Chapter 15:

*"You know, Don, you and I are very alike. We are both focused on large possibly unattainable goals. Me trying to explain the workings of the universe …" – Dr Larry Fleinhardt

"And what am I doing? Trying to take all those unworkable workings and put them in jail. Yeah, good luck to both of us." – Don Eppes

Season 2, Episode 7: Convergence*

"You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders."

"I'm just worried about Don and Ian…and Marc…what about you? You look smart. Are you going somewhere?" Robin shrugged as she tried to make light of her fears whilst making room on the top step of the back porch for Elliott to sit down.

"Court. One of my other cases went to trial yesterday and I've been called in to testify," Elliott sighed as he sat down and handed Robin a steaming mug of coffee before taking a sip of his own.

"That doesn't sound so bad," Robin smiled as Elliott pulled a face.

"Not bad? Maybe for you, but for me…I hate court. I am quite possibly the worst public speaker. I get all tongue tied and flustered when I'm being cross examined…"

"Just remember to take a breath before replying and to keep your replies concise and to the point. The more elaborate the response the easier it is to twist. So give them nothing. If you need a moment to think about your reply take a sip of water…look at an area of the courtroom that has nothing going on…just remember that you control the flow and pace of the questioning…and try to avoid any negative or uncertain adjectives. Be confident in your response…what?"

"Nothing, it's just been a while since I've seen you so…well I suppose excited is the right word…" Elliott smiled as he took another sip of coffee and wished he'd kept his mouth shut as he watched her face fall and darken.

"I do miss it sometimes," Robin whispered as she put the mug down on the step next to her and looked out at the back garden where Lucas was playing. "But most of the time…I really don't. I'm not sure that when the time comes I will ever be ready again."

"I think it'd be a real shame if that was the case," Elliott replied gently as he placed a comforting hand over hers and gave it a little squeeze. "You're a talented lawyer Robin…"

"That's kind of you to say but…"

"But nothing. What happened to you was…unspeakably bad…but you can't let it define you."

"You should probably go or you'll be late," Robin replied quietly with a firmness to her tone.

"Robin…"

"I'll be ok El…thank you…but I'm ok."

Knowing when he'd been dismissed, Elliott sighed in defeat before standing up and walked down the steps of the back porch. "You may be fine, but I'm not leaving you alone. Karen's out running errands…I'll give Chris a call and ask him to come over."

"Really El, I'm ok. No one knows I'm here…and I'd rather just be by myself right now anyway," Robin refused Elliott's offer to call Chris as she pulled her legs up so they were curled tightly against her chest. She looked so vulnerable but sounded so certain Elliott was in two minds whether or not to call Chris anyway…

"Well Karen shouldn't be long," El replied indecisively as he looked down at his watch and then at his son. "You sure you and Lucas don't need anything before I go?"

"I'm sure," Robin smiled sadly painting a brave face on the turmoil simmering deep inside. "We'll be fine. Go, please, we'll be fine." And as if to try and prove it. Robin stretched her legs back out, picked up her coffee mug back up and took a large gulp.

"Ok…well if you're sure…I'll phone later and check in on you ok?"

"Ok," She smiled again as she tucked the loose tendrils of hair that had teased their way out of the combs holding her hair up behind her ears before getting up and walking across the lawn bare foot to where Lucas was playing. "Wave bye, bye to daddy," Robin instructed Lucas as Elliott waved goodbye and walked down the side of the house to get to his car. "Ok kiddo," Robin addressed Lucas as she sat down opposite him and picked up a Captain America Action figure. "What are we playing?"

*Break*

"Damn it!" Ian shouted frustrated as he pulled the jeep over and switched the ignition off in defeat. They had been driving around for what seemed like hours but hadn't even gotten remotely close to catching up with the SUV's which wasn't entirely surprising as most of Gilbert's men were ex-military, it was just extremely frustrating is what it was.

"The second they split up it was hopeless anyway," Don grouched equally annoyed as Ian roared angrily and thumped the steering wheel in front of him for good measure. "We should head back to the compound see what they've managed to turn up there."

"We already know what matters, neither the bomb nor Marc is at the compound," Ian snapped back as Don pulled his cell out to check his messages for the fifth time since leaving the compound on their wild goose chase.

"I don't know ok, maybe there is something there that Charlie can work with," Don replied more optimistically than he was feeling.

