The lights' intensity added to the pounding in his temples and his eyes flickered as he fought off the pain. When more light hit him in the eye, he winced and felt a cool cloth placed over his eyes. A small scent of perfume made him slowly open his eyes again and all he saw was the cool cloth on top. He tried to pull the cloth off, but a hand held it in place. Then a prick told him a needle had been inserted into his arm and he growled.

The hand slowly removed the cloth and he found himself looking straight up at the lights on the ceiling. When he winced, he heard a soft chuckle and then the cloth was laid over his eyes again. The pounding in his head began to lessen and he knew that drugs had been injected to kill the pain.

Then he felt warm breath on his ear and heard, "You might try to fake unconsciousness if you want to recover without going through interrogation."

His jaw tightened and he growled, "Back off."

The hand quickly removed something attached to his arm and he growled, "Do that again and I will kill you."

Another chuckle reached his ear and he removed the cloth in time to see her face disappearing from sight. His hand snatched her wrist and he jerked her back into view as his eyes finished readjusting. Her red hair was pulled back except for two strands that hung along the sides of her face and held a little of curl. The skin his eyes ran over was smooth, soft, and somewhat dark. What caught his gaze the most was her rich green eyes that when the light struck just right began to turn to blue.

She met his gaze and said, "Let go."

His eyes fell closed and said, "It's not going to happen. Tell me what's going on."

Her eyes fell onto the scar and she said, "We found you in the river a week ago. We brought you here to receive treatment for hypothermia and apparently the drugs Tammy's been putting in you has paid off."

He loosened his grip on her wrist and said, "That doesn't answer my question."

She shrugged and said, "I honestly don't care. Besides, I have a question for you."

He opened his eyes slightly and said, "I'm not going to answer it."

With a roll of the eyes, she asked, "How did you get that scar?"

His eyes closed and he said, "Woke up and had it."

She smirked and asked, "Weren't you not going to help me out?"

A low growl reached her ear and she dampened the cloth in the bowl next to the bed. She saw him watching her from the corner of his eye and she sent him a smirk to get him riled. When she saw him look away, she placed the cover over his eyes and let her eyes drift over his healing wounds.

Her eyes returned to the lion on his shoulder and she asked, "Do you know what it stands for and who wore it last?"

A slight smirk crossed his face and he said, "I know who wore it and why."

She looked into his opened eyes and said, "That man was the man that started our organization."

His smirk disappeared and he said, "That man was killed by the man he fought against."

Her hand slowly rested on top of his covered eyes and she asked, "Did you know him?"

His hand pulled hers away and he said, "Only through tales."

She knew she had all she'd get out of him for the day and asked, "Feel up to eating for some food?"

He stayed quiet and she said, "I'll get you something, and if you don't eat it's your loss."

Then she got to her feet and walked over to the door. When she opened it, she looked back over her shoulder and saw him just lying there. The moment she stepped into the hall, she saw Tammy heading her way and she rolled her eyes. The woman never gave up in her questioning of the man's health. She left the door and quickly headed to her apartment.

It took five minutes to reach her place and when she was safe within her home, she locked the door. Then she walked over to a couch and let herself collapse onto it. When her eyes fell closed, she laid a hand over her head and let out a deep sigh. The image of the man still stayed there and now his voice echoed in her head. She heard a knock on her door and sat up just as the door opened.

When Buck walked in, she let him lock the door and then she got to her feet. They met halfway and he planted a rough kiss on her lips while his arms snaked around her waist. She kissed him on the nose and he let out a rough growl just before he picked her up. They moved to the bedroom and he sat her on the bed while he walked into the bathroom. She heard the shower start and let out a sigh while getting to her feet.

Then she slipped out of the bedroom and quickly left her apartment. When she entered the hallway, she let out a sigh and started to the wreck room. As she walked, she could hear people talking about her, she just shoved it off. The instant she was in the wreck room, she found her locker and grabbed her outfit from within. Then she changed in the back locker room and started her daily workout.

IJKL

When the door closed, he opened his eyes and looked around the room. There was still no sign of the other doctor and that meant one thing. He quickly removed the IV from his right hand and hopped off the table. At first he was dizzy, but the spell past quickly and he made his way over to a locker room off the right side of the room. His eyes scanned all the clothes until he found a clean spare pair that'd work until he was out of this place.

Slowly he changed into the clothes and folded his up while walking out of the room. The instant he stepped into the hall, he felt all eyes move onto him and he walked down the hall. When he passed a window on his right, something caught his eye and he turned to the window. He watched her work on her punches and kicks with some guy and a smirk played with his mouth. The guy was knocked onto the mat quickly and apparently surrendered because she helped him up.

