Sniper's van was essentially as it always was. Demo put the seat back the way he liked it while Heavy drove and Spy sulked in the back. They'd found the lot on a road atlas and were managing to get there pretty well.

"Next exit's the one. On your right."

Heavy grunted in response. He didn't like the way the driver's side was set up, with a wall at his back. There was only so far the seat could go. Demo studied the map again and determined the next cross-street to look out for. It was a sharp turn, and Heavy would need a bit of warning.

"Moreston's next. It's a hairpin, so take it easy, mate." Demo folded the map up and put it back in Sniper's glove box. The man actually kept a pair of fingerless gloves in there. First Demo'd ever heard of that.

Spy chose this moment to take interest in the road. "Are we clear on what we must do?"

Demo rolled his eye. They'd only been over this half a dozen times. "Aye, laddie. We go out, an' you do all the talkin'. Isnae very hard to remember."

"Good. We don't know how many they are sending." Heavy made the turn slowly. This was Moreston Avenue. There were a lot of chain-link fences, patches of unkempt brown grass, and -surprisingly- a couple of coyotes. Spy frowned. "I hate Texas."

Demo watched the road for any signs. "There!" He pointed to an open lot where a pair of headlights shone out in the darkness. It was too late and too far away to be anyone else. Louie's men were here.

"Approach slowly." Spy instructed. "We do not want to startle them while they still have hostages."

"And after we have them back?" Heavy inquired.

"We kill Louie's men and go back to New Mexico."

Demo kept his eye trained on the car as they approached. As their own headlights began illuminating the scene, he could pick out a figure leaning into the backseat of the car. Heavy cut the engine but left the lights on, and they all climbed out of the van.

"Gentlemen!" Spy called. "I believe you have something of mine!"

"Ah, crap!" One of the men straightened up and hit his head on the roof of the car. As he pulled out, Demo could see he was just a lad, not much older than Scout. He certainly wasn't dressed like a gangster in his jeans and ratty jacket. "Just uh, stay there! Give us a sec! Dave, what's the matter with him?"

Demo frowned, but Heavy set aside caution and stormed over to the car. He grabbed the kid but the shirtfront and shoved him aside. Heavy leaned into the car and reappeared with a body.

"Engineer!" Demo hurried up to the big man, ready to help if it wasn't too late. Engie was laying still, brows scrunched in pain. Demo could see the bandages and the blood. It was serious. Engie stirred. He didn't open his eyes, but he shuddered in Heavy's arms.

"Medic..." It was barely more than a wheeze. Demo's scowl deepened and Heavy growled.

"Hold little man." He dropped Engineer into Demo's arms and spun on the kid picking himself off the floor. "You hurt Engineer."

"No!" Leave it to Heavy to scare the living daylights out of men and mobsters. "Honest, it was Louie! Barry- he did the bandages. We gave him some aspirin too, I swear-" Heavy had him by the collar now. "No, no, man he said to tell you about the armadillos! He said if we wanted out we could take care of them for you!"

Heavy looked like he was about to crush the kid while his cohort watched, frozen, from the other side of the car.

"A moment, Heavy, if you please." Spy stepped forward and Heavy reluctantly dropped the kid onto the concrete. "I would like to see what he has to say."

His companion hopped out of the car and helped him to his feet. "He's telling the truth. Your Truckie told us to tell you we'd take care of the armadillos and you'd know what that meant. Louie shot him, and the painkillers I gave him were strong enough to knock him out. We did everything we could."

Demo held Engie carefully, checking to see if he could verify the kid's story. The leg had been bandaged carefully, if sloppily, and Engie wasn't screaming in pain. It could be worse. Still, he wasn't in a good way. He was shivering and unresponsive. They needed to wrap this up and get him back to Medic.

"I think I understand what he is saying." Spy studied the pair huddled in front of the car. They were young, too young and too soft to be criminals very high in the pecking order. "So, you want a way out of Louie's operation?"

"Yeah." The one Heavy had nearly mauled spoke up first. He seemed like the more talkative of the two. "This..." He looked to his companion. "We didn't think it would be like this."

"And what'd you think it'd be, boyo?" Demo snapped. A couple of fools, these kids.

The quiet one shook his head. "We didn't think. Dave's Mom hurt her back real bad, and well, you can't that kind of money doing anything legal. We had to try something."

Spy studied the pair in the headlights. They could prove useful if they were smart enough to follow directions. "Would you like to take care of the armadillos for me? I can promise nothing, but if all goes to plan you'll not have to worry about Louie, or the money."

They looked at him like he'd grown a second head. "You think we're crazy? 'Course we want out!" Dave waved his hands. "We didn't sign up for shootin' Army Vets and kidnapping people! That's messed up!"

Demo looked down at Engie again, wondering just what kinds of yarns were spinning back at Louie's headquarters. "I'm takin' him to the van." He addressed Spy and Heavy. "He's shakin' like a leaf."

Spy nodded. "Go. I will handle this. Gentlemen, here is what you must tell your boss."

