Attacks
"Stella?" Lindsay looked at her older friend with worry. Her brows were tilted with concern as she looked at the broken woman. "Stella?"
She jumped as Lindsay sat beside among the mess. They were seated just outside the main room, in a small hallway that was strangely quiet. "Hm? Oh... Lindsay."
"Stella, I'm so sorry." The younger woman breathed, hugging her friend with tears in her eyes. "I'm so, so sorry."
"Why would they take her, Linds? I don't... I have no idea why they'd take her from us." Stella choked out, not registering anything beyond her own grief and the words she sputtered out. It was like reliving her attack after Frankie. Everything was broken, and she was struggling to pick up the pieces. She couldn't understand anything.
"I don't know, but we're gonna find out, don't worry."
"My little girl... "
Nami woke to the disgusting smell of exhaust. Everywhere. She was lying on something cold and hard, metallic, as far she could tell. Looking around she could see she was under a tarp, and as she bounced around in her hog-tied position it hit her that she was in the back of a truck. The sounds of everyday New York passed her; she could hear the cars, the people, the angry locals yelling at tourists to shut up!
They slowly came to a stop, on gravel, somewhere.
"Get her out of the back." A man's voice ordered.
The opening and closing of the truck door and the sound of heavy steps on the gravel didn't scare her much. What did scare her was the sound of a gun's safety clicking off. She could heal herself a lot faster than most people, but she wasn't bullet proof, and if they blew her brain clean out engineered genes wouldn't be able to help her. She knew her heart was racing by the blood that started flowing from her temple again. One little drop, leaving a small trail in its midst, rolled down.
"Wakey-wakey, princess." A man laughed.
Nami tried to growl, shout back at him, anything, but her yell was muffled by the scarf they'd tied over her mouth.
"Don't worry, you'll be nice and comfy through your next ride until we reach the border. Now come on!" He hoisted her out of the back and cut the rope binding her legs, though it did her little good because she was still weak from the shooting. He carried her over his shoulder and dumped her in the backseat of a car. It had the rent-a-car smell she had always hated. The leather was a nice change from the steel of the truck, though. "Bring her to the border, Anemone will give you clearance there. Then, put her back in her cage and load her with the other cargo."
"I know what to do!" A woman snapped.
"Just don't mess up. This one's the real prize and if we don't get her back within twenty four hours he's gonna kill us."
"You don't think I know that?" She finished, rolling up the window and taking off.
Nami adjusted herself to sit in the backseat normally, with the exception of her bound wrists. She blinked her senses on and looked ahead. They were heading down a gravel road, beside the river and away from Manhattan. "Um... "
"It's better if you don't talk." The woman said back to her with a firm voice, though it wasn't sharp or cold. As a matter of fact, the recommendation was almost tender.
"That's nice of you to warn me, but somehow I don't believe you're actually meaning anyone any harm." Nami said with a small smile and tilted eyebrows, seeing the woman's reflection in the mirror if she tried. The Greek woman had a beautiful face, strong but elegant and with a naturally kind look. "What's your name?"
"I'm not allowed to say so to you." She sighed.
"Oh, they'd never know. You already know my name's Nami." She smiled, speaking to the woman gently.
"My name is Talia." She finally admitted.
"Hi Talia. I'd shake your hand, but I'm in no position to do so." Nami laughed, lightening the mood.
"Look honey, you're in danger, and I don't have to tell you that these guys won't hesitate to kill you." Talia said without turning to Nami, keeping her eyes trained on the road and her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.
"But that's the same thing that's keeping you in on this too, isn't it? They have something on you, don't they?"
Silence settled in as the sound of the car drowned out their breathing. Talia met Nami's eyes in the rear view mirror unwaveringly, though her eyes were sad while Nami's were simply sparkly and soothing to her. She blinked a few times, looking back to the road ahead. The tall green grass surrounding the route stood higher than the car itself and blew frivolously in the wind. "I have three sisters. They went missing around the time you were found in that alley. I think he took them. His daughters Anemone and Amaryllis told me that if I wanted to see them unharmed I'd have to carry out all the actions they told me to, the latest one being to bring you to the border where they'll put you back in the cargo hold with the other kids... I'm sorry."
"I understand. Your sisters must mean a lot to you." Nami smiled.
"They're all I have." Talia smiled sadly as well. "I love them."
"I see... I'm sorry. I know what it's like to love something and then have it taken away." Nami felt strangely comfortable telling all this to the woman she'd met only ten minutes ago. She felt she could trust her.
