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Jenny had wondered if Alice really went through with what she had asked in her short little message. She had met Natasha a couple of times and had thought about it herself. But she would admit she had those kinds of thoughts about lots of women. Thinking about the two of them together made the afternoon a little uncomfortable. So did swallowing all of his cum.

Thankfully the day went rather smoothly and they were all sitting at the table for dinner, and to watch whatever they could of the race.

"Jenny do you feel all right?" Katie asked.

"You look like you might throw up." Mary said.

"I feel like I drank too much soda to fast." Jenny felt like she needed to burp. They still all scooted away from her.

They all jumped including Nodrog when Jenny opened her mouth and let out a rather loud, long and disgusting belch. Jenny was impressed, with its duration.

"That was gross." Mary said.

"Hey, I feel better now." Jenny said with a smile, Sherman and Nodrog found it funny, the three other women did not.

"I give it a ten." Sherman and Jenny laughed.

"Boys are so gross." Mary said.

"Oh, come on, I could have done half the alphabet with that." Jenny said and Mary threw a dinner roll at her.

"Its things like that, that make me think Jenny is just a boy with tits." Katie wasn't teasing, she really though Jenny to be the wrong gender.

"She likes football, beer, has a killer entertainment system... And likes boobs and skirts. Maybe Jenny is a boy with tits." Sherman said.

"I like girl stuff too..." Jenny grumbled as they picked on her.

"Name one." Cindy said and they all sat quietly for her to answer.

"Shopping, and chocolate, and stuffed animals and wearing pretty dresses. Ha, that's four." Jenny crossed her arms.

"Either way we still love you." Katie said.

"Lets see how our little racer did today." Sherman turned, reached up and turned on the TV as Mary looked for the remote control. Mary clicked over to the recorded program and hit the play button.

It started off with the highlights from the drift she ran with Mike. Then it got down to the actual racing. Even though all of the cars she passed were a slower class it was a little more exciting to watch.

"Do you think they will delay the last part with the bad weather?" Cindy asked as the program went to other sports.

"Depends on how bad it is, Alice has had to race in less than ideal conditions before at other events. The spring race was mostly in light rain." Jenny said as they just hung out.

"So why doesn't she just go do that full time. I mean she is really good at this kind of work too... But all she ever talks about is driving." Katie cracked open a beer.

"Because she really likes doing this. I think she flipped a coin on which was going to be her job and which was going to be her hobby." Jenny frowned when she picked up her empty can.

"The three of you really are all kinds of opposites. Alice is a nerd with a lead foot, you are a boy in a girl's body and Nodrog is a weapon that can play the piano." Cindy said.

Nodrog reached over, grabbed the empty can from Jenny and popped the whole thing in his mouth. It made an odd crunch when he bit down on it. "You forgot the aluminum can eating part." Jenny said and they all laughed.

"I heard we might be leaving earlier than planned." Mary said.

"Makes sense there isn't anything here." Katie said.

"It would not hurt my feelings to leave this dreadful site behind." Nodrog said.

"Mine either." Jenny yawned. "I think it is time for bed though. Night." She got up and headed to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face. Everyone else followed suit.

Nodrog sat quietly at the table and picked up a magazine Cindy had on aircraft. By the time he had read most of it, they were all sound asleep. He stood up and headed outside closing the door behind him quietly. He walked over to a low burning fire to talk with the couple of people still up.

Before he got to them he knew something was off, they were sound asleep as well. Now that he was paying attention to his surroundings he noticed a faint aroma he had missed before. There was also a light mist in the air, he walked to the edge of camp and waited.

A lone figure walked up to him and spoke in a different tongue. Chains came out of the ground and held him fast, they couldn't drag him down. Much to the surprise of the person approaching him. "Hello Lilith."

"Don't hello me." Lilith snarled and punched him in the gut. She stood a little under five and a half feet tall, blond haired and green eyed. She was wearing a mix of enchanted chain mail and plate armor.

Nodrog didn't flinch, it was expected. Though she was angry, her voice simply could not convey the malice she really felt. "You shouldn't have come, they are looking for you."

"I don't care anymore! He's dead and its your fault." Lilith tried to strengthen the spell.

Nodrog didn't say anything, only standing his ground which made the little elf madder. Lilith was only a couple years younger than he was, and like most elves she aged quite slowly and only looked late twenties. He had figured she would try again after the first time didn't work out as well as she had hoped. But Nodrog had also hoped she would stay away so no one would find her.

"We were tricked Lilith, this wasn't what they told us was going to happen." Nodrog said.

"You consumed his soul, how is that not your fault?" Lilith cried.

"His was not the only one. Do you know how maddening it is to have two other people in your head and body? They told all three of us the same thing and tricked us into going through with it. None of us wanted this." Nodrog tried to speak calmly, he wanted her to know it was the truth.

