Author's Note: Hey guys, I know it's been awhile since my last post. I had a bit of a block, but here is a long chapter to make up for it. Let me know what you think. :D

Chapter 13: The Heart

Peter woke up from his nightmare, gasping for breath seeing stars. The visions from his nightmare flooded his mind entirely. All three of his best friends lying dead on the beach; a place that had always been so peaceful and secure for him. The emptiness he'd seen in Micky's eyes haunted him and seemed to bore into his head. He sat up and tried to rub the pain and images out of his head, but it simply wasn't working. He was on the couch in the living room. Peter hadn't felt comfortable sleeping alone in the house where his friends were taken.

"Peter?" Piper asked softly lying on the floor next to him. He'd almost forgotten she had laid down next to him to watch over him. "What happened?"

"Nothing," Peter answered. "Just a nightmare. I'm ok. Go back to sleep."

"Peter, you're not ok," Piper argued. "Talk to me. What happened?"

"I don't really know," Peter said. "It started out fine. But then...Davy, Mike and Micky...they died."

"It was just a dream, Peter," she said sitting up on the couch next to him and wrapping her arms around him. He shrugged her off, not wanting anyone to really touch him.

"I know that," Peter argued.

"They aren't dead," Piper said.

"How do we know that?" Peter asked. "We don't know where they are or what happened to them."

"If he'd killed them, he'd have left their bodies for us to find to send us a message," Piper said. "Besides that, he's likely going to keep them alive as long as he can to prolong their suffering." Peter had to admit her honesty was oddly comforting. A lot of people tried to sugar coat things for him because they thought he was dense or fragile and couldn't handle it.

"You sure?" Peter asked.

"Yes," Piper answered putting a hand on his shoulder. He didn't shrug her off this time. "Peter, I promise you we'll find them."

"Ginny…" Peter said remembering the last bit of his dream.

"Yes, we'll find her, too," Piper said. "I don't think he can make her open that box."

"It's not that," Peter said. "She was there. She was in my dream."

"That's not important," Piper said. "It was just a nightmare. It wasn't real."

"No, I-I think she was," Peter said. "She said she was real. That she wasn't part of the nightmare. She said she was really there in my head."

"What do you mean?"

"I think she was using magic. She said she had a message for me."

"What message?"

"I don't really remember." Peter buried his face in his hands. He was trying so hard to remember, but all he could focus on was Micky's dead eyes.

"Peter, focus. Was she trying to tell you where they are?"

"No...Maybe." Peter tried to focus his mind. "I don't think she knows...but…"

"Peter, you have to focus. Close your eyes. Maybe that will help."

"All I can see are Micky's eyes."

"It's ok, Peter. Just keep reminding yourself it's a nightmare. Try to push everything else out." Before Peter could respond, Davy and Willow emerged from the basement. Peter was a little surprised because he thought they'd both gone to bed.

"What are you guys doing?" Peter asked.

"I couldn't sleep and neither could Willow so we decided to get a little training done," Davy said.

"He's actually doing a really good job," Willow said.

"Maybe you could join us tomorrow, Peter?" Davy added.

"Right, cause I'm not doing enough," Peter answered without thinking. "Just waiting around for someone to get hurt."

"What?!" Davy blurted. "That's not what I said! And that's not true!"

"Is that what you think, Peter?" Piper asked softly. "That you think you aren't helping enough?"

"You guys are learning how to fight and I'm learning how to wait and come in after the battle," Peter said. "What good is that? We weren't here when they were taken. We aren't looking for them. So yeah, I'm not helping enough."

"If we had been here when Robert showed up," Willow started, "he would have either killed us or taken us with and then no one would be able to save them. It's good we weren't here."

"Not just that," Piper said. "Just because you aren't going to fight with us, doesn't mean you aren't going to be important in saving your friends. You're not going to be sitting on the sidelines."

"We need your help, Peter," Davy agreed. "We can't do any of this without you. You're the heart, Peter. I've only made it through today because I've had you here with me. You make me smile and laugh every day. When any of us are upset, you're there to make it better. No matter what's happening to us, you've always been able to make us laugh. If the heart fails the body, the body dies. You are the heart, Peter. We would be nothing without you."

