This next bit of the story is kind of tricky. It's been in my head in some capacity since this time last year but it was mapped out along the lines of 'everything miraculously works out - I'll figure it out when I get there' and now I'm unfortunately there and have to figure it out...

It's a little dull so I made it an extra long chapter to save dragging it all out. And because the last scene is pretty much all I like...

If any of you have suggestions or theories or requests regarding what's coming up, I'd love to hear them. I might get some inspiration.

Part 35
"So he tried to pacify her but what's inside her never dies…"

The interior of the van was stuffy in the late afternoon sun and the gradually increasing claustrophobia was only made worse from being in an enclosed space with Chris. Truth be told, Jude was starting to regret her harsh attitude with him the day before. He still put her on edge and she was tired of playing the damsel in distress. She was on the defensive with him but wondering if this was really fair, perhaps she really was just punishing him for good intentions.

It had been too many hours since they'd watched Nick's car pull up to the high walls of his father's estate. He'd barely glanced in their direction, his expression showing no interest or recognition for the black van with the ominous black tinted windows parked on the opposite side of the street. Jude had felt a chill when the gates opened and ultimately swallowed him up. From their position they could see the distant roof of the three story mansion but little else. Really, their stake out was pointless but she wanted, needed to be close to the action, as close to where Tommy was possibly being kept as she could.

"Well Princess," Chris muttered, fiddling with an old Rubix cube, "you're on the wrong side of the proverbial moat."

"Shut up," she muttered under her breath. For the umpteenth time she flipped open her cell phone and checked for a message from Nick.

"You know, modern technological advances allow cell phones to make funny noises called ringing, they also shake sometimes. These unusual occurrences are to alert you when you receive a call or message and thus, they save you checking constantly."

Jude ignored his comment and sighed. She slipped the cell phone back into her pocket then lowered her seat into a vertical position, allowing more space to crawl into the back of the van.

"Maybe the old man is really a mad scientist," Chris continued to fill the silence, "he probably wants to make you into his Frankenstein bride. I bet he's turning Tommy into a pretty boy Frankenstein servant about now." He guffawed to himself, "he'll probably come out like that robot in 'Lost in Space' all zombie movements and 'does not compute, does not compute'."

"I am this close to hitting you right now!" Jude snapped, holding up her thumb and index finger to demonstrate a space only few millimeters wide.

He turned to face her, resting his shoulders on the back of his seat. "Hey, I don't mind. You're hot when you're mad."

"I'm going to call him," Jude declared, ignoring the last comment.

"He said he'd call you."

"Well, maybe he forgot." She fished the cell phone out of her pocket. The plastic case was still warm from her hand the last time she's checked it.

"Yeah," Chris snorted, "that's likely."

Jude's hands were shaky, nervous, as she selected Nick's number and pressed call. A rock track played in place of the normal ringing noise and Jude closed her eyes tightly against the chaotic noise. She could almost imagine she could hear Nick's phone ringing, mere meters away, over the fence and metaphorical moat that separated them.

Finally, when she was just about to give up and throw her phone at Chris, who had been making 'you're crazy' motions, twirling his finger beside his head, Nick answered.

"Nick?" she breathed softly, stupidly; he was the one who needed to worry about being overheard, not her.

"Hey," he responded quietly. He seemed surprised to be speaking to her, and a little distracted.

"I hadn't heard from you..." she began slowly. There was a tightness in her chest, a fear that the report would come back with nothing found and she'd once again be in the dark about Tommy's location.

"Yeah, I'm still getting that information together." His words were neutral, vague, meaning nothing to any overhearing ear. "There might be something," he sounded a little reluctant as he admitted the last fact, and at her involuntary gasp of relief, she realized why. "Look, I'm about to fall into a rose bush if I'm not careful. Can I call you back in a few minutes?"

"Um, well, I guess so," she said reluctantly.

She glared at the phone as a dull dial tone echoed from it's receiver. Slowly, she shut it off and slouched back down in her seat.

"Well?" Chris asked, feigning a bored yawn.

"May be something. I have to wait."

"Huh," Chris remarked in amusement, "isn't this such a perfect 'I told you so' moment."

Had the phone not been so precious to her in that moment, as she waited for Nick's return call, she would have hurled it.

-=|=-

"Cause it's sunny south of here and if I drive until the daylight breaks, tomorrow I'll be there..."

Nick slid his cell phone back into his pocket and glanced around surreptitiously. He was behind the mansion, around him stretched yards and yards of freshly mown lawn, dotted by leafy trees. He could hear birds chirping and the soft rustle of the wind in the leaves. It was all deceptively peaceful and innocent.

