"Are you sure?" Lee asked, still aiming his gun at Jesse as he looked at Church. "I mean, really sure?"

"Yes," Church answered, annoyed. He swatted Lee's gun down and went over to Jesse. "Where were you?"

"Han double crossed me and took me to Fred. I escaped after Han went to get Emily. I didn't know where to find her, but I knew if I found Fred's guys, I'd find you," Jesse explained. "You know where Emily was, right?"

Lee was already calling Caesar, who answered within the first ring.

"Where's Emily?" Lee asked without saying hello.

"She just left with Han," Caesar answered, sounding confused. "He said Jesse was coming and would hurt all of us if she didn't leave with him."

Lee swore and pressed his phone into his temple briefly before putting it back to his ear. "Caesar, how long ago did she leave?"

"Ten minutes ago..."

"Get her back!" Lee shouted. "Han is the mole, Caesar! He's taking her to Fred!"

"Oh no. Oh shit..."

"Wait, Maya didn't go too, did she?" Lee asked, panicked.

"Yes..."

"F***!" Lee yelled, freaking out now. This was his worst nightmare. Again.

"I got the plates of the car. I'll call them in."

"Yes! Do that!"

"What's happening?" Toll asked, sounding worried. Barney signaled for him to wait, so he did.

"I'll have them call you when they get a location," Caesar promised. "Lee, I'm sorry, man. Emily was adamant she didn't want us at risk so she went with him."

"He played her," Lee stated. "He used that against her. He knew she'd go if you were in danger."

"I should've just knocked him out and trusted my gut."

"It's alright. You didn't know. We're gonna regroup and find her."

"Okay."

Lee hung up, and he looked at his team. Jesse looked freaked out, which caught Lee's attention. "What?"

"Fred's sick, man," Jesse answered. "You don't wanna know what he's got planned for Emily...or Maya."

It made Lee feel very nauseous, but he swallowed and kept his bearings.

"I'll call my guy in law enforcement," Barney said. "Tell him Caesar's gonna need help ASAP when he calls." He left to make the call, and Lee tried to breathe. He felt a hand on his shoulder a moment later.

"We'll get her," Toll promised. "You won't lose her again, Lee. Not if I can help it."

Lee nodded his thanks, words being useless in this moment. He did his very best to not imagine what Emily and Maya were experiencing right now.

...

Maya was very scared. The man who picked them up drove them to another abandoned place in the woods where a bunch of men grabbed her and her mother and hauled them inside. Maya got locked in the bathroom where the window had bars and was too high up, so all she could do was huddle in the corner and hug her knees tight to her chest. She could hear her mother crying out in pain, and she began to sob.

She wanted her dad to find them and find them now.

...

Emily couldn't believe this was happening again as Fred squeezed his fist around her throat enough to cut off her air. After putting up a fight, she was subdued and tied to a chair securely while Maya had been tossed into the bathroom and locked in. Fred had entered, and he mocked her for thinking she could escape and promised she wasn't going to live this time.

"I've already got a price for Maya," Fred said to her now. "She fetched me a pretty penny."

Emily choked as she tried to yell through the tape over her mouth. Maya being trafficked hadn't crossed her mind, but apparently it had in Fred's.

"They'll be here to collect in an hour. She can watch you fail to protect her and hate you for it for the rest of her life."

Darkness was creeping around the edges of her vision now, but Fred finally let go, and Emily gasped in air through her nose around her tears. She shot a look over at Han, who was sitting in the corner and avoiding looking at her.

Traitor.

She hated him. She'd trusted him, and he'd done this to her. She couldn't believe it.

"Oh, don't blame him," Fred said now, seeing where she was looking. "He was only protecting his own daughter. You see, it was either his or hers, and we all know that we save our own kid first before someone else's. It's just the way of the beast."

She looked at Han again, and it was all over his face, which somehow made it worse that he'd betrayed her this way. Han had never told her about his daughter, and she wished he had. She could have had someone help him keep her safe so Fred couldn't blackmail him into working for him. Then again, maybe that's why he'd told her that speech about leaving behind loved ones. Maybe he felt guilt for doing that and had to work extra hard to save his daughter to make up for his leaving her.

