Lexi's mind flashed back and forth between memorizes like channel surfing on a tv. At one moment she was remembering an old Russian lullaby her mother use to sing. The next, she was with Charlie and Paige in Charlie's room, laughing and getting ready for an Op. Then came images of her father and torture and blood.

"Lexi.. Lexi.. wake up." A voice sounded.

Lexi slowly opened her eyes to see Mike kneeling on the ground outside her cage. She did not get up.

"You didn't eat your breakfast?" Mike said.

Lexi's eyes flickered to the uneaten pop tart on the plate next to her cage within reach. Lexi closed her eyes and swallowed. "Not hungry.."

"Not hungry? What do you mean? Lex, they barely feed you, you should be starving?" Mike said, giving her a look.

Lexi's eyes remained closed as she shook her head slightly. "I just don't feel good."

"What do you mean you don't feel good?" Mike said, an edge in his voice.

He reached through the bars to place his hand on her forehead. He quickly jerked it back after it had made contact.

"Oh my God Lexi.. you're burning up." Mike gasped.

Lexi shook her head again. "No.." She breathed. "It's not real.. I've felt it before. It's just a memory pain... It's not real."

Mike was confused and growing worried. "What's not real?"

With eye's still closed, Lexi reached up and pointed to her back. Mike, confused, walked around to the other side of the cage. He reached through the bars and lifted up Lexi's shirt a little. He saw the scares and burns of Lexi's past life. He could only imagine how she had got them. But then he saw one that wasn't old...

There was a small cut on Lexi's back.. a few days old... and it was discolored with infection. Mike held his breath when he saw it and cursed himself silently in the next moment... how could he not have seen it... how could he have not seen her decline these past few days.

Mike pulled down Lexi's shirt and went to the other side of the cage to face Lexi again. Her eyes were open and Mike tried to hide his fear. But of course... Lexi saw right through him.

"Somethings wrong." Lexi said.

Mike nodded. "Yes.. your cut...its infected. It's making you sick."

Lexi nodded and closed her eyes again. After a minute or so she reopened them. This time with tears. "Mike.."

Mike reached out and placed his hands on hers.

"I wanna go home..." Lexi whimpered.

Mike woke up to Paige banging on the roof of his car.

"How's Lexi? Is she okay?" Paige asked.

Mike swallowed hard before answering. "That's why I called you.. Paige... Lexi's.." Mike swallowed again. He didn't want to add to Paige's distress.

"Mike spit it out." Paige said. Mike could see the worry in her eyes.

"Lexi's got a cut on her back-"

"What!?" Paige said, jumping back slightly.

"A cut on her back-" Mike started again, trying to finish his sentence.

Paige ran her fingers through her hair and took several deep breaths before nodding to Mike that she was ready for him to continue.

"It's infected... She's getting really sick." Mike finished.

"Mike we have to get her out of there." Paige said. Her voice slightly wavy.

"I'll try to think of something." Mike said. "In the meantime can you get some general antibiotics?"

Paige nodded and they went their separate ways.

Lexi awoke to someone tapping her arm. It was Mike. Lexi managed to give him a small smile for despite her pain and weakness she was happy to see him.

"Here." Mike said as he placed two pills in Lexi's hand. "Antibiotics. Hopefully it will make you feel better."

Lexi slowly sat up and put the pills in her mouth. Mike handed her a water bottle and she drank it down.

"What, no ice?" Lexi said with a weak but playful smile.

Mike felt hope at the sight of Lexi making jokes.

"Maybe next time." Mike said.

"Maybe next time." Lexi repeated.

They sat in silence for a few moments before Mike spoke. He told Lexi an idea he had for a possible plan to get her out.

When he was finished, Lexi shook her head and looked him hard in the eyes. "No."

"No?" Mike said, shocked.

"I can't let you.. It's too dangerous. For you.. and the girls..." Lexi said. She was growing tried again.

"I can't have you putting your life in jeopardy Mike... I couldn't bear it if something happened to you." Lexi whispered. "I know Paige couldn't bear it either."

Mike shook his head a little. "I'm not so sure about that." Mike said, a little pained.

Lexi touched his face for a moment. "She'll come around...She's in pain and she's hurting and she's probably worried sick about me and Lena right now... In fact.. I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't kick my ass from here to my next birthdays for putting her through all this when I get out of here." Lexi said with a slight giggle.

Mike brushed some sweat from little Lexi's forehead.

"Grief.. sometimes clouds our eyes." Lexi said.

Mike nodded a little.

"And if Sella finds me gone.. who knows what he'll do to those girls. I won't cause them more suffering." Lexi said weakly but firmly.

Mike nodded and squeezed Lexi's hand.

"You should get going... I'm getting tired and you don't want Sella wondering where you are." Lexi said.

Mike gave her hand one last squeeze and told her he would be back later with her next dose of antibiotics.

When he was gone, Lexi curled up into a little ball on the bottom of her cage. It was true what she said to Mike. Sella would be wondering and Lexi was tired. But.. more than that.. Lexi didn't want Mike to see her cry as she was loosing her strength and just wanted to go home.

When Lexi awoke the next time it was dark outside. Mike was kneeling beside her cage, handing her antibiotics through the bars. But something was wrong... Mike was hurt... and there were tears in his eyes. Lexi grabbed hold of the bars and pulled herself up. She was so weak.. the energy it took to sit up.

"Mike what's wrong?" She whispered.

"Nothing.. It's ok Lex." Mike whispered back. Lexi could see he was lying.

Lexi slowly placed her hand on his. She attempted to squeeze it but she didn't have the strength. Mike fought hard to keep his tears at bay... first Lena.. and now he might lose Lexi too... Mike feared that the antibiotics weren't strong enough.

"It's ok Lexi.. It's ok." He soothed as he stroked her damp hair. "You just keep fighting ok? I gotta go.. there's.. some stuff I gotta do."

Lexi nodded and went to sleep.

Hello friends! :) Hope you all liked the chapter! Hitting 20 Chapters is a big milestone for me and I couldn't have done it without you guys so thank you so much! Special thanks to all my reviewers, followers, and favoriters! :)

Whelp... It's that time of year again. Summer is coming to an end and in just a few short days I'll be heading back to College. Due to this.. I might not be able to keep up with frequent updates as the season and episodes progress. But have no fear! This story will NOT be forgotten. I know that there are a lot of you out there that are really into this story. So I will do my best to update as often as I can. :) But, college comes first.

Good luck to everyone in this new school year! Peace :) R&R!