He couldn't help but feel like something was wrong,like Isaac was lying to him,telling him a lie. This Isaac had become a horrible employee of his,how would this time around be any different? He swirled the amber gold liquid around in his glass as he stared at the television that played re-runs of some old show on a marathon that he did not care about. His green eyes were burning with rage at the way his loyal employee was acting,he never asked him to make choices for him before,that alone should have been an indication that something was wrong.
"Ruiz,get in here." His voice was angry so the man wasted no time at all.
"Y-yes sir?" The man was nervous.
Turning his green eyes towards him them seemed darker then normal. "I want you to go out and find our little friend Isaac and bring him back to me."
"Dead or alive sir?"
His teeth shown through parted lips as he grinned wildly at the other man. "Either,bring him back in pieces if you have to."
The man nodded a similar grin displaying on his lips. "You got it sir,I will return with news of my actions soon." The man left and was soon on his way to catching Isaac in his lies.
The morning had brought more pain for Nate,but being who he is,he couldn't stay in bed. Looking to his right he smiled seeing Sophie and Jimar cuddled up together sound asleep. Getting up slowly he stayed as quiet as he could slowly making his way to the door. After opening and closing it he looked at the stairs wide eyed,how the hell was he suppose to make it down them without falling or hurting himself. The stairs seemed to be a lot higher up then he remembered,Isaac passed by the stairs heading towards the kitchen area when he spotted Nate.
"Mr Ford,allow me to help you." He spoke coming up the stairs placing Nate's arm around his shoulder helping the mastermind down the stairs.
He hated when people helped him but he had no choice in the matter,he refused to wake Sophie up for something as mediocre as getting down the stairs. "Thanks,I'll just sit on the couch,if you don't mind."
Isaac helped Nate to the couch and sat across from him on another couch."Let me tell you how sorry I am for doing that to you."
Nate's blue eyes closed over as he sighed heavily."It happened,there's nothing we can do about it. What matter's now is that everyone else is safe from the claws of that...that mad man."
Isaac nods letting the mastermind know he understands. "It's my top priority Mr Ford."
"Look,Isaac...I don't care what happens to me,what I do care about is that my wife is safe and Jimar until his dad recovers." Nate was set in his matter of thinking.
"I understand Mr Ford." Isaac phone rang and he read Ruiz number his eyes widened as he answered it. "What do you want?"
"Oh just to track your phone and see where you are hiding. My friend your time is up,tell Mr Ford,his little plan did not work." Isaac looked to Nate as the phone line went dead.
"They are coming. We need to leave and get everyone up." Nate nodded but there wasn't much he could do. "Stay here. I mean it." Isaac told him as he went to wake the others.
As they rushed down the stairs to the living room area Sophie was quick to Nate's side to check on him. "Are you okay,Nate?" She asks concern in her brown eyes.
Nodding he smiles."I'm fine,we have a problem though-"
"They are here. Light's out." Isaac said as they turned all the lights in the building off.
"Soph," Nate whispered. Take him upstairs and lock the door,and do not argue with me about this alright." Reluctantly she nods and takes the boy upstairs to their room and locks the door.
"Eliot,find a place where you can get an advantage." Isaac told the hitter who disappeared further into the darkness.
"Hardison," Nate turned to his hacker. "You control the buildings power grid make sure to keep the lights out."
"Alright man what about you?" He asked out of concern for what he was planning.
"Don't worry about it,get out of sight...Parker take to the rafters,you know what to do and Isaac go hide. as well." Isaac nodded leaving Nate alone. Getting up slowly he stood in the middle of the room as the door opened slowly and three sets of light beams from flash lights fell on him.
"Well,well look at this. Aren't we the martyr?" Ruiz grinned walking closer to Nate who didn't budge.
"You are using that word out of context you know." Nate smiled.
"Where is Isaac Mr Ford? "
Nate shrugged casually. "I have no idea who you are talking about."
"Right and I suppose standing all alone in the dark is something you do often? Don't make me hurt you."Ruiz was growing frustrated.
Lifting his shirt to reveal dried blood on his bandages Nate smiled. "I think someone already took care of that for you."
"I've had enough of this game!" The man yelled pushing Nate to the ground.
"Yeah,but you forgot one thing."
"And what did I forget Mr Ford?"
Nate laughed. "To look behind you." Once he said that Ruiz turned around as Parker tazed one man while Eliot took out the second. Within Seconds Isaac had Ruiz on the ground pounding his face with his fists.
"I...do not...take...orders!" He yelled in between punches.
Nate stood up making his way towards Isaac grabbing his arm forcing him to stop. "Enough,I think he got the point."
Breathing heavily Isaac stood and looked down at the man he beat til his face was bleeding. "I- He deserved it" He said quietly looking away from the sight.
"Hardison,lights." Nate said as the lights came on to reveal the scene,the only man who looked untouched was the one Parker had tazed.
