Author's Notes: Here's another chapter. Our heroes continue their search to rescue Mark and return him to prison. Now he knows that Kyle was in fact from the future like him, but other serious issues arise as the team face more questions that need answers. Keep reading.

~o~o~

Chapter 7: Against All Odds

An abandoned military outpost:

Staring at the stranger, Agent Konrad chuckled. "Leave me!" When he just stood there he lost his patience then he raised his gun and fired. Wearing protective gear, Jeff raised his techno weapon and fired. Konrad was hit. Shocked, he stared at the blood flowing from his chest.

After he managed to deflect Konrad's attack, Jeff fired again. He staggered back, stunned for a moment. In his weakened state, Jeff continued his assault using his techno weapon, and then he flashed the weapon in Konrad's face, and the effect was immediate.

Utterly and completely caught off-guard by the attack of this innovative technology, obviously far more advanced than Konrad had ever seen. The effect on his entire body and mind, Konrad at once felt weak and fell to his knees, then moments later, he died.

All of this happened in mere minutes. Our heroes entered the building, but just then more of Konrad's agents fell in behind them catching them off-guard. Jeff was hit from behind and Brad turned and fired his weapon, as did Mitch. Both managed to kill a few men, but Brad was hit in the leg, Katherine dragged him out of the line of fire, where Brad was bleeding profusely. Katherine screamed and fired her weapon, and managed to hide close to Brad, and kept firing, killing them all, including Agent Karl.

"Let's go!" Katherine shouted. "They're all dead." She quickly removed Agent Karl's keys and threw them at Mitch.

"Got it," Mitch said and went in search of Mark. He reached the lower floors, then he found him, but he resisted. "I will carry you if I need to," Mitch told him firmly.

"No, leave me here," Mark pleaded but he knew this man, Kyle's brother? He wondered.

Katherine, meanwhile, holding Brad over her arm, made her way outside.

"I'm alright," he said.

Katherine sat him down. "That leg needs attention, but we can't do it here."

"Where's Mark?" Brad asked. "We don't have time for this."

Meanwhile, Mitch released Mark's chains, grabbed him and lifted him over his shoulder.

Several rescued soldiers were led out of the building, but there was a problem. Katherine went back inside and found Jeff injured from his wounds. Bleeding from his upper body, but he's alive.

"Let me help you," Katherine said, then lifted Jeff so he could stand. Once outside, the team was waiting for them, but several were gravely injured. The unidentified rescued soldiers stood by dazed and confused, but they were all right. She tried to contact the drone to call for help, and it worked. "We need to move quickly and find help wherever we can."

Brad and his team, along with the other soldiers, made their way to safety, but how long it would take to escape, they're not sure. Moving forward with help from the drone, they kept moving. With the drone and the phones, they felt hopeful to escape and soon.

They managed to stop the bleeding in Brad's leg, but Jeff was not improving. The bullet was still inside and it had to be removed. An hour had gone by and they found an empty house to rest and address the wounded.

"I'm sorry, Jeff, but the bullet needs to come out," Katherine said, being the medic and trained in minor surgery, she readied her equipment.

Jeff closed his eyes and prayed. "Go ahead."

After cleaning her knives, adding surgical gloves, and giving him an anesthetic to numb the area, she placed a piece of wood in his mouth. "Bite down on this."

"Thanks," he said.

Brad and Mitch held him down, then Katherine removed the bullet, but it took a few minutes. "It's out." She pressed against the wound and stitched him up, slowing the flow of blood. She bandaged the wound, then immobilized his arm to keep it from reopening.

Jeff relaxed and opened his eyes. "Thank you."

"We should stay here for a few days and he can rest," she said, then turned her attention to Brad. "How's the leg? Has the bleeding stopped?" After carefully removing the bandage from his leg, she checked the wound. He flinched.

"Hey, easy there," he complained.

"The bleeding has subsided and the bullet went clean through; you'll live," she said and replaced the bandage with a clean one.

As she cleaned him up, his eyes had a mind of their own, as they roamed over her face, he noticed something. "You're bleeding."

Her arm was grazed. "It's nothing."

