A/N: Thanks for the reviews, they're making me work harder to finish this up! I just finished taking finals today, so this is a welcome break from all the studying. In response to a review: I don't know if this is really considered AU or not, but then again, it is fiction, so. . . I like making stuff up as I go along :o) (Sorry if that sounds like I'm mad, I'm not!) Let me know what you think about this chapter.

* * * Celeste opened her eyes slowly and yawned.

"So Sleeping Beauty finally wakes up."

"Wh-who are you?" Celeste asked, staring up into the face of Nigel Crane.

"What? You can see me? You mean I'm not as invisible as your brother thinks?" he asked rhetorically.

"What?" Celeste asked, bewildered.

"Never mind. Long story, which you will hear about later," Nigel said.

"Where am I?" She asked, "What do you want?"

"What does anyone want? I-I-I mean, really. What does any-anyone want?"

"I don't know. I know I want to go home," Celeste answered with a child's innocence.

"Of course. Home. A basic necessity. Just like food, or clothing." Nigel said. Celeste continued to look confused.

"Who are you?" Celeste finally asked again.

"Well, I'm a friend of Nick's," Nigel said finally.

"A friend?" Celeste scoffed. "Where is my brother?"

"I don't know. But he'll be here soon. I know I left enough clues for your sleuthing brother to find. He'll be here within a couple of hours." Celeste looked around the nearly empty room. Surprisingly, she wasn't restrained in any way, but she knew if she angered Nigel, she wouldn't stay that way. Her eyes settled on a 9-millimeter Smith and Wesson sitting on the table, the only piece of furniture in the room. Nigel followed her gaze. "That's a present for your brother."

"Kind of an odd gift," Celeste said.

"Well, yes. You know, I've been wondering. You see, Nick, well, he-he-he wouldn't die for me. So I was w-w-wondering, if he would die for you."

"What?"

"You know, If I a-a-asked him. Your life or his, what would he say?" Nigel turned to her, as if he expected an answer.

"I dunno."

"You don't know?"

"No, I try not to think of morbid thoughts like that."

"Well, I'm gonna ask him, as soon as he gets here." Nigel stood up and leaned over her, "Meanwhile," Nigel suddenly plunged a hypodermic needle into the girl's arm. Surprised, she cried out in pain. "That might take a minute to start working. You might want to lie down before if does," he offered before turning around. Celeste barely saw him grab the gun off the table before everything went black.

* * *

A/N: I don't know if the part about the gun is accurate, and I tried to duplicate that stutter Nigel has when he's nervous. Sorry if it's irritating! Please, review and let me know what you think!