After Cain had left the Sanctuary to visit the Sensitive, Shoe had immediately gone back to Ray-Roy, who had gotten antsy since Vendetta had disappeared. They were down in the lounge room; the Texan was sitting on the couch, deep in thought. Shoe moved over to sit next to him. He didn't say anything.

"Hey Ray-Roy," Shoe said. "How are you?"

Ray-Roy shrugged. "Fine. I know Vendetta will be alright. She doesn't go down easy."

"You miss her?"

"Yeah."

"I don't get that," Shoe said. "You miss her, you follow her everywhere. Why do you do that? She's always so mean to you, shoving you away and putting you down. Why do you do still stick around then?"

Ray-Roy thought for a moment. "Because I like that. I like a woman with spunk."

I have spunk! Shoe thought angrily.

"And she's tough, beautiful, strong. I actually find her violent tendencies and volatile nature quite fun. I never have to exactly worry about her; even now I know she'll be alright."

Shoe nodded. "And what would happen if Vendetta….. didn't survive this."

Ray-Roy paused. "I'm not sure."

"Do you have any, I don't know, back up girlfriend ideas."

He frowned. "Backup girlfriends?"

"Yeah, ya know. If one doesn't survive or somethin' happens to her you have someone in line to date."

"I've never thought of that before."

"Do you have any ideas?" Shoe asked hopefully.

Ray-Roy paused then shook his head. "Nope."

Shoe sagged. "Ah. Well, to get your mind off everything, you want to go and do something? Maybe go to that new restaurant downtown? We can't do anything right now anyways."

Ray-Roy was thoughtful then nodded. "Okay."

Shoe beamed. "Great!"

…

The restaurant was very nice, Shoe had to admit. Sophisticated, but not too much where they had to dress up. They picked a table on the quieter side and sat down. A waitress came over and took their drink orders. When she walked away Shoe looked at the menu. "What are ya thinking about having?"

Ray-Roy peered at the menu. He turned it a couple times. "Man this stuff is fancy. I mean really, 'Chicken Cordon Blue?' What the heck is that?"

Shoe sighed. They should have just gone to the nearest fast food place and gotten some burgers. Ray-Roy scowled. "I'll just have the steak. At least it's somethin' I recognize."

He tossed the menu back onto the table then leaned back. He looked around.

"So Ray-Roy," Shoe finally said, wanting to take advantage of the moment. "Wha do you like to do when you're, you know. Not working?"

Ray-Roy switched his gaze back from where he was watching a man get seated at a corner booth. "Huh? Oh, um… I guess I like to watch TV. And sharpen my razor, and take naps."

"Is that it?" Shoe said.

"Yep. Except that I also like to go to Vendetta's house. She doesn't like it when I tunnel through her walls. Or the ceiling. Or anything really."

"That's nice," Shoe ground her teeth slightly. "I mostly just hang out with my family and stuff. I like to do other things though. Like go for a walk in the park or do a puzzle. Scratch usually messes them up though when he's chasing his gerbil around."

"Scratch has a gerbil?"

"Yeah, he named it Fredrick. He got it out of a pet store when he was walking by and begged dad to buy it for him."

"Did you get anythin'?"

"Naw. I wouldn't have any time to take care of it."

"I can see that."

"Do you have any pets?"

"No. My dad won't let me."

"That's a shame. What would you get if you could?"

Ray-Roy thought for a moment. "A fish."

Shoe raised an eyebrow. "A fish," she repeated. "Really?"

Ray-Roy nodded. "Yup."

"….. What would you name it?"

"Maurice."

"Maurice?"

"Maurice."

"That's….. nice."

"I think so."

"Why that name?"

"It's after my great-uncle Maurice. "

"Ah."

They lapsed into silence for a few minutes. The waitress came over and brought their drinks and took their food orders then walked away.

"So did ya have any friends back in Texas?" Shoe finally said.

Ray-Roy shook his head. "Naw. I mostly hung out with my Daddy and practiced killin'."

She nodded. "I don't have friends exactly either. Mostly on account I stay up on the rooftops normally and I kill nearly everyone I meet. Of course there are a few others that survive, you for example, but that is very rare."

Ray-Roy grunted, his head turned slightly. Shoe followed his gaze and saw him watching the man who had sat in the corner booth. The man was talking on his phone, too far away for them to hear what he was saying. Ray-Roy suddenly leaned over to her and Shoe blinked in surprise.

