Author's note: I actually released a chapter on time, this hasn't happened in ages! As always, thank you RStyle for being the beta reader for this chapter. Enjoy.

What Will It Take?

Chapter 21

"Cheers." An echo bounced around the walls just as the sound of glass colliding filled the spacious pub.

"To good health, and not getting captured again."

Everyone clinked their shot glasses together before each one of them downed it's contents. The distilled liquid hitting them hard, some worse than others. Two of them had finally recovered from their wounds and the group had spent all day celebrating at one of the local bars.

"Oh man, that burns." McConnell commented.

"Jeez Grag, what did you put in that, diesel fuel?" Kowalski asked.

"Old family recipe." The large man answered with his thick Scottish accent.

"I feel like I already have alcohol poisoning," Norman coughed, "I'll take two more."

"You okay Bosak?" Irvin asked.

The Polish operator was already swaying back and forth, "I-I'm fine."

"Seems you've become a lightweight over the years." Isaac commented with a chuckle.

"Odwal się." She responded.

"What?"

She turned to face the team leader, "I said piss off, I'm fine."

"I'd believe that if you hadn't just said that to a wall."

Ela focused her eyes and realized that she had in fact, just told a picture on the wall to piss off. The rest of the gang burst out laughing, "Maybe that last one was enough."

"You think?" Isaac asked sarcastically.

"I think I should head back." The green haired girl said.

"You sure?" Norman asked. "We're just getting started."

"I haven't consumed this much alcohol in one day since I was a teenager." Ela explained as she paid her tab, "If I keep this up, it'll be my turn to go to the hospital. Besides, I have to visit Meghan in the morning."

"Fair enough."

Ela gave Norman and Irvin each a hug, "I'm glad you two are better."

"Thanks, and tell Meghan to get better soon, we both owe her a drink for busting us out." Irvin said.

"Oh she will definitely cash in on that." Ela turned to leave, but stumbled on her way out.

"Whoa there, you good?" Isaac asked concerned.

"I'll be fine." She repeated as that was a mantra before stumbling on her own feet again, dismissing her previous statement.

"I'll take you back to base." He said before paying his own tab and giving his farewells to the rest of the guys as well.

The two began walking back toward Hereford base. Isaac didn't really think that Ela needed help making her way back, it was only a short walk. However, he did need some time alone with her to discus certain matters.

"Have fun?" He asked, attempting to make small talk.

"Yes, it was nice to get out for once, just like old times." She answered.

"Yeah, just like old times." He repeated the phrase. Well, now was as good a time as any, he knew he should have brought this up a long time ago, but better late than never, "Ela, speaking of old times, there's something we need to talk about."

"Are you finally going to tell me about Peterson?" She asked, already knowing what this was about.

"So you have been wondering?"

"You think I just didn't give any thought as to why the last member of our squad wasn't here?" She responded, harshly, "Or did you think I didn't care?"

"It's just, you never asked."

"I thought it wasn't my place to ask, I didn't want to bring up any painful memories."

"So you were willing to deny yourself closure for my sake?"

"You do remember that I thought that you all still hated me? I didn't really deserve… closure." Ela said as she looked down at the sidewalk as she walked. By the looks of it, it had rained before but none of them had noticed it because of the noise in the pub.

"Right…"

"So what happened?" She asked. Isaac figured that it was probably a good thing that they were currently intoxicated for this conversation, "Is he dead? Did he retire? Did he finally wise up and leave all this bullshit behind?"

Isaac could tell her anxiety was growing, "Look, there's no easy way to say this. I'll start at the beginning."

Ela gave him her full attention.

"After what happened, and you left, we were kind of just…broken. We had no idea what to do, after taking such a heavy loss, we weren't fit to go out and fight. All of us had different ways of coping with what happened, but when they offered us replacements for everyone who had died, none of us would have it. So they sent us back state-side, doing paper work and whatnot."

"Peterson was with you the whole time?" She asked.

"The whole time." He answered. "Then, seven years ago, Vegas happened. We were sent in as one of the ground teams to try to stop the terror threat, in fact we got to work alongside the old Rainbow Team. However, the attack was so sudden and intel was so scrambled that we were sent to the completely wrong area. The stadium was destroyed and hundreds of innocent people were killed. Although Rainbow ultimately managed to take down those responsible, their failure to stop the stadium bombing led congress to declare the team a failure and they were disbanded."

Ela recalled hearing about the incident, the Las Vegas stadium bombing of 2010 was the most devastating attack on America since the attack on the World Trade Center nearly a decade earlier.

