ooc: Continued from A very Big Day

IC:

Raina had blacked out after that last hit of electricity and was no more aware of an additional woman and a man than she was of being carried out of the hotel and stashed in the back of a black van. She had no idea that the man heading up this operation had hypnotized the staff so that they wouldn't remember everything that was happening and further more she had no idea that she was being carried into an abandoned warehouse and laid on a table.

The only thing Raina was aware of for this period of time was her lack of air and the ever approaching darkness. Raina could hold her breath for longer than most but she still had a limit. Her mutation limited her to needing the very water that made her changed.

***
Greg and Derek strapped Raina down on the table and it wasn't long before Dr. Che appeared looking distressed. He exchanged glances with a woman standing next to Leslie.

"You better do something. I'm not using my power on her. Not if you want me around to help if something goes wrong when Jacobs gets here

Dr Che frowned. "Nothing is going to go wrong when Jacobs gets here Michelle. The subject has gills and can't breathe. We need to dry her off or she'll die. I'm not opposed to her being dead- easier to study that way. But Luke will need her alive initally if he's to pay the ransom.

Derek appeared beside Che with a blanket and instantly started patting her down looking mostly indifferent. My group gets 1000000$ plus the promise you made to Michelle. After all of this you will help cure her ability" he said with a grim voice and expression. Che nodded curtly and he watched Raina begin to change.

"You did your part of the bargain. I'll be happy to fufill mine. I don't need Luke Jacob's money but having him out of the picture would be convienient. I'll stay until you've got your money but then I'm making a run for it with her. He looked down at Raina like she was an item or prized possesion.

"He's creepy" Whispered Leslie to Michelle.

"I agree. It's like he's a dragon with his treasure." replied Michelle looking down at the young woman with a pang of guilt. "Will he have weapons? Are we prepared?

"We're prepared for anything Luke Jacobs has to offer. Afterall we have his woman. We are in the position of power. He may try to fight but it's us against him and we could kill her at any moment as far as he knows. Speaking of which, Greg... you should stand at the door. Jacobs will be getting your message right about now. He should arrive soon. Pat him down and bring him in. Leslie, get the laptops ready for a wired transfer to our off shore account. Michelle, you help Che prepare the mermaid and when you're finished I'll make her think she's somewhere else for a little while..." he stood with his arms crossed delivering his order.

Greg nodded and ran for the door mentally wondering if Luke could even show up given the fact he'd accidently left a written note forgetting the man was blind. His mutation had to do something with his sight so he could only hope Luke figured it out. "He's gonna be pissed when he knows I saw his woman naked. he grinned. "I like it when they get all riled up. Makes for a better fight. I hooked up the bug cam to the tv too boss. It'll be a good way to cohortz him if he sees the footage we have of him and Raina. Just knowing we've been watching their most tenderest moments will make his blood boil.

"Always looking for a fight. remarked Michelle obeying her orders and assisting Dr. Che who was binding Raina to the table and blindfolding her. "You should gag her. Leslie said her power comes from her mouth

"Not necessary. I'll let miss Raina know she shouldn't use her power. She wont. explained Derek.

Leslie set up the computers and stopped a moment to watch the footage on the TV. Raina was explaining her plans for the night to Luke. For this night, the night they ruined for her. She frowned. She had a lot of debt. A lot of debt this job was going to settle. She had to focus on that. She wasn't an awful person like Greg. She was just caught in a bad situation.

"Get over here Derek. She's waking up. ordered Che.

****
She knew she was awake by the throbbing in her head but there was no light. "I can't see." she murmerred her throat throbbing as bad as her head. She became awar of a gloved hand stroaking her face.

"So beautiful Raina stiffened recognizing the voice but unable to place it.

'who's there? where am I? I can't see."

"You're in a safe place. There was... ah.. an accident. You've been injured in the... hotel fire. Your boyfriend should be here soon to pick you up. it was a charming voice and calm. Raina wanted to believe it but there was something about how she couldn't move her arms and legs. Something about what she'd just been doing.

"She's not buying it Derek. You're going to need eye contact with this one" came a woman's voice.

"I think the boyfriend is here so you better damn well hurry it up! came a male voice.

Suddenly Raina's blindfold came off and she regained her sight. She focued on a charming man with a beautiful face that was pulled into a distorted cross between anger and annoyance. "I don't have time to do this properly Che this is going to have to work" with that he grabbed Raina's face

"Che? Doctor Che?" her whole body went into shock and she felt a panic attack coming on.

"Look into my eyes Raina. You will not use your power do you understand me? Anytime you try to use your power of song you will find your throat hurts too much to do so.

Raina tried so hard to pull her head away but she was strapped down and he had her head in a death grip. As she looked in his eyes she had the overwhelming sensation of being with Naveed. He was telling her that her voice didn't work and somehow she just knew he was right. She nodded and when he backed away her head became clearer and she realized what was happening again.

"Blindfold her again. Get ready for Luke. We'll gag her if we have to I don't have anymore time Che.

Hands clasped around her face again as Raina protested and she could no longe rsee. She hadn't had time to see what the room was like around her- not unlike a basement. There were computers and surveylance everywhere and she could hear her own voice in the background. She felt a prick in her arm. "Ow!" she cried out.

"Sorry my dear but we need a little assurance when your hero boyfriend arrives that he will be cooperative. If he so much as flails I'll be forced to inject you. I'd rather do this the easy way but let's be honest... you're dying either way. Che reached down and stroked her hair and Raina knew even when she couldn't see that he had her hooked up to an empty IV.

When Luke walked in he'd see all of these things including the video tape playing in the background of their vacation while Greg howled with laughter that he was lucky to not be able to actually see the images though hearing would be enough. He'd see Chestanding over Raina like the grim reaper and see the bloody and bruised strapped down mess of her body.

He'd find a cool calm and collected Derek waiting for any moment he got to strike just like Greg and two women who very much didn't want to be a part of this but were going to anyway.

