Hey every body!

Sorry for the lack of updates, school (and life if I'm being honest) as been kicking my a**. But hey, I am here now with the second half of part II.

Enjoy your reading,

Pavs.

Chapter Twenty: At World's End

[Gunnar]

Every time he added a rock, he would see Gabrielle's corpse instead of Billy's. Barney told him it was enough, and he could hear the man's tears in his words. The Kid's death was hard enough as it was, but losing her…They had to rescue her.

He couldn't let her die.

[Gabrielle]

I was shaking uncontrollably. I wasn't dressed for this type of temperature, and the fact that I hadn't had anything to eat probably didn't help either. Igor was looking at me with a smile that made me feel even sicker than the smells in here. Then he turned on the light, and I threw up.

[Hale]

He couldn't eat. He knew Gunnar, Barney and Lee were on the verge of losing it. Maggie hadn't said a thing. There wasn't much to say. He heard a bang and saw that Toll had thrown his book on the plane's floor. Then he stopped and picked up one Gabrielle had bought him.

Hale looked at his friend sitting back down, holding his book like a child would hold his teddy bear. He felt a tear rolling down his cheek. They had to find her.

And Church could go fuck himself if he thought this mission would pass before his friend's life.

[Tool's]

They were in the office still trying to find a way to get to her. Yang had taken care of Tool's head and had given him ice. They were running out of time and options. Barney had called to make sure he was fine and to have so more info.

Then he had explained what they saw happening to her. They could hear the fear and pain in Barney's voice. Tool's heart broke. He'd promised her he'd protect her. Trench wasn't looking much better, and he knew Yang was affected too. But they didn't have time for that.

''I think I found someone who could help,'' Yang said finally.

They all looked at the screen, and Trench sighed.

[Gabrielle]

I woke up to the sound of bullets before a big detonation sent me flying backward. I ignored the dizziness and tried to get back up. This was my only chance to get out. The other girls were…gone. Some had been there for a day or two at least. I closed the door and looked both ways before I tried to run. It hurt like hell, but I had to.

[Booker]

He saw Tool's number on his phone and frowned. It had been a while, and by ''a while'' he meant years.

''Booker,'' he answered.

''Good to know you're not dead,'' Tool replied.

''So, need me to help with Vilain?'' he asked while looking around the Sangs' files.

''How the fuck did you…'' Tool started before Booker interrupted him.

''I have my ways,'' Booker replied while pushing a corpse out of his way to look more closely at Barney's picture. ''So, he's in deep, isn't he?''

''Not him; his daughter,'' Tool replied.

''His what now?'' Booker asked before he saw a picture of her.

Tool would've laughed if the situation wasn't so serious. Booker took her picture and burned the rest.

''She's been kidnapped, and we need to find her,'' Tool explained while Booker opened another door.

He almost dropped his phone.

''I'll help,'' he said almost in a whisper.

''John?'' Tool asked, worried by his voice.

''I am currently looking at five dead girls on mattresses in what appears to have been a sex trafficking compound. I'll help you kill those fuckers. Just tell Barney I am looking out for her,'' He said before he hung up.

Tool felt the blood drain from his face as Trench started packing with Yang.

[Barney's Plane]

They were on their way to find Vilain when Barney's phone rang. He answered it.

''You got something?'' he asked the person who was calling.

''Booker is on it. We are on our way to you,'' Yang said.

''What does this mean?'' Barney asked while Lee motioned him to put the phone on speaker, which he did.

''When I called Booker, he'd just found one of the Sangs' safe houses. I suspect they had kept some information there on you, because he knew you needed help,'' Tool explained.

''So what?'' Lee asked.

''He also found five dead girls in a room full of mattresses…'' Tool added with a shaking voice.

''No,'' Barney said, his voice wobbling as much as Tool's was.

''But she's still alive, isn't she?'' Gunnar asked with a desperate tone to his voice.

''We can only hope,'' Tool said, his voice almost in a whisper.

[Gabrielle]

I had walked for hours before I found an abandoned place where I could hide. I was still bleeding, and my body was in an ocean of pain. I looked into each room, making sure they really were empty before I spotted three corpses in the backyard.

