James & Others

Several houses down from the Akatsuki's place, a large van pulled up along side the road and parked. In the backseat, Sheryl was murmuring and cooing quietly to Raimi, while Lanny and James were talking in hushed tones to themselves. As soon as Cassidy, Carl, and Brain arrived, they would begin the assault.

Taking shortcuts not offered by the roadways, it didn't take all that long for Conan and Nadeem to reach their destination either. The young man slowed down considerably when they neared the intersection, making sure to keep himself behind a dense hedgerow and out of the gang's sight.

Cassidy*Conan

Soon, Cassidy's truck also pulled into view, having come from a different direction, but she rolled past where James and Lanny had parked the van, again moving a couple hundred yards down the lane and parking before hiking back. Forunately, she'd used her handkerchief to form a makeshift bandage for the leg wound, so now she wasn't nearly such a grisly sight as she moved up next to the van, waiting for Carl and Brian.

Conan moved with the silence of sudden nightfall, making no more noise that might have a small animal hopping through the undergrowth, now having carefully concealed his flaming hair under a cap that was the vague, nameless shade of dirt, and blended well with the trees. His eyes were locked on the van, waiting for the fireworks to start.

Itachi and Kakashi

Itachi and kakashi were outside. Itachi was pissed off at kakashi.You idiot! Why the hell did you let them take my brother! Let alone stupid fucking ATHA Has neji and is no daubt doing horrible shit to the kid and probably doing exactly what they did to sasuke! He snarled before hitting kakashi across the face then punching the wall.He heard cars but no where near his place. Kakashi new he expected that.

James & Others

A ten minute wait followed before a third vehicle joined the caravan, parking a little ways up the hill from where James and the others were waiting. Stepping out from the little red car, Brian and Carl each slung a large black bag over their shoulders and proceeded on down the sidewalk until the came up on the group milling about the van.

While Sheryl remained inside the vehicle with Raimi, James and Lanny had gotten out and were standing with Cassidy. "Took you long enough." Was the leader's initial remark, with a narrow eyebrow hunched up in mild accusation.

Carl shrugged it off as he swung the black pack off his shoulder and set it on the ground. "I've got a '47 for us all, but keep your pistols handy." The older man was saying, as he rummaged through the pack and began to hand out the automatic weapons.

Cassidy

Cassidy herself already had her personal pistol in its holster at her hip, but turned down the automatic firearm that was offered out. "You know I couldn't hit the broad side of a house with those things, Carl. I'd rather not send any of our own to the ER, if you don't mind. I've got my Ladysmith, and she'll do me." Indeed, though she couldn't really control the large weapons, her .22 hand gun was something that Cassidy could use reasonably well, if only because Johann had insisted that the girl learn an alternate weapon.

That said, she checked her person surreptitiously to ensure that all of her various knives were in place, and found each and every one was in its proper position. That done, she waited patiently for the others to arm up.

Itachi

Go feed the dogs KakashiHe growled then sat down on the railing of his house.Damn Madara!

Kakashi grunted and grabed a pail of meet and whistled for thedogs who all came running.

James & Others

Carl made no qualms about Cassidy's refusal, for he had more or less expected that from her. "Dan will be here for backup, incase things get outta hand." The weapon's dealer was explaining, as he worked a clip into the small riffle, "Lan, Brian - lay down some shells for the dogs. James, Cassidy, and I will target the enemies." As the clip snapped in place, the older man looked at the small group before him, momentarily taking lead of the situation, as his speciality came in weapons and assaults. "We ready?"

Now the reign was shifted rightfully back to James, who offered a sharp nod, "Lets do this." The four men then headed up the sidewalk, their gait increasing as they went until they were in a jogging sprint, gray bunnyhugs bouncing with their movements. Without taking time to announce their presence, Lanny and Brian opened fire with their automatics, spraying a horde of bullets towards Kakashi and the dogs. Carl and James held off, waiting until another member might show themselves.

