If you love me let me know

by MorbidPet17

Rollaro fic. My take on how they got together and what really happened after Gambler's Fallacy. Starts out raunchy and, well it continues like that. This is fifty shades of Rollaro but with some substance ;)

14. Chapter 14

This last chapter really had low reviews, I hope that didn't mean you hated it. I love writing but I got to say the reviews/feedback makes it worth publishing it online. So this will be the last chapter and I hope you let me know what you thought of the finished story, any negative criticism is also welcomed, I strive to be better at this.

Time for my thank-u-speech. I want to thank all these lovely people for reviewing during the run, you are so appreciated I can't express it with words; juwanareed14, lvsvu727, Teddy, Kt, .lovers, KareenT, 13, ThePointe, HeartSkull (girl I'm your bat shit fan now, your reviews deserve a frickin award!), PerpetualSnare, killerQueen32, Ivy, noirlail8, mom2knjj, Emily, Sad, gemini2989, Meggz, Captain Amanda Rollins, Emily J, jj, Ira4, Gracenspangler, DetectiveObsessed, FaithSvu93, Miss Mustang, Taylor, Sunshyne2014, luv-my-pug-roni2010 & emyj. I've treasured every single word and I love you, and all anon reviewers, bunches.

Lyrics used in this chapter belongs to; Disco inferno – the Trammps, Play that funky music – Wild Cherry, Dancing queen – Abba & (of course the theme song has to get squeezed in) Distance by Christina Perri

Not to get all preechy but I so wish the SVU fandom could come together as one and stop this hate towards individual characters and ships and whatever. It's okay to dislike and to not appriciate but this hate flowing around social medias just gets me down. My heart belongs to Finanda but I refuse to hate any other ship just because of that.

Oh & for those of you wondering, the sequel to My Own Army probably won't be up until October but it's called Soldier so keep a look out if you're interested.

Thanks again for reading &... enjoy!

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Chapter 14

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There's something about staring down a black barrel that makes life seem really simple in just a blink of an eye. The notion that at any moment a bullet can end your life can make you oddly illuminated.

For Amanda it wasn't the first time she'd stared down a barrel but it was the first time her head hadn't been cluttered with several strategies for escape. Her body had already reacted, her hands were in the air. But her mind had only just caught up. And in just a couple of seconds she suddenly realized a lot of things. Always being on time, not so important. Breathing, very important. Eating, somewhat important. Having someone to love, maybe not important but very much a blessing.

And now her heart caught on as well. She didn't want to die. Not now. Not now when he was here. There was so much she still wanted to experience with him. She would miss him dearly. Would he miss her? She turned her head to the side looking for him in the spot she'd last seen him. She felt a need for his protection, his kind eyes that would tell her things would be okay. She found him but she didn't find his eyes. They were off staring down their own barrel and the notion he could die suddenly scared her more than dying herself.

He couldn't die. She loved him. Something about that notion made her feel warm all over for all the right reasons. But the fact was they were in serious trouble and the notion she could lose everything made her scared to death.

The night before
They'd enjoyed yet another delicious dinner from their favorite take-out restaurant. He'd made sure they used plates tonight though and not eaten straight out of the boxes as they sometimes did. They'd eaten in front of the TV but he'd felt a need to make it a little more special with plates, napkins and candles. Candles that were still burning on the table. They'd both had wine too as they watched her favorite dance show on TV, it was his favorite too now.

She'd offered to do the dishes as he took the good night call from his daughter. Zara had been tired and they'd kept it short so it didn't take long until he walked in into the kitchen after her. He caught her doing something that was far from dishes.

"That was totally that dance move the blonde did tonight," he said after having caught her twirling over the kitchen floor with a towel in her hand.
"It wasn't," she said a bit bothered, cheeks burning red as she took the few steps back over to the sink to continue what she'd been doing.

"It looked great," he said wrapping his arms around her from behind and burying his face in her neck.
"It looked nothing like she did it," she mumbled displeased. His eyes were on her hands that were holding a plate under the running water as he aimed a kiss to her neck.

"You'd get my vote," he whispered.
"Only cause we're sleeping together," she said trying to sound unimpressed but he knew she was smiling. His hands traveled a little more down south as he pushed himself a little harder in to her.

"Hey watch it or you'll be buying new china," she said as he made her knees go a little weak.
"It would be worth it," he whispered digging his teeth in to her neck. She giggled slightly while trying to act a little bothered even though she loved it.

"Okay let me dry that so we can hurry this along," he said letting go off her abruptly, grabbing the towel she'd left on the counter.
"Why? You got plans?" she teased, "People to see?"
"Oh I got plans alright," he said playing with his eyebrows at her, "they involve making you blush all over."

She just shook her head, a smile playing across her face as she continued with the last plate. She could imagine worse plans. He did however slip out of the kitchen before her and she heard music get turned on out in the living room. It didn't sound like seductive tones, more… disco?

She walked out wearing a confused look on her face.

"What's going on?" she asked loudly as she wanted him to hear her over the music.
"C'mon let's dance, I wanna see you try that move again," he said and did a move that looked somewhat like he tried to shake his hips. She kept looking at him very unengaged.

"C'mon," he said and started singing along with the song, "Burn baby burn, burn baby burn."

He did his best grooving down impression as he came over to her.

"What is this?" she asked making big eyes at him as he reached her.
"Disco inferno, the Trammps," he said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Her question hadn't really been what song it been but more what was going on with him. She'd never seen him act like this and she was a little worried about him honestly.

"Okay how about this one," he said walking back over to the stereo when he realized he wouldn't get her to voluntarily dance with him. He flipped to another track.
"You know this one right…" he said. Again he got in to swaying his hips back and forth and trying to move his arms a little in the air which was hard when the music hadn't really started yet.

"I've heard the last one too, I just don't get why you're playing them and why it looks like you're having a epileptic seizure," she said trying her best to not burst out with laughter.
"Epileptic seizure," he said trying to act a bit offended but smiled as she burst out in laughter as he got his hands on her paying her back slightly by tickling her.

"C'mon, dance with me," he said letting her go only to grab a hold of her hand so he could drag her out on the floor a little. She squirmed a bit just shaking her head at him as he got going again.
"Now, c'mon, sing with me," he said as the chorus came on, "Play that funky music white boy, play that funky music right."

"You're not white or particularly funky you know," she mocked but then chuckled as he just kept dancing and ignoring her.
"Lay down the boogie and play that funky music till you die," he sang along really getting in to it.

"Why do you never act this way around the squad room?" she asked while watching her. He looked at her still swaying slightly.
"You're always so… strict. Proper," she said.
"So you'd prefer if I got down and funky in the squad room? You don't think Benson or IAB would have me incarcerated if I did?" he chuckled.
"You could be just a little bit more spontaneous…" she suggested carefully.

"Okay how's this for spontaneous, let's try this one, you won't be able to stay still," he said walking back over to the stereo to flip to yet another track. He really needed her to start moving soon or he would start to feel really awkward. He looked back at her just as the song came on and she nodded when he raised his eyebrows at her as to ask if she recognized it.

"Now be my dancing queen," he smiled as he approached her.
"You'll be the queen," she said sticking her tongue out at him but he could see her hips starting to sway slightly.

Once she started to loosen up there was no way for him to stop her even if he wanted to. They danced through another couple of tracks on the disco mix Zara had dug up a couple of weeks ago from his old collection and then left in the stereo. Amanda had no inhibitions but just flung her arms and legs across the room and Nick had to remember to dance at times since he was enjoying just watching her.

They broke down in laughter plenty of times and did all the silly moves that was a given when dancing disco. Nick thought he heard a thump in the wall from next doors and looking at the watch on the TV he realized it was getting late. Reluctantly he dragged himself over to the stereo and turned the volume down. Amanda made a disgruntled noise as she slowed down.

"Let's humor my neighbors," he said shooting her a quick glance over his shoulder.
"Let's…" he continued as he pressed the button to flop discs, "…try this instead."

He hoped he got the right track. This was Zara's CD and one of her many favorite songs. Nick had heard it over and over last weekend but with this one he really didn't mind, he liked it too. There was about twenty seconds of just very low music and he turned back towards Amanda extending his hand towards her.

"You're just a sucker for blue toe nails aren't you," Amanda said frowning as she realized this was not another disco song.
"Not a blue toe in months now," he said though scooping her up in his arms as the song took off and he knew it was just the one he'd been hoping for. He took a deep breath of her hair as he felt her arms sneak up between them and wrap around his neck.

"This is not really a slow dance," she mumbled close to his ear.
"It is what you make it," he whispered back folding his arms a little tighter around her. Not because he was afraid of her stepping on his toes but for the simple reason he couldn't have her close enough. They moved around the same spot and when the chorus came on he couldn't help but hum along slightly.

"And I will make sure to keep my distance. Say "I love you" when you're not listening. And how long can we keep this up, up, up?"

"You like this song?" she whispered.
"I do," he whispered dreamingly as he kept listening to the lyrics.

"Please don't stand so close to me, I'm having trouble breathing. I'm afraid of what you'll see, right now. I'll give you everything I am. All my broken heartbeats until I know you'll understand. And I will make sure to keep my distance. Say "I love you" when you're not listening. And how long can we keep this up, up, up?"

He sang along with the "I love you" and he felt her body stiffen slightly before her arms got tighter around his neck and with a deep breath she relaxed back in to him.

"And I keep waiting for you to take me. You keep waiting to say what we have. So I'll make sure to keep my distance. Say "I love you" when you're not listening. And how long can we keep this up, up, up? Make sure to keep my distance. Say "I love you" when you're not listening. How long till we call this love, love, love?"

When the song was over he didn't care about turning the stereo or the lights off but just picked her up and carried her in to the bed room.

After a few hours he was sound asleep. He was on his back, his one arm underneath her and the other one folded with the hand underneath his head. It was a somewhat cocky position. That's what she thought as she watched him there on his arm. He looked like he owned the bed and its occupants, which he sort of did. She smiled a little at the slight smile playing at the corner of his mouth, she wondered what was going on inside his sleeping mind. He looked pleased even in his sleep. He should be, she thought to herself, after the amazing sex they'd just had.

Her face straighten out a little as she moved her hand up over him. She held her breath a little, fearing she would wake him up. She kept her palm not even an inch from him, feeling the warmth radiate from him. When she came up to his chest his fine chest hair tickled her skin slightly. She moved her fingers over his nipple, circling the darker area without actually touching it. She removed her hand slightly as he stirred a little on the bed next to her. She watched his face intently, almost afraid he would wake up and catch her.

He seemed to drift right back to sleep though and she dared to put her hand back above his chest. This time she let it connect with him, feeling his chest rise and fall with his breaths. She moved her fingers slightly feeling the roughness of the fine chest hair in contrast to his soft skin. She leaned in slightly, hoping the loss of her weight on his arm wouldn't wake him but she just had to put her lips to his skin. She placed her lips below his nipple, above one of his ribs and she took in both the scent of him as well as the feel of him.

She looked up at him, her hand still moving up and down with every inhale and exhale coming through that sweet mouth of his. He was beautiful when he slept. Of course she found him rather good looking when awake too. Those kind eyes, that perfectly shape nose and cheekbones, that firm jaw framing that truth talking and soft kissing mouth. Yeah he was pretty amazing.

She swallowed hard watching his sleeping face, feeling his heartbeats underneath her palm. She whispered a few words so quietly she didn't pick them up herself. She took one breath and tried again;
"I love you too."

