Special Thanks: To my supporting cast of Mary for her great advice, support and help with editing the story. To Stoley for her web master prowess and friendship and to my lovely Peruvian princess for her love, support and understanding.

Comments are happily accepted at Cruise1313@aol.com.

Part XX

Maria entered the kitchen and began to make the coffee. She was unable to shake the uneasy feeling she was having. It was unknown to her why she felt that way, but she had a feeling deep down inside that something was wrong. She was lost in her thoughts and heard the coffee maker gurgle indicating the pot was ready. She poured her coffee and sipped the hot java wondering why she had such a fitful night's sleep. 'I just must be worried about Rayne being so far away.' She thought and jumped out of her thoughts when she felt her husband's arms around her.

"What's wrong honey?" He asked, concerned when he felt the tension in his wife's body.

"Oh, I'm having a really bad feeling that I just can't shake John. When did you get up?" She asked, turning within his arms and held him tightly as she rested her head against his chest.

"About two minutes ago." He softly answered, holding his wife tightly and kissing her head. He had never seen his wife so upset about a feeling. It scared him. "Every thing is fine, I'm sure honey." He replied reassuringly.

They heard the door shut and turned to see their oldest son there. "Mom, Dad." Shayan replied breathless with worry. "What's going on?" He asked, clutching his wife's hand.

"What do you mean?" His father asked, growing more concerned from the worried looks on Shayan and Holly's face.

"I thought you might know. Jayce called and told me he had some bad news and for us to meet him here."

"I knew it, something bad has happened!" Maria answered in tears, standing up with her husband's comforting arms still wrapped around her.

Everyone turned towards the door when they heard it open to see a very distraught Jayce enter. "What's going on Jayce? You look like you've been up all night partying. Did you get arrested or in an accident?" Maria asked, her tone turning angry from her son's haggard look.

"Where's Lark?" He asked, approaching the group with bloodshot eyes and a face streaked from tears.

"I'm right here." Lark calmly answered, entering the room as everyone turned to look at her. "What's going on?" She asked, confused and growing more worried by the pensive looks on everyone's faces.

Jayce inhaled a deep breath and stood before Lark, placing his hands on each of her shoulders. "I don't know how to put this delicately, but I wanted you to hear this from me rather than the news." He began and started to cry.

Lark's heart raced uncontrollably and the tears formed in her eyes. "Tell me what?"

"A buddy of mine at the White House contacted me by phone when I was on my way back here and told me the plane that Rayne, and your parents were on crashed."

"Oh, my god!" Maria and John exclaimed horrified and began to cry.

"No! That can't be!" Lark shouted in disbelief, shaking her head as she tried to pull away from Jayce who was afraid to let her go.

"This is horrible!" Holly exclaimed crying and held Shayan who couldn't believe what he had heard.

"No, this just can't be happening!" Lark refused to believe him and jerked away from him.

"It's true…unfortunately." He tearfully informed them. "They don't believe there are any survivors according to the reports they've received from the high altitude reconnaissance plane that flew over the scene." He softly added and cried harder.

"No!" Lark screamed as her head pounded, her heart raced uncontrollably and her legs felt very weak. She shook uncontrollably and she couldn't breath. Her head was spinning and she desperately gasped for air before collapsing into darkness.

"Lark!" Jayce yelled and grabbed her before she fell. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her towards the bedroom with Holly and Shayan in tow. "Call the doctor and get her here!" Jayce ordered, laying her on the bed.

"Do doctor's make house calls anymore?" Shayan asked panicked and unsure. "Maybe we should call 911?" He worriedly asked.

Holly rushed to the bathroom for a washcloth and wet it with cold water as Jayce attempted to rouse Lark. "Here put this on her." She ordered, rushing back to the bed.

"They're going to make house calls Shay! Call her OB/Gyn and get her down here. Tell them she passed out and that we're calling the paramedics!" Jayce barked, as he applied the washcloth to Lark's forehead.

"Check her pulse Jayce." Holly advised, which he did.

"She's breathing Holly!" He answered agitatedly and wiped her face with the washcloth, noticing her extremely pale color.

"How is she?" Maria and John worriedly asked as they entered the room.

"We're not sure." Holly penisvely answered as she looked back at them, then returned her attention to Lark.

"The paramedics are on their way." Shayan answered rushing back into the room with the phone in his hand. "I'm calling her doctor now."

"Lark…hey, honey. Come on, wake up." Jayce softly replied, dabbing the cold washcloth on her face.

"There are the paramedics!" Holly shouted when she heard the sirens and headed to the front door, "What the hell?" She asked confused and frightened when Tom shoved past Holly with another agent behind him, guns drawn.

"Check the house and get to Lark!" He nervously shouted as two other agents entered through the back door with their guns drawn. He rushed down the hall and pointed the gun at Shayan who exited the bedroom to find out what Holly was shouting about.

"What in the hell are you doing?" Holly shouted and moved towards him as he headed down the hall.

"Tom, what are you doing?" He asked nervously, holding his hands up as the gun stared him down.

"Shayan? Where's Lark? What's going on?" He asked, looking around to find out what was happening.

"She passed out."

"What? Why? Is she alright?" He worriedly asked, holstering his gun.

"That's what we are trying to find out." The paramedic replied as he pushed past Tom.

"Her doctor is in route as we speak." Shayan informed them as they entered the room. Shayan turned to Tom, "The plane carrying my sister and Lark's parents crashed and Lark fainted when we told her."

"What? That can't be!" Tom answered in disbelief and grief. "Are they okay?"

"The initial reports say that there were no survivors." Shayan solemnly informed him.

"Oh, my god. I am so sorry. I can't believe this." He replied and shook his head in disbelief as the tears formed in his eyes. "Maybe the reports are wrong and they're alive. I'm going to report this to my director and see if we can get some more information and help with the search." He informed him. He was shocked and devastated that his partner was dead.

