**AGENT MICHAEL* **Each of us took a moment. A well deserved one since we've all been through shit in the last twenty four hours. Some more than others, I can't place myself above anyone else here but my back hurts like shit.Speaking of which, I popped two more pain killers straight in my throat while Ethan passed me a disapproving look.He can't judge when the pain is like this, I feel as though it's crushing me from inside and I just might crumble due to this pressure.One moment. We exhaled then sprang up.The battle won't finish unless there's a losing side, right now we seem to stay on it but we won't give up. Not until the scales are balanced then move straight to our favor.Until then we'll have the strength to fall flat and close our eyes.The bright side was that three men didn't lose their lives. Women didn't lose their husbands and children to their fathers. That's if not anything tipping the scales.It was meant to bring us down but we venturedthrough.I'm alive and so

**AGENT MICHAEL**The chopper arrived and extracted us from that location. He looked excited to see me as well.Inside the plane, I could arch my back all the way, rubbing it against the texture of the seat, trying to relieve my body of the unnecessary pain it was in."Are you okay? If you aren't feeling good he could take you to the doctor. You might need a checkup after an explosion like that."Rick advised. From the corner of my eyes, I could see Ethan silently agreeing with that hypothesis."I will see a doctor, but first I'll see this mission through. I need to."I started firmly, grasping the edge of the seat.They couldn't force me to go back."Alright. This is as far as I can take you, you will have to cover the rest on foot. It's a two minute walk from here on out."The pilot yelled over the sound of the airplane.He let us down slowly, each of us jumping down once the plane was low enough."I will be waiting here since this seems like a good extraction point just in case the

**ANTONY SANTOS**. "Put me down."She requested, moaning weakly yet still trying to prove stubborn and feisty."Tracy. There's a freaking exchange of fire. This is not the time to be acting tough!""I'm not acting tough, I can take care of myself. I can certainly run by myself. Put me down!"She ravaged drawing the attention of around."Fine. Fuck!"everyoneI screeched, placing her on the ground.I turned and the exchange was between the agents and the Russians."Fuck no."I turned and Ethan was holding Tracy. Wait a moment. She was right beside me a minute ago, how did she get into the arms of that fucker!"Let her go!"I seethed, he tilted her head to check her features ignoring my command.``I said let her go. Didn't you hear me!"I thundered, getting upset."Are you blind! Can't you see that she's in pain. Stop being such a fool and let me help her! It seems you've done nothing to help her!"He matched my tone, wrappi

**ANTONY SANTOS**. Now I'm feeling useless.Agent Michael is out there looking over the phone to see if there's anything to recover, the fucker is priding himself with the fact that Tracy choose him over me and practically everyone else, her father is well available to keep her company while old me is seating here and mopping around. Maybe Michael will have something for me to do once he returns.He's been gone for over ten minutes which could be a good sign."Sorry I took too long."I heard a long exhale then the sound of someone seating beside me, maybe if I wasn't tooengrossed with my thoughts I could've realized that sooner."It's fine, I didn't have anywhere to joke anyway."I chuckled so it'll seem like I made a joke, I'm okay with it. When in fact it wasn't funny and I didn't appreciate the joblessness."I checked in with tech and they haven't been able to get through to the phone, the damage was extensive so they

**AGENT MICHAEL**"Tracy, please don't cry. I never meant to make you cry, you just got out of a kidnapping, you can't be crying."I reached out for her hand. She didn't flinch, I gave it a little squeeze and her tears reduced to sobs then finally light sniffles."You are a strong woman Tracy.""Oh yeah? I do not feel very strong."She could barely speak without shaking or shuddering."You are. You survived two psychotic men and scaled through without any trauma.""Right, just several concussions."She said sarcastically."Well there can't be wars without injuries, I just need you to know that you are very strong. Others would have faltered and broken down, but you didn't. You're standing strong and you're still here. You just gave us a clue that will help the case. That's a lot.""Yes I know. I'm strong, bold, and confident. That'sall I've been told to do my entire life, that's how I was brought up and although it might seem strange, that was my life."She choked on a sob."Then it