So, I got this one done a lot sooner than I had expected. Hopefully tonight I'll try and get the next chapter done. Thanks to everyone who is reading...and especially to those who are reviewing! Reviews make my world go round (they also make me update faster!)

Cindy returned about an hour later with armfuls of grocery's. Mark and Roger immediately jumped up to help her (and the cab driver who had driven her home) bring in all the bags. Mimi entertained the kids. "Cindy! Oh my God! What did you do? Buy out the entire store?" Mark asked her.

Cindy grinned at him as she began to put things away. "Pretty much." she laughed. When all the bags were inside Cindy turned to them. "I don't know how to thank you for taking me in. Especially...well, considering...anyway. I figured the least I could do was get you guys some food." she said.

Roger was digging through the bags, as eager as a child on Christmas morning. "Mark! Look at this! Bread and lunch meat! Chips! Oh my God, Mark, we have chips!" He cried, gleefully, causing everyone to burst into laughter. Mason had squirmed his way out of Mimi's arms and flew to his mother.

"Hi sweetie! Were you a good boy while Mommy was gone?" She asked, scooping him up into her arms. He nodded his head vigorously.

"Hey Roger?" Mimi asked. He looked over at her. She was starting to sweat and shake. He dropped the food and hurried over to her side.

"Baby, are you okay?" He asked her. She shook her head.

"I..I think I need to go lay down." she said. She didn't want the two small children to witness this. They had enough trauma over the past few days. Mark took Cheyenne from her, placing a small kiss on Mimi's forehead.

"If you need me, I'll be out here with Cindy. We aren't going anywhere." Mark said. His comment was more for Roger's sake than Mimi's. Roger had a hard time watching Mimi go through this. And he barely remembered anything from when he went through it himself. Mark seemed to think this was for the best. Roger helped Mimi to their bedroom and they shut the door.

Cindy looked nervously at Mark. "Is she going to be okay?" He tried to give her a smile.

"Yeah, Mimi's made of strong stuff. She'll make it through." he told her. By this time, both kids were ready for a nap. Cheyenne had already drifted off in Mark's arms and Mason was fighting to keep his eyes open. Cindy told Mark she'd be right back and went and laid the kids down in Mark's bedroom. When she returned, Mark had finished putting away the groceries and was waiting for her on the couch. He patted the seat next to him.

"You're a better actor than I ever gave you credit for, Mark." Cindy said. He looked at her.

"You're not too bad yourself. So tell me, why me? Of all people? Why would you show up at my door when running away from Josh?" Mark asked her.

"Because for one, I didn't think anyone would think to look for me here. And two, I figured you'd sympathize with me. You always hated Josh." She told him.

"Well, you were wrong about no one looking for you here. I mean, Mom has already called. And you're kind of right. I do hate Josh. I still don't know why you'd pick me to come running to. I thought I was, what did you say? Oh yeah, 'A stupid kid with a grudge. Couldn't stand to not have my own way, so I'll just run away.' Wasn't that what you said to me when I left?" Mark couldn't keep the sarcasm out of his voice.

"Mark, I didn't understand. I still don't understand." Cindy said, her voice straining with tears as she looked at her little brother. It had been a long time since they had spent any time alone. She looked into his eyes. Gone was the naivety of the 18 year old kid who left their home years ago. Here was a Mark that had seen horrors. Who had starved and froze and watched his friends die and suffer. He blinked and the anger that had been in his eyes just moments before, faded.

"It's okay, Cindy. We'll get you moved in downstairs for the time being. Don't worry." A sudden knock at the door had both siblings looking up. Their eyes met and Mark shooed her into his bedroom silently. "Who's there?" Mark called to the door.

"Mark Cohen? It's Josh!" came the reply. Mark made sure the bedroom door was closed before opening up the door to the loft.

"Hello Josh. I've already told my mom that I don't know where Cindy is." He told the man standing in the doorway.

"Bullshit. You and I both know she's here." Josh said, sneering at the smaller blond man. Mark tried hard to keep his stoic reserve.

"Josh, Cindy and I haven't spoken more than two words since she married you. Why the hell would she come here?" Mark sighed. He didn't realize Roger had come out of the room and was standing there watching the exchange.

"That's exactly why she'd come here. Because she knows that you hate me. And that any lie she told you about me, you'd believe. Because you want to make me the bad guy." Josh said. Mark tried not to blanch.

"She wouldn't have to tell me a thing and I'd still think you were scum. But she's not here. However, I do have a girl in very serious heroin withdrawal taking a nap. So I'm going to ask you to please leave before you wake her up." Mark tried to be as firm as possible.

"And what happens if I don't leave?" Josh harassed him. Mark faltered and suddenly Roger was behind him.

"Then we have two options. Either we call the police and let them deal with you. Or I can deal with you myself. Get the fuck out of our loft." Roger said, pushing him out the door. Once in the hallway, Josh turned to them.

"I know she's here. And I will be back." He began to shout into the apartment. "DO YOU HEAR THAT? I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE. I'LL BE BACK FOR YOU CINDY!" He managed to yell, before Roger shut and locked the door. One look at his roommate, Roger realized that Josh had seriously scared him. He wondered what had happened between the two of them.

"Damn, Mark, are you okay?" Mark nodded and then headed to his bedroom to check on his sister.