The response to the last Chapter was so great, I felt you deserved the other half of it! As always, R&R and Enjoy.

Chapter Thirteen

DPOV

The silence in the van was deafening.

Everyone seemed to be in another world all their own. Myself, personally, I was panicking, not that it showed, but inside I was a mess. We took Nathan at his word, but what if it was a lie? What if he was sending us into a completely unrealistic situation, one that none of us will make it out of. I knew the risk involved with this mission, I was ready for it, but I couldn't help the guilt of the danger I was putting my brothers in.

Eddie broke the silence as we hit out rally point, "Command will be set at the intersection of Morning Glenn and Honeysuckle, that will put us three blocks from the house. Alpha team, approach from the east side, Bravo the west and Charlie the south. The front door faces North, so Delta team will have to tread carefully on that end. Any questions?"

No one spoke, so Eddie looked at me, "Belikov, Did you receive any update from the informant?"

"No Sir, I attempted contact with him before we left, I have not gotten a response."

The tension in the unit increased tenfold, we were going in blind. We may have had an idea about the layout from Nathan's earlier information, but with him not answering now, well that was a cause for concern.

"Do you think he found out?" Mase asked.

"I sure hope not," I whispered.

I may not have trusted him per say, but I felt bad for him. After he started talking to us, I could see he really didn't want to be apart of it. His brother used him, making him do things he would have never done on his own. Of course I still had my doubts, but in the end, I hope we can help him out.

Staging at the rally point, we filed out of the van in precision order. Each team, I was on Delta with Mason and Eddie, proceeded to their points. We had to go down a block and back over, we needed to stay hidden as long as possible. About a thousand feet from the house, Emil keyed up on the radio.

"Everyone hold your current position."

We halted immediately, Eddie, Mase and I exchanged curious looks. Before we could ask what was wrong, another officer keyed up.

"451, I have a visual of explosives set around the perimeter," Moore, he was on Emil's squad, "Looks like C4, there is a trip wire running along the back property line, can anyone confirm if it is all the way around."

I made my way closer, Eddie tried to pull me back, but I wouldn't let him. I would be the one to fall first, I didn't want to put anymore risk on the others. I moved about 500 feet away from the front of the house. Taking out my infrared binoculars I checked the front walkway to both corners of the property, I didn't see anything. I looked back toward the bushes on the east side of the yard, I could see a small green light. With my binoculars it wouldn't allow me to see the different color, only heat would make the vision change. I slowly walked closer, keeping a good look out for a tripwire or movement in the house. I felt like a ninja, keeping low and moving without a sound. Making it to the east side with no issues, I looked at the device mounted just under the bush. There was a cell phone attached to the C4 block, two wires ran into it. No trip wire on this side. Knowing that my radio could very well trigger the bomb to go off, I backed out slowly, still watching every place I stepped.

"There is a cell phone detonator attached to one at the northeast corner, I didn't see a wire trigger though," I keyed up when I made it back to our team.

"All he has to do is dial the number and it will set it off," Eddie commented.

"Yeah, and our radios can interfere with that, we can't move in and be able to communicate," Mase added.

"We need the bomb squad to respond, and I don't think he is inside," Eddie gave me a raised brow, "I used the inferred on the house, it didn't show any heat."

"All units fall back, return to the rally point," Eddie commanded.

"Should we try contacting him again," I asked as we filled back into the van.

"We can't risk that his phone is the one attached to the bomb," Emil answered.

"How long will it take to get the bomb squad out here?"

"About twenty minutes or so, we need to clear the area though, I know most of the houses are abandoned, but we need to make sure no civilians are in the area. Alpha and Bravo teams, start on that, keep your eyes open for anything unusual as you make your rounds. Watch each other's backs," Eddie ordered.

Alpha and Bravo teams took off, Mine and Emil's units stayed put, waiting for our next instruction. Emil made the call to Tasha, she sent out the page to the required units, now all we could do is wait.

"Tash, can you check and see if there are any major calls going on in the south district?" I keyed.

We weren't supposed to use our names while on the radio, but I needed the feeling of normality right now. Besides, we were on a side channel, no one, other than those on it, would hear us.

