Author's Note: I know I haven't updated in a while, and for that I'm sorry. But, I have been busy, and I knew that I took a risk-a turn if you will-in this fic, and I needed to take time to plan, plus everytime I would start writing this chapter, it just came out different than I wanted it to. Also, alerts were down, and I wanted people to read. Can you blame me? Heh. Anyway, reviews are great...enjoy!
Addison blinked back stubborn tears, studying Meredith's intent gaze through the rearview mirror. She hoped against hope that she wouldn't try anything, and Addison somehow felt that she wouldn't. The reality that Jason Warden was dangerously close to her caused her to feel a wave of nervousness that she couldn't shield herself from. Taking a deep breath, Addison slowly exhaled.
"So...Mister...Warden-"Meredith said, her hands clenching the wheel. Aware that he had both a gun and a knife made Meredith all the more certain that she was to play along until she was certain bother Addison and herself could get away. "Is there anywhere you need to go? I'm driving, but I can't exactly keepy going if I don't know where to turn."
He settled against the backseat, sighing. A firm hold on Addison's hand, Jason knew he couldn't afford to take a risk. "How much gas do you have?"
Meredith's eyes darted down to the panel. "Only a little less than a quarter tank."
Addison saw the hope flare in Meredith's eyes, but she knew that Jason wasn't about to let either of them go.
"Turn up here at the light."Jason said, making it seem as if he was making it up as he went along. A nervousness remained about him, yet he somehow seemed earily calm. "There's a gas station up here. Stop there."
"Okay."Meredith replied, taking a sharp breath. It seemed that with his every word daggers were shooting. Feeling guilty, she shot a glance back at Addison, only to see her hopelessly staring out the window.
"And when we get up there-"Jason said, "Don't even think about tryin' anything funny."
The air had yet to enter Alex's lungs as he slowly began to process what the officer was saying. "Addison...she, um...she left. A few minutes-"He shook his head, wanting so badly to believe otherwise. "Why wasn't anyone notified? After what went down, it would be nice to think if we could know this sort of thing."
"I understand, Doctor Karev. But is there I way you could call Doctor Mongomery for me? Perhaps it would be best if-"
"The text message."Alex muttered, everything coming together for him.
"I don't understand. What are you saying? Did you...get a message from Jason Warden?"The officer, now known as Jurgens asked him.
Alex shook his head, trying to form the words. "It was from Meredith."
"Meredith?"Officer Jurgens asked, confused.
"My girlfriend-"Derek piped up. "She and Addison left within minutes up each other, and shortly after Meredith left, Doctor Karev got a text message telling him to come outside."
Officer Jurgens seemed to take the information in, a frown forming on his face. "Do you have any idea why Meredith would send you a message like that?"
Derek's jaw remained firm, the reality that Meredith and Addison were likely in the hands of the guy reaching him. "Her car just left...Meredith's. She was driving slow, and-Someone...Someone was in the back seat. Officer...Officer Jurgens, I spoke with her before she left. Meredith. She was supposed to go home, get ready..we were going out. The rest of her friends stayed-"
"You don't honestly believe that creep has them, do you, Shepherd?"Alex asked, anger rising within him. He wanted to deny it, wanted Addison to be standing by him, their baby safe inside of her. He wanted to hear Meredith's slighly nasal voice insisting she was fine for the millionth time. He just wanted proof that everything was fine rather than an aching feeling otherwise.
The officer cleared his throat, the wind stirring around them. "Is it possible that Meredith saw a friend on the way out and offered them a ride?"
"I was on the phone with her..she was in the parking lot, and she didn't mention anything."Derek replied, choosing to focus as positively as he could.
"And Addison?...Is there a way that you could contact her, without jumping to conclusions?"
Alex nodded, hands refusing to stay at his sides. "You're kidding, right? The guy frickin' has her...you weren't in the room with him. Granted, you might have an idea of what he's capable of, but..."
Derek placed a hand on his shoulder, trying his best to keep him calm. "I'll talk to the Chief...I'll stay at Meredith's to see if she shows up there. And Alex?...The apartment-the hotel maybe...Run over to Joe's, it's entirely possible. And um-"
"He is right."Officer Jurgens said. "I'll need to speak with him myself. He should be prepared in the event he tries to come back here. The best thing you two can do right now...is remain calm."
