Jessie saw the fear in her friend's eyes. She had to get Jonny to leave her, to get him away from the area and tell his father and Race where Estella was. But she laughed at the thought. Jonny was a loyal friend, and she knew no matter how hard she pleaded with him, he wouldn't leave her. His stubbornness was annoying sometimes, but at that moment, she really didn't want to be alone. Just to prove her thought, he appeared beside her, eyes locking with hers.

"You sure you can't move?"

"Yeah, I take my foot off this thing," she shifts her eyes to the ground, "and you and me go boom."

"Well, I hate to break it to you," Jonny said glancing behind her, "but that thing isn't the worst of our problems. We have company."

"Yeah, I was wondering when they were gonna get here." she twisted around to face the five men advancing towards them, never lifting her foot. The man in front, Jess thought to be the leader, was tall, built and had shaggy brown hair. A vertical scar ran down over his left eye and he, along with his buddies where accessorized with AK-47 tactical rifles. The four that followed weren't as tall, but equally built, and they shared the same, bowl hair cut. Their wide grins showed dirty and un-brushed teeth and the scowl Jessie threw back at them made the grins even wider.

To Jessie's surprise, Jonny stepped in between her and their attackers. His defiant stance told her that he wasn't leaving. She couldn't help rolling her eyes at the gesture; he was going to get himself killed. Now that, was going to be a hard story to tell Benton.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" the one in front asked as his smile grew wider and he turned to his buddies, "this boy wants to be a hero."

"Jonny, don't…," she began but he cut her off.

"Jess, stop, I can't leave you here, and if you move we all go boom." To her surprise, the shock that she was expecting to see on their attackers faces was replaced with loud laughs.

"Stepped on one of our little land mines did you? Well, welcome to Cambodia," the leader laughed out. He nodded his head towards Jonny and two of his men shot out and grabbed his arms and forced them behind his back. He let out a yelp of surprise as the leader advanced on Jessie.

"Now, my name is Ethan and we aren't gonna have any fun if you cant move off of that mine, so I'm gonna help you out," he said as he bent down and reached for the land mine, "now don't move and don't try to run, or I'm gonna have to hurt your friend over there." Jessie nodded and waited for her chance. Her body was ready, and her mind was in attack mode waiting for her opportune moment. Ethan reached down and pulled a couple wires out, two blue, one red. His fingers hovered over the two blue wires, almost like he didn't know which one to pull. Finally he picked one and to Jessie's relief, she didn't go boom. He then stripped the blue and red wire and proceeded to twist them around each other. He finally leaned back on his heals, showing that he was done.

Jesse's foot was a blur as she sent in towards his head. When it connected, she let a smile cross her face as Ethan fell backwards, his hands hovering over his bleeding nose. She glanced back at Jonny when he cried out, and time slowed for her. She saw Jonny freeze and she turned to face the man attacking her. His eyes were filled with uncontrolled fury and he was in mid swing with the end of his rifle. It slammed into her ribs and forced the air from her lungs. The second blow to the same spot sent her to her hands and knees. She gasped for air even as her rib protested the action. She heard Jonny begin to call her name but she silenced him with a sharp look. That's what they want, she told herself. She saw Jonny's eyes grow wide and turned to Ethan. He was in mid swing again, but this blow slammed into the left side of her head. A violent flash of light, as dots formed around the edges of her vision and she blinked the blood out of her eye. She tried to push herself up but the second blow sent her to the ground. She landed hard on her back and felt more blood run down the side of her face. She looked at Jonny as her vision tunneled, her eyes were half open now and she tried to stay conscious. She wanted to stay awake, to make sure they weren't going to hurt Jonny…that the two of them were going to get out of this, but their chances of that were fading along with her vision.

The numbness spreading through Jesse's body was less painful than she would have imagined. Her body shook slightly as her mind searched for answers.

Who were they? Why did they take my mom? What are they going to do with us?

Her thoughts were muddled by a growing heaviness inside her. Nothing was making scenes. She felt like her conciseness was slowly shutting down, lulled by an invisible force pulling her to sleep. She fought it. The pain in her ribs told her she was still awake and it was intensifying every minute she breathed. She could already feel a burse forming, if they weren't broken already. Her head throbbed and the blood continued to flow from what she could only imagine as a huge gash on the left side of it. Trying to focus on the conversation Jonny was having with Ethan made her head swim and she immediately dropped the subject of thinking altogether.

