Chapter 12

Kate glowered at Adam as he stood over them holding Livie's phone, "smile Katie Kat" he said "I thought I would let your husband know that you are alright" she continued to glower at him until he aimed the phone at them, she stared at the camera still clutching Livie tightly until he lowered it and began to type "to Rick" he said out loud "sending image", he grinned playfully at them "don't want the others to feel left out" he said "I'll send them a picture of their girls", he did do before smiling at them again "so Katie Kat" he said "don't call me that" Kate snarled, he just smiled before grabbing a chair and sitting down over them

"You married Richard Castle, your favourite author hey, was it for the money? You became his muse didn't you, I read his books, he really got you didn't he, perfectly, then you became his muse in another area didn't you, the bedroom" he laughed "nothing has changed in that department I'll bet, can't wait to read the new one" "go to hell" Kate spat, he grinned before looking at Livie

"hey sweetheart why you hiding that pretty face, come now honey you don't need to hide from me" Kate tightened her grip on Livie as she shifted uncertainly, the movement didn't escape Adam's notice "oh Katie Kat, you can't protect her from me, I am her father whether you like it or not, she is mine and you are mine" "No" Kate snarled "we are not yours"

He stared at her before suddenly grabbing Livie and yanking her away from Kate, who cried out "no" and leapt up after them, but Adam threw her back to the floor, she landed heavily but instantly turned to face them as he Adam stood over her holding Livie in a choke hold. "she is mine Kate" he shouted as Livie struggled frantically "by blood she is mine" he shouted and drew out a knife and caught hold of Livie's hand "no" Kate yelled as he drew the blade across her palm, Livie cried out in pain as crimson blood welled up forcing its way out of the cut, Kate screamed "no leave her alone" but he kept hold of her bringing her hand round to face Kate so that she could see the blood forcing its way out "that is my blood" he shouted "my blood runs through her veins Kate, she is my daughter" "please" Kate begged.

X

In the other room Tali and April listened uncertainly until they heard Kate crying out and then Livie yelling in pain, then April looked at Tali "hey" she said and Tali looked at her "I think it is time you showed me how to pick a lock" she said, Tali looked at her before nodding and she too out the bobby pin, she removed the little rubbery bit on the end before beckoning to April, April shifted and Tali caught hold of her cuff and carefully inserted the pin into it, she carefully twisted and a few seconds later there was a gentle click and the cuff fell open.

April pulled her leg free sighing in relief rubbing at her red ankle, trying to get the circulation going again as Tali freed herself "now what" Tali asked, April smiled "another reason why now is a good time" she said moving over to the door and she very carefully pushed it and Tali's eyes widened as it opened slightly "he didn't lock it" April whispered and inched the door open centimetre at a time until the gap was large enough for them to squeeze through, the shouting was louder now and they carefully crept along the passage until they reached the door and they peered in, uncertain of what to do now

X

Adam stared at Kate breathing hard before looking down at Livie still struggling in his arms, then he caught hold of her hair and used it to yank her head round so that her burns became visible."I have done something for her Katie Kat" he said softly, "I made sure that the barstard who did this would never hurt her again", Kate stared at him "what did you do" she whispered, he smiled at her, playing gently with Livie's hair as she struggled "I put a bullet through Tyler Paige's scull" he said calmly "for what he did to my little girl", he looked at Livie who had tears in her eyes, with a smile he released her. Instantly Livie fell free back into Kate's arms and she clung to her tightly, whispering words of comfort to her even though tears were dribbling down her own cheeks.

Adam looked at them before bending down to Kate who pulled away, but all he did was brush away a few tears, "how you have changed Katie" he murmured looking at them soaking his fingers "I never saw those 14 years ago" "oh believe me, there were plenty after you left me" Kate snapped, he smiled at her before looking at Livie who was staring up at him in anger "oh sweetheart" he said "don't give your daddy that look", Livie continued to glower then her eyes flicked ever so briefly to the open door before they snapped back up to face him, Kate glanced at the door and felt her eyes widen as she saw April and Tali peering in looking terrified, instantly she looked back at Adam as Livie leapt to her feet suddenly glaring at him.

