Who Lives In North Dakota?

7 AM, the gunman wakes up. His internal clock was never off. Eyes looking straight up, he wonders why he fell asleep on his back; more of a side sleeper.

"That's right," he thought, "I've been pinned."

Latched onto to his left side was the familiar brunette. Her arm had found its way across his chest and ended with her hand resting on his opposite shoulder. To add to his lack of movement was the fact that she had wrapped her leg around his own. While it kept Jigen in one place, it never seemed to annoy him. He knew the reason she was so close; the three men were leaving that day for Paris. Little independent Jessica: so afraid to be left alone again. At least the current situation allowed his hand to wander down her back.

"Hey, I feel that."

"I hope you're not serious since you're obviously groping my whole friggin' body."

"Whatever, don't even pretend like you don't enjoy it." For a moment the girl was silent as she thought of a nonchalant way to say her next question. Finally she just asked softly, "When are you guys leaving?"

"In a few hours. You gonna be OK there, Abraham?"

"Abraham? The only person who calls me that is the girl you constantly refer to as 'that Kim person.'" Jess avoided the question; she was unusually good at that.

"Well, I have yet to see her and for all I know you could just be talking to yourself. Maybe it's one of those split personality things; maybe you're crazy."

"Obviously I am crazy. I mean, look who I took a liking to. I should be taking a ride to the loony bin for that alone."

"Oh, I was thinking of taking you for a ride, but not to the loony bin."

"Really?" The young woman sat up a little and leaned over the gunman. As her pajamas consisted of only a small red nighty, it was hard for Jigen to keep his eyes where they were suppose to be. "Tell me more about this ride."

"Well…" The hand that had started the conversation was still positioned on her back, which he then began to use to bring her closer. Sadly, Jess was caught off guard and instead of smoothly descending she fell and knocked her head against her partner in sarcasm.

"Oh, son of a bitch," she exclaimed rolling over with a hand to her forehead.

"Friggin A! I think you're cursed. That or you enjoy hitting me in the head. Wait, are you laughing?" Jess had her back to him but all at once began twitching and then finally laughing. "You are crazy."

"Sorry." She turned around and leaned in closer again. "Let me make it up to you later; when you guys come home from your job." Jess put her hand on top of his and continued, "Catch my drift?" The rare broad smile she received was all the answer she needed.

The few hours went by quickly as Jess soon found herself saying good bye. To each of the three men she gave a hug of good luck for their adventures. There were so many times she wished she could live that life of danger. Was the path of a stable, grounded doctor right for her? Some kind of fire resided in her that kept telling her no. Crazy; Jess shook it off.

"Now Jess," Lupin whispered while the young woman gave him his hug, "you know if something happens like last time you just…"

"I know. Don't worry. By the way, that's adorable." With a smirk and a wave she sent them off. "Wait Jess," she thought to herself, "wait till they can't see you anymore before you go in the house. No, no, don't check your watch. Keep watching them. Don't let them catch on."

"Does something seem off?" Lupin asked his comrades about 2 miles into their journey.

"Yea, you too?" the gunman responded. "I've been getting a feeling something's up."

"It's Jess; she embraced us when she said goodbye. It's out of her character," the samurai in the back seat remarked. The men were quiet for a moment. It was just a fluke. The most probable cause had to be because she didn't want to be left alone again. Yea, that's it.

The three men were partially right. With the last dust particle settled from the leaving car, the young woman walked slowly into the house. Glancing down at her watch she noticed she had an hour before the taxi would arrive.

"If I expect to make North Dakota tonight, I better get my ass into motion," Jess thought to herself.

While many would consider the destination of a cold desolate state in the middle of the prairie to be just ahead of going to hell, the brunette saw in that state all her heart. Her family was there, and while she wouldn't be able to visit them Jess would at least be able to stand in the middle of the open grassland one more time. The Midwest seemed more of a home than Virginia. This escape was to be her grandest. She just wished she could tell her conscience to shut up.

Ascending the stairs, tracing her steps she had taken before, Jess had everything planned out. Packing was already done; she pulled the suitcase from under the bed she had just been sleeping in. It's amazing he never found it. Next thought was to make the bed quickly. The brunette knew he would be angry; maybe her slight attempts to keep things neat would appease him a little. Time check: 15 min till the taxi came. Just enough time to do her finishing touches.

Today she would be revealing her alias: Jane Moses. Jane was close enough to Jess so that she would respond when being addressed and the last name was simply chosen because like Abraham, it came from the Bible. But, further explanation is unnecessary as she had to play the part. Passport and other papers in hand, the young woman stepped outside the house. Her normal loose thick locks were tied in a bun with but a few strands flowing free. She traded the usual tank top and jeans in for a Chanel dress suit with a slightly eye brow raising skirt. With a pair of over-sized sun glasses she was able to top off her disguise.

