A/N: This was a challenging chapter and the easiest. I admit I thought a lot about this chapter, and I may have shed a tear. Welcome to the beginning of the end y'all. Tissue warning advised!

The first bolded quote is by John Parker, an American Revolutionist. The second above quote is by Joseph Roux, an 1800s-era French poet and clergyman.

Enjoy!

Little Girl Lost

Chapter 24: Mom-umental Disaster

Chapter Summary: Paige must say goodbye.

"No one is dying today" Paige Dineen Season 2 episode 1 Satellite of Love

"Are you sure that's right?" Paige asked hesitantly as they exited out of the car and Tessa looked up from her phone.

"Yep. This is it, Mom's in there and most likely a whole lot of other trouble." Tessa said as she pocketed her phone and shook her head.

"What? What's with the look?" Paige asked concerned as Tessa avoided her eye.

"Nosy Putos. Prefer it just be us when we see Mami again, all of us together and everything."

"What do you mean? I sent Walter our coordinates. They should be here" Paige said confused as Tessa turned away and Paige glared.

"I left them coordinates. Did they get them?" Paige asked as Tessa only shrugged. "Tessa, did you hack the signal?" Paige asked as she tried to keep her breathing even and felt her lip curl as Tessa's silence only confirmed the answer.

"Tessa we need them!" Paige shouted, loud as she dared, Tessa turned sharply and Paige took out her phone only to see the battery dead.

"We don't need them. We don't need anyone. You depend on them like a puppy who needs to be fed daily. They may be geniuses but their not us. They aren't you. You forget your own skills and turn into a useless woman who acts like they've never seen battle! We're survivors Turn Page and you act like a victim. But your not. We all made our choices and we have to live with them." Tessa snarled as Paige vibrated and her arms shook.

"Tessa you may not yet understand the concept of teamwork but 6 geniuses working together is better than one who has a God complex! You've always been this way, ever since we were kids. I've been trying to help you for years Tess and I love you but you've gone too far this time. I know my own strength. I haven't forgotten my choices but you seem to have forgotten your own weaknesses. Do you even remember why we were in that basement? You wanted to barge in there with Mom because you had this plan that was foolproof but it didn't work! You didn't listen." Paige huffed as Tessa went to the back and loaded both guns as she handed one to Paige who stuffed it into her jeans.

"I may not listen but I never forgot who I am." Tessa said hard as she glared at Paige, the wisps of her hair flowing over her forehead.

"Neither have I" Paige answered as Tessa scoffed.

"Sure you haven't. Now do me a favor and remind me you remember how to shoot that thing?" Tessa smirked as Paige couldn't help but smile at the familiar banter but frowned at her back as she sighed. With everything about to happen, this wasn't the time to bring up their issues. She needed her head.

Toby was right. In emotionally charged situations, there was no room for error. This wouldn't be like last time. She wasn't losing any more loved ones.

Not again.

"I got your six but this place gives me the creeps" Paige whispered as she had the gun drawn, her hand barely twitching as she kept her eyes sharp on the various hallways and dark doorways as Tessa led the way, her own weapon poised and ready as they both listened for their mother.

"Yeah well this isn't a picnic for me either, now shush!" Tessa scolded as they both moved further into the complex Paige evened her breathing and shook some hair out of her face. The whole complex was worn down, dingy and to Paige's surprise…still standing. Mold on the walls and creaky floorboards with every step provided a nice horror backdrop for this whole thing.

With a slight creak, she held her breath as both of them came to an abrupt stop and waited with bated breath as a guy with a leather coat walked the hall carrying a gun, looking relaxed as he listened to music from his headphones.

Smiling and sharing a look with Tessa they knew exactly what they needed to do. Con Extra was an oldie but a goldie and perfect for a quick getaway. Taking her bracelet Paige threw it in the opposite direction as Tessa pocketed her gun and crouched low as the guard turned towards the noise and Tessa sprang up behind him, pinching his nerve as he went down with a satisfying thump.

"Chump" Tessa smirked as she ruffled through his pockets and found keys and ammo. Pocketing the ammo and emptying the chamber of the guard's gun she threw it against the wall, making it useless.

"Nice." Paige commented as she kicked it for good measure and Tess rolled her eyes. "Better broken now than working against us later." Paige sighed as they kept moving and Tessa checked her phone again.

"Mom is just ahead….also Mark trapped your team." Tessa commented as Paige froze.

"What?!" she hissed as she instinctively checked her phone and huffed impatiently at the battery. "Damn phone. Tessa what do you know!" Paige demanded quietly as they looked around corners and Tessa turned to look at her.

