Jackie; okay, the Wolfwood thing was a little obvious. Sorry, I can always kill him again if you want? smiles evilly Oh come on, you know I'm kidding

Chapter thirteen;

There was someone in the car that Knives knew. Someone he COULD contact. He walked to the nearest gun shop, and busted in. He was in a hurry after all, and Vash hadn't seen fit to give back his gun yet.

Knives holstered a 38 on each hip and knives in both his boots. He took off his shirt and tore it in to several strips. With them he wrapped his chest and arm. He didn't want to bleed to death before he got to her. Then he walked back to the saloon where Vash and his group were standing outside. Without a word Knives got into Mira's car and drove off.

"Oh shit," Vash whispered, "He's pissed, and BAD things happen when he is pissed."

Wolfwood and Millie, after a quick reunion kiss, were standing ready to assist. There would be time for that later, though they both obviously regretted it. Meryl readied two derringers and said, "Let's go, the car is over there."

The group loaded up and sped off in the direction Knives had gone. Vash fingered his gun and reached out to Knives.

'Don't kill them Knives.'

'You can't be serious. They touched Mira, and that SCUMBAG of a leader almost killed her.'

'You know there are plenty of people who probably want you dead right now for similar reasons.'

'That's different.'

'How?'

'Stop wasting my time. I'm trying to link to Mira and find her.'

'Promise you won't kill them!'

'… I won't kill the men… I can't promise anything about the leader…'

Vash grimaced as the link was snapped shut. He knew he wouldn't get it back again. Knives had always been stronger than him in that area. He took some solace in the fact that he could still sense the general direction Knives was in. Vash pointed east and said, "That way, hurry!"

Knives reached out. He knew Mira would be surprised. He had not told her anything about who he was or his past. He sensed her east of him and he strained to open the link gently.

'Mira…'

Mira stopped struggling and looked around at her attackers. They were all faced away. She looked around again for the familiar voice. She was about to call out when she heard.

'don't speak. I'm not there. I'm here in your head.'

'Oh, great' she thought 'I've gone nuts'

'No, I'm really communicating with you in your mind.'

'HEAD SHOULDERS KNEES AND TOES, KNEES AND TOES'

'Stop that!'

'Well, I figured if I was going crazy might as well really fall off the deep end.'

'I can prove it, but you have to promise not to get mad.'

'okay, why not.'

Mira's hand lifted on its own and she stared at it as slowly, almost nervously, it descended to allow her fingers to brush her cheek. The arm went back up and waved at her, then flopped back down beside her. She moved her fingers, finding the limb again under her control.

'Oh wow. I must be farther gone than I thought.'

'I DID THAT!'

'On top of old SMMMMoooookkkyyyyy'

'Please stop… I need you to believe me. Even if you have gone crazy, can it really hurt anything for you to believe me?'

'I 'spose not.'

'That's a girl. I can sense the direction you're in, but I can get there faster if you tell me exactly where you are.'

'I can tell you exactly where we're going. But I won't'

'What???'

'If I'm not crazy I don't want to lead you right to your death. I can't allow it.'

'Why not? I've got help right behind me. We can save you!'

'Because I love you.'

'…'

Even without him responding she could feel that he was shocked. Either this link was getting stronger or she was REALLY loosing it.

'I love you too. I love you so much, Mira. I can't lose you now. I am coming after you weather you help or not, so you might as well help.'

'Yep, I'm crazy. You would never say that.'

'Mira, please…'

Mira looked out of the back of the car. She could swear Knives was in that direction. He was getting close too. She was sure of it… She wasn't going crazy.

'Oh my god… It is you. You're there. I know where you are!'

'Finally, now stop being stubborn and tell me where you are going!'

Knives's head filled with visions. He could see clearly the route to the hideout of the Caveman. Then he felt something unexpected… Fear.

'What are you?' Mira's voice echoed in his mind.

'I'll explain later. Does it really matter anyway?'

Mira thought for a moment. Did it matter? She loved him. She loved him with everything she had in herself. She was more than a little mad that she had been robbed of what would have been a very romantic first kiss.

'No, I guess it doesn't'

Knives felt the fear subside. He corrected his course to go directly to the hideout. He would be upon them soon, and they would regret every way Mira had been made to suffer.

'I'm coming… Please hold on.'

Mira nearly rolled off the seat as they came to an abrupt halt. The captain's men grabbed her and roughly yanked her out. Morgan licked his lips as he appraised her. Then she smiled and said, "Take her to the room and strip her down. Do NOT touch her. I'll be down shortly."

Mira listened for Knives. Good. Apparently he couldn't hear what was being said. Mira tried not to think. She didn't want to accidentally send him anything.

The two men drug her down two flights of stairs. Her heals were lost in the struggle. They took her into a room and she froze in terror. The words torture chamber had never been so real. She didn't lay down and weep though, she fought to keep her dress. In the end they cut it off in segments while she squirmed.

"Damn," One of them breathed, "She sure is pretty."

"Don't touch, idiot," The other hissed, "You heard the Captain."

His partner's warning went unheeded. He lifted Mira up and laid her back against a cold, flat table. Mira clawed, struggled, everything she could do, but the man closed two mounted shackles around her wrists and started undoing his pants.

"He'll kill you, stupid!" The other man shouted.

"Pah! Why should he get all the fun," The man started to drop his pants.

"He will kill you," She spat, "He'll kill all of you, and your miserable leader."

"You don't make any sense, darling',"He rubbed himself against her, "Maybe I can screw some sense into you."

The man fell limply on Mira's body. Blood slid over her body and then the body was pulled away. Captain Morgan smiled and said, "Don't worry. No one is going to have you but me."

Morgan glared at the other man and said, "Get that mess out of here!"

As the man drug the dead body away Morgan licked his lips. He opened the drawers on the sides of the tables and said, "The table is as good a place as any to begin…"

………………………

Jackie; and goodnight!