A Family Stolen

Disclaimer: I own nothing

A/N:

Chapter 25 (The Last Hostage)

The third floor was full of movement in every corner, whether it was from the Colonel's men or the SWAT team. Jason felt a quick sweep of it was unnecessary for this reason, but he had the hope that the girls could be found here, along with the hope that they could catch David before he expired.

Chances were slim to none that David would live, according to reports by both Jesse and Sinjin. At the very least, he wanted to make the man's last minutes of life comfortable and not spent in captivity.

"Not much longer now," Gary said while guiding Jason in a careful line through the corridors. All around them they could hear shouts, officers ordering Jerome's last remaining loyal soldiers to stand down while gunfire erupted in other locations. Gary's nostrils flared open and his chest started to expand. "God I hate this place, but I can't say I'm not happy to see it burn."

"Once we get them out, we're going for Ross. Right?" He didn't know what he was going to do about Ross or how he was going to handle the situation. Every fiber of his body wanted Ross dead, but there was something more about the man that he was slowly beginning to realize.

"He's backed into a corner now." Jason narrowed his eyes and looked to the ceiling. "He's bound to know we're here. He's been at his father's beck and call all his life, Trina may be the one thing that his father never controlled him on…"

Gary glanced sideways, huffing angrily. "Ross hurt her in a way that all but destroyed her, but I find interesting that he would never take her life." Jason raised an eyebrow and Gary leaned around a corner, growling for a moment before pulling back. "Everything that's happened so far? Holly's death, the torture…I think it's all come from the Chief. Ross has only ever displayed an interest in one person."

"Trina." He drew in a deep, trembling breath and closed his eyes. "Goddamn him." Just then his phone made buzzed violently, giving him a pause. Gary turned his head and Jason grabbed the phone to read a text message. "It's from Sinjin." Reading the text, his heart sank and he began to shake with anger.

"What is it son? Spit it out."

"Ross and Danny. They have the girls." He tensed and pictured Ross holding Trina in his room. His teeth clenched together, grinding dangerously. Gary remained calm, but a flash of anger filled in the man's eyes. "Ross has Trina. I swear if he touches her I'm going to kill him."

"No you're not. Don't lose yourself, just focus on Trina." He nodded slowly and followed Gary down the hall. "We'll head back. Go up the stairs and take Ross. I don't quite understand his fixation with her. It's as though he cares for her in some twisted way, but yet he's caused her a great deal of pain. He may not think twice before gunning you down."

"You think? If he didn't really want her family killed like his father did, but he'd kill me?"

"It's a bit obvious if you think about it." Gary was right. The more he thought on it, the more it seemed like Ross would do anything to keep Trina for himself; and that meant removing the one person that she was tied to. "If he knew anything about that proposal of yours-"

"Then I'd have been dead a long time ago." His words rolled out with his exhale, and he felt a mighty tremor rush through him. "He wouldn't have hesitated to kill me at the park. He hesitated, I'm not sure why, but now I think I'm beginning to understand."

Jesse explained via radio everything that he talked about to the Chief. This was what aided in Jason coming to the realization that he was now, along with the reactions and statements said by others present. "He's not in control of a damn thing. His father is. He wants Trina, but doesn't agree with his father's methods-meaning he doesn't think it's right to destroy those important to her?"

"Sounds about right."

"He didn't kill me at the park for whatever reason, he didn't even try to attack. Just provoked, maybe he thought he needed to work up the courage?"

"Maybe." Or perhaps Ross was afraid killing him would have been too much at the time. Even forcing someone to stay with you would be difficult if they had absolutely no one left that was important to them. "Do you really want to sit around trying to figure out his psychological state, or do you want to get Trina away from him?"

"Trina."

"That's what I thought."

Just as they turned the corner, they came face to face with four of the Knights that remained on the floor. They were carrying a makeshift stretcher with David laying upon it, and appeared as though they'd been trying to sneak him out.

