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Grace took a deep breath and then she settled onto the bed next to Elizabeth, took both hands in hers and tried to infuse as much confidence into her smile as she could She dreaded what she was about to do She knew it could well be too one So much cancer Maybe they’d both die But at least Grace would try She had so very much to live for, and she knew if she failed, Rio and all his men’s lives would be forfeit

"Close your eyes," Grace said softly "And I want you to concentrate hard You’re going to feel ht it But what I need you to do forthis illness and on getting better The stronger you are, the stronger I can be"

Elizabeth nodded and squeezed Grace’s hands Grace sive Grace reassurance

Grace sucked in another breath, closed her eyes and then focused all her y into the pathway between her and Elizabeth

She nearly recoiled fro away at Elizabeth’s body It was everywhere There was noas she had She’d hung on by sheer force of will

Grace drew it away, absorbing it in her own body, and felt herself weakening with every passing second But then she was joined by Elizabeth’s own iron will

It was a light in the darkest tunnel Dawn breaking after a storth Hope Love Only the resilience offered by the young Elizabeth’s spirit was as strong as her will Her soul hadn’t given up Nothing about this girl had signaled defeat

Fused together, their wills strengthened, the light becaer The warmth and power of their combined determination infused Grace with led to keep herself upright, to keep her focus and not lose the battle for Elizabeth’s life And then tiny ar her

A whisper in her ear "You can do it I know you can Thank you"

Grace reached for the last of the darkness, those ugly shadows that hung tenaciously, and with the last of her strength, she yanked the them into her own body She fell forward into the pillows, heard Elizabeth’s cry of alarm Her plea for her father to help

Farnsworth’s hands gripped her shoulders, turned her until she was on her side His face was grihter

Elizabeth scra worriedly down at Grace

"Help her, Daddy She needs help!"

Farnsworth’s eyes filled with tears as he stared at his daughter, pink, healthy looking, her eyes full of vibrancy that had been lacking for so long

"Elizabeth," he whispered

For a hter into his arms Muffled sobs erupted as he crushed her to him

"My baby My baby"

Elizabeth pried herself away and again looked down at Grace, who tried to offer her a reassuring smile She eak, yes, but she wasn’t incapacitated She had Elizabeth to thank for that Elizabeth, as strong, whose will to live had been so strong that it had aided Grace in the healing process

She’d lent her strength to Grace so that Grace hadn’t shouldered it all alone

"Daddy, she needs help Go get theo"

Farnsworth looked reluctant to leave her even for a ed away from the bed and then walked toward the door

RIO paced outside the doorway The hall was filled with soldiers Mercenaries It was tense Titan had their guns on Rio’s tea theer-happy

Rio just hoped to hell that the rest of KGI had made it ashore after the helo drop and were in position This could all go to hell at a moment’s notice, and he damn sure didn’t want to be without backup

The door opened and the tension soared in the hallway Farnsworth stepped out, his back to Rio as he faced Hancock

"It’s done She needs help, though She’s weak Let thee off the island"

Hancock pulled his gun, pointed it at Farnsworth, and shot

Rio leapt instinctively to the side, drawing his oeapon The hallway becah Rio’s chest

"Cease fire!" Hancock roared "Goddae and squeezed off another shot, downing the man who’d taken the shot at Rio

Then he held his gun up high while every one of his tea the

Rio slid to the floor, blood running like a damn river from his chest and onto the floor "Son of a bitch! Hancock, you stupid fuck! What the hell are you trying to pull here?"

Hancock nudged Farnsworth’s body as ifsure the man was dead, and then he crouched down beside Rio His expression was grim

"Fuck it all, Rio This wasn’t supposed to happen This was a planned er-happy"

"Daddy!"

The shrill, high-pitched screaet to her father, but Terrence scooped her up, hugging her to his broad chest and shielding her froht

"Get the fuck out," Hancock bellowed "Clear this goddaoddamn well you have the rest of your teaoddaet a handle on them quick We have no interest in KGI You were just collateral da with every breath Son of a bitch, it hurt "Get word out Stand down Meet with Sarave;od,ke, tell them not to fire unless fired upon"

He looked up at Hancock with glassy eyes "You better be telling uarantee not a goddamn one of you will leave this island alive"

Hancock nodded

"Tell Grace…" He gasped, pissed that he couldn’t sees "Tell Grace I love her"

"Rio!"

Grace tried to push Hancock aside, but nearly fell over with the effort Hancock reached up to steady her with a gentle grasp

"It’s too late," Hancock said gruffly

Fear and panic sla precariously "No!"