Wrote this story in my 20s so has been revamped. Finally, put into chapters and did some major corrections.

Somewhere in a deep dark cell paced a man, who couldn't seem to sit down for more then a minute at a time. He had a lot of nervous energy. The man was tall with dirty long blondish-brown hair and brown eyes filled with such hate that most of the inmates avoided him whenever possible. Even the prison guards were cautious around him and tried not to push him too far. The man paid no attention to the sounds coming from the other cells. The snoring of a few of his cellmates, the clicking of shoes on the concrete floors that told him guards were patrolling and would soon be down his way. The squeaking sound of rats in the walls and the soft click of the cockroaches. How he hated this place and he would have revenge on "his partner", for running out on him, for not warning him that somebody was coming home . . . In his deranged mind it was always somebody's else's fault for the failure, but never his own.

In a month I'll be out, the man thought. And in a month he would have his revenge on the brother who had betrayed him. He'd had five years to dream about it and it was about to come true. He'd kill his brother—slowly after he helped make him rich—and this time he wouldn't get caught.

"Mikkel!" the man yelled loud enough for the sound to reverberate off the walls. "You'd better enjoy your last month of freedom, because you will soon be mine!"

"Shut up and go to sleep," yelled several voices at once. The man slammed his fist into the stone wall leaving; himself with scratched and bleeding knuckles and a sore wrist. Then he lay down to dream of revenge.

~~~The Kidnapping~~~

It was five years after the O'Malleys had adopted the orphan boy Mikkel and in that time Mikkel had grown into a fine thirteen year-old and also in that time Mikkel had come to have more confidence in himself as well as the world around him. He was excelling in school thanks to the help he had received from Marcus and Shari, when he had first come to live with them. And now school would be out for the summer in a couple of months and he would get to spend his summer vacation—part of it anyway with Stephen and Meghan in Silverton. Of course that wasn't till later in the summer a little earlier in the summer Marcus had promised him a trip to Disney World if he kept his grades up to at least a B average.

He had not only kept them up to a B but to a B average. Earlier in the year he had let his grades drop. He didn't know what had gotten into him, but he'd suddenly hadn't cared about his grades. He had been having nightmare for weeks waking him up in the middle of the night to find himself covered in a cold sweat and screaming; himself hoarse. Both Marcus and Shari had rushed into the room that first time to find out what the matter was. It had been hours before he'd been able to go back to sleep again only to wake up again less then an hour later again covered in sweat. After a few weeks the nightmares had disappeared as if they had never been and all any of them could figure was that it was the upcoming school dance that had caused his bad dreams for they had disappeared right afterward. Why the school dance would have caused him to dream about his brother was beyond him, but it was nice to get a good night's sleep again and not wake up more tired then when he had gone to bed in the first place.

"I'm home," Mikkel called entering the front door after unlocking it.

Marcus came out of the kitchen and asked, "How was school?"

"Fine," Mikkel said.

"Want a snack?"

"Sure," said Mikkel, dropping his book bag near the stairs. "Where's mom?"

"She's working," said Marcus. "She promised to call if the session ran over."

"Where's, Davey, Ryan, Rashel and Elisa?"

"The triplets are upstairs being watched over by Rosie, just to make sure they stay out of trouble," said Marcus with laughter as well as affection in his voice. "Davey's with them."

"Have the triplets been at it again?" asked Mikkel, amused.

"They get into any and everything within their reach. I think they're worse then Davey ever was at that age and theirs three of them to deal with not just one."

"What happened to your arm?" asked Mikkel finally noticing the bandage.

"I was shot," said Marcus trying to sound amused, even as he winced when he moved this arm the wrong way.

"Forget the snack you're going to and relax and use that arm as little as possible."

"It's just a scratch," Marcus protested, halfheartedly.

"Yeah well if mom finds out I let you do anything that put a strain on that arm . . . she'll kill me," Mikkel said with a shudder of mock horror. Mikkel guided Marcus to his favorite chair despite his protests that he was fine.

"I'll be good," Marcus promised playfully, "If you'll sit here with me for a few minutes. I haven't been paying you as much attention as I should have over the last several months."

"It's okay dad—really. I know you've been busy."

"Still, I should have been spending more time with you," said Marcus.

"Let's not go there," Mikkel protested vigorously shaking his head. "You've done more for me then most people would ever dream of doing. You took me in, gave me a home, tutored me in reading, writing and math so I wouldn't be behind the other kids and could enter the third grade. You loved me and took care of me when I was sick. You've treated me like your own son even after you caught me red-handed trying to rob you—so let's not go there," Mikkel repeated the last five words stressed in such a way as to make it stand out.

"Not anymore then any decent, caring individual would have done," Marcus protested Mikkel words affecting him more deeply then he wanted Mikkel to know.

"That's not true and you know it. Most people would have fed me to the dogs and not cared in the slightest about my fate. You and mom cared enough about me to see the good in me, to take me in and give me a home . . ."

The conversation was interrupted when they both heard the front door open. Mikkel turned and headed out to greet Shari so he didn't see the tear in the corner of Marcus's eye roll down his cheek and disappear into the fabric of his shirt.

