Annabeth was correct. The team had a pretty good idea and it didn't take long before they were surrounding another abandoned warehouse with the help of NOPD. Christopher and Annabeth were being babysat by two officers back near the command center. With Pride in the lead, the warehouse was quickly searched and declared empty except for the sedan Dawson used in Davidson's murder.

Dwayne issued instructions to the team. Any clue, hell, anything was better than what they had, which amounted to nothing. He would forever deny it but he still stormed out of the warehouse towards the command area. A quick glance around yielded neither of his teammates. The hair on the back of his neck stood up.

"Thompson, where's LaSalle and Dupont?" Pride asked a young officer standing near by.

The kid looked around and pointed to a patrol car. "They were sitting on the hood last time I looked."

"Where's Baxter and LaGrande, the two officers that were with them?"

"Who?" Thompson asked confused.

"Baxter and LaGrande," Pride repeated. He was already moving to check around the squad.

"I don't know who they are. Never heard of them," Thompson replied, already joining the older man.

Looking completely around the car, they found no evidence of either person. Pride stood at the back of the car and scanned the area. Thompson mimicked his actions from the other corner. Dwayne couldn't find any indicator as to the pairs whereabouts. He turned back to Thompson to see the man staring at the hedge.

"You got something?"

"I'm not sure. Looks like it could be a pant leg," he responded already unholstering his weapon and walking across the road.

Pride followed, weapon also drawn, searching the surroundings for a threat. The office reached the area where he'd seen the clothing. Checking to make sure Pride covered him, he holstered his gun and pulled back the lower branches to reveal a leg. Pushing more limbs aside he uncovered a full body, on its side, facing away from them.

Pride immediately recognized his friend. Securing his gun, he dropped to his knees and placed his fingers to check for a pulse. "It's Chris! He's alive! Go get a paramedic!"

Thompson rushed to do Pride's biding. Soon there were paramedics and equipment all over. Dwayne didn't take his eyes off his friend until he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"What's going on?" Sonja asked, unable to see around the first responders.

"It's LaSalle. He's unconscious. Not sure if there's more," Dwayne stated.

"Oh, god," Tammy exclaimed.

Pride hadn't realized everyone was there. He shook his head to clear his thoughts. "We need to find Annabeth. Split up and find her!"

"But what about," Sonja started to protest as she realized Pride was going to go with rather than stay with Chris.

Pride cut her off. "Thompson is going to stay glued to Christopher's side. We need to find Annabeth!"

"We're ready for transport. You coming, King?" one of the paramedics shouted.

"Thompson is going with."

"Let's roll," the same paramedic declared. Officer Thompson fell in line without question. He didn't have to follow Pride's orders, he wanted to.

The team fanned out, searching for Annabeth. They questioned those they didn't know and let those they did help. A fruitless hour later, everyone gathered back at the command center. There was no sign of their friend or the two officers who'd been assigned to guard her and LaSalle.

Dwayne paced back and forth in frustration. "We've got nothing! How can we have nothing?"

"Patton ran Baxter and LaGrande. They don't exist, not as NOPD at least. He's still running them through the system," Gregorio said.

"He's not going to find them. Dawson wouldn't have used someone so easily traceable," Pride said. "I'm going to head to the hospital."

"We're coming with you," Sebastian announced. No one argued.

The ride to the hospital was tense in both vehicles. Once there, it didn't take long fro them to be told that LaSalle was still being evaluated and they would have to wait in the waiting room. The nurse would make sure someone would be out to talk with them as soon as they knew what was going on. She even confirmed the security before they could ask.

How two hours could feel like an eternity would never be explained. The entire team had set up shop in a corner of one room, trying to stay out of the way. Dwayne had asked NOPD for assistance in searching for Annabeth so the team could concentrate on Christopher. He was having a hard time doing nothing and was getting ready to send people out when a doctor appeared at the door.

"Agent Pride?" the doctor announced.

Pride walked right up to him. "How's he doing, doc?"

"Do you mind if we sit down?" the doctor asked motioning to a bank of chairs. After sitting, the doctor let out a bone weary sigh. "Agent LaSalle was drugged. "We've identified the substance as propofol. He also has a contusion behind his left ear. We're surmising the propofol was administered after he was pistol whipped. The drug depressed his breathing enough that he's been put on a ventilator. He also has a moderate concussion and is still unconscious."

"What's the prognosis?" Pride asked.

The doctor sighed again. "It depends on if we can get his respiratory system working correctly. The next twenty-four hours are our bellwether." He stood up at that point. "I'll send an aid out when he's settled in ICU step down and ready for visitors."

"Thanks, Doc," Sebastian said as he shook the man's hand.

After the man had left, Pride turned to the group. "Alright, we need to get back to work."

"I wanna see Chris before we leave," Sonja said.

Dwayne studied her for a long moment. "Fine," he relented, "the rest of us will head back to HQ. We need to find Annabeth."

"Do you want me to call his family?" Tammy asked.

"Nah, I'll do it. Christopher's family can be interesting," Pride answered.

Sonja watched them leave, feeling somewhat relieved. She had a lot to say to LaSalle and she really didn't want any witnesses. Sitting back down, she put her head back and closed her eyes. She was okay with the wait as she needed to get her thoughts in order.

