A/N: Well guys, thank you once again for all those amazing reviews/alerts/favourites and for just reading all these chapters in general. You are all bloody fantastic!

If this story hits the 200 review mark with this chapter, then the next (and final) chapter will be dedicated to my wonderful 200th reviewer :-) xoxox

P.S – This whole chapter (to me anyway) feels very different. Not a lot of dialogue to start with, but a lot of short bursts of flashing in and out to everyone's activities and movements. It's not all in sync, but it all ties together in the end. In all honesty, as simple as it looks, this chapter was surprisingly hard to write. I really really hope you enjoy it :-)

I wrote this chapter while listening to David Crowder*Band's 'Coming Towards' (on repeat lol) and Johnny Cash's 'Hurt'. I personally recommend listening to them while reading. Really sets the scene ;-)
…

Chapter Eighteen

Breathe. In and out. In and out. His breathing was the only thing he could hear when he slowly crept into the darkened house, his gun raised high as he scanned the hallway for any sign of the King. But all he could see was the night. With a quick glance behind him, Max stepped further into the shack, the old floor boards creaking under his weight as he moved towards a large open doorway that lead into what seemed to be a living area. He couldn't remember a time where had felt fear like he did then. The hairs on the back of his neck standing on end at the silence.

Pulling his flashlight out, Max slowly shone the beam across the room, the emptiness causing a wave of nausea to wash over him. There was no sign of the King anywhere. If he hadn't seen him running in with his own eyes, he would never even have suspected him to be inside. Backing out of the room slowly, he lowered his flashlight, his grip on his gun tightening when he heard the familiar sound of the floor boards creaking behind him. Snapping round, he raised his gun, anger dancing behind his eyes. But instead of coming face to face with Rider or the Stabbington's, Max was greeted by none other than a very startled Conrad, his arms held high in defence.

"It's only me..." Whispered the young officer "Back-up's on their way. Said 20 minutes tops ." Lowering his gun, Max quietly slid up beside Conrad, his gaze frantically searching round the room "Did you find the King?"

"Not yet." Max whispered in reply "My bet's are he's upstairs. The place seems empty, but I'm guessing that somewhere in this dump is the Princess...We just have to find her before those assholes find him."
…

He had thought that the groaning stairs would have given him away. The minute he had stepped into the house and seen nothing but black, Fergus had taken it as a sign that his daughter was somewhere up above. He knew that Max was probably pissed beyond belief, but he couldn't hold back. He couldn't stop himself from running in, knowing that his daughter was only a few yards away. For him, the last few days had all merged into one long cloudy spell of misery. He was ready for clarity to return.

He had crept into the nearest room once he had reached the top landing. Like the rest of the house, the place had been in darkness, the only light coming from the moon beams filtering in through the broken blinds.

"Rapunzel..." He had quietly called out "It's Daddy..."

But he was only greeted with silence. With the small spark of hope dying a little, Fergus had began to search through the room, quietly ripping back the bed sheets in hopes that she was buried underneath them. Once they were gone he had found himself crouching on the ground looking under the bed, but again, there was nothing. It wasn't until he stood did he hear the blood curdling sound coming from up above. The heavy thumping sounds of footsteps thundering about rapidly. At the sound of the raging voices, Fergus quickly made his way behind the door, the sound of banging causing the panic to build up within him. Peering out from the small gap in the open door, he could only pray.
…

They had put the first groan down to the gentle breeze from outside. The old house creaking against the wind. Neither had thought too much of it. Rapunzel hadn't been able to stop the hope from building up within her when the two brothers had suddenly gone still, their ears perking up in wonder. When they had went back to their smirking and taunting, the tears had threatened to fall. But as Scott had bent to grab her, his dirty blood stained hands grabbing hold of her bounds to pull her up, they stopped once again.

"...There's someone downstairs!" Scott had bellowed when realization had hit.

Staring at each other, their jaws had clenched, Scott letting out a loud growl as he threw her to the bed before grabbing his brother and hauling him to the door.

"Someone's goin' to fuckin' die tonight."

Only when they left the attic, bounding down the stairs like a wild heard, did Rapunzel finally cry. She cried for her freedom. She cried for the fate of whoever had stumbled upon their location, but most of all, she cried for her love. She cried for Flynn.
…

Fergus had only been able to shrink back at the sight of the two burly men storming out from the door across from the bedroom he was hiding in, the anger and hatred painted on their faces causing his stomach to churn. He didn't want to think of his baby being trapped with them. He didn't want to imagine the fear that she must have been living with. At the sight of the dried blood coating their hands he wanted to puke. He wanted to cry. All his life he had been taught that to be a king you had to be brave. At that moment, he couldn't remember feeling any more scared.