~~~The Kidnapping~~~

A month later

"You have a good day at school," Shari told him kissing him on the cheek.

"You make sure you call us if baseball practice runs late," Marcus told him, as he sipped at cup of coffee and read the paper. "And one of us will pick you up."

"Yes sir," said Mikkel. "Love you mom, dad, I'll see you after school."

~~~The Kidnapping~~~

Hours later

The school day was over and Mikkel was headed to the baseball field for practice when suddenly he was grabbed from behind and a knife was put to his throat a millisecond later. "If you yell or scream or if you even twinge and let anybody know there; is a problem your dead understand me?"

Mikkel shuddered for he recognized that voice. He had no choice but to go along or he could very well end up dead. His brother wasn't one to make idle threats.

"Seth," Mikkel whispered terrified, but trying not to show it.

"Yeah, it's me traitor and I'm going to make you pay, but first you are going to walk slowly towards the street and then turn when I tell you."

Mikkel started to walk towards the street he had no choice. He didn't want anybody else getting hurt. When there were no people around to get in the way he started to struggle and actually managed to break free briefly then he felt something conk him on the back of the head—and everything went black.

~~~The Kidnapping~~~

7:00 pm same day

Shari paced in front of the fireplace. Mikkel still wasn't home and Marcus had had to leave town, but would be back tomorrow. Mikkel hadn't called either and that was so unlike him that it was almost frightening. He always called, even if he was only going to be ten minutes late and at the moment he was two or three hours late. Finally, Shari picked up the phone and dialed Marcus's pager number then she put in her emergency code. It meant call her immediately. This was the first time she could remember that she had, had to use it, except when the triplets had been born. Basically it meant I'm in danger/trouble and need help immediately or it could stand for a member of the family in trouble. The phone rang less then a minute later and Shari picked it up. "What's wrong minx?" asked Marcus sounding anxious and worried.

"Mikkel isn't home yet and he hasn't called. I'm worried Marcus."

Marcus was silent for a few seconds and finally said his voice sounding even more worried then before, "I'll be home on the next flight. We'll find him Shari I promise." Just knowing that Marcus was taking charge made Shari feel as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. "Call the other O'Malleys, but call Quinn first and see if he'd be willing to come help us out."

"Done," said Shari, hanging up the minute the word was out of her mouth. Just filling like she was doing something—anything made her less worried, which was probably why Marcus had told her to call instead of him doing it. Marcus knew she needed to do something to keep herself distracted.

~~~The Kidnapping~~~

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Mikkel awoke with a groan. His head ached from where he had been hit and his shoulders were throbbing. He tried to rub the spot on his head and found his hands tired around an old lead pipe.

"So you're finally awake. I'm glad I didn't kill you if only because we are moving out once it gets dark and you boy are going to me rob some very rich people . . ."

"I won't do it," Mikkel said venomously.

"You'll do it or you're dead."

"I'm dead anyway so you might as well kill me and get it over with. You think I don't know you plan on killing me after I help get you what you want?"

"Well, it all depends if you want to die real fast or real slow. If you want to die fast you'll help me otherwise . . ." Seth left the threat hanging in the air. Mikkel didn't respond and after a minute Seth continued, "Or maybe I should kill that little boy or the two little girls I saw playing in the yard of that big house a few days ago."

Mikkel shuddered and he could help himself he screamed, "No, no you leave them alone!"

"Fond of them are you? Then maybe you had better cooperate unless you want their blood on your hands."

"All right," Mikkel gave in, through gritted teeth. "Just so you understand any harm comes to them I will kill you myself."

"My own little brother kill me? Don't make me laugh."

"Yeah, well I'm not so little anymore. I'm not the same kid you used to beat up. Back then, I couldn't or wouldn't fight back. I have more muscles now from playing baseball and doing chores at home. I could give you a better fight then five or six years ago. Besides; Marcus has had me in martial arts class the last few years."

"And who is he your new father?" asked Seth, contemptuously.

"Yes, his name is Marcus O'Malley. Him; and his wife adopted me. The same family you tried to rob I might add and they have shown me nothing but compassion and what a family should really be like."

"And the little children I saw in the yard?"

"Their children, Ryan, Rashel and Elisa," said Mikkel.

"Since you're so fond of them I won't harm them as long as you cooperate. We leave for Chicago in an hour."

Mikkel nearly laughed out loud at his brother's choice of cities. Out of every city in the world he had to choose the one place the O'Malleys knew best and where most of them lived, except for Marcus, Stephen and Lisa. Mikkel had a feeling that choosing that particular city was a bad choice on Seth's part, but good luck for him. Through strength of will alone he managed to keep his expression neutral although it wasn't easy, by any stretch of the imagination. Maybe he could get a message to one of the O'Malleys—somehow. All he could do was hope—for hope was all he had.

