Author's Note: The lyrics to "What Might Have Been" by Little Texas are copyrighted by them and their respective songwriters. I still don't own anyone but Annie, and Lisa still doesn't own anyone but Roxanne. :)



War Fields: Chapter 10



Matt watched as his son finally managed to calm down and get some sleep. The images of Annie and Roxy's boat exploding had practically paralyzed him. The police had been notified, but their search of the water way and surrounding areas had turned up empty. Matt silently hoped Brad and Dusty would find them alive and well. He couldn't blame Brad for losing his temper. If it weren't for the fact he had to control his emotions as leader, he would have joined them. Damn it Roxanne, why for once can't you run the other way or not do nothing at all! Matt rubbed his eyes with frustration as he glanced out the hotel window. She was like a wild horse nothing could tame her. She could only be happy by being free to express who she really is. Why did I lie to myself? She'll never sever her ties with VENOM. They'll always be apart of her. Matt was never ready to accept this, but he didn't want to lose her either. Despite all the troubles she mange to get herself into, he couldn't stop loving her. She was his daughter…dangerous, yet special in every way. His head jerked way from the window as he heard a light knock at the door. Brad and Dusty had returned empty handed and just as frustrated as they started their search. Matt led them into the room next door, "Well?"

"Nothing!" Brad said with disbelief, "Not even a hint."

"I went up and down those water ways a thousand times," Dusty shook his head.

"Police didn't have any luck either. They check out the wreckage of the boat, there were no bodies. Which is a good thing. That means the girls are still alive," Matt reminded hoping the lift their spirits slightly.

"Alive for now," Brad mustered out holding his fist, "My gut tells me VENOM has them."

Matt nodded he also had concluded that possibility, "IF that is the case, Roxy won't let anything happen to Annie."

"How can you say that Matt?" Dusty barked at him, "She dragged the poor girl against her will into all of this. Plus that woman going to brain wash her."

"I know you don't trust her Dusty, but she take responsibility for her own mistakes," Matt reminds him.

Brad was lost in thought. Vanessa never asked about their daughter, even when he brought it up in conversation. Even if Annie were with VENOM, Vanessa would probably protect her for his sake. "Matt's right," he said softly.

"Now I know this search is drivin' ya plumb crazy, Brad," Dusty said, "but that ain't no cause to go takin' the wrong side!"

"I'm not taking sides," Brad sighed, too tired to argue. "But he is right. Contrary to appearances, Roxy wouldn't let anything serious happen to Annie. And if it was out of Roxy's hands, Vanessa would protect them, if only out of sheer self preservation."

Dusty nodded. "Makes sense in a perverse sorta way. Probably figures the bricks won't come down quite so hard if the girls are healthy."

"Exactly," was Brad's terse reply.

The three heads looked up as Buddy charged into the room, "Ok I don't know where the girls are, but I got a lead on who VENOM's sponsor is. Mistier Lamont Venice's multibillionaire owns a nice mansion over looking the city, if you haven't seen it already. He's a collector of historical items; word out of the street is he's been trying to buy the altar from the city. The city of Venice refused his offer, stating it was a priceless artifact of their history to sell it would a grave sin. Another thing Mistier Lamont is known to give generous donations to Contra World in exchange for some rare artifacts."

"That sounds like our man. Good work," Matt smiled thinking thing are about to look up.

"Eh that's not all," Buddy added, "The exchange was suppose to happen today, but VENOM got a little greedy. So now he has to make another trip to the bank to withdraw some more."

"Alright then Buddy, we'll go pay Mistier Lamont a home visit. Maybe he'll tell us where VENOM is hiding." Matt remarked as gathered his suit.

"Fat chance at that," Brad huffed.

"If he doesn't, then I think VENOM going to be a little peeved when they find out their sponsor just got kidnapped on the way to the bank," Matt added knowing that Brad and Dusty preferred that method of interrogation then politely asking.

"Dad? I heard voices. Did you find them?" Scott asked sleepily in his boyish, not quite matured voice. He poked his head out the door of the other room, met Brad's gaze head on, and then quickly looked over to his father.

