A/N Terror is part 2, Time Slip (part 1), Fram (part3), Endurance (part4)

This story will struggle to stand alone, but is a stand-in for the missing Time Lapse. I will publish it in three or four large chunks so we can get through this and have the information we need to understand the rest. I apologize for my failure to find the older version. Erebus

(1)

The four of them left the Mews in the two vehicles. Jamie and Harry in the panel truck, Steve and Ted in the Audi. They were heavily armed, wearing body armor, and equipped with medical supplies. They were also carrying handheld livestock inoculating guns loaded with vials of powerful tranquilizer. They had left behind their cell phones, and anything that could identify them. The vehicles had forged license plates and all the identifying numbers on the cars components had been removed some time ago.

They positioned themselves near the WSB headquarters building with a vehicle facing each direction. With the tracking device they weren't going to lose her, but they would have to decide on an intercept point while they were on the move, and having just the four of them, they were going to have to work together seamlessly.

Inside the building, Phelps was waiting with Anna, periodically checking her vital signs as he waited for the gurney. When it arrived he directed the two agents to help him move her from the chair to the gurney and strap her in place. One of the interrogators appeared and gave the agents directions to the drop off point, and Phelps followed them out and down to the garage.

When they were loaded in the unmarked van the interrogator locked Phelps in the back with Anna. The other two agents in the transport detail got into the cab. Phelps buckled himself into the seat next to the gurney as they left the garage and headed West.

"Here we go guys, heading west," said Jamie over the com-link. "Get turned around and try and work your way out ahead of us Ted."

"Will do Jamie," he replied.

Within 15 minutes the Audi was leading the way by about a mile, and the panel truck was following just far enough behind to be out of site of the transport van. They left the city on the M1 heading north. After nearly an hour they turned onto smaller roads heading west and the team was forced to leapfrog several times when they weren't able to anticipate the route.

x

The first thing he noticed was the dull headache, and how stiff his neck was. Robert opened his eyes slowly and stared at the wooden beam that crossed the ceiling above his head. He knew in a moment that he was in Jamie's house in the Mews. He listened carefully for any noise from the house, but everything was quiet and he felt quite sure he was alone.

He moved slowly, pushing himself slowly in to a seated position and scanned the room. The whitewashed walls bore a single work of art, a large black and white print by Robert Motherwell in a brushed stainless frame. There were a handful of postcards pinned to the wall with thumbtacks.

He stood carefully and rubbed his eyes. The light from the window made him guess mid afternoon and he scratched at the stubble on his cheeks.

He moved over to the dresser where he could see his handgun holding down a slip of paper. As he got closer, he realized Jamie had unloaded the weapon and left the rounds in a small pile near the ejected clip and the body of the gun. She wasn't taking it away, just slowing him down, hoping thought would intervene before action. He knew what she thought he might do.

"Gone to get Anna," the note said. "Body on the foreshore dead 48-72hrs, acute alcohol poisoning. All good. Eat something. Bike is ready if you need it. Jamie"

He wondered what had happened, where they had gone. At least he could stop worrying that he had killed some poor sod for just crossing his path at the wrong time. He reloaded the gun and put it in his waistband against his back and headed down the stairs.

In the front room he glanced at the road maps and the slips of paper covered with scribbled notes. He walked through the kitchen and into the small attached carriage space. Whatever vehicles were kept here were gone. He walked over and put his hand on the seat of the motorcycle and scanned the room for clues. The workbench was littered with electronic debris and wiring. There were spare aerials and coaxial cable.

They were tracking her. Somehow they were tracking Anna or someone who was with her. He turned quickly and went back into the house. He grabbed a slice of bread and a chunk of cheese as he passed through the kitchen. In the front room he opened the laptop that was plugged in on the coffee table. The tracker was there. It was about 50 miles west near the M40.

