Title: Hold Tight
author: Cindy Ryan
notes and summary: See part one

They found the main part of the lighthouse empty and with enough dust on it to appear no one had been there for years. However, Jared had seen a few scuff marks in the living room and kitchen that told otherwise.

"Basement."Vance said as the group paused by a beatup light green partial opened door. "Rodriguez, take Green and Loplen and head up we'll take the basement."

"Yes, Sir."Rodriguez acknowledged.

Seconds later the group split. Vance led the way down the old wooden stairs, Ben followed, then Jared and the two Homeland agents. Jared tightened his grip on his gun. The group reached the bottom of the stairs and spread out. It was an unfinished basement about the length of an average home garage. The ceiling dipped in several places causing the men to duck. Their had been a few single bulbs hanging in various spots but they weren't enough illumination. The men used flashlights and their beams bounced around on the dark walls some walls were slick with condensation.

Jared was walking along the farthest point of the basement. He guessed he was near the front of the right side of the lighthouse towards the driveway. Jared almost missed it. He retraced his steps and shown the flashlight on the wall. He had seen it! Just below the ceiling embedded into the cement was a carving of a bird about the size of a soda can. It was grime covered and barely visible. Excitedly Jared cleared away dust and dirt from the carving. It was looking more and more like Cal's drawing. More and more like a seagull. Stepping back Jared searched for any kind of an opening where the passengers could be held. He swept his light slowly back and forth, up and down. Then on the second pass he spotted a crack in the wall just above the floor directly below the seagull carving. Jared followed the crack with the flashlight tracing it up. He found another larger one, then a second. As he followed the second line he saw the area to the left of the carving wasn't as dirty. There were barely visible shoe scuff marks on the floor. Jared knocked on the wall and was rewarded with a hollow sound.

"Ben!"Jared shouted excitedly. "I found Cal's seagull!"

Ben ran over followed close behind by Vance and the others. Jared showed what he'd found. Ben brushed more dirt from the seagull carving before stepping back. Jared saw the worried anxious expression on Michaela's brother's face and hoped this was the lead they needed. The Stone family had been through more than enough.

"I don't think this is a traditional door."Vance theorized as they cleared away more of the area revealing dinged and tarnished metal. "I think it's horizontal, like a garage door."

"For supplies?"Ben guessed.

Ten minutes later they had the door uncovered. Jared suspected that the group holding the missing passengers hadn't used this door. Probably hadn't even known it was here. His gut was telling him this was what they were looking for. That it could lead to a sub-basement or crawl space. Soon with a too loud creak they pulled the door open. The interior revealed a dark, cold space with many spider and cobwebs protruding from the top. Five flashlight beams revealed a cinder block lined low corridor.

"Palmer, stay here."Vance ordered one of the agents. "Rest of you; let's move."

Michaela had been becoming more and more aware. She was still fading in and out of consciousness, but the times were getting shorter for which she was thankful. Michaela had been awake when the truck stopped and they unloaded her into a wheelchair. Before she faded again sh'ed caught a glimpse of a blue building and a strong smell of the ocean.

When she'd woken again Michaela had noticed the cold straight away. It'd actually been a blessing jarring her to alertness. She let her eyelids slide to halfmast and watched what was going on. She was almost happy to see she was with the missing passengers. That'd give her brother and Jared a better chance at finding her.

It was only then that she noticed the other passengers were strapped to chairs with electroids placed on their foreheads and the sides of their heads. With growing horror Michaela realized she was in a similar chair. When she tilted her head to the left she saw a wire move out of the corner of her right eye.

Michaela heard running feet from somewhere to her right and behind.

Then her eyes drooped closed and she faded into a familiar black void.

"Homeland security everyone freeze!"Vance thundered.

They'd followed the small corridor through a few twists and turns until it stopped into a small alcove. There was a very modern clean door there with light filtering underneath. The door had led to the large room they were standing in now. The missing passengers of 828 were towards the front all strapped to chairs all with wires and electrodes attached to them. Behind were a bank of computers, several scientists in white lab coats and two thirty something men in gray business suits. They looked at Vance and split like a bag of torn marbles. Everyone running in different directions. Jared scanned the passengers frantically looking for Michaela. He found her in the back row two chairs in.