"You're late." The taxi driver had arrived only but 5 minutes late, but this was unacceptable if she was going to get to the airport on time.

"Sorry, there was a turned over cart and…"

"It's of no concern, let's just get going." Jess bid adieu to the lovely chateau. "I'll be back soon," she whispered, "please just let me have this one last escape."

At the same spot many hours later, the familiar trio of criminals arrived. The robbery had been a success and spirits were high as the painting was known to fetch a very high price on the Black Market.

"Oh Ms. Abraham, we're home!" the exuberant master thief boomed upon entering the house.

"Um, Lupin." Goemon indicated to an envelope on the kitchen counter. The men were always eating; Jess knew they would find her letter sooner or later. "It's her handwriting."

"Ah, did our little escape artist leave again?" he inquired picking up the letter. The other two men took spots behind Lupin's shoulder as he read aloud the following:

Dear Lupin, Jigen, and Goemon,

While I am not ungrateful for all the things you have done for me, I found that I had to leave one last time. Please don't fret as I will return in a week. As to where I am going I can not say as it would defeat the purpose of an escape, now wouldn't it? I ask that you not be angry with me and to not worry as I have taken all the proper paper work with me. I love you all a great deal.

Jess

P.S. Sorry Jigen, I'm going to have to take a rain check on that promise I made this morning. I plan to keep it.

"Yea, that's not the only thing she planned," the marksman snarled. "She obviously had been plotting this friggin' escape for a week at least."

"Even with the most rational intentions we do some of the most foolish things. With that, she has a high chance of being caught," the samurai added.

"I knew it would have to come to this. Don't worry; she'll be home sooner than she expects men. Jigen, get ready to leave. I'm sending you for a very special pick up." Lupin picked up his cell phone and set his plan in motion.

In a time zone quite far away from three men, a very tired Jess arrived at her destination. The small house, her grandma's old house, it smelled of so many familiar things. Dropping her suitcase by the door, she wandered through every hallway and room touching objects just to make sure they were real. Her tour ended with a flop on the couch.

"This feels wonderful," Jess mused to herself, "but it doesn't feel right. Everything I do doesn't seem right."

From her pocket she produced the phone she guarded with her life. Being a camera phone, she went to pictures and did the usual flip through of pictures she had taken from her previous life in Virginia.

"What am I doing?" the brunette thought as she continued to flip, "this just makes me feel worse." And yet she kept going until the very last picture. But the final one wasn't of Virginia; it was of her new friends, her new family. That was it. All her life she had wanted to escape from Virginia and she had it. "What have I done?" That question wasn't answered, though, as the phone in her hand began to buzz.

"Hello?"

"Oh hey, how's North Dakota?"

"Lupin? Wait, how did you know I was in North Dakota?"

"I'm sorry, but we've always known you were a flight risk so..."

"You say it like I'm a criminal."

"Well, in essence you are. I mean, there is a reward out there for your capture and all. Not as high as mine, but you have time to work on that. Anyways, as I was saying, we know where you are because we put a transmitter in your phone."

"Is everyone mad at me?"

"No, I'm actually quite impressed that you were able to do it without any of us catching on. Although, I would recommend you work on your good byes, almost gave yourself away. I can't really speak for the other guys but Goemon seems disappointed and Jigen is walking around like he just got bitch slapped. Although, I'm not quite sure if that's in reaction to you leaving or if he's just being moody again."

"I…I want to come back."

"You went through all that trouble and want to come back? You're losing your touch."

"I just want to come back; that's all."

"Awww, you missed us! I knew letting you go was a good idea."

"What? Let me go? I left on my own without you guys knowing…"

"Ah, not quite my sarcastic beauty. I said you did well until the good bye. I realized you were going to leave, but I didn't say anything as I thought it necessary you did a little soul searching of your own."

"That's uncharacteristically wise of you."

"Ha, thanks, I think. Anyways, I'm sending someone to get you tomorrow.

"Would you have sent someone to get me if I said I wanted to stay?"

"Yes, but I wouldn't have told you."

"Oh, hahaha, good call. You're like the brother I never had…or wanted."

"Don't say that; I still want to think of you as a sexual object."

"Oh, OK. You can just stay my friend then. I'll see you soon. Bye."

By that time, Jess was feeling fully jet lagged and exhausted from her flight. Knowing Lupin, she knew she would be going home tomorrow. It was the right thing to do, but there her mind went again in all directions. The couch she had merely been lounging on soon became more and more comfortable as sleep overtook.

