(Thanks to Neil Purling for giving me the inspiration to write this.)

Alice was exhausted.

She had been awake for a long time already. The events of the past week have been taking their toll on her, and now more than ever she just wanted to close her eyes and sleep.

But she couldn't. She would close her eyes, and try to relax, but sleep wouldn't come. It was as if she was one of those little wind-up toys and she had been wound all the way up, but the key was stuck, trapped in that feeling of being just about to run, to move, to do anything but stay put.

The bus was currently in standstill traffic, just before the junction of the border. Around it was currently a sea of red and white headlights and honking horns. Kara was sitting next to her, an arm around Alice protectively and reassuringly. Luther was sitting in the row directly across from them, his head high, looking ahead to see the direction of the bus. It was comforting, having those two near. Alice knew that neither would let anything bad happen to her.

Dakota wouldn't either, she thought. Her hand went to the necklace that he gave her, giving it a gentle squeeze. She wished that he was here with her, that he could make things safe. But she could tell that he had needed to stay, though for what reason she didn't know. All she did know was that he wanted to help others and that there was something very big going on.

The bus began to pull away from the queue of other buses waiting to cross the border and stopped in front of a large building with the words "Canada Border Inspection Station." Other passengers were standing up, and so Kara, Luther, and Alice stood up as well, Alice automatically taking hold of Kara's hand. They stepped off the bus, unsure of what was happening.

"Excuse me, what's going on?" Alice heard Kara ask a nearby guard. Through her voice, it was clear this wasn't part of the plan.

"Border control," the officer responded. "All passengers must leave the bus. Move along." The tone was impersonal, sounding more like a programmed response than any android Alice has met, and it made Alice trust them just a little less.

The group of three then entered the building, where they were directed by another officer to join a line of people waiting. Kara peered ahead and noticed a sign.

"They're doing temperature checks," she said, her voice fearful. "We're trapped."

That's bad. Alice remembered from the bus station that androids could be recognized by a temperature check. "What're we gonna do, Kara?" the girl asked, gripping herself closer to Kara.

After a moment's pause, Kara spoke. "Don't worry, Alice, we'll be fine," she said, rubbing the girl's back to comfort her. There was an unspoken added line, we have to be. Alice let go of the deviant, but stayed close.

What do we do? Alice thought to herself. It frustrated her sometimes that she couldn't do anything to help a situation. That she could only sit by, not yet able to make an impact.

What about Dakota? If he couldn't be here right now, maybe he would have an idea of how to fix it. Alice remembered that he talked to her with only his thoughts, maybe she could try it. How did he say it worked? It took a moment before she recalled what he said, his voice echoing in her memory.

"Just focus on me, and think of what you want to say…"

She closed her eyes, trying to narrow her focus to Dakota, to picture his face. But the details kept slipping from her grasp. There was just too much going on. She couldn't concentrate. Dejected, she gave up on her attempt to contact Dakota, and instead tried to look around to see what, if anything, was going on.

She spotted Rose, the woman that had given them a safe place to stay for a night. Seeing someone that was both familiar and friendly calmed Alice down a little. At least she, Kara, and Luther were not alone.

Luther was another thing. She doesn't know much about him, other than that he used to work for Zlatko. A shiver ran up her spine at the thought of that man. But Luther was different now. He was big and a little scary-looking, but he was very gentle and caring in the way he acted. He reminded Alice of a story she used to read when she was even younger, Clifford the Big Red Dog. It was about a big dog that couldn't even fit into a house being the sweetest and most helpful he could be.

She was pulled from her thoughts as Kara shifted her body. "Rose?" The deviant nearly whispered in surprise. It almost seemed like Rose had heard Kara, for she turned in the direction of the trio. Kara slowly took hold of Alice's hand. Rose and Kara seemed to communicate silently, and after a moment seemed to agree upon something. Kara turned to Luther. "Wait for me. I won't be long."

