"Reagan, have you heard a word I've just said?" The voice resonates in my mind out of the clear blue, causing my heartrate to jump, while a cold sweat breaks out upon my palms. A part of me still can't believe this is even happening—that a late-night stroll would lead to my eventual relocation. That I would be forced to leave my home, and everything I had known for twenty years behind in the blink of an eye. Once again, I find that I am falling prey to the desire to curse my own curiosity, seeing as that very part of my nature is what got me into this mess to begin with. But of course almost as soon as the desire hits, I am forcing it to the back of my mind, my eyes turning to rest on the worried features of the man that stands beside me as I force myself to reply with a nod, and a resigned cast to my tone.

"Yeah. Yeah, sorry, Rex. I'm just trying to get used to all this, that's all."

"I know you are, kid. But we're going to keep you out of this, okay?" The older man assures me, the weight of a warm palm coming to rest on my back so that it might rub in soothing circles against the fabric of my t-shirt bringing a faint smile to my lips, even in spite of my growing apprehension, "None of this is gonna touch you."

"I know. I trust you."

"That's what I like to hear."

"I figured you might," I manage, moving out from beneath the protective stance of my companion, and chewing idly at my lower lip for a moment before leaning my hip against the nearby edge of a table, "So—this town you're sending me to—"

"Charming."

"Yeah. Charming. It as nice as the name alone suggests?"

"It's got its fair share of problems," Rex admits, watching me carefully for any sort of reaction at all, and very obviously making an effort to reign in his amusement as he catches the way in which my shoulders seem to slump just a bit even in spite of my desire to avoid it, "But it's remote enough where you can keep a low profile, and create a new life for yourself."

"That's good to know."

"Is that all that it is?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean is that all you have to say about it? Seems like a woman of your caliber might have a few more questions."

"What else can I possibly ask, Rex?" I demand, my hands falling to my sides in obvious exasperation as I prop my bottom on the edge of the table, and take to swinging my legs above the floor, my eyes glued on my sneakers the entire time, "Whether I like it or not, I've got to do this, so there's really no point grilling you about it."

"That's the voice of a defeated victim. That's not you, Reagan."

"Seems like it is me, now."

"Only because you've decided to roll over and play dead," Rex snaps, startling me with the sudden vehemence in his words, and effectively diverting my attention from my shoes, at least for the time being, "What the hell happened to the little badass that had enough balls to try and get in the middle of a drug deal gone bad, huh?"

"She nearly got herself killed, as I recall, and now she's got to move half-way across the continent to avoid finishing the job."

"Well she'd better damned well make a reappearance soon, or she may as well go back to that alley and let the dealer finish the job."

"Way to soften the blow," I quip, aware, at least on some level, that Rex is probably right, though that does not entirely succeed in taking the sting out of his words, regardless, "Look, I know this is the right thing to do. I know it is. I just—"

"You don't particularly like the idea of leaving everything you ever knew behind you in the dust," Rex supplies, watching for my predictable nod of confirmation, and sending me what I can only describe as an encouraging smile before going on "Nobody does, sweetheart. That's what makes us human."

"Maybe I don't want to be human, then."

"You and me both, kid."

"You think next time I get an idea this hair-brained, you'll be able to step in before it comes to my being forced to move?" I tease, hoping that this attempt at humor will temper any potential offense my companion might have taken over my mood, and surly remarks just moments prior. I don't blame him—not really, no matter how I may wish that the situation were that simple. And although I know that he is every bit as uncertain over this entire affair as I am, I would be a fool to pretend that I could be in safer hands…

No matter how much he might pretend otherwise, I know for a fact Rex Donovan is damned good at his job, and that I really don't stand a chance of convincing myself that there is anyone else better suited to get me out of dodge before the world falls down around my ears.

"I think I might be able to manage that," Rex replies, a conspiratorial grin toying at the edges of his mouth, while he simultaneously reaches out to nudge me in the shoulder in retaliation for my retort, "Just so long as you make sure you keep yourself safe. Think you can do that?"

"I think so, yeah."

"Well then, why don't we see about getting you acclimated to your new look? You know it won't do having you acting like a big-city girl when you're supposed to be born and raised on a farm."

Leave it to Rex to create a new identity for me that makes me every bit as regressive as the people taking up residence in the town that will soon become my new home…

I know, I know…I did it again, lol. I went ahead and created yet another new story, even though sometimes I have a hell of a time keeping up with the ones I already have. I think we're well past pretending I'm sorry for my wayward muses, right? Right. I figured we'd agree :D

As always, my heartfelt thanks go out to everyone that decides to give this guy a read! I truly do appreciate the support, and as with all of my stories, I cannot wait to hear what you think! The more I watch SOA, the more I can't help but want to see Tig eventually end up with his own old lady, though she'll fight him tooth and nail every step of the way. So hopefully at least some of you are on the same page? Feel free to let me know!

Until next time? (I hope…)

MOMM