"I've got a job for you Mr. Hammond." said Desmond Krager, a tall man with thin, greying hair. "In that folder in front of you are details and photos of five people. I want them eliminated."
Hammond looked down at the folder sitting on the edge of the desk. He reached down to open it, clearly showing a tattoo on the palm of his hand. He spread the photos across the open folder and examined them, memorizing their faces. There were four men and one woman and all but one looked to be easy targets. Hammond smiled. "No problem." he said. "I'll let you know when it's done."

"Good you're all here." said Daniel as he walked into the Chicago facility's lab. "We've been given a new assignment. It seems there is a new chemical agent making the rounds and Newland wants us in to investigate and report on it."
"What kind of agent?" asked Edward.
"Something very similar to malacrinate." said Daniel.
Edward looked down at the table. He remembered only too well what effect the malacrinate had. Kim and Michael exchanged glances and Kim laid a gentle hand on Edward's arm. He looked up at her and smiled briefly. Daniel watched the interchange in silence before carrying on. "I've managed to acquire samples of the agent. Michael, Edward and I will go downtown to retrieve them. Kim, I want you and Brian to stay here and prepare the lab to start running tests."
"Will do." said Brian. He'd also seen the exchange of looks and wondered what malacrinate was and what it had to do with Edward.

The rendezvous to pick up the samples was in a poor section of the city. A few of the buildings were in reasonable condition, but most of the buildings were run down. The building they stopped at was no exception. It was an old hotel which had clearly seen better days. The outside was crumbling and worn and many of the windows were without glass. Outside a jumble of boxes and crates spilled onto the road, forcing them to park several yards away.
"Why here?" asked Edward as he looked up at the building.
"Let's just say our contact would prefer to avoid public places." said Daniel.
They got out and approached the building cautiously. "Our contact should be waiting for us in the lobby." said Daniel, as they went inside. Someone was indeed waiting for them, but it was not their contact. A man, almost hidden in the shadows by the stairs, fired at them. The shot went high, ricocheting off the wall above their heads. All three ducked giving the man enough time to make it to the door leading to the basement. Michael got off a quick shot but it was too late, the man had escaped. Glancing around to make sure there was no-one else, Michael approached the door which was wide open. He took a quick look through but there was nothing except the sound of running feet. Michael started down the stairs gun held at the ready, Edward and Daniel close behind. A few minutes later they reached the bottom, the sound of running still faintly audible. They entered the basement and made their way forward through an impressive array of tanks and pipes, some of which contained boiling hot water. After a few minutes Michael held up his hand and stopped. "This is not right." he said. "It's too much like we're being led."
"What do you want to do?" asked Daniel.
"Carry on, but slowly." said Michael. "I want to know what we're getting into before we get into it." He started forward again cautiously, the others close behind. The basement was now quiet, not a sound or movement anywhere. All three men had a deep feeling of uneasiness, heightened by the almost unnatural silence. They continued on for another hundred yards before Michael stopped them again. He had an itchy feeling between his shoulder blades and he didn't like it. He was looking around when his attention was caught by a tiny flashing light. Without hesitation he yelled, "Run!" Spinning on his heel, he pushed the other two ahead of him. They made about twenty yards before the bomb went off. The explosion was loud in the confines of the room and the blast caught the three men as they fled. Daniel and Michael were knocked off their feet but Edward managed to grab a pipe, an action he instantly regretted. The pipe he grabbed contained boiling hot water causing him to cry out in pain as his hands were seared on the burning hot metal. He jerked away from it, holding his arms tight against his chest and staggering back a few steps. Daniel, hearing his cry, was the first to get to him.
"What happened?" he asked.
"My hands!" said Edward, in anguish.
"Let me look." said Daniel gently. He took Edward's wrists and drew his hands down. Edward was tense and tight from the pain and the worry of what he would see. It was not good. His hands were raw and blistered from their contact with the hot metal. "We'd better get you to the van." said Daniel.
"And quickly." said Michael. "Whoever set that bomb is probably still around."
While Michael went ahead, Daniel guided Edward back through the basement. They made it back up the stairs without incident and almost made it back to the van, but just as they cleared the building they came under fire. They scattered seeking cover and in the confusion Edward got separated from the other two. While they went right towards the van, he headed left towards the crates. Realizing he was on his own he tried to rejoin the other two but was blocked by two gunmen. Seeing nothing else for it he turned and ran, heading up a nearby alley, the two men hot on his heels. He ran up the side of a large building and round a corner, straight into a dead end. He spun round, looking for a way out, knowing he couldn't go back the way he had come.
"Hey mister! Over here!" It was the voice of a boy but Edward couldn't see him.
"Where?" he asked.
A boy, no more than about twelve stepped seemingly out of nowhere. "Here." he said. "Hurry."
Edward ran over to the boy and saw a narrow gap in the wall of the building, hidden by a stanchion. The boy went through the gap and indicated that Edward should do the same. It was a tight squeeze but he made it, and not before time. Just as he disappeared from sight the two gunmen entered the alley. They came to an abrupt halt when they saw that it was empty.
"Where is he?" asked one, not thinking to go up the alley and investigate.
"I don't know." replied the other. "Looks like we've lost him. Come on, let's get back to the others."

Inside the building, which was in a virtual state of collapse, the boy was leading Edward through a maze of rubble. As they walked Edward was reminded of his childhood, much of which had been spent on the streets. Now it looked like he was returning to those same streets. He would have to go to ground until such time as the heat went off him. He just hoped the others were all right.
"Hey kid, what do they call you?" Edward asked, glancing over his shoulder to make sure they weren't being followed.
"Tommy." replied the boy.
"How did you come to be in here?" asked Edward.
"There was something strange going on in that building you were in, so I thought I'd stay and watch." answered Tommy.
"Good thing for me you did." said Edward.
Tommy looked back at him and smiled. "You looked like you could use some help." he said.
Edward smiled back at him. "Thank you." he said. "Where are you taking me?"
"I have a place." said Tommy. "You'll be safe there.

Michael sprinted for the van, Daniel close behind. Bullets peppered the ground behind them as they ran, but fortunately none of them hit. "Can you see them?" asked Daniel.
"They're over to the left." said Michael. He risked a glance around the side of the van ducking back as several shots came his way. He'd seen what he wanted though. He went forward into a rolling dive and came up shooting, killing two men on the other side of the street. He glanced around, looking for any other snipers. Not seeing any he rejoined Daniel.
"We've got a problem." said Daniel. "Edward is missing."
"Damn!" swore Michael. "Let's see if we can find him."
They checked around the front of the building, then moved off down an alley. They'd gone about halfway down it when two men appeared around a corner several hundred yards ahead of them. They immediately turned and ran. Fearing the worst, Michael moved cautiously up to the corner of the building and looked around. There was nothing there. Leaving Daniel to keep watch on the alley, he walked up the side of the building, eventually coming to the gap in the wall. He squeezed through and finding Edward's footprints, followed them to the other side of the building where he lost them. With no idea of where Edward might have gone, he returned to Daniel. "Looks like he's still alive but he could be anywhere." he said.
"There's nothing for it but to return to the lab." said Daniel. "I want you to put together a team to look for him."
"Whatever it takes, I'll find him." said Michael.

Tommy led Edward through a series of alleys before coming to another abandoned building. He led the way inside and up onto the first floor. From there they went down a corridor to a room at the end. Looking around, Edward could see piles of blankets all around the room, made up into beds. At the far end a young woman was kneeling by the side of a girl, placing a cool wet cloth on her forehead. Tommy looked at Edward then walked towards the woman. "Louise." he called. "I've brought someone."
Louise straightened from the girl and looked up at Tommy and Edward. She was pretty with mousey brown hair and pale grey eyes. She stood up with a warm smile and came to meet them. "Hello Tommy." she said. "Who's your friend?"
"Dr. Edward Marcase." said Edward.
"Doctor?" asked Louise. "A medical doctor?"
"Yes." said Edward.
Louise looked over her shoulder at the girl lying on the blankets, then back at Edward. "Would you mind having a look at Emily?" she asked. "She's very ill."
"Sure." said Edward. He followed Louise and Tommy over to where Emily lay. Kneeling by her side he laid the back of his hand against her cheek. She was hot with fever.
Louise, catching sight of Edward's hand exclaimed, "You're injured! What happened?"
"There was an explosion." said Edward. "I grabbed a hot water pipe."
Louise took his hands and examined them. "Tommy." she said. "I need a bowl of cold water. As cold as you can get it."
"Yes, Louise." said Tommy and disappeared at a run.

