Disclaimer: R

 A Small portion of Violence 

She needed to do something but couldn't quite remember what.She rolled her head seeking a more comfortable spot.She tried to lift her hand to probe the spot of the throbbing but her arms were so tired and wouldn't cooperate.Forcing her eyes open she immediately shut them against the lights ,too bright,everything was out of focus. 

Gritting her teeth she opened them once again.Slowly looking around what looked like a medical unit she recognized nothing.Across the way there seemed to be someone else,it was so far the effort to focus made her eyes water.Vaguely she felt she should know them,suddenly their eyes swung and met hers. Sloan. 

Sloan's eyes widened,she stepped closer to the glass separating them.Raine turned her head slowly and saw someone surveying various readings.Looking down she realized only one hand was restrained to the bed.Working her hand back and forth she managed to pull if free from the restraint but the act itself exhausted her.Reaching over she snatched,the IV out and pushed herself up.Keeping her eyes on the technician she slid off the bed. 

Concentrating on placing one foot in front of the other until she was right behind him she linked her hands bringing them down on the back of his neck.Pushing away from his chair she slowly crossed to the glass.Resting her head against the glass,she needed a minute to make the floor stop revolving. 

Straightening she tried the knob but it was locked.She jerked back and forth on it frustrated.She closed her eyes,gathering her strength wrenched the knob hard to the right and pushing she fell into the room. 

"Raine god are you alright... Sloan whispered as she knelt pushing back a curtain of hair to see her face.Sloan wavered and moved,"I've been better." 

"Raine look at me..Raine let me see your eyes." Looking up she pulled Sloan into focus. "Tired." "I know.We need to get out of here and find out what they did to you. Raine??" 

Sweat beaded her forehead."My head is killing me." "I saw them remove something." Raine wiped her forehead on her arm and squinted. 

"I can't do anything about that right now." Raine watched Sloan scrambled up "Yes you can come on lets go." She offered her hand and tugged. 

"Leaving already? But you just got here." 

Raine closed her eyes,then meeting Sloan's she deliberately smoothed out her expression then slammed shut the windows of her mind. Nodding slightly Sloan stepped closer clasping her waist as Rain drapped her arm across her shoulders for support she turned. 

"Hello Stephen.." 

As he studied Raine Sloan took the opportunity to study him. He was an attractive man of average height,he appeared to be partially oriental his hair was long,dark and pulled back in a braid,with a prominent white stripe. 

The overall effect was stunning but it was the eyes that drew ones attention they were an intense shade of turquoise. They were beautiful eyes she though objectively, but also the deadest she had ever seen.As beautiful as he was it was a repellent beauty. 

He studied Raine clinically,"I must say you recovered much faster than expected he mused." 

He stepped closer, you don't seem surprised to see me. Raising a finger to her forehead and he gently touched the area that throbbed. 

She grimaced,"I'm not really you always show up sooner or later." 

He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes,he looked at Sloan. "Dr Parker what are we to do with you?" Sloan opened her mouth to reply when Raine gently squeezed her shoulder Sloan hesitated saying nothing. 

"Aaah reports about you weren't exaggerated were they? Your intelligent for your species."I can see why Lewis wants to get his hands on you." 

Feeling Sloan's fear Raine drew his attention back to her "why have you brought us here?" You've just made things worse they will come looking for Dr Parker." 

He shrugged. "Its time Raine for you to take up your responsibilities," he said without inflection. 

And this she gestured ,"what have you done to me?" 

He studied her critically,"we simply removed the tracking device." 

Bemused she said," You bugged me." 

He inclined his head "of course with your ability to ..cloak yourself as it were we needed an effective method to retrieve you once the time was right."His lips tightened,we didn't anticipate Sacha's betrayal." 

"Most of us already know how to mask our presence she said tautly." 

"Not he said in an uncompromising tone, with the success that you can,as you aware when you choose your literally undetectable and we need that.Your triumph shall soon be ours." 

She couldn't understand what he expected her to do about that,rubbing the side of her temple. She objected "I still don't..." He held up his hand as one of his men entered the room." I didn't want to be disturbed it had better be important." 

The man glanced at the women and hesitated. 

"Well..." 

"There is a messenger here from Lewis,he paused reluctant to say more." 

"So.. he said curtly what is the message?" 

His eyes slid away from Stephen's to a point above his shoulder" he wants both of the women." Really? he mused. Well he said thoughtfully it seems Dr parker your stay with us is at an end."Take Dr Parker to her escort." Raine and Sloan exchanged looks. 

"He was most specific he paused,he stressed *both* women." 

His face hardened,"excuse me please.I need to deal with this personally."As he left he gestured for the guard to remain outside the door. 