"Even if there was we couldn't get there in time. Face it Don, we ran out of time. It's over," Yanking the door open and jumping out of the jeep, Ian slammed the door shut behind him and kicked it for good measure.

"I don't accept that!" Don shouted back as he jumped out and came around the car to pull Ian away before he could kick the jeep again.

"Then you're a fool."

"Maybe. Or maybe I'm not ready to give up just yet. Even if we don't get to the bomb in time maybe Marc will because if there is anyone left who can salvage this mission its Marc."

"I just can't be responsible for another one dying," Ian hissed emotionally, his body trembling from anger or fear, Don couldn't tell any more.

"This is nothing like what happened with Brian," Don told Ian firmly as he placed both hands on Ian's shoulders and gave him a little shake. "You hear me, Marc isn't Brian and no one's going to die today because you and I are not going to let that happen!"

"You're right. We need Charlie," Ian conceded with the slightest hint of a smile as his cell phone started to vibrate in the leg pocket of his camouflaged trousers.

"Who is it?"

"Colby," Ian answered Don as he looked at the caller ID before pressing the green button to answer the call. "Tell me its good news," Ian told Colby more forcefully than he had intended.

"We found the missing kid used to blackmail the first bomber," Colby replied gravely, his gravelly tone deeper than usual.

"Let me guess…dead?" Ian hesitated for a moment, unable at first to say it.

"Yup," Colby sighed heavily down the line, the tension was practically palpable. "Claudia says that he's been dead since the bombing…I guess after the father blew up, the kid just became a loose end."

"Any news on where the next bomb is? Don was thinking of calling Charlie in; see what voodoo he can perform for us, if anyone can pull off a Hail Mary right now its Charlie."

"Matt Li can do one better," Colby replied confidently making Ian's chest swell with hope. "Where is Don?"

"He's here."

"Can he hear?"

"No, but I can put you on speaker phone," Ian offered but Colby quickly cut him off.

"No! That's ok…I just need you to nod and agree and not react ok?" Colby explained quickly, his voice strained, Ian could hear some sort of commotion in the background, sounded like Tim and Nick was arguing about something.

"Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like what you say next?" Ian asked rhetorically as Don pulled a quizzical face at him and held up his hands in a what's up gesture.

"Because you're not. Turns out that watch we gave Marc wasn't just a transmitter, it was a recorder too."

"But that's great right? We know where the two SUV's are headed now right?"

"Yes," Colby answered hesitantly, "The bomb and Marc are headed to HQ…"

"And the other?"

"Has Gilbert in it…he's headed to El's. Nick wants you and Don to go to after the bomb."

"What…what aboutthe…other one?" Ian replied uncertainly as he avoided letting Don in on the problem.

"You can't tell Don but I'm headed there now. I'll take care of Robin…what we need is for Don and you to focus on stopping the bomb…Ian it's bad. We've tried to call HQ to warn them…but the phone lines are down. Marc and the bomb have to be there already…Ian you and Don are closer. We can't waste time…too many people are counting on you."

"Damn it!" Ian shouted angrily again as he hung up on Colby and looked at Don conflicted. Colby was right; they needed to go after the bomb…but Robin needed them too…

"What? What is it?" Don persisted as Ian pocketed his cell and crossed his arms defensively. "Tell me!"

"They know where the SUV's are headed," Ian answered quietly as he calculated his next words very carefully.

"Ok…where? Where Ian?"

*Break*

"I've cut the phone lines, is the bomb ready?"

"Almost…there…"

"Come on guys, this is insane, you see that right?" Marc pleaded desperately as John finished attaching the bomb around Marc's waist whilst Carlos held Marc down in the back of the SUV. "There is no way they'll let me past the front door with this thing on let alone get through one of their metal detectors!"

"You hear that Carl? Agent Denam here thinks we were born yesterday," John smiled sardonically as Carlos snickered next to Marc's right temple. "We know about the piece of shrapnel in your leg and we know that the rent a cop on your precious metal detector knows about your leg and to let you on through without a scan." John grinned manically, shutting Marc up as a cheap cell phone was pressed into one of his clenched fists.

"Ethan told me to reiterate what is at stake here," Carlos hissed angrily, the broken nose making Gilbert's goon surlier than usual. "He's at your girlfriend's house right now and if you don't deliver this bomb to the Director's office directly then Ethan is going to kill her and the little boy too."

