Hope you guys don't mind some emotions running high :) As always I need to thank TheDistantDusk and Breanie for being amazing and so encouraging. Also, everyone who has left a review, you all are the best! I'm so happy reading how much you guys are enjoying this story. It makes me never wanna stop writing!

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Ginny let out a relieved breath when they pulled into the parking spot in front of The Forge Inn. The two-and-a-half-hour drive had felt like a year. She spent the whole drive with her back to the windshield to keep an eye on their back. Every car that stayed behind them for more than five minutes put Ginny on edge.

Harry's hand gently came to rest on her shoulder. "Are you alright?"

Alright... Ginny wanted to laugh at the word. She hadn't been alright in nearly a week, not since waking up in the cell. But she didn't want to drag Harry down the rabbit hole with her. Actually, thinking about it, the only time she'd been alright was when she and Harry had been building blocks with Teddy and then last night.

God, last night...

She hadn't meant to cry all over Harry. But he had just been so... comforting and sweet. And then falling asleep on him. Literally using his chest as her pillow. That had been so unexpected. But it had been the best night's sleep she'd gotten in a long time, even before all of this started.

In his arms... fuck, Ginny had been able to feel safe — actually safe. But there had also been his warmth and scent that had comforted her. And the way his fingers had felt rubbing along her back. Ginny had a hard time getting up that morning.

She turned to meet his worried gaze and instantly got lost for a moment in the depths she saw. That bright green was just hypnotic. "I — um — I guess I'm as good as to be expected."

Harry nodded. "I get that. I just — if there is anything I can do."

"Anything you can do? Harry, you are literally already doing everything you can for me." Ginny laughed. "Without you, I would still probably be on the streets of Sheffield."

"No." Harry shook his head. "You're too resourceful. You would have found a way without me."

The way he said it with such certainty... it awed Ginny. He truly believed in her. She reached out and took his free hand, holding it tightly in hers. "Let me say thank you, at least once more."

Harry laughed. "Fine, but this is the last time. We're a team now."

Team. She loved that. She wanted to always be on his team. "Thank you, Harry." Ginny didn't plan it, but she stretched across the middle console pressing a kiss to Harry's cheek. The light stubble that coated his jaw tickled her skin as she pulled away.

Harry's eyes met hers as she scooted back into her seat. If she'd thought they'd been hypnotic before. The intensity that he stared at her... Fuck, it got her heart racing. She could see his chest rising with every breath he took. Her eyes fell to Harry's lips as his tongue came out to run along them. Suddenly Ginny was very conscious of her own chapped lips.

"Hey!"

Ginny jumped when Tonks' muffled voice came from outside the car. She spun in her seat to look at Teddy's mother. Tonks was holding Teddy in her arms, clearly anxious. "Glad you two made it! Come out here so we can talk."

"Right," Harry's voice was hoarse as he responded. He cleared his throat. "We'll be out in a second."

Ginny turned to look at him. "Well, I hope this place has some good food. I'm starving."

It took Harry a second to respond. "I'm sure we'll find something." He looked over at her, and his lips curled into a slow smile. "Even if I'm stuck making something on a kettle burner. I'll make sure you eat."

How could his smile make her legs feel like jelly? It was unnatural. "Good, because we Weasley's are known for our appetites."

"Weasley?" Harry cocked a brow at her. "I didn't know that was your last name."

Ginny blinked in surprise. How was it that she'd never told him her last name? It felt like she'd known him for ages, but the reality crushed her, reminding her that it had been less than forty-eight hours since she'd crashed into him.

"I — yeah. My last name is Weasley."

"Huh." Harry's smile became soft and sweet. "Ginny Weasley. It's cute."

Why did that send butterflies fluttering around her gut? God, she needed to stop this before it got out of hand. She would fall into his web if this kept up and never get out. Clearing her throat, she gave him a smile. "Let's get out there. I need to see my best friend Teddy."

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Ginny sat on the edge of the twin mattress she was calling home for the night. The Forge Inn didn't have many options when it came to rooms. There was a double bedroom and a room with two twin beds. Their little posse had taken both rooms, thrilling the owner so much they offered to go grab them take-away from their favorite spot. Which was how Ginny ended up eating fish and chips next to Teddy, who was more focused on his coloring book than his supper.

Harry was leaning up against the dresser in the corner, his food hardly touched. His attention was hyperfocused on Tonks, who was talking to her friend on the phone. Ginny couldn't seem to take her eyes off of him. Even just standing there, he looked like a Greek god. Tall, fit, and gorgeous.

