The Return of Alex Barnes

Part 2

By EJKatz

“Are you sure it was Barnes?”

“Positive. We are going to have to call. They need to know.”

“They won’t be happy, it has taken too long to confirm her escape. There will be hell to pay.”

“Jase, they can not fault us. She left a body in her room, a body so badly beaten we couldn’t tell who it was until they performed the autopsy. We thought Barnes was dead and that it was someone else who had escaped. Tell me, how can they blame us for that?”

“Mick, you don’t understand. If you had been here the day they brought her in you’d understand. The cop who came here with her, Ellison or something like that. He asked all sorts of questions about what the chances were of escape and what our security measures were. He made it very clear that he was to be notified the instant there were any problems with her. If we don’t call him, I have no doubt that when he finds out he will come here and do something really nasty. I think she tried to kill his partner or something.”

“Why was she here anyway?” Jase asked.

“Something to do with thinking she was a god and having all sorts amazing powers. Tests showed nothing, besides she was unresponsive when they brought her here. At least for the first week there was nothing, until Dr. Richards started working with her. Then she seemed fine, sort of.”

“What do you mean ‘sort of’?”

“Oh, she started off on this tangent. She was going to get her powers back and nothing would stop her. Doc Richards said she was delusional and to ignore her. I guess he got it wrong, too.” Mick laughed harshly. “So, who wants to call?”

“Let’s talk to Dr. Richards. He’ll make it, I’m sure.”

“Good idea. I don’t want to deal with Ellison. Or his partner.”

*****

Jim woke to the ringing of the phone. He grabbed the receiver off the bedside table before it finished its first ring. He didn’t want to wake Blair, knowing how late he must have gotten in the night before. Casting his hearing out he checked for the familiar heartbeat. When he didn’t locate it, his first thought was that Blair must have already left for school again so he pushed the thoughts aside to answer the persistent ringing.

“’lo.” He mumbled into the mouthpiece.

“Jim, did I wake you?” Megan’s voice asked from the other end.

“Yeah, but I should be up anyway. What time is it?”

“Just after seven. I am really sorry to bother you this early, but there was another one last night.”

*****

“What happened?” Jim demanded as he approached Megan in front of the Callaway Niteclub. The Australian detective was impeccably dressed as usual, but her face was lined with anger and frustration.

“Same thing. Three men, masked with guns. The manager here is furious, not that I blame him. There was a skirmish with an employee who wandered back into the office and tried to interfere. Then one of the men shot him. The doctors say he will recover, but this just escalated to attempt with deadly force.”

“They get away with the money?” Jim asked as he followed Conner through to the office, the manager on their heels.

“Yes, Detective,” the manager told him in a scathing tone. “Eighteen thousand four hundred and change. What do you intend to do about it?”

The man stepped into Jim’s space and poked a finger into his chest. Jim looked down at the hand in surprise. He heard Megan fight back a chuckle as he hardened his gaze and raised his eyes to meet the other man’s angry expression.

“I am going to do the same thing I always do…Find the bad guys. Back off and let me do just that.” Jim raised his hand and gripped the finger, gently, but firmly and moved it out of the way. The manager gulped with fright and moved back quickly.

There was a commotion at the front doors, which drew their attention. Megan and Jim watched as a leggy red head was led over to them.

“This is Anna. She was one of the customers here that night. She happened to see the robbers and she claims she told Thomas that something was going on in the back office.

As Jim listened to her story he felt something was familiar about this woman but he couldn’t place her. She was pretty enough, tall too. He figured around five nine or five ten. Her hair was cropped short, emphasising thin cheekbones. Her red lips were full and pouty. Her eyes were brown with reddish tints. She was enthusiastic when she spoke using her hands in never ending gestures. Her voice was soft and deep, comforting to listen to. Jim found himself oddly attracted to her and had to force his attention back to what she was saying.

“I’m sorry I told that waiter. If I hadn’t he wouldn’t have gone back there and he wouldn’t have gotten hurt. I really am sorry.”

“It is alright, Anna. Nothing you could do about it. I’ll get an officer to take you home.” The solicitous manner was strange coming from the man who had been rude and brusque with the young woman not ten minutes earlier. Jim felt the hair at the back of his neck rise in reaction to the suspicion that flowed through him now. A glance at Conner told him she felt the same thing.

“If I can help any more, detective, call me.” The young woman said, pressing a piece of paper into Jim’s hand. She smiled brightly, then turned and walked away.

