So sorry that its taken me so long to finish this, but now that its done, I can now focus more energy on Run For Your Life, which was inspired by the writing of this.

He gasped as the searing pain woke him from the blackness. A moment later the pain was gone and replaced by the throb and burn of an open wound.

He opened his eyes slowly, expecting the nausea that would wash over him. Khalid stood before him, rolling the tiny GPS tracker between his fingers. Eyal cursed himself. It should have been impossible to find the tracker.

"Thank you," Khalid said, a small smile on his lips, "This will make things much quicker. No doubt Annie Walker is already on her way to Amsterdam." He turned to one of his two body guards with the instructions to attach the GPS to a burner phone and wait for Annie to arrive.

Eyal took a moment to really see his surroundings as one of Khalid's bodyguards fastened a bandage around his bleeding thigh. The pull on his shoulders told him that hands were handcuffed behind the chair he sat in. His legs, too were tied to the legs of the chair.

Everywhere he looked were windows. Outside the sun was just coming up over the horizon illuminating the lush green grounds. The estate would have been beautiful, if it wasn't currently his prison.

He could only wonder if Annie really was on her way.

Eyal sat silently tied to the chair as he watched Khalid pace across the room.

"Eyal Lavin. Its fascinating to finally meet you face to face," Khalid said softly as he sat down in the chair directly in front of Eyal.

"The pleasure is all mine, I'm sure," he hissed. He did his best to keep his emotions from reaching his face. This wasn't the first time he'd ever been captured, but it was the first time he was without any backing from Mossad. "What is it you really want, Khalid?"

Khalid merely smiled. "Tell me something, why did you give yourself up willingly in Zurich?"

"It was the quickest way to get to you." Eyal smiled. He could play this game; answer without really answering.

"No. I think it's because you have feelings for her."

The muscles in Eyal's jaw tightened. He gave an uneasy laugh. "I think your wrong."

"You're lying. I can see it in your eyes."

"What does it matter what my feelings are? I can't give you anything. You want something from the CIA. I can't give you that."

"No, I but I believe Ms. Walker has the same feelings for you and can get me what I need."

Eyal clenched his jaw and glowered at the other man. They sat in silence for what could have been minutes or maybe hours before Khalid's phone rang.

"Yes?" he said quietly. "Good." Khalid hung up and began quickly dialing another number.

"I am sure you don't want to waste time with pleasantries, Annie Walker," Khalid spoke into the phone.

Inwardly, Eyal seethed but his face remained passive. Khalid turned to him and snapped a photo quickly.

"Eyal Lavin is alive. I won't kill him. And I will return him to you but only if-" he was cut off and the expression on Khalid's face grew darker. "Let's leave Megan out of this. Now, someone has betrayed me. What I want is the names of all the employees in my father's company who are CIA assets. Those that are responsible for my situation need to be punished. You will get the names-" Again Khalid was cut off. "You have 24 hours. I will contact you on this same phone for details as to where to do the exchange. I do not want Megan to have died in vein."

Khalid hung up the phone and walked out of the room without a second look.

Eyal let the mask of defiance fall from his face. He was worried. The last thing he wanted Annie to do was give up the names of assets, not to mention Khalid's situation had very little to do with the CIA. On the other hand, he was sure Khalid would kill him if he didn't get what he wanted.

It wasn't until late evening that Khalid returned baring a glass in his hand. "Water," he said offering the glass. "You should drink something."

Eyal drank as the other man tipped the glass, spilling the cool liquid into his mouth. He hadn't realized how thirsty he'd been.

Khalid sat down once again in the chair facing him. "Tabuk, where my ancestors are from, is only 250 miles from the kibbutz where the IDF does their training exercises. You and I, we're not so different."

Eyal smirked. "You're wrong. We're both driven. Both killed to achieve our goals. We're exactly the same."

"Clever."

"We're both prisoners. You have us both hold up here, miles from Amsterdam. There are outside, what? Two guards? When you're better off with twenty? You never got your lifeline package from daddy, did you?" He waited a beat before asking, "Are you desperate, Khalid?"

Khalid didn't flinch. Instead he smiled back. "You've been working with a spy from a rival agency to pursue me for weeks. You're the one who's desperate," he said leaning forward in his chair.

"I've betrayed Annie's trust more times than I care to admit," Eyal replayed truthfully, letting the smirk slip from his face. "I wouldn't be surprised if she wanted to kill me."

Khalid stood and patted him on the shoulder as he left the room. "Well, as long as she does it after I get what I need, that's fine with me."

