Chapter Three: The First Clue

WARNING: QAF isn't mine:( and I really hate saying that:(

AUTHOR'S NOTE: PLEASE READ! I decided to warn you now that there will probably be a lot of time skips in this story. Also, I will warn you before each chapter that has a graphic scene in it. Not all of them will so I'll warn you in them. Like this one, it'll have a graphic scene in it. I think that's all for now.

"Talk"

'Thoughts'

Letters

Dreams

Chapter Three: The First Clue

FRIDAY AROUND 5:30 IN THE EVENING

Justin's POV:

"I think that'll be enough for today. I have to go and get ready to leave the first clue for your boyfriend." Stockwell said laughing as he left me alone in my cell. I've only been here for three days but it feels like years. My entire body was in pain and I was barely awake. Stockwell had used a knife this time. He cut both shallow and deep, but not deep enough for me to bleed to death. He had cut something into my left side but I was in to much pain to move to see what it was.

'Please Brian, hurry up and find me. I'm cold and scared and I want to go home.' I thought to myself fighting to stay awake a little longer. I didn't want to sleep, my nightmares were back full force. Only this time, Stockwell and Hobbs were in them.

Even though I wanted Brian to find me I was a little worried for tonight. 'What if Brian does something stupid and gets himself hurt, or worse, in the same position I'm in now.' I thought to myself while also wondering what kind of clues Stockwell was planning to leave. He took my ripped up, bloodied shirt this time so I'm guessing he's either taking it to make me more cold, to leave it for Brian, or both. I've also heard him laughing and saying something about a bridge of some kind.

I was quickly losing the battle to stay awake because of the pain so I moved slowly onto my least hurt side, moaning in pain as I did so. 'If I'm in this much pain after just three days, I don't honestly think I'll survive by the end of these two months.' I thought and gave into sleep, knowing I'd be waking up screaming and another beaten within the next two hours.

Brian's POV:

THE LOFT AT 6:00

"Bri sit down and try to calm down. We still have four and a half hours before he leaves the clue. At least try to eat something when Michael gets here with the food." Em said and I stopped pacing to look at him. He, Mikey, Ben and Hunter and moved into the loft Wednesday morning and were planning on staying here until we found Justin. I didn't complain about it. I don't think I'd be able to be in the loft by myself right now, not with all the memories here and everything reminding me of Justin.

I sighed and looked at the ground, "I can't calm down Em. What if he doesn't leave a clue and we're never able to find him!" I told him, my voice just above a whisper. I felt him pull me into a hug and whisper in my ear, "We WILL find him. The bastard is going to leave a note, if only because he was a man of his word before all of this. A horrible man, but a man of his word none the less. He said he would leave a clue and he will. And when he leaves it, we'll find Justin." he said and I just nodded and pulled away and smiled at him.

Truth be told, I don't really like anyone but Mikey and Justin seeing me as vulnerable as I am now, but Emmett's become a good friend over the years and an even greater one these last three days. Like me, he took off work until we found Justin. He said it was because he wanted to be there for me and help me and the police look for Justin during the day while the others worked until they joined us at night. I couldn't honestly blame the others for wanting to still work. Mikey looks at Justin like a young brother, same for Ben while Hunter looks at Justin like an Uncle. Debbie looks at him, like the rest of us, as one of her own. Mel and Linds also see him as a younger brother and Gus sees him as 'Papa.' It hit them hard too when we found out Justin was taken and I know they're trying to use work as away to detract themselves for awhile.

Emmett was like me and couldn't think of nothing else but finding Justin, which is why we both took off work until he was safe and back where he belongs, namely my arms.

Just then the doors opened and Mikey, Ben, and Hunter all piled in carrying food for all of us from the diner. we ate in silence mostly and when we were done we left the trash where it was fr the time being and moved to the living room to plan for tonight. "So are we going to have someone hide near the dumpster and jump out at him when he comes and make him take us to Justin?" Hunter asked and I shook my head.