Ellison and Conner returned to the bullpen and began going through the files again. There were four nightclubs within a three block radius. All four had now been hit by the same three men and in the same manner. They had been unable to find any connection, but now, in light of what they had just learned maybe something would come to the forefront and they could solve this thing.

*****

It was so easy, Anna thought. Just had to wait for the right opportunity. The fool didn’t even recognize me. This is just too easy. She didn’t look back as she returned to her car. She had refused the ride home as she had other things to do and her car was waiting outside the police barricade. She was laughing silently to herself as she started the engine, put the car into gear, and drove off.

*****

Blair woke to a pounding headache. He tried to open his eyes, but the bright lights shining in his face hurt his eyes and he closed them quickly, stifling a groan of pain.

“Ah, you’re awake, that’s good. Mr. Sandburg. Welcome to hell.” The words were followed by a maniacal laughter. Blair felt the prick of a needle in his arm and the darkness that had fallen as he had closed his eyes grew heavier. His head and body began to feel that same heaviness, but he remained awake. The pain in his head faded into the background, forgotten by the sensation of floating in a warm cocoon of black. He could hear voices, but couldn’t distinguish words.

<Jim!> His mind screamed out in terror. Then more softly, but no more controlled, his mind whispered in desperation, <Jim, help me. Please, help me.> The words so faint in the back of his head that they were barely heard by himself, but he knew what he was asking. He needed Jim to come and get him. He knew he was in trouble. The drug they had given him hadn’t affected his thinking, only his movement.

Whatever it was made him lethargic, pliant. He recognized this fact even as it terrified him. The lost of motor control meant that he was unable to defend himself, unable to help himself, and unable to prevent whatever was going to happen next.

His eyes were pulled open and a light flashed, but was gone before he could object. His tongue felt trapped in his mouth. Thick and fuzzy. Then dizziness claimed him, he surrendered to the drug, and he knew no more.

*****

“Blair? You home.” Jim called out. He had already checked and knew that Blair wasn’t home, but somehow it just felt better calling out for him. He made his way upstairs to change into his jeans and sweatshirt. He was tired and hungry and he really wanted to talk to Blair about the bust that afternoon.

They had arrested Jake Chambers from the Callaway Niteclub. He had confessed everything when confronted with the evidence. He had learned that his investments in each of the four nightclubs had been taking a nosedive. He felt the only way to recoup his losses was to take from each club the purchase amount of the stocks. He had arranged for the robberies, knew each of the other managers and knew their procedures. He had also a rough idea of how much they took in on a nightly basis, between cover charge and drinks.

All in all, a good catch, but he liked to talk cases over with his Guide, especially when he hadn’t been there for the bust. It just seemed right somehow to keep him informed. He was trying really hard to prevent another incident like Alex Barnes from happening again. Perhaps by talking things out more, he could do better.

He supposed his inability to communicate was something he had inherited from his father. William Ellison had been a hard man, and certainly not one given to idle chatter. He told his sons nothing of any personal nature. The only thing he wanted from his boys was that they grew up to be big and strong and manly. That meant none of that touchy-feely stuff. No emotion, no feelings were ever to be expressed in public. It just wasn’t the masculine thing to do.

The only time William Ellison had ever communicated with his sons was when he disciplined them. When he told them they had done wrong, again. He had never praised his sons. He had force them into competition for his favors, since he would never give his affection. Maybe that explained why the only time James Ellison communicated with Blair Sandburg was to put him down, to criticise, and to let him know he was disappointed in the anthropologist.

Jim didn’t want it to be that way. The touchy-feely stuff was beginning to grow on him. He liked being able to communicate with his hands. A touch, a swat even a little hug could express his appreciation, his affection and even his love for his Guide. If Sandburg needed more of the talking then that was what he would get. Of course, that would mean he would have to come home from school to get it.

Jim smiled at the thought as he entered the kitchen. Opening the fridge, he was disappointed to find there were no leftovers to reheat. That meant starting from scratch, and he wasn’t into that tonight. He moved to pick up the phone and call for Chinese, when his sensitive nose picked up the smell of Thai food, and seconds later, a knock sounded on his door.

With a frown he moved to open the door. Anna, the red head from Callaway’s, stood there holding a paper bag.

“Hi.” I heard you busted that jerk from Callaway’s, and I just wanted to congratulate you. The guy was a creep.” She smiled beguilingly at him, and he stepped back to let her in, his own face turning upwards.

