What had her name been? Abbie? Quite the eye-catcher, that one. McCoy could stand to learn a lesson. He would regret besting Donald Kepler...at least for a while. The outcome for him was beyond the point. Just imagining the panic in McCoy's voice was enough to keep him satisfied for the rest of this lifetime.

After Jack stormed out Abbie walked away from the elevator thinking deeply. The argument with Jack had been totally unnecessary, only he could be so stubborn sometimes! In a burst of humility she decided that she would apologize right now and maybe they could talk it through. She aimed her steps toward the car and Jack.

Suddenly a hand grabbed her and pulled her back into the shadows. There was barely enough time to gasp "Jack!" before a hand closed over her mouth. But Jack was already around the corner and out of earshot. Then there was darkness. Only darkness.

*Half an hour earlier...*

Brooke Channing looked thoughtfully at Abbie. She was Abbie's assistant, something that could be tongue tying to explain: "the Executive Assistant DA's Assistant's assistant."

Abbie glanced up just in time to catch Brooke's stare.

"What is it, Brooke?"

The blonde woman sitting across from her blinked innocently.

"Hmm?"

"You're staring at me as if you were trying to figure out the world's problems," Abbie informed her.

Brooke shook her head, "No, only yours."

Abbie had to laugh.

"Mine? What problems do I have?"

"Jack for instance."

"Jack?" Abbie asked, incredulity creeping into her voice, "What problem?"

Brooke aimed a smug smile at her.

"Like say...admitting your true feelings?"

"He's my boss, Brooke. My BOSS. We've worked together for two years."

"Wouldn't that be more of a reason? Explain to me how him being your boss inhibits personal feelings."

"It doesn't...exactly. It's merely a code of conduct."

"Mm-hmm."

Now this conversation was rapidly speeding towards exasperating.

"'Mm-hmm' what? Why are you pressing this?"

"Because Abbie," Brooke said very matter-of-factly, "I've seen the way you look at him."

"I don't think so," Abbie denied.

"Do you need me to start listing instances? Such as that day you got back from court and Jack decided to change his shirt. I thought I would need to go get a bowl to catch your eyes if they got any wider. And then there was... "

Abbie cut her off immediately.

"No! No, that's OK. I've got your drift."

"Admit it then."

Abbie wondered briefly how anyone could sound so pleased with herself.

"What do you want me to admit? That I'm absolutely, totally, head- over-heels in love with Jack McCoy?"

Abbie attempted to pass of her words lightly, making fun of Brooke's interrogation. But there was a ring of truth in the question that erased all traces of sarcasm.

"That's a start."

"I'm not sure how this helps anything."

"It helps because you admit it."

"How can I admit anything to you when I'm not even sure myself?"

"At least I got you to say you foster feelings for him more than just your average man."

"I suppose so. What I'm scared of now is you marching me into his office to tell him," Abbie said with another attempt at sarcasm.

"That's not a bad idea," Brooke admitted.

"The purpose of such an action being?"

"It might help you move forward in your..."

Once again Abbie felt inclined to interrupt.

"Strictly professional relationship? Dream on, Brooke."

"It's always possible."

"I'm a co-worker. Nothing more."

"Do you ever wish?" Brooke prodded.

"What I wish and what is reality won't ever cross paths," Abbie said with great certainty.

"So you do kind of hope?"

"You're impossible. What you're asking is does Abbie Carmichael ever hope that Jack McCoy is madly in love with her?"

"Yes."

"Constantly," Abbie confessed.

"Don't you wonder sometimes if something like that might happen for the wrong reasons? You would hope he would be better than that though."

Brooke wasn't trying to be difficult but curiosity got the better of her.

"Even though I trust his integrity I can't help being scared that it would be based solely on my looks and not for me. It sounds crazy I know but yeah I hope he is."

There wasn't a doubt in Brooke's mind that Abbie had dropped being sarcastic and was being dead serious. She leaned forward in anticipation.

"Do you think he might really be?"

"You seem to be the expert, you tell me."

"Unfortunately I really can't say. I can't see myself hanging around him like I do you."

Abbie chuckled at Brooke's almost pout.

"Aren't you tempted?"

"Don't go there, Abbie," Brooke warned.

"You mean you can honestly say you aren't remotely interested in a gorgeous, brilliant man like him?"

The grin Abbie sported belied her serious tone.