Sighing, he disentangled himself from the bushes lining the wall of the house. So far his search had been futile and dangerous. He already had a splinter in his thumb and a tear in his shirt from the rose bush he'd previously mentioned to Jude. Having failed to get past the goon guarding the basement he'd gone in search of an external clue to indicate Tommy's presence. He was looking for a basement window, an air vent, something.

He rounded a corner. He was now pretty confident he was level with the basement. The mansion was huge but the basement wasn't the size of the entire floor plan. The mansion had grown over the years and the basement was in the center of the building, beneath the original homestead. Once again there were bushes lining the wall but these were different. The ground beneath them was freshly overturned and, if he hadn't known better, he could have sworn the small shrubs had recently been transplanted.

He found a small gap between two shrubs and pushed his way through, once again looking over his shoulder for any passing eyes. There was a corridor-like gap between the shrubs and the wall, just big enough for him to walk through comfortably. Leaning forward he scanned the wall for anything out of the ordinary. He was just about to give up and call Jude back with the disappointing noise when he spotted a strange opening. As he got closer he found an open window-like hole with steel bars blocking the entrance. It was a couple feet off the ground, barely hidden from the gardens by the shrubs.

He knelt down quietly beside the window, unsure of who he'd find on the other side. Moving slowly, he attempted to glance in while revealing as little of his head as possible. The room inside had old fashioned stone walls, though it didn't smell like an old crypt. It smelt of plaster and fresh timber.

"Tommy?" he whispered quietly. No sooner had the words escaped and he was cringing with regret. How the heck was he supposed to explain this away if the goon was in hearing distance.

There was a short pause and then a raspy voice answered. "Hello?"

Biting the bullet, Nick moved in front of the window and peered in properly. He could now see the entire interior, and sure enough, hidden in the half his previous view point hadn't revealed, was Tommy. He was disheveled, he hadn't shaved in days and there were big bags under his eyes.

"It is you," Nick breathed.

"And you," Tommy blinked in surprise. He seemed a little dazed.

"Jude is going to be so relieved," Nick said, retrieving the phone from his pocket.

"Jude?" Tommy said softly. At her name he seemed to snap out of his daze. A little spark returned to his eyes and he stood up from his crouching position against the wall. "Is she okay?"

Nick nodded as he dialed in the number. "She's fine. She's nearby and nearly having a nervous break down worrying about you."

-=|=-

"There's nothing left so hold your breathe. Ready to wait, caught inside this tidal wave..."

Chris watched with a half-hearted curiosity as Jude clutched her cell phone to her ear. She was listening to Nick's every word intently and with a sinking heart Chris realized that Tommy must have been found. Jude's eyes were alight and her foot was tapping the floor impatiently.

"I'm going to come," she said. "What do you mean? No, I'm going to come to you." She paused. "I'll find a way. I changed my appearance – even if someone does spot me they won't recognize me."

She had changed her appearance, Chris nodded to himself approvingly. She'd had her hair permed into a mess of tight curls that framed her face, changing it's shape and drawing attention away from her features. She'd had her hair highlighted with a mix of red, black and blond streaks and her make-up was dramatic. The dark and thick eyeliner wasn't his favorite of the changes. She'd gone over the top with it's application but it did change her face. As for her body; she was wearing thick platform shoes that made her appeal taller. He'd barely managed to talk her out of buying fat padding at a costume shop. Sure she'd look different carrying an extra fifteen pounds around her waist but it was just so... wrong.

"Nick," Jude's voice was pleading. "I can't just stay here. I need to see him." She paused, listening to his words. Chris could see the change in her expression. Itw as reluctant but Nick was successfully changing her mind.

"Fine," she sighed. "A few hours before daybreak then. Yes, I'll get a lot of rest. Keep the guards off the south corner. I think I saw a way over the wall when we pulled up."

She snapped her phone shut and turned to Chris. "Okay, here's the plan."

-=|=-

"If I had to, I would put myself right beside you. So let me ask: would you like that? Would you like that?"

Chris lay on his back on the sofa of the small apartment Nick had hired for him and Jude, half-heartedly tossing a hackey sack into the air and catching it as it fell. He could hear Jude bustling around in the kitchen, opening and slamming cupboard doors and muttering to herself softly. She'd been on edge since the moment they'd turned the van around and headed back for the city.

"You know, there is a restaurant just downstairs," he pointed out. "I'm not sure I'm really brave enough to try your cooking."

Her mess of auburn curls appeared at the doors as she glared around at him. "Who said I was cooking for you?"

