It had been six weeks since Phoenix. True to her word, Annabeth had made arrangements after being released from the hospital and promptly moved to California to be with him. Together, they had finished the little bungalow, and last week moved in together. He could never describe the joy at waking up with her in his arms every day.

Hick pushed thoughts of her to the back of his mind. Now was not the time to lose focus. The mission they were on was far too important.

"Eyes on Fedora; second floor, northeast corner."

Railroad's voice filled the earpiece. Hick's hands tightened on the assault rifle as he took several cleansing breaths. A deep sense of righteous satisfaction flooded him with the words. This time, al-Bashir would not be getting away. One way or another, this all ended tonight. It was rather ironic that his greatest bid to hurt the United States had lead to this moment. It seems al-Bashir had sent one of his most trusted lieutenants to supervise the operation and had been caught sneaking over the Canadian border. It had taken time, but he had cracked. They now had more intel on the number one terrorist's activities than they ever had before including the location of his favorite safe house.

"Move into position," Bruiser murmured.

Cowboy, Finch, Abe, and Benny broke away, moving to the right until they disappeared on the left side of the wall. Likewise, Cookie, Wolf, and Toad moved to the right and faded into the darkness around the corner. That left Hick, Dude, Mozart, and Bruiser to take the main door opposite.

Once everyone was in place, the signal was given, and they all moved in.

The courtyard was quiet, and it took less than three seconds for Railroad to put the sentries down from his position on an outcropping rock overlooking the site. They had already dispatched the three men guarding the nest where Railroad now waited with his sniper rifle trained on the compound. As the last one crumpled to the hard packed sand, he affirmed the coast was clear.

Hick placed one hand on Bruiser's back as he felt Mozart do the same behind him. They would stay in constant contact once the lights were cut by Wolf's team. The twilight swallowed them as they advanced through the previously lit pools to the doorway looming in the distance. Quickly, Dude slapped charges to the hinge side of the door and motioned for everyone to move back. "Set," he murmured into his mic.

"Charges set," Cowboy whispered through the coms.

"Surveillance down," Toad confirmed.

"Everything's clear," Railroad replied.

"Go," Bruiser gave the command in a low monotone.

The silence of the compound was shattered as twin explosions ripped through the air and the compound was plunged into darkness. Hick flipped his tactical goggles down over his eyes. It took seconds for the eerie green glow to stabilize, and they were breaching the complex.

 Moving as one, the unit poured into the house and spread out in the main living area. This looked more like what they had come to expect from the terrorist. Although everything was washed in the dull monotone green, they could tell it contained expensive furniture, wall hangings, and even tiled floors.

The area was in a state of chaos. Women screamed, and children cried as panic took them. A wide-eyed woman wearing traditional garb sprinted by them, but Dude grabbed her and pulled her kicking body against his. She began to stammer in her native language and pointing.

"The only word I can make out is 'baby,'" Hick's voice rose over the noise.

"Yeah, found them. We've got children," Abe's voice in their ears confirmed. "Six. Intel says there should be three more."

"We don't want this turning into a bloodbath," Wolf barked. "We have three minors somewhere in the building. Abe, you and Finch, stay with the kids. Dude, take her to them."

"Roger," the others answered.

A set of stairs materialized at the back of the large room. The thud of heavy footsteps echoed in the room as two men ran down, guns blazing in their hands. With two well-placed shots from Mozart and Hick, they fell and slid the final three steps. Hick grabbed one by the collar and pulled him out of the way. The rest of the team except for Abe and Finch assembled and quickly sprinted up the stairs and stepped out onto a landing. Another armed guard appeared and fired at them and was quickly dispatched.

Using hand signals, they split into two and took each side of the hallway. Systematically, they worked their way down the rows of rooms until only one was left. Hick knew from the sketched floor plan; this was Fedora's bedroom and office.

Wolf checked the knob and found the door locked. Hick slung his rifle to his back and dropped to his knees, pulling out a small kit from one of the pockets of his uniform. It took less than five seconds to pick the lock and return to his position behind the others.

