I had to ask for harder opponents, didn't I?  This one defiantly fills the bill.  He spends about thirty minutes kicking my ass all over the ring.  I land hard on my back, and see Sonya's face being pressed hard against the window.  Come on, Jess, don't let her down.  I get back up, seeing triple.  OK, Jess, hit the one in the middle.  I land four solid kicks, sending him down.  I drive my heel as hard as I can into his gut.  He rolls over, tapping.  Thank you very much.  I make my way to the office, and find Sonya, badly beaten, tied to a chair, with Karen working her over more.  OH, HELL NO!  I charge her, and find myself being beaten down by five men and Karen.  Seconds after it starts, Marcus walks in.  He begins cleaning house.  He lays all five out, and grabs Karen by the throat.  Her eyes fill with fear, as he slams her hard against the wall.

            "Now, what did I tell you, bitch?  You can do anything you want to Sonya, but I have TOO MUCH MONEY ON JESSIE TO LET YOU SCREW IT UP!"

            "What do we need her for?  We'll rolling in money."  Marcus laughs, backhanding her.  He follows it up with a punch to the solar plexus, dropping her to her knees, as I slowly make my way to Sonya.

            "ALL OF THESE IDIOTS ARE BETTING AGAINST HER, YOU DUMB BITCH!"  He kicks her hard in the stomach.

            "You OK?"  She looks at me, and nods, catching her breath, as Marcus kicks Karen again.

            "Stop, I'm sorry.  Stop, please."  I look at Sonya, who nods.  I catch his wrist as he goes for another shot.

            "She's had enough."  Marcus looks at me, laughing.

            "You really are one stupid bitch, aren't you?"

            "Nah, I just want enough left to see Sonya get to finish her."  He laughs, stepping away, as Karen slowly gets to her feet.

            "Nice match.  What was that, an hour?"

            "Hey, you treat my friend a little better, maybe we got something to talk about.  Until then, fuck off."

            "You want me to lay off Sonya, huh?"

            "Your brain must function as slowly as Kano's."

            "Maybe I can arrange that.  You interested?"
            "Who do I have to kill?"
            "Nobody.  You just have to win your next match.  Your opponent is undefeated.  Hell, everybody in this place say he's unbeatable.  The odds are 100-1 against you.  I just had Kano put ten grand on you.  You win, I'll make sure no one touches her for the rest of the tournament."

            "MARCUS, YOU PROMISED ME!"

            "Shut up!  Damn, that's a whiny bitch.  You don't have that kind of leverage, Karen.  So, we got a deal?"  I see two men tying a rope tightly around her neck.

            "If I loose?"

            "Then she dies, per our agreement.  Sound like fun?"

            "Oh, yeah."   They cut her hands free, and handcuff her again.

            "Oh, yeah, there is one more little detail I forgot to mention," I watch them throw the other end of the rope over a beam, "You've got four minutes before her brain ceases to function.  Maybe less, if the bitch struggles too much."  They pull the rope tighter, lifting her into the air.  I immediately run for the ring.  OK, Jess, you only get one shot at this.  You promised Marcus you'd never use it.  But, if you don't, she's dead.  God, forgive me.  As soon as he charges me, I sidestep him, rapping my arm around his throat.  I press hard with the other hand on a pressure point behind his ear.  COME ON, GO DOWN ALREADY!  Finally, he falls down.  I let him go, running back up the stairs.  I find her struggling desperately, her face bright red.  I immediately grab her waist, and lift her up, creating enough slack for her to breath.

            "HE'S OUT, LET HER DOWN!"

            "Yeah, I guess you won."  Marcus signals the guy, who releases the rope.  She falls hard to the ground.  I kneel next to her, as her face slowly returns to normal.

            "The rope."  I untie the rope, as her breathing becomes somewhat normal.

            "I knew you had it in you.  That was 30 seconds.  That might be a world record."  I ignore him, as she coughs.  I cry, unsure of what else to do. She looks up at me.

            "You gonna let me lay here all night?"  She croaks, still coughing.  I chuckle, helping her up.

            "You got your money.  Leave her alone."