Fuck!

Ginny mentally slapped herself. She needed to focus on the situation at hand, not... well, not Harry.

"Look, Ginny!" Teddy said excitedly as he shoved his drawing under Ginny's nose. He'd made Iron Man into a scribbled mess, but Ginny beamed at him.

"That looks great, mate! Who are you gonna color next?"

Teddy pursed his lips in consideration before pointing to his next Avenger. "This one!"

"Love it!" Ginny ruffled his hair as the boy went back to work. She turned her attention back to the adults in the room. Tonks was listening while the other side of the line gave instructions.

"Alright. Alright. See you then." She ended the call, turning to Harry and Ginny. "Moody is going to send me the coordinates of where to meet. But he said it won't be until tomorrow."

"So we're camping here for the night." Harry rose to his full height. "Ginny and I should go out for some supplies. Neither of us planned to be away from home tonight." He turned to look at her, a half-smile curling his lips. "How do you feel about clothing shopping?"

Ginny made a face. "Normally, I'd say I'd prefer trying to swim in lava, but I'm willing to make a sacrifice this time."

When Harry laughed, that cute little smirk grew into something truly stunning. "A girl after my own heart." He moved towards her, his hand coming to rest on her shoulder. "Good thing we're the dream team; otherwise, we'd never survive." His laugh made her heart soar. Then he was gone into the loo, the door closing quietly behind him.

Ginny let out the breath she hadn't even realized she was holding. From the moment his hand had touched her shoulder, electric current spread through her body.

"So," Tonks drawled the word, a wicked smirk curling her lips. "What was that all about?

"What was that about?" Ginny asked, feeling her cheeks heat. She silently cursed her pale complexion. It made it nearly impossible for her to play things cool.

Tonks snorted, clearly not falling for her facade. "Right." She came over to sit beside Ginny, her hand smoothing Teddy's hair affectionately. "For what it's worth, I think you and Harry make a rather fetching team."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Just say it, Tonks."

"You like him, and he clearly likes you." Tonks gave her a satisfied smile. "I've never seen him so... affectionate with someone. Like sure he would treat his girlfriends right, but... there was never that light in his eye like he has every time he looks at you."

"I — I don't — " Ginny bit her bottom lip to stop herself from rambling. A part of her wanted to deny what Tonks said. Claim there was no way Harry treated her any different from anyone else he set out to help. But there had been moments like just back in the car. There had been something in his eyes... something more than just kindness or protectiveness.

If it had been anyone else, Ginny would have called it desire, but with Harry... She couldn't afford to think like that. They were dealing with so much that it could have just been the adrenaline.

"Listen, I've known Harry for over ten years," Tonks said, picking up a chip from Teddy's abandoned plate. "I've seen him with enamored with different women over the years. But when he looks at you — " She popped the potato into her mouth, chewed it, and then swallowed before finishing. "It's something more. I don't have all the answers, but you should keep it in mind, yeah." Tonks winked at her. "From one woman to another."

Before Ginny could even try to have a comeback, Harry walked out of the loo, his sweet smile still in place. "Ready, Gin?"

There was no telling her traitorous heart to resist beating rapidly when he looked at her like that. Praying that her face wasn't as red as she feared, Ginny rose from the mattress. "Sure thing, Partner."

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Ginny lay staring at the dark ceiling. The room was dark and completely still. The only sound coming from Harry's deep breathing in the twin bed beside hers. After finding the only clothing shop open within a sixty-kilometer radius, Harry and Ginny had returned with a few options for each of them. Some shirts, trousers, and underthings.

Tonks and Teddy were already out cold in the double bed by the time they'd returned. So Harry and Ginny had settled in the twin room, taking turns in the loo to change into the pajamas they'd bought.

The matching pajamas they'd bought.

Ginny still couldn't believe they'd actually gotten matching dinosaur pajamas. When she'd seen them in the store, Ginny had jokingly suggested they get them, saying they'd really boost their team morale. In her mind's eye, Ginny could still see that crooked grin Harry shot her as he put them into their cart.

The fact was, they were horribly comfortable, and Ginny had fallen in love with them the instant she'd pulled them on. Another reason to love them was the way Harry looked in his. Somehow the shirt showed off his lean muscles better than ever.

Ginny shut her eyes tight. She had to stop doing that! Stop thinking about Harry's muscles... and his tight arse... and his sexy messy hair...