"Ben!"Jared shouted gaining Michaela brother's attention. "She's here."

"Thank God."Ben responded gratefully as he followed Jared.

Jared was aware of Vance's team trying to surround the fleeing abductors but his full attention was on the woman he loved. Michaela looked far too pale and she was unconscious. Jared felt for a pulse and found a strong one and her breathing was normal. He let out a sigh of relief.

"Mic, we've got you."Ben stated quietly. "You're safe."

"I've got these straps and the electrodes."Jared said. "Get the binders on her feet and the strap around her waist."

Ben nodded and quickly began to undo the straps and buckles. Michaela moaned and Jared's heart lurched.

"It's alright, baby."Jared soothed. "You'll be home soon."

"We've got to move!"Vance shouted from the computers. "They're rigged the computers to explode and we don't have time to disarm them. We have to get the passengers to safety."

"I've got her."Jared said to Ben. "Go help them."

Ben rested a hand on Michaela's left arm before he stood and ran to the Homeland agents. Jared straightened and gathered Michaela's still form in his arms. He joined the others as they moved toward the exit the abductors had fled through. It led to another corridor similar to the one they'd used to get into the room.

There was a rumble in the ground as the first explosion hit. Jared poured on speed to catch up to Ben and Vance's group who had despite the burden of the semi-conscious passengers were several feet ahead. Jared saw Ben look back just as their was another louder explosion from behind. Knowing he wouldn't reach Ben and Vance Jared looked for any option. He found one just inches ahead. A niche in the wall that had one stack of crates in it and was large enough for two stacks but that spot was empty. Tucking Michaela protectively against his chest Jared flung himself into the niche. The next second he felt nothing but the heat and heard nothing but the sound of falling debris.

Ben stumbled back from the force of the explosion nearly falling into one of the Homeland agents. He coughed on the dust and stared in horror at the collapsed corridor where his sister and boyfriend had been.

"Michaela!"Ben shouted terrified as he ran forward.

Strong arms pulled him back and Ben tried to break free.

"Jared!"Ben called. "Mic!"

"Ben, we'll find them, I promise but we have to get these people out."Vance insisted.

Reluctantly Ben followed vowing silently to his sister that he'd be back as soon as he could.

Coughing woke Michaela. It took her a second to realize she wasn't coughing. She opened her eyes but found only darkness. Confusion and fear swept through her. She felt arms holding her and Michaela began to struggle.

"Michaela."Jared soothed. "It's me; you're okay."

Michaela stopped struggling but sensed what Jared had said wasn't true. She could always tell when her partner was lieing even in the darkness.

"W-what's happened?"Michaela asked her voice weak and scratchy.

"You were being held underground. I was starting to bring you to safety but the tunnel collapsed."Jared explained. "Are you hurt?"

"I don't think so."Michaela replied. "They've been drugging me so things are a bit foggy. Are you okay?"

"Few scrapes, but yeah I'm alright."Jared said holding Michaela close. "Ben and Vance were with me but we got separated. They'll get us out; we just have to wait."

"Okay."Michaela acknowledged. "I was with the other passengers, wasn't I?"

"Yes, and Ben and Vance got them out."Jared responded hoping it was true.

"At least something good came out of this."Michaela commented.

"We'll be out of here soon."Jared promised as he felt Michaela rest her head on his chest.

Jared felt for his flashlight and pulled it out of the left pocket of his jacket. He turned it on and shown it around them. The ceiling of the corridor had fell in. There was rock and debris around them. Jared turned the light to where he'd last seen Ben and saw nothing but a large pile of rock. He turned the light off and put it away. He tightened his embrace on Michaela hoping what he'd just promised wasn't' a lie.

Jared wasn't sure how they'd get out of here if Vance and Ben were trapped too. He had to believe the others got out because Jared couldn't believe that it had all been for nothing.