Author's Note: So, I'm back, to haunt your screens and provide entertainment. I'm quite proud of this chapter. Maybe because it's my 'coming back' chapter. Anyways, this writing period is going to be very very busy, filled with Secret Santa, new chapters, and a prompt given by a very imaginative person. Thanks to Stormy for inadvertently dragging me back into the writersphere again. Enjoy! R&R

Two days of fear, no show. Every shadow, every creak, my thoughts went to him. It wasn't as if I couldn't handle myself, I was definitely capable enough, it was the unpredictability of the situation.

I didn't ask myself if he was coming after me, I asked when he was coming after me. Cousland was a trained assassin, capable enough to handle an arch demon.

My only hope was that Leliana wouldn't be put in the cross-hairs.

I would protect her with my life. Leliana was my everything.

"Oh that's cheesy, Inquisitor."

"Shut up, Varric."

Sitting at my dining table, I jumped several feet, nearly knocking over my Special K onto the floor when I heard the phone ring.

I hopped out of my seat and snatched a notepad and pen off the counter before rushing to get the phone.

If it was Cousland, I would record everything he said, for investigative reasons.

Pen ready, I answered the call.

"Evelyn… please... "

I dropped the notepad and grasped the counter.

"Leliana, what happened? Where are you?" I squeezed out. The breath forced out of me at the sound of her voice, cracked and pleading.

"Leave… You have to leave… He's coming... Please."

I looked at the ceiling, tears forming, throat closed, chest constricted.

"Tell me where you are," I said forcefully, trying to keep the tears out of my voice.

"I… I love you… Just go, okay?... I lo-" Crackling and a groan of pain.

"LELIANA! Please, baby, just tell me where you are, please, baby."

A low, rumbling chuckle came through the phone.

My blood began to boil, my grip became tighter on the counter, my jaw set.

"Sorry, she's a bit preoccupied. You see, she has to make preparations. We're getting married," said a grumbling voice.

"Cousland, you fucking bastard. Touch a hair on her head and I swear, I will kill you." My voice was trembling.

"What? No congratulations? A wedding only comes once in a lady's life." He chuckled again, "I would tell you where the reception is held, but you didn't RSVP. Oh well."

I roared obscenities at him, even after he hung up.

I slammed the phone onto the counter, pieces scattering everywhere.

I was dressed within 2 minutes and headed out the door, heart cold.

...

My footsteps echoed on the stone walls of headquarters.

"Cassandra!" I yelled, storming into her office.

Three sets of eyes snapped to me.

I ignored Cullen and Josie's stares.

"You told me you'd keep her safe!" I roared. Walking forward, I slammed my hands on her desk.

"We are aware of Leliana's situation," she said bluntly.

"It looks like you're doing so much by sitting on your ass!" I practically screamed and threw my hands in the air.

"What you have so rudely interrupted was a tactical meeting. We have been deciding what to do." Cassandra gestured to the reports in both Cullen and Josie's hands.

"Why wasn't I notified? I will be a part of this assault," I said in a thundering tone.

"Inquisitor, if I may," Cullen started, "your relationship with Leliana might compromise the mission. We are not willing to risk losing Leliana and you by allowing your impulsiveness."

I turned to face him and stepped forward.

Grabbing his collar, I spoke in a menacing voice I didn't recognize.

"My relationship is the reason I should come. You cannot stop me. Whether or not you allow me, matters little, General."

Whatever relationships with them I had could be fixed later, Leliana took precedence.

"What is the plan?" I asked.

As it turns out, they had been monitoring my house phone ever since Cousland was released.

Tracking his call to me, they'd pinpointed his location to the warehouse I was currently scaling.

There was a small window I could squeeze through to make my way to perch on the rafters.

The carbine SR-25 strapped to my back was my weapon of choice, along with a Glock 22 Gen4 strapped to my hip. Well that, and the Gerber Guardian knife in my boot.

What?

Gotta be ready for anything…

After finding the optimum perch, I doubted I could be seen. With the getup I had on, someone would be hard-pressed to find me. The black combat boots, combat pants also in black, and a black long sleeve shirt paired with a bulletproof vest kept me well hidden. Along with a black combat helmet with a dark visor.

I looked around the seemingly empty warehouse.

Cassandra said Cousland was to be here at 22.00. It was currently 21.45.

I told them that I would be patient.

I told them that I would wait for their call.

I told them I could control myself.

But when it became 22.15, I got a bit anxious.

He should have shown up by now.

My blood began to boil with impatience.

Thumbs tapped on the base of the gun, hands fidgeting with my helmet.

I thought about her. I hoped she was okay. I prayed to gods I didn't even believe in for her safety.

My ears perked up and my gun went to my shoulder to aim when I heard the squeal of the warehouse doors opening.

I trained my eyes on the intruder.

He looked like a teenage boy with scraggly brown hair and narrow shoulders.

As he walked, he glanced around nervously.

I wondered where he was going until he walked up to the pile of gravel and bent down, opening a hatch on the floor.

My gun lowered and my brows shot up.

"Cassandra, Cousland hasn't come but a boy did. He went through a hatch on the floor," I said into the intercom.

I strapped the gun onto my back and began to make my way off the rafter by shimmying down the support.

"I'm going in."

"Trevelyan! You are to remain on stand-by. We will have the team search the premises," her voice crackled in my ear.

I groaned. How could she tell me to NOT search for my kidnapped girlfriend?

"Why can't I go down?" Any other day, I would have laughed at that double entendre.

"We cannot keep an eye on you down there."

I began walking towards the hatch.

"Fine, fine. I won't go down," I opened the hatch, "but oh take your time!" I tied a rappel rope around the support as the ladder looked like it was made out of rickety splinters. "Don't worry! Leliana's life obviously means nothing!" I ended loudly.

I huffed and made my way down the chute.

I would tell you what the place looked like, if I could see it for myself.

The pitch black of wherever I was made me wonder how the boy found his way around.

I turned on the mag-light I had clipped to my belt.

Rats ran from the light and cobwebs lined all of the square box I was in.

There was a stone archway at the left of me and not much else.

Seeing as that was the only possible way, that's the way I went.

I began to see a glowing light after a bit of walking.

My handgun was quickly in my hand.

I squinted my eyes and flicked off the flashlight.

It seemed like torches or lanterns was causing the glow.

Laughter and voices reached my ears.

I stepped softly, sticking to the shadows.

My back was to the last archway and the men's voices were obnoxious.

I was perplexed by the sheer number of the voices.

I poked my head to look around the corner.

My heart dropped when I looked around the room.