"I'm fine. I'm fine," Ben repeated for what seemed to be the millionth time. It had been five hours since the incident and after being checked by the paramedics and sent to the hospital for further treatment. His parents had arrived at Princeton Medical about an hour ago.

"Benjamin Benedict you stop sassing me and lay back down," his mother said, stern voiced. Ben was still in the hospital, attempting to be released after having his head checked. He had a linear fracture on the side of his head, and the blood had come from his ear being cut from the hit. There was nothing that could be done but sleep and pain medications, so to Ben, he was good to go. But his mother wasn't letting him go so easily.

"Ma, I'm fine," Ben told her gently, getting up. "It was just a hit, it's not that bad. I took a nap, had some food, and now I'm ready to go." He was extremely anxious to get back to Princeton and the scene of the crime. Alan Tracy had chosen to remain to help, no doubt waiting for the rest of the Tracy clan to arrive. "It's not like I'm going far. Just back to my dorm."

His mother kept that worried look and was about to tell him to sit back down when his father stepped into the room. "Alice," he said gently, placing a hand on his wife's shoulder. "I've already talked to the doctor; they said he's free to go. Besides, the police want to have him around incase anything comes up."

Ben had already informed his parents of what had happened. His mother had been heartbroken; Ben was pretty sure she loved Kathryn like a daughter. His dad had been a little harder to read, but then again William Benedict was known for his poker face when it came to business and panic. He had gone out to make a call about half an hour ago and had just returned.

"Mom please," Ben said, begging her to understand that he had to get back. He had to help them find Kathryn. Kathryn, who he had finally had the guts to confess to, who hadn't rejected his feelings, who he promised he'd take care of. And to hell if a headache was going to stop him from doing so.

His mother sighed, releasing control. "Let's go then. Maybe we can be of some assistance." Ben kissed his mother's cheek and went out the door as quick as possible. He wasn't sure how he would help, but he would. Even if that meant getting in a car and driving all around New Jersey to find her. Because when a Benedict made a promise, he kept that promise.

They had sat in silence for a while. Virgil had been attempting to get in touch with his family through the watch Brains had given him, but he was without luck. Either the thing didn't work or he wasn't getting a transmitting signal. Kathryn had nothing on her that would help, and then they spent about ten minutes arguing when he noticed she wasn't wearing socks with her shoes.

"I can take care of myself Virgil," she had finally snapped at him, the Tracy temper evident. "I don't need you to be protecting me all the time. I'm not that little girl anymore."

It hurt to hear those words, but that was the underlying problem of the entire situation. Being the only Tracy girl, there was an automatic desire to lock her up in a tower and throw away the key to keep her safe. Virgil wasn't even sure when they went into hyper drive with it though, or how the idea for this whole life plan came up. He just knew that it was always Kathryn's safety that took priority. Somewhere through all that, they must have forgotten that she was a Tracy.

And because of it, the two of them were stuck in some forsaken place at the mercy of lunatics. Virgil knew he wasn't the best qualified to be in this position. Besides the being concussed part, he could never get Kathryn to calm down from her panic attacks like Gordon. He couldn't get her to speak her mind like John used to it. Virgil knew that if it came down to it, he'd do anything for his sister, but he didn't think he would ever be able to do what Scott could have done.

"Virgil," Kathryn finally said. "I'm sorry for what I said." And there she went again. Virgil had noticed a while ago that she was always the first to apologize. Even now, when he should have been begging for her to forgive him, she was taking the high road. "I didn't mean it. You're my brother right? You're just looking out for me. I know that. I understand."

Before Virgil could even respond the door slammed open, bringing in a cold gust of wind. "Ah, so you're finally up. Excellent. Just in time to say hello to daddy."

Austin Jacks had learned a few tricks while he was in jail. His knowledge of technology and how to use had grown exceptionally thanks to a couple of buddies he had made. It wasn't enough to make him a millionaire like Jeff Tracy, but enough to be able to hide his location from everyone. And now it was time to let that Tracy know who the game maker was.

He stepped down into the cold, old war bunker with a grin. "Enough light?" He asked, looking at the small sad lamp he had left them. Because that was the kind of man he was, generous.

"What do you want Jacks?" Virgil Tracy said, his eyes glaring. It just made Austin laugh; they way he moved towards his sister, as if that would keep her safe.

"Here to borrow the little princess of course," He said. "Why don't you get out of the way Tracy?"

"Try me." Austin just smiled and beckoned with his hand. At that moment, his coworker Johnson came in with the gun.

"Let's try this again. Come on Kathryn, we have to say hello to daddy." Johnson pointed the gun right at Virgil's face and put his finger on the trigger. He saw Virgil Tracy's face whiten slightly but stayed strong. Kathryn's on the other hand, was fearful. She knew he meant it. "Come along Kathryn, unless you want to see your big brother with hole in his face."