Cassidy*Conan

Cassidy easily jogged alongside James and the other fellows, as if she hadn't taken a leg wound just a few minutes ago. She didn't have the attention right now to devote to the fact that her leg hurt like fire, and so she blocked it out of her brain, instead feeding a cold anger into her system that calmed and steadied her, her Ladysmith already in hand, keen eyes on the door to the building, and the surrounding trees, since twice the enemy had chosen to conceal themselves in the undergrowth.

And, from his place watching, Conan still paused. Mentally, he was counting... and finally, he typed into his phone and held it up for Nadeem to see. ONE OF THOSE WHO CAME IN THE THIRD VEHICLE IS NOT AMONG THEM. UNDOUBTEDLY HE IS GUARDING THE VAN, AND THE GIRL AND RAIMI INSIDE. WE MUST LET THE BATTLE ERUPT FULLY BEFORE WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET INTO THAT AREA LONG ENOUGH TO GET RAIMI OUT.

Kakashi

Kakashi heard the gun fire but had not seen where it came from till a bullet hit.The dogs took some bullets but immediatly took refuge in the house.Kakashi meanwhile lept up onto the porch and ran down it.Itachi we're under attack!With that said he rang a gong that had been placed on the porch for this very moment.Kakashi then got his bow and arrow and aimed at the direction the guns had come and he fired at and around it in rapid fire.

Itachi growled and dissapeared in sideHe then came out with a bow an arrow the arrow was on fire.He aimed it high and fired.Where ever it landed it would set fire to.

Deadera came out with a pistol of his own and then ran towards where the firing was coming. A smile on his face the whole time. He was zig zagging to avoid fire.If and when he came upon the enemy he would shoot at them

Zabuza was pissed he had been sleeping.Grabbing his huge sword and moved outside.He would run a few feet and then sheiled himself and then run again until he got to the enemy as well.

ames & Others

With the dogs in retreat, Lanny and Brian aimed their guns for the windows, blasting out each and every one they could before James shouted out a new command, "Take cover!" The leader bolted to the right, taking refuge behind the far side of the yard's hedgerow. Lanny ducked to the left, scrambling to the back of a tree.

"Shit!" Brian exclaimed, as the first of the arrows came hailing out to meet them. A flaming projectile missed him by a hair's breath before he was able to sprint away, falling a few yards back from the brothers as he sought shield behind a shrub.

Carl was the unfortunate one to catch an arrow as he was bolting after James. It struck neatly through muscle on his very upper shoulder, drawing a heated curse from the man but otherwise not slowing him down as he dove behind the evergreens.

Now the group took turns all for offering random bursts of fire from different angles to try and take Deadra and Zabuza down.

Nadeem nodded silently to the message after reading it, and turned his wide eyes to the van.

Cassidy

The snapped command sent Cassidy into a rolling dive, sending an arrow with a swish through her hair, but not foolish enough to take two in the same manner, the same day. As she came back to her feet, she took a sharp dodge to the left, fading with grace back into the trees. Carl's curse reached her ears easily, but she was unworried. She'd fought alongside these men long enough to know that if Carl was okay enough to cuss, he was okay enough to fight. Instead, she began targeting the various dodging ninjas, firing off two shots at Itachi and one at Kakashi.

Her little gun had less firepower than the scatter-shot rifles the rest of the gang were using, but Cassidy knew how to put her shots to use. Hers were aimed, at this point, to cripple, but not to kill, as she knew well enough that James would want the pleasure of verbally taunting them before and until he decided to give them the luxury of death. He might even choose not to exercise his right to express this to them verbally, but she knew that making an assumption and robbing him of that option would likely make him very angry. So her shots were disabling, but undeadly.

Deadra

Deadra wasn't fast at dodging so a bullet slashed his upper arm.He growled and fired at the bushs it came from and then took out a throwing knife and threw it.

Zabuza on the other hand blocked the bullets with his large sword and he made to slash threw the bushs.

Itachi lept onto the roof by grabbing the roof edge and flipping onto it. Then he ran down to the end and then lept into the trees heading straight for the group.He grabed two kunais and tossed them.

Kakashi fell to the ground to avoid the bullets. He lit the arrow on fire and stood up and fired it and then fired a normal one.

