Title: Nothing's as it Seems…. Chapter 2 - The Rescue

Was this to be the end? Steve just closed his eyes and waited. It was no use to think of help coming. His father knew he wanted his space, and would respect his wishes. Just this once he wished that he would interfere, and send help. But he was alone, alone and with no help in sight. Sara just sat aimlessly beside him with the gun still in her hand. She still eyed the body of the man who had helped her, but was now dead. Can't leave him like that she thought. So she jumped up and pulled his body into the waiting hall closet.

"I'll dispose of him tomorrow. Why do today when you can put off till tomorrow." She laughed and sat back down beside him. Some time had passed before she sat up again and cocked her head as if alerted by something. She turned her head and looked at the little device she set up to alert her to strangers who weren't supposed to be there. She quickly jumped up and cut the ropes that bound Steve's feet together. She then pulled him into a sitting position on the couch. Steve decided it was best to play along, since every minute she didn't threaten to kill him was one more minute that he held out hope that help would arrive.

********

"Almost there." Said Shane. Help was on the way. Would they be too late?

********

"Time to go. We need a change of scenery." With she pulled a still protesting Steve by his forearm to the waiting truck. She helped him into the back seat and made him lie down so that no one would see him. Steve continued to struggle as she put the seat belt around his waist pinning him into the truck. She ignored his muffled cries and just continued to hum as she worked. She is really messed up he thought. How could something that looked so promising go so wrong? He put his back down on the seat and closed his eyes. Sleep was coming on, but he refused to give in. He needed to be alert. She then jumped into the front seat, put the gear into neutral and silently moved the truck back into the woods to await their visitors. And as if on cue the Black Crown Victoria pulled up. How typical for the FBI. Can't you guys ever get an original car? She laughed inwardly.

"Well this is the place. Don't see any vehicles though." Said Jade as they pulled up to the front of the cabin.

"Maybe they went for a drive." Offered Shane.

"And maybe they knew we were coming." She said looking at him.

Shane was never one to lose his cool, but he did this time. He jumped out of the car and slammed the door behind him. "What? Your not suggesting it's me are you? Just say it Jade. Your suspicious of everyone, aren't you! Ever thought that maybe she had some kind of device or something? Ever once remember that you were the one who claimed that someone on the inside is helping her." He yelled at her.

"Well I certainly didn't tell the person who killed my fiancée that I would be coming to arrest her." She yelled back.

Well well, Jade Marshall. How predictable. I am glad it's you. I have another calling card for you. She smiled wickedly to herself as she eyed a still struggling Steve on the backseat. "By the way," she said putting a silencer on the gun and turning to face him, "if you try to make any kind of noise, I'll shoot you in the knee." With that she turned around and just sat in the dark and watched as her nemesis argued with her partner. You'll never be able to trust anyone will you Jade, thanks to me. She thought.

"You have got to be kidding me. Will you ever trust anyone? Especially me? I want to catch her, almost as much as you." Then he paused before continuing, "she stole something from me to you know, just like she did from you."

"And what is that, huh Shane, tell me." Said Jade practically on top of him.

"My partner." He said softly backing down.

Those words as small as they were, stung big for her. It was true, Sara whose real name was Carmen Parks, had stolen the life from her. She had succeeded in doing what no one was supposed to be able to do, steal her life spark. Her joy, her reason for living. She hated Carmen for that and vowed revenge until her own death. And that Jade guessed is what it would take. She would never be able to just let it go. Never be able to back down, and never be able to just walk away and forget.

"Look we have probably scared what ever life forms are near here away. So why don't we go inside and take a look around before someone comes back." He said softly.

It was the right thing to do and she knew it. Although she was the senior officer, she just bowed her head and let him take the lead into the cabin.

"Nice place." Muttered Jade as she walked in. She actually for a second found herself wanting to spend time in this cabin with someone. A certain someone? Could it be? Not Dean? Not possible! And yet the thought was there. Just from a picture, a stranger she probably would never meet, had made an impact on her. It was a newly awakened emotion for her. It was welcomed, but at the same time somewhat foreign. She was scared and excited at the same just at the thought of someone else.

They both continued to look around the now empty cabin for clues.

"Think she knew we were coming?" asked Shane.