"Come and sit." Louise said, turning to Edward.
"What about Emily?" he asked.
"She's waited this long. A few more minutes aren't going to hurt." said Louise.
"She should be getting proper medical care." said Edward.
"Tell that to the authorities." said Louise bitterly. "There's a clinic just down the road, but they refuse to take anyone who can't pay. They say they don't have the space or the facilities, but that's just not true. It's owned by Reston Pharmaceuticals so no one will touch them."
"Reston?" asked Edward. "That big drug company?"
"That's the one." said Louise. "You'd think with all the millions they're making, they could afford to be charitable."
At that moment Tommy returned, carrying a large bowl of water. He set it down in front of Edward who gratefully put his hands into it. The cool water soothed the pain and the burning allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief. "It's not being charitable that made them all that money in the first place." said Edward.
"You're probably right." said Louise. "Now make sure you keep those hands in that water. Tommy." she said, turning to the boy. "I'm going to need strips of linen for bandages. Can you find me some?"
"I can get some." said Tommy. "Do you need anything else?"
"Edward will need some blankets and we'll need some extra food." said Louise.
"I won't be long." said Tommy, rising to leave.
Edward watched him go. "How did you know I would be needing somewhere to stay?" he asked, turning to Louise.
"The only people that come here are those in trouble." said Louise. "I take in all waifs and strays, no questions asked."
"Can I ask a question?" asked Edward.
"You can. I don't guarantee I'll answer it." said Louise.
"How did you come to be here?" asked Edward.
Louise looked at the floor for a moment then back at Edward. "I used to work in the nearby clinic. I couldn't stand to see the way these people were being treated, especially the children. I knew there were a bunch of kids living here so I joined them and started looking after them. That was three years ago."
"Kind of like my grandfather. He had a practice in Washington and he was always there to help the poor. Meant he never spent much time at home, so I used to run wild on the streets." said Edward. "I guess Tommy reminds me of myself at that age. That all stopped when my grandfather died."
"What happened to you after that?" asked Louise.
"I was sent to a boarding school." said Edward. "Not easy for a kid who'd grown up on the streets and in the wilds of Africa."
"Africa?" asked Louise surprised.
"My parents were doctors over there." said Edward. "They died from Ebola."
"I'm sorry." said Louise.
"Thanks." said Edward. Even after all this time he still felt their loss, especially at times like this when his childhood was brought so close to him.
"How are the hands?" asked Louise, tactfully changing the subject.
"Much better." said Edward.
"I think you should leave them in for another ten minutes or so." said Louise.
"Yes, ma'am." said Edward with a mischievous smile.
"Doctors." said Louise in disgust. "They make the worst patients."
Edward just laughed, he knew she was absolutely right. He hated being a patient, so much so that he never let on when he was unwell. It generally drove the rest of the team to distraction. Louise smiled in return and set about clearing a space for Edward to sleep. He watched her in silence, noticing for the first time how pretty she was. He frowned, thinking this was not the place for her but as he watched her pick up a worn teddy bear and smile gently, he began to change his mind. These children needed someone to look after them and in Louise they found someone who was gentle and caring yet strong-minded enough to do for them what she considered to be right. It was a shame there weren't more people like her.
Louise sighed and put the bear back down. Returning to Edward she said, "I think you could probably take your hands out of the water now." She found a towel and carefully dried off Edward's hands. "You really ought to get these seen to." she said." I know, but I can't." said Edward. "I think you deserve to know, I'm part of a medical response team that works for the Government. For reasons I can't explain there is a group of people trying to kill us. I can't risk getting medical treatment in case I'm found."
"No-one will find you here." said Louise. "I'll send Tommy out for something to put on your hands. Is there anything we can get for Emily?"
"I don't know." said Edward. He went to where Emily lay and examined her as best he could. While he was doing that, Tommy returned with some blankets and food.
"I'm afraid it's not much." said the boy.
"I'm sure it'll do just fine." Louise said warmly, taking them from him. "I'm going to need you to go out again."
"That's okay." said Tommy.
"Edward? What do you need?" asked Louise.
"What I really need is some antibiotics." said Edward.
"That shouldn't be a problem." said Louise. She laughed when Edward looked at her with raised eyebrows. "Reston have a big warehouse near here. I'm sure they can afford to 'contribute' to a worthy cause."
Edward smiled in return. The thought of liberating what they needed from someone who refused to help the poor appealed to him. "Do you have pencil and paper?" he asked.
"Right here." said Louise, producing some from a nearby pile of blankets. Edward gave her details of everything he needed, including salve for his hands. When he was done Louise gave the list to Tommy.
"Be careful." she admonished him.
"I will." said Tommy with a mischievous smile.
"Where do you get the blankets from?" asked Edward after Tommy had gone.
"There's a mission not far from here." said Louise. "They provide blankets, clothes and some food. For those that will take it anyway."
"At least the offer is there, which is more than a lot of people get." said Edward, thinking again of Africa.

Kim looked up as Daniel entered the lab. She took in his disheveled appearance and the cut above his eye and asked, "What happened?"
"It was a trap." said Daniel. "Someone planted a bomb and then backed it up with gunmen."
"Are Edward and Michael okay?" asked Kim.
"Michael is organizing extra security for this facility." said Daniel. He paused, looked at Kim then looked away, a muscle twitching along his jaw.
"Edward?" asked Kim softly with a sudden feeling of dread.
"Missing." said Daniel. "We got separated during the shooting."
"Edward's a street kid. He can take care of himself." said Michael calmly as he came into the room.
"Unless he finds someone to help him, he's not going to get very far with those hands." said Daniel.
"I think he already has help." said Michael. "There were a child's tracks alongside his in that building."
"What's wrong with his hands?" asked Brian.
"They were badly burned on a hot water pipe." said Daniel.
"How bad?" asked Kim, wondering if this could possibly get any worse.
"Second degree." said Daniel grimly. He hated telling Kim knowing how deeply she cared for Edward. He watched as she looked down at her hands clenched tightly on the edge of the bench and knew what was coming next.
"You left him out there?" demanded Kim. "With no means to defend himself?"
"He's not going to survive the streets with hands he can't use." said Brian.
"I'm aware of that." said Daniel in exasperation. "That's why we're going back out to look for him."
"Who said anything about 'we'?" asked Michael. "It would be better if you all stayed here until this has blown over. I know the streets as well as Edward. I'll find him and bring him back."
"Michael." began Daniel, but Michael cut him off.
"No." he said firmly. "It will make my job much easier if you stay here. That way, I know where you are."
"Make sure you stay in touch." said Daniel, giving in with bad grace.
"Will do." said Michael.
After he had gone Kim asked, "Who would want to do this?"
"My guess is the Dawn." said Daniel. "They're the only ones with reason enough to want to get rid of all of us."
"I hope Michael finds Edward before they do." said Brian sincerely. He and Edward didn't get on particularly well, but he had no wish to see the man killed.
"So do I." said Daniel.

Tommy returned with another, older boy in tow. "Got everything you wanted." he said handing Louise a large cardboard box. "I got Brad to help me."
"Thank you, both of you." said Louise. She took the box over to where Edward was sitting, near to Emily. Brad and Tommy followed. "I have what you need." she said.
"You'll have to administer the medication." said Edward. He'd decided on tablets, as they would be easier for Louise to give.
"You just tell me what I need to do." said Louise.
Edward quickly estimated Emily's weight and worked out the relevant dosage, telling Louise how much Emily needed. He watched as she gently lifted the girl and encouraged her to swallow the tablets, all the while talking quietly to her. He added his own words of encouragement when Emily had finished, brushing her cheek with the back of his hand. Louise admired the way he carefully avoided letting Emily see the burns and the gentle patience he showed despite the pain he must be in. She carefully laid Emily back down and turned to Edward. "It's time we did something with those hands." she said.
Leaving the boys to talk with Emily, Louise and Edward moved across to Edward's blankets, where under his instruction she carefully applied salve to his hands before bandaging them. "I feel so helpless." he said as he watched her. "You don't realize just how much you need your hands until you can't use them."
"It must be especially difficult being a doctor because your hands are your trade." said Louise.
"It is." said Edward bitterly. He felt angry and frustrated at not being able to do anything himself.
Seeing it Louise said gently, "They will heal in time."
Edward sighed. " I guess you're right." he said. "It doesn't make it any easier though."

