The small nightclub blended into the mass of office buildings and high
rises as well as any CIA operative going undercover.
If you didn't know it existed you'd never know it was there walking by
it on the street.
It was exactly the kind of place Attwood liked to retreat too when
things in the real world got too hairy.
Now as he stepped through the doors with Lewis close at his heels
Attwood realized this place had been his sanctuary more times than he
liked to count.
Now the real life he had tried to keep out of this place was barging in.

Despite the early hour there was a growing crowd of regular customers.
The bartender a young red haired woman in her late twenties recognized
Attwood as the pair walked past.
Attwood nodded in her direction before motioning Lewis toward one of the
rear booths that lined the back wall.
"I thought you wanted my help,Doctor Attwood,"Lewis began as the two men
settled into the booth,"Not a drinking companion."
Attwood smiled in acknowledgment to the bartender as she put two drinks
in front of them,"You of all people should know that things are not
always what they appear to be."
As the bartender left Attwood pulled a small piece of white paper out
from under the glass. It stated simply:
Heard of your situation.
Will be arriving at half past.

Attwood pocketed the piece of paper and looked back at Lewis who had
leaned back against the bench.
"You never did answer my question earlier."Attwood prompted as he took a
sip of his drink.
Lewis absently turned his glass around in a circle as he met Attwood's
gaze,"Which question was that,Doctor?"
"Why the sudden about face?"Attwood replied as he leaned forward,"Why
choose now to help us? You've made your feelings toward Dr. Parker quite
clear to the point of kidnapping if I recall correctly."
Lewis nodded,"The kidnapping was a means to an end. Situations have
changed that have enlightened me to the error of my ways."

Fifteen minutes had ticked by since Ray and Ed had begun their search
for a hidden room.
So far the bare warehouse walls offered no clues to Sloan's whereabouts
but Ed wasn't giving up.
Tom wouldn't have risked everything to send them here if she wasn't here
somewhere.
He might if he had never been on your side to start with.A nagging voice
reminded Ed as he dautingly continued his search.
Ed shrugged off the nagging voice as he moved to the left wall. He was
half way down that wall when Ray's shout drew his attention.
"Ed,I think I found it!"Ray called from his postion by the far right
corner of the building,"Give me a hand with this board. Its loose but
its stuck on something."

Tate scurried over and quickly found a hand hold on the piece of brown
painted wood.
As he and Ray tugged on the piece of wood Ed realized that the space
between them and the back wall would be enough room for a door.
A small skinny door but a door none the less.
Just when it appeared like the stubborn wood wasn't going to budge it
flew loose sending both men sprawling backwards a few feet.

As the two friends regained their balance Ray tossed the piece of wood
aside. The opening was barely large enough to allow a person to fit
through.
But that didn't stop Ed as he glanced back at Ray,"Give me your
flashlight."
Ray silently handed it to him and the pair squeezed through the opening
and stepped into the dark room.

As the flashlight splashed against the far wall the image that greeted
Ed made his heart freeze.
Part of him had been trying to prepare for the fact that she would be
hurt or worse when they finally found her.
But the reality of seeing his best friend's still form lying in a
hospital bed was harsher than anything he could have prepared for.
"Sloan."Tate whispered as he forced his feet to move forward.

His medical training took over as Ed examined Sloan's still form.
"She alive?"Ray asked softly.
"Barely."Ed replied angerily as he checked Sloan's vital signs.
"Is the baby okay?"Ray asked as he warily glanced behind them still half
expecting this to be a trap.
Tate swallowed hard as picked Sloan up as gently as he could,"I'll know
more when we get her back to the lab."