A Family Stolen

Disclaimer: I own nothing

A/N: As said, this and the last chapter I'm giving you together as a favor because they were written together and I wanted to avoid a sharp cut where I had to split the two.

Chapter 14 (Fleeting Hope)

Jade stood with Beck and Sam, taking notes along with them. Andre had moved from the couch and was standing on the right side while Sikowitz stood on the left. Jason and Robbie were standing behind them, and Cat was still at her desk.

Sinjin looked a bit uncomfortable to be crowded as he sat where Andre had been, but if he was, he wasn't saying anything. "Honestly you can't get touch these people." Sinjin swept his hand through his curly hair and shuddered. "The Black Knights are too strong, too powerful."

"I've run into them," Jade muttered. Sinjin's brow furrowed as she hugged herself and felt a cold tremor run down her spine. "Hayley. She was psychotic, and I mean psychotic to my standards." Sinjin's hand tapped the couch cushion and he made a swallowing noise.

"Yeah, she's Jerome's girlfriend. Jerome is Jesse's older brother, and the leader of the Black Knights." Sinjin's nostrils flared out and his lips twisted scornfully. "They've turned what was once something Jesse wanted as a force of good into something so disturbing, so disgusting that even Jesse doesn't think it can be redeemed."

"There's redemption for almost anything," Sikowitz replied. "So what is the big issue we're facing with the Knights? Do they stand in the way?" Sinjin chuckled softly.

"Do they stand in the way? Only as much as an army that guards a fortress encasing a king." Sinjin crossed his arms and tensed up. "They're the biggest treat you face. The minute they suspect someone of investigation, Jerome and Hayley will order your murder."

"What is Jerome's role in this? Why is he involved? What is he getting out of the kidnapping of the Vega family?"

"Jerome? He's in the chief's pocket. He's the very reason David and Holly Vega were so protective of their children. He was both the girls' first person they dated-and the first guy to cheat on them…with the other."

"Okay."

"Danny and Ross were pretty close; Danny to Tori and Ross to Trina. They were the straw that broke the camel's back. Daniel cheated on Tori, and Ross did what he did…Nearly got their asses killed by Mr. and Mrs. Vega."

Jade gasped and exchanged a grievous look with Sam. It was horrifying to hear the rumors brought up again, and now with more truth to them than before. Sinjin removed his glasses and began to clean the lens with his button-up shirt.

"Stephen and Marcus were next. Tori can't stop getting cheaters and apparently Trina couldn't stop getting abusers. I guess they both finally found their prince." He smiled and glanced up at Jason. "But then, who would have thought their past would come back to haunt them in such a terrible way?"

"What are you saying?" Jade lowered her pen and notebook, sighing heavily.
"The exes are involved in all this?" Her heart began to sink and her despair only grew as Sinjin nodded his head. "Are Tori and Trina targets?" He shook his head, only adding to her confusion. "Then why are they involved?"

"It's all about revenge. Hurt Mr. Vega, make him suffer." Sinjin leaned forward, raising his hand in the form of a triangle over his face. His fingers folded and curled under his chin. "He's to watch as his family is tortured and eventually murdered. I'm not sure how long they want to carry on this charade, but I'm sure it won't last much longer."

Jade was trying her best to remain calm and keep her composure, but with every new piece of information Sinjin gave, the more nervous she became. "What else, Sinjin?" Sikowitz's eyes slanted and he folded his arms across his chest. "Right now the police chief is highly suspected. Tell me he's not involved, or if he is; it isn't huge."

Sinjin's eyes closed and he began to tremble. "I wish I could." Jade turned her head, glancing over her shoulder at Jason. The man was shaking with anger and grief, his eyes full of concern and a new level of anxiety she'd not seen before. He knew the nature of the situation; if the exes were involved, then that meant Ross was there. The only question on her mind, and likely his as well, was how involved?

"I'd like to say Ross himself is in charge, but he's only the boss at the facility." Jason drew a heavy breath into his nostrils. Rage burned like a fire in his eyes, and for a moment Jade feared he would explode. "His dad is more in control. Turning all of this into some sick, twisted revenge scheme against Mr. Vega for throwing his son in prison. Then trying to have the kid shanked…"

"His son deserved more than just a prison sentence," Jason remarked with a scary deep tone in his voice. Jade felt a sudden chill and curled her eyebrows together while looking at Jason. "Mr. Vega shouldn't have done what he did, but I won't say I don't blame him." Jason took a powerful step forward, his nostrils still flaring as the fire in his eyes intensified. "He held a fucking knife to her throat. He is the reason she can't sleep at night, he is the reason she was so scared to talk to anybody-to get close to anyone; to trust anyone. If nothing else, Samuel Ross would have deserved anything he got coming to him."

"I hear you." Sinjin raised his hands and nodded. "Believe me, I do. The man's a bastard. He needs to be shot down just like his father; but right now they're both untouchable."

"We almost contacted him the other day," Sam muttered. Sinjin's eyebrows shot up. "We were questioning some of the exes. We got to Stephen, ran into Marcus; but decided not to talk to any of the others."

