A/N: I told you I would shoot for once a week and here you go. However I have some much deserved time off from my "JOB" so, hopefully I can work on my novels and get some more chapters up in the next few weeks. I promise that I haven't forgotten about you, my lovelies.

Chapter 11

It was barely the break of dawn when Liv woke Alex up. She had already packed up with car with their stuff. She made sure that her rifle was hidden beneath the back seat. She made it easy for her to access if she needed. She had hidden handguns throughout the driver's compartment as well. She knew that Alex might be put off by all the weapons, but it was the only way that she could protect her. Once she was done getting the car set up the way she wanted, she went back into Cole's house.

She stepped quietly into his office and left him a note. In it, she thanked him. She also gave him her burner phone number cryptically. She knew that he would figure it out quick enough, because he knew her and he knew the number, but didn't know he knew. If anyone else read the note, it would look like gibberish or as the liked to call it "gobbled-y-gook." She knew better than to tell him where they were going, but she knew that he would call if he needed to warn her about anything. He would protect them for as long as he needed, and she was grateful for it.

She tip toed up the stairs and into Alex's room. She gently shook Alex awake. She had to admit that Alex was pretty in the early morning light, but she couldn't think about her in that manner. She had to be professional. She had to remain vigilant in order to protect her.

"What time is it?" Alex asked her groggily.

"Sometime after five."

"In the morning?"

"Yes, in the morning. Get up and get ready. We are going to leave in a few minutes."

"Can I take a shower?"

"If you must, yes. I've already packed up the car. I'm just waiting on you," Liv told her.

"I'll be down in a few. Please have a cup of coffee ready for me. It'll be like ten minutes."

Liv just nodded as she went downstairs again. She made another pot of coffee and hoped that Cole wouldn't wake up before they left. She didn't want to deal with a goodbye for him. She wanted her note to be enough. She didn't do goodbyes, he knew that, and she knew that he would understand.

She stood back and waited for Alex to come down from her shower. She slowly drank a cup of coffee allowing it to fully wake her up. She didn't need it but the caffeine was a bonus for her system. She didn't know how long they would be on the road before she decided to pull over.

Alex came down dressed in a light grey tank top and a pair of jeans. Liv could tell that it wasn't her normal fare but that she was finally getting used to it. She gave a Liv a small smile as she helped herself to some coffee. They drank in silence. When they were done, they rinse out their cups and placed them in the sink.

Liv didn't say anything as she went out the door and to the car. Alex watched her go, but it felt weird. It was like Liv was walking away from her. She couldn't understand the feeling. Watching Liv check the car for the umpteenth time that morning, Alex felt like it was some sort of déjà vu. There was something about the way Liv was moving. It wasn't as fluid as normal; it seemed more forced, and slightly emotional.

She decided that she needed to follow her so she did. She left the house and Cole, hoping that one day they would see each other again. He had become a friend in their short time together. She forced a smile as she walked up to the car. She got in the passenger side and made herself comfortable. She looked over at Liv.

Liv looked up at the house. She shook her head and started the car. They needed to go. They had spent too much time with Cole. They could have put him in danger and if something happened to him, Liv knew that she would never forgive herself. She turned and returned Alex's smile as they pulled away from the farm.

They said nothing as they drove towards I 80 and west. Liv wanted to go see Sanchez in Chicago, but it would be expected. He was another member of their "unit." The Alphabets would be looking for her. It didn't matter that she used a scrambler and a dump phone to call in days ago. She knew that they weren't happy that she had run off with their star witness, but they wouldn't call in more agents to find her until Liv quit checking in.

She reached back behind and touched a black satchel. Alex noticed the movement and pulled it out of the back seat. She sat it on her lap. Liv just gave her a questioning look.

"What do you need?" she asked her.

"Nothing."

"Then why were you after the bag?" Alex asked.

"I wasn't. I was just making sure that it was there. That is your life line."

"Huh?" Alex questioned already opening the bag. "It is just a bunch of cell phones. How is that my life line? What is this?"

"They are all dump phones. None of them are registered. Their SIMs are cloned. So even if I forget to turn it off, they still won't be able to find me. They'll end up finding Joe Q. Public in Indiana while we are in Colorado. Another present from Cole before we left. I can call in to let them know that you are okay and they can't get a lock on us."

"You really are paranoid, you know that?"

"Comes with the job," Liv stated. "Plus a little paranoia keeps you alive. It keeps you alert."

"So, we aren't going to your buddy's in Chicago, are we?"

"No, we aren't. By now, they have pulled the roster from my unit. They are going to find all my compatriots. They are going to be looking for me. Because some idiot in an office, who might not realize that he is tipping off the cartels, is going to believe that I have kidnapped you to trade you to the cartels for something. I am not by the way," Liv told her.