Demo jogged back to the camper and maneuvered Engie through the open door and onto Sniper's little bed. Though much too small for the Australian and his legs, the little bunk was about the right size for their Engineer. Demo grabbed a couple of blankets from where Sniper stored them and bundled Engie up. The lad might have a fever or summat that made him shake so. Demo wished he knew a bit more about first aid. All he was typically good for was mixing drugs for the Doc, but they didn't have anything here on top of the fact that he didn't know what those boys had given him.

Engie groaned and started trying to shift the blankets. Demo kept him steady. It was important for the lad to keep warm. He was having some kind of bad reaction. The pressure only made Engie trash harder, trying to get loose.

"Easy lad, easy! It's me! You're in Sniper's camper and you're safe. We're taking you to the Doc real soon."

His eyelids started to flutter. Demo squeezed his shoulder gently. "That's it, take your time. I'm not goin' anywhere."

Finally, Engie managed to get his eyes open. "Demo?" He frowned. "Demo what're you doin'?"

"Steady on. I'm watchin' over you while Spy an' Heavy take care of something right quick. They'll be done in no time." Engineer visibly relaxed. "That's the ticket, lad. You rest up an' I'll tell you everything later."

The camper shook as Spy and Heavy reentered. "How is he?"

"Resting proper, now." Demo noticed the change in Engie's breathing. "He's out like a light."

"Back to the hotel. I hope Medic has not chosen to continue imbibing."

"Not tonight." Heavy said. "He will have work cut out for him."


Medic had the mother of all headaches, but he was alive. There wasn't a thing his medi-gun could do for him at this stage, but he'd gone and smuggled it up from the car just in case. Soldier had barricaded them in 205. That was fine. What he didn't like was Soldier's method of enforcing his curfew.

"If you do not open the door this instant, I will tell everyone about the incident with the bees!" Medic pounded on the bathroom door, not knowing whether to be insulted or flattered that Soldier had left him all of the room's pillows.

"Those reptiles cannot harm me!" Soldier yelled back. "Go ahead! Tell everyone how I took on the whole hive single-handed!"

"That is only because your other hand was swollen beyond use!" Medic thought about shouldering the door open, but they were already drawing attention to themselves without adding property damage to the list. He had to be smart about this. "What if, next time the BLU Medic slices you open, I hold you and try to push the intestines back in by hand before using the medi-gun?"

There was quiet. Suddenly Soldier's voice was a lot closer. "You would really do it?"

"I would." Medic tried to sound more sincere than he felt. Sometimes bargaining was the only way to deal with Soldier. "I would even curse at the sky, screaming about how you were so young, cut down in the prime of your life-"

The door opened immediately. "You may exit the vault. Any articles of clothing left inside will be confiscated."

Sometimes he didn't know whether to laugh or shoot them all himself. He collected the best of the pillows and was surprised to find that Soldier hadn't turned the room into some kind of bizarre fort. It actually looked cleaner than it had before. The only odd thing was the couch in front of the door.

"Do not touch any of my defenses." Soldier warned. "I have cow-proofed the living area. We will be sleeping in a T-formation to ward off attack. I will take the foot of the bed so I can strangle the attackers as they enter."

As, surprisingly tactically sound as that was, Medic didn't have time for it. "I will not touch the 'defenses', but you will be moving the couch so I can check on Frau Spotlight. It has been too quiet over there... I would hate to find Pyro has incinerated her."

"Stars and Stripes! We left Smokey Joe alone with a lady!" Soldier began shoving the couch. "He has no idea how to French-braid or correctly apply nail-varnish! Quickly! You take over his position while I instruct him in the art of nail-related combat."

Medic knocked lightly on the door of 204. When there was no reply, Soldier cracked it open just a hair. There was a wad of blankets on the bed that they could only assume was their lady teammate. Pyro was lying facedown on the floor, but lifted the mask to stare at them once the door opened.

"Ms. Spotlight." Soldier stage-whispered. "We have come to change the guard. While you are within your rights to have broken Pyro's legs, I ask that you refrain from killing our Medic. He has promised to hold my guts in and yell at the sky the next time I am losing my intestines."

A tousled head poked out of the blankets. "Boys, what're you doing up? What time is it?" She squinted at the bedside clock. "If you're wakin' me up at 5:46 AM without a good reason, I'll tan both your hides."

"We came to check on you." Medic interjected before they were both killed. "See if you were still feeling the effects of the poison."

She blinked at them. "No, just feel like I'm hungover."

Medic grimaced in sympathy. "You very well might be. I have some tablets in my kit." He kept a stash handy in case Demo talked him into a night of drinking. Medic was sad to say he never quite learned his lesson. He turned to fetch his kit and had a head-on collision. Staggering back, he put a hand to his nose and hissed. Soldier spun around.

"I see you maggots have returned from the store! Where are the groceries and Demoman? Did he eat all of them, or were they both lost to our four-legged enemy?"

