The floor rumbled and the walls shook and made Paul and Susannah collapse to the ground, the guards screaming in Spanish. Teddy ran to my and yanked on my chain directly on the loop, breaking it and releasing me half way. I collapsed to the ground beside Susannah and took her hand, smoke spouting from the hallway, making my eyes water.

"Are you alright?" I asked, she looked at me with watering eyes and hugged me tightly.

I vowed silently I would bring her and my unborn child to safety. I looked up at Teddy who had already pulled out a switch blade and was working on the clasps on my ankles. Despite the chaos he put on a stern face and pushed ahead. Thank God for determined, revenge-seeking men like Teddy.

Raul stumbled over, trying to help us up but Paul shoved him, confused and furious. He disappeared down the hallway but was heard swearing and coughing. I helped Susannah up and pulled her close,

"You shouldn't have come," I murmured.

"I know," She smiled sheepishly.

"Thank you," I smiled weakly.

As soon as the moment had come, it left. A realization came to her and her smile vanished,

"Jared! He was in the lobby," She gasped, putting my arm around her to support and guide me down the hall.

I was surprised how weak a part of my suddenly even though my head was racing with adrenaline. I followed her down the hall and we saw what happened. Something exploded in the hallway making it collapse, but there was still a gap to the lobby where people where curled up and screaming. I couldn't see Jared from where we were but I crawled through the gap, helping Susannah who followed. She spotted him immediately and rushed over to him, and I surveyed the damage. The guards were knocked out and everyone else was in a corner, huddled and trying to shield themselves as best as possible.

Jared had been thrown into a chair, a small head wound bleeding and his arm bent funny. Nothing major seemed to be bothering him but the way he was blinking indicated a concussion. Susannah was gently helping him, asking him questions softly in his ear. His responses were just as quick and normal as ever so no brain damage. I limped over to the crowd,

"Stand up, and go to the plane. Pilot's make sure it is still in flying order. Even if it can only get to Sao Paulo," I cleared my throat.

They slowly stood and eyed me suspiciously. The boy from earlier gasped and whispered something to his uncle and then pointed to me.

"We need to leave, now," I tried speaking louder, my voice hoarse.

"Go, now," Susannah straightened, giving them the move-or-I'll-shoot-you look.

They fumbled and started moving but everyone froze at the click of a gun. I turned to see Paul pointing one at me, and another at Susannah.

"I've worked too hard to let my past ruin my future!" He snarled as ten men crawled through the hole and walking to stand behind him.

That's when I recognized Raul and Teddy in the group, they winked at me. I took a ginger step towards Paul, who zeroed in on me,

"Don't even think I'm going to let you live to see the birth of that child without giving me that damn code."

I froze, my blood turning cold again. Suze took a step as well,

"I've spent all these months without my husband. You're not taking any more time from me." Her tone was pure rage and venomous.

"I hope you're child enjoys being an orphan," Paul pointed both guns at me and pulled the trigger.

Things seemed to slow down after the sound from the gun. Suddenly Jared jumped in front of me, his body jerking as the bullets met him. He slumped down and Paul howled in anger. Teddy and Raul jumped him at that moment, yanking the guns out of his hand and shoving him down.

"Jared!" Suze screamed and ran to him; I rushed forward and eased him to the ground gently.

"Forgot…how much those hurt," Jared joked feebly, Suzes' eyes watered.

I walked over to Paul, picking up one of the guns as I did so. Cocking it as I pointed it directly at his head,

"I could have let you just go back to prison but you endangered my family and I warned you."

"De Silva," He coughed, "She was almost a Slater. You're touches cannot erase the fact that child was almost mine."

I pulled the trigger without thought, without emotion. All the rage that had kept me on my feet drained slowly, leaving the tired and soreness from the past months to occupy its space. I limped back to Jared and Suze but it didn't look good. They had hit him square in the chest, probably piercing his lungs and God forbid his spine.

"Oops," Jared mumbled as he saw the blood, "Susannah, will you tell Sylvia and my kids they were my last thought?"

"You're going to make it. Sao Paulo is only a short flight away and then we can get you into surgery. Just hang in there ok? Hang in there," Suze argued, shaking her head.