The knights blinked twice as Gary studied them with scorn. Slowly they started to turn, and one of them shouted for the other three to start moving. "Not happening." Gary rushed between the two at David's feet and slammed his elbows into their heads. As they fell away, he reached down and grabbed the two bars of the stretcher firmly and let out a growl at the other two knights. "Slowly place him down."

Colonel Wallace and two soldiers rushed around the corner in front of them and aimed a rifle at two. The knights rolled their eyes and crouched low, released David and rose back up raising their hands into the air.

As the Colonel and a few officers coming around tended to the knights, Gary rushed and crouched at David's side. "Dave? Dave!" David turned his head slowly, looking up at Gary and Jason. The light was fading from his eyes, and he truly looked to be on his last leg.

Gary placed a hand on David's arm, frowning and furrowing his brow. "I'm sorry, David. I wish help could have come sooner." The corners of David's mouth slid up and he opened his lips. "Save your energy, Dave."

"Take care of my girls." Jade's voice came over the radio, weak and raspy. The three men listened to her status update and relief filled Jason's heart as he grabbed the radio.

Tori was safe. She was alive and headed out of the building. "You've done a great job," Jason told her. "Thank you, both of you. Feel free to go downstairs and get some rest…Gary and I are going to deal with Ross."

David took a slow breath, wheezing as he did. "I've tried to stay alive, to see them safe. I can't hold on much longer."

For the first time, Jason saw tears in Gary's eyes. There was a history between the two men, one that Tori and Trina never revealed to the group of friends or anyone outside the family beyond Jason and Ian. It all circulated around Holly, and Gary's military career.

The three had been lifelong friends, and strangely Holly was in love with both men. Where the friends saw an affair, the reality was a strange and twisted kind of relationship.

While Gary was the girls' stepfather, it was unsure which man was truly their father as Holly stayed with both of them separately throughout the years; and she only stayed with David in the last few years when she became as immensely protective of her daughters as she had.

"I'm sorry about Mrs. Vega," Jason replied. Gary closed his eyes and David turned to look at Jason closely. "I never quite understood the whole picture, but I know how much you guys loved her."

"Yeah." Gary smirked and looked down at David with a smile. "The three of us go way back, eh Dave? The military brat, cop wannabe and the lady." David smiled back and closed his eyes. "Don't worry David, I'll get our last girl out. Nothing's going to happen to her."

"Promise me Gary, promise me you'll look after them."

"You know I will." The paramedics rushed around the corner and took David's stretcher. Jason studied Gary closely as he watched them take David away. His breathing shook for a moment and he turned around, clearing his throat once he saw Jason. "Come on, let's get Trina out of this hellhole."

They moved in silence to the stairwell. Jason continued to study Gary, his mind spinning with various thoughts. "So…the two of you…" Gary let out a grunt and didn't bother to look back or reply while moving up the steps.

"You remember how we're going to get into this office? You go through the main entrance, I'll go through the second."

"Right. I'll try and keep Ross busy."

Jason stood before Ross's office door, taking several deep breaths to calm and steady himself. He shook his arms out and moved his neck from side to side. "Okay," he whispered to himself, "Stay calm. He won't hurt her. I have to keep him talking, long enough to let Gary in."

Carefully he put his hand to the doorknob, thinking in the back of his head that their might be a trap Turning sideways, he pushed the door slowly and was amazed to find it unlocked.

If Trina was in there, he would have to be cautious and calm, guns blazing and loud noises weren't going to help her in any way.

Whimpering noises filled his ears and his heart wrenched with worry and grief. Inside, the carpeting was red despite every piece of furniture and walls being brown. The office looked remarkably similar to how Jesse described the Chief's office looking.

"Jason!" Trina gasped and cried out in alarm. He froze when he saw her standing in the center of the room with Ross just behind her. He had a hand on her waist and his knife against her throat, in a pose similar to how he'd shown Jade. Her face was wet with tears and her eyes red and puffy. "Jason help me."

Fear gripped his throat and anger coursed through his veins as he made eye contact with Ross's narrow glare. "Not another step." Ross's demand was firm and threatening. "Not another step, or she dies." Trina swayed forward, whimpering and shaking like a leaf.

