First and foremost I would like to thank all of you for your awesome reviews! They literally have meant the world to me and have given me a drive to make sure that this Fic kicks some major ass! Secondly I would like to apologize for me laggin' on the fourth chapter. The holiday season at the store was insanely busy (which is usual I suspect for a game store) and also...Skyrim had taken over my life for a while as well. But somehow I managed to get it back. Somehow.

This is the continuation of the chase scene. I was hoping to go for the awesome ones they do in Uncharted. Hopefully I came close!

"These guys ever give up?" Nate shouted as they made an unexpected turn down an alley.

"My guess would be no."

They only been running a few minutes but Nate's lungs and the burning in his muscles made it feel like it'd been much longer. He'd had them cutting in and out from behind buildings trying to lose them and had been even more surprised when they opened fire on them, not caring about the civilians around them. Sully had split up with them, his hands still clutching tightly to the folder, and made his way through what looked like a large department building. Before they'd split, however, he'd whispered one word to Nate: Rickenbacker. The marina his boat would be at.

Now all Nate had to worry about was getting rid of their shadows.

"Uh do you think we should be going this way?" Abbie asked voice shaky.

Glancing behind them she was filled with a new resolve to keep her wobbling legs going as she saw the asshole in front lift up his arm' pointing his gun down at them. Her hand tightened in Nate's as her eyes widened as the guy squeezed back the trigger sending off two bullets in rapid succession. She tried to mold herself as close as she could to him as the echo of the crack of the gun bounced around the brick walls of the narrow alley. The bullets barely passing by them and into the sides of the immovable walls.

"I've got a plan."

"Really?"

"Sorta."

"Sort of!"

"I'm improvising!"

"You sure it's a good idea to be improvising?"

Looking back he saw that the assholes were still on them and were catching up fast. Unintentionally, before he faced forward, he looked back at Abbie her face set in lines of determination. The only dead giveaway Nate had to know she was scared was the death grip she had on his hand, which suited him just fine since he was doing the same. It was nice for once to not be the only one.

"You have any ideas? I'm all ears!" he shot back.

His free arm involuntarily lifted to protect the back of his head as more shots danced around them the last shot almost landing in his shoulder.

"Good point."

Nate scanned the alley's walls looking for a way out. The only thing he was seeing were fire escapes and even though they would normally be a good way to go Golomya's goons were catching up fast and would no doubt either be on them before they both made it up or would've simply shot them both. Neither of those options sounded very promising and both ended up with them ending up equally as dead. He squeezed down on Abbie's hand harder feeling like he needed to know it was there now more than ever. Abbie didn't complain as she gave him a quick reassuring squeeze of her own knowing exactly what it was for.

If there was that possibility that they were going to die at least it wouldn't be alone.

As if the universe had took pity to his dilemma a small Asian boy, no younger than seventeen, came out of what looked to be the service entrance of to a Chinese restaurant. The kid seemed to have his hands full with loads of trash bags and probably wouldn't be stopping them at the door.

"Excuse me!" Nate shouted as he and Abbie pushed their way past the kid.

"Hey!"

Nate wasn't really happy with his forceful entrance but it was either that or die. Man, what a hard choice that was.

The sound of knuckles meeting flesh came from behind them and instantly Abbie caught a glance back and saw one of the goons land a hard punch down on the kids face and followed it up by knocking him down to his knees.

Nate had a feeling she was going to turn around even though they both knew without a doubt what the noise was. He himself would've liked nothing more than to help the poor kid but these guys were looking to kill Abbie and him. The most they would end up doing to the kid was a shiner and, at the most extreme, a broken bone. His progress forward was suddenly halted when he felt her hand loosen in his causing him to grab a hold to her tightly. Abbie had started to try and make her way back to the kid but Nate had a firm hold of her hand this time and linked his other free hand around her waist pulling her back towards him.

"Come on Abbie we don't have time-"

"We can't just leave him there to take our beating!" she yelled back at him, voice strained.

It pained her to watch someone else take something that was meant for her especially someone like that boy who wasn't even a part of what was going on. He was just an innocent bystander; an innocent bystander who had become a bloody heap on the alley floor.

He could see the pain in her eyes and the anger she felt at the injustice of the situation, he felt it too, but this wasn't the time for heroics.

"We're no use to anyone if we're dead."

Nate stared into her eyes willing her to put it away for now and move forward. It was going to be a real bitch if he ended up having to carry her; they wouldn't get anywhere at that rate.

Giving a short nod he let his hand fall from around her waist and started to weave their way out of the kitchen. The goons were already back in hot pursuit; their small talk already costing them valuable minutes. Just up ahead Nate saw two tackily painted red and gold trimmed doors. Picking up the pace he launched his legs forward trying to gain more ground. The sudden peek in Abbie's breathing letting him know she was doing the same.

