"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage"
She was now dressed and as Steve untied the gag from her mouth Danny worked on freeing her hands and feet.
Tears dampened her cheeks as he took her face in his hands and spoke to her lovingly, "It's okay baby, it's okay." He kissed her gently, whispering "Oh God he hurt you…..I'm so sorry"
"I'm fine honey….…..oh God Steve, why did you come? He's going to hurt you"
Steve smiled as he replied softly, "All that matters is that you're okay. I love you Cath and he'll never be able to hurt you again….I promise you" Wanting to assure that Chin stayed away, he whispered softly, "Stand down Chin…...stand down"
Danny had stepped protectively in front of his partner as he consoled his lover.
After several moments he reached his hand back, laying it on Steve's shoulder as Wo-Fat stepped towards them.
As Steve stood, pulling Catherine up into his arms Wo-Fat spoke, "As you can see, she is alive. And now your girlfriend and your partner may leave, but they will take a message with them to your Mother" He tossed a burner phone to Danny, "I will call you at noon on Sunday to tell you where to bring Doris. If you do not bring her to me by noon next Tuesday, the sins of the Mother will be visited upon the Son. Do you understand me Detective Williams?"
"I do"
"You have two minutes to tell your hero goodbye"
As Wo-Fat stepped a few feet back and spoke to his men, Steve held Cath tightly as he looked into his partner's eyes and spoke firmly, "Danny you take her out of here, and about my Mother...you don't do it brother do you hear me. No matter what happens to me, you don't do it" Steve reached out and grabbed Danny's hand and wanting to get a message to Chin as well he added, "This is the way it has to be Danny. You and Chin take care of all my girls. I need you to promise me brother….you take care of my girls"
Danny slipped the phone into his pocket and his voice choked with emotion as he squeezed Steve's hand and said softly, "I promise Steve"
The reality of what was happening and what the men were saying sunk in to Cath and she grew weak in Steve's arms, "What are you saying Steve? We're not leaving you here to be killed"
Steve took her face into his hands and he whispered, "Catherine you have to do what I'm telling you now. You have to trust me" He smiled and added, "You go with Danny now. I'll be alright sweetheart. I'm going take care of this once and for all. This bastard is never going to hurt anyone I care about again. Cath, I love you and I'm sorry that I didn't always show it"
She sobbed, "Oh God Steve…please"
"Ssshhhhhhhhh, it's okay" He kissed her gently and turned to Danny, "Now get her out of here partner"
Danny said softly, "Steve….we'll be back for you"
Steve smiled "I know"
Wo-Fat then spoke, "I need Detective Williams and Miss Rollins to step aside now"
Catherine was sobbing as she said, "No…no... Steve….I love you"
He kissed her cheek as he positioned her into Danny's arms and said. "Danny, take her….please"
Staring at Wo-Fat and his two men who had their weapons pointed at them, Danny pulled her with him as he took several steps back from Steve.
Wo-Fat then spoke firmly, "Detective Williams, you will stay here until my men tell you that you can leave, do you understand?"
As Danny glanced at Steve, the SEAL smiled and nodded to him saying, "It's all good Danny. I love you both very much"
Danny said softly, "I love you too partner"
Wo-Fat then repeated, "Do you understand me Detective Williams?"
Danny replied firmly, "I understand. Now you understand this, if you hurt him I will kill you, you son-of-a-bitch"
"The Commander's fate is totally up to you Detective. Now bring me Doris McGarrett"
One of the thugs handed his automatic weapon to his boss and moving over to Steve he handcuffed him.
Wo-Fat then moved to his side saying, "Now I expect no trouble from you Steve"
Steve smirked, "I wouldn't think of it"
Pushing the large gun into the SEAL's side he said, "Move"
As Steve began to walk away Catherine called out through her tears, "No Steve….."
He glanced over his shoulder to see Danny holding her back as he tried to console her. He smiled softly as he watched the two people he loved most in the world and his eyes never left them until he rounded the corner of a pallet and they disappeared from his sight.
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Wade contacted Chin over the radio. "Chin, we're seeing movement inside and outside the building. What are you hearing?"
"Steve is being separated from the others. They're letting Danny and Cath go. Steve's told us to stand down"
Inside the building Wo-Fat pushed Steve quickly through the narrow rows of pallets towards the back of the warehouse where another one of Wo-Fats men was standing in front of an opened trapdoor in the floor.
