DISCLAIMER: I do not own Tin Man or The Golden Compass, just my character. Enjoy

CHAPTER TEN

No amount of struggling was getting Cora free anytime soon. She couldn't tell how many people were there but she knew there was more than one.

"Be careful with her. She is caring Kieran's baby." Cora heard someone say.

She had been blinded folded, gagged and had her hands tied, she couldn't tell where the hell she was. But she did feel the cool air and knew they were outside. It was a long travel and Cora felt them turn left then right numerous times. They finally reached their destination after what seemed like a long run.

The person that held her sat her down. He faced her one way before removing the blindfold. When her eyes adjusted she looked around the place. It was dark and dingy, the building they were in looked to be falling apart and very dusty. Her eyes finally landed on a man with fair light brown hair and chocolate eyes. Even though her hands were tied Cora pulled the gag from her mouth and spit on him.

Wiping it off his face, "Now, now Swoosie, is that any way to treat me, Kieran the father of your baby?"

She spit on him again, "Hell yes. Leave me to bear this alone, then you freaking snatch me."

Some light was turned on, "You are not Swoosie." He said getting a better look at Cora.

"I am so. What makes you think I'm not?"

"Oh you have the fire she has, don't get me wrong. But I know she would be showing now. And you don't sound like her. Her voice is softer, more light." He paced in front of her.

Watching him, she felt Gobo was very near, "So I'm not this Swoosie at least untie me. I'm not going to run, I don't even know where the hell I am." Holding up her tied hands.

He stood inches from her, "No."

"Should of said yes."

Cora grabbed his knife before she shoved him away from her. She stabbed the guy behind her as Gobo attacked the guy next to her. Swoosie's lover grabbed Cora by the hair. She yelped in pain causing Gobo to stop feeling the same pain. The man Gobo attacked got up and kicked him.

She yelled at the guy, "Noooo, stop please. Do what you like to me but don't hurt him."

Tears falling down her face, Gobo had slid off to the side under some tattered cloth. He wasn't moving.

He held her hair tight, "Oh I plan on making you pay for what you did."

"Then you should of kidnapped a more docile person." Cora gave him a swift elbow in the stomach before punching him in the face.

The other stranger attacked her, she quickly punched him in the throat. While he stood there coughing, she laughed, going to see to Gobo. Kieran got her halfway before getting to Gobo. Cora was worried that he was really hurt, he hadn't moved since he was kicked.

Kieran threw her across the room, "That was a big mistake."

"Life is full of mistakes." She slowly rose from the floor.

"Some even get you killed-like this one." He went over kicking her in the stomach.

Spitting, Cora got up on her feet, "Someone's coming for me and you'll be sorry. He will make you pay for hurting me."

Hitting her across the face, "No one's coming for you. I doubt that anyone is even missing you this very moment. Swoosie does have a habit of leaving parties unannounced and unnoticed."

Cain moved as quickly as possible to find who took Cora. Whoever took her better of not laid a hand on her or so help him the person was going to pay.

When he reached the last step, he realized he didn't know where to start.

"You looking for the men with the women to on their shoulder?" A dirty old man with one eye said.

"Which way?"

Holding out his hand, "My mind is a little shady."

Grabbing the man by the shirt collar, "If you do not tell me where they went I will have you stripped naked in the square and whipped for all to see."

"They…..they went that way." Pointing to Cain's right.

He dropped the man where he was and rushed off. Seconds later when Jeb came out with some guards, the dirty old man pointed them in the same direction.

It took awhile but Cain found the direction that they went. He walked the alley's in silence listening for anything that might give the kidnappers away. Checking window after window, only to find each and every place empty.

Checking the millionth window he thought when his stomach dropped. There laid in the middle of the room, the moonlight shining down on her was Cora, she wasn't moving. Kicking the door in, the room was empty but her and the guy she had stabbed.

Cain fell to his knees by her side, tears filling his eyes. When Jeb came in her head was in Cain's lap as his hand petted her head over and over. He saw a dead body laying on the floor close to the door.

Cain looked up at them, "Were…..I'm, I'm late."

"Where is he? Where is the person who did this?" Jeb moved slowly to his father.

Looking around, "I don't know." He said quietly.

Jeb knew he was looking at a broken man. Losing his family the first time was hard enough. But this? This was unimaginable on his part. Just to find another love and being able to move on was great. No one ever thought it was going to be taken from him and so soon.

Not having the heart to move his father now he told everyone to step out to give him some time. Jeb stood by the door watching his poor dad grieve. As he waited he took to looking around the room. Jeb's heart skipped a beat or two. Running over to the pile of cloth's he tossed them all aside.

His head flew to Cain, "She's not dead!"

Cain slowly looked to his son, "What?"

Jeb showed him Gobo, "She told me when I showed her around Central City, if she died he would disappear."

"What if he died?"

