I watched Altair and Conner as they scoped out the training grounds of the mercenaries. They raced along the roofs and slipped into the barracks to do a slight head count. When they were done, they made their way back to the staging area that I was in.

"So, what is the news on the inside?" I asked as they jumped down from the ledge.

"Twenty three in the barracks alone." Conner shook his head.

"Thirteen officers near the training grounds. Two guards at each gate and two trucks that patrol the fence line. Three in each." Altair took a seat on the ledge.

I did a small count in my head. "That's forty-eight guys we have to be aware of. Shit." I shook my head. Even I knew this was dangerous. "Did you see our guy? Maybe we could just wipe him out."

"He's in the barracks. We could probably get to him, but it would be risky." Conner looked over at the compound.

Smiling, I pulled my hood up. "Slipping in and out is what I do best." I quickly checked my blades and slipped them back into hiding.

Altair stood and grabbed my arm. "Like hell I am letting you go in that base alone."

I glared at him and pulled my arm free. "I can do this. You have to give me the chance."

"It's too risky." He shook his head. "Conner, back me up here."

I shot Conner a look and he held his hands up. "This is not my fight. I have seen her do some crazy shit, Altair. If she thinks she can do it, let her. We are here in case she runs into trouble."

"Thank you." I smiled at him, and then looked back at the man I pledged my hand to. "At least someone believes in me and my skills." Turning my back to him, I waited for him to make his move.

Then I heard him. A small sigh and he walked up behind me. "Fine, but I will go with you until the fence. You will wear a radio though."

I turned around and smiled at him. "I will. Thank you." I reached up and touched his cheek, letting my fingers trail down his jaw.

He grabbed my hand and growled at me. "Do not start that, woman."

"I will finish later." I winked and pulled my hand back. "Let's get this done."

Conner handed me his earpiece. "You run into problems, you had better call or get out of there."

I slipped it over my ear and made sure it was secure. "I will, don't worry." Putting one foot up on the edge of the building, I checked my equipment once more and took off. I heard Altair hit the roof behind me and was next to me in a moment.

Weaving through the rooftops, we made it to the end of our run. I stood next to him. "The barracks are around the main building. Get in, kill him and get out. Do you understand?"

Rolling my eyes, I knew where it was. I had looked at the maps and watched their progress. "Quit worrying, mother hen. I will be back in few. It will not that hard to kill a sleeping man."

"Alanna quit trying to act like a hard ass. This is serious." He warned me.

"And I wish you would quit acting like I was incapable of the simplest assassination. I will be fine." I fixed him with a look and took off. Jumping to the fence, I scaled it quickly and balanced on the top. Flipping off of it, I landed on my feet on the roof of a storage house with barely a sound. Quickly taking in my surroundings, I dropped to the ground, and stayed to the shadows.

Looking around the edge of the main building, I saw the front gate and one of the guards that sat there. Finding hand holds in the concrete of the building at my back, I climbed to the roof and swiftly ran to the barracks. I knew once I killed the man inside, I had to get out of there.

I entered through a sunroof and fell to the floor, rolling once I hit and back onto my feet in one fluid motion. Conner had told me the bed and walked over to it. He stirred in his sleep, but did not wake. I released the breath I was holding and let the blade on my right wrist slide out. The metal gleamed in the moonlight that filtered through the small window. It would have been quite a sight if he had woken up to see me standing over him, blade glowing slightly and a dark hood shadowing my face. Death had arrived.

Pulling back, I slammed the blade into his neck and twisted. I felt nothing as I watched the blood coat my blade and run down the front of his throat, collecting in a puddle on the pristine white sheets under his body. I pulled it out, watching the dark fluid drip from the end and turned away from the growing stain. The deed had been done. Let them see this as a message that you can run, but there is no hiding from the Assassins.

Opening the window, I slipped out and back onto the roof. I made it back to Altair in a few minutes. "He's dead. Let's go."

