1A/N: Alright, this is either my third or second last chapter. I'll see how far I can take it in this chapter before determining whether there is one or two more. Wish me luck . . .
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Frozen Fear
0327
Ballando il Teatro dell'Opera Leggero
Jake's POV
Flashback
"Keep close," Jane whispered to me, her hand grasping the back of my own as we shifted through the dark tunnel, our guns out in front of us. The sound of her breathing echoed in my ears – staggered, but in efforts to keep calm. I tried vainly to slow my racing heart. Jane seemed to notice this, and flashed me a reassuring smile while she inched ahead of me, her gun now drawn out with two hands. I followed systematically, keeping my back to the wall.
"I'll go first," I muttered futilely. I already knew she wouldn't settle for that.
Even through the darkness, I could see the glare upon Jane's face, lighting her eyes in the way only anger could. "I can handle it," she muttered forcefully. "You just stay where you are."
I rolled my eyes as she started to set off, but I kept myself right in step behind her. "I'm coming with you."
Jane sighed exasperatedly though you could tell she'd expected it. She knew me, and anyone that knew me as well as Jane did, would know I would never leave her by herself. Most times this annoyed her, but times like now, no matter how much she tried to act irritated, I knew she was appreciating it.
We both inched on either side of the door, our eyes connecting sharply for one lingering second. I nodded and in that snap second she pulled out of the corner, her foot flying out in front of her and breaking down the door. I was immediately by her side, my gun level with me. And we both stared into an inky black darkness. Jane's eyebrow rose up but she said nothing as we filtered into the room, our arms snapping in each direction as we surveyed every aspect of the room. Jane sighed, and her hands loosened on her gun. "There's no one here, Jake."
I kept my back to the wall as I took the left side of the room. "That's yet to be determined."
And then it happened.
Jane was thrown against the wall, her gun flying out of her grasp. I whirled around but too late. Two arms wrapped around me from behind and pinned me strongly against the wall, causing me to drop my gun also. I could see out of terrified eyes Jane on the ground, struggling desperately to get up as her back was pressed against the wall. And I could see him – his back to me, with his gun held out. Jane's eyes were wide, her skin suddenly pale. And I knew at that split second how terrified she was. Jane hid it well, but not from me. She couldn't hide anything from me. Jane looked over at me, her bright green eyes suddenly softening for a second. She bit her lower lip, and then gave me the most beautiful most frightened smile I had ever seen. And then –
The shot rang out through the room. I screamed and bolted forward, breaking through the man's grip. Time seemed to hang for one precious minute. Jane's body soared down to the ground, her hand outstretched in front of her. I ran forward. And she fell to the floor, her body connecting limply with the ground. I collapsed beside her, blood pooling out from behind her. The bullet had gone through fully.
"Jake," she choked out my name. I closed my eyes. I could feel tears swimming. This was the end. It was in her voice, in her eyes. And in my heart.
"No," I whispered angrily – forcefully, as I felt my arms wrap around her torso, clutching Jane's body to mine. "You can't leave me."
"Jake."
"I won't let you go!" I screamed pathetically. My voice was estranged from my throat. I felt like a lost child. "You can't leave me," I repeated, drawing my face down close to hers. "I need you."
Jane trained her eyes towards me and I could now see the tears welling up in those beautiful green eyes of hers. The eyes I loved so much. The coldness of her tears flowed down her cheeks and onto my warm palm. I brushed them away with my thumb. Jane continued to cry but now her body was racked with convulsions. Blood flowed everywhere.
"No!" I screamed as I felt her life force float slowly out of my reach. "No, you can't go!" Jane continued to shake, her body writhing with agony. "You can't! I need you!" Her eyes were desperate, full of some unknown emotion. "You can't."
My voice broke, the sadness no longer hidden. I buried my face in her chest as though trying to transfer my body heat to her but instead I was left soaking in her blood. "Don't leave me." Jane wasn't the only one sobbing now, tears flowed freely from my eyes onto the nape of her neck and rolled down her body.
"I – I love you," the words staggered from my mouth, sounding all broken and wrong. I stared into Jane's eyes but they were no longer emerald and held the rich color I loved – a milk tone was washing over them. She was going . . . she was dying.
