With sand between my toes, wind in my hair, the sound of waves and Jake's fingers crossed with mine I walked along the Californian beach.

James and Sophie tried pushing Josh into the water a few meters next to us. The sun was going down and we didn't think about what happened two weeks ago when Jake and I nearly blew up in a car, with Thomas in Spain. After our injuries healed we deserved some vacation days before we would get our next mission for which we might have to split up. I tried not to think about it, but it was hard, the thought of being apart from Jake after we spent nearly a year next to each other every day. When I told him about my concerns, he tried to make me think different about it, he told me that it is possible for us to have another mission together, but I just pretended to believe in that. Our agency usually never puts agents that know each other on the same missions, it was a risk. If an agent is in an undercover mission nobody there is supposed to know that you're an agent.

"Why don't you get Jane? She brought us here! I don't want to swim!" I heard Josh protesting about Sophie and James' tries to get him into the ocean. "Don't give them bad ideas!" I yelled back but it was too late, all three of them came closer now. "You don't stand a chance against the two of us!" I warned them "Who said they're going against me too?" Jake said and before he even finished his sentence, I took my hand away from him and started running away. "Traitor!" I yelled when he grabbed my wrist. I tried to fight him off, but he was able to catch my hands and before I could kick him Josh reached us and picked me up. Now Jake still held my hands while Josh carried me and James kept my feet still. I couldn't fight them off. "Sophie, help me!" I begged her but she just laughed and let the guys bring me to the water.

"Josh, please let me go! I'll do anything for you!" I begged for mercy "Nope, nothing is worth that much, I really think you should go swimming, the water must be freezing cold by now." He laughed. "Babe? You can't want me to get sick! I'll catch a cold!" "No, you'll be fine." "James?" "Don't even try, it's gonna be fine, I'll join you if it's not too cold." He said. "Fine, I tried..." I said but with that I didn't give up. There was still only one person that was trained to fight like me.

I relaxed my muscles to make them think I gave up and as expected James let his guard down, I used it to push him away, careful enough not to hurt him but strong enough so he would fall. Then I turned my arms in a way that made it impossible for Jake to move without letting go of me and like that I rolled out of Josh's arms and kicked away his feet so he would fall too. As expected, Jake wasn't that easy to get rid of, he let me go for a second but only to pull me onto his chest. "Show-off." He whispered, I smiled "It's getting time for them to find out how good I am actually trained in fighting. Now let go or you'll get sand in your hair." I answered, "Try it." He pulled me closer and leaned over me a bit. "I thought you knew how easy I'd get out of this." I said, used the strength, he was holding me with, to kick him in the knee and then slipped under his arms into my freedom. "I am disappointed in you guys." I said, while Josh and James just looked at me, not believing what they just witnessed. "Never let your guard down though!" Sophie appeared behind be and pulled me to her direction, since she was standing in the water, I stepped in it too. With a squeaking noise I jumped back outside "That really is freezing!" I complained. "Oh c'mon. It's not that bad! You just have to get used to it." Sophie laughed. "No, I'll stay outta there." I said and let Jake put his arm around my waist. "Should we go back then?" James asked, he was still sitting in the sand. "Sure, I'm tired anyways." Sophie said and got out of the water to cover her feet with the warm sand.

When we got back to the house we rented for the vacation Jake and I directly went into our bedroom, while the others decided that they weren't tired and went to the club nearby.

Jake and I cuddled for a while and fell asleep soon. The next time I woke up was when I heard glass shatter downstairs. Due to my reflexes my hand slit under my pillow, and I took the gun out. "Hey, calm down, the others probably just came back drunk, must have been one of them." Jake took my hand that was holding the gun. I stayed quiet for a while and listened. "No, it's to silent for that, they would be talking and laughing or at least whispering but there is nothing. We should go have a look." I said, took Jake's shirt that was at the other end of the bed and put it over my shoulders while he got his gun out too. Slowly we sneaked outside and looked into every room that was upstairs, everything empty. Then we went downstairs, into different directions. Jake checked the room in which Josh and James are staying and the bathroom, I went to the kitchen and living-room. I couldn't see a person but what I saw scared me even more.

