Logan kept scanning the water and the sky as they got closer to the island. Barek followed his nervous gaze and, her voice a whisper, finally asked, "What the hell are you looking for?"

"I'll know it when I see it."

"Tell me you're looking for familiars or something."

Goren stifled a laugh, earning him an annoyed look from Logan. "As a matter of fact, the thought did cross my mind."

Eames shook her head. "She's not a demon or a witch, Logan. She's just evil."

He leaned forward toward where she sat behind Goren. "Then how the hell did Barek and I both miss hitting her last night? She was right in front of us."

Eames shook her head. "I don't know, but somehow you did. Look, it was dark and raining. It's not inconceivable. Shit happens."

Logan looked at Goren. "You got any theories, genius?"

Goren stopped rowing and leaned on the oars, letting the momentum carry them forward. "I agree with Eames."

"Of course you do. Well, I like my explanation better."

Barek frowned at him. "What? That she's a witch or a demon or something? Maybe she's a werewolf and only silver bullets will kill her."

"Now you're being ridiculous."

"No more than you are."

Goren looked over his shoulder when Eames touched his back. She rested her chin against the back of his shoulder and whispered. "The fire just went out."

"Shit. Get down."

All four of them hunkered down in the boat. Goren wanted to check it out without endangering the other three, but he knew that wasn't going to happen, and if he even suggested it, Eames might just shoot him. He looked toward the black looming shadow of the island. They weren't quite as close as he wanted to be, but they were close enough. He slid the anchor into the water. "Ok, let's go."

He slid over the side into the water and waited for the others to join him. Logan grumbled. "I really don't like this."

"You don't have to like it," Barek whispered into his ear. "You just have to do it."

"We can't see a damn thing."

"Just swim. If you get lost, then you can complain."

They began the swim to the island, being very careful not to make any sound. Once on the shore, they checked their weapons. "Ok, now what?" Logan asked in a low whisper.

"Let's see what happened to that fire," Goren replied.

He headed off into the woods. Logan shook his head, muttering, "Easy as that. We just find out what happened to it. No problem."

"Quit talking to yourself and get going," Barek mumbled, pushing him toward the trees.

He turned toward Barek and Eames. "Do either of you have a problem with this amazing lack of a plan we have here?"

"Not at all," Barek hissed. "It's every bit as good as 'Let's get her.'"

Logan frowned at her, but Eames interrupted the discussion. "Let's go, guys, before we lose Goren in the woods."

"We wouldn't want that, now, would we?" Logan grumbled, turning back toward the deeper shadow of the woods and heading off to follow Goren. "How the hell are we supposed to see him? I can't…"

There was a muffled 'oof' and the sound of someone falling. Eames and Barek pulled out their guns and aimed them toward the sound. Goren's voice reached them. "It's ok."

They slid their guns back into their holsters and moved forward. Eames stopped when she bumped into her partner, grabbing Barek's arm to prevent her from doing the same. Logan's voice came to them from the ground, quiet but angry. "Ok, my ass. This is not going to work. I feel like one of the friggin' Three Stooges here. We can't see a damn thing, and it's not like we can just flip on a flashlight. What a plan this was, Goren. If we can't see where the hell we're going, how are we supposed to find an extinguished campfire? Or do you suggest we stumble around out here until we just run into Her Wickedness or get our asses shot?"

Goren was quiet, but Eames could tell he was thinking. She leaned against him, taking comfort from his hulking presence beside her. Barek leaned against a tree and Logan stayed where he was, sitting on the ground. Goren laid a hand on Eames' shoulder, but remained silent. Finally he sighed. "We wait," he said simply.

"For?" Logan asked.

"For the moon to come up. It's on its way to full and we'll be able to see by its light. But we'll have to be more careful, because if we can see, so can she."

"So how long do we have to sit here in the pitch dark?"

"Maybe another forty-five minutes."

Barek said softly, "I think we should keep silent as well. If she's wandering around out here, we don't want her to hear Curly over there muttering and complaining. If she's been staying out here, even if it's just been a day or two, you can bet your ass she knows this place and we don't."

They fell into an uncomfortable silence, ears straining to hear any sound beyond their breathing. Goren sat beside a tree, leaning back against it. Eames sat with him, leaning against him, resting her head against his chest. He was thinking again, but as he thought, he absently slipped his arm around her and rested his hand against her abdomen, lightly caressing her. It was a reflex gesture of comfort and he wasn't even consciously aware of it. She relaxed against him and waited for the moon.

Logan was the first to hear it. He sat up slowly and silently made his way toward where he thought Barek was. He bumped into her and slid his hand over her mouth before she could protest. "Shhh," he hissed in her ear. "Listen."

By the time she heard the quiet shuffle, Goren had also heard it. Eames felt him tense and she pulled away, getting to her feet. Behind her, he was up, on one knee, head to one side, waiting for the sound to come again. When it did, it was closer.

Each detective slipped behind a tree, gun drawn, waiting for the next shuffle. Goren glanced up at the sky. The glow of the moon was touching the eastern horizon, but it wouldn't rise above the hills before whatever made that sound was upon them or had passed them. The closer he listened, the more convinced he became that it wasn't human. It sounded smaller, and the pattern of its noise indicated it was foraging or hunting, not looking for them. He opted to let it pass, hoping the others would follow his lead. Of course, if Logan decided to jump out and say "boo" they would have to deal with whatever consequence came of that action.

