Jai POV

I strained my ears for Annie's voice giving me the signal to get the hell out of this jeep. I felt sweat steadily dripping down my face and didn't dare move from my pretzel position in the back of the car.

"Did my credentials check out?" I heard Annie whisper from my earpiece.

Come on, say it, Annie, I can't stay like this forever. We're running on a tight enough schedule as is!

"Yes, they did."

I froze; his voice was so familiar, he was the one that did the interrogating with myself and Abdul just hours ago. Shit.

"I told you they would, maybe next time you'll believe me considering that no one else would want to sneak into this place. I'm just shocked you hadn't painted the place red with everyone's blood."

And there it was, I thought, blood.

I threw the cover back and sat up quickly, taking a quick look around, I saw that they had their backs towards me and were watching Annie intently as she conversed with them. I turned again and saw that there were two men guarding the hostages tent, just like Annie had said.

I could see the supplies tent just a few yards away, and quietly jumped out of the open window, landing on my feet, I did one last sweep around to make sure that no one was watching.

Two guards with the hostages, three in front of the supplies tent, and five speaking with Annie; ten guards in total. This wasn't going to be as easy as I had originally thought.

I sprinted away from the Jeep that was thankfully parked in the shadows of another tent, swinging behind the hostages tent and slowing to catch my breath; something wasn't right.

I looked around again; there weren't any guards behind the tents, so basically anyone could've escaped; so why hadn't they?

I listened in on Annie's conversation again, trying to catch a clue in her speech.

"Walker why aren't there any guards behind the tents?" I asked quietly.

"-which is why we can't get the money to you tonight. Enough of your questions, can I ask one of my own?"

"You may, but you may not get an answer," one of the growled.

"Alright, " she paused and I could practically see her sizing them up, "where are the guards behind the tents? Maybe you guys should put some of them there, to make the hostages escape a little more difficult."

There was another pause and I felt my blood run cold; had they found her out?

Then, I heard a rumbling laugh, making my frown deepen.

"We have a few pressure sensors hidden behind the tents, if one happens to go off, we will know about it."

I looked down, my eyes wide. Oh shit.

"Bill! Hey, wake up, man!"

I heard a crackle of static and then the rustle of papers.

"Jai, what happened?"

"I need you to get me a quick sweep of the camp, do you still have that heli on hold for me?"

"Yeah, I do. What's the problem?"

"They have pressure plates here, and obviously the sand has obscured them all so I don't know where to step without getting blown to little itsy bitsy Jai pieces," I felt my frustration mounting; we needed more time.

There was another pause and I impatiently shifted my weight from foot to foot, we were losing time.

"He should be right on top of you guys now," Bill whispered, making me look up, I heard the faint, humming sound of the helicopter.

Sure enough, one had appeared over head, doing a quick scan below.

"Give it a few minutes," he whispered, I took the time to slip my hand into the backpack and pull out the two grenades, slightly hesitant.

"Alright, I got your location and the map of the camp. Damn! They must have plenty of man power because I can see at least three ahead of you. I want you to take three steps southwest, and then keep walking from there until I tell you to stop."

I sighed, doing as he told, my eyes narrowed as I cautiously continued on, my progress slower than I had expected. The supply tent seemed so far away now.

"Stop!"

I almost jumped from the screech that was Bill's voice in my ear.

"Now, I want you to take about five steps north and then keep on going."

This was going to be a long night.

Annie POV

I walked back into the tent with a first aid kit, my eyes narrowed in concentration. I listened to Jai and Billy's conversation with fear slowly filling me up. One misstep, and this could all be over, for everyone.

"Annie, what's wrong?" Parker asked, coming towards me as soon as I came into view.

"This'll take a little longer than expected," I explained, handing her the first aid kit, "why don't you try and fix everyone up."

She nodded and walked around, speaking quietly to the others and preparing them for what was sure to happen in just a few hours; total chaos.

"Annie."

That voice was so soft and raspy that I barely recognized it, but nonetheless, I did. How could I forget it? I had tried for four months with no success.

"Auggie, what is it?"

He motioned for me to come closer and I did, sitting beside him, my muscles tensing with adrenaline.

"I'm sorry."

Two words, two very simple words, and yet coming from him, it seemed to mean the world. I turned my face slightly to look at him; his eyes, though unseeing, were filled with so many mixed emotions. He wasn't just apologizing for what was to come, but what he had already done' almost irreparable damage. Almost.

"No sense worrying about it now. We're getting the hell out of here soon, so better to keep a clear head. Do you need anything?" I tried to make my voice neutral, and almost succeeded.

"I'm fine, just a headache," he sat up, propping himself up on his elbows, "I think I owe you an explanation.

"I left because a lot was going on, a lot I just couldn't handle. On one hand I had Parker, a relationship I didn't know that I could have after what happened . . . on the other I had gotten news I had been dreading but expected. My doctor told me that I wasn't eligible for the stem cell treatments. Yeah, I already knew that there was only a slim chance I could be qualified, but it still hurt. Then, right in the middle, I had . . . you."

"So I was just one of those problems you had to escape? Without even telling me where you were going?" I asked, my anger rising slightly.

He looked alarmed, "No! God, no, Annie you're not a problem. I was just so overwhelmed that I needed time to myself. It wasn't fair for me to do what I did to you and leave you there but I had to, for me."

