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Chapter 10: Last words

Mark Sloan could feel exhaustion tugging at his conscious, but he knew that he had to keep looking. When Steve had walked out of the doctor's lounge, it had hurt Mark more than he cared to admit. Seeing the pain in his son's eyes, knowing that he himself also felt that pain. . .knowing that he had played a part in causing it. . .

He arrived outside BBQ Bob's to find the lights blazing. Knowing that Steve had to be in there, he shoved his tired body out of his car and forced his mind into action. Fully expecting an argument, he mentally prepared himself for Steve's reaction. He walked slowly up to the door, the "closed" sign on full display, and gently pushed it open.

It was empty. No Steve. An empty beer glass sat on the counter.

"Steve? You in here?" Mark called, hoping fervently that his son was in the kitchen, or bathroom, but there was no answer.

Something's wrong, Mark thought, panic rising, Steve would never leave the place open, or leave the lights on if no one was here.

Mark reached for his phone, but as soon as he picked it up, he heard the shrill ring of Steve's mobile phone. Some light searching told him that it was behind the counter, near the till. He pressed the answer button and held it close to his ear.

"Steve?" asked a familiar voice.

"Jesse? Is that you?" Mark asked, bewildered.

"Yeah Mark, listen, Where's Steve?" There was extreme urgency in his voice.

"I don't know, I'm at BBQ Bob's, there's strong evidence that he was here, but I don't know where he is now. When I arrived the lights were on and the door was open"

"Steve would never leave the place like that! Listen Mark, Steve is in real danger. I may know where they've taken him"

"Where who's taken him? Jesse what's going on?" Mark sensed that something big was happening, his tired body springing immediately into life.

"I don't have time to explain properly, but Seville's got Steve, we think he's taken him to a law firm called Wolfram and Hart and that's where we're going now!"

"But Jesse I - " Mark tried to protest.

"Mark, we'll get him back" Then there was a click, as Jesse hung up.

After a short pause to take in this news, Mark's brain churned into action as he began fiercely dialling the buttons on his phone. Amanda answered after the third ring.

"Mark have you found him yet" she asked immediately.

"Well, it's a lot more complicated than that now Amanda! I can't explain right now, but get everyone down here to BBQ Bob's!" Mark relayed the instructions as calmly as he could.

"Mark what's going on?" Amanda's tone conveyed confusion, and fear.

"Steve's in danger" Mark whispered. Amanda didn't need to hear anymore, she assured him that they would come immediately.

Mark sighed and slumped down on a stool to wait, he couldn't quite shake the feeling that he could have prevented all of this if he'd just listened to Jesse in the first place. It was all his fault.

* * * *

Somewhere over the Atlantic, a man in his late fifties sat nervously on a large passenger aircraft. He was copiously checking his watch over and over again, knowing that it was only a matter of time. Seville was about to strike his final blow, and there was nothing he could do until he got off this damn plane!

The pilot's voice interrupted his tense thoughts. "This is your pilot speaking. We are due to arrive in LA in ten minutes, local time is 10.15 pm and the weather is calm and dry. Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts as we prepare to land. Thank you"

The man could feel the adrenaline surging through his veins as the plane began it's descent.

* * * *

Upon hearing that Steve was not at BBQ Bob's, Angel had wrenched the steering wheel of his black convertible and swung the car round in a U- turn, it's destination: Wolfram and Hart Law firm.

Gunn patted Jesse's shoulder reassuringly as the car transported them.

"He'll be okay Jess! We'll get him back!"

"I sure hope so! Steve's my best buddy, sometimes I feel like he's my big brother! We've been through so much together" He turned towards Gunn, "I'm scared"

"I know" Gunn said softly, knowing that he'd feel the same if it were Angel, Cordy or Doyle.

Jesse's heart rate was through the roof when the car pulled up silently in front of the law firm. The doctor inside him couldn't help but wonder at his blood pressure levels.

The building itself looked fairly innocuous, but once they had entered, Jesse could feel the sinister atmosphere of the place. The Host had said that Seville was holed up in the basement, so they found a stairwell which led down.

"Angel, shouldn't that vampire alarm thing that they have here been set off?" Cordelia asked.