But nothing happened. They remained quietly against the trees and the quiet shuffle continued past them toward the lakeshore. The shuffling sound faded, leaving only the sound of the crickets to disturb the night. Logan reached out to gently grab Barek's arm and he led her over to where Goren and Eames had just stepped out from their cover. "What was that?" Logan whispered softly.

"An animal," Goren replied, just as softly. "Probably a raccoon."

"How much longer do we have to sit here?"

"Not much. Moon's coming up now."

Logan looked up into the sky, where the moon was just starting to clear the hills and climb into the sky high enough to give them some light. In short order, they were able to see each other's forms in the dim light. The black woods faded to gray and they could make out trees amid the shadow. "Are we ready to go now?" Goren said softly.

"I guess," Logan reluctantly consented.

They started off, heading deeper into the woods, walking slowly and quietly. A snapped twig here, a shuffled leaf there…nothing to raise alarm in a forest full of animals. The island was not so far out into the lake that the animals could not swim out to forage. The hooting call of a nearby owl drowned out the chirping of the crickets, as did the occasional cicada. It was very different from the sounds and sirens of the urban jungle they were used to.

As the trees began to thin, they slowed their progress to a crawl. There was a clearing in front of them. They crept to the edge of the dense wood, remaining hidden among the foliage. In the center of the clearing was a small fire ring. A small tent sat on the far end of the clearing, not far from where the lake lapped up onto the shore. Goren leaned toward the other three, his voice barely audible. "Eames and Barek, stay here. Come on, Logan."

Logan groaned softly. Goren was going to get them killed. But he silently followed the big detective back into the dense woods behind them.

When the woods began to thin, Goren dropped to a knee to watch the clearing. Logan almost fell over him. Goren caught him, hissing in his ear, "Pay attention."

"Sorry," Logan muttered. He was busy watching the forest around them for any signs of Wallace…or anything else that might pose a threat to them. He squatted beside Goren. "See anything?"

"No. We need to get closer."

Logan looked at him in the moonlight. "You've gotta have a screw loose in there."

"Shh…just come on."

He headed away from the small campsite toward the lake. Logan shook his head but followed, not sure which of them had the looser screw—Goren for leading or him for following. The trees ended suddenly, dropping off about four feet down into the lake. "Now what?"

Goren held up a hand. "Listen…"

Logan concentrated on trying to locate whatever it was Goren had heard. There it was… "Oh, shit…That's a motor."

"Get back."

They faded back into the trees and waited. Soon, a small raft came into view with a single person in it. It was Nicole. She piloted the raft close to the shore before climbing out and beaching it. She pulled a bag from the raft and walked casually to the tent, setting it inside. Then she walked to the fire ring and stirred the coals, adding small pieces of wood to the hot coals and coaxing them to flame. When the fire was burning to her satisfaction, she went back to the tent and withdrew the bag and a small duffle. They watched in silence as she went about preparing something in front of her. Logan placed a hand on Goren's shoulder and leaned forward to mutter in Goren's ear. "Is she cooking or brewing?"

Goren leaned back. "Does it matter?"

"So what are we gonna do?"

"Right now? Watch."

He patted the bigger cop's shoulder. "Good plan."

Wallace threw something on the fire that caused the flames to explode upward into the air. The men drew back further into the shadows of the trees around them. Goren leaned back toward Logan. "Let's get back to Eames and Barek." He was concerned about his partner. Logan nodded.

They slipped back into the trees and headed back to where they had left their partners.

Eames and Barek were watching Wallace tensely. "What do you think she's doing?" Barek asked quietly.

"I have no idea."

They heard a noise behind them. Both drew and turned. Logan stopped dead when he saw two guns pointed at him. "It just us," he hissed.

Holstering their weapons they returned to watching the woman at the fire. Logan knelt between them. Goren came up behind Eames, placing his hand on her back and whispering in her ear, "You ok?"

She nodded tensely, and he did not take his hand away. He just dropped to a knee beside her, watching to see what Wallace was up to. Eames leaned against his knee. Logan muttered, "Maybe she's making a deal with the devil."

Barek replied, "I wouldn't joke about that, if I were you, Logan."

"Who says I'm joking?"

Eames looked up at her partner's face. She had never seen an expression like that on his face before. "Bobby?"

He gently pressed his fingers into her back in response. Slowly he moved closer to her. Pressing his head against hers, he whispered, "We're doing this by the seat of our pants, Eames. I don't know what's going to happen, but this is it. However it comes out, I want you to remember something."

She looked at him, concerned. "Bobby…"

"Shhh…Just remember…no matter what…that I love you."

He kissed her lightly, then stood up, looking at Logan and Barek. "This is it. Let's go."

"Let's go?" Logan asked. "Let's go where?"

Goren met his eyes. "You remember the promise you made to me five months ago. I'm still holding you to it."

Logan didn't look away. "A promise is a promise."

Goren nodded and headed toward the campfire. Logan jumped up to follow. Eames grabbed his arm. "What promise, Mike?"

"I'll tell you later. Come on."

Drawing their weapons, they followed Goren into the clearing.