The waiting runners all glanced up at the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps. Kip Prescott raised his gun, but then just as quickly lowered it. “It’s Rae and Tate.”

 

"And the new guy." Lara Cassidy went on alert.

 

Iris stilled her hand, to keep her runner from putting a bullet into the man she knew to be Nick Farrington. “He’s alright.”

 

Rae slid to a stop in front of them, a young girl in her arms. “Alarms are going off inside. The Agents know they’ve been breached. We need to move.” She handed off the weakened girl. “And someone get her some water. She’s severely dehydrated.”

 

Lara rushed forward, settling the girl into the front seat of her truck. “Where are the others?”

 

“They should be right behind us.” Rae cast a worried glance back in the direction she came while Tate and Kip boosted several rescues into the bed of the waiting trucks, encouraging others into the backseats.

 

“Come on now, sweet ones, that’s it.” Iris herded a group of four young teens into the bed of Lara’s truck. “There we go. Gonna get you somewhere safe.” Iris tossed Nick the extra keys. “Take the fourth truck and follow the others.”

 

“Where is Reese?” Rae asked.

 

Iris scanned the thick copse of trees, looking out to where Gideon’s meeting point had been, then nodded. “He’ll be with your brother.”

 

“How-“

 

Iris shushed her and got into her own truck, readying herself for the straggling rescues she knew were coming. “You pull the Bronco up to the tree line. They’ll need a quick ride out.”

 

 

“There you are, kids.” Gideon’s voice was as refreshing as cold water on a hot burn, and Jared wanted to close his eyes and weep at the sound of it. “Keep it comin’, that’s it. Almost there.” He motioned to the last of the rescues to keep moving.

 

Jared looked over his shoulder and saw Declan fire at two female Agents bearing down on them.

 

“Go with Gideon, Jare. Take the rescues out of here.” Declan expelled his pistol’s clip and shoved in another. “I’ll hold them off for as long as it takes.”

 

“But-“

 

“Jared!” Declan grabbed him by the back of the neck, pressing their foreheads together. “This is it. This is the job. You take those kids with Gideon and get them into a goddamn truck. They need you, Jare, you got me?”

 

Jared reached up with his good arm and clamped his hand around Declan’s shoulder. “Yeah. I got you.”

 

“Go.” Declan gave him a push, his steel grey eyes searing a promise into Jared’s golden ones. “I’ll catch up. Help them out, Jare, go!” He spun back around to cover their six, taking cover behind a sturdy oak.

 

Jared moved behind Cody, shielding the boy from any incoming fire as he moved the last few teens out of the woods with Gideon.

 

Two hundred yards later, Rae met them on the outskirts of the tree line, hustling to help Gideon load the remaining rescues into Iris’s truck.

 

Cody refused to get in, instead grabbing onto Jared’s hand. “You’re coming?”

 

Jared eased the boy away from him, his heart pinching at the fear that was still in the young rescue’s eyes. “I-“

 

“Come on, bébé.” Iris gestured to the front passenger seat, giving Cody a soft smile. “You come sit on up here with me.” Jared could see instantly the calming effect she had on the boy, but still the kid didn’t get into the truck.

 

“Th-thank you.” Cody threw himself against Jared. “For sav-saving me. Us.”

 

Jared’s eyes watered at the pain the kid’s action had caused, but he lifted his good arm and gave Cody a hug in return. “You’re safe with Iris. She’ll take care of you.” He nudged Cody into the front seat, and lifted a hand as they pulled away.

 

“Hey.” Rae held out her arm to Jared, beckoning him towards the Bronco. “For shits sake, Jare, get in the car before you pass out.”

 

Jared shook his head, the movement threatening his rising nausea. “No.” Jared turned back towards the trail, headed for the riverbank where he had last seen Declan. And Reese, where was Reese?

 

“And you think you aren’t like us Coopers.” Rae rolled her eyes. “Stubborn as hell.” She grabbed onto his left arm, halting his progress. “Don’t even think about it.”

 

 

This section of the trail had thicker tree cover, but steeper and more slippery ground the closer he got to the riverbank. Declan watched his footing, keeping one eye on his brother and the rescues headed towards safety with Gideon while keeping one ear cocked for more Agent movement.

 

He whirled around, firing two shots into a blond Agent coming up on his right. He could see three more coming behind her, and if Declan could lead them closer to the water, he’d be taking them off of Jared’s tail and could pick them off in one small cluster.

 

“Hey!” He called out, tuning them into his position. “Looking for someone?”

 

Declan counted on all three Agents shifting course to head towards him. He counted on having to dodge the bullets that were sent his way, relying on the dense tree cover and his visibility advantage to anticipate their direction.

 

What he didn’t count on was stepping onto a patch of slippery, muddy leaves that sent him stumbling backwards. He shoved his pistol into his pants as his arms flailed out on either side of his body, fighting for traction as he slid down the steep riverbank.

 

“Shit.” Declan finally found purchase on a thick tree root sticking out from the ground, and he quickly wrapped his left arm around the only thing saving him from falling onto the jutting rocks amidst the crashing current below.

 

The rushing water made it hard to hear the Agent’s approach, and their continued gunfire gave him little comfort seeing as he now had zero shelter against an impending ambush.

 

“Damn leaves.” Declan wiped his hand on his pants, trying to get rid of the slick blood now leaking from various cuts thanks to his fall. Tightening his hold on the tree root, he reached down with a hand that he refused to admit was shaking and pulled his pistol from his cargoes.

 

He may go down, but dammit he’d go down shooting.

 

Declan held his breath at the footsteps rustling the ground above him. His left shoulder was burning from the exertion of holding onto the root, but he kept his breathing even, measured, and quiet.

