Author's Note: What can I say? The response to this story has been amazing, so much so that it kind of makes me afraid to post anything...or for that matter, not post. Anyway, this chapter is longer than the last one due to viewer comments. I realize that things seemed rushed the last chapter, and I want to apoligize for that. With summer coming, I will have plenty more time to read, as well as write...so expect to be seeing more of this story soon. If you know, you don't mind.;)

Read and Review, please!...Enjoy! Major Addex love to you all

The next morning came without warning. Without announcement. Alex woke to hear Izzie telling him he should eat something. As he rubbed his eyes, his back ached from laying back on the couch. Apparently, he managed to catch at least a few hours asleep, but as he looked around, he noticed Derek was nowhere to be found. "Izzie, I should-"

"Sit down and eat. Okay? Seriously...I got up and made breakfast for you and Derek, because right now it's the only thing that can make me forget the fact that my best friend and...the mother...of your child-"Izzie sighed, seeing the anger and fear swimming in Alex's eyes. "Hey-"She said, sitting next to him. "It'll all be okay. Mer and Addison...the police will...they'll find them."

Alex nodded, rubbing his face with his hands. "Where's Derek?"He asked, voice hoarse.

"In the shower. You both are off work today, by the way."Izzie informed him, setting down a cup of coffee. "You should enjoy it while it lasts. I mean, not to say that you could possibly be enjoying yourself right now, but.."

They sat in silence for a few minutes before Izzie went back into the kitchen, leaving Alex alone to eat his breakfast.

The first thing Addison noticed when she woke the next morning was the dry feeling in her mouth. It felt like cotton, stuffing tightly as possible into her mouth. The first thing she saw was Jason, collapsed on the bed, half-sitting, half-laying. Sighing, she felt the itchy sheet beneath her. She didn't even bother to sleep the most of the night, knowing that Meredith was sleeping on the floor-on extra towels and Blankets Jason had managed to finagle out of the front desk.

"Meredith-"She called, in hopes of trying to keep quiet. Part of Addison was afraid that something had happened. But as she leaned foward, she saw her between the two beds-Jason's closer to the door. "Are you-"

"No."Meredith grumbled. "I was, but...I can't..."

Addison nodded, trying to lay still. All night they had played that same game with Jason. He slept, they slept. But the slightest hint of one or the other being awake-and the othere would lie rigid, muscles prepared to run at the slightest hint of something happening. "I can't either."

"What are we going to do?"Meredith asked, coming off as hopeless. She felt lost, knowing that they'd have to wait. "It would be so easy to just-"

"No. We can't just...go. It wouldn't be-I mean, he'd-"Addison whispered, eyes darting over to Jason as he still slept. Part of her wondered what would happen, trying to talk herself into just running. It had to happen-something had to happen.

"We could ask for food. We didn't eat yesterday."Meredith remarked, partially concerned with the fact that Addison was pregnant. And in that moment, Addison wasn't doing very well at hiding the fact that she felt miserable.

Though Addison hadn't thought about it, hunger was running rampant through her. "But-"

"Trust me on-"Meredith said, noting how Jason moved, even further onto the bed. "Addison?"

Addison nodded, a signal that she'd go along with it. "Yes...bu-"

Jason stretched out on the bed, groaning in irritation. As his eyes opened, he cracked a smile at Addison. "Mornin' roomie."

"Good Morning, Jason."Addison replied coldly.

"Mmm...is Meredith-"He asked, looking down to see that her eyes were closed. "It's a shame there were only two beds. Of course, you had a welcome invitation. But you're not ready for that. I understand..."He said standing. As he began his trek to the bathroom, he leaned down to give her a kiss on the cheek, allowing himself to linger.

"Jason?"Addison called, watching Meredith still "sleeping" on the floor.

"Addison?"

Shakily, Addison stood, walking towards the sink. She watched him in the mirror as he brushed his teeth. "I thought you were going-"

"I was...it's a bit of tradition you'll have to get used to, Addison. For the time being."He added with a smile. He spit out the foam, turning on the faucet so it would go down the drain. "Anyway, you were saying.."

"Right. Um..."Addison nodded, biting her tongue as she did. Perhaps walking had been a mistake, one in which proved to him how strong she was. "As you pointed out several times yesterday, I'm...well, I'm with child. And because of that, I do need food. So I just...I mean, not to deter from whatever it is you have planned, but-"Addison dropped off, wanting to hint at what she was suggesting.

Jason nodded, mulling it over in his head. As he did, he saw that Meredith had 'awoken'. "Are you hungry?"

"Huh?"Meredith asked sleepily.

"Food. Are you hungry?"Jason asked, as if it were obvious.

Combing her hands through her hair, Meredith nodded. "Food would be nice."

Taking a deep breath, Jason turned towards Addison, feeling in his heart that he wasn't making a mistake. "Do you want a chance to prove yourself?"

Addison simply nodded.

