DISCLAIMER: Howdy pards! This is KariKay's and Miz Royale's rescue story of Vin in response to Michelle's rescue challenge. The one that was issued in March. Now y'all have to be wondering why this story is on the xfic list since we have given it a PG rating (?) Well we just didn't figure that two women with Vin in the exrated sense would really go over well not to mention the rest of the rescue challenge stories were on this list. At any rate we had some assistance. Trent belongs to Top Kick Productions and CBS {another one bites the dust thanks to CBS}. La Femme Nikita belongs to Fireworks Productions and Warner Brothers. Duncan MacLeod belongs to Rysher and Gaumont. We are just borrowing them for some fun and we definitely aren't going to make a profit on this. Can't blow up CBS so had to do something in the interim. And, of course, The Magnificent Seven belong to MGM/Trilogy.

This fic challenge was issued in March and we were going to do the postings in order with us being fourth in line, but we decided to just go ahead and send this on out. So if we mention being cold, that is why.

Back in the days when CBS kept pulling the show for two weeks at a time, we had a saga going on over on the Boarding House List. Since we are both Karen's; we were referring to ourselves as the angelic ones. Those of you on the boarding house list can ask Miz KariKay about that.

RATINGS: PG for language? and some innuendoes

PAIRING: no pairing

WARNINGS: Humor?

The ride to the center in Connecticut was LONG! Michael swore it had to be the longest ride he had ever taken, and if he never saw Kari, codename Callie, and Karen, Codename Royale, ever again, it would be too soon. Why couldn't this mission wait for Nikita? Michael asked himself for the third time. Right now it was quiet, blissfully quiet.

The ladies were finally looking over the center's alarm systems on the computer with Birkoff as the van traveled at a high rate of speed. Michael was sure that the driver had heard enough complaints from the two women as well that he wanted to get rid of them as soon as possible.

"Ok, I still don't understand one thing." Callie said looking at both Birkoff and Michael.

"Callie, I have explained the alarm system three times!" Birkoff sighed in exasperation. "What could you possibly not understand??"

"Oh, I understand that perfectly, did the first time, ya just cut this, punch in those numbers and we are in." she told them with a smile. "I don't understand why I can't have my NAME! I like Kari!"

Birkoff groaned and put his head in his hands. Michael sighed and went over to them. "No one can know you are from The List organization, we have explained that! CBS knows you exist and they can't know you are attempting this rescue."

"Kari, I mean, um Callie, it is not so bad, at least they let us pick the names." Royale told her, "And just think of how great it will be to have our tracker back."

Kari sighed, thinking of Vin Tanner and how grateful he would be for her rescuing him, oh and Miz Royale too...

"Callie, Callie?? CALLIE!!" Birkoff nearly yelled.

"Huh, oh sorry, got sidetracked."

"We need to go over the facility's layout now."

"Oh, all right, more boring stuff." And this time Michael put his head in his hands and wished the driver would speed up more!

Finally they arrived at the target facility and Michael paced the small confines of the mission van as Royale and Callie slipped on their "uniforms". He had to chuckle to himself for Ops must have known they wouldn't be happy about the clothing.

Sure enough, the two female operatives were not keeping their comments to themselves.

"These are the ugliest uniforms I have ever seen." Callie said.

"Yeah Nikita gets to wear cool clothes and we get this?" Royale said.

"Gray is not my color at all!" Callie continued as she stepped outside. "I figured we would have something a little more glamorous for a cover! I mean come on... PLUMBERS! We are suppose to deal with TOILETS? And just how am I suppose to thaw out Vin looking like this? These things cover my best assets!

"I told you, they are not even inside and already she is blowing their cover!" a new voice said dryly.

Everyone turned to see Duncan and Trent. Michael had immediately pulled a gun at the sound of the newcomers.

"Whoa! We just came to help our little ladies out." Trent told Michael who quickly put his weapon away and scowled.

"What are you two doing here?" Royale asked.

"We don't trust these Section folk." Trent said. "We intend to back you up."

"I would rather be behind you." Royale said, noticing the way Birkoff rolled his eyes at her comment. "But seriously here, Callie. I am the one who will be thawing Vin out!"

"You had best take a look in the mirror first." Callie said with a knowing smirk.

Royale hurried to the nearest mirror and gasped in horror.

"Gray used to be my color." she wailed. "I will never be able to look at the color gray again and I can't have Vin seeing me in these ugly things!"

Royale heard Duncan and Trent chuckling and turned to see that Michael was trying his best to maintain his cold blank stare. A closer look at Birkoff, although she couldn't see his face really well, told her he was extremely red from holding his laughter in as well.

"Don't be concerned, Royale. We will be thawing Vin out." Duncan told her.

Both women blanched and gasped.

"EXCUSE ME?"

"WHAT??"

"With THIS!" Duncan held up a small vial.

"Where are your minds!" Trent asked, shaking his head at the two.

"It was a natural mistake!" Royale sputtered indignantly but then a clever plan came to her quick mind.

She glanced at Callie and could tell that Callie had come up with something just as clever if not identical.

With a shared evil grin, Royale and Callie turned to Duncan and Trent.

"We are good but we could never pull off this plumber's cover." Royale said.

"Yes and these uniforms really are suited for someone taller than Royale or myself." Callie added.

"Now wait a minute." Duncan protested. "We are here to back you up. And make sure Vin gets out of suspended animation, that is all."

"Plans have changed." Callie said. "Get dressed."

It didn't take Callie and Royale long to strip off the uniforms. Trent and Duncan were eagerly waiting to see what was underneath and were disappointed to find that they had clothes on, more flattering than Gray Coveralls, but still, Clothes.

"We'll make it up to you some other time." Royale said. "Trent, you got those shurikens handy? It doesn't matter if you aren't totally adept at those yet. Just don't aim them in my direction."

"OR MINE!" Callie seconded. "Oh, and Duncan..."

"Don't even ask it, Callie." Duncan said struggling into the uniform.

"You know I always have it with me."

Royale opened her mouth to say something she thought might be pretty clever but a warning look from Michael kept her quiet. It didn't help that Trent had clamped his hand over her mouth as well. She didn't miss the grateful look Michael gave Trent.

"What do we do with them now?" Birkoff asked Michael of Callie and Royale.

"Abeyance would be nice." he muttered.

"Oh don't worry, sweetie. I am sure we will end up there all too soon." Royale said. "We'll go in as helpers. After all there have to be lots of toilets to be checked in a place that size. Oh and Callie, I have an idea for some of those gadgets that Walter gave us."

Callie shot her an exasperated look then glanced covertly at Michael.

"And they say I have a big mouth." she muttered under her breath.

"Don't worry. We aren't going to blow anyone up." Royale said, checking the contents of her bag.

"Where's your weapon?" Michael asked her.

"I have it. Don't worry."

Michael would be shocked if they succeeded on this mission. Why did Nikita have to be in some godforsaken country on another mission? Or was Ops testing him again?

While they had been preparing for the mission, a truck had been brought up to the mission van with a plumber's logo on it.

"Go." Michael said, waiting until the four people were in the truck and driving away, before stepping back inside the mission van.

He couldn't stop the rueful smile that came to his face as he saw Birkoff doubled up, shaking with laughter.

"We could really get Ops good with those two around." Birkoff said when he was able to control himself again.

"We better concentrate on getting them in and out of there with the mission intact or we will be in abeyance ourselves. Any idea what Royale had?"

"No. Surely Walter wouldn't-"

"You know Walter when there is a pretty lady involved and if Callie was with her then he wouldn't be able to say no at all."

"True. Bet he had menage a trois on his mind." Birkoff said. "We'll just have to wait and see what she comes up with and hope that it doesn't get any of them killed. Any chance they could escape his wrath and maybe Section?"

"Only if you believe in miracles." Michael replied.

The van had pulled up to the gate and they were being scrutinized by the security guard.

All of them heaved a sigh of relief when the gates were opened and the van rolled through.

Gaining entrance into the building was almost too easy and put Royale and Callie on alert. They had actually been paying attention to the briefing and were fully aware of what the mission entailed.

They knew they would encounter resistance once they reached the floor where the seven men were being held in deep freeze, as Royale put it. One glance at Callie and she knew they were thinking along the same lines again. Both wanted to see the CBS executives pay for this atrocity, but they needed to rescue Vin.

The two women had split up from the guys as they approached their target.

"At least the intel wasn't faulty." Callie said in a low voice to Royale as they walked down the hall to the two guards located several feet from the room containing the seven men.

"For once." Royale replied, showing her faith in Section One. This place is almost as bad as those caves we were in. At least there aren't any snakes to be seen unless you consider them the same as those awful varmints."

Callie laughed nervously as she remembered their attempted rescue of Vin, Trent and Duncan when certain friends had absconded with them once before. Royale had a healthy dislike for dark, dank places as well as snakes. She wasn't exactly fond of them either.

"Sorry. No one allowed beyond this point." one of the two guards said.

"We're here to do some repairs on the plumbing. Seems there is a blockage somewhere and it is starting to back up. We are checking out all the facilities." Royale said.

"You sure don't look like plumbers to me." the second one said eyeing Royale's black and red body hugging outfit, as well as Callie's white, very short dress.

"Well, it isn't my idea of a glamorous job, but, when it is the only work you can find, you have to take it." Royale said.

"Where's your uniform?"

"The cleaners." Royale said, starting to get a little testy. "I had plans for this evening and it didn't include taking care of stopped up toilets. Think we could get on with our job so I can get out of here?"

"You'll have to excuse her." Callie said. "She hates to have her plans ruined."

"You wanna show us where the facilities are?" Royale said growing more irritable.

"Sure." the first guard said. "Right this way."

Royale and Callie followed him with the second guard bringing up the rear. They both heard Birkoff inform them that the cameras had been taken care of.

Trent and Duncan moved in behind the second guard and followed them quietly into the bathrooms. They just stood there watching as the two women took care of the two guards and secured them to the toilet. They couldn't help but smile as they saw that the two women had handcuffed their hands behind the toilet, forcing their heads over the toilet bowl.

"They shouldn't have started this little war." Royale said, as she walked past Trent and Duncan.

"Remind me never to get her angry at me." Duncan said.

"You better keep reminding me to tread carefully." Trent replied.

"Don't worry, my sweet." Royale said. "You could never do anything to get on my bad side."

"That's a relief." Trent muttered.

"I heard that." Royale said. "Callie, you ready for this?"

"More than you will ever know." Callie replied.

They opened the door quietly and Royale peeked in, then quickly backed out. Voices could now be heard since she had left the door slightly ajar. Callie moved cautiously to the narrow opening and saw three CBS executives circling Mr. Tanner.