"All you have to do is answer the phone when it rings," John added slowly making sure Marc understood.

"What did they do to you to make you so angry?" Marc asked bewildered by the hostility that was rolling off his captors in spades. "What happened to you to make you follow a man like Ethan Gilbert? He's insane you know. This won't be the end…the FBI is more than this one tiny branch and then there's the ATF the US Marshals and the CIA to consider…before you were waging was on the state, that's minor league…the FBI…that's really waging war on the US Government…hell that's just suicide."

"Neither the CIA nor any other government acronym scares us!" Carlos declared impassionedly whilst John actually looked thoughtful, like he was considering the answer carefully.

"Your right," Marc replied as bravely as he could to Carlos's rage and John's quiet bird like glare. "It's all those nameless black op acronyms you should be worried about. Terrorists like you and your rabble are a flash in a pan compared to the dogs they're used to putting down…hardly worthy of the attention you'll garner off the back of this explosion."

"Are you sure we can't just kill him now?" Carlos asked John hotly through gritted teeth. "At least let me bloody him up a bit, remind him how hopeless his situation really is?"

"No. We don't want him tipping anyone off."

"I think the extra five pounds I seem to have put on around my waist would be obvious enough," Marc joked sarcastically as he patted the waistcoat of explosives more cavalierly than he was really feeling.

"Not under this jacket it isn't," John smiled forcefully as he handed over a large brown mac and told Marc to put it on. "Now, get out of the car, walk over there and go straight to the Director's office or the Lawyer bites it."

"Ok, ok," Marc grumbled as he opened the door to the SUV and started to pull the jacket on. "You realize that the Director won't be in his office though right? He's usually at the golf club by now."

"Or he'll be in his office because a call was placed to his office this morning and a meeting was set up between you and him to discuss the parameters of your undercover mission. I hear he wasn't a fan of letting a cripple go undercover, can't imagine why."

"Get walking," Carlos jabbed at the small of Marc's back with the barrel of a gun Marc hadn't even realized Carlos had been carrying. "And remember we'll be watching and listening, so no funny business!"

"Funny business, me? Wouldn't dream of it!" Marc laughed, though his stomach was sinking as his fear was threatening to override his reason. Who could blame him for feeling the smallest hiccup of apprehension though, he did have a truly impressive bomb strapped to his chest after all.

"Move!"

"Ok, ok."

"Remember, Director's office…answer the call and the Lawyer lives. Simple."

Simple, yeah right! Marc groaned internally as he buttoned up the jacket and crossed the road to blow up the very agent's he was actually coming to enjoy working for…well until they had put him undercover and a mad man had strapped a bomb to his chest…it was like old times! And just like old times, Marc felt more alive in the face of death than he had the whole year after his injury…maybe he had finally sustained one too many hits to the head. Either way, Robin's life depended on him and if Marc was going to save the day he was going to have to move fast because Marc got the distinct feeling that the bomb wouldn't wait for him to answer the phone…no Marc definitely had to get a move on and pronto!

*Break*

"Robin?"

"Yes Lucas."

"Do you save people like my daddy?" Lucas asked curiously, looking up from where he currently had Ironman wrestling GI Joe for his gun.

"No sweetie, I'm a lawyer, so all those bad men that your daddy stops, I ensure they go to jail for their crimes." Robin smiled back as she reached across and smoothed down the hair sticking up at the back of his head.

"So you're like Daredevil," Lucas grinned as he abandoned the fight between Ironman and GI Joe so that now they just looked like they were hugging, to pick up his large Daredevil toy to show Robin.

"I don't know," Robin admitted as she took the doll from Lucas and gave the red tights a look over. "I don't really know the Daredevil comics."

"He was injured like you…but in the eyes…" Lucas explained, his whole face scrunching up with concentration as he told his story. "His daddy was killed by some bad men so he became a lawyer and all the others heroes like Spiderman and The Hulk use him!"

"Wow," Robin laughed as she straightened the doll's arms and legs. "Then yes, I guess I'm a little bit like Daredevil, except my daddy is still alive unless my mother has killed him by now."

"Then you are a hero," Lucas grinned as he got up and hugged her tightly, bumping her sore shoulder in the process, but for Robin it was worth it as she felt an unfamiliar warmth flush across her body and a maternal instinct that until now she hadn't thought she possessed.

