Hey everyone! Sorry this chapter took so long for me to write. It was rather nerve-wracking to write, actually. I had envisioned this chapter a LONG time ago (I'm talking like right after I wrote the third chapter), and I wanted everything to be perfect. Of course it didn't help that it was a pretty emotional chapter anyways! Anyhow, I hope you all enjoy this rather long installment (and it's 3 POV changes)! Let's see how many of you figure it out.=P

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            Artemis set down the false C Cube, rubbing his temples in the process. He had been working on it for the past twelve hours straight, not even breaking to eat. The Irish boy was exhausted, but he couldn't make himself stop now, especially when he was so close to completing it. Artemis pushed a strand of hair from his eyes, sighing in the process. Although he was drained both mentally and physically, Artemis was determined to do whatever it took to get his friend back home safely.

            He hadn't been disturbed and was honestly shocked he had gotten this much work done. With Holly gathering a team, he had no one to interfere with his work. Not that he still wasn't hindered in his attempts to build a new C Cube with his own thoughts anyhow. Artemis couldn't think straight, he couldn't focus on the task at hand. Artemis wanted to get this done, but his mind was racing with all the outcomes of this event. Admittedly, he was rather worried about Diana. Spiro was not a nice man by any definition, and Artemis was indeed afraid that he would hurt Diana if given the opportunity.

            But it was perhaps that fact that was most perplexing to him. It wasn't often Artemis found himself worried about the well-being of someone else, especially when he hadn't known them for very long. For some reason, Artemis was finding himself more determined than ever to save Diana. Something was different now, and Artemis was beginning to wonder why. He had rescued people before, but even then, he wasn't as driven as he was now.

            Before Artemis could get lost any more in his thoughts, he heard a knock on his door. Artemis glanced up to see Butler step into the room, shutting the door behind him. He immediately looked away from his manservant, a guilty expression plastered on his face. Butler stopped next to the desk; Artemis could feel his disheartening stare on him. Artemis didn't look up at him as Butler began to speak, instead placing his eyes back on the false C Cube.

            "The team is ready to go," he spoke gravely.

            Artemis continued to stare at the blue cube in front of him. "And they are?"

            "Holly, myself, Juliet, Mulch, and yourself," Butler explained. "Holly just left to go fetch Mulch. She should be back in a few hours. Juliet just arrived from Mexico as well."

            "Did she get me that phone number I requested?" Artemis inquired, his voice calm and collected even though his mind was not. Butler placed a slip of paper on Artemis' desk, pushing it towards him. Artemis picked up the slip, observing the numbers written on it carefully. He had had Foaly trace the restricted phone call he had received, giving him the number Spiro had called on. Artemis was definitely grateful to have the People's technology to his advantage. "Thank you. Now... could you excuse me? I have a few phone calls to make."

            Butler hardly nodded, and escorted himself out of the room. Artemis waited until he heard the door latch shut before he pulled out his mobile phone. Without hesitation, Artemis dialed the number scribbled onto the paper. He placed the phone to his ear, awaiting a response. After the third ring, a man finally answered.

            "Well hello Artemis," he greeted. "I was beginning to wonder if we were ever going to hear from you."

            "I'm not here to play games with you Spiro," Artemis hissed into the phone. "You want the C Cube? Fine. You can take it. I have technology that far surpasses it. But I will not give it to you if you've harmed Diana in any way, shape, or form."

            Spiro laughed condescendingly, something Artemis had anticipated. "She's perfectly fine. Sitting in a cell very similar to the one you sat in all those years ago."

            "Prove it; for all I know you could be lying," Artemis spoke before thinking. How could he prove Diana was okay? They were over the phone- not face to face. Artemis knew there was no way to be for certain, but he suddenly had an idea. "Let me speak to her."

*****

            Diana sat on the bed in her cell, elbows resting on her knees, and her head resting in her hands. There was no point in crying anymore. It wasn't going to help her get out of this mess. The girl knew she had to come up with some clever way to get out of there. She had been here for at least a day now, that much she knew. Diana couldn't take the mediocre food or the uncomfortable bed any longer. On top of that, she was beginning to wonder if anyone even cared if she was gone.

            The girl sighed just as she caught a figure move out of the corner of her eye. Diana looked up, seeing Spiro standing in the doorway of her cell. He had a phone in one hand, and he gestured for her to 'come here' with the other. Diana wasn't quite sure what he wanted, and she certainly didn't know why her legs carried her to the other side of the cell to the door. Spiro handed Diana the phone.

            "Arty wants to speak to you," he mocked in a high pitched voice. "You have five minutes." With that, he walked away, leaving Diana holding the phone, both annoyed and confused.

            She placed the phone to her ear, unsure of what to expect. "Hello?"

            "Diana... I'm sorry." She was relieved to actually hear Artemis' voice, but he didn't quite sound like himself. He sounded distressed. "I didn't know you would become a target like this, truly I didn't."

            "It is fine, Artemis," Diana stated. "No one could've seen this coming."

            "But I should've known something like this was going to happen," Artemis continued. "It's... just my luck, really. I had gone too long without an incident."

            "Really Artemis," Diana replied. "Don't be so hard on yourself."

            She heard a rush of static, and assumed Artemis had sighed. "Look... I have a plan to get you out of there. I don't want to get into it too much, as I'm sure Spiro has this line recording. But please, just trust me. I'll be on my way there in a few hours time, and you'll be back home in your bed before you know it."

            That's when Diana realized she had no idea where she was. If she didn't know that, how did Artemis? "Where am I anyways?" she asked.

