The Rescue Pt. 03

"Yacine, please thank Omar for what he did. I really appreciate it."

Yacine does and Omar responds for her to translate. "He says that you helped him at the Aid Station plenty of times before and that Mr. Kenny freed his family. He will always be in your debt."

Michelle shakes her head. "You have done more for us than I could hope to repay; all of you have. I am blessed to have found such friends out here. None of you owe me anything."

Yacine hugs her before she translates it to the others and more hugs are shared leaving Michelle teary eyed but she wipes those away and turns back to Omar. "Let's clean you up."

Bryce and Brenda Ripley arrive in Myrtle Beach to find Addison and her father there to greet them. "I wish you guys were here under better circumstances but it's nice to see you both again," Mr. Voss says as he hugs Brenda. She nods her head as Addison hugs her tight.

"I take it that you've heard nothing further?" she asks Addison.

"I'm sorry mom, but we haven't heard anything since Denver."

"It was Dakar sweetheart, not Denver," Mr. Voss tells her. "My associate down there meets with the boat captain daily so as soon as he knows something he'll call us."

"Brenda and I really appreciate your help in this. I don't know what we would have done if..."

"Bryce, you know I think of Michelle as my daughter too just as you and Brenda think of Addison as yours. Lord knows, we all had a share in raising them and if there was anything else I could think of to do to get Michelle home, I would do it no matter what."

Brenda hugs him again. "We know that you would James. I just wish that we knew something."

"Us too. Anna and Karly are calling us every day from London for updates as well. They wish they could be here with you guys but with Karly's school work..."

"It's fine James, we understand how that goes. Better for her to stay busy and not have to worry about all this at least until we know more."

"Hopefully we'll hear something today and if not... Kenneth's old SEAL team is ready to go as soon as we give them the go ahead." Addison says.

"SEAL team? I thought this Kenneth person was a private investigator or something?" Bryce asks.

"He is that but he was also a SEAL."

"Wait a second Addison, is this the same Kenny from about a year ago; the one that Michelle was friends with?"

"A year ago," Bryce asks.

"You remember honey, when Michelle came to visit us before she left for Australia; she was telling us about this guy she'd met that was working security for James here."

"That's him," Addison says. "I went to tell him what happened and he told me to get him a plane and off he went to find her. It's a whole thing that I'll explain once you guys are settled in."

"Let's grab your bags and get to the estate and no arguments about staying at our place. We all want you to be with us so when the news comes we all hear it together," James tells them.

They nod and after the bags are gathered, they go to the SUV waiting out front.

"Miss me?" Addison asks Alex as she hops into the passenger seat beside him.

"Of course," He answers wanting so bad to kiss those lips of hers again but not with an audience that includes her father. He glances in the rear view at Mr. Voss. "The estate sir?"

"Yes Alex but you don't have to drive us around. You have a business that..."

"That I'm running just fine whether I'm in the office or not Mr. Voss. Besides, I had to call T.J., Ramon and Scott and brief them on the area that it looks like we're heading into soon."

"I take it then that you're a former SEAL as well?" Brenda asks.

"Yes ma'am. Alex Kortesis, at your service."

"Thank you Alex, we appreciate what you guys are willing to do for your friend."

"Friends plural. We all know Michelle too and if it were just her out there alone we'd still be going. Honestly if Ken would have been able to wait a day at least one of us would have went with him."

"So he's impulsive then?" Bryce asks.

"No sir, that's not what I meant. He felt that time was of the essence and any delay could endanger Michelle so he went alone."

"I see."

Alex turns his attention back to Mr. Voss. "Sir, I've talked with the guys and we're ready to go as soon as your jet can be readied."

"Alex, do you think that Ken could be... God, I don't even want to say it."

"Honestly sir, I'm not sure. Scott has talked some friends of his in the state department that are saying that the compound was destroyed in the fighting. Whether or not they got out before that is anyone's guess. He has them looking for any Americans in the area but so far nothing. If he didn't make it before we'd have heard something I'm sure. Since we haven't there's still hope that they both made it out of there."

Mr. Voss cell phone rings interrupting Alex. "Hold that thought Alex, this is my man in Dakar," he takes the call.

"Voss here, any news today. Wait, slow down. Fiad, I'm putting you on speaker hold a moment," He presses a button. "Fiad, are you still there?"

