Despite their size, the group moved along at a smooth pace, surprising Finn. As well as the lack of interference. They made their way through the maze that was the basement of the embassy, the world remaining quiet around them.

He was not looking the gift horse in the mouth. Not after the horror of finding Emily lying on the cold concrete floor. The stain lingered in his mind like the hand stamp from last night's club. He couldn't quite wash it off. Part scared something might still happen to her and part ashamed of his stupidity of assuming she was dead.

"This is it," came Officer Kim's last instruction.

The stairwell before them lead to the parking garage.  There they would find a vehicle or two to transport everyone to the base.  Get Emily back to a safe and secure spot. And in to see the medic on staff. She didn't show any signs of concussion but Finn was not taking any chances.

He was never putting Emily's life at risk again. When they got back to Washington, he was going to find an ivory tower and lock her in it. Throw away the key. Never let her leave. Never leave himself.

As if sensing his distress, there was a light squeeze from the hand resting on his shoulder.

When Emily explained the Greek legend of the man leading his wife out of hell, the similarities were a little too close. This situation was his own personal hell. He was struggling to lock his emotions away - the box gone. Everything seemed to be hovering below the surface, threatening to burst forth.  There was a slight tremble in his hand causing his gun to wobble.

"Emily and I will go first," Finn ordered. "Then Kim, you take Valentia and the kids. Campbell, you cover us."

Campbell grunted in agreement, passing the pacified toddler in his arms over to a not so happy looking Officer Kim.  But the other man didn't complain, taking his charge in hand. The baby squirmed for a moment before settling down, never making a sound. Oddly, all the children were calm and submissive.  Finn hoped they weren't in shock. Was Emily in shock?

Finn turned to check on her. She was radiant. At some point she'd pulled her lovely red hair away from her face using the elastic he'd been wearing around his wrist for the last few days. The new look highlighting her cheekbones, a feature he never really considered until they were tinged slightly pink as they were now.

"Are you cold?"  It was a sign of shock.  When the rush of adrenaline wore off it often left victims shivering.

Her eyebrows knitted together. "No. You?"

He shook his head. "Let's move."

They took the stairs slowly, Finn scanning for anything out of the ordinary.  When they reached the top, Finn stood guard as Emily gave the signal for the others to follow.

"We have a problem," Finn informed Campbell when he joined them. "There's a gap."

They could see the parking garage from their vantage point.  Across an open courtyard. Mid-day sunlight cast short shadows from the spaced pillars holding up the roof of the stone walkway To get there, they would be exposed.  No protection.

Both men looked at Officer Kim. "Is there another way?"

The young soldier shook his head, "Negative."

Finn's stomach dropped. They were going to have to risk it. Or retreat back to the basement and wait this thing out. Campbell's expression confirmed he was for moving forward. Finn concurred.

"I'll stay here and provide cover.  Campbell, you go first, then once we get everyone across, I'll follow."

Campbell was on the move before Officer Kim had a chance to protest. Without incident, he skipped across the open space making it safely to the hallway on the other side. Taking up a position, the experienced soldier pointed his gun and waved for the others to follow.

"Em, your turn."

"No."  Her hand slipped from his shoulder to the middle of his back.

"This isn't a negotiation."

"Agreed. I'm staying with you."  Before he could form more words or turn from his task of watching the perimeter, Emily was instructing Officer Kim to escort Valentia and her two daughters across.

"It'll be fine," Emily encouraged. Finn wasn't sure if it was intended for the others or him. Whichever, the small group made their way across the gap without incident.

"Now will you go?" When had he lost all control of this mission?

"Not without you."

"I'll be right behind you."

"Finn," her tone lost its confidence from moments before. "Come with me."

Was that fear in her voice? Finn kicked himself. Of course, Emily was afraid.  The way she had conducted herself, the confidence she projected was a credit to her.  But she had never been in a situation like this before.  That he knew of. Anyone would be frightened.  Hell, he was scared almost out of his mind.

Turning towards her, he took her hand in his. He squeezed it and repeated her words back to her, "It'll be fine."  A small smile was his reward. "Let's go."

They made it halfway across the gap before the first shot rang out.

Time slowed down and sped up, simultaneously. Campbell sighted a target and was firing in response, shells popping out of his gun. Raising his own firearm, Finn aimlessly pumped ammunition in the same general direction.

One of Valentia's daughters, Salome or Luciana, he wasn't sure, started wailing.

The end of the courtyard, where safety awaited them, seemed miles away.

Shoes pounding against the unforgiving ground as they ran for their lives.

Pieces of concrete flew into the air as more bullets sprayed the ground around them. Finn snatched Emily up off her feet and dove into the waiting safe space, both of them landing hard on the ground.

Then everything was gone except for the high-pitched ringing in his ears and Emily. She was lying on top of him, her thudding heart drumming against his chest. Fingers dug into his neck; forehead pressed against his cheek. She was shaking like a leaf in a hurricane.

Running his hands up and down her back as she had done to him earlier, he whispered, "Hey, we're okay."

Her hands uncoiled from his neck at a snail's pace and traced his face with a light caress. Soft lips found him, asking for reassurance.  Finn gladly gave it.

"We should move."

Campbell was right.  Whoever had shot at them might have other plans. Finn let go of Emily and helped her to her knees.

