Charles sat at his desk and studied the painting over the fireplace. Jessie had it done for his study their first Christmas together. The emerald dress she wore accented her eyes, and his great-grandmother's diamonds graced her neck. The painter even managed to capture the look in her eyes he always loved. It was a cross between playfulness and stubbornness.

Surrounded by all the mementos of their short time together, all he could still think of was the hurt on her face the last time he saw her.

I've got to have a chance to make it right!

The firelight cheerily lit the room, but he didn't notice. The entire day, there was no news of their whereabouts. No sightings. No phone calls. Nothing.

It was infuriating and helpless, all at the same time.

B.J. hadn't arrived yet, delayed somewhere in Chicago. Sidney had just told him that Margaret had been abducted from the hospital in DC where she was stationed, and Charles had tried to work out in his mind what was going on, what this idiot wanted with them, why he wanted to ruin all their lives. He couldn't quite fathom inflicting pain on others for ones own enjoyment.

But, you've hurt her yourself.

He leaned back in the leather chair, exhausted. This waiting was excruciatingly painful, more so than anything he had gone through before, even worse than the mind-numbing fear that was his constant companion in Korea.

He couldn't pray. Often scoffing at those who found comfort in something as trivial as religion, he wished he had that comfort now. Anything to chase away his terror. Anything to keep her safe and bring her home to him.

**********************************

Jessie wrapped herself around the dirty toilet, trying not to wake Margaret and Erin. She had nothing left but dry heaves, but it kept on and on. It was never this bad when she was at home. The worry was taking its toll. Jessie lay back against the wall, her knees drawn to her chin.

"The first trimester can be rough." Margaret sat down beside her on the floor. "Has it been this bad the whole time?"

Jessie shook her head. "No. Not like this. I think it's all . . . this."

"It was . . . rough for me, too."

Jessie stared at Margaret. She was startled to see tears in the normally stalwart woman's eyes.

Margaret wiped at them impatiently. "He or she would have been almost two years old by now."

"Miscarriage."

"No. Abortion."

Jessie sucked in a breath. "The father?"

"Hawkeye. When he found out what I had done, he went beserk. He didn't understand that the Army was all I had. All I was good at. Having a child was unchartered territory, something I didn't think I could do."

"But, he forgave you? Didn't he?"

Margaret half-heartedly shrugged. "In a way. We started seeing each other again recently. But, the unspoken accusations are still there. If I had known how much a child meant to him, I might not have done it." She shook off her tears, instantly composing herself. "But, that's all water under the bridge, now. So, I bet Charles is thrilled."

"Charles doesn't know."

"What? Why?"

Jessie found herself spilling out the entire story.

"That just doesn't make any sense. Are you sure you weren't mistaken?"

Jessie rubbed her eyes and shrugged.

"Maybe that's it. Maybe she went after him, and he couldn't push her away."

Jessie studied the head nurse she had frequently been intimidated by. "Why're you taking up for him?"

"He just . . . oh, I don't know! That seems so unlike him. I saw it between the two of you way back while we were in Korea. I was always . . .jealous, I guess."

"Jealous?"

"He loves you so much, and I guess I wanted that sort of devotion. Lord knows I didn't get it from Donald!"

"What about Hawkeye?"

"Oh, he's just Hawkeye. It's always so hard to tell with him. Who knows? He might even be glad that Flagg's got me!"

"Don't say that! He'll come for you! We'll all get out of here."

"Do you really believe that?"

"I . . . I try to."

"I guess that's all we can do, isn't it?" She stood and offered Jessie her hand to help her from the floor.

****************************

They were all listless, being stuck in the stuffy old room with nothing to keep them busy. Flagg had brought them food earlier, a little better fare than earlier. After trying to eat her portion, Jessie just couldn't do it, once again giving what was left over to Erin. Margaret tried to coax her into eating more, but she didn't want to. Desperation was beginning to settle in, and it was eating at her resolve.

After Flagg had taken their dishes away, and they had settled in for another night of wondering what would happen, the door creaked open.

It was Frank. They hadn't seen him since Margaret was brought in. He looked awful, bruises on his face and one eye almost swollen shut.

"You look like hell, Frank. Flagg really kicked your ass, didn't he?"

He ignored her comment. "Margaret, I'm sorry he brought you into this. But, I'm going to get you out."

"What are you talking about, Frank?"

"He promised he would leave you alone! He did! But, he's not here, so I'm letting you go."

Margaret and Jessie looked at each other, then looked over at Erin, asleep on the bed.

"Why . . . why me? Why not all of us?"

But, he was on a mission. "I won't let him hurt you." He came at her so fast with a chloroform covered cloth the women didn't have time to react. Erin started crying softly as he drug Margaret from the room. Jessie held onto the girl as tight as she dared, for the first time accepting that they probably wouldn't get out of this mess alive.

*************************************

Sidney rushed into his study unannounced.

"They've found Margaret!"

Charles jumped up so fast, he almost spilled his drink. Staying drunk seemed to help. "What? Where?"

