We arrive at the Embassy just ten minutes ahead of schedule. I'm exhausted, but too wired to sleep, unable to comprehend the last six hours and all that has happened. The building in front of us is small, just a one story, partially rundown building. The only sign the building is even used is the light coming from a few windows and two cars in the lot. Granted, it is only 4:30 in the morning.

I'm dying to get out of the car and, at the same time, terrified to move. But I know Ahmad is not here. He can't do anything to me, not now. I'm pulled from my thoughts when I hear OA clear his throat.

"Maggie?" he asks, voice full of concern.

"Yeah?"

"I asked if you are ready to go in?"

I nod, and open my door. I need a phone that can call the CIA. The one OA gave me probably saved my life, but it's useless now that we are together. They only connect with each other. And we need to let everyone know about this terrible plan Ahmad has formed.

We reach the door and press the security button. A deep, intimidating voice demands we show proof of US residency. We both hold up our passports to a small security camera waiting not more than ten seconds before we hear the door buzz and can push it open.

Immediately to our left is a standing desk where a security guard sits, a cup of still steaming coffee in his hand. He puts a clipboard down in front of us and holds out a pen. I take the pen from him and start filling in the lines that ask for my basic information. Name, date, date of birth, state of residency, etc. this seems so mundane and time consuming, but I speak the whole time I fill it out explaining who I am, that I work for the CIA and FBI and warn him of the plan.

He doesn't even need to hear it all before he is grabbing a phone from another desk behind him and hands it to me. I dial the number I had to memorize as the guard gets on his phone, no doubt following his own chain of command.

Two rings in, my contact answers.

"Agent Wallace," she says quickly.

"Shelby, it's Maggie."

I don't need to say anymore before she's jumping into action.

"Hold on, Maggie. I'm getting my director. Are you okay?"

I don't know what to say, so I tell her I'm fine.

"Okay Maggie, I have my director here. What's going on?"

I just sigh before telling her the latest part of the story starting with the weapons we bought in New York, the people who are involved, their plan to bomb the US buildings, what will come after and that I got away. I don't mention OA with her director listening knowing OA shouldn't be here in the first place.

As I explain, words are fired at me asking clarifying questions and asking for more details. I give everything I can think of and start to get annoyed when I find I'm answering the same questions over and over even though I know they are just trying to make sure I don't accidentally leave anything out. Still, it's exhausting.

As the questions stop, I hear more directions being fired by the director to someone other than Shelby who is talking to me again.

"Maggie, we are sending agents from anywhere close enough to make it in time. We also have a black ops military team about three hours out. It will be tight, leaving only two or so hours before the attack is scheduled to begin, but we think it will work, that it will be enough."

I sigh in relief, glad to hear it's almost over.

"We are coming for you, Maggie. We're bringing you home,"

"Shelby, am I on speaker?" I ask knowing I need to warn her about OA.

"No, not anymore. What's wrong?"

"It's OA. He's here."

"What do you mean? How did he..." buy she suddenly trails off. I hear a deep sigh and a few moments of silence. "Okay," she continues. "I'll figure something out. I'll call you when I get an update. And Maggie? Be careful."

When I get off the phone there are two more people talking with OA and the guard. I'm surprised to see it's 6:30. I turn toward OA, wanting to update him, but I stop dead in my tracks when I see a small stain of red beginning to peak through his shirt at his shoulder. The moment I shot him comes flooding back and I get a little dizzy. I feel the squeeze of the trigger and hear his grunt of pain as his shocked eyes lock onto me.

The moment becomes too much and I know I'm going to vomit. I make eye contact with OA just as I whirl around and run for the bathroom. I barely make it in time. I'm so tired and worked up that I can't help but sink to the floor. I hardly notice the bathroom door open and don't realize it's him until he's in front of me.

"You okay, Mags?" he asks, though he already knows the answer.

That's good because I can't speak. I just stare at the spot on his shoulder slowly growing. He follows my gaze and quickly covers the blood with his hand when he realizes that's the problem. Except the real problem is me and he can't cover me up so easily.

"Maggie, I told you I'm fine," he says trying to convince me. I just scoff at him and roll my eyes hoping he'll give up and either walk away or realize I'm right.

But, of course, he doesn't. He places his hand on my chin gently and turns my face so I'm looking at him.

"Maggie. I. Am. Fine."

