Jesse closed his eyes as a wave of pain seared his throbbing shoulder. He tried to move away from the pain but unfortunately, his shoulder simply followed him.

"Hey, you okay?" Steve murmured, turning his head to face the doctor.

Jesse took a deep, silent breath before answering. "Yeah, great," he breathed, glancing at the back of Darnell's head. "You?"

Steve ignored him. "Shouldn't you be putting pressure on that?"

Jesse flinched at the thought of the pain that would cause. Jesse decided that the cinema had majorly screwed up by falsely representing this kind of injury as more of an inconvenience than the debilitating agony that it really was. Those hot-shot movie actors were full of it. As soon as he was back in his apartment, he was going to write some letters on what being shot really felt like.

"Jesse, come on, I don't want you passing out on me." Steve started as he took off his outer shirt and began ripping it. "I'm sorry I got you in to this but I promise, I will get us out."

"I know you will." Jesse tried to turn away when he saw Steve holding up the strip of fabric but in the back seat of a car, there's not many places to hide.

Steve made a reprimanding face. "Would you hold still?" he snapped, but looked at Jesse with kindness. "Don't look, it'll only hurt for a second."

Jesse took a breath as if he were preparing to dive into the deep end of a pool and turned his head to the window. A new flare of pain ignited in his arm as the detective quickly cinched the makeshift bandage tight and tied it. A small yelp escaped Jesse's lips and he shifted, hoping to cover the sound. When he turned back to Steve, the detective was eyeing him wearily.

"You okay?" Steve asked.

Jesse nodded. He rubbed the wetness out of his eyes and tired to blame it on the afternoon sun. Maybe now he would stop bleeding and be of more help to Steve when they figured out a way out of this mess. "Thanks," he mumbled, glancing at the back of Darnell's head. So far, the guy hadn't said one word since the car started moving. Jesse was thankful and a frightened at the same time. He'd rather have a sane, angry terrorist over a calm, psychotic one.

Another thing bothered Jesse; the fact that the guy hadn't tied them up or blindfolded them. This creep was either extremely sure of himself, or sure of the fact that Steve wouldn't dare leave his wounded friend alone in the hands of this man. The fact that Darnell hadn't bothered with a blindfold told Jesse that wherever they were going, Darnell had no intention of letting them go.

The car drove purposefully through downtown and into the warehouse district of the city. Jesse thought they might have crossed a time warp and entered a scene from an old Starsky and Hutch episode. Any minute now, a striped red Ford Torino would come barreling around the corner of one of the large, gray buildings. The streets were empty, trash lay on the ground where the blacktop met cinderblock, and so far the only living being Jesse spotted was a plump, streetwise pigeon. Perfect place for a murder. Or two.

He felt a warm hand on his knee and Jesse turned to look into Steve's powerful gaze. Maybe the detective was just putting on a tough front, but it helped calm Jesse's overwhelming apprehensiveness nonetheless. His mood changed. If he was gonna die, then damn it, he had a right to know why. "I must have screwed up your order pretty bad for you to get back at me like this," he directed to the back of Darnell's bald head.

Darnell shot him a look in the rear view mirror. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Last night, at Bar-B-Q Bob's. You were the first customer."

There was a husky laugh in the front seat. "That's what you think this is about?"

Jesse glanced at Steve. "So this is just for fun?"

"Oh cut the crap queer. You're here because scum like you should be exterminated."

Jesse was silent for a moment. "Doctors?" he pushed.

"Jesse..." Steve warned.

"Listen to your boyfriend and shut the hell up," Darnell snapped, signaling that he was through talking.

Jesse looked at Steve with wide eyes. "You're my boyfriend?"

Steve smacked Jesse on the head. "Just stop talking, alright?"

The movement was forced and Jesse knew that Steve was trying to keep a brave façade for his sake. Jesse's gaze landed on the two guns lying on the passenger seat and closed his mouth, losing his smile. He would keep quiet if it might help keep Steve out of trouble. Outside, the sky lost it's mid-afternoon brightness as the sun began slipping towards the earth. They had been driving for a long time now and Jesse was sure that they were lost. They looming buildings became more lonely as the car passed by. There wasn't so much as a street bum outside. Just tall, empty buildings that completely lacked personality or hope.

