Part 3 - Fighting Back
Emma quickly came to the conclusion that they were not going to believe the truth. The only hope for Steve was to try to bluff them. " All right," she said trying to speak as calmly as she could, but her voice shook with emotion despite her best efforts. "I'll tell you what you want to know just don't hurt him any more."
Dobbs stared into her eyes and smiled. He had won. His strategy had been the right one He had broken her. He uncocked the pistol and returned to a more relaxed stance but he kept the gun aimed at Steve's prone form just in case.
Steve listened to what was happening and waited for an opportunity. Only the first kick had caused any real damage. Once he knew what was coming Steve had watched for and rolled with the following two kicks. Keeping with his earlier strategy of pretending that they hurt more than they did, he had groaned with each one. It would not be true to say that they had not hurt at all but they had not inflicted the damage they were undoubtedly intended to do. It meant that Steve was far more ready to retaliate than either of his attackers imagined, giving him the element of surprise.
For a few moments when Dobbs cocked the hammer on the pistol and threatened to shoot him, Steve regretted his choice of strategy. He held his breath. If Dobbs pulled the trigger it would all be over. Steve had faced death many times before and felt the familiar knot of fear in his stomach as he waited, helpless, unable to do anything to defend himself, knowing that any movement from him at that moment would make Dobbs fire. Perhaps he should have fought back earlier?
The relief when Emma agreed to tell Dobbs what he wanted, even if it was only a stall, was immense. He heard Dobbs uncock the gun and sensed him relax as he smugly waited for Emma to continue.
As the immediate threat against his life subsided Steve let out the breath he had been holding as a sigh, quickly covering it with a groan. He had to keep the two men believing that he was only semi-conscious.
Emma looked down as Steve groaned again unable to stop the tears that rolled down her cheek. She looked back up at Dobbs the hatred still there. "It's on a CD back at my house." She saw the flash of disbelief cross Dobbs' face and continued hurriedly, "and don't tell me you searched everywhere. Trust me it's well hidden. You would never find it without my help."
"Where?" Dobbs said suspiciously.
"Let him go and I'll show you."
Dobbs laughed. "You must think I was born yesterday. Your `friend' here comes with us until we have verified the information. Then we'll think about letting him go." He looked at the other man, "Steele," Dobbs said, it was the first time he had used his subordinates name, all of the other instructions had been achieved with eye contact and gestures. A sign that the men were used to working together. "Help Mrs Fielding's friend into the car will you."
Steele moved to obey. He bent over Steve preparing to lift him under the shoulders and drag him to the vehicle.
Steve took his opportunity. With a lightning fast move borne of desperation, he knew he would only get one shot at this, he grabbed the arms of Steele as he bent over and brought his legs up over his head. He planted his foot in Steele's stomach and using all of his strength he lifted him off the ground and threw him into Dobbs.
Both men went sprawling as Steele's whole body weight impacted with the older man. The gun was thrown from his hand. Steve jumped to his feet ready to continue the fight as a shocked Emma just knelt and stared at the sudden turn of events.
Steele being the younger of the two was the first to recover scrambling to his feet. Steve moved in to hit him and managed to get a punch to his jaw. Steele staggered back and Steve moved in pressing his advantage on the dazed younger man. He grabbed hold of his shoulders and brought his knee up into Steele's stomach, causing the young man to double over.
Steve was not normally so brutal with his fighting but it was two against one and he was already injured. He needed to subdue Steele as quickly as he could so that he could deal with Dobbs. Steve prepared to bring both his hands down hard on the back of Steele's neck, a move that would leave him dazed and incapacitated.
Steve never got to finish his manoeuvre. Dobbs had recovered from the impact and, seeing Steve's successful attack on his partner, he launched himself at Steve's legs, cutting him down at the knee. The side tackle sent Steve down heavily on to the ground.
Steele recovered from the blow to his abdomen and, equally eager to incapacitate as quickly as possible, he aimed a kick at Steve's head before Steve had chance to recover from the fall to the ground.
Steve only felt the impact of the foot with his cheek for a brief second before his hearing cut out and his vision imploded. The blackness started at the edges moving in rapidly so that the circle of light that he could see got smaller and smaller until there was only black and then he knew nothing more. The last sensation a blinding pain.
Steele drew his foot back for another blow. It was unnecessary, Steve was not going to get up but he wanted revenge for the pain Steve had inflicted on him, to say nothing of his injured pride at being taken twice by the man. Only Dobbs' intervention both times had saved him. A fact that Dobbs would not let him forget in a hurry.
The gunshot that passed behind him within three feet stopped him mid kick. He turned, as did Dobbs, to look at the source of the shot.
Emma stood shakily holding the gun in their direction. Her expression a mixture of fear and hatred. "Leave him alone," she said with as much strength as she could manage.
Steele lowered his foot to the floor. Emma looked very shaky with the gun. Both Steele and Dobbs knew that there was little more dangerous than a nervous person with a gun in their hand. Emma may not be able to aim very well but experience taught them that she was far more likely to pull the trigger than someone who was in complete control. A `lucky' shot could leave you just as dead as a well aimed one.
Dobbs smiled with his best attempt at reassurance. "Now, now Mrs Fielding, you don't want to shoot us. Just put the gun down."
"Don't patronise me Dobbs," she spat back. She allowed the anger to take control. These man had put her through enough. Part of her just wanted to shoot them and have done with it but she couldn't. Whatever she felt they had done to her, she could not shoot them in cold blood. Only if they threatened her or Steve again would she fire. "Help him up and put him in the truck." She said pointing at Steve.
"Now hold on I'm sure..." Dobbs began but did not get to finish as a shot bounced off the ground this time less than a foot to his side.
"Do I have to actually shoot one of you to get you to cooperate?" Emma asked.
Realising that Emma was just scared and angry enough to carry out her threat, the two men moved to pick Steve up. He had started to regain consciousness and they were able to place their arms under his shoulders and haul him to his feet. Not realising entirely what was happening Steve, nevertheless, did his best to cooperate and he was half carried to the truck where Dobbs and Steele placed him in the passenger side.
"Now move away," Emma said being careful to maintain her distance. She did not want to give them the opportunity to rush her.
The two men did their best to separate since she could not then keep both of them covered but Emma was wise to the move. "Either you two stay together or I just shoot you now," she said threateningly. The men reluctantly closed the gap. "Over there by the phone booth." Emma said gesturing in that direction.
