"Wait, where are you…" before he could finish his statement Sara was out of the car, and walking towards the alley. Lloyd shook his head and ate another tic tac.

"New partner?" Danny asked, his hands in the pockets of his trench coat.

"Don’t ask." Sara grumbled. "So why are you here?"

"Do I always need a reason?" Danny asked.

"Yes. Normally you give me some of your ancient wisdom." Sara looked behind her to see if Lloyd had followed her into the alley. He did not. "I hate this Danny. Lloyd sucks as a partner. I know Dante did this just to screw with me."

"You’re in danger, Sara."

"Gee what a surprise." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "If it’s about the freak in the car, I already know, thanks."

"No, you and Jake are both in danger. Remember the witchblade binds people together. The witchblade chose to heal Jake, you did not force the blade to heal him."

"I know. You’ve told me this before."

"Listen Sara," Danny continued. "You need to be with Jake for your own safety. To be away from him places you both in danger. The choice to change partners was not Dante’s alone."

"What do you mean?" Sara demanded, but Danny disappeared again. "Wonderful. What did he mean when he said the choice to break Jake and I up wasn’t Dante’s. Who else would care? Was it someone in the station?" Bothered by the information she had just received, Sara walked back to the car and knocked on the window. Lloyd rolled it down. "I’ve got to do something. I’m leaving."

"You can’t!" Lloyd protested. "Dante is gonna be pissed if he knows you left."

"Well then, don’t tell him. It will be our little secret. Thanks." Sara left before Lloyd had an opportunity to protest. She needed to contact Jake as soon as possible. The information Danny had told her was starting to bother Sara.

***

Jake entered a small dinner and looked around. Sara didn‘t give Jake an opportunity to turn down her offer for diner. She told him he had to have diner with her. He saw her sitting in a booth at the end of the diner and went to join her. "What is so important?" Jake asked, as he sat down. "Dante is gonna have my ass if he knows I left."

"I know," Sara agreed. "But I have to tell ya something."

"OK." Jake reached for a menu and began looking over in contents. He was starving.

"I don’t think Dante was alone in his choice to split us up."

"Who else would care?" Jake asked, as the waitress came over. "Can I have a burger, fries and a coke."

"Sure." She wrote down his order and then snapped her gum. "What about you, honey?"

"I’ll have the same," Sara said, without much thought. Again the waitress snapped her gun and then left.

Jake made a face. "I don’t think they are suppose to chew gum. That isn’t very hygienic."

"Who cares. Jake listen to me."

"I’m listening. You said it wasn’t Dante’s choice to separate us. Someone else was behind it." he leaned forward. "Are you saying the order came higher up?"

"I don’t know. Something doesn’t feel right about this."

"Tell me about it. Today Dante called me "Officer" and not "Detective." I think I have been officially demoted. Oh, by the way he called you a tramp."

"Thanks for the info. Anyway, two years ago there were two detectives that were involved and they weren’t split up, and Dante knew about them. In fact everyone did. There was no pressure to split them up."

"Rules change Pez. All I know is that I want my old job back. Answering phones is getting old." The waitress placed down the two drinks. "Thanks." Jake smiled up at the older woman who smiled back.

"No problem, cutie."

Jake decided it was a good time to inquire about her new partner. "Is Lloyd giving you any trouble?"

"He’s trying to be sly when he hits on me, but he’s failing."

"So, does this mean you miss having me as a partner?" Jake asked, placing the straw into his drink.

Sara sighed. "At least you didn’t hit on me."

"Yea." he agreed, and his eyes diverted to the table. Sara raised her eyebrow, wondering what brought on his sudden change in demeanour.

"I tried to contact you today."

"I never got a phone call."

"I didn’t try to call." Sara told him. "I tired to contact you in another way." Jake looked confused for a moment and then he finally understood what she was saying. "But it didn’t work, obviously. Has anything strange happened lately?"

Jake shook his head. "Things seem to be fine with me. You seem a little jumpy though."

Sara blurted out: "We’re in danger." Jake did not respond to her revelation. "I had to tell you."

"Does it have something to do with Nottingham?"

"Why do you always blame Nottingham?" Sara asked.

"Why do you always defend him?" he retorted. "Ya know he isn’t your knight in shinning amour."

"He isn’t the bad guy, either, Jake."

"Pez he works for Irons. You know that Irons is doing something illegal. He’s the type of guy that has a million secrets." Jake sat back. "I don’t want to fight about it. This is what got me into trouble last time."

"Nottingham isn’t always the bad guy," she protested, defending him again. "He’s saved my life a couple of times." Feeling that he was in danger of losing his temper Jake stood up.

"I’ve got to go. Call me later, if you want."

"Jake, wait." She grabbed his wrist and felt anger flood her body. Sara gasped, released Jake’s wrist and looked up at him. She had never felt such hatred before. Jake quickly left the diner. "Maybe Nottingham was right. Maybe the witchblade has made him destructive," she whispered, and then stood up. She no longer felt hungry and left the diner.

Once outside she walked to the back of the diner where her bike was located. She found herself humming the theme song to MASH and swore to herself. Sara grabbed her bike helmet but did not put it on. She could feel that something was not right. The young woman glanced down at the witchblade and saw the stone was a vibrant red.

"Hello Sara." She turned to see Nottingham standing behind her, his black trench coat blowing in the wind. She exhaled, relived to see him and placed the helmet on her bike.

