Alright well yes this is another chapter down, the lucky vs the truly unlucky. You'll know what I'm talking about by the time you get to the end of the chapter. Or I guess you could call this well...the name of the chapter pretty much says it all. But yes as always read and review!

It had taken her a full three days to get to the town she had planned. Walking in, she realized she must look a mess. She had been sleeping in the forest for days, sick for three or four days and had of course been baking under the unforgiving sun. She saw people gawk at her as she approached the nearest building. It looked to be a small family restaurant. She mentally assured herself that things would turn out somewhat alright and pushed open the door. A small bell dinged as she entered the building. She looked about the place and saw that there were only five or six people calmly eating lunch. They hardly glanced up as she entered. She approached a table and sat. Really, it was almost sinful how wonderful she felt sitting in an honest-to-God chair.

"Senora (Miss)?"

Tehya looked up at a young woman. Her skin was almost a burnished copper color and she had long lashes that brushed against her cheeks when she blinked. Tehya wondered what she wanted from her and then blinked when she realized that she was in a restaurant.

"Si (Yes)?"

"Que tu quieres, para almuerzo (What would you like for lunch)?"

"Nada, gracias, pero tienes agua (Nothing thanks, but do you have water)?"

"Si, si, es claro que tu necesito agua (Yes, yes it's clear you need water)."

Tehya chuckled and laid her head on the table. It seemed for now that she had found a safe haven.

. .. . . . . .

In retrospect Sylar felt that giving Tehya the remaining supplies had not been his most brilliant idea. Already he could feel fatigue setting and he possessed nothing with which to alleviate it. His only assurance was that he had some clue as to where he was going. The map hadn't been faulty on that point.

He knew that he couldn't continue on the way that he was for much longer. He hoped that eventually he'd get lucky. There had to be at least one traveler driving on the god for saken road.

. .. . .. . .

Tehya sighed contentedly as she dipped her foot into the cool water. Never in her life had she ever felt more grateful for a bath. When she had suggested water she hadn't meant a bath per se, but when Esperanza had suggested it, it had suddenly become the most important thing to do at the moment. And now here she was, one foot in and as happy as a clam.

"Esta es la vida (This is the life), " she murmured amusedly as she sank into the soothing water completely. The tub felt blessedly cool against her skin and she leaned back against the lip of the tub her eyes closed.

She briefly wondered how Gabriel was doing, roughing it without supplies. Perhaps she should have left with him with water or something. She grinned stupidly to herself as she realized he was probably having the worst time of his life. Not only was he alone but he was probably hungry.

She missed the manipulative bastard, though.

She reached for the soap and began to wash herself thoroughly. She knew that this bath was probably one of very few until she got back to the States. And when she got there before she even considered stepping into any shower she was going to hunt down her brother.

That thought aside, at least now she could wash her hair, which she was certain reeked.

. .. . . . . . .

He was weak, very weak, and he could feel the last of his strength ebbing away. He was almost glad that Tehya wasn't there, she would probably scoff at his weakness. He couldn't help it though, three days seemed to have sappd his remaining stores of strength.

He missed his powers, especially the one that granted him the ability to generate ice. Ice sounded almost divine at this point. As he walked, he also felt that with the ability to move things with his mind, perhaps he could try moving himself. That would save him the agony of having to take another step in the unforgiving sun.

He briefly wondered where Tehya was, she had for some reason traveled in a completely different direction. He guessed that she probably had a plan of avoiding him, not that it would be hard to do in a place as vast as Mexico. He wondered if she was having a hard time, wondered if she was thinking of him.

He was certainly thinking of her. Once the depressing trek through the desert was over he was going to have her. It was a burning thought in his mind, a brand that he had been forced into his mind since he had first seen her in the shack. She was all spitfire and grace, his mouse. He felt proud of her, as if he had somehow been responsible for the way that she had grown without him. She had remained beuatiful and untamed, the way she had left. And the way that she wanted him, had been very clear several nights ago when she had surrendered to him. She hadn't known but when he had finished with her he had put his fingers in his mouth. She'd tasted musky and darkly sweet and he was going to taste that sinful cream again. It was just a matter of not dying in the goddamned desert.

... .. . . . . .

"Cansada (Tired)?"

"Muy cansada, pero no tengo dinero para una cama. O un hotel (Very tired, but I don't have money for a bed. Or a hotel)," Tehya muttered at her predicament. Thinking back on things, she should have robbed the Candice bitch for money when she had the chance. She had just been too angry at Sylar to even remember cash and he had been too much of a lecher to notice either.

"No, no, para tu, no dinero. Duermes, es no problema (No, no for you no money. Sleep, it's no problem)."

"Este es tu restaurante (This is your restaurant)?"

"Si y mi familia, pero ustedes estan en los Estados Unidos. Es mi restaurante para el mes (Yes and my family, but they're in the United States. It's my restaurant for the month)."

"Okay, umm, por favor, yo duermo ahora (Please, I sleep, now)?"

"Si y desayuno en la manana (Yes and breakfast in the morning)."

"Gracias, Esperanza (Thanks, Esperanza)."

"No es nada (No, it's nothing)," Esperanza said genially as she opened the door to the spare bedroom. Tehya took a moment to look at the simple cot. It was all that she needed for now.

. .. . . . . .

Sylar knew that he could walk no further. He was too tired and after three days, walking was out of the question. Now the only test would be to try and stay upright for as long as possible. He felt his foot stumble but there was no strength in him to fight gravity and he fell. He lay his down, and closed his eyes. He was going to die here, without her.