Finally, he lets go of her hand and starts to move around, slowly, carefully...he slips out from underneath her, sliding the pillow underneath her head just as it falls into it. She stirs again, curling herself up tightly. He rolls onto his side, propping himself up on his elbow, and watches as she settles back into sleep. He watches her for a long time, wondering if her sleeping face would tell him anything he didn't know. He speaks softly to her, thinking aloud.

"Not hiding anything from me, are you?"

He pauses, listening to her breathing, studying her face for a moment...but it doesn't have any confessions to make...which makes him feel awful, seeing her beautiful face covered with a guilt she shouldn't have to bear.

"No...no, you're probably not...no, I-I know you're not."

He sighs, rubbing his eyes. "Was Rod who came out, wasn't it? Probably was. Ohhhh, man...guess I felt worse than I thought...I hope he took care of you. I'm sorry...I didn't mean to leave you like that...but I just...I see these terrible pictures, you know? I just see you, and Sykes together, and my head starts hurting. I mean, he was always after you, always...he even barged into the house that one night just to get close to you, remember that? Made a play for you right there, in MY living room...hmm. Shoulda killed him right then and there. He seems to think it's his mission in life to take you away from me."

He looks off to the side for a second, then down, his tone changing...becoming less sure of himself as he tries to find the right words.

"And I...I left you back home alone. I mean, you TOLD me to go, but still...I didn't have to. I coulda fought harder...I wanted to...but you were so angry with me, Tea. And I-I could understand you wanting to be with someone who says all the right things, like he probably does...somebody who isn't getting in trouble with the cops all the time for whatever...somebody who only has ONE personality instead of FIVE. Sykes is like...everything I'm not...my opposite. And I could see how you might want that, especially after what I did to you, God, that was stupid. You know I try to trust, I really do, but you were right when you said I do things to sabotage myself...and us...like seeing these things in my head. I just see you touching him, and kissing him like you do with me, and...it just...it kills me. Just the possibility kills me...I can't take that. You say you love me, and when I check your eyes I know you're not lying, and you must love me or you wouldn't have come here, but...I STILL see these things. And I don't know why."

He pauses to take a deep breath, gazing at her face. He shakes his head.

"I don't know, I guess...I guess I'm still just really scared that...that you'll leave me. Ever since you got here I've thought a million times that you were just some...some dream or something...and that you'd disappear if I got too close. But you haven't...and I gotta tell ya, Delgado, I've never been so...so CALM before. I mean, I'm not really calm now, what with Starr and all, but before all this happened, when it was just you and me alone together all day...I was so...so happy. I haven't felt like that in years, in fact...I don't think I've been that happy EVER. And I guess...I'm just always waiting for the thing that'll come along and destroy it..."

He sits up, then reaches over, gently pushing her bangs out of her face.

"...and now...this. Maybe this is it, I don't know...I just...I don't know what to do, Tea."

He looks down at her, as she exhales deeply. He watches her for a moment, then gets up. He paces around for a minute...then he grabs his coat and keys, and leaves.

Tea wakes up a little while later, stretching her stiff body out. She rubs her eyes as she sits up, yawning. She looks around the room...it's quiet and empty. She realizes Todd isn't there, and gets up, going to the window. The car's gone. She shuts her eyes, dropping her head back in frustration, and collapsing into one of the chairs. She brings her knees up and folds herself in, burying her head.

Just then, the door busts open and Todd walks in, shutting the door with his foot. Tea looks up suddenly, eyes wide. He looks at the empty bed, then looks around until he sees her in the corner by the window, looking at him anxiously. He walks over and kneels down in front of her, handing her a styrofoam cup. She takes it, gingerly, unfolding herself and sitting up. She rubs her head and smiles weakly at the smell of coffee.

"Thanks. Uh...i-is that you, Todd?"

He nods, running a hand through his hair. She sighs, taking a sip.

"Wow. That was so...uh...weird...I...I hadn't seen Rod in a LONG time."

Todd studies her for a moment. "What did he say to you?"