Luke had finally made his decision about the weaponry, exploiting a very special concealment had added not long after he became Wraith. One end of both the baton and the staff would unscrew and then screw together, fastening the two weapons together as though they belonged. The other end of the staff would then extend, making a cane that was slightly longer than normal. As Luke had made his way out of the hotel he had felt something change within him. It wasn't that he had separate personalities but he had drilled his mind to such a point that in moments of extreme stress he would temporarily forget some of society's rules that kept life simple. It was the mind set he used while in costume and that was the mind set that he brought to the forefront as he took a seat in the cab and handed over the slip of paper with the correct address.

***

"Are you sure this is where you want to be Mister?" The cab driver asked in thickly accented English, "It is not safe. There are many... unkind people here."

"This is the place." Luke replied with a merciless smile as he tossed a wad of bills up to the driver and then slipped out of the cab, "So it's a good thing I'm an unkind person too."

Walking slowly down the street, Luke's sonar swept the area around him taking in everything. A stray cat trotted by, a rat gripped firmly in its teeth as he it headed for someone under cover in order to enjoy its feast. The animal's hunt had been successful and Luke could only hope that his own hunt would have the same results.

"Yo... Jacobs. Over here." A voice called out from the shadows of a doorway off to Luke's left. Of course the poor man had no idea that Luke could see him quite well do to his sonar capability. He also had no idea that Luke's sensitive hearing had already identified this as the man that had recorded the message and made Raina scream.

"Who are you and where is Raina?" Luke asked quietly, maintaining rather a meek countenance even though inside he was boiling. He had thought that all of the frustration and anger from the previous weeks had been dealt with that night at the test house with Sara and CS but Raina's abduction had brought everything back to the forefront. No one truly needed to know how tenuously he was holding onto his control. If they knew, they might never take him to Raina.

***

"Drop the act. We know you can see somehow. Give me the cane." Greg sneered at the blind man. How pathetic... the man hadn't even bothered to change out of the clothes he had been wearing for their special night.

***

Whether anyone had noticed it or not Luke had made one very important wardrobe change. Instead of the polished black dress shoes he had worn through the day he now wore a pair of black sneakers. The change was slightly and only the most observant would see the different but the amount of tread that now gripped the ground versus the smooth soles of his dress shoes would make all the difference when it came down to a fight.

"Here. Take it." Luke replied evenly as he held out the cane for Greg to take. He had expected as much but all that really mattered was for his weapons to be inside where he could get access to them. He had no idea what else would be around to fight with and since he didn't have an active offensive power, he had to try to bring in something.

"If I had a power like CS or Streak I wouldn't need to be so obvious." Luke thought to himself, his frustration building as Greg stepped forward and began to pat him down, "Even if I could sing like Raina I would have something. Instead I'm basically powerless..."

***

"Now, introducing the honorable Luke Jacobs!" Greg called out mockingly as he shoved Luke through the door ahead of him, forcing the blind man to stumble inside before catching himself and straightening back up. "Company owner, millionaire, defender of women, yada, yada, yada."

"Shut up Greg." Michelle spoke up bluntly from where she now sat somewhat separated from everyone else, "Just get on with it!"

***

Luke's sonar swept the interior of the warehouse as soon as he was inside, taking in everything he could see. There was the sound of a video playing that for the moment he didn't give much attention to. He was much more interested in focusing on where the windows and doors were located, how much furniture was in the room and where it was placed, where the enemy men and women were standing, and, most important, where Raina was currently being held.

"I suggest you remain calm Mr. Jacobs." A man spoke up from where he stood right next to Raina's prone form, "I would hate to have to inject this syringe into the young woman. It would be most unpleasant I'm afraid."

Luke held his hands out to the side, acting as innocent and cooperative as he could even as he continued to sweep the room, gaining information as fast he could process it, "I'm here aren't I... what do you want so I can take Raina home?"

Luke knew that the man behind him was moving forward. Greg was probably hoping that surprise would be on his side so he could tie the blind man up or some such thing and for now, that was all Luke could do. He had to know more of the variables before he acted... primarily how to get that other man away from Raina.

Greg sprang forward quickly, yanking Luke's arms behind his back and fastening them together with a zip tie. The man's movements were rough, but at the same time precise and relatively fast. "Wha... what are you doing?!" Luke gasped, doing his best to fake shock as though he were just a businessman.

"Just making sure that you're no trouble." Greg responded rather callously as he shoved Luke forward and then pushed him down into a plastic lawn chair, "I've got a greatest hits video for you to watch... I mean listen to."

Luke was silent as he began to pay more attention to the video that was currently playing. The first thing he heard was Raina's voice speaking.

"I was hoping we could have dinner here tonight. A special dinner. To mark an occasion of decision making between two um.. consenting adults. I'd like if after that special dinner that we'll have tonight... if we could get in the same ah.. bed together. In this room."

There was the sound of movement like the rustling of sheets and then another voice... Luke's own voice. Even with the volume of the monitor turned up all the way it was difficult to make out the words exactly but Luke knew was was being said... he could have quoted it from memory if it was necessary.

"I'm afraid you're confusing me. Maybe we should clear things up a little. Just to be clear... tonight... after dinner... you want us to be in this bed... the same on we're laying on at this exact moment... perhaps after sharing a gift or two with each other... and then... we'll finish what we started a week or more ago? Raina... are you trying to seduce me?"

"You've got a hot woman there."Greg piped up again with a rather cruel sounding laugh as he turned the volume of the monitor back down where it would still be heard but was now more of a background noise, "She was HOT when she stripped down so that she could put on that little white thing you bought her. Maybe I'll try to get a piece of her before we send her home with you."

Luke knew he was being goaded... he knew the man was trying to get him to react but he couldn't help himself. Greg was talking about his Raina... HIS Raina! "If you lay a hand on her..." Luke's voice had an eerie calmness to it as he shook his head, sending his sunglasses flying and then turned his blank stare to focus on Greg, "You will have to face your own... unpleasantness."

"Back off Greg." The other woman spoke up from where she sat directly in front of a computer, "This is simple Luke. We want $1,000,000 in euros. As soon as the wire transfer goes through you and your girlfriend get tossed out on the curb. Clear?"