James & Others

James and Carl quickly parted ways when Zabuza came barrelling towards them, hacking his sword through the dense hedge they were using for protection. James unleashed a barage of bullets at the ninja as he was backing off out of the sword's emidiate range, aiming mainly for the other's legs. Carl was switching out a new clip and fired on Zabuza from a slightly different angle to make it harder for the enemy to block the bullets, though his aim wasn't quite perfect as he was forced to deal with the pain of an arrow that also hindered the mobility of one arm.

Lanny flinched when an arrow whizzed by his side, followed shortly after a twirling blade. The knife wedge itself neatly into the main stem of the shrub, piercing straight through and sticking out an inch on the other side. Laurence was thanking his lucky stars that the branch had stopped the weapon, or it would have gone straight into his neck. Crouching down, he returned fire on Deadra, going for the legs like his brother was doing.

Brian waited for a moment, sizing up his opponents before picking out Itachi. As the other was running for them, he aimed a rapid fire of shots for the ninja's torso and chest.

Cassidy*Conan

With everyone else occupied, Cassidy set her sights on Kakashi. The flaming arrow he'd fired thudded into the bush she'd chosen for cover, mildly scorching her before she had the chance to dodge out of its branches and into another bush nearby. Her nose wrinkled at the smell of slightly singed flesh and hair, but it didn't prevent her from sending a few more bullets in Kakashi's direction before she rolled again to the side and quickly reloaded ammo, moving further back into the trees as she did so, in order to give herself more maneuverability around the burning foliage.

"Fire in the hole!" she called, which from anybody else would have meant an explosion, but from her meant exactly that: fire, and watch your hides if you want to live. That said, she quickly moved away from the area that she'd shouted from, circling completely around behind everybody and coming up on the other side, now firing a few more rounds at Kakashi, this time from a new angle.

Kakashi

Kakashi growled a bullet entered his shoulder.He lept away from the other bullets just in time.His back now to a tree.He then threw knives at all the bushs that weren't on fire.

Zabuza blocked the first guys bullet but felt one penitrate his leg but not the muscle.he hollard and then lashed out violently with the large sword.

Itachi growled as one started firing at him. Good thing he had quick reflexes. He lept this way and that on the branches almost sleeping quiet a few times.he then lept down behind one of the men and attempted to kick the man in the back.

Gaara finally came out with a throwing star tha worked like a boomerang except it didn't come back and it was sharp. He lept into the air and threw it.

James & Others

James hurried backwards, as Carl offered Zabuza several more shots. "Think that swords gonna stop me?!" He shouted, continued to back up and draw Zabuza's attention so the older man had a clearer shot at him, "This is what you get for messing with the CS!"

Bits of bark and wood splintered into the air as bullet after bullet hailed after Itachi. Soon, his first clip was spent and he was hurriedly stuffing a new one in. Around him, the ground was littered with casing that rattled noisly when he stepped over them. "Brian, behind you!" He called out as Itachi leaped down.

Brian was being mindful of the spreading flames when Lanny's warning caught him. He turned just in time to see a figure leaping down from the branches. Instincitvely, he raised his gun and fired at the ninja, while side-stepping from the kick.

As the sound of gunfire rang out continuously, Nadeem edged up closer to Conan, speaking in a hushed whisper, "Sooner or later, cops will arrive. Do we risk waiting a little longer, or... should we do this now?"

Cassidy*Conan

With careful calculation, Cassidy was making her way back to the rest of the gang, not stupid enough to get caught by herself in the maze of trees. Her burned hand flexed around the butt of her gun, the only sign of the slight twinge of nervousness that she was beginning to feel. She had no reason to feel that way... but her instincts were screaming at her. Something was not right.

At first, for his silence, it seemed as thought Conan had not heard Nadeem's question... his eyes continued to watch the battle, a single finger raised as if saying, Wait for it... And then, with a flick of the finger, Conan darted forward, moving like something of liquid toward the van, the small amount of noise made by his passage easily drowned out by the battle. Mindful that there was still another person guarding the van, Conan was careful to come up away from the doors, just out of sight, trying to assess the guard before he moved in for an attack.

