The Breakout

I thought I knew what happened to you
You told me exactly what to do
So I did it right, stayed up all night
Felt like killing myself for you

- Wake up screaming
- Queens of the Stone Age

Summer dragged Rachel through the crowds talking constantly about how much of a 'totally awesome' job Marissa had done on the carnival that year.

"You totally have to go on the roller-coaster, it's like so much fun," she insisted. "Unless you're like scared of heights like Ryan, which would totally suck."

Rachel tried to keep up with her friend whilst all the while protesting her dragging her around. "Summer where the hell are we going?"

But Summer wasn't about to give up her seemingly pointless field trip until they happened to stumble upon Ryan and Marissa. Rachel let out a sigh of relief and yet knew the look Ryan sent her way. You could cut the tension between her and Marissa with a knife.

"Having fun?" Ryan asked his sister who flashed him a smile.

Rachel nodded her head and looked to Marissa. "You've done a great job."

Marissa looked a little shocked by the compliment. "Thanks." She looked around for a quick moment. "Have either of you seen Luke? He was supposed to help out with the animal farm."

Summer, however, had already grown uninterested and wondered off in search of cotton candy leaving Rachel to answer. "I was looking for him anyway," she replied staring at her feet for a time feeling Ryan's eyes on her filled with concern. "I'll go."

Within only moments Rachel walked away feeling as out of place as ever around her brother and his girlfriend. She hated to think that things couldn't be worked out between herself and Marissa, if not for good, then at least for both their sanity.

Rachel looked back to see them playing a miniature game of basketball hoping to win some prizes. She sighed slightly turning and walking straight into…

"Seth…"

The name came out in a whisper of shock and at the same time almost disappointment at the way her night was going as far as people she saw. It had been almost a week since she and Seth had been involved in an actual conversation. Not since she'd last spoken to him about taking some 'time off'.

Things had been so different of late. She'd moved back into the pool house with Ryan, Sandy and Kirsten were on speaking, hugging and canoodling terms again. Summer seemed to be striking up and friendly relationship with Luke, though Rachel knew straight off the bat that he wasn't interested in that way.

Her life finally seemed to be on track again as though nothing had happened in the last year at all. Accept for this…

"Hey," he replied casually. "No stuffed animals?"

Rachel half smiled. "I'm not a game person."

"Too bad cos they have these Tweety Bird things, swear their heads are bigger than my whole body."

There was a long slightly awkward silence before Rachel spoke again. "I'll check it out."

Seth took a gulp of his drink before saying. "You want to go now?" He asked sweetly. "I'll take you, it's like a maze around here."

Rachel let out a small laugh. "No I should…" she took in a deep breath. "I have to find Luke for Marissa."

Seth looked genuinely shocked at her statement, feeling a sudden brick like object at the pit of his stomach. "Oh…okay."

Rachel smiled again. "Have fun, okay?"

Before Seth could reply she had begun to walk away. "Rach…" he said taking a hold of her hand.

Rachel turned back with a look of sadness on her face but she didn't have time to react as she was jolted by a passer-by and pushed straight into Seth. They both stopped short at the position they were in, her tucked tightly against his body, his drink now forgotten on the ground.

"Seth…"

"Don't go," he murmured in reply.

Rachel lifted her eyes to gaze into his. "I have too." But Seth wasn't letting her go. "Please don't do this."

"If you walk away I'm going to be reduced to chasing you and making a world-class spaz out of myself." Seth fell silent for a time. "I don't want you looking for Captain-Macho-Ward, I don't want you not wasting money on games and I don't want you avoiding me because you think that it will solve your problems," he suddenly burst out. "There, I said it."

Rachel looked into Seth's eyes, the noises of the carnival overwhelming. Laughter, screaming, the sounds of the ticket machines and prize winning sirens. The music.

"I hate this song," Seth suddenly commented. "Why would he make her promise not to stop when he said when?"

"Not everything make sense Seth," Rachel murmured.

"Just like you running away from me?"

Rachel let out a sigh and took a pace back away from him. "I'm not running."

Seth looked at her for a time attempting to hide the jealousy in his tone. "You're going to find Luke?"

"Marissa needs him."

"Since when do you care about what Marissa needs?"

The words came out in a flood of emotions, too quick for Seth to get a hold of them before they were revealed. He watched Rachel as she took them in silently, part of her almost agreeing and yet part of her wanting nothing more than to lash out at him for thinking he knew everything about her.

"Rach, I didn't mean…" he tried.

"I've gotta go," Rachel replied.