I swallowed against the lump in my throat and thought it over; chewing on my bottom lip.

"Are you truly happy here, Auggie? With Parker?" I asked, uncertain.

He hesitated, but before he could answer, I heard a crackle of static and quickly whispered for everyone to quiet.

"Annie! I got there, get them ready! We're blowing this hell hole," Jai growled.

I nodded, and relayed what he had said to everyone as quietly as possible.

"I want you all behind me, I'll go first, get rid of the guards. Those who are injured get with a partner and that person will leady you out."

"We're good here, Jai."

There was a slight pause and I felt my muscles tensing as I shoved my way to the front, gun drawn. My heart was pounding so hard that I thought it was going to burst any second.

"5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . "

Then, the loudest explosion I had ever heard rocked the camp; the ground shook and she sand beneath our feet seemed to be vibrating. I heard startled shouts from both the assassins and prisoners alike.

As I had predicted earlier, chaos swirled around me and suddenly, everyone was pushing towards the entrance, ignoring my previous instructions.

Now or never, I thought, and launched myself out of the tent, grabbing the nearest guard and slamming him into his partner, while they were caught by surprise, I put a bullet in each of their heads, being thrown off a little as the recoil hit me. You thought I'd get used to it, I thought.

"Jai!" I yelled over the sound of bullets flying now, making sure that everyone got out of the tent.

"Where are the helicopters?"

He ran towards me, turning to fire two rounds behind him, "I'll lead them there, there's three we'll divide them up. You cover the rear, got me, Walker?"

I nodded and waited for everyone to exit out of the tent, adrenaline flowing through my veins.

I flinched as a bullet scrapped just by my ear and saw guards flooding out from neighboring tents, the realization of what was going on flashing across their faces as they fired. I ducked, pushing everyone forward

"Jai, I'll get the three back here, just get them to the helicopters!" I yelled, seeing him hesitate in his running.

"Take care of yourself, Walker," he yelled over the chaos.

I nodded and dropped to one knee behind a pile of crates, making myself a smaller target, I scouted the area. There were two to my right, firing blindly and the other one joggin up ahead, towards the group.

Quickly weighing my options, I took aim at the one furthest away from me and fired three shots, watching as he fell, I turned back to the two shooters that were quickly gaining on the group and fired at one of them, catching him in the back of the neck, he fell.

"Take the woman out! She is behind the crates!"

My aim faltered as a fresh group came towards me, charging blindly. I quickly sprinted away from them, shooting the one up ahead. The ones behind me began firing, the sound of bullets whizzing through the air making my ears hurt.

Auggie POV

I felt my steps falter on the unfamiliar terrain.

"Walker! What's your status?" I heard Jai call from up front, and felt myself slow down slightly.

Parker tugged at my arm, urging me forward.

"Jai, where's Annie?" I called up front, hoping he would hear me.

"She was suppose to catch up with us," Jai called back, "Don't worry, Annie can take care of herself. She's a good shot."

I nodded, still hesitant as I pumped my legs harder, thankful that I had still kept up my spec ops workouts. After a few minutes, the sound of bullets firing became more and more distant, until it was just a steady hum. We were going to make it.

Instead of the sound of bullets, the roar of helicopter blades whipping the air filled my ears. Sand began to swirl around me as we drew closer.

"Damn it, Walker get up here!" Jai called again, I heard the hint of desperation tint his voice.

Annie POV

I looked up ahead as I ran, the blood pounding in my ears as I ran harder. They were gaining on me but I knew that I had at least the joy of injuring several of them.

I turned and fired two blind shots behind me, hoping that I would hit my mark. Desperation began to cloud my vision, thoughts of What if I don't make it? Filled my head and my steps faltered.

The helicopters were many yards away, just three glinting mechanical blades up ahead. The bullets from the machine guns were flying by me, making the night sky occasionally sparkle as if fireworks were being shot up.

"Damn it, Walker, get up here!" Jai's voice screamed in my ear, I heard the desperation and felt bad for the pain that I was causing him. I wasn't going to make it, that much was for certain.

I watched helplessly as the first helicopter took off, and pumped my legs even harder still. Ten yards to go.

Suddenly, I felt a bullet tear through my side, and cried out in pain, but refused to let myself slow. I had to make it, I had to get there, if not for myself, then to save Auggie the pain of missing someone, the pain he had left me with.

I heard triumphant yells behind me and the machine gun blasts began anew.

I felt a bullet whiz just by my ear, so fast and so hot that it singed pieces of my hair.

Five yards now.

Jai POV

"Annie!" I screamed, my head sticking out of the helicopter's door, my arm outstretched.

She was so close, every cell in my body was screaming at me to jump off and just grab her, but I couldn't.

Suddenly, the helicopter shook, making me jerk backwards.

"Sir, we've spotted a sniper," the copilot said, grabbing a sniper he had hidden and taking careful aim from the open door, pushing me out of the way.

"Jai what's happening?" I heard Auggie yell over the sound of gun fire.

Before I could even open my mouth, I saw it; I saw one of the snipers take aim from not too far away and I saw the bullet rip from the barrel and towards Annie.

"NO!" I screamed, but it was too late. The bullet tore into her and she gave an ear piercing scream.