Disclaimer: Don't own the characters. Not making money off of them

Rating: K+ (Genfic, just a little of violence).

What is it about? A kid is missing, some strange things happened all around and the team have to find out what, why and who is behind all of the...'twisted facts' in the case.

Characters: All of them, well, lets think a little... Oh! I forgot somebody... well, guess you all know who...

Part 11

Building #3 office 227

Day 3 6:00 PM

When Martin awoke it was to pain. His head hurt more than he could remember and he tried to calm the dizziness. He took a few minutes and stayed quiet, slowly taking an inventory of the pain, calculating which
ones were new and which were older. His head cleared enough to figure out that the new pain was only located in his head, great, as if enough damage hadn't been inflicted there of late, he remembered. Where was Brian?

Carefully he took in the small room and knew he was alone. Standing carefully he stumbled to the door, the dizziness in his brain threatening to dump him unceremoniously to the floor. He stopped at the door and
listened. No noise came from outside the door, he didn't know if that meant no one was out there or if he just couldn't hear them. He started to reach for the door handle when suddenly the door was opened and two of the
men he'd seen in the hospital came into the room.

Immediately their hands were upon him, shoving him back against the wall. One of them punched him hard in the stomach and he felt all his breath leave his lungs. His vision began to darken as they slammed him back
against the wall.

"Where is the boy? What did you do to him?" Martin concentrated on Brian. It was the only way he could keep his body from completely betraying him and succumbing to the inviting darkness.

"No, no. That's not how this is going to work. We have questions for you, Agent Fitzgerald." Another blow to his stomach caused him to lurch and fall forward. Laughing, the two men stepped back and allowed him to fall
face down onto the floor. As he tried to climb to his hands and knees a vicious kick to his ribs sent him sliding across the floor.

"Now that we have your attention, perhaps you'll be willing to tell us where the plane is landing?"

Martin coughed and then moaned at the pain that brought him. He knew he couldn't hang on for much longer but their question and their intent to force him to answer them had him curious. His FBI training kicked into
high gear. Why did these guys need this information from him? After all, they were in with Coltwell and gang, why didn't they know where the plane was landing? They should have been asking him whether or not there would
be surveillance, but that wasn't what they desperately needed to know. He tried to stall for time.

"Where's Brian?" he managed to ask in his last coherent thought before he succumbed to the beckoning darkness.

"Bring the boy in here." With a last disgusted look at Martin one of the men left the room to bring Brian. The other man knelt beside Martin's slack form and slapped at his cheek.

"When you wake up your little buddy will be right here. You can look into his terrified eyes and see if you feel like talking then. If not...well...maybe there will be some more fun." He pushed Martin's body with his foot until he had rolled him into the corner and then left the room.

Slowly Martin struggled back to consciousness. He wasn't sure how long he had been out this time but as his eyes blinked into focus he realized he was no longer alone. Lying next to him, curled in a ball, was Brian.

Grimacing in pain he managed to pull himself to a sitting position and then slowly crawled to Brian. He felt the boy's warm skin touching his face, and his baby's scent invaded his nose. Gently he felt for a pulse and let out
the breath he had been holding as he felt the steady beat beneath his fingers. He lifted one of Brian's eyelids and saw the slightly glassy look to the eyes. He knew they had sedated the boy. Gently he rubbed at his
cheeks and called to him.

Very slowly the boy's eyes started to blink and the little face looked around in confusion and then recognition as he saw Martin. He held his arms up to Martin who decided the pain was worth the effort and he gathered
the boy to him in a tight hug. Then, when he was sure he had Brian tight in his arms he succumbed to the beckoning darkness.

Next time he awoke was due to the noise of the door opening and the two men returning. Martin opened his eyes and looked at them defiantly while Brian buried his head into Martin's shoulder. One of the men bent down and
pulled Brian from Martin.

"What are you doing? You're scaring him" said Martin struggling to stand only to be kicked back to the floor by the other man. Right then and there both men knew their idea of using the child was going to work. They knew
Martin would tell them what they wanted to know to protect the little boy.

Martin was yanked savagely to his feet and dragged to the chair and tied down again.

"We know you have the name of the airport! Tell us now!" said the man who had punched Martin in the jaw snapping his head hard to the right.

Brian's scream cut through Martin's dulled brain. Martin lifted his aching head to see Brian's face wet with tears and the terror in the little boy's eyes.

"Don't... you dare touch him...I'll kill you...both!" Martin's words might have been more threatening if he hadn't been gasping for air when he uttered them. His broken left arm still in the cast throbbed incessantly robbing him of his strength; he sagged against the bonds holding him, absurdly grateful for the support, while simultaneously cursing his inability to do anything to alter their situation.

