Author's Note: Finally! I know I've said it before, but I sincerely apologize for making you guys wait so long. Between trying to pass math and college applications, I just haven't had the time to write. It's a lousy excuse I know, but on the bright side we're reaching the home stretch. One more chapter and I'm done. Send me those reviews and let me know what you think. Oh, and try not to kill me after you finish this chapter. All I'll say is that it's not over 'til it's over.

The Return

Chapter Thirteen

"This is the place. This is where I saw him."

"You're sure?"

"Of course I'm sure…kind of."

Elektra groaned inwardly. "What do you man 'kind of'?"

"Cut me some slack would you? It only lasted a few seconds and besides, all the rooftops look the same."

"Quiet," Matt ordered from his position a few feet in front of them.

The crash course in Kimagure Stick had put Abby through before they left seemed to have paid off. In the midst of being told by Elektra for what seemed like the hundredth time that she wouldn't be getting a costume, the teenager had experienced a vision, which had led them to where they were now.

The building in question had been abandoned for years and seemed to be falling apart. Straining his hearing to its limits, Matt struggled to find something useful over the constant noise of the city. His efforts were rewarded a moment later.

"Foggy's inside, I recognize his heartbeat." Though his face was obscured, the relief he felt at knowing his friend was alive was plainly obvious.

As Matt began moving toward the rooftop exit, Abby's mind was assaulted with a series of quick, barely discernable images. Despite their rapidness, she saw enough to know what was about to happen and rushed to warn him.

"Look out!"

Matt reacted instantly, whipping out his club just in time to stop the ninja star that had been heading for his throat. He "watched" as the sharp piece of metal collided with his weapon and fell to the ground.

Before Abby knew what was happening, she found herself being pushed behind Elektra. The ex assassin drew both her sais in one fluid motion, all the while searching for the source of the attack. She didn't have to wait long.

Jumping down from the roof of a nearby building, Bullseye landed in front of the exit door, blocking their path to the man beyond.

"Well well well, look who it is. Long time no see blind man."

An amused smirk played on Bullseye's lips as he looked past Matt to Elektra, who was still blocking Abby from view.

"And look who it is. I've missed you babe, I really have." He paused, taking in the scene and, to Matt's fury, began to laugh.

"Oh this is great, this is just priceless."

Knowing how skilled Bullseye was, Matt ignored his desire to close the distance between them and beat the other man to a bloody pulp. There was too much risk involved, too high a chance of Abby getting hurt. So he advanced slowly, hoping to get close enough to end this quickly. Needing to distract him, Matt played along with Bullseye's game, using every once of willpower he had to keep his anger in check.

Bullseye meanwhile was walking casually toward the man in red, acting as though they were old college friends who'd merely lost touch with each other.

"Come on Murdock. You telling me that you don't see the irony in this," he tilted his head toward Abby and Elektra. "Your girlfriend-the one I killed-comes back from the dead. But instead of running back to you, she takes a page out of my book. That's got to sting doesn't it? Being dumped so she could get a new career butchering people? I would almost feel bad for you if it wasn't so damn funny."

"I'm not like you, you sick son of a bitch." Elektra knew what Matt's plan was, what he was attempting to do, and thus far the only thing stopping her from splattering Bullseye's brains against the exit door was knowing that he would probably dodge her weapon and mount a counter attack. Normally this wouldn't have mattered to her, but having Abby with them changed the situation immensely. If she didn't keep her guard up the teenager was likely to get herself killed.

"Not like me? Really? Tell me something, how many people did you off while Murdock here was sitting alone mourning your loss? Because from what I hear it was a hell of a lot.

Abby, who up to now had managed to keep her promise to Elektra to stay out of the way, could no longer stand by and do nothing. Moving before Elektra could stop her, she charged at Bullseye, fully intending to make him pay for everything he'd done.

Her opponent was faster though, sending another ninja star flying her way. This one did make contact, tearing her flesh and embedding itself in her left shoulder blade. He didn't have time to savor his victory, because Daredevil had already tackled him, the two of them landing hard on the concrete roof.

Elektra rushed to Abby's side, hastily checking the extent of the injury.

"I'm fine I'm fine, it's just a scratch." As she said this, Abby pulled the metal object from her shoulder, grimacing at the pain it caused.

"Abby listen to me. Go downstairs and find Foggy now."

"No way!"

I said go."

"But-"

"This isn't a debate! He's Matt's friend and he may be dying now move!"

