Heya! Me again! Hope you like this chapter, sorry for the wait, I've had WAY too much homework!! Anyway... Enjoy...

Wolf started at the sound of the gunshot, hitting his head on the low roof. He stumbled from the car, pulling his gun from his waistband and flicking the safety off. He raced in the direction that Yassen had gone, ignoring the pain in his shoulder. He reached a turning and skidded to a halt, panting.

It took him a few crucial moments to decide which way to go and he turned left, heading down a steep slope to the pale house at the bottom. There was the unmistakable smell of gunpowder on the air, sweet and strangely comforting. He stopped again. He stepped onto the grass verge to silence his footsteps and listened carefully. He could hear heavy breathing nearby and a sudden series of metallic sounds from a little further away.

He threw himself to the floor, hoping that he hadn't been seen. If someone here had a gun… Where was Yassen? He eased his head up, casting his gaze from side to side.

"Wolf, here," Yassen's voice made him started, but he resisted the impulse to run or, failing that, shoot, as Yassen slid over the wall. Blood flowed freely from a cut on his cheek, staining his shirt. He crept, bent double across the road to where Wolf was crouched.

"What happened? You were shot?" Wolf asked urgently. Yassen shot him a disdainful look, blood seeping between his fingers as he cupped his hand to his cheek.

"No, I just cut my cheek open for fun…" Yassen hissed back, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Who did it?"

"Some bastard over there, by the greenhouse I think," Yassen said, turning and raising his head to get a better look at the distant greenhouse.

"Is Skinner here?"

"How should I know? I was a bit preoccupied with trying not to get shot," Yassen snarled, glaring at Wolf.

"Sorry. I thought you'd have been able to shoot him first?"

"Normally I would, but it's pitch black and I can't see a thing," Yassen snapped. He stopped himself and took a deep breath. "Come on, stay away from the house and follow me. Silence," he added over his shoulder.

Wolf nodded and followed, staying low against the ground. Yassen was prone for much of the time; he hardly seemed to be there as he slid between bushes and plants. Wolf followed as quietly as he could, but refused to go prone, not wanting to make his shoulder worse.

Yassen stopped suddenly, drawing his legs up underneath him until he was crouched on the ground, head low as he tried to conceal himself in the silhouette of a tall sapling surrounded by bushes. Wolf hunkered down behind him, clutching his arm tightly.

Yassen wiped a trickle of blood from his cheek, succeeding in smearing it across his face in a bloody streak. It contrasted sharply with his pale skin.

"Right then," he breathed. He pushed his right foot into the soft earth, creating a firm base.

Faster than Wolf's eyes could follow, Yassen was on his feet and had fired five shots in the direction of the surprised breath that the man in the shadows had released when he sprang up. The shots made hardly any sound; the Socom was silenced and all Wolf heard was a quick series of strangled coughs as the muzzle spat bullets into the darkness.

The black clad figure fell back, a spray of bullets flying from his gun as his hand contracted automatically against the pain. Yassen ducked, stepping sideways to avoid the deadly volley. But within seconds he was at the man's side, ripping the now empty gun from his weakening grasp.

Yassen could see that there was no point in questioning this man, all five rounds had connected, three in his chest, one embedded in his arm, and the last one had cut a diagonal slash across his throat, nicking the jugular. This last wound was pulsing blood strongly, pooling around his head and neck and soaking into the dark jacket he was wearing. Yassen convulsively ran a hand across his own throat, where a similar wound had left a long, diagonal scar across his neck.

Within seconds of Yassen arriving at his side, the man drew in a final gurgling breath and was still. Wolf stood up and walked over to Yassen as he climbed to his feet.

"That's not him," he said flatly. Yassen shook his head,

"No, it isn't. But we still haven't checked the house," he added, glancing towards the dark windows. Wolf smiled and led the way across the lawn, keeping away from the wide path down the centre and treading only on the grass. Yassen was a few feet behind him, spitting blood with each step.

"Ready?" he asked, wiping a hand across his cheek again. Wolf nodded shortly. Yassen loaded a fresh clip into the Socom and drew the Beretta as well, nudging both safeties off.

He pushed the door open with his foot and stepped silently into the house, unnerved by the fact that the door was unlocked.

"Careful, something's wrong," He whispered to Wolf without taking his eyes off the door opposite.

"I know," the younger man muttered in reply, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Russian. He fell in behind him again, sensing that Yassen was used to being in the lead, and they passed through the door out of the kitchen. As they stepped into the room directly opposite, there was a sudden roar outside.

