"Riley, what are you doing?" he hissed as quietly as he could. He had his weapon out as he covered her back. Gabriel had finally caught up to her at the corner of the shopping centre after she had snuck through the perimeter.

"If we are right then no-one is going to walk out of that building alive. I can't let that happen" she replied, her voice firm.

"And if you get killed?" he replied incredulously.

"That's the risk I have to take" she said with conviction and he knew there was no changing her mind. He silently cursed her for being so damn stubborn.

"Then I'm going with you" he replied, holding up a hand when she opened her mouth.

"We are partners Riley and partners have each other's backs"

"It's my job to protect you Gabriel; I can't let you do this"

"And I can't let you die knowing I didn't do everything in my power to stop it. If it wasn't for the people in there I wouldn't let you go at all so either you let me come or we turn back now"

"Then I'd be condemning us both" she replied, the fire gone from her voice.

"That's the risk we have to take" She knew he was right and deep down she felt better with him by her side, there was no-one else she trusted more to have her back.

"Then I guess we're going then"

They silently made their way around the grounds, gently trying all the side doors until they came to one with an electronic lock.

"Clockwork saves the day" Riley mumbled as Gabriel quickly hacked it with the aid of the chip. Obviously they had not been expecting anyone he thought as they were met by a dark corridor.

"This is the after-hours door security use" He whispered to Riley, who nodded in acknowledgement. Using the chip he was able to lead them through a few stores as they circled around to the food court, which was the last known location of the hostages. He had been trying not to look at the bodies but he couldn't help but cast a glance in the direction of Riley's mother and out of the corner of his eye he saw her do the same.

"Riley" he mumbled and he saw her swallow. He rested a hand on her shoulder gently, giving her a moment to compose herself.

"Sorry" she mumbled.

"Don't be, your only human"

They continued on, sticking to the perimeter and keeping out of sight as much as possible. Since there was not a living soul in the food court bar themselves he used the map to find the next most likely location: a private office area tucked in the very corner.

"Do you think we're too late?" she asked and he shook his head.

"We have to believe they are still alive" she caught the undertones in his voice and cast a glance backwards but his eyes were hard and she knew this was just as difficult for him as it was for her. Sure, they had faced a lot over the years but the fact that they were still fazed by death is what differentiated them from the killers. Gabriel knew they had the right place when they peaked around the corner to find two of the perpetrators guarding the entrance.

"One way in, one way out. How do you want to play this?" he whispered.

"We can't just go in there guns blazing, there has to be an alternative" she whispered back. They were both tense and for a moment he toyed with the idea of just going back but quickly dismissed the thought.

"Air vents" he said suddenly and Riley looked up to find there was one right above them large enough for her to fit through. Despite the situation she gave him her signature 'seriously' look which he sarcastically returned. Sighing she holstered her weapon and gestured for him to give her a hand up. She opened the vent as quietly as possible and pulled herself through the narrow opening. She looked down and Gabriel gave her a thumbs up. His eyes held hers for a moment and they shared a silent communication before she disappeared down the narrow shaft.

Riley was tense as she carefully made her way slowly along the dark tunnel. The only reason this would even work is because the centre was an older one and had not been updated in some time, evident by the build up of dirt. Gabriel had given her very specific directions which she followed to the letter. The image of her mother's body was burned into her brain and she wished there was some other way she could remember her. Despite their less than ideal relationship she loved her mother and blamed herself for what happened. Gabriel's earlier words echoed through her mind: think of all the other mothers in there right now. She forced herself to focus and pushed forwards, the light from the opening becoming visible moments later. The plan was for her to recon the area and report back so they could bring in more manpower and a proper strategy but what she heard next shocked her to the bone.

"It's time"

A scream echoed through the room as a little girl was grabbed from the arms of her mother by one of the men and held at gunpoint. The Senator was on his knees in front of the man begging for her to be spared but the man shook his head, a dark glint in his eyes. In that moment nothing mattered to Riley more than that little girls life and in a split second decision she busted through the vent, shocking the men just long enough for her to put a bullet in the man's brain.

Gabriel heard the gunfire and without a second thought he bolted around the corner, shooting the first man who had been guarding the door. The glass walls of the office had shattered and he used it to his advantage, allowing him to get off a clean shot on one of the men, who had his gun trained on the desk that Riley had taken refuge behind. The Senator was down, presumably dead as were several other hostages but the rest had run out of the room. It was then that Gabriel caught her eyes, noticing the look in them. He nodded slightly from his position across the room, half hidden by a metal cabinet. Only one terrorist remained but he had taken up position in the opposite corner behind another metal cabinet, blocking their exit. They would fire at him just as he took cover and then he would return fire, like some kind of sick choreographed routine.

When he next looked over at Riley she gave an almost indiscernible nod and before Gabriel could realise exactly what it meant she exposed herself just enough for the man to get a solid hit, thankfully only in her shoulder, distracting him for the barest of moments but it was enough for Gabriel to make a hit of his own, square in the man's chest. The shot rang out and only their ragged breathing could be heard in the defining silence.

"You ok?" Gabriel asked, tearing off a strip of his shirt and gently but firmly pressing it against Riley's bleeding shoulder. She hissed slightly but nodded. Suddenly a pair of small arms wrapped themselves around her waist from behind, a mess of chestnut hair barely visible over her shoulder.

"You Ok sweetie?" Riley asked and she heard a mumbled yes in response, the girls hold tightening ever so slightly.

"Come here" she mumbled and the girl extracted herself, burrowing into the offered arm moments later. Gabriel watched the tender moment unfolding in front of him, a genuine smile gracing his lips. This is what made the job worth every second. A couple of moments later synchronised footsteps could be heard making their way towards them.

"You're late"