Hi! Sorry for taking so long with this chapter! By the way, I'm not done with this story yet! There's still at least an epilogue. :3 I'm posting this before I go to church, so I'll have to go on and fix the errors form the last chapter after it. Stan and Ryan belong to Ponchygirl and are used with her permission. Enjoy! Soli Deo Gloria! :D

"What're you doin' with the walkie-talkie?" the voice on the device shouted. "Where's Sta-Slick?! If you've double-crossed us, I'll pound y' so har-"

Ponch bit his lip. He had to proceed with caution. "Look, I can't help you there. I just . . ." His mind raced. What to say . . . What to say? Think fast, Ponch, or else Jon's toast! He snapped his fingers. That's it! I've got to stall him! But with what? . . . When in doubt, tell the truth. Ponch quickly prayed for God's help and said, "I don't know where he is! He just took off! Look, Jon and I fulfilled our part of the deal. We helped you. Let us go!"

Ryan scoffed, "Not a chance. Now that Stan's run off with 'is tail 'tween 'is legs, I'll need some insurance that I ain't goin' t' get 'rrested. . . Stan and I's partners. I seem to find myself without a partner. It won't in the plan, but surely his son wouldn't object to carryin' on the family business, eh?" At Ponch's gasp of horror, he continued. "Don't worry, boy. I'd not leave you all 'lone. Stan's kid'll need someone t' keep him company. Can y' dig it?"

"We'd never do that! It's 'aiding and abetting' the criminal! That would make us accomplices to the crime! . . . Well, no more than before, but still!" Ponch's eyes were huge. How could he and his partner get out of this one?

Ryan chuckled. "Oh, you will . . . if you want Jon to live to see tomorrow."

~-._.-*-._.-~

Jon's eyes widened. He had to do something! He would throw safety to the wind if he had to. While Ryan was distracted, Jon slowly stood. He had worked on undoing his bonds since Stan and Ponch had departed and had succeeded in his attempt about thirty minutes prior. Should he try to knock Ryan out and leave? Should he grab the walkie-talkie and signal Ponch? Whatever he decided, he would have to do it fast! He slowly made for Ryan.

The criminal was chuckling evilly. How cliché can you get? Jon mused. Ryan pressed the send button on the walkie-talkie and queried, "So, what's your answer, boy? Are y' in or no-" He grunted in surprise as Jon tried to cover his mouth with his hand. He very colorfully stated where he believed would be the destination of Jon's soul after he died, and that Ryan would not mind too terribly if the young man went there at that present moment in time.

Jon grabbed the hand-held device and yelled, "Ponch, don't do it!"

"Jon?! Hold him off! I'll come save you!" Ponch's voice held alarm.

Jon shook his head and immediately regretted it. He then tried to ignore its pounding. He was in no condition to "hold off" Ryan. Because his captors had wanted to ensure his usefulness both as a hostage and as assurance that Ponch would not break off their deal, they had been rougher on Jon than they had been on his partner. Jon was reasonably certain that at least one of his ribs was bruised if not broken. They had also twisted his arm, somehow.

Ryan growled and clapped a huge hand onto Jon's head. "Ain't nobody does that t' me and gets away wi' it!" His scowl was almost as menacing as his fists. He raised one of them to attack.

~-._.-*-._.-~

As Stan meandered though the empty streets of the neighborhood, he pondered all that had occurred within the past two hours. He had been forgiven of all his sins and accepted Jesus as his Savior. He felt like climbing up to a roof and then shouting it from there! His son and the other nice CHiP he had kidnapped needed to know! Ryan needed to know! Stan then faltered in his joyous walk. Jonathan is still with Ryan! I can't leave him there! Who knows how much more he'll get hurt. I know from experience that Ryan can be a bit violent when he's mad. He ran to the nearest payphone and rang up 911. "Hello? I'd like to report a kidnapping. My son, Jon, was kidnapped and is being held at 142 Finn Lane. Thank you." So, they've already sent a squad car. I'd better get over there and see if I can help! He began to run to the hideout he had shared with Ryan.

~-._.-*-._.-~

"Turn right here," Bonnie ordered.

Grossie complied. "142 Finn Lane, right? We're almost there."

