You guys have no idea how much I love writing this story, I just love the Nat/Han pairing and I can't wait to get them interacting again! Hope you guys enjoy this next chapter and thanks for all the reviewing!

Crunch.

My eyes flew open and instantly I was up, taking a gun in hand then moved to stand where I was hidden but I could see the front door from the reflection off the window. The door rattled quietly as someone tried to open the door but it remained fast.

Then I blinked. Oh crap, mom. What am I going to do? If she starts screaming then she'll alert everyone as to what was happening and give away my position. Quickly I moved over to her side and shook her awake, clamping my hand over her mouth as she whimpered. "Mom, we're going to play a game. Want to play?" I asked her and she nodded her head, sitting up with a smile. "We're going to stay as silent as possible. The first person to speak loses, okay? No matter what happens, you have to stay silent." I emphasised and she nodded her head, clapping a hand to her mouth to assure me that she was already playing. I nodded my head to her then drew her to me, pushing her under the bed. "Now stay here, the game starts right now." Once she was safely tucked away I moved back to my spot.

Suddenly the door burst opened having been kicked in and I moved, the silencer on my gun already in place. I shot down three men as they shouldered their way inside but as a gun was lifted at me, I dived out of the way and crawled over to the kitchen as bullets sparked off the walls, wood thudding dully as it was cracked open by the quiet fire of the gun.

Anyone below would just presume that it was rain and go back to sleep, however I wanted to know how they found me. This is a safe house, there was no way they could have found me unless someone had sold me out. Some stranger on the street, those homeless people, possibly even my mom but I doubted that.

When I was settled I lifted my arm and shot, catching another man though I don't know where, all I heard was his yelp of pain before he collapsed onto the table and smashed it. So destructive, honestly. Were they seriously going to trash this place too?

As I heard the gunfire stop and someone moved closer, I leaped over the counter and tackled them to the ground with a snarl. I punched them in the face then rolled forwards, smoothly rising to my feet then blocked a heavy swing with my hand, turning to use the momentum to flip the guy onto his back, his foot catching the stereo.

Somehow, I have no idea how, he managed to click the play button and suddenly the room blasted with the music of 'Apple Bottom Jeans', making me flinch as it pounded in my ears but I soon found the rhythm and fought to it, striking hard and fast, paused, duck, got low then flipped backwards, throwing my opponent into the wall, collapsing a shelf of books and I quickly lunged for the gun, snatching it mid-air then backhanded it across his face.

With powerful force I was grabbed and tackled to the ground painfully. A hand slapped me and my head wrenched to the side, causing me to whimper from the harsh blow but I quickly moved, getting free and twisting as I remained half in his grip to slam my brow against his.

He growled from the blow as I leaped to my feet but he wrestled with me, managing to rip my long sleeved top at the back as he tried to grab me. His strength suddenly came into play and he lifted me up then tossed me back into an armchair, drawing a gun to aim at me as two others finally got their feet, cornering me.

I panted for breath, staring at the barrel of the gun before moving. My leg rolled in an arc, foot swiping the gun away but before I could spring forwards there was a loud bang, barely masked by the blare of the music. My head snapped around to see a long coated figure standing in the doorway, wearing a cowboy hat and carried a toy pig under his other hand.

Suddenly dad appeared, shooting the other two as Marvin blew the smoke from the tip of his revolver. Oh god, I'm saved! I'm safe! Dad's here! "Baby!" He gasped and I leaped up, springing into his arms and clutched him tightly as he sighed with relief, holding me close. Suddenly he pushed me away and was gripping my arms, assessing me as I smiled.

"I'm fine dad, honest. They have incredibly weak hands." I assured them then turned to Sarah as she rushed forwards. "Sarah!"

"Oh thank god you're okay!" She breathed, hugging me tightly. "Your dad was going insane with worry!" I looked up and smiled as Marvin stepped forwards, patting me firmly on the back.

