The Immortal: The Next Generation series

Episode Six

By Summer

Beta Read by Kathryn Ramage and Achila

Author’s note: I would like to give some credit for this story to Phaze, who gave me the idea and dialogue for the warehouse scenario between Dom and Elijah. I have known Phaze personally for many years. He also writes Fan Fiction, mostly in the Smallville universe, all gen stories, written with heart and soul, I strongly suggest you check out his stories. You will find them on www.fanfiction.net under the name “Phaze”, and please send him feedback for his stories. That’s the only profit we get around here.

Disclaimer: I don’t own the Immortal TV series of which this is a spin off from. Nope, I do not own it, but I do own The Immortal: The Next Generation characters. I am in no way making any profit, this is for fun only.

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Prince Edward Island, Egmont Bay (Canada)

He watched them through his binoculars. He had been watching them for the past two weeks. Following each of their steps. It was an interesting chase that had made him curious to know why they seemed to be following the trail of an obvious runaway boy?

He had followed their arrival here late last night and while they slept he had used the time to finalize his plans.

The older man he knew was Vincent Caesar, Steel Fletcher's personal bodyguard and henchmen; the younger man, the blond, he knew, was Dominic Fletcher, his intended target. It had taken twenty-five years, but he would finally have his revenge. The only problem that he could foresee at the moment was Caesar, who was currently sitting at a table, reading a newspaper. This guardian of the boy was not to be trifled with. He would have to avoid him. He had to get the boy alone.

Putting down the binoculars, he moved back into his hotel room. Opening the black suitcase on his bed, he pulled out several things he would need to complete his mission: Rope, handgun, a long dagger. Perfect.

Sitting down at the table, in the corner of the room, he glanced at his watch. It wouldn't be much longer.

***

Losing his patience, Dominic dropped his fork loudly onto his plate, in a vain attempt to get Vincent Caesar's attention.

Vincent didn't even look up from the paper, merely turned the page.

Annoyed now, Dominic leaned back against his chair and promptly started to tap his fingers noisily on the table. When Vincent still didn't look up, Dominic finally made a face at him.

"If you continue to do that, it may just stay that way."

Letting out an exasperated breath, Dom shook his head.

"Are we just going to sit here all day or are we going to go look for Elijah? He could be halfway around the world by now."

All Dom could think about was Elijah. He was worried, wondering if Elijah was OK, if he was safe, if he was eating properly, if he and Jericho were getting closer, becoming friends? His thoughts turned to the fact that Elijah was now accompanying that jerk Jericho, trusting this stranger over him?

Special powers or not, he was Elijah's whole world at the moment and all Dominic wanted to do to Jericho, after beating him into a bloody pulp, was to tell him to keep his hands off his property.

He was still having those dreams. Those dreams with Elijah on a cliff and him on an opposite one with an ocean raging on between them. Those dreams were even getting worse. In one of his dreams, he saw Jericho taking Elijah away from him. The very thought of it caused Dominic to awaken in a fury and all he wanted to do was start a fight with anyone he could. Even with his teacher.

"Patience, Master Dominic. You must learn patience."

"I am sick and tired of just sitting here. Vincent?"

Putting down the paper, Vincent granted Dominic a soft smile, picked up his cooling coffee and took a sip from it.

"They are still here in the city. Each border zone on Prince Edward Island has at least one or two of my men on post. The airports are being monitored, as well as the buses, boat docks and the train stations. Last night, Elijah was last seen with Mr. Jericho here Egmont Bay. Hugo and Wren are on foot, checking each hotel in the area. We should know where they are very soon."

"There are a lot of tourists. How are we going to do this without stirring up anyone who may come to their rescue?"

Vincent didn't even hesitate in answering. "That is why you are going to be used as bait."

Dom looked back at his teacher in confusion.

"Once we have a location on Mr. Chevalier, we will wait until he is alone. You will allow him to see you, but make him believe you have not seen him. Let him follow you, give him a little run-around, and then you will lead him into our trap. Once we have Mr. Chevalier, capturing his new friend shouldn't be difficult."

Finally understanding that all was prepared and going to fall into place, Dom slowly started to relax. After a long moment, he met Vincent's eyes.

"Then it will be over."

"Yes, it will be over."

Dominic picked up his own cup of coffee and took a sip. His face screwed up at the bitter taste of it.

***

They were both locked in bad dreams. He could tell by the way they twisted and turned in the bed. For a moment, Billy thought about waking the two of them. He decided in the end to remain on the couch and wait. Hoping that the nightmares they were trapped within would soon be over with the breaking of dawn.

***

He was falling in the darkness; he reached out to grab onto anything that might stop his fall, but all he received was the elusiveness of air. He screamed and cried out for help, but there was no one to save him.

He closed his eyes and when he reopened them he found he had stopped falling. Getting to his feet, Elijah braced his hand on something that was cold and slick. A piece of glass? A glowing torch appeared to the upper left of the room he was in, which gave only a small bit of light to see his surroundings. When his eyes adjusted to the dim light he realized that he appeared to be in a glass cage hanging in mid air. Looking up, he saw that the cage was suspended by a steel metal cable. He was only a few feet off the ground but it was disconcerting to find that he was trapped. It was then that the figure stepped forward from out of the darkness.

It took a moment for Elijah to see who it was. Beating his hands against the glass wall, Elijah cried out again.

"Dom! Dom, help me! HELP!"

But the figure only stared at him with no _expression upon his face.

"Dom!" Elijah screamed. "Please!"

But Dom remained where he was, unmoving and silent.

Pausing in his attempt to break free from the glass cage, Elijah watched in horror as a small slit of breakage appeared on the glass wall where he had been pounding. In fascination, he saw the line slowly increase in its length and then split and crack. Seconds later, the entire cage was cracked in every direction. Horrified, Elijah cried out just as the glass smashed into a billion pieces sending him falling once more into the darkness. The torch vanished and Dominic Fletcher's face faded away.

"NOOOO!"

***

He stood in the cemetery. All around him were gravestones. Hundreds of bodies had been buried here. He was fully grown and yet he still felt like a small boy of ten, staring at all that was around him.

A few feet away, he could see a large black steel gate and on it, read the words Huntington Hillside Mountain Cemetery. Looking back at the stones, he stared in confusion at the words written on the cold slab before him.

Jason Sean Richards 1969

Katherine S Richards 1973

Staring in confusion, Jericho spotted a lone figure coming towards him from the other part of the cemetery. He seemed to not notice anyone and was walking in his direction. The man wore jeans, a white t-shirt and a black leather jacket. His face was soft and yet hard at the same time and on his right shoulder was the tattoo of a phoenix rising from the flames.

The figure finally came to a stop in front of the graves, and when he turned, Jericho saw a small boy about ten years old come from behind him. Together they stared at the stones paying no heed to Jericho's presence.

"Daddy, I don't understand. Why is your name there too?"

"Four years ago, while you and your mother were well hidden, I tried to stop certain men from looking for us by faking my death. I led them up a mountain and caused an avalanche. For all the world knows Jason Richards is dead. Somehow, he found out, and he came for us anyway."

*He who?* Jericho wondered.

"Mommy? Did she fake her death too?"

"No, son. She died."