"They."

"Pardon?" he echoed.

"They." She offered again. "Look at the footprints behind the door. Someone was waiting for them. By the looks of the prints, it was a man. Who the hell did she recruit. A local? To help take care of Detective Sloan?" he asked almost afraid of the answer.

"Must be. But where are they and how did they know we would be here tonight. From the story the doctor told us, they just arrived here today." She finished almost sounding confused.

"Too soon for them to just set up shop and run. Isn't it?"

"There is one other possibility." She said darkly. He just cocked his head in anticipation of the answer they already both knew. "Someone gave her the technology to alert us. And that means…" she started.

"That she still has help from the inside." He finished heading for the door.

And as if on cue Carmen fired up the Dodge Ram and took off down the dirt road and into the night.

"Damn!" Jade yelled and ran out the door with Shane about two seconds in front of her. They jumped into the car, and took off after them, with the red and blue lights casting eerie glows in the dark forest.

Carmen though in the large 4x4 had the advantage over the rough terrain over the FBI company car.

"Now I wish we had gotten a Hummer instead of the usual CV." Cursed Shane as he tried to keep up with Carmen. But they were losing ground and to Jade that meant they were losing another live victim.

"We can't lose this one." She said desperately. Shane just nodded in silent agreement.

But Carmen had the getaway planned all along just in case, as she banked hard right causing both the truck and Steve to lurch forward as she plowed down a treed valley. Steve cursed under his gag, but was thankful the seatbelt was there as it caused him not to slam into the seats infront of him. Shane tried to steer the car to follow but did not succeed. The car came to a crashing halt before almost heading down a steep ravine and stopped. He cursed as he just watched the tail lights become faint dots in the distance while trying to back the car out of the gully it was in and head back to the main road.

Jade grabbed the CB in her hand and was already talking to the local police. "FBI agents in chase of a serial killer and need backup assistance. We are heading south on a dirt road off of highway 93 and need to know how many roads come out onto highway 93."

Jade listened and silently told Shane that the road that Carmen was taking was just another route down to the highway. They could almost cut her off if they hurried. Shane pushed the pedal to the metal as it sped down the winding dirt road to the highway.

Carmen checked to see that she had indeed lost her tail and decided to slow down a bit. She was somewhat worried, as she was not to familiar with which part of the city this road would dump her out in. It would be back on highway 93 someplace, but where? Where could she go to finish her work? She decided to pull over to the side and ask Steve. She put the truck in park without turning off the engine and turned around to see Steve. She yanked off the tape that was on his mouth.

"Thanks!" he said angrily.

"Where does this road come out?" She demanded.

"You're kidding right?" Steve said practically out of breath. "Why on earth would I help you?"

Carmen grabbed her gun and waved it in front of his face, "cuz I am holding all the cards, and you're not."

Steve laid his head back down on the seat and tried to think of a place that would be fairly visible and yet not to conspicuous. "If you continue on this road you will come out a little farther south on highway 93. About one hour outside LA city limits. But no where in particular." With that he slumped his head back down on the truck seat.

Carmen turned around to face the windshield and try to formulate her next plan. She needed a place to rest and regroup. But where? Surely as they drove along highway 93 they would come across something. She turned around again to Steve and placed the tape back over his mouth. Then put the truck in drive and headed down to the highway.

The FBI car reached the highway with both Agents not speaking a word. Each formulating a plan in their own heads. Jade's of course would be a bit more coarse than Shane's, as she felt she had a bigger stake to claim. But did she? Was she so bent on revenge that she allowed it eat away at her life? Sure Shane had been affected by it, but he still had a steady life apart from work. That allowed him to cope. She envied that. No it was all Carmen's fault. She had so ingrained that in her head that it would be next to impossible to erase it. And yet Shane had told her on many occasions that nothing was impossible if you believed in it hard enough. What was that expression she asked herself, oh yeah, 'nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight.' She would think more on this later and how one picture had made such and instant impact on her in such a brief moment.

But right now they had to catch her and make sure the guy she had kidnapped didn't become the next victim. Jade liked Doctor Sloan right away. There was something so down to earth about him, that she immediately felt at ease. For her that was very rare, rare indeed. She wanted to help return Steve alive just for the sake of his father. But she pushed those thoughts away and continued to focus on the map in her hands as Shane continued south along highway 93.

