Rayns knew his chances were diminishing. The sounds of gunfire had ceased, and now there was no sounds at all, other than the shuffling of soldiers in the brush. There was no sign of the Seaborn. There was no sign of anyone, just bullet-ridden bodies that littered the ground, looking like a scene from an old war movie or a nineteen twenties mob flick. The air was still, at least the shots had stirred the air a bit, but now it was as still as the bodies around him. Rayns wiped sweat from his brow and crouched, taking in his surroundings, listening carefully, signaling for the men closest to him to stay in place. He sensed something. His years in the military had sharpened his senses to razor-like clarity, and something was out there. Moving. Barely. Breathing in quiet gasps. The body was drenched, the clothes torn and clinging to bones. Rayns took a few steps forward and knelt close, putting his ear to the man's open mouth. A hand grabbed him.

"Water."

Rayns snatched his hand away and regarded the pleading face that stared up at him. The boy was the same age as his son. He looked malnourished, his thin muscles hardly covering the small frame. Pending death glazed his eyes. There was a faint sense of panic, like the boy knew he was dying and knew there was nothing to be done. Rayns pulled his canteen from his belt and carefully poured the liquid into the young man's mouth. Water sprayed as the man sputtered, and dark eyes closed in on Rayns.

Rayns capped the canteen. "Can you talk?" There was no blink, only that persistent stare. "There was a man, short dark hair, Caucasian. You seen him?" There was no movement, only that stare. Rayns clenched his jaw, dying or not, he had no patience for this. "I know you understand me. Where is the American?"

"Diablos."

"Diablos? Fernando?" This wasn't good.

"Amelican ran. Diablos found him." The boy spoke haggardly, his chest rising painfully.

"Diablos has the American?" Rayns held the man's shoulder. "You're sure?"

"Si."

"Where did they go?"

"Left here. . .few minutes ago. . ." the boy pointed to a large tree that nearly obscured a thin path, "old ways. . .gone to negotiate."

"Negotiate what?"

"Life of man." The boy sighed as his eyes closed. Rayns leaned in, his breathing had shallowed. He gave the boy a pat on the arm and stood, signaling once again to the men that hide among the trees, and stalked Diablos.

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Toby and Josh heard the crackle of a radio in the Jeep. Pressing Josh to stay still, Toby leaned in across the front seat. He heard the spits and hisses and voices trying to force through. He heard reference to "the American Seaborn" followed by a name that sent a chill through him, "Diablos."

"Oh my god. I was right."

"Toby?"

"Diablos has Sam."

"What?"

Toby turned to the man that now stood behind him. "I said Diablos has Sam. Some kid saw them go through the jungle." His voice was tight.

Josh sank against the Jeep. "Diablos? The Diablos that I think. . .Diablos? That Diablos?" He hesitated as the name sunk in. "They don't know where he went?"

"They're looking, I dunno, they're looking." Toby pulled his hand along his face, stretching it in a tired expression. "Josh, there are only five of our men left, that I've seen. Five men will never be able to search this area, and I'll be damned if I'm going to just sit here." His stern gaze caught Josh off guard.

"Toby. . .we don't know where to go, we have no weapons."

"They mentioned a shack. Mean anything to you?"

"We were held in a shack. God, you mean the faction these kids were going after were Diablos' people?"

Toby nodded and started to rummage through the Jeep. "It's a lot of idealism. These kids got in it their mind that they could start something and attract his attention by attacking what they call his 'outskirt warriors'. This isn't a war, hardly an insurrection, just kids getting their kicks and trying to become men way too early." He found an abandoned pack and sorted through it.

"Diablos tried to cut the legs out from under these kids."

"I'd say he did just that."

"Then what does he want with Sam?"

"A bomb? Hell, I don't know! I just know that I can't, and I'm not, going to sit here."

"We aren't trained for this."

"I know." Toby continued his search and found what he was looking for, a small gun with three bullets.

Josh stood before him. "We aren't trained for this," he said softly.

