John woke up in a cold sweat. Whipping off the covers on his bed he sat up strait. "It was just a dream" he whispered. He opened the door to check on Amber. But all he saw was an empty couch. Then all of the memories came back to him. Amber lying to him, them getting into a fight, and then her running off. He sat on the couch, his head in his hands. He spent almost all night looking for her, but no trace except for his Jacket. Bo finally went after him and told him that if he found anything on her he would let John know as soon as he could. But that wasn't good enough. He wanted his little girl now. He wanted her safe and sound. He had to tell Joel about what happened. Even though John didn't like him, he thought it would be cruel not to let him know what happened. He told Joel to go back to NYC and he would let him know anything that he heard. Joel protested for hours it seems like until Bo told him that they will keep in touch. He felt Soft hands on rubbing his back.
"You ok?" Natalie asked. She spent the night with him to make sure he was alright. She knew this was hard for him.
"This is all my fault." He leaned back on the couch, staring up at the ceiling.
"John…" Natalie put her hand on his leg.
"No it is. If I hadn't of gotten in a fight with her, things would have been different. She would be here, on this couch sleeping. I think I'm goanna go up to the roof and get some air, clear my head. You go back to sleep, I'll be fine." He kissed her on the top of her head.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah I'm sure." He waited until she left and went to the kitchen to grab a couple of beers to take with him. He brought one of the chairs up to the edge so he could prop up his feet. After a couple of beers he felt tired. He didn't get to sleep to long though before his phone rang.
"McBain," He rubbed his temples.
"John…" Her voice was weak on the phone. He sat up quickly, trying to focus on what he was hearing.
"Amber, honey, are you alright? Where are you?"
"I…I don't know where I'm at," She started crying. "This man…after I left the station p-put a knife to my neck and t-told me that if I didn't stop screaming he would k-kill me. And t-then I passed out." She stuttered. "I'm s-scared." Shocked at what she just told him, John tired to calm her down.
"Sweetheart, I know you scared, can you tell me what the place you're in looks like?"
"Well… it's dark…and it smells like…cardboard." She said slightly calmer than she had been.
"Alright, good start. Is there any windows you can look through?" He paced around on the roof, trying to shake off the beers he had.
"Well there is one…" she got up quietly and got up on her tip toes, trying to see through the tiny window. "I see a street, looks like downtown-ish and Ally maybe…not wait I am in an ally, the streets down a little ways," He heard her gasp.
"Amber what else…Amber? You there?" John asked. He stopped his pacing, waiting for a reply.
"Sorry, she's not available right now, she's a little, oh how do I put this…tied up at the moment." The voice gave sort of a devilish laugh.
"You son of a-"
"Ah ah ah McBain, that's not how you going to get you princess back. Met me at the docks at midnight if you want you precious daughter." Before line went dead, he heard her scream bloody murder his name. He slammed his phone down in the chair. He looked up into the sky as if it had all the answers. He went back to his room trying not to disturb Natalie in the process but she had ears like a hawk.
"We were outside for a pretty good while." She said sitting up straight and stretching out. John wasn't paying a lot of attention. He started getting his work clothes out.
"John?" She got up and gently touched his shoulder. He turned around slow; his eyes were sparkling with tears. She hugged him tightly.
"They took her. They took my girl." Was all he could say as he hugged her back tighter.
XOXOXOXOX
Sorry I haven't updated and that my chapter is short. I've been making cards for soldiers in Iraq to send back to their loved ones and it has taken up all my time. I'll make the next chapter better. Promises.