Authors Note: Okay so in this chapter you guys finally get to know who the captor is! I know I said that this is centred on series 5, but as it is AU I threw a little of season 7 in there as well. Let me know what you think and please review! The timing of the story in relation to the episodes is a little wobbly, but I just couldn't think of anyone better to have as the bad guy. Also, if you're not a fan of AU, please don't hate me! :) Enjoy guys.

PS: Leh-housemaniac, you guessed it already! But I couldn't give the game away then, or it would ruin all of the fun :) Also Amie and KooshGID thank you for you're continued support. Keep reviewing!


Chapter 8: Captor Revealed (finally!)

Present – Thirteen

She had never felt so exhausted in her entire life. Every second was a battle to keep her eyes prised open as the darkness threatened to consume her again. After a little while however, pain in her flanks caused her to bite her lip to keep from crying out, making sure she wouldn't fall asleep any time soon.

Chase kept a cool hand pressed on her abdomen whilst shaking her every ten minutes, continuing the charade of preventing her slumber when unbeknownst to him Thirteen was in agony. Another spike of pain caused her whole body to spasm, finally alerting Chase to her discomfort. His worried eyes conveyed his over concern and Thirteen couldn't decide whether it was the fever talking, or that she may have found something she didn't know was there. Could she be falling for her co worker?

Shaking her head to clear those thoughts, she pondered their situation. Who could want such a thing from them? Their captor hadn't been revealed to them as of yet, and she felt ashamed to say that she was rather hoping it would stay that way. She feared whoever would care so little about how much they got hurt before making their demands; extreme violence was certainly not out of the question. Chase moved forward outside of her vision, and she wondered where he was going now. Hopefully to get another cool compress for her forehead, she was feeling unbelievably hot right now.

Immediately she felt sickening regret, he was doing so much for her already. She would do the same for him but still, he seemed to be genuinely concerned for her health. When he returned this time however, he wiped at her mouth with another cool piece of cloth. Huh. She must have bitten her lip so hard that blood had flowed down her chin.

"Thanks… Chase," Urgh, her voice sounded hoarse even by her standards. Plenty of times after waking up from a one night stand after a night on the town she sounded rough, but this was taking it to a whole new level. Before Chase could reply however, the noise of the door creaking forwards on its hinges made a deafening racket. Praying that no fresh horror would came out, Thirteen shut her eyes and felt Chase stiffen beside her. Taub sensed the threat also and moved from the opposite side of the room, where he had previously been perched wringing his hands in trepidation. Whatever happened next, at least they would be together.

Or so they thought.


Present – Taub

A six foot tall thug entered their prison cell, his identity masked from them by a blood red bandana, leaving only his steely glare visible to them. Taub flexed his dirty fingers anxiously behind his back: this guy meant business. In one scarred fist he held a bowie knife, in the other some black material. Raising a threatening eyebrow, the gargantuan jailor spoke:

"Listen up. We can do this the easy way…" He stared at each of them in turn, daring them to disagree, "or the other way. Now trust me, you want to go the easy way my friends." His tone was gruff and raw, similar to Thirteen's current vocal situation.

Apparently the others noticed it too, and Taub saw Chase try to hide a small smirk. It did not go unnoticed.

"Alright there is nothing to smile about. Now, I've got orders that you little bunnies are to be separated for a little while, and the Boss will speak to you all individually. How does that sound eh?"

Chase and Taub shot furtive glances at each, both thinking differently but along the same lines. Without them, Thirteen would be dead before morning. Taub reckoned he owed it to her to try and fight on her behalf, and from the looks of it Chase would take both the brute and him out if he didn't. Coiling his muscles in anticipation, Taub raised himself slightly on his haunches. Seeing his movement the man chuckled.

"Good luck with that boys. Now, if either of you try anything, princess over there is going to get it. Kapiche?"

Chase evidently decided to call the man's bluff, however just as he swung back his arm to punch 'Mr. scary eyes' he was knocked off his feet by his opponent. Taub watched dumbstruck as Chase's back collided with the opposite wall, and a resounding thwack echoed. Shoving Taub out of the way, the man raised Thirteen up by her hair.

"I warned you about the conditions. You boys need to learn that actions do have consequences."

And with that final word, he plunged the knife into Thirteen's side laceration, twisting the blade until she gave a bloodcurdling scream of anguish. Satisfied that he had made his point, he placed a dark hood over her head before dragging her out of the room by her ankles.

"I'll be back to collect baldy in a minute. Me and princess need to have a little chat beforehand."

Taub gulped. The shit had not only hit the fan but probably transformed into explosive diarrhoea by this point. As he helped Chase up, he saw that his expression mirrored his feeling of hopelessness. This was not good.


Present - ?

She didn't think she had ever been so happy in her life. She was finally going to get her deserved revenge. Then who'd be smiling huh? As she was rubbing her palms with glee, the radio behind her crackled. Picking up the walkie talkie, she fought to keep the excitement out of her voice.

"Andre, is it done?"

"Yeah babe, I'm going to put her in the container next door. So that they can hear her – that's what you wanted right?" he replied.

"Yeah that sounds good. Are you sure she didn't recognise you? You kept the bandanna on like we agreed?"

"Yes, don't worry she didn't notice. Plus she's only ever seen a little photo of me from years back; I doubt she would have made the connection even if I hadn't worn a disguise."

"Well, I'm going down there now. Are you absolutely sure you weren't followed when you went to get the tools?"

"Yes, don't strain yourself. We've both been inside for ages girl, you know what it's like in there. I'm not going back if I can help it."

She hung up, chewing her nails deep in thought. Injecting the last of her heroine to calm her nerves, she strode over to the container Andre had told her about. Inside a battered Thirteen lay on the floor, blood covered her face. Yet her shocked stare was vibrant as ever, exactly the effect she had wanted. Thirteen coughed out a single word, laced with disbelief.

"Darrien?"