Wrong Way
Disclaimer: I don't own anything people recognize.
Summary: What if Brad had followed Ric as well as Matilda? What would Rocco have done to ensure his escape? AU. RM and SB.
Author's note: Thanks to everybody who reviewed and sorry it's been awhile but I've had revision to do for my exams. I have a plan in mind for this story and I am definitely going to finish it, but you'll have to bear with me. But don't worry about that now as here's the next chapter – enjoy!
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It wasn't that Johnny Cooper was ever unhappy to see his little brother. Rocco was his brother and whatever happened he'd look after him; his way, no-one else's. He loved Rocco and would do everything he could for him. But lately whenever Rocco had come to see him it had meant trouble. And more so than usual. For that first split second he'd seen his brother as he'd walked into the prison's visiting yard, Johnny had known it was something big. His brother had messed up even more than he had done before. Then he had seen who he was dragging after him.
"Are you crazy?!" he hissed as soon as his brother came into earshot.
Rocco's eyes were wide and he was pale, meaning that he was completely out of his depth. He walked closer to his brother, depositing Mattie onto a bench between them and keeping a firm grip on her shoulder, which was how he'd been steering her since he'd pulled her out of the car and brought her into the prison with him.
"It was the only way I could get out of there." Rocco said numbly, his eyes pleading "They would've killed me otherwise."
"And you would've deserved it." Johnny snarled.
Mattie gasped at that, her shoulders tensing under Rocco's hand.
Johnny bent down low, so his face was close to hers, smiling manically whilst he whispered "Not another word princess. Or you'll lose that pretty smile that also helps you talk. Understand?"
Matilda didn't move or do anything to acknowledge Johnny's words; she just looked straight up at Rocco. But he wouldn't meet her fearful eyes, he wouldn't even look at her face.
Johnny straightened and turned to his brother "Now, obviously you need some help. And some big time help too as this pretty little thing isn't going to be easy to hide."
"Hide?" Rocco asked "Hide her? Why do we need to even take her? I was thinking I'd just nick another car and just leave her in the first town I passed."
"See that's why I'm the brains here Rocco." Johnny said, his eyes hard and cold, matching his tone as he talked down to his brother "If you did that she'd be able to tell them where you are and what car you were in. They'd have a timeline and you'd be followed. Which would be very useful wouldn't it? Coppers would catch you within the hour."
"Johnny she's got nothing to do with this. I just dragged her along so I'd get away-"
"And you did, well done little bro that was a good move. But know we need to think of the next one. We've got to stay one step ahead. And she might just be able to help us with that."
"How?" Rocco said apprehensively "I don't want her getting hurt Johnny."
"She'll have what's done to her if – and when – I say so," Johnny growled back "A bit of blood won't hurt her now, will it?"
Turning Johnny again bent down to Matilda's eye level, this time running his thumb along her cheek "You'd do that willingly won't you princess? After all I'd hate to have to tell Rocco here to do it unwillingly."
Mattie's eyes widened and her whole body tensed but she didn't say a word. Rocco's hand was now digging into her shoulder painfully, as he gripped her for support. Somehow she knew that he didn't want to have to hurt her. But if Johnny told him to, he'd have to.
Standing again, Johnny faced his brother "Now, here's what you're gonna do."
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Lucas couldn't believe what his father had just said. His ears must have something wrong with them. But even as this thought crossed his mind he knew it wasn't true. He knew it in his gut. He knew it by the look in his father's eyes, by the grim set of his face. He'd sent hat look before, when Jack was in hospital. It was the look of a father who was helpless to help his child.
"Mattie is- is with Rocco…" he said slowly, taking a deep breath "Who stabbed Sally…"
"Yes." His father replied tersely.
"He kidnapped her in a stolen car," Lucas continued his voice still slow "And we have no idea where they are… or where he's taking her."
"No." Tony answered "But she'll be alright Luc."
"How do you know that?" Lucas snapped before he could stop himself "Rocco stabbed Sally. Sally, Dad. If there was one person I would've said nobody could ever hurt it was Sally. But for some reason he did hurt her, nearly killed her in fact. And since she was the one putting him up and giving him a chance at a new life it makes it even worse. It means Rocco's capable of things we wouldn't even think of."
Tony looked at his son whose face was pale and tight, and knew that he was just worried about Matilda, that he hadn't really meant to snap. He knew he didn't blame anyone except Rocco. But that wasn't the way Beth would see it. That wasn't the way Tony felt…
"And she's with him." Lucas finished quietly, his eyes downcast as he was probably thinking of all the worse-case scenarios "So don't say she'll be alright. I want her to be, I guess I almost need her to be, but just don't say it, ok? Because if she's not-"
"There are too many people here who care about her for her not to be." Tony interrupted, his voice strong, almost forceful.
Lucas nodded, but his eyes were still lowered, not meeting his father's "I'm going to go over to Sally's, see what Ric knows."
"Alright." Tony sighed "I'm going to call Beth."
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Hey hoped you liked, and if you did, you know the drill…