A/N: So here's the next chapter guys. I'm going to upload one fanfic a week to keep it manageable.

Disclaimer: I don't own V.A.!

RPOV

For some ridiculous reason I had to go alone. Leaving Belikov behind.

"It'll be fine." I assured him squeezing his arm, "This meeting will be easy. It's just...right now it will just be discussing details. Comparing what he wants, with what I want. Then he'll send me back to you with a cryptic message that we won't be able to decipher for months." I kissed his cheek, "I'll be fine. And the minute I've shown my face he won't have them hurt. I promise."

I slipped my gun into its holster and decided to walk there. It was a stupid idea. It was much much more than two miles. I needed to think first.

I hadn't genuinely lied to Belikov. But, I had exaggerated the power I had. I held nothing over Kierov. We were...equal. The only reason for that was because my family were already dead. Now, Belikov could pose a threat to the balance I finally had with him.

When I reached the warehouse I paced the perimeter to see the kind of security there was, only to find there was absolutely nothing. No guards, no motion detectors, cameras, nothing. Odd.

Inside wasn't much of a different story apart from the two single guards all in black.

One was tall but slim. Defined. He had quick, sharp looking eyes and was in an entire black suit. The other guy was in the same attire, but he was bigger, muscles almost bulging out of his shirt. It was probably supposed to make him seem daunting, have a shirt a size too small. Although to be honest I thought, it just looked ridiculous.

"Hathaway." the first one nodded at me.

"So what?" I demanded folding my arms across my chest.

"Kierov's keeping it simple." he continued, "All you need, is to give him one thing. A small favour."

"I want to see them first." I interrupted, bored already.

"Then come with me." he walked me to a laptop on a table at the back of warehouse.

It was being streamed. Sure, it looked live, but there was no way to know for certain. No way at all.

"No, I want to see them. That doesn't count."

"I'm afraid that's it." he genuinely sounded disappointed, "It's all he's giving you."

"All right. What does he want?"

I probably wasn't particularly listening, until I realised what he'd said and then...well then I could honestly feel myself begin to panic.

I don't think I'd ever been quite so angry with Kierov before, which was odd, considering every thing else he'd done to me. But this just took the biscuit. And with everything else, the torture, the killing of my family, I'd still been detached. I still hadn't quite cared.

On the way back, the walk was good. It gave me time to clear my head and think about what on earth I was going to say to the Captain, or Belikov for that matter.

I knew we couldn't afford to give him what he wanted, which meant we'd have to locate Belikov's parents separately, send an entire taskforce in, cause an awful lot of deaths, probably several on our side, and get them out of there. Knowing the EDA, they weren't going to let that happen. If I'd been able to see them, today, there was a chance they'd let me do it. But now, it required a lot more than just going in. We had to find them first. With no leads, nothing. I certainly knew I wouldn't be doing it.

I trudged up the driveway and hesitated at the door, perhaps it would be best to tell the Captain before seeing Belikov. So I did.

"That doesn't sound like him at all." the Captain mused, probably frowning, "Or maybe it does..."

"No I think it's definitely something he'd do." I sighed and leant against the doorway, "What do you want me to tell Belikov?"

"Well..." he paused for a moment, "I'd say nothing, but I know he won't take that kindly. Tell him that they didn't say what they wanted. That they'd be in touch. But, if it gets too difficult, just tell him the truth and tell me what you've done. Then, I'll get over there."

I nodded knowing fine well he couldn't see and he hung up without waiting for a reply. As always.

He was sitting at the kitchen table, a mug of coffee in his hand and several pictures strewn across the wooden table top.

I sat beside him to find that the photos were of his parents and he had out my file, Kierov's file and the Captian's practically useless file. Half of it was blanked out, only a quarter of mine was.

I reached out and squeezed his hand, knowing it wouldn't offer much comfort.

"What happened?" he asked, not taking his eyes off the papers on the table.

"Kierov wasn't there. Your parents weren't either. It was just two guys. They showed me what appeared to be a live stream, could have been recorded, of your parents and told me Kierov would be in touch. That was it."

He arched an eyebrow as his eyes found mine, "It's funny I don't believe that."

I shrugged, "I'd say the same but it's the truth.

"Rose..."

"Belikov, that's all I can give you. Please." I released his hand, "Don't make this difficult."

He nodded, "I'll give you a few hours. But Rose, You know that I need the truth."

"I fought for that. But I need to just follow my orders all right? At the moment, I cannot afford to bend any more rules."

With that said, I went out, to the garden, for a walk.

I'd never been one to appreciate the outdoors. I hated it. I hated bugs, mud, dirt, all of that. But, I did actually enjoy just being outside every now and then.

I was a naturally anxious person. Naturally suspicious, naturally angry. Sometimes, when I got for a bit, to a place that was empty of all...people, sometimes that really did a lot for me. But that day, it did absolutely nothing. I was too far gone.

Belikov appeared out of absolutely nowhere and his arms slipped round my waist.

"You've been out here for hours, and you've walked two feet. What's wrong?" he asked softly in my ear.

I hesitated, "You know I can't." I whispered eventually.

"Ok, then don't talk about that. Come inside and get some dinner. I've even cooked." he grinned as he pressed a gentle kiss to my cheek.

"You cooked?" my tone rose, "When it's not your turn? Bribery's not going to work."

He chuckled and pulled me inside, "That's not what's going on. I've just cooked you dinner because technically Rose, the term for you, is my girlfriend and that's definitely what you deserve. So shut up, try to thank me for it, and eat it, love."

A/N: So, apologies for the wait and whatnot. Now, a warning that I'm going to give now, rather than in the next two, or possibly three chapters: when this is done there will be a slight break before the sequel. This will give me time to firstly plan what I want to happen as right now I have no idea past the first two chapters. It will also mean that I will be able to perhaps finish another fanfiction so that I have more time on my hands. I just wanted to put this out now while I remember and while there's room in the A/N's! Haha

Please review!

Chocorose x