"Is she coming back?"

"No."

"Never?"

"Never."

"Why, Daddy? Why did Mommy have to go away?"

"Because, son. Because men want what we...what our family has and they will kill to get what they want. Remember, my son. Don't trust anyone."

Jericho watched as the small boy took his father's hand into his and wiped tears from his eyes with his other hand.

"We must be strong now. We must be brave."

"I want Mommy!"

"I know, I want her too."

"What are we going to do, now, Daddy?"

"The only thing we can do. Run. But we will have purpose. We have to find your uncle."

"Uncle?"

"Yes, my brother. He's our only hope now. Perhaps he can help us."

“Where is he?"

"I don't know where he is, but we will find Ben...we will."

*Ben?* Staring at the stone, Jericho made the connection.

Ben Richards? Jason Richards?

Suddenly the scene changed and Jericho found himself standing in the middle of a ranch. A nearby road sign read: Charlotte Town six miles. He was standing before a large gate with another sign just hanging above him. It read: Oak Ridged Ranch. Looking straight ahead, he saw a barn and farm house were on fire. Horses and various animals could be heard in a state of panic. Screams were coming from all around him, ranch hands were running about, attempting to try to put out the fire out and rescue the animals.

Jericho, like a bystander, like the ten year old boy who stared silently out of the back of the truck as it sped away, watched as several cars pulled up to the farm. Many men came out of their cars and one of them, he noticed, was bald and had a beard.

In a moment the image was gone, and Jericho was once again in another place and time. He was at what seemed to be the opening of a tunnel or cave. A familiar man stood before him. The same man that had been at the cemetery.

"I'll try to lead them away. Stay here, son."

"No Dad, it's too dangerous!"

He heard a voice that seemed to belong to him, cry out a warning. But the man had already disappeared. Waiting, Jericho heard the firing of a gunshot and something whizzed past him, hitting the top part of the rock opening. Gasping, he turned and ran into the cave.

He couldn't see in the dark, and he did not know where he was going; all he knew was that he had to run. He had to escape before it was too late.

A voice shouted behind him. He did not know the voice, and he knew better than to obey its summons.

"Stop or I'll shoot!"

Jericho did not stop and a shot rang out. Something just missed his ear, and then there came a rumble and the ground gave way. He was falling, and then...then darkness.

"No!"

***

Jericho opened his eyes and sat up in his bed. Beads of sweat fell from his forehead. Shaking slightly, he realized that he was not in the cave, but in a hotel room. Sunlight poured in from a window and a nearby clock read 9:15 AM. Billy Adams was on the couch staring at him worriedly and Elijah...Elijah, where is Elijah?

"Elijah!"

The door to the bathroom opened at once and a head poked out from behind it.

"Right here. I'm going to take a shower."

"Are you OK, Jericho?" asked Elijah.

"Yeah, just a bad dream. That's all."

Elijah sadly smiled. "You too?" With that, he closed the door behind him and a second later running water was heard.

Collecting his wits, Jericho got to his feet and went for the small coffee-maker that had been set up as part of the accommodations in the hotel. Thankfully Billy had been awake for awhile and had already started a fresh pot. Jericho was soon drinking down a strong batch of Folger's coffee.

Moving to the private balcony, Jericho opened the door and stepped out into the brand new day. The smell of fresh, clean air hit him and the sounds of a nearby waterfall were heard.

Even in the beginning, when he first saw Elijah at that store in Lowell, Massachusetts, he thought that there was something special about Elijah. More then just his immortal blood. That they had a link somehow.

*No, it's just not possible. Is it?*

So where did this leave him? His mother was dead, but his father, Jason-- he was alive, alive and out there somewhere. Like Ben.

Billy stepped out and joined him on the balcony. Leaning against the banister, Billy stared at the fountain for a few moments, then turned at Jericho. He signed the OK and Question signs and Jericho took another sip of his coffee.

"Who am I, Billy? You know don't you? You know everything? You're the spy in the camp aren't you? To what end? What do you hope to accomplish? What are you after? Who are you working for?"

Billy only looked away and stared at the Falls. His eyebrows drew together and his lips pursed in apprehension. He remained silent.

Jericho sighed and, putting down his coffee on a nearby table, he pulled out a map from his jacket, and began to look it over. He found exactly what he was looking for. *Charlotte Town, it wasn't far from here.* He put the map away and sat down putting both his hands on his head, clearly in distress.

Billy, seeing this, placed a hand gently on his shoulder. Looking up, Jericho stared at Billy's troubled face.

"Why are they hunting us like animals, Billy? Do they want to kill us?"

Billy only swallowed and shook his head in denial or perhaps confusion; Jericho couldn't be sure of which. Jericho leaned back against the table and shrugged.

"I have to know the truth. I need to know the truth."

But Billy only shrugged his shoulders, giving no answers.

***

Elijah was just putting on his jeans and toweling his still wet hair, when Jericho come back into the room with Billy and began to gather up his stuff.

"Jericho?"

"I have to go."

Lowering the towel, Elijah stared fearfully at his friend.

"Go? Go where? I thought we would start a search today to find my dad?"

"And we will, but I have to check something out."

"Check what out? What are you talking about? Billy?" Elijah appealed to their newest companion, only to see Billy's equally confused face.

"I've been having dreams, memories I think. I won't be gone long. I want you to wait here for me. When I get back, I promise we'll look for your dad."

"No!" Elijah got to his feet and, reaching for one of his shirts, he started to put it on. "You can't just leave me now! I need your help! I have to find my dad before my mom marries that Saxon guy! Jericho!"

Elijah felt frozen in place, his mouth slightly hanging open in stunned disbelief. He watched as Jericho picked up his duffle-bag.

"Please, don't leave me!"

Jericho turned to him and for a moment time seemed to stop. Jericho didn't realize until now just how young Elijah really was. He no longer looked like a boy of eighteen but a child in a teenager's body. A very frightened child.

Elijah felt his knees give way and he sat down at the edge of the bed.

"Just stay here. I paid the room for a week. I'll be back. I promise, and we'll find your dad and rescue your mom. I swear it." Bending to his knees, he looked up at Elijah. "Believe me! I'll come back for you."

Billy nodded numbly and swallowed seeing the truth in Jericho's eyes. If anything happened to Elijah, he was one dead man.

Elijah didn't look up as the door to the hotel room opened and then closed. Rubbing his arms, Elijah shook all over, and falling into the bed, he curled up into a ball.

Billy watched silently for a moment, staring sadly at Elijah's frightened form. He reached for a nearby blanket and placed it gently over the boy. He tried to sign a few words to bring him comfort, but Elijah wouldn't even look at him. In the end, all Billy could do to give Elijah solace was pat his shoulder and stroke his left arm.

For Elijah there was no consolation, for as far as he knew Jericho would never return.

When Elijah finally drifted away into a restless sleep, Billy slowly got to his feet and grabbing his coat he hurried out the door softly closing and locking it behind him.

***

Jericho waited at the corner for the light to change. He didn't have to wait long. When the light changed and he could walk, he hesitated for a moment, almost as if in war with himself. Wanting to turn around and go back to Elijah. But he couldn't, not until he put the pieces of his life together and figured out where Elijah fit in.