Bryce, Hammond's second in command switched off his phone. "That was Dillon." he said. "The attack failed. Cassian and Hailey have returned to their base. Marcase, however, was not with them."
"Where is he?" asked Hammond.
"According to Dillon, Marcase ran. They lost him up an alley." said Bryce.
"Then he's at large somewhere on the streets." said Hammond. "Double the watch on their base. Marcase is not to be allowed to rejoin the others. Put the rest of the men out on the streets to look for him. I want him. Alive. We can use him to get to the others."
"It's done." said Bryce and left to give out instructions.

Michael took his team out onto the streets, separating them into pairs. He also got the police involved, handing out photos and warning them that Edward was injured. They covered a wide area during that afternoon and talked to many people, but no-one they spoke to had seen or heard anything. As evening drew on the teams started filtering back, none of them with anything to report. After the last team had come in, Michael called Daniel.
"Cassian." said the voice on the other end of the phone.
"Daniel, it's Michael. We've scoured the streets and we can't find him anywhere." said Michael. "He's gone to ground somewhere. At least we know the other side doesn't have him."
"How can you be so sure?" asked Daniel.
"The word on the street is that we're not the only ones looking for him." said Michael.
"It was too much to hope we'd find him straight away." said Daniel. "You'd better return to base. We'll start again in the morning."
"All right, but I don't like the idea of leaving him out here." said Michael.
"Neither do I," said Daniel. "but at the moment there's not much else we can do."

A few miles away, Bryce and Hammond were having a similar conversation. "He's gone to ground." said Bryce. "Neither our people or his can find him."
"Keep looking." said Hammond. "Someone somewhere knows where he is."
"Apparently he's been injured, so he's going to have to surface sooner or later." said Bryce.
"Make sure you're there when he does." said Hammond.
"What about offering a reward?" asked Bryce. "Some of these people would turn in their own mothers for money."
"Do whatever you have to." said Hammond.
"I'll be in touch." said Bryce, smiling.

By morning, Bryce still had nothing to report. He'd put out a bounty on Edward but nothing had been turned up so far. He knew that it would only be a matter of time though. Edward had suddenly become hot property, and everybody was out looking for him. It was just a question of who found him first.

Edward wearily rolled onto his back. He'd spent a restless and uncomfortable night, the pain from his hands keeping him awake. He'd spent most of his wakeful hours thinking about who might be behind this. They had made some enemies over the years but there was only one group who would go after them like this. It had to be the Dawn. He needed to find out if the rest of the team were all right and let them know he was alive. He had no way of getting out a message except by the children or Louise and he had no intention of putting them in danger. He sighed, frustrated. He didn't like not being in control nor did he like having to be dependent on other people. He shifted again trying to get comfortable and realized he should have thought to tell Tommy to get painkillers along with the medication for Emily. He looked across to where she lay and saw that she was looking less flushed and was breathing more easily. At least the anti-biotics were working. He looked away from her and over to his left, his attention caught by someone stirring. It was Louise. "Good morning." he said quietly.
"Good morning." said Louise sitting up. "You're looking tired. Hands keep you awake last night?"
"Yes." Edward admitted reluctantly as he also sat up. "I could do without this." he added bitterly.
"Let me get you a cool cloth." said Louise gently. "It will help ease the pain." She rose and left the room, returning a few minutes later with a bowl of water and a cloth. She carefully removed the bandages from Edward's hands, while he gritted his teeth against the pain. Several of the blisters had burst causing the bandages to stick in places, but Louise was able to gently pry them loose. She poured cool water over his hands before laying the wet cloth over them. He smiled in relief, the coolness feeling good.

Across town Daniel, Kim and Brian were just getting breakfast. Michael had already gone back out to look for Edward. "I don't like sitting around doing nothing, but with the building being watched there's not much else we can do." said Daniel as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
"How come the surveillance has been left?" asked Brian.
"Michael doesn't have the men to spare at the moment." said Daniel. "He's concentrating all his resources on finding Edward."
"I wonder how he is." said Kim. She tried not to show it, but she was deeply worried by Edward's predicament. Allan's death had been bad enough, she couldn't bear the thought of losing Edward too. Almost as if reading her mind, Daniel came over and laid a gentle hand on her arm.
"Michael will find him." he told her quietly. He just hoped it would be in time.
Kim looked up in grateful surprise. Daniel was not given to personal gestures which made this one all the more touching. "I'm sure he will." she said, smiling bravely.

Louise had just re-bandaged Edward's hands when Tommy came over and joined them. "Everyone on the streets is out looking for you." he said to Edward without preamble. "Those guys who shot at you are offering a reward, it's got all the street gangs jumping. The cops and those guys you were with are after you too."
"I can't stay here." he said to Louise. "I can't risk putting you and the children in danger."
"Nonsense." said Louise, touched by the concern in his eyes. "You have nowhere else to go."
"I'll find somewhere." said Edward.
"Edward, no-one knows you're here. If you try to leave now, they'll find you." said Louise.
"That's a chance I'll have to take." said Edward stubbornly.
Louise sighed in frustration. She didn't want to have to do this but Edward was giving her no choice. As much as she admired his selflessness, his stubbornness was maddening. "Just how far do you think you'll get with those hands?" she demanded. "Whether you like it or not, you need us."
"I'll manage." he said defiantly.
Louise frowned, angry despite herself. Working with Edward was like working with a recalcitrant child. "So you're just going to abandon us?" she stated angrily. "What about Emily? She still needs your help."
"That's not fair." said Edward, stung by her tone.
"No, it's not." said Louise. "But it's the only way to get you to listen. You really don't have much choice in the matter and besides, you're quite safe here." Unfortunately, she couldn't have been more wrong.

"Your old man owns all of THIS?" asked Frank Matthews incredulously, as he walked through the mansion.
"Yes." said Paul Reston shortly. Youngest son of Philip Reston, the man behind Reston Pharmaceuticals, Paul was not impressed with his father's wealth and power. "My father cares nothing for me." he said. "All he's interested in is his empire. That's why I joined the street gangs, I found a better family there."
"Then what are we doing here?" asked Matthews.
"I need to use my father's computers." said Reston, heading for his father's study. "I want to find out everything I can about Edward Marcase. If I can find out what makes him so valuable, we can use him as a bargaining piece when we find him."
"Can you get in to your father's computers?" asked Matthews.
Reston gave him a withering look. "I broke the codes months ago. Always thought it might come in useful one day." He sat down at the desk and began to type rapidly.
"What if your parents come back?" asked Matthews nervously.
"Don't worry about it, they're both going to be out for hours." replied Reston absently. He quickly found out that getting what he wanted wasn't going to be easy, but he was skilled when it came to breaking codes and it wasn't long before he had what he wanted. "It would seem our missing doctor works for the Government." he said triumphantly. "They should pay a great deal to get him back."
"If we can find him." said Matthews pessimistically.
"Someone stole drugs from my father's warehouse." said Reston. "Find them and we find Marcase."

"Another dead-end." said Michael to Jefferson, his partner for the day. They'd been combing the streets since very early in the morning and had turned up nothing. He'd learned of the offer of a reward for Edward's capture and was unhappy about it, but at least the Dawn wanted him alive. "Why don't we get a cup of coffee?" he asked, turning to Jefferson. His partner was standing a few feet away with a startled expression on his face and his hand held to his chest. Jefferson took his hand away and looked at it, bewildered. Both his hand and his chest were covered with blood. Very slowly his knees buckled and he dropped to the ground, dead. Michael didn't hesitate. He sprinted for a nearby doorway as a bullet passed through the space he had just left. A second bullet tugged at his shirt sleeve just as he ducked into the doorway. He tried the door, knowing that he wasn't in a good position but it was locked. Before he could shoot the lock off, he was forced to duck as a bullet came close to him in a screaming ricochet off the opposite wall. He shot the lock and lunged for the inside as a hail of bullets turned the doorway into a deathtrap. He didn't stop until he was well away from the door, only then did he breathe a sigh of relief. That had been too close. He looked around, orienting himself as he got on the commlink to his men. He appeared to be in the storeroom of a shop. "One to team." he said as he made his way toward a door which looked like it might lead to the front of the shop. "I've come under fire. Jefferson is dead but I'm okay. The other side have upped the stakes, so be careful. One out." He carefully opened the door and looked out. Everything seemed quiet and normal. He left the storeroom and purposefully strode across the shop, nodding to the shopkeeper as he went past. The man stared at him open-mouthed but before he could say anything, Michael had gone.

