(what the heck is it with me and posting two chapters a day? Weird. Anyways, here's the next chapter…woo.)

Disclaimer: I do not own the band…blah…blah…blah.

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Noodle eventually found her way to the Chinese take-out store when dusk was settling in on Essex. Less people crowded the streets, instead either groups of teenagers or lone individuals roamed occasionally past her, most of the stores around her closing.

Her tired feet and worn sandals trudged their way to the door, and sleepily started to go on, forgetting there was a door. After a moment she opened her eyes all the way and discovered her nose to be smudged up to the letter "L" of the "CLOSED" sign that glowed neon. She closed her eyes again and groaned. She had been walking for about four hours to find the store closed, not that it would really be relevant to go in.

Noodle turned around and slouched down the glass door, squeaking noises following her movements. She groaned and rubbed her feet, looking sleepily at the passerbys. How was she going to get back to Kong, and was it really worth it, if Murdoc was just going to smarm his way into getting her right back out? (AN: smarm…such a stupid word yet it fits here oddly enough…) She sighed and rubbed her eyes.

Her head rolled from side to side as she came to and from sleep, sitting right there in front of the Chinese take-out restaurant. After a few minutes, an old Chinese lady made her way towards her.

"Ca' I help yoooo?" the lady asked kindly, watching the tiny girl's sleepy eyes look up at her.

"Kon….konban wa…" Noodle croaked, and fell asleep.

&&&&&&&&&&

2D was restless the entire night. It was true, he had found Noodle's empty plate on her bed, crumbs littering her sheets as if she had eaten there, so surely Murdoc had taken dinner to her like he said? The singer rubbed his forehead, not entirely sure. A familiar twinge on the right side of his brain announced the coming of a migraine, he must not have paid attention to the warning signs.

He groaned and opened a drug bottle and crammed the pills into his mouth, not bothering to take a drink, instead swallowing them dryly down, wincing at their taste. There was nothing worse tasting than migraine meds. Something about migraines made your taste of pills change, and his body almost heaved them right back up before he downed a glass of water, forcing them back down.

Making a face as the migraine crept across the entire right portion of his head, he laid back down, waiting for the drugs to hit and knock him out. He occupied his mind by thinking about Noodle.

Was she okay? Had she meant to leave Kong? Was there someone to take her in at night? 2D sighed and squinted at the ceiling, trying to ignore the searing pain that burned like fire now on the left side of his head.

His thoughts swirled around the little girl's face until the drug's finally took over, sweeping him away into darkness, away from his worries, away from his pain.

&&&&&&&&&&&

Russ, instead, stayed up, unable to go to sleep while he worried about Noodle. The same questions that had revolved around the blue-haired artist invaded the drummer's mind, and more. Was she going to be able to eat? Would she ever come back? Would she want to, if he asked her to, once he found her? Because that was for certain, he was going to find the girl and take her back if she wanted. He smiled softly to himself at how the girl had overtaken his priorities, and he grinned even more as he realized he thought of her as a daughter. The one he never had, and probably never would.

Russ sighed, running a thick hand over his hair-less head. He was in his room, staring at the sloppy mess of clothes, shoes, and leftover pizza boxes. Hats littered his shelves, he had an endless supply, and his gaze paused on certain yellow visor. He was considering talking to Del, the ghost he was stuck with, but knowing the undead rapper would only suggest that he get over her and find some other chick to play the axe for them, he reconsidered.

Leaning back on his bed, he decided that the first thing he would do tomorrow, (after cooking of course) he would steal the keys from Murdoc, even if it meant prying them from his soon-to-be dead fingers, and take the geep out, search for Noods.

With his priorities a bit more straight, he allowed himself to be overcome by sleep, a bit more satisfied.

&&&&&&&&&&&&

Murdoc, however, snapped awake in the middle of the night, his anger flaring as he discovered the twinge of guilt remained in his conscience. In fact, he was surprised he even still HAD a conscience. He sat up, rubbing the back of his head, waking up permanently. There was no way he was going back to sleep with this much guilt in his mind. No way would ever admit he had such feelings, but he had to settle this once and for all.

Pacing the 'bago, Murdoc thought of his options. He could leave the girl where she was, hopefully never have to deal with her again, and go on with his charade of 'She left by herself'. He wasn't a bad liar, he would proudly admit that, having cheated on many girls, had got away with many sins, drugs, and booze, and the simple lies came so easily from his filthy mouth he often believed them himself. He could pull it off.

His other option, was to observe the others' feelings for the first time in his life, and see how 2D adored the girl, had fallen in puppy love with her, loved the thought of having a little girl he could play with like a pet. It was hard not to notice how he had brightened ever since she tumbled out of the crate. Russ on the other hand, was growing attached to her as well, it was hard not to see how he cooked with more effort, made more effort to clean and be entirely polite around her. Murdoc figured he saw her as his little baby girl, the way he was acting like a father.

Murdoc sighed as he ran a hand through his hair, still pacing. Not even having an affair with Paula had given him this trouble. With Paula, it'd only taken a few beers and a night without yelling at anyone to clear his conscience. He had thought if he just took the dirty looks and bad mouthing for a day, he would be even. But this…this was something he was not expecting.

Finally groaning and pulling on one of his famous grey/black long sleeved shirt that really hadn't been cleaned since he had got it in a used-tshirt bin, and who knew when it had been cleaned before then. Clicking his belt shut, he got in the geep barefoot, backing it out as quietly as possible. He would find Noodle, that was for sure. But even he would decide anything past there. Even if it meant driving up to her, saying, "'Ello, love. Sorry," and squealing off, that's what he would do.

But a thought passed through his mind before his eyes widened and he shoved it away when he realized that HE was thinking it:

"That's probably not going to happen…"

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(HA! Mudsie's goin' soft!)