"Thanks, we would appreciate it. By the way, why did you bust in here like that?" Shayan asked, confused by the entrance.

"Well, aah…Rayne asked that we keep an eye out on Lark while she was gone." He nervously stammered, hoping he wouldn't continue to question him more.

"She was always so overprotective of Lark." He answered sadly.

"Hey, don't give up hope. They may still be alive. Let me see what I can find out." Tom smiled and winked as he headed down the hall motioning to his men to stand down.

They all anxiously watched as the paramedics examined her and the baby with Jacye staying by her side. "Her vital signs are normal. We should still take her to the hospital as a precaution just in case." The paramedics advised.

"No…that will be a media field day if we do that and she's already under too much stress as it is now." Jayce refused.

The paramedics held smelling salts under her nose and roused her. "What's going on?" Lark asked, embarrassed and feeling uncomfortable with having strangers in her face.

"It seems that you passed out ma'am." The paramedic informed him.

"Is my baby alright?" She worriedly asked.

"We think so. Your doctor is on her way here."

"I'm going to call Elaine and get her here to handle the media." Holly replied, taking the phone from her flustered husband and kissed his cheek for comfort before dialing Lark's agent. She hurried down the hall after hearing the doorbell ring and lead the doctor into the room where Lark was located.

The doctor examined Lark and the baby as the paramedics filled her in on their assessment. "Well, hello." The doctor calmly replied when she began to examine her. Lark looked at her, then everyone around the room before she laid her head back against the pillow without saying a word. "Lark, how are you feeling?" The doctor asked.

"How the hell do you think I should feel? I just lost my entire life?" Lark asked in an angry condescending tone.

The doctor lowered her head down in sadness and looked back up at her. "I'm sorry for your loss Lark, but you do have a baby to think about and I have to be concerned for the both of you."

"You've done your work now leave…everyone!" Lark angrily demanded and looked at everyone. "I want to be alone." She softly answered.

The group looked at the doctor who nodded for everyone to clear the room. They all slowly exited the room stunned by Lark's gruff demands. The doctor was the last person to exit the room and left the door open to monitor Lark from the hall. She took a deep breath, trying to deal with the enormity of everything and looked at the group gathered before her. She smiled when the paramedics waved that they were leaving and turned her attention to the family. "Everything is fine with Lark and the baby, physically. Her vital signs as well as those of the baby are strong and normal. She's a very strong and healthy woman in that sense, but emotionally…" the doctor paused. "She's not well from the news she just received as I'm sure none of you are either. I'm terribly sorry for your loss." She sincerely and warmly replied before continuing, "I'm not qualified to make a diagnosis about her mental state, but from her actions and from her passing out, I would say she's in a state of mental shock." The doctor solemnly answered.

"So, what do we do doc?" Jayce asked with concern.

"Make sure she eats and drinks for the benefit of her nourishment as well as the baby's. Keep an eye out on her for any unusual behavior and I'm going to contact a mental health specialist to speak with her." She soothingly informed them. "I'm going to check on her once again." The doctor smiled and entered Lark's room. "Lark, I'm sorry to bother you, but I want to check you over once more." The doctor informed her as she approached the bed.

Lark didn't acknowledge the doctor's presence as she stared out the window and thought of Rayne and her parents. She was in disbelief, shock, and she was devastated. All she could think about was how terrified her lover and parents must have been when the plane crashed. She couldn't stand to think of the terror and pain they must have all felt knowing that they might die. She desperately wanted to know if they were alive or dead. It pained her deeply to know how terrified Rayne had to have been. She didn't feel in her heart that Rayne and her parents were dead though. She didn't want to believe it, and she refused to believe it.

The doctor sighed worriedly and exited the room. "Lark and the baby are fine. I'm going to stick around for a little while to monitor them." She smiled comfortingly.

"Thank you for coming so quickly doctor." Jayce answered cordially.

"I'm sorry for your family's tragedy and if there is anything I can do, please let me know." She sincerely replied.

"You're doing plenty right now." He smiled and lightly patted her shoulder.

"I need to contact my office and let them know of my whereabouts." She smiled and headed down the hall, flipping on her cell phone.

Elaine entered the house in a panic, "Jayce! I am so sorry!" She replied with watered eyes and hugged him.

"We appreciate you coming." He stoically answered, closing the door behind her.

"There's no where else I'd rather be right now." She solemnly answered and greeted the other family members before slowly entering Lark's room. Lark didn't acknowledge her agent who entered the room and Elaine's heart fluttered from the blank look that Lark possessed as she lay staring out the window. Elaine slowly approached the side of the bed and warmly smiled when Lark's eyes finally shifted away from the window. "Hey, honey." She smiled and sat next to Lark on the bed, holding Lark's hand in her own. "I just wanted to come in and let you know that I'm here if you need me or anything else." She comfortingly informed her, fighting back the tears that wanted to fall. She had never seen Lark this lifeless and it hurt her to see Lark that way. She had always known Lark to be so full of life and now she looked as if she had lost her soul. Elaine was unable to hold! back the tears that freely fell, "I'm sorry Lark." She regretfully apologized and wiped away her tears.

"Thanks." Lark softly answered and lightly squeezed her hand.

"I am so sorry all of this happened sweetheart. I'll take care of all of the arrangements. Do you need me to call any of your family members for you?" Elaine asked. Lark nodded her head no before closing her eyes to avoid any further conversation Elaine attempted to have with her. Elaine kissed her forehead and left the room.

"Did she say anything?" Jayce asked anxiously.

"Just thanks." Elaine informed him as she wiped away her remaining tears, trying to grasp everything. "I've never seen her like this before. She looks soul less." Elaine answered in disbelief and trepidation.

