A/N: Crikey, I've become rather lax in my updating. And yet you nice people still give me nice reviews. Which I really, really appreciate. Thank you all. I have a really good excuse for not updating though. I was on vacation. We went to Washington D.C. and six flags and the zoo. Oh and I saw The Dark Knight for the third time in IMAX. It was epic. I'm actually making a fic of it. Well, I've rambled long enough. On with the show…or story as it may be -.-

Seven pairs of sore feet pounded the pavement.

Seven necks were sun burned and aching, and slick with sweat, which trickled down seven backs. Seven trains of thought were all going along the same tracks. We'll never get there. We've been doing this for two days. Are Wren and Wes all right? Tossed in were complaints about thirst and hunger, and where the car that DG had promised they could hot wire was.

The single sun slipped down below the horizon, marking yet another day of fruitless travel. Before it fully set, Cain and Blake built up a fire while Glitch, Raw, Victoria and Kalm set up the two large tents. DG perched on a weather worn rock, looking at the sun set, but not really seeing it. She had no illusions about why Wes and Wren had been kid napped. The witch knew they were there. But, she wasn't sure she was quite ready to face her once more. Last time, it had been her and Az. Just them. The others had no idea what the old hag could do. Plus, she had most likely grown stronger as the years passed.

"DG? Are you hungry?" Victoria asked gently. In the time DG had been staring into nothingness, camp had been made and a dinner of the last few hot dogs and a can of beans had been made. "Not really. But I'm sure I have no choice in the matter, do I?" DG gave a ghost of a grin. "No, you don't," Blake called from the campfire. He had dribbled the sauce from the beans down his chin, and his face contorted in concentration as he tried to lick it away. "Don't hurt yourself sweetie," she wiped his chin on a scrap of napkin.

Quietly, reserved, she helped herself to a hot dog and a small dish of beans, and made herself eat it. She would have to keep her strength up for when they found the kids.

Not if, when, she reminded herself.

Wes picked his head up, wincing as even that simple act strained his sore muscles. Only a few days had passed, but their captors had managed to cram in so much maltreatment, to the point of outright torture.

They'd been thrown into a small dank room of crumbling concrete walls and no windows. It was furnished only with manacles on three of the four walls. The fourth, which had a giant, thick metal door, opened into the room, so anyone could look in and see the prisoners. Only two occupied the cell at present. Wes and Wren.

By looking at Wren, Wes got a sense of how bad of he must look.

She was dirty, her hair matted and her shirt torn at one shoulder. Her face was bruised, one eye swelling shut and her lip split. He could tell from the taste of blood in his mouth that he too had a split lip, and the ache in his head, neck, and shoulders told him he'd been punched there as well. He was also hungry and thirsty, enough that he ate the disgusting, slimy gruel and stale water they served. Wren did as well, when they weren't chained to the wall.

The large door screeched open, the hinges old and rusted. The two prisoners looked up, trying to see what fresh hell now awaited them. They couldn't see exactly who was there, but both heard the soft click of the manacles around Wren's wrists being unlocked. She yelped as she hit the stone floor hard on her already bruised and scraped knees.

Wes struggled against his bonds, wanting to protect her. He didn't care what happened to him, as long as they left her alone.

"Quit yer fighting boy. You're coming too. You're gonna watch while we mess up your pretty little friend," a harsh voice growled in Wes's ear. His manacles were released and he fell to his hands and knees. He scrambled to his feet before the guard, who happened to be Beau, could jerk him up.

Head held high, Wes followed behind, his hand chained together, still managing to lightly clasp Wren's hand.

It was noon when they came upon the best sight DG had ever seen. For whatever reason, some one had carelessly abandoned a classic Mustang under a dried up tree a yard or two from the side of the road. It was in near perfect condition, with only a few dings, some dust, and bird shit marring in the candy apple red paint and chrome.

"Oh…my…god," DG said breathlessly. She circled slowly around the car, inspecting every inch of it. The tires had air, it had half a tank of gas left, and everything under the hood was in working order. It was almost too good to be true.

"Blake, could you help me in cleaning it off? Glitch, if I show you how, could you hot wire the engine and get it running?" DG asked. "Look who you're asking doll," Glitch rolled up his sleeves and pried open the car under the wheel to twist the wires as DG told him. DG let him at it, and while she and Blake cleaned off the exterior, Victoria, Kalm, and Cain cleaned out the interior of the car.

