'Abby? Did he really just call me Abby?' Tessa thinks, glad that John's back, if even just temporarily. 'Abby... Abby, Abby, Abby...' Tessa keeps repeating the name over and over again in her head, trying to place the name with a face. 'Why do I know that name?' she questions, getting slightly annoyed at her lack of being able to remember. She bties at her lip, a really bad habit of hers, trying hard to remember where she heard that name before. She had been so busy thinking about the name Abby that she didn't see John stick the other three kids with the needles. Good thing too. Needles made her queasy.

Tessa's attention is stolen away from the familiar sounding name as one of the other girls manages to break free of her ropes and dash for the door. "RUN! RUN! GET HELP!" Tessa blurts out after the girl, unable to stop the words from escaping her lips. Her eyes grow big and she bites her lip again, surprised at the sudden outburst. She whimpers, scared, and gives more credit to the kidnappers' threats of punishment and injury then she previously did when she sees SKippy run the knife down Mai's cheek.

Tess somehow manages to hold back the tears and resists the urge to vomit at the blood from the injury. She doesn't watch as John patches up the girl's cheek but does gape when he asks what they want to eat. 'One girl just had her face sliced open and he wants to know what we want to eat. This is ridiculous!!' Tessa thinks in confused amazement. When John's questioning gaze turns towards her she adverts her eyes and looks away from him. "I'm not hungry," she mutters.

Victoria just looked in trerror as the blood ran down the cheek of the girl. What in the world just happened to not hurting anybody? She of course had seem blood before. Her parents had often slapped her cheek and her mother did not make a habit of keep her nails in distance, so when she was mad Victoria often ended up with scratchmarks on her face. But this was different. Here was a girl that was cut with a knife and there was a lot of blood. Victoria vomitted on her clothes and the floor by the thought of hurting others like that on purpose. It was too frightening to her and it ade her sick, hence why she vomitted. She looked down and huffed a bit after her sick-incident and felt how she was shaking over her whoe body. Until now she had been a passive captive, but now she had marked herself. She closed her eyes and wayted for her punishment.


((Sorry, I've been really sick lately and I still am. I'm not gonna post for Al just yet, since I'm unsure of what happened that's relevant to him))

Skippy glared at Tessa and then slapped her across the face for yelling out. "No!" John shoved Skippy down and they began to have a cat fight. He glared at her. "You do not hurt children!" John shoved Skippy across the room "You do not hurt children!" he said again and glared at her. Skippy placed her hands over her head and repeated.

"You do not hurt children." she fell to her knees, John blinked at the submissiveness of Skippy and shook his head. "I Wont hurt them any more John, please stop..." She whimpered. John wasn't sure about her honesty in that but sighed and shook his head sadly.

"Alright." he whispered He looked at the children who were asleep and the ones awake, then saw Victoria who had vomited. He sighed. "Skippy, I am going to take these kids home." John lifted each one and placed them outside in a van, then got the address roster. "Your in charge Skippy, but do not cut, hit or shove anyone anywhere, do you understand me?" John asked "I'm getting dinner for the kids, and I'll be back." John said he looked over at Victoria then at Al, and shook his head softly coming up to Victoria he lifted her out of the chair, untied her and placed her in the bathroom. "Clean your self up, there is a fresh pair of paints and shirts in the cupboard above... and towels." Indeed there was a shower in the bathroom. after five minutes Victoria came out and John placed her back in the chair that had been cleaned up surprisingly by Skippy. She looked away from Victoria, she had surprised even her self with the cut. "All you kids be good, even if you shout people can't hear you, were in the country."

<Its ok Lee, just take care of yourself! :) I know health problems, I'm having a bunch of them myself.>

Raine listened, well, more watched, the argument between Skippy and John. She was glad that the end result was that no one would hurt them...though she did think that there may have been a better way to go around it. She wasn't exactly sure what that was...so she didn't bother saying anything. Though it did occur to her that she could, after John left, try to pit them against each other...though, after how relatively quickly that was, there didn't seem to be much of a chance to use that. She sighed, glancing around. John had said half an hour...and then she'd be able to walk around. Chances weren't good that she'd be able to get away...not if all three were going to be watching the kids, and not if Skippy was going to cut them all if they tried...even if she had agreed not to hurt them.

She stared at the ground for a few seconds, and then glanced back at Mai. "...You alright?" she asked, though it sounded like a stupid question to her; her cheek had been cut open, so of course she was hurting. But still...at least she was still alive. She returned her gaze to the floor. "...If this is all for ransom...how do our parents know we're still alive?" she asked, looking back up, and glancing around at the others. She hadn't really asked anyone in particular...though she wouldn't care if she got an answer or not.