Kara led Alice to a hallway with a bathroom. Before they could make it, however, they were confronted by another guard. "Where do you think you're going?"

"My daughter needs to go to the bathroom," Kara said to the guard. Hesitantly, he let the two pass. Alice always liked it when Kara referenced her as her daughter. Oddly enough, it made her feel like part of a family.

They walked into the bathroom, and Kara stepped over to the row of sinks. Gripping the edge of the washbasin, the deviant let out a few quiet sobs, tears rolling down the side of her face. Alice's heart twisted seeing Kara so upset. Wanting to comfort her, to make her feel better, Alice stepped up and hugged Kara. It's okay, Kara, the young girl thought. We'll be okay. Something inside her knew that this was true, that things really will work out fine.

The door opened, and Kara looked up, tense. But when she saw who was stepping through, she instantly relaxed. "Rose…"

Rose walked up to Kara and Alice. "I'm so glad you're safe." She hugged them both. "We saw the Jericho raid on TV, I was terrified, I thought you might've been killed." She finally let them go, taking a step back. "Thank God you're alright."

"They're checking for androids," Kara exclaimed, becoming nearly hysterical. "We won't make it through-"

Rose put a hand on Kara's shoulder to steady her. "You have to," she stated firmly. "You know what they'll do if they catch you." Alice didn't need to know what would happen. All she knew was that it meant Kara would be hurt and they'd be separated.

"What's happening with Markus?" Kara asked, her voice still anxious, but no longer on the verge of tears. Alice knew that Markus was also where Dakota was.

"He's protesting peacefully outside one of the android camps," Rose told the deviant. "Whatever happens now, he's already made the history books." Those words meant more than just the occurrence of a big event. It meant that whatever came of it, something is going to change.

"You're leaving too?" Kara asked, getting past her own fears to understand what Rose's presence indicated.

The stout mother put her hand on Kara's shoulder again, to imply the seriousness of the situation. "They were searching for androids door to door. We had to leave before someone turned us in."

"What about the others?"

"They're crossing the river as we speak. Adam and I are gonna meet them on the other side." Trying to ease the deviant's mind Rose asked, "What about Dakota? I haven't heard from him. Is he okay?"

"Yeah," Kara responded, wiping some tears from her eyes. "We got separated for a bit, but we all made it out all right."

Rose turned, as if to possibly leave, but Kara spoke again. "Rose." Her voice was heavy now, filled with absolute solemnity. "If anything should happen…"

"I'll be there, Kara." The woman gave Alice and Kara another hug and then turned, reluctantly, not wanting to let them out of her sight, to leave.

After Alice had time to use the bathroom, she and Kara left the room. Rose's son, Adam, was standing nearby. "I couldn't understand why my mom wanted to help you guys," he began as they were passing him. Kara stopped to hear. "But seeing what Markus is doing, made me realize she was right. You're alive, you deserve to be free. I just…" he paused, searching for the right words, "…hope people will realize that someday." He left, heading back to the line. For a brief moment, Alice could see Rose smiling at him, a look of pride upon her face.

Kara and Alice joined the line with Luther. Alice still didn't know what was going to happen, but she trusted Kara. No matter what happened, they would be together. As they were called up to the desk, a sense of peace went through the girl, despite the tension of the moment. A part of her was sure that things would be okay, and that they'd be safe.

As the man at the desk scanned the group's temperature, the girl slowly took a deep breath, ready for what came next. If it was to run, she would run. If it was to hide, she would hide. But it would be with Kara, no matter what. She could lose the person who's become a mother to her. It happened once before, and it was the most painful and frightening point of her life.

"Please," Kara quietly pleaded to the customs officer. As the results of the scan appeared on his screen. "We just want to be free."

The officer looked up at a television that was mounted on the wall. It was tuned to a news station covering the protest at one of the android camps. Dakota's there, Alice realized. I hope he's okay. The officer then turned back to the three standing before him, sympathy in his eyes. "Welcome to Canada," he said, stamping their passports and sliding them back to the trio.