A/N: UG. I don't want to work, but I must. Don't miss me too much. Enjoy!

Ch. 26 Thinking

Ric into the mirror in his car and examined the damage to his face. Nothing serious. He would be black and blue for some time, and he had a small cut on his forehead that would need a bandage. This would be fun to explain to people. Upside though, now that Morgan had had his momentary breakdown he wouldn't be following him anymore. For the night anyway, so he decided he would stop by and check on things. He entered the building and called out to his partner in crime.

"Faith!" he waited a moment before calling out again. "Faith!" Now he was getting annoyed and entered the back room. Annoyance immediately turned to anger when he saw that she was not there either. He looked to his prisoner who stared back at him with pure hatred in her eyes. "Where's Faith?"

"How the hell should I know?"

"She's supposed to be here, she's not. Where did she go?"

"I don't know she just left."

"Damn her." he whispered to himself but in the small, silent room she heard him.

"Better hope no one sees her. Because we both know what will happen if Sonny or Jason find her. And she'll give you up in a heartbeat." Courtney knew he was thinking that very thing. Faith couldn't be trusted if it came down to her life or his.

He opened his mouth to speak and quickly shut it. Angrily he turned around and stormed out to look for Faith before she screwed the both of them.

Faith had been out for about a half hour, enjoying breathing the fresh air. The water lapped against the docks and the clouds in the sky looked to be carrying rain.

'Guess I should get back before the warden realizes I'm gone.' she thought before going up the stairs and leaving. What she didn't' know what that she had been spotted by another blonde.

Carly was stunned by what - or rather who she had seen. Wherever Faith had been hiding, she was back. She knew she should call someone but her first instinct was to follow her. Taking a split second to decide she made her decision and trailed after the woman.

Careful to stay out of sight, she followed for quite a few minutes before she found herself at an old house that had supposedly been abandoned for sometime. Faith had gone inside and slowly, quietly she had as well. The place had seemed lived in, not abandoned at all.

'So this is where she's been hiding.' she thought to herself. Inching further into the house, she heard muffled voices and began to follow them to the source.

"He came?" Faith was upset that Ric now knew she had gone out. He was not going to be happy.

"Seemed pretty mad too. He'll probably tell you he won't help you now. Not that he would have anyway."

"You've got some nerve for someone in your position. Watch yourself or-"

"Or you'll what? Kill me? Because if you were going to, I'm pretty sure you'd have done it by now."

"I'm just waiting until Ric decides he's milked this as far as it'll go. It's inevitable and I'll be happy to volunteer for the job when the time comes."

"Then just do it. Right now, do it. Come on if it's going to happen anyway why not save the time. Come on!" Courtney knew antagonizing Faith wouldn't help her at all, but she was completely angry and annoyed with this whole situation.

"You-" Faith was cut off by the sound of the front door banging open.

Carly dove behind the nearby couch when the door flew open and she prayed that whoever it was hadn't seen her. But he obviously didn't as he shouted through the house.

"FAITH!" Ric yelled entering the house. 'She better be here by now or else-' he didn't get to finish his thought as Faith came running like a bat out of hell from the bedroom. His eyes burned through her.

"I'm here I'm here calm down- what happened to your face?" he ignored her question and began ranting.

"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't stay cooped un in here for much longer. I had to get out. Don't worry no one saw me."

"You better hope that's true. Because if its not, and we go down because of you, I swear to god-" his loud words were halted when Courtney's reached him from the other room.

"GOD! CAN YOU SHUT UP FOR TWO SECONDS!" she shouted from the room, he noticed the door was cracked open and she could hear their argument. He grunted angrily and stomped towards the room and stuck his head in the door.

"Excuse me?" she looked back at him innocently before responding.

"I have a headache."

"Fine." he slammed the door and walked back over to Faith. He grabbed her by the arm and walked her to another part of the house to continue the conversation. "Come with me."

Once they'd left Carly came out of hiding and headed for the door. She twisted the knob and held her breath when it made a small squeak. Opening it just enough, she quickly entered and shut the door quietly before turning to look at the room. Her eyes immediately traveled over to her friend who was facing away from her. Jumping to the worst conclusion, she approached her slowly.

"What now?" Courtney spoke before looking over in Carly's direction, her eyes widened in surprise. "Carly! God, I'm so glad to see you."

"Same here. Are you ok? Are you hurt?"

"Same as before. Where's Jason?"

"They're not here, it's just me."

"What?" her voice became a whisper. "You came by yourself?"

"I saw Faith on my way back from my mom's and I just followed." Carly explained.

"Did she or Ric see you?"

"No. They went into another room. Let's get you out of here." she quickly scanned the room, a desk, a radio, a closet, and a window. Nothing much. "Ok, we can probably get out the window. Do you know where the key is?"

"I don't even know where I am." she confessed. Carly began to went to the desk and began to go through its drawers. Nothing.

"Ok. Maybe I can pick the lock."

"No, Carly. Get out before someone sees you. Get Jason and tell him where I am."

Before she could disagree, the sound of footsteps came from outside the door.

"Hide." she whispered in panic and watched her disappear into the closet. Leaving the door open just a crack as it had been before. Not a second later Ric and Faith came into the room.

"Who are you talking to?"