Title: Stranger in my House
Chapter 10 – Racing the Clock

"Just couldn't keep your damn nose to yourself!" Richard hisses in anger.

Casey's mind swirls with panicked agitation as he tries in vain to get the tape around his bound wrists to loosen a bit further. His head starts to throb from all the excitement and he slumps back down onto the musty back seat. Small beads of sweat slowly escape his damp hairline, sliding down his furrowed brow only to be batted back into the air by his eyelashes.

His mind flashes him images of his mother telling Gordon…not to let him rather not to hurt him further before she took the money and disappeared upstairs. Then Severide arrived to try to help rescue Casey from their evil clutches. Damn where's Kelly…I sure hope he's okay. Kelly came to my rescue…but…my mother…damn my mother did nothing to help me escape. Maybe she helped Kelly get away from Gordon? She told Gordon not to hurt me further. Is she in on this? No…no this can't be. She wouldn't have approved of Richard kidnapping me like this or to…was that really a drug deal? I can't believe it…I have to get away. But to where? I don't even know there the hell I am!

"Mmmmph!" Casey grumbles as he tries once again to at least get himself twisted onto his side to see where they were going. Course it wouldn't do much good as he didn't even recognize the way to work or his own neighbourhood. Where the hell am I going? "Mmmmph!"

"Ah pipe down back there!" Richard growls as he continues on into the night.

Stall for time…do something! You're not a quitter! Casey's mind commands as he tries to twist his body, kicking the back of the front seat with his bound ankles.

"I'm warning you!"

Don't give up!

"Okay that's it!" Richard shouts as he slams on the brakes, the car suddenly veering to the shoulder and coming to a very rough stop. Casey can only offer a grunt as the seatbelt jerks him forward and his lips grunting under the tape gag from the pain from the seatbelt before slamming back into his original position against the back seats. "Listen and listen good!" Richard snaps as Casey's weary eyes lift and then widen as Richard pulls his gun and aims it at him. "I want no more trouble or the next stop I'm going to make is pulling over and dumping your body in a ditch after I put one of these into your skull. GOT IT?"

Casey narrows his eyes in defiant contempt, earning a small curse from his captor who glowers back.

"You know they say ignorance is bliss for a damn good REASON!" Richard yells once more before he puts the gun away and then turns back to Casey. "Right now you can play ignorant and extend your miserable life a bit longer or you can continue to be defiant and I'll put you out of my misery RIGHT NOW! So lie still and shut up," Richard hisses as he turns back and starts the car moving again, slowly pulling back into traffic and continuing on toward his intended destination.

He glances down at the gun and then back up into the rear view mirror at his prisoner who had gone quiet for the time being; his lips slowly twisting upward into a small sneer. Of course he had no intention of letting the little troublemaker live, he was already asking too many questions and this was only the first deal. Accidents happen all the time, Richard's mind smiles evilly as he continues on a road heading further out of the city's core – into the darkness.

Casey finally manages to get himself flipped over onto his side, his head pounding heavily, his back and brow – damp and his chest still heaving. The seatbelt was pressing down on a tender spot on his mid-section but he didn't dare make a fuss to Richard as he believes Richard's threat to be real.

But where the hell is he taking me? Casey's mind wonders as his eyes squint upward, peering out the window as a few overhead street lights pass before longer stretches of darkness. Was my mother really involved in all this? Would she sell me out like that? I got her released from jail? This…this can't be. She has to have been used, his mind laments as he offers a small grunt.

"Is that a peep?" Richard barks as Casey's head slumps back down.

His fingers continue to search the crack in the seats for something…anything he can use to try to cut the tape free and get himself away from his kidnapper. What's he going to do with me?

"You know you should be more worried about your friend…the other nosey firefighter."

Kelly? What? What's going on?

"Yeah boy he tangled with Gordon. That was a very stupid thing to do. Hope you two weren't…you know close or anything. Course maybe you two won't mind meeting in hell…you know since you both don't mind being around FIRE!"

KELLY!

XXXXXXXX

Ahhh oh what the hell…Severide's mind grunts as his body jerks in response to a bump that jolts him back to reality. His mind flashes images of himself hearing Casey's voice…seeing the light flicker…busting into Casey's home…seeing Casey being attacked…joining the fight…Casey being kidnapped and then…darkness. Was I hit…what the…where am…I….

