The sun was high, beating down upon the windy city of Chicago, and with the peaceful quiet of early afternoon, the three Martians had gone on one of their escapades, quite hyped about bringing both Charlie and Rei back home. Turning into their favorite music frequency, really cared not about the traffic jam as they retraced the roads they took the night before. The scent of a hotdog stand soon caught their attention, and within moments the bros pulled in and ordered up. It wasn't long into their dine-in when a familiar character had caught their attention.

"Hey bro, isn't that Rei?" Vinnie quizzed to no one in particular.

Turning his cybernetic eye in the direction Vinnie had been gazing in, drew in a light frown. The female whose back was turned to them, did carry the familiar features of their friend, she did dress like her, and even sound like her. "Well let's go do some meet-n-greet then," chimed Modo with a grin.

"Woa slow down big fella," cut in Throttle as a very tall, broad shouldered handsome young man walked into the scene and wrapped his arm around the girl's waist. "That can't be our girl, heh, we all know she wouldn't give two heads about a guy like that," he joked.

"True but still," Modo's frown soon shot to the sky as the girl turned in their direction, "You sure about that bro?"

Throttle and Vinnie's jaws literally dropped as the flirtatious Rei got all 'friendly' with her 'guy friend'. "Ahhww no, seriously?" Vinnie cut in.

Throttle felt a knot form in his gut, "Don't tell me they messed with her head again," he grumbled.

"One way to find out," Vinnie revved his engine and rode up to the girl who stood on the curb with the young man who also seemed to have been a biker of some sorts. Now upon closer inspection, there was something odd about the girl. "Yo Rei!" Vinnie greeted with a smile and a wave, and as the girl waved back and called out, "What's up Vinnie?" the Martian couldn't help but raise a quizzical eyebrow, "So who's yer friend?" he joked in a teasing note.

"A friend of yours love?" came the young man's smooth words.

Chuckling Rei introduced, "Meet Vinnie, he's one of the air heads I've been telling you about,"

"Air heads?" echoed Vinnie in a comical note which was drowned by the dual engines of his bros who'd ridden up to the trio.

"Ah, you must be Modo," came the extended friendly greeting of the young man as he held out his hand in a kind gesture.

Caught off guard Modo couldn't help but pause, "And you are?" came the suspicious reply.

"My apologies, I'm Uzumaki Kaito, Rei's childhood friend from Tokyo."

Throttle put on a sincere smile, " Nice ta meetcha, heh-heh-heh"

"Throttle I presume?" came the polite friendly play of words.

"Hey sweet heart, where's Charlie girl?" Vinnie asked casually, "Thought we were going to pick you both up at the hospital."

Rei chuckled lightly ," Ah well, she told me she had some errands to do and said she'd meet up with me later."

"That's just like our Charlie," Throttle chimed in with a light laugh. "We were on our way home, figured you could use a ride," he offered with a teasing wink, "But I think you got it covered?"

Rei gave out a shy laugh, "Ahaha.. ehm well, ermm yea," a light tint of rose crept upon her cheeks.

"I didn't know they knew Charlene," Kaito commented on the side which made Rei grin, "Small world right?" chuckling again turned to her guys, "Why don't we all rendezvous at the Last Chance and catch up?"

Vinnie laughed, his flirtatious snicker, "If that's what you really want sweet heart," winking turned to the young man in question and added, "Don't do anythin' I wouldn't do!"

Kaito automatically blushed dropping his gaze the same moment Rei cleared her throat awkwardly. "Ehm, well, how about a race then?" she challenged in an attempt to change to focus of the attention.

"Now you're singin' my song," hollered Vinnie who revved his engine so loud the bystanders nearby were forced to clap their palms against their ears.

"Oh momma, " Modo grinned as Throttle drove up to his right, "Loser buys lunch," he added with a smirk.

"You're on!" Rei egged on as she mounted Kaito's Ducati, "Well Kai this thing won't drive itself!" she beamed making him laugh and hop on giving her his spare helmet.

Turning round Throttle called out, "On three, one..two.."

Vinnie yelled, "THREE!" and shot off ahead.

"Duuude that's so not fair!" Rei called out which resulted in Kaito' yelling, "I like his style!" reeling up into a wheelie stance, shot off ahead yelling "WOOOHOOO!"

"Just our luck, Rei finds a guy just like Vinnie.." Throttle face palmed and shook his head.

Modo just rolled his eyes, "Kids these days," smirking kicked things into gear speeding off. It wasn't long until the trio left in Vinnie's wake caught up with the red Speedster full of laughs. They actually seemed to hit it off with Rei's new 'guy friend'.

Within moments of the race the figure of Greasepit came into view forcing Vincent to comment, "Hey Kaito, what do you make of that?"

Smirking a charming bad-boy-grin the young man snickered, "Looks like trouble."

Rei just frowned as she looked on at the broad shouldered goon, "Seriously? Don't tell me you're actually gonna-WOAAAAAAAAA!" she screamed as she clung onto the side of Kai. "AHHHHHH!"

Vinnie sang , " AHHAHAHAWWWWWWWWWWWWW! Man I love this guy!" swerving on the sharp U-turn caught up with Rei's boy and as they both whipped up a stray lose coil of wire rode circles around their victim until he was tied as snugly as a spring roll-much to Rei's discontent. "AHHHHKKK!" she yelled as the spinning stopped and the whole bike just zoomed forward.

The masked Martian just chuckled as he looked at the duo to his left, they both seriously reminded him of Charlie-Girl and himself which brought a slight heavy warmth into his chest. It would definitely be awesome having someone who had his 'taste' in fun for a change.

"Hey bro, if we cut off here at the junction we will cut our time in half," Kaito called out.

