Title: Police Academy – Becoming Blue
Chapter 11 – Hide and Seek?

A/N: Okay so hope you are all still with me and not getting bored. A special thanks to everyone and to those without an account for me to thank personally: Ood and Iris I always appreciate your great feedback and hope you continue to like the story.

Jamie hears the car scream away, his heart beating painfully against his tender ribs; his body tired from the useless struggles. The tape was strong and unforgiving and there wasn't any wiggle room to be found in his tight bonds. The effective gag keeps his calls for help to sad whimpers and the tape blindfold only adds to his growing fear.

This can't be happening…Jamie's mind laments as his body strains against the tape and then slumps back against the hard chair in defeat. He can't be serious…he can't kill me…I can't drop out…this is blackmail…or something…his mind swirls over and over again until his head starts to pound harder and he slumps back against the chair in defeat.

HELP ME! Jamie tries once again, his lungs gasping for air and coughing as some fibers from the cloth still filling his mouth start to tickle his throat on the way down; making him cough harder and his eyes water further. When was Garth coming back? And what would he do when he got back? He can't really kill me can he? Toss me in the water like this? Jamie shakes his head willing the tormented images to leave. But just as his heart rate settles a little, he hears a car in the distance outside, breaking the silence and instantly his panic soars once more. Oh no…they're back.

XXXXXXXX

"Man it looks pretty dark and quiet," Demarcus mentions as the car finally comes to a stop a few yards away from the darkened shack Jamie was being held captive in.

"You sure he's here?" Danny asks softly as his eyes quickly scan the surrounding area.

"Well he was here," Demarcus corrects as the two of them get out of the car and slowly start to mill about the area.

"Okay so why was the signal lost?"

"Turned his phone off? Hey you said that he's been having trouble with that Garth kid at school right? Maybe he just wanted to come to some place quiet to think without anyone bugging him."

"Here?" Danny retorts. "I don't buy it…something's just not right. He would go…other places."

"Maybe."

Danny looks around the quiet area and shakes his head. "Come on kid…if you're here…you better show yourself and stop playing these damn games," Danny grumbles in a low undertone as he pulls his phone to dial Jamie's cell number again.

Was it Garth? Is he out there? Or someone else? He couldn't hear the voices, only when the car had pulled up and stopped; his anxiety forcing his whole body to slightly shiver. What if it was Garth? Was he now going to be taunted with death? What about someone else? What would he face then? So not wanting to press his luck too much, Jamie sinks back on the chair and remains still, not realizing that it was his brother a few yards away.

Danny slowly heads toward the edge of the pier, his eyes continually scanning the area as his partner comes up behind him.

"Any answer at home?"

"No," Danny frowns as he looks at his partner before turning around and looking at the small darkened buildings around him; no obvious signs of life drawing his attention to anything out of the ordinary. "And I can't call dad – yet because if it is just a case of the kid wanting some time alone – from everyone then I'll only make matters worse."

"But if he's in trouble…"

"And I did nothing," Danny huffs as he rubs his face. "He came here for a reason…the signal stopped here for a reason…but what reason? And why the hell would he come here in the first place?"

"So what do you want to do now?" Demarcus dares to inquire.

As much as he wants to just leave and let his brother have his privacy something inside his gut was saying this was too out of character for Jamie and to stay a bit longer; something wasn't right.

"Danny?"

"What I want is to go and talk to that Garth kid. But if its not…and I make matters worse…damn I hate being stuck like this!" Danny growls as turns and looks back at the car and the darkened buildings around; a small nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach urging him to not give up just yet. "I'm gonna stay a bit longer."

"What for? Danny, there's no one here. The place is dark and quiet."

"I just…I can't explain it okay…it's just somethin'…"

"Somethin'…I'd like a little somethin' somethin' right now but not here," Demarcus grumbles as the two of them get back into the car, Danny at the wheel. "So where just gonna sit here?"

"Yup," Danny replies slowly as he turns the car on and then slowly backs into a darkened parking garage and turns it back off, bathing them both in darkness. The car was situated so that they could see anyone around the pier, the building Jamie was still inside and a few others; but since they were at a small angle and backed all the way in, they wouldn't be noticed unless direct light was shone on them.

"So…you wanna play eye spy?" Demarcus asks in quiet sarcasm.

"Yeah…" Danny nods. "I spy with my little eye…something that is…out of place."

XXXXXXXX

Despite the fact that the area around him was starting to cool down, Jamie's body starts to slowly drift in and out of consciousness; the mental and physical fatigue making it hard for him to keep his eyes open and fully alert. But each time he would hear an odd sound, he'd jerk back awake, futility struggle once more and then slump back in defeat.

HELP ME! His lips still try to offer in vain as he tries to once again wiggle and strain against the tape restraints. He slumps back in frustration wondering if he really was being punished for helping to break his father's promise to his dying mother.

