A/N: thanks for the reviews...keep them coming!

For disclaimers please see chapter 1.

CHAPTER THREE

It was Friday night and Carly didn't feel like going straight home just yet. It was nearly 7.30 pm and she needed a drink.

She was on a bus and it was approaching one of the pub's she sometimes visited-and she knew the bartender personally.

The bus pulled to a stop and she got off. She hated public transport and she missed her car. The Lone Gunmen had warned driving her red convertible would be too risky, Madeline knew her car and it wouldn't be too hard to spot either.

Carly took her cell phone out of her and considered calling the warehouse to let the guys know of her whereabouts but changed her mind, she switched off her phone and entered the slightly dimmed pub.

She went to the bar and ordered her usual, vodka with lemon and lime, hold the ice.

Steve Jolimont, the bartender, grinned at her, showing perfectly straight white teeth, " Rough day?" he asked.

" Rough life," she replied darkly.

It was getting close to ten pm and the Lone Gunmen hadn't heard from Carly yet, Langly was getting worried. He knew her last conference ended at 7 pm and she had not called.

Langly tried her cell phone again and got the operator's voice telling him it was switched off. He groaned in frustration and slammed down the receiver.

" No word yet?" Frohike asked looking up from the computer screen.

" She's turned off her cell phone," Langly replied, " I hope she's ok,"

" She's a grown woman, she can take care of herself," Frohike reminded him.

" I know, but her psycho sister is on the loose," Langly countered back, " for all we know, Carly could be in trouble."

It was midnight and Carly pushed her empty glass towards Steve. She was drunk and her entire body felt numb and it was helping her forget everything. Exactly what she intended.

" Another one please." She told Steve.

" I think you had enough," Steve replied gently, " Why don't I call you a cab?"

" I'm a paying customer, I don't think you have the right to refuse me a drink," Carly argued, waving a ten dollar bill in the air.

" I'll call a cab," Steve said again and dialled a number.

Carly sighed and pocketed her ten dollar bill. She glanced at the other patrons who were all staring at her with amusement.

" What are you staring at?" she demanded and went to wait outside for the cab.

In her drunken state, Carly forgot she was staying with the Lone Gunmen and told the cabbie to head for her apartment building. She caught the lift to her floor, unlocked the door and stumbled into the living room without switching on the lights.
" She wouldn't go back there," Langly argued with Frohike the following morning. It was seven am and still no sign of Carly. Frohike had suggested they stop by Carly's apartment in case she was there.

" It's the only place left to look," Frohike answered, " We've tried everything else. If Carly isn't there, then we can assume the worst."

" I'll stay here in case she does call," Byers added.

Frohike and Langly drove to Carly's apartment and Langly knocked on the door. There was no answer. They were about to leave when the door opened and Carly peered out.

" Oh, hi." Carly greeted them.

" Where the hell have you been?" Frohike demanded.

" And a good morning to you too," Carly retorted.

" We've been worried." Langly told her quietly, " we've tried calling but your cell phone was switched off."

" I wanted some time alone," Carly said, and let them inside. Langly glanced at the empty bottle of vodka on her coffee table.

" I was about to have a shower," Carly said.

" Make it quick, you shouldn't even be here." Frohike reminded her.

Carly nodded and disappeared into the bathroom. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror and made a face, her face was white, her hair oily and her eyes were bloodshot. After having about four vodkas at the pub, she had consumed a fifth bottle at home before falling into a drunken sleep.

I'm never touching vodka again, she vowed.
Carly glanced down at her bottle and smiled wryly. So much for her earlier vow! She and the guys were eating pizza for dinner and it was Frohike who had bought out the beer and vodka.

They seemed to have forgiven her for ignoring them last night, although Langly was a little quiet.

Even with that long blonde hair, ratty clothes and those glasses, he's kinda cute. She mused, studying her friend.

He caught her staring at him, " What?" he asked.

" Nothing," she smiled at him and turned her attention to the TV. Her feelings were confused, she needed something to distract her. Drinking vodka and eating pizza wasn't the answer. She glanced over at Frohike who was sitting on the other side of her on the couch. He made it no secret about his attraction to he and once he made it clear he wanted her. Maybe tonight she would let him get what he wanted…

Langly and Byers had gone to bed an hour ago, leaving Frohike and Carly on the couch. Carly smoothed back her short hair, now was the time.

" I'm really sorry about last night." Carly said to Frohike, " I guess I was too drunk to remember I wasn't supposed to go back to my apartment."

" We were worried about you," Frohike said, " Especially Langly. He didn't sleep. He's got it bad."

" What do you mean?" Carly asked even though she knew the answer.

" The kid has the hots for you," Frohike said, " I don't blame him either." Then what he did next surprised her, she had thought she would make the first move.

He took her hand and they both stood up. He put an arm around her waist and drew her closer to his body, " You are even more scrumptious than Scully," he told her before his mouth came down onto hers.

Carly deftly unbuttoned Frohike's leather vest. It was then when he stopping kissing her and put his hands on her shoulders, " Are you sure about this?" he asked.

" Of course I am," she replied firmly and he seemed satisfied with her answer.
Up in his room, Langly woke up with a start, he has been dreaming about himself and Carly again. He could remember the dream well, the image of him and Carly making love…it was a recurring dream but he knew it would never happen in real life.

The dream faded from his mind and disappeared. He climbed out of bed and headed downstairs to the kitchen, his mouth was dry, he needed a drink.

He heard whispers coming from the couch and he glanced over to see where the whispers were coming from.

Langly's face went white and his stomach churned…he could not believe what he was seeing. He was glad they couldn't see him, he was standing in shadows.

Frohike and Carly were sanding near the couch, wrapped in a tight embrace. Carly was helping undress Frohike while Frohike was pulling Carly's white shirt over her head and letting it drop to the floor. They were too involved with each other to realise they had an audience on the stairs.

How long has this been going on? Langly wondered, is this why Carly told me her real feelings to me because she was secretly involved with Frohike?

His stomach churned again when the woman he loved helped Frohike take her bra off.

That should be me down there with her, Langly thought.He wanted to catch them in the act but couldn't do it. He went back upstairs and into his bedroom. He couldn't hate Carly or Frohike either. It wasn't their fault they had feelings for each other but he wished Carly had told him about instead of keeping him in the dark…