Disclaimer: Any canon content belongs to its respective owners such as BBC and its writers. All original content, however, does belong to me and its contributors.

A/N: Chapter 3 hiccup with disclaimer placement was fixed. Also thank you for all those who have read so far. Please feel free to leave a review. I don't mind comments or questions. Hope you all continue to enjoyreading Alex's tale.

So…..that was an awkward experience to say the least. However, now the real test began. As I am sure, you can only imagine and assume what that key is or was for. Certainly not accessing the nearest treasure box. Well unless one could or even would call something it belong to that, but in any case. The adventure to journeys end was only just beginning. As of that point, I still had to figure out what that key was for, and why or what it was I had to believe in. As soon as I figured those thing out, I would be scotch free at the finish line and would be able to help my friend who was in trouble. It'll become clearer as we go along.

The weekend passed and I was back to work that Monday. No Sansa though, which disheartened me and Aaron both. He was glad that I was alright though and that John had taken good enough care of me. Our day has been pretty normal for the most part, aside from quite a few coworkers missing, other than Sansa of course. I had also been sad not to see John before or after work in the coffee shop. I had hoped maybe I could have caught him to ask him more questions, but alas he never was there.

Things did not stop there though, in fact, they only had gotten worse. From that Monday on people just seemed to keep vanishing. While others, reappeared, but didn't quite seem the same as they had been before. They were more like Jaiden, and some, were even hanging more out around him than usual. Mostly in more hushed conversation of course, but discussion none the less. It weirded most of the rest of us out. Sadly though, I almost thought Sansa wouldn't come back at all, when many of the others already had.

That week had passed, and it wasn't until about the Wednesday of the week after, that I saw Sansa return to her own cubicle that morning. No hello, no smile, not even a wave. It was so strange. I had even tried going up to her to ask her what was wrong, but all she had given in response was, busy. With what? It was only the start of the morning. I gave her a break though on that one, since she probably was just busy getting her station up and running again. It wasn't until lunch break, when Aaron and I were sitting together talking, that I realized there had be something out of sorts. A part of me didn't want to think that it was the party the few weekends prior. I had tried to push out the ideas that had been presented to me that breakfast after with John, but a gnawing at the back of my mind, in the form of Johns voice somehow no less, was saying you know it's true….just believe!

Naturally I had tried hard to swat the thought away, but it crept like creeping ivy into my brain over and over again relentlessly. So inevitably to try and quell or maybe even shut up the voice in my head, I asked her what was up. Sansa on the other hand didn't even speak a word to me. In fact, I was pretty sure that when she looked over at me, it was with an incredulous stare. Had I done something wrong? Maybe she had been mad that she got left behind at the party and she had been there after all. Or maybe she was mad I had spent time with her quote unquote date for a part of the night, but it wasn't like she had been around the whole time either and John had, had a right to mingle. So what gave, it really didn't make any sense what so ever.

Aaron had glanced me a look that almost could make a mountain shrug in wonder. I could tell he was just as concerned as I was. We shook it off the rest of the lunch break, but kept a wary eye on our friend as much as possible. Or at least I did anyway. Aaron was a busier man than me, so it was left to me to watch the "bull pen" of cubicles. Most of the rest of that day was quiet…luckily. My thoughts while working on the other hand had only been disturbed when I was jolted suddenly from my train of thought by a very loud, very distinguishable text message. Who would be honestly texting me at this hour? While I was at work at that. Out of habit, I looked at the phone to see who it was. Unknown number is what I got, but the text itself was as plain as daylight. It read, Now do you believe?

Ohhhhh that so infuriated me! I knew exactly who that was and what that text meant! I narrowed my gaze at the screen, debating whether I should text back or not. A part of me wanted to say back no, but then a part of me just wanted to turn the screen off and just flip the phone face down on the desk and just forget about it. Mostly because I was still mad John had left me with a bunch of questions, plus he said he couldn't help me now anyway. So why was he now able to have the nerve to just ask me that? In fact, how did he even have my phone number in the first place?! If I had been thinking straight I would have realized these days he could have just snubbed it off the net. Still it didn't give him a right to text me.