Carmen could see the highway ahead of her. She definitely needed to stop to catch her breath and get her wits about her. She surmised that Jade was already on the horn to the locals to see where her path came out. But how long would that be? She turned the truck onto the highway and sped on into the night.

"To bad we couldn't trade vehicles." Said Shane with a heavy sigh. If she saw the car and a chase would ensure, Carmen would not think twice about ending her life. The only problem was, there was an innocent man in the back whose life would end at the same time and Carmen would definitely not think twice about that. What to do? He pondered.

"Yeah could really use that Porsche right about now." Said Jade. And as if on cue, sent from above a beautiful black Porsche pulled up beside them. "I have an idea." She said grabbing the radio.

"The four most terrifying words in the English language." He sighed, knowing exactly what she was about to do.

"To the driver in the Porsche, this is the FBI, pull over to the curb and step out of your car." The driver who was about 55 looked at the FBI car right beside it in a state of shock, but pulled over to comply.

"Great look at that guy, he looks about 100. What if he has a heart attack?" asked Shane laughing.

"Well I know a great doctor who can fix him up. Lets go." She jumped out, explained to the driver of the car who she was and what she needed his car for. He ironically turned out to be a retired Army General and had no problem surrendering his car, on the condition that he could ride with Shane. She agreed and the chase ensued once again. With the freedom to speed Jade was well ahead of them in time. Not long now, she kept telling herself.

********

"So you think it's the same girl the FBI is after?" asked Jesse in shock after he and Amanda had made themselves at home in Mark's living room.

"Too much of a coincidence not to be." He said with a heavy sigh. "I only hope they can reach them in time. Steve's cell phone must be out of range, since he is not answering." He said trying not to confirm his fears that Steve was in a lot of trouble.

"I knew there was something wrong about her." Said Jesse.

"Nice try. We were all fooled, including you. Except you Mark. What was it about her in the first place that you did not like?" asked Amanda.

"The fact that she did not look me in the eye each time she answered a question. She always looked around or avoided the issue. Like she was hiding something or afraid that something would be revealed."

"Poor Steve, will he ever find a girl that is normal?" sighed Amanda.

Steve was known for his poor track record with women. He had dated a few quality girls, but they either ended up dead or married to someone else. Would he ever find real love?

"So what were these FBI agents like? Mulder and Scully?" asked Jesse trying to make light of the dark situation.

"Actually the female, a Jade Marshall is really quite something. Now her I liked right away. Very straight up and honest. Even looked me right in the each time she talked to me." He said smiling. He knew it was the wrong time to think of it, but he couldn't help but wonder if she and Steve would hit it off.

"Well after this is over, why don't you invite her over to the house." Suggested Amanda.

"You mean set her up with Steve." Said Mark smiling.

"Well not initially." She countered.

"Well we'll have to wait and see I guess." On that note all three sat in silence for the next while each contemplating what the nights events would hold. Mark prayed silently that his son come home safely to him. To them all.

********

"I see her. Up ahead a ways. She is driving fast, but I can catch her. Where are you?" asked Jade into her CB.

"A ways behind you obviously." Shane said sarcastically and rolled his eyes.

Carmen who was unaware of the FBI officer in the Porsche behind her continued on her way as if nothing was up. None of the cars driving past knew of the serial killer on the road or of the bound victim on the back seat. Carmen was getting tired and needed to rest. She spied an old dilapidated sigh that once was the new sign for a hotel that was now abandoned. Perfect! She thought, as she pulled off the road and headed for the run down vacant hotel. Jade saw her turn off the highway and held back a bit before following.

"She just turned off towards an abandoned hotel that reads 'The Springs Inn'. See you soon." With that she switched off the CB and turned off the headlights and continued to follow Carmen up the road.

Shane got the instructions and with some help from his passenger; who was totally enjoying himself; was able to find the road about 10 minutes after Jade drove down it.

Carmen pulled the truck to a stop, which caused Steve to awaken from the brief sleep he felt himself falling into.

"I need a break." She said yawning and stretching. "How about you?" she laughed. She opened the door and jumped out. She took a deep breath of the cool night air and went to open the back passenger door of the extended cab truck. She failed to notice the black Porsche pull into the forest behind her and switch off the motor.