Dobbs and Steele moved obediently by it, watching her all the time, looking for the slightest sign of distraction. She moved around the front of the truck to the drivers side but did not take her eyes off them for a moment. She opened the door and wound down the window. Keeping them covered she felt for the key and was relieved to find it in the ignition. She started the truck up and climbed into the seat. Still she kept her eyes and the gun trained on the two men. Only as she put the truck into drive and moved off did she finally look away.
She drove forward only a matter of thirty feet before she stopped next to the car the men had arrived in. They made a frantic dash to try to catch her, but she was too quick. She fired a shot into the front tyre, slammed her foot on the accelerator and screeched off up the wet road leaving Dobbs and Steele cursing in her wake.
Emma did not know where she was going She just did her best to ensure that she put as much distance as possible between them and Dobbs and Steele. She kept looking over at Steve who remained in a semi-conscious state.
Eventually she decided that she had driven far enough, actually she was nearing the point of exhaustion both physical and mental. The events of the last few hours began to take their toll. She was shivering uncontrollably, the cold from the hours in the pouring rain and wind and the fact that she still wore soaked clothing had brought her close to hypothermia. Only her increased physical exertion had kept her going.
Her emotional state was equally poor. Faced with life or death choices, for her and for Steve, she had managed to keep things together long enough to grab the gun and rescue them both but she had been an emotional wreck before that point. Now that the immediate danger had gone, the hysteria returned. She pulled the truck over to the side of the road and leant her head on her arms against the steering wheel. Then she began to cry. The whole of her upper body vibrated as the combination of shivering and sobs took over.
Steve was vaguely aware of his surroundings, aware that for the time being he was out of danger. He relaxed into the seat of the truck and allowed his mind to drift. His thoughts were disjointed and he couldn't quite piece together what had happened. The only sensations that he could really feel were pain and nausea so he waited for the worst of it to subside.
Finally he became aware that the truck was no longer moving. His hearing returned to normal first. He could hear his own heartbeat, strong but slightly too rapid and a soft murmuring sound coming from beside him as though someone were crying. He opened his eyes slowly and blinked to try to focus the blurry outlines around him. He moved to sit up and pain exploded from various parts of his body as bruised and mistreated muscles complained. He gasped and eased himself back, then he tried the same move more slowly, much more slowly. This time he made it to a sitting position.
He turned to look at the source of the noise beside him. As he looked at the quivering delicate form, the memories of what had just happened came flooding back, they were intermingled with strong flashbacks to his past, just fleeting glimpses of that time so long ago when he had last seen the woman beside him, and with each memory came a powerful emotion.
"Emma," he said gently placing a hand on her shoulder. He was shocked by how cold she felt. He could feel her shivering. "Emma?" he said again his concern deepening as she did not respond.
Emma heard his voice strong and yet gentle at the same time. She felt his strength from the hand on her shoulder. It was comforting, somehow it allowed her to cut through the despair. She raised her head from her arm and turned to look at him. "Oh Steve you're all right. I'm so relieved, when those men were...." She could not finish. She began to sob again.
Steve took her into his arms, until her head rested on his shoulder, his hand gently resting on the back of it. "Shh it's going to be all right," he said reassuringly, stroking her hair as though he were comforting a child. It had the desired effect the sobbing slowed and then stopped.
Part 4 - Recovery
As Steve held her he began to think clearly for the first time since the incident began. They could not stay here. It was vital that she get out of her wet clothing and warmed up, for that matter he needed to do the same. He could already feel himself beginning to shiver, but he could not take her back to the beach house. Alison was there for a start and he still couldn't begin to explain to her what he was doing, even if he wanted to, and he wasn't sure that he did. He surprised himself with that last thought but quickly decided that he did not have time to analyse his feelings now and pushed the slight feeling of guilt out of his mind to return to the practicalities.
If he couldn't go home there was only one other place he could go - Jesse's. Jesse was his best friend and would always help if he were in trouble. He looked down at the woman in his arms and remembered the fight for their lives that they had just been through. He thought about Alison tucked up obliviously in his bed. Yes this definitely classed as being in trouble.
He spoke softly. "Emma, come on we need to move, get to somewhere warm and get out of these wet things."
Emma had calmed down considerably, the physical contact with Steve, being held close, had made her feel secure, safe for the first time in a long time. She reluctantly pulled herself away and looked up at him. Her vision was blurry from all the crying and she continued to shiver. "OK, do you have somewhere we can go?"
"Yes, look slide over here. I'll take over the driving."
She studied him closely remembering his semi-conscious state only minutes earlier. "Are you sure you're up to it?"
"Yes I'll be fine," he said wiping the tears from her cheeks and flashing her his best smile. It was a mistake, the injured cheek protested at the attempted movement and he felt a stabbing pain that made him suck air in sharply and move his hand to hold his face.
Emma displayed even more concern. Steve was clearly hurt. She could see the developing bruising and swelling even in the dim light.
Despite the pain Steve began to laugh, how ridiculous, smiling to reassure someone that you were indeed all right only to suffer a great deal of pain for your trouble, hardly reassuring. He looked at Emma's expression and controlled the pain for long enough to say, "No honestly I'm fine just a little sore. I'd better not try smiling again for a while though" and he continued to laugh.
Emma was confused at first. Why was he laughing if it hurt? But then she saw the contradiction and smiled herself.
"Come on," he said when he could control the laughter. "Move over here and let's get going."
Obediently Emma slid over and Steve pulled a blanket out from behind the seat and wrapped it around her. Then he climbed out and moved round to the driver's seat getting another mild soaking for his trouble, not that it made much difference to his already sodden state.
Emma wrapped the blanket around herself and curled up on the seat, relaxing back and letting the exhaustion take over. Steve started up the truck and did his best to get his bearings. Then he headed out towards Jesse's apartment building.
He looked over at Emma and realised that she was falling asleep. He had to stop her. He remembered the icy feel to her skin. If she slept now her body temperature would drop further and from her current state that would not be a good thing.
"Emma?" She did not respond. "Hey Emma," still nothing. He sharpened his tone. "Emma talk to me!"
"What?" She muttered jumping slightly. She opened her eyes forcing herself back awake.
"Sorry, didn't mean to make you jump but I need you to stay awake, talk to me, keep me awake." Steve said quickly.