"Okay." He extended his left hand, showing his palm, while still holding his pistol in his right. Crouching low, he kept eye contact with Ross. "Don't do anything you'll regret, Ross." He breathed in slow, resisting the urge to put a bullet through Ross's skull; but doing so would surely cause his wrist to flinch and cut Trina. "Let's talk. Let's try to be rational minded men for just a moment."

"Talk?" He scoffed. "Talk about what?" Jason noted a gun at Ross's hip. The man had a strong pose and seemed well prepared for any kind of fight. "There's nothing to talk about. I tried to talk to you before." Jason turned his ear towards him, raising his eyebrows.

"You mean when you were trying to provoke a fight?"

"I meant what I said about getting her family out of here, asshole. I meant that. Holly had no business dying, Tori and Dave…fuck, everything about this isn't right. My dad's scheme is not my own, I'm just a part of it."

There were tears glistening in Ross's eyes, a sure sign that maybe there was a flicker of humanity somewhere in there. Jason could hardly believe a rapist had any humanity whatsoever within, but he was open to consideration. "Your dad's been in charge your entire life, hasn't he? You've never been in control…"

"So?"

He glanced at Trina. Her eyes were full of horror and fear, her lips were trembling, and mucous was mixing in with her tears. Ross took a step forward, pushing her along with him. She started to whimper, moving at his will. "You're not going to kill her, Ross."

"The fuck you just say?"

"You heard me." Jason narrowed his eyes and glanced back at the man. "You're doing the same damn thing your father did. By forcing her to do what you want, you're putting her in the same boat you've been."

Ross raised his voice and leaned forward. "I'm nothing like my father!"

"No." He pushed his open palm forward, chuckling nervously. "No you're right. You're not your father." It was difficult to be anything but vengeful, and even harder remaining calm. "What you are is frightened, backed into a corner with no way out. You know you can't escape your dad, and you know you can't escape what's coming. You're afraid…you won't kill her, but maybe you're hoping for your own death."

"Fuck. You."

"In some strange, twisted way, you don't want anything to happen. So just let her go." Jason took a deep breath and started to step forward, but moved his foot back the instant he saw Ross twitch. Trina shut her eyes and struggled to hold her breath. "Let her go, she doesn't need to be a part of this."

"I let her go, you shoot me. What do you take me for?"

"Please," Trina cried, "Just let me go."

Seeing her like this broke Jason's heart. He knew she was strong, much stronger than this; but he also understood the reason. She continued to plea and whimper, but Ross held his glare.

"Okay." Jason crouched low, setting his gun on the ground. "I'm putting down my weapon." His eyes remained focused on Trina as he tried to think of how to get her out of this situation. "See Ross, no weapon." He stood, holding his palms open. "Trina…Trina, listen to my voice."

"Now what are you doing?" Ross growled and jerked his hand forward. "I'm in control here."

"Trina. Talk to me."

"I-I'm scared, Jason. I'm so scared."

"I know you are. I'm here for you." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, ignoring any protest or aggravated shout coming from Ross. "Trina, I want you to think about our place. Think about where we first met, the place you love." She took a deep and trembling breath. He smiled gently as the vision came to his mind. "Think about that place on a moonlit night. Think about the ducks playing together, and how the moon's glow fills the light. I want you to focus on that…focus on that for me, can you do that?"

She nodded fearfully, opening her eyes slowly and turning a sideways glance to Ross. He had her in the worst way, held at knifepoint with the very knife he threatened her with years before. "Don't look at him, don't allow your mind to leave that place." Trina shut her eyes, gasping softly. "That lake is your safe place, Trina. You're safe there, protected. Nothing can hurt you."

Ross started to growl, his brow furrowing as he started to move his hand towards his hip. "I don't know what the hell you think you're doing, but I don't like it." Glancing for a second beyond Ross, he saw the door to the bathroom open partially. Gary poked his head in and started to nod.

