Dedicated to @Selam_H for your wonderful comments and support throughout this book. You've been so thoughtful in all of you say, thank you for your kind thoughts and helpful comments! Thank you for sticking with me!

Tuesday March, 2029

Daniel watched from the corner of a stone brick storefront, watching as Ella frantically searched the streets for him. Watching as she twirled aimlessly, running her fingers through her hair. He waited, not to torture her, not to keep hidden, but to see what she really thought. Why was she concerned- because she was genuine or because she was using him?

When she began to walk into a crowd, finally deciding on a direction to pursue, he gave up the ruse and cut into the flow of people to reach her in the cover of the masses. "Bishop." He grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop.

"You idiot!" She scolded and pulled her arm out of his hand.

They stood in the center of the bustling sidewalk and, like true city folk, the pedestrians parted around Ella and Daniel like a stampede of gazelles. "Would you rather I wait inside the building where I could be made and recaptured?" He removed the sunglasses to meet her angry gaze with his own irritable one.

"I had no idea where you were! I can't protect you if I can't find you!"

"Aw, I didn't realize you cared so much!" He cooed then jabbed his finger in the direction of the strip of stores he'd been wedged between. "I was waiting across the street, in the alley."

He watched as her lips pursed and then drew into a fine line, it was comical to watch the different emotions flick through her face like a reel of photographs.

Ella stuck her tongue between the front of her teeth and her lower lip before turning to force her way through the crowd, "If we get separated, head for the front gate and wait where no one can see you. That way I know where to find you." She said into the crowd.

"Yes, mother." He retorted but it fell on deaf years, the noise of the city street drowning out his mumbled reply.

"and put your glasses back on." She added, irked.

O.o.O.o

"Where'd Terry go?" Daniel asked and Ella repressed a moan.

"He works nights," she replied and peeked around the corner.

Daniel laughed dryly, "You'd think they'd put muscles up at night considering that's when-"

"If you say bandits, I swear to god..."

"-when bandits come out. Why is Mr. Intimidation out in the day?"

Ella ducked back behind the cover of the wall and shook her head tightly, "Will you-"

"'Shut up', yeah-yeah. Where's 'your guy'?"

She paused and took a deep breath, looking around before finally admitting, "I don't know."

"You're sure you can trust this guy?"

"Yes."

Daniel screwed his lips shut and leaned up against the building, crossing his arms. "Okay, well... where's my sword and guns?"

"They're in holding at City."

"At City...?" He prodded, her whirled his hand through the air to indicate he was fishing for more.

"City Police Department. Warrick checked them in, remember?"

"And you didn't get them back?!" He gaped, pulling away from the wall to look her in the eye.

"We'll get you new weapons." Ella waved her hand dismissively and looked around the corner again, mumbling, "maybe he went to the wrong gate..."

"What?" He came up behind her, leaning over so that their faces were beside one another. Ella could feel his body heat. She could smell him and despite being irritated and the slight unwashed scent she couldn't deny the attraction to his natural musk.

Still, she threw up an arm to push him away from her, "Nothing." She replied and boxed him out from rejoining her in watching the gate.

"Well you better."

"Better what?" Her head shot around to look at him, her body still leaning forward towards the gate.

"Get me new weapons." He gestured resolutely. "Wait, what about the ones that Terry took?"

She closed her eyes and released a long, tired breath.

"Huh? What about those?"

"I don't know. They may still be there... can you just... shut up for, like, two seconds?"

Daniel took a deep breath. "Oh, while we're waiting-"

"I didn't mean literally..." She commented.

He ignored her and continued, "You want to explain why you have that kind of room down there- You know, I think I've seen a room like it before." He leaned against the wall again, letting his head fall back to rest against the red brick. "Yeah, an 'isolation cell' in Guantanamo Bay. Saw it in a documentary once."

"You're very funny." Ella replied dryly before she straightened and pivoted to look him in the eye, "I've... I've never seen that room. I knew we had a basement but..." She couldn't meet his eyes due to the glasses and the fact that his head was tilted back but she had a feeling he was scrutinizing her. "I didn't know, Daniel, honestly. I never would have let them take you there if I'd known- did Michael take you there?"

