Disclaimer: I am not making any money from this, I promise.

My grateful thanks to JE for her wonderful characters, which I hope I haven't damaged too much.

Thanks to my readers and reviewers, you are stars!

Enjoy

Valzie

Dangerous Ground Part 5

Joe's POV

It's raining, not a soft gentle rain, but the sort that washes the world clean. Wish my life was as easy care as the sidewalks.

Another day means another safe house; I think that I've stayed in almost every type of property known to man.

These guys are good, I have to say it. Though I've never been in protective custody before I've babysat enough witnesses to know a good set up when I see one. The protocols in place are just astounding. Each place has a burn phone used only to contact Rangeman, which is just left behind when we leave and each link in the chain is only passed on the moment we are ready to go. We got here in a soccer Mom minivan and yesterday we had a BMW and the day before that it was a POS Ford. Every detail no matter how tiny has been considered.

There's something up with Sin. He tries to be the joker, but even I can see there's something bothering him. The amount of shit he spouts has fallen by 90% and that worries me.

"Sin?" I ask in a low tone as he looks out of the window, half in shadow "What's up?" his face as he turns towards me could be carved out of stone, his pale skin almost translucent in the light, his expression that of a marble pharaoh.

"Back when I pledged my loyalty to Queen and Country I ran into a bunch of fuckers that made me realise I ain't immortal. They're the dogs that have been sent in to run us to ground. I've a score to settle with one of them" He's no beneficent pharaoh, he's the ultimate predator and I for one am glad that he's on my side. He turns away, facing once again out of the window and I find myself glad that the lethal determination in his gaze is no longer directed at me.

"Who are they?" I ask and one shoulder jumps and he rubs his side just above his hip absently.

"Jamie, if you have information we need, share it" Flighter's voice broke in from the back of the room.

"Fuck" he ran a hand over his hair, those riotous curls dancing with the passage of his palm. "Thought I'd dealt with it"

Flighter moved to the window, his hand coming to rest lightly on Sin's shoulder "We've all had to face that moment, the one where you're so close to death you can feel the wings of the Valkyrie touch your face. That one where the only thing you concentrate on is the next breath, on keeping your heart beating in your chest by sheer will as your blood flows out on to the cold ground under you" the hand squeezed gently "Talk about it, I know that there's stuff you can't tell us, but whatever you can give us will help"

He carried on looking out of the window at the grey sky and I thought that he wasn't going to tell us anything, but then his voice a dark monotone he started to speak.

"I ran into these guys two years ago, when I was on assignment in the arse end of nowhere"

I've never felt those wings on my face, I've never suffered the way these guys have, I've served yes, but not like that, I've never had to pay with my blood for upholding my oath to Queen or President.

Ram's POV

Anton, that slimy little weasel. Wonder if what he has for us is enough for Ranger to forget what he tried to do to us?

Papa's is a code for the Paternoster Bar and Grill. I slide into one of the dingy booths and raise my hand to Mona the waitress, she, as far as I can see is the only attraction of this place. The beer is watery, the food is terrible, but Mona's worth all that. I swear she's half Amazon, half Siren and she's all woman. She's a little over 6 foot and those black biker boots she wears adds at least 3 inches. Her hair is a natural blonde that flows across her shoulders in an arctic white curtain. She doesn't walk so much as strut and Les swears he can hear Stevie Wonder's Superstition in his head when she saunters by. Me? I hear Nine Inch Nails, Closer. Just a matter of perspective really.

"Ram" she purrs the cobalt blue of her eyes framed by sooty lashes sweep up and down me in blatant appraisal. "Anton's in the back" I watched her thumb as she hitched it over her shoulder.

"Would it be too forward of me to ask for your number?" I ask as I slid out of the booth and stood alongside her.

"Would it be too forward to ask to see your dick to make sure it's worth my while?" she retorted a mischievous smile on her face.

I laughed and looked around the bar; it was empty except for me, her and Anton hiding in the back. "Let me get rid of this weasel and then you can look at any part of me you like"

"Hmm, tempting offer, I'll think about it" she sashayed away.

After Mona's beautiful face, Anton's came as a letdown. He did look like a rodent, his nose was pointed and thin and his face seemed to flow back from it giving him a ferret or dare I say it, weasel like appearance.

He looked nervous as well he should as Ranger told me that I didn't have to mind my manners when asking him what he knew. "Anton" I growled

"There's no need to be nasty about this" he held out his hands in a 'calm down' gesture.

"Fuck that, I'm in a hurry, you have something for me?"

