HEY GUYS ;)

SO HERE'S ANOTHER ACTION CHAPTER.

HOPE YOU LIKE IT.

PLEASE R&R :)

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What happened at the end of previous chapter.

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Martin stared back at the box for several seconds. He frowned, leaned forward and slid it towards him.

He opened the lid, removed the DNA Record and took a closer look inside.

Suddenly he noticed that part of the velvet lining had been stitched up around the back. He quickly took a pair of scissors from his desk and cut the fabric, then he dropped the scissors and dug his fingers beneath the material.

He pulled out a scrap of paper. His frown deepened as he gazed down at a set of coordinates. "A location." He whispered.

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CHAPTER 10.

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Gull watched Martin Howell as he walked out of his Office with the box. He followed him at a safe distance and hung back as Martin went into one of the labs.

Gull waited there a couple of minutes, before Martin appeared again. He cursed inwardly. The sonofabitch had left the box in the damn lab.

Gull watched him carry on up the corridor and disappear around the corner. He shifted his eyes around the Department. At least It was quiet. He took a deep, steady breath, then moved quickly toward the lab. He peered through the glass and noticed that only One Lab Technician was inside, Rowan Andrews. He smiled inwardly. This is gonna be a piece of cake!

She looked up and smiled as he entered. "Hey Gull. I thought you were going off for lunch?"

He smiled back. "I'm on my way." He moved around the desk toward her and glanced across at the box. "I've just ran into Martin." He pulled out some latex gloves and whipped them on. "He wants me to check the box. He thinks there's something he might have missed." He reached across the work top.

Rowan frowned up at him.

Gull reached for the box.

She whisked it away. "Well he's just ordered me not to let any one near this box for now."

For God Sake. He had no time for this. He shifted his eyes back into the corridor. It was clear.

In a flash of movement, he grabbed Rowan, pulled out a thin blade from his Jacket and stabbed it into her neck to the hilt just above her collarbone. He muffled her screams with his hand, gave it a few seconds and released her. She sunk motionless to the floor.

Quickly he grabbed the coordinates from the box. He got to his feet and entered them onto the grid. The map appeared instantly and zoomed in on the location. A wicked smile spread across his face. "Now we can wrap this up and finally get the hell out of this bloody City."

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Ed walked into the large Dining room and looked across at Aran, Nolan, Sid and Carl. They were all sitting around the table getting ready for another round of Poker. "Hey." He started toward them. "I'm in. . ."

Suddenly Alex Cole tore through the door behind Ed and nearly knocked him off his feet. All eyes flashed to him.

"Gull's got to the box! And I was right! There was more than that DNA Record in it! Cain Jackson lied to us. He found the Ceramic Vase in Washington and had it transported to New York City. That Sonofabitch hid it from us!"

Nolan jumped to his feet. "Where is it?"

"The Paul Kasmin Gallery, 293, 10th Avenue." For the last eight months they'd gone searching around every bloody Museum in the city, and it had been sitting in a damn Art Gallery in 10th Avenue, all this fucking time. He released a long, pent up breath and stared sternly at them."Well don't just sit there! Go and get it!"

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Martin Howell stood Impatiently in the Assistant Directors office, trying his best to hold back his temper. "Just let me take the an NYPD back up team to the location."

The Assistant Director released a long, pent up breath. "Look Martin. I have a list of crooked Agents right here." he said, grabbing the sheet of paper from his desk. "and nearly half the department are hunting them down as we speak. Take Hodge's team. They're clean."

Martin muttered under his breath and raised his voice at him. "How can we be sure any Agent is clean in this damn place!"

The Assistant Director rose to his feet and fixed him with a steely glare. "Get down there with Hodge's team now, or I'll take you off this case and organise for someone else to head this up! Got it?!"

Howell cursed inwardly. "Yes sir." He turned on his heels and marched out of his office, slamming the door behind him.

He reigned in his anger and tried to think. Okay. Maybe Hodges I can trust. He's a good guy. Finnigan too. . . maybe Randall?

On his way back up the corridor he was torn from his thoughts by loud shouts coming from the lab. He took off into a run and skidded to a stop outside the lab.

