They arrived on top of the building Stick took charge and Matt followed behind. They had come up with a plan but Matt had completely forgotten it. He was used to working on his own he didn't think of plans or who went where.

"Let's get going" Matt called out

"Wait Matty"

"What?"

"You're doing it already"

"Doing what? I don't have time for games Stick"

"Letting your emotions get the better of you. We haven't even started and you are all over the place"

"I am not"

"Like hell you're not. Get your shit together or you'll get yourself killed"

Matt took a deep breath told himself that he needed to be in control for Foggy's sake after all the reason he was here was to save his friend. They found a small window and both of them climbed through. The room was dark.

"You go left, I'll go right kid, check out the whole floor"

"Wait, I don't hear his heartbeat up here"

"He's here alright but he's about three floors below I can just make him out"

"How do we get down there?"

"There's an elevator over there"

"Personally I prefer the stairs"

"I'm not really a fan myself but"

"Shh! someone is coming" Matt raised his hand

The two men separated each hiding behind a pillar on either side of the floor. Stick heard Matt bring down the first man and before the second man had a chance to react Stick had brought down the second one just as fast. Matt stood in the dark, head turned slightly.

"What is it?" Stick whispered

"I hear more on the way, they don't know we are here yet but there's enough of them to keep us busy for a while. You wanted a war old man, I think you just got it"

"You call this a war" he snorted." Come on you big girl"

"Stick, don't kill anyone" Matt warned

"Yeah whatever"

They went through the rooms the floor seemed to continue on and on. Stick and Matt fought their way through, Matt heard Stick fall but he wasn't down for long. Suddenly the elevator doors opened and two men walked out

"I'm starving" one said to the other

"Yeah, I could eat. Do you know where my jacket is?"

"Haven't seen it. Hey that Nelson guy, he is a fighter"

Matt gritted his teeth and made a fist with his hand, he was hiding in the dark.

"Can't see him lasting too much longer he's not looking well down there"

Stick placed a hand across Matt's chest to tell him to wait and to hold him back.

"On my count" he whispered

Matt was raring to go but he didn't move he remained in his spot.

"Now " Stick roared and ran out from hiding place.

Matt pulled one back by the collar, Stick went for the other guy elbowing him in the head.

"What the?"

"Shh!" Matt whispered placing his hand over the man's mouth. "Where is the lawyer Nelson?" Matt said grabbing the man by the throat and holding him up against the wall leaving his feet dangling.

The man kicked and squirmed, his eyes getting bigger from the pressure on his throat. He gasped for air.

"I asked you a question" Matt said releasing the pressure slightly around the neck so the man could speak.

"He's in the basement" he stuttered.

"Better" Matt punched him in the head and the man was knocked unconscious.

They found the stairs and quietly they went down through the various floors. Both Matt and Stick were breathing heavily. Matt had taken a knock to his shoulder and he had hurt his knuckles from trying to hit one guy but ended up missing and hitting the door. He was also a bit worried about his old mentor, Stick who was now bleeding from a cut over his eye and from his nose. He had pushed one up against a wall but the man was younger and he flipped Stick over causing the older man to cry out as he landed awkwardly on the floor. Matt grabbed the thug and punched him in the face, his nose made a crunching noise and blood splattered everywhere as he fell to the floor.

"Thanks kid"

"You okay?"

"Yeah, just need a second, I'm getting to old for this shit. How are you holding up?"

"Side is throbbing. I've reopened the cut over my eye for the second time this week" he sighed

"Ready to go again? We need to find your friend he doesn't sound like he's doing okay, his pulse is strong but his body is tired" Stick suddenly jumped up

"Age before beauty" Matt replied smiling

"Don't push it kid" Stick mumbled

.**************************

Frankie stopped eating his sandwich, a noise from across the corridor made him look up.

"Mikey get your men together, it seems we have company"

"Sure thing boss" Mikey replied getting up out of his seat and cracking his knuckles

Foggy had been retied up after trying to struggle free. He now had a blood shot eye to add to his other injuries but he was just grateful to still be alive. He squinted and tried to figure out what had made everyone suddenly react and grab their weapons. He heard gun fire down the hall.

"Grab him" Frankie shouted

Foggy was suddenly pulled from the chair.

"Put him in there, the masked man won't find him if we hide him"

Foggy was grabbed by the shoulders and brought out of the room.