"I'm sorry," she whimpered against my breath, her body shaking. "I'm so sorry . . ."
Tears roll down my cheeks but I push them away with blood soaked hands. "Why are you sorry?" I whispered, holding her body to mine. "You've got nothing to be sorry for."
Jane flashed me a pained smile. "I'm sorry for making you wait so long . . ." her eyes flickered up to mine, agony suddenly capturing her eyes. "I love you, Jake."
I pulled her face close to mine, the intensity of both our lives firing itself into one incredible attraction. "I love you," I whispered again and then I bent my head down into what – I realized with foreboding sadness – was something I'd never gotten to do. My lips touched hers and instantly all my senses went haywire. My eyes burned. I felt the moistness of her lips and both our pent up desire. It was invigorating, stimulating. And then . . .
It came. The coldness . . . I pulled back. Her lips were dark, lifeless, emotionless . . . She was gone. From my throat erupted a deep anguished cry as my eyes swam with the pain, the loss. I clutched her body to mine. All the memories soared through my mind. Memories of her laughing, her teasing, her fighting with me, the memories of her living. And I laid like that, her body pressed up to mine, and me only a shell of my former self . . .
End Flashback
I shot up from the wooden bench I was lying on, my heart racing madly. Her whimpers echoed in my ears. My breathing was staggered, heavy. Sweat rolled down my forehead and onto my cheeks. And for the first time in many years, I cried.
The Next Morning
The Toro
Harm's POV
"You're not coming, Mac," I whispered tersely as Mac crossed her arms over her chest and glared at me. "I don't care what you say, you are NOT COMING."
"That's not your decision to make!" Mac hollered back at me throwing a towel at my head as we exited the hotel room. Her anger seemed to radiate from her core as we marched swiftly down the halls.
I exhaled deeply, following her with a roll of my eyes. "Mac, please, listen to me."
"I prefer not to listen to idiocy," Mac snaps back coldly. "I'm coming with you."
Desperation clings to my voice. "Mac, please . . ." I trail, pulling her arms so that she looks into my eyes. "I love you, and I love Hunter, and I don't want him growing up without a dad. I had to do that, but at least I had five years of memories."
"Memories which tore you apart," Mac reminded me softly.
My eyes don't meet hers for a minute. "I don't want him missing both his parents, Mac. That's not fair to Hunter and that's certainly not fair to you." I stare at her now. "But more than that I just want you to be safe. So . . ." I trail, looking at her desperately. "Please, Mac?"
Mac stares into my eyes for a really long time – and for those few precious minutes, time just seems to hang still. Mac sighs, her eyes closed for a minute. "Find, Harm, I won't come with you."
I look at her in surprise. I know Mac, and Mac doesn't give in that easy . . . "Promise?" I asked weakly.
Mac looks into my eyes. "I promise."
But somehow I'm left with the feeling that Mac just played me very well . . .
An hour later
The Toro
Clay's POV
"Vera, you can't," I said, pushing past her as I opened the door, motioning her through to the hall. Vera just stood there, her hip jutted out and angry sparks flashing in her dark eyes.
"I can do whatever the hell I want," she shot back. "And you can't stop me."
And I sighed, having had this fight with Vera a million times. "Look, Vera, normally I would have no problem with you coming in with me –"
"Yes, you would," Vera snapped.
"BUT this is different," Webb plowed on. "Not only are you eight months pregnant, you've got a personal score to settle with Abbas, and we can't have emotions getting in the way of carrying out this job."
Vera stares at me incredulously. "Look who's talking!"
I rolled my eyes. "End of discussion."
"Clay –"
"No, Vera."
"But, Clay – " Vera began but I interrupted her with a glare.
"I said no, Vera, now drop it!" I hissed, pulling on my jacket as we both filed down the hall. "Look, Mac's not going either, so you won't be alone." Vera glared at me. I sighed, "Do you want me to drag Jake down here to tell you off?" Her silence said it all. "Look, I'll see you when I get back," I whispered in her ear, putting a comforting arm around her. "Okay?"
Vera's scowl did not last long. She exhaled slowly. "Just catch him, okay?"
I smiled at her. "I'm so glad you're concerned for my safety."
Vera grinned back at me. "Oh yeah, that too."