I started crying uncontrollably. There wasn't a phone here. I couldn't call for help. I was alone, and I was scared.

.

The sun was starting to rise when I woke up again. Even though I'd fallen asleep on a couch, my body still felt like I'd slept on the floor. I went to one of the small bedrooms and found clothes. I got rid of what was left of mine and tried to wash myself in the (thankfully) working shower. My cuts and scratches burned, but the last thing I needed was an infection. And I needed to get rid of the smell too.

I contained my tears and put on some makeshift bandages on my deepest cuts. Then I managed to get dressed and went to look for food. There wasn't much, but I wasn't about to complain. I didn't look into the fridge. I wasn't even sure it was working. The place looked more like a hunting cabin than an actual house, but it was better than nothing.

Once I was done, I packed as much as I could carry before I started walking again. I had to find them.

[Lee]

He had been going back and forth for hours, and his patience had run out ever since he'd heard about Booker's discovery, if not before. He heard the engine make a weird noise, and he sighed before he stopped the truck on the side of the road.

He then heard Barney calling him with the radio. His team was under attack and he had the guns and ammos.

''Bloody fucking hell!'' he exclaimed before he heard a noise behind him.

[Gabrielle]

I walked painfully between the trees, dreaming of the road that seemed so much easier to walk on, but I couldn't risk it. My head was killing me, and I felt like I would throw up at any moment. I had problems breathing and basically felt like I was dying.

I heard a truck getting closer, and I swore under my breath. I tried to go faster, but the dizziness took over, and I fell. The truck came to a complete stop, and I could hear someone getting out.

''Bloody fucking hell!'' exclaimed a voice I thought I would never hear again.

I got up, and I felt my knees shaking. Then he looked my way, and I started crying.

[Lee]

He'd turned to look in the forest and was about to pull out his gun when he heard her.

''Lee!'' she called, and he ran.

She was about to fall when he caught her in his arms. She was crying.

''It's ok. I am here now. I got you. I got you,'' he told her with a soft voice.

But he was crying too. She was there with him. She was alive.

''I missed you. I am so sorry,'' she kept saying again and again.

''I got you. It's ok,'' he kept replying back.

He put her in the truck and hurried up on the engine check before he got back behind the wheel. She put her hand on his arm as he sped up toward the others.

''I am tired,'' she said.

''You can't sleep, love,'' Lee answered, trying to stay calm.

''But it hurts, and I am tired,'' she said while closing her eyes.

''Don't close your eyes. Don't fall asleep. Please, love, I am begging you,'' he said while putting his hand on hers. ''I already lost you to Gunnar, but for fuck sakes, love, don't break my heart like that. I love you too much to lose you that way. I didn't give up on you, so don't give up on me.''

''I love you too,'' she replied before she lost consciousness.

Lee let the tears fall and kept his eyes on the abandoned town in front of him. He needed help.

[Team]

Booker had just taken off with the promise that he would keep looking for any news on Gabrielle or Vilain when Lee pulled up.

''It's about time!'' Hale exclaimed with a smile before he saw Lee running out of the truck.

''Help!'' he exclaimed while taking Gabrielle in his arms.

Barney ran to his daughter, followed closely by Gunnar and the others. Lee put her on the ground where they took her vitals. She was still breathing, and her heart was still beating, but she was weak.

Lee and Barney put her on a stretcher before they brought her to the other truck while Maggie and Gunnar were gathering their medical supplies. They all took off as soon as Hale and Toll had transferred the guns and ammos with Maggie behind the wheel.

[Gabrielle]

I could feel the pain, I could hear the voices, but I couldn't talk. Everything was dark. I was cold again. I heard Toll from far way; he was ordering Hale and Gunnar to hold me only seconds before I felt a needle.

The pain was like a cold bucket of water, and I woke up screaming.

[Team]

''Gabrielle, it's ok. I am trying to help you,'' Toll said while Gunnar and Hale were holding her back from trying to escape.

''Please stop it hurts,'' she pleaded. and Toll tried to fight back the tears.

''I know it does, Gabes, but I have to keep going,'' he said before he kept going, and this time, she tried to contain her scream.

