and rationalize it, Wordy was right; if in that instant he had a tremor and either fired too soon or too late it could cost him more than a career change and he wasn't willing to live with that. But it just wasn't the same without Wordy there at his side, either on a call or even just patrolling; he just seemed know what Ed needed him to do without usually having to ask. No one else had that.

Ed grabs his jacket and heads for the exit door, thankful that he and Wordy still were able to socialize on the weekends as much as possible and work together on the odd case. He heads for his car but stops as he nears and looks around into the dimly lit parking lot, his eyes narrowing as he feels a pair of eyes watching him but can't pick out anything to return the gaze. Brushing it off as fatigue Ed gets into his car and heads for Wordy's precinct, needing to drop something off before he heads for home.

The drive to his precinct always heightens his anxiety because it still wasn't right that they were separated by what he feels is just a technicality. Ed arrives at the building and then looks at the exterior, taking a deep breath and heading inside. But as he turns and heads down the hallway leading to the Guns & Gangs area he hears loud angry talking and stops to watch the scene unfold. Wordy was standing beside his superior while two other men were practically in their faces about something.

Ed catches Wordy's eye; gets a small nod and hangs back until given the silent all clear to enter.

"My client…"

"Your client is a material accomplice and was arrested fair and square," Wordy's superior argues back. "The charges will not be dropped and if you have any other questions talk to crown counsel, this matter is now closed. The arrest was solid and I'm standing behind it."

"My…"

About ten minutes later, Ed watches the group disperse and Wordy pull away from his boss and head toward him with a perplexed expression, making Ed's concern for his friend blossom. "What's goin' on?"

"Remember our friend Spencer Ryan?" Wordy asks, referring to the inside man that had ultimately double crossed his former boss Cody Hanson and had kidnapped Ed and was about to take him to Darren Lockhart, one of the city's biggest and most notorious and so far untouchable crime bosses as a peace offering; Ed's death earning him a top spot in the organization.

"Yeah. What'd he do now?"

"He's trying to argue about my arrest."

"Still?"

"Said he's gotten new information."

"From another insider?" Ed asks in concern.

"Must be, he's been in jail this whole time. I know our team took out the last one but with the kind of money Lockhart can afford to hand out, he could buy anyone with that weakness, it wouldn't take much. And we both know what kind of gift of the gab Spencer has…so yeah who knows. It's a big mess though."

"Any chance he'll walk on a technicality?"

"No they got him for a few other things as well. Thankfully he's gonna stay put for a good many years. What are you doing here?"

"Came to return this," Ed hands Wordy a small box.

"Hey you finally found it," Wordy opens the handmade wooden box to reveal a few fishing lures.

"In my defense I was busy. Wordy you sure that…" Ed pauses as he watches Spencer turn and glare directly at them before disappearing around a corner and down the hall. "I don't trust that guy."

"No one does."

"And you're sure he can't walk."

"Stop worrying okay?" Wordy interrupts Ed and looks at him with a serious expression. "You've taken the heat for me a few times over the past twenty years."

"So you are in trouble?" Ed asks in defeat.

"Nothing major and thankfully for you it wasn't sanctioned. It's gonna be okay, trust me."

"And Lockhart? Any dealings with him?"

"Not directly, but yesterday we did take down another so called safe house. The city is closing in around him."

"Good."

"What?" Wordy looks at Ed in wonder.

"Nothin'," Ed shakes his head as he looks over at the wall clock. "I gotta run."

"Damn you suck at lying," Wordy chuckles. "I guess it's a good thing you know what I do on a daily basis."

"Yeah I guess so," Ed replies with a small smile.

"What is it?"

"Just worry is all. That's it."

"I just keep my head up and my eyes open…you taught me that right?"

"Right."

"Ed."

"Look Lockhart is…he's a cold blooded killer and…and you screwed him over with my help…and that's all."

"You worry."

"I worry. I worry okay? And I suck at confessing that so there you go."

"Well knowing how much you still like to rush in where angels fear to tread I guess we both give each other cause for concern," Wordy relates in truth, getting a small nod from Ed in return. "Trust me it's fine."

"Okay. And we're still on for this weekend?"

"Ice fishing…really?"

