A/N: Wow, I haven't updated this story in a really long time! Sorry about that. This just came to me suddenly after someone reviewed and reminded me this story is still out there. I have a few more chapters started, and I'm going to try to finish them all this summer, so you can extect to see more angsty Ian soon. I hope you enjoy!

Desperation

The Clue Hunt had undoubtedly landed Ian in a number of desperate, even terrifying situations, but perhaps only nearly dropping off the top of Mt. Everest had been a more precarious situation that the one he was in right now. Instead of searching for the last clue here at Shakespeare's tomb, he was currently dangling by his neck from the meaty fist of a very angry Hamilton Holt, his feet at least a foot above the ground, back smashed against the rough stone wall of Holy Trinity Church, oxygen almost gone. Hamilton's stinky cheese breath blasted Ian in the face as he interrogated him on the whereabouts of Ian's mother and the Cahill siblings. Ian couldn't breathe and the unforgiving stones scraped painfully against his back, reminding him of the mess at the Globe Theater last night, when his mother had climbed over his back in her sharp, spiked heels to get onto the stage and into the mob of fighting Cahills.

He and Natalie had no idea what the next clue was and they were running out of time. They'd recently come to understand just how evil their mother was, realizing that they had to find the last clue themselves before Isabel got her hands on it and took the serum. To do that, they knew they needed the other clue hunters, especially Amy and Dan, to help them. Isabel could return at any moment, so they had to hurry. Ian hoped to explain all this to Amy and get her to form an alliance with them. He hoped, but he didn't really think she would agree.

Things were different now than the first time they'd worked together, back in South Korea. The Clue Hunt had changed them all. Amy had been innocent, timid and much too trusting. Ian had been arrogant and cruel, and had played her right into his scheme. Then - that unplanned kiss that had turned his world upside down…He wished now that he hadn't betrayed her. Maybe things would have turned out differently. Since then there had been all the other betrayals, all the murder attempts. Yes, that's what they'd been, to be brutally honest with himself. This is hopeless. Amy knows what Mum did to her parents now. She'll never agree to work with us. I wouldn't if it were me. If she didn't hate me before, I'm sure she does now.

They were all desperate to find the last clue and get the serum, but Ian alone truly knew what would happen if he and Natalie failed. He thought of Irina, who Isabel had casually "gotten rid of", and shivered. The worst thing about this current situation, though, the thing that caused him to despair above anything else, was that Hamilton was right. Amy and Dan weren't here. Where were they? Could She have somehow managed to get ahold of them despite being in an airplane on the way to America? That would mean She knew what he and Natalie had done and would be out for their blood, too. No one betrayed Isabel Kabra and lived.

Morosely, Ian considered his situation. Amy and Dan weren't coming. The oversized Holt boy was going to choke him to death, which was probably better than what his mother would do to him otherwise. No-one would be able to stop Isabel from getting the last clue, making the serum and taking over the world.

Suddenly, there was a commotion at the door. There Amy was at last, frantically running in, breathless, clothes rumpled and dusty, hair a tangled mess flying behind her. Amy's cheeks were pink from running and her eyes, though worried, seemed to shine in the dim light of the church. What little breath Ian had left from Hamilton's assault left him in a rush of relief and a spark of excitement at seeing her. Dan and Nellie ran in too, in a similar state of frantic disorder, but Ian only noticed Amy. She looked nervous and exhausted as she took stock of the situation, but otherwise she seemed unharmed after last night's brawl.

This was his chance. He had to escape the Incredible Holt so he could talk to Amy, to warn her about his mother. He needed to let her know that he knew what Isabel had done and to apologize. He had to try to get her to listen to him, to let her know that he wanted to change, wanted to fix things. He had to gain Amy's trust so she would agree to help them. And it had to be done now, before it was too late.

Ian weakly swung and kicked at Hamilton and tried to shout, "There they are!" but all that came out was mangled gurgling. Hamilton just closed his hand tighter around Ian's throat. The edges of his sight began to blur and darken. Just as everything went black Ian heard Natalie's voice yelling something. Suddenly he was dropped in an undignified heap on the floor, wheezing and gasping as air came rushing back into his lungs. More relief filled him. He was alive, and Amy was here. If he had been brought up in a less dignified manner, and if he could speak, he might have yelled, "Hurrah!"

