Chapter 1
Toby watched Donna walk out with a slight shake of his head before turning towards the State Department Representative: "well, you really handled that nicely."
"I was just following protocol," the man defended stiffly.
"Screw protocol," Toby shot back to a gasp from David. "Oh grow up," he grumbled as he moved towards the kitchen area.
"You shouldn't be here, and you can't order me around," David answered as he trailed behind the man.
"From what I've seen no one does."
"You need to leave my sister alone."
"Your sister can take care of herself," Toby replied as he looked at what Donna had started to make for dinner, and took up where she left off.
"I'm calling my parents."
"You do that."
"And Lucy."
"Good, for once she can take care of her own damned kids instead of pawning them off on Donna."
"We don't talk like that in this house," David said angrily, unable to think up a better retort.
"Yeah, I've gotten that. Go make your calls," he said dismissively as he turned towards the refrigerator. Leaning heavily on his cane he crossed to it, his mind wandering to the past as he opened its door. . .
2005
At the sound on the retreating footsteps, he let out a grunt of pain. "We're going to get out of here. They're going to find us," his cellmate said in a voice.
"Yeah. Right. When?" he some how managed to get out through gritted teeth.
"We can't give up hope."
Swallowing, Toby shifted slightly, ignoring the pain shooting up his leg as he stared at his friend and colleague. "Even if. . . I doubt we'll both get out of here. They're not going to deal."
"They can't. It's why he took the 25th."
"And if he wouldn't do it for his daughter, you think he's gonna do it for a couple of lousy bums like us?"
There was silence at that, and Toby almost regretted his harsh words. But reality was reality, even in this hell hole. And the reality was that too much time had passed for there to be much hope of a rescue. Of course it was his misfortune that his cellmate was less adapt at foreign matters to seem to understand that. "I can't give up hope, Toby," the other man finally whispered. "I can't believe that I'll have to break that promise to her. Think that they won't. . ." he stopped on a sharp breath.
"It's been too long," Toby countered. "Maybe if Leo was still. . . but we both know who's really running that office now, and it ain't CJ."
"So what do we do?"
"Nothing we can do."
"But wait till they kill us right?"
"Might be better than living in this. With the pain," Toby answered dully as he let his head rest against the wall. "You never said that getting shot was so damned painful."
"Pain killers are a wonderful think, till they try to wean you from them that is."
"Right," he sighed as he closed his eyes and listened to the labored breathing of his friend. "Maybe you're right. Maybe. . ."
"You don't believe that."
"I don't believe that both of us will get out of here. They need to make examples of someone. Just promise me something. If Andi doesn't. . .If both her and I. . ."
"Already signed the papers, didn't I?"
"Yeah. That's right the two of you did," Toby exhaled tiredly. "Take care of them, ok? You actually take them to temple once in a while."
His companion laughed slightly at that: "I'm starting to see why it's so important. Why my grandfather. .. I had never understood how he could have still after what he went through. . ."
"Strengthens or destroys."
"Yeah."
Silence reined for a few moments before the man across from him shifted and tensed as the sound of bullets reached them. Opening an eye, Toby watched his expression, surprised at the fact that there was no flight in his eyes. "You. . ."
"It's like the music now. Doesn't. . ." he exhaled. "If your right. . ."
"Don't. . ."
"If it goes the other way. You'll watch out for her, right? Tell her I'm sorry I didn't listen? That I broke my promise and didn't make it back to her?" he asked.
"You're going to be the one that makes it back, Josh," Toby replied, watching as his friend turned his head towards the door as the heavy fall of booted feet running towards their cell mixed with the gun fire.
"For the first time, I don't think so. At least, not first. Somehow, I know that as much as. . . well, I was wrong about that too," he sighed as one of their captors yanked opened the door and two more came in.
"Him," the man at the door said indicating Josh with his riffle as the other men pulled him to his feet and dragged him out of the room as quickly as he came.
Pushing against the wall, Toby called after them: "I promise. . . you hear me, Josh? I promise!" he cried, wondering if his voice had carried above the destruction raging outside. . .
"You looking for something in particular?" a voice asked, causing Toby to look behind him in confusion as he blinked to try to bring himself back to the present.
"What? I. . ."
"You ok?" the brunette asked in concern as she crossed over to him.
"Yeah… I'll be fine."
"You're gonna talk to someone, right?"
"I'm talking to you, aren't I?" he asked as he shut the door.
"You know what I mean, and don't try to play me. I know what that look means."
"You read it wrong."
She snorted at that: "I've worked with politicians too long to buy that."
"I talked to someone. And I'll continue to."
"Good. So what should I do?" she asked gesturing to the array of food on the counter.
"Knowing you, pack it back up and call for take out."
"Very funny."
"But true."
"Whatever."
"Original."
"Wasn't going for original."
"Go thing."
Shaking her head, she leaned in to kiss him quickly, then pulled back. "I'm worried about you."
"I thought. . ."
"Fine I'll drop it. But what am I going to do? You know the only kids I'm good with are yours."
"Rosinna Glass is coming over. Her daughter had the misfortune of marrying into this family, so I'm sure she'll be acceptable."
"You really don't like Donna's family do you?"
"Let's just say the feeling's mutual and leave it at that."
"So what should I tell them."
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Look, from what I. . . they don't know."
"Know what?"
"About any of it."
"By any of it, you mean what exactly?"
"Just that," he answered.
"They. . . come on they have to know something. I mean. She had to tell them something about what she did in DC. What her life was like before she found them. I mean, how the hell do they think she found out the truth?"
"Car accident."
"Car accident?"
"She down played it."
"Apparently."
"It's not our place."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. So they really don't know any of it? Nothing about J?"
"I don't. . ." he shook his head. "Rosina and Richard--- possibly Sarah--- have suspicions. We never. . . She doesn't talk about. . ."
"Ok, I get it. I won't say anything."
"I. .. thanks for doing this."
"Someone had to. And despite what people think. . ." she shrugged.
"You don't have to…"
"I know," she answered as a five year old Savannah appeared in the doorway: "We're hungry."
"Well, we'll do something to fix that."
"Who are you?" the child asked with a hand on her hip and way too much attitude.
"Oh, no she did not. . ."
"Her mother doesn't believe in correction."
"Apparently," she said with a roll of her eyes as Toby limped pass her. "I'm a friend of your aunt's."
"She's supposed to be watching us. My mom's sooo going to be mad at her."
"Right. Well, let's find you something to eat why don't we?" she asked as she looked towards the closing door, all the while wondering how the hell she had let herself get roped into this, and how she was going to survive for more than five minutes with the little brat in front of her, especially if there was a chance that her siblings were just as bad. . .