"I don't believe you!" Lilith yelled and got a little reaction from him by casting an electric shock spell. She screamed as he quickly reached out breaking one of the chains and picked her nearly a foot of the ground.

"Look at me! I am an abomination! Not a whole anything, only a third. Not a dragon, not an elf, not a vampire... Some magic and alchemy created chimera with no other purpose but to kill. They tricked us Lilith and we all paid the price." Nodrog spoke with varying degrees of volume.

"Why should I believe you?" Lilith asked a bit overwhelmed by his resistance to any of her magic.

"Did it ever occur to you why no one came and asked you any questions? Even though I willingly let you try. I never said a word to anyone this whole time." Nodrog relaxed his grip slightly and sighed.

"All that proves is that you were waiting for me to come after you again." Lilith said angrily.

"If that really was the case, you would all ready be dead." Nodrog clenched his fist tighter bending the enchanted plate she was wearing. Her eyes grew wider as she realized she was in way over her head. Four hundred years of studying magic while he had slept was not enough to mitigate the power difference between them.

"You don't even have a clue. What they did to us... I know everything they knew, I felt everything they felt. He loved you, and that is why when you betrayed us, I kept it a secret from everyone." Nodrog searched her eyes hoping to see her beginning to understand.

"He told me to give you a message." Nodrog was starting to set her down on her own feet.

"What message?" Lilith asked, unable to fathom how he was still standing or had so easily damaged the magic infused armor.

"He was sorry he failed to keep the promise he made to you out on the dock when you both were little." Nodrog said. No hint of anger, only sadness and regret in his tone of voice.

Lilith instantly believed him at that point as tears trickled down her cheeks. If he knew that secret then he had to be telling the truth. "I'm sorry for all the harm I caused you. Can you ever forgive me?" The spell she had cast faded away, not that it had done much good.

Nodrog smiled. "No need to apologize, we forgave you a long, long time ago... You need to leave, if they find you here..."

"To late for that." Nightrunner said as he a number of elves and a few werewolves stepped out into the light.

"The very last person I would have thought. Your only mistake was coming at him again. You're going to come with us Lilith. To be held accountable for your actions. Good work on catching her Nodrog, now if you would hand her over." Eitak placed her hand on the hilt of her sword. The hunters that came with them drew their weapons.

Nodrog was still holding her in the air. "Ever the annoyance in your timing."

They all were rather shocked at his response.

"You don't have any say in it." Eitak drew her sword to solidify that statement.

"Do you know how many resources we have expended trying to find who betrayed you?" Nightrunner said.

"And none of it at my request. I never actually asked for anyone to look for her." Nodrog was holding her off the ground but not at full arms length.

"Why are you protecting me?" Lilith asked.

"That is a good question." Eitak said.

Nodrog looked at Lilith. "I all ready told you, I never held your actions against you." He turned to address Eitak. "Since I made no formal request, you have no reason to pursue this matter. Let it go."

"It is not up to you, this was decided by the council. She is coming with us even if we have to take her by force." Eitak said and her sword began to glow orange.

Nodrog laughed. It was both cold and cruel, his tone of voice changed and sounded almost like it was echoed by two other voices. "You didn't bring enough support to make us do anything. Put your weapon away before you get hurt."

"Give her to us, Nodrog." Eitak spoke firmly, adding more power to the spell on her sword.

The sudden blast of power overwhelmed them all. Nightrunner was the only one who remained standing. It was like Nodrog had exploded without a sound, but in fact, it was just a massive burst of both raw and magic energy. A few of the hunters looked like they might flee as a second set of wings grew from his back. They were black and leathery like those of vampires. His normal cobalt blue eyes washed to an ice blue that glowed eerily.

Lilith was truly terrified since this much energy this close felt like being underwater. It was overwhelming as was the sudden heat radiating off of him. "What are you?"

"The Iron Dragon, The Vampire, The Elf Mage." The dragon said in three distinctive voices.

"Would you please put her down, Dragon?" The Elf said.

"Of course." The Dragon said and set Lilith back on her own two feet.

"As we thought, ever being too hasty Eitak." The Vampire sneared.

Eitak stood and reached out to hit them both with a stun spell but it backfired in her hand causing her to collapse to the ground. Nightrunner rushed to her side. "What did you do?"

"I was going to stun them, but..." Eitak said.

"I, (he) warned you about trying. We simply reflected the spell before you could cast it." The three voices said.

"Please believe what Nodrog said earlier Lilith. None of us wanted this." The Elf said.

"He is right, they tricked us. None of us blame you for what you did. Silly girl they never would have found you if you had stayed away." The Vampire said.

"As I said earlier, they will not be taking her anywhere." The Dragon said.

"And we told you that you don't have anything to say in the matter!" Eitak yelled.

"Silence!" The three voices yelled at her.

"We do have a say." The dragon said.

"Because we never asked you to find her." The Elf said.

"So take your little toy soldiers and go tell the council the matter is resolved." The Vampire said.