"This one is perfect, we can give him a new personality, a new name and a new location. He will never remember being a tracker, living in the 1800's. He won't recognize any of the others, and best of all, we know he has a following so we will have built in viewership of him."

"Yes, but only of him, if we give them all new personalities then we have built in viewership of seven shows, while dividing the list organization. It is Perfect!"

"That's diabolical!" Royale whispered.

The CBS executives shouldn't have let Royale hear that, not that they knew she was nearby. Those words got her riled and she was like a bull in a china shop when she had her dander up. She wasn't a Taurus for nothing. It was all Callie, Trent and Duncan could do to stop her from canceling all three executives right there on the spot.

"Calm down, Royale!" Trent said. "Don't make me use my secret weapon!"

Callie and Duncan looked at Trent curiously but took note of the delighted smile on Royale's face.

"Royale!" Michael's voice said into all their comm units. "We have a mission taking place here. Get your mind on the job and keep it there."

"Oh great!" Royale muttered. "From the frying pan into the fire."

She had the grace to wonder, fleetingly, if she might not be pushing Michael a bit too much.

"Okay, got any ideas?" Royale asked. "Anyone? I surely wouldn't mind hearing them about now."

"Sh!" Callie said. "Let me think."

"Sure wish Vin were here with his Vinchester!" Royale said. "He could pick them off easily and leave them for buzzard bait."

"Shut up!" Callie said, exasperatedly. "If Vin were here, he wouldn't need to be here and neither would we!"

Trent and Duncan looked a tad perplexed with that comment, but the even scarier moment came when they realized that Royale had understood her perfectly. Course all four men were wondering if Royale would come unglued, but she just smiled at Callie and shut up.

"Callie is not trained to take over this mission!" Michael informed them through their ear pieces.

"She can be very creative when she wants!" Royale told them in a low voice as she watched Callie move once more to the crack in the door.

The executives were busily scribbling notes as they stared at Vin, one stating all the parameters of the new personality. Finally he told them they should get on this right away and the other two said they would call the technicians.

"Birkoff, can you reroute that call?" Callie asked in a hushed voice.

"Sure thing!"

"Great, tell them it is no problem and you have two female techs on the way. We are going back to the bathroom til we here from you."

"That might work, Callie," Michael said, "but if it doesn't you will have to abort the mission."

"Like hell we will!" Royale exclaimed as the four moved off.

"It'll work, don't worry." Callie told him, to forestall anymore argument from Royale.

No one else said anything until they reached the bathroom. The guards looked up hopefully, only to find the people who had done this to them. The first guard eyed Royale in more than a speculative manner, which Trent did not like. He quickly kicked the man and pushed his face down into the toilet. Duncan glanced at the second guard, who quickly made a point of only looking into the bowl he was chained to.

"They shouldn't listen to what we are saying." Callie eyed both guards. "Can you knock them unconscious?"

"Actually, won't the execs notice they are missing when they leave?" Royale wondered.

"Good point. Oh gentlemen..."

Both men groaned and headed for the guards.

"Look at it this way, you'll look much better in those uniforms." Royale told them with a smile.

To both of Callie and Royale's disappointment, Duncan and Trent closed the stall doors to change. When they emerged, the guards were unconscious and the men were in their uniforms.

"Call came through. The execs are waiting for two female technicians to change Vin Tanners personality." Birkoff's voice came through the ear pieces again.

"On our way." Royale and Callie headed towards the door, Duncan and Trent behind them. The men took the guard's previous positions as the women headed for the room.

"I hope they believe we are actually technicians. Do you know any technical personality-changing babble?" Callie asked Royale.

"Wait a minute... DO I KNOW?" Royale asked in a hiss, eyeing her friend. "It was your idea. I assumed you would cover that!"

"Well, I thought of it... you should cover that part!"

"Oh Gosh!"

"Funny, you kept saying that in the caves, too." Callie told her friend.

"Oh, you mean when you had us lost for hours and attacked by snakes?"

"We got out, and it was only one tiny little poisonous snake." Callie clarified.

"Ladies!" Michael's voice made both women wince. "You are approaching the target destination. Get it together and make this work or I will abort the mission!"

"Why can't he just say quit arguing or he'll bring us back?" Callie wondered under her breath.

"Something to do with section protocol and being a tight a-" Royale started but could hear Birkoff choking in her ear piece so quickly shut up. They had finally reached the door that read "The Magnificent Seven - HIATUS (i.e. cancellation)".

"Here we go." Callie looked at her partner.

"Ok, let’s do it." Royale took a deep breath and opened the door, a professional smile plastered on her face.

"Good evening, gentlemen." she said as she and Callie entered the room. "I understand you need some personality and name changing done?"

"You two are the techs?" the first network executive asked suspiciously.

"Yes Sir." Callie said in as respectful of a voice as she could manage, considering she could cheerfully terminate them right then and there for canceling their favorite show.

"I see, well, you don't look quite like techs to me."

"And just what do technicians look like, sir?" Callie asked. "Male perhaps? Because there is such a thing as the equal amendment and women can do just as good of a job as males."

Royale, taking Callie's cue to throw them off, quickly took up the argument.

"Excuse me, sir. We are here to do our jobs. Jobs which we trained long hours for and are eminently qualified to do! If you insist on using male techs only, that is fine, but you will hear from my lawyer and her lawyer as well."

"Most definitely!" Callie agreed, glaring at the executives.

"Um, that won't be necessary." the second network executive said hurriedly, the thought of law suits scaring him to death.

The other two nodded agreement.

"Here are the specifications for Vin Tanner, all the changes we want and the new name."

The third nervously handed a clipboard to Royale, while avoiding eye contact. Sexual discrimination and harassment suits scared him the most.

"Thank you. We will look these over and begin immediately. We prefer to work in private. Do you have any objections to that?" Callie stared coldly at all the men.

"No, not at all, we will let you begin!"

All three hurried out, but the first one did give them a second glance.

"Hmm, do you think they bought it?" Callie asked.

"I hope!" Royale exclaimed.

Then the two quickly set to work wishing they could rescue all the remaining gunslingers. It was a few moments later that Trent and Duncan joined them.

Trent eyed the placed nervously, cringing. He knew his show on CBS, Sons of Thunder, only had six episodes and then he could quite possibly end up here.

Royale, noticing the looks he was giving the place told him, "Don't worry, sweetie. If they try to do this to you, we'll come to the rescue."

"I was in a place similar to this for a while. Thankfully, the SciFi Channel rescued me. I do reruns there now." Duncan told them.

"And we are really happy about that!" Callie gave him a squeeze, then went back to work on getting Vin out of his container. "Damn he is COLD!"

"I really wish we could take all of them!" Royale said in a sad voice.

"You can't, so get Tanner out of there!" Michael instructed.

"I am picking up network execs heading your way!" Birkoff told them.

"We better hurry! No time to unfreeze him now!" Callie said as Duncan and Trent went ahead of them to make sure there were no obstacles. Royale and Callie carried Vin between them.

"You have two minutes before they are at your location." Birkoff informed them, "and they have guards with them."

"Guess they didn't buy that after all!" Royale said.

"Oh well, it was a good try, now lets get moving!"

They had only gone a few feet when the three execs were back, with six guards.

"I told you they didn't look like our guards!" the first executive said, glaring at Trent and Duncan.

"Hey, they did buy our act after all!" Callie exclaimed happily.

"I don't think that helps much now." Royale told her in exasperation, as they backed up and around a corner.

Trent and Duncan were holding off the guards quite well so the ladies decided to continue with the escape.

"Birkoff, can you get us out of here?" Callie asked into the mike.

"Yes, go to your left, and then take the stairs."

"What about Trent and Duncan?" Royale asked in concern.

"Leave them." Michael told her coldly, "They shouldn't have been here in the first place."

"We can't just LEAVE THEM!" Royale said in frustration. "They are helping us! They don't deserve this!"

"Get out of there now or you will have to leave Tanner, too! Follow your orders!" Michael told the women in a no nonsense voice.

"You're right. He is a tight a-" Callie started but was cut off as they came face to face with the network execs.

"Oops, wrong way!" Royale exclaimed, backing up.

"I told you LEFT!" Birkoff nearly shouted in their ears.

"You forgot Callie was LEADING!" Royale yelled back as she and Callie looked for an escape route.

"Hey!" Callie said indignantly as they faced the execs, who had satisfied smiles on their faces.

"Going somewhere, ladies?"

"You should never threaten executives with lawsuits. It makes us angry."

"So does deep freezin' our Tracker!" Callie told them coldly.

"Drop Tanner and get out of there!" Michael told them. "Duncan and Trent have been captured! The mission is aborted."

"Like hell it is!" Royale told them, and she did drop Tanner, long enough to reach into her bag and pull out a lipstick.

"Just like a woman! Stopping to do her make up before you are thrown in jail. We have rights to that Tracker. You don't and now you are going to pay for attempting to take him out of our realm!" a network executive informed them.

"Well, you know us ditzy airheads! Can't go anywhere without our compacts." Callie said, as she gently set Vin down and pulled out a compact.

The two operatives looked at each other and grinned.

"Thank you, Walter!" Royale and Callie said as they opened and launched the makeup at the execs.

Birkoff and Michael could be heard in the background, protesting and cursing Walter. The explosion from the lipstick, and the gas from the compact had all of the execs and guards choking long enough for Royale and Callie to pick up Vin and run! There was nothing they could do about Duncan and Trent but would return for them later both vowed silently. A few more pieces of makeup were launched on their escape and they finally made it to the mission van, the plumbing one having been taken over by CBS guards already.

Michael, Birkoff and the driver were already outside, weapons drawn as the two operatives made it to the van with Vin. Many guards and CBS Executives were close behind them. They shoved Vin in the van. Royale leaped in back with him, and Callie jumped into the drivers seat.... and took off!

"HEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING????" Michael, Birkoff and the driver were all shouting.

"Thanks for helping, but did you really think we would let SECTION get our TRACKER?" Callie yelled, then ripped the ear piece she had on and threw it out the window. Royale threw her's out the back door just before she pulled it closed. She had a last glimpse of Michael's face as well as Birkoff's and the driver's. Then they turned to fire on the execs and guards. None looked happy.

"I have a feeling we will pay for this." Royale said.

"Oh, I am sure we will, but come on! Did you really think they were going to let us take him to Vegas?" Callie asked, opening the partition that separated the front from the back.

"No, I am sure they had other plans. We do have to go back for Trent and Duncan soon."

"I know, and we will, right after Vin is delivered safely."