"And if I don't cooperate?" Luke asked quietly, just letting his words hang in the air, "What if I don't cooperate 'cause I don't like Greg here? Then what?"

(OOC: Raina, you have permission to GMod Luke if you need to for your next post.)

"We Kill your woman. That's what. Greg bent down and stared Luke in the face. "She's just as much use to us dead as she is alive. So it's not sweat off our backs. Dr. Che would be thrilled."

There was a moment of silence in the room as if all the members were contemplating if they could actually go through with killing someone. Greg was 100% sure that for this much money he seriously could. There was a small peep from Raina.

"Luke he's not lying. Dr. Che will kill me I knew him before all of this" she felt completley and utterly hopeless. "Please let Luke go..." she begged feeling her eyes spill over with tears that were thankfully absorbed by the blindfold. "I'm the one you want."

"You're the one I want my dear. said Dr Che stroaking Raina's thigh. "But I'm afraid everyone else wants Mr. Luke Jacobs.

The room went quiet an intense for a moment.

"Just stop it and get the money. growled Michelle.

Leslie approached Luke with the laptop but she refused to make eye contact. "I'm not stupid like Greg here. I know you can't see the screen. So tell me the information and I'll input it. Then you and fish girl can walk out of here un-harmed."

Raina was silent. It was scary to not be able to see and she wondered if Luke felt this way at times- completley lost. She focused on what the woman said but there was a strange feeling in her stomach. Then she realized. She realized completley what was happening.

"Luke!" she cried. "Even if you wire the money Dr. Che isn't going to let me go-" that's when Greg ran across the floor and slapped her hard across the table.

"Thank you Gregory said Dr. Che with a smile as Raina surpressed a whine of pain. She wasn't going to let them hear her scream anymore.

"Ohh my... it's no wonder everyone calls you fish girl. At first I thought it was just the whole desgusting fish leg thing I mean really Luke, Bro... would you really do it with a fish? I think they call her fish girl because of this fish shaped birth mark on her hip here... Greg slid his tounge across his teeth in a desgusting way as he fingerd the little birthmark. Even Dr. Che was suddenly feeling a little riled up.

Luke had felt like he had some semblance of control. Even though everything was roaring around him at the speed of light he still had some sort of control because he was able to handle his own reaction to the situation.

"I'm not stupid like Greg here. I know you can't see the screen. So tell me the information and I'll input it. Then you and fish girl can walk out of here un-harmed." Leslie spoke up as she walked over to Luke, the lap top computer gripped carefully in her hand. Turning his gaze toward her, Luke fastened his cloudy eyes on her figure, knowing she wouldn't look at him.

"Just walk out of here..." Luke's voice was low and somewhat dangerous sounding before Raina tried to break in.

"Luke! Even if you wire the money Dr. Che isn't going to let me go-"

Right then the loud noise of flesh hitting flesh rang out in the room as Greg moved over and slapped Raina viciously. Yanking against his restraints Luke's eyes narrowed in fury even though he didn't say anything. Greg was going to pay when he got free... Greg was going to pay big time.

"Thank you Gregory."

"Ohh my... it's no wonder everyone calls you fish girl. At first I thought it was just the whole disgusting fish leg thing I mean really Luke, Bro... would you really do it with a fish? I think they call her fish girl because of this fish shaped birth mark on her hip here..."

And with those few words Luke was suddenly at his breaking point. It wasn't bad enough that Greg had kidnapped Raina... it wasn't bad enough that Greg had seen her naked... but now the scumbag had the gall to touch Raina and talk about a birthmark that Luke would never see? A birthmark that he could never know was even there unless Raina told him about it.

Luke's scream of rage was like the cry of a wounded animal. Suddenly his adrenaline was flowing, changing the resonance of his sonar to the point that it would now affect people's vision. Focusing his sonar down at the ties that bound his hand, the blind man yanked and twisted, trying to free himself of the stupid plastic that refused to give way. Mentally he willed the plastic to stretch... break... anything, even though he knew that it was hopeless.

***

Within the man called Luke something was changing... the emotion that had been building within over the past several months had finally come to a head. Flood gates that had previously held his sonar ability in check were suddenly broken to pieces as the hammer of emotion came down on them. For a brief moment, though the man didn't realize it, his mind became a focusing crystal. Narrowing down to a laser like beam, the sound wave shredded through the frail plastic as well as breaking the skin so that blood flowed.[/i]

***

Without warning the plastic zip ties gave way and Luke was free. Scanning the whole room with his sonar turned to full power he knew that everyone had to be seeing strange images dancing in their eyes.

"What the hell?!" Leslie's voice rang out as the first shadows appeared, followed second later by the solid form of a fist slamming into her cheekbone. With a grunt of pain she fell backward, dropping to computer to the floor. With self-righteous rage, Luke lashed out, plowing his foot through the computer and sending it sailing through the room.

"He's loose!" Derek yelled, "Greg! Michelle! Stop him!"

"I heal! I don't know the first thing about fighting!" Michell's panicked voice penetrated through Luke's mind as he turned toward the man that had pushed him past a breaking point.

"Well do something!"

Greg was the only one that didn't seem to hesitation. Stepping away from Raina the man's hands extended as his eyes narrowed angrily. "You shouldn't have moved, Jacobs!" He shouted over the sizzle of electricity as the lightening bolts reached out and grabbed a hold of Luke, sending the power coursing through his body.

Ever muscle was a live wire and as Luke fell to the, spasming from the shock, he found that he couldn't even think straight. For a brief moment, the flow of electricity stopped and the blind man tried desperately to regain control.

"You really think fish girl is worth dieing for? She must be better in bed than I thought." Greg sneered as he stalked closer and launched yet another bolt of electricity into his target, "You two get together and sing, 'Under the Sea' or something touching like that?"

Luke couldn't move... he couldn't think... but he could feel. He could feel the pain of each shock... he could feel the cold concrete floor beneath him... he could feel the rage that continued to build as Greg moved closer...

