Just after she'd taken the turn-off heading north to Santa Fe, CC bit her lip, then quietly said, "Mr. Tanner?"

Her here-to-fore silent passenger raised his head and opened his eyes, answering softly, "Ma'am."

"Are you hungry?"

"Yes, ma'am. Reckon I am."

Checking the rear-view mirror, the physicist pulled off the highway, stopping the SUV. After turning the vehicle off and removing her seatbelt, CC reached over and released the catch on his, then quickly opened her door and leapt out, taking a deep calming breath. "Stop acting like the last virgin at a prison dance, as Amy would say," she murmured under her breath.

After retrieving the food, the scientist moved to the front of the Liberty, pausing as her eyes traced his form, illuminated by the scant light of the moon. He had leaned against the hood, his legs slightly extended and crossed at the ankles, his arms relaxed against his sides and his neck arched as he gazed up at the clear night sky. He slowly turned his head, his eyes twinkling as he grinned slightly.

CC flushed, then covered the small distance, "Roast beef," she explained, handing him a couple of sandwiches. She opened the bottles of beer, "Hope Coors is ok."

Vin nodded, pausing with the sandwich at his mouth to say, "Thank you, ma'am."

Dr. McKenna resisted the urge to grin, leaning against the Jeep next to him and eating in silence.

Hating to disturb the peacefulness, but knowing she had to, CC pushed away from the vehicle and said, "Mr. Tanner, I need to... check something."

He frowned, but nodded. "Reckon that'd be ok, ma'am."

"And please call me CC. 'Ma'am' makes feel like I'm about a hundred years old," she requested.

"Yes, ma'..." he caught himself with a small grin. "CC," he tested, rolling the name around on his tongue. She gritted her teeth, thinking that maybe she should have let him continue calling her ma'am. "An' call me Vin."

She smiled, then lightly bit her lip. "Ok, Vin. I need to examine the back of your neck. He hesitated, then removed his hat, turned around and lifted his long hair. CC closed her eyes briefly, taking a deep breath and steeling herself, before stepping closer to him, skimming her fingers over his neck. She resisted the urge to bury her fingers in his thick mane.

Reaching over and retrieving her beer to take another swig, she said, "Now I need to check your... your... lower back," she finished in a whisper. He glanced over his shoulder at her, his eyebrows raised. "Ma'am? CC."

"Please, Vin. I will explain."

The man nodded, slipping out of his overcoat. CC's nose wrinkled. "What is that?"

"Buffalo."

"Ah..." her words died as his ass, covered only in those tight tan pants, came into view, but was then mercifully covered as he untucked his shirt. Wiping her hands on her pants, CC then slid them beneath the fabric and felt along his lowver back, dipping beneath the waistband of his pants, causing him to twitch. She hissed, "Dammit!" as her fingers traced the small rectangular form, beneath his warm skin.

"What 's it?"

"A tracking device," she explained. "Vin, I have to get it out or they can find you."

He nodded. "Do it."

CC retrieved a flashlight and small medical kit. She positioned the flashlight, then retrieved an alcohol pad, scapel and a bandage, "Lean against the hood. It's not in very deep, but this is still going to hurt." She pushed his shirt up, then tugged his pants down, exposing the area. She cleaned his skin, then made her cut, grimacing against the blood, and whispering, "Sorry." She then pulled the small device out with the tweezers, dropping it into a plastic bag. She applied anti-biotic salve to the wound and bandaged it. "Ok. It's out." She cleaned the scapel and tweezers.

After Vin had retucked his shirt and put his hat on, he faced her. "Why'd they do this?"

"Probably so they could track you if you escaped," she replied as she finished washing her hands. She then met his steady gaze. "And because I'm suddenly feeling quite paranoid, I'm going to check myself." CC felt the back of her neck, breathing a sigh of relief, then moved to her lower back, tensing as she felt the small hard object embedded beneath her skin, just above her buttocks. "Sons-of-bitches," she gritted.

Vin tilted his head, "Ma'am?"

"Guess respectable women didn't curse in your time," she muttered.

"Wadn't ver' common."

CC handed him the scapel. "You're going to have to remove it from me." She untucked her blouse bunching it up then hurriedly turning around, her face reddening as unzipped her pants, lowering them so he'd have access to the area.

"Ma'... CC," he began, his eyes roaming the smooth bare skin of her lower back, then locking on the black lace peeking from beneath her trousers, "I a'int no doct'r."

