(Back to Chloe's)

Chloe walked resolutely in front of Derek. They were heading to a gas station. Derek had said they needed to "refuel" but Chloe knew he didn't want to spend another second with her. His silence proved he was angry with her, even if he hadn't ranted about it. Chloe was spending a lot of time trying to convince herself she still felt the same way about Derek that she always did-even if at the time, it sure seemed like…it had seemed like she was realizing what she wanted all along.

It's this weird fit talking, Chloe reassured herself. Besides being hot, Chloe was feeling light-headed. It felt like she'd been sitting in a hot-tub for way too long. For whatever reason she felt like she did feel like that, she hadn't been feeling like that when she and Derek had kissed. In fact, when they'd kissed, she'd felt clear headed.

That's not necessarily true. It could have crept up on you.

As for Derek, he was obviously embarrassed and frustrated that he'd done such a stupid thing in the spirit of the moment. It was obvious.

Isn't it?

Chloe was carrying her outer layers in her arms. The energy it took her was unbelievable. Chloe had just had food last night. The only reason she could think of to make her so lethargic was that she hadn't finished her hotdog. That and the exhausting experience of last night.

Chloe and Derek were on a back-road. A way back road. It was the kind of road Chloe would have been scared to death to be on if Derek wasn't right behind her. She glanced back, making sure he really was. He walked so quietly, it was unnerving. When she saw he was following right behind her, she swiveled her head back around to watch where she was going. The sudden motion made her sick to her stomach, and her vision blurred and spun as if she'd just been spinning on a Gravitron. She tried to steady herself, but ended up leaning to the side. She had to drop the bundle of clothes on the ground and grab her head to keep from falling.

"Chloe?" Derek's voice came from behind her. He sounded annoyed. No. He sounded worried. Chloe shut her eyes, trying to stop the nausea, but as soon as they closed, she lost her balance and she tipped forward. Derek grabbed her before she hit the ground. "Chloe?"

She couldn't answer.

"Chloe!" He shouted. The noise hurt her ears, and she fell forward out of his arms, onto the muddy road. She curled up, trying to resist the urge to throw-up. Derek's hands slid her shirt up her back, and she shivered with the intense cold. The shaking racked her whole body, making Derek put the shirt back in place.

"Hold on, Chloe," He told her. He put his arms around her, and lifted her off the ground. The motion made her head want to explode, and she blacked out.

(Derek's point of view)

Derek swore in frustration when he realized she'd past-out. He didn't want her asleep. He wanted her to wake up, and try to resist this. But he also didn't want her wasting energy.

When he saw her on the road in front of him, collapsing, he guessed right away what was going on. He had lifted up her shirt to see where the dart had gone in, and his suspicions were confirmed. The spot where she'd been hit was raised and swollen, and her whole upper back was red and inflamed. She'd started shivering and he'd rushed fix her shirt, blushing a little bit.

But now he knew what he had to do. They'd wasted so much time, if there was any chance of saving her, he needed to get her to a doctor.

I should have guessed as soon as I saw her face. No! As soon as I realized we were the only two left. Instead of making out with her I…

If Derek's hands weren't otherwise engaged, he would have slammed his forehead in frustration.

And where did that come from, anyway? I mean, I guessed I felt bad for her when I found out my own brother was leading her on….Dammit!

Derek didn't have any idea where the nearest hospital was, or how he'd get Chloe there. The whole reason they'd taken the back roads was because of how he looked. No one thought a kid with a bloody chest wearing no shirt carrying an unconscious girl looked…unsuspicious.

To say the least!

Derek saw an old woman getting into her car up ahead. He was struggling with better judgment, his pride, and Chloe.

"Ma'am!" He called. Normally, if anyone saw a six-foot plus shirtless boy running at them, they'd cut and run, but thankfully for Derek, the woman didn't.

"Yes?"

"Are you…uh…going into town?" Every fiber of Derek's nature was telling him not to do this. Every piece of common sense told him not to think she'd let him go with her. He wouldn't. He didn't want her to. But one look at Chloe and he kept talking. "Please, my…sister." Chloe's hair was still faintly black. With any luck, he was believable.

He gestured to her. "Please, if you could just trust me…." Derek wasn't good at begging, and he was glad when the woman cut him off.

"Don't worry. I've lived here long enough to know strange things hap…"

"Hey sonny boy! Granny bothering you? I'll help you and your sis!" A toothless man came sauntering to the end of his driveway. He Derek knew better than to think he'd actually help. "Let me take 'er."

The woman indicated to Derek to put Chloe in the car. He did without missing a beat. Derek stood, ready to defend himself if he needed to. He was wasting too much time.

"Get outa here, Hank, you old coot!" The woman yelled, waving a gun. Derek's eyes widened when he realized she'd been ready to shoot him.

"Aww, come on…." The man took a step forward. Derek followed the woman's lead and got in the car.

"Where to?"