| "Justin, wanna hold her?" Lance sat beaming in the hospital room, cradling his newborn daughter in his arms. Justin was backed so far against the wall, he'd have been in the next room if he could. "Come on, she's just a baby. She won't bite." Lance laughed deeply as his friend shook his head in fear. "What if I drop her?" Justin frowned, inching closer. Lance stood up and moved closer, cooing gently at her, her small fingers wrapped tightly around his pinky. "You're not going to drop her. Geez, didn't you ever hold a baby before?" Justin bit on his thumb, then cursed, remembering he was supposed to have clean hands while in the room. "Uh, no. I don't think I have," he admitted, staring at the bathroom. He knew Lance's wife was in there, showering, so he was safe for the moment. "I'll hold her around Christmas. Is that okay?" "Justin, she'll be six months old then." Lance crossed the room and placed the tiny bundle into Justin's arms. "Here, like this. Hold her head." Reluctantly, Justin took the baby, his hands shaking. He stepped backwards, glancing for the rocking chair. "Am I cool?" he asked, wanting to sit. His chances of dropping the kid were less if he was in a seated position. "Yeah, you're good. Now relax." Lance sat on the edge of the bed and ran his fingers through his hair. Despite being up for over 24 hours straight, he was elated. He had a daughter, a baby girl all his. Life was good, and he knew what pure love was. He watched his friend's face carefully, as it turned from fear to happiness, and he knew Justin adored her as well. "She's so tiny," Justin gasped, pulling back the blanket a bit to see her face better. "And she looks just like you. That's funny." He hummed lowly to her, instinctively rocking back and forth. Lance grinned, reaching for his soda and taking a long sip. Nothing could take his happiness and joy away right now. Nothing at all. "Oh my God! Lance!" Lance sat up, straight as an arrow, and wiped the sleep from his eyes. "What? What's wrong?" He swung his legs over the old victorian bed and stumbled to his feet. "Is it the baby?" he called, hearing the panic in his wife's voice. A loud scream pierced the night, causing him to tear from their bedroom and into the nursery. He took one look at his wife, collapsed on the floor, clutching the baby's blanket, and froze. His knees turned to jello, and his body trembled. Staring over to the crib, he noticed she was gone. His baby was not there. "Oh no," he cried, finally gathering the courage to move. He flew to the empty crib and shook his head. "Please, no," he prayed, turning around to scoop his wife up. "Honey, are you with me?" She was limp in his arms, a dazed look upon her face. "Honey, come on back." He lifted her up in his arms and made his way back into their bedroom, depositing her on their bed. Grabbing the phone, he quickly dialed 911, explaining what happened. A sob caught in his throat, and he stammered his way through all the questions being asked. Returning his attentions to his wife, he cradled her body next to his, smoothing her hair. "It's okay. They're on their way. Shh!" Her stillness was broken by a cramped sob, then complete breaking down. Lance sat helplessly, comforting her the best he could, wondering where his 3 month old daughter was, and with whom. His heart was breaking, and his mind raced with uncertainty. When he found the asshole that took her, they would be dead. A coldness formed in his eyes, and he set his quivering jaw tightly. Within minutes, a loud pound on the front door shook Lance to his feet. "Honey, I have to go let them in. Stay here." He laid her crumpled body against the mountain of pillows she insisted upon sleeping with, and rushed down the steps to the door. Flinging it open, he stepped aside to let them in. "Mr. Bass, we've had a call at the station. We belive it's from the kidnapper." The older officer laid a hand on Lance's shoulder and guided him into the kitchen. "We need a statement from you first. Where's your wife?" Lance blinked hard. Kidnappers? This all seemed like a bad dream, a B rated movie. "She's um, she's upstairs. She's in shock. I need.... Oh fuck. I um..." His voice cracked with each word and his lip trembled. "It's okay, Mr. Bass. We'll send someone up there for her. I need to know what happened while the other officers check out the nursery." Lance pinched the bridge of his nose hard, forcing back the flood of frightened tears that threatened to fall. He closed his eyes, then opened them, satisfied he could hold them back. "Okay, well, we went to bed about eleven, and she..." "What's your daughter's name?" the officer asked, thinking briefly to his own daughter who had just turned three. "Victoria, Victoria Rose," he whispered, as if saying her name would make the entire ordeal more real. "She ah, she fell asleep on my chest. She likes that, the sound of my heart and all." Lance gingerly touched his chest, over his heart, where just hours ago, his baby laid on him, sleeping soundly. "..and my wife took a bath. Then I put her in her crib." Lance's eyes darted around the enormous kitchen, spying the empty bottle on the sink. "Oh, she had a bottle. Before