"I couldn't help noticing you are injured, Elizabeth." She stated in a low voice, probably so her boys wouldn't pick up on our conversation. I doubted they were listening. Heck, I was barely able to comprehend anything happening right now, including this conversation. It took all my focus just to respond to her.

"My arm will survive." I formulated numbly as we walked toward a grove of trees, not even bothering to look at my arm. Even in the growing darkness, it was unclear how badly I was injured. Part of my training in the CIA was learning that adrenaline had a way of masking injuries. Frankly, I didn't seem to care right now. All I knew was I was the lone survivor of being next to a bomb that killed two other people.

"I wasn't just talking about your arm, Elizabeth. You're limping more significantly than before."

"I'm okay, thank you." I touched her arm in appreciation, then let my own fall back to my side. "Let's just focus getting somewhere safe. Where are we going exactly?" My head was spinning now, either because all the information was going out one ear and out the other. I couldn't seem to focus on anything.

"I have a friend we can stay with. Her house is just through these trees." As we brushed through branches, they scraped at our arms and legs as we made our way through the darkness. When we were halfway through, we saw bright flashes of light, coming from the back and to the side of us.

My first initial response was fear. Had they come back for us? Were they here to finish off the job they had come to do in the first place? That was soon replaced as a man in uniform shone his light towards me and introduced himself. "Secretary Mccord, I am Sergeant Benton Walsh part of a recon team here in Iran. I have been sent by the President of the United States to transport you and any survivors to a safe location." He disclosed, pinching the bottom of his badge so I could get a good look at it. Never could be too safe.

"Safe word?"

"Trustfall, Ma'am." Sergeant Benton said without missing a beat. "If you would all follow me to the convoy. We don't have much time." Making sure Marajel, Abdol and Katan walked ahead of me, we all walked back through the trees. The fire in the house had been put out and I assumed Frank and Javani's bodies had been loaded into one of the convoys. My heart sunk knowing we had just left them. If it had been Henry, I would have bugged someone until the cows came home to make sure he was with me.

"Go ahead," I told Abdol, feeling his hesitance as we stopped at the convoy. Marajel pressed a kiss to his head, nodding her own trust as he reluctantly hopped into the seat by the window. She went next, hopping in next to him. Katan looked as if he were going to hop in next to her, but instead, he followed me to the back.

"Help, please." He tugged at the sleeve of my shirt for help putting on his seatbelt, which I gladly obliged.

Anything that distracted me right now was a good thing, He hummed happily, then slid closer to me as another soldier got into the convoy. I wrapped my arm around him in comfort and he leaned his head against my shoulder as we started to move.

It was a fairly dark night, so I mostly stared into oblivion and let my thoughts swirl around me. But every once in a while, we would pass a dim light and I would peer down to see what he was doing. Was he sleeping? Confused? Staring into oblivion like I was? He was too young to go through something like this; to not feel safe in his own home. To lose his father at such a young age.

It was too much to think about as I turned back toward the window to keep myself from sobbing. Katan must have noticed because, without much effort, he wrapped his hand in mine. I couldn't keep my composure any longer as I squeezed his hand tightly, a few tears running down my cheeks.

Even after all he had lost—hardly knowing me at all—he was showing more love than I felt like I deserved right now. I wanted to tell him I was sorry but I couldn't seem to find the right words he could understand, so instead, I mustered smiles with the few looks he gave me.

When we finally made it to the safe location, which was an underground base, he was very hesitant and kept his hand in mine as we left the convoy. Marajel and Abdol were already waiting by the car as we got out. I could tell we were all emotionally exhausted, but I also knew none of us would be sleeping any time soon.

"I seemed to find a friend on the way over here." I squeezed Katan's hand as Sergeant Benson motioned for us to follow him.

"So you have." Marajel nodded with a weary smile. "He is a very thoughtful child. Just like his-"

"I know." I gestured silently that she didn't need to say anything further as we walked down a dimly lit hall before entering a much larger room where I immediately spotted an Iranian guard barking commands. It all made sense that the coup was targeted at not only Javani but other government officials as well. "Katan, I want to thank you for helping me on the ride over. I have a few people I need to talk to, so why don't you go with your mom and brother and get something to eat over at that table over there."

That seemed to do the trick as Katan urged his brother over to the table. Marajel started to follow but stopped in her tracks as she called over her shoulder, "Elizabeth. What happened back there was not your fault. Zahed knew the risks he was taking when he took this job. And I thank you for trying to keep the peace with our country." Just like I had done earlier, she placed a hand on my shoulder and let it drop to her side as she grabbed a plate at the table and began filling it up.

"Secretary Mccord. I guess we have you to thank for the information about the coup." An Iranian guard called to me, and I was quickly shaken from my thoughts for what a brave woman Marajel really was. I just hoped that same strength would carry her in the coming months and years. "I have been informed that you were with Zahed and his family when the bomb went off."

"I was, yes. We were just finishing our conversation when it went off, followed by rapid gunshots that also killed my DS agent, Frank Cole. My other detail John Kendall is still missing in action."

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. We can put out a word out to see if they brought him in, but you must also know there were many government leaders who were attacked tonight."

"Understood. Any casualties?"

"No deaths. Many gunshot wounds or bomb-related injuries." He mentioned as he was urgently motioned to come over by another soldier who was working at a small table."I'm sorry, but I must get back to work."