"What do you want Nottingham?"

"Please, Lady Sara know that I do not mean this. It is not my wish, it is my masters. I hope that you will forgive me."

"What the hell are you talking about Nottingham?" Sara demanded. As he stepped closer to her the witchblade automatically encased her arm without her command. Sara knew she was in trouble. "Don’t come any closer." She warned.

"Please know this was not my choice." Nottingham touched her cheek gently. "I only wish to help you Sara." He grabbed her suddenly, and before she had an opportunity to break free, she felt something jab her neck. "You shall sleep now." He stepped back and Sara felt dizzy, then she saw the syringe in his hand.

"Nottingham," Sara called out, her voice was very weak. Unable to hold herself up she fell to her knees and then collapsed onto the concert. The world went dark.

*******

"Hey McCarthy!" Lloyd yelled, as Jake walked by his old office. For a moment Jake pondered if he should continue to walk or respond. Unfortunately his thought process was not fast enough, for Lloyd ran out into the hallway.

"What?" He asked, and then sipped his coffee.

"Do you know where Sara is? I’ve been trying to call her all morning and she’s late again." Lloyd sounded worried, but Jake brushed off her tardiness. It was something he was used to.

"How would I know? I’m not her keeper. She‘ll be in soon." Jake pushed by Lloyd and walked to his small cubical in the isolated corner of the station. He could hear the phone ringing and cursed. Jake did not want to deal with another eight hours of phone calls.

The young officer plopped down into his uncomfortable chair and stared at the phone. The nagging question of should he answer or it or not plagued his mind. Maybe, if he allowed the phone to continue to ring the person on the other end would hang up.

After fifteen rings Jake groaned. "Or maybe not." As he reached for the phone the annoying ringing finally ceased. "Thank god." Then it began. "Damn it!"

"McCarthy." Lloyd poked his head over Jake’s cubical. Jake motioned Lloyd to leave as he spoke on the phone. However, like the irritating little pest choose to stay. When Jake finished with his phone call, Lloyd preceded to speak again.

"Do you have her cell number?"

"She’s your partner, didn’t she give it to you?"

"Uhh, I lost it." Somehow Jake didn’t believe Lloyd’s story. "She gave it to me the first day we were partnered up, of course."

"Of course."

"But I lost it. So do you have it?" Lloyd pulled out a small container of tic tacs and shook them. "Do you want a tic tac?"

"No. To both of your questions."

"Oh." Lloyd continued to look at Jake, which made the young officer feel uncomfortable. "Are you sure you don’t want a tic tac?"

"Can I help you with something else?" Jake asked.

"I guess not." Lloyd looked dejected, and Jake almost felt sorry for him. But Jake’s moment of weakness passed quickly. "I guess I will trust you, seeing how you know her better then anybody in the department."

"Yea, right," Jake grumbled to himself.

"What?"

"Nothing." The phone rang again, and Jake was thankful for the distraction. Jake glanced up at the clock and saw it was 9:05. Sara would no doubt walk though the door at any minute.

***

Sara groaned, her body ached and was stiff. Slowly she opened her eyes. "Where the hell am I?" She asked, looking around the darkened room, her eye sight was blurry. Her hand went to her neck where she remembered Nottingham had pierced her with a syringe. She could feel a lump, no doubt a bruise had formed when he force the needle into her skin.

Sara noticed she was lying on a cot and a thin wool blanket was covering her. As her eyesight slowly came back to her Sara saw she was in a cell, but could not make out where the cell was. Suddenly a bright light illuminated the room and Sara squinted her eyes.

"Hello, Sara."

She knew that voice and staggered to her feet. "Irons!" Sara attempted to keep her ground, but she found that it was very difficult, for the room was spinning and her knees were weak. "What’s the meaning of this?"

"Sara," Irons said, his voice was gentle. "You do not look well."

"What the hell did you do to me?" She demanded, and reached out for a wall to catch herself from falling. She noticed her breathing was very labored and her heart raced.

"I have come to reclaim what is rightfully mine. I want the witchblade."

"Men can’t wear the witchblade, Irons. When the fuck are you gonna get that through your thick skull? It’s of no use to you. Let me go before you regret this."

Irons laughed, which echoed throughout the room. "Sara, you are very amusing. Now, stop your foolish display of bravery and hand over the witchblade."

"Screw you!"

"Well, now that wasn’t very nice, was it? I’m warning you Sara; I grow increasing weary of your games. I am giving you one and only one opportunity to hand over the witchblade to me. If you fail to do as I say, you will regret your choice."

"Fuck you Irons! I’m not giving you the witchblade!" Sara staggered backwards and fell onto the cot. She no longer had the strength to stand.

Irons crossed his arms and sighed loudly. "I thought you would say something like that.

Thankfully, I am prepared for such situations. Nottingham." He called and his servant dressed in black suddenly appeared. Sara watched Nottingham opened the cell door and entered, his blackened figure moving towards her. "Remember I did warn you, Sara. Now, things will go very badly for you."

Nottingham grabbed Sara by her shirt and lifted her off the ground. She hung like a rag doll, at his mercy. Sara could not move her muscles, nor did she have the power to summon the witchblade to aid her. Normally the witchblade would react to danger but it remained in its bracelet form. Had the bracelet abounded her, like the other wielders?