Toll Road stopped. A small backyard opened in front of them.

„See the gate in the wall over there ?" he asked the two girls behind him. „If we´re through, we´re almost home. We wait for covering fire. When I tell you - run. If we make it out of there, keep to your right.

„Get ready, guys", Ceasar barked over the com.

The unbelievable noise of Ceasars gun made Cathie jump again the moment he opened fire from a point left of them.

„Go, go, go!" Toll Road roared, jumping out from behind the corner of the wall, opening fire towards the guards up on a balcony on the right side. Maggie and the girls sprinted out of cover, heading for the gate. Toll Road stayed level with them, still firing. His gaze still searching the place for more shooters, he didn´t realize what happened behind him.

With Billy entering the balcony to the right of them from behind and Toll Road and Ceaser still firing, the shooters up there were taken care of quickly. For some seconds, the yard fell silent, but there were still shots to be heard around, far too close for Cathie´s taste.

She hadn´t got away as well as the others. Heading out of cover, she had slipped in a puddle she hadn´t seen in the darkness. She struggled hard to regain balance. Olsen behind her almost toppled right over her, but managed to keep on his feet. He gained hold of a handful of cloth of her jacket and tried to pull her back to her feet, but the heavy shoulder bag and the sudden jolt made her only stumble again. She reached out for him, but realized belatedly that he was already some steps in front of her.

„Damn, run !" Ceasar barked over the com-link.

New shots fell close by.

Cathie gave a small sound of desperation, stumbling back to her feet.

„Run!"

„Get cover!"

Toll Road and Olsen followed the girls and Maggie out of the gate from where Yang kept firing at their pursuers, the unconscious Daryn McIntyre resting right next to him on the ground.

„Where´s Cathie ?" the Asian barked.

Toll Road turned on his heels, scanning the area behind him disbelief.

„Where is she ?" he barked at Olsen.

„What the hell´s going on ?" Barney demanded to know. Billy, Lee and him had fallen back to bring up the rear.

„We got the girls, but lost C. underway !" Ceasar reported. He had just joined them, watching Toll Road forcing Olsen around to struck him right into the face.

„Where the hell is she ?" Barney shouted.

„I see her", Maggie chimed in quietly. She had disappeared the moment they had realized that they had lost Cathie. „You won´t like this."

XXX

The backyard had fallen silent by now. For a moment, the place lay as forgotten and peaceful as it had lain for years.

Then a lonely figure took some stumbling steps backwards towards the middle of the place, having obviously been shoved by someone.

„Shit!" Barney cursed, recognizing Cathie. He had just jumped into cover right next to Maggie.

XXX

„Alright, alright!" a voice boomed. „What do we got here ?"

„Shit!" another one of his teammates joined in.

XXX

„Stop walking! That´s far enough!" Derek commanded. „Hands behind your head !"

The moment Cathie had fallen back behind the others had been the one Derek had suddenly jumped out of a door, crashing right into her. The impact had carried her off her feet. So had the fierce kick he had given her ribs when she had tried to get up again.

XXX

„Get her out of there!" Barney barked. „Gunnar!"

„No clear shot", came the flat answer.

„Positioning!" Billy reported back spontaneously.

„No clear shot !" Maggie right next to him stated.

„The bastard is smart enough to keep out of sight!" Christmas muttered.

„Toll Road, Ceasar, get the girls and McIntyre to the plane! Take Yang with you!" Barney commanded. If they wouldn´t make it there, the Asian would be able to pilot.

XXX

The world seemed to have slowed down at once. Watching the man in front of her, Cathie felt drops of sweat running down between her shoulder blades. The freshly rosen glee about outwitting these people and getting away that easily had abruptly turned into fear.

Derek watched Cathie´s shaken posture.

„And what kind of bad joke is this now ?" he asked. „To what gang of amateurs do you belong, huh ?"

He shook his head, then made a small gesture.

„Turn around!" he commanded.

XXX

Barney covered the mic of his headset with one hand.

„Cut her off!" he barked at Maggie.

Maggie realized quick-wittedly what he was talking about.

„Can you get me a connection to her only ?" he asked.

Maggie nodded, her fingertips already flying over the tablet.

XXX

„Turn around!" Derek repeated, louder than before.

Cathie did as told this time. Turning her back to Derek, her blood ran cold. Her com-link had just fallen dead.

„So !" the man behind her barked. „You want the broad back? Then let´s talk!

XXX

„Cathie, this is Barney."

Cathie tried to blink the sweat out of her eyes.

„Listen to me - don´t run! Don´t try anything!"

XXX

„To your knees!" Baxter ordered her sharply, moving slightly.

XXX

„He moved out of my sight", Gunnar stated quietly.

From where she stood, Maggie was able to spot Billy by now. Despite the tense situation, he was still concentrated on finding a spot from where he would be able to target Derek.

„No clear shot", he nevertheless said in the same quiet tone as Gunnar´s.

XXX

To Cathie, it felt as if they had already been standing there for minutes.

„Do it", Barney told her quietly, gesturing to Lee at the other end of the yard.

XXX

„Well ?" Derek asked.

He fired a warning shot that made Cathie squeal.

XXX

„Don´t run!" Barney repeated quietly.

XXX

Derek laughed out.

„So, what´s it gonna be ?" he barked.

With her senses heightened by the adrenaline rush, Cathie noticed movement on the balcony right above them. She lifted her head just far enough to have her assumption confirmed. It was Christmas who had just stepped out of the shadows and was now looking down on them from the balcony.

„What do you want ?" he addressed Derek.

„Well, let´s say I want to swap prisoners!" Derek answered.

XXX

„Keep him talking! We still don´t have a clear shot!"

Maggie put Barney´s hand signals into words for Christmas.

„Repositioning!" Billy whispered.

„Repositioning", Gunnar repeated.

XXX

„You want McIntyre?" Christmas addressed Baxter.

„Keep the junkie !" Baxter barked. „I want the girl! She makes the better hostage - quite precious to her daddy and not up to die any day on an overdose, isn´t she ?"

„She already left", Christmas answered.

XXX

Gunnar cursed, losing sight of Derek again. No matter if on purpose or not, the bastard had chosen a good position.

„Almost there", Billy mumbled.

„Keep him talking", Maggie urged again.

Christmas swore under his breath.

XXX

Derek fired.

XXX

With a muffled cry, Cathie went down.

Gimme your opinion, folks...