The following day started out as many before that. He woke her up with a brief kiss by the side of her mouth and a soft hand going down her back as she'd escaped his grip during the night and ended up on her stomach. He made sure she was awake before he let her have some space and he went ahead in to the bathroom to have a quick shower. He smiled as he caught her through the glass door walking in rubbing her fingers in her unruly tassels while yawning loudly. She paid a visit to the toilet as he finished his shower. She flushed as he stepped out of the shower and they met in a kiss before he guided her inside the shower cabin where he'd left the rays on for her. She was easily coxed in the mornings.

Since they didn't have that much time to get ready this morning he let her shower on her own and dragged himself back out in the bedroom to not get stuck watching her which he knew from experience could lead to him joining her. He toweled himself dry and got somewhat dressed before he headed out to get coffee going. He put out two carry on mugs on the counter as he waited and checked the latest news on his phone. He'd heard the shower turn off a while ago but as he wasn't blessed with her company he walked back in to the bedroom.

He chuckled as he found her wrapped in a towel but laying back down on the bed.

"Amanda, c'mon," he said getting his hands up those toned legs of her.
"But I'm so tired," she mumbled in to the sheet. He rubbed his hands over her towel hoping to help her dry up quicker but of course also to cop a few feels.
"Where you up all night watching me or what?" he teased without knowing how right he was. She knew though and it woke her up rather abruptly.

"Okay what do you want to wear?" he said helping her sit back up and then moved over to the dresser.
"Whatever," she said stretching her arms above her head, she caught the towel as it was about to drop.

"You just ruined all the fun," he said coming back over with a matching set of panties and a bra. She made a face at him but couldn't keep the smile from taking over.

"Are you planning something special tonight?" she asked as he went back over to the dresser to fetch her a clean top. He shot her a look over his shoulder, not sure what she meant. She was holding up the undergarments.

"They match," she said and his grin grew wider.
"Every night is special with you," he said though turning back his attention to her clothes in the drawer. She had hoped he did have special plans but his sweet answer had been even better and she felt warm all over.

"C'mon, get going," he urged as he walked back and found her still fingering her undergarments. He put a top on the bed beside her, leaned down to give her a kiss and then reluctantly pulled himself away so he wouldn't get tempted to continue the smooching.

It only took her about ten minutes but then she joined him in the kitchen fully dress and with a light coat of mascara on her eyelashes. She was bundling her hair up at the back of her head as she walked up to him and it gave him free passage to let his hand roam a little on her back and down her ass. He handed her her coffee mug when she'd gotten the rubber band around her bun and her face lit up even more at the prospect of coffee in her veins.

"Delicious," she moaned after the first sip. He smiled and aimed a kiss to her cheek but she turned her head and landed on her lips instead. The sweet taste of coffee filled his mouth as he gained access to her mouth with his tongue.

"Okay, we just gotta go," he said even though he most wanted to stay right there and make out some more. She sighed but started moving towards the door with her coffee mug in hand.

"Phone," she realized though and passed him as she ran back inside. He smiled as he had been about to remind her if she had all her stuff. She usually had order but at his place she seemed to lose track of her things rather often, might have something to do with the fact he usually were the one discharging her of her items and while doing that he liked to imagine that he had her head spinning.

Once she came back it only took her a second to get her feet down in to her sneakers and he held the door open for her. His hand was resting on her behind as they walked outside but he deliberately let it drop as they got down on the street.

"See you at the station," he said restraining himself from planting a kiss on her before she walked away to her car further down the street.
"See ya," she smiled over her shoulder and his heart missed a beat by her beauty.

He lingered by his car door for a while, wanting to check her ass out as long as he could. He got in his car though as she jumped into hers. He got his engine going and maneuvered out of his slot slightly but then waited for her to pass before he took off. He stayed right behind her as they went a couple of blocks.

By the second red light his phone buzzed and he smiled at her text. He typed in a quick reply and another few blocks later he parked behind her on the street and watched her run in to Starbucks. Usually she wasn't that hungry in the mornings but it seemed she was this morning. She walked out just a minute later and came up to his window. He'd already rolled it down and he took the bag she handed him.

"One multigrain," she smiled.
"Hey, come here," he said having put his hand over hers in the window. She looked around quickly but then leaned down and gave him the quick kiss she knew he wanted.

"What's in your bag?" he asked as she rose back up.
"Wouldn't you like to know," she teased as she walked back over to her car.
"Sweet tooth," he shouted after her and was expecting to see her finger in the air but she just jumped back in her car wearing a big grin. He figured she had a glazed donut in her bag, or some sticky bun. Her breakfast habits were really bad but oddly enough he didn't mind one bit and actually found it… sweet.

He stayed in his car for about a minute once they'd both parked outside the station and it gave him time to finish his bagel and almost empty his first mug of coffee for the day. That minute gave Amanda the time to get to her desk and hang her jacket, giving Liv a wave through the window in the process. Nick did about the same thing as he walked in but added a quick look and smile Amanda's way before he sat down to start the morning routine.

The day went on as usual. Fin walked in just a few minutes after shift had actually started, they checked messages and Liv came out to brief them about any progress over night. So far no new leads had come in on the cases they were currently working but that would change.

They had one unsolved rape with a 22 year old female victim who got attacked on her way home from a private party. The assailant had been wearing a bandana across his face and they had very little to go on as the victim had spent most of the assault on her stomach. That happened two weeks ago and then this past weekend they'd been called in for another attempted rape of a 19 year old girl and it looked very much like it was the same guy that had struck again.

This girl had also been at a party at a friend's house and after a little bit of digging they'd found a name that popped up at the attendance list of both parties, they'd interviewed him after the first assault. Fin put down the phone and immediately after rose to his feet letting Amanda know their suspect had been spotted by the gang unit. The bandana he'd been wearing during both assaults was linked to a certain gang and their gang colors so Fin had reached out to the gang unit for help.

Fin popped his head in to Liv's office letting her know he and Amanda would head out to see if they could bring him in.

"Okay but bring Amaro too, just to be on the safe side," Liv said feeling a little uneasy about approaching this guy without backup. The gang wasn't considered high risk but she rather be safe than sorry.

"And if he's with his gang don't pursue, then you call for backup," Liv shouted after him. Fin had signaled Nick and he'd already gotten on his feet and joined Fin and Amanda as they made their way towards the elevator.

They didn't have much trouble finding the address but no one answered when they knocked. Nick was down by the street watching around the corner to see if someone took off through the back. Fin shot him a look but Nick shook his head to signal him there was no sign of anyone.

"Okay let's just see if we can walk around on the other side," Fin suggested as he walked down the stairs with Amanda. They'd checked it out earlier but the gate had seemed locked. It was still locked the second time around but Amanda suggested she'd climbed over. Nick was a little reluctant but Fin didn't hesitate and just put his hands together so he could help her out. He hoisted her up and then she pliantly made her way over the gate. Nick didn't feel at ease until he saw her face again as she opened up the gate for them from the inside. They made their way around the building, slowing down by what looked like a cellar window but as it seemed covered with some sort of black plastic they continued. They had all slowed down though sensing something was off here. Both Amanda and Nick had their hands on their guns but they were still in their holsters.

"Hey, do you smell that?" Fin said with his nose in the air. The question was aimed at Nick as he too had worked drugs warrant. Nick had been holding his breath he realized but the second he inhaled he recognized the smell. Amanda, who was up ahead, turned to look at them and saw Nick's eyes as they grew several sizes. She was able to register that he went for his gun and so did she as she turned her head. But it was too late. She had a black barrel staring straight back at her just inches from her face and her gun never left the holster. There was a split of a second where she felt humiliation for the fact she'd let someone sneak up on her but it washed away quickly and was replaced by a feeling of despair as she realized she didn't want to die.

Both Nick and Fin had been able to get their guns up out of their holsters but as another guy with a gun came around the corner ahead of them and they got aware of the three guys behind them, also with guns, they realized they were outnumbered and with the gun pointed straight at Amanda's head they couldn't risk anything. All five men had bandanas in the same color as their assailant covering their faces. Three of them also had sunglasses.

Nothing much was said as the two men that came up behind them signaled for their guns and Nick and Fin reluctantly handed them over. Nick had his eyes staring down a barrel as Amanda's eyes came around to find his but she found Fin's and fueled some strength from them.

"Everyone just relax," Fin said as no one was talking.
"What's your business here?" the man with the gun pointed at Amanda asked.

"We're looking for Marcus Ambrose," Fin said after he'd come up blank but figuring keeping as close to the truth as possible was best.
"Why?"

"He was at a party where a girl got assaulted, we just wanted to re-interview him," Fin said.
"Right, and you need to be three of you for a re-interview," the man countered sounding like he thought they were the biggest hypocrites.

"We knew his affiliation with your gang, that's the only reason our sergeant sent out an extra detective as backup," Nick said managing to keep his head cool. All three of them were holding up their hands in the air, Nick had tried to lower his but got the signal to keep them up. He'd spotted Amanda's gun in her holster and played with the thought of grabbing it but he realized they were too many against one gun. He did have his backup piece and he knew at least Amanda was wearing one too.

"Up against the wall," the man told them. It would take a little more to get the three of them to follow orders but after a bit of shoving they all had their hands up against the brick wall. They were well outnumbered, two more men had come outside, all packing guns and with covered faces. Three of them had put their guns down into the back of their pants and kicked apart the detective's legs for a pat down. Nick tried to talk to them but was told to shut up.

The gun in Amanda's holster were quickly removed and handed off. Amanda could feel that the guy patting her down had a little too much fun, he weren't doing much of hiding it as he snickered by her ear every time he came close. She tried shrugging him off when his hand lingered between her legs.

"Lay off her," Nick hissed having caught the inappropriate behavior. The next second he found his face pushed up against the brick wall, a rough hand trying to force it through the wall and a hissing voice by his ear telling him to shut up and that he wasn't in charge here if he still hadn't grasped that fact.

His interference hadn't helped Amanda either as 'her' guy seemed to want to prove a point to Nick and shoved Amanda up against the wall and then thrusted his hips up against her back a few times in a crude gesture, all while keeping his eyes on Nick. Even with the bandana covering his mouth Nick could see the grin underneath. He caught Amanda's eyes as the guy turned his attention back to her and pushed his face in to the side of hers. Nick caught her frowning as the guy said something right by her ear and Nick felt bad for making the situation worse and decided to keep his trap shut.

Nick and Amanda's extra pieces were found and also handed off. The leader told his men to get their phones and badges and he gathered them as they were removed from the detectives. While he took a look at the items handed to him Amanda's guy got a little grabby again and Nick gritted his teeth as all he could do was watch it happen.

Fin saw it too and decided to give it a try.

"So far no harm's been done here, you could just let us go and nothing would happen to you," he said aiming it at the leader.
"Yeah right," he answered without looking up, "and you wouldn't send SWAT or something around here the minute you got to safety."

Fin didn't answer since he had no good reply to that. During all this Amanda had kept squirming as her guy kept putting his hands on her. She put a slight elbow in his gut as his hands went down between her legs again.

"Watch it bitch," the guy complained shoving back but of course Amanda didn't and the guy finally kicked her legs away underneath her and she fell to the ground still struggling as he got his knee down on her back to try and hold her down.

"Hey," both Fin and Nick shouted making a move towards Amanda and 'her' guy. Fin's guy brought his gun back out and Fin gritted his teeth as the gun got pushed down on his temple. He knew that if he was dead he would not be able to back up his partner so he stayed absolutely still for now. Nick on the other hand couldn't stand by and just watch her get manhandled and he ended up on his knees, face pushed in to the wall.

The leader guy got down on the ground and cocked his gun right at Amanda's head.

"You'll be a dead detective in three seconds if you don't calm down," he hissed and Amanda pulled a deep breath trying to calm herself down.