Sophie seeing the lights on came back down the stairs to see how everything went."Oh Nate,you're bleeding again. Let's get you upstairs and change that bandage."
Looking down he sighed quietly."Guess,that explains that warm feeling I was getting." Letting Sophie help him up stairs he laid down on the bed sitting against the head board.
"You need to be careful Nate,this isn't just some game anymore,this guy is serious." She spoke as she slowly unbuttoned his shirt removing the bandages. "Remember you said it yourself,we have Jimar to think about now."
Nodding he opted for staying quiet to avid saying anything he was going to regret later."I know." Was all he said as he watched her removing his bandages.
His stomach had been healing but he was still sore as Sophie began to re-bandage everything. She hit a sensitive spot make Nate take a deep breath. "Sorry Darling." She mumbled as she finished up. They returned down stairs where the others had the men tied up in chairs.
"Alright one of them have to have a phone on them,we wait for him to call them. Then we make out move,we have to bring him out in the open instead of taking these guys out one by one,we are going to have to give him what he really wants." Nate explained to the group of people around the room.
Eliot glared at the mastermind. "Why do I get the felling I know exactly what you are going to say."
"He wants Sophie and me,we give him that." Nate said clearly and affirmatively.
"Nate,we have Jimar." Sophie said looking down to the boy sitting in her lap.
"I never said we were going alone I have plan J in the works right now."
"Do I die in that one too?" Hardison asks remember a previous conversation from a few years ago.
"No,not this one,no one dies." Nate said with a laugh.
The good mood was cut when Ruiz's phone rang,answering it,Nate put it on speaker.
"Is it done Ruiz?" The man asked.
"I'm sorry he can't come to the phone right now." Nate said in a amused tone.
"Damn it! I'm coming for you Ford,and I swear the things I will do to you,you are going to wish you were never born!" The madman yelled but got nothing out of Nate.
"You want us that bad,come and get us. From what I see,you don't really stand a chance."
"You ran Ford,for two years you ran,you don't get the right to say who does and doesn't stand a I get my hands on you and your wife,I will make you watch her suffer." He was trying to get Nate worked up but it wasn't working in his favor.
"You do that and,we will see you soon." He was about to hang up when the madman stopped him with what he said.
"Not if I don't see Kano first." The phone line turned off as Nate looked around the room.
"M-my dad?" Jimar said looking at Nate. "Is he gonna hurt my dad?"
Nate looked to the boy and shook his head. "I won't let that lets go we need to get to the hospital and now!"
With helping getting everyone to the car they were soon on their way to the hospital. Once they arrived they quickly made their way to where Kano was and were met by a fury of doctors and nurses running in and out of the room. Jimar began to cry hysterically turning to Nate who ignored the pain in his stomach as he picked the boy p cradling him in his arms.
The doctor recognizing the group came out. "Mr Ford,you shouldn't be holding-" He stopped once he noticed the glare the mastermind gave him.
"Just give us the information on his dad." Nate said flatly not in the mood for everything.
"He went into cardiac arrest,we do not know why but he began bleeding internally again,we rushed him off to surgery,I will let you know how things are once the surgery is over,if you will excuse me I have to go take care of him now."
As the doctor left Nate had to sit down taking Jimar with him to a chair in the waiting room where they all sat down,Sophie next to Nate and Isaac next to the other three. Isaac watched the couple with the boy and it was weird to see how much trust Jimar had in them. "His mother?" he asked as the y boy tired himself out from crying and as soon asleep in the masterminds arms.
Sophie made a face before answering. "They don't know,she went out on a boat and never came back,the boat was found empty in the middle of the water,he was only two then. His father has been taking care of him ever since,when we arrived in Port Royal we found him sitting down by the water alone and asked him what he was doing there." She stopped looking to Nate.
"He told us that he was waiting for his mother to come back so he can remember what she looked like. He told us his father said she was watching over the other fisherman to be sure they returned home safely." Nate finished for her.
Isaac nodded. "So Jimar,he looks to you two for sanctuary?"
Eliot shook his head,the man had a weird way with words."He trusts them because they are there for him." Eliot growled looking at the man.
"We protect him,he started hanging around the boat around our second week in and began asking questions about the boat and fishing so Nate decided to teach him a few things. It proved to be a great way to bond for both of them." Sophie smiled at Nate who nodded.
"Whatever happens with his father will we continue to protect him and be there to answer all of his questions no matter what. He is attached to us and we will not take that away from him." Nate sounded determined and all his wife could do was agree with him.
It was hours later and still no word from the doctors on Kano's condition. A nurse had brought a blanket over for Jimar who was now laying down with his head leaning against Nate while snuggled between Both him and Sophie. The mastermind was growing tired and Sophie could see it. They watched the clock ticking away and all the could do was wait.
[A/N: Okay so that's chapter 7,will Kano survive or will Nate and Sophie be faced with a choice they don't want to make. Will the madman make his presence known for the first time? All in time! Thank you for your reviews,they keep me going!]