Convergence & Anything for Sadie

North East of Campsite 2

Jeff was on the comlink with Blaze looking at the map splayed out in front of him. "Roger. That's about two miles south west of our current location."

Adam, Kyle, and Scott paced wanting to move now just waiting for coordinates. They only heard Jeff's side of the conversation but from that alone they knew they needed to be moving now.

Jeff ended the conversation with Blaze then looked at his cousins "Sadie is hiding with Paisley. Sam is alone and in trouble. Likely engaging with Merrill and Orson. We got coordinates only about two miles from here. Let's move; double time."

Three shots rang out.

"Shit!" was exclaimed by four Braddocks as they unslung their weapons and ran at top speed toward the coordinates.

North of Campsite 2

Wordy, Spike and Ed were joking around as they sauntered towards the campsite. Mona and Izzy skipped ahead of them playfully tossing pine cones at one another. They were about a mile and a half away from their campsite.

Spike was laughing "This has been fun. We might just have to do this again."

Wordy interjected "Change it from no teacups and tiaras to a father daughter trip at least until they don't want to come anymore."

Ed laughed "Maybe. Just maybe. I have to admit it's been more fun than I imagined. Even with the rain. I just wonder …"

Whatever he was about to say never was expressed.

Three shots rang out.

Three men stopped, stared at each other. Two little girls stopped and looked to their dads not really concerned.

Izzy whispered to Mona "I bet Sadie's getting to shoot her dad's gun. Wish I would have stayed with Uncle Sam today."

Mona nodded in agreement.

Ed expressed out loud what each one of the guys knew "That came from the direction of the camp."

"You're faster. Go. I got the girls. Phones on" Wordy urgently told Spike and Ed.

Spike and Ed dropped their packs turned on their phones. Unslung their rifles and hauled ass toward the camp.

As he ran Spike said "Ed this is not good. Three shots so close together, can't be good."

"I know, especially since they are not from one gun" was Ed's answer. He knew the sound of Sam's colt. It was definitely one but not the other two shots fired.

Wordy turned on his phone. He gathered the girls and Ed's and Spike's packs. "Girls, Rule one. Quiet as a mouse. No noise. Follow me now."

Mona and Izzy nodded and obeyed. They were scared and confused more by their dads' quick departure and Uncle Wordy's intense look than the gunshots.

Looking around Wordy located a place to hide the girls that was defensible. He situated the girls and the packs in a small depression surrounded on three sides by rocks. He used brush to conceal them on the exposed side.

Then he unslung his rifle and took up a guard position in front of their location. Wordy thought Sam please keep Paisley safe, quickly followed by please keep Sadie and yourself safe too.

West of Campsite 2

Winds was on the com link with Cameo "Roger, about two miles due east of our location."

Shoving the radio in his back pocket he turned to Mason, Russ and Pawn. Grasping his MP5, he blew out a breath "Not good. Found them. Blondie's got trouble. We need to move out now."

Three shots rang out.

Four heads jerked and looked to one another for a split second then four sets of boots slammed to the ground as they high tailed it towards the location.

South West of Campsite 2

Apollo was on the com link with Cameo at the same time as Winds. He responded after Winds "Roger. North east of our location. Moving out now."

Already moving in the direction Apollo indicated for his unit to move out "Let's move. We got some little girls to protect."

Three shots rang out.

Apollo poured on the speed and his men were hard pressed to keep up.

Small Airport Near Forest

Zach finished writing the coordinates but already memorized them. On the satellite phone with General Braddock he replied "Roger. Hal and I are both refueling now. ETA fifteen minutes to that location. Mike is already back in the air will communicate coordinates to both Sir."

["Zach. First priority, safety of the IMPS and the others. Second priority get Scarlatti to the hospital."]

"Roger Sir."

Heading out of the airport break room leaving the cup of coffee untouched Zach raced to the helicopter. As he approached the two birds he called out "Hal we have a location. We need to be in the air now." Zach handed him a paper with the coordinates.

Both men boarded their helicopters and began preflight checks as the ground crews finished refueling their helicopters.

Putting on his headset Zach called out "Navy Golf Kilo Two Three. This is Foxtrot Bravo Lima Four Eight. Mike we have a location." Zach continued and gave Mike the coordinates.

Inflight already Mike replied "Roger. Condor, heading to coordinates now, ETA nine minutes."

Hal had also donned his headset and when Mike finished both he and Zach responded "Roger."

Both were in the air in record time.

Hospital Maternity Ward

[The distinct sound of three shots fired rang across the phone followed by a muffed, stifled cry for Daddy.]

Jules slid to the floor "Nooooo."

Sophie and Shel raced to Jules. Shel pulled her into a hug and frantically said "Jules what is it? Sadie? Paisley? Are they okay?"

"Three shots" was all Jules could force through her throat which had constricted.