"We all are!" Maria cried out as fresh tears flowed harder.

"Damn…the media is here." Holly replied disgustedly as she looked out the window.

"Well…that's my cue." Elaine answered, drying her eyes and trying to compose herself before heading out to the wolves.

Jayce stopped her at the door and turned her away from everyone else. "The report I received was that the plane crashed over Kosovo after being struck by lightning. There are no signs of survivors at this time and they won't know for sure until a search party can get to the wreckage site. The weather has been bad at the base in Macedonia and they've been unable to get a search team out."

"Okay…then that's what I'll go with until we hear more." Elaine smiled and opened the door to a bombardment of flashbulbs, shouting and microphones being shoved into her face.

"Hey, give the lady some room!" Tom shouted and flashed his badge as he stood behind her.

She looked over her shoulder and smiled appreciatively, then turned back to the crowd who moved back, but continued to shout. "People, please. Have some respect!" She shouted holding her hands out to calm the barrage.

"Will Miss Morgan be giving a statement?" One reporter asked.

"No…that's what I'm here for." She gruffly replied.

"Is she too distraught to talk with us?"

"Obviously…wouldn't you be considering what has happened to her? What a stupid question." Elaine sarcastically asked, burning a hole through the reporter with her stare. She's used to dumb ass obvious questions and usually has tolerance for them, but not today.

"Can you confirm that Rayne Donovan was on the plane with Congressman Morgan and his wife?"

Elaine inhaled deeply, fighting her tears at the mention of Rayne's name and the fact that she was dead along with Lark's parents, all of who were like family to her. "Aah…that's what my sources have told me." Her voice crackled, thick with emotion.

"We had reports that Miss Morgan collapsed and is hospitalized. Can you confirm that?" Another reporter asked, shoving the microphone in Elaine's face. She pushed it back before answering.

"Your reports are wrong. Miss Morgan is resting here as comfortably as she can."

"Why were the paramedics here?" Someone else shouted, interrupting her.

"If you'd give me a chance to continue, I'd answer the questions." Elaine sarcastically answered, flashing a nasty look. "It was a precautionary measure for the well being of Miss Morgan and her unborn child. The family requests your full cooperation and they hope that you will respect their privacy as well as the privacy of Miss Morgan. Thank you." Elaine informed them and entered the house as the group continued to shout out questions. She shut the door and leaned against it, breathing deeply to calm herself.

"Everyone back off, move to the sidewalk." Tom ordered as his agents backed him up. They watched as the group moved away from the house and set up their camps. "Unbelievable. Don't these people have anything else to do than film people's misery? Keep an eye out for them and if they move off that damn sidewalk, arrest them!" He angrily informed his agents before heading back inside.

"Thanks Elaine." Jayce gratefully replied and hugged her.

The media onslaught had become extremely overwhelming with the enormous amount of reporters, and TV newscast trucks that littered the street in front of the house. Everyone was sick of hearing news reports after news reports of the crash. The Congressman, Julia and Rayne's faces were plastered all over the broadcasts as one after another reported the same horrible thing. "I swear…if that's another reporter asking for an interview I'll shoot them!" Jayce shouted angrily, heading towards the front door to see who rang the doorbell. "You'd think the Secret Service would do a better job of keeping these people away from here!" Jayce replied with mounting agitation at the agents posted around the house.

"Jayce, have more respect for them." His father admonished him. "Many are standing guard on their own time out of respect for Rayne."

"I know…" He inhaled and felt bad about what he said. "I'm just frustrated about all that's happening. I'm sorry." He sincerely apologized and opened the door. "Yes? Oh, Senator Abercrombe. Come in." He cordially replied, changing his angry demeanor as he held the door open.

The Senator had made it his personal agenda to help find his very good friend Congressman Morgan, his wife and Rayne. "Hello." He replied grimly and entered the house taking a seat in the chair to inform the family of the news he had. "I'm sorry to have to tell ya'll this, but the military has suspended the search."

Maria gasped in horror, her last bit of hope of the search team quickly finding them extinguished and lay her head on her husband's chest sobbing. She knew the longer it took the team to get to group the worse is was for them. He comforted her the best he could despite the tears that flowed of his own. Holly and Shayan gripped each other's hands for support, crying as well.

"Damn it! Why'd they suspend the search?" Jayce angrily asked, hoping his stubborn sister would be too damn ornery to die in a plane crash and that the search team would have found them by now. He had been holding the family together through this crisis, much to everyone's surprise. He had taken control of everything and made it his point to make sure Lark was well taken care of. Jayce had felt it was his duty to monitor Lark, after all it was his child that Lark carried and he did make a promise to Rayne to do so if anything happened to her.

"I'm sorry. The weather is bad and they are having trouble accessing the crash site, as the terrain is treacherous not to mention the area is hostile with renegade Serbian troops. They are forming a covert team to head into the area to locate the crash site and to hopefully recover the dead. The high altitude recon plane flew over and took pictures of the crash site indicating the plane exploded and there wasn't much left of the crash site. I'm very sorry for being so blunt, but I thought you should know the truth."

"We appreciate that and we would be grateful if you stayed on top of the military to continue the search. I've been in contact with various department heads to see if they can put pressure on them to step up the search effort as well as my son, and the Secret Service. Maybe we can get a fire lit under their asses to do something sooner." Rayne's father informed him.

"The more help the better. If the weather would clear up in the area they would head out. How's Lark doing?" The Senator asked, concerned.

"Not good…she barely eats or sleeps. She sits in her room looking at photos of Rayne and her parents. She's become very withdrawn and she won't talk to anyone other than one-word responses. The psychologist we contacted can't even get through to her. She's very traumatized over everything that has happened and has yet to grieve for her loss." Jayce explained, sadly.