Summoning what little strength she had left, Jessie tried to sit up. Her limbs felt like granite, all her joints screaming in pain at the slightest movement. Then, in an instant, she felt herself being forced up, pulled by an unfriendly foe. Her shoulders screamed in protest as Ethan's men grabbed them and her legs refused to work properly as they half dragged half carried her back to the edge of the forest, where they probably had a jeep waiting. Through her pain filled eyes she glanced sideways and found Jonny's worried face, his bright blue eyes shone with concern. She managed a weak smile but winced when she was jerked roughly to the side. She looked up in time to see an old jeep before she was roughly thrust into the back. There was a second loud thud, and she figured that Jonny had been pushed in behind her.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

The instant Jonny was thrown into the back of the jeep he was at Jessie's side. Her eyes were still open, but unfocused, and she gave him a weak smile that turned into a grimace. Her head wound was still bleeding, but only slightly. The blood trail covered the entire left side of her face and flowed down her neck to her shirt where it stained her left shoulder. He felt the car jump to life and then they were off into the forest. He cupped Jesse's face in his hands and held it steady.

"Jess. Are you alright?" his eyes searched her face for an answer.

"…yeah…"she panted. Her eyes were beginning to focus and Jonny could tell she was getting a hold of herself. "What happened?"

"Well." he said taking a breath, "Bad guys. Fight. You lost. Jeep."

"Yeah…I figured that much when I saw the gun coming towards me," she said groggily as she tried to sit up. He wasn't able to gently push her down before pain crossed her face and she sent a hand to her ribs. She managed to pant out a small 'damn' before she allowed him to push her back down.

"You gotta take it slow Jess," he told her as the jeep raced through the forest, occasionally jerking up or to a side, "you don't want to cause any more damage."

"I'm fine. Nothing I haven't felt before," she breathed out as she succeeded in sitting up in the old jeep. The forest was flying by them, and Jonny had no doubt that they would be back at the compound soon. As if on cue, the jeep came to a screeching halt that slammed Jonny into the trunk door, Jessie was thrust onto him as well. He was almost surprised, the good twenty minutes it had taken both of them to run away, was covered in five with a jeep, he pushed down the small laugh he had in his chest. In an instant, hands were pulling him from the back of the jeep and threw him roughly to the ground, the air leaving his lungs from the impact. He heard a yelp of pain from behind him as Jessie hit the hard ground after him. Just like that he was being pulled up by his shoulders and dragged towards an all too familiar fortress.

The entrance was so misleading, Jonny thought to himself. Upon entering the two silo doors, he was greeted with all sorts of vehicles; they lined the walls and littered the floor in front of him. He could only see one set of doors in the hanger and they were being dragged towards them. The dirt had turned to concrete under his feet as both he and Jessie were dragged through the entrance. His hopes were crushed as he heard the giant silo doors screech to a close behind him. His wide eyes caught the attention of Ethan who had the beginning of a crooked smile on his face.

"We're gonna keep you for a while, I think the boss likes you."

"Great…" Jonny replied as he was dragged through the door at the far end of the entrance hanger. Ethan stopped at the top of a stone stair case that descended down into the earth, probably leading to where they were keeping Estella. Jonny stole a glance at Jessie only to see her breathing heavily, eyes focused forward.

"Tadashi should be waiting for us down at the cells," one of the men holding Jonny announced. Ethan nodded and they started their decent. Jonny's idea was realized when he was met with metal cadge after metal cadge when they reached the bottom. At the end of the hall, standing in front of one of the many cells, was a tall, well built, intimidating man.

His black t-shirt was covered in white tribal designs. The body of a wolf was lunging up the left side, its eyes, were the only colored part of the shirt. They were a pale blue which matched Tadashi's and the way the body was drawn had the wolf staring straight at anyone who was in front of him. Tadashi's body was also complimented with a huge, black, tribal tattoo that crawled from his left wrist, up his arm that then disappeared beneath the black t-shirt. The tattoo surfaced from beneath the left collar and finished just below Tadashi's left ear. His ear was pierced with a small metal stud that resembled a wolf's head, and he wore a necklace with a symbol Jonny couldn't recognize. What Jonny could tell as the same calligraphy as the necklace was etched onto his right fore arm. He was very tan and his hair was cut short, but only to the point where it spiked on its own, and the color was the darkest brown.

