Chapter 24

Authors Note: I had to delete the song because fanfiction doesn't allow lyrics to be used anymore. 'sigh

The television was on, Sands couldn't see it, but he could hear the people talking and heard the speakers from the surround system blaring. It mildly annoyed him, he could listen to the radio for the same effect, but he didn't feel like turning it off.

Sable wasn't here right now, she was getting some of her things to bring back to his house, well, their house as soon as she got back. Strange how she had come into his life with no more than a smirk and an offhand-remark. She'd worked her way through his defenses with a bottle of tequila.

She had been gone maybe half-an-hour and the place seemed empty. He had never let anyone get as close to him as Sable was. No one had ever been able to break past the barriers he put up, after his father he swore that none would see through the façade he constructed.

He still cursed Ajedrez, what he wouldn't give for his sight back again. Just enough to see her black hair across the white of his pillow, or for what shade her eyes turned in the light. When they were on the brink of ecstasy he wanted to see the look on her face, not just hear her soft sighs.

She had saved him, his muscles clenched at the flood of rage that went through him. It was only her that halted his rash decision to pull the trigger of his gun one final time. The death he had thought fitting wasn't for him to decide. She walked in at a most opportune moment, it was then he decided that life held too much in store for him to end it himself. Too many people yet to piss off, and he hadn't tried any pork in Europe yet.

When the pain was too much to take and he had almost given in, it was her who brought him back to the safe plane of reality. She had done more than she'd ever know, and he loved her, or from what he knew of love, that's what he felt for her.

He'd put her life before his, give her his last weapon, she had his trust. Woe betide her if she ever gave him cause to rescind that trust, but he'd deal with that if it happened. He was too paranoid for the thought not to cross his mind.

Everything with Arnoldo was resolved, Dawes was altogether another story. Sable had taken her anger out on the target-range and though it would be awhile before Arnoldo could walk without limping, they had a mutual understanding.

They both owed Arnoldo their life, in more ways than one. He had secured Sands his career... and his purpose in getting up in the morning.

Whatever happened now... it was only a matter of time before they got another assignment. That was their job, and he had no intention of retiring anytime soon. Only when he couldn't hear to aim would he call it quits.

He drank deeply from the tequila bottle in his hand relishing the crisp, tangy flavor from the lime. It was more out of habit than actual preference for the drink, but whenever he ordered puerco pibil, the first time he had ever tried it, the bartender had insisted that if he wanted to bring out it's flavor... that was the drink to do it. From then on he had never cared enough to change his mind.

It was interesting how much time he had to think things over when he couldn't see anything. Everything had to be weighed more carefully, he had learned to sense things before they happened. Sands laughed, he was even more edgy, in a way.

They had thought he was bad before, they hadn't seen anything yet. He was still Sheldon Jeffrey Sands and he would walk on his own to the beat that pulsed again.

He thought again of Sable. They were attuned, he subconsciously focused on her slightest movement, he could feel her moods. She, too, knew a bond had been forged. Sable kept part of her mind trained on Sands at all time. She let him know, without having to say anything, where the danger lie, what the threat level was.

She walked next to him, never in front of him, using body language to keep him from walking into people or to prevent him from walking into a wall he hadn't known was there. He'd been mortified, in the beginning, that he relied on her so much, but she managed to help him without damaging his pride.

He owed her for that, too. Everything she did was so matter-of-fact, she made it clear that she didn't pity him. Sands, who had lived all of his life alone, didn't find her presence grating or irritating. She fit into his life and Sands knew that he fit into hers.

Where was she? She was supposed to have been back by now, and even though he sounded dependant he didn't care. It might just be years of fending for himself, but there was an odd feeling in his stomach telling him that something was wrong.

The telephone rang, Sands made his way over to the counter where it was located and answered on the third ring. A man's deep voice was the one who spoke, it wasn't Arnoldo and it definitely wasn't Sable.

"Who the hell is this," he snarled into the phone, no one outside of the CIA had his number, and he wasn't listed in any phonebook.

"Guess." He heard the loathing in the tone and knew it instantly for Dawes'. What the hell was he calling for, and why had Arnoldo given him the number?

"Why are you calling?" Sands asked, there had to be some reason, akin to death, of why Dawes would willingly speak to him.

"I have something of yours, you'll most certainly want it back." He heard Dawes laugh, "So much talk about agents going renegade, but no one watches the leaders."

"What're you saying? You've gone renegade?" That was definitely cause enough to surprise Sands, Dawes was the last person he ever considered to rebel against the Central Intelligence Agency.

"Quick, aren't you."

Sands was more interested in the first part of what he had said, 'I have something of yours you'll most certainly want back.'

"Call Arnold, alert the CIA, and then come after me, psycho-boy. I've got your whore here."

"Wait a fucking minute- Dawes!"

"Sands! Don-" he heard Sable's voice from far away, it sounded as if there were others there trying to restrain her. From the grunts of pain he could hear, they weren't doing a very good job. "Trap! Ambush! You'll-" she broke off with a strangled yelp, what had the fuck-mooks done to her!

"Get her under control or it's your life," Sands heard Dawes yell.

"You hear that?" Dawes was back to speaking on the phone. "Tick, tock, agent."

Sands wasn't willing to believe that the click of the phone meant that connection was broken. He resisted the urge to put all twelve chambers of bullets into the phone. Instead, he dialed Arnoldo's number, cursing as he hit the wrong button and had to start over again.

"We know," Arnoldo picked up the phone on the first ring. "We've sent someone to you, he'll be there in five?"

"Arnoldo-"

"We'll get her back, Sands. It'll be a helluva a fight, but we'll get her back."

"I call Dawes," was all he said after that. He'd damn well get the son of a bitch, preserve his organs, and make the bastard suffer for ever touching Sable. He was Sheldon Jeffrey Sands and she was his, if Dawes wanted her he'd better be prepared for the battle of his life.

Sands checked the guns on his hips, there were two on the inside of his shirt cuffs, one in the lining of his pants, and three spaced out evenly in and around his boots. He also had a small knife worked into the sole of his shoe, and another larger switchblade in the belt loop at his waist. He knew Sable was armed as well as hin, so if they had gotten her and were still alive... there must be men working for Dawes.

Sands pushed the sunglasses up on his face and waited at the door for whomever was coming to get him. Trust was definitely an issue, but Sable's life was at stake. He'd get her back and take down whomever stood in his way.

Authors Note 2: This is the end, at least for this story. Planned a sequel, I just have to work out the main basis of the plot. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I hope you'll follow along to the next story... to be continued as soon as I finish this document and my thanks to you who have reviewed!!! :D