"At least Duncan has the vial, he can thaw himself and Trent out."

"Royale... how is he supposed to thaw himself and Trent out if HE is FROZEN? Sheesh and I thought I was the blond!"

"Oh, ah well. Looks like it is up to us to thaw Vin out."

"What a pity." Callie grinned, but then frowned as the partition was put back in place by Royale.

"Excuse me! What are you doing??" Callie could no longer get the partition back down, Royale had locked out the controls.

"Gettin' to work!" Royale was slightly put out with the blond comment and grinned evilly.

"What?!" The van swerved precariously as Callie tried unsuccessfully to get the partition back down. It was her job to thaw out Vin, dammit! She had even worn her favorite dress for the occasion!

"Hey, watch it!" Royale yelled, "although, that did land me in a very nice position..."

And Callie just gritted her teeth and drove!

It was a few hours later that Callie pulled off to a motel. Vin, despite Royale's efforts, had not thawed completely and they had finally lost all of the CBS tails.

"I sure hope this stopping is a good idea." Royale said, looking around worriedly. "How are we suppose to get him in without anyone seeing us?"

"It's dark out and even if they do see us, they will just think he is drunk. I do believe I ordered a room with a hot tub, so thawing him out shouldn't be too much of a problem."

"Good thinking."

"I do try."

"Well, lets get him in there and see about finishing this job."

"Ok, but ya know, I am starving, and him... well, he hasn't eaten in several days. I am really really tired of driving, so would you please go on over to MacDonalds and get us some food?"

Royale eyed Callie suspiciously, not buying the angelic expression on her friend's face for a minute. But she had HAD VIN for a long time to herself, while Callie navigated unfamiliar interstates and dodged CBS cars, so she supposed it wouldn't hurt to let her have some fun.

"Oh, all right. I need to ditch this van while I am at it. I bet Section has a way to trace it."

"Good thinking! See about a convertible, will you? I have always wanted to ride in one of those."

Royale only rolled her eyes, and said dryly, "No problem. A convertible in March. Sheesh!"

"We'll be heading to warmer states soon. Can you make it blue???"

"Good bye, Callie!" Royale said and backed out of the room.

"I knew I could get her to leave sooner!" Callie chuckled, then began work on thawing Vin!

It was three hours later that Royale returned, having the presence of mind to knock before unlocking the door. Callie had not had much more success, although the tracker did have some color back. She had also been quite worried about her friend, not expecting Royale to take that long!

"I need help getting him into the hot tub. Don't want to drop him and drown him, ya know."

"Ok, here is the food." Royale dropped a MacDonald's bag on the dresser.

"Great. What took you so long anyway? I didn't expect you to give me that much time."

"I wanted to make sure section didn't check this part of town, so drove an hour away and then went to work on finding your car."

"You got a convertible???????? YES!" Callie squealed excitedly as she looked out the window. "Silver is cool!"

"As close to blue as I could get. And it is LOADED!"

"All right!"

"Well, lets get our guy in the tub and hope he thaws out!"

After much splashing and slipping, the tracker was finally in and the bubble jets going. Callie and Royale, having changed into bathing suits Royale had purchased (we do have some modesty here ya know), were also enjoying the tub. And the big macs!

"This is not quite the way I envisioned Vin and I in a hot tub... you were definitely not here, we were not eating big macs, and well... he was very awake!" Callie told Royale as they worriedly eyed the tracker.

The two were on each side of him, holding him up while they ate with their free hands.

"I know, this is not the way my hot tub fantasy went either, believe me, and it certainly did not include you or MacDonalds food!" Royale agreed.

"I'm hungry!" Vin said, startling the girls so much that they dropped him and he slid under the water.

"Oops!" Callie uttered and both quickly helped the choking tracker get his head above water.

"Damn, that was not how I wanted to wake up!" Vin eyed the two as he shook water out of his hair and eyes.

Oh, that hair looked good wet! A wet Vin...sigh!

"Where the hell am I?" Vin asked, looking around at the motel room. It had strange lights, he was in the strangest bath tub he had ever seen and with two women who were barely clothed.

"Am I in a bath house/brothel?" he asked in a shocked tone.

"EXCUSE ME?" Callie asked indignantly.

"I think we have just been royally insulted!" Royale agreed.

"Well, ladies sure don't wear what you are!" Vin eyed the women, "and they don't get into bathtubs with'em either."

"We are wearing bathing suits. They are perfectly acceptable." Callie informed him.

"That don't explain why you're in the bath tub with me?" Vin glanced down, "and why don't I HAVE a bathing suit?"

"We needed to thaw all of you out." Royale told him with a grin.

"Thaw me out? I don't need no thawin'," Vin said perplexed. "Especially uh, there!" He glanced down to what the bathing suit should cover.

"Trust me, Vin, you needed it, especially there!" Callie told him with a grin as she handed him a sandwich. "Here's a big mac, if you are really hungry."

"You want me to eat something named 'Big Mac'?" Vin asked suspiciously. "And how come you know my name?"

"It's good! Just try it," Royale assured him. "And we know LOTS about you. But don't worry, we are the good guys. To answer where ya are, this is a motel room, kind of like a boarding house. We had to rescue you from Hiatus."

"I have never heard of a town called Hiatus, but thanks for rescuing me."

"It's not a town, its a kind of limbo... very hard to explain." Callie told him.

"Try harder," Vin said "and what are your names?

"Our names are Karen and Karen. Well, I go by Kari, she goes by Karen, cause I gave up my real name so we wouldn't confuse you."

"You just did."

"Oh."

"We had to have code names, though, for this mission, remember?"

Royale put in, "So I am not Karen, I am Royale, and she is Callie, not Kari, for now anyway."

"That didn't help much. What is ON this??????" Vin asked after biting into the burger.

"It's called a special sauce, an acquired taste probably. Millions, no, billions of people like it, though." Callie told him with an encouraging smile.

"It's not too bad." Vin said. "Feels like I haven't eaten for days!"

"That would be because you haven't. You've been frozen at a CBS facility for a couple of weeks now. We were picked to rescue you, but lost Duncan and Trent in the process. Other List Members will be rescuing Chris, Josiah, Buck, JD, Nathan and Ezra. And it took a very long time to thaw you, cause Duncan has the vial of stuff, and it was a lot more work than we thought, so you should be hungry."

Vin look at Royale as if she had lost her mind after that explanation. The scary part for Callie was, that she HAD understood that explanation, and decided she was losing her mind.

"I realize it is a bit hard to believe... that all doesn't sound very plausible..." Callie started, but got distracted by Vin's direct gaze on her.

"Look, we really did rescue you." Royale began, "and we wanted to get the others out, but we couldn't, and you were frozen, and you're not believing this at all, are you?"

"I want another 'big mac', and a bathing suit." Vin told her, deciding to go with the moment. "And something to drink would be nice."

"Oh!" Royale said. "I didn't think to buy you a suit, but I did get you a new pair of pants and two shirts, one in blue and one in red. I simply couldn't make up my mind about which one you looked best in so I got both. Coke is all there is left to drink, I'm afraid."

Vin looked questioningly at the object Royale was holding out to him.

"It's a paper cup, well sort of, and it has a plastic lid that helps keep the coke from spilling if it tips over. Sometimes it works, too." Royale said.

Plastic? Coke? Vin thought to himself with an endearingly perplexed expression.

Callie held out a long slim thing that had a hole all the way through it. He held it up to his eyes, thinking it didn't make a very good spyglass.

"This is a straw." Callie said inserting it through the slit in the top of the cup. "You su- ah-"

Royale started laughing at the color rising in Callie's face.

"I mean, um, you just insert it between your lips....

Vin raised his eyebrows at that statement.

"Help me out here!" Callie demanded, looking to her friend.

"Sorry!" Royale gasped out. "You started it! You have to finish that explanation."

Callie sat there glaring at Royale who now had tears streaming down her cheeks.

Vin's head turned to each woman as they talked, reminding Royale of a tennis match spectator which made her laugh all the more.

As Callie explained the techniques of using a straw, Royale managed to quit laughing. In fact her expression became quite serious and thoughtful.

It took several minutes for Vin and Callie to realize the quiet Royale.

"Talk to me, Royale." Callie said simply, knowing that serious look well enough.

"Why did Section One want our tracker?" she asked. "It didn't even occur to me to ponder that. I was just concerned with getting Vin away."

"Perhaps they felt his sharpshooting skills would make him a perfect sniper?" Callie said.

"Well given what we know of Section, him being wanted for murder would make him a perfect candidate. I don't know who is the lesser of the two evils. Section or CBS. You know once in section you don't leave there alive." Royale said.

Callie fell silent as well then the two women looked at each other and quickly left the tub.

"The van was parked here far too long. Heck we shouldn't have left it here at all. One of us should have taken it away right away." Royale said as she disappeared into the bathroom.

Neither woman noticed Vin was still sitting in the tub. He was still staring in stunned silence as he noticed how much the bathing suits covered, or didn't in this case. He was also ponderin' how they knew he was wanted for murder. Just what didn't they know about him????

Royale emerged less than three minutes later once again dressed in her body hugging outfit. Callie hurried in to change her clothes and emerged in her snug fitting white dress.

Grabbing a towel Royale advanced on Vin who was still sitting in the tub.

"We have to get out of here now!" Callie said. "They are probably way too close as it is."

"Come on, Vin!" Royale said motioning him out of the tub.

"Ah, you ladies turn your backs." Vin said.

"Oh for heaven's sake, Vin! We have just spent the better part of an hour sitting next to you and you didn't seem to mind or notice then." Royale said.

"I minded." Vin said, stubbornly.

Royale obliged him and turned her back to him as she handed the towel to him behind her back.

"Callie, do as he says. If Section catches up to us, we are in deep trouble."

Reluctantly Callie turned her back to Vin. As soon as Royale felt him take the towel, she hurried to the bed and started throwing Vin's older garments in a bag along with his Winchester, knife and belt. His jacket went in next and then his hat.

"Hey, leave the hat!" Vin said.

"Trust me, you don't want to be wearing your hat." Royale said.

"Er, Royale, I've been looking through the items you purchased for him." Callie said, coming closer so that Vin couldn't hear what she had to say. "I don't see any, you know, underwear in here for him? Isn't that going to be a bit risky to vital parts, not having any when he isn't used to zippers?"

"Damn! I knew I was forgetting something." Royale muttered. "Well, I can't do anything about it now. We have to get out of here. Get him ready and I'll check the perimeter to see what is happening. The top is down. If need be, you can just jump in. Be ready!"

With that Royale was gone. Callie turned around to see Vin struggling into the pants. They were the same cream color he was used to wearing but where there had been buttons there was now a zipper.

