Suggestions?

Axel draws in another shaky breath and sniffs, trying to regain his composure before he answers Ryan. Face the nightmare? He didn't even know how. Not this time. Her question lingers.

"I don't know." Finally turning around, his eyes remain red, proving his tears had not been mistaken. "Quinn started in on me and... I just couldn't take it. I couldn't relive the accusations. I didn't want to just stand there and defend myself all over again. If he didn't believe in my innocence before, why would he now?"

He shrugs lamely. "I have no proof, Ryan. I never have. No alibi and... nothing." He swallows hard and his voice lowers to almost a whisper. "And now you're going to be one of the few who know that even I'm not a hundred percent sure of myself." It was the truth. There was still the nagging reminder that there were still some nights Axel had no idea where he'd been or what he'd been doing. To do the unthinkable made him sick, but he still could never be a hundred percent sure he had not been guilty.

Looking Ryan in the eye, the turmoil in his own was evident. "I have no argument... no defense. What more can I do but walk away and leave the shadows to haunt me?"


Quinn sighs deeply. Anastasia was the only good thing about this stopover - that and a new record. It was only natural he didn't want to let it go, right? But he knew he must. There was only war awaiting him here. But lunch? That he could do.

Reaching out, he runs his finger down her hand. "Yeah... okay. I think I've got enough appetite now, and even if I didn't... how I could turn you down?"

A new little smile appears and he nods to the door. "I'll follow you so I can leave from there."

In only a few minutes, Quinn is behind the wheel of his car and turning the key. But instead of hearing the engine roar to life, it sputters, almost turns over then dies. Frowning, he tries again but with the same result. Sighing, he gets out and pops the hood, tinkering for a moment, but finding nothing wrong. Trying again, the engine still won't start.

"Why now?" he grumbles aloud. "I do not need to be stuck in this town. This is ridiculous."

Getting out, he looks over the roof of the car to where Anastasia was waiting to pull out. He shakes his head then walks over to her, motioning for her to roll down her window. "Houston, we've got a problem. My car apparently doesn't want to leave its parking space. Got any suggestions?"