The next morning Joanna woke in the shelter, he had belt for them on the edge of the falls. Rolling in the surprising comfortable makeshift mattress, she saw that she was alone again. Climbing out expecting to watch him workout again saw no sign of him.

Frowning she looked around then jumped when she saw him sitting on his knees on the side of the shelter. "Alex you scared…. Alex?' she said, frowning when she saw he was just staring straight ahead breathing slowly.

Moving in front of him, she waved her hands in front of his face murmuring, "Alex… earth to Alex…," but still he didn't move or even notice her.

Frowning she turned to follow his gaze out on the waterfall and potholes and after a few seconds.

"Good morning Joanna,"

She jumped again and scowling looked at his smiling face. "Will you…," she started but was interrupted as he cupped the back of her head and kissed her.

When they broke apart, they laid their foreheads against each other. "Shaolin or Buddhist?" she asked.

"A little of both," he said, standing and stretched.

"Well do you mind telling me why you were… apparently out here all night?" she said.

"Preparing for what is to come," he said, and looking at him understood what he meant.

After getting dressed and rejoining the overnight group set out for the return trip, all the way Alex kept glancing at Robert eyes narrowed. Once they were back at the ranch things moved fast.

After a meeting with the McCoy's, where Damon told them everything about the mine and what he did at the end of which Alex had to stop Adam for pouncing on him and he finally stopped fighting when Damon explained what Robert did to him. From there as arranged, the McCoy's sent Alex and Joanna into town to 'fix one of the rigs'. While Joanna was shadowing Damon's fiancé while he was working on the truck at the shop.

Taking a break and making cup of hot chocolate Alex used the phone. "Hi I'd like to purchase two first class tickets…" he said, sealing a large mela envelope marked for the Denver FBI Branch.

A short while later he was doing some welding on the underbelly of the car when Joanna started to sneak up behind him. "I thought you were keeping close to Emma," he said, suddenly causing her to jump.

"She's here and wanted to surprise Damon with a visit to the ranch, and how'd you know?" she said.

"You still cast a shadow," he said, facing her taking a sip from his mug.

"What is that?" she asked.

Lowering her muttered, "Hot chocolate," and she blinked before shaking her head.

"So what are you doing with that truck?" she asked, walking over laying a hand on it.

Looking at her, he laid his mug down before asking, "What's on your mind? Is it about what's going to happen?"

Shaking her head, she faced him. "No it's something else…," she muttered.

Stepping forward he leaned against the truck. "Is it about that small section I got wrong when I gave you in that demonstration?" he asked, and she looked at him.

After a few seconds, she nodded. "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, and she and her smile dropped a little.

"What you pretending to be a shrink now?"

Shaking his head he muttered, "no but I was a mime once," and her eyebrow arched.

"How much do you already know?" she asked.

Clicking his tongue before he answered somberly, "I know that he was your first love, and I know that you held his hand the moment he died," and she nodded whipping a tear away.

"Do you know what my Suix name is?" she asked, and he shook his head truthfully.

"It's Moon Dancer, his was Sky Horse. We were coming back from a birthday party of a friend of ours when it happened. We were hit by a drunk driver seatbelt saved my life saved his to but…," she started before she whipped away a tear and he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Go on…," he muttered.

"When they got to the hospital we were told that he slipped into a comma that he would never wake from. I was there when his parents decided to pull the plug on the machines keeping him alive. I held his hand until the end…," she finished before turning into him and cried into his shoulder.

After a moment he asked, softly, "you were the one driving?" and she nodded.

"It wasn't your fault… I looked up the reports… the guy had a blood alcohol so high I was surprised he could turn the key let alone drive out of the parking lot of the bar he left," he said, and stepping back she whipped more tears away.

"I know but it doesn't help, so what are you doing here?' she said, turning around looking at the truck.

Smiling he patted it. "A little surprise," he said.

Later when Alex drove the three of them back to the ranch, he caught sight of Robert staring at them. "Something wrong man?" he asked, climbing out of the truck.