(So sorry for not posting :S Got busy again and pulled away from my computer everytime I tried to post....)

Tessa gasps when Skippy slaps her, tears springing to her eyes as her cheek turns red and stings. She listens to John and Skippy's arguement as silent tears run down her cheeks. Her eyes widen when he says Skippy was going to be staying to watch over them as well. The two violent ones. Oh great... A thought she suddenly has as john starts to leave makes her call out. "John! Abby?! Abigail?! My mother?! No one's called her Abby since I was little... Do you... Know her?!"

John froze at the sudden out burst by the child who had show such strength and courage he turned to look her in the eyes. "I believe so kid." he said softly, "Abby was my wife for five years, I was a cop then." John looked away from Tessa, he didn't want to look in her eyes, she reminded him so much of Abby. "She left me and asked for a divorce, I had no other choice, my captain was breathing down my neck..." John sighed "I should have never entered that house alone, without backup... but the little girl was crying for help... and I wanted to help her." John whispered he turned to look at Tessa and then shook his head softly. "Be good, if they hurt you I'll kill them myself." John whispered. "Your Abby's child, and I'm going to see to it you will make it out alive both you and Victoria."

Skippy glared at John, the old softy. In just two minutes she had learned more about John then she had ever cared to know. So John liked children, unlike Al, she looked over at Al who had been very quiet during the whole process except for taunting Victoria which had been his whole goal. Skipp nodded "Yes John, I'll watch the kids, I promise no harm to them." Skippy couldn't be sure that John's threat to kill wasn't real. She didn't know much about the man.

John left before Tessa could respond or any other kid for that matter, dropped the children off and ordered five pizza's two large salad's and bread sticks he also got bottles of pop and glasses and ice for the kids, and came back. "I could use a little help..." he exclaimed, it had been more than half an hour. "Get the kid untied that was asking for some walking time..." He pointed to Raine, "That one." Skippy nodded and did as she was told and shoved the kid towards John, John caught her before she fell and sighed. "Come on Kid." he whispered softly... he realized she had a name, but if he used her name it would make things more difficult for him.

They went to the van and John gave Raine the pizza. He handed Skippy the salad. "There is a salad in there for you." then he placed the bread sticks on top of the salads. He waited for Raine to return to give her the soda pop and he would carry in the ice that was already melting.

Raine was glad that she was finally allowed to walk, even if she had to help. Though she did stumble a bit after the woman had shoved her. at least the other one was nice enough to catch her. She carried the pizza inside, and as she did, wondered about everything else that seemed to be going on. So the man that was nicer...was once married to the other girl's mom? That was a bit much, not hearing much about divorce before then. She did have to wonder about the reasons behind it, even if she couldn't possibly figure it out. Though she did wonder what the little girl crying had to do with it. ...Or if that was why he was nicer to them than the other two, or if he was always just like that. She shook her head; now she was thinking a bit much.

She returned to John, reaching out to take the soda. She carried that back in, setting it near where she had put the pizza. She glanced around, then back at the food, not really taking any just yet. She'd wait for the others to get food first...she wasn't sure how hungry she was, and she did tend to take a bit more than she really ate. Better to leave some...unless they were going to be untied one at a time. Which actually, made more sense to her, but she didn't know for sure. "...Are we all going to eat at once, or just one at a time?" Though, after she asked, she thought it did sound like a stupid question; should have sat and watched for that answer instead of actually asking.

"There is enough for half a pizza per person." John stated. "I wasn't sure what you kids liked on for toppings, so I just got pepperoni, Cheese, meet lovers, and a veggie one." John untied Tessa and Mai, and Victoria, "So eat up kids, wasn't sure if some of you didn't like pizza got tossed salad and crazy bread for all. Sorry." John apologized for the inconvenience of it all, knowing Victoria wouldn't get out of her seat he gently took what he knew she would like out of the pizza box and placed it on her lap and got her drink as well."

John was watching Raine and smiled softly as she took some pizza and then he poured her a drink. He took her gently by the arm and softly walked her away they were still within the eye sight of the others but it would make anyone question what he was doing taking her away from the group. "You have been the most vocal." he said "other than the one that yelled for the other kid to run. Tell me, what is your name, you know your not going to be able to remember me at the end of all this. You have been the smartest by talking and making it known your needs. I want you to continue doing that, you'll drive both Al and Skippy insane." John grinned.

