A/N: I'm still not as comfortable with writing fight scenes. Forgive me if it seems clunky. And if you're wondering yes the shirt Emma is wearing in this chapter exists. I own this shirt which is wear I got the idea. Another Firefly and Archer reference because I can't help myself. (It's like a disease!) And a nod to Batwoman because Batwoman. Also special thank to my beta, who is awesome.
Chapter Rating: M/R (For Violence, Strong Language, Adult Theme)
Warnings: Non-Magical AU, Criminal AU, Mentions of predatory behavior, Violence, TW: For very mild illusions to an unhealthy obsession
Full Summary: See Chapter One
Chapter Summary: Exfiltration Operation - (n.) A clandestine rescue operation designed to bring a defector, refugee, or an operative and his or her family out of harm's way.
Disclaimer: See Chapter One


"It's like drowning, but you just won't fucking die"
― The Urban Dictionary Definition of Unrequited Love

"Unrequited love is a waste of time. Just walk it off. There. I said it."
― A Softer World


"Fucking trunk!" Emma exclaims as she emerges from the backseat of the car. "Goddammit!"

The assassin's laughing at her. Of course she is. Emma, no doubt looks ridiculous. The "fresh outta the trunk" look has never looked good on her. Her hair is a frizzy mess. Her clothes are wrinkled and vaguely smell of gasoline or motor oil.

Regina is dressed causally (well, causally for her) in slate gray pleated pants, and a black silk button up. Her hair is loose, the ends curled, kissing the tops of her shoulders. Her makeup is striking, and she she wears it like war paint, like it's her armor and she's ready for battle.

Emma, however, needs a moment. She's in jeans and t-shirt that reads "I love mermaids" with a picture of a fish with human legs. The leather jacket's in the front seat because she doesn't want it damaged. She sort of loves it because it's the first thing she bought when she tried to step out of her former persona to become the Man Behind the Curtain, so to speak. She changes quickly, discarding the comical shirt for a cotton button-up and tie. After hiding a few knives in some creative places, she completes the outfit with the jacket and a pair of aviators glasses.

"What?" Emma asks, when she notices Regina's frown.

"You look like you're in law enforcement," she replies.

"F.B.I., actually," Emma corrects, with a grin as she flashes a badge. "Same as you." The blonde tosses a perplexed Regina another badge. "I'm with the Organized Crime Unit. You're Behavioral Analysis. And we're here to transfer a material witness into WITSEC, if anyone asks. I'd like to stay off the radar as long as possible. If we're made things are going to get interesting."

Regina arches a suspicious eyebrow. "Define 'Interesting.'"

"Oh God, oh God, we're gonna die?" Emma offers, sheepishly.

"Delicate as always, dear," Regina deadpans with an eye roll.

They could have gone through the front entrance. But with Nolan watching the place, they won't be able to get in without being made. So that's out. Instead, Emma leads the assassin to a secluded spot near a side entrance and waits until someone comes out for a smoke break.

"It's usually someone with keys," the blonde explains. "And they sneak a cig away from the cameras because it's against hospital policy to smoke on the grounds."

"So someone comes out and smokes and then what?" the assassin asks.

Emma hands her a cigarette. "You ask them for a light."

Regina gives her a hard look. "That's it?"

"Yes," the blonde replies. "I'll take care of the rest."

Regina seems like she wants to question her. And Emma doesn't blame her. When she first explained the move to Lily she had the same reaction. Until she saw the kind of results Emma can get with this little trick.

They both wait for what feels like hours but it's actually only 30 seconds. Emma's just impatient and antsy, so her perception of time is off by a factor of a lot. So when a custodian exits the hospital and lights up it's a relief.

"Showtime, your Majesty," Emma whispers and Regina with a roll of her eyes walks over to the man.

"Excuse me," she says placing the cigarette between her lips. "Do you have a light?"

It takes the man a full five seconds to register that Regina is speaking to him. And Emma gets where he's coming from. She hadn't been lying when she told the assassin that her flavor of sexy is a little overwheleming.

"Uh… Um… Yeah, sure."

As the man fumbles for his lighter, Emma move, fast and silently, positioning herself right behind him as he lights Regina's cigarette and knock him out cold with a handle of one of her knives. As he falls to the ground, Emma plucks the cigarette from the assassin's lips and grins.

"And you thought it wasn't going to work…" she teases.

Regina rolls her eyes. "I never said it."