We ran back to Conner, who watched us with a pair of binoculars. The bags were already packed and ready for us to go. He held it up and I slung mine over my shoulder. Altair did the same. Before we stepped off the edge, the base sirens began to blare. They had discovered him.

Altair took off, and we followed him. Our car was a few blocks away. From there, we had to make it to the small airport just outside the city and take the plane back to Athens. I ran as fast as I could and beat the guys to the car. Throwing my bag into the trunk, I got in the back and pulled the black jacket over my head and began to unbuckle the blades from my wrists before they got to the car.

Altair slid into the driver's seat while Conner climbed in the passenger. He fired the car up and began to drive. I held my right blade in my hand and saw the blood on it. I knew I should have felt something for killing the man, but I didn't. Was I turning cold once more?

I shook the thought from my head and sat the blade on the seat next to me. "How long until we get to the airport?" I asked.

"At least fifteen minutes if traffic is with us." Altair turned onto the main streets and I watched the cars drive past us.

I leaned back in my seat. "Oh, by the way, I told you I could do it." A smile spread across my face as I closed my eyes and listened to Conner snicker.

*/*/*/*/*/*

Once we landed in Athens, I only had two things on my mind. A shower and sleep. Yeah, that was not going to happen when we got home.

Ezio and Desmond were sitting on the steps when we pulled up. The three of us looked at them as we got out of the car. "We couldn't reach you on the cell." Ezio looked up from his hands.

"We were getting the last of the men that attacked the Farm." Altair told him. "What's going on?"

He stood and Desmond followed suit. "Let's step inside and we will talk."

I shook my head slowly. "Why do I have the feeling I am not getting any sleep tonight?"

They smiled at me and I felt Conner's arm wrap its way around my shoulders. "You can use me as a leaning post, but I get to use you in the same way."

"Little Brother, I like the way you think." I grinned and walked into the house. "I guess I will put on the coffee. Anyone hungry?" I suppressed a yawn, as I walked past everyone once we were inside.

Desmond followed. "I'll give you a hand."

In the three years I had been back, Des had become one of my best friends. He finally came clean and told me that he was about to fight Altair for a chance to date me. I couldn't help but chuckle at him then kissed his cheek. I also told him I was way too old for him. After his confession, we began a good friendship. The damper was that we could not all be in the same area for too long.

I started the coffee as the others filed in and found places to sit. Conner jumped up and sat on the counter that was at the edge of the living room and kitchen, Altair took the chair and slouched down, and Ezio sat on the love seat. Desmond grabbed some meat from the fridge and the bread.

"Alright, I guess I just became a short order sandwich maker. What do you want?" He looked at the guys.

"A lovely combination of prosciutto and salami with a hint of honey mustard and mayo, and a slice of vine ripened tomato, and lettuce. That would be wonderful Mr. Miles." Ezio smiled at the boy.

"Shut up smart ass." Des glared at him, causing me to laugh. "For real?"

"Turkey if you got it." The Italian leaned back in his seat.

"I got mine." Conner jumped down and came around the island.

"Ham, if the walking stomach there hasn't eaten it all." Altair cracked an eye, looking at the second youngest of us, and yawning.

"Hey! You put a fair amount of food away yourself, Old Man." He smirked and then slapped Des with a piece of roast beef.

Desmond's eyes widened and looked at Conner. "You're an ass and that was completely gross." Then hit him in the forehead with an olive.

I laughed at them and leaned against the counter. I had missed having all of us in one room. Picking on each other and cracking jokes. It was nice to hear it again. Two years was a long time to normal people, but a drop in the bucket for our lifespan.

I smiled as Conner bumped Desmond with his hip and moved him out the way. Desmond, on the other hand, poked the Mohawk in his side with a fork. Ezio looked over at a dozing Altair, and got a wicked smile on his face. I covered my mouth as I tried to contain the laughter. I knew he had something evil planned, and I wanted to see how this played out.