Bryce turned to Hammond. "We've been searching all morning and still no sign of Marcase. Wherever he is, he's dug in." he said.
"In that case forget about him for the moment, we'll deal with the others first." said Hammond. "Recall all but a few of your men. I want everyone in position to storm the lab at 3pm."
"What about Hailey?" asked Bryce. "He could give us some trouble."
"We need a diversion." said Hammond. "Something to occupy his attention while we make the attack."
"Why not blow that hotel where we ambushed them yesterday?" asked Bryce. "He'll think we've taken out Marcase."
"Good idea." said Hammond. "I'll leave you to make the arrangements."

Reston got out of the van and stood waiting as the rest of his gang assembled around him. There were a dozen of them all together, all in their early twenties and they were all armed. Most had bats or clubs but several had knives including Reston who also had a gun. He turned to Matthews who was holding a young boy tightly by the collar. "You're sure this is the place?" he asked menacingly.
"Yes." said Brad fearfully. "He's on the first floor, last room on the right."
"You better be telling the truth, kid." said Reston. "Now go on, get." He nodded to Matthews who released the boy. Brad took one frightened look at the building then ran for it. Reston watched him for a moment, then dismissed him from his mind. "Matthews, I want you, Peters, Boden, Riles, Hardy and Lowry to come with me. The rest of you spread out and keep watch." Without further ado, he took his men into the building and they quietly made their way up to the first floor. As they started down the corridor, they could see that the door at the end was open. Reston checked the others to be sure they were ready and, gun in hand, burst into the room.

Edward paced restlessly across the room, nagged by a feeling that something was wrong. He, Louise and Emily were alone, the rest of the children having gone out for the day. Everything seemed to be okay and yet the feeling persisted. Unsure whether he'd heard a noise, he decided to check outside, but before he could move Reston and his gang burst in. Edward took one look at the weaponry and knew he was in trouble. The gang spread out in front of the door as Reston came forward into the room, a triumphant smile on his face. He locked eyes with Edward, recognizing trouble when he saw it and a long moment passed while they stared each other down. It was Reston who looked away first. He flicked his gaze to Louise who had crossed the room to stand next to Edward. "So." he said, looking back at Edward. "You're the one half the city is looking for. What makes you so special?"
Careful of his hands, Edward crossed his arms over his chest. "Guess I'm just popular." he said defiantly.
"Think you're clever, don't you?" sneered Reston. "Well, we'll see how clever you are when we get you back to our base." Turning to his men he said, "Take them to the van."
"What about the kid?" asked one of the gang who had noticed Emily.
Reston just shrugged. "Leave her." he said. "She's not important."

Michael turned at the sound of running feet, his hand moving to the gun holstered at his waistband. A young man, reasonably dresses and in his early twenties, stopped just short of him.
"Are you Michael Hailey?" asked the man.
"I am." replied Michael.
"This is for you." said the man, shoving a piece of paper into Michael's hand. Before Michael could do more than glance at the paper, the man took off at a run.
"Hey!" yelled Prescott, who was standing to Michael's left.
"Prescott!" said Michael, as Prescott started after the man. "He's just a messenger, leave him." He unfolded the paper in his hand and read the brief message. It said, 'The Lincoln Hotel. Hurry.' It was signed 'Edward' and the handwriting appeared to be Edward's untidy scrawl.
"The Lincoln." mused Michael. "Isn't that where we were shot at yesterday?"
"Yes sir, it is." said Prescott.
"That's only two streets away. Come on." Michael set off at a run, relaying instructions into his commlink as he went. As they came within sight of the hotel they slowed to a walk, approaching warily. Both men checked for signs of a trap but neither could see anything. As they came within a hundred yards of the hotel there was an ominous rumble which swelled in volume as dust and debris shot out of the windows and the main entrance. Michael and Prescott threw themselves to the ground as a shower of rubble rained down on them. The devastation continued for several long minutes before gradually dying down. All that was left of the hotel was the front wall, the rest of the building having collapsed in on itself. Michael slowly picked himself up off the floor, stunned by what he saw. Behind him, Prescott began moving towards the wreckage. "Forget it." said Michael. "Nobody could have lived through that." Grief hit him like a hammer blow, leaving him bewildered. For the first time in his life he felt unable to respond to a situation. Prescott laid an awkward hand on his shoulder, not sure what to say. "I can't believe Edward is dead." said Michael as he struggled with his inner turmoil, unsure what to do next.
"He's not dead, he's alive. I can take you to him." said Tommy, coming up to the two men. He'd spotted Michael as he was making his way back home, recognizing him as one of the two men with Edward the previous day. He had been about to go to him when the building went up.
"What?" asked Michael. "What did you say?"
"Your friend is alive. I can take you to him." said Tommy.
Michael hesitated, wondering if this was another false lead. Then he remembered the child's tracks that had been with Edward's when he had disappeared the previous day. "You are the one who helped him yesterday?" asked Michael.
"Yes." said Tommy. "Come on, I'll show you where he is."
Michael and Prescott looked at each other, each seeing the hope in the others eyes. "What have we got to lose?" asked Prescott.
"Our lives." said Michael grimly as he set off after Tommy.

Edward stumbled as he was shoved out of the van. He glared at Lowry who had pushed him, his temper starting to get the better of him. Lowry sneered back at him, daring him to do something. Matthews, sensing trouble, stepped between them. "Get going." He said roughly, pushing Edward in the direction of a nearby building. Edward frowned angrily but did as he was told. They entered the building and made their way up to a room on the second floor. Riles and Hardy moved in on Edward and each took an arm, holding him firmly between them. Edward tensed ready to fight, but the sight of Louise being held at the other side of the room stopped him. He took a deep breath, trying to keep his temper in check as Reston came up to him.
"All right, Marcase." Reston said. "Why is everyone after you?"
"I already told you." said Edward, his voice deceptively calm.
Reston back-handed him across the face. "No more games, Marcase!" he snapped. "Just answer the question."
Edward quivered with barely suppressed rage. "I don't know." he said from between clenched teeth.
Reston hit him again, harder this time. Tired and in pain, Edward's temper snapped and he reacted without thinking. He kicked Reston in the stomach. Reston staggered backwards, clutching his stomach. He collapsed to his hands and knees, coughing and retching. Riles and Hardy slammed Edward up against a wall, Riles pulling a knife on him. "No!" yelled Reston. "He's mine!" He slowly got to his feet and advanced on Edward, one hand clutching his stomach the other pulling out a knife. He flicked the knife open as he closed on Edward. "You're going to pay for that." he said savagely. "And when you're through paying, you're going to tell me what I want to know."

