Remain here

Acting like an idiot? Eric was about to argue, but something makes him hold his tongue. Maybe it was the look of warning that gleamed in this officer's eye. Or maybe it was her eyes themselves that held something... something alluring, even if that was the farthest thing from his mind.

Deciding to just shut up, he does as he's told, knowing good and well that he'd come out clean. Two tickets weren't surprising but it still made him mad. Back in his truck again, he watches the police cruiser pull away and shakes his head. Well, that was that. Next time he had to come this route, he'd take the next highway over.

Pulling back out onto the road, he checks the clock then his map. After his next stop, it was on to Phoenix. Hopefully his rig would make it that far without breaking down.


Hearing that they'd been given the antidote, Jason was a little surprised. He hadn't thought Katie would do that. But then... he wasn't sure just how bad of an episode he'd been having. Apparently it had been a bad one, and from the pain he was experiencing now, it must not have done him much good. But still... Katie had chosen to be separated? For his sake?

His fingers curl a little tighter around hers. "It's okay. I'm sure you did the right thing."

Growing a little more alert and being able to focus his eyes again, he searches Katie's gaze. She was worried - he could tell. So was he. "I'm... I'm in it for the long haul, if you are. I don't think I'm gonna be able to do this without you... not this time." He didn't want to admit that this time it was different, but it was. There was something very wrong, and he had a feeling that Rick might not have the answers this time. "You know I love you, right?"


Eli bristles at what's being said, but seeing his sister upset, a hand goes to her shoulder, trying to convey that he was there for her. The news angered him and seeing Ryan like this just made it worse.

Reese and Carson exchange glances. Neither were surprised at Ryan's response, but they couldn't agree with her - not with this evidence and Alec's past history. Reese looks at her a little more gently as he shakes his head slowly. "There's not a very big chance that it was a setup, but we're keeping an open mind. Our first step is to find him and figure out exactly what's going on."

Carson eyes Ryan carefully, trying to read her. He saw that look of determination and knew she had the guts to do just about anything. "It would be best if you remained here," he suggests strongly. "Go about your normal activities. That way, if Alec does try to contact you, he won't have a hard time locating you."

"In the meantime, I'll get an APB out on the car," Reese adds. "It hasn't been that long so with any luck, we should be able to trace it pretty quickly." He nods at Ryan. "If Alec does contact you, please let me know immediately. There may be a perfect explanation to all of this but... if it's what we think, it's very dangerous."


"Mmm, nice ride."

Alec looks over the top of his sunglasses out the open window of the car. His face bore no smile as he took in the woman's features. "Don't get used to it. We're ditching it."

"Figures." Yvette moves around to the passenger side and gets in, eying him suspiciously as he says nothing. "No hi, how are you? Good to see you? That's what I get for coming all the way out here to meet you?"

Alec turns his head, his expression dry. Reaching out, he grabs her shirt collar and yanks her close to him, pressing a rough, long kiss to her lips before releasing her again. "You look fine to me."

Yvette grins and runs a thumb along his lips to smudge off some lipstick. "So do you. When I got the call that you were back, I went right to the top to be put on the same case." She reaches into her purse and pulls out a pack of cigarettes to toss at him.

Alec catches them with one hand and turns them over to see the brand. "You never forget what I like."

Yvette's grin turns sly and her hand crawls to his leg. "Never."

Alec's eyes lower to her hand, then travel up her arm and to her face again. "Down, girl. We got a lot of road to cover before we get to our first stop."

"And your point is?" She scoots closer.

He lifts the pack of cigarettes. "I'm gonna need a light."


Feeling Chuck come up behind her and place his hands on her shoulders, tingles shot down Susanne's spine. Her breath quickens slightly, especially when his hands slide down her arms then move around her waist. She wouldn't have thought she'd let him do that, but something about it felt safe. Instead of feeling threatened, she felt like she'd just been wrapped in a warm blanket of protection. She felt herself leaning back into him a little bit, almost experimenting with what it was like.

His whispered words were so sweet, she really did feel as if she were in a dream. Chuck was reading straight from a fairytale - he had to be. He was just too perfect.

Starting to respond, Susanne stops as she realizes his face has drawn near over her shoulder and one of his hands had moved in order to tilt her own face towards his. She stares into his eyes, her own a little wide. She wasn't really scared... much... He'd kissed her before. But something about this setting made it seem all that much more real... that much more romantic.

As Chuck's lips brush hers for the first time, another chill runs through her. Frozen in place, she doesn't resist but is surprised when he comes back again, this time lingering longer. His lips felt... warm... soft... nice.

Her heart beat faster and her hand found his that was still around her waist, her fingers curling around his just as little. As he draws away again, she realizes that she's trembling, though she tries to hide it.

For a moment, her eyes are caught with his until she blinks and looks back out at the pond again. What was she supposed to do after a kiss? Saying something might break the moment. But was the moment over? What was proper? She could feel heat in her face all over again and she shivered - but not from cold.

She slowly, hesitantly, leans her head back to rest against his shoulder, her face close to his again while her back pressed against his chest. She held his arms around her waist. "I don't know if I can live up to being a princess," she mentions quietly. "What if I mess up? I couldn't bear to be the one to screw it all up."