Disclaimer: I do not own the Green Hornet or any of its characters (including Dr. Hannah Thomas from the episode, "The Secret of the Sally Bell"). I own Emmalyn, Kyle, and Tad.

(A/N: This chapter is dedicated to IcyWaters. :-)

Dr. Hannah Thomas held onto the Green Hornet's hands as he led her into a room. It had been a year since she switched to the permanent night shift at the emergency clinic, all in hopes of seeing the Green Hornet again. I got my wish but I wasn't quite expecting this. It had been close to two in the morning when the Hornet barged into the lobby, knocked out her two nurses with his gas gun, and brought her here….Wherever here was. But she knew she had a mission, an important one. His companion, the oriental man dressed in black, had been poisoned; his life was in danger and she had to do everything in her power to save him. I owe them both for saving my life.

The Hornet let go of her hands and untied the blindfold. Hannah found herself standing in a large bedroom that looked fit for royalty. Lying on the bed was his companion and sitting on a chair in the corner of the room was a short red haired woman. For a long minute, Hannah focused on the young lady. The photographer he kidnapped from the Sentinel. Her attention focused away from her and towards her patient.

"Hello….Um…."

The man looked more relaxed but she could see he was trembling.

"You may call me Kato," he replied as the Hornet shut the door behind them.

"Kato," she nodded and opened her medical bag, "I understand you've been poisoned, could you tell me how you ingested it?"

"He didn't ingest it," the Hornet exclaimed and walked over to the chair. "A poisoned dart was thrown at him."

Hannah nodded, "No doubt the thrower wanted the poison to enter your blood stream faster….Adrenaline helps to carry toxins like these through the body, past the blood-brain barrier, and into the Central Nervous System. Have you had any difficulties with movement, sensation, vision, taste, or hearing?"

Kato paused, "Parts of my body are numb…." He stopped and glanced at the photographer, "I will not continue until she has left the room."

"I'm not leaving," the photographer's fingers wrapped around the arms of the chair, "I'm staying right here. The doctor may need more than one person's help…..Right?" She looked straight at Hannah.

Hannah raised an eyebrow; this woman was obviously brave to talk back to the Green Hornet's bodyguard and enforcer. Then again, judging from her stubbornness and Kato's demand, it was likely the two had more than a mutual attraction to each other.

She shook her head, "Sorry, miss. But my patient requests that you leave the room and I can't do anything to help him until you're out." She tensed when the woman glanced at Kato. For a moment Hannah was certain the photographer was going argue with her; instead, the woman stood and glanced at the Hornet then back at Kato and the doctor. She remained still as the Hornet blindfolded her, took hold of her hands and led her out of the room.

When the door shut Kato continued, "My finger tips, toes, and my left palm are numb."

"I don't know what type of poison was used," Hannah frowned, "I'll need to take a sample of your blood…."

"That will take too long," Kato shook his head. "I recognize this poison; it is one that was used last year when a few 'gentlemen' decided to hunt racketeers like animals."

I kept a tight grip on the Green Hornet's hands as he led me around a corner. I wondered where I was and wished the blindfold was slip off, but he had tied it tightly so there was no chance of that happening.

"Only a little farther," he assured me.

"I'm glad you got him a doctor," I exclaimed. "The fever kept rising no matter how often I used the water to bring it down…." The thought that I may lose the man I was growing closer to each time we met scared me as much as the fact that I may never return home. I wanted to sit down in some corner and cry, but that wouldn't help things any. I needed to remain strong for Kato and the Green Hornet.

"We've met Dr. Thomas before and I know she wouldn't turn us into the police." He paused and let go of one my hands for a second and opened a door. He turned just in time to find me reaching for the blindfold. "Sorry, Emmalyn, but you can't do that just yet." He guided me into the room and had me sit down on a soft chair then untied the blindfold.

I blinked and looked around; I had expected to be in room I had been in during my last 'visit'. Instead, I found myself sitting in a smaller version of the bedroom Kato was in.

"I hope you liked this bedroom, because you're going to be here for a long time."

"What?" I looked at the Green Hornet in shock, "You're going to take me back to the Sentinel when Kato's better, aren't you?" My heart pounded. I wasn't any use to him after Kato recovered!