"Mitch; look at it," Brad said.

"I said it's nothing," she said, but Mitch lifted her arm.

"Remove it and I'll bandage it for you," he instructed.

"Alright, just don't make a fuss," she said and removed her gear.

"It's only a scratch. You'll be fine." Mitch said and bandaged her arm.

Relieved, Brad relaxed. "Why are you being stubborn about your wounds? It could have been serious," he chastised her stubborn streak.

She sighed but didn't reply. They stared at each other.

"Alright, we should be fine here for a few hours," Mitch said.

"What's the point, we're all going to die anyway," Mark said, with his defeatist attitude. Mark's feet and hands were tied, only removed when they needed to walk.

"Shut your mouth; no one is talking to you," Brad said.

"Pay no attention to him," Mitch said, staring at Mark. He saved him but inside he knew why. To rescue Mark for Kyle and he could live in peace.

Hours later, it's time to go. Brad released Mark's bonds, but his hands were tied behind his back, helped Jeff to stand, then they headed out.

~o~o~

Several hours later, now back at the hotel everyone rested, then the next morning, Brad and Katherine were about to leave but a knock came at the door.

Brad opened it and Bert was there. He stared at him and wondered why he was there, but it had to be about Mark.

Bert shook his head and came forward. "Well, aren't you a sight for these sore eyes?" Brad held out his hand; Bert shook it. "Welcome back."

"Thanks, Bert." He sighed. "I know we took things a bit too far, but we got our man."

"What man?" Bert asked.

"Let's close the door," Katherine suggested.

Once back inside their suite, Brad explained who his captor was and what he wanted from him. "Here's Agent Mark Anderson," he said, feeling proud to catch him.

"I need to make a few calls. Do you have his papers?" Bert asked.

"Yes, we do," Katherine replied and retrieved them from her bag. "He has to be desperate to do something like this, caught but he was a prisoner himself."

Brad put his arm around her shoulder. "Besides attempted kidnapping, extortion, spying with no real agency behind him; those are only a few," Brad said getting upset.

"Are you sure he's not with the CIA, the FBI, maybe, Homeland Security?" Bert appeared confused.

"Maybe; I truly have no idea who he's working for, but he was determined to get 'top' secret information. It seemed like the only thing he wanted and needed."

"That is odd," Bert commented and stroked his chin.

"As per Mitch, Kyle's brother, our flight back home leaves at Noon today."

"You two head back but leave Mark Anderson with me. I'll take care of it."

Relieved, they shook his hand. "Thanks, Bert."

After they left their suite, Katherine and Brad came out, bags packed and ready to go.

Bert headed to Mitch's room. He knocked but Mitch didn't know Bert. "Can I help you?"

I'm Bert Young." Mitch frowned. "I'm with the Agency and Brad and Katherine directed me here to retrieve Bobby Anderson and return him to the states."

"I'll call them to make sure. Can I see some identification? I can't hand him over to a stranger. We went through a lot of trouble to rescue this one."

Bert showed him his identification. "Go ahead; I'll wait." Bert spotted Bobby sitting on the floor by the closet. Oh no, not Bobby too? He wondered.

"Brad, it's Mitch. There's a guy here wanting to take Bobby Anderson. Yes, that's his name. Alright, I'll release him." He hung up. "You can take him."

Bert helped Bobby to his feet and then they were gone. In the elevator, Bert was fuming. "You had one job." He glared at Mark as well.

Mark had nothing to say, but Bobby hung his head. "Sorry, boss." They left the elevator, exited the lobby, and Bobby and Mark were led over to a waiting black SUV.

Katherine and Brad left the second elevator and saw both Bobby and Mark being led into a waiting vehicle.

"Hey, what's going on?" Katherine asked as they moved toward the exit. "Is that Bert with Bobby and Mark?"

"Yes, that's our boss at the Agency," Brad replied.

"But why no handcuffs?" Katherine asked then, "Something's fishy."

"Oh, no," Brad murmured.

"What is it?" Katherine asked.

