-Sorry for the delay guys, had a ton of work to catch up on. Hope you enjoy!-

~Ann~

"...Well...it could definitely have been worse..."Maria managed out in a shakey voice, looking at the aftermath of what I would fondly call the seven circles of hell that I'd just put us through. I hung my head and frowned, twiddling my thumbs and offering,

"Yeah...sorry about your car."

"Please, that Prius is the one we gotta worry about."Maria mused, looking on at the poor, teensy little vehicle that I honestly hadn't seen, now squished underneath the car that I'd driven...no, driven wasn't even the correct term for what I just did. Maybe completely turned into a high-speed death-machine was a better term, looking at the smoke and ripped-up pavement that led a more-than-suspicious trail right to the shockingly unharmed car.

I knew Maria was just trying to be nice, but the only thing that I really care about now was that A)we'd survived, and B) she'd drive back.

"Well! Let's just forget about that for now, huh? We've gotta go meet up with the guys, if they haven't killed each other yet."Maria mummbled the last part, walking past me as I quickly followed, the strip of street we'd 'parked' on going down past where I could see. A few apartements ahead of us, the Blackhead Bar blasted music from its spot on the left side of the street, a massive, black, cicular-like structure connected to the side of the interior part of the nose. It had, from an amature's point of view, badass electric guitar riffs screeching out of the interior, the music so loud and intense that it made the building pulsate and those waiting in line have to shout to be heard.

"This line's pretty long, will we even make in in time chica?"Maria asked worriedly, and I smiled, relaxing finally as I mused,

"Don't worry. We'll get in." Even if I have to splatter that bouncer on the sidewalk, only having to take one look to know that he was a Bronchidis Virus, figuring that Hector didn't need anymore stress though he had no idea the kind of danger he was in. The large, overly-muscular germ stood intimidatingly in front of the door, talking gruffly and angrily to a guy and his girl, both with shaved heads. I took a moment to relax in the fact that Maria had been right about the dress code, the girl wearing a too-tight, too-low tank top and a skirt so short it might have been a rubber band.

"Glad you changed now?"Maria asked, as I looked ahead and saw Ozzy and Drix walk out of an alley across from the club, arguing, with an apathetic and annoyed-looking Thrax behind them. I felt my smile slip a bit, and Maria must have noticed, because as it did she followed my line of vision. Something inside of me twisted a bit, but I tried to focus on the fact that Thrax hadn't tried to kill me, and that after this he'd be out of Hector and out of my life.

Just get this over with, and that's that.

"C'mon girl, let's go show our guys what we've been hiding, ai?"Maria tried, and all at once I smirked again, seeing the oblivious guys standing a few yards ahead of us, dressed normally. I nodded, and took a step, but Maria's hand on my shoulder stopped me.

"What's up?"I asked, turning as she quickly reached up and, without asking, smoothly removed the band in my hair. I frowned and reached a hand instinctively back, feeling the dreads on my shoulders as she simply smiled and placed the band in her purse, winking as she said,

"Guys dig the hair-down look, chica, trust me." I felt myself blush, and turned away so that she couldn't see it, thinking about Ozzy and how Maria saw us together, not fully able to believe it still and thinking that this would just be a little game, nothing more. Afterall, Ozzy was my friend, and the chances of him seeing it as anything other than that were slim to none. I was a virus, for Hector's sake!

So we walked, the guys only noticing us as we walked right past them in the coolest way possible, me saying jokingly,

"If you guys kill each other before we even get in there, who's gonna pay for pizza later?"

The guys didn't respond, only seeing Ozzy look over and about to retort something smooth, when his suave-looking face fell so hard his jaw dropped comically low and his eyes widened, Drix stiffening as Thrax, only catching him for a second, slacked his face so much that his shades fell a bit down and showed wide, borderline-angry eyes. I didn't want to say that I got some satisfaction from making him angry, from walking past and half-blushing at Ozzy's gaze as he gulped and half-hearing Thrax turn to the two boys and growling low,

"Who let her dress like that?"

...But if I said it, I'd say that it felt pretty damn good, if only it were to let him know that..I wasn't his little girl anymore. Not only because I'd grown up, but because I was my own independent person now, and he'd lost all right to call me what he used to.