"I know." Toby pocketed the gun. "Can you find the shack?"

"If you can get me back to the place where you found me. Toby, why would he go to the shack?"

"If that's where he was originally headed, that's where he'd go."

"And you know this how?"

"I don't. But apparently they do." Toby nodded at the radio. "Coming?"

Josh hesitated, then nodded.

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Sam was beyond caring. He was beyond pain, beyond coherency, beyond every extreme of physical concern. The rough hand stayed on his shoulder, the gun poked at his back, and he didn't have the strength to argue. Not to mention any attempt to escape would be countered by the gunmen on either side of Diablos. He couldn't even remember how he got into the situation, he just knew that one moment there was gunfire and yells, he knew he lost Josh, then after taking cover for a short while he felt himself being tugged backwards, felt a gun to his temple, saw a leering face over his. He could remember an insane relief, this man wasn't one of his original captors. They had walked quite a ways before the name Diablos was spoken, and with that one word his stomach plummeted. He knew the man was a former operative in Vietnam. He knew that every guerilla fighter relished the name, he knew that Diablos's escapades were near legend in many lesser countries. He also knew that Diablos had been exiled. It was a dangerous combination. It was surreal that the man who held him was the same man he'd read about in a briefing report only two weeks earlier. He was way out of his territory. Way out.

Sam stumbled and fell, his legs refusing to go any further. He heard cursing, felt himself being dragged to his feet. His legs didn't respond. Nothing did, and he collapsed into a limp heap, not caring if he were to be shot, because that was preferable to trying to continue. Half-phrases floated over his head, the occasional word falling to his ear but not making sense. He felt himself lifted, then flung over a shoulder, and was carried. At this point he allowed himself to pass out.

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"Toby, someone's coming."

"Then hush!"

"Toby. . ."

The larger man threw his hand over Josh's mouth and pulled him back into the brush. "When I say hush, I mean it, dammit!" He felt Josh nod and slowly released him while peering around the base of a large tree. It was an odd sort, the limbs and leaves hanging droopily to the ground, and provided excellent cover. The two men crouched for some time before hearing a sound, chatter, soft talking. What's more, it was familiar. Toby stood and walked out hesitantly, then rolled his eyes as his name was shouted.

"Zeigler! What the hell. . .in the name of. . ." Rayns didn't seem sure which oath would best suit the purpose. "Are you trying to wreck this mission?"

"For what it's worth, I advised him against it," Josh said, coming around the tree.

Rayns threw his hands into the air and cursed. "Shhiiit! –I don't believe this. I had green beret days less aggravating than this!"

"Josh knows where the shack is," Toby said quietly and pointedly.

Rayns stood limply, trying to ignore the mental scenarios of the President of the United States chewing his ass. "Wait, you were there. They held you in a shack?"

"Yeah, it was. . .not pleasant. I think I can get us back there." His voice was uncharacteristically small.

Rayns weighed the options and curse inwardly. "We lost several men. You're probably safer with us here than back at the Jeep." He released his gun and gestured harshly at the men. "You do what I say when I say it. You bring up the rear. When I say down, you hit the deck, when I say stay, you stay put. I want you invisible, I don't want to even think about you, much less see your ass. Got that?"

"Charming, isn't he?" Toby muttered as he nodded, recognizing that they were now in a situation that not only went way above their heads, but one which could kill them without a second thought. After all, they had their titles. But it was all they had. And while their titles may have offered protection in the States, out here it was meaningless. Not only that, but it could backfire on them.

He and Josh stayed close, neither talking, each carefully following the other men as they pressed on. Josh was trying not to come up with scenarios of torture that Sam could be facing at that moment. After everything the man had been though, how much more could he take? He glanced at Toby and saw the determination in his set jaw, his glinting eyes. The man was pissed. Plain pissed. His deputy was in the grip of a man he'd only read about, and never wanted anything to do with. Josh knew the two shared a special bond, and it was good to see. Josh had often felt that he and Sam were straying a bit, things had been so darn busy, they never went out. Sam's duties naturally took him to Toby, and Josh's seemed to take him everywhere else.

