A/N: GUYS! I FINALLY DID IT. I BROKE THROUGH THE WRITER'S BLOCK, AND HERE I AM!

Seriously, I've been trying to write this chapter for a week, and it just wouldn't happen. It frustrated the life out of me. I'm sorry that not much happens in it action-wise, but it sets up future events. -grins slightly evilly- You'll see.

Thanks to my lovely reviewers, Brentinator, Pink-Libra-Girl, malfoyravenclaw555, and tennisgirl77! I had an amazing time on my trip, thanks to everyone who wished me fun. Also, if you've never been to a Steubenville Youth Conference, go. Seriously, they're INCREDIBLE. :D

Episode: Sort of Spike V. Spikette, but an AU set 2 months afterward where Kate's sonic scream nearly completely destroyed Chase's hearing.

Rating: K+, this chapter. A little less darkness this chapter.

Warnings: Templeton is rude and creepy. That is all.

Be the reason someone smiles today! :)

Chase peered through the gloom, carefully studying his surroundings. What he could see of them, anyway. He had to fight himself, the smug confidence that had always characterized his actions. Templeton was a master of brain twisting, and he loved tests. Everything was a test. This was a test. And just because it looked like one he'd seen before, Chase knew he couldn't let his guard down. If he did, he'd play right into whatever trap was set for him.

This was an ambush test, Chase could tell. He'd awoken, sat up, and immediately noticed that there was something wrong with the room. All the windows were covered, giving Templeton control of the lights in Chase's room. Lights which were slowly fading to nothing. There was nothing to indicate his goal, so Chase focused on the door. This was probably an escape game. The possibilities flashed through his mind, along with the knowledge that any wrong step on the floor, any careless brush against something, even movement or sound could be enough to doom him.

Habit sent his fingers shooting to his temple, preparing to scan for threats. He took a deep breath, prepared his system, and activated his bionic eye.

Or, at least, he tried to. Nothing happened, and he blinked, shaking his head with a frown. It had worked the day before, but clearly, Templeton had turned it off. It was something he didn't think he would ever get used to, knowing that Templeton's scientists could rearrange everything while he slept, and he could never count on his abilities. It was painful. But even he had to admit that it was a brilliant teaching tool.

Calmly assessing everything he had on him that he could work with, he created a plan. Systematically, he stripped his sleep shirt of the dozen or so small buttons. At least they would finally have some use, beyond taking an inefficient amount of time to secure.

Chase shuddered slightly. He was beginning to sound like Templeton, and he loathed it.

Templeton sat in the midst of a sleek, modern room that was all black and gunmetal. His chin rested on long, spindly fingers, which in turn sat above elbows set neatly on the desk in front of him. Keen, dark eyes flicked between the many monitors before him. In one, Tancred was about to begin the escape room. By his resigned countenance, Templeton assumed that the boy had discovered his lack of bionic powers. Still, he hadn't wasted time on formulating a plan, and Templeton nodded slightly in approval. Good. His boy was learning. At this point, he probably hadn't even noticed that most of the time, his bionic intelligence wasn't even on. Tancred was brilliant, even without the mental modifications. He'd just never been given a chance to discover it.

Sighing with pleasure, Templeton switched his attention to another screen, a larger one. His expression changed to, from one of satisfaction to one of predatorial glee. So. His plan had worked. He could see into his enemy's base, and was not impressed by what he saw. Douglas and Donald leaned against a counter, sipping coffees, and speaking grimly. Templeton's fingers hovered gracefully over the button that would let him hear what they were saying, indecisive. Logic demanded that he give himself every advantage, but his intellect roared for the hunt. Enough little games; he wanted a challenge. He rejoined his fingertips, smiling, apprehension racing through him.

Let them plot. It would make it all the sweeter when he brought out his true plan, one they could never anticipate. He would crush their hearts. He would crush their souls.

And they would put the means of doing so right into his hands.

"So, we agree?"

Douglas threw back his head to get the last drips of his ultra-strong coffee, and wished he had more. About a gallon more. He nodded. "Yeah. We need to give the kid a chance. Chase asked us not to go in 'guns blazing' for a week, so we won't. But we'll research and plan, so the moment the week's up, we can jump in there, and bust him out."

A ghost of a smile crept onto Donald's lips. "Not exactly how I would've said it, but yeah. Basically."

Douglas looked at his brother thoughtfully. He was worried about Donald. That tiny smile should have been a snarky comment to start a banter war, or a grin and a fond shake of the head. Yet the stress and frantic concern for Chase had taken all the life out of his usually exuberant older brother.

"You know none of this is your fault, right?" Douglas asked, gently.

Donald shook his head, sighing. "Theoretically. I don't really see anything I could have done differently to prevent it, and yet I feel like there has to be something. Mostly..." His eyes darkened. "I'm just worried sick."

Douglas, who knew Donald had been subsisting mostly on caffeine for days, thought there might be truth to that statement.

"I know, Donny. Really. But you need to take care of yourself. Killing yourself isn't going to help Chase at all."

The first genuine smile for far too long pulled at Donald's lips. "I seem to remember saying something very similar to you a while back."

"I listened, didn't I?"

Donald tilted his head thoughtfully. "Sort of, yeah," he conceded.

Douglas grinned. "Well, with your infuriating obsession with one-upping me, I'm sure you'll do better than that."

"I'm sure I will." Donald yawned hugely. "I'm going to take a nap. Wake me up with you find anything. And Douglas?" Donald reappeared around the door, and Douglas raised an inquiring eyebrow. "Don't call me Donny."

Douglas laughed for the first time in days.

A/N: I like reviews like Douglas likes egregiously strong coffee. :D