"Cuff 'em," the leader said to the men holding on to Nick and Fin. Nick tried to struggle slightly but two men got on him and it didn't take long until his hands were cuffed behind his back. It was a worthless position to be in and made Nick feel defeated. Especially when Amanda again started to put up a fight as the guy had flipped her over and straddled her. The guy struck her over the face but it only seemed to get her more enraged. Nick feared the worst as the leader stepped forward again but got a bit taken by surprise as he walked over to him instead, grabbed him by his back bound arms and dragged him over. Nick got tossed forward and he fell down next to her, moaning as his shoulder and face hit the dirt.

The guy sitting on top of Amanda shoved her head down sideways in to the dirt, facing Nick.

"Stop or your partner gets a bullet," the leader said aiming the gun at Nick's head. Catching Nick's eyes she immediately stopped struggling.

"Cops and their partners, they do really give up their life for each other, pitiful," the leader said getting back up.

Nick kept her eyes for as long as he could. She was covered in dirt a little all over and she had a small gash on her cheek that was bleeding slightly. Her eyes looked a little distant and her face was pale. He managed to shot her a crocked smile before he got pulled back up on his knees. A smaller guy, probably barely a teen, also wearing a bandana across his face, showed up out of the house and he gathered all their cellphones and badges in a plastic bag. He handed the leader something and they would soon realize what it was. He got down on the ground next to Amanda and thread a black hood over her head. Nick watched her act up slightly but she calmed down as the guy on top of her twisted her arm in a painful way. That was the last he saw as another black hood was placed over his head. Fin got one too right thereafter but all Nick picked up was the leader telling someone to get the ride.

"Look guys," Nick heard Fin say behind him, "we haven't seen your faces, don't go do something that will put you in a whole worse situation."
"Shut up," Nick heard someone say, maybe the leader but he couldn't be sure.

For a few minutes nothing much happen. Nick tried to listen for any sounds or movements but he couldn't figure out what was going on more than that they were probably being prepared for transfer somewhere. Getting relocated was usually not such a good sign but this was not a violent gang, at least not to the NYPD's knowledge. Killing cops would surely up their street cred but it was also risky as it was a safe bet to get them on the police radar. Nick could only hope this was just a way to dispose of them for as long as it took them to relocate this drug business to another location.

"Okay let's go," Fin heard his guy say, his hands had been cuffed in front of him as he got spun around against the wall. Fin felt his cuffs get tugged and he tagged along.

Amanda had been stuck on the ground meanwhile, flipped back down on her stomach with the guy still sitting on top of her. She hadn't been cuffed as the guy seemed to like to be able to toy with her on what he thought was an equal level. She did her best to stay still and not agitate anyone but when she felt his hand go in underneath her top she couldn't. She managed to catch him off guard as she used her hands as leverage to get up off the ground and she felt the loss of his weight on top of her. She tried to roll away but felt his hands grab for her and she used her feet to try and keep him away as she tried to get her hood off. She failed though as the wind was kicked out of her by a harsh kick to her stomach.

She started coughing and fighting for air as someone pulled down her hood again. It felt as though several guys worked on her as her jacket was ripped off her at the same time as someone slipped something around her neck to keep the hood in place. She tried kicking again and she knew she hit something as someone cried out in pain. Someone caught her legs and sat down twisting them uncomfortably underneath him. It was her time to cry out in pain and she heard Nick shouting somewhere in the distance.

She felt her shoes, and possibly socks too, get removed as someone gathered her hands in front of her and wrapped what felt like zip ties around her wrists.

"Why is it always the she cats that put up the hardest fight," someone snickered beside her.
"Count yourself lucky bro, it could be that black dude's ass you'd be grabbin'" someone else said and they chuckled.

Nick had been dragged up to his feet and pulled backwards as he heard a bit of commotion in front of him. He heard Amanda cough and he called out her name but got no response. He heard a cry, it didn't sound like Amanda but Nick still tried to get closer to it by wriggling free. He lost his footing somehow and fell to his knees barely managing to stay off his face. The cry he heard next was definitely Amanda though and he called out her name again hoping to get a better bearing on her location.

"Shut up," someone hissed close to his ear and he felt the gun against the back of his head, "Shut up or your girlfriend gets a bullet."

Nick felt a cold chill go down his spine. They'd talked about this, how the truth about their relationship could put them in danger. If someone picked up on their bond someone could use that against them. He tried to think rationally though, this guy was probably just using the term girlfriend loosely. He didn't put up a fight though as the guy got him back up on his feet.

"Where are you taking us?" he asked as he was led away.
"Just for a ride, enjoy it," the guy said.

Nick was told to take a step up and it felt as though he got in the back of a van. He was told to take a seat and he heard Fin say his name as he sat down next to him. He feared the doors would close behind them but they sat still and soon they heard some others approach and the moment later Nick felt something land close to his feet.

"Amanda?" he had to ask to make sure as the door now closed.
"Yeah," he heard and felt some relief.

"Don't take it off," someone threaten. Amanda had made an attempt to get her hood off but one of the men had stopped her by putting a gun to her side. She wasn't scared of the gun but stopped trying to get the hood off, she knew she was risking her partner's lives too if they saw these thugs' faces. She got herself up to a sitting position and leaning back she felt a pair of legs behind her back. A pair of big hands got on her shoulder and she knew they belonged to her partner.

"You okay?" he asked.
"I'm okay," she answered even though many parts of her hurt. Nothing life-threatening though. Nothing like plus five men with guns pointed at your head.

They drove for a while but then suddenly stopped. They heard the driver's door open but nothing happen in the back. They had to expect at least one of the guys was still in there with them. Amanda stirred a little on the floor and felt a little better once she felt Nick's leg against her back as well as Fin's.

"Where are we?" Nick asked out loud to anyone that would answer.
"Shut up and sit still," someone answered right in front of them.
"Hey man, just let us go now and…" Fin tried but got interrupted by another 'shut up' and he did as told to not aggravate anyone.

After a while the van took off again. They all tried but failed to keep track for how long they were driving. In the dark, driving and stopping every now and then it was impossible to estimate where they were or where they were going. And that's probably what the thugs were planning on.

The fourth time the van stopped the back doors finally opened. Amanda felt someone grab a hold of her leg and pull her outwards. She'd let a shriek out and tried to fight whoever was pulling at her. Nick felt useless not able to help her and was only pushed back down on the seat as he tried to get up.

Amanda didn't stop fighting but toned it down a little as she started to realize they were only trying to get her on her feet outside the van. But she was still not sure if she was being brought to her own, to their, execution so she kept her guards up. Fin, who'd been closest to the doors, was helped outside next. He had some vision through his hood but only so he could tell outlines against the bright sun. He thought he could tell which one was Amanda judging by size and the fact she had two figures that looked like they were holding on to her.

Nick was helped outside last and he heard the doors get slammed shut behind him and the van took off, tires ripping through what sounded like dirt. He hated not having Amanda in his sight and like someone heard his thoughts his hood got ripped from his head. He had to shut his eyes briefly as the sun hurt his eyes but he fought it to get sight of Amanda. He saw Fin and a guy ripping his hood off too.

Amanda was right in front of Fin and seeing her blonde head exposed as her hood was ripped off too made him feel a whole lot better even though he knew the situation was still bad. None of them knew where they were at but they stood in front of what looked like a house skeleton, an abandoned building site. Both Fin and Nick was looking around counting heads around them. Five guys hidden behind bandanas and sunglasses. None of them had guns drawn but they had to assume they were all armed.

"Get 'em inside," one of the guys behind the bandanas said and the guys by Amanda's side grabbed a hold of her hair and led her inside first. Nick and Fin were shoved inside after her.

"Get 'em upstairs," someone said and Amanda was again led ahead of everyone by that sinister grip in her hair. Whenever she tried to get out of the grip or dragged behind she got slapped on the ass by a guy behind her and it only fueled her anger. They were taken a floor up in the abandon building and then finally Amanda was let go as she got shoved inside a large room.

"We should just shot 'em now," someone said once everyone was inside. Nick threw a quick glance back at Fin but they really had no chance fighting these guys off, especially unarmed. They got a chance though as Amanda confronted the guy who'd manhandled her and she threw a punch with her tied hands that caught him off guard and knocked him off his feet. Fin was quick and got an elbow to the face of the guy behind him. Nick used his body to tackle the guy closest to him as he aimed a kick to a second guy. A bit of commotion spread, no shots were fired but, as suspected, they were outnumbered and soon they were all face down with one or two guys holding them down. All it earned them were scuffmarks, dirty clothes and a sweat outbreak.

Nick managed to turn his head wanting to get a glimpse of Amanda to find out she was okay. He caught one guy, looked like the crude guy from earlier at the house, being hoisted out as he was told to cool down by a guy twice his size and Nick was thankful crude was out of her face at least. He caught Amanda with his eyes. He could tell she was still not defeated even though she had one guy sitting on her back.

"Okay everyone just chill," someone yelled out loud.

"We're keeping them alive for now," the same one informed his guys.

"Get the big black brother cuffed to that pipe," he said and then took a few steps over to Fin before he was hoisted up from the floor, "And if you try anything your partners over there gets a bullet through their heads."

Both Nick and Amanda felt their guys shift on top of them as they brought their guns out and then pointed them to their heads. Meanwhile Fin was brought over to the wall where a pipe ran along the floor. He was pushed down towards the floor and Fin didn't put up a fight. One of his cuffs were undone , slipped around the pipe and then attached around his wrist again.

"Okay, bring the next one over," the new leader guy said waving his gun in the air.

Nick felt himself get pulled up on his knees.

"Don't try anything or one or both of your partners gets a bullet through their brain," a guy hissed by Nick's ear as he pushed his gun really hard in to his neck.
"Got it?" he asked next and Nick nodded.
"Good boy," he snickered as he got help by a second guy to get Nick up off the floor.

He passed Amanda and got eyes on Fin who had a gun pointed at his head as he sat on the floor cuffed to the pipe that Nick would soon be cuffed to as well. At least this time he would get his hands cuffed in front of him, felt a little better for some reason. Nick got a gun pointed at his head as well as Amanda was brought over. Nick looked her over, she looked as though she'd tumbled through dirt twice which she in fact had.

The floor up here was covered in a white chalky residue that covered the dirt on her clothes from the last tumbled in the dirt outside the house. She had another cut on her face, this one by her eyebrow. Her hands were zip tied in front of her and she was missing her shoes for some reason. She growled slightly as she was forced down by Nick's side. Her hands were tied to the pipe using more zip ties.

"Okay, sit tight, keep quiet and you might live," the leader said before the men backed off.

Two guys stayed behind to watch them and were handed the keys to their cuffs as well as given an extra piece in their armor. All three detectives watched them sit down on a pile of pallets by the door. One of the guys was white and he had a tattoo running up his neck that the bandana didn't fully cover. All three detectives had registered it and hoped to get a chance to identify him later on. Once the thugs were seated it was best to stop staring and instead all three started to scoop the place out.

It was a rather large open area, 18' by 25' Nick estimated. Stacks of pallets were spread around the room, there was a coat of white chalk spread over the entire floor and some white sheer plastic bundled up here and there. The windows were uncovered and could be an escape route if they all weren't tied to the pipe, and had armed guards of course. The only other door in the room seemed to lead into a bathroom as they could see what looked like toilet stalls through the door that was cracked.

"You okay?" Nick asked Amanda once they'd all settled down and the two guys watching them had turned their attention elsewhere. She nodded and rearranged herself a little on the hard floor. As she moved he spotted quite a lot of blood on the front of her light top.

"You're bleeding," he said with great worry in his voice.
"It's not mine," she said looking down. She knew it was nosebleed from the guy she'd clocked just minutes ago.