STOP!

Ginny twisted onto her side, beating her pillow into shape as she went. There was little light streaming in through the curtain, highlighting Harry's outline. He lay on his back, the covers hovering halfway down his bare chest. So apparently, he always slept without a shirt...

Silently cursing herself for falling back down that rabbit hole, Ginny twisted again. This time going onto her right side, placing her back to Harry. She shut her eyes, forcing her breathing to slow.

Why sleep was eluding her, Ginny would never know. She was bloody exhausted. After everything she'd been through over the last week, she should be dead to the world the moment her eyes closed. But no... there she was restless, unable to get her mind to shut off.

An owl hooted off in the distance, making Ginny's body tense. Every little outside noise was sending her off the deep end. The only comfort she could find was in the sound of Harry's soft breathing.

Ginny thought about the previous night. How hard it'd been to sleep, and when she finally had, nightmares woke her right back up. That had been until Harry had arrived. In his arms... Ginny had really relaxed. Actually felt safe, and sleep had been so easy.

Before she even realized she was up and moving, Ginny was standing beside Harry's twin bed. She bit her bottom lip, hesitating a moment before giving in to her urge. Reaching out slowly, she shook Harry's shoulder. "Harry?"

Harry started, instantly sitting up and nearly knocking heads with her. "Ginny?" His voice was rough with sleep. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just —" Her mouth started to malfunction. Words stopped coming out, and she couldn't think of how to express what she needed.

"Gin?" Harry's posture straightened; his worry was nearly palpable.

She shook her head, regretting giving in to her foolish, childish needs. Ginny made to step back when Harry's hand reached out and laced with hers. He gently pulled her to him, and Ginny was helpless to resist. She fell onto the bed beside him, their bodies tucked in close.

Harry pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I've got you." He maneuvered them so they lay face to face on the small mattress. Ginny's legs wrapped around his to keep herself from falling off the edge of the bed.

The warm blanket came up around them, and Harry lay his head onto the pillow, leaving room for her to join him. Ginny's heart beat hard against her chest as she rested her head. Even in the faint light of the room, she could see Harry's sweet grin. "Let's get some sleep, yeah?"

Ginny let out a long breath feeling the tension finally ease out of her body. She scooted her body impossibly closer to him, her arm coming to rest on his hip. "Thank you, Harry."

"What did I say about thanking me?" Harry said jokingly as his arm came up to rest on her hip. "Really, Gin, I — anything you need. I got you." She closed her eyes as his chapped lips pressed lightly to her forehead. "Good night."

It was like flicking a light switch. Sleep came with ease with her body tucked into Harry's.

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Ginny didn't want to stare. She knew it was horribly rude, but she couldn't stop. But there was just so much about Tonks' friend that needed a second... a third look. First was the glass eye. It was electric blue and instantly made you think he could see through you. Then there was the chunk of his left ear missing. Then there was limp he took with every step, giving the impression of a peg-legged pirate. It was quite an image.

They'd driven out to the set coordinates at the crack of dawn. Tonks had woken them up, a wide smirk curling her lips as she took in their matching pajamas and sleeping arrangement. Teddy had not been enthusiastic about their early morning, putting up a fight when Tonks tried to load him into the car seat. He didn't settle down until Ginny offered to be his car buddy.

Tonks went over to her friend, throwing her arms around him. "Thanks for coming, Alastor."

"No way I could let you have all the fun, could I?" Alastor said, his voice rough like sandpaper. He cautiously returned her hug, patting her back lightly before stepping back. "So tell me what happened."

Tonks launched into the story of Ginny's life for the last week. She started at the very beginning. Covering Ginny's kidnapping and escape. Explained how she found Harry and then they'd been pursued while trying to take Ginny home.

Moody stayed silent through the tale, his expression staying emotionless. It was actually kinda unnerving how stoic the man stayed. Ginny looked over at Harry, holding Teddy. The two of them were giggling softly, broad smiles on their faces. They were so adorable it made Ginny break out in her own grin.

"So now we're... well, we're unsure of what to do." Tonks finished with a shrug. "I was hoping you might have some ideas. Maybe even a place we can stay."

"Hm," Moody scratched at the remaining part of his ear. "I think I may know who kidnapped the lass."

Harry's body straightened as he focused on Moody. "How?"