"And... you... shouldn't... have... touched her!" Luke choked out the next time the electricity stopped. Greg apparently didn't know just how much pain the blind man could take because he had ventured to close. Summoning all the will and strength he could muster, Luke lunged, grabbing hold of Greg's feet and toppling him back to the ground. "Never..." Luke began as his fist lashed out, slamming into Greg's chin, "touch..." he continued as his left fist came across whipping Greg's head to the side, "again!" Luke finished as he drew back his right fist again. He was going to break Greg's nose and he really didn't care if it killed the man. All that mattered was Greg never being able to touch Raina again.

At the moment Luke's brain began to send the signal to his arm that it should punch forward, something slammed into the back of his skull. For a brief moment he tried to understand what happened and then he collapsed to the ground on top of Greg, stunned. He was completely unconscious but he was no longer in control.

"Nice job Leslie." Derek spoke from where he had stood watching the fight, "I thought I was gonna have to step in."

Standing over Luke, holding an old board she had found lying on the floor, Leslie shot a glare in Derek's direction. "If you had stepped in sooner, Greg might not have been hurt so much... boss." She said somewhat spitefully.

"Take him over to that pillar and tie him up with something stronger than zip ties." Derek ordered, apparently ignoring Leslie's comments, "I doubt he'll be out for long and when he wakes up I expect that Greg will have something special for him."

As he turned to walk over and have a private chat with Dr. Che, Derek added one final order. "And Michelle... get one of the other computers set up for the wire transfer. We are GETTING our money!"

Raina couldn't see and the overwhelming feeling of helplessness was becoming too much. She was flashing back to the camps, to Rupert, to everything. She couldn't lose Luke. She couldn't. She couldn't just sit here and do nothing. She started to struggle when she heard Luke was doing the same hopeful that no one ws noticing her.

"Nice try." murmered Dr. Che slamming his hand down against her arm. "But I can kill you with just a little... push." an with that Dr. Che pumped the syringe into the IV. Raina knew she had mere seconds before whatever he pumped would reach his blood system but mere seconds were all she needed. She let out a bellowing high pitched scream.

When Raina used her power this note was the highest she could reach and generally created the strongest body of ice she could muster. Thanks to Derek her throat felt like it was on fire and the ice refused to form. But the shock of the scream and it's take on his ears was enough for Che to be momentarily disoriented and for her to kick him in the face with her foot that she'd freed from a strap while Che was concentrating on Luke. He went backwards and reached or smething to keep him falling and Raina's hopes were confirmed as she felt the rip in her arm- he'd grabbed the only thing standing upright- The IV.

She was sure her arm was bleeding a big mess after a pull like that but the force had yanked the strap holding that arm lose. She wiggled her wrist out as best she could feeling one of the buckles dig into her skin. She'd bleed more now. But It didn't matter. All that mattered was that she got to Luke.

Once her hand was free she pulled off her blindfold to take in the scene around her. "This isnt what we signed up for Derek. Greg beaten to a pulp and fish girl over there is getting lose. Derek's eyes fluttered to Raina.

"Michelle. Tie her up. She can't hurt you I took away her power. Ordered Derek but Raina was too quick for him.

Now that she saw Luke being dragged to the pillar to be tied up she was back with a vegence. Michelle advanced on her wearily and the moment she got close Raina nailed her in the face with the best fist she could muster- a big thanks to watching Emerald in action. Michelle went down on her butt and Leslie had enough sense to move out of the way as Raina advanced to Luke. Her skin barely brushed his when something wet grabbed her leg and she went down hard slamming her chin.

She turned to look with absolute anger in her heart- a stumbling Greg had her by the ankle. "You need to let go now." she growled kicking him in the bloody face for which he howled and let go. She got back to her feet.

"You back up yet Che? Little miss Fish is going to need to be put out of her miseray...

Che was back on his feet but nursing a head wound. He shot a look at Derek. Raina wasnt going anywhere and they both knew it.

Raina reached Luke again and both Leslie and Michelle were back on their feet. Michelle hovered near Greg and Leslie stood back. Her head was throbbing and she didn't want that to happen again. Raina's hands were bloody and when she touched Luke's shirt she left bloodied handprints. "Luke." she cried touching his face and stroking his neck. "Please wakeup." her voice came out shaken and weak. "Please we have toget out of here."

She refused to look around. She knew every person in the room was advancing on them. She knew that in moments she'd be tied up again and be hopeless. "Please Luke." Raina cried starting to feel the tears and fighting with them as hard as she could not to spill over. "I love you." she only managed to get the words out when Greg had her hair and pulled her by the scalp backwards.

"Bitch. You and you're fucking boyfriend. I'm going to tear you apart infront of him. Raina let out a screech and thrashed around landing a few hits here and there but Greg was not to be detered. He pulled harder and clamped a hand around her throat.

"Greg stop. You're going to kill her. " choked out Michelle looking around to see if Derek was really going to let this happen.

Greg squeezed harder. "That's fine with me... and the good doctor now isn't it?" sneered Greg as Raina kicked her feet and sank her nails into his arms in an attempt to get free while she couldn't breathe. They thrashed about for a bit and then when Greg lifted Raina up off her feet the two were hit with a blast of water that sent them both flying into a wall knocking Raina unconcious. "What the hell Leslie?" demanded Greg completley soaked and bloody standing to his feet giving Raina a kick in the gut as she began to shift again.

"I can't have her death on my conscience Greg. Pick her up and tie her up behind Luke. I'm getting the hell out of here. I don't care about the money anymore. " she spat the words like Greg was the most desgusting creature on the planet.

Greg just stood silently and lifted Raina up with one arm. Electrical charges flicked from him and he groaned a bit trying to subside his power while he was wet. It would be so easy to just kill her now... but shed take him with her. He slammed the fish woman against the pillar and tied her up. Her head hung limp and he wondered if he'd broken her neck. He didn't pay attention as the gills started forming. Raina only had minutes now.

Derek was moving toward Leslie with a strange look in his eyes. "This is all too much for you Leslie. Leslie didn't realize what was happening until it was too late and her face went pale and blank.

"Yes. All too much." she agreed in monotone.

