Carly stood in the middle of her living room, stunned. Mulder was right, everything was destroyed…her furniture and belongings were nothing more than charred remains.

Mulder put a hand on her shoulder, " There's going be a full investigation to see if the fire was from an electrical fault or was deliberately lit." Langly joined them, " Is there anything that can be salvaged?" he asked her.
" None, I checked." Carly answered tightly, " Let's go home, there's nothing else we can do here." She paused, " I'm glad the fire was put out before it destroyed the whole building."
" I'll call as soon as I get results from the investigation," Mulder promised and they left the building.

Langly and Carly drove back home and told Frohike and Byers everything. " Everything is lost?" Byers stared at their friend, stunned, " I'm so sorry Carly."
" Most things like clothes, furniture, appliances can be replaced. But stuff like photo albums, published works over the years can't be replaceable." " You can stay here as long as you like," Byers assured her and the others nodded in agreement.
" Thanks guys. What would I do without you three?"

46th Street
New York City

In the smoke-filled club, the CSM took a gulp of scotch before opening a confidential file and read over the standard medical forms before speaking:

" I would like to discuss something we considered a few years ago," the CSM told the group, " but at that time, I had my reasons for not going ahead with the tests."
" And what made you change your mind?" The Well-Manicured Man asked him.
" I think you know why I've changed my mind," the CSM answered,
" Its been six years since we last talked about this," the Well-Manicured Man reminded him, " the test subject was in perfect health back then but things could change."
" Do you have any updated medical files?" the First Elder queried.
" Yes, the test subject has had a recent blood test done," the CSM held up the latest medical record, "The test subject still remains in perfect health."
" Then the experiments will go ahead," the First Elder said.

" I'm sorry, but you can't go in there," a police officer stepped in front of Madeline, blocking her way. Madeline peered over his shoulder, " What happened?" she asked him.
" Someone set fire to the apartment…we are trying to figure out if it was an electrical fault or if its been deliberately lit."

Madeline walked off without another word. She had the strongest feeling who had started the fire…the CSM smoked like a chimney, he could have easily started the fire. Did he do it as an act of revenge? There was no reason for her to stake out the apartment now. She climbed into her car when her cell phone went off. It was the CSM.

" Why did you do it?" she asked him.
" Do what?"
" Destroyed my sister's apartment. Are you deliberately trying to make it harder for me to track her down?"
" I didn't destroy it," the CSM replied, " I didn't even know it was destroyed until now."
Madeline didn't believe him and they both knew it.
" I have an proposition for you," the CSM continued, " that will benefit both of us." He paused, " I know where she is staying."
" You do? Tell me!" Madeline demanded.
" Why? So you can kill her?"
" That was the plan, yes." " I'm afraid I can't let you do that," the CSM objected then explained his idea.
" How does this benefit me? I don't even get to kill her," Madeline argued.
" No, but you'll get a favour in return," the CSM explained.
" I don't need any favours-" Madeline began when he cut her off.
" Believe me, you'll thank me for it."

Carly tapped away on her laptop when her cell phone rang, startling her. She answered it.
" Hello?"
" Carly?" the voice sounded unfamiliar. " Yes? Who is this?" she demanded.
" You had better watch your back…your time is almost up."

Carly decided the best way to forget that call was to think of something else. She she thought of Frohike and Langly. Those two haven't been communicating well, not since the other night. When Frohike tried to talk to Langly, they usually ended up arguing.

Carly felt terrible for creating this rift between friends. Maybe it had been a bad idea for her to stay with them after all…perhaps she should move into a motel. Once she was out of the way, Frohike and Langly could become friends again. The more she thought about it, the better it sounded.

Byers, Frohike and Langly are all in danger themselves if Madeline found out where I am staying. I couldn't live with myself if either of them got hurt because of me.

Later that night, Byers, Frohike and Langly arrived home and they went about their business when Langly spotted a note resting on the kitchen table.

" Guys!" Langly called from the kitchen, sounding distressed. Frohike and Byers joined him.
" What's wrong?" Byers asked Langly and he silently handed him the note. Byers read it out loud:

" Guys, I think it would be best if I stayed in a motel. I'll keep in touch, thanks for everything. Love Carly."

Byers frowned, " I didn't know she was thinking of moving out."
" None of us did," Langly snatched the note from his hand and read it again, " I can't believe she would do this. Why?"
" There's only one way to find out," Frohike took out his cell phone and dialled her number and the operated voice told him the person he was trying to reach had the cell phone turned off. " Her cell's switched off," he informed them.
" She'll call us when she's ready," Byers assured them.

Tompkins Court Motel
Washington DC

Carly sat in the recliner of her small motel room and opened a bottle of vodka. The motel room she was staying in was small and shabby. It had a tiny kitchenette and the bathroom was a public one, The colour off the wallpaper had faded and was peeling and the carpet was a shaggy green. There was one chest of drawers and one armchair in the corner, facing the 34 cm colour television. She had wanted to rent a cheap room, figuring this would throw Madeline off her track a bit.

She turned on her cell phone and received a couple of messages from Langly. She deleted both and dialled their number.

" Hello?" Langly answered almost straight away.
" Langly? It's me."
" Carly? Where the hell are you?" Langly sounded somewhat pissed off with her, " Why did you run out on us?"
" I have my reasons," Carly replied.
" Well, tell me your address and I'll be over there," " Langly, its best if we limited our communication," Carly said gently, " I will keep in touch from time to time."
" You mean…I won't be seeing you again? At all?"
" For as long as my sister is out there…." Carly trailed off.
" But that could be forever," Langly whined.
" I know but its better this way. For all of us."