“How did you get my address?” Jim asked in confusion. Not that he was complaining, but he was curious.

“I have a friend at the DMV. She gave it to me. Although a few favours have been called in for it. I hope you’re worth it.” The words were spoken with a grin as she began going through the cupboards until she found two plate, two glasses and the silverware. “I hope you’re hungry. I brought lots.”

“Actually I am starved.” Resolute to following her lead, he let himself be seated and served with great flourish. She unpacked several of his favourite dishes and dished out the tantalizing food.

“I hope you don’t think I am forward. Everyone keeps telling me that, but I don’t mean to offend. I just… well, Chambers was an ass. He goosed all the girls whenever they were in range, and he hit on them all the time. Used to tell me that I could have anything I wanted if I would sleep with him. Creep.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” He was still a little confused over what was happening. This stranger, albeit a beautiful stranger, had just waltzed into his home and was now taking over.

He stood and watched in helpless fascination as she sat at the table. He joined her and they ate together in companionable silence for several minutes. When they were finished, Anna jumped up and began clearing the table. She ran the sink full of hot soapy water and left the dishes to soak. “Was it alright? I didn’t know if you liked Thai, but I love it. Thought I would take a chance.”

“It was a good chance. I love Thai, and you managed to bring all my favourites. Thank you.”

“Any time. I guess I should be going. Maybe I will see you around again.” She bounced to the door, stopping to put her coat on.

“You don’t have to go yet. We could watch a movie or just talk. Please, stay.” Jim found himself asking.

“You sure? I didn’t want to impose.” She was watching him with a strange look on his face.

Jim was beginning to feel flushed, but put it down to the Thai food. It tended to do that every once in a while because of the spices. “I am sure. I’d like it if you stayed.”

“Okay then. I’d love to. What movies do you have?”

*****

Jim moaned into his pillow and tried to roll over. His movements were blocked, and he opened his eyes in surprise. The hair tickling his face was red and for a moment he couldn’t remember who and what it was. Then the memories of the night before flooded back. Anna. God, what a night.

His arm snaked out carefully and drew her to him. He cradled the soft pliant body against his, opening his senses to take in the feel of the warm skin, the scent of woman and sex. It was powerfully intoxicating. His fingers trailed along the bare arm, teasing, tickling.

Anna rolled over into his arms, her mouth reaching for his. The kiss was passionate. and they fought for air when they parted.

“I have to go to work.” Jim told her with obvious regret.

“Do you?” A full lip pout followed.

“Unfortunately. Can I see you later?” He asked as his lips trailed along the line of her jaw.

“Maybe, I will have to see what comes up. Can I call or should I just stop by?”

“Stop by after six. I will be home and I will make you dinner.”

“Sounds tempting. I’ll see you after six.” She kissed him again before he rose. His muscular body flexed as he rolled out of bed and made his way down the stairs. She leaned back on the pillow, breathing in the air. Her lips turned upward in a smile of satisfaction. When she heard the shower come on, she dressed quickly and left. She knew where to find him, later.

*****

“Wake up, Blair. Come on, open those baby blues.” The voice that came out of the darkness was different than the one he had heard before. He didn’t know how long ago that had been, but he hoped it wasn’t too long ago otherwise it meant he was losing time somewhere. He peeled his eyelids apart and looked up into a stranger’s face.

A hand reached out to caress his cheek, and he flinched back before he could stop it. The hand snaked out and grabbed a handful of hair, yanking his head back. “Don’t be that way, now. We don’t want to get rough, but we will if we have to.”

“Who are you? What do you want?” He asked, his words sounding thick to his own ears.

“Why, Blair. I am surprised you don’t recognize me. Mind you, I do look different now, don’t I? Well that is what happens in crazy homes. You and your partner ruined my life. He put me in that place and you…You took my senses. I want them back, and you are going to get them for me. Then I am going to ruin your life.”

“Alex?” The first voice he had heard came from behind him. The hand moved from his head and caressed his cheek again before it vanished all together. His eyes had begun to clear, so he tried once more to focus on the woman who stood before him.

He could make out red hair and tall figure, but the facial features remained a blur. He struggled to focus closer, except she moved out of his limited range of vision. He tried to turn and watch. The movement sent shooting stabs of pain through his back, neck and head.

“Don’t try to move, Blair. You’ll only hurt yourself.” The woman’s voice came back. “Just relax. I will be back to explain everything in a moment.”