"However, five years after it's disbanding, Six, the current one, managed to convince the leaders of the world that with the White Masks on the rise, Team Rainbow was once again needed. They agreed, but only on the condition that they would fall under control of the United Nations and not just the US."

Ela listened intently, this unexpected history lesson on her current organization was quite informative, but she didn't see what it had to do with their missing teammate.

"Before Rainbow could start gathering the team of operators you know today, Six needed a group that could get the organization on it's feet, gather intel, manage equipment, things like that. That's where we stepped up. After seeing what the former Rainbow team was capable of, we wanted to help them out, and with our record, Six hired all of us on the spot."

"So you all helped start this whole thing?"

"More like revive it, but yes."

"What does all of this have to do with him?"

"Well, during the early days, Peterson wanted to do more than work in logistics. He wanted to be an operator and signed up as a new recruit. By that time, I had moved up in rank enough to have a say in the selection process. He thought this meant a guaranteed spot on the team. Unfortunately, he was wrong, I gave him an honest assessment, he didn't meet the mark. He didn't take it well. He felt betrayed, after all we had been through, he didn't understand how I could deny him operator status. I tried to explain to him that he didn't meet all the criteria and letting him pass though would only put himself and those around him at risk. He wouldn't have it, he terminated his contract and cut all ties with us completely."

Ela felt a pang in her heart, knowing that the five of them had to go through the pain of having a member walk away for a second time, "How could he?"

"You know how he was, cocky, overconfident and a drama queen."

"But still, to cut ties because of that."

"It only gets worse from there, I'm afraid."

"How?"

"Ela, I don't know how to tell you this," He stopped and faced his friend so he could look her in the eye, "He's one of them."

Ela had to take some time to process the statement, "What do you mean by 'them'?"

"He's a White Mask."

"No." Ela backed away from him, unable to believe what he had just told her, "No, no, no. There's no way. He was an asshole but there's no fucking way he would do that."

"I didn't want to believe it either, but it's the truth."

"No!" Tears were beginning to stream down her face. "How do you know? How can you be certain?"

"Here." He pulled out his smartphone and handed it to her, a snapshot of a picture from the scout mission prior to the raid was shown on screen. "See for yourself."

Ela took the picture and examined it close, it had been ten years, but there was no mistaking the familiar face. It was him, standing among the enemy that had caused so much pain over the years, and looking proud to be one of them, "Why?" She could barely choke out the question.

"We don't know." Was his only response, he truly didn't know Peterson's motivations for joining the terror group.

Ela couldn't take her eyes off of the picture, she took in every detail, not just of her old ally, but of those surrounding him. Then, she picked up on something, it was a small detail, but one that had unknowingly been burned into her memory. A pair of eyes, through the holes in one of the masks, that's all she could see, but it was enough. It was the White Mask that had nearly killed her during the raid, she recognized the anger and hatred that filled them. She looked at the other details in the picture, trash everywhere, along with broken equipment. This was enough for Ela to connect the dots, "This was at the theme park."

Isaac could only nod in response.

"He was there." Ela was now shaking. "He was there, wasn't he?! During the raid, and you didn't tell us, you didn't tell me!" Ela had a grim thought, "Did we…"

"No." He answered the unfinished question, "He escaped, we don't know how."

"How could you not tell me? What if I had been the one to kill him?" Ela was now crying, this revelation was too much for her to handle.

"Because I needed you to be one hundred percent focused on the mission, I knew that going after Norman and Irvin would affect you already." He explained, "And I was angry. He took both of them, Ela."

"What do you mean?"

"When Norman and Irvin were compromised, he was the one who ordered them to be taken prisoner and do God knows what to them, they still won't talk about what happened, only that he was responsible for their pain and suffering."

Ela was now speechless. How could he hurt the men he once called his brothers?

"Look, as hard as it is to accept, he's changed for the worse, and we have to stop him." He grabbed her by the shoulders, "As long as he's one of them, he and the rest of them will only continue to hurt as many people as they can, for God's sake, you saw what they did to Meghan. Six and I need you and all of team Rainbow's help to bring them to justice, Ela. Can I count on you?"

Ela was still in shock, she hated the idea of killing an old friend, but the soldier in her knew it was a necessary sacrifice for the greater good. She couldn't look him in the eye, but gave him an answer, "Yes. I'll help you."

He wrapped his arms around her, knowing how hard this was for her, "Thank you."

Ela returned the embrace, she felt like she was on an out of control roller coaster. "I think I need to lay down."

"I understand." He let go of her, "Listen, take it easy for a few days, you've earned it. I know this is a lot to take in."

By now, the two of them had made it back to Hereford and were heading inside.

"Oh that reminds me." He pulled out an envelope and handed it to her, "The favor you asked for."