"On your way home you're going to pass by the Eiffel Tower. You'll take the elevator up to the top floor. You're so miserable... you're going to jump.

"No! Don't!" cried Michelle.

But it was too late. Leslie nodded in agreement. "Yes. Life is hard. It's time to end it. and with that she turned and left the room

"I wont have any liabilities." said Derek over the sound of Michelle vomiting in the corner.

Luke had been aware through the whole fight... he could hear what was going on and his sonar was working strong enough that he could make out the whole situation between bursts of what he could best describe as static. Raina was fighting... trying to help him like he had helped her but it wasn't working out well. Mentally, Luke was raging as how helpless he was as he watched Greg throttle his girl friend. He was helpless... he couldn't do anything...

"I love you." The words echoed back and forth in Luke's mind as the sense of helplessness overwhelmed him. "Raina... why did you pick me?" Luke thought despairingly, "You need someone that can fight... not helpless!"

Luke felt grateful as he began to feel the strength to lift his head. Leslie had stepped in... Greg wasn't going to kill Raina. She was still alive even though she was unconscious, she was still alive. At the same moment that Greg pushed Raina up against a pillar and tied her in place Luke heard Derek's voice speaking.

"On your way home you're going to pass by the Eiffel Tower. You'll take the elevator up to the top floor. You're so miserable... you're going to jump."

"No! Don't!"

"Yes. Life is hard. It's time to end it."

"I wont have any liabilities."

Luke could feel his blood beginning to boil as his despair turned into a deep seated hatred toward the three men that were still standing in the room. Dr. Che just wanted Raina for some kind of sick experiment... Derek was after money and he didn't care who he hurt along the way... Greg was a sicko that was in for the money and because he enjoyed inflicting pain on those weaker than himself.

Turning his sonar toward Raina, Luke tried to determine just how badly she was hurt and then his heart sank. She was changing... the gills were beginning to form and without being in water or drying off in the next few minutes she was going to suffocate.

"You two deserve each other." Greg sneered from where he stood a few feet away from Luke, "Fish woman and her weakling boyfriend. It's fitting that you die together... how about you watch."

"Don't damage her chest!" Dr. Che called out, "That's where I have to study."

"Don't worry Doc." Greg replied with a cold smile as he raised his hand toward Raina, electricity beginning to crackle back and forth between his finger tips, "I'll just mess up that pretty face of hers."

The rage had built but as Luke stood there helpless all he could do was watch that arm that was now threatening his girlfriend. That arm... without warning Luke's whole attention suddenly narrowed to where he could only see the arm and he felt something different. Something within him that he had used once before without even realizing it. As he focused everything directly on Greg's arm a powerful pulse of what amounted to a sound laser flew forward, several the arm just above the elbow effortlessly.

"AAAAAAH!" Greg's scream of pain echoed through the room as he collapsed to the ground, good hand trying to staunch the flow of blood from his new stump.

"What the hell?!" Derek yelled as Luke changed his focus down to the ropes that held him bound. His control wasn't perfect... it would take plenty of practice but he did manage to cut through his restraints without causing himself further bleedings.

"You bastards are going to pay!" Luke's voice was soft and deadly, but yet it still seemed to fill the room. Michelle had fallen silent and some point and was now simply hiding near her computer while Luke faced Derek and Dr. Che.

"Look... look... it... it wasn't my idea." The doctor began to plead as he slowly back away from the vengeful boyfriend, "It was Derek. He thought of this."

"Luke... you don't want to do this." Derek had managed to get all of the shock out of his voice as he tried to reach out grab a hold of the other man's will, "You want to go home. You want to be with your friends."

The blind man was frozen... without eyes the connection was not nearly as strong but Derek's power was still overwhelming. "Go home..." He murmured softly, his voice somewhat dazed sounding.

"Yes... go home. She's not worth it."

Derek knew that Luke cared deeply for Raina but he didn't know that something had changed... as Luke fought and pushed he had realized that he more than cared for Raina. He loved her and he couldn't bear to lose her. As the thought of "She's Not Worth It." tried to push into his mind, it hit a concrete wall.

"No!" Luke yelled as he snapped out of it and fired off a blast of sound at Derek. This time, without the concentration, it wasn't the sound laser he had access before. Instead it struck the man more like a battering ram, sending his limp body flying backward across the room to land next to Dr. Che. "She is worth it! She's worth everything!"

"You... look what you did to me!" An anguished scream came from behind Luke. As he began to turn a bolt of electricity hit his back, slamming him to the ground, "You made me some kind of cripple!"

Focusing his sonar on Greg, Luke had to admit he felt some sort of satisfaction at the man's appearance. His stump of an arm was pushed tightly against his chest to staunch the bleeding while his other hand was held out, another charge of electricity building as he faced down Luke. "You've been crippled a long time Greg." Luke choked out softly as he slowly pushed himself back to his feet and stood there with his hands spread out on either side of his body, "Ever since you decided that pain and suffering was for your enjoyment."

"Bastard!" Greg screamed as he unleashed the charge, but he wasn't fast enough. This time Luke was ready and he dove to the side, rolling back to his feet as he brought his sonar down into focus one last time. The energy he had accessed before wasn't as powerful, but it still did the job as it slammed into the man and threw him backward into the nearest wall. When Greg fell back to the floor it was with a sickening thud and even from this distance, Luke could tell the other man's neck had been snapped or twisted horribly.

Luke staggered slightly as he turned back toward the other two men, only to find that they were gone. An open door gently flapped in the breeze but Dr. Che and Derek were long gone.

"Raina..." Luke breathed softly as he turned and walked over to her as fast as possible. The gills were gone and her legs were back in their normal shape but she hung against her binding as though she were still unconscious.

"You got dry somehow." Luke murmured in her ear as he wrapped his arms around her to hold her tight while his sound laser cut through the ropes. It took several tries to get the aim down correctly but finally, she was free. Cradling the young woman in his arms Luke carried her over to a table that sat next to the computers and carefully laid her down.

"Come on Raina... wake up sweet heart." He murmured quietly as he gently patted her cheek before bringing his hand down to check her pulse.

