Chapter Fifty-one

After Peter had wordlessly asked him to leave Jake contemplated staying outside the door to eavesdrop. However he knew what their conversation was going to be about so there was no point getting caught listening in. It didn't take a psychiatrist to pick up on Neal's new hydrophobia, he literally reeked of it. With a guilty knot in his stomach for having caused the issue Jake wandered aimlessly through the dank tunnels. He had developed his own recurrent nightmare from the events in the tub. In his dreams he kept Neal down until he drown and then just as Neal had predicted when he went to Peter seeking death he murdered him as well. The rest of the nightmare consisted of him frantically searching the tunnels for another living soul but finding himself completely alone.

Jake shook his head sadly at the unimaginative nightmare, it had been years since his dreams had been anything more than a slight variation of his life. Unable to find escape even his sleep he was also plagued by the fact that he always dreamed in black and white. Glancing up at the gray concrete ceiling Jake's heart sank further. As excited as Neal had been about the bent needle as a lock pick they had yet to find anything that could serve as the second half. Even if the door opened Jake doubted that it lead anywhere. York would not be so careless as to leave an exit behind a simple locked door. Falling deeper into depression the further he walked Jake started to feel some resentment towards Peter and Neal.

"I had accepted that nothing would ever change until you two came along." Jake growled bitterly to himself. "You think offering me hope of better was helping me? All you've done is given me something to lose…"

Grinding his teeth together in anger Jake's ear suddenly picked up the distant sound of voices. Hearing the distinct sound of group laughter grated on Jake's already fraying nerves. The evening's fights had been over for less than an hour and the men were already drunk. Far from being a punishment many of the men who ended up down here paying off debuts enjoyed the bloodsport and the celebrations afterward. Angered by their revelry and burning with jealousy that they got to leave once their debut was paid Jake stalked down the hall with every intention of starting a fight.

The dozen or so men gathered in the commons room were all familiar faces, men that had ended up in the Labyrinth enough times to be comfortable with it. Everyone had been quieter and more reserved just after Sawyer's disappearance, but they appeared to have moved on. It did make Jake feel better when the party instantly calmed down the moment he stepped in the doorway. Even intoxicated most of the men still had the sense to perceive Jake as a threat. If they ever found the courage to gang up on him he would be hopelessly over powered, but it was every man for himself down here and not even Sawyer had ever wanted to risk openly starting a fight. With the added threat that York would leave them all down here to starve if they hurt his 'prize employee' Jake enjoyed a special kind of power over them. However, for whatever reason tonight one of the regulars was feeling bold.

"Hey, Jake!" A man greeted in drunken cheerfulness. "I got a question for ya!"

"Trevor, no, shut up!" Trevor's friend, Daniel, hissed.

"Jake," Trevor continued "what year is it?"

"What?" Jake growled.

"Trevor, shut the fuck up!" Daniel tried again to quiet his friend. "You are goi…"

"What year is it? Who's the President?"

Jake narrowed his eyes in rage both at Trevor and at himself for not knowing the answer to either question.

"I got a little bet going with the boys." Trevor chuckled. "You're always down here, I don't think you get out much. In fact I think…"

Like a bull charging a red cape Jake rushed Trevor with blinding speed and a frightening amount of power. Daniel and the others scattered like rats in Jake's path. Dangerously inebriated Trevor's reaction time was far too slow as he just stared in shock at Jake baring down on him. Jake didn't even bother with his night stick as he jumped on Trevor and drove him into the floor. Releasing all his pent up rage and frustration on Trevor it was only a matter of seconds before the man was bloodied and unconscious. With his adrenaline running high Jake got off his gasping prey and glared at the small crowd that was watching in a mix of horror and morbid curiosity. They were all used to violence and blood but there was an intensity to Jake that automatically won their fear and respect.

"No one bets on me unless I decide to step into the ring. Understood?"

Not waiting for a reply Jake turned and stalked off. He knew better than to start too many fights at one time and risk uniting the group against him. A brief show of power was always best and had worked for him for years. Behind him he could hear the men regrouping and teasing the unconscious Trevor for his stupidity. Feeling a little better Jake turned the corner and froze when he found himself face to face with one of York's guards.

"I really am impressed that you manage to fool anyone into thinking you're anything other than branded scum." Harris said with a cruel smile. "If they ever heard the way you whimper and beg at York's feet they'd piss themselves laughing."

"If you weren't under York's protection I'd beat you just as senseless as Trevor."

"Right back at cha." Harris sneered. "Speaking of York, he'd like to see you…alone."

Jake failed to hide the brief look of panic that fell over his face. It had been a long time since York had asked to see him alone. Jake wished he could say that he couldn't remember the last time it had happened, but he recalled in vivid detail every time he'd ever been left alone with York.

"There's that scared little girl." Harris chuckled. "You know where to find him. Enjoy your 'meeting'."

Finding himself rooted to the floor Jake couldn't think straight enough to come up with an insult to throw back at Harris. Harris chuckled again and left, trusting Jake wouldn't make York wait long. Thrown into a panic Jake seriously considered going back to Peter and Neal and hiding, knowing that they would at least attempt to shield him from York. Jake even started making his way back to the pair before he came to his senses. Forcing York to hunt him down would only make matters worse for everyone.