"Let's go inside," Robin suggested as she heard her stomach rumble, which made Lucas giggle, and looked down at her watch to see that it was coming up to mid-day. She was starving, which, since the accident was a first. She hadn't had much of an appetite, not even after they had left the hospital. "Come on," She coaxed Lucas as she took his hand and headed up the back porch. "Let's raid your parent's fridge and have ourselves a feast!"

Later she wouldn't be able to recount how she knew, call it a gut instinct or a sudden intuition but as she pulled open the back door and stepped inside the short corridor, she had a feeling there was someone else in the house, and not either one of the Hayes.

"Shhh, shhh, shhh," Robin warned Lucas as she slipped down to her knees to look him in the eyes. "How about before lunch we play one more game?" She whispered intently as she placed both hands around his face to keep his eyes trained on her. "I want you to hide in this closet until I come and open the door ok? No matter what you hear out here, you stay inside until I come for you ok?"

"B…b…but it's dark in there," Lucas whispered back scared, his lip wobbling as he looked dubiously at the closet door.

"I know sweetie," Robin told him quietly as she pulled him against her in a huge bear hug. "But I need you to be safe ok, here…take Daredevil with you," She told him, handing over the doll she hadn't realized she was still holding. "See, he'll protect you in there whilst I protect you out here, ok?"

"Ok," Lucas whispered softly next to her ear before stepping back, taking Daredevil and slipping quietly inside the closet. Once she was sure he was safe, she went to investigate the house. She found her intruder in the living room, looking at a family photograph on the mantle above the fireplace.

"Ah Robin, I was starting to think you weren't' here, I would have been terribly disappointed to have missed you," The stranger smiled manically as he turned to face her, sending a shiver down her spine.

"You know my name," Robin told him with more gusto than she felt, crossing her arms to hide her shaking hands. "What's yours?"

"I'm Ethan Gilbert. Your husband might have mentioned me."

*Break*

"You know, it's not too late. We can still turn back," Ian offered Don as he flicked a worried glance across the jeep's cabin to where Don was sat rigidly drumming his fingers across both knees. "Just give me the word and I'll turn us around."

"And let a terrorist blow up our offices and the block it's on because I chose my fiancée over everyone else?" Don hissed back sarcastically as he paused the drumming long enough to throw a dirty look at Ian that was just as helpless as it was angry.

"No one would blame you, especially after what you've gone through for this case. Nick and the others, they would understand."

"Robin wouldn't."

"No she wouldn't," Ian admitted reluctantly, Don had him there. Besides, Ian didn't want to alarm Don but Charlie might have said something about stopping by the offices that morning…and that was reason enough to press his foot a little harder against the peddle as he threw the jeep along the busy highway at breakneck speed, a portable blues and twos strapped to the roof.

We're coming Marc, hold in there. We're coming. Ian shook his head determinedly as he did his best to keep Charlie out of his head as the car in front barely escaped the lane before Ian went barreling past.

*Break*

"Excuse me."

"Oh it's you, the Christmas tree guy," The security guard greeted sourly as he put his issue of Guns and Ammo down long enough to give Marc a hard look across the tall desk before turning the page and carried on reading. "Suppose you want letting through the gate again eh?" He added after a few minutes of silence had passed and Marcus hadn't disappeared.

"Only if it's not too much trouble," Marc replied snottier than he'd intended. Last thing he wanted to do was start something with the guard. He didn't have the time to waste. "I'd hate to actually ask you to do your job," Marc added snidely, unable to help the sarcastic response from slipping out and cursed himself internally for not having better tact or a filter button. How to make friends and influence people! Marcus laughed sarcastically at himself as the guard's face went a bright shade of purple.

A small smile must have made it past Marc's defenses, however, because the guard looked about ready to spit fire. "I should have you detained!" The guard spat back insulted as he leapt to his feet in outrage.

"And I should have the AD fire you for being an imbecile! Don't you realize there is an active bomb investigation going on and I have no time to waste? I should have you arrested for impeding a Federal investigation!" Mark hissed back just above his breath so that only he and the guard could hear him, he really could do without drawing attention to himself after all. Otherwise someone might actually realize he'd put on several pounds and lost his cane and that would lead to questions that Marcus just didn't have the answers to…well none that wouldn't end up with Gilbert killing Robin…and Marc would let the whole block burn before he let that happen.