Eyal clenched his jaw. This wasn't exactly what he'd hoped to happen when he'd sacrificed himself. He could only hope that Annie would make the right choice. The assists, they were more important than him.

The night was long and sleeping while sitting up and tied to an uncomfortable chair isn't easy. For the second morning in a row he saw the sun rise from the horizon.

Khalid only returned once, late in the morning, bringing with him both of his bodyguards. "Come," he said as one of the guards cut the ties around Eyal's ankles and the other guard helped him stand. Eyal walked in between the two guards quietly and curiously.

They stopped at one of the guest bedrooms and the guards ushered Eyal inside and unlocked the handcuffs from behind his back.

Khalid gestured to some clothes lying on the bed. "Clean up. Change. We need to leave for Amsterdam shortly," he said before leaving Eyal alone with the guards.

For a moment, Eyal contemplated attacking the guards. There was just the two of them. He thought he could take them both, but even if he did he would still be stuck in this prison. And there was still Khalid.

He washed the blood off his face in the adjoining bathroom and slipped on the new shirt and jeans. His mind spun with scenarios. None of them feasible. He hoped Annie had thought of something better.

The Bloemenmarkt was crowded. It was an excellent choice for a meeting spot, and from the snarled remarks Khalid had made about it being time to meet his girlfriend, Eyal guessed that the Bloemenmarkt had been Annie's idea.

As they walked along, Eyal hid the cuffs around his wrists. There was no point in scaring the innocents doing their shopping. He scanned the crowd looking for a familiar face; Annie's face.

Instead, what ran into him surprised him even more.

"Sorry, I'm a bit lost. Do you know how to get to pier 10?" Auggie asked. The blind man had literally walked into one of Eyal's guards. He did his best to keep his face as neutral as possible, but he knew that if Auggie was in the picture Annie had something up her sleeve.

The guard shoved Auggie to the side. "You could have just said no, jerk," Auggie said before turning to someone else and again asking for directions to pier 10.

Then, a moment later, she was there, standing in front of them.

"Annie Walker, Eyal's description of your tenacity didn't do you justice," Khalid said.

"Let's leave the notion of justice out of this entirely. It seems inappropriate," Annie said, quickly glancing at Eyal.

"Agreed," Khalid answered with a small smile on his face. "That's for me, I presume." He gestured to the blue folder Annie held to her chest.

"This wasn't easy to get you know."

"I know. That's why I asked someone with something to lose."

"That was the one flaw in your plan Khalid." Her voice was defiant. "Assuming I was the one with something to lose. You've been counting on my feelings for Eyal to drive this negotiation, but he works for a rival agency," Annie said as she handed the folder to Khalid. Her eyes found Eyal's and silently spoke to him. "What's in this file is what he's worth to me. No more, no less."

Eyal eyed the folder as Khalid opened it. There was nothing there. Eyal lifted his eyes again to meet Annie's.

"Is this some kind of joke?" Khalid asked.

"Far from it," Annie said reaching into her coat.

Eyal realized what was happening just as Annie pulled the gun. "Annie, no. Annie!"

The two shots hit him like bricks knocking him back into the stands of flowers. For a minute he thought he really was dead, but when one of Khalid's guards nudged his leg, Eyal's eyes flew open.
He kicked his legs out and took the man down before scrambling to stand. Eyal kicked the man in the side of the head, knocking him unconscious before he could raise his gun. Reaching down to retrieve the weapon, Eyal scanned the area to make sure there were no other threats in front of him before he slipped quietly into the nearest alley.

He leaned against the wall and drew in a deep breath before pulling the sticky red squibs from his shirt. He could hardly believe it. Of all the possible plans...

He moved through the narrow alleyways as quickly as he dared, checking over his shoulder ever few minutes to make sure he wasn't followed. It wasn't until the sign for pier 10 and Auggie pacing in front of it came into view that he really believed he'd heard correctly.

"Couldn't you find a closer pier?" Eyal asked breathlessly as he approached Auggie.

"For a sighted guy, you sure are slow," he replied handing Eyal a key for the hand cuffs.

"Yeah?" he smiled. "For a blind guy you sure are crazy. This was a ridiculous plan."

"Agreed."

"Where's Annie?" Eyal thought for sure she would have already been there.

"Have to assume she's in route," Auggie said as he reached to undo the lines at the rear of the barge docked at pier 10. "We shove off in two minutes. If she isn't here we meet up with her at the old church in Delft. She knows the protocol."

