Disclaimer: Again? okay. I don't own Digimon and am definitely NOT making a profit from this fanfiction.

As Joe watched the scene from his hiding place it took all of his willpower not to jump out and help TK. 'But then we would just be back to square one, only with higher security.' He stayed still for about 10 more minutes before making his move. Even at the speed he was going, it still took Joe 30 minutes to get to Odaiba.

When he finally got to the city he sat down on a bench to think. 'Okay, I'm here. What now? I could go to the police, but Ijin could probably outshoot them and move his base. Then again, if I don't go to the police then TK will have no chance of getting out. What do I do?! ..I know! I'll ask one of the digidestined for help, they'll know what to do. Now, from where I am the closest is ...Matt. Figures. Well, he'll have to wait to tear me apart for leaving TK until we get TK back.' With that thought Joe got up and started to jog to Matt's apartment building.

'Why does Matt have to live on the sixth floor?' Joe wondered as he tried to catch his breath, 'and why does the elevator have to be broken today?'

Having finally caught his breath, Joe stood up, knocked on Matt's door and prayed he was home.

Matt had just finished lunch and was cleaning up the kitchen when he heard somebody knocking. 'I wonder who that is? Probably another policeman come to tell me that someone else I know has disappeared.' He thought cynically.

When he opened the door he found just the opposite. "JOE?! Come in, you've been gone for days! Are you hurt? Where were you?"

"I was with TK." Joe replied.

Matt stood frozen for a minute, too shocked to think straight. He finally found his voice. "Y-you were with TK? Is he alright? Where is he?" Matt asked now excited and frantic at the same time.

Joe looked at the ground. "Well, that's why I'm here. TK needs help and I don't know what to do?"

"Is he hurt or something? I don't understand. If he was with you, where is he now?"

"Maybe I should tell you the whole story now," sighed Joe, "I don't know the details, but I know most of it." With that Joe told Matt everything TK had told him, and what had happened afterwards.

"HOW COULD YOU LEAVE HIM THERE?! Matt shouted after Joe finished. "HE'S JUST A KID! WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY'LL DO WHEN THEY FIND OUT THAT HE HELPED YOU ESCAPE!"

"MATT! CALM DOWN!" Joe shouted, startling Matt. "I feel terrible about leaving him, but I didn't have a choice. And you chewing me out isn't helping TK. Now you can kill me if you want, but wait until later. Right now we have more important things to do."

"You're right Joe, I'm sorry. It's just.. I didn't know what happened to him. I didn't think he was dead, but I didn't think he was being tortured like this either."

"I know how you feel, it was a big shock to me too. But what do we do to help him now?"

"I don't know. From what you've told me, it seems like the police might not have much of a chance against him."

"That's what I thought, but where else can we go? They're our only option." Joe asked.

"You're right, but what if Ijin wins and we never see TK again?" Matt asked desperately.

"Don't think that way Matt. We have to try to stay positive. Now," Joe said, standing up, "Let's go to the police station."

*

While Joe and Matt had been talking, TK had been sitting in his room. Marc had still been unconscious when the other guard dragged TK back.

TK scowled as he rubbed his arm. He could already feel the bruises forming.

The guard had then dragged Marc out before going, undoubtedly, to tell Ijin about TK's little 'walk'.

So now TK was awaiting, and fearing, his punishment. 'I hope Joe gets help before Ijin comes. With all he's done when I've made tiny mistakes, I don't want to know what he'll do now that I've broken one of the biggest rules here.' TK shuddered at the thought.

He straightened up suddenly as he heard footsteps coming down the hall. He tensed as they stopped in front of his room. He heard a key turn in the lock and the door opened to reveal a very angry Ijin.

"I hear that you were out by the fence today. And since you're friend is no where to be found, I surmise that you helped him escape. That is unacceptable and you will have to be punished most thoroughly to make sure you don't get any other ideas." With that Ijin stepped menacingly towards TK.

*

Joe and Matt sat nervously in the waiting room of the police station. When they had told the secretary about Ijin she had gone to tell the police chief immediately. She returned shortly and said that the two were to sit and wait until further notice.

That had been 3 hours ago, and there had still been no word. Neither had said much as they were both so worried about TK.

"Is there a Matt and a Joe in here?" asked a woman's voice suddenly.

Both boys jumped and turned toward the voice.

"Yes, that's us." Joe replied, "I'm Joe and that's Matt."

"Very good. Now please follow me." the woman said.

Joe and Matt followed her through the station until they came to a door marked 'Chief Sanchez'.

"Go right in there." the woman said, "He's expecting you."

As soon as Matt and Joe entered the room they were met with a powerful voice.

"Ah, you must be the two I was told about. Come in, sit down. My name is Chief Sanchez."

"Hello sir." Matt said as he sat down.

"Alright. Now I bet you're wondering why I called you in here."

Both boys nodded.

"Well, you're here because I have good news and bad news for you. First, the good news. We found Takeru."

"That's great!" Joe said excitedly, "..But wait, what's the bad news?"

Chief Sanchez sighed and looked at his desk like it was the most interesting thing in the universe. "Well, you see, when we found him..."