"Yes sir, I'm here."

"Thank you. Okay Fiad, tell us that again."

"The boat captain arrived back today and he spoke with the woman, the blonde woman."

"Michelle? Fiad are you absolutely certain?" Mr. Voss asks.

"Yes sir. Capt. Amir even had a picture of her with him that Mr. Grayson gave him to identify her if something went wrong. She wants her family to know that she is alive and safe. Mr. Grayson was wounded rescuing her, he is alive but unable to travel it seems. She refused passage on the captains boat stating that she needed to stay with Mr. Grayson. They are to meet back with the boat in two days time. The hope is that Mr. Grayson and Ms. Ripley will be ready at that time."

"Fiad, can you give me the coordinates of the place that the captain met Michelle at?" Alex asks. "I have a team ready to go in and extract them if we knew where we were going."

"That is not advisable at this time sir. The fighting around here has actually worsened since Ballo's death. Infighting among his group along with the government as well, I 'm afraid it is a very dangerous place to be right now."

"We can handle it."

"It's fine Fiad. Email me the coordinates when you get to your office and we'll look them over and decide from there," Mr. Voss says.

"Of course sir, I'll do just that the moment I make it there."

"Thank for you help Fiad. Be safe my friend."

"She's alive Bryce! My baby's still alive!" Brenda says as the two of the hug each other and begin to cry.

Addison has tears in her eyes as well and reaches between the seats to hold her dad's hand.

"He found her Daddy."

"Yes he did sweetie."

"Sir as soon as we get to the estate I'll contact the others and we'll get airborne. You can send me the coordinates once we're in the air," Alex says.

"Alex you can't go. You heard how dangerous that it is there now," Addison argues not wanting to send someone else off into a war zone especially not Alex.

"I heard but our friends are down there in it and Ken's hurt Addison. We don't know how bad it is or if he'll even be able to get her out. It's time for us to go in."

"Alex, if you're sure I'll call them now and have the plane prepped for travel."

"Yes sir. Scott is on standby so he can fly up and meet up with us in New York before we head to Africa."

"Alex I don't want you to go. Not now that...," Addison says grabbing his hand and squeezing it.

"I know you don't but I'll be all right Addison. Ken's done the hard part he just needs us to help get her home."

"I'm not going to talk you out of this am I?"

"I'm so sorry Addison but I have to do this. He'd do it for any of us, I have to be able to do the same," sadly she nods her head and Alex turns to Mr. Voss. "Get the plane ready sir."

They arrive back at the estate and while the Voss's help the Ripley's get settled in Alex calls T. J.

"What's the word?" T.J. asks.

"They're alive. He got to her but he's been wounded. I don't have any specifics on how bad but its enough that he couldn't make it to his extraction point," Alex tells him.

"Damn. What about Michelle? Do we know anything about her condition?"

"Good enough to make the rendezvous and to refuse to leave Grayson behind. She went back to whatever village they made it to beforehand. It's within a day's walk from the Gambia but that's all I know for sure."

"Shit Alex, that's a lot of ground to cover."

"I know it is but I'm getting the coordinates of the dock where he set up to meet the boat. Hey if Grayson found it you know we can."

T.J. laughs. "This is true. Have you been keeping up with the news over there?"

"Voss's man in Dakar says it's bad right now. Fighting has erupted all over the place with the power shift. T.J., he'd understand if you guys..."

"Stow that talk right now Alex; Ramon and I are in. He'd do the same for us and we all know it."

"Yeah, I know. Addison is calling Lissa so I should get in there and let Scott know that we're going."

"Okay man."

"They're fueling the plane now so I'll call you guys from it and let you know my ETA. We'll have to wait for Scott to join up with us then we'll be off."

"Sounds like a plan. Ramon and I are packed just give us a time and we'll be ready."

"All right, see you soon," He hangs up and heads inside finding Addison in the kitchen on her cell phone.

"The guy just said he was wounded, we don't know how bad it is," She's saying as Alex hugs her around her shoulders. "Tell Scott that Alex is here now if he wants to talk."

"He just wants to know when he should be in New York," Lissa says.

"Hang on a sec," Addison says and hands Alex the phone.

"Hey Lis."

"Hi Alex, so you guys are really going huh?"