There were also so many times when Sam wasn't in his office, and Josh found himself talking to Toby more and more. The man wasn't that much older than him, but his whole demeanor gave an aura of knowing better, of a higher intelligence that should be mined. So Josh started going to him for advice. And he could see why Sam had started confiding in the man.

For one, Toby could hold a secret like nobody else. Maybe because he didn't trust people enough to really let them in; he wasn't prone to gossip, and there was no cause to let a secret slip. It was said that the best way to keep a secret was to forget about it, and Toby was the master of that. At first it seemed that he didn't care, but once reminded he was quick to listen and offer his advice in that no nonsense way he had. Leo had his ear. Josh wouldn't be surprised if to some extent the President had it as well. But the one who used it the most was Sam, and while Josh might feel a bit of jealousy at first, deep down he honestly felt glad that his old friend had found someone else to trust. The whole of the senior staff had become good friends, but it wasn't as evident in any new relationship than in the friendship between Toby and Sam. They were loyal. They bickered and bantered like brothers. And looking at Toby now, seeing the hard expression, Josh suddenly feared for Diablos. Because Toby wasn't one to be crossed, especially when the life of a friend was on the line. Josh had found that out himself when he had been shot. And he wasn't even as close a friend. . . .

The path turned and Rayns waved everybody down. Josh hardly had time to think before bullets packed the ground at his feet. He felt Toby pull him back and threw his hands to his ears as the return fire pounded away. He buried back against the man, feeling Toby hold him down while covering his own ass. "Dammit!" Toby's curse flew through the air as he went for the gun he'd found in the Jeep before remembering that it held only three bullets. "Josh, wait, look, is that it?" Josh looked up and saw a long finger pointed to a worn hub of a building.

"Yes!" Josh lunged ahead, then kissed the dirt as Toby pulled him down.

"You wanna wait a minute?"

"No time! Sam's in there!"

"And bullets are out here! Let Rayns go in."

"No."

"Josh. . ."

"He's a little busy right now, Toby, you wanna give me your gun or not?"

Toby practically snarled. This was it, this was the turning point. Sensibilities be damned. "Fine, but we go together. We bring him back here. Got it?"

"Got it."

"I can't believe we're doing this." He pushed at Josh. "Go." The two men crouched low and headed towards the shack. The sounds of gunfire followed, and Toby could have sworn he heard another curse from Rayns. He didn't look back to see who had the upper hand, he just pushed Josh forwards until the were at the hut where Josh had been held during the "persuasions". The shack was fifty yards away. Toby looked back then tapped Josh on the shoulder. "You better be sure he's in there," he gasped, trying to rein in the fear he refused to exhibit.

Josh tried to steady his heart from the start that the absurdly normal gesture gave him. "That's where we were held."

"Okay." Toby glanced behind him. "Come on."

They ran to the shack in a crouch and opened the door. Toby balked at the stench and started to turn away, but Josh's shout pulled his attention to the figure on the floor. "Mother of God," he breathed. Josh was already kneeling beside Sam, cupping the man's face in his hands.

"Sam?" Toby had never heard such a note of panic in Josh's voice. He hurried to them and knelt down. The man looked terrible. His face was swollen, his eyes bruised. There was a long gash on his head, an old injury by the looks of it, but something that hadn't been treated. Big surprise. His hands were crusted and bloody, his shirt was stained with dark crimson. This alarmed him, and he tore the material open. Long cuts marred the skin, and there was an area. . .

"Shit, shitshitshitshit!" Toby tore the rest of Sam's shirt away and pressed it to the flow of blood. Josh had his undershirt off as well, and used it to tie the already soiled material tight to Sam's body.

"Toby. . ." his voice cracked.

"I don't know, I don't know," Toby's voice sounded faint as more gunfire sounded overhead. "He needs a doctor, he needs a hospital."