"You'll not escape me this time." Muttered Jade to herself, as she slowly and quietly got out of the car.

Carmen undid the seatbelt that held Steve in place and pulled him out of the truck. Steve was glad the air was cool as it made him come fully awake and alert. Now was his chance to get away. He faked a fall and charged at Carmen (Sara). He struck her in the middle and she went crashing backwards into the truck with a yelp! She was down for a brief second and that was all the timing that Steve needed to make his break. It was awkward to run with his hands tied behind his back but since his life depended on it, he managed to do just fine, or so he thought. Jade who witnessed the tumble, took off running towards them with her gun also drawn. Shane pulled the car behind Jade's and soon was off after her, telling the Army General to radio for backup and an ambulance. He hoped they would not need it.

"Stop!" yelled Carmen to Steve. "Or I'll shoot." She said taking off the silencer and firing a shot into the air.

Steve was not about to turn around to face her. She would only shoot him anyways, so he kept running. She took off after him and fired a shot that hit him square in the top right shoulder. He cried out in pain but of course only a muffled cried came out as he stumbled to the ground landing on his knees. He struggled to get back up but the searing pain kept him getting fully upwards.

"NO!" yelled Jade after them. Her heart sank as she watched Steve fall to the ground. Where was he hit?

Carmen finally realized they were not alone. She ran to Steve and grabbed him by the hair causing him to scream with pain into the gag. She stood behind him and pointed her gun at his head, waiting for Jade to catch up. She had no where to go in the dark and would finally have the opportunity she wanted. To kill Jade Marshall once and for all. It would be worth the wait.

Jade caught up with her gun drawn aimed at Carmen. "Let him go Carmen. There is no place to go." She said almost out of breath. "Put down the gun."

The pale moonlight cast eerie shadows on all parties involved. But since it was the only light available it was hard for Jade to tell just how badly or where Steve had been shot.

Steve who was in pain on his knees on the cold damp earth could do nothing more but comply. He was tired, beat up and shot. He couldn't see who the police officer was in front of them, but he was sure glad she came along when she did. If there was just one here, there was bound to be more someplace else, or on their way. Help really was coming.

"Nice try," said Carmen cocking the trigger, "why don't you, or you know that I'll kill him, and then myself. So you see you'd be the real loser in the end." She said laughing. She was definitely losing it.

If it was just the two of them, Jade could wait it out, but another life was involved here. One she didn't want killed. If I put down my gun, Shane will be here she reasoned in her mind. Carmen motioned the gun against Steve's head again, this time with much agitation.

"Okay I'm putting it down, when you uncock the trigger." She said motioning to Carmen's gun.

Carmen uncocked the trigger, then gestured for Jade to put down her weapon. Jade who had several backup weapons and a bullet proof vest on, laid down her weapon, still feeling she had the upper hand.

"Why not settle this the easy way." She said taking a step closer, trying to provoke her into a fight.

"Why not?" she said letting go of Steve's hair. Steve breathed a sigh of relief. Carmen was about to take a step towards Jade when she heard Shane coming out of the forest. Bad timing! She grabbed her gun, aimed it at Shane and fired.

Jade watched in horrible show motion as the bullet hit her partner in the lower abdomen and he fell to the ground in screaming pain clutching his middle.

"NO!" she screamed and ran to his side, totally ignoring Carmen's sick and twisted laughter as she ran away. "Time to blow this Popsicle stand." With that she turned and ran off into the forest back towards the cars.

"SHANE!" she yelled running to his side and gathering him up in her arms. She looked at the place the bullet had penetrated and it confirmed her worst nightmare, Carmen's bullet had indeed pierced his Kevlar Vest. The army general reached them and went to untie Steve.

"Here help him." She said calling to the general, who left Steve and ran to Shane. "Press here." She said motioning for him to take the cloth and press firmly while she went after Carmen, despite Shane's weak protests.

Jade ran for all she was worth after the killer. But Carmen had the good head start and when Jade reached the spot where the car's where Carmen and the black Porsche were gone.