"A little persuasion and you really open up. I saw you'd staked your claim, don't worry. Besides I tend to take my tastes to those outside the law."

"So I should feel relieved?"

"Extremely. Wouldn't want to see those brown eyes turn green, would we?"

A knock on the door sent them to their feet. Their eyes met in mutual horror as they heard a voice.

"Abbie?"

It was Jack.

"Just a moment!"

She stepped closer to Brooke and whispered, "He couldn't have heard anything, right?"

"I didn't even know he was still here!"

Abbie took a deep breath and composed herself.

"Jack, how long have you been here?"

That had sounded a little too forced, Abbie thought. She stepped back allowing him entrance to the room.

"Only a few minutes," he said glancing briefly at Brooke, "I tried your phone but there wasn't any answer."

"I was on the other line," she lied. The truth was she had just plain ignored it. "Brooke and I were... comparing notes."

"I just had a couple of questions," he explained.

A couple of questions that couldn't wait for tomorrow obviously.

Brooke gathered her belongings and started towards the door.

"So, I suppose you two don't need me here. Abbie, 8:30?"

This brought an enthusiastic nod from the taller woman.

"Sure, that's fine."

Brooke gave Abbie a wink as she closed the door behind her.

"About the case I think we should change the strategy on the case. I just don't think it's working."

Abbie listened as he explained his idea. She shook her head in disagreement.

"I don't think we should do that."

"Why?"

For an inexplicable reason indignation bubbled up at his question.

"Why? Why do you feel the need to question my judgment?"

"If we don't agree on this..."

Abbie cut him off.

"It isn't the first time we've disagreed," she burst out.

"Why won't you give me an explanation? Abbie, it was just a question. You're getting awfully upset for no reason at all."

"So you think it's late? That I'm thinking like a woman and not like you?"

His eyebrows furrowed at her tone.

"Abbie, no!"

"You don't have to shout. I'm not a child you can reprimand. I think we should talk about this tomorrow."

It was Jack's turn to get indignant.

"Are you afraid to be alone with me? Do we need to call Brooke back?"

It was quite plain to both of them the conversation was heading nowhere.

"Brooke and I were getting together later but I think I'll follow her now. You know, they say people get insensitive when they're *drunk*."

Jack stayed silent as they rode the elevator down. He stalked off before she could say anything. She watched him turn the corner before sighing and following the path he took.

*Two hours later*

Jack almost tripped on his way to the ringing telephone.

"Hello?"

"Jack?"

It took him a second to place the voice.

"Yeah, Brooke?"

"Um, yes. Have you seen Abbie?"

He could hear the apprehension in her voice and deep in his gut a ball of worry started to form.

"Not for a couple of hours."

"She was supposed to be here at 8:30 but she never showed. I'm kind of worried. Do you know where she might have gone?"

"No, I don't," Jack said his voice going very flat, "We...she said she was going straight to your place. I left just ahead of her."

"I'm going to check the office," as she spoke he could tell that the worry had crept back into her voice.

"I'll meet you there."

Brooke had now gone beyond anxious. Jack's face mirrored her expression.

"We rode down together. I took off around the corner and I assumed she was following me. I didn't look back."

"You must've been really ticked."

"It was a silly fight really," he said with remorse. "We just went up here..."

"Jack!"

Something in Brooke's voice stopped him cold. Her flashlight shone into the little alcove to the side of the walkway.

Lying there in the dust was a single high-heeled shoe and a leather briefcase. Abbie's. Jack moved closer. There was a note attached to the case, held there by a hypodermic needle that was stuck viciously into it.

The note read, "McCoy eat this!" in bold scrawling print. Beneath the words were two smudged pink lip marks. He could all too well imagine this attacker grinding the paper into Abbie's lips. What would she have been thinking? The fear...

His legs gave out then and he sank to his knees.

"What have I done?"

When Lennie Briscoe got there he found Jack off to the side leaning against the wall staring blankly off into space.

"Are you OK?"

Jack turned to Lennie then.

"Do I look OK?"

"Actually you look like you just fell off the garbage truck," the comment was softened by the concern in his voice.

"I knew I could count on you."

"Why else am I here?"

"Get down to business, Lennie."

"What happened?"

"I left here a couple of hours ago. We'd just had an argument and I left her in the elevator. Then I just took off. Didn't even make sure she made it out. That was the last time I saw her."

