A/N: I love that you guys love this story. Your support means the world to me. The story is coming to a close and I'm struggling a bit with whether or not I want Noelle and Mac to have a future. We shall see.


Noelle and Mac talked about all the bombs Mac had disarmed during his short time in Afghanistan. He described them in detail and told her the various tools he'd used to do his job, at one point turning to a gum wrapper for help. The sun had set though, and Mac was growing weaker by the second. Noelle was doing everything in her power to keep him awake.

"Mac, come on, you've got to stay awake." Noelle ran her hand over the side of his head gently, brushing his hair back. His head had tilted off to the side and his breathing was becoming shaky. Noelle was terrified.

"Mac come on, tell me how to take out the guard, you've got to tell me." Noelle brushed his hair back desperately.

"His…his neck." Mac tried to lift his hand to gesture, but it didn't work, his free hand dropped to the floor and the one sitting on Noelle's was losing its grip quickly.

"Angus!" Noelle slipped out from under him and laid him gently on the ground. His head lolled to the side and his eyes fluttered briefly before closing. Noelle checked his wounds, both bandages were soaked.

"Shit, shit." Noelle reached back up and grasped Mac's face. He was dying, she knew he was dying, if she didn't get him out, he would die within the hour. Noelle stood up and looked toward the door. Would they even care if she said Mac was dying? They would open the door sure, but they planned on killing Mac anyway, they wouldn't help, they would let him die. Noelle knew she couldn't take out the guard, she didn't know how. She could try, but that would probably cause more harm because a struggle would alert others.

Noelle ran her hands through her hair, her anxiety beginning to rise. She didn't know what to do. She couldn't just watch Mac die. She looked up toward the windows, the room was almost completely dark minus the small light coming in from the windows. The bars were wide enough to let light in, Noelle's thoughts paused, they were also wide enough for her to fit through. If she could get through the bars, she could find something to knock the guard out, then she could open the door, get Mac out, and find a vehicle. It was the most risky, idiotic plan, and it was also full of holes and what ifs, but it was the only chance they had.

Noelle grabbed one of the chairs and sat it under the window, she climbed up and peered out. Salim was guarding the door, staring straight ahead like a good guard. Noelle had to divert his attention. She dropped back down and snatched up one of the zip ties, it wasn't much, but it was enough. She climbed back onto the chair, stuck her arm through the bars and threw the zip tie as hard as she could. Just as she hoped, it landed nearby on the other side of the building. Salim perked up instantly at the noise, hoisted his gun, and moved away to check it. Noelle worked quickly, it wouldn't take Salim long to realize that the noise was nothing at all. She jerked herself up and through the bars. The cement dug into and scraped her already beat up body, but she didn't care, she kept pushing. The drop to the ground wasn't bad, and Noelle landed on her feet. Noelle didn't wait a spare second, she took off, running as fast as she could. She spotted a large truck, she could kill two birds with one stone and check it for keys. When she reached the truck her heart was racing, she dropped against the side, trying to make as little noise as possible as she tried to catch her breath. her heart was racing, fear was making her stomach ache, and black dots dances around the corners of her vision.

Noelle looked around, it seemed like everyone was inside, no one was out in the heat. She breathed a sigh of relief and then turned slowly, standing up on her tip toes to look through the window. Salim was back standing by the door, glancing around, just like before. Noelle gently opened the vehicle door, it barely made any noise, which she was grateful for, she climbed up into the vehicle and started to look around carefully. There was a radio, which she could use, but no sign of the keys. Noelle looked under the seats, she looked in the seats, she looked everywhere, but the keys were nowhere to be found. Noelle had a slow sinking feeling in her stomach, the keys weren't there. She dropped her head onto the steering wheel and tried to think, she didn't know what to do. She didn't know how to get Mac to safety, if the blood loss didn't kill him soon, Nabil would kill him as soon as the sun rose. She could try to carry him to the base, but that was a ridiculous idea that would never work. A hand grabbed Noelle's arm and she was snatched from the vehicle, a small sound of shock pressed itself out when she hit the ground, she saw Salim standing over her. She was caught, this was it, Noelle had condemned Mac as well as herself to death. Fear and desperation rocked her to the core, and she felt tears rush to her eyes.

"Please." She said quickly, not knowing what else to do. Salim looked down at her, it was stupid of her to beg she knew he would grab her at any moment and drag her to Nabil. Noelle had nothing to lose though, her escape would cost her Mac, but doing nothing would too. She was terrified.

"He's going to die, please I have to help him…please." Noelle felt tears begin to roll down her cheeks and she did all she knew to do, she got on her knees and put her hands together, tears falling rapidly.

"Please, I'll stay, just let someone take him, please, I beg you." She cried. Salim stared at her for a few more moments before he sighed and looked down, shaking his head.

"He is dying?" Salim asked. Noelle was shocked and silent for a few moments.

"You speak English?" she asked.

"Yes, if I tell Nabil he'll only involve me more, I don't wish that." Salim said. Noelle stared up at him, her mouth gaping open.

"Then you understand, you understand that he's dying? He won't last much longer, I have to get him help." She said. Salim glanced around and then back down to her, she could see in his eyes that he felt bad.