It was another hour or so later when a nurse came to direct Percy to LaSalle's room. He had a private room but a large window looked out on a nurse's station. An officer she recognized stood sentry at the door.

"You've got ten minutes," the nurse said as she pushed the door open for Sonja.

Sonja nodded to both the nurse and the guard. Slowly entering the room, she catalogued all the equipment. The whoosh of the ventilator startled her. She moved to the bedside, keeping her back to the window. She didn't need anyone trying to read her lips.

"Jeez, country mouse, what the hell." The words failed her for a moment. "Chris, I am so sorry for the way I acted. I have no idea why I let it get to me like that. I just need you to wake up so I can apologize properly."

The ventilator whooshed again. Sonja reached out to take his hand. "When this is over and Dawson's behind bars again, we're going to discuss the elephant in the room. I don't want to ignore what's going on between us. Just warning you."

A bell dinged from the head of the bed. Sonja was trying to figure out the source when a different nurse came in the room. "I'm sorry but your time is up."

"Yeah, right. Sorry."

The nurse's expression was full of compassion. "No need to be sorry. I wish I could change the rules." She held out a bag towards Sonja. "These are his personal affects. Considering what they are, you should probably take them with you."

It took a moment for the meaning to sink in. "Oh, his gun! Yeah, I'll take it back to the office," Sonja stuttered out.

"His wallet and phone are all in there too. Plus other things," the nurse added.

"Thank you," Sonja replied taking the bag. "I'll take care of it." Leaving the hospital was one of the hardest thing she'd ever done.

She wouldn't ever recall the drive back to HQ. Walking into the office, everyone froze when they saw her. Percy walked over to Chris's desk and put his things down before acknowledging them. "He's still unconscious and intubated. The nurse gave me his stuff."

Pride broke the silence that followed, "We'd better secure his gun." He picked up the bag and pulled it open. Reaching inside, he rummaged around and pulled out the gun and badge. A piece of paper fluttered to the ground.

"What's that?" Sebastian asked as he reached down to pick it up. Unfolding it, his face paled. "Dwayne, you need to read this." He handed it over by the corner.

Pride took the paper by the same corner, concern showing. "If you want Annabeth Dupont cal this number 555-3323."

"What the hell," Gregorio said. Pride was already dialing.

"Agent Pride, I've been expecting your call. It took you long enough," Dawson said upon answering.

"Where's Annabeth?" Pride growled.

"Patience my friend," Dawson chuckled

"What do you want, Dawson?"

"I didn't think you'd be the type to ask rhetorical questions."

"I want to speak to her before and after you deliver your demands," Pride snarled.

"I don't think you're in a position to be dictating terms," Dawson said snidely.

"I won't negotiate unless I know she's alive. You know how these things go," Dwayne stated coldly.

"Dwayne," a weak voice came over the line.

"Annabeth!"

"He hasn't hurt me yet," she said carefully.

"Annabeth, we're going to get you out of this."

"Take care of Chris. Hey, at least we had Baton Rouge."

"Alright that's enough. Have LaSalle at the address I'll text you in the morning within two hours," Dawson ordered.

"LaSalle is unconscious," Pride informed him.

"Not my problem. Now have your quick speak."

Annabeth voice came on again, "Baton Rouge."

"Annabeth!" Pride yelled back but the line was dead. "Please tell me you got something!"

Patton, who'd started a trace the second Pride dialed, shook his head. "It's a burner. I got it narrowed to a five mile radius around the cell tower."

"Damn it!" Dwayne exploded, swinging his arm and knocking off a stapler and a cup in the process.

"What did she mean by Baton Rouge?" Percy questioned as they all ignored his outburst.

Dwayne turned to face her. "It's a… It's a code word."

"We got that but what's it mean?" Percy reiterated, interrupting.

"It means to walk away. She's telling us to let her go and walk away."

"What the hell!" Sonja yelled. "She really expects us to simply turn our backs."

"It's what she wants," he confirmed.

"But we're not going to do that," Gregorio said.

"No, we are not." Pride's phone rang. "It's the hospital."

Everyone was deathly quiet as they waited for Pride to get the update. The man's face gave nothing away. None of them would be called patient so the wait was excruciating. Sebastian even started chewing on his lip, a sure sign of nervousness.

"Okay, thank you," Pride finally said, ending the call. "Christopher is awake and responsive but he's still having trouble breathing. He's still relying on the ventilator."

"Is he going to be okay?" Tammy asked.

"Doctors are hoping to wean him off it by morning."

"Well, that's good news," Sonja exclaimed.

"Yeah but it doesn't help us with Annabeth," Sebastian said.

"No it doesn't. We're going to need to think outside the box," Dwayne decided.

"Can we do anything before we know what Dawson wants?" Tammy wondered.

"No," Dwayne admitted wearily. "Finish up and call it a day. Be back here bright and early. Dawson isn't going to catch us resting on our laurels."

"Where are you going?" Tammy asked as Pride started gathering some things.

"I'm spending the night with Christopher. Call if you need me," Pride informed them. He left without saying another word.