"I didn't start that fire."

"Maybe not that time, but what about the others?"

"I've told you too many times. If you've somehow forgotten, sorry, but too bad."

"I didn't forget."

"You believed me before. What changed?"

"I didn't say anything to you."

"And why is that? Because you trusted me. So, now tell me. Are you staying or are you leaving?"

"You know my answer."

"No, Brandon. I don't."

This may have been a bit of a slap in the face, but it was true, and he needed to hear it.

"I'm staying."

"Let me rephrase that. Do you trust me?"

He thought about it for a minute. Lena always knew when he lied, and he was well aware.

"I want to. I really, really do. And I don't think you'd hurt any of us on purpose."

She froze.

"What exactly do you mean by that?"

"Lena. I'm sorry, but it makes sense."

"Yeah, I guess it does."

She regained her poker face.

"That doesn't change my question. Does that possibility change your answer?"

"Can you stop with the stone cold act?"

She shrugged.

"Don't fall asleep until we're sure. But yes, I trust you can manage that, so yes, I trust you."

He was telling the truth. Great. Lena guessed she was happy, but this only made it more complicated.

"Fine. Let's get back on the train, and you can tell me all about what happened. Okay?"

"Fine."

They walked back to the train, her arm over his shoulders. Lena was still a bit weak, but she knew could make it.

"Tickets?"

Their tickets wouldn't work for this train.

"Yes, please," she said sweetly.

"We only have first class left."

"Perfect."

They paid for their overpriced tickets, and hopped on.

"Would you like a drink?"

Oh, how Lena loved first class.

"Lady Gray tea, please."

"Of course. And you, sir?"

"Coffee would be nice."

She left, and Lena hoped the water would boil quickly.

They did, and Lena took a welcome scalding sip.

She scarfed down my tea, slightly burning her tongue.

She finished, and handed the cup to Brandon to show she had finished before him.

His eyes widened.

"Sweet... "

"Huh?" she said, a bit woozy.

"Lena, you've gotta stay awake."

"But I'm tired!" Lena whined.

His eyelids started to flutter as well.

He sniffed the half-drunk coffee.

"Laudanum."

He then threw his cup against the wall, where it shattered.

"Great. We've been drugged." she said, realizing.

"Did you not get the whole laudanum thing?"

She rolled my eyes.

"Nevermind. It doesn't matter. Just don't succumb. You know what will happen."

"Pepper spray. It's in my bag."

"Okay."

He opened the bag and the cat came out, hopped onto me, and started purring.

"No, that makes her sleepy. Bad cat."

He tucked the cat under his arm, and it immediately stopped purring. Lena laughed, still fighting to remain awake.

There was a knock, and someone entered.

"Sweet dreams," said the scarlet haired woman.

"Brandon, hurry up!"

"I'm looking!"

"Look faster!"

She was fading fast.

"Found it!"

"Too late. She's out, and that won't help."

But she wasn't. Lena could still hear them, she just was incapable of responding. She knew she couldn't fall asleep, so she didn't. But man, that tea was brewed strong.

A light turned on, and Lean was in a locked room, alone.

How had I fallen asleep? She wondered. She thought she controlled it.

The woman from the train entered.

"You aren't asleep, although it would help things along if you were."

"Why am I here?"

And did she just read my mind? Thought Lena.

"Like a book."

"How?"

"The chip, of course. Don't worry, you'll forget everything when you wake up."

"But I thought I wasn't asleep."

"You aren't. But it's all in our heads, which is enough for you to not remember. If you were asleep, you would just do whatever I told you to, so if you'd like to that, it would be great to have my mindless little robot back."

"I'm not going to be your puppet."

"Hmm."

"Is this real?"

"If I killed you here, you'd never wake up."

"But you haven't so I must still be useful to you."

She rolled her eyes.

"You must be Sherlock."

"Didn't quite catch that, Moriarity."

She started to laugh, and wiped fake tears from her eyes.

"Oh, you are funny. I might just not kill you."

"Have fun trying."

"Oh, that's it. I'm totally going to keep you!"

Lena growled.

"I am a cat person, how'd you know?"

"Because you told me, once upon a time."

She blanched.

"Hello, Liz."

"How? You shouldn't be able to remember me."

"Yeah, I know. But I do. Should I tell Brandy who threatened to have us killed, Liz?"

"My name isn't Liz."

"No, you're not Liz. You're the remnants. The worst parts of her that she never let out."

"Oh, don't go good and evil on me, Lena."

"I'm not. That's Liz speaking."

"Liz is dead."

"Then who are you?"

"I don't have to tell you."

"But you want me to know."

"That reminds me, you have to tell me some things."

"Why should I, Liz?"

"I'm not Liz!" she screamed. She calmed herself, but Lena could see the anger boiling.

"You will tell me, and then I'll let you out of here."

"What do you wish to know?"

"Everything, m'dear," she said, having regained her composure.

"Specifically, if you please?"

"Does Brandon trust you?"

LenaI froze.

"What do you think?"

"Lena, dear, you of all people should know it doesn't matter what I think. It only matters what's true."

"Don't you dare use that against me."

She lunged at Lena and pinned her against the wall by her throat.

"Does he?"

"Why does it even matter to you?" Lena choked out.

She took away her hand, and I dropped to the floor.

"All you need to know is that it's important to me, dear. Now, you do realize that you're not leaving until you tell me, right?"

"Then I'm not leaving."

"So self sacrificing. So stubborn. Well, I know torturing you won't work, but how about I show you what's going on around your body."

"I don't want to see."

"Well, I most certainly can tell you. Brandy has a gun pointed at his head, and he is barely awake."

"And you'll order for him to get an extra hole in his head if I don't comply. Liz, how could you?"

She grinned.

"He told me only moments ago that he trusts me."

"Lena, that wasn't what I asked! He may have lied. He may have lied without even him knowing. So don't tell me what he told you, or that's going to have been his last conversation. What do you know to be true?"

"He thinks he does. Mostly, at least. But he doesn't, not really. Not like either of you used to."

"Yes, Lena. Have you ever thought that there might be a very good reason nobody can trust you so completely anymore?"

I looked away.

"How long have you been taking my memories?"

"Long enough."

"Long enough to know."

"Yes, I know. How long have you had this "skill"?"

"As long as I can remember."

"And you never told anyone."

"I did, but no one believed me. I gave up."

"You never told me."

"I tried to. You didn't listen."

"Damn right I didn't listen. We were four. When I asked, why didn't you tell me?"

"I gave up. I didn't think you'd believe me. Honestly, reading my memories is probably the only way anyone can believe me."

"You could've tried."

"You know now, so why does it even matter?"

"It doesn't."

"Well, you've got nothing more to tell me right now, so so long for now. You won't know this ever happened until it happens again."

"Bye, Liz."

As Lena woke up, Liz sat down and started to cry. It had had been so long since she'd had a real conversation with her once best friend.

"I miss you, too, Lena."