This was enough to slightly brighten Ela's mood, "Thank you so much."

"No problem." He gave her a pat on the shoulder, "I'll see you around."

They then went their separate ways, Ela heading into the barracks while Isaac made his way back to the pub. The burden of this new reality weighed heavily on her shoulders, she questioned, if it really came down to it, would she really be able to bring herself to do what needed to be done.

"So where's your girlfriend?" Asked Ashe as she helped Meghan move her leg. The SEAL now on the second day of her physical therapy.

"What, you want her to threaten you again?" Meghan teased, "Or did you want to check her out some more?"

"No…maybe a little." Ashe blushed, "It's just, I thought she visited you every day."

"Normally yes, but she has some old friends who got discharged from the hospital today and they went out to celebrate."

"Oh, that's nice." She grabbed Meghan's leg by the thigh to begin the next exercise. "Um…for this exercise, I'm going to have to…"

"What?"

Ashe, too embarrassed to say it out loud, motioned with her hands that she would have to spread Meghan's legs open; she still wasn't wearing any undergarments.

"Oh." Now it was Meghan's turn to blush, "That's…fine."

Ashe gently spread Meghan's legs apart, "How's that?"

"Fine." Meghan knew this was a professional and necessary exercise, but she still felt a little dirty. She didn't want to imagine what would happen if Ela were currently in the room.

"So THAT'S why she was so upset yesterday." Eliza had come into the hospital room at the best possible moment; or worst depending on who you asked.

"You have impeccable timing." Meghan sighed, embarrassed but realizing that it was probably better that Eliza had walked in on them rather than her girlfriend.

Ashe quickly closed Meghan's legs and fixed her hospital gown.

"So the physical therapy is going well I see." Eliza commented.

"I'm sorry but who are you?" Ashe asked, "This is supposed to be a private session."

"Oh is it? How much extra for the happy ending?" Eliza teased the nurse.

Ashe realized how badly worded her last statement was and her blush deepened. "T-that's not what I-"

"Eliza, enough." Meghan chastised.

"I'm just messing around." The redhead walked closer to the nurse to introduce herself; as she did so, Meghan noticed she was walking a bit odd, "Eliza Cohen, FBI SWAT…and Meghan's best friend."

Once Ashe got a better look at the new comer, her demeanor perked up a bit as she shook hands with her, "Ashe Avarosa, Meghan's private nurse."

Meghan picked up on the not so subtle hint and was surprised by the woman's boldness having just met Eliza. She did say she was attracted to redheads, she supposed, "Don't bother Ashe, this ones taken. Lord knows how." Meghan said, "You wouldn't want her anyway, she's always causing trouble."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Eliza said as she walked up to Meghan's bed, again walking slightly off.

"Oh, I see." Ashe's disappointment was apparent.

"Don't worry, we could set you up with our friend Taina." Eliza offered, "Are you into Brazilian girls?"

"You are not unleashing that chaos and mayhem upon this young woman!" Meghan shouted unexpectedly.

Eliza looked at her confused, "What the hell happened between you two?"

"I don't want to talk about it, just keep her away from Ashe, and people in general for that matter." Meghan crossed her arms. Once again she noticed the redhead was walking funny, "What's up with you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why are you walking all weird?"

"Oh." Now it was Eliza's turn to blush, "Uh, Monika decided to try something new yesterday and now it's uh…little difficult to walk."

"Something new, like a new workout?"

"It was a type of physical activity, yes."

"Well why don't you sit down and rest?" Meghan suggested, now realizing what the activity was.

"…I can't"

"Oh for goodness sake." Ashe said, pinching the bridge of her nose. She walked over to one of the medicine cabinets and pulled out a small bottle, "Here, take two of these each morning. Also be sure to sit in a warm bath at least twice a day. Keep doing that until the soreness in gone."

Eliza took the bottle, still embarrassed, "Thanks, I guess."

"Wow, Monika sure did a number on you." Meghan commented.

"Well, I kind of deserved it, after what I did to her." Eliza reasoned, "By the way, your girlfriend nearly caught us."

Meghan was confused, "What, how did she almost catch you? She, unlike some people, actually knocks before going into someone's room."

"Well…we weren't exactly in my room…or Monika's."

"Then where were you?"

"…In the lounge."

"Oh for God's sake, what's wrong with you? The entire team hangs out in there!" Meghan shouted, already making a plan for disinfecting the entire lounge when she got back, "What the hell were you two thinking?"

"We were…excited and didn't want to go all the way to her room."

"By that do you mean YOU were horny and didn't listen to Monika when she said you should go to her room?"