"Told ya."Maria said quietly in my ear as we turned and approached the Blackhead Bar, me in front of her as I decided on a variety of ways to get into this place without waiting in the line of people who eye'd us suspiciously as we walked right up to the bouncer. And by 'variety of ways', I meant that if the first one didn't work, then he was going down the drain in a puddle of blue, his skin a sickly-looking navy color and hair a frock of yellow in a small ponytail.

"Can I help you?"He asked in a deep voice, though he might be an inch or two taller than me. I smiled, hearing the guys catch up to us and whisper something to Maria, who replied with,

"Don't know, just let her do her thing."

"Just wonderin' if there was anyway to jump the line. It's pretty long."I asked, half-smirking and raising an eyebrow, bangs coyly covering part of my eye as I placed one hand on my hip, the other brushing cooly through my dreads. I knew what I was doing, having seen plenty of women try(and usually fail) to be groupies, using the same method I was now using on Thrax.

The bouncer gave a cocky grin and crossed his arms, leaning down a bit, our faces too close for my comfort but putting up a front of not caring, still giving him a coy look.

"Is that so, pretty lady? Now I'm afraid I'm not allowed to do that."He said smoothly, and I rose my eyebrow a bit more, asking innocently,

"We can't negotiate?" Something passed across the man's eyes, and he tilted his head a bit. I felt Thrax's eyes burning holes in the back of both our heads, which only added to my confidence as I tensed on of my arms.

"What kinda 'negotiation' you got-argh!"He cut himself off as I slammed forward, knocking him to the wall of the club with my left forearm and pinning him there with what most saw as super-strength, bringing my right-hand nails close to his face and lighting them, glaring daggers at the creep and getting close again. His eyes were wide, body shaking and sweat forming on his head after not only not expecting this, but also my strength and the hot nails precariously close to his face.

"This negotiation enough, big boy?"I asked angrily, and the others in line gasped and jumped back, my little group pressing closer in case anything happened. But, with the utter terror in the man's face, things were going excellent. He gulped and nodded shakily, me smiling icily at him and grabbing the collor of his wife-beater, throwing him to the ground next to me and saying,

"Thought so."

"Whooo! Ann-girl strikes again! That's what I'm talkin' 'bout."Ozzy exclaimed, walking up and once again acting smooth and cocky, but as I looked up at him with Drix rolling his eyes and Thrax eyeing the man and me with amusement, I could see a bit of...something else in his eyes. Something I couldn't place.

"C'mon, we have to split up and find whatever hole Strep's meeting in."I said, Ozzy streaching his arms and saying,

"Leave it to the Oz, Ann girl." I rolled my eyes as he went in, the door moving like a membrane to allow for him and Drix to walk in, Maria stopping Drix for a second and asking, almost how I was asking with that man who now cowered on the ground but this time real,

"How about we look together, huh? Just in case." I'd never seen Drix blush deeper in my life, him barely able to stutter out and agreement as they both entered together. I leaned against the door, turning to go in, when his voice stopped me.

"Someone all grown up, huh baby?"He asked, and I glared darkly, looking into the mosh of people on the darkened dance floor, tough and tatted cells sitting at the bar and looking hungrily at the women dancing, a moshpit somewhere up ahead where the Kidney Stones were tearing up some high-paced, grit-voiced song. Eyes narrowed and face dark, resisting the sadness and anger inside of me, I muttered out darkly,

"No thanks to you."

I saw him stiffen a bit out of my perifrial vision, but I ignored him as best I could and made my way onto the dance floor. The second I entered what felt almost like another world, I fell into the hard rhythm of music and shouting and moshing and people pressed tight and hotly together. I didn't dance, just floated unnoticed around couples and singles and fights and shouting. It was...relaxing, in a way. Just a chaotic mess that was too loud to have anything else penetrate it.

Looking around, I saw a flash of Ozzy's face as some girl gave him a flirty eye, something in my chest tightening in anger that I didn't understand, wondering if maybe it was from my conversation with Thrax. What reason did I have to be angry at a girl I didn't know? Definitly not because she was flirty with Ozzy! He did that all the time...but none of the girls had ever shown any interest, except maybe Leah at times but she was way back in Frank...

I wanted to shake myself, to remember that Maria's words might not have been true, despite Ozzy surprised and nervous face when he saw me, the blush I'd seen crawl across his face, the odd something in his eyes...and the good feeling it gave me, wanting to move over to him and...

