A/N: Ok, it's official. You are all the best readers in the universe. Thank you all so much for all the wonderful reviews that you took the time to leave. And as I promised, I am dedicating this chapter to my 100th reviewer. Thank you Tangled Up Lover.

And for Skystorm, thank you for the encouragement. I'm so glad you couldn't tell that I'm not from America. I am, in fact, from one of the rainiest, coldest but most beautiful countries in the whole world (Sorry, I'm biased lol). I am from Bonnie Scotland :)
…

Chapter Thirteen

The drive from Dickerson to DC was spent mainly in silence, Flynn and Scott in the front while Mike stayed in the back with Rapunzel, her slight body pressed as far away from the silent man as possible. Looking at her through the rearview mirror, Flynn wanted nothing more than to tell Scott to pull over so he could hug her. The pointed glances from Mike were not going unnoticed by either of them. When their eyes briefly met in the mirror, all he could do was give her a ghost of a smirk, one that she so desperately wanted to return.

Reluctantly, Rapunzel turned her attention to the outside world. Even in Corona, she had never seen such beautiful sights. Trees laced with golden leaves, the sun dancing behind each one of them. She couldn't help but smile as she watched children cycle through the fields, a freedom that she had so longed for her entire life. It wasn't until she felt the menacing eyes of Mike burning into the back of her skull did she turn back round.

"How long till we're there?" She quietly asked, Scott glaring slightly in the mirror.

"Not long now..." Flynn replied back softly, his own gaze casting out the window "Probably about 30 minutes."

With a silent nod, Rapunzel wrapped her arms round her tiny body, her gaze once again turning towards the window in an effort to stop herself from crying. She felt like she was stuck between a rock and a hard place with a bus coming straight in her direction.

"Now you all know what you're doing, right Rider?" Scott muttered, the car swerving violently as he took a sharp left.

Glancing in the rearview one final time, Flynn caught Rapunzel's gaze once again, his heart sinking further than ever.

"...Couldn't forget if I tried..." He mumbled.

…

They had arrived early. Parked in an isolated spot behind some rundown apartment blocks. Zipping up his jacket to cover the kevlar protecting him, Max watched as the SWAT Team flew past him with a surprising silence before breaking up into three groups, each group marching up three separate fire escapes towards the roofs of the surrounding buildings.

He couldn't help but let the wave of relief wash over him, something he had been trying to hold back until the Princess was safe by his side. Guaranteed safety. That had been his mistake last time. When she had gone missing. The minute he had arrived to the scene, his team by his side, he had let the relief sink in. He was getting her back. She was ok. Safe...But she had never been ok. She had never been safe. The sight of her small body lying in the dirt was what had greeted him. The life, long gone from her eyes.

For that, he would never forgive himself. But maybe, just maybe, today could be some form of redemption.

…

They pulled up in a quiet street all too quickly for Rapunzel's liking, Scott killing the engine and turning to look at her. He was smiling slightly, a forced one, she could tell. Probably too happy to see her go. After all, he had taken a knock to the face twice at her doing. With trembling hands she made sure the pixie cut wig was firmly in place before undoing her seatbelt; Flynn following her actions in undoing his as Scott handed him an unopened can of coke.

She could see the pain in his face as he took it, something which would have appeared so silly to anyone in the dark, but for the two of them, that unopened can of coke would be the final step to their plans. Looking up, their eyes met, Flynn giving her a small nod to follow him out of the car.

"S'long, Princess..." Scott sneered with a soft chuckle as they stepped out of the car, the hairs on the back of Rapunzel's neck standing upright.

"I won't be long." Flynn said before slamming the car door shut.

With a hidden glower, Scott watched as the two began to head down the street, turning to face his brother when the two were far enough away.

"Let's go find a spot where we can watch..." He began, the Grinch like smile quickly spreading across his face "And grab the girl before it's too late..."

With a smile and a nod from Mike, Scott fired the engine to life and slowly pulled out from their hidden spot before making their way out the street in the opposite direction from Flynn and Rapunzel.

…

They walked down the street mainly in silence, both casting each other lingering glances while the other wasn't looking. Without saying a word, Flynn gently took hold of her small hand as they came to the end of the street, the busy looking mall only a few yards away from them. This was it. This was where they were going to part ways forever.

Turning to face her, Flynn couldn't find any words to speak. All he could do was tuck a stray piece of blonde under her wig before pulling her close for one final kiss. At that moment all he wanted to do was grab her by the hand and run off. Run for the nearest bus station and get away from life. But instead, he pulled back, resting his forehead against hers as he tried to regain his breathing.