"No wait…"

Rachel whirled around then reacting the only way she knew how to someone she loved who was telling her all the right answers and yet not the ones she wanted to hear.

"Seth I have to go find Luke okay?" she almost yelled. "So just go find Summer and have fun. Jump on the Tilt A Whirl until you throw up for all I care, just stop caring about every little thing that I do."

Seth took a step forward noting how Rachel took a step back. "I like caring about you."

"The whole point of this," Rachel said indicating the situation between them. "Was so that you can stop caring."

As Rachel wondered about the outskirts of the carnival her eyes travelled to the people inside. Some laughing, some clearly drinking too much. Others looking much the same as her; wondering why it was that they were there to begin with. She spotted Luke talking to Marissa and figured her work was done for the night.

Letting out a sigh she sent a quick message to Ryan telling him she was heading home. The night air did her good and as Rachel passed some closed shops she took in a deep breath to calm herself. However, that calm quickly dissipated when she felt herself being suddenly hauled against a wooden fence and as she went to make a sound a hand covered her mouth.

Rachel suddenly stopped, her eyes widening, her fist mere inches from her offenders face. Slowly the hand was removed from her mouth as a total look of shock washed over her face and her brow furrowed in an almost uncomprehending way.

There standing before her, the person who had followed her movements, caught her unawares and now had her cornered, her back pressed up against a barrier…

"Trey?"

The word was almost choked in her throat as Rachel stared bewildered at her older brother. He smiled at her barely being able to remember the last time they had been in touching range of each other.

"Hey little sis," he replied casually.

Rachel was at a loss for words. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Trey took a step back. "What, no hey, how's it hanging, missed you heaps bro, its good to have you back?"

She stood almost frozen trying to repeat what he'd said but found it near impossible. Finally giving up Rachel simply smiled and threw her arms around her brother, feeling him pull her into a tight hug.

"God, it's been forever," she whispered.

"Don't I know it."

"But you're not supposed to be out for another year at least," Rachel said waiting a moment for a simple explanation. When none came she pulled away hesitantly. "Trey?" He simply stared at her and Rachel's face turned to disbelief. "You didn't. No, tell me you didn't."

Trey looked down to the ground, knowing that there was no was he would be able to get out of this situation without flat our lying to his sister. "What else was I supposed to do?"

"Wait until they let you go!" Rachel yelled not knowing if she wanted to hit Trey or cry for him. "If they find you there's no way they'll let you out soon. What the hell were you thinking?"

"I just wanted to see you, okay?" Trey stated with a clear coldness in his voice. "Is there something wrong with me missing you?"

Rachel felt her breath catch in her throat and she blinked the tears away not wanting Trey to see them. After a moment of simply closing her eyes and leaning her head against the fence in defeat she pushed past him and again began to walk down the street.

"Don't just walk away Rach!" Trey cried out after her and when no reply came he followed close behind. "I did the only thing I could do that would let me see you again."

Rachel spun around, this time not hiding her emotions. "Are you completely insane?" She screamed. "I was a phone call away. I could have visited whenever you wanted. I've been here all along Trey and now you've gone and screwed that up because they know you would be here. They know it." Calming her nerves Rachel took in a breath. "Where are you gonna stay?"

"Wherever."

"No not wherever," she growled. "You don't know this town. If they cops don't get you the socialites will. You don't fit here Trey and people can sense that a mile away."

Trey stopped momentarily and stared at the distressed look on his little sisters face. After a time he nodded. "Okay, if that's how it is now, I'll leave."

"Trey don't…" Rachel began as he turned and started to walk away. "Trey!" She yelled pausing for a second before running after him and taking a firm hold of his wrist. "Don't do this. Not again."

He stopped then letting out a frustrated sigh. "I don't want you getting hurt 'cos of me."

"It's a little late for that," Rachel whispered in reply knowing that Trey knew exactly what her words meant. "So now what, you're gonna run again?"

Trey let his eyes wonder about him. "You said it yourself, I don't belong here."

"Neither do I, but do you see me complaining?"

A small smile appeared on her lips as the sudden feeling of total calm washed over Rachel's body. She was with Trey again. At that moment it didn't matter that she deep within her she knew it wouldn't be for long. That the police would be after him. That Newport would be their first stop in the long hunt to find the missing Atwood. All that mattered was that she had her big brother back.

"Come on," she said taking his hand and beginning to walk to the only place she knew he would be able to hang low for the night at least.