"Lissa if you don't want Scott to go especially after what he went through last year with the shooting and all we'll understand," Alex tells her.

"You might understand but he wouldn't Alex."

"If you want me to try and talk some sense into him, I will."

"I've tried but I understand where he's coming from. I want to go with you guys but I know that I'd just slow you down," Lissa says.

"With the way I limp, you'd run circles around me," He jokes.

"Yeah, but you shoot a hell of a lot straighter than me."

Alex chuckles at that. "I do keep in practice. Let Scott know that..." He pauses when he sees Mr. Voss motioning to him. "Talk to Addison for a second Lis," He hands Addison the phone.

"Alex, there's a problem with the plane. Something about a fuel pump issue, it can be fixed but it's going to take them a couple of days to get a new one installed and tested," Mr. Voss explains.

"Damn it," Alex mutters. "The boat is scheduled to be there then. We could miss them entirely."

"If Ken is well enough to travel by then," Mr. Voss points out.

Alex nods. "Looks like our rescue mission just got put on hold."

"I'm afraid so."

Alex nods. "Addison, let Scott know while I call T.J. back. We'll just have to wait for word to come in before we plan our next move."

Nighttime has arrived in the village and Michelle joins Rhadi and Yacine in their hut for a small meal.

"I'm sorry that it is not much," Rhadi apologizes to Michelle as they sit at the table.

"Please Rhadi, it's plenty and I'm very thankful for all the help you and your people have shown us," Michelle tells her.

"You saved my husband and who knows how many more from our village and the others around here. This is the least we can do to repay your kindness."

Michelle nods. "Where's Demba?"

"He is making sure that he has some guards in place so we are alerted should those men from earlier return. Michelle, do you know what this is about or why they are here?"

She shakes her head. "The only person with those answers is still not talking. Other than the tribe and him, I don't dare trust anyone else right now. It's safer if we remain hidden."

"I think that is for the best," Yacine chimes in.

Michelle and Rhadi share a laugh as Demba enters. He smiles at the women as he takes a seat opposite Michelle.

"How are the men?" Rhadi asks him.

"They are in place and are being cared for. Something smells good."

Rhadi serves them and they share a quiet meal together.

"How is your friend this evening?" Demba asks about halfway through the meal. Rhadi translates for him.

"I think he's doing better. He's still unconscious but he's strong. I'm sure he'll be awake soon," Michelle answers hoping in her mind that it becomes so.

Demba nods. "You are welcome as long as you need. We will protect you from these men that search for you out in the jungle."

"Thank you Demba, I don't know how I would have managed to survive all of this without your help," She tells him.

He nods and takes hold of her hand giving it a reassuring squeeze. They finish the meal and say their goodnights Michelle getting a hug from Yacine before she returns to the small hut we're sharing. She checks over my wounds and changes out the saline bag before sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Don't be mad at me but I went to the dock today and I didn't get on the boat. I mean I am here talking to you and not halfway back home. What was I supposed to do, just leave you here? I wasn't about to do that. Who would I watch all those old movies with that know all the lines as good as you do?"

My unconscious body says nothing back.

"Okay maybe I deserve the silent treatment for leaving like I did but Kenny, I was scared okay? I was going away for nine months and I had only just met you and...," She pauses and sighs. "And it's not fair that I'm having this conversation with you while you aren't all the way here is it? Granted it's a lot easier for me but it's not fair for you and I want to be fair to you Kenny so please wake up so we can have this thing out. What do you say?"

Only silence answers her. "Okay, I get it. You need some time to process things," She says as she pulls the sheet back so she can crawl under it with me. She leans in and kisses my cheek. "I just want you to know that I'm not going anywhere without you, okay?"

With that said, she lies back and dims the lantern that's beside the bed before snuggling up to my body.

In the darkness, she whispers. "I can't believe that you came here for me Kenny. After the way I left things with us, I didn't think I'd ever see you again. Didn't think that you'd want to see me again and yet here you are. Why Kenny, why are you here? Why'd you risk your life for me after what happened? Damn it, it's not fair that you get to lay here like this and not talk to me so you have to wake up. Please?" She waits a couple of beats but I continue to sleep. "You and I have a lot of things that we need to sort out once you get us home, I hope you realize that." Slowly she falls asleep and this night, there are no nightmares to shake her awake.

