OoO (Josie) OoO

Aiding his bandaged hand, Nick Connor's head goon who took a scalpel to the hand, leaned into the open window.

"Forget the pleasantries Nick. What are you doing here," I asked irritated.

"Just making sure you're going back to handle Connor's situation sooner rather than later."

'Oh you have no idea how soon I'll handle Connor,' I thought.

I gestured towards the steering wheel, "on my way now. I don't need a bloody babysitter."

Nick smirked, "just checking dovey."

I glared at him, "fuck off Nick."

"So testy," he chuckled before tapping the door frame and standing straight.

He walked backwards to his car and winked at me as he stepped into the driver's seat. His car rolled out of the lot as Riker emerged from the cabin. With some disorganized finesse Riker managed to shove his suitcase into the remaining space of the trunk and slid in beside me.

"So where we off to," he asked slipping on his Ray Bans and smiling at me.

"Uhh...California," I answered turning on to the highway.

"California? What about Connor?"

"This is for Connor. I'm going to his estate in Venice beach."

"His estate. I thought y'all were based in Portland."

"No I am. The Mac Tíre building is mine. Connor was living in Boston but after our rescue mission for you he decided Cali was more his style."

"Ok. Why...why did you choose Portland?"

"Well one reason is for the port access."

"But not the main reason."

*sigh* "No. No not the main reason."

"Was I the main reason?"

"Riker..."

"It's ok Josie. I understand how being in California would've been difficult."

I looked at Riker briefly and he greeted me with sad smile.

"It's different now though," I said in a failed attempt to lighten the situation.

Riker responded by intertwining our fingers and kissing the back of my hand.

Riker slouched into the leather upholstery and leaned his head back against the headrest, getting ready to endure a 16 hour drive.

We drove in comfortable silence for the first half of the trip with only the radio and Riker's snoring to break the monotony of it all. We pulled into a rest stop in Redding CA around 4 in the afternoon and I was debating on whether or not to find a hotel for the night or press on when Riker stirred awake with a groan of agony. I glanced over at Riker trying to untangle himself from his awkward sleeping position and started to laugh.

"Oh har har har. Could you stop giggling and help me out," he asked glaring playfully.

"Not a chance love," I rejected and left for the convenient store.

10 minutes later we were standing in front of the car. Riker was leaning against the car hood working the kink out of his shoulders. He peered at me over his sunglasses.

"So what's the plan," he asked.

"Well," I said stepping in between his legs, "we're only halfway. We can tough out the next 8 hours or drive to Sacramento for the night. What would you like to do?"

I massaged the knots out of his shoulders while he pondered the choice.

"I've slept most of the way. Let me drive for awhile and we'll see how far we get," he suggested relaxing into me and nuzzling my neck.

"Seems to me you have a different kind of driving in mind," I teased.

I could feel him smile against my skin before nipping my neck.

"Well I'm always up for that time of driving," he smirked, "but I really was meaning I'd drive for awhile.

"A'right reálta rac, let's get going," I smiled stepping away.

Riker caught my arm and pulled me back. He kissed me with a lot of tongue and passion releasing my arm seconds later and getting into the driver's seat. I swooned for a moment revelling in the intensity of that kiss before composing myself and joining him in the car. Riker was smiling like the cashire cat, obviously enjoying the reaction he had on me.

"Knock it off arse," I smiled shoving his shoulder.

Riker laughed and turned the car back towards the interstate. I stripped off my jacket and stretched into the seat. Riker kept glancing at me as he drove.

"What," I asked laughing.

"Hmm? Oh just trying to figure out how you're feeling about the whole Milo Chloé fiasco."

"Oh," I said surprised, "I...honestly don't know. This isn't Chloé. I know we've been apart for a few years but she would've never done something like this in the past. She would constantly be on my case whenever I was dating Declan and it was months, almost a year before we...ya'know. I just don't understand her doing this."

"Well time does change things," Riker offered.

"Yeah I guess. This whole thing is one big cluster-fuck. Gah I just want to go back to my hillside home and forget all this."

"What about a beachside home instead," Riker asked hopeful.

I avoided the question and looked out the windshield. Riker resorted to intertwining our fingers and playing with my engagement ring instead of pressing the issue. We lapsed into yet another silence. I turned up the radio and inverted into my own thoughts. 'I need to figure a way out of this mess and fix things with Chloé.'

OoO (Riker) OoO

I wanted to kick myself for being so blatantly obvious. Josie's now lost in her own thoughts and I feel like a spectator watching her internal fight from the side of the ring. We pulled into Sacramento but Josie was still off in her own little world. I knew she wanted to disperse of the problem as soon as possible so I made the executive decision to drive on.

We made it outside of the Sherman Oaks area when I squeezed Josie's hand waking her up. She had barely fallen asleep an hour ago and I hated to wake her. Josie stretched and looked out the window.

"Where are we," she asked through a lazy yawn.

"Sherman oaks,"I answered, "where to now?"