And as I walked on down the hall towards the lobby where Jake, Harm, Shapiro and Teddy stood I felt the significance of this moment weight down upon my shoulders. I took a fleeting look back at Vera who stood at the top of the stairs, her dark eyes watching me and I smiled, nodding at the same time. But for some reason I just could not shake the sense of foreboding that had washed over me.
Five Minutes later
The Piazza
Jake's POV
"Jesus, Jake, did you sleep at all last night?" Shapiro asked as we walked down the square. "You look like hell."
"Thanks," I replied, rolling my eyes. "And you look like –"
"Alright," Webb interjected. "This is a crucial moment to our plan, I would thank you all if you kept profanity at a minimum and professionalism at a high."
"Yes, sir, Special Agent Boss," Shapiro said cheekily, saluting Webb.
Harm was quiet.
"What's wrong?" I asked him, jamming my hands into my pockets moodily. "Worried?"
Harm sighed. "Yeah, I guess . . . I don't know. Mac's . . ."
"You're worried about Mac?" Clay asked. "Harm, she's back at the hotel with Vera."
"I know," Harm replied, nodding his head. "But it just seemed almost too easy . . ."
Same Time
Mac's Room
Mac's POV
"I can't believe you're doing this." Vera's voice is not disapproving, more . . . amused.
"I told him I wouldn't come with him," I replied as I pulled up the window to the hotel room, and looked down at the street below. We were on the second floor, so there wasn't much height. "I never said anything about not going."
Vera shrugged. "All's fair in love and war." She sighed. "I just don't see why I can't come with you."
I raise my eyebrow. "Vera, I'm climbing out a window, jumping onto a fire escape and then hopefully I can slide down the drainpipe to get down to the piazza. And you can't see why an eight-month pregnant woman wouldn't be able to do that?"
"Well you don't need to be so mean about it," Vera scoffed. "I could just walk out the door."
"You know Clay," I replied, rolling my eyes. "He will have put out a camera,. And he will have hooked it up to one of Teddy's screens. And The Kid practically worships him. He'll notify Clay if you've left and then who knows?"
Vera stared at the ground sullenly. "I'll take the risk," she grumbled.
I grinned at her. "Well, Clay won't. He's probably got some sort of security team down at the entrance." My eyes fall on hers imploringly. "You might as well just save them the time."
"Ngh."
I smiled as I put one leg out the window and edged myself down. "See you when I get back."
Vera gave me a nervous smile in return. "Good luck," she whispered hollowly, as I swung myself onto the fire escape. And as soon as I was out of earshot, she leaned the back of her head against the cold window pane. "You'll all need it."
Same Time
Bellando il Teatro dell'Opera Leggero
Harm's POV
"We're here," I breathed misty eyed. The wind felt strong against my face as it mercilessly stung my open eyes. I blinked as I felt a strong hand clap me on my shoulders and I looked around to see Jake standing there, his golden blonde hair rippling slightly in the wind, his face grim.
"It's show time," he whispered.
There was a sharp intake of breath on Clay's side and then, "Teddy, park the van outside the Opera House gate and don't move it unless I tell you to. I want you to keep me informed as soon as you see ANYONE enter the building. And I mean anyone. Abbas is like a chameleon. He can be a man, a woman, southern, African, Asian, anything. I need you to keep me informed."
Teddy nodded and headed towards the van.
Clay turned to Shapiro. "I want you to man the entrance. If you see Abbas coming, or anyone at all, keep hidden. We want Abbas, but we also want our snitch and Abbas's employer. Even if we get no more than Abbas we've achieved a great feat, but let's go for the full hundred."
Shapiro concurred with a sharp salute and pulled himself over the fence towards the entrance. Now it was just Clay, Jake, and I. The gravity between us is strong and pulling, but that doesn't break the bond that has formed between us. Through the day, the months, the years that have passed by, it seems unreal that it should ever come to this point. Do or die.
Clay stared at Jake and I for a long time, Jake's eyes were diverted to the ground, and I was trying hard not to concentrate on anything but Mac and Hunter. Getting home. "I . . . I don't want to tell you not to fire," Clay began, his eyes meeting mine. "Because if it means you or Abbas, I want you to shoot the hardest you can." I nodded. "I just don't want you going all trigger-happy on me, okay?"
