My dear readers, my dear reviewers, i feel bad for making you wait for this chapter. You're so awesome i cannot make you wait any longer.


Jane sat down heavily. Her hands falling loose in her lap. Her mouth open, just slightly, helping to take in the extra oxygen she needed.

Ethan sat across from her and kept his head down, his fingers interloping and twisting around each other. He was also trying to control his breathing, but unlike Jane, he'd at least had the ride from the hospital to the apartment to try to process all the information he'd been given.

Benji stared ahead. His expression unreadable. The usually vibrant man, who spoke a million words a second when nervous, had nothing to say. He leaned back against the wall. Slowly he looked up. Slowly they all looked up, their gazes landing on Brandt, who stood with his hands on the back of the couch. A look of consternation consuming his features.

"They're sure?" He asked quietly. "Cos I feel fine."

"They're sure. They ran it and then called me. Then ran it again. Dabek provided the name of the drug. I called ahead and let Doyle know what to look for. They're sure."

"Yeah, but its not fatal so there's nothing to worry about."

"You're sure they said no cure?" Asked Benji for the third time since Ethan had relayed the information to them.

"No cure, but from what they can tell it lasts for up to four days."

"Again, not fatal, so nothing to worry about." Repeated Will.

"Will." Jane started, she tried to finish the statement, instead looked to Ethan for help.

"Will, its not meant to kill. Its meant to incapacitate. To throw us off balance and shift our focus off of Crukov. He knew what he was doing."

"We walked into a trap" Said Benji as he finally sat down. "We walked right into it."

"Look, guys! I'm fine!" Brandt spread his hands as if trying to prove to them his argument. "I'm standing, I'm ok. I feel ok. The mission's still on."

"Will, its going to get worse. The list of things that you could be hit with is pretty extensive." Ethan counter argued.

"Well, when, and if," He emphasised. " That happens then you just leave me here and carry on. Or I'll go back to the hospital."

"You can't." Ethan stood as he spoke. "That's the point of this drug. If you're in the hospital here in Prague for longer than a few hours then you're vulnerable. They could easily grab you and use you as leverage."

"Then I'll go somewhere else, fly stateside."

"You won't be able to travel alone. And Crukov will be wanting you separated. He's hoping to draw us out, he knows we're close. And after Dabek, he'll be out for revenge. From what we can tell that man was the closest thing to a brother he had."

"Scary ass brother."

"But you get my point, Will."

Brandt ran his hand over his face and regarded the rest of the team. "So what do we do?" He asked as he grabbed a water bottle from the fridge in the open kitchen in the corner of the room.

"We complete the mission. This is personal now. They've attacked one of our own. You're vulnerable unless you're with us."

"And if I'm with you then you're vulnerable because of me."

Ethan closed his eyes, willing his mind to find a solution.

"We're not leaving you behind, Will." Said Jane and Benji simultaneously.

"Guys, that's all well and good, and believe me I love hearing it. But its not practical. I'm just going to slow you down." Will placed the empty water bottle on the side and grabbed another from the fridge. "I'm the liability on this mission."

"No, you're not." Ethan said as he stepped toward Will. "You're the motivation."

"Ethan, you don't need motivation."

"I do. And besides, the fact they went after you makes it personal to us. We do this together."

Will stood face to face with Ethan. He knew in his heart that if the mission was to fail, it would be because of him. He knew if left alone he'd inevitably be caught by Crukov's people and then his team would be having to make the decision between his life and the mission. He shook his head as the frustration built.

"This is just what Crukov wants."

"I know. But he thinks of the team as the weapon to use against us. He's wrong, if anything it makes us stronger."

"You gotta promise me, if I do get sick, or whatever, you have to leave me behind and finish the mission."

Ethan exhaled, knowing Will wouldn't back down on this. He nodded.

"Say it. Out loud."

"I promise." Ethan said. Hiding his crossed fingers behind his back so that only Jane and Benji could see.

"Ok, then what's our plan of action?" Will asked, as he finished the second bottle of water.

"We know Dabek was headed for the river. My guess is that's where one of Crukov's safe houses is. But I'll leave that to Benji to confirm."

Benji looked up, thankful for something to do to keep his mind off the list of things that his friend could start suffering from. "If it is his then it'll be under the name of one of the many fake businesses he has set up. No doubt routed through many off shore companies. Could take a while to find but shouldn't be a problem."

"Good, get to work. Jane, I need you to pick up a few things we might need. I've left the list on the table."

Jane nodded and stood. She motioned to Brandt as she picked up the list. Ethan nodded.

"What about me?" Asked Will.

"You, you need to sit."

"Ethan, I told you I'm fine."

"Then why are you sweating?"

In all honesty Will hadn't noticed he was. But now Ethan had mentioned it he looked down at the empty bottle of water, his second in ten minutes. His mouth was dry and his throat parched.

"It's starting?" Asked Will quietly, hoping to get an answer toward the positive.

"Yeah. I think so."

"Might not get as bad as Doyle said."

"With any luck."

Will nodded, he glanced at Jane. The concern in her eyes stung his heart. He moved slowly around Ethan to sit on the couch. Ethan walked Jane to the door.

"You can get all that?" He said as he gestured to his hastily written list. Doyle had gone through everything they might need. Thankfully there was an emergency medical cache in the city that would have it all.

"Yeah, don't let Will know though. If how I'm feeling is any indication then it'll scare him even more. He'll make us leave him behind."

"That's what I'm worried about. He's too vulnerable. There isn't another agent in the area that I would trust to shadow him and I have a feeling it's us he'll need to get through this."

"And you wouldn't have it any other way."

"Then there's that. Be quick."

"Back before you know it."

TBC


Just how mean to our boy should i be?