He's begging me to believe him so I just give a quick nod and let him help me up. I'm still a little light headed, but I steady myself on the wall as OA unbuttons and slides off his shirt to look at the wound.

He's right. It's not nearly as bad as I was expecting. My shot was about as perfect as it could have possibly been. I just grazed him. It's deep enough that it caused him to go down and it probably hurts like a bitch, but it didn't do any serious damage though it doesn't look great. It needs to be cleaned and dressed.

"At least let me help you," I say as I force myself to at least momentarily forget I caused the damage.

He looks at me as if trying to decide if it's a good idea, not because he doesn't trust me but because he doesn't want to hurt me or make me feel worse.

How's that for funny? I shoot him and he's worried about hurting me. Insert eye roll here.

I just purse my lips and stare at him until he nods. I look under the sink, searching through the cabinet for medical supplies. I find a first aid kit an pull it out, set it on the floor, and open it up. I dig around until I find some gauze, some peroxide, and some stick on sutures.

OA just watches as I work. I open the bottle of peroxide and pull his arm over the sink. He lets out a short, muffled moan as the liquid hits his wound. It's already bleeding so the peroxide won't hurt him any and the wound doesn't look clean. There's a small sliver of fabric embedded in the wound so I grab a tweezers out of the kit and pluck it out as gently as I can. Then I grab the sutures and have him hand them to me one at a time until he has enough to hold his wound closed. I wrap his wound in gauze and tie it to hold it all in place. Satisfied, I lightly brush the gauze with my hand and nod at him.

"Your turn," he says matter of fact.

"OA, don't be silly. I'm not hurt," I respond, confused by his words.

He looks at me quizzically before grabbing my shoulders and turning me so I am looking in the mirror. I'm more surprised by my reflection than I would have guessed. There's a nice bruise and gash on the top of my forehead partially in my hairline that must be from the gun Michael hit me with on the plane. Could that really have only been two days ago? It feels like I lifetime.

I also have many scratches on my face and arms from what happened between the plane and running away from Ahmad and his men. My eyes have dark circles under them from such little sleep and I am extremely pale. My wrists are rubbed raw and irritated from the restraints before the polygraph. I really do look pretty bad.

I don't know what to say so I just let OA take over. He pats the counter near the sink like he wants me to sit there, so I slide up. He cleans each cut carefully, gently working his way from my arms to my face. As he is cleaning the cut in my hair, his thumb runs mindlessly back and forth across my forehead. I close my eyes because, despite the sting of the peroxide in the gash, his touch is instantly relaxing.

I keep my eyes closed as he looks at my wrists. There's not much to be done for them either, but he still does all he can. I lean my head forward and rest it on OA's good shoulder. He sets my hands in my lap and steps forward so he can wrap his arms around me carefully.

"Maggie," he whispers in my ear, "it's not your fault. You did what you had to do and put your life on the line so you could save me. I wish you could see how amazing that is. I'll never blame you. Ever."

I don't know what to say so I just stay wrapped up in him. I find that every time he says it, I believe him a little more. I reach up and gently rest my hand on his wrapped shoulder and then lift that hand to his cheek.

He smiles at me and I can't help but give a small smile in return.

There's a knock on the door, pulling us from the moment a little too soon. I slide off the counter and open the door. It's one of the embassy workers.

"There's an Agent Wallace on the phone for you."

She smiles at us and holds the door as we head toward the front desk.

XxXxXxXxX

Shelby tells us we should make our way to a field about thirty minutes from our location where we will be picked up by a pair of agents who are nearby trying to turn an asset. They will meet us there and take us to a safe house. From there, the black ops team will pick us up and bring us home after they finish taking out all the terrorist teams involved in the planned attack.

It seems too good to be true that we don't have to be involved. I've had enough Ahmad for a few lifetimes.

We have about thirty minutes until we need to leave which will give us just enough time to get to the field to meet up with the other agents. Because there is an attack scheduled for this embassy, all eight people here will be coming with us. OA and I will protect them until there is no longer a threat to their lives.

Despite the run down feel of the building, there is a lot of activity already this morning. The Ambassador is running the show, helping to tie up loose ends before we leave while his three guard and four other employees pack up the necessary things they can't leave behind. I didn't realize until now that the woman who got us from the bathroom is the Ambassador's deputy chief, Gwen. She is our point person and gives us the information we need on the building, the people here and the different political pieces currently in play.

