"You can't hide forever, Mr. Drake! If my men don't find you the police will!" Brewr called. "Shoot out the cases."

Glass exploded around them as the mob opened fire. Nate instantly drew Elena into his chest to protect her from the rain of glittering shards. Frantic alarms started ringing as they shot out more and more of the cases. Nate found himself facing the strange sensation of déjà vu. Only this time instead of one man firing at him there was about fifteen.

"We need to get out of here."

"Oh, really? I hadn't noticed," Elena replied sarcasm getting the best of her.

"There," Nate pointed. "Emergency exit, move!"

Elena rolled out from behind the case quickly darting through the cases and attempting to avoid the glass. Nate moved to follow but was pinned down under a second rain of bullets. He threw his hands up to protect his face as more glass exploded around him. It rained down around him covering his hands in hairline scratches. The mob was too busy firing at him to even notice Elena. She threw the door open.

"C'mon!" she shouted.

Nate dashed out from behind the case and sprinted toward the door. He somehow managed to dodge every bullet that was pinging off the marble around him. Heart racing he cleared the door with one final leap and Elena slammed it shut behind him.

"We don't have long," Elena panted. "Security will be here any minute."

"Parking's below us. We can jack a car from the valets," Nate said.

The emergency exit hadn't lead them outside but into the inside courtyard of the Louvre. It wasn't hard to find their way down into the parking garages. After weaving through dozens of foreign and very expensive cars Elena finally caught sight of it.

"I think I see the valet stand, it's just up ahead," Elena said jogging off ahead her heels clip-clopping loudly as she went.

"Don't go getting to far ahead!" he warned. "Brewr's goons probably have this place staked out. And be a little quieter, would you!"

"You always say that," she called back.

"Have I ever been wrong?" he muttered trodding after her.

"Uh, Nate, you'd better get up here!"

"What is it?" he asked jogging around the last corner.

It didn't take him long to see what she saw. Collapsed on the floor of the valet booth were what looked like two college age students, probably seven to eight years younger than him. The poor unsuspecting kids were probably here on an internship or a part time job. Brushing her hair out of her face Elena crouched down and checked their pulses.

"Well," she said rising. "They're both still alive just out cold."

"That's fantastic," Nate said trying not to sound cold but sarcasm tinged the edge of his voice. "Grab some keys."

Rolling her eyes Elena began skimming through the keys before finally picking a set.

"Perfect," she said. "Not to flashy but fast."

"You can tell that just from looking at the keys?"

"I grew up with three older brothers and my dad's a mechanic, so yeah, I know a little bit about cars," she informed him.

"Well, okay," he said a sly smile edging its way onto his face. "I bet you were a cute little grease monkey."

"Nate," she said smacking him on the shoulder. "Not right now."

"Right," he said shaking his head. "Okay, gimme the keys."

Elena gave him a pointed look, "Excuse me."

"Give me the keys," he said enunciating each syllable.

"Uh… no."

"What? Why?"

"Because even when you drive I end up driving and besides you're injured," she said.

"Fair point," Nate agreed.

"I'm going to go get the car," Elena called heading out of the stand. "See if you can find a first aid kit for your shoulder."

As she walked away Nate began digging through the cabinets hoping to find something to patch up his shoulder with. That bullet had grazed him pretty good. He'd just finally got it so stop bleeding.

"Bingo," he laughed pulling the kit out of the cupboard and standing.

"Hey you!" a Greek voice yelled.

Nate instantly dropped to his knees. He knew there'd be thugs down here.

"You're that woman that was with Drake," the voice continued.

They hadn't spotted him after all. They'd spotted something far worse, Elena. Peeking up over the counter he could just see her. She was frozen with her hands up bravely facing down the Greek thug with a gun pointed directly at her heart.

"Where is he?" the thug demanded.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Elena answered.

"Good girl," Nate said ducking out of the stand and staying low.

He worked his way around through the cars in an attempt to get behind the guy threatening Elena. Hopefully she could keep him distracted long enough.

"You know where he is," the guy insisted.

"You're crazy!" Elena said.

Nate dropped his bag and the first aid kit by the tire of car he was behind. He rolled out from behind the car and slowly crept up behind the thug. Elena briefly glanced at him then quickly turned her attention back to the man with gun so she wouldn't give him away.

"Hey buddy," Nate said tapping the guy on the shoulder.

The thug spun around just in time for Nate to slug him across the face so hard it made his knuckles tingle.

