Title: Out of Time
Chapter 6 – Nearing the 11th Hour

"Greg, yeah I've got a line on Edward. Him and Scarlatti just left some rundown apartment with another guy. I'm following Edward but Scarlatti and the other guy went in the opposite direction. Do I confront him?"

"Wait and see what happens. If there's a deal, wait it out and let him think he's made it and then we'll act. If it was nothing then its up to you but he hasta know who's boss here. And if we find something that he's doing and not including us, he's gone and you're promotion as team leader will be cemented."

"Excellent!"

"Let me know what happens."

Wordy finishes with Greg and then turns to corner to resume following Ed at a safe distance, his eyes narrowing as they reach the storage area; Wordy stopping a few blocks back in the shadows.

Ed stops the SUV on the side of the storage building in the shadows and gets out, pausing as he reaches the back to look around or listen for anything out of the ordinary. His side starts to throb, the pain signals telling his brain to hurry. Grabbing the two needles of drugs, Ed dares to venture out toward the isolated storage row, his eyes darting around at anything that moved. He reaches the locker, only to find the lock broken and the door slightly ajar; quickly pulls it open, flips on the light, only to stare in shock at the contents.

Empty.

Both men who had been earlier bound, blindfolded and drugged were now missing. Panic was closing in.

"Oh damn it no," Ed utters in shock as he hears a noise and then whips around to see Wordy facing him with a gun. "What…"

"Oh damn it yes," Wordy retorts as he holds his ground. "Hands where I can see em," Wordy demands; Ed pausing for a few seconds until Wordy waves the gun, making Ed's hands slightly rise in mid-air.

"What the hell is going on wo…Kevin?"

"Hands up now…away from your gun. Now you tell me. You and Scarlatti doing a deal without me? You'd cut him in over me?"

"Look I…"

"Save your lies! Now I know you'd sell out to the highest bidder like any of us but…"

"That's not…"

"True? Oh what you have standards now?" Wordy sneers, making Ed's heart sink a little. He looks at the hardened expression on his best friends face and frowns. But this isn't his best friend and this isn't his world; this is his life and he has to push past a familiar face, think fast and get out alive.

"Look it's not what you think."

"How about you tell me what it is before I end this."

"What?" Ed asks in shock. "You can't….listen this is all just…" Ed stammers as Wordy cocks his gun. "Okay buddy look I just came here to check…"

"On what? Your shipment?"

LIE! His brain yells! "Okay fine yes…and it's gone. Someone got here before me and I'm pissed. Is that what you want to hear!" Ed growls in return, his heart racing as fast as his brain as he tries to figure a way out. "Look I should have told you from the start but I wasn't even sure…"

"Who's it with?"

"Donald?" Ed replies with a frown.

"Donald who?"

"It doesn't matter. He double crossed me and that's it, I'm done. The joke was on me tonight and as you can see I'm going home empty handed. So put the damn gun away, have a laugh at my expense and I'll see you tomorrow."

"I don't quite believe you," Wordy retorts. "Who hit me earlier?"

"Why the hell did you restrain me like that?"

"Oh what that bothered you?" Wordy counters.

Ed looks at him in disbelief before he nods. "Yes it bothered me. I wasn't in the mood for games. Look would you just lower your gun already," Ed asks with a heavy sigh as Wordy's arm slightly drops.

"And what happens when I turn my back on you?"

"I swear to you right now that I'm going to lock this door, go home and see you in the morning," Ed replies with a small frown. "Come on Kevin, I swear to you this won't happen again."

"Straight home?"

"Straight home. I'm tired and exhausted and…"

"And where's Scarlatti?"

"How should I know?"

"I saw you two leaving that apartment together."

What? Ed's mind practically yells in a panic. If he saw us…who else? Donald? Oh damn Spike! I gotta get to Spike! But before Ed can answer and to make matters worse, his phone starts to buzz and now with the other Ed up and mobile, he has more reason than ever to panic; desperation was starting to creep up on him.

"Aren't you going to answer that?"

"No because it's Sophie again. Now are we done here?" Ed asks impatiently.

"You still owe me," Wordy warns as he finally puts his gun away and Ed's frame slightly untenses.

"Maybe you owe me for the stunt you pulled earlier."

"Ah just keeping ya on your toes Edward," Wordy laughs as he slaps Ed on the back before his arm grips Ed's forearm and he yanks him closer, his face instantly morphing from a smile to an angry sneer. "But you make me fail Greg again and I swear today will look like a walk in the park. I know you are team leader and all but we both answer to the same man, next time you play along, you got me? Or else."