"But that's going through the back allies," Vinnie commented with surprise.

Rei smirked her signature sly grin, "That's the point sweet heart," she winked teasingly.

000

"Ugh, what's taking the guys too long?" Charlie stood tapping her toe on the side walk. "They were supposed to be here half an hour ago," she rolled her eyes and put on a scowl. Within moments of taking a seat on the high rails of a set of concrete stairs she could hear the sharp roars of engines, and the mad-man type screams of Vinnie followed up by another nostalgic set. "You have got to be kidding me," she smiled as both Vinnie and Kaito pulled up. "KAITO!" she called out running up to the duo Rei and her 'guy friend', engulfing both in a hug making the masked Martian pull his eyebrows into a slight frown, "Hmf"

Throttle soon pulled up and Modo pulled in seconds afterwards, and much to their confusion and slight relief caught sight of Charlene greet the newcommer. It really did seem that this Kaito was legit and Rei's memory hadn't been white washed for a second time.

It didn't take long for the small group to get caught up in a long conversation which focused more on Charlie, Kaito and Rei's high school history, which drew in the three biker mice completely. It seemed like teen lives on earth wasn't as different as it had been growing up on Mars- with a few obvious variations of course.

As Rei sat atop the folding chair munching on her hotdog she couldn't help but feel a strong sense of nostalgia start to sink in. She may not have known the guys for long, but she really did have a sense of loyalty to them. Overwhelmed with emotion, looked on as Charlie started bringing up the comical tale of her first date to prom. She really envied her..Charlie had it all, she had the company of studdly, hot guys who respected her and supported her..A pang of guilt soon washed over, and try as she might she couldn't really hide it and took a sip of root bear the moment Charlie chimed in, "And then she asked him out!"

Rei choked and spat the dark hued liquid forcing Vinnie to call out ," Hey watch the merchandise sweet heart! This is-" he paused and stared at the girl as she called out "Sorry!" in response. The tint of rose that colored her cheeks, and those high arched eyebrows..it looked like she was about to cry and much to his annoyance he softened his tones a bit. " Just be careful next time babe," scowling inwardly turned to Charlie as he was passed a tissue to pat down his pants.

"It was as if the whole school had rooted for them to go out," Charlene laughed heartily at Vinnie's outburst before asking Rei, "I didn't know you liked root bear, growing up you always told me you detested it-with a passion!" she added with a laugh.

Smiling sheepishly Rei couldn't help but tag along and laugh with the chorus, she couldn't help it, the atmosphere was so light and fun! " Trust me honey, it's an acquired taste," she winked playfully as her smooth play of sarcasm shown through.

"Ooo spicey!" Vinnie chimed in smoothly only to meet Kaito's –hey-that's-my-girl- look which made the Martian smile sheepishly.

"Oh wow look at the time!" exclaimed the youth, "Sorry I really gotta go," Kaito chuckled apologetically.

"Aww..do you have to?" Rei quizzed looking at her childhood friend and sweet heart with a puppy-eyed look.

"That's not gonna work this time love," came the near Australian accent. "You know how mother gets."

Rolling her eyes Rei chuckled, "Oh fine!" pouting, blushed when Kaito gave her a peck on her cheek which made her flinch and blush a bright crimson.

"Ooooooo" the Martians cooed teasingly as they shook their wrists flailing their palms in a teasing manner.

"Oh grow up guys," Charlie smiled as she hugged Kaito, "It was so good to see you again," eyes twinkling placed a sisterly arm over Rei's shoulders and waved as their high school friend rode off into the early evening. "Oh by the way, Rei think you can drop me off at the hospital? I wanna visit one of my friends, apparently they'd been in an accident and had been sent to the E.R."

Eyes softened at the notion and nodded, "Let's go get a cab."

"Cab? Why not just take your bike?" chuckled Charlie.

"Haha you know how Kay gets with me and bikes," laughing walked up to the door and grabbed her jacket.

Shaking her head with complete amusement Charlie commented, "You haven't changed one bit." Turning to the biker mice, "Hey guys, if you need anything, feel free to ring me up at this number," Charlie casually placed a small card on the metallic table top that was decorated with leftovers.

Within fifteen minutes the two young maidens had stopped by the back end of the local Community Hospital. Charlie soon burst in through the double doors and rushed to the lobby where she asked for a certain, Kayjay Jr.

"He's in room B305" came the prompt response of the women wearing thick eye glasses.

"Thank you," Charlene turned to Rei, "You coming?"

Rei shook her head kindly, "Naw, he's your friend, I don't want to intrude.." her voice was apologetic and humble.

"I insist!" Charlie tugged her best friend's arm.

"I insist!" declared Rei a little too forceful. Softening her gaze added, "Don't worry about me," looking over her shoulder caught sight of a light wave, " I won't be alone, I'll be fine."

Charlie looked passed Rei's shoulder, " Gang fight again?"

Rei sighed with frustration and nodded, "I will catchu later all right hun?"

Nodding Charlie waved and headed passed the double doors and into the nearest elevator. Upon entering the assigned room was surprised to find it was empty. Sitting on the well made bed pulled up the phone and called in, "You were right.." her words were heavy and worried. "How's she?"

"Well thanks to you, she's all right, just come up to room 414. She's actually just waiting for you, and don't worry, she doesn't expect a thing." The sound of Tom and Jerry seemed to play in the background as Agent J uttered something about Chinese food, chocolate cake and how annoying it was to tap into the conversation between Ray and his sister.

Within moments of arrival at the suite Charlie was greeted with the sweet scent of coco and the light laughter of Rei. Agent Jay had called her aside a second later, "It's for you."

Hearing Throttle's voice Charlie let out a sigh of relief.

" Guy's we have got to talk."