Author's Note: Aaaand we're back, finally. Thanks for all your patience, I know it's been awhile since I updated this story. I hope you all have been enjoying the first three chapters of my newest story "There Is Such Things as Second Chances".

I've been considering ending this story soon, and then writing a sequel, as opposed to dragging the story on and on. But first I need to decide on a good stopping point. The most logical idea would be to try and wrap up the Fulcrum arc (which would probably take another couple chapters) and leave the secondary arc (the as yet unidentified person or group responsible for the events in Puerto Rico several chapters ago) for the sequel.

En Route to Roan Montgomery's Home

August 18, 2006

1725 hours

"That bitch is Fulcrum?" Sarah said incredulously.

"Apparently." Chuck said. "What disturbs me is she's not in the Intersect. Makes me wonder what else isn't in there."

"We can worry about that later, Chuck." Harper said of the comms. "Looks like the their vehicle is heading north on I-495."

"Should we intercept?" Casey asked.

"Negative." Harper said. "As much as I'd like to ram them off the road and let you interrogate them, I don't think we have enough time. Even without them bringing Montgomery to wherever they're holding Beckman. Pearce, can your drone follow them for much longer?"

"At least another two hours, boss." Pearce replied. "I've got another one I can task if needed - should give us coverage for another five hours."

"Ok. Continue tracking and vector the team towards them." Harper replied. "Make sure you stay far enough away to not spook them, Casey, Chuck. We'll follow them to wherever they're going and get the both of them back."

"Roger boss." Casey replied.

"Not to be a downer." Carina said, "But aren't we strapped a little light if we're hoping these guys will lead us to the Fulcrum facility where they're keeping Beckman."

"I'll have tactical assault gear loaded on a chopper standing by. As soon as we have a target, I'll get it to you." Harper said.

One hour and forty minutes later...

Near Chambersburg, PA

"Heads up team." Harper said over the radio. "Our targets have just turned into Rocktop Airport. They're heading for a hangar on the far end."

"The hangar is registered to Linda Coffee Inc." Pierce said.

"Lindo Coffee?" Jack said. "Why is that setting alarm bells off in my head?"

"It's owned by Ernesto Escobado, head of the Escobado Carel." Carina interjected. "Obstenisbly, it's a legitimate business but the DEA and the Colombian government have long suspected he uses it to launder money. But no one's ever gotten close enough to prove it."

"That's because Escobado's head of security is a real pro." Chuck said. "According to the Intersect, Felix Cortes has been working for Escobado for several years."

"Cortes? That no-good lousy pinko-commie scumbag is still alive?" Casey interjected. "I thought Castro punched his ticket after the disaster in Angola a few years ago."

"He apparently managed to evade the hit squad sent after him." Chuck said. "Looks like Escobado hired him on the free market."

"Wasn't there some sort of trouble for Escobado about a year ago? Some sort of turf war?" Jack asked.

"Yeah." Carina answered. "The Hernandez Cartel tried to make a play to take over. It got pretty bloody, but in the end, Escobado won."

"Yeah, but he lost a lot of people in the process." Chuck said. "But if what I'm seeing from the Intersect is any indication, I think Cortes might have been one of those killed."

"What do you mean?" Sarah asked.

"Escobado's been in virtual seclusion since then. On top of that, there's zero reports or indications of Cortes since then. So either he's dead or in hiding." Chuck responded.

"Well, it that's the case it would explain why Escobado would be looking to take up with Fulcrum." Casey said. "He'd need a new security blanket."

"And Fulcrum gets a steady stream of money to finance their operations." Forrest broke in.

"Shit." Chuck said.

"Shit is right." Harper said. "We've managed to get the flight plan for the plane they just got on. It looks like it's headed to Autana Municipality in Venezuela"

"Venezuela?" Casey said incredulously.

"Makes sense." Carina said. "Escobado's main stronghold prior to the fight with the Hernandez Cartel was the region of Colombia bordering Venezuela."

"And according to the Intersect, there's been some chatter about Fulcrum activity in Venezuela over the last couple of months." Chuck put in. "Not enough to raise any flags in relation to General Beckman's kidnapping, but add what we know now and I think we have our target."

"Ok. Head to Harrisburg International Airport. The 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Air National Guard is based out of there. I happen to know the Wing Commander." Harper said. "I'll arrange for transport for you, and make the necessary contacts with our friends down south."