Swallowing hard Jake fought to control his sudden shivering as he turned around and made his way towards where York would be waiting for him. Jake never questioned it when York stopped seeking him out for carnal encounters, he had just been grateful when he had lost interest in him. Coming to the room that he had dragged Neal to once to threaten him with the cruel humiliating fate Jake wanted to believe that this time he would kill York before submitting to him that way again. However despite the nightmare that his life had become Jake had never found the courage in the past to end it by lashing out at the man who kept him alive.

Despising his cowardice but knowing it kept him alive Jake knocked on the door before letting himself in. Stepping into the room with his heart pounding in his ears Jake kept his eyes down cast. Keyed up nearly to the point of passing out Jake was starting to think that this might actually be the moment that he truly snapped. With all his pain and rage welling up Jake couldn't imagine allowing York to come close without flying into a blind frenzy of violence.

"Relax, Jake, it's not what you think."

Jake jerked his eyes up and stared at York warily as his thoughts stumbled over one another. York was casually leaning back against the sturdy table. He had a gun resting comfortably in his hand but he wasn't pointing it Jake, he looked like he had it just in case Jake proved brave or crazy enough to be dangerous.

"I know a man's breaking point better than anyone. I know you are way too unstable to safely abuse in that particular fashion any more." York continued. "I've known it for years."

Unsure of what to think Jake didn't respond. On the one hand he was immensely relieved that York had read the situation correctly, but at the same time it was terrifying just how well York knew him. York was forever one step ahead of him. Jake couldn't explain it but he always felt that he was going up against an unstoppable force every time he was in York's presence. Having been beaten down by York for what was now most of his life Jake felt helpless as a kitten under the paw of a lion. Falling into a near automatic submission Jake waited to hear what York wanted of him now.

"I wanted to talk to you alone because I wanted to make a request and I don't want anyone seeing me ask you for a favor."

"A favor?" Jake asked surprised.

"I want Burke to kill someone."

"Wha…what?"

"I told him he would kill for me and I'm not about to let him die before he does. That last fall he took looked like a bone breaker, and cracked ribs easily lead to pneumonia down here. Burke's clock is ticking and I'm not interested in fixing him. Time to play a final game with him and then let him and his pet rat starve."

"But…I…I thought they were making you good money."

"They are." York shrugged. "But I didn't create the Labyrinth because I need money, I did it because I was bored and I enjoy the power. I get to be Caesar down here. So find me a fight worthy of your Emperor."

Jake's head was still spinning and this request was not helping. He had had the same thought about Peter's recent injury, but it had never occurred to him that York would just let him die if he fell ill. With the way York had gotten Neal medical attention it had left Jake with hope that he would continue to help the pair, even if that help came at a cost. Jake had no real faith that Peter and Neal could find a way out of the Labyrinth but he had started to enjoy the thought of having their company for a while.

"Well?"

"I don't think I can." Jake finally replied.

"Jake if you can't do your job any longer…"

"Anyone that Pe…Burke can beat he will do so without killing them," Jake explained "on the flip side anyone strong enough to threaten his life to the point where he feels he has to defend himself with lethal force will most likely just end up killing him."

Jake shifted his weight uncomfortably as York studied him thoughtfully while weighing the gun in his hand absent mindedly. With his back against the door Jake was starting to fear that York might actually shoot him. Jake had to admit that he was falling apart and it wasn't going to be long before he was useless. He couldn't even imagine what he would do if York sent him another branded to torment. He had completely lost his desire to torture another soul into fighting in the ring, and if he couldn't earn his keep he was going to be tossed out into the ring instead.

"I'm going to make a one time deal with you, Jake." York said carefully. "Find a way to make this work, and I will personally take you upstairs to see the sky."

"Wha…what?"

"Get Burke to kill and I will give you what you've always wanted. You know I keep my promises."

"I…if…it…" Jake stuttered as he started to shake again at the thought of York granting his obsession. "I…I can't. Maybe if Sawyer was still…no, even then…Peter…Burke isn't going to beat someone to death with his bare hands. He won't land that last strike, the second he knocks down an opponent he'll stop. It would have to be an accident or…"

"You disappoint me Jake." York sighed as he leaned forward to push himself away from the table he'd been leaning on. "I thought I could count on that devious mind of yours. I guess you'll never see blue again."

"No! Wait, wait, please!" Jake cried with his voice cracking in desperation. "Would…would Burke have to actually be in the ring?"

"The whole point is to entertain the crowd."

"Right, but I can still give you a show." Jake said quickly. "He won't kill to defend, but he will do it to protect."

"I'm listening."

"Put Neal in the ring with someone he has no chance against. Someone like…like Danisko, he…he's perfect, he enjoys his fights, he makes them last right to the bell, maybe even beyond if riled. Get him down here. He'll toy with Caffrey but in the end he will not hesitate to kill."

"How does getting Caffrey killed help?"

"Give Burke his gun back with a single round…he won't let Caffrey die."