"Before he left earlier for the airport, I received a call from Mitch and he told me that Bobby confessed his plan to kidnap Kyle for top secrets and to gain them through his dreams of the future. Then he showed him the identification papers and they belonged to Kyle. I couldn't believe it then he asked him where he had gotten those documents. He avoided his question, then he said he would give us top secrets and, of course, he couldn't do it. There's only one way he could have gotten those documents…from Bert."

"Does that mean?" Katherine couldn't say it.

"Yes, it appears Bert was backing Bobby and that's why he wanted to kidnap Kyle." Brad replied thinking that Kyle's dream was correct.

"Okay, we have to tread carefully. You told me Bert has been with the Agency for over twenty years," Katherine said.

"Yes, that's true. Let us go now. I have no idea where Bert was taking them, but we can't do anything about that now; they're gone."

"But he can't stay here; he needs to return them both to America eventually," Katherine said.

"We should leave, but as I said, be careful and mind what you say to anyone," Brad said. "Where's Mitch?"

"He's at the airport waiting for us," Katherine replied.

"Good; the sooner we leave, the sooner we can find out what's truly going on with Bert, our 'trusted' colleague." Those words left a bad taste in Brad's mouth. Fuming inside, they headed for the airport. Bert had a lot to answer for and he would find out the truth, one way or another. He almost lost his life dealing with Bobby and Mark. But how does Mark fit into this being held captive, but Bobby must have roamed free until he also was caught? He wondered.

An hour later, they boarded a flight and headed back to America.

~o~o~

Finally, back home:

Now at the LA International airport, it's early evening and the team parted ways. Jeff was taken to the hospital and Brad and Katherine decided to check in with the Agency but not right away. They exited the street by the cab stand, then Bert appeared.

Brad thought it was odd seeing Bert. His flight must have left hours before their flight took off. What has he been doing all this time; waiting for them or questioning Bobby and Mark? He wondered.

Brad's suspicions about Bert began to rise. He decided to ignore him and pulled his cell phone from his pocket, but Bert wasn't having it.

"Brad, Katherine; I'm glad I caught you. It's still early, are you headed into the office?"

"We need time to get our bearings. You understand; don't you?" Katherine responded, as Brad refused to look at their boss, loading their luggage into the trunk of the cab.

"How much time are you talking about?" Bert asked becoming suspicious.

"Only a few days," Katherine replied.

Bert looked Brad up and down. "How are you Brad? You don't look any worse for wear."

"I'm getting there," he replied. He stroked his chin; he still needed to talk to Kyle about their trip as well as Sarah and something wasn't right. He thought.

Pulled out of his thoughts by Bert's voice. "Well, we're overjoyed that you made it back. I'll see you both in a few days."

"Thanks, Bert; it's good to be back," Brad said and watched him gather his luggage, and leave the airport. "The nerve of that guy," he muttered barely keeping his temper in check.

"You, Sir, need a poker face. Come on, I'm tired and we need to make several calls."

~o~o~

Now at the Lodge:

After dinner, Sarah and Kyle were on the sofa, John was down for the night, when they received word that the mission was a success. She called her cousin, then her uncle. Of course, they were happy everyone was fine but upset she hadn't called them that their plans had changed. Sarah explained her reasons, and they understood. Kyle called his Mom and she felt relieved and happy for them.

"Our family, they're amazing. I think we should keep them. But us, we're a team; aren't we?"

She smiled. "Indeed, we are."

They came closer together and then they kissed. It wasn't gentle and it wasn't sweet. It was deep, all-consuming and wonderful.

They pulled away, foreheads touching. "Time for bed." She nodded unable to reply. Once inside their bedroom still a little stunned that his dream was real. He would have been kidnapped and alone but it hadn't happened and they're home and together as it should be.

Kyle had to admit everything felt strange. His dream of being alone and miserable, that he would never leave this hell hole, he remembered the dream.

"Kyle, I know what you're feeling." She came closer, took his hand and pulled him inside. "After the dream, I knew you would be all right and then you told me all about it and we're together."

That woke him up. "I wanted that too more than anything." He paused. "Did you think I could have died?" He wanted to know thinking of the dream.

"Yes, but only for a second." She smiled remembering her faith in their love.