"Trina, do you remember what I showed you?" Trina's body started to relax and she sniffled. "You're stronger than he is. I want you to know that. You're strong, that's what I love about you."

"I'm not strong."

"You are. You can get away from him. He's afraid, maybe more afraid than you are right now. He isn't going to hurt you, but he sure as hell is going to use you; but you can get away."

Ross curled his eyebrows together and glanced sideways, his mind clearly preoccupied by the situation at hand. "How in the hell is she going to get away from me? She's stuck."

"Trina, you're not stuck." Trina whimpered as Ross started to pull the knife slightly away from her neck. "You are strong. Mentally, physically…you're strong, you're beautiful, and you are more capable than anyone of protecting yourself. You can get away from him right now, you know how. You're in the perfect pose for the technique…"

"Please don't let him hurt me, Jason."

"I won't let anything happen to you." He had one hand lowered, ready to crouch and grab his gun at the minute Ross made any sudden movements. Even still, he had the man figured out. Ross was only holding her so Jason would be at a standstill and give in to whatever it was he wanted.

"Ross, you have demands I'm sure?"

"Of course I do." Trina inhaled as Ross pointed with the knife. "I want you to get the fuck out of here. Just let me go. She comes with me."

"Ross, I think you know well that's not going to happen. This place is crawling with officers. Where will you go?" Ross muttered and groaned.

"There's a fire escape. I'm sure I can get out somehow. Either way, you're in the way. Now, I don't want to have to kill you, but if you don't step aside and let me through…"

"You don't want to kill me? Really now?" So long as he could keep Ross focused on him, he knew Trina was capable of escape. Ross was distracted, his knife was away from her neck, and her hands were free. "Why don't you want to kill me? I'm the one thing standing in between you and her aren't I?"

"I'm not worried about that."

"I see." Gary was sliding closer, moving carefully and crouched low to the ground. He had his pocketknife in his right hand and looked ready to pounce, but Trina had to get away first.

Jason wasn't as confident as he appeared, a great fear gnawed away at him and he kept praying Ross wouldn't turn and take Trina's life on the spot. There was no opening to getting him from where he stood, so he was essentially powerless.

Now a greater fear was that Ross might detect Gary, and in doing so, kill Trina. "What would you do if you took her life?" He squinted and Ross made a grunting noise. "Everything you've tried to do, you've done because you want her to yourself, right? If that's the case…what would you do?"

Ross glanced at Trina, studying her for a few seconds. "Also, you say you're not your father, and yet you're controlling her. Keeping her from making her own choices. How is she going to be happy without free will?"

"Shut up. You don't know anything."

"Come on Ross, let her go. Your father's already caused her to lose her mom and dad, how much more pain are you going to put her through than what's already been done? If there's any shred of humanity in you whatsoever…you'll let her go."

Ross huffed and puffed several times, his wet eyes leaking the tears he'd been holding onto. "I wanted to kill my father. I didn't know what to do. He's the monster, not me. I'm no monster."

"I'm not going to call you a monster, but I am going to just point out where you stand right now." He took a step forward, reaching his hand out. Ross moved the knife back towards Trina's neck and gave a warning growl as she pulled her head back. "Right, don't worry Ross, I'm just extending a hand to you. I think we both want her to be safe."

Ross flared his nostrils. His muscles loosened a bit and Trina started to open her eyes. She looked into Jason's and he gave her a reassuring smile. Her eyebrows curled together and her hands, having risen up, were no longer trembling. "I love you," he whispered to her. She smiled back, weak but tender. "Always and forever."

"What?" Ross jerked his head back. "What are you doing right now?"

He ignored Ross, continuing to gaze into her eyes. "I won't leave you, Trina. You have nothing to fear. You can trust me, always. I will always be there for you. You're safe. You just have to get away from him…you can do this."

Trina took a deep breath, her chest rising and her lips pressing firmly together. It happened in a manner of seconds, she performed the technique he'd shown her and Jade. Her hand clamped onto Ross's wrist, twisting it downwards sharply and she bit down on his arm, tearing away at his skin.