After only an hour or so, it was clean inside and out, and Glitch had the engine purring. They all piled in, with DG behind the wheel, and took off down the road, stopping at the first empty gas station/ convenience store they found to fill the tank and get some food.

Glitch, sitting on Cain's lap, stuck his head out the window, enjoying the way the wind whipped through his hair. It seemed to steal away his troubles even as it stung his face and made his eyes water. They would reach the city, and find the kids, and save them, and stop the witch. It all seemed possible as they roared down the stretch of highway at well above the speed limit. But really who was going to pull them over and give them a ticket? The boulders dotting the horizon? Or the unidentifiable animal carcasses? Not even Cain, who was after all an ex-cop, had any complaints.

Cain watched Glitch enjoying the wind and the sun, happy that he was happy. Anything really to distract him from the fact that Wes was gone. Otherwise he despaired, and it was like a perpetual rain cloud followed him. Which brought him down, and in general every one else in their little group. So if Glitch wanted to sit on his lap and hang his head out the window, and it made him contented and happy, then he could. Even if his legs were starting to go slightly numb from Glitch's weight.

Just as Glitch was thinking I have got to get me one of these, he saw it. A giant building. A skyscraper if he recalled DG's explanation correctly. The fact that it was the tallest, darkest building around made him instantly think that that was where they had to go.

"Uh…DG, doll, you seeing what I'm seeing?" "You mean the giant, scary building that practically oozes evil?" DG said from behind the wheel, slowing the car as it approached the city limits.

"Yeah, that would be what I see. Anyone else think that perhaps that's where the kids are? And maybe the Witch might be there?" Glitch asked. Everyone, with some difficulty due to the cramped confines, raised their hands.

"Thought so."

"Are we just going in then?" Victoria asked hesitantly. "We've got to. No choice," DG answered. Raw and Kalm were both on edge, sensing the evil that came off the building in waves. And the pain, and fear, and anger.

"Wes and Wren in there," Raw said softly. "How d'you know?" Blake asked. "We can feel it. They're scared, and hurt, and angry. At least one of them is. It's faint, nearly over powered by all the other emotions. Triumph, and cruelty, and fierce enjoyment out of other peoples' pain. But it's there all the same," Kalm answered. That was all DG needed to know. "We're going in. Now."

Wren's screams grated at Wes's ears. He felt sick hearing it and being unable to do anything to help her. He'd been dragged to a corner and held between two burly men, and forced to watch as his best friend and girl friend was beaten to a bloody pulp. She collapsed to the cold ground, shivering. "P-please stop! I…I'll do anything!" she begged.

Wes shook his head frantically. "Don't say that Wren! Don't!" "Shut up boy! Let's hear what your pretty little friend has to offer," one of the men grinned salaciously, and cupped Wren's chin, wrenching her to her feet. "Now, what might you be willing to offer us so's we don't cut ya and yer boy friend into little pieces?"

Wes struggled and fought against the men holding him, intent solely on getting to Wren, who was surrounded on all sides by huge greasy men who pawed at her and ripped her shirt and pulled at her hair. She shrieked and tried to get away, only to be pulled back in. The only two not involved were the ones holding Wes.

"Let her go! Let her go now!" "Or what? What're ya gunna do?" one of them taunted, and elbowed Wes hard in the stomach. He sagged between them, gasping and his eyes watering. As he crouched on his knees, trying to get around the pain, the sound in the room seemed to fade in and out, until it was gone completely. Wes looked up, seeing with perfect clarity what was happening to Wren. It was like a wave crashed down on him, turned boiling hot, and filled him up. He was more than a little frightened at what was going on, not too mention curious, but more than that, he was angry that anyone would dare lay a hand on Wren. She was princess of the OZ, and not only that, his girl friend.

Sound returned in broken bits and pieces, and Wes dimly heard the two guards holding him let out startled cries and leap back like they'd been burned. He rose to his feet and turned stony eyes to them. Without knowing what would happen, he waved his hand in their general direction. They rose up, and crashed into the wall. They slid down to the floor, unconscious. The men surrounding Wren were oblivious, and he grew angrier at the sound of her pleading to be left alone. "I said let her go!" Wes yelled, and brought his hands, which he noticed suddenly were glowing, together. The power, whatever it was, spilled over the men, and knocked them all out. But it was too much for his slight, under nourished frame to handle. It slung back at him and he cried out in pain, fighting for control.

