The vans screeched to a stop in front of the saloon. Darien grabbed Maggie by the arm and pulled her against him. His lips pressed against her. He put everything he felt for her in that kiss, just in case. She threw one arm around his neck, holding him close.

"I love you," he whispered into her ear.

She looked up into his eyes. "I love you, too, Dary."

Hobbes cleared his throat. "Heads up, kids," he warned, as the first bullets ripped through the soft wood of the front of the saloon.

Maggie released Darien and shot back. There were several men out front, holding automatic weapons. Hobbes ducked behind the bar with them. "I don't know how long we're going to be able to last."

They continued to fire back at the Cobalt agents outside. Maggie ducked behind the bar to change her clip. She glanced up at the two men.

"They want me," she said quietly.

"What'd you say, Mags?" Hobbes asked. He also ducked behind the bar to change clips.

"I said, they want me." They locked eyes for a moment before Maggie leapt to her feet and ran for the back door. She heard Darien call out to her as she ran.

The land behind the saloon was empty and barren. A bland tan spread out as far as she could see. Maggie kept running, until she turned and saw the saloon was a safe distance away. She could see four black helicopters a short distance away and felt relief at knowing backup had arrived. She stopped and turned, watching as a small dark figure walked toward her. The figure slowly grew larger the closer it got.

Eventually, Maggie recognized the man as the one who had approached her to work for Cobalt originally. He was also the one who threatened her, her friends and family.

Maggie stood unmoving in the open land. When he was about twenty yards away, she pointed her gun at him and the man stopped. They stood for a few moments, watching each other.

"Say I go with you, what happens then?" she called to him, dropping her gun hand down.

He took a couple of steps towards her and she flexed the hand that was holding the gun. "You would be a queen among our organization. Together, we could rule the world."

She laughed, a good, hearty sound. "Isn't that a song? Everybody wants to rule the world."

"Don't you?" He took another step closer. "You could bring Agent Fawkes with you. I know you have a certain fondness for him."

All her senses were wide open and she could feel Darien brushing against the edges of her mind. He had followed her and was now hovering somewhere behind her, ready to help if she needed it. She also recognized several Agency and Cobalt agents nearby. The man in front of her was a brick wall as she tried to read him.

"Are you trying to read me, Agent Rourke?" The man sounded amused. "I think you'll find that I'm a complete blank to you."

"Who the hell are you?"

"We're Cobalt," he said it like that answered all her questions.

"Oh, well, that certainly clears everything up." She rolled her eyes. "I'm not going with you." She raised the gun, pointing it at the man. There was a flurry of action in her mind as the Cobalt and Agency agents reacted to her actions.

"Did anyone ever tell you that you shouldn't point that at anyone you're not willing to shoot?" He sounded overly cocky.

Maggie raised an eyebrow. "Who said that I'm not?" There was a shout behind her, but she ignored it; her finger tightening on the trigger.

"Do you want to do this?" Darien 's breath tickled her ear.

"Yes."

"Tell me what you want me to do."

She brought her right hand up to support her left. "Just back me up, Darien ."

He put a hand on her shoulder briefly. "Always, princess."

"So are you going to shoot me, or are we going to stand here all day?" The man asked in his superior voice.

Maggie pulled the trigger, hitting him in the knee. He went down with a shout and Cobalt agents swarmed towards her. She felt a weight on her stomach as Darien put his arm around her. Coolness slipped over her skin as he Quicksilvered her and pulled her away from the ensuing firefight.

Darien released her when they were back to the saloon. Claire ran toward them and threw her arms around Maggie.

"I am so happy to see you, Maggie."

"Hi, Claire." She stood still as the doctor fussed over her.

"Let's get in the chopper. We'll get you home," Claire suggested. Darien grabbed Maggie's hand and pulled her toward one of the waiting helicopters.

The pilot looked up as they approached, his face covered by his helmet. Something felt off to Maggie and she stopped, pulling Darien to a stop with her.

"That's not our pilot."

