Warning: Contains a low-level violent scene.

Handcuffed

2 oz Southern Comfort® peach liqueur
4 dashes sweet vermouth
3/4 oz lime juice

Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes. Shake well, strain into an old-fashioned glass, and serve.

A quick reminder of where we last left Bella and James.

James had exited Highway 5 in Oregon as he headed south toward San Diego. He wanted to stop and check on Bella, who was hidden in the trunk, and get a little oral pleasure from her. Once off the highway, he found an old dirt road, parked his black sedan and carried her into the surrounding bushes. Her hands, feet, and mouth are still bound by tuck tape.

Deputy Embry Call began his workday as usual. At precisely 7:30 a.m., he kissed the cheek of his not fully awake wife, walked down the hallway and took his pistol from its locked gun safe. Buckled into his black and white cruiser, he proceeded to the local diner for coffee and breakfast. Both were on the house. The owners appreciated his presence and provided his meal at no charge to show their appreciation. It gave them a sense of security and a calm start to their day.

Embry numbly strolled through his morning routine. Often he drove to the diner and arrived puzzled as to how he ended up there. It was as if his brain worked on rote memory, a dangerous place for a cop's mind. He tried to convince himself that it was due to the early morning hours, but deep down he knew what was missing. The thrill.

Before moving his family to the small town of Aurora, Oregon, he'd patrolled the rough streets and seedy neighborhoods of Los Angeles. The bad part of the city had teeth and a toughness not found in this sleepy hamlet. The calls he responded to in Los Angeles were intense and often laced with danger. Adrenaline would pump through his veins as he faced the unknown, and he loved every fucking minute of it. The rush had become an addiction, and a year later he was still not fully detoxified from its effects.

God what I wouldn't give for a chase, or a face off with a real criminal. None of this cat up a tree shit.

The boredom was slowly killing him, but his wife, Maria, preferred his slow death over a swift one from the hands of an angry gang member or an estranged spouse high on crack. Either way, he couldn't win and he made the decision that he loved Maria more than the pursuit and conquer, but just barely.

After finishing his morning meal and discussing the weather with the owner of the diner, he left for the station. His twelve-hour shift began at nine and he was never late. He might not have been there mentally, but his body walked through the door on time regardless.

As his cruiser headed toward the police headquarters tucked neatly under the town's water tower, a bulletin came in from his dispatcher.

"10-39 car 15." Trying to identify Embry's location, the dispatcher called for his response.

"10-4. Car 15 is 10-19," Embry answered, signaling that he would be arriving at the station soon.

"Issuing a statewide 11-99. A federal 207 in progress. The suspect's vehicle is a late model Chrysler 300. Black. California license number 2GAT578. Proceed as a Code 2. Subject is believed to be armed and dangerous."

"10-4, five minutes to station."

He felt it instantly. The rush as his heartbeat speed up. The excitement caused his hands to perspire and shake slightly in anticipation. In his mind, he rehashed his dispatcher's words.

Damn, it's a federal agent kidnapping. FBI or DEA probably. Some stupid fucker has taken a Fed by force. Can't wait to learn more. Suddenly anxious to find out more details about the incident, Embry pushed down on the gas pedal, rushing to reach the station.

Aurora was a quant little village located five miles off Highway 5 between Portland and Salem, and normally immune to the evils he'd found in Los Angeles. The daily traffic consisted of middle-aged woman coming to partake in the infamous antique shopping. The streets were dotted with dusty shops filled with treasures from years past and numerous lunch spots. To Embry the place was boring as hell, but this morning his blood was pulsing in his veins as he entered the station and proceeded to the dispatcher's desk.

"Morning, Monica," he announced gruffly as he moved toward her.

"Morning, Embry," she said with a smile. She's always so damn chipper in the morning, he thought.

"So what have we got with that federal 207? I'm assuming that an agent was kidnapped."

