"Ms...um..." The sturdiest smiled. Fran looked up to see the sturdiest.

"Fran Fine." The Sturdiest sat down holding a list.

"If you see your friends name we can tell you what flight." Fran scanned the list not seeing any names she remotely recognized.

"I don't see him. Thanks though." Fran gets up and leaves the airport hanging her head. Fran's mind: Maybe he didn't leave town. Maybe he's just out somewhere. All alone and it was because of me. CC stays most of the day just hoping that maybe Niles would show up. When he didn't, she went to the nearest hotel to get a room. CC's mind: It's getting late in the afternoon. I think I'll leave for somewhere tomorrow.

Hotel:

CC walks though the circler doors and sees a man that looks familiar get on the elevator. She watched the numbers go to the 10th floor. She waited for the next elevator and rode up to the 10th floor. When she stepped out she saw no one. Which way do I go now? I'll start with the left and make my way down the hall to the right. She walked down the lonely hall thinking about what she would say to him if it was Niles. How to get him to tell her what happened. He'll never tell me no in a million years but what about his attitude towards me this morning? Something happened in that house earlier and I missed it cause...don't even go there CC. Cause...I'm not part of that family. she made a u-turn at the end of the hall.

When she still sees no activity of this mystery man she decides to go down in the lobby. At midnight she sees him again heading out. She follows him. Man's mind: I have a weird feeling that someone is following me. The man CC was following turns around. na can't be. CC ducks behind the corner. CC's mind: I can't let him see me not just yet. She slowly peers around the corner to see if he was following her now. she watches him head for the bar. That's it get drunk. Then you will tell me everything. She followed him. CC's mind: How can I get closer without getting caught? Oh hell he needs a friend anyway. He was sitting at the bar eating pretzels and drinking wine. She had to closer to him.

CC sits at bar with Niles a few stools away. CC decides to get a drink while she waits there. Asked the man next to her to pass the bowl of pretzels her way. Niles looks her direction. Niles' mind: No way, why is she here? I don't...

CC's mind: Good he's seen me now maybe...

As if on cue, the man between them leaves. CC quickly moved over.

"Niles?"

"Ms. Babcock?" he turns to face her.

"I thought you left town."

"Don't you wish?" CC's mind: How his mood has changed in a few hours?

"What do I look like?" Niles turns his face from her; does she really want to know? "I'm

a witch not a gene."

"Where's your broom then?" Niles looks around. She laughed softly. CC's mind: This is good. He's talking to me. Niles turned to face her once more. "It must be in your other suit."

"Must be." She smiles. "Listen Niles...What happened earlier?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Niles' mind: Yeah all she wants to do is threw it back in my face that I screwed up. Maybe my entire life. What was I thinking? Nothing's going to change. Maybe she's right maybe I'm a pathetic excuse for a man.

"Yes, I would."

"Why would you care?"

"Cause I do." she was getting irritated with him. What does everyone think? That I don't care about you...whoa...I care.

"I don't need this right now." He gets up and walks out of the bar.

"Niles wait..." CC had a crushed look on her face.

"He won't get far." The bartender said. CC turned to face him.

"What do you mean?" The man held up a pair of keys.

"His I presume."

"I'll take those." The bartender hesitates but thinks it couldn't hurt.

"We are good friends not to worry." CC commented seeing the man worried look towards her. "He just says things he doesn't mean when he gets drunk."

"Girlfriend the?"

"Really good friend."

"Ok then." The man says still with a concerned look.

"Nothing to worry about." CC smiles. The bartender hands her the keys. "Thank-you." When the bartender goes to wait on someone who takes a sit, CC smiled in evil grin. CC's mind: Gotta you now sucker. She raced to the elevators, both of them where in use. I'll have to wait for them to come back down. I don't have time. She raced up the stairs. Way am I doing this for him? Is this really worth my effort? She saw Niles at the other end of the hall standing at his door looking for his keys. She raced towards him. Niles' mind: Great she's stalking me.

"Looking for something?"

"Yeah, something that you can't give me."

"Try me." Niles' mind: Is this woman nuts? What does she have that I need?

She jingles the pair of keys in his face.

"Mmmm...my keys." Niles' mind: How on earth did she get my keys from me that fast? Is she really a witch? Oh...

"You left them at the bar." She placed her hand out. He tried to reach for them but she pulled back her hand.

"You better give me those keys or I'll..." He starts to threaten.

"Or you'll what?" he starts to walk off again.

"No Niles, I was kidden." She held out her hand again. "Here."

"No trick." She just shook her head. She handed them to his open hand. He tried to get it to unlock his door but couldn't.

"More over." She pushed him a little. "First of all you are using the wrong key." She unlocked the door, and then opens it. He started to walk forward. "Hold up. Don't you have any manners? You let the women go in first." He looked out in the hallway.

"I guess we have to find one then."

"Very funny." He smiled as he gestured for her to enter.

"After you." Niles' mind: Why am I letting her come in here with me? Now she'll never leave. I guess I'm stuck with her. I guess it's better then being alone. CC looked at him thinking that this might not be the right thing for them to be doing. A hotel room with a bed and him alone with his state of mind.

CC's mind: What was he thinking now? Was he just being nice or did he have an underlining scheme set up? CC sat on the bed in his room and noticed it was a king side bed. That made her think some. I guess he wants to live like a king. Ha ha ha a king, He got the king size bed. Something he wishes he was. Niles sighs, Niles' mind: how am I going to get rid of her? Maybe she won't talk to long. Who am I kidding? She will want to know down to the last detail of what happened this morning. But if I tell her the whole story she'll never...oh what am I going to do? What have I done? I can't tell her but if I don't, I'll lose any way. She has her ways of finding out things. Oh...

"What's the matter, nothing to do butler boy?"

"Oh," Niles snaps back to reality.

"What is wrong with you?" she faced him but he wouldn't look at her.

"Like you care."

"Do we have to go through that again? I just..."

"No," he shook his head. Niles' mind: Why was she making this harder? I just want some peace and quiet. Is that too much to ask? "I just want to take a shower and go to bed if you don't mind." Niles picks up his bag and starts going through it.

"No, I don't mind. Take all the time you need." CC turns on the TV and lies down. She kicks off her shoes. "Ah, much better." Now Niles is getting irritated with her.

"Alone!" his voice starts to rise. He walks over to her and takes her by the arm. "I mean alone."

"Alright, I see how you are. I was just..." Niles pick up her shoes and scoots her towards the door. He opens it. Niles' mind: Maybe she will get the idea and just leave me along. "Just trying to be a..." the door closes in her face before she can finish. "Friend." She lowers her head and walks away. CC's mind: Why is he shutting everyone out? Something bad happened earlier. He never, no matter how angry he gets, never shuts everybody out. She sighs and turns around to still find the door to his room closed. I'll just let him die alone, if that's how he wants it.