After a long walk in which not a single word was exchanged they arrived at a small motel much like the Mermaid Inn. Rachel let out a sigh before having a quick talk with the owner. After much persuading and a healthy sum of cash he handed over the key to a secluded room tucked away at the back of the property.

Brother and sister entered as the clock neared midnight, Trey not being able to shake the feeling that although Rachel was trying to hide it, she was truly scared about being so close to him.

"How'd you do it?" She asked suddenly gazing out of a nearby window.

Trey looked up at her for a moment, not really believing she was there. "We had a day out," he began. "A good behaviour thing. We went down to the stadium – you know the one I used to take you to when we were younger." He received a smile in reply. "There was one place where the guards couldn't see you, if you got just behind the basketball ring, a little to the left." Trey shrugged slightly. "I just bolted I guess."

Rachel closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself as though she was cold. In reality she was dreading what the next few days would bring. Not only for Trey but for herself, Ryan and the entire Cohen family as well.

She jumped suddenly as her cell-phone sprung to life and took in a breath before she answered. "Hey Ry'."

Trying to ignore the look Trey was giving her Rachel walked a little further to the back of the room trying to listen and comprehend what her brother was saying. The other voices in her head were so loud.

"Yeah, I know, I got caught up with a friend," she answered covering the lie perfectly. "Yeah, okay, I'll be home soon…I know, I should have told him…tell Seth I'm sorry okay?" There was a slight pause before she spoke again, this time her voice a little more hushed. "I love you too."

Hanging up the phone she turned to Trey who had a small smile on his face. "You should go," he said. "It sounds like the old boy's worried."

Taking a few steps closer to where Trey sat upon the bed Rachel let out a weak laugh. "You know what he's like," she answered. "So, um…"

Trey nodded his head. "Thanks for this."

And he truly meant it. There was nothing about what Rachel was doing that was easy, or even legal for that matter. She was putting herself on the line for him. Just like he had done to escape the new sentence which he had been given. Which he had told Ryan about and yet knew Rachel would never hear of. At least not until he was long gone.

Rachel smiled before allowing her fingers to run ever so softly through her brothers hair. "I'll be back in the morning and I'm getting you out of here."

"Rach…"

"Trey you can't stay, we both know that. I just need you to be safe."

Again he nodded. "They've done a nice job on you here," he said. "Good to know my sis is in capable hands."

Rachel remained silent at his comment. Instead she leaned forward and placed a light kiss on his cheek before turning and leaving Trey alone in the motel room.

Seth yanked his dresser drawers open dramatically, pulling out a t-shirt.. Deciding that wasn't what he had wanted, he threw it back inside with no attempt to fold it whatsoever.

Riffling through his things for a moment he came across something that he had never noticed before. Probably because this had once been Rachel's drawer. Only recently had he put his own things back into it.

Tilting his head slightly Seth looked down at the piece of photo-paper which lay below, no doubt crumpled from his clothes.

His curiosity getting the better of him, Seth reached down and took a hold of the object. Carefully unfolding it and smoothing out the creases he stared for a long time. It was one of the first pictures he and Rachel had ever had taken as a couple.

They sat together at another social gathering held in the Cohen's backyard, a bar visible in the background, Julie and Caleb siting not too far away. Rachel had a modest smile. Not too much to look cheesy, yet not faint enough to be a small grin. His own head was tilted down resting on hers, a toothy smile dominating his face.

Seth remembered that night so well. The music, the drinks, the food. The way his hand lay softly upon Rachel's leg the entire time in an almost fear that she might disappear at any moment. The quiet nature in which she presented herself and yet the commanding way in which she held herself.

He thought about how as the night wore on they had slowly slipped through the crowd and headed into his room. There was no mistaking her early uncertainty, not just about him but about the whole New Port scene. About the Cohen family in general and the sudden arrival of Marsal, a man whom, at that time, he knew nothing about.

Yet none of this seemed to stop her from giving in to what Seth could only describe as the thought that happiness might be out there somewhere if you just know where to look. He'd shown her, made her a promise, that night, that he'd help her find it.

Letting out a long sigh Seth went to return the picture when he something caught his eye. Turning the paper over he noticed small writing in the bottom corner.

I love him…go figure…
Sandy's face turned from worry to concern almost instantly, drawing the attention of the rest of the rooms occupants. "Yes, I understand," he replied to the voice on the other line. "Please keep us in touch."

"What is it?" Kirsten asked once the call had ended.

Sandy looked over to her and then to Ryan who was sitting at the dining room table about to start his lunch. "I think we might need Rachel in here too," he said.

