CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Emily sat on the floor of the closet in the darkness waiting, she wasn't scared of the dark, not really she'd got over that fear a long time ago. Mostly, she was just angry, angry with her father for locking her in here and for babying her. Just because she was his only daughter and the youngest he had some stupid idea that she couldn't look after herself.

'I'll show him.' She said out loud to the darkness and the spiders. 'I'll show him that I can look after myself just as well as Mike or Nicky can.' This thought sobered her and she wondered if they'd managed to find Michael yet.

Apart from being angry she was afraid. If something happened to them or Mike then she'd be left all alone in here, maybe forever, no-one outside the team and the kids knew that she was in here. She'd just be left here and no-one would ever know, maybe they wouldn't find her until years later when she was dead and rotted away, nothing more than a skeleton. This thought made her shudder.

'No way.' She said and got to her feet. 'I won't let that happen, if they don't come back soon I'll start yelling, someone has to hear me. And besides Dad would never just leave me here, he'd make some sort of plans in case they don't come back. The whole reason I'm in here is so that I don't get hurt because he knows I won't stay put and do as I'm told.' She grinned at the look on his face. 'He thought that I'd just do everything he tells me because I'm the baby well I'm not, I'm a grown woman and I can make my own decisions and I'm getting out of here!' She looked round and sighed. 'Now I'm going crazy, talking to myself. If anyone does find me, they'll pull me out of here raving mad just like Dad used to be.'

She was interrupted by the sound of the door to the room outside opening and the sound of voices. 'Dad!' She yelled. 'Let me out!' She started banging on the door again, not caring about how much noise she was making.

The door to the closet opened and she blinked in the sudden light that flooded the small space. The person standing before her certainly wasn't her father. He was too young, far too young, only a few years older than Joseph she guessed, in his early twenties for definite. This man had all his hair, which was blond and slicked back and he was wearing a suit.

'Jason.' He called back. 'I've found her, the General was right, they did leave her behind.'

'Good one Kyle.'

Jason joined the man at the door, he had red hair which was in a buzz cut and the cruellest green eyes Emily had ever seen on a person. At the mention of the General alarm bells began ringing in her head, instantly she tried to duck under Kyle's arm but he grabbed hold of her and shoved her roughly into the room and onto the sofa.

'Ok miss.' He began. 'We can do this the hard way or the easy way and I really don't want to do it the hard way 'cos you seem like a sweet kid. Just come along quietly and no harm'll come to you.' Kyle's accent reminded of her father's at times; it was deep and had the same hint of a Texas drawl.

'Who are you?' She asked trying to sound nonchalant as if being yanked from closets by two men who could kill her at a moments notice was an everyday occurrence.

Jason smiled. 'Think of us as couriers and we have a package to pick up. You. The General really wants to talk to you and I wouldn't keep him waiting if I were you.'

'The General?' Emily didn't know if the 'I don't know anything' approach would work but she decided it would be worth a try. She was slowly coming to the conclusion that it might have been better to have stayed in the closet.

Kyle nodded. 'You know who we mean, don't pretend that you don't. General Hunt Stockwell.'

Emily swallowed. 'General who? Never heard of him.'

Clearly neither of them were buying this and Emily decided that she might as well quit now, whilst Kyle didn't look as if he would get a little trigger happy, Jason looked just the sort to pull out his gun and start shooting randomly.

'Yes.' Jason grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her to her feet with just the right amount of force to suggest that she didn't want to try struggling. 'General Stockwell and yes you know him. You can stop the pretence right now, you're coming with us, don't make me have to get nasty kid. I don't think the General appreciates damaged goods.'

'Ok, ok. I'll go, just let go of me.'

'Come on Jase, let go of her. She's not going anywhere, she's too scared.' Kyle turned kind eyes on Emily. 'I know you don't really understand what's going on but if you just come with us then it'll be better for you. We really don't want to hurt you.'

Jason sniggered and tightened his grip on Emily's arm. 'Speak for yourself, she's a pretty girl. Pity Stockwell wants to see her so bad or I'd take some time out to give her a little attention.'

Kyle turned cold eyes on his partner. 'Stop that, she's just a kid, we're here to do a job and we're going to do it by following the General's orders to the letter.'

Emily looked from one to the other. 'What is this? Good cop, bad cop?' She asked finally losing patience. 'Could one of you please decide what you want to do with me or I'll just get back to sitting in my little dark closet and waiting for my dad to come back.'