"I assumed she would be. After all, she lost her immediate family. I take it she hasn't mentioned memorial and burial plans for her parents?"

Jayce lowered his head, as did his family at the finality of his statement as it hit them. "Aah…no, she hasn't. I suppose we could talk with her and see what her wishes are." Jayce solemnly answered, wiping the tears away that filled his blue eyes. "I think it might be too soon to consider those plans, but I will talk to her."

"Okay." The Senator nodded sadly. "Please let me know if there's anything else I can do to help." He offered and stood up shaking Jayce's hand.

"Thank you." He smiled as he walked the Senator to the door, which exited. "Someone should tell Lark what the latest development is with everything." Jayce replied sadly and looked at his family who were all too distraught to say anything. "I guess…I'll talk to her then." Jayce softly and reluctantly answered. He was afraid of what kind of a toll this was going to take on Lark, but she needed to know. He hesitated before opening the door and entered to see Lark watching the videotape of her and Rayne's commitment ceremony." He smiled, fondly remembering that wonderfully happy day and at the sight of his beautiful sister he simply idolized. He couldn't believe he'd never see her, hug her or tell her how much he loves her again. 'What I wouldn't give to hear her call me dumpster boy.' He thought with a chuckle at the pet name his sister gave him. "U!hmmm…Lark…I aah…have some news to tell you." He nervously stammered and approached the chair Lark sat in and pulled a chair up for him. Lark looked around Jayce as he blocked her view of the TV. "Lark…listen to me." Jayce gently demanded and took the remote control from her, clicking the TV off. He looked into Lark's blank green eyes and began, "They have officially declared everyone…aah." He grimly informed her and lowered his head, "Dead." He softly replied, his tears streaking his face. "We need to start making arrangements for your parents and Rayne's memorial service."

"How can you have all of that when they aren't dead?" Lark surely asked.

Jacye looked at her stunned. "Lark honey. As much as I want to believe that it's just not true."

"That's because you're fucking clueless!" Lark angrily spat as she stood up and walked in front of the TV, turning it back on.

Jayce was shocked at Lark's demeanor and wondered if she hadn't gone off the deep end. He was beginning to think that Lark might need to be hospitalized. She refused to face the reality that her parents and Rayne were dead and no matter how far she cut herself off from the real world…it still wouldn't bring them back. She simply shut herself down and she was no longer the fun loving, happy person she used to be. She hadn't shed a tear in front of them and Jayce wondered if she was having delusions of grandeur by thinking that they weren't dead. He was becoming very worried about how this was all affecting the baby. He stood before her, "Lark…you really need to get a grip on reality and face the facts…your parents and Rayne are dead." He firmly replied.

"What the hell do you know?" Lark angrily shouted and looked up at him.

"I know that the baby you're carrying is part of me and I'm not going to sit around and watch you destroy it."

"The baby is mine and Rayne's…not yours! She angrily shouted with a hateful look in her eye.

"My sister is gone…she's dead Lark! She's dead…damn her!" He shouted frustrated and sad as if Rayne purposely decided to die. He didn't see the slap across his face, but he sure felt it when Lark slapped him…hard.

"Don't you ever say something like that about Rayne!" Lark shouted and pointed at him. The veins in her neck popped out from her anger and tears filled her eyes.

Jayce finally saw some of Lark's emotions and knew they needed to come out. "Did that make you feel better Lark?" He curtly asked and grabbed her shoulders. "Is it making you snap out of your fantasy world and show some damn emotion? Huh? You haven't shed one tear for my dead sister." He shouted, receiving another slap. "That's it, hit me again Lark! It will make you get out of your self-pity and realize my sister has left us all! Go ahead!" He taunted her.

"I hate you!" She shouted, pounding his chest with her fist as she cried harder.

"That's it, tell me how much you hate me and how pissed off at Rayne you are!" He angrily replied.

"She promised me! She promised she'd come back! She had to go over there for her stupid job that always comes first!" Lark shouted and cried harder as she stopped punching him. "I was pissed off at her and yelled at her the last time I spoke to her! I didn't tell her how much I love her!" Lark hysterically cried out, collapsing in Jayce's arms that comfortingly held her. "Why does her job have to always come first? It's more important than our child and me." She tearfully replied.

Shayan and Holly burst through the door followed by Maria and John as Jayce looked up mouthing it was okay. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief before exiting the room. "She knows how much you love her Lark." He softly answered and kissed her head.

"Not enough to have refused this assignment Jayce." She sadly whispered.

"She had to Lark. She did it for you and the baby."

"What?" Lark asked, confused and looked up at him.

"Well, aah…she didn't want you to know, but well, the person she had been trying to catch placed a hit out on her and you Lark."

"What? Why didn't she tell me?" Lark asked, surprised by what he was telling her.

"She feared it would put too much stress on you and the baby. She wanted to nail this person so you all wouldn't have to live your life constantly looking over your shoulder. She felt that she was the only one to do the job. She didn't want to take a chance of someone else fowling up the job." He explained.

"She should have told me Jayce." Lark answered, shocked that Rayne withheld so much from her. "That's why she was so stressed out. She should have shared the burden with me, that's what couples do." She softly answered and turned from him…her voice trailing off as she thought about Rayne leaving her out on such an important fact.

"Lark, do you honestly think that you would have been able to live your life normally and not been looking over your shoulder constantly? How much stress do you think that would have been on you…the baby?" He softly asked, approaching her.

"You're right Jayce." She answered and turned to him. "She has her reasons for doing certain things and I believe she truly felt that she was doing this for the benefit of our child and me, no matter how misguided it was. I can't fault her for that and I'm happy to find out that her job was not more important than us." Lark smiled and looked at him.

