The anxious journey was quiet, too quiet. Jack didn't make the situation any better with his constant reminders that our lives were in danger. As if we hadn't heard that enough in the last twelve hours. I sat in the front seat of the car, twiddling with my long hair, just like I always did in uncomfortable situations. To be honest, the whole 'Johnny Situation' was the least of my worries at the moment. I was still in love with Ric; the man I spent the night with last night. To make things worse, he had already declared his love twice to me in the time I had been back and he had a girlfriend who I had become great friends with. In fact, I'd be happy if someone just killed me now, got it over and done with.

"Here we are," Jack sighed. He too would definitely rather be at home just now. He had a baby and a wife to look after; he shouldn't need to be here.

"Thanks Jack," I said as he opened the car door to let me out. I took in the open bush land around me. We were right in the centre of it. Nowhere to run. Tall trees were our barriers, isolating us from the happenings in the world. Everything was green, and the fresh air was surprisingly calming. Birds sung cheerily in the afternoon sun that beat down on our skin.

Ric and I were led to a building that looked older than the trees that surrounded me. I cautiously opened it, scared to make a sound. There then was a narrow staircase before me, Jack waved his hand, gesturing for me to walk down them and I did.

It took a while for my eyes to adjust to the darkness that was downstairs, and when they did, I wished for them to go back to seeing darkness. Around me, were three separate rooms, all covered in cobwebs and furniture way past its sell-by date. The walls were made of a dull and dingy-coloured wood. There wasn't a carpet, just cold, hard concrete. How inviting?

"They call this place a safe house?" Ric said. "This house had more safety hazards than what's legal!!" he joked.

"I am not staying here guys! There is no way you can make me sleep in this hell-hole!"

"You'd rather die then, Mattie?" Jack asked, he was obviously not in the mood for one of my rants.

"I'm considering it," I muttered under my breath. Thankfully, Jack didn't hear me. Ric did though.

"So," Ric started, changing the subject. "Where's the luxurious bedroom then?"

"You're standing in it."

"What?" I yelled. This couldn't get any worse, no matter what happened.

"You two are in this room. That's the bathroom over there," Jack pointed straight ahead, " and that," he now pointed to the room on the right, "is my room."

"Why the hell do you get your own room?" Ric and I asked in unison.

"Because… I'm older, smarter and definitely wiser," he answered smugly.

"Yeah right!" we both scoffed.

"Plus, I've got to work on the case, no resting for me I'm afraid."

"Aww poor Jacky! Does he have to work?" I said mockingly in a baby voice.

"Yes he does! So you guys are going to have to enjoy each other's company instead of my own as well." He replied. "Oh and Mattie?"

"What?" I hissed.

"Just remember Ric has a girlfriend that isn't you now!"

What was that supposed to mean. If I was alive by the end of this, Jack certainly wouldn't be. I could guarantee that.

-x-

"Oh my God!" I yelled, frustrated. We had to sleep in sleeping bags on a concrete floor. Concrete! I couldn't get comfortablez and go to sleep at all. I hated it to admit it but part of the reason was that Ric was sleeping less than a metre away.

"Matilda! Seriously! Shut up! I remember you being a moaner before, but this is just ridiculous."

"Well, Ric people change! I mean, since when did you call me 'Matilda'?"

"Sorry," he sighed. "I just didn't think we were close enough now for me to call you 'Mattie'."

"Fine, if that's how you feel, 'E'ric." With that we both burst into fits of giggles.

"Okay, well that's just weird." Ric laughed.

"See what I mean?"

-x-

The next few hours were spent talking about the old times. We had given up on the idea of sleeping, with my constant moaning and Ric's irritating tossing and turning. It was now three o' clock and neither of us were showing any signs of being tired.

"Do you remember that game of dares we played, the four of us?" Ric laughed to himself.

"How could I forget?" I groaned. "Colleen has always taken the time to talk to me about patriotism every once and a while now!"

"That was hilarious! I'll always remember the look on all those customers faces when you suddenly started singing the anthem!"

"Yeah, well it wasn't quite as hilarious as your sudden change in fashion sense!" I laughed hysterically.

"I'm never going to live that down am I?"

"Nope," I shook my head. "Never."

"So, what are you guys talking about?" Jack asked cheerily while entering the room.

"Just about that game of dares we played a few years ago." I replied.