"You didn't see anyone else around."

"I was angry. I didn't see anything."

"Jack, you can't blame yourself. Even if you hadn't been here it might have happened."

"But I was here and it did happen and I wasn't there for her."

"We're gonna find her. We don't let these guys mess with our friends."

"I don't care who he is or what he's done; if he's hurt her I *will* kill him."

Lennie had never been in a situation quite like this but put in Jack's situation he would probably feel that way too.

"Try and be satisfied with shutting his cell door. Killing him won't avenge Abbie, making sure he'll never be near another woman will."

Jack's reaction barely registered on his face.

"Find her first. Then we'll talk."

"All right, I'll take you to the station with us."

"I didn't ask for a babysitter," came the staunch reply.

"Consider me your own support group."

"No one's dead, Lennie. I'm not grieving."

"We're trying to keep it that way. Believe me, if I lost someone like Abbie I'd be glad for my company."

"I never lost her. I never had her."

"Says you. She could've wrapped you around her little finger."

"Yet instead I run away when she needs me most."

"You know what we're going to do? We're going to find this creep. We're going to lock him up so he'll never see the light of day again and you my friend are you going to tell Abbie how you really feel."

He had finally gotten Jack's attention.

"How I really feel?"

"I'm not blind," Lennie pointed out, "I've known you for a long time."

Jack's eyes shut tightly.

"That voice, Lennie. Those eyes. What am I going to do?"

Lennie put his hand on Jack's shoulder as they walked to the car.

"We'll do this right, Jack; we'll find her for you."

Van Buren ushered them into her office as soon as they arrived. The shock was wearing off. Jack's eyes were wildly scanning the room as if the kidnapper would pop out from behind any solid object.

She pulled Lennie aside.

"We've got to calm him down or he's going to spontaneously combust."

Briscoe shook his head.

"Nothing short of a right hook or Abbie is going to do that."

In the end it was a tranquilizer combined with exhaustion induced by worry that sent him into a restless sleep.

*The Next Morning*

"We've pulled several fingerprints. They're being run through the system as we speak."

Jack, looking considerably calmer, cleared his throat.

"There was no blood or anything?"

"No, it looks as if the attacker drugged her, that's all. We think it might have been someone you convicted. An enemy."

Green burst into the room, "Fingerprints are Donald Kepler's."

Jack was on his feet instantly.

"I put him away for life!"

Green shook his head as he consulted the paper in his hands, "He escaped two days ago."

"And I never heard about it? *Why haven't they found him yet?*"

"Believe me, Jack, we're doing everything possible."

"It's not enough. He'll kill her, or worse."

Jack cringed inwardly, not again, not to Abbie.

"The guy was pretty terrible," Green agreed.

"He blamed me for digging up that witness. I could see he was watching Abbie. We were questioning him when he leaned over to her and said, "How about you and me discuss this alone." I nearly lost it. We left. I didn't let him near her after that. When they were taking him out of the courtroom he turned back to me and said, "You can't have your cake and eat it too." Then he looked at Abbie and walked out. Abbie wanted to know why he had said that and I told her I didn't know. I didn't think there was any way he would get out."

"By all rights he shouldn't have," Lennie said.

"I don't care what these people want to get back at me for but leave..."

Van Buren leaned forward.

"Jack, we know she's special to you."

"Obviously he did too."

"Jack?"

Jack turned around and looked at Lennie. In one hand he held a manila folder but his face held the real information.

"You've found something haven't you?"

"It came with your mail this morning."

"Show me."

"I don't know about this."

"*Show* me."

Briscoe handed him the packet and Jack pulled out the folder and opened it. There staring up at him was a picture of Abbie. She lay as if she had been pushed to the ground and then had twisted around to look up at the photographer. There was a look of pure terror in her eyes. Jack sat abruptly, unable to stand. The room filled with talking people but he didn't notice any of it. His eyes were glued to Abbie's face. It had to be just a bad dream. He would wake up in just a few minutes and Abbie would be here perfectly safe, tossing her head and just daring him to disagree with her.

"Do they know where it came from?" Jack nearly whispered.

"We're on it right now. He's just begging to be caught."

The next 24 hours held a flurry of activity for the police and another day of torture for Jack. He knew with every molecule of his body that every second that passed lessened the chance that they would find Abbie alive. He knew whenever they found something and so he was right there when they received the audiotape.