The threat wasn't that much more menacing than the gun itself, but it was enough to get the girl moving. Austin grinned at his cleverness years ago.

"Kathryn…"Virgil started, rising with his sister. Austin nodded his head and Johnson shot, and Kathryn yelped.

"Now now," Austin said, looking at the hole in the wall above Virgil's head. The boy was a pale white, aware of how close that had been. "Don't make unnecessary damage to the foundation. It's a bit old you know." He smirked as he moved forward and pulled Kathryn toward himself. "Stay." It was fun, commanding a Tracy like he was no more than a mutt.

He wasn't very obedient though, because Virgil Tracy made a move forward. But Austin knew how to get his attention; he was always listening after all. As Virgil made a move forward, Austin's hand made a swift move back. It was only Kathryn's cry of pain that kept Virgil still.

"Now now, what did I say?" Austin asked, smiling. "Look what you made me do; I almost pulled her shoulder out. Now something like that wouldn't be very good on a separate shoulder, now would it?" Virgil's glare was murderous, but it didn't faze Austin. No, he was in control here.

"I'm okay," He heard little Kathryn say softly, for her brother's benefit. "It's going to be okay." The lie was evident in her voice. He knew the message he had sent, how this was different. Last time he had been sure that she wasn't harmed; now he had no boundaries.

"We'll be back soon," Austin said cheerfully and pulled Kathryn along by the forearm. He had a score to settle with the Tracys, and to hell with how he did it.

The cold, winter wind was not as refreshing as Kathryn hopped it would be. Stepping out of the cellar and into the night made Kathryn shiver and wonder where they actually were.

"Where are we?" she asked as Austin dragged her through the woods to a small house "Where are we?"
she asked again as they stepped into the house. The warmth was comforting, but Kathryn knew better than to get too comfortable.

He ignored her once more, which was fine with Kathryn as she looked the rooms as they passed by them. Everything seemed normal, as normal as a house in the woods anyway. It was only in a room at the very end of the hall that showed Austin was using it.

Kathryn guessed it had once been a library, or a sitting room, by the book cases that aligned one side of the wall. The tables were covered in computer gear and screens, each one showing familiar sites. She didn't have a chance to look at them closely, because she was pulled away and pushed into the couch. "Ouch," she said softly, hitting the thing rather hard. She sat up only to have a bright light flash brightly into her eyes. Kathryn squinted and saw that a camera had been set up. "I'm not going to cry for you," she told him upfront. "I don't know what kind of sadistic video you're going to make, but I am not going to cry."

Austin just chuckled as he moved around, clicking away at the computers. "Of course not," he finally said. "You don't cry anymore, do you Kat? Not since that night."

"Don't call me that," Kathryn snapped at him. The name usage was just a little too familiar for her liking. "Of course I have. You didn't traumatize me Austin."

"So you think," His grin made Kathryn look away. "But I got so deep into your head that you haven't even noticed."

"That's not true," Kathryn said defiantly.

"Of course it is. Let's be honest here: you're the one who pushed them away." Kathryn's first reaction was to scoff at him.

"That's the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard," Kathryn told him, watching him closely. "Not only are you a horrible person, you're also a horrible liar." She looked away when his smile widened in a creepish manner.

"Fine. If you didn't then they did." Austin told her, approaching her slowly. "It was only a matter of time you know. I really just speed the whole separation process along. You could even see it as a favor."

Kathryn snorted, looking around the room inconspicuously as she searched for a weapon, or a way out.

"You know I did," Austin resumed. "You're the runt of the litter anyway. Once they found out you weren't as strong or as capable as them, there was really no point to tolerate you. They sent you away because you weren't Tracy material."

"That's not true. They did it to keep me safe. Safe from people like you," Kathryn told him half-convinced.

"No, they sent you away because as they got older, they understood that you weren't really worth carrying the Tracy name. You were just a consolation prize they got after their mother died."

"Shut up! Shut the fuck up!," she yelled at him. "You're a liar!"

"I broke you that night," Austin continued. "I broke you and they know it. You know it too. Everyone can see it. Ben's the only one trying to keep you from falling apart. You don't even try, because you know you deserve it."

"That's not true," her voice was softer.

"It is. You know why your brothers don't talk to you. They hate that they have to tolerate you and share their name with you. You're worthless. If Virgil wasn't here, no one would be searching for you. Last time, people who cared knew you were missing, they had to find you. Now, no one will care that you're gone."

Kathryn remained silent her head hung.

Was he right?

A/N: Benny is back! I missed him.