Thanks so much for all the great reviews. :) Much appreciated. For those that enjoy Matt angst, lots to come. :) Apoligies in advace for the shortness of this chapter, but at least it's new. More to come in a few days.

Title: Shattered Soul
Author: Cindy Ryan
Category: Angst, work in progess
Spoilers: All episodes
Summary: When Emily becomes the hostage how far will Matt go to bring her home?
Notes: Only my second Standoff fic so bare with me. All mistakes are mine, not beta'd
If I have a name wrong or something else obvious please let me know.

Emily Lehman couldn't stop her teeth from chattering. She'd never been so cold. Ellis had dumped her in an abandoned mine shaft with nothing but a blanket and a half liter bottle of luke warm water.

That had been hours ago, or maybe days. The pain from the beatings and the exposure to the elements was making it difficult to keep track of time.

Emily drew the thin blanket up around her shoulders and shrank back against the rock wall. She'd tried in vain to talk Ellis into letting her have her clothes. But in the end she'd been grateful he'd given her the blanket and water. The handcuffs were still biting painfully into her wrists but he'd loosened them a little.

All of those efforts made Emily wonder why he'd bothered. Why he didn't just leave her here to die. He'd shot the deputy with no remorse. Why keep her alive if all he wanted was revenge?

Emily closed her tired eyes and leaned her head back against the wall. Had it really only been two days ago that she'd been in Matt's arms as they danced at a beach side café in Venice?

Emily swallowed hard at the thought of her partner. She knew Ellis had sent Matt the photo. Emily remembered Matt's reaction when Kari had taken her hostage during the bank robbery.

Emily could only hope that Matt kept a cool head. She needed him to do that.
It was the only thing keeping her sane at the moment, knowing he was out there looking for her.

All she had to do was hang on until then.

"I'm driving."Frank commented as the three men walked toward the exit.

Matt shook his head. "No."

"I want to get there in one piece."

Matt didn't slow his pace as he reached for the door and opened it. "I mean, no we're not driving."

Duff grinned. "You got the 'copter."

"Good that'll cut our time."Frank replied as he walked outside. "As long as we have an actual pilot."

Matt stopped so suddenly that Duff slammed into the back of him. Flannery whirled on Frank and stabbed a finger into the center of his chest.

"This isn't a case, this is Emily. I wouldn't chance anything!"Matt snapped as he turned back around. "Come on, pilot's waiting."

"Matt….."Frank began but Flannery had already disappeared around the corner.

Duff clamped a hand on Frank's right shoulder. "He knows, man. Don't worry about it. He's just letting off steam."

"Yeah."The big man replied quietly. "Duff, do you think she's still alive?"

Duff shook his head. "Don't know. Ellis was crazy before he was locked up. Who knows what three months did. For Matt's sake we have to keep positive "

Frank nodded tightly as the duo caught up with Flannery and reached the helipad.