by Jericho

Chapter 12

Bay City Police Department

Cameron stood in Joe Carlino's office. They had the blue prints of the Lumina Building spread over the desk. It had been two days now. Time was running out. They had searched the building to no avail. They were hoping the blue prints would reveal a secret room.

"There's nothing, Cameron."

"There has to be something, Joe. I know he's got her. I know he does."

"Maybe he does, but it's obviously not in this building."

"With Stark nothing is obvious."

Cameron was so frustrated. He could hear the faith in Rachel's voice when she spoke to him. He knew she believed in him. It gave him some confidence. But they weren't getting any breaks. Cameron slammed the door as he left Joe's office. He walked through the outer office without saying a word. He turned to go outside and ran into Gary. Cameron looked at him for a minute wanting to ask him to help then he saw the snarl forming on his face and pushed on past him.

Gary walked directly to Joe's office. Everyone in Bay City knew Amanda was missing. It was the first time in over a month that Gary had been sober. He had to help find Amanda. He owed her that.

"Tell me what you've got on Amanda, Joe."

Joe hesitated for a moment but he knew Gary was sober as soon as he looked into his eyes. It couldn't hurt to have a different perspective on this whole situation. He told him everything including the theories about why Stark had taken her.

"We're playing a waiting game. He's going to lure Cameron to him."

"Cameron?"

"He sees Cameron as an obstacle. The Corys believe that Jordan will try to kill him."

Gary slowly exhaled. He had to put his feelings about Cameron aside and concentrate on Amanda. He knew his brother. Whatever had happened Cameron would sacrifice himself first before he'd ever let anything happen to Amanda.

Cameron sat in the one place he could think. It was also the place where it had all begun. How many times had he come here just to feel her presence? They had shared their first real kiss right here on this hill under the stars. Cameron closed his eyes drifting back to that night. He'd wanted to hold her and never let her go. Amanda.

So much had happened since then. Cameron sighed. He held on tightly to her love. She was strong. He had to keep telling himself that. He would go insane if Stark hurt her or did anything to her. Cameron knew exactly what he would do when he came face to face with Jordan Stark. He'd never. . . . .but that was another time. This was different.

The key to everything was somewhere in Amanda's dreams. They'd seemed more like nightmares to him. He'd laid awake too many times just watching the emotions play across her face while she was asleep. He struggled to remember the smallest details about the dreams. He closed his eyes letting Amanda's voice fill his head.

She had talked about being in a prison cell. Jordan had taunted Amalie and told her Clayton was dead. She'd never given up on him. Then she'd described running through the catacombs underneath the house. Could Stark have Amanda imprisoned in a similar cell? They'd looked over those blue prints so many times. There was no basement to that building. They'd searched the whole complex. There were no entrances or stairs leading to a basement. He had to have her somewhere else. Unless. . . .

He looked up as he saw a movement out of the corner of his eye.

"What are you doing here?"

"Mom told me this was a special place. I just figured this is where you'd be."

Cameron stared into Alli's eyes waiting for her to start down her usual line of conversation. He was surprised when she seemed to be waiting on him to begin speaking.

"I had to clear my head. . . . .think. You shouldn't be here."

Alli looked at him defiantly. Now, there was the look he was familiar with.

"I mean your Mom is missing and your family doesn't need to have to worry about you. This is coming out all wrong. Alli, I just can't think about anything but your Mom. Come on. I'll take you home before Rachel starts worrying about you."

Cameron turned away expecting Alli to follow. The Corys didn't need to worry about Alli right now. There was too much going on. He knew what he had to do. And as soon as he dropped Alli off at home and he had the peace of mind that she was safe, he would finish what Stark had started. Alli grabbed at his arm. Cameron turned toward her with question.

"She's going to be all right. Tell me that she's going to be all right, Cameron."

Cameron saw the tears in her eyes. He held out his hand to her and was somewhat surprised when Alli put her hand in his. He placed his other hand on her shoulder and made sure she looked him in the eye.

"Whatever happens, Alli, I promise your mother will come home to you safe. Whatever it takes, Alli, I promise you this."

Alli nodded unable to speak. She didn't know what she felt for Cameron. It was a mixture of anger and awe. It didn't matter how mean or disrespectful she was to him. He was patient and kind with her. And right now she believed in him. She had to.

Cameron put his arm around Alli. They walked down the hill together.

Cameron had dropped Alli off at the Cory house. He'd gone to his room and gotten the things he would need. He hadn't told anyone where he was going or what he was doing. He had to do this on his own. This was between Jordan Stark and him.

It had been easy to get into Lumina. Too easy. Cameron's investigator's instincts were on full alert. Stark knew he was coming. Cameron scanned the office looking for anything that was out of place. He stared at the bookcase against one wall. He felt around underneath Stark's desk. He smiled when his finger brushed a small button. He pushed it and waited. His reward was watching the bookcase slide into a recessed part of the wall revealing an elevator.