            "So I did.  Let it never be said Marcus Raimes is a liar."  The guards lead us to the limo.  When we get back to the room, she sits against the wall.  One of the guards tosses me a set of keys.  I unlock her wrists, and she hugs me.

            "You making a full time job out of saving my life?"

            "No, I'm making a full time job of putting it in danger."  She lets me go, as I sit next to her.  I slide her a coke, popping one for myself.

            "Good, because, at the rates you charge, I don't have the money for a bodyguard."  I laugh again, as she sips the pop.

            "You are amazing."

            "No, Jess.  I'm worked over, sore, and exhausted."  She rubs her throat, groaning.

            "Go ahead, I gotcha."

            "You know, I believe you."  She hugs me again, and lays on the bed.  Sweet dreams, or at least peaceful ones, Sonya.  She's under in seconds.  God, forgive me.  I sit against the wall, shaking.

            "He's fine."  Raiden appears, sitting next to me.

            "Thank God."

            "So's she, thanks to you."

            "I'll believe that when we're outta here.  God, I could've killed him."

            "But you didn't."

            "But, I could've, damn it."

            "You said you wanted to be like Sonya."

            "I don't like hurting people."

            "Neither does she.  You gonna be OK?"

            "Like you don't already know."  Raiden laughs, vanishing again.  I pop two of the perks, passing out against the wall.  I awaken, to someone pulling at me.  I grab the wrist, and twist, opening my eyes.

            "Jess, it's me."  I immediately let go of her wrist, as she slides down the wall.

            "Sorry."

            "I should know better.  I have violent dreams, too."

            "Still, I'm sorry."

            "After what I did yesterday, you should've broken it for me."

            "I can't hit you.  Every blow I'd land on you would do double the damage on me."

            "Charlie's right, you are a hard read."

            "You overheard the conversation?"

            "Yeah, I did.  Don't tell me you thought I was out of breath from running, did you?  I run two miles a day.  Ten feet doesn't do that."

            "You gonna kick my ass?"

            "I don't normally beat the shit out of someone who's trying to help me.  Besides, after what you did last night, it's all forgiven."  She hugs me.  I hug her back, crying.

            "Think Jax has found us yet?"

            "No, we wouldn't be sitting here.  He's looking, just give him time.  I'm curious, how long have you looked up to me?"

            "Damn.  Since I was a teen."

            "If you wanted to be like me so much, why didn't you enlist?"

            "I tried.  I got turned down."

            "Oh, that pin?"

            "Yeah.  They call it additional hardware.  They make it sound like I broke the warrantee on my PC or some shit.  Same story when I tried for the police academy.  It's probably for the best, though.  I don't have the right attitude for the job."

            "I don't think you're that far off, if it matters to you."

            "How many times has my attitude almost gotten you killed in the last four days?"

            "And how many times have you almost killed yourself to help me?"

            "If I had kept my cool, you wouldn't be in this mess to begin with."

            "You're right, I'd be dead, or closer to it than I am now.  Sanchez would be dead right now if you hadn't opened your mouth, at great risk to yourself.  Your attitude could use a little tweaking.  Hell, look at mine.  But, I'd take someone like you on my team any day.  Not because you're the best in the fight, but because you've got more heart than anyone else in it.  I'll take desire over skill any day.  Skill can be taught.  You either have what it takes, or you don't.  And you do have it.  So, stop selling yourself short before you force me to bust my foot in your ass."

            "Yes, ma'am."  She puts her arm around me, laughing, as the doctor from yesterday comes back in.

            "Now you look like one of Marcus' fighters."  I laugh.

            "That good, huh?"

            "Not as bad as your friend, but you're getting there," He pulls out a small light, and flashes it in my eyes, "Follow it," I follow it, "Your friend must be important."

            "Why do you ask?"

            "Because I've had four visits from a very angry, oversized young man, and a short older guy.  They seem dead set on finding you two," He turns the light off, "How many fingers do you see?"

            "Three?"

            "That's what I thought."  He pulls out a scalpel.  Sonya quickly pins his arm behind his back, shoving him to the ground in front of me.

            "DROP IT!"