Skippy grabbed her share and a salad and sulked off, she hated this, why was Al being stupid?!They were supposed to be running the show! Not that stupid softy of a man, if you could call him that."

Raine sullenly grabbed a few slices, and walked a little ways away to sit against one of the walls. She ate quietly, though slowly, like usual. She was always distracted, and never really paid much attention to eating. But she wasn't staring off into space like she normally was while she was eating. She glanced around, wondering how exactly she might escape. But then again, she might not be able to get tham all out, or she might get caught to allow someone else to get out. After watching another one trying to escape, and seeing her get cut, she shook that thought out of her head. How was she going to get out without getting hurt?

She wasn't, she decided. But she didn't know whether or not to take that chance. If she could get out, it wouldn't take too long to find help...but, if she got caught, she never dealt well with pain. She focused on everyone else then, to try to see what their reactions might be. She wasn't entirely sure if the others would try to escape with her. And, even as she planned, she knew it was never going to go through. Just like every other plan she made; it just kinda sat there, in her head. She paused, swallowing a mouthful of food. "...We're going to be tied up again...aren't we?" she asked, voice expectant.

"Well, everyone sweetheart needs to be tied up as not to run. It looks like your parents are going to pay the money. But there asking for more time to get it." John sighed, he glared over at Al, who was making him look like the ring leader. He then pulled Raine in closer. "I need help." he whispered softly in her ears. "I'm trapped in this thing just like you." he whispered again then he cleared his voice. And looked up, Al and Skippy had left the room leaving him in charge of three kids, he looked over to the other two and sighed. He brought out a throw a way phone and brought Raine to a white screen he sat her down and took her pizza and pop and placed it on the table. John clicked the camera and smiled gently "They insist on seeing a recent photo, smart parents, or talking to you in person. Can't arrange the talking part, I'm not in charge Al is but he's not responding to anything so I've got to keep everything calm. Do you know what the word blackmail is?" John wasn't sure how bright these kids were, he didn't want to hurt them by insulting there intelligences. He pressed the send button and by accident called her mother, who picked up and heard the last question asked to Raine, she remained quiet on the phone as she figured this was a mistake on the kidnappers part. A throw away phone at this point was not track able.

Raine gave him a curious look. Him, trapped? That was hardly possible. From the looks of things, he was helping to hold them hostage...though he did act different from the other two. She was a bit more confused when he brought out the phone, and even more so when he snapped a picture. Though she did understand when he explained that her parents wanted proof. When he asked if she knew what blackmail was, she paused. She was sure she had heard that before. "...Isn't it kinda like...threatening? Or something..." She trailed off, unsure. She paused, thinking. She glanced back at the white screen, then back at him. "...If someone else is in charge...and...you said you're trapped..." She tilted her head to one side. "...They're forcing you?" She was distracted, watching the others eating. "...Can I have my pizza now?"

"Yea, your smart Kid. It's kinda like being forced to do your homework even wen you don't want to do it, or doing it for someone else when they should be doing their own home work." John sighed softly. "Let's see if I Can make this simple." he walked over to her pizza and brought the little table up to her, "Eat up and enjoy kid." John spoke softly, "When I was a cop- a good cop, I responded to a 911 call, that call landed me at a house filled with an abusive father, and mother... the kid had called 911 and she was about eight years old." There were tears in John's eyes just remembering that night. "I hadn't planned to go in. But the little girl was crying for help, I was told to wait for back up... there were gun shots in the house and I heard her crying again, I ran in, saw the mother and father dead on the floor and the little girl bleeding to death. She begged me to stay with her until she was sleeping." John sighed "My partner came in and found me over a dead body, he said I killed the girl, and blamed me for going in early... but I didn't go in until after those shots and he had been off duty..." John trailed off thinking for a moment "What the hell had Bobbie been doing there on his day off?" John wondered and then looked at the kid in front of him, "I don't mean to bring my problems onto you... you have enough, and your supposed to hate me I suppose. Your a good kid." John whispered gently "Eat up, maybe I'll let you walk around outside a little bit." he whispered gently. John stood up and then blinked he pulled out his phone and looked at it, "Shit." he said then he handed the phone to the girl. "I think I called her by accident." he said. "Only say hello, just enough time to say hello."