He frowned and stared at me for a long moment, "I can't do that. Mr. Reid has offered me 2,000 dollars for your return. Until he meets my price of 10,000 dollars, you will remain here. Your boss is a stubborn man." He turned and I stood up trying to follow him.

"You told me you only needed my help! You have to let me go!"

"I do need your help caring for Kato, I didn't lie about that. You're helping me even more by remaining here. When Reid gives into my demand I'll drop you off at the Sentinel." He slipped out the door and I grabbed the handle trying to pry it open. The Hornet was much stronger than I was and closed and locked it. I hit my fist against the door.

"Please, just let me know if Kato will be alright?"

"I will," the Hornet replied from the other side. I walked around the room, (or my room, I guess I should call it), and studied my new surroundings. I had a twin size bed with the same sheets Kato had on his. The dresser contained underwear, jeans, skirts, blouses, and t-shirts all in my size. I wonder how he found out what size I wear….Maybe the Green Hornet is an in-the-closet-clothing-designer. The only person who could of told him would be Casey…but that's impossible! She doesn't know the Green Hornet….Unless she's one of his spies…no, she couldn't be. Could she? No. Mr. Reid would never stand for that and he'd know if it was her, they're together in that office almost all the time….He would have caught her by now if it was her…so it can't be her.

I felt guilty for even thinking of Casey as a spy. I turned to the other side of the room, beside the bed was a nightstand, the bottom 2 shelves were filled with books and the top had a lamp and a coaster. I wanted to be here to help Kato, but not to help the Green Hornet rob poor Mr. Reid blind. This is my fault. If I had acted more like Mike and stopped idolizing the Hornet maybe I wouldn't be in this situation! I paused; I was throwing myself a pity party and I needed to stop. Kato's life was on the line (and he was the one who deserved a pity party; he didn't ask to be poisoned) and only God knows what the Hornet had told Mr. Reid. I want to help Kato, but I have to get out of here.

"Alright, Emmalyn, think," I muttered and pushed my braid behind my shoulder. There was a way I could help Kato and maybe escape. There had to be! After all, my old math professor used to say 'Every problem has a solution, sometimes the answer is just hard to find.' I didn't want to anger the Hornet, he was a powerful man and this city pretty much belonged to him. Yet, I didn't want Mr. Reid being robbed blind, I didn't want Casey to worry, and Mike…. Casey had told me how angry he had been when the Green Hornet kidnapped me the first time. She and Mr. Reid had been worried about the older reporter's health. I shuddered; I couldn't stand it if something happened to him. He was not only my great-uncle; he was also my friend and mentor.

Mike Axford slammed his fist against his steering wheel; another tip had led to another dead end. He had put an article in the paper about Emmalyn's abduction from the Sentinel and offered a reward out of his own pocket for anyone could provide a tip that led him to the Green Hornet. Britt had thrown in a thousand dollars of his own money in, even though the Hornet had already made a ransom demand. He had followed the lead on 5 tips and it was almost four in the morning. He couldn't give up now!

He grabbed his notebook, three more tips to investigate before the trail ran cold. He leaned back in his car seat and knew Martha was going to be worried. But she'd understand why he was on the Hornet-Hunt. He stared up at the stars and recalled Emmalyn telling him a legend about the 'Star People'; each time a person died his or her soul went into the night sky, became a star, and danced with the ancestors of all human, animal, sea, reptile, and insect life. Sometimes it's like that girl is from a different planet. Maybe that was why the Hornet took her? No, that's not it; there are people more eccentric than her, and the Green Hornet has no interest in them. Then why would he take a new photographer that only few people knew?

He had been so lost in his thoughts he hadn't noticed a shadowed figure approach his car. He jumped when someone tapped the glass of the passenger side door, leaned over, and rolled down the window slightly. A tall young man, who seemed to have bathed in itching powder (judging by the way he was scratching at himself), gazed in through the window at him.

"Yes?" Mike asked, "If you have a tip…."

"My boss sent me here to tell ya he wants to make a deal with you."

"Who's your boss?" Mike glared at the kid, his reporter's instincts sensed trouble.