Bonnie smiled slightly and stated, "Now left!"

Bear had told them where to go and what to expect. They could not feasibly search the premises without a warrant. Still, maybe they would find probable cause to enter. As they approached the house, they saw a familiar figure come around the corner. The man looked like Jon, but older. Grossie parked the car. He whispered, "I believe that is Stan Gordon, the man Getraer briefed us about."

Bonnie debated how this would affect their plan and said, "I can distract him while you go rescue Jon." She cut off Grossie's cry of protest with a look. "Jon is in there. We need to get him out. I can run faster than you can, so I should be the distraction. If Stan goes after me, I can try to escape and lead him on a wild goose chase."

Grossman nodded. "Touché. Okay, we'll go on the count of three. . . One. . . Two. . . Three!" In that instant, he exited though his car door and skulked into the bushes.

Bonnie pulled out a pair of handcuffs and stuffed them in her pocket. When she left the car, she hailed Stan over. "Returning to the scene of the crime?" She barely contained her anger.

Stan seemed to be surprised. "I came to help you. There is a key behind the shingles on the right window. Do you want to use me as bait to draw Ryan out of the house? He thinks I'm coming back."

"What are you talking about? Do you really expect me to believe that you're on the side of the law?"

Stan hung his head. "I'm sorry. I'm turning myself in for my crimes. Still, I'd like to help get my son out of Ryan's clutches."

Bonnie stared at him, seemingly weighing the veracity of his words. Finally, she decided that he appeared sincere. Besides, I've still got my handcuffs in case anything goes wrong. She nodded. "Okay."

~-._.-*-._.-~

It took everything in Ponch not to speed as he made his way for the hideout. He would rescue Jon, even if it meant losing his own life in the process. Jon had been a fantastic and loyal friend to him. Ponch would not give up now, no matter what happened. As he turned left, he noticed a squad car already parked in the driveway. "Did they send someone?" he muttered to himself. "I hope they've saved Jon from Ryan!" He parked his motorcycle. "I have to help Jon!" Ponch raced to the door. He found, to his surprise, that Bonnie and Stan were crouched not one foot away from the door. Grossie was unlocking it. When Bonnie saw him, she motioned for him to stay low.

Stan lifted his head. "Shall I go in now?"

Grossie cocked his head. "Since Ponch is here, we can head around back and surround him." He looked at Ponch to gain his assent.

Ponch nodded. He trod as quietly as possible to the back door. He whisper-yelled, "Now what? Jon's in there! Are we really leaving Bonnie with that criminal? He could double-cross her!"

Grossie sagely stated, "I don't trust him as much as I can throw him, but I do trust Bonnie. She says that she thinks he's telling the truth."

Ponch shrugged. "Okay, then. So, what do we do?"

"We wait for Stan to go inside and try to trick Ryan into leaving."

~-._.-*-._.-~

Jon held his aching head with his strained hand. He was positive now that he had a broken arm from attempting to block Ryan's blows. He had reflexively jerked back from the fist flying at him and had hit his head on the wall. By God's grace, Ryan had ceased attacking him after a few minutes. Jon was just beginning to contemplate whether or not he had a concussion when the door to the house opened.

Stan came in and stood in the doorway. "Ryan, I need your help."

The thug turned to him, eyes blazing. "Y' left me!" he roared. "We was in it t'gether and y' had to go and leave me!"

"What did you expect me to do? They believed me for a while, but were getting suspicious. They could practically see through my bluffs about being Jon. How was I supposed to know that officer," he spat believably, "had a girlfriend. As his best friend, I obviously had to know these things."

Ryan scowled and glared at Stan menacingly. He ran toward the conman, intent on "beatin' the fire," as he commonly called it him. However, he had not taken four paces before he heard something behind him. He pivoted to see Two policemen, one of them being Ponch, behind him. Ponch was examining Jon for injuries. The other held out handcuffs. Before Ryan could react, the officer snapped the handcuffs on his wrists.

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. If you give up this right . . ." the officer started to say.

Ryan clenched his fists and growled.

Ponch paid no attention to the scene. "Jon, are you okay?"

Jon smiled weakly. "I'll be fine, Ponch. Thanks for coming."