Spy had a hand to his forehead. He scowled, straightened up, and addressed the room. "We need to pack our things and leave immediately. The gang knows our location, and they will likely be sending armed men at any moment."

Medic recovered from his clash with Spy's forehead. "I take it things have gone poorly." He was joined in the doorway by their Spotlight, who was still draped in a blanket.

"Where's Jeremy? Did you find him?" She was wide awake now. Something on Spy's face told her it wasn't going to be quite so easy. It never was.

"We know his location, as you discovered. We have also arranged for Louie to meet with the Big Man himself." Spy gave Medic a pointed look.

Medic gave him one back. "I do not care much for theatre, Spy." He crossed his arms. "What will this meeting entail?"

"We simply need to distract the gang while our second team goes in and retrieves the hostages. Simplicity itself." He put a hand to his cigarette case and paused. "Though first, I require your assistance in Sniper's van." Spy moved aside to allow Medic's exit, and looked at Soldier. "How quickly can you pack your things and be ready to leave? The enemy is approaching."

"I am already packed, as I have brought nothing but a shovel and my comrades."

"Excellent. Please make sure Pyro is packed as well. Perhaps you could show him how-"

"Already on it, crepe-face! Smokey Joe, we are exiting the hotel now. Up an at 'em, those broken legs aren't going to walk-it-off themselves!"

There was a method to this madness, but Spotlight still wasn't used to the kind of craziness that came with nine mercenaries. And Spy wasn't telling her something. "Alright, spit it out."

He stiffened, caught in the act. Spy moved into the room and half-closed the door. "We must leave at once. I have set a plan in motion to retrieve your son and the bushman." He glanced at the window, where he could see the barest flecks of rain against the glass. "If you would pack your things, I will move Engineer's suitcase downstairs. There is much to do and not very much time to do it."

She studied him, fixing him with a gaze sharp enough to slice right through that mask of his. He wasn't giving her all the details. He wasn't giving anyone details. But, he hadn't failed her yet. They were so close to getting her boy back...

"You're tellin' me everything in the car, got that?" She broke away to get after her packing. "Everything. I don't care what you found out there. I'm hearing it."

"Very well." Spy moved to the doorway. "Soon, you shall know all. We leave in ten minutes."


Medic arrived at the van with his medi-gun. Spy's request had really only one implication. He opened the door to the camper and found that it was already near capacity. They had found the Engineer, but in worse shape than even Medic had expected. Demo was holding him against his chest while Heavy examined the bleeding wound. When Medic arrived, slightly damp and looking confused, their pair of them sought to fill him in.

"Is through-and-through, Doctor." Heavy indicated the bullet wound. "Nothing inside."

"He's wriggling too much to let him lie. The boys what patched up 'is leg gave 'im something, but they didnae know what, and neither do we." Engie groaned and Demo got ready for another fight. Thankfully, he stayed still.

Medic maneuvered his way in front of the little bed. Heavy helped him get a good look at the wound, while Demo spoke to the patient quietly.

"This is nothing the medi-gun cannot fix." Medic applied the beam at once. "I am more concerned about the drugs. You say he was given something?"

Demo nodded. "The boys what brought him out told us they tried to help 'im. I don't know how much good it did."

"I see." Medic monitored the skin and muscle as both knitted back together under the red beam. Soon, all that was left to indicate incident was the hole in Engineer's overalls. "There. He should be as fit as his fiddle now. Although, whatever is in his system will need to work its way back out. He will need a monitor, and my services will be needed elsewhere today."

"I'll do it." Demo volunteered. "Ugly as this mug is, Heavy's more intimidatin' if it comes to a confrontation. And Spy has plans for Pyro and Soldier."

"Very well. I will leave it to you." Medic let the beam go on a bit longer before switching off the gun. "Heavy, will you be riding with me or here in the van?"

"I am driving van to safe zone, then driving Engineer's truck. Spy does not trust Soldier to stay on the road."

"A valid point, yes." Medic picked up his things. "I will finish packing. Spy is determined to check out quickly."

Back in the lobby, a significantly more put-together Spotlight was beaming at the desk clerk. "Sorry to change checkout plans so quickly, hon, but the bride's mother caught a stomach bug and we have to move things up." The clerk made perfectly sympathetic noises and tried to speed things up for the sweet woman that was going to be trapped with all these idiots. What a bachelor party...

Checkout was completed and she met Spy at the Engineer's truck. It was drizzling now, but she could care less. They were going to get her son back.

"Ready, ma petite?" Spy had pulled a tarp out from behind the seats and was carefully covering Engineer's suitcase.

"Yep." She handed her luggage up and Spy stowed it with the rest. "Now start talkin'. What are we about to go do?"

Spy opened the driver's side door for her and walked around. "We are putting on another little show. Medic is playing the Boss, and you will be reprising your role as the Dealer. The aim is to cut out the middle man."

"So," she started the engine, "we're not gonna turn them down easy?"

"No." Spy looked out the window, a dangerous tilt to his shoulders, "If I have my way, this will be very painful for them."