Lapis stood on the shore, watching the crashing waves roll in. It's been a few days since Steven has been kidnapped. Lapis has tried contacting him again, but to no avail. He wasn't anywhere in her dreams or in reality. Obviously, they were all worried sick about him. There was no way to tell if he was alive or dead. Amethyst seemed to still hold a grudge against the ocean gem, which Lapis couldn't blame her for. Pearl just seemed to always be panicking or crying, pacing back and forth often. Garnet just kept herself busy, with either regular missions or searching Steven. She rarely talked anymore. Well she never talked that much in the first place, but now it was a miracle if she said a couple of words a day.

Right now the Crystal Gems were out looking for him again. Lapis never went with them. She wasn't part of their team, and she didn't want to pretend that she was. They could handle missions by themselves. She couldn't help them much anyway. If she couldn't find Jasper or Peridot the first time, so she probably never would. And now she just lost contact with Steven.

Sighing, Lapis walked into the water. Swimming could usually clear her mind. When she was waist deep, she dove underwater. She swam just underneath the surface, not really going anywhere Looking up, she saw the light from the sun, rippling. Breathing out, bubbles rose from her mouth, wobbling like jellyfish. Being a gem, she didn't even need to breathe, making it possible for her to stay under the surface for a long time if she wished. She was just glad that even during chaos and misfortunes, Lapis could still find some refuge in the ocean.

She closed her eyes, just letting the water carry her. She felt as if she was levitating. She was weightless. She listened to the muffled sounds of the waves crashing above her. She was drifting off as if she was about to sleep, when she saw weird images flashed in front of her eyes. Rippled moonlight in the water, a gem gadget, a fish with a mask…

Opening her eyes, she swam back up to the surface. Wiping water away from her face, she shook her head. The ocean dreams are starting to get even weirder. It didn't even seem like a dream! She decided it was time to get out of the water. Picking up the towel she brought, she started drying her hair as she walked up the hill to the house.

As Lapis entered the house, see saw the Gems just returning on their warp pad.

"Any luck?" the blue gem asked. Amethyst huffed. "Nope."

Pearl sat down on the couch tiredly. "Ugh! Where could he be!? We've looked everywhere! The battlefield, the communications hub, the universal warp pad, we even looked around here in Beach City for something! But we found nothing!"

"What are you looking for?" came a voice from the door. Pearl, Amethyst and Garnet mentally face palmed as they saw who it was. Greg. They never told Greg that his own son is missing! As he walked in, Pearl gave a big cheesy smile. "Greg! uh... Hiiiii..." she greeted, trying to seem casual.

Greg stared at the white gem with confusion. What was up with her? "Hi? Um... Is Steven here? I haven't seen him in a while, so I wanted to see if he wanted to go to out for some Fish Stew Pizza. You know, have some Father-Son bonding time?"

Pearl looked at her teammates with uncertainty. Pearl started trying to come up with an answer "Oh yes! Steven. He is uhh..."

"He's at the Fun Land Arcade!" Amethyst filled in.

"Really? I thought that place closed early on Sundays." Greg commented. Shoot! What were they going to tell him now?!

"Oh... Did she say Arcade? She meant uh... Connie's house!" Pearl said. "Smooth." Lapis commented dryly, receiving a glare from the Pearl.

Greg wasn't convinced, and he became more suspicious. "Guys, what's going on? Where's my son?"

They all remained silent. Lapis, knowing how much Steven's father cared about his son's well being, didn't like that they were trying to hide the fact Steven has been kidnapped. "Seriously? You aren't going to tell him?"

"Lapis!" cried Amethyst and Pearl.

"What? He deserves to know!"

"We don't need another person's panicking to deal with! The task at hand is our top priority right now!" "The task at hand" was Pearl's secret phrase for "Finding Steven."

"No. Lapis is right." said Garnet.

"What?" The three fighting gems turned to look at the stoic gem. Garnet went on. "Greg is Steven's father. He has the right to know where his son is." Lapis, Amethyst and Pearl were amazed. That was the most Garnet has said all day!

Garnet approached Greg, the latter fearing what she had to say regarding Steven. Instead of beating around the bush, Garnet aid blankly, "Steven's been kidnapped."

Greg felt his stomach twist and his heart stop at those three words. Steven's been kidnapped. He swallowed as he tried not to panic. "B-by who?!"

"Jasper and Peridot. They also ruined our door." Pearl explained gesturing to the exposed gem rooms. Greg's breathing became more erratic. "Is he going to be okay?"

"We don't know." Garnet replied. Greg sat on the stairs that led to Steven's bed, putting his head in his hands. So it's true. He just might run fresh out of family.

Steven's breathing was ragged and uneven. They'd finally stopped interrogating him for the day. He could tell that each day he wouldn't give any information, they became more and more impatient. He knew it would just continue tomorrow anyway, only worse. He was lying in a fetal position, hoping that the pain would subside soon. He'd been beaten, shocked, even sliced with sharp objects. If it weren't for some of Steven's healing abilities, he was sure he'd be a goner. Steven found that his healing spit worked off and on, he needed to figure out how to control it. Currently, it wasn't working. There were still cuts, bruises and burns left on his body.

Steven couldn't help but wonder where the gems were. "We won't let anything happen to you." Lapis had told him. It's too late. They already have done things to him and he's got the scars to prove it. How long would it be before they did rescue him? A week? A month? It might as well be. He couldn't tell Lapis where he was and he hasn't been able to contact her since. If they waited too long, Steven knew he'd be dead.

He tried lying on his back, only to be met with an intense stinging pain overwhelming him. The electricity had left Steven with severe burns all along his shoulder blades and spine. Hissing in pain, he looked up at the window. This was his only comfort in such a dark and dank room. Occasionally he'll see another mask fish swim by. His only viewing of outside life.

Steven let out a long wavering breath. Why couldn't he just be stronger? If any of the Crystal Gems were in here, they could break out in seconds. Steven's been locked in here for days. 3 ½ to be exact. He was so weak at this point that he couldn't summon his shield anymore. His powers were basically useless.

Steven put a hand over his gem. The small pink gemstone was doing nothing to help him so far. Why was that? Sitting up, he lifted his shirt to inspect it. Although it looked generally the same, a noticeable fracture was clear, right in the center of the gem. "No." Steven whispered. This explained why his healing powers weren't working properly. This explained why he can't talk to Lapis through his dreams anymore! This was why he couldn't summon his shield or his bubble! He wasn't weak, he was cracked! Steven quickly licked his hand and tried healing the small crack. Nothing. Dang it! Steven felt himself panic. Tomorrow they will break it more for sure! What was he going to do!?

A/N: AHHH Cliff hanger! What's going to happen next? Let me know what you think! If you have any questions/comments/suggestions/ideas/jokes, then don't be afraid to click that review button! I'll see you in the next chapter! BYE!