A refreshing wind blew off the surface of Lake Victoria; cooling his skin but not quite providing relief from the battering sun. As he observed Luke with apprehension, Noah could feel the salty drops of sweat tickling down the back of his neck and dampening the tight blue cotton shirt provided by Prudence; sweat that was as much from fear as is was from the burning African climate.

Finding strength from that secret place Noah knew existed deep within him; the place he had always marvelled at; Luke left the support of the tree and the shade of its leaves to take the three or four shaky strides needed to reach him.

They stood together in the sunlight; the swish of the chopper blades loud in their ears.

"Let them come." Luke repeated.

Breaking their gaze Noah took a moment to gage how much time they would have if they suddenly decided to make a break for the car. He watched the metal feet of the chopper wobble back and forth as the pilot sought to stable the craft on the rough ground of the field.

At least two soldiers armed with rifles were waiting until it was safe to jump out.

He wanted to flee and his head whipped back to Luke who stood firm, waiting for him; left hand extended palm up in invitation.

Noah glanced nervously around. Most of the village natives had left their homes and businesses to marvel at the helicopter; a rare sight for such a remote area. Their friends however, Lutalo still seated on the ground, had nervous eyes only for Luke; watching and waiting to see what the man planned to do next.

Noah wished to God he knew, but past experience made him wary.

"Take it." Luke instructed, bobbing his hand once, his eyes never leaving Noah's face.

Noah shook his head and flashed Luke a look of warning.

Luke stepped closer; leaning in to brush his smooth cheek against Noah's bearded one, "Trust me."

The fact that Luke was finding it difficult to breathe was even more evident in the rasp of his voice.

"Luke…" Noah began but his husband cut him off.

"I realise… I've not given you much reason too lately… but trust me. I know what I'm doing."

As the blonde drew back, Noah stared down at the proffered hand, hardly believing that he'd once more found himself in a situation where he felt too scared to take hold of it.

"Look at me."

Noah's gaze followed the honey sound of Luke's voice and he was jolted by the sheer force of Luke's determination

"I do trust you." Noah said.

He stopped analyzing and pressed his palm into Luke's, closing his eyes as the other man's fingers curled around the back of his hand.

By the time he'd opened them again Luke was in profile, head turned in the direction of the helicopter. Noah did the same, immediately recognising the army pincer movement as five soldiers quickly surrounded their small unarmed group.

Whatever happened now, they were trapped. All of their lives depended on Luke's plan.

Walking toward them in white trousers and black button down shirt; priest collar peeping through at the throat; was the man Noah had hoped never to lay eyes on again.

As he made his approach Simon Laarman leered at them from under a white brimmed hat. The minister sneered at their clasped hands and Noah felt his insides turning but resolved to stand firm for Luke's sake.

"Stay close to me." Luke whispered.

As if he wouldn't.

"Well, well, well." The minister smiled as he came to stand before them. He was directing his beady eyes and his words at Noah, "I never imagined I'd see you here. I see you tracked him down?"

"I see he's still alive." Noah coldly countered.

"For now…" Laarman smirked, dismissing Noah with a quick flick of his head to examine Luke, "but from the looks of him, it won't be for very long."

Noah felt a burning rage he couldn't hold back, "I'll kill you! You son of a bitch!"

Luke's right hand came up quickly to block Noah as he moved forward. He pressed his palm into Noah's chest as best he could in his weakened state.

Guns clicked and the soldiers lifted their rifles, aiming them at Noah's head; ready to protect the minister with force if required.

"Stop." Luke pleaded, trying to get Noah to focus on him rather than on the amused Laarman. "Noah! Stop! Look at me!"

Noah's chest heaved with anger as his eyes fell to Luke's.

"Relax." Luke told him, "I got this."

Noah stood tense for a few moments longer. But, concerned for Luke's wellbeing above all else, he finally relented and stood down, hand still locked with Luke's.

The rifles however stayed where they were.

"You've caused me a lot of problems Mr. Snyder. I had to cancel today's rally because of you."

