All The Hurt Would Go Away

My head is reeling...

I took it upon myself to take Isaac to bed, an inward motion of apology for not being there to play with him earlier on. But I bet he didn't catch on. After a decent half hour he started to settle into a deep sleep and I left the room to hopefully fall asleep nice and quickly.
"Jon?"
Or not.
"Yes?"
"Can I - Can I just talk to you for a second?"
I doubt it will be a second but, to be polite, I nodded and he followed me into my room. I realised my mistake when he looked at the papers again.
"I know I was freaking out a bit, but I had a point. Please be honest, where did you find out about this stuff?"
"Let him worry about one person only"
Surely it wouldn't be that bad, maybe with a helping hand it would be quicker to find her. Or he might stop me from visiting Andrew then I would get no more... oh what's the use.
"Andrew didn't kidnap her."
To my surprise he rolled his eyes at me.
"Well duh. Otherwise we'd have her by now."
"Well, when he was taken away laughing I knew we made a mistake... so I arranged to visit him."
His facial expression changed to shock in the space of a second, then anger, then fear.
"You WHAT?! Jon you know how dangerous that is!"
"Nothing happened. I proposed for us to team up cause I mean, who would want to stay in prison when it isn't your fault? But he knows who took her."
"Brilliant! Let's go ask!"
He began to walk out but I grabbed him and pulled him back.
"It's not that easy. It's all a game to him. Hence why I've got these clues."
He then started to look worried, specifically at me. Then with a grave tone he asked
"Jon. What does he want in return for this?"
"His freedom?"
I tried. I really did. Sorry Andrew.
"No. Every criminal wants something more. Tell me what he will get from this."
I went silent.
"Jon."
"Jon tell me now."
Under his stare and cold demand I stood no chance, I think it's a parenting superpower that they use elsewhere. Before the kids it was much easier to keep things from him.
"Me."
"What?"
I took a shaky breath, still refusing to look him in the eyes.
"He wants me."
Lin's face now turned from confusion to terror as he realised what I was trying to say.
"Jon you can't -"
"- There's no backing out, he's already given me two clues. I'm sorry Lin."
He began to shake his head, tears forming in his eyes.
"No Jon. No. You're not better. You're gonna get worse. What if -?"
"- I don't know what he will do. He wants me. I can't tell the authorities otherwise he'll expose our deal. Like every criminal would, he wants to do what he wants without consequence."
Lin was still shaking his head looking at the floor.
"Jon I won't let you."
Out of fight, I merely tried to reason with him. It was getting late and I'm starting to want this over with.
"Lin you'll get your daughter back."
"It's not a fucking trade!"
I flinched at his tone, he then continued in a softer voice meaning he caught on to my reaction. No wonder Andrew can read me like a book, it seems I'm like that all the time.
"I don't want to get one and lose the other. You know you're family to me Jon. I never want to see you that vulnerable and broken again. Ariella wouldn't."
"A-Ariella might not see me."
After a long pause his commanding voice returned asking the question I was hoping to avoid.
"How long."
"How long does he want you Jon?"
I took a shaky breath.
"He never said. He did say earlier though the scale depends on how long it takes me to figure out who took her."
There was a brief silence before Lin painfully stated
"Jon it's been four days without her."
"I know."
He snapped out of it and rubbed his face as an attempt to calm his emotions
"Well, I pray to god you find her quickly for both you and Ariella's safety. I gotta sleep on this, I don't like this at all."
As he abruptly left, I sighed. He can't stop it, and if he tries I don't know how badly it will affect the whole thing. I need to find Ariella quickly so I spend less time with Andrew but, I want to prolong his part of the deal until I'm mentally ready. But the longer I wait the worse it could get. Stalemate.
I awoke the next morning just the same as every other morning since I first visited Andrew, the feeling of running out of time, wondering if this is the day I figure it out, if this is the day I'll have to say goodbye to Lin's family unsure if I'll return again. Should I say goodbye to my mum? She won't know where or why I'm going though...
"Morning Jon."
Lin commented, I guess since last night he hasn't got the happy morning feeling either.
"Morning."
Isaac wasn't up yet thankfully so whatever hot drink I wanted, I must have it now before it could turn into a safety hazard. The coffee machine droned on as I waited for the coffee to be made. No milk today, I need a bitter jolt this morning.
"You been able to think about it since?"
I turned to Lin
"Not really, I wanna find her quick but I wanna prolong my freedom for as long as possible."
"But that also means your -"
"- I'm his for as long as possible. I know."
Before he could continue we were interrupted by the loud screams of Isaac crying.
"I'll go"
Lin ran upstairs while I sat down to savour the coffee. Maybe I should add milk, the more I have the worse it gets. Within minutes Lin came down looking distraught.
"This ones for you"
"Huh?"
"He had a nightmare about you leaving, you know more about this than me. Good luck."
Shit. If he's already crying about me leaving how will he react when I do? And when I return?
"Hey buddy."
His little high pitched sniffles quietened down as I sat in the side of his bed and held his hand between two of my fingers.
"You okay?"
He nodded and I sighed
"Wanna tell me what the bad dream was?"
"Y-You left"
That's all he could get out before more tears fell from his face, I hate seeing little ones in pain, they're too young to have to endure it. Especially now I know I will cause the future pain.
"Was your sister in it?"
"N-No she's round abuela's"
I smiled at the fact I understood him, this Spanish is really useful. But, has Lin not told him? I mean, it's his choice, what am I talking about? Isaac is way too young to be exposed to this stuff.
"Well you know I'm here, right now, and that's all that matters. Cuddle?"
He nodded with a toothy grin and I smiled too hugging the little boy, that's all that matters.