"Ordinarily it would, but I have a feeling they want us here"

They descended slowly, aware of each and every noise. The further down they went, the more the place seemed to look like the dungeons of a castle.

"Okay, so this wasn't what I expected" Jesse whispered, a little freaked out by his surroundings.

They rounded a corner and came face to face with a huge cavernous room. Little torch fires burned along the damp stone walls. At the back of the room, Steve was lolling forward, obviously unconscious, his wrists enclosed in chains joined to the wall. There was a trickle of blood on his forehead.

Jesse gave an involuntary gasp and began to move towards his friend when Angel laid firm handgrip on his shoulder. It was then that he noticed Seville, flanked by a man and a woman, standing with a smug grin on their faces. Seville looked terrible, clearly having not recovered well from the bomb that had ripped his terrorist organisation apart. Half of his face was red with unhealed burns.

"Ah! Doctor Travis! Long time no see! As you've no doubt noticed, we've been expecting you!" He turned his gaze towards Angel and his friends. "So this is the famous Angel! You will probably recognise Lilah and Lindsay" He announced, indicating the two lawyers at his side.

"My face" said Seville, after a moment of silence in the room, correctly interpreting Jesse's concerned eyes. Jesse, having been unable to quell his doctor side, had been giving Seville's face the once over with his eyes. " I suppose you're wondering why I never had it treated, well I thought it completed the super-villain image!"

Jesse burned with anger. "What do you want Seville?"

"I would have thought that was evident!" Seville scoffed, "I want you, that's why I've been entertaining your friend here!" He gestured towards Steve's still form.

"Let him go!" Jesse shouted, in a voice which he had not known himself capable of, "Take me but let him go!"

Cordelia gasped as he said this. "Jesse you can't! He'll kill you!" She pleaded with him.

"I have to agree" Angel said, "This is not the way!"

"Guys, you've been great! I've really appreciated your help, but this is my fight! I need to do this!"

"But Jesse - " this time Gunn protested.

"Please, just take Steve and get him to safety!" Jesse interrupted their efforts to stop him. He moved forward into the room. "I'll do it" he said firmly to Seville.

"I knew you would" Seville smiled smugly, and drew out his gun. "Lilah, Lindsay, unshackle Lieutenant Sloan and escort him to Angel and his friends. And doctor Travis you will not move an inch while this is carried out or I will kill everyone. Got that?"

Jesse nodded slowly. His eyes locked on Steve as the two lawyers unlocked the shackles and roughly dragged him to his feet. Steve groaned and mumbled something incoherent. Jesse felt an extreme need to move towards his friend, but Seville, seeing immediately what Jesse was feeling, raised the gun and cleared his throat. All Jesse could do was stare dumbly as Steve was dragged across the room and thrown at Angel, who caught him squarely and gently pulled him up.

"Take care of him" Jesse said, as Angel reluctantly carried Steve out of the room. "Tell him it had to be this way"

Seville watched the dialogue between them; it was interesting to him, having never formed any close relationships himself. He saw Jesse's gaze gradually return to him, and he smiled. At last he would have his revenge!

"Lilah, Lindsay, place Doctor Travis in the shackles" Seville barked, taking real pleasure out of the fear in Jesse's eyes.

Jesse could feel the cold dread seep through his body as Seville's orders were carried out. He was shoved hard against the wall, and each wrist lifted and enclosed in the cold, heavy chains. So this was how it would end, he thought hopelessly, alone and at Seville's mercy. Oh well! At least Steve was safe, it was all he could ask for.

"Any last words?" Seville licked his lips, savouring the moment.

There was silence as Jesse contemplated his answer.

"Why me?" Jesse asked softly, "What did I ever do?"

"It wasn't because of anything you did, it was about how much they cared about you. This is for them."

"Who?" Jesse tried desperately to stall for time.

"Your father and Kealy Banks. This will hit them hard, and that is much more satisfying to me than killing them would be. I hope they feel guilty for the rest of their lives." He spat, raising the gun so that it was level with Jesse's head.

Jesse's eyes widened as Seville's finger pulled the trigger.

To Be Continued. . .

How will Jesse survive? Please review!!