The phone was further away than they originally remembered. Apparently the cell phone revolution that seemed to pass the three women by hadn't passed anything else by without leaving its mark. It was a good forty-five minutes before they found a small roadside general store with a working pay phone.

"Here, call." Tanya commanded. The redhead's eyes got huge.

"Um…no. Why…why don't we make Ash call? She's the one Adam likes and all." Erica's voice was an octave higher than it should have been as she thrust the piece of paper with Adam's number on it toward Ashley.

"Hey wow no!" Ashley's eyes were almost as large as Erica's. Tanya sighed dramatically, snatched the scrap from Erica, and yanked the receiver off of its cradle.

"Since you're both gigantic chicken shits, I'LL do it." The small brunette looked down at the card and began punching numbers. She glanced over at her two friends as the phone rang and had to laugh. Each of them wore the same expression. It was a mixture of fear and anticipation and Erica looked like she was going to cry or have a stroke. Tanya wasn't sure which. "Hey Adam, its Tanya…"

"Tell him I say hi!" Ashley blurted. Tanya swatted in her direction for quiet.

"Look, I hate voice mail so I'll make this short. Certain…impulsive members of our little group have realized the error of their ways…" She glared pointedly at Erica as she spoke. The redhead blushed fiercely and turned away. "Tell Mark that we called. We miss you guys. We'll try to call again soon. Later." She hung up.
"Voice mail?" Erica asked. Tanya gave her a weird look but nodded. "Damn."

"Don't worry, you'll get to tell the big man you're an idiot soon enough." Tanya grinned and headed back toward the bikes. Erica opened her mouth to retort but stopped short as Ashley doubled over laughing.

"What's your problem?"

"Wow, were you an idiot. He's Texas!" She wheezed mockingly.

"Oh ha ha…" Erica said dryly. "Yes, I made the biggest ass EVER out of myself last night. I think we've covered that." The younger redhead shook her head and, still chuckling, followed Tanya.

"Come on! Let's GO!" Tanya called over as Erica stood gaping at her friends. "The road… there's lot's of it, remember?" Erica waved them off but grudgingly walked over, swinging a leg over her bike and kicking over the engine.

"Lead on!" Ashley laughed and motioned for Tanya to take the lead. The pixie woman grinned maniacally and, revving her engine, took off down the road away from Sturges. It hadn't been a long visit this time but there were more important things going on and her parents would be there next year.

Tanya didn't know why but it felt like something was pulling them forward. So they hadn't managed to get a hold of Adam. It wasn't a big deal, they would. It was inevitable. If there was one thing Tanya knew it was that unfinished business had a way of finishing itself. So, she didn't sweat it. No big deal.

The brunette glanced back in her side mirror. Erica looked like she was smelling something rancid. Tanya couldn't help but laugh. Her friend had herself so worked up about this thing with Mark and Tanya just couldn't see why. It was so clear in her mind. All they had to do was talk. Everything would be fine. Erica just couldn't see past her own stupidity.

"Wow were you stupid…" Tanya chuckled to herself and gunned her engine jumping ahead of her friends.

It was edging toward dusk as the three women started feeling the wear of the long ride. Erica had taken the lead a few hours back and her eyes were starting to close without her. She shook her head violently and flipped on her headlight.

"Just great…" She muttered. "We're in the middle of no where." Suddenly she laughed. Apparently all the time they'd spent with Adam and Mark had made her entirely too comfortable with a motel at the end of every day. How many nights had she and Tanya slept on the edge of the road? She couldn't remember, it'd been so many.

With that thought, she cut back on her throttle and paced Tanya.

"I think it's about time we show Ash what it's like to sleep under the stars!" She yelled to her friend. Tanya smiled wickedly and nodded.

Erica nodded back and slowed a bit further to pace Ashley. The poor little girl looked like she was ready to fall out of her saddle.

"What do you say we stop for the night?" Erica called over.

"WHAT?" Ashley screamed back. Erica rolled her eyes and slowed further, motioning for her to do the same. Without the excess wind, Ashley could hear her better.
"I said, I think it's about time we stopped for the night!" She tried again. This time Ashley nodded then screamed pointing ahead.

Erica's head whipped around just in time to see the truck come barreling out of the empty land beside them. Her stomach dropped. She knew she'd never get there in time but she had to try. She gunned the throttle and tried desperately to reach Tanya. How did she get so far ahead? They hadn't slowed that much!