"Don't remember?"

He shrugs, staring down at his cup. "Kind of...I mean, I remember sitting by the window, and my head was pounding. Next thing I know, I'm asleep with you."

"Hmmm. He told me you're all aware of what everyone is doing."

"Well...when I woke up, I kinda felt like I'd been away, you know? I had a feeling I probably switched. And now that I think about it, when I was standing by the window, I was thinking to myself that...that I wanted to just...go away for a while, you know, to think, but...I didn't want to leave you alone."

Her eyes widen. "That's...that's what HE said...he said you needed to go away for a while, but that you knew I needed someone...so HE came out, to stay with me until you...you came back."

He raises his eyebrows. "Hmmm. This is all...still so...creepy...to me, you know? This switching business."

She smiles, sadly. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, it ALWAYS surprises me. I don't think I'll ever get USED to it, but...it was nice to see him."

He nods, putting his own cup down on the table by them. He watches her as she takes a few more sips of coffee. She glances up at him, then away quickly, turning her gaze to the window. Todd stares at her, knowing what he wants to say...but as always, is afraid to just come out with it. He wants HER to just say it for him, like she usually does. But...he knows this is one time when the words really HAVE TO come from him. He sighs, looking down at his hands.

"Tea."

She closes her eyes for a second, scared of what he's going to say. She takes a deep breath and turns to face him. He looks up at her, staring into her sad, frightened eyes.

"I've been, uh...doing a lot of thinking, and, uh..."

Tea jumps in. "...I know. I know you're worried about her. So am I."

His brow creases, then he nods. "Oh, yeah, I...I mean, I AM worried about Shorty, but...I know it's like you said, he probably won't hurt her, 'cause he's trying to make it look like *I* did it. But that's not what I was thinking about...j-just shut up for a second, let me finish."

She draws back, mouth open slightly. She sucks her lips in, biting down...and waits.

"I, uh...I just want you to know, I...I don't blame you for what's happening to her. I don't."

Her eyes widen, but she continues biting down on her lips to keep quiet. He runs a hand through his hair.

"I realized that, uh...that if I blame you...that that's EXACTLY what Sykes wants. See, he WANTS me to blame you, 'cause then he thinks I'll tell you to get lost, and...and then you'll go running to him or something...especially when he bails YOU out, you know, he'll be like friggin' Superman coming to your rescue while I'm stuck inside. It'll be like you OWE him, you know? He really thinks he's got it all figured out."

He looks up at her, to see if she's getting all this. She just stares at him, eyes wide, listening. Finally, she puts her cup on the table, nodding, encouraging him to continue.

"Well, I was thinking about all that, and...I realized that if I just got smart, his whole plan would fail. Look, I know you love Shorty...and there's no way you could have known this would happen. And I shouldn't have made you feel bad about it like that either, that...that was stupid. I was just so upset...I'm scared for her, you know? She's just a kid."

He exhales deeply after his tirade. Tea nods again, leaning in closer to him, her eyes misting.

"I know...I'm so sorry."

He nods back, taking her words to heart. They sit there for a moment, in silence. Todd glances down, then back up at her.

"Can I ask you something, though?"

She sniffs, nodding. "Yeah...of course."

"Look, don't get mad, okay? It's just...it's something I need to know."

She makes a "go on" gesture with her hand.

"D-do you...uh...do you love him...I mean, even a little?"

She draws back, as he awaits her answer. A few tears escape her eyes, streaming down her cheeks. She starts shaking her head.

"No. No, I don't. He was just...he was always there, Todd...that's all."

He nods, but still looks at her curiously. She takes a deep breath, seeing she's not off the hook yet.

"I couldn't trust myself to do anything after you left, Todd...nothing. Every time I had to make a decision, about ANYTHING, I froze. You should have seen how long it took me to get dressed in the morning. I had no faith in myself anymore...and I had NO idea what I was going to do. But then Hank offered me the ADA position...I knew it wasn't very me, but Hank really...he believes in me, and I really need that. He gave me back a little of the faith I'd lost...just enough so I could walk around with my head up again, you know?"

