Just past midnight

"You drive me crazy," he moaned into her neck, his hands busy. "Oh God, the things I want to do to you."

Beca shut her eyes, breathing hard. After that teasing dance, Dallas nearly carried her to his bedroom. It took several attempts for him to unlock the door and once that was done, he had reached out and pulled her through. The door was barely closed when he gathered her in his arms and started to kiss her.

Calm down and concentrate, Beca - this is just as planned. Hang in there. She discreetly looked at her watch. It was a little hard to keep her focus. She could not deny that Dallas was very, very attractive but she had to keep the fine balance between keeping her focus on the job and not lose herself into the way his mouth was moving on her skin, the way his hands were stroking and touching her. God, this cowboy was too dangerous.

They were on the bed now, him hovering over her. He pushed the crop top and pulled it over her arms and head, revealing her lacy black bra. For a moment, he stared. "Perfect. Just perfect," he murmured before diving in between her breasts.

Beca quickly pushed him over and straddled him. She need to control the situation somehow. He looked up at her with desperate lust. Giving him a seductive smile, she slowly unbuttoned his shirt and ran a finger down the bare skin, from his neck down to his hard abs. Both her hands did circles round his chest, over his nipples. Dallas sucked in a sharp breath, shut his eyes and let his head fall back onto the pillows.

Beca pushed his shirt aside and he helped to take it off before throwing it onto the floor. She leaned down, making tiny licks and bites on the skin and he groaned.

"Hey, I didn't know you have tats," Beca said teasingly. She kissed and licked the blue tattoo on his right side of the body. She took a careful look at the series of numbers and alphabet. "That is so sexy... what does this mean?"

"Oh baby, that felt good," Dallas groaned at the feel of her mouth. "Huh? Tat? Oh! It's something Camilla insisted I have."

He grabbed her and flipped her onto her back, kissing down her body. He was busy with her breasts now. Beca was mentally memorising that tattoo. She nearly let out a sigh of resignation but stifled it. Somehow her mind could not focus now. She had to concentrate and be in the zone but it was getting increasingly difficult.

Dallas suddenly stopped what he was doing and raised himself up on his elbows, looking down at her. Beca suddenly realised she'd better get her act together.

"Why did you stop?" she said, wrapping her arms around him. "I was enjoying that."

Dallas' eyes roved over her face, like he was trying to read her. He sighed and said," Do you really want to do this, Rebecca? Because I hate to force you."

Beca was silent.

"There is someone else, isn't there?" he asked softly, his eyes kind.

The right protocol was to continue the seduction. To keep going on until she reached her objective. But her gut instinct kicked in. No matter that he was a rogue, Dallas was a decent man in many respects. Beca sighed and nodded.

"How did you know?" she asked, equally soft.

Dallas gave a half smile. "Not to brag or anything but you are quite immune to my charms for the longest time, Rebecca. I'd never knew a woman who had withheld out for so long. So I reckon there's someone else. And I think I know who."

Beca closed her eyes.

"Luke's special to you, right?"

Beca's eyes flew open. She hit the jackpot.

"Yes. Yes, he is," Beca said, her voice trembling. "He disappeared some weeks ago. I don't know what happened to him."

Dallas got up and quickly put on his shirt. His voice was gruff when he spoke next,"You are going to hate me. Hell, I hate myself for what happened. I should have stopped Camilla."

"Dallas, what happened to Luke? You know where he is?" Beca got up and quickly put on her top.

"Camilla is crazy. I really don't know why I got myself mixed up with her," Dallas continued, his voice sick with disgust. "She's been using Luke as a guinea pig; a demo."

"Is he OK? Is he alive?" Beca's voice was almost a painful whisper. "Where is he?"

"Camilla had him moved. I think I know where," Dallas said. He got up and went to the door. He turned back and looked at Beca who was frozen on the spot. "Come on. Let's rescue your beau."

Twenty minutes. I just need to hold on for twenty minutes. Jesse was thinking as he tried not to grimace at Camilla's onslaught. They had left and went back to her bedroom. Now they were safely inside, she had immediately launched herself on him and he had to keep himself from pushing her away in defence.

