McDaid whipped around so fast that I was surprised his neck didn’t jar. I glanced up beside me to see Poynter, his face grim and his eyes cold. “Sir,” McDaid stuttered. “We thought you just meant…”

“Did I say not to harm Jones?” Poynter cut off his frantic motion towards me. “No. If I recall, I told you not to harm them. Would ‘them’ apply to just one of them? Did I ask you to beat up Neilson and threaten to remove his engagement ring?”

“No, sir.”

“Then remove yourself from this warehouse immediately, and we shall discuss the consequences of your actions once we get back to base,” he told them firmly. They all nodded and shuffled out, their heads bowed and their faces sombre. I watched them go with a look of disgust that I didn’t bother to try and conceal.

“Sam…?” I called over to him. Poynter’s hand left my shoulder now as he moved past me to where Sam was. Crouching down in front of him, he took hold of Sam’s chin, inspecting the damage gently. Sam flinched at his touch.

“I’m fine. I’ve had worse.”

“I’m sure you have,” Poynter remarked conversationally. “But I still want you to shut up, keep still, and let me look.” With a frown, he reached up and pushed Sam’s ring, which McDaid had shifted, back into place. “Right, I’m sending you back to Terrka,” he decided.

“No, you’re not,” Sam responded bravely. “I’m not going anywhere without Danny.”

“What good are you to him like this?” Dougie asked incredulously. “Your face is going to be severely bruised; it seems a strain to keep your eyes open. I could beat him up right now and there would be fuck-all you could do to stop me, but- as it happens- I’m offering to let you go. Pass out in your medic van; tell Terrka I have Jones- I don’t care. Are you going or not?”

Sam tried to focus on me, and I nodded firmly. Poynter wasn’t going to hurt me unnecessarily- as much his style as it was mine- and Sam needed help. He sighed slowly, “Okay, but I’m kicking the shit out of T-9 before I pass out.”

“Aim for the crotch for me?” I asked him sweetly.

Poynter pulled out a mobile, dialled. “Leonard,” he barked. “Report.”

Only seconds after he had hung up, a tall brunette strode into the room. “Yes, sir?”

“Take Mr. Neilson and hand him back to the Terrka.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard correct,” was all Poynter said. “He needs medical attention. He was not meant to be harmed- and be sure to tell Terrka that.”

“Yes, sir.”

Still knelt on the floor, Poynter removed a key from his pocket and released Sam’s cuffs, checking his wrists before helping him to stand and handing him over to Leonard. “Straight to Terrka,” he said sternly. “If I hear otherwise, you will regret it.”

“Of course, sir.”

Poynter sighed as Sam left with Leonard, “I had hoped I would be able to negotiate with both of you, but I’m above trying to get information out of someone who’s been beaten so badly he can’t even focus on me… so, we’re back to where we started, aren’t we?”

I didn’t say anything, just watched him carefully from my chair. I used my silence a lot, but that was because it almost always worked. He stared back at me. He could do silence as well- I knew that.

He looked good. He had no right looking so damn gorgeous when I was meant to be against him. I couldn’t have him, I told myself. Dougie Poynter was off limits. I was dating Harry- I was happy with Harry. Why did I want Dougie so badly?

I closed my eyes momentarily, trying to will the thoughts away. Dougie and I were over. And, sure, he had just been really nice to the guy who had turned into one of my closest friends, and I awed by the act of kindness, but I had to keep myself in check.

“What are you doing?”

My eyes flicked open, “Nothing.”

He stared at me, drinking in my features with a look I couldn’t quite read. I shifted in my seat, acting uncomfortable, but actually trying to work one of my hands free.

“You can’t break the bonds,” he assured me. “We remembered how good you are at getting out of tight spots.”

“I’m just trying to loosen them. They’re rubbing,” I lied.

His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “Oh? Well, let me help you with that…” To my absolute shock, he walked over to me and moved behind the chair. I felt him tugging on the bonds as he loosened them, but not enough that I could escape. “Better?”

“Yes, thank you.” I leaned back in my chair, exhaling loudly, “Shouldn’t you be questioning me or something?”

“Why bother? You’re not going to answer, anyway.” He stood up and moved in front of me again, so I could see him.

“You don’t know that.”

“I know that no answers you do give are going to be of any use to me.”

I sighed, “So, if I told you that I hired a squadron of moles to dig under your base for me and get me in, you wouldn’t believe me even if it was true?”

His lips quirked, “That I would believe just for the comedy effect.”

“Shame it’s not true, then,” I remarked. “Damn moles wanted paid overtime.”

He giggled before he could stop himself, “See? You’re never going to give me a straight answer!” He leaned over so his face was right in front of mine, “Or has Danny Jones finally decided to turn over a new leaf…?”

His lips were right there. So perfect, so inviting. Before I’d properly realised what I was doing, I moved forward and caught his lips with mine briefly. He stared at me in shock. I shifted back, “I didn’t mean-”

He straddled me in the chair before I could finish my sentence, kissing me hungrily. “Why is it…?” he asked, leaning into me so he could undo my hand bonds properly at the back. “…that I can never get enough of you? Even when you have a boyfriend and we swore never again.”

With my hands free, I had my chance to escape. To knock him off and run. But I couldn’t. I was sucked in by his eyes, and instead I brought one hand up to cup his cheek, smiling as he nuzzled into it. Our lips met again softly and I felt the familiar warmth that made my pulse increase and my heart race, filling me like a drug. He took the kiss even deeper, making my head spin.

Why did we always get into this? We said we wouldn’t take this up again, and yet here we were- kissing so fiercely that my head hummed. My hands explored his body, scared that- if I didn’t- I would never feel him again. His own hands ran across my shoulders and down my arms.