Jason gave her a little shove in the direction of the door. 'Well honey, it seems that what I'd like to do just isn't possible, so I guess you'll be coming with us after all. And don't you worry, your daddy will know where you are soon enough but baby, somehow I don't think he'll be rescuing you anytime soon.' Here he laughed as if it was some huge joke that Emily hadn't yet been let in on.

Kyle, brimming with impatience, took hold of Emily's arm and gently led her to the door. Jason followed behind still laughing as if the whole situation was the funniest thing he'd seen in years. Emily felt suddenly very afraid, what had happened to her father, what did Stockwell want with her? She supposed she'd been given those answers very soon but somehow that didn't make her feel any better.

*** Hannibal walked towards Stockwell's rooms; Joseph had given him detailed instructions on how to reach them. Face and BA followed close behind.

'HEY!' A shout came from behind them. 'Where are you going? You shouldn't be here!'

With a sigh Hannibal turned to face the newcomer, he really didn't need distractions right now, he wanted to get in, do the job and get out again. 'BA.' He said and BA punched the guy. The guy went flying backwards into a door, slamming it open, he lay on the floor unconscious.

With a shrug BA turned back and started walking again, part of him was looking forward to making Stockwell pay for taking Mike away from home for all this time but another part of him just wanted to get as far away from Stockwell as he could. He'd seen more than enough of the guy when he'd been working for him and he didn't really have much desire to see him again now.

Hannibal walked straight into Stockwell's office, pausing only to punch the guard in the stomach. He might be older now but that didn't mean that he'd lost the Jazz.

Stockwell looked up from his desk as Hannibal, BA and Face marched in. Face was amused to see that nothing about him had really changed, he could see the yellow sunglasses lying on the desk, he was still wearing the awful suits and he was still wearing that smug grin that suggested that he thought that things were going to go his way no matter what happened.

'Well, Colonel Smith, what a pleasure to see you again, Lieutenant Peck, Sergeant Baracus.'

BA growled and Stockwell's grin widened ever so slightly, he liked nothing more than to see BA rattled. 'It's wonderful to see you all again but I'm sorry you'll really have to do something about your guns. I don't allow my men to just walk into my office armed like that.'

Hannibal, the Jazz playing all over his face, just grinned back. 'Well, we're not your men and if I were you, I'd stand up and do exactly what we say. We have some unfinished business with you, specifically, that you're a slimeball and we're gonna treat you just like one.'

Stockwell didn't seem at all ruffled by these words. 'On the contrary Colonel, you are not me and I think you would much prefer to put your guns down now otherwise I won't be held responsible for the consequences.'

'I see nothing's changed Stockwell.' Face said. 'Well unless you count the fact that we won't put up with you anymore, oh and that we're free men now.'

Stockwell's smile did not falter in the slightest. 'Is that so Lieutenant? I think you'll find that for here and now you are no longer free.' He inclined his head to the door and Face turned, standing in the doorway were about six men all armed with guns which were firmly trained on the three men. Another door opened on the other side of the office, six more men entered the room, also armed. There were severely outnumbered and the odds were stacked against them.

BA sighed. 'Oh man.' He said and looked at Hannibal, so did Face.

Hannibal laid his gun on the table. 'Well,' He declared. 'I guess you're calling the shots.'

Stockwell smiled wider. 'Yes Colonel, I am.' At that moment, three more people entered the office by yet another door.

'Sir, we have her.'

All three men were shocked when they saw two men pulling Emily into the room. Her eyes went wide when she saw Hannibal, Face and BA standing there at gunpoint. 'Oh no.' She whispered.

'Ahh.' Stockwell said. 'Thank you, I'll talk to you later, I will deal with her now. You may leave.' He motioned to the guards on the other side of the room. 'Take these three men and put them somewhere safe.'

BA did not look at all happy about this. None of them wanted to be led away leaving Emily alone with Stockwell. She was just a kid, an impressionable one at that. Emily looked at them and realised what was wrong, she shook her head slightly. 'I'll be fine; you should do what they say.'

Hannibal had had a plan to attack the guards as soon as they made their move but that clearly wasn't an option now. Emily was too much of a target for them to do anything, fighting the guards right now would only put her in jeopardy.

Reluctantly they let Stockwell's guards lead them out of the room leaving Emily standing alone in the middle of the room, facing Stockwell.

*** Michael looked from Murdock to the door again and then nodded. 'Ok.' He said. 'I'll come home.'

Murdock grabbed him and hugged him tight, too choked up to say anything. Michael had to push him away in the end, he could hear doors banging open in the apartment, it would be a matter of seconds before the guards outside tried the bathroom next; they had to get out and now.