"Glad you're not dead." My eyes shifted to Victoria and Ivan, the latter of whom spread his hands up to the sky.

"Little mint cake! You're alive!" He boomed and I pulled away from Sarah to embrace him and Victoria who brushed away her tears.

"Oh thank goodness, we were all so worried about you Natalia, your father was unable to stay calm." She said to me, combing her fingers through my hair and I sniffed.

"I knew you'd come for me." I murmured and she chuckled before pulling back but Ivan kept on holding me tightly. When he drew back he tapped my nose, dived a hand into his pocket then slipped a little chocolate mint cream into one of my pockets.

"Never to break tradition." He informed then stepped back. My eyes lifted to the door and I froze, staring at Han as he just stood there, watching me.

"Han." I breathed his name and stepped towards him but he quickly turned his face away, clenching his jaw so I stopped, frowning in confusion whilst flinching with hurt. Victoria stepped forwards and touched my shoulder, rubbing it gently as I lowered my head.

Then I heard someone move behind us and my head shot up. "Dad, I'd prepare yourself if I were you." I warned him then opened the bedroom door. Mom stood there, tilting her head curiously up at me then beamed, clapping her hands as she jumped on the spot.

"I won! I won!" She laughed at me then frowned at everyone else as dad's jaw dropped practically to the ground.

"Rosella?" Mom smiled cheerfully.

"Yes! That's my name. Rather pretty isn't it?" She flipped back her braid then wrapped her arms around me, snuggling close and I couldn't help but put one arm around her.

"What…what are you doing here?" Dad demanded, gobsmacked to say the least. He'd been looking for her for a very long time, even since he'd long given up he hadn't stopped, constantly watching out for her as he felt guilty about her leaving. Dad had tried to find her to make sure she was safe but she had simply disappeared.

"She found me, dad, on the streets." I answered for her as mom began to purr like a cat, rubbing her cheek into my neck as I swallowed, unsure of what to do so I led her over to the sofa and sat her down, ignoring the fact that it was pretty beat up by bullets.

"But…" Sarah frowned.

"Who is she?" She asked Victoria who was also staring in shock.

"Francis's ex-wife." Victoria whispered back. "She left them both when Natalia was very young, she's not completely right in the head. Think of Doctor Baily only a little more permanent." Sarah nodded her head then slowly moved forwards, sitting beside my mom then touched her arm.

"Hey, I'm Sarah." Mom suddenly frowned at Sarah and I quickly saw the darkened look in her eye and how she tensed, glancing between Sarah and dad. He must have seen it too as he was suddenly lunging forwards.

I grabbed mom's arms and pinned them behind her as she yelled and lunged for Sarah, baring her teeth and trying to attack. Dad swiftly pulled Sarah out the way and restrained mom's legs as she howled, suddenly writhing like a snake and twisting her face into a hideous snarl as I shifted beneath her, wrapping my legs over her torso to pin her down. "Okay, okay…" I sighed, closing my eyes as I used all my strength to pin mom down so that she wouldn't go for Sarah. "You're okay, just calm down."

"Marvin, get something to knock her out." Dad ordered, jerking his chin towards the medical cupboard so Marvin quickly went to find something to sedate mom with.

"You bitch! I'll kill you! He's my husband! You've been cheating on me Frank! Adulteress!" Mom screeched at them both but when I placed a hand over her mouth she clamped her teeth down and I yelped in pain as she drew blood, digging in her teeth and refused to let go.

"Let go!" I practically screamed, twisting as my eyes filled with tears of pain and hurt, both internally and outwardly.

"Marvin!" Dad shouted and Sarah stood beside Victoria, watching with horror as Marvin ran back and quickly placed the needle into mom's arm which I struggled to keep still.

"Mom let go! You're hurting me!" I begged, my hand trembling as Han suddenly appeared by my side and gripped my mom's jaw, forcing her mouth to open then grabbed my hand, wrapping it in a cloth before crouching beside me, one arm around me as I leaned into him, crying silently. He was so warm, it was an immense comfort to have him close to me again, his face pressing against mine as he gripped my hand tightly and stemming the blood flow as mom slowly stopped writhing, falling to simple twitches before finally falling asleep.

