Your Love Is King – Part 11

"I just want her back…" Charlie sniffed back some tears, gently rubbing her eyes. "Back in my arms…"

"I know." Smithy squeezed her shoulder, sighing. "We'll get her back…"

Charlie turned the corner, pulling into a dark side street, looking around her. "Where are we?" She asked for the first time, having followed Smithy's directions.

Smithy leant forward, glancing around him. "Tony has-"

"You know him!"

Smithy nodded solemnly, explaining his history with Tony Mitchell briefly.

"And he's got my baby girl!" Charlie's voice trailed to a whisper and she looked up at Smithy, before pushing the door open and getting out.

"Charlie!" Smithy hissed, "Charlie!" he eased himself out, grabbing Charlie's arm and pulling her back before she had chance to near the corner. "Go back to the car, I'll go and-"

"No." Charlie shook her head, looking defiant.

"Go back to the car, Charlotte." Smithy lowered his voice further. "You are not going in there."

Charlie shook Smithy's hand off of her arm, glaring almost up at him. "I'm going to get my baby." She rested her hand on her prominent bump. "Don't you dare tell me what to do!"

Smithy sighed and winced, shifting slightly to ease the pull on his stomach. "Chaz," he murmured softly, unaware of the person stood a little distance off, watching. "I'm sorry, I just can't let you go in there…"

"And I can't let you." Charlie swallowed, taking his hands, "But we both have to, for Becca." She turned, seeing the person in the doorway first, taking a sharp breath in.

"Nice of you to join us." Tony smirked menacingly. "…Eventually."

"Where's Rebecca?" Charlie glared, sounding a brave as she could.

"The brat's fine." Tony shrugged casually. "You'll be with her soon."

Smithy's hand dropped to his pocket and he covered his phone, feeling around for what he believed was the '9' button, before being shoved forward by a force behind him, stumbling ahead, turning quickly. "Wha-" He started to say, falling to the floor as he was hit from behind, the blow to the back of his head leaving him out cold.

"DALE!" Charlie screamed, fighting hard against the arm snaking around her, and the hand covering her mouth as she was dragged inside, kicking and fighting. "DALE!"

Bob replaced the phone, looking at Jack. "Good news and bad news."

"Go on…"

"The good news is that Mitchell is still serving life in the army prison. The bad news," Bob sighed, "He was being transferred, to be nearer his estranged wife and children, and …he escaped."

"Escaped!" Neil frowned, looking at Bob.

"The prison van he was travelling in was ambushed, and he was taken-"

"And we've only just been told!" Jack's voice rose, already midway through calling Gina.

"DADA!" Rebecca raised her hand, slapping Smithy's cheek gently. "DADDY!" She scowled and sniffled as both parents continued to ignore her, "Mummy look!" She sobbed, pulling on Charlie's trousers. "Daddy! Mummy!"

Smithy groaned, his eyes flickering lightly as he attempted to focus in the dim light, aware of noises within the room.

"DADA!" Rebecca spun round, hearing Smithy, flying at him. "DADDYDADDYDADDY!"

Smithy tilted his head, pulling himself up slowly and weakly, groaning at the dull ache in his head as he lightly pressed the back of his head with one hand, before blinking as Rebecca attached herself to his chest, smothering his neck in kisses as she whimpered and cooed. "Becca?" Smithy looked down, wrapping his arms tightly around her, holding her against his chest as he rocked her, "Daddy's here…shh…" he whispered, kissing her forehead, "You're safe now, baby…"

Rebecca sniffled, her hands grabbing hold of Smithy's top, gripping it tightly in her hands as she clung on for dear life. "Daddy!" she whimpered. "Mummy won't wake up…"

"Mummy?" Smithy looked up, seeing a figure slumped in the corner of the room, their head lolling forward against their chest, looking almost asleep. "Where's mummy?" He asked, almost dreading to hear the answer.

Rebecca pointed in the direction of the figure, whimpering. "She won't move…"

Smithy cleared his throat, swallowing hard as he tried to stand, "Becca, show me."

Rebecca stood up, watching as Smithy pulled himself to his feet, Smithy inwardly groaning and gritting his teeth. She reached for his hand, pulling him along behind her, stopping in front of the figure, climbing into its lap. "Mummy?"

Smithy stopped by the side of the chair, his eyes running over the binds around the wrists and legs, his heart almost stopping as he tilted the head gently up, seeing Charlie staring blankly up at him. "Chaz?" Smithy checked her breathing, working on untying the binds at the same time. "Charlie, I'm here sweetheart, and Becca…" Rebecca looked up at the mention of her name, slapping her palm against Charlie's chest, gently.

"Mama?" Rebecca cooed, pressing her lips against her cheek. "Mummy?"

Smithy tilted Charlie's head back up, supporting her neck. "Mummy's just tired at the moment, she'll wake up soon…" He said, trying to sound confident as Rebecca nodded.

"Cack made her tired?" She asked, slipping carefully off Charlie's lap and attaching herself to Smithy's thigh.

Smithy frowned, looking down at Charlie's stomach, aware she'd been drugged, but not having the first idea what with, and certainly not the effects it could have on a baby. "Yes sweetheart, Jack's making her tired…" He forced a smile, ruffling Rebecca's hair, before finishing untying the binds around Charlie, lifting her up into his arms, suppressing several groans of pain as he carried her across the room, followed by Rebecca who'd taken it upon herself to play nurse, sitting at Charlie's head as Smithy laid her on the blankets in the corner of the room, gently patting the top of her head and covering her up.