a/n: k…I know some of you are kind of 'eh' about the dream. A couple of months before I graduated from high school, I had a dream that I was driving home a couple of my friends. We were at a red light talking about how bright the full moon was. When the light turned green, I went into the intersection and looked out the driver's window to see the lights of another car right before it hit us. I woke up at that point with an incredible nose bleed. I was sore from head to toe for about a week and had bruises over my left shoulder and right hip. One month after graduation, we all got together for one last hoorah before going full time into summer jobs and moving to go to college in the fall. The thirteen of us went to OCB for supper, then to a movie. Around 11:30 that night, I was driving home two of my friends. We were at a red light and when Jenna started talking about the full moon…I wouldn't even classify it as déjà vu, it was so intense. I remember thinking 'Jenna's going to say this' and she did, and 'Kristy's going to say this' and she did. The light turned green, they started yelling at me to go but I was completely frozen. Then a car came through the intersection followed by two cop cars. The paper reported they had topped speeds of fifty mph during their chase. None of us heard the sirens or saw the lights until the cars were in front of us. Make of it what you will, no one can say one way or another, but I believe that dream saved our lives. If I wouldn't have been freaked out and would've gone through the intersection…I'm sure the three of us wouldn't be around today. I wanted to try it with Eames, have Goren could use that to find her. Such as it is, I hope y'all are enjoying the story : )

Law and Order: Criminal Intent

High Maintenance

Chapter 10

Echoes

The lightening flashed wickedly across the sky, thunder rattling everything around them. Nichols, Goren and Ross stood under the open hatch of the SUV, little protection from the rain pelting the ground.

"How do you want to do this?" Nichols asked, slipping a vest over his head.

"I go in alone," Goren said tightening the Velcro on his vest. He looked to Ross. "Alone. Let me talk to him. Maybe I can get him to release Eames."

"We don't know even if she's still alive," Ross argued.

"She is," Nichols said. "Dickson wants Goren to witness this. We're here now. Goren's here." He looked to Goren. "You only have one shot at this."

"One shot is better than nothing," Goren returned. Ross looked between his detectives.

"Fine," Ross resigned. He couldn't afford an argument and he didn't know how long Dickson's patience would stand. "Nichols and I will stay by the front door. I'll have two officers around the back." Ross stepped in front of Goren, gaining the man's full attention. "If I see any reason to go in, Detective…"

"Understood." The three finished securing their vests as Ross laid out plans for the other officers. They sprinted up the walk to the porch. Goren took a deep breath and wiped the water from his eyes as it dripped from his hair.

"Ready?" Nichols asked. Goren nodded and opened the door. He entered the farmhouse, gun drawn in front of him.

0-0-0-0

"Call him," Dickson ordered. Eames stayed quiet. "I said call him!" he hissed, gun pushed into Eames' throat.

"Bobby!" Her voice cracked as she called her partner's name.

Goren stopped short in the middle of the small kitchen when he heard Eames' voice. He didn't respond to her. Quietly, he walked through the living room to the staircase. She called again, confirming that she was upstairs. Carefully, Goren ascended to the second floor and cleared each room as he made his way through the hallway.

The door at the end of the hall was closed, a small soft light peeking from underneath. Goren stood to the side of the door, turning the handle and slowly pushing it open. As he rounded the frame, he swept the room, his eyes connected to the sight of his gun. He found Dickson and Eames in the far corner, Dickson's gun pointed at Eames' head.

"Long time, no see, Detective Goren. Put you gun down."

"Dickson, you don't want to do this." Goren lowered his gun to his side.

"I don't want to do this?" He laughed loudly. "I've been planning this for twelve years, Goren." He winked. "I'm pretty sure I want to do this." Dickson stood taking a few steps away from Eames. "You stalked my family, hunted them like they were animals. Turnabout is fair play, is it not?" Dickson raised his arm and aimed the gun at Eames, never taking his eyes off Goren. "You took from me, I take from you." Goren's hand tightened around his own weapon.

"Dickson…Look, she isn't the one you're upset with. It's me. Me, right?" Goren took a step closer to Dickson. "Let her go. I'll stay. Let her go," he pleaded quietly.

"No. No, I don't think I will."

"You won't get out of here alive if you kill her."

"I'm no fool to think I will. After I kill your partner…I just want to see the look on your face, want to see you lose what matters the most to you." Dickson stepped closer to Eames. "Want to see you feel the pain."

"Put down the gun, Dickson!" Goren took another step, his gun now trained on Dickson. From the corner of his eye he could see Eames tuck her legs closer to her body and cover her head with her arms.

"No! I am due my revenge. You will not keep this from me." Dickson steadied his aim towards Eames, a wicked smile spreading across his face as he looked at her. "Say 'good-bye', Detective Goren."

Time froze as the sound of a single gunshot echoed through the farmhouse.