            "You're in Chicago, Illinois," Artemis explained. "Probably towards the top of the Spiro Needle, if I'm remembering correctly. It's a long story, and I promise I'll tell you about it when we're on our way home."

            Diana suddenly found herself wondering what might've happened, why Artemis knew exactly where she was. Almost immediately, she shook the thought. Right now it didn't matter how Artemis knew, or what had happened in the past. She would worry about that later. Right now she was just glad that she would be getting out of here in just a few hours time. However, if something went wrong, she could very well never see her home again.

            "Just be careful," Diana cautioned, an odd feeling building in her chest. She suddenly felt cold, as if something was missing from that statement. Her subconscious called out to her, wanting her to just say it already. After all, there might not be another chance if things went wrong.

            "I will, Diana," Artemis answered. "Just remain calm; we'll be there shortly. I'll see you then. Good bye."

            Before Diana could stop herself, she exclaimed, "Artemis, wait!"

            "Yes?"

            "I... err," Diana hesitated. What the hell was she thinking? She couldn't say that- not here, not now. It could prove to be catastrophic if Artemis didn't like what she had to say. "Good luck," she concluded, her tone suddenly much more somber.

            Artemis said nothing for a moment. "Thanks," he muttered. "See you soon."

            With that, the line died. Diana pulled the phone away from her ear, staring at it disbelief. The girl set the phone on the floor, sliding it towards the door, watching it as it slid underneath the barred door. Diana took a seat back on her bed, going back to resting her head in her hands. She didn't understand what she was thinking. Diana had almost allowed herself to admit something she swore she never would. Those three words still danced around her thoughts, teasing her.

            The girl was just too scared to admit it to him. That was all there was to it.

            As much as she wanted to tell Artemis how she felt, Diana was nearly positive that she was going to get rejected. It wouldn't be the first time she had been, but for some reason, this was different. She wanted nothing more than having her feelings reciprocated; she just knew it wasn't going to happen. Artemis was so into his studies and being intellectual to even notice her existence beyond friendship. She didn't know why she was getting so worked up about it; he was just another guy, after all. Diana shook it from her thoughts, or rather attempted to.

            Diana watched Spiro pick his phone up out the corner of her eye. She just didn't feel like dealing with him right now on top of the rollercoaster of emotions she was going through. She heard him start speaking, but she blocked him out. She had one thought continually coursing through her mind...

            Why don't you love me?

*****

            Artemis stared at his phone, confused as to what was going on. He was perplexed as to what Diana really wanted to say. She hesitated, and then said something that made no sense with what she said afterwards. Although she never finished what she started to say, Artemis surely knew it had nothing to do with 'good luck.' He wasn't that gullible. Diana had something she needed to say, and he was going to get to the bottom of it one way or another.

            But then again, he had a lot he needed to say too. Could he blame her for holding off on whatever it was? After all, he didn't tell her about how he knew where she was, or why she was kidnapped to begin with. He didn't tell her that he was freaking out even more with every passing second. Artemis had never felt so guilty and confused in his entire life. He had crossed the room, leaning against the wall next to the window. He stared out over the grounds of his uncle's manor. Artemis had always known this trip was going to end up catastrophically; at least if he had been at home, Diana wouldn't have been involved in this mess at all. At the same time, Artemis didn't regret the trip; without it, he wouldn't have met Diana in the first place.

            The boy frowned, trying his hardest to not think about it. Even though he knew that was going to be impossible. He still had to call Marisa and bring her up to speed on what they had found out about Diana. He tightened his grip on his phone as he looked at it again. Artemis quickly dialed Diana's phone number, hoping Marisa would pick up the phone. Sure enough, he didn't have to wait long for her to answer.

            "Hey Artemis," she greeted.

            "Hello Marisa," he sighed.

            "Is something wrong, Artemis? You sound kind of depressed," Marisa started. "Did something happen?"

            Artemis hesitated. He wasn't fine, but now was not the time to admit that or anything else. "I'm fine. I found out where your sister is, and I will be on my way to pick her up in a few hours time."

            "Really! Is she okay?" the girl asked frantically.

            "I spoke to her, and it sounded like she was okay," Artemis explained. "I suppose we'll find out for sure once we get there."

            "Why haven't you left already?"

            Artemis honestly didn't know how to answer that at first. He couldn't tell her that they were waiting on assistance from fairies. She would think that he was insane. "We are still gathering a few things before we depart. We still have plenty of time to reach your sister before the deadline."

            "Alright," Marisa muttered. "I suppose just keep me updated."

            "I shall," Artemis promised. "Talk to you later." He hung up his phone, stowing it back in his pocket.

            Even though everything was going according to plan, Artemis was growing increasingly more anxious. It had never happened to him before, so he was unsure why he was experiencing it now. The one thing he was sure of was that he was growing ever the more attached to Diana, although he wasn't sure why. Maybe what everyone was saying was right? No, Artemis wouldn't admit that, not even to himself. But if that was the case, why did he find himself hoping that he wasn't the only one who had grown fond of their friendship?

            Artemis shook his head, moving away from the window. The boy knew he didn't really have time to be worried about sentimental feelings. He walked over to the nearby mirror, although he really didn't want to know what he looked like right then. Artemis stared at his reflection for a moment, before taking a deep breath and walking away. After all, he still needed to find something to eat before heading to Chicago to rescue his friend. He wouldn't be much help without some kind of nourishment in his system, and Artemis knew he couldn't let Diana (or anyone else for that matter) down. Artemis found himself trying his hardest to be all that she needed; he knew that right now what Diana needed most was a hero.