When Jesse was sure he couldn't take any more of the repetitious scenery, the car turned into a dark, cave-like parking garage that tunneled into a monstrous warehouse. The car was plunged into darkness and Darnell turned on the headlights to help navigate through the dimly lit concrete dungeon. Jesse looked to Steve. Their journey was nearing it's end.

Darnell's ears raised a fraction as he smiled. Up ahead, a small group of men had gathered in the furthest corner of the garage from the entrance. Two more dark cars were parked side by side off in the shadows. The wide, circular concrete support pillars spread throughout the private space like silent witnesses. A heavy feeling of panicky dread boiled in Jesse's stomach. Maybe if he prayed hard enough, he would wake up before this nightmare took a turn for the worse.

The car stopped. "Alright girls, we're here."

Darnell grabbed the reflective guns before opening the door. He shoved Steve's gun in his waistband as he got out of the car. Darnell opened the door on Jesse's side and immediately pointed the gun at the doctor. "Out," he ordered. The men in the corner were starting to creep forward now.

Jesse swung his torso to gain momentum for the rest of his body. He eyed the approaching gang wearily as Steve emerged from the car behind him silently.

Darnell shut the car door. "I'd like you to meet some friends of mine," he said as if he were introducing some of his oldest pals.

Steve's chin rose a little higher and Jesse tried to relax at the detective's confidence. "Hey guys," Jesse croaked out with a small wave.

A rough shove from Darnell sent him stumbling into the closest thug's grip. Instantly the group closed around Jesse and Steve, effectively subduing them both. Jesse was pulled along by the calloused hands of a tall, heavy-set man with closely shaved dark hair. Steve stumbled beside him in the hands of his captors as the group moved into the shadows, towards a couple of wall-mounted light fixtures spaced about six feet apart.

"String 'em up there," Darnell ordered, motioning with a quick wave of his hand.

Jesse clenched his jaw against the pain as his arms were forced together in front of him then tied tightly together with what looked like baling twine. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the same being done to Steve. Other than a hard glare that let bad guys knew he meant business, Steve offered no other retaliation. Jesse looked back to his own hands.

"Looks like we scored double this time boys," Darnell started as he paced the small space in front of Steve and Jesse. "Not only are these to pricks fairies, but this one's a cop." Darnell stopped with an evil smile aimed at Steve.

Darnell's henchmen quickly yanked Jesse's hands up over his head, eliciting a muted yelp which sent the doctor's gaze to the ground indignantly. The same was done to Steve, but where the detective was tall enough for his bound wrists to contact the light fixture, Jesse was roughly shoved up the wall in order to immobilize him. When the powerful men stepped away, the shorter doctor was left standing on his toes.

The gang eyed its' captives in the same manner that Jesse had seen his junkie patients long for a fix. "You see," Darnell continued, his eyes roaming amongst the garage's occupants, "We don't much like cops around here, do we fellas?"

A collective negative murmur rose from the group of five men.

"And we 'specially don't like queers."

As if part of a well-rehearsed play, two of the meaty goons stepped forward and threw their weight into a solid punch to each captive's midsection. The air was forced from Jesse's lungs so fast his throat itched. His desperate gasps were echoed by Steve as his wrists momentarily supported all of his weight, setting fire to the wound in his shoulder. His struggles were torn between dragging oxygen back into his body and locking his knees to take the pressure off his wrists. The last time he had been nailed that skillfully was the first and last time he showed his face at high school football practice.

Steve ground out, "Do you know what you're getting yourself into, Darnell? Are you really dumb enough to mess with a cop?"

Darnell stepped forward to stand in front of Steve. "I think I'd be doing the force a favor by disposing of your sorry ass. You and your piece of ass over there," he emphasized with a sideways jerk of his head.

Jesse lifted his head just in time to watch Steve lash out with his foot, landing a solid kick in Darnell's stomach. The gang leader doubled over and stumbled back a few steps, into the supporting grip of a tattooed man. Darnell looked up in embarrassed anger and barked, "Get them!"

o0O0o

Mark looked at the chaos surrounding his once peaceful beach house. A number of marked police cars littered the front lawn and driveway as an even greater number of uniformed police men combed the house and driveway for evidence. As much as he tried to stall them, the police had called in a medical examiner to describe the events involving the bloodstains in the guest bedroom. With a sigh, he watched Amanda Bentley add her car to the number out front and walk hurriedly towards the house.

