Malone obviously wasn't the only member of the team that felt eyes on them. She observed Kennedy making a subtle beeline for their boss and whisper something to her. Madeline was also getting more and more jittery by the second. Malone's presence seemed to have lost it's previous calming effect. As soon as Kennedy delivered her whispered news to Ellie Madeline reacted in the worst possible way. She became visible startled and looked around frantically. Malone gritted her teeth, but the damage was already done. She could feel the subtle movement of their observers. Those TSA agents [i]were[/i] watching them after all. [i]For fuck sake![/i] Her attention shifted back in time to watch as Ellie grabbed Madeline and pulled her in for a full on kiss on the lips. The ex-FBI raised an eyebrow at the strange display. She hadn't figured Ellie for family, but than again her gaydar never worked the way she needed it to.

	Still there was something off about this kiss. The timing was strange to say the least and Malone was left with a weird feeling in her gut observing it. And after the deed was done Madeline's attitude had shifted dramatically. Somewhat dazed, yes, but not the blissful, or shocked expression one would expect after such an act. Something else to file away for later analysis. The kissed provoked varied responses from the other team members, but time was short and all of them rushed after Manny who had arranged for their transportation. Malone didn't know him all that well yet, but there was no doubt that the young man was a bit of a wild card. Still she'd come to realize that when it mattered he could be counted on.

	He led them to two SUV's and Morgan quickly took control of the situation. Her presence and authority was either deeply ingrained or she'd been in charge for long enough to be comfortable with the position. And apparently she had a place to stash the team since their arrangements were obviously compromised. [i]Could this be another peace of the puzzle that is Morgan Blackwood?[/i] Wondered Malone when their pursuers caught up with them. One of the TSA agents that Malone had noticed observing them without any obvious reason in the airport was pointing at them, obviously directing some unknown thugs to where their team was. Malone heard Morgan utter a curse and all of them scrambled into action. Morgan instructed Leon to stash Madeline into the back seat of the first SUV and take the seat beside her. She issued some instructions to Manny and told Malone to ride shotgun with her, Leon and Madeline.

	Entering the car she tossed her locked gun case at Malone, buckled up and the SUV peeled off at almost breakneck speed. Malone discarded the locked gun case in her feet and immediately went for her Walthers, making sure both guns were ready for use. The ex-FBI agent felt strangely calm and even a bit exhilarated. She welcomed the rush of adrenaline. It would sharpen her senses and help her process information faster, allowing her to perform in peak condition. It also made her entry into the Zone all the more easier. The fact that someone was waiting for them at the airport and they were prepared to expose themselves by giving chase so openly spoke volumes. It was no longer in question if Cassandra had taken her own life. Whoever was chasing after them had to have been lying in wait for Madeline. Sure enough the Group had its fair share of enemies, but this was far too public for it to be a vendetta against a team member. And the timing was too much of a coincidence. A pursuit on this level of organization meant to Malone's mind that Cassandra'd managed to get herself into some pretty shady stuff. Supernatural or not. Either way, they were all the way in now and they would have to see it through.

	Malone's mind raced to collect even the most insignificant details her eyes came upon. Thugs came pouring out of a van and rushed their SUV. Morgan accelerated without a second thought and the men scattered like cockroaches. She didn't let off until their car clamored over the speed bump and bounced them up and down hard enough to knock the wind out of you. Malone steadied herself with a hand on the dashboard. She twisted to see what was happening with Manny's team. A robed waif of man had exited the van, his hand outstretched, glowing faintly, pointing ominously at Manny's SUV. [i]Bugger![/i] Malone grabbed her P99 and was about to stick her upper body out of the window and take aim at the hollow of a man, beside her Morgan shouting a warning over the speakerphone, when Manny expertly dispatched him with a sleek maneuver.

	What she observed next made her blood run cold. The broken body of the robed waif that had been the van's driver began twisting and jerking and suddenly leaped from the ground and scurried forward in pursuit like a grotesque man-insect. Malone had had her fair share of run ins with the supernatural since she'd left the FBI but this was a first for her and she could not help but feel a bit freaked out. Still, it only served to strengthen her resolve. Whatever this creature was, it was clearly unnatural, unclean and unholy. And it would not get its hands on any of her teammates, or their client.

	As the two SVU's shot out on the street and began to weave and bob between the traffic Leon tossed her his coat instructing her to put it on the back of Morgan's seat which she did without even a thought to question him. She didn't understand half the things Leon could do, but she trusted the effectiveness of his craft none the less. He also calmly directed her to keep behind him, but Malone just answered back: "Don't mind me, keep Madeline safe! I'd bet my life they're after her!"

	Their pursuers gave them little time for respite. They were hot on their heels with Manny's SUV taking the brunt of the chase being on the back. Bullets started flying as soon as the thugs realized they wouldn't be able to outdrive them. "Shaite!" Malone muttered under her breath. She had absolutely no shot at the van. She would have to trust Manny, Ellie and Kennedy to take care of this. And just as the thought had crossed her mind she watched almost in awe and horror as the van's tire explode and the vehicle flipped and went flying to the side as it was bound to do when one of it's tires blew out at this breakneck speed. She prayed to all the gods that there were no innocent casualties. The thought had barely had time to form in her mind when a titanic slam sent her flying towards Morgan, her seat-belt biting into her body and keeping her in her seat. She grunted and straightened. Morgan cursed out-loud and maneuvered to avoid the second van of pursuers from running them off the street.

	Malone didn't waste any time. She lowered her window, peeked out and aimed at the second van, which had fallen a little bit behind and to the side of their SUV. She unloaded her clip in a fast and tight succession of shots, aimed at the van's engine. She was about to come back inside of the car and reload, when she felt an impact in her shoulder. Something resembling a dagger, or a knife, or some form of blade, was protruding from her left shoulder, above her collar bone.

	"Oh, bloody hell!" She cursed sitting back and closing her window. Her mind barely registered the second van slowing down as its engine began coughing smoke and inevitably stalled and died out. [i]Who the fuck throws weird ass obsidian looking daggers during a car chase?!?[/i] She thought as cold sweat covered her entire body and the blade started pumping some sort of dark energy into her. She felt a kind of a pull from the strange dagger. As if it was connected to something via an invisible chain. She made a move to grab it and pull it out. Toss it out of the window. But the moment she raised her hand pain paralyzed her muscles. She clenched her jaw to stifle a yell of pain.

	"Leon..." Malone muttered through gritted teeth. Her voice hoarse with pain and frustration. "I think we have an uninvited guest." She turned with effort to indicate the strange object stuck in her shoulder. She expected Madeline to react in some way, but she was still strangely subdued even during this whole mayhem of a chase. "I think I've just got tagged with some magic-y tracking device." The ex-FBI continued explaining. "I can feel a pull and the fucking thing won't allow me to pull it out and toss it. I tried and it blasted me with enough pain to wake up a dead man." She finished, cold sweat pouring down her temples. She was beginning to shiver. Strangely, the wound wasn't bleeding a whole lot. "Can you do something about it?" She looked questioningly at Leon.