"Nothing here," Micah calls out as he pokes his head out of an outcropping just large enough for a man to crawl into.

"Here either," Martin Cruse answers as he and another of the team exit a large cave.

"Man, we got jack all!" Darrell states. "This guy don't exist anymore Micah. He's a freaking piece of scorched beef back at that aid station."

"What about the guy at that village? He said..."

"Who cares what he said? The kid was wrong or confused or both."

"Or lying." Martin points out.

"Why the hell would he lie about it?"

"You saw all the shit that Ballo did around here. The kid probably thinks we're part of his crew or something. He just wanted us the hell out of his village as quick as he could get us," Martin suggests.

"If that's the case then how would he know that we were looking for a white man?" Micah asks.

"Because all of you are fucking white, man. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that would get your white asses moving," Darrell tells them.

Micah evaluates the idea for a few moments and then nods.

"I suppose you've got a point. Let's set up a camp, make a perimeter and rack out for the night. We'll make one more sweep in the morning using the daylight to see if we find anything. If not, we'll start making our way back to the compound. You guys start getting things set up while I report in." Micah pulls out his Sat phone and rings Agent Trent.

"Trent."

"Sir, we're still coming up dry in this hunt. I think the pair bought it at the aid station either from the militia or from the gunship."

"No leads at all?" Trent asks.

"Just one but it was a dead end. Some local claimed he was punched by a white guy out in the jungle. Said he ran off towards some caves nearby but we searched them and there's nothing here."

"You think the guy was lying?"

"Could be. The militia put this area through hell, if you saw a bunch of armed men walk into your village again, wouldn't you lie to them?"

"I see your point. All right, head back to the aid station and see what DNA you can scrounge up and we'll see where that leads us."

"Copy that." After he hangs up Micah tucks the phone away and goes to help the others set up camp. His arrival keeps Darrell's bitching to a minimum and soon they're set up and ready for a night of restlessness from the bugs and animals that insist on investigating these men that are encroaching into their domain.

I awaken to the feeling of someone poking a finger into my arm. I try and ignore it and keep on sleeping but it's persistent so I ask the person. "Can you cut that out?"

Yacine yelps and jumps back from the bed nearly tripping over a chair. I groan as I open my eyes at the sound of the commotion and look her way. "Didn't mean to scare you, I'm sorry about that. Are you okay?"

"I am fine Mr. Kenny. I shouldn't have been bothering you."

"Mr. Kenny Huh? It's fine little one it's just... Hey you're the girl that helped me find Michelle, right?"

She nods her head and steps closer. "Yes. Miss Michelle has been very worried for you."

"Well you can tell her that I'm... ouch... fine," I tell her but as I sit up, I'm hit with a massive headache and a sharp stab of pain that runs through my wounded shoulder.

To top that off, I start coughing, jostling everything and making it all hurt even more. Quickly she fetches me a bottle of water and hands it to me. Despite my parched throat I drink down the cool liquid slowly so I don't set off another fit of coughing. "Thank you. Maybe fine isn't exactly what I am, just yet."

"Miss Michelle and my mother took excellent care of you."

"It feels like they did. Where is Michelle right now? Did you get her to the boat like I asked you to?"

Yacine looks sheepish and answers. "Well... yes, I got her to the boat."

"She didn't get on it did she? It figures. I go through all this and I can't get her to follow one simple direction."

"She is very worried about you," Yacine protests her arms crossing over her chest in a defiant pose.

I smile. "What's your name sweetheart?"

"My name is Yacine and Miss Michelle is my friend."

"I can see that Yacine, and I was just teasing you a little. Between you and me, I'm glad that Michelle stayed behind but we need to keep that from her, okay?"

Yacine's smile returns to her face and she nods. "Ah that is good that you were kidding, I would hate to have had to kick you in the shins for being mean to my friend."

I laugh. "My shins are glad that you didn't have to resort to that too."

She giggles and offers her hand, which I reach out and shake. "It is nice to meet you Mr. Kenny. I can see why Miss Michelle thinks so highly of you."

"Thanks Yacine. Where is Michelle now and where am I for that matter?"

"You are in our village and Michelle is with my mother getting cleaned up a little," Yacine says. I bring one leg around and start to get out of bed but Yacine stops me. "I don't think it is wise for you to be moving so much."