She had painfully kissed and nibbled on his lip and was now sucking his neck like a hungry vampire. He fake moaned accordingly, his hand stroking her back. When her hands went down to grope his crotch, he had to take drastic action. Because he could not fake an erection.

OK, OK. Think of Beca. Think of Beca half naked, hands caressing her breasts. Looking at you. Sighing your name. Oh God. Jesse moaned for real at the mental picture. That did the trick.

Camilla giggled a little and now tried to unbuckle his belt. His erection deflated rapidly. I am so sorry, buddy - Jesse thought of his poor confused dick.

"Woahh... slow down, baby," Jesse decided another tactic need to be deployed. He took her hands away from his crotch and smiled into her eyes. "We've got all night. Don't we?"

Camilla gave him a look of frustration. But she melted when he picked her up and her legs wrapped around him. He carried her that way to the bed and placed her down.

"Drink?" He rapidly moved to the small bar at the side of the room and fixed a drink. Camilla got off the bed and walked over to his side.

"I usually make my own," Camilla said, taking a glass and pouring herself a Scotch. "No chance of poisoning. Or drugging."

]esse cursed inwardly, drawing his hand away from the vial inside his jacket. He thought he could knock her out. He just turned and looked at her, quizzically, "People do that? To you?"

Camilla laughed. "Yes. Like that guy you saw in the lab."

"Really?" Jesse replied. "Whatever happened to him? Did you finish him off?"

"He's down in the cells. I got too busy," Camilla finished her drink and looked expectantly at Jesse. "Now where were we?"

Jesse smiled and put his drink aside. He raised her up and placed her on the vanity table. He started kissing her neck, his fingers unbuttoning her top, taking it off and throwing it aside. He started to kiss down her torso slowly. Oh god, can I go any slower? - he thought - I don't really want to go down on her. Five minutes left?

He tried to run his lips as slow as he can. Then slowly unzipped and discarded her skirt. "Mmm..this is sexy. You don't look like the tattoo type," he murmured into her when he came across a blue tattoo of numbers on her belly.

"Oh god, that is so hot," he said, running his finger over the numbers, memorising the sequence. "What does it mean?"

"Oh, it's nothing," she was breathless at the feel of his lips. Jesse ran his hands along her inner thighs, swiping over her crotch. She gasped and muttered lowly. Something that sounded like formula?

She was now grabbing his head and guiding him towards her crotch. Oh my god, I don't want to do this - Jesse shuddered internally - He settled with kissing her on her thigh instead. Where is that damn bomb? He should have set it to go off earlier. Now look what he had to do.

A loud explosion ripped through the air. Oh thank god! Jesse got up. "What the hell was that?" he shouted. Camilla was still in a haze of lust and was looking at him uncomprehendingly.

"Camilla, I think it's a bomb. We'd better go. So... listen. It's nice knowing you but I don't think it's going to work. OKthanksbye." Jesse rushed through his words and quickly got out of the room.

He ran down the corridor into his room, quickly took his kit and hotfoot it out of the room. He had set that bomb to go out as a distraction while he made his exit. The formula was not there. There was no point on him staying around. But he knew where it was. Those numbers tattooed on Camilla's belly. They were co-ordinates.

Just then a serious of explosions rocked the place. What the fuck? He only planted one. Where the hell are the other bombs coming from? Oh no. Not from that direction. That was in the direction of Beca's room.

"What the hell was that?" Dallas shouted as the first explosion rent the air. "That sounded like a bomb." He turned back, a little unsure.

Then a series of explosions.

"What?" Dallas was yelling now. "Rebecca, I got to check this out. The staff and the guests. I want to be sure they are safe."

Beca looked at him and nodded. He was really a good guy.

"Look, he's at sublevel B. In one of the corridors. Access code is 77562. I'll be waiting for you in the South Entrance. Do you know where that is?" Dallas said.

"You go. I'll find him," Beca said. Dallas turned to go and Beca called him back. "Dallas!"

He turned back to look at her.

"Thank you."

He smiled. "It's the least I could do. I should have stop it before."