"Surely you had to remove a bullet from someone?"

He flushed, "Well, yeah."

"This can't be all that different." She glanced over her shoulder, catching his gaze. "Please, Vin. I don't want that thing in me. Take one of those pads and clean the area, then cut and use those tweezers to get it out." He reluctantly nodded.

Dr. McKenna gritted her teeth, feeling his rough fingers through the cotton, as he smoothed the alcohol over her skin. She bit her lip, her fingers gripping the hood as he made the cut and removed the micro-chip. She had to bite her tongue to keep from moaning as he smoothed the anti-biotic salve over the wound, then bandaged it. She quickly redressed, turning around to face him, his eyes a shade darker when their gazes locked.

"Thanks," she whispered through parched lips.

Vin smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he tipped his hat.

"Come on," she ordered. "I have an idea what to do with these." She tossed the plastic bag into the Jeep.

"Don't worry Vin," CC assured him as they sped from the railroad yard where she'd placed the two tracking devices on a train. "Hopefully this will buy us a couple of days. This line goes north all the way to Canada. And I don't think they'll do anything when they find out."

"Reckon it'as nec'sary."

"Yeah," she said. "I want to change vehicles as soon as possible. I thought I knew what we were dealing with, but now," her hand snaked behind her, touching her back. She glanced at her watch. It was almost 11pm and according to Amy, another clerk came on at 11 at the MountainView Motor Lodge, just west of Santa Fe.

CC pulled into the gravel parking lot and glanced around, noticing that her companion was doing the same thing. She stopped near the lobby. "Vin, stay out of sight." He crouched down as she stepped from the SUV.

Gathering her courage, she knocked on the night window.

"Yeah," a disinterested clerk answered, opening the slot.

"Do you have any rooms around back at the far end?"

He smirked, looking up at her. "Yeah, baby." His eyes perused her form, "How many hours you need it for?"

"All night," she replied.

His smirk increased as he quoted her a price and handed her the key in exchange for cash. "Have a most... rewarding night, and movies are extra" he added, watching as she walked back to the Jeep.

Part Two

After they'd unloaded the Liberty, CC glanced around the room, her nose wrinkling in distaste. The walls were dingy; the carpet was dingy; even the orange bedspreads were dingy. "I'm sorry we had to stop at this type of place," she said.

Tanner frowned, his eyes moving about the room. "Ma'am?"

"There are only two reasons to be at a motel like this," she began, "if you're on the run and are trying to hide and..." her voice trailed off as she flushed, then stammered, "... you know..." she waved her arms around.

He waited patiently, until she sighed and blurted, "Sex. To have sex."

Vin blushed, then mumbled, "Whores c'me h're?"

It's was CC's turn to frown, then, "Oh! You mean prostitutes..." She shrugged, "I suppose. But, I was referring to people who are having illicit affairs or just don't want anyone to know." She shook her head. "Anyway, this is probably the last place my former employers would look for me." She walked toward the door, then paused. "I'll go and retrieve us another vehicle." She motioned to the cooler. "There's more food, and if you want to watch tv..." her words faded as she realized he'd have no idea what a television was. "I'll explain about the tv later. If you want to get some rest, I should be back in an hour or so." Vin nodded, stretching out atop the faded bedspread.

About an hour and a half later, CC pulled into the parking lot of the seedy motel, stopping the black Camry in front of their room. She let the car idle for a few minutes, her fingers white as they gripped the steering wheel, "What in the hell am I doing?" She leaned her head against her hands for a few minutes, then taking a deep breath, turned the ignition off, opened the door and exited the car. She unlocked the door, quietly saying, "Vin, it's me," as she stepped in. His stance relaxed and he put the sawed-off gun away. She titled her head, filing her questions for future reference. Then she glanced around the room saying, "As much I enjoy this decor, we need to go."

Tanner frowned, his gaze moving over her, "Ma'am... CC, ya n'ed ta rest."

The physicist glanced at her watch, replying, "Maybe. But we don't have time. It's almost midnight. They probably won't check on you until 8 or so in the morning. I want to put as much pavement as possible between Quatechins and us by then." Vin nodded in agreement and silently assisted in her re-loading the Toyota.

After they'd been traveling for a couple of hours in companionable silence, CC shook her head, then said, "I have to turn the radio on before I fall asleep." She tuned it to a traditional country station thinking that would be the least jarring to Vin.