"no" she said suddenly "you have no right to call me your daughter, you lost that right when you walked out on my mom, you can tell me all these bad things about her, but that doesn't matter, I don't care if I was an accident, I don't care if my mom was planning to give me up, all that matters is that she didn't, she cared for me even though she had nothing, she has always been there for me, everything she has ever done has been for me and I love her, you abandoned me before you even knew me, there is more to family than blood, family is about love"

She stared at him before she spoke with venom in her voice "I may be your daughter, but you will never be my father"

He stared at her as she stared at him suddenly proud and defiant, then his eyes narrowed and he cocked his head to the side, sniper training kicking in, he whirled round and headed towards the door "no" Livie cried and Kate launched herself at him knocking him to the floor "April" she screamed "Tali, RUN" both girls didn't hesitate, they bolted past the door. Adam let out an angry roar as he saw them scramble past and began to struggle up but Kate fought to keep him down hanging on for as long as she could before he grabbed her and threw her against the wall, her head smacked against the stone wall and she crumpled to the ground dazed, Livie was crouched next to her still screaming at April and Tali to run as Adam leapt out drawing a gun, he slammed the door behind him locking it before they heard him pounding up the stairs out of the basement, Livie hugged her mom tightly, then they heard sounds that made them both flinch and Livie let out a sob of terror. Loud cracks of a gun echoing through the silence.

X

Tali scrambled up the steps after April hurriedly, she heard more shouting and then Livie was screaming at them to run, they heard a bang and she glanced back to see him charging towards them, she cried out leaping up into the room and slamming the trapdoor shut sliding the bolt home, he slammed himself against it roaring angrily, April grabbed her "that isn't gonna hold him" she shouted and they both turned and ran out of the door, Tali turned shutting it before looking around, they found themselves standing outside a small cottage in the middle of a forest, there was a dark SUV parked outside "come on" April said "whoa wait" Tali said and she ran at the car staring at it "Z90 BGN" she said "Z90 BGN, we need to remember that" "yeah I think I can remember BGN" April said grabbing her hand as there was a crash from inside "Better Go Now" she dragged her off down the track.

"no" Tali shouted and shoved April off the track "we have to stay off the path" she shouted "we'll get lost" April said "lost is better than back in that basement" Tali said "follow me" they tore off through the woods rushing round trees and through bushes desperately trying to get away, suddenly there was a crack and out of the corner of her eye Tali saw a bullet bury itself into a tree, she whirled round to see him running after them holding a gun in front, pointing the gun at April "April move" Tali shouted as there was a crack, April moved sideways but she yelled as there was a second crack and she fell to the floor "April" Tali cried, she skidded to a stop and ran over to her, putting her arm over her shoulder and pulling her to her feet making her cry out "no go" April gasped but she dragged her forward as fast as she could, more gunshots echoed around and April staggered away "I can run" she shouted and stumbled forward clutching her side where a large red stain was forming rapidly getting bigger.

"copy me" Tali shouted and she dodged sideways, zigzagging from side to side, before lurching off in a completely different direction and then changing it again, confusing their trail, April stumbled along behind her gasping in pain, eventually Tali stopped, whirling round, she could still hear him coming so she looked around frantically, then back at April before she threw herself sideways at her, she slammed into her and knocked her sideways, April yelled in pain as she fell to the floor but Tali was already dragging her towards a bush "in" she hissed, April stared at her "go now" Tali shouted and gritting her teeth April hauled herself in struggling not to cry out in pain, she wriggled under and Tali followed her until they were deep in the bush and April slumped down gasping loudly "now what" she groaned but Tali put her hand over her mouth and held it there muffling her gasps, April nodded as she put a finger to her lips and crouched there unmoving as their captor stumbled into the clearing.

He looked mad, very mad, Tali kept her hand over April's mouth preventing her from moving; April stared at her as she very slowly glanced out, he was looking at the ground trying to trace their tracks, he was not just a killer, he was a hunter, stalking his prey before he took them out, tracking was second nature to him. Slowly Tali looked back at April and closed her eyes waiting for them to be discovered.

"I know you are here you little brats" he snarled "come out now and I will spare you, continue to run and your deaths shall be long and painful" Tali waited but the bush they were hiding under was thick in front of them, as long as he didn't move round and they didn't make a sound, they might just not be discovered.