"Mark! Are you alright?" she exclaimed as her walk turned into a jog.

When she reached him, the two embraced momentarily. "I'm fine, it's the boys I'm worried about. They're gone and we're all wasting time here!"

Amanda eyed him with more scrutiny. "What happened?"

Mark took a breath and shifted his weight. "Jesse called me this morning. He had been shot. Looks like a sniper had been on the dunes."

Amanda's worried gasp interrupted him. "Jesse was shot? Why didn't you call me? Where is he?"

Mark grasped her hands in his. "I was on my way when I lost contact with him. I got here and he was gone. Steve's car is here, so he must have gotten to Jesse." Mark sighed. "There's a tracking unit in Steve's car. I'm afraid that whoever he was undercover staking out has somehow turned the tables and taken both Steve and Jesse."

"Why aren't the police busy going after them?"

"This guy is dangerous," the police captain interrupted as he approached. "If he really has Lieutenant Sloan and Dr. Travis," he said, emphasizing the question, "There's no telling how he will react to the threat of a police force on his tail."

"But my son-"

"You're son is one of the finest men on my team. I have no doubts that the situation is under control." The influential man started to turn away. "As soon as Darnell is holed up, we'll move."

o0O0o

Jesse shut his eyes half a second before the lead pipe bounced off his ribs. He had long since given up the fight to stay on his toes. He simply hung limply against the gritty concrete wall and felt the blow reverberate through his bleeding body and down his spine. He gulped for air, his mind and body at war with each other as both threatened to shut down.

The pipes had been produced from the trunk of one of the parked cars. What really worried Jesse, though, was the indecisive face that the men wore before reaching into said trunk. It was like they were shopping. Jesse tried not to imagine what else lay hidden in the trunk of the clean, black Cadillac.

After his throat-burning fight for air, Jesse realized that the gang appeared to be holding back. Darnell, who had been watching the progress from his perch on the hood of a car, smiled and stood up. "Don't get too comfortable queers, that was just the preview," he announced, stepped closer.

Jesse heaved for air despite the pain that coursed through him with each expansion of his ribs. His shoulder was warm, perhaps from blood or infection, and his raw wrists pressed into the rough rope. Jesse glanced to his left at Steve. The detective was swaying, probably suffering from the dizziness that his damaged right eye was causing. Jesse noticed the way Steve avoided putting pressure on his left knee and winced thinking about the injury that must be there.

"What do you want?" Steve asked with a twinge of worry in his voice. If Jesse had been able to catch his breath, he would have joined in the questioning.

"What I want is to wipe scum like you off the face of the earth. You don't belong here, perverting innocent people into participating in your filth!" Darnell landed a punch to Steve's jaw, bouncing the detective's head against the wall.

"Would it help... if we told you... we're not gay?" Jesse panted, wanting to draw the attention away from his friend.

"Your actions have already announced you for what you are," Darnell growled, moving to stand in front of Jesse. "I saw the way you two look at each other, touch each other, and it's disgusting!" Darnell was so close to Jesse's face that the doctor could see his reflection in Darnell's cold eyes.

"What are you talking-" Jesse started but was interrupted when Darnell swung around and ripped one of the three-foot lengths of pipe from its possessor's arms. He whirled, bringing the pipe cracking against Jesse's left hip in a blind movement of rage. The pain exploded upon impact and the force of the blow bounced Jesse off the concrete behind him. His body went numb then gave way to an intense feeling of pins and needles. Belatedly, Jesse whimpered in pain.

"Darnell!" Steve yelled, the sound echoing through the dark garage. "Untie me you coward and fight like a man!"

Darnell stood still, panting as his wild eyes darted between the short, bloody doctor and the lanky bruised detective. The garage was silent for a moment before he handed the pipe to it's previous owner. "Finish them," he ordered, then turned and headed to his place on the hood of his car.

o0O0o

"Alright people, let's move out!"

Mark breathed a sigh of relief as a flurry of guns and badges took to their cars. The police captain had been monitoring the screen of the tracking unit, following on a printed map where the car was going. Amanda had been taken upstairs to view the bloody mess in the bedroom. Mark stayed close to offer quiet comfort. He silently agreed with her report that there was too much blood. If Jesse didn't get help soon...