Severide quickly surmises his dismal situation as he's unable to bring his wrists in front; them being tied tightly behind his back with rope. A piece of tape over his mouth keeps him from calling out for help. But call to who? And where…where the hell am I? his mind asks before it stops, his nose picking up the distinct smell of sweet grease and gasoline. Ah damn I'm in the truck of a car. Is it mine? he inwardly groans as he tries to shift his aching frame to a better position.

But upon finding none, he slumps back down and emits a low growl under the tape gag. Who hit me? Was it Nancy? Or did that other guy come back and do it? And where's Matt? Damn he better be okay! He quickly curses the fact that he didn't call for backup but allowed his emotions toward Casey to dictate his actions and allowing him to rush into a tense situation without backup. Oh why the hell didn't I call for backup! Stupid! He growls once more. But he tells himself he can't waste time pondering something that didn't happen and focus on trying to get himself free. Once that trunk opens he knows Gordon will be there offering him a quick solution – death. His hands fumble for anything under him, his mind trying to recall if he kept any stray tools he could use to help him escape. Nothing. This is not good.

He had heard his phone ringing earlier and told himself it was probably Shay. Course it could have been Casey trying to call for help and if that were the case his guilt would consume him. How could he help his helpless best friend when he couldn't even help himself? Maybe Shay would be worried enough to come looking. She is kinda paranoid. But if she came to Casey's what would she find? Nancy? What kind of lies would she offer?

If this is my car…okay I need a tool…think….think damn it! Severide's brain finally remembers where he left a small tool…maybe just maybe he could reach it and…just…damn where did I leave it…he grunts once more before he slumps back in angry frustration. He pushes past some throbbing in his head, reminding himself that Casey's life depended on him getting free. Matt needs you…don't give up!

He feels the car starting to slow before it makes a sharp right turn and then…what the hell…gravel? Where on earth are we? His mind panics with the thought of a grisly death; his actions halting for a few seconds. But another few seconds later he tells himself to get moving and starts to slowly feel his way in the darkness, closing his eyes and visualizing the inner space of his trunk.

But just as he thinks he's found something, his concentration is momentarily broken by the sound of…a train crossing? That's a train signal? Where am I? There are no trains…damn I'm not in the city anymore! Okay focus and find the tool…get free and then get Casey!

I know where it is! His brain finally exclaims as he pushes himself into the upper right corner; pushing his body as far as it will go until his fingers finally rest upon something cold with a pointed tip. YES! I found it! This is my car.

But fate wasn't going to lend the well-intentioned fire fighter a helping hand in any way as the car hits another bump, his body jerks and the small tool is dislodged. NO! Ah damn, what's he doing to my car! But there wasn't time to panic; the welfare of the classic automobile coming in second to his own future welfare and that of his best friend – who was also a helpless prisoner in the clutches of a vengeful criminal.

Okay hold onto it this time! Severide's mind yells as his fingers finally secure the small tool. He tries to maneuver the tool in his palms so that he had some leverage to try to at least pick at the rope keeping his wrists tightly restrained. Find the knot…pick at the knot! Oh why the hell didn't he use tape!

Just as he manages to get the tip of the small tool into the thick body of the rope knot, his heart rate soars as the car starts to really slow. Oh damn…not good….not good…where here already…but where's here?

The car finally stops; Severide's ears picking up a curse from the front seat, his whole body instinctively jerking as the front door is slammed shut and angry footsteps are heard approaching the trunk. Okay…now what…can I kick this guy or will he have a gun? Either way…if I don't chance it…I'm probably dead! And if I'm dead what happens to Casey?

MATT!

XXXXXXXX

After trying in vain to free himself, Casey slumps back down, his chest aching from the hard metal square of the seatbelt packet pressing mercilessly down into his soft flesh. The car finally slows, forcing his agitation and panic to surge. Where am I? What's he going to do? Is he really going to kill me?