"Remain calm?...My pregnant girlfriend and my friend are being held hostage by a psycho creep. God knows what he is capable of and-"Alex paused, shocking even himself. He hadn't thought about it that much before then. The baby. And Addison. The way that she was nervous enough about the pregnancy as it was, let alone being stuck with the guy. And he was sure that the fact that Meredith was there just had to help. But Derek was right. They needed to check the places they could. It was too great a risk not to.
Meredith pulled the car to a stop before the gas pump, waiting for further instructions.
Jason leaned foward, still keeping his grip on Addison's hand. With his free hand, he shoved the hard metal in between the head rest and the seat. "This place is pay at the pump. You are going to get out of the car. You are going to fill the tank with gas, pay, and get back in. Understand?" When Meredith didn't answer, he shoved the gun even further. "When I ask you a question-"
"Okay."She said, her slender hands shaking as they loosened their grip on the steering wheel. She shakily began to open the car door, but her pulled her back towards him.
"I know that you think you're just along for the ride, but I need you to realize how important you are to this. This thing...it can't mess up, and well...that means you can't try anything. No running, no screaming, no...nothin'. Just fill the tank and get back in. Got it?"
Nodding her head, Meredith climbed out of the car, aware of the fact that Jason had rolled down the window just enough to where he could hear her, see her-reach out and touch her if he wanted to. The thought sent shivers through her.
"So you want to talk to me. You want to get things straightened out, but I don't understand...why take her along? She has nothing to do with this."Addison said, at least trying to help the situation.
"Don't you think it's a little late for that? We are already halfway through with this. We just need to find a nice park, or a hotel or something...you and me-"He paused, staring into Addison's eyes. He had been through, what he thought, the worst the past few months. He lost the baby, Julia was planning to leave him. Addison was trying to get away, too, he thought. And Jason couldn't let that happen. "See...you're not just the doctor who killed my baby-"
"I didn't...I'm sorry, Jason."Addison said, tensing as his hand settled on her thigh. Every muscle on her tensed up, fear coarsing through her.
"You cost me my marriage, too."He laughed, seeing the fear in her eyes. "I'm not gonna kill you. For now. The gun...it's to ward off anyone who tries to stop me. You, Addison-"He said, glancing out the window at Meredith. As promised, she was doing as she was told, though seeming nervous while doing it. He turned back to Addison, a grin playing on his lips. "You should know by now that I can't afford to lose you. Not yet."
Addison nodded, her throat tightening. She couldn't help but think of Alex, of how he was probably either worried at work, or just going on with his everyday activities. There was a chance that he had no idea what was going on. And there was the baby. It happened lightly, and has her senses not already been hightened, she wouldn't have felt it. But inside of her, the baby kicked.
"You get the fact that this isn't a game, right? If I'm so valuable, why do you still-"
"Shh..Just...Just a minute-"Jason replied, sticking a finger up to her lips. Turning towards the car door, he studied Meredith, sticking the nozzle back on the gas pump. He knew that she saw him, and was therefore less convinced to try anything. He saw something in her eyes-a loss of hope. "Glad to see you could join us again, Meredith. Now, I'll need you to drive for a few more miles. There's a hotel I used to stay at when the wife and I were arguing..."
"Drive there?"She asked, shooting Addison a look of apology.
Jason nodded, smiling. Things were going according to plan as best as they could. "And can you make it fast? I'm sure Addison's getting hungry."
"Actually, I'm-"Addison shut her lips, mind reeling. Jason was holding her captive, and his sudden change in behavior...it was less agressive, but in turn it was more obsessive. She closed her eyes, leaning against the back on the seat. The baby moved, she thought. Addison couldn't help but think of what to tell Alex, of how to tell him. If she got the chance.
Alex sat in the lobby of the hospital, head buried in his hands. She was there one minute, then she disappeared the next. He couldn't help but think that if he had taken less time-if he had just done like Meredith's message told him to, everyone would be okay. Derek was in with the Chief, as was Officer Jurgens. And there he was, feeling completely useless.
"Hey...are you okay?"Cristina asked, a fact that surprised him.