He shook his head and came closer. "You are one amazing lady and I feel very blessed to have met you and that you agreed to marry me. Thank you, Sarah."

She backed up and unbuttoned her blouse. "I can think of a lot of ways you could thank me."

Heart pounding, he watched her undress. "I can too." His eyes roamed over her face and then down over the outline of her breasts. He unbuttoned his shirt and removed it, then the jacket, the shirt, the slacks, and his shoes. He stood before her in his boxers.

Sarah stood there in her bra and underwear. He suddenly picked her up and kissed her and moved toward the bed. Sarah kissed him back passionately, her hands running through his hair, kissing him repeatedly until it wasn't enough; not enough. He managed to remove his lips from hers, both breathing heavily, he stood there with Sarah in her arms.

"Kyle?" She asked and wondered at his mood. "Are you worried about… what happened in the dream of us being apart?"

"No, that's not it," he replied. He laid her down sat down and took her hand.

"Then what is it?" She squeezed his hand. "You can tell me."

"You have no idea how much I want you." He lay down beside her and stared into her eyes.

She smiled. "I know you do, but what's holding you back?"

"I remembered something and I wanted to tell you about it."

"Oh, what was it?" He seemed almost shy about it, which wasn't like him at all.

He relaxed and they snuggled close; he kissed her forehead.

"I saw my Dad in a dream," he announced without preamble.

"Oh, Kyle, you did?" She asked, feeling many things. "Was it a bad dream?"

"No, not truly. I've never dreamed of him before. Mitch and I were incredibly young when he left, in our early teens, and I wanted to hate him, but as I grew older, I understood. Mitch, however, never forgave our Father leaving us. Despite that, my dreams about him were soothing and I felt his regret and his sadness."

"Seeing him in your dreams may have helped because he felt your sadness as well. He knew leaving those he loved would hurt, but it was the right thing to do for him." She understood.

He didn't say anything; his eyes watered, his heart full of love and so thankful to be there with her.

Sarah couldn't speak but pulled his head down and kissed him. He kissed her back pulling her closer. Their kisses continued for a long time, both needing this reassurance. Soon, they were naked, kissing and caressing needing to be reassured that they were together. They both felt extremely fortunate to be given another chance at life and love all because Kyle believed his dream.

Kyle would never take any of it for granted; not this life; not his life as a spy, none of it. Soon their kisses became desperate and deep. They wanted it to go on and on, never ending if that were possible.

He suddenly looked up from pleasuring her, with a look, and then the words. "You're my wife, I've always felt that way, even before we were married. You're my better half, the best of me." Then he leaned over her and Sarah was transfixed by his voice. She couldn't breathe; couldn't speak. His lips flowed over her face, his breath hot and soft as it moved over her skin.

"Oh, Kyle, I need you," she managed to say.

"Now, Kyle, please!" She begged for it then opened her legs even wider needing him to take her now, and when his fingers finally teased her slick and sensitive flesh, she moaned loudly then, his fingers traced the opening to her body moving in and out, and then his lips and tongue replaced his fingers and Sarah was in heaven and he was right there with her.

Minutes later, he entered her with a smooth glide exciting them both to fever pitch. Coming home at last, he kissed her his tongue meeting hers in hot wet kisses as his body pumped in and out of body. Sarah moved with him loving his movements. His lips on her throat, as he pulled her tight against him almost hurting her.

"Kiss me," she whispered throatily, and he did deeply linger over her mouth with kisses and little nips over her face and then her throat.

Moments later, Sarah sobbed and shuddered with release and Kyle was right behind her. He gave up the feelings that rushed through his body and his mind. He pulled her tight against him. Sarah was beyond thought. It was heaven being with him like this.

He kissed her forehead holding her close. "I love you Sarah, more than I can say." His eyes watered.

"I love you too."

TBC!

~o~o~

Song Inspiration: Whatever It Takes, Leona Lewis.

A/N: What a wild ride, and after the dream and making the decision not to leave to save himself and their relationship, but I love how it played out. Any thoughts and questions I would love to talk with my readers. Thanks for reading.