This was so wrong, I told myself. I couldn’t be making out with Dougie Poynter while I was half bound to a chair. What had I told myself? I’d sworn that this was it, that I wasn’t going to do this anymore. So why was I letting him turn me into putty in his perfectly formed hands?

I brought one hand back from him, and fumbled inside my jacket sleeve, tugging. Then my hand shot forward and I buried the syringe into his wrist.

He didn’t seem to notice, but pulled back with a frown as I injected it, obviously feeling the cold sensation. Then his eyes rolled back and he collapsed on top of me. Wow, I marvelled. That was fast working stuff. I’d never actually watched it work before… I was sure I hadn’t gone down that fast. Then again, I was bigger than he was.

He was definitely out cold. I’d always loved watching him sleep. He was so serene and peaceful. It was one of the few times that he looked as carefree as a nineteen-year-old should, and- God- he looked beautiful.

I couldn’t believe what I’d just done. I just acted on instinct. I couldn’t let myself go any further with him, not when I had Harry. It was wrong. The Donkata just seemed to be the only way to do it. I know he would punish me for that move later, if he ever spoke to me again, that is. Well, maybe that would be better if he never did talk to me again.

So now what was I going to do…? I could either leave Dougie and get out, or take him. If I ran into any Polydon on my way out, having him could aid us. And I didn’t feel comfortable leaving him when he was knocked out. Despite all that I’d done to him, that was a step too far in my books. I was a terrible person, I knew, for all I’d already done, but I couldn’t do that to him as well.

His head was lolled against my chest, so I shifted him slightly so I could reach down to undo my leg bonds. I finally stood up with him in my arms, and turned round slowly. I hadn’t seen him enter the room, so… Unless I’d just been too focused on Sam to notice, but the other Polydon would’ve seen him as well, had he come in through the actual door. So… that stood to reason that there was another entrance…

Once I’d turned to face completely behind where my head had been, I snorted in amusement. Right there was a back door fire exit. They’d purposely positioned my chair so that no matter how much I twisted my head, I wouldn’t see the obvious escape route. Now, I carried Dougie over to it, and nudged my shoulder into it hopefully.

It didn’t shift, so I gave a sigh of frustration. I moved my elbow down and tried to push down on the handle. No luck with that either. I squatted down and tried to hit the handle down again. My fingers closed over it and I managed to wrangle it down.

The cool breeze hit me as I stepped out of the warehouse. “Connect,” I muttered, hoping the microphone that had been glued to the back of my teeth when Sam and I were still pretending to go would activate. “Aaron?”

“Danny?” he asked urgently through the earpiece he’d given me. “Thank God! When Neilson came back, we knew you’d done something stupid! Where are you?”

“I just left the warehouse,” I reported, kicking the door shut behind me and adjusting my grip on Dougie. “Though, I probably shouldn’t move in case any Polydon see me carrying their unconscious leader…”

I heard him choke. “Can you repeat that?”

“I’m currently carrying Poynter, who’s been dosed with your serum. I’m round the back somewhere.”

“I thought that’s what you said… Right. Stay there, stay out of sight if any Polydon appear. We’re coming to pick you up.”

*****

“Do you know how much trouble we could get in for this?” Aaron asked worriedly as I laid Dougie down in the communications van.

“Well, if you don’t tell teacher, we’ll be fine…” I muttered, straightening Dougie’s arms and legs.

“He really is young, isn’t he?” Tom voiced, crouching beside me.

“You were younger.”

“Yeah, but we’re Terrka. He’s Polydon,” was all he said, but I understood as Aaron took his place at the controls again.

I nodded, “He’s young…but he’s tough.”

“He’d have to be…” Tom inclined his head, “And he’s attractive.”

I shot him an incredulous look, “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Well, combine that with what I’ve heard of him on the phone, and no wonder you kissed him…” he said in a low, taunting voice. “He’s exactly your type…”

I snorted, torn between shock and amusement at how well he knew me, “Shut up.”

“If he wasn’t a Polydon, you’d be dating already,” he promised, standing up and moving across the van.

“Where’s Sam?” I asked.

“In the medics van with Charlie. He’s pretty banged up.”

“I know… Poynter was furious.”

He frowned, glancing over to where Dougie lay, “Why?”

“He’d ordered that we weren’t to be harmed. Wanted to interrogate us together.” I glanced around again, “Where’s Barton?”

Tom cocked his head to the side casually, “Medics van. T-21 managed to break his nose and sock him forcibly in the crotch- though he did follow orders and keep him conscious…”

I grinned, “Go, Sam!”

“I should’ve known you’d be some sort of influence on his behaviour…” He looked to Aaron, “We ordered that every Terrka evacuate the warehouse as soon as you called. When they find out we have Poynter, no Terrka are going to want to be standing nearby. On the confirmation that all of them have returned, we’re heading back to base. You just stay here- everyone else will return in their designated vans.”

“Harry?”

“He knows you’re here. He’s tried to contact you a few times, but we didn’t put him through in case it compromised you. He won’t break the rules and come here, though. That’s more your kind of stunt…”

I rolled my eyes, “Disapproving tone noted.” Mid-eye-roll, I realised something, and turned to look properly, “Hang on, there’s only one tech. Where’s T-40?”

“With Barton. She was the only trained interrogator outside the field.”

I blinked, “She’s a-?”

“And a field agent. She was originally trained with T-21.”

“Oh?” I rubbed the back of my head, where a dull ache was starting to register. Tom noticed this.

“What’s wrong?”

I waved a dismissive hand at him, “It’s nothing. We were KO’d by some metal bars earlier. It’s still a little sore.”

He groaned, “For God’s sake, Danny! Why d’you never mention these things when there’s still time to take you to the medics van?! I’m making time. Come on.” He grabbed my wrist, opened the door, and pulled me out. The van had moved back into place again, so the medics van was in sight.