"That's not how it works." Eitak panicked as in less than an eye blink he had covered the ten feet between them and yanked her off the ground.

"It is how it works. Or would you rather us go tell the council ourselves?" The three voices asked. Tendrils of smoke drifted from his mouth as he spoke and breathed. She had trouble breathing from the heat coming off of him.

There were not words to describe the state of her panic and fear. Eitak knew none of those on the council would want him to appear before them. Especially like he was now. He his presence would overpower some of them, and not just the heat. The raw magic and power would be more than some of the less violent races could handle.

"Is there anything else you would like?" Nightrunner decided to resolve this matter without making the dragon madder.

"You can't!" Eitak yelled.

"Yes, actually I can." Nightrunner spoke calmly, his sister was usually to brash and impulsive.

"I had hoped you had given up by now." The Dragon said.

"Promise you will let her go, and drop the matter." The Elf said.

"Because you know what we will do if you do not." The Vampire said.

"No need for the last part. Eitak take the hunters and leave." Nightrunner said.

"What are you going to do?" Eitak asked, clearly composing herself.

"Let her say a final goodbye, then make sure she gets home." Nightrunner said.

Eitak was not very happy about it, but she could not think of any way to change it. Or think of anyone who could make him follow her orders. They left as quietly as they had arrived.

"I had my doubts, I never expected the person to try again." Nightrunner said.

"Wait you both knew?" Lilith asked.

"Doesn't matter now. You won't have to keep looking over your shoulder now." The three voices said.

"But why? I still don't understand." Lilith said with tears in her eyes.

"Because I love you. Lilith, I'm sorry I broke the promise I made when we were little. Dragon, I thank you for giving me this chance to see her one last time." The Elf said in a weakening voice.

"What's wrong?" Lilith asked.

"This... hurts us. We can't stay like this..." The three voices said.

Nightrunner put his hand on her shoulder. "Nodrog's soul has almost consumed them. It's been driving them all mad. After this the elf and vampire souls will be completely consumed by the dragon's." Nightrunner said.

"They really were tricked. All I could do was hate him, and now I find out they have been suffering this whole time. I'm worse than he ever was." Lilith looked at the ground.

"So what will you do now that this chapter is closed dragon?" The Vampire asked.

"Live his own life." The Elf said.

"After more than a thousand years, I will be glad for the silence in my own head again." The Dragon said.

"Fair well then Dragon." The Vampire said and the black wings faded away.

"Do take care my dear Lilith... Good Bye." The Elf said and the glow faded from his eyes.

Nodrog fell to the ground with a heavy thud. "Good bye... my friends."

Nightrunner walked over to him and helped Nodrog sit up. "You all right?"

Nodrog cocked his head and sat in silence for a little bit. "I will be." Slowly he got to his feet, dusted himself off and walked over to Lilith.

"Now all four of us are free." Nodrog whispered in her ear as he hugged her. He would miss them, but not the madness that came from it. He gave her a light kiss on the cheek and stood up. "Take care, Lilith."

Nightrunner held out his hand for her to take. "Lets take you back home."

"I will never forget what you did for me. Take care Iron Dragon." Lilith took hold of Nightrunner's hand.

Nodrog stood by as the two vanished into the shadows of the growing light. He looked up at the faint red and orange glow of the early dawn hour. "Another chapter closed. Someday I might see you again Lilith." Nodrog walked back to camp. Lilith's magic would now be quickly fading if not all ready gone.

His head was clear, so were his thoughts. Though he still would love to drink Jenny's blood, that feeling also was subsided. He was actually, in a very good mood. He felt a lot better than he had in a long time. He tossed a couple logs on the glowing embers of the nearly dead fire. He spit on the embers and got it going again.

Nodrog stepped up into the RV and was a little surprised to see Katie sitting up. A cup of coffee in her hand, he sat down across from her at the table. "You're up early."

"I slept really good, only been up long enough to make a pot." Katie lifted her cup. "You seem different..."

"I do?" Nodrog asked.

"Yeah, like something that's been bothering you has been taken care of." Katie said.

"Lets just say someone finally found some forgiveness they greatly needed." Nodrog pulled a beer out of the cooler under the table.

"That is good to hear. Isn't it a little early for those?" Katie asked and pointed at the beer can.

"I don't know, is it?" Nodrog smiled and popped the can open. News of last night's events spread quickly, all but a handful of monsters were surprised he knew who it was the whole time.

Pang Zsu thanked the little fairy that had brought him the news that the matter was no longer under investigation and at Nodrog's own request the person go free.

"You don't seem surprised that he knew who betrayed him the whole time." Amy said as she sat on the edge of his desk.

"He has changed a great deal after waking from his slumber. It seems to me, he is trying to atone for his sins." Pang Zsu said thoughtfully.

"He seemed like a very good soul when I was with him." Amy said.

"That's because you never got to see him from before. Trust me, the way he was before you would have seen powerful men and monster fear the mere mention of his name." Pang Zsu said.

