I'M BACK! Finally managed to get this chapter to a point i was happy with and figured i'd share. The next chapter WILL BE THE LAST. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported this story, even when there were no updates. I really hope you enjoy how it ends.

SIDENOTE: Do you ever re-read your old stuff and just cringe? I was reading some of my first stories and I just die at the quality and editing. I apologise to those that had to suffer back then.

And as always, if you're not reading this on then you're reading a stolen story. Please don't do it. Thanks x

Chapter 11

"I wouldn't do that to her if I was you"

Levy was so convinced she was dreaming she couldn't bring her eyes to open. It couldn't be him. He surely wasn't that stupid. Was he?

Sting let out a sinister laugh from somewhere in front of her. "Well hello Dr Redfox"

Her eyes snapped open in surprise long before her mind could truly register what was going on. As they re-adjusted to the dark room she was in, a tall figure stood off to her side. The broad shoulders and power stance alerted her immediately to who stood in the shadows. Tears pricked her eyes in a mixture of relief, happiness and fear.

"I suggest you put the chain down" Gajeel spat, never moving from his spot.

Sting chuckled. "Mikey, old friend, do you honestly think I'm going to do that? Stand here unarmed? After the years we spent together I figured you would know me better than that" he smirked, stepping closer to Levy.

Gajeel's fists tightened into balls by his side, but still he remained in the shadows. "After all these years I figured you would know I don't say anything I don't mean. I wouldn't harm her if I was you" he replied, cocking a gun he had slid from out of his pocket. "We both know I am an excellent shot"

Sting's mind reeled as he recalled the night Levy had escaped his grasp and Mikey's true identity had been revealed. The betrayal, along with the bullet wound that still remained on his left shoulder, had hurt him far more than he wanted to admit. Anger suddenly pulsed through him as he connected the events together. "You?" he seethed.

From the shadows even Levy could pick up the soft chuckle of pride Gajeel let out. "Yes, me. The only part I regret is not having better aim" he laughed.

As Levy watched the exchange in front of her she recalled her own version of events. She remembered the sheer terror at having been once again found by Sting. She felt the panic at seeing the dead end and knowing that it was all over. And she remembered her hero, the only member of the gang who had ever seen her as a person, the man who had swooped in and rescued her from all the darkness and danger. Everything had happened so fast, from the hospital to the airport to China. Never once had she forgotten the man who she owed her life to. Never until she met Dr Redfox.

"I used you?" she heard the man in question say, refocusing her attention on the event at hand. "You stole my research. Or had we forgotten about that one?"

Sting seemed to visibly soften from anger to a twisted pride. "Oh yes, your precious chemical elements research. I bet you're dying to know what I did with it hm? It's very simple. My boys here have been working day and night to crack your work and we have finally managed it. Not only that, we've re-written it"

"Re-written it how?" Gajeel asked, concern creeping through his anger.

Sting walked away from Levy, much to Gajeel's relief, towards a table lined with grenade canisters. He picked one up, putting the chain down in the process, and turned back to Gajeel. "What do you think this is my dear Mikey?" he taunted. "A grenade? A dud? A child's toy? Maybe. Maybe not."

"Quit your games Sting" Gajeel growled.

"Alright alright. Just for old friends" Sting laughed. "We have managed to re-write your research to maximise the chemicals potential. Each one of these bad boys is filled with the combinations you described at their most concentrated level"

Gajeel's mind raced. "Meaning?"

"Oh Dr Redfox. I'm sure you know exactly what it means. Each one of these grenades could blow up an entire city" Sting grinned.

Levy gasped, turning Sting's attention back to her. "Oh my dear. Did you not know your fuck toy here was capable of such damage? Did you honestly think he was simply looking at the stars?"

Levy kicked herself for reacting. She had been searching the room doing her own calculations. Ten goons plus Sting against the two of them. Not to mention the back-up no doubt lurking somewhere. It didn't look good. Then again, had Gajeel really come alone? But who would he have managed to rope in to this insanely dangerous situation?

"Who said he was my fuck toy?" she asked, lifting her chin to stare into his cold, steel eyes.

Sting let out yet another laugh. "Oh please. I watched you, remember? I saw the things the two of you did, and the places you did them. You can't hide that from me, you little slut. Was he worth it? Did he make you feel good?" he mocked.

Levy knew he was trying to gain a reaction from her, but she couldn't stop the words escaping. "Oh he made me feel more than good. He touched me in places you've only dreamed of touching. He can make me cum with just one finger. His cock is insane. He is, by far, the best sex I will ever have and your cocktail sausage of a dick doesn't even come close" she smirked.

