Amanda hadn't even had time to scream when she'd answered the knock at the door and found herself propelled backward into the room with a gun to her temple. The massive stranger who manhandled her against the far wall and put his hand over her mouth had the coldest eyes she'd ever seen, but thankfully, he seemed to be taking his orders from the second man, smaller but with an air of authority. He had followed them into the room at a more leisurely pace, pausing to survey it carefully before muttering something in a foreign language that made her attacker drop his hand from her mouth and sullenly gesture for her not to move.

The man in charge walked across the room and began going through Lee's things – the wallet on the desk, the paperwork piled there: their air tickets, their marriage certificate. When he pulled out the latter and looked it over, he let out a barking laugh and shook his head.

"We don't have anything valuable," she managed to stammer out. "We're just tourists."

"Oh believe me, Madam Stetsonya, you can be valuable to me," he sneered.

Amanda wasn't sure what the accent was, but with Lee's jokes about KGB interrogation the night before running through her mind, she was fairly certain it was Russian, especially with the way he'd just changed her last name.

"I'm not really Mrs. Stetson," she said. "That was a mistake."

The probably Russian man turned to look at the rumpled bed, then back at her with a smirk, looking her over appraisingly, before saying, "Is true you are not Scarecrow's normal choice in women. He is known for his preference for girls with more…" He made a crude gesture with his hands suggesting female curves. "And yet, here is the proof." He held up the certificate again.

"Well, I still don't know what you want or why, but I only met him three days ago," she answered, hating that she couldn't hide the fear in her voice. "And I don't see why a guy who makes films is of any use to you."

Again she'd provoked that humorless laugh. "Films… You are very funny lady." He turned and began pawing through Lee's bag, turning to her with a raised eyebrow when he pulled out a gun to show her before dropping it into his suit jacket, apparently amused by her look of horror.

Everyone froze as they heard the shower shut off and the man walked back to the middle of the room. "Even one little sound of warning from you, and your brains will be decorating that wall, yes?" he said and waited for her to nod. "Good."

It was less than three minutes before Lee walked back out of the bathroom, towel slung around his waist and froze at the sight of the man in front of him. She could barely make out what the man said to him before Lee turned to look for her and, right before her eyes, turned into a clone of the other men in the room. The familiar warmth in his eyes was gone, replaced by stone-cold flint and a muscle jumping in his jaw that suggested he had a tight rein on his temper.

"She doesn't know anything, Volkov," he growled, turning back to stare at the Russian. "Harm one hair on her head and I'll kill you."

The man opposite gave a belly laugh. "I believe that she knows nothing - but that doesn't mean Amanda Stetsonya won't be useful in making you come to heel." He glanced at the paper in his hand again and chuckled. "Married in Las Vegas? So very typically American." He looked at Lee with amusement. "But where are my manners? You must be cold – why don't you get dressed and then we can talk more comfortably?"

Lee moved slowly toward his bag, trying not to turn his back on Volkov.

"Don't bother looking for your weapon," said the Russian in a deceptively amiable voice. "It is safe in my pocket."

Lee's shoulders sagged with frustration, but he quickly pulled on his jeans and a shirt and turned back not to Volkov, but to Amanda. "It'll be fine. They won't hurt you," he said, trying to sound reassuring.

"That's not your promise to make, Scarecrow," interrupted Volkov. "But actually, I have to agree with him, Madam Stetsonya, you will be safe as long as your husband does nothing foolish."

Amanda looked back and forth between the two men with a frightened expression. She wanted to believe Lee, but these men were terrifying and up until five minutes ago, she hadn't even known Lee carried a gun.

"What do you want?" Lee asked in a harsh tone.

Volkov shrugged. "What do any of us want? A warm place to call home, a beautiful woman, a bottle of vodka…" His voice suddenly got more aggressive as he jutted his chin toward Lee. "For my brother not to be in an American military prison."

Lee's hands clenched into fists at his side. "Then your piece of shit brother shouldn't have murdered my partner in cold blood."

"It was necessary," replied Volkov. "He was in the way. But it was not Vanya who killed your partner – it was me." His eyes flicked to Amanda, then back to Lee who now looked even more enraged. "So I would like to make a trade with your government. Spy for spy, yes? I get my baby brother back home to our mother and maybe you get to go home with your wife."

Lee could hear Amanda's quiet sob of fear in the silence that followed. "Fine," he ground out. "But we leave her here. She doesn't need to be involved in this."

Volkov pretended to consider that for a moment before shaking his head. "No, I am not thinking so. You will be behaving better if she comes too, no?" He gestured to his goon to bring Amanda forward and watched as Lee reached to grasp her hand. "We go now. Take elevator to parking garage. And if you try anything foolish, Scarecrow, remember it is Madam Stetsonya who will get hurt, yes?"

"And remember, if you harm her, you will be the next to die," remarked Lee, in an almost conversational tone as he walked to the door. "I owe you one death already."

The foursome walked down the hall to the elevator, stepping into a thankfully empty cabin. Lee sent up a mental prayer that it would remain so – it was enough that there was already one innocent caught up in this without adding more. He glanced sideways and realized Amanda had lifted her gaze heavenward and was mouthing some kind of silent prayer as well. Her free hand was up against her chest, flexing and fidgeting with nerves. He squeezed her hand and waited for her to turn toward him. "It'll be okay," he murmured. "Scout's honour."

Her expression lightened slightly at his words and she nodded before turning back to go back to her prayer. They arrived in the parking garage without incident or other stops and Volkov ushered them to an anonymous rental car, popping the trunk and motioning for them to climb in.

"Are you serious?" asked Lee.

Volkov snapped his fingers. "Of course, you are right – I almost forgot." He pulled out a pair of handcuffs – Lee's, Amanda recognized ruefully – and pulled Lee's hands behind his back to snap them on. "Madam Stetsonya – you first."

Amanda looked at Lee who was looking murderously at Volkov and carefully climbed into the trunk, flattening herself against the back wall, then watched as the Russians forced Lee to climb in after her, rolling him on his side so that they were nose to nose, then slamming the lid shut. In the darkness they felt the car bounce slightly as the two men climbed into the front seat and then the engine started. The trunk lit up briefly as the reverse lights came on and Lee could see Amanda's expressive eyes, wide and frightened watching him.

"Lee?"

"Yeah?"

"You're not really a film producer, are you?" she asked.