With that in mind, and my frustration rising back up, I did the second option and continued on with work until the day was over. Hell I didn't even stop by the café on the way home either. I just went home and decided it was time to relax. Of course things settled down again for a few hours, however, at about 6 p.m. a knock had come to the door. I was almost hesitant to answer. Luckily my habits kept me from just sitting there and doing nothing. I answered the door as casually as I possibly could. The moment I saw that it was Aaron and not John at the door, I let my tense face go.

"Well don't you just look out of sorts." Aaron commented.

"Ppffftt who me, nah." I waved off. "Just wasn't expecting company."

"Oh well, um, if I'm intruding on anything…" he stated back thumbing behind himself.

"Oh! No, no, no! It's fine! I just was caught off guard is all. Things have been sort of, well, you know." I stated, almost trailing off at the end. I didn't want to bring up the thing with Sansa.

"Yeah." he commented. He then looked at me hoping I'd offer to let him in. I had almost spaced that part. I would have stood there like a dumb duck for ages with how frazzled I was before I had ever thought of doing it if he hadn't gave me that signal.

"Oh!" I blushed a bit and moved out of the way to gesture him in. "Right…"

We both walked to the living room area and sat down. For what seemed like forever, we sat there in silence just staring at each other. Both of us were probably trying to do the same exact thing too, think of what to say to the other. I bit my lip and decided to give it a go.

"How are-" I began but was interrupted with Aaron saying at the same time, "Are you-"

I tried again, with saying something, but was interrupted again by Aaron, not that it was his fault of course. Eventually after about the fourth or so try, we both just sat there a moment stunned and then burst out laughing.

"Well, that wasn't awkward at all." I gave with a small chuckle.

"Nope, not what so ever." he ended up laughing a bit back and then looked around the place before placing his gaze back on me. My thoughts raced with the words what now all over the place. I was never good with hosting others as I wanted to be, but then at least one thing dawned on me and made my eyes go wide with realization.

"Oh snap! I must be the most horrid person imaginable! I haven't asked if you'd like anything like water or food or whatever." I rambled.

"Nah your fine." he stated with a smile.

"You sure?" I asked again.

"Yeah, it's all good." Aaron gave a nod. "I just…"

His eyes shifted away, in what seemed to be slight embarrassment. It made me smile though, knowing what he probably was about to say, and it was lovely a thought too. My gaze urged him to go on.

"I wanted to see how you were doing. You know how you were holding up since…" he trailed off.

"Since the party?" I finished. "I was wondering when you actually were going to ask me about that. Seeing as you've avoided such topics at work."

"Yeah…" Aaron rubbed the back of his neck a bit in shame. "I didn't want to stress you…or myself for that matter, out. I thought a few weeks would help."

"Thanks." I stated with a slight sigh. "Probably for the better actually. I'm fine though, really. I mean John apparently watched out for me until I woke up and that."

I blushed, I could feel it swelling to my cheeks. I had to think about that week I was out. The fact I couldn't take care of myself. I just couldn't bear to imagine the things that man….whoever he really was, could have done to me. For all I know while defrocking me of clothes he could have taken advantage of me. At the same time, something in my brain was trying to say no he didn't he couldn't have or at least wouldn't have. He seemed like one of the very few genuine men left in the universe to not be a complete scum of the earth sort of type. Well aside from Aaron it seemed these days. I tried to push the thought out of my mind even though I was somewhere deep down inside actually grateful for Johns care.

I could see the look on Aarons face as my attention refocused. It had the look on it that my thoughts had been reflecting. I had to assure him somehow that everything was fine. That I was fine, and that I would be fine here on in. Pressing my teeth on my lower lip in thought as my eyes darted a bit out of anxiety of what Aaron might do if he let the thought fester, I tried to come up with a solution quickly.