"Seems like someone looked after you from last time," Fred commented, examining her wounds from his last torture round. "Not bad."

She yanked her head out of his grip, and he smacked her cheek lightly.

"You and I aren't finished," Fred promised. "You think before was tough? You won't survive this time."

Emily watched him go and converse with Han, and her hatred boiled even more. She pulled at the ropes around her wrists and ankles, trying to get one of them loose enough. She could hear Maya sobbing through the bathroom door, and her heart ached. This was what she'd been trying to avoid all this time, and now, she was feeling like it had all been a waste. She'd hurt Lee and Maya for nothing. She wished she had her phone on her so that someone could trace it.

Her phone.

Her heart skipped. Maya had taken it to use in her pretend game. Could she possibly still have it? She hoped her daughter would think about it and soon, so long as no one had taken it from her since they got here.

Fred came back to her with that awful smile of his. He flicked open his knife, stopping in front of her. Emily steadied her breathing as he tilted his head, examining her. She realized what was coming next. When the blade hit her skin, she screamed.

...

"Hold up, hold up!" Barney hollered. Church was driving this time. Caesar had told them what direction Han had taken, and Church had tried to figure out how many abandoned places were around in that potential area. "I'm getting a text!"

"From who?" Lee asked.

"Who the hell is that important to interrupt this for?" Toll demanded.

"Shut up. It's Maya!"

"Thank God," Gunner breathed. Lee's chest was tight with anxiety as he watched Barney hold his phone out so he could read it.

"Give in to the glasses, man," Doc commented. "Or get a bigger phone."

"Shut up," Barney barked again. "She says she is locked in a bathroom and doesn't know where she is."

"I'll trace the phone," Jesse said, opening a laptop Church had given him from his bag.

"The location is turned off," Lee said, remembering.

"Tell her to put it back on!" Toll yelled at Barney, who was texting as quickly as he could.

"She did," he said a moment later. "Go, go, go!" Jesse worked fast, and in seconds, he had her.

"Got 'em!"

"Where am I going?!" Church yelled.

"Turn left! Right now! Now, now, now!"

Everyone barely held on in time as Church cranked the wheel. Lee's heart was pounding. He hoped they weren't going to be too late.

...

Maya made sure the phone was on silent and not vibrate in case Barney wrote her back. She'd forgotten all about it until she discovered she was sitting on something uncomfortable. Thankfully, Barney's number was in there, so she'd written him. She was trying not to be too scared when Barney wrote her again.

We're coming, kid. Hang in there and stay quiet.

I will, she wrote back. Then she tucked the phone back on her and hoped no one would search her. The sound of her mother's muffled screams was making her sick, and she started to cry again.

She hoped they would get here real soon.

...

They parked in the woods far enough away and exited the vehicle. Lee was first in line as they crept through the brush towards where the cabin was. He worked to keep steady and calm. He didn't know what they were going to find, but he had to hope for the best.

Jesse was practically seething beside him, and Lee understood how hurt he must be. If Barney had betrayed him like that, he'd want to kill him. It made what Barney did for Emily seem a lot tamer, if he was honest.

They had the cabin surrounded now. Toll eyed up the bathroom window, which was high and barred, but the bars looked old and weak. He gave Gunner a nod, who nodded back. They would deal with that. Lee and the others would rescue Emily and finish Fred.

"You still want him alive?" Barney said quietly to Church as they waited.

"Hell no," Church answered.

"Han is mine," Jesse said through gritted teeth.

"Sure," Barney agreed. Lee didn't argue. He only had eyes for Fred. Gunner and Toll finished tying off the bars, both holding a rope. They were going to run and rip them out, which seemed feasible since the bars looked like they'd been installed over forty years ago and the wall was rotting. They were very rusty. They waited, and Barney did a slow finger count. When he hit three, Toll and Gunner ran hard and yanked the bars clean off while Lee and the others went around front and to the side door.

...

Maya gasped as a commotion happened above her. The bars disappeared, and a moment later, Toll's head poked through.