The men laugh aloud "I don't think you could do that!" and held tightly to Brian. The little boy's cries assaulted Martin's ears and mind and he yelled out his anger and helplessness. Finally he could stand it no
more. Brian needed his help and there was something he could do about that.

"Leave him alone...I'll tell you."

"Let go of the boy" and Brian was dropped to the floor. He scrambled up in his terror and flung himself at Martin holding on for dear life. Martin could only drop his head down onto the little boy's head and murmur
encouragement. He strained against the bonds that held him in the chair.

"Where is it?"

"It's name is...The Deep Blue pilot school... it's here in NY...going south... by the interstate." The men left the room as quickly as they had entered pausing long enough at the door to utter a final threat.

"If it's a lie, you and the kid will pay, slowly, painfully, and completely." and they left muttering about a phone call.

Martin was left alone, left with the pain, the anger, the fear, the frustration and the total helplessness to change his situation. He was left tied to the chair, Brian hugging him, his trembling body clinging tightly to him. The only sound in the room was Brian sobbing and babbling incoherently.
Martin could do nothing other than whisper soft words and finally he gave that up and began humming soothingly until he felt Brian's trembling begin to ease.

He leaned his head back and thought again of his team. Help me guys, I can't do this alone.

In her car, Viv's cell phone rang "Johnson" she said calmly, all the while her stomach was fluttering as she hoped this was THE call.

"Viv, it's Mac. We've traced the call, it came from one of the offices on Franklin... let me see... got it, they have half of the second floor in that building, from office 201 to 235, just the odd numbers"

"Thanks Mac! I'll check it out. Did you call Jack?" she said

"He's my next call after you."

Viv called for backup and then raced towards where she hoped Martin was being held.

When all the teams were in place and Vivian's role as team leader was firmly established she gave out the assignments. Teams of two would search the second floor, quickly and quietly. While Coltwell and his people
remained the key objective no one was willing to risk the lives of any of the hostages, especially a little boy and a fellow agent.

Agents Crane and Baker were assigned a section of offices. They searched methodically, each office yielding nothing. With one office to go they were beginning to give up hope. Until they found the door to this office
strangely unlocked. Quietly pushing open the door Baker darted his head around just enough to see two men seated at a table. Both men wore identical shocked expressions at being discovered.

"FBI, freeze!"

Hopes for a quiet, arrest were shattered when the men in the room dove to opposite sides of the room and began firing at the door. Both agents returned fire but Crane's reflexes were a bit on the slow side and he felt
the fire of a bullet wound him in his side. It wasn't a fatal shot and he fired back, killing the man who had wounded him.

Baker yelled again "drop your weapon!" and the other man let his gun fall to the floor and raised his hands.

Hearing the gunshots everybody covered the stairs to prevent unauthorized people from entering or exiting the floor. Collective breaths were held fearing the call over the radio that would inform them that one of their
own was lost. Anxious moments passed and finally the all clear was given and the victorious report claiming that the hostages had been secured. Tensions eased immediately but were again raised as the call came for the paramedics to be sent up.

Vivian ran to the office with fear as her shadow. Upon rounding the doorway she was relieved to see Martin and Brian in a small inner office. She stepped right between the dead man and the apprehended man and went to
Martin. He was slumped in the chair obviously unconscious. Brian was awake and with his eyes full of fear because of the noises he had heard before. He was over Martin's lap and held by Martin's casted arm. Martin
was unconcious with his head dropped over Brian's shoulder, he had his right arm and body tied to the chair with a rope and handcuffed. One agent was in front of Martin ready to catch him when his bonds were released. As
Vivian reached him Martin started to fall forward as Baker cut through the restraints.

Brian saw Viv, the only person he knew there, and he called her between sobs "Viv, please... something's wrong with Martin, he can't wake up!" he pleaded.
She then held Brian in her arms to free Martin from him. But Martin, though unconcious retained a grip on Brian. Vivian spoke softly to him "Martin, it's me, Viv, it's OK, let me get Brian, so the paramedics can tend to you"
"Viv...?... happened?" was the whisper.
"It's OK Martin"
Brian seeing Martin was awake, calmed down and talked to him too "Martin, you ok?"

Vivian dropped to the floor and held Martin's head in her lap and gently stroked his cheek all the while speaking calmly to him. She looked up and saw Brian's wide eyes looking at Martin and putting his little hand to
Martin's face. She smiled up at him as reassuringly as she could and he reached out to her.

