Title: Flashburn
Chapter 6 – Into the Light?

A/N: well to those that left again – my apologies. Wish I had kept everyone one around for this short story but am greatful to all who have stayed so far. Hope you like this update and thanks

"So all I have to do is drive this truck under the bridge, wait five minutes and then leave?"

"That's all you have to do," Tristan smiles as he holds up the one hundred dollar bill. "I'm pranking a friend. Trust me I'll be just fine."

"Sure. That's easy money," the ill-fated victim grins.

"Easy for both of us. Enjoy!"

"I sure will thanks mister."

"No…" Tristan replies evilly as the white van pulls away, "thank you."

He pulls out a small timer and then looks up and nods, knowing that the planted device in the back will keep the cops busy for longer than they wanted but afford him the time to get back to his captive, kill him and then head south.

"All in a day's work," Tristan whistles as he heads back to his hidden motorcycle; everything having been planned a few days in advance. "Don't worry Officer Lane, I'm heading back to spend some quality time with you. Quantity is overrated."

XXXXXXXX

Go and get your wife…bring her back…let you see…oh maybe it's better you don't see what I have planned…Ed's mind frantically spirals around as he uselessly pulls on his captive wrists overhead, his arms tiring as his body sags back down; his lips unable to utter more than just few silent muffles, not enough to draw any kind of attention to himself.

He won't get Donna…she's too smart…by now she's contacted the team and they are looking for you, Ed's mind correctly reminds him. Just concentrate on getting free before he comes back to finish the job.

Despite the aching in his body from Tristan's few but firm sucker punches and the fact that his mouth was still trying to dispel in vain the small amount of blood from his cut lip that had gotten trapped by the cloth gag, his mind was determined to find a way to freedom. His hands pull down on the pipe as he starts to shuffle over to the right; telling himself he had nothing to lose – even if it was the wrong direction – it was better than sitting and waiting for evil to return and deal him his last hand. Don't give up…find a way to freedom…keep moving…

Ed's mind tries to think on more positive memories but in light of his current predicament, only tormented nightmares at best are offered. Ed's core temperature continues to rise as he pauses for a few seconds, tries to take in as deep a breath through his nose as possible and then continues; constantly rattling the cuffs on the pipe in hopes of drawing attention to himself from someone other than Tristan McNeil. Someone has to be out there…they do right? This can't be the end! HELP ME!

But the soft 'clanking' from the handcuffs had drawn the interest of someone outside; someone who had dared to venture closer, pushing aside the age old adage – curiosity killed the cat. The curious onlooker stops in the darkened hallway, able to see the surroundings that Ed hadn't seen and wondering if he shouldn't be going any further or if he was intruding. Was it fantasy role play? That thought did kinda pique his curiosity and he just had to see what was going on. But as he hears the odd rustling in the distance he can't help but take a closer look – if for anything he'd have something to gossip about to his friends. Was this indeed some twisted fantasy? Or was one of the guys really in trouble? He just had to find out. It has always been his nature.

The curious stranger nears the closed doorway to the last room and then pauses, his shuffling forcing the odd clanging in the end room to pause.

Wait…Ed's mind stops his actions; his heart racing and chest slightly heaving, but his hearing heightened. Was that…footsteps? Ed pauses, not hearing anything and knowing that if it was Tristan back with Donna he'd have heard a lot more than just a few shuffled footsteps. So he continues. But it's not until the door handle starts to slightly turn that he stops once again; his mind begging the outsider – whoever it might be for help.

The door opens and Ed feels a cool breeze starting to kiss his flushed cheeks, his ears picking up the shuffling but nothing else. Who's there? Tristan? What's his damn game? Ed's mind inwardly growls.

"Mmmph!" Ed tries in anger.

"Oh hey uh…yeah…sorry man…wow this is kinda surreal," the young voice stammers as he looks at Ed's captive frame in the corner; Ed's mind now racing at the thought that help was only a few feet away and he was unable to ask for it. "I thought that um…I should go right? Like this is your fantasy role play or something? I mean hear about stuff like that on the net…guys and…yeah…" the youth stammers; Ed's senses picking up a few hints of marijuana but not caring about the condition of his would-be rescuer only that it was someone other than Tristan McNeil and that meant a sliver of hope.