"Aya said you were a good man, she said this life was forced on you." Noelle said quickly, trying to reach the good side that Aya said was there.

"And if it was?" he asked.

"Then you have a chance to change, let us go, help us get out of here," Noelle paused and stood up from the ground quickly, "Come with us." She finished. Salim turned to her, his eyes brightening, she could tell that he'd never considered that option, but after a few moments he shook his head.

"My family," He said slowly, "If I leave, Nabil will find my family, he'll kill them for my betrayal."

"Ok, ok fine, when I get to our base I'll tell them you're a good man, I'll tell them not to hurt you. But when they arrive you have to put your weapon down. You'll have to surrender." She said. Salim stared at her for a few moments and finally, he pushed his hand into his pocket and pulled it out to reveal keys. He pursed his lips and then handed them to Noelle. She knew they were the keys to the truck. So many emotions moved through her that she didn't know which to feel first. She carefully took the keys from his hand and stared up at him, utterly dumbfounded.

"How will you explain the keys missing?" she asked.

"Simple, you'll hit me from behind and knock me out." He shrugged. Noelle frowned at the idea of having to hit him, but she knew it was the only way.

"Ok...ok, but I'll need your help to carry him out." Noelle said. Salim pursed his lips and then nodded, motioning for her to lead the way. They ran quickly back to the small building, all the while Salim looking around just in case there was danger. Noelle slid the lock and rushed inside, dropping down to Mac. He was breathing in short, hard gasps, his eyes clenched shut. Noelle put her hands on his face.

"We're going home." She said softly.

"We need to move quickly, Khyri will come to switch with me soon." Salim said. Noelle nodded and he walked into the building.

"What's wrong with him?" Salim asked.

"He's lost a lot of blood and it's killing him." Noelle answered as she gently took Mac's hand.

"Will it hurt him if I carry him over my shoulder?" Salim asked. Noelle shook her head.

"No more than he's already hurt." She said. Salim nodded and leaned down, he grabbed Mac's arms and pulled him up in one swift motion before he wrapped his arms around Mac's legs and hoisted him up. Mac let out a shout of pain and groaned uncomfortably but Salim ignored him and headed for the door. Noelle was hot on his heels, she knew they had to be quick. Adrenaline was coursing through Noelle's veins and her heart was racing, she could barely catch her breath, and half of her was even excited, she was happy that Mac would live, he was going to make it, even if she had to drive one hundred miles an hour.

"Salim, I don't know how to thank you for this." Noelle said, still in disbelief.

"Just make sure your men come back for these people." He nodded.

"They'll help you too." Noelle replied. Salim nodded shortly and Noelle sensed he didn't believe her. She trotted quickly behind him, they were almost to the truck.

"If you can, please thank Aya for everything, tell her that I would not have survived without her. Please?" Noelle said rapidly.

"I will." Salim replied.

"Traitor!" a shout caught Noelle's attention and when she looked up, Khyri was racing toward them. Panic replaced Noelle's excitement. Terror took her glee. She knew if he called for help their escape would be over and not only would Mac die, but so would Salim. Noelle had roped someone else into this and now his life hung in the balance as well.

Salim raced for the truck, Noelle knew if Khyri grabbed Salim then Mac would be dropped to the ground, and the two men would fight. Khyri had a gun, she didn't doubt he would use it, but would that be before or after he called for Nabil. Noelle ran behind Salim as quickly as she could, her eyes darting back and forth between the two men. A flash of something on Salim's thigh holster caught Noelle's attention. Khyri was closing in on them and Noelle reached for Salim's leg as they made it to the truck. She turned just in time for Khyri to run into her, his heavy body slammed into hers and they tumbled to the ground, a mess of arms and legs. Noelle gasped for air as it was knocked from her lungs, she tried to wiggle from beneath him, but he was too heavy. As fear for her own life became her top priority, she only hoped that Salim would continue away with Mac. Noelle looked up she saw how wide and shocked Khyri's eyes were, he opened his mouth to shout but no sound came out, only blood. Noelle felt the color drain from her face.

"Help, get him off." Noelle gasped and jerked. Salim was there in the next moment, pulling Khyri off of Noelle, he tumbled over onto his back. The long knife that Salim had kept in his holster was plunged deep into Khyri's stomach, right below his breastbone. Noelle gasped and pulled herself up, scrambling over to him. Horror, guilt, and regret were pulsing through her, she hadn't meant to stab him, only scare him.

"No, oh god no." She said softly, but it was too late, he was already dead. Salim's hands jerked Noelle up from the dirt and he pushed her toward the building where she and Mac had been held.

"There is no time, you have to hit me, quickly." Salim said. Noelle was operating like a robot, she'd killed someone, she hadn't mean to, but she had.

"Get the chair, hit me." Salim pushed her into the building and shoved one of the metal chairs into her hands. Noelle was frozen, but when Salim's hands closed around her arms and shook her, she found adrenaline shooting back through her veins.

"Do it now and get out of here, someone will find Khyri in minutes." he shouted. Noelle did as she was told.