He put one foot in front of the other and started walking, heading for the bus depot.

***

Billy watched Jericho make his way into the bus depot. Going to a nearby phone, he put in several quarters and waited for the connection. When it was picked up, Billy heard a voice on the other end.

"Go ahead. We're waiting."

Taking out a small box, Billy held it up to the phone and pushed down on a red button; clicks and bleeps proceeded.

***

Somewhere in Washington D.C.

The teller grabbed a pen and pad and at once started to write out the code coming from the other end of the phone. A tall older man stood behind the teller and read the Morse code before him.

"Tell him he is to stay with the main target."

The teller obeyed and then followed more Morse codes.

The older man with the British accent nodded as he read the code.

"Tell him we understand about the boy--no harm will come to him. We already have one of our men watching over him. Stay with the target. That is an order."

***

Billy heard the order and put the phone back on the hook. He then sighed and, zipping up his coat, he hurried out the door and headed after Jericho in the bus depot.

***

The man held up the binoculars and could see Vincent clearly pointing at a hotel. Dominic nodded and, putting on his jacket, started towards the hotel.

Vincent Caesar did not follow; instead he turned in the other direction and got into a car with several men and sped away to parts unknown.

Perfect. They have left Fletcher’s heir alone and unguarded. Now was the time to strike.

***

Jericho stared out the window of the bus, his mind far away. Because of this, he didn't notice the familiar figure that stalked his every move and was six seats down from him.

***

*Fine!*

Elijah angrily shut the door behind him and with an enraged _expression on his face, he headed down towards the lobby.

*To hell with Jericho!*

Elijah concluded that the only one he could count on was himself. Well then, he was not going to stay in his hotel room and just fiddle with his thumbs and toes and wait for Jericho's return. He would find his father on his own. He had already tried calling several places but none had a Ben Richards or Ben Chevalier staying in their hotel. Well, his father could be using another alias, so he would just have to start on foot. There were over a hundred hotels in the area and if Elijah had to, he would check out each and every one of them. No matter how long it took.

Stopping to grab a free danish from the office desk, Elijah was just heading outside onto the street when he noticed a familiar form on the opposite side of the street, among a small crowd of tourists walking past.

*Where the hell did he come from? How did he find out we were here? How does he always know?*

The figure seemed to be heading at a slow but determined pace. Elijah paused, recognizing Dominic Fletcher. A flash of panic crossed his face but then, seeing none of Fletcher's men around and that Dominic didn't seem to have noticed him, Elijah recovered from the surprise and calmed his heart rate.

He was about to turn and make a run for it when his eyes narrowed and a very bad idea which seemed pretty good at the moment came to mind.

*Maybe it was time to turn the tables on Fletcher and Dominic. Maybe it was time he got the upper hand?*

With a small smile on his lips, Elijah threw the remains of his danish into a nearby trash can and hurried after the form.

***

He put the binoculars back up and stared at Dominic with the tail following not too far behind him.

**Hmm, so the runaway boy was trying to turn the tables. Ah, well it didn't matter--if he had to he would kill them both.**

Putting the binoculars down, he reached for his handgun and, putting the rest of his stuff in a backpack, he got to his feet and, pacing himself, started after his target.

***

Dom paused to stare into a tourist store window. He smiled as he caught Elijah's mirrored form in the glass. He was only a few feet away. He could easily stop and just turn around and then...no. He had to follow Vincent's plan. Leaving the window, Dom headed to the end of the block and, turning the corner, continued down the long walkway. A small crowd followed him on his little tour of the city, with Elijah not far behind.

***

*Where is he going?* Elijah wondered.

He had been following Dom for almost thirty minutes and if he didn't know any better, he would swear Dom was just checking the sights. But Elijah knew very well that Dom was not here to see Canada's most treasured attractions. Dom was here for him. So where was he going?

***

Dom hurried across the street, leading away from the crowd and headed down a long dark alleyway.

***

Elijah paused at the alley, as if not sure whether he should go into it. He smelled a trap. Shaking his head, Elijah swallowed and went in.

***

Dom waited on the other end of the alley way. He bent down and pretended to be tying his shoelaces. He could see Elijah's shadowy form waiting, not sure what to do. He smiled and was just about to turn and head directly to the waiting snare when something dropped behind him.

The next thing he felt was something hard hit him across the neck. He felt dazed and heard Elijah's voice cry out and then, oblivion.

***

Elijah watched as Dom bent over tying his shoelaces. It was now or never, but Elijah just couldn’t seem to get his feet to move. Shaking his head and tightening his hands into fists, Elijah was just about to step out of the shadows and face Dom, when he saw a dark figure drop from above the building rooftop and come behind Dominic.

The mysterious figure held something that looked to be a metal handgun. The stranger then turned the gun and hit Dom hard across the neck with the butt end. Dom dropped to the ground out cold.

“No!” Elijah cried out in surprise as the stranger stood over Dom with the handgun pointed directly at Dom’s head. Coming out of the shadows, Elijah started running towards them. The stranger looked up and narrowed his eyes.

Elijah tried to reach Dom, but the stranger quickly moved aside and pulling something out of his jacket, he pressed a switch and a puff of smoke hit the air. Elijah felt the fumes hit his lungs and choking, he fell beside Dom and not even a second later, he lay on the ground unconscious.

The stranger stared at the two forms as if trying to decide what to do next. Well, two for the price of one.

He went and got the van, and dumped the two forms into the back. Closing and locking the door behind them, he got into the front of the vehicle and quickly drove away.

***

Vincent stared at his watch, frowning he looked at two of his men.

"He should have been back by now."

The men didn't reply, but Vincent knew that something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong.

Jericho stared at the ranch before him. What remained of it, that was. A torn-down barn and a farmhouse still lay in ruins. It seemed as if it had been abandoned and left this way for quite some time. Jericho slowly wandered the property, taking note of the still hanging but now bent sign on the gate. Oak Ridge Ranch.

He felt as if he were walking in that dream once again. But this time he knew where everything was supposed to be. There wasn't anything left that was salvageable. The wood had long since corroded and its charred remains had been blown away by the wind. It looked like a ghost ranch, as if it hadn't been touched in twenty years. Maybe it hadn't. Jericho turned and spotted the large oak tree and a flicker of a memory hit him.

A little boy was laughing, holding a woman's hand. She was beautiful with long curly red hair and she was wearing a light summery dress. She had something in her hand and gave it to the little boy. The boy smiled and, getting to his feet, slowly began to dig. Soon a newly dug hole was present under the oak tree and, taking the metal box from the woman's hands, he put it into the ground and buried it.

The woman smiled and, taking his hand, walked away, leading him back to the farm house. Jericho moved towards the oak tree and looked down. He shook his head and, getting to his knees, he started to dig with his hands. His nails scratched something metal. A few minutes later, he held a small square box 8 by 10 inches in his hands. It appeared to have no locks.

He paused and, like a kid finding treasure, eagerly opened it. Within was indeed a treasure trove. At least perhaps to a small boy of ten. An old rusty toy truck, a Red Sox baseball card, a cassette tape of the Beatles and a yellow yo yo. It had to be some kind of time capsule. Yes, that was what it was. It had been the woman's idea. Not just any woman-- his mother. His mother! Katherine.