            "Her eye's swelling too much.  The pressure's affecting her optic nerve, and it's gonna cause her eye socket to cave in.  I cut it, or she's gonna be blind.  Now, do you want to cut it, or shall I?"  Sonya looks at me.  I nod, closing my eyes.  I scream, as the knife cuts into my face.  I feel the wet stuff flow down.  DAMN, THAT HURT LIKE A .

            "Open your eyes."  I open them.

            "Thanks, have you ever heard of a NUMBING agent?"

            "Not on the eye, too much risk of damage.  You have a mild concussion."

            "You mean that's not Metallica's drummer practicing in my head?"

            "You're funny, you should be a comedienne."

            "And give up my first career choice?"

            "With your mouth, I thought that WAS your first career choice."  I laugh, as he looks at Sonya's neck, "Do you know how lucky you are that your neck isn't broken?"

            "Yeah, real lucky.  It hurts enough, leave it alone."  He ignores her, still examining it.

            "I can spray it with antiseptic, and some numbing agent, but I can't do much about those burns."  She grabs his wrist, and twists it, pulling it away from her neck.

            "I said leave it alone."

            "OK, it's your problem."

            "Yeah, it is.  Move on."  He undoes the bandage on her leg, as she slides her bracelet to me, and looks quickly at the doctor's open bag.  I catch the hint, tossing it in.  He finishes bandaging it, and turns his attention back to me.

            "How many fingers do you see?"

            "I don't know, I can't count."

            "You're a real cooperative patient."

            "It's two, doc."

            "Good enough," He bandages the cut across the top of my eye, "Take two of those perks when they bring you food."

            "Yeah."

            "Between the two of you, I'm springing for security next time."

            "Come at either of us with a weapon again, you'll need more than security."

            "Damn, don't you two trust anybody?"  Oh, I can't resist.

            "I trust one person on this planet, doc.  She's sitting next to me."  OK, mild variation, but it worked.  He chuckles, closing the bag.  JACKPOT, HE DIDN'T SEE IT!

            "I guess if I was in your position, I wouldn't trust me, either."

            "You want my trust, doc?  Earn it.  Tell that big dude we're alive."

            "I want you to trust me, but I'm not trying to die for it."

            "I didn't say tell him where we are, just that we're alive.  She's got a family.  They've got to be worried sick about her."

            "And my wife worries herself sick about me, too.  You're crazy."

            "See, doc, I told you I make mistakes.  I thought you were a human being.  My bad."

            "Come on, that's not fair.  I don't want to die anymore than you two want to."

            "Yeah, the difference is she's going to if we can't get outta here."  He knocks on the door, and the guards let him out, locking it back when he leaves.

            "You're trying to give an attack of conscience to a man without one."

            "I thought I could reach him."

            "Don't waste your energy.  When Jax finds that bracelet, the only thing that's gonna beat that clown to the morgue is the matchbox they sweep him into, if he doesn't cooperate."

            "Jax?  Mild mannered Jax?"

            "Mild mannered," She laughs, leaning against the wall, "The last time he questioned a suspect about me, he started by asking nicely.  Then he strapped a half pound of C-4 to the suspect's chest, drove him to Charlie's, took him out back, and emptied an M-16 magazine all around him.  Charlie said they guy was on his knees begging to talk."

            "I can't believe that.  Jax seems so nice."

            "Oh, he is.  Best friend I've ever had, just don't fuck with him.  Not when my neck's on the line."

            "Damn, isn't that illegal?"

            "Depends.  The colonel isn't too happy when we get caught doing it.  But, they all talk before they get seriously hurt.  It's the self preservation factor."

            "I don't know what that is."

            "I get that impression."  The door flies open, and Kano walks in.

            "Well, you two look like shit."

            "From you, that's a compliment.  What the hell do you want?"

            "Her ass mounted on my wall."

            "You need to talk to Marcus.  Nobody gets near her."

            "We'll see, but that's not why I'm here.  Get up, both of you."  He reaches for Sonya.  She kicks his hand away.  He moves to hit her, and I grab his wrist.

            "Try that, and you'll be wearing your ass as a hat."

            "You think you can stop me?"

            "Remember the alley, before I knew who you were."

            "That was a test."

            "You wanna go full throttle?  Try it again."

            "Maybe later, we're late."

            "See, you aren't as stupid as I thought."  I help Sonya to her feet, staying between her and Kano.

