A/N: I'm hoping that if I update quickly I won't leave this on hiatus for so long. This chapter is much longer than the others, but like I said, it's got action. Thank you for the reviews and for sticking with me!

Disclaimer: I do not own any one except for the crazy Russians.

Night had fallen to the pitch black hours of the early morning. The smell of salt water and decaying fish filled the car as Mikhail drove through the wharf to the dock. Inna tried not breathe too deeply as the smell unsettled her stomach, and it was already twisted with anxiety. She inhaled on her cigarette, wondering what number she was on tonight, and tapped the ash out the partially open window. Beside her, Peter shifted uncomfortably.

"Do you have to do that?" he asked, waving the smoke away from his face and coughing.

"If I do not, I will become very difficult to deal with," Inna told him, ignoring the irritated glance Peter threw her, "We are very nearly there. You will not have to deal with it much longer."

Peter scoffed, "Funny, when you were explaining things you conveniently forgot to mention that you needed my help, too."

"Forgot, or planned?" Inna asked, "As you said, I researched you for weeks. I know much about you, Agent Burke. For instance, I know you will never abandoned your friend. Where he treads, you will surely follow, and if I have his cooperation, then I know I have yours."

Peter glared, "You don't have mine. I'm doing this for Neal, to keep him alive, not to help you. I don't work with criminals."

Inna snorted, "I will pretend you did not just say that."

Growling, Peter leaned away from her, pressing himself as close to the door as was physically possible. Inna looked at Mikhail in the rear view mirror. His eyes were on the road, but she knew from the way his muscles tensed and his jaw worked that he was focusing on their conversation. The thought that he was worried about what she said to Peter made her stomach tighten even more.

"Do you remember your part?" Inna asked quietly.

"I'm not stupid," Peter muttered, "I've got it."

"Good, I will not remind you of the consquences if you fail them. I'm sure you already know that as well."

His face reddened with anger, "You won't get away with this. You know that don't you? When this is all over, the FBI will hunt you down. You kidnapped us, and you're international criminals. You can't possibly think you'll be free after this."

Inna inhaled on her cigarette, facing his angry eyes with cold ones, "There are differnet kinds of freedom, Agent Burke."

Mikhail eased the car to a stop outside the warehouse, "We're here."

"Ready yourself, Agent Burke," Inna turned to Mikhail, "Circle the wharf. If we are not back with in ten minutes, you know what to do."

Mikhail nodded once, locking eyes with her through the mirror. There were many things on the tip of her tongue that she wished to say, but the time for that was later. After they'd won their freedom.

Lanka watched as Neal slowly but surely convinced Elizabeth to sleep. She lay curled on the couch, Neal sitting on the floor beside her, clutching her hand. She'd been on the verge of tears ever since her husband left with Inna and Mikhail, and Neal had never let go of her hand, never let up on the constant stream of reassurances. Lanka almost found herself believing him.

"Here," she said gruffily as she placed a plate and glass of water beside him, "You need to eat."

Neal looked at her, "Not really hungry."

"You have a mild concussion and have been here for several hours," Lanka said, "You must eat."

"Thanks," Neal said, picking up the sloppily made sandwich with his free hand, "I'll try not to throw it back up."

Lanka smiled slightly before turning abruptly and walking away. She didn't not want to become close to these people, didn't not want to harbor concern for their well being. There was only the mission, and Neal and Elizabeth and Peter were tools to finish the mission. Nothing more. If she let herself believe anything else, they would never succeed.

"Lanka, I need to see you."

Lanka moved across the flat to were Serge was set up with his lap top. The blue light glowed on his face, shadowing his cheek bones and his dark eyes. Lanka sat beside him, careful not to allow their bodies to touch. She did not need the extra distraction.

"What is it?"

Serge pointed to the screen, "I've got the blue prints for the mansion. This is not supposed to be there."

He pointed to what looked like an addition to the office. Tyen's mansion was expansive, already containing twenty odd rooms. Yet he had added on to it this small windowless room at the very edge of his home where it did not belong.

"It makes me nervous," Serge said, "I do not know what is in this room, nor why it suddenly appeared two months after our first recon of his home."

"Suspicious," Lanka agreed, "but it changes nothing."

"Lanka, if we send them in without the proper intell, we could fail the entire mission."

"If we do not act now, it will be another five years before we are able to take him down. We continue as planned."

Serge frowned, "Inna must know about this."

"We will inform her," Lanka promised, "but we go forward. I will not wait any longer."

Serge grasped her hand in his and she closed her eyes against he warmth that flooded through her fingers. He pressed her knuckles to his lips, gentle and tender.

"I wish I could take away your pain," he murmured, and Lanka felt her heart melt beneath his words, so sincere, so loving.