"Dr. Sloan, you're riding with me," the captain shouted over the numerous sirens. The marked cars quickly sped onto the highway with organized grace, leaving dusty clouds in their wake. Mark nodded as he and Amanda followed the captain. He would have preferred if Amanda stay, but he knew that nothing on earth could stop her from being there for Jesse any more than Mark could be held back from his son. Only somewhat reluctantly, he made room for her in the back seat as the unmarked police car joined it's pack in pursuit of their pray.

o0O0o

Jesse's head hanged limply with the weighted pain of a broken nose. Blood dripped past his lips and to the ground, splattering in the dust and insect remains. His ears were ringing and his hands were numb. His tailbone was numb from repeated impact with the unforgiving concrete. All in all, he was one giant mass of pain.

And now they were pulling out sharp, reflective knives.

Jesse swallowed a lump in his tight throat and turned his head to look at Steve. The detective wasn't fairing much better under the abuse. Jesse began to worry when Steve continued looking straight ahead. Jesse tried to see what Steve was staring at but all he saw was Darnell's smug form perched atop his car. Maybe Steve had taken one too many blows to the head. Jesse shivered at the thought. His gaze dropped in defeat and that's when he saw it.

Ever so faintly, a red light flashed rhythmically under Darnell's car, gently illuminating the ground under the tires. The approaching blades were momentarily forgotten as Jesse watched the blinking light with renewed hope. The car had been tagged. Help was on the way. Jesse focused his energy into breathing in time with the light, which was blinking as steadily as a heartbeat.

A sharp, stinging pain burned through his thigh and Jesse looked down to find a knife buried in his leg up to the hilt. An internal ache told him that the blade had scraped his femur. Already dangling by his wrists, there wasn't much else Jesse could do to lessen his pain. A hot feeling spread from his wound and down his pant leg and he wondered when he would run out of blood. More importantly, he wondered when the cavalry would arrive. If they would get there in time. He prayed upon the tiny, blinking red light as if it were the north star.

A pained grunt met his ears and Jesse turned to see the tattooed man release his grip, revealing a knife in Steve's right shoulder. Jesse spit out some blood before attempting to call out to Steve.

His weak attempt earned him a solid blow to the jaw. The bones in his hip grated together with the force of the impact. His bitten tongue found a loose tooth and Jesse winced. The light was still blinking.

Becoming unnerved by the staring captives, Darnell rose to his feet and approached the bound men. "You sick freak, what are you staring at?" he shouted as he grabbed Steve's throat.

Steve blinked then, his zone out broken by the enraged man's squeezing grip on his windpipe. "Nothing..." Steve choked out with a breath of precious air.

Darnell reached behind him and pulled out Steve's own police issue gun. "You're disgusting! Give me one reason I shouldn't kill you now," Darnell spat, pressing the gun into Steve's temple.

Steve blinked, and Jesse held his breath in burning lungs. A million smart-assed comments ran through Jesse's mind, but he settled for the truth. "'Cuz any minute now...this place will be... crawling with cops..." Jesse finished breathlessly. The world went dark for a moment and Jesse looked to the ceiling, wondering if the power had fluctuated.

The gang's small step backwards wasn't lost on Jesse as Darnell, frozen in place, said, "What?"

Jesse licked an alarming amount of blood from his lips. "You heard me," he panted.

"Jess," Steve rasped, looking at the doctor with his one good eye, "Shut up."

Darnell released his hold on the detective and walked to the doctor. "No, go on. I want to hear this," he said with causality.

Jesse looked at the blinking light and realized his mistake. If Darnell knew that the police were on their way, he would have them killed immediately. 'Me and my big mouth,' Jesse sighed inwardly.

"Well, hot stuff?"

Jesse held his tongue, praying something would come to mind. He looked between Steve and the bad guys, knowing they were at the end of the line. There was a sneaking suspicion that the blood in his mouth was crawling up his throat from his injured lungs. Steve looked horrible with one black eye swollen shut, one leg bent in an unnatural place, and a knife embedded in his shoulder. The gang however, looked as fresh as if they had spent the morning playing a friendly round of golf. There was no way either Steve or Jesse would survive much more abuse.

Slowly Darnell rose the run to aim at Steve, while keeping his eyes glued to Jesse's still form. "What's the matter, nothing else to say?"

The gun cocked.

Jesse swallowed.

The small red light was still blinking.

Darnell pulled the trigger.