Itachi

He growled when one man screamed out.Then he felt the bullet scratch his side.He landed with one hand on the ground and then he heard the males words and he raised a brow.What? We haven't done shit to you guys, We have been too busy with the ATHA!He snarled now angry.

Zabuza listened and aimed to lash out at anyone.

Kakashi had multiple bullet wounds but stood but barely.

Deadra was out cold

James & Others

Brian leveled his gun at Itachi's head, but didn't fire yet, "You call attacking our leader nothing? Don't think we've forgotten about that." He snarled out, fingering itching to squeeze the trigger, "And I don't buy your 'fighting with ATHA' bullshit for one second."

The sword clipped Jame's gun, casting the riffle harshly to the ground. Carl instantly covered for him, sending a hail of bullets for Zabuza while the leader scrambled to draw out his pistol.

Nadeem darted forward along with Conan, keeping surprisngly quite and stealthy as he stuck close to the other. Years working with wild animals out in the wilderness had taught him a few things about keeping quiet and light on the foot.

Inside the van, Daniel had his eyes on the intersection, and a hand on a phone. If things turned south, they had his number on speed dial. But more than that, he was listening in to the police frequency, picking up reports of gun shots and monitoring how close the cops were getting.

Sheryl was talking quietly with Raimi in the back, trying to keep her mind off of what was going on a few houses down. Neither of them saw the two figures bolt across the road and sneak up behind the van.

Cassidy*Conan

Cassidy also gave Zabuza two rounds of her Ladysmith, listening carefully to what was being said between the two parties. It didn't take her long to piece things together... and when she had, all bets were off. With a low curse, she darted back through the trees, heading back toward the van as she once again reloaded ammo. There was only one other person who hated her enough to do something so stupid...

Meanwhile, Conan's gaze was coldly and unshakably upon Daniel, thinking this over quickly, before anybody else came. Short of shooting him, Conan did the next best thing he could think of. With the stealthy silence that marked all of his movements these days, the teen crept up as close as he dared go... and suddenly leapt into the air, aiming to bring the shaft of his rifle down across Dan's throat and use it to drag him aloft the spare two inches he had over the other in height, at tactic which, if he was successful, would effectively cut off his air supply momentarily and keep him from making use of either the phone or the weapon in his hand.

Itachi

He raised a brow stillI have no clue what the hell your talking about!He growled.You want proof? Sorry but the closest i can give you is this pic of my fucking brother who had his eye gouged out by those idiots and then the initials of your fucking gang carved into his back!He snarled.

Zabuza growled continueing to block the rounds shout off at him.Quick to judgeHe snarled.

James & Others

Brian snorted, keeping the gun trained on his enemy, "Well, isn't that interesting?" The tone was sarcastic and mocking, "That can all be sorted out later, but the fact is this - you threatened James and you attacked Cassidy." The man shifted his weight and spit disgustedly on the ground, "Give me one good reason not to blow your brains out right now."

When something flashed at the side of his vision, Dan had only a moment to turn his head and assess the problem before something slammed into his throat. The blow was well aimed and direct, causing the man to draw a weezing gasp and bring his hands up to his neck.

Nadeem edged up beside the van, just behind Conan. Thinking on the fly, he tugged open the side door and reached in to snatch Raimi from Sheryl.

The woman shrieked in alarm, scrambling back across the back seat and pulling the toddler out of Nadeem's reach, while offering him a few good kicks.

Cassidy*Conan

Conan was grimly glad to feel the weapon slide up into it's intended target, and might have growled a threat if he could have, but instead used his left foot to deal a shattering blow to the man's shin area, braced to hold up his weight if the legs should give way. It was the only way he had of telling the man to hold still.

Raimi also let out a wail as Nadeem reached in, but this one was in recognition. This man had helped Ras-Ras! He would take him to his brother. The boy hadn't yet spotted Conan through the tinted glass of the vehicle. Now Sheryl was forced to struggle not only with Nadeem, but with an increasingly irate and wiggly toddler, who was not at all happy that two of his friends were fighting.