"What do you want to talk about?" She replied reluctantly sitting up. Her whole body and large parts of her mind were screaming at her to ignore him. She had to fight an almost overwhelming desire just to close her eyes and drift off back to sleep.
"Everything...Anything," he paused for a moment. "So what have you been doing for the last thirty years?"
Emma smiled despite her weariness. "I.... well first I... then... I'm sorry I don't know where to start."
"How about at the beginning. I assume from the name that you married Richard. His surname was Fielding wasn't it?"
"Yes it is... was, I did marry him, we've been married... that is we would have been..." Emma stopped speaking, her reactions froze.
Suddenly the whole of her current surroundings disappeared, the truck, the noise of the storm, the cold all faded away. All she could see was a wooden table with a knife sticking out of it. The knife vibrated as though it had been thrown violently. There was silence apart from an almost imperceptible swish as the knife moved the air around it It rocked backwards and forwards hypnotically as she watched, each movement slightly smaller than the last as the vibrations died and then it was still.
Total stillness, total silence.
Then she felt herself being shaken, her vision cleared she was back in the truck, her arms gripped tightly by a concerned Steve who had pulled over to the side of the road and stared intently into her eyes. "Emma? Emma can you hear me?" He asked his voice edged with panic. He was worried that she was going into some form of delayed shock.
She looked at him recognition returning. "Yes, I'm sorry, bad memory," she shook her head slightly to clear it, briefly closing her eyes. "I'm OK now," she continued, making eye contact again.
Steve held her gaze, studying her expression. She seemed to be back with him. "Don't do that to me again," he said in what he hoped was a light tone. He didn't want her to know just how much she had scared him. He put the truck back into drive and moved off, the sooner he got her to Jesse the happier he would be. Jesse could look her over make sure that there was nothing wrong. "I guess I'd better change the subject then and tell you about me."
"Yes I'd like that," she smiled at him, despite his best efforts to hide it sometimes, she remembered him as being the sensitive type.
For the next twenty five minutes as they drove Steve told Emma all about his life, encouraging her to ask questions to keep her, who was he kidding, to keep both of them alert and awake in an effort to stave off the effects of the cold.
He told her all about his job as a homicide detective, his aborted attempt to get a law degree a few years earlier. The earthquake that had destroyed his apartment and left him living in an apartment below his father's house in Malibu. His father and his work at Community General hospital as well as his role as a consultant for the police department. He spoke fondly of their work together. He also told her about his friends Jesse and Amanda. He was just getting to the reason that he and Jesse had bought a barbecue restaurant together when they arrived at the building that contained Jesse's apartment.
Steve had taken the decision not to use his cell phone to call. He could not possibly explain this to his friend any other way than in person. He helped Emma out of the car and into the building.
The young man entered the office. If he had been nervous and sweating before when he thought there was a vague possibility of wasting his boss's time he was positively terrified knowing that he was delivering bad news. He stood rubbing his hands waiting for his boss to acknowledge his presence.
"Report," the older man said not wasting words.
"The.. the phone number was a good lead they caught up with Mrs Fielding" the young man began. His boss smiled but it didn't bring him any comfort he knew what was coming next. "Unfortunately they... they lost her"
"They what?" The words almost exploded out of the older man's mouth as he pushed his chair back and stood up.
"They lost her sir. They say she had help."
"Help, help?" The older man shouted. "I don't care if she had the whole of the US Cavalry coming to her rescue. They should not have lost her."
"No sir," the young man said. `Don't shoot the messenger, don't shoot the messenger," he repeated silently to himself over and over as he rode out the tirade of expletives and abuse that came out of his superior's mouth to describe the general incompetence of everyone that worked for him. Eventually he had got it out of his system.
"Tell Dobbs that he had better find her and this time bring her in or I will personally..."
The young man closed his ears to the rest of his boss's threat and waited till he had finished before uttering a succinct "Yes sir," and with some relief exiting the office.
He had just reached the door when his superior called him back "Oh and Baker"
"Yes sir?"
"Call Harris let her know what has happened."
"Yes sir."
Jesse was having a rather pleasant dream. He was surfing some of the biggest waves that he had ever seen. The sun was high in the sky, the breeze was gentle and the beach was full of the sort of young women that any red blooded young man would populate a dream beach with. If only that annoying man would stop banging that drum. It wasn't as if he was banging it in any particular rhythm just an incessant thumping.
Jesse tried to will the noise to stop, after all it was his dream, he should be able to control what happened in it, but the noise simply would not go away. It didn't even sound like drumming more like someone banging on.. on a door and suddenly Jesse pulled himself back out of his dream world. He couldn't stop the noise because it was coming from outside of his dream, it was coming from his door. Someone was banging on his door.
He opened his eyes groggily and looked at the clock 3.42am who on earth would be knocking at this time and why not phone or page. It must be something important, some sort of emergency or at least it had better be!
He dragged himself out of bed and pulled on his robe. He moved as quickly as his fuzzy senses would allow over to the entrance to his apartment and pulled open the door. Nothing could have prepared him for the sight that met him.
Steve was standing in front of him, his hand poised mid knock, water dripping off soaked clothing. The left side of his face was bruised and was starting to swell and he was shivering. He used his other hand to lean on the door post to support himself.
"My God Steve, what happened?" Jesse asked his eyes widening.
"Jesse," Steve began, "I have to ask you a very big favour."
"Steve come in," Jesse said, moving to help his friend. "We have to get you out of those wet things then we can talk."
"No!" Steve said sharply. His tone made Jesse stop and look at him again. "Please I need to ask you a favour," he said more softly.
"What?" Jesse asked his curiosity piqued.
"I need you to help not just me but a friend of mine as well. No questions asked for the moment, although I'll try to fill you in when I can." He looked Jesse straight in the eye for the next part of his request. He needed Jesse to see his sincerity. "And I need you to promise me that you will tell no one about it. No one, not even my father, in fact especially not my father." Steve realised that he did not want Mark involved in this, whatever it was. Another feeling that he would have to analyse later when he had more time. He concentrated on Jesse's expression. "Will you do it?"
Jesse had been half asleep but the sight of Steve had quickly woken him, now his request had brought him fully alert. He thought about what Steve was asking. "But Steve..." he began.
Steve interrupted him. "No, no buts, if you can't agree I'll understand and I'll just walk away."
Jesse looked at his friend, he didn't look in any condition to walk anywhere. "OK I'll do it your way."