"What the…?" Squinting her eyes at the clock, the brunette saw that it read around 4 AM. "Why is my head pounding?" With a hand to her forehead, Jess sat up. "O well, f-ing A…it's the door, not my head." Drowsily walking to the door she ended her tirade with, "Couldn't you just have waited till morning!" Peering with one eye through a crack in the door she got her answer.

"No, I couldn't friggin' wait…and apparently you couldn't either Ms. North Dakota." That teasing tone was one of the most welcomed voices to the young woman's ears.

"Jigen!" Jess leapt at the unsuspecting marksman and embraced him tightly. She was being uncharacteristically friendly again, but this time it didn't make him uneasy. By this point in his life he knew when women were being insincere and this wasn't it. "First off, you aren't angry with me?"

"No, I guess not. You really just need to cut this escaping nonsense out.

"Believe me," she whispered in his ear, "I don't have a need anymore to leave." She paused for a moment and then added with a grin, "But it was a pretty sweet escape, eh?"

"Yea, you know you got a package?" Following to the spot he pointed, Jess picked up the medium sized package she had failed to recognize when she arrived.

"It's for me and it's from Kim!" She flew inside dragging the extremely tired man in tow. "Do you have a knife, wait never mind, I have one." With a twist of the wrist the box was opened as she began shuffling through.

"How in the world did she know you were going to be here?" Jigen asked as he looked inside the coveted box.

"I told her, I mean I did plan this and all. Ah, a letter!" Aloud, Jess read the following:

Dearest Senator Abe,

"That's my nickname back home."

As you can see I've sent you a package: D Full of everything you need to make where ever you are feel like home. It's been rough here without you (haven't seen much of "extreme" or "nice," so I'm beside myself with boredom!) In any event, I hope you're seeing all sorts of sights and buying me a ton of souvenirs!

"Oh, crap. Haven't been doing that. O well." Jess continued:

Singing Yatta and Melissa in the car just isn't the same without you and I know you feel the urge to combine and form FIRESTORM! Alright hobags, I miss you bunches and maybe (if a miracle happens) we'll be able to see each other sometime again.

Your other insane half,

Kimmington – Lamb of Death

P.S. Hope you're having some good sex. If not then JUMP ON IT!

"If that doesn't prove you're insane, I don't know what does. I think you should take her advice on the last part, though."

"Huh? Did you say something," Jess asked looking up from her box.

"No," answered the dejected man, "so what did she send that's so special?"

"Everything she sends me is special! Like…" Jess shuffled through the packing peanuts, "my conducting baton! I was a drum major, you see and…" but all she got was a blank stare. "Right, oh my goodness BATMAN!" She produced a small action figure of the super hero and hugged it tightly. "He was my first love."

"First? Who was your second; Spiderman?"

"Hahaha, perhaps. O my! Look a toy kangaroo for escaping purposes and a CD of my terrible Japanese music! Sorry about all this but there is but one last thing in here, I can feel it…oh." At the bottom of the box she found the most precious item – pictures. Her pure excitement turned to quiet as she could actually see the faces of her friends. "That's Kim," Jess indicated pointing to the girl in the marching band uniform next to herself. "That's Daddy," she added pointing to the next picture, "I know I'm an adult but I still call him that." Another pause. "I'm sorry; I'll look at them later. I'm actually extremely tired, you woke me up you know."

"Yea, well that doesn't explain what you're wearing." Jess looked down and realized she still donned the short skirt, although she had taken off the suit jacket and was just left with the white lacey tank top she had worn underneath. Putting her hands to her hair, she also realized she had left her hair up although it looked quite jumbled now.

"Oh my, well it's a very long story I guess. Wait; something I don't understand. How did you get here so quickly?"

"I left as soon as Lupin told me where you were."

"When do we need to leave?"

"Later tonight. The soonest flight we could get goes out of Minneapolis, so we need to drive…"

"That's a nine hour drive!"

"Yea, I know," the gunman put his hand to his forehead and closed his eyes. "I rented a small pick up truck. We'll blend in better with it."

"When was the last time you slept?"

"The last time we were together." The brunette's eyes softened as she took his hand.

"Come on you, we both need sleep. There's a bed in the back."

"Are you really going to give up escaping?" Jigen inquired as he was led to the back room.

"It depends; will you give up chasing me down?"

"Jess…"

"Yes, at least I will try. I can't do this anymore. It's too lonely." With a flop they both landed in bed face up. The two looked up at the white ceiling for a moment. For our brunette it was just a moment of familiarity. The room was full of so many objects and smells that were tied to a memory, but what was odd was that the newer object, or more so person, in her life seemed familiar as well.

