Oh wow. Twenty reviews after only three chapters you guys make me so happy. Thank you. For all the reviews, the faves, the follows, I adore each and every one of you who have shown some love for my work.

MissScarlatti713: As it happens the only pranks out of the ones I mentions, the fridge is the only one I haven't pulled. If I did my parents would kill me and revive me just to kill me again. And thank you for the review.

ShirleyTemple1932: Well in one episode Spike mentioned being a good uncle (or something along those lines) and I thought that I'd give him an older brother, but how much does that older brother have to do with his problems. Thank you, being dyslexic I love hearing that my work is good (and getting gold stars).

LibriAmici: Hello. Thank you for popping by with your encouraging words. Even the little reviews count. Thank you for your review and here's the update.

Guest: Hello (again?). It's nice to hear that you like my story and thank you for the review. I will keep going even though some parts of the story are being a real pain to get written.

-Chapter 4-

The white corridor led the team down a hallway and though a door opening to the buildings main reception. They wouldn't have known which way to go if they hadn't found a trail of blood drops leading them down the same corridor they had first walked when entering the building.

The discovery of the blood drops was troubling everyone. The first few drops wouldn't have bothered them much but after following the trail for a while, and as the small drops grew bigger and bigger, they couldn't help but think the worse.

"You think he's hurt them?" Sam asked, addressing the elephant in the room.

"Could be, but we didn't find any blood in the security room so the chances are it's someone else's," Ed said trying to reassure them all, including himself. "Malcolm's accelerating, he's taken two hostages, and he's already shown a tendency towards violence. Let's assume that he'll take any risks he can in order to escape. When we find him Sam and I will find Scorpio, Jules try to negotiate Wordy will cover you, Wordy use less lethal,"

"Guys, I've spoken with the fire crew, they've asked for permission to access the basement," Winnie said, rushing her words in a professional tone, "They said they've found a way to help with the gas situation."

"What do they need?" Ed asked, his hand raised and fingers balled into a fist in a halting gesture.

"They need to be able to access the water supple in the basement, we've found a way that will re-route the gas to the higher levels, the ones that have been safely evacuated, but they have to work fast before the system starts the procedure."

"Sam, Wordy head back to the basement and keep them covered, the last thing we need is Malcolm to get his hands on any more hostages. Once their finished come and find us, the way this guy is going we not looking at an easy take down," Ed began walking forward again, Jules behind him as Sam and Wordy walked ahead of them to the security room a few doors down, following the blood trail until it ceased to exist.

"Why didn't the people outside see them?" Jules asked looking over her shoulder at the door leading to the reception desk and entrance. "Winnie, can you tell what's ahead of us?"

"Judging from the blue prints, the only thing ahead of you that is marked are storage rooms, photo developing, and overnight rooms. Ed word just in, Hillman's trial has been postponed due to evidence being lost, the gun used on his wife was taken from lock up."

"Thanks Winnie," Jules said stopping abruptly while Ed continued. "What could he possibly be looking for down here, what would he risk getting caught for?"

"What you thinking Jules?" Ed walked the few steps towards her, his gun lowered while giving her an expression mixed with high tension and anger.

"The first thing he does when he gets here after being released from prison, he comes here and threatens White, White is still MIA. He said that White killed his wife and the weapon used in that crime is missing," Jules said her voice emphasising the last word.

"Winnie, what model was the gun!" Ed asked his voice rising as he spoke.

"Revolver," Winnie replied while typing at her computer, "descriptions vary but all are affirmative that it was a revolver."

"One of the witnesses said they saw a revolver," Wordy said. He and Sam had reached the security room and was watching three firemen work on the sprinkler system while two others held down a large clutch that managed the gas levels.

"The blood was a distraction; he wanted us to find it so he could finish what he started without us getting in the way," Ed said as he and Jules turned around and started for the main reception.

"Winnie, direct us to White's office," Jules said jogging next to Ed.

/-/-/-/-/-/-/-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\

"I told you that nothing would give me greater pleasure then to squeeze the life out of him!" Malcolm hissed tightening his grip around Spike's throat.

Spike lay on the floor chocking on the pressure around his throat. His struggles were weak due to his deteriorated state. His lungs felt like the air had been taken away from the room to be replaced by fire as his throat burned from lake of oxygen, he thrashed his head from side to side struggling to dislodge the offending limps but, his hands moved in frantic motions behind his back scratching at the floor in desperation as his feet kicked out catching nothing.

His fight was in vain. Greg watched as the younger man's eyes began to fall, his fighting stopped, and his chest fell and hardly rose. "Don't punish him!" Greg yelled trying to save his friend before it was too late. "Punish me. I caused this he's not to blame, punish me!"

He thought that his words had no effect on Malcolm, but they must have since Malcolm removed his hands from Spike's pale throat to run though his hair as he backed away.

Malcolm rose and moved behind Greg, reaching in his pocket to retrieve a key he used to unlock the cuffs and pushed Greg out of the chair. "That was punishing you," he said monotone. "When you have to watch someone you care about die in front of you, knowing you could have done something to stop the situation, that's punishment. He's going to be fine in a while, but you might want to keep a check on his breathing."

Greg's momentary shock was gone. He crawled over to a still Spike ignoring the pain running though his wrists. Once he reached Spike, he placed two fingers on his neck while his other hand cupped Spikes cold check, "Oh Spike," he said softly regretting the events of the past year. Events that he couldn't have changed yet felt all the guilt over, "I'm sorry."

Carefully he moved his hand from Spike's cheek to his shoulder, gently shaking it to arouse him, "Spike," he said just as softly. But he got no reaction from the other man, "Michelangelo! You need to wake up."

Weakly Spike stirred, his head swaying from side to side, "Don't," he whimpered flinching away from Greg's hands.

Greg's heart skipped as the scared words passed Spikes lips.

"Please don't?"

"Sp…Spike," he stuttered. To see Spike in such distress pulled at his heart strings, "Who's hurting you Spike."

While his concentration was solely focused on Spike, Greg missed Malcolm mimicking his actions with Ben. Only his actions were rougher and less caring, he slapped Ben's face to awaken him trying to awaken him.

"Wake up!" he yelled already pulling a groggy Ben to his feet. "We still have a matter to finish." Ben stumbled as Malcolm pulled him out of the room Ben stumbled as Malcolm pulled him out of the room, stopping at the door to throw Greg the keys he was still holding, "You'll need this." With that he left the room.

Greg instantly grabbed the keys that landed by his chair, he slowly rolled Spike onto his side so he could reach Spikes wrists.

After the cuffs were unlocked, and Greg had thrown the offensive metal away, he gently rolled Spike on to his back only to be shocked by the stillness of his chest. He put his fingers to Spike's neck, he checked Spike's breathing but no air was hitting his hand.

End of Chapter

Out of these titles, which one would you like me to focus on next: (We) Remember Everything, Sell Your Soul, Playground School Bell. Let me know in your review or PM.

Next chapter will be in the latter half of next week.

Please review, they help.