As Jonny was dragged closer, a felling began to form in his stomach. Fear. For the man he was staring at had anger radiating off of him in waves. His blue eyes were not like Jonny's, but pale and worn down. The anger and rage they held made gooses bumps surface on his arms. Jonny realized that the man called Tadashi was glancing from him to Jessie. Jonny glanced sideways and saw that she was still breathing heavily and sweat glazed her brow. Her half closed, exhausted eyes found his and she gave him a small, soft smile. He finally realized that he, too, was panting heavily and his navy blue t-shirt was soaked and sticking to his back with sweat.

When they came to a stop in front of Tadashi, movement from inside the cell to his left caught his attention and Jessie also turned to look. Jessie went ridged and Jonny sucked in a much needed breath. His eyes met emerald green ones, not to much different than Jessie's, and short flaming red hair.

"…mom…" the girl beside him panted out.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

After the long, never ending tour of Tadashi's compound, Estella had been thrust back into her dark cell. After her tour of the laboratory, Tadashi had noticed her dislike and uneasiness. He had taken her to get food and had carried on halfhearted conversations with her to try and improve her mood. He had, whether he had meant to or not, divulged many thing to her. They were named the Purifiers, and he had, from the beginning, funded her dig just to get her to Cambodia.

She thought it strange, that, when she was around Tadashi she didn't feel threatened or in danger. He seemed to be very respected by his people and although he was somewhat of a 'mad scientist' he was down to earth and relaxed. She often seemed to lose herself in his pale blue eyes and his smile and laugh took her breath away. She would rather be with him than alone and unprotected down in her cell.

How strange to think I'm now comfortable around him now, after I know what he's capable of.

Tadashi had been nice enough not to shackle her hands, and it seemed that he was trying to make her stay, however long it would be, more comfortable. He still kept his distance, weather for safety reasons, or just out of reflex. He was, though, she hated to admit it, rather good looking for being the evil mastermind.

Great, you're falling for the bad guy!

She looked up and realized that he had been carrying on a conversation the entire time, and apparently just made a rather funny joke. His eyes were closed and his mouth was half open. His ringing laughter filled the many cells surrounding them and she couldn't help but bite her lip to hold back a smile.

"Laughing at one of your own jokes again, Tadashi?" she asked with a hint of sarcasm.

"Well, it didn't accomplish what I hoped it would," he said with a smile, "You know, I would like to see you relaxed, at least for a little bit while your here."

Before she had time to answer sarcastically, his head snapped to the side, eyes narrowing, staring at what now Estella could hear as people approaching them. She slowly inched away to the back of the cell. She had almost forgotten how easily his moods could change. He had been joking a minute ago and in an instant, his hands were at his sides, knuckles white and his jaw was clenched in pure, clod hearted fury. It radiated off of him in waves, and she wondered how someone so laid back and down to earth could lose complete control like this.

Her breath caught in her throat when the people stopped in front of him and she almost cried out when she saw Jessie and Jonny. Before she realized what she was doing, she was at the front of the cell and had locked eyes with her daughter. She held back a sob when Jessie called out her name. Anger filled her being as she found the deep wound that was on the left side of her daughters head. It looked as if it had stopped bleeding but the dried blood trail flowed down Jessie's head and neck to her shirt. The burse that was surfacing was monstrous and already turning a deep black and blue. She was about to say something when Tadashi spoke.

"Ethan…I thought I told you not to harm them," he bit out through clenched teeth. One of the men holding Jessie spoke up. Although Estella and the rest of the people in close proximity to Tadashi had fear in their eyes, this man was oblivious to the danger he was stepping into.