"He's a really nice guy ya know." I stated. "Very gentleman….even if he is a bit odd."

"Ah." Aaron blinked in confusion, the thoughts still lingering a bit in his mind. Clearly Aaron was just a bit protective. I couldn't blame him, I was his date that night and he couldn't even protect me from whatever happened. It probably made him feel useless and maybe even a little unwanted at this point seeing as John was the one to take me home. I tried to give a sympathetic stare.

"Hey," I began with a soft tone and put a hand over his. "I had a great night even….even if it got a bit wonky at the end."

"Really? You sure?" he asked, hop returning to his eyes.

"Yes." I held firmly.

"Well, that's…that's good to know." he stated rubbing the back of his neck with a free hand, feeling a bit relieved.

"Well it should be." I affirmed. We sat in silence a bit after that, not sure what to talk about now. At this point I was starting to feel like I needed something to eat, if nothing else than to actually distract myself. That or stress eat, that was always the other optional reason. I didn't move though, not for the lack of want, but for the fact I just didn't know if I should or not. I broke the silence instead, "We should hang out again sometime. I mean, outside of the house. Doesn't have to be a party or anything, just hanging."

"That would be cool." Aaron stated with a small smile. "Maybe go for lunch or dinner or something."

"Yeah." I stated looking down a bit with heated cheeks, was I really suggesting going with Aaron somewhere again, I had to have been out of my right mind. Not that he wasn't a good guy, or that our date the one night wasn't fun, but there was that thought of, was it really a date sort of date or was it just two coworkers hanging out. I was still uncertain of myself. Yet here he was, so maybe I was just beating myself up and he really did want to hang as at least friends. Yeah, we'll just go with that.

"So, what did John tell you? About that night that is." I know it was creeping back into uncomfortable territory, but I was curious.

"Ah, well, Just that there was some sort of quote unquote bad joke or gas leak or something going on and we just ended up the butt end of it." he stated.

"Is that so?" I mused then thought to self, that's not what he told me.

"Yeah whatever it was, it caused most the guests to get knocked out in the process. I had been already inside ready to look for you when things went crazy." he stated trying to remember. "Told me you had been a bit panicky before passing out. I don't even remember how I got out of there either to be honest."

It got the wheels in my head going, however, the train of thoughts they were leading to were just absurd, so I aborted them quickly.

"Well if it wasn't for Sansa being a no show at work until now I'd say yeah that could be legitimate," I noted. "Sadly though, in some cases she's still technically missing, as are some of the others. Then of course there's the weird deal with Jaiden and the others that have returned including Sansa at least at work….."

I shook my head, "I don't know Aaron, it's just something doesn't seem to add up."

"You're telling me." Aaron said with a face that looked quite repelled by all the facts. "Honestly, I really don't know what to make of it all. I even had gone by Sansa's place, to see how she was doing as well, no one was home. I don't think she's been home at all, so."

"So it means she's really got to be missing. I mean yeah we saw her at work but she's not at home. So where is she?" I added quickly.

"I guess, but who would take her? Better yet, why hasn't anyone reported her missing?" he stated a hint of shame on himself for not having done so on his face. I had to ask myself that same question, why haven't I called the police yet. Did it just not cross my mind or something? The same could be said about the other missing people. Most of them should have lost their jobs, even me. Yet John already said that had been taken care of. What did that strange man know that I hadn't yet? Ugh, that man, I swear there were moments like these I just wanted to sort of strangle him…..maybe, if I could get past those piercing eyes…..oh stop Alex you can't do that! You can't think about him that way too, just no. Aaron, you're hanging with Aaron and was what mattered right now. Sorry, back to the topic at hand.