"I'm sorry sir, no-one is allowed to leave. Mr. Hailey's orders" said Peterson, who was in charge in Michael's absence.
"I'm over-riding Mr. Hailey's orders." said Daniel stonily.
"Sorry sir." said Peterson blandly. "I only take orders from Mr. Hailey."
"Now look." began Daniel but Peterson interrupted him.
"There is nothing you can say that will do any good, sir." said Peterson. "I have my orders and I intend to obey them. With force if necessary." he added meaningfully.
Daniel returned to the lab looking like thunder and muttering imprecations under his breath. Brian and Kim had taken one look at him and decided that he was best left alone. "I'm glad it's not me he's angry at." said Brian, watching Daniel from a safe distance.
"Me too." said Kim. "I don't think I've ever seen him quite this angry."
"Truly a sight to behold." said Brian with a smile.
Kim smiled despite herself. "You better hope he doesn't hear you." she said.
"Oh, I heard." said Daniel stonily. "I just didn't choose to reply."
Brian just grinned, which darkened Daniel's expression even more. Before he could make a reply Peterson came into the lab. "I'm afraid we have to leave." he said calmly and quietly. "The Dawn have just made their attack. I expect them to overrun the facility within 15 minutes."
"That doesn't give us a lot of time." said Daniel.
"No sir, it doesn't." said Peterson. "We can use the tunnels to make our escape. If you would follow me, please." he said as turned and left the way he had come. The three doctors exchanged looks, before hurrying to follow. Just down the corridor from the lab was a door leading off to the left. Several of Peterson's men were already there, waiting. Without a word, one of them opened the door and went inside, closely followed by the man behind him. Peterson went next, followed by Daniel, Brian and Kim. The rest of his men brought up the rear, the last man closing and bolting the door behind him. They entered a dimly lit passageway which led into a series of tunnels beneath the building. They hadn't gone far into the tunnels when they were attacked. Peterson brought everyone to a stop as the crackle of gunfire sounded from up ahead. He ordered two of his men to join the fight and was about to lead the others down a side passage when it was suddenly filled with armed raiders coming the other way. Peterson's men got off a few shots before the raiders charged but it was not enough to do any real damage. The three doctors were shoved up against a wall as the two sides came together in hand to hand combat.

Michael followed Tommy into the room, closely followed by Prescott. He quickly scanned the room and saw nothing except a child lying on blankets at the far side of the room and crying. "Emily!" said Tommy anxiously. He tried to go to her but Michael stopped him.
"Something's not right." said Michael quietly. "Check the rest of the building, we'll see to the girl." Prescott nodded and left as Michael and Tommy went over to where Emily lay.
"Emily?" asked Tommy, as he knelt beside her. "What happened?"
"They took Edward and Louise." said Emily tearfully.
"Who took them?" asked Tommy.
"Some men." said Emily.
Tommy looked at Michael, unsure how to continue. Michael smiled encouragingly and said, "Emily. I need you to think very hard. Is there anything about these men that you can remember?" Emily shook her head, no. "Was there anything about their faces or their hands?" asked Michael gently. "Or the clothes they were wearing?"
Emily shook her head again, timidly. "I don't remember." she said in a small voice.
"It's all right Emily." said Michael. "Don't worry about it." He was about to add something else when a commotion outside the room brought him to his feet. Indicating that Tommy should stay where he was, he started heading for the door. At that moment Prescott came into the room dragging a reluctant Brad in with him.
"Brad!" exclaimed Tommy. "What's going on?"
"Found him hiding in one of the rooms." said Prescott. "Keeps saying they made him do it."
"Brad." said Michael gently. "It's very important that you tell us. Who was it and what did they make you do?"
Brad looked from Michael to Tommy and back again, tears in his eyes. "It was Reston and his gang." he said finally. "They made me bring them here. They took Louise."
"And Edward?" asked Michael.
"Him too." said Brad sullenly.
"Do you know where he hangs out?" Michael asked, turning to Tommy.
"I'll take you." said Tommy.
"No." said Michael. "It's too dangerous. Just tell me where I can find him."

"Base to one. Come in one." a voice said across Michael's commlink.
"One here, go ahead." Michael responded.
"We're under heavy attack. We could use some reinforcements." said Collins, Peterson's radio man.
Michael swore. There was nothing for it but to take his men back to the lab, which meant leaving Edward to an uncertain fate at the hands of the gang. "We're on our way." he said reluctantly.
Almost as if he had read Michael's mind, Prescott said, "Why don't I go after Dr. Marcase while you deal with the Dawn?"
Michael considered a moment before replying. "All right, but I don't want you to do anything unless you feel that his life is in danger. Stake the place out and wait for backup."
"Go it." said Prescott.

"Let's get out of here!" Daniel said to Brian and Kim. All three were standing by the tunnel wall, watching as the fighting raged all around them. He started forward and immediately found himself face to face with one of the raiders. The raider didn't hesitate. He rushed Daniel and pushed him up the side passage, trying to get a strangle hold on him. Daniel staggered backwards, grabbing the man's hands in an effort to keep them away from his neck. He lost his footing as the raider pushed and both men went down in a tangled heap. Daniel was momentarily stunned as the raider landed on top of him, giving the man a chance to free one of his hands. He reached to his side and withdrew a handgun from a holster, pointing it at Daniel. Daniel shook his head and started in surprise as he found himself looking up the barrel of the gun. He grabbed the raider's wrist and pushed it sideways just as the gun went off. There was a blinding flash of light and a sudden searing pain across his eyes then everything went dark. He cried out, releasing the raider to cover his eyes with his hands. The raider paused a moment, looking at his now-helpless victim before lining up the gun once more.

Kim turned as some instinct made her look to her right and was just in time to see a raider coming at her with a knife. She reacted without thinking, kicking the guy in the stomach. He collapsed to his knees coughing and gasping but still holding on to the knife. Kim hit him again at the base of the neck, knocking him out. As she straightened, rubbing her hand, a moan caught her attention. She looked around and saw one of Peterson's men lying against the far wall clutching his side. She picked up the knife from the fallen raider and made her way over to the injured man. He was young, in his mid-twenties with wavy blond hair and grey eyes filled with pain. Kim gently lifted his hand away from his side and saw the hole where he'd been shot. It looked to be more messy than dangerous but there was no way to tell for sure. She looked around for something to plug the wound and spotted a dead raider a few feet away. Hesitating only a moment, she went to the body and cut strips of cloth from his shirt which she then used as bandages. When she was done, she looked around and was just in time to see Brian get shot.

Brian watched the fight raging around him, his heart pounding. Being in the line of fire frightened him and yet in some strange way, it was also exhilarating. He glanced at Daniel and saw him moving away. He turned to follow but at that moment Daniel was attacked. Brian tried to go to him but was blocked by a man with a gun. He froze, his eyes locked with the gunman's. The man smiled and was about to pull the trigger when he suddenly staggered, the gun flying from his hand as he was shot from behind. Brian caught the gun just as the man collapsed to the ground. There was no sign of who shot him.
"Oh man, I hate guns!" Brian said in a aggrieved voice. He put it to good use though as a pair of fighting men came close to him, using it to club the raider unconscious. Peterson's man nodded to him in appreciation before going off to help someone else. A shot from the side passage reminded him of Daniel and he hurried to the entrance, just in time to see a gunman preparing to shoot Daniel. Without hesitation Brian raised his gun and fired, praying the shot would fly true. The raider stiffened then slowly toppled sideways, allowing Daniel to roll onto his side. Brian lowered the gun in relief, unaware that behind him someone was lining a gun on him. Just as the raider pulled the trigger, he was struck from the side disrupting his aim. The bullet struck Brian in the leg, dropping him where he stood. Peterson shot the gunman before he could take aim on Brian again.

Brian collapsed to the ground clutching his leg. Behind him he could Daniel moaning softly, "My eyes, my eyes." Brian swore vehemently, then started crawling towards Daniel but he was beaten to it by Kim. She took in the scene in one quick look and realized what must have happened.
"Daniel, it's Kim." she said. "Let me have a look." She took his hands in her own and moved them away from his face, drawing in a sharp breath as she saw the powder burns around his eyes. The flash as the gun discharged had seared the skin causing his eyes to swell shut. There was no way to tell at this stage whether there had been any damage to the eye itself.
"How bad is it?" asked Daniel shakily.
"There are extensive burns around your eyes." replied Kim. "I can't tell in this light how bad." she said, hoping he wouldn't ask her for a more direct answer. Unable to do anything for the moment, she glanced across at Brian. "Daniel, Brian is hurt. I need to go to him. Will you be all right here for a few minutes?"
"I'll be fine." he said, trying not to sound as frightened as he felt. The sudden loss of his sight had shaken him badly, leaving him feeling helpless and vulnerable. It was not a position he liked.
Kim squeezed his shoulder as she rose to her feet. "I'll be right back." she said.

Brian meanwhile had torn strips off his shirt, which he used to roughly bandage his leg. His hands shook so much he could hardly tie the knots. Just as he was finishing off, he was joined by Peterson. "We've beaten back our attackers but we've taken heavy casualties. I've sent one of my men back to the lab so see what the situation is there. If the coast is clear we can return and treat the wounded."
"The sooner the better." said Brian grimly as Kim came and knelt beside him. "How is he?" he asked her in a soft voice, referring to Daniel.
"He's got burns around the eyes, from the gun blast." she replied. "He needs immediate treatment. How soon before we get back to the lab?" she asked, looking at Peterson.
"As soon as my men say it's safe." Peterson replied.

