(Author's Notes: Hi everyone!! Back with another story. But there's something very important you need to know. I am co-authoring this fic with Cleopatra1. We really hope you like this story so please Read & Review!! Thanks!! --Cleopatra1 and Evil But Friendly Rival)

Title- The Essential Testimony
Rating- Pg-13
Summary- Set during the Dead Ted Storyline, Zander has kidnapped Emily and is under police custody. He needs her testimony to be set free, but what if Emily disappears the night before the trial?

Prologue

Zander stood at the window looking at the stars, wondering if he'd ever see them outside a jail cell again. He walked to the length of his temporary cell, letting his mind wander.

Not like he had much to do anyways.

He settled onto the uncomfortable bed and thought about tomorrow. Tomorrow Emily will give her testimony and Alexis assured him that he would be out after she did. Boy would he love to be out of here. The food sucked, the beds were a pile of rocks, and the silence was deafening, almost driving him mad.

One little piece of important testimony from his witness and he'll be able to leave town and would then do anything to stay out of trouble again.

'No way am I ever going to do something so incredibly stupid as kidnapping a girl at a rave again! I hate this place!' Zander thought.

Maybe he'd get some friends, a new, safe and secure job, and possibly a girlfriend. He had one person particularly in mind but who knows if it would ever happen. In all technical terms, she was taken, but he saw that relationship crumbling. Good thing or not, he didn't know.

'Friend's would be nice, and a place to stay…a girlfriend? Pfft! That's another story entirely!! Who would want an ex-kidnapper / ex-drug dealer as a boyfriend?' Zander thought bitterly.

Maybe she'd be better off having nothing to do with him. He had gotten her into so much trouble as it is. But regardless of that, she meant something to him and he wasn't sure if he had the heart to let her go. It was for the best he insisted.

But...if it were for the best then why did the seemingly bright future of not being in jail seem so dark without her in it? It was like she was an essential part of his life. But he had barely known her a few weeks tops. He had survived years without her, so the question loomed in his head: why can't he continue his life without her?

He didn't know, maybe she had become a friend, the only true friend he had ever had. She was essential, but why was the question?

With all the time in the world, he couldn't figure it out.

'Who knew a girl like that could have such an impact on me. Why I'm letting her get to me I have no clue. But she must be special if I'm thinkin' about her…too bad for that loser she currently calls a boyfriend.' Zander thought with a slight chuckle.

He didn't care though, he'd figure it out when he got out of here and talked to her. Maybe he'd get some answers then, but until then he had to wait, and wait and wait.

'Fun.' He thought sarcastically.

He settled down on the bed of rocks and willed sleep to come, hoping he'd dream of her. Then again maybe he wouldn't. She was the only bright thing in his life, he realized as he drifted off into a deep sleep.

(Author's Notes - We hope you are liking this story! Please Read and Review & let us know what you think!! Thanks!! --Cleopatra1 and Evil But Friendly Rival AKA E.B.F.R.)