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1 month later

Yassen ran, revelling in the feeling of the wind against his face and arms. Holly raced alongside him, her breath even and calm. His was still ragged, though not as bad as it had been. His legs and arms were now well muscled from the training, and he had extended his morning run so that he could continue to improve.

Holly had been training again for about two weeks, Yassen had overtaken her during her…absence and could beat her at everything except the assault course where she came into her own and raced around at an unbelievable speed. Today was a Sunday and they had the day free. They stopped at the bunker again; Yassen pulled himself up the front while Holly walked along the back wall.

"What do you want to do then?" she asked, dropping to the concrete and looking up at Yassen.

"I don't know, any ideas?" he already knew her answer; it was the same every Sunday.

"Well, we could go riding if you like." Yassen laughed and sat down beside her. He always said no to this question and they had gone swimming and kayaking for the last two weeks.

"I don't know. Your choice I guess." He paused, "But I suppose riding wouldn't be too bad." Holly rolled her eyes and pushed him off the edge. He hit the ground and rolled, springing to his feet and bowing.

"Yeah yeah, you're such a show off, Yassen Gregorovich. Riding it is, then?" She slid down the front and landed cat-like on her feet. Yassen nodded and held out an arm. She slipped hers through it and they set off, taking the cliff path towards Land's End.

"That's odd," Yassen said as they entered the stable.

"What is? What's odd?" Holly asked, looking all around.

"Hunter's here, look," And sure enough, he was, talking earnestly to Mel as she groomed one of the horses. "I wonder why." Hunter stopped talking as they approached and smiled at them.

"Hey you two, what've you been doing? I was just having a chat with Mel about the training that all the others did here." Yassen shrugged, hiding his puzzlement, after all, they hadn't asked.

"We just fancied a ride. If it's ok with Mel, of course." Hunter nodded and then leant over and muttered something in Mel's ear. She shook her head and Hunter waved goodbye and left. "What was that about?" Yassen murmured to Holly.

"Come on then you two, Russet and Saffy have missed you." Holly shifted her feet guiltily and Mel laughed. "I was only joking! You know where the tack is; take them for as long as you want, I won't need them this afternoon." She turned back to the horse she was grooming.

Yassen and Holly tacked up the horses and trotted them down the path. Saffy, the horse that Holly had been given to ride, was a beautiful steel grey mare. Her full name was Saphira, but no one called her that.

"Where do you want to go? Sennen, or somewhere else? Or just a random ride?"

"Random ride would be good, no rules or anything," Yassen said after a moment's thought. Holly agreed and they turned away from the road and trotted over the open moor land.

Yassen pushed Russet forwards so they caught up with Holly and Saffy.

"What do you think that was about?"

"What do I think what was about?"

"All that, I mean, why was Hunter there? I've never seen him anywhere near there before." Yassen couldn't keep his curiosity under control. Holly, on the other hand, seemed indifferent.

"Does it matter? He probably does want to check on the training here. You're way too suspicious. Come on, let's canter." After that, they couldn't talk, but Yassen's mind was working overtime. He was certain that there was something going on but didn't know what.

They made it back to the stable at about five, just as it was starting to get dark. Neither of them had mentioned Hunter again but Holly had sensed that Yassen was still wondering about it.

"Bloody hell! You two took your time, where did you go?" Mel exclaimed, coming out to meet them. "Half way round Cornwall probably! Right then, let's get the horses in and then you can get back. Mr. Rider came back about an hour ago and said that when you got back he needed to talk to you both. Urgently."

Yassen rubbed Russet down quickly and ran out to meet Holly; she was waiting impatiently in the yard.

"God, you're so slow! Now then, running time." They raced back to the hotel; Yassen had to slow himself down to keep abreast of Holly. Hunter was pacing the lounge, his face worried.

"Where have you two been?" he snapped. "No, sorry, I didn't want to shout. I'm just a bit… well bloody terrified if you want the truth." He resumed his pacing, chewing his lip. Yassen shared a puzzled glance with Holly and stepped forward.

"Sir, what happened? Do you want us to get Jack?" Hunter gave him a tortured look before twisting back on his relentless pacing.

"MI6," He spat suddenly. "They took Laura and Jack." Behind Yassen, Holly gasped. He automatically grabbed her hand, pulling her closer and putting an arm around her.

"But… that's impossible, they were good, they would have fought back." Denial flooded his mind, they couldn't be gone.

"They did fight back. There are three MI6 agents in your room, one is tied up, and the others are dead." Hunter looked sick as he said it; Yassen could only suppose that he was worried about his colleagues.

"So, what do we do?" Holly asked, her voice steady. Hunter stopped and stared at her, his face incredulous.

"Do? We can't do anything, it's way too dangerous for you two." Yassen bridled at that, he was proud of his skills. "Look, you're not properly trained, you couldn't kill, and you'd have to. Sorry, but we're waiting for reinforcements and when they arrive, you're both staying here." Holly opened her mouth to protest but Hunter silenced her with a glance.

"Is there anything we can do, sir?" Yassen asked quickly, eager to be part of it, even if only in a tiny way. Hunter looked at him thoughtfully, finally he nodded.

"Yes, go up and have a little chat with our prisoner, he should be conscious by now. Well, he might be conscious by now," He added, smiling grimly. Holly was already at the door but Yassen hesitated.

"When are the reinforcements coming? And where from?" the older man looked surprised by the question but then shrugged.

"They're coming from London. But they have to drive down in trucks; they'll be here in about five, maybe six hours. Now, go in there and find out where the hell they've taken Jack and Laura." Yassen grinned and saluted. As he raced up the steps he could hear Hunter laughing. The sound was strained, but at least it was a laugh.