"Seriously guys are we sure we're in the right place" Ed's frustrated voice came over the headsets..."I get the feeling we are chasing our tails here"

"That's what the 911 call said " Greg replied sounding as frustrated as his Team Leader

"This place is huge" sighed Wordy following closely behind Ed his eyes carefully surveying the vast open space of the partly derelict warehouse they had been searching for the last 3 hours.

"Sam, Spike an chance you have a visual on our allusive bomb?" Ed asks already knowing the answer.

"Negative Ed all we see is dust and pigeons"

"Didn't think so Leah, Jules how about you?"

"That's a negative Boss"

Sliently cursing under his breath Ed decided enough was enough, he was cold, he was tired but most of all he was pissed.

"OK team another 20 minutes and I think we should call an end to this goose chase, I'm still wondering who calls in a bomb threat the day before they say they are going to set it off"

"Takes all sort my friend...and I'm getting the same feeling as you Eddie I think it's time to call it day come on back guys, we'll go back to the barn and debrief"

Not waiting for a chance for Greg to change his mind all team members replied with an affirmative "copy that".

Walking back through the dark and damp building Ed's phone vibrated in the pocket of his tac-vest, taking it out and reading the name on the display he smiled and instantly answered it.

"Hey Clark everything ok?" Ed asked slowing his pace and falling slightly behind Wordy.

"Yeah Dad I just wondered if you could pick me up tonight after my music lesson...and there's this trip and I wondered if I could go cause is goes towards my scholarship...and...and?"

"Whoa slow down buddy...slow down"...placing his hand over the phone while Clark continued his excitable conversation Ed signalled for Wordy to continue on without him..."I won't be a minute...I'll catch you up"

"You sure?" Wordy replied laughing as Eddie rolled his eyes and struggled his shoulders all the time moving towards the door way leading to the next room.

As soon as Wordy was in the next room the door slammed shut behind him totally seperating him from his team mate.

"What the hell" Wordy tried to push the door open only to find it locked from the otherside..."Ed...Eddie open the door!"

"Wordy what's going on?"... "What's this about opening the door?"

"Ed was on the phone to Clark I left him in the other room and the door closed and now I can't open it ... I can't get an answer from him and I'm sure I can hear someone else in there"

"Eddie status" Greg's request was answered with silence..."EDDIE STATUS NOW!"

"Boss Spike and I are heading back but it's gonna take us about 10 minutes"

"As quick as you can guys, I still can't get a response from Ed".

The first that Eddie knew that he had a serious problem came as he walked past the large concrete support pillar.

The fist connected with Ed's jaw sending the phone flying from his hand and skipping across the floor, snapping his head backwards, splitting his lip and drawing blood.

The element of surprised momentarily gave Ed's attacker the upperhand and gave him the chance to grab the back of his neck and slam him into the pillar knocking the wind out of his lungs, grabbing Ed's gun out of its holister he throw it in the same direction of the phone.

Ed recoiled in pain as massive blows were delievered to his kidneys making him unable to take in any air, his head started to spin, his lungs where burning in protest and his heart rate raced through the roof.

Taking a shape blow to the back of his knees Ed fell to the floor a grasp of pain leaving his lips, his survival instrincts were rocketing as he tried to defend himself from the onslaught of punches.

Knowing he didn't have much time Ed brought his head back making contact with his assailant's nose resulting in the grip on him slackening enough for Ed to bring his elbow up and make sharp contact with his attackers ribcage making the grip loosen even more.

Managing to finally slightly shift the weight from his back Ed tried to scramble away only to have the man grab his head and smash it again the floor opening up a large cut just above Ed's right eye sending blood and stars dancing across his vision.

"Wordy what can you hear"

"There's a fight going on Sgt...but the door still won't bunge" came Wordy's frantic response..."Eddie hang on...we're coming"

"Sam and Spike are coming round the otherside of the building but its gonna take time"

"Yeah I heard but from the sounds of it Ed doesn't have that much time I'm gonna go down a level and see if I can come up the otherside"

"Fast is good...I'm coming up too"

"Copy that" came Wordy's response as he set off to save his best friend.