'We've no time Dad. We can celebrate later.' He pushed up the bathroom window and crawled out; Murdock joined him out on the fire escape.

'Down.' Murdock said. 'They're all waiting down in the street.'

Michael didn't waste time asking who they were, he could guess, he was well aware that his friends wouldn't just let the team come after him on their own. He started climbing down when a bullet whizzed past him.

He stopped, hugging the ladder tightly, his hand went to his own gun in its holster but a gunshot from just above him told him that his father had got there first.

'Go!' Murdock yelled and Michael scrambled down, on the ground he ran to where he could see BA's van parked on the side of the street. The door flew open and Brandon and Nick pulled him inside.

There was the sound of another gun; Michael thought he saw a figure standing on the roof of a nearby building, shooting at the guys trying to follow his father. Murdock dived head first into the van and lay on the floor panting for breath. Michael leaned over him and shut the doors.

'Oh man.' Murdock gasped. 'Haven't done that for years.'

'Danny.' Brandon said seemingly to thin air. 'They gone?' He listened for a moment. 'Ok, you guys come on down now. Johnny, you all clear over there? Good, we got him.'

Nick looked at Michael and then hugged him. Surprised Michael hugged him back, feeling exhausted. Murdock sat up and hugged them both and although Mike should have felt embarrassed by this show of affection from his brother and father he didn't. He hadn't realised just how much he'd missed them.

'Missed ya brother.' Brandon said, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

The radio buzzed to life suddenly. 'Brandon, you there?' Joseph's voice filled the van and Michael looked up once more surprised.

'I'm here Joseph.' Brandon answered with a grin.

'Miguel's starting to come around, are Face, Hannibal and BA back yet?'

'Not yet. Shouldn't be too long now.'

The side door to the van opened and Danny and Maria got in. Danny shook Michael's hand and Maria hugged him. Murdock climbed in the front seat beaming all over his face.

'Hey Danny.' Brandon said. 'Where'd you stash the Sodium Penethol in my van?'

'What Sodium Penethol?' Danny asked innocently as if he absolutely no idea what his friend was talking about.

Maria sighed and rolled her eyes at her twin. 'There's a bottle strapped under your seat Brandon.'

'Thanks. Joseph, look under the drivers seat, you should find a bottle strapped underneath.'

In the silence that followed while Joseph searched for the bottle, Michael turned to everybody. 'What's going on, why is Joseph with you?'

'He came looking for me.' Murdock said looking at his son. 'He's been helping us.'

Michael was silent thinking this through, Murdock looked over at Nick. 'Nick, swap seats with me will ya?'

Nick opened his mouth to protest and then caught the look in his father's eye. 'Sure.' He said quietly and as Murdock clambered into the back, he sat in the seat Murdock had vacated.

Murdock looked at Michael for a long moment and then he reached into his pocket. 'I think these belong to you.' He handed Michael his wings. For a moment Michael couldn't speak, just stared at the wings in the palm of his hand.

He swallowed hard and managed in a shaky voice to say thank you, Murdock squeezed his shoulder.

'I got it!' Joseph yelled.

'Ok there's a needle in the glove box in a sterilised packet, inject Miguel with that and he'll be out for a while.'

'Thanks.'

Brandon replaced the radio but as soon as he had done so the mobile phone rang. He picked it up his brow furrowing as he tried to work out who it was. At that moment, Johnny got in and after greeting Michael warmly he managed to find a place to sit.

There was silence as Brandon listened to the person on the other end of the phone. 'Murdock.' He said quietly. 'It's for you.'

Murdock took the phone with a puzzled expression on his face. From Brandon's reaction he didn't think it was any of the guys. 'Yeah?' He said.

'Captain Murdock.' Stockwell's voice replied in his ear. 'How nice to speak to you again.'

'What do you want?'

Murdock could almost see the smug grin on Stockwell's face.

'I've been having a most charming conversation with your daughter; she really is an interesting young woman.'

Murdock felt himself go cold, his hand tightened on the receiver. He licked his lips. 'Stockwell.' He said in a low voice, his tone making all the kids look round. 'If you hurt her, lay one finger on her then I swear I'll.'

'Now Captain, you must realise how unwise it is to be making threats. Your daughter will be fine; she will be treated with the utmost respect and courtesy. Just so long as I get what I want.'

'And that is?' Murdock asked.

'Your son.'

