Chapter 22:

Vuelta y Adios

Sands gazed out the window of the taxi. The Mexican landscape sped by, but Sands wasn't interested in that, the only thing he could think of was the beautiful girl he had just sentenced to life imprisonment. Memories flashed through his mind, Nickie touching him, Nickie making love to him, Nickie laughing and, the most beautiful of all, her wonderful smile. It made her face light up and her eyes sparkle with a beautiful light like a hidden star.

He flinched as he remembered the way she had looked at him when she found out he had betrayed her. He would never forget the shock and pain in her eyes; it would haunt all his nightmares for the rest of his life, maybe he would still see them after he died. He could now finally admit what he had tried to deny before, he loved her, and she was perfect for him; funny, clever, brave and beautiful. Everything he wanted, and now everything he couldn't have. He couldn't leave her to fade under her father's harsh care. He had made a mistake, and now he had to fix it.

"Turn the car around." He said harshly to the driver, "Take me to the Bartulo Estate."

The driver gasped, "Senor…" he began, in desperate tones, but then he stopped. Something about being held at gunpoint made him forget his reservations.

Sands was out of the taxi in a second when they reached the house, shoving some dollars into the taxi drivers shaking hand he sprinted through the garden. Luckily, Bartulo obviously hadn't thought to tell his guards to not let Sands through, as none of them paid him any attention.

He ran through the house and finally made it to Nicoletta's room. There was a lock on the door but a quick shot from his gun destroyed that. Obviously Bartulo didn't think anyone would be starting a rescue mission. Without bothering to knock or call out Sands shoved the door open and stepped in.

Nicoletta was stood at the window; the suns rays changed her hair to beautiful shades of fiery red, golden honey, deep cerise and flame bright orange. The slight wind lifted it so it drifted like a halo around her head and her slim flame swayed in the breeze. Sands stood frozen, transfixed by the sight. In later years Sands would remember Nicoletta like that, beautiful and ethereal, like a princess of a forgotten time and place. From another world made of light and silk, ensnaring mortal minds to reach out and touch, then to break and fade before their eyes.

Then, Nicoletta turned and the moment was broken. For a second they both stood staring at each other. Then Nicoletta spoke softly, "Sheldon."

Sands blinked, and was dragged back to reality, "I came back. I couldn't leave you here, I'm taking you away."

"My father won't let you." Nicoletta whispered, it was as though the Nicoletta he had known had disappeared, leaving an afraid and weak girl in her place. Sands wasn't having that.

He strode over and grabbed her wrists tightly, forcing her to stand still.

"Listen," he growled, "We're going right now, got it. You're not staying in this bastard's house. You're coming with me."

Nicoletta stared at him, "Why did you come back for me? You don't care, you left me here."

Sands gritted his teeth, he didn't want to do this, and he didn't want her to laugh at him or scorn him. It would break his heart, but he had to if he wanted to get Nickie out of there.

"Look," he said softly, lowering his eyes, "I'm sorry about leaving you here. That was my plan you see, to use you as the trade between I and your father. Unfortunately, something happened I didn't anticipate. I… " He swallowed, "I fell in love with you."

Sands felt the woman's body tense up, he couldn't look at her, couldn't face the laughter he was sure was in her eyes. He had never been scared like he was now. He couldn't face Nickie.

Letting go of her wrists he turned and strode to the door, stopping when he reached it he forced himself to turn around. Nicoletta was stood where he had left her, her expression was unreadable and when he met her eyes they were guarded and full of secrets.

She nodded slowly, and her eyes lit up with burning flames of blue, "Lets go." She said, and her voice sounded like the Nicoletta Sands knew. In control and ready for a fight. She walked over to him and gave him a wolfish grin, "We'll bring them down."

Sands nodded and returned her smile with one of his wicked grins, he felt better now he had told her and got it off his chest. Now, they just had to leave.

They reached the garden without any incident, slipping behind doors and hiding when people walked past. But now, they had to pass the guards. Sands gave Nickie a nod and she transformed, a gorgeous Black Panther stood next to him. Their eyes met and it was almost as though they had spoken, they knew what to do.

Sands took in a deep breath, and the two of them jumped out of hiding and into hells pit of flames.

They would probably have been alright if Bartulo hadn't been in the garden at the time. He recognized Nicoletta instantly and reacted a second later. Yelling at his stunned guards in fast Spanish they began to shoot at the two running. Nicoletta and Sands split up, Nickie dived straight in front of the guards and her father, her aim was to lead the men into aiming at her instead of Sands. Even if he had betrayed her and broken her heart she still loved him and she wasn't letting him go without a fight. Her plan worked, but a little too well. As she dived towards the gate and Sands, who was waiting for her, one of the bullets embedded itself deep in her leg. With a loud cry of pain she fell to the ground changing back to human and clutching at her leg.