I dug in my heels, “I’m fine, Tom.”

“You’d say that if you were dying!” he retorted, yanking my arm so sharply that I stumbled forward a couple of paces. “You could be concussed for all we know!”

“Danny?”

“I could also be fine!” I shot back as Harry came over to us, obviously seeing something was wrong. It was very rarely that Tom and I argued- and it was normally when he thought I was hurt when I wasn’t.

“You were hit around the head with a metal bar!” he protested. “You’re lucky neither of your skulls cracked!”

“Well, they didn’t, I’m alive, and I’m not going in the damn van!”

Harry took hold of my arms, “Danny, if there’s a chance you might be hurt, you have to get it looked at.”

I saw the guilt in his eyes seconds before I realised what he was doing. “You bastard!” I spat, wrenching my arms free, but it was too late. There was a flush of cold just above my elbow, and I heard Harry’s distorted voice as I blacked out.

*****

I came to quickly this time round, having been through it before. This wasn’t so much as waking from a deep slumber as just suddenly being wide awake. I sat bolt upright in the hospital bed, a blanket falling away from me. I was alert, I had to admit, but I was pissed- which meant bad news for Harry.

Anger began to pulse through my veins as I swung myself out of bed. Harry had no right to knock me out when he knew full well how much I hated the mere thought. He had gone against my wishes, against my trust, and fuck if he was getting away with it! I strode towards the exit purposefully after pulling the electrodes off my head, but Charlie cut me off.

“I knew I should’ve put guards on you.” He crossed his arms and studied me intently, “You have a minor head trauma. You need to rest up and not put yourself under any strenuous pressure.”

“Does beating up my boyfriend count?”

“You wouldn’t even break a sweat doing that.” His lips curled, “Just don’t head-butt him. You already have serious bruising.”

“I want out of here.”

Charlie shrugged, “I don’t give a damn whether you stay in here or not, just take it easy or I’ll chain you to one of these beds.”

I held up my hands in mock surrender, “Okay!”

He jerked his head to the side, “Your guy’s conscious in cubicle four if you want to stop by before going to make it so Harry has to be sent to see me.”

I grinned at him, before jogging in the direction he pointed in, “Thanks.”

Sam’s lips curved as he watched me enter his cubicle, “Who’s a pretty boy now?”

He was battered- really battered. Both of his eyes had circles round them- one black, the larger one a deep blue. But while that would give most people the appearance of a discoloured panda, it was nothing when you studied the rest of his face. It was a mass of variously coloured bruises- some purple, blue, brown, yellow, green and pink as they went through different stages of healing.

His lip was split twice, in the centre and to one side, and it was swollen, making him speak with a slight lisp. One of the Polydon must have been wearing a ring as well, as there were little cuts on his left cheek and nose. From what I could see of his arms as well, they had taken a lot of damage.

I let out a sigh, “I am so sorry.”

He frowned, “Sorry for what?”

I stared at him, “What the hell d’you think? You’re lying in a hospital bed and it’s my fault!”

“On what level is this your fault?!” he demanded. “Did you beat me up? Did you insult McDaid so he would beat me up? Did you tell him to call in his buddies and gang-beat me?”

“No, but-”

“No,” he repeated softly. “Danny, this isn’t your fault. I’m not even sure it’s my fault. They might have beaten me up even if I didn’t act like myself. McDaid wanted to beat up one of us as soon as the sneering bastard walked in. I was just the weaker target.”

I nodded, “You’re right. It’s just… Fucking hell, Sam…”

His eyes lit up, “I’ve been upgraded!”

It took me a moment to work out what he was saying. Then I realised suddenly. I hadn’t even noticed! But he was right. Every since the warehouse, I’d been calling him Sam. “Oh, yeah. I guess so.”

He rolled those same eyes, “You sound joyous. I heard you got knocked out. What happened?”

I shook my head, “It wasn’t Polydon. I got out fine. Then I made the mistake of telling Tom we’d been taken out by poles- not that Charlie wouldn’t have noticed your bruising later and pulled me in- and he had a minor freak-out. I refused to go, so Harry drugged me.”

“But I thought- Oh…” The confused frown faded from Sam’s face, to be replaced by shocked realisation, “You’re going to kill him, aren’t you?

“It’s on my list,” I admitted. Silence fell between us for a few seconds.

“Can I watch?”

*****

“I want permission to talk to your hostage,” Tom announced, striding into my office after I had granted him clearance.

I slanted him a look from a letter I was reading over, “Why are you asking?”

“It’s your hostage, so you have full control over who you think he should see.”

“I had to ask Brant to find out where he was,” I remarked dryly. “I’ve been unconscious until three hours ago.”

He winced, “I’m sorry, by the way. I had no idea he was going to do that. I’m still not talking to him except for business.”

“Well, when I’m done with him, he won’t be able to talk- period,” I promised. “I don’t blame you, Tom. You were at least giving me some degree of free will with your method.”

“What did Charlie say?”

I shrugged, “Minor head trauma. I’m to rest.” At his amused glance, I sighed, “I will once I’ve disfigured Harry.”

He gave an easy laugh, “You won’t break a sweat doing that. About Poynter?”

“I want to be the first Terrka he sees, but yes, you have clearance. No-one’s been in there, right?”

He shook his head, “No-one’s even been in the viewing room behind the one-way mirror. We left that to you.” He threw me a set of keys, “He’s all yours.”

*****

Dougie was lying on his back as I stepped into his cell. He was awake, but his eyes were fixed on the ceiling with a look of distinct boredom. He was in a better room than he had been before, with more space, and a mirror in one wall that hid a viewing room behind it. As the door closed, I sat in the chair on the side of the interrogation table closest to him, waiting for him to speak.