Amanda paced in her cell. She still looked for some small object that might help her escape. She'd tried everything. Jordan had caught her every time. His booming voice would come over a speaker taunting her for another failed attempt. Jordan had been gone for a long time now. She knew he was setting a trap for Cameron. She had tried everything she knew to distract Jordan from his plans including begging him to take her without facing Cameron. He'd refused. He was psychotic and delusional.

Amanda heard a faint metallic sound and just like a dream he was there. Amanda felt the tears on her cheeks. Cameron was here. Cameron. Did she dare cry out for him?

Cameron froze for a moment when he saw Amanda in the cell. A sharp pain throbbed in his temple. It was a prodding pain. And suddenly his mind filled with memories that were not his own.

Cameron clutched at his head as his memories changed direction. He shook his head. It was as if he were inside Clayton Cory's head. Only the memories were 200 years old.

Amanda watched in wonder as Cameron seemed to be wrestling with something powerful inside his head. There was nothing she could do. She couldn't go to him. She was helpless. Then it was as if everything he had been fighting was gone. Cameron ran to the cell thrusting his arms through the bars grabbing her arms and pulling her to him.

"Cameron. I was afraid you wouldn't be able to find me this time."

"We've got to hurry. There's something very strange about this place. Stark will be back and I want us to be gone."

"Cameron, he wants to hurt you. He thinks that is the only way he can get to Amalie."

Cameron worked on the lock amazed that Stark hadn't used a more sophisticated lock on the door. He was done with the simple lock in a few seconds. Amanda ran into his arms. Cameron kissed her hungry for the feel of her lips on his. They were both startled by clapping behind them.

"Bravo! Bravo! I must hand it to you Sinclair that was absolutely beautiful. I couldn't have orchestrated this whole escape better myself. Of course, you know that I can't let you leave here alive."

Cameron pushed Amanda behind him and faced Stark.

"Just let her go, Stark. It's me you want. Isn't it?"

"You think you've got it all figured out don't you?"

"Please, Jordan, let us go," Amanda pleaded over Cameron's shoulder.

"Oh, you plead for your lives so well, Amanda. But you see I don't want you, Amanda. I want Amalie. She was my one true love and when Cameron is gone, she and I will be together again."

Cameron watched him trying to predict his next move.

"Amalie doesn't want to be with you. She never wanted to be with you."

Jordan's good mood disappeared. His disfigured face twisted in anger.

"It will turn out differently this time."

"Do you think if you had killed Clayton that it would have been any different?" Cameron asked trying to draw Stark's attention back to him.

"Amalie loved me. Before Clayton Cory came into our lives, she was in love with me."

"Killing me won't change anything, Stark. Killing Clayton wouldn't have changed anything. You cannot kill true love, " Cameron told him.

"Silence! Amanda, get back in the cell. I know it may seem cruel to have you witness your lover's death but it is the only way that your heart will release him."

"Do you think that is what true love is, Jordan? Do you think that your love for Amalie is the only love that defies time, death? Amalie loved Clayton."

"Shut up!! Do as I told you, Amanda! Let's get this over with."

Cameron moved toward Stark. Amanda screamed. Stark pulled a gun from his waistband holding it on Cameron. Jordan laughed. His face contorted with madness.

"I know that last time I provided the weapons but I just don't have time to play with you, Sinclair. I'll let you say one last good-bye. It's the least I can do. You both have fought valiantly. Go ahead get it over with!"

Amanda sobbed as Cameron turned toward her. The love he felt for her was mirrored on his face. Cameron brushed the tears from her cheeks and smiled.

"Cameron, I love you."

"Shhh. . .you brought light into my darkness. You have molded me into the man I am with your love," Cameron's voice cracked with emotion. "I love you, Amanda. Forever."

Cameron slowly kissed her as Amanda continued to cry. He kissed her cheeks then hugged her to him as he whispered in her ear.

"Such tenderness, Sinclair. How touching for a man that's preparing himself to die!"

Cameron turned to him with all his hatred emanating from his entire body.

"You seem to think that I am going to let you kill me without a fight, Stark. I would have thought that you had done better research than that. Clayton Cory didn't give up without a fight and neither will I."

"Yes, yes, that's all very noble. But I seem to have the upper hand since I have a gun and you have nothing."

Cameron smiled a bone chilling smile, "You of all people should know that things aren't always as they seem."

Stark's smile disappeared as the force of Cameron's words hit him. Everything happened in slow motion. Cameron pushed Amanda to the floor as he pulled his gun from his jacket. Stark reacted instantly to the scene as both guns discharged. Amanda screamed. An eerie silence filled the room as the smell of gun powder wafted through the air and all three of them lay motionless on the ground.

Cameron was the first one to recover. He kept his gun clutched tightly in his hand. He stared at the pool of blood around Stark. He ran toward him and kicked Stark's gun across the room. Cameron walked quickly back to Amanda and helped her sit up. She was dazed.

"Are you all right? Amanda, talk to me."