The thought of another person getting killed gave her pause. Abby bit her lip in frustration then tore off for the exit door. She'd free the other man, make sure he got out safely then come straight back to help Matt and Elektra

As soon as she saw Abby close the door behind her, Elektra rushed toward Matt and Bullseye, who were still fighting on the other side of the roof.

Bullseye was growing tired of this. The Devil's attacks were way too strong coming way too fast and from the corner of his eye he could see the Natchios woman about to join in. Backing away from Murdock, the assassin fingered a small switch on the side of his belt, using his index finger to turn it to the left.

Matt instantly fell to his knees, the pain in his head nearly unbearable. Elektra was at his side a moment later, Bullseye temporarily forgotten.

"Matt, what's wrong?"

"Too loud," he ground out from beneath clenched teeth. The high pitched ringing noise was like nothing he'd ever heard before. It played havoc with his senses, making his eardrums feel like they would burst any second.

Taking advantage of her distraction, Bullseye grabbed Elektra by the back of the neck, pulling her away from her helpless lover. Handling them one at a time would definitely make things easier.

"You know, those people who want the girl, who want you dead, it's amazing the kind of equipment they can get their hands on. Your boyfriend along with every dog within a hundred miles is getting the worst headache of his life right now."

Delivering a harsh kick to the stomach, Bullseye followed up with a series of rapid punches to throw her off balance, the last of which knocked her to the ground. One of the long swords fell from her hand, hitting the roof with a loud clatter. Picking it up, Bullseye stood over Elektra, an evil grin crossing his face.

"Right back where we started huh baby? There's something almost… poetic about it."

Before she could even think about using her other weapon, Bullseye delivered another kick, this time hitting her right hand.

The Irishmen was so caught up in his imminent victory that he never saw Daredevil stumble to his feet, fighting past the pain caused by the device. Taking aim was nearly impossible, his radar was so scrambled he could barely think, but Matt still managed to throw the billy club, praying for accuracy as he did so.

It wasn't a perfect shot, but it did get the job done. The cane struck Bullseye squarely in the back, sending red hot jolts of pain shooting through his spine.

Without thinking and without a moment's hesitation, Elektra jumped up, plunging her remaining sai directly into Bullseye's side. There was a faint crackle as the machine he'd been using to send out those torturous sound waves short circuited and became nothing more then a worthless piece of metal and wires.

Elektra glared at her former adversary, hatred coming off her in waves. Twisting the weapon deeper into his flesh, she allowed herself a brief moment of satisfaction. It was over now. It was finally over.

Pulling the weapon free just as Matt came to rejoin her, Elektra was both astonished and angered when she saw that Bullseye was smiling. Placing a hand over the wound in what all three of them knew was a futile attempt to stop the blood loss, the assassin took a few shuddering breaths and forced himself to talk.

"You…you may have beaten me, but what about the kid?"

"She's fine," Elektra answered, not liking the almost triumphant sound of his voice.

"You're losing your touch," Matt added. "All you did was nick her shoulder."

Bullseye let out a short bark of laughter that quickly turned into a coughing fit. With blood pouring from his mouth and staining his front, he still managed to utter three final words.

"I…never…miss."

They stood for a moment, both trying to interpret the meaning behind their enemy's dying statement. Matt was the one who understood first. Running for the exit door, he kicked it open and bolted down the stairs with Elektra hot on his heels.

Using his hearing as a compass, Matt ran down four flights, stopping at the eighth floor and throwing the door open. Elektra caught up to him a moment later, but stopped dead in her tracks at the sight that met her.

They were in a small, dusty room and Foggy was bound to a chair with a rag stuffed in his mouth directly in front of them. But that wasn't what made the bile rise up in her throat. That was caused by the sight of Abby lying facedown on the dirty floor, seemingly unconscious.

Rushing to her side, Elektra turned her over, distressed to see that her chest was barely moving. Her eyes fell on the cut made from the ninja star and the final piece of the puzzle fell into place.

"He laced it with something."

Matt nodded, striding forward to untie his friend. After a quick inspection, he determined that while Foggy had been beaten pretty badly, none of the injuries appeared to be life threatening. Abby however wasn't so lucky.

Elektra patted her face repeatedly, shook her, called out her name, anything she could think of to get the teenager to wake up.

"Abby come on. Don't do this to me, you have to get up."

It was then that her breathing ceased altogether, her body going completely limp. Looking up at Matt with panic stricken eyes, Elektra shook the girl more urgently, tears clouding her vision.

"No no no no no Abby, not you too, I can't lose you too. Don't do this to me."

But Abby never heard her.