The pilot laughed and pulled his helmet off. "Very good, Maggie."

"Who are you?" she asked, exasperatedly. Maggie was getting tired of people trying to kidnap or kill her.

The man laughed. He had blue eyes that sparked at her as he smiled. His hair was long and blond and the desert wind whipped it back from his eyes. "I suppose I would feel the same way, if I were in your position."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Who are you?" she repeated.

"My name is Adam. I'm the leader of Cobalt."

"Then who was the joker I just shot?" Maggie gestured in the direction she'd just come from.

"That was our public face. Rubens was useful, but not necessary. Expendable, if you will."

Darien was standing very close behind Maggie, his hands on her hips. He was prepared to Quicksilver Maggie and run if they had too.

"You wouldn't get very far, Mr. Fawkes," Adam assured him. "There are agents all around prepared to react should you attempt to go invisible." He glanced at Claire. "And think of Doctor Morgan, what would happen to her?"

Darien looked at Claire, suddenly remembering the other woman standing near the helicopter. There was an agent holding her at gunpoint. Maggie cursed softly. She reinforced her mental walls before turning to Claire.

"Claire, run," Maggie said very softly.

"What?"

"When I say, run. Find Hobbes." Maggie's eyes never left Adam, who was watching them with a bemused expression.

"What are you planning, Maggie?" he asked with obvious curiosity.

Maggie ignored him. "Go, Claire," she ordered. At the same time, she threw up a telekinetic field in front of the doctor. When the agent fired at the fleeing woman, he found the bullet going no where.

Adam grinned broadly and applauded. "Very good, Maggie. Well done." A moment later, Maggie staggered backwards into Darien as something invisible slammed into her. Before she could raise a shield, she was hit by another force. She fell back, hitting the dusty ground with a thump. Darien was sprawled unconscious on the ground behind her.

She quickly raised a telekinetic bubble around both of them and reached out for Adam's mind. Furiously, she wore away at his mental shields. He reacted with a scream, trying to push her out of his mind.

"Get out of my head, you BITCH!" he screamed, pressing his hands to his temples.

Maggie got to her feet. "You get out of my life," she retorted. Still in her protective bubble, she took a step towards him.

"You could run Cobalt, just join us," Adam pleaded with her. His face was frozen in a grimace of pain.

"No." Despite the softness of her voice, her words carried to him easily. "Because of you, I had to leave my home, my life. I've been running for three years. I want to be left alone." Neither one of them saw Hobbes coming around the side of the helicopter. His gun was held tightly in his hand.

"You belong with us, Mag-" A loud bang cut him off. Adam's eyes were wide with surprise before he toppled forward onto the ground. Hobbes was standing behind him, his gun still held at head level.

Maggie dropped her telekinetic bubble and turned to Darien . He was sitting up, rubbing his head. He looked at Maggie and then over at Hobbes and Adam's body.

"What happened?" he asked her when she knelt next to him.

"Hobbes killed him. Are you okay?" She put her hand on his cheek and looked into his eyes.

He nodded and pulled her into a hug. Hobbes came up behind them. "Hey, kids. Can we go home now?"

Maggie laughed and let Hobbes help her up. She in turn helped Darien to his feet. "That sounds good to me."

Claire jogged over to the group. "Is everyone alright? I heard gunfire."

Maggie pointed to the body next to the helicopter. "Hobbes shot Adam."

"Are you all okay?" She glanced briefly at the body before turning back to the trio. They nodded.

"I just want to go home," Maggie said, leaning against Darien for a moment. He nodded and put an arm around her shoulders.

"That sounds like a very good idea," Darien agreed. He turned to Hobbes. "Who's in charge here?"

"Mitchell. He's a good man. He'll make sure everything's cleaned up." Hobbes reassured him, pointing out the tall bulky agent standing near the van.

"Good. Let's go then." Claire ushered them over to the waiting helicopter. The pilot nodded at them as they climbed in. As soon as they were strapped in, he took off. Maggie leaned into Darien and smiled as he tightened his arm around her.