"Well, everything was going fine until this one," he glanced down at Jessie's exhausted form, "decided to try and break my nose." Estella barley had time to bite back her smile before Tadashi was in motion. Ethan had no time to back away. His eyes only grew wide as he stared down the barrel of Tadashi's black handgun. Where he had pulled it from, Estella would never know. The fury in Tadashi's eyes extinguished as his shoulder relaxed. Ethan let out a tiny yelp as Tadashi added the crucially needed pressure to the trigger. The mans head snapped back as his body convulsed once, then it went limp, letting go of Jessie who whimpered as she fell faced first to the floor. He fell backwards and landed with a thud on the ground, blood already pooling beneath him.

"My orders are final, do we understand each other?" Tadashi asked in a calm voice. With the situation slowly catching up with Estella, she glanced at Ethan's lifeless body, to Tadashi, then back to Ethan. Her mouth was open like she was going to say something, but her mind couldn't put together words, or rather, it refused to at the moment. Jessie's small whimper from the ground drew her attention and she tried to inch through the bars to get closer to her daughter.

"Now, put the two kids in the cell," he ordered and then paused before adding, "gently." The remaining men dragged Jessie and Jonny into the cell and then slowly backed away as they met Estella's anger filled eyes. She was relieved when the men began to drag Ethan's body away from her cell, although the red blood trail was never going to go away. Tadashi seemed to be returning back to, what she could call 'normal', as he glanced down at her and then to Jessie's still form on the cell floor.

"I am sorry things turned out this way," he said through sympathy filled eyes, "I'll bring down some water and bandages right away," and then he bowed to her and backed away towards the stairs. She stood at the bars of the cell, unable to comprehend her current situation. Tadashi completely and utterly confused her, and although she thanked God for his sympathetic side, the other one was a complete mystery to her. Jonny's voice made her turn around and collapsed on her knees next to Jessie.

"We found you," the boy said softly, finding the older woman's emerald green eyes.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Jessie was well aware that the bang she heard was from a gun, and that Ethan had dropped her only moments after. When her body hit the ground, she felt his drop to the floor behind her. The smile of satisfaction she had on her face turned to a grimace of pain as her ribs flared up again, a small whimper escaping her lips. Then she was being dragged into her mother's cell and she landed with a thud on her stomach. She smiled as she heard Jonny's concerned voice and she couldn't help but let out a small laugh as she rolled over onto her back.

"What's so funny?" he demanded, although it didn't hold the bite he wanted it to.

"You're always so concerned. I told you I'm fine," she assured him as she started to sit up. She rose up slowly, and it wasn't until she was fully upright that her head started to spin and she slumped into her mothers kneeling body. Her head brushed hard against the fabric of her mother's shirt, and she could feel the dried blood rip away. Before she knew it, her mother's shirt was wet with her blood.

"Mom, your shirts gonna get ruined…" she said as she willed her head back against the wall of the cell. She looked into her mom's green eyes, and successfully pulled out a smile.

"Yeah, well," Estella said looking down at her red stained shoulder, "I never really like this shirt anyway." Jonny shifted uncomfortably in his position next to her, obviously not convinced that she was fine. Jessie rolled her eyes. Although she did appreciate his concern, it was getting old.

"Jonny, I'm fine, really," she tried to assure him again, "my head hurts and the dizziness is probably just a sign of a bad concussion." Before he had time to answer her, Jessie caught movement out of the corner of her eye. Her body went ridged and she clenched her fists. Estella and Jonny froze at her movements, and they only relaxed when a familiar voice rang out.

"I brought some water and a first aid kit. I hope its all you needed," Tadashi said smoothly from the other side of the bars. Jessie's eyes went to his hands. The right was occupied with a bowl of water and a rag was draped over his arm, the left held the first aid kit.

Her eyes grew even wider when she saw the larger than normal, jet black wolf sitting on its hunches by his right side. Although the wolf was huge, Jessie had been draw to its eyes. The brightest and most clear blue eyes she had ever seen on and animal stared back at her. The blackness of its coat only seemed to add to the eyes brightens, and Jessie found herself unable to look away.

"I'm going to unlock to door and come in," his hand found the keys in his pocket and the lock clicked open. Before he could take a step into the cell, the black wolf beat him to it. Jessie saw its tail go between its legs and its ears flattened against its head as it slowly made its way towards her. All the while, its eyes were locked with hers and she faintly heard Tadashi let out a breath. Jessie smiled when the wolf's, cold, wet nose found her left hand, and let out a small laugh when it started to lick it. She reached up and started scratching the back of its ears when Tadashi entered the cell.