"Daydreaming, beautiful?"

It was a voice that instantly made my skin crawl, made my heart stop in shock and utter dread, and brought hundreds of questions to mind. A familiar voice, but not one I'd heard anytime soon, right in my ear as two arms warpped themselves around my waist and resting a chin on my shoulder, slowly moving us to the now-slightly softer rock ballad invading the spaces between the tightly-packed crowd. As much as I wanted to rip this man's face off bit by bit and feed it to street scum, I instead played it cool.

Something told me that him being here, finding me, wasn't a coincidence. And I wouldn't put working for Strepfinger above Ebola.

"Ebola, didn't want to see you here."I mused cooly, feeling a lock of his ponytail fall onto my ear as he said calmly, too-closely,

"Ah, sweet as always Ann. Sticky-sweet." His voice was smooth and articulate, and yes he might be attractive, but I couldn't get past his oily personality and peristant nature.

"As sweet as I can be around someone I kinda hoped was dead, Ebola. How come you're here, anyway?"I asked, getting right to the point and making this encounter as short as possible, feeling him chuckle against my back.

"Aww, now Annie, you don't want to just stay like this for awhile? I find it kind of nice, without that ass of a brother you had, to be able to spend some time around my favorite girl. And damn, did you grow up in the years we've been apart. Nice dress."He purred, and I quipped back quickly,

"We were never together in order to be apart, Ebola. And what makes you think Thrax isn't here, huh?"

I felt him stiffen, and my smile grew wider as I pressed on,

"So I'm gonna ask you again, before he sees you and beats you like a dog for the second time, what are you doin' here so close to Strepfinger's gang, huh?"

He was quiet for a second, chuckling again, but this time darker, his voice now more buisiness-like and dark.

"After your bitch of a brother beat me half past mitosis, Strep picked me up for his gang. He's been keeping and eye on you, dear, ever since you decided to mess in Immunity. He sent me to get you, wants to meet the girl who beat his gang's ass face-to-face."

So Strep knew we were here? That sent a shiver down my spine, made my stomach clench a bit as I thought about the others around here, if they were safe and if there were anymore men hidden inside this bar. Ebola must have sensed my fear, because muttered next, more confidently,

"Don't worry, you're the only one he's interested in. Your little friends are safe...for now." I grit my teeth and finally broke free from Ebola's arms, turning towards him and seeing that he hadn't changed one bit, still smiling down at me with the face that made the women around us eye him hungrily, me having the exact oppisit reaction.

"C'mon then, where's the big guy hidding at, hm?"I asked, this time with real confidence, just aching to get my hands on Strep and whipe him out of Hector for good. Ebola cocked an eyebrow and stepped forward, placing a hand on the small of my back and turning me, leading us away from the envious-looking women and around the massive moshpit at the front near the stage, one germ getting punched so hard his jaw went the wrong way and he fell to the ground.

We walked to an area tucked almost behind the stage, the music so loud that I barely heard it when Ebola leaned down in my ear, openeing the door to a pitch-black room,

"I really do wish we could have had that first date."

Before I could realize the obvious, that this was a trap, I was shoved into the room and the door slammed shut behind me, everything pitch black as the first pair of hands grabbed onto me. I shouted out a string of curses that would have made even Thrax surprised, turning and throwing whoever touched me into what sounded like a wall, another pair of hands around my waist and slamming my heel into the foot of the man who let out a grunt, spinning and kicking him to the ground.

But as good as I was doing right off the bat, soon there were too many hands, too many arms, and too many angry voices to be able to fight them all off. Four hands grasped my arms so roughly I cringed, massive arms around my waist and one man holding onto each leg, keeping them grounded as I heard Ebola's laugh off to my left, struggling against the too-strong, too-many arms and hands holding me back.

"Strepfinger!"I shouted angrily, and a creaky, slimey-sounding voice asked from in front of me,

"Yes?" Instantly, almost as if the words were the light switch, the lights came blindingly on. I cringed, blinking a few times in the harsh light until I got used to it again, looking around sharply and feeling anger and dread twist in my gut. Great. Just great. You see Ann? This is what happens when you try to act tough.