"Think I can get the Jeep here?"

"I think if you go out there you'll end up just like him." A low groan caught Toby's ear and he leaned in as Josh caught Sam's hand in his own. "Sam? Talk to me." Toby's voice was stern.

Sam's eyes opened and he licked his lips. He stared at Toby for some time before frowning and trying to lift his head. "Am I dreaming?"

"Sam, I'm here. Josh is here. We're gonna get you out."

"Josh," Sam's cloudy vision settled on his friend, and cleared. "You're okay. . .not shot. . ."

"We lost each other. Sam, I-I didn't know they'd taken you."

"But he was determined to come and get you." Toby sent Josh a look that silenced him.

"Thirsty."

"Thirsty, thirsty. . ." Toby looked around but the room offered nothing. He suddenly remembered his canteen. At that moment a bullet ripped through the door and created a knothole above Toby's head. "Son of a. .!"

Josh had ducked down. He grabbed Toby's gun from his belt. "Stay here."

"Three shots, Josh!"

"I know!" Josh took his place beside the door and waited, reminding himself that he was a damned pencil pusher. . .

Sam's breathing was labored. "Toby, what're you doin' here?"

"Getting you back for not calling me when you realized were going to be late."

"Sorry. You stayed, you looked for us?" The astonishment couldn't be missed.

"You think I'm going to write the dinner speech by myself?" Kind eyes smiled at him. A loud explosion made him duck, and he covered Sam's body with him own as debris rained down on the from where the roof had been. "Shit! Josh!"

"Here!" Josh coughed and waved away the dust. Another explosion and the whole building came down, such as it was.

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Rayns had Diablos in his sight. He knew the angle needed, one more moment and he could take the shot. . .a launcher appeared and aimed at the shack. Rayns fired right as the small rocket tore off the roof, troubling the foundation. Rayns watched helplessly as the building collapsed, then cried out as a shot took him in the arm. The next moment Diablos stood over him, his dark face eclipsing the sky. A gun was raised, then turned, then handed to Rayns. The soldier stared in disbelief as one of the most wanted and respected military men of his time knelt before him and asked for immunity.

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Toby coughed. He could feel Sam's body beneath him, but couldn't sit up, not yet. A heavy plank crossed his back. He was dizzy. He could tell the shack was gone, he could feel the difference in the air, a fresh hotness instead of a stuffy hotness. He called Josh's name, heard a voice, felt the planks shift around him. More voices joined him, and the weight was lifted. Hands pulled him back, and he was dimly aware of Sam being tended, and of Josh at his side, his head bleeding just above his eye. "Toby?"

"Peachy," the man grunted, his eyes falling back to Sam. "You?"

"Feel like a squashed grape." Josh sat beside Toby and watched. He heard the thump of helicopter blades over head as the rotors beat the air to a pulp. More people arrived, asking questions and checking his shoulder and back, while Josh's head was bandaged. Neither man took their eyes from Sam as he was patched and loaded. The military copter took off, and the thumping receded.

Rayns walked up to them, his arm in a sling. "The hospital's a good three hours drive from here. You up to it?"

"Yes." Josh's affirmative left no argument.

"I told you to stay put." Rayns smiled. "But you did good."

"Well I'm glad you think so, do I get a cookie for this?" Toby asked sarcastically. He stood stiffly, Josh taking hold of his arm as much to stabilize him as for his own support. They followed Rayns to the various vehicles that suddenly flanked the area. "Where the hell were all these people earlier?"

"My guess is once Diablos was mentioned it put a whole new light on the situation."

"And everyone took it seriously. Like it wasn't serious enough before?" Toby huffed. "Just get us to the damn hospital."

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Leo bounded into the Oval Office without knocking. He knew the President was alone, and at that moment he didn't give a damn about protocol. "They're safe."

Jed looked up, removing the glasses form his nose. "They're safe?"

"On the way to a hospital now. Military got news that Diablos was involved and sent in everything they had."