But Conan's struggles with Dan came to an abrupt halt as a cold female voice echoed from just behind the teen, causing him to whirl quickly with the man in his grasp. His attention had been so devoted to his wrestling with the man that he'd forgotten to keep the careful watch that was his habit, and now he was staring down the barrel of Cassidy's Ladysmith. "Unless you'd like your features rearranged in the most painful and permanent way I can devise, drop him, witch boy."

Itachi

HE growled anad listened.Zabuza stop they are confused and have been trickedHe growled.Attacked Cassidy? That girl that just left? Tell me where did you pick her up? I could of sworn she was helping an ATHA personell when we attacked oneHe growled.Threatened him? I don't remember threatening anyone except ATHA!He growled.

Zabuza blocked the last few and then halted

James & Others

The violence had stalled for the time, but threatened to errupt at any second as each of the four men held a finger on a trigger, "That's a fucking lie, and you know it." This time, it was Jame's voice the snarled out, "Cassidy works for us, and us alone. And don't play stupid - I'm not letting Sasuke off the hook for his assault on me."

"We should finish them off now." Carl insisted darkly, ready to unleash his entire clip on Zabuza, but Lanny brought up a rather pertinent issue, "Guys, where's Cass?"

At this, Jame's face darkened and he aimed the pistol closer to Zabuza, "Where the hell is she! I swear, if you're trying to take a hostage..."

Dan gave a howl of pain when the foot bashed smartly into his leg, forcing him forward in reflex before he had the time to assess his choking throat. In a world of hurt, he offered a blind punch at Conan before trying to shove him to the ground.

Nadeem reeled back after getting a decent kick to the side of the head, but braved the thrashing feet for another go at Raimi.

Sheryl screamed again, hardly noticing that Cassidy was outside and contending with Conan. "Get away! JAMES!" She shrieked out, struggling to hold onto Raimi as Nadeem finally got a hold of the toddler's shoulders.

Cassidy*Conan

Conan staggered back into the van as Dan attempted to throw his weight around, effectively releasing his hold on the man, though he still had the presence of mind to keep his rifle in hand. It was a long enough moment for Cassidy to step between them, though, and she called to the panicked woman in the van. "Hush, Sheryl! He's occupied. I've got this under control. Dan, get rid of that man." Her aim never faltered from Conan, who now was leaned back against the van, not daring to raise his rifle again, scowling up at her with a deadly look that would have made his father, or heck even Ben, proud. And worse... his hands were shaking.

Raimi was trying his best to keep Nadeem and Sheryl from hurting each other, but when it became apparent that, in fighting for him, neither was paying attention to him, he simply let out a wail. "RAAAAASSSSS-RAAAASSS!"

That was what perked Conan up, made him suddenly swing the shaft of his rifle up and over to knock the small gun from her hand, taking the shot she'd managed to fire off into his right shoulder with a grunt as he flung the Ladysmith from her grasping fingers to the ground and shifted the aim of his rifle to her.

Zabuza

He glared.We don't take hostages any more especially not in a fucking fight!

Itachi glared.She definitly is double working then cuz i know she faught Neji and Kakashi with some other guy while i faught the ATHA Guy!He growled.

James & Others

The look on Jame's face was volatile as he glared from one member to the next, "Don't be giving me that bullshit! Are you seriously expecting me to belive anything you say?" The leader took a deep draw of breath to steady his mind, "Where is she? Don't push me, kid, cause I will put a pretty little hole through that thick head of your if you want to keep feeding me lies."

Dan braced a hand momentarily against the van, teeth clenched as he fought over the searing pain in his neck and shin. And then he had dodged past Conan and Cassidy to go for Nadeem.

Bracing against the kicks, Nadeem finally pried Raimi from Sheryl and almost fell backwards out of the door as he tried to get away from the frantic woman. "Conan, I - ahhh!" Just as he was toppling out of the van with Raimi in his arms, a shot rang out and he saw a gun go twirling through the air. Before he could register that it wa Conan who took the bullet, something grabbed him by the shoulders and hauled him back to his feet.