"No, he'll probably be expecting something like that and will be prepared for it. Plus, if he weren't expecting it and we failed to get him, I don't want to give him a reason to kill Justin any earlier than he plans to." I said and we all shivered at the thought. "Right, so what's the plan then?" Mikey asked and I looked at the coffee table in thought.

"Well I was thinking, and I know this'll sound beyond cheesy, that we have Carl have a sniper on the build that has a clear view of the dumpster and when we see Stockwell he could shoot him with a tranquilizer and we could tie him up and make him tell us when he wakes up." I said finally looking up at the others. They were all staring at me quiet before they started to laugh, it wasn't a full-hearted laugh, but it was a laugh none the less.

"What's so funny?" I asked a little annoyed that they were laughing at a time like this. When they calmed down enough to talk Mikey looked at me, "Sorry Bri, it's just that that plan makes me think of my comics and how the characters would think of something like that." he said and smiled a little. Even though it made me slightly annoyed and embarrassed, I was glad to see that they could all at least laugh and smile a little still. It just proved that Stockwell had not broken us like he wants to.

"Well then you think of something." I told him and gestured for him to go on. He was quiet for a minute before shaking his head sadly. "I can't think of a good plan that'll work." he said and looked at his lap and Ben pulled him closer to him to comfort him. We were all quiet again thinking of a plan that would guarantee us getting Justin back tonight. All of a sudden Em squealed making the rest of us jump and look at him confused.

"What is it Em?" Ben asked and he smiled at him. "I think I might have a plan that'll work." he said and began to explain his plan. The more he said, the more the rest of us smiled and started to feel more hopeful than we have in three days.

"Em my good man," I said smiling at him, "I think that just might work." I said and he smiled at me and began to give us all our jobs and called Carl to explain the plan to him. Carl liked it to and told us to meet him at the diner at 8:30 and we'd get ready for tonight and hung up. We all looked at each other and got up and headed to the door. 'It wouldn't hurt to be an hour early.' I thought to myself and gripped the steering wheel tighter the closer we got to the diner.

DINER 8:30

Emmett's POV:

Just as Carl had promised he walked through the diner doors at 8:30 and walked over to us. "Let's wait for the others to get here so we can fill them in." he said and we nodded in agreement. I looked over at Brian and couldn't help the sympathy that came when I looked at him. He had bags under his eyes from lack of sleep and it was obvious he hadn't eaten much either. I think he's had a total of four meals the last three days. He's paler than normal and looks like he's lost. He maybe determined to get Justin back, but that's the only think helping him function.

Instinctively at the thought of Justin I looked around the diner to see him and talk to him only to get struck with sadness and pain when I remembered where he was. 'Baby wherever you are, I hope you're at least alive still. I know at this point there's no point in hoping you're unharmed as well, but I hope you're alive. I don't think the family could take it if we lost our Sunshine, and I think Brian would die with you.' I thought sadly. I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard the diner doors open and the rest of the family coming in.

"Where's Gus?" Brian asked and I looked around and noticed he wasn't here. I looked at the girls and waited for one of them to answer. "Daphne offered to watch him tonight since she's staying with Jenifer and Molly. They didn't want to be here in case it didn't work and Debbie offered to stay tot help with Gus and comfort the girls. I don't think they wanted to get disappointed." Mel said sadly and Brian nodded his head in understanding and got a far off look. I gently nudged him with my foot under the table to bring him out of his thoughts. He shook his under slightly and gave me a little smile in thanks and turned back to Carl as he explain the plan to the others.

"It sounds like it'll work, but isn't it a little risky for both us and Justin?" Linds asked in concern. "Yes it will be a risk, but I'd say it's worth it to get Sunshine." I said firmly and she looked at me for a second before nodded and looking at Carl with determination. "He's right, this is worth the risk. What do you want me and Mel to do?" she asked and Carl smiled at her.

"The only thing I need you girls to do is each of you stand at both entrances to the alley in case he enters one way and tries to escape the other. That way someone's there to slow him down no matter what. You two are to hide obviously and there will be police around so you two will be safe." he said and the girls nodded and walked away to plan on who's going where and the best places to hide at those spots.