"It seems Blue has found a liking in your daughter, Estella," he said with a small laugh, though Jessie could see it in his eyes that he had been surprised by the wolf's actions. She watched as he walked forward and knelt next to her mother. He then handed her the small first aid kit and set down the bowl of water.

"Doesn't she like everyone?" Jonny questioned him, but his eyes narrowed as it was answered by a small laugh.

"Well, not exactly," Tadashi sighed out, "the last person that tried to touch her lost his hand." Jessie saw him smile when Jonny's eyes grew wide. "She doesn't exactly like to be touched. Most of my men stay well away from her, and I'm afraid she's been a bit lonely lately." The statement was met by a small whine from Blue.

"Why, a wolf?" Jessie asked as she continued to scratch Blue's ears. She was met by a small smile from Tadashi.

"I thought it would have been obvious by now. I am somewhat…obsessed with wolves. They are a symbol of power and loyalty, a characteristic that I try to find in most of my men, although, regrettable, not all the time. They also function as a pack and family and that's something that I envy above all others, and I am proud to say that much of my dreams would not have come to fruition if it wasn't for the help of my friends and family," he took a breath, "Who you chose to be around you, lets you know who you are."

A new voice broke through their conversation. Jessie broke eye contact with Blue to look at the new figure. To her surprise, she was staring at a woman who looked strikingly like Tadashi. Her long, dark brown hair ended at mid back and she had well built, with square shoulders. The same pale blue, but stronger eyes than Tadashi stared back into the cell. Her height was what caught Jessie off guard. Tadashi was tall as it was, and this new girl almost matched his height. When her voice rang out, it carried the same, silky, smooth flow that his had as well.

"Tadashi, your stupid, over eccentric, little brother wants to see you upstairs."

With a smile he stood up and made his way to the front of the cell. "Haley, name calling is a little childish, don't you think."

"It's not childish if it's the truth," she playfully shot back.

His ringing laughter filled the cell. When it calmed he spun on his heals, locking eyes with the group behind him, "Estella, I would like you to meet my older sister, Haley."

Jessie was caught off guard by the statement. "Older sister?" Her question was met by a small grunt from Haley.

"Yes, older sister," she breathed out, then giving Tadashi a sidelong glance, "I thought you were only gonna nab the doc., not the whole family, Tadashi?"

"Yeah, well, the two little one's decided to follow us, and then didn't want to stay, so I sent Ethan to fetch them back."

"I see. He did a number on the girl, didn't he," she glanced to the ground beside her. Jessie looked as well and saw the blood stain that Ethan's body had left, "That would explain the blood trail…damn, he was so good looking," she said with a sarcastic laugh then shrugged her shoulders, "I didn't really like him, couldn't follow orders."

"I agree," he turned to Estella, "I must go and see what my brother wants. I will be back later for your answer to my…situation," he glanced down to the black wolf that was still getting its ears scratched by Jessie.

"Blue, come on, lets go," he was met by a loud whine from the wolf and Jessie let out a small laugh. "Blue, you can see your new friend later. I promise." With that, Jessie took one long look into Blue eyes and then the wolf was at Tadashi's side. Tadashi and Haley vanished from site as quickly as they came, leaving the three, speechless in the back of the cell.

Jessie saw Jonny glance at her mom, eyes full of questions. Jessie herself had just a few to ask her mother, but Jonny beat her to it.

"Estella, what did he mean?" Jessie saw her mom shift uncomfortably under the difficulty of the question. She then proceeded to take the rag, soak it in the water and place it on Jessie's head.

"OW!!" Jessie whined, "Jeez, be careful, would you!"

"Well, if you stopped squirming, I'd be able to get a good look at it," Estella snapped out, though she let a small smile escape onto her lips.

"How is it, that when you get kidnapped, it's by the most dangerous, craziest, and weirdest organization slash family in the country?" Jonny added in, "Like, honestly, how dose that happen? Because, I really don't understand." The laughs that escaped his lips were extinguished with a sharp glare from Estella.

