It took all day to work out a plan and from satellite images the place was well protected.  After a trip to my weapons storage then men had everything they needed to be successful.   The small warehouse where the girls were being kept was easily accessible.   But taking out the cartel that surrounded it was going to be a bit trickier.   With the man power present we expected the warehouse to be full.  

Anywhere from 100 to 200 girls stolen from their villages oversees brought to America to be sold, would be hiding in the building, fearing for their lives.   Unfortunately it was more rampant than anyone wanted to admit.    The media didn't report on little Mexican or Puerto Rican girls from poor villages going missing, and they sure as hell didn't report the slimy rich men that bought them for their sexual pleasure.  Fuck the whole industry left a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach and I wanted to take down every single fucker involved.

"Be realistic Nix.   We have a 36 hour drive a head of us.  Then another six mile hike into the woods, you are in no way shape or form to make that trek.   The Feds have loaned us 20 more men who will meet us once we hit town.  We got this." 

I knew Tank was right and if I was in better shape I would have joined them but there was no way I could make the long journey with three cracked ribs.   Sure they felt good now but that was because Hank had taped me up good and the pain killers were doing their thing, but I could barely make it up the stairs let alone a six mile hike.  

Plus the more distance from Mac the better it was...at least for me.  

But I couldn't help looking at the door every so often.  Axel would give me a knowing look when he caught be but fuck it, the man already saw me cry.   There was no point in hiding my concern, at least from him.  

By dinner Mac still didn't reappear and I was beginning to worry.   I assumed Axel was in touch with him but was too scared to ask.   Yeah I am such a bad ass...hell what was going on with me?   I was turning into a sentimental basket case. I blame the pain killers for my temporary insanity.

Ignoring my concern I turned my attention back to the movie they guys put on after dessert. There was no way I could sleep with how full I felt right now. Did I mention how much I want to kidnap Tank, the man not only cooks like a pro but also bakes.   Fuck I couldn't remember the last time I had a homemade chocolate cake.   Or homemade lasagna. If he wasn't so loyal to the club I would try to tempt him over to my side.  At least I would eat better.   But he wasn't who I wanted on my side, in this house.   FUCK!   I was slowly driving myself crazy and I needed to stop thinking about the man.

Frustrated I got up and quietly crept out of the room.   My body didn't relax until I took a seat at my computer.   Albert was busy and from the looks of things, all over the place.  One screen had the satellite of the compound the guys were heading out to in the morning, since it was close to midnight there, activity was minimal.   The second screen was monitoring the fourth bomb site, again not much new there.  The third and fourth were running data and frankly the screens were moving so fast it hurt to look at them. Unconcerned I let Al do his thing while I did mine.

Moving the mouse I turned on my screen to see if I could find anything.   I didn't really know what I was looking for but I need to occupy my brain otherwise I might just breakdown again. I could only handling crying so many times in one day. Two hours later I still had nothing and Albert was unusually quiet.

Exasperated, I leaned back in my chair, stretching my sore muscles cautiously not to cause me more pain but to relieve the tension.

"So do you ever sleep?"

The voice caused my body to jump which caused the chair to almost topple over.  Luckily my hands grabbed the desk before that could happen.

"FUCK!" I yelled out as my ribs pulled and my body protested in pain.  

"Jesus Axel, warn a girl next time will you."  Bending over I tried to breathe through the pain as by body recovered from the sudden movement.

"Sorry Nix...figured you knew I was here.   Been sitting here for an hour or so.  Usually it's hard to sneak up on you."

"Yeah well my minds a little pre-occupied at the moment.  Why are you still up?  Figured you guys would have turned in by now."

"They put in a second movie.   Got bored so I came in here.   So again...do you ever sleep?"

"Yes I sleep, in fact I woke up at two today so I am not really tired."

"Bullshit Nix, you got the shit beat out of you.   You have three cracked ribs, a concussion and are covered in bruises.   Most people in your condition would still be in bed."

"Yeah well I am not most people.   And I have a high pain tolerance." And right now I wanted to be left alone. My mood for conversing was at a zero.

"Fuck woman, no wonder you drive Mac insane.  Is it so hard to admit that you are hurt?   Do you think we would think any less of you?"

"Fuck off Axel, I don't need you lecturing me.   I know my own body and what it can handle." Hell after all the years doing the type of work I do, injuries are just part of the job. At this point in time I couldn't even tell you how many broken bones I have had or concussions. But what I did know was how much I could push myself until I reached my breaking point. And tonight I was close but not quite there.