"Yeah, you know when Luc wrapped you're patrol car in toilet paper!" Ric said. I turned to glare at Ric and his expression suddenly changed when he realised what he had done.

"That was Luc! I'll kill him!" His face suddenly went red with rage and he clenched his fists. Ric and I shared a worried glance. "Nah, it's cool. Dad told me ages ago!" he laughed. "You should of seen your faces though, priceless!"

"Haha," I said sarcastically as I threw my pillow at him.

"How's the investigation going?" Ric asked.

"Absolutely nowhere."

"That bad?" I asked, now I was getting concerned. Jack was never usually this negative.

"Well, a man matching the description we sent out was seen around eight miles from the area. Then again, there are many men in the area with short dark hair and a big build." Jack let out a sad laugh.

"So we shouldn't be worrying?" Ric piped up.

"No, not just yet."

-x-

"Well guys, I'm heading to bed now. Just shout if you need me, okay?" Jack said.

"Yep, sure."

"Yeah."

"So Lucas and Cassie, huh? Wasn't expecting that at all!" I said.

"None of us were. I guess they just got closer after you left. Since, I was kind of spaced out for a while, it was just them." Ric replied. I felt really bad; Martha had said he had a hard time after I left.

"But marriage? Aren't they a bit young?" I asked, ignoring the last comment.

"That's exactly what I said! I asked Cassie countless times whether she was pregnant, but she was certain she wasn't. I don't know why else they'd wanna get married…"

"They love each other, you tool!" I replied, laughing. "I'm taking it that your the Best Man?"

"Yep. Head Bridesmaid?"

"Uh-huh." I nodded.

"I guess we have a couple parties to plan then!" Ric said excitedly while rubbing his hands together like a little boy. I just laughed along with him.

-x-

"So, you and Tessa, how long's that been going on?" I couldn't help it, I needed to know, so I asked.

Ric hesitated but eventually gave in and answered. "About three months, since she came to the Bay."

"Does she know how we know each other yet?"

"Well yeah. Only because of the letter Johnny left. She was waiting for me when I got back from… well you know…" he said rubbing the back of his neck.

"Yeah, I know." I said sadly.

"Do you regret it?" he blurted out.

"Of course! Ric, you have a girlfriend. A very nice one for that matter."

"I don't, regret it that is," he said staring at the wall in front of him. I couldn't see him very well since we weren't allowed lights on.

I snapped my head to look at him. What did he think he was doing? "Ric, you don't know what you're talking about, you're just confused. I am too-"

"Mattie, I am anything but confused," he interrupted. "I've never been able to love another girl since you, I never will.

"I know it's hard Ric but-"

"I'm not finished!" he yelled. I was getting scared; Ric never got this worked up. "When you left I was a wreck, and I'm not exaggerating. It hurt so much; I really thought my heart was about to break in two. It took me months, months to get over the feeling that made me think life wasn't worth living, the one that made me want to drink all of my troubles away or jump on the first plane to Paris that I could get. I tried writing, like I explained before, but every time I did, it reminded me of what I would, could never have." He paused to take a well-deserved breath. "Every second of every day, was you. Just you, Mattie. You were all I thought of, day and night."

Tears covered my face by this time, how could he do that to me so easily? "Stop it, Ric! STOP! We can't keep doing this," my voice quivered. "We have to forget the past. We're always going to love each other, Ric. Always. But sometimes, that isn't enough to drop everything for."

"What did you just say?" Ric asked.

"I said that love isn't enough to drop everything-"

"No! The other part…"

I sighed. " I'll always love you."

I should have stopped him. I knew I should. But a switch was flicked on inside me and I went into over-drive. When his lips edged closer to mine, I did nothing. Not a thing. I let him kiss me softly at first, while he wiped away my tears with his thumb gently. Then, without warning I deepened the kiss and let his hands wander, and before I knew it we were in the same situation as we found ourselves in the night before…

-x-

A/N: So... packings all done, and I'm leaving first thing in the morning. I hope you guys are enjoying the story so far, I'll be writing more chapters over the next week so I can post them when I get back. Also, at first I decided that this would end in a couple of chapters, but I've got a brand new plan and I am hoping to continue it for many more chapters. You know, one of the fics that isn't just about the one story line. So expect this to go on forever! I know I've said this many times before, but thank you for the kind reviews, I really love them all!