2 Weeks Later…

Sweat was beading across his forehead as Brass pushed himself to finish this PT session. His left leg quivered with each movement. Leigh, his physical therapist, stood over him like a drill sergeant as he finished his last set on the machine. Sometimes the sessions felt like some sort of punishment for him not telling Preston she was pregnant. And sometimes, they served as a way to work through his thoughts on how to broach the subject with her. Today the session fell into the former category.

"Your leg's improvement is astonishing." Leigh stated as she eyed him carefully. "I can't believe you've already quit using your cane. Another week and you won't even need my help anymore."

"Trisha's a miracle worker." He grunted as he stood and stretched his quivering muscles. Considering how it felt when he first started, his progress was shocking to him too. Trisha had come up with the idea of giving him very small doses of the healing drugs while he underwent PT. So far, her idea seemed to be panning out.

"Looks like our time today is finished." Leigh said looking at her watch. "I need to get ready for my next appointment."

"Snow?"

"Yeah, we're working on getting him getting better function out of his damaged hand."

"Leigh, thanks for everything. I'll see you tomorrow." He replied as he made his way out of the PT room and into the hallway leading back to the medical buildings' elevator. As he shuffled along the hall, he was greeted by Snow.

"Hey Brass. How'd it go today?" He asked with a wave.

"Good, the leg is getting better with each session. Enjoy your session with Leigh."

A large grin appeared on the other male's face before he replied, "Oh, I plan to…"

"Better behave, if she quits, Justice will be pissed. Just remember she's Jessie's friend." He replied.

"I always behave." The large male replied while walking backwards down the hall. "Are we still on for picking up Preston's things?"

"Yes, leaving here at 1." Brass said.

"See you then." Snow replied.

—-

Preston sat squished between Brass and Snow in the rear seat of the SUV as it turned down her street. Two human task force members sat in the front chatting about last night's baseball game while the two men beside her sat unspeaking. Occasionally, the two men beside her would turn towards each other with a glare. She could tell Brass was on edge about being outside of the NSO lands; but, couldn't figure out what was going on between him and Snow.

"So what is going on with you two?" She finally blurted out while looking between the two big males. "You're giving Brass the evil eye and I don't know what to call that glare you're giving Snow….but it isn't good."

"It's nothing." Snow firmly stated.

"It is not nothing." Brass grated out. "You kissed her when she didn't want you too."

"Who?" Preston chimed in.

"Leigh." Snow growled at her. "And she was okay with me kissing her until Field walked in."

"You shouldn't have done that Snow. You knew he was interested in her." Brass said giving him a meaningful glare.

"Whatever. She's attracted to me just like I am her."

"That may be. But she's also interested in Field. And its reciprocated. Everyone knows that."

"I didn't." Preston declared. "You didn't tell me something was going on with Field and Leigh."

"That's because nothing was going on with them." Snow said gesturing with his hands.

"Yet." Brass rumbled back at him. "He was working on it."

"The key word there is yet. I still had a chance with her." Snow retorted poking a finger in Brass's direction.

"If, you girls in the back are through gossiping, we need to get a move on. We've been sitting here for five minutes now and the moving company will be here in…oh… 45 minutes." Trey called out. "We'll watch the exterior while you pack."

"Come on guys, we can table this discussion for later… after Snow explains what was going on with him and Leigh." Preston said shoving Brass towards the car door. "Now, let's get me packed. The sooner we do, the sooner we can go home." She said flipping Brass's hood up over his head before he cleared the SUV.

"Okay." He replied as he reached back to help her out of the SUV. "Lead the way."

Preston dug through her purse on the way to her apartment. Finally after shoving multiple items into Brass and Snow's hands, she located them in the very bottom. Grasping them she lifted them into the air and swirled the ring on her finger before she exchanged her keys with Brass so she could put everything but the kitchen sink back into her purse. "Sorry. I carry so much crap in there. This is my apartment." She said as she grabbed her keys back from Brass and unlocked her door.

Preston had no more than breached the apartment's threshold when large hands grabbed her by the waist. She was jerked back into the darkness of the apartment. Preston tried to twist loose and cry out but her assailant had quickly clamped a meaty hand across her mouth. "Don't move, bitch." Her mystery man growled into her ear.