Edward floated in darkness, reluctant to surface. He felt safe here, away from the hurt and the pain but it didn't last. An insistent voice kept tugging at his consciousness, drawing him back to grim reality. He stirred, moaning as waves of pain and nausea hit him. "Edward." said Louise gently as he stirred restlessly. His eyelids fluttered open as he slowly regained consciousness, his eyes glazed and unfocused. "Edward." Louise said again, more firmly this time. He looked at her, taking several seconds before he finally recognized her.
"Louise?" he asked hoarsely, before breaking off into a fit of coughing. He rolled onto his side, arms tight across his chest in pain. Louise held onto him gently, all the while talking to him. "It's all right, Edward." she said. "Take it easy, don't fight it." The coughing lasted several minutes before finally easing, leaving him feeling dizzy and sick. Breath coming in ragged gasps he shifted onto his back again, finding it easier to breathe. Louise could see the despair in his grey eyes and her heart went out to him. "Hey." she said gently. "You're not giving up on me are you?"
He closed his eyes momentarily, then looked at her. "You saw what they did to my hands." said Edward with tears in his eyes. Reston had realized that Edward's hands were his one real weakness and had taken great delight in using that to his advantage. "What good is a doctor without hands?" He looked away from Louise, bleak hopelessness in his voice.
Louise gently took one of his hands in her own. It was badly swollen and covered in blood. "It's not your hands that make you a good doctor." she said. "It's what's in your heart. And as you've already proved, you have a very good heart."
Edward looked back at her, tears mingling with the blood on his face. "I can't do this anymore." he said bitterly. "First I lose everybody close to me and now this. Where does it all end?"
"You think it will end because you've given up?" asked Louise. "Whatever war you're fighting will still be there. People will still get sick and die, but by being there you can make a difference. Even if you only save one child, that's one less life that is lost. And who knows, that child could grow up to be the savior of the human race. But that will never happen if you aren't there."
"That's not fair." he said weakly. The beating he had taken was beginning to tell on him and he was starting to black out again.
"Edward." said Louise, concern in her voice. "Edward, talk to me." He mumbled an unintelligible response before passing out completely. Louise bowed her head, tears running down her cheeks as she quietly cried.

Michael moved his men and the local police into position. The Dawn's foot-soldiers were hitting the lab hard, it wasn't going to be long before it fell into their hands. As soon as his men were ready he gave the signal to fire. Caught in a devastating barrage from front and back, the Dawn's men were soon decimated. A few tried to make a run for it but were quickly rounded up by the police. Anxious for news of Daniel and the others, Michael made his way into the building. "Franklyn." he said, stopping one of his men. "Where can I find Peterson?"
"He took the doctors into the escape tunnels, but they've been attacked." replied Franklyn. "Owens is organizing a rescue, I was just on my way."
"Lets go." said Michael. He and Franklyn hurried to the tunnels and joined the men gathering there. "What's the situation" Michael asked, coming up to Owens.
"Our people were surprised by the Dawn. They're taking heavy casualties." replied Owens.
"Lets hope we're in time." said Michael grimly. Gun in hand, he led the way into the tunnels. Within minutes, they came upon two of Peterson's men coming the other way.
"Mr. Hailey." said McCullam, relieved. "It's good to see you. If you'd like to follow us we'll take you to Peterson and the others."

Kim turned as one of Peterson's men said quietly, "We've got company." Weapons at the ready, everybody spent a tense few moments waiting to see who was coming. A sigh of relief went through the group as Michael appeared with the rescue party. He came straight over to where Kim was standing.
"I'm glad to see you're all right." he said. "How are the others?"
"Brian's been shot, but he'll be okay." replied Kim. "It's Daniel I'm worried about. He's been blinded by a gun blast and needs immediate hospital treatment."
A chill went through Michael. "Permanent?" he asked.
"There's no way to tell at this stage." said Kim.
"I'll make the arrangements." said Michael. "Kim, if you can be spared I need you to come with me."
"Edward?" asked Kim, concerned.
"He's been taken by one of the street gangs." said Michael. "They have a pretty bad reputation."
"I'll need to get some things from the lab." said Kim
"We'll pick up some men on the way." said Michael.

"Why are you doing this?" asked Nielson. He and his men were standing outside of the building where Reston's gang hung out.
"I want the reward money for myself." said Lowry. "I don't see why I should share it with the rest of the gang."
"Good enough, I suppose." said Nielson. "Where is Dr. Marcase?"
"Second floor." said Lowry.
"I'll need to make sure you're telling the truth before I pay you." said Nielson.
"I'm not lying." said Lowry defensively.
"Good. Then you have nothing to worry about." said Nielson.
"If Reston finds out I sold out, he'll kill me." said Lowry.
"That's your problem." said Nielson dismissively. "Pascal, gather the men. We're going in."
Pascal and half a dozen of the Dawn's foot soldiers followed Nielson in the direction of the building. Lowry stood and watched them, anxiously trying to decide what to do. Not far away, someone else was watching too.  "Prescott to Hailey. Come in." said Prescott.
"Hailey here." said Michael. "What's the problem?"
"The Dawn have arrived." said Prescott. "There are eight men and they are entering the building where Dr. Marcase is being kept."
"We are ten minutes away from your position." said Michael. "Stay where you are, don't try and follow them into the building."
"Ten minutes could be too late." said Prescott.
"That's a chance we'll have to take." said Michael. "You won't help him by getting yourself killed."
Prescott sighed, frustrated. "Understood." he said in resignation. "I'll be here when you arrive." He closed off the commlink and swore, not liking having to wait. He stood debating whether or not to disobey orders and had just made up his mind to go in when Michael and the others arrived. "That's the building. "he said, indicating an apartment block ahead of them. "The kids reckon Reston is on the second floor."
"Right." said Michael. He quickly organized his team and took them in. They took out a guard on the ground floor, but not before he had a chance to get off a warning to the others. The two sides came together on the first floor and began to exchange fire. Realizing the Dawn had them pretty well pinned down, Michael took a few of his men and went up the fire escape. It didn't take them long to find the room where the gang was being held, but there was no sign of Edward. "Collins, take the guard." said Michael quietly. As Collins shot the guard, Michael and the rest of the team went in. "Franklyn, watch the gang." said Michael. "Collins, take the rest of the men and round up the Dawn. You," he said, pointing at one of the gang, "Where's Marcase?" Before the man could reply, a shot rang out from a room to Michael's right. He sprinted across to the door which was open just enough to allow him to see two pairs of legs on the floor. He kicked the door open and went through in a rolling dive, gun at the ready.

Louise stood looking at the door, listening to the commotion on the other side. Hope rose within her at the thought that it might be a rescue. She glanced behind as Edward stirred restlessly. He'd been unconscious for the last hour and she was deeply worried for him. A sudden silence from the outer room brought her attention back to the door. A moment later it opened and Nielson walked in. Louise looked at the gun pointing steadily at her and her heart sank. "Are you going to kill him?" she asked sadly.
"What do you think?" asked Nielson nastily.
"Why the reward for his capture if all you want is his death?" asked Louise, playing for time.
"We have to make sure he really is dead." said Nielson impatiently. "Now get out of the way and stop asking questions." He took a step forward then stopped as the sound of gunfire came into the room.
"Looks like you're too late." said Louise triumphantly
"They won't get here in time to save you." said Nielson.
"Maybe not." said Louise. "But at least they'll stop you."
"They could never stop us." said Nielson. "They have no idea what they're dealing with."
"Do you?" asked Louise.
The question took Nielson by surprise. It was not something he'd ever considered before. He hesitated a moment before replying and in that moment there was the sound of breaking glass followed by a shot from the outer room. Nielson looked at the door, giving Louise the opportunity she needed. She lunged forward, grabbing his hand and trying to get the gun. Louise hung on desperately as they wrestled for the gun and in the ensuing battle it went off. Nielson staggered, a surprised look on his face. Louise backed away from him as his knees buckled and he collapsed onto the floor. As she stood looking at him in shock, the door was kicked open and a man entered in a rolling dive.