"Stop!" Callie yelled as Vin tried to work the zipper.

"What?" Vin asked.

"You could hurt yourself there if you aren't careful." Callie said.

Royale rushed in at that moment, took in the situation at a glance and hurried to Callie and Vin. She shoved them both towards the door as she grabbed up Vin's boots and followed them.

"We got company coming." she said. "Get going."

Royale jumped into the front seat and inserted the key then turned over the engine. She looked up to see that Vin was standing there staring at the car.

"Callie, get him moving!" Royale shouted.

Callie gave Vin a push, trying to impress upon him the need for speedy movements. Vin landed head first in the back seat and Callie was hot on his heels.

A muffled groan escaped Vin as he felt Callie land on him, but he couldn't regain his balance as Royale stepped on the gas. It wasn't hard enough to squeal the tires, but she wasn't wasting time either.

"Who do you think it is? Section or CBS?" Callie asked as she righted herself then helped Vin..

"Section. I don't think CBS has the resources to locate us so quickly and the van had tracking devices on it. I am sure." Royale said.

Vin blinked at the wind whistling by him and through his hair. For a minute he closed his eyes and enjoyed the feel of it but then he noticed that they were going faster. Opening his eyes, he saw the strange lights passing by in a blur and felt slightly sick. It was a whole different world than what he was used to. The brightest lights against the dark sky, things blinking, there were strange noises blaring, and he was going faster than he ever had, even faster than when he had been on a train. The speed only seemed to increase as well. Callie was in the back with him, and he glanced over at her, but she was not staring at the strange lights or cringing at the noises. Instead she seemed to be averting her gaze from him and turning red. Suddenly they turned a corner very fast, and he landed on top of her. That was when he discovered exactly what zippers were suppose to cover! Now he was red!

"Um, Vin... as fun as that would be... this isn't exactly the place, with the top being down and all... not that I would mind!"

"CALLIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Miz Royale warned in quite a firm and LOUD voice.

"Sorry! But... ya see... and he didn't get the zipper up and... uh, well.... oh NEVER MIND!" And with that Callie gently zipped up Vin's pants.

The tracker, not sure whether to thank her, or be completely embarrassed, just remained silent and tried not to watch the lights. But there was a tell tale red on his cheeks, apparent even in the dark.

"Oh, I am sorry! I didn't mean to embarrass ya or anything! I was just trying to help!" Callie told him apologetically.

"It's ok, Ma'am." Vin assured her, but that only made Callie wail.

"He Called me MA'AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not a Ma'am!!!!!! I'm NOT!"

"I'm sorry ma'-, I mean, um, Miss Callie." Vin put his arm around her and patted her on the back.

"Callie, you are not helping me dodge these section people very well!" Royale complained.

"Hush, Vin is comforting me!"

"Callie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Oh all right!"

"Do you see that black sedan behind us?"

"Yeah, please don't tell me it is Michael and Birkoff."

"Worse, it is CBS. Section is working with them now I bet!"

"What is CBS and Section? You ladies mind tellin' me?" Vin yelped as the car again swerved around a corner.

"How can you tell the difference between section and CBS?" Callie asked disbelievingly.

"Section has cooler cars."

"Ladies! Please, I don't know what I am in, but would ya'll just slow it down?" Vin almost pleaded.

"Sorry, Vin, but those guys want to reprogram you, or send you to section forever, and while we like that show, we want you back with Chris and the others!" Callie told him as she twisted to see the sedan better. "So we can't let them get ya so we can't slow down! ROYALE!! They have guns!"

"CRAP! Well, do something, I am driving!"

"Where is the Vinchester?"

"Under the seat! Callie, please, YOU are not going to try to shoot them, are you? I have seen your aim!"

"You ain't handlin my gun!" Vin grabbed it from her. "What am I suppose to shoot?"

"The black sedan's tires."

"The what's???????"

"The black horseless carriage that is behind us! The wheels! Shoot at the wheels!" Callie clarified.

"Oh, got it."

Callie watched in wide eyed amazement as he hit the tires first shot, which was a lot louder than Callie expected. She jumped back at the boom and nearly landed in the front seat. Vin quickly put out his hand to steady her.

"A lot louder than on TV," Callie said sheepishly.

"No kiddin'! I about lost the wheel! Warn me next time, will you?" Royale yelled back.

"TV?" Vin asked.

"Never mind." both said in unison.

"Are we clear of them now?" Royale asked.

"They blew out a ways back, but a really cool SUV is coming up on us. Would that be section?"

"Probably."

"Ok, Vin, see the dark green big horseless carriage? Can you do er shoot at the wheels again?"

"They want to reprogram me?"

"Worse, they want to keep you in this time and train you as an assassin." Callie told him, and with that knowledge, the tires were quickly gone.

"Are we clear now?" Royale asked.

"Looks like it! There are no more vehicles behind us." Callie looked around at the now deserted back country road.

"That was easy! I can't believe how easy that was!" Royale frowned.

"Well, we have our sharp shooter with us! Of course, it was easy!"

"Ma'a-, um, Misses?" Vin interrupted, "why does that compass needle say 60? And what are we travelin' in?"

"We are in a car, and you just shot out the tires of other cars, or horseless carriages as it were. The needle tells us how fast we are going, it is a speedometer, not a compass. Sixty means sixty miles per hour." Callie tried to explain 20th century cars to Vin as best as she could. That was about the extent of her knowledge of the things as well, so she hoped he didn't ask any detailed questions.

"We are going to make 60 miles in one hour?"

"If Royale keeps that speed, which is probably not a good idea, but yeah, that is the general principal."

"I don't think it is a good idea either." Vin agreed, holding on to the car door for support. He had known they were going fast, but hadn't imagined anything like that!

"No, if the local police were to pick her up for speeding, we would have problems."

"Police?"

"Like town marshals."

"I'm not going that fast. I bet this car could do eighty with no problem!"

"I'm sure it could, but I don't think Vin is ready for that," Callie said as she yawned. "Sorry, but damn I am tired. I think we've been up almost twenty hours."

"We have and I still can't believe it was that easy to get rid of both section and CBS." Royale stated with a worried look around.

"It was easy cause they weren't expectin' to have us shoot out their tires and they are total idiots and.... OH SHIT!!!!"

"Callie, we have a PROBLEM!"

"What the hell kinda bird is THAT?" Vin asked in amazement as a black helicopter with search lights advanced upon them.

"You better see if this thing can do more than eighty!!!!!" Callie yelled as the intimidating air craft neared them.

"I don't think even this could outrun a helicopter!"

"Oh crap oh crap oh crap!"

Royale was finding it very difficult to drive with that bright light on them.

"Vin, think you can shoot that light out?" Royal yelled above the noise.

"Reckon so." Vin replied. "If we wasn't moving."

"Hang on then!" Royale said. "This could get rough."

She let off the gas as they entered an area with trees to give them some respite from the bright light.They were still going a bit too fast but she had no choice. When she saw the dirt road to their right, she hit the brakes and swerved onto it, flipping off the lights as she did so.

Callie and Vin were hanging on for dear life, but, when Royale brought the car to a fast halt, Vin's quick reflexes kicked in.

He stood up, took aim on the light and pulled the trigger. The glaring light disintegrated.

"They're still going to come after us." Royale said.

"Don't suppose we could hit the gas tank in one lucky shot." Callie said.

"What would that do?" Vin asked, yelling to be heard above the hovering chopper.

"Blow them to little pieces." Callie replied.

"Is there a better way?" Vin asked.

Royale grabbed her automatic from under the seat and aimed for the tale section of the chopper. Every shot seemed to hit in the three-shot burst and the sound of the chopper changed as it turned away. Callie and Royale cheered as it moved away.

"What happened?" Vin asked.

"Well, with any luck they'll have to make a crash landing somewhere in a field and wait for help to arrive." Royale said. "Better buckle up this time. Callie, you best get some sleep. You were saying you were tired. I will probably need you to take over in a couple of hours. Vin, would you like to sit up here so Callie can stretch out on the back seat?"

Royale saw Callie's expression out of the corner of her eye.

"I'll be driving. Nothing can happen. Once we're out in the wide open spaces, we can slow down and enjoy this time with our tracker. Right now it's all business. Do you want me to put the top up?"

"I wouldn't mind." Callie replied. "It got a bit cold and since you aren't going to let me have Vin to keep warm then that will have to do. Where are we?"

"New Jersey, I think." she said, pulling out a map to get her bearings. "I think Vin should see Washington, D.C. Don't you?" Royale said.

"I have been there." Callie said.

"Good because I haven't and I could probably use you to drive about then if not before."

Royale put the top up and turned the key in the ignition. After guiding them back to the road, she was forced to keep her attention there. Vin was silent for a little while looking out the window.

"That was mighty fine shooting back there, ma-miss." Vin said.

"Thanks. I put in some extra time with Walter." she said smiling fondly as she remembered the older man's constant flirting. "If you are comfortable with it you can call me Royale and call her Callie. In this day and age we aren't quite so formal but it is rather nice to hear."

"Who is Walter?" Vin asked.

"He is the wonderful man who handles the weapons and special toys at Section One, the most covert anti-terrorist organization in the world." she said as if repeating a litany.

Maybe it was the circumstances he found himself in but he was more talkative than he could ever remember. He asked her questions figuring if she fell asleep in the saddle they could all die.

Royale was grateful for the conversation but even Vin wore out and fell asleep, she thought. She put a tape of her favorite music in and started singing softly to it.

Vin sat there with his eyes closed wondering what that noise was. He didn't like that it covered up the natural sounds of nature but then the top over them and the windows up did that, too. He hoped they would stop sometime soon so he could just find a nice peaceful tree to lean against and think on this strange world he found himself in.

Course the two ladies with him weren't hard on the eye and this could be the adventure of a lifetime.

Royale had grown used to the silence in the car except for the music so, when Vin sat up straighter in the seat, she was startled to the point of losing momentary control of the car.

"Shouldn't do that." Royale said. "Coulda killed us all!"

"What is that?" Vin asked pointing ahead of them.

"I figure it is Washington DC, though I have never been there." Royale said. "Callie, you awake back there? We are fixing to get into your territory and I am tired."

"What is Washington DC?" Vin asked.

"The nation's capital." Royale replied.

Nation's capital? Vin wondered. As they neared the city, he was struck by the buildings. So many of them and so close together. And other things like what they were riding in. Some smaller and on two wheels and some much bigger. His first encounter with a tractor trailer unnerved him more than any gunslinger could have. He thought for sure they were going to die then.