Ryan straightened slightly. "What's going on?"

Sandy took in a long breath. "That was just an old friend of mine, the Deputy of Correctional Facilitation," he began noting Ryan's immediate dread. "He was giving us the heads up that the police might be here any minute."

"What? Why?" Kirsten asked strongly.

"Trey broke out of jail last night."

Ryan began to drum his fingers trying to keep his cool. He eventually slammed his fist down on the wooden top. "Idiot," he murmured.

Kirsten looked to Sandy worried. "Why would the police be coming here?"

"Trey will need money, a place to stay," Sandy replied. "I guess they instantly think of relatives as a means to get that."

Ryan shook his head. "He hasn't been around," he said. "I doubt he will be, it's too risky."

"Ryan, you don't know that," Kirsten insisted. "Trey is probably desperate right now. It's an easy option."

Thinking for a moment the Atwood ran his fingers through his hair. "He won't touch Rach," he stated.

"Ryan…"

"Look I know him. She's the last person he'd ever want to hurt. Plus she doesn't know about the extended sentence he has. He wouldn't want her finding out."

Kirsten took a seat beside Ryan. "So then what? You think he might come after you?" Ryan shrugged his shoulders. "That's just not acceptable. When the police get here, I'm requesting a protection program for the both of you."

"It'll just be me, Kirsten," Ryan insisted.

"Aw, don't flatter yourself."

The voice from the stairs and they all turned to see Rachel standing up from her previous position on the third step.

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

"Long enough."

Sandy stepped forward then. "Look, the most important thing right now is that we all keep a level head about things. Now we know that Trey's first necessity is security. So…" he walked forward and stopped halfway between where Ryan sat and Rachel stood. "I don't want either of you alone at any time until he's found."

"Paranoid much?" Rachel more stated than asked.

"Rachel, so long as you're living in this house you will follow the rules, one of which is you will always have someone with you when you go out." Silence followed. "Now that's over with, you missed dinner last night," Sandy commented looking to Rachel who internally flinched.

She ruffled up her hair before replying. "Yeah, sorry I got…"

"Caught up with a friend?" Ryan asked, a clear note of disbelief in his voice.

Rachel stared daggers at her brother. "No Ry', I found Trey and thought I might harbour a fugitive for fun."

"Right now I honestly wouldn't put it past you."

"Yeah, well right now I don't think your head's screwed on tight enough," Rachel growled. "You want a hand with that one?"

"You're being stupid Rach," Ryan stated.

"Why?" Rachel demanded. "Because I'm the only one of us here who actually gives a damn that our brother is out there somewhere with the trigger-happy Californian cops on his back?"

Ryan had no reply, he simply stared at Rachel trying to figure out exactly what was going in inside her mind as she spoke the words. He didn't go to say sorry, nor did he move to stop her when she snatched the car keys from the bench and, much to Sandy's protests, walked out of the front door.

"Cohen!"

"What…? Thirteen Miss," the young Cohen replied in reflex receiving a swift slap for his attempt. "Ow!"

"You deserved it you dumb-ass," Summer replied. "You were totally ignoring everything I was saying."

Seth looked across at her where they sat in the diner. "No way, I was listening."

Summer raised a single eyebrow and looked at him disbelievingly. "Uh-huh," she forced. "So what did I say last? I totally can't remember where I was." Silence followed her request. "Yeah, I thought so."

"Just got some stuff on my mind," Seth answered.

Summer let out a sigh. "If something is like wrong with Rachel she will go to you when she's like ready."

"I was more thinking of my term paper that's due tomorrow, but your idea works too."

Summer looked a little shocked. "Oh…you like weren't thinking about Rachel?"

Seth shrugged and shook his head slightly before receiving another slap. "Hey, I'm fragile here!"

"You're totally stupid," Summer stated. "You big…stupid…person. How can you like not be thinking about her?"

Seth leaned a little further away from her. "I'm scared any answer I give will get my arm broken." Summer raised a single eyebrow. "We're doing the friends thing now. I'm cool with that."

"Liar."

Seth screwed his face up. "Okay, so I don't really have a choice but there is nothing going on I need to worry about," he said with a definite confidence in his voice which only seconds later vanished. "There is nothing to worry about, right?"

Summer shrugged. "There's totally always something to worry about in this town."

Rachel couldn't help but laugh as Trey told her his few humorous stories from prison. She never knew that the experience could be so torturing and yet so entertaining all at the same time. Yet there was still something behind her brothers eyes that told her these experiences were few and far between.