"You are the most important person in her life Lark and she would never do anything to purposely hurt you. Tom informed me that they received an email from her…" He attempted to explain but was interrupted.

"What was it about?" She asked confused.

"It was her resignation letter Lark. She was resigning from the Service." He solemnly informed her, sad that his sister would not be able to fulfill her wish of retiring from the Service to spend a quite peaceful life with Lark and their child.

"Rayne! Rayne!" The voice grew louder. "Lark?" Rayne whispered and struggled to open her eyes. "Rayne!" Danielle shouted and desperately struggled to move the debris that pinned Rayne against the bulkhead of the badly damaged plane. "Danielle?" Rayne asked confused. "Yeah, I've got to get you out of here before the plane blows! Help me if you can. AAAHHH!" She groaned and struggled to move the large crate that pinned Rayne's leg.

Rayne pushed along with Danielle the best she could. "A little more!" She shouted and pushed the crate, moving it just enough to free her leg. She attempted to roll onto her side and groaned from the pain she felt in her side, wrist and leg.

"Let me help you." Danielle replied and knelt down to assist her up. Rayne pushed herself up and fell back down when she felt the explosion of pain in her ankle when she put weight on her leg.

"Oh, fuck that hurts!" She shouted and grabbed her ankle.

"I know it does, but look we've got to get out of here!" Danielle hurriedly informed her and helped her up. "Put your arm around me." She ordered and wrapped her arm around Rayne's waist to help her walk.

They struggled for a few steps and Rayne broke free. "I can walk. Where are the Congressman and Julia?" She worriedly asked and searched the smoke filled wreckage.

"I've already gotten them out. Now, let's get out of here. This thing is going to blow!" She urgently rushed her.

"Grab those packs, we're going to need them." Rayne informed her and grabbed what she could as she limped over the cargo that was strewn about the ground.

Danielle grabbed what she could and turned back to see where Rayne was. "This way Rayne." She directed her as Rayne changed her direction and cowered to cover her face when the wires sparked next to her as she hurriedly climbed over the wreckage to exit the plane. She stopped and looked at the three servicemen that had been sitting across from her. 'Damn.' She solemnly thought and stared at their lifeless bodies that had been crushed by the large crate of food that pinned them there. She pulled their dog tags off and caught a glimpse of the woman who had wreaked so much havoc on her life as she leaned over to remove the last dog tag of the dead soldier. 'Justice served even though it was a harsh one.' She coldly thought and turned away, grasping the tags within her hand as she limped out of the plane. What else could she think? She wouldn't be in this predicament if it hadn't have been for that woman. She felt nothing for the woman except relief that she would no longer worry about her interfering in their lives.

"Come on! It's on fire!" Danielle shouted anxiously and grasped Rayne around the waist, rushing her away from the plane as it blew up and tossed them to the ground. "Aaahhh!!!" Danielle shouted as she hit the ground.

"Owww!!! Fuck!" Rayne angrily exclaimed when she hit the ground and quickly looked up at the plane that was engulfed in flames. She sat up holding her side that hurt from the broken ribs she still had and watched as the plane burned. She felt bad for the people on the plane that didn't make it out alive and now, they lie in a burning inferno. 'What a terrible way to die.' She disgustedly thought and covered her face with her hand. 'I can't imagine what Lark must be thinking right now. Oh, baby…I'm alive. Don't worry, I'm alive.' She inwardly thought, hoping that Lark could hear her.

"Come on, let's get as far away from this thing as possible." Danielle replied and helped Rayne stand up.

"I can make it." Rayne defiantly refused her help. She was in pain, disgusted by what happened, sorrowful for the people who died in the crash and she desperately wanted to talk to Lark. She needed to let her know she was alright. She tossed a few backpacks over her shoulder and slowly followed Danielle, cursing the pain in her ankle with each step. She dropped to her knees beside the Congressman who lay leaned against a tree with his wife's head resting in his lap.

"Thank god you are alive Rayne." He tearfully smiled and hugged her.

"I feel the same way." Rayne smiled and looked down at Julia who lay unconscious.

After assessing everyone's injuries and attending to the long list of injuries the best they could with the supplies that they had, they sat back resting and trying to absorb the enormity of the situation. Rayne wondered how they would make it out of this situation to find help. The Congressman had a badly fractured leg that was splinted the best it could be along with fractured ribs and a slight concussion. Julia was the worst of the group. She lay unconscious with a bad cut to her head, a broken arm and multiple bruising around her abdominal area. Rayne feared she might have internal injuries, as her pulse was weak, her coloring pale, but couldn't be sure. Her training for first aid just wasn't that extensive to know for sure. She looked at Danielle who sat adjusting the make shift sling for the dislocated shoulder she had. Rayne enjoyed putting that back in place all to well. Other than the dislocated shoulder and a bump on her head, she was the least injured of the group. 'Figures.' Rayne thought incredulously as she shook her head disgusted by the woman. She had a fractured wrist that they stabilized with an ace bandage they found in the small first aid kit they recovered from one of the survival backpacks. Her head pounded from being knocked unconscious and the gash on her forehead would need stitches once they got back to civilization. The injury that was the worst was her ankle and she assumed it was fractured too. They had taped the ankle the best they could right over her boot and the pressure of the tightly wound tape made it feel good, but she wondered how she was going to walk and help with the others.

Rayne examined Julia who had not regained consciousness. Rayne paused and stared at the woman before her. She leaned her chin against her hand that rested on her knee and saw Lark in the woman before her. They looked a lot alike and it hurt her heart knowing that Lark was home suffering from the belief that they were all dead. The tears welled in her eyes and her stomach churned, making her nauseous as she thought of what Lark must be going through. 'I'm such a stupid fuck!' She admonished herself and held her fist to her mouth to quell the emotions that wanted to spill out, her overwhelming guilt consuming her.

