'This is part of it,' he thought. Out loud, he said: "Rachel, someone needs to stay here to keep the rest of the humans placed under Blaine's orders in line. Someone with leadership qualities and neither of us can think of anyone better for the job."

"You're just coming up with excuses now."

Kurt rolled his eyes, flipping the top of the suitcase closed and zipped it up. With a sigh, he turned to Rachel.

"Rachel, answer me honestly. Are you really that upset that you don't get to go on a potentially dangerous mission or are you more concerned about Finn's well being?"

Rachel was silent for awhile before tears began to form in her eyes.

"It's just that...Finn's so...he can't take care of himself."

"Of course he can."

"No, I mean...he's too impulsive. What if he thinks one of you is in danger then gets killed himself trying to rescue you?"

"Come here," Kurt held his arms open and Rachel stepped into the embrace. Kurt tightened his hold on her, rubbing her back as he tried to reassure her. "Finn will be fine. He'll be with us. And who knows, maybe Jeremiah won't let him do much field work. And you trust Nick, right? He won't let Finn come to any harm and Blaine and I certainly won't."

Rachel sniffed and pulled away, "I know."

They were quiet for a short time while Rachel wiped away her tears.

"You know, it's not just Finn I'm worried about. It's all of you."

"I know."

"I mean, we were just reunited a few months ago. I'm sure none of us thought we would see each other again, but then...it was like a miracle and now we might lose each other again."

Kurt shook his head, "Just try not to think like that. I know it's hard. God knows it's all I can seem to think about when it's late at night and I can't get to sleep. I worry about my dad and wonder if he's still alive or anyone else in the colony for that matter. But there's nothing we can do for them directly right now. The only thing we can do is keep fighting and hope that all our efforts were for something rather then in vain. Maybe all of us will be reunited someday, when we all have our freedom."

He gave her a sad sort of smile and she let out a choked laugh. She reached up and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You always seem to know how to encourage people."

"You should spend the night with Finn. He'll appreciate it."

She nodded and pulled him into another tight hug before leaving the room.

Kurt finished packing and placed his suitcase next to Blaine's before heading out of the room himself.

"Hey, Kurt, wait up."

Kurt turned and grinned as Mercedes came hurrying towards him.

"Hey, 'Cedes, are you ready to leave tomorrow?"

They linked arms and continued down the corridor.

"I guess. Nick and I just finished going over our act to fool the secuity at the airport."

"Yeah, how'd it go?"

"Fine," she replied, "what, you don't think we'll be able to pull it off?"

"It's not your guys' acting talents I doubt, it's the fact that you both have trouble keeping a straight face when you're playing a prank on someone and I would think you both might start laughing about the whole thing."

She slapped his arm playfully, "We'll be fine."

He laughed, "I know. Finn's the one I'm really worried about."

"I wouldn't be. His blundering might come off as cute or something and they'll think David's keeping him as a pet or something. I just hope Puck's hot-headedness doesn't give us away."

"I'll be fine," Puck fell into step beside them. "Just so long as that little blonde twink doesn't start getting cocky with telling me what to do."

"Jeff could kill you if he really wanted to, Puck," Kurt warned him, "So don't go doing anything stupid."

"Yeah, or you'll blow our cover," agreed Mercedes.

"I know that. I'm not an idiot."

Kurt and Mercedes shared a smile at those words but didn't comment, nor did Puck notice the look between the two friends.

"I'm still not too sure about these planes though," Puck continued. "How can something so big and heavy fly?"

"We'll be fine, Puck."

"What makes you so sure?"

"They would have to be safe; otherwise the vampires wouldn't use them for travel. They wouldn't be able to survive a plane crash anymore then we could."

Puck didn't look fully convinced on the matter, but he let it go as they entered the cafeteria.

They each took a tray and loaded it up with food before heading off to find a table.

"You know," said Kurt, "if you're really this concerned then why don't you ask a vampire how they work? It might put your mind at ease."

Puck snorted, "I doubt that. I might be able to trust Blaine a little more then I used to but that's only because I've had to trust my life to him. I'm still not too sure about any of the others."

"Then ask Blaine." Mercedes said. "Or a werewolf who might know. The last thing we need is for you to get sick on the ride to New York."

Puck looked affronted by the notion of anyone thinking he had a weak stomach.

His expression only made Kurt and Mercedes laugh. Puck glowered at them and turned his attention to the food on his tray.
////
David Karofsky was exhausted.

He and his slave, Rock, had been traveling almost nonstop since they fled from the botched murder of Anderson. If they were forced to stay in a public place, they didn't interact with anyone and they left early, leaving money on the bed so they wouldn't have to wait until the hotel owners woke up.

His old coven leader, Countess Sylvester, had sold him out. He had seen his face on the news and tacked up on billboards offering a reward to anyone who found and returend him to her.

'Never should have listened to that bitch,' he thought angrily as he ducked under a low-hanging branch, Rock right behind him.

He knew the werewolves who worked with the poilce were searching for him as well--and they were getting closer.

In fact, he was nearly captured a couple nights ago when the last full moon took place.

Fortunately, Rock had found a cave hidden behind a waterfall. Their scent had been lost in the water and the vampire had never felt so grateful to anyone in his entire life--and certainly never a human.

So now they were basically living in a forest, in Michigan, using the cave as their shelter. He only hoped the werewolves would not check the forest again and move on.
////
Deep below the ground where Shelby Corcoran kept prisoners of war, the members of the Dalton Coven who had not wanted to fight for the rights of humans and werewolves were plotting.

Actually, only Sebastian Smythe was plotting, the rest were just agreeing with him.

"They have no right to keep us locked up," he was saying, "those fucking humans need to learn their place and, really, the werewolves are just as bad. If not worse. They need to be taught a lesson before they begin to control us--to enslave us."

A coven member by the name of Neal, spoke up.

"Sebastian, if I might interject. The humans would never be strong enough to overpower and elslave us."

"No, but the werewolves are and the only reason humans seem dumber then us is because we've made them so. Don't delude yourselves into thinking that we're superior to them on a mental bases."

"This is all wonderful talk," stated Arthur, "but unless you think you can break us out of here, then your talk will amount to nothing."

Sebastian smiled slowly, slyly.

"Oh, don't worry. I know how to get us out of here. But I'll need the cooperation of each and every one of you."

"What's your plan?"

Sebastian told them. "Now, do I have your help or not?"

The rebel coven members nodded in agreement.