"Yes, an undercover FBI agent was taken from her hotel room in Forks, WA around five a.m. this morning. Pretty scary stuff. The Feds believe the suspect is headed toward the San Diego area. He has connections there. Human trafficking ones. But nothing has been confirmed yet." Monica's face was troubled as she handed Embry the printed details surrounding Bella's kidnapping and continued. "To make matters worse, the FBI agent is a woman, Isabella Swan."

"Really? And she was taken four hours ago then. It would take around five and a half hours to get to this area from Forks, minus any morning commute traffic in the Portland." He speculated.

"The FBI wants all small airports patrolled in the event that the suspect decides to take Agent Swan out via air." She relayed.

"Okay, I'll head over to the airport. Can't imagine anyone using our rundown landing strip for a getaway, but I guess I'll just patrol the loop around the airport." Embry outlined his plan and headed back out the same door he had entered only ten minutes earlier. Only now he had a mission, or at least imagined that he did.

After almost two hours of mindlessly driving the roads surrounding Aurora State Airport, Embry headed south on Hubbard Road and began his trek back to town. He had hoped for some excitement, but yet it seemed to pass him by... again. His disappointment was evident when he spoke with Monica.

"Car 15. Heading back in." He spoke with a definite tone of bitterness and defeat, as he once again had to accept his life as a police officer in name only.

"10-4." She responded.

Fuck it. Why do I even carry a gun? I'm more likely to shoot myself in the foot then actually use it in the line of duty. He mused.

As Embry was nearing the Watson's property, he noticed the dirt road that led to their rustic cabin. He was friends with the family and spent countless Saturday afternoons casting his in fishing line into their full stocked pond. The Saturday night dinners that followed were always delicious. Maria had an old family fish fry seasoning like tasted like nothing he'd ever had.

But something in the distance caught his eye. Approximately thirty yards away, he spied a black sedan parked over to the side and practically in the gravel ditch.

Grabbing the paper with the details of the kidnapper's car, his heart began to race when he re-read the word, black. And with that one little word, Embry was in battle mode.

ooo

Bracing herself as James brought the knife to her face, Bella froze as she felt the cold stainless steel sliding across her cheeks. But no pain followed. He sliced the duct tape and peeled it away from her mouth. She considered screaming, but chose to play the compliant victim in hopes that she could catch him off guard in a less defensive moment, because she now had a weapon. Her teeth.

"You remain as quiet as a lamb. A little virgin lamb."

"Virgin?" Bella whispered as she spoke the first words since her good night wishes to Edward.

"You're surprised that I know." James expressed his amusement in revealing Bella's secrets. "That's why you're here with me. You're my golden ticket."

"What do you mean?" Bella was at a loss. She had no idea how James knew that she was a virgin, or what he had planned for her. Confusion and a low riding fear battled within her. She wanted answers, but tried to stay coherent and focused, waiting for an opportunity.

"Again, your friends are to blame. Mr. Ferrari and the Cowboy were talking about your lack of sexual experience after you left with the Volturi kid." Mockingly, James continued. "They were worried about your precious virtue."

"But how did they know?" Bella voiced her question without thinking, instantly regretting it. James slyly smiled at her. She had unwittingly confirmed James's suspicion.

"So I was right." Throwing his knife to the ground, James moved closer to Bella and began unzipping his jeans. "Well at least parts of you, the most important parts, will still be a virgin when I deliver you."

Bella understood now why he cut the tape from her mouth. Glancing quickly at the knife and tape on the ground, Bella knew her escape or doom were mere seconds away.

She watched him fumbling with his zipper. His hands seemed to shake with excitement. Bella's stomach turned as she noticed the devious smile on lips. She needed to act now.

With all the force she could muster, Bella pushed her bound and kneeling body forward, hitting James directly where his hands were attending his pants. Her defensive move totally caught him off guard as he fell back on his ass with his pants pooling at his knees.

Laying on the ground and trying to move from James' prostrate form, Bella scrambled toward the knife laying just a foot away. But James came to his senses too quickly and grabbed her by her bound arm, pulling her back at him.