"Have I told you why I want to be a doctor?" Piper asked, kneeling in front of him when Peter didn't respond. "I didn't know what I wanted to do in the civilian world. My father, Micky's uncle, died before I was born. I always wanted to be just like him. I thought of nothing else but killing Templars to make him proud; to live up to his name and honor. Nothing else mattered. So when I was 16, my mother took me with her to kill a Templar, I thought of nothing else. She told me he was taking trips to China every year to buy children. Some he'd mold into sex slaves and others into work. I was disgusted by what he'd done, but when I got there, I was terrified. I looked at him and saw a monster, but I also saw a human being. I couldn't do it, so my mother took care of him. When we went to leave, we heard cries in the basement. We investigated and saw children locked in there. Most only had minor injuries, but some were hurt pretty bad. There was one girl who caught my eye because she was four or five and holding a little teddy bear. She was scared and sobbing. Mom started getting the kids out so we could get them treatment. I didn't really know what to do, but I knew I had to help her. She wouldn't let anyone get near her, but somehow she trusted me. She let me wrap a gash on her leg and I carried her back to the car. She never let go of me till we got back to the compound and doctors took over. She wouldn't let them treat her unless I was there; she'd kick at them or bite them. I did what I could to help keep her calm and treat her wound. If I hadn't done that, she might have died, if not hurt herself more. It was then I decided to be a doctor."

"What's that got to do with me?" Peter asked.

"It's proof that sometimes the person who doesn't fight, but stays and picks up the pieces is just as important, if not more important than those that do fight," Piper smiled.

"I couldn't do this without you, Peter," Davy added.

"Ginny came into YOUR dream to give you a message," Piper added. "She trusted you would be able to remember it and figure it out. She needs you, too." Peter looked into Piper's eyes and saw something he hadn't seen there before. He knew she had a big heart and she was caring, but now he saw the depths of how caring her heart truly was. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He forced himself to push aside the image of Micky, Mike and Davy lying dead on the beach in pools of their own blood.

"What?" Davy asked? "What are you talking about?"

"Somehow Ginny passed him a message in his dream," Piper answered. "Something about where they were."

"No," Peter said as he pictured Ginny's face in front of him. When he saw her, he saw the gauze on her shoulder just under her shirt. "They don't know. She's hurt though."

"What did she say?" Piper pressed, squeezing his hands tightly in hers. Her hands felt comforting to him. Ginny's words finally came back to him.

"She said they can hear a train and howling," Peter said.

"So they're somewhere desolate, but near a train?" Davy asked.

"How can we even be sure this wasn't just his mind making it up?" Willow asked. "Not trying to be mean or anything."

"Because it's all we've got right now," Piper said. "We should tell your father next time he calls."

"Alright," Willow answered. "You ok now, Peter?"

"I think so," Peter answered offering a small smile.

"I'll stay with him," Willow answered sitting back on the couch with him. "You guys go to bed. We all need our sleep right now."


Rose was pacing and it was giving Micky a headache. They'd been in this room for two weeks and hadn't seen Robert return. The only visitors they'd had were men bringing them food, which they ate reluctantly. They were all feeling the effects of the tainted air, but Rose seemed to become more and more agitated with each day. Micky knew her well enough to know it was partly because of who she was and partly because of the poison they were breathing in. Micky sat on the bed with Ginny, having just checked how her back was healing, and she was leaning against his chest. Mike was sitting on his bed watching Rose pace around the room.

"Rose, you really need to calm down," Mike finally said with a heavy sigh.

"I want to get out of here," Rose snapped.

"Pacing isn't going to accomplish that," Mike argued. "Just come rest."

"Why hasn't he come back down here?" Rose asked. "Is he playing some sort of game? Is he working on something really bad?"

"Rose, I don't know, but you need to take a moment and just breathe," Mike said walking over and putting his hands on her arms to stop her pacing.