Royale wasn't in the least bothered by the big rigs passing on either side of them.

"I would love nothing more than to go to sleep for a little while in a real bed." Royale mused. "Too bad my friend in Virginia is so devoted to Michael. She is not going to be happy with me and what we did to Michael and Birkoff. She would probably turn us in. Vin, would you mind waking Callie?"

"I'm awake." Callie said, sitting up and stretching. "Ah DC! Royale, you better do your best to hide the weapons until we get through this little burg."

"Why? We aren't going anywhere near the White House." Royale said.

"Don't matter much."

Vin couldn't make heads or tails of their conversation again. White House? He longed to ask and wondered if his other six partners were experiencing the same things. How were they handling this changed world?

"The White House is where the President of the United States lives." Royale said, sensing that Vin was puzzled. "Marines and Secret Service people protect him."

"Gotta be careful, Royale. There are some roads in this place that once you get on'em you tend to get stuck on'em."

"Speaking from experience there?" Royale laughed as Callie avoided answering. "Ok, then let's make a pit stop and you can start driving. I'm hungry, thirsty and tired in about that order."

"And I think I am gonna die if I don't get some coffee soon! Way too long without caffeine!"

"Coffee does sound good, and I don't like being around ya when you haven't had any for a while." Royale told Callie.

"Now what in the hell is that supposed to mean?" Callie asked indignantly.

"THAT is what it is supposed to mean. You take offense at any little remark."

"DO NOT!"

"That's it!" Royale abruptly pulled over, causing Vin some momentary panic as two trailers whizzed by. "You drive us directly to the nearest place with food and caffeine!"

"Fine, I will!"

And then the two proceeded to give Vin heart failure as they both jumped out of the car while vehicles raced past them. He started breathing again when they were both safely inside the convertible. Or was until Callie pulled out between two semi's."

It was half an hour and many (to Vin anyway) close calls later that they pulled up in front of a Bob Evans. Vin had never seen such a bright red and large building, but supposedly it served what Callie termed "real food" and of course, coffee.

Vin had never seen so many people in one place in his life. It was so busy they had to give a name and wait til a table was available. Royale muttered something about originality when Callie gave it as Smith.

Callie was too busy drooling at the coffee pots to notice. Vin was busy drooling at all the food, reminding him that other than those hamburgers with strange sauce, he had not eaten anything in a long time. Finally they were seated, and Vin looked at all the pictures of the food. It was amazing! The detail, the amount! Unfortunately, he couldn't read what he was supposed to be orderin' cause he and Mary hadn't gotten that far in the lessons. Callie, too engrossed in the coffee that had just been poured, didn't notice his dilemma.

Fortunately, Royale did.

"This is called the hungry man's breakfast." Royale pointed to a picture of bacon, eggs, pancakes, sausage and hashbrowns. "There's also french toast, omelets, sausage gravy and biscuits, steak and eggs..." She pointed to each item until Vin decided. By then the waitress was back and they ordered.

Once they were full and all in better spirits, Vin decided to try questioning them a bit more about this strange situation he had come to be in.

"You say all of us was taken and frozen?"

"Pretty much," both agreed.

The waitress, who had come over to give them the check, gave them all a strange look.

"But you only rescued me?"

"You were our mission but the others are being rescued as well." Callie reassured him.

"By the List organization?"

"Yes by other List members. My cousin Brielle is getting out Buck for example.

"She is?" Royale asked. "How did you manage that?"

"She is, and it took a lot of begging!" Callie smiled.

"And others already have Josiah, Chris and Ezra out." Royale told him.

"Why are these CBS people tryin' so hard to keep us frozen?"

"Cause they are idiots!" both women stated emphatically.

"That don't give me much of an answer."

"They are also at the convertible, so its the only answer you are getting for now!" Callie told them.

"How did they find us so soon?" Royale asked. "And how are we getting to that car?"

"We aren't! I am sorry, but we have to ditch it, and dammit, I only got to drive it for half an hour!" Callie complained.

Vin silently gave thanks on that fact. And that he still was wearing his coat and hat!

"What are we going to do for transportation to Las Vegas?" Royale asked as they threaded their way out the back door.

"I am sure we can come up with something. I was thinking SUV this time..."

"Got a specific color in mind this time??" Royale asked dryly.

"I like that hunter green..."

"Callie!"

"All right, all right! Trying to lighten things up a little!"

"How are we going to avoid the people after us now?" Vin asked in concern. "Can't we just stop and fight them?? I know my mare's leg is in that bag Royale has."

"No, we are not giving you a gun in the middle of Bob Evans!" Royale hissed, hoping no one heard him.

She couldn't imagine the panic the sight of Vin wielding that would start! He was looking just a tad scruffy right now, and a bit mean.

"Guns in public places are not a good idea in this time! And this city here has what's called subways. Very fast trains that run underground. We are going on those for now." Callie said as she led them down a set of steps.

Vin looked at the platforms filled with people below, and how fast the trains came in and out.

"I ain't goin on those!"

Royale glanced behind them. They hadn't successfully escaped the notice of the CBS executives.

"Yes! You are!"

And each woman grabbed the protesting man's arms and hauled him along. It was a challenge, getting him through the turnstiles, but they managed, once he realized just how close the men were.

Royale pulled a brilliant move of faking getting on one train. They escaped to another with the CBS men now heading in the opposite direction.

Vin eyed the interior of the moving train dubiously. There were no empty seats, so they grabbed handles that were suspended from the ceilings. He had never seen so many people jammed together in one place. Not even the trains back home carried this many, nor this variety. There was an elderly couple standing next to the ladies he was traveling with. The woman had a cane, and the gentleman was trying to hold onto the suspended handle as well as her arm. His eyes narrowed on a pair of young men sitting near them.

One had a shaved head, tattoos all over his arms, and a pierced ear. His companion also had tattoos, shaggy, unkempt hair, and a pierced nose. Both seemed able bodied enough to him that they could stand. Vin moseyed on over to them.

"Why don't you two boys give your seats to that couple." the tracker inclined his head toward the elderly man and woman.

"Let them find their own damn seats!" the boy with the nose ring said belligerently.

"What's it to you anyway?" the bald one sneered.

"Ya look like you could use some standin' time. They don't!" Vin stated simply.

"I ain't givin' up my seat for no old geezers!"

"I say you are." Vin's voice turned menacing, "Now, you get up the easy way, and offer 'em your seats, or I'll make it real hard for you to ever walk again."

"Vin, what are you doing??" Royale hissed from behind him. He glanced back to see both of his traveling companions hovering anxiously at his side.

"Just having a conversation with these boys. They're about to offer these seats to that couple."

"Like hell we are!" the shaggy haired one yelled, and pulled out a switchblade.

Vin smiled and pulled out a knife from his boot, much longer than a switchblade. "I say you are."

"Now, that's a knife!" Royale said, thinking of a Crocodile Dundee movie.

Her statement earned her a glare from Callie.

No one in the train moved for a long moment, watching the scene play out. Callie and Royale held their breaths, wondering how much further this would be taken. If Vin injured someone, even though the guy looked like he deserved to be sliced, it would cause major problems for them. Finally the youth backed down and grudgingly got up at a whispered comment from his friend.

Vin looked disappointed that the fight hadn't taken place. He was antsy, and not able to take his frustrations out on the cause of them. The tracker sighed as he put away his knife, keeping an eye on the two youths who were now offering their seats to the elderly couple.

"What was that little show for????" Callie rounded on him as the elderly couple took their places, giving Vin a grateful smile as he tipped his hat to them.

"It wasn't right, them havin' to stand."

"I know it wasn't right, but neither is pulling a knife on teens in a subway train!"

"These are not your times, Vin. You could have been arrested for doing that!" Royale hissed.

"Young man?" the woman he helped called to him.

"Yes ma'am?"

"I don't condone violence, and I abhor knives. You could have been hurt, they could have been hurt, and anyone on the train could have been hurt. How would you have felt if you had injured that young man? Or what if you had started a panic and people got hurt because of that? I appreciate you giving these old bones a rest, but you should not have antagonized those young men. I know they pulled the knife first, but that is no excuse. You are older and therefore should know better."

"Yes ma'am." Vin hung his head, and glared at Callie and Royale, who were doing a poor job of hiding their laughter.

"Are you done yet, Miranda?" the woman's husband asked.

"No, Edward, I am not!" she turned back to Vin. "Thank you. That was a noble gesture you made on our behalf." She then glared at her husband. "Now I am done!"

"You're welcome, ma'am." Vin touched the brim of his hat again.

"I imagine our son would have been like you, if he had lived. We are going to see his name on the wall. He was killed in Vietnam."

"I'm sorry."

"It was a long time ago, son, but the first chance we've had to come out here. And we sure won't forget our first subway ride, will we, Miranda?"

"No, Edward, we won't, and this young man will know not to pull knives anymore."

"We'll try to keep him in line." Callie came and took Vin's arm, while Royale made her way to his other side.

Most of the other passengers had been trying to keep their distance from the Tracker after he had pulled such a deadly knife, and the way was fairly clear.

"We should get off at the next stop." Royale murmured to her companions, looking worriedly at the other passengers.

"Yeah, I guess some of them might want to call security on him by now." Callie agreed.

"Perhaps Washington is not really the place to take him, and especially not subways?" Royale ventured as they emerged from the train and tried to quickly make their way through the crowds.

"I believe you are right, Royale. We need to get out of this city. He causes too much trouble but that Crocodile Dundee crack wasn't good either."

"It just popped into my head." Royale exclaimed. "I can't help it."

"I cause too much trouble?? It was those kids that started it!" Vin finally interjected, tired of being talked about as if he were not there. He was also very testy, being in such a crowded place. He had always preferred the open spaces, not towns with people, and especially not cities with this many people. He swore you couldn't walk an inch without bumping into someone. Especially with these two guiding him like he was a child. Each had his hand and were trying to quickly get out of range of any trouble from his little encounter.

Both women paused to stare at the tracker. His surly tone surprised them, though he hadn't actually been the very laid back guy they had expected. There had just been too many new experiences for him to deal with to stay relaxed and easy going.

"It was their fault!" He insisted, misreading his companions bewildered looks.

"Okay, Vin, it was their fault," Callie conceded, giving him a worried look.

"Absolutely all their fault," Royal tried to soothe him as well.

He wasn't buying any of it.

"I don't like this time, I don't like this place, and I don't like that you won't let me have a go at the people after us!" Vin complained. And it was only the beginning of the complaints! "If you would let me alone with them, I'd be able to get 'em to release the others, no problem! And just what is in this Vegas place. Will it get me back to my own time? And does IT HAVE subways? "

"No more subways, we promise!" Callie informed him, at a loss to answer his other questions.