I had five massive germs holding me back, standing in front of the door of a medium-sized, silver-and-black room with a massive black meeting table resembling the one Thrax used back in Frank off to my left, Ebola standing in front of it with his hands in his black jean pockets, giving me a victorious, cocky grin. But I barely saw him, because standing right in front of me and looking like a massive booger, grey folds of skin under his chin and sagging on his face, a belly to rival old Chief's, dressed in a purple tuxedo with sickly-looking pink eyes and a bald head, possibly the most revolting thing I'd ever seen in my life...

Was Strepfinger himself.

I felt my body tense, the men around me tightening their grip as anger boiled in my veins, gritting my teeth and wanting nothing more than to jump and beat this man until he was gone, gone, and gone.

"So, you mean to tell me that this, this...little girl, is Ann?"Strepfinger asked, and I restrained myself from spitting on him. He paused, looking me up and down in a way that made me want to crawl away and kill him at the same time, then mused oily, stroking one of his many chins with a sausage-like finger, "Although, in that dress, I must admit that she doesn't look as young as she must be."

"Creep!"I spat, his face not changing from a confident smirk.

"Aw, now now, I've been called worse by my own dear mother. If you're trying to upset me, you'll have to try much harder."He insisted calmly, and I seethed as I snapped back in a calmer tone,

"Upsetting you doesn't even begin to describe what I'll do once I get these idiots off me." Something in Strep's eyes glittered as he smiled wider, clapping his hands together and saying in an amused tone, eyes still on me like I was his seventh meal of the day,

"Oh, Ebola, when you said this one was amusing you weren't lying. But dear, a fight is the oppisite of what I'm looking for out of this meeting of ours."

"Really? Well that's unfortunate, because I was planning on painting the walls with your face!"I snapped, and again Strepfinger did nothing but laugh. He was confident, thinking that I actually could get out of this hold I was in...and okay, maybe it was iffy, but if I really tried there was no way I was letting a group of germs take me down. The only issue was fighting them off as well as capturing Strepfinger, knowing that a guy like him had a way out no matter what, or else he wouldn't be so smart as to run a massive gang like the one he had, knowing that this couldn't be all of them.

"Oh dear, you haven't even heard my proposal yet. Now be good and listen, while I tell you the story of the greatest take over of a body in medical history, hmm?"He mused, and instead of spitting a string of insults at him, I instead stayed silent. His words rang in my ears, and suddenly I realized that we'd never actually looked into what Strepfinger was actually doing. We never thought, what if this wasn't just a string of bank robberies?

What he said made me suddenly silent and curious. That was something I realized from being around major crime bosses: They loved to brag. If I let Strep brag enough, maybe, even if he got away now, we'd still be able to intercept him.

"Goood,"He cooed, and then continued in almost a euphoric tone, as if telling the story of a sucess that hadn't happened yet. "Ann, what I am about to do to this body will make what you and your brother once did seem completely useless. Why, you might ask? I used to think of destroying bodies, to get the respect and power that came from something like an epidemic or a plague, or an incuable desiease. And then I wondered to myself: What's the point in being the most powerful virus ever known to man if the body that you can rule is dead?

"That's the thing, Ann!"His voice rose, his sick excitement twisting in his eyes, "The body can't die, that's no fun! Then all I have is to move onto another body and do the same thing over and over again. Far too easy, far too dull, far too pointless. No, what I'm going to do is keep this body alive, dear girl. Oh, so alive , and completely under my control."

I felt a chill run down my spine at his words. This man wanted to take over Hector? He either had a very good plan, or was just plain insain.

"I'm going up to the H-Gland, and taking a leaf out of your book by stealing one of those precious little beads."He explained, and I rolled my eyes.

"I don't know if you noticed this, but that really will kill the body."

"Ah, ah, ah,"He scolded lightly, shaking a finger at me like I was a child, "No interrupting, Ann. But, to answer your question, I'm not going to keep the bead out of the gland for long. No, quite the oppisite really. I'm merely going to use it as ransome, threaten to let the body burn if they didn't turn it all over to me, everything from the brain to the scraps of trash on the street! All of it, Ann. All the cells. All the information. But, wait for it...all the power.

