Toll loaded his gun while Caesar drove. Neither of them could believe they had actually managed to pull off escaping from a hospital. Caesar quickly bought him some clothes from the store close by, and Toll changed and started prepping for the fight as Caesar drove. He had turned on his intercom and knew where they all were. It sounded like a battle was going on, though.

"He's gone out the back with Mei," Lee's voice said. "Luke's following. What's the plan?"

"All right," Caesar said, not listening further. "You wanna save a girl, we're gonna save a girl." He stepped on the gas, and they jolted forward. Toll had a grim look on his face. He was still in much pain, and his bandages were seeping, but he was going. Nothing was going to stop him.

Lee

"Go after them!" Barney ordered Lee from below. Lee pulled out his rifle and started for the edge of the roof. He climbed down and went to find the back door. Damion soon burst out of it with Mei and two other men. They headed for the building next door. Luke was not too far behind. Lee made the decision to cut them off on the other side. He started to run around the building. He hoped this would work.

Barney

He hurried to Madeline while bullets still flew around their heads. She was badly injured, and he didn't want to break his promise to her. James was locked in a hand to hand combat with a guard, and Gunner and Doc were still taking down the others. Barney carried Madeline in his arms to the back where they were hidden by crates.

"That was a crazy," Barney said to her. She managed a weak smile.

"It didn't work, though."

"It almost did. Just relax and save your strength. I'll get you out of here," he promised. Madeline closed her eyes. She knew she didn't have much longer. She had lost a lot of blood.

Luke

Blind fury and rage fueled him as he chased Damion. He managed to take out one of the men following, and the second took off after seeing what Luke had done to the first guy. He found himself on some sort of catwalk with Damion standing at the other end.

"Road ends here," Damion called. His voice echoed around the building. "It's your choice of how."

"You and me. Winner walks," Luke said. His heart was pounding. He had seen Damion fight. It was going to be brutal. Here he thought Alex had been brutal. The door was locked at the other end, so Mei was left to wait while Damion walked towards Luke. In seconds, they were locked in a battle. Luke took a lot of blows before managing to get some in himself. Damion was very tough. Luke's punches didn't seem to do anything to him. Luke felt a little worried now. It all came down to his winning, and he didn't know if he would.

Lee

He pulled open the door and saw Luke and Damion fighting. He saw Mei crouching and watching.

"Pst," he said, making her head spin to look at him.

"Lee," she whispered.

"Come on, get out of here," Lee said. She moved to him and through the door. Lee shut it briefly.

"What about Luke?" she asked.

"I'll help him out. You go downstairs and hide somewhere. Take this," he said, handing her a gun and his intercom. "Tell them where you are, and they will come get you."

"Please save him," Mei begged.

"I'll do my best," Lee answered. "Now go. Hurry!" She obliged, rushing down the stairs. Lee took in a deep breath and opened the door again. He saw Damion standing on Luke's chest.

"This is the end, I think," he was saying. "That's too bad since I kind of liked you."

"Yoohoo," Lee said once he was close enough. Damion spun his head, and there was a moment of shock before Lee punched him right in the face. He threw him off Luke, and together, the brothers faced Damion. He was clearly blown away.

"Twins," he said. Then he recovered. "Twins! Of course. You'll be sorry..."

"Not as sorry as you're gonna be," Lee said. He and Luke struck. Damion was outnumbered now, and he knew it. The fight lasted a little longer before Luke had him by the throat and leaning over the railing.

"You messed with the wrong guy," he said to Damion. "You should have never gotten her involved."

"Go on then. Kill me," Damion hissed. "But you'll regret it."

"I don't think I will actually," Luke said. Then Damion surprised them both by head butting Luke and sending him stumbling backward. He shot Lee before kicking him in the chest, knocking him over the railing, and then he shot Luke. Lee managed to grab the floor of the catwalk, but the bullet had stunned him. He didn't think Damion realized he was wearing body armor. Luke, however, was groaning in pain. He didn't have any on.

"Your old man still has more tricks up his sleeve than you two do," Damion said, laughing. "So long, Luke. Tell your mama I said hi."

Lee swung his leg up and pulled himself back to the catwalk. He pulled out two of his knives and threw them fast and hard into the back of Damian's neck. Luke managed to move before their father fell face first to the ground. Lee wiped the sweat off his mouth and went over to Luke.

"You all right?" he asked. He saw the blood then.

"You tell me," Luke answered sarcastically. The door opened then, and Barney stood there.

"Everyone all right?" he asked.

"No. Luke's hit."

"Damion?"

"Dead," Lee answered.

"Where's Mei?" Luke asked then.

"I gave her directions to safety," Lee reassured him. He hoisted his brother to his feet. "Come on. You need medical attention." They left Damion after checking he really was dead. It was finally over.

Toll & Caesar

"Hang on," Toll said. He spied two men running after Mei. Caesar slammed on the brakes, and they both got out. Toll rushed as fast as he could behind the men. He shot one, making the other turn around.

"I'm back!" Toll shouted, seeing it was the guy who had originally shot him. Surprise was on the man's face. Toll didn't wait for anything else. He shot the man dead, and winced as the pain struck him from all the activity.

"Toll?" Mei said, seeing him. She came out from behind her hiding place and rushed to him. "Toll!"

"Easy!" Toll cried as she hugged him tightly.

"You're here! I thought you were dead," she said.

"I almost was."

"And he will be when those nurses discover you broke out of the hospital," Caesar said. "But he wouldn't rest until you were safe."

"I made a promise. I keep my promises," Toll said to Mei. She smiled.