"Tanya, look OUT!" She screamed over the roar of her engine but it was no use. The truck slid up onto the asphalt and into the side of Tanya's bike. The two redheads could only scream as they watched her tip and skid sideways down the road, her leg trapped under the machine.

"No, NO, NO!" Erica was screaming as the wind whipped her hair out like an arrow point behind her. Tanya's leg had come loose and she was rolling bonelessly to a stop beside the road. Her bike however kept going, leaving pieces in its wake.

"HOLY SHIT!" Ashley screamed as she rolled to a stop beside Tanya. "She's NOT MOVING!" Erica dumped her bike as gracefully as possible and ran back toward her two friends. When she got to them, her stomach tried to heave. The battered body on the side of the road was NOT Tanya. There was no way it could be. Ashley was hyperventilating as she gently dabbed at the blood on Tanya's face. "Oh no no no no no…"

"Tanya…Tanya can you hear me?" Erica said trying to keep her voice steady. Someone had to maintain control of this situation and judging from Ashley's reaction it wasn't going to be her. Tanya didn't respond. There was so much blood. The redhead took a deep breath and tried to think what to do. They hadn't passed anywhere that looked remotely inhabited in hours.

"Hey…Is…is sheokay?" A voice behind them slurred. Erica felt her blood heat but it was Ashley who took the initiative. The little girl's head snapped up and toward the voice.

"You Son of a BITCH!" She screamed and bolted toward him, jumping onto his back. "YOU FUCKING KILLED HER!" She shrieked as she tried to claw his eyes out. The drunk was flailing wildly, trying desperately to dislodge her. He wasn't having much luck. "I'll KILL YOU!" She raged even as the drunk finally got the better of her and she fell unceremoniously to the ground.

Erica stood up, leaving Tanya as comfortable as she could against the shoulder and ran over, scooping Ashley off the ground before she made a second run at him.

"Jesus…" He muttered rubbing at his scratched forehead. "Fuckin crazy bitch…"

"You!" Erica began pointing at him, her eyes as hard as black glass. "Do you have a cell phone?" The man in the truck staggered around in a circle before acknowledging her.

"Huh?"

"DO…YOU…HAVE…A…CELL…PHONE?" The redhead tried again more slowly. Ashley was back with Tanya to prevent her from going after him again.

"Yeah why?"

"Give it to me." She stalked over to him. "Now."

"For what?" He was backing slowly away from her. Erica glanced back at her two friends and took a deep breath. No, she could not hit him. If she hit him, she'd go to jail too. Instead, she pushed past him and began rummaging around in the cab of his truck. "What the fuck are you doing!" He called after her.

"Don't fucking come near me!" She screamed back as she reached into the pocket of the driver's side door and found what she was looking for. The redhead quickly pulled up the antenna and dialed 911. "Yes, there's been an accident…a motorcycle accident. My friend's bike was hit by a drunk driver. Yes, he's still here….Um… Where are we?" She mentally swore. How could she not know where she was? "Hey Fucktard! Where are we?" She called over her shoulder to him. He was still standing, mouth agape, staring at her from a few feet away.

"Wha…?" He muttered.

"WHERE ARE WE?" She yelled. The man ran a hand through his greasy unkempt hair and told her. Erica relayed the information to the operator and hung up, throwing the phone at him.

With a final glare, she stalked past him and back to Tanya.

"Is she…Is she breathing?" Ashley nodded as she cried. Erica took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she crouched down beside her. Yes, Tanya was breathing but her face was dangerously pale. The redhead could only hope it was the dwindling light.

"Whassa matter with her?" The drunk's voice said from directly behind them. Erica watched Ashley's eyes harden. "Look, she ain't dead…" He muttered and kicked Tanya squarely in the ribs. Before Erica could move, Ashley was on him again growling savagely as she tried to gouge his eyes out with her thumbs.

"You need to fucking DIE!" She snarled as he backed up and tripped over his own feet, falling to the cement. Ashley fell with him, forcing her weight down on the arms that were restraining hers.

"Whoa, fuck this…" He swore throwing Ashley off of him and jumping to his feet, breaking for his truck. "What the fuck?" He screamed as he slapped at the ignition.

