In the fury of bullets that was now covering the boat,everyone moved quick to take cover. Nate used himself to cover both Sophie and Jimar while Isaac covered the other three. Feeling warmth growing on his shoulder Nate moved to looked down only to see blood dripping down onto the deck.
He had taken a bullet to the shoulder,in a way it seemed to be a favorite spot but with current injuries the burning sensation was unwanted. Once the mirage of bullets had stopped they stood up hearing Nikolai's laugh the closer his boat got to theirs. Nate ushered Sophie below deck with the boy while he and the others came up with a plan.
"We need to think quick,Nikolai will not wait to shoot any of us." Isaac said staring at the other four.
"You are right,I won't" Nikolai said as his boat came to the side of theirs. Four of his men had M-16's pointed at them,they would never stand a chance if they were to try and escape.
"What do you want Nikolai?" Isaac spoke with rage and hatred in his voice.
"You and Mr Ford over there,on my boat now. If your precious team follows us then we will kill them all." Nikolai grinned but a look on Isaac's face caught his attention.
"No,Nikolai you see,this whole time I have waited for moment's when I can treat you the way you have treated me...Ruiz,make the move."
Ruiz nodded pointing the gun at Nikolai who laughed."This? This is your big plan you really are a pathetic little man aren't you?"
"With no respect to you Nikolai,it would be best if you just shut up and take what's coming to you." Ruiz said as he nodded to the two other men who trained their guns on him as well.
"Really boys? Do you forget who you are messing with?" Nikolai said as he eyed Nate closely not paying any mind to the other men with guns on him."Obviously we have,haven't we Mr Ford? Here a little present for you." He tosses Nate a box.
Opening the box Nate's eyes widen as a bomb ticks down the last ten seconds. "Everyone! Get down!" He yells tossing it into the water between the boats,the mental countdown in his head told him the time was up when nothing happen they all stood as Nikolai laughed. "You really are annoying." Nate said to the man.
"Well,you know,easy come,easy?" He said with a grin.
"What? That...that doesn't even apply to this situation." Nate said shaking his head and pinching the bridge of his nose. "Do you even think before you speak?"
"As a matter of fact I bomb was a time release. Meaning it's going to go off,right...about...now!" A sudden shaking and rocking of both boats as an explosion came from beneath the water sent two of the men on Nikolai's boat over board along with Nate and Isaac.
"Mr Ford,are you alright?" Isaac asked moving to help Nate.
"Fine." He said in return as the others scrambled to get the four men out of the water. Moving around to the back of Nikolai's boat Nate climbed aboard quietly where he approached the man from behind.
"Come on Ruiz,you know better then to go against me." Nikolai was to busy trying to bargain his way out of being shot.
"Shut up Nikolai,I have one thing to say to you."
"Oh yeah? and what does the big bad Ruiz have to say to me.?" He asked with a smirk.
"You are under arrest by Interpol." Nikolai's smirk faded as he rushed at Ruiz but Nate was there to grab him as Isaac came aboard as well.
Throwing Nikolai down on the deck Nate took the last strength he had in him to fight the man who was fighting back."I'm down running for you." He said bringing his fist to the mans face busting his lip open."I'm done with you threatening my wife!" He yelled punching him again causing blood to rush from his nose.
He was about to hit him again when Isaac grabbed his arm. "Do not turn into him Nate." He said pulling Nate up from the now cowering man.
"I'm pressing charges for assault!" Nikolai yelled.
"Isaac did you see any assault happening?" Ruiz asked with a grin.
"Hmm,can't say that I have. I do remember him hitting his face against the rail when the bomb he handed this innocent man exploded beneath his boat." He smiled at Nate who nodded.
"What? You can't do that! This is police brutality! I want to press charges!" Nikolai yelled.
"No,see if I were the police then it would count." Nate said grinning down at the man.
"Trust me Nikolai,the charges against you will make this all disappear." Ruiz said. "Kidnapping,murder,attempted murder,terrorism,on the count of the two bombs,wrongful death,owning an illegal pet,weapons charges. I could go on and on."
"Oh yes we can,I'm sure we can add the drug charges from Guatemala to his list too,betcha thought we forgot about those,didn't you?" Isaac said with a smile.
Putting the man in cuffs Eliot took the wheel of the boat they borrowed while Isaac Nate and Ruiz stayed on the other boat with the prisoner heading back to shore. Once they reached the pier they all disembarked to a waiting group of Interpol agents and emergency personnel. Nate had his shoulder wound taken care of and his stomach re-bandaged.
"Is it really over?" Sophie asked coming to his side once he was taken care of.
"I think so,Beautiful." He looked to Jimar who was playing tag with Hardison and Parker in the sand with Eliot watching close by. "All except the one matter I've been ignoring,his father."
Sophie rested her head on his uninjured shoulder watching the boy chasing the others around. "What are we going to do Nate?"
A sighed passed his lips,he had no idea what to do."I-I don't know Soph. I make the choice to pull the plug,he ends up loosing both parents,I leave him on the machines,he grows up holding onto hope that Kano will wake up again until the time it takes him to realize that his is suffering with the machines."