For about ten minutes, he kept me waiting but I didn’t care. I had nowhere else to go, and it wasn’t like I’d never been given the silent treatment before.

“Bastard.”

My lips curled as I heard that, “You knew that already, and yet you still trusted me.”

He turned his head, and the look he gave me was filled with hate and anger, “Why, Danny? Are you trying to kid yourself that there’s nothing between us? That you feel nothing for me?” He sat up, swinging his legs off the side of the bed, “I know you know what I’m talking about.”

I shook my head, “I’m never going to let anything more happen between us.”

“What? Because of Judd?” he sneered.

“Harry and I are over,” I stated calmly. “He betrayed my trust as I have betrayed yours. We are also over,” I told him matter-of-factly as I stood. “T-1 wants to talk with you. I’ll be back with him later.”

He snagged my wrist as I turned to leave, and I turned back to have his mouth crush down on mine. I tried to resist, but his lips willed movement against them, and his tongue lured mine out of hiding. I kept my hands by my side, though- letting his hands explore my chest but not touching him. He broke the kiss finally, leaning his forehead against mine, “Tell me again you don’t want me.”

I stepped back from him, “I don’t want you, Dougie.”

His lower lip trembled and his eyes went wide and glassy as he stumbled back. His knees buckled and he slid to the floor. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “But how else was I going to make you see?” I turned and left, trying to ignore the bitter sobbing that echoed in my ears. Once I was out of the cell, I unlocked the door for the room next door.

Going in, I saw him in the cell, crying on the floor, his knees pulled up to his chin. My eyes began to heat up as I leant against the control panel. I didn’t want to hurt him. I didn’t. I just wanted him to forget me. I wanted him to find someone who would adore him like he deserved, who would focus solely on him. I wasn’t going to let his schoolboy infatuation wreck everything for him.

I had come to realise a shocking truth. I never saw it coming, never even considered it was a possibility. But I had fallen in love with him. I laid my hand against the glass weakly. I had fallen for Dougie Poynter, and the last thing I wanted was for him to fall as well.

*****

“Danny? Danny? Danny?!”

I ignored the calls as I strode back towards my office, hoping to get there before he caught up but not wanting to break into a run. I didn’t want to look at Harry right now, especially after I’d just told Dougie I didn’t want him.

Harry caught my arm, “Danny?”

I whirled round quickly, and my fist came up, catching him squarely in the jaw. The Terrka at their cubicles gasped and Harry let go of me in shock. “Leave me,” I hissed, before turning to march off again.

I made it to just a few paces away from my office before he caught me again. I pivoted, fist at the ready, but he was prepared this time, and caught it. “Danny,” he pleaded. “I know you’re angry, and I don’t blame you, but please, don’t do this.”

“Don’t do what, Harry?” I asked condescendingly, before my other fist came flying out of nowhere and hit him on the cheek, snapping his head to the side.

“Don’t overreact.”

I glared at him. My blood boiled and rushed in my ears, into my eyes so I saw nothing but a deep red. “Oh, I want to do this!”

“Dan-”

“Don’t overreact?! Would you put an arachnophobic in a room filled with spiders? Would you put someone who suffered from claustrophobia in an enclosed space? Then why the hell did you put me to sleep when I didn’t even need to be?!” I screamed the last bit into his face, before turning and heading towards my office.

“Danny, I’m sorry.”

I paused, and looked back at him. This time when I spoke my voice was calm and level: “That’s the thing, though, isn’t it? You’re not sorry. You’d do it again. Tom- he’s genuinely sorry and he didn’t even do it! He knows me. You don’t.”

“Please, don’t do this. I’ve already had Tom bite my head off. Come on, Danny. Beat me, scream at me for fuck’s sake, but don’t walk away from me! I love you.”

I shook my head, “To love me and to respect me are not the same thing. We’re over.” I didn’t even wait to see his face before going into my office.

*****

“I think I was pretty restrained.”

Tom nodded his agreement, “You were. You could have easily beaten him to a pulp, but you didn’t. You still have your pride, and your dignity.”

I nodded as we came to a halt, “I’m never letting go. It was all I had for a long time. You want me in there with you or what?”

He considered, glancing towards the cell door, “No. But I want you in here.” He tapped the door to the viewing room.

“Okay.” Nodding, I opened the door for him, then went next door. I saw Tom walk in, saw Dougie look up at him.

A smirk curled on his face. He was composed again, with no sign that he’d been crying. I admired the fact that he didn’t openly dwell on his angst when many would. “Tom Fletcher…” he said admirably.

“Dougie Poynter…”

“You’re older than I imagined.”

His lips curled, “You’re younger than I imagined.” At Dougie’s quick grin, he cocked his head to the side, “So… Rashman saw something in you…”

Dougie eyed him suspiciously now, “It would appear so. You didn’t need this passed down to you. This is your child.”

“Not just mine,” he corrected, leaning on the table. I shook my head in disagreement. Terrka was his.

“Perhaps, but he’ll deny that.” My eyes widened. Hadn’t I just been doing that? Dougie studied him curiously, “Your money, his mind. Your sophistication, his street smarts.”

Tom smiled, “That’s about the balance of it.”

“What is this, Fletcher?”

A shrug of his shoulders was the response, “This is me quenching my curiosity about the new Poly1. We can hardly interrogate you when there’s nothing we want to know.” He raised a questioning eyebrow at Dougie, “What about you? Anything you want to know?”

“Why did you pick Jones?” Dougie asked. I jolted. Tom had given him the chance to ask him almost anything, and he asked about me? Why…? “Of all the street urchins, why him?”

Tom cocked his head to the side, “He just appealed. I blackmailed him into it, actually. One of his boys stole something from my family. The deal was: I would pay for the medical bills to fix one of his gang’s nose- which, admittedly, I broke in the first place- if he gave me back what was mine and helped me out.”