 

Come on, you bastards, he thought. Give me the satisfaction of killing at least one of you before I die.

 

He tightened his grip on his gun as the sound of footsteps got closer and closer.

 

“Hey there, handsome.” Reese Slater poked his head over the small cliff. “Come here often?”

 

Declan lowered his right arm, his left still keeping a death grip on his sturdy piece of tree. “Ah, fuck me.”

 

Reese’s eyes glinted with mirth. “Only if you beg.”

 

Declan tucked his gun away. “And with that image, please just leave me to die.”

 

Reese grinned and reached down, grabbing Declan’s free arm. He wrapped his hand around Reese’s forearm, and only when Reese got a hold on Declan’s torso did he risk letting go of the tree root.

 

Once he had made it fully topside again, albeit still lying down, Declan took a moment to revel in the feeling of solid ground beneath his body. He cast a side long glance at Reese. “Do me a favor and never tell anyone how happy I was to see you.”

 

Reese stood. “Sure thing, brother.”

 

“What did I say about calling me that?” Declan got to his feet, brushing dirt and damp leaves off his cargoes. “The others make it back okay?”

 

Reese’s gaze darkened. “I damn sure hope so. I saw the group of them headed for the trucks, and cut sideways when I heard the gunshots. Took out the Agents following you, and here we are.”

 

They picked up the pace and made their way to Gideon’s final checkpoint, zig zagging along the trail and alternating looking over the other’s shoulder. “I think Rae is okay,” Declan said as they jogged. “But Jared’s got a broken arm, and I’m not sure what else. Got knocked around, making sure not one of those kids was forgotten.” He wasn’t sure what made him say it out loud, and to Slater no less. “Even though it damn near ripped my heart out to make him go, Jare did a damn fine job on his own.”

 

“Yeah, well.” Reese tugged Declan in the direction of the waiting Bronco. “You can thank me for saving your ass by telling him that someday.”

 

 

Jared pulled out of Rae’s grip, throwing an imploring look at Gideon. “We gotta find them.” He slumped back against the truck, holding his broken wrist to his stomach and fighting the urge to throw up.

 

“We ain’t leavin’ anyone behind, don’t you worry.” Gideon grabbed his gun from where he’d stowed it while loading up rescues, and started back for the woods.

 

He immediately raised his arms, ready to fire at the rustling coming from just beyond the tree line. Rae swooped in front of Jared, pistol pointed towards the same spot.

 

Two men exploded out of the trees, and Jared let out a sigh of relief. He would recognize that cocky swagger anywhere.

 

“Reese,” he breathed.

 

“Bout damn time.” Gideon muttered, lowering his arms.

 

Rae shot forward to throw her arms around Declan. “Took you long enough.”

 

“Slater is a slow runner.” Declan squeezed her tight, then urged her into the front seat.

 

“Race you any day, Cooper.” Reese strode over to Jared, his ocean eyes alighting with worry at the effort it was taking Jared to stay on his feet. “What did I tell you, huh?” Reese grabbed him and crushed their mouths together. “What did I tell you about keeping that big, oversized heart of yours out of it?” He kissed Jared again, and Jared held onto it with all the strength he had left. “You should have been in the first run out of here.”

 

Jared cried out when Reese shifted, accidentally crushing Jared’s wrist between them. “Shit.”

 

“Couldn’t leave the kids behind.” Jared winced, both at the memory of being thrown down the stairs, and from the pain it had generated. “Got caught by an Agent who...wasn’t too thrilled about someone like me... challenging someone like him.” After a ragged breath, he relayed what the Agent had said. 

 

Reese grabbed his gun, every muscle in his body strung tight.

 

Jared shook his head. “Save...your macho hero nonsense...for the next time you want to fight with Declan, okay?” Jared gasped. “I already took care of it.” He slumped against Reese, favoring his right leg while cradling his broken arm. “Hurts.”

 

“I bet it does, sweetheart. Come on.” Reese grabbed one of the med kits from the truck bed and ushered Jared into the backseat. “And you walked through the whole goddamned woods like that.” He gently lifted Jared into the Bronco. “That’s my boy. You’re okay.”

 

Declan crowded into the backseat on his other side, and Jared felt a cooling sensation around his knee as it was wrapped up tight and propped onto something solid and sturdy. “Hang in there, Jare. We’ve got you.”

 

Gideon pealed the truck away from the compound. “Sorry for the jostling, son. It will smooth out soon.”

 

An odd sense of deja vu came over Jared as he fought to hang onto consciousness, tucked safely between the strong arms of battle worn Renegades. Just as he was about to drift off, the memory struck him.

 

He shot upright. “It was you,” Jared said, awe filling his voice.

 

“Easy, sweetheart.” Reese’s arms came around him, tugging him backwards.

 

Jared stayed upright enough to look at Gideon, staring until their eyes met in the rear view mirror. “This isn’t... the first time you’ve done this...with me in the car. You drove us away that day. The day...Dad found me and took me home.”

 

Gideon winked at him. “Told you we had met.”

 

“Woah,” Rae breathed.

 

“Jare.” Declan pressed a hand to his chest.

 

“Declan.” Jared looked at his brother in wonder, a pleasant fuzzy feeling settling over him.

 

“I know. Gideon is one hell of a guy, huh?” Declan pushed him gently back against Reese. “Lie back down.”

 

“Lila is a medic,” Gideon told them.  “She’ll get that arm set, and then we’ll go home.”

 

“‘Kay.” Jared let himself be held, and his eyes fluttered shut, his head pillowed against Reese’s chest. “Gonna pass out now.” Home, Jared thought.

 

He was going home.