Erik had been faintly listening in and when he heard her question he immediately snapped his head toward the rear window. "He's following us? I knew it Christine, I told you!"

She covered the mouthpiece of her cell phone and turned to Erik. "Please, don't start this again." Alex's voice came through her ear but she couldn't tell what he had said. "Alex? I missed that,"

"I said," he spoke slowly, "Put that idiot on the phone."

Christine sighed heavily, but placed her cell phone in Erik's outstretched hands. Expecting a loud argument she rested her face in her hands.

Erik took the phone and though he briefly considered screaming profanities at the man he looked into Christine's sad eyes and all he could do was press his thumb to the power button on the sleek cell phone. "Christine," he began slowly and softly, "I'm so sorry." He let the phone drop from his hand to the vinyl seat and placing his fingers below her jaw he softly caressed her face.

At his touch Christine made an awkward jerk away from him. She looked into his eyes and wondered whether or not her fear was transparent. "Erik, I," she began, but she felt tears welling up in her eyes. "I will not cry," she turned away from him.

"What?" He was confused, concerned. Knowing he'd done something entirely…stupid, made him fearful that this could be the last night spent with Christine, beautiful Christine. "I don't want you to cry, I don't want to hurt you. Believe me, please. That's the last thing I want to do. I,"

"Don't." She cut him off sharply then turned and faced him again. "Don't make excuses, don't give me your reasons, and don't make me feel better. I won't let you."

'This can't be happening,' he thought to himself. He couldn't believe that he'd ruined it again. "Christine… I'm drunk. You asked me where I was; I was at a liquor store. There? Are you happy now? I'm a drunk, I'm violent, I'm trouble but you have to believe that I,"

"I don't have to do anything Erik. Not for you. I don't even know you. And you know what?" she picked up her phone and dropped it into her purse, "Maybe, I don't want to."

She pulled a twenty-dollar bill out of her wallet and tossed it into the front seat. "Pull over please." The cabby swung the car to the sidewalk and Christine jumped out and slammed the door behind her before Erik had a chance to follow.

"Hey mister," said the cabby, "you getting out or what?"

"Damn't!" Erik smashed his fist against the metal separating him from the driver.

At the sound of the shout the cab driver turned and his eyes widened when he saw his passenger. "Oh shit!" he yelled in genuine fear. "It's you again!"

Erik recognized the driver as the same one who'd been driving when he'd had his seizure. "Oh Lord," he brought his hand to his head. He couldn't get out because Christine would think he was even more of a mental case than she already did. However, he doubted that this particular man would be willing to take him anywhere. "Look, I'm really so,"

"GET OUT!" The man screamed at him and seemed to be reaching for something in the glove compartment.

"Excuse me, do not yell at me. I was about to say, I'm sorry for what happened last time. I had a…" and at that moment time seemed to slow almost to a dead stop. At the same time that he heard the side door open he saw the gun in the cab driver's hand.

"Mister, you have exactly three seconds to get out of my cab before I blow your brains out of your crazy head."

It took about one of those seconds for Erik to realize that this man was not joking. 'And he thinks I'm crazy' he thought to himself. "Ok, I'm leaving." It was then that he finally noticed the figure that had come back into the cab. "Christine? What are you,"

"GET OUT!"

Christine, finally jolted by the yell, quickly opened the door and got out with Erik following closely behind. When the cab had sped off down the street he finally turned to face her. "Christine, what are you doing back here?" Inside his heart leapt at the thought that she had forgiven him.

"I," she sighed, "I didn't realize that you hadn't left yet. I thought that was a different car."

"Oh." He realized that she was truly furious with him and for the first time in his life he decided to just give up. Honestly believing that there was nothing he could do he lowered his head, turned, and walked away.

Christine watched him probably contemplate a next move and when she saw him start to walk away she began to feel guilty. "What happened in there?" she said, just loud enough for him to turn back to her.

"What?"

"I asked you what happened in that cab? Is there a specific reason that you were just held at gun point?"

"Oh, just a typical day in my life," he joked. Sensing that she wasn't in a comical mood, Erik dropped the smile. "That happens to be the same man who was driving the cab I had my s… episode in. I guess he wasn't up for friendly small talk."

"Oh," she whispered. When she'd begun the conversation she'd only wanted to make herself feel less guilty and now, she didn't know what to say.

"Mercy hospital please," Alex sighed. Whether it had been Christine or Erik he had been hung up on and he couldn't bring himself to call back. He had seen them stop and he figured that from now on he had no control, not tonight anyway.

Things were about to change however. Christine was his, she was always meant to be. One way or another he would find a way to have her.

Christine closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, "Erik. I," she sighed, "Ok, let's just," but the loud ringing of her cell phone interrupted her. "Shit," she put her index finger in the air, "one second." Flipping open her cell she pressed 'answer' before checking the caller I.D. "Hello?"

"Chris...Christine?"

"Yes, who is this?"

"It's, uh, it's m…me Meg."

Christine thought she heard her crying faintly. "Meg? What's wrong? Where are you?"

"I'm outside the, the club. I," she sobbed lightly, "I fell, oh God, Christine I need your help…please."

"Meg, I'll be right there, don't move."

"I can't," she whispered after she heard the phone click.

"Erik," Christine turned back to him. "I have to go right now, Meg fell outside the club, I'm not sure exactly what's going on but I have to go help her."

"I'll come with." Before she could argue with him he hailed a cab and opened the door for her.

She stepped into the cab and before she was even sitting she half-yelled "Livewire, and step on it!" Before Erik had closed the door the cabby had taken off down the street.

As always I hope you enjoyed. If you read my story, even just this once, please have the courtesy of reviewing, whether you liked it or not. Constructive criticism is always encouraged, however do NOT leave a comment telling me all about how much you hate my story and what an awful author I am. If you don't like it that's fine you are entitled to your opinion. Just tell me what I can to do make it better. Thanks for reading! –Caitlynjennifer