He stood and quietly stalked towards the sleeping Arab. A blade slid out of Altair's wrist and he pointed it at the Italian. "I was not asleep, so don't even think about it. Besides I know you better than that. I know better to fall asleep around you."

Ezio frowned and sat down. "One day I will get you again, my friend. Just wait."

The coffee finished its brew and the sandwiches were done. I grabbed mugs and brought everything into the living room. Once everyone was settled, I lounged on the couch. "So, who wants to start?"

"I guess I will." Ezio sat up, sitting his coffee mug on the table next to him. "Guys, I think we need to go bigger with taking out the Templars. We are only hitting the peons. We need to hit a boss or someone higher."

Altair looked at him, brow raised. "You have something in mind?"

He nodded. "I think we need to go after the head of Abstergo."

All of our eyes widened at that. I sat up, letting my bare feet rest on the hardwood floor. "You cannot be serious. Ezio, we could never pull that off." That was insane.

"Why not? Desmond and I have been following him off and on for a year. I know where he lives, dines, his family, friends. The whole shebang. It would not be hard to get to him and kill him." He grabbed his bag that was on the side of him and pulled out a folder, then tossed it on the table. "It's all there. Photos, locations, we have covered all the bases."

Conner picked up the folder and looked through it quickly. "He has covered everything. I think we could have a shot at this. We could rid ourselves of this guy and strike a blow to them." He passed the folder to Altair, who was now completely awake.

He flipped through it, and raised his eyes to look at Ezio. "This is still slightly insane. There are too many variables that we cannot possibly deal with. I mean there are five of us, and thousands of them. Oh and there's the slight problem with us being in the same area too long! We could go into this and get killed." He put the folder on the table and I picked it up.

Standing, I walked around and studied the work the two guys had done. It was all neat and tidy, but the more I looked at it, the more I could see it was doable. "I think the idea is good, but the execution is wrong." That got everyone's attention.

"Are you siding with them on this?" Altair just stared at me.

I shook my head. "Yes and no. I mean, if we got rid of him, it would fix a lot of our problems. Give us a few years of breathing room, but it is still insane. I mean the head of Abstergo? That is crazy, but I think we specialize in crazy."

Desmond, who had been staying quiet until now, spoke up. "I don't really like it. The guy is slick and could go underground if we fail, but if we actually pull this off, it would be a benefit for the whole world. The guy is a monster."

I understood what he was saying. "I cannot believe I am about to say this, but we need to do this."

"You are siding with me?" Ezio looked up at me, hope in his eyes.

I nodded. "Yeah, I am."

Altair sat in his chair, a mask of concentration on his face. He finally shook his head. "Fine, I'm in, but we need to send them a message with this kill. It has to be public. In the open."

Conner snapped his fingers. "They are having a huge gala in Monaco in a few months. It's for that big race they have there every year. I was going to suggest we kill a few of their officers when it came up in the next planning session. They have a party every year."

Desmond smiled. "It's the Monaco Grand Prix. A Formula One racing circuit. Anyone who's anyone is there. Presidents, queens, princes, corporate heads. They flock there to be seen and broker business deals. I remember my dad always going on about it when it came around. If you want it public, that is the best place to have it."

I turned my eyes to Ezio and Altair. "What do you think guys? Think we could pull this off?"

The two men looked at each other. "It is doable. I mean, we could get rid of a lot of people there." Ezio shrugged.

Altair lowered his head and I was afraid he had changed his mind. Then he raised it again and met the eyes of everyone in the room, a smile forming on his lips. "Let's do this."

Ezio

Altair and I had mapped out the route of the race, while Alanna taught Conner and Desmond French. They were quick studies, but got distracted easily. She was at her wits end most of the time with them then I would step in.

"So, what are your thoughts on this whole plan so far?" I looked up from the map we had our noses shoved in.