Without looking he slammed through the doors and found himself colliding with an unsuspecting waiter and ended up wearing someone's meal as the waiter dropped his tray down on him and skittered back crashing into a table.

He allowed himself a brief second to scan the area looking for the quickest exit.

The inside of the place seemed to resemble every other Chinese restaurant that Nate had even been in, except this one appeared to have had just a little more money put into it. Not to mention the food he was wearing smelt amazing. If he wasn't being chased by a crazy psychopath's (cause really what other kind are there?) goons, this would've been a place he'd like to eat at.

Nate continued to move forward as an elderly gentleman moved towards them shouting in a language he obviously didn't know. Quickly he moved them passed him and saw a staircase that looked like it lead to an upstairs. He would've beat money that they lead to some spare rooms that hopefully had windows. Somehow he had spooked another waiter and down went another person's meal. When more shouts and a few screams were heard behind them he didn't have to look to know their friends were once again right behind them.

"We're making a mess of that poor man's restaurant."

Was she being serious?

Sparing a glance back at her, from what he could see, it looked like she was.

"There are guys trying to kill us and you're worried about a few broken dishes?"

They'd started up the stairs when she replied, "You must be forgetting his assaulted worker we left in the alley."

"I'll leave them a tip."

"Better be one hell of a tip."

Abbie could still hear the elderly man yelling no doubt after them and their chasers. She was pretty sure that the old man wasn't speaking Mandarin, which was a damn shame because that was the only language she knew; and by knew that meant she only knew how to say, "Where's the nearest hotel?" and "Sorry," among a few other short and none important words.

Oh, what could it hurt?

When they reached the last step on the stairs she quickly waved down to him and shouted, "Sorry," as loud as she could in Mandarin, hoping maybe the old man would understand it.

"What in the hell are you doing?"

Grabbing her by the hand, Nate raced down the hallway, his eyes scanning every room as thoroughly as possible. Each one they passed just seemed to be another damn dining room and they were steadily running out of rooms and time. Finally he caught a break and bolted for what looked to be the storage room; exactly what he had been hoping for.

Shoving Abbie inside he quickly followed, slamming, and locking the door shut behind him.

"You guys do this sort of thing often?"

Something large slammed into the door but neither of them jumped. What would've been the point? They both knew what it was. As the door continued to shake from the impact on the other side they both casually moved away from the door.

"Only when I don't have a date on Friday nights."

Abbie snorted as she shook her head.

"So that's a yes then."

"Hey now you'd be surprised at how many ladies I have to fight off with a stick," Nate replied as he looked around for the window.

"Must be one short ass stick."

He shot her a playful glare as he moved towards the window getting up on a crate as he started tossing the baskets and boxes away from it.

"Here help me move all this stuff."

They started to unload everything out of the way of the window; the sound of Golomya's men pounding away at the locked door fading into the background. For one crazy moment Abbie felt like time had slowed down as if giving her that moment to gather her wits about her and come to terms with the fact that the storage room maybe the last thing they see. That they could die here on the floor surrounded by linen clothes and cabbage.

Nate felt her movements slow as he was threw down another box. Her eyes had clouded over like she was deep in thought or somewhere off in La-La-Land. When Abbie's eyes shifted and ended with her looking directly at him he felt a little spooked.

"Thank you."

She stated it so simply yet he had no idea what the hell she was thanking him for. Nate could feel the confusion furrow his brow as he looked down at her.

"For what?"

"For saving my life earlier and also for the pre-death humor. Helps lighten the mood."

Abbie tried to smile but it wilted mid-way leaving her with a strange vulnerable sensation. Nate had constantly appeared to be able to read her even when she was able to smile and bullshit; it was disarming at best.

Leaning forward Nate placed his hands gently on her shoulders and with sincerity said, "We're going to get out of this Abbie, I promise you. Trust me."

He was so determined; honest even as he fully believed that they could and would make it out of there. The even funnier thing was when Nate had asked her to trust him she wanted to immediately. It stumped her as to why she would willingly trust Nate, let alone anyone else, so easily and the answer hit her almost square in the face: He actually meant every word he'd said. He, unlike everyone else she'd ever met, was an honest thief.

Well hell…if Nate could be so optimistic so could she. With a new sense of resolve she shook her head vigorously trying to pump herself for whatever else was going to happen.

"Okay yeah, yeah we can do this! Time for me to just man up and grab this situation by the balls-"

She was rambling; she knew she was and it only ever happened during one or two occurrences. The first was when she was faced with situations like the one they were in now and it seemed all the blood left her brain. Second was when she was nervous and Nathan Drake made her very nervous.

Nate gave her an odd look, a slight smirk lifting the corner of his mouth, causing her to correct herself as she feverishly waved her hands.

"I mean all of that in a very figurative sense," she assured him.