He could see her face so clearly now, the red curly hair, the smiling youthful face of a woman in her thirties, the green eyes, and the smell of her...the smell of roses. Jericho then spotted several other objects in the box. Something that was a little more important then a ten year old's prized collection. As he pulled them out, he could hear a female voice speaking from the past.

Jericho pulled out the color photo to see the same woman, and the familiar man from his dreams standing in front of the farmhouse, and between them was a small brown haired boy smiling at whomever was taking their picture.

"And here is Daddy's contribution. A picture of him and his brother. One of which you may have some day."

The woman smiled and rubbed her stomach, and then handed the picture to the small boy. The boy took the photo without looking at it, and throwing it into the box, he jumped up in glee at this unexpected news.

"A brother? I'm going to have a baby brother?" he shouted joyfully.

"Or how about a sister? Wouldn't that be nice?" Asked the woman.

The boy at once paused as if thinking it over, and then he started laughing. "I don't care, just as long as I can boss him or her around."

The woman laughed and, letting the boy close the box and bury it, she took his hand.

Jericho stared at the photo. It was older than the other one. Black and white. Faded from the years and wrinkled, however, he could still make out the form of two poorly dressed boys, standing in front of a building. They both had brown hair and were dressed in jeans and a white shirt. Above them hung a sign. Amos D Fitzgerald orphanage.

Looking at the back of the photo, Jericho could just barely make out some written words. Jason and Ben Richards. 1936. Jericho swallowed. "It can't be. It just can't be." It wasn't possible!

A sudden noise from behind him alerted him of danger a second too late. The form stepped out of the shadows coming directly towards him. It was too late to run.

***

Elijah came to before Dom, and found that the van had finally come to a stop. It was getting late. It was perhaps sometime in the afternoon. Before he could collect himself, the doors to the van opened, and a gun was pointed in his face.

"Let's go, boy!"

Elijah stared at the warehouse fearfully. *Whoever this guy was, he was not part of Fletcher's army. Who was he? What did he want from him and Dom?*

The stranger was hidden behind a mask and was dressed in dark clothes. Elijah couldn't see his face, but it was apparently a man. The way he walked and was built suggested that the guy was probably in his forties or fifties and he had an accent that sounded like he was from the Bronx.

"Git in!" The stranger had opened a door to the warehouse and quickly shoved Elijah inside, forced him down a long dark tunnel and then stopped him in front of a metal door. Taking out a key, the stranger held the gun on Elijah and used his other hand to open the door.

A second later, Elijah was shoved inside, with the door locked behind him. Glancing around the dark room, Elijah saw no windows and only one small flashlight had been left. Switching it on, Elijah saw that the room was only about ten feet in length and twelve feet wide. A noise came behind him and Elijah turned to see the door open and Dominic's body was thrown into the room. The door was quickly closed again and locked into place.

"Wait! Who are you! What do you want?!"

Putting down the flashlight, Elijah checked Dom's pulse -- though he was still out cold, he was breathing normally. He would awaken soon. On the other side of the door, Elijah heard the man speaking in his Bronx accent.

"Who am I Little One? I'm death, that’s what I am. But you can call me Locke! Fletcher is going to pay for what he did to me. For betraying me! Soon, his son will be dead! As for you, little brat, you’ll be joining him."

"What? Wait! No!" Elijah ran to the door and pounded hard against the metal. But the door held in place.

Sighing, Elijah turned back to Dom's form and heard a low groan come from him. Fearfully, Elijah slowly went to the floor and, clutching the flashlight in his hands, he started to count, hoping that any minute he was going to wake up and find himself safe and sound back in his hotel room. He counted to ten and opened his eyes.

It wasn't a dream. It was a nightmare!

"I don't care, why you followed me. You were supposed to stay and look after Elijah!" Jericho headed down the long empty street, with Billy close behind him, trying to explain his actions with sign language, but Jericho wasn't even looking back at him.

Finally exasperated, Billy got in front of him and stared him down. Jericho waited and watched him signal and this time he tried to read it.

**I am only trying to help**

"Are you? Who are you Billy Adams? Is that really your name?"

Billy furiously nodded. **Yes.**

"Fine, then who are you working for? Who sent you? What are you after?"

**Helping, just trying to help!**

Jericho stared back, not believing a word of it. "Not buying it!"

**Please, I only want to be your friend.**

"Friend? Then what was that envelope you put in the mailbox when we were at that cafe? (Episode If Tomorrow Never Comes) Oh yeah, I followed and saw you put it in there. What the hell--do you think I'm that stupid, that gullible! I am not as naive and trusting as Elijah. No fucking EMT on vacation carries a twenty-two rifle! Are you working for Fletcher?"

Billy recovered from this surprise and then shook his head. **NO.**

"The people who killed my mother then? My father? Are the people you work for responsible for that?"

Billy again shook his head. **No**

"Then who?"

Billy dropped his hands. Disgusted, Jericho side-stepped him and started walking again.

"You knew all along who I am? That I was related to Elijah. Somehow, Jason and Katherine Richards are my parents...and Jason's brother Ben, is Elijah's father. That makes us cousins doesn't it?"

Not even looking at Billy, Jericho continued to walk at a quick pace, heading for the nearby bus stop.

"I should have realized we were just too much alike. I can heal people with touch, he can heal people with his blood. But how? How the hell did our paths cross like that? At this time? Why now?"

Billy had to nearly run to keep up with Jericho, no longer signing but just trying to stay with him.

"OK, so, my father was on the run from someone. He faked his death and came here with my mother and me. We started a life here on this ranch. Then, I was about ten, had to be about ten. And there was a fire, and men came...my mother was murdered. My father survived...and he took me away. But where? What are the missing years between then and the cave? Twenty fucking years are missing from my life! I can't even put the pieces together."

Jericho finally came to a stop. In the distance a bus could be seen coming. He turned and faced Billy.

"All right, Billy. So let's see. We have Fletcher and Saxon chasing us; we have some other group that was chasing me, a Dr. Raven...but you're not a part of that either, are you?"

(Mentioned in episode City that never sleeps, the man who tried to kidnap Jericho when he was in a coma four years ago)

Billy looked at him in confusion.

"OK, so you're not a part of that group either. So you're with another group. Working for another government, or perhaps another rich man, who wants immortality? Am I close?"

Billy only crossed his arms and frowned.

"No? Still the game, huh? You won't give anything away, will you? OK, let's take this another step. Fletcher wants Ben and Elijah. Dr. Raven wants me. Saxon, I'm placing my bet, he is waiting in the wings to steal the entire cake when no one is looking? So that leaves you. Whoever you are working for could have easily had you pick us up--Right? But no, instead you're like a little spy. Following us, to what end? Tell me!"

Jericho grabbed Billy and made a fist, and for a moment, Billy waited for the punch to come. Jericho released him and dropped his fist. Jericho turned away and took in several long breaths. The bus pulled up and the doors opened.

Jericho looked back at Billy and shook his head.

"Billy, this free ride is over. Take a hike!"

Jericho then got into the bus. Billy watched him pay the fare and take a seat. Billy remained where he stood. The doors closed and the bus took off. Billy lowered his eyes and didn't watch as the bus drove away.