"Once this is over," she whispered, "We can move one. We can put this behind us. But until then, there is only the mission."

She felt him smile against her hand, "You will give me your answer then?"

She glared at him, "You are like a dog with a bone."

He shrugged, brushing her hair away from her face, running his thumb down her scar, "When I see something I want, I do not stop until I get it."

Giving into the weakness of her heart, Lanka leaned forward, touching her forehead to Serge's, closing her eyes and breathing in his scent of coffee and metal, "When this is over, I will have nothing left to hold on to, nothing to keep me from giving all of myself to you."

He kissed her nose softly, "I will hold you to that."

Lanka sighed heavily, "I must check on Sofia."

"Hmm. I must continue with my recon."

Yet neither of them moved for several moments, content to stay in each other's arms for the rest of their lives. Finally, Lanka pulled away, her heart already aching as she left him sitting in the light blue glow of his computer, watching her as she walked away.

Sofia was still sleeping, albeit fitfully, caught in the throes of another nightmare. She combed the tangled hair from the child's pale face, wishing she could will sweet dreams to her and lock the nightmares away forever. Inna was the only one who could calm Sofia down during one of her bad dreams, the only one that could make her fall asleep as the sun drifted down over the horizon. Sofia hated falling asleep since there was rarely a night that she didn't dream of fire and gunpowder. But Inna, for whatever reason, had the magic touch.

And as jealous as it made Lanka, she wished Inna was here to ease Sofia's suffering.

Her phone chirped in her pocket. Startled, Lanka moved away from Sofia's bed and to the back window, safely out of earshot of anyone else. When she looked at the screen, her heart leapt to her throat, and she quickly answered the call.

"Vivka, what is wrong?"

"Nothing," Vivka answered with a heavy voice, "How is she?"

Anger swelled in Lanka's stomach, "Vivka, I told you never to call this number unless it was an absolute emergency. You know that he may be monitoring you."

"Da, but this morning I received a report that he may be dead."

Lanka rubbed her temple, "It is false. You know better than this, Vivka. You are putting all of us in danger by calling, and I am doing the same by answering."

Vivka was silent for a moment and when she spoke again, Lanka could hear the tears in her voice, "I miss her, Lanka. I miss all of you."

"I know," Lanka said with a heavy sigh, "It is almost over, Vivka. Hold on just a little longer. I must go now. Do not call this number again."

"I'm sorry," Vivka whispered, "Be careful, sestra."

Lanka quickly hung up the phone and turned it off. She knew she should contact Inna immediately and tell her. She knew she should evacuate the others and fall back to the second safe house. But if she did all of that, the mission would have to be scrapped and started over and that was something she couldn't imagine doing. Besides, the chances of him actually tracking the thirty second phone call back to their location were a thousand to one.

No, they would remain here. They would finish this now. She just prayed she was making the right decision.

Dmitri was eating fried chicken, his face and fingers covered in grease. It was enough to make Inna's stomach turn in revulsion. How he could eat something like that at three in the morning was beyond her. He took another bite of the chicken leg, mulling over Peter's words.

"Am I to believe this?" Dmitri asked, eyeing Inna.

She nodded, "Da, I saw him with my own eyes."

Dmitri wiped the grease from his mouth on the back of his hand, "Mr. Collis, how did you come across this Neal Caffrey?"

"It was another transaction. My client had received merchandise from Caffrey. I've worked with him a couple times since, but I always do research on the men I work with. I just recently found out about his connection to Tyen," Peter answered easily.

Dmitri grunted, "Then why not take him to Tyen yourself? Why come through me?"

"Tyen is very secretive," Peter answered, "It could take months before I could contact him. I don't want to take the chance that Caffrey slips through my fingers by then."

Dmitri nodded, "I want sixty."

Peter, still playing the roll of Collis, gaped at him, "Sixty? Are you insane? I found him. I should get sixty."

Dmitri chuckled, "You talk as though you have a choice. You will give me sixty percent of the reward Tyen offers for Caffrey."

"But-"

Inna stepped forward, "You will take the forty, and you will be happy about it."

Peter glared at her, not faking the anger on his face in the slightest. Finally, he nodded, "Fine. I guess forty is better than none."

"Good!" Dmitri clapped his hands together, splattering grease, "I will arrange to meet with Tyen in the morning."

"Dmitri, perhaps it would be better if you did not attend," Inna said softly, approaching the table.

He eyed her, "You suspect trouble, Inna?"

She shrugged, "Tyen is a business man like you. And a good rule for businessmen is to never leave loose ends."

Dmitri nodded, smiling, "Thank you, Inna. You are always looking out for my best interests. What do you suggest?"

"Allow me to accompany Collis to Tyen's. I will be able to assure your reward and if things take a turn for the worst, I will be able to, shall we say, escape Tyen's hospitality."