"You didn't make me fall in love with him did you?" Amy asked rather bluntly.

"No, I never intended for you to have strong feelings like that to anyone. You got those feelings all on your own." Pang Zsu was rather pleasantly surprised by that turn of events.

"So what happens to him now?" Amy asked.

"Good question. Because now only one soul is in charge with all of that power. It will be interesting to see what he does with it." Pang Zsu said.

"I think there is nothing to worry about. If he is of single mind now, he shouldn't be on the verge of madness." Amy said.

"That is a very good point. Still I am sure Nightrunner will be keeping an eye on him for a while." Pang Zsu said.

"I won't be the only one." Nightrunner said as he stepped out of the shadow of Azule.

"Impeccable timing as always it seems. You can holster your sidearm Amy, he will do us no harm." Pang Zsu said.

"Did I catch you at a bad time?" Nightrunner asked.

"No, we were discussing the news we had just heard. Would you like something to drink?" Pang Zsu asked.

"If you have some of your black tea." Nightrunner said.

"Of course, Amy would you make some up for us." Pang Zsu motioned to a chair for Nightrunner to have a seat.

"I came to ask your opinion on the matter." Nightrunner said as he sat down. The giant yeti looked out of place with a lab coat on sitting in an office one would expect a doctor to have.

"I'm not sure I will be much help, we had very little interaction back then." Pang Zsu sat down himself. "I don't suppose you will tell me who it was?"

"It would be better if I didn't. He knew the whole time, but did not say anything to protect that person. I will honor that." Nightrunner said.

"I knew you would say that, still I had to ask. I am guessing your sister did not take his actions very well?" Pang Zsu asked as he and Nightrunner chuckled at the sound of Amy dropping or messing something up.

"No, and she is even more upset I agreed with him. It is rare to encounter the power of three individuals at once like that. I myself was barely able to remain standing. So what do you think?" Nightrunner said.

"Truthfully, I see no reason for any of us to worry. Now being only of one mind instead of three, he should be considerably less stressed and level headed. Really the only problem I can foresee would be if those two girls are endangered or threatened." Pang Zsu said.

"Thank you, Amy" Nightrunner said as she handed him a cup of tea. "I came to the same conclusion. You and I have more faith in him then most of the council has."

"So then let him speak to the council himself. I say enough with this behind the scenes and secrecy, I can think of three who would stand in his defense." Pang Zsu said and sipped on his own cup of tea.

"I would. Even as little as I know him." Amy blushed at her own sudden outburst. The elf knew she wasn't a real person, and puppets weren't supposed to have as much freedom as she had.

"You forgot the one he just spared." Nightrunner said.

"Then what more do they want? Two humans, an elf, a puppet and the two of us should be plenty." Pang Zsu said.

"When did I ever say she was an elf?" Nightrunner asked and realized his mistake as soon as Pang Zsu smiled and lightly laughed.

"So it's a female elf... Well then it could only be her. Old age finally catching up with you a little? You never would have fallen for that before." Pang Zsu chuckled even more.

"You never used to trick me before. This is just between us, it was Lilith." Nightrunner said.

"To think someone as sweet as her could do something like that, and that's if you ignore the vast difference in their abilities." Pang Zsu paused in thought. "That would mean he saw it coming and did nothing to stop her..."

"Neither of them will say what exactly happened, but everything supports that. Because he could have stopped her as easily as any of us could turn from a breeze. I think that instant what ever happened to him then, is what started the change. Did you ever see him with four wings?" Nightrunner asked.

Pang Zsu looked at him carefully. "What do you mean?"

"Twice now I have. You know he keeps his emitted energy and magic as low as he can?" Nightrunner said.

"Myself and the wise man that taught me how to make puppets, thought something was off. He always seemed be able to reach a little further and bring up more." Pang Zsu said.

"My sister, naturally was going to use force, so he simply released his hold and knocked down several hunters and Eitak just with his unbridled energy and magic. I managed to stand only because I had experienced it before. That is what concerns many, if he can, without trying overpower hunters..." Nightrunner said.

"I will stick with my original statement, unless to protect the two he loves, then there is nothing to worry about." Pang Zsu said.

"How can you be so sure?" Nightrunner asked.

"Because he is trying to atone for his past sins. The General tried to force him and the wolf to come here twice, even threatening Alice and Jenny. Nodrog never harmed him, and even convinced Sherman to let him go free. Plus he saved me..." Amy said calmly and confidently.

Pang Zsu just nodded in agreement. Nightrunner thought her words over carefully as he took another sip of tea. He had not thought of it that way, but it was as plain as day. Since waking, he had only reacted with force, when there was no other option.

Chapter

"Alice, wake up sweetie." Natasha said softly.

"That time all ready?" Alice rubbed her eyes after she sat up.

"Yup, bathroom is all yours. I am done in there." Natasha said.