Luckily, Royale stepped in. "Look Vin, we realize this is pretty different for you. And while I am sure you would be able to get some of those guys to talk and tell you how to get the rest of your friends out, it isn't necessary. They are being taken care of. No one was going to be left behind! As far as I know, once we reach Vegas, there is a plan in motion to get you to your own time. What it is, I don't know, and if it will be successful, well, I don't know that either. But there isn't much of an alternative here, we gotta try."

"She's right, and standin' here won't do it. I am going to procure us some transportation, Royale. You just keep explaining things to Vin. You' re doing a fine job!" Callie told her friend and quickly made off.

"Meet at the reflecting pool! Three blocks east!" She called over her shoulder, ignoring Royale's protests.

Vin still wasn't looking real happy, and Royale sighed. Why did Callie leave her with all the hard things, like explaining to one very irate tracker why he couldn't do what was natural to him! Stealing an SUV would definitely be the easier task in this scenario, and she had no doubt Callie was coming back with a HUNTER GREEN SUV.

"She 'ditched us'." Vin judged by the unhappy expression on his remaining companion's face.

"Yeah, she sure did. I think you scared her."

"I didn't mean to, even if her handlin' of that horseless carriage scared the hell outta me!" Vin confessed.

"We got to the restaurant in one piece and very quickly." Royale defended her friend, as they began to walk west towards the reflecting pool.

"Didn't she say east?" Vin questioned.

"Callie's sense of direction is a little off, something you should ALWAYS take into account when traveling with her."

"She is coming back?"

"Oh yeah! She's not gonna leave me alone with you for that long!" Royale laughed.

"Why'd you two pick me to rescue? Or were you told to?"

"We picked you cause ..Told to? Are you kidding? We jumped at the chance. You know that expression? Still waters run deep. That is you to a T as far as I am concerned. Speaking for myself, I like men with long hair who are a little shy and well hey the eyes had something to do with it, too. You also tend to lean which just makes you incredibly more sexy than you already are. Not to mention that you are totally gallant and very protective of the female population. I think Callie and I are like-minded here so we decided two stood a better chance than one. However you might want to ask her why she came along for the ride or whatever." Royale said, figuring Vin just might remember to do that and she could get back at Callie for abandoning her to Vin's questions.

They made it to the reflecting pool just as a hunter green SUV pulled up. Royale had no doubt it was Callie.

"Get in!" she called to them, somewhat urgently.

Both complied quickly, though Vin was groaning that she was behind the wheel.

"I am not even gonna ask!" Royale informed her as they took off with only a slight screech of the tires.

"You know the saying, what you don't know won't hurt you!" Callie told her flippantly, though her expression belied that flippancy. She glanced worriedly at Vin in the back while checking the rear view mirror for pursuers often.

"It's ok, Miss Callie, I wasn't really mad at you two and Miss Royale explained things real good." Vin assured her.

Callie smiled in relief, glad to be back in the bounty hunter's good graces. Her eyes still remained worried however as she checked the mirror.

"Hon, is there something we should know?" Royale asked in concern.

"Nope, everything is fine." she informed the two, while making a quick lane change and exiting the highway. She ran two yellow lights, glanced back again, entered another highway and sighed in relief.

"Everything is just fine." she repeated and this time sounded like she actually meant it.

Neither Vin nor Royale decided to question her, believing that it was true. What they didn't know... wouldn't hurt them... they hoped.

It was six hours later that the trio encountered some problems.

Problems out in the middle of nowhere. The SUV died.

"What's wrong with it?" Vin questioned.

"How the hell would I know? When you're stealing something, you don't exactly have time to ask if it has any mechanical problems!"

"When you're stealing something????" Vin gave her a hard look.

"Borrowing! I meant BORROWING!" Callie quickly corrected.

"You been stealing things from people???? So some poor person has to walk cause we took their only horseless carriage?? Was that other horseless carriage with no top stolen too?"

Royale hung her head in shame when Vin glanced at her.

"You BOTH been stealin'?"

"Um, borrowin..." Callie whispered miserably.

"We just wanted to get you to Vegas quick, and they'll find their cars. They will..." Royale told him.

Vin just glared hard at them.

Callie looked ready to cry.

"We really were just trying to help you," the small blonde girl sniffed, "and keep you safe.

Vin almost relented, til he thought of the HELL he had been put through riding in those vehicles.

"Do you know what they do to people in my time if they steal a horse? They HANG them! Cause they deserve to be HUNG!"

"You would let them HANG us??" Callie cried.

"Vin Tanner, you quit trying to scare her!" Royale yelled at him. "We were just doing what had to be done to keep your sorry hide thawed out and not reprogrammed, and we were doing a damn good job at it too! Now you behave and let us think of a way to get out of farm country without them catching up to us!"

"You ain't allowed to steal another 'car'!" Vin told the two, somewhat sorry he had made Callie feel so bad. He went over to the girl and patted her on the back awkwardly. Callie, being no dummy, took full advantage and launched herself into his arms.

Royale had turned around in a full circle, trying to figure out what to do next. She spotted Callie in the circle of Vin's arms as he continued to awkwardly pat her on the back.

"Guess we are going to have to walk." Royale said. "Oh for crying out loud, Callie! You are made of sterner stuff than that. Come on!"

Royale took a step away from them mumbling about teaching Callie the proper words for the steps they had to take for Vin's own good, like commandeering instead of stealing.

It was two hours later that they came upon a farm with horses in plain sight. Somehow the two women knew that didn't bode well for them.

"That, ladies, is gonna be our new 'transportation'," Vin informed them.

"Excuse me???" Callie asked in outrage. "You want us to ride those?

And just how are we gonna do that. They ain't ours, after all. You wouldn't be thinkin' of STEALING them, now would you, Vin?" The blonde was still a bit put out with him for his attitude towards their 'creative handling' of the transportation problem. It showed.

"While I don't seem to have as big of a problem with riding horses as she does," Royale inclined her head at Callie, "she does have a point. How are we going to get to ride them?"

"We're gonna ask!" Vin glared at the two in frustration. "It ain't unheard of to REALLY borrow things!

"But, but... HORSES???" Callie sputtered.

"They are a lot better than those fast carriages you two been cartin' me around in!"

"Vin, it just is not possible to ride horses all the way to Vegas." Royale tried to interject some reason into the argument.

"She's right, this time! It just wouldn't work. And we are very, very far away yet," Callie said sadly, noting a brief crestfallen look pass over the tracker's incredibly handsome face.

"We're still gonna ask," Vin told them stubbornly. He was tired of walking, he hoped never to be in a 'car' again, and he was dying to get on a horse, any horse! He sure hoped his was being taken good care of back in his time. Or was he frozen? Poor guy, been a loyal mount all this time, and then suddenly frozen, for reasons Vin still couldn't understand.

"Fine, ask. Bet no farmer is going to give three strangers, especially one as dangerous looking as you, his horses!" Callie insisted.

Unfortunately, Callie had not counted on the owner of the farm being female. One look at Vin and the woman was more than willing to give him anything. And she was way too damn helpful in answering his questions about the nearest town. She did offer them a ride in her truck, but Vin was having none of that. So while she fed them, she told him all about public transportation. And informed him that the town just five miles away had a bus station. (Lucky them!) Callie and Royale exchanged glances and groaned. Not only were they going to be subjected to a five mile ride on horses, but they were going to have to take a bus too.

"You ladies have ridden before, haven't ya'll?" Vin asked, noticing the hesitancy with which they mounted the horses.

"Um, once," Callie replied.

"I have, but it's been years," Royale answered.

Vin sighed, guessing he wasn't gonna be able to let the horse run as he wanted to. But at least he wasn't in a car. Althea, the owner of the farm, had been most helpful in telling him about buses, even if she thought his questions strange. And while they were like cars, he figured, as long as Callie wasn't drivin' it would be all right.

Patiently he watched as the smaller of his companions tried to get comfortable on the horse. She wasn't having much luck.

"Callie, is there a problem? You know, you ain't bending your knees right."

"My knees don't bend that way! And this horse is too big!"

"Her knees are bending that way!" Vin pointed to Royale, who was easily seated on the horse.

"I live in Colorado, Vin, Callie lives in Ohio, not near where she has easy access to horses. Don't blame her that she can't ride. Most people in our time can't, whether they live in the west or not."

"Ya know, if this is going to be such a problem, I'll be happy to just hitch a ride and meet you in town." Callie tried to get out of riding. The last time she hadn't been able to move for hours, and was not anxious to have to walk that way in front of Vin!

"No, we stick together." Vin told her as he slid back off his horse and tried to readjust her position. Once he was satisfied that she at least wouldn't fall, he remounted and they headed out.

Royale saw the yearning look on their Tracker's face and felt sorry for him.

"Vin, I know you want to run that horse for awhile. Go ahead! Just don't leave us here."

After a few runs out and back to make sure the women were still doing okay, Vin rode the rest of the way to town beside them.

It took forever! Callie decided.

It didn't take long enough! Vin decided.

May I never have to ride horses with these two again! Royale silently pleaded to heaven above!

Royale was slow in getting off the horse, but Callie felt stuck in the saddle. Royale didn't look forward to riding for hours on end on a bus that didn't have really comfy seats. Not that a plane had better seats but at least they would get there faster. Somehow they were going to have to get Vin on a plane. Though in this little berg she doubted there would be an airport of any great size and little four seaters weren't her cup o'tea either. She wanted restrooms and flight attendants to serve food and drinks.

"So I am spoiled with some of the comforts in life!" Royale grumbled to herself.

She turned around to see Vin helping Callie out of the saddle and her eyes narrowed a bit at the ingenious way her friend had found to have Vin holding her again. She was definitely going to be seated next to Vin on the bus!

Vin came up to stand by Royale. Callie was slowly moving along to work the kinks out of her body and hoping Vin didn't turn around to see her antics.

"Kinda reminds me of Four Corners." Vin said.

"Kinda reminds me of some of the towns I grew up in." Royale said.

"Well let's see where that bus station is and get some tickets."

"Hey! What are you doing with Althea's horses?" someone called out, drawing their gaze.

Royale panicked when she saw the local law enforcement officer leaning against his car not too far away.

"She let us borrow them to ride into town." Royale said, hoping her voice was calm.

'Why didn't she just bring you in the car?"

"Because he hasn't been in a saddle for awhile and he was pretty adamant about riding." Callie said.

The deputy started to laugh at seeing Callie's predicament, but two glaring females quickly made him sober up.