she fell asleep on me." He stood up and crossed the room, picking the tiny bottle up in his hands and clutching it to his bare chest. "Um, what else? What else?" He searched his mind for tiny details, anything that would help. "What was she wearing?" the officer asked, joting down notes in his book. Lance placed the bottle back down and bit his lip. What was she wearing? He couldn't recall. His wife had given her a bath and dressed her. Dammit! Why couldn't he remember? He was holding her, and she was so soft, and tiny. Tears stung his eyes again, and he took a deep breath. "My wife might know. She dressed her tonight. I just, oh God, I'm sorry. I can't remember." The officer nodded silently, and forced a weak smile. "Listen, we have a lead. Don't worry. We're going to find her. Would you mind taking me up to see your wife now?" Lance ran his hands over his face and gulped. So much fear and anger was building inside of him, he couldn't focus. The only thoughts going through his head were for the saftey of little Victoria. He was certain she was hungry, and missing her mommy and daddy. His chest constricted with each step and his vision grew blurred. He scolded his body for not cooperating. The top of the steps finally arrived, and he walked by the nursey, now alive with activity. Passing it sadly, he entered his bedroom. His wife was staring into space, a female officer holding a glass of water to her lips. "I'll do that," he said gently, climbing onto the bed and sitting next to her. "Honey, take some water. Please." His fear was growing for her now. Slowly, she turned to him, her blue eyes red with tears. "Lance, they took her. They took our baby," she sobbed, burying her head in his chest. Lance held her, rocking her back and forth. He reached for the phone and called his parents, then her parents, all the while never letting her go. The officer from downstairs sat quietly, glancing around the sprawling master bedroom suite, looking for anything out of the ordinary. He needed to get as much out of them now, while the crime was still fresh. "Ah, Mr. Bass. We have medical on it's way for your wife. I need to discuss the phone call, in private." One look at the shivering woman on the bed let him know that she was in no frame of mind to hear what he had to say. Lance nodded, sliding out from under his wife's grasp. "Stay here. I'll be back." She laid down on the bed, still a mess, but managing a few sips of water. He followed the cop into the hall. "What did the son of a bitch say?" he asked, folding his arms over his chest. He tried to avert his gaze from the noises and sounds coming from Victoria's room, but it was hard, very hard. "It's a she, actually. She is requesting a million dollars and a meeting with you." Lance's pale eyes grew deep with confusion. "She wants to meet me?" he gasped, not sure he heard right. "Seems she's a fan, deranged, but a fan," the officer continued. "So, she's promised to call back in two hours. We have every available officer on the case, Mr. Bass." Lance slumped against the wall, shaking his head. "Give her what she wants," he said softly. "Whatever she wants. I just want my daughter back safely." His eyes met the older man's. "I'll make the calls right now." He crossed the hall into his office, and sat behind his desk, preparing to wake his accountant. "We don't recommend that," the officer said firmly. "What?" Lance asked, picking up the phone. "My daughter is gone. What possible reason could you have for not recommending that I do as this loon says?" He looked up at the officer, who was closing the door behind him. "Did you see my wife? She's hysterical. If the kidnapper wants a million dollars and to meet me, that's fine. I'm in." He dialed the number. The officer quickly moved toward the phone, replacing it on it's cradle. "We have procedure," he explained, having gone through kidnappings a hundred times over his 30 years on the force. He'd never get used to that pained look in the parent's eyes, their eagerness to do anything to get the kids back. He didn't blame them, not at all, but he had rules. This was the first famous kidnapping he'd ever worked, and he was guessing it would be a whole new set of rules. Lance pushed his chair away from the oak desk, anger and frustration shooting from his eyes. "Look, she's out there, my kid. My flesh and blood!" His voice raised and carried through the door. "When that bitch calls back, you tell her to return my kid and I won't press charges. I just want her back." The cop sighed heavily. If only it were that easy. Nine times out of ten, the kid was already dead, and the last thing he wanted was to have this one be a statistic as well. Maybe the kid's fame would work with them, instead of against them. He had hope. He had to. Days rolled on. Justin, Chris, JC and Joey had camped out at Lance's house, along with his parent's. Her parent's were on their way from Europe, where they had been vacationing. "JC, would you sit down?" Joey barked, sick and tired of his pacing. "Come on man, you're not helping." JC sat, a frown set upon his gentle features. "When is the drop? How much longer? I thought they were going to call!" Justin