Heroes STRIKEs Back 3B Heroes/STRIKE Series'

3

**** Rowdy stood before the main house talking with a young man dressed in a three piece suit and tie. Both men turned as the Sheriff's truck pulled up. First the Sheriff climbed out, but the moment the head of ranch security stepped out of the vehicle the young man next to Rowdy went still.

Rowdy sighed internally, 'Here we go. Alice will love hearing about this encounter.'

Ash couldn't believe what he was seeing. Last he'd heard Taec was on tour.

Taec was just rounding the front of the truck when he spotted Ash and Rowdy. At first he didn't recognize his brother, but after a moment the shock hit him in the gut. It was so hard and fast it showed on his flawless features.

Kyle spotted the look before Taec was able to cover it. It had been quick, but there. The Sheriff looked between the two men. They were both on edge, as if facing an enemy. All activity in the yard stopped as the other hands, and family members all picked up on the tension. They could almost see the air between the brothers turn to ice.

Rowdy stepped forward. "Sheriff Blanton, this is Agent Ash Park from Interpol. Agent Park, this is my nephew Sheriff Kyle Blanton. He's the lead investigator on this case."

Ash drew his eyes away from his brother and held out a hand to the Sheriff. "Wish I could say it was a pleasure to meet you, but under the current circumstances..."

Kyle nodded and accepted the Agent's hand, "Same here." He then turned to Taec, "This is one of my best men, and the head of Ranch Security. Taec..."

He froze then turned back to the Agent. "...Park... are you both..."

Taec was the one to speak. "We've met."

Ash nodded, "How have you been, Taec?"

The Deputy shugged a shoulder, "I'm still breathing." he replied flatly.

Ash was about to respond to that when a high pitched scream filled the air. All eyes turned to see a young woman laying on the ground, her back pressed against the fence post. Not far away a wheelchair lay on it's side. The girl's face was pale with horror, as she tried to back away from the snake that was coiled for a strike at her feet.

***

Rayne felt her blood chill at the sight that lay ready to spring before her. The diamond back coiled around itself, tail rattling in warning.

Her sister Becca screamed as Rayne pushed her out of striking range. Unfortunately, the force she'd used tipped her wheelchair over. Now she was the one in danger.

"Ray!" Becca cried out. "Don't move, sis."

Rayne swallowed, 'So this is it. Death by snake. Just like my nightmares.' Her heart was pounding dangerously fast now. 'At least now I won't need a wheelchair anymore. No, no. Need to stay calm... your heart can't take to much more. Breathe. That's right, girl.'

She kept chanting this to herself, trying to slow her racing heart.

Her vision was just beginning to blur when a deep, calm voice found it's way through her terror.

"Don't move. He's just as scarred of you as you are of him. I need you to focus on me, not the snake. Can you do that?"

Her pale blue eyes immediately found his. They were a deep brown, after a moment the steady strength she saw there helped her heart to slow down. Then the rest of his face came into focus. Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, maybe. What ever his lineage, he was gorgeous. Almond-shaped eyes, thick black hair that framed his face. He was tall, 6'2" or 3", with broad shoulders. His bare arms were sculpted as if from marble. He worked out... a lot.

To her disbelief he pulled off his black t-shirt revealing the worlds best abs and chest. Every muscle rippled with movement as he slowly knelt down on one knee, shirt ready. Then once more his eyes found her's.

"When I say, you're going to roll to the right as fast and as far as you can."

Nodding frantically Rayne never once took her eyes form his. He nodded then turned his attention to the rattler. "On the count of three. One... two... three!"

Rayne threw herself to the side at the same time the mysterious man dove at the snake. He moved like lightning. When she turned the stranger already had the snake tied up in his t-shirt.

***

Becca hit the ground hard after her twin sister shoved her away. Terror slammed into her as she struggled to her feet. Rayne was backed against the fence with the world's biggest snake coiled less than a foot from her. Becca tried to rush to her sister, but was suddenly wrapped in a set of powerful arms.

"No! You'll only make the situation worse."

Becca looked up into the light brown eyes set behind a pair of perfectly round glasses. That wasn't what drew her though. The strength she saw within those brown depths... somehow she knew that everything would be alright. She turned her attention back to her sister, and was surprised to see another man pulling off his shirt right in front of Rayne.

Once more Becca tried to pull free of her protector's grasp, but his grip was like iron.

"Let him work, he knows what he's doing."

"Wh... Who is he?" Becca could have kicked herself.

The man holding her smiled, "My brother. Trust me. Your sister's in good hands."

Becca wasn't too sure about that. He was stripping like a Chippendale right there in plane sight. She looked back to her sister just as the man seemed to jump right on top of the snake... she felt the scream lodge within her throat.

It all happened so fast. One moment the man was diving onto the reptile and the next he was somersaulting across the ground, and into a standing position. Becca felt the scream lodge in her throat as she covered her face. Then she realized the man's embrace had gotten tighter. When she opened her eyes all she could see was his silk tie, and she could feel every muscle as he breathed.

'For a suit this guy sure works out." What was she thinking? She pulled away from the man and ran to her sister. Rayne was white faced and looking around her.

"Rayne, are you alright?!"

Rayne nodded, "Becca, that guy... where is he? Did he get bit?!"

She placed a hand over her pounding heart. She needed to calm her heart rate, it was beating dangerously fast for her.

***

Rowdy grinned as he watched the brothers. They had both acted faster than anyone else, and had silently communicated throughout the entire ordeal. He knew that Alice would be more than relieved at this turn, but he also knew that they still had a way to go.