A/N: Hang on tight! Here we go!

XXXXXX

The pounding on the door that woke them was loud and insistent. "Dominguez!" roared a deep voice from the other side.

Poe shot up, lunging over Rey to get out of the bed, the Glock in the bedside table in his hand before his feet even hit the floor. In the ambient light coming through the window, Rey was able to see him move silently and stealthily to the door, weapon at the ready, somehow appearing more deadly naked than when he was clothed.

"Dominguez!" came the voice again, followed by more shouting in Spanish.

Poe seemed to settle, taking a deep breath and lowering the gun. He answered back, then got a gruff sounding reply. Heavy footsteps sounded as the speaker moved away.

Rey realized she was shaking, the rude awakening having given her a shot of adrenaline that was now unneeded. "Not one of your SEAL friends, I take it?"

Poe shook his head, and she could see he was also trying to come down from the terrifying rush they had both felt. "No. They stay away from Maz'; don't want to give the cartels any reason to distrust her. It was just Chewie, Maz'… head of security, I guess you could call him." He walked over to the nightstand and flipped on the light. "Karé's back," he told her softly. "It's time to go."

Taking a deep, shuddering breath, Rey watched as he set the gun back down, then proceeded to pick his jeans up off the floor where he had dropped them a few short hours ago. Rey pulled herself together and slipped out of the other side of the bed, where her own bag of clothing lay. She opened the package of panties and pulled on a pair, grateful they were at least close to her size, then she slipped on the darker of the two skirts. Grabbing the white blouse with the green embroidery, she paused for a moment, trying not to remember Poe's comment about it, then pulled it over her head. She grabbed the sandals and looked at them with concern. What if she needed to run? These looked as if they were meant for some garden party, not running through the jungle.

She stood and headed for the bathroom, finding the sturdy leather pair of footwear she had worn since she arrived in Ajan Kloss just over a week ago. They were dirty and worn, and one strap looked about ready to snap, but they were still better than the borrowed pair. She slipped them on, then looked at herself in the mirror. Her expression was the complete opposite of the one she had been wearing the last time she saw herself. She shut her eyes and turned away, then walked back out into the bedroom.

Poe was standing watching her, fully dressed now, his knife in its sheath, and the P90 in his right hand. In his left hand was the Glock, and as she neared him, he held it out to her. She took it without a word, then looked him in the eye.

"Ready?" he asked softly.

She nodded.

"Okay." He turned and headed for the door.

Upon leaving the room, Poe waited until she reached his side, then together they made their way through the halls to the stairs. As they walked down them, Rey saw Maz waiting for them at the bottom, a huge hulk of a man standing next to her. Chewie, she guessed. His hairy façade watched them with distrust as they came to the bottom of the stairs. Rey realized that Karé was sitting on one of the settees off to the side and Satine was next to her. Karé was looking down, but Rey could see the side of her face was swollen and red.

"Karé, what happened?" Poe asked, obviously seeing what she was seeing.

She looked up. "The plan is the same," she told Poe without preamble. "The only difference is Snap and Iolo will get your girl. You're to hide her behind the old car that's parked next to the schoolhouse."

"What time is this supposed to happen?"

"At exactly oh-four-hundred hours," she said.

Poe looked at his watch. "Cutting it a little close, aren't we?" he grumbled.

"Karé had a run in with one of Ricardo's men on her way back from her meeting with Snap," Maz told him sharply.

Rey gasped as Poe muttered, "Shit."

"Are you okay?" Rey asked the young woman.

With haunted eyes, Karé tried to smile. "I will be."

"Who was it?" Poe asked, his voice as dark as Rey had ever heard it.

Karé swallowed. "Nestor Rodriguez."

"He's in my sights, Karé," he told her.

"El mío también," growled Chewie.

She nodded an acknowledgement, but Rey knew revenge wouldn't help her heal any faster.

"You should be able to make it to the schoolhouse without being seen," Maz told them. "Our keepers are occupied elsewhere." She gave Poe a small smile. "It appears your father arrived in town last night."

Rey looked at Poe, startled. He just rolled his eyes. "Great." He shrugged. "I guess he's as good a distraction as any. Maz, please keep everyone inside for the next few hours, okay?" He looked at Rey. "Ready for this?"

She nodded. "Yes," she said firmly.

Poe nodded back. He glanced at Karé and Satine, then looked back at Maz. "Thank you… for everything."

"We will miss you around here, Dominguez." Maz paused and gave him a smirk. "Or whatever your real name is."

Poe smiled at her. "I'll miss you, too, Maz."

Maz stepped up to Rey, again touching her on the cheek. "And you, brave child, I will pray for your safe return home."

Once more fighting tears, Rey smiled. "Thank you, Maz."

Poe held out his hand to Rey. Giving him a soft smile, she took it, feeling his strength flow through her as his fingers clasped firmly around hers.

"Let's do this."

With one more glance at Maz and the others, Rey walked with Poe out the front door of the house.

Keeping a solid grip on his hand, Rey followed Poe as he led her off the porch and around the back of the building the way they had come, but instead of turning right on the path, he turned left, and they walked along at a quick pace behind the buildings that sat along the edge of Ajara. It wasn't long before he turned between two buildings and Rey saw an old broken-down Ford Escort sitting with no wheels parked perpendicular to what looked like an abandoned building with busted windows.

Poe hunkered down behind the car, peeking over the hood. Rey followed suit and saw what looked like the town square before her. There were a handful of men on the far side, laughing and smoking.

Rey glanced at Poe. "Yours or Ricardo's?"

He looked at her with one eyebrow raised. "Mine?"

"Well? Aren't they?" She shrugged. "You're still Dominguez' son according to them."

"Oh, I'm sure 'Daddy' is very pissed off at me right now," he said with a grin. He motioned off to the far right, toward a small building next to a service station. A couple of men stood outside the door, weapons clearly visible, their bearing watchful. "There's a couple of the good guys," he said. "That must be where they've been staying while they're here 'training'."

He ducked down and turned toward her, so she also squatted down to face him. "You stay here, but you keep that gun ready," he told her. "Make sure you keep your head down, especially if things get crazy out there. And please don't shoot Snap or Iolo."

"Wait a minute!" she argued, realizing just what he was saying. "You're staying here with me! Right?"

He smiled and shook his head. "I'm the distraction, Angel," he told her. "Snap and Iolo need to get to you without them seeing."

Rey shook her head violently. "No! You're staying with me so they can get both of us out!"

"Rey," he said patiently, grabbing her shoulder with his free hand. "This is the plan." He looked at her intently. "This is the plan that was supposed to happen the day we met. The only difference is two of the SEALS are coming for you now." He squeezed her shoulder. "Honey, I have more reasons than ever to get out of here alive. I need you to trust that this plan will work and you need to promise me you won't take any chances, okay? Wait for Snap." He paused. "Please?"

Rey couldn't say no. She knew he needed to focus on whatever he was planning to do and not worry about her. She could do this. She nodded. "I will."

He smiled at her, then cupped her cheek with his hand. He looked at her for a moment, then leaned in and kissed her. She felt the tears she had been holding back all night finally fall as she opened up for him. She couldn't help it. Despite his words, it felt like goodbye.

He pulled back and touched his forehead to hers. "See you on the other side," he whispered.

Then he was gone.

XXXXXX