He turned grabbing the highway map he had seen earlier and spread it out running his finger along the route of the highway. It all came to him at once. The Beeches. Those bastards were taking her to The Beeches. A chill ran up his spine. They were taking her to him. That had to be it. Everything had come full circle. He was hit with a wave of terror, and then, just as quickly, a calm overtook him and he knew what he had to do. Either Jamie would reach Anna before they arrived at the Beeches, or it would be up to him. He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand and calculated his chances as about 1 in 10. Jamie had to succeed. But it was up to him to try and end this once and for all.

He took one of the phones charging on the kitchen counter, and went through to the garage. The helmet and jacket sat on the gas tank, the keys were in the ignition. He opened the carriage doors to wheel the bike out. He went back through to close up the doors and paused in the kitchen looking at the line up of charging phones they had left behind, recognizing Harry's.

He locked the door on the way out and worked his way out through the gates of the mews before getting on the bike and heading out on the M25 towards the ring road and the M40.

x

(2)

"We need to get this done guys," said Jamie, feeling frustrated. They could reach their destination any time now. Ted can you see the road up onto the moors ahead on the map? About three kilometers. Force them to make the turn and we'll be right behind them. Let's get this over quickly."

"Roger that Jamie," replied Ted.

Phelps felt the bump as the vehicle left the pavement. "Here we go," he thought. He quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and lowered himself to the floor of the transport vehicle as shots rang out. He could feel the vehicle shudder with the impact of the shots. He closed his eyes and waited.

In the cab the driver was slumped over the steering wheel dead. Harry dragged the man out of the passenger seat. He had been hit in the thigh and was gasping in pain. Steve came over with an inoculating gun and tranquilized him. Harry stayed with him until he lost consciousness.

Jamie climbed into the cab and slid open the small observation slit.

"Phelps?"

"Yes."

"Are you alone?"

"Just me and the subject."

"Okay, was the driver carrying keys?"

"No, locked at headquarters, unlocked by someone at the delivery site."

"Alright we're going to blow the door. Cover up."

"Ok"

A small targeted charge blew the door latch and when Steve swung the door open Phelps looked out from under a blanket. He stood quickly and uncovered Anna.

"Get her out of there Steve," said Jamie, and the big man climbed into the vehicle as Phelps jumped down.

He handed Jamie a small pharmaceutical vial.

"This will counteract the sedation she got. 2mg should do it."

"Thanks," said Jamie and pocketed the vial. "What do we need to do for you?"

"You've got to make this convincing if I'm going to weather this."

"What do you want?"

The doctor hesitated.

"Are you going to drug me?"

"Yeah," replied Jamie.

"Okay, well, bruises, and my brother is a dentist. Just please don't damage my hands."

"Done," said Jamie. "Your payment will come the same way as your retainer. Thanks."

Steve reappeared with the sedation gun. He injected the doctor and Jamie held him while he slumped to the ground.

"Steve, he needs some convincing bruises and a blow to the jaw."

"The jaw Jamie?" Asked Steve surprised.

"He says his brother's a dentist."

"Okay, if you're sure."

Steve carried Phelps back to the rear door of the transport and Jamie heard the crunching impact of several blows before Steve returned.

"Lets go home," said Jamie.

Steve joined Harry, Jamie, and Anna in the panel truck. Ted took the Audi and drove ahead. Jamie handed the vial to Steve with instructions and climbed into the passenger seat as Harry started the engine and headed out.

x

Riding the bike relaxed him. A BMW1150RS, it was pretty quiet and the helmet muffled the sound further until the power of the motor was just a thrum through his body from heels to fingertips. The powerful acceleration and dynamic handling was a perfect distraction. As he pushed the bike through traffic he felt a strange kind of peace settling over him. He left the M40 and drove up into the hills. He didn't want to arrive at The Beeches until after dark, and didn't want to interfere with whatever Jamie had planned. But he also wanted to make sure that things were finished if he could manage it. He knew he had failed the last time, but he wasn't really clear in his head what had happened. He shook his head. He had to try.