Moments later the paramedics had arrived and efficiently took control of the two patients. Vivian held Brian so one of the EMT's could examine him while the others tended to Martin. He was gifted with another IV, as well
as an oxygen mask. In less than 10 minutes they had him on a stretcher and heading to the ambulance.

Vivian was carrying Brian while following the medics to the ambulance. She managed to free her cell phone and hit Jack's speed dial. Baker had given her a brief run down of what had happened and the remaining suspect had
been more than willing to spill what he knew. Obviously he had come to the conclusion that his freedom was no longer and option and he was more than willing to be helpful in the hopes of getting a lighter sentence.

"Jack? I've got them. Brian is fine; Martin is going to need some extra time in the hospital."

"That bad?"

"They beat him." Vivian didn't even try to keep the anger from her voice. She knew she was to remain dispassionate at all times but this was too much. Martin had been through too much, in too short of a time. He was at his limit she was certain. She knew she was as well. Despite knowing that she had prevented him being killed twice now, she still had feelings of guilt that she hadn't done enough.

"He's unconscious. I'm going to the hospital, I've got some agents with me for Brian and his security until everything is finished"

"OK, What did they want?"

"They didn't know where the plane was going to be. They wanted to know the location. Doesn't make sense to me. You are going to have some action at the drop, more than we were expecting, and Jack, remember we knew these guys were FBI also. Be careful."

Jack heard the concern in her voice. He felt the same. Despite all the information they had been able to piece together, they still didn't have all the facts straight.

"Yeah, thanks Viv, don't worry... and... good work!" replied Jack.

Vivian climbed into the back of the ambulance still carrying Brian and sat down fully intending to guard both Martin and Brian no matter what.

Jack closed his phone and massaged the back of his neck. Danny and Sam watched and waited.

"Call for back up, I want the local police involved as well. Vivian said these guys were dirty agents as we thought form the surveillance at the hospital, and we're going to have some additional action at the drop."

Danny shook his head in disgust. He was having a hard time accepting that his team was under assault from fellow agents.

Sam spoke up, "How badly is Martin hurt? Is Brian alright?"

"Vivian said Martin was unconscious and that Brian is with her. She's going to stay with them and make sure they are safe."

"Why, why take Martin, what did they want?

"The location of tonight's meet. Stay sharp out there, something is very wrong, I can feel it."

"Maybe the location changes each time there's a new deal. Maybe Fanning cut communication with them.

"Maybe Fanning didn't want to tell them..." Jack interrupted.

Sam and Danny looked at him in astonishment.

The three agents pondered the ramifications of that and then checked their gear and headed out. Upon arriving at the designated staging area Jack coordinated with the police and back-up.

Sam and Danny stayed behind some crates outside the main building and close to the doors. Jack went with one of the agents to the other side of the lane just in front of them. They knew tonight was the night of the deal.

Danny stared at Sam and said "So, what do you think Sam?

"You need to be more specific with that question, I've been thinking about a lot of things lately." She thought a lot about Martin and Brian's bond hand what would happen to them once the case ended. Brian's parents were
criminals and would be in prison in the best of the possible scenarios. She thought of how tender and cute Martin was when he was with the boy. She couldn't suppress the smile that appeared on her face at that moment.

"What?" Danny asked, he was looking at her and saw the change in her face, from fear and confusion to that bright smile.

"What, what?" she asked

"The smile...I mean." He had already figured out what it meant but he was pushing her to open up a little. He liked her and Martin together. He liked that Martin seemed happy with Sam and he wanted Martin to be happy.
He felt bad for the times he had abandoned Martin when he realized he was addicted to the pain killers. He regretted not being a better friend and he regretted that he couldn't protect Martin. It was similar to the
regrets he had regarding Rafie. Even though his brother was older in years, Danny felt protective towards him. He hadn't been able to protect Rafie, and now he had failed Martin as well, twice, or maybe three times.
But then it was that boy, he was happy to see Martin through Brian's eyes, because it was the same Martin he was looking for after the shooting, the brave Martin, the one who never give up, Martin the protector. The boy was
right, Martin was still there, and he was not going to fail that Martin. No matter what.Seeing Sam smile made him feel that perhaps there was some hope or happiness for her and Martin and that somehow that would go a long way to easing Danny's guilt.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he missed some of Sam's words "...and you have to see him taking care of that boy and playing with him like a 5 year old kid himself"

They both grinned at each other and then quieted, momentarily lost in their own thoughts. Jack's voice pierced both their minds as it came over their earpieces.

"Two shadows moving in, we've got company."

"Here we go."

Several more silent minutes passed and then the sound of a plane approaching filled the night air. At the same time two trucks rumbled through the entrance.

Showtime.

TBC