A love to last

THE FIRST thing they heard was a distant yell. At first it could almost be shrugged off as distant bird call, but then the came the first shot and it was as if Pandora's box had been ripped open. Screams and gunshots filled the air and Kace froze, listening for a moment before aggressively shoving himself away from Freya's quivering body.

"Go see what the fuck is happening," he commanded one of his men, pushing him towards the door before turning to the two who held Falcon down. Kace's face was frightening, a crazed lust still coating his eyes as his gaze grazed over Freya before settling on Falcon and turning dark with murder.

"Don't let him move," he growled at the men.

Their grips tightened around Falcon's arms as if assuring themselves and him that there was no way he was getting out of their hold. He groaned in pain as his shoulders threatened to pop out of their sockets and one of the men dug their knee further into the back of his calf. He was completely immobilised, but the fear he saw on his girl's face hurt worse than any physical pain. He had to do something. Use this distraction as a chance; but not while Kace was still in the room. Kace stood at the door, creaking it open for a moment before listening. The indistinct yells still sounded a fair way off, so Kace leaned out the doorway, checking to see if the coast was clear.

His body seemed to freeze for a moment before he growled and launched himself out of the room. Harsh scuffs could be heard against the cement floors and the four people left inside waited, tension building inside of them as they awaited the outcome of the struggle. Suddenly, there was complete silence. Falcon's mouth parted in concentration as he strained to hear what was going on.

A strangled gurgle sounded and in a moment of uncertainty, the two men that held Falcon down mindlessly loosened their grip. Falcon didn't allow them a single second to realise their mistake; he ripped his arms from their grip, ignoring the burn it emitted in his shoulders. The men's heads snapped back towards him and Falcon lifted his fists as instinct took over.

Before his hit found its mark, the steel door to the room slammed open against the cement wall. The mood in the room turned icy as one of faces of Kace's men turned ashen. Falcon turned slowly, keeping his breathing as steady as possible as he faced the intruders.

He could have sagged in relief when a familiar face began to walk further into to the room. Michael surveyed his surroundings, his expression darkening when he took in the state of his daughter, unconscious on the ground.

Two officers in uniform followed Michael closely behind and immediately set their guns on Kace's men. The men backed off completely and Falcon wasted no time gathering Freya into his arms and standing, readying himself to leave.

The officers looked towards Michael for further instructions, their fingers still prepared to pull the trigger if eithter of the men moved. Michael gave them a single nod and they moved in closer, one lowering their gun to retrieve two sets of handcuffs from their belt.

"Let's go," Michael ordered gruffly. "We only cleared half the building, so be careful."

Michael turned on his heel and Falcon filed out behind him. He could still hear the distant shots of gunfire a way off, but luckily for his racing heart, Michael led them the opposite way. As they got further away, the steady beat of raindrops drowned out any lingering sounds and while it calmed Falcon, Freya's father seemed to be unsettled.

He began to mumble under his breath, his chest rising faster with each step closer to freedom. "Where are the bastards?" Michael cursed.

Falcon glanced down at the precious girl in his arms before eyeing his surroundings. "Let's just be grateful it's a clear path, yeah?" he said with an almost sarcastic tone.

Michael grunted in response before quickly stopping short, his arm shooting out to block Falcon's path. Falcon tried to listen for whatever it was that Michael had heard but the patter of raindrops clouded his senses and he couldn't hear anything more than that.

He began to become restless as their pause stretched and time flew by. Michael did nothing more than tilt his head in an attempt to hear what he had heard again.

"We need to keep going," Falcon hissed quietly.

Michael shot him a look, one finger covering his mouth. As soon as his attention slipped from the hall in front of him, a shot rang out, reverberating around the small space. Michael jumped into action, pushing Falcon and Freya behind him as he aimed his gun and fired into the seemingly empty space in front of them.

Gunfire began to fill the air, drowning out the sound of rain and sending Falcon's heart into overdrive. Michael turned his head in his direction, his gun still raised and firing.

"There's another way out down there," he jerked his head to a short hallway beside them that lead to a corner. He turned back to focus his aim as Falcon hesitated, unwilling to leave him behind.

Michael turned to see him still there and a snarl curled his lips. "Get out!" he yelled at Falcon. "Go!"

Without his permission, Falcon's feet began moving towards the hallway and away from the firing line. He heard yells and cries, but had no clue as to which one was possibly Michael. All he could do was keep running. His breathing was harsh with panic, more so for the girl in his arms than himself, but he was determined that he would get her out of there alive, even at the cost of his own life.