With a kick of his booted foot, Wolf led the team into the room. They spread out along the wall as several voices screamed. Hick slapped the googles off his eyes as light flared to life on the other side of the room. Emergency lanterns bathed the area in a soft glow. What they saw made Hick want to curse.

Haafiz al-Bashir stood surrounded by several women and three children. He glared at the intruders as his black eyes danced maniacally in the flickering light. One of the women stood in front of him, his hand wrapped in her hair and her head pulled back. Her almond-shaped eyes were wide with terror as she glanced at the approaching men.

"Stop."

The words reached them easily. The man dubbed as Fedora by the task force and later identified as The Left Hand of Allah spat them at the intruders as he hid behind the woman. Quickly, he raised a wicked knife and pressed it against the woman's throat. A hiss rose from her lips as he nicked the surface and a drop of blood trickled down her dusky throat to saturate the translucent gown she wore.

"She's one of your wives. I don't think you want to hurt her." Wolf's tone was low and even from behind the sites of his assault rifle.

"She is but a woman - one that has disappointed and given me only worthless girl children. There are many more to replace her," he spat back angrily in his heavily accented tone. "I will have many more wives and many more sons. It is Allah's will."

"Can't father sons when you're dead," Wolf's reply was steady.

"Then I will have my seventy-two virgins and sit at Allah's side," he snapped. Quickly, before anyone could react, the knife plunged into the woman's throat, and he tossed her bleeding body aside. Screams filled the room as the other woman bolted with her hands covering her head. As she sprinted past, Benny snagged her and took her out of the room.

Grabbing one of the children, Fedora pulled her close to his body, wrapping an arm around her waist and lifting her until she covered his face. As before, the knife was pressed against her throat threateningly.

"Let the girl go."

"She is mine to do with as I wish."

Hick's memory of Annabeth being held in the same manner filled his mind. This man, hiding like a coward behind a twelve-year-old little girl was responsible for so many deaths. He was responsible for almost taking Annabeth from him. Hick's hand tightened on his rifle, causing the tactical gloves to squeak. There was no way in hell this bastard was getting away again.

"Last warning. Let. Her. Go." Wolf's voice was low and even.

"You will not risk harming her. "

Wolf grinned at him. "You'll be surprised what we'll risk."

The sound of suppressed fire reached them in the room. Reflexively, Fedora turned his head, glancing at the window in the direction of the noise. When he did, the girl's body dropped a few inches, and his profile emerged over the top of her covered head. It was all they needed.

Gunfire filled the room along with the terrified screams of the children. Hick dropped his assault rifle, allowing it to swing from his shoulder by the strap. He caught the little girl that had fled towards him in his arms. She struggled, but he held her gently. Dropping to his knees, he murmured soft words to her, telling her she was safe, stroking her long dark hair tenderly. The child finally understood these men were not going to harm her and threw her arms around Hick's neck, burying her face against his chest as she cried and spoke in rapid Arabic. He didn't know what she was saying, but it didn't matter. Gently he lifted her in his arms and followed Cookie and Cowboy back down to the main room. Each was carrying one of the three girls. Wolf, Bruiser, and Toad remained in the bedroom, documenting the kill and taking DNA and photographic evidence.

Hick followed Dude as he led them back to the room containing the children. They were huddled in the center of the room around the two women sitting on the floor. Hick deposited the girl in the woman's arms and stepped back. Cookie and Cowboy handed off their charges as well.

None of the team had been hurt, and only one innocent had died. Hick's heart ached for the poor woman Fedora had killed, but that was on him. Hick liked to think it had been his bullet that had killed the bastard but they would never know for sure. The three holes in his skull were so closely grouped it there as no telling who had taken the kill shot. In the end, it didn't matter. The man responsible for so much death and destruction was gone. He thought seeing the mastermind behind the plan that had almost gotten Annabeth killed lying on the floor dead would be satisfying. Instead, he felt a sense of sadness for he knew that other monsters would surely rise to take his place. They had won this battle, but the war was far from over.

"Let's finish up and go home," Bruiser said as the lights were re-established in the building.

Hick couldn't have said it better.