"Nothing showing right now, I have everyone in the city pulled up if something drops I will let you guys know."

"Thank you," I responded.

We waited the twenty minutes for the bomb unit to show, both teams had made it back by now. All the residents were cleared, only two of them were occupied so it didn't take them long. After they disengaged the C4 outside, they checked the inside for any signs of additional explosives. Nothing was found, we were ready to clear the house.

My heart pounded in my ears as I approached the front door. I knew he wasn't in here, but we still didn't know what we would find. If Nathan had been telling the truth about them using this house, there was sure to be some type of evidence. What I found, was disturbing, to say the least. The front room, which had been the living kitchen area at some point, was covered in pictures. Mainly Rose, but one wall had nothing but photos of me. I stopped dead in my tracks, the others continued to move through the house. The photos of Rose pissed me off, I knew he was following her, but damn, he was everywhere she was. Then the photos of me, he must have taken most before my days on the desk. Many were of me at the stadium, but even somewhere internet post of my Rangers days. What did he care about me then?

"BELIKOV," Moore yelled from the back of the house.

I moved quickly down the hall, finding Moore and Emil in the back bedroom, a body on the floor. Moore was requesting paramedics and Emil was on his knees checking for a pulse on the man, Nathan. He had been beaten and from the amount of blood, stabbed quite a few times. I fell to my knees on the other side, looking at the ashen face of the young man.

"He found the phone, they left, I don't know where" his voice so low I could hardly hear him.

"Don't talk, you need to save your energy, I am sorry."

"No," he coughed violently, "I am sorry, I should... Should have done something sooner," he coughed again.

"It's going to be okay, just rest now, Nathan, just rest."

The paramedics arrived quickly, they were already staged in the area in case one of us needed them. They loaded Nathan's body onto the stretcher and headed to the hospital. I would go and check on him later.

We stood outside on the front lawn, discussing our next moves. With no information on where they took off to, we were at a standstill. Mase had the best idea out of all of us.

"Why don't we all partner up, get into individual units and patrol. That way we're still near each other if a backup is needed, but we can cover more ground in the search."

"Not a bad idea, Ashford," Emil nodded in approval.

We went back to the station, filling into undercover units and heading back out.

"I told you one day we would get this one," I chuckled. I picked the keys to the Black Charger.

"YES!" Mase exclaimed, "I love this car."

We drove the area, not finding anything suspicious. Eddie ordered us to pick a street and watch, so Mase and I made a home at the dead end we spent so many nights on. After three hours of no movement, Eddie called for half of the SWAT team to fall out, it looked like they may have gotten scared and ran off. Mase and I carried a steady light conversation, just trying to keep ourselves awake, we wouldn't be going anywhere until shift was over.

"What did Rose want the other night, at Abe's house?"

"She just made me promise that you would make it home," something in his tone told me there was more, but I didn't push, just gave a simple nod.

"Things have been better between you guys, right?"

"Very much so, I actually got you something to say thank you for kicking my ass in gear, it's in my locker, don't let me forget."

"Awe, D, you didn't have to get me anything," he said way to sweetly.

"Shut up," I smacked his arm jokingly.

We were both laughing, but Mason stopped suddenly.

"D, Check it out."

"Oh shit, is that…" I couldn't finish my statement, before we could blink, bullets were raining through the car.

Mase bailed out his door, hiding behind it for cover, I mimicked him on my side. Taking a moment, I sent out a prayer, not to anyone in particular, but to anyone who would listen. The fire stopped and we peeked up to see where the suspect went. I could see a figure running north down the road.

"Got him!" I yelled, we took off on foot after the shooter.

We ran side by side, scanning the area as we made our way down the deserted urban street. I had only seen the one, but you never know if Ben was lurking in the shadows, we had to stay vigilant.

My heart beat furiously in my chest, my breathing ragged, as our feet thudded against the pavement. I could still make out the silhouette of our suspect, when all of a sudden he stopped. Mase and I halted our movements, looking for anything we could take cover by if needed. There wasn't much, a oak tree was to the right of us, but only one would be fully concealed behind the trunk. There was a plastic trash can about ten feet from that, it wouldn't stop a bullet, but it would slow it down.