"Lower your gun!" Daniel demanded, as he wrapped one hand around the side of Nadeem's throat, and the other holding tightly on the younger man's shoulder.

Cassidy*Conan

Cassidy had frozen carefully in place when Conan pointed the weapon at her, but Dan's threat made her smile a sneaky, sly grin. "There you have it, witch boy. You have a clear choice. Drop the weapon, or Dan'll rid me of both you and your friend there. Well, hurry up! I haven't any patience, and Dan's hands aren't as steady as they used to be..." she let this fade off into silence.

Conan's eyes flicked coldly between them for a moment, even holding Nadeem in that cold light for several seconds. The teen was terribly tempted to just let them have Nadeem, if it would give him his brother back. Something cold had enveloped the boy, since his keeping company so often with Ben, something terrible that made him want to abandon Nadeem to his fate...

But by this time, what with everybody toppling around, Raimi had managed to wiggle free of everyone, long enough to wriggle up beside his brother and pull up on the leg of his blue jeans a soft whimper in his voice as he nursed a scraped knee. "Ras...Ras..." Conan's eyes closed quickly against a wash of memories, and a sigh ran slowly out of him in a tremble of shoulders... and the gun went down.

Cassidy stepped from behind it with a smirk as Conan scooped up his little brother, who began instantly to coo with an intensity that even Sheryl was never favored with. Conan cuddled him carefully as he faced silently off with Cassidy's smirk. "Dan, give me your phone. It's time to put an end to this charade. The Akatsuki have done nothing, this time."

Itachi

Your double crossing girlfriend went back the way you came!He hissed. He wasn't at all pleased.

Zabuza:Hurry up and apologize and then leave or i will hack you guys in halfhe was getting very edgy.

James & Others

He scoffed in mock humor, "Girlfriend? You'd best get your facts straight - she's not anyone's girlfriend. And don't you dare accuse any of my members of anything." James shifted his icy glare to Zabuze next, his face now completely devoid of the brief humor it had held, "Appologize? Ha, that'll be the day! You've got two guns trained on you - I suggest you appologize first."

This was exactly the kind of predicament Nadeem had been dreading. When he believed it couldn't possibly get any worse, he saw the chilled look from Conan and felt his stomach knot to the point where he thought he'd be sick. His heart was thrumming so fast he could hardly think straight, but deep guilt was racing through his mind.

Dan was wordless, but his infuriated gaze spoke plenty enough as he switched them seethingly from Conan to Nadeem. Keeping a grip on Nadeem's neck, he handed the phone off to Cassidy.

Cassidy*Conan

Cassidy took the phone from Daniel, bending in the same moment to grasp her Ladysmith once more and flip it carelessly into the air, catching it easily and leveling it at Conan, though some humanity showed in her in that the aim she chose could have never hit the toddler, even if he had squirmed. "The final, brave Carlyle brother, silenced by a toddler. How... typical." And, with her other hand, she dialed the phone, waiting for James to pick up before she said, "James, Cass. I'd suggest you get back here. I just saved your girlfriend from a backhanded plot. I'm sure you'd like to see the fellow... red hair, blue eyes, muscle-bound. Looks just like his dad in the face... and his brothers, too." That said, she hung it up.

Her face was full of cruel enjoyment as she continued to level both that cold glare and the gun at the silent red-headed teen, now speaking to Dan, though her eyes never left Conan. "Keep a hold on him, Dan. Don't let him squirm. Unless I miss my guess, we'll have company very soon..."

Itachi

HE growled and glared.We have no reason to apologize to you we have done nothing wrong!he hissed.

Zabuza snorted.I can easily block

James & Others

"Oh, come on!" James yelled, waving his free hand in the air, "Stabbing me, that's nothing? Fuck this, I'm done playing games with-" A ringing in his pocket interupted his threat, forcing James to fish in his pocket and take the call. His jaws set tightly, as he spoke briefly, mainly acknowledging the caller, before hanging up. "We're heading out. We'll deal with these scum later."