"We're here…" Richard mumbles as he stops the car and then gets out, slowly heading around to the back and pulling the door open, this time at Casey's head and forcing Casey's neck to strain as he looks upward. "You better continue to behave OR ELSE!" Richard shouts as he reaches in and undoes the buckle around Casey's waist; Casey's brain instantly feeling the pressure removed and his lips trying to utter a small hiss of relief.

Richard's hands grab Casey by the shoulders and drag him out; his bound ankles falling to the ground as his eyes frantically try to focus and look around. Where the hell…am I? He wonders in frightful panic as he looks at the dark but bleak landscape.

"This place is closed so don't be getting any ideas!" Richard growls as he bends down and lifts Casey's lightly struggling frame, hoisting him over his shoulder and then carrying him toward the small end unit of the defunct motel. Casey strains his head to see they were around the back, facing – literally nothing, the highway behind him a good distance away. A few security lights dotted the area around him but otherwise there was literally nothing. I'm really trapped!

Richard kicks in the door, flips on the light, carries Casey's bound frame toward one of the small double beds and lets him fall; Casey's frame landing on the somewhat soft surface with a grunt. As soon as his frame interacts with the musty bedspread, his nose takes in a plume of dust and his lungs instantly constrict, forcing him to cough violently under the thick tape gag and his eyes to water.

"That gag stays on so if you choke it's your own damn fault!" Richard hisses as he glares at Casey's perplexed expression. "Settle down and you'll be fine!"

Casey rolls onto his back, not caring about the pressure from the weight of his frame on his bound wrists, telling himself it was better than breathing in dust and mold; something he's not sure he's allergic to but still not wanting to take a chance with. Now what? He ponders as he watches Richard heading for the door to exit. He's going to leave me here? Better than killing me, but…

But his hopes sink as he watches Richard close the door and then turn back to him with a narrowed gaze.

"You don't mind if I smoke do you?" Richard lightly growls as he eases himself down onto the end of the bed Casey was lying on. Casey narrows his eyes but merely ends up earning himself another warning curse from Richard and so tries to pull himself away as much as possible. "Stay put!" Richard huffs as he grabs the end of Casey's shoes and pulls his bound ankles back down the bed – forcing a few more dust bunnies to swirl and his lungs to constrict once more.

Casey's eyes watch as Richard pulls out a cigarette in brown wrapping and frowns as his brain struggles to recall… a memory? Do I smoke…no I…I don't smoke. I never saw…wait…what? His brain flashes an image of himself with…Kelly? Kelly smokes? No wait he…Casey's mind struggles as he sees another flash…himself walking up to Severide as Severide sits on the front of a fire truck…smoking…something…a cigar? But…we smoke…cigars…at work? No not me….just Kelly. But suddenly he sees angry faces and himself looking…sad? What happened? Why was he smoking and I was…was I angry with him? Did we just fight? Chief Boden says we have fought but always made up and then…damn I wish I could remember everything.

"You're quiet now," Richard's low voice taunts as he slowly turns around and looks at Casey with a narrowed gaze. "Accepted your fate have you?"

Casey feels himself inadvertently swallow and shrink back as Richard takes another drag and then lets it out close to Casey's face, forcing his eyes to slightly water and his throat constrict once more.

"Just let me finish this and then I'll be right with you," Richard pulls back, allowing Casey's nose to take in as fresh a breath as allowed in the dingy motel room. "Accidents happen all the time in your line of work right Matt?"

Accidents? What accident? What is he….oh damn not good…he grunts as he tries to roll away.

"Uh ah now…not so fast," Richard mocks as he grabs a hold of Casey's feet and holds him in place, hindering his attempts to pull free. "Fire fighters die all the time in the line of duty don't they? At least…that's what Gordon tells me. Course that could be your friend's fate," Richard states in a low evil tone as he turns around with a serious expression. "Yours…" he pauses as he pulls his gun and aims it at Casey, who once again swallows and widens his eyes in fearful wonder, "might be a lot simpler and faster. Quick and painless…only way to go right?"

KELLY! HELP ME!

XXXXXXXX

"Hey tough guy," Gordon glares down at Severide with a wide grin. "Don't look so tough now do you?"

Severide looks up with a narrowed gaze, his mind already made up to let Gordon help him out of the trunk and then try to kick, head butt…do whatever he had to just get away; he'd worry about freeing himself later.

