*Shuffles in sheepishly* Errr hi…

Ahha okay I'm REALLY sorry that it took me so long, things were just, well, complicated somewhat, busy and more and writing wasn't happening. But I had a very productive train journey and just in time to deliver this to you lovely people. Here's to hoping that it doesn't disappoint.

I don't own skins, I do however own a HUGE list of updates I have not gotten to reading and this will be my next task…so yeah apologies all of you whom I normally r&r.

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"Times up bitch..."

Naomi knew it too, this was it. Now or never. The end of Graves little mission and their trap and if everything went to plan the end of Karlakov. Or at least that's what she hoped, what they all hoped, one way or another it would be over and dead or alive Graves wasn't leaving this room unless it was with Vendetta agents.

Sharing a final glance with Cook she turned her attention back to Graves, tuning back into her ramblings of how she was the victor and Naomi's imminent downfall...

"...What you gonna do now then bitch? Can't shoot me, or James here will shoot you, shoot James and I'll make your red head sing for me... Seems like you just might be fresh out of luck darling.

Naomi could hear the pleasure in her voice and she wanted to laugh, instead settled on her trademark eye roll whilst she kept her gun trained on Cook as was his on her. Her reply was cocky, and yet challenging, she after all didn't want to come across as weak or show fear, which couldn't be further from the truth. "So what's your proposal then, I'm presuming you have one? Seeing that I'm so fresh out of luck and all."

Her plan was simple really, let Graves set the scene, regardless of what happened she needed Emily alive to get the vial, and she'd keep Naomi alive for leverage, it was perhaps a risk to make such an assumption but the odds were stacked in her favour.

Like a game of Russian roulette - only one gun in this room was aimed at her with the intent to kill.

So she let Graves set the pace, order her around and feel in control as she waited for that moment, letting her profiling of Graves guide her. Despite her earlier comments, Naomi had a feeling Graves wanted the vial, and she was unlikely to leave here without it. In her world reputation was everything, and not completing a job was a black mark on your record, and often left a equally sized mark on your bank balance. People wouldn't pay big money for someone that only sometimes completed the job.

"Well for starters I think you need to get rid of that gun of yours and give me a twirl so I can get a proper look at you. No funny business either or we'll see how good reds voice is when she strikes up a tune." Her comment was punctuated with another moan from Emily and in an instant Naomi's anger spiked, she wasted no time and with a flick of her hand her weapon was disposed, tossed aside out of her reach and everyone else's.

"There's a good girl, James be a darling and we can have ourselves a proper introduction."

She watched as Cook placed the lantern he had been holding on a stack of boxes and strode towards her, leaning down he shared an apologetic look before he barked a rough order of 'up' at her. She understood, he had a part to play, and he would play it well as would she in his position.

Grasping her bicep firmly he hoisted her to her feet. Her leg screamed in protest and she swallowed her own pain that threatened to escape her lips. He patted her down and she could almost imagine him grinning like an idiot under his mask as his hands roughly travelled her body. He was however swift and ignored the weapon he felt on her forearm, instead pushed her forwards into Graves line of sight, out in the open away from her position of cover.

A swift kick to her injured leg and she crumpled to the floor this time her pain not withheld as the wound screamed and throbbed in light of the blow. Falling to her hands and knees she pressed her forehead to the concrete floor below her as she pulled herself back in control, pushed the screaming of her thigh aside. Cook was relentless, truly playing his part as he barely gave her time to regain the control she so dearly desired as he grabbed her hair to pull her into a kneeling position, her arms yanked behind her back and bound with a tie, albeit loosely and easy for her to slip her knife free and escape.

"I thought it might be you Campbell...No lisp you see, and Effy well from what I understand she's not much of a talker now is she?"

Naomi glared at the woman in front of her but said nothing, had no response that wouldn't anger her.

"A little research goes a long way darling. So now I've got you both we're going to have a little treasure hunt" Graves turned to Emily and spun her around so they were face to face, holding her gaze pointedly "and Emily dear, you will tell me where that vial is, because for every wrong answer we have a little fun, comprende?"

Naomi watched Emily, she didn't react, didn't agree or answer in anyway. "I'm taking your silence as understanding." Graves smirked knowing full well Emily couldn't actually speak with the tape covering her mouth.

"James, if you please." She gestured to Emily.

"Pleasures all mine babe" he spoke as he walked over and pulled Emily close to him, his arm wrapped around her throat instead of the blade that had been there only minutes before. She watched him tense his grip and he stared her down before doing it again. Naomi was making a mental note to kick him in the balls for doing it again just so he had an excuse to pull Emily closer still.

"Excellent! All set then." Graves spoke before ripping the tape from Emily's face and flicking it to the side.

"So where is my vial hidden?"