"mmm nnnph" he shakes his head in anger. HELP ME! PLEASE HELP ME! PLEASE!

"I should go before your…friend gets back. Three's a crowd and all," he kinda snickers before he frowns, wondering why the captive man before him was just keeping his eyes closed and not opening them. "You can open your eyes you know…but um…damn man they look kinda messed up," the youth mutters as he takes a step closer into the room. "They….oh wow man really messed up. Did he do that to you?"

"mmmm hmmmmp" Ed nods as he tries to pull on the handcuffs once more.

"Is it uh…look man is it okay if I take the tape off your mouth?"

YES! Ed nods once more. YES PLEASE HELP ME!

The youth finally moves into position where he sees the tape gag edges and dares to pull it off; Ed's tongue instantly pushing out the thick damp cloth.

"Please…help me," Ed begs a little out of breath. "That man…kidnapped me…I'm a cop. I've been temporarily blinded and he…you have to hurry."

"You sure it's not just some fantas…"

"NO!" Ed growls and then shrinks back. "Sorry…look he's coming back and will kill me if I don't get out of here."

"A cop?"

"I don't care if you're high," Ed tries to reason in truth.

"Really. I'm not that high. It was a small…I'm not high."

"Okay fine, but we need to leave and now. Please…please help me."

"I uh…"

"Please," Ed's voice drops to one of remorse. "I can't see or I'd do it myself but I need your help."

"Blind really? That sucks."

"It does but I need your help. You can do this. You can't just leave me here."

"I…"

"I give you my word you will not get into trouble. I swear you won't."

"Okay but um…what about the cuffs, I mean don't have a key or anything."

"Where does the pipe end?"

"Huh?"

"I'll move the cuffs to where the pipe ends. Just tell me how long the distance is," Ed tries to explain; his brain yelling at him to keep his frustration at bay and be thankful for the any kind of help.

"Oh yeah man now I see it…a few feet to the right."

"Okay hurry," Ed begs as the youth starts to pull the tape away from his bound ankles.

"So you can't see anything?"

"Shadows," Ed grunts as he feels his way along the top of the pipe until he's at the end and then slips the cuffs off; his weary arms automatically falling into his lap.

"What's that like?"

"It sucks," Ed huffs as he tries to hold his anger in check. But knowing that time was of the essence, he pushes past the increasing throbbing; determined to get them out safe and sound. However, he once again finds himself facing a brand new and very unsettling situation. He was so used to being the one to guild the young person out of danger and keep them safe but now he was one in need of visual and physical assistance.

"Where's the door?" Ed asks in a low tone as he slowly stands up.

"Here this way," the young man takes Ed by the arm and starts to lead him toward the doorway; Ed's feeling shuffling as he didn't want to fall or stumble, not sure just how aware of his surroundings his guide was. "You uh…okay?"

"I will be when we get out. Do you have a phone?"

"Yeah but it doesn't work in this place. Outside maybe."

"Okay we'll call when we get out. How much further?" Ed asks, wishing that he could at least get his wrists free and give them more of a fighting chance.

"Not far now."

They reach the door and Ed's nose instantly picks up the smell of clean air as opposed to the stale confines he just vacated and is thankful that he's emerged relatively unscathed; his chest aching but his mind thankful that he's free of Tristan's clutches – for now.

"Where to?"

"Hey man look," the youth stammers as he pulls away. "I'll call the cops but um…I can't be here you know? I'll get busted or…something."

"I give you my word you will not get busted."

"Yeah right…look…I'm not even supposed to be here. My mom will kick my ass but um…yeah I gotta go. I'll call for help and you'll be fine."

"No…wait!" Ed calls out as he hears footsteps hurrying away. "Damn it!" He curses as he takes a deep breath but remains in place.

The youth darts around a corner and then stops, turning to look back at Ed in remorse as he realizes the man he just helped really is at the mercy of the elements and whoever came by next. What if he's telling the truth? I can't get involved. Can you let him be killed? He looks in rough shape. You can't just leave him like that, you have to help him. I have to.