            "He's mine, Jess."

            "He ain't touching you in front of me."

            "You can't protect her forever."

            "Protect her?  I'm protecting you.  She'd kill you, man."

            "In her condition, she'd be lucky to . . ."  Sonya looks over at the two guards, and back to me.  I smile, charging them, as she lands a kick to Kano's groin.  I land a jump kick on the first, coming down on my good leg.  The second tries to chop block my bad knee.  Thanks, asshole.  I let him get close, and roll over his back, landing a hard kick to the back of his head.  Goodnight.  The first one takes another shot, and get slammed through the wall.  I look back at Sonya, who lands a powerful roundhouse, laying Kano cold on the bed.

            "You were saying," Sonya and I make a break for the door.  We get about half way down the hall, and I feel my leg fold under me.  I see her turn back, "NO, DAMN IT, KEEP GOING!"

            "Not without you.  Come on, get up."  She helps me to my feet, as we hear two gunshots.  Looking on either side, we find ourselves surrounded by guards.  They lead us to a patio, where Marcus is sitting at a table.  They shove us into two chairs across from him.

            "Did you enjoy the morning workout?"

            "Ask Kano, if you can wake him up."

            "You are funny.  The competition is over.  You've only got the championship fight left.  I thought I would reward you for a job well done."  One of the guards shoves a plate in front of Sonya and me, along with two open cokes.  I try it.

            "Steak and eggs, my fav."  I swap plates and pops with Sonya.

            "What are you doing?"

            "Making damn sure you aren't trying to kill her."

            "Why would I do something like that?"

            "Because you're an asshole."  Before I can try it, one of the guards takes it away, "Damn, I'm good."

            "You think you're smart, huh?"

            "The lady sitting next to me excluded, I'm a virtual genius compared to my present company.  Speaking of idiots, you need to talk to Kano, no one touches her."

            "You don't have that leverage anymore," He snaps his fingers, as a woman walks up next to him.  Damn, do I know her?  She looks like, "Like looking in a mirror, isn't it?"

            "Damn, am I that scary?"  She glares at me, as he laughs.

            "You don't know when to shut up, do you?  This is Jessie Reynolds, from this world."

            "How many steroids have I been pumping in this world?"

            "She's the champion."

            "Then let me apologize in advance for the ass kicking you're in for."

            "I used to run my mouth like you, then I grew up."

            "Up or out?  Damn, girlfriend, lay off the weights."

            "Our deal has changed, Jessie.  You're going to loose."

            "WHAT?!?"  At least we both think alike.

            "You're gonna make her look good.  Draw out the fight, then go down."

            "I don't need any help.  I can take this bitch."

            "You will do what I tell you, when I tell you, for as long as I tell you."

            "I told you when I started, I don't do fixed fights."

            "You follow my instructions to the letter."

            "Um-hum."  She doesn't look too happy.

            "I'm not taking a dive.  If I loose, you'll kill her."

            "And if you win, I'll kill her.  Maybe I'll let her live long enough to see you fall on your ass."

            "SonuVABITCH!  You mean I put myself through this for nothing?"

            "You didn't really think I'd let her live, did you?"  Not really.

            "Don't do this.  Jesus Christ, she's got a family.  Don't do this."

            "Finish it."  Sonya sits on the edge of the chair, bracing herself.  She closes her eyes tightly, as the guns click behind her.

            "GOD, MARCUS, DON'T!"  I scream, near sobbing.

            "I didn't plan to.  That would be way too easy," Sonya slumps back in the chair, "Two people got dibs on her already."

            "Oh, HELL NO!  YOU'RE NOT TURNING HER OVER TO THEM!"

            "Sure I am.  For two whole days."

            "No you're not."  I jump over the table at him.  Grabbing me by the back of my neck, the jerks me off the table and to the ground.  He stands behind me, rapping his arm around my throat.

            "Jess, stop."  I look up, to see two men handcuffing her.

            "SONYA!"  I try to pull him over me.  He slams my head into the concrete.

            "JESS, LET IT GO!  Just let it go."  I look into her eyes, and stop cold, as they lead her off.  A sudden pain in the back of my head sends me under.