The man stared at the illuminated numbers, his head tilted. "How's singin' comin' fr'm in th're?" Stifling a smile, she briefly explained radio, then concentrated on the sounds emanating throughout the vehicle.

"Vin?" she questioned quietly.

"Ma'am," he immediately replied, raising his head and opening his eyes.

She smiled. "Either you sleep the lightest of anyone I've ever met, or you're weren't asleep."

The corners of his mouth tugged upward, "I 'as nappin'"

CC yawned, then requested, "Will you please go into the cooler and get me a diet coke." At his perplexed look, she explained, "a silver and red can. And grab a brownie for me while you're at it." She glanced at him in the rear-view mirror as he shifted, leaning over into the back-seat. Clearing her throat, she said, "And get anything you want. You'd probably like the drinks in the red can better."

After a few moments, he handed her the can and brownie. She opened the drink and took a deep swallow, grinning as she heard his can pop open. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him reluctantly take a sip, grimace slightly, then take another. He wasn't so reluctant as he devoured the brownie.

CC blinked, forcing her eyes to focus on the clock radio. It was about 3:30am. She'd chosen to detour around El Paso and was on the far outskirts on a desereted highway, that was not a primary route for the city anymore.

"CC. Ya ne'd ta stop soon."

She nodded wearily. "Just what I was thinking. We can rest for a few hours, then get back on the road." She sighed as she spotted the neon of a motel sign. She pulled into the lot. "Get down again." He complied and she obtained a room, again on the back at the side away from the road. She struggled to pull her suitcase out so Vin took it into the room.

The scientist grimaced. This one was worse than the MountainView Motor Lodge... She put the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door, then locked, and dead-bolted it, finally pushing the worn chair against it and drawing the blinds tight. "You need to use the facilities before I take a shower?"

He nodded and she quickly stripped the beds, remaking them with her own linens. She smiled tiredly at him. "I'll be out in a bit," she stated, taking a smaller bag and her hair dryer into the restroom with her. Vin nodded and uncertainly sat on the edge of one of the beds. "You can lie down." He slowly lowered his body to the sheets.

CC came out of the bathroom wearing a long t-shirt and shorts with her hair loose. She brushed her teeth, then stared at her reflection in the slightly cracked mirror, tossing her hair around. Taking a deep breath, she stepped around the wall and smiled a little as Vin did a double take, staring, "Ma'am? Wh't happ'n'd ta ya hair?"

"Dyed it. A friend always encouraged me to go blonde," she shrugged. "Thought it might a good time to try it. They'll be looking for a mousy brunette. So, what do you think?"

Tanner frowned. Surely some things about women hadn't changed... it had been his experience that if a woman asked what a man thought about her appearance, he should say he liked it. Even if he didn't. Of course, as he let his eyes wander over her, Vin realized, he wouldn't have to lie. "It's ver' bec'min'."

"Thanks," she said, stifling a yawn. "I was thinking that maybe we stay here until tomorrow night. I already had to pay for it," she said as she climbed into the second bed. "I can stock up on supplies. Maybe get another car... I left the Jeep at my cabin outside of Santa Fe. It might be a good idea to dump this one to. And I can go back into El Paso and get you some more clothes.

Vin frowned, glancing down at himself. "What's wron' with tha cloth's I got?"

CC allowed her gaze to peruse his form. "Absolutely nothing," she assured him. "But, you don't exactly blend in. And we need to."

He nodded, then, "I reckon I'll wash up." She nodded, her eyes already closing. "There's a spare toothbrush," she murmured.

When Dr. McKenna next awoke the sun was filtering around the edges of the faded curtains. She moaned, turning on her side, gasping as she met the intense blue eyes of her companion. "Vin," she murmured. "Guess it wasn't a dream."

He smiled slightly, "No ma'am." She yawned, then sat up and stretched before climbing out of bed. She was too tired to be flustered as she realized that Vin was surreptipously watching her as she walked across the room. She did a double-take at her reflection, then closed the bathroom door. She came out a few minutes later, brushed her teeth, then moved to her suitcase, pulling out some clothes and her contact lenses. "You've already been," she gestured toward the restroom. Vin nodded.

CC bit her lip as she stared down at herself. She'd washed her face and put in her contacts before coming into the small lavatory, then she'd applied make-up and dressed. She really had no reason to stay in here, so with a huff, she opened the door and paused to look at herself. She blinked. Her long blonde hair fell in soft waves framing her face and tumbling across her upper back. Her light grey-blue eyes sparkled without the glasses concealing them. The short-sleeved blue chasmere sweater outlined her full breasts and the denim mini-skirt accentuated her light tan, while the strappy sandles made her legs appear even longer. "Guess Amy can shop for clothes," she whispered. Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the main part of the room allowing Vin to see her.