"I really appreciate it, but I think you should go back now."

"Where's the bad guy?" Toll asked.

"Lee and Luke were in there fighting him," Mei said pointing. They all looked in time to see Barney come out with Lee supporting Luke.

"Uh oh," Caesar said.

"LUKE!" Mei shrieked, rushing over to them. Caesar patted Toll's shoulder.

"He'll always be her favorite," he told him.

"I don't care. She's safe. That's all that matters," Toll replied.

"You wanna go back now?"

"Uh, yea," Toll grimaced. "I'm hurt pretty bad."

"We knew that before you left," Caesar said, exasperated. Barney approached them then.

"Toll, what the hell?" he asked.

"It was the girl," Caesar answered for Toll. "He had to make sure she was all right."

"She's fine. You need to get back to the hospital," Barney ordered. They heard sirens then.

"Sounds good," Toll nodded. Barney led the medics over to where Madeline was with Doc and Gunner, and they also loaded up Luke. Caesar put Toll back in the car and drove him back. Toll closed his eyes as they drove. He was grateful it was all over.

Lee

He watched Mei pace the hospital hall while Luke was in surgery. After what felt like hours, they came to tell her he was okay. Mei rushed in to see him while Lee held back. Barney found him, and they both watched Mei and Luke talking.

"Madeline is all right," Barney informed him.

"Good for her."

"I know you're mad at her, but she is still your mother. She did this for your safety, even though it wasn't the greatest thing she could have done."

"You're siding with her then?"

"No. I'm just seeing both sides of it."

"I don't know if I want a mother. It's been a long time."

"She understands. If you ever change your mind, you can call her," Barney said, handing him a note with a number on it. Lee tucked it into his pocket. He wasn't sure if he'd read it. He didn't think he'd care about what it had to say.

Luke

"I'm all right," Luke reassured Mei for the tenth time. "They've fixed me up. I can leave tomorrow."

"Are we safe now?" she asked.

"For now," he answered. "Remember what I said before."

"One day a time," Mei finished for him. "I know."

"I gotta sleep now," Luke said. "They dosed me pretty good."

"Okay. I'll be here."

"See you later," Luke smiled at her, closing his eyes.

Toll

He looked up when Mei came into his room. He smiled.

"You're here," he said.

"Luke's asleep. I wanted to keep you company," Mei responded. "How are you?" She sat down beside him.

"Better. Still sore."

"Thank you for looking out for me and for coming back for me," Mei said.

"My pleasure," Toll smiled at her.

"Wanna play Snap?" she asked, pulling out the deck of cards.

"All right," he replied, sitting up. He knew she'd win anyway, but he didn't care.

Madeline

She looked up when Lee entered her room. She was definitely worse for wear, and the doctor told her she was lucky to be alive. She suffered three broken ribs and multiple fractures everywhere else. The internal bleeding had almost killed her.

"You all right?" Lee asked.

"For now," she answered grimly. "Is he dead?"

"Yes."

"Thank God," Madeline said, leaning her head back. "I can rest easy now."

"So let me get something straight," Lee started. "You gave us up only to search for us later. Why not just keep us all together in the first place? You obviously hid yourself well enough that he couldn't find you."

"I regret it every day, Lee," Madeline said. "I really do. You're asking the same question I've asked myself for years. The only thing I can ask of you now is your forgiveness. I was young and naive. If I could do it over again, I would keep you both. Maybe your lives would be different."

"Maybe," Lee agreed.

"I won't blame you for never speaking to me again."

"We'll see," Lee said, moving away from the door. He knew he should have told her it was all right, that she made what she thought was the right decision at the time, but he couldn't. Not yet. Maybe one day. Barney gave him a nod as he walked past. Lee had a feeling his friend would stay in touch with her anyway.

A Few Days Later

The gang were sitting around Tool's shop when Luke pulled in with Mei. Gunner clapped Luke's back as he walked past.

"This is your joint, huh?" Luke asked, looking around. "It's kind of dark."

"We're all a little dark, man," Caesar laughed. Doc smirked while Gunner guffawed. Luke smiled at this a little. Mei went over to Toll to talk to him. Luke turned to Lee.

"Well, I guess this is it," Luke said. "We'll be disappearing again."

"It was nice to meet you," Lee nodded. They shook hands.

"Thanks for saving her," Luke said.

"It's what I do," Lee shrugged. He knew how much Mei meant to Luke. He wished he had someone like that in his life.

"Are you going to keep in touch with Madeline?" Luke asked.

"I don't know yet," Lee answered.

"Me either. Maybe one day," Luke mused. Lee just nodded back. They both shared the same feeling towards their mother it seemed.

"If you ever need us, call," Barney said, handing over his card to Luke, who took it.

"I will," Luke nodded. "You're not half bad."

"Gee thanks," Barney grinned. Mei joined Luke then, having said her goodbye to Toll. She gave him her email so they could keep in touch, though.

"Well, time to hit the road," Luke said. Mei nodded.

"Take care," Lee said. Luke gave him a salute before turning to walk away. Lee watched until they were gone.

"I like having only one of you around," Barney said after. "It doesn't hurt my head so much."

Lee just shook his head, laughing. They went back to their beer and joking around. Things were back to the way they were, and Lee liked it that way. He had a feeling, though, that he would probably see his brother again one day. There was always trouble hiding behind a corner. For now, though, things were pretty safe for an Expendable.

The End

I really hope you liked this story. I of course left it open for a potential sequel one day if there's any interest. Thanks for reading. If you have time to leave a review, I'd appreciate it. Until next time!