"It's just for the day. What, you getting soft in your old age?" Ed teases as he turns to leave.

"Oh and you're a fan of the cold?"

"It'll be a few hours at most."

"See you Saturday morning."

"Bright and early," Ed calls back with a wave in the air.

On the drive home, Ed can't help but think about how his thoughtless actions a few weeks back have impacted his best friend even now. Of course Darren Lockhart wasn't a man to suffer lightly, as any of his victims could well attest to if given the chance to come back and freely admit without further repercussion. And of course he wasn't just going to sit around praising the police for all their good and hard work at slowly bringing his empire to a grinding halt. He would want retribution – anyway possible. Hence Ed can't help but worry about his best friend walking into dangerous situations on a daily basis; so much for this being a better move.

"Damn it Wordy," Ed gently curses in frustration, not anger.

'It was this or a desk job and I think you know how much I love paperwork…about as much as you do,' Wordy had told him a few months back just after he started his new role. And of course he worried about his condition and how it would affect his home life in the long run. It just wasn't something either were prepared for, nor discussed much about in the open.

'I'm not in denial,' Ed had told Greg one day after Wordy had left and his boss had noticed him having an off day. 'But I just don't want to think about it on a daily basis either.'

'Doesn't hurt to talk about it.'

'I don't talk.'

'I know you don't but sometimes…you have to…to keep yourself sane and the team safe.'

Ed looks up into his rear view mirror and frowns at the car that he thought had been following him for a few blocks now. But the car turns off behind him and Ed scolds himself for being overly paranoid. Truth was it was after the run in with Spencer Ryan and his selling out his then business partner and offering Ed as a helpless prisoner to Darren Lockhart that still makes him shudder and fosters the small roots of paranoia growing inside his gut. And the more Wordy has to do with Lockhart and the slow disassembly of his corrupt empire, the deeper those feelings of paranoia would be rooted. He couldn't help it. Lockhart was evil and ruthless and would think of nothing of taking out Wordy with the blink of an eye.

"Damn it," Ed lets out a small curse as he turns the car into the drive way at home. But he would quickly shelve those feelings of fear upon arrival inside his home, not wanting to needlessly worry his wife, son or newborn daughter; well more so than he fears he already does.

XXXXXXXX

By Wednesday morning, Ed's mind had started to settle a bit more, having talked to Wordy the night before about another matter and thankful that he didn't bring up any other fallout from the Lockhart investigation. Maybe things have died down now, Ed's mind muses as he heads into the locker room. He spies Raf standing and talking to Spike and Sam and smiles; his mind, however, still missing the comforting 'Eddie' that Wordy used to greet him with.

He joins in the friendly banter about Spike's freshest batch of wine before its time to hit the gym and get their day started. Since he had promised Sophie no very early morning workouts, his time in the gym wasn't as long as he had wanted or expected so sometimes he feels himself heading into the field restless – like today.

"Talk to me," Greg lightly pushes as he turns off his head set; today being a quieter day, affording them time to patrol and just catch up on personal things.

"I'm listening."

"Heard that before."

"Boss I'm fine," Ed insists. "Nothin' to talk about."

"Oh Eddie, there's always something to talk about," Greg tosses back with a friendly smile. "I know something's bugging you."

"Nope, am fine."

"Stubborn too," Greg smirks. "Stuff at home okay?"

"Yeah…yeah its fine. Miss the early morning workouts but…but it was something I had to agree to right?"

"She hasn't eased up on that at all?"

"You know…just a bit restless today. It's all good."

"Okay. I talked to Wordy last night," Greg continues, watching Ed's knuckles slightly tense around the steering wheel; Ed's silent actions speaking much louder than his silent words. "He's doin' fine."

"Course he is," Ed nods, his fingers tightening a bit further. "He's a star over there."

"He ever talk about it?"

"The job or the case I nearly screwed up for him?"

"Eddie…"

"Boss just come out and say it," Ed insists. "That's what this is about right?"

"Fine…the job or the case you screw up for him," Greg slightly retorts.

"You hear something on that?"

"No and I want to keep it that way," Greg reminds him. "No more lone wolf missions."

