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Amanda was flat out drunk. Alex had never seen her this drunk before. She didn't have the typical slurred words or stumbling walk, but you could just look at her and tell she was drunk. But that was their intentions when all four of them, and Jake, went out. Girl's night out, or so Sasche had said.

At the bar, Alex grinned as she watched her sister on the dance floor. Even stone drunk the girl had moves... Sasche and Jake had picked them all up at Alex's in a convertible and then it was off downtown to pick up Monica at the nest. With the top down and a warm summer night, they were all smiles and laughter by the time they'd had enough driving the main drag.

Sasche was in a pair of leather pants and a cropped t-shirt, Monica was in a mini-dress and Amanda was in a black tank top with a sarong wrapped around her and tied at the hip. They'd been here for a few hours and Jake had been labeled the designated driver. He said he didn't mind being the designated driver, so long as Alex helped him ride shotgun and keep the others in line. That meant no drinking for Alex either.

Until now, the beat of the club had been fast, hard and throbbing, the bass beats something vibrating their drinks. Now the music slowed down a bit and took on a bluesy soulful tone.

Across town in the nest, Frank was beating the hell out of the punching bag in the gym. He'd stripped down to just a pair of shorts after Monica left with everyone else. He'd heard Alex and Monica talk about going dancing with Sasche and Amanda. This time they didn't invite him along. The fact that they didn't invite Cody along either was lost on him. The longer he thought about Mandy, the more he worked the bag over.

'I'm in a lonely room
I'm the only one who sings the lovesick blues
Winter's walking up the avenue
I ain't seen the sun shine since the sixth of June
But I tell you this...'

Frank didn't even hear the song come on over the radio. The only thing that registered was the slower rhythm and a few of the lyrics.

'don't call a doctor
I'm gonna get better, yeah
Don't run for the priest
I'm gonna find some faith
Just because I burned my bible baby,
it don't mean I'm too sick to pray.'

The same piece of music was being played at the club. The DJ had played it as part of a request. Amanda welcomed the slower beat and let it guide her body as she danced with this guy on the floor. He'd been watching her all night and finally worked up the nerve to ask her to dance. She felt his hands on her hips, pulling her closer to him with the sway of her hips. All she wanted to do was for one moment forget about Frank.

'I'm in a crowded place
I can't recognize a single face
I can't say the thrill is in the chase
well, I ain't got the legs,
ain't got the legs to run this race
but I tell you this...

don't call a doctor
I'm gonna get better, yeah
Don't run for the priest
I'm gonna find some faith
Just because I burned my bible baby,
it don't mean I'm too sick to pray.'

On the other side of the club a group of patrons had gotten a bit too intoxicated and a shoving match started up. In no time the fighting spread throughout the club onto the dance floor. Alex and Jake were on it, hustling down from the second level to the pit where the dance floor was. In house security tried to stop them, but a flash of their badges allowed them past. Quickly they got Sasche and Monica pulled aside out of the fray. Alex turned around for Amanda...

'Ease the pain...

don't call a doctor
I'm gonna get better, yeah
Don't run for the priest
I'm gonna find some faith
Just because I burned my bible baby,
it don't mean I'm too sick to pray.'

Frank's body was wringing wet with sweat. He'd been at the punching bag for almost a solid 30 minutes. The more his wrists and knuckles hurt, the less he thought about watching Amanda... Mandy... Images of her bathing, the water cascading over her bare skin and her golden ringlets a darker shade of blonde in the water... He stopped, hugging the bag for a moment and his breathing labored. What the hell was he thinking? He'd intended to keep his distance from her, to maintain that wall he'd put up so she didn't get hurt.

'don't call a doctor
I'm gonna get better, yeah
Don't run for the priest
I'm gonna find some faith
Just because I burned my bible baby,
it don't mean..
no it don't mean I'm too sick to pray.'

The ringing of his cell phone disrupted his thoughts. Panting for breath a moment, he ripped off the protective knuckle gloves and picked up his phone.

"Donovan. Alex? Calm down... what? I'll be right there." He shut off his phone and grabbed up a towel. Frank only took long enough to put on his clothes. In less than 5 minutes Frank was behind the wheel of his car and headed downtown towards the nightclub where most of his team and his sister were.

'too sick to pray, yeah.
too sick to pray...
too sick to pray
it don't mean
I'm too sick to pray.'

Amanda was missing.

--

- song titled 'Too Sick To Pray" by A3 from the Motion Picture Soundtrack to "Gone In 60 Seconds".

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