With three hours to wait, the four friends all find ways to pass the time; Rob is in the dojo as commanded, Danny heads to the library to do further research, Xander elects to help train some of the new recruits, and Maria finds a spare room in the barracks to try to nap. However, after a restless thirty minutes, Maria finally admits to herself that she just isn't going to fall asleep; frustrated, she heads to the dojo, where she finds Rob in a small workout room by himself, tearing a punching bag to shreds with his sai.

"How many more are you going to get through?" Maria asks, keeping her tone neutral; Rob doesn't answer. "And what would she think of you behaving the way you have been?"

The second question elicits a reaction; Rob turns to face the lynx, wearing an expression of pure thunder. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"If she walked in here right now, she wouldn't recognise you," Maria returns sternly.

"How dare you?" Rob yells, charging the lynx.

Maria quickly draws her blades and blocks Rob's attack. "And now you're attacking a friend who only wants to help!" she retorts. "You're making it very hard to stay calm!"

For a few minutes, the pair fight; the sound of blade and sai clashing fills the room. As the fight progresses, Maria slowly gains the upper hand; with a final twisting sweep of her ninjato, both of Rob's sai are torn from his grip, landing ten feet away. With Rob's guard down, Maria sweep-kicks his legs. Rob slams hard onto the dojo floor; before he can recover, Maria pounces on top of him and rests the sharp edge of her tanto on his throat.

"That is enough!" Maria cries, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I want to find her just as much as you do! But all you're doing is fighting us! And it hurts to see you like this!" Maria starts to shake; she pulls the tanto away from Rob's neck. "I'm trying to stay strong, and you're making it so hard… I just… I just…" Maria's resolve finally breaks; discarding her blades, she collapses in floods of tears. "I want my meanie back!"

Rob carefully sits up, holding Maria close in mutual comfort. "I want her back too," he assures; his voice is weak and broken, yet somehow also comforting. "And I know you only want to help."

"Then why are you being so mean?" Maria asks, her own voice so weak it's almost inaudible.

"Because I'm scared," Rob admits.

"Of what?"

"That I may never get her back."

Maria pushes herself away from Rob a little. "I'm scared of that too," she admits, wiping her eyes. "But we need to stay strong; if we don't, then we'll never find her."

Rob takes a deep shuddering breath. "You're right," he admits. "We need to be united, now more than ever."

Maria throws her arms around Rob, hugging him tightly. "We'll find her," she whispers. "Together."

"Together," Rob agrees, returning the hug.