Steve smiled "Thanks Jess," he said and moved back down the corridor to get Emma.
When Jesse saw Emma he went straight into professional mode and went off to get his medical bag. It did not take him long to confirm that she was indeed in the early stages of hypothermia. Jesse tried to persuade Steve to let him get them both to the ER. Although he was concentrating on the woman Steve had brought with him, he had not failed to notice the other symptoms of the beating Steve had taken, nor the fact that Steve too was way too cold and shivering. Steve flatly refused and once again threatened to go back out into the storm if Jesse did not feel he could help them.
So Jesse did his best with what he had. First he got Emma into a hot bath which he kept refilling with hot water for about forty minutes until Emma's temperature started to come up. Then he got her dressed in some of his old clothing and wrapped in as many blankets as he could find.
Steve kept on insisting that he was all right but he did change into dry clothing and wrap himself up whilst he watched and waited for Emma to recover. Both men had had a laugh when Steve had emerged from the bedroom in Jesse's loosest fitting sweat suit. Steve was much taller and slightly broader than his young friend and he felt like he had been shrink wrapped in the ill fitting garments. Still it was better than being soaked.
True to his word Jesse had not asked any questions although he was burning to. Jesse had never seen Emma before and he was pretty sure that Steve was supposed to be spending the night with Alison back at his place. So why was he soaked to the skin in the middle of the night with a strange woman, and why hadn't he just gone home?
Having settled Emma down she had drifted quickly off to an exhausted sleep. Jesse turned his attention to Steve. "Come on," he said, "I need to examine you, check out that bruising."
Steve started to protest. "I'm fine Jess, honestly, like you say just a bit of bruising."
Jesse's frustration with the situation finally made him lose his temper "Look, you turn up in the middle of the night on my doorstep with a perfect stranger and ask for my help. Now I agreed to not asking any questions and to not telling anyone but I don't remember anywhere agreeing to leave you with possible internal injuries or concussion because you won't let me check you out properly." He drew in a deep breath. "I've agreed not to tell Mark but if I don't and anything happens to you..." He did not have to finish the sentence Steve knew what he was getting at. Jesse and Mark were friends too. Steve was asking a lot of him.
Steve held his hands up in surrender. "OK you win."
"That's better," Jesse smiled at Steve's placating gesture. "Keep your hands there while I help you get that top off."
Jesse examined the bruising on Steve's ribs and abdomen and then moved on to the side of his face. He was relieved that there were no obvious signs of internal bleeding and his blood pressure and pulse were normal.
"So what's the verdict Doc?" Steve asked.
"You seem to be okay, no signs of concussion and everything else is normal. I'd sure like to X-ray that cheek and your ribs, I've got a feeling you may have at least one fractured rib but since I don't actually have X-ray equipment in my apartment. I guess I'll have to make do with a guess. You're going to have to take it easy and if the pain from those ribs gets any worse..."
"I know you want me to go to the hospital straight away."
"I don't need to lecture you about the dangers of a punctured lung if one of those ribs is broken?"
"No"
"I could do anyway just for fun," Jesse teased.
Steve threw a towel at him. "I'd agree but I don't think you'd do it as well as my father. He specialises in those sort of lectures"
"I know, what can I say I learnt from a master" Jesse replied a wide grin on his face.
Steve gently pulled the tight top back on and became more serious as he once again caught sight of Emma. God she was beautiful. "Jess," he said.
"Yes" Jesse caught the change in tone.
"How is she?" he nodded over to Emma's sleeping form.
Jesse looked over at her as well and then back at Steve, "Not too bad, I'll keep checking her for the next hour or so but her stats are almost back to normal. I think the main problem is that she's exhausted. She just needs some rest." He paused. "Look I know that you said you didn't want to answer any questions but..'
"I know Jess, but I really can't give you any answers at the moment because I don't quite know what's going on myself. You're just going to have to bear with me on this one."
Jesse nodded his reluctant agreement, whatever Steve's reasons he would respect them for the time being.
"I need you to do me another favour. Can Emma stay here for the rest of the day? I'll find her somewhere by tonight I promise."
"Sure Steve, like I said she needs her rest. What about you? I take it you're calling in sick to work?"
Steve hadn't really thought about it but he knew he wasn't in any condition to do his job. On the other hand he could do with trying to find out something about the two thugs who had attacked them. "I don't know, I could do with talking to Emma and then checking out the guys who attacked us."
"She's not going to be up to talking for quite a while and you can file a report and let someone else find them. You really need to rest yourself."
"OK, I've got some personal time coming. I'll at least take the day off." Steve looked at his watch - 6am. "Time to get a couple of hours rest then I'll call in." Steve looked round. They had put Emma in the bed. "You take the couch, I'll take the chair."
"With busted ribs," Jesse looked disapprovingly. "I know it's my apartment but I get to take the chair." He threw an extra blanket at Steve.
Jesse was woken up by a noise. He looked up to see Steve getting dressed. His clothes had just about dried out. "Steve?" He asked.
"Hi Jess sorry to wake you. Before I got a chance to call in, Captain Newman gave me a call. He needs me down at the station for something." Steve explained. "I have to go but I'll give my excuses and get back as soon as I can. What time are you due in at the hospital."
"I'm on a late shift so not until one."
"OK, I'll make sure I'm back before then." He headed for the door but stopped before he reached it and turned back. "And Jess"
"Yes"
"Thanks for everything" he said and turned and left.
Jesse tried to settle back into a semi comfortable position on the chair but he had so many questions running through his mind he knew he would not be able to go back to sleep.
Steve pulled into the station car park and headed in to captain Newman's office. He got a few stares from the other officers. The ones who knew him better made the odd jibe about walking into doors, or not letting his girlfriend beat him up.
Captain Newman looked up as his detective entered his office and remarked the fact that Steve looked terrible. His cheek was badly swollen and bruised and there were bags under his eyes indicating that he had not got enough sleep. His clothes looked like he had rolled in the mud in them and then slept in them, which wasn't that far from the truth. The captain tried to ignore his ragged appearance. "Steve," he said, "sorry to drag you in early but I have two gentlemen here who have asked to meet with you."
Steve turned to look at the other two men in the captain's office. His mouth dropped open and although he had heard the expression before, until that moment he had never known the truth of the expression. He felt that he could have genuinely been knocked over with a feather.
The captain continued. "Let me introduce agents Dobbs and Steele from the NSA"
TO BE CONTINUED.......
