chasing demons. ***completed***

#17 finding Emma

Dan was still trying to sleep. it wasn't working well. his mind was going crazy. every time he closed his eyes, he was taken back to the battlefield. he hadn't been having these nightmares when Emma was next to him. it was like she calmed his mind and helped him be normal. he needed her like an addict needed drugs. he wasn't even sure how it was possible to fall in love after such a short amount of time but in the weeks, they had been together he had without a doubt fallen in love with Emma. she invaded his every thought. he decided to get out of bed and started making his way down the stairs. maybe he just needed a distraction to clear his head.

his phone rang in his pocket. he reached in grabbing it just as he saw Kevin and Mary running down the stairs their eyes wide. the phone screen read Connor. "Hello?"

"Dan?" it was like his entire world starting spinning and his breathing stilled. he already knew something was wrong. he looked at Mary's eyes as tears spilled down her face. Kevin was saying something he couldn't register in his brain. "She was here then she went downstairs, and she was gone. Xavier is here. he is still sleeping."

"Kevin has there been any chatter on the scanners?"

Kevin was trying to console Mary who was upset. Dan let himself go numb so he could deal with what was going on. he had to turn himself into a robot and have no emotion to find her. he was ignoring the ache in his heart and the tightening of his chest. "Nothing yet. just sent in a report of a kidnapping. Dan, we will find her. we need to head to her place see what we can find." Dan shook his head moving towards the door.

"Any word on where Paul is? something doesn't feel right Kevin."

"Paul is still at work. we have eyes on him. he hasn't left." Dan couldn't shake the feeling there was something he was missing.

"Kevin," he was looking out the window trying to piece everything together. " What about her ex husband? Rory, I believe she told me. do we know anything about him?"

"when we get to her house we will have someone look him up and see what we can find." Dan nodded his head acknowledging his friend. he closed his eyes as they drove silently to Emma's house. they pulled up to the house and parked. walking through the kitchen Dan saw the window open right away.

"did the alarm go off?" Connor looked at Kevin and Dan.

"no, the alarm was off. I always turn it on but it was off." Dan looked around a little more.

"Kevin did we find anything about the ex husband?"

"he hasn't been seen in two days. last name Connors. until two days ago he was financially supported by his parents it looks like they went to court to have him removed from any financial aspects of their life. then he just disappeared."

"find anything on him. friends, acquaintances or family in the area. if he has a house or property anywhere close I want to know. he is our number one suspect. we already know the cops don't have many resources here and find out if he has used any credit cards near her or if it looks like he is on the way here. just because he left doesn't mean he is over it. what about the couple that was confronted?" Dan was fighting a war within himself. he was trying to keep in control of his emotions finding it hard to hang on. he needed to hold down his fear and rage so he could find her. " I called her dad he will be here soon for Xavier and Connor you are to keep with him. don't let him out of your radar. whoever did this may come back for him. Kevin keep an ear out for any police activity and scanners. we need to be on full alert. also, Kevin, just in case make sure marry goes with Xavier. her being Emma's best friend makes her a target." Dan made his way to the bathroom and s**t himself in. taking deep breaths in and releasing them to calm himself down enough to find her.

it had been two days since they heard anything. Xavier was under constant watch and so far had been oblivious to what was going on. there hadn't been anything on the scanners and they were still waiting on more information from Emma's ex husband. Dan was sitting in Kevin's kitchen with a cup of coffee just staring out the big window mindlessly going over everything in his head. he shouldn't have left. he should have stayed. he should have kept her safe. this was his fault. everything was buzzing in his head making him dizzy. he heard Kevin come rushing in. " Dan we got some news on the credit cards and a pattern of where her ex was heading."

Dan looked up at Kevin. "He was coming here, wasn't he?"

"yes but we got Financials for two years. he has been coming here for two years secretly. it looks like he owns a house on the outskirts. some up and coming neighborhood not many neighbors to watch his comings and going. I got the address let's go." Dan jumped up running to throw clothes on. he didn't have time to wait. he didn't care about anything else but getting Emma back safely.

the drive was silent. they didn't even turn on the radio. there was an unspoken alliance between them. they would give their lives to protect each other which includes their families. theirs was a brotherhood of spilled blood and undying trust. suddenly the police scanner bellowed out an all units to an address. Dan looked down at the address written on the paper in his hand. " Kevin, it's the same road. we need to step on it."

" on it." they were fifteen minutes out and Dan was trying to keep the coffee he had drank earlier down. his stomach was in knots as he thought of everything that bastard could be doing. he was no stranger to what a person could do to another. he had seen many people tortured and brought to the brink of death. this was different though. a man who felt like he was losing everything was a bomb waiting to happen. they were usually unpredictable and unstable. he already knew the first course of action was to negotiate. what the police weren't understanding was her ex husbands state of mind. if he was on the edge of his mind then it wouldn't take much for him to fall over and take Emma with him.

it felt like forever getting there. there wasn't much in the way of an actual neighborhood. Dan could see the address he had written down and then he saw the address from the scanner. it was possible she escaped and ran to the other house. there were police cars and ambulance vehicles all over. the men got to the perimeter of the police line scanning the area first. there weren't many officers. that didn't surprise Dan. they didn't have the resources to deal with a hostage situation. "united States army rangers captain Sterling. I have a few men here to help with the situation. we can get inside without being seen."

the officer looked at him sternly. "son I think we got it from here. you can get back in that vehicle of yours and wait back there." suddenly a shot rang out followed by two more.

Dan's senses went into over drive as he pushed past the officer with Kevin and Matthew. they were all part of his team on all of his missions. he gave the signal to separate and form a perimeter around the house. Dan could see a big window in front. he was off to the side peering in. he could see an older man on the ground. he was barely breathing and Dan knew he wouldn't make it if he didn't get in there soon. then he saw him. a mam sitting on the edge of the room propped against a wall. there was blood coming from a wound in his shoulder and he was yelling at someone on the ground. Dan's eyes went down to the figure lying on the ground close to him. his breathing stopped as he saw her. she was hurt. her face was swollen and she was just laying there. the man held a gun to her temple and she started coughing. he knew he needed in there right away or she would be dead. he let out the breath he was holding. closing his eyes to maintain focus. he breathed in and out as he heard the man shouting in her face. he whispered out into nothing. "hold on Emma. hold on."