Late afternoon when the van had pulled into the compound and he couldn't believe his eyes when four of Mujahid's goons dragged Annie from the back of the van and all not to politely. He felt his heart ache like a sharp knife to stab deeply into his heart with distressing pain and felt powerless to save her. He was standing with twelve other men and even though he was good, there was no way he could over power this small band of harden warriors. If she would look in his direction, to know he was there and when she did all he saw was intense fear which enraged him, becoming ever more steadfast to save her and inflict harm to her captives. As much as he wanted to break out and run to her side, he couldn't because it would spell certain death for both. Instance death for him and long horrendous torture for her before an appalling death, something he could not fathom or tolerate. Shifting his mind into overdrive he went about forming his plan, the timing, a strike and the escape all had to be successful the first time because there wouldn't be a second chance.

During the evening meal, Mujahid was with his men laughing and chatting about the conquest of victory they would gain all in the name of Allah. His usual pep talk and Eyal now becoming ill from all the redundancy but as long as Mujahid was with his men Annie was out of harm's way and the viciously that he knew could happen to her. Eyal had no idea how he was going to get Annie out of Mujahid's headquarters; he hadn't been left alone since she was brought into the compound. With every passing hour he grew more apprehensive about what condition he would find her in. She was a strong unconquerable person, her stay in the Russian prison has proven that but he needed to act fast. Brutally toward women meant nothing to this group of terrorist. Excusing him for the meal table he went about setting a surprise for his fellow terrorist but before he could finish and get to Annie, several others came looking for him thinking he was sick.

"You ate very little at the meal are you feeling alright." One of the men asked Eyal.

"I'm okay. Just had a touch of stomach cramps and had to throw up. It's getting late, time to turn in." Eyal starting to walk to his tent that he shared with eight others. Finally his chance came when everyone but two guards turned in for the night. Taking out the guards was easy as he made his way in the dark to Mujahid's quarters.

Annie felt three rapid punches to her back that made her stumble forward. She could almost reach the lamp but before she could grab it, Mujahid spun her around again, his hands wrapped tightly against her arms keeping them pinned to her side. She knew she couldn't take much more and keeping her eyes on his evil face she did it a second time. Lifting her knee as hard as she could hitting him square in his groin and this time it hurt worse to his already painful parts. He release his hold but managed to throw her against the wall with force before stumbling backwards doubled over in pain and yelling Arabic cursing at her.

Annie let out a whimper herself as she hit the wall severely but her hands did manage to grab the brass based lamp and with all the strength she had left she raised it above Mujahid's head and let it crash over his skull with a thunderous crack. Watching him fall to the floor she became swamped with rage against him, a desire to hurt him as he had hurt her and she did with two swift kicks to his side. He felt nothing but it gave her satisfaction.

Looking at the limp body of her once captive her mind became blank, not sure of what to do next. Her body screamed at her to lie down and her spy brain was urging her to flee but she couldn't seem to manage either function. The flash drive, find the flash drive and there it was, still on the desk where he had laid it. She snatches it up in her hand when she heard the handle on the door wriggle. Fear of another confrontation over took her and she froze. All she could do was stare at Mujahid's body.

As he opened the door to Mujahid's dimly lit quarters he had guessed it had been close to three hours since Annie had been brought into the compound and he was afraid of what he might find on the other side of the door. Preparing himself for the worst he entered but what he saw made him smile. Mujahid sprawled out on the floor with a broken lamp next to him. Only his Neshema could take out a man built like a Mac truck with a lamp. He started to chuckle with some quip but then he looked at Annie, a woman in shock.

She just stood there staring at the man on the floor and said absolutely nothing, she didn't even look at Eyal. He called her name a few times but she didn't respond. Finally with urgency he raised his voice, "Annie, Annie hey baby we have to get out of here and now."

It took a few moments before she realized someone was calling her name and when it did register all she heard was Eyal saying 'out...baby...now' and she nodded reaching for his extended hand. As he took hold of her hand he felt the flash drive and instantly knew what it was, vital intel and he shoved it in his pocket.

Eyal pulling Annie along as they entered the darkness of night and ran through the underbrush. He felt her stumble a few times as he pulled her, his mind set on putting as much distance between them and the Qumar compound as possible. Reaching a higher plateau he stopped for a second and looked back to the see if they were being followed.

"This is as good a place as any. We'll stay here for a bit and rest. Are you okay?"

"I'm good." Annie hoping she could hide from Eyal just how much pain she was feeling.

Eyal letting go of Annie hand and crouching down he pulled from his pocket three detonators. "I left a going away gift for a kind host."