"Looking for these, mother fucker?" Erica growled waggling a set of car keys over her head. His eyes got huge with disbelief. "You're not going anywhere." The drunk climbed out of the truck and began making his way toward her when they heard the first sirens approaching.

Once the paramedics arrived, the night became a blur. The drunk was taken away once Ashley and Erica gave their statements and his truck was impounded. The EMTs loaded Tanya onto a backboard and into their waiting ambulance hastily giving the two women directions to the hospital before they were gone in a screaming, flashing, life saving rush.

The two women climbed onto their bikes and tore off after them.

When they arrived at Sioux Valley Hospital everything immediately came to a screeching halt. The old woman behind the desk would give them no information.

"I'm sorry; unless you're relatives I can't tell you anything. You'll have to wait for the doctors." She said. Both women had to restrain themselves. "I suggest you take a seat in the waiting room." The 'patient advocate' said snidely and pointed a gnarled finger toward three rows of chairs across from her desk. Reluctantly, they went.

"What are we gonna do?" Ashley whispered once they were seated. "We can't pay for this."

"I know…" Erica muttered and crossed her arms under her breasts. Her eyes were heavier than ever. All she wanted to do was fall asleep and pretend the last few hours had never happened. She was on sensory overload. No way was Tanya hurt. She couldn't be! Any minute now, she'd come hobbling out of the double swinging doors and say "Ha! Gotcha!" She had to.

The redhead closed her eyes to the burning behind them. It wasn't time to cry yet. They didn't even know if there was anything to cry about yet. But for some reason, she couldn't stop it.

"God I wish the guys were here." Ashley said more to herself than to Erica and slumped down lower in her plastic hospital chair. Erica nodded her agreement then jumped to her feet. "What are you doing?"

"I'm calling Adam." She said resolutely and walked over to the pay phone, Ashley trailing behind her.

She glanced down at the crumpled paper in her hand and punched the numbers, then waited. By the third ring, she was losing hope. Then suddenly…

"Hello?"

"Adam? It's…"

"ERICA!" The blonde gasped from the other end of the line. Erica had to hold her breath to keep from sobbing over the phone.

"Hello?" Another voice came across the line. The redhead's stomach dropped.

"Mark?" She asked but there was no need. She'd have known his voice anywhere.

"Yeah baby girl, it's me." The tears she'd been trying so hard not to shed came full force.

"Mark, Tanya's been in an accident." Her voice shook as she spoke but she pressed on. "I…we don't know if she's okay."

"Ah hell, where are you?"

"Sioux Falls. Sioux Valley Hospital. Mark they won't tell us anything." She was sobbing full out now. It was so good to hear his voice!

"How long have you been there?" He asked.

"I…I don't know. Maybe an hour." She guessed. "I don't know what to do. I can't fix this."

"Baby girl, I've got to go. Can you hold tight and call me as SOON as you find out anything?" Erica's stomach dropped at his words. He had to go.

"Yeah…sure."

"Okay. Call me as soon as they say anything, alright? Take down my cell number." Erica said of course she would and scribbled Mark's number down right next to Adam's. "Alright, I've got to go. Talk to you soon."

"Mark!" She had to catch him before he hung up.

"What?"

"I…I'm sorry." Her voice was a whisper.

"Don't worry about that now. Just call me." The redhead nodded.

"I will. G'bye Mark." She tried to make it sound normal around the lump in her throat.

"Later Baby girl, never good bye." Then he was gone.

Erica returned the receiver to the cradle and slumped, sliding down the wall to the cold, antiseptic hospital floor and let all the crying she'd been holding onto loose.

"What did Mark say?" Ashley asked quietly sitting down beside her friend and wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"He says to call him as soon as we hear anything."

"Is that all he said?" Erica nodded and began sobbing harder as Ashley pulled her to her feet and guided her back to their chairs.

"Erica?" It was Ashley's voice. She knew that but she was so tired.

"Couple more minutes…" She grumbled and tried to roll over in her chair.

"Erica, wake up." The younger woman said more forcefully and nudged her.

"WHAT!" She barked as she turned back over and glared at her friend, then past her.

"Hey little girl."

"Mark?" She saw him nod but couldn't make sense of it. "Are you…here?" The deep rumbling chuckle was proof.

