Author's Note: ARGH! I'm trying to post a chapter every night, but it's catching up to me! I have to write more, faster! School and a job are really helping too. T_T Ok, I'll make my author's note shorter, and spend that time writing the actual fanfic. So thanks to everyone who reviewed. I love it. Also, major thanks to The Sacred and the Profane for my story! It's called Amends. It is amazing. =) My faithful reviewers are awesome, as usual. You know who you are. xD Ok, got to go write!

Reno stayed in his corner for quite some time after Rude left. His head pounded miserably. He had to head to the bathroom when he felt the entire contents of his stomach coming up. After his stomach was through torturing him, he lay on the floor, head pressed against the cool tile. I hate this, I hate this, I hate this. He didn't know another way to cope. By the time the hangover was gone, usually the problem was too.

Several hours and a shower later, he was feeling well enough to go to work. Elena and Rude looked up when he walked in. Rude just nodded a hello and went back to work. Reno grinned at Elena.

"Who died?" he joked, seeing the depressed look on her face. She just shook her head and turned quickly back to the computer in front of her. She snuck another look at Reno as he sat in his chair, giving it the usual spin. Her heart still ached for him. He looked happy enough but when she looked closer, she realized it didn't reach his eyes. While she was scrutinizing him, he looked up and their eyes locked briefly before she turned away, face burning. It was embarrassing to be caught staring.

Reno watched her, amused, for a few minutes. Why had she been staring at him? His thoughts were interrupted by Tseng coming out of his office.

"I've got jobs for us all," he announced, "Rude, here is your list of targets. Nothing special, they're just a few that could cause trouble. I'll be taking some too. Elena, we still have one man we're not sure about. You and Reno will be following him tonight to see if he's involved. Make sure to call when you're done."

Rude must have told him, Reno thought, only mildly annoyed. He knew it was inevitable Tseng would find out why he hadn't called. He rejoiced internally about going on a mission with Elena. He knew he was failing miserably at trying to forget his feelings for her. Right now, he just didn't care. He loved being with her anywhere, anytime.

"Everyone got it? Good." Tseng snapped a clip into his gun and headed out the door.

Reno and Elena were loitering in the shadows outside a specific bar in the slums. The man they were to follow was in there, and should come out soon. They hadn't spoken much, just stood in silence for the most part. Normally Reno didn't have a problem thinking of anything to say but the only things he could think of now involved how nice she smelled, how much he wanted to touch her hair, how he loved every little movement she made. None of those would help him focus on watching every face that exited the bar across the street. So he didn't say anything and tried not to look at her either.

Finally, the man they were watching for came out the door and headed up the street. Reno and Elena started walking slowly in the same direction on the opposite side of the road. They followed him deeper and deeper into the slums. Reno noted with satisfaction that every step, every turn the man made was taking them closer to the meeting place they had identified a few days ago.

"Shit," Reno glanced around quickly. They had turned a corner and the man was nowhere to be seen. To make matters worse, the road forked off in two different directions. "Ok, I'll go this way, you go that way. Pick up the pace. If you see him, call." Elena nodded and walked briskly off down her road while Reno followed the other.

She lost sight of her partner almost at once. The road was dark, hardly any of the street lights worked and those that did flickered annoyingly. There wasn't a soul around. Elena walked faster. If they lost the man, they would have to do it all over again the next night. I want a normal night's sleep again! Running around all night was starting to wear on her. Soon, she heard footsteps. They were in the wrong place though. The man should be in front of her and she heard someone walking behind her.

Reno? She discarded the thought almost before it popped into her head. He would have called and…Reno was only one person. Now she heard at least three behind her. Elena's pulse jumped as every last horrific story she'd heard about lone women in the slums filled her head. Her hand pressed comfortingly against her gun. She sped up a little and briefly considered calling Reno. But what if he's found the target? The sound would give him away…

She gripped her gun tightly and kept walking as quickly as she could, concentrating with all her might on listening to the footsteps behind her. She didn't notice the odd shadows in front of her until suddenly five huge men were in front of her, blocking her way. Elena gasped and stumbled back a few steps, right into another group of men who had been following her.

"Hey gorgeous," one laughed cruelly. Turk-training coming in handy, her hand flew up and broke his nose in one swift motion. The man staggered back, holding his face and shouting curses. Elena jumped away, out of reach of any of the men and pulled her gun, holding it on the group.

"Get lost!" She could have kicked herself for the obvious waver in her voice. It wasn't lost on any of them. The closest smiled menacingly and edged closer.

"That isn't something a little lady like yourself should be carrying," his voice was sickeningly sweet. He reached slowly to grab her arm.

"I'm warning you," Elena jerked back a little to avoid the man's touch. He lashed out at once and grabbed her arm in a vice grip. She screamed, in shock and pain as he jerked her up against him. She looked up at him, the cold look in her eyes surprised the man, and squeezed the trigger. His blood splattered all over her, but he let go of her arm and staggered to the ground, clutching the hole in his chest.

The whole group jumped her at once, wrenching the gun from her grasp. She was slammed against a wall, hard enough to make her vision flicker. Someone quickly frisked her for any hidden weapons, hands lingering here and there. Elena struggled to break away, but they held her still. Damn, this guys are bigger than Rude! She didn't stop fighting to get free, but she started to panic as nothing she did was even the tiniest bit successful. The first man who had spoken to her approached. His sneer was made even more horrible by the blood running from his broken nose.

"Thought you could best us, huh?" He came ever closer and his eyes were never on her face, "Well you'll never make that mistake again, if I decide to let you live." With a shudder, she stopped struggling and tilted her head back.

"Reno!" She put every ounce of strength into her scream and just barely got it out before a giant fist slammed into her gut.

Author's Note: *gasp* So dramatic! Sorry for the cliffhanger, those of you that care, but I'm doing my best! Thanks for reading and reviewing. *hint hint* So remember to review. xD