"Could just cap you right now," Gordon pulls his gun and points it down at Severide, who's squirming quickly ceases. "Better."

Severide can only offer an angry grunt into the tape gag as Gordon grabs his arm and gives it a rough jerk, forcing him to curse heavily. But he uses his legs to help him get out of the trunk, pushing upward at the same time Gordon pulls, and making both of them stumble and crash to the ground in an jumble of arms and legs. Severide tries to roll away, wanting to get away from Gordon as fast as possible.

But with his wrists tightly bound behind his back, it was a moot point.

"Now where do you think you're going?" Gordon snickers as he meanly kicks Severide in the stomach and then fires off a shot that narrowly misses his face, forcing Severide to pull back and look up with a narrowed gaze. "I'm in charge here NOT YOU! Do you get that tough guy? YOU DIE TONIGHT!" Gordon shouts as he shoves the gun into Severide's dirty cheek and cocks the trigger. "Beg me!" Gordon growls as he rips the tape from Severide's mouth.

"Ne…ver," Severide slightly wheeze from the kick.

"BEG ME for your worthless life!"

"Go to hell," Severide hisses back.

"You first!" Gordon huffs as pulls back, grabs Severide's arm and roughly jerks him upright, Severide's brain commanding his eyes to quickly refocus and get his bearings.

He quickly surmises they are on the outskirts of the city, away from prying eyes or anyone that might be in the area to come to the aide of the captive firefighter. Not caring about sustaining anymore physical injury, Severide jerks his arm back, Gordon turning at the exact moment Severide's head slams forward.

"Ahh…damn," Gordon growls as Severide turns and bolts in the direction of the highway. Gordon fires off a shot, grazing Severide's arm and forcing his lips to cry out as he stumbles to his knees! "You're a real pain in the ass you know that!"

"So…I've been told…ahh…" Severide growls as Gordon's hand clamps down on his wounded arm and squeezes, forcing Severide's eyes to momentarily shut as Gordon drags him toward a small shack. "Where's Matt? Where did your loser friend take him?"

"Got a real mouth you!" Gordon hisses as he turns and suddenly punches Severide in the jaw. "SHUT UP!"

Severide gives his head a small shack but knows he's not about to do as he's told. So just as they near the shack he fakes a stumble, causing Gordon to momentarily falter and Gordon's grasp on him to loosen; allowing Severide to once again jerk himself free. Severide's leg comes up, clipping Gordon in the back of the knees and pushing him forward. But the kick isn't forceful enough and Gordon is able to counter, spin around and grab a handful of the back of Severide's jacket – jerking it forward and making Severide fall backward.

"Now you are getting on my very last nerve!" Gordon shouts as he punches Severide hard in the stomach, forcing him to falter forward. Gordon shoves the gun into his jacket, puts both hands on Severide's floundering frame and starts to drag him toward the small shack.

"HELP….ME!" Severide calls out with a hoarse voice as he tries to pull himself free. But without use the use of his hands, it was a losing battle and within seconds, he's flung into the belly of the small utility shack, landing in the darkened corner with a painful thud.

"No one around sport I already SAID THAT!" Gordon shouts as he pulls his gun. He fires off a shot, once again just missing Severide and forcing him to drop back down to the floor. Gordon pulls out a small squirt bottle and starts to squirt some liquid the floor; Severide's nose instantly picking up the pungent smell of gasoline.

Oh god he intends to burn me alive! Severide's mind races in a panic.

"You light that and they get you for murder one!" Severide shouts as Gordon stops and smiles.

Gordon pulls out a half burnt cigarette and dangles it in the air. "It's good to have friends in low places," he smirks as he merely drops the butt on the ground and backs up. "You know firemen should know better…gasoline…cigarettes…yup they are all pretty flammable."

"They'…"

"The rope off your hands will burn and all they'll find is your worthless hide a nice shade of…well black," Gordon huffs as he pulls his lighter and holds it up. "Accidents happen all the time Lieutenant Severide. I guess today was your unlucky day."

But just before he can light the flame, the distinct sound of gravel spray under tires coming to a sudden stop is heard, forcing Gordon to turn and narrow his gaze and Severide to lift his head in relief.