"Yeah, looks like you're screwed blue" he grinned and I frowned at him and he squeaked in fear, yes the guy actually squeaked. "You have an inside man, although I don't think he knows he is one" he continued.

"Who?" I growled and enjoyed the fear that flitted across his face. He hesitated, enjoying having the upper hand, even if he knew it was only momentary and any second now I'd break my hand on his face.

"Who?"This time I added the ominous crack of knuckles to the growl. Oh this is fun, Thanks Boss, I owe you.

"Adam" he ducks down away from me as if expecting a blow.

But I'm too stunned "Explain"

"Astro bought some electronics from The Egyptian and I was there when he came in for them. He was making a receiver. He was bragging that Vlad gives all his crew watches, but the schmucks don't realise that the gift is one of them Trojan pony things"

"Horse", I tell him, shaking my head at his stupidity "Trojan Horse"

He's in his stride now and getting cocky with it "Whatever. Vlad likes to track his boys to make sure they aren't doing any work on the side. Turns out your boy ain't so smart, he didn't ditch the dodgy timepiece and Vlad followed him all the way to his target"

Fuck, so that was how they found the Batcave. Poor Adam, Ranger's gonna have his hide for this. I shrug, hoping that my blank face was still in place. "Just confirms what we already know, you bring nothing new to the table"

He shrank back "I have more" he squeaked.

"This better be good" I tell him.

It is, better and worse and oh hell it's bad. I only know that I need to get back to Haywood, Ranger needs to hear this, although I'm sure he's not going to like it. I wave to Mona as I pass her, not stopping to collect the piece of paper she holds up for me. As much as I'd like to stop and shoot the breeze with her, this can't wait.

I bolt for the parked SUV and curse as an elderly lady steps into my path. She knocks me with that ridiculous trolley thing she's pulling and I feel a sharp pinch that causes me to stumble a little. I shake my head at my stupidity and adopt a more sedate pace back to the waiting car. I open the door and get in, trying to get the keys into the ignition and I miss, once, now twice and now the car seems to be shrinking around me and the keys fall from my suddenly nerveless fingers. I grope for my phone with fingers that seem more like sausages than digits and it joins the keys on the floor. I try to hit the panic button on the centre console, but I miss and now my hand won't obey my commands any more as I fight the rising tide of languor tinged with nausea. In my haste I forgot the first rule, always be aware of your surroundings. My head lolls forward and I seem to be completely unable to stop it as the darkness comes up in a rush to surround me. Great, I was taken out by a grandma with her gallon of milk and her lunch meat.

Bobby's POV

As safe houses go, this isn't one of our better ones. A dingy, rundown 2 bed apartment above a pizzeria is a bit of a come down from the bat cave. I tell myself it's only for one night, the wooden steps that lead up here creak and groan when anyone comes up them, so we have plenty of advance warning of trouble.

Steph is twitchy, which means that I am too. Something is wrong; Adam should have been here by now. I call Rangeman and get Tank.

"Is there a problem?"

"There sure is, Cal should be joining you shortly. Adam has been ordered to stand down and wait for pickup"

"What?" I ask not understanding this sudden change "Tank what's going on?"

"Wish I knew" he sighed and could feel his frustration. "Ranger took a call from him and took off"

"Where to?"

"As far as I know he hasn't left the building, but he won't answer my calls"

"Shit" I swallowed hard "Let me know when you find something out"

"Will do" The rickety stairs howled in protest as someone made their way up and there was was a tap at the door and I waited for the prearranged signal. Nodding to Steph, my gun in my hand I waited until she was safely out of sight before I let Cal in.

His face is deadly pale and he asks in a controlled voice "Where's Steph?"

"Here" she says as she steps into the room.

"I have a message from Adam"

"What's wrong Cal, tell me" she's right there in front of him and I never saw her move. Her hands curled around his biceps, as if she wants to shake the information out of him.

"He's sorry, that was the first thing he told me to tell you"

She looks back at me, panic in her eyes and I move up behind her, placing my arm around her shoulder, letting her curl into me, her head against my chest as Cal starts to talk in earnest.

Mel's POV

This has been an awesome day. I got a foot in the door at Haywood, access to all of their files and some glorious sex into the bargain.

They are all scurrying around like the ants they are and I love to watch them. They think I am here to help. I can help and I will, if they agree to give me what I want. They have no idea that I'm the viper hiding in their midst and it's a delicious feeling.

My phone rings, my very private line and my mouth curls into a smile as I accept the call.

"Hey Gorgeous, how's it going?" he asks.

"Wonderfully" I purr "Just as you predicted"

"Did you get what you wanted?" his voice is low, erotic.