He emerged up onto the open moor and stopped in a pullout looking west down the valley. The sun was setting and the reds and oranges illuminated the undersides of the clouds in long streaks coloring the grasses and heather in a golden and pink light. He turned off the bike and removed his helmet, setting it on the gas tank in front of him. He stared at the sky and thought about where he was going, and the very likely fact that he would not succeed, not survive the night. But in this odd moment he felt sure, suddenly, that Anna was safe, and he felt unafraid.

He pulled out his phone and dialed.

Robin had gotten home from work just a bit ago. She had run a series of experiments that had kept her in the lab overnight. The catnaps she had squeezed in just hadn't cut it. Now, just past midday, she felt exhausted and so grateful to be in her apartment, to have her shoes off and sink into the depths of her couch, too tired to eat, too tired to even press the button on the remote to turn the TV on, when her phone rang. She looked over at where it sat on the table near the door and sighed as it rang again.

Then something, something, made her push herself to her feet and go to get it. She stared at the unfamiliar number, the European prefix. Her mom?

"Hello?" She said into the phone.

"Hello Sweetheart, It's me."

"Dad? Oh my gosh Dad! Oh. It's good to hear your voice. Are you okay?"

Robert thought about that for a moment. "Yeah Luv, I'm fine. What about you?"

"I'm okay Daddy. Where are you?"

"Well that's why I called you, sort of. I'm here, and the sun is going down and the sky is just so beautiful, I thought of you."

Robin was touched, but confused, "Dad…"

"I know it sounds crazy Robin, but sometimes your old man is reassured that there is beauty in the world to offset all the ugliness he's seen."

There was silence between them for a long moment.

"Dad, that sounds really nice. Tell me more about what you're seeing"

"Well it's changing quickly now, but the yellow and orange is still here and, I guess because of the clouds, it looks like the landscape is all warm, gold and peaceful. The light is changing though and things are turning blue and grey. It was a beautiful moment Sweetheart. But now the world will go grey with evening coming on."

"Nothing gold can stay Dad", said Robin.

"True words daughter of mine. I love you Robin."

"I love you more Dad."

He smiled. "Goodnight Luv."

"Goodnight Dad."

Robert disconnected the call and stared at the keypad of the phone for a while before he slid it back into his pocket. He slid the helmet on, rocked the bike forward off its stand, started the engine and headed out towards his destination.

x

(3)

About halfway back to London, Anna had started to awaken. When she saw Steve she started to cry in relief. Jamie unbuckled and climbed into the back.

"Hey Anna," she said.

"Jamie, Oh my god. When I saw that watch!" She grinned and Jamie grinned back at her.

"We were lucky Anna. Things have gone smoothly."

"Robert. Is Robert ok Jamie?"

"He's alright Anna. He had a rough night when you were inside, but he was in one piece at my house when we left."

Still groggy, Anna nodded and closed her eyes.

"I think he's okay Jamie. It feels like it."

Jamie looked at Steve and shrugged her shoulders, and looked back down at Anna .

They pulled into the Mews at about eight o'clock. Anna walked from the garage, through the kitchen and into the front room, on Harry's arm. He sat her in a comfortable chair. Her face registered a sudden surprise and she half stood to reach into her pants pocket and pull out Jamie's watch. She smiled as she held it out and Jamie took it back.

Jamie had noted the missing bike as she came in from the garage. Now she stood, with her hands in her pockets, waiting for Anna to ask. Anna simply looked at her.

"He's not here is he?"

"No," said Jamie. "He took my motorcycle."

"Do you know where he'd go?"

Jamie shook her head. "I don't think he would have left if….I don't know Anna, he knew we had gone to get you."

Anna nodded and looked around the room.

"Thank you. All of you. I have some idea what it must have taken to pull this off. I can't thank you enough."

Ted and Steve smiled at her. Harry looked embarrassed.