"Damn it!" Gordon curses as he turns back, lights the flame and then drops the lighter.

"NO!" Severide shouts in fear as the small wooden door is slammed shut, sealing him inside with the growing inferno. "Oh damn not good….HELP ME!" Severide shouts as he pushes past any thought of painful slivers, grabs the back wooden wall and tries to stand up. "SOMEONE…HELP ME!"

He thinks he hears another shot over the fire but tells himself to line up the door and charge, worry about putting out any flames later. And being shot was better than being burned alive. JUST GO FOR IT RIGHT NOW! YOU'RE OUT OF TIME! Just before he takes a deep breath to charge the small window overhead is busted open and a voice of salvation is heard.

"Kelly, hold on!"

"Chief. Thank god! HURRY!" Severide shouts as he hears the small door being open; Boden having to vent the small shack or else watch the hungry flames consume his lieutenant. Severide doesn't wait for the call; as soon as the door is open, he charges.

"Kelly…I got you!" Boden exclaims as he rushes in to put out the small lick of flames that had attached itself to Severide's jean leg as he charged; his body slamming onto the hard ground a few feet from the shack. Boden puts out the flames on Severide's leg and then drags him to safety as the small wooden shack burns a few meters away.

"Good…timing," Severide offers a bit breathlessly as his head slumps down onto the ground and he takes a deep breath.

"Would have been here sooner but was stopped by a damn train," he grumbles; Severide remembering the sound of the train signal and once again cursing it's poor timing. "You okay?"

"I gotta help Matt," Kelly states in a panic as he tries to sit up.

"What?"

"Chief…"

"Okay I'll have you free in a second."

"Where's Gordon?"

"Back there," Boden grumbles as he works to undo the knots keeping Severide captive. "Kelly…what's going on? Shay called in a panic and said she didn't get a hold of you or Matt. Tried Matt but his phone disconnected and all she heard was cursing and shouting. Told me to go over to Casey's. When I get there, I see you being put into the trunk of your car and some guy with a gun getting into the front seat."

"Well I'm glad her paranoia for once paid off. Did you call for backup?" Severide asks as he pulls his wrists in front and gently rubs the skin.

"Antonio's on hi…" is all Boden manages before both of them hear the rumble of Severide's car and frantically stand up; seconds later, Severide's car peeling away, leaving a spray of gravel in it's wake.

"We can't let him escape!"

Boden quickly pulls his phone and tells Antonio he has Kelly but that he needs to stop the guy getting away in Severide's car.

"You were shot?" Boden asks in immediate haste as Kelly's fingers come away with a fresh smattering of blood and his face winces.

"Just a graze. We have to get to Matt."

"Where is he? Kelly what's going on?"

"Matt was kidnapped by…ah damn I never got a last name. Richard…he's a friend of Gordon Reynolds, Nancy Casey's new criminal boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?" Boden asks as they head toward Boden's truck; Boden having called the local fire department to come and contain the small but dangerous fire burning behind them.

"Long story Chief but we have to get to Matt before Richard kills him."

"What? What the hell did you two stumble into?" Boden asks gravely as Severide looks over with a heavy frown.

"A deal with the devil."

XXXXXXXX

Casey's mind races with panicked thoughts as he thinks of Kelly being caught and trapped in a fire and being burned alive; he couldn't imagine a more horrifying way to go. No that won't happen…you just need to concentrate on getting free…but how?

Offering a small grumble and telling himself to suck it up and push past the intake of the dusty particles, Casey slowly rolls onto his back and continues to try to pick away at the tape holding his wrists captive; the tape that had started to loosen.

Richard had finally tired of toying with his helpless captive for a few moments and had wandered outside to finish the rest of his cigarette, leaving the door open so that Casey could get a few breaths of fresh air while he waited for his fate to be delivered – at least that's the reasoning Richard used. But Casey wasn't about to just wait for himself to be killed.

At least if I can get my wrists free…Casey grunts as he strains against the tape, pulling his wrists in opposite directions and telling himself the pounding in his head could be fixed by a Tylenol…his life couldn't be returned if taken. Ah…damn…he huffs as he slumps back in sweaty defeat.

