Two Sided Mirror

Chapter 10- Revenge Served Cold

Speed looked around the emergency bay ,frantically trying to find transportation. He had ridden to the hospital on the ambulance, leaving him stranded here with the murderous energy that he now possessed. This man had taken his love and now, he had his closets friend, doing God knows what to her. He had to do something.

Horatio watched as the young man struggled to calm his emotions and sighed inwardly. Right now, the logical thing would to give him time to calm down, but Alexx was missing. Telling Speed to calm down would be like trying to throw a flower through a brick wall. It just wasn't going to happen.

"Speed, you have to calm down. Going into this half cocked isn't the way," Horatio said calmly. He looked at Speed as he nervously paced in front of him. Horatio knew that the energy he had wasn't of the nervous kind, seeing a dark glint in his eyes. He could tell that Speed was no longer himself, but a man intent on revenge.

" You know, Horatio, that's real damn easy for you to say," Speed shot back as he glared at the red head, " You didn't have your daughter snatched from you ,... your most trusted friend taken... or the woman you loved... I have to do something."

" What ? What is it that you think you can do, Speed?"

" Give him what he has given me," Speed replied with a combination of hatred and frustration in his voice. Time was ticking by for Alexx.

" Which is?"

" Pain." Speed returned simply, turning from Horatio. The stillness of Speed's body gave Horatio an unnerving feeling, kind of like watching the skies turn pitch black before a storm. It gave him a sense of the intensity that was boiling under the surface.

"Speed, you need to go at this the right way..."

" What's the right way, H? Wait for the calvary? Alexx doesn't have that kind of time," Speed responded , his anger building. He took a step away from Horatio, " I'm not going to let another person I care about, die."

" Speed..."

" NO, H! I'm going to put an end to this now."

Horatio moved to put a hand on his shoulder , but Speed shrugged it off before walking away. He couldn't sit around here and wait for Alexx's body to be found. After all that he had put them through, he couldn't let it end like this.

"Speed!" Horatio called out as he followed.

" Don't try and talk me out of it, Horatio."

" I'm not. But, one question..." Horatio said as he put a hand on his arm. Speed stopped and turned towards him, obviously very irritated.

"What is it?"

" How are you going to get there?"

Speed looked down at the pavement and let a small smile drift over his face and conceded, " I'm sorry H. It's just that I can't stand to lose anyone else..."

" I understand , Speed , and we are going to get her back," Horatio said as he put an reassuring hand on his shoulder. For a moment, the old Speed resurfaced and the darkness was replaced with a calmness. " Can you trust me?"

"There's no one else," Speed replied as the energy seeped out of him slightly. Horatio nodded his head and then pulled the keys to the Hummer out. It was time that this thing came to an end.

/Revenge/

Preston turned to see Alexx as she slumped in the chair, seeing her breathing slowly. He glanced at the watch and nodded, walking to her. She had taken a pretty bad beating, but she had the defiance of a lion, and she held on. Preston had to give it to his friends; they were strong , and it wasn't something that he had been prepared for. Usually, his targets gave up easily, information or their lives, and he hadn't had the aggravation of continuing the course of his torture. It saddened him slightly that he would have to do this to her, but he had to get his point across. Speed had to know that he was dealing with season pros, and not some lackluster hustler off of the streets.

He lifted her head to see the bruises starting to form around her eyes and on her cheeks. Her lip had been split and was ballooning . It was a shame that she had to endure this, but it was necessary. He would get what he wanted.

" Sorry about that, love," Preston said as he lightly touched her face. She remained motionless, her breathing steady. " But this isn't a pretty business. I guess someone should've told Speed that."

With a sudden movement, Alexx lifted her knee and planted it squarely in her captors groin, instantly putting him on the ground. She then moved quickly, wincing at the pain that she was feeling in her head, it making her dizzy. As Preston laid on the ground, she put her hands on him and searched him, her bound hands trying to find anything to help her. Her mind ran frantic as she saw the phone, and she fumbled with it. If only she wasn't bound, her movements could be more precise, but she had to work with what she was given , and right now time was a precious commodity that she couldn't waste. She clumsily slipped the phone in the pocket of the scrubs and went on her search for his gun. Finding it, she grabbed it and pointed it at him, letting her anger flood her. She noticed as he was gathering himself and reigned in her emotions, glancing at the door . Getting out of there became her goal.

" You bitch!" Preston growled as he breathed in deeply. " Killing you is gonna be my pleasure."

" Too bad you won't have that pleasure today," Alexx quipped as she stood awkwardly. She eyed the door, trying to listen for any signs of approaching footsteps.

" You better hope like hell you don't get caught," Preston returned as he was gaining control over his pain. The murderous glint had took up residence in his cold eyes.

" I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm getting out of here."

