Title: The Guardian – Book II
Chapter 12 – Joyriding?

"Going to take a little side detour!"

Jamie tries to struggle in the grasp of the man holding him captive, trying to struggle and make noise, to alert Danny or anyone to the fact that he's being kidnapped. But it's to no avail. The large man bodily shoves him through the back door where Jamie's eyes can only widen in horror as he sees another man in a black mask waiting by the side of a van.

"MMMMMPH!" Jamie tries to call out as he's carried toward it.

"Shut it kid!" The masked man growls as he grabs Jamie's wrists and tries to bind them. Jamie, however, continues to kick at the man before him, sending him back a few feet but only causing his anger to surge and earning himself a stiff blow to the stomach. But pushing past the pain Jamie tries once more to kick at his attackers and try to get away.

But it's to no avail as the man succeeds in getting a zip-tie around his wrists and pulling it tight, cinching his wrists together and rendering him captive before he's shoved toward the door of the van and then inside.

"HEL….mmmmmmph!" Is all Jamie manages before he silenced by a thick wad of cloth shoved into his mouth and then sealed inside with a strip of duct tape. Then to ensure he's not able to pull the gag out, the man wraps several strands of the tape around his arms and chest, pinning his arms to his chest and ensuring he'd have to be quite the flexible acrobat to get himself audible.

The van starts up with Jamie and one of the masked men in the back.

"Bind his ankles!"

"MMMMMMMPH!" Jamie tries to call out as the man grabs his feet and tries to bind them with the tape.

"Damn kid won't settle down!"

"Shoot him in the arm!"

Jamie's heart starts to race even faster when he sees the gun being pulled and slowly subsides.

"Want to get shot kid?" The masked man asks gruffly as Jamie looks up with a cross expression. "Figured. Now…LIE STILL!" He yells as he proceeds to bind Jamie's feet with a few strands of duct tape until he was helpless. His head slumps onto the floor of the van as his mind races with horrible thoughts of his fate. Danny! Danny, help me! HELP ME!

Danny looks at the dimly lit hallway and then gets up to slowly head back to see what is taking his brother so long.

"Jamie?" He calls out softly as he pushes the door to the men's bathroom open.

Empty.

"You better not be playing with me," Danny huffs as he pushes the first door open. But when he gets to the third empty stall, his mind starts to race with justified panic. He had been watching the hallway to the bathroom the whole time so Jamie couldn't have slipped in and him not seen. Maybe if they were back in Manhattan he'd think that Jamie slipped out too see George. They were in some small town in Philadelphia. Something's very wrong.

"Where the hell…." Danny huffs as he heads back into the hallway and then spies the back exit door and rushes toward it. "Jamie!" He calls out as he enters the cool night air. "JAMIE!"

"Who you lookin' for?"

Danny whirls around to see someone looking at him in wonder. "My brother. He's seventeen. Did you see him come out this door?"

"Just got here. But just as I got here a van sped off that way. Maybe he was in the van?"

"Yeah thanks!" Danny growls as he starts to run toward the end of the street, his mind racing with terror that someone had taken Jamie to…don't think of…he pauses mid-thought as his phone starts to buzz. "Frank…damn it!" Danny curses as he reaches the end of the street, his chest heaving for air. He ignores Frank's call as he looks up and then and then races toward his call, dialing his brother's number over and over. "Come on Jamie…pick up…damn it PICK UP!"

Danny gets into the car and tries to turn on the ignition but realizes his hand is shaking and stops. Who could he call? He didn't know who had taken Jamie and the guy offering the description of the van merely said a dark van pulled away at a casual speed. Could be everything but could be nothing. It was a waste of police resources. His mind races again. Who had the most to gain? Sonny? Would he have had them tailed from Manhattan? Did he have that kind of clout still? Or maybe McGuiness. But to what end? To simply scare him? It's working!

"NO!" Danny shouts as his fist pounds the dash. "Jamie…" he offers in remorse as he reaches for his phone.