Her mind whirled no not like this. They were having fun. He wasn't on the job. No. No. No she could not lose them like this. She could not lose him. She would die if she lost Sam and Sadie.

Greg was on hold with General Braddock and paced back and forth with his cane tapping every impatient step willing him to come back on the line. He needed to know shots were fired. That they needed to be there now.

Winnie stared at them all in utter confusion "What the heck is going on?" She started to get out of bed. Whatever it was she could see Jules was devastated. She needed her.

Sophie went back to Winnie and gently made her lie down again. With calmness she didn't know she possessed Sophie clasped Winnie's hand and said evenly "Dear we didn't want to worry you. Just try to relax while we find out what is going on."

Winnie's heart rate monitor started beeping as her heart rate increased. She knew something was terribly wrong. Winnie whispered to Sophie "Tell me please. Don't leave me in the dark. That is worse. Not knowing is worse. Please."

Sophie quickly told her what was going on. Winnie drew on her training and took slow breathes to calm down easing the heart rate slightly but it was still erratic. Her heart was breaking for Jules and Shel at the moment. Her hand went protectively around her belly and prayed everyone was safe.

Winnie looked at Sophie with sad eyes "I should be angry with you all for keeping that from me but I can see why you did that."

Sophie hugged her.

The phone never left Jules ear and she was straining to hear something, anything at the same time trying to open her throat to speak. Her daughter needed her calm voice right now. But the shots reverberated in her head over and over.

Jules heard a small soft cry. She so wanted to pull the girls into her arms and tell them everything would be okay but she couldn't. She had no idea if anything ever would be okay again. Two against one. Three shots. Merrill. Her heart broke. Sam could not survive that. Could he?

She finally managed a whisper "Sadie, sweetie. Help is on the way. You and Paisley are so brave. Stay quiet. Stay hidden. Daddy would want you to stay hidden no matter what. Help is coming sweetie."

Jules heard another choked back sob but this time it was just to the right of her. She looked to Shel and saw tears welled in her eyes. "Sadie, give the phone to Paisley." Jules heard the transfer "Paisley sweetie just like Sadie no sound. You can press one button for yes. Your mom wants to talk to you sweetie." Jules handed the phone to Shel.

Shel looked to her with grateful eyes. Then she began speaking comforting words to her daughter. Jules and Shel remained on the floor holding one another for support.

Greg hung up with the General and stated calmly to the room at large not really catching anyone's eyes "Three units are on their way all less than two miles away. Three helicopters enroute too. Help will be there in less than ten minutes."

He sat in the chair and rubbed his hands over his face. Greg wished he was there. He wished he could help more and he hoped everyone was okay.

Shel relayed what Greg had said to Paisley and reminded her again to stay silent until they heard a familiar voice. Then she asked her to give the phone back to Sadie and handed it to Jules who started saying soft soothing words to Sadie again.

Winnie screamed in pain and curled into a ball. Sophie hit the call button then ran from the room to the nurses' station.

Campsite 2

He was not dead. How the hell was he not dead? Pain lanced in his side and Sam clamped a hand to it. Warm sticky liquid oozed between his fingers. Sam rolled to the opposite side and tried to sit up. That's when he registered the gun inches from his head. Shit.

His eyes focused and he saw the calm face of Merrill so close he could almost reach out and touch it. What the hell? Who missed? The angle of his wound said Orson hit him. Merrill missed? Not likely.

But there had been three shots. Sam knew that for a fact. Orson fired first and then he fired followed by Merrill.

Merrill looked to his blonde bobble-head "Up, now" he demanded softly.

Sam made it to his knees when Merrill using the same soft voice said "Stop right there."

He froze as the gun contacted with his temple. Sam grimaced when Merrill removed his rifle slinging it over his own shoulder and then took his k-bar tucking it into his waist. Sam noticed his colt was already tucked in Merrill's pants.

Merrill ordered "Okay on your feet now."

Sam struggled to stand. He was pretty sure the cracked ribs were now broken from landing on his back on the rifle with such force. His side was bleeding a lot and he strained to rise as he pressed hard to stem the flow.

Gaining his feet he swayed a moment and bent over until he got his balance. Sam sucked in a breath as he stood upright and pain burned through his side. Dizziness and a graying of his vision hit him and he swayed again.

Several breaths in and out and his vision cleared and the dizziness abated somewhat. Sam glanced at Orson. What the hell? Two shots both almost dead centered between the eyes. He looked at Merrill confused.

In a calm and cool voice Merrill said nonchalantly "He was a sick bastard. Have a niece myself. Wouldn't want him anywhere near her. Besides, I need to get out of here and you're gonna guide me. You're gonna take me to your vehicle now. Move." Merrill shoved the gun in his face. "Move now."

