Chapter 2

At Surf Central Meg was dreaming about her thanksgiving holiday with Ben last year. They were dancing in their room totally in love, completely together knowing that they would survive if they kept together, she could feel him in her arms and smell the roses. Suddenly she felt a wave of great sadness and pain come through the dream, she wanted to cry out but she didn't know why. She just knew that something had been lost. She started to cry but didn't wake up instead went on dreaming about their love and the days they spent there.

Back in Seattle Jake yelled "Maria!" at the phone as Ben had fallen from the chair landing hard on his shoulder and was not listen to her.

She stopped and waited.

Jake hit Ben sharply across the face to bring him back. Ben could hardly breathe from the pain he felt physical, mental, and tears ran down his face.

Tubs spoke quietly to Maria "I don't think he's going to take much more of this tonight, perhaps you should leave it for now."

Maria came back sharply. "No it's tonight or never, that's the point - I'll try and keep it brief."

Tubs looked at Ben and told her "Yes he's back with us"

Maria carried on talking quicker "The kidnapping was Tess's idea because you still kept turning back to Meg. You were meant to be the victim there, Benjy would have been released, you taken and Derek return but it didn't work out. Casey had to come and help you, but it helped to unsettle you and Meg. Thanks for saving Benjy in that explosion for us my love. Derek was very cross with Jake about that."

She giggled and then became soft even loving. "So we come to today. It's really just to say goodbye and thank you for everything... you know I will remember you. I know where they will bury you... at Dana's point. I thought it fitting not too far for us to visit you ... possibly put your favourite white roses there ...strange that, the same as Megs ..."

Her voice became more matter-of-fact. "You'll know all about it. Derek wants you awake at the end. You might even meet his latest victim as you pass over. You'll be pleased to know that Meg will not be able to turn to Tim for help. He found about the foursome and had to be disposed of. He has a monument all to himself, well it's to the Lifeguards really - but I'm sure they don't mind sharing it. We have told everyone we'll be on holiday soon, we will just decide not to return and gradually sell everything, after all, Derek will want his name back. So I'll say farewell my love."

She paused then spoke quickly and sharply "Derek wants a private word with Jake so, if you will put him to sleep."

Ben was stunned really beyond thought and didn't hear her last remark or see Tubs move, only felt the blow that thankfully blotted out his chaotic thoughts.

As he lay unconscious Derek's voice came over the speaker. "I hope you didn't hit him too hard. I want you to get to Dana's point around two o'clock on Thursday morning, you should miss all the loving couples, the police sometimes drive by and clear the area - so be careful. You have the map I sent you, the spot is marked but make sure you take the third pathway on the left and then pass the danger signs, it is safe at the moment. There has been a landslide and large cracks have opened up so you can use one as his grave. The earth should fall on top of him as he goes down but take a shovel just in case it needs some help."

He laughed clearly enjoying the picture of what he wanted to happen "I always promised him a painful death so make sure he's alive before he goes in. The rest of the money is in the airport luggage compartment. I will send you the keys, after I have visited my poor departed brother on Saturday. Make sure he is dressed for the part and don't bother to shave him, if he is found at some point he will not be so easily identified. Any questions?"

Jake piped up "If we're moving tomorrow, do you want him fed? He only had a sandwich and a drink earlier today."

Derek replied "No, don't waste the food, drink maybe but nothing else. Oh make sure his hands are chained tight behind his back and he is unable to move in the trunk of the car as he will try to escape if he can. You might just as well blindfold him as well; they do that to calm animals don't they?"

Tubs with disbelief in his voice said "You really think he is strong enough to beat us? He's been losing strength rapidly and he could not walk just now."

Derek replied sharply "There is such a thing as fate you know, and with him you don't know what will happen. Remember I don't want to hear from you again and don't think about double cross, I've enough on both of you to put you in the chair."

Derek put the phone down and turned to Maria with a smile "Well my love shall we celebrate our success I'll tell Tess about it later." She laughed and said gently feeling his body next to hers. "I'm glad you chose me first. Don't get caught by Benjy, remember the near miss you had a few days ago."

He nodded remembering it well he'd been with Tess, and Benjy had been about to enter Tess's room but luckily Maria had heard a noise and stopped him just in time, then kissed her and laughing they went upstairs into the bedroom.

At Surf Central Sara and Casey came in joking after having a good evening out. They had cleared the air between them and everything had been sorted. Meg stirred at the noise, came out of her dream, sat up and looked around. Sara noticed the tear stains on her cheeks and the large white teddy bear's face looked a bit soggy and said quickly "I'll grab a cup of tea for everyone if you'll put the things out back, Casey." hoping to give Meg a bit of time to recover from what had disturbed her.