"He said masked man, that means Matt's here" Foggy thought grinning, "Now's my chance". "HELP! HELP!" he started to shout and wriggled to get free, "HELP! I'M DOWN HERE, HELP"

"Shut up, I said shut up" he got hit in the ribs

"Ah!" Foggy cried out. "Get off of me" he kicked and squirmed but the men were stronger. "HEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLPPPP" he tried shouting again.

"Will someone shut him up" Frankie's voice came out of the shadows. "I told you to throw him in there out of the way"

Foggy resisted he dug his heels into the ground. He was weak but knowing Matt was in the building it had given him a tiny bit of courage. He kicked Mikey in the shins, he tried to break free.

"Will somebody just put a bullet in him and be done with it" Frankie called out

"Go for the gun in your leg holder and I'll make sure you never hold anything again" Matt's voice was heard in the darkness. Stick and himself had decided to split up and try find Foggy separately. "Let Mr. Nelson go" he continued, his voice was cold and steady.

"What the fuck?" Frankie sounded startled

"I said let him go?" Matt shouted again kicking over a box.

"Don't just stand there" Frankie said to his men "go after him"

Two men ran at Matt but he was ready for them and he brought them down quickly.

Coming out into the light Matt repeated "I told you to let him go. Don't have me ask a third time, my patience is beginning to run thin"

Foggy watched still trying to get out of the tight grip the man had on him. He was still only getting used to the fact that the man dressed all in black who many feared was his own best friend Matt. Tony entered the room and stood beside Frankie, he flicked his cigarette on to the floor and with his boot he put it out.

"Well, well, well" he started "I was wondering when you were going to turn up"

A click of a gun stopped Matt in his tracks. Mikey had Stick, his arms were tied behind his back and the gun was pointed at his head. A second click of a gun made Matt turn the other way and Frankie was now holding a gun against Foggy's head.

"Good job fellas" Tony smiled turning back to Matt he said "the big question here is, which one will you save?

Matt tried not to react, he went to say something but Tony continued interrupting him.

"So who is it to be, your lawyer college friend or your old friend who was brought along today to help you. Isn't that right Mr. Murdock?" he paused waiting for Matt to react but Matt said nothing. "Sorry my mistake, as you said yourself in the alleyway it's Matt. Decisions, decisions Matt, decisions, decisions, so who's it going to be? You can't save them both"

"How did you guess?" Matt said through gritted teeth

"Unfortunately, I can't take the credit for that" Tony laughed. "It seems Frankie figured that one out all by himself. Hold him down boys"

Two men grabbed Matt's arms and brought him down to the floor on to his knees.

"How is your side by the way Matt?" he laughed an evil laugh, "still sore from Frankie's knife"

He stood in front of Matt and kicked him the in the side. Pain spread through Matt's body. He bit his lip to stop him from crying out.

"You got sloppy in the alleyway Murdock and when Frankie saw the blood on your shirt that confirmed everything. I wasn't convinced at first but your friend here he gave you away. Mr. Nelson is very loyal and he tried to lie and defend your secret but he really needs to work on his poker face"

He kicked Matt again in the side and this time the wound reopened.

"Ah!" Matt cried out his head falling forward, he started to pant, his breathing was fast and short.

"Matt" Foggy yelled. "Shit, Matt I'm sorry"

Matt shook his head. "Don't be it's fine Foggy, it wasn't your fault. I" he stopped and he hissed in a breath trying to ease the pain. He swallowed hard and closed his eyes. "It's my, it's my fault" he whispered.

Frankie was getting impatient. "Get on with it, enough of this rubbish. Murdock who's it going to be?"

Matt was getting weary, his side was bleeding, his arms were now beginning to ache from being held out by the two men standing over him and his knees hurt from kneeling on the floor.

"Let them both go, it's me you want not them. Foggy has been through enough and the old man has nothing to do with this. You got your revenge for Jimmy being sent down, you got my money, I'm not going to play your games" Matt replied wearily. "Let them go, it's me you really want"

Foggy started to squirm slightly. "Don't do this Matt" he called out. "Don't do this"

"How very noble of you Matt" Tony laughed

Stick could feel Mikey's arm shake slightly from holding his gun in the same position for too long. He took this as his chance. He had gotten one of his hands free from the cable ties that were tying his wrists together. In the pocket of his combats Stick kept small smoke pellets, he used them as distractions when he needed to escape quickly. Bringing his arm down ever so slightly not wanting to create a scene he gently elbowed Mikey in the ribs.