Emma quickly came to the conclusion that they were not going to believe the truth. The only hope for Steve was to try to bluff them. " All right," she said trying to speak as calmly as she could, but her voice shook with emotion despite her best efforts. "I'll tell you what you want to know just don't hurt him any more."
Dobbs stared into her eyes and smiled. He had won. His strategy had been the right one He had broken her. He uncocked the pistol and returned to a more relaxed stance but he kept the gun aimed at Steve's prone form just in case.
Steve listened to what was happening and waited for an opportunity. Only the first kick had caused any real damage. Once he knew what was coming Steve had watched for and rolled with the following two kicks. Keeping with his earlier strategy of pretending that they hurt more than they did, he had groaned with each one. It would not be true to say that they had not hurt at all but they had not inflicted the damage they were undoubtedly intended to do. It meant that Steve was far more ready to retaliate than either of his attackers imagined, giving him the element of surprise.
For a few moments when Dobbs cocked the hammer on the pistol and threatened to shoot him, Steve regretted his choice of strategy. He held his breath. If Dobbs pulled the trigger it would all be over. Steve had faced death many times before and felt the familiar knot of fear in his stomach as he waited, helpless, unable to do anything to defend himself, knowing that any movement from him at that moment would make Dobbs fire. Perhaps he should have fought back earlier?
The relief when Emma agreed to tell Dobbs what he wanted, even if it was only a stall, was immense. He heard Dobbs uncock the gun and sensed him relax as he smugly waited for Emma to continue.
As the immediate threat against his life subsided Steve let out the breath he had been holding as a sigh, quickly covering it with a groan. He had to keep the two men believing that he was only semi-conscious.
Emma looked down as Steve groaned again unable to stop the tears that rolled down her cheek. She looked back up at Dobbs the hatred still there. "It's on a CD back at my house." She saw the flash of disbelief cross Dobbs' face and continued hurriedly, "and don't tell me you searched everywhere. Trust me it's well hidden. You would never find it without my help."
"Where?" Dobbs said suspiciously.
"Let him go and I'll show you."
Dobbs laughed. "You must think I was born yesterday. Your `friend' here comes with us until we have verified the information. Then we'll think about letting him go." He looked at the other man, "Steele," Dobbs said, it was the first time he had used his subordinates name, all of the other instructions had been achieved with eye contact and gestures. A sign that the men were used to working together. "Help Mrs Fielding's friend into the car will you."
Steele moved to obey. He bent over Steve preparing to lift him under the shoulders and drag him to the vehicle.
Steve took his opportunity. With a lightning fast move borne of desperation, he knew he would only get one shot at this, he grabbed the arms of Steele as he bent over and brought his legs up over his head. He planted his foot in Steele's stomach and using all of his strength he lifted him off the ground and threw him into Dobbs.
Both men went sprawling as Steele's whole body weight impacted with the older man. The gun was thrown from his hand. Steve jumped to his feet ready to continue the fight as a shocked Emma just knelt and stared at the sudden turn of events.
Steele being the younger of the two was the first to recover scrambling to his feet. Steve moved in to hit him and managed to get a punch to his jaw. Steele staggered back and Steve moved in pressing his advantage on the dazed younger man. He grabbed hold of his shoulders and brought his knee up into Steele's stomach, causing the young man to double over.
Steve was not normally so brutal with his fighting but it was two against one and he was already injured. He needed to subdue Steele as quickly as he could so that he could deal with Dobbs. Steve prepared to bring both his hands down hard on the back of Steele's neck, a move that would leave him dazed and incapacitated.
Steve never got to finish his manoeuvre. Dobbs had recovered from the impact and, seeing Steve's successful attack on his partner, he launched himself at Steve's legs, cutting him down at the knee. The side tackle sent Steve down heavily on to the ground.
Steele recovered from the blow to his abdomen and, equally eager to incapacitate as quickly as possible, he aimed a kick at Steve's head before Steve had chance to recover from the fall to the ground.
Steve only felt the impact of the foot with his cheek for a brief second before his hearing cut out and his vision imploded. The blackness started at the edges moving in rapidly so that the circle of light that he could see got smaller and smaller until there was only black and then he knew nothing more. The last sensation a blinding pain.
Steele drew his foot back for another blow. It was unnecessary, Steve was not going to get up but he wanted revenge for the pain Steve had inflicted on him, to say nothing of his injured pride at being taken twice by the man. Only Dobbs' intervention both times had saved him. A fact that Dobbs would not let him forget in a hurry.
The gunshot that passed behind him within three feet stopped him mid kick. He turned, as did Dobbs, to look at the source of the shot.
Emma stood shakily holding the gun in their direction. Her expression a mixture of fear and hatred. "Leave him alone," she said with as much strength as she could manage.
Steele lowered his foot to the floor. Emma looked very shaky with the gun. Both Steele and Dobbs knew that there was little more dangerous than a nervous person with a gun in their hand. Emma may not be able to aim very well but experience taught them that she was far more likely to pull the trigger than someone who was in complete control. A `lucky' shot could leave you just as dead as a well aimed one.
Dobbs smiled with his best attempt at reassurance. "Now, now Mrs Fielding, you don't want to shoot us. Just put the gun down."
"Don't patronise me Dobbs," she spat back. She allowed the anger to take control. These man had put her through enough. Part of her just wanted to shoot them and have done with it but she couldn't. Whatever she felt they had done to her, she could not shoot them in cold blood. Only if they threatened her or Steve again would she fire. "Help him up and put him in the truck." She said pointing at Steve.
"Now hold on I'm sure..." Dobbs began but did not get to finish as a shot bounced off the ground this time less than a foot to his side.
"Do I have to actually shoot one of you to get you to cooperate?" Emma asked.
Realising that Emma was just scared and angry enough to carry out her threat, the two men moved to pick Steve up. He had started to regain consciousness and they were able to place their arms under his shoulders and haul him to his feet. Not realising entirely what was happening Steve, nevertheless, did his best to cooperate and he was half carried to the truck where Dobbs and Steele placed him in the passenger side.
"Now move away," Emma said being careful to maintain her distance. She did not want to give them the opportunity to rush her.
The two men did their best to separate since she could not then keep both of them covered but Emma was wise to the move. "Either you two stay together or I just shoot you now," she said threateningly. The men reluctantly closed the gap. "Over there by the phone booth." Emma said gesturing in that direction.