"Would you mind directing us to the bus station where we can buy a ticket out of here?" Royale said with as much sweetness as she could muster in her voice. "Althea said we could leave the horses right here and she would be in later to pick them up."

"The bus station is down the street in the gas station. You can get your tickets there as well."

"Thank you." Royale said, grabbing Vin's arm and pulling him along with her.

Callie glanced back to see the deputy watching them as they walked down the street, a smile on his face. He merely started laughing at the murderous look Callie shot at him over her shoulder.

Royale thought they were really lucky that they didn't have to wait days for the next bus to come in. One would be arriving within two hours. They wandered around town and got a bite to eat.

Royale opened her back pack and pulled out a small pouch to check their cash supply. She couldn't say why she pulled everything out this time, but she was shocked at what she found.

In her possession were two credit cards in their real names and photo ID's, which she did know about it. However she didn't know about the photo ID for Vin.

"How are we situated?" Callie asked.

"Okay and now we can go ahead with the next leg of the journey. Section one definitely took care of everything but we aren't letting them have our Tracker. I don't care if abeyance is in our future."

"What's abeyance?" Vin interrupted.

"It means the road to cancellation." Royale said. "As I was saying-"

"What is cancellation?" Vin interrupted again.

"Like what CBS did to you guys. Gone! Kaput! Never to be seen again! History. After we get to Knoxville, we are going to find a sturdy suitcase to pack the Vinchester in."

"The what?" Vin asked.

"We call it that. You call it a mare's leg." Callie supplied the answer this time.

Vin rolled his eyes and lifted the cup of coffee to his lips to hide the smile that threatened to break free.

"What's the next leg?" Callie asked.

From his position beside her, Vin saw Royale give a slight shake of her head, but he couldn't see the warning look that she shot Callie. Each lapsed into their own thoughts for a few minutes. Callie thought about Vin and their escapades. Royale thought about the end of their mission and having to say goodbye to Vin. Vin was, of course, thinking about everything he had seen and experienced since waking up in a hot tub with his two rescuing angels. He also wondered what the others had gone through then he wondered if they were safely in Vegas yet. He was looking forward to seeing the others and hearing of their adventures.

"We better head over to the bus station." Royale said, consulting their bill and calculating the tip. "We don't want to miss our bus."

"Do you need a buck break?" Callie asked Vin.

"What's that?" Vin questioned.

"Do you need the outhouse in other words?" Royale said, the amusement lighting her eyes.

"Why do you call it that?" Vin asked, his curiosity at once endearing and maddening.

"Because Buck was caught in the alley taking a leak." Callie said.

"How did - never mind." Vin said. "I don't think I want to know but just wait until I tell Buck about this. Lead me to the outhouse."

Callie and Royale showed him to the men's room then went into the adjoining women's room.

"Okay!" Callie said. "What is happening in Knoxville?"

"We are getting a plane to Vegas. I am sure Section will be waiting there for us since they did know our final destination. With any luck it will be Nikita they send to retrieve us. We might be able to get her to help us. Thanks to Vin's ID we can get on a plane now."

"How are we getting Vin on a plane?"

"Much as I hate to do it again, I think we are going to have to lie to him."

"I am not the one telling him." Callie said.

"I will, in exchange for sitting next to him on the bus."

Callie rolled her eyes but agreed, considering the alternatives.

They quickly finished in the ladies room and found Vin waiting at the front entrance.

Royale encouraged Vin to take a window seat, promising him the ride would be more pleasurable and he would be able to see more of the country.

Callie sat down in front of them and used both seats to stretch out as much as possible.

The bus pulled out and Vin watched the small town disappear. He did enjoy seeing the scenery but eventually grew tired of that.

He glanced at Royale to see her studying a small book.

"What's that?" he asked.

"An atlas. Each state is shown with the names of the towns and the highways marked. We're right here." she said, pointing her finger to a spot. "We're on highway 81 in Virginia. We'll take this road all the way to..." she said, flipping the page over, "Knoxville, Tennessee. Here is a picture of the whole United States of America. This is where we are and this is where we will end up."

Vin look at the distance between her two fingers and voiced the question in his mind.

"How long will it take to get there?"

"Depends."

"On what?

"On the method of transportation we use. We are going to change vehicles in Knoxville." Royale said, hoping that it would prepare him for what lay ahead without having to explain it all yet.

"Are we going back to a car?" Vin asked.

He had never been prone to panic attacks and actually had never had one, but the thought of going back to a car was bringing one on.

"No. It is like a bus only it goes a bit faster." Royale said. "Are you afraid of heights?"

"Nope."

"Good." Royale muttered nearly under her breath.

"Think I'll get some shut eye." Vin said.

"Sounds like a plan." she agreed and replaced the atlas in the back pack then safely secured it between her and Vin.

She pressed the button that would put their seats back and sat there watching Vin as he slept or pretended to.

"Why are you watching me?" he asked.

"Because we wont be together for much longer." Royale replied.

Vin opened his eyes at her comment and looked at her steadily for a minute.

"Will they really cancel you?" he asked.

"Probably. We are more trouble than we are worth to them." Royale said.

"Why would you do that for me?"

"Because you were treated unjustly and you are worth it." Royale replied.

Vin didn't know what to say to that. He thought the only folks who felt that way about him were the other six members of their group. Vin closed his eyes again and fell asleep this time.

Movement from in front of them caught Royale's eye. Callie was sitting up so her head was raised up above the seat backs. She gave Royale a thumbs up then settled back in her seat.

They all woke each time the bus stopped and even got a couple of leg- stretching sessions when they stopped long enough for meal breaks. Royale heaved a sigh of relief when they pulled into Knoxville about six in the evening.

"Let's get a motel room and have a decent night's sleep before we head to the air-next mode of transportation." Royale suggested.

They caught a taxi to a nearby motel, registered, dropped their things in the room then went out in search of a decent restaurant and then a store for a decent piece of luggage to transport Vin's weapon in.

"Why do we need a special case for it?" Vin asked.

"Because we have to check the baggage in and they will stow it underneath while we sit up above. Just like the bus only we didn't put the baggage under where we sat on the bus. We have to handle this a little differently. If we claim the weapon is an antique and we are on our way to an antique gun show, we will be able to take it on the plane."

"I don't like not having my mare's leg with me." Vin said.

"We have no choice in this." Royale said, glad he hadn't picked up on the plane thing. "You don't want to leave it behind, do you?"

"No." Vin said.

They located an acceptable piece of luggage as well as buying themselves another change of clothing and returned to the room to get some decent rest. The first real rest they would be able to get since the whole mission began.

Vin's soft snores filled the room from the other bed, but Callie and Royale weren't asleep yet.

"What's wrong?" Callie whispered.

"Worried about Trent and Duncan and being free long enough to rescue them."

"Yeah. I have been a bit worried about those two men myself." Callie said.

"I'm not ready to let Vin go either. How about you?"

"Nope, but it is necessary." Callie replied sadly.

Finally the two women fell asleep.

In the morning Royale and Callie took refreshing showers and changed into their new clothes, then sat down to wait for Vin while he experienced his first shower.

Both women nearly swooned when he emerged from the bathroom wearing the blue shirt and just buttoning it up. His hair was neatly combed but was quickly drying into the usual relaxed curls they knew and loved.

"Well, ladies? Are we going to get to Vegas today?" Vin asked, picking up the luggage that contained his weapon.

"Yep." Callie replied.

They caught a taxi to the airport and Royale went to the ticket counter to purchase tickets for them. Before she left them, she pulled Callie aside and warned her not to let Vin get too near the windows where he would be able to see the planes landing and taking off. Vin reluctantly let Royale take the suitcase and watched her walk to the ticket counter.

"Don't worry, Vin. When we get to Vegas, you will get it back all safe and sound." Callie said watching Royale who had apparently run into a snag.

She motioned them both over then let the ticket agent check the ID's before handing over the tickets.

"We are in luck!" Royale said. "There is a pl-one leaving in half an hour. We have just enough time to get to the passenger gate."

"Let's go then." Callie said.

Vin was left to follow as best he could after the two women who were almost running. They passed the metal detectors and waited for Vin, glad when he passed through without setting off the alarms.

They arrived at the gate and Vin looked outside at the monstrosity that was going to be their next mode of transportation. Vin didn't think anything of it since it had wheels and the other similar shapes with different markings had the same thing and were rolling away from the buildings.

They boarded the plane and found their seats just in front of the wings. Vin sat down near the window again while Callie sat next to him with Royale on the aisle seat.

"Those things sure don't look like buses." Vin said.

"Well they do operate in a slightly different method." Royale said.

Callie was doubting the wisdom of sitting next to Vin in case he became quite upset at what would happen next. Royale just grinned as she seemed to read Callie's mind.

"Don't worry. I think he will like this."

"Oh sure you say. You aren't sitting next to him." Callie muttered. "I sure hope you are right about this."

Callie helped Vin figure out the seat belts then the door was closed on the plane and the plane started to move away from the building. The flight attendants went through their pre-flight speech then they were moving out onto the runways.

Vin saw several planes doing the same thing and he wondered why they all stopped and waited. Then he saw the first one shoot down the runway. He forgot about his seat belt and tried to get out of the seat.

"Calm down, Vin." Callie and Royale said in unison.

"Everything will be all right, Vin." Royale said, in a soothing voice.

"Just close your eyes and I will tell you when it is safe to open them again. There is nothing to be afraid of."

"It is too late, Vin. We have to go through with this." Callie added.

"Are you okay, sir?" one of the female flight attendants asked.

"He'll be fine." Royale assured her then caught the woman's admiring gaze before she turned away.

Vin's hands were clutching the arm rests so tightly his knuckles were white. Then the plane moved out onto the runway and they felt the engines revving up, preparing to hurtle them down the runway. The speed pushed them back in their seats and then with one last bump they were up in the air and shooting straight into the sky. Vin couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"What's that sound?" he asked, hearing the whine and feeling the thud- bump as the wheels settled in their place.

"That was the landing gear. It folds up under the plane when the plane is in the air." Callie said.

"What's landing gear?" Vin said at the same time Royale did, having anticipated his question.

"The wheels that rolled us out to the runway." Callie said again.

"Once we have leveled out, the flight attendants will bring us something to drink and probably something to eat." Royale said. "I think the flight will be long enough to merit some kind of meal."

"We just ate." Vin said.

"You can forgo the meal if you want to." Callie said. "Sometimes the food isn't really that great."

"Amen, sister." Royale said. "Still it has to beat flying in Section transport."

Vin was staring down at the world below him, unable to take in what was happening.

The pilot made the announcement that they were leveling out at 35,000 feet and should be arriving in Vegas right on schedule.

