The man babbled to himself as he sat at the bar, nursing a drink. Martene studied him as she sipped her own across the room. The poor guy looked like he had lost a fight to a much larger man, that's for sure.

She turned to stare out the window when he caught her looking. The hospital lights gleamed through the darkness, casting shadows on the cars and people bustling about. She had spent the day being briefed by the nursing staff on new surgical procedures, even using a well-deserved vacation as a learning tool. Charles's absence was duly noted, and most of the staff whispered to each other behind closed doors about this horrible thing that had happened. From what she could gather, Charles was not a staff favorite, but his wife has well-liked by everyone.

Poor, dear Charles.

She smelt him before she saw him settle in her booth across from her. "Look like you could use some company."

Martene tried not to cringe. "No thank you. Just relaxing after a long day."

His beady eyes gleamed. "Oh, you're German."

This time, she did flinch. "No, French."

He gestured towards the imposing structure. "I used to be a doctor. Had my own practice, too."

She had a hard time believing this unkept creature in front of her was a physician. "Really? Do you still practice?"

He hiccupped and waved for another drink. "Nope. Not since my wife left me for one of those lawyers. But you know what I say? Nerts, to her!"

Her mind tried to think of a way to get rid of this drunken stranger. "Well, Doctor, I hope you don't mind, but I want to be alone."

He sloshed his drink when he sat it down. "That's all you women want to do. Be left alone. Margaret wanted to be left alone. My wife did, too." He tried to sip his drink, but it sloshed down his shirt. "Well, if you knew what I've done, that I'm a big shot, you wouldn't treat me like that."

"It looks to me like all you've done was lose a fist fight."

He waved his hand, spilling more of his drink, moving closer. The fumes on his breath made her cringe. "You want to know what it is? That I've done?"

Martene backed away, looking around for help. No one was paying them much attention. "Not particularly."

He ignored here comment. "I'm a kidnapper," he whispered conspiriously. "But don't tell anyone."

She seriously doubted any claim this man made in his drunken stupor. "Kidnapping, huh? Sounds serious."

He looked left then right and leaned closer. "You got that right, sister. Still got two of them under lock and key, too."

Warning bells went off. 'The Revenge of the Kidnappers', as the local media had dubbed it, was everywhere she looked. Now, one of them might be right in front of her! Her mind raced, wondering what to do. She had to keep this guy talking! She leaned closer to him, despite the smell, eyeing a cluster of police officers at a booth nearby. "Really? How . . . um exciting. What are you going to do with them?"

He shrugged. "It's not me to decide. It's Fl – my partner. But, I think he wants to kill them. In front of their loved ones, too. Despicable business, really."

Martene feigned indifference. "I don't know . . ."

"It's the truth! I even let one of them go. Margaret doesn't deserve him, never did. But, I wouldn't see her killed. Maybe even hurt!"

It was him! She couldn't believe it! She pat him on the cheek. "I must run to the ladies' room, but please, stay right here. I find your profession . . . fascinating."

She left him looking pleased with himself. With his back to her, he didn't notice her stop at the table full of police officers briefly before walking out the back door.

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

Sidney ground his teeth in frustration.

Where was he?

Martene had barged her way into Margaret's room long after Charles had left, breathlessly telling them what she knew. After contacting the police department, Sidney had learned that Frank had sung like a bird when the cops confronted him. The rescue operation was already in full swing. B.J. had whooped with joy and kissed his wife before sprinting out the door. Hawkeye and Sidney had been looking for Charles ever since. He wasn't responding to pages from the front desk, he wasn't in his office, he wasn't anywhere.

Sidney stopped in front of the chapel door and shrugged. Hell, even Winchester might seek guidance at a time like this. When he opened the door quietly, he spotted Charles sitting on the front pew, staring into space.

"Winchester! They've found her!" His voice echoed in the empty room.

Charles looked at him dumbly for a moment. "You can't be serious!"

"As a heart attack!" He motioned for Charles to follow him. "I'll tell you about it on the way over!"

Charles didn't have to be told twice.

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

The cramping started long after Erin had fallen asleep for the night. It wasn't terribly painful, almost resembling menstrual cramps.

Some cramping is normal. Isn't it?

She honestly didn't know. But she wished Margaret was there to ask.

Where did he take her? Will they be found? What would happen if they were rescued?

Jessie knew she had to calm down. Sleep. Eat more. But, it was so hard to know when she didn't know if Flagg was going to take them for the next part of his plan. As far as Jessie knew, he didn't even realize Margaret was gone. No one had been up there since Frank had drug her out the door.

She rolled over onto her side, trying to ease the discomfort.

You can do this, Jess. Just relax. You've got to calm down.

She was almost asleep when the noise started. First, there was a loud crash, then yelling. Erin woke with a start and reached for her, terrified.

When a shotgun blast blew a hole through the floor, Jessie reacted. With Erin in her arms, she ran to a small closet and shut them inside. Huddling on the floor with the dust bunnies, she clutched Erin to her, trying to make soothing noises to calm them both as the yelling and shooting continued.

Suddenly, there was nothing but silence. Jessie didn't dare move.

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

There were police cars and emergency vehicles everywhere. It was almost as bad as the night he arrived home to find his world turned upside down.

They were in a section of Boston unfamiliar to him. The urban part of town, complete with its abandoned townhouses and empty factories. Just the sight of the boarded-up buildings and trash-coated sidewalks made his skin crawl.

