Altair

I wiped my brow, and surveyed the room. There were far more bodies than what we counted earlier. "Well, that is the last of them."

"What the hell? I thought you and Ezio did a head count earlier?" Conner looked at me from his place on the floor, his back against the wall.

"We did. There were fifteen." I growled and paced.

"Well, maybe Abstergo threw them a guard party." The Mohawk chuckled. "That was hell, but worth it."

Desmond shook his head and collapsed into the chair. "There were only supposed to be, what, fifteen? I think I counted double than that." He slumped forward and rested his elbows on his legs.

I leaned against the wall, and sighed. "Thirty four to be exact, if you were wondering. I hope that Ezio and Alanna had an easier time than we did." Pulling the phone from my pocket, I hit speed dial two for Ezio and he answered after three rings.

"Are you done?" I asked as I looked over at the pile of bodies. I was coated in blood from head to toe and all I could think about was a hot shower.

'Yeah, I just got Alanna in the shower. She had a slight meltdown.' I heard him sigh. 'I am trying to clean up the mess before she gets out.'

I was afraid this might happen. "How bad did she lose it?" I pushed off the wall, grabbed the can of gasoline and started to dump it on the bodies. The guys followed my lead and started to dump it all over the place. I knew we would not be able to cover up the killings, but at least this will delay them finding out what had happened.

'Besides sitting in the kitchen alternating between puking her guts out and screaming, I think she did pretty well for her first time actually seeing her kills.'

Cringing, I dropped my gas can and headed for the door. "Well, we are wrapping up here." Desmond pulled out a lighter from his pants pocket, and I nodded. Let the boy have the fun and set the place on fire. He grinned, knelt down and lit the trail of gas. It started fast and we walked out.

'I have called the others. They will be arriving in a few days.'

"Alright. See you soon." I hung up the phone and climbed in the car. Conner got in the passenger side, and Desmond hopped in the back.

"So, how much time do you think we have until they find out it was us?" Conner reclined the seat a bit and hit Desmond's legs. That got him a glare and punched in the arm.

"Get your damn seat off me." The youngest growled and hit it with his knee. "And I would give it a few days to a week."

Sitting the seat up, the second youngest smirked. "I will say the same, but you know them better, Altair. What do you think?"

Turning the corner, I looked for any of their cars, but saw none, then headed for the Auditore palazzo. "I say week at most. They are going to retaliate, but we will be long gone by then."

"And where do you plan to go?" I could feel Desmond's eyes on me as I drove through the streets of Florence.

I shrugged. "I don't know, but I think I am going to get Alanna far from all of this for a while. She kind of had a breakdown tonight."

Conner sat all the way up, hazel eyes looking at me as well. "She okay?" Alanna was like his sister. They were as close as two could get without being blood related.

"Ezio said she was in the shower when I called. I thought she was ready for this. She did well on the last mission we went on. Either that or she put up a good act." I spared a look at both of them.

The talking stopped until we pulled up in the rear of the building. Climbing out, Ezio greeted us at the back door. "I would advise not running into Alanna until you have showered. It just took me an hour to get the blood off the floor and rid of the bodies."

Raising a brow, I looked at him. "And where did you put them?"

"The sewer. The pipes are flushed out once a day and that will cause their bodies to be flushed out to the river. By the time they are found, they will not be recognizable." He smirked and headed in the house.

The floors gleamed from their cleaning and guns sat on the table nearby. "Rob them before you dumped them?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yeah, we have been running short on ammo and hardware since we cannot get to our funds. Now that I have the palazzo back, I have most of my money at hand."

"You kept all your cash here, and they didn't find it?" Des shook his head.

"Nope. It is all there. Down to the diamond collection. They would have had to blast this place apart to find it, but it was right under their noses the whole time." Grinning, he pulled the towel off his shoulders and laid it on the counter. "Now, I think you three should go get in the shower."

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

An hour later, after showering, I found Alanna in Claudia's old room, sitting in the window seat, legs pulled up to her chest, staring out the glass panes at the city lights. "Hey."

She turned her head and looked at me, face neutral. "Hey back." I walked over to her and took a seat at her feet. "Are you doing alright?"

Nodding her chocolate head, she looked back out the window. "I'm doing better, but not completely alright. That may take a little bit longer."

"I thought you were ready. If I had known this would have happened, I would have told you to stand watch for Conner and myself and sent Desmond with Ezio." I took her hand in mine. "I'm sorry, Alanna."

She sighed and hung her head. "I thought I was fine. I really did, but seeing their eyes after they were dead is what did it for me."