Murdock nearly choked. 'You think I'm willing to trade off my kids like that? You're crazy and if anyone knows crazy when he sees it, it should be me.'

'I have no doubt of that but your son is in my employee, he and I have a contract and as yet that contract has not expired. He has a job to complete.'

Murdock shook his head even though Stockwell couldn't see it. 'You are the most lowlife scum that I've ever met.'

'I take it that you refuse? Let me see if I can convince you.' There was a sound and then Emily's voice came on the line sounding small and scared.

'Daddy?'

'Emily! Are you ok, did he hurt you?'

'I'm fine.' Her voice sounded shaky.

'I'm gonna get you out of there sweetheart, I promise, I'll get you out of there. Just hang in there for me and don't listen to what he tells you. I love you honey.'

'Don't you do it Dad, don't you let him have Mikey just for me, don't you dare.' She sounded close to tears.

Murdock couldn't answer, he felt as if he was being ripped in two. Stockwell came back on the line. 'Now Captain I think you would be wise to reconsider, especially as I have your friends locked up here as well.'

Murdock's mouth was suddenly dry, his mind whirring, trying to think a way out of this.

'You have fifteen minutes.' There was a click and the line went dead but Murdock stayed holding the receiver to his ear.

'Dad?' Nick asked. 'What happened, is Em ok?'

Michael's face was pale. Murdock replaced the receiver and turned to look at all of them; he knew he had to tell them what was going on. 'Stockwell got Emily and your dad's too.'

There was a gasp from Maria and Danny put an arm around her, Brandon looked furious and Michael had a guilty air about him. Murdock noticed this.

'Michael.'

'I have to go back, that's the deal right? Me for her?'

'Yes but.'

'Then I have to go back.' His voice was quiet and he felt numb. He'd allowed himself to believe for one moment that it was all going to be ok.

'No.' Johnny said quietly and as soon as Murdock looked at him he knew that Johnny had a plan. 'I've got an idea.'

Unable to help himself, Murdock smiled. 'Go ahead, Johnny boy.'

Johnny grinned. 'We go in and get them all out.'

There was a murmur as everyone present expressed their opinions. 'We can do it.' Johnny reassured them. 'Come on, they did it for 20 years, I'm sure we can. Think of all we've learned from them and the things that we can do that they could never do.'

Murdock looked at Johnny. 'Do you really think that you can. ?'

'Yes.' Johnny insisted not letting him finish his sentence. 'Who's with me?'

'Me.' Nick said. One by one everyone offered their support.

'Me too guys.' Joseph said over the radio, he'd heard the whole thing over his earpiece.

'Right then.' Johnny told them, 'We go in the front door.'

'The front door?' Brandon protested. 'Oh man.'

'He has a point.' Murdock said. 'Sometimes that just doesn't work. Hannibal's plans are never foolproof and besides that didn't work so well for them. We need a different approach.'

'Well.' Danny said thoughtfully. 'We need to get Emily and our dads out.'

Michael's eyes lit up. 'I know how to get Em out. There's a helicopter pad up on the roof the building.'

Murdock's head whipped round. 'No problem, if you can get me a 'copter Danny then I can fly in and.'

Michael interrupted him. 'No. I'll fly, you're needed inside to help the guys and to help find Em and get her out in the first place.'

Murdock looked at him for a moment. 'Are you sure you can handle a chopper?'

Michael laughed softly. 'Oh yes, don't think planes are all I can fly. You taught me to fly everything from planes to hang gliders remember?'

Murdock smiled. 'I remember Mike. Ok, Danny go with Mikey and.'

Again Murdock was interrupted by Michael. 'Not Danny, I'm taking Maria. Danny's better suited for combat situations and besides Maria's got something that Danny doesn't.'

'What's that?' Danny asked slightly insulted.

'Breasts.' Maria answered. 'These babies never fail.'

'Jeez if your father could hear you talking like that, not to mention your mother.' Murdock told her trying to look disapproving. 'Don't you think a different approach.?'

'No.' Maria told him determinedly.

'Ok, so Michael and Maria, you go get a chopper, meet us on the roof. Radio in when you're almost ready to land.' Johnny started giving out orders. 'Brandon, get Joseph over here, we need him to help us get inside.'

'What's my job?' Brandon asked suspiciously.

'Besides punching the bad guy's lights out?' Nick said with a grin.

'Watch it Nick, I'm feelin' mean right about now, don't push me sucker.'

Murdock allowed himself to smile but hid it quickly. 'Guys.' He said softly.