He looked up and saw that she was on the way out. "Huh?...Yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"
Cristina laughed, shrugging. "You really are a guy, aren't you? The guy that held you and McSatan hostage escaped from jail, and minus you sitting here being all McBroody, you don't seem worried at all-"Cristina paused, seeing the look on Alex's face. "Oh don't tell me...you didn't know? I would have figured-"
"I know, Cristina."He replied, struggling to find the right words. Taking a deep breath, Alex nodded. "And there's reason to believe that he has Addison."Alex finished, not being able to tell her about Meredith. He knew better, knowing how badly Cristina would fly of on a handle. He was having enough trouble as it was staying calm.
It was then that Derek walked up, his eyes darkening as he saw Cristina. Silently questioning Alex, he almost seemed relieved when Alex shook his head. "So I talked to the Chief...You should at least try calling Addison's cell, then go to the apartment, She normally goes there, right?...I'll go to Mer's, Officer Jurgens said he was going to patrol and see-"
"Wait...you...Mer..Meredith..."Cristina said, wondering why Derek was being brought in, especially if it was just Addison. But then it hit her. It wasn't just Addison. "Meredith...and Addison."
Cristina's reaction only concreted it for Alex. They had to find them. And soon.
"Hello-"Jason said the woman sitting behind the desk. "I need a room for me and my...for two."He said, flashing Addison a grin, holding firm onto her hand.
The woman behind the counter punched a few buttons on the computer, a knowing smile visible on her face. To her, they were a couple. They were two people checking in to a hotel. The man in the hat and the woman with the read hair. She flipped the page in her magazine, making a mental note to check the store later for that pair of shoes. It was funny how certain jobs allowed you the ability to multi-task. "Name?"
Jason looked at Addison, almost as if he hadn't thought of it. "James and Alexis Morden."He confirmed.
The woman handed him a key, typing the number into the computer. "You two will be in room fifty-seven. If you need anything, call the office right here. My name is Mindy, so just ask."
He laughed, nodding. She was way too cheery for her own good. "Thanks, Mindy..."He waved the key at Addison. "Come on, Lexi...looks like it could rain again."
Addison shot a glance back at Mindy, thinking it as peculiar. If they knew-if Jason had broke free-wouldn't they know already? Wouldn't they break into TV casts, or radio shows...the girl had a radio on in the background. As they walked out into the parking lot, walking towards the building, she watched as Jason told Meredith to unlock the car and come with them. A part of her didn't get it-why Meredith had stayed in the hospital parking lot to help. Maybe from fear or obligation. But now-she had a chance to leave, and Jason, true, had threatened her. But she still had a chance.
It was a thought that fell all too quickly on her. If Meredith did leave, it would have made Jason even angrier, and he would pour it out on herself. Did Meredith know that-was that why she didn't run? Or was it the fear that got to her-the fear that she herself felt? Addison watched as Jason unlocked the door to room fifty-seven, nearly shoving her in. "We are here. What now?"
Jason laughed, locking the door behind the three of them. "Well, I was thinking or ordering some food. Sit back...see if I've made the news. Then we'll talk. Because you know...you're not getting off easy."
Meredith resigned herself to sitting on the hotel chair at the table. "And me?"
"You, blondie...you're gonna sit there all pretty and act like you don't hear us...because if you so much as think about running, well...let's just not consider that an option, okay?"
Addison sat at the foot of the bed, the room spinning around her. She was dizzy, sick almost, the realities of the past hour or so reaching her. "About the food-"
"My food. Not the food?...What, you thought I was going to let you eat?"Jason paused, amused. "I am kidding. You think I would let you starve? Addison..."He sat down next to her. His hand brushed her cheek, moving her red hair out of the way. "You are far too valuable. And who knows?...I may find something to amuse myself along the way. They're probably going crazy, which-hey...Meredith, right?"
She shot up, jumping. "Yes?"
"You should...I don't know..call your boyfriend..oh, his name..Nevermind. Call a friend, someone...let them know that you...you went to visit family or something. Or you needed time to think. There, that's it. Addison and I haven't finished our lovely little conversation yet. We need them to think that things are fine on your side of things...Afterall-"He said, smiling as he looked back at Addison. "We couldn't have them thinking that two of Seattle Grace's surgeons were missing, now could we?"