''It's ok älskling, I am here,'' Gunnar soothed, and she cried.

''Don't go,'' she begged before her eyes rolled back into her head, and she lost consciousness once more.

Gunnar felt like his whole world was collapsing while Barney was trying to contain his rage.

''She'll be ok, she has to,'' Toll said while doing everything in his power to try and heal her.

Hale felt all his strength leave him, and he sat back while Lee was caressing her arm. Toll sat back too, having done all he could. Barney repositioned himself so that Gabrielle's head could rest on him.

.

He had been caressing her hair and talking softly to her for about two hours when he heard her.

''Dad?'' she asked before she started coughing.

Lee gave her some water, and she sighed as soon as she finished drinking.

''Don't try and go too fast,'' Barney said, and she nodded. ''I am so sorry Gabrielle.''

''I told them nothing,'' she said with a weak voice.

''You could have,'' Barney replied with a shaking voice. ''We would have understood.''

''No way in hell,'' she said with a small smile. ''You're family.''

She took his hand in hers, and Barney started crying.

''I never wanted that for you,'' he said with a shaking voice. ''It was my biggest fear, and I let it happen.''

''You didn't. You looked for me, didn't you? I am here. You're here. We're ok,'' she said. ''I love you.''

Barney kissed her forehead, and she closed her eyes to fall back asleep.

.

Barney had to go back to the front of the truck with Lee, so Gunnar had switched places with him. He was holding her against him as much as her state allowed him to. He hated to see her like that. She had a fever. He could tell by the way she was sweating even though she was freezing cold. Her breathing suddenly became more elaborated before she got up and vomited on the floor. Gunnar pulled her hair back gently.

''I am so sorry,'' she cried once she was done, and Gunnar offered her his bottle of water wordlessly. ''Thank you.''

''Of course, princess,'' he replied almost in a whisper.

He didn't know what to tell her. He took his other bottle to try and clean the truck. His hands were still covered in her blood.

''It's ok Gunnar. I love you,'' she said, and he started shaking.

She hugged him the best she could.

''I love you so much,'' she added, and he hugged her back like his life depended on it.

Toll and Hale were watching them with heavy hearts.

''Thank you,'' she whispered sincerely.

They both nodded, and she smiled.

''I missed you too,'' she added, and she could see the beginning of a smile appearing on their lips as well.

.

Maggie was definitely not the type of woman he wanted as an enemy, but at least they knew where to go next. Barney didn't like the fact that Gabrielle had to go with them, but there was no way he would let her out of his sight. Tool, Trench and Yang hadn't reached them yet. At least he'd talked to Booker, who'd insisted on keeping an eye open for Vilain.

.

They heard gunshots, and Barney came to an abrupt halt before the guys took their positions. Gabrielle stayed hidden in the truck until she heard Maggie.

''No! Wait,'' Maggie exclaimed before she added on a softer tone. ''These guys are here to help. They want to help.''

''Even you two rejects could get lucky 'round here,'' Hale said before he felt a weak slap behind his head.

''Where are your manners?'' admonished a weak Gabrielle before she came forward. ''The Sangs got to me too. We really are here to get rid of them.''

The women looked at her, and they all put their guns down.

''Ok, come inside,'' one of them said, and Gabrielle followed after her.

They went in one of the buildings where they waited for the woman to open a hidden door.

''This is who we think you had come for. This is who we will die for,'' she said before she explained them how the Sangs had tricked them.

Barney kept his daughter close to him, and he could see that the story of these women was deeply upsetting her. He couldn't deny that it was disturbing. They were real bastards, and he had a plan.

[Gabrielle]

The more my father talked, the more I could feel my anxiety rising. I was still hurting, and I was tired. I highly doubted I could defend myself properly if need be. I felt a hand in mine and looked up to see Toll. I squeezed his hand back, and he looked at me.

''Just like training,'' he whispered. ''And I won't be too far away.''

''Thank you,'' I said.

''Of course,'' he replied.

''You know, I really am lucky to have you as a friend,'' I added, and he let go of my hand to pass an arm around my shoulders.

''I feel the same about you,'' he said, and I smiled, feeling a bit better.

