CHAPTER 8

"Over there," Lexa said, indicating to a building to their left. "Take that one and I'll get the other. Going around the back is probably best if you don't want to get your head blown off your shoulders, and don't get yourself caught."

"I can handle it," he interrupted irritably, "I've done this kind of thing before."

"Fine, see you at the rendezvous," Lexa returned, not waiting for a response from him and heading for the prison.

Hawke took the second, cautiously approaching the back entrance and taking down the first guard before anyone ever knew he was there. He wasn't quite so fortunate with the second one though.

There was a shout and multitude of other men came to join, forcing him into firing at him and giving away his presence, as if they didn't already have a pretty good idea. He kicked in the old wooden door and quickly scanned the room for a certain familiar face.

No Saint John though. He was probably just in the other building, he thought hopefully, at the same time bitterly aware of Lexa's warning. I don't know that he is there.

Nevertheless, he continued to interview the captives as he smashed the lock barring their freedom. "Saint John Hawke? Anyone seen him?"

A couple seemed to think about it for a moment, but no one offered any input.

"First Air Cav, MIA since '69," he added, opening the barred door and directing them out of the building.

"Think he got moved to the other building," one finally spoke up, "while back though, supposed move again soon."

"Right." In other words, he had missed him again. At least that meant he was still alive though, or at least he had been "a while back" whenever that was. Time didn't seem to pass very quickly in places like this though; maybe a while ago wasn't so long after all, maybe even as close as the next building over. All hope and expectation was likely to bring him was disappointment and hurt, but it was possible, that after all these years they could be reunited once again.

His dreaming was suddenly startled into a devastating reality as he ducked for safety from the barrage of gunfire penetrating the wall all around him.

"Straight through the trees until you reach the truck," he shouted as instruction, covering them as well as he could with only a single M-16 against an ever-increasing number or people and gradually increasing caliber weaponry. Dom was definitely going to have to come in guns ablazing, or all they would have left would be pieces, very little pieces.

Reloading a clip of ammo, he returned fire, desperately looking for a way of escape and only being able to hope the prisoners made it back unscathed without his help.

And what about Lexa? It wasn't like he had enough problems of his own or anything, he thought sarcastically, but if they knew he was here, they might know she was. The other building wasn't that far, under normal circumstances at least, but when twenty people with guns are after you not that far can seem like an eternity away. He wasn't seeing a whole lot of options though and it was now or never.

Quickly going through a large portion of the precious ammunition he had with him, he managed to clear the immediate area and make a mad dash for the building on the other side of a well worn walkway. Slamming through the door shoulder first, he could have sworn he saw a glimpse of long golden hair disappear around the corner only a second before the multitude tailing him caught up, shouting and looking like they were about to give him a fireworks show he would never forget, assuming he lived long enough to remember it.

Then, out of nowhere he heard the unmistakable cry of the Lady as Dom brought her in low fast with all the promised firepower. Most of the group abandoned their hunt for the newest visitor, leaving him with only about five to deal with from the moment, a much appreciated reprieve.

Two falls, more close misses than he wanted to count, and a couple scuffles later, he finally had evaded the entourage intent on killing and eventually found his way back to the previous night's campsite more tired than he had ever been since his tours in Vietnam.

Neither Dom, Cait, nor the Lady were anywhere in sight, but would probably return shortly, and currently as long as he didn't have anyone shooting at him he was satisfied. Well, almost satisfied, he still had to deal with her.

"Things didn't go well I take it," Lexa idly commented, making no move to help him.

"I take it you're right."

"Your friends and monster helicopter went to take the POWs to safety where they can be flown out of this hellhole."

"All of them made the rendezvous okay?"

"Yeah, not a whole lot of help from you though. Thankfully, I managed to send our new friends the opposite way though. You, you my friend are going to have to learn you can't always play decoy and win. One of these days they're going to catch up with you."

"I think they did. Just loved all the backup you provided too."

"Unlike you, I'm not trying to get myself killed."

"Who said I was trying to? If we had gone in together like we were supposed to none of this probably every would have happened."

"Maybe not, maybe it would have, doesn't much matter now."

"It never does, does it?"

Lexa shrugged, uncaring about the look she was being pinned with. "It hasn't before. Why should this time be any different? You know you would find some reason to be unhappy with this arrangement anyway. Last time we saw each other we kind of reached a ceasefire, but I never really earned your forgiveness, probably never will. I understand that and there is no point pretending everything is good between us. It is what it is and that is going to have to be good enough."