“Wait, who are you?” He cried out, but they had already left and he was alone once more. A quick survey of himself and his surroundings told him that once more he had been kidnapped by psychos. He was in a semi-dark room with no windows. He was strapped to a chair. Probably a dentist's or barber's chair. That image alone was enough to send him to the very edge of sanity, as memories of another chair just like this and what and who had been involved flashed painfully before him.

David Lash, the ultimate psycho, who took his victim's identities and wanted to take Blair’s. Only Jim’s timely arrival had saved him and Blair knew that once more it would have to be his friend’s precision timing that would save him from this psycho also. He cried out, as the flashback grew more and more real.

His head throbbed, and his muscles felt tight. His eyes flashed with multi-colours when he was able to focus otherwise all he saw was that room and Lash’s friends. In a desperate attempt to stop the flashes, he closed his eyes tightly as he tried to remember what had happened, to figure out where he was and how long he had been there. The panic he felt was real and it threatened to steal his soul along with his sanity.

<Please, Jim> he prayed silently once more for Jim to find him as tears streamed down his face, unchecked. <Please, find me. I am in real trouble here.>

*****

Jim sat at his desk unable to work. His thought kept drifting to the night before and the amazing woman who had offered herself to him. He still wasn’t totally sure what had happened, but his body remembered and it craved more. He only had to think of her, and his body responded. A smile lit his face and his mood, though distracted, was good.

His distraction did not go unnoticed by Captain Banks. He had been watching his best detective off and on for the last hour now and in that time, not one piece of paper had changed piles. Not once had the strong hands moved over the keyboard. Simon sighed. He could guess the reasons for his distraction, but he didn’t say anything. He glanced down at the paper in front of him as another, angrier sigh escaped him.

“Ellison. My office now!” he bellowed. As he turned away, he allowed a smile to cross his face. Maybe if the mood was right he could give this disturbing piece of news and get away intact.

“What’s up, Simon?” Jim asked as he entered and took a seat at the board table.

“We may have a problem. I just got a call this morning from Conover.” He watched as the knowledge of what Simon was going to say rose in Ellison’s face.

“Please tell me it isn’t what I think.”

“I wish I could, Jim, but Alex escaped. No one realized who it was because she had left the body of another inmate in her place, someone that could have easily passed for her. The face had been badly beaten so it took a little longer to determine that she wasn't Alex. I thought you would want to be the one to handle this, though if you’d rather, I could give it to Rafe and Brown.” It wasn’t really a question. Simon knew without a doubt that Jim would take the case. It was too personal for him not to offer. Of course if Simon was the Captain he was supposed to be, he would never have even made the offer, especially considering that the woman had killed his partner, and it was only a miracle that had brought him back.

Unfortunately, Simon wasn’t the Captain he should be in this case. It was personal for him too. He considered Ellison and Sandburg both to be very good friends, proven in fire and blood. Both men had saved his life on more than one occasion and a part of him had died with Blair that day at the fountain. A part that had only partially been restored with Blair’s physical recovery. He prayed the rest would come with the healing that Sandburg and Ellison both had left to do.

All three men were still trying to recover from what had happened. Jim and Blair had remained in Mexico for two weeks after the whole fiasco with Alex while Simon had returned with her to make sure the paperwork was taken care of at Conover. He knew that much healing had taken place during that time, yet he was also aware that much more still needed to be done. Betrayal from both sides is a hard thing to overcome, nevertheless Simon also knew that the strong bond between Sentinel and Guide would prevail. It had to for, neither man could live without the other. He knew that now, although he had tried to fight it for a long time. He had witnessed the whole scene in the Bullpen all those months ago when Jim had basically told Sandburg to get out and find someone else to follow around. Simon had seen the look of intense pain cross Blair’s face as the younger man had fought to remain calm without breaking into a million pieces at the harshly spoken words.

But that was then, this was now. Alex had escaped. There was an excellent chance she would come after the two men. Her need for revenge would blind her to any thoughts of running to where they couldn’t touch her. He forced himself back to the message in his hand.

“A Dr. Richards called to inform me. He was working with her. Go and talk to him. See if he might know her frame of mind and find out if he knows if she might come back here.” He held out the pink slip of paper to the still shocked man.

Jim glanced at the paper with eyes that seemed only half-aware. His hand reached up absently and took the slip of paper with Dr. Richards’s name and phone number on it.

“I’ll make an appointment to talk with him. Damn it, Simon. Why now? We haven’t even gotten over the last time. Blair doesn’t need this, and quite frankly, neither do I.”