—-

"Let her go." Brass rumbled from the doorway. His heart was pounding in his chest. Flicking on a light, he saw another man holding his mate…and his child. The male had Preston in a tight embrace with a gun to her temple.

"No. This bitch has caused me nothing but problems. Tonight I'm fixing those problems with her help…and yours. I know what you are." The male gruffly stated. "Step inside and close the door."

Brass immediately closed the door behind him. Snow still stood in the hallway; but, the man had not seen his friend. He would have an opportunity to alert the others and soon his mate would be safe once again. Those thoughts kept him from lunging at the male. "What do you want?" He growled.

"Money. And you're going to help me get it…Someone wants New Species and they're willing to pay, a lot." He declared. "Now, I'm going to throw you over some cuffs and you are going to put them. You make a wrong move and I kill the woman."

The male threw Brass a pair of heavy cuffs, Mercile issued cuffs at that. This male was in contact with one of their enemies. Brass caught them and immediately began clasping them around his thick wrists. "You hurt her and you're dead male walking." He growled.

"Fat chance of that asshole." The other male grunted back. "Now, there are leg shackles by the door. You're going to put those on now."

Brass complied with the order only to protect Preston. As he latched the last manacle he looked up to see tears trailing down her beautiful face. "It's going to be okay. Just stay calm." She blinked her eyes at him in acknowledgement.

"Alright, then." The male said before slamming Preston into a nearby wall and forcing her hands behind her back. He quickly and efficiently bound her in another set of cuffs as Preston whimpered. "Now, to make a phone call and arrange a pick-up." He stated before fishing out his phone from his jacket pocket.

The male's conversation faded into the background as Brass kept his eyes locked with Preston's. He hoped she understood what he could not verbalize. Help was coming, Snow would see to it. They just had to wait this out. A knock sounded at Preston's door startling the apartment's three inhabitants.

"Who is it?" Their captor called out.

"Todd, with City Moving." A man answered in response.

"Hold on a sec."

Suddenly the door flew open and members of the task force streamed into Preston's narrow living room. "Drop the weapon." A voice screamed out. Brass immediately recognized Trey's stern voice. A small smile splayed across his face at the sight of these males in the apartment, Preston would be safe again. "Drop the weapon. I'll not warn you again."

The male twisted Preston around to use as a shield. The male snaked an arm around her waist as he brought his gun up to her side. "I don't think so. You're going to let me go or I'll kill her."

"Let her go and we'll work something out." Trey insisted.

"I've been on your side of the fence before so I know that line." The man retorted. "Its simple, let me go, and you get her back. I'll turn her loose once I'm on the sidewalk."

At Brass's nod, Trey responded, "Fine. We'll follow you out and once outside, you release her. And we won't take you in." Trey and the others stepped out into the hall.

"Fine. Keep the big guy in chains until I'm gone." The male said as he walked with Preston towards the door and into the hall. Brass fought the urge to lash out as he passed by with Preston in tow. She would suffer if he attacked the male. When they entered the hall, Brass shuffled along after them. The male dragged Preston into the stairwell causing a bottleneck amongst the task force members. Brass elbowed his way out into the stairwell; always keeping Preston within his sights. The male descended the steps while looking over his shoulder. When the two of them were halfway down, he stumbled and fell into Preston. Brass could only watch in anguish as she fell forward, tumbling down the stairs. She landed in a heap on the landing. Chaos erupted around him as the task force members began running after the male.

"Preston!" Brass yelled before ripping his manacles apart and flying down the stairs to her. Preston lay in a heap and her eyes remained closed. She looked like she was sleeping if not for the blood trickling from a cut at her eyebrow. Brass howled, the sound echoing through the stairwell and hurting his sensitive ears.

"Is she okay?" Snow asked as bent down next to Brass.

"No, I'm not okay. I just fell down a flight of stairs." Preston murmured as her eyes fluttered open.

"Get help. She's pregnant." He cried out. "They're hurt, they need help…" He let out a whimper as he lifted her into his arms and rocked her.

"What?" Preston exclaimed while trying to sit up in Brass's arms. "Pregnant? What do you mean pregnant?"