"That guy," the Texan said in a quiet voice. "That's Gary Dare, one of Frost's other henchmen."

"Ya sure?" Shoe frowned, looking back at the guy.

"Positive. Now come on, let's make our move."

"What do ya mean?"

"Threaten him with my pointy straight razor and get him somewhere private to talk." Ray-Roy stood and walked over.

Shoe scowled and followed. 'So much for a romantic lunch.' She got to the table as Dare looked up at them.

"Hello," Ray-Roy said with a bright smile. "We were just wonderin' if you would provide us with just one moment of your time to-

He was interrupted as Dare punched him in the face; the straight razor Ray-Roy had been preparing him to stab him with went flying out of reach. Shoe leaped up as Dare dove at her, slamming her heels into the ground where he had just been. Dare went speeding out of the restaurant; Ray-Roy was standing up swearing. He took off after him, Shoe right on his heels. She leaped up onto an alley wall then across to the other, bouncing up the walls to the roof. She raced across the rooftops, keeping Dare in her line of sight.

Ray-Roy was no longer in sight. Shoe frowned at that but her attention was caught as Dare ducked across a park. She shoved off from the edge of the last roof, flying over the street and landing in a tree. The branches tried to cut her skin but couldn't break the surface. Shoe broke a branch as she shoved it away and jumped out, barely pausing in a crouch before continuing her chase.

Dare was doing well himself, hopping over hedges and splashing through a fountain. He was almost to the road when the ground exploded in front of him and Ray-Roy grabbed him. "Why hello there," the Texan said flashing a grin. "Why aren't you fast little guy. Nearly lost us there, too bad we're just too dang good at our jobs."

Dare glared at him. "I almost got away, did I? Or maybe there is still a chance."

Before Shoe could call a warning, a thug snuck up behind Ray-Roy and cracked his fist into his jaw. Ray-Roy dropped Dare, staggering away. Shoe lunged her, hardened nail slicing open the thug's neck. She looked up as Dare kicked her in the belly. Shoe managed to flip herself before hitting the ground, coming back around to punch him. Dare ducked the first strike going low. They went rolling across the ground, Shoe felt blood splash her face after raking her nails across his face. Dare snarled threw her off him, grabbing her before she could move and slamming an elbow into her face. She swore and kneed him in the belly.

Ray-Roy suddenly hauled Dare off of her. His face was bloody and his sunglasses were crooked; he face contorted in rage. He slammed Dare into a tree. "Okay," he snarled. "What do ya know 'bout this Simon Frost guy? He your boss right? The big boss?"

Dare spat blood and grimaced. "Man, you are a couple of tough guys. Too bad you'll probably end up dead after this is over."

Shoe growled and stalked up. "Talk," she snapped.

Dare looked at her. "Ah right, one of the Spring-heeled kids. How's he for a dad? Bet he's a bit of a monster." He suddenly laughed. "Get it? Monster? Cause he is?"

Shoe punched him in the face. "Yeah. I get it."

Dare grinned. "Now I guess you want to know who and where Simon Frost is exactly huh?"

"Yes," Ray-Roy said coldly. "Yes we would."

"Well, sorry to disappoint, but I'm not going to be telling you anything."

"Then why don't we take you back to the Sanctuary for questioning?" Shoe said. "I'm sure you wouldn't mind that then would you?"

Before Dare could answer however, Ray-Roy's phone rang. Without loosening his grip on Dare, Ray-Roy dug out his phone to answer. "Hello?"

"Come back to the Sanctuary," Sanguine's voice was hurried. "Right now."

Ray-Roy frowned and hung up.

"What's wrong?" Shoe asked, suddenly worried.

"We need to get back to the Sanctuary right now."

Dare smiled. "Actually, that would be perfect then."

Hey guys! I just felt like it was time for a shout-out to all you amazing people!

MJEG, Dexter Jackson, NarahSelson, SP(Guest), ValCain(Guest), Violett-Rose Pleasant and Artemis Shadow(Guest) you guys are so awesome for sticking with me this far! S

eriously, if it wasn't for you I probably would have quit writing these characters and never written this story or even finished Children of Criminals. I am so thankful for all of the support and everything that you have given to me so far.

I hope you continue to enjoy this story and the characters and everything. :)

And there was my little thank-you speech. XD

REVIEW! :)