Jamie hears his phone ringing and tries in vain to get his bound hands to cooperate. But with his arms firmly bound to his chest and his wrists tied tightly together, all this helpless situation did was provide some amusement to his captors.

"Someone is very anxious to find you Jamie."

Jamie? He knows my name? What?

"Shut up!" The other masked driver hisses at the passenger.

"Relax. I saw his name on his phone."

"If he hears too much we really will have to kill him!"

"And? That's a bad thing?" The other masked man snickers as he gets up and heads into the back of the van; Jamie's frame trying to roll away. "Hey…come back here!"

"mmmmph!" Jamie grumbles as he tries to pull away but is held fast. The masked man pulls a knife and presses it to Jamie's flushed cheek and instantly Jamie stops moving. "I thrive on fear," he whispers as Jamie looks up and tries to swallow. "Are you afraid of me?"

Jamie remains frozen for a few seconds before his brain orders him to try to pull away.

"Nice try kid. I can tell you're scared. You should be."

The man pushes Jamie back down and pulls back a few feet, watching him with a small sneer. The man pulls out the roll of duct tape and looms in closer.

"You'll be scared now," he snickers as he presses a strand of the tape over Jamie's eyes sealing out the light.

Jamie tries to turn his head to escape being blindfolded but it doesn't work and within seconds he's in total darkness. He hears a low chuckle but then instantly seizes when he feels the blade pressing down on his cheek; something of course he couldn't see and so wasn't able to prepare himself for it. A muffled whimper tries to escape past the thick gag but it only serves to satisfy his captor by making him sound even more scared than he wanted to admit.

They drive on for what seems like forever, but in reality isn't that long at all and Jamie's breathing which had started to slow down somewhat starts to race once more as soon as he feels the van slowing down.

"Here we are… his final resting place!"

What? NO! Jamie's mind races with terror as he thinks that he's doing to die and Danny will just be called to come and collect his body.

"Ready to die kid?" One of the gruff voices taunts as Jamie's dragged to the edge of the van and then hoisted into the air.

He tries to call out and thrash about but all he hears is morbid silence. Where am I? The outskirts of town? HELP ME! SOMEONE HELP ME!

"Hush now…you'll wake the dead," the voice mocks as he slaps Jamie on the back. "Okay so here's the low down kid…if you lie very still and don't make a sound you might just survive the night!"

Jamie feels his stomach wanting to throw back his supper but with the thick gag in his mouth and no way for his tongue to push it out, he is forced to choke it back down and endure the stinging acid. He's then dropped roughly onto the cold and somewhat damp ground and told to remain absolutely still or die a very slow, painful death.

Danny…help me! His mind begs in silent torment.

Just as the call connects, Danny's phone buzzes and he's quick to answer, looking at the number in utter shock. "Jamie! Where the hell are you!"

"Oh I'm afraid little brother can't come to the phone right now. He's a little tied up at the moment," the voice laughs.

"Where is he you sick bastard!"

"He's…contemplating life right now."

"WHERE!"

"Geez try having some patience. Your brother is visiting someone right now."

"What?" Danny asks, being rewarded with a low chuckle that forces his anger surge. "Listen to me if you've hurt him…"

"Define hurt. Do you want to find him or would you rather make pointless chatter?"

"Where is he?"

"Ask nicely."

"Where is he you son of a bitch? Please!"

"He's visiting your mother."

The line goes dead and for a few seconds Danny remains in place. My moth…oh damn the cemetery! He wastes no time in starting the car and peeling away from the curb and driving at top speed toward a place they had been at earlier. Someone had been watching – one tormented phone call had confirmed that. But who? Maybe Jamie would be able to tell him something…damn he must be so scared.

Danny arrives at the cemetery about twenty minutes later and curses the darkness that surrounds him. He gets out and looks for any other vehicles before racing toward his mother's gravesite at top speed. Danny rounds the corner an then stops short in his tracks as he gazes upon his brother's helpless and captive frame.

"Jamie!"