"I'm going to make some eggs and toast, and whatever else I can find. Anybody else hungry?"

There were murmurs of appreciation and Harry headed for the kitchen.

They ate with a quiet sense of camaraderie and then wandered off to find places to sleep. Jamie and Anna slept on either side of the bed upstairs, Harry on the sofa cushions and Ted and Steve in the back of the panel van onto of every soft item they could find and pile up in there.

x

Robert approached the Beeches from the east in darkness. He knew there was woodland along that side of the estate. He parked the bike and sat a moment.

It was easy for him to picture the map of the estate, and the floorpan of the manor house. He had studied it so carefully all those years ago. He had been so hopeful then. Sure that he could end at least one chapter of his life, and eliminate one of the dangers to his family. And revenge. He wanted revenge for all that had been taken from him. But it hadn't happened. Something had stopped him, and he had a fear that that thing, that barrier, was still there.

This time he did not feel sure. In fact he felt that this was likely the last night of his life, but his objective was still the same. He wanted this part of their life to be over.

He left the helmet on the seat, the keys in the ignition. He texted Harry's phone. One word: Beeches. At least they would eventually know what happened.

He took Jamie's jacket off and left it there. Checked his weapon and headed into the woods.

It took him an hour to reach the house. Security seemed perfunctory. He slid into the kitchen of the house and found two warm coffee mugs on the table. He was heading for the study at the top of the stairs on the first floor. When he reached the bottom of the stairs without seeing anyone he realized he was walking into a trap. He stood, still and silent, for several minutes. It seemed inevitable, and there was a chance he wouldn't be the only one to die.

Robert climbed the stairs silently. On the landing he could smell cigar smoke. He was there. Faison.

Robert entered the room without a sound and moved to close the distance between himself and the man standing, looking out the window, on the other side of the room.

Faison turned, exhaling smoke. He passed his hand in front of his face.

"Stop," he said calmly. "You can not hurt me Scorpio."

Robert felt his body freeze. Felt his mind lock while he stared into Faison's reptilian eyes. "Helpless," said Faison, and then he laughed. "Just as you were the last time."

Robert's jaw was clenched, his hands shook with the effort he was making to disobey this directive. The pain began behind his eyes. His knees trembled.

"Kneel Scorpio," said Faison, and Robert felt his knees buckle. "The great Robert Scorpio a mere puppet," he said with a chuckle. "It hurts doesn't it," Faison leaned closer and hissed into his ear. "The more you fight it, the more unbearable the pain.

Robert gasped with the effort of resisting, but his hands holding the pistol were shaking badly. "And Anna is on her way to me," said Faison. "She is coming to me, as she should. She is mine Robert. She has always been mine." Her time with you was just manipulation . She has always been mine, always mine, loves me." Faison continued in his reverie as Robert battled his doubts, his fears, his weakness. His eyes were tightly shut against the pain, he couldn't remember when he had dropped his gun and placed his hands on either side of his head.

He opened his eyes and looked at Faison.

"She could never love you, you bastard," he gasped. His head was on fire. He saw Wolfe standing next to Faison. He let out a growling gasp and collapsed on the carpet.

Wolfe looked at Faison with a crooked grin on his face.

Faison regarded Wolfe with distaste. "Get help. Take him downstairs. He is not to die. Not yet."

Wolfe rubbed his hands together briefly and headed out the door to find someone to help him move Robert.

Faison had been in a rage when he realized that Anna had been intercepted during her transport to him, but he found some consolation in the fact that Scorpio didn't seem to know it. And now, Cesar Faison had Robert Scorpio at his mercy. Though Wolfe would relish the opportunity to physically punish him, Faison realized that twisting the psychological knife would cause him far more intense pain. He would be sure that when Scorpio drew his last breath he would be certain that the lovely Anna awaited Faison in his bed. He would enjoy this time, and tomorrow, when Scorpio was finished, he would find out who had interfered in Anna's transport and punish them as well.

x