"Pick on somebody your own size," Nate spat.

The other man stumbled back a few steps before catching his balance but Nate was already in motion. Thrusting himself in into the air Nate slammed a foot into the guy's chest then rotated and scissor kicked him across the face. The man crumpled backward onto the cement. Unfortunately gravity caught up with Nate and he collided with the ground coming down hard on his already injured shoulder.

"Oh, God that hurts," Nate groaned through gritted teeth rolling onto his back.

"Are you okay?" Elena asked rushing over to help him.

"I'm fine," he said rising.

He walked over to the crumpled thug and confiscated his gun.

"You won't be needing this anymore, asshole," he muttered turning the safety on and tucking the gun into the belt of his pants. "Let's get out of here."

"Right," Elena agreed.

"On the positive side," Nate added circling back to the car where he'd left his bag. "I found the first aid kit."

Elena shook her head and laughed. Nate was always good for a laugh even in the stickiest of situations.

"Hey, over here," Elena said finally spotting the car after a few minutes of searching.

"Stop right there!" a new voice called.

They both spun around and Nate raised the gun. The man now facing them didn't look like another of Brewr's goons, in fact, with his lean build and wire framed glasses he look rather geekish. The fact that he was unarmed boded in his favor too.

"Who are you?" Nate asked suspiciously refraining from using some of the more choice words in his vocabulary.

"I could ask you the same question," the other man answered and then he spotted Elena. "Ms. Fisher?"

"Dr. Gravari?" Elena asked equally as surprised.

"Doctor?" Nate asked quizzically. "Do you know this guy?"

"What are you doing here?" Elena asked ignoring Nate's question.

"I saw the open skylight and followed the trail of wreckage right to you," he answered. "Where is the helm?"

"We don't have it," Elena said.

"Elena," Nate warned.

"Who has it then?" Gravari asked.

"Well, I don't exactly know," she answered.

"Elena, get in the car," Nate said.

"You're not leaving until I get some answers," the doctor said.

"Oh really? And how are you going to stop us?" Nate asked menacingly raising the gun.

"Nate, don't," Elena said pushing the gun back down.

"It appears we've reached a bit of an impasse," Gravari stated hands raised cautiously.

There was an awkward pause as Nate and Elena eyed each other trying to decided what to do. Nate sighed knowing what was going to happen.

"You're coming with us," Nate said moving towards him.

"I beg your pardon?"

"You can either get in the car yourself or I can knock you out cold and toss you in," Nate warned losing patience.

"I'll just get in the car then."

"I thought so," Nate nodded the looked to Elena. "Let's get out of here before I can add France to this list of countries I've been arrested in."

While Elena climbing into the driver's seat Nate ran around the car and slid into the passenger's seat beside her. The engine smoothly came to life as she turned the key. Throwing the car into reverse she backed out of the spot when urgent red lights started flashing and wailing sirens accompanied them.

"Oh, bad, bad, bad," Nate said as steel fences started dropping from all the exits.

"Hang on!" Elena said throwing the car into drive.

Tires squealed and there was a momentary second where they were completely still until the car lurched forward sending them back into their seats. They sped forward leaving black treads etched into the pavement and the smell of burnt rubber behind them. Nate held tight to the arm rests as they approached the closing gate.

"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon," Elena muttered as the speedometer neared seventy.

The gate was only yards away and for a split second Nate thought they weren't going to make it. In his head time flashed forward and he saw the car smash into gate and explode in a stunning and horrific rain of glass and polished metal providing swift and instant death for everyone inside. But at the last possible second Elena slammed her foot down on the pedal and the soared under the gate with mere inches to spare.

"Woo! Yeah!" Nate cheered as they sailed out into the street. "Let's get the hell out of here."

"On it," she said easily weaving through traffic and away from the spinning lights and wailing sirens.

With a relieved sigh Nate sunk back into his seat. With no sign of pursuit Elena slowed her pace to match traffic. They were clear, no need to draw anymore unnecessary attention.

"Everyone okay?" Elena asked.

"Am now," Nate answered.

"Yes," Gravari answered shakily from the back seat though his pallor suggested otherwise.

Taking a deep breath Nate tried to calm down but he was so pumped full of adrenaline his hands were shaking.

"You were amazing back there," Nate told her. "Do I tell you that enough? How amazing you are?"

"You could stand to mention it more often," she smiled.