As soon as he was out of sight Raine leaned against the wall then slid down to sit on the floor.Sloan exhaled noisily."That man is .. " 

"Nuts?" Raine offered bitterly. "Intense.." Sloan tacked on. "Any ideas,Sloan asked as she paced back and forth." 

Raine watched her pace for the moment."No,whatever they gave me has really wiped me out." 

Sloan sighed then came and sat down on the floor beside her."Tom will be looking for us,he'll find us." Raine's smile had just a hint of sadness. She nodded "I know he will he cares a great deal for you." 

Sloan slanted her a sidelong glance,"who knows maybe your Michael will as well." 

Her smile faded,"I doubt that anyway we're not going wait here long enough to be rescued.Besides she sighed he's not mine I've heard he's quite the ladies man.I want a man that looks at me the way Tom looks at you." 

Intrigued she asked,"how does he look?" She smiled gently,"like you are his entire world.I want that one day for myself." 

Sloan leaned back against the wall and stretched her legs out in front."I'm no expert but it seems to me Michael had that same look in his eyes the first time I saw him with you at the lab." 

Raine looked down hiding her expression,"Michael once told me emotions are for weaklings or fools,whatever you witnessed around me its always hidden if it even exists at all." 

"Raine I.." 

Raine touched her leg silencing her,she turned her head frowning."Their coming.Before they get here,I want you to know we're going to get out of this."I wont leave here without you." Sloan nodded,solemnly. 

Sloan this is important," Stephen isn't one to..just.. don't resist, don't provoke him he's not stable." 

The sound of the door opening broke them apart,and had them pushing themselves up from floor."Good your still here.I apologize for my untimely departure but it was unavoidable." 

"Come with me please Sloan.May I call you Sloan?" Dr Parker seems so formal as it appears we'll be spending some time together." 

"Stephen don't..Don't do this where are you taking her?" 

Glancing at Raine impassively,"I'm afraid I must insist." 

"You going to turn her over to Lewis?" 

"I have no intention of handing her over to Lewis..Not yet anyway." 

"What *are* you doing then?" 

He lifted his hand Sloan. "Now please." Shaking his head you always did have a habit of collecting strays he said indulgently." 

"Don't be patronizing Stephen, she said testily". Sloan moved toward Stephen,he stepped aside allowing her to proceed him before he closed the door they exchanged one last glance before Sloan disappeared down the hallway. 

A knock at the door disturbed his introspection. He ignored it continuing to stare into the nite a second more urgent knock followed.Allowing a flicker of impatience he called. 

"Enter." 

The female glided forward and stopped waiting for him to turn and face her.When it became apparent he wasn't she delivered her news. 

"Stephen killed the messenger and sent back this around his neck."She stepped forward laying the note on his desk.Stiffening he turned staring at her blankly before his eyes drifted to the missive.Picking it up he skimmed it looking up his gaze became distant the silence grew. 

Turning to the window he finally said,"Find Michael and insure he learns just where Stephen is."Let Michael finish him and his followers then take the women and bring them to me." 

She nodded leaving as quietly as she came. 

They had been there an hour at least watching the comings and goings at the club,when the slamming of a car door startled them.Swinging around they watched Ray Peterson approach. Michael inhaled trying to calm himself," I thought you were at the police station." 

Ray shrugged,"I dropped off the blood sample Attwood wanted at the lab." He said you two were headed over here,I thought I'd see what was happening." 

"So far Tom said dryly nothing." Michael turned,"any ideas how you want to do this?" Tom searched Michael's face intensely.Michael mentally flinched,I must be more out of control than I thought he strengthened his shields. 

"One of us should go in and see if he's there.This is getting us no where fast." 

Ray exchanged glances "anyone want to tell me who we're looking for? When no one spoke OK what do they look like then he asked sarcastically." 

Michael met his gaze" he's one of Lewis's,and he might be able to tell us if he's seen Raine or Dr Parker." 

Need to do this himself wrestled with logic, frustrated he raked his hand thru his hair."I'll go.. Tom if he comes out the back he's all yours just don't damage him to much I want him able to talk." 

Meeting Ray's eyes he nodded as if coming to a decision "he's yours if he comes out the front.He's got a scar here michael gestured at his left eyebrow it gives him the appearance of two." 

"Is that all you know Ray asked sceptically." Michael mouth quirked at one side,"no he'll be the one that will be trying to kill you to get through." 

Michael turned and headed across the street.Stopping suddenly he swung around"if you have to shoot make it his knee caps." Tom and Ray exchanged a look before Tom headed toward the back of the club. 

He entered the swirling gyrating bodies.It took a moment for his eyes to adapt to the strobbing and flashing of multi-colored lights.Heat from the closeness of the crowd,and the smoky atmosphere,raised his frustration level.He slowly scanned the crowd.There... A slight tingle just at the edge of his perception. 

