Christine pulled back and looked Donovan in the eyes. "Oh God, don't tell me there's a snake?" she whispered. Donovan shook his head. "We're near the airfield and you're going to knock me out again. You don't have to do that, I've gotten used to flying."
Donovan couldn't help but laugh. "We're near the airfield," he confirmed, "Don't worry, I won't hurt you."
"I still owe you for that." Christine pouted.
"Ssh," Donovan whispered, placing a finger to her lips. "Someone's coming. The airfield is three miles down river. Follow the river and wait for me there."
"What about you?" she asked, watching him check his gun.
"I'll meet you there. Promise." he smiled, "Now go."
"You break your promise Frank Donovan and you won't be able to hide from me." Christine laughed, trying not to show how scared she really was.
Donovan watched Christine leave. He quietly slipped his shoes on and his shirt. He made his way through the brushes to find the best place to surprise Raphael's men.
Christine walked as fast as she could along the edge of the river. She would occasionally look over her shoulder to see if Frank was following her. Nothing. Christine was starting to get a bad feeling in her stomach.
Donovan crouched in the brushes, waiting for the men to walk by. One. Two. Three. Three of Raphael's men walked by. Donovan slowly left his hiding spot . He silently walked up behind the last man and broke his neck. He moved the body out of sight and took his weapon.
He slowly started going after the second man. Donovan was about ten feet away when he heard something behind him. "Shit," he whispered. Before he could react, he was punched in the back. Donovan fell to his knees and looked at his attacker. He moved his legs and knocked the man to the ground. Donovan reached for the gun and shot him.
Christine looked up when she heard the gunshots. She started to walk faster and faster. Christine kept looking behind, she didn't see something blocking her path. She walked into a wall. Startled, Christine looked up to see what she hit. "We meet again." Raphael sneered, grabbing her arm.
Donovan ran towards the direction Christine was in. Holding his side, he saw Raphael throw her into his car. "Shit," he swore again.
"Uh, I have some bad news," Cody said into the headset.
"Do we really want to know?" Jake asked.
"Donovan's heading back towards the compound." Cody replied.
"Damn it, they must've got caught." Tom swore, "Let's back track."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Donovan hid in the bushes, waiting for Raphael's men to come through. He raised his gun and took aim. He was about to squeeze the trigger when he recognized the person coming out in front of him.
"Uh, hey boss," Jake gulped, eyes bulged, looking down the barrel of Donovan's gun.
"Jake," Donovan gasped, dropping to his knees.
"Easy, boss, I got ya," Jake said grabbing his arm.
"How is he?' Alex asked grabbing his other arm.
"Where's Ms. Sellers?" Tom asked scanning around.
"We got separated," Donovan said taking a drink from Jake's canteen, "Raphael has her again."
"That's why you were heading back to the compound," Tom said, "Alex, take Donovan back to the airfield. Jake and I will go get Ms. Sellers."
"No," Donovan protested, attempting to stand back up, "I'm going with."
"Fine," Tom sighed, knowing it was useless to argue with the man, "but you'll take orders from me."
"Not in this lifetime," Donovan said checking the clip of his gun.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The four of them took position on a ridge overlooking the compound.
"The perimeter is too well protected," Tom growled, looking through his binoculars. "Something's going on."
Donovan took the binoculars to see what was going on. Raphael and his men were gathered in the middle of the compound. He watched as Christine was dragged out into the middle of the crowd. He could see that she was dressed in baggy clothes instead of the dress. She had her hands tied behind her back.
"This doesn't look good," Jake commented.
"We got to get her out of there." Donovan said, starting to move down the hill.
"And we get in there how?" Tom asked stopping Donovan, "The odds are not in our favor."
"I'm not leaving her here." Donovan stated. "We…"
A sharp crack echoed through the air.
"Oh my god." Alex whispered.
"What happened?" Donovan demanded, taking the binoculars.
"They shot her," Alex whispered.