"Okay," I whispered, as he passed a gun to me which I promptly shoved into my jacket pocket. My throat suddenly felt dry. "Let's do this."
Clay nodded. "Hang by Shapiro for a minute, I need to talk to Jake. But whatever you do, don't enter the Opera House by yourself, okay? Stick with Shapiro."
"I've got it, dad," I replied sarcastically, pulling my jacket up a little to ward the cold wind off me as I set off for the entrance, my hand clamping onto my gun just in case. Always prepared . . . always prepared.
Clay exhaled sharply as his grey eyes met Jake's hazel. "How are you doing?"
"Fine," Jake snapped, looking away.
Clay continued to stare at Jake. "Shapiro's right, you know, you look like hell. You should get a little more sleep."
"Well, pardon me for not taking tips from the Beauty King himself," Jake hissed, "but we've got a job to do here."
Jake moved to climb over the fence but Clay pulled his arm back down. "We're not finished here."
"The hell we aren't."
"Look, dammit, this about Vera!" Clay said bitterly, as Jake turned back around. Clay stared down hard at the ground. "Look, Jake, I know your feelings for Vera and –" Clay lifted his eyes to meet Jake's – "and I think we should talk."
Jake exhaled sharply, staring down at the ground bitterly. "Damn you, Webb, there's nothing to talk about." Jake scowled to himself. "You and I can talk until we're blue in the face but all it's going to come down to – all it's ever going to come down to is you, me, and Vera." Jake stared at Clay. "You make her happy, Webb. By some twisted miracle of fate, you make her happy. And if she's happy, I'm happy."
Jake moved to climb the fence again, but once more Clay pulled him down. "Dammit, Jake, why must you always play the hero? You love her and you'll just let her go? Let her run into my arms?" Incredulity seeped into his voice. "You can't love her then. You can't. If you did, if you felt any way like I do, you'd never let her go. You'd always hang on." Clay took in Jake's averted eyes, and in that split second, a softer look played upon Clay's face. Understanding. "But maybe you already do . . ."
Jake looked away, a pained expression overcoming his handsome features.
"Why didn't you sleep last night, Jake?" Clay whispered. No answer. "What did you dream about?"
"Shut up!" Jake whispered fiercely. "Shut up."
"It was her, wasn't it?" Clay pressed. "You saw her again."
"I told you to shut up!" Jake whimpered. "Just don't, Clay, don't."
"Jake, the sooner you talk about this . . ." Clay trailed but Jake flipped himself over the wire fence and was bounding into the Theater. Clay shivered slightly, adjusting the coat on his shoulders, his breath cloudy, as he looked up to the sky. "Please, God, let him be okay . . ."
Same Time
The Toro
Vera's POV
Knock. Knock.
Removing myself from the chair beside the window, I pulled upon the door. And there stood Catherine, the tip of her honey blonde head covered in a rather large old fashioned hat. And true to her personality, she was smiling wildly, ignorantly. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
"Vera!" she exclaimed. "Jeez, why aren't you down at the Theater?"
Can she GET any louder? "Shut up, Gayle," I muttered, pulling her into the room with me. "Clay won't let me go and I'm not exactly fit for window jumping." I glare at her shrewdly. "Why are you here?"
"To get you, silly!"
What . . .? "Huh?"
Catherine rolls her eyes. "Don't you want to be in on the action?"
"Well, yeah, but . . ." I begin but am suddenly stopped by my own logic. Of course I want in on the action. Why the hell am I talking myself out of it? I turn back to Catherine who's waiting for an answer. "Yeah, but how?"
"Disable the camera outside," Catherine motioned to the door. "He set it up right across your door. Ain't too smart of him. He'd see you through the lens if you were to open the door, but he can't see anyone from behind."
I blink. "You know how to disable a camera?" Catherine doesn't look smart enough to know how to put film in a camera.
"Yeah," Catherine quipped. "We're taught in training. Now are we going to go or what?"
I'm shaken out of my reverie. "Uh, yeah . . . let me just grab my jacket."
I pulled my windbreaker off the wall hanger and followed her out into the hall. We scrambled across the piazza over to the theater. "So Catherine, you didn't say what you were doing here, yet?" I prodded as we approached the wire gate which Catherine cleared rather acrobatically. I didn't climb. Catherine had to unlock the door.
