3.23 Set Up

Heath drove up to his grandparents home. It wasn't the same without Grandpa and Grandma Jean always seemed so sad. He picked up his sleeping daughter and carried her to the front door. It opened before he was able to knock, his Uncle Henry greeted him "is she alright?"

"Is Grandma up?" Heath asked upon entering the house.

Rolling his eyes Henry called "mom it's Heath."

While they waited for Jean to appear Heath asked "aren't you supposed to be in school?"

"Yeah well" he shrugged "I blew it off in favor of having some fun. Mom's not exactly happy about it."

"No I suppose she wouldn't be," Heath sighed. He missed his opportunity to go to school. Don hadn't finished. Too many things had gotten in the way. He looked at the younger man in front of him "but you are going to go school right?"

"Yeah I'm going next semester" he moved when Jean came downstairs.

"Heath" she cried upon seeing him adding "oh thank goodness you found her." She wiped tears from her eyes.

"They're still looking for Gwen. Someone had to bring Kimberly home" Heath explained "I'm sorry we didn't find both girls," he added upon seeing the stricken look in her eyes.

"They will though," she said sounding confident "I know they will."

"Grandma do you think you can take a look at Kimberly's arm? I don't think it's broken but..."

She looked into his worried blue eyes "no problem bring her in here where the light is better." She led the way into Grandpa's old lab that looked more like an office now containing all of his old research. He couldn't help but wonder if they'd ever see Grandpa again. The little girl stirred in his arms moaning as her arms was jostled.

Looking up Jean turned to Henry "be a dear and get the guest room read for Heath."

Henry nodded as he closed the door behind him. "That's not necessary," Heath protested.

"It's much too late to be carrying the girls from bed to bed. Lillianna is asleep." Heath nodded accepting what he couldn't change. He knew once Grandma Jean's mind was made up. It was impossible to change it. His mind was jolted back to the present when Kimberly cried out. "Ow" she looked around her eyes wide with fright. "Daddy" her plaintive cry went straight to his heart.

"I'm right here baby" he moved up so she could see him better. He felt her good hand reach out and grab hold of his shirt.

"My arm hurts daddy," she leaned her head on him as she watched Jean inspect her arm.

"I know sweetie" Jean said gently putting her arm down. "Your arm is going to be alright. It's just bruised and going to be sore for a while." She bent forward kissing the girls cheek.

***

"What do you think we should do?" Elliot asked his companions.

Don glanced over his shoulder towards the debilitated cabin they suspected Kyle's father was in "I wish we could confirm he's in there and not some random idiot...."

Kyle grunted the first sound he had made in hours "it's him." His voice was harsh, cold and dangerous.

Elliot looked at him in concern "how can you be so sure?"

"I just am alright?" Kyle scowled at him.

"Cool it you two," Don hissed at them "we can't allow him to hear us. We want him to think he got away. We need to get his guard down."

Breathing rapidly Kyle nodded "ok I'm ok," he repeated. Elliot look at him in concern before turning his attention to the cabin.

"I'm going up to see if I can get a look in the window," Don told them.

He snuck up to the window. He kept low to the ground using the shrubs as cover in case the man looked out the window. Leaning against the outside wall he glanced cautiously into the grimy window. He saw a bald man sitting at a table with a small lamp beside him. The light reflecting off the man's bald shiny head. He turned and gave the others a thumb up to let them know. He glanced through the dirty window again hoping to see Gwen somewhere nearby. Squinting he peered into the darkening room but couldn't see her anywhere. Where had that mad man put her?

Not wanting to risk being seen Don inched away from the window. Stopping part way between the cabin and where the guys were waiting for him. He had an idea. If Gwen wasn't in the cabin the only other place would be...the car.

***

The little blond haired girl huddled in the dark. She hurt in multiple places from being tossed about like a toy boat in the ocean. She didn't know where she was or how long she had been locked in the trunk. She dried her eyes dry on the back of her hand. It was getting cold now that the car wasn't moving and she wasn't fighting to keep from rolling round with every turn.

She should have listened to Kimberly. She should have left before the scary bald man had a chance to grab her. Should have told Kimberly to run. What happened to her? She hoped she was alright.

"Let me out," she cried out her voice muffled inside the trunk. "Please let me out," she tried kicking the top of the trunk but she only succeeded in bashing her knee into her face. She felt a trickle of blood from her nose run down her chin. "I want to go home," she cried. She began to thrash about inside the trunk. Stopping when she head the lock release. Blinking she stared up into the face of a man looking down at her.