"She walks around in a daze all her life never really fully recovering from it. But Gobo is alive, he is breathing, though very faintly."

Cain scooped Cora off the ground while Jeb called for someone to help him with Gobo. The others made sure to get the corpse. By the time they reached the castle everyone was gone.

Everyone else who was left watched in horror as Cain walked down the hall with Cora's limp body. Jeb and one of the other guards trailed behind him with Gobo.

He laid her in her bed, "She's going to want him with her. He normally will lay at the end of the bed." He said softly

They laid him on the bed before leaving. Everyone was outside the room waiting for some answers.

"He wasn't there when my dad arrived. I figured after Raw checks her and Gobo out he can look into her mind."

"Sure. How is he doing?" The Queen asked.

Jeb looked back at the room, "He's a mess."

Raw came up and immediately went in. He healed everything he could but was unable to get either of them awake. He healed their cuts and bruises and was able to stop the internal bleeding. He told them that he was never good at bones, they never seemed to heal properly.

Cain sat by her bed holding her hand. He didn't say anything when Raw did his thing. They figured out who and what happened to the dead body. They all saw up to when he started beating her. That's when Raw pulled away. Clenching his jaw Cain released her hand and moved from her side.

"Father, no. I will take a few men and go find Kieran. You will stay with Cora." Jeb stepped between him and the door.

"Jeb move." He icily said.

DG Stood next to Jeb, "Cain, he's right. You're angry and it's not our decision on how the man is to be punished. The Duchess asked for our help to capture him and that is what will be done."

Pointing to Cora, "She cannot wake up. He needs to pay."

With a snap of her fingers a bubble formed around Cain, "DG let me out."

"I know you all to well. You are going for him when our back is turned. So you will be in that bubble till Jeb get's back."

"What am I supposed to do?" Cain looked around the bubble.

Everyone started to leave as DG and Jeb pushed Cain by Cora's bed, "You are going to stay here and I'll be back soon." Jeb told him.

Cain huffed sitting on the floor of the bubble. DG returned with some food for him. He was in the same spot he sat when she left him.

Setting the tray on the coffee table, "Do not make me regret letting you out of the bubble so you can eat." Snapping her fingers.

When he didn't come, she turned to him. He couldn't bring himself to leave her side. He didn't want to.

Placing some food on a plate for him, "Eat something Cain. You'll need your strength when she wakes."

"I don't deserve to eat." Pushing the plate away.

Bringing it back to him, "Yes you do."

"I couldn't keep Jeb and Adora safe and now her. I deserve to be alone."

Placing the food on the night stand, "This is your second chance at happiness. You deserve this, risking your life to make sure that I am safe. Being alone you definitely do not deserve. Now eat."

He took a bite of bread and set it back down on the plate, "Happy now?"

"A little."

DG sat with him a little while longer pushing him to eat. She was satisfied when half the plate was gone. Leaving, she made a bubble around Cain and the bed Cora was in, so he was able to move.

Cain fell asleep in his chair holding Cora's hand. He didn't sleep well that night. Every time he would close his eyes he dreamt that Cora had died. And, in each dream, she died in a different way.

It took Jeb and his men three days to find Kieran and the guy who was with him. They brought them to the Duchess before returning back to the castle in Central City.

"How is he?" Jeb asked when he walked thought the doors.

DG was waiting for him, "He hasn't left her side. And I pretty much have to force him to eat."

"How is she doing?"

"Nothing. She is still the same as she was when she was brought in. Mother thinks, well hopes, actually that if we go back to Finaqua it might help."

Giving her a sharp nod, "I'm willing to try anything."

It took them longer to get to Finaqua than usual. They were going at a slow pace hoping it wouldn't make her worse than she all ready was.

Cain rode next to her glancing her way every few seconds. When they got her to her room Cain spent the better part of an hour making sure Cora was comfy. That night Jeb came by with some dinner for him. He saw his dad out on the ledge.

Running out there, "This is not the answer, dad. She's still alive and can wake up any second."

He didn't even move but kept his position of looking out on Finaqua, "I had the same reaction when I saw her do this in Central City. But I pulled her off the ledge and threw her on the bed. The first thing she said to me after I did that was I owed her a new bag of candy."

"If you're not going to jump then why are you up there?" Calming down slightly.

He moved to face Jeb, "Cora said the sensation was amazing. She's right, you know."

"Good, but will you get down please? You're making me nervous up there." Jeb requested. Cain stood there a moment longer before stepping down off the ledge. "Now come, you need to eat." Jeb said.

Waving him off. "I'm fine, I'm not hungry."

"Eat or I'm getting DG to come and help me."

He made his way to the food and picked at his plate. "Why won't she wake?" Cain looked over to her.

Jeb looked too. "I am not sure. I set it up to have Raw come check her out every day. See if she is getting any better or worse."

Cain went to Cora's side, "That is a good idea."

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