Missing

Disclaimer: I own nothing

A/N: The title is a bit of a play off Victoria's story imitating, but yeah, here's a chapter for ya.

Chapter 17 (The Knight and the Trapped Princess)

Trina rolled over on the pallet and opened her eyes, groaning softly at the dim light above her. The last few days, Andre had done everything to appease Holly to the point that the woman didn't get angry enough to take her anger out on Trina. Therefore, the bruising had gone down tremendously.

She knew what day today was, and was nervous as hell. When the basement door opened, she sat up and stared at her cell door with great anxiety. There was still a chance that Andre wouldn't be able to get Holly distracted, so she was waiting for him to tell her the bad news. Despite all her anxieties, she couldn't remember the last time she was so eager to see someone as she was Jesse

"How will Andre manage to get Jesse to try and track us? Assuming his plan even works." The latch on the door unlocked and she held fast onto her breath. Andre stepped in with a smile across his face, and almost instantly she was relieved.

"I got it, Trina. Holly's taken Robbie to run some errands, and Gary has approved of my sole supervision of your daily activities today." He smirked and crossed his arms. "He says I may as well be promoted, I'm so damn trustworthy."

"How trustworthy?"

"To whom?" His eyebrow rose and he tilted his head to the right. "To you or to him? I thought we already established where my intentions fall, Trina." She closed her eyes and waved her hand in front of her face.

"Yeah, no, nevermind. I got it." She let him help her up and walked with him out of the cell. She wanted to know what errands Holly was running, but for the most part she didn't care. All that mattered was she was being given an entire day with a man who made her feel safe, and she hoped that something good would happen to bring a little extra hope into her life. "When did Holly say she'd be back?"

"Probably close to eight or nine. So our deadline will be at seven. You can't physically tell Jesse where the mansion is, but that doesn't mean we can't leave clues that would allow the police to further their investigation."

"Will this work?"

"It has to." She followed him up the stairs and peered over her shoulder. "Now Jesse may figure out who you are on his own, and I expect that. I expect he will not let you go once that happens." She stopped in the middle of the stairs and clutched the railing in fear. Andre turned and frowned at her. "What's the matter?"

"If that happens, Andre. If Holly and Gary know that I've been found, they'll hurt you and Cat. I really do care about Jesse, I'm happy about this, but if it endangers you and Cat?" Normally she wouldn't care, not after all this time, but seeing what the two were doing for her made her start to trust again.

"Don't worry Trina, I'm obviously going to have to get you back. I've got a plan. You might not like it, but it's the best way…Not only will it get you back without arousing Holly's or Gary's suspicions, but it will make Jesse all that more intent on finding you. Just like Cat's phone call sounds to have driven Sam to a greater desire to find her. Will you trust me that I won't let anything happen?"

"I…" She closed her eyes and swallowed her anxiety before taking a step up. It wasn't as though he hadn't been keeping true to what he'd been saying, but complete trust didn't seem possible. "Yes."

The first place to meet Jesse was at the café. She'd memorized every single text message that had gone on between Andre and Jesse, so there wasn't any worry of him talking about something she didn't know anything about.

She felt her heart jumping to her sleeves when he walked in, his eyebrows were up and there was a look of concern on his face. "I have to admit I was a little surprised you asked for an entire day." Jesse sat down at the table and smiled at her. "That's a step."

Trina chuckled nervously and shrugged. "Well we have been seeing each other for two years now, so maybe a date is overdue? I figured I wanted one, maybe you did, and so I asked." She glanced past him, seeing Andre talking to a waitress and pointing to an item on the café's menu. "I um, I hope you don't think I'm being too forward."

"Not at all." Jesse did look stressed about something, which was concerning to her, but she didn't know how much to ask. If it was work related, she knew from her father that officers couldn't always talk about their cases. "How have you been Katrina?"

"You know you can just call me Trina." He scratched his chin and closed his eyes. A soft hum vibrated from his mouth and he nodded once. "I share the name of that case your friend's working on, right? You mentioned that. Is that what's bothering you?"

"No." He leaned back and hung his elbow over the top of the chair. "As for the case, we might have stumbled on a breakthrough. Tori may be raiding the place her sister's being held at-that much I can say." Her heart skipped a beat and she saw Andre look over. He was able to hear some of what was being said, which was likely a good thing.

"So it's going to be a fight, then?"

"Nine years coming."

"You'll be a part of it?"

"Maybe. My coworker will be, along with Tori's coworker Jade and her husband. I do believe her father has been stepping out of retirement to help with this case too."

She started to tear up and quickly lifted the menu to peer and conceal the tears. "Wow." The thought of all these people looking for her took her breath away. Much less Jade and Beck, or she thought it was Beck. "That woman. Jade. Who is her husband? What does he do for a living?"