Alice put her glasses on and that cleared up the fuzzy image of a partly dressed Natasha. "As much as I love doing this and traveling. I really like going home to my own bed." She stood up and stretched.

"I have always felt the same. Of course it is a little easier when you can stay with the one you love." Natasha said, after her and Alice's little romp between the sheets she really wanted to be in the same bed as Wes.

"Yeah at least at work Jenny and I get to bunk together. Not that you're bad company." Alice changed clothes.

"I'm glad to hear that, I have enjoyed sharing a room with you. I am very glad we decided this would be better then leaving you bunking with Kenny. Wes told me he snores pretty loudly." Natasha adjusted her bra before pulling on her shirt.

"Oh he does, wake the dead sometimes." Alice said and washed her hands so she could put her contacts in. She always teased Jenny about them, because Jenny got the willies or grossed out when Alice had to do anything with her contacts.

"I thought you had separate quarters when you were doing field work." Natasha pulled on her fire suit.

"We do, that's how bad it is. I am surprised we haven't heard him this week." Alice pulled on her fire suit after pulling her hair into a quick pony tail.

"That explains why Jim gave Wes the box of foam ear plugs when we arrived in town." Natasha and Alice left the room and headed down to the small restaurant in the hotel for breakfast. The boys were all ready down and eating, of course.

"Morning ladies." Kenny said as the two sat down at the table with them.

"Last stage, are you ready?" Wes asked after the girls placed their order.

"To kick your butt, absolutely." Alice said with a smile.

"Burned before we even leave the hotel." Kenny clinked his glass with Alice's.

"Anyways, I heard some of the other racers talking, its going to be rainy all day." Wes said.

"It is going to be that." Mike walked up to the table and knelt down next to Alice.

"What's up Mike?" Wes asked.

"Stoppin bye to pass along some good news. Carly is sitting up and fully coherent, even looking forward to today's final show down. She wishes us good luck." Mike said.

"Good to hear. You gona go ask her after we are done here?" Alice asked.

"We are on the same flight, you can make sure I do." Mike smiled before he stood up and walked back to the table his crew were at.

"What's that all about?" Kenny asked.

"It's a secret." Alice said with a smile. They finished eating and caught the shuttle van down to the start line of the final stage. It was a light to moderate rain the whole way, the gray sky seemed to hang low and showed no sign of going away.

TJ and DJ all ready had both cars prepped and ready to go when they arrived. Their usual cheer and high spirits toned down for the final stage. They got up early and had checked everything three time over on both cars.

"They are even warmed up." DJ said.

"There isn't so much as a loose wire or nut on either of them." TJ said.

Wes and Alice each hugged one of the twins. "We know, that's why you both are here." Alice said.

"You have never disappointed and always out done yourselves. We will see you both at the finish line." Wes said.

"Thanks for having faith in us." They replied and waited for them to get staged on the starting line before packing up the equipment for the drive back to the main pit. Jim and Tim where at the half way point for the last leg.

The rain had picked up a little as Alice piloted the Lotus along the coastal two lane highway. Her and Kenny focused only on the race and did little talking. Today was business only all the way to the end.

The cool air from the storm gave the turbo charged engine all the dense air it could want. Despite the weather, people still stood along the course and cheered the drivers on. Huddled under umbrellas, blankets and parkas. These were the die hard fans, and they cheered for every car that roared past.

The Lotus hummed along with wiper blades keeping a steady beat. They closed in on the last car in front of them just past the half way point. Alice braked hard and dropped down into second as her and the other car made the sharp right corner that took them off the coast and headed north back up to the main staging area and the finish line. With no one in front of her, she told them to stop updating her on the other car positions for the final stretch.

Alice only wanted to hear Kenny's information and concentrate on driving. The only thing she wanted to know was how much farther to go. Everything behind her didn't matter only what was in front of her mattered.

Kenny never said a word as Alice kept the fastest pace the road and car would allow her. He wanted the win as much as she did. That and he had spent enough miles navigating for her, he knew what to expect any more.

Alice didn't even flinch as the back end of the car skipped a little sideways hydroplaning over some standing water. Just a simple steering correction and put her foot back in it.

Mike and Wes were still keeping tabs on everything. They couldn't understand how she could manage not knowing this close to the end. They each knew where the other two were on the track along with the car behind them was. The heavier rain had slowed most of the field down, except for Alice. The mouse was on a mission and even the weather wasn't going to slow her down.

"Well, see you guys in a while." Ron said and pulled on the rain poncho he had picked up earlier in the day.

"Don't forget the flowers." Big Joe handed Ron the bouquet they had gotten for her.

"Thanks, for everything you have done Joe." Ron said and headed out into the rain to be standing at the finish line when she crossed it.

"To bad we can't be there." Little Joe said.

"This is where we are supposed to be. We can celebrate once they both are out of their cars. As much as it means to us, think how much more it means to him." Joe said.