They were back in about five minutes with cups of tea and many questions. Sara wanted to know what was wrong and where the bear had come from. She looked at the crumpled label attached to its paw saying "It you ever need a bear hug, I'm here."

Meg unsteadily at first told her that Benjy had met her on the beach earlier that evening and had told her that now she was no longer with Daddy she should have it back, and thanked her for letting him have it. Ben had given it to her when they took Benjy to find a kitten because he knew he could not always be there for her in person, but that she would know that he was there in thought. But Benjy had assumed it was for him and she let him look after it for her as a way of trying to connect with him.

When she had got home she had only meant to sit down for a while, but had slept and then told them about the feeling of sadness that overwhelmed the dream she had of Ben and her dancing. Sara told her gently that perhaps the pain and sadness coming over the good times meant she was finally accepting it was over with Ben, he had his family. Meg thoughtful drank the tea.

Casey knew that she was not over Ben even if she did put on a brave face to everyone else. He remembered her pained expression when Hank had had another go about Ben and how good it was to have him away from Meg. And because the blessing of the family tomorrow it would finally put an end to the matter and they could all get on with their lives. Casey knew it didn't help that Benjy was over the Shock Wave a lot of the time and at least Ben kept clear most of the time, but no doubt he would be there tomorrow and that would mean trouble.

Finishing her tea Meg asked them about their evening and shouldn't Sara get back home before midnight. Sara and Casey laughed and told her that if it was alright with her Sara was back in Gabi's old room as of tonight. She was so pleased for them she hugged and kissed them then the sister discussed what their parents reaction would be, knowing that Joan would be alright, and laughing at the thought of Hank on the warpath. Casey was not too sure about that, but the girls assured him it would be alright - after all he was in Hanks good books and there was two of them to protect him. Meg felt it was a good time to leave them, so she and teddy went to bed.

In Seattle Ben lay in the darkness gradually realising that he had been blindfolded and his arms were behind his back so he could not move them. He tried to move his legs, they were secured tightly together. As he did so a hand grabbed his wrist and rolled his sleeve up and he heard Tubs voice "Well Ben its best this way, you will wake up sometime on the drive down but it will be no use trying anything. No one will hear you."

With that Ben felt a prick in his arm and felt the sudden flash of blind panic... if he was asleep he would have no chance to escape...drowsiness swept over him.

They picked him up and put him on a blanket in the trunk of the car. Air holes had been put in the sides of the trunk, they looked like bullet holes and there were also slots in the back of the car.

As Jake went to get the tapes and things for the journey, the one that Ben had nicknamed Tubs watched over Ben and put the photo he had found in Ben's old shirt pocket into the clean one. He thought it was only right that Ben should die with it; he had kept all this time. He knew if Jake had found it he would have destroyed it because he hated Ben for turning the gun on him. He wondered about his options, the people he had killed were in fights, this was to be a cold killing, well he would not be there at the end, but he knew there could be no trade off with the law. He had the tape with him and would use it if Derek turned nasty.

He still wondered what had happened to Ben in the quarter of an hour he had missed him in Seattle before he managed to find him again. He had called Derek, and then cornered Ben in a quiet alleyway and then approached him together. He still found it strange the effect Derek had on Ben. As Derek got closer so Ben seemed to get a pain in the head, which grew until he was incapable of doing anything, and eventually collapsing. So the job was easy. When they got him back here Derek gave Ben a drug to get all the information he needed to fool everyone in Sunset Beach but he did not ask anything about what he had done in Seattle other than the time in his hotel room.

He also remembered how angry Derek had become at Ben's answers regarding the password he had to use to get into his accounts. He hadn't managed to get it the first time he had kidnapped Ben, which had made him cross. This time Ben had no choice but to answer, no matter how hard he tried not to, the password was "Derek". Derek went up the wall; when he calmed down he'd asked "why?" Ben told him "That he (Derek) would never think of it and no-one knew Derek existed." That made Derek really mad and in the end it had taken both of them to pull Derek off Ben. It took Ben several days to get over that beating.

No! He did not think it was a good idea to change his mind after all, as then Maria would be after him as well to contend with.

Jake came back and got in the car. Tubs closed the lid of the trunk and hoped Ben was having pleasant dreams. In fact Ben was not dreaming at all, he was so deeply asleep he knew nothing at all.