"His name is Tad," the man turned away and sneezed, "He says you and him both want the same thing: The Green Hornet."

"Why would I want to work with a pair of thugs?"

"Cause my boss will help ya catch the Hornet and hold him down while you unmask him. Then you'll be the hero of the city and my boss is free to...Uh….Live his life."

"And how the hell will that happen?" Mike narrowed his eyes, "The Hornet's bodyguard would kill me before I got the chance to touch him!"

The kid laughed, "That guy of his ain't gonna be around much longer. My boss poisoned him and since no doctor will help the Green Hornet he'll be dead by mornin'. Hey, what are ya doin'?"

"I don't work with killers!" Mike sneered as he rolled up the window. He backed out of the small parking lot behind the vehicle repair shop, which the Green Hornet partially owned since all the parts came from local chop shops. I want to know who the Hornet is but that doesn't mean I want him or his bodyguard dead. I won't take part in that! As he pulled onto the road he stomped on the break and suddenly it made sense why the Hornet took Emmalyn. She was kind, patient, and had a Mother Earth type personality; he needed her to care for his bodyguard and enforcer!

I wasn't sure how long it had been since the Green Hornet trapped me in this room; half of the time I had been thinking of escape plans. When the door finally opened and the Green Hornet walked through the threshold, I glanced up and hoped for good news.

"Kato's going to be alright."

"Thank God! Can I see him? Is he taking any medicines? How can I help him?"

The Hornet shut the door behind him and blinked for a moment, "That's a lot of questions, Emmalyn. Are you always this curious?"

"When I want to be," I stood up and turned so he could tie the blindfold around my eyes.

"Yes, you can see him, in fact he asked for you. He's taking a cure that he and Dr. Thomas created; he'll need to take it before each meal tomorrow and once more the morning after that. You can help him by making sure he takes the medicine and by staying with him." He put the blindfold around my eyes and tied it. "Before I let you in there….I have a question for you."

"Alright," I replied as he took my hands and led me towards the door.

"Why do you care so much about Britt Reid's financial affairs?"

"Because….When I woke up he was there. He took money out of his own pocket, gave it to me and hired me as Mike's photographer. He didn't know me and he took a leap of faith that most people probably wouldn't take. He helped me start a new life and that's not something I can forget or just ignore. If it wasn't for him and Casey, I'd probably be homeless and looking for a job right now. In my time there are hundreds of job opportunities for women around the globe….But not so much here. Are there even female police officers?"

"A few," the Hornet led me around a corner, "But they mainly get cats out of trees, calm upset wives and children, and investigate minor problems."

"In my time women are full-fledged police officers, soldiers, a few pilots, politicians, and more."

"Women in here are soldiers and politicians too, though I have never heard of a female pilot before. I understand why you're so loyal to Mr. Reid….But he knows my demands and I'm not going to back down." He stopped and opened a door and guided me into the room. He took off my blindfold and I saw Kato lying on the bed; he was watching Dr. Thomas gather the last of her medical equipment.

"Kato!" I beamed, ran over to the bedside, and trapped the masked man in a large hug.

A smile crossed his face, "I wish more of our partners would greet us this way. It would make our life easier," he chuckled and winked at the Hornet before returning my embrace. "I am feeling much better. The doctor says I should rest tomorrow and the next day I will be fine."

"No," Dr. Thomas chided, "I said you should rest tomorrow and take it easy after that. Your body went through a near-death trauma and it takes time to regain your strength and energy." She turned towards the Hornet and a smile crossed her face, "This has been a very interesting night, I'm glad to I got to see you again."

I walked over to the other side of the bed and crawled up on it. The Green Hornet smiled at Dr. Thomas, "It's been a long one and I'm glad we got to…catch up. If I didn't have to return you to the clinic, I'd keep you here. But I already have a handful," he glanced up at me, "To keep an eye on."

Dr. Thomas glanced at me and back at the Hornet, "You should return her to the newspaper. I'm worth more money, you know. We could have that dinner we discussed earlier."

The Green Hornet smiled, "Doctor, I'm sure your worth a large sum of money….But trust me when I say that this photographer is priceless."

"When Mr. Reid pays the ransom you'll have to give her back."