CC couldn't suppress a giggle as his mouth dropped open and his eyes widened, openly moving over her form. He flushed, clamping his jaw and averting his eyes. "So, I gather you like this look?"

Tanner's flush deepened, and she laughed. "It's ok. I'm not comfortable with this either," she said ruefully, looking at herself again. "But, they wouldn't recognize me if I walked right past them."

"Reckon not," he agreed, looking everywhere but at her.

"Vin," she sighed. "You can't always be averting your eyes from me. This is actually quite tame compared to what some women wear." He glanced at her sharply, his eyebrows quirking.

"Really," she continued, carefully making her way to stand in front of him. "I hope I don't break my neck in these sandals." Vin had hastily stood, so she unfurled her tape measure and swallowed hard. "Um, I need to take some measurements so I can get clothes that fit you. Unless you know your waist size and inseam?" She finished hopefully.

At his frown, she shook her head. "Didn't think so." She paused, glad that he already had that buffalo coat off. "I'm going to reach around you to measure your waist," she explained as she drew the tape measure around his trim body. She gritted her teeth as his scent wafted around her. Making mental note of the number, she quickly pulled away, then without looking into his face, dropped to the floor, flushing as she nearly whispered, "Spread your legs a little so I can measure the length." She reddened even more, adding, "of your pants." With that accomplished, she slowly stood, willing her pounding heart to slow. "I'd say medium shirts." She looked down at his feet, "Those boots should be ok."

CC finally met his gaze, her breath catching at the look in his eyes. She stepped back, saying, "I'll be back soon. And I'll bring more, and better, food." Once outside, McKenna released a shuddering breath, then got into the car and turned toward El Paso.

Part Three

Frowning, CC pushed her shopping cart through the Wal-Mart Supercenter men's department. She fingered the different styles of blue jeans... button or zipper fly? Boot or straight leg? Loose or regular fit? Light or dark denim? With a huff, she selected several pairs, some button-fly, some zipper and varying shades of denim, but all boot leg and regular fit. She then gathered a few t-shirts and a couple of casual button-down shirts, throwing a denim jacket into the cart. Moving to the underwear aisle, she chose boxers, thinking he's probably be most comfortable in the looser fitting underwear. After she tossed some socks in the cart, she pushed her buggy to the toiletries section, thinking Vin would prefer some shampoo and deodorant that didn't smell so girly.

She then moved to the grocery store area and paused in the produce section to get some fruit. She picked through the containers of strawberries until she found one with no mushy berries on bottom, then turned her attention to the apples.

"If you like Granny Smith, you should try the Gala," a deep voice said.

CC blinked, glancing around, then realizing the man was speaking to her, met his gaze. He smiled, his teeth gleaming, his green eyes travelling over her form. She flushed, unused to men noticing her looks, "Th... thanks," she murmured, then quickly added, as his look turned speculative, "I'll get some for my boyfriend." She glanced at her shopping cart.

His eyebrow quirked. "Buying him a whole new wardrobe?"

The physicist swallowed a laugh and replied, "Something like that. Airline lost his suitcase." She shrugged, then smiled brightly, "Thanks again." She quickly strode away, aware of his stare as she turned the corner. Exhaling deeply, she finished her shopping and hurried from the store.

Quatechins - 10:00 hours

"What is the status?" Director Phillips barked into the phone.

Dr. Wyatt Quinn paced the length of Dr. CC Mckenna's lab as his boss stood amid the mess in her office. "Well?" he asked as Harold hung the phone up.

"She's gone. They just finished sweeping her house. Clothes are gone. And not a single paper pertaining to her work." He glanced around her office. "Nothing here either. When the hell will the tracking system be operational?" He growled.

Wyatt grimaced. "Couple of hours." He stepped into the office. "She did a thorough number on the system." He shook his head. "Didn't realize she was that good..." He almost sounded impressed.

"Dammit Wyatt!" Harold Phillips pounded his fist on the desk. "We have nothing on her project! Nothing. She cleared out every scrap of paper. Technical seriously doubts they'll be able to retrieve anything from her computer hard drive... the virus she put on it was exceptionally thorough and ran for over 8 hours, not to mention what it's done to the Acceleration chamber." He ran a hand through his thinning hair, "I hold you responsible for this."