She knew she had made the wrong decision the second she felt the cool metal across her cheek. It took her a while before she could even comprehend that Sting had smacked her with the chain. What was worse, she had caused Gajeel to step out from the shadows as he charged in her defence. He managed several sharp kicks to Sting's ribs before, as she had suspected, several men emerged to hold him back. His gun was knocked into the shadows, leaving him defenceless.

"Don't you dare touch her!" she head him scream. Her eyes threatened to fill with tears but she forced them aside so she could see him. His face was exactly as she remembered: hard, stern but she knew that underneath was a softness and kindness like no other. His eyes were pitch black and he stared at Sting like a man possessed.

Sting stood, visibly knocked but determined not to show it. "Looks like you have been playing with things that aren't yours Mikey. Ruining my little whore like that. I thought we were brothers" he limped over to Gajeel and proceeded to punch his face several times. Levy screamed. "I should just gut you right here, right now. But I think that would be too easy. So instead, I'm going to let you watch as I test out this new and improved slut. What do you think my dear? You readily dropped your panties for him. How about you do the same for me?"

Levy felt bile rise in her throat at the mere thought of having to have sex with Sting. In fact, the thought of having sex with anyone other than Gajeel made her heart hurt in ways she couldn't quite understand. She looked over at him, panting as blood ran down his left cheek, still staring at Sting like he wanted to rip out his throat. This man, this dangerous, beautiful man was the only one she could ever see herself with.

Sting grabbed her hair roughly and turned her to face him. "Oh? Are you worried you'll hurt poor Mikey's feelings? That he'll finally see you for the worthless piece of trash you are? As if he didn't already know. You're just scum my dear. And now I'm going to take advantage of that dirty little mouth of yours" he laughed menacingly.

Levy took another deep breath. There was nothing around her she could use as a weapon, and her hands were so tightly bound behind her that she didn't think there was any chance of breaking free. Sting began to loosen his belt in front of her and she was defenceless. This was it. After all the fighting, all the running, all the hiding. It was over. Levy closed her eyes, desperate to block it all out.

"She might have a dirty little mouth but I have a dirty big fist I'd love to shove in your face"

Levy's eyes snapped open at the cheeky familiarity of the voice. Natsu stood boldly behind Sting, arms crossed and his signature grin on his face. Levy glanced at Gajeel and saw that unlike her, he wasn't at all surprised.

"Who the fuck are you?" Sting spat, releasing Levy's head.

Natsu laughed. "That's no way to speak to the guy who's about to kick your ass" he replied. "But since you asked, I'm your worst nightmare"

"Guards!" Sting shouted, but with no response.

"Those guys?" Natsu smirked, gesturing to the corner of the room where a pile of bodies had formed. "They were in my way. Hope you don't mind"

Sting grit his teeth and charged towards him, but Natsu easily dodged and laughed, yanking the chain out of his hands in the process. "Maybe I need to try your dirty little mouth" he mocked "Especially since your cocktail sausage doesn't seem up to par"

Sting stumbled upwards and looked towards the men that were holding Gajeel. "What are you idiots waiting for?"

Natsu once again let out a laugh. Levy felt a soft pair of hands working on the rope behind her back and realised Lucy was currently trying to release her whilst Natsu was the distraction. Gajeel had managed to find possibly the only two people mad enough to join him. Relief flooded her mind as she saw for the first time hope. Forcing herself not to react or turn around, she continued to watch Sting.

"Them? Did you need them? Ooops" Natsu laughed. At that exact moment, the two men holding Gajeel fell forward, knives dug deep in their backs. The surrounding men looked on in horror and began to run.

"Traitors! Come back here!" Sting yelled out, looking between Gajeel and Natsu. Levy felt her arms become loose and she wiggled them out of the ropes. Lucy tugged at her back, urging her to look at her. She smiled at the familiar face. Lucy pointed toward the door and indicated for her to wait for the signal to flee. She nodded in understanding and watched as Lucy slipped back into the darkness.

Gajeel made no move towards Sting or Levy, but he shot her a subtle nod as if to say it was all going to plan. "Looks like you're all alone Sting" he spat "I wouldn't fancy my chances if I were you"

Sting glared at him. "You think you're so smart, don't you Mikey? But how do you know we haven't already beaten you to it? How do you know my troops aren't already out, waiting for my signal? How do you know I haven't already won?"

"Because we found your files" yet another new voice announced. A young woman Levy had never seen before stepped out of the shadows. She wore a rather professional blue suit and her silver hair was tied up in a bun. Levy thought she looked far too formal for a combat situation.

"Juvia?" Gajeel sounded just as surprised as Sting looked. "What the hell?"