"Jake!?" I asked "Coming." He replied and after a few seconds I could feel his hand on my shoulder. "What is that?" he asked when he saw the shadow that was painted on the window of the living-room.

"V. For Victor Rodriguez. That is a threat." I explained "What? How did he find us here? Why would he threaten us?" Jake wondered "He wants Rafael... and is threatening us because we got him in." I answered without taking my eyes off the window.

"We have to call the others! If he knows we're here, he also knows who is with us." A thought crossed my mind. "You call them, I call Carlson and tell him our vacation must end now..." Jake proposed, I simply nodded as an agreement and ran back upstairs to get my phone.

Not one of my friends picked up the phone and someone from the California FBI-Department would be with us soon, so Jake and I got dressed and started packing since we'll have to go to Washington to see Rafael.

20 minutes later we already sat in a jet and I nearly fell asleep, before Jake's phone rang. Since I was leaning on his shoulder he first looked at me, I leaned to the other side, he stood up and picked-up the call. I didn't care who it was or what it was about at first, so I tried getting some sleep. But when I heard him say a woman's name I couldn't resist on listening to him.

"Maya, we broke up, could you please finally stop calling me? Move on! I did! I'm gonna hang up now." Then he was silent for a second. "What kind of emergency could it be that you are calling your ex-boyfriend?... stop trying to get my attention, I know that you have enough people to call... Why do you care when I am in Washington again?... I moved on! You should do that too, don't call again." Then he came back to me, apologized and sat down again. "Who's Maya?" I asked, trying not to sound jealous. "Just someone who I met during a mission in Washington, she is still a bit clingy, but I never even think about her, don't worry." He explained, I nodded and leaned against him again.

A few hours later we landed in Washington D. C. and directly went to the FBI-headquarter there. A few seconds after we entered the building, I heard someone call Jacob. "Isaac! Long time, no see! How are you here?" Jake hugged the blonde guy who came to us. "I am here because of the Rodriguez family, how are you here? I thought you'd be on vacation, in California? And who's that pretty girl you got with you?" Isaac asked "Also the Rodriguez family, blew our vacation, kidnapped my girlfriend's friends." He answered all the questions at once. "Hi, I am Jane." I introduced myself "I'm Isaac, I was in training with Jake, how'd you meet him?" Isaac pulled me in for a friendly hug. "We met in Chicago, because of Rafael, also the one we are here to see." I replied. "Nice, then we are all here for the same reason. This family is really something. I know where he is, let's go to the basement-cells." Isaac said and went to the elevator that was close to us. With the ID-cards we got at the reception we were allowed to go to the high-security-cells to which Isaac led us.

