Tseng walked out of the empty building and stormed up to Reno, slamming him into the exterior wall of the brothel. "I'm giving you two hours to find her. I'm heading back to base to give a full report of what's happened." Tseng said before getting into his helicopter.

Reno readjusted his jacket and looked at Rude. "Come on, they can't have gone far." he said as he headed for his helicopter.

"Just remember, it's not my ass on the line." Rude said as he followed Reno.

***

Lorna brought Anna another cup of water, this time locking herself in the closet as well after the cup was empty. "I listened in on some of Madam Lucia's conversations. Seems whoever that Reno is, he's well-connected and she's afraid we won't be able to remain hidden from him for very long. They might kill you to avoid that. If I helped you escape, would you have him get me out as well?" she whispered in Anna's ear.

Anna nodded, then Lorna stiffened.

"He's coming back to check on us." Lorna hurriedly removed Anna's gag and started kissing her.

"Lorna, what do you think you're doing?" the security guard said as he opened the closet door.

"Trying to amuse myself since you won't play with me." Lorna replied as she got up and replaced Anna's gag, closing and locking the closet door. "How much longer til we get to a safe location?"

"Who knows?" the security guard answered.

"Where's Madam Lucia? I've got an idea."

***

Anna was getting more confused. Lorna said she'd help her if Anna got Reno to help her get out, but it didn't make any sense. Anna hadn't minded her life at the brothel, why did Lorna want to get out? There was a world out there, but for some reason it scared Anna, as much as being bound and gagged naked in a dark closet did, which was her own fault for breaking the rules and talking.

A little while later, Lorna came back and helped Anna up off the floor. "Come on, we've got to hurry. We're slowing down for this leg of the journey, so it's the best time." Lorna whispered.

Anna realized they must be on a train. Lorna opened an outside door and the scenery wasn't going by too fast. "Remember, you promised. Start heading that way." Lorna pointed before she shoved Anna out the door, then closed and locked it again as the security guard started walking towards her.

"Just remember what Madam Lucia said, if this doesn't stop the pursuit, you'll be taking Anna's place." he said.

***

Reno noticed the time, his two hour deadline was fast approaching. The heat sensors so far hadn't shown any signs of human bodies.

"Hey, what's that?" Rude asked, pointing to the screen.

"Let's check it out." Reno activated the camera and zoomed in on the location Rude had indicated. "It's hard to tell, it might be human, we'll have to land and inspect it up close."

When they landed, Reno started running towards the location. He saw the black hair and ran faster, Rude right behind him.

"Elena!" Reno yelled as the figure tried to move. He reached her and took his jacket off, trying to cover her naked body up from the elements.

Reno took the gag off, and then pulled a knife out of his pocket and cut the ropes around her wrists and ankles. Rude took his jacket off as well to give her extra warmth.

"I think her leg's broken." Reno told Rude as he noticed the extensive bruising and swelling.

They used their jackets as a makeshift gurney to get Elena back to the helicopter, and Reno immediately radioed in that they had found her and were going to the WRO hospital. Elena tried to say something, but she was having trouble getting the words out.

"What's she trying to say?" Reno asked Rude.

"I'm not sure. It sounds like Help Lorna, but it might just be gibberish. You did say she never spoke at the brothel?"

"Yeah, they said she was mute. But she said my name the last time. Sounded like she just hadn't spoken in all that time."

"At least Reeve will make sure she gets the best care possible."

"Damn right he will." Reno said.

***

Epilogue

As she left Lorna's apartment, Elena reflected back over the last couple of months. With therapy she had regained most of her memory as her broken leg healed, but some parts of her memory were still a blur. At her insistence, Reno had used 'discretionary' money allotted to the Turks to buy Lorna's freedom. Tseng had insisted Reno pay it back as he was able, still unhappy with Reno's not recognizing her right away. She blushed as she remembered his visits to her at the brothel. Elena took a deep breath and stepped outside, looking at all the snow and holiday decorations, and the people rushing everywhere. The air of holiday cheer reminded her of Lorna's parting advice.

"What are you waiting for? 'Tis the season…" Lorna had said before she closed the door to her apartment.

Elena was thoughtful for a moment, then shrugged. "What am I waiting for?"

***

Reno trudged his way through the snow to his apartment, annoyed by all the holiday cheer around him. He was basically broke due to having to pay for Lorna's freedom, so he couldn't afford his usual holiday happies, not that he was sure he wanted to visit any brothel again for a very long time.

He unlocked his door and entered his apartment, heading straight for the shower. After that, he dried his hair before heading to bed. He had just gotten when he felt someone slip in next to him. He turned in shock to see a woman with black hair and green eyes naked in his bed.

"El…" Reno started to say before she shushed him with a finger over his lips.

She pointed up and Reno saw the mistletoe hanging over his bed. "Anna misses you." she said as she kissed him.

***

As she lay contented in Reno's arms much later, while he was smiling in his sleep, she wondered if next time she should try a brunette wig.