“I know, Jim, but let’s focus here and try to find her before she does irreparable damage.” He leaned against the desk. “Do you want me to go with you?”

“No. When Blair gets in this afternoon, don’t tell him anything. I don’t want him to know right now. I’ll tell him tonight when I see him.”

“Are you sure that’s wise, Jim? He should know if he’s going to be careful, and he’ll have to be careful, Jim. In fact, I wouldn’t even let him out of your sights.”

“I don’t plan on it, but he’s at the University right now, and I will see him in a few hours. I would rather not worry him needlessly just yet. He still panics at the mention of her name. I don’t want to see him go through that at the University, it’s too public. I’m sure he will be fine until tonight. In fact, I’ll stop by there on my way back.” Jim rose, determination marked his features now. Determination mingled with anger. Anger he felt at the blow that fate had delivered once more, and he found himself praying that this would not be the final blow, the one from which there would be no return.

*****

The darkness that he had been fighting returned and he closed his eyes again. He was unsure of how much time had passed before the voice returned, the woman’s voice again. It drew him from the darkness, coaxing him to awareness. He listened and followed the voice back to the present.

“So, have you figured it out yet, Blair? You’re a smart boy; surely you know who I am and what I want.”

“I don’t know. I can’t think straight. What did you do to me?”

“It’s just a little something my friend found. He says it will help you remember what it is that you need to do to help me get my senses back.”

“Senses…Sentinel… you…you’re Alex Barnes.” As if the name was a magic word, it had a powerful effect on Blair. He jerked back, struggling against his bonds. “Nonononono. Oh God, please no.”

“Easy, you’ll hurt yourself. Damn it, Blair, settle down!” He could not hear her. So great was his fear that all he could see was the woman entering his office, aiming a gun at him and telling him that she really didn’t want to do it, but that she couldn’t leave him alive. He wasn’t screaming now, instead the sounds, the hoarse whimpers of dispair, that issued from his throat were agonizing to listen to, with no way for him to shut them out.

He thrust his head from side to side in a ineffective attempt to get away from his situation. His mind was blanking out with his control fading fast. There was flashes of other realities running before his tightly closed eyes. He moaned in denial and fought against the panic which was taking over his mind and his body. His breathing grew fast and his captor recognized the signs of hyperventilation.

Alex looked towards her companion who had remained in the shadows behind the bound young man. He nodded and moved forward, pulling a syringe from his lab coat. He pulled off the cap and injected the contents into Blair with one sure, swift movement. The drug began to calm him instantly. His rapid breathing slowed, and his racing heart began to relax back to a normal rhythm. As his eyes slipped half shut, he stopped crying out. Finally he was limp in the chair, held upright by the leather straps which bound him to it.

“Blair,” the man’s voice spoke now. “Listen to me, Blair. Alex is not your enemy. Jim is your enemy. He has found someone to replace you. You are without a Sentinel. You will need a new one, and Alex is willing to be your Sentinel, but you have to help her. She needs her senses back. Do you understand?”

“No. Not Alex. No.” The words were dragged from Blair with a sob. He fought inwardly against the drug, which was working its insidious way through his system and was affecting his mind. His brain felt sluggish, and trying to string coherent thoughts together was getting harder and harder.

A terrifying blackness floated before him, but he couldn’t even try to reach for it. He knew that to surrender to the blackness, the respite from the fear, which gripped him, would be to surrender to the bleakness that was beginning to pervade his very soul. He could hear someone speaking, but the words were faint and not directed at him.

His eyes were open, but unseeing and his breathing was shallow, but not laboured. The fear he had felt was drifting away into the darkness leaving him with a deceptive calmness. Automatic responses still functioned as his eyelids blinked down, but he was unaware of it. He felt fingers touch his neck at the pulse point, but he was unable to move away from the warmth.

Warmth. That was what was missing, though he hadn’t realized it until the hand touched him. He was freezing. Shivers rocked his frame, but he was unable to stop them. He was equally unable to ask for a blanket or tell them he was cold. His mouth wouldn’t move, though his mind was beginning to function again. He could think and he was certain he was trying to speak, but nothing came out, no words uttered forth. He felt the slide of a tear down one cheek, but was unable to prevent it. The humiliation of his position hit him hard and a strangled moan tore through his throat.

The last thing he heard before consciousness left him was the man telling Alex they could begin.

*****

Part 3

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