"What do you mean?" Catherine asked frowning as she led me through a back entrance, right at the top of the building. And suddenly I had a very powerful feeling that Clay and Jake didn't know about this entrance. It was too high, and looked more like a crack in the wall than anything. I could feel my nerves on end. The silence was deadening.
"I mean, how did you know to come –" I begin but I'm silenced by a "Shh!" from Catherine as she pushes her way through a black velvet curtain. I can only blink as we make our way through. We're at the very top row of the wooden theater seats, hidden by the darkness that surrounded the theater. But I can make out Harm standing there on the floor, and Clay beside him. Just waiting . . .
Catherine pulled me down behind the top row of chairs and I grimaces as I squatted painfully. Babies were killer. Out of the cracks between seat 126 B and 127 B I could dimly make out Jake's lean form crouched behind one of the benches quite near the stage. I looked around for Mac but could find no sign of her. Either she was very well hidden or not here at all. The thought worried me.
And then suddenly, the air shifted. If possible it became tenser than it was before. Clay's cell phone rung. Everyone stared, no one breathed. I felt myself turn rigid in my crouched position. Catherine's breath grew loud and stormy in my ears. Clay picked it up, "Yeah?" a long pause and then. "Alright."
He turned back to Harm, though he spoke loud enough so that he knew Jake would hear. "He's coming."
Same Time
Same Place
Mac's POV
I felt myself freeze. Within my chest there was a powerful panging – the beating of my heart. My palms grew sweaty. He's coming. I shut my eyes in a dull hope that it would be over. Abbas would enter and Clay would kill him. Or Jake, hidden behind the bench. Or maybe Harm. But I didn't want Harm to kill him. I knew it would haunt him, just like it would me. Clay seemed to be cool to the point of not feeling, but I knew that wasn't true. Clay was as emotional as anyone as soon as you got him going. And Jake, I wish he had never entered the world of the CIA. He wasn't right for it. He was like Harm, he felt too much and too powerfully. It just wasn't right for him to be here. Not at all.
And then the footsteps came. Loud, ringing, powerful. They echoed with confidence and I felt myself beginning to shake. Suddenly I didn't care if Abbas was killed, I only wanted them out safe. I couldn't bear it if I lost Harm again. I could see Jake from where I crouched, behind the purple cape in the corner. I could see him stiffen behind the bench, but his finger never left the trigger. The barrel of the gun poked out from the small gap between the bench and the chair, his eyes never left the entrance to the stage room. He was ready. No, he was more than ready. I could tell it from the gleam in his eyes. He was craving it.
And it was at that moment that I wondered who had shot Jane. The Jane he loved so much. In the last year and a half that I've known Jake I've never seen a wilder or crazier look take him on, even when he was fighting with Clay or dreaming about Vera, I'd never seen him so passionate. He was like an animal, at that moment. Hunting, with only a bullet away from catching his prey. Jake never told me who shot Jane, but at that moment I knew. And I was scared for him.
The footsteps grew louder. They echoed in my ears. My breath seemed to hover within my throat. I felt sick. And then . . . he spoke.
"Don't shoot." I couldn't see him, he hadn't entered the room yet. Jake stiffened, Harm looked around wildly. Where was he? The footsteps stopped. My heart was pounding. Clay's eyes were jumping madly around the room. I was biting my lip hard.
"Give us a reason why we shouldn't," Clay challenged, turning his head above him because he didn't know where else to talk to. "Give us one damned good reason why we shouldn't put a bullet in your brain."
I never expected what happened next. None of us were prepared for it. Abbas laughed. Coldly, emotionlessly, his laughter roared throughout the room. "Just one?"
And then there was a sound behind us. I whirled around. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Jake swivel to face the back. Webb and Harm were looking through the darkness madly. But we could see her plain as day. Catherine Gayle stood up, with Vera in front of her, and a gun was pressed to Vera's head.
"Catherine?" Clay whispered incredulously. "You're the snitch?"
Catherine smiled coldly. "Can't believe it Clay?" Her eyes glinted darkly. "Who better than me? I hire, I fire. I pass on information. I retain information. But you already know that, Clay. That's why you wanted me in on your little mission."
