She didn't want to move, didn't want to open her eyes. Her body was a bit tired and sore, but she felt somewhat lighter, happier. She assumed that last night's venting had been good, she had been building up emotions for quite some time. She heard the wind blowing across the vents of the cooling tower, peeking out of one of her eyes; she realized she lay in her bed. She decided to lie down; it had been quite some time since she had felt this relaxed.

For a long time she lay there, the sun shining through the vents, warming the soft covers, for a moment, she felt as though she were in paradise. The obnoxious buzzing of cars and city life even seemed slightly softer, she sighed as she opened her eyes.

'I wonder how long I slept…' she thought as she sat up and rubbed her eyes. 'Better get up before Merc comes charging in here…' She went over to her desk-like dresser and looked in the mirror. She looked rested, not as tired as she had the past few weeks. She grabbed her brush and began combing her hair. She glanced at it, the little pink brush with a little red heart on the back.

She remembered how her hair always got so tangled when she was little. She had always let it grow way too long. Her mother always sang to her as she worked patiently to get the tangles and knots from her long mess of hair. She brushed her hands over the red heart.

"Mom…" she whispered softly. She remembered that Merc was most likely waiting for her and quickly finished getting ready for the day before opening her door and walking out into the main room of Merc's "lair." She saw that Faith was gone, and Merc was as usual sitting in his chair in front of his monitors. Amy sighed and quietly walked over to him. He turned around and looked at her, he looked tired.

"Amy…" he whispered groggily. "How are you feeling?" She looked at him. Then smiled.

"I feel fine… you don't look so great though." She smiled playfully. He smiled at seeing the old Amy.

"What? You don't like the grubby look?" he asked. She giggled.

"Well you've got a major 5 o'clock shadow going on." He frowned.

"Do I really need to shave?" Amy wasn't even listening; she threw herself on the sofa and began staring at her shoes. For a runner, they were way too underused. She sighed. Merc chuckled. Amy looked up from her shoes.

"Do I bore you that much?" he asked. Amy gave him a sarcastic glance.

"Do you want the truth?" she teased.

"Depends, which is better?"

"You don't bore me at all Merc, in fact you're so much fun to stare at all day, typing away…"

"I knew I couldn't take you seriously…" Merc muttered. He grabbed something from the desk and stood. Walking over to Amy he extended his arm. "Here." Amy stared at it as if it was going to bite her. She looked up at Merc, shocked.

"You… mean it?" she asked in no more than a whisper. He just nodded. She reached out and grabbed the yellow tube from Merc's hand. He put his hands in his pockets.

"I know how bored you are, and I'm sorry if I act as though I don't trust you. I just don't want to see you get hurt. Ya know?" he paused. "Anyway, that message needs to be delivered A.S.A.P so no dilly-dallying alright?" He stopped to stare into the gleaming eyes of Amy. She jumped up and threw her arms around him.

"OH THANK YOU! THANK YOU THANK YOU!" She cried, Merc froze at her sudden movement. Amy smiled as she put the tube in her bag and slung the bag over her shoulder. Merc coughed, and Amy turned.

"Just don't make me regret this… Amy…" he warned.

"Yeah, I know I know." Amy sighed almost whining. Amy groaned as she could tell he still didn't believe her. "Are you ever going to trust me?" she sighed. Merc just sighed heavily.

"It's not that I don't trust you. I just worry is all. Those blues are getting more violent everyday. Now they'll shoot a runner on sight. Nobody bothers with live hostages no more…" Amy walked over to him.

"Don't worry so much. I'll be fine." She reassured him. He looked at her, they're eyes met.

"You'd better hurry if you ever plan to get your ass there in time." He said, turning away quickly. Amy nodded, puzzled by Merc's sudden action. She turned and nearly leapt out of the door, leaving Merc behind to watch her go.

"Just be careful Amy… please…" Merc whispered, his cheeks just beginning to cool down and return to their normal color. He looked at one of the monitors, then sat back down. He sighed and patched Faith in.

"Hey Faith?" he called.

"What is it Merc?" came Faiths reply.

"I need to ask you a favor…" he looked out the door. "It involves Amy…"