Everyone sat in silence for sometime staring at Veronica.

"No Veronica you didn't….." Malone began trying to reassure Veronica that what happened wasn't her fault but Veronica interrupted.

"Yes Ned I did. I left her. I knew she was hurt and bleeding and I left her." Her voice cracked and more tears filled her eyes. She tried desperately to read Malone's eyes to gauge what his reaction was going to be but all she saw was his blank stare. She looked down at the floor "I never should have left her"

"Then why the hell did you?"

Veronica looked up startled by Roxton's harsh tone despite the fact that she had been expecting it. He stared at her his eyes filled with anger. "I thought she deserved to sit there a while and think about how stupid she had been jumping out of cover the way she did with headhunters right there."

"So you left her alone to bleed to death or worse" As he spoke Roxton stood leaning forward with both hands on the table in front of him.

"Now Roxton hold on" Malone stood wanting to defend Veronica.

"No Ned, he's right." Malone turned to look at Veronica who was looking at Roxton with guilt etched into every feature of her pretty face.

Challenger looked between the three of them understanding both Roxton's anger and Malone's defense of Veronica. The only thing he didn't understand was why Veronica left Marguerite in the first place. "Why did you leave Marguerite, Veronica?"

"I wanted to make sure it was clear and I didn't think she was hurt that badly. I thought she deserved it."

"Maybe she did, I mean she jumped into a headhunters path just to grab something glittery. I don't think you did anything wrong Vee."

"First of Marguerite didn't deserve it, and second of all, no one asked you Finn." Finn realized that having Roxton's anger directed at her was very different than seeing him be angry with Veronica. It was a hell of a lot scarier. She sank a bit into her chair deciding it was best not to say anything for a little while.

Challenger looking for a way to diffuse Roxton's anger tried to redirect the conversation "Is there any way that Marguerite is still alive? Maybe the headhunters came back and she had to move. You said she wasn't hurt that badly."

Veronica shook her head slowly "There was blood everywhere when I got back and even if she had moved…." Veronica took a deep breath "There were cannibals in the area, I saw some the other day."

Roxton's head dropped the idea of what Veronica was implying was just too much to handle. He felt sick to his stomach, he had to get out of here, he had to get away. He stood straight and marched over to the gun rack grabbing his rifle and hat he got into the elevator and headed to the ground never acknowledging the sound of Challenger's voice telling him not to do this.


No one moved or said a word for a full ten seconds after Roxton left they just sat looking at each other. As the elevator came back up to the main floor everyone surged into action grabbing their guns and packs and heading to the jungle floor. Roxton had already disappeared but his rapid pace made his trail easy to follow even for Challenger. There was no doubt in anyone's mind as to Roxton's destination. He was headed to the last spot Marguerite had been seen alive he was going to look for any sign that she might still be alive.

The walk was a silent one no one knowing what to say.


Challenger-

We have to get to Roxton before he does something rash. The man is just too impulsive and too full of guilt to be out in the jungle alone. He'll likely get himself killed. Why did this have to happen? Why today? I saw them this morning on the balcony, I saw Roxton give Marguerite his ring. His ring…. Why didn't I think of it before? Veronica said Marguerite dove for something glittering on the path. What else would Marguerite risk her life for? Roxton must have realized it as well that's why he looked so guilty. Not only was he not with her but she had gotten injured going after his ring. We really must find Roxton.


Veronica-

Please don't let us lose Roxton too. I couldn't bare being responsible for both their deaths. If Roxton dies, it will be my fault. I let the woman he loved die, he depended on me to look out for her while he couldn't and I didn't. I failed him. I failed my big brother.


Finn-

Geeze I never thought Roxton would freak this much over Marguerite's death. All I ever saw them do was argue sure they stole a kiss every now a then but those were rare as far as I could tell. Everybody always kinda talked about Marguerite like she couldn't be trusted. You'd think they'd all be glad they didn't have to worry about her selling em' up the river anymore. I just don't get these people.


Malone-

This isn't good, yeah-great understatement Neddy Boy. Neddy Boy, only Roxton calls me that. Now I'm calling myself that in my own head. It must be stress of the situation. I don't blame Roxton for getting angry with Finn; she never should have said anything. He didn't have to so harsh with Veronica though. She feels guilty enough as is it is for what's happened. I think I missed something that happened this morning before Marguerite and Veronica left. I was surprised when Roxton didn't go with the women. Lately he's been keeping a pretty close eye on Marguerite. I figured they had a fight and I guess they could have but I watched him the whole time Veronica was telling us what happened and I saw the way Roxton tensed when Veronica mentioned the shiny object Marguerite put herself in harms way to get. I wonder if that has something to do with why he didn't go.