hey everyone, i'm back!!!! wow, i have chapter 17 up already! that was fast. anyway, i hope you like this one, and don't forget to review!!there's a bit of ZakxLina in this chapter, and a certain character is very OOC; just thought i'd warn you.

DISCLAIMER: i do not own the Secret Saturdays, i only own Lina and Gwen

the cat crouched low, readying itself for the attack. i backed up slowly, feeling my entire body trembling. i jumped out of the way as the cryptid leaped toward me, screeching like a wild jaguar. i landed hard on my stomach as the cat turned, it's screech rising to a higher pitch, piercing my ears. i could hear shouting from above me. "i hope everything's ok up there" i thought as the cat turned toward me again.

i noticed that its eyes were glowing. "oh crud" i mumbled, closing my eyes. i waited for impact, but nothing happened. i heard the cat screech again, and the shouting above me was getting louder. and then i heard a thud as something landed in front of me, and i heard the cat scream in pain. i opened my eyes and saw someone pinning the cryptid against the wall. i cautiously stepped closer to see who the person was.
"are you allright?" the person asked. i gasped, my heart beating faster. i'd know that accent anywhere.

that russian accent.

"Van Rook?! what in the world are you doing here?!"

he turned to me, struggling to hold the cryptid back. "i'm here for you, why else would i be here?"

i swallowed nervously. "i-i don't know. i just..." suddenly the cat sank it's teeth into Van Rook's arm. he cried out in pain, letting go of the cryptid. the creature immediatly attacked him, slashing his arm. he fell backwards, landing in front of me.

"are you ok?!" i yelled, knealing beside him. his arm was badly bleeding, blood dripping onto the hard concrete floor.

"i'm fine Galina" he whispered, his voice tight with pain. i put my hand on his shoulder.

"how did you know i was here?" i said softly as the cat slowly circled us, growling.

"the Saturdays contacted me earlier today" he explained. "they accused me of kidnapping you and forcing you to stay with me. after i convinced them that i didn't have you i decided to find out who did kidnap you. i knew i had to get you back, and that whoever took you would pay greatly". he turned to me. "you're sure you're ok?"

i nodded, fighting the impulse to roll my eyes. "gosh, i never knew Van Rook could actually care about someone" i thought. "i'm fine" i answered weakly, trying not to cry.

"what's the matter Galina?"

i sighed and wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. "nothing, it's just... i didn't know you cared".

"of course i care" Van Rook said, sounding almost insulted. "you're my daughter, i couldn't not care. and don't worry, i'll make sure no one ever hurts you again".

i smiled slightly. i was seeing a side of Van Rook that i doubt many other people have ever seen. and i knew then that he really did care about me. the cat growled again, and i suddenly remembered our prediciment. "so how are we going to get out of here?" i asked softly. the words barely left my mouth when a long cable suddenly dropped down from the square opening above us, the opening i'd fallen through earlier.

"Lina, grab the cabel, we'll pull you up" Gwen called. i ran to toward the cable, but the cat yowled and leaped toward me. i screamed and braced myself for impact again. but Van Rook suddenly jumped in front of me, slamming into the cryptid.

"Galina, go now!" he yelled, struggling to hold the vicious creature off.

my eyes widened. "what?! what about you?"

"i'll be fine, just go!"

i shook my head. "but..."

"go, now!"

i felt tears streaming down my face as i hesitantly took hold of the cable and felt myself being lifted up. Van Rook turned to look at me, still managing to hold the cryptid back.

"i love you Galina" he said, just before losing his grip on the creature. the cat yowled fiercely before it attacked him.

"no!" i screamed as i was pulled back up into the room.

"Lina!" Gwen cried, grabbing my arm.

"come on, we've got to go before something else happens!" Doyle said.

i shook my head.

"wait, no!" i screamed as i heard the cryptid yowling below us. but Gwen was leading me away, and i was too weak to protest. we managed to make it outside and onto the airship where Doc, Drew, Wadi, and the cryptids were waiting for us. "wait, we have to go back!" i yelled, running to the window.

"go back, for what?" Drew asked.

