Chapter 12 -

Due to their early arrival, there was some unusual downtime. With a little less than five hours at her disposal, Sydney was eager to take advantage of it. First, of course, she ensured Hinkey followed through with his prep work.

Along with his SD-6 issued, detailed street map, she made a quick stop at the tourist center in Staromestské Námestí, to pick up a few pieces of general info. After that, she sent him, and his 2003 Mercedes-Benz G500, on their way. He had planned to use that time to become acquainted with the updated navigation system, and the landscape surrounding the immediate area of Cuvee's building. For the sake of everyone involved, Sydney could only hope he followed through with it.

Although she checked in with Dixon, she couldn't find the nerve to call Sark, it just didn't seem right yet. They discussed the meeting point and time again, just to ensure everything would be executed properly. Dixon didn't give any details, but did inform her that he was on the other side of the city, having a bite to eat. Part of her wanted to ask if he was alone, but decided against that too.

Finally, she was on her own. Dressed to fit the weather, 37 degrees Fahrenheit – which really felt closer to 29 degrees in her opinion – her thick cream-colored down jacket and its faux fur hood, kept her body fairly tepid. The Old Town was somewhat crowded for a weekday, people dressed in similar garb, hurriedly walking to reach their various destinations. Or maybe just doing what they could to keep the blood running through their bodies. That could've been normal traffic for the area though, she wouldn't really know, considering she'd rarely had the chance to browse the city in her previous trips.

Unlike the locals, Sydney took her time walking through one of the most culturally rich areas of the city. Part of it was spent admiring the rows of similar buildings, so old in their architecture, yet timeless in their appearance. But after spending the most amount of time getting lost in the trinkets of the surrounding shops, Sydney now noticed the early stages of darkness.

The saturation of clouds that were presently accumulating overhead, hurried the inevitable night, and also reminded her that it was almost time. With just over an hour and a half left, she slowly walked in the direction where she told Hinkey to meet her.

Oblivious to her surroundings, Sydney mentally replayed tonight's plan over again. From what Sark told Sloane about Cuvee's building, scaling the roof to gain access inside was going to be the easiest part. Once inside, she had to completely rely on Sark to loop the surveillance, while he relayed to her the safest route to go. If everything went well, Dixon would have deterred the majority of security downstairs, disguised as a delivery driver. Then it was up to Sark to get her back out again.

Sounded simple enough, as long as everyone involved followed through with his or her responsibilities. Feeling a slight tingle in her hands due to the bitter cold, Sydney cupped them over her mouth and exhaled, trying to produce some warmth. Each step she took through what seemed to be endless buildings, appeared to make the sky a bit darker. The thought could be frightening when you were in a strange country, but she wasn't the least bit scared. Although, this walk would be so much better accompanied by another.

"You know, this really isn't the best time of night for an attractive woman to be walking alone."

Sydney couldn't help but let the enormous smile she felt inside, appear equally as large on her still covered face, hearing the sound of the familiar voice. She turned in the direction of it, noting a dark figure standing in a small, equally darkened alley.

After implementing the old habit she had of scouring her surroundings for anything off, Sydney took a few steps closer, standing just within the shadow of the alley. She took her hands from her face, in order to get a better look. The palpitation of her heart escalated further at the sight of him. Simply dressed in all black clothing, finished off by a black stocking cap to match his similar black down jacket, he looked amazing, with such little effort.

His eyes were just as remarkable as she remembered, so bright and wonderful. But instead of the ever-inquisitive iced, wide-eyed gaze that usually appeared at SD-6, she found a softer look, one that could even be considered playful. Even if she tried, she couldn't take the massive grin off her face. The element of surprise was a great attraction for her, and so far, he seemed to be the master of it.

"Where's your young partner?" Sark inquired in a lightly teasing manner, obviously referring to Hinkey.

With only a few feet in-between them, Sydney's body seemed to be taking on the characteristics of a magnet, causing her hands to ache, craving another touch of his body. She restrained them, by placing both in her pockets.

"Getting acquainted with the route," Sydney replied. "How long were you following me?"

The left corner of his mouth turned up, amused by her question. "What makes you think I was following you?"

Her smile brightened, due to her slight embarrassment. In their first few meetings, she never would have fathomed this side to him. Sure, most of that had to do with the fact that they had been at each other's throats. But given his cool, and somewhat demented demeanor at times, she was genuinely shocked to see the softness he had displayed in these past few weeks.

Due to their seclusion, Sydney allowed herself to act somewhat flirtatious toward him. "Hmmm. So, you're here by what, a coincidence then?"

She watched the other side of his mouth move, commencing to a full smirk. After a small chuckle, he took a step closer to her. "Perhaps." His eyes briefly shifted down to her lips, as he brought his gloved hand to her face. Slowly he began to bring his face down to hers, while softly rubbing his thumb over her cheek, until their beepers sounded off, in unison.

Stopping his motion a few inches before her face, he didn't continue. "Why am I not surprised?"

Sydney laughed at their recurring misfortune, the 'inside joke' only they would get. "I'll go first." Keeping her eyes on him, she stepped away. Exiting the alley, her pace quick, she went on her way to meet Hinkey.