“And he did it?” Dougie asked doubtfully.

“He had nothing. He wasn’t going to go into the minuses by losing a companion- Danny looks out for his own.” Tom paused to scratch his nose thoughtfully, “But he bargained. Said he could pawn my aunt’s ruby, fund the bills himself. I offered him more than that.”

I could still remember the messed up conversation we’d had in the alley that day. My fury at his actions and his calm, cocky tone. I thought he had been joking about creating a gang to oppose Polydon at first. I dismissed him as a spoilt rich kid with more money than sense and a stupid dream.

“But why?” Dougie pressed.

Tom eyed him in amusement, “Why do you care so much?”

That threw him off. “I’ve…erm…never heard this before. How it happened, y’know.”

“That’s because only Danny and I know the finer details.” Tom shook his head, “I don’t even know why I’m telling you this. Why do you want to know? It’s not like you can use any of this against us, but-”

“You’ve started now,” Dougie reminded him. “Why were you so desperate to have him?”

“I’d always hated how Polydon seemed to have so much influence over London, and they never used it right. So I decided to do something about it. I turned to my friends, but Harry and Steve, they would be good help, but they weren’t what I needed in a partner. They were too…restrained.”

He drummed his fingers lightly off the table, “Then a street urchin stole my aunt’s ruby. Stupidly expensive thing- really ugly, but a family heirloom nonetheless. And I wanted it back. I figured I should go to the main guy. Street urchins often move in packs- based on the thought that it’s good to have someone watching your back. It’s not like they have much to lose.”

“And that was Jones?”

He nodded, “After some asking around and some money exchanging hands, I found out there was no set leader, but this guy Jones was my best shot. So I went to his corner and waited for him. As soon as he arrived, I knew I needed him for Terrka.”

Dougie looked incredulous, “So he was just what you were looking for?”

“He had smarts, and an edge about him. I hadn’t have gotten him, Polydon would’ve.”

His face turned thoughtful, “How d’you know they didn’t?” I snorted to myself when I heard that. I wasn’t that sort of person, and he knew it.

Tom raised one eyebrow, “One the first things he said to me was: ‘I ain’t no rat.’ He doesn’t believe in that.”

Dougie cocked his head to the side, “True enough. He did request that T-21 kick Barton in the balls for him.”

Tom grinned as I did, “He did it as well. The bastard was on the floor.”

“I’m glad. It’s fucking spineless to betray your own team for money.”

There was a pause, before Tom sighed. “I didn’t want to like you, Poynter. I prayed that you’d be a self-obsessed, half-mad-with-power idiot. But it never works out like that.”

The grin on Dougie’s face was quick and wicked, “It’s a shame we’re not allowed to socialise. I think I could really like you as well.”

“The same way you like Danny?” he asked carefully. My eyes widened.

Dougie frowned, “I don’t know what you mean. I have respect for Jones, and yes, if it were under different circumstances, we would get on well, but…”

Tom shook his head, “I’m talking about the fact that you seem to have the hots for my second in command.”

Dougie’s face flushed, “Excuse me?!”

“I was informed of the first kiss when it occurred, but Danny assured me that nothing more had happened. However, now I see your keen interest in his history and the look on your eye as you were talking about him, I wonder if he lied to me for the first time.”

Bollocks. Tom was good. I should’ve known he wasn’t just revealing our history to Dougie for the sake of it. I believed he did like Dougie, but he was too smart not to sense something. I bit my lip softly, waiting for Dougie’s answer.

I didn’t have to wait long, as Dougie began to shake his head furiously almost straight away. “He’s not lying to you. Nothing happened. Believe me, I tried.”

Tom stared at him, “So you admit-?”

“-I may have a tiny crush on your second in command? Yes. I don’t want to. Okay? He wants nothing to do with it, but yes. It’s there.”

I was shocked at his ability to lie about something so personal. He looked completely honest as well. Tom cleared his throat, “Have you tried anything with him?”

Dougie gave him a reproachful look, “I’m a teenager. I have all these…hormones, and I’m shut in a room where my only visitor is a gorgeous Northerner with a sense of humour and a rarely-seen-but-killer smile. What do you think?”

He began to tick off non-existent events on his fingers, “Well, after the kiss, I couldn’t help but try again. I’d tasted him, felt him against me, and I wanted more. He shoved me back, so I left it. Then, a week later, I jumped him and tried again, but he was insistent.” He sighed, “You can’t help who you find attractive. All those showers, knowing he was just down the room, it killed me. But that doesn’t matter. He shot me down, and he doesn’t want me. Either that, or he’s not letting himself want me.”

As he said the last sentence, he turned his head, and his eyes locked onto mine, like he was confident I was there. I was frozen to the spot, just staring back at him, except he could only feel my gaze.

Tom turned to look at me as well, “That would be a pairing. Rashman’s heirs- a couple.”

Dougie’s eyes widened, but he didn’t look away from me, “What?!”

“He was offered your position before you were. He turned it down,” Tom told him.

My heart began to knock against my ribs. I had no idea what Dougie’s reaction would be to that. His gaze conveyed pure shock, before mild amusement crept in. “Really?” He leaned back against the wall, “He failed to mention that.”

“He only just let me know,” Tom told him.

“He wouldn’t want to panic you when he was going to choose Terrka,” Dougie said carelessly. “It was his choice. If it wasn’t going to affect you, why tell you?”

“Because it concerns me.”

“The decision concerned the whole of Terrka and Polydon, would you have broadcast it to all of them and us?”

Tom nodded, “Fair point.” He stood up and looked towards me again, “You and Danny-”

“There’s nothing there. No matter how hard I tried,” Dougie confirmed. “You have nothing to worry about.”

“I’m glad. It was nice to meet you, Poynter.”