"No. He took me to City, Ari came for me not long after." He pulled his head away to look down at her.

Her eyes flitted between his face and his left arm. "Let me see your arm." She was satisified with the returned color to his face, his cheeks flushed under the scruff of his beard.

"So you can blood test me again?"

"No, will you... please?" She held out her hand for him to place his arm in.

After a moment, he did as she asked, placing the top of his hand into her palm. Ella gently pulled his jacket away from his arm and looked at the angry brand. His skin was red and raised, blistering in some places. The bruising from the restraints looked equally as painful. Her eyes fluttered and she bit in the inside of her lip.

"I'm sorry." She finally managed and cleared her throat, "When Michael gets here, I'll dress it."

Daniel swallowed thickly before nodding. "Oh- uh, by the way, I thought you said OB is a paralytic."

"It is, what Ari or whoever did this to you," she dropped her hand out from under his. "mixed it with epinephrine... it counteracts the paralytic effect but it causes the immense pain that you felt." She finished and turned back to the gate in time to see Michael walk up with three horses on leads.

"Well that's-"

"Michael is here." She cut their conversation short and indicated for him to come closer to her.

"Better late than never?" Daniel glanced to the gate to look at Michael but his attention was caught by passerby's who were watching them warily as they walked past. He offered a wide, fake smile and a excited thumbs up but the couple just shook their heads and walked on. "Okay, can we go?" He asked uncomfortably.

"Just hold on." She shushed and waved her hand, still peering around the corner.

"Well, what's the hold up."

"Muscles."

"What- who?"

"I don't know, he's arguing with Michael."

"Well, what's he saying?"

"I. don't. know- I'm not a lipreader!"

Daniel huffed and ran a hand down the front of his face, scratching against his forming beard.

"Alright, c'mon." She said suddenly and broke away from their out of sight corner.

"Whoa-" he jogged to catch up with her quick pace, walking slightly beside her and watching over both his shoulders repeatedly.

They dodged a carriage and waved at the cursing cabbie as he rushed by. When they came up beside Michael his argument with Muscles subsided briefly. "Ah, great, Ella!" Michael greeted, relieved. "This here is Gustav." He glanced behind her to where Daniel stood passively.

Ella nodded politely and held out a hand. Gustav took it in his massive one and shook firmly. "Afternoon, Gustav."

The towering man simply nodded but then looked back to Michael, "We'll finish this discussion when you get back." His voice was deep and gravelly.

"You know we will, Bobo!" Michael pointed a finger at his chest jestfully, forcing a nervous chuckle.

Ella raised her brows in feigned interest and amusement. "Everything okay here?" She asked, looking directly at Michael, who nodded jovially.

"We were just discussing the local teams and the rosters for this coming season. Gus here is a Banshee's fan."

She nodded slowly and parted her lips into a perfect 'O', letting out a subtle sigh of relief. "Oh, I see... and you're a Spartans bum."

Gustav laughed heartily, "The woman knows what she's talkin' 'bout!"

Awkwardly, Michael laughed along, "Oh-ho-kay, we really should get going. I'll see you when we get back, right?"

Despite his large stature and ripped muscles, Gustav was a soft featured man and his smile was just as gentle. "You bet, buddy!"

Michael laughed again before tugging on the horses before handing two of the three leads to Ella and leading the way out of the opening gate. Ella relinquished one of the leads to Daniel who took it hastily, offering a half-hearted, strained salute to Gus as they walked by- Michael leading and Daniel following up the rear.

Looking over her shoulder, Ella looked to Daniel to make sure he was still there and he nodded once as if to say, 'we made it'.

"Close that gate!" Ari's voice cut through the relieved silence like a jagged knife. "Close that gate now!"

Without hesitation, Gus released the chain that held the gate up. The chain rattled noisily against the portal. The gate screeching loudly in its rapid descent to meet the weathered cement.

Ella turned on her heel to face Sanctuary when she heard Ari's voice. They both looked up and watched as the gate crashed down it's descent.

"Daniel!" She cried and moved forward, her hand extended.