"Doctor, there's something you should know about me: I don't have to do anything I don't want too."

"Surely you're going to return her to Mr. Reid?" Dr. Thomas glanced at me and I stared back at her wide eyed. Every muscle in my body tensed and I was already searching escape routes out of this place. Although I had growing feelings for Kato, I wasn't willing to be the Green Hornet's prisoner for life.

The Green Hornet blindfolded the doctor and I stared at him...He would let me go, wouldn't he? He was just trying to give the doctor and me a little scare, maybe?

"You have to let me go! You promised!"

The Green Hornet glanced at me, "And I lied." He led the doctor out of the room and once again shut the door before I had a chance to get to it.

Kato had seen the look on Emmalyn's face and he winced, he wanted to be with her for longer than a few more hours. Of course he could see her out of his disguise, but it wasn't the same. When he was Britt Reid's servant and best friend, Emmalyn had a crush on him. When he was in costume, Emmalyn's feelings were beyond attraction. Holding her for 'ransom' had been his idea to cover the fact they were really protecting her from Tad and his goon.

"Emmalyn," he said softly, "Come here."

She turned, "Why are you keeping me here like this? I need to leave, Kato….If you and the Hornet don't let me then I'll break out of this place!"

"There is no escaping this room. Please, come here."

"No." She pressed herself against the corner of the room and stared at him in hurt and anger. "I trusted you…and him. Especially you…so how do you thank me for that? You keep me a prisoner?"

"You do not seem to understand our motives. We are protecting you."

"Protecting me from what? No one's going to hurt me!"

"You are wrong, please come here. The men the Green Hornet told you about a few nights ago who have been trying to find you…they have become more determined. So determined our sources at the Sentinel said one of them came looking for you. They are dangerous and they are not playing. They want to use you against your father and when they are finished…."

Kato knew from the look in her eyes that he didn't have to complete the sentence.

"They'll kill me," she said softly and climbed onto the bed next to him. "Being the Chief of Police's daughter really sucks sometimes. It has its advantages but even more disadvantages."

Kato pushed himself up onto the pillows, "Oh?"

"When I was 18 I witnessed a murder, I spent four years living in a convent. Let's just say nuns aren't as meek and passive as the stereotype says. The Mother Superior was hell on wheels – she even scared my father! And some of the nuns were shy or quiet but most of them were like me but had the patience of a saint. But that was an advantage of being the chief's daughter; I was able to hide with people who didn't like strangers staying with them. But disadvantages are like the men chasing me or being recognized as the police chief's daughter in my time. I always had to be careful when I was out, especially during election days, because my behavior reflected on my father."

"Being a powerful person's family member can be difficult." He agreed, "It is hard for me sometimes to work with the Hornet, especially when I am sick. The way I act reflects on him. If I act weakly, his enemies may see him as pathetic and his partners may lose respect for him. But being associated with a powerful person has its advantages, as long as you do not abuse that stature." Kato wrapped his arm around Emmalyn as she lied down beside him.

"Do you think Mike's alright?"

Kato paused, "He must be or the Green Hornet would have someone following him around so often."

"Are you calling Mike a stalker?"

Kato glanced up at the ceiling, "He is always appearing at inconvenient times. He is always testing our patience and attempting to catch us. I believe that is what a stalker does."

"You must be feeling better, you're joking," she smiled and Kato felt his heart skip a beat. The closer he became to Emmalyn the more he began to realize his grandmother's advice had been very true. You must keep your eyes open, the love of your life may find you, or you may find her or, in some cases, she may be delivered to you in a strange way. Kato was sure his grandmother hadn't been thinking of time travel.

"I want to tell you another story," he smiled.

"How about I tell one? You told me about Mulan."

"No, this is a different one. About your friend, my boss's stalker; we once worked together…."

The next morning Britt Reid walked into his office to find Mike waiting for him.

"Are you really going to sit by, give that criminal money, and just wait for Emmalyn's return?" The angry reporter almost shouted, "He could bring her back here, sure…In a pine box!"

Britt squared his jaw and turned, "Don't ever raise your voice to me, Mike! If you don't think I haven't had that same thought, then you're wrong." He slammed his fist on his desk, "The police are looking for her and I've hired a team of P.I.'s to find her."