With about two minutes to spare, we grab the materials gathered, and head for our vehicles. With the way Ahmad's plan was set, we have plenty of time before the team of terrorists arrive, but I can't help but feel like we are out in the open as we crowd into two vehicles.

OA and I are the last two outside. The last thing I want to do is separate, but I know we need to so we can keep everyone safe.

"Which one?" I ask, gesturing to both vehicles.

He purses his lips and I can tell he's not happy about it either.

"I'll take the front."

After a quick hug, he's gone.

OA-

The best thing we can do for these people we are in charge of protecting is split up. We need to make sure someone is in each car in case something happens to one of the vehicles. I give Maggie a hug, but it only lasts a few seconds, because any longer and I might have decided I don't care about being the best agent if I can't protect her. But I know it's what we need to do, what we have to do if we will ever be allowed to stay partners after this. There has to be some sort of separation between personal life and work. Even if this whole job is work. It's different now with her.

So I let go and get into the front vehicle. The ambassador is with me while his deputy is with Maggie. Another just-in-case scenario.

The drive is mostly quiet with a few questions scattered haphazardly throughout the drive about what is going on. We make it to the field first, not even seeing any dust rising showing signs of an approaching vehicle.

It feels too exposed for my liking and I start to get nervous. Just as I am about to get out and check in with Maggie, I see a car driving in our direction. It stops about fifty meters from us and the front doors open. Two men exit and start walking toward us. I open the driver's door and stand, gun in hand.

"I'm Agent Evan Matthews, and this is Agent Mateo DeMars. You must be Agent Zidan?"

I reach out my hand after returning my weapon to its holster to shake his hand as I introduce myself. "OA," I say. I hear Maggie approaching from behind and turn toward her as she reaches my side.

"Maggie Bell," she says as she shakes their hands. "What's the plan?"

Evan explains we will head toward the safe house and wait there. Once there is no longer a threat, they will accompany the Embassy employees back and we will leave with the Black Ops team like originally planned to go home.

Home. It can't come soon enough.

We climb back into our respective vehicles and take off due south toward the safe house.

Maggie-

The safe house is nothing like I expect, though I guess I didn't even think about it much on the way. It's small, uncomfortably small even, for so many people. But it will do just fine, of course.

About an hour in, DeMars gets a phone call. He and Matthews talk for a minute off to the side and then come to the table where OA and I are sitting as we talk about home.

"Something came up with an asset and I have to go," DeMars explains, "but Evan will stay here with you. I'll be back as soon as I can."

I nod though I can't help but think splitting up isn't the best idea. I'm just glad it's not OA and me who are needing to part ways.

As if a foreshadowing of the future, not twenty minutes after DeMars leaves, Matthews gets a call. This time it's from Shelby. And it's not good news.

Apparently Ahmad and two of his most trusted men escaped from the compound as the ops team came cruising in. They are headed for another compound, but the team's primary focus is the bombs so no one is available to go after Ahmad. Hence the phone call. Shelby wants us to go after Ahmad leaving one agent behind with the others.

Evan tells her Mateo had to leave which means only two of us can go. She isn't as happy with the odds but still, we need to try. He hangs up with Shelby and looks at us.

"I don't suppose you want to split up?"

OA and I look at each other for the smallest fraction of a moment before we are shaking our heads and voicing our thoughts.

"Not a chance," OA says no nonsense.

"Okay," Evan says with a nod. "You two will go after him. I have some weapons and other gear I can give you. I just hope it's enough."

He provides us two guns which puts our total at four. I take both from Evan because OA has both of his already strapped and ready to go. Evan also has one vest and a couple other things that will come in handy including a phone that will allow us to contact him, Shelby or anyone else.

Climbing into the car was a quiet occasion and the drive starts off just as quiet. What do you say when you are about to face the man who started all this, the man who went from wanting you to have his children to trying to kill you in less than ten minuets.

The closer we get to this compound, the more uneasy and agitated I become. I try my best to convince myself this is just like any other mission I've been on with OA, but I know that's not true. We've never been alone, never been facing such terrible odds. I'm exhausted, OA's shot. We are quite the sight right now. But we don't have a choice.

Just over an hour after leaving the safehouse, and about ten minutes away from our destination, I can't stay quiet any longer.