Fulcrum Blacksite

Autana, Venezuela

August 20, 2006

2100 Hours

"Raider 1, this is Raider 2. We're in position." Chuck whispered over the team comes. He and the rest of his team had taken up position at the edge of the jungle on the west side of the suspected Fulcrum base. Team Intersect had arrived in Colombia the day before. True to his word, Harper had used his contacts to get them access to the border and had even managed to get a small force of Colombian troops and members of the the underground opposition forces to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to help quarantine the area while Team Intersect assaulted the base. The facility was bordered on the south by a rather large river, making escape in that direction impossible for the enemy. To the North, members of Seal Team Six (having been vetted by Chuck through the Intersect) had taken position to cut that route of, and if needed, provided backup.

"Roger Raider 2." Casey said. He and his team were on the east side of the facility. At first glance, it seemed like a typical jungle settlement, complete with a primitive airstrip. However, closer inspection it was apparent that this was anything but. After several hours of observation they estimated that there were probably between 30-40 Fulcrum personnel, including Jill. "Have you tapped into their system yet?"

"Yeah." Chuck replied. He had been using his ruggedized field computer to hack the perimeter security system and, then the facilities internal security feed. "I've located both Beckman and Montgomery; they're being held on the third underground level, in two adjoining rooms. I see three Fulcrum agents in each room with them. Larkin is in with Beckman and Jill is in with Montgomery. We better hurry. I don't have audio, but from the looks of it they've worked both over pretty good and from the agitation Beckman is showing, I don't think she's going to last much longer."

"Ok. Everyone get your balaclavas on and turn on your voice modulators. Until we have everyone of the enemy secure, we can't let them see who we are." Casey ordered. "We go in two minutes."

Meanwhile…

Inside Fulcrum Underground Bunker

Level 3

Autana, Venezuela

August 20, 2006

2100-2102 Hours

Beckman winced as she watched the television feed she was being shown, unable to look way due the the multiple restraints currently holding her in place. Her hell had reached a new level twenty-four hours earlier when Larkin had entered her cell and smugly informed her that Fulcrum had captured Roan Montgomery and that he was in the next room. He then informed her that since she wouldn't talk, they would have to try and pry the information out of Roan. Of course the bastard was well aware that Roan didn't have the information he wanted; this was leverage to try and get Diane to break.

Diane cursed herself mentally; she had been a hypocrite and broken the cardinal rule she had preached to all her agents and gotten emotionally attached to someone. And now he was being put through the most vile torture. She was close to the breaking point; she knew she should hold out but she couldn't take listening to his screams any longer.

"Stop." She said, her voice broken. "I'll tell you what you want to know." Bryce smiled and walked over to the phone and picked up the receiver.

"Hold up." He said into the receiver. "The general has decided to be reasonable." He then hung up the phone and turned back to Beckman. On the television feed, the torture of Roan had stopped. "Now then, where were we? Oh yes. Has the Intersect project been restarted?"

"Yes."

"Has it become operational?"

"Yes."

"Who is the host?"

"The host is-" Beckman started to answer but was interrupted when the lights went out.

Meanwhile…

Just outside entrance to Fulcrum Bunker

Autana, Venezuela

August 20, 2006

2102 Hours

Sarah kicked the M4 assault rifle that the guard at the elevator had been carrying away from his body. Behind her, the rest of Chuck's team was doing the same to the two guards at the entrance to the building. They had been taken out by silenced shots from dual M40A3 Sniper Rifles wielded by Casey and Parker.

"Raider 1, this is Raider 2. Building secure." Chuck reported.

"Roger Raider 1. We're moving in." Casey said, and then called the SEAL team. "Raider 3, advance and watch our backs."

"Affirmative Raider 1, we've got you."

Casey's team moved from their cover and began moving towards the building where Chuck's team was. Like Chuck and his team, they were all dressed in US Marine MARPAT-style camouflage uniforms, without any accompanying identification markings, a brown balaclava obscuring all but their eyes, Night Vision Goggles, and tactical assault vests. Each member of the team carried a Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre-Herstal (FN Herstal) Five-Seven pistol firing 5.7 x 28 mm rounds strapped to their thigh, and an FN Herstal P90 TR rifle as their primary weapon. Both Casey and Frank carried a Marine Corps M40 Sniper Rifle strapped across their backs. After approaching the building, Frank and Jack took up guard positions at the front door.