Carl turned to Hunter then, "I amuse you already know your job?" he asked and Hunter nodded and stood a little straighter and answered, "I'm going to hide in the alley too. Only I'll be a little closer to it than the girls and if I see a chance then I'm to try and knock him out without him seeing me. If I can't, then I'm to try and slow him down by making noises that sound like he's surrounded and lead him to my dads, Brian and Emmett." he said and Carl nodded and turned to us four, "What about you four?" he asked and Ben answered, "When he comes within our reach we're to take him down and try to force where Justin is out of him and tie him up. If we can't we're to signal you, who will be on the roof with a handful of police officers, and you'll all come down and help us out. There will also be policemen all over liberty avenue just in case he gets out of the alley and we can't get to him." Ben answered and Carl nodded in approval.

It's 10 now so we might want to go ahead and get into our places in case he comes early to try and trick us." he said and we all nodded and headed to our places. 'Hang in there just a little longer Sunshine.' I mentally told him and stood beside Michael and Brian and waited for the bastard to arrive.

10:30

Brian's POV:

The thirty minutes we had to wait were the longest thirty minutes of my life. I was about to call off everything when I saw a figure enter the alley. 'Finally, Stockwell arrives!' I thought to myself the four of us knelt to the ground and I looked up at Carl who nodded at me and looked back at Stockwell. Stockwell walked up to the dumpster and taped the clue onto it. Hunter must've seen an opening because he went quietly up behind the figure and raised a fist to knock him out. Only Stockwell turned quickly and pushed Hunter to the ground hard and started to run towards Mel. Mel got out of her hiding spot and tried to trip him but he was faster and turned and started to head to Linds with Mel chasing him. Linds came out and went to hit him with a wooden board but he dodged and turned once again and this time he ran towards us with the girls chasing him to keep him coming this way.

The four of us got ready and when he came close enough Em jumped on him and tackled him to the ground and fought to pin him. However, he kept moving and trying to hit Em so the rest of us came and helped. Carl and the other officers quickly came down to help too. After about a minute of us struggling we were able to pin him down, but still needed at least six of us on him to keep him down while someone went to get cuffs and rope to hold him. When he was cuffed and his ankles tied it was then that we noticed that he was wearing a mask.

"Why would Stockwell wear a mask when all of us know what he looks like?" Mikey asked and I shook my head saying I didn't know. I turned to Carl to ask what he thought when Stockwell started to laugh. "Are you people so stupid to not figure out that I'm not Stockwell?" he asked and we all looked at him in shock. All of us angered at this point, Carl went over and harshly ripped the mask off.

I saw red and started to run at the bastard before I knew what I was doing. Just before I reached him I felt Emmett and Ben holding me back. I started to struggle and scream to the bastard who was still laughing. "You fucking bastard! I'll kill you!" I screamed which only made him laugh harder and louder. he looked at me and smiled.

"What are you going to do? Hit me in the head with a baseball bat like a did the fag Taylor?" Chris Hobbs asked and laughed again. I growled and started to struggle more. "Brian calm down now! If you attack him while he can't defend himself then you might go to jail and that won't help Justin!" Emmett yelled at me but I didn't listen and kept trying to get at Hobbs.

"If Brian were to attack now, I know me and all the men here will say that it was self defense. And even if he tries to say other wise it'll be a large group of officers words against just his. They'll take our side easily." Carl said and Emmett and Ben looked at each other before letting me go and I ran full force at Hobbs and punched in the face breaking his nose. I hit on him for a few minutes, letting all my anger out from him, Stockwell, and this whole damn situation before I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned and saw Mikey staring at me.

"As much as I love seeing this bastard get what he deserves, we need him conscious enough to be able to answer our questions and go to jail where he already should be." Mikey said looking at Hobbs with such hatred that if looks could kill I'm sure Hobbs would be dead now. 'Fucking prick deserves it to!' I thought as I growled and harshly pushed Hobbs to the ground and left him in a bloody mess. If you were to look at him now you wouldn't know it was Hobbs. Both his eyes were black and swollen and he had at least four missing teeth and his lips were busted in three different places. His ribs were probably fractured or broken and his nose was defiantly broken and he might have a concussion. I looked at Carl breathing hard and he nodded at me and harshly picked the prick up and got into his face.