"come out now" he snarled, Tali slowly opened her eyes, April was still staring at her eyes wide, either from fear or pain, they heard him growl then he was off crashing into the woods, Tali waited a few minutes before she lowered her hand away from April's mouth and allowed her to let out a gasp "good hiding place" she panted, Tali nodded "you ok" she asked "yep" April said putting on a brave face but Tali carefully lifted up the side of her shirt to reveal the wound and she winced "how bad" April groaned "um" Tali said eyeing it. The bullet had grazed her friend in the side, leaving a long deep furrow that was bleeding heavily "well it will need to be looked at" Tali said "the sooner the better and you will need stitches but it isn't that life threatening"

April nodded and Tali began to rip the bottom of her shirt "what are you doing" April mumbled "helping you bind it before you lose too much blood" Tali said and she carefully tied the strip of cloth over the wound nice and tight. "ok" she asked, April nodded "You and Livie are really bad when it comes to doing the right thing" Tali looked at her "seriously "next time I say run and leave me, run and leave me will you" Tali looked at her "we are all in this together" she said, April sighed.

Tali looked around thinking "do you think you can move" she asked "as in run" April looked around "yeah but where" she asked, Tali pointed "DC is that way" she said calmly, April frowned "how can you tell" she asked, Tali looked at her "the sun is rising" she said "always rises in the East over DC and there is the sun" she said pointing at it rising slowly into the sky "oh" April said "right" Tali smiled "I have seen a lot of sunrises when I get up at 0500" she said "Now let's go before he comes back".

Slowly and carefully they wriggled out and began to head off towards the sun, April didn't complain once, she just kept going breathing hard through gritted teeth, Tali slowed her pace as best she could, April followed her as she moved from side to side, back tracking, breaking branches and crossing streams "what are you doing" she asked eventually "covering our trail" Tali said, April looked at her, she seemed remarkably calm in this situation "were you trained for this" she asked.

Tali glanced at her "yes" she said quietly "my grandfather dumped me in the woods with 15 armed Mossad agents, told me to find my way out without getting caught, I had to fight, I got stabbed in the side and had to carry on, I was in the woods for a day and a half in the burning heat" April looked at her "sorry" she said "You went through so much", Tali looked at her "don't be sorry" she said "I have gotten over the pain and the struggles for control, I have accepted it, and besides" she gave her a small smile "if I didn't we would be pretty screwed" April smiled "you got that right" she said and they stumbled on towards the rising sun.

XOXO

Kate held Livie as she cried, she cried for her friends terrified for their safety, and she cried for her mom, how much danger she had risked to come protect her, Kate cried too, but silently, she cried for her daughter, how she wanted her to be safe, she cried for her friends and her family, working themselves no doubt to death to try and find them.

They heard banging and then the door burst open and Adam stormed back in, he threw Kate aside and grabbed Livie pinning her against the wall, "look what I found in the other room" he snarled and held a bent bobby pin millimetres from her face "looks like little super child picked the locks, with this" Livie didn't look at him she looked down her face scared but determined "didn't you have one like this in your hair when you arrived" he hissed "where is it sweetheart, hmm" Livie didn't respond, he snarled and threw her to the ground, she rolled over instantly and began to wriggle away as he came at her

"you little…" he was so mad he couldn't even finish that "why" he shouted, he dragged her back up throwing her against the wall, she glared at him "because they're my friends" she said defiantly "I wasn't going to let them suffer too" he snarled again and slapped her so hard her head snapped back and she slid down the wall dazed, he raised his hand to do it again but Kate grabbed him "no" she said angrily, he threw her away but turned on her to Kate's relief, "why did you help" he growled "you helped them get away" she glared at him defiantly "to protect them from you" she said angrily, he slapped her hard, slowly she turned her head back to face him, he looked so mad that she thought he was going to hit her again, she was braced and ready but then slowly he relaxed and looked back at Livie, a smug sly smile slipped onto his face "you were both trying to protect them hmm, well you both failed" they both stared at him, he smiled "I shot the little Booth girl, she will bleed out, and the other one, well she refused to leave her, she was carrying her away from me, she will die too, the woods is a dangerous place"