A few moments earlier Jamie had heard a car some to a screeching halt and once again his heart started to race at a painful level. Lie still or you die a slow painful death! He wasn't sure who had arrived in the dark of night but didn't want to take a chance that it was someone to help him. What if his captors are still there? So he laid perfectly still, his body, however, unable to stop from fearful shaking.

Even when he firsts hears Danny's voice, the pounding in his ears is so loud he thinks it's one of his attackers. So as soon as Danny's hands touch him he starts to squirm.

"MMMMMPH!" Jamie tries to call out, trying to roll away and making it hard for Danny to help him.

"Jamie it's me…it's me! Hold on…Jamie…it's me."

Finally his brain registers that it's his beloved brothers voice and he lets out a small whimper. "mmmmph."

"Jamie! Oh my God…" Danny whispers in dread as he drops to his knees on the damp grass. "Hold on…hold on…" Danny chants over and over as he gently peels away the tape from Jamie's eyes; his heart sinking as Jamie looks up with a watery gaze. "It's okay, you're okay…hold on," he tells him as Jamie lets out a soft whimper when Danny peels away the tape from his mouth and then pulls out the cloth.

"Danny," Jamie whispers as Danny fishes around for a pocket knife to cut Jamie loose with. "Get me…"

"No wait…don't pull, you'll hurt yourself more."

"Please…help me."

"Okay I need…ah damn that stupid little knife is in the car."

"Just pull it loose. Please Danny," Jamie pleads.

"I can't. It's in the car hold on," Danny states as he gently hoists Jamie's frame into his arms and heads back toward the darkened parking lot – Jamie absolutely silent. "Who was it Jamie? Who did this?" Danny asks softly as Jamie's head rests on his shoulder.

"They had masks," Jamie utters with a small sniffle, his arms longing to be free. "I feel sick."

"I know hold on a bit longer okay?" Danny asks softly as his cheek rests atop Jamie's head. "It's okay now."

They reach the edge of the parking lot and Danny carefully places Jamie on the cement and then opens the front passenger door and fishes around for a pocket knife inside the glove box. "Okay…I got it," he tells Jamie as he cuts the tape from around his ankles and then his chest. "Ah damn zip-tie!" He growls as Jamie holds up his shaking wrists to be cut free.

Danny's fingers frantically saw away at the thick plastic, but pausing when he notices Jamie's arms starting to shake a bit harder. "Hold on…just nerves," he states in concern as he takes off his jacket and drapes it around Jamie's shaking shoulders.

"They were going to kill me," Jamie whispers as Danny gathers his brother up in his arms and holds him close.

"It's okay, you're safe now…shhh it's okay," Danny whispers as he gently rocks Jamie back and forth, Jamie's body shuddering in Danny's strong grasp and his lips offering a few whimpers. "Okay I wanna get this off," Danny tells him as he goes back to sawing the hard plastic binding with the little pocket knife. It finally snaps free and Danny tries to help Jamie stand up.

But anxiety-ridden adrenaline was still coursing through his entire frame so that when Danny starts to let go, Jamie's frame threatens to buckle.

"Whoa! I got you!" Danny states in haste as Jamie's frame doubles over and he starts to throw up his late lunch. Danny holds on and strokes Jamie's back as Jamie's frame heaves and then finally stops. "Come here…" Danny warmly entreats as he helps Jamie to lie down in the back of the car.

"I wanna go home," Jamie laments as he looks up at Danny with watery eyes.

"Are you sure you want to travel?" Danny asks. But the question is almost rhetorical as he notices Jamie's frame continuing to shiver and knows it's from nerves and the fright he just endured. "Did they hurt you?"

"I'm okay. I just want to go home."

"Where'd they hurt you?" Danny asks as he tucks his jacket around Jamie's upper half.

"I tried to fight back. Danny they surprised me in the back of the diner and…."

"Hey…hey relax, it's not your fault okay? Do you still want to throw up?"

Despite the queasiness in his stomach, going home was better than staying at the cemetery in the dark. "Please Danny. Can we go home?"

