Chapter eleven.

Amanda was waiting for Jack when he got back to his apartment. She sighed with relief when she heard the key in the door; he nodded at her then went quickly to the phone and dialled out Steve's mobile number, it was answered almost before the first ring.

"Their both there," He said quickly. He listened for a moment. "I'll be there as soon as I can;" He replaced the receiver and lent against the table for a moment. Amanda came forward and put her arm around him.

"Steve will do every thing he can to protect her," She told him softly.

"It's not just Mollie;" He said his voice cracking. "If I had been honest with Steve then Rachel wouldn't be in danger," Amanda looked at him sympathy on her face and determination as well.

"We don't know that for sure," She said. She picked her bag up from the table. "Come on lets go," Jack gave her a grateful smile. Turning he picked up his keys and they both left.

Steve still had the phone in his hand, but was silent. Mark looked at his son.

"Well?" Cheryl asked. Mark didn't need to ask, he could tell by his son's face that she was in there.

"Their both there," He said softly. He knew he should be happy, but a sense of overwhelming dread threatened him. He felt his father's hand on his shoulder. Two more cars pulled up at the side of the truck and several plain-clothes officers got, all wearing bullet proof vests, Steve was surprised to also see Captain Newman was also there.

"The Chief wanted to make sure everything is done by the book," He said fixing Steve with a stare. All Steve did was shrug; he was determined to get Rachel and Mollie out, if it lost him his job then so be it. Newman could see the look on his lieutenant's face and inwardly groaned, it was going to be like that, and not he could blame the man. Steve and Cheryl had already put on their vest before they got there.

"They are both in there," He said, and Newman nodded.

"By rights Sloan I should make you wait out here," Newman told him, Steve's eyes narrowed. "But as there as much chance of you obeying that order as pigs flying, so we won't go there," Some of the other officers smiled grimly at the comment, everyone knew at the station not to interfere when it came this kind of situation, Steve had a habit of lashing out at anyone who interfered. "They maybe in there but we don't know exactly where, Sloan, Banks you go in we'll follow you in ten minutes, we can't leave it any longer than that," Steve nodded. Mark came forward his face clearly showing concern.

"Please be careful son," He said. Steve looked at his father.

"I will dad," He said with grim determination. Mark watched as his son and his partner walked towards the warehouse, Jesse placed a comforting arm around him.

"He'll be okay," He said.

"I hope so Jesse," He sighed.

Rachel was looking around the small room that she and Mollie were being kept in. The little girl was back at her colouring book, and Rachel was trying to find something that might help them get out alive. She had been on edge ever since the little girl had come back and told her what Jack had said, Mollie was treating it like some kind of game, but Rachel had known how serious the warning was. If Stewart or his men got to them before the police did, they would either be killed or used to help them get away, either scenario didn't sit well with her. So she had started to search the room looking for anything she could use as a weapon. Her eyes fell on the bed that Mollie had been using during her stay here, she walked over and began to pull at one of the metal legs trying pry it lose.

"What are you doing?" Mollie asked her curiously, coming over and standing just behind her. Rachel while still trying to get the leg loose.

"I need something to use to stop your uncles men from getting to us if need be," She told her, having no luck with the leg.

"You should try the right back one, its lose," She said helpfully. Rachel gave the girl a smile as she pulled it free. She stood up.

"Mollie," She said her voice serious, The little girl came to her, "Now this is important, you must do exactly what I say when I say it," She told her, the girl nodded, her expression had turned frightened. "Everything will be okay, but you must do what I say," Mollie threw her small arms around her and Rachel returned that hug.

"I promise," She said in a small voice. Rachel smiled at her.

"Now why don't you see if you can draw a nice picture for Mark," She said.

"You mean I'll get to meet him at last," She said excitedly. "Daddy told me all about him," Rachel nodded and Mollie returned to the table and began to draw with new gusto. Rachel walked over to the door, trying to listen to see if anyone was coming. Placing herself so that anyone coming through the door wouldn't see her until it was to late, she stood and waited.