"You need to wear the vest," I say, starting a fight I didn't want to have.

"Maggie, you have to wear it. That's the only option."

"No, OA."

"There's no way I'm going to wear it when you could get shot-," he starts but I interrupt angrily.

"Damn it OA. I didn't just watch you get shot, I had to shoot you! And it's all I can see! So you're going to wear the god damn vest because I can't handle watching you get shot again..." I trail off because there's nothing more to say and my anger is already gone.

He sighs loudly, obviously debating internally whether or not he should continue to argue, but he doesn't which is good because I have no more energy to talk about it and might have given in. He nods, but I can tell he doesn't like it.

Slowly, he pulls the car off the road and into a group of trees beside the road. We are very close and will walk from here. We don't want to give away our position or that we are even here.

Luckily, it doesn't appear that anyone else is here other than the three men which aligns with what Shelby said. That significantly helps our odds of getting out alive.

We quietly make our way to the edge of the compound, reaching the first building. We open the door without making a sound and enter to clear it.

Building one is empty.

The next building is about one hundred meters away. That one is also empty. Two more buildings lay in front of us. Both are close together and could give away our position if we choose the wrong one. We have to each pick one.

"I don't like this," OA whispers to me.

I bite my lip, feeling very much the same way, and I just can't decide if it's worth the risk. But we do it anyway.

I take the building to the left, he takes the right. We stand outside the doors and he motions a countdown from three. We enter our buildings at the same time, guns raised, ready for anything.

The first room is clear, but I hear men talking. I walk quietly to the hallway toward the next room.

I peak in and see at least two of the three men, leaving Ahmad either hidden or unaccounted for. I walk in, shooting at both and taking them down. I search the room but see nothing, when I hear a loud pop and feel a strong shove and a searing pain in my side. It takes me a minute to realize the shove was OA pushing me out of the way. I didn't even hear him come in the room with me, but am glad he did because I think he pushed me enough out of the way that the bullet only clipped me a little. He must have seem Ahmad and acted just in time.

He takes off through the doorway to the adjoining room when Ahmad shot from. I stand as quickly as I can and follow, hearing more gunshots on the way.

OA is hiding behind a counter reloading his gun. There's a good two meter space between the doorway where I'm hiding to him. A space too far to jump without risk of another bullet. I quickly peek around the doorway and see Ahmad dart out around the corner to get off a couple shots in OA's direction. I shoot twice, but miss and take cover behind my corner. OA and I lock eyes. We hear a couple shots and, as soon as Ahmad's shots stop, we nod and shoot. I hear a bullet hit him as he cries out, but he starts shooting again.

I pop around the corner again and take a few more shots. One hits Ahmad. Right in the head. Ahmad goes down and I quickly make my way over to him,

OA following behind. I kick the gun from Ahmad, who lays gasping for breath.

"Have your babies my ass," I say as he takes his last breath. I turn to look at OA and scream because Shelby was wrong. There isn't three men, there are four and the fourth man gets off a shot before I completely register he's there. That shot slams into OA knocking him off his feet. I take the man out with two shots, the second of which hits him somewhere between the eyes.

I scream OA's name as I run to him, but I see he's okay. The bullet hit his vest. The vest he almost didn't wear. Stuck in agent mode, I clear the rest of the building quickly. Upon seeing no one else, I return to OA who is now leaning against wall still trying to get his breathing back under control.

I sit next to him, nearly on top of him, and put my head on his shoulder.

"I don't know what will be worse," he manages to grunt out.

I look at him quizzically as he catches his breath to mutter the next few words.

"The bruised ribs I'm sure to have or hearing how you were right for the next decade."

I can't help but laugh despite it all.

"Well, I was right to make you wear the vest. I can't let you forget it," I say matter-of-fact with a shrug.

I just grab his hand and hold it for dear life.

"And what was that about babies?" he asks confused by my last words to Ahmad.

Again, I just smile.

AN: thanks so much to Fabiana, jotchLIFE, Meg54, Whiz, Kensi jj, and AilanGurl for reviewing lest chapter! You keep me going even though this story is a tough one to write! There will be one more chapter, probably pretty short to finish this story off. These two have had such a hard adventure (just like always I suppose) and deserve to get home soon.

You rock! Thanks to all of you for reading and sticking with me!