“Slowly Jane, you took a hell of a beating,” Jane could hear
the worry in her voice and felt guilty for putting it there.

“I’m sorry JJ” she managed through clenched teeth.

“Jane you didn’t do anything, I’m sorry, you didn’t have to
protect me.” She said sadly, she could see what it was costing Jane to
talk.  Looking up, she heard footsteps
again, “Jane, Jane look at me, they’re back.
Don’t fight them please. I have an idea”

Before Jane had woken JJ had gone over the basement trying
to find something, anything they could use as a weapon all she had been able to
find was a long splintered piece of wood she had pulled off a stair.  That she had up her sleeve, with any luck,
she would have the element of surprise, if not, she would have to fight them
off like Jane had.  There were two
entries into the basement, one from inside the house, and one from outside the
house.  She had checked them both, and
could not open either one.

Jane closed her eyes as she listened to JJ, they were back,
more beatings, they had to hold them off until they were found, they had to
fight back, it was their only option.

“Have to…have to fight…cowards” wracked by coughs, she spit
out and was surprised to see blood.  Looking
at JJ she tried to grin, “out of time huh?”

The door slammed open and Jane looked at JJ, “help me up”

Shaking her head, “no Jane I…”

“JJ please, help me up…I won’t die on the floor like a dog”
her voice was raspier than usual.

Helping her up, JJ let Jane lean on her for support as they
faced father and son.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

“How close are we
Frost?” Emily was chewing on non-existent fingernails completely focused on
finding JJ and Jane.

“Less than five minutes”

“Prentiss…”

“Morgan, later, I promise we’ll talk…I just…we need to find
them first okay?”

“Fine” He knew he had a lot to make up for and he was
determined not to let his friends down again.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

“Well, well, looks like you’re feeling better Jane” Max
looked from one to the other and watched as Jane attempted to straighten up,
she couldn’t hide her grimace.

“Hurt?”

“No more than you” she said with more bravado than she felt.

“Come on boy let’s play” the elder Rodriguez passed his son
gloves.