"Yeah baby girl…"

"Oh my God…" She breathed and launched herself into his arms, the tears starting all over again. "How? How did you get here? What are you doing here? Oh my God Mark, I'm so sorry. I…I didn't mean anything I said that night…" She was babbling.

"We were only about an hour away. Adam sends his love. He's sorry he couldn't make it." If she didn't know better, she'd say his voice sounded strained. Strange how he didn't mention her apology…

"You must be Erica." A strange voice cut in as the redhead reluctantly broke off the embrace.

"Baby girl, this is my brother Glen." Mark said stepping slightly aside.

"Yeah, hello." She blushed as he held out a hand to her. "Sorry, I'm usually much more composed than this."

"Not a problem. I hope you don't mind me tagging along. Mark was in such a hurry to get out here I didn't think it was such a good idea for him to drive all this way alone."

"We don't mind. Do we Erica?" Ashley chirped smiling. Glen looked down and smiled back at her. He was easily as big as Mark but that's where the similarities ended. His head was shaved bald and his eyes while hazel weren't quite as green as his brother's. The two of them however, were more than obviously related. They even stood the same way. It was like looking at two oversized cowboys. They each stood, hands in their pockets with one hip cocked slightly to the side.

"It must be Texas…" Erica thought to herself as she watched them both. Even though she'd felt him against her she still couldn't quite believe they were there.

"Have they said anything to you yet?" Mark asked taking a chair. Impulsively, Erica sat down on his lap.

"No, nothing yet." Ashley said, the smile she had worn fading.

"Don't worry, she's gonna be fine." The big Texan said resolutely, his certainty bolstering both women's courage.

"Castle? Erica Castle?" The redhead spun toward the sound of her name.

"That's…that's me."

"Could you come with me please?" A woman in a white uniform said curtly and, without waiting for her, disappeared through the double swinging doors. Erica took a deep breath and with a quick glance at her friends, followed.

"Is…is she alright?" She managed to breathe catching up with the nurse.

"She's quite banged up. She's got a concussion, her leg is broken, and there's quite a bit of nasty road rash but it looks like she's going to be fine." Suddenly the nurse smiled toward her. The smile softened her features and put Erica instantly at ease.

"Oh thank the Gods…" She breathed. The nurse, Elaine judging from her nametag, placed a soft, reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Come on, your friend is right through here." Elaine said and held a curtain open. Erica thanked her and ducked inside.

"Hey…there you are." Tanya's voice was rasping and dreamy. Her black hair was plastered back and gauze covered more than half of her face but she was grinning weakly.

"Don't you ever pull a stunt like that again." Erica chuckled even as she cried and sat down pulling a chair up next to Tanya's bed.

"Someone's got to keep you on your toes." She smiled then winced. "Erica, I didn't even see him coming."

"There's no way you could have."

"When can I get out of here? I need to get my bike and…"

"I don't think we're going to be taking your bike." Erica's voice was filled with remorse. Her bike was trashed. There wasn't even enough left to tow.

"It can't be that bad. I'm alive. If it was that bad I wouldn't be…right?" Erica shook her head.

"It's scrap man… I'm sorry."

Tanya closed her eyes and took a slow deep breath. "I guess it's for the best I mean, it's not like I could ride with this now could I?" The brunette reached down and flipped the blanket off of her leg. From ankle to hip was white cast.

"Jesus…" It was all Erica could muster.

"Is Ash here?" Tanya's voice was starting to lose its strength. Apparently whatever they had her on for the pain as beginning to kick in.

"Yeah she's in the lobby."

"I'd have called her back too but…I don't know her last name." The last part of the sentence came out in a giddy giggle.

"She's not the only one in the lobby." Erica grinned. She couldn't help herself. Tanya cracked one eye open waiting for her friend to elaborate. "Mark is here."

"What?" Tanya blurted and immediately regretted the volume. It made her head feel like a piñata on Cinco de Mayo. Erica opened her mouth to explain when a quiet coughing distracted her.

"We're going to be moving her to a room. I'm going to have to ask you to return to the waiting area." The nurse said but didn't move from the curtain. Sighing heavily, Erica took the hint and stood.

"As soon as they let me, I'll bring them back." She said and reached down to squeeze her friend's hand. Tanya nodded and closed her eyes as the nurse led her friend out of the Emergency room.