Two Sided Mirror
Chapter 8- On Notice
Speed surfaced slowly, trying to grasp hold of where he was. His last memories were of her as she was being taken away, wounded. He fought to steady his gaze as he put his hand to his head, feeling the wound that had opened on his forehead. Whoever had hit him, had done a bang up job.
As he got up , he saw a faint light in the corner of the room as it glowed in the darkness. He glanced around the room, listening for any sounds that were familiar, and finding none. The room was sparse as far as he could see, but there was a sink and a door, and he moved gingerly to the door to try it.
" Tisk, tisk, Speed, I would think that you would've known better now. Word of advice, brother, always look in the case," a familiar voice said from the darkness. Speed turned his head to the faint light to see it move and glowed red. " And poor Prue, she didn't know what she was getting into."
" Where is she?" Speed asked out loud.
" It doesn't matter. By the time they find her, she will be dead. Oh, your little friend survived the shot you gave him, but I think that you already knew that, didn't you?"
" Preston, what's up your sleeve?" Speed asked ignoring the question and growing tired of the game. He moved forwards slightly, still feeling the effects of his head wound. " Why did you double cross me?"
" Because you did it first, Speedy. Those guns that you ' stole' where bogus. Did you think that I wouldn't notice?"
" Well you sent me two idiots... They wouldn't know the difference," Speed quipped.
" I noticed. And now , I want what I set out to get," Preston said as he stepped out. He had a huge smirk on his face as he stepped closer to Speed, puffing on a cigarette. " Your little scheme threw us back some, so now I think that I am going to have to repay the favor."
Speed noticed the door open and a big man as he walked through. He could tell by his stature that he was for security purposes only. Preston grinned widely and nodded his head, putting his cigarette out on the ground before moving to the door.
" Now you boys play nicely. Max, you know what to do when you are finished."
Max nodded as Speed readied himself against what was coming, growling, " Preston, enjoy this because you have been put on notice."
" Brave words for a dying man. While you play with Max, here, think about your friend's lives, because I'm going to get what I want. And what I want in still in the Crime Lab."
" Preston, if you touch them..."
" Oh, you'll what? Kill me?" Preston asked as he laughed heartily. He held his side slightly as he wiped his face, " You know, before you double crossed me, I used to like you."
" Well , I can't say the same for you," Speed countered as he tightened his fist, feeling the apprehension of the moment . He knew that once Preston stepped out of the door, he would be fighting for his life. " Just remember what I said."
" Duly noted. Fabulous last words there, Speed," Preston said as he opened the door. " Have fun."
As the door closed, Speed wasted no time in starting his attack, startling Max. Max stumbled slightly , then regained his footing, smiling maniacally at Speed. Speed eyed him warily, as Max rubbed his chin, trying to figure a way out of this.
" I like it when they hit back," Max said as he threw a punch. Speed ducked and came up swinging, connecting with his mouth, making Max bleed.
" Well I aim to please," Speed returned as he thought about his friends. He was going to have to make short work of Max and get to the lab before anyone else got hurt.
" You are going to regret that."
" Not as much as you are going to regret even getting tangled up with me."
Max laughed as he swung and connected with Speed's chin, making him fall backwards into the wall. Speed laid on the ground feeling the blood in his mouth, shaking it off. This is no time to be lying on the job, he thought as Max approached him. He felt the rough hands of the man on him as he lifted him up and stood face to face with the large man. From the corner of his eye , he saw the huge fist as it came from the side, and quickly, Speed thrust his knee in the man's groin, causing him to crumple to the floor.
" Sorry about that ," Speed sais sarcastically as he stepped over the man, going around to the back. With one quick movement, he grasped the man's huge neck, surprised that he even had one. He circled his arm around , placing it around his throat and grasping the wrist of his other arm, creating a nice comfy ring. " Now, unless I get what I want, you are going to be seeing stars when you die."
Max flailed about, his face turning beet red from the pressure that Speed was applying.
" Where's Prue?"
" I don't know," Max choked out.
" Come on, lets do better than that. Where did they take her?" Speed asked as he tightened his grip slightly.
" I told you , I don't know."
"Max, why do I feel like you are lying to me?" Speed asked gripping his wrist harder.
" Okay, okay... She's at the park around the swings," Max gasped.
" Which park?"
" I don't know... Southpointe pier I think..."