The warmness of her down jacket now missing, Sydney stood a block away from Cuvee's building, waiting for Sark to give her the green light. Promptly at ten, Sark rang through her earpiece.

"I've got visual."

His words sprung her into action. As planned, she ran in the shadow of the tall building she had been waiting near. Knowing those same words also put Dixon into action Sydney did her best to keep the team on track. Once she had reached the entry point at the base of the building, she launched her cable to the roof. Ensuring it was secured, she hurriedly climbed the side of the building, ascending to the top in less than two minutes.

"I'm up," Sydney relayed.

"He's almost in," Sark referred to Dixon, who was currently downstairs attempting to occupy some of the security. Sydney waited, every detail had to be covered in order to ensure the mission's success.

"Now." Sark chimed through again, giving her the go ahead.

Opening the non-functional vent on the roof, knowledge of the unused escape route gained by Sark, Sydney climbed down the metal tube, stopping at the first entry point. "Tenth floor." She informed Sark.

"Good, it's clear."

Sydney opened the entrance, quickly making her way to the stairwell. "Stairs."

"Clear."

Running as fast as she could, Sydney descended the empty stairwell in good time. Just as she reached the fourth floor, she heard a distance disturbance, followed by the activation of her earpiece.

His voice sounding troubled, she heard Sark yell. "Hinkey, the front, now! Sydney, go back up."

Having already stopped, she turned around. "What's going on?"

"No time for questions, you need to get out of there, and quickly. Hinkey, get Dixon, now! I've got you covered up here." Through her earpiece, she heard the loudness of multiple gunshots. She concluded they were coming from Sark. Soon after the shots, there was silence again.

Heeding the warning, she took large steps back up the empty stairwell. A few floors down from where she was, she could hear the hustle of maybe ten or so people, headed her way. No time, or energy to explore her confusion toward the downstairs disturbance, Sydney reached the tenth floor again. Still hearing the sound of heavy footsteps, she scrambled to the top of the vent.

"What the fuck is going on?" Sydney asked, once she reached cold air again. "Sark, can you read me?"

From behind, she heard his voice. Less disturbed now, but still peaked "Sydney, they shot Dixon."

"They what?" Sydney exclaimed, shocked and obviously confused by the news. Sark had been two buildings over, the best place to keep surveillance, and still be close enough to be utilized. Due to the closeness of the structures, jumping them was a breeze.

"Things looked fine, then all of a sudden." Sark didn't finish, but took a few steps closer "Twelve of them are headed this way."

"What the fuck are you doing here then? Dixon's been shot, I'm fine." Sydney pushed Sark to leave. "Go."

Sark grabbed her arm, dragging her closer to the edge of the building. "Dixon's en route to a friendly hospital. I ensured Hinkey got him out before meeting you."

"Are you sure Hinkey can handle this? I mean... I know his driving skills are above par..."

Sark interrupted her as she babbled. "He has to handle it, since there was no other option."

With the reality of Dixon's injury finally sinking in, Sydney hesitated at first. "What the hell happened down there?"

"There will be time to talk, but now we need to go."

They heard the fumbling of the air vent Sydney just shut, and looked at each other. "My repelling cable..." She reached near her hip for it.

Sark glanced over the edge of the building. An idea sparked, he grabbed her around the waist. "No time."

Right as the vent was opened, Sark jumped off the edge with Sydney in tow. She immediately panicked over the free fall, since neither one them was secured to anything and below them was the hardness of concrete. Her first reaction was to close her eyes, the terror of the unknown seemingly endless space below her, was too much to stomach.

Just as she did, she felt the fall come to a hard end, but on a noticeably softer substance than she expected. She opened her eyes, but only momentarily as what immediately pained them felt like multiple grains of sand. After releasing her stale breath, she inhaled again, only to swallow the same substance, causing her to cough.

"Hide yourself, now." Sark yelled, just loud enough to hear her. She followed his instructions by immersing herself. In the distance, she heard a few gunshots ring out. One even hit the metal of the industrial truck she assumed they had hitched a ride on.

After what seemed to be only a few minutes, Sydney emerged from the landing pad she believed to be sod. In the darkness, she could see the area next to her move. At the sight of his now black tinted hair, and blackened face, she suddenly felt self-conscious about her own appearance.

"Are you okay?" Sark asked, breaking the silence. His voice was slightly desperate, giving hints of concern.

Sydney moved her body out of the dirt, and felt a sharp pain shoot up her leg. Immediately she brought her hand down, wrapping it around her ankle. "Yeah," she began. "My ankle. I think it's sprained."

"The next stop this thing makes, we'll have to jump." Sark's brow narrowed, showing his apprehension in forcing her taking the leap.

"I'll be okay," she reassured him. Physically yes, Sydney knew she would be fine after a few days, but her thoughts were consumed by the unknown status of Dixon. This was the second time she had to go through an on the job injury with him. The first time was still etched in her mind. She wouldn't bring herself to question whether he survived, or the extent of the damage to his body. Trying to think positive, she was only allowing herself to explore the possibility of injury.

What she really should be thinking about was the unknown status of what the hell she and Sark were going to do, now that they had lost their team, transportation and part of their communication