"Go to your place. No need to drag you along to Connor's place."

"Josie it's midnight. Why don't you stay with me and wait until morning?"

She finally agreed after a moment and I headed to my apartment. We pulled into the parking lot and Josie's eyes lit up.

"Really," she asked unbuckling her seatbelt.

"What," I asked in mock innocence.

"I cant believe your living in my old apartment."

We carried our bags inside and rode the elevator to the designated floor. Josie's eyes were still sparkling as we walked up to the door and I couldn't help the amused smile. I unlocked the door set our bags by the door and was pulled into a kiss.

"Wow," I said light headed.

Josie smiled mischievously, "how about we do a bit of driving?"

I matched her excitement picking her up on the way through the partition.

I woke to the blinding sun and a empty bed. I popped up on my elbow listening intently to any sounds in the apartment but was met with only silence.

"Shit," I muttered panicked.

I sprung from the bed and searched the apartment. Not even a note was left behind. I returned to my room and grabbed my phone. I called her number but her voicemail answered.

"Damn it Joise."

I scratched my head and remembered faintly hearing Josie whisper something to me before sleep took over.

"What did she say?"

I raked my hand through my hair desperate to remember.

"I need you...what? What did she say? I need you safe. That's it."

Josie had whispered she needed me safe and asked me to forgive her. I quickly dialed Milo's number. He answered on the third ring voice laced with sleep.

"Hello?"

"Hey. Where is she?"

"Who?"

"Josie. She said she was going to Connor's estate here in California. Where is it?"

"Connor's estate? Riker, Connor doesn't have an estate in California."

"Shit. Where would she go then?"

"I'm not sure. She hasn't shown up back here in Portland. When did she leave?"

"The fuck if I know. We fell asleep about 1 and I woke with her gone."

"Shit. Her phone's off huh?"

"Yeah straight to voicemail."

"Damn it. I have no idea what to tell you...I look into it."

"Yeah ok."

I hung up and tossed the phone on the bed.

"Damn it Joise. Where did you go?"

OoO (Josie) OoO

I left Riker as soon as he fell asleep. I knew he wouldn't come back home if I had told him the truth so I had to fib about Connor's estate. I left the car in his lot and caught a cab to the airport where I flew back to Portland. I rented an SUV from the airport and drove straight to the hospital. I knew what I had planned was beyond stupid and risky bit I couldn't think of another way. I left the Porsche behind so my comm guys couldn't track the GPS and dismantled my phone as well. I was off grid and going rogue.

My first stop at the hospital was to see pain in the ass Vadas. I reached his floor and cautiously approached his room. No Mac Tíre men were manning the door. I slipped in silent to find Vadas strapped to the bed asleep. His right hand bandaged mimicked a bulky boxing glove, his face was battered and bruised a stomach turning purple. If you looked closely enough to his cheekbones you could see the indentations from my brass knuckles. I grimaced at the sight. 'Dumb fuck. All you had to do was talk.' Not having the time to wait for him to wake, I clasped my hand over his mouth. Vadas' eyes popped open and he stared unfocused at me.

"Shh shh shh. We don't want to attract attention now do we," I asked quietly, "I have no problem finishing the job on your finger among other things."

I gestured down to his blanket clad waist, "you could probably pull off the whole eunuch bit."

Eyes still wild with surprise Vadas mumbled against my head.

I roller my eyes annoyed, "bloody hell muppet. Nod your head for 'yes' or shake it for 'no'. Now are you going to be quiet if I remove my hand?"

Vadas nodded rapidly.

"Good."

I slowly retracted my hand anticipating him to call out. Vadas sucked in a sharp breath but refrained from attracting attention.

"A'right then, it has come to my attention that you're still after Connor."

"That asshole deserves to die," Vadas hissed angrily.

"Ok, ok, ok calm down. I'm not disagreeing with you."

"Th-then why are you here?"

"I have a bit of a business proposition for you. You call off your goons, stay far away from Mac Tíre and you have my word the money promised to you will be given aye?"

Vadas pondered my offer carefully.

"Look gimp. Your family has cut ties with you. Connor wants you dead and you're on my shit list. There really is nothing stopping me from snapping your neck and ridding the world of a parasite like you, but I'm trying to right my wrongs with the fucking universe here and you're standing in my way. You back off, get paid your money all in exchange for your life. Don't be an idiot."

Vadas narrowed his eyes at me, "so your paying me to hide?"

"No more like flee. The west coast is now off limits to you and anyone else inhabiting your pathetic circle. You choose not to comply I'll hunt you down like the rodent you are and send your head to your mother. You have no earthly idea what I'm capable of. Chinese torture techniques will feel like a ducking trip to the spa if you cross me."

Vadas swallowed nervously, "o-ok how will I receive payment?"

I reached into my back pocket and produced a small disposable phone.

"Keep this with you and wait for a call," I instructed.

Vadas agreed and I headed for the door.

"What's going to happen now," Vadas asked across the room.

"Now I clean house," I answered simply stepping out the door.