There...

Was...

Nothing...

***

Luke's heart stopped as he searched desperately for what wasn't there. Raina's heart had stopped... she wasn't breathing... there was no pulse...

"Is that why she changed back?" Luke's mind screamed as he felt the helplessness blanketing his soul again, "She died?"

"NOOO!" Luke screamed as he cradled her to him, holding her head against his chest as he rocked her back and forth, "Not here! Not now! This is a vacation... a getaway... Raina... I love you... don't do this... Raina..."

"I'm sorry." A quiet voice broke through his sobbing. Turning he saw the young woman Michelle standing there and if his sonar wasn't deceiving him, there were tears running down her cheeks, "But... but I can help."

"Please... I love her." Luke whispered as his own tears flowed freely from his cloudy eyes, "Please..."

Michelle nodded and moved forward, gently pulling Raina away from Luke and laying her stretched out on the table. Reaching up her hands gently brushed the hair on Raina's brow. "She's lucky to have you... to have someone that will go through anything with her." Michelle's voice was soft as she lifted her other hand and gently placed it on Raina's stomach, "Don't ever mistreat her I'll... I'll know."

Luke could only nod as Michelle's eyes closed and her hands began to glow slightly.

***

Raina's gills fully formed and witout her hands free she couldn't keep them closed. She could only hold her breath so long. She couldn't hear anything but the ringing in her ears and her body was starting to feel numb. She could feel weight shifting around her so the best she could assume was that the men were all still fighting. She could taste a strange metal taste in her mouth and her eyes were burning. Her chest ached for breath and heaved violently. If only she could dry off... if only...

***
She could see colours now. Little whisps here and there. She felt cold all over- truley cold, a cold she'd never felt before. She wanted to move but nothing would listen. It was like she was vacant. Or trapped inside something empty. The burning in her chest peaked and then stopped. Raina felt ok once again and for a moment her mind felt relief. Then the colours dissappeared and one by one her senses stopped. She felt the moment her blood stopped pumping, and there was an odd sensation in her chest like getting the wind knocked out when her heart stopped. Somewhere along the way the gills dissapeared and she thought she might have legs again but she couldn't make herself breath. Her mind panicked. She was dying.

***
She was warm now. Peaceful. Completley wrapped in something soft and nice. She felt fluid and light, like water itself or air. She couldn't remember who she was or where she was... but she was floating. She looked around and her eyes came into a fuzzy sort of focus. She was in someone's basement. There was a man and a woman leaning over a table. They looked upset. She thought she knew them but she couldn't be sure. She wanted to leave the room... it was giving her a bad feeling. She heard a murmer from behind and turned. Well, she thought she turned but she didn't exactly feel solid.

There was a toddler standing in the air across from her. Her image faded in and out and Raina couldn't be sure of her features. But Raina knew she loved the child. Even though she couldn't see her. Even though she couldn't touch her. "It's time." said the child reaching her hand up. "I've been waiting momma. I want to go home now." Raina looked down at the little one. She wanted nothing more but to go home with her. Raina cast a look down at the scene below her. She didn't like pain. She didn't like sadness. As if reading her mind the child said "there's none of that where we are going." and Raina took her hand and there was light.

She felt like they were being sucked into something- but in a pleasant way, like when you fall back into a comfy bed. But something had her other arm. It was a barely visable white hand and it was coming from a body on the table. Right from it's center where a woman held her two hands suspended. It pulled her arm. The child pulled back. "but it's time" protested the child "I've been waiting" Raina turned to look at the little one with tears in her eyes suddenly having clarity and understanding.

"No.' she said softly. "It's not time my sweet child. But someday it will be. Just not now. I'm not finished. BUT I'll be back with you someday." the child's face twisted in sadness but she let go of Raina and Raina felt the other hand grip her tightly. She was falling now. Falling and falling. She couln't see anymore and she wondered if she'd jumped off something very high.

***

Michelle looked down as Raina lay on the table still lifeless. "I.." she began. "I did my best... she might be too far gone... I tried... oh Luke... I tried... tears welled up in the woman's eyes and spilled over again. This was her only chance to make things right.. her only chance and it was over. She stood silently and turned away with her head in her hands. Then suddenly she felt something inside herself. Like a spark. "Wait. I feel her!" she turned around as quickly as she could. "Come on Raina hunny wake up. You can do it. Come back to us!"

What happened next was something Michelle had witnessed several times in her life. It never got old and it was as inspiring now as it had been the first time she witnessed it. It reminded her exactly why she believed in a God and why she would use her powers when she had to. Raina had been laying lifeless on the table and suddenly her whole body began to glow. Just a soft white glow... but it was a special glow unique to Michelle's power. Luke would likely see it. He'd likely see everything that was happening.

Colour started returning to Raina's cheeks and skin and her fingers twitched a little. Suddenly her eyes flittered open and a gasp escaped her lips. Michelle let out a sigh of relief.

Raina lay their completley stunned. She wasn't exactly sure what was happening and her whole body felt incredibly heavy and sore- more than it ever had in her whole entire life. She wondered if all her bones were broken. It took a minute for her vision to be normal and when she saw Luke above her she murmered in a very weak voice "You're alive. I'm so happy. I thought I'd lost you." she closed her eyes and mustered a painful smile trying to edge her hand toward his on the table.

Time slowed to a crawl and Luke could only hover, barely breathing, and he waited to see if Michelle could really do what she claimed. Could she really bring back Raina? Was it even possible? Was there a chance that such a thing could really be done?

Michelle had almost given up but then suddenly, she she was saying that it was working. Raina was coming back. As Luke watched, the strangest thing happened... Raina's body began to glow. If he had eyes he would have seen a glowing light but with his sonar he saw what seemed to be a residual glowing... sound. The aura that seemed to come from Raina's body had a magical quality to it and Luke had never seen before and then Raina gasped in breath.

"Raina..." Luke breathed softly as he watched her eyes flicker open.

