"Where are we?" Max tried to sit up and look around, but Kate's arms held her back. Her voice was weak and slow, and she was speaking so quietly that Kate had to strain to understand what she was saying.

"Easy there Max," said Kate, stroking her friend's hair. "We're in Tori's car, a little way outside Arcadia."

"The storm?"

"It's over, Max," said Victoria, joining in the conversation. "I'm glad you're back with us," she continued, smiling. "I'm glad you're okay." At the word 'okay', Kate shot her a glare, and she shrank back. "I'm… I'm sorry Max," she said, quickly, "I didn't mean that… it was wrong."

"S'okay," mumbled Max.

"No, it's not," said Victoria, "but I am sorry. That was insensitive of me."

"Max, what do you remember?" said Kate, gently. She knew she was treading very dangerously, but she felt it was important to ground her in reality. In response, Max struggled to sit up, and this time Kate helped her to sit upright. She took a moment to look around her, then looked back at Kate, who smiled.

"Where am I?" asked Max.

Victoria started. "You're in my car, don't you remember…" she said, then fell silent after a glare from Kate. "I mean…"

"You're in Tori's car," said Kate, gently, silently shushing Victoria. "Tori's here, and me. We're just outside Arcadia. We found you near the lighthouse and brought you here, out of the way."

"The storm?"

"It's over, Max," said Kate, smiling bravely. Max looked around a little before burying her head in Kate's shoulder.

"Where's Chloe?" she asked in a voice that broke Kate's heart. "Where's my Chloe?"

Victoria looked away, unable to prevent tears from forming around her eyes. Kate just hugged Max tightly to her chest. "I'm so sorry, Max," she whispered. "Chloe's… Chloe's gone."

"She left me?"

Kate nodded. "I'm so sorry, Max," she repeated. "Can you… can you remember what happened?"

Max fell silent, keeping her head firmly buried in Kate's embrace. "I'm… I'm not sure," she said. "I think that I…"

"It's okay, Max," whispered Kate. "Take your time. We're here for you, and we're not going anywhere."

"… and then she…" Max dissolved into more tears as she recounted Chloe's final words to her, while Kate held her close.

"It's okay to be sad, Max," she said, softly. "It's okay to be mad, too. What Chloe did for you is..."

"…it's heroic," said Victoria, breaking her silence and gaining an appreciative nod from Kate. "It's nothing short of heroic, Max. She loved you so much that she…" Victoria broke off into more silence, and Kate thought quickly.

"She did love you," said Kate, filling the gap, "she loved you more than we gave her credit for."

"It's true," said Victoria. "I mean, of all people, I gave her a hard time more than most, but she really cared for you, Max. To do what she did took real bravery. I… I don't know if I could do that."

"But she left me," said Max.

"Yes, but why did she do what she did?" asked Victoria. "I know Chloe, and I know she wouldn't just give up, or leave you. She must have had a bloody good reason to do what she did. Can you, you know, just rewind?" Max shook her head.

"It's too far," she said, but then she froze, then looked up at Kate. "But…"

"But what?"

"She made me take a photo of her, just before we… I mean, before she…"

"Where were you?" said Victoria.

"In the lighthouse. It was before we went outside and she, you know…"

"So can you travel back to the photo?"

Max thought about it and nodded, finally sitting up straight. Her eyes were drying as she looked at Victoria and Kate with a renewed vigour. "I think I could," she said, hesitantly, "but I don't know what I can do when I get there."

"Not a problem," said Victoria. "We'll help you with that. We have plenty of time, right? We can sit here, grab something to eat and drink, and sort out a plan. Don't forget, also, we're not that far away when you go back. Kate drove to the lighthouse car park, and we were making our way up to the lighthouse, hoping to find you. We're probably only a few minutes away from you, so if you can stall a little, give us time to get up there…"

"No!" said Max, suddenly. "You can't!"

"What?"

"You can't do that, Jefferson has a gun," said Max, adamantly. "He's not afraid to use it, either. I can't… I can't lose you, too."

"Don't worry, Max," said Kate, trying to sound as soothing as possible, "you're not going to lose anyone any more, but we want to help you get Chloe back, okay?"

"Okay."

"So," said Victoria, breaking into the conversation, "you were sat on the chair opposite Chloe."

"Yes."

"Your hands were tied behind you?"

"No, I was taking the photo, he allowed Chloe to untie me temporarily, then she tied me back up again." Max's lips began to tremble, so Kate immediately took her hand in hers.

"You're doing really well," said Kate. "We're both here to help you, Max."

"Thanks," said Max, slowly calming down.

"So, you're in the chair, and both you and Chloe are untied," said Victoria. "That's a good start. Who else is there?"

"Jefferson."

"Was Nathan in the room as well?"

Max screwed up her face, trying to remember. "I… don't know," she said finally. "I know he left to go put stuff in the car, then came back, but I'm not sure he was there at that point. I'm sorry."

"No, it's fine," said Kate, quickly. "We can work around this." She thought for a moment. "So we're not sure if Nathan and Jefferson are there, or just Jefferson."

"Max, can you remember if Jefferson had his gun?" asked Victoria.

"I… don't know," said Max, thinking hard. "Although if both Chloe and I were untied, I'd guess he probably did have it."

"Okay, so let's assume he has his gun. It would be pointed at…"

"Me or Chloe, I'm not sure," said Max.

"Probably Max," said Kate.

"You think so?" asked Victoria.

"Look, after what Chloe did, what do you think is the best way for Jefferson to gain her cooperation?" As Kate talked, realisation dawned on Victoria.

"By threatening Max," she said, and Kate nodded. "It would be the perfect way to convince Chloe to do what he wanted."