"You never have to do that again, if you so choose. I know you are not the same person you once were." She was kinder, but still had the same spark.

Looking at me, I saw the beginning of some tears. "I am going to have to do it again, Altair. I know I will. It is just going to take some time to come to grips with it again. I know how I used to be, and as much as I do not want to become her once again, I know it is what I must do."

Leaning forward, I wiped the stray tear away that ran down her cheek. "You do not have to become her again if you do not want to. I will be here to fight the battles that you cannot do yourself."

"I know, but you cannot protect me for eternity. I am going to have to kill again. That is what I am correct? I am a trained killer. An assassin. It is what I am, and what I will always be. There is no escape from it." Laying her forehead on her knees, I heard her sigh and rock her head back and forth.

I did not know the words to tell her that would make everything alright. She was right in that she would kill again, and that was what she once was. So, I just held her hand and let her know that I was here for her. To listen when she needed an ear, or a shoulder to lean on, I would be here for her.

A knock on the door caused me to look over. Ezio stood there holding a tray of mugs. "Thought you could use something to drink. The both of you."

I nodded and he walked in. Alanna looked at him and managed a small, half-hearted smile. "Thank you, Ezio, for dealing with me when I lost it." She met his eyes.

He sat the tray down and smiled at her. "We have all been there, Alanna. Don't worry about it. We are a family. A messed up, psychotic family with major issues, but still a family. We stick by each other no matter what we do." He fixed me with a look, and I knew what he was getting at. I was the one that normally needed bailed out, or picked up because I flipped out.

"Hey, I have not done that in a year, so don't look at me like that. Just because I managed to get drunk at a biker bar, and picked a fight with the biggest man there does not mean you get to hang it over my head for all eternity." I shot him a look, but he knew I was messing with him.

"It was not one man you tried to fight, it was six and you would have known better if you were not so intoxicated you could barely stand on your own two feet. It took Desmond and me to carry you out of there before they pounded you into the floor. I should have let them." He pulled over one of the chairs that were sitting around, and took a seat.

He handed me a mug and one to Alanna, which we gratefully took. She smiled and chuckled a bit. "This I must here. I cannot picture you drunk. Well, to the point that you were falling over. Picking the fights I can believe, but not to the point you could not stand."

Ezio laughed at that. "Oh sweetheart, you have seen him. It was pure entertainment!" That earned a real glare, but he brushed it off. "He was on a job for the bounty hunters, and as he does for all jobs, once it was done, he finds the nearest bar and has a drink. Well, I was in the area with Desmond and decided to join him.

"We normally have one or two, but this old fool just starts pounding them away like he was a dying from thirst. An hour and two bottles of Jim Beam later, Altair thinks he is Wolverine, and can kick anyone's ass that was nearby. Well, it happened to be a biker fellow from the local chapter of the Hell's Angels. Yeah, not the day for him to be drinking and in the bar we were at."

I hung my head in shame. The bad thing was I don't remember much after the first half of the second bottle. It had been years since I had actually drank myself until I was completely stupid. "Okay, I think we have heard enough." I went to stand, but Alanna grabbed my arm.

"I want to hear what happened next. I like hearing stories about you. You guys have lead such interesting lives, compared to what I have lived for the last seven years." She smiled and I could see life coming back into her gray eyes.

I sighed and sat back down. "Continue." I waved him to finish.

Alanna sat up, letting her feet rest in the floor, and watched Ezio with her complete attention. "Anyway, where was I?" He grinned. He knew exactly where he had left off. "Oh that's right. Mr. Drunkass here decided to pick a fight.

"Well, the men at the next table over had just ordered their first round and were laughing at something one of them said. Altair stood, well I should say stood long enough to pick up an empty beer bottle, wind up and cracked the biggest man there in the side of the head with the bottle. Then in German, started screaming insults about the man's mother as he grabbed the back of Desmond's chair to keep himself upright."

Alanna let out a shoulder shaking laugh. Her coffee spilled over the rim of her cup, but she paid it no mind. "Oh my!" She turned her eyes to me. "I can't believe you did that!"

I kept my face neutral, but inside I knew I was blushing. "Yeah, I have done a few stupid things in my life." I played it off, trying to sound indifferent, but thinking back on it, that was really not the smartest thing I have ever done. "Well, couldn't be as bad as the time Ezio here challenged Bartolomeo to a drinking contest. You lost miserably." I smirked at him, and watched him move around in his chair. Paybacks are a bitch.

