Lee looked at Luna, watching her chest move up and down because of the machine she was hooked up to. It scared him. He hoped that if he ever got like this, Barney would yank out the plug. He didn't want to be a vegetable.

He shifted and groaned, stretching his arms and legs while remaining sitting in the chair. He was pretty sure hospitals made their chairs so damn uncomfortable in order to prevent loitering. Well, he was going to loiter. Someone needed to be here in case the kid woke up. He had no idea if she'd know who he was or if she'd remember anything. He was unfamiliar with brain bleeds and head traumas and what they did to a person. Sure, he'd knocked his skull around a few times, but he'd only ever gotten a concussion. This was just a sharp reminder to mind his head whenever he got into a tussle with someone in the future.

"Christmas?"

He turned to see Toll standing there with a coffee in one hand and a take out bag from the bagel store down the street in the other. The smell made his stomach growl.

"Thanks," he said, taking them from Toll as he sat down beside him.

"Any progress?"

"No," Lee answered, pulling out his food. The wrapper crinkling filled the silence of the room aside from the monitor beeping slowly. Toll sighed, rubbing his face with his right hand. Lee saw him shoot an annoyed look in his direction as he chewed his breakfast. He swallowed as quietly as he could. He couldn't help it that he chewed loudly.

"You can take off," Toll said on cue.

"You sure?"

"Yea, you've been here all night."

Lee got to his feet, crumpling up the tissue paper and stuffing it back into the paper bag. He then lobbed the bag to the garbage can in the corner and promptly missed. Toll was still staring at him, which made Lee's face go a little bit red. Luna was in a life or death coma, and he was screwing around playing basketball with trash. He really was an idiot sometimes. He went to pick it up and put it in the can properly. Then he dusted off his hands and went over to grab his coffee from the floor.

"Tool looked like shit," he commented. He noticed Toll stiffen at this, and he felt surprise and then concern. Did Toll know something he didn't?

"He's stressed," Toll replied carefully after a moment. He wouldn't meet Lee's eyes. This made Lee very suspicious, but he didn't press. He'd do his own investigating.

"Alright. Call if you want a shift change."

"Will do."

Lee sauntered out, giving Luna one last glance as he stepped through the doorway. They might have clashed in the beginning, but he didn't wish her any harm. She was just a kid in his eyes. She had so much to live for still.

...

Ava was sore all over. She was done with hiking through a jungle. Gunner was grunting a bit more himself. It had been a long night. They'd taken turns staying awake to keep guard. Ava would reach over with her foot to nudge him if he started snoring too loudly. He wasn't happy about it either time. She didn't blame him. She was a bear when someone woke her up from a dead sleep too.

They were closer to the village. She desperately hoped they'd get the hell out of there once they arrived. She was dreaming of a shower when she walked right into Gunner's back. She yelped, but he spun to clamp a hand over her mouth to prevent anymore noise escaping. She finally saw what he was looking at.

A group of four men were standing over a fire, laughing and poking at it with sticks. Ava saw what they were burning, and she felt her skin crawl and her throat tighten. Then she saw a little girl cowering underneath two other men off to the side, and her hand went for her gun. Gunner seemed to agree with her as he let her go and pulled out his own.

"On three?" he asked.

"Yea," she answered.

"One...two..."

"Three," she finished for him. They leaped into view, taking the men by surprise. Gunner had the four by the fire down in an instant. Ava took care of the two with the little girl, who started screaming. It was over in seconds, and Ava stood there looking at Gunner, who looked like he was going to throw up.

"Me ajude (help me)," the girl whimpered.

"I'm gonna help you," Ava promised, kneeling down in front of her. "Eu vou te ajudar (I'm going to help you). Okay? I promise."

"American?" the girl asked.

"Yes."

"Home," she said, pointing to the left. It was the same direction as the village she and Gunner were heading for.

"We'll take you there," Ava assured her, relieved the girl could understand English. "What's your name?"

"Alandra."

"Nice to meet you, Alandra," Ava said. "I'm Ava. That's Gunner."

Alandra looked at Gunner with hesitation, but she did nod slowly. Then, she looked back at Ava and held up her arms, surprisingly trusting for someone who had just been terrorized. Ava didn't hesitate and picked her up gently. She shielded the girl from the fire, but she was pretty certain the girl already knew her parents were in it. The smell was eye watering and made her want to throw up. Ava just hoped to God they'd been killed first before they were set alight.

She saw Gunner's fist clenched and knew he was furious. Bringing a small child along with them on their escape wasn't ideal, but Ava was not about to leave her behind to die. They started walking again, and once the girl grew accustomed to Gunner, she soon rode his back like a monkey. Ava would smile at her every time she looked her way to reassure her things were fine.

