Hey guys, I am sooooooooo sorry about the lack of update! My computer connection has been playing up and I haven't been able to sign in the to update! So you get one of my super-duper, ultra special double updates!

Thanks to sydofthesea, genevra, vaughn is hot, alias-sydney93001, skylar, ArodLoverus2001, Natalie (one of the best, well rounded and well written reviews ever! Lol! Thanks honey!), lotteda, Grouchy, Five Stories Fallen, tine, daisyduke947 and tine for all your wicked reviews!

Hopefully my internet is back to stay! I can't wait to finish this story!

Don't forget to review!

Cate


Chapter 26: One last time with feeling

"Alpha team in position" the voice crackled through the head set

"Copy that Alpha team. Stay there until instructed to move" Vaughn replied into his head set

"Copy that Base" the voice replied before falling silent.

Vaughn leant back in his seat, stretching his hands over his head. He glanced over at Logan who was yawning deeply.

"This has to be the dullest mission I have ever been on" Vaughn commented, wriggling in his chair trying to find a more comfortable position

"I feel like I am babysitting" Logan agreed.

"At least when you were babysitting, there is food and television"

"You got food? My wife and I never leave food for our babysitter"

Vaughn laughed. "You will notice that if you don't leave food, they will start raiding your cupboards"

The two men were silenced as their comms sprung to life and the sound of gunfire and yelling flew into their ears.

"Base Ops! This is Beta team! We have come under enemy fire in the West Wing" a voice yelled, trying to be heard over the noise around him

Vaughn slid his chair towards the computer and began typing frantically. "Alpha Team, do you copy?"

"We're here Base Ops"

"What is your current position?"

"We are just outside the study in the 4th floor where we were supposed to find the documents"

Vaughn ran his hand through his hair nervously. "Retrieve the documents and return to Base Ops. Beta Team, what is your status?"

"We are winning slowly, but we are running out of ammo fast. We weren't prepared to meet this amount of force"

"Always be prepared" Vaughn muttered under his voice. "Maintain your position. I'll bring you more ammo soon"

"Copy that Base Ops"

Vaughn stood quickly and began to throw ammo into a small backpack which he had brought with him.

"Mike, what the hell do you think you are doing?"

"I have been field cleared for a while now, this mission is no where near as dangerous as some of the ones I have been on. If we leave them, we will be loosing ten important operatives" Vaughn said quickly, continuing to collect ammo. He zipped up his very full bag and headed towards the door.

"Hey!" Logan called out, grabbing Vaughn's shoulder and forcing him to spin around. "Be careful" he said simply

Vaughn nodded in response and quickly disappeared into the darkness.

Adrenaline. What an amazing thing. It heightens all your senses, makes you more aware of you surroundings that you ever thought possible. Your heart beats in your ears, but you can still pick out the slightest noise around you. Your breathing quickens and your eyes sharpen. You learn to compartmentalize every little sensation – you ignore the feeling of tree branches on your face and arms, but pay attention to any soft little sounds around you.

Vaughn paused, dropping to his knees as he approached the main door. He raised a sole hand to the door and tested it. The door was open and he carefully slipped inside. Vaughn paused and analyzed his surroundings. There was a large staircase to either side, as well as a corridor which lead off beside each staircase. Vaughn recognized the familiar sound of gunfire coming from the right hand side staircase and he steadily made his way up, gun in hand.

Halfway up the staircase, Vaughn flattened himself up against the wall as a number of troops came running past the bottom of the stairs. His desire to fire at them was overwhelming, but he remembered that he was completely outnumbered and there were some agents who were waiting on him. He waited for them to pass before carrying on.

He spotted the back of the men in front of him. He ducked, not sure if this was the side he truly wanted to be on. He got all the conformation he needed when he heard the agents yell at each other.

"Where the hell is that guy from base ops? He doesn't show up soon, I'm gonna kick his ass"

"No need for that" he called out as he made his way down the hall. He turned his torch on his face so the agents could recognize him.

"About bloody time" one joked as Vaughn handed him several new rounds of ammo.

Vaughn joined the men in their firing. All his months of training were paying off, as he got a few good shots in the poor lighting.

Soon the resistance ended and the men began their retreat. "Beta team, come in. This is Boy Scout. What is your position?" Vaughn whispered into his coms.

"We are at the rendezvous point Boy Scout" the reply came

"Copy that. Stay there. Alpha team are on their way"

"Copy that"

"Alright guys, we are out of here" Vaughn whispered to the group as they slowly made their way through the corridors.

You never expect to get shot. I mean, who does? The shock of being shot makes the pain ten times worse, because you are confused with nothing real to attach you mind to. As they turned on the staircase, several men were waiting for them and Vaughn quickly stumbled back, clutching his thigh. Already, blood was starting to soak his clothes. He tore of his jacket and began to wrap it around his wound, unaware that his coworkers were firing back. None of this was registering in his head.

Don't be cruel, please God! Don't let me be killed now, after this whole time. I just want to go home. Please don't tell me you have been teasing me all this time, only to steal it away from me at the last moment. Oh please God!

Slowly, consciousness slipped away from him and Vaughn collapsed as gunfire surrounded him.

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