He pretended to be taken aback. "I figured you'd have a hard time passing up the chance to poison my meal. Eye drops in the soup perhaps, or maybe you did it officially and sourced some super strength laxatives?"

She slapped a hand to her head. "Damn! Why didn't I think of that?" Shaking her head, she disappeared back into the kitchen.

Chris tossed the hackey sack into the air once again then muttered in frustration as it fell out of his reach and disappeared behind the sofa. The crashing had resumed in the kitchen.

He stood up and stretched his long legs before nervously walking into the kitchen. For all the crashing he was surprised to find Jude simply making toast. Their room had come with a kitchen stocked with the food basics, not enough for a four course meal but they weren't quite as desperate as toast for dinner.

"You should make eggs," he remarked.

Jude glanced over at him, a glare still in her eyes but also a hint of curiosity. "Why?"

"Smashing the shells, very satisfying when you're on the edge." He took a carton of eggs from the fridge and a glass bowl from the cupboard. Jude watched silently then slowly took the eggs he offered her. "Forget about the egg shells," he instructed, "just watch it down with as much force as you feel is necessary."

Still appearing reluctant, Jude held up the egg then lowered it quickly, smashing it against the edge of the bowl. The shell cracked and exploded, sending eggs down both sides of the bowl and up into the air. A glob of yolk landed on Jude's nose while splatters of white fell onto Chris' hair.

"Wow," he remarked as Jude stood frozen, the shattered remnant of the shell in one hand and the other suspended in the air by her face, held up as if to shield her from the onslought. "You're a natural!"

"A natural egg cracker?" she asked with a glimmer of a smile.

"And here I just thought you were a nutcracker!"

She snorted at the comment, then seeming surprised by the outburst, put a hand to her lips. Chris watched silently as she contemplated her action. The shattered shell fell from her hand and she dipped her fingers into the gooey egg that had pooled into the bowl. Calmly, she turned to him, hand help up before her. "What did you say?" she asked.

He backed away. "Nothing." He reached for an egg and held it like a grenade. Jude paused.

"You wouldn't," she said calmly, "she took another step toward him."

"I hear egg does great things for the hair," he remarked. "Don't they use it at spas?"

Jude rolled her eyes and flicked her hand out, sending good flying at him. He instantly responded, tossing the edge of her. He connected with her shoulder. With only just enough force to crack. She felt the cool liquid seeping into her shirt and covered it with a hand. "That hurt," she remarked in a small voice.

"No it didn't." He didn't sound as sure as his words implied.

"Gosh, here I was just playing around and you had to go and make it violent." She shook her head sadly. "Some things never change."

"Jude," he took a hesitant step forward, "I'm sorry."

Her head was bowed, one hand shielding her eyes and though he had a distinct feeling he was being played, he found himself moving forward. He ducked his head, attempting to self her face. He hated himself for the seeming naiivety but he couldn't turn away, not even from faked pain.

"Hey, I'm sorry," he said softly. He reached out to stroke her cheek and completely failed to notice her hand reaching out for the bowl of egg. In the next instant he was frozen in shock as egg rained down on his head and dripped down his neck.

"Me too," she responded, grinning smugly.

"You are so going to pay for that."

"But the egg shell might hurt." She repeated the voice she'd used, mockingly, rolling her eyes, completely believing he'd fallen for her act. As she spoke, she reached for an egg and hurled it at him. Effortlessly he dodged and the egg splattered against the wall behind him. He reached for an egg and Jude turned to run.

"You really shouldn't leave the kitchen," he pointed out. "Nick will get in trouble if we get egg on the carpet."

"Then you'll just have to refrain from throwing the egg."

He walked toward her, tossing the egg in the air and catching it, his eyes on her. "But I'm the jerk remember? Maybe I don't care if he gets in a little trouble with the landlord. Maybe it'll be good for him. He always get of scot free, unlike the rest of us."

"You're okay," Jude pointed out, attention temporarily diverted. "You're not dead."

His slow steps had taken him to her and he paused. With the egg clutched in his left hand he rested his right hand on the wall behind her. The door was to her left and in order to escape she'd have to duck to her right to get around him, something made impossible by their proximity to the refidgerater. "Yet." He pointed out.

"You'll be okay." She look him in the eye as she spoke. "I'll make sure of it."

"Okay then." He nodded and by way of peace offering, handed her the egg.

Teasers for Part 36
"Along the staircase I dream to hear you, in a whisper quiet room..."

He was supposed to wait for her at the door. She'd been gone all of five minutes and in that time he'd vanished. She had a bad feeling in her gut, something in the back of her mind that told her he was in trouble...