Wordy, Ed and Spike would be here soon Sam thought. Gun fire could be heard for miles out here. The girls were safe from Orson. If he did as Merrill told him too he could get distance between Merrill and the girls keeping them even safer.

Sam took a few tentative steps and Merrill shifted behind him switching from the pistol to the rifle. A wave of dizziness hit him again as the movement caused the pain to intensify. Merrill nudged his back with the rifle causing more pain to ripple through his chest.

He hoped the girls continued to be silent. Sam did not want to call attention to them at all. He finally found his voice and rasped out softly so the girls could not hear "Got to get the keys. In my pack. Over there." He pointed toward the forest.

"Okay but no sudden moves. No monkey business or I go after those girls. Understand?" Merrill responded.

Sam nodded yes because it was easier than speaking. His throat had constricted at the thought of Merrill harming the girls. Merrill walked behind him with the gun solidly on his back as he headed towards where he exited the trees earlier.

He tried to bend to reach the pack and could not. Sam sank to his knees and opened an outer pocket and retrieved his keys leaving bloody fingerprints on his pack. He struggled to rise and made it half way before sinking to his knees again.

His hand pushed harder on the wound in his side, he needed to stop the flow of blood. Sam's vision faded a bit gray again with the increased pain. He couldn't afford to blackout right now, he had to get Merrill away from the girls.

So he relented on the pressure allowing the blood to flow again. Sam gritted his teeth. Then he dug down deep for strength and forced himself to stand up.

"Which way?" Merrill asked.

Sam stood head bowed and swaying as he considered his strategy. Should he go in the direction of the trucks or another direction? He decided to head in the opposite direction away from the trucks. That way Wordy, Spike and Ed could get the girls out of here without running across Merrill.

If he could just hold on long enough and lead Merrill far away the girls would be safe. He would do anything in his power to keep his daughter safe. He'd do anything for sweet Sadie. Thinking of Sadie's beautiful innocent eyes Sam set off slowly in a south easterly direction.

Stumbling he caught himself by placing his bloody hand on a tree. Sam didn't have to try hard to make it look good. Most of the stumbles were real. He grabbed a tree to stabilize himself every twenty yards or so.

Sam could not believe that Merrill didn't stop him from doing so. He was marking his trail. It was so blatant a child would have been aware of it. Merrill was either an idiot or too arrogant to think that it even mattered.

But it mattered to Sam. It mattered a great deal. He knew he was not coming out of this alive. If his current wounds didn't kill him, Merrill certainly would once he figured out he had led him deeper into the forest. By marking his trail they would at least be able to locate his body. Jules and the kids could have proper closure.

Sam stumbled for real again. One more bloody hand print, this one a bright and shiny red beacon on the light gray rock outcropping.

It was a testament that he was just a man; a real man, not a machine. He lived, he bled and he would die. But his death would have value, it would not be in vain, it would save his beautiful daughter. Sam would do anything for Sadie and he drew comfort knowing he would live on through her and his boys.

Sam pushed himself to a standing position again. He continued to place one foot in front of the other. Slow and unsteadily he moved onward to his inevitable death.

Campsite 2 – 15 Minutes Later

Four groups of men stealthy approached the camp from four different directions as a helicopter arrived and hovered overhead. Ed and Spike realized it was an Army helicopter and wondered just what the hell was going on. As the groups converged on the campsite they all took in the dead man with two bullet holes in the head.

Ed saw all the JTF2 guys and the Braddocks and walked directly to Winds "What the hell is going on?"

Scott came directly to Ed "Where's Sam?"

Ed and Spike looked at him confused. Ed answered "I'm not sure he was with Sadie and Paisley. Christ, is that a convict?" His voice carried loudly. But there was silence as most everyone looked at the body.

Mason was scanning the area, where was Blondie? Then he saw the small patch of darkened ground. He bent and touched it. He looked at his fingertips. Blood. "Someone else was hit." He knew, they all knew, it was Blondie who was hit. Otherwise he would be here.

That got everyone's attention. Unaware that the girls had called Jules, Spike piped in "We have to find the girls and Sam."

Winds interjected "The General said the phone signal was coming from here." He pulled out his comlink and contacted Blaze "Blaze we are here. Only one body, Orson. Is the signal still coming from this location?" He held on while Blaze checked with Cameo.

As Winds waited Jeff filled Ed and Spike in on the details why they were all here. Both were shocked. They indicated that Wordy was with the other two girls and as far as they knew safe at the moment.

["Winds, yes the signal has not moved. Be advised the girls were hidden and instructed to only come out if they heard Blondie or one of their uncles telling them it was safe" Blaze informed them pacing and pacing wishing he was there.

This was the thing he hated most about being in command rather than in the field. Waiting for the unit to report and not being able to take action himself.]

"Roger" Winds answered then turned to Ed and Spike and relayed the details.

Ed spoke loudly letting his voice carry in an even tone "Sadie, Paisley it is okay to come out now. It is safe to come out now."