His breath caught in his throat when he saw the horrific scene before him. Tom leaning over Rowan, as she lay on the floor, so still, so pale. Her throat ripped open as the blood pooled around her body.

Tom looked up at him in stunned shock. "She's . . . dead."

Howell stood there for a long moment. It all seemed so distorted, surreal. He swallowed into a dry throat and tore his eyes from Rowan's body.

Forcing himself to focus he moved unsteadily to the box, now lying on the floor several feet from her. The lid was already wide open. He grabbed the box and looked inside.

His heart plummeted. The coordinates and the small photo were gone.

Martin didn't hang around. He pushed to his feet and dashed out of the lab and as he headed up the corridor towards one of the main exits, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and punched in Don's number.

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Five minutes later, Don was racing through the trees after Mac gripping the phone tightly in his hand. "I need you to organise as much back up as you can. When they turn up we don't know how many of them there will be, so keep you're heads up. Address is 293 10th Avenue."

" . . . . . . "

Don looked up and saw Mac dive into his car. Dammit! "Mac wait!" He sprinted toward the Avalanche as Mac reversed it out from behind a set of trees.

Mac slammed his foot on the accelerator and skidded up the bank toward the road. A split second later, the passenger door flung open and Don dived in next to him.

Mac cursed inwardly. "Don. Your car's parked on Crotona Road remember?"

Don muttering a curse and quickly slammed the car door shut behind him. "I'm not letting you out of my sight for a second." He flashed Mac a 'Don't you dare mess with me,' look, then pressed his phone back to his ear. "Yea, I'm here."

" . . . . . . "

"Martin Howell found some coordinates and a photo in the box."

" . . . . . . "

"He said it's a vase, Chinese in origin and looks like it's worth a whole ton of money."

" . . . . . . "

"Yea. We'll meet you there. Be careful." Don hung up and pushed out a long, pent up breath. "This is turning into one hell of a day."

Mac stayed silent and pushed his foot down on the gas pedal.

Don looked back out the front windscreen. His eyes widened as Mac veered the vehicle off the road and onto the field to their left. "What the hell are you doing now!"

"Taking a short cut."

Don cursed under his breath. "Mac there's a damn ditch up ahead!"

"Yea. We're jumping that."

"Jesus Christ." Don pushed back in his seat. "Short cut's good, but plunging to our deaths? Not so much."

Mac floored it as they got closer. "No problem. We'll make it."

Several seconds later Mac's vehicle had left the ground and was flying through the air. Don had his eye's squeezed tightly shut as his life flashed before his eyes and what was only a couple of seconds felt like forever. Finally the car hit the ground, bounced several times and shuddered. Don's eyes flew open. He quickly turned and gazed out the rear window.

"I told you we'd make it. We've just cut five minutes off our journey." Mac said.

That ditch had to have been at least twenty five metres wide and fifty metres deep. Don released a long, shaky breath and turned back to the front of the car. "Okay . . . that's good."

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Gull and four other Agents screeched to a stop around the back street, Immediately jumped out of the van and stormed the building.

Another easy job, Gull thought as he aimed and fired at the last of the half dozen people who had been inside. He turned back to the others. "Now let's hurry up and search this place! We haven't got much time!"

Several Minutes later Darren was calling Gull's name from the back room. Gull quickened his pace down the stairs and hurried towards him. "You have it?"

Darren sighed heavily. "No." He pointed at the wooden crate. "Someone else has got to it first."

"What?" Gull pushed passed him and stared into the empty crate. He swore loudly and started pacing around the room. "Well it's not the damn FBI, NYPD or any other Law Enforcement Agency or they'd have this place cordoned off right now." He turned back to Darren. "So who the hell has it?"

"Shit!" Darren got to his feet and glanced nervously back at Gull. "One of the guys who worked here might have known, but we went and shot them all."

"Drop your Weapon's and hands in the air where I can see them!"

Gull and Darren whirled around and aimed their gun at him.

"I'm having one hell of a day and I wont hesitate to shoot the both of you. So Do It Now!" Mac shouted furiously.

Don charged into the room with Gary Winters, Martin Howell and a whole team of Officers. He swore under his breath and moved quickly in front of Mac. "Weapons down Now!"

