Author's Note: So, I would like to thank those who reviewed the last chapter. I really hope it doesn't feel like I'm drawing this out, because I'm not. I have a plan for this, so just hang in there. Please? And as always, leave me a review...let me know what you think!

Most of this chapter will be Alex/Derek, but don't worry. I think you'll like it.

"What were you thinking in there?...What is it that you were trying to do-punching out a cop?"Derek asked Alex, after dragging him outside. "I get that you want to help them, but beating up the police officer who could very well bring them home...it won't help anything."

Alex rubbed his hand, still feeling the sting. "So what do you wanna do? Just go back to Mer's, sit all pretty until she waltzes through the door?..I can't do that anymore, Shepherd. I can't just sit at home...acting like everything's gonna be okay. Because it's not-"He said, pounding his fist into the cement. "Ow!...Damn..It's not okay."

"Alex...Alex, are you-"

"I'm fine."Alex insisted.

Derek walked towards him, noticing clearly that his hand was hurting. "You busted it. Perfect."

"I didn't bust it. I just...knocked a few knuckles outta place."Alex replied, watching the clouds as they stirred overhead. He knew he probably shouldn't have charged at Officer Collins like he did, and thinking back on it, it was like it wasn't even him doing it. "I'll be fine."

"You should probably go to the hospital..get it X-rayed."Derek answered, knowing that what with how hard Alex had punched the wall it was likely he did break something. "Karev...Karev, look at me..."Derek said, sensing his pain. "You can't let this control you. You can't let anger boil up...trust me. Okay? You...You think this isn't killing me? You think that I am able to think about something other than the fact that Meredith is out there with that freak? I can't. It's been all I have been able to focus on. But you know what?...They need us, Alex. You think Addison would wanna come back, carrying your child to see that you fell apart?"

A silence settled between them as Alex thought of what Derek has said. It was true, that he didn't want Addison to see him like he was. Still, why couldn't they just get home? Why couldn't they find them?

"Does it hurt?"Derek asked.

Alex shrugged, sighing. "Yeah."

"Okay. Fine. Are you gonna go to the hospital?"Derek questioned, noticing the look of defeat in Alex's eyes. He nodded, watching as a mumbled version of 'yes' passed through Alex's lips. "Good, as long as you don't try punching me out on the way there, I'm pretty sure we'll be fine. Let's go."

Addison stared at the plastic wrap around her danish, trying to find the strength to eat it. She knew she should, if anything for the baby. She looked across the table at Jason, who was chin deep in a cinnamon bun. "Like it?"She asked, if for nothing but conversation.

He grinned, wiping icing off of his chin. "Pretty good. A little dry. You should have gotten me some coffee. But it's okay...the baby and all."

"Of course."She offered, feeling the air coming through the vent. "Meredith?"

"Great."Meredith said from her position on the bed. It was driving her crazy-the small talk. The tension was evident, yet she still knew that it was better than the night before. She winced, remembering the slap. Eying Addison, she watched her sensing that something had changed. Her hands shook a little, probably from nerves. But still. Something happened, or at least it felt like it did. Meredith hoped that it was for the best, but knew better than to get hopes up. Shrugging it off, she continued to eat her danish.

"So I was thinking...we could go later. Visit my mother. I'm sure if you got to know her, you'd love her."Jason said, trying to ease the silence.

Addison's arms grew stiff, her elbows resting on the sickening pink table top. "Where...where does your mother live?"

"In Tacoma, actually. So we wouldn't be leaving Washington. Just Seattle."He replied, noting the nervousness in her eyes. "I know that it's hard for you to accept right now. But you'll get used to it."

Her heart sunk in her chest, feeling the baby move inside of her. She tried, struggling to think of what time it was. If she'd be at work. Surely by now she would. It was the first time since they'd been gone that Addison even had time to think about it. About her job, and the baby at the same time. She and Alex were planning to go to the doctor that Thursday. True, they wouldn't find out what the baby was-yet. But it was a chance. "I'm sure I will."

"Are you okay?"Meredith asked, knowing that Jason would believe it was because of the baby.

"I'm fine. I'm just...I feel a little sick is all."Addison replied, knowing what she was up to. Her eyes flew to the holes between the blinds, staring blankly at her view of the parking lot. She prayed for help. For some sort of sign, hoping with everything in her that it wouldn't be too late.

Derek was sitting in the waiting room, waiting for Alex to get checked out, when he saw someone sit next to him. "I don't want pity."He replied, sensing it could have been one of the random people, who perhaps didn't really know him.

"Well, that's good...because I wasn't going to offer any."Mark replied. "Hey...How are you holding up?"

Derek shook his head, staring at him through bloodshot eyes. "I can't eat. I can't sleep. Karev punched out the cop working on the case, quickly followed by the cement wall of the police station. I guess...you could say that I've been better."

Mark sighed, his hand resting against his knee. "You have every right to be worried. But come on Derek, Meredith and Addison..yeah, they might be forces of nature alone. But together...that's asking for it."

He shook his head, fighting back a laugh. "Yeah, well..."His sentence trailed off, staring at the linoleum floor. When he heard someone walking towards them, he lifted his head expectantly. "How is it?"