"Our military? Because I'm supposed to be involved in those decisions, right?"

"Apparently their government decided to take things seriously after all. Of course for all we know they'd been planning to take Diablos out for some time once they discovered he was hiding right under their noses. This could have been an elaborate set-up."

Jed had crossed the room and was pouring a drink for Leo. "How are they?" He didn't like that Leo looked pale, if the news were good he would be flushed. He handed the water to him and set him down, then sat across from him, elbows braced on his knees. Long shadows watched from the wall behind him; outside a security guard scuffed his shoe on the pavement.

Leo took a few swallows and rubbed his thumb on the glass. The glint along the edge mesmerized him, and he studied it. "Josh has severe lacerations and burns. Swollen eye, he was beaten repeatedly. Bruised ribs if not worse. He can move around but it hurts like hell."

"Beaten?" Jed's expression was dark.

"Tied to a chair, kept in a shack, little to eat or drink, the whole nine yards."

"And Sam?"

Leo squeezed the glass. "Sam." He shook his head and looked up, the shock on his face scaring Jed.

"No. . .no don't tell me. . .you said they were safe."

"Oh no, no sir, he-he's alive." Jed stood and rubbed his palms on his pants as he turned away. The words floated somewhere behind him. "He was – stabbed. He was beaten, possibly poisoned. He suffered from lack of food and water same as Josh. And there is possible head trauma."

"When will we know?" Jed's voice was still.

"They're stabilizing him. He's scheduled for surgery in one hour. Then we know. They've got the bleeding stopped, but he's lost. . ." Leo stood and tried his hardest not to slam the glass onto the table and looked to Jed's liquor cabinet. "I don't mind telling you, this is one of those times. . ."

Jed followed his gaze, and knew exactly what his oldest friend was thinking. "Don't you dare, Leo. Don't you do it." Jed turned sharply. "You didn't after Rosslyn, don't you dare do it now."

"I wasn't going to." Leo's voice was firm but calm. "I'm just saying, that's all." He shrugged it off, almost apologetically. "Rayns is going to be checked at the hospital as well, he was nicked in the arm, then he is to report to us. Toby will call as soon as they arrive."

"Toby's okay then?"

"Irritable, short-tempered, and sarcastic and bruised. He's fine."

"Others?"

"Nine dead. Six wounded, not including our two."

Jed lowered his head. There was silence for several minutes, then he asked, "So what's the deal with this Diablos? Immunity?"

Leo nodded. "He says he's tired of fighting. There was rumor of him in the area and some of the locals panicked, understandably. Turn out he holds many government secrets, not the smallest of which is the location of a nuclear weapons base." He nodded at Jed's surprise. "His government had exiled him, and now wants him dead, which I think is the real reason he wants immunity. He was running out of places to hide."

"Can't blame him I guess. I wonder if he feels any guilt for his crimes."

"They were carried out years ago in the name of his people." Leo shrugged. "Who knows."

"And this group that so foolishly kidnaped our people, what was their motive?"

"Oh, they knew where Diablos was hiding and thought they could take him out. They didn't have the fire power to do it, so they wanted to trade our people for weapons. They wanted to be the men to bring down a legend." Leo handed Jed his empty glass. "It never panned out. They didn't get the weapons they wanted, and Diablos appeared in the area sooner than expected. He caught wind of them, see, and went out to put a stop to it."

"He was going to kill them?"

"He was going to turn himself over to Josh and Sam."

"My god." Jed laughed. "Then why abduct Sam?"

"I don't think he found kids much of a threat, but he did have to tend to them. His government, as you know, was heavy on his heels. I think he was waiting for the opportune time."

"Did he stab Sam?"

"No. At least he says he didn't. And this so called plan these kids had to bring down Diablos actually allowed his escape."

"Incredible." Jed shook his head. "I bet those three go skiing next time."

"I bet they don't leave the White House next time."

Jed managed a chuckle. "Get the others in here