Luke turned back to Laarman as the minister spoke, "Well, I consider that a good thing; a few less people to hear you preach your hatred too." He responded.

"I preach only the truth."

"Oh, really?" Luke smiled through his pain and Noah couldn't help but wonder how he did that; how he managed to speak so clearly, "And what exactly is your truth, minister? Do your followers even know? Do they know the real Simon Laarman or is this" Luke indicated toward the minster with his left hand, "all just for show?"

Laarman frowned at that and cocked his head at the blonde.

As Luke spoke he stood confidently, Noah the only person who could feel the tremble through his sweaty palm. "Do YOU even know what your own truth is anymore?"

"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about." Laarman said from beneath narrowed lids.

"I'm not sure you'd like me to say in front of an audience."

Something like fear passed briefly over the minster's features but he appeared to quickly dismiss the thought, whatever it was.

"Do you want to know what I think?" Luke continued.

Laarman's eyes narrowed but he said nothing.

"I think you do know the truth. I think you understand it perfectly well. But I also think you kill yourself trying to hide it away. You work so hard at that… and it hurts… doesn't it?"

"Shut up!"

Noah jolted as the minister began to lose control of his carefully created persona; cracks were appearing clear as day and Noah wasn't even sure he knew the reasons for it.

"What is it Simon?" Luke asked with fake sympathy, "You can't have it, so no one else can?"

Noah turned his head quizzically at Luke wondering if he was interpreting things correctly.

"I've heard enough!" Laarman yelled, almost in a high-pitched squeal, "Arrest them all! Get them out of my sight!"

Laarman turned to walk away and Noah tensed as the soldiers moved in, "No!"

They were already grabbing at shoulders and trying to pull him from Luke when Luke calmly called out, "I have proof!"

The minister turned, watching them battle with the soldiers for a few minutes before quickly holding up his hand in a stop motion. The soldiers ceased in their struggle but did not remove their hold on Luke and Noah.

"I have proof!" Luke repeated when he was sure he had Laarman's attention back, "And it's due to be released to the public in three days."

Noah watched as Laarman stopped breathing, his eyes bulging.

"You're lying." He replied to Luke.

"I sent very clear instructions to my contact in the States." Luke told him. "If I don't arrive home in Los Angeles alive and well by Thursday; all the information I recently sent by recorded delivery will be released to the press.

"It's a lie!" Laarman insisted, but the confidence had drained from his face, "Do you think I don't know that you're just stalling for time?"

Luke smiled again, "There are some interesting snapshots in there Simon. Are you really willing to take that chance…?"

A momentary standoff took place where everybody present simply stood still, unsure of what to do next.

"I could prove it to you now… If you have a satellite phone I can use."

Noah watched as Laarman weighed up his options. He squeezed Luke's hand to get his attention and the browns locked with his blues.

Luke smiled his assurance and Noah nodded.

"Kuchota simu!" Laarman instructed and a soldier saluted before running back to the chopper.

As they waited for the phone to be brought over, their friend's were herded together to their left. Noah swallowed at the distress on Lutalo's face.

Would they all die? All of them, including Lutalo's mother and sister?

He had to keep hold of his faith in Luke, even as his thoughts turned to home… Nicholas and Mia…

The soldier handed Luke the phone and for the first time since Laarman arrived their hands parted as Luke pulled out the long transceiver and dialled a number. Noah's mind raced as he tried to work out who Luke would call and why.

There was a small wait while the phone connected and then, "Hello, it's Luke."

Noah could hear a faint and frantic babble at the other end of the line and Luke, too weak to fight the onslaught of words, waited instead for them to die down.

"We're both okay. We're together. From now on, whatever you do, do NOT say your name at any moment in this conversation."

Another tirade of words until Luke blurted, "Please quiet! I'm sorry. I need you to listen very, very carefully, okay? I need your help. It's important."

Again a pause as Luke wheezed while he waited for the person to finish.

"You answered the cell phone, so I know you got my package." Pause. "Good… that's real good. Is it nearby?" Again a wait. "I need you to open it."

"Luke?" Noah questioned softly as he noticed Laarman getting impatient.