She'd guarantee it.

...

"Are we there yet?" Mars asked. Caesar uttered a growl in response. Thorn smirked to himself, not commenting.

"Like I said five minutes ago: NO!" Caesar exploded.

"It was half an hour ago," Mars corrected.

"Oh my-...that's it," Caesar said, swinging his arm at him. Mars ducked, dodging out of the way quickly. Thorn was full out laughing now. Caesar pointed a finger at him. "Shut up! You're egging him on!"

"Of course! How else are we gonna have fun in this Godforsaken jungle?" Thorn asked, swiping a branch out of his face.

"Do you wanna die in this jungle?" Caesar asked, a glint in his eye and his fingers twitching near the knife on his belt.

"Not really," Thorn replied.

"Then shut the hell up."

"Duly noted."

The three of them continued on. Caesar was tracking what he thought was Gunner's trail. The big man was careful, but he still left some signs if one was looking for them. They were approaching the village, and Caesar hoped for everyone's sake that they'd get there, find Gunner and Ava, and get their asses home.

"Oh my God, spider web!" Mars freaked, waving at his face rapidly before thrashing his arms around and making both Thorn and Caesar look at each other.

They'd better get there before soon Caesar shot someone with friendly fire.

...

John Smilee had a secret. He was pretty sure no one knew about it, but he figured that might change the longer this went on. In fact, he was pretty sure Toll was catching on pretty quick based on his reaction to Luna in the hospital bed and almost falling apart at the idea she might not wake up or be herself if she did wake up. John's secret? Well, it involved his heart.

He was in love with Luna.

He sat beside her and resisted holding her hand. Toll was watching him carefully. John swallowed and did his best not to cry. He couldn't stop thinking about the last time they'd hung out. Luna had no idea he felt this way about her. She'd made it pretty clear that she wasn't a fan of men or long term relationships. She had no problem sleeping with men here and there, but she claimed a relationship was like a death sentence. She'd explained that to John pretty well a year ago, but...

He'd slept with her anyway.

Now, he was dying a little bit inside every day that passed where he couldn't tell her he loved her. He didn't want to lose her as a friend and colleague by being honest, but he also wanted more.

"I'm gonna go get a sitrep on Barney and the team," Toll said after a moment.

"Okay," John agreed. He was worried about all of them too. He wished he hadn't stayed behind. Maybe he could have saved Luna from this. Once Toll was gone, he dared to reach and take her hand in both of his. He pressed it against his mouth before turning so his cheek was resting against her hand.

"Come on, baby," he whispered. "Don't die on me. Come back."

He knew she'd strangle him for calling her baby. It had slipped out, really. He didn't know what term of endearment to call her. He sat there watching her chest rise and fall, and he tried not to feel panic or fear that she would never wake up or worse:

She'd forget who he was if she did.

...

Barney took the keys from his contact and thanked him. He rejoined Doc, who was loitering down on the street. Barney jumped the last two steps onto the ground and walked quickly towards him.

"We good to go?" Doc asked, walking alongside him when Barney got to him and kept going.

"Yup."

Doc wondered what all was going on with Barney, but he was hesitant to ask. He didn't want to aggravate him any further. They got back to the truck, and Barney drove to where the helicopter was waiting. Doc bounced along, careful not to bash his head on the roof of the truck cab. He wondered if Luna was okay, if she'd woken up yet.

"Barns, you there?" Caesar's voice came through on the radio.

"Yea," Barney answered.

"We're at the village. There is no sign of Gunner or Ava."

Doc watched Barney tap his fingers on the steering wheel as he drove and thought. He was thinking the same thing: had Gunner and Ava not made it out of the jungle?

"You sure?" Barney asked, holding the radio close to his mouth.

"I followed the big guy's trail," Caesar replied. "He's a giant, so he can't entirely hide his trail. It ends at the edge of the village, but we've been walking around all morning, and they're not here."

"Shit," Barney muttered.

"Think they got picked up?" Doc asked.

"It's possible."

"What do you want us to do?" Caesar questioned.

"Stay there. We'll be at your location soon enough with the chopper."

"A'ight. Over and out."

Doc gripped his fist and relaxed it, over and over. He was feeling a bit anxious now. Barney didn't say anything, but Doc could tell he was worked up.

"We'll get them back," he said, feeling like it was the best thing to say in the moment. Barney still didn't say anything, so Doc turned his head to look out the window at the scenery racing by. He hoped he was right.

...

Alandra fell asleep on Gunner's back not long after they started walking. The exhaustion from the adrenaline running out hit her hard, Ava figured. She tried to imagine why anyone would kill this girl's parents. Who were they? Why did they have to die? Or was it just a matter of them wanting the child and disposing of the parents because they were in the way? Ava didn't think she'd ever find out.

