As always, thank you for your patience as I know that this has been a long time in coming. I hope you enjoy.

Matt had Roy in his sights. Matt knew with a hard, cold certainty that with one gentle squeeze, his rifle would send a bullet through Roy's head dropping him before he could pull the trigger. Matt bit back a feral growl as he slightly adjusted his stance to make sure that he would end the bastard for good. He could kill Roy right then and there, he knew it and if the circumstances demanded it, he would do it without a second thought.

Matt shifted the sights on the rifle slightly. His eyes met Toni's. She was terrified, but, Matt realized with a rush of pride, she was not panicking. He looked at her and saw her nod ever so slightly. The movement was so small that only somebody who knew her as well as he did would have seen it. Matt watched Toni carefully, his finger right beside the trigger, but not on it...any moment...he just needed to be ready. He felt his body tense and forced himself to breathe and relax.

There! He realized subconsciously what was happening before his eyes and brain did. Toni went completely limp in Roy's arms becoming dead weight and leaning to the left. Small as she was, it was sufficient to throw Roy off balance and expose his right shoulder and torso. Matt's finger moved to the trigger and the retort of the large caliber NATO round echoed through the hills.

Everything happened at once. Roy screamed as the bullet tore through his shoulder and dropped the gun from his now useless hand. He was thrown backward, letting go of Toni. Unable to keep her balance with her arms and feet tied, Toni collapsed on the ground. Matt kept his eyes on Roy who was writhing on the ground in pain as Izzy and Hart stepped out of concealment, guns at the ready and ran to Roy to assess his injuries. Matt shifted to Toni; he put the safety on just as an arm reached to take the weapon from him. Surprised, Matt looked over and saw Jesse standing next to him. "Go," his father said, as he took the weapon and slung it across his shoulders.

In three long strides Matt was by Toni's side. She was lying on her stomach and Matt breathed in relief when he saw her back move up and down with her breathing. He turned her over and immediately removed the gag. "Matt?", Toni whispered, her voice dry and hoarse with disuse.

"Its OK," Matt spoke gently and quietly, his voice thick with relief and emotion. "You're safe," Matt continued to speak. He reached into his boot for the knife holstered there and cut the rope on Toni's wrists. She immediately reached for him and he pulled her into his arms, holding her close and stroking her hair and back. Toni clung to Matt, shaking. "Shh...shh," Matt continued to soothe her. "I'm here...we're all here. Roy can't hurt you now. Not ever again."

After several long moments Matt released Toni and moved to cut the bindings on her ankles. He then scanned over Toni to see if she was alright. He focused on her black eye, the split lip and the bleeding cut on Toni's forehead feeling a very rare cold rage. For a moment, Matt regretted only wounding Roy and wished that he'd ended the bastard while he'd had the chance.

Toni was looking at Matt. She saw his lips press together and jaw work and the anger make his eyes cold as stones. As if reading his mind, Toni said quietly, "I'm OK, really." Robin came over with the first aid kit and started to examine Toni's head.

"She took a pretty a good crack on her forehead," Robin told Matt, "but I don't think she has a concussion. She should still get checked out," Robin said as she handed Toni a bottle of water, "but she will be just fine."

Toni tried to open the water, but her fingers were too stiff. Matt opened the bottle, "slowly," he cautioned her as she clumsily held the bottle in hands numbed by cold and the restraints. "Drink slowly," Matt repeated, "too much or too fast and you'll get sick." Toni nodded as she angled the bottle toward her mouth and was relieved when the majority of the water reached the desired destination.

Kneeling next to Toni, Matt's attention was drawn to the commotion over his shoulder. Izzy and Hart completed the rudimentary first aid that was needed and when it was clear that Roy's wound was not dangerous, pulled him up roughly, pulled his arms behind him and cuffed him. The man struggled violently against his restraints, but to no avail. "No," he breathed, "not like this...he couldn't have made that shot. It was impossible."

Jesse who had approached Roy, eyed the handcuffed man disdainfully. "Impossible for you, maybe, but not, for the Rangers,". Jesse's eyes took in all the Rangers now standing on the plateau, resting a moment longer on his son. Matt nodded slightly and Jesse nodded back. They'd done well. Very well. Jesse grabbed Roy by the back of his jacket and pushed him forward and away from Matt and Toni.

Avila set the chopper down minutes later. The decision was quickly made; Matt, Toni, and Robin would return to headquarters first, Avila would then return for Roy, Cutler and Hart. Jesse would return on horseback and take the horses with him. With the decision made, Matt handed Toni into the chopper and got in next to her while Robin climbed into the front with Avila. Matt put an arm around Toni and she rested on his shoulder, her hand gripping his as if to reassure herself that he was real.

Now, in Matt's arms, safe and warm and with the monotonous sound of the rotors, to lull her, Toni succumbed to her exhaustion, closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Looks like everybody is safe and the bad guy is going away. But it can't be that is...can it? Stay tuned for more. Please let me know what you think and leave a review.