Emma moves to open the door. "No, but you were thinking it."

"I think a great many things, dear," the assassin says, walking past the blonde and inside. "Chiefly among them is why you would walk into a mental institution. Aren't you afraid they'll mistake you for a patient?"

Flicking the cigarette away, Emma follows Regina. "Her Majesty cracked a joke. Did it hurt? Are you okay? Do you need to see a doctor?"

"Idiot."

"Yup."

Surprisingly, no one stops you two on the way to Jefferson' room, except for one doctor that Regina choked out and stashed him in a supply closet. But other than that, they find Jefferson' room with no problem. Emma debated on knocking or not, then thinks that the element of surprise will work best.

"Hello, Jefferson. Miss me?"

His eyes widen with fear and he calls her by her birth name. Well more like her first alias. The name given to her by people she never knew; people that gave her up, abandoning her. They were just the first in a long line of many (well maybe not many, but enough). Jefferson is one of only a handful of people who knows that name. The sound of it on his tongue doesn't sit well with Emma, almost like it's a secret he doesn't deserve to know.

"What are you doing here?" Jefferson asks as Regina locks the door behind them.

"That's a good question, Jefferson," Emma says, coolly. "A fucking great question actually. Because, you see, if I would have killed you, like I wanted to six months ago, I wouldn't be in the fucking mess I am right now. But Lily didn't want you dead. Even after what you did, she wouldn't let me kill you. I thought I should kill you anyway after she left, but she'd never forgive me. And I only just got her back. I'm not going to lose her again because of you. Even if you sold me out... Twice.

"What did he promise you, Jefferson? What was your fucking price?"

"What do I get if I talk?" he asks, like he has the upper hand.

Emma wants to smack around a bit just to show him that that's not the case, and she fights the urge to say that he gets to live if he spills the beans. Because she's not trying to get violent. Jefferson is sick. She has to remind herself that Jefferson is just sick and he can't help it. "What do you want?"

"I want to talk to her."

It takes everything she has not to rip him apart with her bare hands. Emma reminds herself that she's not supposed to kill him. But if he has done anything to jeopardize Lily and August's island sanctuary, she's just going to have to break another promise to her best friend, sick man or not.

"We're done here," she tells Regina and heads for the door.

But Jefferson stops her. "Wait. I'll tell you."

"I'm listening."

"He said that if I helped him, he would bring her to me. And we would be together."

Emma doesn't recall making the decision to cross the room. She doesn't remember pulling out a knife and pressing it so hard into his skin that she draws blood. All she knows is that one second she's by the door. And then the next, she has Jefferson pinned to the far wall, holding a knife to his throat.

"Lemme make something abundantly clear to you, Jefferson," Emma grinds out. "Just because Lily doesn't want want me to kill you, doesn't mean I won't."

"She'll hate you for it."

"Yes, she will. But if I had to choose between her and you..." There's no question. She'd choose Lily every time.

That apparently triggers him because he fires back with, "DON'T ACT LIKE YOU LOVE HER! YOU NEVER LOVED HER! IF YOU DID-"

"If I did, what?" the blonde cuts him off, adding just little more pressure until she has his undivided attention. "I wouldn't have let her go? I would have killed her hubby? I would have betrayed the trust of my friends? I wouldn't have hooked up with a beautiful assassin? What, Jefferson?"

"If you really loved her..." he squeaks.

"I'm going to explain something to you," Emma begins, slowly. "Let you in on a little secret. It doesn't matter if I love Lily, or if she loves me. Because at the end of the day, she will always love him more. Always. And there's not a damn thing either of us can do about that. Period."

His eyes water, his lips quivers, and when she eases the blade from his throat, he collapses into her arms. "I'm sorry," he weeps. "I'm so sorry."

"I know."

"I just love her. I love her so much," Jefferson confesses. "Why won't she love me?"

Emma sighs. "Because she can't. And you can't force her to."

"I'm sorry."

She backs away from him with a frown. "You said that already, Jefferson."

He grabs her arm and his eyes go wild for a moment and at first Emma thinks he's going to try to attack her until he speaks. "You have to kill me," he whispers. "It's the only way Lily'll be safe."

It's tempting. And he's not too far off. If Jefferson is taken out of the equation, then everyone can rest a little easier at night. But her promise to Lily stays her hand, if only to restore some of Lily's faith in promises, and if Emma is honest, she wants to restore some of her faith in her.