"You're alive. I'm so happy. I thought I'd lost you." Raina managed to choke out before Luke wrapped his arms around her and cradled her to his chest again. "No Raina... I thought I'd lost you." He whispered in her ear in between the kisses he kept pressing against her cheek and temple, "I love you... I love you Raina..."

Lifting his eyes, Luke offered a smile to Michelle as he reached up and wiped the tears away from his face. He didn't want to get Raina wet and force her into a transformation when she was in this condition. "Thank you... thank you so much Michelle."

Michelle nodded, her own eyes brimming with unshed tears. "You're welcome... take care of her. Take care of her..." The young woman murmured before she suddenly gasped and one hand flew up to cover her mouth, "Leslie!" Grabbing a purse that lay nearby Michelle fled the scene without glancing back once. She knew if she could get to the Eiffel Tower in time she might have a chance of healing Leslie and saving her life just as she had just saved Raina's.

"I'm so sorry Raina... I'm sorry I wasn't here earlier." Luke murmured as he turned his attention back to Raina and carefully lifted her in his arms, holding her protectively as he began to walk toward the door and the street outside, "Let's get you back... some place safe."

***

The trip back to the hotel was longer than Luke would have liked but it was uneventful and that was all that mattered. One glanced in the mirror had warned the taxi driver not to talk to his two passengers and so Luke and Raina had made the trip in a comfortable silence.

"We're here sweetheart." Luke said a few minutes later as he exited the elevator and walked toward their suite, Raina still held carefully in his arm, "I was gonna surprise you tonight... I've got the rest of the trip off work. I'm all yours for the rest of the trip, but we can head home early if you want."

As soon as they were inside Luke dead bolted the door and then carried through the doors that led to his bedroom. He knew that he was rambling but he wanted Raina to know that she was safe and he was there to protect her. He wasn't going to let something like this EVER happen again! "Tonight you're going to sleep... maybe eat something to get your strength up. I'm not going to leave your side until we're back in the states." Pulling back the sheets Luke carefully laid Raina down before lifting his hand and gently stroking her cheek. "Is there anything you need Raina? A drink or food or anything?"

Raina felt her face burn when Luke lifted her into an embrace. He loved her. Luke loved her and she loved him. "I just wasn't strong enough to fight them off." she explained weakly as he covered her face in kisses. Everything hurt. Everything. But inside her heart was bursting from overflowing. Luke loved her. They were in love.

***

Raina drifted in and out of consciousness through the cab drive. She had no idea that she'd actually died but knew whatever happened she'd been banged up really bad. It seemed to her that no matter how hard she trained and how hard she worked she couldn't ever be strong enough. There was always people out there, Rupert, Doctor Che, Derek... people who were stronger. In the moment she did wake up here and there her mind was full of questions. How did they escape? How'd they know Luke was a millionair? How did all of this happen and why? But she was too tired to pursue it furthut.

***
Luke babbled on in a disoriented way as he carried Raina into the room again. She gave a smile when he said he didn't have to work anymore. She didn't want to be alone. She clung to him as her eyes rolled a bit in her head and looked around the room. The candles had burned and melted all the way down. The roses had shriveled. The food had spoiled. Raina's lingeri was still intact but ruined. She couldn't be happier. "It's beautiful in here." she murmered to Luke feeling a bit delerious herself.

She was aware of being laid out on the bed and tucked in. The blankets hurt against her skin but she was cold so she said nothing. "I just want you." said Raina pulling Luke pathetically by the shirt feeling so weak. "Just don't leave me. Im scared I wont wake up again." this was entierly true. There was a desperate quiver in her voice as she pulled him to the bed next to her and pulled his arm around her. In moments she was in the deepest sleep of her life.

***
Raina's eyes jutted open and for a moment there was panic. She thought she was still pinned to the table in the warehouse but she soon realized it was just Luke's arm draped across her. He was sleeping soundly next to her. Her eyes adjusted to the dark. She wasn't sure what time of day it was or how long she slept. The blinds were all closed. Her body ached but she had needs she couldn't fufill just lying here. As carefully as she could Raina rolled out from underneath Luke's arm and headed for the bathroom.

After taking care of what she needed to Raina took a look at herself in the mirror. Her hair was matted with blood and there was dried blood all over her face. She had a black eye and was covered in bruises. She could see Greg's finger prints outlined on her neck and she shuddered wondering if he got away. The lingeri was tattered and right now all she wanted to do was pull it off. She did so with a great amount of pain and nearly cried looking at herself in the mirror. Her naked body was covered in bruises and scars. She looked ugly to herself. She gave a sigh. Rubbing Alcohol wasn't going to work. She needed the warmth of hot water to sooth her body. She needed real soap. She looked to her right at the bath tub and then reached under the sink.

She pulled out the first aid kit and carefully unwrapped some sterile goss. She then wrapped it tightly around her neck trying to be careful. It would hopefully hold her gills shut for the duration of her bath/shower. She turned then and carefully stepped into the bath tub. She couldn't just have a bath there'd be too much water... but not having legs meant she couldn't stand. So Raina turned on the shower and laid on the bottom of the tub as it filled up with pooling water around her. She grinned painfully as the water sprayed down on her.

The water was warm and inviting and started to sooth her aching skin. Of course her body twisted and coursed in a painful way as her tail came back but the goss held the gills in place. This was going to work afterall...

***

It took about an hour for Raina to get fully cleaned and fully dried off to the point of having no tail. She felt much better for it. Looking down at the lingeri as she stood with the towel wrapped around her she was suddenly very tired again and the idea of pulling it on wasn't going to work. Raina didn't want to put anything on. She was lucky she could handle the towel and she wondered if she could go about with it on for a while or her robe. Everything hurt against her bruised and slashed skin.

A few steps out of the bathroom wrapped in her towel and Raina realized she wasn't up for good. She needed more sleep. She needed more rest. Her legs were feeble and uncooperative. Her head was dizzy and light. Worst of all she just wanted to curl up into a ball and cry from all the over-stimulation of the day. Raina was pushed beyond anything she could handle. Crawling back into bed with Luke sounded like a great idea.