"I've been off the force for some time now, but I never stopped working." Moody started pacing, his limp more prominent than before. "While part of the MET, I caught hundreds of fuc — "

"Whoa!" Tonks cut him off. "Watch the language. There are impressionable ears here." She jerked her head towards Teddy, who was now on the ground entertaining himself with a chunk of dewy grass.

Moody stopped his movement, spinning around to give Tonks an apologetic grin. "Sorry." He turned to look at Harry. "I caught hundreds of bad... people, but one eluded me for years. It's a trafficker who runs a ring all around the country. Picking up girls and selling them off. I never was able to get his real name. Everyone just calls him boss, or some even go as far as to call him The Dark Lord."

Ginny's heart jumped into her throat at the name. Boss. That's what those men had called their... leader. Her breathing started to hitch as she felt her body begin to shake. She had been kidnapped special for the boss. They'd intended on giving her to a man who'd been kidnapping girls for... for profit.

She started as an arm wrapped around her, and she looked up into Harry's bright eyes. His jaw was set, but his nod made the butterflies in her gut lessen. Somehow just his presence made her nerves fade. She leaned into his warmth, taking a deep breath of his woodsy scent.

"Why do you think he's focused on Ginny?" Harry asked his body tense next to hers.

Moody's one real eye looked her up and down, making her skin crawl. It wasn't like he was checking her out but more... studying her like she were some science experiment. Harry's arm tightened around her shoulders, and his eyes narrowed.

"If I had to place a guess on it," Moody said slowly, turning his attention back to Harry. "His last girl got old."

Tonks' brow furrowed. "His last girl?"

Moody nodded. "This Boss is most likely the type of guy who uses a woman, abuses, makes her wish she were dead. Then when he gets bored with her, he moves on to the next one. He most likely saw this young lass," he jerked his chin at Ginny, "out on the street one day and got hyper fixated on her."

"No." Harry shook his head. "It can't be as simple as she was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"It can, and it most likely is the case." Moody gave a dismissive shrug. "Men like this don't have a real concept of the world and if they see something they want. They take it." His emotionless gaze met Ginny's. "But the fact you escaped is going to send him further out on the deep end for you, girl. He's not going to stop until he gets you."

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It turned out Moody did have a bunker out on his property. It wasn't hidden underground, just so far out in the middle of the woods, no one would ever find it. Ginny was reminded of the stereotypical hideout you'd see in a movie. Cans of food lining shelves. Water jugs ready on the floor. A rickety table against the wall with a couple of uncomfortable chairs.

The one pleasant surprise was the separate room with the double bed. She had expected a beat-up cot or just a sleeping bag, but when Moody had given them the tour, he'd said he was too old to not get a good night's sleep, even if the world had gone mad.

"You'll be safe in here, Weasley," Moody told her as leading her back into the other room. "No one but me has a key to this place. I regularly change the lock to assure that."

Ginny could feel her gut shrink at the idea of being stuck in the small, cramped building. It wasn't like that cage they'd kept her in. This was a place to keep her safe. Keep her away from those bastards who wanted to... to...

Nausea rose into Ginny's throat, and she had to force herself to breathe. She couldn't think about what had nearly happened to her. How if she hadn't beamed her captor with that bedpost, she would have been stuck as some mob bosses...

An uncontrollable shiver ran down her spine, leaving goosebumps in its wake. Fuck! The whole thing was insane! She had literally been kidnapped because some... some fucker was acting like a spoiled little brat and thought he could treat people like toys. If she ever found out where this boss was, she would make him pay. His face would become acquainted with the sharp end of a homemade spear.

"I'm going to stay with Ginny," Harry's voice pulled Ginny from her internal tangent. Harry was staring at her; his soft, knowing expression pulled her to him. She moved unconsciously to him, her body naturally tucking into his side. The way his arm so casually wrapped around her waist was just too perfect. "If I can get a cot to kip on..."

"It would make more sense if you just stayed in bed with Ginny," Tonks interjected, her dark eyes gleaming with suppressed amusement. "You know, better to keep an eye on her."

Harry looked down at Ginny. "Are you okay with that?"

"It wouldn't be the first time," Ginny said without thinking. The moment the words registered to her ears, she could feel her cheeks heating. "I mean — yeah, I don't mind sharing."

"Oh, how perfect," Tonks' overly satisfied smile spread wide across her cheeks. "I'm glad that was easily settled." She turned to look down at Teddy, who was racing a car across the table. "Ted, you wanna go check out our room over at Mr. Moody's? I bet he will have some fun stories to tell us for bedtime tonight."