All he knew was he was oh so close to having her back.

If she wasn't dead already.

Charles left Sidney's car before it even stopped moving, trying to make sense of the organized chaos around them. Some of the officers barked orders into radios, while still others marched around in some sort of turnout gear and rifles.

All the attention was focused on one sad-looking duplex, lights burning throughout. Police officers were going and coming from inside, some taking photos, others ambling about. A small crowd had gathered and a few were trying to keep onlookers at bay.

Charles spotted B.J. and his wife arguing with one of them. Since B.J. obviously wasn't having any luck, Charles frantically looked about, searching for someone who could help him find her.

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

Jessie could hear footsteps on the hallway. Several men, not just one or two. She clutched Erin to her tighter, praying with all her might as the little girl whimpered.

She could hear them jiggle the handle, then someone kicked the door, succeeding in opening it after a couple of tries.

Jessie didn't know if they were friend or foe, but she sure as hell wasn't going to make her presence known.

She heard them walking about the room, searching.

"Mrs. Winchester? Erin Hunnicutt?"

Now, just because they know we're here doesn't mean they're the good guys.

Erin had such a tight grip around her neck that she could feel the little girl's body trembling. Wanting to give her words of comfort, but not wanting to give away where they were, Jessie just rocked her back and forth.

They're going to look in the closet, Jess. You know that.

The footsteps came closer. The door creaked open.

"Mrs. Winchester?"

Jessie squinted her eyes against the flashlight beam.

"Hey! I've found them! They're alive!"

She shielded her face, catching sight of the badges they all wore.

She wept as they helped her from the closet floor, Erin refusing to let her go.

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

"Find out anything?"

Sidney startled him so badly, he almost yelled aloud.

"No." Charles thought about rushing through the barrier, demanding to see for himself what was going on inside. One officer had been no help, claiming the scene had not been secured, whatever the hell that meant. Charles did manage to pry out of him that no one had been found just yet, aside from Flagg, of course.

What if Flagg moved her? If she were there, wouldn't she have called out to them by now? That means she's . . .

Charles was gripping the metal barrier so hard that it bit into his hands. He didn't even notice as he desperately scanned the crowd going in and out the front door.

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

They helped her down a back stairway and out the backdoor, claiming Flagg was in the front part of the house surrounded by officers. They didn't want him to see that his prisoners had been taken away, afraid he'd make a scene. One of them offered her his jacket, which she gratefully wrapped around her shoulders. Her mind numb, she allowed herself to be led around the townhouse, not even curious to see where she had been held.

Seeing Jessie's obvious fatigue, one of the officers coaxed Erin out of her arms, convincing her with a teddy bear to let him hold her. Vastly relieved to be empty handed.

When they walked around the corner, the flashing police lights made her a little dizzy, and she held onto the officer's arm for support.

"Mrs. Winchester? Are you OK?"

"Yes . . . yes, I'm fine. I just want to go home."

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

Charles had had enough.

"I demand to see someone in charge!"

"Sir, we're doing the best we can. These things take time . . ."

"Time? We've been standing here for what seems like an eternity! My wife is in there! I've got to know if she's OK!"

"We will update you as soon as we know something, sir."

"Charles?"

Charles brushed Sidney off. "My taxes pay your salary, and I demand to see your superior right now!"

"Charles!"

"What?" he barked at Sidney.

Sidney pointed. "Look."

Charles looked up just in time to see Erin run into her sobbing mother's arms. B.J. cried openly, enveloping his family in his arms.

But, he didn't see much more of the reunion.

Not even noticing the officer protesting as he roughly shoved him aside, Charles barged through the barriers.

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

Jessie managed a small smile as she watched Erin reunite with her parents. It still hadn't quite registered that they were safe. She could go home!

Or to whatever home she had left to go home to.

Her mind was so numb, she didn't hear her name being called at first.

When she caught sight of Charles, all anger she had felt towards him over the last couple of days vanished away. With a small cry, she ran to him, meeting him halfway. She was sobbing before she fell into his arms.

He clutched her to him. He had so much to tell her, but all he could so was cry along with her.

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry! Forgive me, please for God's sakes, forgive me!" He didn't wait for her to reply, just continued. Once he started talking, he couldn't stop. "She doesn't mean anything to me, I swear. I lost my job and didn't want you to know. I shouldn't have. I should have told you! God, I should have told you!" He pulled her away from him, putting his hands on either side of her cheeks, damp with tears.

"Please, please oh please tell me you forgive me."

Jessie nodded mutely, everything he said not quite registering. "Charles, I'm . . . I'm pregnant."

His eyes welled up again. "I know, I know. You're going to be just fine now. You and the baby." He clutched her to him again, enfolding her into his arms. Jessie buried her face into his jacket, calming as his familiar scent surrounded her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Flagg being led away. The last thing she saw before she buried her face in Charles's chest was the glare he gave in their direction.

But, the pain shot through the numbness, almost taking her breath away.

"Charles?"

He still clutched her, not ever wanting to let her go. "What is it, baby?"

"Charles, something's . . . something's wrong . . ." Another pain, this one worse. She tensed, almost doubling over. She could feel herself falling, falling into the darkness, Charles calling her name seeming so far away. Then, there was nothing.

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ONE more chapter! Just one! Believe it or not!