“Right back at’cha, Fletcher.”

As Tom left the room, Dougie’s gaze found my questioning one again, and- sensing I was wondering why he had lied- he gave me an effortless shrug, his lips curving slightly. Then I turned away to go and greet Tom.

He regarded me, “Why didn’t you tell me you were having trouble with him?”

I rolled my eyes, “Because I’m not. I can handle him. I’ve had hostages who’ve tried to kill me before; I can manage one who wants to kiss me.”

“Just don’t kiss back.”

“I won’t.” Not anymore, anyway.

He nodded, glanced at his watch, “I like him. He’s a good heir. Polydon have been slick and controlled thanks to him. I have to go to a meeting, but I’ll talk to you later.”

“Right.” I raised a hand to see him off, before locking the door to the viewing room, and moving over to the cell door.

Dougie looked up curiously as I stepped into the room, “Decided to come through the glass, have you?”

I regarded him. He didn’t exactly look carefree at the sight of me, but there was no hatred, no violence in his eyes. “I don’t understand.”

He frowned, “I know you were on the other side of the mirror, Danny, hence why I said-”

I cut him off with an impatient noise, “Not about that. Why did you lie to Tom? You had a chance to destroy me- to put me back on the streets. You could’ve had me kicked out of Terrka.”

“Yes, but that would destroy us,” he hissed.

I sighed, leaning against the wall, “There is no ‘us’.”

“Of course there is.”

We were as stubborn as each other, I realised. Never a situation that ended well. “Never again, Dougie. I don’t care if you have Tom throw me back to my corner.”

“He never would,” Dougie corrected softly. “He adores you too much. He would be disappointed, but he would never abandon you, Polyerrka.”

I laughed before I could stop myself, “Sorry about that.”

That incredulous expression came onto his face once more, “Why? If you hadn’t have said no, I wouldn’t be Poly1.”

I let my gaze drop to the floor, “Neither would I. Rashman would still be alive.”

“If you’d’ve chosen Polydon, it would have gone against everything you believe in.”

I dragged my gaze back up at the steady confidence in his voice, “How d’you know what I believe in?”

He smiled at me gently, “I know you, Danny, however much either of us try to deny it.”

There was nothing I wanted to do more than move over to him, and remove that overwhelming sadness from his eyes, but I couldn’t. I wouldn’t let myself. “I’m sorry,” I whispered instead.

He surveyed me through the eyes that haunted my sleep, and seemed imprinted on my retina during my waking hours, “So am I.”

*****

My body felt loose and limber as I strolled into the changing room for higher Terrka. There was nothing like a strict physical workout to help you think- to get the blood pumping and the brain thinking. And, man, did I need some time to think!

I was in love with Dougie, but wouldn’t allow myself to touch him on account of the pact that he’s not only a hormonal teenager with an infatuation, but the leader of Polydon. And, meanwhile, I was also still in love with Harry and wouldn’t allow him to touch me for fear that I could no longer trust him. Fuck. I wanted to have a serious discussion with whichever moron came up with the concept of love…

I pulled off my t-shirt before changing my trousers. As I did up my belt, I sensed someone behind me. I turned to face them and didn’t bother to hide my snort of amusement.

“I’m glad you find it so hysterical,” Harry remarked dryly. His chin and cheek were heavily bruised from my blows from two days ago. I’d done pretty well, even though I’d held back.

“Well, you deserve it all, so… Yes, I find it hysterical,” I told him honestly, turning to pull my shirt out of my locker.

“I told you I was sorry!” he said hotly, recoiling as I purposefully sprayed deodorant so close to him that he could taste it.

I threw the can back into my locker carelessly, “And I told you I didn’t believe you. And now we’re just going round in circles.”

“So I’ll take it in a new direction,” he told me bravely. I eyed him with obvious scepticism as I pulled on my shirt. “In what sense do I not respect you?”

I pretended to consider this question as I did up the buttons of my shirt, “How about cheating on me with some random? How about betraying my trust after I’d decided to give you a second chance? How about forcing me into something against my will, like my opinion means nothing?”

“I have nothing but respect and love for you,” he hissed.

“Again, I don’t believe you.” I reached into my locker for my tie. “And, once more, do you see the circle threatening to emerge?”

“Danny, I love you. You love me.”

“That has nothing to do with this!!” I exploded, whirling towards him. “I don’t give a damn if you love me, or vice versa! I don’t care if you want to marry me; I don’t care if I’m the only person you care about! We’re not talking about whether you love me or not!! You can’t fix everything by saying that to me!”

“Then what can I say?!” he demanded as I wrenched my shoes from my locker. “What can I say to show you that I respect you? To show you that I value your opinion about everyone else’s? Show you that I really am sorry, but I was just worried that you were hurt?”

I stared at him coldly, “Well, you were right there, Harry. I am hurt. But, you know what…? I wasn’t hurt before you stuck that needle in my arm.” I pulled the final bow in my shoelaces, grabbed my jacket and slammed my locker shut. “Tell me when you work it out.”

*****

I smiled as I stepped into Sam’s hospital cubicle, “Hey.”

“Morning,” T-40 greeted from her position leaning on the edge of the bed with her head in her arms, her eyes peering out over the bed.

Sam frowned at me, “What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Judd,” he said coldly.

T-40 looked up at me, “Trouble in paradise?”

“We broke up and now he won’t leave me alone,” I told them, sitting in the chair on the other side of the bed. I would’ve preferred telling only Sam, but I knew full well that I had no right to order T-40 away from her best friend’s side for no reason.

“But stalkerish, isn’t it?” she asked blankly. I grinned at her.

“A little. I punched him back when we broke up, so I have some satisfaction in the fact that I’m responsible for all of the bruises on his face.”