There was ragged breathing at first. Then a man's voice came on, "Speak to the recorder pretty lady. Say his name."

"Jack."

It was almost a sob.

"Come on!"

The harshness in the voice made everyone sit up straighter.

"No! No...no...OK, I'll talk. I'm OK, he hasn't hurt me."

"That's right my friend. I hope you're enjoying this because I certainly am."

There was nothing after that but silence. Briscoe had his hand firmly on Jack's shoulder, sensing that even that small act might lend him some support.

Only hours later they were once again abuzz. A messenger had come to the 2-7 with a package for Jack McCoy. While the messenger lead was being followed they found that the package held a videotape. Very clearly and deliberately it showed the street, building and number.

"You got that?" Jack asked.

"Got it."

Jack was out the door before the "it" was out and Lennie was two steps behind him.

When they arrived squad cars had already situated themselves. The police knocked down the door and rushed in. The all clear shout was given.

"We got a body!"

Without looking at Jack, Briscoe yelled back, "Man or woman?"

"Man."

He broke away from them and ran down the hall. His heart dropped to his stomach when he saw her tied to a chair. Her head was slouched to the side as if it were too heavy for her to hold. He stood frozen until he saw her chest rise and fall.

"Abbie?"

Abbie's head snapped up. It took two steps for him to get to her and free her hands. She untied the gag as he did the same to the rope around her ankles. As soon as she was able to stand she threw her arms around his neck and started to cry.

"Shh, you're OK, you're safe."

He stroked her hair and felt tears of relief slip down his cheeks. Briscoe spoke softly from the doorway.

"Let's blow this joint, Jack."

"Are you ready, Abbie?"

"Very," she replied huskily.

Still holding on to him tightly she allowed herself to be let out.

"I don't need an ambulance, Jack. I'm fine."

"Adam will have my head if you don't get checked out," he countered.

"To preserve your head, Jack, why don't you just go with her?" Lennie suggested. "We'll follow you."

Abbie looked at him imploringly, "Please?"

It was what Jack wanted in the first place but because she asked it made him feel better.

"Sure."

Lennie stuck around long enough to watch Abbie and then Jack climb into the back of the ambulance. As soon as Jack sat down Abbie promptly settled into his lap. Lennie smiled at the look of total relief and contentment that crossed Jack's face just before the door closed.

Abbie relaxed completely as she put her arms around Jack's chest. One of his arms was resting around her waist and his other hand was brushing her hair away from her face. As he talked to the EMT the rumble of his vocal cords against her forehead was slowly putting her to sleep. Vaguely she wondered what this must look like but seconds later she was asleep.

Jack felt as her breathing slowed. It was a good feeling to know she trusted him enough that she would fall asleep and make herself vulnerable while he held her. But did he really deserve it? How was he going to go on knowing his decisions were putting Abbie in constant danger? It wasn't the first time, true, but while she was missing he had finally let himself acknowledge that his feelings for her went far beyond anything he could have imagined.

True to his word Lennie was right there when the doors opened. Jack shook Abbie's shoulders lightly.

"Abbie, wake up. We're here."

"Hmm?" she murmured sleepily. "Oh!"

With a sheepish smile she disentangled herself from Jack and took Lennie's hand as he helped her down. Abbie hugged him as soon as she was on the ground.

"Thanks Lennie," she mumbled into his coat.

"Don't worry about it, Chickie. We're just glad to have you back."

Abbie followed the nurse into the emergency room leaving Lennie, the incoming Green, and Jack in the waiting room.

"I didn't think she was ever going to let you go, Jack."

"I wouldn't have minded. Might've gotten a little awkward after a while though."

Lennie chuckled. Jack was coming back.

"So, Lennie, what happened?"

"It looks like a drug overdose," Lennie answered.

"He knew, he *knew* that if I caught up with him he'd be in trouble."

"He left a note. He just wanted to scare you."

"He succeeded."

"So what now?" Lennie asked.

"I'm going to take your advice, Lennie. I'm going to tell her. No matter what happens."

And, he thought grimly to himself, no matter what choices I have to make.

The End

I don't know how I'd live without
seeing you every day.

There's just something in your voice
telling me you'll stay.

Please don't prove me wrong
when there's so much fear inside of me.