Gull gave Don a hard, pissed off glare and dropped his gun on the floor. Darren followed his lead and a couple of seconds later Martin Howell and several other Officers had them on the floor and handcuffed.

Martin released a long, weary breath and looked back at Gary. "We found two more. Your guys have them in the police van."

"Good." Gary shot a disgusted gaze back at Gulliver and Darren. "Get these Scum bags out of here."

Suddenly, Mac bolted passed Don. He pushed Martin aside and slammed Gulliver to the ground. The rage ignited through him like a fireball as he pressed his gun to Gull's chest. "Where's Jo?!"

A split second later, Don and Martin were at his side.

Don slowly circled around him, his heart now pounding loudly in his chest. "Mac stop . . ."

He shoved him to the side and started to squeeze down on the trigger. "Tell me where she is! Now!"

Gull's eyes widened in fear. "Okay. . . Okay she's in Ridgefield, It's . . . a large house at the end of Bell Drive, next to Overpeck Creek."

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Aran grabbed the binoculars from the dashboard as they drew up around the back of the warehouse. He peered across the road at the gallery. "Crap! The NYPD are here and I can see Gull's vehicle around the side of the building. "They must have them!"

Nolan swore loudly. "We've got to get out of here!"

Carl pushed his foot back on the gas pedal and accelerated up the road. "Alex is gonna be mighty pissed."

Sid glanced out the back of the car and caught sight of Mac and Don bolting out of the gallery with Martin Howell and four more Police Officers close behind. He cursed as he watched them dive into their vehicle's and speed off down 10th Avenue. He grabbed his phone from his suit jacket and pressed speed dial. "We need to alert Alex."

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Jo staggered back against the wall as the trap door unlocked above her. She tried not to let the fear show as Alex came bounding down the steps toward her.

"Where did you find it!" he roared.

She tried to get away, but he moved too fast and grabbed her arm, yanking her back to him.

"I don't know what your . . ."

He grabbed her Jaw and stared fiercely at her. "The box! Tell me where you found it?!"

She glared back at him and said nothing.

He pulled out his gun and aimed it at her head. "Tell me! Or I'll kill you!"

"I'll never tell you." she answered quietly.

He started to squeeze down on the trigger. Jo closed her eyes, waiting for the shot to come, holding back the tears as her mind began to relive the amazing night she had spent with Mac. I love you Mac . . . I love you so much.

She was torn from her thoughts by the pressure of the gun leaving her forehead. She opened her eyes and breathed out in relief as Alex pushed the gun back into his pocket. Unfortunately, It was short lived.

Her breath caught in her throat when he lunged at her and slammed her against the wall, his eyes staring murderously into hers. She bit down on her lower lip as the pain shot through her body, but she didn't take her eyes off him for a second.

"I think I'll keep you alive for now, but you will tell me." he snarled menacingly at her. "Of that I am sure." He grabbed her arm again and started to pull her towards the steps.

She tried to yank herself free, but his fingers bit into her and she cried out in pain.

"Don't you dare fight me Jo!"

"Where are you taking me?"

He whirled her around and shoved her up the steps. "Just shut up and move!"

She quickly glanced up at the trap door, hoping to make a run for it, but saw Matt, Ed, Carlton and Lucas waiting at the top. "Great." she muttered under her breath and tried to stay calm as she climbed the steps toward them.

She slowed to a stop on the top step and stared across at them. "Why are you doing this? You're all crazy joining this Idiot." She whispered.

"I said hurry up!" Alex pushed her through the door and she slammed into Lucas. He pulled her towards him and leered down at her. "I like this Job." he snarled. He looked across at Alex as he stepped through the door. "I'll take her boss, until you get your breath back."

Alex glared at her and pushed passed Lucas. "You're welcome to her. She's driving me crazy." he grumbled.

Lucas grinned back at her menacingly. "And now I get to keep an eye on you. Nice."

She narrowed her eyes at him and tried to get free of his grip. "Get away from me."

"I don't think so." He growled. He yanked her forward as they followed Alex out of the kitchen.

Jo heard the sound of rotor blades as they moved toward the front of the house. She came to an abrupt stop. Oh God. No. Alex opened the front door and Lucas pushed her outside. Her eyes widened when she saw the two choppers waiting for them on a large expanse of lawn thirty metres away. Her eyes flashed across at Alex. "I'm not going on a chopper!"