Steve felt it was taking too long to reach them, they were quickly running out of time. Suddenly he heard the sound of two men laughing; he quickly motioned to Cheryl to pull back into the shadows. Slowly he moved forward and carefully peek around the corner, luckily both men where facing the opposite direction. One was leaning against the wall.

"What do you think the boss will do with them ?" He heard one ask.

"Well the boss doesn't want any witnesses," The other said with a shrug. The other one looked surprised.

"The kid as well?" He asked. The man nodded again. "But aren't she and her father family?"

"Yeah!" The man stood up right. "No lose ends he said," He then gave an evil grin to his partner. "Hey! Perhaps he'll let us have a bit of fun with the woman first," Steve's grip on his gun tightened.

"Yeah!" The other man leered. "That is one nice woman, you got to admire the cop's taste," The other man laughed, then looked towards the door. "It's quite in there let's go get a drink,"

"Sure why not," The other said and they both left and went down the corridor away from where Steve was hiding. Steve sighed with relief he knew where they both were now, he signalled to Cheryl and also pointed to the room where they were. Cheryl grinned and gave the thumbs up sign. He moved cautiously forward keeping a watch out for any one coming from in front of him knowing that Cheryl was watching his back. When he got to the door he noted the key in the lock and shook his head, at the least the two men how had just left should have took them with them. Carefully he unlocked the door and made his way in. A movement in the corner of his eye warned him that someone was there, quickly ducking out of the way, he then forced the person back against the wall and pushing their arms up, suddenly he was face to face with who had tired to attack him.

"Steve!" He heard Rachel gasp. Then a small stabbing pain from the back of his leg made him shout. "Mollie no!" Steve then heard a small voice shout.

"You let her go mister;" Steve turned to face an angry girl with what appeared to be a sharpened pencil in her hand.

"Its okay Mollie," Rachel reassured the girl. "He's here to help us;" She looked at him suspicion in her eyes.

"You sure ?" She demanded. Still threatening Steve with the sharpened pencil.

"Yes!" Rachel said with small laugh and then lent her head against his shoulder blades. Steve turned back towards the door and saw his partner there with laughter in her eyes.

"We'd better find some place else to hide quickly," She said. Steve nodded and turned back to Rachel.

"You okay?" He asked concern in his voice. She nodded. "We don't have much time;" She nodded and looked at Mollie.

"Come on Mollie," She told the girl. "We have to leave now,"

"What about my pictures?" She asked.

"Don't worry we can come back for them later," She answered quickly.

They made there way back tracing the steps that they had used getting in. Steve glanced at his watch he knew the ten minutes were up and was waiting for the shouts, He didn't have to wait long coming around the corner two of Stewarts men came, guns already drawn. Before they could shoot though Steve and Cheryl both shot first. Rachel grabbed hold of Mollie and held the now very frightened little girl against her, Steve pushed them both behind some packing cases to hide them from view.

"Keep down," He told them quickly. As a hiding place it wasn't ideal, Rachel realised this as she could clearly see that it was a corridor made with packing crates, but there was no alternative. Steve hated being separated from Cheryl like this; he knew that he couldn't cover both ways by himself, but he had been in a hurry to get Rachel and Mollie undercover and had lost sight of which way she had gone. Suddenly Rachel's frightened cry reached him; he turned towards her and saw John Stewart near to her with his gun pointed directly at her. Rachel had pushed Mollie behind her in an effort to protect her. Steve moved quickly forward. Stewart saw him and his gun wavered between him and Rachel. The silence of the warehouse was broken by the sound of a gunshot; the only sound that followed was the sound of Mollie crying.

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Thanks to all who have given me ideas over Jack I have decided what to do with him, but I'll leave as a surprise. But don't worry adsh I won't forget Jesse if I do keep him around.

Also a big thanks to both kompy and Ann your encouragement has meant a lot to me.

Alison.