Clay had gone white as a sheet. "Put the gun down, Catherine."
I could feel myself shaking, violently. Vera's breathing was regular and she kept a calm and collected exterior. But you had to know her real well to see the fear in her eyes, and right at that moment I knew her real well. The footsteps again, loud and smashing against the floor, and then he came. Like a ghost he floated in through the left entrance . . . Abbas.
He was shorter than I would have though, maybe around Clay's height, with a wire thin build and shocking dark hair. But I didn't take time to notice anything else. I was entranced by his eyes. They were cold and dark, unforgiving. I saw Sadik in them. Emotionless and unforgiving. I was shaken.
"Catherine, kindly bring Ms. Azhad up to the front here," he said, his voice as solid as frozen ice. I couldn't read the expression on Clay's face. It was untraceable. Catherine shoved Vera down through the seats, causing Vera to stumble, catching hold of the benches to keep herself from falling. She clutched her swollen stomach.
"Put the gun down, Holter," Abbas hissed, sensing Jake from behind the bench. "Put it down, or she dies."
Jake froze, his hand on the trigger.
"Put it DOWN, Holter!" Abbas commanded, his voice pressed. Catherine pulled Vera up to the stage, standing beside Abbas, her gun tight on Vera's temple.
"Dammit, Jake, put the gun down!" Clay hollered at him, his eyes frantic. I could feel the pressure, the mounting intensity of this one moment. Vera stood between Catherine and Abbas, her eyes wild and her breathing staggered. Clay was pale, and Jake was wild. Only Harm seemed to have his bearings, and even then he was frozen in place.
"Who are you working for?" Jake hissed, withdrawing his gun from Abbas's aim, but keeping it in his hand all the same. "Who's employing you?"
Abbas's eyes fell upon Jake, scanning each and every square inch of him, and I knew at that moment that Abbas had sized him up right. And the thought burned me to my very core. "Not at liberty to discuss."
I could feel the pounding in my ears, within my chest. But I couldn't bare to close my eyes and take myself away from the scene at hand. I couldn't.
"Let her go," Clay's voice shook.
A smile played across Abbas's lips though it didn't reach his eyes. This was fun for him. The thought made me sick. "No, I think not," he whispered, turning to Vera who glared back at him defiantly. "Quite a pretty catch, isn't she?" he hissed, staring directly at Jake and Clay. "I think I'm right in guessing she will be missed."
Clay's jaw clenched. "Damn you."
"Tsk tsk," Abbas shook his head, grinning as he did so. "Profanity will never get you anywhere, Webb." He turned back to Vera. "Especially with the ladies."
Vera shoved him as hard as she could in the ribs, but he pulled her arm backwards, struggling with his breath as he did so. Catherine's finger tensed on the trigger but Abbas shook his head. He had full control. He smiled coldly at Vera, "Feisty one. Such a shame, you would have made a nice operative."
"I'd rather die," Vera snarled.
Abbas's grinned broadened. "That's being arranged." He turned back to Clay, Harm, and Jake. "I'm leaving now. Taking her –" he cocked his head in Vera's direction. "Shoot and she dies. Stay here," he shrugged. "Maybe I'll let her live."
"And what are the chances of that?" Jake sneered. "Slim to one?"
Abbas's eyes narrowed. "Don't get mouthy or I'll shoot her right in front of you." He grinned coldly. "But then again, I suppose you're used to that."
Clay gripped his arm hard on Jake's shoulder to keep him from lunging out at Abbas. Clay's lips were white and his skin even paler. He never looked more old, yet never more scared. The fright of a child. "So you're just going?" his voice was trembling. "You're running away, taking Vera? You're a coward, you know that? A coward," he spat. "At least stay to duke it out."
Abbas yawned. "Frightful waste of time, just like now. We'll be off."
He turned to go but Harm's voice stopped him. "Wait!" I closed my eyes, praying he doesn't do something stupid. "You wanted me, right?" Harm challenged. "You're supposed to kill me. Why aren't you taking Vera? Why aren't you killing me?"
Abbas's eyes were black ice. "Who ever said you were the target?" he hissed. Clay's face creased into a frown. Jake stared at Abbas loathingly. My breath hung in my throat as Abbas laughed to himself. "Oh wait, I'm sorry. Terrible wording there. I mean, who said you were the ONLY target?"