"That is not fair! When did we make this about me?" He looked at me.

"When you brought up my drunken brawl." I rested my elbows on my knees. "Turnabout is fair play, my friend."

Alanna laughed at us, and look a drink from her mug. "Thank you guys. I am feeling better now."

We both smiled at her. "You are welcome. I aim to please." The Italian bowed his head. "Do you have any funny tales of your time with Kate?"

She sat her cup on the table next to her, and rubbed the back of her neck. "There is one. We went a wedding a few years after I came to live with her. A young man, maybe in his mid-twenties asked me to dance. Needless to say, I made a fool of myself. I can't dance, or well, I don't remember how. I fell on my backside." She chuckled nervously. "Do I know how to dance?"

"Yes, you did." I smiled at her. "I bet they did not make that big of a fuss."

"Not really. The man helped me up and showed me a few steps. After that I was okay." She shook her head, but the smile stayed on her face. "I will never forget that."

"Not as bad as ours, but still it is embarrassing." Ezio laughed. "Maybe before I take off, I will teach you how to dance again. You look like you would enjoy that."

She beamed brightly, stood and hugged him. "I would. Thank you Ezio."

He returned the hug. "You're welcome, 'lanna."

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

The other three made it to Florence two days later. We had the palazzo stocked for them and extra cash out in case they needed something. Our plans were simple. Desmond and Ezio were heading back to the states to find out what they could about the accident. Alanna and I were heading to Greece to let her come to grips with all the changes. Conner was coming with us for bit, and then he said he was going to strike out on his own. The lone wolf, much like I was.

I had the bags in the kitchen and made sure we had everything. Ezio came walking in, bag slung over his shoulder. His once dark hair was an auburn color, compliments of Alanna and Kate. He was clean shaven, and dressed kind of like me. Black shirt and faded blue jeans. I smirked. "So, they are turning you into me."

"Actually, these are your clothes. Good thing we are the same size." He grinned and dropped the bag next to ours. "So, I guess this is it for a while."

Nodding, I walked over to him. "I guess so. Take care of yourself, Ezio." I held out my hand and he grasped it.

"You as well. Take care of her as well."

"Always. You get into a bind, you had better call. I don't a give a shit if you are a half a world away, I will come running as fast as I can." I released his hand and took a step back.

His grin stayed in place. "You know I will."

Someone cleared their throat and we turned to see Alanna, Conner and Desmond standing there. Des' hair was a dirty blond, and gelled into spikes. Conner's was cut similar to Ezio's. He was not thrilled with cutting his shoulder length tresses, but he knew it had to be done. Also about the blond streaked through it now.

Alanna had threatened to stab anyone that came near her with scissors. She said she was not cutting her waist length hair and I agreed with her. I hated her hair when it was to her shoulders. That was the old Alanna. She did dye it though. It took Kate and Rebecca both to dye her hair an auburn color like Ezio's. They also straightened it and gave her bangs.

Mine was easy. I always kept it short, so they spiked it the best they could, and gave me colored contacts to wear. Since my eyes were unusual to begin with, I now had green eyes. Alanna wore a pair as well. It was strange to see her with royal blue eyes instead of her soft gray. Ezio had a blue pair as well, but he was not wearing them.

"I guess this is goodbye." Alanna had her hands clasped in front of her, tears threatening to fall.

Ezio walked over to her and wrapped her in a hug. "I am going to miss you most of all, 'lanna. Thanks for everything."

Her arms wrapped around him, and held on. "Same here, Ezio. Be good, and try to stay out of trouble, will you?"

He stepped back from her, and nodded. "I will try."

She turned to Desmond. "You had better watch the others back. I don't want to lose you two anytime soon."

The younger man kissed her cheek and hugged her. "I will do my best, but don't fault me if he leads me into something we should not get into."

I heard her laugh. "I know, but try."

"I will, don't worry." He smiled and walked over to where Ezio stood.

She walked to my side and I wrapped my arm around her shoulder. "Call when you find out anything."

My partner for many years nodded and grabbed his bag. "Come on Des, our plane leaves in two hours."

"Later guys." He followed Ezio out the door and just like that they were gone.

I turned to Conner and Alanna. "So, have you said your goodbyes?"

They both nodded. We were leaving in the middle of the night to avoid any arguments from anyone. They had what they needed and could reach us in an emergency. I knew they would be fine.

Grabbing the bags, we walked out the door, locking it behind us and loaded the car. Then, just like the other two, we departed into the night. I knew this would be the last time we would see this place for quite some time.