Ed takes a few feet to the left and then stops again as he curses the fact that he can't see anything and the shadows, despite the fact they are getting lighter, provide no help whatsoever to help with an escape route. But before all hope is lost, his lips utter a small gasp as a hand clamps down on his arm.

"Come on…I know a shortcut," the youth's voice tells him as Ed's mind actually relaxes for a few seconds. "It's this way down the other side of the hill."

"Okay," Ed gratefully replies as he allows himself to be led toward a small wooded path leading away from the defunct construction site but further into unknown territory. "What's your name?"

"Brent."

"Thank you Brent. I'm Ed."

XXXXXXXX

"Oh my god…this can't be…" Donna's voice trails off in horror as they all stare at the bright light on the screen for a few seconds; before she looks up at Wordy and then Greg. "Ed…he can't be dead."

"We need…ah damn it!" Greg curses as he rips off his hat and hits the edge of the computer desk; Spike looking up with a small frown. "Get those uni's to check the back of the van…for another body. Do it now!" Greg directs as Spike relays the frantic message.

"Tristan is not stupid, I doubt Ed was in the back of that van," Wordy tries to assure Donna; the tone in his voice, clearly betraying his own self-doubt as to his missing best friend's fate.

"I need to know for sure Wordy," Donna whispers as her eyes water, her right hand curling around her left as the band of gold feels a bit warmer than normal to her tense touch. "Come on Ed…where are you?"

"The van is empty," one of the uniformed officer's voice is heard over the loudspeaker. "There is only one body in the van, the um…in the driver's seat or what's left of it. There was no crash and we didn't smell gasoline when we approached."

"Am sure he had the van rigged and the driver wasn't Tristan McNeil," Greg tells the officer as he looks up at his team. "He's had a few days to plan this all and he has been on the run…effectively, for years. Guys we still have a serial killer out there. We can't let this fool us or allow us to wait on getting DNA from the dental records. We need to move and now!"

"We'll head out the road the van came."

"I'll see what else I can find," Spike starts to frantically type on his keyboard as Wordy and Donna step back a little.

"Ed wasn't in there."

"I'm relieved but," she pauses as she allows her eyes to drift to the burning van and then look back at Wordy, "but then I know he's still out there with Ed and now he has time to…Wordy we know those other guys…"

"We'll find him in time," Tom tries to assure Donna as she looks at him with a heavy frown.

"I just…" she starts only to be interrupted by her phone ringing. She looks at the number and frowns before picking up the call; thinking she'd just tell whoever it was that she was busy and she'd call them later.

"Is this Donna Lane?"

"Who's this?" Donna asks to the strange, young voice on the other end of the line; all eyes in the room suddenly turning to her. "Who are you?"

"I'm Brent I'm uh…with your husband."

"Ed? You're with Ed? Who are…where…can I talk to him? Is he okay?" Her voice rattles off in haste as the room grows silent.

"Spike, trace the number," Greg directs in haste.

"On it."

"Donna?" Ed asks a little breathlessly.

"Ed…oh thank God. Are you okay?"

"Tell Spike to trace this number."

"He is. Are you okay?"

"We'll both be fine when you get us the hell out of here."

"Where are you?"

"Here…hold on."

"Yeah hello?" The young man stammers. "We're out by the old…"

"I know where that is, come on!" Wordy takes Donna by the arm, the two of them rushing from the room, Tom in tow; the rest of team one right behind them as they race for the waiting SUV's.

"Ed, you just wait for us."

"Just keep tracing this number. We have…"

"Ed? Ed!" Donna hisses as the phone line goes dead. "Spike!"

"It's still active," Spike's voice is heard on their headsets. "Maybe they just had to mute."

"Could be Tristan showed up," Sam utters gravely.

"We have to get there before Tristan."

"Whoever that kid is, deserves a medal," Wordy mentions as Donna looks over with a teary gaze and frowns. "We will get there in time."

"We better."

"Team one let's move!"