Raine nodded, and listened to the story he seemed to be starting. That didn't tell her how he was being blackmailed...unless that was the reason why. But she couldn't exactly see him as a cop; not after all this. She ate at the pizza as she listened, confused. If he didn't do anything, why was he being forced to do all this? How could that be used as a threat? He hadn't done anything. And an abusive father and mother...she wasn't entirely sure on that one, either. But it kept her entertained. And he might let her walk around outside. That sounded like enough fun for her, after being trapped inside, tied to a chair. She was about to say something when he said shit, but gave an even more confused look when he said he had called her mom by accident.

She nodded again when he said she only had enough time to say hello...though she wanted to be able to talk to her mother more than just that. She took the phone, and held it up to her ear. "Hi, Mommy."

John winked at the child and looked behind them Skippy and Al hadn't returned he smiled softly he could hear the woman on the end of the phone gasping when he gave her daughter the phone, most kidnappers weren't that kind to the kidnapped ones. "Hello, darling." Her mother whispered she had a photo of her daughter and gently touched it, then looked to her husband. "Are you alright? Are you safe? No one's hurting you are they? Where are you?" she asked softly, if they did hurt her baby there would be hell to pay.

John took in a deep breath the phone was loud enough he could hear her questions. He nodded to Raine trying to encourage her to answer them the best she could. Except she wouldn't know where she was because she was in an abandoned warehouse.

Raine paused, glancing at him until he nodded. She looked down. "I'm fine, Mommy. I haven't been hurt...well, the rope hurt a little, but I'm not tied up now." She stopped, and looked around the building, and then pouted. "I don't know where I am...it's just this big, empty room...there's nothing here but the chairs we were tied to, and a table, and the people...not even a window..." She thought for a second before adding. "They bought us pizza, too." Raine was just glad she was able to talk with her mother; she wasn't so sure about whether or not she'd be able to again.

"they?" asked her mother "So there is more than just that ex-cop?" she asked softly into the phone. John came up and held his hand out for the phone.

"That's enough now child time to tell your mother good-bye." John had his hand on the phone he didn't want to sound cold hearted but he couldn't afford to let Al and Skippy know "If Al or Skippy see you talking on the phone they'll go postal and I don't want to see another kid get hurt again." John spoke gently to the child but firmly.

Raine looked up as he reached for the phone, but didn't take it away just yet. She pouted a bit. "He says I have to stop before the others get back. Bye, Mommy," She said, somewhat sullenly. She looked up at him again, then turned her attention back to the food. She started eating again, though she still tried to pay attention...and to sort out a bit of confusion. Not that her confusion was really going to be helpful if she ever figured it out. Like...going postal? She tried to ignore that, and glanced around again, still trying to find some escape.

"Sweetheart?!" her mother asked as she called out into the phone, John placed it in his ear and sighed.

"I am not your sweetheart, I am her caregiver for the moment but if Al or Skippy see me talking to you they'll go postal and start hurting these kids. I'm doing everything I can to keep your kid alive. do me favor and pay the ransome. You have your proof now pay up, or Al will kill her." John hung up the phone and looked at the child. "You did well, and maintained your composer." he nodded "I think you deserve a reward. Like going outside for a walk, five minutes." he smiled at that he thought this news might make her happy.

Raine stopped pouting, and finished her pizza quickly. "Yeah; I wanna go outside now." She stood up, then looked back at him. She tilted her head to one side curiously. "Only five minutes? That's not very long..." At least, not long enough to run around a park like she wanted to. But, if it was only a walk, maybe it would just be more like when she followed her sister around outside. But that was never fun; their conversations were so boring. She turned her attention to a wall. "...Would he really kill me? I didn't do anything..."

"Good lets go outside then." John said, he brought her to the back door and opened it up, "Go on out... I'll check on you in five minutes." he said. John was really concerned with this one running away, he knew she couldn't because the back was all finced in, and was more than ten feet tall, it was to keep people from coming in, but then again this had been the lunch area when he worked here a long time ago. "If you want back in all you need do is push the button on the right, it will open the door automatically for you, at least it should, otherwise I'll be back in five minutes. You should have enough room to walk, run whatever you want to do, to get it out of your system."

Raine walked out the door, and glanced around. Well, it wasn't exactly a park, but she'd make do. She sighed at the tall fence, and glanced back to focus on John talking. Only five minutes...and she was out here on her own. She paused, waiting for the door to shut, then looked around again. It would probably take more than the five minutes he was giving her to climb those walls. She ran around the area a few times, but that wasn't quite enough. She wanted to climb, but...she looked up at the fence. He'd think she was trying to escape. She sighed, and looked around for something else to do, unsure of how much time had passed already.