As James headed back to the road, Lanny, Carl, and Brian kept their weapon's trained on the ninjas to ensure that none of them tried anything. And then they, too, backed off and retreated the way they had come.

Ideas of brash heroics were buzzing through Nadeem's head, but didn't act on any of them. Around him were two seasoned gang members, and he knew he didn't have the skills to take on just one, let along dispatch two and get Raimi and Conan out of danger.

"Where's Sher?" Jame's authoritive voice barked out, his dark eyes lethal, and grew all the more deadly when he spotted Conan.

"She's fine, she's in the van." Dan replied, "What do you want to do with these two?"

James didn't ease up, but there came a sinister twinge to his then lips, "Put them in the van."

Cassidy*Conan

All this time, Conan remained silent, and motionless, save for the occasional movement to stroke his brother's back to keep the toddler quiet. And indeed, Raimi was holding onto his big brother as if he expected Conan might disappear if he let go. He was still happily crooning his brother's name, too. "Ras-Ras-Ras-Ras-Ras!" Conan did his best, without sound, to shush him, not that it did any good. Nothing, at this point, could keep the little boy from expressing his joy at having his Ras-Ras back again.

But the elder brother's cold eyes were on Cassidy as she flicked the weapon at him. "Step inside, Rasputin"

Itachi

He grunted and rolled his eeye and then he and his group moved back into their house to treat each other and the dogs

James & Others

While James was heading over to Conan, Lanny went to assess Sheryl and be sure that she was alright. The young woman, having overcome her initial shock at being 'attacked' by Nadeem, was now demanding that Raimi be returned to her. Obligingly, Laurence came around the side of the van and attempted to hoist the toddler up into his arms, while pointedly ignoring the kid's older brother.

"We were beginning to wonder if you had the guts to show your face." James spat snidely, circling around in front of Conan, "Rest assured, Rasputin, you and the Indian will be sleeping with the fish tonight."

To stunned to do anything, Nadeem hardly offered a struggle as he was dragged to the back of the van and hauled inside. Brian offered his assistance with Conan, moving to grab the teen by the arms and twist them behind his back so he'd be easier to force along.

Cassidy*Conan

He was willing enough to go along with them... until they attempted, once again, to separate he and Raimi. At this point, both brothers began to protest vehemently. With a scowl that was deadly, Conan dropped his rifle and swung a hefty fist at Lanny, while tightening his single arm around Raimi, who was squealing in distress and, for the first time ever, squirming away from Lanny's embrace. Uncle Lanny had become his best friend in the Zelkovi household... when he wanted no one else, Raimi would go to Laurence. But now he screamed and fought for all he was worth.

This was one thing that Cassidy hadn't accounted for, and wasn't prepared to contend with. As she moved forward to control the teen, she somehow managed to get tangled in Brian's grasping hands, an effort which almost earned him a smarting smack across the face before she found her control once more. She didn't dare, at this point, to use her rifle, for fear of hitting her allies, but a knife did slide from an arm-tie with a shinking sound, which she immediately moved to lay about Conan's neck, much as he had done to Dan earlier.

James & Others

Raimi's blatent and unbridled distress at being picked up was just as unexpected for Lanny as the punch was. Being stooped over in his effort to pick the toddler up, Conan's fist sent him spiralling off balance and crashing to the ground. Amid this, Brian's reach for the red-head was hindered when Cassidy moved forward, nearly earning him a smarting slap for his befuddled efforts.

James was thoroughly pissed as it was, and seeing his brother decked snapped the last of his self control. Taking his pistol, he swung the butt of it down for Conan's head with brutal speed and force, trying to knock the teen senseless. And whether or not he went down, the leader offered him some jarring kicks for good measure.

Cassidy*Conan

A crash of pain at the side of his head made Conan grateful for the first time that his father was the terrible thing that he was, because his torment had taught the teen to think around pain. Even his distorted vision and the blows to his stomach did not reduce the ferocity of his struggles to keep a hold of Raimi.