Mase dropped behind the trash can, I headed to the tree, just as the gun fire started again. I leaned out just enough to see where the fucker stood, maybe sixty feet away, I could hit him. I fired back rapidly, emptying my entire clip and reloading. When I paused to switch magazines, Mason stood and began to fire. I watched the spark of fire of every bullet leave his gun, the sound booming through the quiet neighborhood.

It dawned on me just then, we never called for backup. Fuck!

"2231, we need immediate assistance the corner of Sunset and Morning Glen, taking heavy fire."

I could hear Tasha key up the radio, but the words were blocked out by the continuing sound of bullets flying through the air. The high pitched whistle as it flew past my head, again and again. I looked over to Mason, he was reloading now. I couldn't help but think, in this moment, my life is a hundred percent on the line. Will I ever see Rose, Sasha or Misha again? Will I ever get to walk through my front door to hear my little girl excited to show me something she learned? Will I ever teach Misha how to play baseball? Walk my daughter down the aisle? Will I die today?

"He's on the move!" Mason yelled to me.

Focus Dimitri, Fuck! I yelled at myself, I would surely die if I couldn't keep my head straight right now.

We took off again, Mason keyed up to give the other responding units updates.

"White male, black shirt, blue jeans, dark hair, heading north on Sunset."

I heard Eddie's voice in response, "I am thirty seconds out."

"Copy Sar..FUCK!" Mason yelled, we were now being shot at from behind.

"Where the fuck did that come from?" I asked as we dove into a alley.

"I have no idea, but I'm hit," he crocked.

"Where?"

"Leg, nothing that will kill me, but man that hurts like a bitch," he chuckled.

"Not the time for jokes," I reprimanded him, I know he was just trying to lighten the tension, but I couldn't deal with that right now.

I was about to radio for an ambulance, we would need them as soon as I could get Mason out of here. However, my radio wouldn't work. I looked down at my hip, there was a hole in the side of it. This is not good.

"Mase, call for EMS and let Eddie know you've been hit, I am going to see if I can see anything moving."

"You can't go out without a radio, D, are you fucking crazy?"

"I am not going to sit here and wait on these assholes to come at us. Call it in, now."

Mason may be a higher rank than me, but he listened to an order when it was given. I knew it wasn't smart to walk out into the line of fire without a radio, but he was within ear shot. He would be able to radio for me, should something happen. I looked around the corner of an abandoned house, not seeing any movement. I heard Mason move, hobbling his way toward me.

"What are you doing?" I whisper yelled at him.

"You are not going out there alone, wounded or not, I will not leave you."

I nodded, I would do the same thing for him, I guess I shouldn't have expected any less.

"Eddie just called in the area, no sign of the suspect."

"Where did the other shots come from? I know they were behind us, but I don't see anything or anyone moving."

Mason limped forward a bit further, trying to get a line of sight around the other building. I followed right behind him, gun poised and ready. We saw him move at the same time, Ben. The battle in my head raged, kill him or apprehend him. I wanted him dead, after everything he has put Rose through, I never wanted to see his face again. He raised his gun to fire at me, I pulled the trigger on mine, a click was the only sound to come off of it. The mag was empty. I dropped the mag, moving to grab another when he fired at me. I froze on the spot, I wouldn't be able to move fast enough to change the clip and fire before his bullet hit me. I took a deep breath as the world moved in slow motion, preparing for it to be my last.

Only it wasn't, something stopped the bullet from hitting me. Mason.

I watched my partner hit the ground, and heard the click of another gun. Ben's was now empty. I grabbed Mason's pistol and fired at him. There was only three rounds left in his, but I hit Ben with every one of them. Watching him fall to the ground was the breath of fresh air I needed, but I had to ensure he was dead. My mind clouded with utter hatred for him, I reloaded my own pistol and let every bullet fly through the chamber and into his body. When it was empty, I turned back, remembering Mason had been hit. Looking at him, he was clutching his throat, blood pouring over his fingers.

"Oh fuck, Mase!" I dropped to my knees.

I pushed the red button on his radio, screaming for someone to hear me, "OFFICER DOWN, OFFICER DOWN!"