Livie let out a choking gasp "you shot April" she choked out, he nodded grinning "she will bleed out slowly and painfully sweetheart, you should have left her here" he bent close to her "at least then it would have been quick" Livie let out a howl like a wounded animal and turned away from him sobbing, Kate glared at him crouching next to her daughter, he grinned again delighted at their misery, then he tugged out Livie's phone again "so touching" he murmured holding it up, "cry for them my darling, I shall send your pain to their parents, then they will know that they died trying to escape, thanks to you"

Livie didn't seem to be able to stop crying, she clung to her mother tightly who had tears trickling down her cheeks as she hugged Livie tightly, trying to comfort her as best she could refusing to look at the camera until he crouched down right in front of them holding the phone right in their faces "say hi" he breathed, Kate swung her head up to look at him "go to hell" she snarled at him, he just grinned at her, she looked at the camera then, straight into it, knowing that Rick would see it "always" she whispered, then he lowered the phone "I shall go send it to them" he said smugly still grinning at Livie's pain, then he turned and walked out of the room, locking it behind him carefully.

Kate hugged Livie tightly until her crying subsided, then Kate sighed, Livie was exhausted, she was exhausted, slowly she guided them into a lying down position and hugged Livie close "try and get some sleep honey" she said softly "conserve your energy" Livie nodded not speaking and slowly closed her eyes, within a few minutes she had fallen asleep. Kate lay there tears trickling down her cheeks, then she too slowly closed her eyes after sending out a silent prayer for Tali and April, "please let them be ok" she prayed before closing her eyes and drifting off into a fitful sleep.

XOXOXO

Tali stumbled to a stop and looked behind her, April was leaning against a tree her eyes closed breathing heavily, she looked bad, and Tali knew that they had to get out of these woods soon, she looked around thinking, they had been going for a while now, and the sun was now above them beating down on them, she would estimate that they had been running for about 2 hours, April had refused to stop saying she was fine, she was strong, but now she was beginning to lag. She looked around "wait here" she said and before she could protest she disappeared into the foliage.

She forced her way through a thicket and then she stopped and sighed in relief, there was a small bubbling stream in front of her "April" she called "come on I found water" April came stumbling through and they both fell down drinking in relief, he had given them just enough to keep them alive, barely any food, they were hungry and thirsty.

As they drank and tried to clean themselves up a bit, Tali looked at her reflection, she looked bad again, ragged hair, dirty face, lean and hungry covered in blood, April's and her own, from the many cuts and scratches that lined her cheeks, arms and the rest of her body, she had a cut lip and a huge bruise on her forehead, she really did look like she had been through hell, she looked at April and saw she looked the same, blackened eye and cuts all from their runs through the forest and their beatings plus her side was covered in blood, slowly she undressed the wound, unwrapping her make shift bandage, Tali took it and washed it out carefully "wash the wound" she said gently "the water is running, so less chance of bacteria, it is clean, you need to wash it to get rid of any infections"

April nodded and dipped her sleeve into the water and carefully pressed it against the still open wound, she flung her head back and let out a howl of pain, Tali moved over and carefully helped her wash it before redressing it again, the bandage wouldn't last long she knew, it was already soaked with blood. "you know" April said weakly her face white with pain "I am really glad it is you I am lost in the woods with" Tali smiled "same" she said, April looked at her "I am slowing you down" she said softly "no" Tali said "you are helping me to remain strong, I know that you are there right behind me, and that is what helps me keep going" April grinned and held up her fist "in this together" she asked, Tali bumped her own fist against hers "together" she said and they grinned at each other.

"Come on" Tali said "let's get moving" she helped April to her feet and they set off again back into the woods. It was almost an hour later when Tali stopped again, "what" April asked, Tali held up her hand and she fell quiet, they listened and they heard a rushing sound, "is that…" April trailed off "a road" Tali finished and they both tumbled towards it stopping at the edge of the trees.

A handful of cars were driving past unaware of their presence in the woods , "we made it" April breathed in relief, Tali nodded "what now" she asked, April thought "we could ask for a lift" she said uncertainly, Tali looked at her "who is going to pick two ragamuffin girls up who just ran out of the woods, covered in blood" she asked, April sighed and shook her head, then she frowned "wait a sec" she gasped, Tali followed her gaze, she was staring at a pickup truck that was driving down the road "I know that car" she squealed and before Tali could stop her she had leapt out of the trees onto the road standing waving her arms frantically.