"We have a lead, son. We were just heading out to investigate," Matt replied matter of factly.

"Can I--" Scott stumbled a moment, looking for the proper wording, then he rephrased his question. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"As a matter of fact, there is," Brad, piped in suddenly before Matt could reply.

Matt looked like he wanted to say something, until he caught the pointed look Brad shot him.

Scott forced himself to look up at Brad. Brad noticed that Scott was giving him the same scared rabbit look that Annie always gave Matt. Only then did he realize how his earlier outburst must have looked to the poor kid. He probably thinks I'm going to kill him, and rightly so, after the way I acted. With that in mind, Brad gave him what he hoped was his warmest smile and said, "You can go back to sleep and get rested up just in case the girls happen to wander back here looking for us."

Buddy caught the deflated look on Scott's face, and joshed him a little. "Not exactly the excitement you were expecting, huh, Scott?"

"Not...really..." Scott admitted as he ran his fingers through his hair a bit nervously.

"Aww, now Scott, come on," Dusty chided teasingly. "You can't tell me you wouldn't want to miss bein' here if a certain pretty redhead were to come walkin' through that door in need of rescue."

Thunderstruck, Brad stared openly at Dusty's comment, then looked back at the blush rising in Scott's cheeks to see the truth of it. Dear God...am I THAT blind? Dusty grinned openly and Buddy was trying unsuccessfully to hide a smirk. Am I the only one who did NOT see this? He met Matt's calm blue stare, realizing that he was indeed not alone in this context. As he and Matt exchanged the classic 'let's talk about this later' look, Brad ushered Scott into the other room before the poor kid spontaneously combusted.

"No wonder you looked at me like you thought I was going to kill you...you've got it baaaaaddd," Brad said before he realized that wasn't exactly as helpful as he intended.

"I feel responsible for what happened, and I guess...I guess I thought maybe you'd blame me too," Scott confessed with a look somewhere between frightfully embarrassed and deathly afraid.

"Speaking from personal experience, Scott, I know exactly how it feels to have a situation snowball completely out of your control," Brad sympathized. "And if I'm going to blame anyone for this mess, it'll be myself."

"You?" Scott questioned in surprise as he sat down on his bed. "Why?"

"Because I should have listened to my better instincts and left Annie where I knew she'd be safe instead of letting your father talk me into taking her along." Brad heaved a deep sigh.

"That's crazy!" Scott exclaimed vehemently. "All you tried to do is give Roxy a friend that she probably doesn't even deserve. You didn't know that all of this stuff was gonna happen!"

"Neither did you," pointed out Brad slyly.

"Hey, wait, I---" Scott trailed off, wearing that same thunderstruck expression Brad had a few moments ago.

"Admit it," Brad grinned, "I have you."

Scott smiled the first genuine smile since this whole situation started. "All right, you got me."

"Good. Now get some sleep. I'm going to go reassure your father that you're still alive," Brad quipped, resting a reassuring hand on Scott's shoulder for a moment.

"Brad...when you see Annie...would you tell her---"

"Nope," Brad cut him off, "cause I'm going to bring her back so that you can tell her yourself."

He walked out as the younger boy laid back down. As soon as he re-entered the room, he said to Matt in a low, conspiratorial whisper. "Let's go, but make sure to remind me when this is all over that we need to have a chat about your son and my daughter."



The next morning Lester Sludge stormed into Mayhem's office, "Boss we got a problem."

"What!" Mayhem shouted.

"MASK picked up Mistier Lamont." He replied slightly shaken by what Mayhem could do next.

"You were told to keep a close eye on him!"

"I was…but MASK out numbered me 4 to 1." Lester replied hoping his excuse was good enough to let him live the remaining years of his life.

"Did you at least follow them?"

"Umm…. really I tried boss, but I ended up chasing an illusion, that did a nasty number on Iguana."

Mayhem slammed his fist on his desk, "DAMN YOU MASK! Now I have to waste more time in this city sending out for intelligence information. I was only hours away from receiving payment, and now all this work was for NOTHING!" His tone calmed down as an idea struck his head, "Maybe we know somebody, who knows where they are,"

"Who boss?" Lester replied scratching his head

Mayhem headed out of his office and headed straight for the holding cells with Lester following. He first glanced at the red head who starred at him wondering, if that was thee Miles Mayhem the ruthless terrorist leader of VENOM. He then turned his attention towards the other cell where Roxanne met his cold gaze.