Wolf didn't hesitate, his training took over and he dived head first through the window, shattering the thin glass. His shoulder screamed at him as he rolled and came up firing. None of the bullets connected with the car as it sped out of sight around the corner. Wolf swore, and then sank back onto the floor with a soft groan, gripping his shoulder tightly.

"He got away?" Yassen asked, skidding to a stop beside him. Wolf nodded.

"Yeah," he grunted through gritted teeth. Yassen glanced down at him and a flicker of concern crossed his face.

"Come on, get up," he said, heaving Wolf to his feet. He swayed slightly but managed to stay upright.

Yassen helped him up the hill, worried by Wolf's pale, drawn face. He pulled off the sodden bandages around the bullet wound, noting that it was open again and blood was meandering slowly down Wolf's arm. He wrapped a new bandage tightly around it, trying to staunch the flow of blood.

"Sit still, and don't move too much; you've lost quite a lot of blood," He said. Wolf nodded and buckled himself into the seat.

"Where are we going now? We need to find Skinner," he said, his voice weak and hoarse.

"Not now; you need to rest and get some of your strength back,"

Wolf started to protest, but Yassen silenced him with a glare and he sat back.

"He waited…" he said a few minutes later as Yassen eased the Aston out into the early morning traffic. "He bloody waited,"

"Yes, I think he was in the garage; he probably had cameras in the house, that's what I would have done, so he waited until we couldn't get outside in time, and then went for it. He won't hang around now; we need a new lead," Yassen said, an edge of annoyance creeping into his voice. They had been so close!

Beside him, Wolf gradually drifted into an uneasy sleep. Yassen almost envied him, he hadn't slept for over twenty four hours now and it was starting to take its toll; he could feel the fatigue in his muscles.

"Try Baker again," he said when Wolf woke up a few hours later; it wasn't a suggestion, it was an order, and Wolf's military training had him reaching for Yassen's phone before his brain could process what he'd said.

"He won't tell me anything, you know that. Especially as it's about four o'clock,"

"Say that you've heard that I'm after him and only Skinner can tell SCORPIA to stop. That should get a reaction. The Police know who I am; it should have the desired effect."

Wolf hesitated before smiling and dialling the number again.

Yassen listened as Wolf made the call. He was glad that they had another possible lead, slim as it was. It gave him a target, something to do.

"They've got a trace on his car; a policeman saw it about an hour ago, he was heading towards Cornwall. Baker's got the whole force on the lookout for him," Wolf announced, hanging up. He sounded amused and Yassen didn't blame him; it was amazing what a few threats could do for someone's motivation.

"Good, let's go, then. You still need to sleep," he added, glancing at Wolf. The younger man didn't argue and settled himself back into the seat, closing his eyes as Yassen drove them onto the A30. The Aston roared southwards, drawing admiring looks from the people in the cars they passed.

A little over an hour later, Yassen pulled off the A30. Wolf woke up as the car stopped and looked around.

"Where are we?" he asked, blinking rapidly.

"St. Austell," Yassen replied, closing his eyes.

"Why have we stopped here?"

"Two reasons, one; Baker didn't give us a definite place to go, so we might as well stay here for a while. And two: I'm exhausted and I need to sleep. Keep watch for a while, will you?" Wolf nodded and managed to stay awake while Yassen slept. He was almost surprised that the Russian needed to sleep; he gave the impression that he could keep going forever. All the same, it was strangely reassuring that Yassen needed to sleep. It reminded Wolf that he was only human.

After only a couple of hours Yassen's phone rang. Wolf snatched it up, recognised Baker's number, and answered it before the shrill tone could wake Yassen.

"Yes?" he said, keeping his voice low.

"He's in Hayle. He used his credit card to get a caravan in The Towans. I sent a plain clothes officer over to the campsite and his car was there,"

"How long is he booked in for?"

"Indefinitely, the site owner wouldn't say. I could get someone to find out for you, though." Wolf glanced sideways at Yassen. He had woken up and was watching Wolf with a look of intense concentration on his face. He caught Wolf's eye and shook his head.

"No, I don't think it'll take that long," Wolf said, and hung up. "He's in Hayle," he added to Yassen.

"Right," he growled, gunning the engine and accelerating out onto the busy road. Horns blared all around them, but Yassen ignored them, his whole attention focused on the road as he drove them towards Hayle, hopefully the last place they'd have to follow Skinner to. He was getting sick of this game of cat and mouse.

Right, i have a little dilemma. basically, some people want me to put Alex in, but i'm not sure. however... if you want Alex in here, i will put him in, please review to let me know...