"I'm not going to kill you," Emma finally says. "But I can't have you putting anyone else I care about in danger either."

He studies her for a moment. "You're not just talking about Lily anymore."

"I've got a lot of personnel that depend on me, Jefferson," she replies. "I want them all safe."

"Like your godson, Henry."

She doesn't ask the obvious question. Because she already knows how cunning Jefferson can be. "Henry is my kid. Of course I want him safe."

"His grandfather doesn't seem to think so," he reminds her.

"I couldn't give a flying sugary fuck about what Albert Nolan thinks," she replies. "Are you ready? 'Cause we have to sneak out of this place and I don't need you or your crazy cocking this up."

Jefferson nods. "I'm good. Let's go."

Emma looks at Regina who's been silent this whole time. She nods without uttering a word, and Emma reaches into her jacket for her phone and earpiece. She dials Belle's number and it rings once before she answers.

"Thank you for calling your friendly neighborhood grey hat hacker, how can I let you do that, Dave?"

Emma smiles. "Hey Beautiful, are you in the system?"

"Who are you talking to?" she asks. "Of course, I am and... uh-oh."

Emma's stomach sinks. "What?"

"Two black SUVs just pulled up," Belle informs her. "And Boss, they are all armed."

"Shit."

Regina joins you. "What is it?"

"Remember when I told what would happen if things got interesting?" Emma asks and Regina nods. "Well, things just got interesting."

"Shit."

The blonde grins. "You're so fucking sexy when you cuss."

Regina rolls her eyes. "Not now when people are currently trying to kill us, dear."

"After?" Emma asks, her tone hopeful.

The assassin's devilish smile says it all. "After."

"Are you done being gross?" Belle asks.

"Um, for now?" Emma offers.

She hears Belle's heavy sigh on the other end. "Close enough. Now wait by the door and leave on my mark." Footsteps pass the door and then fade away. Belle waits a moment before she tells her, "Mark! Or... um... Go... or whatever..."

"How did they find us?" Regina asks, as they slip away.

"Belle, my beautiful friend, any ideas on how they found us?" Emma asks her pet hacker.

It takes Belle a few seconds before she responds. "Someone else has hacked into the security feed. I'm going to see if I can lock them out. Going dark for a tick. Call you back when everything is finished on my end. They won't be able to see you. But that means I can't see you either."

"Thanks, Belle."

"It's what I do, Boss," Belle says. "Be careful."

"You first," the blonde tells her. "And have Ruby take the kid out of the city. We'll be there tonight."

"Sure thing. Belle out."

"We've got to make it to the stairwell," Emma tells Regina. "Go back the way we came."

"Why not take the elevators?" Jefferson asks.

"Because it's a moving metal coffin with no windows and we have no control over where, when, or how many times it stops," Regina replies, bluntly.

Emma jabs a thumb in the other woman's direction and adds, "What she said." Then she moves quickly and quietly to the stairwell access. Emma knows if she was standing still, she'd be shaking with all of the adrenaline pumping through her veins. She's always been like this. Before every heist, every shootout, she practically bounces off the walls. A part of her know it's fear. Another part of Emma thinks this is the most fun she's had since this morning.

"Hey, hold on a second!"

Fuck!

Just once…

Just one time…

Just one fucking time Emma would like to get in and get out without all hell breaking loose or having to punch a security guard.

The blonde is all smiles when she turns and addresses the rent-a-cop with a slow southern drawl, which is really the only accent Emma can do without sounding like a complete asshole. "Yes, sir. How can I help you?"

"Who are you? And where are you taking this man?" the guard asks.

"I'm Special Agent Katherine Kane and this is Supervisory Special Agent Margaret Sawyer. We're here to remand this patient into federal custody," Emma explains flashing her badge. When he leans in to examine it, she throws a mean right hook, and he goes down, knocked out cold.

"Try not to stay unconscious for too long," she tells the guard as she with help from Regina, and Jefferson shove the guard into an empty room. "Because it is like really bad for you."

"What kind of name is 'Margaret Sawyer?'" Regina finally asks as Emma shuts the door and makes for the stairwell again.

"If I tell you," the blonde begins. "… you're not going to like it."

"Tell me," the assassin demands.

"She's Batwoman's girlfriend."

"Of course, she is. And Katherine Kane?"

"Batwoman," Emma replies.

"Of course," Regina says, shaking her head.