Feeling his attacker stand up Ed pushed himself up on to his hands and knees gasping for air, only to have his respite short lived as a size 12 boot kicked out make contact with his ribs sending him crashing to the floor onto his side once more an angished cry echoing around the room.

Knowing he couldn't take much more of this punishment Ed tried to slow things down..."why?" ...

Stopping in his tracks from delivering another kick to Ed's already fragile ribs Ed heard is attacker laugh.

"Because someone paid me too Officer Lane" came the hissing response in Eddie's ear... "Someone wants you to recieve this message...this is only the beginning"... and again another heavy blow was soaked up by Ed's battered and bleeding body.

Coughing up blood all Eddie could think to ask was "Who?"

"Ha ha ha now that would be telling...just know this you won't die today...but soon my friend...soon...but in the meantime we have a game to play...you'll be seeing me again my friend"

Hearing boots coming up the back stairwell Ed's attacker stepped forward..."Till next time Edward"... he delivered a parting blow to the side of Ed's temple sending him into total darkness.

Coming through the door his glock raised Wordy instantly saw Ed's lifeless body laying in a pool of blood on the dirty and dust floor..."No...NO...NO...Officer down...Officer down...I need EMS".

"Eddie...Eddie can you hear me?" Wordy knelt next to his fallen team mate and felt for a pulse.

"Wordy we're right behind you"..."EMS are 5 minutes out"...whats happening?" came Greg's frantic questions.

"Boss Ed's taken one hell of a beating"..."He has a nasty cut above his eye but I can't tell if he has any internal injuries"...Wordy gently turned Eddie over.

Ed groaned in agony at being moved, there wasn't a part of him that didn't hurt, the coppery taste of blood in his mouth made is stomach turn, in the distance he was sure he could hear Wordy talking to him...

"Eddie come open your eyes for me..."come on buddy"...stay with me"..."Eddie I know you're in pain but come on please".

"Leah, Jules go to the front of th building and search for Ed's attacker...Sam, Spike take the back" came Greg breathless order

"On it Boss"

"Ed talk to me ... come on not like this...not like this"...

"W..ord...?" Ed spoke part of Wordy's name through a mouthful of blood

"That's it buddy...that's it...EMS are coming just hold on, but I'm gonna have to put you on your side... I'll be as gentle as I can but there's trauma to your mouth Ed and I need to stop you swallowing all that blood"...as Wordy finished his sentence Greg came through the door closely followed by EMS team.

"Wordy step back...step back... let these guys do their job" Greg gently placed his hand on Wordy's shoulder.

Reluctantly standing up Greg and Wordy stood together watching EMS go to work.

"Sgt looking at the injuries to your officer's face and the amount of blood loss we will stabalise him and because we are that close to the hospital we are going to do a scope and run the trauma team are on stand-by and will be able to deal with any other injuries far more quickly."

Nodding his understanding and watching Eddie being place on the gurney.

Greg looked at Wordy..."Go with him...we'll follow behind...when we've finished here"..."But keep me up to date on any developments OK"?

"OK boss...god how did this happen...how did this call go from a bomb threat to an attack on Ed?"

"I don't know buddy but you can damn well bet we're gonna find out..."

"Right Officer we're ready to roll are you coming?" the Paramedic's voice broke into the conversation as they were heading towards the door.

"Yes...yes..." Wordy replied following closely behind... "Boss you're not staying here alone meet the team downstairs we still don't know where this guy is"

"OK Wordy" grabbing Eddie's phone and gun Greg followed Wordy and his seriously injured Team Leader out the door.

Within seconds the room that had been witness to the violent attack on Eddie was silent the only indication of what took place there was the drying pool of blood on the floor.