When he finally found him they both sensed one another at the same time.After that what happened seem to be in slow motion they stared at each other within the reflection of the mirrored wall.He must have known Michael was here for him. He didn't move just continued to stare. 

Michael sensed his panic escalating,then nothing as he slowly started toward him.The dominant stared a moment longer then shoved people out of his way as he sprinted toward the back of the club.Michael smiled in anticipation,good with Tom there escape wasn't an option. 

By the time he reached the back Tom had him restrained.He turned his head sharply as Michael walked steadily closer never changing his stride.He withdrew his gloves from his pocket.Putting one on slowly stretching his hand into the glove all the while keeping his eyes on the male before him "where is Raine and Dr Parker?" 

He continued to stare in mute silence as Michael put the other glove slowly on."I want to know where they are tell me what I want and I'll leave you alone."He shook his head negative,Michael bent down lifting him off the ground and shoved him up against the wall. 

He hit the wall hard but tried to dart to the side when Michael casually thru his arm straight out.Unable to stop in time he slammed himself in the throat when he hit Michael's arm.He laid there stunned before he rolled over and curled up.Michael dragged him up and shoved him against the wall. 

"Where is Raine." He shook his head again.Michael smiled coldly" I've already returned one of Lewis's group to him shall I make it two tonite?" You know he said conversationally it took awhile but Rogers finally told me what I wanted."I'm on a tight schedule so I wont give you allot of time to decide." 

The dominants eyes grew larger,he could smell the scent of fear on him. Michael withdrew his knife and moved it slowly back and forth at eye level watching his reaction objectively.Stopping the knife's movement at the corner of his eye in a movement to quick to follow he nicked the corner of his eye. Reaching out with a finger he caught the trail of blood lifting his finger to the dominants eye level.He probed,"shall I take the eye?? 

Michael turned,did he have anything on him? Tom silently held up the gun,a cell phone. Michael's lips curved, turning back to his captive "lets reach out and touch someone shall we?" The dominant continued to stare. 

"Call Lewis,tell him Michael wants to talk to him." Or he paused significantly I'll *go to him*... "It will take me longer than I want but I'll make sure he knows where I got the location from." 

Michael turned holding his hand up as Tom tossed him the phone,"your choice call him let him decide or I go myself and leave him thinking your a traitor."The dominant stared a moment longer then dialed. Michael suddenly stuck his knife under his chin,"not a word about Daniels or I'll cut your throat where you stand.Clear?" 

Michael studied him intensely,whatever he saw or sensed convinced him because he removed the knife allowing him to continue.The dominant spoke a few moments then passed him the phone. 

"Michael,this is a surprise." 

"I don't know why.I was told you have Raine.As I promised her mother I would watch over her I'm asking you if its true." 

"Michael I have no idea where you got your information but I don't have Raine or Dr Parker.." 

"Parker??" 

"Michael don't act the fool." 

Michael laughed harshly,"alright I don't care about Parker I want Raine."Tom moved restlessly, he swung his head meeting Tom's gaze he shook his head. 

"Then your not helping the humans." 

"I told you I want Raine.Whatever business between you and Daniels is just that your business."Don't make Raine a part of it and I wont make myself a part of it." 

"Hmm, maybe she should have thought about that before she decided to interfere." 

Michael tilted his head back looking at the sky,when he spoke his voice was flat" 'I'll be sure to tell her that when I get my hands on her." 

Amused he said after a moment,"very well then Michael,I don't have Raine." 

Michael asked sharply,"how do I know your telling me the truth?" 

"I didn't say I haven't tried to capitalize on the situation Lewis said slyly." 

Michael laughed coldly,"so they beat you to it and now your going to show them the price betrayal." 

"Where is she?" 

"Where? That is your problem but the who I'm sure you remember." Stephen.. he guessed.. 

"You and he can reminisce about old times I almost hate to miss it." 

Michael closed the phone."Well?" Tom asked 

"Stephen has them both." 

"And you believe him?" 

"Belief doesn't enter in to it. He may have started the game but somewhere along the way Stephen changed the plan.Now its a race for us to get them before Lewis decides to alter the plan yet again." 

Michael tossed the phone on the ground and crushed it.Looking at the dominant his expression became cold "you can go now." 

Tom stepped forward "No, he'll go back to Lewis and report everything he heard and saw let Ray take him to the cops."Michael ignored him staring at the dominant "go." 

He cautiously leaned away from the wall, glancing furtively back he stepped away from the wall.Michael quickly stepped behind him placing his hands on either side of his head and twisted snapping his neck. 

He and Tom stared at one another."Lewis is fixated on you its in his voice and I wont tolerate his interference.I wont risk this one escaping,and making it back to Lewis." Tom nodded. 

"Lets get Peterson and go." 

"Go?? Where?" 

The corner of his mouth lifted,"how do you feel about recycling."