Disclaimer: The characters are property of Janet Evanovich and I am not making any money from this story. The story line is mine.

Warning: Angst and High Drama and Violence.

Finding Yesterday 14

By, Elissahara30

Reims, France

The first thing I noticed was the cold that was seeping into my bones. I was lying on a bare concrete floor and the air was so wet I could almost taste the dampness on my dry tongue. My whole body ached with an intensity that nearly made me want to close my eyes again. I tried moving my arms and found that my hands were tied behind my back. I was laying on my side and when I decided to move my head the nausea rushed forward. I closed my mouth tightly to try not to vomit all over myself as my stomach rolled its protest.

I flinched when cold hands touched my face and I wanted to move away but nothing wanted to work and I started making little gagging noises.

"It will be alright once the drug wears off," the voice above me rasped.

I wanted to believe the voice, but god it was awful. I've been hung over before, but nothing compared to the complete overwhelming loss of control of my insides. When I thought it couldn't get any worse I started to shake and then I lost the battle with my stomach.

The cold hands returned and held me so I wouldn't get sick on myself, and all I really wanted was to have my hands free so I could move away. After what felt like hours my stomach was empty and cramping. The person with the cold hands moved me away from my resting spot and set me down again.

"Untie me," I asked as best I could.

"Its safer for the moment to keep you tied." I heard movement again and then a cup of cold water was pressed to my dry chapped lips. I sipped at the cold liquid, and quelled the urge to just gulp it all down.

Once I had enough I asked, "Why?" Because huh, being tied and lying on the cold floor didn't sound very safe to me.

"If they come they won't hesitate to shoot you." The voice quavered.

"Who are they?" I knew the answer I just wanted it to be confirmed.

"The Cavaliers."

"Who are you?" I hazard to ask because something about the voice sounded familiar.

I could feel the hesitation from where I was laying; it was a heavy presence in the room. The cold hands moved me slowly again and I squinted against the slight light in the room, and as I willed my eyes to focus I about wept when I realized who I was looking at. "Spider?"

"Yeah," he said quietly as he tried not to fidget under my blurry gaze. I wonder how addled my brain was if I hadn't recognized his voice.

"Are we alone? Do you have an idea where we are at? Have you checked for ways to get out?" I really wish my hands were free.

"I'm so sorry Jersey, really I am." He said earnestly.

"You helped set me up didn't you?" And even though I wanted to be angry, I just didn't have the energy to work up a good head of steam.

He shrugged his shoulders at me, "He didn't give me much of a choice."

I tried to scoot closer to Spider, "You listen to me," I said, "I have a feeling that The Christian won't hesitate to kill you. If we work together we can get the hell out of here. Maybe Python and DM are aware of what's going on and get us out."

Spider's face closed and he turned away from me, "Spider? What aren't you telling me?"

He turned back to me his green eyes too bright and scared and god I wanted to cry for him. Because even though Spider was brilliant, he was just a baby. He was as green as I in the whole cloak and dagger business and I just wanted us both out. "I think he got to the others, I mean he told me that . . ." He swallowed as he tried to control his hands from shaking. "He said no one was going to come and get me. That I either helped or ended up like Devil and Python."

I narrowed my eyes at Spider, "And you want to sit here and take you chances with The Cavaliers, come on you're not that stupid."

He gave me a wounded look for a few minutes and then looked behind him before reaching a decision. He reached out and untied my hands and then helped me sit up. I rubbed my wrists trying to get the circulation going again, because damn it never fails to burn and prickle whenever this happens. I took in the dark empty room that reminded me of the times I had been locked in the warehouses back in New Jersey. But this time I had a whole new skill set and the same determination to get out alive.

I reached out and took Spiders hands in mine, "Now tell me what you know."

Spider squared his shoulders, "There is only one door in or out and a window, but we're three stories up, and with no where to go."

I looked over to the window and then to the door, "How long do you think I've been here?"

Spider shrugged, "About a couple of hours I suppose?"

Two hours give or take and I knew The Christian wasn't an armature at this; no he was a dead set pro not libel to make stupid mistakes. That meant he knew when the drug would wear off and if I stood any chance of getting out of here I had to make my move soon. Reaching a decision I struggle to stand up and staggered my way to the window. I ran my hands along the seam checking for any triggers or wires that would trip an alarm. Finding nothing I proceeded to try to see how the window was latched.

"Any guards at the door?" I ask as I looked around the room for something the pry up the seal of the window lip.

"I don't know," Spider said as he fidgeted next to me, "What are you doing?"

"Looking at door number two," I smiled briefly at Spider, "You know trying to get us out." I paused and then looked back at Spider, "You don't happen to have a nail file you?"

"No, but I do have a precision screw drivers." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a black pouch and I snatched it out of his hand.

I crowed in delight as I pulled out a flat headed screw driver out and threw the rest back at Spider while I attacked the window. "Keep an ear on the door; let me know if you hear anyone coming." I ignored the fine tremors in my hand as I worked the seal loose and felt the window give under the screw driver. I carefully nudged the window open and poked my head out. There wasn't anything to use as a hand old for a way to climb down, nothing to just jump into. But there was about a two foot ledge that ran the length of the building. I looked further to my left and noticed what looked like a trellis we could use to climb down.

I grimaced at my bare feet and looked back at the ledge, and then I motioned Spider over. "We're getting out of here now." I said.

Spider came over and looked out the window and I watched as he slowly grew pale, "Out the window?" He squeaked.

"Doors not an option," I said as I braced my hands against the edge of the window and worked on lifting myself up. I was half way up and out when a wave of vertigo hit me hard and I clung the side of the building and closed my eyes.

"Jersey!" Spider yelled.

"I'm okay," I mumbled against the brick siding, I let the rasp of the concrete on my face center me as I adjusted against the chilly air. I pried my eyes open and gave Spider a weak smile, "See no sweat; I used to do this type of thing all the time back home."

He didn't comment as he carefully pulled himself out of the window and onto the ledge beside me. We baby stepped across the ledge as we made steady progress to the trellis. I kept my focus on the end, and ignored the biting wind as it blew my hair into my face. I could no longer feel my feet, they had steadily gone numb.

The wind seemed to pick up as our target got closer, and my foot slipped. I felt myself back peddle and I desperately tried to gain purchase, but it was little use. I felt the free fall and I worked on adjusting my center of gravity and I latched unto the edge of the building. Spider flattened himself against the building as he scootched himself down offering a hand down.

I focused on Spider's hand and nothing else and as I was reaching up I looked into the window behind him. My hand stilled in Spiders sweaty palm and I forgot to breathe for a couple of heart beats, "Ranger." I chocked.

I started to slip from Spider's hold and he grunted as he redoubled his efforts to keep me from falling. "Jersey, I can't hold you any longer." Ranger was there and I fought the fatigue of my arms and the numbness of my feet and I focused on the man I needed like water. Ranger didn't see me, he looked so lost and it was wrong. With burning determination I pulled myself together and fought to get back up again.

Spider braced himself tighter against the side of the building as I managed to get my self up onto the side of the concrete ledge. Once I was up I leaned hard against the side by the window just staring at Ranger. "Change of plans Spider," I said. "We're going back in."

"Are you nuts?" He asked as he shook beside me.

I turned to my attention back to Spider, "Its time finish it. Ranger comes home today!"

TBC . . . .