Clay's eyes seemed to expand. Jake's mouth dropped open. I pushed down the gasp that threatened to escape me. Abbas smiled, "In exactly eight minutes this theater will explode. Kill me or not, you can't save yourselves. By allowing Catherine and I to pass, you are saving the life of Ms. Azhad. By killing us, you will all die. So, gentlemen, take your pick. Kill us all, or save her."
And the look that traveled between Harm, Jake, and Clay was identical. It was no choice. "Get out of here," Jake spat.
Abbas grinned, his eyes narrowing on Jake. "It's been nice seeing you again, Holter." His head jerked up to meet Clay's. "Webb." And then he turned to Harm. "It's a pity we didn't get to know each other better, Rabb. I could have sworn you could have made my kill proud."
And with that he pushed Vera to the side roughly, as Catherine slammed her gun into Vera's back, causing her to stumble. Vera shot one last look back on the three of them, her eyes seeming to connect with all of them. And then she nodded, swiftly and jerkily. But in that second, she seemed to have transferred a message. And with that, she was gone.
"What are we going to do?" Webb bellowed as soon as they were down the passage. Harm raced down the entrance Abbas had taken but came back almost immediately after. "They've bolted the door, we can't get through."
Webb swore loudly.
"Quick, the underground passage way," Jake said, running his fingers over the stage boards. "Look for a notch that looks like – Mac!"
"What?" Harm asked, suddenly turning around, his eyes catching sight of me as I pulled myself out from behind the curtain, my eyes frantic. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be at the hotel!"
"Well, I couldn't very well let you do this alone!" I hollered at him, pushing on his arm as Jake flipped open a trap door.
"Get in!" Jake screamed. "And hurry!"
I stumbled through the passage, my hands flying out before me as we raced down the tunnel, our panic echoing in our ears. I could feel my heart thumping madly within my chest as Harm grabbed onto one of my hands, squeezing in what he tried his best to make out reassuringly. I could only bite my lower lip. "Seven minutes and twenty-two seconds."
Jake leaped upwards, his hand connecting with the boards above and almost immediately falling back down. "Shit!"
"What?" Clay breathed, looking up to where the boards sat above. "What is it?"
"They've put something over it," Jake said, his muscles straining as he tried to shove the boards out of the way but it was futile. "We can't get out."
I felt my breath catch in my throat. "Then we'll get out my way."
"Your way?"
"Yeah!" I shouted as I raced back through the passage, towards the theater trap door. "I got in from the roof. I saw Shapiro was manning the entrance and I knew he'd tell you if he saw me, so I circled around the left and there was an open window on the roof, so I climbed up the drainpipe, and got in through that way."
"Damned gymnast, aren't you?" Jake muttered as we flung ourselves through the stage trap door and raced over the benches and up to the top floor.
"Are you actually complaining?" I challenged, as we belted up through the balconies on our way to the top. Dammit, why did opera houses have so many floors with so many seats?
"Don't talk," Webb muttered authoritatively as we sprinted. "Just run."
We sprinted up the third flight of stairs, my breath suddenly growing ragged. I could feel sweat collecting on my forehead but I pushed it aside. I saw Hunter sitting in his cradle, his blue eyes nothing but innocent. I couldn't have him growing up without his parents. And I saw Jake who never wanted anything more than Vera's happiness, and what was happening now I knew must be killing him. And Clay who's life had always been his job was now in jeopardy because the only woman he's ever truly loved is gone, possibly dead, and there's slim to no chance that we'll ever get out of here. And I thought to myself as we ripped up each staircase that I will never be in greater company than I am now and how damned unlucky I was to realize this three minutes before I'm about to die.
"The roof!" I gasped as I hurled myself up through the staircase and pushed the sliding shutter that led up to the roof open. Cold wind whipped into my hair and stung my bare skin as I pulled myself up onto the tiled face, pulling Harm up after me.
"Just run!" he bellowed as he bent over to help Clay up. "Just go!"
I didn't need any urging. I ran to the left side of the building and clung to the drainpipe as I slid down, praying to god that I wouldn't fall and break my neck. Oh irony.
