First Date

These good fellows don't belong to me but I promise when I'm done to pick um up, dust um off and with a kiss on the cheek return them safely home.

"We understand death for the first time when he puts his hand upon one whom we love." Madame de Stael

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Chapter 11

Johnny heard someone come in the door then Kanda talking and laughing. He assumed it was Roy and Chris back so, he being in the kitchen, he decided to pull out dinner supplies. Grabbing the onions, peppers and potatoes he sat down at the table to start cutting them up for a new dish that Kanda had recently taught him to make. Reaching over he turned on the radio to some good rock and roll music and happily started chopping his little heart away.

Adler followed Kanda into the living room and stood very close to her making her feel a little awkward. He was a man in his late forties; about six feet tall, muscular and well built. She remembered him talking about his passion for weight lifting to work through the stress of the job sometimes. He was well dressed but there was something about the way he looked at her that made her feel uncomfortable.

"It was really nice of you to drive all the way out here to bring me flowers Dr. Adler."

"Never too far to check on my prize student," he said.

"Oh, I'm sure you'll be glad to get rid of me," she laughed.

His brown eyes darkened as he lowered his voice, "You're quite mistaken my dear." He took another step closer to her. "I'm not sure I will like your absence in my department."

She took a step back with that sense of personal space being invaded.

"We've worked together for a long time now and I find that I can no longer hide how I feel about you." He took two steps forward for her one back.

Now starting to feel very uncomfortable she tried to move back again but found herself pressing against the mantle. She put on a smile, "I'm so flattered Dr. Adler. I really am, but I'm seeing someone right now." She glanced to the kitchen wondering where the hell Johnny was with that drink.

A flash of anger came across his face and he clenched his jaw, "That worthless fireman is no longer an option my sweet Kanda." His fingers rubbed along her cheek sending a cold chill down her spine as she realized suddenly, with horror, how wrong they all had been. Roy was off on a wild goose chase while the man they were really looking for was now standing in her living room.

She decided to casually call out to Johnny in hopes of getting him to come back in with her. But in that fraction of a second that she decided what to do next Jenny came running into the living room.

Jenny ran right up to Kanda, in front of Adler. Kanda tried to take her shirt and guide her to the other side away from him but he immediately grabbed the little girls arm. When he reached for her Kanda saw his jacket open and what was tucked into his belt scared her to death.

"Well well, look what we have here," he said in a sickly sweet voice. No longer the perfect gentleman he turned his attention towards Jenny.

"Oww," Jenny cried out at the painful grip he had on her. "You're hurting me."

He turned sharply to Kanda, "So, he's not gone is he?" The child's presence confirmed that for him.

"Please don't hurt her. I'll do anything you say," Kanda begged him.

"Yes, you will," he said with an ominous smile.

Jenny saw the fear in Kanda's eyes and seemed to have frozen with her own fear as he pulled her closer.

"Well, this changes things. Here I thought we could have a nice evening but now I see we will have to find another location for our first night together."

Terror gripped Kanda. She had to get Johnny.

"After our many hours of working together at the hospital I know that thoughtful look of a plan forming my dear but remember our precious one here. You don't want anything to happen to her do you?" He tisked at her with his tongue, "Imagine Roy's disappointment in you if anything happened to his precious Jennifer."

All the possibilities raced through her mind as she silently screamed for Johnny.

Johnny hummed to the radio playing in the kitchen and worked at chopping up veggies and potatoes oblivious of the events unfolding in the room just down the hall from him. Then without thinking he turned his head towards the hallway.

Did Kanda call him? He put the knife down and washed his hands off and headed down the hall. He didn't realize how quiet his approach was as he sauntered along in his bare feet. Rounding to the left, into the living room, he saw a man he didn't know holding onto Jenny who looked scared to death. Then he realized that the man also had his hand on Kanda's upper arm. The look on them both set off an instant alarm in his brain.

"What the?" Was all he got out before Adler let go of Kanda long enough to pull out his gun.

Johnny stopped in his tracks.

"Who else is here?" Adler barked at him. His agitation was escalating before their eyes.

Johnny shook his head, "Just us." He looked at Kanda with the question in his eyes, 'who?'.

"Johnny," she said before Adler shoved her back against the fireplace.

Johnny started to lunge for her as he lost her balance from the cast on her foot and fell but when the gun went to Jenny's head, he stopped cold.