"You will make a good dad." Little Joe said as they watched all the feeds they had as the little red car quickly ate up the final miles.

The crowd waited in the rain, ears straining to hear the sound of the Lotus. They heard it faintly for a while before they could see it top the final hill and then the short decent down and to the air field.

"And seventy to finish. All ways a pleasure Alice." Kenny smiled as the crowed raised their hands and cheered them the last forty meters to the finish line.

"Thanks for riding shotgun Kenny. Now for the real hard part, waiting for Mike and Wes." Alice pulled the car under the large tent they had set up.

She shut off the engine and the two of them took their helmets off and climbed out of the car. Where a large number of people cheered for them. Alice was a little overwhelmed again but a familiar voice called out to her and she ran over to her father.

"I can't begin to tell you how proud of you I am." Ron said as he hugged Alice.

"I can probably guess. I am so glad you were able to be here." Alice said.

"I will see you back at the trailer, its your spot light, not mine." Ron gave her a kiss on the top of her head and made his way through the crowd to head back to the trailer.

Alice and Kenny managed to stay close together as they waited almost four minutes for Mike to cross the finish line. The foul weather had increased her lead on nearly everyone.

"I was beginning to think you got lost." Alice said as Mike walked over to her and Kenny.

"We stopped for coffee." Mike said with a smile.

"And you didn't get us any?" Kenny asked.

"Fraid not. They didn't have your flavor." Mike said.

After third place pulled in they gathered all three teams and brought them inside to a large banquet room to hold the after race press conference. The official standings and awards would be given out the following day. Alice and Kenny were glad to be back in the trailer as they waited for Wes and Natasha to go through the same thing.

Big Joe picked Alice up and kissed her on the cheek. "Never a doubt in my mind."

"Unofficially over the whole course you are six minutes faster than Mike and only fifty six seconds behind second place in Wes' class. How's it feel to blow them out of the water?" Little Joe said as he brought up the time rankings on the big screen.

"It feels awesome. And I have you guys to thank for helping me get here." Alice gave Little Joe a hug.

"So how did she do?" TJ asked as her and DJ came inside.

"Take a look for yourselves." Little Joe highlighted Alice and Kenny's names on the board.

"Sweet. A little more car and you would have kicked Wes' ass." DJ said. Her and TJ shared a giggle or two.

"You think so?" Alice said and looked over the times closer.

The twins and both Joes managed to keep from giving anything away. It helped that Alice was too busy being excited about winning the longest and hardest race of her hobby thus far.

"Speaking of that, Katie said everything will be back from coating when we get home." Big Joe and the twins shared a rather evil smile. It was a devious plan, but they all wanted to see Alice race more.

"I can't wait to get started on this project." TJ said.

"Me too." DJ nearly jumped into TJ's arms as Tim and Jim burst into the trailer.

"Me too, what?" Tim said as he and Jim laughed.

"None of your business." The twins said and both stuck their tongues out at him.

"Are these the unofficial standings?" Jim asked as he walked over to Alice and Little Joe.

"Both, most of Alice's class has been verified and first through fourth in Wes' class are official." Little Joe said as the screen updated once more.

"I had a feeling this was your year. Damn good job kiddo." Jim said and gave her a hug.

"And thanks to you guys for helping me." Alice said and gave all four of the chasers a hug.

"Actually everyone should take a look at this final standing order. Alice is first in her class and third overall out of the three classes. Looks like we are taking home three golds and a bronze this year." Little Joe leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.

"Did I hear she got third overall?" Wes said as he and Natasha entered the trailer.

"Looks like we will have to do some celebrating when we get home." Natasha said.

"You know that is a fact. Two podiums with both of my friends driving cars I helped build. Oh hell yes we are going to have a bash. Plus it is official, I am going to be a papa!" Big Joe said rather loudly.

They managed to hold off partying to much so they would be able to all get up early for the morning ceremonies. However they did party enough some of them had a hard time staying awake during the speeches.

One of the larger magazines took what was going to be the cover shot of a few articles and publications. It was Alice, Joe and Wes standing behind their four trophies. Alice and Mike both bowed out early to catch what was going to be a long flight home, only to catch a cab for a long ride up to the hospital.

"So do I get to see it before or after you ask her?" Alice said as they sat on a rather empty plane.

Mike dug into his bag and pulled out the little box. He handed it to Alice. "It's our birth stones."

"It's pretty. I like the light blue aquamarine on each side of the emerald." Alice carefully closed the box and handed it back to Mike.

"Thanks, I wanted to do something different than just a diamond." Mike put the box back into his bag.

"I think it is very sweet and romantic." Alice said.

They managed to get some sleep in on the flight back. Alice was still amped up from her first and third which made it hard to fall asleep. Mike was more nervous about asking Carly to marry him then he had ever been. The cab ride from the airport straight to the hospital was mainly in silence.