"Baby?"

"I'm okay." I croaked to him, giving a tiny nod of my head before turning to rest my forehead against Han's shoulder. His arm drew me closer as dad lifted mom and carried her back to bed to let her sleep. Han pulled me into his arms and lifted me up, carrying me to the sink where the ice still remained, though slightly melted.

I reached forwards and turned on the tap, pulling off the cloth and began to see to the bite marks as Han moved back, helping Marvin and Ivan stow away the bodies for now as Victoria switched on the lights. "How did they find you?" She asked but I shook my head.

"I don't know, I thought I was clean. No one followed me save for mom. They couldn't have known about this place, could they?" Dad entered and shook his head.

"No, this place is tight." He stopped at my side and looked at my hand with me. "It's going to need stitching."

"I'll do it." I nodded my head then sighed, lifting my other hand to pinch the bridge of my nose. "This is hell, dad. You should see the operation they're running. I found some of their cargo, it was C4." His head snapped up. "Enough to blow a bank and more. There's a big deal going down and I'm not liking the look of it. Dad, they sell to terrorists, they're going to do a lot of damage unless we stop them."

"Baby, I just want to get you home." Dad murmured to me softly. "You've been through hell, we can leave this to someone else."

"No! Those jackasses kidnapped me and I want to know what they're up to." I growled, grabbing the medical kit and began to thread a needle. "They're dangerous and I want to remove them."

"This isn't what you're meant for, Natalia, you're not fully trained to do this sort of thing." I looked up at dad winsomely.

"But you are." He groaned, rubbing his face in one hand.

"I hate it when you pull that look at me." I smiled softly then kissed his face, leaning into him briefly before focusing on my task. "We'll take a further look into them. Sarah managed to swipe some reports about a deal between some old friends of mine and Victoria is close to finding out exactly who and where they are." There was a sudden beeping and I looked over to the software.

"So am I apparently." I mused, taking the kit over to the computer screens with me as everyone crowded around. I searched through their files then selected one. Detailed plans came up, focusing on Hoover Dam and the points at weak the structure was weakest, mostly at the top but there were also plans laid out to blow it from the bottom. My eyes widened.

"Those little…" I held my tongue then searched through the other files. Empire state building, Statue of Liberty, Golden Gate Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge, the Whitehouse and CIA headquarters. "They're not selling, they're going to use those damn explosives!"

"Your country seems to be in a little bit of trouble." Ivan mused and Victoria slapped his arm lightly.

"We have to alert authorities." We all looked to one another then fixed on dad, who sighed.

"Alright, I'll give them a call." Just then Han's phone rang. He growled and answered it, narrowing his eyes dangerously.

"What do you want, Medina?" He demanded and I could hear the reply.

"Aren't you eager to get your girl back?" Han opened his mouth but I spun around in the chair and kicked him, shooting him a pointed look then gave a small nod of my head. His eyes left mine as he then answered.

"Yes."

"Well then, how about we do an exchange? We'll drop the girl off somewhere if you hand yourself over." I had been quickly scribbling on a notepad and once I was finished, I lifted it up and showed Han who read it quickly.

"No, we'll do this properly. You'll hand her over to her family with me there. Once she's safe, I'm all yours." His tone was bitter and cold so I went to reach out to touch his shoulder but he shrugged me off, stepping away. My eyes darted to Sarah who bit her lip then took my arm in her hands, giving me a brave smile then rubbed my back as Victoria did the same.

Han looked to dad for a moment then hung up. "He'll give us a time and place." He informed then shot me a look. "What are you planning?" I bristled against him, narrowing my eyes.