He continues to pull for a few more minutes, his sweaty wrists finally finding some give, signaling to his brain there was indeed hope for his release. Get free…call Kelly…get free…call Kelly…get free….his mind chants over and over, his lips trying to hold back angry grunts under the tape so as not to bring Richard back into the room faster than necessary.

Once he did pop his head into the room, Casey's actions quickly subsiding and Richard tossing out the 'are you behaving' comment in a mocking tone and then returning to his previous actions; not worried about the restrained fire fighter in the least.

Keep going…almost free…Casey's mind urges as the tape finally starts to pull and give. But just as his wrists spring free, Richard turns back into the room and narrows his gaze.

"Damn boy you just don't learn do you?" He hisses as he rushes toward Casey in an attempt to recapture his wrists behind his back. "Guess I'll just have to make sure I….hold still!" Richard barks as Casey refuses to allow himself be recaptured. His fist balls and punches Richard in the face, forcing his head to snap back and Casey's body to roll back onto his back. Despite his ankles being bound, he brings up his knees and pushes forward with his legs, catching Richard in the stomach and sending him careening into the small table behind him. Casey rips the tape from his mouth and then rolls off the bed, his fingers frantically pulling at the tape keeping his ankles bound as his lungs gasp for air. Richard's hands grab Casey under his armpits and yank upward, forcing his back to connect oddly with the edge of the bed and his lips to utter an angry grunt.

Casey's legs try to kick out, his body trying to struggle and keep himself from being further restrained. His fingers grab the table, clawing at the small lamp as Richard tries to get him back onto the bed.

"You…will pay…for this," Richard growls angrily as he punches Casey in the back just as Casey's fingers close around the base of the lamp.

"Ahhhhh," Casey utters with a painful gasp. But he summons his strength and tosses his hand back, making the top of the lamp connect with Richard's face. Richard's lips utter the next angry gasp as his hands let go of Casey's armpits and he crashes back down onto the floor, his chest gasping for air. Breathe later…get free NOW! His brain yells as he flips the lamp base around in his grasp and strikes out at Richard just as Richard lunges.

The dusty but heavy base fulfills its task, clipping Richard in the temple and forcing him back down to the bed – temporarily dazed. Casey wastes not one precious second as his fingers yank at the tape around his ankles, finally pulling it free. YOU'RE FREE! NOW RUN! MOVE! GET THE HELL OUTTA THERE! NOW! MOVE NOW!

Casey pushes himself up from the dusty floor of the deserted motel and bolts for the door.

"Oh no you don't!" Richard yells as he charges Casey. Just as Casey's about to clear the door, he hears something clatter to the floor and looks at his phone. You need that to call Kelly! He bends down at the same time Richard charges, forcing the large frame to slam into the door and once again temporarily wind his attacker, Richard's gasping frame sagging to the floor as he tries to catch his breath.

Call Kelly….call him NOW!

Casey doesn't wait to see if Richard recovers or waste time trying to find keys to Richards's car. He hears a car in the distance, tells himself that's the road and he could find help there and to just RUN. He rounds the front of the deserted motel but sees only darkness and feels his heart sink.

"Where the hell's the damn road!"

XXXXXXXX

"Kelly wh…"

"Hold on Chief it's Matt," Severide states excitedly as he answers his phone. "Matt. Thank go…"

"Kelly…help me…" Casey wheezes heavily on the other end.

"Where are you?"

"I don't know! But you have…to find me and Kelly you have hurry…Richard's coming!"

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

"MATT!" Severide shouts just as the line goes dead. "Ah damn it not again!"

"Where's Matt?" Boden asks in haste as Kelly looks at him with a panicked expression as they hurry toward Boden's truck.

"That's just it Chief…I don't know…and neither does Matt."

A/N: muwhahaha Okay so you know both boys wouldn't die right? but I do like to toy with them a bit hehe (evil grin) hope you liked their escapes but now Matt's on the run…where is he going? Even he doesn't know where he is but Richard is still coming! Where's Gordon and can Kelly get to Matt before Richard does? And where did Nancy end up? how do you like Boden's help in this now? Would love your thoughts so please do review before you go and thanks so much!