Dobbs and Steele moved obediently by it, watching her all the time, looking for the slightest sign of distraction. She moved around the front of the truck to the drivers side but did not take her eyes off them for a moment. She opened the door and wound down the window. Keeping them covered she felt for the key and was relieved to find it in the ignition. She started the truck up and climbed into the seat. Still she kept her eyes and the gun trained on the two men. Only as she put the truck into drive and moved off did she finally look away.
She drove forward only a matter of thirty feet before she stopped next to the car the men had arrived in. They made a frantic dash to try to catch her, but she was too quick. She fired a shot into the front tyre, slammed her foot on the accelerator and screeched off up the wet road leaving Dobbs and Steele cursing in her wake.
Emma did not know where she was going She just did her best to ensure that she put as much distance as possible between them and Dobbs and Steele. She kept looking over at Steve who remained in a semi-conscious state.
Eventually she decided that she had driven far enough, actually she was nearing the point of exhaustion both physical and mental. The events of the last few hours began to take their toll. She was shivering uncontrollably, the cold from the hours in the pouring rain and wind and the fact that she still wore soaked clothing had brought her close to hypothermia. Only her increased physical exertion had kept her going.
Her emotional state was equally poor. Faced with life or death choices, for her and for Steve, she had managed to keep things together long enough to grab the gun and rescue them both but she had been an emotional wreck before that point. Now that the immediate danger had gone, the hysteria returned. She pulled the truck over to the side of the road and leant her head on her arms against the steering wheel. Then she began to cry. The whole of her upper body vibrated as the combination of shivering and sobs took over.
Steve was vaguely aware of his surroundings, aware that for the time being he was out of danger. He relaxed into the seat of the truck and allowed his mind to drift. His thoughts were disjointed and he couldn't quite piece together what had happened. The only sensations that he could really feel were pain and nausea so he waited for the worst of it to subside.
Finally he became aware that the truck was no longer moving. His hearing returned to normal first. He could hear his own heartbeat, strong but slightly too rapid and a soft murmuring sound coming from beside him as though someone were crying. He opened his eyes slowly and blinked to try to focus the blurry outlines around him. He moved to sit up and pain exploded from various parts of his body as bruised and mistreated muscles complained. He gasped and eased himself back, then he tried the same move more slowly, much more slowly. This time he made it to a sitting position.
He turned to look at the source of the noise beside him. As he looked at the quivering delicate form, the memories of what had just happened came flooding back, they were intermingled with strong flashbacks to his past, just fleeting glimpses of that time so long ago when he had last seen the woman beside him, and with each memory came a powerful emotion.
"Emma," he said gently placing a hand on her shoulder. He was shocked by how cold she felt. He could feel her shivering. "Emma?" he said again his concern deepening as she did not respond.
Emma heard his voice strong and yet gentle at the same time. She felt his strength from the hand on her shoulder. It was comforting, somehow it allowed her to cut through the despair. She raised her head from her arm and turned to look at him. "Oh Steve you're all right. I'm so relieved, when those men were...." She could not finish. She began to sob again.
Steve took her into his arms, until her head rested on his shoulder, his hand gently resting on the back of it. "Shh it's going to be all right," he said reassuringly, stroking her hair as though he were comforting a child. It had the desired effect the sobbing slowed and then stopped.
Part 4 - Recovery
As Steve held her he began to think clearly for the first time since the incident began. They could not stay here. It was vital that she get out of her wet clothing and warmed up, for that matter he needed to do the same. He could already feel himself beginning to shiver, but he could not take her back to the beach house. Alison was there for a start and he still couldn't begin to explain to her what he was doing, even if he wanted to, and he wasn't sure that he did. He surprised himself with that last thought but quickly decided that he did not have time to analyse his feelings now and pushed the slight feeling of guilt out of his mind to return to the practicalities.
If he couldn't go home there was only one other place he could go - Jesse's. Jesse was his best friend and would always help if he were in trouble. He looked down at the woman in his arms and remembered the fight for their lives that they had just been through. He thought about Alison tucked up obliviously in his bed. Yes this definitely classed as being in trouble.
He spoke softly. "Emma, come on we need to move, get to somewhere warm and get out of these wet things."
Emma had calmed down considerably, the physical contact with Steve, being held close, had made her feel secure, safe for the first time in a long time. She reluctantly pulled herself away and looked up at him. Her vision was blurry from all the crying and she continued to shiver. "OK, do you have somewhere we can go?"
"Yes, look slide over here. I'll take over the driving."
She studied him closely remembering his semi-conscious state only minutes earlier. "Are you sure you're up to it?"
"Yes I'll be fine," he said wiping the tears from her cheeks and flashing her his best smile. It was a mistake, the injured cheek protested at the attempted movement and he felt a stabbing pain that made him suck air in sharply and move his hand to hold his face.
Emma displayed even more concern. Steve was clearly hurt. She could see the developing bruising and swelling even in the dim light.
Despite the pain Steve began to laugh, how ridiculous, smiling to reassure someone that you were indeed all right only to suffer a great deal of pain for your trouble, hardly reassuring. He looked at Emma's expression and controlled the pain for long enough to say, "No honestly I'm fine just a little sore. I'd better not try smiling again for a while though" and he continued to laugh.
Emma was confused at first. Why was he laughing if it hurt? But then she saw the contradiction and smiled herself.
"Come on," he said when he could control the laughter. "Move over here and let's get going."
Obediently Emma slid over and Steve pulled a blanket out from behind the seat and wrapped it around her. Then he climbed out and moved round to the driver's seat getting another mild soaking for his trouble, not that it made much difference to his already sodden state.
Emma wrapped the blanket around herself and curled up on the seat, relaxing back and letting the exhaustion take over. Steve started up the truck and did his best to get his bearings. Then he headed out towards Jesse's apartment building.
He looked over at Emma and realised that she was falling asleep. He had to stop her. He remembered the icy feel to her skin. If she slept now her body temperature would drop further and from her current state that would not be a good thing.
"Emma?" She did not respond. "Hey Emma," still nothing. He sharpened his tone. "Emma talk to me!"
"What?" She muttered jumping slightly. She opened her eyes forcing herself back awake.
"Sorry, didn't mean to make you jump but I need you to stay awake, talk to me, keep me awake." Steve said quickly.