"I learned my lesson. Trust me…getting Wordy in hot water with his boss or one of the city's biggest scumbags wasn't my ideal you know? It just wasn't. The job is fine," Ed concludes. "It's fine."

"That's good. And Raf seems to be fitting in," Greg continues, watching Ed's knuckles slightly ease back and frowning further.

"Yeah he's fitting in," Ed agrees, his expression turning emotionless.

"I know you know this but if Wordy wanted to stay, his job was secure."

"I know…okay I know…I just…I know," Ed stammers and then quickly concludes. "It's just not the same."

"Twenty years…I hear ya…knowing he has your back without having to…"

"He's fine…he's not showing any signs of…damn he's fine. He shoulda stayed longer," Ed replies with a light growl. "He coulda stayed longer."

"It was his choice."

"You shoulda made him stay or…or somethin'," Ed frowns.

"Me or you?" Greg treads carefully.

"I…damn boss I broke into his locker…I could barely handle the truth and now…I mean what if my actions…"

"Wordy's gonna be fine and your career and his will be fine. And in case you were wondering but just can't bring yourself to say it…he doesn't blame you."

"I know," Ed replies with a soft whisper. "I blame me. That job…it's too dangerous for him. He has a family. I mean he's going up against guys like Darren Lockhart and…"

"And you worry that the man who is godfather to Izzy won't be there to see her get married?"

"Something like that," Ed confesses softly. "I worry."

"And that's natural. Just like he worries about you."

"Me?" Ed smirks.

"Yeah becuase you're the safest guy out there," Greg retorts with a small smile before Ed's face turns serious again.

"It's just not the same without him."

"No…no its not."

Sensing Ed's agitation was only growing with the seemingly harmless discussion, Greg changes the subject to something else about the team, and Ed's fingers completely relax and the sharpness in his tone starts to subside. But Wordy's absence was something Ed would have to come to terms with on his own and so far his actions on the team weren't impacted – only his emotional well being. But he also knows to keep an eye on his team lead, for the day his emotional angst hinders his duties, they would have to sit down and have the talk and he knows that's something neither of them would want – despite the fact that it would probably help Ed more than he might ever admit to.

The day goes by without much incident and once again Ed is heading home with another odd feeling that he's being watched. He enters his home, greeted by his son and thankful that his family was able to help distract his mind from the days events.

However, his agitation is once again surging as he turns on the news and watches another police arrest of a top Lockhart official, Ed cursing under his breath and drawing glances from his wife and son.

"Do you know him dad?"

"Not directly. Our team doesn't deal with him."

"Wordy's team?" Sophie inquires.

"Yeah," Ed states flatly, his mind now racing that this best friend and former partner would once again somehow come under the irate eye of the cities so far deadliest and most elusive gangster.

"Just saw the news," Ed talks to Wordy on the phone about an hour after dinner.

"Yeah Guy Benny, a recruit brought in from Montreal. His was an easy arrest."

"Easy?" Ed asks softly.

"Right and I saw the team one takedown the other day…"

"Look I'm not wanting to get into an argument. The city is closing in around this guy."

"Yeah and we got him right where we want him, trust me it's fine."

"Fine."

"Never heard you this worried before."

"Never gone up against a foe like this bastard," Ed curses under his breath."

"We've faced bad in the past…even before SRU. This is different."

"Ah maybe I'm getting soft in my old age," Ed smirks as he leans further back in his chair and closes his eyes for a few seconds.

"That's it for sure…I mean you are pretty old," Wordy slightly chuckles, drawing a small laugh from his best friend. "Trust me Ed…everything's gonna be fine. Neither of us has anything to worry about," Wordy utters fatefully. "Now tell me more about this secret fishing spot."

Ed launches into his explanation about the spot and where he found it, not knowing that, at that moment both him and his best friend were not only targets of the cities most wanted man; but were being watched, and their mutal enemy, their would be captor, about to strike.

A/N: Okay so how are you liking it so far? Am kinda worried about this one as it didn't quite turn out as I had originally planned. But yeah we'll get back to our boys in peril at the start but wanted to sort of keep the same format as Inside Man with a foregleam of the peril that awaits but get a bit more of story leading up to it. So hope you are all liking the start and please do review before you go and let me know what you think of the start of this sequel and thanks so much!