Amanda gripped the wheel, her tight grasp hot and sweaty as she clenched the muscles in her hands trying to resist the urge to scream in frustration. Her heart hammered frenziedly against her chest, throbbing so hard that it resounded into her throat threatening to choke her.

This can't be happening… she thought desperately,

Please just let me wake up…

Amanda blinked her eyes furiously, fighting back tears. The sudden influx of panic was overwhelming and she fought to get it under control, knowing that she could not give in to her fear without endangering her own and her friends' lives.

Trying to regulate her breathing Amanda forced her mind away from the ghoulish reflections that plagued her thoughts and toward anything that may provide a way out of the current situation.

There's three… four, she corrected herself, Four of us and only one of him, she reasoned.

Surely there's something we can do?

But it's only you – you're on your own whispered a second shamelessly blunt voice of reason.

There is no chance of unified action when the others don't know you need help. They think he's unconscious – they don't know he has a gun…

Oh God, Amanda lamented trying to ignore the knotted ache of the tight muscles in her furrowed brow.

If I say anything he'll shoot them in an instant, she thought wretchedly. 

And you. CJ and Dion will be without a mother… the voice intoned.

No. Amanda thought feverishly, I won't let that happen.

With a much needed rush of adrenaline Amanda sat herself up more stiffly, holding her posture as she had been taught to in the finishing school that her privileged upbringing had afforded her.

Whilst the slight act was seemingly trivial to any stranger, those who knew Amanda would have taken the physical bolstering as a sign that she was steeling herself for a fight.

I have to subdue him, she thought determinedly.

Quickly and effectively so he'll have no chance to fire the gun.

Steve's gun.

Damn it! She cursed angrily. He had taken their only real weapon, and no doubt Steve would take it badly that it was his gun that was being used to threaten them in such a way.

"And, hey, did anyone happen to catch the weather last night? Hoo wee!! That was one hell of a storm wasn't it folks? Here's Jenny with an update."

The constant monotonous drone had ended only to be replaced with a high-pitched squawk of a woman, but rather than tune out the irritating noise Amanda focused her attention onto the woman words.

"Last night's rain was quite unexpected wasn't it Jim? The storm clouds were unexpectedly blown in from the east early yesterday evening and resulted in some of the heaviest rainfall we've seen in the past decade. Lightening strikes have resulted in a fire resulting in at least ten thousand dollars worth of damage, and severe flooding has cut of access to many roads causing chaos for this morning's commuters. Good news though, the work to clear the roads is nearly complete and the continuing showers should end by mid-afternoon leading us onto to a beautifully clear night tonight. Tomorrow we can expect…"

Amanda switched off from the continuing report. She little cared what the forecast for the next day was, not when she was so preoccupied with getting through the current day alive. She had extracted form the report the information that was significant and was now trying to digest the small hope that it had awarded her.

They're clearing the roads… we should be able to get to the ambulance… We're so close …

But what would happen if they did reach the ambulance? Amanda knew she would not be able to simply stop the car and let the paramedics take Jesse to the help he desperately needed. The man was so determined to avoid capture that he would never allow it. And Amanda knew that Jesse would not survive any more delays in receiving medical attention.

If he can survive at all…

Mark sat on the floor next to his son, his legs sprawled out in front of him extended as far as the confines of the jeep would allow. His muscles ached with tiredness, but his head was buzzing. So much had happened in the past few hours that he was finding it hard to gather his thoughts in the organised way that he was used to, and they were now spinning through his mind quite haphazardly.

"Oooughh…" he murmured quietly, running a hand over his weary face and closing his eyes for a brief moment of respite from the sight of Jesse's supine, seemingly lifeless, form.

Steve had drifted into a listless stupor moments earlier, all most as soon as Mark had finished attending his wrist, a likely combination of pain and concussion draining his energy and concentration.

The inane drivel that continued to radiate from the radio was beginning to grate at his tolerance, but he did not ask Amanda to turn it off. The ominous silence that had surrounded them for so long was a far less appealing option, leaving no distraction from the bleak thoughts that had taken to accompanying him every second.