"Okay."

Danny hurries around to the driver's side, telling Jamie to just lie on his side and close his eyes; he'd drive a bit slower than normal, especially around corners and turns.

"Where are you now?"

"Coming home," Danny tells Frank after Frank had called again to see why they were so late in being there for supper.

"Danny…"

"I know I should have called earlier but I couldn't even call the local cops. No one saw anything…well there was a guy who saw a van drive off but he didn't get a license. Jamie confirmed it was a van but said the men wore masks and didn't sound familiar."

"How is he Danny?"

"Scared. We'll be home in a few hours."

XXXXXXXX

"What happened?" Erin asks after Frank had hung up and then looks at his father and daughter.

"Someone attacked and kidnapped Jamie, took him for a joyride and then called Danny to come and get him at the cemetery."

"What?"

"Who?" Henry asks in anger.

"Jamie said they wore masks. One called him by his first name but then said he got it from his phone. He's not sure he had his phone but Danny said he was pretty shaken up."

"Think it's McGuiness?" Henry snaps in anger before he backs down.

"I don't know," Frank replies tightly as he picks up the phone and calls Spencer Rogers. "Spencer. We might have to revisit those two visitors to McGuiness in the past few weeks."

"What happened?"

"Someone attacked Jamie tonight."

"What? What happened Frank?"

"They took him and left him for Danny to find at his mother's gravesite. He's okay but pretty shaken up. Someone followed them there. I want to know who!"

"Okay. Frank…"

"The boys are on their way home. I'll see you in the morning."

"Dad what's going on?" Erin asks in haste.

"I don't know."

"You think McGuiness is trying to go out with a bang?" Henry wonders.

"Why not?" Frank shrugs as he leans back in his chair. "He has nothing to lose," he replies in misery as he looks at a picture of himself with Jamie and Danny on either side.

"I can't believe this," Erin whispers as her head leans on Henry's shoulder and he hugs her close.

"We need to cut off his visitation rights!" Henry growls as Erin looks at him in surprise.

"Are you allowed?"

"If he's dead, there's no one to visit!" Henry retorts as Frank looks at his father and shakes his head. But as emotionally rash as that statement is, he knows his father is right – if it was McGuiness. Who else?

Just over an hour later, Frank watches as the car pulls into the garage and stops before he heads to the backseat to help with Jamie.

"Come here," Frank whispers as he helps Jamie climb out of the back.

"I'm sorry dad," Jamie softly cries as he buries himself in Frank's strong grasp; Frank's heart always melting when either of the boys calls him dad when their heart so moved them.

"Shhh my boy you did nothing wrong," Frank replies as he kisses the top of Jamie's head; his arms holding him tightly as he carries him into the house behind Danny.

"How's our boy?" Henry asks softly as Frank carries Jamie upstairs to his bed; knowing that after that ordeal, he didn't want to leave Jamie alone with his incoming nightmares. Erin gives him a kiss on the forehead before telling them she'd see them in the morning.

Frank carefully places Jamie on his bed and despite a small protest from Jamie helps to remove his jacket and runners.

"You're okay now Jamie," Henry also tries to reassure Jamie with a warm hug of his own.

"Danny, please get me his pajama's," Frank instructs as he pulls the warm, thick comforter over Jamie's frame and kneels down so he's at eye level with the bed; Henry watching from a few feet away.

"I don't know anything," Jamie sighs sadly as his eyes water.

"You did nothing wrong Jamie," Frank tries to assure him as he tenderly dabs his eyes. "You just need to rest now. I'll help get you into your pajamas and you'll sleep here okay?"

As much as he wants to protest and tell both men looking at him in concern that he's okay and can manage on his own, he knows that's a lie and so merely nods and then closes his watery eyes.

"Sweet boy," Frank whispers as his fingers gently caress Jamie's clammy cheek and then trail up to his forehead.

"How's he feeling?" Henry asks in concern.

"A bit feverish but it's understandable after what happened tonight."

"Here," Danny returns with Jamie's warm pajamas.