"Da, I trust you," Dmitri said, "Stay with Collis, and get Caffrey. I will text you the time and address," Dmitri turned his attention back to Collis, "Inna will accompany you. She will insure that you do not try to betray me."

Collis waved the comment away, "Wouldn't dream of it. Now, are we going to go get this guy, or not?"

Dmitri waved them both towards the door, "Da,da. Go. I must finish my meal."

Peter headed to the door. As Inna moved to follow him, Dmitri, grabbed her wrist.

"Inna," he said softly, "if Tyen does not take care of loose ends, I trust you will."

She nodded, "Of course."

She left him in his warehouse, munching on fried chicken and licking his fat fingers. Disgusted, she wiped the grease off her wrist on to her coat. She could not wait until it was her turn to take care of loose ends.

Quietly, Sofia tip toed out of her "room", careful to stay hidden in the shadows as she approached the couch. She could see Elizabeth sleeping, her hand dangling over the edge next to Neal's shoulder. Neal had his back pressed against the couch, knees drawn up to his chest, his head resting heavily on them. She got to her knees and crawled to him, peering at his face. Slowly, she reached toward him, finger extended and aiming for his nose.

"Don't even think about it."

She squealed, scrambling backward and smothering a giggle. Neal lifted his head, smirking at her as she sat up and sat cross legged in front of him.

"I thought you were asleep," she whispered, "You scared me."

"Somehow, I think that's exactly what you were planning to do to me," Neal smiled, "Shouldn't you be in bed?"

Sofia shrugged, wrapping her long blond hair around her finger, "I couldn't sleep."

"Same here. This floor is rather uncomfortable."

"You could sleep in the recliner," Sofia pointed out.

Neal glanced at Elizabeth, "I think I'll stay here."

Sofia watched him shift his position, extending his legs and pressing his shoulder against Elizabeth's hand. She moaned in her sleep, but relaxed a moment later as she nestled closer to Neal.

"You want to protect her," Sofia said, "but she's scared."

Neal watched her with curious eyes, "Yes."

"It's hard to protect someone from fear," Sofia went on, "cause there's nothing to fight. Like nightmares. They're real but you can't kill them, can't make them go away."

Neal cocked his head to the side, "You really do know what's going on here, don't you?"

She scowled at him, "I'm not stupid."

He chuckled, "I can honestly say that thought never crossed my mind. I just wish that you didn't, I guess."

Sofia scooted forward until only a few feet separated them, "Why?"

Neal sighed, "You're a kid, Sofia. You should be having play dates and slumber parties, not sitting in an abandoned building talking to a captive."

Sofia shrugged, "It isn't safe for me to go home."

"Why not?" Neal asked.

"My father is a bad man. He hurts people. He'll hurt me if he finds me. So I have to stay here, because I'm safe with Inna and Lanka."

"Sofia," Neal asked slowly, "did they kidnap you?"

Sofia rolled her eyes, "No, Neal, they didn't kidnap me. They saved me."

Neal nodded, but Sofia could tell that he didn't really believe her. He probably thought they'd brain washed her or something. She wanted to tell him the truth, make him understand that even though they seemed like it, Inna and Lanka were not the bad guys and neither were Mikhail and Serge. But he probably wouldn't believe that either.

"So you father's bad," Neal said, "but what about your mother?"

Sofia swallowed hard, looking away from him, "She's gone."

The silence was suffocating, but not nearly as much as the memories that plagued her. If she let it, nightmare would consumer her. She could smell the smoke, feel the fire on her skin, hear the screams echoing. She remembered it vividly, and she hated it.

Neal scooted forward, crossing his legs to mimic hers. He sat in front of her, their knees pressing together. Usually, she felt small around adults, vulnerable, tiny. But with Neal, she felt at ease, safe even.

"Do you want to see a magic trick?"

She nodded, watching as he pulled a coin out of his pocket and held it up for her to see. He moved it effortlessly over his knuckles, one by one until it reached his thumb and then it vanished. He held his hand open to let her see that it was empty, then reached behind her ear and pulled it out.

Laughing, Sofia took the coin from him and held it in her palms.

"How'd you do that?" she asked, studying the coin.

"A magician never reveals his secrets," Neal said, "but I will tell you this. It isn't the coin that's the magic trick."

"Then what is?"

He smiled at her, "It's making you show me that beautiful smile."

Sofia grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly and whispering spasibo in his ear. She felt him smile in her hair and wrap his arms around her back. And for a moment, Sofia was able to believe that no matter what happened they'd all be okay.

And then that moment ended.

Lanka was on the second floor when the attack came. She heard glass shatter above her, heard heavy footsteps threatening to fall through the floor, and heard Sofia scream in terror. It all registered in an instant, and by then she was already grabbing her gun and running up the stairs, shouting at Serge to get out.