"Beck. He's a security guard." She leaned to the right and chuckled at the thought of all these police officers raiding the mansion. "We got a phone call from inside, we're waiting on the caller to call again so we can triangulate the location." He picked up the menu and looked at her with a smile. His strong eyes pulled at her and she turned a smile back at him. "Enough about the case for now."

"Yeah…I am really hungry."

Their next stop was the beach. All the different colors startled her, and she thought she was used to the sunlight by now but she wasn't. Trina held down her hair as the salty ocean breeze blew it about.

The clouds in the sky looked like a warm blanket rising up to wrap around her, and the waves of the ocean never sounded so loud and beautiful before. Even the sand was warm and soft.

"I could spend all day out here, Jesse. I could spend forever on the beach…"

Jesse rolled his head to the side and pointed to a surfer in the distance. Trina's eyes widened and her mouth opened in awe as the surfer moved in a seemingly zig-zag fashion on the wave.

"Marvelous!" She laughed.

"We live in California, and you act like you've never been to the beach." She watched his mouth curl into a handsome, inviting smirk. Her muscles relaxed and her cheeks grew hot. She couldn't just tell him the entire truth, no matter how much she wanted to.

"It has been a while. Some people in California would get tired of beaches." Aside from the café, this had to be the first place she'd seen, and she loved it. Trina released her hair and let it blow in front of her, then she turned to face the ocean. "I remember when I was a little girl. Daddy used to bring me out to the beach, he said I was a fish in the water."

"You were a swimmer, huh?" He moved beside her and gazed out at the ripples.

She was a lot more than that, but this was years ago. Much of what she knew, she could probably pick up, but only with a lot of training. Her muscles were weak and her body tired. "I was one of the top athletes at my school. I knew martial arts, and I could probably beat even you at basketball."

Jesse laughed at her and crossed his arms. "Now down at the department we have a basketball court. Everyone there plays on a team and we have tournaments, I'm one of the taller people there and one of the best players. I would take that as a challenge."

"Oh if I could, I'd take you up on it." Her eyes dropped for the moment and she ignored his question regarding her statement. She had enough strength to move, to walk, and to do other basic activities, but she didn't think she could do anything strenuous.

She looked up into the distance and gazed in splendor at the island. It was lush with tall grass, shrubs, and various trees. It was tempting to swim out there, and as much as she wanted to she couldn't. "Look at that, Jesse." She wrapped her arm around his without thought and pointed out to the island. "Isn't it beautiful?"

Trina's head turned and when she saw how close she was to him, the blood rushed to her cheeks. He smiled, then tore his gaze from hers. "Yes. Incredibly." Her blush increased and she stammered for the moment.

"I-I um, I was wondering about something, Jesse. Can I ask?"

His gaze drifted into the peripheral and his eyebrows rose. "Of course." She swallowed down the nervous lump in her throat and tightened her arm around his.

"I've only been able to go to that café once a month, we met two years ago. What-what made you keep coming? All these visits each month, and I feel like we've grown closer because of it, but still…that's a lot of patience on your part."

"I don't know." His chest expanded slowly, then fell with a quick breath. "There was just something about you that drew me in, I think."

"What?" A smirk came over her, but faded as quickly as it appeared. "I always thought you might have a girlfriend or something and she'd be pissed if she knew you were meeting me."

Watching him, his expression didn't change. The wind was blowing his hair past his strong eyes as they peered out at the ocean. His lips were slightly parted and his lightly toned body was poised in an almost protective manner. It was oddly enticing, but this feeling she had was frightening, and not one she'd dealt with in a very long time.

"You know, Trina." He turned his head toward her, and brought it to a slight tilt. "I haven't dated in many years, and I am not the type to run out on someone I am with. If I'd been with anyone when we first met, that would have been the last time you ever saw me."

"Well then, I'm glad it wasn't." She bit her lower lip and looked over her shoulder, trying to see if they were still being followed. Of course, Andre was now standing at a food vendor that was selling fruits. The vendor was listening to music, so he didn't notice Andre standing beside him.

"So…tell me more about these 'knights' you ran with back in the day." Jesse's eyebrows rose and he laughed. "Because if they were a gang, then were they criminal?"

"Not entirely." He motioned in the air and started walking, she clung to his arm and followed by his side. She was beginning to understand the feeling that Cat talked about in regards to Andre, and how she wanted to cling to that feeling of security. "I was a teenager then and the Black Knights were an organization under my father. They were kind of like a strange version of-you've heard of the Templar Knights, the Knights of the Round Table and so on?"

"Yes."

"Sort of like that. Almost a secret group of people, my dad had them do things that were kind of shady. He passed away, I took over leadership." Jesse scratched his chin and his eyes slanted in thought. "I tried to get them to clean up some of their shadier things. Had somebody very close to me killed as a 'warning' that I shouldn't keep trying to change things."