No, Mark thought, better to listen to the twaddle than start thinking again…

But he couldn't help but think.

Opening his eyes again Mark found the sight of Jesse unchanged. His tousled blonde hair seemed almost dark to his colourless skin. He had always had a fair complexion, but it seemed as though every trace of colour had been washed away, leaving him haggard and ghost-like. His lips were tinted with an unhealthy blue hue, and his skin had taken on a waxy, unreal quality.

Allowing his eyes to travel away from Jesse's face, Mark continued to take in the horribly familiar sight.

Jesse's midriff was heavily bandaged, the once white dressings soaked in a fusion of dark crimson and brilliant red as fresh blood continued to seep through the open stab wound. His white shirt was torn, and it too was bloodied, a telltale gash in the fabric revealing the point at which the knife had entered Jesse's modest frame.

Mark turned his attention now on to the tube that protruded from Jesse's chest wall. It really was a pathetic attempt at a chest-drain, short and stubby, and no doubt it would have been extremely painful for Jesse if had been conscious enough to be aware of its insertion.

Thankfully he wasn't, Mark thought dryly.

Mark continued to stare, as if transfixed by the sight. Something of the scene had grabbed his attention, but he wasn't sure what. Something had changed and it concerned him.

Pulling his knees up Mark struggled to move in the confined space, restricted in his movements not only by the boundaries of the jeep, but also by his desire not to disturb his son.

Finally managing to twist himself onto his knees Mark crawled quite awkwardly the few feet to reach Jesse's side.

Her grip on the steering wheel increasing Amanda froze in her seat. Glimpsing quickly into the rear-view mirror she could see Mark struggling to his knees. Her attention was taken almost immediately as she detected movement to her right, the periphery of her vision, whilst not clear, affording her the sight of the man shifting slightly in his seat.

Holding her breath she waited for something to happen, praying silently that the man would not take Mark's movement as the incentive he needed to start shooting. After a moment, when nothing had happened Amanda allowed her gaze to drift to the right.

The man's eyes were almost imperceptibly open, the barest of slits allowing him to see, and whilst Amanda could not see his pupils to know their focus, she had no doubt that they were boring into her own face, she could feel it as genuinely as she could feel her sweaty palms on the steering wheel.

Dropping her gaze from the man's face to the gun he clenched so resolutely, Amanda saw that he had inched it out yet further from the cover of his baggy clothing; the barrel titled slightly towards her head.

Giving no indication that she had noticed the unspoken threat Amanda allowed her gaze to travel back to the road, permitting it to linger again for a brief moment on the mirror and Mark's hunched back.

Please, she thought urgently, please don't do anything to provoke him…

Unaware of Amanda's silent plea Mark bent over Jesse.

He was at first unable to work out what it was of Jesse's seemingly unchanged insentient form that had suddenly concerned him, and so began to examine him carefully.

Extending his hand Mark placed two fingers to the crook of Jesse's neck to feel for the pulse. As had been the case when he had last carried out the regretfully necessary action, Mark waited with baited breath for the all important pulsation beneath his fingers.

He waited, but felt nothing.

Carefully lifting his fingers Mark repositioned them, wondering if perhaps the pressure he had applied was too great to allow the pulsation to be palpable. Pressing more gently onto the carotid artery Mark waited again, anticipating the pulse he was desperate to detect.

Again there was nothing.

Feeling quite desperate Mark retracted his hand and bent his head to Jesse's chest, certain that he would be able to find a heartbeat at the source. Pressing his ear to Jesse's exposed cold flesh he listened.

Nothing.

Not only could he not detect a pulse, but he realised now the change that had occurred in Jesse's appearance. The infinitesimal motion of his chest as he took tenuous breaths had stopped.

"Amanda, stop the car!"

Mark lifted his head and shifted his knees until he was placed directly above Jesse's head. Without waiting for the car to stop he placed his hand underneath Jesse's chin and titled his head back slightly to open the airway. Pinching his nose tightly Mark sealed his lips around Jesse's and exhaled deeply, forcing air in the inactive lungs.

Lifting his head Mark shouted again.

"Amanda, stop the car now!"