***

"Daddy," Kimberly said into the stillness of the room "are you awake?"

Opening his eyes Heath sighed "yes baby I'm awake." He felt her move closer to him. He put an arm around her as she snuggled into him.

"I was really scared," she confided in him "the bald man was worse then Silver ever was."

Hearing that name made Heath cringe and pull her closer to his side "they can't hurt you anymore."

"I know daddy. I know you and dad would come for me. I'm sorry I made you worry about me. I couldn't let that man take Gwennie."

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"She turned her face into his shoulder "I should have ran to get help instead of following them."

"You followed them?" Heath prompted when she fell silent. A part of him was proud of  her. Proud that she hadn't backed down when something terrible was happening. Another part of him was afraid that she would recklessly put herself in harms way again in the future.

"I thought I could help. Gwen was crying and the bald man was really mean. It wasn't until he grabbed me that I realized I was in trouble too." She kissed his cheek "I'm sorry daddy."

"Baby you didn't do anything wrong," Heath assured her "it was that man's fault for taking you. He had no right taking two little girls."

She thought for a moment before asking "is he really Gwen's grandpa?"

"I'm afraid so..."

"He doesn't act like a grandpa," she murmured closing her eyes.

"What does a grandpa supposed to act like?" Heath asked curious to know her reasoning.

Yawning Kimberly smiled a little "like my grandpa's." She fell silent and soon the room was filled with her deep even breathing.

Heath looked down kissing her forehead gently. Her simple honest answer confirmed what he believed already. He and Don had the best parents around. He never had to worry about what they might do like Kyle did with his father. He felt his muscles relax and his eyelids drooped as he followed his daughter into sleep.

***

Don pointed towards the car as he altered course creeping closer. He leaned against the trunk bringing his ear to the trunk. He could hear faint muffled sounds. His heart started to pound in his chest as he realized Kyle's father had left her in the trunk. What kind of person would do that? He couldn't imagine his dad or Heath's dad doing this their granddaughter. Hid mind wandered to what terrible things Kyle had to endure growing up with such a man for a father. Shaking his head he motioned them forward pointing to the trunk.

Kyle looked pained when he put his ear to the trunk. Elliot shook him gently before he crawled to the front of the car. Everything hinged on getting the door open, releasing the trunk, grabbing the girl before the man inside the cabin noticed what was happening.

Don lifted the trunk like as soon as Elliot released it. Kyle looked into the dark interior while hysterical blue eyes of his daughter looked up at him.

"Daddy" she cried upon recognizing him. She launched her small body into his arms sure he would protect her. They turned to run when Mr Lawrence's voice rang out loud and angry.

"Put her down," he demanded.

Without turning Kyle held his daughter against his chest feeling her body shake in terror. "Daddy don't let him take me," she begged in his ear.

"I'll break his arm," his father said in a voice that sounded like he discussing whose turn it was to take out the trash and not that of breaking a man's arm.

Slowly Kyle turned to face his father. His heart almost stopped upon seeing Elliot with his arm twisted behind him. He could see the strain in Elliot's face as he tried not to cry out in pain. Gwen gasped crying "don't hurt my daddy."

"I won't have to if your dad puts you down," the man told her "how about it boy? The girl in exchange for your man. Husband or daughter. Which one will it be?" the man taunted "either way I win."

Nodding Kyle moved to put Gwen down. He saw Elliot try to break free from the man's grip. "No" his voice came out strangled. Ignoring him Kyle turned to his daughter "when I tell you to take Uncle Don's hand and run. Don't look back." He looked up at Don who nodded.

"Daddy no," she tried to wrap her arms around him. He said his voice harsh "do as I say."

Gwen looked up taking a step back reaching for Don's hand. Turning his back on them Kyle sighed looking into the blue eyes of his father. "Run" he yelled and without looking he knew Don and Gwen were running from the clearing hearing them running through the thick shrubs that was once their hiding place. He saw the shock in his husbands face and the rage in his father's eyes. The resounding snap and cry of agony escaping from Elliot's throat as Mr Lawrence broke his arm left Kyle feeling nauseated.

Elliot drooped against the man, head spinning. His vision began to dim as his system screamed in agony. Through the buzzing in his ears he could hear deep rumblings he assumed was Kyle's father talking. He watched Kyle's mouth move in response. His head dropped forward as the man let him fall to the ground. He felt hands reach for him before the darkness over took him.

***

Don picked up Gwen when she dropped his hand and tried to run back. "Daddy" she screamed flailing in his arms "let me go," she pleaded trying to get free.