She heard a loud laugh and saw her father walking towards her, a triumphant grin on his face. He leaned down and grabbed her, dragging her to her feet. Nicoletta gasped in agony, through the hazy blur of pain she heard her father threatening Sands that if he tried anything she would die.

Then, his face appeared in her blurred vision. He was laughing, sneering at her. Something in Nickie snapped, images flashed through her mind, Morgead and her running through the streets of New York, Morgead laughing, smiling….and dying. Sands, smiling, protecting her, making love to her…and being shot by his men. The mother she had never known, smiling, loving her…and being killed for trying to save her daughter. So Sands couldn't get Bartulo, she could. Pressing her hand down her top she grabbed her gun and in one fluid movement put it next to his chest.

Bartulo froze and Nicoletta smiled at him, "Checkmate." She said softly, "This is for Morgead," she pressed the gun harder into his chest, "Sheldon," she jammed it hard into him, "and my mother. Game over." She pulled the trigger.

Bartulo went still; he slumped, his grip still tight on Nickie, and fell to the ground. Nickie fell with him, unable to support herself. Blood was pouring from his chest, it stained Nicoletta's clothes and matted into her hair, but she didn't care. It was over, he was gone and now everything could go back to normal.

She didn't pay attention to the guards, who were running away from the scene now that their boss was dead. She didn't pay attention to the screams of the women who worked there who had heard the gunshot and seen what had happened. She only started paying attention when someone came over and kneeled down beside her. It was Sands.

She looked up and met his gaze, for a moment neither of them said anything and then Nickie smiled at him. She leaned over and rested her head on his chest.

"Its over," she said gently, "It's finally finished."

Sands wrapped a possessive arm over her shoulders, "I called an ambulance, they should be here soon, you need that leg sorted out."

Nicoletta looked up at him, "You are staying aren't you?" She asked, with a hint of panic in her voice.

Sands nodded, "For as long as you need me."

Nicoletta returned her head to his chest, she sighed sleepily, her leg was throbbing dully with pain but she could live with that, far worse things had happened and now she was more tired than anything, "Now and forever." She murmured sleepily.

Sands stared down at her, "What?" he said, thinking he'd misheard.

"I need you now and forever," Nicoletta repeated, "I love you."

Sands was shocked, he definitely hadn't expected that, "But what about everything I've done to you? I betrayed you."

Nicoletta shrugged, "We all make mistakes, and I'm not letting you go because of that. I love you."

Sands smiled, tightening his grip on her shoulders, "I love you to." He said softly.

Nickie smiled, tilting her head slightly she met his lips with a sweet, sensitive and loving kiss.

"What if you had a secret which was both wonderful and terrible?" she thought musingly, "What if you were forced to join with a crazy CIA agent to learn the truth about your past? What if on the way you fell in love with the most unlikely man imaginable?"

There was too many "What ifs?" she decided. All that mattered was the two of them. But maybe she could fit in one more, "What if…?"

"What if they fell in love and lived happily every after?"

It seemed unlikely, a crazy gunfighter and a Black Panther. But hey, anything's possible.

The lady of the Shadows: Hey! This has definitely been a long trip and you've been my best reviewer! You've encouraged me, inspired me and made me want to carry on writing! (I sound so mushy! Lol.) Thank you so much, I owe you loads! I hoped you liked my Sands thoughts bit and I'm sorry this chapter took so long, I spent ages on the ending which I wasn't really sure about so tell me what you think! Please keep updating your story and as soon as you're finished we'll start our 'project.' Thank you so much, you're the best! Luv ya!

SpadesJade: Thank you so much for sticking by me, I need someone to criticize so I don't get an overly-inflated ego! I really hope you like this, the last chapter! Sorry the last one was so short and I took so long to update, I hope this makes up for it! Glad you were still enjoying it last time, and yes, I do like a bit of angst to my characters, then they can be all happy later! Please review this chapter! Thank you for really helping me!

Joselyn-Greenleaf: Definitely my laziest reviewer! (No sign in again! lol) Yep you definitely like wow alot! I hope you thought this chapter was absoluuuutely suuuuper! Dahhhling you have been an exquisite reviewer and I loooved reading your reviews! Thank you so much! Hope to read some of your stories soon! Thanks so much, definitely one of my funniest reviewers!

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