Warnings: None in this chapter, that I can think of.

In a backwater farm, on a path near the trees, walks a nervous man. He creeps with all the stealth and silence he can muster, which are not adjectives his friends would tag on him. The ability to be still and not showoff isn't something Noble is well known for, at all. He's loud and flamboyant and cocky and happy. He drives fast cars and enjoys loud parties. This man, that sneaks along the old farmyard tree line, is a far cry from the one everyone knows.

No, this man is scared.

Afraid for his life, for his sister's life, because she's the one distracting the guards, and frightened for the cop who's tied up in the basement. Noble's never been this scared in his life. He's family with Phil Sanfino. What need does he have to fear anyone…unless, of course, it's Uncle Phil. Which it is. Uncle Phil, that is.

Uncle Phil is the one Noble's so brilliantly going against here. And that's enough to make Noble wonder just when he lost his mind. Risking his life for a cop? Not even to rescue him, just to see him. If Uncle Phil ever found out…well, Noble probably wouldn't have to worry anymore. He'd be dead. If Uncle Phil was in a generous mood.

Yet Noble still comes out here every other week to see the cop. Because…because the cop didn't have to save his life that night at the bar. Didn't have to make sure Uncle Phil knew that Noble and Bianca were squeaky clean when he got busted. Not a lot of cops would do that, Noble's sure of this. No…no other cop would do that, he's positive. And, for this reason only, Noble sneaks in to see him. If he were a better man, a braver one, Noble would call the 'other' cops and tell them where their golden boy is. He's seen the news on the TV and the newspapers, begging for anyone to step forward.

And, if he were braver…he'd rat Uncle Phil out and save this cop anymore pain.

But Noble's a coward.

He knows that. Always has. In fact, this whole sneaking thing was Bianca's idea, not his. She insisted – and slapped, don't forget the slapping part – that they owed the cop. Even implied that Noble owed him twice now; once for the bad drugs and once with Uncle Phil. And Noble might be a coward – hence why Bianca cowed him into doing this – but even he can admit when he's got a debt.

Noble eases the root cellar door up and tiptoes down the new, wooden ladder. The wood creeks a bit as he steps on it, but no one's down here but the cop tonight, so Noble can breathe easy…well, easier. He lets go of the ladder and turns to face the music. It's dark and musty, and smells of so much blood that Noble wants to run away. But he promised Bianca he'd see this through. Trust her to get a crush on a captured cop.

"Jamie?" he whispers into the black.

Nothing.

Not that Noble really expected Jamie to say anything. Jamie hasn't for almost a month now. Uncle Phil broke him good and permanent. Made Noble watch it too. Said it was character building and also a lesson on what happens to nosey cops. Noble just thought it all sick. But he made sure to smile in all the right places and get a few kicks in – he really hates himself for doing that.

"Oh, Jamie," Noble exhales as he gets closer and sees the fresh damage done from last night. Jamie just stares blankly, his head lolling to the side like a broken puppet doll. There's nothing left of the bright man Noble knew those few months ago. No, Uncle Phil took great care about that. The older Italian burnt and hit and tortured any resistance out. The only thing Jamie got in before he clocked out was lack of information.

Yeah, that ticked Uncle Phil off big time. Jamie might've screamed, he might've sobbed, but he never did tell Uncle Phil one lick of data. Kind of made Noble proud, in a twisted way, that the cop spat in Uncle Phil's face that way. Dangerous thinking, that, but Noble's since been disillusioned to Uncle Phil's charms. For all the birthday cars and loads of money the man's given him, Uncle Phil is still just as sadistic as the cops say he is.

Which sucks.

"Hey, Jamie, brought you some turkey this time," Noble says, and pulls out the cold bottle of broth Bianca made and poured oh so carefully into the plastic.

Jamie just stares.

Noble sighs and uncaps the bottle. The rich smell of Italian broth wafts up to him and Noble gives a sad smile. Jamie had gushed over this broth the first time he'd tried it. Made Bianca blush like a little girl. That's when Noble knew he just had to keep Jamie as a friend. There was something clean about the Irish man that Noble wanted to put in himself. That's why he kept asking Jamie over.

But then Uncle Phil got involved. Found out Jamie was a cop and dragged the man away kicking, and shouting his innocence. Not that it made any difference. Uncle Phil never accused anyone unless he'd all the facts, accompanied by photos this time. Of Jamie getting his badge, of Jamie busting a drug den, of Jamie joking around with his fellow cops.