Alex shrugged, waving a brace. "Callie says I sprained it. She told me not to bang my fist into any more walls."

"Nice advice, man."Mark said, standing. "I should probably go."He turned to Derek. "If you hear anything..."

"I will..."Derek agreed. He knew that despite the fact Mark and he weren't really friends that he cared. It was something that at least brought a little hope into the situation.

Before Mark left them, he turned his head towards Alex, nodding.

"Yeah."Alex said, waving him off. He knew what he meant, though no words were spoken. "So, where to now?"He asked Derek, only to realize his phone was ringing. "Alex Karev...yes...hold-"He eyed Derek, watching something change in his expression. "So you're...oh. Are you sure? Okay then. Yes, I'll-okay. Bye."

"Who was that?"Derek asked him.

Sighing, Alex flipped his phone shut. "It was a secretary...at the police station. I um, I dated her once. It was a long time ago, maybe like once or twice. Anyway, she uh...she saw Officer Collins and a few others heading out. She knew I was connected, and I guess...they were heading out. She was right there, right in the room. And-"

"Where were they headed?...Karev-"

"Yes. Okay? A hotel, some...front desk tip. Look, can't we just-"Before Alex could finish his sentence, Derek was bolting out the door. "Hey...you-"

Derek spun around towards him. "An hour ago, you punched out a cop because apparently they weren't working fast enough, and now you wanna complain because they were going to find them? We have to be there, Alex. God knows..."His voice cracked, visions of what could be flashing in his mind. "You can stay here of course..."

Alex knew it was a risk, but he knew what he wanted. "Yeah. I'll show the way."

Addison stood in front of the mirror, staring at her form, watching in the background as Jason hurriedly tossing his belongings into a suitcase. She knew they were leaving, and she could hear him explaining where they would go, what they would do. Somewhere interspersed in his words Addison heard something about his plan, carefully explaining to Meredith what she would say to Derek or anyone else that asked. She heard, but she was numb. Numb to his words, numb to anything else.

It was stupid. That she would possibly give up hope. She should have known better. She did know better. Still, the nagging in her mind told her she should put up a fight, do something-anything. When they were in the parking lot, Addison decided, was when she'd make her move. Hoping Meredith would go along with it, she knew they'd be able to make it far enough, hopefully so he wouldn't catch them

Jason walked behind her, placing an arm around her waist. He leaned in close, breath hot against her neck. "Do you want to shower before we leave?"He asked, planting, ever so lightly, a kiss on her neck.

Muscles tensed, Addison turned to face him. "We should go."

He grinned, holding his hands up in defense. "So you are warming up to the idea then? I'm glad to hear it. Because see, I'd hate to harm you. I really would. But you, me, this baby...it's gonna be good, Addison. You may not believe that now, but trust me."He said, his hand stroking her cheek. "You'll grow to love it. Me and our little family."

She shoved his hand away, swallowing hard. "Maybe you're forgetting this, but this baby isn't yours. It's not going to replace any baby that you lost with your wife."

"Julia is no longer my wife, Addison. I've in fact, explained that to you. See, once we cross the state line, I've arranged for an apartment there. It's two bedrooms, so we'll have room now..."

The look in Jason's eyes made Addison's skin crawl. He was addicted to this plan, paying no attention whatsoever to anything else. All that mattered to him in that moment was her.

"We should...we should get going, you know? Before anyone catches on..we want...we want to make it to Tacoma, right?"She asked, hoping to convey the urgency.

Jason finished packing, all the while shooting glances in Addison's direction. He had warned her, just short of being threatening that if she were to try anything or if she were to escape he'd find her. That there was always a way. He felt it was enough, for now. If it weren't for the baby, he would have used the vial of tranquilzer he had managed to confescate. Still, he knew, at least for the time being, that he had his hold on her. He liked it.

There was still the matter of Meredith of course. The plan wasn't entirely solid on her part. It would have been easy, as in the original plan to just send her back to the hospital, or to wherever she wished. Still, the more Jason thought about it, the more he realized that it would be a mistake. That no matter how much fear he put into her, someone would eventually get it out of her. He decided instead to bring her with them, and if any trouble were to arouse, he'd beat her into submission. She was afraid enough, Jason believed, so he knew she believed he'd do it.

"Well, guys-"He said, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Let's go."

Once in the parking lot, Addison glanced nervousily over her shoulder. She counted to five, knowing there was only a small margin of time.

"Take once last look, Addison...we won't be here for quite some time."He said with a grin.

Just as he did, a silver car pulled up, several spots away.

"Meredith, I'm sorry...I know you were thinking you could go. But I just...I can't take the chance."Jason said with a shrug. His hand ran up her arm, grabbing her shoulder. "Get in, Meredith."

She was stiff, frozen. She couldn't move, knowing that she'd never see Derek or any of her friends again. This was it-her once chance.

"Excuse me..."An officer said, walking up to them. "Is there a problem here?...Jason Warden-"

Meredith swallowed hard, a million emotions running through her. She looked at Addison, who seemed like she was about to cry.

Addison nodded, feeling her knees growing weak, the concret beneath her suddenly seeming so inviting. The last sight she remembered was a black camarro riding into view-a glimpse of whom she thought was Derek in the driver's seat.