She came up the stair well only to be met by a large man dressed in black and carrying an automatic rifle. She didn't hesitate to shoot him in the chest, point blank right above the heart. His eyes widened slightly before he fell to the ground, lifeless and heavy as stone.

Lanka was not prepared for the man standing behind his fallen comrade. He reached out to grab her, but she moved away. Unsure of her footing, she tumbled down the stairs, head over heels to the second floor landing. Something in her left wrist twisted and snapped and fire snaked up her arm. She could taste blood in her mouth. She'd lost her gun in the tumble, saw it lying at the bottom stair, and knew she'd never get to it in time. Her attacker came to her, rifle at the ready, aimed at her head.

"Where is the girl?" he demanded.

Lanka spit in his face, a small amount of satisfaction filling her as she watched the saliva and blood trail down his nose. He growled and raised his gun. A gunshot erupted in the stairwell, loud and sharp.

The man stood still for a moment, blood leaking from his head, before dropping to his knees and then to the floor. Lanka exhaled sharply.

"Lanka!" Serge shouted as he knelt beside her, "Are you alright?"

She touched his hand and nodded, not really trusting her voice. Grabbing her gun and cradling her wrist close to her stomach, she ran up the stairs with Serge hot on her heels.

"That's two," she said over her shoulder, "Did you see any?"

"Another two are down on the first floor," Serge answered, holding his gun at the ready, "The rest must be on the third floor."

Lanka nodded and held a finger to her lips as they approached the third floor landing. Serge took point, nodding the all clear as they moved out of the stairwell and into the open. Lanka held her breath as she moved, praying that she would hear some sign from Sofia that she was here and not already stolen away.

Serge held up his hand, halting their movements as he hid behind a broken wall. Lanka peered around her hiding spot to see what he was pointing to.

Kneeling in the middle of the living room with a gun aimed at his head was Neal. To the right, another man held Elizabeth upright, a gun pointed at her side. She'd been crying, but now she just looked pissed.

"I will ask again," the man threatening Neal said, "Tell me where the girl is or I will kill you now."

Neal shook his head, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Unhappy with the answer, the man slammed the butt of his gun against Neal's cheek, splitting it open. With a pained cry, Neal collapsed to the floor and curled in on himself just as the man began kicking at his ribs. Elizabeth struggled and cried out, cursing at the man and begging him to stop all in one breath.

Serge raised his gun and took aim, nodding to the man that held Elizabeth. Lanka nodded and aimed her gun at the man assaulting Neal.

"If you do not care for your own life," the man said, "then maybe you will care for hers," he pointed at Elizabeth, "Tell me where she is, or I will shoot your friend in the head."

Neal coughed, red blood tainting his lips, "Screw you."

With an enraged yell, the man delivered one more vicious kick to Neal's ribs and then aimed his gun at Elizabeth. He never had the chance to pull the trigger. Lanka shot him three times, twice in the back and once in the head. Serge only wasted one bullet on the man holding Elizabeth hostage and was already moving before the corpse hit the ground.

"Are you alright?" he asked, but Elizabeth ignored him, dropping to her knees beside Neal.

"You're bleeding," she said, touching his cheek and eyeing his rapidly swelling face.

"I'm fine," he gasped, "We have to get out of here."

"Where is Sofia?" Lanka demanded.

Neal coughed and lifted up the skirt of the couch. Carefully, Sofia crawled out, pale and red eyed. She clung to Neal as though her life depended on it.

"Good," Serge breathed, "We need to leave. Inna will-"

Lanka heard the shot the moment after Serge jerked backwards. She felt his blood spray across her face, saw his eyes cloud over with pain. Some one was screaming angry words in Russian, and it took her a moment to realize that it was her. It took another moment to realize she'd already shot the two men by the windows.

Elizabeth moved away from Neal to Serge, pressing her hands against the bloody wound high on his right shoulder. He groaned in pain even as he struggled to his knees.

"We have to leave," he panted.

With tears in her eyes, Lanka moved to his side and pulled him upright. His pained cry nearly broke her heart. Elizabeth was at his other side, supporting him and still pressing against the wound.

They ran for the stairs, Neal and Sofia right behind them. Serge cursed and yelled as they stumbled down one flight and then the next. There was only one flight left before they reached the door. One more set of stairs until they reached the car and got away. As they started down the stairs, Lanka glanced over her shoulder at Neal as he made it down the stairs to the landing. They would make it.

And then the world exploded.

A/N: There are only a few more chapters left. Thanks for reading!

Translations (if the internet is to be believed):

sestra- sister

spasibo- thank you

sin sooka (from last chapter)- son of a bitch