"Good. Go..."Jason said, pulling out his wallet. "There are machines...just down the hall. Get you something healthy...as possible. And you know, bring back something for me."

As she tried to go past him, he grabbed her wrist. "This isn't a game, Addison. I'm taking a huge chance. I am trusting you...And trust is not easy to come by."

"I know."Addison replied. "Things must go according to plan."

Jason nodded. "Yes. If you are not back within seven minutes-"

"Why seven?"Addison asked, making it clear that he had her trust.

"Seven...because five is too short, and ten would give you time to tell someone. And well, I'm sure Meredith here wouldn't like that..."Jason said.

Meredith gulped, groaning in agony. She wanted it to be over. To just wake up, and have everything that had happened all be a dream. But it wasn't.

Derek walked out into the living room to find Alex standing by the window, chewing on a piece of bacon. "She forced it on you, too, huh?"

Alex laughed, nodding his head. "It's not bad."

"Of course...I didn't have much time to eat. I don't have time for anything. Listen, I was thinking about just...driving around. We're both off this morning, so if you'd like to come..."Derek offered, watching the younger man before him. "I'm not gonna just sit here. Because sitting here...it's driving me nuts. Chief won't let me work...Police aren't helping, and well...I keep thinking that maybe we'll see something."

"We?"Alex asked, his fork piercing the yellow yolk of an egg. "I'm going down to the station. It's rediculous...that they got nothin'."

"They could have something. Maybe someone saw the broadcast or...something."Derek said, hope within him slowly fading away. Inside, he knew. He knew that something wasn't right, that things weren't meshing. He thought that maybe by taking a shower, it would clear his head. It hadn't.

Alex shrugged, picking his mug up off the coffee table. "It doesn't hurt to put a little pressure on them. We're sitting here like idiots when...Addison and Meredith are out there-"

"We have to stop this..."Derek said, coming to a confirmation. "Pity...it's not what they want. What either of them would want. They would want us to carry on with life as best we could, still trying our best to help them. I told Officer Jurgens about Mer's phone call, and now they're doing the best they can to follow any leads. But honestly? Waiting on the SPD, and saying that Addison and Mer will be fine?...It's getting us nowhere."

The angry, determined look fired at him from Derek's eyes triggered something within Alex. Motion-things had to be started...and fast.

Addison stared at the four machines-it was like a variety. Just as she had left the hotel room, Jason reminded her coldly that if she was not back within the next seven minutes, Meredith would get hurt. And perhaps that little fact had pushed their plan back. But for now...just getting her face out in the open was something. She knew that Jason was standing out in the hallway waiting, but for now, she needed a moment of clarity.

Coffee was obviously out of the question, as was everything in the soda machine except water. There was machine with chips, cookies, and crackers-but the last machine contained other things. Things like yogurt, turkey sandwiches, and fruit cups. She cringed, clearly seeing it was cafeteria food...sold at twice the price.

As she stuck a dollar in the machine, she watched as someone walked up next to her. Her senses hightened, fully aware of the fact of how easy it was to just tell them. Even with Jason around the corner. But the scared look in Meredith's eyes pushed that idea further back.

"Oh, sorry-"Mindy said, not noting whom she had bumped into. She looked up, noting the red hair. It triggered in her mind. Addison Montgomery. Hands shaking as she stuck the dollar in for a pack of sticky buns, she nervously glanced over. "Do you need anything?"

Addison glanced around, recognizing her as the woman from the front desk. "Shouldn't you be off duty by now?"

"I am, I...my family runs the place, and for the time being, I'm living downstairs. Listen, I, um...I saw the news. I know-"

"Listen, I appreciate the help. Okay? I really, really do...like nothing else. But if I am not visible around that corner within the next sixty seconds, my friend...she'll be...well..."Addison trembled with fear, knowing that within seconds, their plan would be destroyed.

"I called-"Mindy said as Addison attempted to walk away. "I...I didn't know what else to do. I did. I mean, it was several hours ago, shouldn't someone be here..."

"You called...you called the police?"Addison asked, fear and hope both boiling within her.

"Maybe.. maybe they're monitoring..."

"Listen..they..he...can't know. I should..I have to go..."

Alex didn't know what he was doing. And within minutes, he'd end up regretting it. But in a rage, he flew into the Seattle Police Department, charging right towards Officer Jurgens. He listened patiently as he learned that there had been a murder case that occured slightly after Addison and Meredith were taken. People were spread thin.

It was happening too fast. He knew he shouldn't do it. But as he thought of Addison. Of their baby, growing inside of her. As he thought of Meredith, he was tired of the lines, of the bull, of the walking around, insisting everything was fine when it wasn't. It was Seattle, how could they possibly be short officers? And without notice, it was then that Alex's fist made contact with Officer Jurgen's cheek.

"Alex!"Derek exclaimed. "I know you're mad, but-"

"We have to go. We have to find them."