"You head down stairs Mikey." One of the men commanded, malice dripping from his quietened voice "Whoever it is, I want you to snap their fuckin' necks. I'll check the rooms up here."

With a nod, 'Mikey' began his descent down the stairs, the other thug turning and disappearing into the room next to the one he hid away in. Knowing that he had to move quickly, Fergus quietly stepped out from behind the door, peered round the corner to make sure he was out of sight before taking his chance and heading up the stairwell that led to the attic. It had seemed the longest journey of his life.

The minute he finally reached the small room, the moonlight illuminating the chaos around him, he burst into tears. She sat cowered on the bed, her body heaving with her own sobs as she pulled her knees tightly into her chest.

"Rapunzel..." He choked out.

With a gasp, she snapped round to face him, the look of relief, pain and fear dancing in her eyes doing nothing but breaking his heart.

"Daddy!" She cried out "Daddy, you found me! You found me!"

Breaking down again, Rapunzel struggled to sit up, Fergus quickly moving to her side to help her.

"We don't have much time." He whispered, glancing over his shoulder as he tried to free his daughters wrists "But helps on the way. This is all going to be over soon."
…

It had come out of nowhere. The sudden whack to the back of Conrad's head as Max had ushered him to wait outside for back-up. The young officer let out a groan of pain, his body writhing before he passed out. Confused, Max hadn't really known what had happened at first as his partner fell at his feet. Not until he looked up to see the disgusting smirk of Mike Stabbington staring back at him. With gun raised, he took his stance; only for Mike to knock the weapon from his hands and stalk towards him.

Unarmed and out of options, Max began to crouch away from the towering giant, his gaze moving frantically between the brute and his wounded officer. He felt the end drawing closer as his back hit the wall behind him, Mike letting out an evil chuckle before firing his fist into his stomach.

With pain overcoming him, Max doubled over; an overwhelming desire to throw up taking hold. Stumbling backwards, he clutched at his stomach, his coughs and splutters short lived as Mike threw another punch to the side of his face. It took two more for him to fall to the ground, Mike's feet joining in on the attack. With blood flowing from his head into his eyes, Max spotted his gun lying off to the side. Trying to force himself up, he began on his crawl towards it, but not before Mike's foot found comfort in the side of his ribs once again.

Crying out in agony, Max collapsed against the wall, any fight left in him quickly fading away. Staring up at the monster before him, he awaited his fate; panic and excitement at war with each other. He could admit he was afraid of the unknown, but he knew that when his life ended that night, he'd be back with her. Mike's grin only grew at the sight of the broken detective, his hands ready to wrap round his neck. But just as he went to reach for his pray, there was a whack to the back his head, an agonising burning rocketing throughout his body.

Max didn't know if it was by chance or if she had been looking out for him, but as he watched Mike fall to the ground in a heap, Flynn Rider standing over him with the old Louisville Slugger raised high, he couldn't help but cry out. Dropping the bat, Flynn slowly staggered towards him. By the looks of the boy, Max was surprised that he was still breathing.

"You ok?" Flynn panted out, helping the old detective sit up.

With a broken nod, Max absently fumbled at his waist, his fingers brushing against the cool metal of his cuffs.

"Take them..." He croaked out, blood dripping from his mouth as he handed them over to Flynn "Cuff him to the banister."

Taking the handcuffs, Flynn grabbed hold of Mike's wrists and dragged him over to the bottom of the stairs, the pain in his shoulder almost crippling. Wasting no time he quickly cuffed him before limping back over to Max.

"Is he upstairs?" He asked, all thoughts of Scott bringing his blood to the boil.

"Yeah..." Max replied breathlessly "...The King...The King's in the house...Find him..."

Nodding, Flynn began for the stairs, but before he could go any further, the weak voice of Max called out to him.

"Rider..." He gasped, nodding to the corner in front of him "My gun...take it..." Grabbing the gun, Flynn looked at the detective solemnly, his grip on the weapon tightening "Go finish this."
…

Both bedrooms had been empty, Scott's quick task of upturning them proving that. With a growl erupting from deep in his chest, he thundered out of the second bedroom, his lips turning up into a smirk at the thought of the asshole who tried to foil their plan falling victim to the wrath of Mike. He knew his brother could handle himself. He didn't have to worry there.

With one final glance over his shoulder, Scott began his journey back up to the Princess. Grab her and go, that was his plan now. He'd get Mikey downstairs, set the place alight, and they'd be gone. Rider not even a memory to them or anyone else. No one would look for them, no one would care about him and she'd be deemed lost in the fire. The plan was so perfect it would go down in history. But climbing the stairs, the calm that Scott felt quickly vanished. Once reaching the top, he found himself only able to roar, the sight of The King helping his daughter causing him to see red. Without hesitating he lunged, knocking Rapunzel to the side as he wrestled her father to the floor.