"Hey," he whispered loudly. "You ready to ditch this place?"

"What about Mum?"

"Your dad's got her."

"Okay!" She went to stand on the toilet, reaching for him. He grunted and leaned down as far as he could, catching her hands and pulling her up. She saw after that Gunner had been holding him up, and they both got down easily enough.

"I've got her," Gunner promised, and Toll nodded. Maya let him pick her up, and he ran off with her out of harm's way. She looked over his shoulder, hoping her parents got out of there alive.

...

Lee kicked the door in, and his team entered the building behind him quickly and fanned out. Fred was standing by Emily, who was tied to a chair and bleeding. Four other men were off to the side along with Han, and all but Han aimed guns at the team.

"Welcome to the party," Fred said casually. "Took you long enough."

Emily was breathing hard and groaning from pain. It appeared Fred had been cutting her, which made Lee grit his teeth so hard they hurt.

"At long last, we meet face to face," Church commented, stepping forward now.

"Ah, the infamous Church!" Fred said happily, spreading out a hand towards him. "Nice to finally meet you! I hear you've been chasing me for a very long time."

"A hunter gets his game eventually," Church replied.

"You think you got me?" Fred asked, scoffing. "I'm afraid you're very wrong."

"Am I?"

"You've got nothing, and I have everything," Fred replied, pressing the knife blade against Emily's throat now. It all just felt too familiar to Lee, and he resisted jumping in and acting on his emotions.

"Do you?" Church asked, pulling out his phone and tapping it before turning the screen to face Fred. It took a second, but after staring at it, Fred's face turned to stone.

"You're bluffing," he said now, but his voice revealed some fear. It was nice to hear.

"I'm not," Church answered. "I have your daughter, Fred. Now, you can hurt my girl there and have your daughter's life ended for it, or you can let Emily go, and I'll spare her."

"You wouldn't kill a kid," Fred snapped.

"Oh no? Then you haven't done all your research on me," Church retorted. Lee felt slightly disgruntled, but he hoped Church really was just bluffing for the reason that he didn't want to think of Church actually hurting a child.

"She means nothing to me, so do what you want," Fred insisted.

"Nothing? You visit her all the time," Church corrected. "In fact, you spent last Christmas with her." He showed another photo. "Aww, so sweet. She looks so much like her mother, though."

Lee saw Toll, who had joined them after freeing Maya, tense up and clutch his gun tighter.

"She's what...12 now?" Church asked. Fred didn't answer. "We lost track of her after Serena gave birth and you made her give her up for adoption, but that didn't actually happen. No, you kept her for yourself. You see, this was why I got upset when Emily got pregnant because I didn't want her to experience the same loss, but then I realized Maya would be fine because neither of you scumbags was her father, so there was no reason to be forced to give her up."

"Serena was one of yours, right?" Fred taunted. "I very much enjoyed killing her."

"She was, yea. She was hardcore into taking you down, and I admire her a lot for sticking it out just to deliver some justice. That being said, me ending your life is my justice for her," Church advised. "You really shouldn't have killed my agent, Freddy."

"He gets mean when he's pissed off," Barney added for good measure.

"I really do," Church agreed. Fred looked at them all, and even his men seemed unsure of what to do now. Han was still quiet in the corner, but Lee kept an eye on him, as was Jesse, whose breathing was hard and angry.

"You think I didn't know you threatened Han's daughter? A desperate person does horrible things when they're trying to save their family," Church went on. Han seemed surprised and relieved to hear this. Even Jesse was startled.

"Why didn't you tell me, man?" Jesse asked. "I would've helped you!"

"I was scared," Han confessed. "I'm so sorry."

"Oh, you won't find her in there," Church said when Fred signaled for a man to get Maya from the bathroom. "You really need to up your security around here." The man came back empty handed, and Fred seethed.

"This isn't over!" he roared. "Kill them!" His men stepped forward, but Church held up his phone again.

"You really wanna risk it?" he challenged. "My man is listening to this right now, and he's at the ready. It all depends on you."

Fred was breathing hard and looking like a trapped wild animal.