"I wouldn't move if I were you," Adler said. He looked around at them and rapidly decided it was time to get out. The other fireman would be back soon and he already had enough to deal with.

Johnny held out his opened hands in hopes to calm the man down, "Now, take it easy. We don't want anyone hurt here."

Adler just menacingly smiled at him, "Oh, don't we?"

He suddenly realized that this man didn't care what happened to them on his way out. Add to that his fear for Kanda and he tore through his mind with possible outs. It was Kanda that he wanted, that was obvious, but just the thought of what he wanted her for made him feel sick.

"Why don't you tell me what you want?" Johnny asked, trying to still his shaky voice.

With one hand on Jenny he took the other and stroked Kanda's hair, "I already have what I want."

His heart was racing. Looking out the window he knew that Roy and Chris would be back any moment and while he desperately wanted his partner here the thought that they might walk into this mess scared him even more.

Kanda could see he was getting ready to flee and her greatest fear was that Johnny and Jenny would be drug along with them. "I'll go with you but they will just slow you down. Let them stay here."

The man shook his head, "No, let's keep this all in the family for right now. You." He pointed to Johnny. "Get her." He pointed to Kanda who was still sitting on the floor, afraid to move. Then he turned around and smiled at Jenny, "You little missy get to stay with me."

Jenny started to struggle and Johnny could see the short fuse of this unstable man. "Jenny. I'm right here alright honey. Do what he says." Please, he thought. Don't hurt her. Me, but please God not her.

His words calmed her down and she relaxed in the man's grip. Her trust in her Uncle Johnny was unwavering and bottomless. Adler reached down and picked her up while keeping the kept the gun pointed at her. "Now. Out to my car. You two go first and just remember fireman that their two lives rest in your ability to do what you're told."

Johnny nodded but was searching the room for any chance to stop this knowing that if they left the ranch Roy would never know what happened to them. But with the gun on Jenny he knew he couldn't risk her life and he did what he was told by helping Kanda regain her feet. Her grip on him told of her fear and the look in her eyes made him afraid for her very life tonight.

Turning out the light and pushing his chair up to the desk Paul looked towards the house. He knew it wasn't very late and something was bugging him about today. He knew those men that Chris had identified. Yes they were crude at times, unprofessional, and annoying but he couldn't really picture them threatening much less hurting anyone. Wanting to talk to Kanda about it and make sure she was alright he exited the back of the barn and walked to the kitchen door of the house.

Knocking once he opened the door and looked inside. The radio was playing, dinner was apparently started but no one was in there. He came on in and called her name. Getting no response he was a little concerned and began walking down the hallway. Just outside the kitchen he saw Johnny helping Kanda towards the front door and was just about to call out to them when he saw a strange man come up behind them. The odd thing was that he was carrying Roy's little girl, Jennifer.

"Hey, Kanda!" He called for her and waved.

Johnny turned around at Paul's voice and as he hollered "Get back!" he released his arm from Kanda's waist. At the same time Adler spun around on his heels at the man coming towards him and pointed his gun at him. In that same breath Johnny lunged for Jenny.

Adler's finger was already pulling on the trigger when Jenny was ripped from his arms by Johnny, drawing his attention back to the others, including his gun. Jenny reached right for Johnny but when the butt of the gun impacted with the side of his skull the blinding flash of white light caused him to loosen his grip on her.

Kanda watched the scene unfold as if in slow motion. Johnny trying to get Jenny, the loudness of the gun going off then Adler's furious eyes back on them. Johnny feel to his knees with his hands going immediately to his head as the blood seeped from between his fingers.

It was all over in a flash. Adler's eyes were dark with an anger so deep that Kanda knew they would all pay for what just happened. She started down the hall to Paul who was sprawled on the ground and not moving but Adler was already jerking her back. Her heart sank as she cried out for him knowing she was not going to be allowed to help him. "Paul!" She cried as the tears ran down her face.

Johnny pushed back the pain that raged through his head and looked down the hall to see Paul's body but before he could react Adler was shoving them out the door. The paramedic in him fought against leaving the injured man behind knowing that he might die. But he barely made it to his feet as his stomach lurched threatening to lose its contents any moment. Picking Kanda up was no longer even an option for him as she took his arm and helped him out to the car. Staying conscious was his only goal right now knowing that if he blacked out there was no way he could protect Kanda and Jenny from this madman.