"Sure you do."

For a split second they both had forgotten about the danger they were in until the sound of the door splintering brought them back to the task at hand.

Nate watched as Abbie swiftly moved away from him and started to look through the junk around them for a weapon no doubt. Even though she had left him alone to get back to prying open the window he couldn't help but think of how distracting she was.

After a few useless tugs on the window it seemed that they weren't going to be going anywhere.

"Damn it!"

"What?"

"The window is stuck."

"What do you mean stuck? Stuck on what?"

"Obviously it's stuck together by super glue," he shot back sarcastically.

"Well then break it!"

"With what exactly? Unless I'm going to break it down by throwing potatoes at it there's nothing in here that's going to help us!"

The panic was rising in his voice as the sound of the door collapsing echoed through the room ending with it reverberating through his ears like a ticking clock letting him know that their time was almost up.

"Jesus Christ!"

Rushing forward Abbie moved up next to Nate and without warning kicked out, violently hard, towards the window letting out a dialed down scream of frustration. Her boot connected with the glass causing a small spider web to appear in the middle of the glass. Using every ounce of strength she had left she continued to lift up her boot, forcing it against the glass, as she let the sickening coil that had been her fears drive her even more.

"I refuse to die in a goddamn storage room," she panted, "With a guy who can't even get a date on a Friday night!"

He was tempted to come back with something smart but he was too shell shocked as he watched her continued efforts on the window. The window looked close to breaking but also so was the door. They both looked back and saw that the door was one more hit away from finally busting open.

"I assume you can take this over," she stated simply.

Jumping down from the small ledge Abbie made her way back behind the door. What she was planning on doing Nate didn't have a damn clue but instead of worrying about it he brought up his own foot and smashed it against the window. Finally causing some of it break apart; but it was too little too late as was usual in the luck department for him.

It felt like everything went into slow motion as the anticipation tightened Abbie's muscles. Exhaling deeply she waited for that one last shove that would send the door flying open. When the door did come swinging open the slow motion aspect became jarringly fast forward as her eyes widened at how quickly it was coming at her.

Abbie let out another small scream, and using the momentum of the door, kicked it back towards the two men. She had a moment to feel satisfaction as the goon in the front took the door straight on his face causing him to lean forward with his hands on his knees. It was the opening Abbie had been waiting for and stepping from behind the door she lifted her leg up high and brought it down hard on the back of the guys' neck. He hit the floor with a loud thump and just as he tried to get up she landed another quick kick to his face to keep him down.

As his body fell slack on the floor Abbie moved around the door to get the other guy and was instantly greeted with a fist to her face that sent her flying back into the bags of rice.

She tried to shake it off but the impact of the punch had her vision spinning with an awful ringing in her ears. Abbie found herself having to rely on the bags for support as she fought to keep from swaying.

"Abbie!"

Nate moved away from the now shattered window and made his way towards the asshole that'd shoved him around earlier. Although somehow, as he charged in, he forgot how big the guy had been. He was easily reminded when the big guys' fist connected with his face easily staggering him. Unlike Abbie, Nate had been expecting it and had been ready for the hit or as ready as you could get.

The guy hit like a tank leaving Nate no time to shake off the blow as he ducked out of the way of another blow and quickly jabbed up connecting with what he assumed was the guys' spleen. He took the hit like a champ and shoved Nate away like an annoying fly.

Luckily the shelves broke his fall.

His back came alive with pain and he knew just from the feel he was going to have some bruising. If he got out of this he could live with the bruises just fine.

The guy was on him quick as he moved to strike him. Nate barely had anytime to roll out of the way as the guys' fist came crashing down on one of the wooden shelves. When Nate got back on his feet and turned to face him, his face paled, as he saw the beam broken straight down the middle in jagged little pieces.

Quickly Nate moved forward and landed a couple good blows to his abdomen. The guy barely even seemed to move and with ease knocked away Nate's arms and head butted him hard. For a split second his vision went dark and only came too when he felt the big man's hands clasp around his throat; his thumbs crushing down on his windpipe. Nate tried to remain calm as he elbowed the guy twice but each hit only seemed to make him press his thumbs down tighter. Now is definitely the time to panic, he thought as his body began to struggle. Black spots beginning to dance around in his vision.

Nate started to make a list of all the things he'd never gotten to do and the things he'd never get to say to the most important people in his life when it started to rain…potatoes?

Picking up another potato Abbie threw it as hard as she could at the man who had his hands wrapped tightly on Nate's neck. Nate's face was already turning an awful purple color; his eyes blood shot as his lungs struggled for air.

"Hey asshole!" she called as she threw another smacking the guy right in the face.

He didn't give up his hold on Nate's neck however. Instead he just increased the pressure and instantly her hand went to her blade that she'd placed in her belt. Abbie didn't want to have to do this but there was no time for her to be squeamish. Nate was running out of time and the other guy who she'd knocked out before was beginning to regain consciousness.