"Your eyebrow and cheek though," he said gesturing with his chin up against her face. She got her cheek against her sleeve but didn't spot any blood. He gestured again though further up and Amanda repeated the procedure with her eyebrow. This time she flinched as it hurt slightly.

"It's nothing," she said though as she saw the small amount of blood on her sleeve, "What about you guys?" she asked and Nick turned realizing Amanda wasn't his only company.

"I'm fine," Fin said looking grim clearly not happy about the situation they were in. Nick looked him over, he had a small graze on his head with a little bit of blood oozing out.

"Just our luck right," Nick sighed hinting to the fact they seemed to have walked in on some other shady business trying to get their perp.
"I wished they could've fired, maybe it would've alerted someone," Amanda whispered.
"Liv will send someone out once we don't check in," Nick whispered back. Amanda sighed and changed her position as she figured they might be there for a while.

"Does it hurt?" Nick asked her seeing her try and rearrange her tied wrists a bit but it was impossible with the tight pull of the zip tie. Nick wished they'd used cuffs on her instead, he'd been the one not bringing cuffs so he felt it unfair she'd been the one zip tied and not him.

"No," she said even though it did. She'd tried to pull at them a little earlier but it didn't get her lose just got her skin grazed and now every little tug hurt. Nick had a hunch she lied but stopped bothering her for now. He sat back, resting his feet against the wall so he could have eyes on both Fin and Amanda. The two partners looked gloomy, their eyes going around the room and every now and then over to the two thugs by the door. In any other situation Nick might have laughed a bit, it really looked as though their brains worked just the same.

"Did you spot Marcus among them? I don't think I've seen him," Amanda whispered not able to just sit idle by.
"I couldn't make him out but it was the same color bandana," Nick answered. Fin just shrugged, he hadn't even thought of Marcus since his name had been mentioned behind the house.

Nick tried his cuffs a bit but there were just no way around the pipe. It was solid and then on each side of Fin and Amanda the pipe was anchored to the wall so they were stuck on that about three yards of pipe. They couldn't do much else than to wait. They all knew the trouble they were in but no one mentioned it knowing there was no need to make the situation worse by talking about it.

Amanda's gash by her eyebrow had finally stopped dripping blood while Fin's graze still oozed a bit. Nick's face had been scrapped a bit during that first brush with the hard surface outside and his face felt a bit stiff when he tried to grimace. One side of his body hurt a bit too as it had taken the blow as he was swept off his feet during the commotion in this room earlier. He thought he was in one piece at least though.

They'd taken his watch as they handcuffed him earlier so he had no idea what time it was. At least an hour or two must have passed by though and he hoped Liv had started to worry about them by now. Surely she would send someone out when none of them answered their phones. Hopefully their phones were still traceable and wherever they were found would give Liv some leads to where they were being held.

They all wondered where they were held though and what was going on downstairs.

"So you think it's a second factory?" Nick asked Fin quietly. Fin shrugged as he wasn't sure.
"If they're cooking downstairs they don't want bodies lying around right?" Nick said feeling a need to talk it out.

"I don't think that would stop them if they want us dead," Fin said though and didn't ease Nick's worries. Nick shot him a look of disbelief but Fin's eyes were elsewhere. Nick looked to Amanda for some backup or countenance but she was also looking elsewhere.

"Door or window?" Amanda whispered suddenly.
"We don't know what's underneath the windows but I think it's our best bet," Fin answered. Nick was a little out of the loop but huffed a little as pieces fell in place.

"And how are you going to get there?" he asked with his head turned towards Amanda.
"I need to get the keys to your cuffs," she said and made it sound very simple.

"Okay, and just how are you going to accomplish that? Let those zip ties cut through your bone?" Nick asked.
"I'll just rub them against something sharp," Amanda whispered a bit frustrated.
"And you'll find that exactly where?" Nick asked doubtfully. Amanda looked further down the pipe at the anchor holding it to the wall.

"Seriously Amanda," Nick sighed, "even if you get lose how are you going to overpower those two on your own?"
"You doubt I could?" she challenged him.

"Shut up over there," one of the thugs shouted out.

All of them sat quiet for a while even keeping their eyes to themselves but then Amanda started moving slightly sideways trying to pull the zip tie with her without hurting too much.

"Amanda," Nick nagged quietly.
"Will you talk to your partner," Nick tried, turning to Fin but he just gave Nick a look like he should know that would be useless and then turned his eyes elsewhere again. Amanda hissed a little as the plastic dug in under her skin.

"Just stop," Nick whispered.
"And what? Wait for them to kill us?" she hissed shooting him an angry glare.

"We don't know that," he answered calmly.
"Well I'm not sitting around waiting to get a bullet in my head," she whispered and kept moving sideways. She could tell from his set jaw he wasn't approving but she really didn't care, she wasn't going to die today. None of them were if she had something to say about it.

Nick was frustrated but couldn't do much then to watch her and hope the thugs wouldn't catch on. They wouldn't have to though because she wasn't successful with her plan. There was no sharp edge that would help her to freedom and soon one of her wrists started to really bleed.

"Amanda will you stop," Nick urged and was ready to call for the thugs' attention if he had to.
"Fine," she muttered and stopped moving with a sigh.

"We are going to be fine," Nick tried.
"Keep telling yourself that but as long as we're stuck here I'm not really buying it," Amanda persisted.
"Me neither," Fin chipped in when Nick shot him a look. Nick sighed. There was just no winning with these two he thought to himself.

At least another hour passed by and the two thugs by the door got swopped by one big, bad looking one. Fin had been resting his eyes a bit, leaning back against the wall. Amanda was starting to feel really stiff all over and tried moving a bit. She followed Nick's example and got out from the wall and put her bare feet against it. She didn't get why they had to take her socks too. She got the shoes, she'd kicked that guy pretty well in the crotch, but why the socks too?

She wriggled her toes a bit and it made Nick smile. He'd been there when she put that red nail polish on, he'd even applied it on one of her feet. If you looked closely you could tell, his side weren't that evenly applied. She made a face at him as she caught him grinning but then leaned her head down a little against his shoulder. Nick looked over and saw their guard checking his phone again so Nick dared to plant a kiss on her head. He probably would've done it even if Fin had his eyes open but then he figured Amanda would've pulled away. Now she stayed put and he dared to put another kiss a little further down, his lips removing some of the white chalk on her forehead.

"So what do you wanna do later?" he asked as quietly as possible. It made her smile and it had been his intention so he was pleased.
"We had special plans right, I mean with the matching set…"

Her head popped up from his shoulder as she shot Fin a look. Nick looked over too but Fin's eyes were still closed. She gave him a glare though when his eyes came back to meet hers.

"He doesn't care," Nick whispered.
"Well he don't have to hear about my matching underwear," Amanda whispered back.

"Thanks for clarifying that's what we were talking about," Fin suddenly said keeping his eyes shut. Nick chuckled slightly as Amanda gave his shoulder a bump.

"Ouch," Nick grunted but still with a smile on his face. It had hurt though, it was his soar side and he moved his shoulder a little to try and soften it up.
"You landed on that shoulder right?" Amanda asked having registered everything that happened during their scuffles.
"Yeah, but its fine," Nick said not wanting her to worry.

"Sure?" she asked and he nodded. He caught her eyes and saw them move over his face looking at the slight redness she could see underneath some chalk residue. She swallowed hard feeling that uneasy feeling in her gut tumble again. She didn't want to lose him. She didn't want to lose what they had and the notion she wasn't, that she hadn't given him everything he needed weigh heavy on her right now.

He saw some tears build up in her eyes and he leaned in even closer to her once he'd made sure the thug had his eyes elsewhere.

"It's fine, we're going to be fine," Nick whispered and then planted a soft kiss on her lips. She pulled away rather quickly and he saw her bite her lip as she placed her head on his shoulder again.

"We're going to be fine," he whispered again as he rested his head against hers. Nick felt Fin's eyes on him and looked back at him. Fin looked worried but he tried a slight smile as his eyes went from Amanda and then back to Nick's again. Fin took a deep breath and then closed his eyes again. Nick moved his cheek over her hair a few times since he wasn't able to use his hand.

"Just fine," he whispered. They stayed like that for a while, she resting her head on his shoulder and he resting his against hers.

They were all getting restless but of course Amanda was the one having most trouble containing it. She'd been stirring for at least half an hour now, seemed unable to find a comfortable spot to sit in and trying to tug at the zip ties even though she knew it was pointless and would only bring more displeasure to her wrists. Fin had already tried to get her to stop, using the tough love approach but she'd just bit back and Fin, not wanting to aggravate her more, had given up.

He'd leaned back against the wall and tried to relax. Nick had been leaning against the wall too but he couldn't relax as he saw her discomfort. He moved out from the wall again and got closer to her hoping it would have a calming effect on her. She seemed mostly annoyed by the proximity though.

"Hey, talk to me," he said quietly. She gave him a suspicious look.
"Talk? About what? Our impending death? How it's too late to rewrite my last will and testament?"

He had to smile, both at what she said and the sarcastic tone in her voice. Always so feisty and he wouldn't want her any other way. He tried just bumping his shoulder into hers and he was able to get a slight smile from her but it didn't take long until she was back to squirming and trying her zip ties again. He bumped her shoulder again to get her attention.

"Be able to run at a 100 miles per hour or fly at 10 miles per hour?"

At first he wasn't sure he'd gotten her to play along but all of a sudden she came back to him with an answer.

"Tough one but since I'm already a fast runner…" she gave him a cheeky smile and he chuckled slightly.
"…I'd choose fly cause that would be cool to do too." He nodded in acknowledgement.

"Your turn," he urged since he seemed to have gotten her to at least spare her wrists. She took a second to think about it.
"Fight a duck big as a horse or a hundred horses as big as ducks?"

He raised his eyebrow at her, she would always win this game of theirs.

"Okay, one duck but big as a horse or a hundred miniature horses? I guess fighting the tiny horses would make me feel a little bit like Gulliver in the fairy tale so I'll go with that."

Fin suddenly spoke grabbing both their attention;

"I would want to talk to that farmer, he's obviously feeding those animals some illegal shit."

Both Amanda and Nick chuckled slightly.

"Am I right?" Fin continued playing it cool as usual. Nick nodded.
"So can I play too or is this some foreplay of yours?" Fin sneered. Nick tried to hide his next round of chuckles but Amanda got her foot underneath Nick's legs and launched it at her partner. All while trying to suppress the smile on her face.

"Okay, so would you rather pay for sex or get paid for sex?" Fin asked and Amanda immediately rolled his eyes at him while Nick got a little stunned.
"Why do you always have to go there," Amanda complained. Whenever they killed time doing this Fin sooner or later steered the questions towards sex, it usually didn't go this fast though.

"What? It's an interesting question, I would rather pay for it," Fin just said shrugging.
"And you have," Amanda sighed.
"Not for sex, for lap dances yes, very intimate lap dances but not for sex," Fin corrected her.

"So Nick, what's your answer?" Fin asked raising his eyebrows but stopped as it made his head hurt.
"Well…" Nick said hesitant shooting Amanda a look but she'd buried her face in her arms.
"…I don't know, I wouldn't want to sell myself but then again I wouldn't want to put anyone else in that position."

"Chicken, c'mon you got to answer," Fin urged, "Think of it like this, if it was Manda, would you pay her for sex or rather she paid you?"
"Don't," Amanda said popping her head up, "Don't humor him," she said once she locked eyes with Nick.

"He's just too nosey for his own good," Amanda said turning her eyes towards Fin, "and should stay out of other people's business."
"But you are my people," Fin tried. Nick couldn't deny he was a little amused.