She pauses, studying Todd's face...he has a somewhat pained expression, uncomfortable at hearing how he screwed things up for her. She takes another deep breath.

"Well, anyway, being the ADA meant I had to spend all my time at the PD. Wherever I went, there he was. And I...I told him to keep his distance, but he was really slick, I mean...he just kept the pressure on, gently pushing his way into my life. I didn't see it then, but I realized, once I found out he took the ticket you sent me...he's a vulture. Just circling around and around, playing on every insecurity I had, telling me exactly what I wanted to hear, just waiting for me to cave. He came to my hotel room one night, and uh...it was the day I found the puzzle piece. That whole day, all I could think about was you...and when I opened the door, he was standing there. Hmm. It was like he KNEW, you know? He KNEW I was weak...KNEW I was vulnerable. He saw it in my face, the moment he'd been waiting for...and he took advantage of it. He grabbed me and kissed me."

She pauses there, checking his face. Todd just stares at her, scowling a little...but quiet. She sniffs, laughing to herself a little.

"And I...I was so lost at that point, Todd. I'm not trying to make excuses, but...I felt SO alone. Every single day after you left, but THAT day especially...I wanted to be with you, wherever you were. But I DIDN'T know where you were...I just felt like we were playing games again, with keys and puzzle pieces...like I was the butt of some kind of joke...and it all felt so...hopeless."

He opens his mouth...she stops, waiting. He glances, off to the side and back at her.

"Well, if you wanted to be with me...why did you tell me to leave?"

She sighs. "You KNOW why."

"I told you it didn't have to end up like that."

She tilts her head back, shutting her eyes for a second. Then she looks back at him, leaning in closer.

"But it DID...it DID have to end. I mean, not to get on your case here, but...dissociative disorder or not, you WERE lying to me. And I would have found out eventually, Todd...it just would've been a question of when at that point. You would've been worrying, paranoid about it, trying to hide it from me the whole time...what kind of life would THAT have been? Besides...if things hadn't happened the way they did, you WOULDN'T have checked yourself into that hospital. You wouldn't have put yourself in therapy. You wouldn't have met Joely. And we both...we both needed to be apart for a while, I think. Not that that's what we wanted, but...I think we both NEEDED time."

He makes a face, then looks down for a moment. "...time to be with someone else, right?"

She sighs, frustrated...she reaches out, and lifts his face to look at her. His face softens seeing the tears making tracks down her face.

"No. I needed time ALONE...but John...he wouldn't LEAVE me alone. And that night, Todd...I was so desperate to feel you, so starved for affection, that I let him kiss me. I just closed my eyes and imagined it was you. And for a few seconds, I forgot about everything. But...then I opened my eyes...and it WASN'T you."

She wipes her eyes and nose, uselessly, as more tears fall.

"And I saw it in his face...he KNEW I was thinking of you...and he didn't care. He was just taking advantage...which is EXACTLY what he's doing now. And I should have seen it coming, but I didn't. I certainly wouldn't blame you for...for...I don't know...I don't know what I'm trying to say."

She dips her head down, rubbing the spot between her eyes. Todd looks at her for a moment, then reaches up and touches her face, wiping the tears.

"Well that's a first."

She smiles through her tears as he pulls her down off the chair, and into his arms. He holds her tightly as she tucks her head under his chin. She wraps her arms around his, giving over and letting herself go limp...then whispers into his chest.

"Whether you believe me or not, the only man I will EVER love...is you."

He closes his eyes, resting his face in her hair. "No, I...I know. Sorry, but...you know me, I'm just...I guess I AM...paranoid. It's stupid."

They sit there all wrapped up like that, in silence for a moment. After a while, Tea sighs.

"It kills me that this is happening to Starr, but I just...I don't know what else to say except I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?"

He hugs her tighter, sighing. "Forgive you for what, Delgado...you didn't DO anything wrong. Stop feeling guilty."