"Now, why don't you tell me why you're working with Stockwell!" Carl asked coldly. Hobbs gave a wheezy laugh and smiled as best as he could, "I agreed to work with him when he came to me because he offered me a chance to beat on Taylor. I was actually going to when I got back from leaving the clue. I planned on showing him the bat again too." he said evilly and smiled at me. "BASTARD!" I yelled and Emmett, Mikey, Ben and Hunter, who had a bandage around his upper right arm from being pushed to the ground hard, had to hold me back. Carl smack Hobbs and Hobbs looked back at him. "Where's he holding Justin?" he asked and Hobbs just smiled.

"You're already going to jail for along time, don't make it longer by not telling us where he is!" Carl screamed in his face but Hobbs just kept smiling. "Get this fucking piece of shit out of here!" Carl yelled to the nearest office and literally threw Hobbs at the poor man who stumbled when he caught him. When Hobbs was in the police car and being driven away the boys finally let me go and I went to the nearest wall and punched it until my hand was nothing but red all over. I felt a gentle hand being placed on my shoulder and I turned to see Linds staring at him. I panted a few times before I took deep breaths to try and calm down and stop shaking. A police officer came over and wrapped my hand and I walked over to the forgotten dumpster and took the clue off and opened it.

Brian, Brian, Brian. You really shouldn't have tried to make a plan to capture me. Even though Hobbs is gone I still have others working with me that will be delivering the clues. All you did tonight was make sure Justin's next session was more intense than the others. I hope you're happy with yourself.

Now for the clue. If you look under the dumpster I had Hobbs leave you a little present that Justin wanted to have. If you want to find your Sunshine, then you must come to the place where the sun is the brightest... The next have of the clue will be given to you next Friday at 10:30 still.

Love,

Stockwell

P.S. If you try what you did tonight next Friday, I will kill Justin and give him back to you in pieces. Understand?

By the end of the letter I was shaking again and I felt my stomach do flips. "Bri?" I heard Em asked behind me. I shook my head and handed him the letter and knelt down as he read it out loud and reached under the dumpster. When I felt something I grabbed it and pulled it up.

What was in my hands made go on all fours and throw up everything that was in my stomach. "Bri! What is it?! What's wrong?!" I heard Mikey ask as he came up behind me and rubbed my back. I shook my head and leaned on him when I was sure I was done throwing up and held the object tighter to me.

"Bri, let me see it." Mikey said and I shook my head and held it tighter to me. "Brian Kinney, let me see it." Mikey said gently but firmly. Slowly I handed him the object and heard him gasp and move me so he could throw up as well, only he dropped the object unlike me. Ben rubbed Mikey's back as he threw up and Em bent down and picked up the object.

The second he knew what it was he was holding he gasped and started to sobbed right there. "For God's sakes people what is it that has you guys this way?!" Carl asked and took it from Emmett and just stood there in shock.

He turned to the others and held it up to them. "I think Justin's more hurt than we hoped for." he said sadly as everyone else started to sobbed. I turned and looked at the thing in Carl's hand and stood up and slowly went to Carl and took it from him and held it close as I sank to the floor and sobbed harder than I ever had.

I sobbed because the thing in my hand was a ripped up, very bloodied shirt that my baby was wearing the night he was taken.

OK, I hope you guys don't care that it was really long and I hope you guys are still into it! I bet half of you never saw this coming did you?! HA! i'm just that good lol:p anyways, so I lied about it being graphic and I'm sorry about that. Truth be told I was going to have a torture scene but I don't think that'll happen until the next chapter. I still have to get used to the idea of actually being graphic about hurting Justin who everyone loves! I may post again tomorrow but I have to work so it might be Thursday that I post next. Again, hope you guys still like it and I'm sorry if the length bothered you guys! Oh, ya, sorry about all the cussing but let's face it, I'm writing a QAF fanfic and Lord knows this family cuss like there's no tomorrow! Lol:p