Naomi watched Emily stretch out her jaw a couple of times as she appeared to consider the question, a smile spread across her face, cocky and smug "In a box" she replied, and in an instant Naomi was both applauding and cursing her all at once. This was going to hurt.

"Strike one" Graves spoke before a swift backhand landed hard on her face. She felt the heat of the sting and imagined the reddening of her face as she turned to face forwards again.

"Care to try that one again?"

Emily scowled at Graves, a look of pure hatred shining in her eyes as she continued to banter and buy time, or at least that's what Naomi presumed. "Not really, I told you the truth it's in a box."

This time Graves slapped Emily "You really are a cocky little shit aren't you, no one ever told you that your mouth is going to get you in trouble? Or more accurately get your friend here in trouble?" She stepped away from Emily and started back towards Naomi "I think that clarifies as strike two…" she grinned before yanking Naomi to her feet and kneeing her hard in the gut.

Air rushed from her lungs as the blow struck not once but two consecutive times, as she folded over another blow struck her on the back of her neck and she once again crumbled to her knees, a deep cough as she struggled to regain her control. When Naomi raised her head, she could see Emily fighting Cook, pulling hard at the arm around her throat as she tried to get to Naomi and she felt a sense of pride that someone other than Cook or Anthea would try to fight for her. But it was pointless because she was at a distinct disadvantage.

"Bet that smarts a bit doesn't it Campbell, trust me when I say you've seen nothing yet. So red, lets try again. Where. Is. The. Vial?"

"Fine, its in a blue box." Emily retorted with a smirk and Naomi actually chuckled because as she glanced across the room, they were all blue storage boxes but her laughter died in her throat as she saw Graves pull a knife from her boot.

"Strike three. Now the fun begins." In an instant the knife whipped out and Naomi felt a sharp sting flow across her right bicep and distantly she heard Emily shout no but it barely registered as the slice was followed by a stomp on her leg, the only thing she registered then was the scream of her own voice, an almost guttural cry, she barely registered the second slice this time across her back. Her body had rolled forwards trying to protect herself, her face again pressed to the floor as she doubled over her breaths coming in short sharp bursts. She couldn't keep doing this much longer, Cook needed to take Emily out of the picture and soon, and then she could get what she needed from Graves.

She could hear voices but she couldn't really register anything they were saying, it sounded though that Emily had at least conceded a little more accurate information because as she looked up through bleary eyes she saw Graves dragging Emily across the room, held tightly in one hand, as the other held the knife that had shed her own life source.

She took the opportunity whilst Cook was free to look at him and make a plan to end this, she trusted him to do it right and as she spoke her plan, he read her lips and nodded before walking over and wrapping his arm back around Emily's throat as instructed again by Graves whilst she rooted through a box.

Naomi then took advantage of the moment's relief to slip her own knife free and cut the tie around her wrist before slipping it back into its sheath, keeping her hands behind her back so she at least kept up the façade that she was bound.

She heard Cook laughing as Emily squeaked when he pulled her forcefully back to their earlier position and she glared at him. "Don't know what you're laughing at ugly, you wear that mask because no woman can stomach your ugly face?. That's probably the first and I promise you it'll be the last time you'll have a gorgeous woman that close to you."

Cook pulled Emily closer still if it was possible, his touch wasn't enough to hurt her but certainly enough to physically jerk her backwards so she was flush with his body. He let his free hand roam down from her shoulder to hip, slowing as he passed her breast before travelling back upwards. Naomi glared at him, her face pure fury. "What's up blondie, see something you like?"

Naomi didn't answer, just continued to glare as his hand travelled round so his palm was flat against Emilys stomach. He applied pressure and wrapped one leg around hers, Naomi watched him tense his body, each muscle fibre strong and fixed into position.

"If you liked that, maybe just maybe you'll like this too" he grinned at her as he constricted his leg and hand on Emily's stomach pulling her close, once his position was stable he tightened his grip on his forearm around her throat.

She watched pained as Emily's eyes truly showed the panic she felt and fear ripped through her, she was trusting Cook quite literally with Emily's life, albeit without Emily's knowledge of this fact. She watched on helpless her eyes equally conveying every ounce of fear she possessed as Emily faded until unconsciousness took her. Cook glanced across the room to check Graves was still occupied as he gently lowered Emily to the floor and checked her pulse, all the while Naomi watched on anxiously.

She breathed a sigh of relief as he nodded at her. He pulled his mask off and mouth to her 'Are you okay?' and she was now, now she knew Emily was okay and Graves was outnumbered two to one with nothing but a knife to protect her.

Together they rose to their feet and she limped across the room to Cook, she mouthed the word 'handgun' to him and silently he passed one over to her. She cast an eye down to the unconscious red head below her and then rose the gun, firing a shot at Graves hitting her in the shoulder.

She held no remorse for her actions as she limped across the room, her gun still raised, aimed directly at Graves chest adrenaline coursing through her system, her pain not forgotten but simply ignored.