Luke's eyes told him to hold on for just a little longer.

"Yes, I know they are difficult to look at." He continued into the phone, "I'm sorry about that. I didn't have a choice but to ask you to do this… Now… I'm going to hand the phone to somebody, okay? I need you to describe to him what you see. That's all you must do! Don't ask or answer any questions. It's vital you do exactly as I say. I don't want you talking to this man other than to tell him what you see."

After getting confirmation from the other end of the line, Luke gave the phone over to the worried looking Laarman; his hand immediately reconnecting with Noah's.

"Yes?" The minister asked into the phone and as the minister listened, Noah watched the man's face display a wide array of emotion; contempt, scepticism, interest, shock, horror but most of all a full blown terror.

The phone dropped from Laarman's ear and his shoulders all but slumped.

"It would seem we have something in common…" Luke told him.

Laarman squared his shoulders in a last ditch attempt at defiance, "I have never denied the demon in me, Mr. Snyder. I am only human. It is expected that God will test us. The difference between me and you is that I choose to fight my demon! I don't succumb to the evil! I don't embrace it in the sick and perverted way you do. I don't pollute society."

Luke laughed bitterly, "I'm in a loving and committed relationship Minister Laarman… Being gay isn't what makes you evil… what you did in those pictures does…"

The minister made to say something more but his eyes took in the confused and questioning glances of the surrounding soldiers and villagers.

Luke nodded as the cold but defeated eyes fell on them once more, "Here's what's going to happen…"

...

As Maddie hung up the phone she could not drag her eyes from the photographs before her; despite her horror in them.

For days she had kept the phone Luke sent her switched on with full charge and followed his detailed instructions by carrying the device and this unopened envelope around with her everywhere she went; even sleeping with them beside her bed.

Now, seeing the contents of the envelope made her stomach turn and she felt like throwing up. The photos were grainy; obviously captured from video footage she supposed must be on the accompanying DVD; but the look of terror on the face of the man being subjected to the sexual torture was clear and enough to unsettle the strongest of souls.

Really it was the final photo that was the worst. The naked body left on the hotel floor in a pool of blood. His throat was cut.

"What have you gotten yourselves into?" she whispered to the absent Luke and Noah; hoping against hope that what Luke had told her was true. She prayed they were safe and on their way home.

Jonathan stirred next to her in the bed and she quickly shoved the documents and pictures back inside the envelope.

"Maddie?" He asked sleepily, squinting at the light from her bedside table, "Everything okay, sweetheart?"

Maddie placed the phone and the envelope back on the table, switched off the light and snuggled down into Jonathan's safe embrace, "I think so. Go back to sleep."

...

Luke explained about the package as the chopper made the journey over the lake toward Nairobi, Kenya's capital city.

"I had to send it to somebody they wouldn't know to connect to me. In case they tried to intercept it in the mail."

"Maddie." Noah smiled, "I should have known."

They had to shout over the noise of the rota blades.

"What about Laarman?" Noah asked, "How did you know he was in the chopper?"

Noah was making Luke talk as much to keep him lucid as to understand the series of events that had brought them to this point. That final confrontation with Laarman had drained Luke.

"I saw him." Luke replied, "I saw him when the chopper first flew over."

Noah nodded, drawing Luke closer into a stronger embrace.

Laarman caved to all of Luke's demands. Using the satellite phone they arranged for Zesiro to rendezvous and collect Lutalo's family in Kampala; waiting until they had confirmation from him that both mother and daughter were safe.

They received assurance from Laarman that their friends and anybody connected to them would be cleared of all charges and remain unharmed in the future.

And finally, Luke and Noah were given use of the helicopter to fly them into the safely of Kenya.

How Luke could be sure Laarman would uphold his side of the deal Noah didn't know. At that moment he couldn't worry about it either. Luke was his first priority.

"Noah?"

Noah stared down into Luke's dulled eyes and felt a stab of panic at the look he saw there.

"When we get to Nairobi…"

"Luke…"

"…you'll need… hospital…"

"LUKE!"

The blonde dropped into unconsciousness.