Disclaimer: Although this story is from my very, very strange mind, the characters in it belong to the creators of Sliders. I found the beginning of this story I wrote on an old floppy disk and have decided to try and finish it fifteen years later :P

Quinn opened the vortex and stared at it for a second. The blue swirling tunnel gave off a certain calm and tranquil presence, a far cry from the scene that had been playing out before him.

Wade and Maggie were at it again. This had been the third argument today and it wasn't even one o'clock yet. If it wasn't Wade overreacting or getting jealous, it was Maggie sniping and causing trouble. Why couldn't these two just get along?

Something inside Quinn snapped, "That's it!" he screamed "Either you two sort this out now, or don't bother sliding," and with that he vanished into the vortex. Rembrandt turned to the girls and slowly shook his head and added before jumping. "Why can't you two ever play nice? Or at least fair!"

Leaving the girls alone Maggie turned to Wade "Maybe you should stay here Wade. Maybe you're not up to sliding. Oh, and don't worry about Quinn, I'm sure he won't miss you that much. Not with me around to help him forget anyway!"

That was it! That match had finally lit the spark. Something inside Wade exploded. All the anger, all the jealousy and all the resentment she had been holding onto because of Maggie was finally released. It all happened so fast that Wade wasn't sure what she had actually done at first. All she knew was Maggie's face had connected with her fist and she was flying backwards into the vortex.

Now that was self-satisfying Wade thought as she jumped into the unknown.

Quinn was helping Maggie to her feet as Wade fell through the air and landed with a bump on the ground. "Hey, what happened to your face?" he inquired referring to the red swelling mark that was forming. Putting her hand instinctually to the face forming bruise, Maggie smiled sweetly "Oh, thanks Quinn. I almost forgot," and with that launched herself at Wade.

They went flying, both hitting the ground with a thump. "What the….," Quinn asked astonished.

Maggie was on top of Wade pulling at her hair "Bitch!" she yelled "You're going to pay for…. ouch!" Distracted by the blood and the bite marks on her arm, Wade was now at an advantage.

She did not know where she had got her strength from. Maybe it was all the anger and hate she had been carrying for so long, she did not know. All she knew was she was kicking the crap out of Maggie 'Captain Cleavage' Beckett. "Whore!" she screamed as she bashed her head back against the ground.

All of a sudden Wade felt herself being pulled up off Maggie. "Hey Xena, Gabrielle. Cool it will you,"

"Remmie let me go!" she screamed kicking her legs like a small child.

"Psycho!" Maggie screamed as Quinn helped her up.

"You alright?" he asked.

Seeing Quinn so concerned about Maggie felt like a kick in the ribs, there was no fight left in her. She stopped struggling and quickly quietened waiting for Quinn's reprimand. It never came! He just looked at her with disappointment and that was a hell of a lot worse. She could feel the tears welling up. Avoiding his stare, she adverted her eyes towards Remmie. He knew she was going to break down, so he dropped her softly to the ground.

Quickly she hurried past Remmie off down an embankment towards the city below. "WADE!" Quinn called making his way after her. Remmie stopped him.

"Rem out of me way,"

"Qball let me talk to her,"

"No! I need to!" he defied rushing past him.

"Wade. Wade wait up," Quinn called catching up with her.

"Leave me alone Quinn," she sniffed rubbing her red puffy eyes against the sleeve of her shirt.

"No Wade I won't," she looked up into his clear blue eyes which were searching for an answer. An answer that would tell him what the hell was going on, an answer that would tell him why she was so distant, why he couldn't talk to or hold her like he used to.

"Talk to me. Please!" he begged "I can't take this anymore. I can't take the way we are with each other,"

"Who's faults that?" she retorted bitterly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked defensively.

"You act like this is all because of me! Yes Quinn were distant now, but you're the one who pushes me away. You run to her!"

"No I don't,"

"Yes. Yes you do! Quinn you never want to be near me. You avoid spending time with me, you make me feel guilty for wanting to be with you and…and you always take her side," she added with more than a little resentment.

Quinn stayed silent. How can I answer that, he thought. Everything's such a mess. "I've let you down, haven't I," he whispered, tears forming in his eyes.