"C'mon Nick, she's worth paying for right?" Fin smiled cheekily.
"Fin," Amanda reprimanded but got a little afraid she spoke to loud and shot their guard an eye over her shoulder. Nick couldn't help himself as his grin spread over his face. Fin shot him a look and Nick just couldn't keep from nodding slightly.

"I knew it," Fin chuckled feeling very proud of himself for getting just a shred of information out of Nick, his partner was too tightlipped about their relationship.
"Nick," Amanda hissed stunned as she turned her head back towards the two wicked, wicked men.

"I'm sorry but…" Nick said smiling like a sheep.
"But you're basically saying I could be a prostitute," she said trying to sound angrier than she was.

"Hey not all prostitutes are good at sex," Fin chipped in.
"And you'd know that just how?" Amanda challenged.
"A friend told me," Fin retorted quickly. Amanda gave him a frown and then looked over at Nick who looked a little scared now.

"I would never call you a…" Nick tried but didn't say it out loud, "But I am not complaining."

He heard Fin snicker on his other side but Nick kept his eyes on Amanda.

"You better not," Amanda said turning her head down to try and hide the smile from Nick.

"Would you rather watch girl on girl…" Fin started but Amanda cut him off.
"Stop," she said, again worrying that the guard would react but instead of looking over her shoulder she pierced her eyes in Fin.

"What? So you don't want to talk sex around your boyfriend?"
"I don't want sex to be the last thing I talk about if I'm about to die," Amanda whispered.

"Bull," Fin answered quickly, "sex would be the one thing you'd want to talk about if you were about to die…"
"Okay, maybe," Amanda said now taking the chance to turn her head to look towards the guard but mostly because she didn't want them to see her blushing cheeks.

"And I can't help but reflect on the fact you didn't object when I called him your boyfriend…" Fin smiled and made her face him again. He played with his eyebrows. She'd always gotten cross, or at least pretended to be cross when he'd tried to define their relationship before.

"Fin, this is not the time," she said but Fin cut her off.
"It might be the only time you got," Fin said.
"Fin…" she complained.

"What? You're tied to the wall, there's no better time to cross examine you," Fin smiled.
"You're mean, why don't you tell us about your fling with Warner instead?" Amanda countered.

Nick shot Fin a surprised look.

"Oh no, don't go there, there's no fling," Fin said shaking his head.
"No? You're all Melinda…" Amanda tried a sooth voice.

"She's married," Fin chipped in.
"Separated," Amanda answered.
"Temporarily, it will work out. Melinda is a good woman, it will turn out okay," Fin said cutting the subject off with that.

Nick shot Amanda a curious look. She still had her eyes on Fin though and after a few seconds;

"Melinda…" Amanda said dreamingly and now Fin was the one giving her a stern look.

Nick smiled but shot a look over at the guard. It was all good fun but they were still in a very dire situation. Fin didn't seem like he wanted to drop the subject though.

"So seriously when are you two going public?" he asked.
"Drop it Fin," Amanda begged.
"No, I want to know. It's not good to keep secrets around the station," Fin said seriously.

He looked from Amanda to Nick but Nick's eyes turned around towards Amanda and just as Fin had suspected his partner was the obstacle when it came to this.

"Liv won't flog you, I'm sure she'll just be happy for you guys," Fin tried. Nick shot Fin a quick look but then his eyes went back over to Amanda. This was one question he wouldn't mind hearing the answer to.

"Can we please drop this and focus on the fact we can die at any minute," Amanda said and Nick could tell it was more a cop out but it was a rather good cop out.
"We won't die," Fin said, "It's been hours since she heard from us, so by now Liv has the entire PD looking for us. They'll bust in here any second now."

"If we don't know where we are how will they know? Don't you think we have to try and save ourselves?"
"There's nothing we can do Amanda," Fin said trying to calm her, "if we get a chance we'll grab it but for now we sit tight."
"Sit around and wait to die really isn't a brilliant idea," Amanda muttered. Nick and Fin exchanged glances but then Nick turned his attention to Amanda.

"Hey, it's the final of So you think next week, nothing will come in our way to find out who won," Nick whispered not wanting to out her dance show passion in case Fin didn't know about it.
"Ricky has to win," Amanda mumbled.
"That other guy can tap though," Nick smiled leaning in to give her temple a kiss.

It looked as though the guard was sleeping over by the door so Nick dared to show some more affection towards her by moving closer to her and coxing her head in further towards him. He closed his eyes slightly just enjoying feeling her mouth and nose nestled in to his neck. Her breath on his neck made him feel good but he didn't mind when the breath moved further up to his ear and she whispered;

"When we get out of here I need you to make me feel really alive. I'm hoping my matching underwear can help you do that."

Nick smiled, a low chuckle bubbling down his gut.

"I promise I will make you feel very much alive when we get out of here," he whispered once he could get a hold of her ear and then he planted a kiss right over it. She leaned her head down on his shoulder and again they found themselves seeking comfort from one another.

Nick had tried to keep watch of the sun outside the window, trying to figure out how much time had passed but he was far from the boy scout he had thought he was. At least he knew it was still light outside but it looked as though the sun was setting now.

Their big sized guard had paced the door a little once he'd realized it was the only thing to keep him from not sleeping on his watch and then he'd taken a phone call, the ring tone making both Amanda and Fin stir again. Nick could tell Amanda was sore but he didn't pressure her on it.

Then a rather normal sized guy came up the stairs and mumbled something to their big guard who then got moving down the stairs. Both Amanda and Nick tried to check the guy out a bit without making it too obvious. The fact he didn't looked covered with white dust made them both think he was a newcomer. He wore a bandana just like the others, sunglasses and a cap. It was hard to tell his age but his skin was light brown, the gun stuck down the back of his pants weren't hard to spot.

Amanda's eyes wandered to the water bottle that he put down on the pallets before he had a seat though and she realized just how thirsty she was. She wasn't sure if it was the thought of water or something else that made her cough. Her throat felt completely dried up. Nick got a little worried as she fought a little for air. Amanda kept coughing a bit and then the new guy walked up to them. Amanda tried to quiet down but she quickly realized the guy only came with good intentions as he unscrewed the cork on the water bottle and held it out towards her. She was a little hesitant but then put her lips against the bottle and he tilted it carefully so she could have some water.

"Thank you," she wheezed once the delicious water had gone down and she'd been able to take a breath through a clear throat. It didn't look as the guy moved a muscle underneath his bandana and then he walked back to the door to have a seat. A few minutes passed.

"I'm going to try and get him to take me to the bathroom," Amanda whispered suddenly. Nick gave her a distraught look.
"No way," he said quickly trying his best to keep as quiet as possible.

"What are we gonna do, sit here and wait for them to kill us?" she answered back. She looked to Fin for support.
"It's too dangerous," Fin whispered though shaking his head.

"What if that's Marcus? Or one of the guys that groped you earlier? I don't want you anywhere alone with a rapist, especially not tied up," Nick said trying to scare some sense in to her.

Amanda clenched her jaw and Nick recognized the pouty look that she pulled when told she wasn't allowed to do something.

Why don't anyone ever trust me to pull things off? Amanda thought to herself as she chewed the inside of her lip. Why did everyone always questioned her? She knew she could do this, she could trick this guy. She could get them out of there.

"Hey," she called out immediately feeling Nick's shoulder bump up against hers. But it was too late. She'd caught the guy's attention. And she frankly didn't care what Nick thought, she was doing this, she was getting them out of here.

"Is that a bathroom?" she asked cocking her head across the room towards the cracked door. The guy looked over the way she gestured and then slowly turned his head back towards her.

"I really, really need to go," she said trying to make a very pleading face. The guy stayed planted though and Amanda tried acting very much in need of a toilet.
"Look I'm zip tied," she said trying to hold up her hands as much as the restraints allowed her, "I promise I won't try anything, I just really need a bathroom."

She had to fight hard to not smile as the guy rose up and came over. He went digging in one of his back pockets and she shied back a little as he brought up and flipped open a butterfly knife.

"Move," he said talking to Nick and both him and Fin moved as far back as they could.

"Don't try anything," the guy said pointing the knife to her head. Amanda shook her head and held up her hands so he could cut the two zip ties that held her to the pipe. The guy took a harsh grip around her upper arm and helped her up on her feet.

"Thank you," she breathed and tried the most sincere smile she could pull. He didn't say anything and then just led her across the room. The knife wasn't anywhere near her but she had to figure it was still around somewhere.

Nick watched them walk away, the anxiety building up in his gut. Fin had faith in his partner but he really wished she'd been able to just stay put this time around and he always preferred to know exactly what her plan was.

Amanda didn't really have a plan though. She knew she would have to overpower him somehow, take the knife and gun from him and then the keys to Nick's and Fin's handcuffs out of his pocket. That's all and she was good at improvising, this would work.

They got into the bathroom and the guy held on to her as he tried to close the door behind them. There were four stalls in there, none with doors and she figured there would probably not be any paper. But the plan didn't involve actually going on the toilet though. He shoved her towards the first stall and glancing back a little she could tell he leaned back against the washbowl with no intention of turning away to give her some privacy. It could just be that he was doing his job as a guard but she was hoping that he would be a little bit interested in her, it would help to lure him closer. She looked around for something to perhaps swing at his head but there really wasn't anything else than the toilet bowl and some plastic in there. She tried to think quickly. Looking down she got an idea.

"Oh geesh," she muttered. She pretended to struggle getting her pants unzipped and then turned around biting down a bit on her lip as she tried to give him her most innocent look.

"I can't seem to…" she said stepping back out of the stall smiling innocently. He stayed in his laid back position so she took another step towards him.
"Could you help?" she asked shifting a bit back and forth on her bare feet making her hips sway a bit.

"I could…" she started and raised her hands up to try and seem as unthreatening as possible. She started to doubt herself but then he got off the washing bowl and took a step closer to her. She held her breath and tried to keep her disarming smile. She raised her hands even higher to give him even more access to her. He squinted a bit behind his shades, surely trying to make sure she wasn't tricking him. He had the knife in his right hand but shifted it to his left now.

"You know…" she breathed, "I really want to get myself out of this. If there's anything I can do for you to let me live… I'm willing…" She peeked at him from behind her raised arms. She saw him reach up and pull down his bandana. She hoped it wasn't a death sentence to see his face.

"Anything?" he asked exposing a gold tooth and a very husky voice for his young age. She nodded a little and then held her breath as he looked down her body. She swallowed as she felt him finger the button on her pants. As she felt him pull her shirt up out of her pants she tried getting a glimpse in the mirror behind him. She wanted to get eyes on that gun as she knew she had to get to that as well as the knife before she could get the keys. She felt him undo the button and then felt him swipe his hand over her tummy underneath her shirt.

Gun and knife, she thought trying to keep focus away from his touch, gun and knife meant freedom.

He'd seemed smaller earlier, right now he felt a bit more intimidating but she did her best to push the doubts away. He unzipped her fly and she knew it was now or never. She just needed to push him a little further.

"You know what," she said trying to sound as seductive as possible, "I've actually fantasized about this."
"Yeah?" the guy smiled keeping his eyes on her exposed underwear.
"Yeah, of getting… violated," she said a bit dreamy trying to act excited.

What she really wanted was getting her knee up and when his hands with the knife went down to readjust his package she made her move. She pulled her knee back a bit, assembling her power and then launched it up at the same time as her hands crashed down on the back of his head. Her knee hit him hard over either his teeth or nose, whatever it was she felt something breaking and the scream also told her she'd succeeded. She wasn't done yet though, she knew she would have to knock him out and maybe even kill him and preferable before he could call for aid.

