John's face softened a bit and he let out a sigh. "Amber, look, we've got as good a chance of Sid doing something to us whether we stay here in this house or not. I'm sick of playing his games and I just want to go home and get some sleep. I suggest the rest of you do the same."

"Uh-uh, not me," Alex said, propping himself up on his elbows, "I'm stayin' right here and keepin' my trap shut. Had enough fun for one night."

"John's right," Terry spoke up. "Sid's proven his point. It doesn't matter if we're all crammed in here or if we're in our own beds, he's going to do whatever he wants."

"Terry, you can't mean that?" Dee asked skeptically. "At least if we're all together here if something does happen to one of us we'll know about it."

"We'd know about it anyway," John snorted, "Sid needs players... can't play a game if he doesn't have all the players in place. He always finds a way to let us know what he's done, to rub it in our faces. Sorry, but I'm done playin' for the night. I'll catch up with you all in the morning." He turned to Amber. "You coming?"
 

She looked around the room one last time, then nodded and followed him out of the house and to his car.

"Anyone feel like that might be the last we'll see of them?" Alex asked, cocking an eyebrow at the others and patting his coat down as he tried to locate his cigarettes.

"Alex, um, I hate to say this, buddy, but, um, you kinda stink."  Lachlan  had been standing rather close to him.

Alex looked down at himself, took a whiff and frowned. "Guess I could use a shower and change of clothes," he said, grinning up at Gayle, who nodded her agreement. "Umm... mind if I use the shower?" he asked, looking up at Caroline.

"You need fresh clothes, too, I'm afraid," Caroline replied.

"I probably have something that'll fit him," Cort spoke up. The twins were much more muscular than Alex.  Cort went to his bedroom and opened the door before he remembered Bud and Marie were in there.  "Just need to get my bag," he whispered, noting how Bud sat close to the side of the bed, holding the sleeping Marie's hand. Back out in the living room, he unlatched it, producing a pair of tan slacks and a white shirt. "Not too different for you, I think." 
 

"Thanks," Alex told him, taking the clothes from him, "back in a jiff." He gave Gayle a peck on the forehead and headed upstairs.

"Think we'll take a cue from John and head home," Terry announced to the group as he started towards the front door.

"We....are?" Dee asked, surprised by his statement.

"Yes, luv, we are," he told her, taking her hand. "Give us a ring if there's anything new to occur," he nodded to Cort and Lachlan.

"I hope not to be talking with you then,"  Cort answered with a shake of his head.

"Me, too," Lachlan chimed in.

When Terry and Dee had gone, Lachlan looked at Cort.  "Seems like your bedrooms here are all spoken for for tonight. I could, um, take Hope back to the safe house with me."

"I'd rather she stayed here, Lachlan," Cort said, looking at his daughter who'd been sitting quietly for some time. "You're welcome to stay, too, sleep in a chair or on the floor."

Hope looked like she was about to fall asleep right where she sat in a big over-stuffed chair.  "Probably for the best," Lachlan agreed with a sigh.  He even got a quilt off the back of the couch and covered Hope with it.  She snuggled down a bit more and closed her eyes.

Caroline looked at Gayle, who was tensely awaiting Alex's reappearance from the upstairs bathroom.  "You can bunk with me tonight if you like, Gayle," she offered.  "Or go back to the safe house with Alex.  You two decide when he comes down."   She went over closer to the twins,
wishing there were just one big bed and she could rest between them.  That was the most sheltered place she could think of. 
 

"Thanks, Caroline," Gayle replied. "I'll wait and see what Alex wants to do. He shouldn't be long."

She knew Alex had mentioned before that there was no way he was going back to the safe house alone tonight, but perhaps now that Sid had disproved Alex's 'safety in numbers' theory he might be more likely to head home for the night.

Gayle walked quietly over to the far corner of the room and rested her back against the wall, letting herself slowly slide down into a sitting position and burying her face in her hands. She had no idea that by accepting that first drink from Alex in the bar that she'd soon find herself in the midst of all this...this...whatever it was they were involved in. Her head hurt just trying to sort it all out and make sense of exactly what she'd seen and heard over the past 48 hours. In her world, people just didn't disappear and reappear out of thin air or pop out of movies or torture each other for their own sick amusement. Or maybe they did. She really didn't know anymore and she just wanted to go to sleep and wake up and it would all be over. She opened her eyes, peering up towards the stairs, anxious for Alex to hurry down and take her away from all this.