''I'd say I feel the same too, but it would be a bit awkward,'' Gunnar said, and I let out a small laugh.

Toll let go of me and took a step back.

''I love you so much. Please be careful,'' Gunnar said, and I kissed him.

[Gunnar]

He closed his eyes and kissed her back. He was terrified at the idea that he'd almost lost her, that he still could.

''I love you too. Be safe,'' she said before he went to join the others.

He was the last one to say goodbye. He only hoped it wasn't forever.

[Gabrielle]

There were a lot of screams and shooting. I could feel the adrenaline of the fight as the sounds of the battle got closer. I heard footsteps above me and tried to hide my breathing. One of the Sangs opened the hidden door, and I shot him with the gun my father had left me before I hit the other.

I told the young men to run while I tried to get to my family, the adrenaline would take care of the rest.

[Lee]

''Two men down. Gabrielle is nowhere in sight. The boys have fled,'' Lee called on the radio.

He'd tried to get to her in time, and it pissed him off that he hadn't. He heard bullets fly past his head and took cover.

''Bloody hell,'' he swore under his breath.

[Gabrielle]

I couldn't even explain how bad I wished I could simply stop and take a nap, but I kept going and arrived at the small church were the team where supposed to meet before they would come and get me. So much for having a plan.

I could see them all shooting the same man and shivered. I even puked in my mouth a little when my father told him to ''rest in pieces''. It was violent. I looked around and slowed down, thinking we'd got them all. I was close to Lee when I noticed how wrong I was.

''NO YOU DON'T, YOU MOTHER FUCKER!'' I screamed before I tackled the man to the ground.

I was way too angry at the man for trying to kill Lee to even notice the pain. I started to hit him as hard as I could, each punch landing on his face.

''Gabrielle!'' called my father with a shocked voice.

I stopped hitting him and took out my knife. I place the blade against his throat hard enough so that he started bleeding.

''I have been kidnapped, beaten and almost raped, walked a fucking thousand miles, and its only fucking Monday. So, if you bloody piece of shit think that you'll kill Lee with his back turned nonetheless, you've got another motherfucking thing coming cause I'm done with this bullshit!'' I replied almost screaming at the end.

I punched him with the handle of my knife and he lost consciousness. Then I got up, breathless and enraged, only to see them all staring at me with shock written all over their faces.

[Lee]

It took much more time than it should've for him to fully process what she'd done. And she'd done it for him. He saw her look at the ground in shame and went to give her a hug.

''Thank you,'' he said, sincere.

''I promise I won't give up on you too,'' she replied, and he hugged her a little tighter.

[Barney]

He had no idea what to say. Part of him was in shock, and the other was angry that she'd been through so much trauma that he could see the changes in her. But there was a small, tiny part that was so proud and impressed that it rendered him speechless.

She was so much stronger than he thought. She was also much more like him than he'd first believed. Only, she had somehow managed to keep her values…for now. It scared him too. Lee let her go, and she turned to him.

But he still didn't know what to tell her.

[Gunnar]

He saw the sadness and hesitation in her eyes when Barney had just started walking without saying anything. He was quite speechless too. A whole lot of his biggest fears about what could happen if their job bit them in the ass had turned from a nightmare to reality. He fucking hated it. She'd beaten the guy, and while he'd been impressed, it made him feel uneasy to say the least.

It wasn't her. This was another Gabrielle, one that he didn't know how to deal with. What was left of the spark and innocence in her eyes after the attack at the hangar were long gone when she'd beaten the shit out of Vilain's guy.

And seeing her with Lee was, somehow, worse. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something felt…off with Christmas attitude towards her. He knew they'd gotten closer when he'd had a relapse, but seeing it?

He trusted Gabrielle, though, and he still loved her. God did he love her. He walked to her, and she took his hand.

''I can't wait to get home with you,'' she told him before she stopped to look at him. He faced her, and she kissed him. ''I love you; I miss our home.''

He felt his heart swell with love and hope.

''I love you too. I'll bring you home. I promise,'' he answered, and she smiled before they resumed their walking.

And he prayed that she would be 'back' when they got home.