" Southpointe," Speed said as the anger rose in him quickly. It was the same park that Nia had died in. He felt himself loose control as he readied his arm to twist. In normal situations, Speed wouldn't have done this, but they had once again threatened his happiness. As he thought about Nia, he turned his arm quickly, snapping the huge man's neck. He got up slowly, feeling the tears come to his face as he looked down at Max, feeling sorrow. He was never one to go looking for a fight, but if he was pushed he would bring it.
Kneeling down, he saw a cell phone on the floor, figuring that it must be Max's. He flipped it up to see that it was functional and quickly dialed the lab. When he couldn't get anyone, he hung up and tried Horatio's number. On the third ring, he heard him pick up.
" Caine."
" H , listen to me carefully,..."
"Speed? Where are you?"
" That's not important. Listen, there is something about to go down at the lab, is Calleigh with you?"
" No, she's at the evidence locker, filing evidence from Paula's murder," Horatio returned. Speed could hear the accusation in his voice. " Why?"
Speed closed his eyes, thinking about Prue . He didn't have the time to explain just yet.
" Because some very bad men are coming to get the evidence that I left behind. You have to get to her and get her out of there, H."
" Understood, Speed, what's going on?"
" I'll tell you when this is all over. Get to Alexx as well. This person knows my weaknesses. If any of you got hurt, I would go insane," Speed replied as he pulled the door open. He was on the move and on a mission.
" Who is it, Speed?" Horatio tensed as he heard the tension in his protege. Someone was playing a very dangerous game with his team.
" Preston. Look, I have to find someone very important to me, but I'll be there. I promise."
" Speed, Eric's..."
" H, I know, he's okay. I saw the kelvar under his shirt. Now, go and get Calleigh and Alexx. Be careful," Speed said as he found his way out of the building. He realized that he was still in the warehouse district. Looking to his right ,he saw a motorcycle , not to his taste , but it would do.
" Same to you, Speed. Hurry back."
Speed smiled as he flipped the phone down and trotted over to the motorcycle and noticed that the keys were in the ignition. Without another thought, he started the machine and sped off to Southpointe park. Hoping that he would get to her on time.
/On Notice/
Calleigh unlocked the evidence locker, lost in her own thoughts. She had seen Horatio when he came back into the lab, a distraught look invading his face, and it scared her. She thought that Speed had been killed. He had taken her to the break room and sat her down, much like they did the recently widowed wives of cops that were killed in the line of duty.
"Calleigh," he had started softly, " There's something that I have to tell you."
" What Horatio, what has happened?" Calleigh asked fearfully.
" Eric's... Eric's been shot. He's okay, but he's going to the hospital. He had his vest on," Horatio said as he glanced down at the table. The next news was the hardest. " He said that Speed shot him."
"Oh god no," Calleigh said as she put her hands to her mouth.
Calleigh sighed heavily as she walked the evidence into the lockerLost in her thoughts, she didn't hear anyone behind her until she felt the barrel of a gun flush to her head. She stood still and closed her eyes.
" What do you want?" She asked in a controlled voice. Inside she was shrieking.
" Just some guns. Give them to me." he said as he pushed the gun to into her skull.
Calleigh closed her eyes again and then opened them. She wasn't going to give them a damn thing.
Alexx was just finishing her clean up when she heard the doors to the morgue open. Looking up , she saw the men rush in with guns, pointing them at her. She dropped the towel ,and started to run towards the back elevator, but she was cut off by another man who held a pistol to her head. He smiled at her and grabbed her roughly by the wrist, pulling her along with him. Preston would be very happy.
Speed pulled up to South pointe park ,his heart and mind racing. What if she was dead? What if Max was lying? As he got off the bike, he shook all of that out of his mind. He felt in his heart that she was still alive. His first stop was the swings, and as he rounded the corner, he saw here , hanging from the support beams of the swings, her head on her chest. He ran to her, almost screaming her name, tears coming quickly. When he got to her , he quickly untied her, and she fell lifelessly into his arms. He sat on the ground with her, willing her to be okay, calling her name.
"Prue, it's me. It 's okay, I'm here." he said tearfully.
Silence returned to him and he continued to try, " Dammit Prue, wake up! I - I need you."
He saw her eyes open after a moment and a faint smile came to her lips. Through his tears, he smiled back at her. She was okay.
" It takes me to get shot to get that?" she asked weakly.
Speed laughed as he pulled her closer and held her. He then pulled away and picked her up. She would be okay. He would see to that.
TBC...