"I think breathing is what's making her so agitated," Ginny offered.

"Partially," Micky said.

"We should close that vent," Rose said looking up at the vent that was blowing the tainted air into the room. "Give me a boost, Mike."

"Rose, we can't," Mike said gripping her even more firmly now. "We do that and we don't have any oxygen at all other than the little bit that comes under the door and that's not going to be enough for the four of us."

"Right," Rose said. "I knew that. Why didn't I know that?"

"Because you're being drugged and you're brain isn't working right," Mike offered.

"And you haven't slept well in two weeks," Micky added.

"None of us have," Ginny said softly. Ginny was right. When she'd gotten into Peter's dream, she'd passed out for several hours, but other than that, none of them got any more than a few hours each night.

"It's late," Mike said checking his watch. "Come to sleep."

"I can't," Rose said. "Not until I know what he's doing."

"He's doing this," Ginny said holding her stomach. "Making us wait is making you go crazy."

"Are you ok?" Micky asked noticing she looked really tired today.

"I'm fine," Ginny said.

"You don't look it," Micky tucked her hair behind her ear. "Is your back ok?"

"I'm just a little nauseous," Ginny answered. "Probably just the drugs in the air."

"Were you nauseous before?" Micky asked.

"He's probably using different drugs," Ginny said. Micky was about to say more, but they heard movement on the other side of the door. They'd already been fed dinner, so Micky was sure his father was on the other side this time. Sure enough when the door opened, Robert came in, but he wasn't alone. Behind him were several thugs and another man Micky instantly recognized. Micky stood up to guard Ginny as she gasped in fright and clutched his arm. Mike also pushed Rose behind him protectively.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Robert said. "I had to pick up a friend from Italy. You boys remember Francesco, don't you? Rose, I don't think you ever had the pleasure." Francesco smiled at Micky before resting his eyes on Ginny. They all knew who he was. Ginny's father. He was the Master Templar over all of Italy. He'd murdered countless colleagues and enemies to get to where he was. His murders were usually brutally done and framed either Assassin's other enemies. Now he was staring at them with murderous intent in his eye.

"Hello again, Micky," Francesco said in his thick Italian accent before turning to Ginny. "I hear you've been a very bad girl."

"Stay away from her," Micky said.

"Or what?" Francesco sneered. "You don't appear to be in a position to do anything."

"I should have killed you when I had the chance," Micky spat back.

"You tried valiantly as I remember, little boy, but you failed," Francesco laughed. Micky had tried to kill Francesco years ago, but couldn't. His priority then had been getting Ginny away from him and in a safe place. He pushed Micky aside and reached to pull Ginny off the bed. Before Micky could react and reach for Ginny, two thugs grabbed him and pulled him away from the bed.

"Leave her alone!" Mike yelled as more men grabbed him and Rose.

"Don't worry," Robert laughed. "She's already been punished for her escape. He knows that. Everyone needs to remember to behave. Unless you've already forgotten what happens when you misbehave in my absence."

"No, we haven't," Rose said shooting worried looks at Ginny.

"Good," Robert said. "I also had to procure this while I was away." Robert moved away from the doorway and allowed more men to come in carrying a makeshift stretcher with a small metallic box. This box had strange markings on it unlike Micky had ever seen. He was slightly mesmerized by it. For awhile, no one said anything; they all just stared at the box. Finally, Robert continued, seemingly pleased by the awe induced in the room. "I finally found this in the desert outside Phoenix. Not that I had any help. But I had a hard time figuring out how to transport this little wonder. It would seem as though when someone even so much as touches it with their fingertips, it emits a noxious gas that kills you nearly instantly. So opening it to get the artifact has thus far proven impossible and transporting the box extremely difficult. But, Ginny dear, I believe you have a way around that."

"What makes you think that?" Ginny said snidely. Francesco gripped the back of her neck and pinched causing her to cry out in pain.

"Watch your attitude!" Francesco barked.

"Leave her alone!" Micky yelled and started to lunge at them, forgetting he was being restrained. Pain shot through his arms as the men gripped him tighter and yanked him backwards.

