Hey! Finally, I've got this chapter up! I hope people like it; it's a bit different from the previous chapters so you guys may find it a bit weird... But that doesn't matter, as long as people enjoy it!

Thanks to Wild Magelet who gave me loads of encouragement - you rock! And of course all my other reviewees - you also rock! It's really what I needed to hear so I could do this chapter!

Also, would it be possible for everyone not to complain about the speechmarks thing? I know it's different from everyone else's, but it's basically the same thing! Plus, you could say it makes me unique! Thanks x x x x

The Ground Beneath Her Feet

Chapter 5

Stirring from a dreamless sleep, Jane rolled her head onto it's side to met the warmth of her soft pillow. The last thing she remembered doing was arriving home. John had come because he'd been worried about her, but someone had knocked at the door, forcing her to leave. She'd opened the door and then -

Suddenly realising the pillow wasn't there and that her 'bed' was no more than a cold concrete floor, freezing her limbs, Jane compelled her eyes to open. She never even remembered falling asleep, so what had happened? Blinking several times, her wouldn't clear and remained blurry as she fought against the wave of nausea that threatened to overpower her. Rolling onto her side Jane attempted to stand. An unknown grumbling voice emanated not too far away as it's owner watched her struggle.

'Ms. Porter. Glad you could join us', he said sarcastically.

Pushing herself upwards, palms pressed against the frostbitten floor, Jane continued to blink as she tried to refocus her eyes. Everything was blurred as she glanced around trying to find the source of the voice. In this state she would be no match for whoever was there with her.

'What did you do to me?' she whispered hoarsely, beginning to pull her body away from the looming shadow that seemed to eclipse her vulnerable form until her back was flat against another cold surface.

'Chloroform. The effects should dissipate soon,' seeing her shake her head to ward off dizziness he knew was encompassing her she rose to her feet, her back still pressed against the wall. 'And I must say, Ms. Porter, that you are looking remarkably well. The others took a lot longer to wake up'.

'Others?' Jane asked warily. Noticing her sight clear she looked up to see the owner of the sinister voice. He was quite tall with close cut dark hair, he was clean shaven with a rather prominent jawline, and mysterious green eyes. He was also clad in the black special ops outfit that Jane seemed to see more and more often this week than she cared to.

'Hello,' he smiled seeing Jane focus her attention on him,' Ah, where are my manners? My name is Colonel Winters. As you can see you are no longer in your little apartment. I'm sorry but it was necessary that we removed you. But I hope this accommodation will be acceptable until we complete our negotiations.' He spoke calmly though a hint of please could be heard as he saw Jane's discomfort.

'Why am I here? What negotiations?'

Chuckling to himself maliciously, Winters drew his form closer to wards Jane's prison. Only then did she notice that a protective doorway of glass barred the red head from the military man.

Changing the subject he began to explain, 'at first we were only given a vague description of you, knowing you and your friend were wanted by our 'superior' we were willing to go to extreme lengths to find you Ms. Porter'.

'That's why you went after all those other cops - you were looking for me,' it all suddenly dawned on Jane that Sam and Connor had been right the whole time, and she hadn't even listened to them.

'Very good Ms. Porter,' he said clearly impressed with her deduction,' but now we have you the rest is history,' he concluded with a wave of his hand.

'Wait. You said 'me and my friend'...what do you mean?' Jane asked, hoping to God that he didn't mean who she thought he did.

Smiling down at her Winters stated,' come now, do you really think we should play this game? I know about John Clayton Jr.'

Jane felt her throat constrict. Swallowing hard she looked at her captive with all the hatred she could muster to throw at him. If his plan was to draw John to him through her he could forget about it.

'That is why you are here - you are the key', he stated cryptically. 'Oh, you may want to settle in Ms. Porter, you could be here for a while'. Marching out of Jane's view he left her alone in her cell. Rushing to the glass Jane pounded her fists madly against it's clear surface. When she found she hadn't even made a scratch she turned away to look around her confined space for any kind of exit she could use to escape.

There was none.

Only a lumpy bed with several springs poking through the mattress, a bowl for her 'needs' and a sink furnished her room

Though Jane was naturally a very optimistic person, she was finding it hard to think of anything positive. Slumping against the far wall next to the bed, she slid herself back down to the floor. She was being held hostage along with several other female cops because she was 'the key', nobody had any idea she was gone and she could only hope that John was alright. After she had blacked out Jane vaguely remembered hearing gunshots coming from her building, but she couldn't be certain.

Ignoring the oncoming torrent of thoughts beginning to flood her mind, Jane hoped this was all part of a dream.

Or a nightmare.

Opening his eyes a crack John felt something licking at his ear. Turning his head slightly to the side his pale sapphire eyes focused on a large, golden dog bent close to his head with it's tongue hanging out, saliva dripping onto the ground near John's nose. Lifting his head painfully he got to his feet, trying to remember why he was lying in the middle of an alleyway.

Feeling a dull sting in his chest, John looked down to his torn shirt where he saw two oddly shaped darts embedded in the material. Lifting a large hand up from his side he pulled them both out, wincing slightly and letting them fall to the ground.

Images came flooding back to him - Jane. The men in black had taken her. He'd chased after them, but got shot and fallen unconscious outside. Looking down at the fallen darts John sneered hatefully at them as if his stare would make them burn to ashes. Holding his head in frustration John pulled at his long hair.

Why had he not been able to save her? She'd been right there, but still they had taken Jane from him, like they had taken those other women.

Why had he not been able to help her?!

