speaking to him in low tones as one of the other agents from the beta team looked on.

It seemed that Mariano, along with the delta guy who'd brought him out here, had left via the helicopter we'd called in to pick them up. I assumed that the other gamma and beta guy had left for the cabin as there was one car missing. The other three had stayed behind to wait for us.

"That girl standing beside Max," I said to Jack. "Her name is Amelia Grimes. Her parents are Brent and Lydia." I pointed to the other side of the clearing. "The Ortiz's. Malcolm and Grace. You knew them, right? Their son was one of my best friends growing up."

His eyes swept over to where they stood and it seemed as if he were remembering them from another life. It took a moment for realization to set into his expression.

"You can trust them," I continued. "You can trust me and Max and Lia. That's enough for now. Besides, you need to get some medical help before you pass out. You look like shit."

Jack was staring at me with his piercing blue eyes with a look I didn't recognize. It was a sad expression, almost, but proud as well.

"You remind me of your mother," he said. And then he stepped out of the tree line and into the clearing.

I followed after him and had perhaps gone three or four steps when the communications unit sparked to life in my ear. But they weren't talking to us, they were speaking to each other.

"Did you hear that?" Tasha said.

"There's someone outside," the MI6 agent said.

"Ours or theirs?"

"I don't know."

A bang. It sounded like the door being broken down.

A shout. The sound of gunfire. A scream of pain that cut-off unexpectedly. More gunfire. A deeper, masculine groan. Daniel? Or was it someone else? Another final gunshot.

And then silence.

_________

Welcome back everybody,

Sorry for the long wait (it's part of the reason why this chapter is super long)  I got hit hard by school and then the transition home for the summer was a bit of an adjustment as I figured out work and such.  Not too many chapters left in this book and I hope to have it out to you guys soon.

Much love,

DB <3