"It's not my fault he wants me to show him where the Heart of Thunder is," Jessie's eyes grew wide at her mother's statement. Her mothers face showed that she had said too much, and she quickly changed the subject, "This situation wouldn't be half as bad if you two weren't here. How the hell did you find out I was taken, anyway?"

"Hadji called us," Blake replied.

"He's ok!?" Estella asked in excitement, "My dig team, everyone's ok?"

"Yeah. Whatever they were hit with wore off in a couple of hours," Jessie explained, "They were pulling themselves together when we got their. I might add though, that Hadji was a little upset with himself that he let them take you."

"It's not his fault," Estella sighed out, "I'm glad he's alright. They could have killed him."

"Since were on the subject of they," Jonny cut in, "Who exactly are, they? I mean, besides the fact that they are run by a family of nutcases."

Jessie let out a small laugh as her moms hand drew away from her head. The whole left side of her head and neck was wet, but she was now confident that it wasn't from blood, which made her feel a lot better. Her mom gently placed on some antiseptic cream and a bandage before she answered Jonny's question.

"There the Purifiers, basically a low-level organization that has ties to the black market. Tadashi makes biological weapons, and damn good one's from what I've seen," she gritted her teeth as she continued; "He's the one that most likely funded my dig. Although I hadn't figured that out till it was too late. He had wanted me from the beginning."

"He wants you to find the Heart of Thunder," Jessie breathed out as she made eye contact with her mom, who nodded in silent agreement.

"What's the Heart of Thunder?" Jonny asked, apparently feeling left out.

"Come on Jonny. Are you serious?" Jessie laughed out at him. She was greeted with wide eyes and a shrug of the shoulders. She took a breath and rolled her eyes,

"It's a stone said to be blessed twice by the Norris God Odin. Healing powers, immortality, that sort of thing. It was given to his son Thor as a weapon for The Final Battle. During Ragnarok, which means "fate of the gods", Thor implanted the stone into Mjolnir; his hammer and used it to fight the Midgard Serpent. But the Serpent tore the stone out of the hammer and killed Thor. The stone was found after the battle, a distraught Odin, blessed the stone again, naming it after his dead son who controlled the element of thunder. It's basically a sacred, pure object, not capable of doing harm. "

"If that's true, he would only have access to the cures of his epidemics, plagues and whatnot, but that makes no sense. So why would he want it?"

"That's exactly what he wants," Estella whispered, as Tadashi's intentions came to her, "when he releases the Black Trinity, his organization is going to be the only one with the cure. He'd make millions with the antidote alone, and with the Heart of Thunder he would have an infinite supply of it."

"So, what, this is all about making money?" Jonny laughed out, "God, why cant bad guys find a new calling? Like saving the rainforest or stopping Global Warming."

"It's not about the money, Jonny," Jessie said as she rolled her eyes, "With lots of money, comes lots of power, and that's really the only thing bad guys ever want. Power. Fear. Respect."

"So I was a little off, sue me," Jonny shot back, "Not making lots of money, but ruling the world…great," he leaned back on his heals and scratched the back of his had, "Well, I guess its time to save the world again, is it?"

"Absolutely," Jessie said with a smile.

"Yeah, I guess it is. But I still can't believe you two are here," Estella glanced from Jessie to Jonny, "Your fathers are going to kill me."

A small laugh was emitted from the shadows outside the cell. Jessie focused on the very muscular frame of Tadashi's older sister Haley as she stepped out of the shadows, a smile on her angular face. "My brother wasn't joking about you. You know your stuff."

"Well, it is kind of my job," Estella snapped back at her.

"True," Haley rounded with a smile, "but I am surprised that you have forgotten the cardinal attribute that the Heart of Thunder holds. It is, by far, one of my favorites."

Jessie narrowed her eyes. Her skin was crawling; goose bumps had appeared on her arms as soon as Haley had stepped out of the shadows. Something was not right. The shine in Haley's eyes made Jessie uncomfortable and her fear of the woman grew.

Haley walked forward and knelt just outside the bars of the cell, a smile still plastered on her face, "the Heart of Thunder calls to the Wild Hunt."