"Susannah," Jared reached up and took her hand, "I've told you, I am old and I've lived a good life. I knew I probably wouldn't make it back. And I'm ok with it. Just take good care of that baby you hear me? And tell Sylvia and the kids, they were my last and most precious thought."

Suze closed her eyes, fighting back tears that were determined to escape. I put a reassuring arm around her but I was so tired it was more for my own support.

"I…I'll tell them," She sobbed, I collected her in my arms.

"We should go," I murmured.

"We'll carry him cousin," Julo walked up.

"You!" One of the passengers's gasped.

"I'm sorry cousin, it was never…I needed the money to save my mother," Julo pleaded, getting on his knees beside us. I looked him straight in the eye,

"Raul and Teddy may carry him; you and I have some talking to do once I heal."

He nodded and offered me a hand but I denied it,

"I think I'll walk with my wife."

He nodded again and backed off, Teddy and Raul over and kneeling to lift Jared carefully. The pilots and stewardesses were doing a good job of holding themselves together to guide the others out the doors back to the plane. Paul's former henchmen helped out, making sure it was safe for them and that the runway was clear. They had never liked Paul but he promised a great wealth that was now never going to happen. I blinked back my tiredness if only to see Susannah but once she sat me in the seat I could barely keep them open. She smiled weakly and kissed my forehead,

"Sleep my dearest; I'll be here when you wake up."

Needing no other promise that I slipped off into a dreamless sleep unaware when the plane even took off. When I woke up I was laying in a hospital bed hooked up to machines. Susannah was asleep in the bed a foot away, curled up with a pillow. I closed my eyes and listened to all the noises, faint Spanish drifting in from the open door.

"Is he up yet?" A familiar voice asked, waking Susannah.

"Not yet, he's been asleep for five hours. They said the nutrients they gave him to supply the lack he's suffered will take a bit for his body to readjust and its better if he's asleep for it," Susannah yawned.

"Is everyone safe?" I murmured.

Susannah walked over to my side and took my hands; I could hear the amusement in her voice,

"Yes, all the passengers have been checked and escorted back to America. Paul's men have been rounded up except for the three that helped us. I asked for them to stay, saying it was your request before you passed out from exhaustion. The Agency is holding them until you are better."

"And Jared?" I asked, opening my eyes again.

Her face grew sad and her eyes went to the floor,

"He's still in surgery; they say it doesn't look so good."

"He knew what he was doing," I squeezed her hand.

"Yes I know, I updated Adam and the others. Sylvia doesn't know what's happened to Jared yet, I plan to tell her in person," She cleared her throat.

"My Susannah, My Querida," I murmured, rubbing her hands.

"Jesse, I almost lost you," She looked at me, letting her fear show.

"I'd never leave you," I promised.

"Oh good because I can't deal with crying women," A deep voice chuckled, I looked over to see Gorge, an old Argentinean contact I considered my best friend back in the day.

"Gorge," I grinned, "You sly old cat."

"Jesse-man," He grinned shaking my hand, "Nice to see you know how to keep yourself in one piece."

"I do what I can the best I can," I shrugged, making him laugh.

"As always old friend, as always," He nodded.

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"My source in Sao Paulo told me some American Agent named De Silva had gotten mixed up in some bad blood with a crazy American who was trying to rebuild his empire," Gorge grinned wickedly, "And I just had to see for myself." He then glanced at Susannah and then to me, "You've had luckier days I notice."

I laughed, "The greatest."

He clapped my shoulder, "Ani is waiting back home for me. I just wanted to make sure you would be alright old friend."

"Safe travels and give the family my words of greeting," I nodded, "How are the kids?"

"Growing like weeds the way she feeds them," Gorge smiled, "And I will, I'll be seeing you and yours' another day."

"I'll keep you posted," I smiled as he walked out of the room, Susannah watching us in amusement.

"Gorge the cat huh? He's got a few interesting stories," She giggled.

"He's got an interesting way of spinning stories," I smiled, opening my arms to her. She crawled into bed and laid beside me, sighing in content. I held her close, never realizing how much I missed such a simple thing.

And soon I'd have another special one to hold.