She exhales roughly and deeply, letting the tension out, as he strokes her hair and the back of her neck. He touches his lips to the soft skin on her neck, his voice low...and filled with uneasiness.

"You think Gannon'll find her?"

Tea smiles, nodding, her face rubbing against his coat. "Oh yeah. Yeah, he will."

Sykes steps off the elevator at the Palace Hotel, taking proud strides down to Tea's room. As he approaches, he notices the activity in the hallway. He nods at the detectives milling around as he walks into Tea's room.

Bo turns and sees him, and waves him in. Two dark suited men standing with him look over as well. Sykes strolls over, knowing who they are.

"Well. Looks like I'm late to the party."

Bo smirks. "John, these are Agents...uh..."

"Andrews," one of them says, a young agent, ordinary looking guy. He holds his hand out to Sykes.

Sykes shakes his hand as the other one holds his out. "Agent Wallace."

Bo folds his hands behind his back. "Yeah, we wanted to get Tea's room searched as soon as we got the warrant."

Agent Andrews looks at them both questioningly. "I notice you call her by her first name. You guys know her?"

Bo and Sykes exchange glances. Bo nods at him. "This is a small town, Agent Andrews. Everybody knows everybody. Besides, Tea's the ADA...we work with her all the time."

Andrews nods, then walks over to the bed, where the evidence bags sit. He picks one up, holding it up for all to see.

"Well. I think we have a pretty good idea where she MIGHT be now."

Sykes tries to hide a grin, seeing the ticket he planted in the bag. He nods, trying to look surprised.

"Hmmm. Airline ticket, huh?"

Wallace nods. "Seems she had some plans to go off to no man's land up there in Montana."

Bo nods. "Well, it's not definite, but it's the best lead we've got so far. Otherwise, the place seems pretty clean."

Andrews drops the bag and walks back over, looking at Sykes.

"Buchanan tells us you'll be willing to help us out here."

Sykes nods, graciously. "Oh, yeah. What do you need?"

"First things first. We should check out both of their credit cards, see if we can track them that way...and we should probably talk to any friends or relatives around here, see if they know anything."

Sykes' mind suddenly drifts to thoughts of D and Starr. "How long before you head for Montana?"

Andrews pauses, glancing at Wallace and Bo, then back at Sykes. "Well...I think we need to gather a bit more evidence before we go charging off and getting the local field office involved out there. Besides, Montana's a BIG state. So the ticket says Great Falls, fine. But if she IS there with Manning, where the hell did they go after that? It's been weeks since she left, they could be anywhere. We need to be able to narrow down the search as much as possible."

The wheels are turning in Sykes' head as he eyes Andrews carefully, trying to second guess him.

"Well. Guess I'll head back to the station and get started on checking the credit cards."

Bo nods, then looks at the agents, who exchange glances. Andrews turns to Sykes.

"Sounds good. We're almost done here, then we'll be off to Manning's penthouse. I guess we'll meet you back at the station, figure out who we need to talk to."

Sykes nods. "Fine. I'll see you all later, then."

Bo waves him off. "I'll catch up with you later."

Sykes turns and heads out, wheels continuing to turn...he strides down the hall back to the elevator. He checks his watch and waits. The elevator opens and he steps in calmly, watching the doors close. Once he's safe inside, he curses, pacing around the tiny space. The feds seem reluctant to go after them...he wasn't really expecting that, given Todd's lengthy rap sheet. He figured they'd find the ticket and just go...but now, he has to adjust for the delay...and Starr will have to be kept hostage until they find them. As the elevator stops slowly, he takes a few deep breaths, getting himself together. He steps off calmly, strolling through the lobby and out to his car. He starts it up and checks his watch again, knowing where he has to go...but not right now. He puts it in gear and pulls away from the curb.

About a half a block down, RJ sits in a rented car, slouching down low, his long braids pulled tightly back, tucked under a beret and down into his coat. He lowers his shades, watching Sykes as he drives away. He starts the engine, watching for another second and letting some other cars get between them...then pulls out and starts following.