A/N

I am so sorry for the technical issues. All of a sudden my usual method of posting refused to work. I think I have resolved that. I also discovered that I posted a chapter twice. I deleted six but it won't automatically recollate. I think the only way around if is to add a new ch 6 which I will do. Again, thank you for your support and my apology for the posting issues.

Karen

Ana paused as she came to the Great Room with Mara. The room was filled with men in black suits yelling into phones or typing into them furiously. Welch was standing at the center of the room, coordinating everything like an orchestra leader. He saw Ana and nodded his head to the study. Ana felt her stomach flip. Something bad has happened. Something very bad. She felt herself starting to tense up, to feel fear building rapidly inside her core. She reached the door of the study and took a deep breath. Now was not the time to be afraid. Now was the time to be strong for Christian. She knocked twice firmly.

Taylor opened the door and she entered. She stood still and stared. Taylor put his hands on her shoulders like he used to when Christian was away. She felt his warmth and strength seep into her and began to calm. Christian was sitting cross-legged on the floor, rocking back and forth rapidly as he clutched a framed photo to his chest. Tears were running down his face and he was mumbling non stop but nothing that was comprehensible. Taylor whispered in her ear that Grace had been kidnapped and Flynn was on his way. He gently explained that the presence of Christian Grey, CEO was needed immediately. Christian Grey, son, was who was sitting on the floor in front of them. Ana nodded.

She walked over and sat beside Christian. She could understand his mumblings now. He was saying Mama, over and over again in the voice of a small child. His pain and anguish became Ana's pain and anguish. She reached out and gently covered his hand with her hand. He began to sob. "Christian, I know how badly you feel, but you need to pull yourself together. Grace needs you. We can cry together later, but for right now, we need you to save Grace. The kidnappers will want to speak with you. There will be a ransome demand. Come on, Christian. You need to save Grace. You are the only one who can. " "I can't save Grace. All I do is hurt people." The door gently opened and Flynn silently entered. "I can't save Grace. If I try, she'll probably die. God, I wish I were dead."

Flynn walked over and sat on Christian's other side. He immediately swung an arm across Chrustian's shoulders and gave him a small hug. "It's going to be okay, Christian. You're not alone in the woods. Everyone is here ready to help any way they can, but they need you outside. The kidnappers will be calling and you need to be prepared. Sitting in here isn't going to help Grace. "

Like a little boy, he fisted the tears from his eyes and looked down at the picture of him and his Mom. He was six years old and they were sitting at the piano together. He had just mastered Silent Night and she was smiling down at him, her face full of love and pride. He smiled back because it was the first time he knew for sure, things were going to be okay. Grace would protect him. He was finally safe, even though he still felt he didn't deserve all the good and kind things she did. If she knew, really knew about his life before, she would chase him out the door like a criminal and probably call the cops, too.

"Christan!" Flynn called firmly. Christian turned his head to Flynn as the Doctor took his hand and hauled him to his feet. "Come, we have work to do." He directed, taking the framed photo from Christian's hands and setting it back on his desk.

Ana stood and then sat on the nearby chair as a wave of dizziness overcame her. Flynn led Christian out to Taylor and Welch, while motioning Mara toward Ana. "Dizzy?" She asked. Ana nodded yes, while mentally ordering the sudden wave of nausea to stop. The nausea subsided but then her head began to pound. "Come," Mara offered. "Let's get you back to bed and some aspirin for your headache." Ana stood and with Mara's support started back to her bedroom.

In just the few minutes she had been in Christian's office, the Great Room was completely transformed. There were two long conference tables pushed together with what looked to be at least sixteen men working phones and lap tops or iPads. Christian was sitting in an arm chair in the corner with Welch and Taylor speaking to him urgently. Flynn stood behind him. She saw Sawyer then, as he walked into room along with a devastated Carrick.

Carrick headed straight for Christian, grabbed his shoulders and asked in a voice full of desperation, "Did you hear anything?"

Christian met his fathers eyes and shook his head no.

"Have you called the police yet?"

Again, Christian shook his head no.

"Why the hell not?" Carrick demanded.

"Mr Grey," Taylor started to explain, when Christian's phone began to ring.

"Grey" he answered, trying to hide the slight tremor in his voice.

"Christian!" He heard his Mothers voice and then a loud slap and a short scream. "Mom!" He yelled, but the only answer was a disembodied voice that said "5 million by 5 o'clock. Read your email."

Rage overtook Christian then. He flung his arm back to send the phone flying, but Taylor grabbed his arm with one big meaty hand as Welch pried the phone free so he could try and work some magic and find out something. Welch was sure of one thing. In the email would be a photo. One none of the Grey's should ever have to see. They had no way to track Mrs Grey without her phone or car. Welch suspected Schneiderman was the puppet master but Jack Hyde was the kidnapper. Getting the ransom together wasn't a big issue, but getting Mrs Grey back alive was looking more and more unlikely. Hyde was a violent men who got off on fear. The only scenario Welch saw her surviving in was if she was so damaged mentally as well as physically that it would just push Christian over the edge. Taylor walked in and sat down opposite Welch. Welch slid Grey's phone across the desk.

Taylor opened the email and looked at the photo. His impassive face never revealed so much as a flicker of emotion, letting Welch know Taylor was now in combat mode. "Regardless of how this works out, we need to take care of him."

"Agreed."

Meanwhile, out in the Great Room, Grey sat bewildered and perplexed. He watched Flynn with his Dad, watched his Dad break down in Flynn's arms. All around him in the Great Room, peoe were scurrying around or yelling into phones. His head was pounding, his chest felt like a tight band was wrapped around it. He closed his eyes and saw Grace. He came this morning before work because she was worried about him. She loved him. She had always loved him, right from the first. Then he heard a small voice ask if they could sit with him. He opened his eyes, prepared to snarl something nasty only to see a young child in front if him. A little girl. Â He started to ask who the hell was she, but she put a finger to his lips and ssshed him. Then she sat down beside him and held his hand. Christian wanted to get up and stomp off but somehow holding on to that little hand suddenly seemed important. Do or die important, in a way he didn't understand and had no desire to learn. If he kept holding her hand, everything would be alright. Slowly he let out a deep breath. His headache began to fade. His one hand still held hers while his other arm wrapped around her shoulders, holding her close. It made no sense but the rightness of it was inescapable. There was a big digital stop clock up on the wall now counting down to 5 o'clock.