appeared from the kitchen, a cup of tea in his hands. "Shut up, will you? She can hear you up there." He balanced the tea carefully as he made his way up the stairs to Lance's bedroom, to deliver the tea to his wife. Joey and Chris watched him acsend the stairs. "She's still such a mess," Joey sighed, wishing he could do more. Chris nodded. "I wish they would call," he said in a hushed voice. "That baby needs to be with it's parents." The loud ringing of the phone sent them all jumping for it. A uniformed officer stopped them. "We have to get it," she explained for the millionth time. Quickly, she turned on the recorder, and waited while Lance's wife picked up. "Hello?" she asked. "Honey, it's me." Lance's voice floated happily over the line. "I got her. I got her!" he said. "Thank God!" she screamed, jumping up, startling Justin. He dropped the tea and hurried over. "What? What'd he say?" he questioned, biting his thumb. She replaced the phone and smiled. "Tori's coming home!" She sobbed, falling into Justin's arms. Seconds later, Joey, JC and Chris appeared in the doorway, pushing their way in, followed by Lance's parents. She looked up, and grinned. "She's coming home! We have to go to the hospital. Lance said she's fine, but being checked out!" "Let's go" Joey shouted, hopping on the bed. Lance sat in the backseat of the police cruiser, his baby girl strapped into a borrowed car seat. He held a bottle of breastmilk to her mouth and watched with loving eyes as she sucked it down. They were headed for the hospital, for precautionary measures. He let the tears escape his eyes every so often, and sang her favorite lullaby, Hush Little Baby. Slowly, her tiny green eyes closed, contentedly. He leaned back against the car's seat and bit on his lip, trying to control the emotions he felt. It had been such hell, not knowing where she was, dealing with his wife's break down, trying to be strong. He'd fought the tough fight against the police, who didn't want him to give in. Looking down at that small, trusting face, he couldn't not give in. They accompanied him to the meeting place, where the woman promised to bring the baby. Lance was wired, and carrying a bag full of money. He had been given the chance to use phony bills, but refused, just in case. He wanted to take no chances. He waited in the alley, behind the strip mall, where it was pretty deserted. The woman carrying the baby took him by surprise. She was older than he thought, not someone he would peg as a fan. She carried the little girl in a snuggly, and he was happy to see that she was taken care of. The woman approached slowly, unsure of the situation. Lance held his temper in check, overwhelmed with joy to see his daughter. He took the baby from her, and hugged her tightly, whispering sweetly to her. Lance unwrapped her, checking her over for bruises or any signs of harm. "I took real good care of her," she stated, grabbing the briefcase from his side. "I'm a big fan. Love your stuff." "Why?" he asked, focusing his attentions of the kidnapper. "How?" She shrugged, a bit non chalantly. "I got a friend who works for the alarm company. Told me how to disarm your alarm. I just snuck in and took her. Didn't mean her no harm. I need the money. Got kids of my own who need stuff. Big fan, though. That's why I picked you. Saw that cute spread of you with your family in People." Her eyes scanned the area for signs of trouble. "Sorry to do that to your wife and all. I hope you'll be safe from now on." She leaned foward and attempted to kiss the baby's head. Lance reacted quickly, sheilding his baby from any further harm. "You are sick," he hissed, turning away. "You have your money and I never want to see you near my family ever again. Do you hear me?" She stepped backwards, truly surprised by his outburst, wondering if she had done something so wrong. True, her mind wasn't what it used to be, but the kid was back, safe and sound. She'd taken excellent care of her. So what was he so pissed about? She didn't have time to wonder for long, as the army of police swooped in, taking her into custody, and seizing the money for later return. Lance took one last look at the woman who almost destroyed him, and walked away, back to the saftey of the cop car. Victoria's first birthday "Happy birthday, dear Tori, happy birthday to you." Lance looked on with pride as his wife helped his baby girl cut into her first cake. He sipped from his bottle of beer and nudged Justin. "When you gonna settle yourself down?" Justin snapped photos frantically, not wanting to miss a moment. "Huh? Yeah right! Not me. One married N Syncer is enough for our fans to handle." Lance laughed, and clapped his friend on the back. He glanced over to see Joey hitting on his sister in law and shook his head. "He's too much!" "Da Da" Lance looked over and saw Tori holding her arms up toward him. Grinning broadly, he put his beer down and made his way throught the dozens of guests over to her. Scooping her up, he kissed her cheek. "Who loves you?" he asked, nuzzling her nose. "Da Da!" she replied, giggling in his arms. Happiness was true, and known to him. This was it. |
| KIDNAPPED by destiny |