"Finn," she yelped, pointing to his stomach.  Looking down he saw a bright red spot.  Blood.

He didn't feel any pain, but Finn knew all to well from experience often there was a delayed reaction after being hit by a bullet.  Scrambling, he pulled up his shirt to assess the damage. 

There was no wound.

Eyes flickering to the same spot on Emily, a lump caught in his throat. On Emily's lower left side a larger red mark was spreading across her white shirt.  Emily followed his gaze and recognizing the implications of her matching and now growing stain, let out a little, "oh"

"No, no, no..." Finn clamped his hand over the injury and moved Emily into a lying position on the floor. Cold dread pressed down on him. Emily was hurt. This time it was real. He'd let her get shot. 

"Finn?" Her voice was like a timid child, small and unsure.

He couldn't look her in the eye, focusing on the wound instead. As he applied pressure, red liquid oozed through his fingers. "Campbell!"

His friend was already by his side, pulling items out of his pack. "We need to move her. See if there is an exit wound."

Finn dragged his attention away from his hands and met Emily face to face.  She was pale, lips pressed into a tight line, colourless eyes watching him. Yet she was calm.

Unlike him. Finn could feel the adrenaline assaulting his body, making him want to pick her up and run back to the base, to the medic.

Words he did not quite believe slipped from his lips. "Everything's going to be fine."

"I know." Her voice was thin but strong. He knew she didn't quite believe him either. Emily was being so courageous.  Finn swallowed.  If she could be brave, he could be too. They would be brave together.

Campbell swore and they both looked at him. "No exit wound." 

"What does...umm," Emily winced and Finn's heart skipped a beat, "...that mean?"

As Campbell opened a large square bandage and began applying it to the wound, Finn explained.  "The...," he forced the word out, "bullet is still inside."

"And that's bad..." There was now a slight tremor in her tone.

Finn cupped her cheek. "Not if we get you to a doctor in time."

"Which we're going to do now," Campbell confirmed. "Help me get her up."

Placing a hand behind her head, Finn helped Emily tilt up as Campbell tucked his arms underneath hers and standing her up without her having to bend. Emily wobbled and Finn swung her up into his arms. "Let's go."

Barely aware of the other's, Finn moved towards a row of parked SUVs. The closest stood running with all its doors standing open, Officer Kim in the driver's seat. 

Finn didn't know how or when Kim found the keys and he didn't care. Placing Emily in the back seat, he told her not to sit up. "It will aggravate the..." he couldn't finish the sentence.

Running around to the other side, Finn yelled, "Kim, get out.  Campbell's driving."

From inside the vehicle, Emily protested. "What about Valencia? We can't leave them."

Slamming his door shut, Finn slid into the seat beside Emily. Right now, he didn't give a care for anyone but her, yet he knew she wouldn't leave without the little family she'd rescued. Pulling her head into his lap, he ordered Kim to get the woman and her children into the back. "Tell them to get down as low as possible. We don't know what's out there."

Kim spat in Spanish as the family tumbled into the SUV and Campbell slammed doors shut.  After what seemed like hours the vehicle jolted to life and tires squealed as they raced out of the embassy.

"Em, stay with me." 

She blinked, silver irises seeming to focus on him. If she was getting tired, she was losing too much blood. He had to keep her awake. He racked his brain for something to say or do. As usual, Emily saved the day.

"Do you want children?"

"What?"

"We've never discussed it." Emily's hand traced his cheek, rubbing away something she found there.

"Yes. I... I want children."

"Did you ever think about having children with me?"

All the time. In his dreams. Whenever he was at Campbell's house watching his kids play with their father. When he saw her holding Valencia's toddler. Avoiding confirming he countered, "Did you?"

"Yes. I would daydream about a little girl with your blue eyes."

"And your auburn hair?" Finn brushed a few stray hairs off her forehead.

Emily smiled. "So, you did think about it."

Finn nodded.  "I imagined we had two girls and two boys."

"Four kids," Emily croaked.

"I want a big family, lots of people around. And with Lance and Beth's children, there will be cousins."

"Mary's too"

Finn rolled his eyes. "If you can find someone willing to procreate with her."

Emily ignored his comment. "I'd like to start with a girl."

"Don't you think we should get married first?"

A weak smile graced Emily's lips. "Finn Wainwright. Did you just propose to me?"

Her question caught him off guard.  He found himself admitting, "I did." His heart was pounding again this time in anticipation. "Would you... ever consider... want to marry me?"

Emily beamed at him, her eyes shining like diamonds. "Oh, that would be a yes, Capitan."

"Really?"

"Definitely."

Despite they were in a war zone... despite they were hurtling at break neck speed through a foreign city... despite everything wrong with this situation, in this moment Finn felt pure joy. And love. For Emily and from her. Emily Montgomery wished to be his wife, wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

They hit a bump and as the SUV lurched, Emily sucked in a breath while grabbing hold of his shirt. Finn immediately checked the white gauze covering her injury, his heart clenching at a small dark red patch starting to form. The elation he felt a moment ago evaporated in an instant.

Tearing his gaze away he studied the road ahead to assess their progress. "Campbell, how much further?"

"Almost there."

"Hold on Emily," Finn pleaded as he turned back to her.

But it wasn't likely Emily could hear his pleas.  She was unconscious.