"Hurry up, Jake!" Harm screamed, his voice hoarse and the wind drowning most of its volume. "We've got less than a minute!"
Jake swore into the wind. "We'll never make it."
Clay grasped hard onto one of Harm's arms as they clung to the drainpipe, sliding down it fireman-style. Jake following almost immediately after and landing on the ground hard because he'd fallen most of the way. The cold air surrounded us. I could feel my heart beating painfully within my chest as I ran across the gravel, my breath caught in my throat. And in the distance I could see Abbas and Catherine getting into their car, and shoving Vera onto the ground. She stumbled and hit the pavement, a pained groan escaping her. I ran to her, falling to my knees as I pulled her to get up. From the corner of my eye I could see Jake running, his skin pale and Clay and Harm behind him, they're face masks of concentration.
"Hurry up!" I screamed hoarsely to Vera. "We've got to go!"
Vera was crying, her face screwed up in agony. "I can't do it, Mac! It hurts!"
Jake was close now, pulling me up from the ground and throwing me away. "RUN!" he screamed, pulling on Vera's arm and wrenching her up to her feet. "It's going to BLOW!"
And with that startling statement, the entire opera house blew as chunks of stone and rock and wood crashed down above us from the air, as Ballando il Teatro dell'Opera Leggero was no more.
A/N: Sorry about the evil cliffie, but come on – I'm entitled to it, right? Besides, I haven't pulled one this mean on you in a while. Oh yeah, and this story's kind of ending next chapter, so now would be a REALLY good time to review.
Freezepops: the song is called 'Your Song' by Garth Brooks. Now, I've never actually heard the song, so I don't know whether it sounds good, but it's famous for its beautiful lyrics so I used it. I like the lyrics. Lol, and I know you'd love a happy ending! So . . . I'm ending the story next chapter!
Prinnie: I'll keep your rule in mind, and I'll definitely read your story. Just tell me when you post it.
Vhosek malacath: omg, I hope the ending's good. I couldn't stand it if I screwed up this ending. I love this story too much.
MiDushiNoSushi: Wow, this was a long chapter . . . I would have posted yesterday, except I thought it was mean to leave half way through. Don't you agree?
Jamie L: thanks, lol . . . and I don't want it to end either! Except it's going to . . . next chapter. Oh well, that's what sequels are for, anyway.
Lani: who knows? Maybe you're correct . . .
Froggy0319: Well, how's this for a treacherous chapter? I used everyone in it, though. I think. Oh yeah, and the cliffie ending. Doesn't that just keep you hooked?
Odakota: thanks! And I was trying to finish it for the summer, but time just did not cooperate . . .
ForensicsFreak1988: And you updated! So here's my chapter, securing our little deal . . .
Southernqt: well here you go! Your update. Wow, I was hardly breathing while I wrote it . . . omg, I'll never get to bed now.
Foxy Wombat: I don't want it to end either! But then again, the end's exciting, so I'll also have a fun time writing it, just like I did this chapter. Ah, you spread your confliction.
Concrete Angel Lullaby: oh yeah, I have a sequel . . . and I'll be starting it soon cuz next chapter FT finishes! For good!
Pissed Off Poet 1: Haha! 1 Chapter! Only one left! And then maybe an epilogue . . . unless I fit my epilogue like thing into the next chapter. But if I don't, and make another chapter, I've made exactly forty. Hmm . . .
Bite Beccy: Happy ending? Maybe . . . maybe not . . . depends on how you look at it
TV Angel 711: And you thought last chapter was a cliffhanger? Lol, well . . . I suppose I'm allowed to go all out in this chapter. I mean, it'll be my last chapter of FT with a cliffhanger. So I'm entitled to make it gasp worthy right? Oh yeah, and as soon as I finish Full Throttle I'll set to work on TLWL! I feel guilty I haven't updated in such a long time.
JamieAKAaclassyone: lol, Beyonce on crack . . . my friend would love that one. He's madly in love with Beyonce, has been since . . . uh . . . I don't know, the seventh grade? I'm not sure. And who knows if Jake and Vera will get together? Okay, I do, but I can't say till the next chapter. But I'll say one thing . . . it's no contest in the end.
Brontesgirl: thanks! And I hope you liked this chapter.