"Good thing you didn't. Ross and his father, along with Daniel, have surrounded themselves with Jerome's gang. If a police officer, an investigator, or anyone at all comes around asking questions…" He took a deep breath and raised his hand, pointing his thumb upwards and extending an index finger. "Boom. No questions asked." He jerked back his hand and Jade felt a cold chill rush through her body.

"How do we do this? What do we do?"

"My suggestion. If you want to get to any of them, you've got to go through the Knights first." Sinjin lowered his hand and shook his head. "If Jerome were out of the picture, Jesse could take over. If he took over, he'd reform the Knights…"

"But what would happen if he tried to pull them away?"

"That's what I'm nervous about. The minute he would take charge, he'd order the Knights to stop helping the bad guys. Yet he has no protection. He'd be killed in an instant. I'd probably be killed too just by association. Loose ends and whatnot."

Jason growled. "How about I go in and wipe them all out one by one?" Sinjin rolled his eyes and the others turned towards Jason.

"Look, I know you're angry. I know you're worried about Trina; and I think everyone here gets that. Still, let me say bravado is the last thing that is going to help her or anyone." Sinjin narrowed his eyes and started to raise his voice, the quiver leaving in a moment's notice. "Besides, do you think Trina wants that? Do you honestly think she wants you to put yourself at risk like that? Even your involvement in this little group would probably make her very afraid something might happen to you."

Jason frowned, his shoulders falling as a sigh rolled away from his lips. "You're right. I'm just…I wish I could see her. I'm scared to lose her."

"Yeah, well she's not in a good place either mentally; and if she's going to survive this, she's going to need you at your best." Jason nodded and Jade chuckled, impressed with the confidence and urgency coming from Sinjin. "I mean it. You are the only piece of hope she has right now; the only thing she keeps going on about. 'Jason's still out there'." Sinjin leaned sideways and narrowed his eyes. "'He's got to be looking', 'I need to see him'."

"You're right…"

"So don't do something completely stupid. Don't try to get brave, don't go charging headfirst into a crowd of killers, thinking you can take them all on; because if you get yourself killed, she'll have nothing left to hold onto. Where Trina is concerned, you are the only hope he has left in this world. So don't be a fucking soldier about this for once. Be brave, be smart, don't be stupid."

"I am a soldier, it's in my nature to want to do something. It's hard to wait, to be patient."

"You want to do something? Be a boyfriend. There's got to be something you can do without going crazy."

Jason nodded, his hands clenched tight and trembling. He started to swallow and held Sinjin's gaze. "I'll bear that in mind, and do my best." Jason breathed in deep and his eyes welled up with tears. "That said, do you think you could do something for me? If it's possible at all…"

"Name it." Sinjin shrugged. "I'll see what I can do."

At the facility, Trina struggled to remain strong. Every muscle in her body was on fire, and grief had overtaken her. Her heart was breaking and she was starting to lose any faith that she'd make it out alive.

Looking at Gary, she feared for his life. They kept him drugged so he wouldn't go on a hell bent rampage; because he was the one person that could devestate the whole operation if allowed to escape. Still, the druggings were taking a toll on him and wouldn't be long before it killed him. Trina hated to let her sister see someone else close to her die, but was felt powerless to stop it.

"You need to stop taking it," Tori whispered. Trina glanced over, shrugging and saying nothing in response. "Every time they come to beat us, every time they want to force Dad to watch us get beaten…stop volunteering yourself in my place. Please." Tori's eyes welled with tears and the girl shook her head. "I can't keep watching them strike you."

Trina remained perfectly still. Her back pressed against the wall, her bruised forearms folded across her stomach. She opened her busted lips, but only a raspy breath escaped. She looked towards her father, who'd been bludgeoned once more recently, but couldn't bring herself to feel any emotion.

The door slid open and Trina's eyes turned towards the two men walking in. "We've got delicious food for you," Sinjin said with a sad smile. Trina blinked twice and rolled her head to the right, letting it strike the wall. "Come get it, guys. You need to eat, you need to stay strong."

What was the point? She was going to die here. Her mother was gone, her stepfather's health was fading fast, and there wasn't a single person out there that was looking for them. Not with Hank Ross holding the police on a leash.

They were fucked as far as she could see.

"I'll get it," Tori said with a hushed voice. Sinjin opened the door and Tori walked over, taking the tray with a smile. "Oh look, warm soup! Trina, do you want the soup?" She looked over, her eyes dim and expression blank. Sinjin shook his head vigorously.

"Nah, why don't you give Trina the steak and grilled potatoes I prepared!"

"She won't eat, Sinjin." Tori rolled her eyes and sighed. "I keep trying, but the most I can get her to take is soup. At least she drinks it."

"I insist." He leaned forward, putting emphasis in his voice. "Let her have the steak, I think she will love it."

"I'm telling you-"

"Trina gets the steak. She gets to eat the top, eat underneath, eat the sides." Trina raised an eyebrow and scoffed. Tori took the tray away with a groan and shook her head.

"Fine. I'll give daddy the soup. Asshole."