"Stay safe. I want to see you at the South Entrance."

Jesse was running along the hallway now. Another series of explosions. Every crook, every dark henchmen, every agent now poured into the corridors and there was a running gun battle. He ducked as several bullets sprayed across the wall. Too damn close!

Where the hell is Beca's room?

Jesse was cursing hard. She should have left earlier, like he told her too. Damn stubborn girl! He reached her room and kicked down the door. She was not inside. Jesse ran out of curses. Dallas' room? Are they in Dallas' room? Jesse slumped a little. Oh God, I don't want to catch them in bed. I might just turn the gun on them. Or myself.

Beca switched on her comms and yelled "Sam, a little early?"

"Hell no! That's not one of ours."

"Has ours gone off?"

"Now they have. Oh shit!"

Beca just passed the labs. She flushed herself against the wall, avoiding the rush of guards now running past her.

"What is it?" she whispered back to Sam.

"I think the other agents have the same idea as us," Sam said. "Bombs are going off right, left and centre."

Beca running down to the sub-level. She reached the door and keyed in the code Dallas gave her.

"Beca!" Sam yelled. "It's getting dicey. I don't know how long I can hold my position."

Beca could hear gunfire on the background.

"Get out now, Sam!" she yelled back. "Take the rest and use the beach route. That's your nearest."

"I can't leave you!"

"I'll be fine. Now go. I'll meet you on the other side."

"Becaaaa..."

"Go!"

She counted every beat of her heart. Time was running out. One corridor let to another and she sped down every one of them, searching. This has to be it - she cursed - this better be it. The door was locked and she kicked it down. None of the usual finesse of breaking in that she was good at. It was time for brutal force.

The door gave way with a loud clang that echoed down that dank corridor. And she finally found him. Chained like an animal in another dark corridor. She had to stifle her scream, biting it down. Now was not the time.

Beca ran to the prostrate figure. She knelt down and put her hands on his head, lifting it up. His eyes slowly opened, feeling the gentleness of her touch and slowly focussed. She could see the pain and the despair in them. His handsome face, now covered in grime, criss-crossed with cuts, his lips dry and cracked. He was breathing irregularly. Thank god, he was still breathing.

"What have they done to you?" she whispered.

"Beca..." he said, confusedly.

"I'm here now," she said, trying to keep her tears at bay. Now was not the time for this.

"You are here..." he whispered. Then panic set in his eyes and he tried speaking again, his throat dry. "No.. you shouldn't be here. It's a trap. Run, Beca."

"I've come to get you. I won't leave you here."

"No..."

Quickly, she freed his hands and feet from the shackles that kept him chained to the wall. He felt thin, wasted almost. His torso marked with red whipping marks that made Beca sucked her breath. She ran her hands gently over the marks and he gasped in pain. Wherever you are, Camilla, I will hunt you down - she vowed.

Now was not the time but she let his blonde head, hair matted with blood and sweat, rest momentarily on her shoulder, her arms around him. His breath came out in hard, painful rasps and she had to keep her tears at bay. She had never ever seen her rock so down and so helpless like this. Luke had always been in control, had always been the one protecting her. Seeing him like this was tearing at her.

She heard the footsteps approaching them too late. She could not reach her gun in time. She could only reached her knife.

She turned her head towards the sound of the footsteps.

"Jesse.." she said his name in a quiet sigh, full of regret.

He was standing over them, gun in hand, his face cold and expressionless. Whatever hurt, whatever betrayal he felt; none was seen. He just raised his gun and fired two shots.

There was the sick sound of two bodies thudding to the ground.

He came over.

"We don't have much time."

Beca turned and saw two guards now prone and bleeding on the ground behind her. She did not hear them at all; she was too busy holding on to Luke. She looked at Jesse's cold face and nodded.

Jesse took off his jacket and put it around Luke before lifting one side of him. Beca took the other and they hobbled out of the corridor, Luke in between them. Their progress was painfully slow. Too slow.

"Is that why you are here? Looking for Luke?" Jesse suddenly said.

"Yes," she answered curtly. "You didn't have to be here. I got it."

