Kris once again felt pain, only this time it was everywhere. She dared not move for she knew a sharp wave would nearly overcome her. Along with the pain she also felt the extreme cold, much colder then last time.

She opened her eyes and slowly moved her right hand to her head. She felt the sticky residue of the blood that she knew she had gotten during her attempted escape. Casting her eyes around the small darkened room and knew she was not in the same room she was when she first woke. She saw the stacks of wood in front of here and around her.

Moving her left arm to her side she held her ribs as she tried to sit up. As she thought, the wave of pain nearly overcame her and she stopped moving for fear of passing out. Taking in a deep breath she once again held her arm around her ribs and pushed herself off the ground with her right hand. Fighting back the tears she managed to get herself sitting up and leaning against the stacked wood behind her.

She could see a small amount of light through the slits in the wood and could tell that the sky was turning to its winter gray. She knew it didn't get extremely cold in California this time of year but you still had to dress for it. All she had on was a pair of jeans, a sweat shirt over her shirt, and her blazer jacket. She knew that outside over night it would get a great deal colder then it was now.

As she sat there with her left arm still protecting her ribs she just rested her head on the back wall of logs. Every now and then she would try and see outside between the slats but it was getting dark and harder to see. One thing she did know; it was getting colder in the shed she was now being kept.

~~ CA ~~ CA

Jessica banged on the door repeatedly to no answer. Her hands were getting sore and raw for the amount she had thumped on the wooden door. She knew deep down that no one was really going to come but she hoped in her heart that eventually someone would.

Her hopes and wishes were answered after nearly half an hour of banging with the click of a key in the lock,

"Jessica, that really is annoying me."

"Peter you can't leave her out there. It's freezing."

"She and you should have thought of that before you tried to escape." He bit back.

She looked at him a moment, "Are you insane? Of course we would try to escape. You are holding us here against our will. Kris has plans for Christmas like anyone."

"And you?"

"That isn't fair Peter and you know it." She glared up at him

He seemed to think on her words, "Mayb, but you had the chance to always be free for Christmas Jess and you turned me down."

She spun away from him and took a few steps away before spinning back at him, "Is that what this is about? Nikolas getting my hand and not you? It wasn't a contest Peter. I loved him from the moment I saw him. I told you that."

"That is what this is about. I loved you long before him Jessica and I still. I could give you everything you ever wanted."

"I have everything I want Peter. You need to move on and understand that I love him. Not you." She could see that the last bit stung as his face contorted for a moment in anger.

He stood there watching her, "Fine. Then stay here. That alone will be all I need to know I ruined him. And everything about Christmas will be ruined with it." He stepped back and slammed the door closed clicking the lock in place.

Jessica moved quickly towards the door gripping the handle trying desperately to get the door open. "Peter no. Let me out. Let Kris Go !" She banged in the door again as she rattled the handle, "She has nothing to so with this Peter! Let her GO! You can't keep her out there: she'll freeze to death!"

~~ CA ~~ CA~~ CA ~~ CA

Kelly sat up from the office couch and ran her fingers through her long dark hair. She hadn't slept that well and as she looked up and spotted Sabrina behind the desk, she gathered her friend hadn't faired any better then she had.

They had wanted to call Jill but the phone rang before they could. And the mysterious voice stated that they would probably never see Kris again anytime soon.

As Kelly stood up and stretched out her back and watched as Sabrina placed the phone back down on its receiver.

"Sorry. I didn't want to wake you." Sabrina explained as she watched her friend stretch out a bit

"It's ok." Kelly said as she moved to the bar and grabbed a cup of coffee. Taking her cup in her hand she took a sip letting the caffeine burn down her throat and start the process of waking her up, "Charlie?"

"Yeah, he may have something for us on this Peter guy and the warehouse we were at yesterday."

Kelly held her cup in her hand and he moved around the bar making her way to the bar. Stopping at the desk she looked at Sabrina, "What?"

Sabrina looked over her notes without looking up at Kelly, "Well Charlie looked into the ownership of the warehouse and found out that it's owned by a guy by the name of Peter Clause"

Kelly raised her eyebrows as she looked at Sabrina.

"If you are thinking the connection to Martha you would be right. It appears he is her son." She said, as she looked up wanting to see Kelly's reaction to the name.

"If he is her son, why would she help us find him like that?" Kelly asked a little confused.

"I don't know but it seems this Peter guy has property all over the USA. But other then the warehouse the only other property in California he owns is a lodge up near Big Bear Mountain."

"Big Bear? That's nearly an hour and half drive from here, and that's on a good day. There'll be heavy snow in that area this time of year. Depending on the weather and road conditions it could take us over two hours to get up there."

"Yeah, well you better wear something warm, because I have a feeing that is where Kris we'll find." Sabrina said as she got up and started towards Kelly and the door.

Kelly could see her friends look and knew they were in for a long drive, but knew in the end it would be worth it. Just to get Kris back.