You behave, and I keep the rest of these goons outta here, echoed Rax's voice in Annie's mind, as his promise of 'friendship' started to ring hollow in her ears. Obviously that promise didn't extend to VENOM's leader since Miles Mayhem now stood outside the door of her cell. Mayhem gave her a once over with his cold, calculating gaze, and Annie's heart turned to ice. She prayed that his stare didn't last too long, lest he notice her resemblance to Vanessa. Her prayers were answered when he turned his full attention back to Roxanne. I couldn't have withstood that withering look for much longer, Annie thought to herself as she did her best to make herself less visible, which wasn't too hard. She had a natural tendency to blend into her surroundings, even surprising her own father in the house on occasion. Although revolted by the mere sight of the man, Annie couldn't help but watch his every move intently.

Roxanne stood up unimpressed by his visit and made an attempt to hide any emotions that would give away her fears. The smile on his face told her he wanted something badly, "Roxy tell me where your father is hiding."

"You know, I wouldn't tell you even if I knew the answer," She snapped back at him.

He didn't have time to play such games, "Bring her Lester!" Mayhem headed towards a room at the end of the hall, while Lester unlocked Roxy cell and forced her to follow.

She gave Annie a look of worry, before starring at the room of horrors that awaited her. If only Annie wasn't here, then I could run for my life.

"Where are you taking her?" Annie asked fearful of being left alone.

Lester just smiled and blew a kiss at Annie, "Don't worry sugar your next."

She stood there pale. Next for what? Something told her she really didn't want to know, and something told her that Rax better show up soon if the leering look Lester had given her was any indication of what was to come.

The door slammed behind Roxy as she entered, and Lester grabbed her arms in a strong hold behind her back. Her heart was racing, but she wasn't going to crumble. He wasn't going to get any satisfaction out of tormenting her.

Mayhem walked up to her and held her face inches from his, "Tell me where your old man is!" She starred into his cold-blooded eyes and didn't utter a word. He let go of her face and picked up a poker from the fireplace that he had conveniently let burning on the blazing fire. Roxanne wanted to close her eyes knowing that what he was about to do was going to hurt like hell. She had always known it to be true that he knew a thousand ways to torment a person with out killing them. He let her get a good look at it up close, before he took the burning poker and stabbed it into her left side.

The inhumane scream Annie heard left a strong chill down her spin, "I'm…next." She sat down on the mattress before her feet gave out from under her. She felt extremely dizzy, whether from the blow to the head, or abject fear, she wasn't sure. She pulled her knees up to her chin and closed her eyes, trying to block out the rest of the pain filled cries coming from the other room, as well as the pain still nagging her own head. Annie tried to think of something, anything, to take her mind off the torture she knew was going on in the other room, but no Rangerly advice was forthcoming. Just more screams.

Roxanne was in excruciating pain, that she wanted nothing more then to fall and hit the floor. I can handle this. I won't…I won't betray him ever again! Her breathing became heavier and sweat pored down her face, yet she still met his gaze with complete hatred, "Is that all you GOT! Obviously my old man has more smarts then you do, if you can't find him." Her response triggered a rise in his anger, causing him to stab her again into her left side. She gritted her teeth attempting not to give him the pleasure of another scream. The sharp burning pain flowed all thru her entire body. Her legs wobbled, and it felt as if Lester was the only one holding her up. He's NOT going to get any Pleasure out of this! She screamed in her mind as her hands clenched tightly into fists.

"If you know what's good for you girl, you will answer when spoken to!" Mayhem barked.

"I'd rather die then tell you ANYTHING!" With that last outburst, Mayhem took the poker and took a stab into her right side. She could no longer handle it anymore; her body fell straight to the floor. Tears were falling from her eyes, but only an expression of pure hate was displayed on her face.