"What do you want to talk about?" She replied reluctantly sitting up. Her whole body and large parts of her mind were screaming at her to ignore him. She had to fight an almost overwhelming desire just to close her eyes and drift off back to sleep.
"Everything...Anything," he paused for a moment. "So what have you been doing for the last thirty years?"
Emma smiled despite her weariness. "I.... well first I... then... I'm sorry I don't know where to start."
"How about at the beginning. I assume from the name that you married Richard. His surname was Fielding wasn't it?"
"Yes it is... was, I did marry him, we've been married... that is we would have been..." Emma stopped speaking, her reactions froze.
Suddenly the whole of her current surroundings disappeared, the truck, the noise of the storm, the cold all faded away. All she could see was a wooden table with a knife sticking out of it. The knife vibrated as though it had been thrown violently. There was silence apart from an almost imperceptible swish as the knife moved the air around it It rocked backwards and forwards hypnotically as she watched, each movement slightly smaller than the last as the vibrations died and then it was still.
Total stillness, total silence.
Then she felt herself being shaken, her vision cleared she was back in the truck, her arms gripped tightly by a concerned Steve who had pulled over to the side of the road and stared intently into her eyes. "Emma? Emma can you hear me?" He asked his voice edged with panic. He was worried that she was going into some form of delayed shock.
She looked at him recognition returning. "Yes, I'm sorry, bad memory," she shook her head slightly to clear it, briefly closing her eyes. "I'm OK now," she continued, making eye contact again.
Steve held her gaze, studying her expression. She seemed to be back with him. "Don't do that to me again," he said in what he hoped was a light tone. He didn't want her to know just how much she had scared him. He put the truck back into drive and moved off, the sooner he got her to Jesse the happier he would be. Jesse could look her over make sure that there was nothing wrong. "I guess I'd better change the subject then and tell you about me."
"Yes I'd like that," she smiled at him, despite his best efforts to hide it sometimes, she remembered him as being the sensitive type.
For the next twenty five minutes as they drove Steve told Emma all about his life, encouraging her to ask questions to keep her, who was he kidding, to keep both of them alert and awake in an effort to stave off the effects of the cold.
He told her all about his job as a homicide detective, his aborted attempt to get a law degree a few years earlier. The earthquake that had destroyed his apartment and left him living in an apartment below his father's house in Malibu. His father and his work at Community General hospital as well as his role as a consultant for the police department. He spoke fondly of their work together. He also told her about his friends Jesse and Amanda. He was just getting to the reason that he and Jesse had bought a barbecue restaurant together when they arrived at the building that contained Jesse's apartment.
Steve had taken the decision not to use his cell phone to call. He could not possibly explain this to his friend any other way than in person. He helped Emma out of the car and into the building.
The young man entered the office. If he had been nervous and sweating before when he thought there was a vague possibility of wasting his boss's time he was positively terrified knowing that he was delivering bad news. He stood rubbing his hands waiting for his boss to acknowledge his presence.
"Report," the older man said not wasting words.
"The.. the phone number was a good lead they caught up with Mrs Fielding" the young man began. His boss smiled but it didn't bring him any comfort he knew what was coming next. "Unfortunately they... they lost her"
"They what?" The words almost exploded out of the older man's mouth as he pushed his chair back and stood up.
"They lost her sir. They say she had help."
"Help, help?" The older man shouted. "I don't care if she had the whole of the US Cavalry coming to her rescue. They should not have lost her."
"No sir," the young man said. `Don't shoot the messenger, don't shoot the messenger," he repeated silently to himself over and over as he rode out the tirade of expletives and abuse that came out of his superior's mouth to describe the general incompetence of everyone that worked for him. Eventually he had got it out of his system.
"Tell Dobbs that he had better find her and this time bring her in or I will personally..."
The young man closed his ears to the rest of his boss's threat and waited till he had finished before uttering a succinct "Yes sir," and with some relief exiting the office.
He had just reached the door when his superior called him back "Oh and Baker"
"Yes sir?"
"Call Harris let her know what has happened."
"Yes sir."
Jesse was having a rather pleasant dream. He was surfing some of the biggest waves that he had ever seen. The sun was high in the sky, the breeze was gentle and the beach was full of the sort of young women that any red blooded young man would populate a dream beach with. If only that annoying man would stop banging that drum. It wasn't as if he was banging it in any particular rhythm just an incessant thumping.
Jesse tried to will the noise to stop, after all it was his dream, he should be able to control what happened in it, but the noise simply would not go away. It didn't even sound like drumming more like someone banging on.. on a door and suddenly Jesse pulled himself back out of his dream world. He couldn't stop the noise because it was coming from outside of his dream, it was coming from his door. Someone was banging on his door.
He opened his eyes groggily and looked at the clock 3.42am who on earth would be knocking at this time and why not phone or page. It must be something important, some sort of emergency or at least it had better be!
He dragged himself out of bed and pulled on his robe. He moved as quickly as his fuzzy senses would allow over to the entrance to his apartment and pulled open the door. Nothing could have prepared him for the sight that met him.
Steve was standing in front of him, his hand poised mid knock, water dripping off soaked clothing. The left side of his face was bruised and was starting to swell and he was shivering. He used his other hand to lean on the door post to support himself.
"My God Steve, what happened?" Jesse asked his eyes widening.
"Jesse," Steve began, "I have to ask you a very big favour."
"Steve come in," Jesse said, moving to help his friend. "We have to get you out of those wet things then we can talk."
"No!" Steve said sharply. His tone made Jesse stop and look at him again. "Please I need to ask you a favour," he said more softly.
"What?" Jesse asked his curiosity piqued.
"I need you to help not just me but a friend of mine as well. No questions asked for the moment, although I'll try to fill you in when I can." He looked Jesse straight in the eye for the next part of his request. He needed Jesse to see his sincerity. "And I need you to promise me that you will tell no one about it. No one, not even my father, in fact especially not my father." Steve realised that he did not want Mark involved in this, whatever it was. Another feeling that he would have to analyse later when he had more time. He concentrated on Jesse's expression. "Will you do it?"
Jesse had been half asleep but the sight of Steve had quickly woken him, now his request had brought him fully alert. He thought about what Steve was asking. "But Steve..." he began.
Steve interrupted him. "No, no buts, if you can't agree I'll understand and I'll just walk away."
Jesse looked at his friend, he didn't look in any condition to walk anywhere. "OK I'll do it your way."
Steve smiled "Thanks Jess," he said and moved back down the corridor to get Emma.
