Greet the Stranger

"Jude, are you almost ready yet?"

"Yep, coming."

Scrambling down the stairs Jude balanced a large bag stuffed with every imaginable care product known to man. You can never be too careful with babies. If you don't pack it, you will need it. When she reached the bottom of the stairs she gave the little girl in Sadie's arms a smile before tweaking her nose. The baby giggled in response and both women smiled.

"All ready to go?" Kwest stood in the doorway.

"Ready."

"Look at all these people!"

Jude side stepped to prevent human crashes as two boys ran by laughing. She watched as they disappeared into the growing crowd.

"Some people just don't know how to take car of their children!" Sadie's gaze mirrored Jude's watching the children running free through the streets. Gay cheerful faces surrounded them as the festivities roared to life. Booths were placed on the sides of the walkways, some were selling home crafts, others were pure promotional reasons, and the rest were games for over eager spirits. Screams of joy came from the carnival rides set up in a large parking lot.

They made their way through the sea of people to the edge of the street. People and camping chairs were lined up as everyone waited patiently for the coming parade.

"Right over there." Kwest pointed toward three lonely chairs.

When they sat down Sadie set the stroller between her and Jude before locking it in place. Excited gurgling came from under the visor. Jude laughed as she moved it back to reveal two sets of bright eyes starring at her.

"What are you doing there munchkin?" Picking the baby up, she nuzzled her little nose.

"Sadie, I saw a lady back there doing some face painting, I want to get something for Zoey. We'll be right back, k?"

"Hurry back the parades going to be starting soon." When Jude turned to leave Sadie called out. "Wait, here take the camera, I want pictures!"

Jude rolled her eyes but took the camera and slipped it into the diaper bag over her shoulder.

"She's crazy isn't she?" Jude whispered into the blonde curls as she bounced Zoey on her hip and disappeared into the crowd.

"Oh! Aren't you just the cutest thing!" Jude gave the lady painting the last finishing touches a bright smile. Taking one last picture of the little girl she put the camera away.

"Thank you so much."

The lady merely smiled sweetly and nodded. Jude picked up the squirmy bundle and gave her cheek another once over. A pretty little bumble bee was painted onto the white skin.

"You're as sweet as honey, aren't-cha my little bumble bee?"

The baby laughed and brushed her hand against Jude's cheek before hiding her face. Giving a little chuckle at her shy behavior Jude turned and headed back the way she came.

She looked around a little lost. There was more people than before, everyone pushing through to see the parade that had just started. She wondered right then left, trying to find something that seemed familiar. It was useless since all she could see was the heads of other people.

Great. Now Sadie is going to have my head. I've already missed the first float, and that's a big no-no to her. Damn people, why did I agree to come anyways?! Ugh…

Catching sight of an alley, Jude pushed her way past people. Leaving a wake of 'sorry' and 'excuse me' that people chose to ignore. When she reached the alley entrance she looked around to see if there was anyways through the group gathered stationary on the sidewalk. It was useless. She'd never get through.

She turned into the alley hoping it would lead her to the one by Sadie and Kwest. The further she went the fainter the noise of the festival became. By the time she stopped she came to the conclusion she was lost.

Zoey caught onto her worry and started to struggle against her. Jude soothed her with meanless words as she glanced up and down the alley.

I was better off in the middle of a thousand people. Atleast there I didn't have the possibility of getting raped and murdered. Dammit, I know better than to wonder through alleys, no matter what time of day. Stupid Jude, real stupid…

"I thought the agreement was eight o'clock."

Jude turned her head. People. They might be able to help her. She walked silently to the end of the alley and turned right. The alley opened to the Toronto docks. She could hear the water slapping wood and seagulls crying into the wind. She peaked her head around the building to find about 10 people standing in a semi-circle. One guy was facing her, but he was looking at another man that had his back to her. The guy facing her was stocky and had a ugly bright red beard covering his lower face. Grease stains on his skin. He had three men standing behind him that looked about the same. The man with his back to her was tall and stood straight. His hair looked to be a black-brown and the hair around his neck reached over the collar of his knee length jacket. He had 6 guys standing around him, all dressed similar.

"Yeah, well things happen. Did you want it or not."

"You know the answer to that, or else I wouldn't be here looking at your sorry face."

"Uh-uh. Be nice or you're not getting what you want. Do you have the stuff?"

The tall man signaled to one of his men. Another tall man with grayish hair stepped out and tossed a paper bag on the ground.

"Its all right there."

The stocky man went to grab the bag. In the blink of an eye the tall man placed his foot on the bag and aimed a gun at his chest.

"Not so fast."

"Eh now, I just wanted to make sure it was there."

He cocked his gun. "Its there. Now about what I came here for..."

"Eh, right. Well I heard from Paul who heard from Sketch, who actually heard from a mate of his back in the…"

"Out with it."

At that moment Zoey started to fuss. Jude tried to quietly soothe her but it wasn't working. She wanted down, and there was no way Jude was letting her down. She became frustrated by her fruitless efforts and cried out.

"Right, well…What was that?" Hearing the cry, the men swung around to see Jude struggle to keep a hold of Zoey.

"I thought you said we were alone!"

Wide eyed Jude turned and started running as fast as she could.

"Get her! I want her brought back here; she could bring the cops to us! Dammit, get her!"

"You lied! Deals broken, you'll never get what you want!"

The heavy pound of boots followed Jude as she tried to swerve through the alley. Zoey was clutched tightly against her. Every breath giving away her position as she ran faster and faster. Voices mingling with the echo of feet haunted her every movement.

Suddenly she was stopped by something hard and two arms sneaked around her waist. Jude fought against the strain. Launching her free arm at anything it could hit while the other gripped Zoey tighter. Her hand ended up coming in contact with a face, followed by a loud curse.

When she was free, she took off again only to be stopped once more. This time however her actions were predicted. One arm snaked around her hips lifting her off the ground and the other held her free hand. Resigning to defeat Jude stopped struggling. She turned to glare at the person restraining her. Her glare melted away to be replaced by disbelief and shock. Her heart started pounding against her chest and her breath became ragged and short. It became harder and harder for her to suck in the air she needed.

"Tommy…?" She was cut off by the darkness engulfing her.

He felt the shift in her and cursed when her weight became lax. He held her up the best he could before growling out to the men surrounding him.

"Somebody grab the damn baby already."

When nobody rushed to help he snarled.

"Now!"

Six sets of hands reached out to grab the shrieking body. When he was free of it, Tommy lifted Jude into his arms. He looked at the face next to his and felt the anger bubbling inside him.

"Dammit!"

Likey? Review please:)