"No," Wade reached up and stroked his hair softly. She gave him a weak smile "All I want is My Quinn back,"

"I am your Quinn,"

"No! No you're not," she shook her head passionately "Sliding's changed you! You've… You've become someone I don't know anymore,"

Quinn shook his head and rolled his eyes, "Don't be so melodramatic Wade,"

"I'm not," she sighed heavily "What's the point Quinn? You don't value anything I say anymore anyway,"

"That's not fair! Why are you giving me such a hard time Wade? You're the one in the wrong. You're the one who punched Maggie,"

"She started it,"

"Look I know it's hard for you. And I know you've issues with her….but.."

"But what?" she demanded, her voice rising and her composure crumbling more by every second "Are you saying that this is all my fault?" she yelled. "Oh it must be!" she continued sarcastically "Couldn't be poor defenceless Maggie's fault now could it,"

Quinn bit the inside of his lip hard. He'd had enough of this. Why the hell was he getting attacked? What had he done wrong?"Oh, I can't bloody talk to you when you're being like this,"

"Fine!" she yelled, "I'll see you later then," she began to head off in the other direction, but Quinn called out to her "Where are you going?"

"I want to be on my own, I'll see you back at the hotel," And with that she trotted off into the distance.

"Women!" Quinn stated shaking his head.

"Where's Wade gone?" Remmie asked

"Wants some time alone 'apparently'. Something has upset her, but I haven't got a clue what. Or how to deal with it," he sighed.

Remmie swung his arm around Quinn shoulder as they started to make their way back to Maggie. "Qball, have I ever told you the story of the boy genius and the computer girl who was very much in love with him!"

Quinn eyed him sceptically "No… But I have a feeling that you're about to,"

Remmie grinned "Well it starts like this! There once was a beautiful brunette who worked at a place called 'computer hell!' There she fell..."

Wade was still fuming from the events of earlier as she made her way into town. "Sometimes Quinn Mallory you can be the most stupidest man on the planet," she huffed "Why do you always take her side? Why don't you ever take mine? And why can't you look at me the way you look at her?" she sighed heavily.

"Do you often talk to yourself?" A voice asked from behind her. Wade spun round fast. She hadn't remembered anyone behind her on the journey into town. And she had come a different route from the others – she'd made sure of that.

"Do you always sneak up on people?" Wade retorted slightly annoyed. Annoyed that this 'tall, dark, very handsome man' had made her lose her trail of thought.

"Only when the person in question is as pretty as you,"

Wade rolled her eyes sceptically. However this young man was incredibly cute and his smile was extremely charming.

"So, does that pretty face have a name?"

"Wade. Wade Welles,"

"Well Wade nice to meet you. I'm Cain," he answered

Wade's smile warmly greeted this introduction. "Would you care to join me for a drink?" he asked.

"I'd love to. How about the hotel bar," she suggested indicating to the Chandler "I'm supposed to meet up with some friends there later,"

"So anyway this genius doesn't know what to do," Remmie continued telling Quinn as they walked a few feet behind Maggie. "He's very much in love with this girl but he also finds the new girl rather attractive, well actually he thinks she's pretty damn hot…."

"And you don't I suppose," Quinn inquired.

"She's pretty, but she's not my type… anyhow if you'll let me finish,"

Quinn held his hands up amused "Sorry, go right ahead,"

"This guy well he may be a genius when it comes to facts and figures. But when it comes to women well he's… he's a real dumbass!"

"Thanks!" Quinn mocked hurt "So what does Cupid here suggest I do?"

"Tell… No show the girl of his dreams that he loves her. Because I know for a fact that she loves you,"

"It's not that easy Rem,"

"Why the hell not?" Remmie asked "Quinn if you love her, then show her cause right now she feels like second best,"

By the time they had made their way through town and to the Chandler, Wade was happy chatting away to this mystery man. Maggie was the first to notice her and took great delight in pointing her and her stranger out to the boys.

"I don't think Wade will be joining us for dinner tonight," Maggie told them.

"Why?" Quinn asked. He had not yet located her, when Maggie pointed her out.

"She seems rather taken with the company she's keeping," Maggie added smugly.

