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Neal struggled as hard as he could as he, Diana,and Jones where dragged down the hallway. It had been an hour since they had been beaten. Neal shivered at the memories of not being able to help as the agents where hit again and again. He had just yelled until they gagged him to keep him quiet.

Thankfully, Diana had received a blow to the head which had knocked her out for the rest of the beating. Now she was awake again as they went down the hall. It was taking two goons to restrain her despite her injuries. He watched as she kicked and struggled hard; the goons had to hold her up in the air between them to keep her from inflicting serious injuries. Neal smirked slightly, as he watched Diana who had a long cut on her forearm, what he suspected was a dislocated wrist, she also had smaller cuts and the beginnings of major bruising. Not to mention that she had probably joined Neal in the concussion club, from the hit to the head she received. Yet if they let her go she probably would be able to put a goon or two in the hospital.

Neal stopped struggling as he realized it was useless, besides, his head was still fuzzy from blood loss and the the hole in his shoulder was not helping.

He started to look for an escape, but the goon that was dragging him was huge. He had Neal's shirt collar in one hand and Jones's collar in another and was dragging both their dead weight with ease. Neal then looked to Jones, now evaluating his situation. Neal saw Jones's ankle was twisted at an odd angle and swollen, along with that he seemed to have just as many welts and cuts as Diana. His face was contorted into a grimace as he obviously tried to keep down cries of pain from when his ankle hit a bump.

Suddenly, Neal realized that a goon had opened a door and they were dragged into a room that had three chairs with metal straps in the middle of the room. They were roughly shoved in the chairs and the metal bindings where quickly closed over their wrists, ankles (to which Jones let out a cry of pain as the strap was shove over his broken ankle), and a larger strap to secure their chests. Other than that no gags or zip ties where used. Neal noticed that he could pick these locks easily, It was like Sean was trying to make him do something stupid.

Just then, Sean strode into the room with a laptop, camera, and cell phone in tow. He promptly whistled to two goons who brought a table in for him to place his stuff on. It was placed in front of Sean facing the three captives.

"Are we having fun?" said Sean glancing up to face them as he set up the camera.

"Go to hell!" hissed Neal with a surprising amount of venom in his voice.

Sean stopped fiddling with his equipment and smoothly walked around the table. He put his mouth close to Neal's ear and whispered cockily, "Oh, but you already are there Neal." Then he viciously grabbed Neal by his bloody shoulder.

Neal tried to keep back the whimper but it escaped through his teeth anyway, Sean laughed and walked back to the table. Neal's face burned with anger, he gritted his teeth and closed his eyes. He knew he had to hang on to his cool but he was losing his grip. Maybe it was the pain talking but Neal just wanted this done, no more did he care for his safety; he only cared for Diana and Jones. He made himself a promise, a promise that Diana and Jones would get out alive even if it cost him his life.

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Peter woke up with a start as he tried to sit up fast, but felt a hand on his shoulder, pushing him down. He looked to his side to see Alex sitting on a crate. As he took in the rest of his surrounding, he noticed he was laying on the ground of yet another utility van (he sometimes wondered exactly how many of these things the FBI had.) There was a blanket covering him and an oxygen mask over his face.

"This is a hell of a situation you dragged me into Burke," said Alex in a flat tone.

"Hell of a situation we're in," he muttered, his voice drowned out by the mask covering his face.

"How could you have let this happen?" Alex suddenly hissed as her calm front broke down. "Mozzie is worked up, you're a mess, and Neal is hurt and God knows where!"

"Neal is hurt?" Peter asked ripping the mask away from his face, "How do you know for sure?"

"Mozzie overheard that they ran the blood in the van and it matched t Neal's, Alex sighed. "All of it."

Peter was about to reply when the door to the van swung open and in marched Hughes.

"Peter good to see you awake," said Hughes quickly. "As you probably can assume, we have no time to spare. You tell me all you know about this now."

Peter was stunned at Hughes abruptness, but complied. He told him everything that had happened that day, from the moment they had stepped into the van until he had passed out. When he was done, he took the note from the mystery forger and handed it to Hughes. "Now you tell me what you know." Said Peter forcefully.

"We pulled surveillance from inside the van and-" Hughes begun.

"Wait, you have surveillance inside the van?" Peter questioned. He would have laughed if the circumstances were not so grave and he still didn't feel like he was going to puke.

" You would be amazed at what we installed since Caffery started working here," answered Hughes. " anyway, we saw the kidnapping. All I can say is that two FBI agents and a consultant where kidnapped."

"And?" pressed Peter knowing there was more.

"And I am so sorry, Peter, but Neal-"Hughes was cut off by a Probie running into the van out of breath.

