Chapter 8: Finishing her Mission Part II

(Last time on A Hard Relationship)

Taylor was kidnapped by the gang that was after Eric. Taylor learns that the leader wants revenge on Eric because he killed his brother. The leader threatened Wes that if he didn't hand over the codes to the future, that Taylor would wish that she was dead. Then Eric suddenly appears. Will they be able to save Taylor?

(Now the Conclusion)

Wes walked over to him. "Eric, how?" Wes asked. Eric just walked by him towards the map.

"What's going on?" He asked a Guardian.

"Lieutenant Earhardt has been kidnapped by a gang. The same one that tried to kill her when you were knocked into your coma," Wes replied.

Eric was about to go into his office until he heard Taylor's name. He turned to look at Wes. "They took her?" He asked.

"Yes," Wes replied.

"Did they say what they wanted?" Eric asked.

"Yes, they want the codes for the future," Wes replied.

"Did the leader identify himself?"

"No."

Just then, the phone rang and Eric picked them up. "Myers," he answered.

"Well, hello Commander Myers, it's so good to hear you again," the leader taunted.

"Where is Taylor?" Eric demanded.

"She's safe, for now."

"Who are you?"

"That doesn't matter, hand over the codes by noon or she'll wish she'd never been born."

"Threatening me won't get you anywhere. Tell me, who are you?"

"I'm Riley Tyler."

Eric stalled once he heard the name. "How yo ugot out of that coma, I'm not sure, but if you come to rescue your precious Taylor without the codes, you might as well pull a trigger at your own head," he threatened.

"Wait just let me..." The line was disconnected.

Eric tossed the phone at the wall in rage. "NO!" He shouted. He kicked a desk and slammed his hands on the desk. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Eric, calm down, what did he say?" Wes asked.

"His name is Riley Tyler and we have till noon to give him the codes," Eric replied.

"Riley Tyler? As in..." Eric interrupted him.

"As in Leonardo Tyler, his older brother."

Eric stormed into his office and Wes just stood there, having no idea what to do to help his best friend.

(In the Warehouse)

Taylor watched as Riley left the room to call the Silver Guardians. She saw Eric's Quantum Defender sitting on the table. "I just have to get over there," she whispered to herself. She then remembered the holster she had strapped to her wrist. In the holster she always kept her knife just incase there were situation like these. Someone one of her friends when she was in the Air Force taught her just incase she was caught on a mission. Taylor leaned back slightly, jerked her wrist to one side and the knife fell. She started cutting her ropes, hoping to get out of the warehouse before it hit noon.

(SGH)

Eric was sitting at his desk looking over at Riley's file. He lookedo ver at the corner of his desk to see Taylor's picture sitting there. He looked up when the door burst open and Ben Earhardt stood there. "You, I thought you'd never come out of that coma. Now you can pay for what happened to my daughter," he snapped.

"BEN!" Tina called.

"SHUT UP, TINA!" Ben shouted.

Eric stood up. "Mr. Earhardt, I'm not happy to what happened to Taylor. I didn't know what happened to Taylor until I came back to Headquarters an hour ago," Eric informed. Eric was suddenly pinned to the wall and Ben was glaring at him.

"You got my baby girl into this. To think I was going to approve. Ha! Me approve about my daughter dating a freak like you," he snapped.

"Ben, stop it," Tina insisted.

"I told you to shut up, woman."

Eric tried to maneuver, but Ben had him pinned so that he couldn't move. "If my baby girl dies, I'll make sure I'll be the last thing you ever see on this planet," he snapped. Tina ran out of the room get help for Eric.

"Mr. Earhardt, you've got to believe me, I didn't want to this to happen to Taylor. I love her too much to let anything happen to her," Eric insisted.

"If you loved her, you would've died in that coma and let her move on with her life. If you loved her, you wouldn't have let her cry as long as she did while you were in that coma," he snapped.

Eric was stunned. "What?" He asked. Two guards then restrained Ben. "What are you talking about?" Eric asked.

"My baby girl never left you side while you were in the coma. She refused to see anybody else. She just sat there all day thinking about you and past memories," Ben replied.

"Should we throw him out sir?" A guard asked.

Eric knew that if he didn't get Ben out now, he would surely regret it. Eric nodded, but he didn't let Tina leave. "Tina, what Ben said about Taylor, was it true?" He asked. Tina nodded sadly.

"Yes, Taylor never left your side. She sat there all day heartbroken," she replied.

Eric sat down in his chair holding his throat where Ben had grabbed him. "Eric, will you please get my daughter back?" She asked. Eric walked over and placed his hands on Tina's shoulders.

"We're going to try, I can't make promises," he replied.

He then embraced the woman that accepted him for dating Taylor. He just hoped that he could get Taylor back alive.