Wren drew her hands away from her eyes as the glow from Wes faded. "Wes, what was…that, that was amazing!" There was no answer. Wes was standing shakily, holding a hand up to his head. He stumbled to his knees, and fell. "Wes!" Wren scrambled across the room to cradle his head in her lap. She gently stroked his hair from his eyes. He was alive, but barely. "Wes? C'mon Wessie, wake up! Please!" Silent tears cut through the grime and blood on her cheeks, to dot his face as she rocked him and begged him to wake up.

"What the hell was that?" Cain asked, as the light faded and left the building rocking. It had risen up, bathing the lobby like room they had entered in a golden glow. It had knocked out all the guards that had been about to attack, but left them alone. "Now, this is just a guess, but I'd say it was the kids. Though what exactly it was, I'm not sure," Blake answered with a shrug. "Well, it started down and went up. I think it's safe to say it came from downstairs," Victoria suggested. Raw and Kalm, both attuned to the people in the building, nodded, backing her up.

DG found the elevator, and pounded on the button that would take them down. The door opened and shut with a soft ding, and those not accustomed to elevators lurched with the sudden downward movement. Which lead to Glitch ending up in a heap on the floor, clinging to Cain's jeans pocket for support.

Wren's head whipped around as she heard the sound of machinery bringing people downstairs. She bit her lip nervously. It was probably more guards, guards who were going to be less than pleased about what had happened. And she was alone, too weak to use magic, with a nearly dead Wes on her lap. She gathered him into her arms, intent on protecting him as he had her. She was prepared for the fact that she'd probably be killed as punishment. But if she had to die, she wasn't going to make it easy, and she was going to take some of them down with her. She searched frantically for something to use as a weapon, and found a one of the dishes they'd been served food in. it was heavy, and metal, and would do nicely. Wren dragged Wes into the corner, so when the door opened, she could leap out, and hit them before they hit her.

The door opened once more, and the group looked in shock at the dank prison. The guards were all unconscious on the floor, much like those upstairs. But there was no one else. Glitch picked himself up off the ground and stepped out first, ready to tear the place apart for Wes and Wren. What he got was a sharp knock to the noggin.

"Ouch! Why is it always the head?" he yelped. "Uncle Glitch?" "Wren? Wren!" Glitch hugged her tight. "Hey, DG! They're here!" "Wren!" DG rushed out to her daughter. "Momma! Daddy!" "Wrennie, where's Wes?" Cain asked. Wren's face fell. "He's here. But, Uncle Wyatt, he's in a really bad way. He did…something to protect me, and he couldn't handle it," she gestured to his still form against the wall. "Oh Wes. Is he still…alive?" Cain crouched down and gently lifted his son into his arms. "Yeah. But, he needs help. A lot of it."

"So, when you say he did something. Was that glow him then?" Glitch asked Wren. "Yeah. I don't know what happened. The guards…they had, I was stupid. I said I'd do anything if they left us alone. I didn't think. They'd hurt us so bad, but still. And Wes got really mad, tried to protect me. And he went all glowy and passed out after knocking them out. I thought you were more of them, coming to hurt us again," her lip trembled, and tears threatened to spill over. "It's ok sweetie, we're here now, you're safe," DG wrapped her arms around her daughter as the left. Wren buried her head against DG's shoulder and cried, feeling that somehow, what had happened to Wes was her fault. If she'd kept her mouth shut, maybe he'd be ok.

Wes came to slightly as they piled once more into the car. "Dad?" he whispered hoarsely. "Hey son. How you feeling?" Cain asked softly. "Tired. Really tired. And sore all over. Almost like a bunch of pahpay used me as a chew toy," Wes gave a very small grin, which his father returned. Glitch leaned over from where he was supporting Wes's legs. "We hear you pulled a pretty neat trick to save Wren," he added. "Yea. I don't know what happened. I just didn't like that they thought they could hurt her and not have to answer for it. It, whatever it was, just happened," Wes gave a jaw cracking yawn. "Go back to sleep son. We'll be making camp, and get you and Wren something to eat," Cain said gently. "M'kay dad. G'night," Wes curled up to his dad like when he was a little boy and the thunder storm outside startled him, and fell asleep. Wren was in much the same way against Blake's arm in the front seat of the car, cradled in his arms.

A/N: ok, sorry it's sorta shorter than usual. And again, sorry for the lack of updating. It's not just that I was on vacation. We think our computer hard drive or something is dying, 'cause it keeps crashing for hours at a time. This is the first opportunity I've had to update. Thanks again for all the reviews.