"It's good to see you're growing immune to my torture," he remarked with such delight. "I may just let you back in one of these days." He turned his attention to Lester, "Bring in the other one, she'll talk."

NO! NOT ANNIE! She panicked then begged Mayhem as she laid at his feet, "NO! I'll…I'll tell you what you want to know."

He looked down noticing her change in cooperation, "So you actually care about that girl."

She didn't admit anything, but Vanessa, Brad, Dusty, Scott, and everyone else cared deeply for her. If Annie had to endure this, she'd never be forgiven. "Promise me NOBODY will hurt her," she managed to muster out still feeling a strong rush of pain.

"Alright," Mayhem said with a wicked grin on his face. She knew that meant for a short time he'd keep his bargain.

She confessed to the floor, "My dad and his team are staying at the Hotel Panorama, under an alias name."

Mayhem walked out of the room satisfied, "Lock her back up!"

Lester picked her up, yet he mostly dragged her towards her cell.

Annie starred in horror still thinking she was next. The holes in Roxy's blood stained shirt revealed something so horrific, that she had to turn away to regain her composure. She thought for sure she was going to end up dry heaving what wasn't left in her stomach. Even in some of the Ranger's worst case scenarios, most of which Jesse never let her see, Annie had never seen burns that bad. She took a deep, ragged breath and spared a glance Roxy's way.

Roxanne leaned up against her cell avoiding eye contact with Annie, as Lester locked her back in and took off.

"Roxy? Are…are you ok?" Oh good grief, Annie, couldn't you have come up with something a little less CLICHE and INANE to say? Annie felt like questioning her own sanity when she replied to herself, no, actually I couldn't. Does SHOCK mean anything to you?

Roxanne lifted her head up to look at Annie. Her face was dripping with sweat, but her eyes were exactly as Annie remembered from the previous night. They were full of rage and ready to strike on the first prey that came in sight, "Am I OK?! DO I LOOK OK?! THIS IS YOUR FAULT AS USUAL!"

"What is the matter with you?! Why do you blame me for your own problems? I didn't do this to you!" She hammered back at her.

Roxanne couldn't think straight the pain was getting to be unbearable, "I could of escaped from here, if it wasn't for you damn head injury! I should of just LEFT YOU HERE!"

"YOU'RE THE ONE WHO GAVE ME THIS," She yelled as she pointed to the bandage on her head. "You know your kidding yourself, if you can actually break out of that cell. And you wouldn't DARE leave me HERE! You don't have the guts! My father and the rest of MASK would hunt you down and kill you, and use your father's money to do it!"

"Like I really care what that wash up singer and his team would do. Believe me Annie if I have enough guts to shoot my own brother, I think I can live with abandoning you."

Annie's eyes went wide with disbelief ,"You shot Scott?" What the hell was my father thinking letting me hang around with her? She's practically mental. She started to shake all over again, but she wasn't going to give Roxanne the satisfaction of seeing it. She thought she felt the first stirrings of the 'fight or flight' response kicking in, as she said calmly and coldly. "You know what? I think I'd rather rot and die HERE than be rescued by someone who would turn on their own family!"

"JUST SHUT UP ANNIE! JUST SHUT UP!" Roxanne then turned her back to Annie and took her first step towards her bed. Instead of reaching her soft bed, she ended up collapsing to the floor into a little ball. Her entire body shivered violently in pain on the cold floor. Roxy began to cry, while she kept mumbling softly under her lip, "just shut up…shut up."

Annie reply was interrupted as she watched Roxy crash to the floor. She really started to panic when the noises stop coming from Roxanne's cell. Is she dead? Did she leave me here to die by myself! Lord, forgive me, I can't believe I'm about to do this. "RAX!" She screamed wildly, calling for the only person she had to place her faith in at the moment.

About five minutes later Rax approached her with his ears covered, "Dang you have a loud mouth! Quit your hollering. What is it? It's not even lunch time yet."

She didn't utter a word; just motioned her head towards Roxanne's cell as a hint.

Rax stood their dumb founded for a moment. She better not be faking, else I'll give her something that will knock her out.

"Listen, I didn't swallow my pride and yell just to have you stand there and stare!" Annie snapped, surprised at her own audacity. "Do something! She needs your help!"

