As the wall of flame crept higher she fell back, arms stretched out behind her. Her lips were smarting from where he had pushed his mouth onto hers and she could taste the blood in her mouth. Her nose felt broken; there was dried blood there too and her ankle felt like it was twisted.

She breathed in heavily, trying to catch her breath and ignore the pain. She had failed the Angel's. He had the HALO rings and it was all her fault. But his voice had been so commanding, so forceful. The sound of his voice alone had made her flinch before she had slowly handed the rings over. And while she'd stared him directly in the eye silently, she had remembered for a second what it had been to love him.

Then the fighting with inevitable odds against them had begun. Of course, he had come after her, after all he had waited in prison for eight years to see her again. It was him and him alone who had broken her nose with a well aimed slap, he who had caused the blood to spurt out of her mouth and it was he who had thrust her into a chair and slapped her some more. When she'd aimed a kick his way, he'd caught her from behind, throwing her easily to the ground.

She shuddered. He was so strong, stronger than she remembered anyway. He'd boxed her into a corner easily, pulling her red hair tight so she was leaning against him, his arms pinning her down. When she'd tried to fight back, he'd spun her around like a doll, pulling her legs up around his waist, so she was resting against his crotch. "I could take you right now Helen." His words were still branded in her mind like fire, she could still feel his mouth on hers. She'd tried to push him away as her green eyes had widened in shock, but his tongue was in her mouth and he wasn't going to let her go.

Alex and Natalie had gotten her out; they hadn't been as battered as she'd been. It was her he had been after, not her friends. The others would be in the getaway boat now, wondering what in the world was taking the third angel so long to make her escape. She hoped they had the sense to leave her behind. There was no way they could take on all of Seamus' men as well as rescue her at the same time.

She drew in a sharp intake of breath as she saw the figure emerge from the flames. His muscles rippled with sweat but he seemed unharmed by the fight. She tried to scrabble away, crawling backwards, her frightened eyes constantly on his face, but her legs gave way and she soon gave it up as a bad job.

"I'll kill your friends and make you watch Helen."

She didn't even have the energy to spit at his feet. She tried to get up and run, but her legs gave way and she fell down hard on all fours, gasping for breath.

Seamus moved towards her slowly, enjoying her pain, her fright as he laughed softly. "leaving so soon Helen?" She was powerless to stop him as he trod down hard on her wrist and hand, biting her lip till it bled to stop herself from crying out as he slapped her across the face again. "Spent already? Come, come Helen. I know you and your penchant for cheap heroics."

Tears were beginning to run down her face. She was so tired, just so tired. She was cursing herself for allowing herself to be cornered like this. Seamus was laughing again and now he was pulling her upright none to gently, only to push her back down hard. His legs were straddled over hers and his hands were wondering under her shirt. She couldn't move. "Oh Helen," he said softly, "you want this as much as I do." He stopped suddenly and Dylan sighed in relief. He was indicating behind him, moving his hand up to cover her mouth.

"Shoot the others, but don't aim to kill... not yet," he said with a sneer.


Natalie landed behind Alex easily. Alex was already at the till with the boat engine revved up. Without even turning around she shouted, "Where's Dylan?"

"I don't know, she was right behind me," shouted back Natalie.

Alex scanned the wharf worriedly, "we'll have to wait for her before we can get out of here."

Natalie was looking thoughtful about something. Alex frowned, "What?"

"I was just thinking..."

"Now's really not a good time..."

"I was thinking, "she continued as though Alex hadn't spoken, "that it was odd what he said... 'I'm the only one here who knows you Helen.' What did he mean by that?"

"That he was the only one who knew Dylan as Helen Zass I suppose," replied Alex impatiently, "you can ask her yourself when we get out of here."

Natalie still looked pensive. "I'm not so sure..." But what she was not so sure about Alex never found out. "Get out," came Dylan's frantic voice from the wharf, "don't wait!"

Alex paused for a second as Natalie grabbed her arm. "No, we're a team. We should go back and help her. We leave together or not at all." It was then that they saw the men lined up on the wharf with guns.

Alex kicked the motor into gear, speeding out of harm's way just in time. "We'll get back to Charlie. Get some reinforcements or something. He'll know what to do," Alex said, hoping she sounded confident.


Seamus slapped her hard. Blood was welling up again. "I told you to shut the fuck up Helen."

"I don't take orders from you," Dylan hissed.

Seamus gave her an odd smile as he ran the tip of one finger down her tear stained cheek, over her lips, down the nape of her neck and coming to rest just above her breasts. "Oh but you will Helen, and sooner than you think." She shivered in disgust as he looked behind her to his men.

"Clear the place out. Her little friends will be back. Set my truck up for leaving."

Dylan began to struggle frantically. He couldn't move her somewhere else; Natalie and Alex would never be able to find her. Her struggles deepened when he put the soaked cloth over her mouth, his strong hands pressing her body down.

"Feels good Helen," was all Seamus said as her body stilled and she blacked out.