"Jason."

I could hardly breath as Tamara's voice came through the phone and echoed in my ear. I knew that it was only a voice message but I thought that her voice would be the last thing I would hear. She continued on.

"Jason as soon as you call me please call back," Tamara said urgently. "I know that you have Brett's phone because Brett would have deleted my message already. Anyway I can't stay on long, please call me as soon as you get this."

"End of mes-." I closed the phone on the recording. I tried to remember to inhale but my whole body was numb. My lungs felt like they were filled with air to the max and if I took another breath in I would explode. Goosebumps ran up and down my arms and I could feel them creep across the back of my neck. Emotions raced at me all at once and I tried to dial her number but I couldn't. My finger hovered over the the 7 but I couldn't bring myself to call her. Was it the shame? Was it the hurt? I've been on the road for almost a month and I haven't had the guts to call her and thinking back to how many times I've been near a pay phone... I finally found air and inhaled deeply. I exhaled and the pressure on my chest and shoulders released slightly. I listened to the message one more time. Tamara's voice was smooth yet had a hint of urgency to it making it seem cracked. Once the message was over I looked through the message box and saw Tamara's text to Brett asking about me. Brett must have gotten in contact with Tamara somehow. I mustered up as much courage as I could and pounded her number in, it only rang once and someone picked up.

"Jason?"

I was ready to speak but then something stopped me. What do you say to your girlfriend after three weeks on the run? A simple 'hi' didn't seem enough.

"Jason is that you?"

"Yes," I managed and a breath of relief came through the other end of the phone. I breathed a sigh of relief myself but then I could hear someone crying and I panicked.

"He's dead Jason," Tamara said as clearly as possible but it didn't work as her voice was low and uneven. I didn't reply, I knew that she was talking about Chris. Chris was dead and it was possibly all my fault. "Chris is dead."

"I know." I didn't know what else to say to her.

"Where are you?" she asked.

Maybe it was paranoia but I just couldn't bring myself to tell her where I was. I remained silent for a few moments and then said, "I'm not sure Tamara where are you?"

I could swear that there were voices in the background but I didn't know if it was my imagination or what. I waited.

"Tamara?"

"Jason I'm at the station, you've got to run!" her voice was urgent and dead serious. I froze, she was where? Just then someone grabbed the phone from her, Tamara cursed and screamed but I heard her voice grow smaller and smaller as she was dragged out of the room.

"Hello Buchanan," the voice was dark and cold and filled with hate. I could imagine Mahone on the other end, his hand gripping the edge of the table, his face twisted in anger and the phone held tight against his good ear.

"What the hell are you going to do to her you bastard?" I demanded, I've had enough of his games now it was getting personal.

"I just want to put you in your right place," Mahone replied, "and I don't think that you need reminding of where that is."
Like hell it was prison, I thought but then casted away the thought.

"Now," Mahone said, "I'm going to only ask once, you lie to me then something...unfortunate may happen. So where are you?"

I started to really panic, I closed my eyes trying to think of something I could tell him but I didn't want him to hurt Tamara.

"I'm in Tribune Kansas," I said defeated.

"Now I want you to stay there, don't you dare move a fucking muscle until I get there or else accidents may happen."

Accidents? Plural? I cut the connection and then buried my hands in my head thinking of ways to get out of this.

Teddy was gone for about two hours max, while he was doing god knows what, I tried to come up with plans to elude Mahone. Realization hit me and I knew that I couldn't. Either way someone will possibly die but I didn't want it to be Tamara. When Teddy came down his wounded hand was hidden in the pocket of his hoodie and he had one of those large traveler's bags over his good shoulder. He calmly walked through the building like nothing was wrong but I knew that something was up, that something went down and yet Teddy was walking like any normal civilian. I stood wanting to tell him of the call but held my tongue and then asked, "What now?"

"I need to pick up a few things," Teddy said.

My conscious nagged me to tell Teddy what happened but for some reason I just couldn't bring myself to tell Teddy. What was I scared about? I followed Teddy outside and then immediately I noticed police cruisers coming towards us. I froze and Teddy let out a sharp curse.

"What do we do?" I asked in a low whisper. I could tell that Teddy was trying to figure things out himself, he frowned but I soon realized that he had no idea what to do. So I choose for him.

I bolted down the street, running and dodging past people. Teddy was way back but when I looked back I realized that he wasn't running, instead he was blended into the crowd so it took me a few moments to find him. He glared at me and I shot an apologetic look at him. The police cars past him and now coming towards me. I ducked into a an alleyway and my leg exploded with pain as I twisted to fast. I fell to the ground and clutch the stitched gunshot wound. I could feel warmth spread across my jeans and knew that I had possibly popped a few stitches. I cautiously moved to the edge of the alley and then peeked out from behind the wall. There was Teddy waiting patiently for me. Then Brett's phone started to ring and I answered.

"Why the fuck do you 'ave my phone?" the voice was unmistakably Brett's.

"I'm sorry Brett," I said hurriedly. "It came out of your jean pocket and..."

"You just thought it was okay to steal it? Is tha' it?"

"No, not at all."

Just then I was interrupted by shooting, I ducked just in time as a bullet whizzed over my head and embedded in the wall off to my side. Even Teddy scattered. Brett tried to say something but I cut him off.

"Can I call you back?" I immediately hung up and saw Mahone standing there with his badge on his jacket and both hands on his gun that was aimed directly at me. I bolted away and Mahone ran after me. He shot numerous times and me and each time I ducked with my hands over my head. I tried to run into a more crowded area but with Mahone waving his gun around screaming 'freeze', 'FBI' and 'out of the way' things weren't going so well for me. I turned the corner and then almost collided with a Teddy. He grabbed my hand and then we both rushed down the street and ducked into an alley. We managed to push open the unlocked side door and scrambled in before anyone could see us.

Inside all the lights were off, tables were over turned and the place looked like it had been deserted for over a decade. Dust and cobwebs glinted in the sun and beamed through small cracks in the boarded up windows. The place resembled some type of bar and I walked back to see what was left of the kitchen. I walked back to the main room and sat down beside Teddy. He took a phone out of his pocket and dialed 911. I panicked but he reassured me. He spoke to the person on the other end and then closed it.

"So you killed him," I said it came out more of a statement rather than a question.

Teddy nodded. "It was necessary Maytag, you'll understand one day."

I closed my eyes as fatigue started to take a hold of me.

"Where are we going?"

"I need to think about it," Teddy admitted.

We sat there in silence and then finally I got the courage to speak.

"You came back," I whispered leaning in and Teddy nodded.

"Of course I went for you," Teddy replied. "I always go back for the ones I love."