Then Emma's phone buzzes and she answers it quickly. "Talk to me, Gorgeous."

"I shut the other guy out," Belle boasts. "Fucking noob. Anyway, I count six guys with pistols, all of them have suppressors."

"Great," Emma replies, flatly. "Is there street access from the basement?"

"No." Emma's heart drops at the news. "Oh!" Belle exclaims. "There is access through the morgue."

"Perfect," Emma comments. "We'll just take the stairwell."

"No, don't do that!" Belle warns before it's already too late.

Emma feels more than sees the bullet whizz past her and she's knocked back, or at least that's what it feels like. She doesn't even register Regina's body against hers until the assassin reaches into her jacket, takes one of her knives, and flings it toward their attackers. It hits one of them square in the chest and they go down, but Regina pushes away from the blonde. And once more Emma doesn't notice the assassin taking another one of her knives until it's sticking out of another person's chest.

And then… silence.

"Oh my God," Emma breathes. "Have my babies."

Regina flashes a grins, heat creeping up her face as she still manages to roll her eyes. "That's scientifically impossible, dear."

"You only say that because no one's ever done it before. Maybe we could make history. All we have to do is try," the blonde teases, adding suggestively. "Over, and over again."

"You do realize I can't unhear any of this, right?" Belle's voice sounds in her earpiece.

"Oh, have we offended your delicate sensibilities?"

"No," Belle insists. "It's just you. And you're gross."

"I am not gross," Emma fires back.

"You are gross," Jefferson and Belle sound off at the same time. Emma snaps her head toward her former assistant and his gaze falls to the floor. "Sorry, it's just hard to watch."

"Boss," Belle begins before Emma has a chance to say anything. "You have ten minutes probably less, until someone notices the doctor you knocked out and they go into lockdown."

"Is the stairwell clear?" Emma asks.

"It is now, yes," Belle replies. "Just be careful."

Emma collects the two pistols and hands one to Regina before they make the trip to the morgue without saying another word. There's an nervous energy around them and the blonde knows that there are still four people in this building that want them dead. She hasn't killed someone in a while. A few years or so, when she started to look at Henry and wonder how many of the people she killed had had families. However it isn't like some deep seated code of honor that kept her from killing all those years. She's not above dropping a few bodies to live to fight another die. She's just hoping that murder is a lot like riding a bike.

"Why are we stopping?" Jefferson asks.

"Because they're still following us," Emma replies, positioning him in the corner nearest the exit and then takes her place yards from the stairwell access.

"60 seconds, Boss," Belle warns.

"Your Majesty?"

Regina nods, settling near the stairwell access. And Emma smiles, dropping the magazine in the pistol to check it. Two shy of a full mag, not terrible. The blonde replaces the magazine and raises her gun chest level. It's just like riding a bike, she tells herself. Just like riding a bike..

"30 seconds," Belle's voice sounds before the line goes quiet again and Emma wordlessly relays the message to Regina, who nods.

The seconds tick away and Emma fights to control her breathing. The last seconds before a fight are always the worse. Heart thumping in her throat, sweat beading on her brow. She can feel the adrenaline like the hum of an electric current. It's buzzing all around her.

"10 seconds…" And the line goes dead. Belle must have muted her phone.

The door swings open and Emma fires, once, twice… three times. All center of mass. The shots aren't clustered neatly together. One in the chest. Two in the gut. At least that's what she thinks because she ducks behind some cover after she takes the shots, as Regina sets up for the next kill. Just a quick double tap to the head of the second poor bastard through the door before she comes running toward Emma, and dives behind the same metal autopsy table the blonde is using as she lays down some cover fire.

"Pretty good third date, huh?" Emma calls to Regina.

"Dear," the assassin begins. "Next time, a nice dinner would be fine."

Emma smiles. "You got it, your Majesty."

Regina shakes her head at her and then opens fire, hitting the third man in the chest as she sets herself up to take out the fourth guy. But her timing is off and the it looks like the final man is going to get the drop on the assassin. Emma has to act fast or else Regina's taking a bullet. And she won't let that happen. She can't.

Springing to her feet, Emma calls to the last guy standing, whistling to get his attention. He fires and the bullet scrapes past her, burning into her arm as it does. Emma doesn't react to the pain and instead produces a knife in her hand plucks it as if she plucked it out of thin air and chucks it down range. It plants itself in his neck just above his collarbone and he's gone.