"What about your heart?"

"And what the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

"What I mean is in the last three months this is the fifth time we have seen you fucked up.   You barely heal before you head on out to the next mission.  In the past you never moved at this type of pace.   Mac was right, it is almost like you have a death wish."

Pissed I jumped out of the chair only to be stopped by the stabbing in my side.   Son of a bitch, I hated cracked ribs.  

"See even now you can't sit your ass down when you are obviously in pain.   You may not be intentionally doing it but going off half assed is going to eventually kill you.   I see it. Mac sees it.  Hell the brother's all see it.  What are you so goddamn afraid of that has you running?"

"Mind your own fucking business Axel.  This doesn't concern you."

"Well that is where you are wrong Nix.   Months ago you told me to pull my head out of my ass and own my feelings so I am going to do the same.   Wake the fuck up.  Mac is a good man and for some reason he loves you.  But your unwillingness to meet him half way is destroying you both.  You are so fucking stubborn you can't see what the hell is right in front of your fucking face.  

He doesn't want to change you or make you stop doing what you love.  All he is asking is that you include him and stopping going all half-cocked into a mission which you have no business doing alone.   Hell Timmons brought us in for the sole purpose of working by your side and you refuse to cooperate.   When are you going to wake the fuck up and realize it is not you against the world!  

You don't have to continue this fight alone, you have brother's that would gladly lay down their lives to protect you, brother's that have no problem taking directions from a woman, and darling in my world that is a big fucking thing.   But if you continue to throw back our loyalty to our faces, eventually we are going to walk...and then where will that leave you?  Do you really want to spend the rest of your life alone?  If the answer is yes then let us know now so we don't waste anymore of our goddamn time on some fucked up GI Jane with a god complex who thinks she is unstoppable.  Because darling there is only one way that story ends...and it is with you dead."

Stunned I continued to stand there leaning against the desk, gripping my side as Axel stomped out of the command center.   I think that was the most I have heard the man speak in the year that I have known him.  And fuck when he decides to say something he really says it.   And the worst part was the fucker was right.

Well shit.  

A few minutes later my thoughts were interrupted as the door opened back up.  Expecting to see Axel for another ass whooping, I was surprise when Agent Timmons made his way into the room and from the look on his face he didn't have good news. 

And like Axel mentioned, the brother's had my back, it was evident as they all took up stance around me.  And for some reason this was the first time I understood their actions.  But now as they stood beside me, that message was crystal clear.   Fuck I am an idiot. Whether I wanted to admit it our not, these men were a part of my team, and the way I was treating them was unacceptable.

No one spoke as Timmons slid a folder in front of me and stepped back.  Hesitating for only a moment I leaned forward only to have an arm reach around me, swiping the folder off the desk and handed to me.   Glancing back, I nodded my thanks to Axel, even though I was still whirling from our conversation only minutes ago, I had no hard feelings towards the man.    I needed to hear what he had to say, later I would process all of it.

"You were right.   The subject's finger prints were pulled off the side of the building when he stumbled and reached out.   Our guys were able to pull four prints off the wall.   A positive match came up immediately."

Somewhat excited to discover our bomber, I opened up the folder only to take a step back in shock.    Staring back at me was not the face of a stranger but the face of a man I knew well.   The face of a man that in the past had several conversations with.  A face I never thought I would see again.

"It's not possible." The sound of my whispered echoed through the silent room. Still no one moved or said anything. The folder grew heavier in my hands as my eyes stayed frozen to the picture that was paper clipped to the documents tucked inside.

"Forensics ran the tests a dozen times.   That was the only match.   He is our bomber."  Timmons reconfirmed.

But I don't care how many times he validated it, the facts wouldn't change.   There was no way that the face staring back at me was our bomber.      

"It's not possible."  I repeated my original claim.

"Major, look at..."

"NO.   IT'S NOT POSSIBLE!   HE IS DEAD!"

Infuriated, I slammed the folder back down to the desk and because I forgot for a second the condition by body was in, the pain had me rapidly hissing as I breathed through sharp piercing that instantly reminded me of my cracked ribs.  A solid body slid behind me for support, taking my weight as I sagged against him and it was another example that regardless of the situation between me and Mac, Axel and the brothers would still stand behind me. 

And glancing at the folder, I knew now more than ever I would need them.