His henchman handed him a scanner which he ran across Steve's body. It beeped as it detected the wire on Steve's collar and he ripped the SEAL's vest and shirt from his body, tossing them to the floor.
In the SUV, Chin listened in. He heard Steve being separated from Danny and Cath and he listened as Steve's microphone went dead.
Chin called to Wade over the radio, "Wade, Steve's microphone just went dead. What are you seeing?"
"We've got four heat sources in the middle of the building, probably Danny, Cath and two hostiles. Three heat sources are near the rear of the building, leaving two hostiles still guarding the perimeter. We're moving in Chin"
The two SEAL's moved with amazing speed and efficiency slipping silently behind the two men guarding the door to the warehouse and cutting their throats. After confirming that the heat sources were still in the same positions they stealthfully moved into the building. As they were moving amongst the pallets Jacks told him, "The three heat sources from the rear of the building have disappeared Wade"
Nodding to Jacks he said, "Let's go brother"
As Wade took a position behind a pallet about thirty feet from Danny, Catherine and their two captors, Brad Jacks made his way quietly through the pallets to the other side of the room. When he was in position, Wade gave the cue and in unison the two men stepped from their cover firing. As the first shots rang out Danny instinctively threw his arms over Catherine's head as he pulled her down to the ground and covered her body with his.
It was over in seconds as the SEAL's bullets dropped the two men with deadly accuracy.
Wade called out, "Both suspects are down! Danny? Cath? Are you two okay?"
"WE'RE GOOD!" As Danny helped Catherine to her feet she winced "Catherine, are you alright?"
"I'm fine Danny…..we have to get to Steve!"
Brad had confirmed that both the perps were dead and as the SEAL's led the way, the four made their way to the back of the warehouse.
As the trap door came into view, Catherine cried out "Oh my God. Where did they take him?"
As they neared the opening Danny's heart sunk as his eyes fell on Steve's shirt lying on the ground… and bloodied. On top of the light blue shirt was the ear piece Steve had been wearing…and the tracking device that had been implanted, and now obviously cut from Steve's lower back.
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Wo-Fat had led the way down through an underground tunnel which led to an exit near a frontage road where a van was parked. As Wo-Fat opened the back of the van, his henchman struck Steve on the back of the head with his gun. The two men then tossed the unconscious and still handcuffed man into the vehicle and they drove from the scene.
******************
Back in the warehouse after arming Danny, Wade and Jacks lowered themselves down into the tunnel.
As Danny took hold of Catherine's arm and guided her to a nearby chair, he spoke to Chin.
"Chin, Steve's gone. Wo-Fat had an escape tunnel built. Wade and Jenks have gone after them"
"The tracking device isn't working Danny, I can't locate him"
"I know…..Chin, that animal cut it from his body"
"Shit…...how's Catherine?"
"I'm checking her out now. Can you bring in the first aid kit?"
"I'm on my way brother"
The fear in Catherine's eyes was evident and Danny could tell that she had been through a horrible ordeal.
He spoke to her softly, "Catherine, we're going to get him back"
"Danny…why? Why did you let him do that? Wo-Fat's going to kill him, you know that" She began to sob as she continued, "Why did you let him go?"
Danny leaned in and she placed her head onto his shoulder. As she sobbed, he stroked her hair and with his eyes closed his thoughts moved to his friend. 'She's right…I know that. If we don't find Steve soon, Wo-Fat WILL kill him. Five days…..he gave us five days to bring Doris to him. He said he wouldn't kill him before then, but I know that fucking animal will torture him…He'll torture him again, like he did in North Korea. Please God, watch over Steve'
He choked back his own tears as he separated from Cath, "Catherine, I'm sorry. I promised him….. God, he loves you so much, don't you know that? With everything he's gone through in his life he couldn't handle losing you…..not you. He's been terrified since Wo-Fat contacted him and he's been running on adrenaline and pure instinct to get us here, to save you"
"If we don't find him now, Wo-Fat will kill him Danny!"
Danny sighed and replied emotionally, "I know that Catherine. God, I know that. We WILL find him, I promise you"
****** Much more to follow, I hope you're enjoying and as always I'd love to hear what you think. Reviews are the only way we know you like our stories (or not!) - and all reviews give motivation for writers to keep writing, so THANK YOU! ******