"In the chest." Jake confirmed.
In the middle of the compound, Christine was on being forced back onto her knees. One of her guards placed a hood over her face.
"We got to get down there." Donovan said grabbing Tom.
"It's too late." Tom winced as he heard another gunshot.
Donovan looked down towards the compound and saw Christine's lifeless body on the ground.
"They shot her in the back of the head." Jake reported.
"We could've saved her!" Donovan yelled pushing Tom against a tree.
"The best we could've done was get your team killed," Tom spat back, "Raphael has over a hundred men in his compound at one time. There was no way we could've gotten her out alive. Let's get you to the airfield and get the hell out of here."
"We can't leave her body here." Alex argued.
"I'm not leaving until Raphael is dead this time." Donovan swore.
"You and what army?" Tom laughed at Donovan's physical state, he could barely stand.
"He has us." Jake spat out.
"You're out of your league here, boy," Tom retorted, "Raphael Sanchez makes Sonny Walker and Quito Real look like alter boys."
"Jake, Alex, get to the airfield." Donovan ordered.
"What about you?" Jake asked.
"I'm going to kill Sanchez." he calmly replied, sending chills down Jake and Alex's spine.
"You don't do 'ghost work', remember?" Tom reminded Donovan.
"Things change." Donovan hissed.
"Fine, let's go." Tom said walking behind Donovan. Tom reached out and brought the end of his gun against the base of Donovan's neck. "Take him to the airfield. Tell him I'll see him later and killing is my job."
"What about you?" Alex asked, "How are you getting out of here?"
"Agent Cross, you do care." he smiled, "My job's not finished here, not until Sanchez is gone."
"Help me pick him up," Jake said lifting Donovan to his feet, "Man, I hope his choice in friends improves."
An hour later, Alex handed Donovan an ice pack for his neck. Jake sat across from Donovan and watched him. The swelling seemed like it was starting to go down in his face. Donovan had the seat back trying to make himself more comfortable.
"Alex, it's great to hear your voice," Cody said onto the phone, "we didn't like not being able to keep in contact with you guys."
"How are they?" Monica asked.
"Donovan has some facial swelling and bruise on his neck, maybe bruised ribs, not sure." Alex reported.
"How's Ms. Sellers?" Cody asked, "Alex, are you still there?"
"Alex?" Monica asked.
Alex got up from her seat and walked to the back of the plane, "Ms. Sellers is dead." she replied checking to see if Donovan heard her.
"How's Donovan taking it?" Monica asked.
"He hasn't said a word since he woke up." she said.
"Woke up?" Cody asked.
"Tom knocked him out." Alex explained, "He was hell bent on killing Sanchez. We'll be landing at O'Hare in eight hours. We'll be taking him to the hospital to make sure nothing is broken."
"We'll be there." Monica replied.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three weeks later
"Hey boss," Jake smiled as Donovan walked into the building, "you're not supposed to be here for another three weeks."
"How's the ribs?" Alex asked taking his case.
"The doctor never said I couldn't do paperwork," Donovan replied slowly walking up the stairs to his office.
Donovan made his way to his desk and saw two envelopes sitting there. He picked the first one and slowly opened it.
"Tom dropped those by two weeks ago." Alex said walking into the office. "He told us you'd want to see those."
Donovan took out the pictures and slowly scanned them. Pictures of Sanchez's compound destroyed by fire. Bodies and blood everywhere. The two last pictures were of Sanchez with two bullet wounds to the head.
"You've looked at these?" Donovan asked, motioning to the pictures.
Alex nodded her head, "Tom said we were entitled, but the second envelope was for you to open on your own. He left a note for you too. You know, if you need to talk."
"Thanks Alex," Donovan smiled sitting down in his chair.
He opened the letter from Tom first.
Frankie,
Hope you like your get well gift from your friends here. As for the second envelope, I hope
you can understand why things had to go they way they did. No hard feelings for me hitting you.