Teddy stopped running his car along the chipped edge. "Stories?"

Tonks beamed at her son. "Yeah! Mr. Moody has been all over the world!"

Ginny looked over at Moody; his mouth was agape as he stared at Tonks. It almost made Ginny laugh at the near panicked look on the grizzly man's face. Moody cleared his throat. "I don't know —"

"It will be great," Tonks cut him off. She held out her hand to Teddy. "Let's say good night to Harry and Ginny, then head in for a bath."

Teddy forgot all about his car, rushing over to wrap his tiny arms around Harry's legs. "Love you, Hawy."

Harry leaned down and hugged his godson. "Love you too, mate."

Teddy released Harry, then ran over to Ginny. Ginny crouched down just in time for the boy to fall into her arms. For being so small, Teddy really could pack a punch. She nearly fell over from his velocity but steadied both of them as she wrapped him tightly to her.

"Love you, Ginny."

Her heart felt like it wanted to explode as she hugged him. She pressed a kiss to the top of his head. "Love you too, Ted."

He was the one to break their embrace, rushing back to his mother, who took his hand. They left the bunker hand in hand, Teddy chattering about how he wanted Mr. Moody to tell a story about a dragon.

"Well," Moody clapped his hands, pulling Ginny's attention to him. "We have a few things to discuss before I leave for the night." "First, we need to talk about a plan." He grabbed a rickety chair from the table and lowered himself into it.

Harry nodded. "We need to find a way to make sure this... this guy never comes back for Ginny again."

"Short of arresting or killing him," Moody shrugged, "I don't think there are many options."

Ginny could feel her heart rate picking up pace again. "So, what do you suggest?"

Moody turned to look at her, intense gaze staring her down. "I think the best way to bring out a bloke like him is temptation. Present the thing he craves and wants."

The words took a moment to sink in. To figure out what he meant. Ginny's mouth suddenly felt parched. She tried to swallow, but it was painful.

"Are you..." Harry's voice was sharp as a knife as he straightened to his full height. "Are you suggesting that we should use Ginny as bait?" The last word came out as more of a growl than anything.

Moody didn't take his eyes off Ginny. "He wants the lass; we need to make him think he has a chance of getting her."

Harry was in Moody's face before Ginny even registered he'd moved. "Ginny will not be going anywhere near that fucker as long as I'm around." His finger poked hard into Moody's shoulder. "She is not fucking bait."

Moody didn't show any sign of being unnerved by Harry's aggression. In fact, he simply shook his head. "If you can come up with something better, I'm happy to listen. But there have only been whispers about this bloke for twenty years, and we still have nothing on him. We need an ace in the hole." He lifted himself out of the chair, standing a good few inches shorter than Harry's six feet yet no less intimidating. "If we take some time, consider some options, I think we can make sure nothing happens to Miss Weasley, and we catch this fucker."

"Think!" Harry looked ready to deck Moody. "Think is not good enough. She can't — I won't let —"

"Do you have some ideas, Moody?" Ginny asked, cutting into Harry's ramble. Her heart was racing like a horse, but something settled in her gut that sent a wave of calm through her.

Harry turned to her. "You can't be considering this!"

The older agent nodded slowly. "I have a few, but they can wait until the morning."

"What is wrong with you two?!" Harry asked, throwing his hands up at the sky. "We shouldn't even bother talking about this! Ginny will not —"

"I can speak for myself, Harry," Ginny said cooly. "And if this becomes the only idea we come up with to stop this bastard, then I'll do it."

Harry stared at her with wide eyes, his jaw clenched hard. "I'm not saying you can't speak for yourself. But Ginny, this is so dangerous. Too dangerous."

"Not if we work out an air-tight plan." Ginny looked at Moody. "Think we can handle that?"

Moody nodded. "We take our time. I have a few mates still on the inside that can help us get any new info."

That unnatural wave of calm washed over her again. "Alright. Let's work on some ideas in the morning. Moody, is there a shower in here?"

"A small one attached to the bedroom. It's a gravity fall. But it should work for five minutes before stopping and refilling from the well."

"Great." Ginny straightened her spine. "I'm going to take a moment in there before heading to bed." She moved to the bedroom, feeling both men's eyes on her back.

The bathroom had a small folding door that she closed behind her before she let herself fall apart. Her body trembled like a leaf. She wrapped her arms around her torso, hugging herself as she slowly fell down to the floor.