"Yeah…I do," Ed growls as he yanks his arm free. "But I can assure you, whatever he's a part of I'm not interested."

"This time," Wordy nods as they reach the entrance to the storage rows. "And things better be back to normal tomorrow."

"Trust me…I want that more than you know."

Ed watches Wordy head back to the car that was carefully hidden car and gets into the SUV and takes a deep breath, his heart racing at top speed. Could he trust Wordy to go home and not follow him to the warehouse where he hopes Spike and Simon were getting things set up for…well the trip back home?

"Damn it Wordy," Ed curses as his angry fist slams on the dash, his other hand reaching for his phone.

1 missed call – M Scarlatti

In his world, Spike was called Spike on his phone…not by his real name. But could he take the chance of calling the other Spike? What if the other Ed picked up his phone? "I hate this," Ed huffs as he watches Wordy's unmarked sedan pull away. He knows he's wasting time but can't afford to take any chances so waits a few more minutes before he starts up the SUV, lights off, and then heads toward Spike, praying that as soon as he shows up, a mere switch will be flipped and all will be back to normal.

But as soon as Ed arrives at the warehouse location, his panic surges once more. Another car was behind the one he saw Spike and Simon leave in and there were no lights on in the warehouse. Ed quickly gets out and pulls his gun, waiting until he takes his first few steps toward the darkened warehouse.

"Spike!" Ed calls out as quietly as possible, his mind starting to panic. Was it Donald? Did he find them? "Spike!" Ed tries again, his anger toward himself, for leaving Spike alone, surging. He spies the opened doorway a few meters away and slowly makes his way toward it, pausing before entering. But just as he does he hears a noise to his right and whips around to see a slightly bent over figure emerge from the darkness coming toward him in obvious distress.

"He's…not here."

"Spike!" Ed exclaims as he rushes to Spike just as Spike falters in his grasp. "Hold on buddy…hold on," Ed puts Spike's right arm around his neck and slowly walks him over to the waiting SUV and eases him down a few feet in front on the ground but in the path of the headlights to examine him.

"Wh…" Ed starts just as he notices the fresh blood on the left side of Spike's head. "Damn….who hit you? Just wait here."

"Ed…it's okay."

"No, this time you wait, it looks like a bad cut," Ed insists as he leaves Spike and heads for the back of the SUV to get the knapsack that had their things in it.

"Here just hold still," Ed tells Spike in softer tone as he pulls out something to clean the fresh wound with and gently presses it against Spike's throbbing temple, making him wince. "Sorry," Ed frowns. "What happened?"

"Well…" Spike resigns as he slumps back a little and recalls what happened.

As soon as they neared the darkened warehouse, Spike looked around for anything out of the ordinary before telling Simon it was okay to get out of the car. With his gun ready and Simon carrying their electronic gear in a bag, they both got out of the car and headed toward the locked gate. Spike cut the lock and then they slowly started to make their way toward the warehouse before them.

"I looked around…nothing was out of the ordinary," Spike insists with a deep breath, his head really starting to throb.

"Just take it easy. Where is Simon?"

"Okay do you have a key?" Spike asked as he and Simon approached the small man door.

"I do," Simon whispered back as he pulled out the key and with the help of Spike's small flashlight was able to get the door open and both of them step inside, the lights still off. "Okay so lets…" he stopped as both of them hear a car come to a halt outside.

"Someone's here," Simon panicked.

"And before I could stop him, he had dropped the bag at my feet and headed for the door. It was Donald Atkins."

"Damn he was following us," Ed groans as he rests back on his heels and fumbles with a band-aid.

"I don't need that," Spike insists, "just stop the bleeding. I remember pulling my gun…"

"Simon come back!" Spike called as Simon darted to the left of the open door just as Donald raised a gun and tried to fire off a shot. Spike watched as Donald started to chase after Simon, forcing him to pursue also.

"Donald Atkins stop right there!" Spike shouted only to have to quickly duck as Donald turned and fired off a shot in the dark. The temporary distraction allowed Simon to gain ground and then finally escape when Spike tackled Donald from behind. They wrestled around for a bit until Donald grabbed a stone and struck Spike in the temple, sending him back to the ground and Donald in pursuit of Simon.

"That's when I called you…well I guess the other you."

"Did I…damn it he answer?"

"Yeah and told me to go to hell and hung up."

"That was it?" Ed queries.

'Was that you that had me hit this morning Scarlatti? Either way you'll get truck and desk duty for a week!'

"A small demotion but at least it won't affect…well me right?"

"Right."