Gripping tightly to the hilt of the blade she took in a deep breath and rushed towards the larger man. In one motion she launched herself at his back, securing an arm around his neck, as she drove the blade home between his shoulder blades.

As soon as the blade hit home the big guys back grew ridged; his whole body froze as his head slowly lifted up from looking down at Nate. Still his hands were secured to his throat and without another thought on the matter she twisted the knife in making the big guy let out a sharp cry of pain, his hands finally dropping away from Nate's neck. Once his hands were free they instantly scrambled to get a hold of her as he began the struggle to remove her, and the knife, from his back. But Abbie had locked herself on to him tight and as he flung her around she took out the knife and plunged it back into his back this time forcing him to his knees. The big guy started to sway and Abbie wondered if he was planning something else when without warning he collapsed backwards, pining her between the floorboard and his body.

The abruptness of the impact had knocked the wind out of her and as she listened to Nate's coughing she felt jealous as her lungs begged her to take in a breath. A few seconds later Nate came into view, his hand on his throat, as he bent down to help her push the large, and now very dead, man off of her.

"What are you doing? This is no time to relax," he rasped.

"Now is that anyway to talk to the girl who just saved your ass?"

"You hit me with a potato."

Taking his outstretched hand he helped her to her feet.

"It could be worse. You could be dead right now."

Nate opened his mouth to reply but was cut off by the groan of the guy who Abbie had knocked out with the door.

"That could still be a possibility. Come on."

Reaching out he took her hand and started towards the busted window.

"Hold on."

Dropping his hand Abbie hesitantly made her way back over to the lifeless body that still held her knife. Abbie could've cared less about the damn thing; she honestly didn't want it anymore but she didn't have a choice in taking it really. If she left it behind the cops would surely find it and the only fingerprints on it were her own. She placed it back in its holster in her boot and went back over to Nate who had waited patiently enough by the window.

"Alright all we have to do is make our way across the roof and head over there to where the hotel is and from there take a taxi to the marina."

He helped her through the window and waited a few minutes for her to steady herself as she tried to find secure footing.

"Sounds easy enough," she breathed. "But how do you know which one Sully's at? There are hundreds of marinas around here."

"He told me."

"Oh…obviously."

She followed behind him focusing on her footsteps as she fought not to look down. Every time she did it seemed the ground was flying up to meet her and right away her stomach would do flips.

"You're awfully quiet back there?" Nate teased sneaking a peek behind him to see her, green, with her arms out for balance.

"You act like I talk a lot."

"You're kidding? You haven't shut up since I met you."

Nate swore he could feel holes burning into the back of his skull only making his smile grow.

"I'd be careful if I were you. I could push you off the roof."

"You wouldn't do that-"

"Oh no?" she interrupted voice coy.

"Nope; I'm too charming."

She laughed behind him.

"God you're a cocky bastard."

He decided to leave that last comment alone. It just felt good to be bullshitting and to not have the Jolly Green Giants hands around his throat anymore.

"Alright here we are."

Standing at the edge of the last building closest to the hotel Nate looked down and around the building, scoping out the area for anymore of Golomya's men in black and a quick and easy way down. Glancing over in Abbie's direction he cussed under his breath as he realized her off-white tee shirt was dotted with blood.

"You couldn't have gone with a black shirt today, could you?"

In a way he had meant it to be light and teasing but at the same time…

Letting out a heavy sigh he ran a hand through his hair, throat dry and sore, his eyes scanned around for a vendor that was hopefully selling tee shirts. Off in the distance he could hear the police sirens drawing closer to their location. They needed to get out of there fast but with Abbie's shirt looking the way it did he knew they wouldn't get far. He was still looking for a damn vendor when he'd come across the fire escape on the west side of the building.

"There's our way down."

No one had paid them any attention as they came down the fire escape. They had even seamlessly molded into the crowd of people but apparently it hadn't been as seamless as a transition as he had thought. It seemed almost everyone was noticing the blood stains all over Abbie's shirt.

Damn it.

Normally there were vendors littered all over the cross streets trying to sell tourists cheap little items for more than they were worth but for the life of him Nate could not seem to find a damn one.

He'd just have to go with plan number two then.

Taking Abbie by the hand he pulled her in close and wrapped his arm strategically over the blood stains on her shirt. Catching on quickly she nuzzled herself into his side, the annoying sound of the buzzer going off signaling their arrival, as they entered the store.

In the next chapter you'll find out more about Vishnu's gem and also the actual beginning of the adventure! I have major plans for it and hopefully they come across as Uncharted sounding as possible :)

Once more I'd love some feedback on what you guys are thinking and feeling so far! Thank you so much for reading!

~Much Love, Jeneane~