"I hate this..." He mumbled, pulling back to look down at her "But we're both going to be strong..."

"Yeah." She nodded "For Eugene..."

With a nod of his own, Flynn reluctantly took a step back, his arms dropping to his side as he let go of her hand.

"...Don't look back." He whispered "No matter what, don't look back."

With a sad smile, Rapunzel nodded once again and slowly began to walk away, her eyes never leaving his before she was forced to turn away and cross the busy road. And just like that she was gone. A small speck in the sea of people that were moving in and out of crowds in front of the mall.

Flynn waited until he could see her standing on the other side of the street. She looked so tiny and lost as she wrapped his hoody tightly round her body. The plan was for her to pretend like she was waiting on someone. Stand and look around as he quietly sipped away at his coke before throwing the empty can into the trash can that contained the bag filled with money. As he tossed the can he would then grab the bag, give her one last lingering look and run. When he was out of sight she would remove her disguise and Max would come to the rescue.

So with one final sigh, Flynn ran his hands threw his messy hair and cracked open the soda can before following his love, and crossing the road.

…

At 11:58, Max was beginning to worry. He had been sitting casually sipping at his stone cold coffee for what seemed like forever as he watched from the small café across the street for any sighting of the Princess, but still there was no sign of her. No flash of long golden hair. No startled reactions from passer bys.

With a clenched jaw, Max looked up towards the towering buildings, his SWAT Team well hidden from prying eyes. Where could they be? It was 11:59 now. With panic washing over him, Max stood.

"Boss..." Came the distorted voice from Conrad through his earpiece "What's going on? Is there any sign yet?"

"Not yet..." Max replied back quietly, his eyes never leaving the front of The DC USA Shopping Centre. But that's when he saw him. A young man lazily sipping away on a can of Coke "Wait...Conrad...The guy drink the soda...Do you see him?"

"The guy in the white t-shirt..." Conrad asked in confusion "Sir...he's only walking about. He's alone..."

But it was the feeling in his gut that told Max to hold on.

"He's not alone..." He replied back, his eyes trained on the young man before him "Conrad! That's him. Keep all firearms aimed, but don't shoot! I want this asshole alive!"

…

She had never really been a great actress. Even as a child she struggled putting 'shows' on for her parents to watch, so as Rapunzel stood there 'waiting', she really had no clue as how she should be behaving. She stood for what felt like years before Flynn came back into sight, carefully sipping on his Coke as he moved in and out of the sea of people who were oblivious as to what was happening right in front of their eyes. She couldn't help but smile a little when their eyes met through the growing crowds. A ghost of a smile flashing across his own face.

She watched as he slowly looked around, walking around as if he were in a daze, but in reality was searching out any danger. Anything that could hinder their plan. She watched as he downed the last of his drink before cautiously making his way over to the trash can that held his treasure. A look of pure relief washing over his face as he looked down.

He's got it...That's all that was running through her mind. She wanted nothing more than to let the joy that was building up within her to burst out in a laughter that was threatening to explode...But as quickly as her joy had arrived, it soon faded, because there, dancing along Flynn's broad chest was the small familiar red dot that she had seen so many times before.

A sniper! No!

Looking up towards the towering flats across the road, Rapunzel caught sight of the dark figures trying to conceal themselves. Never in all her life did she ever think that what her Father had had her taught would come as any use. But as she watched another red dot bob along his white t-shirt, and another, she knew that he had been found out.

No! You're not going to take him away from me like this!

Without thinking, Rapunzel shot out in a quick run, weaving in and out of the people as she raced to her beloved as he slowly began to reach into the trash.

"Flynn!" She called, causing him to snap up.

Without having time to think about what was going on, Rapunzel flung herself at him, enveloping him in a loving hug as she pulled him in for a kiss.

"Rapunzel!" He hissed "What the fuck are you doing?"

He couldn't deny his confusion as she looked up at him with a big smile before pulling him in for another hug.

"They're watching you." She whispered into his ear.

"Who's watching me?" He asked, his arms instinctively making their way round her small waist.

"Snipers." She replied, briefly casting her eyes down to his chest "I know when someone has a gun trained on them. Right now you've got a lot. It's not safe Flynn. You have to abort this."

following her gaze slightly, Flynn looked down at his chest, and indeed he had a number of red dots dancing along it.