"Yeah, yeah, I deserve that."

"Fucking right you do. Traitor." Sinjin frowned and looked away as Jesse pat him on the shoulder. Tori set the plate down in front of Trina and gazed at her pleadingly. "Please eat, Trina. Please."

Trina raised her eyes up and looked at Sinjin. "Hey." Sinjin shrugged and started to turn. "If you feel uncomfortable eating in front of a camera or something, then turn around. Nobody cares if you eat with your back to the camera."

Tori rolled her head to the side and pointed out. "You can leave now Sinjin, we got the food!"

"Come on," Jesse replied, "they clearly don't want to talk to you."

Trina breathed in slowly and decided to turn around, scooting back a bit so she could lean her back against the metal bars. The cold steel caused her to tremble and shake, but she hardly cared. Her trembling fingers grasped at the steak and her eyes moved to her sister, who was trying to get David to eat the soup.

Picking up the steak, Trina caught a glimpse of something odd underneath it. Inhaling deep, she tore the tender steak with her fingers and raised a small piece to her hungry lips.

Glancing back at the plate, she studied the strange object. It was two pieces of wood pressed firmly together. She set the piece of steak down and picked up the wood to examine it. Tori turned her head and watched as Trina pulled the wood apart to reveal a tightly folded note.

She opened the note carefully, glad that it was out of view of the camera. When she saw the handwriting, it stole the breath from her lungs and caused her heart to skip a beat.

Trina,

I hope this finds its way to you. I'm here, we're trying to find a way to get you out. My uncle, and even Tori's friends. I want you to know nothing will ever make me stop loving you, nothing will cause me to stop looking. You are my rock, you have been for so long. I came home, the first thing I wanted to do was find you. I can't wait until I can hold you close again. Nothing feels right without you. Please, know that we're not going to give up…I'm not going to give up. I…I want to spend our lives together, to start a family and all those other dreams that we've talked about in the past. Nothing will ever change that: Nobody will ever change that. I know you're scared, I know you're hurting, but don't give up. Whatever you do, please don't give up. Help is on the way. Stay strong, and I will be strong for you. We'll be together again Trina, I promise you that. I love you, always and forever. Also, Sinjin's going to put something in the potatoes, keep it safe; and preferably hidden along with this note. Wait for me, don't give up, stay strong. I love you. So much.

Love, Jason.

Trina's breathing grew heavy as she turned her eyes towards the potatoes. Her eyebrows started to furrow as her heart thrust itself into her throat. There was something glistening in the center of the grilled potatoes, an object that didn't appear edible.

She carefully pushed the potatoes away with her fingertips and froze when she saw a diamond ring with brilliant crystals having been hidden underneath them. Her hand flew to her mouth, catching a sob as tears fell from her eyes.

"Trina?" Tori nearly dropped the soup bowl and spoon in her hurrying to Trina's side. "What's wrong?" The plate fell to her lap and she caressed her face, weeping as a new feeling came over her.

Hope; for the first time since captivity she felt like she could hope for the future. Her tears were not tears of grief, but of the relief coursing through her.

The note would have to be destroyed of course, and she'd have to hide the ring somewhere safe so no one could find it. If Sinjin was helping Jason, it was possible he could take the ring and hold onto it.

"H-He's coming," Trina whispered through her tears. Tori looked down at the note, her eyebrows rising high as her arms moved around her sister. "He's coming to save us. He wants to be with me, even after all this, he still wants to be with me. Tori, oh Tori…"

She thought for a minute, expecting maybe they didn't have to destroy the note. She had a marker the captives gave to them in order for them to mark on the walls and floor if they wanted to play games; it was something Jesse convinced them to allow.

The Sharpee was shit, but for a piece of paper it would work.

She wrote with a quick and heavy hand, wanting to have the note ready to fold up and conceal for Sinjin to take and deliver once he returned to the dishes.

Taking a deep breath, Trina attempted to steady her writing. "Jason, I am scared. I cannot believe Sinjin is even doing this. I find it hard to trust anyone." Her heartbeat slammed against her chest and she tried to sweep away her tears while her sister returned to feeding their father. "I accept your ring, but am giving it to Sinjin to give to you for safe keeping. I-I can't believe you want to be with me, after everything. The things that have happened, Jason please forgive me. It hurts too much, but It means so much you'd be there for me. I love you with all my heart. I know it's not going to be easy, and while I accept your marriage proposal, it's going to take time. I know you understand, it's hard. I'm damaged goods, unclean…to think anyone would want to be with me after all this…please don't leave me. If you get us out, please don't leave me. I love you, Jason…I love you…"

She wiped away her tears once more and quickly folded the note. When Sinjin returned to take the dishes, she hid the note under the plate for him to find. She didn't understand the part about Tori's friends coming to help as well, but as long as someone was out there looking, it meant the world to her.

Communication from outside, it probably feels like a great bit of relief. What do you make of everything Sinjin told to the group? This offer of help, an olive branch extended, and maybe the sisters can feel a little bit of hope that somebody is trying to save them and that they aren't alone.