"Guess what bitch?" She grinned sadistically at her "It's my turn and now you're the one that's fresh out of fucking luck." On the word luck she fired another shot this time into Graves thigh and watched as she grumped to the floor. "Paybacks a bitch."

"Cook babe, do me a favour and drag that sorry piece of shit over here."

He grinned at her, now free of his mask and grabbed Graves, unceremoniously dragging her across the room before ditching her at Naomi's feet. The whole time her gun was trained on Graves and this moment was no different.

"So I have a question for you, and trust me when I say that my rules to the game are far more advanced than yours." She smirked before cocking one eyebrow and throwing Graves own comment back at her "Comprende?"

Hatred looked back of her, but she didn't care, they were short on time and she had no intention of dragging it out.

"Wheres Karlakov?" Naomi barked.

Graves didn't answer and so she shifted the focus of her gun to graves hand and fired. Naomi was mildly impressed as Graves only barely let out a sound but she didn't care.

As she stood on her hand she asked the same question again, and again on receiving no answer she fired again, this time at her other hand.

She continued on the same course, no answer and a shot, moving around body parts until she caved, it took seven bullets in total before she finally gave up the name of the hotel, barely whispered from her lips.

"See that wasn't so hard was it?" Naomi smirked. "Cook, can I have your phone?"

As he passed the phone across Naomi dialled Anthea's number from memory and listened for the call to connect, all the while her gaze piercingly staring at Graves, still showing no remorse as her gun was aimed at her chest.

"Hey it's me." She spoke when the call connected. "Yeah I know, hit a little more resistance that we had been expecting. Yeah, he's at the Axelhof...thanks…yeah don't worry I think she'll get the message. Okay."

She disconnected the call and looked to Graves pale face.

"Anthea sends her Love."

She watched the look of abject horror cross Graves' face, with a final smirk she fired one solitary shot and watched as Graves slumped fully to the floor.

She allowed her arm holding her gun to drop to her side before she sunk down onto the nearest box, her body tired, bloody and somewhat beaten.

She walked to where Graves had been and retrieved the vial, nothing more than saline but she ripped the lid off and tipped the contents on the floor her mind thinking ahead to cover her bases before she stepped over to Emily's unconscious body.

She crouched down, ignored the protest from her leg and moved the strands of hair covering her face out of the way.

"Well that didn't go quite as I expected" She spoke to no one but herself as she watched the steady rise and fall of Emily's chest, held her hand across her face and felt the puff of warm air hit her hand.

Reassured of her wellbeing Naomi finally fully sunk to the floor her gun clattering on the concrete as she did so before looking at Cook.

"Don't think I didn't notice you feeling us both up either."

He threw her one of his stupid fucking grins "What can I say babe, the Cookie monster never misses an opportunity" he winked and she found herself smiling back until a serious look . "I'm sorry you know...I don't enjoy hurting you."

"I know, its okay I do understand" She smiled "You should get out of here, get your guys out."

"You sure babe, you don't look like you could fend off a fruit fly right now?"

"Yeah I'm sure, can you get my bag" she pointed to the far corner of the room where she had made her initial strike "over there."

He threw it down to her and she rummaged for a moment before pulling out and snapping a glow stick, throwing it at her feet. She also pulled free another gun before throwing the bag back to Cook. "There's some explosives in there, you might need them to get out."

"Sure thing babe" he pressed a kiss to her forehead "Sorry…about…you know" he jestured to Emily and she frowned before waving a hand at him, dismissing whatever he was walking about.

"Forget it, go on, get out of here."

He stood and smiled before signalling the team "Panda pops, Freds, move out. Leave the lambs to the slaughter. Follow my lead, Gay Jay will direct." He gave one last smile to Naomi before grabbing the lantern he had entered with and was on his way.

Naomi turned her attention back to Emily and gently shook her hoping to wake her but she was still out cold. Peaceful almost like she was asleep.

Pressing her hand to her earpiece she checked in with watchtower, relayed that Kilo was missing and Graves was eliminated as well as their location, though there was a distinct lack of response but she couldn't lift Emily so she waited, her back pressed against a box as she fought with her own consciousness until eventually the darkness took her too…

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A gentle rhythmic beeping pierced her senses first, followed secondly by the clinical scent always associated with medical facilities. She shifted her body and then the rest of her senses kicked into life, as if they had been ignited with fire.

Distantly she heard voices but she couldn't register what they were saying, only that they were speaking, she tried to open her eyes but exhaustion and sleep pulled at her as she fought against it, but in the end it was always going to win.

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The next time she woke, she was alone. No voices pulling at her consciousness, far less fire in her body and yet still the clinical scent and rhythmic beating remained. She gently shifted and cracked an eye open before rolling her head across the pillow to take in her surroundings. White walls met her followed by medical equipment and the usual hospital facilities as well as the more luxurious stuff she appeared to have been fortunate enough to enjoy, or not enjoy as the case may have been.