***

Vincent returned to the hotel room, hoping that Dominic had come back. Instead he found a white envelope shoved under the door. Opening it, Vincent realized at last the predicament he was in. It was a ransom note.

**Fletcher, has 24 hours to come up with $10M. If not, I will kill his son. No police, or else. I will contact you in eight hours for the drop off. No mistakes. Any heroics, and the first to die is the runaway boy. Signed, Locke.**

Runaway boy? Vincent crushed the paper in his hand. Shit! This mysterious man has Dominic and Elijah Chevalier. Vincent quickly made a long-distance call.

***

L.A.

Saxon was just at his desk when the phone rang.

"Yes, Saxon speaking...yes, patch it through. Ah, Mr. Caesar, I was just about to contact you with some very bad news."

***

Vincent stood out in front of the balcony, his eyebrows drawn up. "What bad news? How could you know that Dominic and Elijah have been taken by someone named Locke?"

Saxon froze and sat up straight in his chair. "What?! What are you talking about? Who has taken Chevalier? Is the boy all right? Did you get him back? What of Jericho? Have you got him yet?"

Vincent swallowed. "I need to speak to Fletcher. Where is he?"

On the other end, Saxon sighed. "Fletcher had a heart attack. It doesn't look good. He's dying."

Vincent closed his eyes and swore under his breath.

"What?" asked Saxon, missing what Vincent had just said.

"Nothing. You have exactly eight hours to come up with ten million dollars and get it here to me. Or else Dominic and Elijah Chevalier will die by the hands of a madman."

Saxon didn't even hesitate. "I'll get the money. I promise. I'll also see what I can learn about this, Locke."

As Vincent put down the phone, his gut feeling told him that whether this madman got his money or not, Dominic and Elijah were still going to die. He had to find them. He had eight hours.

***

Each time his fist hammered at the steel wall, it gave him the impression that his hand would surely crush the barrier with his very next hit, but still it held in place.

He continued to slam away at the iron door with his fist. He had been doing this for the past several hours and his throat was raw from his screams after the first hour of their imprisonment. Initially came the threats of restitution should they not be released, then the pleads to strike a deal, ending finally with his cries, quickly becoming whimpers for help from anyone who might be passing by the emptied warehouse.

"No one can hear you," Dom removed his hand from over his aching head as he sat sulking on the floor at the opposite wall of the room. "You've been slamming on that bloody wall for over an hour and no has heard you. We are god knows where, in the middle of nowhere, trapped in an abandoned warehouse, where I am sure no one has been for the last twenty years or so, and you are trying to get the attention of someone that doesn't exist."

"I have to do something." Elijah began to pace his side of the room, searching for any object that might help him pry the handle-less door open. The flashlight lay in the center of the floor. It would prove no use in opening a locked metal door. "I won't be trapped here until he comes back to kill us. We need to get out."

"And how are we going to do that?" Dom threw his hands up with a defeated gesture.

"I don't know," Elijah's voice peaked, almost snapping. "I don't know, but I have to do something."

He kept stepping back and forth in a three-foot square, like a caged animal. His eyes looked frantic and tired, and if Dom didn't know better, he would swear that Elijah was nearly on the verge of crying.

"Come on." Dom patted the floor next to him, trying to be the calming force in the room. "Just sit and relax for a while and then we can try and think of something."

"I don't want to sit." Elijah wrapped him arms around himself, still pacing. He looked to be on the threshold of a complete break down. Following Dominic had been a really bad idea. "I want to get out of here."

"And we will," Dom tried his best not to let his tone reveal his own sense of hopelessness at the moment. "If we don't get out, people will come looking for us. I’m sure that Vincent and my dad's men will figure out that we've been missing too long and come looking."

"Then what?" Elijah stopped in front of him with spread arms. "Then you and your men drag me off to your 'Neverland Ranch’ to be your love slave forever or something?"

"Elijah," he started.

"Wait a minute." Elijah's eyes opened widely, and he pointed an accusing finger down at Dom. "This is all your doing, isn't it?"

"What are you talking about?" Dom protested.

"You knew I wouldn't just walk into a trap, so you used yourself as bait," he explained. "You actually put yourself in danger knowing that I wouldn't let you get hurt even if it meant saving myself."

Dom seemed at a lost for words and rose to his feet with a shocked look on his face. "Do you really think I would risk your life and mine just to capture you?"

"Why not,?" Elijah turned away returning his arms to wrap around his cold body. "You've done it before."

"But never on purpose," Dom insisted as he winced from the pain that still echoed in his head where Locke had hit him hours before. "Besides, this guy, whoever he is, obviously wants revenge against my old man. Believe me, he is no friend of mine. I have a large bump on the back of my neck that gives proof of that. My God, Elijah, this whole cat and mouse game you insist on playing has been about nothing but trying to protect you. I am not trying to hurt you--I’m only trying to save you from the people who would, if they knew what you were capable of, and I'm trying to save you from yourself."

The look in Elijah's eyes as he turned to the blond man was sheer hatred and sent a shiver up Dom's spine with a cold chill. "I am not the one who wants to harm myself," he nearly spat. "You're the one who wants to keep me caged up like some lab rat."

"That's not true." Dom raised his hand slowly to his face, only to quickly drop it away. "Bugger! I want you with me because I love you, Elijah. I always have. How many times do I have to say that until you believe me?"

"Love me! Oh yes, you keep saying how much you love me and how the hell am I supposed to believe that after everything? You love me so much that you would turn me over to your father for him to use?"

"Just your blood for health reasons," Dom replied, trying his best to get Elijah to believe him. "I would never let him or anyone else hurt you, ever. Do you know how much it kills me to have to be chasing you like this? I just want to be with you, not hunt you down."

Elijah turned away not being able to look at his once best friend. "I don't want to be hunted," he said softly. "You have no idea what this is doing to me. I lost everything that day you turned on me, Dom. I lost my home, my Mom and my future, everything." For a long time Elijah was silent and then after a moment he found the inner strength to look back over his shoulder at his friend to add the words he had achingly wanted to say for so long. "And I lost you."

"No, no." Dom's voice stuttered a bit. "You didn't lose me," He got slowly to his feet and raised his hand to touch Elijah only to have him pull away. "You," he forced himself to continue even after the rejection. "You always had me. You always will. Heck," he chuckled. "If my old man is right, with a regular dose of your blood in me, we can be together forever." A smile came to his face as he thought about it more. "We can be immortal together, Elijah. Just like it is meant to be."

"No!" Elijah snapped back turning quickly to face him. "It was never meant to be us." The last word sat on his tongue like venom. "Your sick warped idea of together has nothing to do with 'us'. It is about you having total and complete control over me. Always has been, only I never saw it for what it was."

"I thought you liked it when I took charge," Dom pleaded. "It's like when we were in high school. I was always there for you because you were my friend. My only real friend."

A tear began to trickle down Elijah's face, as he looked into Dom's eyes, trying to find some trace of the person he had once known. "Yes, we were friends, Dom," he said softly. "You were always there for me, watching my back, and I liked that, I really did. You were a friend like no one else ever was to me." He lowered his head. "You were my only friend too."