"We're good, Belle," Emma says and she can almost swear she hears someone says 'oh thank God,' on the other end. The blonde looks around and finds Jefferson where she left him, tucked away in a corner. "Jefferson," Emma calls to him, offering a hand up. "You okay?"

He looks at her hand like it's the first time he's seen a hand. "This is how it happened. I thought I was going to die. But then she saved me." His voice is so raw and quiet. He even looks smaller. "I thought..."

"It wasn't real, Jefferson," Emma tells him as gently as she can when she helps him to his feet. "Lily saved everyone that night. That's how she was. That how she's always been. She would have done it for anyone. I wanted to leave you. We even fought about it. But I went along with it because there was no way in hell I was going to let her go in alone. 'Sides Lily is hot when she's kicking ass and taking names. So we saved the day. I did it to get laid. She did it because it was the thing to do. There's nothing more to it."

"I'll never know what she saw in you," Jefferson says. It would have been an insult, if the ends of his lips didn't curl as he speaks.

"Yeah, me neither."

"Emma..." Regina calls as she comes to the blonde's side, her tone full of concern. "You're bleeding."

"It's just a graze," is Emma's attempt to reassure her.

However, it doesn't work because Regina's on her, examining her arm. "You shouldn't have risked yourself like that. I had the situation handled."

"That fucking asshat was going to shoot you," Emma counters. "And I like you. And I like the people I like to be bullet-free if I can help it."

Regina's lips twitch as she fights off a smile. "Don't be charming when I'm mad at you."

Emma chuckles. "So you admit you think I'm charming?"

Belle groans in her ear. "I'm going to go now. I've got a lot of work to do since, you know, you guys KILLED SIX PEOPLE!"

"Bye, Belle." Then Emma hangs up. "So everyone, time to go."

She's through the door first with Jefferson and Regina right behind her. And who she sees, leaning against a black Lincoln Continental, stops her dead in her tracks. It's a face she thought she'd never see again. Mr. Rupert Gold, loan shark, and money launderer, is a slight man, short and slender. He has dark features, his hair graying at his temples, and his eyes are black little beads that feel like they can peer into her soul. And when he smiles, his gold-capped teeth gleam.

"Hello, Miss Swan," he greets with a nod.

"Mr. Gold."

"I think the rumors of your untimely demises have been greatly exaggerated," he says.

"Since I started the rumors," Emma begins, moving in front of Regina and Jefferson to further shield them. "I know they are."

"Such hostility," he observes. "Now is that any way to greet an old friend?"

"If they shot me before? Then yes."

He laughs and the sound is like ice water down her back. "Get in the car, Miss Swan. I'm afraid we don't have too much time."

Just as Mr. Gold speaks Emma can hear sirens in the distance. The local P.D. is on their way and once they see what happened in the hospital, it's only a matter of time before the Feds show up too. Between herself, Regina, and Jefferson, there's no way any of them are getting out of here once the cops show up.

"Well, Miss Swan?"

"Gold if you shoot me again, I swear to God…" she pauses as she hasn't thought of a good threat. "I don't know what I'll do, but you will not like it."

"Just get in the damn car, Miss Swan."

Gold jumps into the driver seat, and Jefferson into the passenger seat. Regina doesn't make a move until she asks, "Can we trust him?"

"Nope," Emma replies. "But we don't have much of a choice, do we?"

"No, dear, we don't."


Thank you to all who are reading, following, favoriting and reviewing. I love the Swen Nation. You guys are magic and you make my day. Please lemme know what you think with a review. And if you like my stuff, come and follow me at my new and slowly improving tumblr (MurderouslyAdorkable) or even on Twitter MurderouslyCute.

Thanks again, and here's a little sneak peek for Chapter Eight:

"Thank you for finally gracing me with your presence, Miss Swan," Gold greeted, tapping out the spent contents of his tobacco pipe in an ashtray on his desk. "You're looking a little worse for wear."

Emma shrugs. "Still look pretty good for a dead person."

"True," he agrees. "Well, Miss Swan it seems you have gotten yourself into quite the predicament. Going to war with Albert Nolan. It's a dangerous game you're playing. And you've dragged that poor woman into this." Gold clicks his tongue, shaking his head. "You're getting more reckless… if that is even possible."

Her eyes narrow. "Is there something you want or…?"

"Always cutting to the heart of the matter, Miss Swan."

Again, Emma shrugs. "What can I say, I'm prickly."