"How dare-"

"-For fuck's sake! I don't have time for this!" Marc overrode the guard's complaints by turning away and leapfrogging the gate instead. As far as plans went, it was probably Marcus's stupidest one yet, but having a bomb strapped to ones chest with an unknown timer ticking away on it kind of had a way of skewering ones rationality…

So instead, Marcus ignored the sounds of protestation behind him as other agents turned to watch in surprise and made a be-line straight for the lifts and the nineteenth floor.

"Stop him!" The guard shouted outraged at someone behind Marc which was promptly followed by the sound of several people setting off the metal detector at once.

Watching in despair, Marcus cursed as the lift doors closed before he could slip through and slammed on the metal doors with frustration before cutting left towards the stairwell instead. With strength and energy he didn't have, Marcus somehow managed to drag his way up the first two flights of stairs before the sound of several people entering the stairwell hit him like a blow to the chest.

"The lift stopped on thirteen," A crackly voice over someone's radio, possibly the security guard's, informed both Marc and those clambering up the staircase behind him.

Thirteen, unlucky for some, would it be unlucky for Marc or the agents beneath him though? He wondered solemnly as he drew on every last ounce of strength he possessed and using both rails as support, half ran half limped his way up the next eleven flights of stairs as quickly as he possibly could, narrowly making it around the corner before the other argents came thundering past and collapsed against the wall and ground in extreme pain and relief.

Relief which was short lived that is as his heart thundered so hard and loud against his ribs that he thought it was about to push through his chest and set off the bomb, which was nothing compared to the excruciating pain in his leg. Tired, beaten and broken, Marcus couldn't move even if he had wanted to and the pain in his leg was so intense that he really didn't want to.

All he could think about was Gilbert and Robin and how he had failed her and everyone in the building. They had all been right about him. He was a cripple and had no business being in the field let alone that compound. He's fucked up and he couldn't even make it better because of his stupid leg. Angry and alone, Marc used the last of his strength to pull himself into a sitting position and ripped open the mac; sending button's flying and revealing the bomb to the world.

One of the last things he would remember later was ripping off the control panel and checking the bomb's timer. Ten minutes, that was all he had left, or less if John dialed the mobile number and triggered the bomb early…

That was it then…he had failed. There was nothing left for Marc to do except desperately fight to starve off the blackness that was beginning to creep in around the edges of his vision, but even that was hopeless as cramp set in and the pain in his leg intensified, eating away at his consciousness until finally, he passed out.

*Meanwhile, Back in the Suburbs*

"I'm Ethan Gilbert. Your husband might have mentioned me."

"He might have mentioned something," Robin admitted reluctantly as Ethan Gilbert stared intently at her bandaged shoulder.

"How is it?" He whispered whimsically as he took a step closer and Robin took a hasty step back. "I suppose they have you on so many drugs that you barely feel it."

"Oh I feel it," Robin snapped angrily before she could think better of it. "Why are you here?"

"Why to see you my dear!" Gilbert laughed as if it was obvious, like he was some invited guest casually checking in on the progress of her healing. "I was going to wait outside until I'd received word that Marcus had blown up the FBI building for you but it's so rare that I get the chance to meet those that I baptize that I had to come inside."

"What?" Robin asked incredulously, unsure where the conversation was going, nowhere good it seemed.

"Can I see it?"

"NO!" Robin shuddered outraged as she flinched away from him as he closed the gap between them in mere strides and grabbed hold of both of her arms.

"I'm sorry," Gilbert whispered next to her ear as he held her struggling frame against the hard length of his body. "That wasn't a request."

Turning her around, Gilbert held Robin tightly around the waist by one of his strong arms as he yanked the turtleneck up and over her head.

"Get off!" Robin sobbed angrily as the mad man began promptly unraveling the bandages she had let Karen wrap for her just that morning, jarring her shoulder in the process and sending shuddering pains throughout her body.

"It's beautiful," Gilbert whispered softly against her burnt flesh, making her tremble with revulsion as the last of the bandages fell away leaving her burnt and blistered shoulder exposed. "You were truly blessed."

"Blessed?" She hissed furiously as she turned around and promptly began thumping Gilbert in the chest. "Blessed! You put me through hell you bastard!"

