A/N: Just a short one here. More coming soon.

Chapter Four

After Peter took off, they got themselves clothed and back in Mom's car. Peter had snatched some duds off a nearby clothesline so they had something to wear, t-shirts and ill-fitting jeans. Collected a couple bills for the owners for his thievery.

"Where to?" she asked, turning the car on with a roar.

Lance shrugged. "Just not home, okay? Anywhere."

Carly glanced at him. At least he wasn't running away from her. He didn't really look at her either, more like at his knees. Carly put the car in gear and headed out, watching for any tails. The sun dropped low and she hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. All that corralling of Lance left her stomach rumbly.

"Hey, I have an idea. I can prove to you that I'm on your side, that isn't some plot."

"Carly you don't—"

"Yes I do, apparently." His distrust of her still left ice wandering her veins, not a good feeling for someone with evil powers that ached almost as bad as her desires. She felt around her purse, her fingers closing on the card that Dr. Beast had given her. It had an address. She handed it to him. "There's someone here who might be able to help."

"New York? That's like an eight hour drive from here. Wouldn't it just be easier to call the number?"

Carly gripped the wheel. "Do you not want to ride with me? Say the word and I'll drop you off."

"No! Give me a minute here. My head's all crazy right now. You know they're going to be looking for me, and they're going to know it was you. This time they're going to be really pissed. APB's and everything."

"So you'd rather go through life as a rampaging bull? Or worse—they'll lock you up and turn you into their tool. Goodbye anything you've ever dreamed of."

"Come on, Carly. You think I don't know that? Besides, they've pretty much done that already." Lance's face hardened as he stared at the road slipping by, lips in a tight scrunch.

Carly tried a light touch on his leg with her fingertips. "Then let me help you figure this out. I swear it's just me here, no other motivation. You don't have to live like this. You're not the first one with this kind of condition."

Lance shrugged. "Whatever." He scooted his leg away.

Carly clamped her mouth as well. Lance wasn't going to make this easy. They drove into the gathering night in uncomfortable silence.