A/N: This one took me longer than I thought it would. I'm not really keen on it, but at least I've managed to keep it a pretty decent length. I've been thinking about this story, and I've figured out that there will only be two more chapters after this one. Unless my overactive imagination thinks of some other crazy idea. As it stands now, there will be no sequel either, so enjoy while ya can :)

Chapter 15

"Not a bad bunch, deep down, are they?" Reno said casually as he led the way back to the prison cell. Elena followed behind him, holding the hand of the little girl as they made there way back to find Kayla's father.

"They almost killed you, Reno!" Elena said in a shocked voice.

"Nah… I've had nearer misses…" The redhead stopped walking suddenly and checked his surroundings. "Anyone know the odds of these other Shiso turnin' nasty?"

"Rei is dead…" Kayla said quietly, still grasping Elena's hand. "You're the least of their worries."

"Whoa, who would think ya had such logic? You really are one of them, ain't ya kid?" Reno shrugged. "Ah well, if they do I got plenty of ways to kill 'em. 'Kay kid, which one of these cells was your dad in?"

"That one." Kayla lifted a short arm and pointed in the direction of the building nearest them.

"I'm glad you're getting out." Elena said. "I can't believe you were locked up just for

being human."

Reno turned to her with a confused expression on his face, before smirking slightly and carrying on walking towards the prison cell. Elena narrowed her eyes and then picked up her pace momentarily to catch up with him.

"What?" she said suspiciously.

"Nothing." Reno replied innocently. He still had a smug expression on his face that told Elena he knew something she didn't. He looked briefly at the little girl, and then smiled. Elena really hated it when he did that. She was one hundred per cent certain that something was going through his head, but the blond knew that no amount of moaning would make him come clean. He would tell her when he wanted to, and there absolutely nothing she could do about it.

The three of them entered the dismal prison cell and Elena saw the very familiar man sitting up again the wall. His eyes were closed and he was breathing very heavily. Elena could see even in the dim light from the doorway that his hair was matted with blood and dirt.

"Kayla?" The man looked up, almost as if he had sensed his daughter's presence. A look of relief washed over his face. "You're back!"

"Daddy!" the little girl ran over to her father and hugged him. The man then looked up at the two Turks, with a slightly confused expression on his face.

"That uniform…You're Turks?" he enquired. "What're you doing here?"

"Long story… even if was short I ain't got the time or patience." Reno said quickly. He scratched his head briefly, then frowned. "Okay, listen up… can you stand?"

"I don't know…" The man put both hands on the ground and tried to lift himself. Elena could see he was struggling so she rushed over to help him. Slowly, she put one arm around his back, under his arms, and hoisted him to his feet.

"Okay?" Elena asked. The man nodded his head, although he was gasping for breath a little.

"Ya got a name?" Reno asked, unclipping his EMR from his belt.

"Andy…" the man panted.

"'Kay, Andy…" The redhead looked around swiftly. "We're gonna get outta here, but ya gotta do what I say, okay?"

Andy nodded his head and flexed his ankles, evidently trying to see if everything was working properly. Then he stepped away from Elena, and smiled at her.

"You can manage?" The blond Turk asked.

"Yes, thank you." Andy replied. He ran a hand through his matted black hair, before looking at Reno and frowning. "I thought I had it bad…"

"What?" Reno's eyes widened as he looked expectantly at the man. Andy kept his mouth shut, so the redhead turned to Elena.

"Well, you've only been here a few days, Reno…" The blond said awkwardly. "And you don't look too great."

"Yeah, whatever…" Reno shrugged his shoulders. "I'm alive, ain't I? Now c'mon, let's haul ass outta here."

"Okay?" Elena decided to stay with Andy, as he didn't seem very sturdy on his feet. However, as they started to make their way out of the cell, Elena noticed that Reno wasn't particularly steady either.

Andy stumbled slightly as they walked over the bracken. Elena tried her best to steady him, and he seemed to regain his balance easily enough. Satisfied that he okay, the blond looked across at Reno, having only just realized he'd stopped walking.

"Reno?" Elena stepped closer to the redhead. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah…" Reno nodded vaguely. His head was bowed and his eyes were closed, as though he were in some sort of pain. "'Lena…" at that, he fell to his knees, his eyes still closed.

"You're always playing the hero…" Elena said, trying to pull the redhead to his feet. She managed with ease; he was surprisingly light. "You're a lot more hurt than you've been letting on, aren't you?"

"Shut up, 'Lena…" Reno said quietly. "We've got to get outta here…"

"Come here…" Elena stepped in front of Reno and put her arms around him in a tight embrace. It was quite shocking how thin the redhead actually was, since it was impossible to tell just by looking, because of the size of his suit. As Elena put her arms around him and rested her hands on his hand, she could feel his ribs, even through his clothes. For some reason, feeling the emaciated state he was in sent a pang on guilt through Elena's heart. She guessed it just emphasized her failure; Reno had been depending on her the whole time, trusting that she would get him out before something terrible happened to him. Sure, he might have been putting on an act of being fine, but Reno had always been good at that, and deep down, she knew he must have been in pain. The point was though; did he blame her?

"I'm sorry, Reno." Elena said quietly, her arms still wrapped around the redhead.

"Hey, what are you talkin' about?" Reno said. He pushed back slightly and looked down at Elena.

"You were counting on me, and you still had to get yourself out." The blond shook her head.

"'Laney? I'd be dead if it weren't for you, now cheer up… and let's go." Reno sighed and stretched his arms out, cracking the bones in his back.

Elena watched him and smiled lightly. He was right after all, maybe she hadn't failed. She had managed to get Reno water… and had provided him with comfort when he'd needed it most. After all, that was all she could have done anyway. Now was not a good time for her to be reminiscing on how bad she'd kept her promises in the past, she needed to think about what was happening at that moment; They had the perfect chance to escape, but there was still a chance that things could go wrong, and Reno needed Elena to be strong in case the worst happened.

"Right…" The blond said finally. "Let's go…"

"'Kay… now, where do you two live?" The redhead asked the Andy and Kayla. He still had a weary look about his face, and looked like he could snap like a twig, but Elena admired him for staying so strong, and still taking the role of leader. That was who Reno was, and all Elena had been trying to do was be like Reno. It was only then she realized that wasn't what she wanted at all…

"Just at Bone Village…" Andy said quietly.

"Right…" Reno said in a strange tone. "Hang on… Bone Village's only a small place… surely someone would've noticed that you two were missin'?"

"Maybe…" Andy shrugged. "But we haven't been there for nearly two years… and nobody knows about this place-"

"So they've all given up and assumed that you're both dead." Reno finished the sentence for him and laughed lightly. "Well, won't they get a shock…?"

Reno looked quickly out into the distance. There was a small gap in the trees, where there appeared to be a path. Elena assumed that was where they needed to be, and it appeared she was correct as they Reno began to walk determinedly in that direction. The other three followed him, Elena slightly bemused as to how Reno could actually remember the way out. Then again, knowing Reno, he was probably just as clueless as the rest of them; he just seemed to have all the luck.