"And you came back reborn!" Gilbert exclaimed jubilantly as he caught up Robin's wrists and held them against his chest. "I gave you truth!"

"I never asked for your truth," She spat in his face and watched with satisfaction as it dribbled down his cheek onto his camouflaged collar.

"The weak never does," Gilbert replied sadly as he reached a cold calloused hand out to stroke her cheek. "I saved you."

"You destroyed me!" Robin cried angrily as Gilbert's eyes trailed from the tears streaming down her cheeks to where they were leaving streaks on her soft bare breasts. Because of the burn to her shoulder, Robin hadn't been wearing a bra and both she and Gilbert were very aware of this fact. She knew this because she could feel his awareness against her thigh as he was holding her so closely against him.

"I did come here to kill you," Gilbert whispered thoughtfully as Robin tried struggling to escape his grasp. "But that would be such a waste…you're more beautiful than your picture on the television but how stupid of me…that was you before you were reborn…now! Now you're perfect."

"Get off of me!" Robin sobbed as Gilbert continued to hold her slim wrists tightly against his chest as he used his other hand to pull her face towards his and kissed her thoroughly, his tongue invading her mouth against her will. "You're hurting me!" She screamed as he kicked her legs out from under her and used the full force of his weight to send them both crashing to the ground, winding her as he landed on top of her.

"So beautiful!" Gilbert hissed manically as he straddled her and pulled both hands above her head. Rolling beneath him, Robin struggled to throw off his grip but Gilbert was too strong for her, bad shoulder or no bad shoulder. It was no use.

"Please," She pleaded as he let go of one of her arms to gently stoke her burn. "Don't."

"Shh," Gilbert whispered softly as his hand traveled the length of her burn to where it dropped down her side and cradled her breast. "Shh," He whispered again as Robin let out a loud sob as he dropped his lips to place a trail of kisses from the end of her burn to her exposed nipple.

"Stop!" She croaked feebly as Gilbert's free hand stroked a path down her midriff to the button of her jeans. "Please don't."

Ignoring her pleas, Gilbert made quick work of the button and fly on her jeans before rolling her onto her front and started yanking at them to try and get them down her hips, pulling her panties with them to expose her bum.

Squeezing her eyes shut, Robin spared a quick thought for Lucas and prayed to God he couldn't hear anything in the closet and that he had stayed put. She didn't want him to see Gilbert raping her, but worse she didn't want Gilbert to do something to Lucas, he had after all confessed to coming there to kill her.

Just as she was thinking this there was a sudden cracking sound as Gilbert seemed to slump forwards across her back, his face buried in the hollow between her shoulder blades.

Flicking her eyes open, Robin turned as far as Gilbert's heavy body would let her and was startled to see Lucas standing there with a bloody Daredevil in his hands.

"Did I kill him?" Lucas asked in the tiniest voice making Robin's heart crack simultaneously with both love and grief.

"No," Robin assured him as she could unfortunately hear Gilbert's heavy breathing, even as unconscious as he was. "I need you to phone your daddy…can you do that for me?" Robin asked tentatively as she watched Lucas nod slowly, his bottom lip wobbling and his eyes filled with tears. "Good boy, you did good," She told him firmly as she did her best to wiggle free of Gilbert, which wasn't easy with her trousers half down and her shoulder in excruciating pain. "Quickly now," She huffed as she waited for Lucas to run from the room to get the phone before pulling herself the rest of the way out.

Yanking her trousers back up, Robin circled cautiously around the unconscious Gilbert to where he had thrown her shirt and bandages. Grabbing a gauze patch that had stuck itself to the inside of one of the many bandages, Robin stuck it over the worse part of her burnt shoulder before quickly pulling on her sweatshirt once more.

Dignity restored once more, Robin grabbed the rest of her bandages and began hog tying Gilbert up as Lucas came running back into the room. "He's on his way!" Lucas shouted as there was a sudden loud banging against the front door making the glass rattle.

"Robin?" Colby shouted worriedly through the thick glass making Robin sag and cry with relief as Colby proceeded to kick the door in and within seconds was on the floor next to her, cradling her in his strong arms as she crumbled against the solid warmth and strength of his broad chest. She was unable to see Lucas through the blur of her tears but could feel his reassuring presence next to her. Reaching out she grabbed him and pulled him into her arms and kissing his head praised him for his heroics.

