Chapter 28

phoenix the 1st: The sequel is coming, I promise. Working on it.

Wolfgirl: Thank you so much! ##

Bloody Mary: I don't really read educational books. Just educational Fan Fiction. whistles in innocence

Lady Snowblossom: Lady, I can drive everyone crazy.

phoenix of order: Tala only fractured his arm. And Spencer and Ian are only guessing that Bryan is sexually assaulted (100% not positive about rape). They won't find out until the next fic.

Castles in the Sky: Yes, positive thinking...

Cat in the web: Actually, I can write a sequel if they're dead. It's called everyone finding out that their dead and trying to work out what happened... ;)

Disengage: We'll see what happens, yeah? I'm not sure when it will be finished.

DranzerGirl: If only it were that simple...

russle: Love struck Mariah? /wince/

Jay Kamiya: You can only hope.

chibi drigger: Thanks!

Shaman Wolf: He hates being pitied you know

Fire4Ice: Just my interpretation of the ages. They're not canon

lilmatchgirl: And what's wrong with being evil?

Blk Dranzer: You'll have to wait and see.

umi n secylia: Yeah.

KuronekoHikage: Bad time gap. We'd have to do email rather than messenger. I'd gladly beta anything you send.

Lullaby Lily: Right about now I am worshipping you. That just works so well. bounces happily only to smack head on shelf Ow

LingXiaoyu: The age gap thing is something they argue about my fave Star Wars pairing. I argue against it. As you said, just numbers, that's all.

Ashla: I'm getting evil in the sequel. I'm going to leave you all guessing.

eyriess: Hopefully it is interesting.

Kappy Locks: Glad you're liking them. Keep reading and reviewing and I'll keep liking you. :p

Matty hates so much Kai: Answer recorded.

Reiven: Twitch no more!

Yes = 12
No = 7
Yes but later = 2
N/A = 3
I've got an idea for what I'm going to do, but the results were somewhat interesting.

They're almost there…

Disclaimer: See first page

When the sun broke the horizon, it did so almost reluctantly. The boys awoke slowly, bodies aching, longing for more time to recuperate, but that time was not available. They ate, a faint buzzing of excitement in the air: today they would reach Moscow. Today they would finally be free.

They packed their things, crawling from the nook between the trees and standing. Spencer reached out and steadied Tala as he swayed, before Spencer had to grab Bryan as the others leg threatened to give way.

"It's nothin'," Bryan assured him. "Just a little stiff."

Tala rubbed his eyes, looking up. "Same speed as yesterday. We should reach Moscow within a couple of hours."

They set off, the tightness of their limbs slowly working loose as they continued to move, but at the same time the movement continued to drain Tala and Bryan. Sweat poured from their bodies, dizziness tugging at the corners of their minds, but yet they continued. The end was in sight, and now was not the time to give up.

The sun continued to rise unrelentlessly behind a growing mass of clouds. The air had taken on a stinging bite, snow threatening them from above. They ignored it, their only concern the increasing closeness of their destination and the need to keep moving.

Tala slowed as a bell tolled, the others joining him as they moved to a walk. The treeline grew nearer, hope washing over them as they reached it, the streets of Moscow open before them, beckoning.

Tala grinned, eyes racking the scene before him before the smile slid from his face. "Look."

They followed his gaze, Ian falling to his knees. "There's too many. We'll never get there. There's no way–"

"Shut the hell up." Bryan frowned, taking it in. "Boris knew we would come this way, so he would have placed most of the guards this side of town. He will not expect us to make it past the first line."

"Bryan's right," Tala agreed. "That's just how he would think. Once we get past the first defences, the odds of running into a guard will become less and less likely. Until we reach the BBA centre that is. He will have a lot of guards there."

Spencer looked to the side. "What do you suggest."

Tala's mind buzzed as he tried to figure it out, only to startle as Bryan spoke.

"I say we split up," Bryan said. "Tala with Spencer while I stay with the kid. Tal and Spence make first move on getting to the centre, Ian and I will follow. By that time Boris will be expecting us and the kid and I will be better at concealing ourselves. Also, less chance of getting caught if we move in pairs rather than as a group."

Tala shook his head. "No–"

Bryan looked at him. "Forget emotion, Tal. Think logic. It's the only way."

Ian nodded, resigned to his fate. "As much as I hate to say it, I agree with Bryan. There is no other way."

Tala looked at Spencer who nodded, Tala slumping. "Okay, we split up. Spencer and I will lead off, you two will wait five and follow. Try to stay under cover until you reach the centre, then make a break for it."

They nodded.

Spencer turned to Ian and knelt down on one knee. "You watch your back, my friend, and listen to Bry for a change, okay?"

Ian nodded, hugging him. "You be careful too, Spence. Please don't get yourself killed, not after all this."

"I won't." Spencer hugged him back, smiling faintly.

Tala and Bryan watched the exchange before Tala said goodbye to Ian and Bryan to Spencer. As they shifted their packs and made ready to go, Tala's eyes fell on Bryan, whose lavender eyes looked up. They held the gaze, filling it with unspoken concern and love. They had told each other that they would not show their affection before the immature Ian, but as the moment took hold Tala stepped forward into Bryan's arms, lips descending upon his in a desperate kiss.

Ian straightened, blinking as he realised that it was indeed Tala who made the first move. He felt his cheeks warm as he watched them, tearing his eyes away. Spencer chuckled, ruffling Ian's hair playfully as the other two broke the kiss, hugging each other tightly before Bryan took a step back.

"You'd better go before you change your mind."

Tala nodded, forcing himself to turn away. "Be careful, Bry. Don't do anything stupid."

"I got the kid to watch out for, so I won't." Bryan paused. "See you at the end."

Tala nodded, looking up. "Come on, Spence. The sooner we start the sooner we finish."

"And you never know," Ian called. "Kai might be there."

"I hope he is," Tala smirked. "He owes me money."

As the other two vanished down the hill, Ian looked toward Bryan, taking in how the elder's eyes never left Tala. "Do you love him?"

Bryan shot a look at him, before turning his back on Moscow, looking at his watch. "I'm incapable of love. You know that."

"It's obvious he loves you." Ian shrugged, glancing toward the city, Tala and Spencer no longer in view. "I think you do love him. You just don't know it."

Bryan watched him out the corner of his eye, regarding the youngers sudden interest in the relationship Ian had argued so strongly against. He shrugged it off, looking once more at his watch and readying himself. He had other concerns right now. He could think about this later.

For the moment, they had a blockade to slip through.

And now comes the hard part…

Hey everyone, I've got a new fic on Adult Fan Fiction that I could not put up here for various reasons, including the rating: NC-17. It's here if you wish to read it, just take out the spaces. http :adultfan.nexcess.net /aff /story.php?no=28184