I just wanted to take a moment to thank all my wonderful readers. And to those who've reviewed this. And to all those who love L and his many quirks. I know I don't own him, but man do I love watching him panic. ^'^ Cause this is way outside his comfort zone. I think it's stuff like this that made him so sheltered in the series. He was scared of stuff falling apart on him. heehee. Anyway, big shout out to y'all. Thanks and keep reading, cause I'm not done yet!Don't forget to review!

After the hacker was pulled from the makeshift stage and placed on the floor to the side, the other girls followed suite. Each one started out struggling against their bonds and crying out. Each one tried to pull their hands free of the chains. And each one received the shot that turned them into impromptu pole dancers. The girls, now swaying on the floor from their forced high, waited without speaking.

J had a fleeting idea that she wasn't tied up, that she should flee. But her body didn't listen to her commands. It merely lounged about, or moved in slow languid motions that seemed far to slow to accomplish anything. The feel of the rough floor beneath her caught her attentions more swiftly, allowing her other thoughts to slip away before she could grasp them. A small frown formed on her brow at the distant frustration of having forgotten what she was thinking. All her thoughts started to break themselves from her as if they could not form properly before turning to something else.

A slender hand reached out to touch the skin along her stomach. At first she thought it was one of their captors so swatted at the hand drunkenly. When it did not leave she looked over into the eyes of the blond from earlier. Tear streaks lined her face, but her eyes shone a deadened glimmer. With a sigh, the girl leaned down and rested her cheek on J's side. A couple hiccups the only remaining clue to the girl's misery over their predicament. J pet the blond gently, her fingers running along the silken tresses.

"It'll be ok," she murmured. Surprising, but she almost felt she could believe the words. Must be the drugs, she thought numbly. Logically, none of them would make it out now, no matter who was looking for them. The thought terrified her, but she couldn't grasp the emotions that fluttered inside, nor voice them coherently. Her free hand clutched the now dead cell phone. Little good it would do her, but some shred of sanity made her clutch it close instead of let it fall amidst all the metal around them.

A rush of activity pulled her from their silent stupor. Grabbed from their various places around the spotlight, the girls are then carried fireman style off into the darkness of the room. As the hacker's eyes adjusted, she saw that they were walking down a cleared pathway that wound through the wreckages of boats. She also noticed that it was darker the further they got from the stage. Her body longed to go back and play with the chains that still hung while basking in the light. A turn in the pathway blocked any view of the light, to which her body ached in disappointment.

The piles of rubble then disappeared as they walked into a cemented hallway. Many footsteps echoed in the tight space as she bounced on the shoulder of her carrier. Before she could get her eyes adjusted to the dimness, J was blinded by the sunlight and fresh air of outside.

Unceremoniously, she was then dropped on a hard surface with only a worn blanket to cushion the landing. A few cries of surprise around her and J knew two of the other girls had been similarly deposited. Then a tall shutter door was brought down with the screeching of worn metal. Darkness surrounded them again and a momentary silence. Noises ricocheted outside like metal grinding, possibly the lock being closed and doors slamming. The compartment that enclosed them began to vibrate as an engine roared to life. Then the entire thing lurched forward sending everyone inside to fall back.

***Meanwhile***

The scaffold swayed and groaned under his weight, but L didn't slow his pace as he rushed along. His heart was racing again, something he noted but took little stock in. He had been too late, or had he? The transmission equipment was still there. Maybe he had arrived in the nick of time. The detective let the little spark of hope fester, but he didn't let it compromise his analytical nature.

At the far end of the scaffold which was the nearest he could get to the setup was a very unpromising staircase that led down onto the main hanger's floor. Arms curled around the rusted railing, he tested the first step gingerly. It squeaked under him, but held. With a sigh, he let go of the rail and took another step.

A deafening groan echoed into the hanger. The detective stopped and looked at the stairs beneath him with a feeling of dread. Hands raised out ahead to steady him, L ran as fast as he could down the flights as they began to collapse behind him. Dark panda eyes widened and his mouth opened in silent terror as he fled. By some blessing of the gods, he managed to get onto solid ground just ahead of the crumbling structure.

Heart pounding and breath heaving, L looked back at the death trap he had barely survived. No time to thank whoever guarded his spirit, the detective rushed over to the setup. As he looked over all the electronics, he heard a slamming sound to his left. A pathway lead beneath the scaffold he had just been on. It looked to be the only direction they could have gone, if he didn't count the collapsed stairs and the scaffold above.

Hunched by nature more than purpose, he trotted along the pathway until it led to a hallway running underground. The detective listened, but couldn't hear anyone near. Deciding he wasn't going to get anywhere waiting for a flashlight, he plunged into the dark walkway.

Keeping one hand on the wall, he continued on at a brusque pace. He had an urgent feeling that grew inside and sped his steps. He knew that he was close. The hallway suddenly branched off, he could tell by the change in the stagnant air and the sound of water. Deciding to trust in his instincts, he continued to follow the side he was on.

The hallway rose abruptly into a room. Cautiously, he looked about and realized that other than it being completely dim lighted, it was empty. Then a spike of realization hit him. Rushing to the boarded up windows, he peaked in between two planks to see outside. Right in front were the two moving vans he had seen earlier.

"I knew those looked too inconspicuous," he murmured in a monotone whisper. "I must be in that little vacant building on the corner." And just as he made the connection, the vans roared to life.