Waking up in a moving car is no fun at all, especially hours after --how long has it been?-- getting hit in the head with... what the hell was it? Agh, I can't remember. My legs aren't tied but... my hands are. Why are my hands tied. Oh, no. It's her. It can't --okay, it can, but it shouldn't. I'd recognize that blond hair and that smell of plastic anywhere. And now I'm here, my head's dizzy, I feel like I'm about to vomit my dinner-- of course it's her. Who else kidnaps you after dinner because they don't like driving in broad daylight. I mean, I'm sure everyone who's about to kidnap someone thinks about doing it that way, but she's got a different way of doing it, that's the point, and this is clearly her. There's someone else here as well, but I can't really see who it is, and my hearing isn't working properly. It sounds like a man, and he sounds upset. Unless-- if it is who I think it is, then I'm saved and she's got nothing on me, maybe she just did it because she was bored. Sounds like someone I know... it's funny what boredom does to people. I take a deep breath and try to talk, but she stops the car suddenly and the door is already open and all I have to do is jump out and vomit.

- Did you give her anything? - he asks, still upset but in a lower tone.
- Sleeping pills. That's all. I swear that's all, Joey, I never meant to hurt her. Okay, I did, but not like this.

When I'm finally done, I feel so weak I can't really speak. My throat is sore, but turning around to ask for water would mean seeing her in the flesh.

- I need water... - I try to say, catching my breath. I feel a hand on my shoulder so I look up, wishing with all my heart it is who I think it is. Joe's face comes in focus first, but I can't figure out the rest of him.
- I'd hug you but you're covered in sick.- He unties my hands and gives me a bottle full of some transparent liquid, which I use to clean my hands and face, but when I'm going to drink he stops me. - Ah, yeah, sorry, you can't drink that.
- Wha--
- Don't ask. - Joe helps me to get up.- Nice dress.
- Thanks.

We walk to the car, but I stop when I see her.
- Okay, wait. I'm not getting in the car with her.
- Fine. We’re in the middle of the desert, I wouldn't mind leaving you here.
- Why am I even here, in the first place?
- Joe missed you.
- So your company wasn't, uh, good enough, Josephine?
Her smile fades away, and when she opens the trunk a muffled sound makes me wonder if the effect of the pills has already gone even though there's something strangely familiar about the voice, but then I see the axe. And now it's Joe's turn to talk.
- Stop, Josephine, the axe is unnecessary.
- If the axe is unnecessary then so am I
- You know it's not true. Put it down, that's all I'm asking. We're getting back in the car, all three of us--
- What?
- No.
- Shut up and get in the car. And put that axe where you found it. - Joe yells.

She moves slowly now when she puts the axe back in the trunk, but it doesn't stop her from slamming it shut. I guess it's because Joe is usually a nice guy to be around most of the time, so it's weird to hear him yelling. I gotta admit it's the same with me. The few times I've seen him like that, I'd been glad I wasn't the instigator of that state.

- Are you going to tell me why I'm here? - I ask him.

Josephine slams the door of the passenger seat-- well, at least she's not driving.

- That is exactly why you're here -says Joe, walking towards the car-. She's coming with us and you're not tying her up again.
- Oh, and you are?
I don't know what Joe answers and it seems like it's been so long since the last time I saw him, I can't really tell by the look on his face.

- I need water.
- We don't have any in the car.
- So what did I just clean my hands and face with?
- I said don't ask.

I look at him. He's changed. But what's different? Maybe it's her presence. Maybe this is really him and I just don't want to believe it. I could come up with hundreds of possibilities to explain why and how he's changed, but I don't want to.

- I have to, uh...
He shows me a black-and-white striped handkerchief instead of finishing the sentence. I frown.
- Not again.
- Yeah, sorry, but the next hotel is at least four hours away and I won't have you two bickering while I'm driving.
- My throat hurts, my mouth is dry, you'll just make it worse.
He just stands there with that same expression on.
- Is there an alternative?
He laughs, and for a short moment I see the Joe I met long ago and I'm glad that I can still see him, even if it's for a second.
- Nope.

Before I doze off he says something like talking about it later.