"Somebody look at that... has been a while... where did you leave that traitor Gabriel?" Rafael Rodriguez greeted us when we entered the interrogation room. "He is actually Thomas and in London, his hometown, at the moment." Jake replied. "I heard you trusted that MI6 agent for six years." Isaac made fun of Rafael. "And you are?" "Here to find your father." I answered instead of Isaac. "We don't have much time, so just tell us where he is or where you suspect him to be." I continued and stepped closer. "You know Jane, I really trusted you, how could you, a weak woman who cares about art, be an agent? Did you know that I could make you powerful? And definitely rich... you could get some art for yourself." He said. "Well, your power broke when you were arrested and the only money you have left is the one you earned legally and the money your wife gets from our state. She is fine by the way, she moved into a smaller apartment, still in Chicago." I updated him on his actual situation. "Enough with the small talk, where is Victor?" Jake asked "I don't know. My father is a psychopath and wants to kill me, why would I care about where he is?" he leaned back in his chair. "Exactly because of that. A powerful person like you keeps an eye on the people that could be dangerous. You either have someone who follows him to make sure he stays away from you or you know where exactly he is. You wouldn't dare to lose his trace so he could stab you in the back. Where is he? I won't ask again." Isaac told him what he thought. Rafael kept quiet. "So, you do know where he is... we just have to get it out of you..." Jake said and sat down on the chair at the other side of the table. "Guys... it's been a while since I was allowed to do waterboarding... what do you think?" I made a suggestion. "Sounds fun." Isaac said and then turned to Jake "I like your girl." He smirked, Jake stood up again. "Alright, this room should be okay for waterboarding, let's get our stuff." Jake said and left, Isaac and I followed him. Isaac locked the door since he was the last one to get out. "Do you think it'll be enough?" I asked while we went to the elevator to get some water and a towel from the office upstairs. "We're allowed to do anything to him. Officially there are no basement cells on that level so officially we haven't even seen him while he was arrested. Even if the waterboarding doesn't make him talk we will find a way but I don't think his father and your friends are that important to him, so he'll probably tell us quite soon." Isaac explained "And he sure is a killer and somehow quite a sociopath but he never experienced torture like that, he was beaten but nothing else than that. Don't worry." He added.

On our way back to the basement I started to feel how I finally realized the actual situation. I felt how my hands started shaking, adrenaline rushed through my body. I felt like crying and like I could destroy everything that appears in front of me. Josh has been with me when I had the hardest of times, we went through a lot with each other, I couldn't stand it if something would happen to him. Sophie was loyal on my side for a year, the only female friend I had, I could talk about everything with her, we are as close as I am with Josh, the same goes for James who supported me when Josh couldn't.

The more I thought about it, the more anger I felt. The desire to cry went into the background, I was just angry, even furious. I made my hands into fists and as soon as I saw Rafael again I punched him. Isaac and Jake seemed confused, I ignored their looks. "Tie him up and please let me torture him." I asked them. "Are you sure you won't kill him, with all that anger?" Jake asked and put his hand on my shoulder to calm me down. I whipped his hand off, I don't want to calm down. "I was trained to hold that in, so please..." I took a deep breath. Without trying to talk back again the guys did what I asked for and then stepped back. "Would you mind waiting outside?" I asked with my eyes on Rafael. They didn't answer and just left after hesitating a bit.

A little bit later Rafael Rodriguez was gasping for air and begged me to stop every time I took off the towel of his mouth to hear an answer. And every time he didn't answer I hit him.

About an hour later he lost consciousness, and I lost my patience and screamed to let out my frustration. Jake and Isaac came inside, I sank to the ground that was wet from water and blood, I felt warm tears on my cold skin and closed my eyes. "Get him a doctor, I'll bring her to our hotel." I heard Jake before he put his arms around me, I leaned against him and felt how all the energy I had left disappeared. He helped me stand up again and lead me outside. I still had my eyes closed but walked with him, but as soon as we arrived at the car, I fell asleep.

The next time I woke up I was surrounded by white sheets and orange walls that reminded me of a sunset. I sat up and looked around, it was a hotel room, a small one, with a little kitchen in a corner, a little balcony outside of a wall that was just windows and I saw a door that probably leads to the bathroom. The only thing I missed in this room was my boyfriend. "What the hell?" I whispered to myself and yawned. I took an even closer look around and noticed my phone on a little cabinet next to the bed I was in. I picked it up, unlocked it and called Jake.

