AN: Thank you everyone who is reading so far. Reviews are greatly appreciated.

Jessie went back to the table, and sipped her beer. She endured the good natured ribbing by Rick and Mike, but both would have stepped in and done the same thing had they known the woman.

Jessie didn't know her that well, but she didn't look comfortable with the match in general. After giving her a few minutes, she went to the back door Marcus accompanying her.

"3000 for a five minute match?" Marcus asked in disbelief.

"Did you see her eyes Marcus? She didn't want to be there, but she didn't have a choice."

"Your big heart is going to get you in a world of trouble someday."

"It already has." Jessie said, laughing, as they approached the back door. Elphaba walked through the door with a satisfied smirk on her face. Jessie was relieved to see a smile on her face.

"Red is your color." Elphaba teased Jessie.

"Hey, I don't have a locker room here remember? Elphaba this is Marcus. He is my trainer, manager, and all around pain in my ass." Jessie said, as Marcus laughed.

"Pleasure, Elphaba."

"Likewise."

"Now that I know you're in capable hands, you've got a flight at 6 AM, Jess."

"Thanks, Marcus." Jessie said, getting a nod, as he walked off.

"So, you won?" Elphaba asked.

"Yeah, I won. Although, I have to admit, losing to you in a vat of red slush was more fun." Jessie said grinning.

"Thanks. I really hate doing that match." Elphaba said.

"Well, you'll never have to do it again, so there's a good thing." Jessie said, getting a wide smile.

"Hopefully not."

"I've got a hotel room at the Grand for a few more hours. If you wouldn't mind letting me change, I'd love to take you out for a late night dinner." Jessie said, getting a slight smile.

Elphaba thought about it, honestly it would be the least she could do since this woman had helped her get the rest of the money she needed to get her documents. "I would like that. I'll meet you in the lobby in 45 minutes. I have to take care of some business first."

"Can I help?" Jessie offered.

"No, I need to do it alone." Elphaba said, she really didn't want Jessie to risk anything else to help her.

"Then I'll meet you there." Jessie said, walking off.

Elphaba took a deep breath. It wasn't that she didn't trust Jessie, but the men she was dealing with didn't like strangers at all. Turning, she left in the opposite direction. It didn't take her long to find the men she was looking for.

"The price went up." The man explained, getting a growl from Elphaba.

"We agreed on twenty thousand for a birth certificate, social security card, and a state ID. It's taken me six months to earn this."

"Then it's gonna take you six more. It's forty thousand now. Maybe you can talk to Tony. I'm sure he'll put you to work." The man said, with a smirk. Now it all made sense, no wonder Tony kept taking larger and larger cuts of her winnings. He wanted to keep her around as long as possible. The prick would pay for this.

"I'll just take my money elsewhere." She said, getting up.

"Your choice, but most people don't deal with mutants like you."

"I'll take my chances." She said, walking off. She would find another city and buy her documents there if she had to. Tony didn't have so much influence that he could stop her if she were somewhere else.

(())

Jessie was humming, as she walked towards the grand. She felt really good; better than she had in months, in fact. She always felt better when helping someone, and Elphaba seemed like a really nice lady in a bad situation. That made it even better.

"Hey, you're The Blade, right?" Jessie turned when she heard her fight name, to see three men following her.

"That's me. You enjoy the fight?" She said, slowing down for them to catch up.

"Hell no. I lost a fortune on that fight." One of them said, angrily.

"Next time, bet on me. You can't lose." Jessie said a cocky grin on her face.

"Why don't we just collect our losses from you, instead?"One of them said, pulling a blackjack out of his pocket. Instead of running, Jessie smirked and took a relaxed defensive stance.

"Your hospital bill." She said, calmly. The one with the blackjack swung, she kicked it out of his hand, following it up with a snap kick to his ribs. There was a cracking sound as he doubled over in pain. The other two started throwing punches. Jessie grabbed one of their wrists, eating the other's blows. With two motions she snapped his arm and turned her attention to the other, landing a hard blow to his jaw. She felt a sharp pain in the back of her head, and blacked out.

"My arm! The bitch broke my arm!" One of the men said, kicking her hard in the ribs.

"Shut your damn trap! I think she busted a couple of my ribs." He kicked her just as hard on the opposite side of her ribs as the first man.

"Cut it out. We're supposed to roll her, remember." the ringleader growled.

"Tony said work her over, too." The guy with the cracked ribs whined.

"Tony wants her worked over, he can do it himself." The leader said, helping up the man with the broken arm. The other reached in Jessie's pockets slowly; damn it hurt to bend with injured ribs, finding them empty other than a hotel key.

"What the fuck? Bitch has no money." The man said, angrily stomping her back.

"Probably gave it to the green one." The men began discussing it, as they walked off, leaving Jessie lying prone in the alley.

(())

Elphaba sat in the lobby of the grand feeling more than a little out of place. She had changed into a dress, but could still feel the eyes on her. This was why she didn't go out often. It had been an hour, and no signs of Jessie.

"Hey, it's the Green Grappler!" She groaned hearing her stage name. Turning around she saw Jessie's two friends from the bar, and the man that was with her.

"Don't let Jess hear you say that. You might lose your teeth." Marcus warned, getting a chuckle from the two men and a raised eyebrow from Elphaba.

"We're crashing. See you in the morning, Marcus." Rick said, walking off.

"Speak for yourself, I'm playing blackjack." Mike said, as Marcus sat next to Elphaba.

"I thought Jessie would've met you by now."

"I would have thought so, too." Elphaba said, sadly.

"That's odd for her. She keeps her appointments, no matter what." Marcus said, wondering what could have kept her away. He didn't have to wait long for the answer. Jessie staggered in, a pissed off look on her face, and favoring her left side. Marcus and Elphaba ran to her side.

"What happened?" Marcus asked, getting a shrug and a cough.

"Had a disagreement with some fans. Apparently they bet on the wrong one." Jessie said, coughing. Elphaba unconsciously flinched; she knew Tony's handiwork when she saw it. Honestly she was surprised that Jessie was walking at all right now. Not to mention the fact that she didn't tell Marcus the truth.

"Did they get anything?" Marcus asked, as they helped Jessie to the elevator.

"I doubt it. All I had was the room key." Jessie said with a groan.

Elphaba grimaces a little when she hears Jessie groan like that. "Why don't we just order some pizza or something instead? I think you would be more comfortable if you didn't have to walk around." Not to mention, Elphaba would much rather spend time locked away where Tony can't get to either one of them. At least until Jessie got onto her plane in the morning. Elphaba could hop on a bus from the airport and get the hell out of here.