"Yeah, sure you did," he answered back, equally curt.

There was sound of gunfire ahead and both of them started cursing. Jesse let go of Luke and went slightly ahead, gun in hand. Beca shifted a little to take Luke's weight. He was so much thinner than before that she could just about cope.

"Stay behind me," he yelled as they moved into the corridor. The gunfire was deafening. He despatched a few of the shooters off while Beca tried to be as quick as possible. Beca aimed her gun, trying to help but Jesse was in the way.

"Can you move faster?" Jesse yelled angrily.

"I got a grown man attached to me!" Beca yelled back. "I can't move any faster!"

Jesse just yelled curses at her as he continued shooting. Beca saw two more coming from his blind side and she shot them. The second bullet grazed his arm and he yelled out in pain.

"Are you trying to kill me?" he shouted at her.

"Will you get out of the way?" Beca yelled at Jesse now. "I nearly got you there."

"Don't use the fucking gun if you don't know how!"

"I fucking know how to use it. Don't blame me if you insist in getting in the way."

"Bloody hell! Last time I'll be your human shield."

"I didn't ask you to."

"You'll be the death of me, Beca!"

"Yeah? Tell me if you want to die now. I got plenty of bullets here!"

"Will you two break it up?"

Jesse and Beca stopped arguing, suddenly realising there were no more gunfire. And they realised it was Dallas who was yelling at them. He came over.

"I could hear you both from the next corridor. Break it up now!" He came over to Beca and helped prop Luke up. "Are you ok, sugar?"

Beca nodded. "I'm fine."

Jesse just threw Dallas a look of pure loathing.

They moved to the next corridor. Dallas was easily supporting Luke and Beca could now helped cover them. There was more gunfire and more shooting. Beca let out a series of curses. Jesse was still blocking them.

Of all the macho shit - she raged internally as he blocked her aim yet again. Bece let out a frustrated yell and grabbed his shirt from behind, pulling him out of the way. She then aimed, shot three easily from one side, swung to the other side and shot two.

Jesse looked at her, stunned. Time seemed to slow down and he thought he was watching her in slow motion. The utter grace she did it with. Nice clean shots. No fuss. It was both equally beautiful and frightening. And fucking hot.

They tumbled out out the final door and were now on the grounds. Beca ran to the four wheeler near to the exit. Just like they planned. It was ready to go. She ripped the door opened and motioned to Dallas to put Luke inside. Jesse was just steaming at the side of the car, reloading his gun, keeping a lookout.

Dallas placed Luke carefully inside before straightening up and looking at Beca. "Looks like it's goodbye here, sugar," he said, a note of regret in his voice.

Beca looked at Dallas and the mayhem behind him.

"Come with me," she said.

"Are you sure?"

"I'll bring you somewhere safe. It's mad here."

Jesse snorted in disgust. "Really, Becs?"

"Shut up, Jesse," Beca said.

"Don't talk to her that way," Dallas said.

"Come with me, Dallas." Beca just repeated.

Jesse felt that jealousy ripped through him again. "Great. Is this how it is? Get all your lovers in one car and sail out of here?" he yelled at Beca.

He did not see Dallas' fist coming at him.

"It's you, isn't it?" Dallas suddenly yelled. "I should've seen it! You are the fucker that hurt her." He swung at Jesse again, hitting him across the jaw. It was a hard blow but Jesse straightened up and hit back.

Beca facepalmed herself and shook her head. The two boys were now hitting each hard.

"Stop it!"

They were now rolling on the ground, beating the hell out of each other. Beca just calmly pointed her Glock and shot two shots near them. They immediately stopped.

"Will you both stop it? We've got company."

There were sounds of running footsteps.

"You guys can stay here and beat the hell out of each other. Or you can both get in the car and get the hell outta here."

"I'll drive," Dallas said, quickly picking himself up.

"No, I drive!" Jesse said, standing up.

"I got the keys and I know where we are going," Beca yelled. "So I'll drive."

Both men looked at each other.