He dropped her to her feet once they arrived at the car. Kneeling he spoke to the frightened little girl "your dad's will be alright."

"But daddy...." her eyes welled up as tears flowed from her eyes "that man is going to hurt..."

"No no he won't" he assured the girl "as soon as I get you home I'm coming back."

"What if they leave before you can come back?" she asked. Don stood up contemplating her words. She had a point. Kyle's father could leave and if Elliot was right about a spy in the police department then he knows how to get around the road blocks. This was all a set up. Mr Lawrence never wanted the girl at all. It was a trap to get Kyle and now he had him.

A car drove up beside them and stopped shining it's lights on them. Don put a hand up to shield his eyes as a familiar voice spoke "you found her."

"Uncle Percy," Gwen cried running to him "that man has my daddy's."

Percy hugged the girl before turning to face Don "what happened?"

Don explained how Mr Lawrence got the drop on them. Caught Elliot. Kyle giving himself up so that Don could get Gwen to safety. "I think this was a set up. I think Mr Lawrence wanted Kyle all along and we walked right into his trap."

Percy nodded "I think you might be right.

Looking over at the other man who had come with Percy Don said "I half expected Heath to come back..."

Shrugging Henry explained "he might have if I told him I was coming. Kimberly needed him."

"Ah" Don acknowledged grateful that Heath wasn't here. Turning to Percy "I think we need to move fast if we want to stop Mr Lawrence from taking Kyle."

Rubbing his chin for a moment Percy turned toward the boy "Henry take Gwen home."

"But I...." Henry protested looking at the older man "alright" he finished lamely when he realized he wouldn't be able to persuade them into letting him come along. Taking Gwen's hand he soothed her tears before getting in the car and driving off.

***

Kyle ran forward dropping to his knees beside Elliot. He felt his father grab is arm yanking him to his feet. "Let go of me," Kyle struggled in the man's grasp. 

Sneering into this son's stunned and pained face he snarled "your choice leave him here or take him with us."

"He needs a doctor," Kyle protested looking down at Elliot's pale face.

"That's not likely to happen any time soon," his father stepped over Elliot kicking him in the side as he went "if we leave him here his agony will be over quick. If we take him with us it'll only prolong the inevitable."

Kyle knelt beside Elliot who was beginning to stir. He didn't like the sound of the proposition his father had given him. He knew that Don would come back. He'd find Elliot but the question was would he be alive. Wile he thought over his options a man drove up on a four wheeler. Tossing his helmet aside he shook hands with Mr Lawrence. Teeth flashing in a bemused smile when he glanced down at Kyle. 

Kyle knew who the man was. Had seen him before. He had asked for his help to find his daughter. The man was the mole inside the police department. The reason why all this was allowed to happen in the first place.

The man walked over and nudged Elliot with his foot causing him to moan. "We have a nice dark hold already and waiting for you."

Shoving the man away Kyle said "no he's coming with us."

Stooping the man picked Elliot up putting him in a choke hold. "Are you sure about that boy? He'll be in less pain if I get rid of him now." He gave Kyle a nasty grin adjusting his hands "one quick snap and he'll be gone..."

"If Kyle wants to be burdened with carrying the garbage we'll let him" Mr Lawrence interceded before his accomplice could break Elliot's neck "the boy won't last the hike through the mountains anyway." He looked at Kyle "I'll get the added pleasure of watching him suffer as he watches his husband suffer and die."

Laughing as if he had been told the funniest joke ever the man dropped Elliot. Ignoring the cry of pain when his intended victim landed on the ground. "Personally I'd put the boy out of his misery now then letting him suffered. But that's just me."

***

"What are you doing?" Don asked watching Percy wave his wand around.

"Casting a tracking spell," Percy replied "unless you're part blood hound we need someway of tracking them."

Closing his mouth over his ready retort Don looked around the clearing noting the four wheeler that wasn't there before. They had to have hiked from here. Over the mountains they must have transportation waiting for them. Once they get there Kyle and Elliot were as good as lost. Why take both? Wouldn't it have been better to leave Elliot behind? "I don't get it," he muttered.

"Get what?" Percy asked grunting in satisfaction.

"Why take both Elliot and Kyle," he turned to look at the older man "doesn't Kyle's father want him to produce an heir from someone of his choosing?"

"That was the plan once upon a time. I'm not sure if that's still the plan." He waved towards the highlighted foot prints on the ground "we have a trail to follow..."

Don looked then turned worried eyes to Percy "someone is hurt."