"So his gun was pointed at me," said Max. She was sounding far stronger than earlier. "Yes, I think you may be right, I think it was." She looked directly at Victoria. "What do I do?"

"Can you grab Jefferson's gun?"

Max thought for a second, then shook her head. "I don't think so. As soon as I make a move, he'd shoot me."

"No, I'm with Tori on this," said Kate. "I'm sure there's a way for you to get the gun from Mr Jefferson. There must be a way."

"I don't see how." Max sighed. "This is hopeless, I'm never going to get her back, am I?"

"No, don't think that way, Max, okay?" said Victoria, quickly. "Kate and I are here, we're with you right now. We can sort it out, don't you worry your head about that."

"Max, how are you feeling?" said Kate.

"Like shit," said Max. Kate grimaced at Max's language but bit her lip and kept silent.

"We were worried about you," Kate said, and Max smiled.

"Thanks, Kate, and thanks Tori," she said. "I'm sorry I was crap."

"No, you weren't," insisted Victoria. "I mean, you scared us a little because you were so quiet, but you've been through so much shit, we understood. We just wanted to be there for you." She fell silent for a moment, but then spoke again. "So, getting this gun. I think that's probably your best option."

"I agree," said Kate. "The question is, how can Max get it? And how can she get it without actually getting shot?"

"More importantly, though," said Victoria, "is Max." She turned to face Max. "Can you do this? I mean, are you okay to go through this?"

Max nodded. "if it brings back my Chloe," she said, a steely determination now set on her face, "then I'll do it."

"Good," said Victoria, "because I think I know how you can do this."

The familiar white-out and rushing wind enveloped Max as the Polaroid faded from view, together with the car, Kate and Victoria. Her head began to pound and she felt the familiar trickle from her nose as she hoped desperately this would be the last time she'd ever have to do this.

With trembling hands, Max raised the camera to her eyeline. She looked at Chloe, standing in front of her as she assumed a special pose. She was standing with legs apart in a classic model stance, one hip higher than the other, arms folded across her chest, and with a small smirk on her lips. She saw Max looking at her and blew her a small kiss, noting Max's small smile in response. Max concentrated, looking intently through the viewfinder in order to frame Chloe perfectly. She was aware of Jefferson watching her critically. She took a half-step backwards, bringing Chloe into focus and gently massaged the shutter. The familiar click-whirr brought a wave of nostalgia washing over her before the camera spat the photo out. She caught it and shook it twice before putting the camera away again. Before she could take a look at the photo, though, Jefferson had taken it and was gazing critically at it.

"Not bad, Max," he said, nodding. "Not bad at all. I like how you've framed Chloe perfectly in the left third of the photograph, leaving room for the lighthouse interior. You've also captured the lighting well, of course, white balance is difficult on an instant camera, but you've compensated well." He pursed his lips. "Are you sure this will be your last photograph?"

Max didn't give him a chance to answer. Her eyes took in the room in an instant; Jefferson looking at the photograph, the interior of the lighthouse, the sound of the wind and rain outside, Chloe, alive and well, still standing in her pose, and the lack of Nathan in the room. She knew she didn't have long.

"Actually, I think I've time for one more photograph," she said, raising the camera to her eye and pointing it at Jefferson. "Always take the shot," she muttered as Jefferson involuntarily looked straight at her as she pressed the shutter release and closed her eyes. The flash was bright and sudden, and had the desired effect. Jefferson roared as he was temporarily blinded and Max dropped the camera, quickly closing the gap and grabbing Jefferson's gun.

However, he recovered far quicker than she thought possible; his hand was still clamped around the gun and he wasn't letting go. With all her strength she tried to prise the weapon out of his hand, but he held on grimly, flailing out with his hands and connecting with the back of her head.

Max felt the world jolt a little as Jefferson's fist connected. Her ears began to ring and her vision blurred for just a second. Somehow, she managed to hang on to the gun and continue to fight for it, but help was on its way.

With a roar, Chloe jumped on Jefferson's back, pounding his head with her fists and wrapping her hands around his neck. He tried to shake her off but she grimly hung on, getting a bloody nose for her troubles as her head connected with his.

"Get. Off. Me!" shouted Jefferson, as he tried to free himself. He swung his right shoulder down and Chloe went with him, spinning over his back and losing her grip as she landed on the floor near the door. Max was still grappling for the gun as it suddenly went off, the shot unnaturally loud in the small interior. She froze and Jefferson took advantage, snatching the gun back and taking a few steps away, pointing the gun at her.

"Now look what you made me do," he said, nodding at Chloe, who was on the floor, blood seeping out in a puddle around her.

"No!" yelled Max, tears stinging her eyes as she locked eyes with Chloe, who was looking desperately at her, her chest heaving for breath. She immediately lifted her right hand and felt the world rush backwards around her.

o_o_o

As time slowed and resumed, Max found herself behind Jefferson as he was still temporarily blinded. This time, instead of going straight for the gun, she looked around and her eyes fell on a stack of old books. She picked one up and swung it with all her might at Jefferson's head. The old book, dusty but bound in a real leather cover, connected with his head and knocked him immediately to the floor, where he dropped the gun, his hands flying out to his head as he roared in pain. Max didn't waste any time in picking up the gun, she knew he wasn't knocked out and she only had a second before he'd recover.

"Max!" yelled Chloe, and Max nodded, passing the gun across to her friend and going to stand by her. Chloe raised the gun, her hand trembling slightly as Jefferson slowly got to his feet.

"You bitch!" he growled, but stayed still. "Hand that over," he continued, motioning towards the gun in Chloe's hands.

"I don't think so," said Chloe. "Now it's our turn."