"Just let her go, Fred," Church said finally. "Is she really worth it?"

Emily was holding Lee's gaze now. He tried to convey that she was going to be all right, but it didn't seem to be working based on her frightened expression. Fred's hand holding the knife twitched, and Lee kept his gun trained on him.

Slowly, Fred moved to cut her one wrist free. Then the next. He did her ankles next, and she got to her feet rushed to Lee, who quickly slung his rifle over his shoulder, caught her, and let her bury herself against him before he pulled out his pistol. He kept one arm around her tightly and the other aiming his gun at Fred again.

"Good," Church said. "Good call." He looked at Barney. "Fellas, you can go on your way now. Jesse and I've got it from here."

"That wasn't the deal," Lee started, but Barney held up a hand.

"Let's go," he instructed. Doc backed out first followed by Toll. Lee reluctantly turned and guided Emily out in front of him. Barney was last. When they were outside, Lee reached to gently remove the tape from her mouth.

"Maya," she said. "Where's Maya?"

"Gunner's got her," Toll answered. "She's safe."

"Thank God."

"Some insurance," Barney commented, looking back at the cabin, and Lee agreed. He hadn't seen that coming. He looked at Emily as she gripped him tighter. Her blood was on his vest and clothes from the knife wounds Fred had given her.

"Doc," Lee summoned, and he jogged over.

"I'll get her fixed up in no time," he promised. Emily's teeth were slightly chattering, and Lee held her close. Church came out, then, with Fred in front of him and his men handcuffed in a row behind them. Jesse was ushering Han out. Lee locked eyes with Fred, and suddenly, something didn't feel right. He was about to open his mouth and say something while turning to Barney when something hit him in the side hard and fast. Shouts and Emily's scream hit his ears, and he felt like something was happening to his body but couldn't figure out what. He started to fall forward, and Emily worked hard to keep him upright. He saw Toll firing at someone up in a tree. He saw Church fighting with Fred. He felt Emily take one of his guns and aim it at Fred.

Then he fell to the ground.

...

Emily screamed as she aimed the gun at Fred. He'd purposely targeted Lee, and as Lee's weight began to knock her over, she managed to fire and strike Fred in the chest and neck. He went down hard and fast with Church wasting no time in finishing him.

"LEE!" she screamed, hitting the ground with him. Toll had taken out the shooter. Doc was rushing to her aid and pulling Lee off of her. She rested on her knees next to him and took his face in her hands. "Please, Lee. Oh please...don't die. Lee!"

"Hey, man, come on," Doc ordered, smacking Lee's face. "It hit your vest. You're fine! Wake up!"

Lee gasped in air, and Emily realized he'd been winded from the shot and passed out on top of it. She pressed her face against his and he coughed and groaned. She felt his hand clasp her face a moment later.

"Bloody hell," Lee croaked. "Did you get 'im?"

"I got him," Toll confirmed.

"Fred's dead," Barney stated, making Emily look to see this was indeed true. Han was being led away in cuffs, and he looked back at her, but she looked away. She never wanted to speak to him again. As much as she understood why he'd done it, she still couldn't believe he hadn't found a way to get help. She would have.

"Thank God," Lee said, coughing again. Doc and Toll helped him to his feet, and he stood there a bit unsteady until Emily put her arms around him and helped keep him upright.

"I gotta deal with you," Doc said to her, tapping her shoulder.

"In a minute."

"No, now."

"I'm alright," Lee promised, touching her cheek. "Get fixed up."

"Did you really have Fred's daughter?" Toll asked Church, who gave him a sideways look.

"Nah," he replied. "She's safe and sound with her nanny."

"What happens to her now?"

"I imagine child services will get involved."

Toll looked thoughtful, and Emily wondered what he was thinking. She hissed in pain as Doc began working on her. Fred had sunk the knife in a few places, dragging it along her skin in others. She feared she was going to have nightmares about this for a long time.

"Mummy!"

She looked to see Maya rushing towards her, and she held out a hand for Maya to hold since she couldn't hug her yet.

"You okay, baby?" she asked.

