Nick was the first one to get done eating, and the first one to get out of the restaurant. He waited outside, in a long brown coat. It was freezing but beautiful outside, the black sky twinkling with bright stars. The group started to file out the door, starting with Kevin and Kristin.

"See you later," Kristin called to Nick. He nodded, but was more concentrated about waiting and who was coming out the door.

The last people to come out were A.j. and Sarah, finally. They had their arms around each other's waists and spoke softly to each other. At last, Sarah kissed A.j. softly and they separated.

Nick caught up with A.j. "Hey buddy old pal!"

"Oh no." A.j. grumbled. Nick's enthusiasm caught him off guard.

"What? Can't a guy show some love for his best friend in the whole world?!" Nick said gleefully.

A.j. walked over to his car and got out the keys from his pocket. "What could you possibly want this time?" He asked.

"Nothing!" Nick leaned against the car, folding his arms. I'm so cool, he thought.

A.j. stared at him over his shades. Nick was silent.

"It's my girl isn't it?" A.j. asked solemnly.

"No," Nick lied.

A.j. cursed and got into his car, slamming the door.

"Wait!" Nick said, hitting the window.

The window rolled down. "What?"

"I just want to know something!" Nick said truthfully.

"What do you want to know?"

"Uhm…" Nick started. "Does she lie a lot?" God! He thought. Lame. "I mean is she trustworthy?"

He gave him a confused look. "Yeah, she's great."

Nick set back a little, lost in thought.

"I think you've had one too many tonight, Nick," A.j. rolled the window up and backed out of the parking space. Nick waved a little as he drove away.

Nick turned all the way around in the parking lot, looking everywhere. It was dark, late, and cold. The place was almost deserted, except for his car and a black one parked next to it.

His frigid hands unlocked the car door, and when he got inside, he slammed his head against the steering wheel. What an idiot, he thought to himself. He had handled that so badly. Does she lie a lot? What was that! No wonder A.j. was such a weirdo, people like Nick made him into one. And what was he doing, anyway? It was too soon to replace Sapphire, and he hardly knew Sarah at all. He hadn't even decided if he should keep fighting or not. What was he doing with his life? Risking it like a gambling game, like he was so invincible?

A tap on the glass made him jump out of his skin. He peered out the window. His eyes widened.

It was Sarah.

He opened the door and laughed. "You scared me to death!"

"I'm sorry," she apologized, taking the hair out of her face, "but my car won't run. I left the lights on."

So the car next to his car was Sarah's, Nick concluded.

"Do you have any cables?" She asked, tightening her jacket.

"No, no I don't. You can borrow my cell if you want." He offered.

"Oh, ok, thanks."

Nick began digging in the back seat. "It's around here somewhere," he assured her. He got out of the car and looked in the trunk.

"You don't carry it around with you?" She asked.

"No," he said. "I hate distractions." He seemed serious when he said it.

"Oh," she said quietly as he dug some more in the back.

"Are you angry with me?" She asked Nick directly.

He stopped and stared at her. "No, of course not. Why would I be? Do I seem to be?"

"I just… it seemed that you acted kind of weird at dinner," she said. "Like maybe you have a lot on your mind."

"I do." He said simply.

"About what?"

Nick thought a little and closed the trunk. "How much can I trust you?"

Sarah looked around, confused. "What do you mean?"

Nick shook his head. "No one knows, least of all me."

She didn't understand his meaning so she changed the subject. "No cell phone?"

"No."

Nick ended up giving Sarah a ride to her home so she could call for a truck. He drove fast and maybe even a little dangerously, and that scared her. He said nothing as he shifted many times.

The stopped at a intersection. Light from a stop light seeped in through the windows. Sarah gazed at all the features of the expensive car, it was certainly the kind for a young, rich man. She peered in the back, and she stared.

"What is that?" She asked, panic in her voice.

"What's what?" Nick asked, taking his eyes off the road for a moment.

Sarah turned the overhead light and unhooked her seat belt to get a better look.

"What are you…?" Nick began to ask, but stopped when he saw what she was staring at.

"Nick," Sarah said weakly, "why is there blood on your back seat?"

His heart leaped out of his chest. "What are you talking about, blood?"

"THAT is blood!" She said.

"No it's not," Nick assured her.

"What is it then?!" She asked frantically.

"It's…" His mind scrambled.

"Pull over." She said.

Nick gave her a tired look. "Sarah, don't worry about anything."

"Pull over the car!" She screamed.

He did it, and she stormed out. He went after her. "Sarah, come on. What are you thinking?"

She didn't answer but kept walking faster and faster, not wanting him to catch up with her.

He grabbed her shoulder, "What are you thinking?" He growled.

"Why is there blood on your seat, Nick? Why so much blood?" She demanded.

Nick sighed. She wasn't going to be fooled. "What, you think I killed someone?!"

"No!"

"Then what?" He asked.

"Why don't you tell me!" She demanded.

Nick shook his head. "You know what, forget this!"

"I cannot forget this!" She shrieked. "What's the truth?"

"You wouldn't be able to handle it," but Nick wasn't so sure.

"What!" She demanded again.

Nick got in the car, changed his mind and got out. He spoke softly and went up to her. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into."

"Tell me so I do know."

He stared at her, unsure of what to do.

"Tell me!"

"The blood was from my partner I worked with. We worked with a group that destroys the drug and crime lords, Intergang. My partner's probably dead now. She did the work I couldn't do, and so did my partner before that, and my partner before that." He opened the passenger car door. "And now that you know about it, you're next. Get in the car now, and shut up."