"Right but we lost Simon. I mean we have his things but since he's on the run how can we track him?" Spike asks with a small hint of despair.

"I don't know," Ed sighs as he helps Spike stand up, holding his arm to steady him for a few seconds longer. "Hey you okay?"

"Why didn't you answer?"

"I ran into Wordy – again."

"Oh…and?"

"Well just say his Edward is gonna have some other explaining to do tomorrow to Greg. Hopefully we won't be here to worry about it. Which way did they go?"

"That way but…"

"We can't give up Spike, lock that door, bring the stuff with us and let's go. We hafta find him no matter what."

The two of them hurry for the warehouse door, Spike gathering the forgotten things while Ed stands guard before locking the door and hurrying back to the waiting SUV. Ed glances over at Spike as he closes his eyes for a few seconds and frowns at his friend. But they were now in the pursuit for their very lives, for if they failed to save Simon and Donald did kill him they'd be stuck.

"Think Donald wants to kill Simon here? He'd be stuck then also."

"Maybe he doesn't care," Ed shrugs as he carefully directs the SUV over the bumpy terrain, heading for the back of darkened warehouse.

"Do you think the other Spike will be okay?"

Ed looks over at Spike and can't help but offer a small smile, that was his Spike; always caring about those that would face any kind of unjust treatment.

"I don't know," Ed replies in truth. "But there is nothing we can do to change this world Spike…whatever world this is and I know you don't want to be here long enough to try."

"Nope…don't want to," Spike agrees, still looking absently out the window. They head onto a street directly behind the warehouse and stop and look at the rather desolate area before them. "They could be anywhere."

"Well if Simon is smart he's in hiding right now but…"

"But what?" Spike dares to ask.

"But it took us a quite a bit of convincing to get him to help us. He might just decide to screw us and wait out Donald," Ed ponders in anxiety. "However, with there now being well…two of us, damn I hate this," Ed curses as he looks out his window with a narrowed gaze. "Where could he be?"

"They didn't get that big a head start," Spike insists as he continues to scan the opposite side. "But Donald knows we're helping him so he'll want to get to Simon before us."

"Okay think back…did you see anything that might have indicated that Simon might have another home? Place to go…anywhere he feels might be safe?"

"We could go back to his apartment and check?" Spike suggests as he watches Ed stifle a yawn. "How's your side?"

"Same as your head," he smirks in reply. "Okay let's go."

"But if we leave and he comes back…"

"Spike, we're not splitting up again," Ed insists. "Not this time."

"And if we miss him?"

"Then we miss him," Ed resigns. "I don't know what else to do, but we are running out of nighttime hours and options and very soon we're gonna have to ditch these clothes and this truck and then…yeah lets just go back and see if we can find him."

They head back to Simon's place, both in contemplative silence, it now being into the early morning hours; both were tired, hurting, hungry and running out of adrenaline.

Ed stops the SUV in the back of Simon's apartment and then looks around before he nods to Spike to get out, taking the very valuable knapsack with them and heading for the back door. They climb the quiet stairs, their guns ready for action and eyes inspecting every thing that dared to cross their line of vision.

"Ed…"

"Damn I'm really starting to hate open doors," Ed grumbles as he nudges the door with his left hand, his right with his gun trained and ready. But as soon as he pushes the door open, both of them stare at the contents in shock.

"What the hell?" Spike mutters in quiet shock as they stare at the ransacked mess before them.

"Donald was here first. Obviously looking for the same thing as us – the next clue to Simon's disappearance and where to find him and get home."

"Yeah but did he find anything….or…"

"Or what Spike?"

"Or is he somewhere waiting for us to find him?"

"Or did he just go back to the warehouse to lie in wait for us to return with Simon?" Ed adds. "Either way we can be sure that Donald is probably there waiting for us back at the warehouse. We just gotta make sure we keep Simon alive long enough for him to push the damn button. Okay fan out and see what we can find…if anything in this mess."

"Copy that," Spike offers in an almost whisper, bringing a small smile to Ed's lips as both put their guns away and start to search for something…anything to tell them where their elusive would-be savior might be hiding. But as Simon was also a temporary resident in this nightmarish world, his apartment was mostly bear.

"It's all surface stuff," Ed groans as he opens yet another empty cupboard, Spike concentrating around the desk where the computer was. "And the bedroom's empty also," he informs Spike as he walks back into the main living room area.

"Not much here either," Spike sighs as he bends down to examine something shiny.

"What?"

"Maybe…nothing," Spike ponders as he looks at the object. "Just…I've seen this kind of wire before."