"I'll find her before they can," Mike sneered and began to walk towards the door.

"If you walk through that door you better not return."

"You firin' me?" Mike turned, glaring. "I worked for your father…"

"And you're nearing the age of retirement," Britt crossed his arms. "You're the best reporter I have and I don't want to let you go. But if I have too, then I will. I need you here at the Daily Sentinel. The Green Hornet may be using Emmalyn to catch you. Have you even considered that he's trying to get rid of you?"

Britt could tell from the reporter's look he had suspected that.

"Sorry, boss." He grumbled and stood in front of Britt's desk. Axford looked exhausted.

"Did you get any sleep last night?"

"I arrived back here around five and took a nap. I'm not going to sit by sleeping when my photographer's in danger!"

"Mike, do me a favor. Go home. Get some rest. You can't work on only a few hours of sleep, I need you awake so you can finish your article on the Trenton case."

"The Trenton case?" Mike stared at him, "You want me to continue working on that when I should be out there trying to draw the Hornet out? He's gone too far again! Who's to say his next target won't be you or Miss Case?"

"Mike, he probably wouldn't risk another kidnapping. Besides, he couldn't abduct me; I have to be the one to drop off the cash. Remember?"

"So we go on about our daily lives like everything's normal?"

"As best as we can, yes." Britt replied, "We're all going to keep an eye out for the Green Hornet while the police and private detectives do their work. Each edition of the newspaper will have Emmalyn's photograph and a reward offer on the front page for the next week."

"Photograph?" Mike frowned, "We don't have a picture of her."

"We do now," he held out a picture, "It seems while you were here the Hornet was too. This was tucked under your windshield wiper."

Mike took the photograph and he almost fell into the chair behind him. Emmalyn was alive. The Green Hornet's bodyguard and enforcer had her trapped in his arms; he looked perfectly calm while Emmalyn looked terrified.

Mike looked up, "I heard this man was poisoned."

"You obviously got false information," Britt replied, "Or he wouldn't have Emmalyn trapped like that…" he jumped when the phone rang. He glanced at Mike, grabbed the receiver and listened for a moment. He placed the call onto the speaker phone.

"Mr. Reid?" Kato's voice questioned.

"Yes?"

"You know who this is."

"Yes," Britt replied, "You're the Green Hornet's enforcer. The same man who shot me a few months ago. I demand you return my photographer!"

"You are in no position to make demands," Kato replied.

Britt glanced at Mike, his face was red and his eyes were wide.

"If you touch one hair on that girl's head I'll kill you!" Mike growled.

"The girl is a pain in the rear end. The Hornet is losing patience with her."

Britt silently agreed to Emmalyn being a pain. Although she knew the real reason the Hornet was keeping her, she didn't like it. Before he left for work that morning Kato told him how she attempted to escape when she thought he was asleep. She and Mike both were hard headed and both seemed to believe they could face dangerous criminals on their own. Those two are more alike than they realize.

"She's a strong woman," Mike replied, "And she'll give you what you deserve!"

"I did not call to talk to an old man. I called for Mr. Reid," Kato growled, "The Green Hornet has a message."

"What is the message?"

"Either pay half the ransom or start preparing for a funeral." A steady dial tone replaced Kato's voice. Mike slammed his fist on the desk.

"They're not going to find her in time!"

"I'm going to buy us some time," Mr. Reid replied. "I'm going to my back and withdrawing half the ransom." He hung up the phone.

"I'll go with you, boss."

"No," Britt replied, "I'm not going to take the chance of the Green Hornet capturing you too, Mike. Stay here."

Mike glared, "I am not staying here while-"

"You will or I will call in a favor to the D.A. and have you put in jail for a few days!"

Mike glared at him, "You wouldn't!"

"To keep you safe I would!" Britt turned just as Casey entered the office.
"Mr. Reid? What happened? Is it Emmalyn, is she alright?"

Britt motioned towards the desk where the picture was, "The Green Hornet's enforcer just called. If I don't pay half the ransom, the Hornet will kill her. Will you do me a favor and try to keep Mike here?"

Casey nodded, "Of course."