"Rayne are you okay?" The Congressman asked, breaking her thoughts.

She looked up at him, "No, I aah…was just thinking about Lark and what she must be going through. It kills me to think about it." She tearfully replied, staring deeply at him.

He placed the palm of his hand on her cheek and smiled reassuringly, "Don't worry so much. My baby girl is a very strong woman and I'm sure your family is with her right now comforting her. She'll be fine and you'll be home very soon to see her."

"I hope so." She softly answered and wiped the tears that trickled down her cheeks. "My family…aah." She replied and felt the tears flow harder. 'I've put so many people in such peril and devastation that it's unbelievable.' As she thought about the pain and hurt that her family must be going through, but most of all Lark. She worried the most about her and their child. She feared this would stress Lark and the baby to the max and hoped something terrible wouldn't happen to them. She wiped away the tears and pulled the blanket up on Julia to keep her warm and to keep her from going into shock.

Rayne stood up, hobbling to steady herself and not put too much weight on her ankle. She inhaled deeply to calm the pain she felt in her ankle and walked towards the ravine not far from the group. She sat down and leaned up against a tree trying to figure out how in the hell they were going to get out of this one. Her spirits were low as well as her confidence. She pulled out a map they had retrieved to try and figure out if she could find out just where they might be. Danielle approached and sat next to her. "Any idea of where we might be?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out." Rayne replied, looking at the map and looked up scanning the landscape for any landmarks that she might be able to identify on the map. "Well, the best I can calculate from our flight time and from some of the landmarks on this map it looks like we went down around this small town…" she paused and held the map closer to her to see the name, "Pristinia, Kosovo. Great…just where we all need to be." She sarcastically replied.

"No shit! Of all the fucking places we had to crash." Danielle agreed shaking her head and looking down at the map. "Well, we need to make sure no one knows he's a Congressman and let's hope there aren't any Serbian paramilitary soldiers about." Danielle replied, hoping they could get to help and get the hell out of there without any difficulty.

"I doubt we'll be able to avoid them especially with the explosion from the crash. I'll bet they are heading this way as we speak. They are suppose to be at peace, but the last I heard they were still terrorizing the Albanians in this area. Fuck!" Rayne agitatedly replied and slammed the map on the ground. "This is so messed up." She exclaimed, frustrated by everything.

"Well, we've got to make sure we don't encounter any of them. The problem is they are in no condition to go anywhere." Danielle replied and looked over her shoulder at the Congressman and his wife who lay sleeping.

"True, but there is no way in hell I'm leaving them." Rayne angrily snapped.

"Easy, I'm not implying that. Do you think you can help carry her with that bum leg if we create a makeshift liter?"

"I'll have to. We can't stay here much longer. She won't make it." Rayne worriedly replied and looked at her mother-in-law who lay gravely ill.

"Okay, let me find some things to make one and I'll be right back." Danielle offered and headed off to collect the said items. As much as she hated that woman for everything that she had done to them, she had to rely on her help or they would not make it out of there alive. She looked at the map again, trying to chart their best possible escape route. "Alright, I think this stuff might work. It's not the greatest stuff in the world, but we might get lucky." Danielle informed Rayne as she approached with various branches and vines to create a makeshift liter.

Rayne looked the items over and tried desperately to remember her survival training instructions to see if she could come up with something. "Okay…I'll see what I can do." Rayne chuckled and shook her head in disbelief that she was in such a primitive spot.

"How far are we from an accessible river or a stream?" Danielle asked, kneeling next to her to look at the map. "We will need to stock up on water. The canteens are about empty and I don't want to take a chance of us not finding anything once we start to head down this mountain."

"Hmmm…well, oh, there's one." Rayne answered, scanning the map and pointed out the stream on it. She checked the compass on her watch and looked up at the vegetation, then scanned what she was looking for as a point of reference. She used a distinct ridge off in the distance just west of the stream as a reference point. "It looks to be about a quarter of a mile that way from us." Rayne informed her, pointing in the direction she was referring to, then took a quick glance at the map and back to Danielle.

"It shouldn't take me too much time to get there and get back here before nightfall." Danielle assuredly answered, looking into Rayne's troubled blue eyes.

"Do you have your gun?" Rayne asked, looking at her with a serious tone. "You don't know who or what might be out there."

Danielle opened her jacket and flashed her holster with her gun securely tucked away, mischievously grinning. "I'll be back soon." She confidently smiled and stood up.

"Good luck." Rayne replied and didn't look up as she began to create the liter. Rayne's ankle throbbed with uncontrollable pain and she adjusted her construction boot in an attempt to alleviate the pain. It didn't help. She smiled as she looked at them remembering how Lark vehemently insisted that it was okay to wear them without being a construction worker. Lark told her that she bought them for her because she thought she would look sexy in them. Rayne was glad she wore them, as they are perfect for the wooded terrain they were in. Rayne leaned her forearm on her bent knee and looked down at her commitment ring. She missed Lark so much and worried about how her and the baby were doing. 'Maybe she's already had our child?' Rayne worried and hoped that she had not. She knew that Lark must be beside herself thinking that her family was dead. She closed her eyes picturing the love of her life and inhaled deeply, twisting the ring. She hoped in some way she could feel a connection to her beautiful lover. 'It's taking me awhile baby…but, I'm on my way.' Rayne sent out a silent message, hoping Lark could in some way hear her. She heard a faint voice calling her name and she opened her eyes to see Julia motioning her over. She sniffed her tears back and wiped the moisture from her eyes as she stood up.

She hobbled next to Julia and sat next to her. "How ya doing?" Rayne asked with a pleasant smile, holding her hand. She was glad that she was awake.