I put my finger in the bullet hole in his neck, desperately trying to slow the bleeding.

"Hang on, Mase, medics will be here soon, just hang on." I pleaded.

"D….D…"

"Don't talk, you need to hold your energy, just keep your eyes open."

"I...kept ...promise," he sputtered.

"You did, but you have to hold on Mase, you have to go home too, stay with me," I pleaded.

"Tell..Rose..kids..love..them," he was gagging, he wasn't going to last much longer.

"Where the fuck is the medic!" I yelled into his radio, "Mase, please hang on, please.. You can't go."

His eyes were blank, staring at nothing, breathing shallow, no, this can't be happening.

"Prom..ise.." he managed before his heart stopped, his body stilling.

"Come on, Ashford! You can't do this," I started pumping his chest, begging his heart to beat, "You can't fucking leave! God damnit, Mason, Breathe!" I yelled, over and over again, he wouldn't.

"Dimitri, let go," I heard someone say.

"I can't, I have to save him, he can't go like this!"

"Dimitri, he's gone, come on, let go," the voice said again, Eddie.

I leaned back on my heels, shoulders racking from the sobs that were quickly escaping me. Looking at him, his eyes still open, holding no light like they normally do. I reaching up to his face, my hand trembled, I closed his eyes.

"I promise, Mase, and Thank You."

Eddie grabbed my arm, helping me stand, and walk away from my partner. My friend. My brother. I couldn't stop the waterfall if I wanted to. We were just talking, laughing and joking, how can he be gone, just like that.

"Your bleeding too," Eddie said, looking at my arm.

There was a rip in my shirt, blood running down the back and side of my arm. I shrugged him off, it's a flesh wound, I'll live. That thought bringing more tears, if that was even possible at this point, to my eyes.

"You need to go to the hospital, you can check on Nathan while you are there," I nodded, "I will finish up here and go make notifications."

Mason didn't have any family, "To who?"

He sighed, "Rose is his beneficiary, she is his only emergency contact, has been since we signed on."

"Why her?"

I knew Mason always cared about Rose, he has loved her for a long time, but why was she his point of contact?

"She is the only family he has, other than me, he wanted her to have everything if anything ever happened to him. He wanted his death to help take care of his niece and nephew."

I looked back to where Mason laid, now covered with a white sheet. He didn't only promise to make sure I went home, he made sure, even in his death, he would be there for us. I sat down on the back of Eddie's SUV, slumping forward as every memory of Mason and I passed through my mind. All the laughs, fights, games, and everyday of our partnership on the streets. He was more than my work family, he was my brother from childhood and always will be.

I saw a new set of flashing lights pull on the street, Chief's truck pulled up to the scene.

"Chief is here, we will get this cleared up and go," I nodded, "In the meantime, get to the hospital and clean that up," he pointed to my arm.

"I will. Please make sure when you make the notification, she knows it's not me. She will have a heart attack when she opens the door to see you two. Even though she will break either way, please make sure she knows he kept his promise."

"I will," Eddie nodded with a sullen expression. This was killing him just as much as me. He was always closer to him than I was.

I headed to my unit, walking up to a deceased Ben on my way. I stood over his lifeless body. His death doing nothing to avenge the loss of my brother. Looking at the ten bullet holes in his body, the glaze look of his eyes as he stared at nothing.

"Burn in hell, Motherfucker," I held no remorse for killing him. It was him or me, or Mason, and he took Mason with him.

I had just climbed in my car when Petrov keyed up her radio, "Belikov, did you get a good look at the other suspect?"

I tried to focus, tried to remember who was standing before me when we first were shot at. The other person behind this whole thing. The one that got away from us. The sadness faded as anger took back over. I knew him. I hated him. I haven't seen him in almost twenty years.

"Randall Ivashkov, My Father."

A/N:

It killed me to write this guys, I always planned on this happening, I had it written before the story started. I hate myself for doing it, I always hate that he is the one to die, but it was the only way to make the impact I wanted. But at least it wasn't Dimitri, right? And now we all know who the other person is, congrats to those who got it from the start. Next update will come on Saturday evening! Enjoy the rest of your week!

- Dream