Authors note: Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've been busy with finals and projects, which have just finally lightened up, so I should be back to posting more often. As always I am thankful for my readers, and the reviews only encourage me to post faster. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy. R&R

Chap 10:

When Emma woke up, she was embraced by a sense of peace. Her head was resting against the door, and her arms were folded across her chest. Despite the ache in her muscles it was a familiar feeling, and being with Eric was always relaxing. Besides, she had never been good with care rides, and falling asleep was nothing new.

"Sorry" she started to say sitting up as glancing over towards Eric, but her heart froze. That wasn't Eric, it was Dom. The fog of sleep left her quickly as memories came crashing back. This wasn't some nice road trip with Eric, this was hell. Dom had kidnapped her, and Lisa, and then there was the other guy Vin siting right behind her. She stared at Dom, unable to say anything starting to tug at her seat belt. It was too hot, too crowded, and her heart was too fast. "I'm dying" she thought to herself knowing that it wasn't true, but then again, who knew if they had done anything to her when she was sleeping? Or if they would kill her any minute? Or what if they were going to kill her now?

Emma's breath started to come in short, shallow, labored gasps, and her fingers fumbled with her seatbelt trying to unbuckle it. She had to get out of the car. She couldn't breathe. She was going to die here. In some strange car. Alone. She would never see Eric again, never see Maria. She couldn't give up. She had to live, she had to survive some way, somehow.

"Emma? What is…? What are you doing?" Dom glanced over at her, but his attention was divided between her and the road. Emma couldn't answer him though, even if she wanted to. All she knew was that she needed to get out of the car, but her shaking fingers wouldn't grip the damn seatbelt catch.

"Hey stop that!" Dom ordered, his hand reaching towards her when she persisted. His fingers closed tightly around her wrist causing her desperation to only skyrocket as she dug her other fingers into his arm, clawing at his hand. Tears streamed down her face and her chest felt as if it was collapsing. If she could just stop shaking for a moment then she could be free of the belt.

"God. Damnit. Fuck Em!." Dom was sending out curses as he struggled to stop Emma and keep the car on the road at the same time. The rational part of Emma's mind knew that she was panicking. She often did when she woke up and being kidnapped didn't exactly lessen those effects. Still, she had to calm down but she was too far gone her body simply refused to listen to her logic.

"Vin!" A little help here!" he continued through gritted teeth as the car started to swerve off the road and he was forced to let go of Emma to correct it, though he didn't stop glancing over at Emma.

Emma's fingers finally started to work and the belt finally unclipped. Vin was quick to respond though, and Emma suddenly felt strong arms wrapping around her neck and chest, bear hugging her against the seat.

"No!" she called out her voice a harsh raspy gasp. Her body was shaking and tears were pouring down her checks as she pulled against him squirming in his hold.

"Christ Emma, you need to calm down. Right now." Dom sounded pissed which only frightened Emma more. I thought we had an understanding."

"I'm. I'm. Sor..Sorry…" Emma gasped out, Vin's grip on her neck making it harder for her to breathe.

Dom let out a frustrated sight. "It's fine. Not your fault, but if you don't relax right now…" Dom's voice trailed off allowing Emma's imagination to fill in the blanks.

"I…I'm trying…" Dom was starting to slow the car down and pull it over but Emma's vision was too blurred by her tears to make out where she was. Emma could feel the car come to a stop, and she could feel the engine turn off, which helped a little, but it wasn't enough.

Dom leaned over the seat closer to her and looked right at her. Emma tried to look away but Dom didn't let her. "look at me Emma. Look right here." He grabbed her jaw firmly but gently, forcing her to look him right in the eye. "I told you. Do what I tell you and you will be okay. Eric will be okay. Maria will live out her life with her mother, never knowing what happened. Do you understand?" Maria…Emma repeated over and over again. It seemed to help her refocus taking the edge off the attack, but she knew there was no way to stop it other than to let it pass. But at least she wasn't going to try to claw anyone's arm off and by the look of it she had done a good bit to Dom's arm.

"Your arm…I'm sorry I.." Dom glanced down confused as if he hadn't noticed the multitude of scratches across his wrist.

"Its fine." He said sincerely and softly not taking his eyes from hers. "Just take deep breaths"

Vin slowly released his grip on Emma, but she was still too frightened to move and Dom's eyes kept her held in place.

"Hey. Hate to interrupt you Domino, but the bitch is waking up."

"Right." Dom said glancing into the back seat. "You better get her inside before she's awake. And make sure HE is not anywhere near here. Not yet at least, not until she calms down a bit."

"Whatever." Vin said opening his door. He couldn't have sounded anymore unenthused if he wanted to.

"Such attitude." Dom said with a smirk. Emma glanced back into the backseat watching as Lisa started to squirm as Vin scooper her up in his arms.

"Well? You coming?" Vin asked.

"We'll be in soon enough, I want to give you a chance to get that snake taken care off.

"Right." Vin said kicking the door closed as he carried Lisa off.

They must have reached their location, Emma thought starting to turn to glance out the window but Dom stopped her before she had the chance.

"Sorry, can't risk you running off or knowing where we are. When we go in, you'll be blindfolded. "

"Emma's heart started racing again and her breath hitched.

"Hey, none of that. I let you get away this fit of yours, but you can't do this again, understand me? You were startled, and I know you kept it together for a while, so I'll let it slide. But you can't be doing this." Emma swallowed and nodded her head.

"When you said him…that means…Carson, doesn't it." Saying his name was enough to make her skin crawl.

"That's right. But don't worry, behave and I'll keep him away from. But you have to behave." Emma started shaking again but she bit her lip. "That's right, fight it. Now, are you ready?"

"No." Emma said. "But do you really expect me to."

"No. I guess not." Dom leaned over to the dashboard and pulled out a handkerchief. "Now deep breaths and you'll be fine." Emma tried to do as she was told breathing deeply in and out planning each breath, and trying not to panic. Dom tied the blindfold behind her head, his fingers lingering in her hair a little longer than she was comfortable with.

"Just do what I tell you and take it one step at a time. I promise, it's going to be okay." She felt Dom step away and listen as his door opened. The darkness was suffocating, and as the door opened behind her she jumped, even more when Dom hand grabbed her shoulder guiding her out of the car.

Maria. Eric. Jill. Ana. John. Lisa. Maria. Eric. Maria. Emma repeated the names of her loved ones in her head, the list of people she had to protect, the reasons why she stepped forward with Dom's guidance without fighting, and why her shaking started to relax. She had to focus. No complaints. No opposition. She was going to get through this for them, she had no choice.

"That's a good girl Em" Dom said quietly as she tightened her shoulders and lifted her head as her shakes started to relax. Maria. Eric. Jill… she repeated over and over again as she moved one guided step at a time.