XXXXXXXX

He hated feeling dependent and had taken a job where people depended on him, to help, to save lives, to keep the peace. But being led, handcuffed no less, through an unfamiliar forest by a strange teen was more than unnerving. It was forcing his patience to be tested to limits he didn't even fancy himself capable of. He was completely helpless and at the mercy of the young man who was leading him and had to trust that the young man had rescued him for a reason and now wasn't going to abandon him at the mercy of the elements. At least he hadn't so far.

"So you're wife's a cop huh, that's cool," Brent had told him as he dialed Donna's cell number, knowing that he would call her first so he'd put her mind at ease at the same time.

"She is that," Ed replies with a small smile as they stop for a few seconds as the call connects and Ed talks to Donna. But as soon as his ears pick up the roar of a dirt bike heading their way, he tells the kid to mute the phone and they were out of time and had to leave.

"Just keep tracing this number. We have…" Ed's voice dies out as he looks around, cursing his own inability to see where they were. "What direction are we facing?"

"What?"

"The sky, is it clear?"

"No cloudy. I can't see the sun."

"Damn," Ed groans as he grits his teeth. At least with the sun he could get a bearing on which direction they were facing but with the cloud cover, they were stuck. "Who's coming?"

"I can't see an…oh wait…yeah I see a few dust trails heading this way. Man is that the guy? He's back already? Crap!"

"We need to find someplace to hide," Ed whispers as he feels his own panic starting to build. Normally he'd tell the kid to duck out of sight and set a trap for Tristan and take him down; his confidence in his skills normally well placed. Even handcuffed, if he was in full control of his faculties he knows Tristan would be taken down for good. But not being able to see or predict what's coming, where Tristan was or what kind of weapon he had, he knows unless the team shows up, he might have sealed both their fates.

He hears the noises getting fainter and tells himself that's a good thing, they were heading away from the road and just maybe the bike was also heading in the other direction. But his feelings change for the worse when he hears the sound suddenly starts getting closer and knows that once Tristan finds the room empty, all hell would break loose and the desperate manhunt would be underway within seconds. Tristan McNeil wasn't a man to suffer lightly.

"Come on Brent, we have to hurry. Where to now?"

"Okay I think…yeah hold on…down here can you…" is all Brent manages before Ed's foot catches on a branch and both tumble to the ground. Ed's cuffed wrists spring up, breaking some of the fall; his mind thankful that so far his eyes hadn't sustained any further damage than acute stress. That in itself could be just as harmful.

"Sorry," Brent mutters as he helps Ed get back upright.

"It's okay. Where?"

"Just ahead. I think I see…yeah hold on. Here," Brent's somewhat small hand clasps Ed's strong hand and leads him through the thick underbrush to what he hopes is a place to hide until help arrives.

"See? Right sorry," Brent leads them toward what looks like a small natural alcove, created by years of tree growth and natural ground decay.

"What is it?"

"A hole…well kinda. Trust me there isn't much and the city isn't close by. Should we keep going?"

"You keep going. Just help me kneel down and..."

"I can't just leave you here. Man that's insane."

"He's after me not you. He can't find you here. If he does he won't hesitate to shoot…or whatever."

"But he'll find you."

"He's after me now go."

"No."

"Damn it kid…Brent, just listen. Go and get help."

"There's no one close by."

"You said this was a shortcut."

"Yeah the other way is longer but either way, we're out in the boonies man…no one's around here."

"Just go and…"

"No I'm staying here. I want to help."

"Now you want to help?"

"Well I kinda feel sorry for you."

"Damn it," Ed gently curses before he realizes they were rapidly running out of time. "Okay, get in first," Ed directs firmly.

"But you can't see," Brent insists.

"He's a trained killer and if he finds me…look just get in first. Stop arguing."

"Really? You'd do that…for me?" Brent asks in genuine surprise.

"That's the job kid," Ed retorts with a small smile. "Serve and protect. Now get in and keep absolutely still."

"Okay," Brent finally resigns as the sounds from the motorbike stop, forcing sickening silence to reign and their panic to surge. Brent helps Ed crouch down and get into the hole as best he can; neither of them knowing the tool Tristan has at his disposal for finding them.