"You stopped being chatty," she observed, looking at Gunner.

"I didn't think you were interested," he replied.

"I'm not."

"A part of me disagrees," he said.

"Why's that?"

"Because you brought it up," he answered. "Why do that if you weren't interested in talking?" Ava felt her lips twist a little in a small smile. He had a point, not that she wanted to give it to him.

"Maybe I feel like you know more about me than I know about you," she retorted.

"So you want me to share?"

"If you feel like it," she replied. He laughed softly so as not to wake up Alandra.

"I see. Okay. Well, I'm a mercenary. I am an addict. I have a little sister. I went to MIT."

"Drugs or alcohol?" Ava asked.

"Both."

"Hmm."

"You?"

"Same," Ava answered. She was surprised at her honesty, but really, she owned the fact she was an addict.

"It's always nice to be in the company of someone who gets it, you know?" Gunner said.

"I know."

Ava's family hadn't understood. The only one who had was Michael because he was a gambling addict. She wondered if he would stop after she'd rescued him from the wrath of Toni. Ava sometimes wondered if it had been wise to let that woman live. She had to trust Toni wouldn't go after Michael again, but he should be leaving with Judy to go somewhere safe. Ava had to trust he would go with her sister.

"Tell me about the team," Ava said, surprising herself again. She hadn't wanted to know anything about them in the beginning, but they seemed like a close knit group, so she figured she should learn a little bit about them.

"Well, you met most of them."

"I did."

"I don't know what else to add."

"Ha, fair enough," she laughed. Then she thought about Tool standing on the street looking confused. "Is Tool okay?"

"What do you mean?"

"He looks...unwell," Ava answered carefully. Maybe the man hadn't told anyone. Maybe he was totally fine. Ava just picked up that there was something wrong from looking at him.

"He does?" Gunner asked, surprised. "I...I think he's fine."

"Okay."

Gunner was quiet for a bit as they continued to walk. He shifted Alandra on his back, but she didn't wake up. Ava wondered where to take this girl. Were there any other family members who could take her in? She almost dreaded what they'd find when they got to the village.

"Tell me about Duke," he said, and she cringed inside.

"I said he was off limits."

"I know, but obviously he means something to you."

"He does. Did," she corrected, feeling pain inside. The video played over again in her mind of Duke being shoved into the water. It broke her heart every time she thought about it. She'd told the Expendables that Duke had died, just not how.

"Was he more than a mentor?"

"He was like a father to me," Ava said, hoping that would stop Gunner from thinking anything else.

"Like Barney is to us. Well, father to some, brother to the rest of us."

"I can sense that. No girlfriend?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Nope," Gunner answered. "No time, and no woman wants to marry a guy like me."

Ava felt a jolt at this, knowing she had felt the same way when Michael had proposed. It was partly why she'd run. It was nice to be around someone who experienced similar things and thought the same way.

They reached the edge of the jungle, and both of them slowed down. Alandra woke at this point, and she started talking rapidly.

"What's she saying?" Gunner asked.

"She's saying her sister lives not far from here," Ava answered. "We can take her there."

"Okay."

Ava was relieved they'd made it without any further incidents. They'd drop this girl off and make their way home. When they arrived, Alandra ran to the front steps and knocked on the door. A woman in her 20s answered and instantly grabbed the little girl into her arms, picking her up and hugging her tightly. Ava listened as they talked about how relieved they were to be together again and what happened to their parents. Ava felt awkward standing there listening. Gunner looked confused as hell.

"Thank you," the sister said carefully. She kept nodding and smiling. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Ava said back. Alandra waved at both of them before her sister turned and went inside, taking Alandra with her.

"Well," Gunner said, "that was a detour."

"Come on," Ava instructed. "We have to find a phone."

They walked together, staying as much out of sight as possible. Eventually, they ran smack into Caesar.

"There you are!" Caesar shouted, punching Gunner in the shoulder hard and making the giant wince. "I thought you guys were dead!"

"Not dead. We just took a detour," Gunner answered, rubbing his shoulder.

"Come on. Barney's growing a hemorrhoid as we speak," Caesar said, ushering them through the crowd that was starting. Ava felt like something was wrong. She felt like she was being watched. She looked over her shoulder and felt the hair on her neck and arms stand up.

The shadow watching her was familiar. It was the same one she'd dodged after leaving Judy's place in Boston.

"Here," she said, pulling out the hard drive and handing it to Caesar. "Take that with you."

"Where are you going?" Caesar asked, confused.

"You're not safe with me," she answered.

"Ava, what's going on?" Gunner asked. She looked, and the shadow was gone, but she knew it was still there somewhere, watching.