"Hey, watch it old man"

"Sorry" Stick replied innocently as he quickly took a pellet from his pocket.

"What's going on over there? Hold him still Mikey, if he moves again shoot him" Tony said taking his eyes off Matt for a couple of seconds.

Matt knew Stick was trying to create a diversion and was taking the attention away from him to give him the time he needed to break free. He called out to Tony.

"If you shoot him, then I don't get to pick which one I want to save"

Tony turned back to Matt and Stick threw the pellets across the floor smoke instantly filled the room. Matt grabbed the two men holding him and broke free. He slammed their heads together and they slumped to the floor.

"Foggy" Matt called out, "Where are you? Foggy mate"

"Matt, I'm over here. I seem to have knocked out this guy but I don't know for how long"

"Are you okay?"

"I don't know I feel a bit sick, the room is swaying slightly and I think the smoke is making it harder to breathe"

"It's a bit thick alright" Matt smiled. "Can you stand? Whoa, easy buddy don't fall down on me, here give me your arm lean on me. Foggy you are very warm, are you sure you are alright?"

He put his arm around Foggy and inhaled sharply the pain in his side screamed in pain from the extra weight.

"I'll be fine Matt" he coughed from the smoke, "but more importantly are you okay? That side of yours how did that happen?"

"Long story Foggy, I'll ring Claire as soon as we get out of here"

"Matt, you need to go after your friend, he's gone after those guys"

"Shit! Stick" Matt said looking around the room

"So that's the famous Stick"

"Yeah, that's him, just give me a second I just need to see which way they have gone" he tilted his head. "Hmm something doesn't feel right. Stay put I'll be right back. Don't do anything I wouldn't do"

"And what is that exactly?" Foggy replied but Matt was gone.

.**************************

Matt crept back down the hall. He could hear fighting. Stick was holding his own but his mentor, his friend was injured. The smell of copper filled the air but Matt couldn't determine who's blood belonged to who. He could hear Stick breathing heavily and carrying his left leg.

"Stick" he whispered

"Over here kid" Stick whispered back

"Are you alright?"

"I've been better"

"You're dragging your leg"

"It's my knee, I've had issues with it for a long time but I got a kick to it earlier and I think the knee has totally given up"

"We need to finish this, let's get going. Do you know where those two guys went?"

"Tony and Frankie?"

"How did you discover their names?" Matt grinned

"I heard the one that had me held by gun point call out to him"

"Fair enough, well either way let's finish this"

"Couldn't have said it better myself, let's go"

.**************************

Foggy was sitting in the room, he looked around he was trying to find a phone. He wanted to ring Karen and tell her he was okay. He also wanted to ring Brett to come and arrest the men scattered around the building. He crawled over and checked was there a phone on any of them but there wasn't. He tried to stand up but he swayed slightly, he grabbed out and placed his two hands on the cold wall.

"Come on Nelson, get a grip" he said to himself.

His head felt like it was full of cotton wool. He stumbled down the corridor that he had been dragged down earlier, he remembered the phone Mikey had used when Tony or Frankie had called earlier. He tried to think and remembered that the phone was left on the chair. He continued on, the building was now eerily quiet. He finally reached the door to the room where he had been kept hostage, he opened the door slowly and looked in. His stomach turned when he saw the chair he had been tied to earlier and his own blood on the cement floor. His tongue touched the side of his mouth where he had spat out the blood earlier. On the other chair near the desk was Mikey's phone just as he had left it. He pressed a key and the phone came to life it wasn't locked. There wasn't much battery life left and he didn't know if it was in credit, he doubted it was a bill phone. There was one bar left on the phone which wasn't much but he would be lucky to get one call out of it. He tried to think of Karen's mobile number, there was no point ringing the office she wouldn't be there this late in the evening. He punched in the number, hoping it was the right one. The phone rang, Foggy's heart started to pound in his chest.

"Answer, come on answer. Pick up, come on Karen, pick up. Damn it, answer your phone"

The phone rang and rang, just as he was about to hang up he heard her sweet but tired voice on the other end.

"Hello"

"Karen, Karen it's me, Foggy" he croaked, his voice suddenly deciding not to work. He started coughing to try clear his throat. "Karen, it's me" he repeated. "Can you hear me, the signal isn't great"

"Foggy, oh God Foggy. Yes, I can hear you. Where are you? Are you okay?"

