I would've updated sooner but I was babysitting the other night - my mum's cousin's almost two-year-old daughter at a wedding. All I had to do was sit with her, watching 'In The Night Garden' until she fell asleep and then sit in the room for a few hours and I got £40! My mum's cousin said it made her feel old 'cause she used to babysit me when I was her daughter's age! And then, for some strange reason, I've been so tired this week! Anyway; enjoy!
Chapter 4
Clay stepped into the bedroom and a small smile spread across his face at the sight before him. Raimundo was stretched out on his back on Mario's bed, flicking through the photo album that Clay knew contained photographs from their own youth at the temple, the year after they had all graduated and Kimiko and Raimundo had lived together in Rio, and the photographs of the last seven years he had missed in the lives of the love of his life and their children. Mario lay asleep at his side, curled into him.
Raimundo sensed Clay's presence and gently moved Mario's head from where it was pillowed on his chest to his pillow, standing up from the bed and following Clay back to the living area where they had set up base.
"Well, what have we got?"
"Omi matched the life forces to two known Los Ayudantes members – Hector Rodriguez and Miguel Aceitoso."
Raimundo groaned, leaning back in his seat on the sofa, tilting his head back and rubbing his hand over his eyes. "The brawns of the group and two of the most brutal." He sat up again suddenly, his movements quickening to his battle reflexes in his agitation and fear. "If they're the ones who have got Kimiko and Ciara, then they're in a whole lot of trouble."
"I know, I know." Clay sighed worriedly.
"Those two are the worst criminals I have ever met. They're the ones who do most of the dirty work for the gang."
"Raimundo…" Clay sighed.
"They have no remorse, no ethics and no mercy…"
"Raimundo-" Clay tried interjecting gently but Raimundo continued his panicked ramblings.
"They're even getting cocky now, since they haven't been caught and the only reason for that is that we had no evidence."
"Raimundo-" Clay repeated; his voice a little more forceful this time.
"We've gotta do something, Clay! We can't just sit here and-"
"Raimundo!" Clay yelled, finally cutting through Raimundo's ramblings as he fell silent. "I know." Clay added gently, watching Raimundo deflate.
"I'm sorry, Clay. I just…"
"I understand. If it was Emmaline…"
"Where's Omi?" Raimundo asked, noticing that Omi wasn't with them.
"He's out calling for back-up. Even we'll need back-up in this case. We can deal with Wuya and get Kimiko and Ciara, and leave it to the human agents to get the gang members. It'll make their day." Clay noted Raimundo's face and quickly added, "We'll help if needed, of course. There's no way anyone's getting away."
"So, you've got something?"
Clay nodded. "Both Hector and Miguel work in the same construction group and they're fixing up an old abandoned warehouse – construction crew is off for the weekend…it's the perfect place."
Raimundo jumped up as Omi walked back in. "Did you make the calls?" Clay questioned Omi, receiving a nod in reply.
"Calls?" Raimundo piped up, his gaze flickering between the two of them. "Why the plural?"
"One to the bureau, to request back-up and one for a babysitter. We can't leave Mario alone when we go to get his mother and sister."
"Of course, but who did you call?"
The door swung open once again to reveal a young brunette with eyes the same shade as Mario's. "Maria?"
"Oh, Raimundo!" Maria drew her older brother into a large hug. "I'm so sorry! Both for this and for keeping it from you, but Kimiko made me promise and when I did, there was this spell that meant if I tried to tell you, I suddenly forgot what I was talking about."
Raimundo chuckled. "So that's what that was about, all those times you were so spacey? I thought you were losing your mind!"
She pulled a face at him before turning serious once again. "But, how are you? Really." Omi and Clay retreated to the kitchen.
"I'm…well, not too great, to be honest." Raimundo sighed.
"That's understandable. You just found out you're a father to almost eight-year-old twins, you have the right to feel a bit-"
"Oh, that's not it. I'm ecstatic to find out I'm a dad. I mean, yeah, I'm a little upset that I missed the first seven years of their lives, but…" Raimundo trailed off, a small smile forming on his face. "I'm just worried about Kimiko and Ciara. I learn that I'm a father and one of my children is in harms way because of a grudge on me by manic gang members! And their mother, the love of my life? After eight years, I have finally found her, and she…" He shook his head. "I have to save them, Maria."
Maria looked sympathetic. "You will, Raimundo." He smiled weakly at her before standing to head to the kitchen. "Oh, and Raimundo? When you do, don't let her get away again!"
The three of them headed back to their office to collect their bullet-proof vests and meet with their back-up. They rode to the warehouse in the agency van, the back-up agents loading their weapons, as the three filled them in on the situation.
The van pulled up, silently, a short distance from the warehouse; just enough that it wouldn't be seen, giving the gang a chance to escape. "Right," Raimundo stepped forward, easily sliding into 'leader-mode' as amiably called by his friends, eyes determined. "Everyone remember their objectives? Just to be sure," he turned to the back-up agents. "Concentrate on Los Ayudantes members. Your priority is to arrest them, for interrogation. If necessary, return fire, but only kill as a last resort."
When this was met with nods, he turned to Omi. "Omi, you focus on Wuya, if needed, Clay and I will back you up when the girls are safe. Clay, you get Ciara, she knows you best." Omi and Clay nodded, their eyes too narrowing in determination.
"I'll get Kimiko." Everyone knew better than to dispute this idea. Raimundo was the best agent they had and Kimiko was in the most danger. His feelings for her only increased the need for him to be the one to save her.
The group stepped towards the warehouse slowly and silently, Raimundo in the lead with Clay and Omi close behind him. They cut the lock and pushed the door open, Raimundo freezing the air around it to stop the sound vibrations from travelling.
Continuing forward, they soon came to another closed door, behind which, the human agents could hear murmured voices and the three Xiaolin Dragons could hear full conversations. Raimundo raised his left hand, holding up three fingers. "Ready?" He mouthed to the others. "Three... Two… One…" Lowering a finger with each number, he reached the end of his countdown and with a determined nod, knocked the door open with the force of the wind.
The group rushed inside, moving with precision to their assigned positions, drawing their weapons and shouting, "FBI!"
Hee hee, we're nearing the end of the story! Let me know what you think!
