A/N: Oh god, when did I last update this story? Must've been the beginning of this year. Anyway, I finally dodged my writers block and here is the next chapter.(For those who are still interested in the story).
Pereira Residence
Ribeira Grande, Santo Antão
Cape Verde Islands, Africa
2040 hours local
'Gaby!' Harm came running into the house, looking for Rome. He was out of breath, his shirt and hands were covered in blood and dirt and his hair was all messed up. 'Gaby!'
He really had to find Rome. If he didn't… He didn't know what he would do. If he wouldn't be able to find Rome now… 'Gaby!' Harm ran up the stairs. The nursery. She could be in the nursery and not able to hear him. Izabel could be in the nursery and not hear him either.
'Gaby!'
Rome came walking out of the nursery, little Diego Pereira pressed to her chest. 'What is it?' Her eyes grew wide when she saw him. 'Zack, what happened?'
Harm pushed passed her into the nursery. 'We gotta get packed Rome. We got to get out of here'.
'What do you mean "we have to get out of here"? And why are you all covered in blood?'
Harm started to grab Diego's things. Diapers, clothes, wipes… 'Where is Izabel?'
'Izabel went to bed early. She wasn't feeling well'. Rome eyed him. 'Are you going to tell me what the hell is going on here?'
Harm still didn't look at her. 'You need to get packed'.
Rome frowned. 'We are packed. We're going to Praia tomorrow remember?'
'We're not going tomorrow Rome, we're going now. Go wake Izabel up'.
The look in Harm's eyes frightened her and she stopped him with a hand on his arm. 'Will you stop acting so weird and tell me what the hell is going on? What happened over at the hangar?'
Harm took a deep breath and tried to stop the turmoil in his head. 'Remember I was delivering packages for Pereira? Well, I finally found out what was in the packages'. At Rome's questioning gaze he continued: 'Detonators Rome. For missiles and bombs. Missiles and bombs that De Sousa and Pereira were going to set off in two days'.
While he was talking, he had moved over to their bedroom to get their bags. Rome's eyes grew wide at his explanation and she pressed Diego more firmly into her chest. 'They were going to set off bombs on Independence Day?'
Harm nodded and handed her a small blanket. 'That they were'.
'What do you mean, were?' Rome heard her own voice breaking when she asked him that. Maybe that there was a very simple explanation as to why Harm was covered in blood. Maybe it was another reason that what she now believed.
'We took them out'.
It was the explanation she had feared. Rome closed her eyes. 'Who are we?'
'Webb, Joland, Chico and I. Let's go Rome; they are waiting with the car for us'. When he was halfway out the door when he realized that Rome was still standing in the middle of their bedroom; frozen in her spot.
Dropping the bags he was carrying by the door, Harm went back to her and cupped her face in his hands. 'We're going to be just fine honey. But you have to follow me out right now. When Milton comes back and finds out what we've done to them, we need to be as far away from this place as possible'.
'You didn't kill Milton?' It suddenly dawned on Rome that there were others involved in the operation.
'He was out for today and tomorrow remember? He was already going to Praia. Probably to set everything up'.
Rome shivered and Harm carefully wrapped her in his arms. 'Then… who's going to prevent the attack?'
'Webb called some CIA agents in Praia. We did what we could do here and now it's up to them'.
She nodded and closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. 'And you promise me that we're going to be all right?'
Harm could read the fear in her eyes. If Milton would be able to find them, if the other CIA agents were not able to prevent the attack… If he didn't want to think about. 'As far as I can help it, I promise'. He pressed his lips to hers for a short moment and took her hand.
They woke Izabel, who immediately followed them downstairs and they went out to the car. While Harm loaded the car with their bags, Izabel remained on the porch, standing: watching them. It took a little while for everyone to realize that she was going to stay there.
(I can't go) Izabel said. (I'm not going).
Rome stared at her. (What do you mean, you're not going? Izabel, you need to. If you don't go and Milton will come back here and he finds out that Armando is dead…)
(What will I have Gaby? I don't have anything…)
(You have Diego) Rome reminded her. (Are you just going to leave him?) Rome went back to the porch. (Listen to me Izabel. You can start all over in America. We'll take you. The chance that you'll be killed here, that even if you go away… Milton will find you.)
Izabel looked at her. (I belong here Gaby. I won't have anything in America).
(You'll have us) Harm interfered. (We'll be with you Izabel).
Chico had moved from the car over to the porch and looked Izabel into her eyes. (You have a son remember? Are you going to abandon him?)
Izabel softly smiled. (He will be with his father).
Chico shook his head. (If you're not going, I'm not going).
(Chico, you can't do that. He needs at least one parent). Izabel touched his check. (We knew that what we did was dangerous. We knew that we wouldn't be together in the end. Don't make this any harder on either of us, please. Take your son and leave).
(Only if you will go with me. With us). Chico took her hand in his. (Please Izabel).
(You know I can't do that Chico). Unshed tears were visible in her eyes.
Chico turned to Harm and Rome. (We're not going. Take good care of Diego. I know you will take great care of him for us. We'll put up a fight with Milton when he comes back).
(Chico…) Harm was at loss for words. (We can't take your son… He needs to be with his parents).
Izabel walked over to Rome, kissed the top of Diego's head and locked eyes with her. (He will be with his parents).
The four of them looked at each other for a while, before Clay broke the silence. (We need to go now).
Rome looked at Izabel for a moment before getting in the car. (Be safe Izabel. Please).
Izabel smiled at her. (Take good care of Diego Romaine).
It was the first time Izabel used her given name and Rome raised her eyebrows. (How...?)
(Go Romaine. I'll never forget you).
Only seconds later the car started to move away from the mansion, leaving Chico and Izabel standing on the porch, wrapped in each other arms. Harm sat back in his seat next to Rome and looked down at Diego. 'Armando was the one unable to have children'.
Rome looked up to him. 'I knew that Izabel and Chico were having an affair you know. I caught them making out one time. There were moments when Chico would come into the house and whisper something to her. Always looking as if he wanted to touch her. After a while I just knew'.
Diego made some small sounds and Rome shifted him into a more comfortable position. 'You have brave parents Diego. And we'll make sure they won't be forgotten'.
The car was moving further and further away from the house and the two people still standing on the porch knew that they had made the right decision. It was hard to give their son away to other people, but it was the right thing to do. It was the only way they knew he was going to be okay.
And at the same moment, two women sent a silent prayer up to heaven. 'Let them be okay Lord. Please let them be okay'.
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