"Karen I'll be okay. Listen to me Karen. I don't know how much battery life or credit is on this phone I just found it but I need you to call Brett, get us out of here. I'm not sure where here is though it's just some warehouse they all look the same to me."

"Shit! Matt needs to know you are alive. I'll phone him straight away he'll want to know. Foggy he's been so worried"

"No!" Foggy interrupted, he thought of his friend and the other guy Stick running after the two men. "I mean no, it's okay I tried to ring him already. I can't get through or find him" he lied, "he's not answering, you know what he's like always turning his phone on silent or off and he definitely wont answer an unknown number. Karen ring the cops as fast as you can, it's not good here" he coughed again his hands were shaking holding the phone.

"Foggy are you hurt? I'll call an ambulance also"

"I'm okay but there are others who need" he stopped suddenly, a gunshot echoed through the building. "Shit. Karen, I have to go"

"Foggy what is it?"

"Just find Brett, find somebody, anybody who wears a police uniform" a second gunshot was heard and Foggy paled his heart stopped in his chest. "Quick Karen, tell them to hurry up and get here" he hung up the phone. "Shit, shit, shit" a third then a fourth gunshot broke the silence. "MAAAAAAATT" he shouted, forgetting the pain in his head as he started to run out of the room.

He ran through the various rooms he had gone through not twenty maybe half an hour earlier, there were bodies of unconscious men everywhere. Kicking one to make sure they were out of it he grabbed the gun that was sticking out of the man's jacket. Foggy checked to see if it was loaded and with shaky hands he held the gun out in front of him. He had considered ringing the police himself and try get the call traced, but he had dropped the phone as soon as he ran out of the room. He didn't have time to look for another he had to continue on and find Matt. He carefully walked into a room where the gunshots had come from.

"Freeze" he called out "I've got a gun and I'm not afraid to use it, the cops are on their way"

Foggy waited but no sounds came from the room. There was complete silence he wished he had Matt's technique of hearing heart beats, unfortunately the only heart beat he could hear was his own. He walked further into the room but he wasn't prepared for what he saw. There were four bodies of men lying across the floor. None of them were moving and in the middle lying on his back was Matt Murdock.

.**************************

Foggy dropped the gun and ran to his friend. He knelt down beside Matt like he had done a few weeks earlier in his apartment, the night he had discovered Matt's secret.

"Matt, Matt, can you hear me? Matt, Matt" he choked, tears springing to his eyes. "Come on buddy, come back to me" he said pulling the black mask up over Matt's eyes.

Matt looked a bit worse for wear, blood seeped from a wound on the side of his head, he looked bruised and beaten. Foggy shook his head, he hated seeing his friend in this way but he was thankful that it was nothing compared to the way he had found him after his fight with Nobu. He bent down and placed two fingers on Matt's neck, it took a couple of seconds but there it was a slow steady pulse. He released the breath he was holding and sighed in relief.

"Oh Matt, tell me you haven't been shot"

Slowly he pressed both hands down Matt's shoulders and down along his side. He pressed in his fingers being ever so gentle at the same time trying not to cause his friend any further pain. He felt Matt tense, his body shifted and his eyes opened.

"Ah" Matt yelled

"Matt, can you hear me? Shit sorry where does it hurt? Have you been shot? Talk to me Matt"

"Foggy" he whispered. "Foggy, is that you?"

"It's me buddy, I heard gun shots. Have you been shot Matt?"

"I emm" he stuttered, "I don't think so. I cant remember what happened" he went to sit up.

"Whoa! Don't you dare move, take your time. Stop moving. Don't try to sit up. God knows what internal damages you have. You're pretty messed up, your shoulder is bleeding and so is your thigh. This is so typical of you Murdock, you come to rescue me and I end up rescuing you" he grinned trying to lighten the mood.

"What are friends for?" Matt replied smiling.

"Speaking of friends where's the old guy?"

"Stick, where's stick I have to find him" he tried to get up again.

"Will you sit still"

Matt went silent he closed his eyes and his head fell to the side

"No, no you don't. Stay with me Matt. Come on, open your eyes. Matt, Matt"

Foggy placed his hand behind his friend's head and immediately he felt something wet and sticky.

"Aw shit" Foggy gasped, "Matt, come on, open your eyes for me. Don't do this to me, don't you dare do this to me.

