Wow, it really has been a long time since I've updated… well I'm working on this story again, so updates should come more quickly. All pervious disclaimers apply… er, enjoy!

And PLEASE tell me what you think. Thanks a ton! ;)

***

"Excuse me, Agent Sandoval!" I got up rather clumsily from my chair and rushed over to him as he was on his way out of the health center.

He turned around, clearly annoyed.

"Yes?"

Decision time…. Here goes nothing.

"Uh…" I started, "I have a friend, and she's really sick- REALLY sick, and I think she could use some help, but I don't know if she wants it, but I think it would do her good. I mean she looks like she might die or something, and there's nothing I can do, but maybe if she knew there was actual help here, she might change her mind. Or not, I don't know, but maybe if I offered her, knowing that you're still here, she might think differently, but I don't know what to do, and… um… yeah."

Okay, so I have a tendency to ramble when I'm nervous, and in a potentially dangerous situation.

So sue me.

"What exactly are you trying to say miss…"

"Um… Silver." I said, in an uncharacteristically quiet tone.

"Miss Silver… have we met before?" Sandoval seemed to be scrutinizing me.

"No." I lied, afraid to meet his eyes, and blushing to the roots of my hair.

I usually lie better than that, I swear.

There's just something about being around implants that makes it REALLY hard to lie.

At least convincingly.

"What is your friend's situation?" He asked, ignoring the previous exchange.

"Her breathing is really bad- it keeps getting worse, and I don't know how much longer she can hold out like that." 'Keep in mind' I told myself, 'He can potentially lead to help'

"And you?"

Oy vey… "I'm getting better." I was calming down.

"Then you have developed the shaquaravah?" He asked.

"NoIdon'thavem" I said quickly, blushing again.

"Why are you lying about that Miss Silver?" He 'smiled', and I shivered.

Did I say that I was calming down? Ha!

"I'm okay, my friend is the one that needs help, she's the one who's dying. I'm getting better, I'll be fine, really."

I was rambling again…

"I believe you had better come with me." Sandoval said coolly.

"No wait, Michelle…" I took a step back, towards the door.

"Tell me where she is, and I will send a team of volunteers to collect her."

"NO, wait a second here" This was NOT what I wanted. "Let me see if she wants help first, then-"

"Where do you live miss Silver?"

"I'm roommates with Michelle, we live in the Libra Community, in- um… never mind."

A volunteer I hadn't even noticed was behind me grabbed ahold of my arm, but I quickly yanked it out of his grasp.

Meanwhile, everyone else in the health center seemed to be doing their best to ignore our little scene.

Actually, most of the people who had been in the lobby were trying to make their way out.

Smart people.

Whatever his reasons, Sandoval did NOT want to take no for an answer.

Maybe he was afraid to return empty handed.

But that was not my concern.

At the moment, my concern was to GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE.

"You know what?" I half yelled, my voice slightly shrill with panic, "I think we'll be just fine on our own."

And with that, I ran from the health center, back to my dorm.

Blessedly, no one followed, but that didn't mean it was safe.

Like I had realized earlier, Sandoval wouldn't take no for an answer.

And I had given more than enough information for him to be able to find us.

Damn it.

I can't win, can I?

All I could do was go back. And warn Michelle.

That, and get us as far away from the university as I could.

If Michelle was up to moving at all…

It wasn't as if there were any other reasonable alternatives at the moment.

And all I could do was to try…