Tony was packing a few things into a small duffle bag when he got the call.
"Meet us at the airport. 6am and Almeida."
"Yeah."
"Don't be late." The call ended as quickly as it had begun. Michelle stood in the doorway, a small piece of paper in her hand.
"What's this?" He asked.
"You come home to me." She ordered him, handing her the latest scan of their child. "We'll be waiting."
"Oh sweetheart." He hated them for doing this to her. He couldn't stand the thought of having her out of his sight let alone half way around the world. He held her close for the longest time. Afraid to let go.
"Am I so terrible if I ask you not to go?" she cried into his chest.
"Sweetheart. No one could fault you, whatever your decision. I'm just sorry that they've put you in this position. It's not right."
"But he's my brother, and if I had to choose.."
"Shhh. I'll get him back. I promise."
"Just come home safe. I can't bare to think of what would happen if I lost you."
"Honey. I'm not going anywhere, not in a million years."
Shortly after Tony made a trip to their storage locker on the other side of town. He needed to collect some of his old field gear, leaving her alone for a while. She knew she couldn't go with him, but she couldn't let him go alone either. She picked up the phone and dialled his number.
"Are you in town?"
"I'm close."
"We need to talk. It's an emergency."
"I can be there in ten minutes."
"I'll be waiting." She said putting down the phone, hoping she was making the right decision.
"I think he's going for it." The voice spoke into the phone "He just left the house. He looked like he was planning to go on a trip."
"And his wife?"
"Distraught."
"Good. The voice replied, pleased "Follow him. We can't take any more chances."
"I'm on it." The man said, starting his car and shadowing Tony through the streets as he made his way to the storage locker.
"Michelle?" The man greeted her as she opened the door.
"Thanks for coming?" She said letting him in.
"It sounded urgent. Is it Tony?" He asked hoping he hadn't gone off of the wagon again.
"Come in." She insisted, taking him thought to the kitchen. "I don't know how to say this so I'll get right to the point. He's doing a job."
"What do you mean?" He hadn't been a field agent in over four years.
"They took Danny."
"When?"
"Last night. Tony's meeting them at the airport at 6am tomorrow morning."
"What do they want him to do?"
"The want him to rescue our clients nephew in Johannesburg."
"Is this the same client from before?"
"Yes. Jack, they're going to kill him."
"You don't know that." He tried to comfort her. He grabbed a glass from the cupboard, noticing the ultrasound picture on the fridge as he filled it with water and handed it to her.
"They've already tried twice." She told him as Jack wondered what they had gotten themselves into. "You have to help him Jack."
"Don't worry." He said, already setting up some plans in his head. "I'll take care of it." He said, escorting her over to the table nearby. "Now tell me more about this client." Jack needed to be brought up to speed if he was going to be any help.
Tony noticed the car parked out the front and grabbed his gun, ready. Leaving his stuff in the car he snuck up to the front door and slowly opened it.
"Michelle?"
"In here." She called out from the kitchen. He made his way in slowly, just in case she was being held against her will.
"Jack?" He asked confused, putting his gun down and replacing the safety. "What….?"
"Michelle called."
"She shouldn't have done that."
"Yes. She should have." Jack said walking closer. "You should have let me know you were in trouble. I'm going with you."
"I can't ask you to do that."
"I'm offering. You need someone to watch your back."
"Listen to him Tony."
"Thanks." He said, grateful for the help.
"What did you have in mind?"
"The way I see it I only have one option." Tony said, looking at Michelle as she moved uneasily where she stood. "Go in, get the kid then take them out."
"How can I help?" Jack asked, switching into full tactical mode.
"My guess is there will be at least four of his guys with us. We should be able to handle that."
"How will you get back home?" Michelle asked knowing that once he killed his men the pilot would have no reason to fly them back to America.
"I think I have that covered." Jack answered as the three of them sat around talking. Tony sat beside Michelle holding her hand as they went over schematics of the area, made lists of what they knew about Aakash and his men and tried to work out a solution for anything that could possible go wrong. Slowly their plan was starting to take shape and it began to look like they might just be able to pull it off.
It was almost midnight when Michelle fell asleep on his shoulder.
"How is she?" Jack asked.
"She's holding up." Tony said amazed by her strength. He was falling apart inside, only anger kept him going and he wondered if it was the same for her.
"And you?" He looked exhausted, "When was the last time you got any sleep?"
"I'm fine."
"If we're going to survive this we need to be at our best." Jack told him. "Why don't you go get some rest. I'll keep an eye on things here."
"I'm all right." He insisted, looking at Michelle.
"Tony." Jack said sternly. "You need to listen to me on this one. You're no good to Michelle if you're not operating at full capacity."
"You'll wake me if anything happens?"
"You have my word." He said. Tony picked Michelle up and took her back to the bedroom while Jack kept looking through the files. Tomorrow would be here soon enough.