Michael took in the situation as he came to his knees. Seeing that Nielson was no longer going to be a problem, he lowered his gun. "It's all right." he said to Louise. "I'm here to rescue you. Although," he added with a smile, "you seem to have done a good job on your own."
"Rescue?" asked Louise as she desperately tried to pull herself together. "I'm glad to see you." she said, breathing a sigh of relief. "We need an ambulance right away. My friend has been badly hurt."
Michael went and knelt next to Edward, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I'll soon have you out of here." he said quietly. He looked at Louise and was just about to speak when a voice came over the commlink.
"The Dawn are secured." said Collins.
"Good." said Michael. "Send Dr. Shiroma up, we need her."

Kim waited restlessly on the ground floor as the fighting went on above. She looked anxiously at the stairs as everything suddenly went silent. There was a long moment before Owens turned to her. "We can go up now. The fighting's over." he said. Sighing in relief, Kim picked up her medical bag and followed Owens up the stairs. They passed through the room where the gang and the remainder of the Dawn's men were being held and entered a room at the back. She stopped dead as she got her first look at Edward. A chill went down her back as she looked at his cut and bruised face and his badly swollen hands.
"What happened?" she asked as she went over and knelt beside him.
"The gang gave him a severe beating for not answering their questions." replied Louise.
"He's always been too stubborn for his own good." said Michael as he came and knelt behind Edward's head.
Kim took one of Edward's hands in her own and gently began to probe with her fingers. Edward stirred, crying out in pain and Kim had to let go his of his hand as he pulled away from her. He struggled to regain consciousness as she spoke reassuringly to him. "It's all right Edward. You're safe now."
"No." he said weakly. His breath came in short gasps as he grew distressed and they were forced to hold him down as he began to struggle.
"Edward!" said Louise urgently. "Edward, it's Louise. Listen to me. These are your friends, they're not here to hurt you."
Too exhausted to fight, he gave up and lay trembling, eyes closed as his friends spoke reassuringly to him. Kim was concerned at the difficulty he was having breathing, but she didn't want to rush him. "Edward." she said finally, unable to wait any longer. "I need to examine your chest. I'm afraid it's going to hurt."
Edward looked at her, his eyes haunted. "Do what you have to." he said shakily.
Kim took a pair of scissors from her bag and cut his shirt up the middle. She drew in a sharp breath as she saw the heavy bruising across his chest and abdomen. Reluctant to hurt him again, she hesitated before gently probing down his chest. He gasped and flinched as she found broken ribs, causing her to jerk her hands away. "I'm sorry." she stammered, upset at causing him pain. She had to take a deep breath to calm herself before carrying on. Hands shaking, she felt down his abdomen, gritting her teeth every time he made a sound. Finally it was over. She sat back, sighing in relief.
"How bad is it?" asked Michael.
"Broken ribs and possible internal injuries." said Kim. "We need to get him to a hospital right away."
"What about my hands?" asked Edward groggily, as he desperately fought to remain conscious.
"From what I could tell, several of the bones are broken." replied Kim. "I'll know more when they've been x-rayed."
Edward frowned, sure she wasn't telling him everything. "Kim." he said softly.
"Yes, Edward." Kim replied. He tried to speak but exhaustion got the better of him and he passed out.
"What didn't you tell him?" asked Michael, equally aware that Kim had held something back.
"I don't know for certain, but it's my guess that he will need re-constructive surgery on his hands." said Kim reluctantly. "I wish McCaffrey was here."
"Who?" asked Michael.
"Philip McCaffrey." replied Kim. "He's an expert in re-constructive surgery. He's pioneered some amazing new techniques, including completely rebuilding someone's hand." She shook her head sadly. "Unfortunately, he's in Washington."
"I'll have him here by morning." said Michael.

"McCaffrey." said Philip McCaffrey into the phone as he relaxed with a cup of coffee.
"Phil, it's John." replied John Dunbar, research director at the City General Hospital, where McCaffrey was based. "I'm afraid you're going to be taking an unscheduled trip to Chicago, tonight."
"Tonight?" asked McCaffrey incredulously. "What's going on?"
"A high-level request for your services." said Dunbar. "Apparently a Dr. Marcase needs re-constructive surgery on his hands."
"Marcase? The virologist?" asked McCaffrey. "How did it happen?"
"The same."" said Dunbar. "Apparently he got on the wrong side of a street gang. Obviously you've heard of him."
"He made quite an impression on a friend of mine out in Zaire." said McCaffrey
"He's certainly made an impression somewhere." said Dunbar. "You're booked on the next flight out of here."
"Hmmm." mused McCaffrey, intrigued despite himself. "Must be pretty bad if they want me. I wonder if we're looking at a complete rebuild here. Did you say both hands?"
"I did." said Dunbar. "Get whatever you need, you're plane leaves in an hour."
"I'll need Hartley." said McCaffrey.
"If you must." said Dunbar. "I'd rather you didn't though."
"Sorry." said McCaffrey. "I don't know what I'm going to be faced with. I need someone who knows the procedures inside out."
Dunbar sighed in resignation. "Take him with my blessing." he said. "Call me when you get there."
"Sure and thanks." said McCaffrey.

"Dr. McCaffrey, I'm glad you could come." said Kim in relief.
"I didn't have much choice." replied McCaffrey. "You people have some very high connections."
"I apologize for that," said Kim. "but it was necessary. It is essential that Dr. Marcase regain the use of his hands and you're the best there is."
"Well, thank you." said McCaffrey, pleased by the compliment. "Can you tell me more about what happened?"
"Dr. Marcase was captured by a street gang." said Kim. "They were pretty rough on him. Most of the bones in his hands are broken. "She paused and looked at McCaffrey. "I know you've rebuilt someone's hand before, that's why I asked for you."
"I can't guarantee anything." said McCaffrey. "But I will do the best I can."
"That's all I can ask for." said Kim. "Thank you."

"The gang certainly did a good job." said McCaffrey as he looked at Edward's x-rays. "What do you think Tom?"
"Tricky." said Tom Hartley. "I think this is going to be long and involved."
"I agree." said McCaffrey. "Dr. Shiroma, I'll need Dr. Marcase prepped and ready for surgery as soon as possible."
"I'll see to it." said Kim, feeling uneasy at Hartley's words. She fervently hoped McCaffrey was as good as his reputation suggested. As she went to make the arrangements, she paused by the door and looked back. McCaffrey and Hartley were deep in conversation, each pointing things out to the other. She sighed in frustration, hating to leave Edward's fate in another's hands. There was nothing she could do though so carried on with the task that she had been given.

Louise paced restlessly around the waiting room, wishing she knew what was going on. She had refused to leave, wanting to see this through to the end. She needed to know that Edward was going to be all right. "I think you're going to wear a hole in that carpet." said a voice behind her, making her jump. "Sorry." said Michael. "I didn't mean to startle you. I've brought you some coffee."
"Thanks." said Louise. "I guess I could do with some."
"The worst part about hospitals is all the waiting." said Michael, as he sat down.
Louise sighed, also taking a seat. "I bet you get to do this quite a lot." she said, taking a sip of her coffee.
"A lot more than I care for." said Michael. "Edward particularly has a knack for putting himself in the line of fire. I really need to break him of the habit."
Louise smiled despite herself. "That will be something to see." she said.  "I can't imagine him giving in gracefully."
"Neither can I." replied Michael with a smile. He paused, looking at Louise over the rim of his cup.  As much as she tried to hide it, he could see the worry that lined her face. "Edward's going to be okay." he said gently. "He's led a pretty charmed life and whatever guardian is looking after him will see him through this. Especially when he sends such charming angels as you to watch over him."
"Thank you." Louise said, blushing.  "He told me a little about his life. It hasn't been easy, has it?"
"He's lost everyone that's ever been close to him." said Michael. "That's why he doesn't get close to people. It's also why he takes the risks that he does."
"Isn't he close to you and Kim?" asked Louise.
"He is now, but it took a long time." replied Michael. "He's still afraid of losing us."
"I can imagine." said Louise. "I've seen the same thing so often with the children I look after."
"That's quite a responsibility you've taken on." said Michael.
"Someone had to do it." said Louise bitterly. "I just wish there was some way to stop it from happening."
"As long as there is hardship and violence in this world, there will always be children who suffer." said Michael. "All we can do is help make their suffering a little less."
"It's nice to know there are still people in this world who care." said Louise. "Thank you."