"Stop!" Came her ear piercing scream "Stop! Stop it! Get off him!"

But he didn't. He wouldn't. As The King tried to scramble away, Scott grabbed hold of him and dragged him back over. Crouching over him, he laid one punch after another into him, his weight keeping him pinned to the ground. Tugging at her near freed hands, Rapunzel could only scream.

…

He had been too late to help Conrad. He'd almost been too late to help Max, but he'd make sure he wasn't too late to help her.

With the pain becoming unbearable, Flynn slowly climbed the stairs, the sounds of Max's whispered voice trying to wake his friend behind him. It wasn't until he reached the top landing did he hear her voice cry out. A sound which brought him joy and pain all at once. But she was alive. He could only thank God that she was still alive.

"Stop! Stop! Stop it! Get off him!" Had been her plea.

Looking down at the gun in his hand, Flynn fought to find breath to climb the stairs leading to the attic.
…

One punch...Two punch...Without mercy, Scott continued to lay into her Father, the sound of his gurgled gasps and howls of agony causing her to scream out. Glancing over her shoulder she began to tug with all her might, the rope cutting into her wrists leaving them bruised and bloody. But she didn't care. She had to do something. She had to save him. With a growl, she pulled and tugged, the sight of her Father's body being slammed off the ground shaking her slightly.

"Thought you'd get away with it, huh!?" Scott cried, lifting him up by the front of his shirt to whack him again "Thought you'd save her!?" Another punch. Another groan "No one's gettin' out of this one!"

She didn't bother holding her tears back. She just continued to pull, her anger and fear bringing on a strength she didn't know she had. With one final cry she tore at the bonds one last time before they came apart. Freed, she wasted no time launching herself at the man.

"I said get off of him!" She cried out, jumping onto his back and hitting him over the head.

With fist mid air, Scott grunted at the sudden weight of the girl, his anger boiling over as he turned and knocked her off of him. A swift punch to the side of the face. Falling backwards, Rapunzel hit the ground, the room spinning as she watched the monster turn on her Father one more time. Struggling to pull herself up, she watched, pleaded, as Scott got to his feet. She watched as he slowly reached round behind him and pulled the gun from the waistband of his jeans, her Father weak, staring his fate in the eyes.

"No one's gettin' out of this one..." He snarled once again, pointing the gun at Fergus' head 鉄ay goodnight, Your Majesty.

"No!" Rapunzel managed to scream out.

But as the word fell from her lips, the loud crack rang out.

Then, there was silence.

Gasping, Rapunzel watched as Scott fell backwards before landing at her side with horror in his lifeless eyes. The blood from the bullet wound between his eyes began to pool round him, seeping into the cracks in the floor boards at her feet. Body racking with dry sobs, she looked up to see her Father being helped to his feet by Flynn, gun clutched tightly in his hand.

"...F-Flynn?" She sobbed.

Helping Fergus to the bed, Flynn turned to see Rapunzel staggering to her feet. With tears in his own eyes, he dropped the gun, a soft whimper fell from his lips as she ran to him before falling into his open arms. Holding her close, they both broke down, the sound of roaring yells and thundering footsteps downstairs only a distant noise.

"You're alive..." She sobbed, pulling back to look into his swollen eyes "You're alive...

"Shh..." He cooed, pulling her back into his chest before placing a kiss to her forehead "It's over...It's finished. They can't hurt you anymore."

The voices grew louder, 'clear' ringing out from all around. Forcing himself back, Flynn felt his heart shatter at the look of pain in her eyes. He wanted nothing more than to hold her. Reassure her that everything would be fine. But he couldn't. He knew the truth...he knew the inevitable.

"I'm sorry..." He whispered as the thundering footsteps made their way up to the attic "I'm so sorry..."

"Flynn?" She stuttered out "What...what are you doing?"

But before he could say anything, the SWAT Team ran in; guns and flashlights pointing in his direction as they screamed their orders.

"Hands in the air!" Was their command "Get on your knees!"

Complying, Flynn never dropped her gaze, is hands going behind his head as he lowered himself to the ground. Wasting no time, he was put in a set of cuffs, Rapunzel screaming out to the officer as they did so.

"No! Wait!" She cried as they hauled him to his feet, the paramedics rushing in behind them.

"I'm sorry..." He spoke again "I'm sorry."

Only then was he forced to drop her gaze.
…

A/N: Well guys...I really hope you liked that chapter. I'm nearly crying because I know the next chapter is the last one and I'm sad lol. But on a funny note, while writing this, I convinced my little sister, who loves Max by the way, that I killed him in this chapter. I look forward to reading her review when she finds out he's alive...hehehe...sorry...

Anyway guys, please please please, let me know what you all thought. I love you guys :-) xoxoxo