"…You know us so well."

"What am I going to do with you?"

"The question you need to ask yourself is what are you going to do with Ela?" Eliza changed the subject.

"What do you mean?" The blonde inquired.

"When she almost caught us, we talked for a bit and oh man, she's going up the walls for a certain Navy SEAL."

"Okay, I know for a fact you're exaggerating." Meghan responded, "We talked about our relationship, and our…intimate time, she just misses me is all."

"I think she was being modest because she didn't want to distract you." The redhead countered, "Because the way she talked, she sounded like she was losing her mind."

"Whatever, why are you even telling me this?"

"I'm just giving you a heads up. When you finally get out of this hospital, be prepared for some very serious 'intimate time'."

Ashe let out a sigh, "And I can't even get a text back."

"So, do you feel like talking yet?" Dominic asked, he calmly tapped his jumper cables together, causing them to ark.

"Fuck you." Came a weak response.

"That's too bad." He clamped both cables to each of the man's hands and watched as the electricity from the battery, coursed through his body.

"AAAARRRGGHH!" The prisoner's entire body seized up. All he could do was scream in pain.

After about ten seconds, Dominic removed the clamps, "You've been locked up in this room for weeks, isn't it getting old?"

They had kept him in here ever since they had brought him back form China. Currently, he was tied to a wooden chair, his face and body bloody and bruised from the different torture techniques they had tried so far. Dominic had to admit, the man was resilient, but everyone had a breaking point.

"I'll never tell you anything!"

"Then I guess you and that chair are about to get very acquainted." He clamped them on his hands again. He felt no pity as the man once again screamed and squirmed in pain. Some might call him heartless, he liked to think of it as an opportunity, it wasn't often you got to see one that wasn't already dead or shooting back at you.

Again after ten seconds, he stopped the shocking, "Come on, I'm missing my day off because of this. Give me something."

"Go to hell."

This wasn't getting anywhere, Dominic decided to try a new approach, "Listen my friend, we've been at this for hours. Can't you just make it easier on both of us? Where did the rest of your friends go?" He put his hand on his shoulder, "Tell me where they are, and I get you out of this chair and into an actual room, do we have a deal?"

"I'm not your friend, asshole!" He screamed, "Most of my friends are in body bags now thanks to you fuckers, I may rot in here, but I take great pleasure in knowing that those who made it out are going to make every single one of you pay with your lives."

Dominic leaned in close, "I'll have you know, that that's not going to happen. Any of your friends that try to take us on will only end up in more body bags. Why don't you save them from that fate and tell me where they're going next."

Instead of words, the man responded by spitting in the German's face.

Dominic let out a sigh as he wiped off the mixture of blood and spit off of him, "If that's the way you're going to be." He threw his hands up in the air in defeat and stood up, "I guess it's time for you to meet the bad cop."

The man narrowed his eyes at him, "I thought you were the bad cop."

"No my friend, no." Dominic let out a small laugh, "I'm actually rooting for you, I offered you a way out, I actually want to get to know you, see what makes you tick. Bad cop is…not so generous."

As if on cue, the door to the interrogation room opened and in walked none other than Taina Pereira, wearing her mostly black BOPE uniform. Standing up strait with hands behind her back as she walked and carrying a wicked smile on her face. Her signature skull face paint was absent, but it truly wasn't needed. She carried an aura with her that made anyone within the vicinity uneasy, making her mere presence intimidating enough. She slowly walked towards the restrained man, who said nothing as he tried to stare her down, to no avail.

"You know, I was very disappointed when they said I wouldn't be going out there to China." She said as she began to circle around him, like a predator about to close in on her prey, "One hundred and seventeen dead. Such a waste, I would have loved the chance to talk to some of them before we tossed them in the garbage, they always get so talkative before they bleed out."

He didn't say anything, but she could tell she struck a nerve with the terrorist. She brought her knife out from behind her back and used the dull side to raise his chin, forcing him to look at her. Behind his cold demeanor, she could see the smallest hint of fear, "Who the fuck are you?"

Another evil smile appeared on her lips, "Eu sou o tira mau."

"I'll leave you two alone." Dominic said and he exited the room.

"Last chance." Taina offered.

"Go to hell bitch. You can't do anything to break me."

She let out a small laugh, "I'll give you a taste of what I can do, desgraçado."

Author's note: I've wanted Caveira to make another appearance for a while and I hope I did her character justice. When I originally started writing this story, my goal was one chapter every two weeks, that hasn't happened for a while. Hopefully I can keep it up, but as you know, life has a tendency to get in the way of things. As always, hope you enjoyed and feel free to leave a review. Until next time.