"You're up?" he said when he picked up. "Obviously, where am I? Where are you?" I asked "I guess you are still in your hotel room. I woke up early and knocked at your door, but you were still sleeping, so I went back to the headquarter first, we are having a second look at the files. The agency made sure we got renting cars, yours is parked downstairs, right at the opposite of the hotel entrance, the key is in your luggage." He explained. "So, we didn't sleep in the same room? And what do you mean you woke up early? What time is it? What day is it?" "I should have woken you up earlier to explain it, huh!?" he whispered, and I could hear that he was smiling. "I don't think the agency should know about our relationship yet, they're gonna split us up, so I slept in the room next to you. Since you fell asleep in the car yesterday I carried you into your bed and you slept through until now, didn't you look at the time? It's noon already. You were probably really out of energy." "Well, I was jetlagged..." I explained "Yeah... that too." He sighed, he knew as good as I how much the situation is stressing me, we both knew there was another reason why I was so tired.

"Well, I'm gonna come too soon, I'll get washed up and come to the headquarter. How is Rafael?" I drove my hand through my hair at the thought of how hard I've been on him the day before. "He'll be fine, but you let your emotions lead you too much yesterday." He told me "I know..." I admitted. "I'll see you then." I added "Yes, take your time, I love you, drive safely." He said and then hung up. His last words made me smile.

I took another deep breath, answered the few messages I got in the last 48 hours and then got out of bed to step out on the balcony. The view was amazing. I was curious about how much greater it'll be at night. After relaxing with some fresh air, I went back inside, opened my suitcase and got ready.

"Hey there." Isaac greeted me when I entered the office. Jake was sitting with his back to the door and didn't turn around, he didn't have to, it was obvious that it was me who came inside. "Hey, did you find anything so far?" I asked and put my hands on Jake's shoulders, he put his left one on my right one and gently slid up and down while he kept reading what he was reading. "No, we do have some possible places, but we have no idea how we could pick one out of these." Isaac answered, I was a bit confused "What he's trying to say is that we know some places where it would be possible to hold some people without getting attention but not more." Jake explained and now he looked at me. "You look a lot better than yesterday, you really needed some sleep." He smiled at me, I smiled back and then took my hands off his shoulders because I noticed how president Clark approached us. "I think you were pretty yesterday too." Isaac said with an amused smile. "Just for the record: I didn't say you weren't pretty yesterday." Jake smiled "I know, shut up now you two, our big boss is coming here." I warned them before president Clark opened the door to the office. "Can you give me an update on Rodriguez?" she asked as soon as the door closed behind her.

I've never met FBI-president Clark before. Simply because I've only once been to Washington D. C. and that was in high school. The impression she is leaving right now isn't that positive anyways, she didn't even properly introduce herself neither did she let me greet her first before she asked for an update. So far she seemed a bit unfriendly but maybe she was just busy, how should I know!?

"We couldn't find much yet. He has too many options." Jacob answered. "What came out from questioning him yesterday? Agent Mazelyn?" she looked at me with cold eyes. "I couldn't get him to talk, I'm sorry." I said, I felt a bit intimidated by her authority and the way she looked at me. "Don't be sorry. Just try it again, he is fine now, you can go there now." She said, I was unsure but after she nodded to the door I stood up and left after I looked at Jake again, who just smiled encouraging.

On my way to the basement I tried getting back the anger I had yesterday, to make sure I wouldn't feel sorry for Rafael.

When I entered the interrogation room in which Rafael was waiting for me to come back to torture him, I was ready to do things to him that I wasn't even allowed to do in this basement. After stopping by in some other rooms before I came here, I had some nice things with me, one of them was a hammer.

"Before I start, I would like to ask you if you think that you will need your fingers anytime soon." I uncuffed his right hand from the chair to put it on the desk that was in front of him, I put the handcuff on the metal pipe that was on the desk for that and then I went around the table and sat on it. Since Rafael didn't even say one tone I just took the hammer and hit his pinkyfinger, he screamed and cursed and tried to free himself, I didn't show any emotion, "Do you have something to tell me?" I asked him, he spit out some curses in spanish. "I guess not... what do you think... should we just go from right to left or should I take another finger, than the ring finger, next?" I asked him, he put his four healthy fingers into a fist and looked straight at the wall on the opposite side of him. "Let's just go from right to left..." I sighed.