It's important to recognize the other person's side in this time as well, but his thoughts didn't run along the same trail. Instead he was worrying over leaving on time to make the flight and not being caught. While Jigen came off as a laid back individual, he was a nonstop worrier. It did put his mind slightly at ease, though, when he felt the female curves he knew so well push up against his side.

"Don't worry."

"I didn't say anything, how the hell can you tell?"

"I don't know; I just can. Try not to take life so seriously. You don't come out alive."

"Trying to make me laugh won't work."

"Well, what would?"

"You know," the gunman remarked with a smile as he removed his hat and loosened his tie, "I'd like to collect on that rain check you owe me." He leaned over the young woman as she tried to restrain a broad smile.

"I'm sorry," Jess teased, "are you coming on to me?"

"Practically…" But the dirty joke was lost on our leading lady as her mind became preoccupied with other, more exciting, things.

After their rain check, the two slept all morning and early afternoon. They would have in fact slept longer if a voice outside the house hadn't woken them up.

"Do you hear something?" Jess inquired as she sat straight up.

"Yea, you wait here," Jigen responded. He began to get up and walk out to see the cause of the commotion until he was stopped by the brunette still in bed.

"You may want to put some pants on," she exclaimed with a smirk.

"Oh, right."

Now fully dressed, the marksman made his way down the hall listening for the voice that had woken them up. There is was again, but why did it sound so familiar?

"Lupin I know you're in there! You come out right now or I'll break this door down!"

"Zenigata!" Jigen ran back to the room he had left Jess to find her dressed as well. Making the bed, she looked so pleased with herself that it seemed a shame to have to ruin it. "Jess, is there a back door? We need to leave now."

"Yes, but what is wrong?

"We've been found. Let's go."

The duo took up their things and made their way to the back door. Jigen had parked the truck in the back alley behind the house, but the trick would be getting to the main street without being seen. Such a feet wasn't the case though as they heard a 'I FOUND YOU!' behind them.

"I can't shake the guy," Jigen muttered staring at the rearview mirror.

The Inspector had followed them out the interstate, but not with his usual band of local police officers. Let's be fair, it was North Dakota, local police officers meant there was about 1 in every county…if you were lucky. The chase was dragging on and showed no means of letting up. The marksman stayed calm but Jess was breathing heavily. She had to do something.

"I have an idea. I know how we can get rid of him. Let me drive."

"What! Are you crazy? I'm going 90 MPH, you can't just switch…" but Jess was already moving over and shoving the gunman out of the driver's seat.

"Trust me."

"Famous last words…" but she didn't hear his remark as she took a hard right turn down one of the old farming roads. Up and down the dirt hills she went with the Inspector a ¼ of a mile behind her. The road seemed to go on forever until a fork in the path presented itself at the top of the present hill they climbed. "Which way?"

"Neither."

With that she took a sharp turn off road into a hedge row. The brush completely covered the vehicle, but that wasn't the end to the girl's plan as she jumped out of the vehicle immediately. Running forward into the brush she waved her hands around stirring up a hidden flock of pheasants. The shock sent the group of birds running down the left fork of the road sending dust every where just as the Inspector got to the top of hill. Seeing the dusty road he assumed the logical idea that that was the way the fugitives went and continued on at top speed in the said direction. Jess lay crouched in the ditch till she could no longer hear his car.

"What the hell was that? How did you know this was all here?" came a familiar voice behind her. Turning slowly she revealed a cut (due to the brush) and smiling face.

"Daddy took me hunting here. We'd park the car where the truck is now so people wouldn't bother us and the pheasants have always been there. I just knew…I just knew." She was fading into thought again and walked slowly back to the truck to let the memories flow a little longer.

A few hours had passed and since there was no sign of the exuberant detective, the two fugitives were at ease. Night had descended across the prairie and it was obvious they were the only one on the road.

"It's so dark out. Not a single headlight as far as the eye can see."

"Yea, it's kind of weirding me out."

"I rather like it." She paused for a moment to look at the far expanse of space and continued. "Would you mind if I slept a bit? Wake me up when it's my turn for driving."

"OK."

The young woman reached behind her to the back seat and pulled out a blanket from her suitcase. Wrapping it around her tightly, she lay down across the front cab seat and rested her head against the marksman's leg. With one hand she held the blanket and with the other she let lie on her companion's knee as a means of stabilizing her position so that she wouldn't fall off. Plus, it made her feel secure and safe. With the woman's mind lost in dream world, Jigen turned on the radio as a means of staying awake.

Hold me closer tiny dancer

Count the headlights on the highway

Lay me down in sheets of linen

You had a busy day today

"Well, that's just damn ironic." He looked down and smiled at the quiet dreamer. Even though they had agreed on driving in shifts, he didn't wake her up till they had reached Minneapolis.