"You two stay here. Keep an eye out for the SEALS and any surprises that might be out there." Casey ordered, then turning to the rest of Team Intersect, said "Remember, first priority is getting Montgomery and Beckman out of here. Second is the capture of Larkin and Roberts. We need them alive. So only kill them if you have no other choice. You got that Bartowski, Walker?"

"Don't worry, Casey. We know our jobs." Sarah answered coldly, then under her breath. "Though how injured they're going to be when we take them back, that's another story." Next to her, Chuck chuckled. A moment later the team was on the move.

Inside Fulcrum Underground Bunker

Level 3

Autana, Venezuela

August 20, 2006

2102 Hours

"What the hell?!" Bryce exclaimed, drawing his side arm. He turned to the two guards in the room with him. "Watch her." He then moved to the door and went into the hall, meeting Jill as she exited the other interrogation room, also with her side arm drawn.

"What's going on?" she asked. "Generator failure?"

"I doubt it; the backups should have kicked on by now." Bryce responded. "No, something else is going on." He reached for the radio clipped to his side. "Security, what's going on?"

"This is Post 2-A! We have intruders in the facility!" a voice responded. "They're on the second level heading for-" The voice was cut off as a barrage of gunfire sounded and then silence.

"Shit!" Jill said. "Is there any way out of here?"

"There's an emergency escape tunnel, but the entrance is one level up." Bryce responded. "But it sound like that's already –" Bryce never had a chance to finish his sentence as the doors to the elevator shaft blew open and four figures emerged. Both Bryce and Jill brought their guns up to fire, but before they could pull the triggers, two of the intruders had already fired a quick burst from their P90s, catch each of them on the in the arm and chest, causing them to drop their guns and collapse on the floor.

Chuck, Sarah, Price and O'Day moved forward slowly, watching both Bryce and Jill and the doors to the interrogation rooms alertly. Suddenly both doors to the interrogation rooms opened and the four remaining Fulcrum operatives burst into the hall, firing.

"Shit!" Sarah said, dropping to her knee and returning fire, the rest joining her. Seconds later, the four Fulcrum guards were dead.

"Everyone okay?" Chuck asked, checking himself over.

"One of the bastards caught me in my vest." O'Day said, grimacing. "It didn't penetrate – that God for this new armor."

"I'm fine." Price said.

"Me too." Sarah said.

Standing up, the group continued to move towards Jill and Bryce. When they reached the two fallen Fulcrum agents, Price and O'Day cuffed the two and checked their vitals while Chuck and Sarah covered them.

"They're still alive." Price said, standing up as she and O'Day went to check on the guards. A moment later she shook her head, indicating that all four were dead. A moment later the foursome was joined by Burton and Ness.

"Casey reports the rest of the opposition is down." Ness said, motioning with her weapon towards the upper floors.

"Ok. You and Burton stand watch over the prisoners. Price and O'Day, you check that room, Sarah and I will check this one."

Inside Fulcrum Underground Bunker

Level 3

Interrogation Room 1

Autana, Venezuela

August 20, 2006

2110 hours

Beckman sat, restrained to her chair, trying not to let her relief and hope overwhelm her. She had just been about to break and spill the beans on the identity of the human Intersect when the power had gone out the facility, causing Larkin to leave the room. Moments later there had been an explosion and gunfire, which caused the two guards still in the room with her to move out into the hall. She heard, rather than saw, them get cut down. Then there was relative silence, nothing more than muffled conversation in the hall. Her heart pounded loudly; she thought she knew who was in the hall but didn't want to get ahead of herself. Even if it was her rescuers, the shame of knowing what she had been about to do was keeping her from feeling as relieved as she should. She was startled out of her thoughts when the door to the room opened and two figures moved in, their faces obscured.

"You ok, General?" one of the figures, clearly female asked, though her voice sounded disguised, as she moved around behind the chair and produced a knife and began cutting the restraints.

"I am now." Beckman responded. "Roan?"

"Agent Montgomery is being looked to as we speak." The other figure said. "Think you can walk out of here?"

"Yes." Beckman replied standing slowly, examining the two figures closely. "Can I ask which of Team Intersect you are?" The two figures exchanged looks and shrugged. According to the reports from the rest of the team, all the Fulcrum personnel had been captured or killed and the internal surveillance had been brought down before the assault. As one, they pulled their balaclavas off.

"Miss us, General?" Chuck said smirking.