"Me?" Wyatt asked.

Phillips leaned forward. "It didn't occur to you to change your access codes? After you wooed her, seduced her then dumped her?"

The blonde scientist frowned. "She was never a threat..."

The older man's jaw clenched. "Guess that was a slight miscalculation on your part. The deal has been made. If we don't deliver Vin Tanner to our associates," he let the sentence hang. "You are to find her. Bring her and Mr. Tanner back."

Wyatt nodded, swallowing hard as he stepped from the small office.

Just outside El Paso - 1:00pm (was bold and italic)

CC parked in front of the room, looking around, then hurriedly unlocking the door and stepping inside. She smiled at Vin, "Sorry I was gone so long."

He tipped his hat, "'S al'righ' ma'am." He stood and followed her out to the car, helping her unload everything.

"If'ins ya don't min' me askin'," Tanner began, "why're ya changin' cars agin?"

The scientist sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Well, if... when they start trying to find us, it may throw them off the trail. This car isn't registered to me, so if we get rid of it..."

The long-haired man nodded. "Tha's a good idea."

She smiled. "Really?" She met his intense blue gaze. "Vin, I have a confession to make: I've no idea what I'm doing. Most of this," she gestured vaguely, "I've seen in movies or read in books."

"Ya're doin' fine near 's I c'n see."

"Thanks." With a sigh, she stood. "I'll go find us another vehicle." She licked her lips, pointing to the sacks, "why don't you try on some of your new clothes? And there's also soap, shampoo and other toiletries."

He eyed them dubiously, but nodded.

CC wheeled into the parking lot in the Dodge Dakota. She driven around for a while, finding several cars for sale, but none appealed to her until she'd spotted the red pickup. She managed to convince the owner, a man about her age, to accept her car and some cash in trade. She shook her head, realizing for the first time what Amy had been talking about. She'd been able to talk the seller down just by smiling and tossing her hair around. She smiled, her eyes moving over his form, as she saw Vin step outside the room and eye this new vehicle. He looked... great in his new clothes. He chosen to wear the pre-faded button fly jeans with the striped button-down shirt.

He joined her as she climbed from the cab. "What do you think? It's a truck, by the way."

Tanner cocked his head, eyeing the... truck. "Mebbe use th's open par' ta sleep in."

Glancing around nervously, she grasped Vin's hand, tugging him inside, explaining, "Just don't want anyone to see you."

As they stepped inside and she closed the door, she turned to face him. "You look nice."

He blushed, quickly releasing her hand. "Than' ya ma'am." He looked down at himself, "Take s'me gettin' used ta."

CC nodded, then settled on her bed. "I thought we'd rest a couple of hours, then hit the road again."

He nodded, settling on his bed.

She nibbled her lower lip, stealing an occasional glance at her companion. "Are you always this quiet?"

The corners of his mouth quirked up as he slowly opened his eyes and gazed at her. "No need ta talk ifin thay's nothin' to talk 'bout."

The blue-eyed woman shook her head. "Vin, you were pulled here from another century, kept locked in a small room for 3 weeks and are now on the run with the person responsible for you being in this predicament and there's nothing to talk about?"

"Well," he drawled, "figur'd it'd come up som't'me. I knew ya'd be b'ck f'r me."

CC blinked. "How?" she quietly asked.

Those incredible blue eyes locked with hers. "Ya said so."

She nodded, deciding to enjoy the peaceful, comfortable silence for a few hours before they had to run again.

Part Four

Quatechins - 14:00 Hours

"They've locked onto the signals," Director Phillips said, glancing across the desk to Dr. Quinn. "They're heading north." The pudgy man frowned as he continued, "And you are going to track them."

"Me?" Dr. Wyatt Quinn asked. "They have over a 14 hour lead. I'll never catch up with them in that van."

Phillips smiled smugly. "They have to stop eventually, while you won't."

The door opened and the female psychiatrist entered, along with two other men. She glanced from the director to the scientist. "I knew we should have transported the subject to our facilities. Your little physicist wouldn't have been able to liberate him from there. Let's go," she demanded, turning on her heel.

Wyatt glared at Phillips, then followed her.

Just outside El Paso - about 7pm (was bold and italic)

After a couple of hours, CC blinked and yawned, stretching before she stood. She smiled at Vin as he'd awoken. "Think I'll go change." She glanced down at herself. "This wouldn't be the most comfortable outfit for extended driving."