Alex, meanwhile, stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at his reflection. Somehow, all this time, he'd known... known he was... different, known he didn't exactly 'belong' in this world, this...time. He'd blamed the booze, blamed Myra and her damned magic, even, but the truth was always here - staring him straight in the face. If he hadn't been so weak, just gone through the motions, barely existing... He studied his face, the same face each of the others had and yet so... different. How the hell could he have lived here for so damned long and not realized there were eight other men out there running around with the same damn face as his?

Alex straightened his back, pulled on the shirt Cort had given him and tucked it into his pants. He took one last look in the mirror and grinned, "I ever see that sonofabitch actor that created us," he said to himself, "I'll knock his lights out." He turned, flicking off the bathroom light and headed downstairs.

"Much better," Lachlan grinned.  "I can let go of my nose now.  So, where've you decided to spend the night?"
 

Alex looked around the room, noting how very crowded the little house was, even with the exclusion of the four that had left already. He frowned, "What the hell, wanna ride back to the safe house with us, Lach?"

"I think I'll be hanging out here tonight."  He nodded toward Hope, asleep in a chair.  "I figure if she can sleep in one of those, I can, too."  Then he looked at Alex seriously.  "You feel ok about going there, just you and Gayle?"

"Seriously, after what just happened to me tonight," Alex replied, "I doubt much else can worry me now." He thought for a moment, frowning, and added, "Except for the fact that I gotta wake up the big guy to get a key."

At the soft knock on the door, Bud got up from his seat beside the bed.  Opening it part way, he saw that it was Alex.  A surprisingly gentle look formed on his worn features.  "You doing ok, Ross?  You need something?"
 

Alex cleared his throat, nodded. "Key," he replied simply.

Bud reached into his pocket, getting out his key ring and handing it to Alex.  "Take my car if you need it."  He started to turn away then added, "I'm glad you're all right."  

Alex managed a slight smile for the big man. "Thanks," he told him, dangling the keys on his finger. "Gayle's car's parked outside, so we won't need to borrow yours." He was about to turn then stopped himself, looking Bud in the eye. "You...uh...you hang in there, okay."

"Thanks. I'm trying."  Bud closed the door and went back to the small chair beside the bed, picking up Marie's hand and folding it between his two.  He watched her face, thinking of the day they'd had, how simply meeting someone in a park could lead to all this.  Brushing her knuckles back and forth over his lips,  he silently apologized to her for interrupting her jog.  If he hadn't decided to walk down that path, Marie would be safe at her own apartment.  Closing his eyes, he let out a long, long sigh.

Alex and Gayle said their goodbyes to the others and quickly made their way out to the car, careful to look over their shoulders for anyone or anything that may be lurking around in the dark. Both were leery about going back to the safe house alone, but for Gayle's sake, Alex kept his cool about it and didn't let on how worried he really was. He just kept telling himself that Sid had already had his fun with him and most likely would leave him alone now and pick on someone else for a while.

It was well after midnight when they pulled up in front of the of the safe house. All the lights were off, which gave it an ominous, foreboding feel. Alex hesitated a moment before getting out of the car. Gayle noted his hesitation, touched him on the arm. "We could always go back to stay with the others, you know," she told him quietly.

"No, no, it's fine," he assured her, trying to convince himself at the same time. The two exited the car and slowly made their way up the drive and into the house.

"Kinda seems pointless, don't it?" Alex commented, as he bolted the front door behind them and turned on all the lights.

Gayle smiled and nodded her agreement. "I'm sure we'll be fine," she told him, following him into the bedroom.