"We'll catch him." I answered simply. "We'll catch him and then either hand him over to the CIA or just shoot him. Preferably the latter but now that I have dad watching, I'm going to be under orders." I glanced to dad then turned around, facing the screen. "If we can distract him long enough, we can disarm any bombs he's put into place, take over his hoards and bring him down once and for all." Victoria rested her hand on my shoulder and I looked up at her.

"Nat, have you been tagged?" I blinked at her then frowned.

"I…I don't know." Marvin stepped forwards, holding a weird little contraption that he'd obviously built himself then waited for me to stand before waving it over my body. When I turned however, the two prongs stretched forwards and it whirred at us, flashing red as Marvin stopped at my left shoulder.

"Yup, you're bugged." He growled and dad instantly stepped in the way to shield me. Now I was beginning to panic.

"Get it out! Take it out of me!" Dad caught my hands and brought me to him.

"Okay, just stay calm. We're getting out of here. Victoria, download those files, Sarah, grab anything that we might need, Marvin, Ivan, ammunition, Han?" Dad's eyes narrowed sharply. "Just stay away from her." Her being me.

"Dad…" I began but he cut me off with a sharp look then led me forwards.

"I want you to…uh…look after your mother for the moment." He frowned, unsure of what to do. "We'll um, find her someplace to stay once we get that chip out of you." Marvin approached with a knife.

"I can get it…"

"No!" We both growled at him and he lifted his hands in surrender.

"Just offering." I whimpered and looked over my shoulder.

"Damn those jerks. I swear I'm going to kill them for this." Victoria approached with a scalpel, swabs and medical scissors.

"Sorry sweetheart, but that thing needs to come out." Nodding my head I sighed then went over to the couch, sitting down then reached for my shirt but I paused, looking to the boys.

"You guys might want to turn around." I advised and they all instantly spun around, facing their backs to me. I took off my top and both Victoria and Sarah gasped.

"Nat! You're…you're hurt bad." Sarah gaped at me, touching a bruise and I twitched as it throbbed tenderly.

"What? What's wrong?" Dad demanded but stopped himself from turning around.

"Nothing." I shot a look to Victoria and Sarah to keep quiet and they glanced to one another before nodding. I lay on my back and gripped Sarah's hand as Victoria slowly cut a line into my back. Hissing sharply I then grit my teeth, relaxing into the sting as Victoria opened up a little cut, deepened it then searched for the chip.

"Got it." She announced victoriously, drawing it from me then quickly sealed up the cut. "Brave girl." She murmured to me and I gave a weak smile, struggling to keep my eyes open. "We'll get moving now. Come on, shirt on." I obeyed then got up, shrugging into a jacket then looked over to the bedroom where mom slept.

"I'll carry her." Dad murmured to me. "Keep close to Sarah."

"Aye, aye captain." I answered sleepily, though if we were attacked I doubted I would be much use in protecting Sarah. I'd stand in the way but that would be it, I had no energy to fight. Sarah slipped her arms around me, helping me to stumble over to the broken door and we made our way to the stairs, Marvin checking to make sure the coast was clear.

"We'll take my other car, it'll fit all of us inside." Dad said, stepping forwards and holding a sleeping mom in his arms, trying to fish for his keys. He brought out the thick bundle then headed over to the garages out back, telling us to wait in the shadows. I yawned sleepily then rested my head on Sarah's shoulder, though I kept on glancing over to Han.

"What's happened between you two?" Sarah whispered to me. "He told us about the argument, must have been pretty bad."

"Yeah, you could say that." I muttered bitterly. "I think he may have misinterpreted it as an end to us." Her eyes darted to me.

"What?" She yelped but quickly quietened down when everyone frowned at her. "What? But he's been worried sick about you! More so than your dad." I gave a weak smile.

"I'll talk to him later. Right now I'm too tired to even think." That's when I collapsed onto Sarah, who instantly hissed for someone to lift me up. I had no idea who caught me, but I was vaguely aware of someone carrying me over to the car as dad pulled up in front of us. After that, it was pretty much blackness and silence.