Authors Notes: Sorry this one took me so long. I had to travel all the way back to Georgia to go to a funeral and only just got back. May still be a few more days till I'm finished with another chapter. Please bare with me.

In a Heartbeat

Chapter 4

Caught

The dig the next day was full of sunshine and birds singing. Horatio kept a close eye on the child he was beginning to feel very fond of. Looking at her chizzle away at a particular fossil for the past five minutes finally bore fruit and she retrieved it, much to the delight of the lady assistant whom he found out was a twin to the receptionist at the college.

"What a bright young lady you are...but still in the dress you were in yesterday...I'm sure your Papa would have gotten you more then just one dress." The woman asked putting the fossil into one of the numbered boxes on the large table.

"Oh...um..." She looked up at the Professor for help.

"We're not related Ms. Cabinau. She's an..."

"Refugee huh? Hiding her under the guise of your daughter yes?" The male assistant asked. The Professor chuckled and blushed. He had forgotten that he was a Jew protected by the British.

"Well yes to be a little blunt." He said.

"Well good for you ol' chap." The man walked around the side of the table that the Professor was occupying. The man clapped him on the back.

"So you planning on putting her in with one of the maids at the University then?" Cabinau asked. Horatio sighed and looked around at Donny who blushed and went back to her digging.

"Well I'm not to sure what will become of her. I'm afraid I find it very hard not to..." He looked up when a car pulled in behind his rented one and a few soldiers got out.

"And here is the hero."

"Ah hello there Commander Strobiut...welcome to my d..." Horatio found himself face first on the front of the car.

"Arrest the others." Horatio looked on as the child he had been caring for was thrown to the ground. She let off a pain filled cry as she did so. When she was lifted back up he could see skinned knees, elbows, her chin, and cheek. All of it was bleeding a bit from the rough treatment.

"They're just my assistants let them go! They work for the college, they have nothing to do with what I do!"

"With what you do?" Donny asked and looked up at the man she was beginning to care about. "What does that even mean Professor?" she asked and looked around at the other two who didn't want to answer. Apparently they were in on the little secret.

"I um...well that is..."

"Your dear Professor is none other then the British agent who is helping convicts escape." The Commander said

"The Pimpernel?" She asked and looked around at the man before her. She went from her slouched position and looked at him squarely. "You...you jerk." She said her face screwed up before tears ran down her cheek.

Horatio was astounded by this. He pushed the man away from himself and he reached out pulling the child to him. "Why the tears Donny? What have I done?" He asked pulling her face up to look at him.

"My parents Professor...they were killed. They were both teachers. Killed because they were to smart they said. An Astronomer and a Physicist..." She looked up at him. "Because they weren't saved...there creations are now stuck."

"But as you can see Professor...Ms. Donali BaBurai will be assisting us with such things." The Commander patted her head.

"I will not ever...ever help you." The girl was pulled back by her hair.

"Oh...but you will. You see...we have something you want." The Commander pulled the Professor up by his jacket and thrust a gun between his ribs. The Professor gasped when the painfully metal object was spreading his ribs apart.

"Don't...don't help them Donny. I'm promise everything will be alright. Please...believe me. Trust me please." The gun was pushed in deeper. The professor made a gasping sound and he tried to release the hold the man had on him.

"See how your new friend sweats Donny. He is weak, how could someone so weak, and weak minded be able to take on the guise of your hero?" The Commander said

"Easily...he's not you." Donny said and touched the guards hand that held the gun against the Professors ribs. "Please...I'll do as you ask." The child seemed defeated, almost breathless as she said these words. "Just don't hurt him anymore."

"Very well...put them in the back. There...assistants can stay behind."

Donny looked up at the Professors face as they were in the back of the car together. "I'm fine...just a bit bruised is all." He said patting her hand. Donny nodded and put her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry." He whispered to her. "But it was your parents death that drove me to start up this job in the first place. I didn't know they had a child...I would have found you sooner." He said kissing the crown of her head.

"So...this is kind of...my parents legacy?" She asked. He nodded and put his arm around her and pulled her closer. His eyes were locked onto a soldier who kept looking at her greedily.

"Get those thoughts out of your mind sir or I'll withdraw my peaceful disposition and clock you in the chin sir." He said. Donny looked around at the man before her and tried to hide a smile.

The Soldier however reached over and slapped Horatio across the face. "Do not talk to me as if you can command me villain. I could kill you where you sit...and then do what I want with her."

"But she is just a child!"

"She is twelve...and of marrying age here." The Commander said.

"She isnt' twelve! She's eight." Horatio threw in. "I've had her investigated. I wanted to know if she was just some criminal who was trying to get my money or jewels, or wealth or something. Turns out...she's only just a child looking for her next meal as she's told me." He said and glared at the man before him. "I'll protect her...she is very precious to me. My finest jewelry...my child...my daughter." He said and looked down at Donny for her approval. Such an approval was her throwing her arms around him and hugging him tightly.