'Promise me Frank…' he had heard his mother beg in a soft tone. 'Jamie won't join the NYPD. Please for me.'

'I promise.'

Jamie feels his eyes water once more under the tape and then shakes his head; maybe giving in was a better alternative to this kind of torment. At least it would get Garth off my back…I don't need this. He ponders as he once again feels the darkness starting to close in around him once more, dark fingers mocking his helpless frame by offering invisible pokes to whatever limb was available.

His ears pick up what seems to be scurrying on the other side of the door and instantly his panic surges once more. Was Garth there? Was that a rat? A cat? Something else? But Garth can't leave me here like this can he? What the hell! Jamie inwardly growls once more as he tries again to pull himself free, the tape holding and him quickly surrendering once again.

However, it's not long before Danny's story about one of his boys to his partner dies out as a car approaches. His eyes narrow as he watches Garth get out, something balled up in his hand.

"Isn't that…"

"Yeah Garth Robinson," Danny softly hisses as he looks at the other kid. "Wasn't that…"

"Yeah the guy that was with him the time you had your run in with him," Demarcus confirms. "Well so far they aren't doing anything wrong."

"Yet," Danny corrects his partner as they watch Garth and Aaron enter the darkened building.

"Now what do you supposed they're up to in there?"

"Not sure but lets wait a bit longer and see what happens."

"Could be a drop?"

"Well if they come out lookin' suspicious, I say we go talk to them," Danny suggests as he looks at the building and frowns. What the hell are they doing in there?

"Oh golden boy!" Garth mildly calls out as he and Aaron put on their black masks and head toward the closet Jamie was still being held captive in.

Damn it! Jamie's mind curses as he hears the car, the footsteps and finally Garth's pet name for him being called out.

"Ah right where we left you," Garth snickers as he finally yanks the tape from Jamie's mouth and pulls out the damp cloth. "Eww gross, get a fresh one."

"No…please…no more," Jamie pants as he hungrily gulps down a few fresh mouthfuls of air, cursing the fact that the tape blindfold was still in place. "Garth…you can't do this…you hafta let me go."

"Who?" Garth smirks.

"I know it's you."

"Prove it."

"Damn it! Just let me go already."

"Thought about my offer?"

"Look I don't get your…"

"Drop out or we drop you in the water."

"So you wanna face jail time for murder because I aced one test over you?" Jamie asks in anger.

"You just don't get it do you."

"No."

"I don't…like YOU!" Garth leans in and shouts at Jamie's face. "I don't have to like you and so I don't."

"I don't care if you don't like me…why the hell are…" Jamie starts sharply only to have Garth lightly slap his mouth, Jamie's head pulling back as his lips sting.

"You have two options and I'm only gonna ask once more. Drop out…or swim with the fishes."

"Neither and that's final."

"Okay then…looks like you'll be spending all night here…just like you are."

"You can't be serious…if I don't show up at home, they'll know…"

"You hafta wait at least twenty-four hours before you can declare someone missing," Garth mocks. "So don't worry, we'll be back here by say…noon tomorrow."

"What? I know its you that kidnapped me!"

"Kidnapped? Nah this could be misconstrued as a hazing prank and not thing more. Besides…I doubt…" Garth leans in closer and presses the tape a bit further down over Jamie's eyes, making him try to jerk his head away in defiance. "You can see through the tape or in the dark or through the black masks…so again…you got no case and well…yeah it sucks to be you!" Garth finishes with a laugh.

"What the hell do you want?" Jamie demands as he squirms in his chair.

"I want you gone – for good!" Garth hisses in anger as he yanks the cloth from Aaron's hand and before Jamie can say another word, shoves it into his mouth and then reaches for the tape.

NO! Garth…don't do this! Jamie tries to shout as he hears the tape being ripped away and then firmly pressed down over his mouth.

"And how about a few more!" Garth laughs as he adds a few more pieces and then smoothes them down over Jamie's face before patting his cheek. "I hope you sleep well. See you tomorrow."

NO! Jamie tries once again, pulling against the tape bonds as the door is slammed shut and only laughter is heard on the other side. The footsteps die out once again and Jamie slumps back in misery. Garth…come back…I'll drop out.

Danny looks at his watch and then over at his partner and frowns. "What the hell are they doing in there?"

"Somehow I don't think I wanna know," Demarcus frowns. "You know…maybe it is a date?" He snickers and Danny just rolls his eyes. "Shooting up? I don't know…they've been in there about what fifteen-twenty minutes? I see a small…"

"We wait."

"For what?"

"Any signs of something we should barge in on."

"Okay."

The two of them sit a bit longer in the silence, Danny's agitation growing by the second and his brain racing as to why his brother would even want to come out here.

"Danny…" Demarcus nods about five minutes later.

"Okay hold on here, they come," Danny quickly shushes his partner and watches Garth and Aaron emerge without their masks on. He watches them high five each other and feels his fists tighten.

"Doesn't look suspicious."

