So here is the fourth chapter The only people I don't own are the Coolidge's, Wes, and Dakota. ;) Warning: There will be some violence in this chapter. Enjoy.

During the next few days, Stephan found that things were getting better. He was still having nightmares, and was still wary, not speaking, but he was relaxing more. He didn't jump at every sound, and he didn't watch every one all the time. On his third day with the Coolidge's, after school, he got into the truck silently, as Dakota, and Wes got in the front. They were going to pick up Kat, then head for the mall to start looking for things for Stephan.

When they got to the mall, after Stephan had picked out a few clothes and bedding, he saw Kat whisper to Dakota who nodded, glancing at Stephan. Kat, grinning, turned to Stephan "Come on. I have something to show you." she looked up at him pleadingly "We'll have to leave the mall."

He shrugged, looking towards Wes and Dakota, who nodded, and Dakota looked to her watch "Go ahead. I have something to do. Just be back in half a hour."

Stephan half smiled, then nodded, causing Kat jump up "Yes!" she reached out to grab his hand, then stopped, and spun towards the mall doors, calling over her shoulder "Follow me!"

After about five minuets, Kat stopped at a pet shop. She grinned up at Stephan "So? What do you think?" Stephan shrugged, confusion on his face, and Kat grinned, and shook her head, heading into the shop. She led him past the cat stuff, and into the dog section, "Well?" He shrugged again, the confusion growing, and Kat rolled her eyes "If that big black dod was yours, which collar would you pick for him?" Stephan licked his lips, running his fingers over the assortment of collars. His hand stopped on a dark leather one, and Kat smiled "That's a good one." She stood watching Stephan, as he looked at the collars, then she rushed past, heading to the doors "Come on, we should get back."

Stephan followed Kat, still confused as to why Kat let him here. His attention sharpened abruptly as he saw a dark shadow run into the ally that was just ahead of them. As they walked past, he tried to look into the ally, but it was too shadowy to see anything. He spun around, as he heard Kat scream, then everything went black.

Stephan woke up to soft crying, and he opened his eyes. A soft light pierced his eyes, bringing to life a pounding head ache. He groaned, lifting his hands to his head, but found that his hands were tied together. The crying stopped abruptly, and he heard shuffling, then he felt a hand on his shoulder. He jumped, pulling away, then he heard Kat's voice

"Stephan? You -a-are you o-okay?"

He could hear the fear in her voice, and bit his lip. After a moment he took a deep breath "Sh. It'll be fine. Did you see anyone?"

"You talked!"

Stephan shrugged, looking expectantly at her, and she closed her eyes, thinking,

"No, I didn't really see anyone. I saw someone, but there face was covered, then I was blindfolded before they came at you. Or may be it was just one person." She shifted uncomfortably, and Stephan realized that she had her hands her hands tied as well.

"Turn your back to me, I'll see if I can get the rope off."

She shifted around, and he felt for the knots with his fingers, they weren't tied overly tight, meaning their captors didn't expect them to be able to escape even if they were untied. After a few moments he was able to get the rope off, and Kat spun around to untie his knots.

Stephan massaged his wrists, to get the blood flowing again, and he saw that Kat's wrists were bruised He nodded to them "Because of you Chemo. Right?"

She nodded, then frowned "How'd you know?"

"I knew someone who had cancer, she took Chemo and got bruised easily."

Kat nodded again, but her gaze was distant, she looked down "Stephan? Why did these people, or person, capture us?"

"It's...probably for money." Stephan looked towards the door, and muttered "I hope."

The door opened abruptly, and two men came in. One stayed by the door, while the other one walked towards Kat, and Stephan. Stephan sucked in a breath, pushing himself back, clutching at his chest as his breath seized up. Kat looked at him worriedly "Stephan? What's wrong?"

The man laughed, a chilling sound, that made Kat's spine tingle, and Stephan shrink back more "You won't get anything out of him. He won't talk. Not unless he's made to" he took a few more steps forward till he was standing in fount of Stephan "Isn't that right, boy?"

Stephan closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, but didn't answer. The kidnapper laughed again, then turned to Kat, taking out a piece of paper and pen. "You are to tell your parents to put three hundred fifty thousand dollars on the bench by the north entrance of the town." he glanced at Stephan, before he turned back to Kat "You'll forgive me if I'm a bit rough with your friend here. But you see, I need to fix something that we left unfinished before I spent some time in the pen." he kicked Stephan on his arm, that was still in the cast. Stephan gasped, curling inwards, cradling his arm, and the man smirked.

Kat watched in horror, as the man kicked Stephan again, she cried out, as he groaned "Stop! I can't right the note. My parents don't have enough money."

The kidnapper raised a eyebrow "Won't? Or can't? Because, if you can't then... well your friend will be hurting more than he would be if you just wrote it. But if you won't then your friend will be hurting even more."

Kat froze, staring at Stephan, he looked back with compassion in his eyes, shaking in his head, and she got the message Don't write it. It'll be worse. Kat looked to the man, panic tightening her chest, "I can't! They don't have the money!"

The man guarding the door stepped forwards towards Stephan and grabbed him, holding him up, as the first man cracked his knuckles with a sinister chuckle.

Kat bit her lip, looking towards Stephan, he was curled up, holding his ribs, and biting his lip. She sighed and reached for the paper, shuddering as the first man chuckled. He stepped forward, grabbing the note from Kat's hand

"Smart choice." he read it, nodding, then handed it back "Address it."

Kat took back the pen, and with a shaking hand, wrote the address. The man took it again, and turned back to Stephan

"You know. I don't think you realize yet the extent of your mistake in calling the police on me. Your father. Your supposed to honour me, you of all people should know that, with your 'religion.'" he spat out the last word, glaring at him.

Stephan spat out blood, looking up at the man, sadness in his eyes. He shook his head

"Yes, I am supposed to honour you. But that doesn't mean that I can leave you in crime. And it's not a 'religion' it's a relationship with God."

The man, Stephan's father, glared and smacked him across the face "Be silent!" he stared at Stephan, then he reached out to touch the blood trickling down Stephan's chin. He looked deliberately at Kat as he rubbed his blood stained fingers over the paper, then turning back to Stephan he kicked him in the ribs, then his arm, before he left the room.

Kat crawled to Stephan, watching him in concern she hesitantly reached out a hand to touch his shoulder. He jerked, then looked up at her with troubled eyes, bowing his head, he closed his eyes, letting himself slump down. Stephan trembled slightly then turned back to Kat

"I was taken from him when I was about a year old. He was caught selling drugs. After he was let out, he spent time getting settled, then when I was fifteen he regained custody. A friend convinced me a few months ago to call the police, after I came to his house for protection. He must have escaped jail."

Hope you enjoyed, let me know what you think. And I have a question, do I 'head hop' and if so, how in the world do I fix it? Thanks for reading.