Matt swallowed and his eyes flickered, they slowly opened, he held his hand out to Foggy and Foggy grabbed it.

"I'm here buddy, I'm here"

"You're bleeding Foggy" Matt whispered. "You need medical attention, you are sweating like mad. I need to get you out of here, you need a Doctor"

"I'll be okay, I'll go as soon as we get out of here, you could do with one yourself. Can you remember what happened?"

Matt licked his lips and his forehead creased, he was trying to think back to what happened. He cleared his throat.

"We" he started but then he paused and started again. "I had gone after Stick everything was okay until the smaller guy produced a gun. He aimed at me but missed and grazed my thigh that would explain why it's bleeding. He went to shoot again but Stick" he stopped and tilted his head towards Foggy. "Stick pushed me out of the way and I fell backwards, I don't know what happened next"

"It looks like you slapped your head off the ground Matt"

"Foggy where's Stick? My senses are a bit messed up but I don't hear him anywhere, I can't, I can't hear his heartbeat" he said with panic in his voice. "I can't hear anyone's heart beat but yours Foggy. Are we alone in this room? Help me Foggy, I need to find him"

Foggy stood up and looked around the room. He had forgotten that there were others around him. Moving slightly away from Matt he went over to the first body and checked for a pulse and then he did the same for the smaller man who was lying face down.

"Matt, those two guys are dead, the ones that brought me here" he called over. "They are pretty messed up. There are guns beside both of them but they don't seem to have been shot, although I could be wrong, it's hard to tell"

"Foggy, is Stick in the room?"

Foggy walked over to the far corner of the room. Stick was lying face down on his stomach, his sunglasses had fallen off and were on the floor.

"He's here Matt, it's definitely him"

Foggy could clearly see that Stick had received one bullet in the shoulder, this was the bullet that was probably intended for Matt but Stick had blocked. Looking at the cuts and bruises he must have fought the two men and that's when the third shot went off but they must have missed. Foggy turned Stick over on to his back and he tried not to gasp. They may have missed on the third but they definitely didn't miss with the fourth. Stick's shirt was covered in his own blood, the bullet was lodged in the man's stomach. Foggy tried to piece it together in his head. He had saved Matt, gone and fought the two guys, dodged the third bullet but the fourth has been the one to kill him. Looking at the drops of blood on the flood, he had walked over and collapsed face down.

"Foggy" Matt's voice broke through Foggy's thoughts. "Foggy talk to me"

Foggy placed two fingers on the side of Stick's neck. He knew the answer already but he had to confirm it. He looked over to his friend who was trying to sit up on the other side of the room and wished there was a different answer to the question he knew Matt was going to ask.

"Foggy" Matt called out again. "What is it? What's wrong? Tell me, tell me he's alive Foggy"

Foggy closed his eyes and lowered his head, he knew the answer was going to break his best friend's heart. He had already lost one father in his lifetime but now to lose a second one that was very unfair.

"Matt" he said voice breaking. He cleared his throat and continued "I'm sorry Matt, Stick is dead"

Matt rested his head back down on the floor and a single tear slid down the side of his face.

"Let's get you home buddy, we can arrange someone to collect the body later"

Flashing blue and red lights lit up the warehouse and sirens were heard outside.

"Shit" Matt swore

"What's wrong? The cops are here they can get us home finally. Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I can't go in the squad car Foggy, I can't just get dropped off at home now can I. There's more of a chance of them arresting me for killing those men"

"But you didn't kill them. Well, you are in no fit state to walk out of here either"

"I'll be fine, I'll get out myself trust me. Help me up, I'll wait over there . I'll be okay. Get yourself out, you've been through enough. I'll catch up with you as soon as I can. Foggy, Foggy give me your hand and help me up"

"I just need a minute" he swallowed hard, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. The room was spinning slightly but he didn't want Matt to know.

"I don't think you have a minute, I hear someone coming" Matt whispered, quick give me your hand and he hobbled off to hide.

"Freeze, put down your weapons" Brett's voice shouted into the room. "The building is surrounded, come out with your hands up, you are all under arrest"

He shone his torch around the room stopping on the three bodies.

"Don't shoot" Foggy said walking into the light.

"Nelson, is that you? What the hell happened? Nelson, Nelson" but Foggy's eye rolled in his head and he collapsed to the floor.