The next kick went to his balls, and her shin hit him hard. This time his screamed was more muffled. She'd heard the knife drop to the floor so she went for the gun and once she got it she knocked him hard over the head making him fall to the floor. She couldn't search for the keys and hold the gun at the same time so she took a risk by tossing the gun towards the door. She spotted the knife and used her foot to kick it against the door as well.

He was groaning slightly so she knew he wasn't completely out but she just had to get to the keys. She needed Nick, Fin, so her priority moved to getting the keys to free them. The adrenalin rush as she felt the keys in her hand were out of this world and blood was pumping against her eardrums as she rose back up. She aimed for the door but managed to stumble over his leg slightly, leaving her on all fours as she scrambled for the gun and knife.

The panic rose as she felt a tug at her leg and she didn't have to look over her shoulder to know it was him, she heard him. His aim seemed off though and she managed to pull her leg back as she got her hands on the gun and knife. It was hard to get all of it up off the floor with her hands being tied and then he suddenly grabbed both her legs yanking her back in and she almost lost hold of everything.

She did her best to not scream out loud even though the fear in her gut wanted to roar like an animal about to die in the jaws of an even bigger animal. She flapped her legs like a kid but managed to get loose and scrambled towards the door. She didn't even have time to wonder where he was at though before he crashed in to her from behind and they tumbled out through the already broken door. She lost hold of the knife and gun and they slid away from her over the floor.

Nick tried to get up on his feet to get a visual behind the pallets but didn't get far enough to see anything but the gun and knife sliding over the floor. He restrained himself from calling out her name to not alert anyone downstairs in case they'd missed the scream just heard from the bathroom.

She managed to kick him again once they were on the floor and she felt him roll off her. She was still holding on to the keys for dear life and she tried to get back up on her feet. The guy grabbed a hold of her leg though and she knew she wouldn't be able to reach them even though she could see both Nick and Fin. Their eyes looked scared for her and it made her feel even more afraid then she already was.

She tried turning back around lashing out with her fist at the guy but he just hugged her leg keeping his head down and it felt like hitting a brick wall. She was also scared to death to lose hold of the keys so she made a spur of the moment decision to toss the keys over to them. She'd been a softball player after all. Tossing with her hands tied up though was harder than she imagined and the keys slid way too much to the side of Nick and she feared they were out of reach for him.

She met his eyes the moment before the guy swept her legs out from underneath her and she crashed down hard on the floor. He growled, called her a bitch and pulled her in easily as the floor had knocked the wind out of her. She tried grabbing on to a stack of pallets but he just followed and she cried out when his knee landed hard on her back. She still tried to keep crawling away and managed to once his knee suddenly disappeared. He was right there though and had only let her go so he could flip her over. He sat down over her midsection and called her a bitch again as he wrapped his hands around her throat.

Nick was doing his best to get to the keys that had landed out of reach from him. Fin was further away from the keys but tried in pure desperation to tear the pipe off the wall so Nick could get past that anchor that held him back from the keys. Both were throwing anxious looks Amanda's way. They'd seen them coming crashing out of the bathroom but then they'd disappeared behind that stack of pallets. They'd seen her pop back up, the badly aimed toss and then the hard landing on the floor as the guy got his hands on her again.

They'd watched her get pulled back and then trying to get away from the furious guy. Now all they could see were his backside as he sat over her and her legs underneath him, her bare heels sliding on the floor as she tried desperately to get out of his chokehold. Even though they couldn't see it they were sure he was choking her, they'd seen that struggle, her legs flapping underneath him, heels digging just like that when someone got strangled.

The guy kept his chokehold on her but banged her head into the ground hard to get her to stop struggling. She wasn't sure what she preferred. The banging made his grip around her throat ease up a bit and she could breathe but slamming her head into the ground made her vision just as blurry as the lack of oxygen did. When he finally stopped she couldn't really keep her eyes open and she couldn't do anything as he started to grab at her pants.

Fin growled loudly putting all he had into trying to tear the pipe from the wall. His feet were against the wall and he'd grabbed a hold of the cuff's chains. He'd seen Amanda's legs fall down flat as she stopped her struggle and the adrenalin pumping through his body gave him some inhuman power. Nick cheered him on as he could see the anchor around the pipe actually starting to loosen from the wall. Nick just needed another inch or two and he'd be able to reach the keys with his foot.

"C'mon," he said and Fin grunted and then one side of the anchor broke and Nick got that extra inch. He swiped the keys up as he heard the guy scream something about giving her what she wanted and scrambled to get the key in the cuff. He got one cuff lose and tossed the keys to Fin as he pulled himself up. With one cuff still attached and the other one dangling underneath it he ran across the room and jumped the guy. They fell into a heap by Amanda's side. The guy managed to get a fist to Nick's face but that wasn't enough to stop him and the next blow came from Nick, landed right on his already broken nose and had him falling to the floor weeping like a baby. Nick wasn't done though and kept throwing punches to his face as the rage poured through him.

Meanwhile Fin had gotten lose and hurried over putting his focus on Amanda as Nick seemed to have overpowered the perp. It scared him that he couldn't get contact with her but he could tell she was breathing and when he checked he felt her pulse.

"Nick," Fin said harshly trying to get him to stop beating the already unconscious, if not dead, perp. He had to reach out and smack his arm to get him to stop though and Nick looked back at him with a completely blank face. Fin didn't care if the perp was dead or not, all he cared about was getting Amanda to a hospital.

"How is she?" Nick asked anxiously as he snapped out of his trance and let the perp go.
"We need to get her out of her," Fin said hoisting up her pants a bit as he shot nervous looks towards the door and stairs, "get the gun."

"The gun," Fin urged when Nick stayed hovering over Amanda. Fin cocked his head to where he'd seen the gun last when Nick finally shot him a look. Nick hurried over while Fin got Amanda up in his arms. Nick grabbed the knife as well and then hurried back to Fin's side helping him get on his feet with Amanda in his arms.

"Are you sure she's fine?" Nick asked anxiously as he used the knife to cut the zip tie between Amanda's lacerated wrists.
"She's got a pulse and she's breathing, she'll be fine if we get her out of here," Fin answered but he was just as worried as Nick.

"How do we get out of here?" Fin asked looking around the room, "Stairs or windows?"

Nick rushed over to the nearest window. It didn't take more than a quick look to figure out they weren't getting out that way, he still checked the next one out even though he knew the ground would just be too far to reach even if Amanda had been on her feet. He shot Fin a nervous look, Fin was still planted where he'd stood up and Amanda looked as pale as last time he'd laid eyes on her.

Nick made his way over to the door and carefully peeked outside with the gun raised. He saw no one and the staircase looked just as it had done hours ago when he was shoved upstairs. Popping his head out he could hear music in the distance and he thought he picked up on faint voices as well but couldn't be sure. Since they hadn't heard the music before he figured the isolation was pretty well after all and no one downstairs had picked up on the scuffle upstairs.

Using the stairs felt like a too high of a risk though and when he spotted a pair of sneakers walking past the unfinished staircase he pulled back immediately. He shook his head towards Fin as he hurried over to the other row of windows. There were no words to describe the relief he felt as he looked out and spotted a handmade sort of stair going down a window further down the wall. He gestured Fin over and Fin was pulled from the daze he'd seemed to have slipped in to as he stood up with his unconscious partner in his arms.

"Can we make it down on that?" Nick asked as he gave Fin a chance to look out.
"Has to work," Fin just said and Nick got up in the window and stepped out getting more nervous as he felt the construction wobble slightly underneath his feet. He helped Fin get his feet over the window rail and told him to take it easy. He stayed a step below helping Fin down some irregular steps at the same time as he tried to keep watch for any thugs as well as looking around for a bearing on where they'd been held.

Thankfully the sun hadn't set yet and gave them some light but it also made them very visible for thugs and Nick wouldn't rest until they were far from this place and any bad guys. Nick saw sweat pearls on Fin's head and he could tell Fin was holding on firmly to Amanda. He didn't blame him, Amanda was a precious cargo for both of them.

The descend went slow as the construction wobbled many times and by the time they reached ground Nick was just as sweaty as Fin. Nick gestured towards some vegetation that he'd seen ran along another building site and it was their quickest way to cover. They had a few windows to pass first though. The downstairs windows were covered with sheer white plastic but they could see shadows moving behind it and the music was louder now. The thugs were just yards away.

Fin did his best to hunch down with Amanda in his arms. Both Fin and Nick froze as Amanda suddenly made a moaning sound, they were happy she made a noise but it was really the wrong time and Fin picked up his steps. Nick took his flank as Fin made his way from one building to the other as fast as he could.

To their great relief they made it to the building without a single shot ringing out after them. They knew someone could go upstairs and find them missing at any time though and they hurried in through the low vegetation. Fin tried shielding Amanda with his body but then the vegetation just got to compact and Nick had to take lead and at times he had to use his tiny butterfly knife to cut through branches and even thicker weed.

They made their way past the building and ran over to a third one. Without really knowing where they were or where the nearest public place was it was hard to feel any sense of relief even though they were out of their restraints. Nick could tell Fin was wearing down quickly and he suggested swopping chores.

"No," Fin said, "You should run ahead. You'll move faster on your own, she needs a hospital asap."

Fin who'd been keeping an eye on Amanda could tell she'd gone even paler and he thought her breathing had gotten shallower after she'd made that sound.

"Okay," Nick said reluctantly, "let's find a place for you to hide out at so I can find you when I come back."

They made their way inside another building. It looked a lot like the one they'd been held at and there wasn't much to hide behind so they went out the other side.

"This will have to do," Fin said spotting a container to his right and a couple of flatten boxes on the ground. Nick helped him get Amanda down and then ripped his shirt off his back to place it underneath her head.

"Go," Fin said as he could tell Nick was getting caught up in his worry for her.
"Take this," Nick said handing Fin the gun, "I'll be right back."

Nick shot one more look at Amanda and then took off now wearing only his tank top. He ran right through another empty building and then finally heard traffic up ahead. He got to a fence with barbwire, the road was too far ahead and cars were moving too fast to probably pick up on him. He hit the fence with his palm but then took off to the left as the right just went in to more vegetation. He had to round a smaller house frame and then ran in to some dried grass that made small tears in his skin as he fought through it.

His heart started pumping faster as he spotted a sign to a gas station up ahead and he started running, stumbling every now and then as the weed caught his ankles. He knew rescue was within reach as he reached a slope down to the gas station and saw a police car amongst others in the lot. He took the slope in a few long strides, relieved he made it down upright and then took the corner quickly.

He got stunned and his voice was caught in his throat as he got eyes on several more police cars and then in the middle of them all,

"Olivia," he called out the moment he spotted her. He called out her name again and got her attention this time. She was wearing a police vest and she ran over towards him the second she saw him. He tried moving to meet her but suddenly his legs felt completely useless and he had to put his hands to his knees to take a few deep breaths. The cuff dangling from his one wrist bumped against his leg as he was hunched over.

"Nick," Olivia said with a stunned smile over her face and she hugged him once she'd made sure he wasn't seriously injured. He could tell her eyes were looking behind him for the others.

"Amanda…" Nick breathed getting angry that he'd lost control of both his body and voice at this important moment.
"Breathe," Liv told him and he took a deep breath standing back up before he tried again.

"She needs an ambulance," he managed to say and Liv's face got worried immediately.
"They're back there, by a building," Nick said pointing back.

"The map," Liv said to one of the other vest wearing cops that had gathered around them. Liv helped Nick take a few steps forward to meet the man coming running back with the map Liv had just been studying. She showed him where they were at and another detective helped them get the map in north to south so Nick could get help finding the area he'd just left. The buildings weren't on the map but Nick told them about what he thought was a drug factory.

"Okay, let's go back on foot," Liv said looking at Nick and then at the one who seemed to be the search leader, "while the ambulance tries to find a safe way in."