The air was thick and silent as the two young men stood shivering in the cold of the empty room. Then from nowhere, Elijah raised his head with a start. "Oh my God," he gasped, stepping back as if in fear. "Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!"

"What?" Dom tried to reach out but again he was pushed away by Elijah's waving hands. "What is it?"

"You," Elijah's red eyes shot daggers at him. "It was all you, wasn't it?"

"I don't understand." This time, Dom took a step back as he stumbled on his words fearing what Elijah was only just now realizing. "What are you accusing me of now?"

"I never understood why it happened," Elijah explained as he sorted out the details in his own mind. "I was always well-liked before high school. I was never one of the popular kids, but I always got along great with everyone and made friends easily, until..."

"Wait a minute," Dom began to protest lifting his hands in defense, as he realized that Elijah had finally seen the light.

"I thought it was because of the new school and the new kids and all," Elijah continued. "But even my old friends started avoiding me shortly after I met you. It was like they just lost interest in me overnight at the same time you started coming around more and more."

"What are you saying?" Dom looked grim as he saw where this conversation was now headed.

"You!" Elijah waved the accusing finger again. "I was alone because that is how you wanted it all along."

"Elijah," he started again.

"You sick son of a bitch!" Elijah screamed. "You scared off all my friends because you wanted me all for yourself. You have been controlling my life all along."

"You have to understand," Dom began again with a little more success this time as he sought to try to explain. "I didn't know how to make friends. I mean, real friends and not just playthings like all those girls and stuff," His voice trailed for a second. "Like all my sex partners. You were a real person who really liked me, and I didn't want to take the chance that I would lose you to them. How could I compete? Try and understand, I just couldn't lose you." He swallowed and added with venom. "I had to get rid of them!"

"So you scared off everyone who ever liked me?"

"More like paid off," Dom shrugged with a half smile. "I mean think about it. If they were your friends, they would’ve never been bought off."

"Oh my God," Elijah pulled his hair back with frustration. "You don't even see how wrong this all is."

"There is nothing wrong. I did nothing wrong," replied Dom, as he folded his arms around himself and sat back down on the floor. His face changed suddenly from pleading to almost indifference.

"All those times I was alone," Elijah began again. "I thought no one ever talked to me because...they hated me. I swear, Dom, there were times when your friendship was the only thing that stopped me from going over the deep end."

"You mean a lot to me. You were never truly alone. I was always nearby."

"Then why? Why did you betray me to your father?" Elijah raised his eyes to the ceiling with disbelief. "For once tell me why? The truth?"

Dom silently looked at the floor and shrugged his shoulders. "All my life, it seems I’ve tried to compete with my dad, but he always came up on top. Everything I have, is actually his, given to me for amusement or just to get rid of me but never because I deserved it. You were the first thing I ever had that had no part of my father in it. Besides everything, I did enjoy being with you. I liked you, the person you were. So down to earth. So real. Even though you were dirt poor, you were happy. Loved. I was envious of you. But I also wanted to be a part of that. Then when I learned about your blood, all I could think about was how someday my father would have to come to me and ask me for something and then when he knew about you and I saw him in that wheelchair...his eyes, I knew he would try and take you away from me. That he would and that he could. So I had to think fast. I had to make the deal. For you Elijah...He gets your father, but you get to stay with me...Don't you see, that it was the only way I could keep you?"

Elijah only stared at him in horror and shook his head in denial. "No Dom, it was for you, not me, never for me. It was what you wanted, what you had to have, and what I thought and felt meant nothing, absolutely nothing to you."

"That's not true!" Dom raised his shoulders defensively getting back to his feet once more. "I think about you all the time, I am constantly trying to find ways that would make you happy!"

"You actually believe that shit? You are the most selfish, self-centered, bastard I ever met! I wish I had never met you! You and your father have turned my world upside down! I hate you! I HATE YOU!"

Elijah turned away, his hands clenched in fists, then he turned back and the next minute Elijah had Dom by the collar and was slamming him up against the wall. Dom felt the wall connect with his back and shoulders with a thud and felt the air knocked from his lungs. The pain that was swelling in his head and neck now doubled.

"You bastard!" Elijah screamed into his face again. "You never even gave me a chance! You never hinted, never gave me a clue that you were feeling anything for me other than friendship. You never cared about what I might feel towards you in return! I won't be kept in a cage! I WON'T!"

For a moment the air sizzled and then slowly Elijah released his grip and, turning, he walked away from Dom as if trying to get as much distance between them as he could.

The furthest away he could manage was back by the main door to the warehouse. He paused then slammed his fist on the door, more to release his anger then to get anyone's attention. "I'll die first." he whispered softly.

"Well," Dom struggled for his breath then finding it he smoothed out his clothes before speaking. A smile graced his lips. "I made a mistake. I never, thought that you might even...return the feelings that I had for you. I dreamed about it, but I never thought that you would. We can start over? Elijah!"

He started to move towards him, but Elijah looked back with an _expression that warned Dom not to approach. Not if he wanted to keep all his teeth intact.

Dom stopped and shrugged as if the knowledge of Elijah's words were just sinking in. "You do love me? You do?"

"Did!" snapped Elijah. "As in past tense, as in not any more! How could I?" replied Elijah seeing Dom's stricken face. "How could I after all you've done to me? Even if I could forgive you, how could I ever trust you again? After selling me out? Selling out my dad? Allowing that monster Saxon to brainwash my mom against me? For LYING to me!"

Mucus began to build up around Elijah's nose and mouth as tears began to stream down his face. "You've taken everything away from me. My mom, my dad, my feelings, my choices, my life, and you don't even realize how much harm you have caused me? Don't you have any kind of conscience at all?" Elijah then swallowed down the bile in his throat and whispered tearfully into the room. "You hurt me. Dom! You-hurt me."

Dom had to look away from the pain in Elijah's face as he answered in response to the accusation. "No," he spoke softly with tears in his own eyes. "No I, I didn't hurt you...I did all of this for you. For us."

It was then that Elijah knew that Dom was unable to realize the damage he had done by his thoughtless acts. Perhaps he never would be able to. If that was so, where did this leave him? Where did it lead for their future?

Like a ton of bricks, Elijah stumbled backwards to the opposite wall and he allowed his battered and beaten form, both physically and mentally, to slide down to the dirty wooden floor beneath his feet. He pulled his knees up and curled into a ball as best as he could and began to weep uncontrollably.

With a sinking feeling in his chest, Elijah could hear the voice crying loudly in his mind 'Yes' and with it, he felt the despair swarm over his heart and into his very soul.

Dom silently returned to the other wall and, sitting down on the floor, he curled his knees up against his own body. He didn't mean for all of this to happen. He had never meant to cause so much pain. In all the time he had loved this man-child and wanted to possess him, the one thing he never wanted to do was hurt Elijah, the object of his undying affection. In truth, in trying to win him like a prize of his own, he had accomplished the most bitter and utter defeat of the young man he loved. He had broken Elijah down and destroyed not just what he had hoped could be, but everything that might have been.

*I could have had him, he could have been mine, if only I had...If only--.*

Dom lowered his own head into his arms as he lay on the floor, there were no tears but within, his heart wept, consumed with the knowledge of what he had done with the truth what all his lies could never do. He had broken the man who was Elijah into bits and pieces of his former self. He HAD hurt him.