Shaking his head and acting as if nothing was wrong said, "no just surprised that she's here," he said.

Smiling Alex nodded. "Well let's just hope that Damon is just as surprised. She wanted to for his birthday and she told me that his father and sister are flying in for it," he said.

For a few seconds Robert was silent for a few seconds before Alex asked, 'something wrong?"

Jerking Robert shook his head. "No but the old man wants me to check a few things," he said, walking toward the other rig.

"Here take this one just topped her off," Alex said, tossing him the keys.

"Thanks man," he said, catching the keys and climbing into the rig drove off.

"Wonder why he's so nervous?" Joanna said, aloud.

"Maybe because he knows why Marnie's are called Devil Dogs," Alex said, crossing his arms.

"Ah did I miss something here?" Emma asked.

MISS PARKER

With Broots and Sydney in the car, while Sam was in the car behind them they drove though Colorado Springs. "You know I used to watch that show," Broots said, and Parker glanced at him in the rearview mirror.

"You know that one with Jane Seymour, Dr. Quinn," he said, smiling.

"Fascinating," she muttered, and he fell silent.

"You know Debbie was disappointed when I told her you couldn't make it to her birthday party," he said, and she glanced at him again.

Felling a little sorry herself, she looked back at the road. "Well tell her that I'm sorry to but I have plans. But I did mail her my gift and card," she muttered, drawing a few stray hairs back

After a few seconds silence she glanced at Syd who was staring out the window. "What no lecture, or Psych mumbo jumbo," she said, and he glanced at her.

"Sorry wasn't really paying attention," he said, and she blinked.

"Well that a rarity do tell what has your mind so preoccupied," I said, and Broots looked at him.

Smiling he returned his gaze to the window. "I had lunch with Nicolas before we left, I had to ask him something," he said.

"Really and how is he? What was so important?" I asked.

Not looking at me Syd said, "He's great, and I had to ask…," trailing off he looked back at me pulling a small velvet box from his pocket.

"…if it was alright if I asked, his mother to marry me," he said, opening the box showing the ring.

Broots and I were silent as we gaped at the ring. "It was my mother's, we had managed to hide it before it was taken from us," he said, before they could ask and for once Broots was silent.

Looking at him Parker gave him a rare smile. "It's beautiful Sydney, and I'm sure Michelle will love it," she said, and reaching over squeezed his hand.

After a moment Broots asked, "Are we going to sop for the night? Because either way we're not going to get there until tomorrow," and Parker glanced at him in the mirror.

"Or driving all night is fine," he muttered.

ALEX

That night taking point on a ridge wearing a radio and deadest Alex laid down on the ground with Damon next to him. "Are sure you don't want me to do this?" he asked, again.

Looking at him Alex nodded. "I don't want you to do something you'll regret," he said, cocking the rifle in front of him breathing deeply and thankful that his mental barriers were holding.

"well I hope you're a good shot here he comes," Damon said, looking through his binoculars.

Sighting through the scope Alex watched the truck drive down the dirt road in the direction of the mine. As he saw Robert at the wheel, he gritted his teeth as he felt the pangs in his head. Taking aim, he fired…

His aim true he watched as the front tire was shot out and with Robert, losing control the truck was flipped onto its side. "Nice shot," Damon muttered, as they watched Robert climb out of the truck.

Turning on the radio Alex cooed, "Robert… oh Robert…," and they watched him whip around to face the truck where his voice was coming from.

"What the heck," they heard him say.

"Tell me Robert what are you feeling more relief or fear?" Alex asked, and then fired another shot at his feet sending Robert taking a few steps back.

"Hey what the hell is this?" he demanded.

"Tell me are you scared is it because you don't know where the next shot will be?" Alex said.

"What they hell are you talking about?" he screamed back up against the truck.