Trina's hand cupped over her mouth and her eyes widened as a chill shot down her spine. "Oh god. I'm glad you weren't hurt, but, that person?"

"She was innocent in it all." He looked up to the sky and closed his eyes. "She's in a better place. After that, I managed to disband the organization and went into law enforcement. I figured I'd be better at making things better for people in that career field than anything else."

"I agree. My dad was a police officer." Her brow furrowed as a sense of longing met her memory of David. "It's a difficult job, but I imagine it's very rewarding."

"It is."

"Would it be okay if I said that I'm still thinking of you like a knight?" He raised an eyebrow and smirked, then shrugged. When she turned her head back, she saw Andre strike the radio next to the food vendor. A gentle classical tune filled the air, startling her.

Jesse looked over to the vendor, but Andre was now blending in with the nearby crowd. "What's with that all of a sudden?" Trina's heart began pounding when she saw a ball go flying out of the crowd. A small child ran after the ball, and just as it passed directly by her, the child flew past her, making her stumble back with a shout.

He caught her before she fell, and her hands landed on his chest. Seeing Andre's move, part of her wanted to find him and hit him. Trina looked upwards into Jesse's eyes with a furious blush. "I uh-sorry, I didn't mean-"

"You alright?"

"Yeah…" Her lips slid into a smile and her arms moved around his neck. The music charmed her, and his powerful arms filled her with a strong sense of security that she longed for. "Can we dance?" His hands slid back and stopped on her waist, and he nodded at her.

"Of course."

"You can lead, it's been a long time for me." She let him guide her in a two-step motion, swaying gently to the right. His left hand pulled and she took a step forward, turning with him.

The music and the sounds around her filled her head, but the chatter of people faded away. Looking into his eyes, he was the only one to see. "I feel…safe."

"Safe?"

"Comfortable, like I-like I can trust you."

"I wouldn't do anything to hurt you." Her heart swelled as her eyes fell onto his lips. She longed for the feeling of romance, the emotion that she once knew to be love, but she was scared of what would happen if she allowed that.

In his arms she found it difficult to focus on those worries of hers. If only Andre would allow her to run away, she'd tell him everything. She would spill her heart, her fears, and all of her secrets.

As time passed by she followed him everywhere, still clinging to his arm. They spent so much money that she felt guilty, so they had dinner at his place. She could tell Andre was outside the open window in the living room, his head was bobbing in and out of view.

"Thank you for everything." Trina cuddled up with him on the couch, watching the movie on the television with tears in her eyes. She was fortunate it was a romantic movie which she convinced him to play-out of all the action flicks that he had. "Today's just-it's been like a dream."

Furthermore, the man could cook. Supper consisted of marinated chicken breasts, brown rice with vegetables, and some of the best mashed potatoes she'd tasted.

"I'm glad you've had a good time." Her eyes drifted to the clock and she stifled a whine. They only had a few more hours, all too short for her. She wasn't sure exactly what Andre was going to do, especially since she knew she'd have to leave. All she knew was he was going to make a scene somehow, something to make Jesse pursue that much harder.

She nestled herself closer to him and closed her eyes while setting her head on his shoulder. "Don't let me go, Jesse. Please." She opened her eyes and lifted her head. "I think, I'm not sure, two years I've felt this security…this feeling I have when I'm around you." She wasn't sure if it was love or not, but whatever it was, it was strong enough to make her want to feel more of it. "I can trust you. I know my daughter adores you."

His eyes filled with a compassion that no man has looked at her with since Sinjin, and once again she felt herself being pulled towards him. This was her hero, her knight, and she wanted him to be the one to save her. She needed him to see that.

Trina leaned up and her eyes slid down as she willed herself to kiss him. When her lips brushed against his, there was a spark of life and electricity that shot through her. Her mind went back to what Cat described, and she could feel it, the uncontrollable rush, the impulse born out of this security she wanted to cling to.

Her heartbeat joined his and her body began to heat up. After some time, he pulled his head back and she took a deep breath. "I'm not the type to take advantage, Trina."

"I-I know, I just…it's been so long since I've felt this way with anyone." She wanted to be happy, and of course, she had to know that she was safe with the person she wanted to be with, and this was that person. In her mind, if she were to be rescued, Jesse was the one she could see being there for her. "Please."

"You're a great person, you're beautiful and I respect you, but I won't take advantage."

"You're not." She kissed him again and let him fall back onto the couch. His arms slid around her waist and he returned with a strong kiss.

Outside the house Andre played a game on the cheap phone and sighed deeply while listening to what was once a conversation. Now it was something more, and he wanted to leave the area but couldn't because he needed to remain where he was.