And that's exactly what she did wrapped in only her towel and shuddering from the pain. She got herself relatively back in the same position she'd been in and nudged her head right into the crook of Luke's neck and let out a happy but pained sigh. She was where she needed to be. "Luke?" she whispred. "Did I wake you?"

Raina had fallen asleep almost instantly but it took Luke far longer to finally drift off. The emotion of the day continued to run through his mind along with an unspoken question...

"What did I do in that warehouse?"

Luke knew that somehow, in the heat of the moment, he had accessed an ability he had never even dreamed of having but he didn't understand it. He didn't now if he could access it during a calm moment or if it would only manifest itself during times of high emotions.

"Does it take my adrenaline flowing or could I do it right now?"

A part of Luke wanted to test it and find out but the rest of him was just to tired. He could feel the lump that had grown on the back of his head and he knew that rest of his body wasn't in the best shape either. Falling asleep fully clothed wasn't always the most comfortable thing in the world but when you were as exhausted as Luke was at the moment, it was definitely possible.

***

The sound of running water startled Luke awake and he sat up quickly, immediately recognizing that Raina was gone. Disoriented as he was his sonar swept the suite, soon locating Raina in the other room, apparently bathing.

"She's fine... she's OK." Luke reminded himself as he slowly lay back against the pillows and tried to slow his rapidly beating heart, "She'll call if she needs me... it's OK."

Sighing to himself rather tiredly Luke shrugged off his coat and tossed it to the floor before kicking off his shoes and allowing them to fall beside the bed. After that, his energy was gone so he didn't bother undressing any further.

"I forgot my baton and staff... go back... maybe..." He thought rather tiredly to himself as he drifted off to sleep again.

***

About an hour later Luke awoke again, but this time he wasn't as startled. He had been expecting Raina to return and as she slipped back into his embrace and nuzzled her head into the crook of his neck all he could do was let out a quiet sigh of satisfaction. This was how things should be... the two of them together with nothing to interrupt or disturb them.

"Luke?" She whispered. "Did I wake you?"

"Hmmm... no darling..." Luke murmured in response, his voice throaty from contentment and tiredness, "No problem. I was expecting you... have a good shower?"

Luke arm tightened ever so slightly as he spoke to the beautiful woman that lay beside him. He was careful not to squeeze her to tightly, but she was going to be secure in his arm. As he spoke a thought penetrated through the blind man's tired mind...

"She's wearing a towel... nice..."

Raina smiled silently in the dark. She liked being called someone's darling. Somehow after everything that happened today all of her doubts about Luke were completley washed away. She knew- even if they hadn't told each other that they loved the other that she would have known anyway. It was obvious by their equal action to save each other and be with each other. You just dont do that and risk your neck for someone you don't care about. "My shower was good. Hard... but good. I'm afraid your gift to me didn't quite make it." she frowned.

She nuzzled in and intertwined her hand with his. "I have always felt safe when I'm with you." she murmered. "You came to my rescue." her emotions were overwhelming her at this point. She felt extreme gratitude, anxiety, weariness, love, clingfulness ((did I just invent that word? lol)) a little fear and hope as well. They survived today and she felt like they could survive anything now.

She stroaked his face. "I can't believe we're finally here. Home again, or rather our temproary home for the rest of the week. I didn't think we'd make it out alive." her heart was racing a bit now and her skin felt warm and clamy. Her mind wanted her to press Luke for the details of what happened but her body and heart wanted something else. She could feel her heart pounding and she was nearly shaking when she pushed Luke's hair from his eyes. She leaned forward and kissed his forhead. Next, she kissed each of his eyes carefully. Then she kissed his mouth and though it was a gentle kiss there was much passion.

Raina was in a strange fog between livving and dead. Her shower hadn't snapped her from her trance that was likely the side effects of Michelle's ability. She was alive but she felt like things were still coming back to her and every touch of Luke, every smell, every caress made more things flow to her. "I just want..." she said between kisses and tugging at his shirt. "To feel alive."

It was true she was hurting and emotionally overwhelmed... but right now, more than anything... Raina needed to feel as close to Luke as humanly possible.

"My shower was good. Hard... but good. I'm afraid your gift to me didn't quite make it." Raina murmured quietly in response to Luke's statement.

"If you liked it we'll get another one... maybe you can even help me pick it out." Luke murmured in reply.

"I have always felt safe when I'm with you." Raina murmured as she nuzzled even closer, "You came to my rescue."

Raina's hand felt soft brushing against his face and her voice was even softer. "I can't believe we're finally here. Home again, or rather our temproary home for the rest of the week. I didn't think we'd make it out alive."

"Neither did I to be honest." Luke replied quietly, as a feeling of contentment filled his heart, "It was all I was dreaming of... being back with you... I don't know what I would have done if I'd lost you."

Luke was beginning to feel like he might be able to fall asleep again when Raina suddenly changed the rules of the game. As her gentle lips touched his forehead, his eyes, and then finally his lips Luke felt an electric charge move through his body. "I just want..." Raina murmured in between kisses, "To feel alive."

Not bothering to actually speak a reply, Luke simply pulled the red haired woman a little closer as he returned her kiss, deepening it and increasing the passion with each passing moment. His hands began to run over her body, gently caressing each portion of bare skin that he could find.

At some point Raina's hands moved to his chest, unbuttoning his white shirt and pushing it off of his shoulders and down to the floor beside the bed. "Raina..." Luke murmured softly when her hands caressed over his bare chest. In response to her touches Luke moved his own hands up under her towel, brushing over where he had seen Greg touch earlier. He was going to claim this birth mark as his own and give her some happy memories associated with it.

"I want you to describe your body to me... every detail... every birthmark." Luke whispered in her ear as he tickled the fish shaped birth mark on her hip, his other hand moving up to toy with the knotted portion of her towel.

The heat was building in the room as Luke found himself finally giving in to the urge and the hunger that had been waiting in the background since so many nights before. A relationship was nothing new to Luke Jacobs but a relationship with someone that he was completely in love with WAS something new and extremely special.

Moments later a white bath towel fell to the floor of the suite as Luke and Raina lost themselves in each other's arms.

(Continued In The Morning After)