He blinked his eyes and rubbed the grit from them. We both had been burning the candle at both ends. "It is coming along, but we are going to have to split up soon. You guys have been here for two months now. That is dangerous now."

I nodded. "I know. Someone needs to go scout the area out and plan our escape route." I grinned. "How about you and Alanna go? Call it a working honeymoon. I know you and her never got one of those."

He laughed. "There was no time and we never planned on getting married in the first place. We tend to go a bit stupid with alcohol in our systems." Downing the last bit of pop in his can, he threw it in the small can we had in the room.

"You just figure that out? Wow what a revelation!" I laughed along with him. "Anyway, I think it would be a good thing for you two to get away and do something together. Not having us up your asses all the time. I know Conner and Desmond are driving Alanna nuts with their antics as they try to stave off the boredom."

"I hear about it all the time." I was about to say something else, but I heard a crash and many curse words coming from Alanna.

We raced out into the main room to see Alanna wrapping a towel around Desmond's arm. "What the hell happened?" Altair asked as he grabbed another towel and handed it to Conner.

"I stood up to get something to snack on then tripped over that damn cat your wife rescued, and went crashing through the end table. Desmond made a grab for me, but missed and caught a piece of glass in his arm when I went through it." He pulled a jagged piece from his bicep, and hissed in pain. "Paging Dr. Auditore."

I walked over and looked at the gash in his upper arm. "Well, if we haven't lost the immortality yet, you will be fine in a few hours. If we have, well you are going to need a few stitches." I wrapped the towel around it to contain the bleeding. "How's your arm, Des?"

He pulled the towel that was around his cut. "Not too bad. A scratch at best."

I sighed and shook my head. "Children."

Alanna had walked out of the room and walked back in holding the gray cat. It hissed at Conner, who hissed back. "Little bastard."

"Leave my cat alone, Conner. You are the one that stepped on him." She glared at him and petted the cat.

Altair looked over at his wife. "That thing hates everyone but you."

She smiled at the cat and scratched under the cat's chin. "Because I am nice to him, and feed him. All you have ever done is yell at him and throw things at him. No wonder he attacks you at every turn."

"Well the little demon needs to be muzzled. He is a danger to anything that moves." The older man glared at the monster in Alanna's arms.

She stuck her tongue out and sat the cat down. He hissed at everyone, rubbed against her leg and walked out of the room, tail held high. "Alanna, can you go get me the medical kit, please?"

Nodding, she walked from the room once more. We kept an emergency kit with us at all times just in case things like this happened. I pulled the towel away from Conner's wound and shook my head. "So, will it scar? Chicks dig cool scars." He grinned at me, and I poked him in the gash. He hissed in pain. "That was uncalled for, Ezio."

"Pain lets you know you are still breathing. Let it soak in and learn from this. No, it will not scar. None of your wounds scar. It's from the whole immortal thing. We may not be immortal now, but we will be in a few hours." I told him.

Alanna came back with the kit and handed it to me. "Here you are." She had some gauze in her hand for Desmond's arm. Walking over to him, she began bandage him back up.

I looked at him. "This is going to hurt like hell. You know that right?"

"I know. Shall we move to the kitchen so I can sit down and you have better lighting?" He asked, holding the towel on his wound.

"And I will start getting this shit cleaned up. No sense in the rest of us getting wounded when we were not at fault." Altair growled.

"Blame it on the hairy beast that your wife thinks is a great pet." Desmond mumbled, but yelled when Alanna smacked him.

"Damn it guys, leave him alone. He did nothing besides walk past at the wrong time." She growled at everyone.

And thus this was what I was reduced to. Playing field medic to a bunch of rowdy boys.

Poor Ezio! And what about their insane plan to kill the head of Abstergo? Thing are finally starting to get rolling for them and I had to throw a cat in there. I have a cat named Bob that my husband says he hates, but will pet him when Bob comes near him. Till next time.