Standing at the entrance to Ed's room Greg watch his Team Leader slowly breathing in and out, his eyes were closed and he was deathly pale, his lips still had a slight blue tinge around them, steam rose from the large cup of liquid sitting on the table next to him, obviously Dr Perry and his team were still trying to make sure Ed's body temperature continued to climb, letting out a heavy sigh Greg shuddered at the thought of how close they had come to losing him and now he was going to push Ed beyond his limits with the news about Clark. The Dr had explained that Ed had been at a major risk of suffering cardiac arrest during his life saving treatment and this turn of events was sure to bring this risk back to fore front again.

Greg knew Ed wouldn't give a damn about himself or what condition he was in, he would become confrontational, highly emotional and for a short time totally irrational and deep down he knew that if it was his boy in this situation he would be same and for that reason he had to make sure that both of them came out of this in one piece and this started with telling him that Clark was missing and then dealing with the Ed Lane fallout that was guaranteed to follow.

"Are you guys coming in or just gonna hoover there waiting for an invite." sensing they had been there for some time Ed opened his eyes and struggled to sit a little more upright watching as his team mates reluctantly moved forward. "Wow Sam I hope I don't look as bad as you, those are some spectacular shiners you have there?"

"Ummm thanks you don't look so hot yourself Ed no pun intended". Sam quietly replied.

Ed waited a little while before continuing trying to catch his breath "Yeah well I'm gradually thawing out and I need to say thanks Sam, wouldn't be here if you hadn't stayed with me until help arrived-"

"You would have done the same for me if it had been the other way around so no need for thanks all part of the job." Sam interrupted and finished just a little to quickly and watching his eyes dart from Greg to Wordy as if he had just let slip on some massive secret Ed's natural instincts for detecting something was wrong stared to raise along with the tiny hairs on the back of his neck.

Ed's eyes narrowed causing a deep frown to appear as he looked back towards the door "OK this is getting weird someone wanna to tell me what's going on and why you haven't brought Clark with you?"

Clearing his throat Greg stepped forward and taking a huge breath started to explain "Yeah about that Ed we have a serious situation but before I go any further I need you to promise that you will remain calm."

"Greg...what the hell is going on?" already Ed's voice had started to raise.

Greg licked his lips, he could see the fear already forming on his friends face "When you were being treated I received a message and picture."

At the word message Ed's pulse stated to quicken "What message...what...what... sort of picture?"

"It was of Clark...Eddie there's no easy way to say this so I'm just gonna say it...he's been kidnapped." before Eddie could say anything Greg pressed on "The message was to tell you the game had moved up a level, I've already given the phone to Spike and Jules they're working on it as we speak".

All of a sudden the room started to spin as Ed looked at Greg not really hearing the rest of what he was saying, his brain only registering the word Kidnapped, his heart was pounding, the tightening in his chest was making it hard to breath, closing his eyes Ed tried desperately to get his emotions under control. God this couldn't be happening he couldn't lose his son.

Throwing back the blankets Ed swung his legs over the side of the bed and tried to stand only to have the floor shift from underneath him, and his knees buckled due his weaken state, in a desperate attempt to save himself Ed grabbed for the table knocking the piping hot drink all over his arm and chest as he went crashing to the ground.

Rushing forward Wordy and Sam helped Ed off the floor and sat him on the edge of the bed while Greg headed towards the door and down the corridor shouting for a Doctor ignoring Ed's demands.

"Greg stop... STOP!" Ed leaned into his two team mates for extra support gripping the edge of the bed his knuckles turning white in an effort of trying hide the excruciating pain caused by the gown rubbing on his freshly blistering skin "I'm fine I don't need a damn Doctor, I need to get out of here and bring my son home safe." came Ed's desperate plea.

Wordy quickly untied the back of the gown and pulled it away from Ed's red and angry skin. "Buddy you gotta calm down this isn't going to help anyone especially Clark, you've got sit still this looks pretty bad."