Yet even with all the pain and the anguish that was cursing through his own soul at that moment, a small part of himself, a small voice in the far reaches of Dom's mind, was whispering the gentle song, 'what we have destroyed can only be rebuilt larger and stronger'.

So as Dom looked away from the sight of his shattered friend, he knew that this wasn't an ending. It may not be this day, but he knew inside his heart that one day he would win over this object of his lust over again. After all, Elijah all but said that he had felt something for him. Dom could make him feel that way again. He was patient; he could wait. Time heals all wounds, doesn't it? He would have the man of his desires--and if Elijah could never find it in his heart to forgive him? What then?

Dom suddenly looked up and his eyes narrowed as they stared at the young man still wailing in anguish. His heart suddenly hardened at the thought of Elijah being gone forever from his life. To never see him again. Dominic Fletcher felt a surge of anger and denial flood through his veins.

***

Jericho was just stepping into the hotel room, hoping to grab Elijah and make a run for it before Billy arrived, only to come to a dead stop when a familiar man stood waiting in the room. He went to back out, but someone was behind him, poking a gun in his back.

Stepping inside, the thug closed the door behind them, locking it. Jericho took an unsteady step forward and glanced around the room.

"Where is Elijah? If you hurt him..."

Vincent only shook his head while the thug patted Jericho down for any weapons. He was unarmed. But the thug did find the metal box and gave it to Vincent.

Vincent opened it and looked inside. He looked over the photos and then at the back of them. His eyes narrowed together and he looked up at Jericho.

"Yeah, I'm the son of Jason Richards...Ben's brother. That makes me Elijah's cousin, doesn't it? Did you know all along?"

Vincent shook his head. "No, I did not. But it explains a great deal."

He put all of the objects back into the box and returned it to Jericho.

"Where is Elijah?" repeated Jericho putting the box into his duffle bag.

Vincent sat down on the edge of the bed and shrugged his shoulders. "Where else, in trouble and this time so is Dominic. We are going to have to work together, Mr. Jericho Richards. Does the name Locke mean anything to you?"

Jericho shook his head. "Should it?"

"He has kidnapped the boys and in less than..." He glanced at his watch. "Four hours, he will kill Elijah Chevalier if he doesn't get ten million dollars from Fletcher."

"So what is the problem?" asked Jericho.

"Fletcher is in the hospital. He had a heart attack and Master Dominic does not know. Saxon is sending money, but I don't know if it will get here in time. Even if it does, I don't think this Locke will release them."

Jericho swallowed. "He's going to kill them anyway."

"Exactly. We must find them and soon. Time is running out."

***

The warehouse looked empty. The mysterious stranger had taken the boys inside but when he came out, he was alone. They had to be still in there. Taking out his phone, he called it in.

***

He spotted the unknown man with his binoculars. Who the hell was that? Vincent's men? Could they possibly have found his hideaway so quickly? Grabbing his gun, he moved in for the kill.

***

"West of the river, about three miles. Got it?"

"Got it, will send a team right away. Out."

"Copy, Trey out."

The man was just closing the connection when a gun was fired. He felt something hit him in the chest. Dazed the man, touched a spreading wet spot and realized it was blood. Then he fell to the ground.

Dead.

***

Locke bent down over the dead body and checked him over for any form of ID. He pulled out a wallet and flipped it open to see a Secret Service badge. It clearly had the man's name and his place of work.

IIA (International Intelligence Agency) Officer Hank Trey. A government agent? How the hell did he get involved with this? Surely Fletcher didn't hire him? Something didn't feel right. Locke then thought about the other one, the runaway boy. He got to his feet and ran to the warehouse.

***

“We're going to die, aren't we, Dom?" Elijah tearfully looked up at Dominic, and seeing Elijah's frightened state, Dom slowly crawled over to him and put his arm around his shoulder. Dom knew Elijah was indeed feeling hopeless when he didn't push him away this time.

"Vincent will find us. Everything will be fine. I promise."

Elijah only stared at the floor and leaned his head against the wall. "I'm scared, Dom. I'm scared."

"Don't be, I'll look after you."

The sound of footsteps was heard and Elijah and Dom looked up, when a voice spoke from the other side of the room through the door.

"Touching. So very touching. All right, who are you, kid? I know I have Dominic Fletcher, but you, I don't know you. What is your name? Why are you being chased by so many people? Come on! Speak, or I may just unlock this door and you won't be very healthy after I get through with you."

Elijah stared at Dom. Getting to his feet, Dominic went to the door. "Bugger off! Whatever you're after, you have me. Let Elijah go."

"Elijah...nice name, Hebrew, means Jehovah is my God. Do you believe in God, boy? You may want to start praying, because if Mr. Caesar doesn't come through in about two hours with ten million dollars....you are going to be sleeping with the fishies!"

Elijah crawled as far as he could away from the door. Dom remained where he was, his eyes flashing in anger.

"Ten million dollars, huh? That's all he is worth to you? Tell you what....you let us go, and I'll give you twenty five million dollars."

The man on the other end laughed, but then stopped for a moment in thought. "My, I certainly must have caught something special today, not just a spoiled rotten rich kid but a very valuable boy...now I ask myself, why is he so special? Do you have an answer for me?"

"I'll tell you, if you tell me who you are and why you want to get revenge on my father?"

The stranger leaned against the wall and chuckled. After a moment, he nodded. "Very well, I'll tell you. About twenty-two years ago, I worked for a man named Braddock-"

Vincent held the phone and listened to Saxon on the other end.

"Locke? Drake Locke? All right I got it. Yes, I know Mr. Saxon. I will do whatever it takes to get them safe."

He hung up the phone and faced Jericho's questioning _expression. (* Locke was a character who appeared in the pilot episode of the Immortal original series. He vanished before the regular series, and we never really knew what became of him.)

"Twenty-some years ago, there was a man named Braddock who was the first to find out about Ben Richard's blood. He hired a man named Locke. Ben eventually escaped and Locke went on his own, to try to capture Ben himself and sell him off to the highest bidder. When Fletcher joined Braddock, Braddock ordered Fletcher to get rid of Locke. From what Saxon can figure out, Fletcher had tracked him down in Mexico about twenty years ago and shot him. His body fell into the ocean and was never recovered."

"He survived. Oh my God." Jericho placed his hand on his eyebrows and shook his head. "Oh, Mother of God, what if he finds out that Elijah is Ben's son?"

Vincent shook his head. "Time is almost up. Think. Where could he have taken him?"

Jericho didn't have any answers. It was then there was a knock on the door. The thug glanced at Vincent and then with a gun in his hand, he opened the door.

Billy Adams stepped into the room.

"Billy!" Jericho shouted in disgust.

Vincent only looked at the mysterious stranger. "Who?"

Looking at the three men, Billy held up his hands and signed. Jericho read the words as he signed them. "I know where Dom and Elijah are"

Jericho nodded and glanced at Vincent. "Well, what are we waiting for--let's go!"