The guy nodded and said something before he disappeared into the back of the room. His eyes returned back to the woman and he watched her rub her neck while approaching a sink. When she looked in a mirror, he saw something in her eyes that made him hesitate to keep going. Then she rolled her shoulder and he watched as she worked something out of her arm. She winced in pain and he slipped into the wreck room without her noticing it.

When he saw her look back in the mirror he waited for her to notice him. She caught sight of him and spun around only to catch him walking out the door. His feet took him down the hall until he reached the final door to the exit. Then he heard soft footsteps and looked over his shoulder just as she stopped in front of him. He sent her a cold look in hopes for her to leave him alone, but she only stepped closer and began to examine his right shoulder.

Her fingers were gentle as she checked his almost healed wounds on his arm and he looked around to see if anyone was watching. To his annoyance, he found everyone watching them and one straggler running through the crowd straight for them. When the guy was practically on top of them, something flashed in his eyes and he jerked away from her. Then he spun on his heels and quickly ran out of the building. He could hear people running after him, but with his training he lost them without any problems.

IJKL

As the rain fell down the window, it calmed some of her tight muscles and she fell back on her bed. When his arm wrapped around her waist, she slowly looked at him and knew what he was thinking. His hand ran through her hair and she closed her eyes. His lips brushed her cheek and nose while his free hand started to tickle her. She smirked and fought his hand away in order to be able to breath.

He kissed her neck and asked, "Has Jeff called a meeting for our new assignments yet?"

She shook her head and said, "Not that I know of, but I haven't been in much to know if he had or not."

His eyes flashed and he said, "I know. I guess Tammy is still running you hard on finding our run-away."

His tone was harsh and she said, "There's something about that guy that may hold the key of finding out what our next step as this organization is suppose to be."

He chuckled and said, "As long nothing else comes out of it."

She rolled her eyes and said, "You know that isn't going to happen."

When his mouth claimed hers again, she wrapped her hands around his neck and said, "Don't change the subject."

Then he kissed her again and said, "I'm not. I'm just ending this topic."

Another kiss had her giving into him and she smirked as his kisses trailed down to her neck. He leaned over her and ran his kisses up her nose to each of her eyes. She felt her muscles slip into relaxation and she let out a sigh. His hand brushed some hair from her face and he whispered against her neck. She looked up at him and he smirked.

IJKL

The group huddled over a blueprint of a building and one person pointed to several entrances and escapes. Something clinked in the shadows and the man looked up at one young woman. She nodded and slipped out of the circle with her hand setting her gun. When she disappeared from the light, she quickly changed courses and found an empty room far out of hearing rang. Then she flipped open her phone and dialed the same number as always.

Her eyes kept looking for anyone approaching as she waited for someone to pick up on the other end of the line. When she heard Jeff, she relaxed slightly and listened to the coordinates of her approaching team. She relayed back to him the information he needed and then she hung up. Then she put her phone up and slipped out of the room to examine for anyone that might have heard her. Once everything looked as normal, she made her way back to the circle waiting for her team to break in on the party.

The head guy looked at her and asked, "Well?"

She shrugged and said, "Nothing."

He looked slightly doubtful and then the skylight shattered as her team dropped into the room on cords. Her gun was instantly out and she held the man in his place as Buck approached.

He looked at the man and said, "Well, well. I guess we can always count on you to give us some trouble, can't we Lionel?"

The man snorted and asked, "How did you know?"

Buck glanced at Casey and said, "We sent this young woman in when our surveillance brought up some activity going on around here. Of course Casey never lets us down."

Lionel sent her a strange look and she said, "Just doing my job. Oh and for your information, you are way too gullible."

Buck chuckled and watched her walk over to the back door. She slipped out of sight and he turned back to Lionel. The man was fuming from this stunt and he quickly bound him before he could do anything. Then Casey returned and had a bag in her left arm. She walked past the two and one of her men handed her the proper equipment for her to slip around her waist.

When she secured the cord to her waist, she looked at Buck and said, "Gather them up."

He nodded and jerked Lionel over to the door while shouting, "Let's go. Cops are outside waiting."

The men joined him and that allowed Casey to give a tug on her cord to signal that she was ready. When the cord began to re-track up onto the roof, she shifted the bag in her arm and watched as the men slipped out into the sunlight. As soon as she reached the roof, she unfastened the cord from her waist and walked over to the Learjet waiting for her. Jeff met her at the door and took the bag as she walked back to the rear of the jet to change into more comfortable clothing.

As she walked back to the cockpit, she heard Jeff ask, "How did Lionel handle the break in?"

She heard Buck chuckle and then he said, "You should ask Casey. She was the one mingling with the man personally."

That was her cue and she walked into the cockpit while saying, "I'd think he took it rather well considering he was blabbering senselessly to himself when the break in occurred."

Jeff chuckled and said, "Exactly what I wanted."

She sat in the chair next to Buck and asked, "What's the next move?"