"Jesse, you got shotgun. I need your help to keep the way clear," Beca said, pre-empting any arguement. For goodness sake, time was running out. Jesse threw a triumphant look at Dallas, like a five year old. Beca just shook her head.

They just driven off when the guards appeared, shouting. A few went into the other vehicles and were in hot pursuit.

"Dallas! Stay low!" Beca shouted as Dallas ducked down in the back seat, holding on to Luke safely. "Jesse, you got this?"

"Piece of cake."

He shot the tyres of one of the cars and it careened off course and ran into a tree.

"Shit. Back entrance is a no go!" Beca braked hard on seeing the raging fire in front of them and swung left before speeding up. "We have to go through the front gates. Oh hell!"

The other car was still in hot pursuit.

"Jesse!"

"I got it!"

When their car ran parallel to the other car on pursuit, Jesse aimed and shot the driver. The car swung into them but Beca had it. She floored the vehicle and swerved cleanly away.

"How many checkpoints, Dallas?" Jesse yelled.

"Two along the driveway and then the main gates."

Jesse loaded his gun and nodded. They were coming up to the first one. And the guards were ready for them. A machine gun was aimed at them and Beca swerved the car hard. The side was peppered with bullets.

"Oh no, you don't," Beca said. She aimed and fired at the gunner and despatched him cleanly.

"Hit it, Becs!"

"Got it."

The car was now heading to the second checkpoint. Beca went off-road around the checkpoint while Jesse covered them, shooting and finishing his clip. Beca took a grenade from her belt, tore the pin and lobbed it at the checkpoint.

"You have grenades? Why didn't you used it before?" Jesse yelled at her.

"Just shut up. I'm trying to drive here!" Beca yelled back. Another car was in pursuit now. "Dallas! The gates."

"I've got this. Sure am glad I paid extra for remote," Dallas quickly keyed the access code into his mobile and sent it across. The gates slowly opened. Beca floored it and the car leapt forward, clearing the gates.

"Quick! Close it now."

Dallas keyed in the closing code and the gates closed right in front of the pursuing car. Beca gunned the car now and they were rapidly leaving the carnage behind. It was not until they turned into the highway did she relaxed.

She switched on her comms.

"Sam?"

"Oh god, Becs! Glad to hear you, baby." Sam's voice was joyful.

"Mama's coming home."

"Come home, mama. I got a cold beer for you."

"ETA 30 minutes. Get the medic on standby," Beca said. She glanced over at Jesse who was looking at her a little strangely. "Oh, I got two hanger ons."

Half an hour later

Beca guided the car into the compound, killed the engine and got out of the car. Sam was running out to her, with medic team in tow.

"Luke's at the back. He's in a bad shape."

Sam nodded and shouted instructions to the medic team. They quickly took Luke out of the car. Dallas and Jesse came out of the car slowly.

"You two come with me," Beca said, motioning them over. She let them walked ahead of her a little. Agent Matthews and Agent Barker came running and stopped short in front of them.

Their jaws dropped accordingly at the sight of two hot men in front of them. Dishevelled and messy but still hot men. They didn't know where to look, their eyes swivelling between Jesse and Dallas.

Agent Matthews suddenly grinned flirtatiously.

"Oh hi! We meet again."

She was looking at Jesse. Beca shut her eyes. That sealed it.

"Hey. Good to see you again," Jesse smiled, his voice full of charm.

Beca's eyes flew opened, her thoughts furious. What the fuck? He flirts with all the agents?

"Angie, can you take Mr. Evans and make sure he's comfortable?" she gestured to Dallas. Dallas gave the ladies his devastating half smile and said hello in his sexy drawl. Beca swore both of them came on the spot.

They took him away with Angie still casting looks behind her at Jesse.

Beca coolly stepped behind him.

Jesse heard the snick and felt her Glock pressed to his side. She took his Walter easily and pushed him forward a little.

"Is this what I get for saving your ass?" he murmured in a low voice.

Beca sighed. She leaned forward and whispered to him.

"You are my bitch now."

Jesse shut his eyes. His voice now a hoarse whisper.

"Raven?"

A beat of silence.

"Fuck you, Oracle."