For a moment Eyal wasn't sure he'd heard Auggie correctly. He'd had a feeling that Auggie had more than just friendly feelings for Annie ever since Russia. "But you won't leave her?"

"I would never leave her," Auggie answered defiantly.

Eyal smiled, reaching to untie the bow line. "I would never leave her either." He knew the meaning of his comment wouldn't be lost on the other man.

"Go!" Annie's voice echoed against the alley walls.

"Where is she?" Auggie asked as both men leapt onto the barge.

Annie's called again as she ran; Khalid and one of his guards close behind her.

"Come on," Eyal called to her as Auggie told the driver to go. "You've got, baby," he called as she leapt from the pier over the widening gap to the barge. "I've got you," he whispered into her hair as he caught her.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Khalid's guard jump and in less than a second, Eyal had released Annie and pulled the gun from his coat pocket, shooting the other man before he landed on the barge.

"Are you okay?" He heard Auggie ask.

"Yeah," Annie answered before turning to smile at Eyal. "What were you waiting for?"

"Waiting for you, Neshama." He smirked and returned the gun to his pocket before giving her arm a gentle squeeze. He headed to the boat's cabin to get rid of the fake blood stained shirt.

When he returned to the deck, Auggie was just handing Annie his phone. From the way she spoke and paced the deck, Eyal knew she was talking to Langley. He watched her face and could almost see the wheels turning in her mind.

She frowned at the phone when she finally hung up. "Khalid's going home. The Saudi government made a deal with the Dutch."

"His father probably pulled some strings," Eyal said with a note of frustration. "Oil trumps everything, especially justice."

"The important thing is we all got out of this alive and unhurt," Auggie said.

"I don't think this is over," Annie said shaking her head.

"What are you talking about?" Auggie questioned.

"The CIA wants me to end this," she said defiantly. "They want me to kill Khalid."

"Annie..."

"Think about it. They sent you here to help me. Why?"

"Because they care about you," Auggie answered.

"No, because they want me to mop up the mess."

"I'll do it," Eyal offered.

"No," auggie said forcefully. "We did not risk our lives so either on of you could go on a suicide mission. We have a plan. We're sticking to it."

"Why did they tell me exactly where he is and when he's leaving?"

"Annie, you are frustrated and upset and I get it. It is unjust and obscene that Khalid is going home. But nobody wants you or needs you to kill him."

Annie was quiet as she gave Auggie's arm a pat and walked below deck.

Eyal watched her as she descended into the cabin before also giving Auggie a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. He knew just how stubborn she could be. Both men sat down on the boat's benches and waited quietly for her return.

It was only a couple minutes later when Auggie called her name.

Standing, Eyal offered, "I'll go check on her." He ducked into the cabin and called her name but she wasn't there. He scanned the room quickly and his eyes fell on the empty pocket of the coat he'd left on the padded seat.

He clutched the wool collar and swore under his breath as he emerged back on deck sliding the coat over his shoulders. "She's gone," he called to Auggie.

"What do you mean she's gone."

"She's gone. She took the gun I got off one of Khalid's guys."

"What are you doing, Annie?" Auggie asked to no one in particular.

"She's going after Khalid, of course," he said furiously. Eyal was more angry at himself for leaving the gun sitting down there than at Annie for taking off. After all, he did volunteer to do the job himself.

"Damn it, Annie. We've got to get off this boat and in a car." Auggie went to talk to the driver as Eyal stood quietly seething.

It took another ten minutes before the barge could pull into an open pier where both Auggie and Eyal both scrambled up onto the paved street. Eyal scanned the street. An older model car would be best. They were easier to break in to and hot wire.

About a block down on the quiet street he spotted it; a grey-blue sedan. "Come on," he said reaching to nudge Auggie's arm.

Auggie immediately wrapped his hand around Eyal's elbow. "Where?"

"Just a little further," Eyal answered quietly. They stopped along side the car and he looked up and down the street. He hesitated a moment trying to think of an easier way to get into the car and finding none he began to raise his arm and hope he could get enough leverage to break the side window without breaking his arm.

"What the hell are you doing?" Auggie asked suddenly.

"I'm getting us a car," Eyal replied, matter-of-factly, lowering his arm slightly. "Do you have a better plan?"

"For god's sake. You don't need to make a mess." Auggie reached into his messenger bag and pulled out a slim piece of metal. "Move over," he told Eyal as he ran his fingers along the door frame.

