I woke a few hours later in practically the same spot I was in before. Groaning as I sat up, everything was stiff. I step out of the bathroom expecting to find the boys sleeping but instead I find them playing cards.

"Why aren't you two sleeping?" I ask.

They both jumped a little, not having seen me come out of the bathroom. Derek drops his hand of cards and comes over to me. He gets down on his knee and starts inspecting me. Looking for permanent injuries.

"I'm fine," I said. Then asked again, "Why aren't you two asleep?"

"Nerves are a bit shot for tomorrow," Derek said. "We can't sleep."

Derek let me go sit on the bed with them.

"How are you feeling?" Simon asked.

"I'm ok, really sore," I said honestly.

Simon tossed me a bag of chips. "I'm glad you're ok. That was awful."

Derek shot him a look.

"What? I'm not going to sugar coat it. I was scared for her."

I picked up the deck of cards and dealt myself in. Ignoring what was said.

"What are we playing?"

"Some weird game Simon came up with," Derek grunted.

I smiled, "Count me in."

We played card games and watched TV for the rest of the night. When the sun finally peaked through the window, Derek stood.

"Let's eat and get moving."

Simon dug into his bag of food. He passed donuts to Derek and bagels to me. I looked longingly at the heavily glazed donuts but something about Simon's expression told me I wasn't to have any of them. He just kept glancing at Derek nervously as Derek dove into them hungrily. Simon took a bagel from me and ate it slowly. Derek paid no attention to the change in behavior. In fact he wasn't paying attention to anything. Derek was starting to zone out more and more.

I looked at Simon accusingly. He wouldn't make eye contact with me until Derek hit the mattress after a few minutes of eating.

"What the hell did you do?" I exclaimed.

Simon looked ashamed for having done it, "They were laced with sleeping stuff. There was no way Derek was going to make it out of today alive. We need to go without him."

I choked on the bit of bagel in my mouth.

"I didn't lace anything you have ate," Simon tried to reassure me. "I don't feel good about leaving him behind, but I can't let Derek walk into a suicide mission."

I didn't say anything for a few minutes, I just stared at Simon bewildered.

"You scare me," I said and I stood up.

"What are you doing?" Simon asked.

"He's a werewolf with a high metabolism. You want to sit and wait for him to wake up?"

"I accounted for that," Simon stood up.

I shrugged, "I'm just not taking chances. Turn around."

"Uh?"

"So I can change," I rolled my eyes.

Simon went red, "Oh." He tuned around.

I quickly changed into jeans and a loose black v-neck. Easy to hide in, easy to run in. I checked Derek's pulse to make sure he was okay, grabbed my phone and money, and off we went.

Getting in the passenger seat I laughed still bewildered.

"I cannot believe you drugged your brother."

"He was going to die or get you killed. Derek's not right in the head right now."

Simon pulled out onto the road.

"How far are we?" I asked.

"Three ish hours."

I dialed Aunt Lauren's number. She picked up almost immediately.

"Are you coming back?"

"Are you going to take me away still?" I asked.

"Chloe," She sighed. "You need time away from those boys."

"That's exactly what I'm getting right now," I lied. "I just wanted to give you one last shot."

"The boys have disappeared too Chloe. They're out there looking for you. Who knows what that mutt will do to you for running away from him? You need to come back where we can keep you safe."

"I can take care of myself. I don't need to be kept safe. I'm sorry Aunt Lauren, this was your last chance 'before I go do something stupid', as you might say."

I hung up, hoping those wouldn't be the last words I ever said to her.

"So what's your plan?" I asked Simon. "You elected yourself in charge so…?"

"It's going to sound stupid, but its safer than Derek's gun blazing. We are going to go reason with him. You said it yourself that you talked to him before. He'll listen to what you have to say."

"You're banking on him being a reasonable guy," I responded.

Simon nodded.