"Someone dumped her off at the hospital. She's fine, but angry as a bear."

"Jess . . ."

Sidney shook his head. "No sign of her or Erin. But, if we hurry, we can talk to her at the hospital. B.J. said he'd meet us there."

Charles didn't hesitate, reaching for his jacket.

***********************************

The police had finally left Margaret's room after questioning her profusely.

No, I didn't know where I was. Because I was drugged. Why else would I not know? Yes, it was Frank Burns. And Flagg. Yes, they had Jessie and Erin. They were both alive when I left. No, there had been no violence towards us, but Frank looked like he had been run over by a train. No, I don't know why he let me go and not the others. They're not exactly the sharpest tacks in the box.

Hawkeye was allowed to stay with her during the questioning, watching her with brooding eyes from across the room as she curtly answered all of their questions. He had arrived at the airport the same time as a distraught B.J., wife and baby daughter in tow. They had immediately been informed that Margaret had reappeared mysteriously at the hospital. Trapper had met them there, telling them in hushed tones about the attempted abduction of one of his children, and Jessie's disappearance.

Sidney and Charles arrived as the police were leaving.

"Margaret! Boy, it's good to see you!" Sidney took both of her hands in his. "You look divine for a woman who has just been unceremoniously dumped in front of a hospital."

Charles nodded at B.J. and Hawkeye, all he could manage at this point.

Why couldn't it have been Jessamyn?

It was selfish, he knew. But, he couldn't take much more of this.

B.J. practically fell over himself to get to Margaret. "How is she, Margaret? Is she safe, fed, warm, scared?"

Peg put her hand on her husband's arm. "Now, B.J. Margaret's had quite a scare."

B.J. seemed to be in a sudden panic. "Don't you understand! He's got my daughter!"

Tears came to Peg's eyes. "I know that, honey. She's mine, too. Remember? And what about Dr. Winchester?"

"Look, I'm sorry. It's just . . . been a long couple of days, that's all." He kissed her apologetically on the cheek.

Margaret cleared her throat. "Erin's fine, a little scared. But, Jess has made it her life's mission for the child not to be scarred by this whole ordeal. We've been amusing her with stories about you."

"Clean ones, I hope," Hawkeye drawled from her bedside.

She elbowed him in the chest. "Of course! What do you take us for?"

Charles cleared his throat, trying to clear the lump that had formed. She was alive! "Is she . . . Does she . . ."

Margaret smiled at him. "She's OK, considering. Having Erin there has kept her occupied."

Charles nodded, not trusting his voice.

"Were they taking care of you, Margaret? Food? Water?" Sidney asked.

Margaret made a face. "Not exactly gourmet cuisine. But, a little here and there."

"Oh, my poor baby! I know she was hungry!"

"Please, B.J.! She ate all of her portion, plus most of Jessie's. Jessie couldn't eat it herself, so she . . ."

"She did what?" Charles sudden outburst startled them all. "How could she? She knows she has to keep her strength up!"

B.J. was immediately in his face, Peg tugging on his arm to calm him. "She's keeping my daughter alive, Charles! That should be worth something! But, I wouldn't expect you to understand!"

"Why is that? Do you own the market in compassion now?"

B.J. was almost out of his mind. "Erin's my daughter! My own flesh and blood! There's no comparison! You can find another wife, but my child cannot be replaced!"

"B.J.!" Peg said, hands on her hips.

Charles opened his mouth to reply, but couldn't form any words around the lump in his throat. After one final glare, he turned on his heel and stalked from the room.

B.J. made a move to go after him. "He's only worried about his own wife. Not you or Erin or anyone. But himself! That . . ."

Margaret whistled through her teeth to get his attention. "B.J.! She's pregnant!"

They all turned to look at her, except Sidney, who was watching the entire exchange quietly.

"Huh?"

Peg's hand went to her mouth. "Oh, the poor man! He's got both his wife and child! B.J., how could you say such things to him?"

B.J. ran his hand over his head, mussing his hair, realizing what he had done. The idea was almost unfathomable. "Dear God!" was all he could manage.

*******************************

Charles had never paid the little chapel much attention. It dealt with religion and believing in things unseen, something he couldn't quite comprehend. But tonight, he needed all the comfort he could get.

Thankfully, it was empty this time of night. He stood in the doorway, the lighted cross mutely illuminating the quiet room, wondering what to do. Slowly, he made his way to the front pew and sat down heavily, putting his head in his hands.

She's not getting out of this alive, Charles, and you know it. You'll never have a chance to redeem yourself.

What about the child? From what Margaret had said, he gathered she couldn't continue much longer in her current situation.

There could be other children. If she survived.

But, he wanted this one.

Suddenly, he didn't care if she still hated him or not. He just wanted her to be OK, to make it out of Flagg's crazy world unscathed. He would grovel on his hands and knees if he had to, but he would make her understand how much he still loved her. Forget his job, children, everything. All he wanted was to have her back.

For the first time in a long time, he prayed, begging God to bring her home.