Juvia sighed. "Did you really think we didn't put a tracker on you Dr Redfox? Given your history of not following orders, it was practically necessity. Luckily Gray was fast on the research and managed to trace Sting's activity to a base not too far from here. We've seized everything and can put this guy away for a long time"

Gajeel shook his head. "Tracker. Should have figured"

Natsu laughed heartily. "Damn Gajeel, she got you good!"

Gajeel shot him an annoyed look before turning to look at Sting. "It's over. Surrender yourself now before I seriously beat your ass"

Sting began to chuckle. "Over? Yes I suppose it is. For you, that is" he laughed, once again turning back towards Levy. She froze, gripping her arms together to keep up the pretence. "I think we can skip the mouth treatment and I'll just take you right here right now"

"Step the fuck away!" Gajeel yelled, charging towards him with his fists up.

A gun cocked from nearby. "I wouldn't do that if I were you Dr Redfox"

Levy looked over her shoulder in horror to see Juvia holding a gun to Natsu's head. Sting laughed. "Oh my oh my. Didn't see that one coming did you Mikey?"

"What the fuck are you doing Juvia?" Gajeel spat.

"She didn't tell you?" Sting mocked, turning his back to Levy completely. "Juvia here works for me. Always has, actually. Ever since I started this whole operation. It was her idea to infiltrate government. Her idea to hire you as a double agent and her idea to make you think she was on your side. She even assigned my little slut here a new identity. We've been keeping track of the two of you all along. It's been over for you since the start" he laughed.

"Juvia?" Gajeel called out, staring at her in disbelief.

"Don't Juvia me. This is business. You had the chance to get out of it. Don't blame me just because you didn't" she replied coldly.

Gajeel cursed and turned back to Sting. "What exactly do you want?"

Sting crossed his arms slowly. "What do I want? I want you to suffer Mikey. I want you to be in such pain that you can barely breathe. And then I'll kill you" he laughed.

Levy's heart stopped at the thought of Gajeel dead, but out of the corner of her eye she spotted Lucy waving her arm in an arc. Taking it as her cue, she used all the force she had to kick her leg straight up into Sting's groin. He yelled out in pain and then suddenly there was chaos. Natsu elbowed Juvia hard enough for her to stumble and rushed towards Levy. He pulled her roughly out of the chair just as Gajeel had charged to Sting. Juvia regained her balance and began shooting at the pair aimlessly. Gajeel managed to both dodge and punch at the same time and Levy was temporarily stunned by the aggression he showed. Sting fought back, kicking and punching with a smirk on his face.

"Over here!" Lucy shouted from somewhere to her left and Natsu began to drag her towards the exit. Juvia turned towards the noise too, and cocked her gun.

"NO!" Levy screamed out, just as a gunshot rang out. Everyone froze. Natsu's grip on her loosened as his eyes widened. Gajeel seemed to snap out of his state in horror. Juvia half turned towards them, but collapsed on the floor as blood pooled around her. Behind her in the doorway stood Gray, one arm still pointing a gun at Juvia.

"I knew something was up when she said I could 'go take a nap'. She always was a sneaky bitch but she'd never let me out of her sight unless she didn't want me seeing something. That's when I followed her here" he smirked.

Sting's face visibly changed as the confidence was replaced by anger. Gajeel turned back to him with his own smirk. "Oh? Didn't he tell you? Gray is a badass"

Natsu let out a small sigh of relief as Lucy ran towards the two of them. "Come on! We have to get out of here. The whole place is about to be raided"

Levy followed the two of them to the door before turning back. "What about Gajeel? We can't leave him!" she urged.

"Relax" Natsu smiled. "Lover boy's got this! He'll come join us in a sec. But if we don't get you out like he told us to, it'll be us in the firing line"

Gray stood in front of them as they rushed out into the cold night air. Gajeel felt himself ease up knowing the woman he loved was safe. Then he turned his attention back to Sting. "God I would love to kill you. But I think these guys will make it nice and slow for you and that sounds even better" he smirked.

Sting spat in his face angrily. "Too bad we're both going down" he smiled.

"What are you talking about?" Gajeel growled.

"You really thought I wouldn't have an ultimatum plan? Your little friend may have shot Juvia, but that bitch was rigged with one of our prototypes. This whole place is about to blow in…oh…I'd say thirty seconds. You can't possibly kill me and escape in that time. So either way, you're screwed" he laughed. "Ironic really. You helped create the thing that will destroy you. Truly poet…oof"

Gajeel shut him up with a swift punch. His heart raced as he looked over to Juvia's body. Was Sting lying? Was it too late? Could he really do nothing?

"Levy…I'm sorry" he whispered.

Outside, the gang had just loaded into a truck when a huge explosion knocked it sideways. The last thing Levy remembered seeing were flames billowing up towards the night's sky and the only thought in her mind was of her brave hero, the man she loved.

Gajeel.