Tanner nodded, the corners of his mouth quirking.

In a few minutes, she returned, now wearing a t-shirt and faded blue-jeans, but with her feet still bare. "You like the outdoors?" He let the curtain fall and shifted to face her.

"Yeah. Tha op'n air, all tha stars shinin'. I a'int used ta sleepin' in all tha time." His eyes dropped and he blinked, focusing on her deep red toenails.

CC grinned, wiggling her toes. "Like?"

The long-haired man flushed, quickly raising his gaze, swallowing hard as his eyes moved over her denim clad legs and t-shirt.

"Now, Vin," Dr. McKenna began, "I'm completely covered."

He nodded, a grin tugging his lips as he settled in the chair beside the bed. "Te'l me 'bout ya work."

Taking a deep breath, the woman sat cross-legged on the bed. "Well, I'm a physicist - a scientist. My main work is with General Relativity which seeks to explain how space-time works. I was trying to create a black hole in the lab. It's a space phenomenon," she paused, then asked, "Is it dark yet?"

Vin nodded, so she moved to the door and beckoned him outside after glancing around the parking lot. Theirs was the only vehicle present. She climbed into the truck bed and sat, with Tanner jumping in and sitting beside her. "See all the stars?" He nodded, leaning closer to hear her as she said, "A black hole is a collapsed star. It's so dense and has such gravitational pull that anything that crosses it gets pulled in and theoritically can never escape. And it also appears that black holes spin, thus distorting the fabric of space around them." She paused and met his gaze. Licking her lips, she then explained, "I was trying to create one in the lab. It's been postulated that it can't be done." Her eyes dropped from the intensity of his blue eyes. "And I don't think I really did create one when you... appeared."

Vin was silent for a few moments. "Th'n wha' 'as it?"

"Let's go back inside," she grinned. "I need visual aids for this."

Tanner gracefully dropped from the truck, then reached up and wrapped his hands around CC's waist, lowering her to the groung. She rested her hands on his shoulders. They stood silent and still for moment, then he pulled away and with a silent sigh, she let her hands fall. "Thanks," she whispered. He tipped his hat, "'S al'ight."

She gently shut the door behind them and retrieved a piece of paper, rolling it into a funnel and taping it. She rummaged around the grocery sacks and retrieved a honey bun, a brownie and a mint. CC frowned, "I've got to start buying healthier food."

"Ya shoppin's f'ne wit' me," Vin assured her.

She smiled, settling on the bed once again and holding up the brownie. "Ok. This is a black hole." She turned it around and around. "It's sucking anything that crosses it horizon in, seemingly forever." She placed the mint behind it. "But, it's been speculated that there is a wormhole at the center of a black hole." She held up the paper funnel, sliding the mint through it. "It connects one area of space with another. At the end of the wormhole is a white hole." She held up the honey bun, spinning it around. "It expells mass. So, any object that is pulled into the black hole, goes through the wormhole and is then expelled by the white hole, travelling great distances. It's a shortcut through space."

Tanner nodded, "Ya reckinin' th't's wha' hap'ned ta me?"

CC nodded. "Obviously I created... some sort of wormhole, but not only through space, but time as well. Which does fit in with the theory." She shook her head. "I'll never really know."

"Why n't?"

She laughed harshly. "Destroyed all the research, trashed the Acceleration Chamber. That's not to say that someone else won't be able to come along and replicate it, but it will slow them down considerably." She glanced at her briefcase, which rested on the desk. "Guess I need to go ahead and destroy the few papers I have left. Then the only place all the research will be is in my head."

His eyebrow quirked. "Ya'd rem'mber all th't?"

McKenna nodded. "Photographic memory. And why they can never catch us." She stood, pacing the small room. "I thought I knew the firm I was working for... but while I was trying to find where they were keeping you, I discovered more than I ever wanted to know. They have ties to another group." CC shuddered. "And they'd do anything to extract the information from me."

Vin frowned. "I'm guessin' fer no good?"

The scientist nodded. "You're a quick study Vin. And they'd do God knows what to you." She exhaled. "Guess we should hit the road."

Tanner nodded and silently assisted her in loading the truck before climbing in and fastening his seatbelt. As they drove from the seedy motel, he quietly said, "Than' ya."

She reached over and squeezed his hand, pleased when he returned her grip as she laced her fingers through his.

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