A/N: Well...I know, I know. Too long of a wait. Sorry. I have no excuse other than writer's block.

Chapter 8: Missing In Action

May 11th, 7:48 AM, Unknown Location, New York City

Lindsay came to slowly, her eyes fluttering open, a yawn coming to her lips. She looked around, taking in the giant warehouse surrounding her. Container cases of all colors and sizes were stacked six and more high in the warehouse, giving the small clear section where she was sitting, tied to a large metal column. She flexed her wrists against the heavy chain binding her wrists and ankles, trying to slip them off, but to little avail. They were tightly wrapped around her, hurting her wrists and ankles slightly every time she moved. She frowned and tried to remember what happened.

She vaguely recalled roses and a sweet smell, then nothing. She had no recollection of ever being in Ryan's apartment, or of ever being in his car, or of being bound to the metal column. She suddenly heard footsteps and immediatley yelled, "Help me! Somebody!" The footsteps turned and headed for her. Ryan emerged from the stacks of containers. She looked up at him and said, "Ryan. You'll never get away with this."

"Now isn't that heroic sounding?" He asked, drawing a gun and looking at Lindsay. She stood as best she could with the bindings and stared at the gun. "I wasn't planning on shooting you, Lindsay. In fact, I wasn't planning on harming you at all. But that Mac Taylor...He's a different story. I hope he's feeling every bit disheartened as humanly possible at the moment. He ruined my life. Did you know that? He took away everything I had, tore it to shreds, and burned it. Then he burned the ashes. He put me away for a crime I didn't commit, made my wife and only son leave me. Mac Taylor deserves to die for his sins!"

"Ryan, why are you telling me this?" He gazed at her, his face blank. He had almost forgotten she was there.

"Lindsay, Lindsay. Did you honestly think I would tell you everything? No. Not yet. Not until Mac has paid for his sins and I walk in his place, as I rightfully should!"

"Ryan, you're making a huge mistake."

"Am I? Or are you just too blind to see the truth, the truth so boldly put before you, and the truth that you will not see because I have taken all that Mac Taylor has!?"

"You're crazy."

"No, Lindsay. This world has taken me and bent me, stretched me around itself so many times I cannot scream from the pain, cannot shake loose a single tear, for so thin am I, and paper now is the closest thing to me, for I have walked hallowed ground and shed not a single tear, put not a single flower onto a grave. My family has forsaken me, and all who I thought were close have told me to be gone from their sight!"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Everything! It means everything! You do not understand for I am strong and you have not seen the light. Mac Taylor has given me a world to be stretched around, a world of mistrust...and disregard."

"What do you mean?" Lindsay was thoroughly confused now, hopelessly trying to sort through the rants of a madman.

"Lindsay, my love. If only you could understand." He turned and left. Lindsay let out a desperate sigh and sank back to the ground.

--8:04 AM, Temporary Crime Lab--

Stella looked towards the front door of the large building the city had rented out to serve as the temporary crime lab until the original was rebuilt. Flack approached her, his face grim but happy at the same time. "What's up?" She asked him.

"Mac was released from the hospital today, and he's going to be here around nine o'clock."

"Great!" She hesitated before asking, "Any news on Lindsay?"

"No. Ryan's going to be here soon though, to welcome Mac back. Maybe we can worm something out of him."

"Maybe." Stella nodded and headed off to oversee the setting up of the firing range.