Ed gritted his teeth, black spots swam in front of his eyes, his arm and chest felt like they were on fire. "Both of you let me go NOW!" he hissed all the while trying to get back on his feet.

Getting a firmer grip and trying to avoid Ed's scolded skin "NO ED!" Wordy shouts "We're not letting you go and you will see a Doctor, do you understand me?" Seeing Eddie look up and feeling him becoming slightly more subdued Wordy repeated his last question with a little more force "Do...you...understand...me?"

Unable to reply through the excruciating stinging pain that was radiating up his arm and across his chest, and knowing that at the moment he was no match for Wordy and Sam all Eddie could do was nod his acceptance.

Seeing Eddie's pain Greg stepped aside as Dr Perry entered the room "OK buddy lets get you back into bed and see what the Doc here has to say and then we will work on getting Clark back safe."

Closing his eyes and leaning back against the pillow while the Doctor treated his burns not listening to the lecture he was being given all Eddie could do was pray that it wasn't too late, that he'd still have the chance to talk to his son again, to hold him and watch him continue to grow into the fine young man he was already becoming, they had truly bonded as father and son and their relationship was the best it had ever been and now in one fell swoop it could all be taken away by an adversary who's identity and reason for this vendetta was still a total mystery to him.

ACROSS TOWN

Hearing the door open Clark's head shot up and drying his eyes on his sleeve he watched as Gabriel entered the room.

"I'm need to apologise for my outburst Clark I didn't mean to hurt you."

"You didn't" Clark deafeningly cut in.

Swallowing his frustration and stepping closer to the bed he watched as the boy continue with his attempt of not showing his fear. "But you have to understand I won't have anyone tell me that my wife was responsible for the accident when the only person at fault for that is your father."

"But my dad wasn't at fau..." But before Clark could finish a resounding crack echoed around the room as a large hand shot out and slapped him fully across the cheek making his head snap violently to the side, turning back Clark's eyes glistened with a mixture of tears and determination "fault."

"ENOUGH" Gabriel roared inches from his face. "Look what you made me do?" The bright red hand print already clearly visible. "But that really doesn't matter it will add to Edward's distress when he sees you shortly."

"What...what do you mean sees me?" asked Clark his eyes wide with shock.

Gabriel pulled a phone from his pocket "You're going to video call your father, I need to give him a little sample of the mental and emotional distress I'm about to inflict on him over the next ohhhhh I don't know say few weeks."

Placing a mask over his face and dialling the number from memory, and waiting for a few seconds before he pushed the send button. "And Clark remember to behave no telling your father where you are or who I am, because if you do I will go back to your house and not only kill your mother but also your sister so be warned."

Taking the phone in his hand trembling Clark tried to swallow the large lump that was forming in his throat as he waited for the video call to connect.

Hearing his phone buzz Sam quickly grabbed it kicking himself for forgetting to turn it to silent, and without looking he clicked the accept button and watched as Clark's tear stained face filled his screen and even in those few fleeting seconds Sam could see he was trying his up most to keep it together.

"S...am is my dad with you?" came a pleading question.

Taking the few short strides to Ed's bed Sam raised his voice commanding his attention "Ed...Ed you need to take this."

Hearing his name Ed opened his eyes and looked at Sam in confusion, taking the phone Sam pressed the speaker button.

Seeing his father's face Clark finally broke down the tears he had been bravely trying to keep at bay finally spilling over "D...da...d."

Staring at the screen and into the eyes of his terrified son Ed's heart froze, trying not to panic and pushing his own horror aside he desperately tried to gather his thoughts, his son needed him more then he ever had in his life and he couldn't show him that he was on the verge of freaking out it wouldn't help him and it definitely wouldn't help Clark. He'd done this hundreds of times in his career given words of encouragement to a petrified hostage but now his mind was a total blank and the only thing he could think to say to his son in his hour of need was "Hey kiddo."