The little blue pickup braked sharply to avoid hitting her, then pulled over, a boy with sandy hair and bright hazel eyes poked his head out "April" he said incredulously, then he was scrambling out as April staggered towards him "Seth" she cried and flung her arms around him, he held her tightly in confusion before pulling away to look at her "April what the hell happened to you" he asked, then he saw her side and swore "…April you're bleeding" "thanks genius I hadn't noticed" April said "listen I am so glad you are here, you have to help us" "us" he asked.

April whirled round "Tali come out" she called "it's ok, this is Seth remember I told you about him" cautiously Tali slipped out of the forest and headed towards them, eyeing Seth uncertainly "Seth this is Tali, my friend, now please you have to help us", he looked at her "yeah of course chick" he said "what happened" "no time" she said grabbing Tali's hand and pushing her into the pickup "we need to get to the Jeffersonion", Seth scrambled back into the driver's seat "bet you are glad I passed my test now hey" he said "though this wasn't what I imagined our first drive would be like"

April rolled her eyes "have you got your phone" she asked, he nodded "great I need to borrow it" she said and he pulled it out handing it to her "where's yours" he asked "um I would guess in a ditch somewhere" she said "seriously" Seth said as he began to drive "what happened "I did what I do best" April said as she dialled a number and held the phone to her ear "you were kidnapped again" Seth yelped, she rolled her eyes at him before turning as a familiar voice answered the phone.

"Booth"

XOXOXO

Rick had frozen after seeing the picture, he had stared at his wife and her little girl until gently Gibbs had turned the screen off, then he had just stared at the blank screen before falling to the sofa and placing his head in his hands, McGee had tried to triangulate an area where the signal from Livie's phone was coming from but the GPS was off, they had nothing, they were all on edge, really on edge, their children were missing, but Rick, well he was missing two people that he loved, and he was struggling to cope.

Booth looked at Alexis as she looked up at him from where she sat next across from her dad, she looked the same, her face streaked with tears, and Beckett's team looked angry too, especially Esposito, her best friend Lanie, was sat next to Alexis trying to comfort her.

Booth looked at Alexis and tried to give her a comforting smile, but it wasn't very sure, and he lost all optimism that he had when Angela let out a cry and leapt away from her computer as the screens flickered and then a video appeared, before they could do anything it started playing.

Everyone ran in when they heard Angela's cry and they stared at the picture on the screen of Livie crying her eyes out, unable to stop, Kate was clutching her refusing to look into the camera, there were tears trickling down her cheeks too, the camera moved and lowered until it was crouched in front of them, Kate kept her eyes down looking mad.

"say hi" a voice whispered and her head snapped up, her eyes burning with anger "go to hell" she snarled at him angrily clutching Livie tighter, then she looked straight into the camera and Rick let out a choking breath as she locked him with her powerful gaze, he stared into her eyes unable to move, they saddened and then she whispered "always", the camera lowered to show Livie looking at it her eyes red and miserable then it stopped.

Rick moaned and pulled Alexis into his arms hugging her tightly, everyone else stared at the screen in shock, staring at the new frozen image of Kate and Livie in pain, Booth sent out a silent promise that this guy was going to pay for everything he had done. "um" said Sweets, they all looked up having not heard him enter "can I say something" they all looked at him before nodding "Kate is his target" he said "he sent you a picture and a video of her and Livie, the video focused mostly on her, like he is focusing on her, he likes her pain, Livie in pain is her in pain, I don't think he wants to kill her" everyone stared at him "psychology really confuses me" Tony muttered and everyone nodded agreeing, Sweets looked at them "if he wanted her dead, she would be dead" he said, "he has killed many times, he shows no mercy, he doesn't play with his food, he just kills, there is another reason he took her, another reason he is holding her"

Booth groaned and rubbed his eyes, then sighed as his phone rang with an unknown number; he barely glanced at it before answering tiredly "Booth"

"Dad" he froze then leapt up "oh my god" he choked out and everyone looked at him in surprise

"April" he cried