He ignored her and continued to walk quickly up the path towards them.

Jo counted down from 3, then she shoved Lucas and Ed out of the way and ran.

She'd managed to get some distance from them, but suddenly a sharp, agonising pain tore through her leg, slowing her down considerably. A couple of seconds was all it took before Lucas had caught up to her.

He grabbed her from behind and lifted her off the ground. "Where do you think you're going?!"

"No! Let me go!" She screamed.

"Shut up Jo!" He tightened his grip around her waist and dragged her back to the chopper kicking and screaming.

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Mac cranked the steering wheel hard to the right. The Avalanche skidded into Bell Drive on two tyres as he buried the gas pedal. Behind him and Don, Martin Howell followed and a half dozen units joined the parade a block or two behind them. Mac swore loudly and stood on the brakes, nearly crashing into the BMW in front of him. He swerved around the car and floored it to the end of the road.

Don saw a large drive up ahead. "Mac slow down. It must be up there!" he pointed.

Mac turned the wheel sharply, slammed through the gates and accelerated up the long narrow drive.

Don's eyes widened when he saw a massive house in front of him. "Jesus. Look at this place."

Mac skidded to a stop and bolted out of the car.

Don swore loudly. "Mac. Stop!" He dived out of the car and chased after him, finally catching up with him at the front door. He yanked him back and stared incredulously at him. "Are you crazy? We don't know how many are inside."

Mac yanked free of Don's grip and listened at the door. "I can't hear anything."

"It's a big house. They're probably at the back, or upstairs."

"Okay. So we go in this way. Ready?"

Don released a long, frustrated breath. "We're waiting for back up Mac."

"They're nearly here." Mac reared back and slammed into the door.

Don swore under his breath. "Okay. 3, 2, 1 now." They slammed into the door together and it flew open.

They entered the house low, in firing stance, arms extended directly ahead of them, their weapons gripped in both hands.

Mac's laboured breath and the pumping like pistons of his blood through his ears were the only sounds he heard as he inched along the hallway to the door on his left.

Don heard footsteps behind him and looked back. Martin signalled to Don that he was going to check upstairs. Don nodded back at him, then continued along the hallway close behind Mac.

They checked several rooms, before it suddenly began to dawn on Mac that there was no one here. He paused and pressed his back against the wall, his heart sinking to his stomach. He turned to Don. "Gulliver's given us a bogus address or we're too late."

They searched the house for another five minutes before One of the Officer's noticed the trap door in the kitchen. "Over here!" He shouted.

Mac bolted into the room and sank to his knees. "Get out of the Way!"

The Officer moved away quickly and Mac pulled open the trap door. "You got a flash light?"

The Officer pulled one out of his pocket and handed it to him.

He grabbed it, threw his legs over the side and jumped down onto the steps. The sweat beaded the back of his neck and fear fed the icy chill shivering down his spine. "Jo!" She's not down here. . . She's not dead . . . She's not dead . . . He echoed the words again and again, in an attempt to drive the horrific images from his mind, as he descended the steps into the darkness.

Breathing hard, he stepped off the bottom step and shone the flash light into the basement.

It was empty.

Something caught his eye. He moved towards it, shakily grabbed a glove from his pocket and picked it up. His heart stalled in his chest as he stared down at it. It was a piece of Jo's shirt.

Mac dragged a shaking hand through his hair and shone the flashlight around the room. He froze Instantly and terror radiated from his body in undulated waves. "No!" He stumbled to the edge of the room and scanned the area. Blood . . . My God . . . It's Blood.

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SORRY GUYS. I'VE RUN OUT OF TIME SO I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET ANYMORE IN THIS CHAPTER.

NEXT CHAPTER IS A CHANGE OF PACE. I HAVEN'T WRITTEN ENOUGH SCENES ON THE CSI TEAM BACK AT THE DEPARTMENT ANALYSING THE EVIDENCE AND I WILL BE WRITING ABOUT MORE ABOUT HOW THEY ARE FEELING.

AND WE'LL FIND OUT WHO HAS THE VASE IN THE NEXT CHAPTER. SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY FIGURED IT OUT.