AN: The first anniversary of this fic came and went, as one reader pointed out, but I'm still here and the fic is, too. Thanks to Dancinstar and Milla for their comments on the next 3 parts. What else can I say, summer is here and it's once again time to post and hopefully finish this.

24. No "I" in Team

Zack was the first to clear his head and take in the situation. Max was sitting next to him in the passenger seat, slumped over the control board, a thin rivulet of blood seeping out of her mouth. He heaved himself out of the seat, working hard to get his right leg unstuck and rushed to get Max out of the chopper. It didn't look like it would blow soon, but that was the standard procedure. He caught himself wondering for a moment, Standard procedure for what? Discarding any thoughts unrelated to the situation, he carried her to a group of old trees that could offer shelter. Easing her down, he proceeded to assess her state. Her breathing was regular and her wounds weren't bleeding anymore, but dried blood covered most of her upper body.

Zack cringed at the sight before him as it became clear to him what had happened. He had almost crashed the chopper into the trees. If it hadn't been for Max.. He listened carefully to his surroundings, mindful of any pursuers, but there was only the eerie silence of nature suddenly disturbed by man.

They were in a clearing, surrounded by trees. The branches that had come down when they grazed the trees in their attempt to land were now scattered everywhere around the wrecked chopper.

Otherwise, everything was quiet and Zack found himself haunted by a nagging thought. If Lydecker had been pursuing them, they wouldn't have gotten away. He had been having flashbacks of the time he had allowed himself to be arrested so that she could go to... Damn his flashbacks. Zack frowned, trying hard to remember what had happened.

*

He let himself be dragged to the SUV, turning back to look at her, the one he did this for. She remained behind, devastated, looking fragile and helpless. Minutes later, they were pushing him into the chopper while Lydecker watched on, a smug smile on his face. But she'd be safe, he had thought. No matter what happened to him, she'd have someone to watch over her, even if it was only that cripple. If he didn't, if he let them get her. Zack swore he'd kill him.

The rotating chopper blades drowned out the noise of Lydecker shouting orders to the soldiers securing Zack on the back seat. Zack closed his eyes and let his rage make place for cold planning: two soldiers on his left and right, the pilot in the front. They took off and Zack strained his neck for one more look at Lydecker, just for the pleasure of seeing him become smaller and smaller, until he shrunk to a mere dot on the ground. Zack turned his eyes to the front again, becoming fascinated with the pilot's neck as an enigmatic smile turned a corner of his lips up.

A moan from Max brought Zack back to the task at hand. He'd have to suppress these flashbacks, they were getting annoying. Still disturbed by the thought that he had lost contact with reality in a crucial moment, he gently picked Max up and headed north, carrying her as carefully as he could. According to what he could discern while in the air, there should be a city nearby where he could nurse her wounds.