Cort had bedded down on the couch and Lachlan on another big chair with a footstool pulled up in front of it.  Caroline went up the stairs accompanied by Decimus and Meridius.  At the top she turned and took each one by the hand, looking from the face of one to the other. "I hope you two know how much both of you mean to me.  It's unexplainably confusing for me not to know which of you is the Maximus, my Maximus, who holds my heart in his hands.  But both of you simply are Maximus, the source of  the man I love and there is no way for me not to care for each of you.  I just wish...."  She peered into their eyes in turn, looking again for some sign of knowing, of remembrance of all their sharing, but there was none and its absence still clutched at her soul.  "I...I'm sorry...good night."  Quickly she shut her door behind her.

A few minutes later, each lying in his own bed, both Decimus and Meridius felt the agonized longing to be what she needed, to remember, to know, and each rammed up against a rock wall that would let neither pass.

"That poor girl," Dee sighed as she and Terry climbed into bed. "And Bud... I feel so bad for him. He finally gets the chance at a relationship and look what happens. Oh, I'd just like to wring Sid's neck for this!" She angrily punched her pillow with her fist.

"Wouldn't we all," Terry agreed, pulling the covers up to his chest. He flinched a bit as the blankets settled on his bandaged ankles.

Dee noticed and bit her bottom lip. "How are they? Your ankles, I mean?" she asked, snuggling up against him.

"I'll live," he replied, gently brushing back a stray ringlet of hair from her face. "Let's just hope long enough to see Sid pay for what he's put all of us through." He kissed her gently on the forehead then reached over and turned off the bedside lamp.  As he lay there in the dark, Terry couldn't help but imagine what he'd do to the nanotech if he had the chance. Tomorrow, he said to himself, tomorrow perhaps the tables will turn.

Marie woke sometime in the wee hours, not knowing where she was.  Then she saw Bud slumped and asleep in the small nearby chair, his neck at an uncomfortable angle.  Even in his sleep he was holding one of her hands.  Looking at him she felt a great tenderness for him filling her. He was big, even awkward, but she loved the heart of him. 

She must've moved enough that he woke with a start, blinking rapidly.  "Marie?"

"I'm all right, Bud. Do you know what time it is?"

He looked at his watch.  "Almost three."  His neck hurt and he started rubbing a hand across the back of it.

"Come."

"What?"

"Sit here on the side of the bed. Let me do that."

He got up and did as she asked, his weight causing a sag in the mattress that tumbled her somewhat into him as she'd gotten up on her knees. She let out a little laugh that cheered his heart to hear.  He also liked the feel of her against him and regretted when she pulled away enough to get in position to massage his neck and shoulders.  But her hands were wonderful and he closed his eyes while she did it.

Almost done, she leaned and peered around, seeing his face.  "You look like you've gone to sleep."

He sighed and rubbed a hand across his eyes.  "Haven't slept all that much for a while."

It was a big bed, had been Cort and Rachel's bed, and she scooted over to the other side.  "Here, lie down for a while. I promise I won't bite."

"Marie, I don't think...."

She patted the vacated side.  "Nurse's orders."

He toed off his shoes and awkwardly stretched out.  He was truly worn, more emotionally than physically, and had been tense most of the evening with worry over her. 

"Close them."

"My eyes?"

"Yes, close them."  He did and she leaned again,  massaging his temples.  He didn't think he'd actually fall asleep, but he did, and when his breathing became slow and regular, she stopped, and just looked at him.  A small lamp had been left on and she could see him well enough
in the dim light.  She tried to fill herself with the sight of him, the presence of him, hoping it would make Sid fade.  The sound of his breathing, the gentle rise and fall of his chest, made her feel comfortable, safe.  He would be so easy to love, so very easy. 

"John, what are you doing up?" Amber asked as she walked up behind him. He was sitting on the couch in the dark, his eyes staring blankly at the glowing television screen in front of him. "I...I woke up and you weren't there... I got worried something... well, that he'd taken you like the others." She ran her fingers through his wavy mass of hair and sat down next to him.

"I'm sorry," he replied quietly, placing his hand gently atop hers. "I didn't mean to scare you. Just couldn't sleep, couldn't stop thinking about...." He let his words trail off and looked down at his hand, his fingers softly stroking the back of hers.

"I know," Amber told him, "I can't stop thinking about it, either. What are we going to do? How are we going to live like this, John? Always looking over our shoulder, afraid of every shadow or noise? How can we fight something who isn't human, who has powers beyond our realm of capabilities?"