"I'm talking about you finding that diamond deposit in the abandoned silver mine! Then tried to hide it so you could mine the riches from it! In the mean time you tried to scare the McCoy's off their land to give you free rein," he said, as he kept the cross hairs of the scope on Robert as he tried to slip away eyes scanning the area.

"Alex you're crazy!" he snapped.

"Oh that is not a smart thing to say to someone with a sniper rifle!" Alex barked and fired again and the shot skimmed the truck sending sparks fly.

At once Robert leapt back as the ring of gas surrounding him, the truck was ignited, and high dancing flames surrounded him. "But that wasn't enough was it? You had to threaten the family of the only other man who knew about them to force him to help you! You stripped a good man of his Honor! And left a mother crippled and a young boy trapped in his own body!" Alex growled as Roberts falling to on his ass shuffled back until his back was to the truck as the flames drew closer.

When he said, nothing Alex fired again and Roberts jerked before patting himself down. "If I were you I'd talk or the next round won't be a blank!" Alex barked.

"You're bluffing!"

Smiling Alex muttered, "We played poker together you know I can't bluff,"

"I'd be crazy to have left those diamonds! Everywhere I look; it's always other people getting the break! Well this was mine and I wasn't going to let some doohickey dude ranchers! Or some washed up Jarhead take it from me!

Besides you got nothing on me!" he shouted.

Smiling Alex glanced at the digital video recorder attached to the telephoto scope and the digital voice recorder next to the radio. "I wouldn't be too sure about that, but either way it's time to reap the rewards of your big break," he said, and turned on the laser sight.

At once Robert's eye darted to his chest where the red dot was held stationary. "oh don't worry I'm not going to waste a bullet on you I'll aim…," he muttered, as he adjusted his aim and Robert watched as the laser dot came to rest above his head on the gas tank.

"…Higher!" Alex growled finishing.

"No!... No!... NO!" Robert screamed and Alex fired.

Almost at once, a dark liquid poured onto him and he screamed. "Man, boy am I glad you're not that pissed at me," Alex heard Damon say from far away.

Slowly he readjusted his aim again so that the dot was Roberts thrashing chest and his finger started to tighten on the trigger.

"Alex?"

At once, he jerked back releasing the grip. "You ok?" Damon asked, looking at him and Alex nodded.

"Yeah I'm fine though I think you'd better carry this back," he said, standing up picking up the recording equipment.

As they walked back to the other rig. "I gotta say you'd make a great Marine, but I gotta know. Is it cruel and unusual punishment not to tell him that, that's not gas pouring on him but hot chocolate?" he said, and Alex looked at him when they reached the rig.

The two looked at each other for a moment before smiling and both cooing, "Neigh," before climbing in and driving away.

The next morning watching from a distance Alex watched as Robert still covered in hot chocolate was led away by one of Hopkins's deputies to a squad cars with FBI agents over looking it from their sedans. As he was forced in Hopkins came over to the McCoy's who were watching from the porch of the main building.

"And Damon?" he asked.

Adam, Kara, and Old Man McCoy looked at each other. "We talked it over and aren't pressing charges, he was in the same boat as us," she said, looking at him as he stood next to his family.

Nodding Hopkins started to turn.

"Wait!"

Turning back Hopkins watched as Adam walked down the steps toward him. "We still have unfinished business," he said, when he reached him a frown on his face and Hopkins grimaced.

"Head or chest?" Adam simply asked.

After a few seconds Hopkins moaned, "Head," before Adam lashed out nailing him hard in the head knocking him off his feet.

"Now we're done," he said, rubbing his knuckles as Kara laughing slightly gapped at him as he rejoined her and chuckling Alex walked back to his and Joanna's cabin.

He was just packing up when she came in. For a moment, she watched him as he slowly continued to pack his back to her.

"So that's it? You just do what you came here to do then leave?" she said, and zipping up a bag turned to look at her.

"It's the way it has to be," he said.

Trying to keep her face stoic, she nodded. "Well I can certainly say that you've left your mark, and don't worry about the sex I do it often with complete…," she started say as she turned.