"I wired Walter's jeans when I punched him. I had to get it on him somehow and that was the most efficient and inconspicuous way to do so. So don't rag me for hitting your boyfriend!" Tessa explained as Paige's face reddened and her lip curled.

"We'll talk about that later." Paige said evenly as she bumped Tessa's shoulder and Tessa looked away. Paige's anger may be more temperamental but it flames out fast. She just needed time.

Coughing alerted them both to the room up ahead and with one look they both sprinted towards the door as Paige jimmied the lock and Tessa had her gun pointed as she protected Paige's back.

With one click the door burst open and Veronica's calculated eyes met theirs as they filled with tears. "Girls!" her muffled voice cried out as Paige rushed over and untied the cloth in her mouth and Tessa unlocked the chains as Veronica staggered to stand and leaned heavily on Paige.

"I knew you both would come to get me. That's my girls! So resourceful and strong! Dineen girls together again, although the circumstances could be better" Veronica praised as she smiled and Tessa rolled her eyes as she got under Veronica's other arm as both sisters helped their limping mother out of the complex.

"Better circumstances? Didn't think running from the 86ers would be an ideal mother." Paige sniffed as Veronica just rolled her eyes as her.

"Well, we've been in worse."

"That's not comforting, but factually accurate." Tessa grumbled as Veronica only smiled and shuffled around in her jacket before she frowned.

"Oh, but girls we can't go yet. Uh Paige you remember that navy SEAL you were seeing? Last time mommy came to visit you?" Veronica asked innocently as Paige sucked in a breath and turned sharply to her mother.

"Yes, why bring him up, Mom?" Paige asked harshly as suddenly a gunshot rang throughout the room and Tessa screamed out as the blast sent all three of them tumbling to the ground Paige rolled over to look at Tessa who was groaning and holding her shoulder.

"Tessa!" Paige shouted as another gunshot landed a few inches next to Paige and she took out her own gun and fired into the darkness. The weight was foreign in her hands but with each bullet a flinch was felt as Paige remembered the last time she had to shoot to protect.

"Paige, watch out!" Veronica shouted just as her body covered Paige's when another gunshot rang out and struck Veronica's leg and she cried out. Suddenly an alarm rang out as walls that appeared from nowhere surrounded them as Tessa reached over and shot at the corner, one man falling with a thump as another appeared over the railing and Paige aimed, hitting him in the groin as he quickly went down and swallowed back bile as she checked on her mom. Veronica already tore a piece off her blouse and tied a tourniquet around her leg.

"It's not perfect but it will do for now. Check you, sister!" Veronica commanded as she picked up Paige's gun and shot a few rounds Paige checked the wound and dressed it as best as she could as Tessa groaned and bit her lip.

"Pinche Putos!" Tessa yelled out and shot over Paige's shoulder as laughter filled the air and Paige stilled her whole body went cold and the gunshots stopped short just as slow clapping filled their silence.

"No." She whispered as she helped support Tessa up and her mother poised in front of her daughters protectively as the men who were there quickly retreated while carrying the men who were shot with them. A crackling sound entered the space as laughter encased all around them and Paige looked wildly around for the source of the sound. "This can't be happening right now."

"Paige, honey don't leave Mama out of the loop! What's going on?" Veronica yelled as Tessa staggered to her feet and tried not to jostle her injured shoulder, still holding her gun up high.

"We were set up." Tessa hissed out as she and Paige stook back-to-back as they tried their best to locate the sound.

"Set up by whom?" Veronica called out as more laughter, louder than before, echoed around the room.

"By me." A voice echoed over the intercoms as Paige stilled, her whole body going cold as her breathing grew shallow.

"No way." Tessa said lowly as she aimed high and shot, the bullet shattering an intercom and the answering echo momentarily stunning her as she covered her ears.

Although what could only be a few seconds, the next time Paige looked up they were no longer alone. A hulking figure by the wall caught her by surprise and the tension in his shoulders and the malice in his eyes were all she needed to know who they were dealing with.

"It's pleasure to see you all again." He said warmly, smiling as he walked over. Smartly dressed and with hair neatly styled, his measured steps screamed confidence but there was an edge to his character that made every hair stand on its end. Danger. This man was danger personified and Paige tried her best to show she didn't know it. By the look on his face, I'm sure it wasn't working. "I'm sure you can imagine that your family reunion warms my heart. After all, the bond between a parent and their child is one of the most powerful emotions and motives in the world. A power that cannot be replicated nor replaced."

"Joshua… it's so lovely to see you again; I'm surprised however that you decided to visit us so soon. After all, your men tied me up and practicality threw away the key once they had me in prison." Vernonia quipped as Joshua only smiled.