"I'm fine. Are you? Is Dad?" She looked at them both. Lee gave her a weak smile and a thumb's up. She imagined he had a significant bruise on his chest from that shot.

"I'm fine," he promised. Maya went to hug him, and he whimpered slightly. She pulled back, alarmed.

"What's wrong?"

"Just a bruise. It's nothing."

"All done," Doc said to Emily now.

"Thank you." She smiled, and he bobbed his head back at her. She turned to hug Maya finally, and her daughter buried her face into her stomach.

"Can we go home now?" she asked.

"Yes," Emily answered. "We can."

Two Days Later

Emily stood in front of Church, and he let out a sigh and finished signing a document with flourish. He set the pen down and folded his hands, looking at her.

"There," he said. "You're officially retired."

"Thank you," she replied.

"No, thank you," Church countered. "You saved a lot of people doing what you did all these years. I know it doesn't feel like it, but you helped out a lot. I'm sorry it took so long to end this for you, but I really hope you get the life you wanted moving forward."

"I hope so too."

"How's lover boy?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen him since the hospital."

Lee had put up a fuss, but Doc had insisted, and he'd been diagnosed with heavy bruising and a cracked rib. He'd made her leave him there while they monitored him, and she hadn't had a chance to go back yet. She was planning to today.

"Well, I hope he gets past everything," Church said sincerely. "For your sake."

"Me too."

Church stood up now and held out his hand, which she shook. "You take care of yourself, Emily. If you ever need help, just call me."

"I will. Thank you, Church."

"Anytime."

Emily walked out of the room and felt very light and giddy suddenly. She met Jesse by the exit, and they almost bumped into each other.

"Sorry," she apologized.

"Hey," he said, smiling at her and not even commenting on the near miss. His right arm was in a sling still from being injured during the fight before he met up with the Expendables.

"Hey," she said back. He looked a little awkward almost suddenly, and he cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry," he told her.

"For what?"

"All of it."

"It's okay, Jesse," she said softly. "Life carries on." She watched him digest the words and nod slowly. He gave a slight smile then.

"You've got one hell of a cute kid, Em," he commented. "Keep her safe, eh?"

"I will."

"Han's doing some time," Jesse said. "I still can't believe it, and I wish he'd just said something."

"I know."

"I'm taking a break," Jesse added. "To recharge, you know? Then back to the fight."

"The fight that's never over?" she asked.

"Yea, I know. Crazy, right? Maybe one day I'll stop." He shrugged. They held each other's gaze for a moment.

"Well, enjoy your break," Emily said.

"Might set up camp in Australia or something," he said with a half smile. "Do some fun shit, you know?"

"Good for you."

They smiled at each other again, and he reached to give her a one armed hug, which she accepted. He chuckled slightly as they pulled apart.

"You tell that guy of yours he needs to smile a bit more."

"He has a really nice smile," she replied. "I've seen it."

Jesse laughed. "That's good. You take care of yourself, Em."

"You too, Jesse."

She left him standing there and hoped he would be all right. As she walked away from her past, she very much looked forward to the future.

...

Barney knocked on Lee's door and waited. He'd come home from the hospital earlier that day, and Barney wanted to check in with him. He'd taken quite the hit, but Barney figured he'd recover quickly enough. When Lee didn't answer, he frowned.

"Hey! Don't leave me out here in the cold!" he called, slightly joking. Nothing happened, and he moved to peer in the window. No one was moving inside. He made a "huh" sound and tried the door. It was surprisingly unlocked. "Lee? You home?"

No answer. He walked around until he saw it. A moment later, he heard footsteps, and a voice called out.

"Hello?"

"Over here," he replied. Emily appeared a moment later, stopping a few feet away on the other side of the counter, and she looked startled.

"What's going on?" she asked, looking at him. "Where's Lee?" Barney looked at her, and she appeared a bit fearful suddenly. He cleared his throat, dreading saying the words out loud.

"Lee..." he tried.

"Lee what? What?!" she urged. He took a breath.

"Lee's gone."

And this concludes Part III. If anyone is still reading this, thank you for dropping by :) Part IV is the final section of this story.