"for Van Rook!" i yelled. "i know it sounds crazy, but..."

"Van Rook? he's here?" Doc said. "why would we go back for him?"

"because he saved my life!" i yelled, tears streaming down my face. "he saved me from that cryptid and..."

"absolutly not, we're leaving now!" Doc said, and the airship started lifting off the ground.

"no, wait! please...!" i cried, but no one would listen to me. Doc and Drew were convinced that saving Van Rook was a bad idea. i felt my heart hammering in my chest and tears were streaming down my face. "i hope he's ok" i thought. "now i know he's not a completely horrible person".

"Lina?" i looked up. Zak and Fisk were standing in front of me.

"hey guys" i mumbled, forcing a smile.

"are you ok?" Zak asked.

i nodded slowly. "yeah, i think so". a few seconds went by before i started crying. "oh, i'm not ok. i'm worried Zak, worried a lot! Van Rook risked his life for me, and he could be dead right now! because of me!" i felt tears coming again, quickly looking away from Zak and Fisk. i felt one of them put their hand on my shoulder, and i heard Fisk mumbling. i looked up just as the Leumerian was leaving. Zak remained beside me, his hand still on my shoulder.

"hey, Van Rook's pretty tough Lina. i'm sure he'll be fine".

i sighed, sitting down in a nearby chair. "you're right, but... i'm still worried. i guess Van Rook isn't totally evil. i mean, why would he bother saving me if he didn't care?" i suddenly remembered something. "oh, and another thing..."

"what?" Zak asked, moving to sit beside me.

"he told me something just before you guys pulled me out of the hole". i hesitated. "he told me he loves me".

Zak's eyes widened, and he looked surprised. "really?"

i nodded, brushing some hair out of my face. "yeah, that's why we need to go back for him. he's not a horrible person, i see that now. and i don't want him to die because of me".

"he's not going to die Lina, don't worry" Zak said, slipping his arm around my shoulders. i blushed and slowly leaned my head against his shoulder.

"thanks Zak"

"no problem"

i felt my blush deepen. "i... i don't know what i'd do without you" i whispered hesitantly.

"ditto" Zak said, blushing.

i slowly sat up, feeling a little better about things. "as long as he makes it out of Weird World alive, everything will be ok". Zak leaned toward me, kissing me on the cheek. i was about to say something when the door opened and Gwen walked over to us.

"hey Zak, can i talk to Lina alone for a minute?" she asked, glancing at me.

Zak stood up and nodded. "yeah, of course". he smiled at me before he left. Gwen sat beside me, an awkward silence hanging in the air.

"so why are you so worried about that Van Rook guy?" she asked. i sighed, pushing my fingers through my hair. i still hadn't told Gwen about Van Rook being my father.

"i'm worried because..." i hesitated. "because he's my real dad, ok? there, now you know".

Gwen frowned, looking utterly shocked. "wait, what? no, that's impossible!"

i quickly explained to Gwen how'd i'd come to find out the truth. she sat in silence the whole time,. her eyes widening every once in a while. "so you see?" i said when i was done. "i know the truth about my family. i just don't understand why mom and dad kept my adoption a secret all my life".

Gwen put her hand on my shoulder. "Lina, mom and dad didn't want to hurt you".

i sighed. "they did hurt me by not telling me. i'm strong, i could've handled it".

Gwen nodded. "yeah, you probably could've. but you know now, that's what matters".

i nodded, smiling a little. "yeah,i guess you're right". we sat in silence for a few more seconds before Gwen got up and left, leaving me alone with my thoughts. i knew that we'd been lucky this time. Argost wasn't the type to give up easily. i knew that this was just the beginning.

ok, i know Van Rook is very OOC in this chapter, but hey, Lina is his daughter. i apologize if anyone disliked Van Rook being OOC, but it was necessary. by the way, has anyone seen Planet 51 yet? if not, then GO SEE IT!!!! it's one of the best movies i've ever seen and i LOVE it!!!! so go see it if you haven't already. anywho, i hope you liked this chapter,and please review!!

-FreddysNightmare1984