"I would hope not."

"It wouldn't do me any good. I don't want drugs, guns or their money. I have enough of my own and it is untraceable. The Alphabets pay well for my line of work, but they forget sometimes who they hired. They have no idea how much wealth I really have. I wanted to make you disappear, I could, but it would defeat the purpose of this mission."

"Which is?"

"You are my retirement package. I can't find my peace, if I don't get you back to New York. Hopefully, there is someone in an office building in DC who will realize that I haven't betrayed the country. I am going to protect you and make sure that you get back in time for the trial. I just hope that whoever that is, gets through to the rest of the Alphabets."

"They will."

"I hope so. I don't need to be worried about my own people coming for you, too. It is hard enough trying to research the cartels you decided to go to war with. Their tactics and local leaders change quite regularly. That is how they have stayed in power so long. They own parts of their home country but let the captains and lieutenants run things here. As they get caught, killed or ousted, someone else comes to power and everything starts over."

"Tell me something that I don't already know," Alex responded.

"I have no idea where we are going."

"Really?"

"Yup, I am just going to follow I 71 for a while. Then, I am going to just turn. It is better if we don't have a plan really. That way we can't leave an obvious trail for anyone to follow. I know it seems stupid to do that, but trust me. It will be harder for them to follow us this way."

"I understand."

"You aren't going to fight me on this, Princess?"

"I thought we established that I don't appreciate that moniker."

"It doesn't have to be a bad name."

"I don't like it."

"Sure you don't. It doesn't matter. But, are you going to fight me on this?"

"No, Olivia, I am not. I understand that you are doing everything in your power to keep me alive. I am not stupid or simple. I just don't remaining idle. I guess I will just have to think of this as an extended vacation while we tour the States. It makes it easier for me in my head."

"Whatever works for you," Liv stated.

Alex gave her a look before resuming her stare out the windshield. She didn't know how long they would be driving and she didn't really have anything to occupy her. She leaned back in the seat and made herself as comfortable as she could in the sedan. It didn't have that much room, but it had enough for her to stretch out her legs.

It seemed like they had been on the road for a long time the next time that Alex registered that trees had changed. She must have falling asleep. Liv just looked ahead and get barreling into the unknown, without a plan, but enough fire power to take out a small city on her own. She was grateful for her overprotectiveness and her preparedness, but there was something else behind the reason that Liv was running. They were running and she knew it. She just wished that she knew why Liv wasn't just running from the Alphabets and the cartels, but her as well.

"You awake?"

"Yeah, I am awake. Why? Need to stop?"

"It wouldn't hurt and we need gas. I figured we could get some lunch. Start checking the signs for something you want. We'll pull over for a little while," Liv told her as she merged into the slow lane.

It was at that point that Alex realized they were in Kentucky as they crossed a river and she saw the WELCOME TO KENTUCKY sign. She glanced at her watch trying to figure out how long she had been out. Then she looked over at the speedometer and realized that Liv was doing around eighty-five to ninety.

"You're going to get pulled over," Alex stated absent-mindedly.

"No, I won't."

"Yes, you will. You're speeding. They are going to pull you over."

"No, they won't."

"And, why won't they."

"Because when they run the plates they will back off."

"And, why is that?"

"Because, Cole is a genius and a cheeky bastard."

"What did he do?"

"If they try to trace the car, they'll fail. If they manage to run the plates, it will come back a special assignment group for the NSA and CIA. It will have perfect clearance to drive as it wishes. They will follow us for a while, flash their lights, and then back off. No cop wants to be the one that interferes with a Federal investigation. It causes too much paperwork."

"He faked the plates?"

"That isn't all he faked," Liv said, chuckling at her. "You no longer exist, only Emily does. No one knows who you are except me and Cole. Trust me; he is going to erase anything that he did that pertains to Emily today. So, even if they find him, they won't be able to find you. We were never there. I told you that he was good."

"You did."

"What's wrong?"

"How long was I asleep?"

"I don't know, a few hours."

"You didn't think to wake me?"

"No, you look like you needed to sleep. I was going to let you. Besides, I am used to be being by myself. I've just been aimlessly driving."

"We're in Kentucky," Alex stated.

"Yeah, we are. We've been through parts of West Virginia and Ohio already. Did you miss something there besides the hills?"

"No, I guess not."

"What's wrong?" Liv asked her.

"I need to pee."

"Well, I can find us a bathroom. Look up ahead. There is exit 186, I am sure that we can find something that you will like to eat and place to use the bathroom. It is far enough away from Cincinnati for my liking too. We'll stop there. It is like two more miles. Can you make it?"

"Yes, I'll make it," Alex said as she started to sit up, readying her body to exit the vehicle.