Tom
Donovan shook his head at Tom's note and opened the second envelope. The contents inside surprised him.
"Son of a bitch." Donovan whispered.
Donovan couldn't help but laugh. "We're near the airfield," he confirmed, "Don't worry, I won't hurt you."
"I still owe you for that." Christine pouted.
"Ssh," Donovan whispered, placing a finger to her lips. "Someone's coming. The airfield is three miles down river. Follow the river and wait for me there."
"What about you?" she asked, watching him check his gun.
"I'll meet you there. Promise." he smiled, "Now go."
"You break your promise Frank Donovan and you won't be able to hide from me." Christine laughed, trying not to show how scared she really was.
Donovan watched Christine leave. He quietly slipped his shoes on and his shirt. He made his way through the brushes to find the best place to surprise Raphael's men.
Christine walked as fast as she could along the edge of the river. She would occasionally look over her shoulder to see if Frank was following her. Nothing. Christine was starting to get a bad feeling in her stomach.
Donovan crouched in the brushes, waiting for the men to walk by. One. Two. Three. Three of Raphael's men walked by. Donovan slowly left his hiding spot . He silently walked up behind the last man and broke his neck. He moved the body out of sight and took his weapon.
He slowly started going after the second man. Donovan was about ten feet away when he heard something behind him. "Shit," he whispered. Before he could react, he was punched in the back. Donovan fell to his knees and looked at his attacker. He moved his legs and knocked the man to the ground. Donovan reached for the gun and shot him.
Christine looked up when she heard the gunshots. She started to walk faster and faster. Christine kept looking behind, she didn't see something blocking her path. She walked into a wall. Startled, Christine looked up to see what she hit. "We meet again." Raphael sneered, grabbing her arm.
Donovan ran towards the direction Christine was in. Holding his side, he saw Raphael throw her into his car. "Shit," he swore again.
"Uh, I have some bad news," Cody said into the headset.
"Do we really want to know?" Jake asked.
"Donovan's heading back towards the compound." Cody replied.
"Damn it, they must've got caught." Tom swore, "Let's back track."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Donovan hid in the bushes, waiting for Raphael's men to come through. He raised his gun and took aim. He was about to squeeze the trigger when he recognized the person coming out in front of him.
"Uh, hey boss," Jake gulped, eyes bulged, looking down the barrel of Donovan's gun.
"Jake," Donovan gasped, dropping to his knees.
"Easy, boss, I got ya," Jake said grabbing his arm.
"How is he?' Alex asked grabbing his other arm.
"Where's Ms. Sellers?" Tom asked scanning around.
"We got separated," Donovan said taking a drink from Jake's canteen, "Raphael has her again."
"That's why you were heading back to the compound," Tom said, "Alex, take Donovan back to the airfield. Jake and I will go get Ms. Sellers."
"No," Donovan protested, attempting to stand back up, "I'm going with."
"Fine," Tom sighed, knowing it was useless to argue with the man, "but you'll take orders from me."
"Not in this lifetime," Donovan said checking the clip of his gun.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The four of them took position on a ridge overlooking the compound.
"The perimeter is too well protected," Tom growled, looking through his binoculars. "Something's going on."
Donovan took the binoculars to see what was going on. Raphael and his men were gathered in the middle of the compound. He watched as Christine was dragged out into the middle of the crowd. He could see that she was dressed in baggy clothes instead of the dress. She had her hands tied behind her back.
"This doesn't look good," Jake commented.
"We got to get her out of there." Donovan said, starting to move down the hill.
"And we get in there how?" Tom asked stopping Donovan, "The odds are not in our favor."
"I'm not leaving her here." Donovan stated. "We…"
A sharp crack echoed through the air.
"Oh my god." Alex whispered.
"What happened?" Donovan demanded, taking the binoculars.
"They shot her," Alex whispered.
"In the chest." Jake confirmed.
In the middle of the compound, Christine was on being forced back onto her knees. One of her guards placed a hood over her face.