Unable to bare it he grabbed her arm and whipped her around to kiss her. Kissing him back through her tears, she held him close.

When they broke apart, he cupped her cheek. "I'm not leaving you behind because I don't love you… I'm leave you behind because I do," he said, simply and he saw her eyes brighten.

"I have some very, very dangerous people after me. And they will not hesitate use you to get to me, and I'll be dammed before I let that happen," he said.

She looked at him for a moment before nodding a tear running down her cheek. Deftly he caught it on his finger and raised it to eye level.

He looked at it for a moment before glancing at her. "In the time I've known you I've come to hate these, please tell me how I can make them stop," he muttered.

She looked at the tear on his finger before looking at him. "Take me with you," she said, simply.

He held her gaze for a second before lowering it then looked back.

MISS PARKER

Pulling up to the main building of the Dude Ranch, she climbed out glancing around with Sydney and Broots. "Lovely," she muttered, sarcastically before walking up the steps.

ALEX

With his latest journal up in the cabin and my bag over his shoulder, Alex leaned against the corral looking out at the beauty of the land. As a breeze wafted over his face, he closed his eyes breathing deeply. As one of the horses came, close and he started to stroke him and suddenly the horse's ears flattened and he heard footsteps behind me.

Alex frowned at this then froze at the sound a gun cocking behind me as it was pressed against the back of his head. "Raise your hands and slowly turn," a female voice said.

Sighing in annoyance, he raised my hands. "What did Lyle quite already? If that's the case I should have cavity searches done on you people by SP more often," he said.

There was silence for second then. "Turn around!" the voice snapped.

Rolling his eyes, he slowly turned. Before me stood a good-looking woman with longish dark brown hair in a designer suit. Beside her was bulky Sweeper who also had a gun trained on him while what looked like a bald computer analyst stood in the background while an older man whose face he couldn't see came down the path.

The woman and Alex looked at each other for a moment before she snapped, "Who the hell are you?"

Frowning he muttered, "I could ask the same about you, but you do look familiar have we…," he started before he was interrupted by a shocked voice.

"Alex!"

Looking up his jaw dropped open and my hands dropped when he saw the face of the old man. "Sydney…," he muttered.

At that, the woman looked at the man. "Syd you know…," she started but was silenced as Alex sprang into action.

Grabbing her gun hand Alex locked her arm up and spinning the both of us around blocked the Sweeper's shot as he called out. Facing him his finger over her trigger finger the gun went off and he fell clutching his leg where the bullet had hit. Then after delivering elbow to her face, he flipped her onto her back and rolling aroound she sat up her own gun in her face.

"Don't even think about it!" Alex snapped at her.

As Alex held the gun on her, I felt the old pain begin to rise and he started to hear Raines's voice saying 'Shoot her'. "No…," he moaned out keeping the gun steady as his finger shook.

'Shoot her now'

"No…!"

'Do it Alex!'

"NO!" Alex screamed and in a flash of movement jerked the gun away, ejected the magazine, and slid the slide from the main body.

The rest watched as Alex dropped to his knees clutching his head. Taking the opportunity Miss Parker started to slowly reach back for Sam's gun. Suddenly a shot rang out and looking around saw Adam on the path above holding a rifle on her.

"Don't you move!" he snapped cocking the rifle again and Alex looked up as more Sweepers appeared.

"What are you going to do now?" Parker asked, as the Sweepers started to draw their guns.

"Even the odds,"

Whipping around again, she saw Kara hold a double barrel rifle on two Sweepers while Old Man McCoy and Damon held pistols on the others. "What are you…?" Alex started getting to his feet before Kara interrupted.

"It's the least we could do now get on Zorro and git! We'll settle up later!" she snapped.

He looked at her for a second before grabbing his bag over his shoulder and his DSA case before leaping on the horse. Turning it take one more look at Sydney he faced the valley rode out at a full gallop Miss Parker's eyes boring into him the whole way.

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