"I don't know, people saw her at work." I answered slowly, because really I didn't know why, though I was beginning to think that I really should have. "Just like how I don't know why I followed Jaiden up to that creepy floor the one day after he acted all weird. I mean he totally vanished, poof, like he hadn't even gone up to that floor. Kind of reminded me of that night sort of."

"Wait, you never told me you followed him up there!" Aaron exclaimed in shock.

"Um, yeah sorry." I said looking a bit down in shame before staring at him again. "I would have told you but, I didn't want to ruin our date thing."

He gave me a weird stare at calling our date a "thing". All I could do was stare back with an expression of "what?", but he only shook his head at me before speaking.

"And he just vanished. Geez," he rubbed his face in weary exhaustion. "What is the world going to?"

"Hell?" I offered trying to be funny just a little to try and keep the mood up.

"Oh ha ha very funny. I think many people believe so these days." he stated.

"Okay monsters and superheroes?" I tried again.

"Right and I'm Batman." Aaron quipped with a laugh.

"No I thought you might be more Peter Parker or Clark Kent, not Broce Wayne." I giggled a bit with a hint of sarcasm. "What? Spiderman and Superman are perfectly fine. Anyway, okay how about…."

Oh here it was going to come, the word I didn't want to talk about and now was about to joke, "Aliens?"

"Hmmm maybe, but it just seems to be a little too cliché don't you think? I mean seriously, I doubt we're going to see any chest burster's any time soon. Or big spaceships like in Independence Day coming down on us like war of the world invaders. Or the MIB having to come wave their silly little wands to make us forget…..ohhhh." Aaron surmised clearly knowing his movie and television, but then seemed to have a light bulb go off in his head.

"What?" I raised a brow.

"What if they are being mind wiped…or even brainwashed! I mean think about it, whether its aliens or just some supped up faction of people terrorizing, it would make sense! Question would be then why the Tower?"

"Well it's a major corporation would be my guess. Cazrin Co. does a lot of things." I offered as if I was almost reading it from a brochure.

"True." he admitted. "Mind blown."

"No kidding." I agreed, then my mind went to another thought. "What if it's not from the outside?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, what if it's from inside the company?"

"I'm not following you, you wanna be a little clearer there Sherlock?" Aaron teased just a bit but was serious about not following completely.

"Okay ….Watson." I couldn't help but snicker. "Point A, Jaiden is acting weird, might be at the point of firing, and isn't fired though. Why? Point B, party happens, it's a party with a lot of people from work, and people go missing. Point C, work continues, some missing return, life goes on and no one's fired still. Why? Point D, Sansa is still technically missing and she's an employee of Cazrin Co. and no one's reported her missing or even worried about her for that matter…except us, but even then we've not offered up to call the police ourselves yet. So why not? Why not it be from within, it's a big company and to be honest I've always thought it to be a bit stuffed coat to not possibly hide at least one dirty little secret."

All Aaron could do was blink at my fast rambling before he spoke, "Point well made."

"Really?" I asked bemused. "I was just blowing facts out my butt."

"Well, facts are truths, and truths lead to the real answer so, yeah. Makes sense, now that you've put it that way." he stated.

"Okay," I said, feeling a tad pale by the thought I might be right, I got up and began to pace a bit out of panic. As silence filled the room for a moment I started rubbing my forehead in the process to decrease the headache I could feel coming on. "So if what I'm saying is correct, then….then…."

"Then we are screwed." he finished.

"Oh gods." I breathed shallowly as I flopped back down.

"But that's only if." Aaron commented. "We might be jumping to conclusions."

"And if we're not, everyone could be in danger." I stated a worried tone in my voice.

"This is true," Aaron said in agreement. "However, If we go in there guns blazin' and whistle blowin' on them right now, we'll for sure be fired. I'm not saying I don't agree with you or that your even crazy, but maybe we got to look at this from a more careful perspective, get the facts first. You know, go all detective on their asses."

"You mean go all stealth 007?" I inquired.