"We got to get down there." Donovan said grabbing Tom.
"It's too late." Tom winced as he heard another gunshot.
Donovan looked down towards the compound and saw Christine's lifeless body on the ground.
"They shot her in the back of the head." Jake reported.
"We could've saved her!" Donovan yelled pushing Tom against a tree.
"The best we could've done was get your team killed," Tom spat back, "Raphael has over a hundred men in his compound at one time. There was no way we could've gotten her out alive. Let's get you to the airfield and get the hell out of here."
"We can't leave her body here." Alex argued.
"I'm not leaving until Raphael is dead this time." Donovan swore.
"You and what army?" Tom laughed at Donovan's physical state, he could barely stand.
"He has us." Jake spat out.
"You're out of your league here, boy," Tom retorted, "Raphael Sanchez makes Sonny Walker and Quito Real look like alter boys."
"Jake, Alex, get to the airfield." Donovan ordered.
"What about you?" Jake asked.
"I'm going to kill Sanchez." he calmly replied, sending chills down Jake and Alex's spine.
"You don't do 'ghost work', remember?" Tom reminded Donovan.
"Things change." Donovan hissed.
"Fine, let's go." Tom said walking behind Donovan. Tom reached out and brought the end of his gun against the base of Donovan's neck. "Take him to the airfield. Tell him I'll see him later and killing is my job."
"What about you?" Alex asked, "How are you getting out of here?"
"Agent Cross, you do care." he smiled, "My job's not finished here, not until Sanchez is gone."
"Help me pick him up," Jake said lifting Donovan to his feet, "Man, I hope his choice in friends improves."
An hour later, Alex handed Donovan an ice pack for his neck. Jake sat across from Donovan and watched him. The swelling seemed like it was starting to go down in his face. Donovan had the seat back trying to make himself more comfortable.
"Alex, it's great to hear your voice," Cody said onto the phone, "we didn't like not being able to keep in contact with you guys."
"How are they?" Monica asked.
"Donovan has some facial swelling and bruise on his neck, maybe bruised ribs, not sure." Alex reported.
"How's Ms. Sellers?" Cody asked, "Alex, are you still there?"
"Alex?" Monica asked.
Alex got up from her seat and walked to the back of the plane, "Ms. Sellers is dead." she replied checking to see if Donovan heard her.
"How's Donovan taking it?" Monica asked.
"He hasn't said a word since he woke up." she said.
"Woke up?" Cody asked.
"Tom knocked him out." Alex explained, "He was hell bent on killing Sanchez. We'll be landing at O'Hare in eight hours. We'll be taking him to the hospital to make sure nothing is broken."
"We'll be there." Monica replied.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three weeks later
"Hey boss," Jake smiled as Donovan walked into the building, "you're not supposed to be here for another three weeks."
"How's the ribs?" Alex asked taking his case.
"The doctor never said I couldn't do paperwork," Donovan replied slowly walking up the stairs to his office.
Donovan made his way to his desk and saw two envelopes sitting there. He picked the first one and slowly opened it.
"Tom dropped those by two weeks ago." Alex said walking into the office. "He told us you'd want to see those."
Donovan took out the pictures and slowly scanned them. Pictures of Sanchez's compound destroyed by fire. Bodies and blood everywhere. The two last pictures were of Sanchez with two bullet wounds to the head.
"You've looked at these?" Donovan asked, motioning to the pictures.
Alex nodded her head, "Tom said we were entitled, but the second envelope was for you to open on your own. He left a note for you too. You know, if you need to talk."
"Thanks Alex," Donovan smiled sitting down in his chair.
He opened the letter from Tom first.
Frankie,
Hope you like your get well gift from your friends here. As for the second envelope, I hope
you can understand why things had to go they way they did. No hard feelings for me hitting you.
Tom
Donovan shook his head at Tom's note and opened the second envelope. The contents inside surprised him.
"Son of a bitch." Donovan whispered.