“He deserves it,” Sam voiced stubbornly. “I can’t believe he did that to you. That shows he has no respect for you or your opinions.”

I smiled at him, then looked at the female, who wasn’t saying anything. “Aren’t you going to ask?”

“If you want me to know, you’ll tell me. If you don’t, you won’t and I respect that.”

“He knocked me out with Donkata, knowing full well that I have a phobia of being asleep from when I was on the streets.”

She shook her head slowly, a disgusted look on her face, “Bastard.” Her communicator beeped, and she glanced at it, “Aaron needs me. I’d better run. I’ll be back later, Neil.”

“Right. ‘Bye, Bob,” Sam said, watching her leave with a fondness only a close friend could have.

“Charlie says you’re getting out tomorrow,” I said with a grin, wanting to move away from the Harry topic.

He pulled a face, “Yeah. Get to go home.”

“Your enthusiasm is overwhelming,” I remarked. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m not sure how she’s going to react,” he admitted, twisting the ring on his finger nervously. “I mean, I told her that I’m hurt and she was shocked. But now that’s passed, what’s she going to do? Slap me for being such a moron, or hug me because she was worried. And, God, I look a state…”

I rubbed his arm comfortingly, “She won’t care. She loves you. She’s marrying you, and she’s accepted who you are. You love being in Terrka, far more than you ever did being an actor, and she’s supported you. She’ll support you now.”

He smiled, “That’s what Bob said… I guess I just needed a second opinion.”

“You’ll be fine, Sam. Trust me.”

*****

When the phone rang, I snatched it up efficiently, scrawling my signature onto a document at the same times. “Jones.”

“Good afternoon, this is T-94, Todd comma Darren of the Communications Department. We have a caller asking for you directly.”

I frowned, “Can’t you just put them through?”

“Negative,” he informed me, although apologetically. “The line isn’t stable, and we can’t risk any chance of the inner phone lines being tampered with. We believe it to be Polydon.”

I sighed, “Right. Well, d’you want me to come up and see you?”

“Ideally. T-7 is on the phone to them, but they’re growing impatient.”

“Tell Brant to act like he knows nothing- which shouldn’t be a stretch- and to try to work out who he’s talking to,” I ordered. “I’ll be right there.” I hung up the phone, and grabbed the document I’d just signed, running out of my office.

I hit the button for the lift urgently, deciding if it didn’t arrive in ten seconds, I was taking the stairs. I was in luck. There was a ping, and the doors slid open. However, I inwardly groaned to see Harry standing inside the lift.

I hadn’t spoken to him in the three days since our heated discussion, and really didn’t have time to chat just now. However, I also lacked the time to take the stairs, so I strode into the lift, and hit the button for the correct floor.

“Danny, I-”

“Later, Harry. I really don’t have time right now,” I cut across him harshly. How had I never noticed how slow this lift was before now?! I jabbed down on the button again a few times impatiently, then glanced at the document I still had. “I need you to do me a favour.”

“What? But-”

“I’m sorry,” I told him honestly, pressing the documents into his hands. “But I need you to give these to Tom as quickly as possible. I would, but I have to go talk to Polydon.” I was out of the lift as soon as the doors opened, not even pausing to wait for his answer.

I ran down the corridor and into the main communications room, where I assumed Brant would be. He looked up as I entered, and I could see the relief on his face. That showed how serious a situation this was. “T-2’s here,” he said into the phone. “If you’ll just hang on for one more minute.” He pressed the hold button, motioned me over.

“He’s not giving away anything to indicate who he is. All I know is one of my kids picked up the phone to him and got an earful. Screaming. Demanding to talk to you.”

“Then why not just call me direct?”

“That’s not possible. Every single outside call has to go through us. The only exception is the time Poly1 managed it- but he’s a hacker, so that’s probably how he got your number in the first place.”

“He’s called me twice,” I corrected, watched his eyebrows shot up. “If I pick up, can you listen in?”

He nodded, “We can record it as well.”

“Do that.” I moved over to the phone, and waited for his signal before picking up. Brant and I may have hated one another’s guts, but we knew how to work together when the time called for it.

“This is Jones.”

“Finally,” a voice I didn’t recognise claimed loudly. There was a strong Welsh accent that tainted even that small word. “I’ve been waiting for half an hour for you!”

I caught Brant’s silent gesture, “That’s a blatant lie. You’ve been on the line fifteen, tops. Can I at least know who’s so urgent to talk to me?”

“This is Dave Williams, the Polydon negotiator. I’m going to keep this simple. We want him back.”

I forced a confused quality into my voice, “Who?”

“The guy you took from us. We want him back.”

I let loose with a long, tortured sigh, “You’re going to have to be more specific. I have no idea which hostage you’re referring to, if any.”

“Poynter.”

“Ah…” I murmured knowingly. “I think I know who you mean… Small? Blond? Nineteen? Poly1?”

His voice was grim, “That’s the one.”

“And, tell me, why on earth would we let him go?”

“Why would you keep him?”

“Because, as long as we have him, Polydon are without a leader and Terrka can take it’s stance as the more controlled group.”

“You had him before. We managed.”

“Then why d’you need him back now?”

There was silence on the other end as he realised he’d managed to back himself into a corner. “He’s our leader, and we function more efficiently with him.”

“And that’s meant to inspire me to return him to you because…?” At his frustrated silence, I grinned, “Okay. Fine. You can have him.”

I made a frantic slicing motion with my hand as Brant’s jaw dropped, telling him to shut up. Williams seemed to be having a similar reaction, judging by the sounds of his choking. “What?” he asked unsurely.

“You can have him,” I repeated clearly. “But we want something in return.”

“And what might that be?”

“I have no idea,” I announced cheerfully. “You’re the negotiator here. So, negotiate.”