"ARGH!" she called out into the night. She jumped into the Crown Victoria and started to chase once again. Rage was the only emotion driving her right now. And adrenaline was the only fuel keeping her moving. She totally forgot about her partner, the innocent victim or the passenger that might need her help. She had one thing on her mind, and it was revenge, pure and simple.

"This is FBI Agent Jade Marshall. In pursuit of a 1999 Black 911 Porsche. Request immediate backup. Roadblocks at the end of Johnson Road and the entrance's to highway 93." She said slamming the CB back down on the receiver.

Steve who managed to get himself up stumbled over to the general and motioned for him untie him. The general cut the ropes that bound his hands while he pulled the tape from his mouth.

"Thanks!" he said his mouth very dry and his shoulder very sore. "Help should be here soon. Care to explain what's going on?" he asked in a panic.

"I would love to, but I have no idea, I was just along for the ride." He said almost laughing. Both of the men turned their attention back to the wounded Agent as the Ambulance finally pulled up beside them.

"Take us to community general. Care to drive my truck and follow?" said Steve gesturing to his Dodge Ram truck.

"Be happy to." Said the General walking to the truck.

"Gunshot wound to the lower abdomen……" said the Paramedic's voice disappearing as the doors closed and they were finally on their way to Community General Hospital. Steve closed his eyes on the way back and thanked god that he was still alive. He had to thank someone else but she was not to be found. Who was she? Where was she? Will I ever see her again? I need to know who she is. He wondered.

His thoughts were interrupted by a Paramedic who was applying another bandage to the wound in his shoulder. Wait'll dad hears all about this he sighed.

Can't let you get away this time, Carmen. Jade kept muttering to herself over and over again as she sped down Johnson Road after Carmen.

"Damn you Jade." She yelled into the rear view mirror. But Carmen knew this was an ill fated ride. Either the police barricade would stop her or the relentless agent behind her would. What to do? What to do? She questioned over and over again. And then a thought struck. She smiled and waited for the perfect opportunity to carry out her plan. And an opportunity presented itself almost immediately.

********

"We'll be right there. They found Steve." Called Mark as he headed for the door almost running, leaving Jesse and Amanda with shocked looks on their faces as they sprinted to keep up.

********

Jade finally had Carmen in view. "I have you now. This time there is no escape."

"Pull over Carmen, there is no where to go now. Lets end this peacefully." Jade said into the loud speaker hoping that Carmen would pull over and stop the car. But it was not to be.

"I said……" Jade never finished the sentence, but watched in slow motion as the small car ahead of her veered off the road to the right, hit the cement embankment and rolled down the steep hill to the ravine below.

Jade slammed on the breaks and went running over to the edge only to have to close her eyes as the Porsche exploded into tiny pieces, lighting up the night sky.

"NO!" she yelled. She felt cheated; she wanted to be the one to bring Carmen to justice. This was such an easy way out. It somehow wasn't fair, not the ending she wanted.

She sat down on the cement barrier and just stared at the burning wreck below her. Was it true? Was it finally over? Could she finally have closure and start down the road to a new beginning? Then the reality of the night's events caught up with her, as she remembered that two people had been shot in the course of the nights events. One was a man she knew very well, and the other one she would like to at least meet.

She finally picked up her weary body off the cold cement barrier and headed back to the car. Once inside she slumped her body down into the seat and eased the car back onto the highway. She had gotten the message from dispatch and headed for Community General Hospital. She didn't have to wait for the Fire Department to arrive on this scene. Her work was done. She never turned around to look behind. She felt it wasn't needed.

********

As Jade's car became a smaller and smaller dot on the horizon a somewhat battered figure picked itself up off the ravine wall where she had waited and finally stood up to watch the car leave.

"Parting is such sweet sorrow. But never fear we will meet again." With that Carmen laughed a wicked laughed that would send goosebumps down a corpse and walked to the highway to thumb a ride. Her being dead would buy her some time until they discovered that no body had burned in the explosion. But she only needed a short time. Two people needed to be taken care of, Jade Marshall her nemesis and Steve Sloan the one that got away.

"It's amazing what you can get away with when people think your dead." She muttered as she jumped into the waiting Semi-Trailer who had pulled over to offer a ride and headed back to LA.

'If revenge is a dish best served cold, then put on your Sunday finest and prepare to feast!'