"You and I have a lot in common, huh, kiddo?" Talia laughed somewhat bitterly as she turned onto an even bumpier back road.
"Yeah, I guess we do." Nami looked down slightly, recalling her parent's faces, if anything, to make sure she wouldn't forget.
Her mother's face; Greek. Beautiful and sweet. Loving and with the constant warmth of a born mother, capable of nothing but loving those who have seen pain and lost love throughout their time.
Her father's face; Stormy, but through the storm there is always the calm in the center. She loved the calm, the love, the sweetness he showed only her and her mother. His rare but precious smile.
She clenched her teeth together and squeezed her eyes shut. Her heart began to ache horribly. She threw her head back, showing a pained expression and dropped it again, letting out choppy breaths and sobs. Her shoulders shook as her sorrow racked her body. Her parents were disappearing in her mind. She let out a scream of pain and anguish, letting the thick, hot tears cascade over her cheeks. Her mother and father weren't there, this time, to hold her while she cried.
Talia tried not to cry as she listened to the young girl. She was so young; only two years younger than her youngest sister, Daniella. She was so young, and yet she'd already lived through hell. Now she was being dragged back to it.
Oh, merciful God who shapes us all,
Return these suffering creatures to your unending womb
And forgive my soul for what I have done
For the demon you want is the hand that moves mine as I speak
She bit her lip and focused on the road rather than the sad, almost pitiful little girl sitting in the backseat of the car, waiting for her doom.
"I'm sorry... "
"Stella?"
Stella looked up at her husband. "Mac?"
"Stella." He couldn't say anything else as he sat down with her, wrapping an arm around her tiny shoulders and drawing her to him.
"Where is she, Mac? Where's our girl?" She whispered.
"Stella... I think Edward Boansera is behind this. Yesterday, his daughters, Anemone and Amaryllis, came and told me that he'd sent them to bring you and Nami back to Greece. I-"
"What?! Why didn't you tell me?!" She asked angrily.
"I was trying to protect you. I didn't-"
"You didn't what, Mac? You didn't want to worry me?" She bit hostilely. "You didn't think I had a right to know?"
"Stella-"
"No! Don't Stella me! You didn't tell me the man who tried to kill our daughter was coming after us?!" She shouted, standing up.
"I didn't want to hurt you."
"Mac... I've always trusted you. More than anyone." She shook her head slowly. Meaningfully. "But this... we're supposed to be getting married... "
"Stella, I swear I only had the best intentions."
"I'm sure you did, but right now... " She touched his cheek, like she had so many times before, and looked in his eyes. This time, though, it was painful. "I'm too hurt to think."
"I'd never want to hurt you." He begged her with his eyes to believe him, feeling her trembling hand on his cheek.
She let out a forlorn laugh. "You know, since you proposed... I've been referring to you as my husband, but... maybe... "
"Stella, please... " He held her hand against his cheek, trying to will her to stay with him.
"I have to go." She said suddenly, breaking contact.
"I love you."
She turned slowly and gave him the tiniest smile imaginable, weak and frail, but still there. "I love you too."
Mac thanked his stars she still loved him but he couldn't have done more damage if he'd... no, he really couldn't have done anything worse. For the time being, he'd just have to wait.
Stella walked away briskly, not wanting to cry. Normally, if she cried, she'd cry on him. That wasn't an option this time. She made it to the elevator, almost bumping into Hawkes and Adam on the way, and found her way to her office where Lindsay and Danny were seated.
"Oh god... Stella." Lindsay went over to her friend, seeing her standing there resolutely. Tears ran down her cheeks. Lindsay wrapped her arms around the older woman and helped her sit in a chair shakily.
"I d-don't understand... Linds... " Stella shook, gasping through sobs and a complete mess. Lindsay's hands were tender and strong on her arms as she stood behind her. Stella's hands never stopped shaking completely and she was shaking her head in denial ever so slightly.
"You'll be okay, Stell." Lindsay whispered, rubbing Stella's arms.
"Stella, we'll find her... " Danny dropped his head, not because he was lying, but because he didn't know how yet. Everyone was still a bit shocked, and those who weren't were just scared. Gerrard had been killed, and half of PD was looking for the shooters/worrying about their own asses.
"I... I always wanted a baby. I have - no, I had a daughter." She said to herself, shaky and not herself. Her CSI supervisor voice had come over her and her eyes were wide; sharp and trained but afraid. "So... they're taking her to Greece? They'll need to get her on a plane, but where? Where could they get her out of the country unnoticed?"
