Chase McCain drove into the Lego City Police Department parking lot, humming to himself. He may have been 'stuck' with Frank as his partner, but ever since Frank had told his parents he no longer wanted them paying the police department off to allow him to keep his job, the younger officer had become more careful. So far, he had broken nothing beyond small pieces of equipment easily covered by the LCPD's budget. Not that that stopped Chief Dunby yelling at him. And at Chase.

"Chase!" Frank burst out the station's doors, leaving them swinging.

"Frank, let me get out." Chase began to open his car door but thought better of it. He clicked it shut as Frank slammed into the window. Chase winced. "Ow?"

Frank yanked open the door. "I need your help!"

"Calm down," said Chase as he was hauled from the vehicle. "What's wrong? Did you jam the photocopier again?"

Frank spluttered, grasping at Chase's sleeve. "I… it's…"

This was more than the usual level of panic over office equipment. Chase put a hand on Frank's shoulder. "Steady Frank, just tell me what happened. Did you crash one of the cruisers? Even I've done that before. If you were in a pursuit or on police business…"

"It's Ellie. I just got a call from her. Well, I thought it was her, it was her number, but it was this guy and he said… Ellie's been kidnapped, Chase! He wanted a ransom. A million studs. I can't pay that. I'm going to have to ask my parents." Frank swallowed hard. His parents may have honoured his request to stop paying off the police department, but Chase knew they hadn't taken it well. Frank hadn't spoken to them in over a month.

Chase's fists tensed. "Ellie? Don't worry about your parents, Frank. You won't need their money, cause we're not paying that ransom. We're cops. And you don't mess with one of our own."

"I don't want her to get hurt."

"She won't. Come on." Chase turned towards the station. "We'll find Ellie and make whoever's taken her regret it. No one's going to be sitting down on the job for this."

Ellie woke to a blinding headache. She blinked. "Where the heck am I?"

A dark room slowly came into focus. Too small for a warehouse. The floor was concrete and bare, save for the chair Ellie found herself in. A single dim bulb hung from the ceiling. Stairs led upward, and a crack of light illuminated the edge of a door. One exit.

Ellie's heart started to hammer. Her hands were bound behind her, but there was wiggle room in her bonds and they felt rough and abrasive, like rope. She began to shift her wrists.

"I wouldn't bother struggling if I were you." The voice was deep, ominous. A figure moved from the shadows, stepping into the glow from the single bulb. "Just chill. All I want is money. Your boyfriend will bring that to me soon enough."

Ellie slowed in her fight with the questionably secure bonds. "Frank? Just so you know: he doesn't have access to as much money as he used to. He's dealing with a few family issues right now." Not the wisest thing to tell this guy, but Ellie didn't plan on waiting around for a ransom.

"Oh, I'm sure his parents will help him if he begs." The figure was wearing a hood, most of his face concealed. But Ellie could just see the glint of a piece of jewellery that pierced his upper lip. She cringed. She'd always thought that looked awful, especially that one Frank's 'friend' had. She squinted. "That doesn't seem to surprise you… Blake?"

"What? Um, no…" Blake tried to make his voice higher pitched as he tugged his hood down further.

"Ugh, seriously?" Ellie rolled her eyes, and squirmed harder. Her hand slipped from the jumble of poorly tied knots. She flung the rope into the corner.

"Wait, what? How'd you do that?"

Blake was not the sharpest tool in the shed. Nor the nicest. His questionable taste in jewellery was not in the only thing Ellie disliked about the man. "Learn to tie a knot, genius. And learn how to be a better friend while you're at it."

Blake pulled the now useless hood back. "What the heck are you talking about?"

"Frank tells me used to hang out all the time. But now that he's no longer getting to use his parents pool, or buying you ice cream and car parts, you don't want to know him. And he's still making excuses for you – you're too busy, you've got stuff on – but don't think I don't know you were just using him."

"Yeah, so what? The guy's an idiot. Sure, he's entertaining enough when he gets a party started, but it's no fun if he can't afford a sweet location. I mean, his house is dangerous! Last time I was there he put his toaster in the sink to soak because he said it always smelled like burning."

"Well, don't expect me to be a part of your little scheme." Ellie moved towards the door.

Blake stepped in front of her. "I can't let you go. I need this."

"Sorry."

"No." Blake grabbed Ellie by the shoulder and pinned her against the wall, then slapped her. "You're going to help me whether you like it or not. I need what they're paying me…"

Ellie jabbed him hard in the solar plexus. Blake doubled over. She followed with a punch square to the jaw that sent him crumpling to the floor. She slapped her handcuffs on him – he hadn't even taken them off her! Then punched him again as he struggled to sit up.

Blake started blubbering. "I'm sorry. Please stop hitting me!"

Ellie's fist was drawn back, but she lowered it as her anger waned. "I knew I didn't like you for a reason!"

"I didn't even hit you that hard," Blake sobbed.

"Seriously? I tried to be nice and not arrest you. Even after how you treated Frank. You've missed your chance now. You know how much trouble you're going to be in for kidnapping a police officer?" She reached to haul him off the floor.

Blake cringed. "No, don't hurt me. I'll tell you everything!"

"Yeah, I get it. You wanted money off Frank, so you cooked up this idea to…"

"No." Blake sat up and wiped at his nose. "I'm already getting paid to kidnap you and demand a ransom. Doesn't matter if I get any money out of Frank. And they came to me! I won't get in as much trouble if kidnapping you wasn't my idea, right?"

Ellie frowned. "Maybe. If what you're telling me is true. Blake, who asked you to do this?"

A/n: Been playing this game again. So much fun. And got it into my head to write another fanfic. Frank is adorable. Enjoy, and please leave me a review!