"Apologies Vernonia. They can be overzealous at times; although I am surprised that you would leave my company so soon. Especially with your lovely daughters in tow. Tessa, I've seen much of you with…. especially since you've tried so hard to see much of me." Joshua stated as Tessa tensed, her gun wavering only slightly at the mention of her name.

Paige involuntarily took a step back once his gaze leveled on her. "and I believe we haven't made our acquaintance yet, although Andrew was quite accommodating in telling me much. Tell me….Paige." Her name rolled off his tongue so naturally, it made her skin crawl. "How have you been? It's been nearly 13 years since I last saw you." He sauntered as the closer he walked Tessa grew tenser.

"That's enough! You can stay where you are!" Tessa seethed as her trigger finger twitched and he came to a slow stop as his inviting smile turned sinister.

"Tessa" He sighed as he tsked and shook his head. Smiling more he walked forward, purposely keeping his eyes on her sister as her hand shook and lip trembled.

"Don't make me shoot you Joshua." Tessa warned, her voice clear and precise as he kept smiling.

"Oh, but please do. In fact -" He stilled as he opened his arms wide and legs shoulder length apart "Have a better target." He smiled as Tessa glared and hardened her stance. "Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have war, let it begin here."

"Don't play with us!" Paige faltered as she angled herself in front of their mother, grabbing back her gun as she did so; whose leg was still bleeding and as such couldn't hold the gun as high.

Tearing his gaze away from Tessa, his sinister smile stayed frozen; almost unhinged as he laughed and threw his head back while saying "Oh, and we have another hero among us!" Calming down he only shook his head as his cool smile slowly turned into a frown as the simmering anger bubbled to the surface. "There are people who laugh who show their fine teeth, and there are those who cry to show their good hearts."

"What the hell are you quoting? This isn't a history lesson! Let me and my girls go!" Veronica shouted, her voice quivering as the extent of her injury and Paige dared not to look back to check, only keeping her eyes poised on the monster in front of them.

"History lesson? My dear Veronica, life is a living history lesson! With life's painful lessons often leaving scars we can only salve and soothe into a sickness that hardens the heart." Joshua leaned forward as Tessa pinched her expression and shot, the bullet knocking him back only a step as he groaned and glared as he flashed his own weapon, and Paige could only scream, the memories of the gunshot ringing in her ears that caused the death of a man all those years ago. The smoke of the fire and the ashen burnt smell filled her nostrils as she quickly shook her head.

Stay in the here and now! Don't lose focus.

"I see I'm not the only one who has scars," Joshua said softly as he straightened to his full height and Tessa gasped.

"I admit the instinct to protect Tessa, but I would advise you not to try that again. Bullets…..can be so hard to track once released from the weapon that controls them." He smiled while squinting his eyes, grabbing his own gun so quickly Paige could only blink. "Not that you could. You only have one bullet left. Unless you reload the chamber. By then you know perfectly well that both your sister and mother will be dead by the time you load, and your mission is failed. Don't gamble with a high hand you aren't willing to lose."

"Try me. I'm a pretty good gambler." She replied tersely as he only chuckled.

"By all means then. Take the shot, or your dear sister can take it for you." He chuckled although no humor could be found. His eyes peered into hers as Paige released a soft gasp, recognizing the last time she saw those eyes. "She had no problems before."

"You," Paige whispered faintly as he smiled; a sad, patient smile as he slowly nodded his head and let the gun roll around in his hand.

"I'm glad you remembered me, Paige. I would have been saddened to think I had no impact on you at all. After all – I've spent my entire life memorizing the lines of your face." He said, all humor gone and only malice dripping as he clenched his jaw. "You took him from me. You took everything from me. I would congregate you on your ruthlessness if it wasn't so callus." He sneered as Paige felt the tears roll down her cheeks and her hands trembled.

"Paige, que dialos esta hablando?" (What the hell is he talking about?)

"The night that tethered us together for over 13 years my dear Tessa." He answered simply as Tessa only glared. "The night that changed me forever. You may have lost your family Paige, but I lost it too. Everything I held dear, you took away from me." He cried out as the gun rolled dangerously. "You shot him. There were nights I dreamt about returning the favor."

"I didn't mean to." Paige whispered, the salt of her tears settling on her tongue as he scoffed.

"You didn't mean to? I find that hard to believe."

"Paige what's going on?" her mother whispered as Paige sucked in a deep breath, his measured eyes never wavering as he gestured for the truth to be revealed.

"I won't shoot you if you say the truth. I will shoot you if you never talk." He threatened as the gun stayed down but Paige didn't underestimate him.

"Paige! What happened!" her mother asked quietly as Paige swallowed away her guilt and squared her shoulders; the gun evening out as her hand stilled and a slow smile crossed his lips.