That threw him right off track, “Erm… We would be willing to give you a great deal of money to ensure his safe return.”

“We have money,” I interrupted. “Wanna give it another try?”

“You’re hardly being professional. I-”

“If you wanted professional, you should’ve asked for T-1,” I told him. “As it happens, I’m the one with all authority over the hostages.”

“There is nothing else for us to offer you!”

“Well, that’s a shame, then, isn’t it?” I said snidely. “If you do come up with anything, be sure to call, but- for now- your Poly1’s ours.”

“I thought you were actually going to hand him over,” Brant said slowly once I’d hung up, removing his headset and setting it down.

I levered my head up, met his gaze coolly, “I’ve done some pretty risky stuff in the past, but that would be downright stupid.”

“So we agree on something…” he muttered dryly. “It’s bad enough for Terrka’s image having a reckless second in command. Throw in the fact that he’s just been declared insane and we’re doomed.”

I made a dismissive noise, leaning against the desk, “We’re all mad, Brant. Some people just show it more than others.” With a glance around, I noted that we were alone in the room, “For example, you’re mad in the sense that you want Harry even although he’s desperately begging my forgiveness.”

“And you’re mad not to take him back,” he remarked carelessly, not even bothering to deny his attraction anymore. I knew, so what was the point?

“I might if he offers me enough.” I shot Brant a wicked grin as he stared at me in shock, “Well, it’s like you presumed. I’m only in it for the gain.”

His eyes narrowed, “It’s times like this, I wish he would walk in and see who you really are.”

I pushed myself off the desk and headed for the door, “Oh, he knows who I really am. I surely can’t be to blame if he loves me besides that.”

*****

“I was just on the phone to one of your buddies,” I told Dougie, striding into his cell.

He regarded me thoughtfully, “Who?”

“Some Welsh bloke,” I said vaguely, and watched his eyes flicker. Most people wouldn’t have noticed it, but I knew those eyes too well not to.

“And what did he say?”

“That they want you back- unharmed. He seemed a little stressed.”

Dougie muttered a curse to himself, “He can’t negotiate to save himself when he’s stressed. We keep trying to sort that out. He messed up… He offer you money?”

“I informed him that we already had money, and advised him to suggest something else.”

“Which he couldn’t, because he’d wound himself into such a tight knot that he wasn’t thinking straight. God, he’s useless.” Dougie collapsed onto his mattress with a heavy thump, “And you knew just how to play him.”

I kept my face blank, “I’ll assure you I did nothing. I just waited for him to offer something. I told him he could have you back if he came up with something good.”

He rolled his eyes, staring at the ceiling, “Which, of course, is going to have nothing to do with his pressure levels being sent through the roof…”

“Of course not.”

He let out a dry laugh, “If I have to be stuck here, at least I’m stuck with someone who has a personality.”

I examined my nails on one hand in an intense study that caused his gaze to harden on me because it was something I would never normally do without reason. I let out a long sigh, “Shame. Because I was going to resign as your watcher…”

He smirked, sliding his gaze to me, “Oh, yeah? And why’s that?”

“Because there are other hostages here who I can actually interrogate.”

Dougie propped himself up on his elbows, his eyes glinting, “What? You not like being my babysitter?”

“Not when you’re behaving yourself,” I remarked. “It’s boring.”

He trailed his tongue slowly along his lower lip, “Do you want me to be bad? Daddy’s too drunk to notice… I can be bad…”

I swallowed, unable not to show my nerves at the fact he was basically offering himself to me on a platter, “No, because Daddy might wake up from his drink induced coma, and I’ll be fired for sleeping with his son.”

“He won’t wake up,” he promised.

I shook my head, “I can’t. It’s too complicated. Me and Harry-”

Something in his eyes changed, and they darkened. “I thought that was over.”

“I thought we were over,” I shot back.

“You know damn well that I don’t want us to be over!” he snapped, sitting up properly and slamming one fist into the mattress. “And I know you still want me, so what’s going on here?”

“I’m in love with Harry!” I shouted. “You’re right! You’ve been right since the start! No matter what you do, it’s always going to be him! So just give up already!”

He leapt off the bed and strode towards me furiously, “You don’t mean that!”

I didn’t, but hell if I was letting him know that. I wanted him to get over me, not start sexual role-play games with me. “How the hell can you say whether I mean it or not? You come steaming in here, seduce me, then expect me to drop everything when you snap your fingers?”

“If you mean this, then why the hell did you say that he could never compare to me?”

“I was covering myself.” I got right into his face, “You weren’t supposed to hear. I was talking to myself, actually. He’s so much better than you are.”

Pain shot through my cheek as something solid collided with it. He had punched me, I realised, taking in the hatred in his eyes as I stumbled back. Good. Hate wasn’t the opposite of love, but it was a start. “You bastard,” he hissed venomously. “You think you can fucking lead me on like that and not get your comeuppance? Think again.”

I forced myself to laugh- but the real reason it came out bitter and cold was because my blood had frozen and my heart had twisted, “Did you really think this was real? I’m a Terrka, you’re a Polydon. I’m sorry it had to end like this- I really am- but it was never serious.”

I turned and left the room, not seeing his reaction and not wanting to see it for fear I would break. I didn’t want to do this to him, but I wasn’t going to let myself destroy him. He was too perfect for that.

Once I was out, I leaned on the door heavily, closing my eyes and restraining the tears that threatened to fall. My breathing was quick and shallow, and my head was buzzing. My chest and throat hurt with the effort. Oh, God. I loved him so much. I hated myself for that. I hated that I had let him in. I destroyed people, I made them hate me. I always had.

“Danny?”

My eyes snapped open, “Not right now, Harry.”

“But-”

“Please.” I held my hands up in surrender, and backed away from him, my voice weak and thick with tears, “Just fuck off.”