A/N: I continue not to own this. have I mentioned that lately? 'Cause I don't, just the plotline.

Warning: This chapter may contain content some of you might find objectionable. Don't take it out on me if yoi don't like it, because I warned you.

Visiting hours ended at seven, but that was no problem for Cha-Cha. A nurse had come in at 6:15 to change Ed's bandages and give him his pain meds. Seeing as Ivana was still flat out, she saw no reason to stay .After all, Cha-cha certainly wasn't doing any good to her best friend sitting by the bed and either moping or staring off into space for another 45 minutes, was she? She was out by 6:30.

It was pretty cold outside- she was thankful for the furry blue trench coat Rusty had made her for Christmas last month. The young drag queen would have taken a taxi, had the night not been so clear. It was a surprising sight in New York, the stars looking like that. She hadn't seen much of them since she made her way up from Miami, and no way was cha-Cha de los Santos Perez Cueva going to miss that just because it was a little chilly outside.

Big mistake.

She was almost there- it was a block away from her apartment building. Cha-cha had barely crossed them street when large, dirty hands pulled her into one of the many cliché dark alleys in the city. This one was a dead end, a high chain-link fence separating her from the only way out.

A single harsh light sliced through the darkness of the space from the side of one building, though it was hardly enough to bathe the whole alley. In its light, she could make out the outlines of two other men- one tall, one rather slight of build.

The one behind her was a bear, holding her wrists painfully at her back to keep her in place. Theo there she didn't recognize, but the bleach blonde knew who the short, lean one was as soon as she saw his face come into the light.

She'd seen him last night. He'd almost knocked her over, hurtling down the stairs in a solemn fury.

It was him.

"So, bitch..." Dr. Z began, almost too calmly, as he stepped into the light. "You know that little faggot who's been stealin' off me for the past month?"

Cha-Cha shook her head in terror.

"I don't...know what you're talking about." She whispered. The dealer patted his pocket lightly.

"Oh, I think you do..." He said, his yellow teeth showing as his lips pulled into a smirk. "I seen you with that junkie fucker for a long time. Now what's a sweet pussy like you doin' hangin' out with a bunch of drag queens, hmmm?"

She could've laughed if she hadn't been so scared and appalled at the whole situation. Did this guy actually think she was a girl? Damn...maybe she really was flawless.

"Unless, of course, you ain't got one." Dr. Z's smirk widened as he waved the other goon forward to rip off the coat and forcefully pull down her skirt and tights, exposing almost all of the drag queen to the bitter cold.

"Just like I though...you're one of them cocksuckers too." The drug dealer pulled out a revolver and held it under hard chin, raising her head up to meet his stone-cold eyes.

"Listen here, baby queen..." he hissed."I'm gonna get my money from one of you. I'll kill you and the rest of you sons of bitches if I have to. It's my pay or your life." He cocked the gun back. "You got it?"

"Y-yes." Cha-cha croaked. Dr. Z removed the gun.

"Good." He muttered, putting the pistol back in his jacket and kicking the drag queen hard in the crotch, until she was writing on her knees in pain.

"You squeal, you gonna me in a lot worse pain than that." He stated, turning to the goons.

"Do what you want with him. Call the fag a cab before you go..." He stroked her cheek lightly with his fingers, smirking widely. "We can't have such a pretty little queer freeze do death, can we?"

She spat on him.