Neither of them really knew what to say once they got there. Mike paid for the cab and they both looked up at the large building where their friend was. He looked down at Alice. "I hope her family won't mind us dropping in unannounced like this."

"Standing around out here isn't doing any good." Alice said.

They picked up their bags and headed inside. Alice asked for the room number and they took the elevator up to the rehabilitation floor. They were thankful they didn't have to go to the intensive care unit.

"Alice? Mike? Is that really you?" A familiar voice asked from down the hall in front of them. "What are you two doing here?"

"Kind of a silly question Steven. We came to see her." Alice said.

"But we just saw you on the TV. How did you get here so fast?" Steven asked.

"We skipped out early. How are you holding up?" Mike asked and shook his hand after Alice gave him a hug.

"I've been better. She gave us quite the scare this time. Guess congratulations are in order for the two of you." Steven said as they walked down the hall back to the room Carly was in.

Mike put his hand on Alice's shoulder. "Hey, would you mind going in first, I want to ask Steven something."

"Not at all." Alice said with a smile. She set her bag outside of the door and lightly knocked on the door as she opened it.

"You don't have to knock every time Stev..." Carly sat in a stunned silence as Alice walked into the room.

The sight made her want to cry, all the tubes and hoses hooked up to her friend. Then there were the bandages. Alice managed to hold back the tears as she walked over to Carly. "Long time no see. How are you doing?"

"I have been better, Alice... the doctors are confidant I will be able to walk again. But my driving career is probably over." Carly looked down at her legs.

Alice followed her gaze down to the bed, were she could clearly see that Carly's left leg ended above the knee. They both jumped a little from the rather loud burst of excitement from outside the room. It made Alice smile. "At least I know that is okay."

"What's okay?" Carly asked as her brother cheered outside the room.

"You'll have to wait on that. I am glad you are still here with us. I was so scared when Mike told me what happened. I thought I was going to lose one of my closest friends." Alice couldn't hold back the tears any longer. She carefully reached out and hugged Carly.

"Trust me, even with only one leg to stand on I am happy to still be here. I just wished I could have been there with you both." Carly said.

"We should probably bring them in... Hey you two come in here." Alice said.

"Who else came with... oh... You came too." Carly teared up as Mike walked in with her brother.

"Of course, no place else to be." Mike said and smiled.

"Do we need too?" Alice asked and motioned at the door.

"No you can stay." Mike fumbled in his hoody pocket for the box. "I know this isn't the ideal setting but..." Mike knelt by her hospital bed and placed the little box in her hand. "I should have asked sooner. Carly, would you marry me?"

Carly managed a teary eyed nod yes. It took her a little before she could get the words to come out. Alice and Steven did get up and leave so they had some privacy.

They walked down the hall to the nurses' station to get Alice a cup of coffee, between the jet lag and the race excitement she was getting her butt kicked.

"So how long have you known about it?" Steven asked.

"A week." Alice said.

"I was wondering if he ever was going too. You don't know how much it means to me that the two of you left early to come here." Steven said.

"Like Mike said, this is the only place we need to be. So what happened?" Alice asked.

"She was on her way back from an interview before catching the flight out. Some drunk kid was racing home, ran a red light and hit her car in the driver's door. He is still in ICU, wasn't wearing his seat belt." Steven said.

"To think of all the stupid things we did and got away with it... Do you need anything, or can I do anything to help?" Alice asked.

"Not that I can think of, but thanks for the offer. I have plenty of sick and vacation time. I can't believe how quickly she is recovering." Steven said.

"That's cause she is so stubborn, like her brother." Alice said.

"I know you just got here, but how long will you be able to stay?" Steven asked.

"As long as I need too. That should be enough alone time." Alice said.

"Probably, glad to see patience is still not one of your virtues." Steven said with a laugh.

Alice told them she and Jenny were engaged. Along with some of the rather strange and dangerous things she had been through since they last spoke. She got a text message very early in the morning from Jenny saying they were packing up early again. She had taken the empty bed in the room so Steven could sleep someplace other then the hospital for a night or two.

Strangely enough the bed wasn't too uncomfortable and Alice had fallen back asleep rather quickly. Both the nurse and doctor had come and gone once by the time she finally got up.

"Didn't know what you might like so I asked them just to bring you some donuts for breakfast." Carly said with a smile.

"Thanks, first time jet lag has kicked my ass so hard." Alice sat up and picked up the plate left for her.

"Its understandable given the circumstances. You did just win a major race and jumped on the first plane out of there to come see me." Carly said.

"That is a lot of excitement..." Alice tried to stifle a chuckle at a rather morbid thought. She didn't succeed and was embarrassed by how morbid it was.

"What's so funny?" Carly asked.

"Promise you won't get mad?" Alice asked.

"Come on we know each other to well for that. Now I really want to know." Carly said.

"You remember back in college and we dressed up as pirates for Halloween?" Alice asked and waited for the connection to sink in.

