(This chapter's a little (a lot) shorter. Its 'theme songs' are Second Chance by Shinedown (I love this song, and it's very inspiring.) and once Steph heads off down the highway (you'll know when) the song is Never Look Back by The Nearly Deads. Hope you like!)

Chapter 2 - Never Look Back

I lay in bed crying for a few more minutes before I got up. I knew I had to leave. I could barely walk, but I forced myself to move. I combed my hair out and took off my clothes before standing in front of the mirror. I was shocked . . . but also not. A purple bruise was barely visible on my left cheek and jaw, and my stomach was mottle black and blue. His hands were engraved in my skin by red marks on my hips, waist, breasts and arms. But the most shocking sight was the dried blood that decorated the insides of my thighs. I closed my eyes.

After a bath and shoving myself into jeans and a shirt, I called Lula and asked her to pick me up. Ten minutes later, I was stumbling to her car.

"Girl, you and Supercop have some fun last night?" She asked, noticed my disrupted gate. Then her gaze fell on the bruise, and she sucked in a breath. "Guess not," she muttered to herself.

I smiled at her weekly. "We've got another thing in common, now." Taking a deep breath, I added, "Bugs?" She frowned at me, probably thought I was crazy. But all I did was sweep my hands under her dash until - aha!

Holding up the small invasion of privacy, I showed it to her quickly before flicking it out the window. After examining the car as best I could while seated, I found only one more. Then I gave up, and turned to her.

"I'm leaving out today." I said quickly. She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye, even as she pulled into a spot near the door in the parking lot.

"What you mean, white girl?"

"I mean, I'm going to disappear. Leave town. Go in the wind. I want to be gone by four or so, so Joe can't find me. You understand, right? And I only want you and Connie to know. Because if this gets around the burg," I swallowed. "Joe said he'd kill anyone I told about what happened this morning." Lula nodded slowly.

"I can get that, girl." She said softly. "Why don't you tell us what you're plannin' on doing inside?"

And so I did.

*W*R*

Connie got me hooked up with a car. It was a silver Volvo, and sort of beat down, but it would get me where I needed to go. As I was waiting for Connie to close down the office, I took the time as a chance to review everything that had changed.

*W*R*

I was roused from my sleep by the insistent chirp of Ranger's alarm. My eyes fluttered open, to notice the time on the alarm. Five o'clock. I felt him shift, and then lean over me. "You can get up now, and maybe have a chance to get home before he realizes you stayed the night, or you can go back to sleep, and let him think what he may." I slowly rolled over.

His hair was only slightly matted from the six hours of sleep, and his eyes were fully alert. I felt like cursing him for it, but the fact of the matter was: it would just suck if this fine specimen of male splendor were to be thrown away.

Shaking my head, I sat up, and was just about to slip out of bed when the warmth of his hand sunk into my shoulders. I shivered. I never felt like this when anyone else touched me. Like the warmth from the contact swept right through me. Just a touch could sooth me. I found myself actually sighing. "Stephanie," he breathed. I glanced over my shoulder.

"My contract is over in a month, babe." That was all he said. But it was all I needed.

"And what happens . . . in a month?" I whispered back. He gave me a soft smile, and pulled me into his arms, and for just a minute, I felt calm. Like at every other minute I'm breathing, chaos just drugs my blood; but the instant he takes me in his arms, I'm pacified.

"A month," he breathed in my ear.

And then he pulled away, off to save the world while I showered and daydreamed of someday - just a few, short weeks away.

*W*R*

"Steph!"

Connie's shout brought me back to the present, and I jumped at least a few feet up into the air. "Ready to go?" she asked.

I nodded slowly.

"Remember: he'll report you missing as soon as he knows you're gone. Even if they change your case to a simple runaway, the people you're running from are cops, who will keep looking for you, and have a vast number of resources. Don't forget about us, but don't look back at us, either, Stephanie." And with that parting advice, she squeezed my shoulder, and walked me to the car. We didn't say anything else, until I had sat in the car. She was just about to turn around, when I spoke.

"Goodbye." I pulled the car out of the lot without waiting for her reply, but in my rearview mirror, I could see her lips move as she returned the sentiment.

*W*R*

It was in the lot of dilapidated car shop off the side of the road. A big van that looked like Big Blue's brother. The owner of the lot watched me warily, probably confused by my interest in the van. Honestly, so was I. The Volvo was unrelated to me, and it would get me pretty far, but it felt uncomfortable to me in a way that had nothing to do with hot leather seats.

The back seats of the van had been pulled out. This would make a great place to sleep in, I realized. I wouldn't have to pay for hotel rooms, and I could be out of town as quickly as throwing off my blankets, sliding into the driver's seat, and putting the key in the ignition.

I bought the car without a moment's regret, and gave the car dealer the Volvo. And I then I was off.

I'm not sure exactly how long I drove. All I know is that the air conditioner in the van sucked, the clock was dead, and the stars are a lot prettier outside city lines.

I was almost disappointed when I saw the lights of an unknown town begin to flicker over the horizon.