"Calm down," Robert barked. "Ginny, I would highly recommend you rethink this whole playing stupid thing."

"What are you gonna do, fuck me?" Ginny spat causing Francesco to grip tighter. Anger flashed across Robert's face and he walked over to Mike. He yanked Mike away from the men who were restraining him and pushed him toward the middle of the room where the box sat. Fear gripped Micky, not knowing what was about to happen but knowing it couldn't be anything good.

"Tell me how to open the box, Ginny," Robert said. "Unless you'd like Mike to give it a try."

"Don't!" Rose screamed, wriggling around trying to break free. Micky tried pulling away from the men holding him, but couldn't break free. He doubted he'd be able to accomplish anything anyway. The four of them were vastly outnumbered and there were plenty of guns in the room. But he also knew Rose, Micky and Mike had all made Ginny promise not to open the box no matter what. Micky felt a knot in the pit of his stomach. He couldn't watch his friend die, but he knew if Robert and Francesco got their hands on that box, all his friends would die. Davy, Peter, Piper and everyone else. Even if they didn't die, they'd be enslaved; their minds and wills wiped and forced to do whatever Robert and Francesco wanted. Micky tried to think of a way to at least stop this fiasco for now, but his brain couldn't work fast enough with the poison in the air.

"Don't do it, Ginny," Mike said as Robert forcefully pushed him closer to the box.

"Shut up," Robert snapped.

"Please don't hurt him!" Ginny begged. Micky's mind raced. He had to think of something. He could divert the attention onto himself, but he knew yelling wasn't going to be enough to do that. He'd have to think of something else.

"Open the box," Robert said grabbing Mike's hair and pushing him to his knees.

"I can't!" Ginny yelled.

"You can't or you won't?" Francesco snapped. "I guess we'll find out pretty quickly, won't we."

"Ginny," Mike said, begging her not to give in. Micky's eyes landed on the guns in the waistbands of the men holding Rose and an idea began to form. Too slowly, however. He couldn't react fast enough to prevent anything. Robert shoved Mike toward the box so his forehead was barely touching the box. Ginny turned her head and whimpered a little. Rose screamed and fought even harder. Micky waited with baited breath for the toxic cloud to consume Mike at any second. But nothing happened. The room was silent once again, but for an entirely different reason. No one knew why nothing happened.

"See? I knew you'd know how to work that thing," Robert smiled at Ginny. Micky glanced over at her, curious himself. The only thing is, she seemed just as surprised as everyone else.

"I didn't do anything," Ginny said.

"Don't you lie to me!" Robert snapped.

"I swear!" Ginny said. "I didn't do anything! I don't know why nothing happened!"

"I don't think she did anything," Francesco said.

"She must have," Robert growled.

"She wasn't even looking at the box or him," Francesco said. "She turned away like a coward."

"Let's just see about that," Robert said. "Bring me Rose."

"No!" Mike yelled, who up until that moment had been sitting on the ground in shock, staring at the box in front of him.

"No!" Ginny echoed as the men holding Rose dragged her closer to the box. "I swear, I didn't do anything! I can't figure out what happened!" Micky knew Ginny was telling the truth. He had know idea what had saved Mike, but he couldn't count on it saving Rose, too. He had to act on his plan. He didn't care what happened to him in that moment. It pained him to admit it, but he knew his father would do everything to make sure he would live. But he hoped enough of a distraction would save her. At least for now. He threw his head back against one of the men holding him and connected with his chin. The man let go of Micky and clutched his chin in pain. Micky knew how to move fast. Too fast for anyone to stop him just yet. He had to piss them off. He grabbed for the gun in the waistband of the guy now clutching his chin, but found a knife instead. He grabbed the knife and quickly plunged it into the man's throat, just below where he was clutching his chin in pain. The other man reacted, as did everyone else in the room. Robert let go of Rose, just as Micky wanted him to and Mike quickly grabbed her and pulled her away from the box. The other man holding Micky grabbed his gun and fired.