Her eyes ticked down to his chest which was partially exposed through an open shirt. There were scars there made from objects that she didn't even want to imagine. There were bruises. None of these were ever a part of the old Trey that she knew. The one before the stolen cars and prison cells. The one before any of this – Newport, the Cohen's – had ever happened.

"Don't worry about it girl," Trey suddenly said having noticed Rachel's preoccupation with the markings. "I took care of my own."

She looked away from him. "Yeah…why don't I find that surprising?"

Trey went quite for a time looking strongly at Rachel before letting out a small laugh. "What the hell happened to you girl?"

Rachel turned back to him. "What?"

"You've gone soft. Back in the day bruises and cuts and stuff never surprised you. Come on, get back into the swing."

Rachel stared at her brother for a long, quiet moment before letting out a small laugh. "Right, the 'swing'."

"What?" Trey inquired.

"Nothing."

Trey frowned slightly at her silence, at the way she almost seemed annoyed at him and at the same time slightly disappointed. "No, seriously…"

Rachel let out a sigh and stood. "We should go."

He remained seated for a time before slapping his hands on his legs and standing. "Alright."

It didn't take long for Trey to jump behind the wheel and kick the car into drive. Rachel sat beside him not really knowing what possessed her to let her brother take over. She was perfectly capable of driving. If anything though, Trey being in control would probably attract less suspicion.

"Where do you reckon I should head?" He finally asked after they'd been moving for almost half an hour.

"Maybe you should hi-tail it to Mexico," Rachel commented dryly. "I hear they have nice food."

Trey laughed though he knew she was being sarcastic. "Yeah, sounds cool."

Again silence swept over the car. Trey honestly didn't know what to say to Rachel. Here she was again, by his side, helping him like she'd done so many times before – even when he didn't deserve it. He owed her so much now. She was putting her own future on the line so that maybe he could have one for once.

"Here, I wanna give you something," he finally spoke using his free hand to fish through a small backpack he had.

Rachel turned her gaze to him for a moment before looking away. She heard a soft 'dammit' and looked back to see Trey take his eyes off the road for a second having dropped the object he wished to present her with. Every few seconds he would look up to see out of the windscreen before again trying to find where the present had gone.

It only took Rachel a second to see what was about to happen. It played in her mind a moment before it played in real life. "Trey, look out!"

Her voice seemed to be lost in the sudden screeching of brakes as Trey turned the wheel hard to the left trying with all his mite to avoid the oncoming truck which suddenly pulled out in from of them. In the split second that it took for the two vehicles to collide, Rachel could only think of one thing, and one thing only.

Seth doesn't know I still love him.

TO BE CONTINUED………

(Wow, next chapter is the last – it will be a hell of a long one – and possibly complete final of this series. Actually I think it might be. Unless some magical inspiration comes my way. I hope you liked the little Trey surprise. It will be concluded, no worries. Everything gets tied in next chapter so I hope you don't miss it. I can't wait. Please review)

The song playing is Everlong by Foo Fighters (big, romantic, hilarious Michel Gondry video clip, rock, ballad, mix-y, thing)

Meezardra: Ryan's a moron…okay then lol. yeah I wasn't the biggest fan of sending them back either (go figure) but I think it was something they had to do eventually.

KillerRubberDuckiesR-J: First of all your username kicks ass lol. Thanks for reading my stories it's pretty amazing. I always forget about the other two mostly cos they were done so damn long ago that I just kinda brush em aside. I don't like to think much about em cos them everything just starts repeating and let me say…boring. So thanks it's so cool to know you like the stories.

Leentje: Aw thanks for the compliments. I really feel good when people say nice stuff mostly cos it just seems weird that someone would read the story and go omg. Cos I'm like that with other people and it just seems strange that people are like that with me

ChaiGrl: Thank you very much. It's good to know you still like it cos otherwise I wouldn't really have a reason to write now would I:)

Joy Moody: Uh…finally someone has asked. I was beginning to think that something that wasn't meant to make sense did make sense…which uh…would be bad? I dunno. Anyways. The whole loose ends thing was a quick, simple way for Rachel to pretty much just make Luke shut up about the whole 'why are you there' thing. It was really the first time that she hasn't been totally honest with him because there weren't really 'loose ends' per say. It was like they were going to just end something that started a long time ago. Hope that helps. If not…well then I have no idea

OcandHarryPotterFan: hahaha. Thanks. Good to know you like it. Hope I don't disappoint later on. But I'll tell you…only 1 chappy to go so hopefully the ending won't suck.