Three explosions, the sky lighting up with red and orange fire balls accompanied with the unmistakable sound of deafening destruction. Mujahid's quarters being one and the largest was the arsenal of weapons which set fire to the surrounding tents and the last the supply tent, food and water blown to smithereens and if his calculation was right, the explosion would start a fire next to the motor pool and petrol tanks. He was right, another small explosion and then another and another. Soon the entire compound was a blazed in flames.

"Oh yeah nice, yeah real nice. My mission done, now it's time to move on." Eyal helping Annie to her feet. "Are you sure you are okay."

"Yeah I'm okay." Annie fighting with all her might not to let Eyal know how badly she was hurt or how much pain she was in. They ran and walked silently for over thirty more minutes before Annie yelled, "Eyal I need to stop. I'm sorry."

"No need to be sorry Neshema, you just been through hell." He scans the area when he saw a small cave that would provide enough protection for the rest of the night. "Can you make up the hill to that cave? We should be safe for the night there."

"Yeah I think so." Annie looking at the steep incline to the cave and trying to muster up any strength she had left to make the climb.

It was a bit harder of a climb to the cave then both had contemplate but they made it, Annie with the help of Eyal's strength pushing and pulling but she made it. Once there he allowed himself a small sigh of relief and starting to think Annie might be hurt but would wait until she told him, knowing her pride of being a strong competent operative, never wanting to show any weakness. He was relatively sure they would be safe until day light before setting out again toward Israel.

The cave was fairly deep and chilly. Eyal pulled off his jacket and wrapped Annie in it. "Annie."

"What?"

"How did you end up in Qumar's compound in the first place?"

Annie was silent as the adrenaline from the escape was wearing off and her body was screaming at her. She knew she had to keep the throbbing ache from her voice as Eyal had enough to be concerned about without him finding out just how bad she was hurt. Her head aching with increasing pain, she steadying herself against the throbbing and answered.

"Joan sent me on a simple brush pass with a CIA asset but Mujahid's thugs had followed him to the drop site. It didn't go as planned. "

"Obviously." Eyal's remark sounded a bit more curt than he wanted it and she reacted.

"Look it wasn't my fault. I know you probably don't believe me but it wasn't. I knew something was wrong and everything going sideways as soon as the drop started but... Oh hell, never mind, I'd don't want to talk about it and it won't change anything now." Annie's outburst was clearly that of anger mixed with pain but she wasn't sure who she was furious with, Eyal, the asset or herself for being in the situation.

He couldn't see Annie's face in the dark of the cave but he could clearly hear the anger in her voice. "I'm sorry Neshema. It came out of my mouth a bit to sharp and you're right." He reached for her, pulling her into a hug and quickly feeling her stiffen against him. He touching her face gently, "Hey are you okay? I'm beginning to worry about you."

Annie took a big breath again to steady herself against the awful pain she was trying to cover, "Yeah, just tired from the whole ordeal. Sorry."

They both just stood there holding each other lost in their own thoughts. Eyal wondering how to get across the buffer zone and into the safety of Israel and Annie thinking how much longer she could hold out, concealing the severe injuries from Eyal.

She being delighted that the right decision was made by Eyal to pull away from the embrace. "We should try to get some rest it's still a long walk to the buffer zone and then the trouble of getting across without detection."

Annie nodded, walking precariously to the back of the cave and gingerly slid herself down to the cold ground. Her body craving sleep but she couldn't shut her mind down enough to succumb to the desire. She was too afraid if she did fall into a deep sleep she might not be able to wake up. There staring into the darkness she remember the last time she was pulled out of a hell hole and it was Eyal and now once again he was there, like always when she need someone it was Eyal, could it be her destiny to be with Eyal Lavin.

Eyal watched the murky form of Annie for a few moments. She had been rather quiet since he got her out of the compound and a quiet Annie concerned him.

Eyal walked to the back of the cave and sat next to Annie. He could tell she wasn't sleeping and he couldn't blame her. He wasn't real sure he could either. Trying to lighten the tense mood a little he searched for the silliest question he could think of. "I don't suppose you have one of your sister's homemade pastries in your pocket?"

Annie let out a slight chuckle, "Sorry gave the last one to Mujahid."

"I see, so that's how you distracted him long enough to use the lamp taekwondo method."

Annie again chuckle, "It's a proven field method and works rather well every time."

Eyal laughed a little before replying, "Perhaps Mossad should add it to their pain inflicting curriculum."

Annie leaned her head against Eyal's shoulder and that small action made Eyal feel better. He convinced himself she was just tired like she had said earlier.