He turned a second corner and could see the open door that lead straight outside, but his attention was soon stolen by a figure who waited with his gun raised at the pair. Falcon stopped short, panting for air as he stared at Kace, waiting for his next move.

"You know," Kace began. "This could have all been avoided if you had just listened to me little brother."

Falcon's nostrils flared with his anger, but he didn't grace him with a response, keeping his attention on the gun that was still pointed in their direction. Kace paused for a moment before chuckling.

"Hey, I get it," he held out his arms in a surrendering gesture. "I'm not exactly model material for you to follow, but I'm a hell lot better than that father of ours."

Falcon let out an amused breath. "At least he never tried to get me hooked on drugs while selling them or left me to pay for his mess," Falcon shrugged. "But hey, I hate you both equally." Kace grinned, his gun still thankfully aimed away from them at this point. "Naturally," he commented. "After all, I just tried to help my little brother out in the big bad world and daddy just beat you until you couldn't breath. Definitely just as bad as each other."

Falcon was beginning to grow frustrated at the conversation, his nerves on edge as he glanced towards the gun in Kace's hand. Kace noticed his gaze and his smile widened.

"Don't worry," he said with feigned nonchalance. "I'm going to give you your one last chance before I decide whether or not to pull the trigger on you."

Falcon's heart jumped to his throat, but he didn't show it. He glanced around the room, searching in vain for some other way out, but he knew the only way was through his brother.

"Well?" Kace pushed for an answer. "What do you say, Falcon? Want to spare the life of your little doll?"

Kace glanced down at the girl in his arms, a faux pout unnaturally forming on his lips. "Or would you prefer to get the both of you killed?" he aimed his gun back at the pair. "Time's ticking, brother."

Falcom knew that the second he stepped in any direction without answering him, he would get a shot to the head. There was nowhere for him to go. He was trapped.

"Three..." Kace began counting down, the glee in his eyes growing with every syllable that escaped his mouth.

"Two..."

Falcon held Freya closer to his body, his head resting on top of her own. He felt useless, as he usually did. Once again, there was nothing he could do. Once again Freya's life had to be placed on the line for his mistakes.

He wasn't a religious man in any respect, but in that moment he prayed. He prayed so hard for some kind of miracle to happen. For someone to save Freya.

Kace's lips parted to utter the last number, but before he could get the word out, there was the sound of a small explosion. His face turned shocked, paling of any previous colour as blood began to bloom from his chest. He stood completely still, arms still raised, but then his eyes turned glassy and his body sagged, unable to keep him upright.

A push to Falcon's shoulder came from behind him and he turned to see the bloodied face of Michael.

"What the hell are you looking at, boy?" he growled, passing him to fast walk out the door. "Let's go."

Falcon didn't waste another moment and quickly followed suite. Michael had made it outside but the second before Falcon passed the threshold of the house, the last shot rang out. Falcon ducked out of instinct, his brisk walk breaking into a run as he followed after Freya's father. He ignored the slight burning in his back, catching up to Michael as he swung himself into the back of a police van. He motioned for Falcon to hand over Freya and he did so before climbing into the back as well. He rested against the wall as the doors closed and the drive began. He thought the burning would leave as he relaxed, but it only seemed to grow as his breathing grew laboured. He reached behind him to feel what had happened, the motion made an unbearable pain erupt from the spot and he hissed as his fingers touched his lower back. He drew his hand back and with blackening vision, he could see the blood that coated his fingers. A curse joined the sounds of his pained grunts and he looked up with the little energy he had left.

"You've been shot," Michael raised his gruff voice. He pulled himself over to where Falcon was sitting, pushing his back forward to inspect the damage.

"I'll be fine," Falcon let out a hiss of pain.

Something inside of him told him that he was wrong. He was so wrong. Black spots were filling his vision and he could physically feel the energy being drained out of him.

"Lie down you stupid boy," Michael growled and pushed him to lie on his side.

Falcon rolled onto his stomach, the pain filling every sense as words became muffled. He could

hear Michael yelling something, but the sound of blood rushing through his ears drowned out

his voice. He just wanted to sleep.

His eyes slowly closed, his breathing slowing as exhaustion took over his body. Finally, the pain disappeared as darkness completely took over his vision.

His heartbeat slowed to a halt.

His breathing stopped.

And then there was nothing.