Quinn looked over to the bar finally noticing Wade with this stranger that Maggie mentioned. He felt his heart drop! Maggie was right, she was quite clearly taken with him. Rembrandt noticed how dejected his friend looked and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"They're just talking Qball,"

"None of my business what she does," Quinn answered bitterly "She's a big girl Remmie. I'm not her keeper," He quickly rose from his chair and headed over to Wade. "Here take this," He threw a key card for the room down in front of her "You'll need it IF you decide to come back to the room this evening," He raised his eyebrows at her before giving her a disgusted look and walking away.

Wade looked up surprised as he threw the card at her and even more shocked when he inferred that she'd be going home with the guy from the bar. Rising quickly she apologised to her companion and made after him.

"QUINN!" she yelled as she strode through the lobby. Turning sharply he met her dark burning eyes and thunderous look with trepidation.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" she asked, her voice was low and controlled. Quinn would have preferred her screaming. Somehow despite her petite frame she was frighting when angry.

"Last time I checked I was your friend and I'm just looking out for you,"

"My friend!" Wade snorted "Oh please, you haven't been much of a friend lately,"

"That's not fair," Quinn began "I…,"

"Friends don't abandon each other when things get tough," Wade snapped back "Friends don't make each other feel worthless and small,"

"And I've made you feel like that?" Quinn asked defensively.

"Yes!" Wade answered pointedly "Yes you do. You just threw the key to the room at me and basically inferred that I'd be too busy getting some to come back tonight,"

"Wade…"

"The times you've come back the morning after the night before having played the hero to your latest 'squeeze of the slide'," Quinn could hear the bitterness in her voice. "Not once…" she carried on, waving her arms around dramatically in frustration. "…not once did I make you feel bad or dirty for doing so. Not once did I judge you,"

"Wade…"

"I'VE NOT FINISHED!" she yelled, making him flinch and the lobby go quiet "You have the audacity to accuse me of what Quinn? Sleeping with a stranger. I am not you and quite frankly it wouldn't be your damn business if I did,"

"You looked pretty close for where I was sitting," Quinn attempted to justify.

"So?" Wade responded "I accepted a drink off a guy who helped me find my way into town. I assumed a thank you would be enough, but if we go by your theory I must sleep with him so not to offend him,"

"Very funny," he answered recognising her attempt at sarcasm "Maybe you should skip coming home tonight,"

"Maybe I should just skip the slide" Wade retorted.

"Maybe you should," The words left Quinn's mouth before he had thought them through and instantly regretted them.

He saw the pain in Wade's eyes and he knew he couldn't take it back. "Wade I'm sorry," He moved forward with the intention of pulling her into his arms but she stepped back. She looked devastated and it was his doing. "I didn't mean…"

"Goodbye Quinn," she responded interrupting his attempt of an apology. Turning from him she made her way back towards the bar.

Quinn felt retched. He hadn't meant for that to come out. He was just angry and felt under attack. He sighed and turned to find Rembrandt staring at him in disbelief.

Wade was a mixed series of emotions. She was angry, hurt and disappointed to name but a few. She couldn't believe he thought so little of her. She had spent so long mooning over him that no other man had even shown up on her radar. And for what? He had pushed her aside, discarded her and had moved on. But she couldn't, she wished she could, but Quinn would always own her heart. Knowing that he thought so little of her hurt. Wasn't he confusing her with Maggie?

'Her underwear is up and down more often than a seesaw' Wade thought bitterly.

"Is there a problem?" Cain asked as Wade made her way back to the table.

"No," she smiled "Everything's fine,"

"A friend of yours?" he asked, indicating to a recently departed Quinn.

"Yeah," she sighed rolling her eyes.

"Am I getting into the middle of something," he inquired.

She sighed, exhausted with the whole 'Unrequited love story' that was her life. "It's complicated," she told him.

"Complicated in the romantic sense usually means that you're not on the same page,"

"Right now, I don't think we're even reading the same book," Wade answered dejectedly.

"Do you know what you need?" Cain rose abruptly making Wade look up from the table.

Looking at him blankly, she waited for him to continue.

"Some fun," he finished, taking her hand and leading her from the table.

"Where are we going?" she inquired.

"You'll see," he grinned, catching Quinn's eye as they walked to the door.