Ross screamed out in pain, flinging his free arm out as she started to turn. "Motherfucker!" Blood spilled from the bite on his arm and Trina slammed a closed fist into his jaw, forcing him to release her.

He staggered back, throwing his hand to his wound. Trina ran towards Jason, her tears dripping into the air. He pulled his arms around her, holding her close and turning sideways with her as she curled her fingers around his shirt and pressed her face against his chest, letting her tears soak through.

"Goddamn you," Ross growled, "Goddamn you!" He grabbed his gun and aimed for Jason, but before he could pull the trigger, Gary lunged forward. In one foul sweep, Gary slashed across the man's waist and lower back with his knife, causing his body to jerk forward. He let out a painful scream, his body trembling as he sank down to his knees.

Gary pulled the gun from Ross and slammed an elbow down against the back of his head, forcing him to the ground.

Jason swept his fingers through Trina's hair, whispering to her as she wept. "It's okay Trina, you're safe now. You're safe. He won't hurt you again." Gary rose up, shaking off his arms and looking over with a proud smile.

"I thought I'd never see you again," Trina muttered through her sobs. "I didn't think we'd make it. I was…so scared…" He gently kissed the top of her head and she looked up at him. "You still love me? A-After everything…" She stuttered and shook her head. "You won't want to be with me. You deserve someone…someone that's not broken."

"You're not broken, you're perfect." He tucked a finger under her chin and gently slid his thumb along her cheek. "You're perfect, and nothing could tear me from you."

Fresh tears erupted from her eyes and she shook her head as though disbelieving. "H-He did it again, Jason." Jason closed his eyes and she lowered her head to his chest. "I'm so sorry. I'm so…forgive me…I thought he'd let momma go."

"That's not your fault." Jason smoothed her hair back, kissing her hairline gently. "You have nothing to apologize for." He looked down at Ross, who was bemoaning a loss of feeling in his legs and rolling from side to side. His eyes turned back to Trina and he squeezed her gently in the hug. "Let's get you out of here, Trina. The police should be able to handle things from here."

"Tori?" She raised her head. "Is Tori safe? Danny took her…I couldn't protect her, I couldn't stop him."

"She's safe. She's with Andre and Jade right now." Trina chuckled painfully and closed her eyes.

"Those two…Jesse and Sinjin were right."

"Yeah, I could hardly believe it myself." Police started to enter the office along with the Colonel and his men. They applied temporary bandages to Ross's wounds and grabbed him off the floor. "Gary's right here too, Trina."

Trina turned her head and smiled as Gary approached and extended his hand. "Hey sweetheart." She put her hand in his, breathing in sharply.

"Hey Dad." Jason understood it and smiled, realizing how both men were the girls' father. "Is…"

"Dave didn't make it, I'm afraid." Gary frowned and Trina looked down. "Let's get you out of here and home. You don't need to be in this place anymore. Tori's waiting outside, I'm sure."

Or likely the hospital, which Jason knew was where Trina-and Gary-would wind up having to go. Once they made it to the ground floor and the paramedics approached, Trina clutched Jason's shirt firmly. "Don't leave me," She whispered to him. Jason held up a finger to the medics and they waited a bit away, understanding the gesture.

"I'm not going anywhere." He guided her to the ambulance, moving slowly to let her regain her familiarity with walking. He had every intention of getting in the ambulance with her. "I'm not going to leave your side, Trina."

"Where's Tori?" Trina grabbed her shirt and looked around. "Why don't I see her?"

"She's already at the hospital," the Colonel answered.

"Can I see her?"

"Yes."

"I can't believe it's finally over." Trina looked one last time at the facility and Jason followed her gaze, narrowing her eyes at the place. "I never want to see that place again…"

And they're out of there. I debated for a long time whether or not I was going to have Ross die, but my coworker said it she liked it better that he be paralyzed and put to prison for life. Well, Trina's out of there, making her the last Vega left. There's a couple chapters left to close up loose ends and whatnot, but the danger is pretty much over