"Sir! Sir! We have a feed trying to hack the system! We suspect it may be the kidnappers. should we shut it down or let it through?" huffed the winded Probie.

"Let them in," commanded Peter before Hughes could answer. The Probie looked at Hughes and Hughes nodded.

Everyone in the van crowded around the Probie as he tapped codes into a nearby computer, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

Suddenly, Peter's phone rang in his pocket; he quickly reached and picked it up just as the video footage came to life on the computer. On the screen stood a handsome man with a cocky smile that reminded Peter very much of Neal's smile. Peter realized the man was the same, yet the exact opposite of Neal. He had dirty blond hair and was perfectly styled, it was Spiked to the side in the front, with a kind of flyaway look to the rest of it. His clothes where fashionable, yet he wore only jeans and a tee the most stunning thing was his eyes, his eyes where a deep emerald color that seemed to pierce right through the computer with ease.

"Hello Peter," the voice spoke from the phone and the computer at the same time. "Nice to finally met you! I hope it's as much as a pleasure for you as it is for me."

"Who the hell is this? What the hell do you want and where the hell are my agents?" Peter practically yelled his voice getting louder with every word.

"Agent Burke calm yourself!" the man said taking on a false hurt look. You wouldn't want anyone to get hurt, I think not. Now, down to business. My name is Sean Ryker and I know the drill. You want to know what I want, you want proof of life, blah blah blah. Well, I can tell you that they are not dead but for in good shape… I will let you judge for yourself."

The camera suddenly turned and Peter heard everyone take a sharp intake of breath,as they saw three agents sitting there the camera focused on them from the waist up.

First, was Jones he was pale and was covered in cuts and bruises. He also had a grimace on his face that looked like he could desperately use a couple pain killers.

Next, was Neal who was indeed the worst. He was slumped over barely able to hold his head up to look at the camera. His hair was matted and his shoulder was dripping heavily of blood. His eyes where dull and could barely focus on anything.

Diana was struggling against her binding. She looked the camera head on with a determined yet pleading look in her eyes. As her eyes locked on the camera she cried out. "Don't listen Peter! We're as good as de-" she was cut short as a goon behind her grabbed her face and forced a rag in her mouth, then roughly stuck duct tape over it.

"Agent Barrigan, you and Mr. Caffery have been causing trouble from the start! This deserves punishment," Sean mused, as he walked in circles around the three chairs. Suddenly he shifted sideways and delivered an acute roundhouse kick to Neal's ribs.

Peter flinched as he heard a bone jarring crunch. He watched in horror as Neal's body convulsed then lay still as Neal's eyes closed. "What?" asked Sean with a childish innocence. "I would never kick a lady!"

Then he wiped around and delivered a hard punch to Diana's stomach. Causing her to double over and cry out but the sound was stopped by the tape over her mouth. " Punch on the other hand, I can do." Sean said shaking his hand out.

Jones suddenly tried to lunge at Sean but his restraints held fast. Sean laughed and grabbed Jones by the throat and started to squeeze. at this point Peter his cool, "Stop it! Let him go or I swear I will hunt you down and kill you! You bastard!"

Sean gave one more squeeze then let go of Jones, he gasped and wheezed for air. "These are my demands," Sean said flatly turning slowly to face the camera. Ten million dollars for each agent in unmarked bills. Send Agent Burke and one other individual will come to the Chelsea pier at exactly one o'clock tomorrow with the money. My demands will be met if you want your agents to live."

"Your demands will be met," growled Peter.

"Very good," said Sean resting his hands on the back of Diana's chair making her squirm. "See you around." He smirked then the screen went blank.

"Peter," said Hughes regaining his bearings.

Peter did not hear his mind was seared on the image of a pained Jones, a hurt Diana, and the unconscious Neal.

"Peter!" Hughes snapped.

"Yes," said Peter in a steady voice.

"Go home. We already put a protection detail on your wife, so go be with her."

"I know what you are doing Reece, your'e trying to keep me as far from this case as possible." Snapped Peter.

"Yes I am! You better damn well respect it! Now go home and we will call if we need you." Hughes barked.

"Fine." Said Peter curtly and stormed out of the van. Alex followed promptly then turned to Peter once they were outside.

"He's right Peter, you're too close to this." Before Peter could respond, Alex walked off.

He grinned slightly at the idea. Like hell he was leaving this case, he had only just begun.

I can tell you not even I know what exactly going to happen next but stay tuned! Also I apologize for not updating a lot! for a full list of good excuses plz visit my page! And don't forget to review, you would not believe the warm fuzzy feeling I get inside when I get one! - Emma