Amanda focused on Cameron and smiled. She held her hands out to him for him to help her to her feet. Cameron pulled her up and put his arms around her. They turned to walk out of the room that had almost been their tomb. Their faces filled with terror as Stark stumbled toward them clutching his chest with one hand. Stark knocked the gun from Cameron's hand. Amanda and Cameron watched helplessly as the gun skidded across the floor. Cameron dived for the gun but Stark was determined that he wouldn't get it back. They fought one on one back and forth. Stark possessed some unexplainable strength. He held Cameron down. Cameron imprisoned Stark's wrist beating it on the floor trying to remove his weapon. Amanda screamed as the room exploded with the sound of gunfire and once again Cameron and Amanda lay on the ground.

Chapter 13

Gary had known that Cameron would take Stark on alone. As soon as Joe had told him that Cameron was missing, he'd known exactly where he'd gone. Gary wanted to help Amanda but ever since he'd heard that Stark wanted to hurt Cameron, too, that old feeling had returned. As much as he tried to shake that feeling, he knew that he had to protect his brother. It was a sense that was all too familiar from a childhood that was filled with more pain than happiness.

It had taken him some time to find the button to the secret elevator. Gary walked in to the secret room just as Cameron shot Stark. Gary sighed in relief as he saw Stark laying lifeless on the ground. Cameron and Amanda were both safe. He watched Cameron as he carefully helped Amanda to her feet. Gary froze in disbelief as he watched the bloodied Stark stumble to his feet. Gary saw Stark's intent as soon as he began stumbling toward Cameron and Amanda with a knife in his hand. He'd had no choice. Now Stark lay motionless on the floor for the second time. But this time he wouldn't get up.

Gary couldn't move. His head was swimming as a memory long buried rushed back in a blinding beam of light. The scene from long ago unfolded before him as if it had just happened.

Cameron was the first to sit up. He kicked Stark's still hand away from him and helped a trembling Amanda to sit up. He put his arms around her and held on tight. He turned and saw his brother frozen in place. He watched the emotions playing across Gary's face. It was like he was reliving a nightmare. Cameron closed his eyes for a moment somehow knowing which nightmare he was remembering. When he looked at Gary again, he had lowered the gun.

"Cameron," Gary whispered with guilt and wonder. The tears ran unheeded down his cheeks as he stumbled toward Cameron.

Cameron felt his own tears running down his face. Gary fell to his knees beside them.

"Why did you do it? Why did you confess? I don't understand."

Cameron swallowed hard. The tears wouldn't stop. He had kept all of it bottled up inside of him for so long. He hugged Amanda more tightly to him. She looked at him in wonder as he began to speak with his voice filled with emotion.

"You protected me all of my life. Everything was just beginning for you. You had gotten your badge and it was your chance for a fresh start. And even then you sacrificed things for me. You did your best to make sure that I had things like flying lessons just because you knew I'd never have them any other way. I couldn't let you throw that all away because of the old man. I knew you didn't remember stuff you did after you'd been drinking. It was my chance to protect you for once."

"You went to prison for me. For me! My God, Cameron!"

Amanda felt the tears running down her own cheeks as she watched Gary and Cameron relive the moment everything had changed for them. Her heart was full of love for Cameron. She'd always known that he couldn't have done it. She'd never believed it for one minute. For all of his tough talking, she knew the tenderness inside.

Gary continued to look at Cameron with a mixture of love, pride and awe. He always thought he knew Cameron. He always thought he had him all figured out. All the hatred was gone. The ten years of hatred combined with the incident in Boca Lynda melted away. Cameron had always been the strong one.

"How can I ever make that up to you?"

"I think you just did."

Gary looked at the body of Jordan Stark laying just a few feet away. Gary turned back to Cameron and Amanda.

"Not by a long shot, Bro."

Their attention was drawn back to Stark's body. They all stared in shock as the corpse began to glow. An odd scent filled the room. The three of them got as far away from the body as possible as they continued to look on in wonder and fear. In a matter of seconds, the man they had known as Jordan Stark was nothing but a pile of ashes. Cameron, Amanda and Gary looked at each other as if the others would explain what they had just witnessed but there was no explanation.

All eyes turned as the elevator slid open and Joe along with Cass, Matt, Toni and Adams exited into the room.

"Where's Stark?" Joe asked as he stopped in front of the three of them.

"He disappeared."

"What? Is there another entrance to this room?"

"No, Joe, the ashes on the floor are what's left of Jordan Stark."

Joe looked at them in disbelief but Gary and Amanda nodded to confirm Cameron's words.

"Is anyone here hurt?" Toni asked.

"No, but I'm going to take Amanda to the hospital."

"No, you're not. I'm fine, Cameron."

Cameron frowned at her. She looked very pale. He didn't like it. She could fight him all she wanted but he was carrying her out of here. He stood up and reached for her pulling her up and into his arms. He started walking with her toward the elevator.

"Let's go home."

Amanda smiled and snuggled against him, "Yes, let's go home. We've got a lot to talk about."

Cameron smiled at her even though he didn't want to. She had that affect on him. They turned back to face the room as they got on the elevator. It was over. The doors to the elevator slid shut effectively closing the door on the nightmare that was Jordan Stark.

CONTINUE