"Stella! That's it! Danny, check any activity around flights to Greece. Even private flights and planes need clearance with the airport, and Nami's a little girl without ID or a passport." Lindsay said quickly.
"I'm on it! We're gonna find her Stella." Danny said cheerfully, holding his older friend's face in his hands and kissing her curls.
"See, Stella? Everything's gonna be okay." Lindsay whispered.
"My little girl... " Stella whispered.
Bzzzzz!
Stella looked at her phone, which listed a private number. She frowned but picked up. "Hello?"
"If you want to see your daughter come to the power plant by the river. If we see your husband or anyone PD at all she dies."
Stella's blood froze in her veins. The beautiful sienna of her skin faded to that of a ghostly pallor and her mind was having trouble conveying anything whatsoever. When she finally did realize what was happening she'd decided she was going to get her daughter back. Without Mac. "He's not my husband."
"Stella? What's going on? What's wrong?" Lindsay asked suddenly and worriedly. Stella stood and rushed to the door. "What's going on, Stella? Who's not your husband?"
"Don't tell Mac where I'm going." Stella said firmly.
"Stella-"
"Please, Lindsay!" Stella repeated. "Don't tell him."
"Where are you going?" Lindsay asked solemnly.
"To hunt a lead."
Nami's head rested against the window of the car as it bumped down the rugged road. Her tears had stopped but only because she didn't have any more to cry. They'd been driving for quite a long time, but she'd stopped paying attention. She didn't know where they were.
"We're almost there." Talia spoke quietly, cutting the silence.
No reply came, simply a slight what-could-have-been nod from Nami. Her dark hair shielded her eyes from view but her lips were visible as they tried to form words. Nothing came from them though. She tried again, letting her mouth hang open for a moment. "What are they planning on doing? I'm the only survivor of the Hybrid Project. I'm the only one who didn't die from the overstimulation of the synthetic genes."
"All they told me was that they'd found a way to immortalize you and your mother." Talia frowned.
Nami frowned as well. Her and her mother? Her and her mother? What were they planning on doing to her and Stella? What could they do to them? She didn't want to think about it, but what else was she to do. "Great... "
"There it is." Talia pulled up to an airport, going through the gate.
"What's going on?" Nami squinted. "They said you were taking me to the border."
"The border of New York City. This new airport-"
"Was built for just this reason?" Nami growled.
"I'm afraid so. Now... " Talia turned to the steering wheel to park the car next to a small plane. "It's time."
"Okay, so-?!" Nami was quickly hauled out of the car and whapped in the back of her neck. Her mind buzzed for a moment. "Ow! What the heck was that?! If you're going to do that, do it right and make sure it works!!"
"Shut up!"
The same gun hit her in the same place as before. It stung and the blood was once again flowing down her temple. She was knocked out with just one shot this time. She went down without a fight.
Stella walked on the gravel beside the fence cautiously. Her black heeled boots made a light noise on the small stones, but her breathing was louder; uneasy and sharp. The sky was a dull grey, fittingly dismal. The power plant was fenced off, leaving only a small bank beside the fast moving river, on which Stella slumped along.
"Stella Bonasera?"
She turned, only to have a hand grasp her face firmly. Her feet were half carried half dragged down the bank and into the frigid water, startling her only in the back of her mind. Strong arms held her tightly. She struggled and fought with all her intensity and strength, but still she wasn't winning. What would be a wildcat's temper for most was just a kitten's hissy-fit. Her captor brought them both into the river, standing strong against the current. Stella felt the cold water rise on her being and kicked out, getting lucky, and hitting his stomach in the back-swing. It didn't do much, but it surprised him enough for her to get free.
She was going to attack the man but the current swept her downstream so quickly she hardly got a chance to see his face. Klein. Or rather, Damien Long, the fake child services worker. He kicked out and came at her again, grabbing a fistful of her hair and forcing her under.
She fought to come back up, get breath, oxygen, but he was much stronger than her and had no trouble holding her underwater. She felt her lungs shrink and her mind begin to go into overdrive just before blacking out. Her arms felt heavy, and dropped back into the water.
"Mac. I need to talk to you."
Mac looked up. "Lindsay? What's wrong?"
"It's... about Stella." She struggled, furrowing her brows.
"Is she okay?"
"She got this call, and she wouldn't tell me what about, but she told me not to tell you. She said she was going to chase a lead, but she looked really scared, and I'm worried-"
"Okay, Lindsay." Mac said gently, seeing her get teary from stress.
"Mac, you have to go find her. I'm worried about her."
"Don't worry I will."
"You better! You're... you're her husband."