The seconds slowly slide into minutes; the wait almost unbearable. Ed giving a few whispered instructions to Brent on how to slow his breathing but his mind wondering if the smell of the freshly smoked pot wouldn't just give them away without much warning. But there was nothing he could do about that. He couldn't send the kid further into the woods as he knows the team is on their way and wouldn't be too far out now. But his stomach instantly tightens as soon as he hears his name offered over the wind with a blood-curling scream.

"ED LANE!" Tristan shouts. "WHEN I FIND YOU…I'M GOING TO KILL YOU! AND WHOEVER HELPED SET YOU FREE!"

"Oh no," Brent whispers in horror as Ed's fists tighten and his jaw hardens.

"It'll be okay," Ed tries to reassure. Donna…baby you gotta hurry!

XXXXXXXX

"Wordy, can't you make this damn thing go any faster? Maybe I should have driven!" Donna lightly snaps as Tom looks at her from the backseat in concern as his hand gives her shoulder a small comforting squeeze. "Sorry. I'm just…Spike is the signal still active?"

"Well it hasn't moved. So either they are with the phone…maybe hiding or dropped it."

"Ed knows what to do Donna, he'll keep that kid safe an…"

"At what cost? His own life? He has no right to take chances like that," her voice growls; her mind damning the priority of life code they all had to adhere to professionally. "I know…I know," she resigns as she casts her worried, blue-grey gaze out the window, praying for them to move faster if at all possible.

Her mind offers her a tormented image of Tristan finding Ed and the youth helping him; shooting them and then laughing as he walks away and they arrive too late to help.

"Wordy…"

"We're almost there," Wordy tries to assure her.

"Okay team, here is the layout and what we need to do. Sam I want you and Jules to cover the north road. Richard and Gary I want you to take the east area. It's wooded but there's an old logging road that…" Greg's voice launches into instructions for the speeding vehicles as they near their intended destination.

"Just…hurry," she whispers as her right hand rests on her gun holster. "Hold on Ed…we're almost there."

"Guys we're going in silent. We need to catch Tristan alive. If he gets spooked and gets away the reign of terror will never end," Greg instructs.

"Boss, we need to let Ed know…."

"I know Wordy but Ed would agree," Greg quickly interjects. "He'd want Tristan McNeil stopped at any cost. Let's just pray we get there in time to stop it there before we add another body to his total."

XXXXXXXX

"He's…coming," Brent whispers as Ed's ears pick up the angry cursing in the distance.

"It'll be okay…just hush now," Ed tries to offer in as reassuring tone as possible. But he would be lying to say that he wasn't worried things could go very wrong and he was scared for the young man's life; the young man that had risked his own life to save that of a helpless officer. They weren't going down without a fight.

"Oh really now Officer Lane…this childish game of hide and seek really is futile!" Tristan calls out as he approaches; a small but effective device in one hand and a loaded .45 in the other. "I can see you…ah two of you! Can you SEE me?" He calls out with an evil snicker as he draws even closer.

"Really I can see your heat signatures. It's amazing the gadgets you can find on the black market…for a price of course. I don't mind paying the price as long as it gets me WHAT I WANT!" Tristan shouts as he stops a few yards away, looking at the clever covering with a small sneer.

"I'll make this easier on you Officer Lane, you come out of there with your hands up and I promise I'll spare whoever the traitor is that helped you."

Silence.

"Really. I know you're both in the alcove. Didn't you hear me earlier? I know you're not deaf! I CAN SEE YOUR HEAT SIGNATURES!" Tristan's voice bellows as he fires off a shot that splinters the wood about a foot to Brent's right; forcing the scared and inexperienced teen to offer an audible gasp. Ed can't fault the scared young man as he knows, that while the sound of a gunshot wasn't new to him, the young man that helped him probably hadn't been this close to live gunfire – maybe ever?

"NOW!"

Silence.

"Your defiance, at one time was admirable is now down right annoying," Tristan huffs as he fires off another shot, this time on Ed's left. "I'll count to three and then I open fire into the hole and walk away. I want to look you in the…eye," he stops to snicker before continuing, "as I send you straight to hell."