At first, Noble got angry. The friend he'd trusted more than anything was only an undercover cop. All those late nights, talking about living better, about leaving Uncle Phil, it'd just been a ploy to get details out of him. So, Noble was all ready to let Jamie reap his just rewards. But then Uncle Phil messed up.

Big time.

He made Noble watch.

Everything.

Made Noble see him for what he really was, and what Jamie really was. A hateful man vs a good one. Mob boss vs cop. Noble's family vs Noble's friend. All there in black and white, where Noble couldn't deny it. Where no one could. Well, excepting Bianca. She never doubted Jamie's friendship. Not even once. She made Noble ask Jamie point blank a few weeks in about it, and, well, let's just say the blinders and filters were off and Jamie really let him have it, verbally.

"Come on, Bianca will pout if you don't take any this time," Noble coaxes as the broth runs into Jamie's mouth and out the sides. Jamie just stares. Noble wants to cry – hang it all if it's unmanly – this is his friend chained here. Jamie can't even think to fight back anymore. There's just nothing left in him to fight with. Noble hates Uncle Phil for that.

He tilts Jamie's head back a bit, pretends he doesn't feel the brittle bones beneath his fingers, and slowly pours some broth down his throat. He only puts little bit in though, mindful of the first time where Jamie almost choked to death because Noble did too much and too fast. Thankfully, this time Jamie's body reacts on reflux and swallows the tiny bit of broth before it can drown. Noble repeats the pour-and-wait for a few more minutes, until all the broth is gone.

It's not enough. It never is. But they can't risk more because where would Noble hide it? And Uncle Phil would notice if Jamie suddenly got more meat on his bones. Meat. Noble snorts. Yeah, Jamie doesn't have much of that left on him. Just the way Uncle Phil likes it, or so he says. Noble believes him either way.

"I gotta go now, Jamie," Noble says as he puts the bottle away. He waits, like he always does, but Jamie still says nothing. He sighs, pats Jamie's shoulder, and heaves himself up. Time to skedaddle. It's been, Noble checks his watch, almost half an hour. Anymore and he will run the danger of some guard spotting him. Bianca can only hold their attention for so long.

Outside is warm, cicadas buzzing just out of sight. Noble takes a deep breath, cracks his back, and closes the cellar door. It does not feel like sealing Jamie in his tomb, Noble reminds himself. It does not. That reestablished, Noble scrambles as quietly as he can through the tall grass. He cuts through the clump of trees and meets Bianca waiting by their car, on the side of the road a mile away.

She gives him the kicked puppy look she's perfected since this all started and Noble shakes his head. It's never good. Not anymore. She nods, sadly, and goes to start the car. Noble's in no condition to drive after he visits Jamie. Uncle Phil would say it shows that he needs to toughen up. Bianca says it shows he's still got a heart. Noble just wishes it would stop. All of it. Just go back to the way it was before.

Bianca clicks the car on, lights off, of course, and slides out onto the road, away from the farmyard and their guilty conscience. They don't speak for ages. Just drive on dark, bumpy roads until their turn into smooth, bright city ones. Only then does Bianca let out a loud breath and glance at him.

"How is he, Noble, really?"

"Dead."

The car swerves.

Noble ignores it. "Dead where it counts, anyway."

"Don't do that!" Bianca screams, tears in her eyes. "Don't you ever do that again, Noble!"

He nods. "Sorry, Sis."

"We have to do something, Noble," she says, like always.

"And get caught?" he answers, like always.

Only this time she doesn't back down. "He'll die, Noble. Really die. And it'll be our fault. For once in our lives, let's do something worthwhile. Let's save him."

Maybe Noble just tired, but he doesn't counteract her. No, he is tired. So very, very tired of all this. He just wants it to go away. Far away. Where Uncle Phil won't find them. Where no one knows who they are and they can just be brother and sister and nothing else.

"Okay," he says.

"Okay?"

"Yeah. Okay." He straightens. "I'll do it though."

"Noble – "

"No!" he snaps, in an uncharacteristic surge of protectiveness. "If this goes south, you have something packed and run for the cops. Don't stop until you get that Renzulli guy. He's decent enough. Then you bug them for some cover and get out of town. Leave this other stuff to me."

"But Noble…"

They're at a red light, so Noble leans over and kisses her on the cheek. "Let me be the older brother, okay, Sis? Just this once."

"Okay," she whispers. "Okay."

And that's my first chapter. There will be five in all. Please, review. I really want to make sure I'm doing this fandom justice.