***

Dom stared in horror as Locke concluded his story. "I was hurt pretty bad. But I lived and managed to swim under the docks and to safety. For years, I had to do therapy to fix my arm. I worked out every day, vitamins, elixirs. Eventually I got better. Much better and, every day, I thought about your father, Dominic. How I would get even with him. The ten million dollars, of course, is just a ploy. I have no intention of sparing your life. Not for ten million, or twenty five million. Before this day is through, you are going to be very dead, and then, I am going to mail your father a very nice little package. Your head."

Elijah jerked back in terror, shaking his head in denial of this insane man holding them hostage.

"Now, rich boy, why don't you tell me--what makes your little companion so special that Fletcher sends out a fleet of men at his command including his own son to track him down? Or do I come in there and start taking the boy apart, piece by piece!"

Dom turned to Elijah and sighed, hoping to get Elijah's consent.

Elijah shook his head. "No, no don't tell him. Dom, please!"

"I have to. It's the only way to keep you safe. Maybe now you'll believe me when I tell you that I love you. I love you so much that I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you alive."

"I won't be safe with him. He's mad! Please! Don't!"

Dom swallowed and turned back to the door. "Elijah is Benjamin Richard's son."

Elijah closed his eyes.

On the other side of the door, the man's face dropped in surprise and then a moment later he smiled and started to chuckle uncontrollably. "Ben's son? Ah, I should have known. Well, hello there, little one. Oh, your father and I...we have history, you know? For almost two months, I had him under lock and key...for Braddock. He escaped me. I always wondered whatever became of him. How lovely, to see he made time to have a family."

The man smacked his hands together and laughed loudly.

"I will, of course, have to make certain Mr. Dominic Fletcher is telling me the truth, which I am sure he is. If that is the case, you needn't worry your pretty little head about your future. Oh, your future, Elijah, I am going to take special care of you. Why, in a hundred years or so, you may even call me Daddy. We're going to have such fun, little one. After I take care of this business, I'll show you an interesting game. The Alpha Male game. Its fun, well, for the Alpha Male, who's on top that is." He licked his lips. “We'll see, how long it takes you to scream."

Elijah understood the implications and when the image flooded his mind he suddenly felt sick and a bile rose to his throat.

Staring at the door, Dom's eyes flashed in hatred. "You won't live long enough to touch him! I swear to God, I'll kill you first, Locke!"

"That, is what you think, Dominic Fletcher. You won't be able to do anything, because you'll be dead."

***

Vincent parked the car. They all came out and waited. Vincent flagged his two men to go to the back. Looking at Billy, he pointed at the car. "You stay here. Jericho, come with me."

Taking out his gun, he headed for the doors of the warehouse. Jericho was close at his heels.

***

What followed, Elijah knew happened within a matter of seconds. He was in Dom's arms and heard the door opening. Locke entered with a gun in his hand, intending to have his revenge at last and kill Dominic Fletcher. Before he could shoot Dom, Elijah had gotten to his feet and, pushing Dom behind him, ran at Locke in a vain attempt to stop him.

Locke pulled his hand up with the gun and slammed it down hard on Elijah's neck, then shoved him aside like an insignificant toy.

"You're not much like your father, are you, boy? Ah, well, it will still be a fun thousand years with you! But first, Fletcher!"

Elijah cried out and stumbled to the floor, dazed but still conscious; he turned to see that Dom was leaning against the wall, staring at Lock, waiting for the deadly shot with his name on it. That was when a shadowy figure came out of nowhere with a drop kick sending the gun flying from Locke's hand.

A moment later, Locke and Vincent were locked in mortal combat.

Elijah felt something grab his arm and pull him out of the room. Looking up, Elijah sighed in relief to see Jericho. He had come back! Looking over his shoulder, Elijah saw Vincent had Locke in a head-hold. Then a quick movement with his hands and a loud crack was heard. Locke's lifeless body fell to the ground.

When Vincent got to his feet, he went to grab Dom and saw Jericho looking at him by the door. Before he could move, that door was slammed closed and locked into place.

Dom, who was still leaning against the wall, folded his arms around his waist and glared at Vincent in sheer annoyance. "Thank you, for coming to my rescue."

Vincent sighed. "Anytime, Master Dominic."

***

"Jericho, we can't leave them there, they'll die!"

Jericho shook his head. "They'll be fine, Caesar's men will be here any minute. Come on!"

Elijah paused for a moment. A voice called to him on the other side.

"Elijah, don't go with him. Stay here with me! Elijah, this can only end one way. Don't run away from me. I need you. Elijah!" Elijah stared at the door.

Jericho grabbed him by the arm. "Come on! We don’t have a moment to lose."

Elijah sadly looked away. "Dom, I'm sorry! I can't....I can't. Dom, I-I- lov--"

His hands touched the wall and he lowered his head against the metal; he stopped, unable to finish the sentence.

___

Dom leaned his head against the metal door. "Elijah, I won't give you up. I'll come for you--I will always come for you. Every shadow, every corner. I'll be there. Waiting. I will never give you up. Never!"

___

"Dom..."

___

"You belong to me, Elijah. You will always belong to me. You know this. Accept it. Stay." he pleaded and half commanded.

___

Elijah pushed himself from the door and stared at Jericho with tears in his eyes. "As I said before, there was never any us! You always have to take control!"

He then turned and ran down the hall, not once looking back. Jericho paused, then followed after him.

"ELIJAH!" Elijah heard Dom's scream and kept running.

***

Billy held the car keys in his hand. Jericho stared at him as if thinking things through. He grabbed the keys and nodded.

"Get in!" As he started up the car, Jericho glanced at Elijah. He was slowly putting on his seatbelt. But he paused when he spotted something in the car. A photo. A photo probably left by Fletcher's son. It was a crumpled up picture of himself and Dominic.

Their graduation picture. Jericho paused to see Elijah contemplating throwing it out the window; instead, he put it into his pocket.

Backing up the car, Jericho was half-way down the road, when he glanced out his window to see that Vincent's men had set their bosses free.

Vincent and Dominic were standing at the door, watching them race away into parts unknown. They were free once again. For now.

Billy sat in the back. Staring at the two of them quietly. Waiting, watching, planning.

***

Dom got onto the plane and angrily threw himself into the nearest empty chair.

"Will Dad be all right?"

"I don't know. Mr. Saxon said it didn't look good."

"What about Elijah and Jericho?"

Vincent took the opposite seat facing Dom and shrugged. "As soon as your father is out of danger, we'll start again. Don't worry, Master Dominic. We'll get Elijah Chevalier and Jericho Richards. That, I promise you."

Dom only put on his seatbelt and stared silently out the window.

Dom's thoughts then turned to his father : What if he died? What happens then? Will Saxon stick to the deal? Will Saxon allow Dom to keep Elijah for his own? Will he be able to?

***

Ditching the car, Elijah, Jericho and Billy boarded a town bus and quietly took seats in the back. Elijah stared at Jericho in half shock and half joy.

"Cousins? We’re cousins? Are you sure?"

Jericho nodded. "Pretty sure."

Elijah leaned back in his chair and after a moment, he smiled. "Cool!"

Jericho leaned back in his seat and after a moment he too smiled and nodded. "Yeah, cool!"

Billy didn't smile, instead he folded his arms around himself and stared off into the night. His secrets were still in place. But for how long?

The End.

Look for the next upcoming episode: Behind Every Mask