She walked to the door and leaned in to listen. There were no sounds from the other side of the door, and she glanced back at him as he started to get to his feet. Closing her eyes, she exhaled and opened the door. Opening them, she saw no one and she breathed in deeply. She closed the door just as he made his move, and locked in. Inside she could hear him as he cursed and yelled, pounding on the door. Alexx looked down the corridor and saw the door then she heard as someone was coming from the other side of the hall.

She dashed to the door and pushed it open ,slipping through it just as she heard the man open the door.

"She's loose!" she heard him say. "Find her! And shoot her ass on the spot."

Alexx looked up then down as she stood in the stairwell and decided that down was the best place for her to go. She had to figure out a way to get out of the binds and call Speed. If not, she knew that her chances at getting out of here alive would dwindle rapidly.

/ Revenge/

" You sure you want to do this?" Calleigh asked Horatio over the phone. She had to make certain that she was hearing him right. " You want me to take the evidence out?"

" This is the only way," Horatio replied as he gunned the Hummer . The clock was still ticking. "I'll be there in five."

" Alright Horatio, as long as you know what you are doing. I'll have it ready for you."

" Thanks, Calleigh," he replied as he flipped the phone down. He glanced to Speed who was sitting quietly in the passenger seat, seemingly in his own world. He admired the young man for his convictions and his strength. He was so young to have to had endured the pain and suffering that had reared its ugly head, but yet he continued on, fighting for those who no longer had a voice. Horatio suspected that Nia's death had urged him to work harder at that, giving him some sort of peace, but he knew it wasn't that easy. There was still some deep seated pain that Speed had to deal with, and Horatio feared that the pain would take over and a spilt second decision would be made. He didn't want Speed to have to live with that .

"Are you sure you know what you are doing?" Speed asked as he continued to watch the landscape pass.

" I have friends in high places, Speed. Everything is going to be taken care of. Are you okay?"

" I was just thinking of this past week, how I've treated you... all of you like shit. And yet here you are, trying to help me."

"Speed , you are family, and family looks out for family. I just wished that you would've come to me before doing this," Horatio replied as he turned down the familiar street , heading for the lab.

" I'm sorry," Speed responded as he dropped his head. There was so much he would have to explain to his friends, especially Eric. He couldn't shake the image of his eyes as he pulled the trigger.

" We just have to make it right," Horatio said as the phone rang. He glanced at the id, not recognizing the number and answered, " Caine."

" Horatio?" he heard her ask in a weak voice.

"Alexx...?"

At the mention of her name, Speed snapped his head up quickly and turned his attention to Horatio. He saw the relief on his face , but also the distress. There was something wrong.

Alexx stopped in the stairwell , backing herself into a dark corner. She crouched down, setting the gun in front of her, and began to work on the rope. Her head hurt worse as she tried to focus on her work , but her eyes began to blur. She figured that she had a concussion, but she couldn't dwell on that. Struggling to undo her binds, she felt the urgency fill her and tears began to roll down her bruised cheeks. She wasn't going to give up, but she knew the odds if they found her.

Finally, she got the ropes off and discarded them, grabbing the gun. She walked to the door and opened it slightly, looking for any signs of the men. When she saw the lighted hall was deserted, she stepped out and let the door shut behind her. In front of her, was a picture window with heavy screens on it. For them to find her, she would have to know where she was. Looking out, she knew exactly where she was. She could see the Atlantic beyond the pier and the many boats that were passing. There was a big black number on the side of the building that she was facing. Smiling, she turned to walk, dialing his number. When the phone rang incessantly, she hung up and called the next number. A wave of relief caught her throat as she heard him pick up.

"Caine."

" Horatio?" she asked as her happiness produced tears. It felt good to hear his voice again.

"Alexx, are you okay? Where are you?" came his questions.

"I'm alright, got a couple of bruises, but I'm going to live... They brought me to the Port of Miami , pier 45," Alexx replied as she looked out the window. She wanted to be certain that she was giving him the right information.

" Okay, alright. You think you can get somewhere to stay put?"

" I'll try Horatio. Have you found Timmy?" Alexx asked fearfully. Through out all of this ,he had been a steady thought, along with her children.

" He's right here," she heard him say. The next voice prompted the tears to flow easily down .

" Alexx?" Speed said quietly.

"Timmy... I'm so glad to hear your voice. Are you okay?"

She could imagine Speed as he smiled to himself over the phone. She couldn't help it, she felt as if he was her eldest child, and she had to make sure that he was okay before she thought about herself.

" I'm fine , Alexx. I'm..."

"Uh huh, suga. Don't you worry about it. Just come to get me, and we can talk later," she replied gazing out into the sea.

" We are coming to get you..."

" I'll b..." she managed before an instant blackness took over. She slumped to the ground slowly , the phone radiating the worry of the sudden silence. A hand reached down to pick up the phone and brought it up to his mouth.

" You better hurry, her time has just ran out," Preston returned as he flipped the phone down. He glanced at her body as she laid unmoving. His revenge would best served cold.

TBC...