He ignored her mouth and entered Roxanne's cell. He knelt down letting his eyes survey her closely. "Roxy?" his voice offered a hint of concern as he checked her pulse. Her unresponsiveness caused him to scooped her up into his arms and gently laid her on the bed.

"YOUR BOSS DID THAT TO HER!" Annie yelled with utter disgust. How can she call these people friends? A friend is supposed to watch the other's back.

Rax wasn't surprise one bit; in fact he had hoped to prevent this from happening. He headed over towards a nearby intercom, to contact Vanessa who was working on her vehicle, "Vanessa I need you to bring a first aid kit to the holding area."

Vanessa huffed in protest, "I'm in the middle of getting Manta ready for battle."

"JUST DO IT!" he ordered her, probably for the first time in his life.

Vanessa figured Annie probably just blacked out again, but she wasn't prepared to handle the sight that greeted her. Annie was ok; she was pressed up against her cell watching something. Her eyes followed in the same direction noticing a pale Roxanne looking like she was lying on her deathbed. "That old bastard," She muttered under her breath. She moved in closer and pushed Rax out of the way, "Let me look!"

"Well sorry if your motherly instincts just decide to kick in, but I got here first." He argued.

Roxanne mumbled half dazed, "Mommy it really hurts."

Mommy? She just called my mother, mommy! Who...does she think she is? Annie bickered silently to herself. She wanted to snap off another stinging remark to Vanessa, but thought better of it. She simply watched the VENOM agents with a look between concern and fury.

Vanessa put a gentle hand over her burning forehead, "I know it does." She lifted up her shirt, "Damn it! He used the poker. Get me a needle and some thread, I'm going to have to sew her up."

He protested, "But I'm much better at doing that then you are."

"Don't argue with me! Just give them to me!"

Roxanne grunted and whimpered as Vanessa sewed up her wounds. Rax had left the room looking for clean clothes and something that would ease her pains. Roxanne opened her eyes slightly, "I wasn't going to let him have her."

Vanessa rested a cool rag on her head, "I know that."

"I didn't want to cave in…I almost won." She remarked with slight regret in her voice.

"Get some rest…you'll win next time," She remarked as she pushed something into Roxanne hand and exited her cell.

Why does she treat her differently? Annie wondered as she watched in utterly confusion and slightly jealous. She was practically willing to throw me around the room with my injuries, yet now she's nursing hers! "What does she have that I don't?" She asked before Vanessa disappeared from her sight.

"The capabilities to be my successor," She answered walking out leaving that as that.

According to her mother, she was never good enough to be her daughter. Her words pierced her heart and enraged her that Roxy had stolen her mother from her. How could she have stolen something you NEVER had to begin with? Deep down, Annie knew the answer to her own question. She sat back down again, chin on her knees, and admitted to herself for the first time why Vanessa Warfield wanted nothing to do with her...because of her father. Brad was Vanessa's weakness...and Vanessa Warfield didn't have weaknesses. Annie was, and would have been, a constant reminder of that one weakness, and so Vanessa had chosen to abandon her rather than admit that she was weak. It still hurts. I still wonder what it would have been like to have them together, to be a normal family. To not have to see that haunted look cross Dad's eyes when his defenses dropped...to not have him look at me and see her...to not have him have lost even the smallest iota of trust of the MASK team...


Try not to think about what might have been
'Cause that was then, and we have taken different roads
We can't go back again, there's no use givin' in
No we'll never know...what might have been



Roxy, on the other hand, was everything Annie wasn't. Street smart, sassy, tough, strong...it wasn't any wonder Vanessa treated her more like a daughter. Anger, mixed with bitterness and tinged with regret, soared through her passionately, and driven by fear, hardened into a resolve colder than the mountain snows. I can be strong, she thought coldly. I WILL be strong, because I am damn well going to get out of here. Annie's normal, rational side protested this change in her attitude, but lost out to the pain in Annie's temples and her irrational thoughts. Out of sheer self preservation, Annie Turner nurtured her newfound cold, hard, resolve, becoming more like her mother than she dared admit.