Eyal raised his hands in defeat and chuckled lightly. "A blind man breaking into a car. You sure come prepared. Do you always carry that with you?"

"Always a Boy Scout," Auggie mumbled. "Just be my eyes, okay?"

Eyal watched the surprisingly empty street as Auggie went to work on the lock.

Within minutes, Auggie held the drivers side door open. "You want to drive or shall I."

Eyal smiled at Auggie and slipped into the seat behind the wheel and unlocked the passenger door before going to work on the wires under the console. He watched out of the corner of his eye as Auggie traced his hand along the outside of the car until he could slide into the passenger seat.

As the engine roared to life, Eyal pulled out onto the street as fast as he dared. "Annie's got about a fifteen to twenty minute head start on us. I don't suppose you know where she's going?" As Auggie recited the name of the estate Khalid had kept him at, Eyal raised an eyebrow. "You're sure?"

Auggie nodded. "That's what Joan said over the phone."

"You heard that?" Eyal questioned and Auggie gave a slight nod. "You hear everything, huh?"

"I hear everything," Auggie said pointedly and Eyal was sure that both men knew just just how the other felt about the same woman. "Can't you drive any faster?" Auggie asked changing the subject.

"Sure, if we want the authorities after us." Eyal glanced at Auggie. "Don't worry. We'll get to her in time."

The rest of the car ride was spent in silence; the tension thick in the air. Eyal slammed on the brakes, skidding the car to a halt, when he saw Annie running from the estate. "There she is," he said breathlessly as he quickly got of the car. He hurried to the front of the car touching Auggie's arm so he could grab hold.

"Annie," Eyal called.

"Are you alright?" Auggie asked.

"I'm alright. I didn't kill Khalid. He's gone now." The three turned at the sound of the helicopter taking off.

After a moment, Auggie sighed. "Come on, Walker. Lets go home."

The three returned to Amsterdam, abandoning the stolen car just outside the train station. They were about to enter the station when Auggie offered to wait outside. Eyal smiled and laid his hand on the other man's shoulder. "It's been another hell of an adventure," he said. "Maybe next time we meet, you and I, we'll get a drink."

"Sure. That sounds like it could be enlightening." Auggie chuckled and leaned on his cane.

Eyal patted Auggie's shoulder and laughed to himself before turning and walking with Annie into the station.

"So what now for you? Are you going back to Israel?" Annie asked as they walked.

He shrugged. "No. Athens."

"What?" She asked tugging on his arm until they both came to a stop. "Why Athens?"

"Well, I've got a 40 foot mariner ketch in Pireaus with my name on it." Annie gave him a quizzical look. "No seriously. It's called The Flying Lavin."

"You're dyed in the wool Mossad. Are you sure you're going to be happy sitting around on a boat all day?"

"Sitting? It's called sailing'" he said with a grin. When Annie didn't laugh he added, "I don't know. Much of Jewish mysticism revolves around numbers: five knots in the tzitzit, the ten sephirot, the four species of the sukkot, but we've only got one life. I want to make the best of it."

"Why do I feel like there's always something behind what you're telling me."

He smiled at how she always knew. "Well why don't you join with me and find out?"

"The last time a guy asked me to run away with him it didn't exactly work out," she said, a hint of pain in her voice.

Eyal's face fell. He hadn't meant to cause her pain.

"Besides, I need to get home. Put down some roots."

Eyal nodded. "For now. Timing is everything, Neshama. But one day you and I will be sitting somewhere looking at a sunset thinking of nothing at all. Maybe not this boat in Greece, but one day... And that will be a lovely evening."

She smiled sincerely. "I hope so." They stood there looking at each other not really wanting to say the inevitable next words. "Goodbye, Eyal."

He looked away, not wanting to meet her eyes. "I'm not good with goodbyes. And I never get to say this. Thank you, Annie." His eyes met hers. "And good luck."

Eyal brushed past her quickly getting lost among a group of tourists walking around a corner. He turned to watch Annie from just out of her view as she turned on her heel and looked around for him. A truly genuine smile spread across her face as she walked away.

He stood there for a few minutes longer watching the spot where she had stood.

After three years, Annie had made more of an impact on him than he had ever imagined. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself. He really never would have thought the same green CIA woman he'd met in the safe house in Zurich would be the person to change the course of his life forever.

He was sure this would not be the last time he saw Annie. He just wondered when that next time would be.

As he turned to make his way to the ticketing counter, Eyal smiled to himself. It was all up to the current now and he was finally content to just let the current take him for a while.