"Lark's right…you are quite the smooth talker." She barely voiced and smiled. She coughed and winced in pain as Rayne wiped the moisture from her brow. She glanced over to her husband who had fallen asleep next to his wife still clutching her hand. She looked back at Rayne whose heart ached with pain that she couldn't do more for Lark's mother. She fought the tears that desperately tried to escape. She wanted to be strong and encouraging for her despite the grim circumstances. "Yeah, well what can I say?" Rayne's voice crackled as she flashed a bashful smile, looking into the green eyes that mirrored Lark's.

"You have a beautiful smile Rayne. Do me a favor and make sure my daughter and grandchild see it everyday for the rest of their lives. Lark loves you so much." She proudly smiled and coughed again.

Rayne smiled and felt her eyes watering at the mention of how much Lark loves her. "I promise to do just that and to love Lark more than life itself as I already do and to let her know that fact everyday for the rest of our lives." Rayne answered, feeling a catch in her heart and fought back her tears.

"I couldn't have chosen a more perfect partner for my daughter than you Rayne. I love you as my own daughter and I ask that you keep an eye out for my husband." She replied breathless.

"Mom…come on." Rayne attempted to reply, but was interrupted.

"Promise me that you'll tell my grandchild that I loved them very much and that I'll always watch over them."

Rayne looked down, unable to keep her eye contact and felt the lump in her throat grow larger. "Mom…you can tell the baby that when it's born." Rayne's voice quivered when she answered, finding it hard to speak.

Julia squeezed her hand tighter and pulled her closer. "Rayne we both know I'm not going to make it." She whispered.

"That's not true. You're going to make it and stop talking this way. Fight Mom…fight. You have to. I'm not going to let you give up. I won't do it. I'm bringing the both of you home to Lark and we are all going to live a happy, healthy life. You promise me that you'll fight like hell and that you won't give up and I'll get you home to see your daughter give you your first grandchild." Rayne desperately encouraged through the tears that streaked her face.

Julia placed the palm of her hand on Rayne's cheek and lightly brushed away the tears that trickled down her face, "Lark was right, you are so damn stubborn! Okay…I promise." She smiled and winked at Rayne.

"That's all I need to know and remember, I don't break my promises Mom." Rayne confidently answered and smiled, lightly kissing her on the forehead. She stood up and limped away from the pair. She stood looking out over the ravine and covered her face with her hand. She had an undeniable guilt for the danger and pain she has put Lark's parents in, not to mention what she has done to the two most important people in her life…Lark and their unborn child. 'What in the hell have I done? I am to blame for all of this. Shit!' She wondered, pissed at herself for being so damn stupid. She wiped her face and grew angrier with herself as she thought of everything that had happened. 'I've put so many people in distress with what I've done. I just had to come over here. I couldn't have let another agent do this, no…my fucking arrogance had to take over! I have hurt the one person that matters more to me than life itself and I've put my child in danger because I had to finish the job. Damn it!' She angrily admonished herself and felt like kicking her own ass. She would have if she could.

Lark's eyes widened at what Jayce had just told her and she excitedly smiled, "Oh, my god. Maybe she sent me an email." She enthusiastically replied and headed for the den where the computer was located. She quickly fired the computer up and impatiently waited for it to connect. She searched her mail and found what she was looking for, an email from Rayne. She smiled as she read the heartfelt letter that explained that she was resigning from the Service as she no longer wanted to put Lark and their child through the heartache and strain of that job. She apologized for taking this long to realize that and to do something about it. She promised to make up for it every day of her life. She told her how much she loved her and that the most important thing she wanted to do was to spend as much time as she could with Lark and their child. Lark wiped the tears from her eyes and checked out the electronic card that Rayne sent as well. She lovingly smiled and looked up at Jayce. "Jayce, I refuse to believe she's dead and I won't until I see her…her dead body." Lark stammered, finding it hard to say.

"I don't want to believe it either Lark, but…" his voice trailed off as he wiped away Lark's tears.

"I can feel that she's still alive Jayce. Can't you feel it?" Lark breathlessly asked so full of emotion, trying to convince him that she was still alive.

"I don't know what I feel other than a lost feeling Lark. Maybe I'm too upset to open up my feelings to anything else." He attempted to explain.

"I just don't feel like she's dead. I feel that she's hurt and lost, but not dead." She explained and saw the look of disbelief in Jayce's blue eyes that mirrored her lover's…the one's she desperately wanted to look into. "I hear her talking to me, as if she's trying to let me know she's alive Jayce." She knew in her heart that Rayne wasn't dead and that she wouldn't miss the birth of their child. After all, she promised she would be home for it.

Jayce stared at her and saw the honesty in Lark's eyes and truly wanted to believe her. "Maybe you're right Lark. I'm going to call in some favors at the White House and see if I can get that search team in Macedonia out there any sooner." He smiled, hopeful. He so wanted to believe Lark and share in her enthusiasm that his sister was alive.

"Thank you Jayce. I'm going over there. I need to be close to her and make sure they continue to search for them. I can't just sit around here worrying…it's driving me crazy. If I'm there I can be all over their asses to find them." Lark informed him and turned to exit the room.

"Wait…what did you just say?" He asked, surprised and unsure of what he thought he heard her say.

"I said, I'm going over there to be closer to them Jayce."

"Lark, I really don't think that's a good idea. What about the baby?" He asked, concerned.

"I'm sure the baby will be fine Jayce, but if it will make you feel any better, I'll call the doctor." She smiled and lifted the phone to her ear after dialing the doctor's number. "I'm going no matter what." She adamantly informed him. "This is Lark Morgan, I need to speak with Dr. Garzon right away." She replied, looking at Jayce who stood next to her waiting for the doctor's answer. "Hi doctor, thanks for taking my call. I'm going to be leaving for Macedonia as soon as possible and I want you to accompany me."