"You mother fucking bitch." James shouted at Bella. Tightening his grip, he picked her up and spun her body to face him. "I'll fucking show you who's the boss around here."

His hand rose high above her head and from the wild look in his eyes, Bella knew that his hand was destined for her face. She had no defense to stop his attack as his size and her immobility worked in James' favor. Tensing her face and shoulders, she closed her eyes and prepared for his strike. But a loud boom rang out before he slapped her. Bella flashed her eyes open to see James slumped before her and yelling out.

"Owwww" he wailed.

Before she could fully understand what had transpired in front of her. A police officer ran toward them shouting, his large hands gripping a handgun pointed at James.

"Don't move, fucker," he yelled. His knees made contact with James's back, pressing him hard into the ground. The officer quickly handcuffed him and turned to face a wide-eyed Bella.

"Are you okay, Miss?" The officer inquired as he knelt by her side, forgetting about the screaming and restrained James. Bella looked at the officer and then back to James who was writhing in pain with his pants still down. Finally she saw the reason for his wails. He'd been shot in the ass, on the left cheek as his underwear oozed dark red blood. She watched as the stain widen across his dingy white boxers.

Embry was worried that the agent was in shock. Her eyes appeared numb to her surroundings as if in a daze. He had to free her and get her circulation flowing normally again. Using James' box cutter lying next to Bella, he began to slice and shred the duct tape, finally releasing her from the sticky bindings. To assist the blood flow, he massaged her wrists and ankles while urging her to stretch her limbs and move her feet before attempting to stand.

"I'm Deputy Embry Call. I take it that you're Agent Swan and this fucker is James Hunter." Embry's hatred for James was apparent.

"Yes, I'm Agent Swan." She swallowed hard before continuing, holding back her emotions. "I don't even want to think about what would have happened to me…" Her words ended and Embry embraced her, hoping to sooth her nerves. She felt so cold to him and once again he was worried that she was in shock.

"I'm going to walk you over to my car and get you a blanket while I call for an ambulance. I don't think Mr. Hunter is going anywhere at the moment."

Walking back to the moaning James, Embry called his station. "Monica, suspect is 10-33 and we need an ambulance, make that two. Suspect was shot in the, uh, gluteus maximus. Agent Swan presents symptoms of shock. Notify the FBI that the suspect was caught with his pants down – literally – preparing to attack the agent."

"10-4 Embry. I just can't believe it. In our own backyard. How's the agent? Are you sure she's okay?" Monica asked.

"I think she'll be fine. She's trained for stuff like this, but she looks awful young to me. Can't be over twenty-five. 10-4"

Ending the transmission, Embry stood above James. He wondered what motivated a piece of shit like him. How someone could become so heartless. Placing his black leather boot under James' ribs, Embry rolled him over on his back, almost enjoying the pain etched across his face.

"Well, looks like your days of crime are over. Do you know what the penalty is for kidnapping a federal agent?" Embry smiled as he thought of James' prison sentence. He'd likely die in jail, an old man.

James was wracked in pain and moving to get his backside off the dirt. But when he heard the words "federal agent,' he stilled, stone cold. Confused he asked, "What the fuck do you mean 'federal agent?'"

"Oh that's right, Agent Swan was working undercover. I guess today's just your lucky day. You hit the jackpot for stupid criminals. I'd say lock the door and throw away the key." Embry laughed and picked up the duct tape a few feet away.

Unwrapping the tacky end of the tape, he lengthened a strip. "Well, I guess I'd better make sure you're secure. Can't let a wanted man get away on my watch. Not about to happen." Embry wrapped the tape around James' ankles and read him his rights. Justice served, for now.

As he jogged back to Bella, he felt his body coming down off the adrenaline high. Fuck how I've missed this feeling. It's like nothing else. He lamented.

He locked eyes with Bella as he approached his cruiser, and thought she appeared more alert, but still needed medical attention. As he opened the door to check on her, he heard wailing sirens in the background.

Help had arrived.

A/N: We would liked to thank our Special Agents…..Betas Elizabethan and Aquariumjenn