"Oh my god! I can't believe I didn't think of that!" Carly said excitedly.

"Didn't think of what?" Steven asked as him and Mike walked in. They were rather confused by the two girl's laughter.

"You are not the only one now." A female voice said from behind them.

"This is Doctor Holland. She is Carly's shrink, to help deal with her mental injuries." Steven said.

"So what is so funny?" Mike asked.

"That I didn't think of needing one sooner." Carly said.

The three just looked at her and waited.

"I totally need a wooden leg before Halloween." Carly and Alice laughed even more. Steven, Mike and the Doc all stood in a rather stunned silence.

"Not exactly something I would expect to hear from a patient." Holland said and took down some notes.

"No, that would be a very normal thing for those two to think of." Steven shook his head in embarrassment.

"Maybe I could get a designer peg leg." Carly said, ignoring her brother.

"Or maybe one like a Swiss army knife, with different stuff in it." Alice said.

"So what are you writing down?" Mike asked as the two girls came up with ever more silly things to do with a fake leg. Who puts a cup holder in a fake fucking leg?

"While the method is, different, she is making remarkable improvements. Considering the extensive trauma she suffered." Holland said.

"It is good to see her back to her old self again. To think the two people our parents always thought were nothing but trouble would be the ones to help her the most." Steven said.

"Hey, you weren't a saint mister." Alice said and threw a pillow at him.

"It was mostly in self defense." Steven said. Holland looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "I am the youngest one here, they were always tormenting me."

"This has been a rather informative visit. I will pass my results along to the other doctors and we will discuss what the next course of action will be." Holland said and turned to leave.

"Ask them if they know any good wood carvers, matey." Carly said in a pirate-ish sounding voice.

"Aye Aye." Holland said and left the room as Alice and Carly laughed even harder. It was going to probably be a long couple days for Steven and Mike if they kept this up.

Sherman, Cindy, Jenny and Nodrog were all rather glad to be back after the short little excursion. It was a short lived since three of them had to head out for another duty. Leaving Jenny home by herself, thankfully she had some work to keep her busy.

Late in the afternoon at the end of the week she was not as frightened by the shadow's sudden appearance in her living room as she was the first time. She even managed to wave hello back to it.

"Glad to see our visit didn't scare you this time." Nightrunner said.

"I think I am getting used to magic. Afraid you missed him again." Jenny said.

"That's all right, I actually came to talk to you. If you have some free time." Nightrunner said.

"Yeah, just got done with work. Please have a seat." Jenny said a bit nervously.

"Don't worry, nothing's wrong. Lets say I am working on a report and need as many points of view as I can get." Nightrunner said.

"Is it about that thing that happened at camp, when he said someone had finally found forgiveness." Jenny was feeling a little more relaxed. It wasn't like he was going to do anything to her, and he was polite.

"So he did tell you about it." Nightrunner said.

"He didn't give many details about it. I don't think he wanted to explain it to everyone. He did say he would tell me when Alice could hear it too." Jenny said.

"Would you mind if I told you? I thought he had all ready." Nightrunner said.

"Might as well, you got my curiosity up. Want something to drink?" Jenny said as she got up to get herself something.

"No, I am fine, thank you." Nightrunner waited for her to sit back down before telling her the events involving Lilith. She listened intently and didn't ask any questions.

"You came to ask me about him doing the right thing?" Jenny asked, rather shocked that her opinion would matter at all.

"So you agree that she should be allowed to be free?" Nightrunner asked.

"If he thinks so, then I agree with him. You haven't given me a reason not to think she should still be punished. If he had felt differently then we both know Lilith would not have stood a chance." Jenny eyed the elf carefully. "I have seen some incredible things since meeting him that day he saved us after Alice woke him up."

"Good point. For his short time here, he has made several friends. Do all of you feel the same way?" Nightrunner asked.

"I can't speak for everyone. I can say that Alice and I would be in 100% agreement over the matter. What do you want me to say? I trust him with my life." Jenny said.

"Is that so?" Nightrunner said.

Jenny looked at him coldly. "I trust him enough to offer him my own blood to drink. Because I know, cold blood kept in a fridge is not enough."

That was interesting, if she trusted him that much. "If I asked, would you make that statement in front of a group in his defense?"

"When do we leave?" Jenny asked.

"I take that as a yes. I hope I don't have to ask, it might not seem like it but I am on his side. Thank you for your time Jenny." Nightrunner said and stood up.

"Why are you monsters so afraid of him, if he wouldn't even turn in the girl who betrayed him?" Jenny asked.

"I have asked the same thing. I have yet to get an answer." Nightrunner said and disappeared into Azule.

Jenny waved goodbye to the shadow and sat curled up in one corner of the couch. Why couldn't they trust him as much as she did? Or did it mean she was a bigger fool than anyone else? Either case she would have to get the rest of the story from Nodrog once he and Alice got home. She felt really lonely all of a sudden.