"Well this was not a part of the plan." He looked over his shoulder and shook his head. "I guess I understand, and I wish I could leave you with him…" He admired Jesse for not wanting to take advantage, it said a lot about this man. "I approve, Trina. Unfortunately I'm going to have to take you from him, but it shouldn't be much longer that you'll be found."

He didn't want to hurt the man inside, but there was no way in hell Jesse would let her go now. "The knight has to protect the princess from the monster." He paused and lifted his head from the phone. "My fucking god, all the stories I've read to Victoria over the years are getting in my head now!"

"I have to make a confession," Trina's voice buzzed in Andre's ear and he looked up with curiosity. They were clearly finished now, so it was time to start focusing again. "I've been hiding some things from you, Jesse. Not because I want to…I'm afraid to say it."

Andre closed his eyes and started to shake his head. There was nothing wrong with her telling him at this point, but he didn't like it.

"You can tell me anything."

"You'll protect me? When the time comes, you'll find me?"

"What's the matter?"

"Each month that I've gone to that café, it's a gift. I'm allowed to go." Andre lifted himself up slowly and glanced into the window. The two were lying on the couch beneath a blanket that had formerly been on the top of the sofa. "My daughter? She's safe too."

Jesse's eyebrows moved together and his lips separated as Trina looked up to him. "I've always wondered why that café, or why you were there only once a month. I've been trying to figure you out."

"Yeah…and every time, I've been watched. By my kidnappers." Jesse's eyes widened and his body tensed. His arm seemed to slide protectively around her waist and he looked to her with a serious expression.

"You-"

"I've been held captive for a very long time, and they let me out once a month." When Jesse looked to the window, Andre ducked out of sight. "There's at least one person that is trying to help me, and that person allowed me to have this day with you because I wanted to feel safe again. I wanted to see you. That person already protected my daughter, he took her to safety. He made sure my kidnapper doesn't know I'm outside, but I can't tell you where they've been holding me because he doesn't want the kidnappers to suspect an inside job…that's why I can't stay right now."

"There is no way I'm letting you go, you understand that. I said I would protect you."

"I know. I don't know what he has planned, but he said he's going to make sure you have a way to find me."

Andre pulled away from the side of the house and cursed under his breath. "The shitty fact is that this plan fucked up when you two came to the goddamn house." He didn't know the house, and most likely Jesse would have his gun somewhere nearby.

He grabbed a picture from his wallet and smirked with confidence at the car in the image. The back was photographed so that the license plate would be in clear view. "That motherfucker's got to work in order to afford that mansion. Gary may be unlisted, but you see this car, you follow it."

In neat print was the address of Gary's job. He worked in one of the tall business complexes downtown. Also printed were the initials of the days he worked and the times he was in office.

This man seemed smart enough to figure it out, so with that being said, he expected Jesse to find and tail Gary one day.

Andre reached into a side pack hanging on his waist and removed a small dart and makeshift blow gun. He was in no mood for a fight right now. When he heard Jesse say something about calling his partners on the job, Andre's head flew up and he made his way towards the door.

"Sorry Jesse, man. Sorry Trina. There's a reason I got to do this. If they have you, they have no reason to take that mansion, I don't think. They need to take that mansion, they need to rescue Cat. I don't give a fuck about Robbie, but hell, maybe they can help his cracked out ass."

He kicked open the door and growled as Jesse shot up from the couch and Trina cried out. It was time to put on the act. "Found you!" Trina's eyes widened and she pulled the blanket up to her chest.

"No. Don't."

Jesse stepped in front of the couch and glared at Andre. "Is this one of your abductors, Trina?"

Andre didn't let her answer.

"Damn right I am, and I'm taking her back."

"Not if I have anything to say about it."

"Yeah, you know, I thought about it. I'm not in the mood for a fight." He whipped the blow gun and dart to his mouth, took a deep breath, then blew hard into the gun. Jesse's hand flew to his neck and Trina screamed as the man dropped down. "Don't worry Trina, it's just a tranquilizer dart. Let's go."

Trina got up and shook her head. "I didn't want you to hurt him."

"He's not hurt, just knocked out for a few minutes. Now come on!" He lifted the photo and Trina frowned. "I'm leaving this here. It's Gary's work address, his car, and the times that he works. Jesse is going to find you, okay? I'm not going to let Gary or Holly hurt you anymore until Jesse, Sam, Tori, and whoever else is coming for you come. Now let's get moving before the bitch gets back to the mansion!"

So a lot happened here, Andre did some good, although he might end up regretting not just leaving Trina even though leaving her with Jesse would mean returning without her and getting everybody at the mansion killed. Andre's appearance in Jesse's house also means another thing, Jesse's going to have to tell Tori everything, including Andre's involvement. Should be fun!