Despair suddenly took hold of John. Pulling his hands away from his head he turned to the closest brick wall to him and closing one hand into a fist he punched it violently. Pain shot through his senses as he looked down to see his knuckles scraped from the rough surface and bleeding, but it did nothing to vent his frustration. Breathing heavily, he clenched his teeth and lent his head against the wall, feeling salty tears begin to streak down his face. Jane was gone. He hadn't been able to help her, and there was no way he could find her again. Her scent had already dissipated from the now early morning air and he didn't want to think of how long it would take to hunt for her through this large concrete jungle. Back home he would have no need to hunt for her because she wouldn't have been lost in the first place. There they would be safe to live out their lives without the fear of being captured for other people's personal gain.

The dog sitting at his feet whined loudly up at him, returning John's attention back to the disaster engulfing him with desperation. Amongst the other noises fighting for dominance in the already noisy place, John distinctly heard a siren wailing noisily. Raising his head and wiping away the moisture dampening his cheeks, John got an idea. Running to the back of Jane's building, he leapt onto a rancid smelling dumpster and began to climb up the fire escape leading up to the window he had jumped through only a few hours ago. Clambering higher still John reached the rooftop not long after. Sprinting as fast as his toned limbs could take him John flew through the city, hoping to reach his destination in time.

He needed help.

Taking a sip of his Starbucks latte with the other hand tucked into his suit pocket, Sam continued walking up the busy New York street towards his car, sensing a pair of eyes on him. Shrugging the feeling off, he kept walking, never noticing a flash of blonde pass above him. Stepping up to the door he removed his keys and was in the process of plipping it when something dropped onto the trunk of the car heavily. Nearly leaping out of his skin and dropping his coffee on the ground, Sam turned quickly to see John perched on the edge, eyes determinedly concentrated on him.

'John! Jesus, you scared the crap outta me! Hey hey hey - get off my car!' he cried pointing at John's innocent form, unknowing that he had done anything wrong. 'What the hell do you think you're doing - everybody can see you!' he quickly added in a more hushed tone.

Hopping off the boot of the car, John took a step closer to Sam and looked urgently into his dark eyes,' they took Jane'. He didn't seem to care at all that he was out in the open where anyone and everyone could report him to his Uncle. John only had one thing on his mind.

Confused, Sam looked around frustratedly at a small gathering of people staring at the blonde,' who took Jane, John?'

'The men in black. They came last night and took her', he replied, sadness beginning to fill him once more.

Seeing this, Sam knew that John was not kidding...not that he ever did joke about anything, but he could tell this was serious.

Looking around, Sam saw that the crowd was beginning to grow. People were beginning to point and whisper amongst themselves about John's interesting entrance. There was only one thing Sam could do to stop it. Hesitating, he sighed but reminded himself that this was for Jane.

'Get in the car,' he said opening the door for John who also seemed a bit hesitant,' come on. Do you want to help Jane or not?' Sam demanded moving over to the driver's seat. Placing the key in the engine, he turned it and began to hear the engine purr. A door slammed shut and looking over to the passenger seat Sam saw John sitting awkwardly, shifting from one position to another as if he could not get comfortable.

'Alright, let's get outta here', Sam said turning the wheel and pulling into the New York early morning traffic,' now John, you gotta tell me everything that happened last night. Everything.'

Standing in the middle of Jane's apartment Sam inspected the living room looking for clues as to who John had described captured his partner. Seeing the note from Nikki stuck to the fridge, he guessed it was a good thing she had gone to Darcy's for the time being. After searching the place high and low, Sam came up empty handed. There was nothing to be found - no clues, no signs, not even fingerprints.

Walking into Jane's room, he found John crouched beside Jane's bed, holding a piece of clothing close to his face and inhaling her scent. It sure was obvious even to the untrained eye that this guy was head - over - heels for her. And Sam couldn't blame him. Jane was pretty damn gorgeous and definitely had a soft spot for John, but Sam was her best friend and though his better judgement told him that the whole thing was a bad idea, he would support Jane all the way. Just watching the way John stood there, eyes closed as he took in her smell supported Sam's theory that this was more than just a stupid crush - it was clearly love.

'I can't find anything. Theres nothing here that can help me find Jane, John. I'm sorry'.

Waking him from his silent reverie John looked up to Sam, an unknown emotion clouding his features. Placing the item of Jane's clothing down, John walked towards the window and began to climb out.

'John! Wait, John!' Sam called jogging after him, leaning out and staring down at the ground. But already too late Sam saw that he was gone. Sighing, Sam pounded his fist on the windowsill, 'Dammit!'

Turning around he wiped his face and shrugged in exasperation. Dropping his hands to his sides he began to head out of Jane's room to the front door. A loud thud caught his attention as he spun back around to face the window, where he saw John coming towards him.

'John, please tell me when you're going to do that, okay? I was just gonna leave and go look for you', he said pointing to the door, emphasizing his point. Noticing John was holding something in the palm of his hand Sam cocked his head towards him,' whatcha got there?'

Pulling his fingers away from the palm of his hand, John revealed what he was holding to Sam's surprised eyes. In his hand he held two small dart shaped objects, red and obviously used.

'They used these, that's why I couldn't follow them', John confessed sadly.

'They shot you? Again?' Sam asked shocked at how people could do this so many times without John getting pretty annoyed at them. Seeing him nod in silent agreement he extended his arm for Sam to take the darts from him.

'Will they help you find Jane?'

Taking one and holding it near to his face, Sam inspected the small object closely,' I'll have to go through some files and check the catalogue, but...yeah, I think so...'

'Good', was all Sam heard before he looked away from the dart and up to where John had been standing a few seconds before. 'Man, I hate it when he does that'. Pocketing the darts, Sam headed out the door and back down to his car. Maybe now he could find a way to work out why these guys wanted Jane so badly.

End of Chapter 5

Bit shorter than the others, but I hope everyone likes it! Till next time...