The only thing that stopped him from leveling James with the same courtesy was the cold steel that slid across his throat, bringing a reflexive gasp to his breath, and making him freeze. But this did not make Raimi happy, and he turned to scream most disrespectfully up at James and Lanny! "Nooooooooo! Noooo ghhhhhannnn Ras-Ras! Myyyyy Ras-Raaaasss!" He was still clinging desperately to his brother's jeans as everyone wrestled to tear him away from his brother's embrace. But perhaps the most distressing thing was the fact that fat, wet tears were now working their way down the tiny red face.

James & Others

Hearing that familiar cry of 'Ras-Ras' being repeated in such a distraught and screaming manner, Lanny instantly made the connection that he had only assumed to be true before. Their little Randy was sorely missing his older brother. This was just the kind of scene that he had hoped to shield the little boy from, but now there was no way around it, and all he could do was picked himself up off the ground and try again to tug the youngster away from Conan.

"Cassidy, take to the back. Brain, tape the rat up." James ordered coldly, once the Carlyle was brought under control by the cool blade of the knife. Raimi's cry went on deaf ears for him.

Cassidy*Conan

At this point, there was very little Conan could do if he didn't want to find out what it was like to breathe without a throat. It took a good deal of effort on everyone's part, what with the thick muscles that were coming in that providing the teen with a strength that defied his years, but he finally lost his hold on Raimi, and of course after that, it was a simple matter for Lanny to detach his grasping hands from his brother's jeans.

Cassidy also seemed unaffected by the toddler's screams, which escalated when he was finally separated from Ras-Ras. Indeed, she took almost a cruel amusement in forcing the red-head to his feet with just the slightest pressure on the blade, not really having to use any muscles at all, which was probably good since she was built for speed, not strength.

Conan's eyes filled up quickly with a mix of agony and hatred as he watched his little brother. Raimi was still screaming and fighting against Lanny, to no avail at this point, but using his tiny little fists to beat against the young man's shoulders, chest... whatever he could reach, straining backward to try to get back to Conan, but there was nothing to be done.

James & Others

Where James would have gotten furious over the toddler's relentless struggling and thrashing, and Sheryl quickly fed up, Lanny felt only anguish that the little boy was so distressed, and that they were the cause of it. But this he had to hide behind a mask of indifference to shield his own feelings from the other gang members. "Sorry, little guy." He whipsered quickly, keeping a firm grip on Raimi as he made his way to the backseat with Sheryl. Mo< Brian retrieved a roll of duct tape from Dan, when the man had finished taping up Nadeem in the back. Now he moved to Conan, trying to bring the kid's arms behind his back and tape them together to quell any future struggles the teen might throw out.

Cassidy*Conan

Seeing his little brother disappear back into the van with Lanny, all the fight went out of Conan. This had all been a useless scheme, which hadn't done anything but distress Raimi further, and gotten he and Nadeem captured. He didn't offer any resistance to Brian as the man reached for his arms.

Back inside the van, the toddler's fury was slowly subsiding, giving way to tears as intense emotions so often do, in the young. Within a couple of minutes, he went from wriggling to get free and beating on Lanny to slumped in his hold, burying his face against the gray bunnyhug, crying with the honest distress and pain that only small children are comfortable revealing to the world. Only one thing never changed; whether screaming it in fury, or murmuring it in sorrow, the toddler continued to call his brother's name.

James & Others

It was Lanny that continued to hold the child, taking all the abuse from those tiny fists and feeling guiltier by the moment. Sheryl had attempted to hold him at first, but his adament cries for Ras-Ras - which she knew fully understood as the calling for Rasputin - had soured her mood quite a bit, and he was once again handed back to her future brother-in-law. "It's ok, little buddy." Lanny was saying, as the kid's struggles desolved into heartbreaking tears and sobs.

It was at this point that Sheryl took him back, stroking a hand through his hair and rubbing his back, murmuring softly to him. It grated on her nerves that he continued to repeat the name of his brother, but she couldn't resist the mournfully crying, and continued to try and console the boy.

When Conan had been tossed into the very back of the van with Nadeem, James spoke briefly with Cassidy and the other guys, "We've got to wait till nightfall to do anything. We'll stache them at the old factory down on Houston Street until then."