"My past has caught up with me somehow," Ava replied. "Look, just go. I'll figure it out."

"No," Gunner said stubbornly. "You're coming with us. We can help you."

"Gunner-" Ava started, but gunfire cut her off. She ducked and ran. Gunner and Caesar split up. She could hear Caesar yelling into his radio about being ambushed. She ran, hoping to take the heat off of them. It was her the shadow wanted, not them.

She pumped her legs hard, but she ended up running into trouble not long after. Soldiers materialized and aimed their guns at her. She turned and turned, but she was surrounded. Her heart was pounding. This was the end. She just knew it.

A roar to her left showed Gunner coming hard and fast. He shot and took out some of the soldiers. Ava set to work fighting off the rest, but it was futile. She was forced to the ground with a boot on her neck before too long. A pair of boots stopped in front of her face, and then someone knelt down next to her.

"Hello, Ava."

Camille.

Ava closed her eyes. This was not good. Simon's daughter had succeeded in finding her. She knew her death was going to be slow and painful. Revenge kills always were usually.

"Hi, Camille," she said back.

"You're hard to track, but not impossible," Camille went on. "My new friends were also very eager to help me find you."

Gunner was finally shoved to his knees with rifles aimed at his back and head by multiple soldiers. Ava hoped the others were long gone. She felt hands search her pockets. They were looking for the hard drive, no doubt.

"It's gone," someone said.

"I never had it," Ava retorted. She was kicked for that, and she did her best to hold in her grunt of pain. She felt her arms getting bound behind her, and then she was lifted to her feet. Camille's eyes were cold and hard. The hatred in them was deep.

"You can kill him," Camille said, gesturing to Gunner.

"He's not with me," Ava said quickly. "I don't know him. He's just some American trying to play hero." Camille looked at Gunner and then back to Ava.

"He looks like a mercenary," she said. "Kind of like you."

"Then you'd know he's worth something," Ava said with a shrug. "Why kill him if you can make some money off of him?" She watched Camille digest this slowly. She hoped it worked because otherwise, Gunner was toast. She didn't think she could live with that guilt.

"You're right," Camille agreed finally. "He comes too."

Her helpers bound Gunner and pulled him to his feet too. He shot Ava a grateful look, and they were put in a covered truck box. Ava looked at the last bit of sunlight before the tailgate was shut, enveloping them both in darkness. Then the truck started, and they were moving.

"Thanks," Gunner said.

"Don't thank me yet," Ava replied. "This isn't over."

"I know. Gives me time to plan my next move, though."

"Oh yea? And what's that?"

"I'll let you know when I figure it out."

Ava resisted laughing. This wasn't going to end well for either of them. Her only hope was that Barney could somehow find them and rescue Gunner at least. She didn't care if she lived or died, really.

"She a friend of yours?"

"She's Simon's daughter."

"Oh, shit."

"Yea."

"I see torture in your future," Gunner said dryly.

"Don't I know it."

"I won't let her kill you, Ava," he said after a moment, and she felt touched. Aside from Duke, no one really cared much for her.

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Gunner," she warned. He scoffed.

"Fifty bucks says I can keep it."

"You're on."

...

Tool found Galgo sitting at Luna's side that evening. For once, the man was quiet. Tool gave him a sad smile, and Galgo got to his feet slowly.

"Nothing has changed," Galgo said.

"I know."

"It worries me."

"Me too."

Galgo said nothing else before patting Tool's shoulder and walking out of the room. Tool got comfortable in the chair next to the hospital bed. The monitors beeping became almost deafening after a while.

"I feel okay today," Tool said, twiddling his fingers. "I haven't forgotten anything. I haven't mixed any words up. Today is a good day. I think the hardest part is knowing how few and far between they're going to get."

Luna said nothing still. Tool tried not to worry, but he did. He decided to keep talking.

"No one else knows but Barney," he went on. "I don't know if I can tell the others. I might decide to just disappear before they find out. I'll go die somewhere and be forgotten. It'd be for the best anyway. I know how hard it's going to be to have my family watch me forget them all, and I think I'd like to spare them that. You know, I don't even like to say it out loud. Alzheimer's. It sounds like a bad sneeze."

He looked at Luna sadly. If she died, the team would fall apart emotionally, especially John. The kid was fooling himself if he didn't think anyone had caught on he was head over heels in love with Luna.

"I have Alzheimer's," Tool said softly. "I've fought so many things in my life, but I don't feel prepared to fight this. I don't think I have the strength. It doesn't help that it's a battle that can't be won." He was done talking now, getting ready to close his eyes and rest when:

"Tool?"

He turned his head, startled. Lee was standing in the doorway, eyes wide to confirm that he'd heard everything Tool had just said.

Shit.