When Jesse saw Emma he went straight into professional mode and went off to get his medical bag. It did not take him long to confirm that she was indeed in the early stages of hypothermia. Jesse tried to persuade Steve to let him get them both to the ER. Although he was concentrating on the woman Steve had brought with him, he had not failed to notice the other symptoms of the beating Steve had taken, nor the fact that Steve too was way too cold and shivering. Steve flatly refused and once again threatened to go back out into the storm if Jesse did not feel he could help them.
So Jesse did his best with what he had. First he got Emma into a hot bath which he kept refilling with hot water for about forty minutes until Emma's temperature started to come up. Then he got her dressed in some of his old clothing and wrapped in as many blankets as he could find.
Steve kept on insisting that he was all right but he did change into dry clothing and wrap himself up whilst he watched and waited for Emma to recover. Both men had had a laugh when Steve had emerged from the bedroom in Jesse's loosest fitting sweat suit. Steve was much taller and slightly broader than his young friend and he felt like he had been shrink wrapped in the ill fitting garments. Still it was better than being soaked.
True to his word Jesse had not asked any questions although he was burning to. Jesse had never seen Emma before and he was pretty sure that Steve was supposed to be spending the night with Alison back at his place. So why was he soaked to the skin in the middle of the night with a strange woman, and why hadn't he just gone home?
Having settled Emma down she had drifted quickly off to an exhausted sleep. Jesse turned his attention to Steve. "Come on," he said, "I need to examine you, check out that bruising."
Steve started to protest. "I'm fine Jess, honestly, like you say just a bit of bruising."
Jesse's frustration with the situation finally made him lose his temper "Look, you turn up in the middle of the night on my doorstep with a perfect stranger and ask for my help. Now I agreed to not asking any questions and to not telling anyone but I don't remember anywhere agreeing to leave you with possible internal injuries or concussion because you won't let me check you out properly." He drew in a deep breath. "I've agreed not to tell Mark but if I don't and anything happens to you..." He did not have to finish the sentence Steve knew what he was getting at. Jesse and Mark were friends too. Steve was asking a lot of him.
Steve held his hands up in surrender. "OK you win."
"That's better," Jesse smiled at Steve's placating gesture. "Keep your hands there while I help you get that top off."
Jesse examined the bruising on Steve's ribs and abdomen and then moved on to the side of his face. He was relieved that there were no obvious signs of internal bleeding and his blood pressure and pulse were normal.
"So what's the verdict Doc?" Steve asked.
"You seem to be okay, no signs of concussion and everything else is normal. I'd sure like to X-ray that cheek and your ribs, I've got a feeling you may have at least one fractured rib but since I don't actually have X-ray equipment in my apartment. I guess I'll have to make do with a guess. You're going to have to take it easy and if the pain from those ribs gets any worse..."
"I know you want me to go to the hospital straight away."
"I don't need to lecture you about the dangers of a punctured lung if one of those ribs is broken?"
"No"
"I could do anyway just for fun," Jesse teased.
Steve threw a towel at him. "I'd agree but I don't think you'd do it as well as my father. He specialises in those sort of lectures"
"I know, what can I say I learnt from a master" Jesse replied a wide grin on his face.
Steve gently pulled the tight top back on and became more serious as he once again caught sight of Emma. God she was beautiful. "Jess," he said.
"Yes" Jesse caught the change in tone.
"How is she?" he nodded over to Emma's sleeping form.
Jesse looked over at her as well and then back at Steve, "Not too bad, I'll keep checking her for the next hour or so but her stats are almost back to normal. I think the main problem is that she's exhausted. She just needs some rest." He paused. "Look I know that you said you didn't want to answer any questions but..'
"I know Jess, but I really can't give you any answers at the moment because I don't quite know what's going on myself. You're just going to have to bear with me on this one."
Jesse nodded his reluctant agreement, whatever Steve's reasons he would respect them for the time being.
"I need you to do me another favour. Can Emma stay here for the rest of the day? I'll find her somewhere by tonight I promise."
"Sure Steve, like I said she needs her rest. What about you? I take it you're calling in sick to work?"
Steve hadn't really thought about it but he knew he wasn't in any condition to do his job. On the other hand he could do with trying to find out something about the two thugs who had attacked them. "I don't know, I could do with talking to Emma and then checking out the guys who attacked us."
"She's not going to be up to talking for quite a while and you can file a report and let someone else find them. You really need to rest yourself."
"OK, I've got some personal time coming. I'll at least take the day off." Steve looked at his watch - 6am. "Time to get a couple of hours rest then I'll call in." Steve looked round. They had put Emma in the bed. "You take the couch, I'll take the chair."
"With busted ribs," Jesse looked disapprovingly. "I know it's my apartment but I get to take the chair." He threw an extra blanket at Steve.
Jesse was woken up by a noise. He looked up to see Steve getting dressed. His clothes had just about dried out. "Steve?" He asked.
"Hi Jess sorry to wake you. Before I got a chance to call in, Captain Newman gave me a call. He needs me down at the station for something." Steve explained. "I have to go but I'll give my excuses and get back as soon as I can. What time are you due in at the hospital."
"I'm on a late shift so not until one."
"OK, I'll make sure I'm back before then." He headed for the door but stopped before he reached it and turned back. "And Jess"
"Yes"
"Thanks for everything" he said and turned and left.
Jesse tried to settle back into a semi comfortable position on the chair but he had so many questions running through his mind he knew he would not be able to go back to sleep.
Steve pulled into the station car park and headed in to captain Newman's office. He got a few stares from the other officers. The ones who knew him better made the odd jibe about walking into doors, or not letting his girlfriend beat him up.
Captain Newman looked up as his detective entered his office and remarked the fact that Steve looked terrible. His cheek was badly swollen and bruised and there were bags under his eyes indicating that he had not got enough sleep. His clothes looked like he had rolled in the mud in them and then slept in them, which wasn't that far from the truth. The captain tried to ignore his ragged appearance. "Steve," he said, "sorry to drag you in early but I have two gentlemen here who have asked to meet with you."
Steve turned to look at the other two men in the captain's office. His mouth dropped open and although he had heard the expression before, until that moment he had never known the truth of the expression. He felt that he could have genuinely been knocked over with a feather.
The captain continued. "Let me introduce agents Dobbs and Steele from the NSA"
TO BE CONTINUED.......