A/N: See? I am getting better at updating this fic! It's only been three weeks since I updated, instead of a month and a half! Yay! Ok… so I admit three weeks isn't brilliant, but it's better! And anyway, since you've all been very patient, I won't keep you waiting any longer! (You guys really must love it when I update after 11 PM. My A/Ns dwindle down to practically nothing! Lol.

Disclaimer: I own nothing that you recognise.

-o-O-o-

Turning around in the narrow metal tunnel proved tricky, and Alex cursed himself for not thinking to enter headfirst from the beginning. As it was, he was forced to awkwardly propel himself along feet first until he came across a junction.

He made better time when he was finally facing forwards, and it wasn't long before he'd slid down the shaft into the heart of the building, and every few feet was another vent allowing him a brief glimpse into another office.

They weren't completely abandoned, a skeleton-staff flitting from computer to computer, monitoring whatever it was that needed to be monitored. A night crew, Alex would guess, given from the lack of yawns.

Twenty metres further on he had left the large, open-plan office behind and was passing individual offices. In fifty metres or so the shaft would twist down through the wall cavity and he'd level off again directly above the server room.

There was a light ahead, seeping through the grill and spiking Alex's curiosity. He had been sure that all the people higher up would be at home, but apparently not. Unless someone had just left a light on, or something.

Cautiously, he crawled forward, being as quiet as possible.

When he was opposite the grill, he pushed himself back as much as he could so that he wouldn't be seen and looked through.

"For the last time, I haven't worked out how he did it!" spat a man, talking into a phone and striding around the office angrily.

A sleepy snuffle came from the corner and Alex's attention was drawn to a small child asleep on a couch in the corner.

"Look. Look. I can't talk about it now. I'll work on it tomorrow," continued the man, his pacing having been halted by the kid and his voice much softer. He was obviously trying not to wake the kid up.

"Daddy?" murmured the boy, sleepily, and immediately the man was by his side.

"I'm right here, son," he murmured. "Go back to sleep. We'll head home soon, I promise. I've just got a few things to finish up, okay?"

"Okay, daddy," yawned the boy, settling swiftly back down under the fleecy blanket that had been tucked caringly around him.

The man moved towards the desk, and Alex's eyebrows shot up as he got a clear look at the man's face. It was Faulkner. The vice-president.

The man Alex was supposed to kidnap.

-o-O-o-

It took all of thirty seconds for Alex to dismiss a snatch-and-grab. It would mean that he had to manoeuvre a deadweight of approximately 180lbs through a ventilation shaft, and then somehow get that same deadweight – bulky deadweight – down from the roof of a building without getting caught by the cameras. It would also put everyone on full alert that something had gone wrong which, admittedly, might be unavoidable but also might not be with the proper planning. He didn't want to fuck up simply because he'd been impatient.

Wondering if he'd made the right decision, he moved on.

From then on, it took him fifteen minutes to get to the server room and place the wire, Matt's instructions ringing in his ears repetitively and another ten minutes after that he was back outside Faulkner's office, worrying his lip with his teeth.

"I'm just going to go and grab some coffee," whispered the man to his sleeping son. "I'll be back in ten minutes."

Alex's mouth dropped. Sure, he was lucky sometimes, but there was no way he could be this lucky, surely?

The man paused at the door and Alex felt his heart sink, but he only said "Please don't wake up," before closing the door behind him. Alex grinned and rifled through his pockets.

Thirty seconds and a credit card had the screws out and the grill off. Alex dropped lightly onto the carpet and crossed to the desk. The computer was password protected and, with only nine minutes left, he ignored it and settled for sifting through the files and documents on top of the desk. He used his phone to take a picture of the map on the wall and shoved a couple of files up his shirt to take with him, the contents seeming important, but the dusty outside jacket making him believe that they'd be easily missed.

He was about to leave when a soft snort made him turn to the sofa.

180lb deadweight would be impossible, he knew. But what about a 50lb seven year old?

He couldn't. Wouldn't. It was just a child.

A child whose life would be damaged as much as everyone else's if the president was allowed to set off nuclear warheads.

"Shit," he cursed, almost hysterically, as he came to a decision.

Quickly, so that he wouldn't second-guess himself, he crossed to the boy and gently shook him awake.

"Shh," he soothed as the boy woke up. "It's ok. I'm not going to hurt you, I promise."

"Who are you?" asked the boy, looking at Alex with wide eyes.

"A friend," said Alex, his hand coming to rest on the boys shoulder.

Three seconds later, the boy was unconscious, never having realised he was in danger.

Business-like, Alex used the blanket to bind the boy in a sling against his chest and crossed to the desk. He picked up a few more files that he'd left alone before simply because they would have definitely been reported missing and tucked them securely behind the child, then grabbed a pen and paper from the desk.

Mr Faulkner, he wrote. You do not know me, but I am sure that you can guess my cause. I have taken your son. You have my word that he will not be harmed, but if you ever want to see him again you will do as I say. You will not report any files missing, or tell anyone about your son being taken. More instructions will follow in due course.

Quickly, he wiped down the pen to remove fingerprints and wiped the desk for good measure. He didn't bother with the letter because he'd been careful not to touch it.

With his precious burden cradled against his chest, it was a short jump to hook a hand onto the grate. It took a bit more effort to manoeuvre himself and the child into the vent but he managed, and had already screwed the grill back in place when the door opened and Faulkner re-entered.

He frowned when he saw the empty sofa and called out, obviously worried, "Aaron?"

"Aaron, where are you?"

Alex glanced down at Aaron, lying perfectly still against him and bit his lip.

He could tell when Faulkner spotted the note from the way he tensed and with three quick strides he had grabbed it and quickly read it.

"Oh, God, no," cried the man, dropping into the chair. "No, please, not Aaron."

Alex closed his eyes and began to move along the vent, the man's sobs fading into the distance as he went.

-o-O-o-

A/N: So, what did you think? Review and tell me? :D Please? Pretty please? If you're all very nice and review I'll try and have the next chapter up a week from today! Yes, just a WEEK! (ten days… tops, I promise!)