"Okay I'll take it from here," Frank tells Danny and his father. Pulling Danny close and holding him a few seconds. "I'm glad you're both home safe and sound. We'll talk more tomorrow."

"Okay."

Danny plants a soft kiss on Jamie's forehead and then looks at his brother in worry. "You'll be safe here okay?" He feels the need to reiterate what Frank had already told him.

Jamie merely nods and then watches his brother take his leave; Danny giving Jamie one last hug and then telling him he'd check on him in the morning.

"Alright, let's just get you up for a bit here," Frank instructs in a warm tone as he helps Jamie sit upright. But as soon as he tries to remove Jamie's sweater, Jamie's arms wrap tightly around his chest and he utters a small protest. "Did they hit you Jamie?" Frank asks as Jamie looks up with wide eyes. "I won't be mad."

"I tried to fight back," Jamie replies in truth as he finally relaxes his arms to let Frank see what damage had been done.

Frank's jaw hardens as he gazes upon the faint bruises on Jamie's pale mid-section. "Those will heal," he tells him softly as he helps him pull his warm fleecy pajama top over his head. Frank helps Jamie remove his jeans and get into his warm bottoms before Jamie turns and scrambles back under the covers.

After he's ready for bed, Frank gently crawls into bed and looks down at Jamie who looks up with a lingering expression of fright. "Want me to read to you a bit? Let your mind focus on something else?" Frank asks softly as Jamie nods.

"Okay."

Jamie expects Frank to pull out the action-adventure, fiction novel he had read to him before but much to his surprise he pulls out a large collection of Dr. Seuss stories.

"When Joe had trouble sleeping, he'd come into our room and we'd read him some Dr. Seuss. I don't think he'd mind if I read the same stories to his little brother."

Jamie's heart swells at the familial term and he can't help but smile and nod somewhat eagerly – much to Frank's delight. Jamie's slightly shivering frame presses up against Frank's side, his head resting on a small pillow as he listens to the silly story about some Pale Green Pants. Frank then reads him the Sleep Book Story and by the time he's done he looks down at the innocent expression asleep at his side and tries to swallow down a small lump of emotion. He sees the faint bruise around the bottom of Jamie's mouth and feels his own jaw harden.

Whoever did this will pay…I swear they will. No one hurts my family and gets away with it. No one!

XXXXXXXX

"Was that Frank?" Detective Chin asks his partner Spencer Rogers as they both work late that night.

"Yeah. Someone messed with the boys tonight. Did you find Ed Vickers?"

"Just came here with the address. Feel like a road trip?"

"Always."

On the way to the shady NYPD mechanic's current location, Spencer and Chin talk about McGuiness and what new leads they'll be following in the morning.

"This is it?" Spencer asks as he looks at the rundown mechanic shop.

"Real fixer upper," Chin retorts in sarcasm as they both get out; their guns ready for action. "Looks too quiet."

"Yeah…I hate that too. Ed Vickers!" Spencer calls out as they bang on the small shop door. He looks at his partner and both draw their guns as Spencer pushes the door open. "Ed. NYPD! You here?"

Silence.

"I don't like this…" Chin whispers as he tries to find a light switch. He does but when the few little light bulbs finally spring to life both can only stare in shock as their jaws slacken.

"Oh…what the hell…" Chin mutters as they look at the utter chaos before them. The scene – a ransacked shop and a fight with a lone employee that resulted in a death.

"Vickers?" Spencer calls out as he nears the dead both, both still with their guns drawn. As his partner covers him, Spencer bends down to check for a pulse. "Damn it..."

"What's going on Spence?" Chin asks as Spencer slowly stands back up and pulls his phone.

"I don't know. Yet."

A/N: Been a really tough week but I hope this was an okay update! And the plot thickens! No real hurt for Jamie – someone just wanted to scare them…well all of them and it worked. But who? Hmmm hope you all liked the tender moments. But the mechanic who tampered with the brakes is dead? now where will they turn? Please do review before you go and thanks so much!