Buck nodded and said, "We can only hold him for so long before we have to give proof to why we have him."

He ran his hand across his chin and said, "We'll figure that out when we get to Luxemburg."

Casey sighed and said, "Germany won't solve our problems or provide us with information."

Buck looked at her and asked, "What are you talking about?"

She stood and said, "We were given a tip by an anonymous agent from the German branch of our business. It's not like we get along with them in the first place."

Jeff nodded and said, "You have a point, but it doesn't allow us to break our code of respect by brushing this tip off."

Casey shrugged and said, "I have somewhere I need to be."

Then she left to the rear of the jet and Jeff said, "She'ss rather up tight. I take it the hunt for our mystery guy is not going all to well."

Buck sighed and said, "You're correct. It's so frustrating to see how hard Tammy is running her too. The woman is hardly home and rarely sleeps."

Jeff rubbed his chin as he thought and then he asked, "What are they looking for?"

He leaned back in his chair and said, "Apparently this guy has a scar that resembles the one of Chris Timmons."

The name made his eyes snap to the man's gaze and he asked, "What?"

Buck shrugged and said, "I don't get it either, but these two women are about to break sir."

Jeff sighed and asked, "So what do you want me to do? Remove them from this mission when we are about to complete the task at hand?"

He growled and said, "I don't know, and honestly I don't care what you do with Tammy. I just want Casey to be able to get some of the sleep she has lost over this new guy."

He quickly stood and left the cockpit before Jeff could argue at his outburst. It took him five minutes to reach the very rear of the jet. When he stepped into the bunker, he saw Tammy examining a book of some sort while Casey worked on a pc and talked into a phone. Slowly he stepped closer and started to make out what Tammy was examining. Then he picked up on what Casey was talking about and he smirked as he heard her pull rank on the poor victim.

When she hung up, she groaned and he asked, "Feeling better yet?"

She sat on her bunk and said, "I was until this bozo decided he'd get smart and stopped cooperating."

He chuckled and said, "Tammy, please give us a few minutes. I'd suggest going to see Jeff and asking for you two to be sent back home or at least removed from the main mission while you are still working on this one."

Tammy nodded and said, "Sure will."

When she left and the door closed, Buck sat next to Casey on the bed and started a massage on her shoulders. She let out a quiet moan and he placed a kiss on each side of her neck.

Then he held her in his lap and said, "Get some rest. You are beyond exhaustion and if you push yourself any longer you will get ill."

She leaned her head back on his shoulder and said, "I have a mission to complete, but I do need my rest."

He chuckled and said, "Glad to know you're listening to me. Now, get some sleep."

Gently he laid her on her back and pulled the blanket up around her while he brushed his hand through her hair. She sighed and he kissed her cheek before he got to his feet. When he walked to the door, she rolled onto her side and pulled the blanket further around her. Her eyes closed just as he looked back at her and he smirked before he stepped out into the hall. Once she was alone, her mind slowly slipped into the dream world.

IJKL

The gunfire echoed as his legs carried him through the sewer and the water splashed up his legs with each step he took. A ladder came into his view and he raced straight for it. He quickly climbed up the ladder and covered the exit just as the bullets entered the area. With his pulse pounding, he got up to his feet and heard a scream. He quickly moved to a door and stepped into the dark hall.

The sound of the scream hurt his ears and he walked to the banquet room like a predator. When he looked inside he saw the woman being held by the neck and the man held back firmly. A knife was shoved into his stomach and the man fell onto the ground. The woman winced in pain and he quickly took down the intruder harming her. She looked at him and ran to the body on the floor.

With her arms around the dead, she broke into pieces and then a shot echoed through the darkness. He felt something burn in his back and looked at the woman. Her eyes of tears were wide in fear and then another shot echoed. Slowly he stumbled and saw the intruder behind the woman. He reached out to the woman just as the knife went across her tender neck.

He fell onto the floor and watched the man make his way over to him. The man looked at the two bodies nearby and started to chuckle. He lifted the weapon in his hand, but the man stepped on his shoulder. In pain, he tried shoving the man off with a kick but he was knocked upside the head. His head fell to the side.

IJKL

She jerked wake instantly and sat up in bed. With sweat running down her back, she felt a cold chill race up her spine as that face flashed before her eyes again.

'It couldn't be a coincidence. That was him, but what was going on and how the hell am I dreaming this?'

Slowly her eyes refocused and she saw a glass of cold water sitting on a table next to her bed. She carefully picked it up and took a deep breath before she began drinking down the liquid. When the glass was empty, she placed it back on the table and gently laid back down. As her eyes fell closed, she pulled her blanket up around her again and felt her muscles return to sleep mode.