Johnny looked at Brandon whose laidback manner really did seem to have vanished. 'You'll be part of the combat team and we'll need you to knock out the surveillance cameras.'

Brandon's grin nearly split his face. 'No problem.' He grabbed the radio.

'Just one problem.' Nick said, turning to Johnny. 'What about Miguel?'

'Good point.' Danny agreed. 'He should be pretty dosed up with Sodium Penethol now but that won't stop Stockwell's guys from gunning him down.'

'No he can come with us.' Maria spoke up. 'I think I've got a con that'll work perfectly and I need an unconscious male for it. I don't think Mikey here is willing.'

'I hate being a blue-collar worker in your scams Maria. You always use me for the dirty work.'

Maria grinned. 'Why you love me.'

'Wait a minute.' Murdock spoke up, an idea had occurred to him. 'We need a way of buying time. If we told Stockwell that we'd give him Miguel then he might be willing to take him instead of Michael.'

They all turned to look at him, realising that he had a point. Danny looked especially thoughtful. 'Mike, you signed a contract with Stockwell, what exactly was in it?'

Michael closed his eyes and thought carefully. 'I was bound by the terms of the contract to..work for Stockwell and as soon as I had completed the assignment, getting rid of Miguel, then the contract was null and void.' He opened his eyes. 'Well that's what Stockwell said, he'd probably have made me sign another one saying I had to work for him for the rest of my life or something.'

Danny nodded. 'That's good, thanks. Murdock, if we offer Miguel up then in effect Michael has completed the assignment, he hasn't killed Miguel but he has delivered him to Stockwell who could then decide to kill him. You could get round him that way.'

'Aww man.' Maria sighed. 'Guess I have to think up an alternative method to getting this 'copter. Guess I'll have to just rely on Plan A after all.'

'Maria, we don't have time for you to sleep with everyman that has a chopper.' Danny said dryly. 'You'll think of something, you always do.'

Maria opened her mouth to argue but Brandon got there first. 'We need to talk to Miguel.'

Murdock nodded. 'Yeah, I'll talk to him, make him help us.'

'Hey Dad go easy.' Nick said. 'Don't want him coming outta there with broken bones.'

Johnny looked at them. 'Mike, Maria, go get that chopper. Radio in when you have one. We'll talk you in from there.'

With a nod they got out the van and walked over to the car Joseph had been using. Murdock also got out and walked over to Brandon's van. He opened the door and grinned at Joseph, before getting in. He sat next to the unconscious Miguel and slapped him around the face.

'Rise and shine sleepy head.' Miguel didn't answer and Murdock sighed. 'Come on, I don't want to have to swing ya by your ankles to get you to wake up.'

'I just gave him the Sodium Penethol.' Joseph told him. 'He's gonna be out for a while.'

Murdock shook his head. 'No we need to wake him. Stockwell has the guys and my daughter. We have fifteen minutes before we're to turn Michael over to him.'

Joseph's mouth dropped open. 'You're not going to.?'

Murdock looked at him. 'What kind of father do you think I am? Of course I'm not going to give him up to that snake in a suit. But I'm not gonna let him do anything to Emily either. Mike and Maria went to get a chopper. We're working on a plan.'

'I meant you're not going to turn Miguel over to them instead are you?' I know you would never let Mike go.'

'Oh.' Murdock said slightly embarrassed. 'Sorry, no I'm not going to let Stockwell have Miguel but as far as he's concerned, we're trading Miguel for Emily and the guys. Which is why I need to wake him up and get him going.'

Murdock shook Miguel but again he stayed firmly asleep. Murdock sighed. 'I don't have time for this, I think it's time I brought the expert in.' He leaned forward and grabbed the radio. 'Brandon.'

'Yeah.' Brandon replied.

'Get over here, this guy isn't waking up.'

There was a definite grin in Brandon's voice when he spoke. 'Want me to dangle him from the roof?'

Murdock grinned, for all Brandon's laidback attitude; he seemed to like dangling people from buildings. He was getting more like BA more and more, especially when someone tried to hurt his friends.

'Sure thing, meet you up on the roof of the building Danny and Maria were on earlier. There's a nice drop from there.'

'Actually, I got a better idea.' Brandon said changing his mind. 'Buy us some more time with Stockwell and Danny'll get us back in Miguel's room.'

A light bulb flashed in Murdock's brain. He suddenly realised what Brandon meant to do, a smile curved about his lips. 'You got it kid.' He said and replaced the radio. 'Ok Joseph, we'll have to move him in a minute, first of all what's Stockwell's number?'