"Well whatever it was…I'm willing to bet it was no good," Danny grumbles.

"So plan of action?"

"We wait until they are gone, check the building and then see if we need to go find them again."

"Ah hide and seek…nice."

"Smart ass," Danny smirks under his breath.

He looks at the car Garth and Aaron are in and wonders what on earth they could be doing. However, knowing Garth's less than stellar reputation something inside urges Danny to just wait until he leaves and then go into the building to see what Garth had been up to or if he left anything behind. Also troubling was the fact that Jamie's phone signal died here and Garth was here…too many negative coincidences adding up to an even bigger uneasy feeling. Something's not right, Danny ponders as the car finally starts up and then slowly pulls away.

Danny quickly gets out of the car and without making himself known watches Garth slowly leave the dock area and disappear around the corner and out of view.

"Man you're spooked," Demarcus notes.

"What? I don't trust him okay. Do you?"

"No," Demarcus groans as he stands beside Danny in the darkened garage. "Come on man…lets go…this place gives me the creeps."

"Oh so you're afraid of the dark now?" Danny teases his partner as he pulls his phone.

"Again with the rhetorical questions. I don't like it here okay."

Danny mutters under his breath as he calls his father's house once more, asking for Jamie and then pretending he had forgotten that he was told earlier Jamie was at a study group.

"Danny…what's going on?" Henry asks in haste. "Is Jamie okay?"

"Yeah he's fine," Danny frowns. "I forgot okay?"

"Maybe you're brother wouldn't be ignoring you if you were a little nicer to him."

"Okay I'll try harder," Danny huffs as he tries to hang up. "Grandpa I gotta go."

After he hangs up with Henry he dials Sydney's number once more and then Tom's.

"No he's still not shown up. You think something's happened?"

"Nah I think he's at work. No worries," Danny replies in haste, not wanting to cause a big panic before he hangs up, calls Jamie's work and then finally Jamie's home and cell number. "Damn it kid…when I find you I swear I won't need much to want to kick your ass."

"Yeah and you wonder why he's mad at you," Demarcus interjects with a small smirk.

"Let's check inside."

Danny and his partner slowly head toward the darkened buildings, pausing by the spot Garth's car had been parked. Danny looks down and then just before he's about to turn away a small glint caches his eye and he bends down to pick up the shiny object.

"What?"

"Not sure," Danny frowns as he looks at what could be a hard fleck off something with a metallic blue paint job. "Let's go," Danny nods toward the building Garth and Aaron just exited, Danny absently shoving the small object into his coat pocket. He pulls his small flashlight and slowly pulls the door open both of them peering inside.

"It's empty," Demarcus muses with a frown as he and Danny stand in the doorway looking around the small darkened space before them.

"Doesn't smell like anything and no signs of shooting up or foul play."

"So what the hell were they doing in here?" Demarcus asks as he nears the door to the closet Jamie's in. "Maybe I really don't wanna know…you know?"

The unfamiliar man's voice quickly pulls Jamie from his sleepy stupor, his heart rate now soaring once more as to who he was facing now and what they had in mind for him. With the tape pressed down over his eyes he wasn't able to see the bright slit of light coming in from under the door but figures its best to not make a sound in case it wasn't a friendly person on the other side.

Danny looks around, wondering what on earth Garth and Aaron were up to as he wasn't able to see anything left behind to indicate foul play, never guessing for a million years that his captive brother was literally only a few feet away. But just as he takes a step toward the closet to check it out, both he and Demarcus hear a noise outside and Danny quickly turns to see what's up.

"I'll look around here a bit, go see if it's your brother," Demarcus suggests and Danny is quick to nod and take his leave. He heads outside, squinting into the darkness before him and muttering angrily under his breath. "Jamie!" Danny shouts, his anger and frustration mounting. "Am really gonna give that kid a beating when I find him."

"Jamie!"

Jamie hears his name being called and for a few seconds is frozen with panic. But as soon as his brain registers his brother's voice he dares to try to move the chair, instantly drawing the attention of his partner on the other side of the door. Better to face Danny's wrath than to spend the night alone in here and face Garth again in the morning.

Demarcus hears the noise and quickly pulls his gun, the small flashlight resting in his palm as he pulls the door open and stares in horror at the sight before him. "Oh my g... DANNY!"

Danny hears his partner shouting from the building they were just in and races back inside with his gun drawn. He stops a few feet from his partner, the area behind him dark.

"What?"

"Look what I found."

Demarcus steps back and shines his light on the interior of the closet, Danny's world coming to a complete stop at the horrible sight before him.

"Jamie," he utters in a dead whisper.

A/N: So how do you think the reunion is going to go? Tension about to boil over? Jamie didn't see Garth and Danny didn't catch him in the act, how can they get Garth for what he did? And will Jamie tell Danny everything? Will he give in to Garth? Hope you are all still liking this and please review before you go and thanks so much!