Title: Shattered Soul
Author: Cindy Ryan
Category: Angst, work in progress
Spoilers: All episodes
Summary: When Emily becomes the hostage how far will Matt go to bring her home?
Notes: Warning some strong language in this chapter
Matt gripped the edge of the wooden table as he leaned forward. He could feel the splinters biting into the palms of his hands,but he didn't care. The short, stocky black haired man across from him was being silent and uncooperative.
"One more time,"Matt began struggling to keep his voice even. "What did Ellis tell you about his plans?"
Devon Hartman laughed as he leaned back in his chair. "I got three months left on my sentence. I didn't see nothin' and Ellis wasn't exactly chatty. I'm not riskin' getting out of here……I keep my nose clean."
Matt shoved the table out of the way nearly taking Duff out in the process. Duff had to do some fancy footwork to remain standing.
Frank crossed the room quickly and came to stand between Duff and Matt. "Matt…."
Flannery ignored the warning and yanked Hartman out of the chair, slamming the older man against the wall.
"I don't have time for your B.S."Matt yelled as Frank grabbed his left shoulder. "The cell isn't that big for you to be that blind. I know you know something about what he was going to do when he broke out and you're going to tell me what it is."
Finally Frank and Duff pulled Matt away from Hartman. Frank stepped between the prisoner and Flannery just as a guard entered the room.
Frank waved him off. "Everything's okay. Just rearranged the furniture a little."
Matt took another step toward Hartman but Duff blocked him.
"Get out of my way."
"Not until you calm down."Duff replied quietly. "You go after him again like that and you'll be no help to Emily because you'll be in a cell."
Matt took a deep breath and let it out before saying. "I'm calm."
"No you're not."
"Do you blame me?"
Duff shook his head. "No, but you're not the only one here that cares about Emily and you've got to dial it down."
Matt was about to reply but was interrupted by the ring of his cell phone. He yanked it out of his pocket to see the display on the front of the phone. A beep indicated that he had a waiting picture message.
"Ellis?"Frank asked as he approached.
Matt nodded tightly his gaze locked on the phone. His heart couldn't take seeing another picture of Em like that.
He just couldn't.
"Matt?"Duff prompted worriedly.
Flannery shook his head as he handed the other agent his phone. "You access it…….I can't…..I just can't…."
Duff exchanged an anxious look with Frank before he accepted the phone. He flipped it open and keyed into the correct menu to pull up the picture message.
As the picture came up Duff sucked in a sharp breath.
"Oh God."Duff whispered as he stared into Emily's frightened eyes.
"What?"Matt asked his voice near breaking.
Frank peered over Duff's shoulder at the phone. "She's alive, Matt."
Matt snatched the phone out of Duff's hand and turned it to face him. Emily's frightened eyes and the dark bruises would haunt him for the rest of his life.
"Son of a bitch!"Matt swore loudly as he whirled around and kicked the chair across the room. The metal chair bounced hard and skidded to a stop next to the prisoner.