Last Hope?

By: Tricia



Disclaimer: I don't own any of the UC characters. They belong to Mr. Shane Salerno. No copyright infringement is intended. No money is being made, so don't bother to sue. I'm a student, so you wouldn't get much anyway. All other characters are mine.

Author's Note: Okay I know some of you have seen this before as I posted it a while ago. I've been neglecting this story for a long time *hangs head in shame* the list of reasons/excuses is too long to put here. I've edited some technical errors (hopefully I got them all..) in preparation for the next chapters which are coming shortly. So hope you enjoy!



"Noooo" she collapsed to the floor, wrapped in her husband's arms, in a sobbing heap "you .... promised ... me .... him ..... come home...you promised" She managed to choke out.



"I'm sorry. It didn't turn out the way we wanted. But there's still a chance. Don't give up. Not yet."

Donovan didn't want to come back to them with this information. It felt like failure. Especially when seeing Mrs. Ryan there, on the floor, rocking back and forth. Completely inconsolable. This was taking it's toll, on her and her husband. Both had bags under their eyes from days without sleep. Mrs. Ryan's blue eyes looking lifeless and devoid of all hope. Her mid length black hair was scraggily and looked like she hadn't stopped running her hands through it since this started Her face was pale and taunt, like someone who hasn't seen food or light in weeks. Mr. Ryan was fairing a little better, but not much. His brown eyes had bags, but the hopelessness was hidden behind a mask professionalism. As if he was afraid to let go and feel. His blond hair was neatly combed, and since he was a little overweight to begin with, his facial features weren't suffering too much yet. But you could still see that this was affecting him. If you looked closely. The way he walked, a little jerky and every now and then off balance. His speech was laced with underlying tension and every once and a while he would sit and twist and rub his baby finger. An absent minded gesture to console a long since healed injury. There was no denying that they both needed sleep, but good luck to anyone who would try to convince them to do so. What Donovan told her was true, there still was a chance. Still hope left. Small, but it was there.



He wasn't going to kill him. That wasn't part of the plan. He couldn't help it, all his disabling shots and the guy still kept coming. This monster was determined not to be taken, and if they were going to take him it was going to be in a body bag. The guy planned it that way. Victory no matter what. Now here he was explaining to 7 year old Joey's parents that, although his kidnapper was dead, he would do his best to still bring Joey home. Despite the fact that they had no idea where he was.



"Joey, not too far. What have I told you?" She asked.

Joey wandered over to where his mother was sitting on the park bench. Parents have a way of ruining all the fun.

"Not to go where I can't see you" he replied.

"And could you see me?"

"Yah."

"Joey..."

"Sorta" his mother gave him a look famous and well used by all mothers "no, not really."

"Then can you please do as I say. Either that or we'll go home. Do you want that?" Joey shook his head, his dirty blond hair getting in his blue eyes. He needed a haircut. "Then stay in my sight."

She should have listened to her own advice and just taken him home, but instead went back to her sketch pad and continued to draw next year's fashions. It was another 10 minutes before she looked up from her work. Looking around she couldn't see him anywhere. Instantly she was up, her drawings and utensils scattering on the grass below her. She wondered around the playground frantically, all the while calling his name. Still not seeing him and getting no response, she started to panic.

Several people stopped to help her look and someone called the police. But it was no use no one had seen or heard Joey leave and there had apparently been no one suspicious looking around. By the time Mrs. Ryan was on the phone telling her husband, she was in hysterics.