Everyone nodded energetically as Liv turned to Nick again.

"Can you make it back?" she asked.
"Of course," Nick said without a doubt and started to move back from where he came from. Liv followed as well as about ten others, all wearing either uniform or vest and some both.

"What happen?" Liv asked as they made their way back.
"We were taken by surprise by Ambrose's address, lots of guys… with guns. I think they were cooking there as well," Nick said as he tried to keep up pace as they cut back through the dried grass again.

"They were, we found the location abandoned though," Liv informed him keeping up right behind him, "We found your phones and then traced a van to this location. Fin?"
"He's okay, he got this gash on his head but he's okay," Nick let her know.

Once they were out of the grass he picked up pace and was relieved once he spotted Fin keeping look out over by the container where he'd left them. He waved his hand as he didn't want to shout in case the thugs were nearby. Fin looked very relieved as well, putting the gun down the back of his pants as he took a few steps closer to Amanda.

"Ambulance is on its way," Nick let him know as Liv stepped up. She put a quick hand on Fin's arm and then kneeled down by Amanda's side. Liv got worried by all the blood covering her front, not knowing it didn't belong to Amanda.

"Where's the ambulance?" Liv asked throwing an anxious look back at the search leader.
"It's on its way," the man let her know. Liv had already turned and put her hand back on Amanda's cheek.

"It's not her blood," Fin let Liv know pacing nervously on Amanda's other side, "he strangled her. And she's been kicked around."

Liv nodded but wasn't so relieved as it still looked as Amanda was in a bad state. She could see red marks around her throat and you could barely pick up on her breathing. If the ambulance hadn't shown up right then Liv had probably started mouth to mouth but now she instead called for the paramedics to hurry up as she backed away from Amanda.

Two men ran forward carrying medical bags. One of them immediately got down on his knees right next to her while the other one thread gloves on his hands as he waited for instructions. Fin repeated the information that it wasn't her blood, that she'd been strangled and kicked around.

"That's her blood though," the paramedic said as he removed Nick's white shirt from underneath her head. Both Fin and Nick felt a little weak to their knees seeing the blood on the white fabric and Fin looked to Nick in disbelief. How could he have missed that? He put his hand to his long sleeved arm where her head had been resting as they fled, it felt damp but he wasn't sure if it was her blood or his sweat. The thought of it being her blood was almost too much to bear and Fin backed up against the wall feeling a need for support as his legs started to crumble.

The paramedic was shouting out gibberish to the other paramedics as he cut through Amanda's top. Nick felt Liv's supportive hand on his arm and he tried giving her a smile which felt very out of place and his attention went back to Amanda. He watched one of the paramedics run back to the ambulance to get oxygen and the gurney. A uniform helped him out which was good since the detectives were all a little too shocked to be of much help right now.

Nick watched an oxygen mask get placed over Amanda's nose and mouth while the other paramedic seemed to cheek her blood pressure as he moved his stethoscope over her exposed chest. Nick felt a sob getting stuck in his throat as his eyes got stuck on her matching bra and panties that were both exposed. The matching set. Their special plans. Those red toe nails. This was not how the night was supposed to end.

He got pulled from his thoughts as Liv let him go and moved forward to help the paramedics get Amanda loaded in to the ambulance. He sprung to action too and heard the paramedic tell Liv that her detective was stable but head injuries were tricky, they wouldn't know for sure until they were at the hospital. Liv shouted at Fin to get over there, she wanted him to ride in with his partner so he could get checked out too.

Nick managed to touch Amanda's leg before the gurney was loaded in to the ambulance. He heard Liv tell Fin to ride with her and he met Fin's eyes for a moment.

Fin looked to Nick to see if he would speak up, if he wanted to ride with her but when Nick didn't move Fin jumped in to the ambulance knowing every second counted in an emergency.

Nick swallowed hard as the ambulance doors shut and he lost sight of her. This couldn't be the last time he saw her alive, he thought to himself before Liv called for his attention.

"Do you need to get checked out too or can you take us to the house you were held?" she asked. Nick tried to straighten up and then he nodded.
"I'm fine," he said.

About two hours later Liv and Nick were back at the station. They'd raided the building as the thugs seemed to close down shop, probably having found their hostage gone or been alerted by the many patrol cars in the area. Many of them got away during the commotion but six perps were arrested, one of them badly beaten but still alive on the second floor. They found drug supplies, cooking supplies, multiple fire arms, the detective's included, and some stolen goods.

Within the following days several more arrests would take place and it wouldn't take long until this up and coming new gang was shattered completely.

Nick had been checked over quickly by another paramedic at the site, other than some scuffs and bruises he was fine and Liv had taken him back to the station to write his statement. Liv had learnt Nick had been the one beating up the thug upstairs and she wanted to make sure the repercussions were kept to a minimum. Listening to Nick it seemed as though it had been a life-threatening situation as the thug was attempting to kill Rollins and Liv was sure Fin would back him up. It was important to her that her detectives' back were covered. And she would also make sure they got counseling for the ordeal they'd been through.

They'd gotten word from the hospital that Amanda was doing okay. She'd suffered a concussion but no brain injury thank God. She'd broken a few ribs, had some cuts and bruises but according to Fin she was hanging in there and the fact she was raging that they were making her stay overnight sounded like a good sign she was her old self.

Even though Nick knew she was okay he still wanted to confirm that for himself. He'd taken a quick shower at the station but now as he was trying to write his statement he couldn't focus. His thoughts wandered to her at the hospital after every other word he manage to write down and with the speed he was going this statement wouldn't be done till early morning. Finally he let the keyboard go and rolled out his chair from the desk. Once on his feet though he took a few deep breaths as he watched Liv behind her desk in her office. He gathered all the courage he had left after today's events and walked in there.

"I need to talk to you," he said not giving Liv a chance to turn him down. She looked a bit concerned as he sat down across from her.

"Yes?" she asked once he just sat there looking nervous.
"Okay," he started but had to take a deep breath before he continued, "I need to tell you something…"

Liv waited for him to tell her about this something but Nick wasn't sure how to put it as he hadn't prepared for this.

"I'm in love with Amanda," he blurted out and he wasn't sure he'd ever seen Liv's eyes that size.
"And don't blame her, or make this her fault, all she wants is to get on your good side again. This is on me. I'm the one who pursued her," Nick added quickly.

"You mean…" Liv was trying to connect dots.
"We're together yes," he confirmed. Liv let go of the pen in her hand and lowered her head. Nick stirred a little in his seat, he felt nervous and Liv didn't seem to take this well.

"I just really want to be with her at the hospital right now," Nick said when Liv remained silent.

"So this is serious?" she stated, finally facing him again. He couldn't read her face and swallowed hard before he answered;
"For me, absolutely yes."
"For her?" Liv inquired even though she knew it wasn't her business, she just couldn't help herself. She'd been taken by surprise and she was still trying to get her head around what she'd learnt.

"I can't… I won't talk for her. I hope so though. I want to be with her, and officially from now on so if that will be a problem working in the same squad then I'm ready to transfer out."

Liv was stunned to say the least. She was stunned that this had been going on without her knowing about it and if Nick was ready to transfer it must really be serious. She felt a little sad too that they'd kept this from her but she was after all their boss now. She strived though to be a boss that her squad felt able to turn to and have an open dialog with. She knew she had a little further to go with Amanda before their trust in each other was at the level it should be but she'd thought at least Nick could come to her. Giving it another second's thought though she realized he was coming to her now.

She turned her head back down to hide the slight smile that now spread over her face. Amaro and Rollins? So that's why they were working so well as a team these days? Nick and Amanda? Who would've known? Judging by how smiley and frivolous they both seemed as of late things must be going really well between them too.

"Will it," he said interrupting her thoughts, "be a problem?"

Liv straighten her face and looked back up at him.

"I honestly don't know what the department says about this, I'm going to have to ask around a bit," Liv said straightforward.
"Okay," Nick said nodding, "And with you? We didn't mean to go behind your back, it's just… well you know what went down with me and Maria. And Amanda… it's just complicated you know?"

Nick smiled, searched Liv's face for understanding but she just watched him and he got nervous again churning his hands a little.

"Nick," Liv said sitting up behind the desk, "I'm not going to be a problem for you. You've worked really well together as far as I know and as long as you can keep it like that, let private stay private, I don't have a problem with both of you working here."
"That… I can't tell you how good that feels to hear," Nick said and were able to breathe properly again. Liv smiled at him.

"Thank you… Olivia," Nick said. Liv just shook her head.
"Go," she said, "just go to her. Tell her… that I'm thinking of her and that I'll be by tomorrow if she's still stuck in there. And if not I'll stop by her place, or yours, tomorrow and I'm putting you in charge to make sure she takes at least one sick day."
"I will," Nick reassured as he got up out of the chair. He shot her an awkward but relieved smile before he started to move for the door.

"And Nick," Liv said stopping him in the door, "I'm really happy for you."
"Thanks Liv," Nick said being able to give her a proper smile now.

He made his way to the hospital as fast as he could. Even though he wanted to lay eyes on her as soon as possible he stopped by the small stand at the entrance and bought her a bouquet of flowers. They didn't have many left to choose from at this late hour but he thought it was faith that there was one left with a blend of dark pink flowers surrounded by green stems of leaves. He knew she did her best to never come across as girly but he'd seen her aim for pink flowers whenever she had a chance to whiff some.

He learnt she was up on the third floor as he was also informed visiting hours were over. He didn't feel bad about using his badge to get access though and he also gave the nurse a smile and a wink as she pointed him towards the right elevators.

As he stepped out of the elevator he almost bumped in to Fin who'd been staring down on his phone.

"Oh hey," Fin said stepping back to let him outside before the elevator door closed on him.
"Hey, how you doing?" Nick asked spotting the plaster on the side of his head.
"Dandy," Fin said with a bit of sarcasm, "tired as hell but as long as she's okay life is good."

Nick nodded with a smile.

"How is she holding up?" Nick asked and Fin gave him one of his famous looks.
"Worst patient ever, what did you expect?"
"Of course," Nick chuckled, switching hands around the flowers. Fin spotted the flowers and gave him another questionable look.

"Do you even know my partner?" he asked. Nick switched feet a bit nervously.
"I know but I thought she could hit me with them once she finds out I've outed us to Liv," Nick said getting a little nervous now how she would react once she found out.

"Really?" Fin asked raising his eyebrows. Fin had a sarcasm luring inside but he swallowed it as he could tell Nick was anxious. So instead he gave his arm a quick pat and said;
"Good for you Amaro."

Nick shot him an appreciating look.

"About time I manned up," Nick said looking down the corridor.
"If you weren't man enough already you'd never gotten close to her Nick, it will be fine," Fin said and Nick couldn't express his gratitude enough.

Fin pressed the elevator button again as it had left their floor.

"Will she try and lure me to get her out of here?" Nick asked as they waited for the elevator to come back.
"I think she's given up by now. The fact she pukes whenever she tries to sit up worked as a better persuasion than the doctor's orders," Fin said and Nick sighed.
"Ah she hates that," he said quietly feeling bad for her.

"Last door on the left, night my good man," Fin said as he stepped in to the elevator and he flashed Nick one last bright smile before the door closed between them.

Nick turned to walk down the corridor. It was awfully quiet up here, like the entire ward was sleeping. He did however run in to one nurse before he got to his designated door.

"Can I help you?" she asked with a low voice. She didn't seem hostile even though Nick knew he was there after visiting hours.
"Ms Rollins," he said just as quietly as he pointed to the door.

"Another partner?" she said with a smile. Nick figured she'd run in to Fin earlier.
"Well yeah, but boyfriend partner," he said holding up the flowers.