She rolled her head to the other site and examined further but her breath caught in her throat as she saw Katie in the next bed, her own machine signalling her life continuing with that same steady rhythmic beat. She saw two forms each curled up in chairs seated opposite one another, Effy and Emily snoozing quietly with their feet resting on their opposite's chair. She cracked a smile at the sight.

Resting her head back against the pillows she tried to remember what happened, forcing her sluggish brain into the right gear. She remembered the lock up, events unfolding and Graves ultimate demise, but after that it was all a bit foggy, she found herself frowning as she tried to recall and came up empty.

She stayed that way, staring at the ceiling until she sensed a presence nearby, a nurse smiling politely at her as she realised she was awake.

"Good morning Miss Campbell, nice to have you with us again."

Naomi sent her a polite smile in return, she didn't remember being here before let alone again, which just mean she had more frustration to mull over.

"What happened?" She asked her voice raspy from a lack of use.

"You were shot Miss Campbell, experienced some complications in surgery as well."

Naomi nodded mutely, she didn't really know how to react to that statement, so decided a different course of action was in order. "Katie, what happened to her?"

"Also shot Miss Campbell, however she is also doing fine now" The nurse smiled politely at her and she nodded her thanks.

"Miss Campbell-"

Naomi interrupted her "Please, call me Naomi"

"Certainly" Another smile "This just arrived for you" she passed over an envelope "is there anything I can get you?"

Naomi shook her head and offered her thanks, waiting for the nurse to leave before she opened the envelope, pulling a 'get well soon' card out. She glanced at the cover briefly before opening it to read the message inside.

'Problems are made to be solved' was stated in a familiar script and she found herself grinning, the letter was signed with the Greek mark symbolising alpha, Anthea of course which could mean only one thing. That the Mark was eliminated, Karlakov was dead and that it was over finally. She herself had one lose end to tie up, a little bit of personal revenge that she would ensure was completed at some point in the near future.

Placing the card on the side she smiled to herself for a moment and then shifted a little in bed trying to get comfortable, ultimately ending up facing the others. She found herself staring at the trio across from her for a moment before closing her eyes and instead listened to the steady breaths along with the rhythmic beating of the machines, allowing herself a rare moment of carefree abandonment and relaxation…

She didn't know how long she had been laying there, but she wasn't asleep, at least not deeply and she heard voices speaking again, the husky voice of Emily and the distinct lisp of her twin, she didn't open her eyes, didn't want them to know she was awake, didn't want to intrude. Instead just laid there listening to them speak softly with one another. Katie protesting that she didn't need her twin to help her to the bathroom. That Effy was perfectly capable of fulfilling that duty based on the fact that Emily looked so tired she may develop narcolepsy.

A great deal of shuffling later and it seemed Effy had succeeded in her task in getting Katie out of bed and helping her complete the short walk across the room to the bathroom. Naomi wondered exactly what had happened to Katie but before her thoughts could progress any further she felt a warm hand encase her own.

"Naomes…Can you hear me? … I really wish you'd hurry up and wake up. You scared the fucking shit out of me you bitch. Still are."

A hand stroked the hair covering her face, shifted it ever so slightly before it fell straight back where it had been only seconds ago.

A sigh echoed in the room before a silence that seemed to drag on forever "I'm so fucking sorry. This is all my fault…You…Katie…Both of you…all my fault. Me and my stupid plan and I nearly lost you both." Another sigh followed by another silence. "Please be okay, I need you even if you don't know it." She felt the pressure increase on her hand before she sensed Emily moving, the bed dipping ever so slightly, a warm puff of air closer to her and finally a warm pair of lips were pressed against her own.

Distantly she heard the voices again but it was as though they were being spoken from underwater until that one husky voice broke through her senses as it moved away from her. "Yeah okay Katie I'll go get it now."

The warmth left her completely, even the hand touching her own and she heard footsteps moving away from her.

Chancing it she opened her eyes, and stared at the empty room across from her before raising that same hand that had been encased in warmth to her lips, touching the same place that another pair of lips had been.

"Fuck…"

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So…errr yeah, I know I know we're moving forwards..slowly…

So I mentioned earlier that this was being delivered to you just in time, and that's because tomorrow morning I'm going away…Cyprus, Perhaps. By myself. Spend some time, by myself… ;)

I am actually going to Cyprus for a couple of weeks where I shall be celebrating / commiserating being another year older, so your next update is, well pending shall we say. Perhaps I may write on holiday, or perhaps not. One cannot say. But I hope this tides you over for the time being :)

See you on the flip side lovely people, and if you feel the need to grace me with a birthday gift, then reviews are accepted with the greatest thanks, be they good or bad :)