"Sure did" I sighed

"I look forward to hearing all about it"

"When will you be here?" I pout.

"Whenever they bring them back to you"

"Until then can I continue to enjoy my new toy?" I ask knowing that he's powerless to refuse me.

"As long as you promise to describe what he does to you in exquisite detail"

"Of course" I tell him squirming a little in my seat at the thought of another session.

"Love you" he tells me

"Likewise" I tell him and he closes the connection.

I toss my phone back on to the desk and seek out Tank's broad back as he works. I stretch my back and watch as three sets of eyes track the movement of my breasts. Nice to be appreciated boys, but there's only one here whose attentions I'm after.

Steph's POV

With shaking hands I hit his speed dial. Straight to voicemail. I disconnect and try the next in line. "You settled in?"

"Never mind that Tank, I just heard about Adam, I tried to get Ranger, but"

"Straight to voicemail, I know" That makes me feel better, to know that it's not just me he's avoiding.

"Where is he?" I ask

"Wait one" Tank's big hand clamped over the phone and all I could hear was muffled noises.

"Babe, you OK?" His voice sounded off. "I'm heading out to pick Adam up"

"Carlos" I could hear the break in my voice."Listen"

"He gave me his word and he betrayed me, betrayed us, he has to pay for that"

"He didn't mean to, talk to him please, he didn't know" The connection died on my words and I can't say for sure that he heard me. I call back and get voicemail. I try again and Tank's voice is strained. "He's gone, I couldn't stop him"

I can hear the hysteria in my voice "This wasn't Adam's fault, Tank you have to stop him. Follow him"

"He turned off the GPS to the truck"

"Tank please" I plead

"Let me work, I'll think of something"

"Thank you" I whisper as he cuts the call and I turn back into Bobby's arms.

Adam's POV

I collected all the pieces of my watch that I could find and waited at the rendezvous point for my lift back to Rangeman.

The Black SUV slid to a stop and Eddie got out. I handed what's left of my watch to him and he nodded as he held the back door open for me and I climbed in to find myself wedged in between him and Woody. An exhausted looking Lester is riding shotgun and I swallow hard as I realise the driver is Ranger.

This is it then, Vlad was right. Ranger's going to kill me. Good, at least this way it will be fast and it will be done by someone I trust. That sounds twisted and fucked up, but at least it will be a clean death, where my life is taken for something meaningful rather than for the vulgarity of monetary gain or the slow, drawn out end I can expect from Vlad as he savours my agonising death.

She gave me back my life; she took my hand and helped me return to the land of the living. For her I fought my demons and took back from them my blackened soul and allowed the warmth of her to thaw what was left of me. It was an honour and a privilege to guard her pure heart, one that I unwittingly betrayed. As I am taken to my place of execution, that is the one thing in my life that I regret, that my actions will cause her to be hurt, if not physically then emotionally when she discovers my betrayal. Who knows, she may forgive me for my stupidity, but I doubt that he ever will and I won't ask for it.

We are here, wherever here is and Woody gets out and I follow him. It's an industrial space, a hangar maybe, or a large shed. The windows are small and high up and let in little light. The floor is concrete, well poured, and flat, painted a dark red. It's as good a place as any to end my days.

Seems fitting that I be taken out by the other half of her, by the man who holds her heart. He is her dark mirror, her reflection in shadow, everywhere she is noon, he is midnight. She sees only the good and he sees only the ills of each and every situation. Yin and Yang, dark and light, together they are complete. The ring, the Ouroboros, unending, unbreakable and their union will endure until all the stars in the Universe grow cold and dim.

What a moment to have found my philosopher's soul, I have read the greats, Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Jung, Kant and Sartre and in each I thought I had found a piece of myself, but here in this dank warehouse, within the last few moments of my wasted life, I have discovered my core, my true heart, hidden away and forgotten in all the anger, pain and fear that made up my existence. This is my true test of who I am, it isn't measured by how I lived my life, but by how I face my death.

In these last few breaths I can be what she thought I was, what I wanted to be because that was what she deserved. A good man, one whose heart is filled not with fear for my own safety but instead worry for hers. If there is a benevolent force in the Universe, listen well, I ask nothing for myself, instead any mercy or clemency I may be entitled to, give to her and keep her safe.

A noise behind me and I turn my head to watch Hector appear out of the gloom with something in his hand. I catch the flash of light on metal. I fall to my knees, crossing my ankles and interlock my fingers behind my head. I won't run, I won't beg, I'll look my end in the eye and hope that our souls will meet again in the next incarnation and once more I will have the pleasure of her presence in my life.

Even though I know she will never hear it, I bid her a silent and heartfelt farewell.