"We should take him to go see him one last time." She says understanding full well that Nate has made his choice already."
Nodding he places a kiss to her forehead then moves to where they are playing. Jimar notices the serious look on his face and stops immediately. "Jimar,come here buddy." He says knelling down to his eye level.
"What's wrong?" He asks in a tiny voice.
"Time to go see your dad." The boy nods and takes Nate's hand as Sophie joins them
At the hospital Nate holds Jimar in his arms as the three of them stand there looking through the glass. The others wait in the waiting room to give them privacy at such a sad time. Walking into the room Jimar holds tighter on to Nate.
"Dad..." He says quietly looking at his father. Nate places him down and knells next to him once again.
"It's time to say good-bye and let him go watch over the other fisherman and keep them safe."
Jimar nods slowly. "Will he be okay?"
"Sweetheart he will be okay,and he won't be in pain." Sophie's voice is calming and warming as he nods again.
Nate stands as he watches Jimar walk towards the bed."Am I doing the right thing?" He asks looking to his wife.
"Nate,darling,it's better he doesn't suffer like this,it was his wish to not be stuck to machines like this."
"I know,you're right."He sighs quietly.
Jimar reaches out for his dads hand and lays his head on the bed,tears roll down his cheeks as the doctors and nurses come in to shut down the respirator keeping him alive. "Daddy,I love you and when you see mommy tell her I love her too. I know you will be keeping everyone out there fishing safe,just like you told me the stories before you tucked me in." Tears lingered in everyone's eyes as they listened to the boy. "When I grow up,I want to be a good fisher like you ...and Imma catch a big shark too one day. Then when it tries to fight I will fight like the man told me you did. They told me I have to say good-bye but if I don't have to that would be...you can't wake up can you? That is okay...you...you're gonna be resting,I know. Good-bye daddy."
Tears streamed down Sophie's face as well as Nate's as the boy made his way back over to them. Picking him up the grifter held him tight,she could feel his tears seeping through her shirt on to her rubbing his back she looked to Nate. She watched the doctors move towards the bed to prepare the machines to be turned off. "You did great sweetheart."
"Yeah,you did great buddy." Nate said placing a hand on the boys arm. Watching as the machines were being turned off one by one Nate took in a deep breath. The final machine was shut down as the steady rise and fall of Kano's chest came to a halt and the sound of a long high pitched beep filled the room letting them know that he was gone. The doctor turned off the heart monitor and nodded to the mastermind.
"Time of Death,0256." He said looking to his watch as the nurse wrote something down but stopped.
"Doctor,he just took a breath." The doctor turned to the man laying in the bed.
Sure enough,another breath was taken."I'll be damned." The doctor said turning back on the heart monitor. A steady rhythmic beat of a heart pumping was heard. the doctors rushed to Kano's side checking his vitals. "Revoke the time of death this man is still alive." The doctor reported to the nurse.
"Oh Nate,he's going to make it!" Sophie said excitedly as she wiped the tears away from the eight year olds face.
"Mr and Mrs Ford,We don't know how but,he is quickly moving from critical to stable him a few hours and he should be fully stabelized,we will slowly bring him out of the medical induced coma."
"Thank you doctor. How long until that will take place?" Nate asked looking towards Kano.
"Within the hour,so stick around."
It was an hour later when they were finally called back to the ICU once again. Kano was wide awake asking for Jimar.
"Dad!" The boy yelled running to his fathers side. Nate and Sophie smiled welcoming Kano back.
"Thank you,thank you both." He said with a smile.
"It was our pleasure agent." Nate spoke with a nod.
"How did you figure it out?" Kano asked amused that Nate had put everything together.
"Well,Isaac announced that he and Ruiz were Interpol. The story that Isaac had told to your son was the biggest give away. You knew who we were before we even thought to tell you. Only one force in the world would be able do that." Nate explained.
"And that service is Interpol." Sophie finished for him.
Kano nodded his approval."Well,I had to be sure who I let teach my boy a few things."
"That is completely understandable. We wish you all well,and now it's time for us to go home finally." Nate held his hand out to Sophie who took it with a smile.
"Wait! Nate,Sophie!" Jimar yelled leaving Kano's side. Throwing his arms around them. "Thank you." He said with a smile. After giving their good byes they met with the other three outside the hospital.
"So man,time to go home?" Hardison asked with a grin as Nate nodded.
"Time to go home." He said putting an arm around the grifter holding her close.
As they walked through the parking lot Eliot and Hardison began to argue.
"I say we get an ice machine and have a snow day man"
"Dammit Hardison! We just spent to years in Alaska,why would you want more snow?"
"You act like I'm talking about one of my-"
"Don't even say it!"
Nate and Sophie laughed,happy to have their family back together and able to finally live their lives the way they wanted to.
[A/N:Okay so that is our story,I want to thank all my reviewers who kept up with the story! gibbsrossi,stellaru,Sphinxius,Sophie Devereaux,Susie Devereaux,huttonfan,leveragus,shelly,Zee-zee magee,Adee Devereaux,februrary28, and thank you for all the follows and favorites. I'm at a loss for what my next story should be so if you have any ideas send them to my inbox! ]