The next time she woke, she looked around the bunker and found that she was still the only in the room. With a sigh, she pulled the blanket further around her and tried to get some more sleep. Her intentions were interrupted as the door opened and Buck slipped into the bunker. When he saw her awake, he quit trying to be stealth and sat on the side of the bed. Then he leaned over and placed a kiss on her cheek, but instead of continuing he pulled back.

Casey looked directly at him and he asked, "You're sick?"

She sighed and said, "Guess so, but I might see what Tammy thinks."

He nodded and said, "That's best."

Then she sat up and asked, "What's going on?"

Buck sighed and said, "We're almost in Luxemburg and Jeff has rebuked any chances of letting you off the mission. Now, I've been thinking. If you are this ill when we land, maybe this will convince Jeff to let you off. Germany has an amazing doctor that might be able to help you."

She stifled a cough and said, "Like that'd convince Jeff. I'd have to be dying in order to get off this mission."

He nodded and said, "That's what I'm afraid of."

She smirked and said, "Don't worry, Buck. I'm not going to be dying any time soon."

IJKL

He studied the instruments and focused on landing on the strip ten feet below the jet. His right earpiece picked up their conversation all too well and he made his mind stay on track. They didn't need him to lose his temper and cause the jet to come crashing down onto the landing strip. When the door opened behind the two seats, he sent one glance back and saw Buck making his way up to his seat. The man seemed rather self-occupied and that allowed him some peace before his temper finally snapped.

After a few minutes of silence, Buck said, "You know she's sick and you know she needs to go to the doctor as soon as we get there."

He glanced at the instruments and said, "I cannot worry about that until we are in the base. It is the only way to make sure we are still welcomed."

Buck looked straight at him and asked, "What the hell is wrong with you, Jeff? This isn't like you at all!"

Jeff glanced at him and said, "Do not question the mission or my orders. Now, help me land this jet so we can continue-"

Something hit the left wing of the jet and caused it to jerk to the right. He grunted as he fought the jet back into landing position and within a few minutes, the Learjet was on the landing strip. He quickly unfastened his harness and removed his headphones. Then he got out of his seat and left the jet to inspect the damage. As he looked over the left wing, he found Buck right behind him.

He groaned and sighed, "Fine. Take Casey to the doctor and then report back."

Buck nodded and quickly ran back to the ladder to climb onboard. When he reached the bunker, he saw Tammy quickly packing up the equipment and Casey forcing herself to keep working. The instant she hung up her phone, she staggered backwards and he quickly moved over to her. He caught her before she fell and turned around to find Tammy watching through a physician's eye. Casey let out a quiet moan and he picked her up to get her off her feet.

Then he turned to Tammy and said, "I need you to finish packing all this up. We have to get going."

Tammy approached them and asked, "Casey, how long have you been feeling ill?"

Her eyes fell closed and she mumbled, "A week."

Tammy sighed and Buck quickly walked around her. He felt the arm around his neck slip slightly and he looked down at Casey. She was either in a restless sleep or she had lost consciousness, but he wasn't going to wait to find out. When he left the plane, he found a car waiting for them and they quickly drove to the medic section of the headquarters. The instant they pulled up to the drive, Buck got out with Casey in his arms and found the doctor waiting for them.

The man looked over Casey and said, "I need to get her into the ER so I can stabilize her and find out what's going on inside."

Casey moaned quietly and Buck said, "Just lead the way."

In a matter of minutes they were in the ER and the doctor had Casey lying in the middle of the room with some fluids flowing into her body. Buck looked over the chart at the end of the bed and the doctor led him out into the hall.

When they were out of the room, the doctor said, "She's rather lucky right now to even alive. Even for a virus, her system is rather low. How much has Jeff had her working and how long has she on this one case?"

Buck sighed and said, "The guy took off last year and they started looking for him as soon as he had. Plus, Jeff made her work on another assignment each week."

The doctor sighed and said, "I wish I knew what to do, but we're at a dead end. Let's just pray things don't take a turn for the worst."

Buck nodded and then something shook the building foundation, throwing the two men off their feet. They fell into the wall and he quickly fumbled onto his feet. When he reached the ER, he found the nurses getting up slowly and then his eyes fell on her. Casey was lying on her side unconscious and he quickly raced over to her side. With her in his arms, he got up and left the room.

His feet took him down the hall until he heard a gun click further up ahead. He looked down at Casey and then his eyes moved down the hall. Smoke made it impossible to make out the faces, but he could tell three men stood ready to shoot at his next step.

"This sure isn't my day."

IJKL

His eyes narrowed as he felt his men shift to fire on the two coming their way. Then he saw who was in the man's arms and his eyes traveled over her face to see how much pain she was in. With a quiet step, he made his way up behind the man and hit the butt of his gun on the man's neck. The man groaned as he stumbled and this allowed him the chance to snatch the woman from his grasp. When he held her in his arms, he watched the man fall onto the floor as he muttered a curse and then he led his men out of there.

PGS