Kim paused by the door of the ward and looked at the two men lying inside. Daniel was fidgeting restlessly, ill at ease with the bandages around his eyes, while Brian had a cheeky grin on his face and was obviously trying to ease some of the tension.  Brian lay on top of the bed covers, one hand resting lightly on his injured leg as he gently teased Daniel, trying to draw him out. He paused and looked at the door, where he spotted Kim standing and watching. "An angel of mercy." he said brightly. "And a very pretty one at that."
Kim smiled. "Flattery will get you no where." she said as she came into the room. "You're still going to have to spend the night here."
"I can recover just as well at home." said Brian with mock petulance.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea." said Daniel dryly. "I might get some peace then."
"You don't get off that easily." said Brian. "You're way too serious. You need to unbend a little."
"Why me?" said Daniel in resignation.
Kim laughed. "Maybe I ought to leave the two of you alone more often."
"Kim, I'm disappointed in you." said Daniel. Both Kim and Brian laughed at that. Daniel desperately tried to hide a grin but failed completely.
"That's much better." said Kim.  "After the events of the day, I think we all needed that."
"How's Edward?" asked Daniel, turning serious again.
"He's been taken into surgery." replied Kim. "All we can do now is wait and see."
"Who's operating?" asked Brian.
"Dr Philip McCaffrey." said Kim.
"McCaffrey?" said Daniel. "He's a good man."
"You know him?" asked Kim.
"Yes." said Daniel. "He's the best in the business."
"I know." said Kim. "That's why I asked for him."
"Whatever it takes, he will do it." said Daniel gently.
"I hope so." said Kim. "Now," she said changing the subject," how are you?"
"The blast burned the area around my eyes, but there appears to be no damage to the cornea." said Daniel. "There's no way to tell if there's any other damage until the swelling goes down."
Seeing his tension, Kim came over and lightly touched him on the forearm. "I'm sure everything will be fine." she said as reassuringly as possible. "You'll be seeing Brian's face again before you know it."
"Spare me." said Daniel as Brian laughed.
"How about you, Brian?" asked Kim. "How are you feeling?"
"Much better, thanks." replied Brian. "The bullet passed right through without hitting anything. Guess today was my lucky day."
"I guess maybe it was." said Kim. "Get some rest, both of you. I'll look in on you later."
"You'll let us know about Edward?" asked Daniel.
"As soon as I know anything." replied Kim.

Several hours, and many cups of coffee later, Louise, Kim and Michael were still waiting anxiously for Edward to come out of surgery. "It's been so long, what's going on in there?" asked Louise fretfully.
"I'm sure if there was a problem, they'd tell us." said Kim, desperately trying not to think the worst.
"Would they?" asked Michael in frustration.
"Yes." Kim replied, trying to sound positive. She hadn't realized until now how badly Michael was affected by the tension. He normally kept such things hidden. "There are a lot of small bones in the hand. Fixing them takes time."
"You're right, I'm sorry." said Michael.
"This waiting is getting to all of us." said Kim. "I'll be glad when it's all over."
"I think maybe it is." said Louise. "Isn't that Dr. McCaffrey?"
Kim looked up, her heart beginning to pound as she saw McCaffrey walking down the corridor. She stood as he came up to them, closely followed by the others. "Dr. McCaffrey." she said. "How is Dr. Marcase?"
"He's fine, resting comfortably." replied McCaffrey with a tired smile. He indicated the chairs saying, "Sit, please." Once they were all seated he continued. "It was a difficult operation in many respects because of the number and  nature of the breaks and it was further complicated by the swelling. Some of the bones were easy to set, some had to be pinned. One or two... well let's just say we've pioneered some new techniques." He sat back and rubbed tired eyes. "I think Dr. Marcase's hands will heal cleanly and with a minimum of scarring. He'll be back in business in no time." he said with a smile.
"Thank God." said Louise fervently and was echoed by Michael, who hadn't realized until now just how keyed up he was. He sighed, relaxing for the first time in two days.
"That's wonderful." said Kim with a relieved grin. She felt worn out from all the tension.
McCaffrey smiled tiredly. "If you good people will excuse me. I'm going to go find a bed." he said.
"Good night and thank you." said Kim.
"You're welcome." said McCaffrey as he rose and left.
"That's the best news I've had all day." said Michael. "And on that note, I'm also going to find a bed. Can I give you ladies a lift?"
"Bed sounds like an excellent idea." said Louise with a grin. "Isn't that news just great?"
"Wonderful." said Kim, relieved. "I'm glad Edward's going to be okay."
"Me too." said Louise. She looked at Michael. "About that lift?" she asked.

Edward stirred and shifted his weight, trying to find a more comfortable position. His body was stiff and sore from his recent ordeal, but there was no real pain. As he gradually became aware of his surroundings, he began to feel things. The drip in his arm, the bandages on his cuts and... something on his hands. He tensed, drawing a sharp protest from his ribs and came fully awake. The first thing he saw was Louise sitting on the edge of the bed, a frown of concern on her face. "It's all right Edward, you're safe now." she said gently.
Breathing heavily, his heart pounding, Edward raised his hands so that he could see them. They were completely covered in plaster, with only the tips of his fingers showing. He stared at then for a long moment in silence then jumped, startled, as a hand touched his arm. It was Kim. "You're hands are going to be fine." she said. "Dr. McCaffrey said there would be no permanent damage."
"McCaffrey?" asked Edward a little hoarsely.
"One of the best orthopedic surgeons in the country." said Daniel. "Kim couldn't have picked a better man to do the job."
"Thanks." Edward said to Kim with a warm smile. He glanced across to where Daniel was lying to his left and saw the bandages around his eyes. Beyond Daniel he could see Brian with Michael standing in between them. "Looks like I'm not the only one who's been in the wars." he said.
"Brian's been shot, Daniel has gunpowder burns around his eyes." said Kim. "I don't think there's any corneal damage, but it's too early to tell for sure."
"What about you?" asked Edward, turning to Louise. "Did the gang hurt you at all?"
"I'm fine." said Louise. "They didn't touch me."
Edward breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good." he said. "I was afraid they would..."
Louise stopped him before he could get any further. "They didn't." she said gently. "It's all right."
Edward gave her a half smile and looked distractedly at his hands again. Louise and Kim exchanged glances, both reading the tension and uncertainty in Edward's face. Kim came and laid a hand on his arm, feeling the tightness in his muscles. In a very low voice she said, "Do you remember what you said to me when you rescued me from the werewolf killer?" Edward gave a brief nod, still not taking his eyes from his hands. "Well now I'm saying it to you." Kim said. "Whatever you need, I'll be here for you."
Edward looked at her, desperately trying to contain the emotions churning within him. It took a few moments before he was finally able to speak. "Thank you." he said unsteadily.
Kim smiled warmly. "Now I think we should leave you to get some rest." she said.
"Wait." said Edward. "What happened to the gang? And who attacked us?"
"We were attacked by the Dawn." said Michael. "They came at us in force this time, but we were able to capture or kill most of their men. It will take them a while to recover. The gang got involved when the Dawn offered a reward for your capture. Reston found out who you were but rather than just take the reward, he got greedy. He thought he could play us off against the Dawn to see who would pay the most for you. It was a big mistake and he and his gang are going to spend time in jail for it."
Edward looked at Daniel and Brian and then looked at Michael. "The Dawn almost won, didn't they?" he asked quietly.
"Yes. They did." replied Michael matter-of-factly.
"I begin to wonder if it's worth it any more." said Edward.
"If you only save one life, it's worth it." said Daniel, unknowingly echoing Louise's words.
"Tommy told me what you did for Emily." said Michael. "Because you cared, a little girl has the chance to live. If you give that away, the Dawn wins."
Edward sighed. "I hear what you're saying." he said. "But I'm going to need time. I have to find a way to work this out."
"Take all the time you need." said Daniel. "If there's anything you want, we'll be here."
"Thank you." said Edward, touched by the love and compassion that surrounded him.