~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Liz's PoV

"Liz, the car's ready." I hear a voice say from behind me.

"Let's go." I say, and a tear rolls down my cheek as I hug my sister goodbye, not knowing if I'll ever see her again.

"Deck's gonna catch up with you, and it'll be all my fault." Ben tells her, grabbing her hand. She shakes her head sternly.

"No, he won't. Me and Charlie are going to Canada. I've informed him of our little secret, and after discussing it, he's fine. He still loves me, for who I am." she tells him, her eyes glistening in tears. "I can't leave him. I love him." she says, "You can understand that, can't you?" she asks, and Ben nods.

"Be safe. We'll come visit you come time." Ben tells her, and Tinga nods. ~WE?~ He gives Tionga a quick hug and opens the door for me.

"M'lady?" he says, bowing.

"Why thank you, good sir." I reply, stifling a giggle as he helps me into the car. He shuts the door and I put on my seatbelt and roll down the window.

"Bye Tinga. I'll miss you. Visit if you can, and keep in touch, 'kay, sis?"I tell her, trying not to cry.

"I will, hon. Hey, I got a surprise for you, but you can't read it until you're out of the town. Okay?" she says, handing me a small package.

"Thank you." I tell her, and with one final wave, I hit the road with Ben. I start opening the package as soon as Tinga's out of sight, but Ben spots me and in mock-annoyance, says, "Eliza, why can't you just have at least a little patience?"

"Cuase it's no fun that way, silly." I say with a know-it-all smirk. Doing my best puppydog eyes, I plead, "Pretty please, can I open it?" He's caving, I know it. 3, 2, 1...

"Fine, just don't look at me like that." he says, and I grin, tearing the package open to find an envelope and a smaller package. I rip open the envelope and read the letter enclosed...

Dear Liz,

It's hard to believe that you're back with us. I had almost given up hope. You are so beautiful, baby sister, and I've missed you. After you were taken away, I had hope. For you, I had the hope that you'd get to be a normal girl-for a while, anyway. And you did. I'm grateful you got what you deserved- no Manticore, no military, just being an abnormally gifted girl.

But you also gave me hope for me and the others, that we could get out and find you. I'm so glad we did.

Don't worry about the virus- it's wear off in a while. I think you're past the worst of it. I know if someone, anyone, tries to hurt you, Ben will do everything that he can to keep you safe. He loves you, girl, and not the brotherly-sisterly love. I see the looks you two give each other- you can't tell me that you don't. But if you don't, forget that it was mentioned. But if you do feel something, make a move on it. Just look how happy Syl and Krit are, and Zane and Brin.

Be strong, little sister. Every shooting star I see, will have the wish that you're ok, and happy.

I love you,

Tinga A.K.A. Penny

I open the little package and find a small charm bracelet, and another note.

Liz-

I've been wearing this bracelet for 5 years now, but I think you should have it. Each of the charms symbolize something. The cat, because we're different, and to remind you of your past-never forget it. The world, because we will never fit in, but that's all right. We have each other. The heart-love, we all need it, want it. Take it when you have the chance. The star- make a wish on a star, and it might come true. The safety pin, to remind you of me, that you oughta be careful or you'll make me worry too much!

Love,

Tinga A.K.A.

I take out the charm bracelet and fasten it around my wrist, examining it. I lay my head against the headrest and settle down for some much-needed rest. Ben takes a blanket from the backseat and puts it over me. Mmm...warmth. "Night." I whisper, even though it's only 2 in the afternoon.

"Night." he whispers, turning the radio on softly.

And that's when I know that I'll never feel as safe as I do with him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Ben's PoV

She's sleeping again. That virus really wears her out. I pray with all my heart that the Blue Lady will make her better, even though now I know that she isn't real. Old habits die hard, I guess.

I've been driving for about seven hours now, and she's been sleeping the entire time. I'm tired now (transgenics need sleep, too! Well, occasionally), so I pull over by a small Bed and Breakfast. Hmmm, I thought those had died out after the Pulse. Whatever. I get out, trying not to wake Liz.

I know I'm treating her like a baby, but I just can't let her get hurt again. I can't bear to lose her again. I walk in and ask the middle-aged, very smiley woman at the desk if they have a room open. She smiles even more, if that's possible, "Yes, honey, we have one left. There's the key, and it'll be $50."

I hand her the money, slipping her an extra ten. "Is there any way you don't have to record our being here?" I ask and she nods, solemn for a moment, then perks up after hearing the word 'us'.

"Who's with you?" she asks, grinning from ear to ear.

"Oh, my girlfriend, Liz. Oh, I'm Ben, by the way." I say. It's amazing how good it feel to call her that. "I'll be right back in with her." I call as I walk out. I open the passenger door and find her still sleeping. She looks like an angel. ~My angel.~

"Liz, Liz...wake up. You can sleep when we get inside." I tell her, shaking her right shoulder. Her eyes flutter open.

"Yeah?" she asks, still mostly asleep.

"I got us a room, so we can rest for a while." I tell her, helping her out of the car. I wrap my arm around her, and she smiles up at me.

"So, I guess you didn't et much shark DNA in your genetic cocktail." she says, smiling, as we walk in.

"I don't need that much sleep, but the past week I've been too worried about a certain someone to sleep." I grin. She smiles for a moment, but then it fades, and I realize my slipup.

"I was out for almost a week?" she asks incredulously. Okay, guess she knows how serious this virus thing is.

"You woke up occasionally, but you were delirious." I say, steering her to our room, key in hand. I open the door and walk in, not letting my arm slip away from her waist. We walk to the bed and sit down. "I'll go get our bags." I say, smirking at the pout that immediately springs to her face.

"I don't have any clothes here, Ben." she says. I packed a bag from her house, so she's set.

"I got you some clothes from your house for you." I tell her, and the smile I got in return for that more than makes up for the fact that I had to hide the bag from everyone all week. If they would've known that I went back to Liz's house, where Deck was heading to, I'd be dead right now.

I start walking out to the truck, but the smiley lady, who informs me that her name is Patty, stops me. "Hi, Ben! How do you and your girlfriend like the room?" she asks. How can she smile that big without her face cracking?

"We like it a lot, thanks." I say and smile at her question. My girlfriend. No, she's your sibling, after all! But not your actual sibling, a voice in my head says calmly. I try to push the thought to the back of my mind.

I run out to the truck, grabbing the bags from the back of it, and walk back inside. I open the room to find her lying on the bed, singing an old pre-Pulse pop song as she drifts to sleep.

Run, running all the time...

Running to the future, with you right by my side.

Me, I'm the one you chose, out of all the people,

you wanted me the most...

And I'm so sorry that I've fallen

help me up, let's keep on running,

don't make me want to give up...

She sighs on the last word, succumbing to a deep and dreamless sleep as Ben watches her. She looks peaceful in sleep, safe. ~She trusts me enough to let her guard down.~ he thinks, a small smile forming on his face at the thought.

He heads to the bathroom and starts running a bath for her, checking up on her only every ten or so seconds, to make sure she's safe.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: So, what'd ya think? It sucked? Gave you barfy feelings? Liked it? Tell me, no matter what! I love my feedback!! Yes, I do!

DISCLAIMER: not mine, yadda yadda,...No Doubt song 'Running'

I luv you all so much!!! happy Easter or whatever holiday you celebrate, y'all!!!!

Molly Jeane :D