There was rustling twenty paces from the dead man and two little brunette heads rose up from behind a fallen log as sobs of "Uncle Ed" followed.

Hearing the terrified little voices fourteen men rushed forward. Most moved forward to create a wall to block the view of the dead man from the girl's vision. Ed, Spike, Scott, and Pawn were next to the girls in seconds flat.

The girls started crying in earnest. Spike went to Sadie and Ed to Paisley. Each pulled the girls into their laps and held them close. They softly whispered comforting words to them.

Pawn started assessing their condition. He quickly noted the high fever and the wrapped ankle. But what most worried him was their state of shock. Their little bodies where shaking badly. They were pale and their hearts were beating rapidly.

Looking to Winds, Pawn stated "The girls need medical attention quickly they are in shock."

Kyle and Adam immediately stepped forward and removed their jackets. They helped Ed and Spike wrap the little girls in them to warm them.

Scott gently pried the phone from Sadie's death grip. "Jules, Jules we have the girls. The girls are safe now. They are being taken care of. They are safe."

[Jules had been pacing for ten minutes whispering soothing words to Sadie. She stopped and motioned to Greg and Shel when she heard the girls call out for Uncle Ed. Then she heard when Ed and Spike started comforting them and Pawn's assessment.

She had relayed the information to everyone in Winnie's room which was only her, Shel and Greg right now. They were all very worried for the girls but they knew the girls were in good hands now.

Then Jules heard Scott speak to her. Jules voice was edged with dread when she asked "What about Sam? Is Sam okay?"]

He could tell she was expecting to be told no. "Jules, he's not here. We will find him. I promise we will find him."

["Bring him home to me please." Jules heard Spike crooning to Sadie in the background "Spike needs to get here now. Winnie needs him now. The baby is in distress. They are prepping Winnie for a C-section right now. Let him know that Sophie is with her. To call Sophie for information."]

"On it. Sadie and Paisley will be with him. We will find Sam too" Scott told her with conviction. He was hoping that the strength in his voice would help steady Jules. She sounded like she was breaking.

["I know. I trust you all to bring him back to me." Jules said raw emotion coloring her words.

Then she hung up knowing they would contact her with updates as soon as they knew anything. She collapsed into Greg's arms and cried.

Greg held her tightly. He knew no words would comfort Jules right now so he just held her.]

Winds took command. Spike, Sadie, Paisley, Kyle and Adam would leave in Mike's bird that was currently hovering. Kyle and Adam went with because the girls knew them well and Spike was in no condition at the moment to take on that responsibility.

All color leeched from Spike's face and his legs became limp as cooked spaghetti. Ed had held Spike upright when he was told about Winnie's condition. Spike was told to call Sophie for current information and he instantly dialed her number.

Ed contacted Wordy and informed him of the entire situation. As they talked, Cameo pinpointed Wordy's coordinates. Hal was routed to extract Wordy, Mona and Izzy. Hal would take them directly to the same hospital.

Wordy was very worried when Ed told him that Paisley was running a high fever and that both girls were in shock. His heart broke for Spike to be so far away from Winnie when she needed him. He was also worried about Sam and Ed promised him he would do everything in his power to bring Sam back safe.

It was determined that three members of Apollo's unit would secure the campsite. They would pack the gear for them and transport it back to the command post. The RCMP would be dispatched to deal with the convict's body.

The remainder Ed, Winds, Mason, Scott, Jeff, Apollo, Russ, and Pawn would track Sam.

As soon as Spike and the girls, Adam and Kyle were aboard the helicopter Winds turned to the rest. They had all shielded the girls from the dead man and refrained from mentioning the blood trail Mason had located. The girls had been traumatized enough.

Winds felt the urgent need to get moving, he felt like too much time had passed. When in actuality from the time they entered the campsite to now all had transpired in the span of less than ten minutes.

"Let's move. From the blood prints Mason found Blondie should be easy to track" Winds commanded.

They all set off at an accelerated pace.

South East of Campsite 2

After twenty minutes of walking Sam was having difficulty taking more than ten steps without stumbling. He knew he was losing too much blood. He tried but he couldn't get it to stop.

Sam seemed to be beyond the pain now. Everything was a swirling disjointed mist. Another wave of dizziness overwhelmed him and he dropped to his knees. He tried to rise but he was too drained.

Merrill yelled at him to get up.

Sam tried again and got half way up but fell to his knees. All energy sapped out of him. Sam felt the gun against his temple.

"Get up now or I collect my blonde bobble-head here and now" Merrill said coolly.

Sam looked at Merrill with eyes dulled by pain, fatigue and blood loss. With complete acceptance in his voice Sam said quietly "So be it."

A single shot rang out.

His body fell to the forest floor, blue eyes open but staring unseeing into the sky.