Silence.

"ONE!"

"Guys, I just pulled up the infrared scanners. We have three heat signatures now, all together."

"Ed! Tristan's there!" Donna gasps in fright.

"Team we're five minutes out."

"We won't make it!"

"We have to."

"I'm going out," Ed whispers as Brent quickly grabs his jacket sleeve.

"No…you can't," Brent begs. "He'll kill you."

"TWO!"

"Spike…"

"They're still there."

"I see the bunker as the kid described and the motorbike."

"THR…" Tristan starts only to see movement and stop; his lips twisting upward into an evil grin.

Ed takes a deep breath before he starts to slowly claw his way out, his mind cursing the fact that when he dares to open his watery eyes, all he sees are shadows – lighter but still shadows. There was no way he was going to effectively fight his way out. Not if Tristan was holding a gun. They were now out of time.

"Three," Tristan states with a slow evil tone as Ed fully stands upright, facing what he thinks is Tristan's direction. "A little to the left if you please Officer Lane," Tristan mocks as Ed slightly swivels in anger.

"My team is only minutes away."

"They'll be too late," Tristan cocks the trigger as Ed's jaw hardens. "I must say this was a fun outing. I almost prefer it to my last three. They were so…so boring and standard. I mean here you're blind and still have the balls to think you'll somehow come out on top of this," Tristan taunts. "Admirable. Stupid but admirable."

"Spike we're here…where's their signal?" Donna asks in haste as she jumps out of the SUV and hurries to the front; Wordy and Tom also ready with their MP5's at their sides.

"Okay to the west…your right about…"

"My team is on to you," Ed reminds Tristan in a firm tone. "They'll hunt you down and…"

"THEY WON'T FIND ME! ALL THEY'LL FIND IS YOUR DEAD BODY!" Tristan interrupts with an angry shout as he fires off a shot that makes Ed's frame instinctively flinch to the near miss.

"I heard a shot!" Donna exclaims in haste as they near the top of the hill.

"Time to die Officer Lane," Tristan smiles as he aims the gun at Ed's chest and prepares to fire.

"NO!" Brent shouts as he quickly emerges and stands in front of Ed's frame. "You can't shoot him. He's blind," Brent begs in innocent desperation.

"And I care why?" Tristan growls.

"He's blind. He can't fight back," Brent tries to reason, not knowing the caliber of evil in the man before him; a man with no regard for human life whatsoever.

"You're in the way and I want him. I have absolutely no qualms with killing you to get to him. NOW MOVE!" Tristan shouts in rage.

"Leave him out of this," Ed retorts in anger as he tries to push Brent behind him. "You want me, take me, but leave him out of this."

"He'll kill you," Brent's confused plea sounds in Ed's left ear.

"It'll be okay," Ed tries to assure the scared young man on his left. "Take me."

"Very well. But since I'm not really type that likes to travel with a partner, I'll put you out of my misery right now and be done with it."

But destiny decides it's time to push fate out of the way and intervene; the next few seconds happening in tormented slow motion for all parties involved.

Sam arrives at the bottom of the clearing, seeing Tristan with his weapon raised but not having as clear a shot as he'd want. "I have a shot but no clear solution."

Donna and Wordy arrive at the top of the hill and look down to see Tristan's back to them, Brent behind Ed as Ed holds his ground before his demented kidnapper and would-be killer. "We see them."

"Anyone have a clear solution?" Greg's voice asks in desperation.

But before anyone can react, something unexpected happens that forces all to hold their breath in terror and time to stand still.

Brent tries to push Ed out of the way, just as Tristan fires.

Ed's lips yell a tormented cry of "NO" as Brent's lips utter a painful yelp as his body starts to falter beside Ed's frame; the bullet hitting the wrong human target.

Brent falls to the ground as Tristan prepares to fire his final shot.

A/N: oh um…sorry? *runs and hides* well hope there was enough tension and angst in this chappy to keep you all glued to the page and coming back for the final scene! and sorry if you have no fingernails left *eeks* but please do review before you go and thanks so much! One more to come so stay tuned.