"Thank you," She whispered softly against his ear as she squeezed him tight. "Thank you."

*Break*

"I don't see it do you?" Don asked Ian worriedly as the pair leapt from the jeep which Ian had parked badly up the pavement in front of the FBI building and searched the connecting streets for the SUV.

"Let's think about this logically," Ian frowned as he scanned the cars for a second time, making sure he hadn't missed it in the initial sweep of the street. "They're going to need to have a direct line of sight of the building to make sure that Marc doesn't back out…they're also going to have to be far enough back to escape the blast. We should be checking that street over there," Ian pointed in the direction that he would have parked if he was the guy on the other end of the line to Marcus's bomb.

"Are you sure?"

"We don't have time for me to be sure," Ian shrugged before jogging off in the direction he had pointed, one hand on his gun at all times as Don copied him up the opposite sidewalk.

They must have run for two blocks straight before they finally spotted a black SUV, like the ones they had been chasing earlier, with two men leaning against the bonnet suspiciously, a mobile phone in the hand of the one Ian now recognized as Lieutenant John Atwater. Ian didn't recognize the second man, but someone had definitely done a number on his face, Ian was willing to bet that that was Marcus's handy work.

Pointing to the SUV and pulling out his gun, Ian jogged ahead of the car on the opposite side of the road to slip around the back of the SUV and approach from behind as Don approached the car head on.

"Drop the phone or I drop you!" Don warned as he got within ten meters, making both men jump. Only the one with the broken nose was smart enough to put both hands up.

"You're too late!" Atwater laughed insanely as Don moved closer, his Glock leveled at John's chest. "Even if I don't make the call your colleague's are dead. There is only three minutes left on the clock!" Atwater added tauntingly as he held up a timer that he had placed around his neck when he had first strapped the bomb to Marc's chest. "You lose!"

"Yeah well at least you lose too asshat," Ian replied firmly as he made his way down the side of the car to point his gun at Atwater's head. "Now drop the phone."

"What if he's right?" Don asked Ian worriedly as soon as they had both men on the ground and cuffed.

"Then it's up to Marc now," Ian admitted reluctantly as the timer around Atwater's neck went off.

*Three Minutes Earlier*

"Marc? Agent Denam! Can you hear me? MARC!"

"Huh, what? Eh?" Shaking his head groggily, Marc opened his eyes to see the face of the young professor brother of Don's staring down at him concerned and white as a sheet. "Where am I?"

"You're in the level thirteen stairwell," Charlie explained quickly as he knelt down next to Marc and pointed a shaking hand at Marcus's chest. "Is...is that a bomb?"

"Shit," Marc cursed loudly as he looked down and saw three minutes flash once on the timer before continuing to count down.

"Can you defuse it?"

"I'd need to see it and I can't from this angle…Can you get it off my chest?"

"I don't know, there is some sort of lock…I don't…I don't have anything to break it…"

"Ok, I'm going to need you to tell me what do you see? Come on! Quickly! What do you see?"

"There are wires…"

"What colour?" Marcus asked harsher than he'd intended as it looked like the professor was about to crumble and Marc really needed Charlie to be his eyes. "What colour are the wires?" He asked again, this time more gently, making Charlie's eyes flick to his with surprise.

"Black. They're all black! What does that mean?"

"Shit, ok..." Marc paused for a moment, his eyes flicking to the timer as it flashed one minute fifty and counting. "It means I don't know which one to cut. What are the wires attached to?"

"I don't know…there is a box at one end and explosives at the other."

"Can you open the box? Or see anything written on it?" Marcus asked hurriedly as he looked at the timer and saw it flash a minute thirty.

"No…it won't open," Charlie shook his head deflated. "There is nothing on it…I can't…I don't…"

"It's ok, proff, you're doing good."

"One minute," Charlie whispered afraid as his eyes connected with Marcus's once more.

"Go."

"No!"

"Get out of here, save yourself…" Marcus warned as the timer started counting down the final thirty seconds.

"No!" Charlie shouted firmly, his hands suddenly still as he reached into the bomb and grabbed hold of all of the wires.

"Are you crazy?" Marcus asked amazed as the timer flicked to the final ten seconds.

"I guess we'll find out," Charlie smiled calmly at Marc as he pulled out all of the wires at once.