"What? Lark, are you serious?" She asked, flustered.

"Dead serious. I will pay you twice as much as what you would currently earn to escort me."

"Lark, a flight is not advisable at this point in your pregnancy. You could go into labor in mid flight."

"Well, that's what you are going for, to make sure that doesn't happen." Lark was not wavering; she was going one way or another. "I'm sure I could find another doctor to accompany me there." She threateningly warned.

"Okay…well, aah…we would need an air ambulance that is fully equipped with vital medical equipment to monitor you and the baby. I'll have my staff clear my schedule." She hesitantly informed her, forming the plans in her mind that she would have to accomplish in such a short time. She covered the phone and ordered her nurse to get working on securing an air ambulance as well as clearing her schedule.

"Good, I have all the money in the world so, spare no expense. I assume you can arrange for the plane?"

"Yes, I've got my nurse working on it as we speak. I'll call back just as soon as we find out when the plane will be ready to leave."

"Thank you, I'll be waiting for your call." Lark cordially answered and hung the phone up. "I'm off to pack." She smiled and turned away.

"Lark, do you think this is such a good idea?" Jayce worriedly asked.

"Jayce, Rayne went there for us. Now, I'm going there for her. I need to be as close to her as possible. Call me crazy, or whatever, but I believe that if I'm there she will feel it and know that I'm there for her and that I haven't given up on her. I would go to hell and back for her. Nothing will keep me from doing that and I feel confidant that this will not harm our child in any way. Besides, I will have access to a full medical staff with my doctor to monitor us the entire trip. Can you inform everyone else?" She asked, exiting the room.

Jayce shook his head in disbelief that Lark would travel across the world in her condition, but he understood why she was doing it. He would do the same for his wife in a heartbeat. He informed the family of the plans and tried to settle their fears about Lark and the baby. They decided that they too would go. Jayce's father called his pilot to ready their plane for the trip as Jayce spoke with a few contacts in the White House to see what strings he could pull to get the search sped up. Maria, Holly and Shayan scrambled around, trying to get everything ready for the trip. Holly insisted that Shayan go without her as she would stay and take care of the boys. He wanted his wife to join him, but knew it would be very difficult for her parents to take care of them alone. He walked his wife out to their car and kissed her goodbye before seeing her off. He helped his father bring the luggage out to the driveway to meet the limo that would take them to the airport port

Everyone piled into the limo for the short ride to the airport. "What did the doctor say?" Jayce asked, as he looked at Lark who settled into her seat.

"She had no problem clearing her schedule or arranging for an air ambulance to take us over there."

"Really?" He asked, surprised that the arrangements were made so quickly.

"Oh, sure. Money talks my dear. Money talks." She replied and looked out the window eager to get there. The limo stopped at the assigned hangar and everyone piled out of the car. Lark headed straight for the plane and greeted the doctor at the door. "Thank you for arranging this doctor." Lark smiled and shook her hand.

"As long as you understand that it's against my medical advice for you to do this Lark."

"I understand, but I have confidence that you'll make sure that nothing happens to my child or me." Lark confidently smiled and carefully climbed the stairs with the help of Jayce.

"You all set?" Jayce asked, as Lark lay back on the stretcher.

"I sure am. Thanks." Lark smiled appreciatively.

"Great…I'll see you there." He smiled and turned to leave, but stopped when he felt Lark's hand on his arm.

"No, I'd like you to stay with me." Lark smiled looking at him.

"Sure. Great." He enthusiastically smiled and sat in a seat happy that she wanted him to stay.

Lark watched as the nurse hooked up the medical equipment to her and the baby to monitor their vital signs as the doctor checked everything over. She laid her head back against the pillow. 'I'm on my way love. I'm on my way. Now, you do the same. I know you haven't left us.' She hopefully thought with a smile and a renewed confidence that she would soon see Rayne.

Rayne's anger at herself coursed through her until it dawned on her. The Congressman might have his phone with him. She quickly hobbled over to him. "Sir…Sir!" She urgently nudged him. "Do you have your phone?" She asked breathless, as he opened his eyes stunned briefly as he tried to register what was going on.

"Aah…oh, yeah!" He excitedly replied and fumbled through his coat pockets for his phone. "Here!" He smiled and handed her the phone.

"I've got to call Lark and let her know we are fine and to send help." Rayne grinned and began to punch in the numbers to her home phone. "Damn, the battery is very low." She worried as she listened to the ringing of the phone with no one answering it except the answering machine. She waited for the message on the machine to stop so she could leave a message. She smiled as tears formed in her blue eyes as she listened to Lark's beautiful voice on the message. Her heart fluttered as she heard it as it felt so good to hear her voice. "Come on the battery is running low." She anxiously responded and heard the tone to leave the message. "It's me, we're alive, hurt but alive. We crashed near a small village called Pristinia and need help to get here right away. We are making our way from the crash site towards that village. I love you Lark so much honey, send help!" She replied and clicked off the phone. "Maybe I can get in touch with my father who can get us help right away." She explained with a smile. She quickly punched his numbers into the phone. "Come on…go through." She pleaded as she heard the static in the phone and the low battery tone.

"Who in the hell could be calling me?" John asked, confused and looked at Maria as he pulled out his phone stepping away from the stairs of the plane. "It better not be any reporters as it's an unknown number." He angrily informed her as he looked at the caller ID. "Hello?" He shouted, as the noise of the planes was very loud. "Hello?" He couldn't hear what was being said and stuck his finger in his other ear. The static on the phone was very loud and the roar of the engines made it very difficult to hear.

"Dad! Dad!" Rayne shouted exasperated that he couldn't hear her. The phone beeped again, "Dad!" She desperately shouted as the phone went dead.

To Be Continued…

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