"To rule an entire body, not like a mayor, more like...like a king! Yes, I'll be a king, and Hector will be my kingdom. Imagine that power, that wonderful, beautiful power that I'll posess rather shortly."He finally stopped, as if savoring his own words. The silence drew on, and finally I was fourced to speak up,

"...Why are you telling me all this?"I asked, thinking that, if he was truly serious, then why would he tell an immunity cop? His eyes narrowed greedily, and he stepped closer, so close I could smell his cheap-cologne stench, doing all I could not to gag on the potency of the fumes. He took my chin in a greasy-feeling hand, skin crawling and body tensing, wanting to hit something...hard.

"Dear,"He said quietly, breath in my face and making me almost vomit, "I want you on my side. Imagine! One of the strongest female viruses, alongside the future King of Hector? Now doesn't that sound appetizing?"He asked, and it actually took me a moment to process his words...

And once I did, I realized that yes, Strepfinger was a mad man. So mad that it actually made me laugh, his smile remaining as he raised an eyebrow. I smirked up at him, a smirk full of venom and hate, as I spat,

"I'd rather take a bath in Antidote then join you, pig." And as I finished, I literally spit right in his face. He jumped back, pausing a moment, and then slowly whiped the spit from his face. As he did, he sighed and shook his head, shaking it off his hand and musing,

"In that case, Ann, I'm afraid your wish will be fulfilled."

I felt something hard shoved onto the side of my head, and didn't realize it was a gun until I heard the man holding my arm cock it. 'Your wish will be fulfilled'...Goddamnit Ann. This is why Thrax always did the talking! The antidote-filled gun was pressed harder to my head, and I inwardly cursed, wondering in vain if I could somehow attack before that trigger was pulled, before something happened that not even the hottest heat could fix.

Almost instantly I realized that, even if I could get one of them off, the gun would go off before I could do more than bruise someone. Spit, and I was so damn close too! Strepfinger was literally inches away from me, and I screwed it all up! I screamed in my head at myself, but outwardly I glared so hard at Strepfinger that I expected him to burst into flames. Instead, he merely straightened his streached-tuxedo and motioned for Ebola to follow him.

"You now, Ann, we really could have made an amazing team. Too bad, I do hope your friends have better sense than you. Come Ebola, we have other matters to attend to."He mused, walking towards the wall to my right as a passage opened up, Strepfinger walking through as Ebola gave me one last smirk.

"Goodbye, Ann. I'll send your brother your regards."He said airily, before exiting. The wall closed behind them, and out went my last chance of being on Immunity.

The gun was pressed harder to my head and I closed my eyes, body tense, waiting for the pull of the trigger and the agonizing cold again, just waiting for it, hearing the squeak as the trigger was pressed lightly...

"Hands up, culos! "A beautifully familiar hispanic accent shouted, and the man holding the gun moved his arm to look behind him. I took the chance before anything could happend, ripping my arm from his grasp and slashing it down his chest with lit-nails, the man screaming and falling as the others began to panic and shout. With him gone, and Maria ripping the man holding my waist off me with surprising strength, I turned and threw the man holding my right leg through the wall in front of me.

The men holding the rest of me instantly let go and made a run for it. Maria, who'd knocked out the biggest of the germs, slid in front of the door and crossed her arms, smiling at them as they stopped.

"Don't think so, boys."She said happily, and I jumped up from behind them, lighting the nails on both my hands and sinking them into the men's shoulders, throwing them backwards with all my strength, landing in front of Maria as their screams became gargles until it was all silent, my adrenaline pumpin and nails un-liting, shaking the gunk off my hands and about to wrap Maria in a hard, tight hug, when she said nervously,

"...Uh...Ann...is that good?"

I turned, curious as to what she meant, and paused. My face remained calm, but inside I was freaking the hell out. The black lava-like substance that had infected the now-dead germs spilled onto the floor. And as it did that, it began to ignite. Which turned into a fire. Which, quicker than I remembered, ploomed up and quickly swallowed half the room, still moving at a rapid pace. Right at us.

"Maria."I said calmly, taking her hand in mine.

"Yeah?"She asked.

"Run."I deadpanned, and spun on my heel, dragging her behind me as I flew out of the door and ripped across the dance floor, panicked and adrenaline-filled as the fire behind us began to rage, unknownst to those dancing at the moment.

