Red slowly blinked her eyes, watching the restless sleep of her captive. She hugged her knees to her chest. You were his friend!

It's my job. He's just a mission. Just…just a job. Nothing more.

You betrayed him!

So?

He liked you! You were on a date! AND YOU HAD TO TAKE HIM THEN, DIDN'T YOU!

No! No! Not my fault! He's nothing to me!

Sure, sure. That's why his notes are in your pocket. That's why you've read them so many times, even after figuring out who they were after the third note.

It was my job to find out!

LIAR LIAR LIAR LIAR!

NO! She clapped her hands over her ears. NO! It was my job! I had to!

Liar. Liar. Liar.

I'm a spy. I have to. It's what I do. And I'm good.

Liiiiiaaaarrr. The hissing voice grated on her.

"NO!" She pounded a fist into her pile of blankets.

Blink started at the sound. She calmed down. The voice sneaked into her mind again.

Of course you didn't care for him. All he did was rescue you several times. All he did was teach you a living. All you did was look after him when he was sick. And he returned the favor. Of course there's no feeling between you after two years. He cried. Remember? And you cried with him. Inside, were you laughing at him? Poor, defenseless, vulnerable Blink.

Before she could frame a reply, Blink stirred. She glanced at him.

Poor, defenseless Blink.

His eye patch was askew, his hair messy, and his clothes wrinkled. Smudges of dirt and newspaper ink were smeared on his cheeks. She saw him wince, and headed over to check his bonds.

He slept on his side, his bound hands behind him. She untied the wrists and applied salve to the chafing. He rolled onto his back, mumbling in his sleep. She quickly retied his hands in front of his body.

See? Not my fault. It was my freaking job; I only got him here to take him. Everything was to lure him to me so he would follow me like a blind lamb. From hiring the Delancy's to terrorize me to 'acquiring' a family to promote sympathy. The fire was a coincidence. But I used that too, didn't I? I was taught well. Top of my class. And there he is, mild as a lamb.

You hate living the lie.

I do. I do. But I can't live any other way. I just can't! This…this is what I WANT to do. Let me do what I want to do!

What about your testimony? It gets shattered every time.

Red didn't have an answer for that.

- - - - - - - -

A jerk pulled him awake. He squinted, found his hands in front of him. Carefully, he stood, realizing that the train was stopping. Then he noticed Red asleep in the corner.

He silently walked over to her. Her lids were softly closed, breathing deep and even. Her chest rose and fell with even movements. The rancid-smelling blankets were tucked around her body tightly.

She…she was my friend. How could she? HOW?

He stood over her, hands balling into fists tied in front of him, looking down at the lion in lamb's clothing. A traitor. Your captor. Kill her! Get away, do something!

No.

WHY?

Who is this man who claims the title of Father to me?

I…I still love her.

She shivered in her sleep. Blink quickly went to get his blankets in the other corner, carried them over, and lay them over her. He crawled under a few blankets of his own and lay near her. The train started moving again. Too late now. He watched the woman he loved, the woman who betrayed him, the woman who stirred such contradictory feelings in him, sleep.

"Blink."

The voice startled him. "Wh…what, Red?"

She turned to face him. "Will you come willingly with me? To see your father?"

Blink bit his lip. Red just stared him in the eye. After a moment of deliberation, he dropped his gaze. "Yes."

In return, she unsheathed a knife near her wrist and cut his bonds. "Are you cold?"

"Yeah."

"Wrap your arms around me." She closed her eyes. "The train will be stopping in an hour. Might as well be warm while we're at it." One eye flew open. "Remember, if you try anything…"

"Yeah, yeah. Last time you said that I still ended up kidnapped."

Red grinned to the wall and tried to get warm as the train moved on.