"Here?"

"I know where he is," Spike stands up and shows Ed the object of his attention. "I snagged my side on something just like this back at that old house, but if Donald is watching…"

"We can't take the SUV," Ed as he looks at Spike with a frown. "We're not in Kansas anymore right?" Ed mentions as he grabs the baseball cap on the table and hands it to Spike.

"The bus?" Spike muses.

"I have an idea."

"The four most terrifying words in the English language," Spike utters in sarcasm, making Ed look back his face to instantly display a frown. "Well they are…how do you think we ended up here?" Spike shrugs and Ed merely mutters under his breath as they head back into the hallway.

"Once we are on the main floor, you go into the parking lot, hotwire a car and I'm gonna pull the fire alarm. Just have it ready when I get out and maybe the commotion will keep Donald from noticing were gone."

"Worth a shot," Spike replies as he hands the bag to Ed and pauses. "This…won't go on my record will it?"

"Move it," Ed smirks as he takes the bag and heads for the small pull alarm. He watches Spike disappear through the exit doors and looks at his watch and frowns. Running on nearly empty and feeling his agitation starting to grow, Ed knows that they have one shot and that could be it. But to be trapped here? What else could they do? Move out west and start over? A fate nearly worse than death.

Ed hears a car pull up to the back of the door and rev a bit; so upon taking a deep breath and nearly cursing himself for the prank call, pulls the bell and dashes for the backdoor. He spies the small car waiting, gets into the back and ducks down as best as his solid frame would allow.

"Where to Sir?" Spike mocks as he slowly pulls away, keeping his arms low so as to hide the symbols on his shirts and going in the opposite direction of the apartment that was now bleeding its tenants on to the streets; Donald still sitting in the front waiting before he slowly heads for the back, spies the parked police SUV and grimaces. So as predicted, he pulls away from the building and heads back to the warehouse – to lie in wait.

"How's your side?" Spike asks in concern as he hears Ed utter a small grunt.

"Sore and in need of a new band-aide," he huffs as his hand comes away from the band-aide with a fresh stain of blood. "But if we find Simon, it'll wait."

"It is kind of a neat idea you know…."

"Spike…"

"Ed you still can't believe this isn't real. We are here…in this world."

"I don't know what to believe, but if you are thinking of signing this guy up for the Nobel peace prize forget it."

"We could go back and redo a lot of historical mistakes."

"Can you please concentrate on the road," Ed groans as his body slumps down on its side on the cramped back seats.

"You have any mistakes you wanna redo?" Spike asks softly.

"You didn't kill Lew."

"I know…" Spike acknowledges with a small lump of emotion forming in his throat. "Just something to think about right?"

"Lets just think about finding Simon and getting home," Ed replies as he stares up at the dark ceiling of the car. He hears Spike offer a small sigh in the front seat and feels his sorrow for his friend grow, knowing that this was eating away at Spike especially in light of what today – the anniversary of Lew's death.

Ed feels the car starting to slow and slowly raises himself to his elbow's, a sharp pain in his side yelling at him to lay back down; an order of course that he refused ourightly. "Spike?"

"Yeah we'er here," Spike mentions as he brings the car to a stop about a block away.

"At the house…"

"Well close."

"Close but…"

"Oh damn stay down!" Spike exclaims with some excitement and Ed instantly drops back down to his back.

"What is going on? Can you see Simon? Is Donald there?"

"Ed you're not going to believe this," Spike starts with more than panic in his voice.

"Is Simon there?"

"Yes but…"

"But what is it?" Ed asks as he slowly rises upward to try to peer over the front seat bench.

"Simon Saze was just arrested by the SRU."

"What?"

"Team Three just took him away," he sighs as Ed sits upright and both him and Spike watch the dark SUV's taillights disappear around the corner.

"Spike, follow them."

Ed leans back down on the seat, his mind racing at the thought of them actually having to confront and have a heated showdown with Team Three or any lingering members of Team One while they follow through with their rescue of the only man capable of restoring their future back to normal.

"Okay confirmed…they're taking him inside. Ed…you know what this means?"

"Yeah it means we have to go to SRU headquarters to get him out," Ed laments as he slumps back on the seat just as Spike turns around to face him with a wondering expression. "How the hell can we do that and not get caught?"

A/N: back to SRU home base? How will they get Simon out? Keep themselves out of sight? And make it home while avoiding capture from Team One and a death sentence from Donald Atkins? Or will they succeeed? muwahaha! Two chappies to go so hope you are still liking this and please review before you go, you know they make us write faster! Thanks so much in advance.