~Thrax~

"Where is she, Jones?"I demanded, stepping closer to the cocky-ass cell in front of me. I'd seen him, that Ebola asshole, walking through the crowd of hot and close people, and with my little girl walkin' around in those threads...it made my blood boil just thinkin' about it. Jones huffed, glaring at me as he exclaimed,

"Yo, if I knew you think I'd be chummin' it up near you? Trust me, I'd rather dance with Drix here than spend another second around your red ass!" The pill next to him was about to say something, but before he could a noise pulled our attention from each other. I looked over, seeing none other than Ann running towards us, that hispanic Immunity cop in tow.

Instantly I knew something was up. Ann had a look of panic on her face, and my thoughts settled instantly on Ebola, ready to light him up like a Christmas tree, when Ann got closer and didn't slow down, saying something quickly and panicked as she ran damn fast in those heels...

"...Getoutgetougetoutgetoutgetou t!"She exclaimed, sprinting past us in a blur. I paused, face falling as an all-too familiar scream sounded, along with a glow. The two idiots turned their heads, but I knew what was up.

"...She set the damn club on fire, didn't she?"I asked tiredly.

"Yep."The two said at the same time, and before they could finish I was already hauling ass outta there. The fire wouldn't hurt me, but remembering the Zit put a bad taste in my mouth, and I didn't want to take no damn chances. Shoving through people, I made it to the door, Jones and Drix behind me as I burst out the door just seconds before a loud 'boom!' rang out, shaking the apartements and throwing all of us forward.

I landed hard on my shoulder, rolling until I could get to my feet again. Standing up, only one thing was on my mind, something that might hate me with a painful passion, but something I'd lost and never wanted to lose again. I looked around in a panic, knowing Jones couldn't see while he ate a face-full of cement, until I found her.

I let out a breath, smoothing back my dreads as she stood with that other cop, shaking her head and sighing as people screamed and ran from the inferno-like club.

"Yo, Ann girl!"Osmosis shouted, picking himself up quickly and sprinting over to her, hugging her suddenly and making me twitch in anger. Not only was that dress the last thing I wanted to see on my baby sister, but Jones was the last person I wanted to see hugging her. Combined, I almost breached that 'contract' the snot-nosed mayor set up.

"Ozzy, I'm okay. Listen, we don't have much time, Strepfinger's planning on invading the brain and taking over all of Hector!"Ann shouted, Osmosis stepping back as the pill picked himself up, musing,

"Oh, yes, I'm fine. Thank you for asking." Ann ignored him as I walked silently forward, listening curiously as Ann caught her breath, checking her silently for injuries as the female cop asked,

"Wait, take over Hector? How?"

"He's going to hold one of those beads hostage until the city surrenders, one of the beads from the Hypo...hyp...hypathili...hyp-"

"Hypothalimus."I corrected, rolling my eyes while at the same time feeling the same amusement I always got when the word tripped her up. Now, though, she seemed pissed that I'd corrected her, and spit out the word,

"Hypothalimus gland."

"When's he gonna do this?"Ozzy asked, and Ann shook her head,

"I don't know, he didn't say, but someone's gotta call the mayor and place extra security on it tonight."

"I've got it. Ann, you go home and rest."The pill instructed, but a look of defiance crossed her face as she shook her head and said,

"I can't, Strepfinger-"

"Wont attack tonight,"The woman interrupted Ann, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Not until he gets the news that you weren't killed. Even then, he'll have to delay his plans now that you know everything. Go home, sleep, and we'll go at this thing tomorrow refreshed, alright?" Ann was about to argue, but even I could see how she was about to cave.

Finally, she shrugged and said quietly,

"Alright, fine. But tomorrow-"

"Tomorrow, me and you got a breakfast date. Then we go and beat up mr. Big-an-Bad, a'ight?"Osmosis mused, making me twitch in anger again, making Ann laugh in a way that made me bitter. Bitter because, as she walked away with the woman, she didn't even look at me. Bitter because I knew she didn't want to look at me. Bitter because I'd done that.

Bitter. Damn, I hated being Bitter. And as I watched her walk away, I thought about how...how much older the girl looked. How much older she acted. I'd always protected her like she would be a little girl her whole life, but now that she was out on her own...

Damn, she'd changed. And every moment that she got older, I was losing her that much more. And I wasn't one to lose somethin' easily. Especially not what was, even though she didn't think so, even though everyone doubted it, the most important thing in the world to me. My life.

And yeah, it was a fool's attempt to gain back what was already lost, but I had to take it. I couldn't let things end this way, couldn't let her keep thinkin' that she wasn't my only goal.