Fuck...

"The money..." He said, his voice sounding defeated.

"You need to leave it." She said "You grab that bag in there, your confirming all their suspicions. Trust me Flynn, they won't think twice about shooting the guy who kidnapped the Princess...Just toss the can, act like that's what you were doing, put a smile on and we'll walk away together like a loving couple who've just met up. Ok? Please. Don't make me lose you like this..."

With a soft nod, Flynn did as she asked, throwing the empty can in the trash, slapping on his 'happy face' and slinging an arm over her shoulder before quickly pulling her away into the crowds. It didn't take him long to spot Scott and Mike parked in a more open spot, the two of them looking rather pissed off when they realised that he was back empty handed.

"What the fuck!?" Scott bellowed, Flynn quickly diving into the car "Where's the money."

"We gotta go..." Was all he could muster up "That son-of-a-bitch cop didn't come alone."

"You need to drive, Scott..." Rapunzel urged "You need to go...GO!"

With his anger raging inside him, Scott kicked the car into gear and quickly pulled out of their spot. This is not what they planned. He was going to get his hands on that money even if it killed him.

…

He had to admit, the minute the young girl had thrown herself at the young man in a loving embrace, it had really thrown him. Never, in Max's 22 years on the force had he ever been so...wrong...But even after they two had kissed and walked away, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had just watched his suspect get away.

Ignoring the frantic calls from Conrad over his earpiece, Max ran across the road, many cars forced to an abrupt halt as they honked their horns at him. But he didn't care. He had to see for himself.

Skidding to a stop by the trash can, Max frantically grabbed it and looked in, only to see the duffel bag exactly where he had placed it.

"Sir!" Came the exhausted pants from Conrad as he joined him "Sir, what happened?"

"He sussed us..." Max exclaimed, kicking the trash can in frustration "And now we have nothing! Son-of-a-bitch!"

But just as he went to kick it again, his sights fell on to the empty Coke can that lay atop the bag, and with that, a little bit of hope began to grow once again.

" Conrad..." He said, never taking his gaze off the can "Hand me a bag."

Without question, Conrad pulled a see through bag from his pocket, handing it to Max who wasted no time in opening it, turning it inside out into a glove and picking up the empty soda can.

"What do you need that for?" Conrad finally asked, the smile on Max's face confusing him further "It's just a can..."

"It may be just a can, Conrad..." Max smirked, holding the evidence up "But it can tell us exactly who we're looking for. Get this to DNA, ASAP!"
…

They arrived back to the shack in record time, Flynn checking out the window every five seconds to make sure that they weren't being followed, but much to his relief they had gotten away. Pulling the wig off, Rapunzel followed the boys inside, Flynn leading the way as he slowly tried to regain his breath.

"That was close." He gasped, turning to face his friends. But as he did Scott's large fist came down onto his face causing him to fall to the ground as Rapunzel ran to his side.

"What are you doing!?" She cried, only for Scott to push her out of the way as he continued to beat into Flynn with as much force as he could muster "Stop it! Stop it!"

She could only watch as Scott grabbed him by his bloodied shirt, pulling him up to face him.

"You had one job, Rider!" He barked, Mike coming to stand next to his brother "One job and you even managed to fuck that up!"

"What are you talking about." Flynn spat out, blood falling from his mouth into his facial scruff "They were going to catch us -"

But without waiting, Scott took another swing, Flynn falling back to the ground with a loud thud.

"Oh my gosh!" Rapunzel cried, tears forming in her eyes "Stop please."

But again, they ignored her pleas; Scott grabbing Flynn by the shirt once again as he continued to pound into him. But just as Scott raised his fist to bring it down onto Flynn's face a final time, his gaze fell to the old dog tags that had slipped out from underneath his shirt.

"What the..." He began, grabbing the chain and looking at it, the small ring that Rapunzel had slipped on there through the night held tightly between his stubby fingers "Where the fuck did you get this?"

But as soon as the words had left his mouth, realization hit, the anger that he had been trying so hard to contain finally spilling over in full. Through bloodied swollen eyes, Flynn stared up at his once friend, his heart stopping at what he held. The ring...

"Shit..." He gasped, his gaze snapping over to his blonde haired beauty "Rapunzel...Run!"
…

A/N: Well guys, super long chapter, but I hope you all enjoyed it. Now you all know why I had to cut the last chapter's length. Lol. Please leave a little review to let me know what you all thought. Probably less than 5 chapters left now :'( Boo...