Natalie squeaked in surprise when Ian collapsed at her feet, but quickly knelt to help him sit up. Hamilton bent way down so he could shove his face in theirs as he blasted one last warning.

"Tell your 'mummy'- she better not try to hurt Amy and Dan ever again. Or else."

Ian flinched, then warily looked up at Hamilton. Just for a second he wondered about Hamilton's ferocious protectiveness. He'd defended Amy on more than one occasion. Could the big brute have feelings for Amy? But then Ian saw him glance over at Sinead Starling and recognized the fleeting expression that crossed Hamilton's face. It was the same thing he felt when he looked at Amy: a confusing mix of longing, guilt, shame and a touch of fear. That's interesting, Ian thought, information that could be useful in the future. And it proves he doesn't like Amy as more than a friend.

"Do you…do you think Amy and Dan would help us try to figure out what to look for here?" Ian rasped weakly.

"Maybe – if you'd never tried to kill them," Hamilton barked back.

Ian's shoulders sagged and he looked down, blinking away the sudden prickling in his eyes. Hamilton was right, the Cahills might have been willing to help them, had even done it once, but that was before everything. He and Natalie were trying to change things, but it appeared to be too little too late.

"Yeah, that's what I thought," he mumbled sadly. Hamilton gave him a long, puzzled look, then turned and moved away.

Ian managed to get up, but his head was spinning and he had to lean against the wall until the dizziness went away. In a moment he felt better and looked around for Amy. There she was, listening to Jonah with a perplexed look on her face. Well, that wasn't unusual. When was Jonah ever going to learn to speak proper English? Ian made his way between the pews to come up behind Amy. He raised his hand to touch her shoulder, but then dropped it again, suddenly unsure what exactly to say.

As he stood there, Ian heard Jonah say something ridiculous that sounded like,

"Yo, yo, yo. Word."

With a rather disgusted look on her face, Amy suddenly turned and charged right into him, causing Ian grabbed her shoulders to help steady them both. He almost moved to actually hug her, but stopped himself just in time. He couldn't keep himself from showing how glad he was to see her, though.

"Amy! I'm so glad to see that you didn't get hurt at the Globe yesterday!" he smiled down at her. Amy looked back up at him, and for the briefest moment he thought he saw a

flash of hope and longing in her eyes that matched his own, but then it was gone, replaced by steel-like fury and suspicion.

"Get out of my way," she barked at him. Ian's heart sank.

"No, please, just listen –" Ian heard himself begging. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Nellie, Dan and Jonah staring incredulously at them. I can't let them hear this. If we could just be alone…

"If you'd come with me, so we can talk privately -" he started.

"You mean, so you can lure me off to your evil mother? To some trap?" Amy interrupted, "How stupid do you think I am?" She jerked away and glared up at him.

That's exactly what we need to talk about, Ian wanted to shout. We need to make an alliance so we can avoid her trap. And I don't think you're stupid at all. But he couldn't. He just froze, staring at her in shock, his empty hands hanging at his sides uselessly. She did hate him. She wasn't going to listen. They would fail, everyone was doomed, and it was all his fault.

Natalie came to his rescue but he barely noticed. Amy, please wait! Ian thought frantically as she brushed past him. His eyes followed her, hoping for a change of heart, a smile, one last glance at least, but there was nothing. He watched her hurry off toward the front of the church, Dan right behind her. He didn't even care that Dan stomped on his foot on purpose as he went past. All he could think of was Amy walking away from him, his chance slipping away. I'm sorry…

Natalie slipped next to him, touching his arm lightly. "Ian?" His head jerked down to her and he saw the concern in her eyes. "Let's go. The camera is in place. There's nothing more we can do right now, and She is coming," she whispered urgently.

"Yes, you're right. We'd better leave." He started to follow Natalie but took one last look back toward the Cahills. Amy was frowning down at Shakespeare's grave, her back to the rest of the church. She didn't notice at all as Ian sighed and turned to walk with his sister out of the church.

The End