"Heh, sort of, not so must shaken not stirred hidden in the walls secret agent, but more like Sherlock and Watson. More sleuth style." he mused with a bit of a light smile at the edge of his lips.

"Well if that's the case your Watson still." I smirked.

"Wait what, hay now!"

"I was the one that pointed out it could be from the inside, and besides, you said so yourself, and I quote 'you wanna be a little clearer there Sherlock?'

"Hrmph, fine." Aaron pouted.

"Oh don't pout Watson, it's not becoming of you." I couldn't help but giggle after trying to do a British accent along with saying that. Aaron laughed a bit though, even though I could tell he was still in a more dampened mood a bit.

"I was kidding" I continued.

"I know." He actually smiled, and his smile made it hard for me not genuinely myself. He then continued himself.

"You think we should give the police a call though?" Aaron asked honestly. "I mean now that someone is thinking about it?"

I sighed, "Probably, at least reports she's been missing for well over 24 hours. I mean it's not like the company will know it's us making the call after all."

"Yeah but we do know the police will start snooping. Even at work." Aaron added.

"True," the thought had occurred to me. "But look at it this way, if the police do go snooping the company will be so busy trying to get rid of them that if they get too frustrated, they might just slip up maybe."

"Maybe, who knows." he said.

"Yeah, I should make something for us to eat after all this might be a while." I offered.

"I'll make that call then," he stated. "Who knows maybe someone might have finally called in about any of the missing and I might just be another caller."

"Yeah that would be nice. I'll go make us a small plate of nachos or something." I said, offering an easy form of food rather than a full on meal.

"Sure, then maybe we could relax a bit and watch some tv or Netflix and I can buy you some Chinese." he offered in return. My face burned with heat at that. He wasn't just going to go away after such a heated discussion. I was grateful for this.

"Isn't that a tad cliché?" I snarked teasingly back.

"Maybe, but wanton's. Wanton's are life." Aaron stated.

"Eh, can't argue with that." I stated with a shrug and let him get to his call. I stepped out of the room to go make the nachos.

The thought about what the text said gnawed at my mind again and I looked at it again as I walked to the fridge. Do I believe yet? I still wasn't sure, but it was killing me to want to just say yes. I frowned and closed the phone off again, opening the fridge to pull out some pre sliced cheese for the nachos. I could already hear Aaron talking to the station, the noise of the conversation filling into the background. I then grabbed the bag of chips off the counter and a plate out of the cupboard. After dumping the contents of the bag on the plate, my thoughts drifted. What if Aaron could be next? What if I could be next? Could I live with that sort of guilt? I wasn't sure if I could. Should have I just said what I actually had been thinking to John? Would this nightmare actually be over then? Maybe, but what if it wasn't? Then again, just because Aaron had been caught off guard once didn't mean he'd be again.

He was a smart man, for what little I did know about him, and since from the party on all he's wanted to do was get to know me more and I let him. I actually genuinely let him in. About as much if not more now then Sansa in some ways. Out of all this mess, it seemed I had gain something good out of it. And this, this humbled me greatly. In fact it shook me out of me revere, letting me realize I'd stopped mid cheese slice placing. I looked down at the cheese, almost fondly, and then over at the door frame to where Aaron was off hidden behind in the living room still on the phone.

It was at that moment I actually smiled a real, honest, happy sort of smile. Aaron was here, emphasis on was in present tense, and he was willing to go the lengths for me. I could tell he was someone I could trust. Even if things haven't gone all so well yet. So before disaster could brew, I was going to enjoy this evening, even if it killed me. Sure I could sit all night worried over Sansa, the others, my job, Aaron, etc. I realized though at that moment, did I really want to waste time on something I couldn't stop right at the moment. Time was precious as far as I knew and worrying could have made me lose the one chance at a good memory before all hell broke loose. One Netflix movie, some cliché Chinese takeout, a plate of nachos, and a sweet cute guy; the rest of the world could wait…just one night.