Vin was pretty quiet the entire trip, but he didn't take his eyes off the land far below him. He saw the Rocky Mountains and the Grand Canyon, both places where he had been before but just hadn't seen in this manner.

"Pity we aren't flying into Vegas at night." Royale said. "It is awesome. All the lights. I have flown over it a few times and driven to it twice."

"Maybe I'll get to come back some day and really see the place. I don't think Section is going to let us have a moment's peace when we get to Vegas." Callie said.

"I do believe you are right and I am not looking forward to talking to Michael. I sure do hope Nikita is in between him and us."

"So how do we get him to the posse members and the rest of his group?" Callie asked, indicating Vin with a nod of her head.

"I have a number to call. As soon as we are on the ground, we will call them from the plane and get further instructions. As for Section, we will have to elude them as best we can. I believe it can be done."

Vin couldn't believe how quickly the ground rushed up to meet them as they made their descent into Vegas. He wondered how they would ever be able to get stopped once they were down on the runway and voiced his thought aloud.

"It has brakes like a car only much larger and more powerful and I think they use reverse something or other to help slow the plane down." Royale supplied the answer.

Mercifully the touch down was smooth and easy and they were soon stopped and taxiing to the terminal.

"We'll wait and be the last ones off the plane." Royale said.

As soon as the plane had come to a stop by the ramp, Royale took out the phone and dialed the number she had memorized. She was given the name of a ranch on the outer edge of Vegas and told them she would get Vin there as soon as they were able to escape Section.

Michael, Nikita and Birkoff waited in the van outside the terminal while some of the other operatives were stationed inside the terminal to report the status of the two rogue operatives and the tracker.

Michael had been listening to Nikita talk about leaving the two women alone to finish their rescue and trying to impress upon him that they would be more trouble than they were worth and to let them go as well. Michael remained firm and Nikita finally gave up. Birkoff was silently agreeing with Nikita about the two women being more trouble than they were worth. He was almost ready to help them escape.

The three people in the mission van waited tensely for word of their targets and were beginning to wonder if they had, in fact, gotten on the plane. At last they were reported leaving the plane and heading to baggage claim.

"Wait until they retrieve their baggage then take them." Michael ordered.

"Um, Royale, I think CBS found us as well." Callie said, glancing nervously around them as they briskly made their way to the baggage claim area.

Royale also looked around and groaned in dismay.

"I've spotted at least six ops in here as well as the network's five people." Royale said. "I will not let them win!"

"What do you have in mind?" Callie asked.

"Short of throwing the CBS folk at the ops, I don't know." Royale replied.

"That could work." Callie said.

"It is worth a try. The minute we are free, get to a taxi. We can think of the next part then."

Vin was waiting at the carousel watching the luggage come out through the door then scoot around to where he was and back through another little door. He was so busy watching the others grab their luggage, he missed their bag. Callie ran forward to grab it then each woman took his arm and started to usher him out the nearest doors to catch a taxi.

"Here they come, Royale." Callie said.

Royale glanced over her shoulder to find first the CBS people closing in on them with the ops behind them. She could see one of the ops talking so she knew Michael was being appraised of the sudden change in their mission status.

"I am sending Nikita to take care of the women and you will take care of CBS." Michael said.

Birkoff and Nikita were both watching Michael and Nikita wondered how he could trust her to take care of this when she was just lobbying on behalf of the two women.

"Go." Michael said to Nikita.

Only after she was out of the van did Birkoff dare to look at Michael. He nearly fell out of his seat when he saw the slight smile on Michael's face. This definitely didn't bode well for someone.

"Think you can do a decent back kick?" Royale asked Callie.

"Reckon I could try." Callie said in imitation of Vin's drawl.

"Thank God you don't sound exactly like Vin." Royale muttered, knowing the drawl was one of the things that weakened her knees at odd moments.

Royale and Callie felt the approach of the men from CBS and dropped forward to kick back at the unprepared men. Callie still had the suitcase in her hand and she was doubly glad now it was one of those hard kind instead of the soft sided kind. She turned and swung it with all her might at the next man still standing up straight. He dominoes into another man taking three of them out of action momentarily. Vin had already punched the fifth guy enough times to daze him.

Royale shot a grateful smile at the section ops who were coming to their aide. She knew that someone else had been sent after her and Callie if the ops were allowing them to escape.

*Please let it be Nikita!* Royale thought. *If it is Michael, we are dead just from that glacial stare of his.*

"Go, Callie!" Royale yelled, shoving her towards Vin as they ran past the people standing there watching them, wondering if they were in the midst of a movie being filmed.

Callie jumped into the back of a taxi and pulled Vin in with her.

Royale looked up to see Nikita hurrying towards them. She hated to get the other woman in trouble but she wasn't going to give up just yet. Nikita would understand. She hoped.

With a smile and a wave, Royale hopped in beside Vin and slammed the door. She wasn't sure if Nikita slowed down at the last little moment to make sure they got away or what. She couldn't very well shoot at them.

"Driver, take us to the Fremont!" Royale said. "There's an extra fifty in it if you make it fast. But get us there alive!"

"Hang on, Vin!" Callie said as they were pressed back in their seats much like when the plane took off.

After the first three near misses, Vin closed his eyes and muttered something under his breath. If he had opened his eyes, he would have seen how pale Callie and Royale had become.

At last the taxi screeched to a halt and he opened his eyes to find they were in front of a casino with people milling in and around the place. Royale shoved something at the driver who yelled out to ask for him personally if they needed a taxi again. With a grimace, Royale shoved Vin and Callie into the casino.

"Miz Callie, I will never complain about your driving agin." Vin said as Royale pulled him towards the dining room.

"I think we need to sit down and get something to eat and plan." Royale said, gratefully falling into a seat.

They ordered food and made their plans, figuring they could see a bit of the city in this manner. Section would have to call in more ops since this was no small city. At least Royale hoped it would work that way. They couldn't very well go to the police and ask for assistance.

After their meal was eaten and paid for, Callie went into the ladies room and removed Vin's weapon from the luggage but leaving it in the tote bag they had been using the entire time.

They stopped and cashed in some money so Callie and Vin could play the slot machines, unless Vin wanted to try his hand at poker. It was their plan to dart in and out of the casinos so they wouldn't be exposed too much to the street. That way they wouldn't be loitering while one of them was keeping an eye on the street. Perhaps they would be able to make a safe getaway at night despite the millions of lights that were a part of Las Vegas.

So they meandered through the casinos in the downtown area until it grew dark then hopped on the trolley that went down the strip. Royale was starting to breathe a little easier and one glance at Callie showed she was feeling a little less stressed. Vin was just staring at the sights around him.

"I don't think we will be able to watch the treasure ship action at Treasure Island, but we should be able to watch the volcano at the Mirage." Royale said. "Callie, we have to find one of those places that takes instant pictures."

"What for?" Vin said.

"To record this moment in history." Royale said. "Our history anyway. We don't know how long it will be before we see you again."

Vin saw the sad smiles on the faces of his angels and wondered why they couldn't stay with him.

"We couldn't do that." Callie said, when he voiced his thought. "We still have to rescue Trent and Duncan. You don't want them to go through what you went through, do you? Besides it will be safer for you if we are far away."

"Reckon I ought to tell ya this now, then." Vin said, taking off his hat and leaning against the rail that separated them from the fountains of water on the corner in front of the Mirage. "I've ridden in horseless carriages, under the ground, above the ground where I never figured to be. I've eaten Big Macs, used a straw, been in a hot tub with two women who could drive Buck to lustful thoughts, learned to be careful of zippers and that bullies are still the same even here in this century. But the best part was my two angels. I can't never thank ya enough for what ya did for me. I wont forget ya neither."

He wrapped an arm around each woman's shoulder and pulled them close to him, which should have had them swooning uncontrollably. Instead tears were in their eyes and threatening to spill over.

"Hey, ladies! I didn't mean for ya to cry." Vin said.

"Can't be helped, Vin." Royale said, hastily wiping the tears away.

"It had to be."

Both women pressed their lips to his cheeks before Royale caught sight of the show about to start.

They leaned against the rail and watched as the volcano erupted, spewing molten flames into the water to gradually disappear again.

"We had better get a taxi to the ranch now." Callie said sadly.

Somehow Royale found them a place that took olde tyme photos and the two women quickly dressed up in clothes from Vin's time period. After obtaining the three copies they caught a taxi to the ranch which lay at the foot of the mountains west of the city.

From their elevated position they had a wonderful view of Las Vegas at night.

"Shore is a pretty sight." Vin said.

Royale and Callie looked out over the city until Callie noticed a few vehicles headed their way.

"OH OH! We better get Vin to safety!" she exclaimed. "We are about to have company."

Royale quickly identified herself and gave the code word. The gates swung open as a golf cart came down the long drive.

With the gates safely secured behind them, they jumped on the cart and were taken to the house.

"Another strange mode of transportation, as Ezra would say." Vin muttered.

"Well, Vin, you will be happy to know that we have a surprise for you." the driver of the cart said, stopping momentarily at the corrals.

Vin's head came up as he heard a familiar neigh and he whistled softly for Peso as he jumped off the golf cart. Callie and Royale joined him at the fence as the two got reacquainted.

"We'll walk the rest of the way." Royale told the driver, wanting to cherish every moment left with Vin.

"Meet you up at the house, Vin." she said.

After a few minutes, Vin once again placed an arm around each woman's waist.

"Can you meet my friends before you have to go?" he asked them as they walked up to the house.

"I would like that." Callie said while Royale voiced her agreement.

Just outside the gates a black van came to stop as they used their ultra sophisticated electronic equipment to watch the tracker and the two rogue ops walk into the house.

"We've lost them, sir." Michael reported to Operations.

There was a long, deadly silence as they waited for Operations to give them orders. The group were hard pressed to hide their nervousness while they waited. So much for hardened operatives.

"Very well." Operations said. "Return to Section."

"What about Callie and Royale?" Nikita had the guts to ask.

"Let them think they got away with this. We will keep an eye on them and if we should ever need them again, we will bring them back in."

The cheering in the van nearly deafened not only Michael but the people monitoring them at Section One. Michael and Birkoff exchanged looks before Birkoff doubled over with laughter at being free of the two women.

"If anyone could bring Section One down around our ears, it would be those two." Birkoff said when he was finally able to speak again.

"They wouldn't have lasted long anyway." Michael admitted. "Operations would probably cancel them personally. So next time we are in a desperate situation for angelic troublemakers, we will know where to go."

Nikita merely smiled at the victory of the two women.

For now.

THE END

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