Sorry for the long break. Thanks for the reviews. More romance to come. And drama of course

"Alex!" Vaughn called out.

"What?"

Alex sighed, exasperated. Vaugn gripped Alex's shoulder tightly.

"I thought you were going into the city to check on Gina's progress," Vaughn stated sharply.

"No," Alex answered sharply. He was growing tired of the scare tactics that Vaughn seemed to be constantly using these days.

"I'll call the hospital for you, hopefully nothing happens to her," Vaughn squeezed Alex's shoulder a little harder. "I have a friend there, he will be able to give me accurate information on her status."The warning was clear, if he talks, Gina would be killed. Alex sighed, he was more than ready to confess, but he needed to think about Gina. She was quite possibly the best thing that had ever happened to him. He owed her at least that much to think about her well being. Alex had never been a good guy, by any stretch of the imagination, but he was not capable of the type of violence that Vaughn committed. He shut his eyes tightly as he thought of poor Gina laying in the hospital bed.

"Understood," Alex responded tersely. He needed to tread very carefully. Vaughn's threat was clear, and it would be all too easy for him to call his associate and kill Gina. Gina meant nothing to Vaughn. Alex was beginning to see how very few people actually meant something to Vaugn. They were just tools to be used to gain whatever it was he needed. Alex could not afford to make any mistakes. He didn't have the money and the lawyers of Maion corp behind him like Vaughn did. It was very likely that he would be the one to go down for all of this.

"Are you coming?" Gwen asked, trying to keep her voice sounding sympathetic. She had surveyed the scene with probing eyes. The veiled threat that Vaughn had made to Alex didn't escape her, but she hoped for Gina's sake Vaughn didn't realize that she caught on.

"Yes," Alex replied meekly. He glanced back once more at Vaughn, gave him the most reassuring look he could muster, then exited the Sanatorium with Gwen.

Rachel couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to grow up living in such a luxurious palace. As she was led down the hallway back to her room.

Dinner had been interesting. Rachel had been reserved and very careful to not draw too much attention to herself. Tina, on the other hand, had openly praised the food, and conversed easily with the king and queen. Rachel was awed by the ease at which Tina spoke with royalty. For Tina, it was if she were speaking to anyone else. For Rachel it was much less so.

Lost in thought, Rachel failed to see that Amir had come up beside her. she startled when she looked over to see him walking next to her instead of the servant who had been guiding her back.

"Did you find dinner enjoyable?" Amir asked. Rachel lowered here head and nodded. The food had been quite possibly the best she had ever eaten. It was certainly the best she had ever remembered. "I am glad to hear that." Rachel thought she could detect a slight nervousness in his voice. She could not imagine what a prince would have to be nervous about. He said nothing more.

"Thank you for the kindness you've extended me," Rachel stated softly, the silence between them was too much to bear. "I appreciate the friendship you have extended to me." A look of frustration quickly flashed across Amir's face, then, just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone. It left Rachel wondering if she had really seen it. She certainly hoped that she hadn't done anything to anger him. After the kindness he'd extended, that was the last thing she wanted to do.

"I don't understand," Lyla said softly. Jack could see that she was still in shock. Her eyes stared vacantly at some random spot on the wall. "Things like that just don't happen here." Jack could see Lyla attempting to come to terms with what she had seen. Gina had been severely beaten. It was a sight that Jack had seen before, but Lyla had not.

"Just try not to think about it," Jack soothed.

"Try not... Are you serious? Try not to think?" Lyla spat out. "How are you so calm? How can you.." Lyla burst into tears. Jack was not really sure of what to say at this point. He had never been particularly good at comforting people.

"I've seen worse," Jack admitted. Lyla pulled out of her trance, and eyed him curiously. She couldn't help but wonder what he meant by that, but she let it slide. Tonight she needed his comfort. Tomorrow she'd go about figuring out Jack.