"I killed his father. When we escaped….to buy us time. I shot…..and aimed at the nearest person I could find. Only after I shot did I notice there was a child in the corner. There was so much smoke that he was gone when I looked back" Paige said thickly as more tears fell.

"Don't stop there. You know the rest of the story" Joshua grieved as his own eyes misted before he blinked, and the cold malice once again took over. "Say it!" he yelled as Paige jumped and her eyes drifted to Tess and mom as their confused scared faces only mirrored her own inner turmoil.

"Once you and Tessa had started to leave…..he reached out to me. I was the last to leave because you had to get mom." Paige swallowed as Tessa only raised her eyebrow. "He was begging me to help him. He had a son. He was dying. He…he didn't want to leave without a father because he had lost his mother. He was asking me to save him but….I didn't." Paige confessed as she stared at Joshua. Confessing her sins to the person who could never forgive her. "I didn't help him. I was wrong to do so." She whispered as he scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"Pretty words with a gun at your head." He snarled as she shook her head.

"I know it doesn't mean anything coming from me. The anger, the hatred you must feel for me – I don't blame you for it. The anguish I've felt over what I did, it's consumed me for years. I didn't know what to do Joshua. I was scared. It's not an excuse, but it's the explanation I have for why I did it. Even without the gun, I would still be sorry. I'm sorry." Paige whispered as Joshua pinched his lips and huffed.

"Oh, you'll be sorry alright. You're correct in the assessment it didn't mean much. I don't care for your apologies. Only your pain. I know you have a child Paige. I'm not an idiot. Neither are my men. However, don't be frightened. I'm not as callus to take away a boy's mother." He grumbled as her heart rate increased and her throat constricted. Her breathing started to slow, and spots were in her vision as she felt faint. The air started to smell sweet as Paige, panicked, looked to her sister as she fell to the ground in a heap and her mother was down for the count.

"What are you doing!" She slurred, shouting in her panic as her body became heavier and he walked forward, a small mask on his face as his eyes crinkled with a smile.

"I am not so callused to cause the suffering of a child. However, I will gladly take the suffering of a mother who has lost…everything." He seethed as he grabbed a fistful of her hair and she yelped. "You will be lost to them. Your child never remembers your name. Your sister an only child as an orphan in the world." He smiled as he threw her to the crown and two more men barged in and took Veronica, holding her limp body up with a knife at her throat.

"Remember the ones we have lost. To gain the ones found." He whispered in her ear as her mother slowly woke up from the drug Paige could only stare, a gun to her head, horrified at what they were about to do.

"No!" She shouted as Veronica struggled and before she could witness it, Paige's whole world went black as her mother's screams echoed in the room.

A/N: OKAY LISTEN, before y'all get mad at me for killing off Veronica it had to be done. It had to be done, look I'm an angst writer that's what I do. HOWEVER, I am a firm believer in the Happily Ever After. This is a HEA through and through. I promise. It's not ending here, we're going to see Veronica again in the next chapter. I promise! In fact, here's a sneak peek.

Next Time on Little Girl Lost:

Florence knew it was stupid to jump. She knew it was ill-advised even before Walter's yells faded with the tire tracks.

She knew that she had a temper, combined with ill-controlled emotions, and a steady sense of justice combined made her erratic and impulsive. Most of the time she considered it a fault and one of many that Walter has helped her within their 'EQ classes' however certain situations called for certain actions. A factoid that she was particularly proud of to understand and even graduate to the next level course (which would be improv of the psyche: how to act on a whim even if you do not emotionally understand the situation and act by mirroring.) She was a fast learner. She picked up situations quickly.

This was one of those situations.

In the van, she expected some hostility. She wasn't a fool and although she made peace (as much peace as she could have made anyways) with the 'situation' as she dubbed it; the others have not. Especially Happy, who on more than one occasion, has personally blamed her for the downfall of her family and hadn't let her forget it.

Of course, there were many factors contributing to the breakage, but she wouldn't dare bring it with the volatile woman. Maybe she would when there were witnesses around. However, that didn't alter her decision or loyalty to Paige.

She would never admit it, pride was a fickle matter, but she knew she was wrong to address her feelings in that way when everything fell apart. Even in the mere moments the words had left her lips and saw the devastation on her friend's face she knew she did something wrong.

Of course, she didn't know what 'it' was until much later. She digresses though that it didn't matter. Some on the outside may question her impulsive decision to be on Paige's side and defend her even with the context and evidence proving otherwise of her complete innocence, the truth of the matter was she didn't care. She may have been an emotionally stunted friend, but she was loyal.

Loyal to a fault it seemed.