~~~The Kidnapping~~~

Shari dialed Quinn and Lisa's number in Montana and prayed they were home. The phone was answered on the third ring, "Diamond residence—Quinn speaking."

"Quinn this is Shari."

"Well howdy Shari what can I do for you."

"We have a problem," said Shari.

Suddenly Quinn was all business at those words. "What's the trouble?"

"Mikkel is missing," said Shari. "Marcus is on his way home and will be in later tonight. He asked me to call you and see if you can come down as soon as possible and help. We're pretty sure it was foul play."

Quinn was silent for a minute and Shari could hear him consulting with someone on the other end—probably Lisa. "We'll be there on the earliest morning flight and meet you at the house," Quinn finally came back on the line.

"Thank you, I've got to call the others now we'll see you in the morning and thanks again."

"Your welcome, I hope it turns out to be nothing more then a false alarm, but it probably won't. Besides, he's our nephew and we love him just like you and Marcus do. We want him back safe and sound just as much as you. We'll see you in the morning." They both hung up and Shari immediately stated dialing Kate's number.

~~~The Kidnapping~~~

Marcus arrived home late that night to find Shari waiting up for him. She had put the other children to bed long since and she had tried not to show how worried she was in front of them. She had stopped pacing hours ago, but now she just sat on the couch and tried to work on a proposal, but she couldn't concentrate.

Shari heard the door open and she was on her feet instantly. She rushed into Marcus's arms and he held her as she cried. She had been fighting tears all afternoon, but now, they suddenly flowed forth. "I take it he's still not home," said Marcus making it a statement of fact and not a question.

"No and I'm so worried. I just know something's happened to him—I just know it," Shari said.

"You called Quinn and the others?" Marcus asked.

"Yes, Quinn and Lisa will be on the first flight out in the morning. Both of them were just as worried when I told them Mikkel was missing. The others had the same reaction and both Kate and Jack promised to break limb from limb whoever had taken their nephew."

"We don't know if he was kidnapped or not," Marcus pointed out, "At least not yet. I have a feeling however, his older brother is behind this."

"What makes you say that?" asked Shari.

"I checked and Seth got out three months ago after being in prison for five years and he's missed the last three meetings with his parole officer. As Kate said five years ago Seth is the kind of person who would thirst for revenge and if he thinks Mikkel betrayed him . . . I don't even like to think of what could happen," Marcus replied soberly.

Not much scared Marcus, but the fact that it was his son out there, a member of his family—it mattered not one whit that he wasn't their biological son—scared him a lot and he had been praying almost continuously since Shari had called him—praying that he was okay and that he would find some way to get in contact with them.

"If Seth does have him he could very well be dead and we'd never know," said Shari, nearly crying again at the prospect.

"Find Seth and you'll find Mikkel," said Marcus with certainty. "Let's at least try to get some sleep we'll need all the strength we can get for the days ahead."

"I won't be able to sleep," protested Shari. "I'm too worried about him."

"I know, I doubt I'll be able to sleep either, but we need to at least try. We won't do Mikkel any good if we're too tired to think straight and it's late." Marcus led Shari upstairs and Shari got dressed for bed almost mechanically. She laid down Marcus beside her and was soon fast asleep from sheer exhaustion. Marcus on the other hand, stayed awake awhile longer trying to think and plan on what could be done. He hoped they found Mikkel quickly—hoping, but not expecting—most of all he hoped they found him alive for like Jennifer's death had nearly done Mikkel's would destroy the family—or at least make it ragged around the edges.

~~~The Kidnapping~~~