"Oh, well don't keep her up, she needs her rest," the nurse smiled at him, "I'll be out here if either one of you need anything."
"Thanks," Nick said and couldn't hide the fact he loved to be able to say he was her boyfriend out loud. He had a feeling he would do it quite a lot from now on, every chance he got in fact.

He shoved the door up carefully. The moon gave the entire room a soft glow but there was also a soft light by the head of the bed. His heart skipped a beat as he laid eyes on her. The head of the bed was raise a little so he got a good look at her at first sight. Her hair was swept in underneath her and the hospital gown and bandages made her look frail all tucked in under hospital sheets. Frail but still beautiful.

He moved silently towards the bed. She had a slight frown between her eyebrows which told him she wasn't really asleep even if her eyes were closed. He'd kept his eyes on her face but as he got closer he looked her over. Her arms were sticking out, lying on top of her so he saw the bandages around her wrists clearly. Mangled by the zip ties. She had a line going from her arm up to a bag by the side of the bed. Her bangs were swept to one side and she had a small plaster over her eyebrow and an even smaller plaster over the gash on her cheek.

Stepping up to the bed and getting a better view of her neck made him feel an ounce of rage, she had visible marks from fingers all over her neck. It looked as though she was trying really hard to sleep but then she had to swallow and he could tell how hard it was for her to even attempt that. He saw her eyelashes flicker and the next second he caught her blue eyes looking just as sparkly and alive as ever even with her injuries.

"Hi," he smiled getting warm all over by the obvious joy displayed over her face as she realized he was really there.
"Hi," she croaked as tears built up in the corner of her eyes.

He got his hand on the side of her face and swept a tear away as he leaned down to kiss her very carefully.

"How are you doing?" he asked and she tried to wise up and even sit up a little.
"Oh it's nothing," she said, her voice much huskier than usual, "They should've just…"

She got quiet as the room started to spin and he grabbed a hold of her arm as he saw her sway to one side.

"What are you doing, stay down," he said coxing her back down on the pillow.
"I'm fine," she still persisted but let him fuss a little.

He sat down on the bed next to her once he'd made sure she wasn't going to faint or anything. His eyes looked her over again.

"I'm fine," she assured him as she could see the worry wrinkle between his eyes getting deeper and deeper the more he took in of her state.
"We made it out," she whispered giving him the best smile she could produce right now.
"Never doubted it," he whispered caressing her arm. Now she got a chance to look him over, her attention for details weren't on point so she didn't spot the flowers until now. He had half expected her to get mad for bringing flowers but she looked a little more scared to him. He placed them on the bed so she could get a good look at them.

"I was thinking that if you don't want to put them in a vase you might want to use them to hit me with," he said and she gave him a confused look.
"Remember last night when you told me I should be more spontaneous around the squad room, well… I sorta was and I sorta… told Liv about us."

It wasn't as scary to tell her as he'd expected it to be. He felt as though he could tell her anything, it was just her feelings he worried about. Her face crumbled slightly by this news but again, she didn't look angry.

"She took it well though," he let her know so she wouldn't worry, "she wasn't sure what the protocol said but if it's just up to her nothing has to change."

Amanda looked a little hesitant and he grabbed her hand carefully and held it between both of his.

"You okay with me telling?" he asked, "I just couldn't sit at the station, I had to be here with you."
"I… It's… okay," she stammered slightly.

"You sure? You don't hate me?" he asked with a smile sensing the answer. She shook her head slowly. He leaned in to kiss her again but she put her fingers up to his lips when he was just a few inches away and he looked a little puzzled.

"I puked like ten minutes ago," she whispered a bit embarrassed.
"Got it, no tongue," he smiled as he grabbed a hold of her hand so he could remove the obstacle in his path. He both saw and felt the smile on her face as he kissed her. He did keep his tongue out but he stayed leaned over her for some time, feeling a need to hold on to her, to just be near her.

Reluctantly he sat up after a while, he did have something else to talk to her about. He knew the moment wasn't great but he would pick the subject up later if he had to, for now he just had to get it off his chest. He picked up the flowers from the bed planning to put them on the table but he hesitated and asked her if she was sure she didn't want to hit him with them. She shook her head, again very slowly but with a smile on her face.

"Good," he smiled and put them up on the table so he could scoot a little further up. He grabbed a hold of her hand again.

"So now that we're official," he started not able to hide a big grin and it somehow got even bigger when he saw her blush. She was still pale so her cheeks got really red and she looked absolutely adorable. He knew he had to keep strong though, he couldn't melt for her cuteness right now. He needed to get this off his chest.

"I don't want you taking such risks Amanda. I get that the job, at times, asks that of us. It's inevitable. But you don't have to sacrifice yourself. Ever," he said fearing he overstepped boundaries now. He knew the Murphy situation was sensitive, so was the incident with her deputy chief and he knew it would take time before they could talk freely about that, if ever. But this was important to him. Her plan today, it had been successful yes but it came with a price. A price that could've been so much higher. She could've died, she could've been raped. God he couldn't even think about all the ifs without his gut wrenching. He had to turn his eyes down and he watched her fingers move between his as he collected himself.

"I can't have you get hurt Amanda. I can't lose you," he said finding the courage to face her again.
"I can't promise you that though," she whispered.

"I know you can't… the job is risky but what I'm talking about it's what's down deep in you. The way you sacrifice yourself for your sister so easily. How you'd do anything to bust a perp…"

He felt her try and retrieve her hand but he held on.

"Amanda I don't want you to give away pieces of yourself. You don't have to do that…"
"You can't ask me to change, it's not fair of you to ask me to change," she said, her voice now not only hoarse but interfered by emotions.

"God no," he said, "I don't ever want you to change Amanda. I love you, all of you, just the way you are. It's about you not having to give so much of yourself. I, Fin, Liv, we won't… dislike you, or despise you for saying no, that enough is enough, you shouldn't have to carry everything on your shoulders. I know I might not make any sense but all I'm asking is that you make sure you never give too much away. That it's okay to have boundaries and to ask for help, for back-up."

He tried to get a hold of her eyes again, she'd been deflecting since he hadn't let her have her hand back. He could tell she had tears in her eyes but not to the point they escaped down her cheeks.

"And just factor me in," he said softening his voice even more as he squeezed her hand, "just put me in the equation."
"I suck at math," she whispered and it made him chuckle. He knew it was her way of lightning the moment and he would give her that.

"Okay enough with all this mush now," he said, "I was let in with the promise I would make you relax and so far I'm not doing such a great job."

He let his fingers go up and down her arm a few turns but he just felt a need to be even closer to her.

"Which side?" he asked, "Your ribs?"
"Oh it's nothing," she said trying to brush over her pain as usual.
"I'm asking cause I'm planning on joining you in this bed and I want to know what side I should lie down on," he said giving her a matter of fact look. She smiled shyly and then moved her right hand a little over her right side.

"So it is okay to…" he asked carefully but then she started scooting over slightly. She frowned a little but the pain medicine was really doing its trick. Now if only she could get rid of the bump in the back of her head and stop feeling nauseous things would be great.

He slipped off his jacket quickly and threw it at the chair in the corner. He lifted her sheet a little so he wouldn't lie down on it and tug something. He lied down as carefully as possible. She'd rolled away slightly from him and he crept in as close as he dared to. He put his arm above her head on the pillow and spotted a plaster at the back of her head entangled in her hair. He moved his fingers over it without touching it and then just let it be trying to focus on the fact she was here and she was, if not fine, at least okay.

"Is this okay?" he asked worrying he was hurting her. She made a confirming humming sound as she tried relaxing a little. The nurse had told her to relax earlier but it just felt better when she stayed rigid. Rigid though meant no closer to sleep and she really felt like sleeping would be a good thing.

Nick stroke away some hair from her neck but then got her injuries and what had happened pushed in his face again as the strangle marks got visible. He just bit through it though and softly caressed her neck. He couldn't help but notice she had one of those hospital gowns with straps in the back and her skin peeked through the gaps. He undid the bow at top, let his fingers run down her back and then undid the second one. Sliding the gown off slightly, exposing her back he placed a kiss between her shoulder blades.

Amanda felt him undo her gown and his touch felt great, his lips even greater. She swallowed a little though worrying slightly what he was up to. Did he really want to have sex right now? Of course she would let him if he wanted to. Or maybe she could ask him if they could wait, maybe just wait till the morning. He would understand right? She was sure he would understand.

But of course he didn't have those kinds of plans. He knew she was hurting, he was hurting for her. He just wanted to expose her back for one reason and she realized what it was as his fingers started drawing small circles over her back. She took a deep breath and was able to relax properly for the first time tonight. Those circles really was the best medicine for nausea, her mom had been right about one thing at least.

Nick was able to relax too. Her soft skin under his fingertips, her calm breathing next to him, it made him calm and even all the scuff marks and bruises over her back couldn't take that away from him. The marks did however prove his point a little that she could prevail from back-up every now and then.

"Sleepy?" he whispered.
"A little," she answered honestly. He moved down the circles further down on her back and placed another kiss between her shoulder blades.

"What we talked about earlier," he said keeping his voice low, "You do know it's okay for you to let me play the hero at times?"

He felt her let out some air and peeking up over her shoulder he could see a smile on her face.

"Just once in a while it would be nice to feel a little chivalrous. It is okay for the guy to be the hero at times you know. There's this thing called gender equality if you haven't heard about it. Maybe you could let me save the day once in a while?"
"I know you have a slim figure," she said, her voice husky to the point it almost disappeared, "and those girly eyelashes but I'm sorry that thug today well I don't think he would've gone for your type."

Now it was his turn to blow out air as he huffed a little trying to act offended even though he felt like laughing. Her sass was certainly a sign she would be fine. He took the chance to bite down slightly on her shoulder.

"Ouch," she said flinching slightly, "Excuse me but patient, hospital…" she complained, voice even raspier now as she gestured a little over herself and the bed. She was smiling though and he heard it in her voice as he kissed the spot he'd just bit down on.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. He leaned back down on the pillow and continued drawing circles over her back.

Amanda felt as though she could finally sleep now but a part of her also wanted to stay in this moment forever. The fact he remembered the remedy for nausea, that he wanted to be her hero and that laying in his arms just made her feel safer than she'd ever felt before was a little overwhelming.

The moment would've been perfect if she would've had the strength to kiss him right now, making out with him was really special. But the notion he would still be there tomorrow made her calm. She would have time to make out with him tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that. He really loved her and he would be there tomorrow. He would be there in her future and for once she was really looking forward to what was to come.

He'd heard her breathing calm down even more and he thought she'd drifted off to sleep when he suddenly heard her croak his name.

"Nick?" she whispered with a croak as she strained her voice a little to make sure she would get his attention.
"Yeah?" he said, his hand stopping momentarily, his entire palm resting against her warm skin.

"I love you," she whispered and for a second she felt as though her heart would beat out of her chest. What if he ran now? What if the world tumbled down now? She'd felt his hand stop moving but now it started up again, moving slowly over her back.

"I love you too Amanda," he whispered before his throat closed up with emotion. He'd waited so long but just as he'd already figured out, she was worth the wait. Hearing those three little words uttered from her mouth, even with a voice huskier than a sailors, made him feel like the luckiest man in the world.

Amanda's heart stopped beating out of her chest as she was able to relax back down against him. This felt good. This felt right. It would've felt a little better without that bump in the head but the nausea was gone and she knew the bump would be too and she wasn't scared. This was where she wanted to be, by his side and he by hers. He made her feel loved and she would work really hard to make him feel just as loved from now on.

"I love you Nick," she whispered as the strains of the day finally claimed her and she drifted off to sleep.

The end.